Chapter 221: Dharma Eye Transforms Into Grotto-Heaven

Hearing this, Li Fan couldn't help but ask curiously: "Junior once went on a mission together with this Jiang Zhengji. If this Junior remembers correctly, these two people only have the cultivation base of the Golden Core Middle Stage. How could they escape from the pursuit of a Nascent Soul and so many Golden Core cultivators?"

Zhang Zhiliang narrowed his eyes slightly and explained slowly: "This pair may only have the cultivation base of the Golden Core Middle Stage, but their minds are linked, and their cooperation is seamless. They are even more well-versed in the arts of joint attacks."

"Their Golden Core Dharma Idols—one being drifting white snow, and the other being frost-defying red plums."

"Under mutual cooperation, they can form a [Glazed World] similar to a Nascent Soul Dharma Domain."

"With the two of them joining forces, even ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivators would find it difficult to match them."

Li Fan recalled the scene of slaying the Red-haired Exotic Beast on the island back then, and couldn't help but nod.

As if remembering something, a trace of a smile appeared on Zhang Zhiliang's face as he continued: "Two mere Golden Core cultivators managed to retreat completely unscathed after causing some destruction in the interior. The Five Elders Association naturally couldn't save face and wanted to retaliate."

"However, dispatching Soul Transformation Cultivators to proactively start a war—they dared not shoulder this responsibility."

"They could only secretly send a Nascent Soul Cultivator to sneak into the Congyun Sea and vent their anger by wreaking havoc on Haitong Island."

"Hmph, the Five Elders Association only amounts to this much."

Zhang Zhiliang said disdainfully.

Saying this, his expression turned serious: "Let's go. Although their actions were a bit petty, with a Nascent Soul Cultivator making a move, Haitong Island indeed suffered no small losses."

"The island-protecting Formation's structure has been completely destroyed, and even the teleportation array cannot be used. We must teleport to the neighboring Youmen Island and fly over."

Under Zhang Zhiliang's lead, Li Fan and the others spent nearly a day before arriving near Haitong Island.

The island's Guardian had long since received notification and was waiting here.

"Greetings, Great Master Zhang!"

Perhaps because it was close to the territory of the Five Elders Association, the Guardian of this island turned out to be a Golden Core cultivator.

He had the appearance of a robust, burly man, but his complexion was pale, and he seemed heavily injured.

"This is the Guardian of Haitong Island, Pei Tuo!" Zhang Zhiliang introduced to Li Fan and the others.

"Fellow Daoist Pei Tuo has already reached the Perfection of the Golden Core Realm, with one foot already stepping into the Nascent Soul Realm. During this raid by the Nascent Soul Cultivator of the Five Elders Association, if not for Fellow Daoist Pei exhausting his all to activate the island-protecting Formation for defense, I'm afraid this Haitong Island would have turned into a ruin."

Pei Tuo waved his hand, somewhat ashamed: "Pei Tuo is incompetent and does not deserve such praise from the Great Master."

Zhang Zhiliang laughed heartily and did not forcibly continue this topic.

"Fellow Daoist Pei, have the Mortals on the island been mostly cleared out?" He asked in turn.

Pei Tuo nodded: "They have all been completely migrated to other islands. The Great Master can carry out the repair work at any time."

Zhang Zhiliang glanced at the island below, and after a moment, said: "The degree of damage is even more severe than imagined. Rather than slowly repairing it, it's better to rearrange it anew."

Saying this, he didn't make any visible movements.

The sky above Haitong Island suddenly darkened.

Black, oppressive clouds came from who knows where, and a giant eye emerged from the clouds.

Staring directly at Haitong Island below.

Although it was not the direct target locked by the gaze, within the field of vision of this giant eye, Li Fan instantly felt the Spiritual Qi within his body stagnate and circulate with difficulty.

A sense of panic of having all secrets seen through welled up in his heart.

Fortunately, Li Fan's willpower was extraordinary to begin with, and he had even faced top-tier mighty figures like the white-haired Heavenly Doctor directly.

In comparison, the coercion of the Nascent Soul Realm was merely dwarfed in comparison.

Li Fan quickly returned to normal.

However, in order not to attract attention, he still pretended to be shivering like the other few Formation repair personnel.

Fortunately, this giant eye in the sky did not last very long.

A silver stream of light flashed across the surface of Haitong Island.

In Li Fan's perception, the remaining Formation structures above the island all dissolved and decomposed in this silver light.

In an instant, there were no longer any traces of Formations left on Haitong Island.

The sky returned to being tranquil and serene, and a trace of envy flashed in Pei Tuo's eyes as he said: "The might of Great Master Zhang's [Dharma Eye Grotto-Heaven] has become increasingly extraordinary."

This was also Li Fan's first time seeing Zhang Zhiliang utilize his Grotto-Heaven Dharma Domain.

Compared to the Nascent Soul Cultivator whose Dharma Domain was a volcano that Li Fan had previously slain, Zhang Zhiliang's Dharma Eye Grotto-Heaven was clearly stronger by more than just one level.

"The Formations on the island have all been cleared by me. Next, you will follow behind me to rebuild the Formations." Zhang Zhiliang said to Li Fan and the others.

"Nowadays, the island-protecting Formation of our Myriad Immortals Alliance is the [Tianyuan Transformation Formation]. The outer perimeter Formation alone has 367,800 nodes, with each node compounding hundreds of Formations."

"What you need to do this time is to rebuild the external structure of the Tianyuan Transformation Formation."

"As for the inner core Formation, with your standards in the Dao of Formations, it is still too early to touch it. This time, I will construct it personally."

Saying this, Zhang Zhiliang pointed toward the Void Realm ahead.

A light screen containing detailed diagrams of hundreds of Formation structures unfolded before everyone.

"Li Fan, you come explain, what basic Formations are included in this diagram?" Zhang Zhiliang called out by name.

After identifying it slightly, Li Fan calmly replied: "Gathering Spirit Formation, Defending Formation, One Qi Formation…"

Hearing Li Fan's answer, Zhang Zhiliang nodded with satisfaction.

Afterwards, he explained the construction methods of the nodes in detail to everyone one by one.

Pei Tuo, as if avoiding suspicion, moved away from this place and perked up into a defensive posture.

It took a full three days and three nights for Zhang Zhiliang to explain the external nodes of the Tianyuan Transformation Formation clearly.

Although Li Fan was not able to fully understand it all, under the blessing of the [Divine Unification of Transformation Dao] secret technique, he had already firmly memorized it in his mind first.

"Great Master Zhang, I once accidentally heard in an ancient book that there was a Formation in ancient times called the [Huayuan Reincarnation Formation]. I wonder what relation it has with our Myriad Immortals Alliance's [Tianyuan Transformation Formation]?" Li Fan took the opportunity to ask.

Zhang Zhiliang was slightly startled, as if he hadn't expected Li Fan to be able to ask this question.

"You are indeed well-read and knowledgeable, knowing even such obscure Formations." Zhang Zhiliang praised and explained to Li Fan: "The transformation function in the Tianyuan Transformation Formation is born from the ancient Huayuan Reincarnation Formation."

"It's just that nowadays all Mortals have the Immortal-Mortal Miasma within their bodies, so the Formation can only be used after corresponding modifications. The actual effect, however, is far inferior to before. It is said that the former Huayuan Reincarnation Formation was able to transform Mortal Origin Qi into longevity fruits that Cultivators could ingest."

"Now it only has a few remaining uses such as increasing the Spiritual Qi concentration within the Formation and nourishing the Physical Body."

Zhang Zhiliang said with quite a bit of regret.

Next, he distributed the Formation Materials and ordered everyone to independently construct Formation nodes respectively.

Having a free opportunity to practice Formation-building abilities, Li Fan naturally would not miss it.

Right away, he began to set up Formations selflessly.

All along, Li Fan had mostly just studied Formations theoretically, with very little actual Formation-building practice.

Therefore, at the very beginning, he was still somewhat unfamiliar with it.

The error rate was also relatively high.

But very quickly, Li Fan discovered the monstrous nature of the [Divine Unification of Transformation Dao].