"Senior, I can tell you the harvest sites for those two stalks of blue-blood coral without reservation. As for any reward, that matters little to me. I only ask: once you have investigated, could you also share your findings with me?
"I normally consider myself to have a decent eye, yet to think I erred so terribly this time, entering a treasure mountain empty-handed without recognizing what lay before me.
"If I never learn the reason why, I will truly find it hard to accept."
Through the Heavenly Profound Mirror, Li Fan sent this message to Chen Ying.
Before long, Chen Ying replied.
"Heh heh, at present, it is merely my own speculation. Young friend need not take it to heart.
"A personal inspection on-site is still required before I can reach any final conclusions.
"If you do not mind, young friend, you may simply come along with me."
Seeing Chen Ying's invitation, Li Fan immediately looked up information on him.
Chen Ying, an early Nascent Soul cultivator.
An Elder of the Medicine Hall, exceptionally adept at nurturing spiritual plants and equally masterly in his alchemy arts.
*Go together...*
*This person probably harbors no ill intent. Besides, he is only at early Nascent Soul cultivation.*
*Even if some great secret is uncovered and he tries to silence me, I wouldn't necessarily lack the means to protect myself.*
Having slain a Nascent Soul cultivator once before, his mindset had undergone a quiet transformation. Moreover, with the trump card of the Essence-Blood of Ten Thousand at his disposal, Li Fan had the power to fight back even if Chen Ying turned hostile.
"It is precisely what I hope for!"
After pondering a moment, Li Fan replied in this manner.
"Good! There is no time to lose; let us set out at once. I will wait for you at the Dharma Transmission Plaza.
"By the way, as a precaution, I will disguise myself with a different appearance.
"When the time comes, simply call me Ying Chen.
"You should also remember to conceal your identity before heading out, young friend.
"This is a Trace-Extinguishing Talisman I often use when traveling. It conceals one's cultivation and prevents others from tracking you. Remember to keep it on your person and activate it."
Chen Ying transmitted the image of a completely different face, accompanied by a Trace-Extinguishing Talisman.
*This guy...* Li Fan muttered inwardly.
To be safe, Li Fan spent another three thousand contribution points through the Heavenly Profound Mirror to purchase a Random Teleportation Necklace.
He then headed straight for the Dharma Transmission Plaza.
Scanning his surroundings, he spotted the disguised Chen Ying.
Stepping forward, Li Fan clasped his hands in salute. "Might you be Fellow Daoist Ying Chen?"
Chen Ying smiled faintly. "Indeed! Without further ado, let us be on our way. I must trouble you to lead the path, young friend!"
Li Fan nodded and, without hesitation, walked over to the Mist Crow statue in the Dharma Transmission Plaza.
Activating the teleportation formation, the two arrived at Mist Crow Island one after the other.
The black-robed guardian on the island remained aloof and indifferent.
Neither of them paid him any mind. Guided by Li Fan, they headed straight for the undersea ruins.
"Senior, this is the place," Li Fan said to Chen Ying upon reaching their destination.
At the same time, raising his vigilance to the absolute utmost, he shifted aside.
Chen Ying scrutinized the sprawling ruins along the seabed, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Shortly afterward, a misty grotto-heaven vision manifested around him, seeming to teem with countless growing spiritual plants.
Enveloped by the grotto-heaven phenomenon, Li Fan felt a pervasive yet intangible pressure bearing down. He grew increasingly tense, his Congyun Sword, Heaven-Overturning Palm, and Random Teleportation Necklace all primed for instant release.
After a good while, Chen Ying retracted the grotto-heaven vision.
Shaking his head, he said, "It is not here. It should be the other location."
Li Fan breathed an inward sigh of relief. "The other site is not far from here, at the bottom of an undersea trench."
Once again, Li Fan led the way.
Before long, the two arrived at their destination.
Li Fan once again slipped aside, vigilance cranked to the maximum.
Chen Ying, meanwhile, released his grotto-heaven phenomenon once more and focused intently on sensing his surroundings.
After a long while, Chen Ying's face lit up with joy.
"Indeed, this is the place!
"An icy, bitter chill once descended here! That blue-blood coral merely caught a faint trace of its aura, yet its medicinal efficacy increased by so much!"
Chen Ying half-closed his eyes, his expression rapturous.
"Merely through this residual frigid force, one can feel boundless peace and tranquility within the heart.
"Every stray thought is wiped away completely.
"So flawless... as if manifested directly from the laws of heaven and earth.
"Wondrous, truly wondrous!"
...
As Chen Ying spoke, he suddenly stood motionless, seemingly slipping into an epiphany.
Hearing him describe the place in such profound, wondrous terms, Li Fan could not help but try to perceive it with focused care as well.
Yet, just as before, no matter how hard he tried, he could not sense anything extraordinary here.
"Frigid force... all stray thoughts banished... direct manifestation of the laws..."
Li Fan muttered the words under his breath. Suddenly, as if realizing something, his expression turned rather odd.
He recalled the scene when he had first retrieved the blue-blood coral from this spot.
A massive squid had been greedily sprawled over the blue-blood coral, its countless tentacles wrapping tightly around the treasure, refusing to let go. Any creature that dared approach drew furious attacks from the beast.
Back then, to avoid damaging the treasure worth three thousand contribution points, Li Fan had pinned the enraged squid with Insect Binding. Instead of resorting to the Congyun Sword or the Heaven-Overturning Palm, he had summoned the Blue Flame phantom spirit and frozen it solid into an ice sculpture.
He had then easily shattered it to pieces.
The frozen squid sculpture disintegrated into countless fragments that dissolved into the ocean depths, after which Li Fan effortlessly collected the blue-blood coral.
So...
Could the frigid force that Chen Ying claimed had enhanced the blue-blood coral's potency...
actually be the Blue Flame phantom spirit?
The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Li Fan did not know whether to laugh or cry.
No wonder he hadn't been able to find anything unusual no matter how hard he examined the place.
It turned out to be an utter misunderstanding.
He had thought he might encounter some tremendous fortune.
Who would have guessed that the "fortune" was himself all along?
With his doubts dispelled, Li Fan looked at Chen Ying, who had casually entered an epiphany without the slightest defense, and felt rather bewildered.
If Chen Ying was prudent, he was cultivating openly right in front of another cultivator. Even if Li Fan appeared on the surface to be just an ordinary late Foundation Establishment cultivator unable to pose a real threat, having an epiphany interrupted would still be an infuriating misfortune. Yet Chen Ying seemed not to care in the least.
If Chen Ying was foolish, his prior conduct had clearly been quite cautious. Changing his appearance, concealing his tracks—he hadn't skipped a single safeguard. He had even made Li Fan suspect that he intended to strike a lethal blow in some remote, desolate spot.
In the end, it had all been worrying over nothing.
Nevertheless, inward grumbling aside, Li Fan did not let down his guard.
He still kept a wide distance, his two lethal moves and the teleportation necklace ready to trigger at a moment's notice, fearful that the man's overt behavior might merely be a facade.
In this manner, more than half a day passed before Chen Ying finally awoke from his epiphany.
His eyes shone brightly, his spirit refreshed, and sheer delight was written across his face.
He blurted out, "Splendid! With this insight, my explorations in the Fallen Immortal Realm will surely delve much deeper!"
Standing nearby, Li Fan felt a stir in his heart.
*The Fallen Immortal Realm? Is that the secret realm he mentioned before?*
Chen Ying slowly reined in his aura. Looking at Li Fan, who had retreated far away as though fearful of disturbing his meditation, a hint of admiration showed in his eyes.
Chapter 171