Chapter 99 You Are Strong, I Am Stronger

"How could this be?" Li Fan was stunned, asking in surprise.

"Didn't they say it was just a Golden Core cultivator's Immortal Cave? How did even a Nascent Soul cultivator perish?"

Yuwen Xing shook his head: "No one knows the specific situation right now. It's just that the Immortal Cave entrance has been temporarily sealed, precisely to prevent unsuspecting people from rushing in to their deaths."

With that, Yuwen Xing sighed again: "The entire Wanxian Island only has a dozen or so Nascent Soul cultivators. Now that one has suddenly perished, the loss is undeniably significant."

"Not to mention the four Golden Core cultivators and thirteen Foundation Establishment cultivators who died together in the two previous explorations."

"It's not peaceful on the island right now. With so many Cultivators perishing, their positions on the island have all become vacant. To compete for these lucrative positions, various forces have begun to secretly contend."

"The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance has also reopened the investigation into Zheng Xiaoyun. This time, Gongsun Elder of the Tianji Hall is personally handling it. It's unknown if he'll be able to find out anything concrete."

"A time of trouble…"

Li Fan saw that Yuwen Xing's worries seemed to have other reasons, but since he didn't say anything, Li Fan didn't ask rashly.

So, after exchanging a few more pleasantries, he returned to Wanxian Island via the teleportation array.

The atmosphere on the island had become much more serious, and the faces of the passing Cultivators no longer held their usual relaxed expressions.

After some inquiries, Li Fan learned the reason for Yuwen Xing's worried expression.

It turned out that Yuwen Xing's backer was the perished Gou Xuan True Lord.

It was precisely by relying on this relationship that he was able to defeat many competitors and become the Town Guardian of Liuli Island.

Now, his seat wasn't even warm yet, and his backer had already fallen.

No wonder he looked so worried.

"Even a Nascent Soul powerful figure has perished; that Immortal Cave is truly perilous beyond compare."

"It seems Fellow Daoist He's remains won't be retrieved anytime soon."

Originally, Li Fan thought so.

However, a few days later, things seemed to take a turn for the better.

The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's investigation results were released.

The Golden Core cultivator named Zheng Xiaoyun was innocent.

As for why he, with only Golden Core cultivation, was able to escape during the first exploration, while a Nascent Soul powerful figure perished during the second exploration, it was because the Puppet mechanisms within Tian Yang Immortal Master's Immortal Cave possessed a peculiar characteristic:

They become weaker when facing the weak, and stronger when facing the strong.

When Zheng Xiaoyun led the team for the first time, those Puppet mechanisms only displayed the combat power of the Golden Core Stage.

Zheng Xiaoyun's own strength was decent, and with five other Foundation Establishment cultivators drawing fire, he was barely able to save his life.

However, when Gou Xuan True Lord led the team, the combat power of those Puppet mechanisms all inflated to the Nascent Soul Stage.

More than a dozen Nascent Soul Stage Puppets erupted in an instant, catching them off guard.

The second exploration team was instantly wiped out.

Of course, the Puppet mechanisms' so-called 'stronger when facing the strong' must have an upper limit.

But what exactly is the upper limit of these Puppet mechanisms' strength now?

It's really hard to say.

Although Tian Yang Immortal Master was only at the Golden Core cultivation during his lifetime, before his demise, he established his Immortal Cave within an underwater volcano.

For thousands of years, those Puppet mechanisms continuously absorbed the energy of the earth fire.

This directly caused the active underwater volcano to become a dormant volcano.

And now that the earth fire has reactivated, it likely means that after so many years, the Puppet mechanisms have grown to their upper limit.

Ancient Puppet arts have been lost for a long time, so it's unknown how strong the Puppet mechanisms will be when they reach their limit.

However, it's conceivable that in the era before the great tribulation, when Nascent Soul cultivators were as common as dogs, Puppet arts could occupy a place.

These Puppets certainly couldn't be too weak.

The minimum is Nascent Soul, and Soul Transformation is not impossible.

So…

Gou Xuan True Lord's death was truly not in vain.

After all, no one would have imagined that such terrifying combat power would be ambushed within this small Golden Core cultivator's Immortal Cave.

As soon as the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's official announcement was released, the gloom shrouding Wanxian Island immediately dissipated.

Everyone was quite convinced by the investigation results.

Because Gongsun Elder of the Tianji Hall has always been known for his ability to divine heavenly secrets and discern Karma.

His conclusions after investigation are generally very close to the truth.

Thus, the most numerous Qi Refining Cultivators in Congyun Sea all became excited.

More than a dozen Nascent Soul Stage Puppet mechanisms were indeed terrifying beyond compare.

But more than a dozen Qi Refining Stage Puppets…

It could be said that they had no deterrent effect at all.

If even one Puppet could be brought back…

Countless Qi Refining Cultivators immediately began to fantasize, their hearts stirring immensely.

So they clamored to form teams to explore Tian Yang Immortal Master's Immortal Cave for the third time.

Upon hearing this news, even Li Fan couldn't help but be tempted.

Within the Qi Refining Stage, wasn't he almost invincible?

Those with lower cultivation than him could be directly subdued with the Binding Insect Divine Power.

Among those in the Late Qi Refining Stage, he possessed numerous methods such as Formless Killing Intent, Cloud Water Illusion Dream, and Blue Flame Phantom Spirit.

Li Fan didn't believe there would be anyone stronger than him in this Congyun Sea.

Should he go and explore this Immortal Cave?

Li Fan was tempted for a moment, but then he thought about it again and felt that something was wrong.

If these Puppet mechanisms truly only became weaker when facing the weak and stronger when facing the strong,

Then the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance could secretly gather a group of Late Qi Refining Stage Cultivators, break through the Immortal Cave, and bring all these Puppets back.

How could the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance give up on such a good thing, gaining more than a dozen Puppets with at least Nascent Soul Stage combat power, and instead foolishly make this information public?

The only explanation is that the Puppets within this Immortal Cave must have other peculiarities.

The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance was also unsure.

So they chose to let these numerous Qi Refining Cultivators risk their lives to scout the way.

Li Fan had also heard of that Gongsun Elder.

When he completed the Dragon Whale bounty mission, this Gongsun Elder had investigated it.

He only found the direct cause of the Dragon Whale's death: being attacked by several deep-sea giant beasts, exhausting its life.

But he failed to find the most fundamental cause of death: the Formless Killing Intent activated by Li Fan.

So Li Fan believed that while this Gongsun Elder could indeed divine heavenly secrets,

He could only be like a blind man touching an elephant, only grasping a part of it, but not seeing the whole picture.

This principle was not only understood by Li Fan alone.

After the initial surge of excitement passed, everyone calmed down in time.

But there were always some Cultivators who held a侥幸 mentality, believing themselves to be chosen by fate.

They banded together, about thirty of them.

They embarked on the third exploration of Tianyang Grotto-heaven.

Li Fan merely reposted the bounty mission for He Zhenghao's remains and calmly waited to watch the show.

Ten days later, this exploration team returned in disarray.

More than half of the thirty-odd people managed to escape.

Through their tearful lamentations, the onlookers also learned what had happened inside the Immortal Cave.

These seventeen Puppets were simply too strong!

Their entire bodies were made of some unknown Materials, making them incredibly sturdy.

Any Spell cast upon them had no effect whatsoever.

Not even a scratch could be left behind.