"Speaking of which, previously I had only heard of your esteemed mother Feixue's renown by chance. Possessing profound strength and extraordinary skill in artifact refinement, she is widely revered. Yet I had no idea your Xuan Clan held such immense authority within the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals.
"Even an obscure rogue cultivator like me knows how difficult it is to earn merits in the Alliance. How many cultivators work diligently, risking life and limb, only to end up at the Yan-20 rank? Yet with just your nod, Brother Shuo, one can immediately attain Yan Thirty authorization...
"To cross paths with Brother Shuo that day was truly the fortune of three lifetimes!" Having downed another cup of spiritual tea, Li Fan sighed with a touch of emotion.
"Hahaha! I never expected that a fleeting, unprovoked lapse of control from [Sword] would lead to meeting an exceptional talent like you, Brother Li. In the Nascent Soul realm, there are barely a handful in the entire Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals who could defeat me with a divine ability!" Shuo Feng held Li Fan in exceptionally high regard, not looking down on him in the slightest despite his lack of official status.
"You and I are truly brought together by fate..." In high spirits, Shuo Feng had Zhijin serve several more delicacies.
Sipping fragrant spiritual wine, the two had eaten halfway through their meal.
Suddenly, faint voices drifted from outside the building.
"Brother Shuo! Brother Shuo!"
A flicker of displeasure crossed Shuo Feng's face, his smile vanishing instantly.
Before he could speak, a white figure flitted into the center of the hall.
The newcomer wore a white dress. She was tall and slender, her skin lustrous like white jade.
"Brother Shuo, you came back without even telling me!" Pouting with puffed-up cheeks, she seemed somewhat cross, yet her eyes gazed upon Shuo Feng with utter adoration.
"I haven't been back long either," Shuo Feng explained offhandedly, a hint of impatience in his voice.
"Fine," the woman muttered sullenly.
She shifted her gaze toward Li Fan, her large eyes rolling thoughtfully. "Brother Shuo, who is this? How come I've never seen him before?"
Shuo Feng replied perfunctorily, "A new friend of mine, Li Fan."
"That name... seems like I've heard it somewhere before..." Cocking her head, she scrutinized Li Fan closely.
Li Fan merely swept his gaze across the woman, a ripple stirring in his mind.
Although she did not recognize Li Fan, he was thoroughly familiar with her. She was none other than the daughter of the Formation Planning Hall's Chief Formation Master, Lu Xichan—Lu Xuejing—with whom he had shared a master-servant relationship in his previous life!
'As second-generation elites of the Alliance, it is only natural that they know each other. Still, I never imagined that Lu Xuejing—status so noble, willful and haughty, trailed by crowds of young prodigies—would act like this in front of Shuo Feng.'
Li Fan cast only a brief glance at Lu Xuejing before promptly looking away. Turning to Shuo Feng, he asked, feigning ignorance, "Brother Shuo, this is..."
"Her family name is Lu. Her name is Lu Xuejing." He introduced only her name, making no mention of her mother's identity.
The meaning was obvious enough, so Li Fan pressed no further.
"Since a fair lady has come to visit, I shall not impose on you any longer, Brother Shuo." Li Fan clasped his hands, preparing to take his leave.
"Regarding the matter of the Tianling Flower, please help me look into it a bit further, Brother Shuo," Li Fan added casually before departing.
To his surprise, this single sentence sparked Lu Xuejing's fury.
"What? You're the one who asked Brother Shuo to inquire about the Tianling Flower?" She glared fiercely at Li Fan. "Why did he lie and tell me he wanted it himself? To think I went through so much trouble having those fellows search for it!"
Hearing this, Li Fan could not help but look toward Shuo Feng.
"How did I lie to you? Brother Li's affairs are my affairs." Though slightly embarrassed, Shuo Feng felt a headache coming on as he saw Lu Xuejing's aggrieved expression, and quickly explained.
Yet Lu Xuejing put on an "I'm not listening, I'm not listening" face.
Instead of venting her resentment directly at Shuo Feng, she found Li Fan increasingly repulsive.
"Whose clan are you from? You don't look familiar at all! You wouldn't happen to be a Five Elders Association spy deliberately getting close to Brother Shuo to find out the location of the Heavenly Profound Mirror, would you? You don't look like a good person at all! Brother Shuo never lied to me before..."
"Lu Xuejing, what nonsense are you spouting!" Seeing her speak without thinking, Shuo Feng's expression shifted slightly, and he immediately snapped.
Though caught in the crossfire of Lu Xuejing's bizarre train of thought, Li Fan felt little anger.
Instead, upon hearing her words, his eyes narrowed slightly.
'So the Xuan Clan really does have some connection to the Heavenly Profound Mirror.'
"Brother Li, I am truly sorry. Let us leave it at this for today; I will invite you back as a guest another day," Shuo Feng apologized profusely.
While having Zhijin see the guest out, he nursed a headache as he tried to console the tearful Lu Xuejing.
Giving the two a deep look, Li Fan departed from the estate.
"Brother Shuo, you have to believe me. That Li Fan just now is really no good. Even the way he looks at people makes one uncomfortable. You should see less of him in the future." After a bout of gentle coaxing from Shuo Feng, Lu Xuejing finally calmed down.
Then she insisted solemnly.
Compared to someone else's one-sided claims, Shuo Feng clearly trusted his own judgment.
"Mm, all right, I understand," he answered perfunctorily, completely disregarding her words.
——
'Immortal Venerable Feixue, exceptionally skilled in artifact refinement. Has a son, father unknown.'
'Lu Xichan, Chief of the Formation Planning Hall, the one who spearheaded the Heavenly Profound Spirit Lock in the previous life. Has a daughter, father likewise unknown.'
'The two know each other, quite possibly close friends.'
'Both are connected to the Heavenly Profound Mirror...'
On the journey back to the Valley of Longevity, Li Fan analyzed what little information he had, piecing together faint clues.
'Interesting. I wonder if there will be a chance to make Yufu act once more in this life. But the Stealing Heaven Changing Sun Token was lost inside the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace in this life. Even if Lu Xuejing were captured, who knows what would be needed to ransom her back,' Li Fan pondered privately.
Upon returning to the Valley of Longevity, he found that Fang Zaiji had vanished—having gone off somewhere to begin crafting the protective magic treasure needed for the avatar Xu Bai.
Liu San was likewise busy overseeing the work of connecting the divine senses of the Medicine King Sect disciples into the [Spring and Autumn Great Dream Formation].
'In half a year, once all preparations are complete, the avatar will be able to leave the valley.'
'Until then, my true body should remain dormant.'
Entering the secluded cultivation chamber, he found the restriction on entering the Fallen Immortal Realm had already lifted.
"Blessings arise, Xuanhuang Heavenly Venerable!"
Li Fan conducted the ritual and once again arrived in the distorted, transparent space.
Before him, three different scenes flickered.
The newly appeared [Heavenly Sword Sect Sword Refinement] had already unlocked and was accessible.
Without hesitation, Li Fan focused his divine sense. The next instant, after a brief bout of dizziness, he entered the Fallen Immortal Realm.
Before he even had time to sort out the information of the person he was possessing this time, an excited yet indignant voice reached his ears:
"Quick, there's a show to watch! An outer sect disciple who joined not long ago is arrogantly boasting that he'll challenge the Eldest Senior Brother!"
"Are you kidding me? What kind of cultivation does Eldest Senior Brother have? Is there any outer sect disciple who could withstand a single strike from him?"
Chapter 678