The response from the other side was a deathly silence.
After a moment, the voice softened, offering gentle persuasion, "Guang Yangzi, you should understand that below a fallen nest, no intact eggs remain."
"It's not that we, the Ten Great Immortal Sects, are forcing you. The situation on the battlefield is dire, and we have reached a critical moment."
"You small mountain sects may be miserable, but us leaders are not much better, you know?"
"I won't hide it from you; in our Heavenly Sword Sect, more than half of the masters and brothers of my generation alone have died in battle."
"I'm afraid that soon, I will also have to personally join the battle."
"At this stage of the war, there is no turning back."
After a long time, Guang Yangzi sighed, "I understand, old man."
"This time, let me go."
"Master!" A slightly hoarse voice exclaimed, about to say something, but Guang Yangzi interrupted.
"My decision is made, no need to dissuade me!"
"Good! Courageous! Since that's the case, I won't stay for long. Remember, within seven days, you must go to Cong Yun Mountain and join us."
After the envoy left, Guang Yangzi said to Third Senior Brother, "Lian Chang, come with me. Before we leave, there's something I need to tell you."
"Yes, Master." Lian Chang choked out.
The sound gradually faded away.
Li Fan fell into a deep slumber again.
...
"Tian Yang, Tian Yang!"
"It's time to take your medicine. These recent herbs are distributed by those major sects. They are of much higher quality than what you used to take."
In Li Fan's impression, the usually silent Third Senior Brother suddenly became talkative. He fed Tian Yang medicine while sharing some interesting stories and rumors from the cultivation world.
"Third Senior Brother, is Master not coming back like Eldest Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother? Li Fan suddenly asked.
Lian Chang's movements suddenly froze.
After a moment, he forced a smile and said, "Junior Brother, don't think too much. Resting and recuperating is the priority."
"Master will definitely come back."
"Definitely."
Lian Chang repeated this sentence as if trying to convince himself.
Li Fan nodded.
After the medicine went down, a warm sensation spread through his abdomen, providing much comfort.
As drowsiness engulfed him again, Li Fan fell into a deep sleep.
...
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Li Fan was awakened by the sounds of a fight.
Third Senior Brother's voice echoed from a distance, "Every time they say it's the final battle, a critical moment."
"How long has it been, how many people have died!"
"It never ends!"
"I won't go. You can kill me!"
"Anyway, going to the front line means death!"
The other person's voice was filled with exhaustion, "Lian Chang, don't force me to take action."
"Do you think you can die just because you want to? Turning you into an immortal puppet to fight in battle is also a way for me to fulfill my mission."
"However, your Master, Guang Yangzi, saved my life on the battlefield. Before he died, I promised him to take care of the Ancient Body Transformation Dao as much as I could."
"This time, I personally came to explain to you. It's already my benevolence."
"Otherwise, you would have been taken away directly."
"Make good use of the remaining time and say whatever needs to be said."
"That little guy named Tian Yang, Guang Yangzi also mentioned him to me."
"His physique is extremely compatible with your sect's Ancient Body Transformation Dao. As long as he can survive the tribulation, he will undoubtedly revitalize the Ancient Body Transformation Dao."
"I know that the Ancient Body Transformation Dao has indeed sacrificed a lot," the envoy continued.
"When the war is won, during the merits distribution, I will apply to grant Tian Yang an extra Tai Shang Foundation Establishment Pill. This pill will help him change his fate, reforge his physique through marrow cleansing, and reshape his constitution."
"This is a peerless divine medicine of the Tai Shang Sect, and even ordinary inner disciples of the Tai Shang Sect are not qualified to take it."
Under the continuous words of the envoy, Lian Chang was finally persuaded.
"I am willing to follow you to the front lines. However, I have a condition. I want this Tai Shang Foundation Establishment Pill before I depart," Lian Chang said resolutely.
"My junior brother's body is too weak, and he is always in a deep sleep. Without this pill to change his fate, he cannot take care of himself."
"You..."
The envoy sighed.
After a long time, he said slowly, "Alright, I'll go and try."
After the envoy left, Lian Chang approached Li Fan, seemingly saying a lot of things.
However, in Li Fan's drowsy state, he couldn't hear anything clearly.
After some time, Li Fan heard Lian Chang's excited voice, "Junior Brother, quickly take this pill."
"After taking it, you will recover to normal."
Lian Chang fed the Tai Shang Foundation Establishment Pill to Li Fan, observed for a moment, and seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
Another familiar voice sounded, "Alright, since the pill is fine, let's set off as soon as possible."
"If we delay the final battle, I can't guarantee your safety."
Lian Chang patted Li Fan's head.
"Junior Brother, take care."
Footsteps gradually receded, and the gate closed with a bang.
From then on, the Ancient Body Transformation Dao fell into absolute silence.
As Li Fan lay on the bed, half-asleep and half-awake, he felt the medicinal power of the Tai Shang Foundation Establishment Pill continuously radiating in his belly.
Waves of heat flowed through his meridians, transforming his physique.
It was more potent than all the previous medicines combined.
Strength gradually returned to his body.
Li Fan fell into a deep sleep once again.
When he woke up, he found a long-lost vitality filling his body.
His mind also became much clearer.
Reflecting on what had happened to him since possessing Tian Yang's body, Li Fan couldn't help but feel a bit helpless.
The weakness of this body far exceeded Li Fan's imagination.
This made him unable to make any effective plans or strategies.
He could only watch the "plot" unfold, just like the original Tian Yang.
"It seems that this first attempt is inevitably going to fail."
"But I didn't expect to gain anything on the first try anyway."
"Consider it as gathering information."
With these thoughts, Li Fan explored the Ancient Body Transformation Dao's cave.
Other than the jade slip left by Third Senior Brother, he didn't find anything valuable.
The entrance to the cave was tightly sealed, and it couldn't be opened from the inside.
After observing for a moment, Li Fan faintly sensed, "This seems to be a restriction imposed by the Ancient Body Transformation Dao itself, rather than an issue with the restriction being too strong."
"Can I only stay in this space..."
After pondering for a while, Li Fan returned to the room and started reading the contents of the jade slip.
In addition to the inheritance of the Ancient Body Transformation Dao, there was also a message of encouragement from Third Senior Brother to Tian Yang.
"Junior Brother, cultivate well at home and wait for my return."
"Master said that once your body recovers, your cultivation talent will not lose to anyone."
"Including those direct disciples of those Ten Great Immortal Sects."
"Come on, I'm counting on you. When you achieve cultivation success in the future, I'm counting on you to be my backer!"
...
After putting down the jade slip, Li Fan remained silent for a long time.