"For instance, the remains of Immortal Venerable Qinglian, the first Dao Unity cultivator to fall in the successive wars between the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Council.
"Heh heh, over the years, the Five Elders Council has expended considerable effort trying to reclaim Immortal Venerable Qinglian's remains.
"Then there's the ancient Heavenly Sword Sect's Cease Stele. It's said that two massive stone steles once stood before their mountain gate. One was inscribed with ‘Idlers, Halt Your Step,’ and the other with ‘Those Who Come, Cease Your Arms.’ These two steles alone were said to be worth countless protective arrays. Truly an awe-inspiring display of might.
"A pity the Museum of Divine Treasures only managed to collect this Cease Stele. The whereabouts of the Halt Stele remain unknown."
Upon hearing this, Li Fan couldn't help but think of his own Halt Stele Fragment. Was it the same as the one from the Heavenly Sword Sect?
Just as Li Fan was lost in thought, the black-robed cultivator's next words forcibly pulled his attention back.
"Ah, speaking of the Museum of Divine Treasures, one simply must mention the remains of the very first cultivator infected by the Immortal-Mortal Miasma. You might not know this, but these seemingly ordinary bones are highly sought after by many cultivators. Their value is absurdly high. The skull they have on display is actually placed right in the very center of the museum.
"When I first saw it, I thought it belonged to some ancient powerhouse. Pfft. Turns out it was just some poor unfortunate soul.
"Honestly, I don't get those people. How in the world is something like that worth collecting?"
For some reason, the black-robed cultivator seemed to grow more animated as he talked about the Museum of Divine Treasures, enthusiastically describing its various exhibits to Li Fan and the others.
Han Yi and Ximen Yue listened with keen interest, their attention rapt. Li Fan, however, felt a stir within.
The remains of the first cultivator infected by Immortal-Mortal Miasma...
My true self's storage ring still holds one of his ribs. Yin Shangren burned himself to ashes, but this single rib survived.
Li Fan couldn't help but grow curious about the skull on display in the museum.
Seizing a pause in the black-robed cultivator's monologue, Li Fan asked, "May I ask, Senior, if one wished to visit the Museum of Divine Treasures like that group earlier, how would one go about it?"
The black-robed cultivator chuckled. "The Museum of Divine Treasures is generally not open to outsiders. No amount of contribution points will change that. If you want to apply for a visit to broaden your horizons, and you lack powerful connections, the simplest method is to do what I did: pass the examination and become a dedicated docent for the Museum of Divine Treasures."
Li Fan was slightly taken aback. He, Han Yi, and Ximen Yue exchanged glances.
"Why would such a museum even need dedicated docents?" Ximen Yue asked, utterly perplexed.
The black-robed cultivator gave a dry laugh. "Why wouldn't it? Do you think simply placing a label in front of each exhibit is sufficient?
"First, inside the museum, all spiritual qi is in a dormant state, just like that main avenue you walked to get to the Enforcer Hall. You can't even project your divine sense beyond your body. All exhibit information is only briefly labeled. If you want to know the stories behind them, you naturally need a dedicated docent.
"Furthermore," the black-robed cultivator chuckled lightly, "do you perhaps have some misconception about the museum's size?
"What's housed inside is the entire Myriad Immortals Alliance’s complete collection, gathered over millennia. The number of exhibits, when I left, was 384,756,784. Without a guide, an ordinary visitor would be searching for a needle in a haystack, utterly unable to find the specific exhibit they wished to see. And hoping for a complete, satisfying visit within a limited time? That's just a fool's dream.
“Furthermore, you just saw for yourselves. What kind of people are visiting the Divine Treasury? Without a docent, what insight could they possibly gain?”
The black-robed cultivator gave a cold snort, leaving the point unspoken but clearly understood.
Li Fan and the others wore expressions of standing corrected.
After a moment of silence, the black-robed cultivator continued, “Of course, if you join the Myriad Immortals Alliance’s official system and raise your merit rank to Yan 30, you would be entitled to one free visit every ten years.
“But Yan 30...” The black-robed cultivator shook his head. “It’s far too difficult to achieve. Even I haven’t reached it yet.”
Then he looked at Han Yi, a faint, ambiguous smile playing on his lips. “Naturally, young Han, if you cultivate diligently and break through to the Dao Unity realm, things wouldn’t be so troublesome. You could probably just announce your arrival.”
Hearing this, Han Yi couldn’t help but feel somewhat awkward. “Senior, you jest. The Dao Unity realm... even with the proper technique, how could it be so easily achieved?”
The black-robed cultivator gave a low chuckle and said no more.
The rest of the journey passed in silence as the black-robed cultivator led the trio back to the platform where they had first arrived.
“Well, the task that the Immortal Venerable entrusted to me is now complete. We shall meet again if fate allows.”
The black-robed cultivator’s voice was cold.
Li Fan suddenly felt a strange force envelop him. It was as if the surrounding space itself was rejecting him, about to expel him from the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters.
“Might I ask how we should address you, Senior?” Li Fan asked, looking at the black-robed cultivator as they were about to leave.
“I’m a nobody, hardly worthy of a name. When I serve as a docent, I am Docent D-3. When I serve as a guide, I am Guide Black. That is all,” the black-robed cultivator replied, shaking his head without giving a real answer.
As Guide Black’s figure gradually faded from sight, Li Fan and the other two found themselves back in the garden of four seasons in the Heavenly Pinnacle Estate.
Furthermore, they were in the exact position where they had departed for the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters.
“Fellow Daoist Han, now that we’ve visited the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters, have you discerned its location?” Li Fan asked Han Yi with a smile.
Han Yi pondered for a moment before answering, “If I’m not mistaken, the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters is likely located within the Tianxuan Mirror itself.”
Ximen Yue, however, countered, “I believe the Tianxuan Mirror merely serves a teleportation function.
“If the headquarters were inside the Tianxuan Mirror... just think how many Tianxuan Mirror surfaces exist in the world. Wouldn’t that mean that anywhere there’s a Tianxuan Mirror, that is also the location of the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters?
“If that were the case, then why do Tianyu, Tianchen, Tianshu, Tianquan, and the central heartlands even exist?”
Han Yi was left speechless by this, momentarily unable to come up with a rebuttal.
Li Fan considered carefully, feeling both arguments had merit, and so he played the peacemaker.
It was just a casual discussion, and none of the three took the matter seriously.
After thanking and bidding farewell to Immortal Venerable Jicheng, the three went to the Dao Discourse Tower in Tianquan where Han Yi treated them to a lavish feast.
As the saying goes, all banquets in this world must eventually end.
Soon after, the three parted ways.
Ximen Yue remained in Tianquan.
Li Fan and Han Yi, however, journeyed together to Yuandao Province.
Time flashed by. Half a year later, within the Tianxuan Mirror, Li Fan finally succeeded in mastering the basics of the Arcana True Spirit Transformation.
I haven't crafted an avatar yet, so this is perfect timing. Now that I’ve reached a large degree of mastery, let's see its effects.
Suppressing his excitement, Li Fan disguised himself and headed straight for the outskirts of Tianyu City. He excavated a hidden chamber, gathered the necessary materials, and began the crafting process.
Some time later, the mass of flesh and blood exploded with a wet, concussive blast.
Hmm? A failure?
Li Fan was puzzled.
He tried again.
Another failure.
?
Li Fan's brow furrowed deeply.
Wait... this situation suggests...that an avatar already exists in this world?
A cold shock of realization jolted through Li Fan.