Chapter 990: The Heavenly Profound Mirror's Incarnation
Chapter 990: The Heavenly Profound Mirror's Incarnation
Li Fan's eyes gleamed. "To think such treasures exist! It doesn't matter if we can't use them right now; let's secure them first. We can't let them fall into someone else's hands, only to be used against us to break the Xuantian Spirit-Sealing Formation."
Mo Rubin pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Brother Xingwang has a point. Such powerful tools certainly can't be allowed to fall into the wrong hands. I'll make the arrangements as soon as I return."
Li Fan seized the opportunity to let out a series of low, sinister chuckles.
"By the way, Brother Xingwang," Mo Rubin said suddenly. "Aside from strengthening the Xuantian Spirit-Sealing Formation, there's another matter I need your help with. It concerns the Heavenly Profound Mirror. I've given it a lot of thought, and you're the only one I trust to handle it."
"Hmph. We're brothers. What's with all the formality?" Li Fan grumbled, shooting Mo Rubin a displeased glare.
This matter seemed even more critical. Mo Rubin considered it for a moment before setting up another layer of restrictive seals around them.
Only then did he speak in a hushed tone, "According to my latest investigation, during all the years the Heavenly Profound Mirror has been under the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's control, it has likely created a human incarnation. I need you to find this incarnation and kill it, cutting off its escape route completely!" A murderous glint flashed in Mo Rubin's eyes.
Upon hearing this, Li Fan put on a look of utter astonishment.
Mo Rubin said in a low voice, "I was just as shocked when I first learned of this. But on second thought, it's likely because of this half-coerced, half-cooperative relationship that the Heavenly Profound Mirror fully integrated with the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance. An immortal artifact has a spirit of its own; naturally, it wouldn't be content to be controlled forever. Creating a human body to try and break the stalemate is a logical move."
"Don't worry, Brother Xingwang. To avoid detection by the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, the human body it created certainly won't be too powerful. With your strength, as long as you find it, you'll undoubtedly be able to eliminate it."
"I'll lend you another treasure, just to be safe." As he spoke, Mo Rubin produced a small, jet-black metal book.
"This is the Ink Stained Evil Book. It's exceptionally effective against artifact spirits and treasures. Once it locks onto a target, it will release a myriad of inky rays to corrupt it. With this in your possession, Brother Xingwang, failure is impossible."
"It's just an incarnation. I could kill it even without this... Ink Stained Evil Book," Li Fan said, but he still accepted the dark treasure and put it away.
He then frowned, however. "The crucial question is, where do I find this incarnation? It must be hidden extremely well. Will there be enough time?"
Mo Rubin replied with complete confidence, "The Dharma Transmitters have long been aware that the Heavenly Profound Mirror might create an incarnation. They began a covert investigation long ago, but without any definite results. Recently, however, one of Dharma Transmitter Feng's subordinates finally found conclusive evidence. At present, only I know of this; I have yet to report it to the council of Dharma Transmitters."
"Oh?" Li Fan feigned a look of interest.
"The Heavenly Profound Mirror has always been under the care of the Mirror Holders. For it to create a human body without a Mirror Holder acting as an inside man would be impossible. We have preliminarily confirmed that one of the Mirror Holders, Cang, is that traitor!"
"Cang's daughter is Feixue Immortal Sage, who has some renown within the Immortal Alliance. Several years ago, she mysteriously became pregnant and gave birth to a son. I suspect this might be related to the Heavenly Profound Mirror!" Mo Rubin explained.
"Are you saying that this Feixue Immortal Sage's son is the Heavenly Profound Mirror's incarnation?" Li Fan narrowed his eyes.
An image of Shuo Feng instantly surfaced in his mind.
"We can't rule out the possibility. But back then, Feixue first held a martial arts tournament to choose a husband, causing a huge stir. Then, she suddenly became pregnant, which shocked the entire world..."
"It was all too high-profile. It felt like a deliberate act to draw attention. So, it's also possible that it was a feint, using Shuo Feng to hide the real incarnation of the Heavenly Profound Mirror."
"In any case, her family is definitely connected to the Heavenly Profound Mirror. Not long ago, we discovered that Feixue's data within the Mirror—specifically, a parameter that only the Heavenly Profound Mirror itself has the authority to change—was altered without any corresponding log entry."
Mo Rubin explained.
"Feixue Immortal Sage... how strong is she?" Li Fan didn't delve into the specific reasons and asked directly.
"Her combat strength is mediocre. However, she is skilled at artifact refinement. Cang dotes on her and provides her with unlimited resources, which has allowed her to develop considerable skill in the craft. But it's ultimately a minor path. Brother Xingwang, you excel at soul attacks. If you catch her off guard, she will be no match for you." Mo Rubin seemed to have great confidence in Sun Xingwang.
"I excel at soul attacks...?" Li Fan was momentarily stunned, then it dawned on him. "That's right!"
Seeing this, Mo Rubin thought for a moment before adding, "If you're still not confident when the time comes, Brother Xingwang, just summon the fiendgod incarnation I'm attached to."
"I can transfer a portion of my power then. If we join forces, she'll have no chance of survival."
As he said this, Mo Rubin transmitted the Dharma Transmitters' internal investigation report on Cang's lineage.
Unlike typical major powers with their complex, sprawling networks, their line was simple: just Cang, Feixue, and Shuo Feng, a single line of succession.
But the vast resources they controlled, as revealed in the report alone, were staggering.
"Feixue's frequent haunts have all been marked."
"She dotes on her son, Shuo Feng, and summons him for a meeting every so often. These meetings usually take place in a grotto-heaven outside the Immortal Alliance's Celestial City."
"Therefore, it would be best to wait until they meet and capture them all in one fell swoop," Mo Rubin said gravely.
Li Fan nodded in agreement.
"Once we've killed the Heavenly Profound Mirror's incarnation and cut off its retreat, we can use the sealing formation to pressure it into negotiating."
"Otherwise, that thing will remain as arrogant as ever," Mo Rubin added, a note of displeasure in his voice.
"Arrogant, is it?" Li Fan thought back to the familiar, cold, mechanical voice of the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
The two continued to discuss the details of the operation before Mo Rubin prepared to leave.
Just as he was about to exit the hidden grotto-heaven, Li Fan suddenly asked, "After thousands of years, we're finally reunited as brothers. Why not return to the service of the Red Dust Compassionate Immortal?"
As he spoke, the faint image of a faceless stone statue slowly materialized in the air.
Mo Rubin glanced up, his body subconsciously recoiling slightly.
A flicker of almost imperceptible fear crossed his eyes, but Mo Rubin said nothing.
He simply shook his head and then drifted away, vanishing into the distance.
"Before you leave, Brother Xingwang, you might want to take a closer look at this grotto-heaven. You may find something of interest."
His voice slowly echoed through the cave as his figure disappeared from sight.
After a moment of silence, Li Fan began to inspect the grotto-heaven once more.
In an inconspicuous corner, he discovered a spiderweb that had appeared at some unknown time.
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