Surviving at the absolute brink once could still be called a stroke of sheer luck.
Yet doing so a second time...
In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through Scholar Zhu's mind. He even entertained the notion of feeding a third Fruit of Sentient Intent to "Ma Tiande."
Yet in the end, Scholar Zhu stayed his hand. He merely reflected on the two Daoyuan instructions that had surfaced in Ma Tiande's sea of consciousness.
Clearly, among the multitude of fluttering Daoyuan symbols, only a small fraction had actually taken effect. This made it impossible for an onlooker to accurately reproduce them.
Scholar Zhu had no interest in the two Daoyuan instructions themselves. Even though he had transformed from an immortal into a mortal, the myriad methods at his command far surpassed anything those two instructions could achieve.
What truly captured Scholar Zhu's attention was the "possibility" represented behind Ma Tiande's display:
"Hidden instructions" that operated outside the existing Dao Net control system, yet could still invoke the power of the Dao Net.
The gloom on his face gradually dissipated. In the blink of an eye, he shifted from a hunched old man into a high-spirited Grand Scholar.
Wearing a benevolent expression, Scholar Zhu waited for the four seated guests to awaken from consuming the fruits of intent.
With Scholar Zhu's special care, although the three from the Sword Domain had endured some torment, they emerged unharmed in the end. The naivety on their faces had long faded after absorbing the memories of countless beings and personally experiencing boundless slaughter.
They first expressed their gratitude to Scholar Zhu, then turned together to look at Ma Tiande seated across from them. The disdain they had held earlier was completely gone.
None understood the terror of the storm of sentient intent better than those who had weathered it firsthand.
Regardless of background or method, anyone who could consume a fruit and remain safe and sound was definitely not someone to underestimate.
And if one could swallow two in succession while retaining complete sanity...
"A talent like this must not be missed!"
The three from the Sword Domain had already reached an unspoken consensus through exchanged glances. If they could recruit such a prodigy back to the Sword Domain, the merit would far exceed merely completing this trial!
Now, it all depended on whether this "Ma Tiande" could truly remain sane rather than descending into madness.
Under everyone's gaze, the twisted, twitching expression on Li Fan's face slowly settled. After keeping his eyes closed for a long time, he suddenly opened them, meeting the gazes of everyone present.
Eyes bright as a field of stars declared his current state.
Scholar Zhu clapped softly, appearing thoroughly delighted. "It seems you have reaped no small harvest this time!"
"My thanks to the Scholar for your grace," Li Fan replied, neither servile nor overbearing.
After swallowing two fruits of intent, his speech and demeanor no longer needed to strictly mirror the Ma Tiande of the past. Any alteration could easily be attributed to the countless sentient intents contained within the fruits.
"Senior Brother Ma, would you be interested in joining our Sword Domain? I, Situ Tiantian, can guarantee you will receive top-tier cultivation resources. If you just nod, there won't even be any need to apply to the Governing Council first; you can return to the Sword Domain with us right away. Once we arrive, we will handle the paperwork..." Situ Tiantian stole a glance at Scholar Zhu, hesitating for only a brief second before making her decision to invite Li Fan right to his face.
Ji Xingdao and Zhao Xing chimed in playfully, echoing Situ Tiantian's invitation and promising various wonderful terms.
"Though I have long heard of the Sword Domain's great renown, my ambition does not lie in the Dao of the Sword."
Before Scholar Zhu could even show a change in expression, Li Fan had already politely declined.
"Do not be too quick to refuse; consider it further..." Scholar Zhu said with a faint smile.
"My lifelong ambition lies solely in the Immortal Hunt! Previously, my strength was too meager for it to be possible, so I kept it buried deep in my heart and never mentioned it to anyone. But today, thanks to Scholar Zhu's grace, with two fruits in my belly, my destiny has been altered against the heavens. From now on, anything is possible!" Li Fan spoke with utter solemnity, his voice ringing out like thunder.
Upon hearing this, the smile on Scholar Zhu's face froze solid.
The three from the Sword Domain were equally astounded.
"Immortal Hunt..."
In the present Shuo Star Sea, the weight of that term was immense.
The Immortal Hunt was directly subordinate to the Shuo Star Sea Governing Council, its personnel handpicked from factions across the star sea. Once a cultivator joined the Immortal Hunt, whatever status or position they had held in their former faction had to be cast aside.
Everything was subordinate to the Immortal Hunt.
The price paid brought supreme authority.
In the name of the Immortal Hunt, one could not only enter and leave major factions across the Shuo Star Sea at will, but could even carry out summary executions under special circumstances. Crucially, becoming a member of the Immortal Hunt allowed one to draw closer to the Dao Net.
Accompanied day and night by the Dao Net, one's progress would advance by leaps and bounds.
The moment Li Fan uttered those words, an eerie silence fell over the hall.
Scholar Zhu scrutinized Li Fan with a grim countenance, his thoughts inscrutable.
Situ Tiantian managed a somewhat forced smile, smoothing over the awkward atmosphere. "Members of the Immortal Hunt are all painstakingly chosen through rigorous selection. Though Senior Brother Ma is extraordinary, gaining admittance is no simple task."
Li Fan appeared unperturbed, declaring with absolute confidence, "My entry into the Immortal Hunt is practically guaranteed! If I recall correctly, the next recruitment is in five years. When the time comes, I hope Scholar Zhu will recommend me."
"I certainly will not disappoint you, Lord Scholar!"
Seeing that Li Fan's mind was made up, the three from the Sword Domain pressed the matter no further.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while longer and drinking several more bowls of red soup, they took their leave. Before departing, they did not neglect the prestige of the Sword Domain, stating that the Sword Domain would surely return with thanks before long.
In the City Lord's Manor, only Li Fan and Scholar Zhu remained.
Outside the estate, the clamor of the City of Ultimate Bliss echoed once more. Neither spoke, silently gazing at the bustling nightscape outside.
*Crunch, crunch...*
A hair-raising sound of chewing emerged from Scholar Zhu's mouth. He had stuffed the remaining five Fruits of Sentient Intent into his mouth all at once, swallowing them down whole.
Unlike when Li Fan and the others consumed them—where the fruit melted the moment it entered the mouth—the five fruits in Scholar Zhu's mouth emitted the despairing shrieks of countless beings before death.
Cries as if from purgatory soared skyward, momentarily drowning out even the sounds of revelry in the City of Ultimate Bliss.
Like an old man with one foot in the grave, Scholar Zhu chewed with excruciating slowness. Listening to the unbroken, undulating wails, his face showed profound savor and delight.
Li Fan did not so much as furrow a brow. His expression remained utterly tranquil as he quietly watched.
After a while, Scholar Zhu found it tedious as well. In a couple of gulps, he swallowed down the fruits entirely.
The despairing weeping and howling abruptly ceased.
"Do you know why I built a City of Ultimate Bliss here in the Shuo Star Sea?"
"Merely to inflict torment?"
"These Fruits of Sentient Intent may have the power to alter your destinies, but to me, they are tasteless as wax."
"The despair and cruelty I have experienced surpass anything in this City of Ultimate Bliss by hundreds and thousands of times."
Scholar Zhu cackled eerily. Unbeknownst to anyone, he had once again reverted from the Grand Scholar into a hunched old man.
"The Net of the Great Dao encompasses the heavens and covers the earth; all things in the world reside within it. Though mortal beings are frail and feeble, the condensation of endless sentient intents may resonate from afar with some Great Dao in the unseen," Li Fan answered after a moment of contemplation.
"Hehehe..." Scholar Zhu let out another gloomy chuckle.
"You are mistaken."
"My primary purpose in building the City of Ultimate Bliss was simply to torment these ants whenever I was thoroughly bored."
Li Fan was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.
"Of course, if some pleasant surprise should emerge from the process, all the better."
"Then again, if none appears, there is no need to force it."
Scholar Zhu's skull-like head slowly emerged from his voluminous robes, gazing toward the City of Ultimate Bliss outside the manor. His expression was dazed, as if lost in reminiscence.
"The Immortal Realm of old was far more blissful than this city. A thriving paradise where the future seemed full of endless possibilities. Who could have foreseen that the grand edifice would collapse in an instant..." Scholar Zhu muttered dizzily.
Li Fan did not speak.
The other party turned back and asked, "You said you want me to recommend you for the Immortal Hunt?"
"I ask for the Scholar's grace," Li Fan said with a nod.
"I can. However, I have a condition." Scholar Zhu agreed readily.
"No problem," Li Fan answered even more briskly, without even waiting to hear what the condition was.
Scholar Zhu laughed heartily, his outer form shifting once more.
The hunched old man inside dissolved into a puddle of bloody water, melting into the robe he wore.
The robe writhed and wriggled, turning into the shape of a human skin!
Floating eerily before Li Fan, it rasped fiercely, "One day, no matter what method you use, bring my body back!"
There were no facial features upon the human skin.
Only five ghastly hollows stared silently at Li Fan.
Li Fan fell silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
"Very well."
As if a wish had been fulfilled, the human skin lost whatever power held it aloft and dropped directly to the ground.
After another bout of writhing, it crawled across the floor like a person, eventually returning to the head seat.
It reshaped itself into a robe.
From within came Scholar Zhu's aged voice.
"To deliver me from this state, so far as I know, there are several methods."
"First, successfully capture a Nameless True Immortal and swap body for body."
"Second..."
Li Fan felt Scholar Zhu's gaze repeatedly sweeping over his face.
"Tear the Dao Net completely to shreds. Then I shall naturally regain my freedom."
"Third: illuminate uncharted regions of the Great Dao to redeem my freedom through merit."
"..."
Scholar Zhu paused, then asked, "Which method do you intend to use?"
Li Fan carefully turned the words over in his mind. After a moment, he replied slowly in a low voice, "Perhaps all three could be pursued in tandem."
Scholar Zhu made no reply.
Only after a long silence did he say, "Whatever you need, just ask."
"Five years is the term. Before the Immortal Hunt examination, I will test your caliber first."
"If you disappoint me..."
"Hehehe..."
Beneath Scholar Zhu's flat tone lay boundless murderous intent.
Li Fan, however, remained impassive. "Then wait and see, Lord Scholar."
...
With the Grand Ceremony concluded, Li Fan returned to Ma Tiande's residence.
Along with him came a gift from Scholar Zhu.
"This is..."
Li Fan examined the object in his hand with great interest.
It was a skin remarkably similar to Scholar Zhu's "human skin" state.
As though it had just been peeled from flesh, Li Fan could still smell a heavy stench of blood upon it. Well-versed in the anatomy of the human body, Li Fan spread the skin out and felt over it thoroughly.
He confirmed that this was indeed a human skin.
However, unlike Scholar Zhu, it possessed no consciousness of its own.
After some study, Li Fan tried various methods, but none could activate anything extraordinary about the skin. It truly seemed to be nothing more than an ordinary human skin.
Yet when Scholar Zhu had handed this human skin to Li Fan, Li Fan had clearly seen a mix of complex emotions in the other's eyes.
There was nostalgia, reluctance to part, and a touch of hatred.
He turned the skin over and inspected it repeatedly. Li Fan then recalled the scene where Scholar Zhu had revealed his true form.
After a brief deliberation, he reached a decision.
Sitting upright, he took a deep breath. Then, like donning a garment, he draped the human skin over himself.
Originally, its size and proportions did not match "Ma Tiande."
Yet as Li Fan put it on, the human skin automatically shrank, fitting him with uncanny perfection. It was as though this skin had been peeled directly from Ma Tiande himself!
Feeling the constricting force tightening around him, as well as the shifting of his physique and facial features, a premonition abruptly welled up in Li Fan's heart.
He seemed to be turning into another person entirely.
An irresistible fear of the unknown began to surface in his heart. But sensing the miniature Dao Net reflected within his divine sense, that fear vanished without a trace.
His heart calm as a mirror, he simply experienced firsthand the changes brought by donning this skin.
Once the outer skin merged flawlessly with his flesh, Li Fan felt as if he had truly become someone else.
A flood of images and memories welled up unbidden in his mind.
Even...
Li Fan looked down at his hands.
"This realm..."
"The True Immortal realm?"
It was not merely an illusion.
Li Fan pointed a fingertip forward.
A brilliant light, resembling the very birth of a star sea, blossomed at his fingertip.
Within the glow seemed to dwell the world's infinities.
"Immortal spiritual energy."
"Is this... immortal spiritual energy?"
Li Fan had previously sensed the presence of immortal spiritual energy within the Immortal Array Dissolution Disc.
Now that this strange, magnificent power surged within his own body, he recognized its essence at once.
Li Fan locked his gaze onto that single point at his fingertip, not daring to look away for even an instant.
In a daze, he felt as if he had passed through that point into a boundless, shoreless ocean.
In this vast sea, countless things and matters, all life and spirits, manifested together.
A wonder beyond all imagining.
Even with Li Fan's depth of perception, he lingered entranced for a time, nearly losing himself.
Fortunately, the infinite ocean hidden within the radiance vanished as the light at his fingertip faded.
In the blink of an eye, Li Fan withdrew from the illusion and returned to reality.
What had seemed an infinite immortal spiritual power had, like a candle burned to the wick, been completely consumed.
It could no longer support Li Fan in peering into that infinite ocean.
"Hm?"
Li Fan frowned slightly.
He had not felt the immortal spiritual power disappear from within his body.
With a shift of thought, a faint light rekindled at his fingertip.
This time, Li Fan did not let his mind sink into that infinite ocean.
He merely observed the glow at his fingertip in silence.
Chapter 1442