Li Fan gazed at the screens of light arranged and pieced together before him by the Dao Transformation Stone.
"The scenes recorded here can be roughly divided into two categories."
"A portion comes from cultivators who perished in this place over the years. They hold little value."
"As for the rest..."
A gleam of excitement flashed in Li Fan's eyes.
"Just as I deduced earlier, they all originate from the same person."
"One of the Profound Heaven Sect's Twelve Dharma Kings, Ji Yuzhen!"
Li Fan made contact with one of the light screens with his divine sense.
In an instant, as if he were living through it himself, countless scenes came surging forward.
"Big Brother Xuanyuan? Haven't you already ascended?" A gentle female voice came from within herself. Watching the figure that had suddenly appeared before her, Ji Yuzhen seemed utterly astonished.
"Haha, it seems you are the same as ever—perpetually secluded in cultivation, indifferent to worldly affairs. I have been back for some time now." The man before her possessed resolute features, his eyes shining as bright as the stars in the heavens. His tone was exceedingly gentle, bringing peace to the heart of anyone who heard it.
*This man surnamed Xuanyuan must be the King of Profound Heaven. Though his appearance isn't breathtakingly beautiful like Mr. Bai's, he is still handsome beyond measure,* Li Fan thought to himself.
The King of Profound Heaven first let out a sigh, then looked earnestly at Ji Yuzhen. "Zhen'er, I intend to undertake a great task. It may make an enemy of the entire world. Are you willing to stand with me?"
Ji Yuzhen was momentarily taken aback, but then showed not the slightest hesitation.
Rising to her feet, the spiritual energy surging around her sent rippling waves through the white clouds encircling the mountain peak. "Yes!"
The King of Profound Heaven was somewhat stunned. "You won't ask what it is?"
Ji Yuzhen gazed at him for a moment, smiled, and shook her head slightly.
The King of Profound Heaven averted his eyes, lowering his head in guilt. Then, tearing through the sea of clouds, he flew toward the foot of the mountain.
Ji Yuzhen followed closely behind, her gaze lingering on his back for a long, long time.
...
Withdrawing from the memory, Li Fan's brow furrowed slightly.
He then moved on to inspect the second complete scene.
Within a dim underground chamber.
The King of Profound Heaven was recounting what he had witnessed after ascending, as well as the drift phenomenon he had observed regarding the Xuanhuang Realm.
Twelve silhouettes were scattered throughout the corners of the chamber.
Their expressions, like their faces, were hidden in shadow, impossible to discern.
"This concerns the safety of countless living beings in the Xuanhuang Realm; we can by no means sit idly by. Xuanyuan Hong, do as you must without restraint. Even if this old man must lay down his life, I will aid you with all my might." An aged voice was the first to speak out.
Xuanyuan Hong cupped his hands to the old man, his expression solemn. "Elder Cui's righteousness is profound!"
Several others present chimed in with agreement.
Yet there were also a few who remained impassive and unmoved.
Ji Yuzhen's eyes, meanwhile, were locked on Xuanyuan Hong the entire time.
...
Inside a cramped secret chamber.
"Zhen'er, from among those records from the Immortal Realm, I have selected the technique that suits you best."
"The *Boundless Tianshu Soul Detachment Art*."
Xuanyuan Hong's expression was exceedingly excited. "This cultivation method is miraculous beyond anything I have ever encountered in my life. Unifying body and soul, leading straight to a boundless, infinite realm..."
He spoke without end, expounding the profound wonders of the technique to Ji Yuzhen.
Ji Yuzhen merely wore a smile, listening in silence.
...
On a battlefield reeking of blood.
Ji Yuzhen dispersed into myriad wandering severed souls. Each divine soul flew out as a beam of ghostly light, claiming the life of an enemy cultivator.
Even as she reaped the lives of her foes, Ji Yuzhen's gaze inadvertently drifted toward Xuanyuan Hong in the distance.
Facing a siege by several Longevity realm cultivators, his countenance remained unchanged.
Above his head hung a quaint little mirror emitting a deep, shimmering glow, locking the surrounding enemies in place.
Xuanyuan Hong's brows raised as he called out softly, "Untouched by Spells!"
A gleam of brilliance flashed across his body.
Then, the attacks of the five Longevity realm cultivators that landed upon him felt as though they struck empty air, devoid of any effect.
"Titanic Might!" Xuanyuan Hong spoke again.
He casually reached up and caught a colossal seal that had quietly cleaved through space and descended overhead, almost blotting out half the sky.
"Eyes like Torches!"
A beam of golden light shot from Xuanyuan Hong's eyes.
Sweeping over the five Longevity cultivators besieging him, a golden chain materialized out of thin air around anyone he gazed upon, binding them tightly!
In an instant, the tide of battle turned!
"Enact the Heavenly Dao!" Xuanyuan Hong's voice was grim and chilling, as if in that moment he had been invested with the resplendent majesty of heaven itself.
He gazed at the five grimacing Longevity realm cultivators ahead. His figure blurred, and in an instant, he arrived directly above their heads.
Raising his left foot, he stomped down hard.
An invisible ripple seemed to envelop the five Longevity cultivators.
The expressions on their faces turned from defiance to panic, and then to sheer terror.
Yet Xuanyuan Hong showed not the slightest mercy.
In the blink of an eye, the bodies of these five Longevity cultivators vanished into thin air like melting ice.
They left behind only the illusory silhouettes of five fruits, radiating a strange brilliance.
With a flick of Xuanyuan Hong's sleeve, these five fruits transformed into five streaks of radiance and tore through the void, vanishing into the distance.
With the fall of the five Longevity cultivators, the battle came to an absolute end.
...
Inside a space that resembled an endless starry expanse.
"Big Brother Xuanyuan, is this the Grand Star-Crossing Array?"
Looking at the sight before her, Ji Yuzhen couldn't help but chuckle. "It's so ugly!"
Xuanyuan Hong's expression was composed. "As long as it fulfills its purpose, that is enough."
Before the two of them, myriad golden chains wound tightly around the Xuanhuang Realm, enveloping it entirely.
It resembled a flattened golden sphere drifting in the void.
The chains were not completely still. Instead, they seemed to constantly swim around a core within.
Moreover, countless intricate talismans were carved upon the golden chains.
"Now, let us begin our first capture attempt."
There was actually a hint of tension in Xuanyuan Hong's voice.
Following his words, several hundred of the myriad stars ahead in the expanse instantly lit up.
Xuanyuan Hong observed them for a moment before locking onto one of them.
"Go!"
With a flick of his finger, a chain suddenly shot out from the flattened golden sphere.
It flew straight toward the target star.
The chain plunged into the void, soundless and still.
Nor did it receive any response.
It was as if it had been lost in the boundless void.
Xuanyuan Hong continued to watch with focused attention.
Only after several days had passed did he shake his head with a touch of regret. "A deviation still occurred between the observed beacon and the actual position."
"This capture attempt has failed as well."
With that, he made a slight gesture, and the golden chain that had shot into the void began to reel back.
"A deviation? Is it because of the influence of that unknown pulling force?" Ji Yuzhen asked softly.
"Indeed. Not just our cultivation world; before long, perhaps this entire expanse of space and time will inevitably fall under its influence."
Xuanyuan Hong let out a sigh. "We must quicken our pace."
...
"Big Brother Xuanyuan, let me heal your wounds."
Within a secluded, enclosed space, Ji Yuzhen separated a wisp of her divine soul and sent it flying toward Xuanyuan Hong.
"Though it cannot compare to true immortal spiritual qi, my *Boundless Tianshu Soul Detachment Art* has just reached minor accomplishment. As long as you consume my divine soul, your injuries should heal very quickly."
Chapter 903