Chapter 710: A Chance to Survive Against All Odds

"Quick, run! We can't fight this thing!" Huangfu Song cried out in alarm, simultaneously deploying several formations around the Universal Sage Skiff.

The skiff's escape speed instantly increased severalfold. But the terrifying corpse giant still relentlessly pursued them. What's more, its speed didn't seem to be much slower than the Universal Sage Skiff's!

"Quick, let's head back to the nearest Luoyan Prefecture. This kind of monster can probably only be dealt with by the Immortal Alliance's official forces!"

Without needing instructions, Li Fan was already piloting the skiff along the fastest escape route.

However...

Given the distance on the map and their flight speed, they should have long since left the area covered by the white mist. Yet, the dense white mist still surrounded them, seemingly unchanged for millennia.

"This is trouble," Li Fan said, his expression grim. "We must have unknowingly been dragged into an illusory domain by this corpse giant."

"What?" Huangfu Song exclaimed, his face paling. After checking, he realized Li Fan was right.

"This... we can't defeat it, and we can't escape. Isn't this a dead end?" Dongfang Yao's face was slightly pale.

"Let's keep fleeing and try to figure something out," Li Fan said decisively.

The Universal Sage Skiff maintained its rapid flight, trying to find an exit from the illusory domain. The corpse giant, however, followed closely, appearing determined not to give up until it caught Li Fan and his companions. Several times, the Universal Sage Skiff was almost grabbed by the corpse. Fortunately, each time Li Fan managed to evade the danger, relying on the skiff-piloting skills he had honed years ago in the Immortal Annihilation Array.

"Damn it, why is it constantly after us? What kind of deep-seated grudge does it have?" Unable to bear the pressure, Huangfu Song burst out in helpless fury.

"Hm?" This casual remark, however, gave Li Fan an idea.

This horrifying and bizarre corpse giant was clearly connected to the Celestial Physician. It seemed to lack subjective consciousness, acting purely on instinct. Why was it specifically pursuing Li Fan and his two companions? As it chased, it also emitted wails of resentment.

"Could it be sensing the Celestial Physician's aura on me?" Li Fan instantly wondered.

However, he quickly dismissed this idea. Not just in this life. Ever since his clone exposed a flaw before the Celestial Physician, leading to a pursuit through torn Mystical Sky Space and the forced return to his true self, Li Fan hadn't encountered the Celestial Physician in a long time. Much less had he come into contact with the Celestial Physician's aura.

Li Fan then glanced at Huangfu and Dongfang beside him. They couldn't even hear the "Celestial Physician" sounds emitted by the corpse giant. Clearly, they were even less likely to have any connection to this powerful entity.

"So, is it something I'm carrying that attracted this corpse giant?"

In a flash, Li Fan vaguely considered a possibility.

He quickly scanned and inventoried all the items on his person. He then unhesitatingly discarded some suspicious ones, but this had no effect on the corpse giant's relentless pursuit.

Li Fan's gaze finally settled on a white rib bone. This was the only item that had dropped from Elder Yin after he was killed in this life. It belonged to the first infected person of the Immortal-Mortal Miasma.

"Could it be because of this thing?"

Li Fan pondered for a moment, then took it in his hand. Feeling its strange, cool yet smooth texture, Li Fan forcefully threw it in the opposite direction of the skiff's travel.

A moment later.

"Celes..."

"Physi..."

The corpse giant indeed changed its target of pursuit! It abandoned the Universal Sage Skiff and roared as it went after the white rib bone!

"What does this mean?" Li Fan was somewhat taken aback, his brow furrowed in deep thought.

And then, something even more incomprehensible happened. After the corpse giant obtained the rib bone, Li Fan initially expected it to retaliate furiously. But instead, its movements slowed slightly, and then it paused where it was. The successive wails of "Celestial Physician" gradually subsided. The corpse giant awkwardly cradled the rib bone in its hands, holding it close to its chest. Then, it sank and disappeared into the vast white mist.

The change occurred in an instant. Besides Li Fan, the other two on board had no idea what had happened. They had only seen Li Fan casually throw something, which then lured the terrifying giant away. Still dazed from their near-death experience, they stared blankly at Li Fan.

It took Li Fan a while to collect himself. He shrugged and said, "Just good luck."

Huangfu and Dongfang made no comment. However, Li Fan had saved their lives, and since he wasn't willing to reveal more, they didn't press him for details. Over this period, they had truly forged a bond of shared life and death. While they wouldn't claim their friendship was profoundly deep, it was certainly much stronger than the ties between most cultivators in the world. At least, that's how Huangfu and Dongfang saw it.

Everyone had their secrets, and they tacitly agreed to avoid discussing the matter. Without the giant's threat, the three put in some effort and eventually escaped from the illusory domain. However, for some unknown reason, this illusory domain offered no Qingxuan points as a reward. Preserving their lives was already a great fortune. They couldn't ask for more.

After discussing, the three, still shaken, initially decided to return and rest for a while. However, the immediate disappearance of two more Disintegration Discs in the Sky Measuring Mirror spurred them to change their minds. Ignoring their recent brush with death, they plunged back into the white mist.

"So it's true: 'Humans die for wealth, birds die for food.' This is a universal truth, and even we cultivators are no exception. Unless another Immortal Venerable of Longevity can reverse this principle, such incidents will continue to occur within our Myriad Immortals Alliance."

Nangong Shirong spoke eloquently before Xu Bai, but he wasn't referring to Huangfu Song and the other two. Instead, he was talking about Xiang Rongxin, the City Lord of Tianliang.

After dozens of days of meticulous investigation and negotiation between various factions, the main scapegoat for the Wang Qiupo incident was finally determined. It was none other than City Lord Xiang. There was no other choice; most of the cultivators Wang Qiupo recommended had come through his channels. Furthermore, he openly admitted to having accepted numerous treasures from Wang Qiupo in the past.

Ultimately, he was dismissed from his position as City Lord. Fortunately, his life was spared, and even his cultivation realm was preserved. He was merely banished to Cangwu Abyss in the far southwest, to guard against the increasingly frequent rampaging monsters at the bottom of the abyss.

Nangong Shirong, who had made significant contributions to this case, naturally succeeded Xiang Rongxin in his position. The internal decision had been made; the imperial decree would be officially issued in a few days. Nangong Shirong, basking in his success, naturally didn't forget Xu Bai, his "great contributor." He even extended an olive branch to Xu Bai, wishing to invite him to take up a position within Tianliang Prefecture. After all, while his rise was rapid this time, he had indeed offended a large number of people. His foundation was weak, and he urgently needed to cultivate his own faction.