Chapter 330: Master of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance

Four years ago, in Anchor Year 24, Zhang Zhiliang stated, when giving instructions for the large-scale formation training in Tianyu Prefecture, that the Myriad Immortals Alliance planned to cover every inch of their territory with the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Array within thirty years.

This implied that as early as then, the Myriad Immortals Alliance had already subtly detected the impending anomalies between heaven and earth. Based on his limited interactions with the world's top cultivators, Li Fan did not consider this an exaggeration.

"As the saying goes, 'ducks are the first to know when the river warms in spring.' Experts at the Dao Integration and even Longevity stages already possess the strength to contend with heaven and earth. It's only natural for them to detect anomalies early on."

"While the policy was set, not everyone understood its deeper implications."

"They simply regarded it as a routine infrastructure project. Thus, Guan Xingxiu and others could readily use Tantai Tao and his group as pawns in their schemes, all for the position of Chief Commander of the Garrison."

"However, they clearly underestimated the importance of the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Array's widespread implementation."

"This led to disaster. The commanders of the Garrison in the four core prefectures—Tianyu, Tianchen, Tianshu, and Tianquan—held positions that were by no means low. Yet, they still failed to grasp the true meaning behind the policy."

"So, who exactly are the policymakers of the Myriad Immortals Alliance?"

Li Fan knew of several departments within the Myriad Immortals Alliance: the Bureau of Administration, the Hall of Martial Arts, the Department of Formations, the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets, the Garrison, and so on, each fulfilling its distinct duties.

They were all implementers of policies.

As for the mysterious and transcendent Hall of Protectors, it was solely responsible for maintaining the integrity of cultivation techniques.

Who truly represented the will of the Myriad Immortals Alliance? Who, with a single thought, determined the fates of countless cultivators?

Was it the Dharma Transmission Celestial Venerable?

Li Fan had consulted countless confidential records and knew that it was a recognized fact, both within the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Council of Five Elders, that the Dharma Transmission Celestial Venerable's whereabouts were elusive, and he had long ceased to involve himself in worldly affairs.

This was not something to be concealed; it was easily verifiable.

So, did the Myriad Immortals Alliance have other Longevity Celestial Venerables besides the Dharma Transmission Celestial Venerable? If they only possessed Dao Integration cultivation, how could they command respect from the masses?

Li Fan then thought of the enigmatic Celestial Physician. His power surpassed the Dao Integration stage. Yet, he seemed to operate outside the Myriad Immortals Alliance system. Otherwise, there would be no need for a bounty quest regarding the "Cloudwater Diagram Record." Wouldn't it be simpler to issue a direct decree?

"Beyond the public eye, there's a group of unseen individuals. They are the true orchestrators of the Myriad Immortals Alliance."

"Perhaps even..."

Li Fan's brow furrowed slightly as a rather absurd thought suddenly arose in his mind. All along, he had unconsciously believed that the Heavenly Profound Mirror was merely an extremely powerful spiritual treasure. Although it possessed its own consciousness, it was still just an object. An object serving the cultivators of the Myriad Immortals Alliance. This was also the consensus among almost all cultivators in the Myriad Immortals Alliance.

But... what if the true leader of the Myriad Immortals Alliance was, in fact, the Heavenly Profound Mirror itself?

The moment the thought emerged, even Li Fan himself was startled. Yet, upon closer consideration, it wasn't impossible. At the Heavenly Profound Mirror's level, the distinction between object and person had blurred significantly. Li Fan believed that creating a body to move around would certainly not be difficult for the Heavenly Profound Mirror.

Back during the Spirit Mist Grass incident, just as the situation was about to spiral out of control, the Heavenly Profound Mirror issued a timely announcement, settling the dispute with a single decree. Perhaps this wasn't an order from another cultivator, but a decision made by the mirror itself.

"Heavenly Profound Mirror..."

As he thought this, Li Fan, who was cultivating within the Heavenly Profound Mirror's space, suddenly felt a wave of unease. Even this spacious private area inexplicably seemed to grow dim and cramped.

He secretly shook his head, suppressing the thoughts in his mind. Gazing around the Heavenly Profound Mirror's space, Li Fan's eyes flickered.

"Even if my hypothesis is true, as long as I don't display any obvious abnormalities, the Heavenly Profound Mirror might not notice me."

"After all, there are far too many cultivators in the Myriad Immortals Alliance, and I'm just a small Golden Core cultivator."

"It's also possible that I'm just scaring myself."

He took a deep breath, slowly forcing these thoughts down.

"Regardless, with the anomalies between heaven and earth reappearing, cultivation has become much easier, which is beneficial for me in the short term."

"I should seize this opportunity to cultivate to the middle stage of Golden Core in one go."

The Profound Yellow Heart Refining Incantation slowly circulated, crushing all distracting thoughts. Li Fan regained his composure and immersed himself in cultivation.

During the remaining months of Anchor Year 28, Li Fan's own cultivation progressed extremely rapidly. He also received an unending stream of cultivation feedback, indicating that everyone's realms were rapidly improving. Even the young boy named Han Wuyou from the Severed Realm had entered the Qi Refining stage, sending forth a steady stream of assistance like a trickling brook. Bolstered by various factors, Li Fan successfully cultivated to the perfected early stage of Golden Core by the end of Anchor Year 28.

And indeed, as other cultivators had stated, the bottlenecks that previously existed between each realm and hindered cultivators' progress had become like paper, easily broken with a gentle poke.

His aura surged, and Li Fan successfully entered the middle stage of Golden Core.

"Having successfully broken through, I can now begin creating a clone."

This clone would still serve as a diversion. Li Fan even planned to send the clone to Yuandao Prefecture in Anchor Year 29 to investigate what happened there. To see what exactly occurred in Yuandao Prefecture during those ten lost years. And what it would feel like to be simultaneously inside and outside Yuandao Prefecture.

Since it was destined to be cannon fodder, there was no need to expend too much effort on it.

Li Fan left Tianyu City again, chose a random direction, and flew for over ten days until he found a secluded area. As before, he dug out a secret chamber and sealed off the entrance.

"There won't be such a big commotion this time; I won't be unlucky enough to be found again, right?" Li Fan muttered to himself, then began to refine the clone.

Supreme Bone, Heavenly Spirit Milk, Bone-Shattering Treasure Tendon, Heavenly Crystal Spirit Sand... He skillfully added the materials one by one into the artificially created flesh. He also added a mid-grade Human Anomaly: the Raging Flying Butterfly, as a necessary item for Foundation Establishment. Afterward, he tossed in a fragment of a Golden Core that contained insights into forming a Core using water-based techniques.

The Raging Flying Butterfly had been purchased earlier from the Myriad Law Pavilion in Jiushan Prefecture, prepared for the Immortal Revival Cult. The buyer, Lin Fan, had already vanished from the world along with Cong Yunhai. There was no fear of being traced. As for the Golden Core fragment... the number of cultivators in this world who formed a Golden Core using water-based techniques was countless, making it impossible to trace.

All preparatory work was now complete. Li Fan concentrated, beginning to condense the clone.

Seven days later.

"Sever!"

Li Fan used his finger as a sword, severing the clone's fate from its surroundings. A faint trace of vitality emerged from the clone. A brand new clone, possessing the strength of an early-stage Golden Core cultivator, was thus born.

"I'll call you Xiao Fan!"

After dressing it, Li Fan examined the clone several times and said with satisfaction.