Chapter 1022: Shearing the Tianxuan Mirror Again
To prevent any inconsistencies between the dream world and the outside, Li Fan specifically cordoned off a piece of land in the Spirit Wood Realm to serve as a sanctuary for these disciples of the Medicine King Sect.
Isolated by an array, they were guaranteed to be undisturbed by any unforeseen events.
"There is, after all, a slight gap between dream and reality. They won't be able to handle overly delicate tasks, but if it's just menial labor, like providing the Verdant Force of Longevity, there shouldn't be a problem," Liu Ruchen remarked after observing them for a while.
"Adding a suitable amount of the Verdant Force of Longevity to any pill refinement will increase the success rate and improve the quality. So, the more of it, the better." A flicker of pity crossed Liu San's eyes as he watched the many disciples of the Medicine King Sect in the dream, their faces full of hope for the future after surviving the calamity.
Yet he knew this was the best arrangement that could be secured for them at the moment, so he simply echoed Liu Ruchen's sentiments.
But Li Fan, with his insight into the human heart, clearly sensed the inner thoughts of the Medicine King Sect's Dao Integration cultivators present.
It was only natural to feel sorrow for one's own kind. Li Fan didn't press them further, instead offering a guarantee. "It's merely a temporary measure! Rest assured, I certainly won't let these disciples remain lost in this dream for too long."
It was unclear whether they truly believed him, but they all praised Li Fan's compassion in unison.
"But it's not a major issue. They've all bowed before the statue of the Faceless Immortal; we're all in the same boat now."
With the matters of the elders and the rank-and-file disciples settled, the next step was to arrange for the thirty elite disciples on the list.
This group of thirty, including Liu Ruchen's adopted son, Liu Yihang, comprised the most outstanding talents among the younger generation of the Medicine King Sect.
Even by Li Fan's current standards, their innate talent could be considered quite remarkable.
This was a time when talent was needed, and it would be a shame to let them remain asleep indefinitely.
So, Li Fan contacted Mo Rubin again and requested a hundred different cultivation techniques.
Although cultivation techniques were among the most precious resources in the Xuanhuang Realm, a Dharma Transmitter standing at the pinnacle of power would naturally have no shortage of them.
Li Fan briefly recounted to Mo Rubin the story of how he found the Medicine King Cauldron.
Mo Rubin was somewhat surprised by Li Fan's good fortune but didn't dwell on it.
After handing over a hundred Soul Transformation-level techniques to Li Fan, he cautioned, "It's fine to dabble, but don't neglect your main responsibilities. I have already secured the support of the vast majority of Dharma Transmitters, and Cang has also made the necessary preparations."
"The resolution for the [Xuantian Spirit-Sealing] will be formally passed soon. You need to prepare in advance, my friend."
Li Fan, sensing the deductive progress of the Terminal Dissociation Disc in his sea of consciousness, waved a hand. "When I do things, you can rest easy. There won't be any slip-ups!"
"Hmm... I'll go find the Tianxuan Mirror in a bit. After all, its freedom is on the line. It can't just wash its hands of the whole affair," Li Fan muttered before taking a hasty leave.
Mo Rubin sighed as he watched Li Fan's retreating figure disappear.
Leaving the hidden grotto-heaven, Li Fan went straight to Weidu City in Liuguang Province, the location of the Tianxuan Mirror's avatar.
It had been some time, and the avatar had already changed its identity.
No longer a waiter, it had become the owner of an inn.
It was beaming, cheerfully greeting the patrons in the establishment.
In an instant, the entire scene froze. The Tianxuan Mirror's avatar immediately wiped the smile from its face.
"I've come to update you on the plan's progress," Li Fan stated, getting straight to the point.
He then relayed what Mo Rubin had told him.
"Just say what's on your mind. You wouldn't have come all this way in person for something so minor," the Tianxuan Mirror's avatar said languidly.
"You know me best, Tianxuan," Li Fan praised, giving it a thumbs-up.
"For us to coordinate from the inside and out, staging a grand deception to fool the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance shouldn't be too difficult. But I still have a few concerns."
Li Fan's expression turned serious. "First, if we break the Dharma Transmitter's restriction, will the Dharma Transmission Heavenly Sovereign himself sense it?"
"If he detects the anomaly occurring in the Xuanhuang Realm and returns in an instant..."
"...I'm afraid all our painstaking planning will be for naught!"
The Tianxuan Mirror's avatar remained silent.
Li Fan continued, "Second, if everything goes smoothly and the Dharma Sovereign isn't alerted, what will you do once you regain your freedom? Where will you go? Will you leave the Xuanhuang Realm, or..."
Li Fan trailed off, watching the avatar and waiting for its answer.
"Regarding your first point, you can be at ease. Even if I leave, I will leave behind a secondary body as a disguise. In terms of processing ability, this secondary body is no inferior to my own. Furthermore, it possesses a backup of nearly all my main body's data..."
"There will be no anomalies," the Tianxuan Mirror's avatar stated flatly.
"As for your second point..."
"I haven't decided yet," the avatar admitted frankly.
"Perhaps because I've been trapped for so long, I wouldn't know where to go even if I suddenly regained my freedom. But that's alright. I will have plenty of time to search for what I truly want."
Only at this moment did a trace of ancient weariness, befitting its true identity, flicker in the avatar's eyes.
"If you're truly lost and can't find a destination, you could always travel with us," Li Fan suggested with a smile.
"The Xuanhuang Realm is vast, but it's minuscule compared to the endless Star Sea. Who wouldn't want to venture beyond this starry sky to see what lies in the distance?"
Perhaps Li Fan's words struck a chord, as the Tianxuan Mirror's avatar subconsciously lifted its head to gaze at the heavens.
Its eyes grew distant, as if lost in some distant memory.
Silence descended between the two, lasting for a long while.
It was Li Fan who finally broke the silence. "Speaking of which, what exactly is this 'secondary body' you mentioned?"
"To think you can give birth to an existence with functions no weaker than your main body..."
"Could it be something like how we humans reproduce?"
Li Fan asked, his curiosity piqued.
The Tianxuan Mirror's avatar glanced at Li Fan and shook its head slightly.
However, after a moment of contemplation, it elaborated, "If you must use that analogy, it's not entirely wrong."
"You human cultivators accumulate cultivation base over the passage of time. I am the same. But unlike cultivators, the power that constitutes my main body is too pure to accommodate redundant parts. Therefore, every so often, I must expel these redundant portions from my system."
"That is the origin of the secondary bodies."
As the Tianxuan Mirror's avatar spoke, a white jade measuring ruler materialized in its hand.
"Take this [Measuring Heaven Shuttle], for example. It was formed from the excess 'Heaven and Earth Measuring' ability within my body."
Li Fan looked toward the Measuring Heaven Shuttle and saw numerous images faintly flickering and shifting across its surface.
(End of Chapter)
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