Watching the horrifying scene before him, Li Fan felt a stir within his heart.
This was what an anomaly truly was.
Suspended between life and death, clarity and confusion, bound by obsession, condemned to repeat an endless cycle according to set rules.
Unable to ever find release.
Qin Tang was like this, and Daoist Chong was no different.
Seeing Li Fan make no move, Daoist Chong raised the two golden pills and waved them before his eyes. "Senior Brother, the pills."
He looked at Li Fan, his face full of hope.
Li Fan shook his head with regret. "My aptitude is too poor. Even if I take these pills, I'm afraid my cultivation won't improve by much. I certainly cannot take them. It would be far better to save them for other senior brothers with greater talent in the future."
Daoist Chong looked somewhat crestfallen and was about to urge him again.
Li Fan immediately followed up, "However, I would like to ask Junior Brother for a favor. I wonder if you would agree?"
Daoist Chong brightened with joy once more. "I agree, I agree! Senior Brother, whatever request you have, just tell me!"
"I want to learn your method of catching insects," Li Fan said slowly.
Anomalies had their own rules.
If one did not obey them, death under the anomaly was certain.
Yet once those rules were understood, one could not only emerge unscathed, but also reap all manner of benefits.
Take Qin Tang's stone statue, for example.
During Qin Tang's trials, if a candidate performed reasonably well across all three stages, they could use a jar of fine wine before leaving to ask for his guidance.
Based on their specific performance in the trials, Qin Tang would either help boost their cultivation or impart a technique.
Here with Daoist Chong, swallowing the golden pills would grant the secret of Daoist Chong's alchemy.
Except...
This alchemy was not the orthodox pill dao. It was the insect pill dao.
Not only were the ingredients mostly harvested from bizarre flying insects, but the finished pills also took the shape of insects.
Worse yet, as one refined more insect pills, the alchemist would gradually become just like Daoist Chong—neither human nor ghost.
Thus, Li Fan had not chosen the golden pills as his reward, but another prize whose value was in no way inferior to the insect pill dao.
Hearing Li Fan's words, Daoist Chong scratched the back of his head, looking a bit sheepish. "Senior Brother, that insect-binding net is just something I weave for fun. Why would you want to learn that...?"
Li Fan explained with complete solemnity, "Our senior brothers are fighting fiercely on the front lines, and pestilent insects will inevitably harass them. My strength is low, so I cannot charge into battle to slay the enemy myself. But if I learn your insect-binding art, I can watch the perimeter and clear away those troublesome vermin for them."
Daoist Chong came to a sudden realization. "I never thought the insect-binding net could be used like that! Senior Brother, you really are brilliant!"
Li Fan replied sincerely, "Then I must trouble Junior Brother to teach me."
Daoist Chong's face flushed with excitement. "Alright, Senior Brother! I'll teach you the method of weaving the net right now!"
With a series of low hums, four pairs of transparent wings sprouted behind Daoist Chong.
He reached behind himself and tore one of them off.
Handing the still blood-stained wing to Li Fan, Daoist Chong beamed.
The moment Li Fan lightly touched it, the transparent wing dissolved into streams of light and was absorbed into his body.
Simultaneously, countless intersecting threads seemed to crisscross the world before Li Fan's eyes.
It felt as though he could manipulate these fine strands at will, weaving them into an immense web to capture any living being within sight.
*This is it—Innate Divine Ability: Insect Binding.*
The phantom image of the giant web gradually vanished, but Li Fan knew he had mastered an exceptionally formidable divine ability.
As long as the target's cultivation realm was lower than his own, activating Insect Binding would instantly subdue them.
A cultivator ensnared by Insect Binding could not cast a single spell or divine ability, no matter what they possessed.
They could only lie at the caster's mercy, like an insect trapped in a web.
At first glance, working only against cultivators of lower cultivation realms might make Insect Binding seem of little practical worth.
In truth, that could not be further from the case.
Cultivation realm did not equate to actual combat strength.
Among cultivators roaming the world, who did not harbor a trump card or two?
If caught off guard by an explosive strike, even someone of higher cultivation could not guarantee walking away unscathed.
With Insect Binding, that concern was gone.
So long as his realm was higher, he could strike from above and take them alive on the spot.
It was perfectly suited for dealing with those whose cultivation was modest, yet who harbored deep secrets...
The figures of Sikong Yi and Baili Chen flashed through Li Fan's mind.
Having obtained the divine ability, Li Fan had no desire to linger.
"Junior Brother Chong, I have mastered the net-weaving method. I shall head to the front lines now to find our senior brothers. Take care of yourself!"
Daoist Chong looked reluctant to part. "Then Senior Brother, you must be careful! You must return safely!"
As Li Fan departed, that look of concern slowly faded.
After an unknown length of time, Daoist Chong's muttering echoed once more through the silent Demon Refining Tower.
"...Without alchemy ingredients, whatever shall I do..."
***
Stepping out of the Demon Refining Tower, Li Fan sensed the positions of Sikong Yi and his companion.
They were already very close to the central core of the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace: Taiyi Hall.
Information concerning Taiyi Hall immediately surfaced in Li Fan's mind.
Taiyi Hall was said to be the place where the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace received honored guests and held sect discussions.
While not inherently dangerous, the circumstances there were rather peculiar.
Looking toward Sikong Yi and Baili Chen, they seemed to have halted for some reason, creeping toward the central area at a snail's pace.
Li Fan understood at once.
With a cold sneer, he sped toward their location.
In front of Taiyi Hall, countless broken swords were thrust into the ground.
Their blades interlocked, forming a forest of steel that barred the way to the hall.
Sikong Yi and Baili Chen were currently stepping across the sword hilts, advancing toward Taiyi Hall.
With every step forward, an illusory sword corresponding to the broken blade beneath their feet materialized above them,
then plunged straight through their hearts.
No blood spattered; after piercing through, the illusion promptly vanished.
It inflicted no physical harm, only pain.
The agony made their bodies shudder uncontrollably, sweat pouring from their foreheads like rain.
Only after a long while did they recover from the unspeakable anguish.
Drawing a deep breath, the two continued treading across the hilts.
Another sword shadow pierced through.
This was the reason their progress was so painfully slow.
Yet despite the searing pain, not the slightest hint of retreat showed in their eyes.
The prize they had labored so hard to seek lay just ahead, virtually within reach.
How could they possibly give up now?
Hardening their resolve, they gritted their teeth and pressed onward.
Right then, they sensed someone approaching from behind.
Turning their heads, shock seized them, and they could not help crying out:
"You?! How is that possible?"
Chapter 85