bù zhī dào fā xiàn le shén me ， tā jìng rán shàn zì jiāng zhào shī jiě de nà dī xuè yè cóng gé jué kōng jiān zhōng qǔ chū ， jiù jìn zǐ xì chá kàn qǐ lái 。
不知道发现了什么，他竟然擅自将赵师姐的那滴血液从隔绝空间中取出，就近仔细查看起来。
Unknown to him, he had擅自 taken Ouyang Senior Sister's blood out of the isolated space and was examining it closely.
“ zhǎng mén ， nǐ ！” zhào shī jiě bù jīn yà rán chū shēng 。
“掌门，你！”赵师姐不禁讶然出声。
"Master, you!" Ouyang Senior Sister exclaimed in surprise.
“ wú fáng ！” jì zhǎng xī zhōu shēn ， fú xiàn chū yī céng hēi guāng ， jiāng zì shēn tuán tuán bāo guǒ 。
“无妨！”季长夕周身，浮现出一层黑光，将自身团团包裹。
"It's fine!" Ji Changxi's body was enveloped by a layer of black light.
zhào shī jiě chà nà jiān rèn chū ， nà shì 《 zhū tiān dà dào jīng 》 zhōng ， shén tōng 【 dà dào dú wǒ 】 biǎo xiàn chū de tè yǒu shén guāng 。
赵师姐刹那间认出，那是《诛天大道经》中，神通【大道独我】表现出的特有神光。
Ouyang Senior Sister instantly recognized that this was the special divine light from the technique [Great Dao Solo Me] described in The Great Dao Scripture.
yī qiè yì zhǒng néng liàng ， zài zhè shén tōng miàn qián ， dū huì bèi zhuǎn huà wèi néng bèi zì shēn suǒ kòng zhì de cún zài 。
一切异种能量，在这神通面前，都会被转化为能被自身所控制的存在。
All other energy types would be converted into something controllable by oneself before their eyes when faced with such a technique.
zhè zhǒng shén gōng ， tā yě céng duǎn zàn xiū xíng guò ！ zhǐ shì xiàn zài ……
这种神功，她也曾短暂修行过！只是现在……
She had briefly practiced this divine skill herself! But now...
jiāng tóu dī xià ， zhào shī jiě xiǎo xīn jiāng zì jǐ yǎn zhōng de yě xīn yǔ bù mǎn yǐn cáng 。
将头低下，赵师姐小心将自己眼中的野心与不满隐藏。
Lowering her head, Ouyang Senior Sister carefully concealed her ambition and dissatisfaction from her eyes.
hǎo zài zài chǎng de dà dào zōng qián bèi men ， zhù yì lì quán dōu jí zhōng zài jì zhǎng xī shǒu zhōng de nà dī bù duàn fān yǒng de xuè yè shàng 。 sì hū méi yǒu rén zhù yì dào tā shēn shàng de yì cháng 。
好在在场的大道宗前辈们，注意力全都集中在季长夕手中的那滴不断翻涌的血液上。似乎没有人注意到她身上的异常。
Fortunately, the senior daoists present were all focused on the blood drop in Ji Changxi's hand that was continuously surging. It seemed no one noticed anything amiss with her.
jì zhǎng mén shēn shàng ， hēi guāng bù duàn yǒng xiàn ， jiāng xuè dī wéi zhù 。
季掌门身上，黑光不断涌现，将血滴围住。
Black light continued to emerge around Ji Changxi as he surrounded the blood drop.
hēi sè guāng huá zài bù duàn fān téng de tóng shí ， xuè dī què yì zhí zài bèi xiāo hào 。
黑色光华在不断翻腾的同时，血滴却一直在被消耗。
The black light churned while the blood drop kept being consumed.
rán ér ， hái méi děng jì zhǎng xī fēn xī chū shén me suǒ yǐ rán lái ， yī dào qīng cuì de ké sòu shēng ， hū de zài tā de shēn biān xiǎng qǐ 。
然而，还没等季长夕分析出什么所以然来，一道清脆的咳嗽声，忽的在他的身边响起。
But before Ji Changxi could analyze what was happening, a clear cough sounded beside him.
yī sī yà rán dùn shí fú xiàn zài tā de liǎn shàng 。
一丝讶然顿时浮现在他的脸上。
Surprise flashed across his face.
ér zhè jǐn jǐn cái shì kāi shǐ 。
而这仅仅才是开始。
And this was only the beginning.
fǎng fú yǐn qǐ le mǒu zhǒng lián suǒ fǎn yìng ， hěn kuài ， cǐ qǐ bǐ fú 、 bù shòu kòng zhì de ké sòu shēng ， xiǎng chè zài zhè chù jīng yīng qí jù de zōng mén dà diàn nèi 。
仿佛引起了某种连锁反应，很快，此起彼伏、不受控制的咳嗽声，响彻在这处精英齐聚的宗门大殿内。
It seemed to trigger some chain reaction. Soon, uncontrollable coughs echoed throughout the grand hall where elite daoists gathered.
“ zhè zěn me kě néng ？！” zài qīn zì cháng shì le zhè wèi zhī bìng zhèng de lì hài hòu ， zhǎng lǎo men fēn fēn miàn sè jù biàn 。
“这怎么可能？！”在亲自尝试了这未知病症的厉害后，长老们纷纷面色剧变。
"How is that possible?!" The elders, who had personally tested the unknown illness, were all visibly shaken.
“ yǒu qù ， yǒu qù ……”
“有趣，有趣……”
"Interesting... Interesting..."
“ děng děng ， zhè sì hū shì ……”
“等等，这似乎是……”
"Wait, this seems to be..."
bù guò ， zài chǎng de bì jìng shì xuán huáng xiū xiān jiè ， shù qiān nián lái liú cún xià lái de jīng yīng zhōng de jīng yīng 。
不过，在场的毕竟是玄黄修仙界，数千年来留存下来的精英中的精英。
But among these elites of the Xuanhuang cultivation world, who had been passed down through thousands of years, they quickly applied their methods to suppress any abnormalities in their bodies. Some even took an interest and began researching it on the spot.
hěn kuài ， tā men jiù gè shī shǒu duàn ， jiāng shēn tǐ de yì yàng yā zhì 。
很快，他们就各施手段，将身体的异样压制。
Seeing the elders' reactions, Li Fan and Ouyang Senior Sister exchanged glances, feeling a bit relieved.
bìng qiě yǒu de hái ráo yǒu xìng qù de ， dāng chǎng qīn zì yán jiū qǐ lái 。
并且有的还饶有兴趣的，当场亲自研究起来。
"This disease is highly contagious and extremely dangerous. It's unprecedented! Perhaps not even the [Desolation Decree] released by Xuantian Sect at its last gasp was as terrifying," said an old man with white hair slowly.
jiàn dào zhǎng bèi men rú cǐ biǎo xiàn ， lǐ fán hé zhào shī jiě èr rén hù xiāng duì shì yī yǎn ， xīn xià shāo ān 。
见到长辈们如此表现，李凡和赵师姐二人互相对视一眼，心下稍安。
Li Fan only knew that this person was Mo Ziran, one of the elders from the Daoist Sect who specialized in alchemy. He lived a reclusive life and didn't get involved in sect affairs. But it was rumored that even the refined purple gold pill he had consumed earlier could be made into a substandard product with seven or eight-tenths of its potency by him, despite his cultivation level.
“ chuán bō xìng hé zhì bìng xìng ， dōu jí qí kě bù 。 shí nǎi shēng píng jǐn jiàn ！ kǒng pà dāng nián xuán tiān jiào lín sǐ yī bó fàng chū de 【 jué xiān chì 】， yě bù rú tā 。” yī wèi bái fà cāng cāng de lǎo zhě huǎn huǎn shuō dào 。
“传播性和致病性，都极其可怖。实乃生平仅见！恐怕当年玄天教临死一搏放出的【绝仙敕】，也不如它。”一位白发苍苍的老者缓缓说道。
Mo Ziran started the discussion, and other elders immediately shared their thoughts.
lǐ fán zhǐ zhī dào cǐ rén míng jiào mò zhī rǎn ， nǎi shì dà dào zōng zhǎng lǎo zhī yī ， jīng tōng yào lǐ zhī dào 。 shēn jū jiǎn chū ， bù guǎn zōng mén zá shì 。 bù guò jù shuō tā liàn chū de dān yào ， pǐn zhì jí gāo 。 nǎ pà xiān qián tūn fú de zào huà zǐ jīn dān ， cǐ rén yě néng yǐ hé dào xiū wèi ， liàn zhì chū qī bā fēn yào xiào de xiá cī pǐn 。
李凡只知道此人名叫莫之冉，乃是大道宗长老之一，精通药理之道。深居简出，不管宗门杂事。不过据说他炼出的丹药，品质极高。哪怕先前吞服的造化紫金丹，此人也能以合道修为，炼制出七八分药效的瑕疵品。
"This disease is all-encompassing. As long as one comes into contact with it, it will spontaneously strengthen within the cultivator's body. Minor cases are manageable, but if not suppressed in time, they can turn severe..."
mò zhī rǎn kāi le gè tóu ， qí tā zhǎng lǎo dùn shí yě shì chàng suǒ yù yán ， shuō qǐ le zì jǐ de kàn fǎ 。
莫之冉开了个头，其他长老顿时也是畅所欲言，说起了自己的看法。
"Minor cases might result in a decline of cultivation; severe cases could lead to death and loss of immortality!"
“ cǐ bìng ， yī jí shì quán 。 zhǐ yào yǔ zhī jiē chù ， tā jiù huì zì fā zài xiū shì tǐ nèi zhuàng dà 。 qīng zhèng shàng hǎo ， ruò shì bù néng jí shǐ yā zhì ， zhuǎn biàn chéng zhòng zhèng ……”
“此病，一即是全。只要与之接触，它就会自发在修士体内壮大。轻症尚好，若是不能即使压制，转变成重症……”
...
“ qīng zé xiū wèi dào tuì ， zhòng zé shēn sǐ dào xiāo ！”
“轻则修为倒退，重则身死道消！”
These words caused everyone present to look increasingly serious.
cǐ yán yī chū ， zài chǎng zhòng rén miàn sè fēn fēn biàn dé yǒu xiē níng zhòng 。
此言一出，在场众人面色纷纷变得有些凝重。
"I just tried over ten methods. While each quickly eliminated the symptoms it brought, the root force causing this disease seemed to never truly dissipate, still lurking within my body. What is its host medium? How strange..."
“ wǒ gāng gāng cháng shì le shí duō zhǒng fāng fǎ ， suī rán dōu néng hěn kuài de jiāng tā dài lái de bìng zhèng xiāo chú 。 dàn yǐn qǐ zhè jí bìng de běn yuán zhī lì ， què sì hū yì zhí méi yǒu zhēn zhèng tuì sàn 。 yī rán shēn cáng tǐ nèi 。 tā de jì jū méi jiè ， jiū jìng shì shén me ？ qí yě guài zāi ……”
“我刚刚尝试了十多种方法，虽然都能很快的将它带来的病症消除。但引起这疾病的本源之力，却似乎一直没有真正退散。依然深藏体内。它的寄居媒介，究竟是什么？奇也怪哉……”
"We old-timers can suppress these symptoms easily, but what about our disciples inside the sect? Without medicinal aid, they might..."
“ wǒ men zhè xiē lǎo jiā huǒ ， xiū wèi hái suàn kě yǐ ， néng gòu qīng yì jiāng bìng zhèng yā zhì 。 dàn mén nèi nà xiē dì zǐ zěn me bàn ？ ruò shì méi yǒu dān yào jiù zhù ， pà shì ……”
“我们这些老家伙，修为还算可以，能够轻易将病症压制。但门内那些弟子怎么办？若是没有丹药救助，怕是……”
"First, we have [Techniques Cannot Be Practiced Simultaneously], now this bizarre disease..."
“ xiān shì fǎ bù kě tóng xiū ， zài rán hòu yòu shì zhè guǐ yì de qí bìng ……”
“先是法不可同修，再然后又是这诡异的奇病……”
"The path of immortality is cut off; our future looks bleak! Better to return home!"
“ xiān dào lù duàn ， qián tú miǎo máng a ！ bù rú guī qù ， bù rú guī qù ！”
“仙道路断，前途渺茫啊！不如归去，不如归去！”
"Lei Fanzi, with juniors present, what are you babbling about?"
“ léi fán zi ， yǒu xiǎo bèi zài ， nǐ yòu zài hú yán luàn yǔ shén me ？”
“雷樊子，有小辈在，你又在胡言乱语什么？”
...
……
……
The grand hall, the most solemn and dignified place, was suddenly as noisy as a market.
táng táng zōng mén dà diàn ， zuì wèi zhuāng zhòng yán sù zhī dì 。 cǐ kè què biàn dé rú tóng cài shì chǎng yì bān ， chǎo nào bù yǐ 。
堂堂宗门大殿，最为庄重严肃之地。此刻却变得如同菜市场一般，吵闹不已。
Li Fan and Ouyang Senior Sister lowered their heads, not daring to show any signs of unease.
lǐ fán hé zhào shī jiě zhǐ shì dī tóu ， bù gǎn liú lù chū sī háo de yì yàng 。
李凡和赵师姐只是低头，不敢流露出丝毫的异样。
"Everyone!" At this moment, a voice rang out, drawing everyone's attention.
“ zhū wèi ！”
“诸位！”
Silence fell instantly.
jiù zài cǐ shí ， yī dào shēng yīn xiǎng qǐ ， xī yǐn le zhòng rén de zhù yì 。
就在此时，一道声音响起，吸引了众人的注意。
"I have an idea," Master Ji Changxi said with a serious expression.
chǎng jiān shà shí ān jìng xià lái 。
场间霎时安静下来。
"It seems that the so-called strange disease is so hard to guard against precisely because it is one of the new laws born in the universe."
“ wǒ yǒu gè xiǎng fǎ 。” dà dào zōng zhǎng mén jì zhǎng xī miàn sè níng zhòng dào 。
“我有个想法。”大道宗掌门季长夕面色凝重道。
"And unlike [Techniques Cannot Be Practiced Simultaneously], this is something done by cultivators!"
“ xiǎng bì yǒu xiē rén yě yǐ jīng fā xiàn le ， zhè suǒ wèi de guài bìng ， zhī suǒ yǐ zhè me lìng rén fáng bù shèng fáng 。 wán quán shì yīn wèi ， tā yě shì tiān dì jiān ， xīn shēng de fǎ zé zhī yī 。”
“想必有些人也已经发现了，这所谓的怪病，之所以这么令人防不胜防。完全是因为，它也是天地间，新生的法则之一。”
His voice was like thunder, and Li Fan and Ouyang Senior Sister looked up at Ji Changxi with shock.
“ jí suǒ wèi ， tiān dì zhī lǐ 。 ér qiě ， hé 【 fǎ bù kě tóng xiū 】 bù yí yàng 。”
“即所谓，天地之理。而且，和【法不可同修】不一样。”
Cultivator actions?
“ tā ， shì xiū shì suǒ wèi ！”
“它，是修士所为！”
Reversing the natural order of heaven and earth?
shēng ruò zhèn léi ， lǐ fán hé zhào shī jiě měng dì tái qǐ tóu ， dīng zhe jì zhǎng xī ， nǎo hǎi zhōng shà shí xiān qǐ jīng tāo hài làng 。
声若震雷，李凡和赵师姐勐地抬起头，盯着季长夕，脑海中霎时掀起惊涛骇浪。
After the transmission of cultivation methods that proved immortality, only new laws could be practiced in this world. No one had succeeded in breaking through to the realm of immortality after that.
xiū shì suǒ wèi ？
修士所为？
The Ten Immortal Dao Sects were filled with talented individuals.
nì tiān dì zhī lǐ ？
逆天地之理？
But even after decades of attempts, no so-called prodigies had managed it.
yào zhī dào ， zì cóng chuán fǎ dé zhèng cháng shēng 、 tiān dì jiān zhǐ yǒu xīn fǎ kě xiū zhī hòu 。
要知道，自从传法得证长生、天地间只有新法可修之后。
It was clear how difficult it was to reverse natural law.
shì jiān suī rán yǒng xiàn chū le dà pī de hé dào xiū shì ， dàn shì néng gòu nì tiān dì zhī lǐ ， tū pò zhì cháng shēng jìng de ， zài wú yī rén 。
世间虽然涌现出了大批的合道修士，但是能够逆天地之理，突破至长生境的，再无一人。
However, according to Master Ji's words, a cultivator had successfully attained immortality without anyone knowing?
xiān dào shí zōng ， yīng jié wú shù 。
仙道十宗，英杰无数。
Who could it be?
jǐ shí zài cháng shì ， què yī rán méi yǒu rèn hé yī wèi suǒ wèi de tiān jiāo chéng gōng 。
几十载尝试，却依然没有任何一位所谓的天骄成功。
...
kě jiàn xiǎng yào nì tiān dì zhī lǐ ， hé qí zhī nán ！
可见想要逆天地之理，何其之难！
Although the Ten Immortal Dao Sects harbored their own intentions, they kept in touch with each other. If one of their disciples broke through to the realm of immortality, even if there was no prior notification, news would surely be sent after their success.
rán ér ， xiàn zài àn jì zhǎng mén de shuō fǎ ， jìng rán yǒu xiū shì zài bù shēng bù xiǎng jiān ， chéng gōng zhèng dào zhǎng shēng le ？
然而，现在按季掌门的说法，竟然有修士在不声不响间，成功证道长生了？
Moreover, this newly attained immortal heaven sovereign seemed to have defied "diseases cannot harm cultivators."
jiū jìng shì shuí ？
究竟是谁？
Such a method that essentially went against all cultivators was definitely not the work of the Ten Immortal Dao Sects' cultivators.
xiān dào shí zōng ， suī rán gè huái guǐ tāi ， dàn shì yě bǎo chí zhe xiāo xī hù tōng 。 yǒu mén rén tū pò zhì cháng shēng jìng zhè zhǒng dà shì ， jiù suàn shì qián bú huì dǎ zhāo hū 。 děng chéng gōng jìn shēng zhī hòu ， dìng rán yě huì fā lái xùn xī ， gào zhī zhū zōng 。
仙道十宗，虽然各怀鬼胎，但是也保持着消息互通。有门人突破至长生境这种大事，就算事前不会打招呼。等成功晋升之后，定然也会发来讯息，告之诸宗。
How could one destroy oneself?
kuàng qiě ， zhè wèi xīn jìn de cháng shēng tiān zūn ， nì de sì hū hái shì “ yì bìng wú fǎ shāng jí xiū xiān zhě ”。
况且，这位新晋的长生天尊，逆的似乎还是“疫病无法伤及修仙者”。
So who had broken through to immortality and then sought to eliminate all cultivators in the world?
zhè zhǒng jìn hū gēn suǒ yǒu xiū shì wèi dí de zuò fǎ ， yě jué duì bú shì xiān dào shí zōng xiū shì de shǒu bǐ 。
这种近乎跟所有修士为敌的做法，也绝对不是仙道十宗修士的手笔。
This was an open declaration of war.
qǐ yǒu zì jǐ wèi zì jǐ jué mù de dào lǐ ？
岂有自己为自己掘墓的道理？
Not just Li Fan and Ouyang Senior Sister, but even the elders present and Master Ji exuded a faint killing intent from their eyes.
suǒ yǐ ， jiū jìng shì shén me rén ， zì jǐ jìn shēng cháng shēng jìng yě jiù suàn le 。 hái yào miè shā tiān xià suǒ yǒu xiū shì ？
所以，究竟是什么人，自己晋升长生境也就算了。还要灭杀天下所有修士？
"Find out! We must get to the bottom of this!"
zhè shì chì luǒ luǒ de tiǎo xìn hé xuān zhàn 。
这是赤裸裸的挑衅和宣战。
"Even if this person is an Immortal Heaven Sovereign, such behavior cannot be forgiven!"
bù jǐn jǐn shì lǐ fán hé zhào shī jiě 。
不仅仅是李凡和赵师姐。
"I will immediately meet with other leaders from the Immortal Sects and relay this news. As for the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance..." Master Ji paused.
dà diàn nèi zhū wèi zhǎng lǎo hé jì zhǎng xī ， yǎn zhōng yě shì nán yǐ yì zhì de ， yǒng xiàn chū sī sī shā qì 。
大殿内诸位长老和季长夕，眼中也是难以抑制的，涌现出丝丝杀气。
"I'll also send someone to inform them about this matter. We need to gauge their stance."
“ chá ！ yí dìng yào chá gè qīng qīng chǔ chǔ ！”
“查！一定要查个清清楚楚！”
"Let all the top forces in Xuanhuang gather together. I don't believe we can let such a rogue escape punishment!"
“ jiù suàn cǐ rén shì cháng shēng tiān zūn ， rú cǐ xíng jìng ， yě bù kě ráo shù ！”
“就算此人是长生天尊，如此行径，也不可饶恕！”
"While investigating the mastermind, we must also guard against this disease. Starting today, the medicine hall will operate at full capacity to ensure adequate supply of medicinal products for our sect."
“ wǒ lì mǎ huì hé xiān zōng qí tā kuí shǒu huì miàn ， jiāng zhè xiāo xī chuán dì 。 wàn xiān méng nà biān ……” jì zhǎng xī dùn le dùn 。
“我立马会和仙宗其他魁首会面，将这消息传递。万仙盟那边……”季长夕顿了顿。
"As for outside the Daoist Sect..."
“ yě pài rén jiāng zhè jiàn shì gào zhī 。 tàn tàn tā men de kǒu fēng 。”
“也派人将这件事告之。探探他们的口风。”
Master Ji hesitated slightly.
“ zhěng gè xuán huáng jiè ， zuì dǐng céng de lì liàng yì qǐ lián hé qǐ lái 。 wǒ jiù bù xìn ， hái néng ràng cǐ liáo xiāo yáo shì wài ！”
“整个玄黄界，最顶层的力量一起联合起来。我就不信，还能让此僚逍遥事外！”
"Having suffered through multiple calamities, our Daoist Sect has taken heavy losses. Self-preservation is already a struggle..."
“ zhuī chá zuì kuí huò shǒu de tóng shí ， hái yào zhù yì fáng hù cǐ bìng 。 cóng jīn tiān qǐ ， yào táng quán lì yùn zhuàn ， wù bì zuò dào wǒ men dà dào zōng nèi dān yào chōng zú gōng yìng 。”
“追查罪魁祸首的同时，还要注意防护此病。从今天起，药堂全力运转，务必做到我们大道宗内丹药充足供应。”
"Let them perish on their own."
“ zhì yú dà dào zōng zhī wài ma ……”
“至于大道宗之外嘛……”
The elders nodded in agreement with Master Ji's decision and had no objections.
jì zhǎng xī wēi wēi chí yí piàn kè 。
季长夕微微迟疑片刻。
"I will also try to find ways to alleviate the symptoms of this strange disease," Mo Ziran said with hope in his eyes.
“ jīng guò duō cì jié nàn ， wǒ men dà dào zōng yě sǔn shī cǎn zhòng 。 zì bǎo kǒng pà dōu lì yǒu bù dǎi ……”
“经过多次劫难，我们大道宗也损失惨重。自保恐怕都力有不逮……”
"If we can completely neutralize its harm, it would be like reversing natural law once more."
“ jiù yóu tā men zì shēng zì miè ba 。”
“就由他们自生自灭吧。”
Perhaps I could have a chance at immortality, he muttered.
Unknown to him, he had擅自 taken Ouyang Senior Sister's blood out of the isolated space and was examining it closely.
"Master, you!" Ouyang Senior Sister exclaimed in surprise.
"It's fine!" Ji Changxi's body was enveloped by a layer of black light.
Ouyang Senior Sister instantly recognized that this was the special divine light from the technique [Great Dao Solo Me] described in The Great Dao Scripture.
All other energy types would be converted into something controllable by oneself before their eyes when faced with such a technique.
She had briefly practiced this divine skill herself! But now...
Lowering her head, Ouyang Senior Sister carefully concealed her ambition and dissatisfaction from her eyes.
Fortunately, the senior daoists present were all focused on the blood drop in Ji Changxi's hand that was continuously surging. It seemed no one noticed anything amiss with her.
Black light continued to emerge around Ji Changxi as he surrounded the blood drop.
The black light churned while the blood drop kept being consumed.
But before Ji Changxi could analyze what was happening, a clear cough sounded beside him.
Surprise flashed across his face.
And this was only the beginning.
It seemed to trigger some chain reaction. Soon, uncontrollable coughs echoed throughout the grand hall where elite daoists gathered.
"How is that possible?!" The elders, who had personally tested the unknown illness, were all visibly shaken.
"Interesting... Interesting..."
"Wait, this seems to be..."
But among these elites of the Xuanhuang cultivation world, who had been passed down through thousands of years, they quickly applied their methods to suppress any abnormalities in their bodies. Some even took an interest and began researching it on the spot.
Seeing the elders' reactions, Li Fan and Ouyang Senior Sister exchanged glances, feeling a bit relieved.
"This disease is highly contagious and extremely dangerous. It's unprecedented! Perhaps not even the [Desolation Decree] released by Xuantian Sect at its last gasp was as terrifying," said an old man with white hair slowly.
Li Fan only knew that this person was Mo Ziran, one of the elders from the Daoist Sect who specialized in alchemy. He lived a reclusive life and didn't get involved in sect affairs. But it was rumored that even the refined purple gold pill he had consumed earlier could be made into a substandard product with seven or eight-tenths of its potency by him, despite his cultivation level.
Mo Ziran started the discussion, and other elders immediately shared their thoughts.
"This disease is all-encompassing. As long as one comes into contact with it, it will spontaneously strengthen within the cultivator's body. Minor cases are manageable, but if not suppressed in time, they can turn severe..."
"Minor cases might result in a decline of cultivation; severe cases could lead to death and loss of immortality!"
...
These words caused everyone present to look increasingly serious.
"I just tried over ten methods. While each quickly eliminated the symptoms it brought, the root force causing this disease seemed to never truly dissipate, still lurking within my body. What is its host medium? How strange..."
"We old-timers can suppress these symptoms easily, but what about our disciples inside the sect? Without medicinal aid, they might..."
"First, we have [Techniques Cannot Be Practiced Simultaneously], now this bizarre disease..."
"The path of immortality is cut off; our future looks bleak! Better to return home!"
"Lei Fanzi, with juniors present, what are you babbling about?"
...
The grand hall, the most solemn and dignified place, was suddenly as noisy as a market.
Li Fan and Ouyang Senior Sister lowered their heads, not daring to show any signs of unease.
"Everyone!" At this moment, a voice rang out, drawing everyone's attention.
Silence fell instantly.
"I have an idea," Master Ji Changxi said with a serious expression.
"It seems that the so-called strange disease is so hard to guard against precisely because it is one of the new laws born in the universe."
"And unlike [Techniques Cannot Be Practiced Simultaneously], this is something done by cultivators!"
His voice was like thunder, and Li Fan and Ouyang Senior Sister looked up at Ji Changxi with shock.
Cultivator actions?
Reversing the natural order of heaven and earth?
After the transmission of cultivation methods that proved immortality, only new laws could be practiced in this world. No one had succeeded in breaking through to the realm of immortality after that.
The Ten Immortal Dao Sects were filled with talented individuals.
But even after decades of attempts, no so-called prodigies had managed it.
It was clear how difficult it was to reverse natural law.
However, according to Master Ji's words, a cultivator had successfully attained immortality without anyone knowing?
Who could it be?
...
Although the Ten Immortal Dao Sects harbored their own intentions, they kept in touch with each other. If one of their disciples broke through to the realm of immortality, even if there was no prior notification, news would surely be sent after their success.
Moreover, this newly attained immortal heaven sovereign seemed to have defied "diseases cannot harm cultivators."
Such a method that essentially went against all cultivators was definitely not the work of the Ten Immortal Dao Sects' cultivators.
How could one destroy oneself?
So who had broken through to immortality and then sought to eliminate all cultivators in the world?
This was an open declaration of war.
Not just Li Fan and Ouyang Senior Sister, but even the elders present and Master Ji exuded a faint killing intent from their eyes.
"Find out! We must get to the bottom of this!"
"Even if this person is an Immortal Heaven Sovereign, such behavior cannot be forgiven!"
"I will immediately meet with other leaders from the Immortal Sects and relay this news. As for the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance..." Master Ji paused.
"I'll also send someone to inform them about this matter. We need to gauge their stance."
"Let all the top forces in Xuanhuang gather together. I don't believe we can let such a rogue escape punishment!"
"While investigating the mastermind, we must also guard against this disease. Starting today, the medicine hall will operate at full capacity to ensure adequate supply of medicinal products for our sect."
"As for outside the Daoist Sect..."
Master Ji hesitated slightly.
"Having suffered through multiple calamities, our Daoist Sect has taken heavy losses. Self-preservation is already a struggle..."
"Let them perish on their own."
The elders nodded in agreement with Master Ji's decision and had no objections.
"I will also try to find ways to alleviate the symptoms of this strange disease," Mo Ziran said with hope in his eyes.
"If we can completely neutralize its harm, it would be like reversing natural law once more."
Perhaps I could have a chance at immortality, he muttered.