Within the Tianxuan Mirror.
Li Fan sat motionless, his expression distant and vacant.
Even though he had long known that items and knowledge gained within the Fallen Immortal Realm could only be brought back by resolving lingering obsessions, the reality of it still struck him hard this time.
Upon returning to the real world, he found he could not recall a single word or phrase of the Creation Forge Technique taught to him by Mister Bai.
Li Fan’s composure was severely tested.
Having seen the ocean, mere rivers hold no wonder.
It was precisely because he had personally experienced the profoundness of that supreme Dao Technique that Li Fan found his own clumsy, self-created technique utterly unacceptable.
The gap was too vast, like the difference between the stars in the heavens and the grass upon the earth.
This intense contrast left Li Fan’s mental state somewhat off balance.
The mountain of treasure he had once possessed had vanished in the blink of an eye, gone without a trace.
Even for someone with a will as exceptional as Li Fan’s, a sense of loss was inevitable.
Mister Bai, the Creation Forge Technique...
I can make infinite attempts. One day, I will definitely bring that true technique back.
After a long while, Li Fan took a deep breath, slowly suppressing the negative emotions in his heart.
Based on his experience in the Ningyuan Longevity Fruits Retrieval incident, to bring an item out, one must fulfill the obsession of the item’s owner.
What could Mister Bai’s obsession be?
For the current Li Fan, Mister Bai remained far too mysterious. He could only try again repeatedly in the future, slowly figuring it out.
Taking a moment to check the cooldown period, he realized the next opportunity to enter the Fallen Immortal Realm was half a year later, which was longer than usual.
Li Fan sighed softly, committing it to memory.
Then, Li Fan checked his communication spirit talisman and found a message from Chen Ying.
It stated that he had already set off for his destination and had made thorough preparations.
If he managed to survive this great calamity, he would properly repay Li Fan upon his return.
Li Fan gave a wry smile. If it truly came to pass, it could serve as a model story to be widely publicized.
However, the great battle in Tianling Province will occur in Anchor Year 16. Before that, the focus should remain on the Spirit Mist Grass incident.
Without a clear proclamation from the Tianxuan Mirror, the Five Elders Council might not go to great lengths over a grotto-heaven of unknown circumstances.
Moreover, without Jiao Xiuyuan fanning the flames, the Spirit Mist Grass incident likely wouldn’t spread as far and wide as it did in my previous life.
After careful consideration, Li Fan decided to first go and check on Jiao Xiuyuan.
Maintaining the guise of a Heavenly Mechanisms Sect cultivator, and without concealing his appearance, Li Fan arrived outside Thousand Li Hall.
The shop was as empty as ever.
Jiao Xiuyuan lay lazily on a long chair, eyes slightly closed as if taking a nap.
Hearing footsteps, he abruptly stood up, his expression shifting.
“Well now, a customer!”
Jiao Xiuyuan looked at Li Fan, paused for a moment in apparent surprise, then greeted him with carefully measured enthusiasm.
Li Fan, for his part, did not state his business. Instead, he narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Jiao Xiuyuan.
The two of them stood there, staring at each other.
After a moment, it was Li Fan who first broke the silence, cupping his hands in salute. “Fellow Daoist, your skill in puppet arts is truly extraordinary!
“Even in ancient times, this ability to manifest countless forms would be considered rare and remarkable!”
Jiao Xiuyuan seemed startled that a stranger had seen through his technique at a glance. But he masked it well, immediately responding, “To spy on heavenly mechanisms, to probe cause and effect. The ancient Heavenly Mechanisms Sect indeed lives up to its reputation!
"Impressive! Most impressive!”
"An honor! A true honor!"
The two men exchanged a glance and both burst into hearty laughter.
After a round of mutual flattery and formal introductions, Jiao Xiuyuan finally ventured to ask, "Fellow Daoist, you didn't come all this way just to have a laugh at my expense, did you?"
"Fellow Daoist Jiao, what kind of talk is that? Do I look like a man with nothing better to do?" Li Fan waved dismissively. "Naturally, I’m here for business."
Jiao Xiuyuan's interest was immediately piqued. "Oh? And what might Fellow Daoist be seeking? Arrays and talismans, artifacts and elixirs—I have it all, and bulk discounts for..." he rattled off, his tone practiced.
"Fellow Daoist, do I look like I lack such things?" Li Fan asked with a knowing, half-smile.
"Then what do you want?" Jiao Xiuyuan's expression grew serious, his demeanor shifting to one of genuine focus.
"I did not come here to buy," Li Fan shook his head, his voice dropping low. "I came to sell. As for whether a deal can be struck, that depends on whether Fellow Daoist Jiao has the eye to recognize true value."
"Sell? My establishment... does not accept just anything..." Jiao Xiuyuan began, but his words died in his throat as his gaze fell upon the object in Li Fan's hand.
A single eyeball, seeming almost alive, glared at him with palpable malice.
It oozed killing intent, triggering an instinctive urge to lash out in defense.
Fortunately, he perceived that the eyeball itself held no offensive power and managed to restrain the impulse.
"What... is this?" Jiao Xiuyuan narrowed his eyes, unable to resist asking.
"This is a memento of my senior brother," Li Fan said, his tone tinged with melancholy. "That man is gone, and this object serves no purpose by my side anymore. Looking upon it only invites sorrow, a painful reminder. Thus, I wish to entrust it to a destined individual. A pity the Tianxuan Mirror lacks discernment, offering a paltry sum. It is truly an insult to my brother's memory.
"Thus, I divined the heavenly mechanisms, seeking one qualified to receive it. That search led me here, to you, Fellow Daoist Jiao," Li Fan explained slowly.
Li Fan was not lying.
Within the ruins of the Heavenly Mechanisms Sect in the Hundred Stones Grotto-Heaven, aside from techniques and ancient texts, Li Fan had gained two other things.
One was the eyeball he now held.
The Tianxuan Mirror had appraised it as a Delusion-Dispelling Stone Eye, an existence akin to a Curio of heaven and earth, an aggregation of natural laws.
It was said that if a cultivator absorbed and refined it, they would gain the ability to see through falsehoods and glimpse the future.
Logically, such a treasure should command an astronomical price.
Unfortunately, this particular Delusion-Dispelling Stone Eye had already been refined once before by a cultivator.
The pure laws of heaven and earth had been tainted by that cultivator's aura and karma.
Moreover, several millennia had passed since then. The world had undergone cataclysmic changes, and the very laws of the world had shifted dramatically from ancient times.
Under the dual influence of these two factors, the Stone Eye's power of divination was greatly diminished.
Hitting the mark once out of ten attempts would already be cause for celebration.
Hence, the Tianxuan Mirror had offered just sixty thousand contribution points as a buyback price.
This object was of little use to Li Fan, who could already perceive events beforehand, and he also had no pressing need for those sixty thousand contribution points. So, he had kept it on his person all the while.
Now, it served as the perfect item to establish a connection with this Jiao Xiuyuan.
"So, Fellow Daoist Jiao, do you recognize this object?" Li Fan asked pointedly.
Jiao Xiuyuan stood frozen for a moment, then let out a derisive snort. "How could I not know this thing? It's just a Delusion-Dispelling Stone Eye."
He pondered for another moment before adding, "I should inform you, Fellow Daoist, the Tianxuan Mirror's low offer is not without reason.
"While the item is rare, if you wish to sell it for a good price, I'm afraid you'd need to find the right buyer."
Li Fan replied, "I understand that perfectly well. That is precisely why I've come to you, Fellow Daoist Jiao."
In one swift motion, he tossed the Delusion-Dispelling Stone Eye over. "I believe you will certainly be able to find a suitable new master for it, Fellow Daoist."
"Please, do me this favor. Half of the proceeds from the sale will be yours. What do you say?"
Jiao Xiuyuan's eyes lit up. "Deal!"