Chapter 1136: Qingxuan Shang Shaojun

Di Yi Beast had already led the beast tribes in an escape from the Xuanhuang Realm, while Di San Mo remained hidden deep within the Immortal Alliance headquarters, rarely seen by ordinary individuals. However, both had appeared during the upheaval at the Beast Taming Sect in the Fallen Immortal Realm, so he could confront them directly for a clear explanation.

“Fellow Daoist Sun?” Elder Zhang Xu's spiritual transmission interrupted Li Fan's thoughts.

Turning his attention back to the Derivation Jade's guardian space, the little loli was busy with an urgent derivation task. Having been assigned an extra chore for no reason, she looked puffed up with anger, her face full of resentment. The task merely required a cultivation method for the Dao Integration stage, yet she had already spent three days and three nights on it without successfully deriving it. There was a high probability that this young lady was seizing the opportunity to slack off.

Inside the derivation space, besides the three Dao Integration guardians, there was also a young man in green robes. Although his body was straight and motionless, his anxiousness could still be discerned from his demeanor. Considering the high priority of this derivation task, a delay might cause significant trouble. Guardian Zhang Xu thus secretly transmitted another message, asking Li Fan to play the bad guy. Anyway, over this period, Li Fan's image in the Derivation Jade's mind had already been categorized as one of the most detestable people in the world; there was no longer a need to conjure a gong to remind her.

When the hourglass silently appeared above the Derivation Jade's head, the little loli's expression drastically changed, and the speed of the character-light sphere's rotation instantly multiplied several times. Before long, she had derived the cultivation method the young man in green needed. The young man offered profuse thanks, then hurried away.

“Such urgency suggests the Qingxuan Army is in trouble,” Zhang Xu mused.

After repeatedly intervening to stop the Derivation Jade's frequent slacking, Li Fan gradually became familiar with the other two Dao Integration guardians. Zhang Xu had been there for over a century longer than Li Fan. The other one was named Hua Yueye. While his name sounded somewhat feminine, he was a true, unyielding tough guy. He hated evil like poison. Unable to tolerate the conduct of a Law Transmitter, he had even fought with one on the spot. The consequences were predictable: although he ultimately avoided death with the help of friends and family, he was punished to guard the Derivation Jade here for five hundred years. Even half that time had yet to pass. Initially, when Li Fan first arrived, Hua Yueye didn't even bother to greet him. Now that they were familiar, he was surprisingly more talkative than Zhang Xu.

“Although I truly dislike Young Master Shang’s airs, his dedication to guarding the Demon Abyss for centuries without moving an inch is undeniably admirable…” Hua Yueye said.

“The Qingxuan Army…” Li Fan mused. During their casual chat, Li Fan recalled the identity of the green-robed cultivator who had just left. He had met him once before; his name was Yan Huan. Yan Huan was a confidant of Young Master Shang, stationed in Broken Palm Immortal City within the white mist. Alongside the million-strong Qingxuan Army, he was responsible for guarding and suppressing the Roaring Abyss.

“Young Master’s temper is even more stubborn than mine. Once he sets his mind on something, even a Celestial Venerable's intervention probably couldn’t sway him. Despite the Law Transmitters and Mirror Keepers unanimously rejecting that discarded proposal years ago, he still hasn’t given up on it.”

“Cough, cough, watch your words!” Zhang Xu interjected.

Based on the snippets of their casual conversation and some previously viewed secret information, Li Fan pieced together a hidden past event of the Immortal Alliance. Back then, the Immortal Alliance had a popular proposal: “Deepen exploration into the White Mist Illusory Realms for expansion.” This differed somewhat from the Great Exploration Era Li Fan had experienced. In that era, the Heavenly Profound Mirror’s exploration for its own sublimation was more akin to a full-map scan of the white mist. It marked out all the hidden illusory realms and secret realms within the white mist. However, it did not delve deeply into the illusory realms themselves. The proposal that was rejected by the Law Transmitters, on the other hand, advocated for a thorough cleansing of the illusory realms.

The white mist barrier around the Xuanhuang Realm had appeared too strangely. And the illusory realms within the white mist were even more bizarre, concealing untold secrets. Just from Li Fan's own encounters, there were world fragments destroyed by the Chaotic Word Arts, a frozen grand formation that reversed life and death, and giants formed from countless corpses. Setting aside the inherent dangers, Li Fan found it hard to believe that the cultivators of the Myriad Immortals Alliance held no curiosity about these illusory realms. Yet, this curiosity was decisively suppressed by the Immortal Alliance's higher-ups.

“Given the Law Transmitters' dismemberment and recreation of Xuanhuang, coupled with the Immortal Alliance's high-level unanimity in this matter, it's clear that the illusory realms within the white mist are inextricably linked to Him.” Li Fan recalled that when he was in the white mist years ago, he would always hear wails and whispers similar to those of Heavenly Physicians. Following the sensory pull of those sounds, he had often discovered unknown illusory realms. Li Fan instantly formed a conjecture. “These illusory realms, like Congyun Sea and Luoyan Province, must also be fragments of the former Heavenly Law Realm. However, perhaps due to the influence of calamities like the Chaotic Word Arts, their remnant laws are more distorted and chaotic. They aren't suitable for direct integration with the Xuanhuang Realm. So, they were first hidden within the white mist. Hmm… perhaps there are also remnants of other cultivation worlds. The Law Transmitters are waiting. Waiting for the moment the Heavenly Law Realm successfully resurrects from a new body.”

Since his understanding had not yet reached the level of the Law Transmitters, Li Fan couldn't yet fully grasp the specific purpose of these world fragments. “However, this gives me an idea. Although the Law Transmitter Celestial Venerable seemingly controls everything, the cultivators of the Xuanhuang Realm still harbor doubts about the drastic changes brought about by His reshaping of the world. Perhaps I can subtly guide them to uncover the truth behind it.” Li Fan knew that the more something was forbidden, the more it would pique people's curiosity. Once these cultivators discovered the potential grand conspiracy involving the Law Transmitter Celestial Venerable, they would, willingly or not, become Li Fan’s allies.

“Young Master Shang, let’s start with him.” Li Fan nodded slightly, concealing the faint glow in his eyes.

***

The Heavenly Sword Sect Ruins, Sword Mausoleum.

The Holy Embryo Li Fan sat cross-legged beside the black sword, comprehending the myriad sword daos swirling around him. Although he had once established his Dao foundation using the Black Sword as a Heavenly Wonder, at this moment, surrounded by countless swords within the Sword Mausoleum, new insights continued to emerge in the Holy Embryo Li Fan's mind. “A Heavenly Wonder is the materialization of the Heavenly Dao's laws. Worlds change, and laws flow. Nothing is static. The sword daos cultivated also have subtle differences depending on the specific moment I arrived to retrieve the black sword.” Joy filled the Holy Embryo Li Fan’s heart. His understanding of the world's operation deepened further.

Moved by a sudden insight, he let out a long cry, and the thousands of swords on the ground also began to subtly tremble. And in the center of the myriad swords, the wooden sword left by Mr. Bai actually bent slightly. It seemed to resonate slightly with the Holy Embryo Li Fan’s comprehension.

“Good.” The Holy Embryo Li Fan parted his lips slightly, and the black sword ascended into the air, flying directly into his abdomen, transforming into his own Dao foundation.