Chapter 171: Opportunity Knows the Fallen Immortal

“Senior, I can honestly tell you the collection location of those two Blue Blood Corals. Payment isn't important to me. I only ask that you share the results with me after you've investigated.”

“I usually trust my judgment, but I didn't expect to be so mistaken this time—to be in a treasure trove and not even recognize it.”

“I would be truly unwilling if I didn't know the reason.”

Li Fan sent a message to Chen Ying through the Sky Profound Mirror.

Not long after, Chen Ying replied.

“Haha, it's just my speculation at the moment. You really don't need to worry about it.”

“We'll need to confirm it on-site before reaching a final conclusion.”

“If you don't mind, you can come along with me.”

Seeing Chen Ying's invitation, Li Fan immediately searched for information about this person.

Chen Ying, an early Nascent Soul cultivator.

An elder of the Medicine Hall, very skilled in cultivating spiritual plants, and equally proficient in alchemy.

“Go together...?”

“This person likely has no ill intentions. And he's only an early Nascent Soul cultivator.”

“Even if he were to discover some secret and try to silence me, I wouldn't be without the means to protect myself.”

Having killed a Nascent Soul cultivator before, Li Fan's mindset had already changed. With “Myriad People's Essence Blood” as a trump card, he knew he had the power to resist even if the other party turned hostile.

“That would be most welcome!”

After pondering for a moment, Li Fan replied this way.

“Excellent! Let's not delay; we'll depart immediately. I'll wait for you at the Dharma Transmission Plaza.”

“Oh, and to be cautious, I'll assume a different appearance.”

“You can call me Ying Chen when you arrive.”

“You should also remember to conceal your identity when you travel.”

“This is a 'Trace Erasing Talisman' I frequently use when I go out; it can conceal your cultivation level and prevent others from tracking you. Remember to carry it and activate it.”

Chen Ying sent over another face, completely different in appearance, and a Trace Erasing Talisman.

“This person...” Li Fan mused to himself.

To be safe, Li Fan then spent another three thousand contribution points in the Sky Profound Mirror to buy a random teleportation necklace.

Afterward, he headed straight for the Dharma Transmission Plaza.

After a quick scan, he spotted Chen Ying, whose appearance had been altered.

He walked up, cupped his hands, and said, “Are you Fellow Daoist Ying Chen?”

Chen Ying smiled slightly, “Indeed! There's no time to lose; let's depart. Please, lead the way!”

Li Fan nodded, and without hesitation, he walked to the front of the Mist Raven Statue in the Dharma Transmission Plaza.

Activating the teleportation array, the two, one after another, arrived at Mist Raven Island.

The black-robed guardian on the island remained as cold and aloof as ever.

The two paid him no mind, and under Li Fan's guidance, headed straight for the ruins.

“Senior, this is the place.” After reaching the destination, Li Fan said to Chen Ying.

Simultaneously, he became acutely vigilant and moved quickly to the side.

Chen Ying surveyed the sprawling ruins at the bottom of the sea, his eyes slightly narrowed.

Then, a misty paradise-like realm, seemingly filled with countless spiritual plants, manifested around him.

Enveloped by the mysterious realm, Li Fan sensed an omnipresent yet elusive pressure. He grew increasingly nervous, with his Cloud-Piercing Sword, Heaven-Overturning Palm, and random teleportation necklace all poised for activation.

After a considerable time, Chen Ying retracted the extraordinary realm.

He shook his head and said, “It's not here; it should be somewhere else.”

Li Fan immediately breathed a slight sigh of relief: “It's not far from here, at the bottom of a deep sea valley.”

Li Fan still led the way.

It didn't take long for the two to reach their destination.

Li Fan still moved quickly to the side, his vigilance at its peak.

Meanwhile, Chen Ying once again released the extraordinary realm and began to carefully perceive its essence.

After a long time, Chen Ying showed a joyful expression.

“Excellent, this is the place!”

“A power of extreme cold once descended here. The Blue Blood Corals merely absorbed a trace of its aura, yet their efficacy increased remarkably!”

Chen Ying's eyes were slightly closed, his expression one of ecstasy.

“Simply by sensing this lingering cold power, one can feel boundless inner tranquility and peace.”

“All distracting thoughts in one's mind are completely eliminated.”

“So perfect, as if it evolved directly from the laws of heaven and earth.”

“Wonderful, wonderful.”

As Chen Ying spoke, he suddenly stood motionless, seemingly having entered a state of enlightenment.

Seeing the other party describe this place as so mystical, Li Fan couldn't help but carefully try to sense it himself.

But just like before, no matter how he tried, he couldn't sense anything special about the place.

“Power of cold, elimination of distracting thoughts, evolution of laws...”

Li Fan muttered the words to himself, and then, suddenly, it was as if he realized something.

His expression became strange.

He recalled the scene when he first obtained these Blue Blood Corals.

A huge squid was greedily clinging to the Blue Blood Coral.

Numerous tentacles wrapped around the coral, holding on tightly.

Any creature daring to approach would provoke the squid's furious attack.

At that time, to avoid damaging this treasure, which was worth three thousand contribution points, Li Fan did not choose to use the Cloud-Piercing Sword or Heaven-Overturning Palm. Instead, while using the Binding Bug to immobilize the enraged squid, he summoned the Blue Flame Phantom, freezing it into an ice sculpture.

Then he easily shattered it into pieces.

The squid's ice sculpture turned into countless fragments and disappeared into the seabed.

Li Fan then easily collected the Blue Blood Coral.

So...

This cold power Chen Ying described, the one that supposedly enhanced the Blue Blood Coral's medicinal effects...

Could it be the Blue Flame Phantom?

The more he considered it, the more plausible it became, and Li Fan couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation.

No wonder no matter how he checked, he couldn't find anything special about the place.

It turned out to be a complete misunderstanding.

He thought he would encounter some great opportunity.

He never imagined that *he* was the 'opportunity' all along.

With his doubts gone, Li Fan looked at Chen Ying, who was openly entering a state of enlightenment, completely unguarded.

He couldn't help but feel a little strange.

If one were to call him cautious, yet he cultivated openly in front of another cultivator. Even though Li Fan outwardly appeared to be just an ordinary late Foundation Establishment cultivator, incapable of posing a real threat, having an enlightenment process interrupted would still be an irritating experience.

Yet he didn't care at all.

If one were to call him absent-minded, yet he had clearly acted very cautiously before. He used every available means to change his appearance and conceal his presence. This made Li Fan think he was planning to kill him in some remote, secluded spot.

It turned out his worry was for naught.

Still, despite his internal musings, Li Fan did not relax his vigilance.

He still kept a good distance, his two major killing moves and the teleportation necklace poised for immediate use. Fearing that the man's outward appearance was just a disguise.

Just like this, after more than half a day, Chen Ying finally woke up from his enlightenment.

His eyes shone brightly, his spirit reinvigorated, and joy was evident on his face.

He blurted out, “Excellent! With this insight, my exploration of the Fallen Immortal Realm will surely go deeper!”

Li Fan, standing nearby, felt a stir in his heart upon hearing this.

“Fallen Immortal Realm? Is that the secret realm he mentioned before?”

Chen Ying slowly reined in his aura, then looked at Li Fan, who had kept his distance as if afraid to disturb his cultivation.

A hint of appreciation appeared in his eyes.