Chapter 841

Time seemed to come to a standstill.

The cultivators present struggled with their inner conflicts.

After a long silence, He Zhenghao was the first to make a decision.

He said in a deep voice, "I am willing to give it a try!"

"After all, I’m just a minor island guardian. If I abandon my post, there’s nothing to regret!"

A long-lost radiance appeared in He Zhenghao’s eyes. "Now that I have the support of the Mutual Aid Association, I’ve gained access to a Nascent Soul cultivation technique ahead of time."

"Reaching the Golden Core stage is within reach, and attaining Nascent Soul will be just as easy."

"If I can enter the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance's Central Prefecture as a Golden Core cultivator…"

"My future prospects will be vastly different from staying in the Congyun Sea region!"

Perhaps he was trying to convince himself, or maybe he was attempting to persuade the others.

He Zhenghao’s tone was firm and full of persuasion.

With someone leading the way, three more cultivators made the same decision.

However, that was the extent of it.

The majority of the cultivators lacked the courage and confidence to abandon their current stable positions and challenge themselves once more.

After all, even though they had access to leaked exam questions…

The jade slip provided by Ji Shaoli contained an overwhelming amount of content.

Whether they could memorize it all was still uncertain.

There was a huge difference between rote memorization and true mastery.

With the grand examination fast approaching, there simply wasn’t enough time for full preparation.

To put it bluntly, the probability of success was too low.

However, out of the eleven people present, four were willing to take the gamble.

This ratio slightly exceeded Ji Shaoli’s expectations.

He laughed heartily, looking at the four with admiration, clapping his hands as he praised, "Rest assured, you will never regret today's decision."

"Before the grand examination, stay on the island and prepare. I will provide you with the necessary assistance."

The four of them were overjoyed.

Meanwhile, the remaining cultivators, upon seeing Ji Shaoli’s confident demeanor, couldn't help but feel a tinge of regret.

Sensing their hesitation, Ji Shaoli reassured them.

"The Congyun Sea still needs people to watch over it. Choosing to stay and develop here is not wrong."

Only then did the others feel at ease.

Tianling Prefecture.

Li Fan and his two companions had already returned to the vicinity of the entrance to the Five Elements Great Cave-Heaven.

The earthquake in Qiling Prefecture had drawn the attention of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance.

Along the way, they avoided drawing any notice.

The process of relocating the Five Elements Great Cave-Heaven’s passageway was carried out in complete secrecy.

After all, Dao Integration cultivators were already at the pinnacle of the normal cultivation hierarchy.

With Lin Ling and Tianyang working together—alongside Li Fan, an expert in formations—it was effortless to evade detection by the cultivators of Tianling Prefecture.

"We are merely shifting the passageway’s entrance, moving it into the Spiritwood Realm. We're not actually changing the Cave-Heaven’s location."

"Strictly speaking, this is somewhat risky."

"If we are discovered, the Spiritwood Realm itself could be exposed."

"However, once I completely devour the Five Elements Great Cave-Heaven, this risk will naturally disappear."

The spatial records of Tianling Prefecture had already been fully documented.

Now, only one person needed to return to the Spiritwood Realm.

Once inside, they would complete the connection of the passageway.

Sending Lin Ling on this trip wouldn’t take long.

However…

Li Fan cast an unintentional glance at Lin Ling.

Ever since they had stepped foot in Tianling Prefecture, she had seemed restless, her expression unfocused.

"Lin Ling, what’s wrong? Why do I feel like your heart is in turmoil?"

Li Fan transmitted the question through voice transmission.

"Master…"

Lin Ling’s tone carried a trace of panic. After hesitating for a moment, she carefully explained, “There seems to be an ominous presence here.”

“It feels somewhat similar to the Mother Tree that the Ancient Earth-vein Tree senior warned us to avoid as much as possible…”

Li Fan’s pupils suddenly contracted upon hearing this.

“Ruomu?”

In an instant, this name surfaced in his mind.

Back in the 115th cycle, he had encountered an incarnation of Ruomu in Tianling Prefecture by sheer coincidence—Daoist Withering Wood.

Now that Lin Ling had once again sensed Ruomu’s presence in this place, it was not surprising.

However, what truly unsettled Li Fan was this—

If Lin Ling could sense Ruomu, did that mean Ruomu could also perceive Lin Ling’s existence?

A chilling sensation surged through his heart.

Li Fan immediately ordered Tianyang to escort Lin Ling out of Tianling Prefecture as quickly as possible. Once she was safely sent back, Tianyang could return.

Tianyang obeyed without hesitation.

As the two departed, the fear gripping Li Fan gradually subsided.

“That sense of impending danger just now wasn’t an illusion.”

“Lin Ling must have truly fallen into Ruomu’s sight.”

“But whether it was sheer luck or some unknown reason, Ruomu chose not to act.”

Only after receiving Tianyang’s confirmation that he and Lin Ling had safely returned to the Realm of Spiritwood did Li Fan finally breathe a sigh of relief.

In his eyes, Ruomu’s threat surpassed even that of the Heavenly Doctor.

After all, both Ruomu and Mr. Bai were the only two beings he had encountered so far who could suppress him to the point where even his most profound techniques were rendered useless.

“Surviving last time was pure luck.”

“If there’s a next time, I’m not sure the outcome will be the same.”

“Against such an ancient and terrifying existence, it’s best to avoid it whenever possible.”

As Li Fan awaited Tianyang’s return, he silently contemplated.

Without Lin Ling’s earth-vein powers aiding Tianyang, his solitary escape was much slower.

Additionally, he had to avoid being detected by passing cultivators, further reducing his speed.

While patiently waiting, a sudden realization struck Li Fan.

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“Ruomu harbors immense hatred toward cultivators.”

“From time to time, it deceives and captures them, using them as tools to produce Golden Cores.”

“Yet, its incarnation, Daoist Withering Wood, rarely manifests in the world. At least during the 115th cycle, when Ximen Yu sought it out based on my guidance, he failed to find any trace of it.”

“The last time Ruomu revealed itself was due to the outbreak of a great war in Tianling Prefecture, where countless cultivators perished.”

“Could its appearance this time also be linked to a massive number of cultivator deaths?”

Li Fan’s gaze flickered with thought.

With Ruomu’s cultivation level, if it merely wanted to abduct cultivators, it wouldn’t need to personally manifest an incarnation or waste words convincing them.

From Li Fan’s perspective, Ruomu actually enjoyed the process—

Watching as cultivators gradually lost themselves in its words.

Until, in the end, they willingly hung from its branches, becoming eternal vessels for cultivating Golden Cores.

Ruomu, whose heart was consumed by hatred, must have found unparalleled joy in such moments.

“Perhaps, to it, this is no different from how we humans celebrate joyous occasions with a drink.”

Li Fan secretly speculated.

“Now that Ruomu has resurfaced, it likely signals another impending mass death of cultivators.”

“Even if it hasn’t happened yet, Ruomu must have already sensed the signs.”

Just as Li Fan’s mind was wandering, Tianyang finally returned, albeit later than expected.

After some effort, he successfully altered the entrance to the Five Elements Great Cave-Heaven.

Only when the lingering spatial fluctuations at the site completely dissipated did Li Fan finally leave.

Before departing, he took the extra precaution of casting a secret technique to seal any remaining abnormalities in the area.