zhāng qiān mò de “ qù qù jiù huí ”， kě zhe shí yǒu diǎn jiǔ 。
章阡陌的“去去就回”，可着实有点久。
Chapter 42: Chapter Fourteen's Prolonged Absence
zú zú guò qù le sān tiān sān yè ， dōu méi zài jiàn zhe tā de rén yǐng 。
足足过去了三天三夜，都没再见着他的人影。
The duration of Chapter 14’s absence was indeed quite long.
lǐ fán chù lì zài zǐ xiāo fēi yún shàng ， bǎi wú liáo lài zhōng ， guān chá qǐ xià fāng de níng yuǎn chéng lái 。
李凡矗立在紫霄飞云上，百无聊赖中，观察起下方的宁远城来。
Three days and three nights had passed, yet there was still no sign of his return.
zài zhāng qiān mò hé sòng hé sòng liǎng wèi jīn dān xiū shì de duì zhàn zhōng ， níng yuǎn chéng jué dà duō shù dì fāng ， dōu biàn chéng le yī piàn fèi xū 。
在章阡陌和宋和颂两位金丹修士的对战中，宁远城绝大多数地方，都变成了一片废墟。
Li Fan stood on the purple-roofed flying cloud, bored out of his mind as he observed Ningyuan City below.
ér zài zhè wú wàng zhī zāi xià cún huó xià lái de fán rén men ， sǎng zi dōu yǐ kū gàn ， yǎn shén zhōng chōng mǎn mí wǎng 。
而在这无妄之灾下存活下来的凡人们，嗓子都已哭干，眼神中充满迷惘。
In the battle between Chapter 14 and Song Huosong, two Golden Core cultivators, most parts of Ningyuan City had turned into ruins.
“ bái xiān shēng shuō le ！”
“白先生说了！”
The common folk who survived this calamity were hoarse from crying, their eyes filled with confusion.
“ hái yǒu lì qì de ， lái zhè biān jí zhōng 。 zán men yì qǐ ， jìn lì wā jué jiù zhù nà xiē hái xìng cún de rén ！”
“还有力气的，来这边集中。咱们一起，尽力挖掘救助那些还幸存的人！”
"Mr. Bai said!"
“ shāng shì qīng de ， bāng máng sōu jí shuǐ hé shí wù ……”
“伤势轻的，帮忙搜集水和食物……”
"Those still have strength, gather over here. Let's work together to dig and rescue the survivors!"
“ dà jiā bǎ shāng shì jiào zhòng de dōu yì qǐ ān zhì zài xiǎo miào lǐ ， bái xiān shēng huì zài nà lǐ yī zhì ！”
“大家把伤势较重的都一起安置在小庙里，白先生会在那里医治！”
"For those lightly injured, help collect water and food..."
jiù zài zāi mín men dōu xiàn rù le jué wàng zhī zhōng de shí hòu ， níng yuǎn chéng nèi hū rán cǐ qǐ bǐ fú ， zài gè chù xiǎng qǐ le hū hǎn shēng 。
就在灾民们都陷入了绝望之中的时候，宁远城内忽然此起彼伏，在各处响起了呼喊声。
"All the severely injured will be placed in a small temple. Mr. Bai will treat them there!"
lǐ fán tīng zhe ， jué de yǒu qù 。
李凡听着，觉得有趣。
Just as despair began to set in among the disaster victims, calls echoed throughout Ningyuan City from various corners.
yīn wèi zhè xiē shēng yīn de zhǔ rén ， hè rán dōu shì yī xiē shí lái suì de yòu tóng 。
因为这些声音的主人，赫然都是一些十来岁的幼童。
Li Fan found it interesting; these voices belonged to children around ten years old.
qǐ gài zhuāng shù ， shēn cái shòu ruò 。
乞丐装束，身材瘦弱。
Dressed in rags and thin of stature, yet remarkably clever despite their young age.
dàn què rén xiǎo guǐ dà ， jī líng yì cháng 。
但却人小鬼大，机灵异常。
The children's cries seemed like a ray of hope at dawn, illuminating the darkness.
zhì tóng de shēng shēng hǎn jiào ， fǎng fú lí míng qián de shǔ guāng ， zhào liàng hēi àn 。
稚童的声声喊叫，仿佛黎明前的曙光，照亮黑暗。
People gradually came out of their numbness and confusion, starting to organize themselves for self-rescue.
wǎn rú yǒu le zhǔ xīn gǔ yì bān ， rén men zhú jiàn kāi shǐ cóng má mù 、 bù zhī suǒ cuò zhōng qīng xǐng 。
宛如有了主心骨一般，人们逐渐开始从麻木、不知所措中清醒。
Recalling his own rescue efforts after the destruction of Xuanjing City with Chapter 14 and Daoxuanzi, Li Fan felt a wave of nostalgia.
zuì zhōng yǒu tiáo bù wěn de kāi shǐ zì jiù qǐ lái 。
最终有条不紊的开始自救起来。
Just as he was reflecting, a surge of spiritual energy emanated from Zuisen Pavilion.
lǐ fán kàn zhuó yǎn qián zhè yí mù ， dǎo shì dǒu rán xiǎng qǐ le ， zì jǐ dì yī cì yù jiàn kòu hóng hé dào xuán zi èr rén hòu ， zài bèi huǐ yú yí dàn de xuán jīng chéng zhōng ， zǔ zhī jiù yuán de chǎng jǐng 。
李凡看着眼前这一幕，倒是陡然想起了，自己第一次遇见寇洪和道玄子二人后，在被毁于一旦的玄京城中，组织救援的场景。
"Seems like Crimson Glow Lady has successfully guided her qi into her body," Li Fan thought to himself.
zhèng zài gǎn kǎi jiān ， zuì xiān lóu nèi ， què shì tū rán chuán chū le yī zhèn líng qì bō dòng 。
正在感慨间，醉仙楼内，却是突然传出了一阵灵气波动。
Sure enough, half an hour later, Chapter 14 returned.
“ kàn lái shì nà chì xiá gū niáng ， yǐn qì rù tǐ chéng gōng le 。” lǐ fán xīn zhōng àn dào 。
“看来是那赤霞姑娘，引气入体成功了。”李凡心中暗道。
Though his expression remained calm, the joy in his eyes was hard to conceal.
guǒ bù qí rán ， xiǎo bàn tiān zhī hòu ， zhāng qiān mò jiù fǎn le huí lái 。
果不其然，小半天之后，章阡陌就返了回来。
"Junior Brother, you waited long!" Chapter 14 apologized.
tā de miàn sè suī rán yī rán píng jìng ， dàn yǎn móu zhōng de xǐ sè què zěn me yě yǎn yìng bú zhù 。
他的面色虽然依然平静，但眼眸中的喜色却怎么也掩映不住。
"Congratulations, Senior Brother. You've resolved a matter that weighed on your heart!" Li Fan said with a smile.
“ shī dì jiǔ děng le ！” zhāng qiān mò qiàn shēng dào 。
“师弟久等了！”章阡陌歉声道。
"Do Lady Crimson Glow wish to return to the mountain?" he asked.
“ gōng xǐ shī xiōng ， liǎo què yī zhuāng xīn shì ！” lǐ fán wēi xiào zhe shuō dào ，“ chì xiá gū niáng ， bù gēn zhe yì qǐ huí shān me ？”
“恭喜师兄，了却一桩心事！”李凡微笑着说道，“赤霞姑娘，不跟着一起回山么？”
Chapter 14 waved his hand: "Let's wait for the Patriarch Ancestor’s decision before making any decisions."
zhāng qiān mò bǎi bǎi shǒu ：“ hái shì děng zhǎng mén shī zǔ dìng duó zhī hòu ， zài zuò jué dìng ba 。”
章阡陌摆摆手：“还是等掌门师祖定夺之后，再做决定吧。”
"It doesn’t matter if we wait a little longer."
“ jì rán yǐ jīng děng le zhè me jiǔ ， yě jiù bù zài hū zhè yī shí sān kè le 。”
“既然已经等了这么久，也就不在乎这一时三刻了。”
"Hmm, I think it will be difficult for those old fellows in the sect to accept this new method within a short time," Chapter 14 sneered.
“ hē hē ， yī wǒ kàn ， xiǎng yào zōng mén nèi nà xiē lǎo jiā huǒ ， duǎn shí jiān jiē shòu zhè suǒ wèi de xīn fǎ ， kǒng pà yǒu diǎn nán dù 。” zhāng qiān mò lěng xiào yī shēng 。
“呵呵，依我看，想要宗门内那些老家伙，短时间接受这所谓的新法，恐怕有点难度。”章阡陌冷笑一声。
Li Fan nodded in agreement.
lǐ fán yě diǎn diǎn tóu ， biǎo shì tóng yì 。
李凡也点点头，表示同意。
With only three or four days left in the Realm of Fallen Immortals, Li Fan didn’t rush back. He planned to visit Purple Heaven Sect and take advantage of the opportunity.
zài yǔn xiān jìng nèi kě yǐ liú cún de shí jiān zhǐ shèng xià le sān sì tiān ， lǐ fán méi yǒu zháo jí fǎn huí 。
在陨仙境内可以留存的时间只剩下了三四天，李凡没有着急返回。
The grandeur of cultivation sects had long been on his mind.
xiǎng chèn zhe zhè ge jī huì ， qù zǐ xiāo zōng yī tàng 。
想趁着这个机会，去紫霄宗一趟。
Unfortunately, the distance between Purple Heaven Sect’s main gate and Ningyuan City was too great.
xiū xiān zōng mén shèng jǐng ， lǐ fán kě shì xīn yí yǐ jiǔ le 。
修仙宗门盛景，李凡可是心仪已久了。
After traveling halfway, Li Fan felt the scenery around him becoming blurry.
kě xī de shì ， zǐ xiāo zōng shān mén lí níng yuǎn chéng jù lí shí zài yǒu diǎn yuǎn 。
可惜的是，紫霄宗山门离宁远城距离实在有点远。
Scenes and sounds gradually faded away. Soon, his consciousness returned to the Ten Thousand Immortals Mirror.
zǒu le yī dà bàn lù chéng hòu ， lǐ fán biàn gǎn jué dào zhōu wéi de jǐng sè biàn dé mó hú qǐ lái 。
走了一大半路程后，李凡便感觉到周围的景色变得模糊起来。
A warm surge of energy appeared in his head, causing a slight pain.
huà miàn 、 shēng yīn jiē lián yuǎn qù ， piàn kè zhī hòu ， lǐ fán de yì shí biàn huí dào le tiān xuán jìng nèi 。
画面、声音接连远去，片刻之后，李凡的意识便回到了天玄镜内。
Li Fan frowned but soon smiled as he recalled the contents of Purple Heaven Soul Gazing Technique perfectly clear in his mind.
lú nèi yī gǔ rè liú mò míng yǒng xiàn ， dài lái sī sī cì tòng 。
颅内一股热流莫名涌现，带来丝丝刺痛。
"This [Equivalent Exchange] method truly works."
lǐ fán bù jīn zhòu qǐ méi tóu ， dàn jǐn jiē zhe ， tā bù jīn miàn lù xǐ sè 。
李凡不禁皱起眉头，但紧接着，他不禁面露喜色。
Though it involved soul manipulation, not a cultivation technique, there was no prompt for the number of cultivators.
lüè yī huí xiǎng ， nǎo hǎi zhōng 《 zǐ xiāo guān hún shù 》 de nèi róng yī zì bù chà ， qīng xī wú bǐ de fú xiàn 。
略一回想，脑海中《紫霄观魂术》的内容一字不差，清晰无比的浮现。
With experience from the Fallen Immortal Realm, Li Fan quickly mastered this soul-gathering technique.
“ zhè 【 děng jià jiāo huàn 】 zhī fǎ ， guǒ rán kě xíng 。”
“这【等价交换】之法，果然可行。”
"With this soul-gathering technique, all that’s left is to wait for Zhou Qingang to retrieve those fifty top-grade spirit stones."
zhǐ shì shén hún de yùn yòng zhī shù ， fēi shì gōng fǎ 。
只是神魂的运用之术，非是功法。
Buying some items in the Ten Thousand Immortals Mirror for contingencies, Li Fan continued his cultivation and waited patiently.
suǒ yǐ zì rán yě méi yǒu chuán lái xiū xíng rén shù de tí shì 。
所以自然也没有传来修行人数的提示。
Seven days later, sensing Zhou Qingang's transformation and departure from Tai'an Island, Li Fan also left Ten Thousand Immortal Island, concealing his form as he headed towards Zhou Qingang’s location.
yǒu le yǔn xiān jìng zhōng de jīng lì ， lǐ fán méi fèi shén me gōng fu ， jiù jiāng qǐ qí wán quán zhǎng wò 。
有了陨仙境中的经历，李凡没费什么功夫，就将起其完全掌握。
Li Fan had been to the place where Zhou Qingang would retrieve the spirit stones before. It was on the twelfth incarnation when he obtained the detailed explanation of the Hundred Meridian Array from He Zhenghao's legacy at Wan Cang Pavilion on Youlan Island.
“ yǒu le zhè sōu hún zhī shù ， jiē xià lái ， jiù zhǐ děng zhōu qīng áng qù qǔ nà wǔ shí méi jí pǐn líng shí le 。”
“有了这搜魂之术，接下来，就只等周青昂去取那五十枚极品灵石了。”
He didn’t enter but waited outside in stealth.
zài tiān xuán jìng zhōng cǎi gòu le yī xiē dōng xī ， yǐ bèi wàn quán 。
在天玄镜中采购了一些东西，以备万全。
Soon, Zhou Qingang flew out of Youlan Island, heading towards an uninhabited remote sea to change his appearance back.
lǐ fán yī biān xiū liàn ， yī biān nài xīn děng dài 。
李凡一边修炼，一边耐心等待。
This suited Li Fan’s plans. He followed from a distance, using the Formless Killing Mechanism for positioning and surveillance. No matter what tricks Zhou Qingang used, he couldn’t shake off Li Fan's tracking.
qī tiān zhī hòu ， gǎn yìng dào zhōu qīng áng zài cì biàn huàn róng mào ， lí kāi tài ān dǎo hòu 。
七天之后，感应到周青昂再次变幻容貌，离开泰安岛后。
After half a day, Zhou Qingang felt safe enough.
lǐ fán yě tóng shí lí kāi le wàn xiān dǎo ， yǐn cáng le shēn xíng ， cháo zhe zhōu qīng áng suǒ zài de wèi zhì gǎn qù 。
李凡也同时离开了万仙岛，隐藏了身形，朝着周青昂所在的位置赶去。
He dived into the sea, found an abandoned ruin, and reverted to his original form.
zhōu qīng áng qǔ líng shí de dì diǎn ， lǐ fán yě céng lái guò 。
周青昂取灵石的地点，李凡也曾来过。
Feeling the value of five thousand contribution points worth of top-grade spirit stones in his storage ring, Zhou Qingang planned to head back to Ten Thousand Immortal Island first to settle his debts.
zhèng shì dì shí èr shì de shí hòu ， qǔ dé hé zhèng hào yí chǎn 《 bǎi mài zhèn tú xiáng jiě 》 de yōu lán dǎo wàn cáng gé 。
正是第十二世的时候，取得何正浩遗产《百脉阵图详解》的幽兰岛万藏阁。
However, as he emerged from the water, Zhou Qingang was suddenly struck with a paralyzing fear. His body stiffened uncontrollably, and a loud gong-like sound echoed overhead.
méi yǒu gēn zhe jìn rù ， ér shì zài wài miàn qiāo qiāo mái fú zhe 。
没有跟着进入，而是在外面悄悄埋伏着。
Dizzy and hearing ringing in his ears, Zhou Qingang passed out.
mò guò duō jiǔ ， zhōu qīng áng biàn dà yáo dà bǎi de cóng yōu lán dǎo fēi chū 。
没过多久，周青昂便大摇大摆的从幽兰岛飞出。
Li Fan revealed himself, grabbed Zhou Qingang, and submerged back into the sea.
què shì cháo zhe yí gè méi rén de piān pì hǎi yù fēi qù ， yīng gāi shì yào chóng xīn jiāng róng mào biàn huí lái 。
却是朝着一个没人的偏僻海域飞去，应该是要重新将容貌变回来。
He found an abandoned building and set up some arrays around it before entering. He laid unconscious and defenseless Zhou Qingang on the ground.
cǐ jǔ zhèng hé lǐ fán zhī yì ， yī lù yuǎn yuǎn de qiāo qiāo gēn zài hòu miàn 。
此举正和李凡之意，一路远远的悄悄跟在后面。
From his storage ring, Li Fan took thirteen pieces of cold iron nails and inserted them into Zhou Qingang’s body.
yǒu zhe wú xiāng shā jī dìng wèi jiān kòng ， zhōu qīng áng wú lùn shǐ chū shén me huā yàng shǒu duàn ， dōu bù kě néng shuǎi kāi lǐ fán de zhuī zōng 。
有着无相杀机定位监控，周青昂无论使出什么花样手段，都不可能甩开李凡的追踪。
Only then did he begin to use Purple Heaven Soul Gazing Technique.
guò le dà bàn tiān zhī hòu ， zhōu qīng áng jué de ān quán le 。
过了大半天之后，周青昂觉得安全了。
Zhou Qingang's body convulsed violently as images flashed before Li Fan’s eyes.
qián rù hǎi dǐ ， xún le yī chù fèi xū ， chóng xīn biàn zuò le yuán běn mú yàng 。
潜入海底，寻了一处废墟，重新变作了原本模样。
"Using [Seven-Hole Clever Heart] to build the foundation, [Face Changes with Heart] to change his appearance..."
gǎn yìng zhe chǔ wù jiè zhōng jià zhí wǔ wàn gòng xiàn dù de jí pǐn líng shí ， zhōu qīng áng zhǔn bèi xiān qù yī tàng wàn xiān dǎo ， jiāng qiàn de zhài wù huán qīng 。
感应着储物戒中价值五万贡献度的极品灵石，周青昂准备先去一趟万仙岛，将欠的债务还清。
"So that's how it is."
rán ér ， zài fú chū hǎi miàn de chà nà ， zhōu qīng áng què jīng kǒng de fā xiàn ， zì jǐ bù zhī wèi hé ， tū rán hún shēn jiāng zhù 、 shī qù le shēn tǐ de kòng zhì quán 。
然而，在浮出海面的刹那，周青昂却惊恐的发现，自己不知为何，突然浑身僵住、失去了身体的控制权。
"Indeed a capable spy in the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance."
gèng yǒu yī dào tóng luó jù xiǎng ， tóng shí zài tóu dǐng zhà kāi 。
更有一道铜锣巨响，同时在头顶炸开。
Li Fan felt elated. Just as he was about to delve deeper into Zhou Qingang’s soul for more information on his contacts and organization, something seemed to trigger a restriction.
tóu yūn mù xuàn ， ěr míng hōng xiǎng 。
头晕目眩，耳鸣轰响。
A destructive force erupted from deep within Zhou Qingang’s soul.
“ zāo le ！”
“糟了！”
Li Fan's expression changed as he retracted his divine consciousness instantly but couldn’t prevent the damage to Zhou Qingang’s soul.
nǎo hǎi zhōng zhǐ lái de jí shǎn xiàn chū zhè ge niàn tou ， zhōu qīng áng jiù bèi zhèn yūn le guò qù 。
脑海中只来得及闪现出这个念头，周青昂就被震晕了过去。
"Ah!"
lǐ fán xiǎn chū shēn xíng ， zhuā zhe zhōu qīng áng ， chóng xīn qián rù le hǎi dǐ 。
李凡显出身形，抓着周青昂，重新潜入了海底。
Even in a state of unconsciousness, Zhou Qingang let out a pained cry.
zhǎo le fèi xū zhōng de yī zuò jiàn zhù ， zhōu wéi suí shǒu bù zhì le xiē xǔ zhèn fǎ hòu ， zuān le jìn qù 。
找了废墟中的一座建筑，周围随手布置了些许阵法后，钻了进去。
In an instant, Li Fan saw Zhou Qingang’s soul vanish completely.
jiāng shī qù zhī jué yǔ fǎn kàng néng lì de zhōu qīng áng rēng zài dì shàng 。
将失去知觉与反抗能力的周青昂扔在地上。
Though his life force remained, he was like a mere shell, devoid of any vitality.
suí hòu cóng chǔ wù jiè zhōng qǔ chū yī shí sān méi hán tiě dīng ， cì rù zhōu qīng áng tǐ nèi 。
随后从储物戒中取出一十三枚寒铁钉，刺入周青昂体内。
"Secret countermeasures..."
lǐ fán zhè cái shī zhǎn qǐ zǐ xiāo guān hún shù lái 。
李凡这才施展起紫霄观魂术来。
Li Fan wasn’t surprised by this development.
zhōu qīng áng de shēn tǐ jù liè chōu chù qǐ lái 。
周青昂的身体剧烈抽搐起来。
"Too bad; I couldn't find more secrets."
yī fú fú huà miàn kuài sù zài lǐ fán yǎn qián shǎn shuò 。
一幅幅画面快速在李凡眼前闪烁。
After some thought, Li Fan cleared the traces of the arrays and carried Zhou Qingang’s body hundreds of miles away to an area teeming with fish.
“ yǐ 【 qī qiào líng lóng xīn 】 zhù jiù dào jī 、【 mào suí xīn biàn 】 gǎi tóu huàn miàn ……”
“以【七窍玲珑心】筑就道基、【貌随心变】改头换面……”
He threw Zhou Qingang into the water where his cultivation foundation made the fish naturally wary of him. They kept their distance, unwilling to use this body as food.
“ yuán lái rú cǐ 。”
“原来如此。”
Li Fan then used the Formless Killing Mechanism to lock onto the strongest fish before retreating a hundred miles away and initiating the attack on Zhou Qingang.
Chapter 42: Chapter Fourteen's Prolonged Absence
The duration of Chapter 14’s absence was indeed quite long.
Three days and three nights had passed, yet there was still no sign of his return.
Li Fan stood on the purple-roofed flying cloud, bored out of his mind as he observed Ningyuan City below.
In the battle between Chapter 14 and Song Huosong, two Golden Core cultivators, most parts of Ningyuan City had turned into ruins.
The common folk who survived this calamity were hoarse from crying, their eyes filled with confusion.
"Mr. Bai said!"
"Those still have strength, gather over here. Let's work together to dig and rescue the survivors!"
"For those lightly injured, help collect water and food..."
"All the severely injured will be placed in a small temple. Mr. Bai will treat them there!"
Just as despair began to set in among the disaster victims, calls echoed throughout Ningyuan City from various corners.
Li Fan found it interesting; these voices belonged to children around ten years old.
Dressed in rags and thin of stature, yet remarkably clever despite their young age.
The children's cries seemed like a ray of hope at dawn, illuminating the darkness.
People gradually came out of their numbness and confusion, starting to organize themselves for self-rescue.
Recalling his own rescue efforts after the destruction of Xuanjing City with Chapter 14 and Daoxuanzi, Li Fan felt a wave of nostalgia.
Just as he was reflecting, a surge of spiritual energy emanated from Zuisen Pavilion.
"Seems like Crimson Glow Lady has successfully guided her qi into her body," Li Fan thought to himself.
Sure enough, half an hour later, Chapter 14 returned.
Though his expression remained calm, the joy in his eyes was hard to conceal.
"Junior Brother, you waited long!" Chapter 14 apologized.
"Congratulations, Senior Brother. You've resolved a matter that weighed on your heart!" Li Fan said with a smile.
"Do Lady Crimson Glow wish to return to the mountain?" he asked.
Chapter 14 waved his hand: "Let's wait for the Patriarch Ancestor’s decision before making any decisions."
"It doesn’t matter if we wait a little longer."
"Hmm, I think it will be difficult for those old fellows in the sect to accept this new method within a short time," Chapter 14 sneered.
Li Fan nodded in agreement.
With only three or four days left in the Realm of Fallen Immortals, Li Fan didn’t rush back. He planned to visit Purple Heaven Sect and take advantage of the opportunity.
The grandeur of cultivation sects had long been on his mind.
Unfortunately, the distance between Purple Heaven Sect’s main gate and Ningyuan City was too great.
After traveling halfway, Li Fan felt the scenery around him becoming blurry.
Scenes and sounds gradually faded away. Soon, his consciousness returned to the Ten Thousand Immortals Mirror.
A warm surge of energy appeared in his head, causing a slight pain.
Li Fan frowned but soon smiled as he recalled the contents of Purple Heaven Soul Gazing Technique perfectly clear in his mind.
"This [Equivalent Exchange] method truly works."
Though it involved soul manipulation, not a cultivation technique, there was no prompt for the number of cultivators.
With experience from the Fallen Immortal Realm, Li Fan quickly mastered this soul-gathering technique.
"With this soul-gathering technique, all that’s left is to wait for Zhou Qingang to retrieve those fifty top-grade spirit stones."
Buying some items in the Ten Thousand Immortals Mirror for contingencies, Li Fan continued his cultivation and waited patiently.
Seven days later, sensing Zhou Qingang's transformation and departure from Tai'an Island, Li Fan also left Ten Thousand Immortal Island, concealing his form as he headed towards Zhou Qingang’s location.
Li Fan had been to the place where Zhou Qingang would retrieve the spirit stones before. It was on the twelfth incarnation when he obtained the detailed explanation of the Hundred Meridian Array from He Zhenghao's legacy at Wan Cang Pavilion on Youlan Island.
He didn’t enter but waited outside in stealth.
Soon, Zhou Qingang flew out of Youlan Island, heading towards an uninhabited remote sea to change his appearance back.
This suited Li Fan’s plans. He followed from a distance, using the Formless Killing Mechanism for positioning and surveillance. No matter what tricks Zhou Qingang used, he couldn’t shake off Li Fan's tracking.
After half a day, Zhou Qingang felt safe enough.
He dived into the sea, found an abandoned ruin, and reverted to his original form.
Feeling the value of five thousand contribution points worth of top-grade spirit stones in his storage ring, Zhou Qingang planned to head back to Ten Thousand Immortal Island first to settle his debts.
However, as he emerged from the water, Zhou Qingang was suddenly struck with a paralyzing fear. His body stiffened uncontrollably, and a loud gong-like sound echoed overhead.
Dizzy and hearing ringing in his ears, Zhou Qingang passed out.
Li Fan revealed himself, grabbed Zhou Qingang, and submerged back into the sea.
He found an abandoned building and set up some arrays around it before entering. He laid unconscious and defenseless Zhou Qingang on the ground.
From his storage ring, Li Fan took thirteen pieces of cold iron nails and inserted them into Zhou Qingang’s body.
Only then did he begin to use Purple Heaven Soul Gazing Technique.
Zhou Qingang's body convulsed violently as images flashed before Li Fan’s eyes.
"Using [Seven-Hole Clever Heart] to build the foundation, [Face Changes with Heart] to change his appearance..."
"So that's how it is."
"Indeed a capable spy in the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance."
Li Fan felt elated. Just as he was about to delve deeper into Zhou Qingang’s soul for more information on his contacts and organization, something seemed to trigger a restriction.
A destructive force erupted from deep within Zhou Qingang’s soul.
Li Fan's expression changed as he retracted his divine consciousness instantly but couldn’t prevent the damage to Zhou Qingang’s soul.
"Ah!"
Even in a state of unconsciousness, Zhou Qingang let out a pained cry.
In an instant, Li Fan saw Zhou Qingang’s soul vanish completely.
Though his life force remained, he was like a mere shell, devoid of any vitality.
"Secret countermeasures..."
Li Fan wasn’t surprised by this development.
"Too bad; I couldn't find more secrets."
After some thought, Li Fan cleared the traces of the arrays and carried Zhou Qingang’s body hundreds of miles away to an area teeming with fish.
He threw Zhou Qingang into the water where his cultivation foundation made the fish naturally wary of him. They kept their distance, unwilling to use this body as food.
Li Fan then used the Formless Killing Mechanism to lock onto the strongest fish before retreating a hundred miles away and initiating the attack on Zhou Qingang.