Chapter 375: Catalyzing the Living Spirit Pearl

Li Fan, seeing this, merely smiled and offered no further explanation.

However, Huangfu Song wasn't about to let him off so easily, even though they had very little actual interaction. But that didn't stop him from acting as if he were very familiar with Li Fan, striking up a conversation with great enthusiasm.

"Senior Huangfu, how often do you usually get to see Chief Lu?" Li Fan offered desultory replies, and seeing that Huangfu Song was going on endlessly, he couldn't help but interrupt him with a question.

Huangfu Song froze, taken aback.

He replied somewhat awkwardly, "Chief Lu's status is quite eminent..."

Before he could finish, Li Fan said meaningfully, "If that's the case, a heaven-sent opportunity is right before you. Senior Huangfu, why don't you seize this chance to make a good impression?"

Huangfu Song paused for a moment, then seemed to wake up from a dream. He exclaimed with great joy, "Young friend, you've hit the nail on the head! If I'm fortunate enough to catch Chief Lu's eye, a meteoric rise awaits me!"

"Heh heh, it's fine to say that to me. But if you're in front of outsiders, it's better to be a bit more cautious," Li Fan reminded him again.

"Understood, understood," Huangfu Song nodded repeatedly. After that, he quickly left to seek his "opportunity to impress."

Only then did Li Fan find some peace.

To be able to know Chief Lu's whereabouts in advance was, naturally, through Lu Xuejing secretly providing information. But it stopped there. He didn't ask her to do anything more.

It wasn't that Li Fan had a sudden change of heart; rather, he profoundly understood that in front of a peerless expert like Chief Lu, even a slight abnormality in behavior could be noticed. Fisherman's methods were indeed profound, but whether they could evade the scrutiny of the Myriad Immortals Alliance's top combatants remained unknown. As his own safety was involved, Li Fan naturally had to be extremely cautious.

As for "planning," it was out of the question. A Golden Core cultivator attempting to scheme against a Dao Integration Immortal Venerable would simply be seeking death. Li Fan certainly wouldn't be so foolish as to attempt such a thing. All he did was create an opportunity for a "chance encounter" with Chief Lu. As for what would happen after they met, it was just as Li Fan had said before: success or failure, it all depended on fate.

Ever since Dongfang learned that Chief Lu was about to arrive for an inspection, the entire work atmosphere in the Spirit Transformation Ravine instantly changed. Not a single idle person could be seen, from top to bottom. Every cultivator was hurrying, with solemn expressions. He himself checked the completed parts of the formation again and again, fearing any oversight or flaw.

The heavy atmosphere of preparation made the cultivators who had accompanied Huangfu Song as guests restless. Furthermore, seeing the usually somewhat lazy Huangfu Song unprecedentedly busy, none of them were dull-witted, and they immediately guessed that an important figure might be coming for an inspection. So they all volunteered to help. Having unexpectedly gained a group of elite helpers, the lean man named Dongfang naturally didn't refuse.

Within the Spirit Transformation Ravine, without special countermeasures, even cultivators found it difficult to move. To this end, Dongfang urgently applied for a batch of Spirit-Life Beads, so that Li Fan and the others could move freely.

"These were brought by Senior Dongfang Yao and are for you," said a clear-eyed, handsome boy of seven or eight, dressed in a black and white Taoist robe. He took a white jade bottle from his robe and distributed colorful, indistinct round beads from it to everyone.

"Take them orally and place them in your dantian. You will then be able to sense spiritual energy flow again." Although the boy appeared very young, he explained the usage and precautions for the Spirit-Life Beads with remarkable experience.

Li Fan held the seven-colored Spirit-Life Bead in his hand, observing it for a moment, but couldn't discern anything significant for now. He swallowed it whole. As the Spirit-Life Bead entered his stomach, various colored lights surged from within it, spreading throughout his body. Like a medicinal primer, it activated the stagnant spiritual energy within him. The spiritual energy, originally suppressed by the Spirit Transformation Ravine, instantly regained its vitality. While still far from their full potential as outside, they were barely enough to support the needs of daily work.

"Rather than saying it removed the suppressed state, it's more like it acted as a catalyst, enhancing the spiritual energy's reactivity," Li Fan thought. "Thus partially offsetting the stagnant effect of the Spirit Transformation Ravine. In that case, if one were to take this Spirit-Life Bead in a normal area outside, wouldn't it..." Li Fan, feeling the strange spiritual energy mixed with vibrant colors within his body, fell into contemplation.

As he pondered, he heard the boy in front of him say, "The effect of the Spirit-Life Bead lasts for thirty days. Everyone must pay close attention to its expiration date. There have been instances where cultivators became too engrossed in their work and forgot the duration. After the effect expired, with no spiritual power, they fell from the sky and were killed by the impact. If you wish to stop using it midway, you can circulate your spiritual energy and expel the remaining Spirit-Life Bead from your body."

Hearing this, the cultivators all nodded.

"Oh, and one more thing. Before leaving this Spirit Transformation Ravine, either wait for the Spirit-Life Bead's effect to completely disappear, or directly expel the Spirit-Life Bead. Do not forget this under any circumstances. Otherwise, there's a risk of spiritual energy exploding from your body. Of course, if your physique is as robust as Senior Dongfang Yao's and you're fearless of spiritual energy rampage, then disregard what I've said."

The boy had explained everything, omitting no details. He bowed to the crowd, then, under everyone's gaze, transformed into a one-legged white bird and flapped his wings, flying away.

With the help of the Spirit-Life Beads, everyone, rejuvenated and full of vigor, immediately plunged into assisting with the formation's construction. They quickly became familiar with the environment and integrated into the atmosphere of the Spirit Transformation Ravine.

Thus, a day passed.

Li Fan, who was calibrating a formation unit, suddenly felt something. He stopped his work and looked up. He saw a rainbow light streaking across the sky, piercing the dark red of the Ten Thousand Miles Flaming Sands, and heading straight for the Spirit Transformation Ravine below. The calm azure river water seemed to sense something; waves rose without wind, churning continuously. The suppressive force suddenly intensified to another level, catching the cultivators who relied on the Spirit-Life Beads for free movement completely off guard. Their spiritual power became imbalanced, and they nearly fell from the sky.

Just then, Li Fan saw countless transparent patterns emanating from the rainbow light. They continuously expanded outwards, like a giant screen covering the sky, instantly enveloping the entire Spirit Transformation Ravine.

"A formation?" Li Fan looked up, a glint in his eyes. The patterns flickered, and in an instant, a grand formation took shape. The churning azure river seemed to be heavily pressed down, not only instantly calming but even its surface subtly dropping slightly overall. The cultivators within the formation all felt their bodies and minds relax. The Spirit Transformation Ravine's suppressive effect seemed to vanish in an instant.

Surrounded by over a dozen black-clad cultivators, Lu Xichan, dressed in white, stepped on the rainbow light. She descended before everyone.

"Greetings, Chief!" Dongfang Yao and Huangfu Song quickly flew forward and bowed respectfully.

Lu Xichan's gaze swept over the two, her expression stern. "Come, take me to see the progress of the formation construction."