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Chapter 343: Unknown Existence

“For example, the remains of the first Dao Integration cultivator to fall in the wars between the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders’ Assembly, the remains of Immortal Sage Qinglian.”

“Heh, over the years, the Five Elders’ Assembly has put in a lot of effort to retrieve Immortal Sage Qinglian’s remains.”

“Another example is the ancient Heavenly Sword Sect’s ‘Ceasefire Stele.’ It is said that there were two giant steles in front of the Heavenly Sword Sect. One inscribed with ‘Stop for the Idle,’ and the other with ‘Ceasefire of Destiny.’ Just these two steles were as effective as an impregnable mountain-protecting array, exuding unparalleled might.”

“Unfortunately, the Museum of Divine Treasures only managed to collect the ‘Ceasefire Stele,’ while the ‘Stop for the Idle’ stele is nowhere to be found.”

Hearing this, Li Fan couldn’t help but think of his own ‘Stop for the Idle’ fragment.

He wondered if it was the same as the Heavenly Sword Sect’s ‘Stop for the Idle’ stele.

As Li Fan was lost in thought, the black-robed cultivator’s words forcibly brought his attention back.

“Speaking of the Museum of Divine Treasures, we must mention the remains of the first cultivator infected by the Immortal-Mortal Miasma. You might not know, but these seemingly ordinary remains are highly sought after by many cultivators. Their value is absurdly high. The skull of this cultivator is placed at the center of the Museum of Divine Treasures.”

“When I first saw it, I thought it was the remains of some ancient powerful figure. To my surprise, it was just a poor fellow.”

“I really can’t understand why those people find such things worth collecting.”

Talking about the Museum of Divine Treasures seemed to excite the black-robed cultivator, who started to introduce various collections inside to Li Fan and the others.

Han Yi and Ximen Yue were quite interested and listened attentively.

Li Fan, on the other hand, felt a stir in his heart.

“The remains of the first cultivator infected by the Immortal-Mortal Miasma…”

“I still have one of his ribs in my storage ring. It survived when Master Yin self-immolated.”

Li Fan couldn’t help but become interested in the skull placed in the Museum of Divine Treasures.

Taking advantage of a pause in the black-robed cultivator’s speech, Li Fan asked, “Senior, how can one visit the Museum of Divine Treasures like those people we just saw?”

The black-robed cultivator smiled, “The Museum of Divine Treasures is generally not open to outsiders. No amount of contribution points can grant you access. If you want to apply for a visit to broaden your knowledge without any connections, the simplest way is to become a dedicated guide for the Museum of Divine Treasures, just like I did.”

Li Fan was slightly stunned and exchanged glances with Han Yi and Ximen Yue.

“Why does the Museum of Divine Treasures need dedicated guides?” Ximen Yue asked, puzzled.

The black-robed cultivator chuckled, “Why wouldn’t it need guides? Do you think just placing a sign in front of each exhibit would be enough?”

“First, the Museum of Divine Treasures, like the main avenue you walked through in front of the Law Enforcement Hall, has all its spiritual energy in a dormant state. Even divine senses can’t leave the body. All exhibit information is only briefly marked. To know their backstories, a guide is essential.”

“Secondly, do you have any idea how vast the Museum of Divine Treasures is?” The black-robed cultivator laughed softly.

“It houses the entire Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance’s collection from thousands of years. When I left, the number of exhibits was thirty-eight million, four hundred seventy-five thousand, six hundred eighty-four. Without a guide, an ordinary person visiting would be like looking for a needle in a haystack, unable to find what they want to see. Having a complete, enjoyable visit within the limited time would be a fantasy.”

“Moreover, as you just saw, who are the people visiting the Museum of Divine Treasures? Without guides, how could they understand anything?”

The black-robed cultivator snorted, making his point clear.

Li Fan and the others showed expressions of having learned something new.

After a moment of silence, the black-robed cultivator continued, “Of course, if you join the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance and increase your merit level to Yanfa Pearl 30, you get a free visit every ten years.”

“However, reaching Yanfa Pearl 30 is incredibly difficult. Even I haven’t reached it.”

Then he looked at Han Yi with a half-smile, “Of course. If you, Han, cultivate well and break through to the Dao Integration stage, you can just report in and visit anytime.”

Han Yi felt a bit embarrassed, “Senior, you jest. Dao Integration is not easy to achieve, even with the technique.”

The black-robed cultivator laughed deeply but said nothing more.

The rest of the journey was silent.

The black-robed cultivator led Li Fan and the others back to the platform where they initially arrived.

“Alright, my task from the Immortal Sage is complete. We will meet again if fate allows,” the black-robed cultivator said coldly.

Li Fan felt a mysterious force envelop him.

It seemed to repel him from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance headquarters.

“May I know your name, Senior?” Li Fan asked as he was about to leave.

“I’m just a nobody. As a guide, I’m called Guide Ding Yin. As a lead, I’m Lead Hei. That’s all,” the black-robed cultivator shook his head and did not answer further.

As Lead Hei’s figure gradually disappeared, Li Fan and the others found themselves back in the Four Seasons Garden of the Tianji Court.

The location was exactly the same as before they left for the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance headquarters.

“Han Yi, now that you’ve visited the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance headquarters, do you know where it is located?” Li Fan asked, smiling at Han Yi.

Han Yi pondered for a moment, then replied, “If I’m not mistaken, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance headquarters might be inside the Tianxuan Mirror.”

Ximen Yue disagreed, “I think the Tianxuan Mirror is just a means of transportation.”

“If the headquarters were inside the Tianxuan Mirror…”

“There are so many Tianxuan Mirrors in the world. Does that mean wherever there’s a Tianxuan Mirror, there’s a Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance headquarters?”

“In that case, why do Tianyu, Tianchen, Tianshu, Tianquan, and the central region exist?”

Han Yi was speechless, unsure how to refute.

Li Fan thought deeply, finding merit in both arguments, and played the mediator.

After some discussion, the three did not delve further.

They thanked and bid farewell to Immortal Sage Jicheng, then went to the Dao Discussion Building in Tianquan Province, where Han Yi treated them to a grand feast.

As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.

The three parted ways afterward.

Ximen Yue stayed in Tianquan Province.

Li Fan and Han Yi headed to Yuandao Province together.

Time passed quickly, and half a year later…

In the Tianxuan Mirror, Li Fan finally mastered the basics of “Mysterious Spiritual Transformation.”

“Now that I haven’t yet refined my clone, let’s see the effect of this divine technique.”

Suppressing his excitement, Li Fan disguised himself and headed outside Tianyu City.

He dug a secret chamber, prepared all the materials, and began the ritual.

After a while…

A mass of flesh exploded.

“Hmm? Why did it fail?”

Li Fan was puzzled.

He tried again.

And failed again.

“?”

Li Fan frowned deeply.

“Wait, could it be…”

“There’s already a clone in the world?”

Li Fan was instantly startled.

Comments 9

  1. Offline
    crisp009
    + 00 -
    "For example, the remains of the first Harmony Dao cultivator to fall in the wars between the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders—the Immortal Venerable Qinglian."

    "Hah, over the years, the Five Elders have gone to great lengths to reclaim Qinglian’s remains."

    "Then there’s the Truce Stele of the ancient Heavenly Sword Sect. Legend has it that two massive stones once stood at the sect’s entrance. One was inscribed with ‘Idlers, Halt Your Steps,’ while the other bore ‘Visitors, Sheathe Your Blades.’ These two stones alone were said to surpass countless mountain-protecting arrays in power. Truly awe-inspiring."

    "Unfortunately, the Museum only managed to acquire the Truce Stele. The Halt Steps Stele has been lost to time."

    Hearing this, Li Fan couldn’t help but think of the fragmented stele in his possession.

    Could it be the same Halt Steps Stele from the Heavenly Sword Sect?

    Just as Li Fan was lost in thought, the black-robed cultivator’s next words forcibly snapped him back to attention.

    "Ah, speaking of the Museum, we can’t overlook the remains of the first cultivator infected by the Mortal Dust Miasma. You might not know this, but these seemingly ordinary bones are highly sought after. Their value is absurdly high. The skull in the Museum is even displayed at the very center."

    "When I first saw it, I thought it belonged to some ancient powerhouse. Pfft—turns out it was just some unlucky fellow’s."

    "I really don’t get why people obsess over collecting such things."

    For some reason, the black-robed cultivator grew unusually animated when discussing the Museum’s exhibits, enthusiastically detailing its various treasures.

    Han Yi and Xi Menyue listened with keen interest, while Li Fan’s mind stirred.

    "The remains of the first cultivator infected by the Mortal Dust Miasma..."

    "My true self’s storage ring still holds one of his ribs. Even when Yin Shangren burned himself to ashes, that rib remained intact."

    Li Fan’s curiosity about the skull on display was instantly piqued.

    Seizing a pause in the black-robed cultivator’s monologue, he asked, "Senior, if one wished to visit the Museum like those people earlier, how might they go about it?"

    The black-robed cultivator chuckled. "The Museum of Divine Relics isn’t open to the public. No amount of contribution points will grant you entry. If you lack connections but still want to visit, the simplest way is to pass an exam and become a dedicated docent—like I once was."

    Li Fan blinked, exchanging baffled glances with Han Yi and Xi Menyue.

    "Why would the Museum need docents?" Xi Menyue asked, utterly perplexed.

    The black-robed cultivator smirked. "Why wouldn’t it need docents? You think slapping labels in front of each exhibit would suffice?"

    "First, like the path you walked earlier before the Guardian Hall, the Museum suppresses all spiritual energy. Even divine sense can’t extend beyond the body. Exhibit information is kept deliberately sparse. If you want to know the stories behind them, you need a docent."

    "Second, you seem to underestimate the Museum’s scale." He snorted.

    "It houses millennia of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance’s collections. When I left, the exhibit count was three hundred eighty-four million, seven hundred fifty-six thousand, seven hundred eighty-four. Without guidance, visitors would be lost in an ocean of artifacts, unable to find what they seek. Expecting a complete, satisfying experience within a limited time? Pure delusion."

    "Besides, you saw the visitors just now. What kind of people were they? Without docents, what could they possibly appreciate?"

    The black-robed cultivator left it at that with a cold laugh.

    Li Fan and the others wore expressions of enlightenment.

    After a brief silence, the black-robed cultivator added, "Of course, if you join the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance’s official ranks and reach Yan Thirty in merit, you’re entitled to one free visit every decade."

    "But Yan Thirty?"

    He shook his head. "Too difficult to achieve. Even I haven’t managed it yet."

    Then, with a teasing glance at Han Yi, he said, "Naturally, if you work hard and break through to the Harmony Dao realm, things get much easier. Just announce your arrival, and you’re in."

    Han Yi awkwardly replied, "Senior jests. Even with a technique, reaching the Harmony Dao realm is no simple feat."

    The black-robed cultivator chuckled darkly and fell silent.

    The rest of the journey passed without incident.

    Soon, the trio was led back to the platform where they had first arrived.

    "Well, the Immortal Venerable’s task is complete. We’ll meet again if fate wills it."

    The black-robed cultivator’s voice was icy.

    Li Fan suddenly felt an inexplicable force envelop him, as if the surrounding space itself was expelling him from the alliance headquarters.

    "Might I ask how to address you, Senior?" Li Fan called out just before departing.

    "A nobody like me has no name to speak of. When I was a docent, I was Docent Ding Yin. As a guide, I am Guide Black. That’s all."

    As Guide Black’s figure faded from view, Li Fan, Han Yi, and Xi Menyue found themselves back in the Four Seasons Garden of the Heavenly Extremity Academy—standing precisely where they had been before their journey to the alliance headquarters.

    "Fellow Daoist Han, now that we’ve visited the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance’s headquarters, have you deduced its location?" Li Fan asked with a smile.

    Han Yi pondered before answering, "If I had to guess, the headquarters is likely inside the Heavenly Profound Mirror."

    Xi Menyue disagreed. "I believe the mirror merely serves as a teleportation device. If the headquarters were inside it..."

    "Given how many mirror surfaces exist in the world, wouldn’t that mean the alliance headquarters is everywhere there’s a mirror?"

    "In that case, why do places like Tianyu, Tianchen, Tianshu, Tianquan, and the central heartlands even exist?"

    Han Yi was momentarily speechless, unable to refute.

    Li Fan considered their arguments and found merit in both, so he played peacemaker.

    The discussion remained lighthearted, however, and none pressed the matter further.

    After thanking and bidding farewell to Immortal Venerable Jicheng, the trio headed to a renowned restaurant in Tianquan City, where Han Yi treated them to a lavish feast.

    As all banquets must end, so too did their companionship.

    Xi Menyue remained in Tianquan Province, while Li Fan and Han Yi set out together for Yuandao Province.

    Half a year later, within the Heavenly Profound Mirror—

    Li Fan finally achieved initial mastery of Mystical Spirit Transformation.

    "Perfect timing. I haven’t refined a new avatar yet. Now that the technique is complete, let’s test its effects."

    Suppressing his excitement, Li Fan disguised himself and hurried beyond Tianyu City’s walls.

    After excavating a hidden chamber and preparing the necessary materials, he began the refinement.

    Some time later...

    Boom!

    A mass of flesh exploded violently.

    "Huh? Why did it fail?"

    Baffled, Li Fan tried again.

    Another failure.

    "?"

    His brows furrowed deeply.

    "Wait, this situation is..."

    "There’s already an avatar in existence?"

    A chill ran down Li Fan’s spine.

    (End of Chapter)
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  2. Offline
    Master_KKS
    + 10 -
    He forgot the clone who went to Yandao province.....
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  3. Offline
    Saxfire
    + 152 -
    Lol did the technique make him forget the existence of the clone? What a powerful technique if that's how it works.
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    1. Offline
      Ayoola
      + 03 -
      Nahh, I think it's because he probably doesn't know that he could have only 1 clone at a time

      Nahh, I think it's because he probably doesn't know that he could have only 1 clone at a time
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      1. Offline
        Ayoola
        + 00 -
        OK what the actual f#ck lshock
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      2. Offline
        ElderYharon
        + 11 -
        Nahh, I think it's because he probably doesn't know that he could have only 1 clone at a time

        Nahh, I think it's because he probably doesn't know that he could have only 1 clone at a time
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  4. Offline
    Srijan
    + 11 -
    Oh yey
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  5. Offline
    demon patriarch
    + 40 -
    Omg !!!!
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  6. Offline
    admin001
    + 80 -
    Here it comes wiseacre
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