Chapter 1202: Disastrous Water Brings Celestial Calamity

“Actually…”

Ji Hongdao hesitated for a moment, then transmitted his voice: “I only heard this by chance, and I don’t know if it’s true or false. Brother Sun, just take it as a bit of amusement. However, it’s best not to spread this information.”

He first made sure to issue his disclaimer, and then, with a serious tone, he added, “Actually, two of the five Heavenly Venerates of the Five Elders Council were originally members of our Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.”

“But for some unknown reason…” Ji Hongdao shrugged.

Sun Luyuan was hearing this rumor for the first time and was instantly shocked beyond words. He wanted to ask more questions, but seeing the other party make a gesture, he discreetly refrained from bringing it up again. After all, this matter was truly too incredible to believe.

As they ruminated, the two had already quietly returned to the Sun family residence.

“This trip was in vain; your brother’s problem with possessing the mirror hasn’t been resolved. What do you plan to do?” Ji Hongdao asked.

“I’ll just take it one step at a time,” Sun Luyuan replied helplessly. “However, Brother Ji, you also mentioned that the array in the ruins is quite ancient. This suggests that my previous conjecture might be wrong; perhaps the disaster within the Boundless Mirror will subside for a long time after its eruption. At least for now, it seems my brother is safe in the short term.”

Ji Hongdao nodded upon hearing this. “I have official duties to attend to, so I’ll take my leave first. If anything comes up, feel free to contact me at any time.”

“Thank you, Brother Ji!” Sun Luyuan said gratefully.

“Oh, don’t mention it,” Ji Hongdao waved his hand. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he transformed into a streak of light and departed.

The expression on Sun Luyuan’s face gradually became calm. In truth, his reason for preventing Ji Hongdao from reporting the discovery of the Grand Master’s remains, apart from the previous explanation, was his own personal agenda.

“If the news of the Immortal Alliance discovering the Grand Master’s remains could truly provoke a great war between the two sides…” A dangerous glint flickered in Sun Luyuan’s eyes. “Perhaps this is an opportunity. In the Boundless Mirror’s deductions, even the Great Qi Holy Dynasty could fight the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance at its peak to a standstill. But what if they encountered an alliance just recovering from a great war and suffering heavy losses…”

Sun Luyuan could never have guessed that he had actually come to the same conclusion as someone else. After the initial shock subsided, this strategy emerged in Li Fan’s mind. However, after careful consideration, he abandoned the idea of using the Grand Master’s remains as a pawn. Drawing this demigod into the game was simply too risky. To achieve the same effect, Li Fan had many other alternatives at his disposal. For instance, the matter of Dongji being refined into a puppet, or fabricating that the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance still concealed a Rebirth Heavenly Venerate about to achieve enlightenment. As long as Li Fan wished, he could provoke a great war in the Xuanhuang Realm at any time.

However…

Recalling the rumor Ji Hongdao had just mentioned on the Dust-Crossing Boat, Li Fan slightly frowned. “Two of the Five Elders Council’s Five Heavenly Venerates were originally members of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance? Yet they stood on the opposite side of the Immortal Alliance… Was it perhaps due to the Dongji incident, a case of feeling sympathy for a similar fate?”

“Or perhaps it was because they learned about the Transmission’s dismantling and partitioning of the Xuanhuang Realm?” Naturally, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance would try every possible means to conceal such matters. Besides those who personally experienced it back then, finding any related written records would likely be exceedingly difficult. After all, Li Fan had gone through so many reincarnations, yet he knew nothing about this. Fortunately, once he knew, it would be much easier to investigate.

As Li Fan pondered, Sun Luyuan and Sun Luyao’s conversation had already concluded.

“Brother, is this method truly effective?”

“Brother, rest assured, it’s very likely. This idea suddenly and naturally occurred to me after I saw the Heavenly Capital Grand Master. I believe the Boundless Mirror has some connection to the Grand Master,” Sun Luyao stated confidently.

“Alright, I’ll think of a way. But these You clansmen, I’ve never heard of them before. I imagine they are a top secret of the Immortal Alliance. It won’t be easy to get my hands on them,” Sun Luyuan frowned.

“Don’t worry, Brother. I should be able to hold on a bit longer,” Sun Luyao said with a comforting smile.

Sun Luyuan sighed faintly and then left the secret chamber directly.

Indeed, the method Li Fan provided to resolve the disaster of the Boundless Mirror’s attrition was inspired by his earlier speculation: Redirecting the disaster!

The idea was to use an immortal artifact, or something close to one, to attract the hidden disaster from within the Boundless Mirror and draw it out. Li Fan speculated that the attrition disaster, having been transferred from the Heavenly Capital Grand Master to the Boundless Mirror, likely indicated its particular sensitivity to Immortal-level existences. Perhaps it would actively launch an attack simply by sensing such an aura. By then, most of its power could be transferred out.

Li Fan naturally couldn't use a true demigod artifact as bait, but he could certainly create items that possessed an immortal aura. This would rely on the concentrated essence of source energy provided by the You clansmen.

“With golden source energy essence, supplemented by the Boundless Primordial Square, which is nearly an immortal-grade array, it should be possible to create a demigod artifact. Even if it’s just for show, that should be enough. Even if it fails, it’s fine; it’ll just be a test.”

Besides the branch captured by the Great Qi Holy Dynasty, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance still held a large number of You clansmen. As long as they found a way, relying on the Sun family’s status and connections, they should be able to acquire some.

However, what truly worried Li Fan now was the situation within the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance headquarters. Ever since receiving the Transmission’s message for sixteen Dao Integration cultivators to venture outside Xuanhuang, the Immortal Alliance headquarters had remained sealed off. It seemed to be brewing something.

“With the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance’s foundation, it would be effortless to rapidly cultivate sixteen Dao Integration cultivators. There’s absolutely no need for it to be sealed for so long. The only thing I can think of that would warrant such careful treatment, for fear of leaks… is a way to escape the Immortal Ruins and flee the Xuanhuang Realm!”

A sharp glint flashed in Li Fan’s eyes. A major reason why the various factions in the Xuanhuang Realm were currently lying low was the existence of the Immortal Ruins. There was no way out. Without knowing about the existence of the high wall, if they learned of a way to safely leave the Xuanhuang Realm, a considerable number of people would undoubtedly do so, without hesitation. Just as it had played out in the Xuanhuang Realm thousands of years ago: When disaster strikes, everyone fends for themselves!

“Even the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance itself would have to consider whether anyone within the alliance would seize the opportunity to escape. After all, they couldn't truly make the existence of the high wall public. Otherwise, the world would surely descend into chaos.”

As he thought this, Li Fan once again activated the Boundless Mirror to peer into the Heavenly Profound Mirror. He had initially expected to find nothing, just like before. To his surprise, this time he actually found some clues.

“Empty-Bright Flowing Crystals, acquire them quickly. Do not do so ostentatiously; use covert methods. Destroy them once you have them.”

“Empty-Bright Flowing Crystals.”

Three or four such messages circulated from the Immortal Alliance headquarters via the Heavenly Profound Mirror.