[This simulation has ended.]
Li Fan regained consciousness, still feeling somewhat speechless.
That life was the shortest one he’d experienced since he first received Return to Truth. It had been terminated after just nine years.
He’d originally been full of grand ambitions and meticulous plans. Who could have guessed that he’d be inexplicably hunted down the moment he entered the cultivation world?
What was even more absurd was that his pursuer was actually a member of the Myriad Immortals Alliance.
Unaware of the man’s identity, Li Fan had even thought to flee to He Zhenghao on Liuli Island for protection.
The result was him being cornered by two Foundation Establishment cultivators.
His pursuer had come from a thousand li away with a clear objective: to execute Li Fan.
Li Fan didn’t believe asking for a reason would yield an honest answer.
Facing two Foundation Establishment cultivators, he didn’t have the slightest chance of survival. So, he decisively chose to start over.
Why would the Myriad Immortals Alliance hunt him down? And so soon after he entered the cultivation world at that?
A deep frown creased Li Fan's brow as he fell into deep thought. Without resolving this issue, all subsequent plans would be completely meaningless.
The Congyun Sea was still under the Myriad Immortals Alliance’s control, and they clearly had some method of pinpointing his location.
What had gone wrong? Could it be because he had brought Qian Hong’s remains back to the cultivation world? Or perhaps...
Li Fan inspected and eliminated each of the items in his possession one by one. Finally, he locked onto a target: the Lesser Water Manipulation Art.
After much thought, this technique was the most suspicious. After all, he could be said to have no connection to the Myriad Immortals Alliance whatsoever at the moment. Only this technique was linked to the Alliance in his previous life.
Li Fan narrowed his eyes. As he pondered carefully, a faint answer began to form in his mind.
The Myriad Immortals Alliance must be constantly monitoring the Lesser Water Manipulation Art, and all other techniques. If they suddenly discover that a particular technique hasn’t been redeemed, yet the number of people cultivating it has increased by one, they would know the technique has been leaked.
Regardless of how it was leaked, the Alliance would inevitably want to recover it. As for the method of recovery... naturally, it’s simpler to just kill the practitioner.
As for how they pinpointed my location... Those who cultivate the same technique can sense each other and detect each other’s positions.
For a mere Qi Refinement realm technique, they actually dispatched a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Judging by his tone when speaking to He Zhenghao, his cultivation level was likely higher than He Zhenghao’s. At minimum, mid-stage Foundation Establishment, possibly even late-stage.
He envisioned a scene: Within the Myriad Immortals Alliance, information on tens of thousands of techniques was arranged in sequence. The text was dense and numerous, like a towering wall of data.
Before this wall, a pair of eyes watched intently, capturing every minute change.
If the number of practitioners of a technique suddenly dropped to zero, or if a technique that had no practitioners suddenly gained one without being formally exchanged, the owner of those eyes would calmly and methodically make arrangements.
Enforcer, enforcer...
What a fine “technique enforcer” indeed!
Li Fan clapped his hands in a gesture of mock praise.
Looking at the options still floating before his eyes, Li Fan calmed his mind and still chose to retain the cultivation level of his previous life.
In an instant, he returned to the Qi Refinement realm.
Afterwards, Li Fan activated the Taishang Primordial True Scripture without the slightest hesitation and dissolved his late-stage Qi Refinement cultivation of the Lesser Water Manipulation Art.
After that, everything proceeded the same as in his previous life.
In Anchor Year 9. Li Fan arrived in the cultivation world once more.
Passing through the Immortal-Slaying Grand Array, Li Fan waited in place for a long time.
Indeed, his conjecture was correct.
Since he didn’t cultivate the Lesser Water Manipulation Art, he didn’t draw the pursuit of the Myriad Immortals Alliance’s enforcers this time around.
Only then did Li Fan slowly make his way toward Liuli Island.
As he flew over the sea near Liuli Island, a certain image from his memories suddenly flashed through his mind.
He immediately halted, looking downward.
His gaze pierced through the seawater, reaching the depths of the sea floor.
There, schools of Liuli Fish were dragging the corpses of mortals, offering them as tribute to a massive, golden Liuli Fish.
These were people from all corners of the sea who had met their ends through various misfortunes.
The golden Liuli Fish swayed its bloated body, swallowing the human corpses gathered by its subordinates one after another.
After chewing for a moment and spitting out the shattered bones, it even revealed a somewhat dissatisfied expression.
It glared at them with its large eyes, then greedily gazed toward the surface of the sea.
It seemed to know that there were more, fresher mortals up there.
Li Fan watched this scene and snorted coldly.
Formless Killing Mechanism stirred in response.
Deep beneath the sea, the Liuli Fish that had been clustered around their leader, diligently offering tribute, suddenly froze in unison.
The golden Liuli Fish, somewhat displeased, was just about to discipline its underlings when it abruptly noticed that the surrounding school of Liuli Fish had begun to act strangely.
Their eyes glowed with a red light, all fixed intently on the giant golden Liuli Fish.
The golden Liuli Fish sensed danger and tried to flee.
But it was already too late.
Countless Liuli Fish seemed to have gone mad, swarming around it and encircling it completely.
The figure of the golden Liuli Fish vanished within the school.
Streaks of golden blood slowly rose to the water’s surface.
***
Li Fan held a Liuli Pearl in his hand, examining it closely. It was about the size of a pigeon’s egg.
A pity it’s not a Curio of heaven and earth.
But just carrying it provides an effect similar to consuming a Liuli Pill. This object is still quite remarkable.
Satisfied, Li Fan stored it away and continued flying toward Liuli Island.
As he drew near Liuli Island, Li Fan halted mid-air and released his spiritual qi.
Within moments, a voice called out from a distance: “May I know which Fellow Daoist has come to Liuli Island?”
Along with the voice, the figure of He Zhenghao appeared.
Though He Zhenghao was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he did not act arrogantly toward this late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator who had arrived unannounced, politely addressing him as “Fellow Daoist.”
“Greetings, Fellow Daoist He!” Li Fan cupped his hands in salute.
“I am Li Fan, a rogue cultivator from the Congyun Sea. Reaching the late-stage Qi Refinement realm was already an immense struggle, and I know that as a rogue cultivator, I have no hope of establishing my Dao Foundation.
“Thus, I wish to join the Myriad Immortals Alliance to obtain a Foundation Establishment technique.”
Li Fan paused, then added: “I have long heard of your reputation for righteousness and generosity, which is why I have come to seek your counsel, Fellow Daoist.
“I hope you can provide a referral. Once the matter is settled, I will certainly repay your kindness!”
He Zhenghao was somewhat stunned to hear that Li Fan wanted to join the Myriad Immortals Alliance.
He never expected that such a fortune would fall into his lap.
Upon hearing Li Fan’s promise of future repayment, He Zhenghao was overjoyed.
“Ah, such words are unnecessary between fellow cultivators! Those who walk the path of cultivation understand its hardships all too well. Naturally, I will help wherever I can. Don’t worry, consider your entry into the Myriad Immortals Alliance assured. I will see to it personally!”
Li Fan smiled faintly. “Your epithet ‘Timely Rain’ is indeed well-deserved. I am impressed.”
He Zhenghao nearly corrected him, explaining that he had no such epithet, but then paused. The name felt fitting. If it were to spread, it might even benefit his cultivation of the Mountain-Sitting Art. So he did not deny it.
The two men exchanged smiles.