Li Fan didn't act immediately. Before confronting the Fallen Immortal Realm, he needed time to prepare. His first priority was eliminating potential threats within the Xuanhuang World.
Returning from the Fallen Immortal Realm, the Grand Celestial Venerable puppet immediately seized control of the Star-Crossing Grand Formation. The immortal formation, created by the Profound Heaven King, was now severely damaged after millennia of use by the Xuanhuang World in its wars of conquest. Tethering Taiyuan with the golden chain was likely its last major feat.
But what the Ten Sects couldn't repair, Li Fan could.
As the Xuanhuang World rumbled, he revived the extinct Celestial Beast. Its sudden appearance confused the Ten Sects. They didn't recognize the monstrous creature at first. Then, someone recalled its identity from ancient memories: the Profound Heaven Sect's sacred guardian beast. Fear gripped their hearts.
Why had it been revived? Was the enigmatic Half-Immortal, the Profound Heaven King, returning?
The Ten Sects were filled with unease. Abandoning their exploration of the Taiyuan starry sky, their core members returned to the Xuanhuang World, gathering to discuss this ominous development. They tried to contact the Grand Celestial Venerable, but received no response. The Grand Celestial Venerable had vanished.
As their fear grew, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance declared war on them. The Ten Sects were both amused and enraged. While they feared the Profound Heaven King, this insignificant Alliance, whose strongest member, the Legacy Transmission Immortal Venerable, was only at Dao Integration, was beneath their notice. They prepared to crush them.
But the Alliance's subsequent actions caught them off guard. The Legacy Transmission revealed his true identity: Xuanyuan Tuo, descendant of the Profound Heaven King. He declared the Ten Sects usurpers, vowing to overthrow them and restore his ancestor's legacy.
After millennia of rule by the Ten Sects, the Profound Heaven Sect was a distant memory. To most cultivators, this declaration was just a flimsy justification for a power grab.
But to the Ten Sects, it was a chilling reminder.
The Legacy Transmission, a descendant of the Profound Heaven King? A mere Dao Integration cultivator wouldn't dare challenge them. Unless… he was backed by the Profound Heaven King himself.
This explained his meteoric rise, his unique cultivation method…
And with the Star-Crossing Grand Formation malfunctioning, and the Celestial Beast revived, they were certain: the Profound Heaven King had returned.
Ancient memories, and the fear they evoked, resurfaced. How powerful was he? Some among the Ten Sects had witnessed his power firsthand, a Half-Immortal sweeping across the world. Even their combined strength was no match for him. Attacking him would be suicide.
They believed they understood his motives. He wouldn't act directly. He would use his descendant as a proxy, provoking them into attacking, then retaliate, crushing them under the guise of self-defense.
Convinced they had uncovered his plan, they ordered their disciples to avoid conflict with the Alliance.
A strange situation arose. The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, rallying under the banner of the Profound Heaven Sect, expanded rapidly, while the Ten Sects, the supposed rulers of the Xuanhuang World, remained passive. This emboldened the Alliance, accelerating their growth. The Ten Sects' disciples were confused and frustrated.
Using their authority, the sect leaders suppressed their disciples' discontent, but they knew this couldn't last.
They decided to seek help from the Grand Magus of Tiandu. They hadn't dared to confront the Profound Heaven King before because he had been weakened by his battle with the Grand Magus. Now, with his return, they had no choice but to seek the Grand Magus's aid. The Ten Sects' lineages originated from Tiandu. The Grand Magus wouldn't abandon them.
But they weren't certain. It had been years since they had last seen the Grand Magus. He hadn't even intervened during the Xuanhuang World's previous near-death experiences.
Within the Great Dao Sect's secret chamber, half of the Sect Masters gathered.
Their faces were grim.
Fang Dingge coughed. "Don't despair. Remember our discovery near Taiyuan? If necessary, we can cede the Xuanhuang World to the Profound Heaven King and relocate. It's far better than the edge of the Immortal Ruins."
No one argued. They all agreed.
"Before we leave, we'll take everything of value. He can have the empty husk of a world." The speaker was an ancient-looking man, his wrinkled face and fading eyes suggesting he was nearing the end of his long life, even at the Longevity realm.
The others, though their expressions varied, didn't comment on his bitter words. Out of respect for his position, they remained silent.
The old man was Ruan Tianliu, Grand Elder of the First Beginning Sect, now its leader after their Sect Master's death in Taiyuan and subsequent failure to be revived by the Xuanhuang True Immortal. He was among the few who remembered the Profound Heaven King's power, and he had vehemently opposed confronting the Alliance.
"Elder Ruan is right," Xia Hou Yan said, a strange smile on her face. "We've already taken most of the Xuanhuang World's valuable resources. We won't lose much. And we've always had a contingency plan for retreat, haven't we? Though some opposed it before, wanting to remain in the Xuanhuang World, the Profound Heaven King's return has… unified our opinions."
"It's just a shame the Two-Part Immortal Seed is gone. We could have left behind weaker copies of ourselves to fight while our true selves escaped to Taiyuan." A wave of regret filled the room.
"Its disappearance is strange. It's not like its power was exhausted, and the Profound Heaven King wouldn't steal it. He's too honorable."
"Did he bring… an accomplice?" They eyed each other suspiciously.
Finally, they addressed the main issue. "Who will go to Tiandu?"
Approaching the Grand Magus was dangerous. A single misstep could mean death.
"I'll lead the way," Fang Dingge said, seeing their hesitation.
After a brief discussion, a group of five was chosen.
They prepared for their journey, recording the recent events in the Xuanhuang World, exaggerating the Profound Heaven King's involvement, hoping to pique the Grand Magus's interest.
"If only the Xuanhuang True Immortal hadn't perished," Cao Yingyue murmured, looking towards the sky as they neared Tiandu.
They paused, lost in thought, then, dismissing their regrets, continued towards the celestial city, more like a Daoist temple, a few scattered structures, than a bustling metropolis.
Using an ancient token, Fang Dingge led them inside without incident.
"The first step is complete," someone whispered. "Even with the Grand Magus's token, entry isn't guaranteed. It depends on their mood. Disturbing them… even a peak Dao Integration cultivator could vanish without a trace." They exchanged relieved glances.
They approached the Grand Magus's chamber, as described in ancient records, and pushed open the vermillion door.
Two figures stood within.
The group from the Ten Sects knelt, bowing their heads. "Greetings, Grand Magus!"
Silence filled the chamber. Sweat dripped from their brows.
The Grand Magus didn't respond.
Then, one of the figures spoke.
"The Grand Magus… you mean… this pillar?"
They looked up in shock.
Just as described in the records, two figures stood before them.
One sat cross-legged, chanting.
But the other… wasn't the expected young child.
It was a middle-aged man, radiating an aura of power and authority.
Fang Dingge recognized him vaguely. But the figure's words were too shocking. He couldn't focus.
"Grand Magus… pillar… what…?"
They looked at the Heavenly Pillar beside the man, the one he was gently stroking. A terrifying thought took root, their bodies trembling uncontrollably. The man's gaze silenced their trembling, but the fear remained.
His next words confirmed their worst fears.
"There is no Grand Magus anymore. You're on your own now. Leave." He waved his hand dismissively.
The world spun. They found themselves outside Tiandu. And the celestial city, which had stood for millennia, was gone.
"Ding… Dingge…" After a long silence, they finally spoke, their voices trembling.
The Grand Magus of Tiandu, the seemingly omnipotent being from the Immortal Realm, had been turned into a pillar. The shock was overwhelming.
But as leaders of the Ten Sects, they eventually regained their composure.
Fang Dingge took a deep breath. "We'll discuss this later."
As they returned, he suddenly stopped. "I remember who that was! The First Grand Celestial Venerable!"
His words were met with stunned silence.
"Fools," Li Fan murmured within Tiandu, shaking his head. He dismissed the Ten Sects, turning his attention to the sealed Grand Magus.
Even his second attempt at sealing a Grand Magus had been a struggle. He had taken precautions, using the Star-Crossing Grand Formation to move the Xuanhuang World to the edge of the Dark Star Sea, away from the Immortal Ruins, and activating the Hill Watcher's protective formation within the High Wall.
Against the Grand Magus, ordinary techniques were useless. Only the essence-severing blade of True Becomes False, the Interplay of Truth and Illusion, could harm him. Even with his past experience, it had been dangerous.
Fortunately, his mastery of the Interplay far surpassed the Grand Magus's Dao of Boundlessness.
He had succeeded.
"With a Heavenly Pillar established, the Eternal Ark is taking shape." He stroked the Wuji Heavenly Pillar with satisfaction. He had deliberately excluded the Hill Watcher's projection from this reinforcement plan. The Hill Watcher, despite his reputation for virtue, was still an unpredictable factor. Li Fan wouldn't entrust his safety to another's morality.
"With Wuji in place, the next target… is the Hungry Immortal." Though not yet at the Unnamed realm, the Hungry Immortal was even more dangerous than the Grand Magus.
(End of Chapter)