Chapter 198: Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart

Zhang Qianmo's promise of "I'll be right back" stretched into a considerable wait. Three days and three nights passed without any sign of him.

Standing idly on the Purple Cloud Flying Ship, Li Fan observed Ningyuan City below. Most of Ningyuan City lay in ruins, a consequence of the battle between the two Golden Core cultivators, Zhang Qianmo and Song Hesong. The common folk who survived this undeserved calamity had cried until their voices were hoarse, their eyes filled with bewilderment.

"Mr. Bai said!""Those with strength, gather here. Together, let's do our best to dig and rescue the survivors!""If your injuries are minor, help collect water and food...""Everyone, bring the seriously injured to the small temple; Mr. Bai will treat them there!"

Just as the disaster victims were sinking into despair, shouts suddenly rang out across Ningyuan City, echoing from various locations. Li Fan found it interesting as he listened. Surprisingly, the voices belonged to children, most of them around ten years old. They were dressed in tattered clothes, appearing thin and frail. Despite their youthful appearance, they were remarkably shrewd and resourceful.

The children's cries were like a ray of dawn, piercing through the darkness. As if finding a central pillar of support, people slowly emerged from their stupor and confusion. Eventually, they began to systematically organize their own rescue efforts. Witnessing this scene, Li Fan was suddenly reminded of his first encounter with Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi, and the subsequent rescue efforts he organized in the devastated city of Xuanjing.

As he pondered, a surge of spiritual energy suddenly emanated from within the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. "It seems Miss Chixia has successfully cultivated Qi," Li Fan mused to himself.

Sure enough, Zhang Qianmo returned a few hours later. Although his expression remained serene, the delight in his eyes was unmistakable.

"Junior Brother, I apologize for the wait!" Zhang Qianmo said.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother, for resolving that matter!" Li Fan said with a smile. "Is Miss Chixia not returning to the mountain with us?"

Zhang Qianmo waved his hand, "Let's wait for the Grand Elder's decision before making any plans. Since we've waited this long, a little more time won't make a difference."

"Heh, in my opinion, it will be quite difficult for those old eccentrics in the sect to accept this so-called 'new method' anytime soon," Zhang Qianmo scoffed.

Li Fan nodded in agreement.

With only three or four days remaining in the Fallen Immortal Realm, Li Fan was not in a rush to return. He wanted to seize this opportunity to visit the Purple Cloud Sect. The magnificent sights of an immortal cultivation sect had long captivated Li Fan. Unfortunately, the Purple Cloud Sect's main entrance was quite a distance from Ningyuan City.

After covering more than half the distance, Li Fan noticed the surrounding scenery blurring. Images and sounds faded away, and moments later, Li Fan's consciousness returned to the Heavenly Mirror. A strange wave of heat surged within his skull, accompanied by a slight tingling sensation. Li Fan frowned involuntarily, but then his expression shifted to one of delight. With a quick recall, the entire content of the *Purple Cloud Soul Gazing Technique* surfaced in his mind, perfectly clear and without a single missing word.

"This method of equivalent exchange truly works."

However, it was merely a technique for manipulating the soul, not a cultivation method. Therefore, there was no notification regarding the number of practitioners. Thanks to his experiences in the Fallen Immortal Realm, Li Fan mastered the technique effortlessly.

"With this soul-searching technique, I just need to wait for Zhou Qing'ang to retrieve those fifty top-grade spirit stones."

He purchased some items within the Heavenly Mirror to ensure he was fully prepared. Li Fan cultivated patiently while he waited.

Seven days later, sensing that Zhou Qing'ang had once again changed his appearance and left Tai'an Island, Li Fan simultaneously departed from Wanxian Island, concealing his presence as he hurried towards Zhou Qing'ang's location. Li Fan had previously visited the location where Zhou Qing'ang was retrieving the spirit stones. It was the Myriad Treasures Pavilion on Orchid Island, where, during his twelfth life, he had acquired He Zhenghao's legacy, *Detailed Explanation of the Hundred Vein Array Diagram*.

Instead of following him inside, Li Fan stealthily set up an ambush outside. Shortly after, Zhou Qing'ang emerged from Orchid Island, flying out confidently. He was heading towards a remote, uninhabited sea region, likely to revert to his original appearance. This suited Li Fan perfectly, and he discreetly trailed him from a distance. With the Formless Killing Intent's precise tracking and monitoring, Zhou Qing'ang could not escape Li Fan's pursuit, no matter what tricks he employed.

After more than half a day, Zhou Qing'ang felt he was safe. He submerged into the ocean depths, found a ruin, and reverted to his original appearance. Sensing the fifty top-grade spirit stones—worth fifty thousand contribution points—in his storage ring, Zhou Qing'ang planned to visit Wanxian Island first to settle his debts.

However, the moment he surfaced, Zhou Qing'ang was horrified to find that, for some unknown reason, his entire body suddenly stiffened, and he lost all control. Simultaneously, a thunderous gong blast erupted directly above his head. Dizziness overwhelmed him, accompanied by a roaring in his ears. "This is bad!" This thought barely registered in his mind before Zhou Qing'ang was knocked unconscious.

Li Fan revealed himself, grabbed Zhou Qing'ang, and re-submerged into the ocean. He found a building within the ruins, casually set up a few formations around it, and then entered. He tossed the unconscious and helpless Zhou Qing'ang onto the ground. Then, he took thirteen cold iron nails from his storage ring and embedded them into Zhou Qing'ang's body. Only then did Li Fan begin to perform the *Purple Cloud Soul Gazing Technique*.

Zhou Qing'ang's body began to convulse violently. A series of images flashed rapidly before Li Fan's eyes. "Building a Dao foundation with a Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart... changing appearance at will..."

"So that's it.""He certainly has some tricks up his sleeve to infiltrate the Myriad Immortals Alliance as a spy." Li Fan felt a surge of delight.

Just as Li Fan prepared to continue probing Zhou Qing'ang's soul for information about his superior and the organization he served, a restriction seemed to activate. A terrifying, destructive force erupted from the depths of Zhou Qing'ang's soul. Li Fan's expression changed, and he instantly retracted his divine sense. However, he could not prevent this force from destroying Zhou Qing'ang's soul. "Ah!" Even in his unconscious state, Zhou Qing'ang let out a pained shriek. Instantly, Li Fan witnessed his soul being obliterated. Although his life force remained, he was now an empty husk, like a walking corpse.

"A secrecy countermeasure, then..." Li Fan wasn't particularly surprised by this outcome. "It's a pity I couldn't uncover more secrets."

After a brief thought, Li Fan erased the traces of the formations he had previously laid out. He then carried Zhou Qing'ang's body hundreds of miles away. He arrived in an area of the sea teeming with fish. He threw Zhou Qing'ang's body towards the school of fish. Although the soul was gone, the aura of his Foundation Establishment cultivation naturally instilled fear in the fish, causing them to scatter and keep their distance, not daring to approach the body as food. Seeing this, Li Fan's Formless Killing Intent once again locked onto the strongest fish in the school. He then fled another hundred miles. Finally, he activated the Formless Killing Intent targeting Zhou Qing'ang.