The Golden Core beast was subdued by the joint efforts of Jiang Zhengji and Du Xingchang.
The red-haired beasts on Wanlai Island finally showed a hint of fear.
They began to flee in the distance.
Some even attempted to jump into the sea to escape this place.
However, the formation previously arranged by Jiang Zhengji had completely sealed off Wanlai Island.
“Kill!”
Jiang Zhengji commanded, and the Tiancang Team once again ruthlessly and efficiently slaughtered.
At this point, Li Fan appeared to have completed his rest, activating the Spirit Fire Dragon Formation. Occasionally, he swung a faint blue sword light, reaping the lives of the red-haired beasts.
This time, there were no unexpected twists.
Half a day later, at sunset, only a quarter of the red-haired beasts on Wanlai Island remained after the ruthless slaughter.
“Stop!”
At this moment, Jiang Zhengji finally spoke again.
As the snow began to fall again, he once again used the method he employed to capture the Golden Core Beast, turning most of the remaining red-haired beasts on the island into tiny snowmen.
He then collected them, and it was unclear where he stored them.
“This mission went relatively smoothly. We can return to the island,” he said calmly.
The exhausted five-person squad sighed with relief.
Li Fan also appeared to be exhausted.
“Much thanks to you this time. If it weren’t for your crucial formations, I doubt they could have successfully passed the test,” Jiang Zhengji said politely to Li Fan on the way back.
Li Fan looked apologetic, “The entire process was carried out by the fellow Daoists from the Martial Hall. I merely arranged some formations and didn’t actually kill many beasts.”
Jiang Zhengji smiled, “That’s how a formation master should act. I see that your proficiency in formations is not weak. Although it doesn’t compare to those masters, its impact in actual combat is enormous. Especially the ‘Discordant Confusion Formation,’ it’s truly wonderful.”
Li Fan shook his head, “Your praise is too much. It was just a moment of inspiration.”
Then, he asked curiously, “Fellow Daoist, have you participated in dozens of these clearance missions? Could it be that these red-haired beasts have some special value? Otherwise, why not just wipe them out in one go?”
Jiang Zhengji nodded, “Your guess is correct. These red-haired beasts do have some uses.”
“I previously captured a large batch alive because of this reason, instead of completely exterminating them.”
“The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance headquarters has a task that requires various regions to collect and submit a certain quantity of treasures and beasts capable of absorbing sound each year.”
“These red-haired beasts feed on sound, and although they are a bit weak, their large numbers meet the headquarters’ mission requirements perfectly.”
“The headquarters is quite satisfied with the sound-absorbing effect of these red-haired beasts. The quantity we need to submit every year has been increasing.”
Speaking up to this point, Jiang Zhengji’s face showed a sense of accomplishment.
“But these red-haired beasts don’t have natural enemies, and they have no lack of food. Their reproduction is too fast.”
“Coupled with their ability to devour their own kind to evolve, if the numbers get too high, there’s no guarantee that a Nascent Soul-level monster won’t emerge.”
“That would be troublesome. To avoid this situation, we need to regularly clear the beasts on the island.”
Jiang Zhengji explained with a smile.
“So, the number of these red-haired beasts should neither be too high nor too low,” Li Fan nodded slowly and muttered to himself.
He seemed to recall something, slightly raising his head to look at the sky, then falling into contemplation.
Silence prevailed as they traveled back. When the group safely returned to Ten Thousand Immortals Island, Li Fan bid farewell to everyone.
Back in the Tianxuan Mirror, he added Du Xingchang and others as friends.
Sitting cross-legged inside the Tianxuan Mirror, Li Fan’s brows furrowed deeply.
He recalled the time during the twelfth life when, due to the breakthrough loaning business, a large number of Foundation Establishment cultivators emerged prematurely. This somehow attracted the pursuit of Dao Integration cultivators.
“There must not be too many cultivators because the new method is to plunder the heavens and earth. If the number of cultivators is allowed to expand recklessly, the resources of heaven and earth will deplete.”
“Then why must there not be too few cultivators?”
“If one has already achieved immortality, why bother about ants?”
“The establishment of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance and even the creation of the Five Elders Association are for the purpose of intentionally raising cultivators.”
“The red-haired beasts are useful to the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, so it is necessary to ensure a certain number of them.”
“What use do cultivators have for the Immortal Ancestor of the Xuanhuang Realm?”
Before crossing over, Li Fan had heard that beneath the Immortal Ancestor, everyone was like ants.
The Immortal Ancestor was high above and saw all things as mere cattle and dogs.
The life and death of all things in the world did not enter the eyes of the Immortal Ancestor.
Even if a great calamity occurred and all living beings suffered, the Immortal Ancestor remained indifferent and unconcerned.
So why did the Immortal Ancestors of the Xuanhuang Realm need a certain number of cultivators?
After the endless slaughter brought about by different cultivation methods, on a wasteland of cultivation, why did the Immortal Ancestors who had achieved longevity create the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance?
Out of compassion?
Or…
In an instant, several different answers flashed through Li Fan’s mind.
But obviously, at this moment, none of them could be verified.
They could only be deeply hidden in his heart, and could only be confirmed in the future.
After calming down his turbulent emotions, Li Fan checked his permission level.
The reward for clearing the mission of exterminating the red-haired beasts was a lower-grade second level merit.
The actual increase in permission level was 2.6.
With just this one mission completed, Li Fan’s permission level had risen to Three, with an additional sixty percent progress.
“It seems that in the early stages, increasing permission level is quite easy.”
Li Fan then checked the newly appeared cultivation methods.
Unfortunately, he still hadn’t found one that could split the mind into multiple tasks.
In the following period, Li Fan accepted and completed two more merit tasks.
One was an upper-grade third level merit, and the other was a lower-grade second level merit.
The process of completing the missions was very smooth, without any twists.
While getting to know many members within the system of Ten Thousand Immortals Island, Li Fan’s permission level increased to Five.
The quota for accepting merit tasks three times a year was used up, but he still hadn’t found a suitable cultivation method.
“It seems that even with the limitless derivation of the Yanfa Jue within the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, the ability to multitask is still a very precious technique.”
“I wonder at what permission level it will appear on the exchange list.”
“The detailed information on techniques available for exchange at higher permission levels is confidential and cannot be easily disseminated. The higher the permission level, the higher the confidentiality. If accidentally leaked, it can result in deduction of your merit or even being held accountable and killed.”
“If not for this, I could have asked others for information to at least have an idea.”
“Now, I can only wait for another opportunity to try and raise my permission level as much as possible.”
During this time, the situation at Tai’an Island guarded by Zhou Qingang remained normal.
However, Li Fan was very patient.
He believed that before the arrival of the Crimson Flame, Zhou Qingang would definitely reveal his true colors.