Chapter 389: Heavenly Profound's Initial Creation of the World

A crisis dissipated without a trace.

Once the storm passed, thunderous applause erupted on the colossal Dust-Crossing Boat.

The array masters and numerous co-builders, witnessing the immense power of the creation they had toiled over for years, could not hide their excitement.

Li Fan, too, applauded along with the crowd, a look of profound satisfaction on his face.

However, a thought surfaced in his mind that he could no longer suppress.

The Myriad Immortals Alliance had meticulously constructed the awe-inspiring Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Array.

But after its completion, would the Myriad Immortals Alliance truly allow Li Fan and the other array builders to live?

It wasn't that Li Fan was overly suspicious.

The adage, "Generals bring peace but are not allowed to witness it," was a common occurrence throughout history.

Even mortal emperors, after constructing their tombs, would execute all the craftsmen involved to prevent secrets from being revealed.

Li Fan had little faith in the Myriad Immortals Alliance.

If the array's sole purpose was monitoring, perhaps the array masters responsible for its construction would have a slim chance of survival.

But now, with its inaugural demonstration, the Spirit-Locking Array had displayed such immense power...

It was difficult to imagine how many secrets this array truly concealed.

The greater the actual power of the Spirit-Locking Array, the more tenuous the array masters' chances of survival became.

"Perhaps the Myriad Immortals Alliance's long-delayed promise to extend my lifespan is connected to this."

"If we're destined to die anyway, why bother with an extra step?"

As Li Fan thought this, a chill permeated his heart.

Just as he pondered his future course of action, the astonished exclamations of the crowd drew his attention back to the void below.

After the massive explosion, apart from the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Array's vast azure net, the former site of the Five Elements Great Grotto-heaven was utterly empty.

Yet, at that very moment, streams of abnormal energy visibly surged forth from various nodes of the Spirit-Locking Array.

"Is that... Five Elements energy?"

After a careful sensing, Li Fan's expression subtly shifted.

Using the void of annihilation as its canvas and the various elemental energies it had absorbed as its pigments,

The Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Array, like a precise machine, began to meticulously reconstruct the shattered Five Elements Grotto-heaven.

This process, akin to creation itself, unfolded openly before everyone from the Myriad Immortals Alliance.

Azure waters began to surge, colossal trees rapidly sprouted, and raging flames billowed skyward...

Every scene from the former Five Elements Great Grotto-heaven rapidly reappeared at a speed far exceeding Li Fan's comprehension.

This magnificent spectacle utterly captivated the minds of all the cultivators on the Dust-Crossing Boat.

No one dared to utter a sound, fearing they might disturb the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Array's grand creation.

Time slowly elapsed.

After an indeterminate period, a brand new Five Elements Great Grotto-heaven materialized in the world.

Reconfigured by the Heavenly Profound Mirror, it appeared significantly smaller than its predecessor, yet it had fully restored its original equilibrium of the Five Elements.

Having completed its masterpiece, the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Array slowly faded from view, much like an actor bowing out after a performance.

It left behind only a group of Myriad Immortals Alliance cultivators, awestruck and silent.

"Such a feat..."

Li Fan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock and turbulence in his heart as he quickly began a rational analysis.

"This differs from true creation. It's not creation from nothing, but rather the reorganization of matter."

"Furthermore, this nascent grotto-heaven appears devoid of life, merely a realm of reorganized spiritual energy."

"Nevertheless, the power demonstrated by the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Array is truly formidable."

"It seems to have analyzed the Five Elements Unification and then reverse-engineered it."

"An empty Five Elements Grotto-heaven devoid of life, an inexplicable elemental imbalance, the pre-prepared Everlasting Refined Gold, and the absolute command to complete the array's construction before the Five Elements Unification..."

"Perhaps the massive explosion within this grotto-heaven was deliberately orchestrated. Its purpose might have been to allow the Heavenly Profound Mirror to complete its analysis of the Five Elements transformation."

As if to confirm Li Fan's suspicions, once the new Five Elements Grotto-heaven was fully formed, numerous black-clad cultivators simultaneously flew forth from the Dust-Crossing Boat.

They dispersed, each flying towards different grotto-heavens to resettle the Five Elements creatures that had been relocated earlier.

Before long, this newly formed grotto-heaven gradually began to teem with life once more.

At this moment, Qi Buyi's announcement resonated through the Heaven-Supervising Record.

The Five Elements Great Grotto-heaven Spirit-Locking Array had been successfully completed, and the Dust-Crossing Boat would return to Tianchen State for a three-day celebration.

Numerous rare spirit foods and teas would be available for everyone to sample free of charge.

Furthermore, during the celebratory period, participants would still accrue competition points at a fixed, uniform rate, as if they were continuing to construct arrays within the Five Elements Grotto-heaven.

As soon as the announcement was made, the cultivators, who had been dazed by the Spirit-Locking Array's display, snapped out of their stupor and became ecstatic.

"The Spirit-Locking Array isn't fully constructed yet, so our lives should be safe for now." Li Fan mused, observing the buzzing crowd of cultivators. He concluded that it wasn't yet time for their "last meal."

As he pondered, Li Fan suddenly detected a peculiar stir from an item within his storage ring.

Without a change in expression, he discreetly made his way into the Dust-Crossing Boat, found an empty cabin, and retrieved the item.

It was the White Bone Left Hand, the key to controlling the White Bone Vanguard Realm.

Faint fluctuations were indeed emanating from it.

Li Fan sensed it faintly, and his expression momentarily flickered with a hint of bewilderment.

"Greetings, fellow Daoist. I haven't been able to reach you through Seek Immortal, so I had no choice but to use this method to contact you."

"The thirty-year lease for the White Bone Vanguard Realm has expired. Do you wish to renew it?"

"If so, please contact me before the expiration date."

"Otherwise, your current key will become inactive, and you will no longer be able to enter the White Bone Vanguard Realm."

"Any items and scenes remaining within the Vanguard Realm will be temporarily preserved for you for three months."

"After three months, I will proceed with a complete clear-out."

A somewhat familiar voice echoed in Li Fan's mind.

It was the true owner of the White Bone Vanguard Realm, a cultivator who referred to herself as Immortal Venerable Zimao.

In anchored year 9, Li Fan had leased the White Bone Vanguard Realm for thirty years to deceive the people of the Departing Realm.

Now, it was the end of anchored year 38, and the lease was nearing its conclusion.

Immortal Venerable Zimao had sent the inquiry.

"The Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Array began construction in anchored year 29. I can't believe ten years have passed so quickly."

After a moment's consideration, Li Fan decided not to reply to Immortal Venerable Zimao immediately.

Later, when the Dust-Crossing Boat returned to Tianchen State and the cultivators headed to Thousand Stars Villa for lavish feasting and unrestrained celebration,

Li Fan, however, made his way alone to the Debate Tower in the city.

He rented a private courtyard, casually set up a protective array, and then entered the White Bone Vanguard Realm.

He left behind four small Medicine King Cauldrons, then activated the Five Elements Annihilation Sword, utterly destroying all his prior arrangements.

After that, he used his authority to leave behind a visual recording within the Vanguard Realm.

Li Fan returned to the real world, destroyed the White Bone Left Hand, and completely severed his last connection to the Vanguard Realm.

"In this lifetime, my clone, Lin Fan, handled the acquisition of the Vanguard Realm."

"From now on, no matter what transpires, it should not be traceable back to me."