"In different timelines, both sides went to great lengths over the skeletal remains of the first-generation Dharma Transmitters. It seems that beyond mere symbolic significance, these remains must serve some other purpose."
In a flash, the urge to sweep through Wanxian Island and plunder it crossed Li Fan's mind.
Yet he quickly and forcibly suppressed the thought.
On the surface, Wanxian Island in the Congyun Sea was merely a remote provincial city garrisoned at most by Soul Formation cultivators—whom the present Li Fan could casually suppress with a wave of his hand.
However, beyond burying the skeletal remains of the first-generation Dharma Transmitters, Wanxian Island also suppressed the Nether-Passage Tunnel Mouth below, which was suspected to be the very source of anomalies in this Xuanhuang Realm.
Furthermore, Gongsun Qixuan of the Heavenly Secret Hall, who oversaw the anomalies, was by no means as simple as he appeared on the surface.
To dig and excavate right under the nose of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals...
"Actually, it isn't impossible—so long as the waters are muddied once more."
"There is also another strange point. If they truly wanted the skeletal remains, they could have simply dug them up on Wanxian Island. Why insist specifically on the batch seized by the Five Elders Association?"
A sliver of doubt flickered through Li Fan's mind.
"It seems I must establish contact with Mo Rubin as soon as possible."
***
The scene shifted back to the Five Elders Association and his clone, Li Qing.
"Skeletal remains? The Alliance went to such great lengths just for that?" Li Qing voiced the exact same doubt as his original body.
"Indeed," Qing Yang confirmed once more.
"Within the Soul-Grinding Disk, there are fifty-six remnant souls and one hundred and three skeletal remains in total."
"However, after enduring so many years of torment, they have been driven completely mad and shouldn't possess any value whatsoever." Qing Yang cast a glance at Li Qing, seemingly casual yet probing.
Not a ripple of emotion surfaced on Li Qing's face. Feigning contemplation for a brief moment, he said, "Since you have been so straightforward, I will speak candidly as well."
"The Thirty-Three Immortal Chosen are all dead. The Alliance will likely be unable to summon the Heavenly Venerable dharma manifestation again anytime soon."
"Moreover, the previous batch of Immortal Chosen were screened through countless rounds during the massive Alliance Grand Examination. Refilling their ranks will probably require a transitional vacuum. This might just be your opportunity to strike back." Li Qing did not commit himself too firmly, merely instigating them slyly.
Upon hearing this, Qing Yang appeared remarkably composed, but the subtle shift in her eyes betrayed the tremor in her heart.
"I wonder when the five Heavenly Venerables will fully restore their strength?" Li Qing seized the opening to probe.
Qing Yang shook her head, keeping her lips sealed.
"What a pity. I had hoped to renew my acquaintance with Heavenly Venerable Yixin," Li Qing sighed.
Qing Yang's gaze instantly hardened, fixing sharply onto Li Qing.
Unfazed by that near-tangible killing intent, Li Qing cupped his hands. "My mission is complete, so I won't impose any longer."
"I hope we have another chance to collaborate in the future."
Li Qing prepared to leave, and Qing Yang made no move to stop him.
Before departing, they exchanged a new method of contact. Li Qing then transformed into a sword beam and sped away.
"My Lady, this man acts suspiciously. Are we just letting him leave like this?" A dark shadow suddenly emerged from behind Qing Yang, inquiring in a low voice. "Though he is quite formidable, I could certainly have detained him."
Qing Yang stared at the horizon until the streak of sword light vanished completely. Only then did she say indifferently, "For now, he is not our enemy. Pay him no mind."
"How is the Poison Seed Plan proceeding?"
The shadow said in a deep voice, "We still cannot make contact. We don't know where the Alliance took our people."
"Keep tracking them." A cold glint flashed in Qing Yang's eyes.
"Since they dared to stretch out their hands, they had better be prepared to have them severed."
"Understood!" A trace of excitement seeped into the shadow's tone.
***
Li Qing knew nothing of what transpired after his departure.
However, he had faintly sensed the wisps of lingering malice hovering near him, which belonged to that shadow.
Thus, he did not linger. Having obtained the answers he sought, he left the Five Elders Association's domain.
On his way back, however, he caught sight of a scene that shocked him considerably.
Over the vast ruins that the Alliance had nearly razed to the ground, a squad of cultivators clad in flowing-light battle armor appeared.
Hovering in midair, they projected phantom outlines of buildings from the helmets of their armor down onto the earth.
As the light beams grew increasingly dense and dazzling, those once-illusory structures gradually materialized from phantom into reality.
Effortlessly, in barely half a cup of tea's time, the squad of cultivators created a fair-sized city out of thin air.
"Quest complete. Let me see the rewards this time."
"This is way too stingy... Forget it, onto the next spot."
Muttering among themselves, the cultivators flew off one after another.
"Fascinating." Li Qing narrowed his eyes slightly.
The cultivators hailing from Carefree Paradise seemed starkly different from those of the outside world in both their conduct and their mindset.
Furthermore, their level of development appeared to far surpass the other provinces of the Five Elders Association.
"Buildings can be rebuilt, but what about the people abducted by the Alliance?"
"Could they possibly conjure them out of thin air as well?"
His curiosity piqued, Li Qing obtained the consent of his true body and concealed himself near the newly constructed city.
He did not have to wait long.
Six days later, another squad of cultivators in flowing-light battle armor arrived.
Escorting an enormous warship, they came to a halt above the city.
A colossal beam of light shone down from the warship, enveloping the entire city.
One body after another, seemingly in deep slumber, drifted down along the light beam, landing in various corners throughout the city.
Before long, the once-vacant city became packed and bustling again.
After the warship completed its mission and sailed away, the sleeping residents gradually awoke.
Yet they seemed utterly unaware of everything that had occurred before. As if revived from a frozen state, the instant they woke, they immediately resumed their prior actions.
Almost in a breath, the city burst into a clamor of voices.
Li Qing slipped into the city unnoticed, took control of a resident, and inspected him thoroughly.
He discovered that they were indeed real, flesh-and-blood people, not illusory constructs.
"Such methods..."
Li Qing's expression grew solemn.
In this war, the Five Elders Association appeared to have lost.
Yet they seemed not to have truly lost either.
Filled with anticipation for what lay ahead, Li Qing turned into a sword beam and departed.
***
Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, Guangyang Prefecture.
Sacred Embryo Li Fan was playing chess beneath the willow shade with an untidily dressed old man.
The Sacred Embryo appeared utterly relaxed, whereas the old man pondered at length over every single move.
Yet no matter how the old man struggled, he ultimately lost the match.
"I'm not playing anymore!"
"There's something wrong with you, brat!"
The old man huffed coldly and flipped the board over.
Strangely enough, the black and white pieces that should have scattered everywhere seemed drawn toward the board, returning to their positions atop it.
The chessboard righted itself and settled back down before the old man.
"Damn it all..."
The old man could not help but curse under his breath.
The Sacred Embryo, however, was already accustomed to this.
This was already the nine hundred and ninety-ninth game of chess the two of them had played.
Chapter 938