Chapter 548: 520
Hence, Li Fan and Sister Zhao descended the mountain on orders.
Due to the massive death of mortals, the concentration of the [Immortal Plague] in the environment skyrocketed.
To cope, Sect Leader Ji generously granted the two an ample supply of provisions, including the Creation Purple Gold Pill, before embarking.
However, this didn’t completely alleviate their heavy moods.
After all, with the confirmation that the [Immortal Plague] could infect multiple times, they realized that, no matter how well-prepared or protected they were, persistent exposure would inevitably result in contracting the disease again.
The horrors they endured when infected a month ago were still vivid in their minds.
As cultivators, they hadn’t experienced the feeling akin to being worse than dead for a long time.
If this were to repeat over and over again…
The experience would probably be even worse than just dying outright.
Of course, these are just spur-of-the-moment remarks.
Sister Zhao and Li Fan are both dedicated to the path of cultivation, seeking longevity. They would not easily give up their lives.
However, they had no choice but to obey their teacher’s command, even Sister Zhao, who is now an esteemed disciple of the Great Taoist Sect, had to obediently follow orders.
“There’s something odd about this. I’ve heard that while other sects of the Ten Sects have dispatched disciples all over the world, most of them are true inheritors. I’ve never heard of any sect like ours, the Great Taoist Sect, dispatching disciples of this rank!” Li Fan shook his head slightly, his eyes full of doubt.
“You’re a candidate for the position of the next Sect Leader, an extremely important status. At this tumultuous time, the most crucial thing you should be doing is to stay within the mountain gate and work hard to improve your own cultivation. Not to undertake this inexplicable task. What if…”
Li Fan glanced at her before continuing, “I mean what if, Sister, you met with an accident and fell, how much would it cost the sect to train another disciple from scratch?”
“Wouldn’t all the previous investments on you have gone down the drain?”
“Sect Leader Ji’s decision this time is quite hard to understand. And it’s peculiar that none of the Elders have any objections…”
Sister Zhao glanced at Li Fan and said, “Junior Brother, you’re thinking too much. Our Great Taoist Sect, being the leader of the Immortal Gates in the world, dispatching a disciple, isn’t it just showing how seriously we take this matter?”
“Moreover…”
Her voice suddenly turned a little solemn: “Junior brother, if it was before, your guess might be right. But now…”
“The times have changed.”
Li Fan was taken aback.
Yes. He was still engrossed in the prosperous era of Immortal Cultivation and hadn’t changed his mindset.
The current Immortal Cultivation World is a kind of ‘one hole, one carrot’ situation.
The faster a disciple grows in cultivation, the more it is seen as a threat by the senior leaders of the sect.
Before, mutual cultivation was possible, even if you didn’t want to be Sect Leader anymore, you could still be an Elder and give up the position of Sect Leader early.
But now, don’t want to be Sect Leader anymore? Alright then, but you can’t keep occupying the “The Scripture of the Great Way of Heaven’s Punishment”, can you? Please change your sect’s techniques!
Anyone would find this intolerable.
Hence, suppressing the growth of the disciples became a justified course of action.
Li Fan, who understood the intricacies, stayed silent and did not speak again.
The two of them, following the bloody light covering the sky, arrived over a pile of ruins.
They remember that a few years ago, this was a bustling Mortal City with a population of at least five hundred thousand individuals.
Unexpectedly, it was now completely devoid of any signs of life.
A scan with their spirit consciousness revealed the bodies of mortals scattered throughout the ruins.
Men, women, old, and young, none were spared. The horrifying scene they witnessed was even beyond their worst nightmares.
“Truly ruthless…”
The killing intent in Sister Zhao’s eyes burst forth. She cautiously defended against the [Immortal Plague] emanating continuously from below while using magic to track the culprits.
“Let’s go!”
After a while, Sister Zhao, who had found the target of the pursuit, transformed into a streak of light and flew away rapidly.
Li Fan hurriedly followed behind.
Arriving a bit later, Li Fan found Sister Zhao standing in place somewhat at a loss.
As it turned out, the cultivator who had massacred the city was deep in the clutches of the [Immortal Plague] and had died without receiving treatment.
The main culprit was already dead, and Sister Zhao’s raging anger had nowhere to vent.
“Were they wrong? If it were us, without so many elixirs to save our lives, facing life and death, would we act the same?” For a moment, Sister Zhao couldn’t help but ask in a somewhat perplexed manner.
Just as Li Fan was about to reply, he noticed a strange phenomenon appearing in the sky above.
“Cultivator Qu Xinfeng, practised Mortal Cultivation for fifty-six years, establishes the Tao Foundation with the [Stone Sword of the Ancient Mountains]…”
“Now bodily death and his spiritual life extinguished, returns to the heavens!”
As he saw the scene in the sky, a message suddenly emerged in Li Fan’s spirit consciousness.
“What is this?” Li Fan was taken aback.
“Hm?” Sister Zhao also noticed the strange occurrence in the sky and looked up.
A few moments later, her face turned slightly grim.
She released a sword energy, attempting to disperse the anomaly.
However, this scene seemed to be etched into the sky, and Sister Zhao’s attack was in vain.
“What is this? A mockery from heaven?”
Li Fan remained silent.
Inability to cultivate the same technique and the Immortal Plague.
Now with this strange “death announcement” appearing, one really doesn’t know how it will be in the future.
He sighed quietly.
“Let’s go, sister. Let’s not delay here, let’s complete the task as soon as possible and return to the mountain.” Li Fan advised.
After a long while, Sister Zhao didn’t respond.
She only obliterated the body of Qu Xinfeng, who had caused countless massacres, but had already fallen.
Then, she transformed into a streak of light and flew away.
Afterwards, for more than two years, the two of them traveled throughout the Xuanhuang World, preventing numerous tragedies from happening.
While killing many cultivators who had lost their senses, they saved numerous mortal lives.
After learning about The Great Migration Plan, the remaining cultivators gradually calmed down and no longer slaughtered mortals unreservedly.
Of course, some incidents occasionally happened in some places, which were unavoidable.
The two of them did their best but were simply unable to manage everything.
After completing Sect Leader’s command, the two, as per the original plan, were about to return to their sect.
However, a command came that left them somewhat blindsided.
It turned out that Ji Changxi said that The Great Migration Plan had officially begun.
They should not go back for now.
They should stay in the Xuanhuang World and help coordinate large and small sects to complete this vital plan for all cultivators.
Looking at Sister Zhao’s face, which was almost dripping with depression, Li Fan didn’t dare to speak.
He didn’t know how to comfort either, just quietly accompanying her.
After a long time, Sister Zhao’s face returned to normal.
She smiled gracefully: “Let’s go, junior brother.”
“We need to obey our teacher’s command.”
For some reason, seeing Sister Zhao’s expression, a sense of unspeakable fear quietly emerged in Li Fan’s heart.
“Hehe, alright, Sister.” He responded attentively and carefully.
In the blink of an eye, a hundred years had passed.
Under the concerted efforts of all cultivators, The Great Migration Plan was completed.
All mortals were driven into cave dwelling heavens and the Small World, the Xuanhuang World was also cleared.
Sister Zhao and Li Fan, who hadn’t returned to the sect for over a hundred years, finally had a chance to return to their sect.