Chapter 447: Trivial Matters Not Going Well

Based on Li Fan's experiences in his past lives, any cultivator who tried to achieve Dao integration with the Red Flame during the Red Flame Burning Sea incident invariably met a dead end. Mo Sha, having received the Heaven's Mandate for world destruction, was truly terrifying. Cultivators who had just achieved Dao integration were utterly defenseless against him.

"Tianyang's actual combat strength is probably inferior to Zhang Zhiliang's in the previous life, so I won't send him to his death."

"A puppet body is unlike a mortal one. Increasing its combat power isn't necessarily limited to just breaking through cultivation realms."

"Although the cost is high, it will surely be sufficient for me once the Congyun Sea is destroyed and I make off with the funds."

After a moment of contemplation, Li Fan ultimately abandoned the plan to have Tianyang risk Dao integration, focusing instead on observing and protecting him.

Fifteen days later, as all the resources within the Return to Origin Array were depleted, Tianyang completed his final transformation. His puppet body was perfectly completed, and his cultivation realm stabilized at the peak of the Soul Transformation stage.

"When fighting, Tianyang relies almost entirely on brute force. He still needs to find a way to temper himself."

Having completed his cultivation and with nothing else to do, Tianyang silently stood up and followed Li Fan. Li Fan took out the pre-prepared clothes from his storage ring and put them on him. He also imparted the 'One Hand Covers the Sky' secret technique to him.

"'Junior disciple, your next task is to learn this secret technique. Once you master it, you can accompany me on missions,' Li Fan instructed."

Tianyang nodded quietly and began to study it diligently. With only a few instincts remaining, the Heavenly Mechanism Sect's secret techniques proved somewhat complex for Tianyang. Fortunately, Li Fan guided him meticulously, and Tianyang's unwavering focus ensured he would eventually master them through gradual study.

While Tianyang diligently improved himself under Li Fan's guidance, Li Fan, meanwhile, focused his attention on Spirit Mist Island. He made a quick trip to Spirit Mist Island, silently using his Formless Killing Intent to lock onto the island's guardian. Then he returned to the Heavenly Profound Mirror, secretly began acquiring Spirit Mist Grass, and waited patiently.

Soon, the day arrived when the strange Dragon Whale beast was supposed to attack Spirit Mist Island, as it had in his previous life. However, something unexpected happened. Until sunset, the Dragon Whale still did not appear. Li Fan immediately had a bad premonition. Just as he had worried, three more days passed, and Spirit Mist Island remained safe and sound. Li Fan finally confirmed that his arrival in the Xuanhuang Realm nearly a year early had indeed introduced unavoidable variables.

Without rushing into action, Li Fan first carefully inquired about the missing Dragon Whale beast. Such an exotic beast, with strength comparable to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, subtly developing its own intelligence, and capable of strengthening itself through continuous consumption, should not have simply vanished without a trace. After half a day of searching, he found nothing. Eventually, by posting an anonymous bounty mission, Li Fan finally got the answer.

It turned out that this exotic Dragon Whale beast had recently been killed by a Core Formation artifact refiner named Yue Zaisen. All valuable materials from its body had been taken by him. The other party also sent an inquiry, offering to transfer any specific part at a low price if needed. Li Fan feigned interest and bought several segments of whale bone from him. After completing the transaction, Li Fan chatted with the other party, trying to find out from him why his actions differed from previous lives.

It wasn't a secret matter, and Yue Zaisen, caught off guard, quickly revealed the information to Li Fan. It turned out that the reason he suddenly decided to search for materials everywhere under the Congyun Sea was that he was entrusted by his friend Mu Rong, who wanted to forge a high-quality defensive magic artifact. As for why Mu Rong, seemingly out of the blue, suddenly desired to acquire defensive artifacts, Yue Zaisen had not asked.

"'Mu Rong...' Li Fan cut off the communication, his expression changing."

This name was not unfamiliar to him. They even had some previous interactions. This was Chen Ying's assistant. In his previous life, before Chen Ying departed for the Grand Cavern Heaven of the Five Elements, he had left Mu Rong's contact information with Li Fan. Li Fan was told to contact him directly if any issues arose.

"'Could it be that he developed a sense of urgency after seeing Chen Ying acquire so many life-saving magical treasures? Is that why he acted?'"

"'Or perhaps Chen Ying told him something...'"

Li Fan felt a sudden surge of helplessness. In short, the Dragon Whale did not attack Spirit Mist Island. To correct history back to its predetermined trajectory, Li Fan would need to act personally.

"'The risk is considerable, and I must leave no trace.' Li Fan did not act rashly, instead meticulously planning in his mind."

"'Should I impersonate the exotic beast to act? Or should I use the power of the Five Elders Association?'"

"'The probability of exposure is high for both.'"

"'Perhaps I don't need to be fixated on Spirit Mist Grass. Any spiritual herb or plant would suffice, as long as it has a stable demand and grows only in certain unique regions.'"

"'First, let's see if there's anything similar.'"

A thought struck Li Fan, and he began to carefully search within the Heavenly Profound Mirror. There were quite a few targets that met the conditions. Li Fan added a restriction, focusing on those with abnormal price fluctuations recently. Now, there were only a few that met the requirements. Li Fan examined them one by one, finally fixing his gaze on a spiritual plant named Puxian True Leaf.

This herb has a relatively long growth cycle and is not frequently used. Its primary use is in crafting a talisman known as the Sagely Discernment Talisman.

In the era before the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Array was introduced, the Five Elders Association's spies were omnipresent. Most of them, like Zhou Qing'ang, mastered secret transformation techniques that could even deceive the White Jade Heart-Inquiring Platform's scrutiny. The Sagely Discernment Talisman, when first invented centuries ago, achieved considerable success. It had rooted out many spies of the Five Elders Association. Consequently, an unwritten rule was established: before entering certain critical areas of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, one had to first pass the Sagely Discernment Talisman's verification.

Although the Five Elders Association later learned from their mistakes and improved their spies' concealment methods, the Sagely Discernment Talisman never truly served its original purpose again. Nevertheless, using the Sagely Discernment Talisman had become an ingrained habit. Naturally, the Five Elders Association wouldn't openly declare that the Sagely Discernment Talisman had lost its effectiveness. No one in the Myriad Immortals Alliance made the decision to discontinue the Sagely Discernment Talisman. Furthermore, a lucrative supply chain had already developed around the production and manufacturing of the Sagely Discernment Talisman. Due to a combination of factors, the Myriad Immortals Alliance still requires a significant amount of Puxian True Leaves annually.

Recently, for unknown reasons, the price of Puxian True Leaves, which had always been stable, began an abnormal decline. Li Fan frowned slightly. He remembered that in the previous life, as the price of Spirit Mist Grass soared, it also drove up the prices of other spiritual plants and herbs in the market. However, Puxian True Leaves were an exception.