Chapter 61: Disintegration Testing of Divine Power

The Great Xuan Dynasty, Jieli Mountain.

Jieli Mountain, thousands of meters high, rose like a cleaver, its peak piercing the clouds.

On the steep mountain path halfway up, two teenagers walked in single file.

The one in front was a lean teenager wearing a straw hat, his face resolute.

The boy behind him appeared a few years younger but was robustly built, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a simple, good-natured expression.

The burly teenager wiped sweat from his brow and plopped down. "Erlang, let's rest," he pleaded. "We've been walking most of the day; I can't go on."

The slender boy turned and offered his water skin. "It's not safe to rest here; fierce tigers and wild beasts sometimes roam these mountains," he explained. "I know of a hidden cave not far ahead. If you're truly exhausted, we can rest there."

The burly boy took the water skin, guzzled a few mouthfuls, and after a long sigh, asked curiously, "Erlang, are there really immortals in this mountain?"

"Certainly," Erlang stated with conviction, looking up at the mountain peak hidden among the clouds. "I saw one with my own eyes."

The burly boy, however, seemed unimpressed. "For five years now, you've been obsessed, like you're possessed, always heading into Jieli Mountain whenever you have free time," he remarked. "You've made countless trips, and you still haven't found an immortal. If you ask me, you should just give up on this pursuit. Seeking immortals and the Dao is far too ethereal. In my opinion, you should just focus on practicing martial arts, like me…"

The burly boy's words were cut short by Erlang's frown. "Wang Xuanba, why are you starting to sound like my mother?" he retorted. "Keep spouting such nonsense, and you can go down the mountain by yourself!"

Wang Xuanba scratched the back of his head awkwardly and wisely fell silent.

The two continued their ascent along the mountain path.

Not long after, a sudden, eerie gust of wind swept through the mountains.

Wang Xuanba's ears twitched, his expression shifting. He stepped forward, restrained Erlang, and gestured for silence.

"There's something ahead…" He narrowed his eyes, about to warn Erlang, but then instantly froze.

A bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

On the mountain path ahead, with a rustling sound, a colossal white python slithered down the mountainside.

The python's body was immense; just the exposed part of its head was seven or eight meters long.

The remainder of its body was hidden among the mountain's vegetation, its full length unknown.

The python was as thick as a washbasin, and its enormous scarlet eyes glowed with a chilling red light.

Flicking its forked tongue, it raised its head and slithered along the cliff face, descending towards the precipice.

Upon seeing this terrifying creature, both Wang Xuanba and Erlang were petrified, not daring to move or even breathe.

The python's enormous body dragged along the ground for a long moment before slowly vanishing from their view.

A sigh of relief escaped them…

Wang Xuanba let out a long breath, about to speak, when he suddenly heard a rapid sound once more.

To their horror, the colossal snake head instantly re-emerged from below the cliff, its gaze fixed intently on them!

Wang Xuanba and Erlang froze again.

Hiss…

The white python swayed its head, slowly gliding closer to them.

Its enormous mouth gaped open, exhaling gusts of foul-smelling air.

Enveloped by the python's shadow, and seeing his head about to be swallowed whole, Wang Xuanba finally snapped.

He unleashed a mighty roar, his muscles bulging as his entire body visibly expanded.

He sprang up, leaped, and swung his fist, aiming a powerful blow at the white python's head below.

A metallic clang!

It sounded as if metal had struck metal!

At that moment, Erlang also moved.

With a stomp, the mountain rocks beneath him pulverized, and his figure blurred, appearing behind the white python in an instant.

He changed his fist into a finger and jabbed the python relentlessly dozens of times.

Clang! Clang! Clang!…

The sounds of impact were incessant.

Yet, their combined attacks couldn't even scratch the white python's skin!

The white python hissed, twisted its body, and lashed out, striking Wang Xuanba.

Thud!

Wang Xuanba was instantly sent flying, slamming against the cliff face and sending shattered rocks scattering.

The white python, however, didn't pursue Wang Xuanba. Instead, it turned its head, opened its massive maw, and lunged at Erlang.

Erlang couldn't dodge in time and had no choice but to brace himself, extending both hands to desperately prop open the python's mouth.

The white python let out a strange growl and suddenly exerted immense force.

Erlang's body almost vanished inside the python's immense maw, but with a muffled groan, he stubbornly held his ground.

After a prolonged stalemate, the white python grew enraged, unable to swallow the small human.

It thrashed its body wildly, repeatedly slamming Erlang against the mountain path and the rocky slopes, trying to dislodge him.

With every impact Erlang suffered, his fingers, like sharp swords, dug deeper into the python's flesh.

After some time, this section of the mountain path was scarred with the marks of Erlang's struggle against the rocks. A crimson glint flashed in the python's eyes, and a stream of dark brown liquid spewed from its mouth.

Erlang narrowly avoided a direct hit to his head but was still drenched in the venom.

Sizzle…

As the venom corroded, Erlang's flesh, glowing with a faint golden light, became visible.

He groaned, but could no longer sustain the struggle. The python flung him aside, and he crashed next to the unconscious Wang Xuanba.

Spitting out a mouthful of blood, he painfully propped himself up. He watched the python draw closer, a hint of fierce unwillingness in his eyes.

Ever since that evening, when he personally witnessed the majestic sight of an immortal flying through the air in Jieli Mountain, he had been consumed by the desire to seek immortals and the Dao.

He had ventured deep into the mountains countless times, solely to find this immortal and become his disciple.

For this, he had even quarreled with his mother.

Who would have thought he wouldn't find an immortal, only to lose his life to this beast?

To think that he, Erlang of the Sun family, born with divine strength and mastery of all martial arts, would meet such an end – how could he possibly accept it?

But enveloped by the white python's shadow, and utterly drained of the strength to resist, Erlang could only close his eyes in despair.

Just as Erlang resigned himself to death, a loud crane's cry suddenly echoed from the distant mountains.

Upon hearing the cry, the white python, as if encountering a natural predator, abruptly raised its head, flicked its tongue, and stared intently in the direction of the sound.

Erlang, sensing a change in fortune, opened his eyes.

He saw a white crane, flying from an unknown part of the mountains, engaging the white python in fierce battle.

The white crane continuously soared and dodged, skillfully evading the snake's attacks, while repeatedly pecking at its body with its sharp beak, drawing flecks of flesh and blood.

Although the python was less agile than the crane, its hide was thick and tough; dozens of pecks from the crane caused it no significant damage.

However, a single successful bite from the python would be enough to severely injure the crane.

Gradually, the white crane began to lose ground.

Erlang saw the two strange beasts locked in a fierce, indecisive battle, seemingly oblivious to his presence. He struggled to his feet, eager to drag Wang Xuanba away and seize the chance to escape.

Just then, a sound like a surging tide echoed through the mountains.

Erlang froze, staring upwards at a wondrous sight.

In the sky, countless birds, flocking from all corners of the mountains, flew towards them like a spreading dark cloud.

On the mountain itself, rodents, reptiles, even monkeys, tigers, leopards, and countless other animals Erlang had never seen before, suddenly emerged from everywhere, forming a stampede of beasts that surged towards the entangled crane and snake.

Erlang realized what was happening, his face paling.

Within this beast tide, their survival was impossible!

The red-eyed white python also sensed the danger. It ceased its struggle with the crane, intent on leaving.

Yet, the white crane relentlessly pursued it, as if holding an ancient grudge against the python. Even as it was bitten bloody and torn, it refused to let the python escape.

In a flash, the birds and the beast tide converged.

They ignored both the white crane and Erlang; their sole target was the colossal python!

The white python shrieked in terror, but it was already surrounded by countless wild beasts, utterly trapped.

The beasts, as if driven mad, trampled over one another, fighting to tear at and devour the python's body.

Even if their own teeth shattered and blood streamed, they refused to let go.

Many beasts gnawed themselves to death, only to be swiftly replaced by others.

It was as if this white python had committed some unforgivable sin.

All the birds and beasts, one after another, relentlessly sought to devour the white python completely.

Until nothing remained!

The python was engulfed by the beast tide, its struggles growing fainter and fainter.

After an unknown time, all sound ceased.

Only then did the beasts gradually disperse.

Of the colossal red-eyed white python, not even a bone remained.

Witnessing such a bizarre spectacle, Erlang stood frozen, not daring to utter a sound for a long time.

He swallowed with difficulty, and it was a long time before he regained his senses.

Suddenly, as if a thought struck him, he looked around and shouted loudly, "Immortal Master, was that you?"

"It must have been your doing, wasn't it?"

In his mind, this abnormal beast tide that had just occurred could only be the work of the immortal living in seclusion on Jieli Mountain.

Erlang was both excited and anxious.

Unfortunately, he shouted until his throat was hoarse, but still found no trace of the Immortal Master.

He then fell into deep disappointment.

Yet, not far from him, Li Fan watched with a faint smile.

The Immortal Master was right before him, yet the mortal could not perceive him.

"This boy is promising; his physique seems somewhat unique, and his resolve to seek the Dao is quite firm," Li Fan mused, his gaze on Erlang tinged with appreciation.

"Alas, I haven't even found my own footing yet, so how can I teach you?" Li Fan chuckled, shaking his head.

"Perhaps in the future, when the time is right, I can bestow upon you a stroke of good fortune."

He gently pointed a finger towards Erlang.

Sun Erlang instantly felt a haze descend upon him, then looked around in a daze. Finally, he hoisted the still-paralyzed Wang Xuanba onto his back and descended the mountain.

After watching them depart Jieli Mountain, Li Fan surveyed the scene where the white python had been devoured, a hint of satisfaction in his heart.

"My nine years of diligent research were not in vain; this Unseen Killing Intent is truly extraordinary," he thought.

The sudden uprising of birds and beasts in Jieli Mountain, which led to the python's consumption, was indeed his work.

In this current life, having already reached the late stage of Qi Refinement, he had chosen to live in seclusion on Jieli Mountain to avoid the influence of the Immortal-Mortal Miasma.

He cultivated diligently while waiting for the True Return to complete its charge.

As there was no spiritual energy in the Immortal-Barren Land, he spent most of his time comprehending the heaven-and-earth vital energies he had observed in his previous life.

For nine years, working tirelessly day and night with painstaking effort, he finally achieved enlightenment, developing a technique called Unseen Killing Intent.

Once unleashed, this Unseen Killing Intent can, within a certain range and to a certain degree, simulate the Heavenly Dao's killing intent.

When Heaven manifests killing intent, various deadly tribulations naturally unfold.

Once a target is locked onto by the Unseen Killing Intent, they will perish in a tribulation without Li Fan needing to lift a finger.

For instance, the red-eyed white python just now, once targeted by Li Fan's Unseen Killing Intent, became the focus of the Heavenly Dao's killing intent within Jieli Mountain.

Heaven and Earth nurture all beings, and their will governs the vast majority of life in the world.

Consequently, countless animals were compelled to harbor boundless killing intent towards this white python.

This killing intent would persist until the python's complete demise.

Employing it as if by divine mandate—that is the true power of the Unseen Killing Intent.

Its power is formidable, its methods subtle, and its concealment remarkably high.

The Unseen Killing Intent itself is akin to the Heaven-and-Earth killing intent, resembling a pure will and inherent rule.

Ordinary cultivators cannot detect it.

With so many advantages, it is truly an indispensable tool for elimination and plunder.

No wonder Li Fan was so pleased.

Of course, the initial experiment for Unseen Killing Intent involved common mountain beasts, which explains the rather spectacular display.

However, its precise effects on cultivators of Li Fan's level or higher remained unknown, something he would have to test himself in the future.

With the spiritual technique test complete, Li Fan returned to his secluded thatched hut on Jieli Mountain's summit.

After a quick tidying, Li Fan checked the charging progress of his illusory transformation.

It was already at 99%.

"It's time to re-enter the cultivation world," he murmured.

Li Fan immediately summoned the Grand Derivation Skiff and flew to Xuanjing City.

With the power of an immortal, he plundered a vast quantity of treasures and provisions, just as he had in his previous life.

After filling the Grand Derivation Skiff, Li Fan arrived outside Qian Hong's tomb.

Now, with his current cultivation, the restrictions of the Stop-Step Monument could no longer harm him.

Entering Qian Hong's tomb, Li Fan retrieved the bound Stop-Step Monument from his True Return Space.

The two Stop-Step Monuments fused, forming a brand new one.

It no longer looked as ancient; only a few minor cracks marred its surface.

However, it still seemed a hair's breadth away from a qualitative transformation.

Li Fan didn't pay it much mind.

After experiencing the formidable power of the Azure Sea Pearl, he no longer held the Stop-Step Monument in high regard.

After all, its purpose was merely to sell to the Heavenly Mystic Mirror for contribution points.

Taking the two cultivation techniques from Qian Hong's tomb and the damaged Grand Derivation Skiff, Li Fan prepared to depart.

After flying for a short distance, he returned, carefully collected Qian Hong's remains, and prepared to take them back to the cultivation world to fulfill his dying wish.

With no further worries, Li Fan smoothly passed through the Immortal Severance Array and returned to the cultivation world.

Seeing the clear blue Clouded Sea once more, Li Fan felt as though an eternity had passed.

He took out Qian Hong's remains, turned them into ashes, and scattered them into the vast sea.

Above, an ethereal phenomenon suddenly appeared.

A single flower petal drifted from a branch, carried endlessly by the wind.

"Qian Hong, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, who cultivated the Dao for two hundred and sixty-five years, achieving his foundation with the rare wonder, the Drifting Plum Blossom.

He wandered for three thousand six hundred and seventy years, and now his soul returns home, his Dao returned to Heaven!"

The ethereal phenomenon lasted for less than a quarter of an hour before fading without a trace.