Chapter 481: Unexpectedly Obtaining a Method That Achieves Both Goals

The ground's shaking grew increasingly violent, making it almost impossible to stand steady.

They watched as the massive Immortal Isles rose from the ground and slowly ascended into the sky.

Some cultivators attempted a desperate dash to break through the encirclement.

But they all met the same fate.

As soon as they left the Immortal Isles, they were pierced and killed by beams of light descending from the sky.

Constant screams and wails of cultivators could be heard.

The surrounding space seemed completely sealed off. Even the strange phenomena of cultivators falling from the sky appeared eerily distorted, layered and compressed together.

The formidable attacks of the Five Elders Council caused the cultivators, who had been scrambling like headless flies, to temporarily calm down.

This was because they realized that as long as they remained on the Immortal Isles, the Five Elders Council seemed to have no immediate intention to attack them.

So they could only tremble, looking up at the purple gate drawing closer and closer.

"Is the Five Elders Council going to such great lengths for me?" Li Fan, witnessing this scene and recalling the previous incident where several Nascent Soul cultivators tried to apprehend him, couldn't help but have this thought.

"That territory isn't easy to deal with. What if I'm taken there, to that 'Realm of Truth' where one cannot lie? If anyone asks, won't my transmigration and 'True Return' abilities all be directly exposed?"

Li Fan still had a clear understanding of his current strength, knowing he probably couldn't resist the Heavenly Venerate's principles yet.

"Should I use 'True Return'..." A flicker of hesitation crossed Li Fan's mind.

After pondering for a moment, Li Fan decided to wait and observe the situation for now.

After all, the situation hadn't yet deteriorated to the point of threatening his life.

The distant, previously horizontal horizon where water met sky had now vanished from sight.

The entire Immortal Isles floated mid-air, and the faces of the Five Elders Council cultivators in the sky were clearly visible.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out on the island again.

For some unknown reason, a large group of cultivators appeared out of thin air.

There were so many of these cultivators that they instantly crowded together, and for a moment, the Immortal Isles seemed unable to contain them all.

A clamor of voices rose from among them.

"What's happening? Where is this?"

"I remember I was in secluded cultivation in the Sky Profound Mirror! How did I suddenly end up here?"

"Look! The Sky Profound Mirror has actually turned into a stone!"

Listening to their continuous cries of alarm, Jiao Xiuyuan muttered to himself, "Damn it, even the Sky Profound Mirror has withdrawn its empowerment. It looks like we can't count on these reinforcements."

Only then did Li Fan realize that these people were all cultivators who had been in secluded cultivation within the Immortal Isles' Sky Profound Mirror space.

As the Immortal Isles were about to be captured by the Five Elders Council, the Sky Profound Mirror, for its own safety, canceled its so-called empowerment.

The incredibly versatile sub-mirror on the island turned into an ordinary stone.

Those cultivators who had awakened from their secluded cultivation, seeing enemies filling the sky, finally realized their current predicament.

"Fellow Daoists, I've heard that the Five Elders Council possesses something called a 'Soul Pact'. Once signed, our souls will be completely controlled by them. Losing our freedom, we'll probably wish we were dead!"

"Exactly! They definitely want to capture us alive and force us to sign the Soul Pact!"

"Rather than being controlled by others, it's better to fight to the death. With so many of us, there might still be a glimmer of hope!"

After the initial shock, someone quickly raised their arm and shouted, calling for everyone to break through the Five Elders Council's blockade together.

As the saying goes, 'strength in numbers.'

With so many fresh forces appearing out of nowhere, the cultivators of the Immortal Alliance on the island grew bolder.

Soon, led by one or two cultivators, they launched a desperate charge.

Li Fan, however, did not blindly follow. He looked at Jiao Xiuyuan, whose eyes were darting around, pulled on his sleeve, and asked telepathically, "Fellow Daoist Jiao, is there a way to escape?"

Jiao Xiuyuan chuckled, extended his palm, and made a gesture for the number "five."

"No problem! Just fifty thousand contribution points, I'll transfer them to you right away!" Li Fan nodded.

Jiao Xiuyuan's face darkened. "Is the life of you, Master Li Fan, only worth that much?"

"Five hundred thousand contribution points! And that's because of our bond of life-and-death friendship!"

Li Fan looked at Jiao Xiuyuan and smiled faintly.

Without bargaining, he immediately transferred the five hundred thousand points.

"Brother, I'm not greedy for money. Business is business; even blood brothers should settle their accounts clearly." Jiao Xiuyuan explained himself.

Then he whispered, "Currently, the only possible way to escape from these Immortal Isles is through the ancient tree in the Azure Breeze Hall."

"Azure Breeze Hall..." Li Fan's eyes flickered.

In his one hundred thirteenth life, he had, through He Zhenghao, come into contact with the Azure Breeze Hall, a lending organization hidden on the Immortal Isles.

The ancient tree with a human face inside had left a relatively deep impression on him.

The place where the ancient tree was located seemed to be a self-contained space.

Furthermore, it could instantly gather a considerable amount of Spirit Mist Grass. This clearly indicated that, like the Sky Profound Mirror, it was connected to other external spaces.

"Thank you for the guidance, Fellow Daoist Jiao!"

Li Fan cupped his hands, just as he was about to step away.

Suddenly, he remembered something and soon turned back.

Li Fan stared intently at Jiao Xiuyuan, making him feel completely uncomfortable.

"Fellow Daoist Li Fan, instead of escaping for your life, why are you staring at me?" Jiao Xiuyuan was puzzled.

"Fellow Daoist Jiao," Li Fan said faintly, "I wonder if you'd be willing to sell this body of yours."

Jiao Xiuyuan was startled, and immediately flashed away, putting distance between himself and Li Fan.

"You..." Jiao Xiuyuan looked at Li Fan with an incredulous gaze, as if seeing his true colors for the first time.

Ignoring Jiao Xiuyuan's chaotic thoughts, Li Fan continued, "Since awakening, I've always remained within the territory of the Immortal Alliance."

"Now, I have a basic understanding of the Immortal Alliance as a whole. However, I've never had the chance to witness the Five Elders Council, which stands as an equal rival to the Immortal Alliance."

"Moreover, information about them within the Immortal Alliance is pitifully scarce. I'm extremely curious about the Five Elders Council."

Li Fan's gaze swept up and down Jiao Xiuyuan's puppet body.

"My true body will naturally escape. However, I'd also like to take this opportunity to see what's on the other side."

"Fellow Daoist, do you happen to have a wondrous technique that would allow me to temporarily control this puppet body of yours?"

Li Fan asked slowly.

Only then did Jiao Xiuyuan realize Li Fan's intention.

He pondered for a moment, then mumbled softly, "You should have said so earlier; you startled me."

"If the price is right, it's not impossible."

Upon hearing this, Li Fan immediately felt a surge of joy.

"Excellent! Name your price, Fellow Daoist!"

Jiao Xiuyuan again made a gesture for the number "five," and simultaneously, not giving Li Fan a chance to misinterpret, he said, "This is my first time being possessed by someone!"

"Five hundred thousand contribution points, no less!"

"Five hundred thousand it is, then. I, Li Fan, am not a stingy person."