Chapter 1445: Ants Surround and Slay an Immortal

Li Fan narrowed his eyes, recalling the divine abilities and methods that Scholar Su had displayed in the illusion just now.

The miniature Dao Net within his divine sense flickered with uncertain light as it searched for the corresponding Dao laws. Scholar Zhu had entered the Dao Net with his own body, so the Dao he had comprehended had already become one of the foundations of the Dao Net.

The replica within Li Fan's divine sense likewise contained a reflection of it.

The instant he found the corresponding one, that strand of the Dao Net emitted a uniquely profound light.

Li Fan's mind stirred slightly.

"This is... the character (磨), [Grind]!"

In an instant, it seemed as though a square millstone appeared before his eyes, repeatedly pounding and grinding down its target between heaven and earth. An endless stream of radiance flowed from this strand of the miniature Dao Net into him. In a short period of time, Li Fan's comprehension of this Dao advanced by leaps and bounds.

Yet after only a few breaths, Li Fan voluntarily interrupted his comprehension of this Dao.

"Although Scholar Zhu has already been driven into the Dao Net and made into a living formation stake, he is still alive. This Dao of 'Grind' is still something that has an owner."

"The deeper I study it, the easier it will be for its owner to sense me."

Although there were countless Great Daos between heaven and earth, Li Fan only needed to focus on the Transformation Between Truth and Falsehood. As for the principles and laws of other Dao paths, he could merely use them as convenient weapons on his journey toward the very peak.

His deliberate revelation of the Transformation of Truth and Falsehood before Scholar Zhu this time was not an act of showing off his abilities before the Nameless True Immortal of old. Rather, it was a form of probing.

"Now it seems that the Transformation of Truth and Falsehood contains countless mysteries. Although there were people in the Immortal Realm who secretly coveted it in the past, not everyone knew of its existence. Even though Scholar Zhu had already become a Nameless True Immortal, when I used it right in front of him, he still could not recognize it. He was merely astonished by this inexplicable method of mine."

Indeed, this probing carried some risk. However, Scholar Zhu himself was already a prisoner within the Dao Net. Li Fan's true body was far away within the High Wall, in the Darkest Star Sea, with the Carefree Dreamscape concealing him. Even if something unexpected happened, he could calmly use [Truth].

In fact, even when the darkened Heavenly Doctor crossed possibilities to arrive, Li Fan had still successfully activated [Truth]. In the current possibility of the [Yuanchu], there were truly very few existences capable of threatening Li Fan.

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

As agreed, Scholar Zhu indeed recommended Ma Tiande to the Administration Council.

Ma Tiande had originally been sent to the Blissful City by the Administration Council to control the Dao Net and conduct surveillance. Now, the Administration Council merely assumed that Scholar Zhu and Ma Tiande did not get along very well and that Scholar Zhu wanted to find an excuse to have Ma Tiande transferred away.

After verifying through the Dao Net that Ma Tiande's identity was correct and consulting Ma Tiande himself, the Administration Council agreed to the recommendation.

The selection for the Immortal Hunters was concentrated within half a day.

When the selection officially began, the ethereal and intangible Dao Net seemed to reveal its true form. An actual entity emerged from the illusory realm.

A vast, faintly visible net enveloped the entire Shuo Star Sea.

Every faction within the Star Sea was encompassed within it.

The shadow of the Dao Net stretched across heaven and earth, extending beyond the boundaries of the world.

Such a magnificent and miraculous sight caused everyone who witnessed it to instinctively feel the urge to bow and worship from the depths of their hearts.

Ordinary mortals knelt and worshipped one after another.

Even cultivators lowered their heads in submission.

When this Dao Net stretched across the heavens, Li Fan did not make himself conspicuous. He merely lowered his head and silently observed.

Because of the miniature Dao Net within his divine sense, what he saw was different from what everyone else saw.

Four figures radiating an aura of holiness and majesty stood concealed behind the Dao Net, like four great pillars. Besides them, numerous other overlapping phantoms also seemed to stand within the Dao Net, their presence cold and imposing.

As for the invisible giant hand pressing down upon the Dao Net, it was nowhere to be seen.

Every time the Nameless True Immortal whose living formation stake was visible in reality swept his gaze across the Dao Net, Li Fan felt his heart pounding with alarm. Yet the projection within his divine sense became somewhat clearer precisely because of his close and more detailed observation.

Thus, Li Fan did not stop watching.

A ray of light traveled through the Dao Net.

Wherever it passed, everyone participating in this Immortal Hunters selection was illuminated by the light.

Their bodies floated upward uncontrollably for no apparent reason.

Li Fan was no exception.

Observing the nearly thousand cultivators throughout the Shuo Star Sea who were rising into the air just like him, Li Fan remained expressionless. While allowing himself to be seized, he carefully observed how the Dao Net operated in reality.

"Spanning the entire Shuo Star Sea, precisely locking onto a thousand targets at the same time, and lifting them into the air... In terms of the breadth and precision of its power alone, what the Dao Net has accomplished here is no inferior to a True Immortal."

Moreover, Li Fan vaguely sensed that those participating in the Immortal Hunters were not merely being lifted into the air.

Rather, it was as if they had collectively entered a spacetime parallel to the real Shuo Star Sea.

The living beings below could raise their heads and see them in the sky.

Yet they themselves gradually lost sight of everything below, seemingly entering a completely isolated region.

"This should be to ensure fairness and impartiality in the Immortal Hunters selection. The test is being conducted openly before every living being in the Shuo Star Sea."

Li Fan understood.

The surrounding scenery gradually darkened, as if he had been placed within an endless void. Nearly a thousand cultivators floated within it, quietly awaiting the beginning of the selection.

Not long afterward, a booming voice resounded throughout the area.

There was not a single word of unnecessary explanation. It went straight to the point.

"First Trial, Dao."

The Dao Net stretching across heaven and earth seemed to have arrived within this selection space.

It descended abruptly, then continuously pressed downward.

What had originally existed only in the distant heavens now drew closer and closer.

Until it was directly before their eyes.

The thousand participants were truly no more than ants within a net before the magnificent Dao Net.

The pressure originating from the Great Dao caused one third of the thousand cultivators to tremble uncontrollably on the spot.

Light flashed.

Those who trembled were instantly eliminated and transmitted out of the trial space.

The remaining cultivators all had their hearts tighten as they concentrated their minds and faced the Dao Net that was now almost directly before them.

The Dao Net continued to descend, as if it intended to crush them completely beneath it.

Faced with the crisis of being ground into fragments, not everyone could remain calm and expressionless. Even though they had made countless preparations before coming here, the Dao Net they had imagined beforehand was worlds apart from the Dao Net they were now actually facing. During this process, anyone whose expression changed even slightly was eliminated.

The Dao Net pressed down upon their bodies.

Their bodies and souls seemed to be mercilessly ground over once, before subsequently merging into the Dao Net.

When Li Fan could see again, he discovered that he had already arrived in an area resembling a maze.

The true form of the Dao Net was nowhere to be seen.

Buzz, buzz, buzz...

A strange sound came from nearby.

Li Fan turned his head and was astonished to see the silver-white paths of the maze inexplicably evaporating and disappearing from the edges.

Moreover, this disappearance was rapidly spreading toward where he stood.

"The Dao Annihilation Calamity?"

Naturally, these four words surfaced in Li Fan's mind.

Of course, this was not the true Dao Annihilation Calamity. It was merely a simulated disaster scenario created for the test based on the essence of the Dao Annihilation Calamity.

"So what I need to do now is escape from this Dao Net maze."

Li Fan seemed to understand.

He tried to take a step forward and head deeper into the maze.

Yet when he instinctively exerted force, his body did not move at all.

Looking down carefully, Li Fan discovered that his feet had strangely fused with the Dao Net maze.

Yet the path ahead, which appeared smooth at first glance, was actually covered with uneven bumps and hollows. Under ordinary circumstances, every step would have been extremely difficult.

After observing for a moment, Li Fan already understood the purpose of this first test.

Through the tentacle-like sensation extending from the soles of his feet, Li Fan sensed the protruding sections of the Dao Net ahead.

“It seems I need to issue a Dao Net command to fill in this gap.”

Li Fan did not do it himself. Instead, he used the same method as before, just as he had during Scholar Zhu’s trial, directly responding with the miniature Dao Net within his divine sense.

In an instant, a dim light emerged from Li Fan’s body and traveled through his feet to the ground.

The gap was filled.

The road ahead was no longer uneven, and Li Fan smoothly took a step forward.

“This method of testing is rather interesting.”

The miniature Dao Net quickly resonated with the various gaps along the road ahead.

Li Fan walked slowly and steadily, neither rushing nor lagging behind.

With no pressure weighing on his mind, Li Fan began observing his surroundings. He deliberately kept his speed slightly behind the leading group.

He was not among the most outstanding or conspicuous, but he was still firmly within the first echelon.

Behind him, the Dao Net continued evaporating, relentlessly closing in.

Another four hundred or so cultivators were eliminated in this round.

Only after slightly more than three hundred cultivators remained did the first test finally end.

The Dao Net maze silently disappeared, and the enormous announcing voice rang out once again.

As before, it went straight to the point.

“Second Trial, Martial.”

The voice was still echoing through the space when an indescribable aura suddenly descended upon this place.

Li Fan’s pupils contracted sharply.

“A True Immortal?”

Standing opposite the three hundred cultivators was a tall figure clad in golden armor.

However, shackles bound both his hands and feet. His armor was also severely damaged and covered in wounds.

His hair and beard seemed to have gone untrimmed for many years, growing into a tangled mess that even obscured his face.

Yet Li Fan could still see the faint, ferocious grin that suddenly appeared on the figure’s face.

“Rain!”

The slightly hoarse voice, carrying a faint killing intent, resounded in everyone’s ears.

Suddenly, raindrops began falling from the heavens.

At first, only a few sparse drops fell. Then the rain grew heavier and heavier, until in the blink of an eye, torrential rain poured down.

Every drop of rain seemed to possess the weight of mountains.

When they crashed down upon them, many cultivators were caught off guard and let out waves of agonized screams.

Their flesh and blood were smashed into a bloody pulp by the rain.

Lights flashed, and those on the verge of death were transported out of the trial space.

However, a small number of unfortunate cultivators died in the torrential rain before they could be transported away.

“So this is really serious.”

Li Fan watched with his own eyes as one of the participants beside him died.

Yet he showed no trace of panic. He had far too many methods capable of resisting this immortal rain.

“But since this is the selection for the Immortal Hunters, I naturally have to make the greatest possible use of the power of the Dao Net.”

The moment this True Immortal appeared, Li Fan had already noticed that he seemed to be slightly closer to the Dao Net than before. It was seemingly intended to make it easier for the cultivators participating in the Immortal Hunters selection to draw upon the Dao Net’s power.

“Rain…”

“Umbrella!”

With a thought from Li Fan, an umbrella immediately appeared in his hand.

Its round canopy spread above his head, completely blocking the torrential rain.

However, this trial was clearly not something that could be passed so easily.

While protecting himself, Li Fan looked around and discovered that quite a few cultivators from Shuo Star Sea had adapted almost immediately.

They each displayed their own abilities. Some, like Li Fan, used umbrellas and protective equipment to shield their bodies. Others used invisible forces to alter the direction in which the raindrops fell, preventing them from striking them. Some even directly swallowed the torrential rain.

Once they were able to stand firmly beneath the rain, they all began attacking the Golden-armored True Immortal whose limbs were restrained by shackles.

All kinds of divine abilities and spells were unleashed.

The most eye-catching were a gust of wind and three swords.

The fierce wind howled, blowing the torrential rain back into the sky. What had originally been a divine ability used by the True Immortal to slaughter the trial cultivators was now turned back against him.

The three swords belonged to the same person. They floated behind a female cultivator in purple robes.

The female cultivator seemed to be blind, her eyes remaining tightly closed throughout. Yet even within the torrential rain that obscured her vision, she could firmly lock onto the direction of the golden-armored True Immortal.

The three swords behind her were held by a severed arm, a head, and a circular vortex.

Sword light crisscrossed through the air, cleaving apart the wind and rain as they mercilessly hacked toward the golden-armored True Immortal.

...

Amid the violent wind and torrential rain, energy surged like a raging tide, rising and falling without end.

Li Fan hid in the shadows, quietly observing without making a rash move. At the same time, he used the miniature Dao Net within his divine sense to record all the fluctuations of the various spells and divine abilities around him.

It was obvious that the opponent in this trial was a genuine immortal.

Although the Administration Council had restrained him, preventing him from displaying his full strength, his defensive power remained intact.

The divine abilities of the numerous cultivators continuously bombarded the golden armor he wore.

Yet they merely caused slight tremors. They could not even leave a faint white scar upon it.

The golden-armored True Immortal looked at the attacks of these ants before him and laughed wildly.

“Rain! Rain! Rain!”

Under the True Immortal’s chant, the wind and rain grew even more violent.

The shackles on the hands and feet of the golden-armored True Immortal clanged loudly. It seemed that under the True Immortal’s struggle, they were about to break free and snap apart.

Meanwhile, the rain assaulting the cultivators began displaying its true divine might.

Not only was every drop as heavy as a mountain, it also began corroding their souls.

It even began eroding the Great Dao of this world.

Seeing that the cultivators were gradually falling into a disadvantage under the True Immortal’s counterattack, Li Fan, who had been watching the battle from the sidelines, finally spoke.

“Disarm!”

Li Fan hid behind all the other cultivators and pointed casually toward the arrogant golden-armored True Immortal from afar.

His voice was soft, yet it pierced through the wind and rain and entered the ears of everyone present.

The wind and rain suddenly paused.

It was as if some incomparably mysterious power had descended.

The armor on the golden-armored True Immortal’s body began to tremble slightly, unable to resist.

“No!”

The golden-armored True Immortal, whose face had previously been filled with ferocity, was now overwhelmed with panic.

He cried out loudly, seemingly attempting to stop the armor from falling off his body.

But the power of the Dao Net crudely stripped away the protective armor covering his body.

In moments, the former True Immortal appeared naked before everyone.

Although his tangled body hair provided some concealment, it was still an unbearable and immense humiliation.

The cultivators participating in the trial finally reacted.

They once again surrounded and attacked the True Immortal.

The True Immortal, however, merely roared as he allowed their attacks to grind away at his flesh and blood.

His pair of crimson eyes pierced through the crowd and locked firmly onto Li Fan!