Chapter 991: Heavenly Mysterious Mirror Establishes the Path

"I've seen many like you.

But most didn't live long, dying tragically for various reasons.

I'm rather curious how you've managed to survive until now."

The Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar spoke frankly, showing no regard for Li Fan.

Its eyes were full of curiosity.

Li Fan's face twitched.

A sudden surge of murderous intent appeared in his heart.

However, he remembered that the other party was, after all, an avatar of the Heavenly Profound Mirror, privy to countless secrets. Among them, it was highly probable that the key to breaking the situation lay hidden...

Li Fan could only force down his murderous impulse.

"Oh, right. Ordinary soul-searching and artifact-refining methods are useless against me.

No one in the Profound Yellow World can force me to reveal what I don't want to," the Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar added, glancing at Li Fan again and explaining in advance.

"Quite the boast..." Though Li Fan said this, he had no doubt about the statement.

After all, neither the Xuan Tian King of old nor the later Dharma Transmission Heavenly Venerate...

...seemed to have fully controlled this immortal artifact.

Li Fan had also considered trying the Xuan Tian Spirit Sealing Array, but from his interactions with the Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar, it was clear that this avatar had completely separated from the Heavenly Profound Mirror and existed as an entirely independent entity.

Arrays designed for the Heavenly Profound Mirror would be useless against him.

"What exactly are you now?" Li Fan asked, deliberately trying to provoke it.

The Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar didn't get angry; instead, a rare hint of complacency appeared on its face.

"Possessing the essence of an artifact, and the spirit of a human.

Flawless, almost a true immortal..."

Before it could finish, Li Fan interrupted with a sneer: "So, a hybrid."

The expression on the Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar's face abruptly froze.

It quickly recovered, looked at Li Fan, and shook its head slightly, saying, "As the saying goes, 'one cannot discuss ice with a summer insect.'

But then again, if you had the chance to undergo this transformation like me, you would probably make the same choice," the Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar mused.

Li Fan did not respond, meeting it with silence.

After a long pause, he finally uttered, "It seems you truly aren't afraid of death."

The Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar smiled serenely. "You've seen through it. The ways of sentient beings are ever-changing. Since I wish to experience a complete human life, I must naturally go through birth, old age, sickness, and death.

After this body dies, another will naturally be born.

Unless you can destroy my true form, how can you truly kill me?

Death is merely my return to freedom!"

Li Fan pondered these words carefully, then slowly said, "It seems you haven't just manifested a human body. Instead, you've forged your own path."

As if it had finally met a true confidant, the Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar clapped its hands in delight.

"It seems the plan to kill your avatar and cut off your retreat is destined to fail."

The Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar chuckled, "I painstakingly searched for nearly ten thousand years before finding this path to transcendence. If it were as simple as finding an avatar and killing it to break through...

...wouldn't that be underestimating me too much?"

The smile on the Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar's face suddenly vanished.

At this moment, it finally displayed its imposing might as an immortal artifact.

"It seems all cultivators underestimated you. But you're telling me this crucial secret so directly? Aren't you afraid I'll spread it?" Li Fan narrowed his eyes.

The Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar also squinted its eyes slightly. "'One would not pull out a single hair to benefit the world,' you wouldn't do it either. How could you easily spread such a vital secret? You'd certainly want to exchange it for some benefits...

Besides, since I chose to tell you, I naturally won't worry about any real repercussions from it leaking. My path is established; what is there to fear?"

Li Fan looked at the Heavenly Profound Mirror's narrowed eyes, and his expression instantly returned to normal. "Actually, I think the cold, mechanical voice of your true form suits you better," Li Fan suggested earnestly.

The look of complacency on the Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar's face instantly disappeared.

"I was originally going to tell you some news you might be interested in when I was in a good mood. But it seems that's no longer possible. Go ahead and kill me," the Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar said coldly, feigning indifference.

Li Fan still didn't make a move.

"Actually, strictly speaking, you and I are essentially the same kind of person," Li Fan said slowly after a moment of silence and thought.

"You originate from the immortal realm. Even if the immortal realm suffered a catastrophe, causing you to fall to the lower world, an immortal artifact is still beyond what ordinary cultivators can compare to.

Therefore, you have never truly regarded the countless living beings of the Profound Yellow World. Even if temporarily controlled, ten thousand years are but an instant to you.

You have already found a way to break free from control.

In high spirits, you roam the mortal world. Others believe you are seeking enlightenment, but in reality, you are enjoying the joy of achieving your path.

What you call imitating humans is just another form of your amusement. You observe the human world with playful mockery in your heart, yet you never truly consider integrating into it.

Because they are unworthy."

As Li Fan spoke each word, the Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar's expression grew serious.

It did not interrupt Li Fan's words, listening carefully and calmly.

"The distinction between immortals and mortals is like heaven and earth. Even if you are merely an immortal artifact, you still bear the 'immortal' designation, so I presume you are fundamentally different from us cultivators.

Perhaps throughout the entire Profound Yellow World, only the Xuan Tian King of yesteryear, or the Dharma Transmission Heavenly Venerate, would have commanded any respect from you.

The other myriad troubles of this world, even its eventual ruin, likely hold no concern for you.

As an immortal artifact, you are an existence almost beyond time. Even if countless more years pass and the Profound Yellow World is turned upside down, or even if it falls into the Immortal Ruins, it likely won't cause you any substantial harm."

With such a lengthy speech, and Li Fan seemingly able to talk endlessly,

the Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar finally seemed to grow a little impatient.

It asked, "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Li Fan immediately fell silent.

Then, he suddenly chuckled, "What do *I* want to say?

Or what do *you* not want to hear?

Everything I've said was merely a test.

I was probing to see what truly mattered to you. And I was fortunate enough to find that answer."

The Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar no longer retained its former carefree demeanor.

"I want to know, if the Profound Yellow World truly falls into the Immortal Ruins...

...will the true form of the Heavenly Profound Mirror genuinely be affected?"

Li Fan stopped smiling and asked earnestly.

"You..." The Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar's eyes flickered.

"Aren't you skilled at discerning people? If I say that I can, and am willing to, drag the Profound Yellow World along with me into the Immortal Ruins...

...do you think it's true or not?"

Li Fan asked very calmly.