"A Longevity Heavenly Venerable is not an Eternal Heavenly Venerable. Naturally, they can fall," Ji Hongdao said with a shake of his head and a light chuckle.
"What's more, the owner of this severed bluestone palm was an Ancient Heavenly Venerable who attained the Venerable fruition status through the ancient methods."
"Attaining Longevity Heavenly Venerable through ancient methods wasn't nearly as demanding as it is today, where one must defy the principles of Heaven and Earth."
"Naturally, their strength was inferior by more than just a notch."
"Being slain by another, perishing in a cataclysm—all of it was entirely possible."
Without leaving much time for the cultivators present to remain in shock, Ji Hongdao spoke as though he had merely mentioned something trivial, then turned to give instructions: "This mission is urgent, so there won't be much time to rest. Today, Huangfu and Shangguan will first familiarize everyone with the precautions to observe within the Eternal Immortal Bastion."
"Formal construction begins tomorrow."
"The phase-one task is to construct a Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Formation outside the Chizha Abyss."
"Once we finish relocating that newly discovered Lost Domain, we will head over there to construct the second Spirit-Locking Formation."
"When both sites are finished, we can return."
"Oh, right..."
Ji Hongdao paused, retrieved a Lesser Heavenly Profound Mirror from inside his robes, and projected a glowing ranking list above everyone's heads.
"So you are aware, the grand competition for popularizing the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Formation has officially begun."
"Although most of you are not among the contestants, the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals will not let your hard work go in vain."
"Guarding, transporting, coordinating—every ounce of effort will be recorded in detail and converted into points. Once the formations are fully built, these points can all be redeemed for cultivation techniques and treasures within the Alliance."
"Moreover, the construction of each Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Formation will be treated as a Superior First-Class Merit task."
"When a formation is completed, merit rewards will be granted according to your respective contributions."
"Distributed in real time, with no delays."
Before Ji Hongdao's words had even finished echoing, an uproar broke out among the assembled cultivators.
Clearly, they too had only just learned of this.
A Superior First-Class Merit was ordinarily reserved for missions of extreme danger and immense difficulty.
Ordinary cultivators had virtually no hope of ever completing one.
Yet now, simply by conscientiously building a Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Formation, they could obtain it.
How could this not drive them wild?
Ji Hongdao smiled slightly. "Everyone, do you want to acquire cultivation techniques? Do you want to raise your authority levels?"
"This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"If you miss it, the price you would have to pay to obtain equivalent rewards in the future might be several times higher, if not more."
"So, please give it your all."
Amidst the surging excitement of the crowd, Li Fan examined the glowing list in the sky.
Perhaps because the competition had only just begun and no one had pulled ahead yet, the rankings on it shifted constantly with every passing moment, showing just how fierce the contest was.
There were seven hundred and eighty-three names on the board.
The names were very familiar—all trainees who had taken part in the special training at the Cosmos Courtyard.
Aside from Li Fan and Xue Mu occupying the very bottom with zero points, there was also a Golden Core cultivator named Guo Yezhong who, for unknown reasons, had not yet officially participated in the formation construction either.
"All right, stow your excitement for now. Save your strength for tomorrow."
After a moment, seeing that the mood had been stirred up sufficiently, Ji Hongdao continued:
"Once you disembark, make sure to carry this Black Death Talisman with you at all times. Even inside the Eternal Immortal Bastion, you must do so. Keep this firmly in mind."
"Starting tomorrow, cultivators stationed at the bastion will also accompany you to guard against the abyssal demonic whispers."
"Huangfu and Shangguan will explain the specific details to you."
With that, Ji Hongdao waved his hand. Over a hundred talismans, their surfaces crackling with lightning-like arcs of black radiance, materialized in the air.
They then flew before each of the cultivators present.
When Li Fan touched his, the Black Death Talisman instantly turned into a black line and lay dormant around his left wrist.
Without time to inspect it closely, he was hurried along by Huangfu Song to disembark from the Dust-Crossing Boat, temporarily settling into quarters within the Eternal Immortal Bastion.
True to its role as the front line defending against the Chizha Abyss, the bastion was nearly self-sufficient.
The facilities and establishments commonly found in ordinary provincial capitals were all present here.
Aside from the inability to teleport, there was even a Heavenly Profound Mirror here.
However, where Li Fan and the others stayed was only the outermost perimeter of the bastion; judging from the scale of the severed palm seen earlier, it probably only occupied a section of one finger.
Venture deeper, and cultivators in cyan robes stood guard, making further entry impossible.
***
While the cultivators were exploring the immortal bastion, aboard the Dust-Crossing Boat, Ji Hongdao still stood at the bow, gazing into the distance at the sights within the severed palm structure.
A twisted figure, phantom-like and spectral, suddenly appeared behind him.
"Still relying on petty lures of profit. Can't you come up with some new tricks?" the figure spoke rudely, dripping with disdain.
Ji Hongdao did not seem surprised by his appearance. Without turning his head, he simply said leisurely, "Old-fashioned, but effective."
"Is it not?"
"Among the world's cultivators, who can truly remain unmoved when immense profit is placed right before their eyes?"
"Even someone as 'aloof' as you, Young Lord—if there weren't substantial benefits to be had, why would you willingly guard the Chizha Abyss in person for several decades without budging an inch?"
The Young Lord snorted coldly, not refuting him.
After a moment of silence, he spoke: "To gain anything from the abyss is my own capability. Why don't you have someone else try it?"
"Guarding such a perilous place is a merit I won't even bother mentioning."
"Why must a Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Formation be built here on my watch as well?"
"You and I know better than anyone what that damn thing really is."
"We cultivators—"
Ji Hongdao abruptly turned around, his expression solemn as never before, and fixed his gaze upon the Young Lord.
The Young Lord's words ground to an immediate halt.
"The Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking is the overarching trend of the times."
Ji Hongdao enunciated each word: "Whoever dares defy it faces certain death."
"I advise you, Young Lord, not to try testing the will of the Dharma Transmitters."
Seeing that the Young Lord still wore a look of displeasure, Ji Hongdao sighed and urged: "The current situation is dire, having reached a point of absolute urgency."
"For reasons unknown, Heaven and Earth suddenly lifted the cultivation restrictions—behaving as if it has given up completely and wants to drag us down into the grave with it."
"On the Five Elders Association's side, after repeated probing, they have still failed to trace the whereabouts of the Dharma-Transmitting Heavenly Venerable. They are already stirring restlessly."
"The Dharma Transmitters have even observed traces that the principles of Heaven and Earth are reversing."
"I trust you understand full well what that implies."
"At this juncture, our only choice is the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking—taking the vast majority of living beings in the Xuanhuang Realm hostage to weather this perilous storm."
"Only then can we gradually seek a way out."
The Young Lord clearly could not accept Ji Hongdao's reasoning.
He countered, "You treat all living beings as ants, but how do you know that you yourself are not an ant?"
Ji Hongdao was unfazed. "We, naturally, stand above all living beings."
The Young Lord scoffed coldly. "Perhaps."
"We shall see."
With that, his figure wavered and vanished without a trace.
Chapter 351