mǎn dì de lǜ sè nián yè ， zài sī mǎ cháng kōng sǐ hòu ， què fǎng fú réng rán yǒu zhe zì wǒ yì shí 。
满地的绿色粘液，在司马长空死后，却仿佛仍然有着自我意识。
The green sticky fluid spread across the ground, seemingly retaining some form of consciousness even after司马长空's death.
xiàng rú chóng bān ， cháo zhe zhōu wéi huǎn huǎn pá dòng 。
像蠕虫般，朝着周围缓缓爬动。
Like worms, it slowly crawled around, corroding the hard crystal palace floor with a "zizz zizz" sound.
lián shuǐ jīng gōng jiān yìng de dì miàn ， dōu zài lǜ sè nián yè de fǔ shí xià ， fā chū “ zī zī zī ” de shēng xiǎng 。
连水晶宫坚硬的地面，都在绿色黏液的腐蚀下，发出“滋滋滋”的声响。
Seeing this rather disturbing scene, Li Fan couldn't help but take in a sharp breath.
kàn dào zhè pǒ wèi jīng sǒng de yí mù ， lǐ fán bù jīn àn zì xī le kǒu liáng qì 。
看到这颇为惊悚的一幕，李凡不禁暗自吸了口凉气。
"Such an imposing Xuan Network!"
“ hǎo bà dào de xuán wǎng ！”
“好霸道的玄网！”
"It actually managed to kill its target by following the carrier it wanted to record."
“ jìng rán néng shùn zhuó xiǎng yào jì lù tā de zài tǐ ， jiāng mù biāo zhū shā 。”
“竟然能顺着想要记录它的载体，将目标诛杀。”
"Wait..." Realizing something, Li Fan's expression changed.
“ děng děng ……” hū rán yì shí dào le shén me ， lǐ fán miàn sè yī biàn 。
“等等……”忽然意识到了什么，李凡面色一变。
He took out a blood-red spirit token from his storage ring and focused his intent: "Friend Daoist司马, are you okay?"
cóng chǔ wù jiè zhōng tāo chū yī méi xuè hóng sè líng fú ， jí zhōng yì niàn ：“ sī mǎ dào yǒu ， nǐ hái hǎo ma ？”
从储物戒中掏出一枚血红色灵符，集中意念：“司马道友，你还好吗？”
After a long wait, there was still no response.
děng le xǔ jiǔ ， què dōu méi yǒu sī háo huí yìng 。
等了许久，却都没有丝毫回应。
"Trouble. It seems all the clones have been destroyed," Li Fan's face twitched again.
“ huài le ， zhè shì lián suǒ yǒu de fēn shēn dōu yì qǐ méi le 。” lǐ fán liǎn pí zài dù chōu le chōu 。
“坏了，这是连所有的分身都一起没了。”李凡脸皮再度抽了抽。
The Xuan Network's hunting ability was truly terrifying.
zhè xuán wǎng de zhuī shā néng lì shí zài shì qiáng de kě pà 。
这玄网的追杀能力实在是强的可怕。
Originally, he thought only one clone of Congyunhai had been destroyed, but now...
yuán běn lǐ fán hái yǐ wéi zhǐ shì cóng yún hǎi de zhè yī jù fēn shēn bèi huǐ ， xiàn zài kàn lái ……
原本李凡还以为只是丛云海的这一具分身被毁，现在看来……
Masa Longkong was likely in grave danger.
sī mǎ cháng kōng shì xiōng duō jí shǎo le 。
司马长空是凶多吉少了。
This blood-colored communication spirit token was specially refined by Masa Longkong with his own essence.
zhè xuè sè tōng xùn líng fú ， nǎi shì sī mǎ cháng kōng jiā rù zì shēn jīng xuè ， tè shū liàn zhì ér chéng 。
这血色通讯灵符，乃是司马长空加入自身精血，特殊炼制而成。
As long as any of the "split-blood clones" existed, Li Fan could contact Masa Longkong through it.
zhǐ yào shì jiān shàng yǒu rèn yì yī jù 【 fēn xuè huà shēn 】 cún zài ， lǐ fán dōu kě yǐ píng jiè qí lián xì dào sī mǎ cháng kōng 。
只要世间尚有任意一具【分血化身】存在，李凡都可以凭借其联系到司马长空。
But now, all his communications were like stones thrown into an abyss.
dàn xiàn zài ， lǐ fán fā chū de tōng xùn jiē dōu shí chén dà hǎi 。
但现在，李凡发出的通讯皆都石沉大海。
The result was clear.
jié guǒ yǐ jīng xiǎn ér yì jiàn le 。
结果已经显而易见了。
Masa Longkong and Li Fan's drinking and philosophical discussions still vividly lingered in his mind.
sī mǎ cháng kōng hé lǐ fán tòng yǐn 、 lùn dào de yīn róng xiào mào hái lì lì zài mù 。
司马长空和李凡痛饮、论道的音容笑貌还历历在目。
He couldn't believe that life was so unpredictable.
bù xiǎng rén shēng wú cháng ， shuō méi jiù méi 。
不想人生无常，说没就没。
"Masa Longkong, may you rest in peace! Next time, I'll find you for another drink!"
“ sī mǎ cháng kōng ， yī lù zǒu hǎo ！ xià yī shì ， zài zhǎo nǐ hē jiǔ ！”
“司马长空，一路走好！下一世，再找你喝酒！”
Li Fan felt no sadness but merely shook his head slightly as he activated the Five Elements Annihilation Sword to destroy the underwater crystal palace, treating it as Masa Longkong's makeshift tomb.
lǐ fán xīn zhōng dǎo shì méi yǒu shén me bēi qī gǎn ， zhǐ shì wēi wēi yáo tóu ， fā dòng wǔ xíng jì miè jiàn 、 jiāng hǎi dǐ shuǐ jīng gōng cuī huǐ ， dàng zuò sī mǎ cháng kōng de jiǎn yì mù xué 。
李凡心中倒是没有什么悲戚感，只是微微摇头，发动五行寂灭剑、将海底水晶宫摧毁，当做司马长空的简易墓穴。
"Such a high level..."
“ jū rán néng zuò dào zhè zhǒng chéng dù ……”
“居然能做到这种程度……”
"It has more offensive power than the Xuan Network from my previous life."
“ gōng jī xìng bǐ qǐ shàng yī shì wǒ jì yì zhōng de xuán wǎng ， dōu yào shèng guò jǐ fēn 。”
“攻击性比起上一世我记忆中的玄网，都要胜过几分。”
"It can't be anything unfinished." Li Fan's face darkened slightly.
“ jué bú shì shén me bàn chéng pǐn 。” lǐ fán miàn sè lüè wēi yǒu xiē yīn chén 。
“绝不是什么半成品。”李凡面色略微有些阴沉。
Since anchoring for nine years and having all the state-level astrologers and strategists above Foundation Establishment summoned to the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance headquarters, they had remained silent.
zì cóng máo dìng 9 nián ， gè zhōu tiān jī 、 cè zhèn táng yuán yīng jí yǐ shàng xiū shì bèi chōu diào qù wàn xiān méng zǒng bù hòu ， tā men jiù yì zhí yǎo wú yīn xùn 。
自从锚定9年，各州天机、策阵堂元婴及以上修士被抽调去万仙盟总部后，他们就一直杳无音讯。
Later, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance issued a recruitment order, gathering all the talented array dao practitioners from across the land.
hòu lái wàn xiān méng gèng shì fā bù zhēng xián lìng ， jǐn lǎn tiān xià zhèn dào jùn jié 。
后来万仙盟更是发布征贤令，尽揽天下阵道俊杰。
Four years had passed. It seemed they had achieved some results.
rú jīn yǐ jīng guò qù sì nián ， kàn lái tā men yīng gāi shì yǒu chéng guǒ wèn shì le 。
如今已经过去四年，看来他们应该是有成果问世了。
"The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance has already revealed its trump card. Now we'll see how the Five Elders Council will respond."
“ wàn xiān méng yǐ jīng liàng chū shā zhāo le ， jiù kàn wǔ lǎo huì jiē xià lái gāi zěn me yìng duì le 。”
“万仙盟已经亮出杀招了，就看五老会接下来该怎么应对了。”
"Given my advance warning, they shouldn't be without any countermeasures," Li Fan thought.
“ yǒu wǒ tí qián tōng fēng bào xìn ， tā men yīng gāi bù zhì yú yì diǎn fǎn zhì shǒu duàn dōu méi yǒu cái shì 。”
“有我提前通风报信，他们应该不至于一点反制手段都没有才是。”
Unfortunately, the battlefield in Tianling State was too dangerous for even Masa Longkong's clone to survive.
“ kě xī tiān líng zhōu zhàn chǎng tài guò wēi xiǎn ， wéi yī néng xiàn chǎng zhí bō de sī mǎ dào yǒu yě yǐ jīng bù xìng shēng sǐ 。”
“可惜天灵州战场太过危险，唯一能现场直播的司马道友也已经不幸生死。”
He couldn't know the full details of the battle.
“ jù tǐ zhàn kuàng ， què shì bù néng jǐn zhī liǎo 。”
“具体战况，却是不能尽知了。”
Li Fan felt a slight sense of regret.
lǐ fán xīn zhōng wēi wēi yǒu diǎn yí hàn 。
李凡心中微微有点遗憾。
But he could confirm that with such a powerful weapon like the Xuan Network out, the war in Tianling State would likely end soon.
bù guò kě yǐ què dìng de shì ， xuán wǎng zhè děng dà shā qì yī chū ， tiān líng zhōu zhī zhàn lí chè dǐ jié shù ， yīng gāi yǐ jīng bù yuǎn le 。
不过可以确定的是，玄网这等大杀器一出，天灵州之战离彻底结束，应该已经不远了。
"Quicker than expected."
“ bǐ yù xiǎng zhōng de yào kuài yī xiē 。”
“比预想中的要快一些。”
"But it's good for me. I've already reached Golden Core Perfection and am ready for anything."
“ bù guò duì wǒ lái shuō ， què shì hǎo shì 。 rú jīn wǒ yǐ jīng jīn dān yuán mǎn ， wàn shì jù bèi 。”
“不过对我来说，却是好事。如今我已经金丹圆满，万事俱备。”
"I just need to wait until the war ends and the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance moves its Five Elements Grand Void Heaven back to the homeland before I go to Tianling State to investigate," Li Fan thought.
“ zhǐ děng zhàn zhēng jié shù ， wàn xiān méng bǎ wǔ xíng dà dòng tiān qiān huí fù dì ， wǒ jiù qù tiān líng zhōu xū kōng yī tàn jiū jìng 。”
“只等战争结束，万仙盟把五行大洞天迁回腹地，我就去天灵州虚空一探究竟。”
Feedback from his subordinates in Congyunhai continued to flow into his dantian, stored within the [Purgatory Body].
lái zì cóng yún hǎi zhū duō xià shǔ de fǎn kuì xiū wèi ， yī jiù yuán yuán bù duàn de liú rù lǐ fán dān tián ， bèi cún chǔ zài 【 jié shēn 】 zhī zhōng 。
来自丛云海诸多下属的反馈修为，依旧源源不断的流入李凡丹田，被存储在【劫身】之中。
The first Purgatory Body had already condensed halfway.
rú jīn dì yī jù jié shēn yǐ rán níng jié dà bàn 。
如今第一具劫身已然凝结大半。
Li Fan estimated his rate of cultivation and said to himself: "If I step into Foundation Establishment Realm tomorrow, I might break through to Foundation Establishment Middle Stage instantly."
lǐ fán yù gū zhe zì shēn xiū wèi zēng zhǎng de sù dù ， xīn zhōng àn dào ：“ ruò shì wǒ yī zhāo tà rù yuán yīng jìng ， pà bú shì qǐng kè jiù yào chōng jī yuán yīng zhōng qī le 。”
李凡预估着自身修为增长的速度，心中暗道：“若是我一朝踏入元婴境，怕不是顷刻就要冲击元婴中期了。”
He shook his head, putting away such thoughts for now.
yáo yáo tóu ， jiāng huàn xiǎng zàn qiě pāo què 。
摇摇头，将幻想暂且抛却。
Before the war ended, he still needed to survive.
zhàn zhēng shàng wèi jié shù zhī qián ， hái shì yào jì xù gǒu zhe 。
战争尚未结束之前，还是要继续苟着。
Deciding not to seek out other places, Li Fan skillfully activated the Five Elements Annihilation Sword and carved a cave deep in the trench.
suǒ xìng yě bù zài qù zhǎo qí tā qù chù ， lǐ fán shú liàn de fā dòng wǔ xíng jì miè jiàn ， zài hǎi gōu shēn chù ， kāi záo chū le yī chù dòng fǔ 。
索性也不再去找其他去处，李凡熟练的发动五行寂灭剑，在海沟深处，开凿出了一处洞府。
Using arrays and the [Sky-Blocking Technique] to seal it off, he felt somewhat relieved.
yòng zhèn fǎ yǐ jí 【 zhǐ shǒu zhē tiān 】 mì shù jiāng cǐ chù fēng bì ， cái gǎn dào xīn xià shāo ān 。
用阵法以及【只手遮天】秘术将此处封闭，才感到心下稍安。
In the past year, Li Fan had also visited the Fallen Heaven Realm.
guò qù yī nián zhōng ， lǐ fán yě céng qù le tàng yǔn xiān jìng 。
过去一年中，李凡也曾去了趟陨仙境。
But after returning from Mount Nanying's demon mountains to Beast Taming Sect, the journey was too long.
zhǐ shì zì nán míng yāo shān fǎn huí yù shòu zōng ， shí zài lù tú yáo yuǎn 。
只是自南冥妖山返回御兽宗，实在路途遥远。
Most of that trip was spent traveling.
nà yī cì yǔn xiān jìng zhī lǚ de jué dà duō shù shí jiān ， dōu shì zài gǎn lù zhōng dù guò 。
那一次陨仙境之旅的绝大多数时间，都是在赶路中度过。
Li Fan, possessing a black clone, diligently practiced the refined version of The Art of Creation Furnace by Mr. Bai, finding it not tedious at all.
lǐ fán fù shēn xiǎo hēi ， qián xīn xiū xíng jīng guò bái xiān shēng gǎi liáng de 《 zào huà hōng lú gōng 》， dào yě bù jué dé fán mèn 。
李凡附身小黑，潜心修行经过白先生改良的《造化烘炉功》，倒也不觉得烦闷。
When Xiao Qing and Xu Ke returned with him, he found Lu Ya and Di Sansom were nowhere to be seen.
děng xiǎo qīng zài zhe tā hé xǔ kè huí dào zōng mén nèi hòu ， què fā xiàn lù yá hé dì sān mò ， quán dōu bù zhī qù le hé chù 。
等小青载着他和许克回到宗门内后，却发现陆涯和帝叁貘，全都不知去了何处。
They still hadn't appeared until Li Fan left.
yì zhí dào lǐ fán lí kāi ， tā men yě hái méi yǒu chū xiàn 。
一直到李凡离开，他们也还没有出现。
"There's still about half a year before my next entry."
“ lí xià cì yī jìn rù ， yīng gāi hái yǒu dà bàn nián de shí jiān 。”
“离下次一进入，应该还有大半年的时间。”
"I'll prepare for Foundation Establishment," Li Fan thought as the light from the Dao Stone in his mind flickered, bringing back all the key insights on Foundation Establishment he had read previously.
“ xiān wèi jié yīng zuò zhǔn bèi ba 。”
“先为结婴做准备吧。”
Re-reading them and comparing notes, Li Fan felt he gained more insight.
nǎo hǎi zhōng huà dào shí guāng máng liú zhuǎn ， guò wǎng yuè dú guò de zhū duō jié yīng jīng yào xīn dé ， jǐn jiē chóng xīn fú xiàn 。
脑海中化道石光芒流转，过往阅读过的诸多结婴精要心得，尽皆重新浮现。
Time passed quickly.
cǐ fān chóng dú ， xiāng hù yìn zhèng 、 bǐ duì ， lǐ fán zhǐ jué zì shēn yòu yǒu shōu huò 。
此番重读，相互印证、比对，李凡只觉自身又有收获。
Three months had already gone by while Li Fan was immersed in meditation and enlightenment.
xiū xíng wú suì yuè 。
修行无岁月。
On this day, a clone of Zhou Qingang suddenly received an invitation.
zhuǎn yǎn jiān ， sān gè yuè shí jiān jiù yǐ jīng guò qù 。
转眼间，三个月时间就已经过去。
"Li Yihang?" Li Fan's expression changed.
jiù zài lǐ fán běn zūn xīn shén chén jìn ， bì guān wù dào de shí hòu 。
就在李凡本尊心神沉浸，闭关悟道的时候。
The True Treasure Cauldron of Medicine King hadn't returned yet.
zhè yī tiān ， fēn shēn zhōu qīng áng què shì hū de shōu dào le yī zhāng bài tiē 。
这一天，分身周青昂却是忽的收到了一张拜帖。
Clearly, this Li Yihang couldn't be the son of Medicine King Zhenru Chen.
“ liǔ yī háng ？” lǐ fán shén sè yī dòng 。
“柳一航？”李凡神色一动。
"So, it must be from the Five Elders Council," Li Fan thought.
yào wáng zhēn dǐng shàng wèi huí guī 。
药王真鼎尚未回归。
During their last transaction, Li Fan had asked the Five Elders Council to use the name Li Yihang and transfer one million contributions to He Zhenghao.
xiǎn rán zhè ge liǔ yī háng ， bù kě néng shì nà wèi yào wáng zōng zhǔ liǔ rú chén de yì zi 。
显然这个柳一航，不可能是那位药王宗主柳如尘的义子。
He Zhenghao's fundraising list indeed included the name Li Yihang.
“ nà me ， yīng gāi jiù shì wǔ lǎo huì de rén le 。” lǐ fán shén sè yī dòng 。
“那么，应该就是五老会的人了。”李凡神色一动。
"Clearly, something urgent must have happened."
shàng yī cì de jiāo yì zhōng ， lǐ fán yāo qiú wǔ lǎo huì ， yǐ liǔ yī háng de huà míng ， bǎ yī qiān wàn gòng xiàn dù jiāo gěi hé zhèng hào 。
上一次的交易中，李凡要求五老会，以柳一航的化名，把一千万贡献度交给何正浩。
"He didn't leave any contact information before. Now he risks exposure just to come find me," Li Fan thought as he opened the invitation, memorizing the meeting address and then using his spiritual energy to destroy it.
hé zhèng hào zhè biān de mù zī míng lù shàng ， yě dí què chū xiàn le liǔ yī háng de míng zì 。
何正浩这边的募资名录上，也的确出现了柳一航的名字。
Late at night, alone and silently, he went to meet.
“ kàn lái yí dìng shì yù dào shí fēn jǐn jí zhī shì le 。”
“看来一定是遇到十分紧急之事了。”
In the northwest of Congyun Immortal City, five hundred miles away, a human island without any cultivators.
“ zhī qián méi liú lián xì fāng shì ， zhè cì jū rán mào zhe bào lù de wēi xiǎn ， zhí jiē zhǎo shàng mén lái 。”
“之前没留联系方式，这次居然冒着暴露的危险，直接找上门来。”
At the center of the island was a bamboo grove with a thatched cottage inside. Li Fan entered and saw the figure before him, his eyes narrowing.
lǐ fán dǎ kāi bài tiē ， jiāng shàng miàn de yuē jiàn dì zhǐ jì zài xīn zhōng ， suí hòu líng lì yùn zhuàn 、 jiāng qí xiāo huǐ 。
李凡打开拜帖，将上面的约见地址记在心中，随后灵力运转、将其销毁。
"It's him."
dài dào shēn yè ， gū shēn yī rén 、 qiǎo rán fù yuē 。
待到深夜，孤身一人、悄然赴约。
Although the other party used secret techniques to conceal their appearance, Li Fan recognized them immediately; it was the Five Elders Council representative who had handled the transaction for the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's new recruit exam at the藏宝阁.
cóng yún xiān chéng xī běi wǔ bǎi lǐ ， yī chù méi yǒu xiū xiān zhě zhèn shǒu de fán rén dǎo yǔ 。
丛云仙城西北五百里，一处没有修仙者镇守的凡人岛屿。
"How should I address you?"
dǎo shàng zhōng yāng ， yǒu yī piàn zhú lín 。
岛上中央，有一片竹林。
"Last time we met, I couldn't even detect that you weren't truly Zhou Qingang."
zhú lín zhōng chù lì zhe yī zuò máo wū ， lǐ fán zǒu jìn qí zhōng ， kàn zhuó yǎn qián de zhè dào rén yǐng ， mù guāng yī níng 。
竹林中矗立着一座茅屋，李凡走进其中，看着眼前的这道人影，目光一凝。
"Haha, when the leader told me, I was really scared," the other party said with an unfriendly tone.
“ shì tā 。”
“是他。”
"Did you come all this way just to ask this question?"
suī rán duì fāng yòng mì fǎ zhē yǎn de róng mào ， dàn shì lǐ fán réng rán yī yǎn jiù rèn le chū lái ， cǐ rén zhèng shì zhī qián zài wàn cáng gé zhōng jiāo yì 【 wàn xiān méng rù zhí dà kǎo 】 de wǔ lǎo huì jiē tóu rén 。
虽然对方用秘法遮掩的容貌，但是李凡仍然一眼就认了出来，此人正是之前在万藏阁中交易【万仙盟入职大考】的五老会接头人。
"Boring!" Li Fan coldly snorted and turned to leave.
“ wǒ gāi zěn me chēng hū nǐ ne ？”
“我该怎么称呼你呢？”
The Five Elders Council cultivator immediately changed his expression: "Wait!"
“ shàng cì jiàn miàn zhī shí ， wǒ jū rán dōu méi néng chá jué nǐ gēn běn bú shì zhēn zhèng de zhōu qīng áng 。”
“上次见面之时，我居然都没能察觉伱根本不是真正的周青昂。”
He hurriedly stood up, blocking Li Fan, his voice softening: "Friend Daoist, let's talk properly..."
“ hē hē ， lǎo dà gào sù wǒ de shí hòu ， wǒ kě zhēn shì bèi xià dào le 。” duì fāng yǔ qì bù shàn 。
“呵呵，老大告诉我的时候，我可真是被吓到了。”对方语气不善。
Li Fan glanced at him, then sat down slowly.
“ mào zhè me dà fēng xiǎn lái zhǎo wǒ ， jiù shì wèi le wèn zhè ge wèn tí me ？”
“冒这么大风险来找我，就是为了问这个问题么？”
The Five Elders Council cultivator breathed a sigh of relief and explained the reason for inviting Li Fan.
“ wú liáo ！” lǐ fán lěng hēng yī shēng ， niǔ tóu yù zǒu 。
“无聊！”李凡冷哼一声，扭头欲走。
"Xuantian Sealing Spirit Array Diagram?"
wǔ lǎo huì xiū shì dùn shí biàn le liǎn sè ：“ qiě màn ！”
五老会修士顿时变了脸色：“且慢！”
Li Fan narrowed his eyes and firmly rejected it: "No!"
tā huāng máng qǐ shēn ， lán zhù lǐ fán ， yǔ qì ruǎn le xià lái ：“ dào yǒu yǒu huà hǎo hǎo shuō ……”
他慌忙起身，拦住李凡，语气软了下来：“道友有话好好说……”
But the Five Elders Council cultivator wasn't disappointed; instead, he saw hope: "Friend Daoist, you didn't ask what the Xuantian Sealing Spirit Array is but directly refused."
lǐ fán miē le tā yī yǎn ， fǎn shēn huǎn huǎn zuò xià 。
李凡乜了他一眼，返身缓缓坐下。
"This exactly shows that you know about it."
wǔ lǎo huì xiū shì dùn shí sōng le kǒu qì ， dào chū le cǐ cì yāo qǐng lǐ fán qián lái de mù dì 。
五老会修士顿时松了口气，道出了此次邀请李凡前来的目的。
"Please help us!" He said earnestly.
“ xuán tiān fēng líng zhèn zhèn tú ？”
“玄天封灵阵阵图？”
There's one more chapter to add later
lǐ fán yǎn jīng mī qǐ ， yī kǒu huí jué ：“ méi yǒu ！”
李凡眼睛眯起，一口回绝：“没有！”
(End of Chapter)
The green sticky fluid spread across the ground, seemingly retaining some form of consciousness even after司马长空's death.
Like worms, it slowly crawled around, corroding the hard crystal palace floor with a "zizz zizz" sound.
Seeing this rather disturbing scene, Li Fan couldn't help but take in a sharp breath.
"Such an imposing Xuan Network!"
"It actually managed to kill its target by following the carrier it wanted to record."
"Wait..." Realizing something, Li Fan's expression changed.
He took out a blood-red spirit token from his storage ring and focused his intent: "Friend Daoist司马, are you okay?"
After a long wait, there was still no response.
"Trouble. It seems all the clones have been destroyed," Li Fan's face twitched again.
The Xuan Network's hunting ability was truly terrifying.
Originally, he thought only one clone of Congyunhai had been destroyed, but now...
Masa Longkong was likely in grave danger.
This blood-colored communication spirit token was specially refined by Masa Longkong with his own essence.
As long as any of the "split-blood clones" existed, Li Fan could contact Masa Longkong through it.
But now, all his communications were like stones thrown into an abyss.
The result was clear.
Masa Longkong and Li Fan's drinking and philosophical discussions still vividly lingered in his mind.
He couldn't believe that life was so unpredictable.
"Masa Longkong, may you rest in peace! Next time, I'll find you for another drink!"
Li Fan felt no sadness but merely shook his head slightly as he activated the Five Elements Annihilation Sword to destroy the underwater crystal palace, treating it as Masa Longkong's makeshift tomb.
"Such a high level..."
"It has more offensive power than the Xuan Network from my previous life."
"It can't be anything unfinished." Li Fan's face darkened slightly.
Since anchoring for nine years and having all the state-level astrologers and strategists above Foundation Establishment summoned to the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance headquarters, they had remained silent.
Later, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance issued a recruitment order, gathering all the talented array dao practitioners from across the land.
Four years had passed. It seemed they had achieved some results.
"The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance has already revealed its trump card. Now we'll see how the Five Elders Council will respond."
"Given my advance warning, they shouldn't be without any countermeasures," Li Fan thought.
Unfortunately, the battlefield in Tianling State was too dangerous for even Masa Longkong's clone to survive.
He couldn't know the full details of the battle.
Li Fan felt a slight sense of regret.
But he could confirm that with such a powerful weapon like the Xuan Network out, the war in Tianling State would likely end soon.
"Quicker than expected."
"But it's good for me. I've already reached Golden Core Perfection and am ready for anything."
"I just need to wait until the war ends and the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance moves its Five Elements Grand Void Heaven back to the homeland before I go to Tianling State to investigate," Li Fan thought.
Feedback from his subordinates in Congyunhai continued to flow into his dantian, stored within the [Purgatory Body].
The first Purgatory Body had already condensed halfway.
Li Fan estimated his rate of cultivation and said to himself: "If I step into Foundation Establishment Realm tomorrow, I might break through to Foundation Establishment Middle Stage instantly."
He shook his head, putting away such thoughts for now.
Before the war ended, he still needed to survive.
Deciding not to seek out other places, Li Fan skillfully activated the Five Elements Annihilation Sword and carved a cave deep in the trench.
Using arrays and the [Sky-Blocking Technique] to seal it off, he felt somewhat relieved.
In the past year, Li Fan had also visited the Fallen Heaven Realm.
But after returning from Mount Nanying's demon mountains to Beast Taming Sect, the journey was too long.
Most of that trip was spent traveling.
Li Fan, possessing a black clone, diligently practiced the refined version of The Art of Creation Furnace by Mr. Bai, finding it not tedious at all.
When Xiao Qing and Xu Ke returned with him, he found Lu Ya and Di Sansom were nowhere to be seen.
They still hadn't appeared until Li Fan left.
"There's still about half a year before my next entry."
"I'll prepare for Foundation Establishment," Li Fan thought as the light from the Dao Stone in his mind flickered, bringing back all the key insights on Foundation Establishment he had read previously.
Re-reading them and comparing notes, Li Fan felt he gained more insight.
Time passed quickly.
Three months had already gone by while Li Fan was immersed in meditation and enlightenment.
On this day, a clone of Zhou Qingang suddenly received an invitation.
"Li Yihang?" Li Fan's expression changed.
The True Treasure Cauldron of Medicine King hadn't returned yet.
Clearly, this Li Yihang couldn't be the son of Medicine King Zhenru Chen.
"So, it must be from the Five Elders Council," Li Fan thought.
During their last transaction, Li Fan had asked the Five Elders Council to use the name Li Yihang and transfer one million contributions to He Zhenghao.
He Zhenghao's fundraising list indeed included the name Li Yihang.
"Clearly, something urgent must have happened."
"He didn't leave any contact information before. Now he risks exposure just to come find me," Li Fan thought as he opened the invitation, memorizing the meeting address and then using his spiritual energy to destroy it.
Late at night, alone and silently, he went to meet.
In the northwest of Congyun Immortal City, five hundred miles away, a human island without any cultivators.
At the center of the island was a bamboo grove with a thatched cottage inside. Li Fan entered and saw the figure before him, his eyes narrowing.
"It's him."
Although the other party used secret techniques to conceal their appearance, Li Fan recognized them immediately; it was the Five Elders Council representative who had handled the transaction for the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's new recruit exam at the藏宝阁.
"How should I address you?"
"Last time we met, I couldn't even detect that you weren't truly Zhou Qingang."
"Haha, when the leader told me, I was really scared," the other party said with an unfriendly tone.
"Did you come all this way just to ask this question?"
"Boring!" Li Fan coldly snorted and turned to leave.
The Five Elders Council cultivator immediately changed his expression: "Wait!"
He hurriedly stood up, blocking Li Fan, his voice softening: "Friend Daoist, let's talk properly..."
Li Fan glanced at him, then sat down slowly.
The Five Elders Council cultivator breathed a sigh of relief and explained the reason for inviting Li Fan.
"Xuantian Sealing Spirit Array Diagram?"
Li Fan narrowed his eyes and firmly rejected it: "No!"
But the Five Elders Council cultivator wasn't disappointed; instead, he saw hope: "Friend Daoist, you didn't ask what the Xuantian Sealing Spirit Array is but directly refused."
"This exactly shows that you know about it."
"Please help us!" He said earnestly.
There's one more chapter to add later
(End of Chapter)