To prevent any discrepancies between the dream realm and reality, Li Fan specially cordoned off a plot of land in the Spirit Wood Realm to serve as the dwelling place for these Medicine King Sect disciples.
Under the isolation of the formations, he ensured there would be no accidental disturbances.
"After all, there is still a slight difference between dreams and reality. They won't be able to do anything too intricate. But if it is merely manual labor like supplying Azure Longevity Force, there shouldn't be any problem," Liu Ruchen remarked after observing for a while.
"When refining any pill, adding an appropriate amount of Azure Longevity Force increases the pill formation rate and quality. So regarding Azure Longevity Force, the more, the better." Looking at the many Medicine King Sect disciples in the dream—who wore expressions full of hope for the future after surviving a catastrophe—a trace of reluctance flickered in Liu San's eyes.
Yet he also knew this was the best treatment he could currently secure for them, so he merely echoed Liu Ruchen's words.
Having insight into human hearts, Li Fan clearly sensed what the Dao Integration elders of the Medicine King Sect present were thinking.
As the saying went, one mourned one's own kind; this was human nature. Li Fan did not press them too hard, instead offering an assurance: "It is merely an expedient measure! Rest assured, everyone, I definitely will not leave these disciples immersed in the dream for too long."
Whether the crowd believed him or not was anyone's guess, but all of them repeatedly praised Li Fan's benevolence.
*In ancient immortal cultivation sects, the elders almost all clawed their way up from the very bottom step by step. Their experience in power struggles is indeed rich,* Li Fan thought with a smile, unswayed by the facade they put on.
*Still, it's no big deal. They have all bowed before the statue of the Faceless True Immortal; we're all grasshoppers tied to the same rope now.*
With the issues concerning the elders and low-level disciples settled, the next to arrange were the thirty elite disciples on the roster.
Including Liu Ruchen's adoptive son, Liu Yihang, all thirty were standouts among the Medicine King Sect's younger generation.
Even by Li Fan's current standards, they could genuinely be called exceptionally gifted.
Since this was a time when he needed capable hands, letting them slumber indefinitely would be a waste.
Thus, Li Fan contacted Mo Rubin once more, requesting a hundred different cultivation techniques from him.
Although cultivation techniques were among the most precious resources in the Xuanhuang Realm, the Dharma Transmitters standing at the pinnacle of power naturally had no shortage of them.
Li Fan gave Mo Rubin a rough account of how he found the Medicine King Cauldron.
Though Mo Rubin was somewhat surprised by Li Fan's good fortune, he did not pay it particular heed.
After handing a hundred Soul Formation cultivation techniques to Li Fan, he cautioned, "Dabbling in this is fine, but do not neglect the real business. I have already secured the support of the vast majority of the Dharma Transmitters, and Cang has made the corresponding preparations on his end.
"Before long, the resolution for the 'Xuantian Spirit Sealing' will be officially passed. Brother Xingwang, you must prepare in advance."
Sensing the deduction progress of the Terminal Dissociation Disc in his sea of consciousness, Li Fan waved a hand. "I get things done; rest assured, there won't be any slip-ups!
"Mm... In a bit, I'll pay another visit to the Heavenly Profound Mirror. After all, this concerns its regaining freedom—it can't just play the hands-off boss." Muttering to himself, Li Fan hurriedly took his leave.
Mo Rubin watched Li Fan's departing figure and sighed.
Emerging from the concealed grotto-heaven, Li Fan headed straight for Weidu in Liuguang Province, the location of the Heavenly Profound Mirror's avatar.
Having not seen him for some time, he had already taken on a new identity.
No longer a waiter, he had become an innkeeper.
He was beaming, greeting guests inside the inn.
In an instant, the entire scene froze, and the Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar immediately wiped the smile from his face.
"I'm here to report on the progress of our plan," Li Fan stated his purpose right away.
He then relayed what Mo Rubin had said.
"Speak plainly. You wouldn't make a personal trip just for a small matter like this," the Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar said lazily.
"You know me best, Tianxuan," Li Fan gave a thumbs-up and praised.
"With the two of us working from the inside and outside, pulling off a switch right under the nose of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals shouldn't be much of an issue. However, I still have a few concerns."
Li Fan adopted a solemn expression. "First, if the Dharma Transmitter restriction is broken, will the Dharma-Transmitting Heavenly Venerable Himself sense it?
"If He notices the anomaly in the Xuanhuang Realm and returns in an instant...
"I'm afraid all our painstakingly laid plans will go down the drain in a heartbeat!"
The Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar remained silent.
Li Fan continued, "Second, if everything goes smoothly without alerting Chuanfa, and you regain your freedom—where do you plan to go next? Will you leave the Xuanhuang Realm, or...?"
Li Fan trailed off, watching him and awaiting an answer.
"As for the first point, you can rest assured. Even if I leave, I will leave behind a secondary body as a disguise. In terms of processing affairs alone, this secondary body is not inferior to me. Furthermore, it contains a backup of nearly all data from my main body...
"There will not be the slightest anomaly," the Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar said calmly.
"As for the second point...
"I haven't thought it through yet," the Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar admitted frankly.
"Perhaps because I have been trapped for so long, even upon regaining my freedom, I won't know where to go right away. But that's fine. I will have plenty of time to seek out what I desire."
Only at this moment did a hint of vicissitudes appear in the avatar's eyes, befitting his true status.
"If you are truly lost and have nowhere to go, you can travel as our companion," Li Fan suggested with a smile.
"Although the Xuanhuang Realm is vast, compared to the boundless sea of stars, it is still far too small. Who wouldn't want to step out of this starry sky and see what lies farther beyond?"
Perhaps Li Fan's words struck a chord with the Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar; he subconsciously looked up, gazing into the firmament.
His eyes grew distant, as though lost in some memory.
Silence descended between the two and lingered for a long time.
Ultimately, it was Li Fan who broke it. "By the way, what exactly is that 'secondary body' you mentioned?
"To think it could give birth to an existence whose functions are no weaker than your main body...
"Could it be just like how we humans reproduce?"
Li Fan asked with curiosity.
The Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar glanced at Li Fan and gave a slight shake of his head.
Yet after pondering for a moment, he still explained, "If you insist on that metaphor, it isn't wrong.
"You human cultivators accumulate cultivation as time passes. So do I. But unlike cultivators, the power that constructs my main body is far too pure to tolerate duplicate parts. Therefore, every once in a while, I must expel these duplicate parts from my body.
"That is the origin of secondary bodies."
As the Heavenly Profound Mirror avatar spoke, a white jade measuring ruler appeared out of nowhere in his hand.
"Take this 'Heaven-Measuring Shuttle' for instance. It was formed from the surplus ability within me to 'Measure Heaven and Size Earth.'"
Li Fan looked toward the Heaven-Measuring Shuttle, only to see countless scenes flickering faintly upon its surface.
Chapter 1022