Once could still be explained as an accidental stroke of luck.

But for the second time, the same thing had happened...

At this moment, countless thoughts flashed through Scholar Zhu's mind. He even had the impulse to feed the third Fruit of All Beings Wills to Ma Tiande.

However, Scholar Zhu ultimately did not act. Instead, he recalled the two Dao Primal Commands that had surfaced in Ma Tiande's sea of consciousness.

Clearly, among the many dancing Dao Primal symbols, only a small portion had actually taken effect. This made it impossible for an observer to accurately reproduce them.

Scholar Zhu himself had no interest in the two Dao Primal Commands. Even after transforming from an Immortal into a mortal, the various methods at his disposal were by no means something these two commands could compare with.

What Scholar Zhu truly cared about was the possibility represented by Ma Tiande's performance.

Those ‘hidden commands’ that existed outside the current control system of the Dao Net, yet could still invoke the power of the Dao Net.

The gloom on his face gradually faded. In the blink of an eye, the hunched old man had transformed into a spirited Grand Scholar.

Scholar Zhu wore a benevolent expression as he waited for the four people seated before him to awaken from their absorption of the Fruit of All Beings Wills.

With Scholar Zhu's special care, although the three people from the Sword Domain had suffered some torment, they ultimately emerged unharmed. The childishness on their faces had long since faded after absorbing the memories of countless living beings and personally experiencing boundless slaughter.

They first expressed their thanks to Scholar Zhu, then all looked toward Ma Tiande sitting on the other side. There was no longer any contempt in their eyes.

No one understood the terror of the storm of thoughts of all living beings better than those who had personally experienced it.

Regardless of one's origins or whatever method one had used, as long as one could swallow a single fruit and remain safe and sound, one absolutely could not be underestimated.

And if one could swallow two fruits in succession while still maintaining clarity of mind...

"Such a person must not be missed!"

The three from the Sword Domain had already reached an agreement through their earlier exchange of glances. If they could bring such a talent back to the Sword Domain, the merit would be even greater than completing this trial.

Now, all that remained was to see whether this Ma Tiande could truly maintain his sanity rather than descend into madness.

Under the gazes of everyone present, the twisted and twitching expression on Li Fan's face slowly calmed. After keeping his eyes closed for a long while, he suddenly opened them and met the gazes of everyone present.

His eyes were bright like stars, revealing his current state.

Scholar Zhu gently applauded and seemed delighted. "It seems you gained quite a lot this time!"

"I must thank you, Grand Scholar, for granting me this opportunity," Li Fan replied neither servile nor overbearing.

Having swallowed two Fruit of All Beings Wills, his words and actions no longer needed to follow Ma Tiande's past mannerisms. Any changes could be attributed to the countless thoughts of living beings contained within the fruits.

"Senior Brother Ma, would you be interested in coming to our Sword Domain? I, Situ Tiantian, can guarantee that you will receive the highest grade of cultivation resources. If you nod your head, there is no need to apply to the Administration Council. Come back to the Sword Domain with us first. Once we arrive, we can complete the formalities afterward..." Situ Tiantian secretly glanced at Scholar Zhu. There was only a moment's hesitation in his eyes, but he quickly made his decision and directly extended an invitation to Li Fan in front of Scholar Zhu.

Ji Xingdao and Zhao Xing also repeated Situ Tiantian's invitation jokingly, even promising all kinds of wonderful conditions.

"Although I have long heard of the Sword Domain's great reputation, my aspirations do not lie in the Sword Dao."

Before Scholar Zhu had time to reveal any change in his expression, Li Fan had already directly refused.

"Do not reject it so quickly. Think it over again..." Scholar Zhu smiled faintly.

"The ambition of my life lies only in the Immortal Hunters! Previously, my strength was too weak, making it completely impossible to achieve. Thus, I buried this ambition deep within my heart and never mentioned it to anyone. But today, thanks to Grand Scholar Zhu's blessing, after swallowing two fruits and defying fate itself, anything may be possible from now on!"

Li Fan's expression was incomparably solemn as he spoke with booming confidence.

The smile on Scholar Zhu's face instantly froze.

The three people from the Sword Domain were also filled with astonishment.

"Immortal Hunter..."

The weight of these words in the current Star Sea was simply too great.

The Immortal Hunters was directly subordinate to the Administration Council of the Star Sea. Its members were selected from various forces throughout the Star Sea. Once a cultivator joined the Immortal Hunters, regardless of their previous identity or status within their original faction, all of it had to be cast aside.

Everything was to be centered around the Immortal Hunting.

In return for the price they paid, they received unparalleled authority.

Under the name of the Immortal Hunters, they could not only freely enter and leave the major forces throughout the Star Sea, but under special circumstances, they could even directly execute punishments and killings. More importantly, becoming a member of the Immortal Hunters allowed one to move even closer to the Dao Net.

Accompanying the Dao Net day and night, one's progress would be astonishingly rapid.

The moment Li Fan spoke these words, the entire hall fell into an eerie silence.

Scholar Zhu's expression darkened as he scrutinized Li Fan, seemingly unable to determine what he was thinking.

It was still Situ Tiantian who forced a somewhat awkward smile and tried to ease the atmosphere. "Members of the Immortal Hunters are all selected through countless rounds of screening. Senior Brother Ma is certainly extraordinary, but joining them is not an easy matter."

Li Fan, however, remained completely unconcerned and spoke with absolute confidence. "I am certain to join the Immortal Hunters. If I remember correctly, the next recruitment is in five years. At that time, I hope Grand Scholar Zhu will recommend me."

"I definitely will not disappoint you, Grand Scholar!"

Seeing that Li Fan's intentions were already firmly decided, the three from the Sword Domain no longer tried to persuade him.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while at the banquet and drinking several bowls of red broth, they took their leave. Before departing, they did not lose the dignity of the Sword Domain, stating that the Sword Domain would certainly return the favor before long.

Inside the City Lord's Residence, only Li Fan and Scholar Zhu remained.

Outside the estate, the noise of Blissful City once again rang out. Neither of them spoke, silently watching the prosperous night outside.

"Crunch, crunch..."

A bone chilling chewing sound came from Scholar Zhu's mouth. He had actually stuffed the remaining five Fruit of All Beings Wills into his mouth all at once and swallowed them whole.

Unlike the fruits melting instantly upon entering the mouths of Li Fan and the others, the five fruits inside Scholar Zhu's mouth actually emitted countless desperate shrieks from living beings on the verge of death.

Voices from hell soared into the heavens, temporarily even drowning out the sounds of revelry in Blissful City.

Scholar Zhu was like an old man whose life was nearing its end, chewing with agonizing slowness. As he listened to the continuous, fluctuating wails, an expression of enjoyment appeared on his face.

Li Fan did not even frown. His expression remained completely calm as he silently watched.

After a while, Scholar Zhu also seemed to find it boring. He swallowed the fruits directly in two or three gulps.

The cries of despair and grief abruptly vanished.

"Do you know why I built a Blissful City here in the Star Sea?"

"Was it simply to torment them?"

"These Fruit of All Beings Wills may possess the power to defy fate for you. But to me, they are completely tasteless."

"What I have experienced, the despair and cruelty, was a hundred or a thousand times worse than anything in this Blissful City."

Scholar Zhu gave a sinister cackle, and before anyone noticed, he had once again changed from the Grand Scholar into the hunched old man.

"The Great Dao Net covers heaven and earth. All things in the world exist within it. Ordinary living beings may be weak and insignificant, but when the thoughts of countless living beings are condensed, they may perhaps resonate with some Great Dao hidden in the darkness."

Li Fan pondered for a moment before answering.

"Hehehe..." Scholar Zhu let out another deep, sinister laugh.

"But you are mistaken."

"The primary purpose of my building Blissful City was simply to torment these ants whenever I grew bored."

Li Fan was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

"Of course, if some unexpected delight is born in the process, that would be even better."

"But if nothing comes of it, there is no need to force it."

Scholar Zhu's skull-like head slowly emerged from his loose robe and gazed toward Blissful City outside the estate. His expression was hazy, as though he had fallen into his memories.

"Back then, the Immortal Realm was even more joyful than this city. Everything was flourishing, and the future seemed to contain infinite possibilities. Yet who could have expected that one day the great edifice would collapse..."

In his dazed state, Scholar Zhu spoke these words.

Li Fan remained silent, and Scholar Zhu then suddenly asked, "You said you want me to recommend you for the Immortal Hunters?"

"I ask that Grand Scholar grant my request," Li Fan replied with a nod.

"Very well. But I have one condition."

Scholar Zhu agreed exceedingly readily.

"No problem," Li Fan answered even more readily, without even hearing what the so called condition was.

Scholar Zhu burst into laughter, and his outward form changed once again.

The hunched old man within turned into a pool of blood, merging into the robe he wore.

The robe squirmed violently and actually transformed into the shape of human skin!

It drifted toward Li Fan and said sternly, “One day, no matter what method you use, bring my body back to me!”

There were no facial features on the human skin.

Only five sinister hollow cavities silently stared at Li Fan.

Li Fan remained silent for a moment before nodding in agreement.

“Good.”

The human skin seemed as though it had finally fulfilled some long-held wish. Having lost the force that kept it floating, it fell directly to the ground.

It then began to squirm once more, crawling across the ground like a human being. Eventually, it returned to the main seat.

It transformed back into a robe.

Scholar Zhu’s aged voice came from within.

“As far as I know, there are several ways to help me attain release.”

“First, successfully capture an Nameless True Immortal and exchange one body for another.”

“Second…”

Li Fan felt Scholar Zhu’s gaze repeatedly sweep across his face.

“Completely tear apart the Dao Net. I will naturally regain my freedom.”

“Third, illuminate the unknown regions of the Great Dao and redeem my freedom through merit.”

“…”

Scholar Zhu paused, then asked again, “I wonder which method you intend to use.”

Li Fan carefully considered his words. After a while, he slowly said in a low voice, “Perhaps all three can be pursued simultaneously.”

Scholar Zhu remained silent.

Only after a long while did he say, “Whatever you need, just tell me.”

“You have five years. Before the Immortal Hunter assessment, I will first test your true ability.”

“If you disappoint me…”

“Hehehe…”

Scholar Zhu’s indifferent tone concealed boundless killing intent.

Li Fan, however, remained completely unfazed. “Lord Grand Scholar, just wait and see.”

…

After the grand ceremony ended, Li Fan returned to Ma Tiande’s residence.

He also brought with him a gift from Scholar Zhu.

“This is…”

Li Fan examined the object in his hand with great interest.

It was a piece of skin extremely similar to Scholar Zhu’s human skin form.

It looked as though it had only just been peeled from a human body. Li Fan could even smell the strong scent of blood lingering upon it. Being intimately familiar with the structure of the human body, Li Fan unfolded the piece of skin and carefully felt it from top to bottom.

He confirmed that it was indeed human skin.

However, unlike Scholar Zhu’s, it did not possess any consciousness of its own.

After conducting a thorough examination, Li Fan tried various methods, but none could stimulate anything unusual within the skin. It seemed to be nothing more than ordinary human skin.

Yet when Scholar Zhu had handed this piece of skin to Li Fan earlier, Li Fan had clearly seen a complicated mixture of emotions in his eyes.

There had been remembrance, reluctance, and even some hatred.

After turning the piece of skin over and examining it repeatedly, Li Fan once again recalled the scene when Scholar Zhu had revealed his true appearance.

After pondering briefly, he had already made his decision.

He sat upright, took a deep breath, and then put the human skin onto his body like a piece of clothing.

Its original size and shape did not match “Ma Tiande” at all.

Yet under Li Fan’s touch, the human skin automatically shrank until it fit him perfectly. It was as though this very skin had been peeled from Ma Tiande’s body!

As Li Fan felt the gradually tightening force around him, along with the changes taking place in his body shape and facial features, a sudden premonition arose in his heart.

He seemed to be transforming into an entirely different person.

An unstoppable fear of the unknown surfaced within his heart. But when he sensed the miniature Dao Net reflected within his divine sense, all fear vanished.

His heart became as calm as a mirror. He simply experienced firsthand the changes brought about by wearing this layer of skin.

Once the outer skin had perfectly fused with his body.

Li Fan actually seemed to have truly become another person.

A vast number of images and memories inexplicably surged into his mind.

Even…

Li Fan looked at his own hands.

“This realm…”

“The realm of a True Immortal?”

It was not merely an illusion.

Li Fan pointed a finger toward the space before him.

A brilliant radiance, as though the star sea had just been born, blossomed from his fingertip.

Within that radiance seemed to be contained the infinite totality of existence.

“Immortal spiritual qi.”

“So this is immortal spiritual qi?”

Li Fan had once sensed the existence of immortal spiritual qi within the Final Dissociation Disc.

Now, this strange and magnificent power was surging forth from within his own body. Naturally, he immediately recognized its essence.

Li Fan’s gaze remained fixed upon that tiny point of light at his fingertip, not daring to move even slightly.

In a daze, he seemed to pass through that point and arrive within an endless ocean.

Within this vast sea, countless things and phenomena, all living beings and spirits, appeared together.

It was an indescribably strange sight, beyond imagination.

With Li Fan’s understanding, he actually became so captivated that he nearly lost himself within it.

Fortunately, as the radiance at his fingertip gradually faded, the infinite ocean concealed within the light also disappeared.

Li Fan blinked and emerged from the illusion, returning to reality.

The seemingly boundless immortal spiritual power had actually been exhausted like a candle that had burned itself away.

It could no longer support Li Fan in peering into that infinite ocean.

“Hmm?”

Li Fan frowned slightly.

He had not felt the immortal spiritual power disappearing from within his body.

With a thought, a faint light once again illuminated his fingertip.

This time, however, Li Fan did not allow his mind to sink into that infinite ocean.

He merely observed the light at his fingertip in silence.

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