"Originally, I intended to stay in the white mist for a few more days, but Huangfu Song, who traveled with me, met an unfortunate demise. Watching a companion I'd spent so many days with die such a tragic death right before my eyes deeply shook me."
A sigh of sorrow washed over Li Fan's face. "You must realize that Huangfu Song was an entire major realm above me, yet he died so inexplicably. Life and death are truly impermanent. Any lingering greed in my heart vanished, so I returned straightaway.
"Fortunately, with the divine power of Heavenly Venerable Rebirth, Huangfu has a chance at revival."
Hearing that Li Fan had barely clawed his way back from the white mist with his life, an almost imperceptible flicker of disdain crossed Tantai Tao's eyes.
Shuo Feng, on the other hand, chuckled. "I told you long ago not to go, but you wouldn't listen. Risking it all for such paltry rewards really isn't worth it."
Li Fan shook his head slightly. "Without an illustrious background like yours, Brother Shuo, if I want something, I naturally have to fight for it myself. Fortunately, my luck wasn't bad..."
As he spoke, Li Fan brought out the End Stone Platter.
It instantly drew the eyes of Shuo Feng and Tantai Tao.
Li Fan casually passed the stone platter over. Shuo Feng took it in his hand, scrutinized it for a moment, and clicked his tongue in wonder. "Your luck really is remarkable. As far as I know, quite a few people had their eye on this thing, yet you were the first to redeem it.
"Whether it's a win or a loss, though, is hard to say."
Unable to make anything out of it, Shuo Feng tossed it to Tantai Tao to inspect.
Tantai Tao's eyes narrowed slightly. After examining it for a while, he shook his head faintly and handed it back to Li Fan.
"Did either of you manage to glean anything?" Li Fan asked casually.
"The Alliance has long studied it thoroughly and found nothing. How could we notice anything unusual in such a short time?" Shuo Feng chuckled self-deprecatingly.
Tantai Tao went even further: "From what I can see, this might just be an ordinary stone and nothing more."
Li Fan shook his head in disagreement. "I, for one, feel it is not ordinary. Once I return, I'll study it further. If I truly discover anything, I'll be sure to notify you two at once!"
A flicker of displeasure flashed in Tantai Tao's eyes.
Shuo Feng, however, clapped and praised, "Then I shall be looking forward to it!"
Tantai Tao had no choice but to chime in along with him.
"By the way, when I arrived earlier, I heard Brother Shuo mention that the Immortal Venerable had once again..." After a brief silence, Li Fan changed the subject and asked of his own accord.
Shuo Feng waved his hand, an irritated look on his face. "Don't get me started. Lately, I've had a premonition and sensed an opportunity to form my Nascent Soul. But she refuses to let me go out, insisting I must wait longer.
"Being cooped up in this tiny courtyard day in and day out is honestly suffocating me to death," Shuo Feng grumbled.
"The Immortal Venerable's actions must hold some deeper meaning. If she told you to wait, could it be that some major upheaval is about to take place in the Alliance?" Li Fan did not disparage Immortal Venerable Feixue, but instead frowned in thought.
"I have heard of something," Tantai Tao spoke up suddenly.
"Oh?" Shuo Feng turned to Tantai Tao, his curiosity piqued.
"Supposedly, the exploration of the White Mist Barrier is nearing completion. Once sufficient data is gathered, the Heavenly Profound Mirror may be about to undergo..." Halfway through his sentence, Tantai Tao suddenly stopped himself.
"Don't worry. Brother Li is a guest elder of our Xuan Clan. Speak freely!" Seeing what Tantai Tao was wary of, Shuo Feng waved his hand dismissively.
Only then did Tantai Tao continue to explain:
"The Heavenly Profound Mirror was left behind by the Dharma-Transmitting Heavenly Venerable, the Alliance's most miraculous treasure. Within the Xuanhuang Realm, above and below the heavens, all things are reflected within its sight.
"Except for the White Mist Barrier.
"To the Heavenly Profound Mirror, the regions within the white mist are an entirely new and alien existence.
"If one were to liken the Heavenly Profound Mirror to a cultivator, its method of cultivation would probably be measuring the heavens and earth. However, for thousands of years now, it has been stuck in a bottleneck, unable to advance even a single step.
"The Five Elders Association naturally wouldn't permit the Heavenly Profound Mirror to pry into their domain. Thus, if the Heavenly Profound Mirror wishes to take another step forward, its only path is to survey the areas within the white mist.
"With enough data, the Heavenly Profound Mirror might be able to advance further and achieve its own sublimation and transformation.
"This is also why the Alliance has been pushing so heavily for cultivators to explore the White Mist Barrier."
Tantai Tao explained in a measured, articulate tone.
Shuo Feng could not help but remark, "It seems your gathering of formation masters at the Alliance headquarters earlier was related to this as well? Even I wasn't very clear on these secrets."
Tantai Tao smiled without answering, effectively confirming it.
"The Heavenly Profound Mirror of today can already be called the foundation-building instrument of the Alliance. If it can complete this transformation..." A trace of yearning flickered in Tantai Tao's eyes.
Li Fan also said thoughtfully, "The transformation of the Heavenly Profound Mirror will surely have a profound impact on the Alliance. Lady Feixue must have her reasons for not letting you go out, Brother Shuo. You should just wait patiently. According to Brother Tantai, that day is likely not far off."
Shuo Feng gave a soft grunt and dropped the subject.
The three chatted for a while longer.
In the end, at Shuo Feng's insistent urging, Li Fan fought another duel with him.
Intentionally slowing his casting speed, Li Fan unleashed his Silk Pulling divine ability only halfway before it was shattered by Shuo Feng's sword light.
Left with a bloody sword slash across his body, Li Fan repeatedly conceded defeat.
Shuo Feng burst into hearty laughter, waving a hand to heal the bloody welts carved into his own skin by countless fine threads.
Having broken the Silk Pulling divine ability, Shuo Feng's wish was fulfilled, and he pressed Li Fan to stay no further.
After lingering for a short while, Li Fan took his leave.
Departing Tianquan Province, he returned to the Valley of Longevity.
Liu San, Fang Zaiji, and Jiang Yushan all came to pay their respects.
After reporting the number of Longevity Pills concocted, Liu San brought up another matter.
"By the way, regarding the cultivator named Zhong Shentong whom you asked us to look into earlier, there is news."
"Oh? What is it?" Li Fan's brow arched.
Liu San's expression turned somewhat peculiar. "Young Master, are you certain this is the cultivator you were looking for?"
As he spoke, Liu San displayed the projection of a white-haired, elderly man.
Li Fan narrowed his eyes. It was indeed the Zhong Shentong he had encountered in his previous life.
After Li Fan nodded in confirmation, Liu San said in an odd tone, "The person was found, but it's said that his lifespan was at its end, and having failed to break through his cultivation bottleneck, he has already passed away."
"Dead?" Li Fan could not help but freeze.
"Could there be a mistake?" Li Fan asked again.
Zhong Shentong's Profound Art of Life and Death and Seven-Colored Divine Light were both rare and formidable arts.
Anyone capable of mastering both of these could by no means be an ordinary individual.
How could he have fallen so quietly in this lifetime?
Liu San smiled wryly. "Since this was an assignment you gave personally, Young Master, I naturally understood its importance. I have verified it through multiple sources. Zhong Shentong is indeed dead."
At these words, Li Fan frowned deeply.
After pondering for a moment, his brow smoothed out again.
He had thought of the reason why Zhong Shentong had fallen in this lifetime.
It was likely due to the existence of Heavenly Venerable Rebirth.
Chapter 727