"The character [Creation] is not the highest achievement of Great Qi's research into the True Immortal seal script."

Li Fan's expression became somewhat absent-minded, with a trace of melancholy.

As expected, the moment those words were spoken, the Elders of the Immortal Ark were immediately shaken.

They had personally experienced the wonders of [Creation]. Even the version Li Fan had merely described, weakened by an unknown amount, possessed power far beyond a single True Immortal seal script character such as [Forgetfulness].

From this alone, it was obvious that the genuine [Creation] character truly possessed the miraculous power to transform decay into wonder.

Yet now, Li Fan was claiming that Great Qi had actually comprehended a True Immortal seal script character that surpassed [Creation].

"Th... is what you say really true, Fellow Daoist?" Even the normally composed Zhong Daogong could no longer maintain his calm and blurted out the question.

The other Immortal Ark elders likewise fixed their gazes upon Li Fan.

"How would I dare speak recklessly?" Li Fan replied solemnly.

"That character was Great Qi's highest secret. Only those at my master's level were qualified to come into contact with it. I only heard my master mention it casually a few times while serving at his side."

"It seemed... to concern the [Transformation Between Immortal and Mortal]."

"The Transformation Between Immortal and Mortal?"

Li Fan had spoken only a few brief sentences, yet the Immortal Ark elders all displayed different expressions as countless possibilities raced through their minds.

Li Fan observed their reactions. To further strengthen the credibility of his words, he added, "That character truly is extraordinary. Ever since my master participated in its research, some of the True Immortal seal script structures that he habitually wrote during my daily instruction underwent subtle changes."

"But those seemingly insignificant adjustments caused the True Immortal seal script itself to undergo an almost complete transformation."

Before everyone's eyes, Li Fan moved his hand like a dragon and snake, drawing two character structures in the empty air.

Their overall shapes were identical, but subtle differences existed in the curvature, turning points, and other minute details.

The Immortal Ark elders stared blankly at the two character structures.

It was as though they possessed boundless magic, completely capturing everyone's attention.

Nearly half a day passed before Zhong Daogong was the first to regain his senses. Without disturbing the others' enlightenment, he turned his head away from the floating characters and began attempting to reproduce them himself.

As he traced them with his fingers, delight gradually appeared on his face.

"So that is how it is."

These altered character structures were precisely those Li Fan had obtained from the bloodline inheritance of the You Clansmen race, structures seemingly related to the Transformation Between Immortal and Mortal.

That True Immortal seal script character had appeared boundless, containing the ultimate principles of heaven and earth. Although Li Fan had been fortunate enough to glimpse only a fragment of it in this life, his strength had been insufficient to completely reproduce it.

His memory of that mysterious character had vanished alongside his failed attempt to observe it.

Only faint impressions of the countless minute structures that composed the mysterious character remained.

At this moment, Li Fan was presenting those structures derived from the Transformation Between Immortal and Mortal to deceive the people of the Immortal Ark.

Although calling it deception was not entirely accurate.

The Transformation Between Immortal and Mortal stood at an unimaginably high level.

Even the tiniest fragment was enough to benefit the Immortal Ark endlessly.

Just as at this very moment, the elders gradually awakened from their enlightenment, each feeling as though enlightenment had suddenly descended upon them.

"We were wrong. Completely wrong. I never imagined that everything we had done in the first half of our lives was mistaken."

"So it can actually be written like this. Such tiny modifications alone increase the efficiency of writing True Immortal seal script by more than ten percent."

"It is not merely writing efficiency. The True Immortal seal script written through this method also possesses a naturally higher degree of completeness."

...

The elders discussed excitedly among themselves, filled with joy.

In this simple manner, Li Fan once again proved his value.

During the following month, Li Fan officially took up residence aboard the Immortal Ark.

Within the Severed Immortal Tower atop the Immortal Ark's Divine Tree, Zhong Daogong personally opened another small courtyard for Li Fan, demonstrating the Ark's high regard for him.

Li Fan did not disappoint them.

By his own efforts, he almost single-handedly completed the Immortal Ark's severely underdeveloped formation system.

"With the guidance of a predecessor, the Immortal Ark's formation research has advanced by a hundred years in a single night," Elder Meng Xiaomeng sighed.

He carefully engraved the formation knowledge that Li Fan taught onto jade slips one after another.

Meng Xiaomeng had always opposed placing all of the Immortal Ark's hopes solely upon True Immortal seal script.

Therefore, besides researching True Immortal seal script, he had also studied formations and alchemy, hoping to open new paths for the Immortal Ark's survival.

However, lacking a proper master, he could only study the ancient formations preserved within the Immortal Ark's records.

As a result, his attainment in formations had remained rather mediocre.

After witnessing Li Fan's formation theories over the past month, he regarded them as nothing short of miraculous.

His passion had been completely ignited, and he devoted himself wholeheartedly to formation research, even casting aside True Immortal seal script entirely.

Zhong Daogong did not stop him.

After all, there were already plenty of elders researching True Immortal seal script. Losing one Meng Xiaomeng made little difference.

But establishing a complete formation inheritance for the Immortal Ark was of tremendous importance.

During this period, Li Fan did far more than simply establish the Ark's formation inheritance.

Under his leadership and guidance, every defensive formation throughout the Immortal Ark was completely reconstructed.

After extensive testing by the elders, the newly reinforced formations increased the Ark's defensive resilience by more than threefold.

Critical locations such as the Severed Immortal Tower, the Celestial Pivot Institute, and the Divine Tree all received vastly improved defensive capabilities.

There was also a small incident during this process.

At first, many Immortal Ark elders had voiced objections to rebuilding the formations.

They especially disagreed with entrusting something as vital as the Ark's defenses to Li Fan, someone who had only recently joined.

However, after witnessing Li Fan effortlessly dismantle the original defensive formations within a few breaths, passing through countless restrictions as though they did not exist, the elders immediately broke into cold sweat.

Their opinions quickly became unanimous in support.

By establishing a new formation inheritance and rebuilding the Ark's defenses, Li Fan gained the deep trust of the overwhelming majority of the Immortal Ark in a remarkably short time.

Furthermore, after joining the Ark, Li Fan conducted himself with elegance and courtesy.

He treated everyone kindly.

Anyone who came seeking advice received answers without reservation.

Before long, Li Fan had earned an excellent reputation among the elders.

Visitors came to his courtyard in an endless stream.

On this particular day, several elders had come to Li Fan's courtyard, where he was explaining the Taijia Divine Art.

"Transform the body into the universe, let the mind roam the river of stars. Taijia knows no limits, and the spirit wanders. Taijia knows no change, and the spirit transforms. Taijia knows no emptiness, and spirit gives rise to spirit..."

The elders had always devoted themselves to True Immortal seal script and initially showed little interest in what was merely called a divine art.

However, after hearing the complete technique, every one of them became serious.

"Brother Li, this divine art appears to be incomplete," Immortal Ark Elder Lu Yuzhi said with a frown.

After spending so much time among the people of the Immortal Ark and earning everyone's goodwill, Li Fan's way of addressing them had naturally become much more familiar.

"Although it is only a fragment, it does not prevent communication with the Star Sea consciousness. However, even with the Star Sea consciousness now approaching destruction, it is still far from easy for cultivators like us to make contact with it. Whether you succeed or not will ultimately depend on your own fortune."

After finishing his explanation of the Taijia Divine Art, Li Fan looked at the crowd with a faint smile.

Lu Yuzhi nodded.

"We naturally understand that. Communicating with the Star Sea is akin to the ancient state of unity between heaven and man. Whether it is comprehending the Dao or carrying out deductions, the efficiency is incomparable to one's normal state."

"It is even of tremendous benefit when comprehending True Immortal seal script. Haha. Those old fellows who did not come today will certainly regret it once they find out. The few of us must keep our mouths shut. Unless they pay a heavy price, we absolutely must not reveal anything." After grasping the mysteries of the Taijia Divine Art, Gan Jingda stroked his beard and joked.

"Brother Li's knowledge is truly terrifying. It is like an inexhaustible treasury. Every time I come here, I gain something new." Elder Nangong Lie's words immediately drew nods and praise from everyone present.

Facing their compliments, Li Fan merely replied calmly, "My lifelong wish is to empty everything stored in my mind before I fall, leaving it all behind for the Immortal Ark."

"Then, at the very end of my life, I will stake everything on one final attempt."

"I want to see what lies beyond the High Wall."

Li Fan spoke with ease and complete composure.

The elders of the Immortal Ark present reacted differently. Some felt regret, some heartache, and some could not bear it.

"Brother Li, is there truly no other way?"

"The Immortal Ark treasury should contain several secret medicines that extend lifespan. Perhaps..."

Li Fan waved his hand dismissively.

"After the protective formation was fully restored, Elder Zhong already took me into the secret treasury to try them. My lifespan has truly reached its end. No heavenly treasures or earthly treasures can help anymore. I accepted my fate long ago."

"I can only say that the backlash from beyond the High Wall is truly terrifying."

"Yet because of that, my curiosity has only grown stronger. Before my life ends, I must see for myself what truly exists beyond the High Wall."

His eyes shone with unwavering determination.

The people of the Immortal Ark fell silent and sighed upon hearing his words.

Suddenly, Li Fan seemed to recall something.

"By the way, when I suffered the backlash earlier, my master said that if not for the figurine I obtained from the Immortal Ark treasury absorbing part of the force, I probably would not have had even twenty years of life remaining. I would have perished on the spot, body and soul extinguished."

"Where exactly did that figurine come from? When I selected it, I only thought its appearance was rather unusual. I never expected it to possess the ability to withstand power from beyond the High Wall."

As he spoke, Li Fan projected the image of the figurine standing with its hands lowered, its eyes cast downward.

Everyone present had accompanied him when he selected it from the treasury. Hearing this, they all recalled the scene, their expressions becoming rather strange.

"So this figurine actually possesses such an extraordinary ability?"

The elders looked at one another, yet none of them knew its origin.

"Wait. Let me look through the records." Lu Yuzhi immediately stood up with a solemn expression.

After all, anything capable of resisting power from beyond the High Wall deserved the utmost caution.

"Brother Li, something this important. Why didn't you ask earlier?" Nangong Lie shook his head.

Li Fan smiled bitterly.

"When I first learned that my lifespan was almost exhausted and my bright future had vanished into nothing, my state of mind completely collapsed. How could I still care about such things? Only after gradually calming down did the mention of the treasury remind me again."

After Li Fan explained himself, no one pursued the matter further.

Lu Yuzhi was gone only briefly before hurrying back.

"According to the records, this figurine came from a cultivation world that has already been destroyed, the Unfettered Free Realm."

With a wave of his hand, he displayed an image for everyone.

Hearing the somewhat familiar name, Li Fan's heart stirred slightly.

"The cultivators of that world disliked conflict. Just as the world's name suggests, they were carefree by nature and valued absolute freedom, unwilling to be bound by anything. This figurine was purchased by the Xuanshang Immortal Ark from a gambler when it passed through the Unfettered Free Realm."

The image shifted, revealing a slovenly man in tattered clothes.

The recording was extremely ancient, making the reconstructed image unstable. It flickered constantly, and the sound was intermittent.

Even so, it did not prevent everyone from understanding what had happened.

"This thing is a genuine treasure. Buy it, and you definitely won't lose out." The ragged man scratched beneath his crotch, sniffed his hand, then spoke carelessly.

"The figurine does indeed appear somewhat extraordinary. However, your asking price of one hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones is simply too high. It exceeds the limits of my authority." A crisp voice sounded from outside the image.

"That was the merchant assigned to the Unfettered Free Realm back then. His name was..."

"Jia Chu. Yes, Jia Chu." Lu Yuzhi explained to Li Fan.

"He was the one who completed this transaction. In strict accordance with the Immortal Ark's regulations, he recorded the entire process and archived it. That is why, after ten thousand years, we are fortunate enough to witness this scene."

"It is a pity that Jia Chu chose to stand with the Shang Immortal Ark during the Immortal Ark Schism. No one knows where he is now." Lu Yuzhi said regretfully.

Li Fan nodded slightly and continued watching the recording.

Jia Chu stood up, preparing to leave without the slightest hesitation.

The previously indifferent ragged man immediately panicked.

He grabbed Jia Chu's hands and said with a flattering smile, "If the price is too high, we can negotiate. Eighty thousand. Eighty thousand is enough. For the famous Xuanshang Immortal Ark, a mere eighty thousand high-grade spirit stones is practically nothing."

Jia Chu paid no attention to the hands tightly gripping him.

He calmly replied, "Although our Xuanshang Immortal Ark possesses great wealth, we cannot spend eighty thousand spirit stones on a figurine of completely unknown origin."

"Thirty thousand spirit stones is already the highest amount I am authorized to decide on. Any higher, and I would have to report it to my superiors. That would be too troublesome. I would rather not make this deal."

His tone was completely resolute.

"Thirty thousand? You're driving the price down far too much." The ragged man muttered unhappily.

"If you think the price is too low, you can always sell it to one of the Unfettered Free Realm's local merchant guilds." Jia Chu replied indifferently.

The ragged man scratched his head without answering.

"The Unfettered Free Realm's local merchant guilds actually maintained countless ties with our Xuanshang Immortal Ark. They were practically branches of our Immortal Ark within the Unfettered Free Realm. That ragged cultivator knew this as well, which is why he had nothing to say." Lu Yuzhi explained.

After another lengthy round of bargaining, Jia Chu ultimately purchased the figurine for forty-five thousand spirit stones.

Just before handing over the payment, Jia Chu suddenly asked, "Where did you obtain this figurine?"

The ragged man's expression immediately became vigilant.

Jia Chu casually pointed toward the recording light sphere beside them.

"It is merely a routine question. You do not have to answer."

"However, if any problems arise with this figurine in the future, we will come looking for you again."

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