Chapter 1516: All Their Fates Have Changed

Quantifying the Great Dao consolidated within the "Crimson Flame" figure, it was like a tiny blade of grass. What Li Fan knew, however, was like an endless forest of towering trees, immense and boundless.

Thus, as the great tree swayed its branches and leaves, the small grass beneath it was also moved to emulate.

To the beings of Congyun Sea, the Crimson Flame — the very spirit of heaven and earth that signified their renewed destruction — had now been easily subdued by Li Fan.

"The previous burning of the sea did not achieve the goal of the Profound Yellow World, so the old events are repeating."

"Like burning forests to create fields, it needs to be done repeatedly, utterly destroying the foundation..."

Li Fan carefully pondered the mission that Crimson Flame had received.

Correspondingly, several scenes simultaneously flooded his mind. This time, the burden on his body was not as severe as when he recalled matters related to "traversing" before. There was only a slight stinging in his mind, but after enduring it with effort, he managed to make sense of most of the images.

"So it's a fragment of the Celestial Law Realm that invaded the Profound Yellow World. No wonder the Heavenly Dao of the Profound Yellow World vowed to completely eradicate it. But where exactly is this Celestial Law Realm? And why did it merge with the Profound Yellow World?"

Just as Li Fan was about to delve deeper, he once again felt an indescribable pressure. He then wisely chose to temporarily give up.

"It seems I'll have to wait until my strength increases and I can bear more."

"But it won't be long. The growth rate of this body is faster than I anticipated."

For the past fifty years, apart from longevity and its associated effects, Li Fan's body had shown no other peculiarities. But ever since he truly came into contact with spiritual energy not long ago, the potential of this immortal body seemed to have been genuinely unlocked.

Li Fan could clearly feel his progress at all times.

It was important to note that he had not yet formally begun cultivation. This level of progress was solely due to his body's instinctive absorption. It was truly difficult to imagine how quickly he would advance once he officially embarked on the path of cultivation.

However, what slightly confused Li Fan at this moment was that the spiritual energy absorbed by his body did not transform into corresponding spiritual power. Instead, it vanished without a trace, like a clay ox entering the sea.

His instincts told him that this might not be a bad thing, so he did not delve deeper for the time being.

Li Fan remained silent in contemplation. Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi, having received no reply, showed the deference of "juniors." They continued, "More than twenty years ago, this place was still a vast ocean. Then one day, disaster struck, and the sea transformed into fields."

"Fortunately, there was no irreparable damage to the terrain or space. Thanks to the efforts of many cultivators from the Myriad Immortals Alliance, this area has once again become vibrant."

"The City Lord of Congyun Heavenly City is He Zhenghao. He was originally from Congyun and luckily escaped the disaster. When Congyun was being rebuilt, he volunteered and took on the heavy responsibility. On the day the city was established, he was ennobled for his contributions," Dao Xuanzi said, pointing to a massive city floating in the sky not far away.

"I heard that He Zhenghao is indeed a man of character. It's said he has a considerable background; on the day of his inauguration, many powerful figures from the Central Four Provinces of the Myriad Immortals Alliance came to offer congratulations. The scene was quite something..." Kou Hong marveled.

Dao Xuanzi nodded slightly, "With his background, he absolutely didn't need to come to such a remote place to be a city lord. Perhaps it was for the sake of his hometown that he still did so. Therefore, the cultivators of Congyun Sea deeply admire him. Moreover, he has always been eager to help others; if Senior truly wishes to join the Myriad Immortals Alliance, you might consider seeking him out."

On the way here, Li Fan had fabricated a background for himself, claiming to be a descendant of cultivators who migrated into a mortal minor world years ago.

Although Kou Hong and the other man didn't know how Li Fan had cultivated to his current realm in a minor world devoid of spiritual energy resources, they dared not ask too many questions.

The cultivation world contained countless divine abilities and spells; perhaps there was indeed a way to inherit an ancestor's cultivation?

"As for us, we're accustomed to being free and unfettered. We don't want to join and be subjected to such restrictions," Kou Hong continued.

Listening to their narration, a seemingly familiar face instantly appeared in Li Fan's mind.

"He Zhenghao..."

"This person feels quite friendly to me. He should be an old acquaintance."

"Starting with him isn't a bad idea." Li Fan immediately felt a sense of certainty.

The reason he planned to join the Myriad Immortals Alliance was not primarily to find cultivation methods. The most important thing was that Li Fan remembered the Alliance possessed a supreme treasure called the Heavenly Profound Mirror. And he, it seemed, had a deep connection with this treasured mirror.

He had even been its owner!

"All transactions within the Myriad Immortals Alliance must be conducted through the Heavenly Profound Mirror. If I can gain its assistance, all resources will be at my disposal."

"I just don't know if the method of controlling the mirror from my memory is still effective at this point in time."

In any case, it was just a part of his divided body, so there was no harm in trying.

Having made his decision, Li Fan glanced at Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi before heading to Congyun Heavenly City.

"I wonder what use these two might be."

"It's good to have a backup plan."

Thinking this, Li Fan forced out a drop of his vital essence blood and flicked it towards each of their foreheads.

The moment the vital essence blood left his body, it transformed into a crystal-clear, brilliant green light. The endless vitality emanating from it even caused the surrounding vegetation to grow at a visible speed.

It didn't look like blood at all; rather, it resembled some astonishing treasure.

As the vital essence blood entered their bodies, Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi both experienced rejuvenation and burgeoning vitality. Not only did all their old injuries and hidden ailments disappear, but the wondrous foundational items within their bodies also finally completed their transformation under the shroud of light.

Kou Hong's Coiling Dragon Branch, which resembled a withered dragon branch, grew into a complete, flourishing tree. Its green leaves and branches swayed in the light, as if thousands of dragons were dancing together.

Dao Xuanzi's Rusty Sword Dao Xuan had all the rust accumulated from the passage of time vanish, and its blade appeared newly forged. Besides its sharpness and immortal aura, something seemed to be gestating within the sword. One could tell at a glance that it was no ordinary item.

All these drastic changes were bestowed by Li Fan.

After a moment of stunned silence, Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi instantly had tears welling in their eyes. They wanted to perform the great kowtow of three bows and nine prostrations to express their gratitude to Li Fan. However, by the time they reacted, Li Fan's figure had already vanished.

"When we were captured earlier, I thought our luck had run out and we would die. Who would have thought that fortune would turn? Not only did we escape a calamity, but we also gained such a creation," Kou Hong's voice was somewhat indistinct due to extreme excitement.

"When our cultivation reaches success in the future, we will certainly repay this kindness," Dao Xuan secretly vowed.

Both brothers felt that all the misfortunes of their earlier lives had been swept away in this moment. It was as if they had truly defied heaven and changed their destiny, as a profound and mysterious aura was born within them.

Influenced by this aura, Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi's mindsets also subtly shifted over time. Although this change was not yet particularly significant, it would become increasingly apparent as their cultivation realms improved in the future.

"Not good, someone's coming," Kou Hong suddenly changed his expression and warned.

"They must have been attracted by the unusual phenomenon caused by Senior's gift just now. We absolutely cannot let anyone know we possess such treasures. Let's withdraw first."

With a tacit understanding, the two instantly escaped into the mountains and forests of Congyun.

And by the time cultivators rushed to the scene, they ultimately had no idea what had actually transpired there.

Congyun Heavenly City, Main Hall of the Bureau of Administration.

He Zhenghao looked at the list before him, his face filled with worry.

"This makes no sense at all."

"In this performance review, our Congyun is again in the bottom ten? If Xin Xin, you hadn't leaked this list to me beforehand, I wouldn't have believed it!"

He flipped through it repeatedly, carefully studying the details on the list several times, then He Zhenghao sighed deeply, "It's not entirely my fault as city lord. Congyun was originally a very remote place. It suffered a great calamity before, and talents are scarce. Few people have been willing to migrate here over the years. Being able to barely maintain the government's operation is already a blessing. How can we compete with other prefectures?"

"Just take this one item: the number of newly promoted cultivators at the Soul Transformation stage and above in the prefecture... Your father here is only at the Soul Transformation stage himself!"

"The support resources promised by the Immortal Alliance headquarters have also been delayed in distribution."

He Zhenghao seemed to be full of grievances, prattling on.

Suddenly, a light chuckle interrupted He Zhenghao, "Hehe, Dad, stop complaining. If it really doesn't work out, just come home and dutifully be a live-in son-in-law."

"You were honest for a few years, then you insisted on proving yourself. You secretly pulled strings behind Mom's back to get this position as Congyun City Lord. Now you realize your mistake, right?"

He Zhenghao was a bit embarrassed. He coughed, then said seriously, "Xin Xin, what are you saying? While there was a bit of competitiveness involved, it was more about better rebuilding Congyun. After all, your father has lived here for almost his entire life."

He Xinxin just smiled and didn't answer.

He Zhenghao frowned again, looking at the list in his hand and pondering the plan for the next assessment.

Suddenly, he heard his daughter let out a startled, uncertain sound.

He Zhenghao abruptly looked up and saw, to his surprise, that at some unknown point, a young man had silently appeared before him.

"Hm?"

He Zhenghao was startled.

One had to know that the Bureau of Administration was a vital area of Congyun Heavenly City, with numerous formations and restrictions guarding the path from the outside. Even a Soul Transformation cultivator could not have intruded so silently.

Who exactly was this person...?

A million thoughts flashed through his mind instantly, but relying on intuition, He Zhenghao still made the most correct choice.

He saw himself looking respectful and asking in a low voice, "Senior, may I ask..."

Li Fan looked at He Zhenghao's face, which was exactly as he remembered, further confirming his suspicions. This person seemed trustworthy enough. At the very least, he wasn't the culprit who caused his severe injuries and amnesia.

"I wish to join the Myriad Immortals Alliance, and I need you to introduce me," Li Fan said indifferently.

"Ah?" He Zhenghao was stunned, thinking he had misheard.

Someone with such powerful cultivation was not a member of the Myriad Immortals Alliance.

Could it be someone from the Five Elders' Council?

He Zhenghao's expression changed abruptly.

Without the slightest hesitation, he activated his strongest trump card.

"Heaven-and-Earth Net Grand Formation!"

In the main hall of the Bureau of Administration, intricate crisscrossing fine lines instantly appeared.

The continuous landscapes of mountains, rivers, and peaks sequentially reappeared within them, converging above Li Fan's head as if to suppress him on the spot.

However, what utterly stunned He Zhenghao was that the young man before him merely glanced, and the Heaven-and-Earth Net Grand Formation, which he had painstakingly created over decades, disintegrated inch by inch and ceased to exist!

"How is this possible?!"

Even though he carried the reputation of being a live-in son-in-law for the Heng family, He Zhenghao had managed to establish a foothold in the Myriad Immortals Alliance's Central Four Provinces due to his exceptional talent in formations. He was not looked down upon by other cultivators.

Otherwise, even if he had pleaded tirelessly, others would not have arranged for him to become the City Lord of Congyun.

Although it was a remote place, even a small benefit is still a benefit.

During his time as City Lord, He Zhenghao was very clear about how much profit could be extracted from this position.

It was just that He Zhenghao himself was upright and incorruptible.

Otherwise, Congyun Prefecture's performance in the assessment would surely have been even worse.

Li Fan looked at the stunned He Zhenghao and repeated, "If you don't introduce me, then I'll go elsewhere."

"I remember, recommending cultivators to join the Alliance counts as merit, right?"

Seeing He Zhenghao still offering no reply after a long moment, Li Fan slightly frowned.

But suddenly remembering something, Li Fan added, "Oh, right. Don't worry. I am not from the Five Elders' Council."

As if a switch had been flipped, He Zhenghao finally snapped back to reality upon hearing this.

"Truly...?" Gathering his courage, he weakly asked again.

Li Fan raised an eyebrow, and He Zhenghao quickly said, "Recommend, recommend! Senior, rest assured, I'll handle everything."

Li Fan then nodded slightly.

He Zhenghao wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, forcing himself to calm down.

He organized his thoughts, then slowly said, "For someone of Senior's cultivation, to join the Alliance, you would need to be reported to headquarters. Then you would have to pass the test of the White Jade Heart-Questioning Platform..."

Li Fan waved his hand, "No need for such trouble. Just take me directly to the Heavenly Profound Mirror here. Not the one placed in the city square, but the one specifically for the City Lord, the one with more authority."

He Zhenghao's expression immediately stiffened.

"This..."

He Zhenghao tried to speak several times but stopped himself.

Finally, weighing the power disparity between them, he still said tactfully, "Senior. Joining the Alliance requires following fixed procedures. Even as the lord of a prefecture, I cannot act arbitrarily..."

"If I say you can, then you can," Li Fan stated directly.

Sensing the other's hesitation, Li Fan extended his hand and displayed the scene within his palm.

Shining within it like a tiny speck of light was precisely the Heaven-and-Earth Net Grand Formation that He Zhenghao had just deployed!

Li Fan gently blew, and this speck of light instantly doubled, then quadrupled, then became eight.

In just a few breaths, they were like countless stars, spread across Li Fan's palm.

He Zhenghao clearly felt the immense energy contained within each of these stars.

As his ultimate technique, He Zhenghao was perfectly clear about the power of the Heaven-and-Earth Net Grand Formation.

If they were all to explode simultaneously within Congyun Heavenly City...

Congyun, which had only just been painstakingly rebuilt, would probably turn into ruins again!