Chapter 728: The Tianxuan Mirror's Transformation

"I had originally planned to spend more time within the White Mist," Li Fan said, a tremor of grief in his voice. "But my companion, Huangfu Song, met his end there. I watched a comrade, one I had spent many days with, die so brutally before my own eyes... It shook me deeply."

Rueful sorrow crossed Li Fan's face. "You must understand, Huangfu Song's cultivation was a full realm above my own. Yet he died for no discernible reason. Life and death are capricious and unpredictable. That sight cleansed all greed from my heart. I turned back immediately.

"Fortunately, the divine power of Heavenly Venerable Rebirth gives Huangfu a chance at resurrection."

Hearing that Li Fan had fought his way back from the White Mist, a flicker of contempt, so faint it was almost imperceptible, passed through Tantai Tao’s eyes.

Shuo Feng, however, smiled wryly. "I told you not to go from the very beginning. But you wouldn't listen. For such paltry rewards, it isn’t worth it."

Li Fan shook his head slightly. "Not everyone has your illustrious family background, Brother Shuo. If I want something, I have to strive for it myself. Luckily, fortune was on my side..."

As he spoke, Li Fan produced the Final Stone Disc.

The object immediately drew the gazes of both Shuo Feng and Tantai Tao.

He handed the stone disc over without ceremony. Shuo Feng examined it closely for a long moment, then let out an admiring whistle. "You really do have some extraordinary providence. I know plenty of people who had their eyes on this trinket, yet you were the one to redeem it first.

"Whether that's a gain or a loss, though, remains to be seen."

Unable to discern anything special about it, Shuo Feng tossed it to Tantai Tao.

Tantai Tao narrowed his eyes and studied it for a while, then shook his head slightly and returned it to Li Fan.

"Have either of you noticed anything?" Li Fan asked.

"The Immortal Alliance has already studied it thoroughly. They found nothing. How could we uncover its secrets in such a short time?" Shuo Feng said with a dismissive snort.

Tantai Tao added, "To my eye, this object is probably just an ordinary, plain stone."

Li Fan shook his head. "I feel this object is far from ordinary. When I return, I'll study it further. If I find anything, I'll let you both know immediately!"

Displeasure flashed through Tantai Tao's eyes.

But Shuo Feng clapped his hands. "Then I'll await the news with great anticipation!"

Tantai Tao was forced to echo the sentiment.

"By the way," Li Fan said, changing the subject after a moment of silence, "when I arrived earlier, I heard you mention the Immortal Venerable..." He let the question hang.

Shuo Feng waved a hand, annoyance crossing his face. "Don't even mention it. I've recently felt a stirring within, a sign that my chance to form my Nascent Soul is near. But she absolutely refuses to let me leave, saying I need to wait.

"I’m stuck in this tiny villa day after day. It's driving me mad."

"There's surely some deeper meaning behind the Immortal Venerable's decision," Li Fan said, not disparaging the Scarlet Snow Immortal Venerable but furrowing his brow in thought. "Having you wait... could some great upheaval be about to befall the Immortal Alliance?"

"I've heard something," Tantai Tao said suddenly.

"Oh?" Shuo Feng turned to him, interest piqued.

"They say the exploration of the White Mist Barriers is nearly complete. Enough data has been gathered. Perhaps the Tianxuan Mirror is about to undergo—" Tantai Tao stopped mid-sentence.

"It's fine. Brother Li is a guest elder of my Xuan family. Speak freely!" Shuo Feng dismissed Tantai Tao’s hesitation.

Only then did Tantai Tao continue.

"The Tianxuan Mirror was left behind by the Heavenly Venerable Dao Teacher. It's the most miraculous treasure of the Immortal Alliance. All things within the Xuanhuang World are reflected within it.

"Except for the White Mist Barriers.

"To the Tianxuan Mirror, the regions inside the White Mist remain completely unknown.

"If one compared the Tianxuan Mirror to a cultivator, its method of cultivation would be to measure heaven and earth. But for thousands of years, it's been stuck at a bottleneck. It hasn't advanced a single step further.

"Naturally, the Five Elders Council won't allow the Tianxuan Mirror to spy on them. So for the Mirror to advance, the only path forward is to measure the regions within the White Mist.

"With enough data, perhaps the Tianxuan Mirror can take that step forward and complete its transformation.

"That's precisely why the Immortal Alliance is now pushing cultivators to explore the White Mist Barriers so aggressively."

Tantai Tao spoke in a calm, measured tone.

Shuo Feng couldn't help but interject. "So you were summoned to the Immortal Alliance headquarters along with the other array masters because of this? Even I didn't know these secrets."

Tantai Tao only smiled, which was admission enough.

"The current Tianxuan Mirror is already worthy of being called the foundation of the Immortal Alliance. If it completes its transformation..." Longing flickered through Tantai Tao's eyes.

Li Fan considered for a moment. "The Tianxuan Mirror's transformation will certainly have a profound impact on the Immortal Alliance. The Scarlet Snow Immortal Venerable must have her reasons for keeping you here, Brother Shuo. Just wait patiently. By Brother Tantai's account, that day should come soon."

Shuo Feng snorted lightly and let the matter drop.

The three of them chatted idly for a while longer.

In the end, after Shuo Feng's persistent demands, Li Fan fought him one more time.

Li Fan deliberately slowed his casting speed, and Shuo Feng's sword light disrupted his Draw Thread divine ability when it was only half-formed.

A sword wound opened on Li Fan's body. As blood dripped everywhere, he quickly conceded defeat.

Shuo Feng roared with laughter. He waved a hand, and the countless thin, bloody cuts the threads had left on his own body healed instantly.

Having found a way to counter the Draw Thread divine ability and satisfied his itch, Shuo Feng no longer pressed Li Fan to stay.

Li Fan lingered for a short while, then took his leave.

He left Tianquan Province and returned to Longevity Valley.

Liu San, Fang Zaiji, and Jiang Yushan all came to pay their respects.

After reporting the number of Longevity Pills they had refined, Liu San brought up another matter.

"Oh, right. There's news about that cultivator named Zhong Shentong you asked us to find."

"Oh? What is it?" Li Fan raised an eyebrow.

Liu San's expression turned strange. "Young Master, are you certain this is the cultivator you're looking for?"

He displayed an image of an old man with white hair.

Li Fan's eyes narrowed. It was precisely the Zhong Shentong he had met in his previous life. He nodded in confirmation.

Liu San said in a bizarre tone, "We found the man, but it's said he couldn't break through his cultivation bottleneck even by the end of his lifespan. Now he's already dead."

"Dead?" Li Fan was stunned.

"Are you certain?" he asked again.

Zhong Shentong's Life-Death Profound Canon and his multicolored divine light were both peerless arts, rarely seen in the world. Someone who mastered both could hardly be an ordinary person. How could he have died so quietly in this life?

Liu San smiled wryly. "You entrusted this matter to us personally, Young Master. Naturally, I understand its importance. We confirmed it through multiple channels. Zhong Shentong is indeed dead."

Hearing this, Li Fan's brow furrowed deeply.

After a moment of thought, it smoothed again.

He had figured out the reason Zhong Shentong might have perished in this life.

It was likely because of the existence of the Heavenly Venerable Rebirth.

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