Chapter 978: Long Life Is Different Too

The Hundred Flowers Daoist's tone was also somewhat uncertain.

Hearing this, Li Fan frowned deeply. "You? An Immortal Realm cultivator?"

His tone was full of suspicion.

Although he couldn't quite ascertain the other party's true strength, there was definitely a significant gap compared to the Immortal Realm powerhouses in the Xuanhuang Realm.

At the very least, Li Fan didn't feel a great threat from them.

"Fellow Daoist, don't tell me you think merely claiming to be an Immortal Realm cultivator will impress me," Li Fan said, his expression somewhat displeased.

The Hundred Flowers Daoist gave a bitter smile. "I've already fallen to this state; why would I do something so meaningless? In fact, if I were still in Wan Sheng or even other cultivation realms, I would indeed be worthy of the title 'Immortal'."

"However, in the Xuanhuang Realm..." The Hundred Flowers Daoist looked up at the sky, a hint of awe flashing in her eyes. "Thousands of years have passed, and everything has changed. This world has actually become so vast. To be honest, my homeland, Wan Sheng, was only about the size of the Xuanhuang Realm's current five provinces. And our Wan Sheng Realm was considered mid-sized among the various cultivation realms back then."

"Even among those of the Immortal Realm, there are naturally differences in power," the Hundred Flowers Daoist said with a touch of helplessness.

Li Fan immediately understood.

Back then, the Xuanhuang Realm was already a colossal entity compared to many other cultivation realms. After thousands of years of continuous plunder and absorption, the Xuanhuang Realm had expanded immeasurably. As potentially the only remaining cultivation realm in the Darkest Star Sea, Xuanhuang truly couldn't be judged by conventional standards. And in such an immense world, the strength of the Immortal Revered Ones, who defied principles and coexisted with heaven and earth, was naturally terrifying. They couldn't be measured by common sense.

"To be born in Xuanhuang is truly both a blessing and a misfortune," Li Fan mused.

Looking at the Hundred Flowers Daoist again, he estimated her strength was equivalent to a slightly stronger Integration Realm cultivator in the Xuanhuang Realm.

"No wonder I thought you were a bit weak," Li Fan said rather bluntly. "I've fought against Immortal Revered Ones before. You probably wouldn't last more than a few rounds against them."

He couldn't see the Hundred Flowers Daoist's expression, but from her gently flickering golden body, it was clear she was not in a good mood.

"Alright, since what you said has been verified, let's return to the Spiritwood Realm for now. The Xuanhuang Realm itself is constantly under the surveillance of the Revered Ones. Although your strength is slightly weaker, you are still an Immortal Realm cultivator. If you stay here too long, there might be a risk of exposure." With that, Li Fan led the Hundred Flowers Daoist back to the Spiritwood Realm.

The Hundred Flowers Daoist did not act rashly. Leaving aside the fact that their strengths were comparable, a struggle might attract the covetousness of stronger beings. More crucially, little Liuli was still in Li Fan's hands. She was now alone, and her future cultivation still required the support of the Glazed Wisdom Fruit.

"Fellow Daoist Hundred Flowers, do you have any way to contact the other survivors from those realms back then?" In the Spiritwood Realm, Li Fan changed his appearance and spoke with a pleasant demeanor.

"I know what you're worried about, Fellow Daoist. But there's no need to fret; after so many years, those people have probably long since perished in the Immortal Ruins," the Hundred Flowers Daoist said, her voice cold.

"Oh? You're so certain?" Li Fan asked, intrigued.

"A realm the size of Xuanhuang is already on the verge of falling into the Immortal Ruins. How long could those people last, relying only on a small, makeshift patch of land?" the Hundred Flowers Daoist asserted. "So, besides the Xuanhuang Realm, I have nowhere else to go. We're on the same boat, Fellow Daoist; there's no need to be so wary of me," the Hundred Flowers Daoist urged earnestly. She sighed inwardly at the dwindling trust among cultivators in this era. In her time, while deceit and cunning were unavoidable, it was never like this, where constant vigilance was needed as if facing a mortal enemy.

"Heh heh, human hearts are treacherous; one must always be on guard," Li Fan said, looking accustomed to such thoughts. "Words alone are not enough. Whether it's letting you go or cooperating with you, I can't feel at ease..."

"Hmm?" Hearing this, the Hundred Flowers Daoist thought Li Fan was still intent on killing her, and her golden body immediately began to fluctuate violently.

Unexpectedly, Li Fan changed tack: "Come with me, Fellow Daoist. As long as you bow before the stone statue, we will be comrades. From then on, we'll work together with one heart and mind, no longer needing to suspect each other."

The Hundred Flowers Daoist froze. "Stone statue?"

Her confusion turned into terror the moment she saw the Faceless Stone Statue. Her golden light flickered incessantly, and she trembled like a young beast encountering its natural predator. She stumbled back, exclaiming, "A True Immortal statue? How can there be such a thing here?"

"You've been deceiving me all along?" The Hundred Flowers Daoist stared at Li Fan, her gaze a mix of fear and resentment.

Li Fan keenly sensed a faint pulling force emanating from the Faceless True Immortal Statue. It seemed to be trying to absorb the Hundred Flowers Daoist's Glazed Golden Divine Body.

"Why are you panicking, Fellow Daoist? This is the Red Dust Compassionate True Immortal, quite unlike other immortals you may know. Just swear the oath with me, and I guarantee your safety!" Li Fan said gravely. At the same time, his mind connected with the statue. In an instant, countless prayer scenes of the Compassionate Immortal's believers within the Xuanhuang Realm appeared in Li Fan's mind. He himself also felt as if he was being blessed by some power.

The Hundred Flowers Daoist let out a shriek, stumbled back in a panic, and stared at Li Fan, utterly terrified.

Li Fan's heart stirred. He felt a faint, wispy golden thread being stripped from the Hundred Flowers Daoist's body. It floated freely in the air, drawn by the Faceless True Immortal Statue, and slowly drifted towards Li Fan.

"Golden Votive Power?" After absorbing it, Li Fan realized that the nature of this energy was extremely similar to Golden Votive Power. However, it seemed much purer.

Li Fan's gaze then fell back on the Hundred Flowers Daoist.

Under Li Fan's coercion, the Hundred Flowers Daoist had no choice but to recite the oath after him. Once she finished speaking, Li Fan's mind connection immediately sensed the Hundred Flowers Daoist's presence. However, it was no longer a flickering golden human form, but a lotus-shaped lamp.

"Is this your true form now?" Li Fan asked with a frown.

"Yes, yes," the Hundred Flowers Daoist replied, her tone no longer like before, but now very constrained.

"You're an Immortal Realm cultivator, after all; why are you so weak?" This time, Li Fan was genuinely puzzled.

The moment he said this, Li Fan sensed a strong feeling of grievance from her. The Hundred Flowers Daoist glanced at the silently standing Faceless Stone Statue, then hesitated to speak.

"Speak freely," Li Fan assured her.

"The Red Dust Compassionate Immortal, even if not yet a Nameless True Immortal, is not far from that realm. I'm merely a fallen Immortal; how could I possibly resist?" the Hundred Flowers Daoist said feebly.

"Even so, it's just a stone statue. Is there really a need to be so afraid?"

The Hundred Flowers Daoist thought Li Fan was testing her, so she quickly expressed her loyalty: "You jest, Lord Envoy. In the True Immortal Realm, with power reaching everywhere, what difference is there between a statue and the true self?"