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第九十九章 你强我更强

"Why is that so?" Li Fan was taken aback, asking with some surprise.

"Didn't you say it was just a den for Golden Core cultivators? How come even Great Foundation cultivators have fallen?"

Yuwen Xing shook his head. "No one knows the exact situation now. However, the entrance to that den has been temporarily sealed off to prevent more unaware people from entering and dying."

After saying this, Yuwen Xing sighed again. "There are only a dozen or so Great Foundation cultivators on Ten Thousand Immortals Island. The loss of just one is quite significant."

"Let alone the four Golden Core cultivators and thirteen Foundation Establishment cultivators who perished in both expeditions."

"Now the island isn't peaceful at all. With so many cultivators deceased, their positions have become vacant. To vie for these lucrative posts, various factions are starting to secretly compete with each other."

"The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance has also restarted its investigation of Zheng Xiaoyun. This time, it's the Senior Elder Gong Sun from the Celestial Oracle Hall who is personally leading the charge. It remains to be seen if they can uncover anything substantial."

"Troubled times indeed..."

Seeing that Yuwen Xing seemed worried for another reason, Li Fan didn't dare ask rashly since he hadn't spoken about it.

After a few more pleasantries, Li Fan returned to Ten Thousand Immortals Island through the teleportation array.

The atmosphere on the island had become much more serious. The faces of passing cultivators no longer held their previous ease.

After some inquiries, Li Fan learned why Yuwen Xing looked so worried. It turned out that Yuwen Xing's powerful patron was none other than the fallen True Monarch Gouxuan.

It was precisely because of this connection that he had managed to defeat many competitors and become the guardian of Lustrous Isle.

Now his position was still warm, but his powerful patron had already fallen.

No wonder he looked so worried.

"Great Foundation cultivators have perished. That den must indeed be perilous."

"It seems Master He's remains won't be retrieved anytime soon."

Li Fan originally thought that way. However, a few days later, things seemed to take a turn for the better.

The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance had released its investigation results. The Golden Core cultivator named Zheng Xiaoyun was in the clear.

The reason he could survive during his first expedition as only a Golden Core cultivator was that the den's mechanisms hadn't yet reached their full strength.

During his second expedition, with Great Foundation cultivators, the mechanisms had suddenly become powerful enough to kill him.

In reality, the mechanisms in Tianyang True Monarch's den possessed an unusual trait: they adapted based on the strength of those facing them—weakness begets weakness, and strength begets strength.

When Zheng Xiaoyun led the first expedition, the mechanisms only displayed Golden Core cultivator power. With his own strength and the distraction provided by five Foundation Establishment cultivators, he managed to survive.

But when Gouxuan True Monarch led the second expedition, the mechanisms suddenly became powerful enough for Great Foundation cultivators.

Dozens of Great Foundation cultivators burst forth simultaneously, catching everyone off guard.

The second expedition team was completely wiped out in an instant.

Of course, the mechanisms' "strength begets strength" had its limits. But where exactly did these mechanisms now stand?

It was hard to say.

Although Tianyang True Monarch's pre-mortem cultivation level was only Golden Core, he had set up his den within a submarine volcano before his death.

Over thousands of years, those mechanisms continuously absorbed the heat from the volcanic activity, turning a live volcano into a dead one.

Now that the volcanic activity has resumed, it might mean that after all these years, the mechanisms have grown to their full strength.

Ancient mechanism techniques had been lost for ages. It was hard to gauge how powerful these fully-grown mechanisms would be.

But considering that in the era before the Great Tribulation when even Great Foundation cultivators were considered worthless, such mechanisms must not be weak either.

At least they should have reached the level of Great Foundation, and possibly even Transcendence.

So...

Gouxuan True Monarch died unjustly indeed.

After all, who would have thought that a mere Golden Core den could harbor such terrifying combat power?

The official announcement from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance immediately lifted the gloom hanging over Ten Thousand Immortals Island.

People were generally convinced by this investigation result because Senior Elder Gong Sun of the Celestial Oracle Hall was known for his ability to divine fate and discern cause and effect.

His conclusions usually aligned closely with reality.

Thus, the dozens of Qi Condensation cultivators in Cunyun Sea became excited.

A dozen Great Foundation mechanisms were indeed terrifying.

But a dozen Qi Condensation mechanisms...

They had no deterrent at all.

If they could bring even one mechanism back...

Countless Qi Condensation cultivators began to daydream and feel心动: heartbeats (as in feeling excited or attracted) (heart-moving).

So, they started clamoring for a third expedition into Tianyang True Monarch's den.

Even Li Fan was tempted by this news.

In the Qi Condensation realm, he wasn't almost invincible?

Lower realm techniques like the Binding Insect Technique could easily capture him.

For fellow Qi Condensation cultivators of the same后期: later period (later stage), he had numerous methods such as the Formless Killing Ambition and Cloud Water Illusory Dream.

Li Fan didn't believe that there were any stronger cultivators in Cunyun Sea.

So, why not explore this den?

Li Fan was tempted for a moment but then thought better of it.

If these mechanisms truly only adapted based on strength, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance could easily gather a group of later-stage Qi Condensation cultivators to breach the den and bring back all the mechanisms.

With dozens more Great Foundation-level combat power mechanisms, how could the alliance pass up such an opportunity?

The only explanation was that there must be other peculiarities within this den.

The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance wasn't sure about it either.

So, they chose to let these numerous Qi Condensation cultivators risk their lives to explore the path.

Li Fan had heard of Senior Elder Gong Sun before. When he completed the reward for the Beast Dragon Whale, the elder had investigated and found that its direct cause of death was being attacked by several deep-sea monsters, depleting its life force.

But he failed to uncover the root cause—Li Fan's Formless Killing Ambition.

So Li Fan believed that Senior Elder Gong Sun could indeed divine fate.

However, like a blind man feeling an elephant, his conclusions were partial and incomplete.

This was understood not just by Li Fan but by others as well.

After the initial excitement wore off, everyone quickly calmed down. But some still held onto侥幸: lucky chance (lucky) beliefs that they were destined to succeed.

Approximately thirty people joined forces for a third expedition into Tianyang's den.

Li Fan simply re-posted He Zhenghao's remains reward mission and waited with interest.

Ten days later, the expedition team returned in disarray.

Most of them managed to escape.

In their tearful recounting, everyone watching also learned what had happened inside the den.

These seventeen mechanisms were too powerful!

Their bodies seemed made from some unknown material, incredibly sturdy. No spells could leave any trace or damage on them.

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