Chapter 458: Originally the One Destined to Undergo the Calamity

Inside Qianli Hall, a strange silence fell. Jiao Xiuyuan stared at Li Fan with an incredulous expression, his face filled with bewilderment.

"Don't look at me like that," Li Fan said, shrugging. "I originally intended to pay, but no matter how I called you, you didn't respond. And by the time you woke up, before I could even say anything, you just exploded. Can you really blame me?"

Jiao Xiuyuan's face twitched as he looked at Li Fan's utterly innocent expression.

After a moment's thought, he decided the other person didn't seem like someone who would take things without asking. So, he feigned generosity and said, "Never mind, it was just a puppet. Let it explode! I have plenty more puppets!"

"Daoist Jiao is truly magnanimous!" Li Fan applauded, praising him.

"I recall that the painting depicts a scene from the Heavenly Sword Sect in ancient times. Daoist Li, could it be that seeing this brought back memories from long ago?" At that moment, Jiao Xiuyuan suddenly scrutinized Li Fan, asking inexplicably.

Li Fan looked at Jiao Xiuyuan, his thoughts racing.

A moment later, Li Fan shook his head, his tone puzzled. "Heavenly Sword Sect? Daoist, you must be mistaken. Although I lost some memories during my thousands of years of slumber, I do recall the two stone tablets, 'Stop' and 'Halt Strife,' in front of the Heavenly Sword Sect's gate. The sect in this painting doesn't look much like it!"

Jiao Xiuyuan slapped his forehead. "Haha, look at my memory. Perhaps losing a puppet just now has muddled my recollections."

"It must be the Grand Supreme Sect, yes, the Grand Supreme Sect!" Jiao Xiuyuan stated again.

"The Grand Supreme Sect..." Li Fan narrowed his eyes slightly, seemingly trying to recall something.

After a while, he slowly shook his head. "No, that's not right. I once visited the Grand Supreme Sect back then. Its thirty-three floating mountain peaks also don't match the scenery in this painting."

Li Fan looked at Jiao Xiuyuan with a hint of suspicion. "Daoist Jiao, you..."

Jiao Xiuyuan let out a few dry laughs and quickly said, "I got it wrong again! Uh, let me think..."

"It must be the Du'e Sect! This time, I'm absolutely certain!" he declared confidently.

"Du'e Sect?" Li Fan's heart stirred.

Jiao Xiuyuan's two previous deliberate attempts to probe had failed, so this mention of the Du'e Sect was likely genuine.

In his previous life, outside the Great Five Elements Grotto-Heaven, when the Five Elements merged, Li Fan had once witnessed a temporal mirage of a master and disciple from the Du'e Sect.

Furthermore, at that time, among all the cultivators on the Dust-Crossing Boat, only he could see it.

Initially, Li Fan thought it was simply due to his unusually strong soul.

But what if the scene he saw beneath the Void Abyss also originated from the Du'e Sect...?

Li Fan also recalled that when he stood beside the Void Abyss, gazing into its depths, there was a moment he was nearly swayed by its power.

He almost lost his sanity and nearly made a suicidal attempt to explore the Void Abyss before Xuanzhen had even finished charging.

Yet, at that critical moment, the bottom of the Void Abyss suddenly erupted with light.

The four characters "Immortal Dao is Dead" appeared before his eyes, bringing him back to his senses.

It could be said that it saved his life.

"It seems this Du'e Sect is intricately linked to me. How strange..."

After much thought and reviewing his past experiences, Li Fan still couldn't pinpoint the reason for this connection.

"The Du'e Sect. I've only heard its name, but I don't seem to have ever been there. Daoist Jiao, how much do you know about this sect?" Li Fan asked Jiao Xiuyuan instead.

"For some reason, I find the scenery within this Du'e Sect familiar. Could my memory also be muddled?" Li Fan's face showed a puzzled expression.

Jiao Xiuyuan ignored the jest in Li Fan's words and said with some surprise, "Is that really true? That's quite extraordinary!"

"Oh? What do you mean?" Li Fan quickly asked.

"Daoist, you are very likely the 'Calamity Resolver' for the Du'e Sect cultivator who originally left this painting!" Jiao Xiuyuan said with a solemn expression, his gaze toward Li Fan deepening.

"'Calamity Resolver'?" Li Fan repeated the term several times. "What does that mean?"

"The sect lives up to its name. Du'e Sect cultivators use 'calamity resolution' as their cultivation resource. Their Eternal Tribulation technique involves drawing power from various calamities. Each time they overcome a calamity, their strength undergoes a qualitative leap."

"The stronger the calamity, the greater the feedback power they gain after successfully overcoming it."

"Conversely, the next advancement requires targeting an even more perilous calamity."

"However, there are countless calamities in the world. Even heaven and earth can be shattered in a tribulation. How could Du'e Sect cultivators be absolutely certain they could overcome every one?"

"When they realize they might not survive the next calamity, they use secret techniques to temporarily conceal themselves within heaven and earth."

"At the same time, they leave behind various means, waiting and sensing for the emergence of someone who can resolve that calamity."

"Such a person is what we call a 'Calamity Resolver'!"

Jiao Xiuyuan slowly explained to Li Fan.

Upon hearing this, Li Fan frowned deeply. "There's a cultivation method like that? Does this mean I've been targeted by a Du'e Sect cultivator? Daoist Jiao, do you know how to break free?"

Jiao Xiuyuan waved his hand. "Don't be so anxious! Thousands of years have passed; who knows if the Du'e Sect cultivator who left this painting is even still around?"

"Besides, even if they are, there's nothing for you to worry about. They'll be entirely reliant on you to overcome their calamity. Before that calamity is resolved, they absolutely won't do anything to harm you."

"And if you help them overcome the calamity, they'll owe you a huge favor. At that point, they'll be obligated to repay that kindness. This is a rule that has been passed down in the Du'e Sect. Otherwise, who would bother playing such a game with them?"

"Furthermore, consider this: if you can resolve a calamity that even they couldn't overcome, by then, your strength will likely surpass theirs. They'd be burning incense in gratitude that you're not bothering them; how could they possibly dare to cross you?"

Jiao Xiuyuan dismissed Li Fan's concerns, instead scrutinizing him with renewed interest.

"Daoist Li Fan, to be sensed by a Du'e Sect cultivator as a 'Calamity Resolver,' your future is truly boundless!"

After Jiao Xiuyuan's words, Li Fan felt slightly more at ease.

However, a thorn ultimately remained in his heart.

Judging from the previous assistance he received from that entity in the Void Abyss, the Du'e Sect cultivator must still be alive.

While it wasn't likely that they could constantly monitor Li Fan's every move, prolonged observation might reveal something.

"It seems I need to find an opportunity to resolve this hidden worry," Li Fan mused inwardly.

"Daoist, you are truly knowledgeable, possessing complete understanding of even these ancient sect secrets. Impressive! Truly impressive!"

"By the way, what's the contribution cost for this painting? I'll buy it. I can't let you make a loss on this deal!"

Even as his mind raced with thoughts, Li Fan's actions showed no abnormality as he spoke to Jiao Xiuyuan.