Ever since the high-level meeting of the Dadao Sect concluded that day, this strange, unknown illness had spread through the mountain gate at a terrifying speed.
Even though decrees had been issued in advance ordering disciples to take strict precautions, isolate themselves as much as possible, and avoid going out or making contact with others,
and various medicinal pills had been distributed to the disciples as needed,
every single measure proved completely useless!
The transmission speed of the strange illness and its lethality toward low-level cultivators far exceeded anything the Dadao Sect's leadership had imagined.
In less than a month, nearly all disciples of the Dadao Sect had contracted this strange illness. And miraculous medicine like the Fortune Purple-Gold Pill was not something every disciple was fortunate enough to receive.
Against this strange illness, ordinary pills offered little more than a placebo effect.
It all came down to a cultivator's sheer luck to endure it.
Those with mild infections slowly improved after suffering for a time. Though their cultivation dropped, they at least preserved their lives.
Far more suffered severe symptoms. Even after exhausting all manner of life-saving measures and secret arts, they still failed to survive.
What was worse, everyone within the Dadao Sect now felt themselves in imminent peril.
Even when disciples died, no one dared to collect their corpses. They merely kept a great distance, took thorough protective measures, and completely obliterated the bodies with spells, which served as a crude funeral.
Within the Dadao Sect, gloom hung heavy, and wails of sorrow never ceased.
It was truly hard to imagine that this was one of the most powerful sects in the cultivation world today.
If even the Dadao Sect was reduced to such a state, one could easily imagine the tragic situation elsewhere.
On this day, Sect Master Ji Changxi once again summoned Senior Sister Zhao and Li Fan to the sect's main hall to discuss matters concerning this bizarre, strange illness.
"Cough, cough..."
The moment they stepped into the main hall, sounds of coughing rose and fell from all around.
None of the elders nor Sect Master Ji Changxi possessed their former spirited appearance.
Sickly and haggard, they were merely forcing themselves to stay alert.
Quite a few elders were simply lying down, with several puppets on either side gently pounding and massaging them, while groans escaped their lips from time to time.
Although they were all in the same hall, Li Fan noticed that they had separated themselves from one another with restrictions and formations.
"How have you two been feeling lately?" Sect Master Ji asked.
"Thank you for your concern, Sect Master. Over this past month, we have taken three Fortune Purple-Gold Pills in total. At present, Li Fan and I are mostly fine. Most of our symptoms have disappeared, and we should recover fully very soon," Senior Sister Zhao replied with bowed head.
"Cough, cough... While that is good news, do not be careless going forward. You still need to pay close attention to personal protection. From what we have seen so far, even if one recovers from this strange illness, one may suffer a second or even multiple reinfections..." Ji Changxi said gravely.
Senior Sister Zhao could not help but pale slightly.
Before she could react, however, Ji Changxi spoke again: "I called you two here today because I have a task for you.
"After some time investigating, we have reached a preliminary conclusion regarding the origin of this strange illness."
Li Fan immediately focused his attention to listen.
"Previously, it was guessed that this illness was the result of a Longevity Heavenly Venerable reversing some principle of Heaven and Earth. Only recently have we finally determined which principle it was.
"In the eyes of cultivators, mortals are mere ants. Yet with the emergence of this illness, even mortals can slaughter immortals!" A flicker of irrepressible anger flashed through Ji Changxi's eyes.
"The true source of this strange illness is actually a plague that circulated among mortals years ago.
"Originally, it could not harm us cultivators at all. But through the machinations of this Longevity Heavenly Venerable, a qualitative change took place. It became capable of threatening our lives.
"Heh, one might as well call it the 'Immortal Plague.'
"I do not know what this Longevity realm powerhouse was thinking or what purpose they could possibly have in driving us toward death. But the current situation has already grown somewhat out of control."
"Out of control?" Senior Sister Zhao paused in surprise. "Has this Immortal Plague already developed to such an extent?"
Ji Changxi shook his head. "You two have stayed inside the sect all this time, unaware of what has happened in the outside world over the past month.
"The fact that the Immortal Plague originates from mortals is no secret. Word has already spread among the cultivator community.
"Those cultivators on the verge of death from the Immortal Plague began slaughtering mortals indiscriminately to vent their fury. At present, the lands at the foot of the mountain are nothing short of a living purgatory."
"Instead of seeking trouble with that Longevity Heavenly Venerable, they take their anger out on mortals. Bullying the weak while fearing the strong—what a bunch of useless trash. They deserve to die!" Hearing this, a chilling glint flickered in Senior Sister Zhao's beautiful eyes.
Ji Changxi remarked, "For dying men, losing their minds is only natural. One cannot entirely blame them.
"However, this wholesale slaughter of mortals is indeed excessive. The Immortal Plague lurks deep within mortal bodies; even when mortals die, the Immortal Plague does not dissipate. Instead, it disperses in all directions and spreads everywhere.
"Furthermore, if they truly wipe out all mortals, how will we sustain..."
Ji Changxi paused slightly.
"Therefore, this madness must be stopped.
"The elders are all seeking and researching methods to combat the Immortal Plague and cannot pull themselves away. After thinking it over, this heavy burden can only be entrusted to you two.
"Of course, the Xuanhuang Realm is vast, and relying solely on you two would never suffice. Not only our Dadao Sect, but other sects will also dispatch disciples to save mortal lives."
Senior Sister Zhao first acknowledged the command, but then voiced the doubt in her heart: "In the past, those cultivators might have backed down out of fear of the Ten Sects of the Immortal Dao's reputation and ceased slaughtering mortals. But now that they have been driven mad, most of them are terminally ill..."
Ji Changxi understood what she meant. Waving his hand to interrupt her, he continued, "For those who have completely lost their minds, there is no need to waste words—simply kill them and be done with it. As for the rest, you can tell them that we of the Ten Sects of the Immortal Dao have already devised a method to deal with the Immortal Plague. Have them wait patiently and commit no further innocent slaughter."
Hearing this, Senior Sister Zhao's expression turned somewhat peculiar. "Have we truly found a way to deal with the Immortal Plague?"
To her surprise, Ji Changxi actually gave a slight nod. "It was a suggestion put forward by that Longevity beast of the Beast Taming Sect. Since the Immortal Plague originates from mortals, and mortals cannot be completely exterminated, then we need only exile every last one of them into the Xuanhuang Realm's various subsidiary grotto-heavens and pocket worlds.
"Without mortals, the concentration of the Immortal Plague in the Xuanhuang Realm itself will surely drop drastically. After that, completely eliminating its effects will not be difficult either. At the very least, enabling our fellow cultivators to live normally will be well within reach.
"Although the specific feasibility of implementing the plan is still under discussion and evaluation, it should not pose any great issue.
"The Great Migration Plan...
"Tell those cultivators just that! With a glimmer of hope, they shouldn't be quite so mad."
Chapter 519