The black-robed cultivator paused, his cold gaze sweeping over Li Fan and the other two, before continuing, "Furthermore, because each cultivator's experiences and state of mind differ, the illusions seen also vary.
"They are generally grand spectacles from the past related to the Dharma-Transmitting Heavenly Venerable.
"However, this only happens the first time."
A hint of regret entered the black-robed cultivator's voice. "Once you have stayed here long enough and grown accustomed to the Heavenly Venerable's aura, wanting to see those visions again becomes an extravagant hope."
Han Yi and Ximen Yue were still reeling from the shock of the illusions, merely nodding slightly at his words.
Li Fan, however, cautiously kept his eyes fixed straight ahead.
While concealing the dread in his heart, he attempted to recall that inexplicable sense of familiarity from moments before.
The black-robed cultivator took note of their reactions and thought nothing of it.
He did not rush them, instead waiting patiently.
In his eyes, the shock and awe displayed by these newcomers was only natural.
As a Guide, he had long grown accustomed to it.
After a while, seeing that the three of them had gradually shaken off the influence of the illusions, he proceeded with his duties.
"At Immortal Venerable Jicheng's behest, I am to lead you to the Protector Hall.
"Stay close behind me and do not wander off.
"Although everyone able to enter headquarters has had their identity verified and generally won't encounter trouble,
"this is the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals headquarters after all—a place of utmost confidentiality and importance. Cultivators guard it secretly at all times.
"If you go somewhere you shouldn't and are captured or struck down, no one will plead your case," the black-robed cultivator warned in a cold voice.
Li Fan and the others all nodded to show they understood.
Following behind him, Li Fan took the opportunity to observe the scenery of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals headquarters.
In the boundless void, numerous majestic structures floated and towered.
Arranged across various directions in the void overhead, they resembled stars scattered across the sky.
And Li Fan and his companions currently stood at the very bottom of the entire architectural complex.
Streaks of silver light darted overhead, shuttling back and forth between the different floating structures. Within the light, faint, blurry figures could vaguely be seen.
Walking at an unhurried pace, they occasionally encountered solemn, hurried cultivators along the way.
The floating land beneath their feet seemed to serve merely as an entrance from the outside world and a checkpoint for inspection.
Aside from the flora planted along both sides of the path, no other structures had been erected here.
Before long, they arrived at the edge of the landmass.
Li Fan saw what appeared to be a strange formation inscribed on the ground ahead.
Fine silver lines weaved incessantly within the formation. Whenever a cultivator stepped inside, a flash of silver light would carry them soaring into the sky, conveying them toward different regions above.
In front of the transfer formation stood a burly, towering cultivator.
He wore the standard black-and-yellow Daoist robes of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, his sharp gaze scrutinizing the cultivators passing to and fro.
When it was Li Fan and his group's turn, the towering cultivator glanced at the black-robed cultivator and nodded slightly in greeting.
However, he still raised a hand to stop them.
The black-robed cultivator paid it no mind, taking out the small round mirror from earlier.
A beam of light shot out and landed upon the towering cultivator.
Strangely, the beam seemed to be absorbed by him; after landing on his body, it vanished without a trace in an instant.
In that instant, countless characters flashed rapidly across the towering cultivator's eyes.
He lowered his hand and ceased his obstruction.
The black-robed cultivator led Li Fan and the other two into the transfer formation.
The burly middle-aged cultivator pointed toward the formation.
A thin silver thread shot from his fingertip into the transfer formation on the ground.
It circled several times, swelling to several times its original size.
Then, wrapping around Li Fan and the others, it flew up into the sky.
In an instant, Li Fan's body seemed to turn into light, shuttling through this space at an incredible speed.
Strangely enough, he felt none of the discomfort typically caused by extreme speed.
The surrounding scenery receded at breakneck speed.
In the blink of an eye, the floating landmass from before had shrunk to the size of a black speck.
The light climbed continuously, passing one floating landmass after another.
With his sharp eyesight, Li Fan even caught a faint glimpse of the Formation Planning Hall's signature tilted metallic cube building in a certain area.
Before long, a shadow loomed overhead.
Carrying Li Fan and the others, the light plunged straight into it.
Li Fan's vision blurred, and he shifted from the form of light back into human shape.
Setting foot upon solid land once more, Li Fan looked ahead, only to see a tall black stele towering not far away.
Only a single broad avenue led straight to the stele.
There was not even any vegetation or other decoration on either side of the road.
Compared to the other floating landmasses he had seen before, this place appeared austere and chillingly solemn.
The black-robed cultivator remained silent, leading the way along the straight avenue.
The entire road surface seemed crafted from some sort of blue-green stone. Walking upon it, Li Fan discovered to his shock that the spiritual energy within his body suddenly fell dormant.
As if it had lost all vitality, no matter how Li Fan tried to urge it, he could not mobilize it in the slightest.
Consequently, his clone at the early Golden Core stage was no different from an ordinary mortal while walking on this road.
Han Yi and Ximen Yue had evidently discovered this as well.
The three exchanged terrified glances, not daring to discuss it further as they hurried to catch up with the black-robed cultivator ahead, who had already pulled away.
The tall black stele seemed not far off, situated right at the end of the straight avenue.
Yet relying entirely on their physical bodies to trudge forward step by step, the journey seemed to stretch on endlessly.
By Li Fan's estimation, it took them nearly half a day of arduous walking before they reached the end, somewhat exhausted.
During this time, they had encountered cultivators emerging from the black stele and departing.
Yet those people seemed completely unaffected, still able to fly low over the straight avenue.
'This is likely a restriction on outsiders. Members of the Protector Hall headquarters seem able to rely on some secret art to prevent their spiritual energy from going dormant,' Li Fan thought to himself.
Only upon arriving at the base of the black stele did Li Fan truly appreciate its immense stature.
Its towering apex extended beyond his field of view, and its entirely pitch-black surface gave off a suffocating, abyss-like pressure.
What struck Li Fan as strange was that the entire stele seemed completely seamless.
Nor was there any sign of an entrance or exit.
At this point, the black-robed cultivator who had brought them spoke up.
"Alright. Right here, present your Law-Audience Jade Plaques."
Hearing this, Li Fan and the other two retrieved their exquisite jade plaques.
The seven-colored light radiating from the plaques shone upon the black stele, causing its jet-black surface to shimmer with kaleidoscopic colors.
As the halos of light spread, the hard stone stele seemed to dissolve amidst the vibrant hues.
A seven-colored passage appeared upon the stele.
"Go on in. Without a Law-Audience Jade Plaque, I cannot enter the Protector Hall without authorization," the black-robed cultivator said.
Chapter 336