So-called prodigies were merely experts who had not yet grown into their power.
The present Li Fan could handle them however he pleased.
"Still, this black flame is rather interesting.
"It's merely an about-to-be-born change of Xuanhuang, yet in essence it seems faintly superior to Crimson Flame."
With his hand shrouded in a layer of Seven-Colored Jade Void Flowing Light invisible to outsiders, Li Fan effortlessly suppressed the black flame Yan Fangzhou had unleashed and examined it closely.
"This aura feels remarkably similar to when the Congyun Sea was scorched dry by Crimson Flame. Both belong to the nature of great devastation..."
Li Fan contemplated it carefully.
An "about-to-be-born change of Heaven and Earth" that he had not encountered even in the grotto-heaven Mr. Bai created in his previous life was indeed quite rare.
Before long, Li Fan gradually began to piece together an understanding.
"It likely doesn't originate from the Xuanhuang Realm proper, but from other worlds—parts of heaven and earth that were merged in later.
"Many worlds fused into one.
"Though the Xuanhuang Realm remains the core, having absorbed so many external entities, the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao has inevitably changed along with it."
Li Fan slowly applied force with his five fingers, his palm—condensed with potent Seven-Colored Divine Light—becoming slightly blurred as a result.
No matter how intensely the black flame raged with defiance, Li Fan snuffed it out inch by inch.
"If it were an anima of Heaven and Earth, I might truly be tempted.
"Unfortunately, it's merely an about-to-be-born change of Heaven and Earth."
Li Fan shook his head slightly, putting Yan Fangzhou out of his mind for the moment.
His thoughts drifted toward the upcoming Crimson Flame Burning Sea.
"Now that I know the locations of so many animas of Heaven and Earth, there's no need to obsess over Crimson Flame anymore.
"For one thing, Crimson Flame is too weak; for another...
"After Crimson Flame dies, Mo Sha descends upon the world. Even if I could escape from Mo Sha, it would probably draw the gaze of hidden powerhouses in the Xuanhuang Realm.
"It's too conspicuous.
"For now, laying low should remain the priority."
After a moment's contemplation, Li Fan made up his mind.
"When the time is right, I can arrange for the members of the Congyun Mutual Aid Society to evacuate.
"After all, they are seedlings painstakingly cultivated, future backbones of the Myriad Realms Association. I can't let them die for nothing."
Currently, the strongest member of the Congyun Mutual Aid Society was Pei Tuo, who was at early Nascent Soul.
Although he had not retaken the Alliance Grand Exam, he had been granted significant responsibilities by the higher-ups due to his qualitative breakthrough in cultivation.
He had now been promoted to Martial Guard of the Congyun Sea Martial Practice Hall, overseeing three training contingents—wielding genuine authority.
"Hmm, I need to find a way to have him transferred inland.
"However, at his rank, a lateral transfer is somewhat difficult.
"Perhaps I can help him render some meritorious service..."
In an instant, the faces of numerous Five Elders Association spies surfaced in Li Fan's mind.
Now that the decision was made, his clone Ji Shaoli immediately set to work making arrangements.
Li Fan then recalled what Yan Fangzhou had said moments ago:
"This pocket world's scenery is nice, but insisting on calling it the 'Myriad Realms Association'—isn't that a bit of a misnomer?"
...
"I couldn't even bluff a green boy. It seems some improvements are indeed needed."
As he pondered, his divine sense swept through. Looking at the Spirit Wood Realm—which, despite boasting exotic sights from the Xuanhuang Realm, was still somewhat sparse—an idea struck him in an instant.
His figure flickered, arriving at a mountain peak.
Drawing on the images in his memory, his thoughts stirred slightly.
Before long, a stone pagoda exuding an ancient aura broke through the earth.
Li Fan then retrieved a pagoda spire from his storage ring.
Replacing and mounting it.
Once the spire was placed onto the stone pagoda, the newly unearthed structure was instantly imbued with an aura profound and mysterious.
Li Fan nodded with satisfaction.
Looking around the stone pagoda, amidst rumbling sounds, building after building soon emerged one after another.
"Once the treants finish decorating, it should just about do."
Coming to the perimeter of the architectural complex, Li Fan waved his brush across a blank boulder, inscribing three large characters: "Heavenly Mechanism Sect."
"A one-to-one replica, plus the Heavenly Mechanism Sect's supreme treasure, the Heaven and Earth Qiankun Die, right here—who would dare claim my Heavenly Mechanism Sect is fake?"
Li Fan chuckled softly.
Next, Li Fan followed suit, replicating the scenery of the Heavenly Sword Sect according to his memories.
Looking at the empty, newly erected mountain gate, Li Fan could not help but think of the wonder of Heaven, [Sword], which had not yet emerged into the world and remained buried in the Heavenly Sword Sect's Sword Tomb.
"It's a fine item. However, it was left behind by Mr. Bai and might very well be one of his contingency plans.
"I have to be wary.
"Moreover, all wonders of Heaven possess spirituality. Even if I go retrieve it, I might not be able to claim it for myself.
"I could do someone a favor with it instead."
Thinking thus, Li Fan snapped off a wooden twig.
In his mind, he reflected on his own comprehension of the Dao of the Sword, also referencing his insights from Mr. Bai's red string and his comprehension of [Sword] at the Heavenly Sword Sect in his previous life.
Gradually, the wooden branch in Li Fan's hand underwent a profound transformation.
The phantoms of countless swords manifested upon it, then swiftly vanished within.
The branch's color deepened, its texture hardened.
Slowly, the physical qualities of a twig fell away, making it look more and more like a true [Sword].
Unfortunately, after rapidly absorbing countless sword shadows at the start, the volume of true sword dao intent flowing into it dwindled drastically.
Li Fan's comprehension had run dry, insufficient to support this mundane object's complete transformation into a wonder of Heaven.
A moment later, having exhausted his means, Li Fan looked at the incongruous sword-twig in his hand and shook his head slightly.
"At best, it barely counts as a wonder of Man."
With a slight exertion of force, the sword-twig disintegrated into dust.
Still, he was not annoyed. Unlike formations, where he had dedicated long stretches of time to study, he had merely picked up the Dao of the Sword in passing.
To fabricate a wonder of Man out of thin air was already truly remarkable.
"Even if I don't take it, I could perhaps pay a visit to the Heavenly Sword Sect ruins.
"While I'm at it, I might as well tour the old sites of other sects like the Medicine King Sect and Zixiao Sect."
Li Fan planned to recreate these cultivation sects that had vanished in the long river of history right within the Spirit Wood Realm.
Of course, they didn't need to be perfect, just convincing enough to fool people.
"I have the relics of the Heavenly Mechanism Sect.
"In the future, once the Medicine King Cauldron returns, there will even be the original personnel of the Medicine King Sect.
"Truth mingled with falsehood, falsehood mixed with truth. Who will be able to tell the difference then?"
Feeling a touch pleased with himself, Li Fan exited the Spirit Wood Realm and headed straight for the ruins of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
Currently, the apparent ruins of the Heavenly Sword Sect were in Tianguang Province.
However, in his previous life, he had learned from Shuo Feng that the Heavenly Sword Sect's Sword Tomb and [Sword] itself were not in Tianguang Province at all, but in the neighboring Tianyou Province, one province away.
It happened to be bifurcated and cut right down the middle by the White Mist Barrier.
Consequently, this Sword Tomb had remained undiscovered all along.
Traveling quietly and keeping a low profile, avoiding any disturbance to the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals cultivators along the way, Li Fan soon arrived at the site of the Sword Tomb in Tianyou Province.
Looking at the utterly unremarkable scene before him, which resembled nothing so much as a mortal mass grave, Li Fan could not help but sigh. "Who would have thought that the Heavenly Sword Sect of old would end up like this!"
Chapter 887