"The Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven..."
The words were far too sensitive.
So much so that Lu Xichan subconsciously tuned out the rest of Huangfu Song's remarks.
She pondered in silence for a moment, neither approving nor rejecting his suggestion on the spot.
Merely withdrawing her gaze from below, she transformed into a rainbow streak under the watching eyes of the numerous cultivators in the Spirit-Dissolving Ravine and returned to her resting quarters.
Huangfu Song and Dongfang wiped the cold sweat from their brows and hastily followed.
"Congratulations, Brother Huangfu! To offer counsel right before Chief Lu like that—your future prospects are surely boundless!" Dongfang Yao sent via divine sense transmission as they flew.
"Cut that nonsense, Dongfang. What kind of person is Chief Lu? Would she really need advice from the likes of me? She is simply cautious. If things backfire down the road, having me make the suggestion leaves her an easy scapegoat to push forward."
"As if you couldn't see through that?" Huangfu Song snorted, thoroughly displeased.
"Brother Huangfu, how many people would jump at the chance to be Chief Lu's scapegoat without ever getting the opportunity? Besides, knowing Chief Lu's character, I doubt it would ever come to—"
"Heh..."
Sensing he was getting nowhere, Dongfang Yao changed the subject with a sigh. "There were rumors before that the struggle between the Dharma Transmitters and the newly ascended Dao Integration experts over the past several millennia had reached a boiling point. I assumed it was mere exaggeration."
"Seeing it today, however, it turns out to be all too true."
Huangfu Song sighed softly as well. "Forced to pick a side today—who knows if it's a blessing or a curse? If we succeed, boundless wealth and honor naturally await us. But if we fail..."
The two exchanged a look and fell silent.
***
In the Spirit-Dissolving Ravine, after Lu Xichan and the other two departed, Li Fan followed the rest of the workers returning to their quarters.
When Chief Lu's gaze had fallen upon him, Li Fan knew she had successfully recognized him.
Yet to his surprise, the Dao Integration expert had only paused for a brief moment before turning her attention away completely.
*I am your daughter's savior, after all. After finally coming face to face, she just leaves like that?*
Truth be told, Li Fan was somewhat taken aback.
Later on, however, noticing the expressions on Huangfu Song and Dongfang, Li Fan realized his scheme might not have failed after all.
It was just that a Dao Integration expert—especially one holding such high office—probably carried herself with a bit more restraint.
Thus, maintaining a calm demeanor unaffected by favor or disgrace, he simply waited with patience.
Sure enough, a day later, after Lu Xichan departed in a flash of rainbow light, Huangfu Song came knocking on his door.
"A temporary special assignment to the Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven?"
Hearing the fat man's words, Li Fan had not expected things to go so smoothly this time and felt a surge of joy inside.
"Congratulations, young friend! You got what you wished for! Among all the secret realms in the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, the Five Elements Grotto-Heavens rank near the very top in importance."
"Moreover, due to their unique status, construction of the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Formation there has only just begun and is still in its earliest stage."
"Your journey there is the perfect opportunity to display your full talents."
"If you push yourself a little harder, contending for first place on the rankings isn't out of the question either."
Huangfu Song beamed with a glowing, ruddy face as he spoke.
Li Fan kept his expression calm. "I must thank you for your help, Senior. Junior will keep this kindness engraved in my heart!"
Huangfu Song waved his hand. "Don't mention it. Truth be told, I was riding your coattails this time."
"However, there is one thing I must caution you about." Huangfu Song's smile vanished, replaced by a grave expression.
"Oh?" Seeing his uncharacteristically serious demeanor, Li Fan grew solemn as well.
"Please speak, Senior!"
Huangfu Song said, "Originally, there were other secret realms to choose from besides the Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven. In fact, until just moments ago, Chief Lu was hesitant about whether to send us there."
"However, something sudden occurred not long ago that changed her mind."
Looking grave, Li Fan quietly waited for him to continue.
"This matter is an absolute secret. At present, only a handful of people in the entire Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals know of it. Young friend, be sure never to speak a word of it to anyone."
After that warning, Huangfu Song lowered his voice to a whisper. "The Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven currently sits at the border between Tianchen and Tianshu Provinces."
"But do you remember where the Five Elements Grotto-Heavens were located when they were first discovered?"
Li Fan answered at once, "How could I forget? The battle of Tianling Province had a profoundly far-reaching impact on the entire Xuanhuang Realm."
"What does Senior mean by bringing this up?"
Huangfu Song's gaze grew deep, unable to conceal the shock within.
He spoke slowly, "After the battle of Tianling Province, our Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals spent immense effort relocating the Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven back to the heartlands, where it sits today."
"The former ruins of Tianling Province naturally became a desolate void."
"Yet three days ago, the Alliance received an urgent report: inexplicable spiritual energy fluctuations were emanating from that empty void."
"After dispatching people to investigate, the findings were nearly impossible to believe."
Huangfu Song paused, as if trying to calm the turmoil in his heart.
Then he continued, "These spiritual energy fluctuations were detected in five distinct spots."
"After repeated verification..."
"Those are signs of new grotto-heavens being born anew!"
Li Fan's eyes flashed with sharp light as he stared intently at Huangfu Song.
"New grotto-heavens?"
"New Five Elements Grotto-Heavens?"
His voice trembled slightly, filled with unconcealed astonishment.
Huangfu Song nodded.
"How... is that possible?" Li Fan was momentarily dazed.
To his limited knowledge, the formation of any grotto-heaven was a product of rare serendipity, coming into existence only after weathering countless ages.
For Tianling Province to have birthed five mutually complementary Five Elements grotto-heavens had already been a miracle among miracles.
Yet after the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals relocated the Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven in its entirety, could new Five Elements grotto-heavens actually be reborn in their original place?
"What about the current Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven? Has something happened to it?"
Thinking of Huangfu Song's mention of a "special assignment," Li Fan pondered and asked immediately.
"There are signs that the five elements are converging into one—and it is irreversible," Huangfu Song said heavily.
"The five elements converging into one?" Li Fan frowned slightly.
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing? What will happen after they merge?" he could not help asking.
Huangfu Song shook his head. "Such a thing has never happened before. Even Chief Lu herself could hardly hide her shock and astonishment when she heard the news."
"However, what can be confirmed at present is that as the five elements converge into one, the current five grotto-heavens will not vanish entirely."
"Rather, they will fuse into an entirely new grotto-heaven."
"As for whether this grotto-heaven will undergo drastic upheavals during the fusion process—transforming from an extraordinarily rich grotto-heaven bursting with resources into a barren wasteland where not a blade of grass can grow—no one can predict."
"Regardless, the plan to construct the spirit-locking formation remains unchanged."
"Because this happened so suddenly, Chief Lu has already gone ahead to conduct an on-site inspection."
"Someone will guide us there shortly."
Chapter 378