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Chapter 229: 213: The Inexplicable End of This World
Chapter 229: 213: The Inexplicable End of This World
Chapter 229: 213: The Inexplicable End of This World
Translator: 549690339
A beam of ghostly light swept past, and more than forty thousand pieces of paper floated up in an instant.
Inside the Tianxuan Mirror, Li Fan felt the papers in front of him seemed to have moved slightly.
After a moment, a thick “book” appeared in front of Li Fan.
“Decoding completed, the required contribution points have been deducted: twenty-eight thousand.”
“That was too fast!” Li Fan couldn’t help but marvel quietly.
Just now, that scene of the pages flying was definitely not an illusion of Li Fan.
It was the movement speed that exceeded the limit of Li Fan’s perception, so he couldn’t see the trajectory of the paper’s movement at all.
“Times have changed, Yi Xing!”
“In the past, without knowing the secret key, regular cultivators would never be able to unlock the Heavenly Lock Treasure Box you left behind.”
“But now, anyone can use the Tianxuan Mirror. This encrypted treasure box is defenseless in front of the Tianxuan Mirror!”
“Oh, the Tianxuan Mirror is indeed a wonderful treasure!”
With a sigh in his heart, Li Fan opened the unlocked Heavenly Lock Treasure
Box.
There were only two items inside.
A jade scroll, and a crystalline stone that radiated a deep blue glow.
The blue light flickered softly as if it were breathing.
Looking closely, it seemed like countless scenes were being played out inside the stone.
“This must be a Huadao Stone!”
Despite all tne trouble, Ll Fan, wno nad tmallY got wnat ne Wisnecl tor, JOYtullY held the Huadao Stone in his hand.
“I wonder what grade this Huadao Stone left by Yi Xing is.”
As usual, he let the Tianxuan Mirror play the role of an appraiser.
“Huadao Stone (Low-grade), can be exchanged for one hundred and fifty thousand contribution points.”
The Tianxuan Mirror showed the result quickly.
Li Fan decisively chose not to exchange it, pondering in his heart.
“Although it is of low grade, it should be enough for me right now. This small piece of stone is actually more expensive than the Nascent Soul Cultivation Technique.”
“No, Jiao Xiuyuan said that the Huadao Stone is priceless. One hundred and fifty thousand is just the theoretical purchase price of the Tianxuan Mirror.” “To buy it for the same price is nothing more than a fool’s dream.” Sure enough, Li Fan searched in the Tianxuan Mirror.
Many cultivators had posted messages seeking for the Huadao Stone.
The proposed trade conditions were not just contribution points, but equivalent value treasures of heaven and earth in exchange.
“This can be considered the most valuable item I currently possess.”
Li Fan was complacent as he put away the Huadao Stone first and started reading the jade scroll left by Yi Xing.
The jade scroll didn’t contain any cultivation techniques or secret arts.
It was mostly Yi Xing’s essays and some reflections before his death.
From the text, Li Fan learned about the life of Yi Xing, a disciple of Taiyan Sect, during the Great Migration Era many years ago.
At that time, due to the rule that immortal laws could not be cultivated together, many sects in the Immortal Cultivation World had experienced extremely brutal internecine killings.
Some thousand -year-old Immortal Sects were even wiped out overnight because of this.
Naturally, the Taiyan Sect was no exception.
However, most members of the Taiyan Sect preferred to calculate and infer arts, and were not very keen on fights and disputes.
The internal struggle was quickly suppressed by the head of the Taiyan Sect, Zuoqiu Shang.
Although such peace was not destined to last, it did maintain for a while.
And just as this short peace was about to disappear, the Immortal-Ordinary Miasma broke out.
Cultivating both Immortal and Mortal Techniques would only result in stagnation of cultivation.
But for those who were infected with the Immortal-Ordinary Miasma, they were truly going to die.
Which is heavier, which is lighter—all cultivators were acutely aware.
Hence, they could no longer afford internal strife.
Rather, they turned their attention to dealing with the Immortal-Ordinary Miasma.
The historical events of this period were consistent with what Li Fan had previously learned.
First, there was the indiscriminate slaughter of mortals, which was abruptly called off when they realized something was amiss.
Then, the notorious Great Migration Plan was proposed.
Those who had not reached the Energy Refining Stage were all forcibly migrated to nearby Small Worlds or Cave Heavens.
At that time, Yi Xing had already reached the final stage of energy refining.
However, he still volunteered to take responsibility for the migration of mortals in the Taiyan Sect and the neighboring areas.
Though the outbreak of the Immortal-Ordinary Miasma had forcibly terminated the process of cultivators slaughtering each other.
It’s foreseeable that soon, the true era of slaughter and darkness will fully descend.
At that time, he, this insignificant Energy Refining cultivator, would certainly be one of the first to be sacrificed.
Why not take this opportunity to escape to the Small Worlds nearby, along with the mortals?
With the power of an Immortal, command tens of thousands.
Create some achievements in this Small World.
Then voluntarily discard his own cultivation techniques to obtain peace.
Doing so, he might actually live longer than if he stubbornly stayed in the Immortal Cultivation World.
And so, Yi Xing established the Mortal Dynasty in this desolate Small World.
Knowing full well that immortality was beyond his reach, Yi Xing, upon becoming the emperor, mobilized his people to build his grave.
And while his cultivation was still intact, he laid an illusion array inside the tomb.
Thus concealing his actual burial site.
As Yi Xing advanced in age and the Spiritual Energy within his body completely dissipated, he became a complete mortal.
The aging process speeded up rapidly.
He began to reminisce about his days at Taiyan Sect.
At the brink of his death, he came to his tomb alone and sealed the grave.
He then sealed the Huadao Stone.
He hoped that if a person from the Taiyan Sect ever unintentionally arrived at this world, they would take the Huadao Stone back to the sect.
“I didn’t expect that Yi Xing had such a past.”
“This man does possess some wisdom. He made the right choice. He made a tactical retreat and successfully escaped from the Great Darkness Era.”
“However, it seems that there were perhaps quite a number of cultivators who chose to run.”
“Those with abilities, like Liu Ruchen of Medicine King Sect, directly tore open the void and escaped from the Xuanhuang World.”
“Those second to him escaped to Small Worlds around them, just like Yi Xing.”
Li Fan remembered what He Zhenghao had told him about the farce where the Small Worlds rebelled against the Immortal Cultivation World 500 years ago. “Perhaps, there was an influence left by the fleeing cultivators at that time…”
After daydreaming for a moment, Li Fan put away the Jade Scroll and gradually collected his scattered thoughts.
“I’ve got the Huadao Stone now, but how to use it? Yi Xing did not leave behind the secret technique of Taoist Divine One.”
Out of cautious confidentiality considerations, Li Fan did not ask Jiao Xiuyuan.
Instead, he continued to search in the Tianxuan Mirror.
As expected, though it was a sect-level secret technique of the ancient schools. However, the key to this technique is the Huadao Stone, not the technique itself.
Without the Huadao Stone, the Taoist Divine One is completely useless.
As for the method of utilizing the Huadao Stone, it’s not limited to just the Taoist Divine One, considering the many years of development in the Immortal Cultivation World.
In addition, the secret technique does not have any limitations regarding cultivation constraints, hence naturally, its price isn’t high either.
Li Fan only spent 30,000 contribution points, equivalent to the price of a Golden Core Technique.
After signing a non-disclosure business pact, he learned the secret technique.
“Touch it with the divine, blend it with computation.” “Make one with the object and me, turn the Tao into the divine.” Li Fan placed the deep blue Huadao stone at his third eye.
He started the Secret Technique and slowly began cultivating.
The process of merging the mind with the Huadao stone is a slow one.
Time quietly lapsed as Li Fan cultivated the secret technique.
In the blink of an eye, it was time to anchor the 11th year and the Celestial Palace of Clouds and Waters opened.
Although Li Fan is now quite wealthy, he wasn’t willing to waste the 100,000 contribution points required for the “The Cloud and Water Scroll” task.
Thus, he went once again to the Celestial Palace of Clouds and Waters using his clone.
The first obstacle he faced was still the test of Qin Tang.
However, his original body was cultivating, so controlling the clone was not as perfect as when Li Fan was fully focused.
Nevertheless, thanks to a good jug of wine, he managed to pass the test.
Among the testers, he still ranked first.
This time, Qin Tang did not teach him the Mistwater Mirage Technique but a Golden Core Stage Cultivation Method called “Wave Strider of the Azure Sea”.
Although disappointed, Li Fan accepted it stoically.
This clone only had the Energy Refining Cultivation, so getting a Golden Core Technique was already quite generous of Qin Tang.
He accompanied Qin Tang for a while before leaving the illusion.
After avoiding other cultivators, Li Fan headed straight to Taiyi Hall.
Without the Blue Flame Spirit, his clone struggled hard to get through the Sword Forest in front of Taiyi Hall.
“Disciple of the Dharma Transmission Hall of the Celestial Palace of Clouds and Waters, Lin Fan, requests to see the Taiyi Ancestor Master!”
As he activated the newly learned “Wave Strider of the Azure Sea”, he began to chant.
The turtle-snake monster woke up from its slumber.
Despite looking bewildered, there’s no mistaking the aura of the cultivation technique directly passed down by Qin Tang.
Taiyi spent a moment to discern, then handed the miniature Celestial Palace of Clouds and Waters, emanating a five-coloured glow, to Li Fan.
After procuring “The Cloud and Water Scroll”, to avoid complications, he promptly returned to the Tianxuan Mirror Space and chose to complete the task.
The response from the Tianxuan Mirror was the same as in the twelfth era.
“Unable to authenticate the authenticity of ‘The Cloud and Water Scroll’. Please wait.”
After a long silence.
The voice of the Tianxuan Mirror spoke up again.
“The task initiator… requests to visit your space, do you accept?”
Li Fan naturally chose to agree.
A moment later, an elderly man with white hair, the Celestial Doctor, appeared in front of Li Fan with a kind face.
After a modest bow, Li Fan handed over the seven-colour model.
The Celestial Doctor took over the Celestial Palace of Clouds and Waters, carefully observing and feeling a myriad of emotions.
After a long while, he asked again, “What is the present state within the Celestial Palace of Clouds and Waters?”
Li Fan responded truthfully to each question.
The Celestial Doctor showed some unfathomable expressions in his turbid eyes upon hearing his answers.
He fell silent again.
Based on the experience from the twelfth era, the Celestial Doctor would issue another errand task, asking Li Fan to place a white jade statue in the Celestial Palace of Clouds and Waters. It is this white jade statue that, five years later, would attract the Master of the Green Bull Cart.
The battle between the two would result in the Celestial Palace of Clouds and Waters being resealed again.
The Celestial Doctor was silent for a long time, seemingly lost in memory.
Li Fan had to wait patiently.
However, at this moment, the course of events changed completely differently from before, greatly exceeding Li Fan’s expectations.
The long-silent Celestial Doctor suddenly raised his head and looked at Li Fan. There was a strange look on his face as he asked, “Young friend, what are you expecting?”
Li Fan was shocked.
He was horrified to find that his body seemed to be out of control. His mouth opened and closed, and dark secrets hidden in his heart were exposed without any reserve!
“I’m waiting for you to give me another task, to run another errand to the Cloud and Water…” His voice suddenly became strange, as if controlled by a puppet. It was both hilarious and terrifying.
Inside the Tianxuan Mirror, Li Fan’s original body was awakened from cultivation.
He immediately used the Secret Technique of “The Secret of Swapping Day and Night” without hesitation.
He chose to give up his clone’s life.
..palace, place the jade statue inside…” The clone’s words were interrupted halfway, and its life energy visibly declined.
The words were immediately interrupted, and it seemed like it was about to meet its end.
The white-haired man showed a faintly mocking smile.
With a gentle point into the air, the clone, which was on the verge of death, was forcefully revived.
“…the repayment, you will give me a copy of ‘The Immortal Scripture of the Heavenly Physician’…”
The clone managed to finish its sentence while teetering between life and death.
Then it finally turned into flying ashes.
Upon hearing the answer, the Heavenly Doctor was taken aback, revealing a look of surprise.
Then as if understanding something, a smile spread over his aged face.
“Good!”
The moment the clone completely died, the alarm in Li Fan’s heart did not dissipate.
Without hesitation, he swiftly noticed it in his heart.
“Rea…”
In the Tianxuan Mirror Space he was in, it seemed like a rift was suddenly torn open.
Through the rift, the figure of the Celestial Doctor could be vaguely seen.
“lity…”
The word “Reality” had been spoken, but the surrounding scenes did not instantly turn into nothingness as they had before.
It felt like he had fallen into a mire or been cut off from contact.
The Celestial Doctor’s gaze reached Li Fan through the rift.
At this moment, for the two years he had been in the Immortal Cultivation World.
The energy stored in [Real] dropped dramatically.
The inexplicable obstacle vanished.
The surrounding images became blurred again, and Li Fan’s consciousness plunged into the darkness..