"That was only because you urgently needed these items, Young Master. I was terrified of accidentally destroying them, so I didn't use my full strength at all." Liu San glared at Fang Zaiji, then turned to Li Fan and explained.
"That being said, Young Master, in all honesty, the dharma treasures Old Fang forged this time are genuinely remarkable. He truly poured his heart into them."
Hearing Liu San's words, Fang Zaiji's face immediately lit up with a grin. "Of course! After the Sect Master lent me the Medicine King Cauldron to study for so long, I had to produce some results, didn't I?"
...
Watching the two bicker back and forth, Li Fan offered a faint smile.
"Mr. Fang, why haven't you brought out the treasures for me to see? I'm already somewhat impatient." The one speaking, however, was his clone, Xu Bai.
During the six months Li Fan's true body had spent exploring the Fallen Immortal Realm and gaining insights into the sword dao, Xu Bai had remained within the Beast Seed Realm, continuing to fathom the Five Elements and the principles of the world.
This body was an exceptional match for the Beast Seed Realm, making comprehension effortless. His innate talent was by no means inferior to any so-called heaven's chosen.
The two were already accustomed to the clone's existence. Seeing Xu Bai suddenly appear within the secret chamber caused them no surprise.
"Young Master, please take a look."
With a proud look on his face, Fang Zaiji waved his large hand, and four clusters of light instantly manifested before everyone.
Within the light clusters floated a white robe, a folding fan, a sachet, and a jade pendant.
"The Pure Light Glazed Robe. Crafted from rare materials such as hundred-color colored glaze and pure light of fleeting life. Impervious to all dust, unstained by worldly tribulations. Standard attacks beneath the Dao Integration realm can be entirely disregarded. Even for a cultivator at the Dao Integration realm, breaking through its defense would take a fair bit of effort."
"The Shadowless Hundred Flowers Fan. Refined from materials like shadowless stone and heaven-grotto jade. The folding fan is painted with a motif of a hundred flowers contending in beauty, but in reality, hundreds of types of flowers are genuinely sealed inside. One can select and blend the fragrances of a hundred blossoms at will. Aside from that, its greatest function in moments of crisis is creating an illusion to draw the enemy's attention, while your true body quietly slips away over a hundred li..."
"The Thousand-Knot Entwined Silk Pouch. Beyond its standard storage function, it can even take in a female cultivator who catches your eye. Through its thousand-knot web of affection, day in and day out, it subtly alters her mind. Even if she was originally an irreconcilable enemy, her heart will slowly transform until she falls completely in love with the master of the pouch. Devoted unto death."
Fang Zaiji rattled on without pause, brimming with excitement.
Li Fan and Liu San, however, wore slightly peculiar expressions.
"And the final item, the Heavenly Treasure Hundred Vehicles Plaque. Beyond one's appearance, one's manner of travel is equally vital. Soaring through the sky or riding a sword like an ordinary cultivator simply detracts from one's bearing. Sealed within this plaque are over a hundred varieties of flying carriages and flying boats. I guarantee that every time you head out, you'll be spoiled for choice."
"Each flying dharma treasure has ample space reserved inside. Even fitting a dozen or twenty young ladies would be more than enough..."
"Cough, cough. Mr. Fang, let's leave it at that."
Li Fan's cheek twitched slightly, while the clone Xu Bai spoke out helplessly.
Only then did Fang Zaiji realize that the atmosphere was somewhat delicate. After glancing around, he tactfully began guiding Xu Bai in refining and attuning to these four dharma treasures.
"Refining them with your heart's blood and divine sense will not only bond them to you as their master. When you suffer a severe blow, these four treasures can also share the burden of the injuries together."
...
Less than half a day later, Xu Bai had completely refined all of the treasures.
Clad in the white robe and holding the folding fan, he wore the sachet as a small charm dangling from the fan's end, while the jade pendant was worn on his person.
*Swish!*
Xu Bai unfurled the folding fan and gently fluttered it. A lustrous layer of white light draped over him, while a subtle fragrance drifted from his person.
"What a handsome, dashing young master." Liu San's eyes lit up at the sight, and he couldn't help praising him.
As the saying went, fine feathers make fine birds. Xu Bai was exceptionally handsome to begin with, possessing an outstanding bearing. Now, accentuated by the dharma treasures meticulously designed and forged by Fang Zaiji, he resembled a heavenly celestial, stunning all who laid eyes on him.
Fang Zaiji also couldn't help admiring his handiwork.
Yet after a moment, he furrowed his brows. "And yet, it feels like something is missing."
Liu San was puzzled. "Missing what? I think he looks quite perfect already."
Fang Zaiji struck his palms together in sudden realization. "As they say, beauties match heroes! Young Master's clone looks like a celestial being. To have no beauty by his side for contrast is truly a pity!"
Liu San, who usually found every opportunity to contradict Fang Zaiji, actually nodded faintly in agreement this time.
"Heh."
Xu Bai smiled and did not reply.
"How is the secular integration plan for the disciples progressing?" After admiring Xu Bai's peerless countenance for a moment longer, Li Fan finally turned to serious matters.
Liu San collected himself and responded solemnly, "Over these past six months, nearly two hundred disciples have left the Valley of Longevity. Following your instructions, Young Master, they have traveled to various provinces to lie low.
"While spreading word of the Tianling Flower, they are also keeping watch to collect all noteworthy intelligence. Through the connection of the Spring and Autumn Great Dream Formation, it is channeled back to the sect headquarters in the Valley of Longevity.
"I have also established a specialized organization to collate and categorize this information, extracting the useful portions..."
In this regard, Liu San was genuinely dependable. Without needing Li Fan to give instructions step by step, he had organized everything in immaculate order.
Hearing this, Li Fan was thoroughly pleased. He instructed once more, "Very good. The disciples should seek no merit, only to avoid faults. In ordinary times, they need only regard themselves as common cultivators of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals. Their personal safety must come first."
Liu San nodded in assent.
"However..." He looked at Li Fan, hesitating as if wanting to say more.
"Elder Liu, speak freely."
"With such a large batch of disciples entering the mortal world, manpower in the Valley of Longevity is growing a bit strained. Would Young Master consider awakening a few more people?" Liu San asked tentatively.
Li Fan pondered for a moment before ultimately shaking his head. "Right now, we have no spare cultivation techniques on hand. Even if we awaken them, it would bring more trouble than benefit.
"As for those exotic beasts in the Beast Seed Realm, they can be put to use first. With my clone presiding over that realm, they will not harbor disloyalty.
"We must proceed step by step. The revival of our Medicine King Sect is not something to be rushed."
Liu San nodded slowly upon hearing this.
"Still, it won't be long. Barring any surprises during this trip outside, I should be able to secure a batch of ownerless cultivation techniques. Elder Liu needs only to wait patiently," Li Fan said, once again painting an encouraging picture.
After giving a few more careful instructions, Li Fan and his clone both stepped out of the Valley of Longevity.
Passing through the White Mist Barrier, they went their separate ways.
The true body shifted his appearance into that of a middle-aged cultivator and made straight for Qihong Isle in Leyang Province.
Meanwhile, the clone Xu Bai set out leisurely, heading toward Tianling Province.
To speak first of the true body.
Li Fan's destination in Leyang Province was none other than Ximen Yu, the man who researched the shifts between ancient and modern terrain.
That man possessed a detailed cartographic comparison of the ancient and modern topographical differences across the Xuanhuang Realm.
Through this map, Li Fan intended to make a trip to the ancient Nanming Sacred Beast Mountain.
His objective was to ascertain whether the demon race's retreat plan had succeeded.
Chapter 682