It was as though the Immortal Ascension Platform of old had truly reappeared. A vast and sacred aura spread from the octagonal tower, causing everyone watching to tremble inwardly. Even though they did not know exactly what this octagonal tower was, they instinctively focused all their attention upon it.

It seemed to possess an immense attraction that made it impossible for anyone present to look away.

Even Qian Ruochang himself, the creator of the Octagonal Immortal Ascension Platform, was momentarily stunned.

But he was, after all, a powerful figure capable of receiving orders to capture the Immortal [Devoid]. He quickly recovered from the enchantment. First, he connected this miniature octagonal tower to the Local Dao Net that had been continuously following everyone.

When the image of the octagonal tower transformed from solid to illusory, Qian Ruochang reached out and took out a blood red ball of light.

The blood red light seemed to be sealed by some kind of force. It repeatedly crashed against an invisible boundary, yet was never able to break free. Li Fan could vaguely hear waves of furious roars coming from within the blood red ball of light.

Qian Ruochang remained unmoved. He formed a sword shape with the index and middle fingers of his right hand and thrust them into the blood red ball of light.

Li Fan keenly sensed that the Local Dao Net suddenly seemed to erupt into raging waves. The Local Dao Net had only recently been established. Its scale was not yet large, and its foundation had not yet stabilized. For a moment, it actually gave off a sense of imminent collapse.

Clearly, the force mobilized by Qian Ruochang with this gesture did not consist entirely of his own strength. He had borrowed a tremendous amount of power from the Dao Net.

"Everyone, do not become distracted. Quickly help Boss Qian stabilize the situation."

Li Fan also wanted to see the method Qian Ruochang used to lure He Gan Immortal. Seeing that these newly initiated Immortal Hunters were still immersed in the allure of the Octagonal Immortal Ascension Platform, he reminded them aloud.

Everyone suddenly came to their senses and reluctantly looked away. Most of them then focused on constructing the Local Dao Net. However, a small number still occasionally glanced toward the Immortal Ascension Platform, a fleeting longing visible in their eyes.

Strangely enough, those who became distracted were not mediocre among the group. Instead, they were outstanding figures such as Jin Changyue and Dao Yuan.

"It seems that even when mortals are within the Dao Net, ascending to immortality still possesses an innate and fatal attraction for them." Li Fan understood inwardly.

With everyone's assistance, the unstable Local Dao Net gradually stabilized.

Meanwhile, Qian Ruochang's two fingers safely withdrew from the blood red ball of light. However, the tips of his fingers had been completely stained, turning a glaring crimson.

It seemed that the most crucial step had arrived. To prevent interference from the outside, Qian Ruochang waved his hand and established protective measures around himself. Li Fan could sense that at this moment, nearly ninety nine percent of the power of the Local Dao Net had been mobilized by Qian Ruochang.

"Pu! Pu!"

Amid the exclamations of the crowd, the flesh on Qian Ruochang's sturdy body exploded one after another, revealing ghastly white bones. This was caused by suddenly bearing pressure far beyond his limits.

What left all the newly initiated Immortal Hunters present, including Li Fan, utterly astonished was that Qian Ruochang's bones were not ordinary human bones in the conventional sense. Instead, they radiated a brilliant seven colored crystalline light. They possessed no physical substance and seemed to be formed entirely from countless strings of the Dao Net!

With the support of the Dao Net's power, his void transformed flesh rapidly regenerated, covering the bones of Dao Net strings.

Ignoring everyone's reaction, Qian Ruochang used the crimson blood at his fingertips as ink and his two fingers as a brush.

Above the Octagonal Immortal Ascension Platform, he began writing in midair.

The content he was writing seemed to be some kind of secret. Even though his own Dao Net bones had been exposed, Qian Ruochang paid no attention to it and instead treated the symbols he was writing with extraordinary seriousness.

He separated out the power of the surrounding Dao Net that was being used for protection and transformed it into a hazy curtain of mist, blocking everyone's line of sight.

There was no longer any exciting spectacle to watch at the crucial moment, and the newly initiated Immortal Hunters all revealed disappointed expressions.

However...

Most of the power of the Local Dao Net was being used by Qian Ruochang to write this character. This concealment could deceive these young Immortal Hunters, and could even conceal the scene from Li Fan's divine sense clone.

Yet it could not deceive the enormous consciousness of the Carefree Dream Realm that existed here.

It was as though it were looking down from a great height, penetrating the veil of mystery and seeing everything that happened within the concealment with perfect clarity.

"This is..."

"It looks extremely similar to the character [Immortal Mortal Transformation], yet at several crucial points, it takes a different path."

Strictly speaking, the Dao Net's concealment technique was indeed extraordinary. Even the Local Dao Net alone far surpassed the power of the Dreamland Paradise that Li Fan had created using the beings of the Xuanhuang Realm as its foundation.

But one should not forget that Li Fan himself was also one of the creators of this Local Dao Net. He possessed a rather profound understanding of its structure. In addition, his divine sense contained a miniature projection originating from the Great Dao.

Naturally, seeing through it was much easier than forcibly breaking through it with brute strength.

Without alerting anyone, Li Fan quietly observed.

When the mysterious character was completely written, a powerful radiance suddenly erupted from the Octagonal Immortal Ascension Platform. Seven colored auspicious clouds drifted forth, golden flowers fell chaotically from the sky, and immortal birds cried out repeatedly.

It was exactly the scene of a cultivator attaining the Dao and ascending to immortality described in ancient legends!

Before the phenomenon had dispersed, an aura that was incomparably familiar to Li Fan was born within this place.

A True Immortal!

From the tiny Immortal Ascension Platform, a small figure only the size of a palm flew out.

Its entire body was crimson, seemingly painted into existence by Qian Ruochang using scarlet blood.

Although its appearance was tiny, in Li Fan's eyes, it was no different from a True Immortal!

It had not merely obtained the immortal [momentum], becoming an existence of an entirely different level from mortals.

More importantly, immortal spiritual aura lingered around this tiny figure!

Li Fan's pupils suddenly contracted.

The matter he had previously conceived of but failed to accomplish, using the Immortal Ascension Platform of the Immortal Realm to connect with the Infinite Ocean, had actually been accomplished by the forces of the Shuo Star Sea.

Moreover, they had accomplished it even more completely than he had imagined!

This was not merely the attainment of an immortal characteristic in a single aspect.

It was the creation of an immortal in every aspect!

"Could it be that the Shuo Star Sea can already create True Immortals in batches?" Li Fan stared fixedly at the tiny True Immortal, his heart surging like a stormy sea.

Even more frightening was that, judging from Qian Ruochang's practiced manner, this was clearly not the first time he had done this.

While Li Fan remained uncertain and suspicious, he did not act rashly. Instead, he continued observing.

This tiny figure did not resemble Qian Ruochang.

Instead, it bore some resemblance to the vague image Li Fan had previously seen within the blood red ball of light, the one that had continuously attempted to break free.

After being "created" by Qian Ruochang, it did not fly around aimlessly.

It merely sat cross legged in silence, closed its eyes, and quietly rested.

Having successfully created the immortal, Qian Ruochang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The crimson color covering his fingertips had already faded at the instant the tiny True Immortal appeared.

Meanwhile, the Octagonal Immortal Ascension Tower before him turned to ashes after completing its mission.

Qian Ruochang revealed a look of regret, but he was powerless to stop it.

He respectfully bowed toward the tiny True Immortal before him. The tiny True Immortal seemed to possess a degree of intelligence and directly entered Qian Ruochang's body.

Qian Ruochang's Dao Net bones were not an ordinary mortal object. They were actually a vessel for the Great Dao. Thus, he could miraculously accommodate the body of a True Immortal within his mortal body!

After adapting to the new power attached to his body, Qian Ruochang finally withdrew the concealment and appeared before everyone.

Among the group of young Immortal Hunters, only a few noticed the changes in Qian Ruochang and showed somewhat uncertain expressions. However, they also knew that if something was not theirs to ask about, then they should not ask.

They obediently waited for Old Qian to speak.

"The bait and the hunting net are both ready. Next, it is time to officially begin the hunt."

"Are you all ready?"

As Qian Ruochang spoke, he gently took down the pillar that he had been carrying on his shoulder all this time. He casually swung it around as though it were a lightweight wooden staff.

The sight left all the Immortal Hunters dumbfounded.

Nevertheless, they instinctively answered in unison:

"We will definitely slay the True Immortal!"

Qian Ruochang nodded in satisfaction. He glanced toward this circular land of vitality and murmured:

"This place will be the place where the [Devoid] Immortal falls into the net."

With that, the enormous pillar in his hand swept horizontally before him.

Although the giant pillar was still in his grasp, invisible waves of destruction began spreading throughout this small pocket of vitality.

In an instant, all the remaining floating ruins were swept away and shattered.

The destructive waves then continued along the narrow passage outside the circular land of vitality, spreading far into the annihilation zone.

No one knew where they would ultimately lead.

It was just like the ripples caused by a stone crashing violently into the sea of stars.

Ordinary mortals could not detect anything unusual about these ripples.

They would merely regard them as powerful and abnormal fluctuations of energy.

However, those who had already ascended to the Immortal Realm, such as Li Fan, could sense a great deal of information from these ripples.

This included the identity of the True Immortal who had caused them, their location, the reason they had acted, and so on.

Although Li Fan was not a orthodox immortal who had ascended through the Immortal Ascension Platform, as a Half Immortal, he could still barely distinguish the information contained within them.

“Qiongqu Star Region, Immortal Official on Watch…”

“Having obtained the Mystic Coffin of World Traversal, I wish to flee this world through it.”

“Immortal Friends nearby, come quickly…”

Li Fan carefully savored the contents of the ripples, and gradually, a strange expression appeared on his face.

No matter how he looked at it, this so-called trap seemed extremely crude.

With the message spreading across such a vast area, how could they possibly be certain which immortal would ultimately take the bait?

Moreover, He Gan Immortal had survived for so long through all kinds of calamities. He was extremely cautious in both conduct and action. Could such a simple and conspicuous method really deceive him into taking the bait?

Li Fan was deeply skeptical.

Unless...

“This little True Immortal, the so-called Immortal Official on Watch of the Qiongqu Star Region, is an old acquaintance of He Gan Immortal!”

“And he was captured by the Immortal Hunters only recently, so He Gan Immortal does not know about it.”

“Furthermore…”

Recalling how the Two Xi and Yi Immortals had successfully escaped with the aid of the Mystic Coffin of World Traversal earlier, it was highly likely that this Immortal Official on Watch had secretly infiltrated the vicinity of the Shuo Star Sea precisely for the sake of the Mystic Coffin of World Traversal.

“If that is the case, then Qian Ruochang really does have a Mystic Coffin of World Traversal on him.”

“It can be called a trap, but it is not entirely a trap.”

“If He Gan Immortal truly has the ability to kill everyone lying in ambush here, then he can naturally obtain the Mystic Coffin as well.”

“And that little True Immortal…”

Li Fan observed Qian Ruochang. There were already subtle differences in his expression compared with before.

Although the extent of the change could normally be ignored, Li Fan was certain that it was an influence caused by the possession of the True Immortal.

“To successfully activate the power of the Immortal Ascension Platform, one must use the corresponding True Immortal seal script characters. For example, the Transformation Between Immortal and Mortal, as well as the character Qian Ruochang wrote just now. Perhaps only specific True Immortal writings can be effective.”

“Immortal Official on Watch…”

“So the Shuo Star Sea has already mastered a method of using a True Immortal's essence blood to imitate a True Immortal identity. It can even deceive the identity authentication of the Infinite Ocean.”

The character that had appeared on the stone slab left behind by the Xuantian King continuously resurfaced in Li Fan's mind. He analyzed the possibility that it could still function.

After the True Immortal ripples were sent out, they were like a mud ox entering the sea. There was not the slightest response.

Qian Ruochang, however, seemed certain that the [Devoid] Immortal would take the bait. He calmly issued a series of orders to the newly initiated Immortal Hunters.

One command after another was activated. Everyone concealed themselves within the local Dao Net, while Qian Ruochang used immortal spiritual energy to conceal them further. Even with Li Fan probing through the power of dreams, it was difficult to detect their figures.

The World Extinction Black Arrows were distributed among them and merged into their bodies, ready to be unleashed at any moment.

The Dao String connecting the local Dao Net to the main Dao Net had also been quietly severed at some unknown point.

Although the local Dao Net no longer had the support of the Shuo Star Sea's main Dao Net, Li Fan, who was hiding within the local Dao Net, did not feel that its power had weakened by much.

This was probably inseparable from Qian Ruochang, who was stationed at the center of the local Dao Net with thousands upon thousands of Dao Strings forming his foundation.

“Looks like bringing us along for this Immortal Hunt can completely be described as carrying dead weight.”

“With the combat strength Qian Ruochang has displayed at present, he can completely fight He Gan Immortal head-on. There is no need for us to act at all…”

“Or perhaps these young Immortal Hunters have some other purpose.”

Everything Li Fan had experienced during this training rapidly flashed before his eyes as he pondered the possibilities.

Meanwhile, within the void of the circular land of vitality, Qian Ruochang had already taken out a Mystic Coffin.

Its appearance was exactly the same as the one everyone had seen during their first mission.

Qian Ruochang stared at the Mystic Coffin for a long time before gently patting its lid.

Then, he actually leaped inside and lay down within it.

However, he did not completely close the coffin lid, leaving behind a small opening.

The newly initiated Immortal Hunters remained concealed within the Dao Net, patiently waiting for their prey to appear.

They were situated within the annihilation zone. Apart from them, there were no other living beings in this star domain.

Time quietly passed through the dead silence. No one knew how long had gone by.

Suddenly, someone noticed that the tranquil Dao Strings seemed to tremble slightly.

Yet when they looked more carefully, it seemed almost as if it had merely been an illusion.

There was still no other presence within the Dao Net.

“It is not an illusion.”

“Someone is here.”

Dao Yuan spoke in a low voice, his tone carrying both nervousness and a trace of excitement.

Apart from the faint tremor that had appeared at the beginning, this [Devoid] Immortal had revealed no further trace.

The group did not even know whether he was still within the local Dao Net at this moment.

Compared with the Two Xi and Yi Immortals, who had previously been impossible to see or hear, this [Devoid] Immortal was clearly even more mysterious and unfathomable.

Just as everyone was at a loss for what to do, faint sacred chanting suddenly sounded from within the Mystic Coffin.

The sound was familiar to everyone.

It was precisely the same sound that had resounded when the Two Xi and Yi Immortals had escaped through the coffin.

The difference was that last time, everyone had observed from a great distance. This time, Qian Ruochang was inside the coffin, and he himself was also within the Dao Net.

Thus, everyone could hear it much more clearly.

Gradually, the gazes everyone directed toward the Mystic Coffin began to change subtly.

Their vision seemed to split into two scenes.

On the left was an overwhelming catastrophe capable of destroying the world.

On the right was an entirely new and beautiful world, free from all worries.

The stark contrast inevitably caused a thought to arise in everyone's hearts.

They wanted to hide inside the Mystic Coffin and use it to escape the calamity.

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