My Simulated Road to Immortality Chapter 2249 - 1696: Laying Deadly Traps in the Void Realm
Within the Void Realm that borders the "future," the silhouettes of the Three Saints remain towering and motionless.
In contrast, Lord Guardian Hill and Li Fan travel toward the "past" of Mountain Sea.
Deprived of the Three Saints' guidance and the positioning provided by the Xuanji Ring’s avatar shadows, the Void Realm becomes an abyss of total disorder.
Once submerged in this space, discerning the ancient from the present becomes impossible; it feels as though one is adrift in turbulent waves, constantly threatened by a devouring tide.
"A night of dark winds is ideal for arson and murder. This desolate void is the perfect graveyard for the Saints!"
Li Fan is the first to plunge into the Void Realm.
Lord Guardian Hill follows immediately, yet the sheer chaos of the environment causes him to nearly lose his bearings upon entry.
Had Li Fan not intentionally radiated the aura of the Lianshan Staff, Lord Guardian Hill would have struggled to locate him.
The two quickly regroup and, while the Saints of Stealing Opportunities remain oblivious to the trap, they finalize their coordination.
"Our performance must be dramatic to ensure they pursue us."
"The strategy stands; our priority is to eliminate the primary figures..."
Continuing their dialogue, they purposely trigger a conflict, emitting successive waves of vibrations to entice the following Saints deeper into the abyss.
"This location should suffice."
"The area ahead marks the site where the Three Saints fell. We must stop here."
Alerted by Guardian Hill’s warning, Li Fan begins to perceive the strange characteristics of this specific sector of the Void Realm.
Typically, the Void Realm is a total vacuum where the foundations of existence vanish.
However, through meticulous observation, Li Fan detects a faint, drifting aura surrounding them.
It is reminiscent of ice dissolving into water or stone eroding into dust.
The essence of the former Three Saints has perished, with the vast majority of it having vanished. Only a trace amount remains, serving as a lingering testament to their previous existence.
While this residue was likely abundant once, the relentless hunger of the Void Realm has reduced it to a nearly imperceptible mist.
Li Fan attempts to harvest these remnants.
Regrettably, their divinity has been stripped on the level of the "Dao," leaving his True Spirit unresponsive to them.
"Deep within this void, no matter how great the disturbance we create, Mountain Sea will remain unaffected."
"In this place, we shall purge the wicked and honor the memory of the Saints."
Maintaining the facade of their duel, Li Fan covertly passes the Lianshan Staff and the Sea Returning Shovel to Guardian Hill.
As the Saints of Stealing Opportunities draw near, Li Fan lashes out with the All Living Beings Stick, violently repelling Guardian Hill.
"Guardian Hill! Why do you persist in this pursuit? You have already seized the Lianshan Staff and the Sea Returning Shovel. Is that not enough?"
"Will you not spare my life? I am prepared to trade the secrets of Mountain Sea’s Miracle Luck! You have already claimed Mountain Sea’s Longevity; by uniting it with the Miracle Luck, you might actually revive the divine power of the Three Saints!"
Li Fan’s desperate, furious cry reverberates through the Void Realm, mingling with the ancient echoes of the fallen Three Saints.
Guardian Hill offers no reply.
The Lianshan Staff and Sea Returning Shovel spin in a lethal dance, showing a clear intent to execute Li Fan.
Although Li Fan utilizes the All Living Beings Stick for protection, he is ultimately overwhelmed.
He sustains direct impacts from both the staff and the shovel, striking him squarely in the chest and back.
The approaching Saints of Stealing Opportunities witness the scene clearly: Li Fan is critically wounded, his physical form shattered and his True Spirit leaking uncontrollably into the chaotic void.
Yet, Guardian Hill remains merciless, focused entirely on delivering the killing blow.
"To think that Guardian Hill, a man known for his benevolence, possessed such a savage nature." The observing Saints are inwardly stunned by the revelation.
"It appears Guardian Hill fears the boy might escape and expose his true face to the other Saints of Mountain Sea. He has committed himself to this path," Xing Cha analyzes.
"We cannot permit him to monopolize all the spoils!"
Before Xing Cha can finish his sentence, he transforms into a beam of Starlight, sweeping toward both Guardian Hill and the fading Li Fan.
Guardian Hill manipulates the Bamboo Cane and Iron Shovel with masterful ease, mimicking the legendary styles of the Lian and Gui Hai Saints to disperse the incoming Starlight.
Within the Void Realm, it appears as though the phantoms of Mountain Sea are rising, letting out a boundless roar.
Standing atop the spectral Mountain Sea, Guardian Hill stares down the approaching Saints.
Seizing this critical moment, the nearly deceased Li Fan suddenly summons a final burst of strength.
He flings the All Living Beings Stick into the air.
In a flash, the weapon multiplies from one to two, then four, then eight.
A deluge of stone stick shadows rains down upon the heads of the Saints.
Every Saint present is struck by the assault.
However, sensing the power behind the attack, the Saints realize Li Fan is truly spent.
Even wielding a Supreme Treasure like the All Living Beings Stick, his strike feels hollow and lacking in weight.
It is a grand gesture without any real danger.
The Saints observe that Li Fan’s True Spirit is fracturing further, looking like a candle flame flickering in a gale.
Abandoning the All Living Beings Stick, he flees into the distance with his broken form.
"With a shattered True Spirit, where can you run? You will surely perish within the Void Realm."
"Did you believe that seizing the Three Saints’ Treasures would allow you to manipulate us? How naive."
"The Three Saints are too cowardly to show themselves, sending this boy to scout and die instead. Virtue has truly vanished from Mountain Sea."
...
The Saints see no reason to hunt a dying man.
Instead, their greed turns toward the now-ownerless All Living Beings Stick and Lord Guardian Hill, who possesses two other treasures.
Following the recent clash, the lingering residue of the Three Saints is on the verge of total dissolution.
The Void Realm is about to reveal its true, predatory nature.
"Brother Guardian Hill, we have been comrades within the Xuanji Ring for countless ages. Is it not excessive for you to hoard the Supreme Treasure for yourself?" Judge Karma asks in a measured tone.
"If I kill all of you, there will be no one left to complain," Lord Guardian Hill replies with chilling calm.
Judge Karma is momentarily taken aback, then lets out a sharp, angry laugh. "Very well! I shall see exactly what skills the 'benevolent' Lord Guardian Hill has been hiding all these years!"