Chapter 1003: The Dharma Spreader Defines the Heavenly Profound
After all, the Dharma Spreader he dreaded most had temporarily departed from the Xuanhuang Realm.
Although the people left behind were lording it over him with the methods the Dharma Spreader had established long ago, he had still managed to create a human avatar on his own, achieving a certain kind of freedom. If he could secure powerful external assistance...
Just as his imagination began to wander, Li Fan dropped another bombshell.
“That was the first proposal.”
“In fact, I have a second one that might also help you achieve true freedom.”
“Oh?” The Heavenly Profound Mirror’s avatar looked at Li Fan with a flicker of surprise.
“The Xuantian Treasure Mirror measures heaven and earth. You are now inextricably linked to the Xuanhuang Realm. Though you call yourself an immortal artifact, you cannot deny that your power is ultimately constrained by this world.”
“Am I right?”
“The Xuanhuang Realm has expanded a hundredfold over the years. I imagine you’ve reaped considerable benefits from that, haven’t you?”
The man before him knew far, far more than he had anticipated.
“Perhaps... cooperating with him really isn’t a bad thing.” The thought surfaced abruptly in the avatar’s mind.
“The worlds in the surrounding star domains have nearly all been plundered. The Xuanhuang Realm’s expansion has hit a bottleneck, and so have you.”
“However, what you currently control is likely just the main Xuanhuang Realm. What if... all the small worlds plundered over the years were brought within your domain of measurement?”
“Wouldn’t you advance to a new level?” Li Fan tempted him.
The avatar considered this, then answered frankly, “I’ve actually had this plan for years. But on one hand, the project is simply too massive. On the other, the Mirror Holder lineage of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance has always insisted on limiting my main body’s power. Thus, the plan has never moved forward...”
“If I were to orchestrate it, it would undoubtedly succeed, helping you achieve your ascension,” Li Fan declared with absolute confidence.
“By then, with the power you would command, even if the Xuanhuang Realm were to collapse, you could probably escape unscathed, couldn’t you?”
Seeing how earnestly the other man spoke, a trace of doubt flickered in the avatar’s eyes.
“Could it be that he possesses a supreme treasure that excels at deduction?”
In the Heavenly Profound Mirror’s memory, there did exist a world-class artifact of deduction in the Xuanhuang Realm, only slightly inferior to itself. This was the most logical explanation it could conceive.
Even though it had once been an immortal artifact, the Heavenly Profound Mirror had never seen or even heard of a treasure like [Truth], which could turn illusion into reality and reverse the course of all things. Thus, it never occurred to him that Li Fan’s seemingly bottomless insight came simply from having experienced enough.
The Heavenly Profound Mirror’s avatar mulled it over for a moment and, between the two proposals Li Fan offered, ultimately chose the first.
He explained his reasoning, “The second proposal would take too long to execute and is fraught with too many variables.”
“But the first proposal...”
“Even if you ultimately fail, as long as you can create the slightest crack in my restraints...” A glint of confidence flashed in the avatar’s eyes.
“Give me a little time, and I can break free on my own.”
Li Fan clapped his hands lightly at the sight. “Excellent. Since we’ve reached a consensus, I believe we can begin our collaboration.”
“Between us, you don’t trust me, and I don’t trust you. Our so-called cooperation is based entirely on an exchange of interests. But in my view, this is often the most steadfast kind of partnership in the world. Oaths and promises can be broken, but a person will never betray their own interests. At least...”
“That’s how it is between you and me,” Li Fan said, smiling as he sized up the avatar.
“Now then, I shall begin the first step of the plan: deducing a formation to create a weakness in the restrictions that bind you...”
“So, what exactly *is* the Dharma Spreader’s restriction?”
Faced with this question, the avatar didn't lapse into a brief stupor from processing vast amounts of data. Instead, the words came out as if etched into its very soul. “A tangled web of roots, sunk deep into my very marrow. It has taken root in the heavens and earth of Xuanhuang, fusing me into one with the world!”
Li Fan’s eyes narrowed instantly.
The avatar paused, then sighed softly. “During the era of the Xuan Tian Cult, I measured the heavens and earth of Xuanhuang and could observe nearly everything that transpired. That was because I was suspended high above the nine heavens, transcendent and detached.”
“But after the Dharma Spreader’s restriction, I was integrated into the fabric of the Xuanhuang Realm. Ironically, I lost that divine ability. After all, I was merely rooted within it, not in possession of the true reins of power.”
“Unless I can ‘Take from Heaven and Replace’ it, then...” The avatar shook its head, a note of deep frustration in its voice.
“So, helping you escape is truly no simple matter,” Li Fan remarked, echoing the sentiment.
“Indeed. And that was just the initial restriction the Dharma Spreader placed upon me. In the years the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance has been in power, the Mirror Holder lineage has relentlessly devised new ways to strengthen their control. While their methods are far inferior to the Dharma Spreader’s, they have certainly accumulated.”
“Even trash, when piled high enough, becomes a mountain.” Perhaps due to its profound resentment, the Heavenly Profound Mirror’s avatar let slip a rather crude remark.
“If I ever break free, I will settle every last score with them before I leave!” it vowed, its voice thick with hatred.
Seeing that it had lost all the detached, ethereal demeanor of an immortal artifact, Li Fan simply smiled without a word.
“I have considerable expertise in the Dao of formations. Provide me with the detailed information of the Dharma Spreader’s restriction. Give me some time, and I should be able to find a way to break it,” Li Fan said, careful not to make an absolute promise.
Now that they had reached a preliminary agreement, there was no reason to hide anything.
The Heavenly Profound Mirror’s avatar immediately transmitted the relevant information.
The method of transmission was rather unique. It directly snapped off one of its own fingers.
The finger then became transparent and brilliant, like mirrored glass, with countless lights dancing within, seemingly flashing with infinite information.
Looking back at the avatar, Li Fan saw that the severed finger had already regenerated.
“As expected of an avatar of the Heavenly Profound Mirror. It’s vastly different from a true human body,” Li Fan mused inwardly.
He took the transparent finger.
And began to read the information on the spot.
An immense flood of data rushed in, causing Li Fan’s thoughts to momentarily grind to a halt.
Only then did they slowly begin to process again.
Even though this was a restriction left by the Dharma Spreader thousands of years ago, Li Fan had to admit it was exquisitely ingenious and impossibly complex.
The stream of data was continuously absorbed and converted by Li Fan.
The Dao Transformation Stone and the Final Dissociation Disc began working in tandem, commencing the process of deciphering it.
“This is only the part I can perceive. There may yet be other special restrictions in places I cannot see,” the avatar offered as a helpful warning.
“Don’t worry, it shouldn’t be a major issue. However...”
“As part of our deal, since I’ve already begun my work, shouldn’t you offer some benefit in return?” Li Fan suddenly interjected.
“What do you want?” the avatar asked, its gaze fixed on Li Fan.
“Hmm...” Li Fan feigned a moment of thought.
Then he said, “I need to deduce a formation, so I’ll require another formation for reference.”
“How about the Floating Starry Sky Grand Formation?”
(End of Chapter)
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