Chapter 493: Chapter 465: Turns Out to be the Person Destined to Calamity
An eerie silence enveloped the Thousand Miles Hall. Unable to believe his eyes, Jiao Xiuyuan stared at Li Fan, a stupefied expression etched on his face.
âDonât look at me like that. I planned to pay for it, but no matter how hard I tried to get your attention, you didnât respond,â Li Fan shrugged.
âBefore I even got the chance to say anything when you woke up, you blasted off on your own. That canât be my fault now, can it?â
Seeing the innocent look on Li Fanâs face, Jiao Xiuyuanâs facial muscles twitched.
After a momentary pause, he reasoned that Li Fan didnât seem the type to help himself without asking, so he forced a magnanimous smile and said: âWhatever, it was just a Puppet that got blown up! I have many more!â
âWow, Jiao, my friend, youâre really generous!â Li Fan clapped and applauded.
âThe scene depicted in the painting, I believe, represents the ancient Heavenly Sword Sect. Li Fan, wouldnât you happen to be feeling nostalgic when looking at the item?â said Jiao Xiuyuan, eyeing Li Fan inquisitively.
Li Fan looked back at Jiao Xiuyuan, his mind spinning fast.
A moment later, Li Fan shook his head, sounding confused, âThe Heavenly Sword Sect? You must be mistaken. Even though I lost some memories during my thousand years of sleep, I still vaguely remember the two stone tablets, named [Halt] and [Stop War], at the entrance of the Heavenly Sword Sect. The sect in this painting doesnât quite resemble that.â
Jiao Xiuyuan smacked his forehead, âHaha, silly me; I lost a puppet there so my memory is a bit foggier.â
âIt should be the Supreme Sect!â Jiao Xiuyuan corrected himself.
âSupreme SectâŠâ Li Fan narrowed his eyes, as though recalling something.
After a while, he slowly shook his head, âIt doesnât match. Iâve visited the Supreme Sect before. The thirty-three floating mountains within the sect arenât similar to the scenery in this painting. â
Li Fan looked somewhat puzzled at Jiao Xiuyuan, âFriend Jiao, do you actuallyâŠâ
Jiao Xiuyuan chuckled nervously and quickly said: âWrong again! let me thinkâŠâ
âIt should be the Calamity Transcendence Sect! I canât be wrong this time!â he declared earnestly.
âCalamity Transcendence Sect?â Li Fan pondered.
Jiao Xiuyuanâs two previous ambiguous attempts failed. It seemed reasonable to assume the Calamity Transcendence Sect he mentioned this time must bear some truth.
During the Unity of Five Elements, beyond the Great Cave Heaven of Five Elements in his previous life, Li Fan had seen a mirage of the time of a master and his disciple from the Calamity Transcendence Sect.
And, at that moment, among all the cultivators on the Dustcrosser Boat, only he was able to see it.
Li Fan originally thought that it was because his divine soul was stronger and more extraordinary than the others.
However, if the vista he had seen under the Ruin Abyss back then also came from the Calamity Transcendence SectâŠ
Li Fan also recalled that when he was gazing into the abyss, there was a fraction of a moment when the powerful force of the abyss tempted him off track.
He had almost lost his sanity, intending to leap into the abyss before [Real] had finished charging â a reckless act.
But, in that critical moment, a sudden burst of bright light emanated from the bottom of the abyss.
The phrase [Demise of the Immortal Path] appeared before his eyes, restoring him to sanity.
You could say that it saved his life.
âIt seems as if the Calamity Transcendence Sect and I are entwined by countless tiesâŠhow strangeâŠâ
After much thought, Li Fan failed to find what led to this connection despite looking back on his past experiences.
âCalamity Transcendence Sect⊠Iâve heard of it, but I donât recall ever visiting there. Friend Jiao, what do you know about the Calamity Transcendence Sect?â Li Fan turned his attention back to Jiao Xiuyuan.
âDonât know why, but I feel somewhat familiar with the landscape within the Calamity Transcendence Sect. Could my memory be messing up as well?â Li Fan looked puzzled.
Jiao Xiuyuan ignored the jest in Li Fanâs words and said in surprise, âReally? That truly would be remarkable!â
âHow so?â Li Fan hastened to ask.
âYou might be the [Destined Calamity Treader] the Calamity Transcendence Sect cultivators who left this painting behind were seeking!â insisted Jiao Xiuyuan with a grave expression, his eyes scrutinizing Li Fan more deeply.
âDestinedâŠCalamityâŠTreader?â Li Fan repeated the phrase, asking: âWhat does that mean?â
âThe sectâs name is its purpose. Calamity Transcendence Sect cultivators use [Calamities] as their cultivation fodder. Their technique, [Eternal Calamity Everlasting World], is about drawing strength from calamities of all types. Each tribulation they survive results in a substantial leap in their abilities.â
âThe greater the calamity, the more power they gain when they successfully overcome it.â
âConversely, their next stage of advancement would require an even more dangerous calamity.â
âBut with countless calamities that exist in the world, even Heaven and Earth could perish in a tribulation. How can the Calamity Transcendence Sect cultivators have absolute assurances in overcoming each given one?â
âUpon realizing that they might not survive the next tribulation, they would use a secret technique and temporarily retreat into hiding within Heaven and Earth.â
âAt the same time, they leave behind some form of trace, waiting for the emergence and sensing the presence of the person who can resolve the calamity.â
âThis person is known as the [Destined Calamity Treader]!â
Jiao Xiuyuan explained patiently to Li Fan.
Upon hearing this, Li Fan began to frown deeply, âThereâs such a technique? So, in other words, Iâve been targeted by a cultivator from the Calamity Transcendence Sect? Does Friend Jiao have any solutions?â
Jiao Xiuyuan gestured with his hand, âDonât panic! Thousands of years have passed, who knows whether the Calamity Transcendence Sect cultivator who left the painting behind is still around?â
âMoreover, even if he is, thereâs no need for you to worry. Heâs relying entirely on you to overcome his calamity. Thereâs no chance he will harm you before you help him to transcend. And if you indeed help him to traverse the calamity, he owes you a big favor. At that time, he must pay it back. This is a rule of the Calamity Transcendence Sect that has been passed down. Otherwise, who would want to play this game with them?â
âBesides, consider this â if a calamity they cannot overcome is resolved by you, it essentially implies that your power surpasses theirs. Instead of seeking trouble with you, they should be grateful if you donât find fault with them!â
Jiao Xiuyuan didnât seem to take Li Fanâs concerns seriously, and instead began examining him with renewed interest.
âLi Fan, the fact that you were detected by a Calamity Transcendence Sect cultivator to be a [Destined Calamity Treader], your future is truly boundless!â
After listening to Jiao Xiuyuanâs words, Li Fan felt slightly relieved.
But, it was as if a thorn had lodged itself deep within his heart.
Based on his prior assistance in the abyss, it was certain that the Calamity Transcendence Sect cultivator was still alive.
Although he wouldnât be able to constantly monitor Li Fanâs every move, Long-term observation might gradually reveal something.
âI need to find a chance to solve this latent problem,â Li Fan thought quietly to himself.
âIt seems Friend Jiao is highly knowledgeable, even about such deep secrets of the ancient sects. Impressive! Truly impressive!â
âBy the way, how many contribution points is this painting worth? Iâll buy it. We canât let you go out of pocket, after all!â While Li Fan mulled over his issues inwardly, his external demeanor betrayed no signs of initial worry, and he began speaking with Jiao Xiuyuan.