Chapter 265: Slaying Zhang Qianmo

“But...”

Li Fan couldn't help but frown.

“Can Senior Brother Zhang's Purple Core state not be activated at will?”

Recalling the scene where Zhang Qianmo's physical body was completely destroyed, and he later reappeared from the Purple Core, Li Fan couldn't help but speculate: “Could it be that this special state can only be triggered by first being destroyed and then rebuilt?”

The subsequent course of the battle seemed to confirm Li Fan's conjecture.

Zhong Shentong's continuous attacks of multi-colored divine light persisted for over twenty days. The energy stored in Zhang Qianmo's Purple Core was finally depleted. When Zhang Qianmo was disintegrated by thousands of streams of light, the scene of the Purple Core regenerating did not occur again.

“Excuse my humble display!” A faint smile reappeared on the old Daoist's face. He bowed towards the direction where his opponent's remains were no longer to be found, then his figure gradually faded away.

“So that's how it was resolved, truly...” Li Fan couldn't help but feel a bit speechless. He hadn't expected that Zhang Qianmo would actually be worn down to death.

Indeed, in his Purple Core state, Senior Brother Zhang was almost invincible to Foundation Establishment cultivators. So, as long as he wasn't allowed to enter the Purple Core state, it would be fine. Looking back, the principle was simple. But after careful thought, Li Fan felt that actually achieving this, while seemingly easy, was in fact very difficult.

In his normal state, Zhang Qianmo's combat power was already at the peak of Foundation Establishment cultivators. To suppress him for such a long time, injuring him but not killing him, merely wearing him down—this was simply not something ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators could achieve. Even typical Core Formation cultivators couldn't easily do it. Li Fan, at present, naturally couldn't replicate it either.

However, at least he now knew a way to counter Senior Brother Zhang. And that was one word: 'exhaustion.'

With a solution in hand, the next steps would be easier. Li Fan prided himself on combat power that was no less than Senior Brother Zhang's in his normal state. He just needed to find a way to sustain prolonged combat, and he could wear Zhang Qianmo down to death in the Fallen Immortal Realm. The only concern was that each entry into the Fallen Immortal Realm had a time limit. However, Li Fan already had a solution for this. He just hadn't implemented it yet, out of caution. This was a good opportunity to see if it would work.

Before re-entering the Fallen Immortal Realm, Li Fan first searched for information on who this Zhong Shentong truly was. The result greatly surprised him. He had originally thought this person would be some kind of prodigy, a cultivation genius with extraordinary talent, and that his youthful appearance with white hair was just a disguise. To his surprise, this Zhong Shentong was truly just an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator. He even had the air of someone who achieved greatness late in life.

This person was still a mortal until his sixties. With white hair and his lifespan nearing its end, he only then decided to cultivate. Finally, before his life ran out, he successfully entered the Qi Condensation stage. He languished in the Qi Condensation stage for several decades. And only just barely, as his lifespan was about to expire again, did he step into the Foundation Establishment stage.

Originally, such a person, even if they became a Foundation Establishment cultivator, should have remained obscure. Yet it was this very person who, not long ago, comprehended his own lifebound divine ability. He could summon multi-colored divine light to defend against enemies. The brilliant light was like a sharp blade, unstoppable. He could also transform into light and escape, with incredibly fast evasion speed; even Nascent Soul cultivators couldn't compare. It was precisely because of the existence of this multi-colored divine light that Zhong Shentong's name gradually became renowned.

“Interesting...”

“According to the current intelligence, this Zhong Shentong should have comprehended this multi-colored divine light last year, around mid-Anchor Year 23.”

“Perhaps there's an opportunity to see how he accomplished it.”

It was no wonder Li Fan had this idea. After all, Zhong Shentong's aptitude wasn't particularly high. If there was a chance to seize this opportunity, Li Fan naturally wouldn't let it slip away. After all, this multi-colored divine light was indeed a bit too formidable.

Keeping this matter in mind, Li Fan got down to business. He began searching for methods of prolonged combat. The results were essentially a few types: special cultivation techniques, special Foundation Establishment rare items, relying on some special magic treasures, or consuming pills. Li Fan naturally chose the most cost-effective and efficient solution.

“Superior-grade Human Marvel: Connected Hatred Branch.”

Taking the rare item, Li Fan quietly left Myriad Immortals Island. As usual, he found a secluded area deep beneath the sea and began his secluded cultivation. He first absorbed the Connected Hatred Branch. Then, indeed, he simultaneously took on the forms of both the Azure Sea Pearl and the Connected Hatred Branch. Li Fan tested his spiritual energy consumption. To his pleasant surprise, under the combined boost of these two rare items, the recovery speed of spiritual energy within his body was terrifyingly fast. It truly felt like the endless waters of the sea and the bottomless depths of human hatred, inexhaustible.

With the capital for a prolonged battle, Li Fan felt much more at ease. After a moment of contemplation, he summoned the Azure Flame Phantasm and entered a state of absolute rationality, devoid of any emotional fluctuations. He then performed the ritual.

“Blessed Heavenly Venerable of Profound Yellow!”

After a long time, Li Fan finally entered the Fallen Immortal Realm once more.

“Junior Brother? Junior Brother?”

Li Fan opened his eyes to the familiar voice of Zhang Qianmo. He met Senior Brother Zhang's gaze. Who would have thought that the senior brother who was amiable and smiling just a second ago would instantly turn stern, his eyes overflowing with murderous intent. However, he didn't immediately make a move. Instead, he flashed and suddenly appeared in the distance, distantly locking onto Li Fan.

“You are not Junior Brother?”

“A demon? A Sky Demon? Or...”

Li Fan, in his state of absolute rationality, was focused solely on achieving his goal. Without wasting words on Zhang Qianmo, the body that appeared to be Junior Brother Li Chen instantly dissolved, revealing Li Fan's true form. Immediately after, the Azure Sea Pearl activated, and the Congyun Sword fiercely slashed out.

Witnessing this terrifying sight, Zhang Qianmo was also furious. “Audacious demon! How dare you act so brazenly before Zhang Qianmo of the Purple Heavens Sect!”

Purple Heavens Divine Thunder descended from the sky, about to strike Li Fan. But it was met by a Heaven-Overturning Palm, and the thunder instantly vanished into nothingness. Before Zhang Qianmo could react, Li Fan's attacks surged forth like a tide. Li Fan precisely controlled the power of each move and style, maximizing his spiritual energy utilization while continuously depleting Zhang Qianmo's strength. Their battle fell into a long, grueling stalemate.

The great battle lasted for over thirty days, destroying countless mortal villages and cities along the way. Ultimately, Zhang Qianmo, one step ahead of Li Fan, reached the point of utter exhaustion. He was slain by Li Fan's sword.

There was no Purple Core Nirvana. Zhang Qianmo was dead.

Li Fan narrowly secured victory in the battle. Without the restriction of Zhang Qianmo, he hadn't even had time to explore the surrounding areas when a familiar fluctuation descended. The maximum duration in the Fallen Immortal Realm had been reached.

“It seems that even with the Azure Flame Phantasm, one cannot remain in the Fallen Immortal Realm without limits,” Li Fan thought, as he returned to the real world. He retracted the Azure Flame Phantasm, and a strong sense of fatigue washed over him. Over thirty days of high-intensity combat was also a significant psychological test.

“Fortunately, the harvest this time was abundant.”

“I've finally dealt with Zhang Qianmo, who had been troubling me for so long. Next time I enter the Fallen Immortal Realm, I shouldn't be trapped in Ningyuan City, right?”

“Moreover...”

Li Fan's expression was subtle as he examined a piece of text that had inexplicably appeared in his mind. This should be what he gained from slaying Zhang Qianmo this time. Although it wasn't the complete *Purple Heavens Thunder Control True Art*, it was extremely useful to Li Fan. It compensated for one of Li Fan's major shortcomings: *Purple Heavens Divine Thunder Escape*. Like the *Purple Heavens Soul Viewing Art*, it was a secret technique attached to the *Purple Heavens Thunder Control True Art*.