The gray mold seemed almost obsessed with this golden vow power.
Shedding all its former indolence and dormancy, it turned ferociously aggressive.
Its relentless, suicidal frenzy sent a slight shiver through even Li Fan.
Had it not been for the inexhaustible supply of spiritual energy from his Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven, the seal of Seven-Colored Divine Light might very well have been breached in those few brief moments.
*A fearsome entity capable of extinguishing an entire world indeed...*
Feeling a faint chill in his heart, Li Fan kept his hands moving without pause, continuously reinforcing the seal.
What had begun as a thin cocoon of light was steadily built up until it became a dense, thick orb of brilliance. Only when the gray mold lost its ability to sense the golden vow power did it settle down once more.
It retreated back inside the dark gold cranium, returning to its dormant state.
*It seems my deduction was correct. This golden vow power truly operates on the same tier as Chaos, Hunger, and the immortal seal character represented by the gray mold.*
*In fact, for those three characters, this golden vow power is very likely a supreme tonic.*
*Which means that perhaps golden vow power can be used to unleash and reproduce the three True Immortal seal characters.*
*...*
At this thought, Li Fan fell silent.
It was indeed an immensely tempting proposition, yet the consequences of doing so might not be something he could bear.
The destruction of the Xuanhuang Realm was a trivial matter by comparison. But if it alerted the True Immortals within the Immortal Ruins, or even unknown entities beyond the high wall...
Then in all likelihood, he might not even be able to trigger True Reversion in time.
Li Fan still remembered the end of the 115th lifetime, when a True Immortal wiped out Xuanhuang with a single glance and True Reversion activated automatically.
The surrounding scenery had not instantly blurred away.
Instead, it had entered an extraordinarily bizarre state.
Outside of True Reversion was utter pitch-blackness forming a circular domain.
And beyond that domain, the scenes of the Xuanhuang Realm being obliterated flickered past at blinding speed.
Evidently, at that very moment, the power of True Reversion had still suffered a degree of interference.
*Even if I wish to test it, it must be performed by a clone whose memories have been excised. Or perhaps I can act through the hands of others. I imagine there are plenty of people in the Xuanhuang Realm who harbor interest in power beyond Longevity...*
Faces flashed through Li Fan's mind as he began scheming to select suitable candidates.
***
Meanwhile, a rather sensational event occurred within the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals.
Of course, this "sensation" was confined to a specific circle.
Lu Xichan, the former Chief Formation Master of the Formation Planning Hall, had returned.
Previously, because the defensive formations of the Alliance had suffered continuous leaks while the mole could never be found, Lu Xichan had resigned to take responsibility and appease public outrage.
Now that considerable time had passed, the Alliance still had not located the true traitor. They had simply pinned the blame on a random scapegoat to close the case. With the fallout gradually settling down, Lu Xichan was reinstated to her original post.
However, according to insider whispers, her return was backed by the heavy support of a Dharma Transmitter.
As a result, the reinstatement proceeded with extraordinary smoothness; even the factions within the Alliance that had always clashed with Lu Xichan chose, in a rare display of unanimity, to maintain their silence.
Upon her return, Lu Xichan immediately launched a flurry of major moves.
She drafted elite formation masters from the Formation Planning Halls of various provinces to Alliance headquarters, making no attempt to conceal her purpose.
With hardly any effort, Li Fan caught wind of it.
Her plan was to comprehensively overhaul the Alliance's existing defensive formations. Furthermore, through these formations, she aimed to forge a power capable of rivaling a Heavenly Venerable's dharma manifestation.
During this period of standoff, Lu Xichan cited the righteous banner of confronting the Five Elders Association, so no one dared openly oppose her.
Consequently, every formation master across the provinces with decent talent was selected.
Including He Zhenghao.
Judging by He Zhenghao's fervent mutterings while praying to the Red Dust Compassionate Immortal, he was considerably thrilled.
He even fantasized that if he could accomplish extraordinary merit in this undertaking through his own brilliant formation talent, he might return to the Heng family in absolute glory and thoroughly vindicate himself!
As the Red Dust Compassionate Immortal, Li Fan naturally felt a surge of benevolence upon sensing He Zhenghao's thoughts and decided to lend him a hand.
Thus, over the coming days, various intricate details regarding the Profound Heaven Spirit-Sealing Formation would frequently materialize within He Zhenghao's mind.
*If I'm not mistaken, the Dharma Transmitter backing Lu Xichan should be Mo Rubin. And his true motive surely lies elsewhere...*
*His real objective is likely the Heavenly Profound Mirror.*
From Li Fan's previous reincarnations, Mo Rubin, as a Dharma King of the Profound Heaven Sect, possessed ways to place certain restrictions on the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
Yet time had flowed on, and after thousands of years, the Heavenly Profound Mirror had gradually diverged from the Profound Heaven Treasure Mirror.
Relying on Mo Rubin alone might be a stretch.
That was why he had sought out Lu Xichan—most likely aiming to use the power of formations to constrain the mirror.
*In the 115th lifetime, the Profound Heaven Spirit-Sealing Formation came first, and only then was Mo Rubin found.*
*In this lifetime, Mo Rubin came first, and hopes were subsequently placed on the formation.*
*Yet under my secret nudges, different paths will ultimately lead to the same destination.*
Observing He Zhenghao suddenly display a look of sudden enlightenment, followed by utter intoxication and wild joy, Li Fan let slip a faint smile.
In his view, a Heavenly Profound Mirror restrained by cultivators under the Profound Heaven Spirit Sealing was far easier to handle than a mirror running the Heavenly Profound Spirit Lock and evolving into the ultimate form of the Profound Net.
*Once He Zhenghao earns the merit of offering up the diagram, his standing within Alliance headquarters will inevitably rise. When that happens, I can have him dupe all the talented formation elites he rubs shoulders with into the Mutual Aid Association.*
*As for whether the Alliance will notice...*
A glint surfaced in Li Fan's eyes.
*Hmph. Mo Rubin already knows He Zhenghao is a member of the Mutual Aid Association.*
*With his discernment, he will instantly recognize that a marvel as subtle and profound as the Profound Heaven Spirit-Sealing Formation could never have been conceived by someone of He Zhenghao's meager aptitude. From there, he will perceive the true origin of this formation: that it was me, a former Dharma King of the Profound Heaven Sect, secretly lending assistance from the shadows.*
*Barring any accidents, he will probably take the initiative to help cover it up, and might even claim the background of the Mutual Aid Association as his own.*
Li Fan's gaze flickered. *This is the tacit understanding between brothers who once fought side by side in ancient times.*
*If he truly acts according to my thoughts, then perhaps the time for our reunion as brothers will have arrived.*
*Of course, the prerequisite is that I can swindle the Profound Heaven Sect cultivation technique out of Senior Sister Zhao.*
As for what to trade with Senior Sister Zhao, Li Fan had not fully settled on it yet.
Getting something for nothing would be ideal, but if not, he possessed plenty of things that would interest her.
He was confident he could persuade her.
Looking toward the future, Li Fan felt a measure of self-satisfaction.
He thoroughly relished this feeling of strategizing within the tent and winning victory a thousand li away.
Chapter 907