Chapter 1339: Matters of the Profound Merchant Ark (+2K words)

"'Zao Hua' [Creation] is not the pinnacle of Great Qi's research on the True Immortal Script," Li Fan said, his expression a mix of wistfulness and distant contemplation.

As expected, his words sent ripples of shock through the Ark's elders. They had personally experienced the wonders of "Zao Hua." Even Li Fan's diluted version, weakened countless times, far surpassed single characters like "Xuan" [Forget/谖] in power. Therefore, the true "Zao Hua" character undoubtedly possessed world-altering power.

But now, Li Fan claimed Great Qi had comprehended a True Immortal Script character even more profound than "Zao Hua"?

"Is… is that true, fellow Daoist?" Even the usually composed Zhong Daogong couldn't help but ask, his voice filled with disbelief.

The other elders stared intently at Li Fan.

"I wouldn't dare lie," Li Fan said solemnly. "That character is Great Qi's most closely guarded secret, accessible only to those of my master's level. I only overheard him mention it a few times while attending him. It seems to… involve the transformation between mortals and immortals."

"The transformation between mortals and immortals?" Li Fan's few words sparked a flurry of speculation among the elders.

Observing their reactions, Li Fan, to enhance his credibility, added, "That character is truly extraordinary. Ever since my master began researching it, he's made subtle changes to the True Immortal Script characters he usually writes when teaching me. But these seemingly insignificant changes have caused the characters themselves to undergo a profound transformation…"

Li Fan then wrote two characters in the void, their shapes identical but with subtle differences in curvature and strokes.

The elders stared at the two characters, mesmerized, their attention completely captivated.

After half a day, Zhong Daogong was the first to recover. Without disturbing the others, he turned away from the floating characters and attempted to replicate them, his face lighting up with understanding as he practiced the strokes.

These different character structures were derived from the True Immortal Script character Li Fan had glimpsed within the Nether Race bloodline, the one seemingly related to the transformation between mortals and immortals. That character, seemingly boundless and containing the ultimate truth of the world, remained beyond Li Fan's current ability to fully comprehend and reproduce. His memory of it had faded after his failed attempt to grasp its full meaning, leaving behind only a fragmented impression of its intricate structure.

He was now using these fragments, derived from the character related to the transformation between mortals and immortals, to deceive the Ark's inhabitants. However, "deceive" wasn't quite the right word. The transformation between mortals and immortals was a concept of such high order that even these fragments were incredibly valuable to the elders.

As the other elders emerged from their trance, their faces were filled with enlightenment.

"We were wrong! Our understanding and application all these years have been wrong!"

"It can be written like this? Just this subtle change increases the efficiency of writing the True Immortal Script by more than ten percent!"

"Not just efficiency. The characters written this way seem inherently more complete."

…

The elders discussed excitedly, filled with joy. Li Fan had once again effortlessly proven his worth.

For the next month, Li Fan officially resided on the Ark. Zhong Daogong allocated a small courtyard for him atop the Divine Tree, within the Severing Immortality Pavilion, demonstrating his high regard for Li Fan.

And Li Fan didn't disappoint. Single-handedly, he practically rebuilt the Ark's rudimentary formation system.

"Guided by a sage, our research in formations has advanced by centuries overnight," Elder Meng Xiaomeng exclaimed, carefully inscribing the formation knowledge imparted by Li Fan onto jade slips.

Meng Xiaomeng had always opposed the Ark's singular focus on the True Immortal Script. Therefore, besides his research on the script, he dabbled in formations and alchemy, attempting to find other paths to survival for the Ark. However, without proper guidance, relying solely on the ancient formation records preserved on the Ark, his skills were limited. Witnessing Li Fan's formation theories, he was awestruck. Eager to learn, he devoted himself to studying them, even neglecting his research on the True Immortal Script.

Zhong Daogong didn't stop him. After all, there were plenty of elders studying the True Immortal Script. Losing one wouldn't make a difference. Gaining a new tradition in formations, however, was crucial.

During this time, Li Fan not only established a formation inheritance system for the Ark but also led the reconstruction of all its protective formations. After testing by the elders, the Ark's defenses were now more than three times stronger. The security of crucial locations like the Severing Immortality Pavilion, the Celestial Axis Institute, and the Divine Tree itself was significantly enhanced.

There was a minor incident during this process. Initially, the elders were hesitant about reconstructing the formations, especially entrusting such a crucial task to a newcomer like Li Fan. However, after witnessing Li Fan effortlessly dismantle their existing defenses and bypass their restrictions in mere moments, they quickly reached a consensus, their initial reservations replaced by cold sweat.

Establishing a new Dao tradition and rebuilding their defenses – with these two achievements, Li Fan quickly gained the trust of most of the Ark's inhabitants. Moreover, he was courteous and approachable, patiently answering all questions and sharing his knowledge freely. He quickly gained a stellar reputation among the elders, his courtyard constantly visited by those seeking his guidance.

One day, Li Fan was teaching the Grand Method of the Supreme Armour to several elders who had come to visit.

"Transforming into the universe, consciousness spanning the Star Sea. The Grand Method of the Supreme Armour, Soul Wandering; The Grand Method of the Supreme Armour, Soul Transformation; The Grand Method of the Supreme Armour, Divine Spirit…"

While initially not very interested in this technique, their focus being on the True Immortal Script, the elders became intrigued after hearing its full description.

"Brother Li, this technique… seems incomplete?" Elder Lu Yuzhi frowned.

Having gained their favor, they now addressed each other more casually.

"While incomplete, it's still effective for communicating with the Star Sea's consciousness. However, even in its current weakened state, contacting the Star Sea's consciousness isn't easy for us cultivators. Success depends on your own fortune," Li Fan said with a smile after finishing his explanation.

Lu Yuzhi nodded. "We understand. Communicating with the Star Sea is akin to the ancient state of unity with the heavens. Whether it's Dao comprehension or divination, the efficiency is unparalleled. It's even beneficial for our research on the True Immortal Script. Hehe, those old fogies who missed out today will surely regret it! We must keep this a secret. We won't tell them unless they pay a hefty price," Gan Jingda said, chuckling, having grasped the essence of the Grand Method of the Supreme Armour.

"Brother Li's knowledge is truly astonishing, a boundless treasure trove. Every visit brings new insights," Elder Nangong Lie said, earning nods of agreement from the others.

Li Fan responded calmly to their praise. "My only wish is to share everything I know with the Ark before my demise. And then, at the end of my life, I'll risk it all to see the world beyond the Great Wall!"

His words were filled with a carefree detachment. The elders in the room reacted with a mix of pity, sorrow, and admiration.

"Brother Li, is there truly no way to extend your lifespan? There seem to be some life-extending elixirs in the Ark's treasury. Perhaps…"

Li Fan waved his hand dismissively. "After the reconstruction of the protective formations, Elder Zhong took me to the treasury to try them. My lifespan is truly at its end. No treasure can help. I've long accepted my fate. The backlash from beyond the Great Wall is truly terrifying. However, it has only fueled my curiosity. I must see what lies beyond, even if it's the last thing I do!" His voice was filled with determination.

The elders fell silent, sighing.

Suddenly, Li Fan seemed to remember something. "Oh, when I suffered the backlash, my master said that if it weren't for the figurine I obtained from the Ark's treasury mitigating some of the power, I wouldn't even have twenty years left. I would have perished instantly. What is the origin of that figurine? I only chose it because it looked peculiar. I never thought it could withstand the power from beyond the Great Wall."

Li Fan projected an image of the figurine, standing with its hands clasped and its eyes downcast. Having accompanied him during his selection in the treasury, the elders recalled the figurine, their expressions turning strange.

"That figurine… has such power?" They looked at each other, none knowing its origin.

"Wait, I'll check the records," Lu Yuzhi said, his expression serious. An object capable of resisting the backlash from beyond the Great Wall deserved their attention.

"Brother Li, why didn't you ask about this sooner?" Nangong Lie shook his head.

Li Fan smiled. "When I first learned of my impending demise, my mind was in turmoil. I couldn't focus on anything else. But now that I've calmed down, I remembered it while discussing the Ark's treasury."

Satisfied with his explanation, the elders didn't press further.

Lu Yuzhi quickly returned. "According to the records, this figurine comes from a destroyed cultivation world called Xiaoyao [Carefree/逍遥]." He projected an image.

Hearing the familiar name, Li Fan's heart stirred.

"The cultivators of that world disliked conflict. True to its name, they were carefree and unrestrained, unwilling to be bound by anything. The Profound Merchant Ark acquired this figurine from a gambler while passing through the Xiaoyao World."

The image changed, showing a ragged, unkempt man. Due to its age, the image was unstable, flickering occasionally, the audio intermittent. However, it was still clear enough for them to understand what transpired.

"This thing is a real treasure. You won't regret taking it!" the unkempt man said, scratching his crotch and sniffing his hand.

"This figurine does seem extraordinary. But your asking price, one hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones, is too high. It's beyond my authority," a crisp voice said from off-screen.

"That was our trader in the Xiaoyao World. His name was… Jia Chu. Yes, Jia Chu. He was the one who made the transaction and, following protocol, recorded the entire process, which is why we can see it now, after ten thousand years," Lu Yuzhi explained to Li Fan.

"It's a pity that this Jia Chu sided with the Merchant Ark during the split. Who knows where he is now," Lu Yuzhi said with a sigh.

Li Fan nodded slightly, continuing to watch.

Jia Chu turned to leave, seemingly without hesitation. The unkempt man, initially nonchalant, suddenly panicked. He grabbed Jia Chu's arm, his face plastered with a forced smile. "If you think the price is too high, we can negotiate! Eighty thousand, eighty thousand is fine! A mere eighty thousand high-grade spirit stones is nothing to the renowned Profound Merchant Ark!"

Jia Chu, unfazed by the man's grip, said calmly, "While the Profound Merchant Ark is wealthy, we wouldn't spend eighty thousand spirit stones on a figurine of unknown origin. Thirty thousand is my limit. Anything more requires approval, which is too troublesome. We might as well abandon the transaction." His tone was firm.

"Thirty thousand? You're driving too hard a bargain," the unkempt man grumbled.

"If you think it's too low, you can try selling it to a local merchant guild," Jia Chu said indifferently.

The unkempt man scratched his head, not responding.

"The local merchant guilds in the Xiaoyao World have close ties with the Profound Merchant Ark. They're practically our branches. This fellow knows this, which is why he didn't respond," Lu Yuzhi explained.

After another round of haggling, Jia Chu finally bought the figurine for forty-five thousand spirit stones.

Before handing over the spirit stones, Jia Chu suddenly asked, "Where did you get this figurine?"

The unkempt man's expression turned wary.

Jia Chu pointed at the recording orb. "It's just standard procedure. You don't have to answer. But if there's any problem with this figurine later, we'll come looking for you."

(End of Chapter)