Chapter 1437: Ants Surrounding the Immortal

Li Fan squinted, recalling the extraordinary abilities of Scholar Su in the illusion he had just experienced.

Inside his divine sense, the miniature Dao Net flickered, searching for corresponding grand principles. Scholar Zhu had integrated himself into the Dao Net, so the principles he had comprehended were now among the foundations of the Dao Net. The copy within Li Fan's divine sense also reflected his essence.

The moment a match was made, that particular string in the Dao Net emitted a unique, profound light. Li Fan’s mind subtly touched it: "This is... the word 'Grind'!"

Suddenly, a square millstone seemed to appear before his eyes, continuously pounding and crushing targets between heaven and earth. With a steady stream of light flowing from that string in the miniature Dao Net, Li Fan's comprehension of this principle advanced rapidly in a short time.

After only a few breaths, Li Fan voluntarily ceased his comprehension of this principle. "Although Scholar Zhu has been assimilated into the Dao Net, becoming a living foundation, he is still alive. This principle of 'Grind' still has an owner."

"The deeper I delve, the easier it will be for its owner to sense me."

Even though there were countless grand principles in the world, Li Fan only needed to focus on the transformation of truth and falsehood. As for other principles and paths, they could serve as convenient tools before he ascended to the peak. Li Fan's deliberate exposure of the truth-and-falsehood transformation to Scholar Zhu was not a display of momentary power or an ostentatious show before a former nameless true immortal. Rather, it was a form of test.

"It now appears that the transformation of truth and falsehood is infinitely profound. Although some in the immortal realm might have secretly coveted it in the past, not everyone was aware of its existence. Even if Scholar Zhu was a true immortal of no small standing, he couldn't recognize it when I performed it in front of him. He was merely astonished by my inexplicable method."

While this test indeed carried some risk, Scholar Zhu himself was a prisoner within the net. Li Fan's true self was far away in the darkest star sea within the high wall, further protected by the carefree dream realm. Even if something unexpected happened, he could calmly revert to his true form. In fact, even when the Black Celestial Doctor crossed possibilities to arrive, Li Fan successfully activated his "reversion to truth" ability. In this original possibility, there were truly few entities left that could genuinely threaten Li Fan.

In the blink of an eye, seven days passed.

Scholar Zhu indeed recommended "Ma Tiande" to the Administrative Committee, as agreed. Ma Tiande was originally sent by the Administrative Committee to Elysium City to manipulate the Dao Net and carry out surveillance. The Administrative Committee now simply believed that Scholar Zhu was not getting along well with Ma Tiande and wanted an excuse to transfer him. After verifying Ma Tiande's identity through the Dao Net and consulting Ma Tiande himself, the Administrative Committee approved the recommendation.

The selection process for the Immortal Hunt was concentrated within half a day.

When the selection officially began, the ethereal Dao Net seemed to reveal its true form, materializing from illusion into reality. A vast, shimmering net enveloped the entire Shuo Star Sea, encompassing every faction within the star sea. The shadow of the Dao Net stretched across the heavens and earth, extending beyond the world itself. This magnificent and miraculous sight filled all who beheld it with a profound sense of awe and reverence. Mortals knelt in worship. Even cultivators bowed their heads in submission.

As the Dao Net spanned the sky, Li Fan did not draw attention to himself. He simply lowered his head and observed silently. Because of the miniature Dao Net within his divine sense, the sights he beheld differed from what ordinary people saw. Four figures, exuding sacred and majestic auras, stood like four pillars, hidden behind the Dao Net. In addition, numerous other overlapping phantoms loomed within the Dao Net, standing grimly. However, the invisible hand pressing on the Dao Net was nowhere to be seen.

Each time Li Fan's gaze swept over the nameless true immortals who served as living foundations of the Dao Net in reality, a sense of dread filled him. But the projection within his divine sense became clearer with this closer, more detailed observation. Therefore, Li Fan did not stop his scrutinizing gaze.

A wisp of light traversed the Dao Net. Wherever it passed, all individuals participating in the Immortal Hunt selection were illuminated by this light. Their bodies involuntarily floated upwards. Li Fan was no exception.

Observing the nearly one thousand cultivators rising alongside him in the Shuo Star Sea, Li Fan remained impassive. While allowing himself to be lifted, he observed the Dao Net's real-world operation. "Spanning the entire Shuo Star Sea, simultaneously locking onto a thousand targets with precision and lifting them into the air... In terms of the breadth and accuracy of its power alone, the Dao Net's action is no less than that of a true immortal."

Furthermore, Li Fan vaguely perceived that these individuals participating in the Immortal Hunt were not merely being lifted into the air. Instead, it was as if they had collectively entered a spacetime parallel to the real Shuo Star Sea. Beings in the Shuo Star Sea below could look up and see them in the sky. Yet, they gradually lost sight of what was below, seemingly entering a completely isolated area. "This must be a public test conducted before all beings in the Shuo Star Sea, ensuring fairness and impartiality for the Immortal Hunt selection," Li Fan realized.

The surrounding scenery grew dim, as if they were in an endless void. A thousand cultivators floated within it, awaiting the start of the selection.

A booming sound soon reverberated. Without any unnecessary words, it got straight to the point. "First trial: Dao."

The Dao Net, which spanned heaven and earth, seemed to arrive at this selection space. It descended abruptly, then continuously pressed closer and bore down. What was originally a creation existing only in the sky was now approaching ever closer, until it was right before their eyes. The thousand participants in the trial truly resembled ants caught in a net before the magnificent Dao Net. The oppressive feeling emanating from the Grand Dao caused one-third of the thousand individuals to tremble uncontrollably on the spot. Light flickered, and these trembling individuals were instantly eliminated and teleported out of the trial space.

The remaining cultivators' hearts were gripped, and they focused their minds to face the Dao Net, which was now almost upon them. The Dao Net continued to draw near, as if it intended to completely press down upon them. Faced with the imminent danger of being crushed to pieces, not everyone could remain composed. Even with countless preparations made before coming, the Dao Net as imagined in daily life was vastly different from the actual Dao Net. And during this process, anyone who showed even a slight change in expression was eliminated.

The Dao Net pressed down, as if ruthlessly grinding both their bodies and souls, before integrating them into itself. When he could see again, Li Fan found himself in a labyrinth-like area. The true face of the Dao Net was not visible.

Buzz, buzz, buzz...

Strange sounds came from not far away. Li Fan turned his head and saw that the silvery-white maze paths were evaporating and disappearing without explanation, starting from the edges. Moreover, this disappearance was rapidly spreading towards his location. "Catastrophe of Dao Annihilation?" Naturally, these four words appeared in Li Fan's mind. Of course, it wasn't a true Catastrophe of Dao Annihilation, but rather a simulated disaster scenario for testing purposes, based on its essence. "So what I need to do now is escape this Dao Net maze," Li Fan mused, having a sudden realization.

He tried to take a step forward, deeper into the maze. But despite his habitual effort, he didn't move an inch. Looking down closely, Li Fan found that his feet were strangely fused with the Dao Net maze. The path ahead looked smooth but was actually covered with uneven surfaces. In normal circumstances, moving forward would certainly be extremely difficult. Li Fan observed for a moment and then understood the intention of this first trial. By extending tentacle-like perceptions from his feet, Li Fan sensed the protrusions of the Dao Net directly ahead. "It seems I need to issue a Dao Net command to fill this void."

Li Fan did not personally act. Instead, he resorted to an old trick, as he had during Scholar Zhu's test: he directly used the miniature Dao Net within his divine sense to respond. In an instant, a dim light emerged from Li Fan's body and, passing through his feet, transmitted to the ground, filling the gap. The path ahead was no longer rugged, and Li Fan took a smooth step forward. "Such a testing method is quite interesting."

The miniature Dao Net rapidly responded to the various gaps in the path below. Li Fan walked slowly and unhurriedly. With his mind free of pressure, Li Fan observed his surroundings. He controlled his walking speed to be slightly behind the leading group, not the absolute top or most conspicuous, but still within the first echelon. Behind him, the Dao Net continued to evaporate, pressing relentlessly closer.

In this round, approximately four hundred more people were eliminated. Only when fewer than three hundred cultivators remained did the first trial conclude. The Dao Net maze silently disappeared. The booming announcement sounded again. Again, it got straight to the point. "Second trial: Martial."

Even as the voice still echoed in the space, an inexplicable aura descended upon the area. Li Fan's pupils constricted sharply. "A true immortal?"

Facing the three hundred cultivators was a tall figure clad in golden armor. However, his hands and feet were bound by shackles. His armor was also heavily damaged and covered in scars. His beard and hair seemed untouched for many years, extremely tangled, even obscuring his face. But Li Fan could still discern a hint of a sinister grin suddenly appearing on the figure.

"Rain!" A somewhat hoarse voice, carrying a faint murderous aura, resonated in everyone's ears. Suddenly, raindrops began to fall between heaven and earth. At first, only a few drops drizzled. Then it grew heavier and heavier, instantly turning into a torrential downpour. Every raindrop seemed to bear the weight of mountains. As it poured down, many cultivators, caught off guard, screamed repeatedly. They were already battered and bloody from the rain. Light and shadows flickered, and those on the verge of death were teleported out of the trial space. However, a few unlucky ones died in the heavy rain before they could be teleported away.

"They're really doing this." Li Fan personally watched one participant next to him die a violent death. Yet, he showed no panic. He had too many ways to withstand this immortal rain. "But since this is the Immortal Hunt selection, it's natural to utilize the power of the Dao Net as much as possible." When the true immortal appeared, Li Fan noticed that he seemed to be closer to the Dao Net. It seemed intended to facilitate cultivators participating in the Immortal Hunt selection in calling upon the Dao Net's power.

"Rain..."

"Umbrella!" With a thought, an umbrella appeared in Li Fan's hand. Its round canopy covered his head, blocking all the falling heavy rain. However, this trial was not so simple to pass.

While protecting himself, Li Fan looked left and right. He found that quite a few cultivators from the Shuo Star Sea adapted immediately. They each displayed their unique abilities: some, like Li Fan, protected their bodies with umbrellas or protective gear; others used invisible force to alter the direction of falling or invading raindrops; still others directly swallowed the downpour.

Once they could stand firm in the rain, they all surrounded and attacked the golden-armored true immortal, who was still aided by chains. Various divine abilities and spells were unleashed simultaneously. Among the most striking were a gust of wind and three swords. A great wind howled, blowing the torrential rain back upwards. What was originally a divine ability used by the true immortal to torment and kill the trial cultivators was now turned back upon him.

The three swords belonged to one person. They stood behind a female cultivator in purple robes. This female cultivator appeared to be blind, her eyes always tightly shut. Yet, even in the visibility-obscuring downpour, she could firmly lock onto the golden-armored true immortal's direction. The three swords behind her were held by a severed arm, a skull, and a circular vortex. Sword light crisscrossed, cleaving through wind and rain, ruthlessly striking at the golden-armored true immortal. Amidst the fierce wind and torrential rain, energy surged like a tumultuous tide, rising and falling without cease.

Li Fan hid in the shadows, quietly observing without rashly intervening. Simultaneously, he used the miniature Dao Net within his divine sense to record all the fluctuations of the various spells and divine abilities around him. It was evident that a true immortal was participating in this trial. Although he was controlled by the Administrative Committee and unable to exert his full strength, his defensive capabilities remained. The numerous cultivators' divine abilities continuously bombarded his golden armor, yet they only caused slight tremors. Not even a faint white scratch could be made.

The golden-armored true immortal watched the siege by these ants before him and laughed madly without stopping. "Rain! Rain! Rain!" The wind and rain grew heavier with the true immortal's chanting. The shackles on the golden-armored true immortal's hands and feet clanged, seemingly on the verge of breaking or detaching under his impact. Meanwhile, the rain assaulting the cultivators began to display its original divine efficacy. Not only was it as heavy as mountains, but it also began to corrode the cultivators' souls. It even affected the great principles of this world.

Seeing that the cultivators' side was gradually showing signs of defeat under the true immortal's counterattack, Li Fan, who had been merely watching, finally spoke. "Discard Armor!"

Hiding behind all the other cultivators, Li Fan pointed a finger from afar at the arrogant golden-armored true immortal. Although the voice was soft, it pierced through the wind and rain, reaching the ears of everyone present. The wind and rain paused. It was as if some mysterious and supreme power had descended. The golden armor on the true immortal's body uncontrollably began to tremble slightly.

"No!" The golden-armored true immortal, whose face had been full of ferocity, was now utterly terrified. He cried out, seemingly trying to prevent his armor from falling off. But the power of the Dao Net brutally stripped away his protective gear. In just a moment, the former true immortal appeared naked before everyone. Although messy hair provided some concealment, it was still an unbearable, immense humiliation!

The group of cultivators participating in the trial reacted at this moment. They once again surrounded and attacked the true immortal. But that true immortal roared, allowing these attacks to wear away his flesh and blood. Yet, a pair of blood-red eyes pierced through the crowd, staring fixedly at Li Fan!