Chapter 313: A Qualified Actor

Low-key restoring his aura to the Foundation Establishment Stage within the Cosmos Abode, Li Fan's Breakthrough did not attract much attention from others.

Aside from Ji Hongdao casting a surprised glance at Li Fan during a lecture,

almost no one knew that Li Fan had already stepped into the Golden Core Realm.

However, even if these students knew, they probably wouldn't think much of it.

After all, the Golden Core Realm was far too common among this group of people.

Compared to cultivation level, what they valued more was their mastery of Formations.

The closed-door training of the Tianxuan Locking Spirit Array was nearing its end.

Ever since witnessing the encapsulation of the Tianxuan Mirror with their own eyes last time, quite a few students seemed to have comprehended something, and their results advanced by leaps and bounds.

In the final test project, the Formation Core affinity test, they caught up from behind.

On the one hand, Li Fan was slightly distracted due to his preoccupation with the Congyun Sea major event and his own Core Formation; on the other hand, because his talent in the Dao of Formations was truly mediocre, he genuinely had no particular insights.

The combination of both reasons caused his results to practically stand still.

As the saying goes, if one does not advance, one retreats; Li Fan's score ranking also experienced a significant decline.

Fortunately, in the previous projects of Formation structure and soul contract identification, his scores were among the best.

Taken altogether, he didn't drop too far down.

His ranking was still upper-middle.

This day, Ji Hongdao announced that the final test would be conducted in a month and a half.

The practical operation of setting up the Tianxuan Locking Spirit Array.

Only providing sufficient Formation Materials, without any other person to assist, setting up the Formation completely alone.

Finally, an evaluation would be made based on the actual construction of the Formation.

And rankings would be made according to the quality of the results.

Those with excellent results would naturally have rewards.

However, Ji Hongdao kept everyone in suspense about what the specific prizes were.

He only said they were extremely precious, to the extent that even his heart was moved, wanting to personally enter the arena and participate in the competition.

Hearing this, the students could not help but feel excited.

Eagerly returning to their respective abodes, they made ample preparations for the final test.

Li Fan was also about to leave, but was called to a stop by Ji Hongdao.

"Although the final test is approaching soon, rationally speaking, I should temporarily conceal this matter."

"However, this matter is truly too momentous. I believe you have the right to know."

Li Fan instantly understood what Ji Hongdao was talking about.

However, the act still had to be played out.

Being slightly taken aback, feigning a look of incomprehension, Li Fan respectfully said, "Senior, feel free to speak. I can handle it."

Ji Hongdao nodded slightly: "Since that is the case, listen well."

"Your hometown, the Congyun Sea."

"It's gone…"

Li Fan's response was also very appropriate.

Having no special reaction, instead displaying a blank look: "Gone? What does this mean?"

A trace of sorrow flashed through Ji Hongdao's eyes: "Gone, it means literally what it says."

"The entire Congyun Sea has vanished."

Li Fan gave a mocking chuckle: "Senior, do not joke. How vast is the Congyun Sea? Such a large area, how could it just vanish…"

Halfway through his words, Li Fan suddenly plunged into a dead silence.

He stared blankly at Ji Hongdao, seeing that he didn't look like he was joking at all.

Struck as if by lightning, his body slowly trembled.

His eyes widened like copper bells, Li Fan disregarding the gap in cultivation and identity between them, suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Ji Hongdao's arm.

"Is it true? How is this possible?"

"What on earth is going on?"

…

"Sigh." Watching Li Fan's momentarily deranged appearance, Ji Hongdao let out a long sigh.

With a flick of his finger, he sent Li Fan back to his abode and said, "You should go back and calm down first. As for what specifically happened, you can search for it yourself in the Tianxuan Mirror."

"Related information should still be findable right now."

With a blur before his eyes, Li Fan had already returned to his small courtyard.

Maintaining that very expression from just now, Li Fan began searching for the Congyun Sea within the Tianxuan Mirror.

"It seems the Heavenly Fiend Sword ultimately was not a match for Ink Death, and today's Congyun Sea has completely become a nihilistic abyss."

"The Cloud Water Heavenly Palace has also lost its trace as well."

"This result is also within expectations. Perhaps the Celestial Killing Origin is an existence of the same status as Ink Death, but after all, it is currently only a part of a broken sword. Even the hilt is gone."

"Moreover… such a major event, yet the heat of discussion is actually this low. It seems that Celestial Venerable is playing a role once again, huh."

Such a big event happened, wanting to conceal it was definitely impossible.

The Myriad Immortals Alliance also did not choose to blockade or shield the news, but instead gave it the cold-treatment.

The initial discussions were extremely heated. The recorded image of Ink Death destroying the world by Jiao Xiuyuan caused many Cultivators to be deeply shocked while also giving rise to greed.

Aside from sympathy for the misfortune of the Congyun Sea Cultivators and why Ink Death resorted to such tyrannical methods to directly destroy the world, the most discussed topic unexpectedly turned out to be the feasibility of achieving Dao Integration with Ink Death.

As time passed, the number of people discussing the first two topics became fewer and fewer.

Only the power scalers were still persisting.

"Exactly what kind of combat prowess must one display to achieve Dao Integration with Ink Death? In my view, vast as the Cultivation World is, no Cultivator possesses this qualification."

"I nominate someone, Young Master Jinglun. Legend has it that he was already at the Peak of Soul Transformation decades ago, and his strength is unfathomable. Once, even when faced with the temptation of the heaven and earth spirit, he resolutely gave up the opportunity for Dao Integration. Simply because that stream of heaven and earth spirit was too weak!"

"Although Young Master Jinglun is strong, compared to Ink Death, he still falls a bit short."

"Those black particles annihilate everything, and wanting to resist them is extremely difficult. In my view, if Zhong Shentong advances to Soul Transformation, that endless Seven-Colored Divine Light might be able to contend against it."

"Zhong Shentong? A Foundation Establishment cultivator? And he's so old. Do you really think any trash can come out and trample on Young Master Jinglun? Without the Young Master making a move, I can crush him myself!"

"Oh? This Fellow Daoist has quite a big mouth! Do you dare leave your name and address? This old man will personally visit to seek instruction!"

"…"

With a grief-stricken expression on his face, Li Fan browsed through this information one by one.

Yet he thought in his heart: "Suffering such a misfortune, even if the final examination score is a little bit worse, it's quite reasonable, right."

Over the next few days, Li Fan stayed indoors and declined all visitors.

Portraying a Cultivator who had suddenly suffered a massive upheaval to perfection.

As time slowly passed, Li Fan also noticeably perceived that the memories of the Congyun Sea in his mind were constantly fading.

His thoughts were obstructed, and he almost never actively recalled related matters.

If not for Li Fan specially carving out an area within the hua dao stone in his mind to use as a dedicated record, and backtracking every few days,

he would have almost forgotten about the extinction of the Congyun Sea as well.

From start to finish, this was merely a little over a month's time.

"The strength of the Celestial Venerable of Longevity is truly terrifying and awe-inspiring."

Experiencing the influence of the Celestial Venerable firsthand once again, Li Fan couldn't help sighing with emotion.

Just like that, everything returned to peace.

Another dozen days later, the final test of the Tianxuan Locking Spirit Array closed-door training finally arrived.