Chapter 909

The gray mold spots seemed to have an obsession with this golden vow power.

Unlike their previous lazy, lurking state, they suddenly became extremely aggressive.

That relentless, unyielding posture—even Li Fan felt a chill run down his spine when he saw it.

If it weren’t for the inexhaustible spiritual power support from his Five Elements Great Cave-Heaven, in just this short time, the Seven-Colored Divine Light seal might already have been at risk of being broken.

“As expected of a baleful thing capable of extinguishing worlds…”

Li Fan’s heart grew cold, yet his hands did not pause as he continuously strengthened the seal.

What was at first only a thin cocoon of light was reinforced layer after layer until it became a thick sphere of radiance.

Only then did the gray mold spots lose their sense of the golden vow power, gradually calming down.

They retreated once more into the dark-golden skull, falling into dormancy.

“It seems my guess was correct. This golden vow power is indeed on the same level as the immortal seal-characters of Chaos, Hunger, and the gray mold spots.”

“In fact, for those three characters, golden vow power may very well serve as a great tonic.”

“In other words, it might even be possible to use golden vow power to manifest or reproduce the three True Immortal Seal-Characters.”

“…”

At that thought, Li Fan fell silent.

It was certainly an extremely tempting notion—but the consequences of doing so might not be something he could bear.

The destruction of the Xuanhuang World was a small matter. If it attracted the notice of True Immortals within the Immortal Ruins, or even some unknown existences beyond those mighty ones, then even [Truth] might not be able to act in time.

Li Fan still remembered clearly: in his 115th lifetime, at the very end, when a True Immortal annihilated Xuanhuang with a mere glance, and [Truth] was automatically triggered.

The surrounding scene had not immediately dissolved into illusion.

Instead, everything had fallen into an extremely peculiar state.

Beyond [Truth]’s boundary was absolute darkness, forming a circular domain.

Outside that domain, the scenes of Xuanhuang’s destruction flashed past at incredible speed.

It was obvious that, in that moment, even the power of [Truth] had been somewhat affected.

“If I were to attempt it, it must be done through a memory-severed clone… or perhaps through another’s hand. I believe there are still quite a few people in Xuanhuang who hunger for the power beyond Longevity…”

Faces flashed through Li Fan’s mind as he began plotting suitable candidates.

Meanwhile, within the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, a rather sensational event had occurred.

Of course, this “sensation” was limited to a very specific circle.

That was—the former head formation master of the Formation Hall, Lu Xichan, had returned.

Back then, because the Alliance’s great protective formation had suffered repeated leaks and the traitor could never be identified, Lu Xichan resigned in shame, to appease public anger.

So much time had now passed. Though the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance still had not found the real leaker, they casually picked a scapegoat and closed the case. The impact of the incident had gradually faded, and thus Lu Xichan was reinstated to her original post.

However, according to rumor, Lu Xichan’s return was heavily backed by a Dharma-Transmitter.

Because of that, the process went unusually smoothly—so much so that even the factions within the Alliance who had always opposed her uncharacteristically fell silent, all at once.

After her return, Lu Xichan began making frequent, large-scale moves.

She transferred elite formation masters from Formation Halls across various prefecture to the headquarters of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, and her true purpose was hardly concealed.

Li Fan needed almost no effort at all to uncover it.

To the current protective grand formation of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, a comprehensive round of improvements was initiated. Moreover, through the power of formations, they aimed to create a force on the same level as the Immortal Ancestor.

At this critical period of confrontation, Lu Xichan invoked the grand cause of resisting the Five Elders Association as justification, and thus, no one dared to openly oppose her.

As a result, every formation master of decent talent from across the prefecture was selected.

That included He Zhenghao.

From the fervent words he uttered during his prayers to the True Immortal of Salvation and Mortal Compassion, it was evident that he was deeply moved.

He even fantasized that if he could rely on his exceptional formation talent to render extraordinary service in this matter, he might return in glory to the Heng Clan, raising his head proudly at last!

As for Li Fan, being the True Immortal of Salvation and Mortal Compassion, once he perceived He Zhenghao’s aspirations, compassion welled up within him and he decided to lend a hand.

Thus, in the days that followed, He Zhenghao would often find various details about the Xuantian Spirit-Sealing Formation surfacing vividly in his mind.

“If my guess is correct, the one standing behind Lu Xichan as the Dharma-transmitter should be Mo Rubin. Yet his intentions likely go beyond what appears on the surface…”

“His true objective should be the Tianxuan Mirror.”

Based on Li Fan’s experiences in previous reincarnations, Mo Rubin, as the Dharma King of the Xuantian Sect, ought to be able to impose certain restrictions upon the Tianxuan Mirror.

However, with the passage of millennia, the Tianxuan Mirror had gradually diverged from the Xuantian Treasure Mirror.

Relying on Mo Rubin alone was perhaps insufficient.

This was precisely why he sought out Lu Xichan—likely intending to harness the power of formations to restrain the Tianxuan Mirror.

“In the 115th lifetime, the Xuantian Spirit-Sealing Formation came first, and only then did Mo Rubin appear.”

“But in this lifetime, it is the reverse: first came Mo Rubin, and then the hope placed upon the formation.”

“Nevertheless, with my unseen influence pushing from behind, all paths shall ultimately converge at the same destination.”

Watching He Zhenghao suddenly enter a state of comprehension—intoxicated, elated, and reveling in the insight—Li Fan couldn’t help but smile faintly.

In his eyes, the Tianxuan Mirror, bound beneath the Xuantian Spirit-Sealing Formation and restricted by cultivators, was clearly far easier to deal with than the Tianxuan Soul Locking Formation evolved into its ultimate form, the Heavenly Net.

“Once He Zhenghao earns merit by contributing the formation diagram, his status at the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance headquarters will naturally rise like the tide. At that time, I may even coax those formation geniuses around him into joining the Mutual Aid Association.”

“As for whether the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance will detect it…”

A glimmer flashed in Li Fan’s eyes.

“Hmph. Mo Rubin knows full well that He Zhenghao is a member of the Mutual Aid Association.”

“With his vision, he will naturally discern that such a brilliant and intricate Xuantian Spirit-Sealing Formation could not possibly have been devised by someone of He Zhenghao’s mediocre aptitude. He will inevitably realize the true source of this formation—that it was I, once the Dharma King of the Xuantian Sect, who secretly lent my aid.”

“Barring any unforeseen accidents, he will likely cover up the matter on his own initiative—perhaps even take it upon himself to claim the Mutual Aid Association’s background as his own cover.”

Li Fan’s eyes gleamed.

“This is the unspoken understanding between comrades who once fought shoulder to shoulder in the ancient era.”

“If he truly acts in line with my intentions, then perhaps the time will soon come for us brothers to meet once again.”

“Of course, the premise is that I must first trick Senior Sister Zhao into handing over the Xuantian Sect’s cultivation method.”

As for what he would use to exchange with her, Li Fan hadn’t yet decided.

If he could obtain it without giving anything, that would be ideal. If not, he still held many things that Senior Sister Zhao would be interested in. He was confident he could persuade her.

Picturing the future, Li Fan felt a surge of satisfaction.

He truly relished this sense of orchestrating everything from behind the scenes and determining victory a thousand miles away.