He Zhenghao's voice came from the communication talisman, clearly seeking credit.
"Zhang Zhiliang has an eccentric temper. To persuade him this time, I truly expended quite a bit of effort."
"Of course, the required contribution points are slightly higher than what I mentioned earlier for working under Gong Boyu, which was ten thousand."
"Thirteen thousand contribution points."
"Opportunities like this are rare. If you're interested, Fellow Daoist, contact me as soon as possible!"
After that, the talisman fell silent.
"It's just three thousand more contribution points—no problem. Thank you, Fellow Daoist!" Li Fan pondered for only a brief moment before giving He Zhenghao an affirmative reply.
On the one hand, it was to get close to Zhang Zhiliang and find a way to become his formal apprentice later on.
On the other hand, it was the perfect chance to enter the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals.
Joining the establishment came with numerous benefits.
Compared to the seclusion that had burned through over ten thousand contribution points in the blink of an eye, spending thirteen thousand contribution points on this was well worth it.
Once the message was sent, He Zhenghao immediately replied, "In that case, to avoid any unexpected complications from delay, quickly go wait for me at Dharma Transmission Plaza."
"I'll take you to meet Zhang Zhiliang first, and then we'll secure the spot right away."
"You should know, even though it's just a minor array repairer post, quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators have their eyes on it!"
Li Fan replied, "Understood. Then I'll be troubling you, Fellow Daoist!"
Afterward, he exited the Heavenly Profound Mirror and headed to Dharma Transmission Plaza to wait for He Zhenghao.
The moment he arrived, he saw that He Zhenghao was already waiting.
"Thank you for taking the trouble, Fellow Daoist!" Li Fan said to him.
"Haha, there's no need to be polite. Since I was the one who recommended you into the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, of course I'll look after you."
"Besides, it's mutually beneficial. Who knows, perhaps I'll need your help with something in the future!"
He Zhenghao waved his hand dismissively.
Then he added, "Zhang Zhiliang isn't on Wanxian Island right now. Recently, an island suddenly surfaced from the seabed in the western waters of the Congyun Sea. Zhang Zhiliang, Gong Boyu, and the others are all on that island."
"If we wait for them to return, it might take half a year to a year."
"Come with me to see them and lock down the spot first."
Li Fan nodded.
"An island surfaced from the seabed? Several array masters from the Formation Planning Hall are all there? Did they discover some sect ruins?" Li Fan asked as he followed He Zhenghao toward a tree-like teleportation array.
He Zhenghao shook his head. "It isn't any sect ruins, just an ordinary island."
"Over three thousand years ago, for reasons unknown, the entire island sank into the ocean. Now, it has surfaced once again."
"The strange thing is that this island seems to have originally been a garrison island of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, yet no records of it can be found. After the island surfaced, its Island-Protecting Grand Formation was reactivated."
"And the Island-Protecting Grand Formation of that era differs greatly from those of today. That's why several array masters from the Formation Planning Hall rushed over to see the spectacle," He Zhenghao explained.
Passing through the teleportation array, the two arrived on a colossal island filled with all sorts of trees, resembling a primeval forest.
This place was more than ten times larger than Liuli Island.
"A bit over five hundred li west of Lingmu Island is where that island is located."
Li Fan and He Zhenghao chatted as they flew toward their destination.
"Could arrays from thousands of years ago be even more formidable than those of today? Why did several array masters make a special trip just to observe it?" Li Fan voiced his doubt.
"Haha, there is something you don't know, Fellow Daoist. The standard defensive grand arrays in our Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals are not set in stone."
"The Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals has always been at odds with the Five Elders Association. If a fixed array remained unchanged for over a century, leaks and widespread, easy breakthroughs would become inevitable."
"Therefore, defensive grand arrays undergo minor revisions every two hundred years and major overhauls every millennium."
"A minor revision means the underlying logic of the array stays the same, with adjustments made only to its nuanced layout."
"A major overhaul means completely constructing a brand-new array from scratch."
"The previous array is then sealed away and never used again," He Zhenghao explained leisurely.
"So, the three-thousand-year-old defensive array running on that island is quite a rarity. Its power is mediocre, but those proficient in arrays can discern the whole from a single clue and reverse-engineer the complementary Ten Thousand Immortals Grand Array from it."
Hearing this, Li Fan was taken aback. "A complementary Ten Thousand Immortals Grand Array?"
He Zhenghao hesitated briefly before whispering, "This Ten Thousand Immortals Grand Array doesn't refer to the Wanxian Array on Wanxian Island. It refers to the true Ten Thousand Immortals Grand Array formed across an entire province—using the defensive arrays of every city and island as nodes, and the Wanxian Array on the central island or in Lingtian City as the core to amplify it."
"Once this Ten Thousand Immortals Grand Array is fully activated, it spans an entire province with unimaginable might. It's said to have a record of slaying Dao Integration Immortal Venerables."
"However, the resources it consumes are astronomical; it can only be activated with permission from the headquarters of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals."
"Normally, it's only deployed during major warfare when the Five Elders Association invades."
Li Fan had already gained a rudimentary understanding of arrays. Imagining the scene in his mind, he couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath.
"No wonder the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals went to such great lengths to construct defensive grand arrays across almost every city in its territory."
"So that was the reasoning behind it."
Just then, He Zhenghao chuckled and added, "We've even speculated in private that this might not even be the complete form of the Ten Thousand Immortals Grand Array. Using the fully activated grand array of each province as nodes, a colossal array covering all territories of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals—that would be its true, ultimate form."
"Of course, that's purely idle conjecture among a few of us in our spare time. An array like that would be far too terrifying. If ever triggered, the entire cultivation world would probably suffer catastrophic destruction."
Li Fan fell silent upon hearing this.
'Judging by the operating style of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, this ultimate form of the Ten Thousand Immortals Grand Array definitely exists.'
'And the fact that the Xuanhuang Realm can still maintain ostensible peace despite being virtually carved up by the two titanic factions—the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals and the Five Elders Association—likely owes as much to the existence of this ultimate Wanxian Array as it does to those elusive Longevity Heavenly Venerables.'
After Li Fan fell into deep thought, the two traveled in silence the rest of the way.
Before long, the sunken and newly resurfaced island came into view.
From a distance, Li Fan could already sense that the damp air lingering over the island had yet to dissipate.
Most of the buildings on the island remained intact.
However, having been submerged beneath the sea for millennia, the structures were overgrown with seaweed and moss.
In the streets, countless fish stranded out of water flopped and flopped, struggling to survive.
Outside the island, Li Fan could faintly see a golden barrier of array light.
'I wonder what caused this island to sink three thousand years ago.'
'And why did it suddenly surface once more today?'
Chapter 179