Across the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, wails of agony rose everywhere.
The Congyun Sea was no exception.
Fortunately, on Haixuan Island, because the few members of the Mutual Aid Association who remained behind had entered secluded cultivation to prepare for the examinations, there had been no contact with outsiders during this period. Only because of this did they narrowly escape the disaster.
Even so, by now, none of them had any heart left to study.
His avatar, Ji Shaoli, shut down the teleportation array, activated the island's protective grand formation, and completely cut off all contact with the outside world. He only monitored the outside situation through the Lesser Heavenly Profound Mirror.
"It is truly fortune and fate. Fortunately, I chose to enter seclusion here that day to prepare for the exam. Fellow Daoists Zhang Mu and Sun Ying could no longer hold out and have already fallen."
"The other brothers in the Mutual Aid Association are also showing severe symptoms..." He Zhenghao said with lingering dread.
Zhang Mu and Sun Ying were both members of the Congyun Mutual Aid Association. Among the association's cultivators outside, there were only thirteen in total, yet two had already perished. This clearly showed the terrifying lethality of the mutated immortal-mortal miasma, as well as the tragic state of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals under its rampage.
"The other fellow daoists are in danger as well; they can hardly speak clearly anymore."
"Even though they are our brothers in the Mutual Aid Association and it pains my heart to see them like that, letting them in is absolutely out of the question," Ji Shaoli said gravely at this moment. "This immortal-mortal miasma is insidious and perilous. A suitable countermeasure has yet to be found, and there is nothing we can do."
Ji Shaoli paused, looking out past Haixuan Island with an inscrutable expression.
"It is said that the immortal-mortal miasma can even spread through spiritual energy. I have completely sealed off the island's spiritual energy channels connecting to the outside world. Fortunately, my island always keeps a stock of spirit stones, so in the short term there shouldn't be much of an issue."
"However, if you wish to cultivate, that will be impossible. We can only barely sustain our survival." Ji Shaoli turned back to look at the crowd, his expression solemn.
"To have a place of refuge is already great fortune. As long as we can hold out until the Alliance comes up with concrete countermeasures, that will be enough," the cultivators all sighed in agreement.
"Just what is this immortal-mortal miasma? It is said to exist within mortals, yet it is formless, odorless, and has no physical substance. How could it deceive the Immortal Alliance and spread throughout the world in such a short time?" After a moment of silence, He Zhenghao asked in utter bewilderment. Deep in his eyes, a glint of worry flickered once more.
None of the people present, including Ji Shaoli, could answer. Silence fell over the room.
Just what was the immortal-mortal miasma?
At this moment, Li Fan also wished to know the answer to this question.
"Cough, cough... Are you two all right?" Li Fan narrowed his eyes, looking at Tianyang and Lin Ling on his left and right—both full of vigor—as he asked with a tinge of resentment.
"Senior Brother, you should speak less and rest well," Tianyang urged with concern.
"I'm fine... cough, cough..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Li Fan erupted into a violent fit of coughing. It felt as if his internal organs were shattering and about to be coughed up together. Though he looked terminally ill, there was not the slightest worry in Li Fan's heart. Instead, composed and calm, he carefully experienced the changes taking place within his body.
Seeing this from the side, Tianyang could not help but feel immense admiration.
*Shang Tianci's symptoms seem a bit lighter than mine, but he still feels unwell.*
His divine sense searched everywhere within his body, yet found no trace whatsoever of the culprit, the immortal-mortal miasma. Li Fan decisively gave up and pondered instead:
*It has no physical substance, yet mortals, cultivators, and spiritual energy all serve as its vectors.*
*After lingering for thousands of years, it can still mutate.*
*Is this immortal-mortal miasma truly a product of defying the principles of Heaven and Earth?* A thread of doubt flickered in Li Fan's mind.
After pondering for a moment, he took out the communication talisman left for Master Yin and contacted him. Less than half a cup of tea later, Master Yin's voice rang out.
"Fellow Daoist Li Fan, are you reaching out to me about the immortal-mortal miasma?"
"Cough, cough... Fellow Daoist Yin, you are actually fine?" Li Fan was somewhat surprised to see the other man looking so full of vitality.
"Heh heh, I am not like the rest of you. Perhaps because I have been in contact with the immortal-mortal miasma year-round, I only felt uncomfortable for a day or two and then bounced right back, full of vigor!" Master Yin chuckled.
Hearing this, Li Fan's eyes flickered. "You truly have good fortune, Fellow Daoist. As for me, I am growing weaker and weaker; I fear I may not survive this ordeal..."
"Do not scare yourself, Fellow Daoist. Rest well, and you will naturally recover," Master Yin said dismissively. "You have already been infected for this long, and since you can still speak normally, that shows it is nothing serious. In truly severe cases, life would be hanging by a thread within three to five days," Master Yin explained using his specialized knowledge.
"Then I will take your auspicious words to heart," Li Fan nodded.
After coughing for another while and catching his breath, Li Fan asked again, "Fellow Daoist Yin, when it comes to the study of the immortal-mortal miasma, few in this world can surpass you. Just what is this immortal-mortal miasma? How can it remain so terrifying even after lingering for several thousand years?"
Master Yin fell silent for a moment before speaking softly: "The immortal-mortal miasma is likely the product of a cultivator defying natural principles."
"Though a mortal, one can slay immortals."
"Disregarding strength."
Li Fan was puzzled once more: "If so, then what is the deal with this mutated immortal-mortal miasma? Once principles are defied, how could it change again?"
Master Yin shook his head. "What changed is merely its external form. Where has there been any change in the principle that was defied? It is only that, perhaps, the current ratio of cultivators to mortals is even greater than in antiquity. Therefore, the lethality displayed by the immortal-mortal miasma far surpasses before."
Li Fan pondered the meaning behind Master Yin's words. A thought suddenly surged in his mind.
"Fellow Daoist Yin, according to what you say, this immortal-mortal miasma was born to protect mortals and strangle cultivators. Since the immortal-mortal miasma has reappeared today and mutated, does that not mean the Longevity Heavenly Venerable who defied this principle is still alive in this world? Why have we never heard the title of this Heavenly Venerable?"
After a brief silence, Master Yin answered with some hesitation, "Regarding this, I already have some ideas. However, they cannot be verified yet. But I am certain that if we can uncover the identity of this Heavenly Venerable, we will not be far from completely unraveling the secret of the immortal-mortal miasma."
Master Yin's voice sounded somewhat distant.
Li Fan narrowed his eyes slightly, yet he did not press further.
After a moment, he shifted to asking Master Yin for his perspective on how the immortal-mortal miasma pandemic would unfold.
"Fellow Daoist, there is no need to worry. The Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals still has some experience when it comes to dealing with the immortal-mortal miasma. At present, it is merely that they have yet to find a way to curb the mutated immortal-mortal miasma, which makes them appear somewhat passive. Still, it should not take long. As long as the method is sound, the immortal-mortal miasma will inevitably meet the same end as it did thousands of years ago—disappearing once more. It will only exist within mortals, serving as a sort of deterrent," Master Yin said in an eerie, wistful tone.
Certain peculiar emotions seemed concealed within his words.
Li Fan, meanwhile, was lost in thought.
Chapter 841