Chapter 141: Red Flame Appears

"That's truly a shame," Yuwen Xing said, looking at Li Fan with a regretful expression.

Li Fan was about to leave when he suddenly thought of something. He asked, "Fellow Daoist Yuwen, what is the cultivation level of the guard of Taian Island?"

Yuwen Xing was momentarily stunned, wondering why Li Fan would ask such a question. However, it wasn't a secret, so he immediately replied, "Fellow Daoist Zhou is at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Speaking of which, it hasn't been long since he broke through from early-Foundation Establishment to mid-Foundation Establishment—only twenty or thirty years. I didn't expect him to be on the verge of another breakthrough so soon! It's truly enviable!" Yuwen Xing said this with great envy.

"I see," Li Fan said thoughtfully, nodding. "This Zhou Qingang seems to have some issues..." However, since he was planning to slip away anyway, this matter had little to do with him. He just kept it in mind.

After bidding farewell to Yuwen Xing, Li Fan hurried to Yelan Island. Su Xiaomei and the others had already gathered.

Six years had passed, and everyone had undergone tremendous changes. Su Changyu had successfully entered the Qi Condensation stage, cultivating the *Jade Gathering Art*, which Xiao Heng had exchanged for him.

Xiao Heng and Su Xiaomei had been unable to contact Li Fan for several years, so they joined the Myriad Immortals Alliance through Zhao Erbao's introduction. Together, they completed missions and accumulated contribution points. Both were now at the late-Qi Condensation Completion stage, preparing for Foundation Establishment. As for the sisters Yin Yueting and Yin Yuzhen, they had also successfully dispelled the miasma, but had not yet successfully drawn Qi into their bodies.

Although they were all at Qi Condensation Completion, Li Fan's Concealment Talisman was active, so he wasn't afraid of Su Xiaomei and the others discerning his true cultivation level.

He asked Zhao Erbao, "How is the collection of Dao Rhyme ancient artifacts progressing?"

Zhao Erbao had been very honest these past few years, having previously suffered greatly under Li Fan. Later, seeing that the few young cultivators Li Fan brought with him had rapidly surpassed him in just a few years, he was filled with awe and dared not act rashly. He honestly confessed, "We're still a bit short, but it'll be enough to reproduce the Dao Rhyme. It should be just about right in another year or two."

Li Fan shook his head. "There's no time. Get ready to go."

"Go? Go where?" Zhao Erbao asked, somewhat bewildered.

"Yuandao State," Li Fan replied, without explaining why.

Li Fan then looked at Su Xiaomei and the others. "Are you willing to come with me?"

"Wherever Master goes, I go," Su Xiaomei said with a grin, not asking why they suddenly had to leave. Although much time had passed, for some unknown reason, she still looked like a seven or eight-year-old child. Upon hearing Li Fan's question, she immediately declared her loyalty.

"We'll naturally go with Xiaomei," Xiao Heng and Su Changyu agreed without objection.

Yin Yueting, however, showed a difficult expression, clearly reluctant to abandon the foundation of Heavenly Treasure Pavilion she had built over the years. While she hesitated, her younger sister Yin Yuzhen gave her a hard kick on her right leg. After glancing back and meeting her sister's gaze, she finally said, "We'll go too."

Li Fan nodded, making the final decision: "Pack up. We depart in seven days."

The reason for such a long preparation time was that transferring the Dao Rhyme ancient artifacts was quite troublesome. They couldn't use spatial storage equipment and had to move them piece by piece. Fortunately, everyone worked together and, within the specified time, finally moved all the Dao Rhyme ancient artifacts into the Grand Derivation Boat.

As for the assets of Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, Yin Yueting only took half. The rest she left to the elders who had been with her, working hard together.

Everyone boarded the Grand Derivation Boat, preparing to depart. Just then, someone from Heavenly Treasure Pavilion suddenly ran out, crying "Shopkeeper Yin," and kowtowed on the ground. It was someone who felt immense gratitude towards Yin Yueting and couldn't bear for her to leave.

Li Fan looked over; it was an acquaintance. It was Elder Sun Zhang, who had been in charge of Heavenly Treasure Pavilion on Liuli Island in the previous life. After some thought, Li Fan still allowed him to board the Grand Derivation Boat.

Besides him, no one else from Heavenly Treasure Pavilion was willing to leave with them. Li Fan then asked about the stout man named Ye Feipeng. From the various answers, Li Fan learned that Ye Feipeng had been noticed by Walker Wu of the Myriad Splendor Merchant Association several years ago, the last time he saw him. He had then been taken away from the Congyun Sea to an unknown destination.

Li Fan nodded and didn't inquire further. He then piloted the Grand Derivation Boat and set off towards Yuandao State.

Li Fan had previously traveled this route, so this journey was uneventful. After more than a month of travel, they arrived at Zhuoling City.

However, he hadn't anticipated bringing so many Dao Rhyme ancient artifacts. The courtyard they had prepared as a base was too small. There was simply no way to fit everything. So, Li Fan landed the Grand Derivation Boat outside Zhuoling City, concealed its tracks with a formation, and ordered Su Xiaomei and the others to guard it. Afterwards, he met with the Zhuoling City guard, inquiring if there were any suitable places nearby to establish a cultivator's abode.

"A cultivator's abode?" The guard of Zhuoling City was named Fei Nan, a cultivator at the late-Foundation Establishment stage. He was somewhat surprised to hear Li Fan's question. This was because cultivators of the Myriad Immortals Alliance usually chose to settle directly in Yuandao Celestial City, or simply remained within the Heavenly Profound Mirror. Only rogue cultivators would bother to establish an abode in the wilderness. However, there were always some eccentric cultivators who preferred solitude. Fei Nan didn't ask further. Furthermore, Li Fan generously offered a consultation fee of one hundred contribution points, so Fei Nan immediately enthusiastically provided Li Fan with several locations to choose from.

The first location was a canyon located over two thousand li north of Zhuoling City. Viewed from the sky, the mountains on both sides resembled natural barriers, protecting the canyon in the center. Moreover, the canyon was rich in spiritual energy and not too far from Daoyuan Celestial City.

The second location was a continuous mountain range, over three thousand li south of Zhuoling City. This mountain was called Daoling Mountain. According to legend, it was once the site of a certain sect before the Great Tribulation. Within the Daoling Mountain range, there were many peaks suitable for establishing cultivators' abodes. However, the drawback was that cultivators would occasionally come to the mountains to explore the sect's ruins.

The third location was relatively remote. Over five thousand li west of Zhuoling City, near Shiln State, there was a vast and misty lake called Bright Moon Lake, spanning several hundred li. The lake itself had no valuable special products, there were no ancient ruins nearby, and the spiritual energy concentration in the vicinity was ordinary. Therefore, few cultivators went near it.

After listening, Li Fan thanked Fei Nan and departed. Among these locations, the large lake seemed most suitable for an abode. However, Li Fan was not in a hurry to make a decision; he preferred to see for himself. He then reunited with Su Xiaomei and the others, piloted the Grand Derivation Boat, and headed towards Bright Moon Lake.

As Li Fan and his group searched for their future dwelling place, a grand drama quietly unfolded over the Congyun Sea. It was late at night. The stars and moon were hidden, and there was no light. Myriad Immortals Island was utterly silent. Suddenly, without any warning, a great sun appeared in the sky. Its intense light revealed everything, illuminating the Congyun Sea under the night sky as if it were broad daylight. And beneath the great sun, high in the sky, a transparent, crimson figure suddenly became visible.