"Ever since the nine Dissociation Discs were created, they have remained sealed in storage, aside from one taken out to study its properties."
"Their strengths were in absolute equilibrium, so the nine brethren have always coexisted peacefully."
"However, not long ago, realizing that these treasures would soon be awarded to you juniors and that I would never be able to study them again, my curiosity got the better of me. I submitted an application to take them out and play around with them first."
"Unexpectedly, this lucky mistake led me to uncover their true secret ahead of time," Ji Hongdao remarked with a sigh of emotion.
As Ji Hongdao slowly recounted the whole story, the vast majority of the cultivators present showed little reaction.
At most, they simply marveled like Li Fan at the world's uncanny ways—where even magical treasures had to be pitted against each other like venomous gu.
After all, the Dissociation Discs were meant as rewards for top performers; they had never been within reach of the rest.
The nine cultivators whose names shone on the golden leaderboard, however, did not look pleased at all.
Anyone would feel terrible knowing a treasure practically already in their grasp could vanish at any moment.
To become accustomed to and awestruck by the wonders of the Dissociation Disc, only to watch helplessly as it lost the contest and faded away in one's hands—the mere thought was utterly miserable.
If things really came to such an end, it would have been far better never to have possessed it in the first place.
Otherwise, it would inevitably become an inner demon haunting them for the rest of their lives, nearly impossible to dispel.
On the other hand, the top nine on the board were all favored darlings of heaven.
Each had their own pride; expecting them to surrender without a fight and give up outright was equally unthinkable.
'No wonder Ji Hongdao wore that expression. The accidental deaths of Tantai Tao and over a dozen others were already a grievous blow to the Formation Planning Hall.'
'And these top nine cultivators are all outstanding talents, prime prospects. Losing even one more would be unacceptable.'
'Nine discs contending for supremacy—the winner takes all. The remaining eight losers would inevitably be affected, and in all likelihood would never recover from the setback.'
'To the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, our cohort's greatest utility lies in rolling out the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Formation everywhere.'
'Even if the sole victor might become a true master of formation arts, from the Alliance's perspective, it would mean suddenly losing eight top-tier laborers.'
'With their determination to build the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Formation being so fierce in this lifetime, the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals naturally won't let such a thing happen.'
Li Fan's thoughts whirred, and in an instant, he saw through the entire matter from start to finish.
Sure enough, Ji Hongdao continued, "All of you are indispensable talents of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals. Losing even one is an intolerable loss. We certainly cannot allow such fratricidal strife to take place."
"Therefore, after careful deliberation, we have decided to replace the prizes for this assessment."
"Instead of the Dissociation Discs, they will be replaced by the Formation Planning Hall's custom-made Formation-Breaking Jade Platters—items previously reserved only for formation masters at or above the Soul Formation stage."
Ji Hongdao's words stirred barely a ripple.
After all, with the brilliance of the Dissociation Discs cast before them, how could a formation-breaking treasure made for Soul Formation masters possibly compare to a secondary body of the Heavenly Profound Mirror?
Ji Hongdao added, "The prize arrangement was an oversight on our part. To make up for it, we have also decided to expand the quota of Formation-Breaking Jade Platters from the top nine to the top one hundred."
These words finally caused a stir in the crowd.
Most had previously had no stake in the rewards; having a prize fall into their laps out of nowhere naturally stirred up some excitement.
Li Fan glanced up at the golden board in the sky.
Ranked exactly one hundredth.
The result exceeded his expectations, slightly better than he had anticipated.
'It seems that slight shift of the array hub worked wonders to turn the mediocre into the sublime,' Li Fan mused to himself.
Yet after only a moment of mild pleasant surprise, Li Fan quickly composed himself and fixed his eyes on Ji Hongdao in the sky.
Ji Hongdao definitely had something far more important left unsaid.
And that was today's true main event.
Otherwise, no one had known in advance that the real reward was the Dissociation Disc.
Upon discovering an issue with the prize, they could have simply announced the replacement.
Why go through all these twists and turns today, continuously playing with everyone's emotions?
Because Li Fan viewed the Dissociation Disc with equanimity, he could remain as cool as an outside observer, constantly dissecting Ji Hongdao's intentions.
Sure enough, just as Li Fan anticipated.
Once the crowd settled down, Ji Hongdao finally announced, "As for those nine Dissociation Discs..."
He paused, drawing all eyes upon him before continuing slowly, "We have decided to use special methods to directly accelerate their competition and devouring process."
"Within ten years, we will nurture the final, and only, Dissociation Disc."
"And this true Dissociation Disc will not be recalled."
"Its ownership will still belong to you."
His voice boomed like thunder, startling Qi Chengcheng and the others who had been moping, their eyes rekindling with greedy light.
"You all must understand that the only reason a regular assessment like this offered a treasure like the Dissociation Disc as a reward was because the Alliance places supreme importance on the construction of the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Formation."
"Although a minor mistake occurred along the way—"
"Our original intention has not changed!"
Ji Hongdao's voice turned grave and solemn. "To reaffirm the Alliance's resolve once more,"
"and to inspire all of you to forge ahead with vigor,"
"upon our request and with headquarters' approval, the final victor of the nine discs' contest will be bestowed as a reward upon the formation master who contributes the most to the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Formation rollout plan!"
Hearing this, Li Fan narrowed his eyes.
Taking in a cold breath, he could not help but marvel inwardly, 'What brilliant maneuvering!'
'All those twists and turns today, the repeated reversals—it was all for this grand finale.'
'After putting everyone through such emotional highs and lows, the temptation is far greater than if they had simply announced this outcome from the start.'
'How could these trainees not work themselves to the bone for it?'
Li Fan could already foresee just what a horrifying rat race these formation masters would plunge into during the upcoming wave of construction, all for this Dissociation Disc with the potential to grow into the next Heavenly Profound Mirror.
Every single one of them would work themselves harder than beasts of burden.
'It seems that in this lifetime, the widespread rollout of the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Formation will happen far faster than I imagined.'
'Not much time is left for me...'
'Still, why do I faintly sense that the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals seems so impatient about this?'
'The Alliance has stood for thousands of years, its rule solid as iron.'
'The Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Formation is merely taking things one step further. They could easily take their time; there is no need to resort to so many tricks.'
'Just what are they in such a hurry about?'
Li Fan sank into deep contemplation.
Chapter 321