Chapter 269: Tianxuan Soul-Locking Array

Without hesitation, Li Fan's face lit up with excitement, and he eagerly exclaimed, "Junior is willing to go!"

Li Fan's reaction did not exceed Zhang Zhiliang's expectations. He nodded and explained, "The purpose of this training is to allow the younger generation to quickly master the Tianxuan Soul-Locking Array. This way, within thirty years, every domain of the Immortal Alliance can be covered by the Soul-Locking Array."

Li Fan's expression changed slightly, "Tianxuan Soul-Locking Array? Isn't that the formation that shone brightly in Jiushan Province, marking all the Five Elders' cultivators with pillars of light?"

Zhang Zhiliang was pleased with Li Fan's swift response and nodded, "Exactly. The Tianxuan Soul-Locking Array was jointly developed by many array masters after the Battle of Tianling Province. They researched the Five Elders captured during the battle."

"The Five Elders?" Li Fan was a bit puzzled.

"May I ask, Master, why would array formation research be related to cultivators?"

Zhang Zhiliang, patient with Li Fan, explained, "Do you know what the difference is between the Five Elders' association and our Immortal Alliance?"

Li Fan replied, "Our Immortal Alliance is a free association. We accumulate contributions through our own efforts to earn techniques. As for the Five Elders..."

"Although they can obtain techniques for free, they need to sign a life-selling contract."

"For their entire lives, they are bound by others, unlike our carefree Immortal Alliance."

"To be honest, Senior, when I was a lone cultivator, I once considered joining one side or the other."

"After comparing the conditions of both sides, I chose to join our Immortal Alliance without hesitation."

Li Fan spoke with great righteousness.

Zhang Zhiliang smiled slightly, not commenting on Li Fan's seemingly sincere expression.

He continued, "Correct, every cultivator who joins the Five Elders signs a Soul Contract."

"The divine soul naturally differs from ordinary cultivators."

"A long time ago, we had the idea of distinguishing between friend and foe based on this difference."

"However, due to insufficient research samples, we never succeeded."

"The recent Battle of Tianling Province, although overall we were at a disadvantage in the Immortal Alliance, we did not come away empty-handed."

"This Tianxuan Soul-Locking Array is one of the fruits of the war."

Zhang Zhiliang seemed to be recalling something, his expression becoming somewhat inexplicable, and his tone a bit desolate.

However, he quickly returned to normal and continued, "Within the coverage of this large formation, it can detect the divine soul anomalies caused by the Soul Contract, thereby marking friend and foe."

"The marking directly affects the divine soul and cannot be deciphered by ordinary cultivators."

"The successful development of this formation is of immense significance."

"At the very least, once it is popularized, ordinary spies will no longer be able to hide."

"And those columns of light that traverse heaven and earth also eliminate the possibility of a surprise attack by the Five Elders."

Zhang Zhiliang spoke confidently, his face showing a hint of satisfaction.

"However, this formation involves the divine soul and is arduous and obscure."

"Ordinary array masters are completely powerless to construct it."

"To quickly deploy the Tianxuan Soul-Locking Array, we need to train a group of experts in this field."

"The purpose of the training in Tianyu Province two years from now is precisely for this."

"The reason for delaying it for two more years is because it involves the divine soul."

"Not only does the organizing party need to collect various materials, but the young members participating also need to make adequate preparations."

Saying this, Zhang Zhiliang tossed a storage ring to Li Fan.

Li Fan took the ring and looked inside, his brows slightly furrowed.

Because inside the storage ring lay a corpse.

Moreover, besides the corpse, there was nothing else.

More peculiarly, the body of the corpse was no different from an ordinary cultivator.

Even the attire was identical to a normal cultivator.

The only chilling and shocking aspect was that the head of the corpse did not belong to a human but rather the head of a horse!

"This is..."

"This is the legendary 'Mind Horse.' It's quite precious. I didn't get much, so don't lose it." Zhang Zhiliang's voice slowly came through.

"Mind Horse?" Li Fan's mind stirred.

"Junior knows about the existence of the 'Heart Ape,' which can enhance and rapidly replenish spiritual consciousness. I wonder, what is the use of this 'Mind Horse'?" Li Fan inquired.

"Heart Ape strengthens spiritual consciousness, while Mind Horse strengthens the divine soul," Zhang Zhiliang slowly explained.

"As for how to strengthen it..." A mysterious smile suddenly appeared on Zhang Zhiliang's face.

"Try it yourself, and you'll find out," Zhang Zhiliang said.

Li Fan nodded, indicating his understanding.

"When the closed training begins, there will be an assessment for the members from various states. You need to work hard in the next two years."

"At that time, don't embarrass our Congyun Sea."

Zhang Zhiliang advised, then handed three divine splitting jade slips to Li Fan.

"I have a total of six divine splitting jade slips. If you can read them all, it means you are ready to graduate. I don't expect you to achieve this within the next two years, but I'll give them to you as motivation."

Li Fan bowed and expressed his gratitude, accepting the jade slips.

"Go on, prepare well! I will notify you before the formal start of the training," Zhang Zhiliang waved.

Back in the Tianxuan Mirror, Li Fan first searched for information about the 'Mind Horse.'

The results were scarce, with no significant information available. It seemed to be something not known to ordinary foundational cultivators. Since Zhang Zhiliang had emphasized its rarity, its value must be extraordinary.

"Try it yourself..."

Li Fan's eyes flickered as he released the humanoid horse-faced corpse from the ring.

"How do I try?"

Li Fan first observed quietly for a moment, but nothing unusual happened.

After some contemplation, he touched it with his hand.

...

After a long time, it seemed that nothing had changed.

It was as if the thing in front of him was just an ordinary, albeit strangely shaped, corpse.

"Weird..."

After a while, Li Fan still couldn't figure out how to use the 'Mind Horse.' Puzzled, he subconsciously touched his chin.

When Li Fan's hand touched his own chin, his body suddenly stiffened.

His heart stopped.

"Could it be..."

Li Fan used the Mirror Technique to observe his own face.

"..."

"As expected."

Although mentally prepared, when he saw his horse-headed self in the mirror, Li Fan still felt a chill.

"Could it be that this 'Mind Horse' in front of me came from this?"

Suddenly, a thought uncontrollably emerged in Li Fan's mind.

"Then, how did it die?"

Following that, Li Fan couldn't help but think so.

Li Fan's gaze fell involuntarily on the 'Mind Horse' corpse lying on the ground.

There was not a single trace of injury on its body.

As he looked, Li Fan suddenly felt a chill in his heart.

Because he suddenly discovered that this 'Mind Horse' corpse lying on the ground had undergone an inexplicable change at some point.

The attire was so familiar, clearly identical to Li Fan.

"Not only the clothes..."

Li Fan's heart sank.

The entire 'Mind Horse' corpse had quietly become identical to Li Fan.

"Is this corpse my imminent fate?"

A thought suddenly appeared.

"Will I..."

"Die?"

Fear descended instantly.

(End of this chapter)