Chapter 184: Martial Arts Performance Nine Formations

Merit missions triggered by random events like this are constantly monitored by cultivators. Li Fan immediately accepted the mission to prevent it from being taken by someone else.

Soon, a friend request from Jiang Zhengji of the Martial Arts Hall appeared on the Ten Thousand Character Communication Talisman. Li Fan accepted the request, and Jiang Zhengji's message followed: "Fellow Daoist Li Fan, I have reviewed your basic information. With your late Foundation Establishment cultivation and the assistance of formations, there should be no risk in completing this mission by following our team. I will send you the details of this trip to Wanlai Island later so you can prepare in advance. We depart tomorrow morning. Meet at the Dharma Transmission Square."

Li Fan did not rush to read the information Jiang Zhengji sent. Instead, he first checked Jiang Zhengji's personal information. His divine sense touched the star representing Jiang Zhengji in the Sea of Stars, and a brief message instantly appeared in Li Fan's mind: Jiang Zhengji, a member of the Heaven-Shift Squad of the Myriad Immortals Island Martial Arts Hall, with mid-Core Formation cultivation.

Li Fan knew a little about this Heaven-Shift Squad. It was one of the nine combat divisions of the Martial Arts Hall. Within the Myriad Immortals Alliance, only matters related to cultivation techniques were handled by the Protector Hall. In all other cases requiring the deployment of force, the Martial Arts Hall was responsible.

The nine combat divisions were Heavenly Sovereign, Heavenly Azure, Heaven-Shift, Heavenly Profound, Heavenly Ghost, Heavenly Vast, Heavenly Vermilion, Heavenly Flame, and Heavenly Sun. Except for Heavenly Sovereign, which was responsible for coordination and held a slightly higher status, the other divisions were all equal in rank.

"I wonder how many members of the Heaven-Shift Squad will be dispatched for this mission," Li Fan thought as he opened the mission details for clearing out the anomalous beasts on Wanlai Island.

Wanlai Island is located in the southwestern waters of the Cloud-Clustered Sea. The island is inhabited by a species of headless, humanoid anomalous beasts. They have short lower limbs and thick, strong arms. Although they crawl on the ground, their speed is exceptionally fast.

The anomalous beasts have no heads; instead, they have a gaping maw on their chest. They feed on sound, and whenever they are hungry, any slight sound is enough to fill their bellies. Their skin is thick and rough. Even if they are occasionally injured, they can quickly recover by absorbing sound.

Their combat strength is considerable, and they can use sound waves to harm enemies. Furthermore, they reproduce extremely quickly, are numerous, and have no rivals on the island. As a result, they easily dominated the entire Wanlai Island.

"They feed on sound? Interesting." After generally understanding the mission content, Li Fan purchased some formation materials from the Heavenly Profound Mirror.

For this mission, it would be ideal if he could complete it using only formations, without revealing his true strength, essentially just coasting. Naturally, there's no need to elaborate on the preparations.

Early the next morning, Li Fan arrived at the Dharma Transmission Square to wait in advance. He didn't wait long before he saw Jiang Zhengji slowly approaching, leading six other individuals.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Jiang!" Li Fan cupped his hands and bowed. "Fellow Daoist Li, you've waited long," Jiang Zhengji replied courteously, then introduced the six people behind him to Li Fan.

Among these six, one was also at mid-Core Formation stage, while the others, like Li Fan, were all at late Foundation Establishment cultivation. After exchanging pleasantries, the group traveled through a teleportation array to Tortoise Longevity Island, the closest island to Wanlai Island. After flying for most of the day, a lush green island appeared in the distance.

"Those beasts are extremely sensitive to sound," the leading Jiang Zhengji instructed. "To avoid alerting them, please refrain from speaking once we enter the area ahead. Conceal your presence and communicate only through divine sense." Everyone indicated their understanding.

Upon entering the vicinity of Wanlai Island, the surroundings immediately became eerily silent. The sound of ocean waves and wind vanished. Silently flying over Wanlai Island, Li Fan clearly saw the scene below and couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.

He saw that the vast island was completely covered with headless anomalous beasts. Most of them lay lazily on the ground, doing nothing. Where there wasn't enough space, they didn't fight. Instead, they simply piled on top of each other, forming many small mounds.

The beasts' fur was all red. At first glance, the entire surface of Wanlai Island looked as if it were covered in moving red fur. Just looking at it sent shivers down one's spine. Occasionally, one or two headless beasts would feel hungry but wouldn't even bother to stand up. They would merely pat their bellies, and before the sound could travel far, it would be devoured as their large mouths on their torsos opened and closed.

A few nearby beasts would also gather, opening their large mouths to share the sound. Besides eating, their only other activity was reproduction. Intense activity often attracted many of their kind to watch. They would form a circle, surrounding the "protagonists," each with mouths agape and drooling.

This somewhat bizarre scene on Wanlai Island wasn't unsettling only to Li Fan. The five Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Heaven-Shift Squad were clearly on this mission for the first time, and their expressions were rather grim. Only Jiang Zhengji and another Core Formation cultivator named Du Xingchang remained impassive, as if they were already accustomed to it.

"Prepare to act!" Jiang Zhengji threw a purple formation diagram upwards. The purple light expanded with the wind, quickly spreading to envelop the entire Wanlai Island. The headless anomalous beasts below showed no signs of awareness.

Jiang Zhengji's body radiated light, as if ice and snow were falling around him. Then, wind and snow spread, instantly covering the entire island. "Core Formation Dharma Aspect..." Li Fan's eyes flickered as he watched this scene.

Li Fan, who had already acquired knowledge related to the Core Formation stage, was naturally not unfamiliar with this. After reaching the Core Formation realm, one could condense a Dharma Aspect through the laws within their Core. The integration of body and aspect allowed one to influence and control a large surrounding area through these laws.

At this moment, wind and snow intensified. The temperature on Wanlai Island rapidly dropped. Some headless anomalous beasts slowly sensed that something was amiss and looked around. However, as Li Fan and the others suspended high above made no sound, the beasts couldn't find any trace of them.

At the same time, Du Xingchang also made his move. Amidst the swirling wind and snow, crimson plum blossoms burst from the ground, blooming proudly. In an instant, Wanlai Island was filled with white snow and red plum blossoms.

"Xingchang and I will watch from above; you all proceed with your attacks!" Jiang Zhengji said. The five Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Martial Arts Hall's Heaven-Shift Squad nodded in unison. Without a moment's hesitation, they charged towards the headless anomalous beasts below.

"It seems like this is a training exercise, with the experienced guiding the new," Li Fan thought. Seeing this, he couldn't openly slack off.

So he quickly followed, and casually deployed a Spirit-Sensing Life-Death Array, targeting the five Foundation Establishment cultivators in front. This Spirit-Sensing Life-Death Array was one of the formations Zhang Zhiliang used during the Twelfth Era when the immortals purged the Crimson Flame. However, the formation Li Fan deployed at this moment had its power reduced by more than dozens of times. But for the five Foundation Establishment cultivators, its effect was still immediate and significant.

Afterward, Li Fan, in one breath, successively deployed several more formations, including the Five-Direction Spirit Gathering Array, the Sticky Web Slowing Array, and the Heavenly Spirit Fire Dragon Array.