Chapter 1049: Heavenly King Like a Minion

"If we're lucky, we might even find the Sacred Emperor tomorrow," the Empress said, a hint of excitement in her voice.

"Once you find the Sacred Emperor, do not approach him rashly. His sudden departure back then likely concealed something. Report it to the Alliance first, and I will make the final decision," Li Fan stated gravely.

The Empress nodded, indicating her understanding.

Over the past five years, Li Fan had informed the Empire about all the explored grotto-heavens and pocket worlds in the Profound Yellow World.

Using a type of exotic beast capable of free spatial travel, the Empire had screened these pocket worlds, aiming to locate Xu Ke's hiding place.

During the 115th cycle, just before Heaven's Will Bai fought with the Dharma Transmission Heavenly Venerate, the figure who appeared beside Heaven's Will Bai, carrying a coffin on his back, must have been Xu Ke. What was inside the coffin, why he suddenly abandoned the Empire he had built, and even left his beloved pets behind—all these questions would be answered once he was found.

However, Li Fan wasn't particularly concerned about these matters himself. It was merely a means to appease the people of the Empire. After the news about Xu Ke was revealed, the Empire truly became convinced and doubled its efficiency, no longer requiring Li Fan's supervision or urging.

After giving his instructions, Li Fan went to the deepest part of the Dome Laboratory.

In the pervasive darkness, red threads drifted like wandering snakes. These were the red threads that Mr. Bai had left with Xu Ke for self-defense back then. Just a single thread could kill a top-tier demon expert, almost as powerful as a full-force strike from a New Law Immortal.

Out of apprehension towards Mr. Bai, Li Fan had not directly contacted him in this life. Instead, he instructed the Empire's researchers to study it directly. Superficially, the red threads appeared to be a manifestation of swordsmanship. However, after several years of continuous experimentation, the Empire discovered that the red threads were more like living entities with their own sentience.

To activate them, no spiritual energy was required. Instead, they demanded a being's essence, vital energy, and spirit—something profound and mysterious. Or, put simply, the lifespan of a living creature. Moreover, the red threads disdained ordinary beings. They were only interested in devouring individuals who were thriving and striving within their species.

After being nurtured with numerous exotic beasts, the red threads, which were originally just a faint wisp, had transformed into a slender snake-like form in the Dome Laboratory. Even with several layers of formation protection, they were a terrifying sight.

With his clone having established a foundation using the Black Sword of Heavenly Marvel, Li Fan was relatively familiar with the swordsmanship of the Profound Yellow World. After careful study, Li Fan discovered that the red threads contained more than just the Way of the Sword; they embodied the Way of Balance. To harm others, one must pay a price, thus harming oneself first. In the eyes of Heaven and Earth, all beings were equal. There was no distinction between a mortal and a Dao Assimilation cultivator. Therefore, wielding this sharp sword, a mortal body could slay a Dao Assimilation cultivator.

This was a classic theory of ancient cultivation methods, with similar records found in many ancient texts Li Fan had read. As Mr. Bai was the last Ancient Law Immortal Heavenly Venerate in the Profound Yellow World, it was not surprising that his transmitted divine abilities possessed such characteristics.

However, with the changing times, even in the eyes of Heaven and Earth, beings were no longer considered equal. The more profound a cultivator's cultivation, the greater their weight in Heaven and Earth, and the more they were hated by Heaven and Earth. It was no longer possible for an ordinary person to achieve a "one-for-one" exchange. Consequently, the practical effectiveness of these red threads was diminished.

Li Fan's calculations showed that the power unleashed by a single red thread was enough to destroy the physical body of a Soul Transformation cultivator. However, New Law Soul Transformation cultivators, whose bodies were linked to Heaven and Earth, would not perish from this, only suffer severe injuries. As for Dao Assimilation cultivators, they could easily block the red threads' attacks.

However, this was merely the smallest unit of measurement for the red threads. If the full power of the red threads, now as thick as a bowl's mouth, were unleashed, even Li Fan himself would not be confident of survival without the protection of his Celestial Yang Immortal Puppet.

The red threads seemed to have reached their limit now, refusing to consume more. Li Fan gazed at the red threads swimming in the darkness, deep in thought.

"The essence of these red threads is to utilize the power of the Profound Yellow World's Heavenly Dao against enemies. It's not an abuse of power, but an exchange within the allowed rules," he mused. "Using the power of the red threads still consumes a cultivator's lifespan. Yet, losing only a small amount of lifespan to defeat or even kill a Soul Transformation cultivator... if this gets out, those willing to use it will undoubtedly flock to it. Perhaps it could serve as the signature of the Myriad Worlds Alliance. It could be named... 'The Sword Wielder.'"

Li Fan's eyes gleamed with insight. He ordered nearly a hundred strands to be separated from the red threads and sealed individually with seven-colored divine light.

"Anyone who joins the Myriad Worlds Alliance can wield this 'sword' and slay Soul Transformation cultivators. Who would dare say our Alliance lacks heritage? Furthermore, slaying New Law cultivators aligns with Heaven's will, so there's no need to fear severe karmic backlash from Heaven and Earth due to excessive killing. Truly brilliant!"

Even after some parts were extracted, the remaining red threads did not resume feeding. It seemed the total amount of red threads in the Profound Yellow World was fixed; some had to be consumed for new ones to regenerate.

Although the red threads were profound, Li Fan himself would not use them. He would only distribute them to members of the Myriad Worlds Alliance as defensive artifacts.

"Conveniently, some of the death-seeking cultivators who previously explored the Blood-Red River have successfully returned alive. I can bestow these artifacts upon them and then formally teach them immortal techniques as an incentive and reward," Li Fan mused, then left the Imperial Pocket World area.

He arrived in the "Searching for Profundity" area. On countless empty pedestals, the first monument had quietly settled into place. The stele was inscribed with the name and appearance of the cultivator who had retrieved a lost piece of history from the Blood-Red River. The historical impact of that period could also be viewed through this stele.

The first discovery was actually a rather insignificant scene. The timeframe was roughly before the Immortal Path was severed. Visitors from other immortal cultivation worlds arrived grandly in over a dozen immortal ships. Various sects from the Profound Yellow World sent out delegations to welcome them, holding a grand exchange meeting. It was a bustling and vibrant scene, completely unlike the desolate Profound Yellow World of today. After witnessing this scene, every cultivator couldn't help but feel a subtle sense of loss and sorrow.

There was also a very interesting detail in this scene. During this exchange event, Li Fan actually spotted Xuan Tianwang Xuanyuan Hong. However, at that time, he was merely one of the many cultivators responsible for hospitality. He stood there like a mere subordinate, looking on with a mix of nervousness and excitement at the senior cultivators. It's unlikely anyone present could have imagined that this unassuming young cultivator would later become the last ascendant of the Profound Yellow World and shoulder the grave responsibility of saving it.

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