Chapter 1329: Mysterious Merchant's Past Events

"This 'Creation' is not the highest achievement of the Great Qi's research into True Immortal Seal Script." Li Fan's expression was a little dazed and filled with a sense of wonder.

As expected, as soon as these words were uttered, the elders of the Immortal Ship were instantly shaken to their core. They had personally experienced the wonders of this 'Creation'. Even a version relayed by Li Fan, whose power was unknown to be weakened by how many times, still far surpassed individual True Immortal Seal Scripts like 'Xuan'. From this, it was clear that a true 'Creation' character indeed possessed the great power to turn decay into wonder.

But now, Li Fan was repeatedly claiming that the Great Qi civilization had grasped True Immortal Seal Scripts beyond 'Creation'?

"This... is what you say true, fellow Daoist?" Even the most composed Zhong Daogong could no longer maintain his composure, exclaiming in surprise.

The other Immortal Ship elders also stared intently at Li Fan.

"How could I speak rashly?" Li Fan said solemnly. "That character is the highest secret of Great Qi. Only those of my master's level are qualified to access it. I heard him mention it a few times inadvertently when I was accompanying him."

"It seems... it concerns the transformation between immortals and mortals."

"Transformation between immortals and mortals?" Li Fan's few words caused various expressions and wild imaginations among the Immortal Ship's occupants.

Li Fan observed everyone's reactions. To enhance the credibility of his words, he added, "This character is indeed extraordinary. Since my master began participating in its research, in his daily teachings to me, some True Immortal Seal Script structures that he used to habitually write have undergone subtle changes."

"But it is precisely these seemingly insignificant changes that have caused the True Immortal Seal Script itself to undergo an almost complete transformation..."

In front of everyone, Li Fan swiftly wrote two character structures in the air. Their shapes were identical, but there were subtle differences in curves, turns, and other details.

The elders of the Immortal Ship stared blankly at these two character structures. As if possessing infinite magic, they completely captivated the elders' attention.

It was a good part of a day later that Zhong Daogong was the first to regain his senses. Without disturbing the other elders' enlightenment, he turned away from the characters floating in the air and tried to imitate them himself. As he gestured, a look of joyful realization dawned on his face.

These different character structures were precisely the True Immortal Seal Scripts that Li Fan had obtained from the bloodline of the Nether Clan, which seemed to involve the transformation between immortals and mortals. That True Immortal Seal Script seemed boundless, containing the ultimate truths of heaven and earth. Although Li Fan had fortunately glimpsed a corner of it in this life, his strength was insufficient to fully reproduce it. His memory of that mysterious character vanished with the failure of his attempt to glimpse it. Only slight lingering impressions of the countless minute structures that composed the mysterious character remained.

At this moment, Li Fan was using these character structures, originating from the transformation between immortals and mortals, to "trick" the people of the Immortal Ship. To call it a trick, however, would be inaccurate. The transformation between immortals and mortals held an extremely high status. Even a tiny fraction of it would be enough to benefit the Immortal Ship's occupants infinitely!

For example, at this very moment, the elders engrossed in enlightenment finally awoke, one after another, as if enlightened by divine revelation.

"Wrong, all wrong! I never imagined that all the methods we've used for the first half of our lives were incorrect!"

"It can even be written like this. With just these subtle changes, the efficiency of writing True Immortal Seal Scripts has increased by more than ten percent!"

"It's not just the writing efficiency. The True Immortal Seal Scripts written using this method seem to inherently possess a higher degree of completeness."

The elders discussed animatedly, filled with joy. And just like that, Li Fan easily proved his worth once more.

For the next month, Li Fan officially resided on the Immortal Ship. Zhong Daogong specifically opened up another small courtyard for Li Fan within the Immortal Severing Tower at the top of the Immortal Ship's divine tree. This demonstrated the importance he placed on Li Fan.

And Li Fan did not disappoint the people of the Immortal Ship. By himself, he almost entirely supplemented the Immortal Ship's rather barren formation system.

"With a sage guiding the way, the Immortal Ship's formation research has leaped forward a hundred years overnight," sighed Meng Xiaomeng, an elder of the Immortal Ship. He carefully engraved the formation knowledge imparted by Li Fan into jade slips.

Meng Xiaomeng had always opposed the Immortal Ship putting all its bets solely on the path of True Immortal Seal Scripts. Therefore, while researching True Immortal Seal Scripts himself, he also dabbled in formations and alchemy, attempting to open up other possible paths for the Immortal Ship's survival. However, without guidance from a renowned master and relying entirely on his own study of ancient formations preserved in Immortal Ship records, Meng Xiaomeng's level in formations was quite ordinary. After witnessing Li Fan's theories on formations over this past month, he was immediately astonished, as if seeing a divine being. Delighted by the discovery, he dedicated himself to studying them, even completely casting True Immortal Seal Scripts aside.

Zhong Daogong did not stop him either. After all, there were too many elders on the Immortal Ship researching True Immortal Seal Scripts, so losing one Meng Xiaomeng wouldn't make much difference. However, gaining an additional lineage of formation teachings was quite important.

During this period, Li Fan not only established a system for the inheritance of formations for the Immortal Ship. Under his guidance and assistance, all the defensive formations throughout the Immortal Ship were rebuilt. With the enhancement of new formations, and after testing by the elders, the Immortal Ship's resistance to attacks more than tripled. Security capabilities at important locations such as the Immortal Severing Tower, Immortal Hub Pavilion, and the Divine Tree were also greatly strengthened.

Speaking of which, there was a small anecdote during this period. Initially, the Immortal Ship elders had quite a few reservations about rebuilding the formations. Especially entrusting such a crucial matter concerning the Immortal Ship's safety to Li Fan, a newcomer. The elders were even more divided in their opinions. However, after personally witnessing Li Fan dismantle the original grand defensive formation in a few breaths, treating numerous restrictions as if they were nothing when entering and exiting, the Immortal Ship elders broke out in a cold sweat and quickly reached a unified affirmative opinion.

Establishing a lineage of teachings and building new defenses. With these two accomplishments, Li Fan quickly earned the deep trust of the vast majority of people on the Immortal Ship.

Furthermore, after integrating into the Immortal Ship, Li Fan behaved with gentle elegance and showed an excellent attitude towards everyone. He answered all questions without reservation for anyone who came to inquire. Soon, within the circle of Immortal Ship elders, Li Fan earned himself an excellent reputation. Visitors came in an endless stream.

One day, Li Fan was lecturing on the Divine Art of Taijia to several elders who had come to visit his small courtyard. "Like the body transforming into the cosmos, the mind racing through the star river. Taijia boundless, spirit wanders; Taijia unchanging, spirit transforms; Taijia without void, spirit divine..."

All the elders were engrossed in True Immortal Seal Scripts, and their initial interest in this so-called divine ability was not great. However, after listening to the entire discourse on this divine ability, they all became serious.

"Brother Li, this divine ability seems to be merely a fragmented scroll?" Lu Yuzhi, an Immortal Ship elder, asked with a frown.

Li Fan had been on the Immortal Ship for a considerable time and had gained everyone's favor. Their address to each other had also become more familiar.

"Although it's a fragmented scroll, it doesn't hinder communication with the Star Sea Consciousness. However, even with the Star Sea Consciousness currently close to collapse, it's not easy for cultivators like us to make contact with it. Whether it succeeds or not depends on each of your own fortunes." After finishing the discourse on the Divine Art of Taijia, Li Fan looked at everyone and said with a smile.

Lu Yuzhi nodded, "We naturally understand this point. Communicating with the Star Sea is like the ancient realm of 'unity of heaven and man'. Whether it's enlightenment or deduction efficiency, it cannot be compared to ordinary states."

"It even greatly benefits our comprehension of True Immortal Seal Scripts. Haha, those old fellows who didn't come today will surely regret it endlessly once they find out! We few must keep our mouths shut; unless they pay a hefty price, we absolutely won't reveal it," Gan Jingda said with a laugh, stroking his beard after comprehending the mysteries of the Divine Art of Taijia.

"Brother Li's knowledge is truly terrifyingly profound. It's like an endless secret treasury; every time I come, I gain something new." Elder Nangong Lie's words prompted unanimous nods and exclamations of admiration from those present.

In response to everyone's praise, Li Fan calmly replied, "My lifelong wish is to pour out all the knowledge stored in my mind before my demise and leave it to the Immortal Ship."

"Then, in the last moments of my life, I will stake everything. To see the scenery beyond the high wall!" Li Fan spoke with an air of detachment and nonchalance.

Among the elders in the room, some expressed regret, some grief, and some could not bear it.

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

"There seem to be some longevity-extending secret medicines in the Immortal Ship's treasure vault. Perhaps..."

Li Fan waved his hand, dismissing the suggestion, "After the defensive formations were rebuilt, Elder Zhong already took me to the secret vault to try. My lifespan has indeed reached its end; no heavenly materials or earthly treasures will be of any use. I have long since accepted my fate."

"I can only say that the backlash from beyond the high wall is indeed terrifying and formidable."

"However, it has only further piqued my curiosity. For the rest of my life, I am determined to see what lies beyond that high wall!" Li Fan's gaze was resolute.

The people of the Immortal Ship fell silent, sighing upon hearing this.

Suddenly, Li Fan seemed to remember something: "Oh, right. When I suffered the backlash earlier, my master said that if it weren't for the figurine I obtained from the Immortal Ship's treasure vault blocking some of the power, I might not have even twenty years of life left, but would have perished immediately."

"What exactly is the origin of that figurine? When I picked it, I just thought its shape was very peculiar. I didn't expect it to possess the ability to contend with the power from beyond the high wall."

As Li Fan spoke, he showed the elders of the Immortal Ship an image of the figurine standing with hands lowered, its eyes cast down. When Li Fan had originally selected it from the treasure vault, they had all been present throughout. As Li Fan mentioned it, they all recalled, their expressions turning strange.

"This figurine actually has such wondrous uses?"

Everyone exchanged glances, but no one knew its origin.

"Wait, I'll go look it up," Lu Yuzhi said, rising with a serious expression. After all, a power capable of resisting the backlash from beyond the high wall demanded their utmost caution.

"Brother Li, why didn't you ask about such an important matter sooner?" Nangong Lie shook his head.

Li Fan smiled. "At that time, when I suddenly heard that my end was near and my brilliant future was ruined, my mindset collapsed. How could I care about so much then? But now I've gradually recovered, and it was only when the Immortal Ship's treasure vault was inadvertently mentioned just now that I recalled it again."

With Li Fan's explanation, the Immortal Ship's occupants found it difficult to probe further.

Lu Yuzhi didn't stay away for long and soon hurried back. "According to records, this figurine came from the ruined cultivation world, Xiaoyao." Lu Yuzhi waved his hand, displaying an image for everyone.

Upon hearing this somewhat familiar name, Li Fan's heart stirred.

"The cultivators of this world dislike conflict. Just as its name suggests, they are naturally unrestrained and carefree, unwilling to be bound by anything. This figurine was purchased from a gambler when the Xuan Merchant Immortal Ship passed through the Xiaoyao world." The image shifted, and a ragged, slovenly man appeared before everyone. The era was too distant, and the image reproduction was not very stable, flickering intermittently. The audio also cut in and out. However, this did not prevent everyone from understanding the events of that time.

"This thing is an absolute treasure. You won't lose out if you take it!" The slovenly man rubbed his crotch, then brought his hand to his nose for a sniff, saying brazenly.

"This figurine does seem somewhat extraordinary. However, your asking price of one hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones is truly too high. It exceeds my authority." Outside the image, a clear voice sounded.

"This was the merchant who traveled to the Xiaoyao world back then, named..."

"Jia Chu. Yes, Jia Chu. He was the one who completed this transaction and strictly followed the Immortal Ship's regulations to record the entire process of the transaction, archiving it. Only then are we fortunate enough to see the image from that time, ten thousand years later," Lu Yuzhi introduced to Li Fan. "It's just a pity that this Jia Chu, during the Immortal Ship's splitting incident back then, chose to side with the Merchant Immortal Ship. Now, his whereabouts are unknown," Lu Yuzhi said with some regret.

Li Fan nodded slightly, continuing to watch the events unfold in the image. Jia Chu stood up to leave, seemingly without the slightest reluctance. The slovenly man, who had initially seemed indifferent, immediately grew anxious. He grabbed Jia Chu, saying with a forced smile, "If you think the price is too high, we can discuss it further. Eighty thousand, eighty thousand is fine! A mere eighty thousand high-grade spirit stones is just a drop in the ocean for your renowned Xuan Merchant Immortal Ship!"

Jia Chu paid no mind to the slovenly man's hands tightly clutching his own. He merely said unhurriedly, "Although our Xuan Merchant Immortal Ship has vast wealth and resources, it's impossible for us to spend eighty thousand spirit stones on a figurine whose origins are unknown."

"Thirty thousand spirit stones is the maximum I can authorize. Any more, and it would require reporting, which is too much trouble. It's better not to make this transaction," Jia Chu's tone was very decisive.

"Thirty thousand? You're cutting the price too severely," the slovenly man mumbled, highly displeased.

"If you find the price too low, you can also approach the local merchant association in the Xiaoyao world," Jia Chu said indifferently.

The slovenly man scratched his head but did not respond.

"The local merchant association in the Xiaoyao world actually has intricate ties with our Xuan Merchant Immortal Ship. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it's a branch of our Immortal Ship located in the Xiaoyao world. This slovenly cultivator was also aware of this, which is why he reluctantly did not reply," Lu Yuzhi explained.

Ultimately, after another round of bargaining, Jia Chu finally purchased the figurine for forty-five thousand spirit stones. Before delivering the spirit stones, Jia Chu suddenly asked, "Where did you obtain this figurine?"

The slovenly man's expression immediately became alert. Jia Chu calmly pointed to the recording light-and-shadow orb nearby: "It's just routine procedure; you don't have to say if you don't want to."

"However, if there are any problems with this figurine later, we will come looking for you."