A created clone was one realm lower than its creator.
With Li Fan currently in the early Nascent Soul realm, the clone Li Qing was merely at the peak of the Golden Core realm.
Moreover, it was only an empty shell of cultivation—it possessed neither a Foundation Establishment wonder nor a Law Golden Core within its body.
However, this was no difficult matter for Li Fan.
"This is an opportune time to test just how large the gap is between a clone crafted from the essence blood of a pocket world's Heavenly Dao avatar and Mr. Bai."
Taking his clone along, he quietly returned to the Sword Tomb of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
He arrived before that plain and unexceptional black sword.
Since they were not trying to seize a seat next to the wooden sword, the wonder of Heaven, they did not have to face the oppressive pressure of the myriad swords in the Sword Tomb.
Under the protection of the true body, the clone was just barely able to survive within the Sword Tomb.
It was just that whenever Li Fan entertained the thought of taking the black sword away, a faint, almost imperceptible trace of killing intent would emanate from the center of the Sword Tomb.
Li Fan snorted coldly in his heart, completely disregarding the other party's displeasure.
He released several rays of Seven-Colored Divine Light to shield the clone Li Qing.
Then Li Qing approached the black sword and sat cross-legged.
Channeling the sword intent condensed from his own mind and spirit, he began to nourish it.
Indeed, Li Fan intended to use his own insights into the sword dao to accelerate the maturation of this black sword!
Since Li Fan's understanding of the sword dao largely originated from the wooden sword, the wonder of Heaven, and thus shared the exact same source as the nurturing force behind the black sword, he encountered no fierce resistance.
Just like that, the clone Li Qing gradually imprinted his own marks onto the black sword, strand by strand.
And perhaps because the clone's innate talent stemming from the Heavenly Dao avatar took effect, after some time, the killing intent radiating from the wooden sword, the wonder of Heaven, slowly dispersed.
It seemed to have accepted this outcome.
Li Fan observed within the Sword Tomb for a while longer, and only after ensuring that nothing would go awry did he quietly depart.
Naturally, before leaving, Li Fan also left behind ample measures for the clone Li Qing, ensuring that even if an accident occurred, Li Qing could forcibly pull up the black sword and withdraw calmly and safely.
"With the clone simultaneously catalyzing it, the time needed for the black sword to transform into a wonder is drastically shortened. I estimate it will only take a year for it to emerge. Although its power might be slightly reduced compared to a natural birth, that makes no difference to me."
As for the clone's subsequent path, having not yet experienced Foundation Establishment with a wonder of Heaven, Li Fan did not plan too far ahead.
"They say that Foundation Establishment with a wonder of Heaven differs from other wonders. There is no need to seek out another grotto-heaven, nascent life method, or anima of Heaven and Earth—relying solely on the wonder of Heaven can entirely replace them all.
"We shall see how it actually unfolds.
"If that is truly the case, then under the new method's cultivation system, this advantage would be immense. Without the shackles of these mandatory resources, the clone's cultivation speed might be even faster than mine, even though I have the Immortal-Sitting Art to reap without sowing.
"When that time comes..."
Li Fan suddenly froze.
In principle, a clone's cultivation could not surpass that of its true body.
But what if...
Just hypothetically speaking, was there a possibility that through some special method, this restriction could be lifted, resulting in the clone's cultivation overtaking the true body?
Although Li Fan could not do so at present, the Xuanhuang Realm possessed an ancient history and countless bizarre anomalies.
It would not be surprising if such things had occurred in the past.
"True body, clone..."
Li Fan's brows furrowed slightly as a thought that had previously flashed through his mind and been cast aside suddenly resurfaced.
Pondering silently, Li Fan did not return directly to the Spirit Wood Realm.
Instead, he arrived beside the fishing pond.
Earlier, he had received a message from Lin Ling saying that Senior Slate, who was usually in a state of Dao comprehension, had suddenly awakened some time ago.
Breaking precedent, the senior had left his fishing spot and strolled alone in the backyard, completely silent.
Recalling the shifting forms Senior Slate had taken while pacing, as conveyed by Lin Ling, Li Fan felt a slight jolt in his heart.
Because that very figure was none other than Mr. Bai!
"It seems Senior Slate must know what happened to Mr. Bai."
The pacing and contemplation had not lasted long before Senior Slate reverted to the appearance of an infant.
Li Fan did not draw close; he merely bowed from a distance.
Then he quietly asked, "May I ask how much Senior knows about the Profound Heaven Sect?"
Li Fan knew that for an entity of Senior Slate's caliber, even being immersed in comprehending the Dao did not hinder communicating with others.
"I saw your encounter.
"That Dharma King is named Mo Rubin. He has a decent heart, so you shouldn't need to worry about your life being in danger,"
Senior Slate spoke frankly.
"As for other matters concerning the Profound Heaven Sect..."
Li Fan felt as though the infant, whose eyes were closed in sound slumber, seemed to smile at him.
"I wouldn't know."
Li Fan was taken aback.
"The Profound Heaven Sect usurps Heaven. Even the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao ended up in such a state, to say nothing of a little broken slate like me.
"Speaking of which, I truly miss those years. Even though I closed my eyes and lived as a blind fool, it was wonderfully quiet.
"If I hadn't been forced, I really wouldn't have wanted to get mixed up in that mess.
"A pity..."
Senior Slate's tone suddenly shifted. "However, if you now wish to turn to the Profound Heaven Sect once more, perhaps I can lend you a hand.
"I ask for nothing else; I only hope for a moment of peace and quiet."
As he spoke, a map materialized on the ground before Li Fan.
The terrain was distinctive, and Li Fan, intimately familiar with the geography of Xuanhuang, recognized the location depicted on the map at a single glance.
"Go stroll around here. You might find something of value."
With those words spoken, Li Fan's vision blurred.
The next moment, he found himself outside the small dilapidated temple.
This was clearly the territory of their Myriad Realms Association, yet Senior Slate had acted as host and expelled him!
Yet Li Fan was not annoyed.
He sped off toward the location marked by the slate.
Now that tensions had eased, he did not encounter any unusual circumstances along the way.
Only, the number of Sky-Patrolling Arrows overhead seemed to be growing ever greater.
Originally, there had been no more than five across the entire territory of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals.
Now, however, above every single prefecture, there were at least three Sky-Patrolling Arrows patrolling day and night.
It was evident to what terrifying extent the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals had expanded its armaments during this period.
Fortunately, the Sky-Patrolling Arrows did not attack indiscriminately; they appeared to possess a unique method of identifying cultivators and targeted only those from the Five Elders Association.
Moreover, with secret arts to protect him, Li Fan's journey proved free of real danger despite the tense atmosphere.
Soon, Li Fan arrived at his destination.
It was a crater mountain, but inside the caldera lay not scorching lava, but blooming blossoms in abundance.
Yet that was merely an illusion when viewed from afar.
In reality, these flowers were formed by the dissipation of a peculiar type of spiritual energy.
This spiritual energy could not be absorbed by cultivators and instead manifested in the air as various kinds of flowers.
This place was situated in Dongyong Prefecture and could hardly be considered remote.
Because of this unique spectacle, it consistently drew quite a few people to admire the view.
When Li Fan arrived, he could even see cultivators coming in groups of two or three.
"He really loves speaking in riddles. Why did he have me come here?"
Muttering to himself in thought, Li Fan activated the secret art of Extirpating the Profound.
Chapter 901