Chapter 1440: 希夷入玄棺

"Perhaps that True Immortal has already stealthily infiltrated the vicinity..." As soon as Daoyuan uttered these words, everyone grew tense, instantly snapping out of their reverie about the vague, reclusive legends they had been discussing.

Unlike their previous trials, this was the first time they truly faced a True Immortal.

This was a matter of life and death.

Driven by the impending life-or-death crisis, the newly appointed Immortal Hunters swiftly coordinated their preparations. Despite it being their first time, with only transmitted instructions and no direct guidance, they were all elite cultivators from the Shuoxing Sea, and their actions remained surprisingly orderly.

The first task for Immortal Hunters, when "mending" an Immortal, was to strengthen the local Dao Net and then use it to conceal themselves.

If the entire Dao Net was metaphorically anchored to the Grand Dao by an invisible giant hand working with four major supports, then in the weaker, frontier regions of the Shuoxing Sea, the Immortal Hunters needed to act as living "nails" to further stabilize it. This would allow the Dao Net to draw upon more power for the upcoming battle.

It was said that the organization's veteran Immortal Hunters coordinated seamlessly, capable of reinforcing and sealing off a section of the Dao Net in an instant. In contrast, this group of novices seemed somewhat flustered.

A minor dispute even arose over who would act as these temporary "nails."

Logically, to ensure efficiency, the choice for these roles should have fallen to those with the deepest understanding of the Dao Net. However, as they were newly acquainted, they didn't know each other's specific strengths. The previously announced rankings were overall scores based on various aspects like Dao, martial prowess, and vitality, not solely proficiency with the Dao Net.

Yet, directly immersing oneself in the Dao Net, an experience akin to bathing in the Grand Dao of Heaven and Earth, offered immeasurable benefits. Consequently, no ambitious individual was willing to concede the opportunity.

Even Daoyuan, despite being ranked first, could only claim one spot for himself. It was utterly impossible for him to dictate all the selections.

However, the new Immortal Hunters had little time to prepare. With each passing minute, their anxiety mounted.

Eventually, someone decided to concede.

"Ma Tiande" clasped his hands and stated calmly, "Gentlemen, as the saying goes, 'He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.' My fifth-place ranking was largely due to my performance in the martial arts trial. I shall not contend for a spot!"

With quiet composure, he relinquished a "nail" position.

Everyone looked at the "noble and principled" Li Fan with changed expressions. Inspired by him, several other cultivators also voluntarily stepped back.

Soon, the eight "nail" candidates were finalized.

To Li Fan's slight surprise, the second-ranked purple-robed female cultivator, who fought with three long swords, also willingly relinquished her chance to become a Dao "nail."

The purple-robed cultivator, Jin Changyue, still had her eyes closed as she calmly stated, "What I care about more is personally slaying a True Immortal with these three swords of mine."

Her three long swords hummed in response to Jin Changyue's words.

With the personnel chosen, everyone quickly, and with serious expressions, began to collectively reinforce the local Dao Net as they had been taught.

Eight figures faced each other, forming a circle.

The other Immortal Hunters encircled them, then issued a series of Dao Net commands.

Each command seemed to cause the Dao strands to tighten.

The eight figures gradually faded, seemingly merging with the surrounding world.

Yet, everyone could sense a subtle, inexplicable shift in the area, accompanied by the emergence of powerful, obscure shadows.

Though extremely subtle, these changes silently synchronized with the Dao Net commands they were issuing.

The entire process of strengthening the Dao Net and establishing connections lasted for ninety-nine breaths. Strictly speaking, it barely met the qualification standard for a novice's first practical attempt.

The eight cultivators acting as Dao "nails" had returned to their normal forms.

However, all of them appeared somewhat dazed, with a trace of pleasant surprise, seemingly still immersed in their recent communion with the Dao Net.

Li Fan observed the eight individuals, noting their distinct change from before.

"Within this pocket dimension, the Dao Net power that each of these eight individuals can wield is almost equivalent to that of a True Immortal. Eight True Immortals working in concert..."

"It seems the future Yi Immortal is in for a tough fight."

Li Fan subtly scrutinized these Dao "nails."

Although they commanded power comparable to True Immortals, they lacked the intense, oppressive aura typically associated with one.

"At their core, they remain mortals. Their inherent power hasn't changed. It's simply that a fragment of the Grand Dao, normally floating high above, has descended and been momentarily grasped by them."

The eight Dao "nails" formed the primary force for hunting the True Immortal, with the others providing support and supplementary roles.

With the battlefield prepared, the next step was to erect barriers, ensuring the True Immortal could enter but not escape.

This was remarkably simple with the cooperation of the Dao Net.

What appeared to be ordinary void actually held boundaries that could vanish at any moment. Much like the towering wall that confined the Darkest Star Sea, the very concept of "forward" could dissipate, making any path ahead disappear.

"This is one of the Immortal Hunter organization's most crucial trump cards. This method, known as the 'Immortal Mending Cage,' has been instrumental in numerous successful True Immortal hunts."

"The direct annihilation of existence and concepts—perhaps its inspiration came directly from the Calamity of Dao Annihilation..."

Li Fan worked flawlessly with the others, issuing commands to construct the Immortal Mending Cage. Simultaneously, he secretly memorized the subtle fluctuations generated by the Dao Net.

To others, the Dao Net's fluctuations were both imperceptible and incredibly complex.

Even a direct participant would find it impossible to memorize them all in a single attempt.

These "fluctuations," strictly speaking, were merely subtle, ripple-like changes produced by the inherent operation of the Grand Dao of Heaven and Earth, stemming directly from the Dao Net. Only those with an exceptionally profound understanding of the Dao could sense their presence up close.

Dao Net commands, themselves composed of countless Dao Origin symbols, were issued by the cooperating Immortal Hunters with every breath. This immense volume of data would likely overwhelm even an ordinary True Immortal at a glance.

However, Li Fan didn't need to consciously decipher or memorize them.

The miniature Dao Net within his spiritual sense acted like a perfect mirror, reflecting the Dao Net's fluctuations in their entirety.

Even if Li Fan couldn't yet fully analyze the principles behind these fluctuations, it didn't stop him from "copying" and "pasting" them for later use.

"This is the formidable power of transforming one's mind into a spirit, reflecting the Grand Dao."

"It can achieve what even the unnamed cannot."

Having acquired this divine ability, Li Fan felt a quiet satisfaction. He now looked forward even more to his covert journey as an Immortal Hunter.

A vast hunting net had been secretly cast.

The newly appointed Immortal Hunters had completed all preliminary preparations. They were now concealed around the counterfeit Transcending Coffin, awaiting the Yi Immortal to fall into their trap.

Everyone's minds were linked within the Dao Net for communication.

"Everyone, look quickly! What's that sign?"

In the actual void, there was no discernible movement.

However, the reinforced Dao Net across this starfield was inexplicably twisting.

Moreover, this distortion was rapidly moving towards the Transcending Coffin!

"Though unseen, it inevitably leaves traces within the Grand Dao of Heaven and Earth! It's like an invisible monster leaving footprints in the snow. Brothers, the True Immortal has taken the bait!"

Everyone felt a surge of excitement, mingled with an unavoidable sense of tension.

"Should we make our move now?"

"Not yet, wait a little longer," Daoyuan stated with the calm authority of a seasoned commander. "Wait until he fully reveals himself. Besides, he can't possibly move this Transcending Coffin. He'll have no choice but to enter it obediently, as the legends say, to evade calamity."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

The distorting force, moving within the Dao Net, soon approached the Mysterious Coffin. After circling and observing it, the force appeared to be attempting to move the coffin.

Although the Mysterious Coffin was a counterfeit created by the Shuoxing Sea, it still possessed some of the genuine coffin's enigmatic qualities. It seemed to defy worldly existence, rendering any force applied to it utterly futile, like drawing water with a bamboo basket.

The Mysterious Coffin remained utterly unmoving.

Though the distorting force's attempt failed, it did not react with anger, but rather with apparent delight.

As it stood motionless, a larger, more intense wave of distortion rapidly approached from a distance.

"Wait! This isn't the power of a single True Immortal. Are there two?"

By observing its movements within the Dao Net and the degree of distortion in the strained Dao strands, the new Immortal Hunters swiftly concluded that, besides the Yi Immortal, another True Immortal had also entered their snare!

They were together, almost fused into a single entity.

Using conventional methods, even if they were right in front of them, their presence might go undetected. Only the traces they left within the Dao Net revealed their existence.

"Don't panic, everyone, this is excellent news!" exclaimed Jiang Yuming, who was ranked third. "Catching one is a catch; catching two is an even bigger one. I never expected us to achieve such a great merit so soon after becoming Immortal Hunters!"

Empowered by the Dao Net, he exuded confidence, facing the unexpected presence of two True Immortals without any fear.

Daoyuan also cautioned, "However, we must not be complacent. Although this was a weak area of the Dao Net, their ability to deceive its perception indicates their extraordinary nature."

"Unseen by the eye, unheard by the ear. I believe the other one commands the Dao of Xi. Only when Xi and Yi complement each other can they fool the Dao Net."

Despite this unexpected variable, they remained calm amidst their surprise. After some private communication and tactical adjustments, they simply waited for the two True Immortals to enter the coffin.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the Mysterious Coffin's lid responded, beginning to open.

It groaned open with a heavy, ancient sound, like a long-sealed bronze gate.

The strained Dao strands instantly relaxed and returned to normal.

The new Immortal Hunters simultaneously received notification: two individuals had indeed entered the Mysterious Coffin, which served as their bait.

"Move!"

Just as Daoyuan gave the command, another voice interjected, cutting him off.

"Wait!"

It was "Ma Tiande" who spoke!

Daoyuan's brow furrowed slightly at the unexpected dissent.

Li Fan, however, quickly offered a serious explanation: "Brother Dao mentioned earlier that the Mysterious Coffin requires a specific method to activate. Perhaps we should wait a little longer."

"It's possible they are merely bait as well."

At Li Fan's words, everyone indeed sensed something was amiss and collectively turned their gaze back to the Mysterious Coffin.

Once the fluctuation entered the Mysterious Coffin, there was complete silence.

It seemed to be waiting for something too.

"Something is indeed strange."

"If the Xi and Yi Immortals' true forms had arrived to escape calamity, they should have eagerly begun verification the moment they entered the Mysterious Coffin. How could there still be no movement?" Jin Changyue stated gravely.

"The Mysterious Coffin isn't revealing any flaws, is it? If the Xi and Yi Immortals realize it's a fake, won't they be alarmed and flee?"

"Don't worry. Though the Mysterious Coffin is a replica, it functions almost identically to the real thing, save for its inability to transcend worlds." The speaker was a cultivator named Nangong Hongzhao, who had not uttered a word until then, and whose background was largely unknown to the others.

His confident assertion suggested he must have a reliable basis for his knowledge.

However, this was not the time for inquiries.

They all waited with bated breath.

At that moment, Nangong Hongzhao spoke again: "It is said that each time the Mysterious Coffin initiates transcendence, its location shifts. This is why the Xi and Yi Immortals are merely probing now, delaying their full activation."

"It's certain that those currently in the coffin are just bait. They wouldn't waste such a valuable opportunity."

As if to confirm Nangong Hongzhao's words,

Not far away, another cluster of distorted fluctuations appeared within the Dao Net.

The degree of distortion in the Dao strands was identical to the previous instances.

As if in a replay, they too entered the Mysterious Coffin.

The moment they entered, profoundly mysterious sounds emanated from within the Mysterious Coffin.

It resembled faint singing, yet also a solemn and sacred chant.

"Now!" Daoyuan commanded sharply once more.

The Mysterious Coffin's lid slammed shut.

The Immortal Mending Cage had already silently descended, completely sealing off this section of the star sea.

Inside the Mysterious Coffin, they seemed oblivious to the external changes, apparently believing the closing of the lid was a normal occurrence.

The chanting continued uninterrupted.

Li Fan listened, meticulously noting down every subtle shift in the syllables. A thought sparked within him: "This rhythm bears a striking resemblance to the 'Calamity-Averting Immortal Scripture' passed down by the Grand Archmage."

"Could it be that the phantom by the Grand Archmage's side has some connection to the unnamed True Immortals who originally crafted the Transcending Coffin?"

Li Fan suddenly pondered.

In the past, the obscure Xuanhuang cultivators had founded the later Ten Immortal Dao Sects after listening beside that phantom. Even the Grand Archmage, already a demi-immortal, remained constantly by the phantom's side, unwilling to leave, his very words and actions seemingly mimicking its teaching.

"Could it be that this phantom was left behind by one of those unnamed True Immortals who departed long ago?"

"Originally, it might have possessed other spiritual qualities and divine abilities. But the unnamed True Immortal has already departed through the Mysterious Coffin to other possibilities. Thus, what remains now is merely an empty shell of light and shadow."

As Li Fan's thoughts raced, a bizarre and unexpected change occurred in their surroundings.

The Xi and Yi Immortals remained hidden within the Mysterious Coffin, and the hunters were reluctant to forcibly break in. Their plan was to wait until the immortals discovered the coffin's true nature and emerged, at which point they would launch their assault.

But what they couldn't have predicted was...

As the chanting inside the Mysterious Coffin intensified, the coffin itself began to emit shifting, seven-colored iridescence.

This ethereal glow was unpredictable and seemed to have no intention of fading once it appeared.

The Immortal Hunters watched, growing increasingly surprised and uncertain.

The seven-colored iridescence suddenly burst forth, completely engulfing the Mysterious Coffin.

When they looked again...

The fake Transcending Coffin, along with the Xi and Yi Immortals, had vanished into thin air!