Chapter 946: Cloud and Water Matters of the Past

The conflicting sensations made Li Fan frown slightly.

"Do they only riot collectively when they appear in the Xuanhuang Realm?"

As he pondered, Li Fan passed the Qin Tang stone statue and hurried towards the interior of the Cloudwater Heavenly Palace. The area he was heading to was the Cloudwater Heavenly Palace's sect master's residence, a place Li Fan had never set foot in before. This was also where "Han Hai" resided.

From Li Fan's current perspective, recalling the battles he had witnessed in the Cloudwater Heavenly Palace years ago, Han Hai had been, at most, at the peak of the Dao Assimilation realm and had not achieved immortality. Not to mention, he had long since perished, existing only as a strange, aberrant entity. Therefore, Li Fan was not worried about any danger on this trip. Li Fan was more concerned about whether the Heavenly Doctor was currently observing his every move from some hidden corner.

He soon arrived at the cluster of buildings at the very back of the Cloudwater Heavenly Palace, where a blue protective orb of light completely enveloped the area. The restriction that sealed the Cloudwater Heavenly Palace began to take effect from this point, spreading throughout the entire area. Li Fan observed briefly and found that invisible shockwaves were periodically emanating from the blue orb. It was precisely due to the effect of these shockwaves that the restriction was gradually losing its efficacy.

"This is..."

Li Fan's expression was somewhat surprised. Having thoroughly studied the Book of Mending Heaven, Li Fan quickly recognized that this indicated Han Hai's emotions were being greatly impacted, even in his slumber. This resulted in an uncontrollable overflow of energy, releasing impacts outwards. Much like a mortal's "sleepwalking," strictly speaking, it was a type of ailment affecting cultivators.

"Could it be that the Heavenly Doctor guided me here just to have me alleviate Han Hai's suffering?"

"It shouldn't be that simple, just running an errand or strengthening the seal..."

"There must be a deeper meaning behind this."

After pondering for a moment longer, Li Fan made up his mind. He separated a wisp of his extremely subtle, almost blank divine sense, sent it through the blue protective light membrane, and entered the interior of the sphere.

A blue and white patterned pearl floated in mid-air. It was remarkably similar to the Vast Sea Pearl but also distinctly different. The spherical pearl spun rapidly; a trace of black marred the blue and white, a jarring sight. It seemed like a nightmare, constantly entangling the blue and white pearl, impossible to dispel.

"Han Hai's true form has disappeared; only this pearl remains, then."

After searching for a bit and finding no other presence inside, Li Fan sighed softly.

"It seems that streak of black is the source of Han Hai's torment..."

Li Fan hesitated for a moment but ultimately sent this wisp of divine sense into the pearl.

Everything spun around him. It was as if he had entered the Fallen Immortal Realm, attaching himself to a brand new body. However, he couldn't control it; he could only passively observe and experience the events unfolding through this body.

"Heavenly Doctor Venerable has been gone for a long time, and I don't know if this will succeed," Tai Yi, the turtle-snake as small as an ordinary turtle, said dully, seated at Han Hai's feet in the main sect hall.

"Heavenly Doctor Venerable said before departing that there's at least a ninety percent chance of success for this matter. You and I should still have some faith in Him," Han Hai said with a reassuring smile, seemingly much more relaxed than Tai Yi, who wore a worried expression.

Tai Yi shook his head slightly, retracting his turtle-snake body into his shell. "I can still live for another hundred thousand years, what is there to fear?" he said. "If it really comes to it, I'll just find a pond and sleep. All calamities will pass, and what can they do to me then? It's just that I heard from that kid Qin Tang that some other sects are already getting restless. Recently, they've secretly started spreading talk of surrendering..."

Han Hai snorted coldly. "Speaking of defeat before a battle even begins," he declared, "such scum will surely be dealt with by Heavenly Destroyer Venerable!"

Tai Yi gave a bitter smile. "It's not about speaking of defeat before fighting," he said. "Haven't we been fighting for a long time, and everyone is almost exhausted? Isn't this out of sheer desperation... If you ask me, you can't entirely blame them. The truth is, if this war drags on, we can't see any hope at all..."

Han Hai roared angrily, cutting Tai Yi off. "Enough!"

"Why do you also think this way?"

"We've fallen into such a state; do you think the other side is having an easy time? At this point, it's about who can persevere to the end. If we surrender now, what meaning would the sacrifices of our many comrades have had?"

Tai Yi sighed softly, remaining silent. A deathly silence fell upon the main hall.

After a long while, as if to alleviate the awkwardness between them, Tai Yi proactively spoke up again, saying, "Speaking of Heavenly Destroyer Venerable, I haven't seen Him for quite some time..."

Just then, screams from disciples suddenly erupted outside.

"Venerable..."

"No!"

"Run, quickly! The Venerable has gone mad!"

The screams were so sudden that Han Hai and Tai Yi's expressions instantly changed. Without a word, they transformed one after another into blue and black streaks of light, heading straight for the source of the screams. In the air, they witnessed an unforgettable scene. Their immensely revered Heavenly Destroyer Venerable stood with closed eyes. Holding the Heavenly Fiend Sword, he was wantonly slaughtering the disciples of the Cloudwater Heavenly Palace.

Given Heavenly Destroyer Venerable's immense cultivation, the disciples had no room to resist his attacks whatsoever. Streaks of black sword light flashed, ruthlessly harvesting the lives of the sect's disciples.

Han Hai's eyes blazed with fury as he roared, "Stop!" A giant blue palm descended from the sky, striking towards Heavenly Destroyer. Heavenly Destroyer didn't even spare Han Hai a glance; the Heavenly Fiend Sword merely released a single streak of sword light, tearing apart the giant blue palm. The sword light, its power undiminished, then assailed Han Hai.

"Look out!"

Tai Yi transformed into his complete form, using his incredibly hard shell to block the black sword light. Amidst the enormous tremor, Tai Yi suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. Han Hai also regained some composure at this moment.

"You stop Heavenly Destroyer; I'll cover the disciples' retreat!"

With that said, streaks of blue threads flew towards various parts of the Cloudwater Heavenly Palace. He intended to rescue the disciples who were fleeing in all directions for their lives.

But...

Just then, the Heavenly Fiend Sword suddenly erupted with countless black lights. Striking later but arriving first, they blocked all of Han Hai's rescue efforts! The black lights pierced through every blue thread, pulling them back and instantly returning to Han Hai's side. Then, before Han Hai could react, they pinned him in mid-air like countless black needles!

"You're not Heavenly Destroyer Venerable?!"

Although Han Hai's limbs were immobile, he could still make a sound. His face was etched with terror. "Who are you, really?" Han Hai roared in anger and despair.

That Heavenly Destroyer Venerable, however, completely ignored Han Hai. With closed eyes, he commanded the Heavenly Fiend Sword, ruthlessly harvesting the lives of the remaining Cloudwater Heavenly Palace disciples. And Han Hai, as the sect master, could only helplessly watch his disciples tragically die one by one before his very eyes.

"No... no..."

When there were no more signs of life in the Cloudwater Heavenly Palace apart from them, Han Hai couldn't even utter curses. His entire body trembled slightly, and bloody tears streamed from his eyes.

"Who... are... you... really...?"