Chapter 440: Knowing Heaven, Wanting to Defy Heaven

"A calamity of bloodshed?" Chen Ying was startled, looking at Li Fan's serious expression. "What are you talking about?" he asked skeptically, truly surprised that this ancient cultivator from the Heavenly Divination Sect had presented him with such a revelation upon their first meeting.

Li Fan did not answer immediately. Instead, his expression grave, he closed his eyes and began calculating with his fingers. Seeing this, Chen Ying stood aside, not daring to disturb him.

The divination lasted for the duration of an incense stick burning. Li Fan's breathing became erratic, and his face grew increasingly pale, making Chen Ying grow increasingly anxious as well. Suddenly, Li Fan opened his eyes and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

"Fellow Daoist Li Fan, are you alright?" Chen Ying was startled and moved to check on him.

"It's nothing serious, just a slight backlash," Li Fan said, waving his hand as he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Before Chen Ying could react, Li Fan fixed his gaze on him and asked, "Fellow Daoist Chen, are you planning a long journey soon?"

Chen Ying was momentarily startled, then abruptly shocked. Not long ago, he had indeed received an order from headquarters, instructing him to go to a newly discovered wood-attribute grotto-heaven. However, he hadn't mentioned this to anyone else. How did Li Fan know? Could it be that he truly saw something through his divination techniques?

Chen Ying quickly pulled out a Vigor-Restoring Pill and handed it to Li Fan. "Fellow Daoist, please take this pill; it will help your injuries." After Li Fan swallowed the pill and his complexion improved, Chen Ying solemnly asked, "That's correct. I am indeed scheduled to leave the Cloud Sea soon for a specific reason. Is the calamity of bloodshed you spoke of related to this distant journey?"

Li Fan slowly nodded: "Returning early poses no issue, but the longer you delay outside, the more perilous it will likely become."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ying's heart sank. This mission would certainly take at least a decade, if not longer, meaning he couldn't possibly return sooner. Didn't that mean that if he went, he was destined for grave danger? Considering this, Chen Ying couldn't help but entertain the thought of defying the order. But it was only a thought. An order from the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters simply could not be refused by a mere Nascent Soul cultivator like him. Unavoidable, a path to certain death? No wonder he had been feeling unsettled lately, yet could never pinpoint the reason. It turned out this was what it was alluding to! Chen Ying's expression instantly turned grim.

After a moment of stunned silence, he looked at Li Fan by his side, and an idea came to him. "This journey is unavoidable; please, Fellow Daoist, save me!" Chen Ying said, his face full of hope.

Li Fan sighed softly: "It is easy to know the heavens, but difficult to defy them. I can barely manage to glimpse the mysteries of the future. But to defy fate and change destiny, that... Fellow Daoist, you're truly putting me in a difficult position. However, I can offer you some advice. These are merely human efforts, and I cannot guarantee they will be absolutely effective." Just as Chen Ying was filled with deep disappointment, Li Fan's tone suddenly shifted.

Chen Ying was overjoyed: "Please speak, Fellow Daoist!"

Li Fan first examined Chen Ying, then asked, "Forgive my bluntness, but may I ask, Fellow Daoist, what is your combat strength if it comes to a life-or-death struggle?" Upon hearing this, Chen Ying looked a bit embarrassed: "As the saying goes, 'every profession has its specialty.' I excel at alchemy and cultivating spiritual items. But when it comes to fighting..." Chen Ying shook his head.

Li Fan asked again: "If you encounter a surprise attack, how capable are you of preserving your life? Do you usually prepare various means of defense, stealth, and escape techniques?"

"The Myriad Immortals Alliance has enjoyed peace for a long time, and I've always been amicable. I truly felt I wouldn't need such things normally..." Chen Ying replied honestly.

Li Fan sighed deeply: "There it is! Fellow Daoist, you completely lack vigilance. If calamity suddenly strikes and you are unprepared, you will naturally perish. Since this calamity cannot be avoided, you can only endure it head-on. I see that Fellow Daoist could purchase such a grotto-heaven on Myriad Immortals Island, so your wealth must be considerable. Your only option now is to spend money to avert disaster! Within the Heavenly Mystic Mirror, there are many defensive magical treasures and techniques. Fellow Daoist, you must not be stingy; purchase and strengthen yourself as much as possible. If you can manage to withstand the attack of a Dao Integration cultivator for a moment, I believe you might find a glimmer of hope for survival." Li Fan explained in detail.

"An attack from a Dao Integration Immortal Venerable?" Chen Ying was greatly alarmed. With the contribution points he had accumulated over the years, if he were to spend everything he had, he might indeed be able to buy one or two treasures capable of resisting a Dao Integration cultivator's attack. But those were what he had saved to exchange for Dao Integration cultivation techniques. If the calamity Li Fan spoke of didn't happen, it would mean wasting so many contribution points for nothing. Everything would have to be accumulated from scratch.

"Is that perhaps a bit too..." Chen Ying couldn't help but ask, but saw Li Fan subtly shake his head.

"I've said all I can say. Whether Fellow Daoist believes it or not, it's no longer my concern!" Li Fan turned to leave.

Chen Ying quickly stepped forward to stop him. "Fellow Daoist, you came in haste; how can you leave in haste? This life-saving kindness, please allow me to repay it in the future. For today, let me first fulfill my duty as a host!" Suppressing all the thoughts in his mind, Chen Ying led Li Fan on a tour of his grotto-heaven. After introducing Li Fan to his unique method of rapidly cultivating spiritual plants through restrictions, Chen Ying personally refined a batch of pills in front of him. As their conversation continued, Chen Ying realized that Li Fan was indeed worthy of his reputation as an ancient cultivator. He was profoundly learned, even though he wasn't proficient in the art of alchemy. But he could effortlessly recall various pharmacological knowledge, and some of his insights even greatly enlightened Chen Ying.

Li Fan stayed in Chen Ying's grotto-heaven for a full seven days, finally departing with Chen Ying's reluctant farewell. Before leaving, Chen Ying generously presented Li Fan with a bottle of Enlightenment Pills. This pill was refined by him using a unique method, and it had extraordinary effects when used during the breakthrough from the Golden Core to the Nascent Soul realm. The ingredients were rare, and the success rate of refining the pill was remarkably low. Chen Ying himself didn't have much of a stock, and he usually didn't sell them. Instead, they were given as gifts for special circumstances. It was also Chen Ying's way of returning the favor, seeing that Li Fan's cultivation had recovered to the late Golden Core stage and he was about to form his Nascent Soul again.

"This person is not one to act mysterious without substance; he possesses true talent and knowledge." After seeing Li Fan off, Chen Ying, now alone, pondered to himself. "A calamity of bloodshed, huh... It's just a few contribution points. If they're gone, I can earn more; at most, it will be a bit more effort, refining a few more batches of pills. If I die, everything will be over. Better safe than sorry." Considering this, Chen Ying secretly made up his mind. He opened the Heavenly Mystic Mirror in his grotto-heaven and began searching and browsing.

"I wonder if this Chen Ying will be able to escape with his life." Once outside the grotto-heaven, with its multiple layers of restrictions, the Formless Killing Intent lost its specific perception of Chen Ying's presence. It could only vaguely sense his aura. "It all depends on his own fortune now." Li Fan stopped thinking about it, left the residential area on Myriad Immortals Island, and returned to the Heavenly Mystic Mirror.

"If I didn't know that the entire Cloud Sea would soon vanish, I would definitely purchase a grotto-heaven here." Feeling the relatively cramped space within the Heavenly Mystic Mirror, Li Fan couldn't help but entertain this thought.

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