Daoist Baihua seemed unable to immediately extricate herself from the intoxicating sensations of absorbing the golden vow power.
Her expression was dazed, and her golden form swayed rhythmically.
Only when the rhythmic pulsation gradually subsided did her mind slowly regain clarity.
“The Myriad Spirits Nectar... a True Immortal might not care for it, but to me in my present state, it is indeed an extraordinarily rare tonic,” Daoist Baihua answered truthfully with a faint sigh.
“Myriad Spirits Nectar...” Li Fan murmured, deliberately affecting an air of contemplation.
“It seems the Honored Envoy knows little of this substance?” Having lived for an unknowable number of years, Daoist Baihua observed his expressions and immediately took the initiative to inquire.
Li Fan then nodded slightly. “It is merely that I occasionally receive the True Immortal's bestowals. The True Immortal does not impart much guidance; everything relies primarily on my own comprehension.
“Hence, I did not deliberately deceive you earlier. I only know there are immortals in this world, but concerning the specifics of immortals, I truly know very little.”
Having said that, Li Fan felt a faint wisp of jealousy emanating from Daoist Baihua.
Daoist Baihua quickly reined in her emotion, however, and said in a measured voice, “If so, allow me to resolve the Honored Envoy's doubts. What is known as Myriad Spirits Nectar is the yearning of all sentient beings between heaven and earth for the Dao.
“The Dao here does not merely mean the Dao of cultivation, but encompasses all things in this world.
“To be born with desires, to pursue the Dao, never resting until death...
“This is the destiny of ordinary mortals like us.”
Li Fan pondered Daoist Baihua's words carefully, faint insights dawning in his mind.
“From pursuing the Dao, the nectar is born. This is an innate instinct of living beings, and a fundamental law governing the natural workings of heaven and earth. To a True Immortal, what truly holds value is perhaps only that purest trace of the Dao within sentient beings’ aspirations to pursue it.
“Yet for mortal cultivators like us, it possesses all manner of miraculous powers to turn decay into wonder.”
...
Listening to Daoist Baihua's explanation, Li Fan immediately understood.
All living beings pursue their desires—this was the eternal, immutable Great Dao by which heaven and earth turned.
If the world's creatures had no desires, heaven and earth would fall into disorder, unable to function normally, descending into utter silence and death.
What the True Immortal pursued was that trace of the Great Dao's essence that drove the birth of mortal vow power.
What Li Fan had named golden vow power was, in reality, the raw material from which the traces of the Great Dao were extracted.
Once those traces of the Great Dao were taken, the golden vow power was useless to the Faceless True Immortal.
Hence, It discarded it.
As Li Fan thought this over, he heard Daoist Baihua continue slowly, “The Liuli Body I cultivate was forged by drawing upon the worldly aspirations of people everywhere for blooming flowers. In a sense, it shares the same origin as Myriad Spirits Nectar. In fact, this nectar is far purer...
“And not just for me—so long as it pertains to the desires of sentient beings, Myriad Spirits Nectar has endless wondrous uses. When concocting pills, forging artifacts, or crafting talismans, adding just a bit of it causes the success rate to skyrocket.
“Consuming it during a breakthrough greatly diminishes the likelihood of failure.
“Drawing in a small amount while cultivating can multiply one’s cultivation speed several times over.
“It is even said that it can create something from nothing, manifesting directly into whatever object one desires.
“Whatever is driven by desire, Myriad Spirits Nectar has the power to facilitate it,” Daoist Baihua said, her tone brimming with envy.
“Are there any side effects?” Li Fan was not swept away by Daoist Baihua's glowing praise.
Daoist Baihua paused slightly, then said with some uncertainty, “I once heard that because Myriad Spirits Nectar involves the desires of sentient beings, the more one uses it, the deeper one's entanglement becomes.
“Perhaps when ascending to become an immortal in the future, it makes the process all the more difficult.”
“...”
Daoist Baihua paused, then added, “However, since the path to immortality has long been severed, this side effect is virtually nonexistent nowadays.”
Li Fan nodded slowly.
That made sense. If Myriad Spirits Nectar was truly so wondrous without any drawbacks, even if the True Immortal had no immediate use for it, keeping it would do no harm. Why would It let Li Fan have it for nothing? Only if the substance was harmful or counterproductive to a True Immortal, prompting It to deliberately discard it, did the matter add up.
Li Fan turned to Daoist Baihua. “Myriad Spirits Nectar is useless to the True Immortal. Its disposal lies entirely with me. Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Baihua: if you faithfully serve the Compassionate Immortal, there will certainly be a share for you in the future.”
A hint of delight surfaced on Daoist Baihua's face.
“Very well. Now that you have joined the order of the Compassionate True Immortal of the Mortal Realm, from this day forth, you are considered a member of our Myriad Realms Association.
“Let me first give you a tour.”
Following behind Li Fan, Daoist Baihua toured the Spirit Wood Realm without being noticed by anyone else within the realm.
Daoist Baihua remarked wistfully, “Though this is only a pocket world, it is not much inferior to my homeland of Wansheng.”
Her gaze rested upon the Heaven and Earth Furnaces situated throughout the Spirit Wood Realm.
Li Fan smiled. “To tell you the truth, Fellow Daoist, merely a dozen years ago this was a negligible, tiny realm.
“It was solely due to the various blessings bestowed by the True Immortal that the Spirit Wood Realm has been renewed with each passing day.”
Daoist Baihua nodded.
With her discernment, she could naturally see that Li Fan spoke the truth.
This realm was brimming with vitality and flourishing with vigor—a sign of rebirth and renewal.
Upon returning to the secret chamber, Li Fan spoke with gravity once more. “Ten thousand years ago, the lineage of the Compassionate True Immortal was destroyed by the rulers of the Xuanhuang Realm.
“I was fortunate enough to excavate the True Immortal's stone statue and receive His grace, and thus I swore to restore the True Immortal's lineage.
“Because the opposing forces are immense, we must first build up our strength and then unite the myriad realms to set things right!”
Li Fan briefly outlined the background to Daoist Baihua.
Daoist Baihua nodded. “I have some understanding of the current situation in the Xuanhuang Realm as well. That Dharma-Transmitting Heavenly Venerable is indeed terrifying, but...
“If the Honored Envoy can obtain the assistance of a True Immortal, then he is nothing to fear.”
Having personally experienced the Myriad Spirits Nectar, Daoist Baihua possessed immense confidence in the “Compassionate True Immortal of the Mortal Realm.”
Li Fan shook his head slightly. “The True Immortal's bestowals are erratic and unpredictable. At times they descend in succession for no apparent reason, while at other times years pass without a sign. Restoring the True Immortal's lineage is a heavy burden and a long road! Even so, Fellow Daoist Baihua, there is a question that has always puzzled me.
“You say the True Immortal has already transcended, so logically He should pay no heed to such mundane affairs. Why, then, would He bestow rewards?”
Li Fan stared intently at Daoist Baihua, seeking an answer from her.
Daoist Baihua grew slightly tense. After pondering for a moment, she offered her conjecture: “Perhaps it is not a bestowal at all, but merely the residue of power left after the True Immortal extracts the traces of the Dao?
“After all, so much time has passed, and I know not what form the immortals remaining in this world have taken.”
“Not a bestowal, merely power residue... That is truly disheartening...” Li Fan muttered under his breath, though in his heart there was not the slightest disappointment.
“The Honored Envoy need not lose heart,” Daoist Baihua consoled him. “I see that you can draw upon the True Immortal's statue. Compared to ants like us, your standing in the True Immortal's eyes must surely be different after all.”
Chapter 987