Chapter 933: His Heart is Due to Greed and Ignorance

The previously indistinct figure instantly became clear.

An old man with a head full of white hair and the character "Fa" (法) carved on his forehead suddenly appeared before the Saint Embryo, Li Fan.

"Do you know what you're saying?"

"Countless Integration stage cultivators have been baffled by this. How dare a mere Nascent Soul cultivator like you speak so presumptuously?"

The old man looked at Li Fan with a grim expression, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

The Saint Embryo, Li Fan, showed no fear. He merely shrugged, saying, "What if? It's not like you have any better solutions, do you?"

This fearless demeanor, surprisingly, made the old man hesitate. After a brief inquiry into the background of this seemingly arrogant cultivator, he sensed something even more unusual. This person's background was remarkably clean and simple! It was as if they had appeared out of thin air, with crucial information deliberately hidden!

Such a scenario suggested two possibilities: either this person was an avatar of a high-ranking figure, or a spy from the Five Elders Council...

"However, this young man truly only possesses Nascent Soul cultivation. He can't possibly overturn the situation, no matter what."

"Besides, the situation can't get any worse..."

After a moment's consideration, the white-haired elder snorted, "Follow me!"

As he spoke, the Saint Embryo, Li Fan, felt his vision blur. He found himself in the space where the Derivation Jade had been. Unlike his previous visit, the massive sphere composed of countless constantly changing characters now appeared rusted, its movements and transformations extremely slow. Beneath the sphere, the young girl representing the Derivation Jade lay in a deep slumber on a long wooden table. In the distance, three other cultivators stood, their faces etched with worry as they observed the Derivation Jade.

Upon noticing the white-haired elder bring Li Fan, they merely glanced over, asking no further questions. Their attention quickly returned to the luminous character sphere, which was on the verge of ceasing its operations. A strange, entangled force seemed to permeate it. As Li Fan's divine sense drew near, he felt as if the surrounding scene was fast-forwarding thousands of times over. Only after Li Fan decisively withdrew his divine sense did he realize that in that brief instant, nearly a stick of incense's time had passed in reality. Li Fan realized it wasn't the surrounding time that had accelerated, but rather his own thought process that had been severely delayed, almost to the point of stagnation.

"How did this happen?" The Saint Embryo, Li Fan, couldn't help but frown slightly, telepathically asking the white-haired elder, "Has this place been infiltrated by intruders, causing this...?"

This was a rather severe accusation. The white-haired elder's expression shifted slightly, and he cut Li Fan off, "Do not speak nonsense."

"All cultivators who have had contact with the Derivation Jade during this period have been thoroughly investigated and cleared of any suspicion. In fact, the Derivation Jade's anomaly mysteriously emerged on the very day our Immortal Alliance declared war on the Five Elders Council."

Upon hearing this, an image instantly flashed through Li Fan's mind: the five Dharma Idols pulling a vast white net, twisting the principles of heaven and earth within the Five Elders Council's territory.

"The Derivation Jade is a wonder of the Xuanhuang Realm, and it also represents a principle of heaven and earth."

"Could it be that it was inadvertently harmed during that process?"

If Li Fan could instantly consider this possibility, the Law Enforcement Hall would naturally have already thought of it.

"The principle of derivation itself has not been affected; we have confirmed this repeatedly," the white-haired elder stated telepathically, observing Li Fan's thoughtful expression.

"So that's not the cause..." Li Fan nodded, his gaze returning to the character sphere. The strange power enveloping it seemed to form a barrier around the luminous sphere, isolating it from all possible external probes.

Li Fan mused for a moment, then sent another wisp of his divine sense towards it. Under normal circumstances, direct contact with the Derivation Jade's essence was strictly forbidden. However, with the Derivation Jade malfunctioning, no one stepped forward to stop him as this was considered an attempt at "treatment."

As his divine sense drew closer to the enormous luminous sphere, the surrounding view once again appeared to freeze. Undeterred, he continued to guide his divine sense towards the sphere. Within his divine sense's perception, space gradually became warped and distorted. The character-filled sphere also unfurled, flattening into a plane. It was like a sheet of white paper stretching from heaven to earth, covered in countless characters that constantly flashed and shifted.

From the divine sense's perspective, the Derivation Jade's speed in deducing cultivation methods appeared normal. However, this was merely a result of the divine sense's own thought speed being delayed, bringing both parties to the same operational level.

"Could this be caused by that distortion?" His divine sense quickly surveyed the surface of the paper, briefly outlining the Derivation Jade's current state. "The Heaven-Mending Record can cure the world's ailments."

"The Derivation Jade is the materialization of the world's laws. As long as the corresponding symptoms are identified..."

"First, it must be determined whether this anomaly is caused by external factors or by an intrinsic issue with the Derivation Jade itself."

That wisp of divine sense performed another thorough examination. For the "ailments" of the cultivation world, the Heaven-Mending Record contained its own set of diagnostic techniques. Just as illnesses manifest in individuals, a world suffering from ailment naturally displays various unusual signs. Under the divine sense's scan, a few clues indeed emerged.

"Unchecked greed, born of a clouded heart..."

The divine sense grasped the meaning, and after repeatedly confirming the diagnosis, it finally dissipated.

Outside the luminous sphere, within the vast, dark expanse. The Saint Embryo, Li Fan, had stood motionless for a full seven days and seven nights. The white-haired elder, aware that Li Fan was observing the interior of the Derivation Sphere, had left him undisturbed. He had simply been discussing potential solutions with the other three cultivators.

"We can, at most, prolong this for another month."

"If all else fails, we should quickly seek out the Celestial Healer."

"That's easier said than done. If I could summon him, I would have done so ages ago. The Celestial Healer's whereabouts are inherently unpredictable, making contact extremely difficult. Furthermore, he acts solely on his own whims, refusing to even give face to the Law Bestower."

The three conferred for a while, their brows still deeply furrowed. Meanwhile, the Saint Embryo, Li Fan, slowly stirred awake. Receiving the information from his divine sense, he silently nodded. Then, imperceptibly, his gaze fell upon the seemingly slumbering young girl of the Derivation Jade.

"Well, any progress?" the white-haired elder asked casually, not holding much hope.

To his surprise, the Saint Embryo, Li Fan, nodded. "It's almost certain," he replied. "But I still need a final confirmation."

"It's perfectly normal if you couldn't see any... huh?" The white-haired elder abruptly turned to face the Saint Embryo, his eyes wide with disbelief. "What did you just say? What do you mean, 'almost certain'?"

The elder's sudden reaction instantly drew the attention of the other three Law Enforcement Hall cultivators. Their forms flickered, and in an instant, they had encircled the Saint Embryo.

"Young man, it's alright if you lack the ability. But don't make baseless claims..."