Chapter 860: Li Fan's Ingenious Plan

"Indeed, I was mistaken before," the Stone Slab Fisherman said. "I originally thought that the items in this fishing pond had been placed there a thousand years ago, when the forging was complete. But the thing I reeled in last time was not a creation from that era at all. It was made within the last five hundred years."

The Stone Slab Fisherman opened his palm, revealing a curved black jade object resembling a horn.

"What is this...?" Li Fan didn't recognize it.

"The Heaven-Conquering Horn. An invention of the Myriad Immortal Alliance. When blown, it can briefly harness the power of a state's Heavenly Dao," the Stone Slab Fisherman explained concisely.

"The Myriad Immortal Alliance?" Li Fan was startled at first, then his expression changed slightly. He turned to look at the fishing pond, his mind instantly racing.

"Have you realized it? The items in this fishing pond are not static. They are acquired from the outside world – not just Xuanhuang, but even other cultivation realms – to replenish itself. While we fish in the starry sky, it is fishing the myriad heavens..."

The Stone Slab Fisherman's words confirmed Li Fan's suspicions. It was like a surging tide, leaving his mind unsettled for a long time. Even though he had personally experienced the marvels of the fishing pond, he hadn't realized he still didn't know its full extent.

*Is this the power of an immortal artifact?* Li Fan thought. *Not only does it contain countless treasures, but there's no need to worry about them being depleted.*

However, the Stone Slab Fisherman was focused on something else. His usually calm tone now carried a hint of excitement: "This is the true Dao of Fishing. This immortal artifact is extraordinary. If I can master it, perhaps I won't need its help; I can fish the myriad heavens myself and find what I desire." The Stone Slab Fisherman's voice was filled with eagerness.

Li Fan fell silent. Only then did he realize it. How could a miraculous object like the Creation Stone Slab choose an ordinary person to inhabit?

With his new discovery, the Stone Slab Fisherman stopped fishing. He also changed his appearance. No longer looking like a fisherman, he transformed into what seemed to be a newborn infant, closing his eyes and sleeping soundly by the pond.

After waiting a few more days and seeing no sign of him waking up, Li Fan shook his head and withdrew.

"Even with Elder Stone Slab's comprehension, fully grasping the Dao of Fishing probably isn't a quick task," Li Fan thought, feeling helpless. "And he's occupying the fishing pond, so no one dares to disturb him."

He could only instruct Lin Ling to wait there and contact him if anything happened. Li Fan then returned to the Spiritwood Realm alone.

Just then, he received news from the Five Elders Council. "Even the Five Elders Council's contact point was fake. This Elder Stone Slab really committed to his role," Li Fan muttered to himself, recalling the other party's tone and expression earlier. "Perhaps this is one of his peculiar quirks. Thankfully, his temper is good. He didn't just kill me without a second thought."

During these past few days with Elder Stone Slab, besides learning some ancient secrets, the most important thing was understanding the true nature of the conflict between the Myriad Immortal Alliance and the Five Elders Council in Xuanhuang Realm. Li Fan recalled the other party's lament:

"The Xuanhuang Realm is a ship on the verge of sinking. The Myriad Immortal Alliance and the Five Elders Council are vying for ultimate control of the ship. Both sides are absolutely confident that they can save the Xuanhuang Realm from its destined demise. But the prerequisite is that a single, ultimate authority must be decided. Haha, just like the Ten Immortal Sects many years ago. It's not that they are blinded by power; rather, to escape, they must coordinate and centralize the realm's entire power. If there are any treacherous individuals within..."

"So, fighting and killing are fine. But if it truly threatens the existence of the Xuanhuang Realm, both sides will still join forces, just like five hundred years ago when those traitors returned."

When the Stone Slab Fisherman mentioned those traitors, his tone uncharacteristically turned fierce.

*Five hundred years ago, that must refer to the counter-attack of the smaller realms,* Li Fan mused in the Spiritwood Realm, cross-referencing the Stone Slab Fisherman's words with the secrets he had previously investigated. *However, these smaller realms seem to be just puppets. The true masterminds should be the cultivators who once betrayed the Xuanhuang Realm.*

*As expected of the bearer of the Creation Stone Slab; he knows too many secrets. It's a pity my strength isn't enough,* he thought. *How much I learn depends entirely on his generosity. Otherwise, I would interrogate him day and night.*

Li Fan's thoughts slowly turned. From Elder Stone Slab's perspective, many things that Li Fan couldn't quite discern, as if shrouded in mist, became clear.

At that time, after hearing the other party's discourse on the struggle between the Myriad Immortal Alliance and the Five Elders Council, Li Fan couldn't help but ask, "What about Dharma Transmission Heavenly Venerate? What is his attitude towards all this?"

The Stone Slab Fisherman looked as if he had heard an incredibly amusing joke. He first laughed heartily, as if no one else were there. Then he replied, "Dharma Transmission? Though Xuanhuang sinks... can't Dharma Transmission fly? He doesn't care at all."

"However..." The Stone Slab Fisherman's smile suddenly vanished. "This is just my conjecture. In reality, for Dharma Transmission Heavenly Venerate, who regards the Xuanhuang Realm as his personal property, his attitude is also somewhat unpredictable. Otherwise, he could have left years ago."

The Stone Slab Fisherman's voice gradually faded until it was inaudible.

*Dharma Transmission can fly,* Li Fan thought to himself. *Sure enough, he is already able to disregard the influence of the Immortal Ruins and depart on his own.*

*I wonder what level of strength is truly needed to escape Xuanhuang? Perhaps... I can try.*

A thought suddenly arose in Li Fan's mind. Although there was no precedent of any Longevity Realm cultivators escaping Xuanhuang Realm, except for Dharma Transmission Heavenly Venerate, the Longevity cultivators of Xuanhuang are bound to the realm. It might not be due to their lack of strength, but rather a backlash from their entanglement, just like Elder Stone Slab.

*Besides, I don't have to rely entirely on my own power. I can use external forces too.* Li Fan recalled the countless obelisks that stood on the land of Xuanhuang during his 114th life. *I achieved Nascent Soul through the Primordial Cavern of the Five Elements. If I merge the five elements and forge them into a new world, then build obelisks on the ground and use the thrust... there might just be a possibility of escaping the Xuanhuang Realm.*

In fact, Li Fan, with his "real" existence, had no intention of fighting to the bitter end with the Xuanhuang Realm. If possible, finding another cultivation realm would definitely be much better than staying in this dreadful place. After all, with the Xuanhuang Realm on the verge of sinking, nothing that happens would be surprising. Along this journey, Li Fan had encountered too many demons and monsters.

*One attempt, a two-pronged approach,* Li Fan began to scheme inwardly.