After the official internal investigation was completed, the search began for those Sects and families. At first, they t with strong resistance, but eventually, it was Emperor Dugu Jingtian himself who stepped forward and persuaded the Sects and families to accept the search.
The search operation lasted for a month and consud a vast amount of human and material resources, but the final result was... nothing was uncovered.
"Are you sure that you searched every place, every person?" Xin Lie asked with a stern face.
Emperor Dugu Jingtian nodded: "I am certain! There was absolutely no place overlooked, nor a single person missed."
"That's strange then," Xin Lie frowned. "If everything has been searched, why was the Stele not found?"
"Could there have been a mistake? Is the Stele not in the Southeast Region?" Dugu Jingtian said hesitantly.
"Impossible!" Xin Lie shook his head. "The Qiankun Resonance Technique I cast is the most powerful search secret technique in the Immortal Realm, it cannot make a mistake."
"Then there is only one possibility left."
"What?"
"The holder of the Stele has already left the Southeast Region."
"Oh? That possibility does exist!" Xin Lie nodded.
"Immortal, how about... you cast the secret technique once more? To sense the location of the Stele?" Dugu Jingtian suggested.
"Cast it again?" Xin Lie furrowed his brow. "The last ti it failed, and this ti it's likely to fail too."
"Let's give it a try, what if it succeeds? Then we will save a lot of effort," said Dugu Jingtian.
Xin Lie hesitated for a mont, then nodded: "Alright, I will cast it once more... I hope it will be successful." Upon saying this, Xin Lie paused: "Let's go, to the Death Sea region."
"Eh? What are we going there for?" Dugu Jingtian was stunned.
"Rember that island? The one you get to through the underwater vortex."
"Of course, I rember it."
"Only on that island can I cast the Qiankun Resonance Technique to sense the location of the Stele."
"Why is that?"
"Because the island still holds the residual aura of the Stele, and it's with these auras that the Qiankun Resonance Technique locates the Stele's whereabouts," Xin Lie explained patiently.
"Oh, I see," Dugu Jingtian showed a look of realization. "If there is no residual aura of the Stele, then you cannot cast the Qiankun Resonance Technique?"
"I could cast it, but it's very troubleso; many preparations are needed, and it would take a heavier toll on ," Xin Lie shook his head. "That's why, unless it's absolutely necessary, I would not cast the Qiankun Resonance Technique." He added after pausing: "From my birth to now, I have cast the Qiankun Resonance Technique only three tis, and after each one, I suffered severe damage! Let's drop this topic and hurry to the Death Sea region!"
...
Several days later.
The two arrived in the Death Sea region, sank into the seabed, and passed through the vortex to the mysterious island, where Xin Lie began casting the Qiankun Resonance Technique.
Emperor Dugu Jingtian stood by and watched.
An hour later, Xin Lie stopped casting spells and stood up with a heavy sigh.
"How did it go?" Dugu Jingtian asked with concern.
Xin Lie shook his head: "It failed."
"What shall we do now?" Dugu Jingtian was sowhat anxious.
After pondering for a mont, Xin Lie said slowly: "Help announce a ssage."
"Please give your instructions, Immortal."
"Tell everyone in the world that whoever can hand over the Stele, I will take him to the Immortal Realm, help him rebuild his Physical Body, and enable him to beco an Immortal."
"Ah?"
"What's with the 'ah'? Weren't my words clear enough?"
"No, no, no, very clear, extrely clear... After I go back, I'll post the proclamation."
"Don't worry, my promise to you is still valid. As long as I can find the stele, I'll take you to the Immortal Realm."
"With those words from an Immortal, I am relieved," Dugu Jingtian said with a smile.
"Let's go, let's head back," Xin Lie flashed away, departing.
Dugu Jingtian hurriedly followed.
The two had co eagerly but returned dejected, their mood very gloomy.
...
Once back in the imperial city, Dugu Jingtian sent people to post the proclamations. They had to be put up in every alley and at every intersection, no place could be overlooked.
After the proclamation was posted, the whole Human Territory was in an uproar.
"What? An Immortal has co to Elysium?"
"Can't be fake, can it?"
"This is a proclamation issued by the Emperor Himself, how can it be false?"
"Do Immortals really exist in this world? Oh, my ancestors, there really are Immortals!"
"If only I could et an Immortal just once, I know it's an extravagant hope, sothing impossible to achieve."
"Hand over the stele, and you can go to the Immortal Realm to beco an Immortal? This is a huge opportunity!"
"Look for the stele! Everybody, go look for the stele! Whoever finds the stele can go to the Immortal Realm to beco an Immortal!!!"
...
Officials went crazy, Sect mbers went crazy, families went crazy... even the commoners at the bottom were crazy... Everyone wanted to beco an Immortal!
Even Gao Fei was tempted.
"Xuan Jizi, what do you think I should do?" Unable to decide, Gao Fei eventually sought Xuan Jizi's opinion. Having lived for over two thousand years, Xuan Jizi had much more life experience than Gao Fei. Whenever Gao Fei encountered trouble, Xuan Jizi could always offer good advice. In plain terms, Xuan Jizi was Gao Fei's strategist, the one who helped him devise plans.
"Don't ask , make your own decision," Xuan Jizi said.
"I'm asking you because I can't make a decision," Gao Fei said with a wry smile. "Just help analyze it, what should I really do?"
"..." Xuan Jizi fell silent for a mont, then said, "If it were , I wouldn't hand over the stele."
"Why?"
"Two reasons: First, I wouldn't want to part with it; second, I don't believe what that Immortal said."
"That can't be, can it?" Gao Fei frowned. "He is an Immortal, after all. How could his word not count?"
"Have you seen him? Do you understand him? Do you know who he is? What if he's a hypocrite? A despicable villain?" Xuan Jizi asked several questions in one breath. "What would you do if he went back on his word after you handed over the stele? Have you thought about all of this?"
Gao Fei's face twitched. "You have a point... Alright, I'll take your advice and not hand over the stele."
Missing out on an opportunity to beco an Immortal left Gao Fei feeling very depressed.
"That Immortal must be eliminated," Gao Fei said gravely, enunciating each word. "As long as he lives, I won't have a mont's peace." Having reached this point, Gao Fei had no choice but to take the risk and see if luck would be on his side.
"With just my own power, it's impossible to oppose an Immortal! Only by gathering everyone's strength is there a chance to eliminate the Immortal!" A ruthless light flickered in Gao Fei's eyes. "Provoke , and even an Immortal won't escape being killed."
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