Chapter 284: Nirvana Rebirth Technique

Li Fan merely smiled and offered no reply to Zhang Qianmo's questioning.

“I never imagined that the world's once-foremost sect would stoop to collaborating with demonic beasts,” A hint of disdain flickered across Zhang Qianmo's face. “It seems the Immortal Dao sects’ efforts over the years haven't been in vain.”

Li Fan's expression remained unchanged. He spoke softly, “Senior Brother Zhang, some things in this world aren't as simple as they appear on the surface.”

“What if I told you I have absolutely no connection with the Profound Heaven Sect? Would you believe me?”

Zhang Qianmo looked at Li Fan with a 'do you think I'm an idiot?' expression, snorting in silence.

Li Fan smiled, no longer pressing the issue.

As he observed Zhang Qianmo, sifting through the memories from possessing Li Chen, Li Fan noticed some intriguing details he had previously overlooked.

He fell silent in thought for a moment before speaking tentatively. “The Profound Heaven Sect… that was many, many years ago. Your Immortal Dao sects treat it as a taboo. Yet, in all the years since I joined the Violet Cloud Sect, I've never once heard any news about it.”

“Senior Brother, you're not much older than me. How then do you know all these secrets so clearly?”

Zhang Qianmo's expression subtly shifted, but he still offered no reply.

Seeing his conjecture confirmed, Li Fan pressed on. “I've always felt that Master and Martial Uncle had a peculiar attitude towards you.”

“Initially, I thought it was merely due to your exceptional talent, Senior Brother.”

“But now that I think about it…”

Li Fan smiled.

Zhang Qianmo's face slowly darkened.

“What's more, though we are fellow disciples, your mastery of spells and divine abilities is vastly superior to mine!”

“Especially your Violet Core Nirvana Method…”

As Li Fan spoke these words, Zhang Qianmo's expression finally changed completely.

He gazed deeply at Li Fan, as if imprinting his image forever in his mind. Moments later, his aura, which had already diminished to that of a mortal, began to rapidly vanish.

Li Fan was somewhat startled. He quickly moved forward to check, but it was already too late.

By the time he reached Zhang Qianmo, Senior Brother Zhang had completely lost all signs of life.

“Feigned death?”

“Nirvana?”

Li Fan remained vigilant and began to examine him.

After a long time, Li Fan stood up, rubbing his chin.

The result was somewhat unexpected.

Zhang Qianmo was genuinely dead.

Moreover, unlike previous times, he did not undergo nirvana rebirth from his Violet Core after death.

Instead, he had completely perished.

If this were the real world, an unusual phenomenon would likely descend from above.

“A secret technique to end one's own life, even with all vital points sealed…”

“Knowledge of ancient secrets, and a subtly different status within the sect.”

“Despite only being at Foundation Establishment cultivation, he possessed a heaven-defying ambition. His foresight was terrifyingly high…”

Li Fan mused, sighing, “It seems this Senior Brother Zhang had another identity.”

“What a pity…”

To be cautious, he didn't remove the Immortal-Severing Stone Needles, but instead began searching Zhang Qianmo's corpse directly.

Other than a storage ring, there was nothing else of value.

His divine sense attempted to penetrate the ring, seeking to discover its contents.

However, it was repelled by a flash of violet lightning.

“It seems there's a restriction; it's unbreakable,” Li Fan said with a hint of regret, after trying more than ten times without success.

“Never mind,” he thought, “I can't take it back to reality anyway.”

Li Fan simply gave up on it.

“Senior Brother Zhang has been dealt with. Next up is Manager Song.”

After thinking for a moment, Li Fan dug a pit in the secret chamber and placed Zhang Qianmo's body inside. He then covered it with the Immortal-Severing stone slab.

He then headed directly towards the Rebirth Longevity Tree in the city center.

As he approached, he released his aura.

“Which Senior Brother has arrived?!” came Song Hesong's slightly surprised voice.

Soon, a figure in a gray Daoist robe appeared before Li Fan.

“It's Senior Brother Li in person!”

Li Fan did not exchange pleasantries. Instead, he spoke in a cold tone, “Manager Song, you've certainly managed Ningyuan City well!”

Song Hesong was taken aback by Li Fan's immediate accusatory tone. He thought their ambush had been exposed and their plot revealed.

He instinctively moved to strike.

But he held back, asking tentatively, “Senior Brother, what is the meaning of this?”

Li Fan snorted. “Senior Brother Zhang and I discovered some forbidden objects within the city. If these things were to be exposed as present in my Violet Cloud Sect's territory, it wouldn't just be a small manager like you who suffers; the entire sect could face significant repercussions.”

“Forbidden objects?” Song Hesong couldn't help but feel a little lost.

Feigning a look of fearful ignorance, Song Hesong asked, “What exactly is it that has committed such a great taboo? Please enlighten me, Senior Brother!”

Li Fan turned and flew towards Mr. Bai's courtyard.

“Follow me!”

Song Hesong watched Li Fan's receding back, hesitating for a moment.

His divine sense swept the area; Chu Liang and the others were still in ambush at the planned location, with no mishaps.

Confident in his Golden Core cultivation, Song Hesong still quietly followed, undeterred.

Soon, he arrived at the entrance of the underground secret chamber.

Li Fan's slightly surprised voice emerged from below: “Oh? Where's Senior Brother Zhang?”

Song Hesong's divine sense swept the area. Finding no ambush, he also entered.

Upon seeing the broken, faceless stone statue standing in the secret chamber, he paused for a moment.

This was because the statue was completely beyond the reach of his divine sense.

“Could the forbidden object Senior Brother spoke of be this statue?” Song Hesong couldn't help but ask.

Li Fan nodded, drawing closer. “Precisely, it's this Profound Heaven Divine Statue!”

“Profound Heaven Divine Statue…” Manager Song's brow furrowed slightly. It seemed he had heard that name a long time ago.

Moments later, as if recalling something, his body trembled slightly, and his pupils constricted.

He abruptly looked back at the faceless stone statue.

Just then…

A stone needle pierced fiercely through his dantian from behind.

Filled with immense horror, he tried to retaliate, but the circulation of qi within his body instantly stalled.

What awaited him were the next thirty-five Immortal-Severing Stone Needles.

With all his vital points sealed, Song Hesong collapsed to the ground.

A wave of regret surged in his mind, yet a sliver of hope remained. He struggled to speak, asking, “Senior Brother, what is the meaning of this? I truly had no knowledge of this Profound Heaven Divine Statue being hidden within the city.”

“Though I may be guilty of dereliction of duty, my crime isn't so severe as to warrant this…”

Li Fan's words mercilessly cut him off, making his heart sink to rock bottom.

“What if we add conspiring with outsiders and plotting something illicit? A Golden Core cultivator masquerading as a Qi Refining cultivator… that truly is a grave injustice to you!”

Song Hesong's face instantly turned ashen.

He still wanted to make a final struggle, but it was futile.

Li Fan approached step by step. “Let me see exactly what you know.”

Having observed every subtle shift in Song Hesong's expression, a rather chilling smile spread across Li Fan's face.

Song Hesong watched as the other man slowly took out tools like a hammer, knives, and nails, one by one, from a wooden box and deliberately arranged them on the table.

Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.