Chapter 428: Plans Have Changed

Just like that, the sudden raw soul invasion ended.

Afterward, Priest Huinv told Li Ban that most battles here erupted just like this—suddenly and without any discernible pattern.

This was why the Nine Heavens Sea always gathered the highest concentration of priests in all the Nine Provinces.

After operating alongside Huinv for half a month, Li Ban gained a solid grasp of the situation at the Nine Heavens Sea. Priest Li He finally assigned him a squad of his own.

Perhaps because he valued Li Ban, Li He didn't assign him to the most dangerous areas. Instead, he stationed him at a moderately distant cape where he could operate independently but still receive timely backup if things went wrong.

Li Ban was also assigned three subordinates.

Qingfeng, a 6th Tier priest.

And two 5th Tier priests, Xunwei and Jilan.

He led these three priests in guarding a nine-layer pagoda, rarely leaving it even to eat or rest.

Any departure required formal approval from the priest coordinating the defenses.

Discipline was extremely strict.

However, being a 7th Tier priest came with an advantage. He didn't have to constantly monitor the ocean outside. He could cultivate behind closed doors within the pagoda and only head out when an alarm sounded.

Therefore, once his routine stabilized, Li Ban entered the quiet room to cultivate. In reality, he used the Zhuangsheng Ring to load into the Trash Realm on the Dark Side of the World.

The moment he entered his Trash Realm Carrier, Li Ban realized the giant jellyfish hadn't left.

It clung to him, completely motionless as if fast asleep.

This massive jellyfish was actually a full size larger than Li Ban's Trash Realm Carrier. Li Ban wasn't worried it would freeload off him forever, but he had no idea how long it intended to stay.

For such a colossal creature, the concept of time was undoubtedly vastly different from an ordinary person's.

It might not move for a month or two. It might not budge for a year or two.

'I'll wait three more months,' he thought. 'If it still hasn't left by then, I'll find a way to drive it off.'

Decision made, Li Ban quickly returned to the Nine Heavens Sea.

Two days later, Priest Zhu Yao finally returned.

She had originally said she would be back in a day or two, but it had taken her over half a month.

Many people had begun to worry whether something had happened to her.

Fortunately, not only did she return safely, she also brought back news of Du An.

Upon receiving the message, Li Ban immediately hurried to Priest Zhu Yao's nine-layer pagoda.

Zhu Yao was so surprised to see Li Ban that she completely forgot what she was saying.

"Li Ban, why did you come to the Nine Heavens Sea?" she asked.

Li Ban took out the jade bottle Priest Qian Que had given him.

"I wanted to come to the Nine Heavens Sea to temper myself. Priest Qian Que also asked me to deliver this to you," he said.

Zhu Yao accepted the jade bottle with a faint smile.

"Thank you."

She put the jade bottle away and guided Li Ban into the nine-layer pagoda.

"Priest Ling Feng, this is the new priest I brought in, Li Ban," she introduced.

Priest Ling Feng possessed a carefree, untamed air. He looked at Li Ban with high appreciation.

"I've long heard of Priest Li Ban's excellence, and how you completely killed Black Robe Xiao Suo. Seeing you today, you truly live up to your reputation," Ling Feng said.

"Priest Ling Feng overpraises me," Li Ban said, cupping his hands. "Dealing with Xiao Suo was the combined effort of Priest Qian Que, Priest Li He, and the other white-robed priests. I was merely one link in the operation."

"But you were the most important link," Ling Feng replied.

Priest Ling Feng clearly admired Li Ban.

He gazed intently at Li Ban.

"Merging someone else's Wizard Embryo Fragment without seeking advancement—even I wouldn't be capable of such a state of mind," Ling Feng said. "With how you've tempered your mindset, I wouldn't be surprised if you broke through to Solar Priest right now."

After praising Li Ban, he brought up another matter.

"Li Ban, I heard from Priest Zhu Yao that you and Du An come from the same world?" he asked.

Li Ban sighed inwardly and could only admit it.

"We indeed both come from the Ring World. That place has already been destroyed," he said.

"And your Wizard Embryo Fragments also come from the same wizard embryo?" Ling Feng pressed.

"Yes."

Priest Ling Feng spoke with utmost solemnity.

"Li Ban, there is something we would like to ask for your help with."

"Capturing Du An?"

Based on what Priest Ling Feng had just said, Li Ban had a vague guess as to what he intended.

"Exactly. Du An shares the same wizard embryo origin as you. I want to use the resonance between identical embryo origins to locate where Du An is hiding," Ling Feng explained.

Originally, Li Ban hadn't wanted to participate in the operation to capture Du An.

After all, Du An was now entangled with the Ultimate, so Li Ban felt that any operation against him would most likely end up going nowhere.

But now that Priest Ling Feng and the others were personally inviting him, he didn't have a good excuse to refuse.

However, after a moment's thought, Li Ban decided that joining them wasn't completely out of the question.

"I can do it. But Du An definitely understands this as well. Using identical Wizard Embryo Fragments might not succeed," Li Ban warned.

"I understand your concerns. But Du An currently has a mysterious 8th Tier black-robed priest by his side," Ling Feng replied. "This person has never appeared in the Wizard World before, and I fear there will be other variables. Whether we can find Du An or not, we have to try."

Li Ban nodded and agreed.

Since Priest Ling Feng already knew the risks, they might as well give it a shot.

And so, having only stood guard for slightly over half a month, Li Ban once again left his post.

'It seems like every time I take up a post somewhere, I never stay for long,' he thought.

The work at this nine-layer pagoda was temporarily handed over to Qingfeng, and the neighboring pagodas would assist in fending off any enemies.

Since a top leader had called him away, the follow-up arrangements would naturally be properly handled.

Li Ban followed Priest Ling Feng to another nine-layer pagoda that similarly lacked any distinguishing features.

To prevent enemies from pinpointing weaknesses and attacking them, all the nine-layer pagodas along the coastline looked completely identical from the outside.

Even the two 8th Tier Solar Priests might not necessarily appear in any fixed location.

After entering, Li Ban saw Priest Li He, who was already waiting there.

"We meet again, Priest Ban," Priest Li He said with a smile. "I knew you wouldn't stay idle once you came to the Nine Heavens Sea."

o

After exchanging pleasantries, Priest Ling Feng began detailing the specific action plan to Li Ban and the others.

Once everyone's tasks were assigned, Priest Ling Feng initiated his most crucial step.

"Priest Ban, do not resist," Ling Feng said.

Priest Ling Feng pressed a finger against the center of Li Ban's brow.

Zhu Yao, Li He, and the other priests watched from the side.

Priest Huinv was also participating in this operation.

There weren't many people, but all of them were formidable.

The last priest participating in the operation was a Dark Moon Priest that Li Ban had never seen before, named Shi Ye.

Apart from Priest Li He, who would remain behind to guard the coastline, everyone else would be entering the deep sea zone for this operation.

A moment later, while keeping one hand pressed against Li Ban's brow, Priest Ling Feng raised his other hand to brow level.

Soon after, a Wizard Embryo Fragment unexpectedly appeared in his palm as well.

Li Ban, who was intimately familiar with his own Wizard Embryo Fragment, could naturally tell that this fragment was completely identical to his own in both appearance and aura.

The only difference was that his own Wizard Embryo Fragment was hidden within a Star River.

And Priest Ling Feng hadn't sensed the existence of the Star River in the slightest.