Chapter 499: Final Entry into the One Heart Sect

"I think I've read this book before."

"But the content seems a little different."

As scenes from the book flashed through his mind, Li Fan felt a vague sense of familiarity, and he frowned slightly.

"Fellow Daoist, are there any other versions of this book?" he asked, looking at the cultivator at the stall who was intently watching the aerial duel.

The bookseller, initially a bit impatient, turned his head. Upon seeing the picture book in Li Fan's hand, a peculiar look flashed in his eyes.

"You must be joking, Fellow Daoist," he denied, though with a slip of the tongue. "This 'Secret History of Ancient Cultivation' was personally written by the Celestial Venerable. How could there be other versions?"

Even though the consciousness controlling his body was merely a wisp, stripped of most of its memories, its ability to read expressions was almost instinctive. With just one glance, Li Fan confirmed his suspicion.

"Name your price," he said in a low voice. "I was introduced by a mutual acquaintance."

The bookseller hesitated at this.

After looking around for a moment and seeing that all the cultivators in the city were focused on the battle in the sky, he sent a telepathic message: "Ten thousand divine soul points, or spirit stones of equivalent value. No bargaining."

Li Fan instinctively reached for his storage ring, about to pay. However, he realized he was penniless and didn't even have a storage ring.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait a moment," he said apologetically, then returned to the crowd.

After Lu Fan's battle ended, Li Fan flew forward and explained his purpose.

Having secured another victory, Lu Fan was quite high-spirited, even losing the previous habit of haggling during transactions. He generously handed Li Fan a storage ring filled with standard spirit stones: "These are just external possessions, Fellow Daoist Jiao, feel free to take them!"

After thanking him, Li Fan floated back under everyone's gaze.

Seeing this, the bookseller immediately understood he had been tricked. His face turned green, and he quickly began packing his goods, ready to leave.

"You really don't have any business integrity, do you?" Li Fan threatened telepathically. "If you really just leave like this, I'll have to shout!"

The bookseller immediately stopped, looked left and right, and shivered.

"This is..." After much internal struggle, he still pulled out a picture book glowing with a pink aura and stealthily handed it over.

Li Fan took the picture book and handed over the spirit stones.

Once the transaction was complete, the bookseller was about to retreat, but he saw Li Fan actually intended to open the picture book right there. His face turned pale, and he quickly rushed forward, pressing down on Li Fan's hands.

"Are you insane?"

His body trembled, and his face was filled with terror.

"It's fine!" With a slight push, Li Fan moved the bookseller's hands away and insisted on opening the pink picture book.

Cold sweat immediately dripped from the bookseller's forehead like beads. Seeing that he couldn't stop Li Fan, he looked around and realized no one had noticed the unusual situation yet. Instantly, he conjured wind beneath his feet and escaped using a teleportation array within the city.

Meanwhile, Li Fan was already immersed in an incredibly vivid and lifelike illusion.

Qin Shou had repeatedly pursued Senior Sister Zhao, only to be rejected time and again. In his frustration and rage, malicious intent arose within him. Senior Sister Zhao had been drugged with the Yin-Yang Huanhuan Powder, and her consciousness became hazy.

Li Fan's expression kept changing, and even his breathing became rapid.

The strange pink glow on the picture book seemed to respond to Li Fan's breathing rhythm, flickering ceaselessly.

Li Fan was completely engrossed, unaffected by the surrounding noise. At the same time, he kept muttering something under his breath.

"There's such a beauty in this world..."

"How useless! He's already had intimate contact once, yet he doesn't know to strike while the iron's hot..."

"What a waste! Isn't her meaning obvious enough?"

"If not now, then when?"

It seemed the plot development in the picture book didn't quite suit Li Fan, as he occasionally frowned tightly and cursed softly.

"Ugh, how can there be such a spineless protagonist!"

"If I were the one, Senior Sister would have long ago succumbed beneath my..."

His voice abruptly stopped.

Centered around Li Fan's puppet body, a small area around him suddenly seemed to come to a complete standstill. Even the strange pink light from the picture book froze in mid-air.

Above the sky, a pure white beam of light suddenly appeared and shot straight down. It enveloped the motionless Li Fan.

Weichang City, which had been bustling with activity due to the battle, was now plunged into absolute silence.

The white light intensified, and a suction force emanated from the sky. Like a statue, Li Fan was drawn upwards, slowly ascending into the sky.

"It's the Guiding Immortal Light! That's the Guiding Immortal Light!"

"Who is it? Has another cultivator from our Broken Rainbow State been favored by Celestial Venerable so quickly?"

"Hahaha, three Immortal Sect disciples in just one month! Our Broken Rainbow State is truly going to gain immense prestige now!"

Lu Fan's battle was now forgotten. All the cultivators present fixed their gaze on the white pillar of light piercing through the heavens and earth. Their eyes filled with reverence and envy, they stared at the indistinct figure within the light pillar, their expressions excited, discussing amongst themselves.

Lu Fan also stopped fighting. He stared blankly at the pillar of light, a feeling of his deepest affection being snatched away before his eyes welling up within him. His heart was cut to pieces. Victory, cultivation, realm... Everything in the world seemed to lose its meaning in that instant.

"Why, why..." Lu Fan was bewildered and disheartened.

As the figure in the white pillar of light ascended higher and higher, Lu Fan suddenly felt that the person looked somewhat familiar. His pupils sharply dilated, and Lu Fan quickly lowered his head, scanning the surroundings. Sure enough, "Fellow Daoist Jiao" had vanished.

"How is this possible?" Lu Fan's face was filled with disbelief. "I defeated over twenty Golden Cores from the Five Elders Association consecutively, didn't you see that?"

"Why would he choose him and ignore me?"

Endless grievances, unwillingness, and anger surged within Lu Fan.

"No!"

He let out a furious roar, rushing towards the light pillar as if he had lost his mind, regardless of everything. But it was useless. He seemed about to touch the light pillar, but the next moment, Lu Fan simply passed right through it. The light pillar was like a reflection in a mirror or a flower in water—visible but intangible.

Carrying Li Fan, the light pillar slowly disappeared between heaven and earth. A hint of despair couldn't help but appear in Lu Fan's eyes.

"Junior Brother, you're awake."

A clear voice rang in his ears, and Li Fan opened his eyes.

"Cough, cough..." The sharp pain in his chest made him gasp.

"You've just joined the sect; I told you not to act on impulse, but you wouldn't listen." A graceful figure appeared beside Li Fan. She helped Li Fan sit up, leaning him against the headboard.

"This is the medicine I brewed for you; it helps with recovery. Drink it quickly." With a look of concern, she scooped a spoonful of medicinal broth and brought it to Li Fan's lips.

His mind was muddled; he couldn't remember anything. Li Fan instinctively opened his mouth and drank the medicine.