Chapter 683: Crackworld's Mirage

The news of the original species of Tianling Flower appearing in Tianling Province spread like a whirlwind throughout the entire Myriad Immortals Alliance.

All the cultivators who had been admiring and playing with their Tianling Flowers a moment ago instantly found them dull and uninteresting.

"So, original species truly exist in this world..." Holding this thought, they discarded their so-called peak-grade or first-grade Tianling Flowers like worn-out shoes and began a frenzied search for the original species.

However... To their surprise, several tens of days passed. Nearly half the strength of the Myriad Immortals Alliance was mobilized, yet they failed to find the legendary original species of the Tianling Flower. This led them to doubt the authenticity of the news about its appearance. But after rigorously questioning the cultivators who witnessed the event that day, they finally confirmed that the incident was true! The Tianling Flower that appeared that day was undoubtedly an authentic original species.

Now, things became interesting. It was known that the world of Tianling Province had changed, and no Tianling Flowers without blood vitality could be born anymore. Yet, what the exquisite cultivator displayed was not a Tianling Flower in its usual state. Instead, it seemed to be sealed within a thin piece of paper. The answer was almost shouting itself out.

The white-robed cultivator had, by some means, preserved a seventeen-petal Tianling Flower before the great war in Tianling Province! It was very likely the only original species of Tianling Flower in the world! Moreover, it wasn't an "ephemeral Tianling bloom" that only lasted for a few breaths; it was an original species that could endure long-term, capable of being taken out and admired by others at any time.

The implications were profound... The value of an object lies solely in its rarity. And something unique in the world is immeasurable.

People began a frantic search for the white-robed cultivator who had appeared that day holding the original Tianling Flower. What puzzled them, however, was that since that day, the person had vanished as if into thin air, never to be seen again. His past was equally mysterious; it was as if he had suddenly dropped from the sky, with no one knowing his origin or identity. Even Dao-Merging cultivators, using their deduction techniques, were unable to divine anything about him. Consequently, various theories emerged.

Some claimed he was a spy for the Five Elders Association, and that the original Tianling Flower was a fake, intended to disrupt and destroy the newly flourishing Tianling Flower market. Others suggested he might be a reclusive cultivator from the wilderness, usually hidden within a grotto-heaven. His sudden appearance and subsequent disappearance were merely a strategy to hold out for a better price.

Just as the outside world grew increasingly curious about the mysterious Xu Bai, Xu Bai himself had already returned to the Beast Seed Realm. His own luck and the destiny of the small world had merged, making his body like a world, resisting the deduction techniques that constantly emerged and targeted him.

"Young Master, rest assured," Liu San said confidently, stroking his beard. "Being in a small world already weakens external perceptions of you by one level. Furthermore, Old Fang and I are working together to obscure the heavenly secrets for you... Unless a Longevity Heavenly Venerate personally intervenes, they will never be able to find this place."

Xu Bai, however, was not worried about this. Besides the defensive measures Liu San mentioned, he also had his Heaven-Shrouding Secret Art. It could even deceive the Xuan Network, so he believed that the current Myriad Immortals Alliance likely didn't possess the ability to divine his existence. Of course, if a Dharma-Transmitting Heavenly Venerate were to personally visit and appear for such a minor matter, he would accept it. In that case, it would truly be what it was! In any event, his main body was safely located in the Great Maelstrom, tens of thousands of miles away.

"Sect Master, your strategy of feigning disinterest to entice them is truly brilliant," Fang Zaiji said excitedly, looking at Xu Bai with admiration. "According to reports from our disciples outside, those guys are now all frantic and scratching their heads. They're willing to offer high prices just to catch a glimpse of the legendary original species of the Tianling Flower. Some cultivators have even declared their willingness to trade a genuine Dao-Merging cultivation technique for the original species from you, tsk tsk..."

Xu Bai's expression remained calm as he said, "No hurry, let them stew a bit longer." Fang Zaiji smiled knowingly. "The Sect Master is right."

"However, Sect Master, the commotion you've caused this time is quite significant. I'm concerned that when you go out again, the magic treasures I crafted for you might not be able to withstand it," he said, suddenly furrowing his brow with some worry. "If three or five Dao-Merging cultivators agree to forcefully seize it together, then this clone of yours, Sect Master, would indeed be in some danger."

Xu Bai's face twitched. "Don't worry, I have my own plans. Mr. Fang, you should go back to studying the True Medicine King Cauldron." Fang Zaiji smiled, his figure flickering before he disappeared.

"Old Liu, I have something I need you to do," Xu Bai suddenly said to Liu San after Fang Zaiji left. "Young Master, please instruct me," Liu San replied gravely.

"Find this person for me." Xu Bai projected an image of Jiao Xiuyuan into the air. "He has tens of thousands of incarnations, with clones spread throughout the entire Xuanhuang Realm. There's a clone stationed in Qianli Hall in every provincial heavenly city. Originally, I could have contacted him directly, but currently, both my main body and my clone are temporarily unavailable. And since you don't yet have Myriad Immortals Alliance identification, you can't enter the Alliance's heavenly cities. So, I can only trouble you to search for him in the wilderness." "You can focus on searching ancient sect ruins; it shouldn't be too difficult." "Once you find him, give him this item. Tell him I have a business matter I'd like to discuss with him..." Xu Bai instructed carefully.

"Young Master, please rest assured." Liu San, having received the order, immediately left Longevity Valley to search for Jiao Xiuyuan's traces.

Xu Bai's attention, however, was mainly focused on his main body. Zhenxu Province, the Great Maelstrom.

"Fellow Daoist, look quickly! Is that the temporal mirage you spoke of?" Dongfang Yao exclaimed excitedly, pointing at the towering light pillar rising from the maelstrom. Although he was practically shouting at the top of his lungs, his voice was still barely audible amidst the violent wind and rain. Even spiritual sense transmissions were affected by the distorted spiritual energy surrounding them.

During these past few months of cultivating with Dongfang Yao, Li Fan had noticed that something unusual seemed to be brewing within the Great Maelstrom. Dongfang Yao hadn't sensed anything out of the ordinary, but Li Fan had a subtle premonition.

Sure enough, on this particular day, Dongfang Yao, who was rushing into the center of the maelstrom to temper his body with the black rift cracks, suddenly fell into a daze. He remained motionless, even as the rift forces tore several terrible wounds into his body, causing blood to gush out.

Within the maelstrom, a towering peak inexplicably emerged. Crimson serpents encircled the mountain. Then, from the mountain's summit, a blinding white light suddenly appeared. Like the sharpest blade, it tore through space, surging forth and extending directly to the heavens. The world trembled, and the mountain peak gradually disintegrated. The crimson serpents were forced to retreat amidst their roars.

"Rift, this is a true rift..." Dongfang Yao muttered to himself, mesmerized by the spectacular scene. Li Fan's expression, however, was grave.

"A temporal mirage, a phenomenon rarely seen in a century. Yet, I encountered it so easily."