Looking at the Martial Practice Hall on Wanxian Island, which had already been reduced to complete nothingness, Lu Xichan furrowed her brows slightly.
Wisps of green thread surfaced and twined around her fingertips.
She stared at the green glow, both familiar and strange, a hint of surprise flashing across her eyes.
Even in a remote region like the Congyun Sea, where few cultivators knew Lu Xichan's identity, Wanxian Island remained in absolute, breathless silence under her overbearing aura.
The cultivators dared not look directly upon her form. Like Li Fan, they all lowered their gazes and bowed their heads, silently speculating about the female cultivator's identity.
In the end, two figures flew out from the island's Central Administration Hall to greet her.
A man and a woman—none other than Ziyun and Hongxi, the only two Soul Formation Immortal Lords in the Congyun Sea.
"Greetings, Chief Lu!"
They bowed deeply in unison, their expressions tinged with slight nervousness.
A figure capable of making the two top leaders of the Congyun Sea treat her with such gravity was beyond doubt a paramount figure!
The surrounding cultivators, all bowing with lowered heads, were filled with both shock and curiosity.
They wondered why a being of Chief Lu's stature had personally descended upon a backwater like the Congyun Sea. Could it really be solely for this mysterious green light?
"No need for formalities. Attending to business takes priority."
Lu Xichan glanced at the cultivators of Wanxian Island below and said coldly, "From this moment forth, Wanxian Island is under lockdown. No one may leave without my orders."
With that, she pointed a finger toward the sky.
Transparent patterns rippled outward from the center, swiftly enveloping the entire island.
"I have already applied for and severed the connection between this region's Heavenly Profound Mirror and the outside world. Ordinary means of communication have also been blocked by me."
"Until this matter is thoroughly investigated, you two will be responsible for maintaining order on the island."
Hearing this, Hongxi understood the gravity of the situation and immediately nodded in assent.
Upon hearing Lu Xichan's proclamation, the cultivators across the island exchanged stunned glances.
It seemed a truly monumental disaster had occurred!
The entire island was sealed off—entry permitted, departure forbidden. Such a massive spectacle was likely a first since the founding of Wanxian Island!
Hiding among the crowd, Li Fan also felt a slight prick of unease.
The development of events in this lifetime had vastly exceeded his expectations.
Originally, he had only intended to play the charlatan and bluff his way through the Alliance's investigation. He never imagined that Gongsun Qixuan was truly not one to boast in vain, having actually managed to deduce something from "Heavenly Profound Spirit Lock, Xuanhuang unified as one."
He had even triggered green energy resembling the Profound Net.
Even less expected was that a disturbance tens of millions of li away would instantly draw Lu Xichan's attention, bringing her across provinces in a flash to lock down Wanxian Island.
*I can only take it one step at a time for now. If I can weather this trial unscathed, the situation will return to my control.* Li Fan narrowed his eyes, quietly adjusting his original plans.
After Lu Xichan took over Wanxian Island, black-robed cultivators arrived one after another via the teleportation array.
Exuding an indelible murderous aura, they fanned out across the island, patrolling and surveilling every quarter.
The cultivators were also divided into batches to be interrogated in sequence.
Naturally, the first to undergo interrogation were the survivors of the Martial Practice Hall anomaly. And as the instigator of this incident, Li Fan was the very first target questioned.
Fortunately, he did not have to face Lu Xichan in person.
However, sensing the faint, almost imperceptible brush of a gaze lingering on him, Li Fan did not dare let down his guard.
With a pale complexion, feigning that he had not yet recovered from his recent injuries, Li Fan truthfully recounted the events that had taken place inside the Martial Practice Hall.
"After deducing that phrase, I suffered a backlash from the heavenly secrets."
"As for what Elder Gongsun saw or why he was able to evoke that terrifying green light, I have no idea."
Li Fan coughed, wearing an innocent expression as he shifted all the blame onto Gongsun Qixuan.
The three cultivators handling the interrogation questioned him on a few more details before escorting him deep into the Administration Hall and locking him away in a small, pitch-black room.
From start to finish, Li Fan remained entirely cooperative.
The small dark room was cut off from the outside world, making it impossible to know what was happening on Wanxian Island. Li Fan simply closed his eyes and began to cultivate.
Meanwhile, on Tai'an Island.
His avatar, "Zhou Qing'ang," quietly slipped out of the Island-Protecting Grand Formation and headed to the agreed meeting place with the broken stone's human face.
"Boss, something huge happened!"
Before any questioning could come from the other side, Li Fan struck first.
"Uh... what are you panicking for? Speak slowly!" the face rebuked.
"A massive upheaval seems to have occurred on Wanxian Island! Just a moment ago, all contact with the cultivators on the island was completely lost!" Li Fan said, his panicked tone carrying a trace of excitement.
"Moreover, before coming here, I asked around. Prior to the lockdown, someone saw a streak of rainbow light cross provinces all the way from the center of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals and descend upon Wanxian Island."
"This lockdown definitely has everything to do with that rainbow light!" Li Fan said in quick succession.
The face was caught off guard by this sudden news.
A long silence followed, as if he were verifying the accuracy of the report.
After a while, he said in disbelief, "It's actually true!"
"What is the Alliance playing at?!"
"Wait... that rainbow light..."
"Lu Xichan!"
The face's voice abruptly rose several pitches.
"Boss, who is Lu Xichan?" Li Fan immediately feigned immense curiosity and asked.
"The Chief Formation Master of the Alliance's Formation Planning Hall—a truly paramount figure! Why would she come to the Congyun Sea?" There was both confusion and fervor in the face's voice.
Like a starving wolf catching scent of prey, he keenly sensed that a world-shaking secret had to be hidden behind this incident.
If they could uncover it...
"Boss, isn't this the perfect opportunity for us to make our mark?" Li Fan chimed in, feigning a sudden realization.
"Indeed! We must find out why she came to the Congyun Sea!" the face said grimly.
"But Wanxian Island now seems to only allow entry and no exit, and even communications have been sealed off. Trying to find out what's happening inside will be rather difficult..." Li Fan furrowed his brow, looking distressed.
Suddenly, as if recalling something, his expression brightened. "Boss, I have a preliminary idea."
"Oh? Let's hear it."
"Remember He Zhenghao, who sold us the Alliance induction examination questions last time? Maybe he has a way!"
"He Zhenghao..." The face pondered for a moment and gave a slight nod.
"You can go try his side first. I will look for other ways as well."
"If there are any results, get back in touch."
"If he has no means either, then go back into dormancy," the face told Li Fan.
"Understood." As the light on the broken stone faded, Li Fan swiftly departed the area.
He went to Liuli Island, had a cup of tea with He Zhenghao, and then rushed back.
"Boss, there's hope!"
"What?" The face had not expected "Zhou Qing'ang" to be so efficient, much less that He Zhenghao would actually have news from the locked-down Wanxian Island.
"What did he say?" the face asked in a deep voice.
"A flat price: ten million contribution points!" Li Fan hesitated briefly before whispering.
Chapter 462