Chapter 1666 - Illusory Formation Blocking the Way

“Who is it?” shouted the purple-robed youth. He snapped his head to the side and glaring straight at Chen Fan.

Chen Fan had intervened, as the purple-robed youth’s palm strike would have shattered the little girl Qing Chan’s head otherwise. His viciousness needs no explanation.

“Everyone makes mistakes,” Chen Fan said calmly. “If forgiveness is possible, it should be given. It was only a minor dispute. There was no need for such cruelty.”

“Who are you?” The purple-robed youth’s face changed slightly. Whether it was shock at Chen Fan’s casual strike or the sheer suddenness of the intervention, he hesitated. Rescuing someone at that critical instant was no easy feat, and after a brief pause, he chose not to press the attack.

“I’m just a nobody.”

The purple-robed youth’s expression changed slightly. In the end, he held back. Unable to gauge Chen Fan’s depth, he merely said coldly, “Limitless Star Palace, Wei Tianxiang.”

The expression of the senior brother, who appeared to be in his thirties, changed immediately.

He was indeed from a top force. Although the Limitless Star Palace was no longer an immortal holy land, it had produced a Sage in ancient times. While it had declined since then, it still stood among the most powerful factions in the Heavenly Realm.

Even though Wei Tianxiang had been forced into the tenth realm, he remained an existence far beyond the reach of ordinary rogue cultivators.

Chen Fan smiled, his expression relaxed and unconcerned.

The Limitless Star Palace? An impressive background, perhaps, but it meant nothing to him.

“I’ve heard much about it,” said Chen Fan lightly.

Despite his words, he didn’t even bother to cup his fists. His attitude made his disregard unmistakably clear.

Realizing that his background had failed to intimidate Chen Fan, Wei Tianxiang’s expression changed again. His eyes flickered with contemplation as he weighed Chen Fan’s identity. “The world is small. We’ll surely meet again in the tenth realm.”

Chen Fan smiled coldly.

Was this a warning to him?

“I shan’t see you off,” he replied curtly, lips curling.

Wei Tianxiang didn’t say anything further. His face was livid as undisguised killing intent surged toward Chen Fan for a brief moment before he reined it in. Soon after, he left the teahouse with his entourage.

Quiet discussions rippled through the teahouse.

“Both of them aren’t simple. The Limitless Star Palace is one of the top forces of the Heavenly Realm and has always been incomparably powerful. Perhaps Wei Tianxiang could not gain much in the other realms, but he’s still a towering figure. With him involved, I’m afraid another spot will be taken.”

“Don’t forget that other man. We don’t know his origins, but to intervene so easily and make Wei Tianxiang wary? He’ll probably take up another spot. And once the prodigies from the other realms start pouring in, who knows how many spots rogue cultivators like us will actually get.”

“Hehe, let’s wait and see. However it ends, it has nothing to do with us. In any case, we’ll get to watch a spectacle.”

The senior brother reprimanded, “Qing Chan, you’re too tactless.”

“I’m sorry, okay?” The little girl, Qing Chan, seemed to have finally realized the trouble she had caused. “But that guy is too detestable. On what basis could he say that?”

“Based on his strength.” Chen Fan said calmly, “Even if what you said was true, and he really lacked confidence in the other realms, his power alone is enough to overwhelm most people here.”

The senior brother cupped his fists toward Chen Fan and said, “I am Sun Ziyang. This is my junior sister, Qing Chan, and my junior brother, Qin Fan. We’re from the Calm Heaven Palace.”

Chen Fan paused briefly, recalling the palace. It was a minor force with tens of thousands of disciples, led by a Quasi-Emperor realm expert.

“So, you’re from the Calm Heaven Palace,” Chen Fan said, cupping his fists in return.

“May I ask for your name?”

“I am Chen Fan.” Chen Fan smiled, not concealing from them. He wasn’t a famous figure in the Heavenly Realm. Earlier, he simply hadn’t found Wei Tianxiang worth responding to.

“Thank you so much for your help earlier, Brother Chen, or my junior sister would have suffered.”

“It’s fine, it was no trouble,” Chen Fan replied. “Since you’re also here to take part in the Immortals Assembly, let’s go together.”

“That sounds good. We can look out for each other.”

Shortly after Wei Tianxiang left, Chen Fan and the others made their way toward the Heavenly Court’s passageway after a short rest.

Soldiers heavily guarded the passageway, all Half-step Immortal King realm at the very least. Their expressions were cold and indifferent, and under the authority of the Heavenly Court, no one dared cause trouble.

After stating their purpose, the guards said nothing further and opened a route leading directly to the trial grounds, bypassing the Heavenly Court’s inner region.

Although the group felt a tinge of regret at not being able to witness the inner area of the Heavenly Court, none of them expressed it out loud.

When the four of them emerged from the teleportation array, they found themselves in a bustling world of significant size.

At the center of this microcosm was an endless mountain range. It had a massive mountain peak, its top cleaved off by an unknown mighty being, forming an enormous plaza.

The young prodigies sent here were already gathered upon that plaza, waiting for the trial grounds to open.

Chen Fan’s group followed the crowd toward the plaza. However, when they were on the mountain's waist, the entire crowd came to a stop.

Sensing something amiss, Chen Fan looked ahead and saw the surrounding space subtly warping and rippling. People stepped forward, only to reappear moments later, unable to advance any further.

“Damn it, it’s an illusory art formation!”

The cry ignited immediate outrage among the gathered experts.

Although they were rogue cultivators, they were undeniably the top geniuses from their respective lands. To be toyed with by an illusory formation was nothing short of an insult.

Furious voices echoed across the mountainside.

“Who did this?” someone roared. “How dare you set up an illusory formation to mess with us?”

“Come out! Come out if you dare!”

A sinister voice came from the depths of the illusory formation.

“Hoho, if you can’t even break through this basic illusory formation, what qualifications do you have to take part in the tenth realm’s selection?”

𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

A Half-step Immortal King realm expert roared impatiently, “Show yourself, you coward, hiding in the dark. Come out and fight if you’re that capable!”

For him to reach this point with only Half-step Immortal King cultivation meant he was already among the elite. With his trump cards, he could even contend with weaker early-stage Immortal Kings.

Swish!

A dark light flashed, bursting forth from within the illusory formation. That Half-step Immortal King realm expert who was shouting earlier had his head pierced through and died with his eyes wide open.