Chapter 549: Again Seeking to Enter the Immortal Alliance

Angry Squid

After seeing Han Yi off, Li Fan instead turned his gaze towards the southwest.Gazing into the distance, his sight seemed to span thousands of miles, reaching a deep undersea trench. That was the location where Han Yi had appeared after frantically escaping from the small world.

"A small world with no mortals, only beast-kin...?" Li Fan slightly frowned.

Based on Han Yi's memories, Li Fan believed that the creatures in that small world resembled the beast-kin he had encountered several times before, which were half-human, half-beast beings. However, there were subtle differences. While both were a blend of humans and demonic beasts, the beast-kin Li Fan was familiar with had a greater human component. In contrast, the creatures in the small world Han Yi experienced were more akin to "demonic beasts." This distinction could be observed from whether their heads were human or beast-like.

Even more interestingly, according to the legends of that world that Han Yi had gathered, in the earliest records, most inhabitants of the wilderness were originally half-beast, half-human. There were even many pure "humans." However, as time passed, descendants of the inhabitants occasionally exhibited variations with a higher degree of beast transformation.

Initially, these variations were deemed aberrations and were abandoned or even hunted. But after some of these variations resiliently survived and demonstrated immense power, things began to change. They massacred the original villages, migrated to the depths of the wilderness, and established a new order. There, the higher the degree of beast transformation, the more esteemed their status became.

Such fundamentally opposing ideologies inevitably led to war. In the wilderness, the strong reigned supreme. The individual strength of these variations, which represented a regression to more beast-like forms, was clearly superior to that of ordinary beast-kin. Although initially outnumbered, which led to a back-and-forth struggle between the two sides, as time progressed, the number of these dominant variants grew, and they began to demonstrate overwhelming combat power in the war. After bloody massacres, the opposition naturally vanished. Thus, the wilderness transformed into what Han Yi observed: a place where "beasts were revered, and humans were deemed aberrations."

"Perhaps it's related to a retreat path that Emperor Yi prepared for the demonic beast race. It seems, however, that his plan has failed.""Once the bloodline of a demonic beast is activated, it's far stronger than that of an ordinary human."

Li Fan then thought of the deity in that world: The Fated Mysterious Bird.Although there were other beings within the Mysterious Bird clan, when Li Fan saw the deity's statue, an inexplicable feeling suddenly surged within him. This Fated Mysterious Bird was "Little Black," whom Li Fan had possessed in the Fallen Immortal Realm, and who had accompanied Xu Ke back then. There was no concrete evidence; perhaps it was just a profound premonition stemming from Li Fan's previous possession.

"It actually perished?""Strange.""Even a mere Azure Luan Bird is still alive and well. There's no reason for a Mysterious Bird, which had integrated with the destiny of a small world, to have perished first."

Li Fan frowned, somewhat perplexed. After some thought, he found clarity. Among humans, strength often implied longevity. However, this principle might not apply to demonic beast races.

Although he was very interested in that small world, Li Fan knew it wasn't the time to explore it yet. Just because Han Yi, despite only being at the Qi Condensation Completion stage and unable to use spiritual energy, could stir up trouble there, one shouldn't simply assume that the small world was without danger. One must remember that Han Yi, by manipulating the free-flowing destiny with the *Scripture of Heavenly Fortune*, was essentially half a Child of Destiny. He would naturally turn misfortune into blessings and overcome adversity. If Li Fan were to rashly intrude without means to utilize destiny, there's no telling what unfortunate events he might encounter. He might even encounter a thousand-year-old great demonic beast from the depths of the wilderness right upon entering. After all, the sense of impending crisis that suddenly sprang forth in Li Fan's heart when he intended to follow Han Yi into the deep undersea cave that day was not false. Until he learned how to manipulate destiny, Li Fan would not risk entering the unknown.

"No matter, what exactly happened back then will soon be known in the Fallen Immortal Realm anyway."

Li Fan withdrew his gaze and headed towards the nearest garrison island. Before long, he arrived at Chongwu Island. The garrison commander of Chongwu Island was Huang Ranqi, a cultivator at the late Foundation Establishment stage. As a nominal subordinate, Li Fan knew a little about this person's general profile: he was petty over small matters, yet utterly confused about major ones; he constantly made minor mistakes and was endlessly greedy. He was precisely the right candidate.

Li Fan concealed his true cultivation level, displaying only the aura of a Foundation Establishment Completion cultivator, and paid a visit.

"How should I address you, fellow Daoist?" Huang Ranqi asked amiably, handing over a cup of tea with a smiling face.At this time, Li Fan was in his original appearance, not that of an "ancient Heavenly Secret cultivator," so Huang Ranqi naturally did not recognize him.

Li Fan cupped his hands and replied, "I am Li Fan!"

"Cough, cough..." Huang Ranqi, who had been leisurely drinking his tea, almost spat out the water in his mouth upon hearing Li Fan's words. He coughed violently several times to ease his embarrassment. After a moment, Huang Ranqi gasped and asked, "Your name is also Li Fan?"

Upon hearing this, Li Fan's expression grew strange, and he asked curiously, "Why do you say that, Fellow Daoist Huang? What do you mean by 'also'?""Could it be that you, too, know a cultivator named Li Fan?" He then seemed to realize something, looking very surprised.

"Haha, Fellow Daoist, have you perhaps been in seclusion for many years? You don't even know the name of the Envoy Master?" Huang Ranqi squinted, scrutinizing Li Fan.

"You've guessed correctly! I was originally a rogue cultivator from the Congyun Sea. A few years ago, seeking opportunities for a breakthrough, I accidentally stumbled into and became lost in a perilous small world. I only managed to escape recently by sheer luck." Li Fan shook his head, looking deeply reflective. As he spoke, he vividly described his experiences and observations in the small world to Huang Ranqi.

"No spiritual energy, but demonic beasts everywhere instead?" Huang Ranqi was indeed drawn in by the strange scene Li Fan described."To return alive from such a dangerous place, Fellow Daoist, your luck must truly be extraordinary," he also exclaimed.

Li Fan nodded in agreement. "You are absolutely right, Fellow Daoist. Moments between life and death are often the most enlightening. That's why, shortly after my return, I successfully broke through my bottleneck and reached Foundation Establishment Completion. As I just said, I was originally just a rogue cultivator. For the sake of so-called freedom, I was unwilling to join the Myriad Immortals Alliance and suffer the toil of a beast of burden. However, after this great tribulation, I've had a change of heart. As long as one can live, freedom is simply not worth mentioning!"

Li Fan said sincerely, "Therefore, I ask you, Fellow Daoist, to recommend me!"

Huang Ranqi pondered for a moment, then observed Li Fan up and down for a while, not immediately agreeing."I hear that recently, tensions have been high between the Council of Five Elders and our Myriad Immortals Alliance, with frequent skirmishes. You wouldn't happen to be a spy sent by the Council of Five Elders, would you, Fellow Daoist?"