"Destroying the world? Isn't that a bit too extreme?" Li Fan's expression showed a trace of bewilderment. "In the Pitch-Black Star Sea today, the Xuanhuang Realm is the only pure land that remains relatively safe..."
Before he could finish, Dharma Transmitter Wei waved his hand and cut him off. "Heh, little friend, you misunderstand. We're not truly going to destroy the Xuanhuang Realm, only forge a catastrophe that ordinary cultivators cannot resolve—one that requires Jiang himself to step forward and handle."
"As long as Jiang is drawn out, the two of us can step forward to persuade him. We should be able to sway him into launching an investigation into the ruling quintet."
A ruthless glint flashed through Dharma Transmitter Wei's eyes. "No matter how well those heretics of the Profound Heaven Sect disguise themselves, they can never withstand the scrutiny of the Oath of the Dharma Transmitters!"
"Oath of the Dharma Transmitters?" This was the first time Li Fan had heard the term, and he immediately asked out of curiosity.
"This is the Great Oath every single one of us was required to swear when we joined the Dharma Transmitters back then. In the name of the Dharma-Transmitting Heavenly Venerable, before countless comrades who had already fallen or were about to sacrifice their lives, it points straight to the heart and faces our own divine souls."
"In those days, faced with the savage encirclement and slaughter by the Ten Sects of the Immortal Dao, not everyone could remain true to their original intention."
"To weed out the vermin among the Dharma Transmitters' ranks, scrutiny under the Oath of the Dharma Transmitters was indispensable! If any Dharma Transmitter betrayed that initial vow, ten other Dharma Transmitters could assemble and forcefully invoke an oath scrutiny."
"Whether someone has turned traitor or not, under the illumination and interrogation of the light within, everything is laid bare!" Dharma Transmitter Wei said with pride.
"What a pity that ever since the Alliance was founded and peace was restored, scrutiny under the Oath of the Dharma Transmitters has not actually been carried out for many years. It has become a tacit convention for everyone to avoid mentioning it—as if no such thing ever existed." Just then, Dharma Transmitter Zhou cut across Wei's speech in a cold tone.
For a moment, an awkward look crossed Wei's face.
"Nevertheless, as long as ten Dharma Transmitters can be assembled, the Profound Heaven Sect's conspiracy will surely be exposed! Jiang holds a special status; he alone counts as five Dharma Transmitters. Add the two of us, and that means we only need the backing of three more!" The white-haired Wei quickly changed the subject.
"With Jiang's prestige, if he takes the lead, this won't be difficult!"
Li Fan nodded and said, "Our Myriad Realms Association has many surviving cultivators from other cultivation worlds. The tribulations that befell their worlds back then were all different. As for engineering a calamity capable of alarming Jiang..."
"That won't be an issue!" Li Fan said with certainty.
"Then the only thing that remains unconfirmed... is your claim that Chen and the others were possessed by Profound Heaven Sect heretics."
Li Fan had thought the negotiation was practically wrapped up, but unexpectedly, the two Dharma Transmitters suddenly dragged the conversation right back to the beginning.
Dharma Transmitter Zhou's tone turned languid again, the urgency to save the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals vanishing in an instant.
"Speculation is only speculation, after all. If we could scrutinize the Alliance's supreme governing body without substantive evidence, what kind of chaos would engulf the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals in the future?"
"Your Myriad Realms Association has hunted the Profound Heaven Sect's remnants for so long, so you must know them very well. Can you produce key evidence?" Dharma Transmitter Zhou asked.
Li Fan fell silent for a moment, then spoke slowly: "Mo Rubin is insidious and crafty. Many secret methods that could identify Profound Heaven Sect members in the past have lost their efficacy on him. However..."
He paused, radiating confidence. "The Dharma Kings of the Profound Heaven Sect all practice Immortal Realm cultivation techniques passed down by the King of Profound Heaven in ancient times. Born of the same lineage, their branches stem from one trunk. Once mastered, they can sense one another."
"Based on this principle, one can craft a miniature puppet that automatically circulates the cultivation technique of a Profound Heaven Sect Dharma King. When someone holds it and a Profound Heaven Sect member appears nearby, it will naturally produce a resonant sensation..."
As he spoke, Li Fan smiled and produced a palm-sized, translucent white jade figurine, presenting it to the two Dharma Transmitters.
Zhou and Wei took the miniature puppet, and upon examining it, looks of astonishment broke out across their faces.
This white jade figurine was just like a living thing, the cultivation technique cycling autonomously within its body.
They could even sense its fluctuating aura of life!
Such artifact-refining methods...
Even the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals fell short!
Consequently, they placed somewhat more trust in Li Fan's words.
"Allow me to gift this puppet to you two. I trust that with your methods, you should be able to carry out the final verification. I hope it can be done as quickly as possible."
"The Profound Heaven Sect heretics have secretly held the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals for five whole years. Controlling such colossal resources, whatever they are scheming in the shadows, it is exceedingly dangerous," Li Fan said solemnly.
"I must also return and report our findings. Hopefully, it will draw more attention from our organization."
With that, Li Fan cupped his hands in farewell and prepared to depart.
The two Dharma Transmitters did not detain him.
Li Fan left behind only a disk inscribed with the characters "Myriad Realms" as a means of future contact, then hurriedly departed Dharma Transmitter Zhou's private pocket world.
Zhou turned the Myriad Realms disk over in her hands, a strange look in her eyes.
Projecting her divine sense into the disk, she felt as if she had stepped into a starry sky. However, the vast majority of it was shrouded in yellow mist, offering only faint glimpses of distorted, obscured starlight.
Only a single point of light representing Li Fan shone clearly, open for normal communication.
Zhou looked thoughtful.
Every point of light in that starry sky represented a cultivator of the Myriad Realms Association, and one could communicate with them through this disk.
At present, however, only Li Fan had granted permission to contact him; the rest of the cultivators were veiled by some kind of power.
Communication would only be possible with their consent.
Zhou showed the Myriad Realms disk to Dharma Transmitter Wei.
After a moment, the white-haired Wei gave a soft sigh. "This Myriad Realms Association... it seems there really is such a thing."
"Techniques like this are not something just any faction could possess. And that puppet..."
"Huang truly is derelict in his duties. Who knows when such an organization cropped up in the Xuanhuang Realm, yet we received not a shred of information."
Wei's expression looked somewhat sour.
Zhou remained noncommittal. "Let us wait until we see their so-called Longevity realm powerhouse before saying anything. Everything else is mere trivial detail. Only the Longevity realm..."
"Cannot be forged, and speaks most truly to an organization's foundation."
A trace of longing appeared in Wei's eyes. "The Longevity realm..."
"If not for the constraints of our status as Dharma Transmitters, I would have had a chance back then too. What a pity..."
Zhou rolled her eyes at him. "Are you even trying to deceive me now?"
Wei merely shook his head slightly, offering no defense.
After a moment, he suddenly said, "By the way, conduct a thorough check on those little fellows who carried out this mission."
"For him to know your movements so clearly, there must be a mole."
Chapter 1056