Natural treasures and heavenly materials served as the puppet's skeleton, while golden Source Power surged like a tide, forming "flesh and tissue" that adhered to the bones.
The Tianji puppet gradually took shape.
During the emergence of this golden Source Power, Li Fan also faintly heard intermittent, murmured whispers.
"What is that noise?" Seeing that Layman Qiaogong appeared thoroughly at ease, Li Fan had no fear of disturbing him and directly asked aloud.
"Unclear. But it is an unavoidable phenomenon whenever Source Power is utilized, so there is no need to worry. We cultivators of the Tianji Realm call it the 'World Whispers.' Once you've seen it enough, you get used to it."
While answering Li Fan, his gaze remained fixed on the Tianji puppet as he meticulously manipulated the Source Power.
Limbs, torso, head, followed by skin, hair...
All slowly emerged.
Liu Ruchen, Sect Master of the Medicine King Sect, watched the scene before him in sheer astonishment.
Such puppetry methods were entirely beyond his imagination.
The moment a Tianji puppet identical to Liu Ruchen in appearance was created, an inexplicable, impatient longing welled up in Liu Ruchen's heart to possess it.
"Fellow Daoist, please, help yourself," Layman Qiaogong said lazily.
Liu Ruchen glanced at Li Fan, and only after seeing him nod did he cautiously fly closer.
A burst of eerie light erupted from the Tianji puppet, and moments later, its eyes opened.
Reborn anew, Liu Ruchen opened and clenched his palms, his expression full of shock. "It feels... completely identical to my original body.
"It even has a dantian and a sea of consciousness! Just how was this accomplished?"
Layman Qiaogong paid no heed to Liu Ruchen whatsoever. "Are we done? If there's nothing else, I'm heading back. Fellow Daoist Tianyang is still waiting for me!" he asked impatiently.
Li Fan smiled and let him leave.
"Sect Master Liu, what do you think of our Myriad Realms Association's methods?" Li Fan asked, watching Liu Ruchen continue to examine his new body.
"A divine art, truly a divine art," Liu Ruchen said, utterly convinced and in awe.
Then his expression shifted slightly. "The Myriad Realms Association... Could it be that Fellow Daoist Qiaogong just now is not a native cultivator of the Xuanhuang Realm?"
Li Fan nodded. "Sect Master Liu truly has extraordinary insight. Fellow Daoist Qiaogong hails from the Tianji Realm."
Upon hearing this, Liu Ruchen gasped, "The Tianji Realm? That cultivation world rumored to be built atop an enormous puppet, drifting unpredictably through the starry cosmos?
"I see. That explains everything."
Upon further inquiry, Li Fan learned that back then, the Medicine King Sect's ancestral founder, Medicine King Sun Piaomiao, had traveled through various realms and recorded his experiences in each.
Among those records was a passage concerning the Tianji Realm.
"However, after the Immortal Path was severed, contact between the various cultivation worlds essentially ceased. Thus, records regarding other realms remain frozen in the distant past.
"When I decided to lead the entire sect into exile and flee Xuanhuang back then, our destination was the nearest world, the Xiaoyao Realm. The cultivators there revered the path of non-action and unfettered ease, disliking conflict, and were very welcoming to outsiders. It was a wonderful place. Sadly..."
Liu Ruchen's expression turned somber.
As he spoke, he tactfully used divine sense to transmit Medicine King Sun Piaomiao's travelogue to Li Fan.
A simplified star chart instantly appeared in Li Fan's mind.
It marked the beacon coordinates of eighteen cultivation worlds surrounding the Xuanhuang Realm.
They seemed randomly arranged, showing no apparent discernible pattern.
In addition to the eighteen stationary worlds, there were two cultivation worlds without fixed beacon coordinates.
One was the Tianji Realm, while the other was known as Xuanshang.
According to the travelogue, Xuanshang was less a world and more an enormous flying boat.
Xuanshang traveled between various cultivation worlds, trading resources and seeking profit.
***
"For Patriarch Piaomiao to wander the myriad realms in spirit is truly enviable," Li Fan remarked after scanning through the contents of the travelogue several times.
Too much time had passed, and the sea of stars had undergone vast cataclysms. Everything recorded in the travelogue had likely been reduced to nothingness.
Or perhaps it had already been devoured by Xuanhuang.
"Xuanshang..."
"The conduct of cultivators from that realm seems somewhat similar to Jiao Xiuyuan's. If an opportunity arises in the future, I can look into it."
Unaware of Li Fan's inner thoughts, Liu Ruchen continued, "It is said that back then, the patriarch intended to travel even farther, but for reasons unknown, he ultimately changed his mind. It seemed to be due to something peculiar about this starry sky we reside in. However, the patriarch never revealed the specific reason to later generations."
Li Fan's expression moved slightly. "Something peculiar?"
During Sun Piaomiao's era, the Immortal Path had not yet been severed. Naturally, the High Wall did not exist either.
Yet the sea of stars where the Xuanhuang Realm resided was already unusual back then...
"None of the immortal ascendants across the generations of the Xuanhuang Realm have left behind any records.
"Either every senior ascended to become a Nameless True Immortal, or some mighty figure completely erased all information about them.
"Interesting..."
Li Fan sank into deep contemplation.
***
Next, Li Fan led Liu Ruchen on a tour of the splendid sights of the Spirit Wood Realm.
Whether it was the mountains and rivers modeled after the Xuanhuang Realm, the replicas of ruins from various ancient sects,
or the towering tree standing at the center reaching into the heavens, all earned Liu Ruchen's unending praise.
Finally, after solemnly paying respects before the Faceless True Immortal stone statue, Li Fan retrieved the Medicine King Cauldron.
"At present, there exists the restriction that dharmas cannot be cultivated concurrently. If all the disciples inside the cauldron are awakened, they will inevitably descend into mutual slaughter. Sect Master Liu, how do you propose handling this?
"Our Myriad Realms Association possesses a technique called the Common People Lingyuan Technique, which can circumvent this restriction..."
After listening to Li Fan's explanation, Liu Ruchen pondered for a moment before giving his reply.
"Since we have already decided to join the Association, it is only natural that we contribute our share.
"When it comes to combat power, our Medicine King Sect may not amount to much. But when it comes to pill refinement and nurturing spiritual plants, our Medicine King Sect is fairly adept.
"However..." A trace of hesitation appeared on Liu Ruchen's face.
"Thousands of years have passed, and I do not know how far the alchemy Dao of the Xuanhuang Realm has developed. But if we can obtain some actual pills and are given some time, we should barely be able to catch up."
Liu Ruchen understood very well that the best way to ensure the safety of the entire Medicine King Sect was to demonstrate their value as much as possible.
After all, having seen the treeman clan laboring day and night in the Spirit Wood Realm, as well as the flesh puppets that had been turned entirely into technique-cultivating machines, Liu Ruchen knew that this Myriad Realms Association was by no means merciful or benign.
And this "Emissary" before him, who represented the Compassionate Immortal of the Red Dust and was once a Dharma King of the Profound Heaven Sect,
was certainly not as amiable and benevolent as he appeared on the surface.
"The Scripture of Saving the World and Cultivating Longevity provides special benefits to pill refinement. Therefore, it would be best for some of the elders in the sect to retain their original cultivation."
Chapter 1020