Chapter 496: Where to Find the Immortal Sect

The design of this communication talisman was no different from those of the Myriad Immortals Alliance.

Lu Fan carefully put it away. Then, accompanied by Li Fan, who had been standing by his side seemingly lost in thought, he steered the Puxian True Vessel into the white mist barrier.

All around them was a vast expanse of white, impenetrable to sight, even at high speeds.

Inside the flying vessel, Lu Fan's eyes were slightly closed, as if sensing something.

Only when the Puxian True Vessel emerged from the Soul-Devouring White Mist did he excitedly open his eyes. "The rate of lifespan depletion has decreased from about fifteen days to just one day. It's almost negligible! This item is truly worth more than its price!"

"With this, the white mist barrier can no longer hinder us cultivators. From now on, no matter how vast the world is, we can travel freely without worrying about lifespan consumption!"

Lu Fan's face showed a hint of regret. "It's a pity that the Myriad Immortals Alliance discovered the principle behind this first, but the Five Elders' Council was quicker to popularize it!"

"It is indeed a good item. However, we've already wasted a lot of time. We should head to the One Mind Immortal Sect as soon as possible," urged the puppet body, which held only a sliver of obsession.

"Heh heh, it seems Fellow Daoist Jiao is more eager than I am," Lu Fan chuckled, first pausing, then gave an understanding look.

He immediately accelerated again, flying continuously northward.

The territory of the Five Elders' Council, like that of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, was vast and sparsely populated.

Traveling the roads, they often went half a day without encountering other cultivators. Even when they saw the distant light of other cultivators' escape techniques, both parties would intentionally avoid each other.

The trouble Lu Fan had worried about, of cultivators from the Five Elders' Council coming to bother them, never materialized.

Thus, they safely traversed over a dozen states. When they emerged from the white mist barrier once more, the Puxian True Vessel suddenly lost control and plummeted straight towards the ground.

Fortunately, Lu Fan reacted quickly, flying out of the vessel and retrieving it into his storage ring before it crashed.

"Here..."

He looked up at the sky, his brows furrowed.

This region seemed somewhat different from where they had been before.

He couldn't pinpoint the difference, yet the strange feeling was undeniably clear and unmistakable.

"Is this the One Mind Immortal Sect?" Li Fan also looked around, his tone regaining its usual liveliness.

"Let's first gather some information about the situation," Lu Fan suggested.

"Alright," Li Fan nodded in agreement.

So, the two began traveling through Wangyue State. Consistent with the overall layout of the Human Dao Heaven Realm, most of the population was scattered in towns, with cultivators and mortals living separately.

However, during their journey, both Li Fan and Lu Fan noticed something unusual.

Within this One Mind Immortal Sect, it seemed unusually...

...harmonious?

Fights and quarrels, common occurrences in human interactions, seemed to be entirely absent in Wangyue State.

There wasn't even any haggling between buyers and sellers when doing business.

Everywhere they went, everyone was polite and exceptionally friendly towards others.

While these scenes appeared warm and touching, to outsiders like Li Fan, they seemed somewhat eerie.

To be cautious, both men also put on smiling faces, striving not to appear out of place among the crowd.

Simultaneously, they secretly inquired about rumors concerning the true One Mind Immortal Sect.

On this land, it was no secret.

However, the answers they received from the people left Li Fan and Lu Fan somewhat incredulous.

Everyone here knew from childhood that a great Immortal Sect existed between heaven and earth.

They believed the greatest honor in life was to be able to join this great Immortal Sect.

Yet, they had no idea where the sect was located or what method one could use to enter it.

Only one thing did they firmly believe.

As long as one was "sincere" and "outstanding enough," they could gain the favor of the Heavenly Venerate and be chosen to join the great Immortal Sect.

This explanation was somewhat too abstract.

It left both Li Fan and Lu Fan feeling baffled.

After leaving Wangyue State, they traveled through other states within the One Mind Immortal Sect's territory for over a month. They found that everyone's accounts were astonishingly consistent.

This inevitably somewhat disappointed the two, who had harbored expectations.

"Fellow Daoist Jiao, we've traveled across dozens of states to get here; can that not be considered sincerity?"

In a tavern in Weichang Inner City, Canhong State, Lu Fan downed a cup of spirit wine and asked Li Fan somewhat dejectedly.

Li Fan remained silent, staring blankly.

"Or perhaps our strength isn't enough to meet Senior Sister Zhao's selection criteria?"

Lu Fan murmured to himself, his expression dazed.

Although Li Fan was merely a sliver of obsession, observing Lu Fan, who seemed subtly enchanted, and witnessing the changes in his mindset throughout their journey, he sensed that something was amiss.

Initially, he had decided to accompany Li Fan on this journey with a noncommittal attitude.

Regarding the peerlessly beautiful and graceful Senior Sister Zhao, Lu Fan had mostly been teasing, not genuinely admiring her.

After all, for cultivators, "beauty" was far less important than cultivation realm and power.

But ever since they arrived in the territory of the One Mind Immortal Sect, a subtle change had quietly occurred in Lu Fan.

He became increasingly interested in the existence of "Senior Sister Zhao" and the "great Immortal Sect."

The more he learned and came into contact with them, the more the feeling of "the more unattainable, the more desirable" gnawed at him, leaving him constantly preoccupied and restless.

To the extent that now, he was almost obsessively consumed by thoughts, nearly losing himself.

In contrast, the puppet body, which originally had only the obsession of "entering the One Mind Immortal Sect," was not significantly affected.

However, Li Fan did not enlighten Lu Fan.

It wasn't that he disregarded their camaraderie, but Li Fan clearly knew that the insidious influence of the Heavenly Venerate's power could not be easily altered with a few words.

Perhaps if he told Lu Fan about his change, Lu Fan might even feel smug about it.

As the two sat silently opposite each other, one looking troubled and the other expressionless, a sudden clamor erupted from the street outside.

"Wan Zailai of Canhong State, with his Golden Core cultivation, defeated thirty-six Nascent Soul cultivators from Yilü State in succession, finally attracting the attention of the Heavenly Venerate and successfully entering the Immortal Sect!"

"As expected of a prodigy from our Canhong State! He really avenged us!"

"Haha, now the number of Immortal Sect disciples from our Canhong State will surpass Yilü State's! Let's see them show off now!"

The continuous chatter outside prompted Li Fan and Lu Fan to exchange glances and immediately inquire about the full story.

"I understand now! As long as we do something extraordinary to attract the attention of Senior Sister... I mean, the Heavenly Venerate, we can enter the Immortal Sect!" Lu Fan realized with a start.