Chapter 1561: Immortal Boat Meets Cat Treasure

The moment he was enveloped by the blue light, as if he suddenly realized something, Sun Shengshen's face instantly turned extremely pale. It seemed as though something terrifying was about to befall him.

The pillar of light remained on him for three seconds before moving to an adjacent area.

The blue light surged like a tide, and soon after, a human figure was born within it.

Its physique, appearance, and even facial expression were identical to Sun Shengshen's!

The blue light locked onto both the new and old Sun Shengshen, following the same inspection procedure as the previous two times. Another symbol solidified in the void.

It represented 0.00041.

Next to the symbol, there was also an upward arrow.

The moment the arrow appeared, different expressions appeared on the faces of the two Sun Shengshens.

The original Sun Shengshen was as pale as paper, with despair in his eyes.

The newly born Sun Shengshen, on the other hand, secretly let out a sigh of relief, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes.

Time seemed to stand still.

Under the blue illumination, the original Sun Shengshen instantly transformed into countless invisible particles and vanished.

The newly born Sun Shengshen then took over his work.

Li Fan, however, keenly observed that a small portion of these particles adhered to the newly born Sun Shengshen.

He seemed to have no memory of the previous experimental cycle. After standing blankly for a moment, a blue light began to shine from his head. It displayed the same message: "In ten days, component Chen Yi must be submitted. However, it's still quite far from meeting the required standards."

What followed was a repetition, like a cycle.

Contemplation, designing new components, and then testing.

"Level 3 Immortal Researcher, Sun Shengshen, requesting test for components Chen Yi and 18762."

However, in this experiment, the clone created by the Cat Ba showed a symbol representing 0.00036 after testing, and next to the symbol was a downward arrow.

Thus, this Sun Shengshen was preserved.

"The efficiency of the spirit-transformation replication has actually decreased so much. Where exactly did the problem occur?"

Sun Shengshen looked at his clone, and the blue light attached to his head suddenly burst forth. The light was like a blade, disintegrating the clone, which was then observed inch by inch.

After the blue light subsided, Sun Shengshen then began designing the next round of components.

Li Fan stayed in this space for a full six months, witnessing more than thirty cycles.

Sun Shengshen's life seemed to consist only of design and experimentation. Apart from fixed times for going out, relaxing, and interacting with other residents of the Holy Merchants, all other time was spent in repetitive work here.

He remained completely unaware of his cyclical fate. Only at the moment before being enveloped by the blue pillar of light and about to be destroyed did he always seem to realize it.

However, this did not prevent a more capable clone from taking his place to conduct the next round of new design experiments.

"The three aspects of the experiment directly correspond to the three abilities displayed by the Cat Ba: item replication, creature mimesis, and essence transformation."

"What Sun Shengshen is responsible for is merely one of the countless components of the Cat Ba. Who knows how many people like Sun Shengshen exist throughout the entire Merchant Immortal Ark?"

"Through tiny improvements to each component, the overall efficiency of the created Cat Ba is continuously advanced. The ultimate goal..."

"To approach, or even achieve, the true Cat Ba!"

Thinking this, Li Fan became even more interested in the Lord of the Holy Merchants.

Unfortunately, although it seemed that everyone in the Merchant Immortal Ark could communicate telepathically and were equal to each other, it was clear that this was merely an illusion.

Li Fan had been covertly in the Merchant Immortal Ark for a full six months. Besides monitoring Sun Shengshen daily, he had also explored other areas. All the Immortal Ark residents he encountered were cyclical laborers like Sun Shengshen.

However, Li Fan had not seen a single person who was truly responsible for the operation of the Holy Merchant order, or those who had created this workflow model.

It seemed as if, though both groups were in the Merchant Immortal Ark, they lived in different worlds.

"These people are truly well-hidden."

After an unsuccessful search, Li Fan finally looked at the ubiquitous Cat Ba creations within the Merchant Immortal Ark.

"It appears that there is one in the space of each cyclical laborer, ready to participate in experiments. In reality, all these Cat Ba creations are one and the same."

Returning to Sun Shengshen's location, and waiting for another round of experiments to begin, the moment the Cat Ba's phantom image fully manifested, Li Fan's consciousness quietly attempted to infiltrate it.

"Since it can actually display three major functions, it means that even if the true Cat Ba is not in this world, there must be a power connection."

Li Fan's infiltration was extremely cautious.

Even though the Merchant Ark's Cat Ba creation was far inferior to the true Cat Ba, it still possessed all of the Cat Ba's characteristics. The true Cat Ba could instantly suppress a Hunger Immortal. And this creation, replicated by the Merchant Ark, could contend with ordinary True Immortals. It should not be underestimated.

After all, this was not Li Fan's true body that had come, but merely a wisp of consciousness from the Great Heavenly Venerate's Immortal Puppet.

If he were exposed, the Merchant Immortal Ark might be alerted and flee. That would be undesirable.

Li Fan's prediction was correct.

This Cat Ba creation before him indeed had a subtle, almost imperceptible connection to reality. However, this was only limited to the moment when the Cat Ba's functions were activated.

At other times, even if the Cat Ba's image was continuously displayed, it was merely a simple phantom projection.

The connection between the Cat Ba creation's displayed power and its true form was fleeting, yet Li Fan accurately captured it every time.

He did not hastily enter directly by following this connection. Instead, he patiently witnessed thousands of instances of its appearance and disappearance, ensuring that it would not suddenly change or present a potential trap. Only then did Li Fan follow the power of the Cat Ba creation's appearance and disappearance, infiltrating to where its true form resided.

A dark space.

Straining his eyes to look far into the distance, he could vaguely see the transparent, glass-like boundaries of this space.

An orange cat lay quietly in the void, deep in slumber.

Ninety-nine blue chains completely bound the cat.

One could vaguely see countless flowing symbols streaming from the orange cat towards the other end of the chains, extending into the void.

Beside this sleeping orange cat, another cat sat quietly.

This cat's appearance was identical to the Cat Ba creation of the Merchant Immortal Ark.

It stared intently at its 'kindred' beside it, occasionally leaning closer, sniffing and observing. However, seemingly afraid of waking the orange cat, it did not dare to get too close, still maintaining a certain distance.

Li Fan had once meticulously carved countless wooden Cat Ba sculptures to dispel his inner fear of the Cat Ba, and then set them all ablaze.

Although this imprisoned orange cat was extremely similar in appearance to the Cat Ba, almost identical even, Li Fan could, however, instinctively discern the subtle difference between the two at a glance.

"Extremely similar in appearance, yet not the same."

Li Fan felt a little relieved.

Neither the orange cat nor the Ark's Cat seemed to have any awareness of Li Fan's infiltration.

They continued their original activities.

Every so often, the Ark's Cat would try to learn to assume the sleeping posture of the orange cat. Not only its physical form, but even its appearance and expression began to change towards that of the other.

But for some reason, this learning transformation could not last too long. Almost every time, it only lasted for about ten seconds, and the Ark's Cat would revert to its original state.

But it showed no intention of giving up, persisting in its learning.

Li Fan noticed that each transformation of the Ark's Cat was more lifelike than the last.

"This must be the result of the efforts of countless Sun Shengshens."

"However, this cat..."

Li Fan always had a strange feeling in his heart.

The Ark's Cat he saw before him, though a creation imitating the true Cat Ba, for some reason, its eyes seemed more lively than those of the true Cat Ba.

It was as if...

A human!

And soon after, the transformation of the Ark's Cat completely confirmed Li Fan's conjecture.

After another round of transformational learning, it seemed to finally feel a little tired.

The Ark's Cat yawned, and then astonishingly transformed from a cat back into a human form!

"I've grown accustomed to staying in a cat's body, so I'm a bit unaccustomed to human form now."

A handsome youth, who appeared to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, said with a hint of self-deprecation.

As the youth reverted to his human form, blue figures appeared one after another in the area.

"Master!" All the blue figures respectfully bowed to the youth.

The youth merely nodded slightly, his expression calm.

"Is there any news from over there?" the youth asked.

"The most recent contact was over half a year ago. They promised to send another one over. However, we haven't seen it. And there has been no further response from that side," one of the blue figures replied.

The youth frowned slightly, and one of his ears instantly transformed into a cat's ear. After wiggling it slightly, the youth chuckled lightly: "You don't need to speculate; it has been sent. It's just that when it reached us, some issues arose, and it managed to break free."

The blue figures around him flickered with light, seemingly taken aback.

The youth, however, waved his hand and said with a smile: "Don't worry. With Pipan here, the new one won't get away. It's likely hiding within the Ark."

Upon hearing this, the blue figures were extremely shocked, and repeatedly said: "We have failed in our duty; please punish us, Master."

"The Heaven-Seizing Cat is exceptionally mysterious. Even if it appeared openly before you, you might not be able to perceive it. If it wishes to hide, how could you possibly know of it? What fault is there in you?" the youth said calmly.

"If the Heaven-Seizing Cat did not possess such immense power, why would I go to such lengths, even learning it with my own body?"

The surrounding blue figures all showed shame on their faces and lowered their heads.

The youth himself, however, was unconcerned: "Come, follow me to meet this newcomer."

With a wave of his hand, a rift instantly appeared in the area.

The youth stepped through, and the others followed.

Li Fan also quietly attached himself to one of the blue figures and left the place.

Just before leaving, Li Fan seemed to notice that the imprisoned orange cat named Pipan trembled slightly.

"It wasn't an illusion."

"Interesting," Li Fan mused to himself.

The area the youth led them to was completely different from where the Sun Shengshens were below.

Thousands of buildings, like stars, floated in the starry sky.

From a distance, the architectural style of these buildings was somewhat similar to that of the Profound Immortal Ark.

Some of the beings living within them also had blue, transformed bodies. However, most were still in normal human form.

The moment the youth appeared in the starry sky, all of them sensed his presence.

"Welcome, Holy Master!"

They shouted in unison, bowing their heads.

"Since you have the audacity to come here, why hide?" The youth, however, merely sneered, speaking to a verdant great tree floating in the starry sky.

Li Fan could tell. Unlike Ruomu, the tree contained not life force, but death qi. However, when the death qi condensed to its extreme, it paradoxically presented a vibrant, lively appearance.

As the youth spoke, the tree's leaves fluttered.

A moment later, a black and white cat leapt from the top of the great tree.

The black and white cat sniffed its nose, as if sensing something. It let out a low growl towards the youth, then lowered its body, preparing to pounce.

At that instant, the youth transformed into the appearance of the imprisoned orange cat.

The black and white cat was momentarily startled by this.

"Attack!"

The transformation lasted only a moment, and the youth reverted to his human form.

And the blue figures around him didn't even need his reminder. With great synergy, even before he spoke, they had already launched their attacks in unison.

An empty garment, yet like a real cultivator, shot out fine black threads. Although most of the black threads were absorbed and assimilated by the black and white cat the moment they approached it, a small portion still survived. They fell onto the black and white cat, weaving into clothing.

A broken suona played high-pitched notes. It completely suppressed all sounds from the black and white cat. What it suppressed, however, was far more than just sound. The light emanating from the black and white cat's eyes dimmed amidst the sound of the suona.

A scarred wooden stick, which seemed as if it would break at any moment, when wielded, released countless transparent figures. All these figures showed expressions of compassion, and although they had lost their eyes, they all accurately locked onto the enemy in unison. Fearlessly, they launched a suicidal attack.

An ordinary stone, as if it could appear in any river, though not aimed at the black and white cat when thrown, always precisely struck the black and white cat on the head.

The people of the Merchant Immortal Ark employed all their means.

There were no divine abilities or spells; they relied entirely on strange and peculiar objects.

However, under the siege of these peculiar artifacts, the black and white cat was surprisingly left with no power to resist whatsoever. All its attacks were inexplicably neutralized, and it could only passively endure the blows. Even its whines were suppressed by the suona.

This bizarre scene instantly filled the secretly observing Li Fan with shock.

"These things..."

"They are imbued with Great Dao principles that I have almost never seen before. They are all objects from other possibilities."

"And none of them are weak!"

Upon seeing this, Li Fan instinctively hid himself even more carefully.

He recalled the previous conversation between the Lord of the Holy Merchants and the Holy Merchant residents.

"The Merchant Immortal Ark, it seems, has assistance from other possibilities?"

"The Cat Ba is suspected to be a member of the Heaven-Seizing Cats. For the other side to be able to capture and send a Cat Ba, their strength must certainly not be underestimated. However, what is their reason for choosing to help the Merchant Immortal Ark?"