Chapter 537: Mistakenly Taken as the Celestial Sovereign

"Unlike us mere mortals, the Lord must surely have grander ambitions. The official positions within the Immortal Alliance that we so covet, he may not even deign to notice. Though the Lord conceals it well, those who genuinely crave power can discern it with a single glance."

Gao Yuan spoke slowly, his voice low.

He Zhenghao's expression turned serious upon hearing this, and he too nodded in agreement.

"As far as I know, the Envoy was actually compelled to accept the position of acting island master of Wanxian Island. The order to rebuild the immortal city was, in fact, something he was forced into, an act of last resort," Gao Yuan suddenly revealed.

He Zhenghao was filled with astonishment, his eyes widening in surprise. "Is that truly the case?"

Gao Yuan nodded, "Though I don't know what was truly going on, fortunately, the Envoy ultimately completed the task. And in doing so, he also changed the destinies of many of us. Although he currently serves as the Mystic Envoy, overseeing the administrative affairs of Congyun Sea Province, I suspect he has no interest whatsoever in personally managing every single detail. And I also believe that given the Lord's extraordinary talent, it would be a true waste to squander his time on such mundane affairs. The Lord has a grander stage. As for these minor matters, naturally, there are subordinates to handle them. What the Lord requires are individuals capable of managing everything smoothly in his absence, without requiring his undue attention."

Gao Yuan meticulously analyzed the situation.

"The two tasks he assigned us this time are precisely such a test. And that divine soul jade slip is a trap. Should we fail to control the situation, reaching a point where we must seek guidance from the Envoy... our positions might not change, but in his mind, we will certainly be labeled as incompetent from that moment forward."

Gao Yuan stated gravely.

He Zhenghao flinched in alarm. "Surely not that extreme?"

Gao Yuan let out a cold snort. "My friend, have you ever truly noticed the way the Lord looks at us?"

"What about his gaze?" He Zhenghao, somewhat perplexed, quickly sought clarification.

"While the Lord appears kind and approachable on the surface, at times even showing humility towards those of lower standing, in truth..." A hint of trepidation flickered in Gao Yuan's eyes. "In the depths of his gaze, when he looks at any of us, it is always the same. It's akin to how we cultivators perceive mortal ants... No, that's not quite right..." Gao Yuan shook his head, his brow furrowed, seemingly searching for the most fitting description.

A moment later, he suddenly pointed to the tables and chairs in the council hall, stating gravely, "Exactly. In his eyes, all of us are like these—mere tools. As if we exist on a completely different plane of existence. To him, all of us are probably just simple tools... When I was still standing guard at the entrance of the Bureau of Administration, I once had the fortune of seeing a Dao Harmonization cultivator. Yet even a Dao Harmonization Immortal Venerable did not gaze at me with such indifference as the Lord does... I've heard that the Lord is an ancient cultivator from the Heavenly Mystery Sect. He fell into a deep slumber for some reason and has only recently awoken, his cultivation having consequently dropped to the Golden Core realm. Furthermore, there were earlier rumors of the Lord, while in the Golden Core realm, slaying several Nascent Soul cultivators who had joined forces. So, what exactly was his cultivation level in ancient times, during his prime?"

Gao Yuan's voice dwindled, and a flicker of dread crossed his eyes.

He Zhenghao, too, involuntarily shivered. The implication of Gao Yuan's words was now strikingly clear. He suspected that in ancient times, Li Fan was, in fact, an Everlasting Realm cultivator. Because, as is widely known, once one steps into the Everlasting Realm, true transcendence is achieved. The very essence of life transforms, rendering them beings of an entirely different order compared to cultivators of the Dao Harmonization, Soul Transformation, Nascent Soul, and other realms. To be capable of regarding all beings in the world with such detachment and equanimity, only a powerhouse of the Everlasting Realm could possibly achieve it.

Once this perspective was accepted, and combined with all of Li Fan's previously astounding and unconventional actions, everything suddenly seemed to make perfect sense. There were countless cultivators in the world proficient in the art of deduction, yet no one had ever been known to wield it with such effortless mastery as Li Fan, using it to amass wealth and effortlessly double their assets. If the art of deduction were truly that miraculous, then surely cultivators across the world would be scrambling to learn it. For thousands of years, the art of deduction had naturally remained relatively obscure for a reason. Given the rapacious nature of cultivators, it was inconceivable that they would ignore such a profitable skill. Only an Everlasting Heavenly Venerable, one who had cultivated the art of deduction to its absolute peak, could perhaps so effortlessly discern the future.

According to rumors circulating secretly within Congyun Sea, Wanxian Island was suddenly sealed off that year, followed by the Five Elders Council's swift raid and seizure of the entire island. All of this was reportedly due to a specific prophecy. And while everyone attributed this prophecy to the renowned Gongsun Qixuan, there were also private whispers that Gongsun Qixuan himself had actually been influenced by Li Fan's mastery of deduction arts. Furthermore, if Li Fan was indeed once an Everlasting Heavenly Venerable, then his feat of slaying Nascent Soul cultivators while only in the Golden Core realm, and possessing a Soul Transformation realm puppet as a mount... all these feats would no longer be surprising. If he couldn't accomplish such things, would he even be worthy of the title Everlasting Heavenly Venerable?

The council hall of the Bureau of Administration fell into absolute silence. A strange atmosphere began to brew between He Zhenghao and Gao Yuan. The more they pondered, the more reasonable and substantiated this speculation seemed. Consequently, their bodies began to tremble slightly, uncontrollably. Firstly, due to the inherent awe and fear towards Everlasting Realm powerhouses. Secondly, because... to be considered a confidant by an Everlasting Heavenly Venerable, even if only temporarily, and ostensibly so... this was an absolutely glorious matter.

Their minds raced, and they indulged in many reveries, unable to find peace for a long time. Ultimately, it was He Zhenghao who broke the silence. He cleared his throat and quietly said, "Brother Gao, all of this is merely your speculation. It would be best not to easily mention it to outsiders. Let it remain just between you and me."

Gao Yuan glanced at He Zhenghao and nodded slightly. "I am, of course, well aware of that."

The two exchanged a knowing glance and smiled, everything unspoken. There was also an unspoken subtext between the two. If Li Fan truly was an Everlasting Heavenly Venerable, then by serving him now, once he fully recovered from his injuries and regained his cultivation, their stage would no longer be this small, secluded Congyun Sea. He Zhenghao, moreover, recalled his wife from years past, and the flame of ambition that had long been extinguished in his eyes faintly began to reignite.

Deep within the Bureau of Administration, Li Fan withdrew his attention and summoned a water mirror. Stroking his chin, he observed his reflection in the mirror.

"A gaze that is indifferent to all...?" He stared blankly into his own eyes.