Chapter 706-710: Recollecting Memories Today (8k+ words)

Xu Bai's words startled Liu San, but he quickly realized that Xu Bai was referring to the potential suicide of his clone.

"Why go to such lengths, Young Master? With me and Old Fang around, and the Medicine King True Cauldron, even if you can't win, escaping wouldn't be difficult," Liu San said, looking at Xu Bai with confusion.

Xu Bai didn't elaborate much, saying, "Just a precaution."

Seeing this, Liu San stopped asking and instead advised, "If you want an easy way out, Young Master, you can use your spiritual power to envelop the Soul-Melting Corporeal Annihilation Pill and swallow it into your dantian. In a critical moment, you can disperse the pill's effects with a thought, and the medicinal power will instantly spread throughout your body. During this process, you also need to pay attention to..."

After listening to Liu San's detailed instructions, Xu Bai calmly swallowed the highly toxic pill.

Feeling the existence in his dantian that could take his life at any moment, Xu Bai's heart instantly felt more secure.

"With the additional safety net of the 'Marvelous Transformation of True Spirits,' I shouldn't be desperate to the point of seeking death."

After all, the clone needed to go to the main headquarters of the Immortal Alliance, where he might encounter powerhouses of various levels that he couldn't handle. Xu Bai's appearance and temperament were unique.

It made sense to make thorough preparations.

"Next, let's see how Jiao Dao You performs."

Standing in the void of the Beast World, Xu Bai's gaze seemed to traverse countless layers of time and space, seeing the scenes within Tianlingzhou.

---

"Damn it, the last time we had such a lively atmosphere in Tianlingzhou was..."

Inside Tianling City, the guards dispatched by the Lord of Tianling City to maintain order looked at the densely packed cultivators in the city, cursing inwardly.

But when the words reached their lips, they suddenly hesitated.

As if forgetting something important, after a while, one of them said, "The last time we had so many people in Tianlingzhou was during the Tianlingzhou Great War."

Memories that had disappeared surfaced again in their minds, recalling events that seemed to have happened hundreds of years ago. The guard seemed to be in a daze, saying, "Yeah, before the Tianlingzhou Great War, there were also many people who came to the city."

"Old Sun, your memory is really good. I almost forgot about this..."

Ignoring his colleague's self-talk, Sun Qi checked the "Flower Invitation" in his arms again, and a hint of excitement flashed in his eyes.

The Flower Invitation was the invitation card for the upcoming "Flower Appreciation Conference."

Due to the overwhelming number of cultivators who came for the event, even the large space that the Lord of Tianling City had opened up in advance was somewhat insufficient.

To prevent any trouble, all the cultivators who wanted to enter and see the true appearance of the Tianling True Flower had to enter in order, according to the sequence of arrival.

Since everyone came from afar, the entry fee of one hundred contribution points was not a big concern for the cultivators. The key was time.

The lineup of cultivators had already filled the entire Tianling City, and even the teleportation array leading to Tianling City from the outside world had temporarily closed.

Ordinary cultivators might have to wait for who knows how long to catch a glimpse of the Tianling True Flower.

As for the duration of the Flower Appreciation Conference, no specific information was given.

Since the Tianling True Flower was placed in the Qianli Hall and could be taken away at any time, it might be missed if they delayed.

Of course, the sooner they saw the Tianling True Flower, the better.

The Flower Invitation was the qualification proof to enter early without queuing.

It was said that it had been inflated to ten thousand contribution points per book, and the quantity was limited, not available for purchase whenever desired.

The reason Sun Qi had one was that his uncle had given it to him.

Sun Qi's uncle, Sun Liancheng, was the newly appointed City Lord of Tianlingzhou.

As a Dao Fusion cultivator, he guarded the Tianling domain.

"This Tianling Flower does seem to have some tricks. It seems a bit different from what I saw before. You can go take a look; maybe you'll break through smoothly," Sun Qi said.

Chapter 706: Rediscovering Memories Today

Sun Liancheng's tone was somewhat indifferent, as if he didn't hold much hope.

There was a reason for this - Sun Qi had been trapped in the Golden Core realm by the "Calamity of the Heavens" for far too long.

Trying various methods, even risking his life by going to the Tianling Battlefield to fight desperately, attempting to break through the profound barrier between life and death, all ended in failure.

Except for Sun Qi himself, everyone else in the family had given up.

"Tianling Flower..." Sun Qi's mind recalled its appearance.

As a native cultivator of Tianlingzhou, he was naturally familiar with this item.

Before the great war, he occasionally bought a few pots to bring home for admiration when he was in the mood.

However, after the war, the Tianling Flower was tainted with a bloody aura.

Every time he saw it, he would think of the purgatory scenes during the Tianlingzhou Great War. Since then, he had never bought it again.

"I never expected that there would still be an original Tianling Flower in the world." Sun Qi couldn't help but be a little lost in thought.

When a colleague came over for task handover, Sun Qi hurriedly returned home, changed into new clothes, and headed straight to the "Flower Realm."

The Flower Realm was the venue prepared by Tianling City for the Flower Appreciation Conference, opened by his uncle Sun Liancheng and a cultivator named Zhao Chong.

Zhao Chong was known for his love of flowers.

Upon hearing about the Flower Appreciation Conference in Tianlingzhou, he approached Sun Liancheng, expressing his willingness to contribute for free to create the venue. All he wanted was a chance to see the true appearance of the Tianling True Flower.

Although Zhao Chong was only in the Nascent Soul stage, he had a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. He had various relationships with several esteemed Dao Fusion cultivators in the Immortal Alliance.

Sun Liancheng couldn't refuse, so he agreed.

The entrance to the cave was located on the city's Law Transmission Square. Jiao Xiuyuan, with a dark complexion, was carrying a table and standing at the entrance with a smile.

After showing the Flower Invitation, Sun Qi was allowed to enter the Flower Realm.

Before he could clearly see anything, the intoxicating fragrance of flowers already greeted him.

On the open ground covered with flowers, many cultivators had already taken their seats on chairs woven from green vines.

Sun Qi, who was usually solitary, scanned the surroundings and didn't find anyone he knew. He directly found his designated seat according to his invitation and patiently waited.

After some time, the atmosphere inside the realm suddenly became lively.

The first batch of lucky ones had gradually entered the Flower Realm.

When all the cultivators had entered, Jiao Xiuyuan, who stood on the high platform built by various beautiful flowers, suddenly appeared.

The red wooden box in his hand instantly attracted the attention of all the cultivators present.

"Fellow Daoists, the Flower Appreciation Conference officially begins!"

Without much ado, after a brief opening, Jiao Xiuyuan announced.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 707: The Record of Reversing the Universe

Amidst the attention of the masses, Jiao Xiuyuan opened the wooden box.

A thin, transparent "paper," as delicate as cicada wings and emitting a warm white light, slowly floated into the air.

"Tianling True Flower!" A cultivator in the crowd couldn't help but exclaim.

Some were even shocked by the beauty of the Tianling Flower, standing up on the spot.

It was strange; although the Tianling True Flower was clearly sealed in a plane, observers couldn't detect anything unusual. It appeared as if there was a real flower blooming in front of them, exuding extraordinary beauty.

One could even smell a faint fragrance coming from the flower.

Watching as everyone in the audience fell into a silent awe due to the beauty of Tianling, Jiao Xiuyuan smiled triumphantly and gently pointed at the transparent paper in the sky.

Suddenly, countless beams of light shot out from it, projecting the palm-sized flowers into the sky above the venue.

They were proportionally enlarged by tens of thousands of times, but it didn't affect their charm. Instead, every detail on each petal became even clearer.

While all the cultivators were captivated, Jiao Xiuyuan took the opportunity, unnoticed by anyone, to crush a bead.

A light white mist, exuding a mysterious and profound aura, slowly enveloped the venue.

Even though it was just a puppet body, Jiao Xiuyuan himself didn't dare to ignore it. He calmly set up a protective barrier to keep the white mist outside his body.

He remembered the instructions from a Dao Fusion cultivator named Liu San when he handed over this item.

"Uh, this is a carefully crafted pill by the old man. It can assist cultivators in their cultivation. After vaporizing and absorbing it, it can produce an almost illusory enlightenment effect..."

Watching the cultivators in the venue gradually becoming fascinated, Jiao Xiuyuan muttered to himself, "Although he promised solemnly that this item had been improved and was definitely non-addictive..."

"But anyway, it's better to touch this weird thing less."

The Tianling True Flower bloomed to its heart's content, and the extraordinary scenes on the petals reflected on the faces of every cultivator in the Flower Realm.

Each round of appreciation lasted only three hours. Once missed, there was no second chance. Therefore, almost everyone's gaze was fixed on the projection of the Tianling Flower in the sky.

Only one person was staring at the frozen thin paper in the venue, in a daze.

"No mistake, Ice Drop Dew, Mutual Capture, Thousand Colors Charming..."

"This technique is exactly the same as the one I use to seal flowers in my Flower Collection. But I've never revealed this to anyone."

"What on earth..." Zhao Chong's eyes were filled with an incredulous expression. "Could it be that there is someone else in the world who came up with the same idea as me?"

After seeing the true face of the Tianling True Flower, Zhao Chong's long-standing wish had already dissipated. He wasn't particularly concerned about breakthroughs or comprehending magical abilities. Instead, he gradually developed a keen interest in the owner of the Tianling Flower, who had never shown up.

Time passed slowly as everyone was immersed in their thoughts.

As the three-hour deadline approached, there was still no sign of anyone breaking through or having an enlightenment.

"This is the debut; we can't mess it up."

Just as Jiao Xiuyuan was preparing to activate the pre-arranged setup, a fluctuation suddenly descended, causing him to stop his actions.

"It's this kid. That's great; I don't have to waste energy promoting it again!" Recognizing the identity of the breakthrough cultivator, Jiao Xiuyuan felt delighted.

He hurried to the side of the person and sealed the fluctuations to prevent disturbing others' appreciation and enlightenment.

The first cultivator to break through was Sun Qi.

When he saw the heavenly scene of the Tianling Flower above his head, it felt as if he had suddenly returned to the fierce battlefield. However, unlike facing the current Tianling Flower, which was surrounded by a bloody aura, there was not a trace of murderous intent in his heart.

All the beautiful scenes of the world seemed gentle and healing, soothing the psychological trauma he had suffered during the war.

As if time were flowing backward, the blood, corpses, and cracked earth all disappeared. The perspective soared over the sky of Tianlingzhou, returning to the era before the great war.

Sun Qi watched all this in a state of ecstasy.

At that moment, he forgot the elders' thick love and disappointment, ignored the mockery of his peers, and let go of the desire to break through stubbornly.

In his mind, there was only the beauty of heaven and earth.

All hostility vanished, and everything fell into place.

When he woke from his trance, he discovered that the bottleneck that had troubled him for years, the nearly despair-inducing "Curse of the Heavens," had silently disappeared.

Finding a suitable pocket realm to devour it would allow him to directly enter the Yuanying stage. For the Sun family, this was not a difficult task.

If this had happened in the past, he might have been overwhelmed with joy and tears at such a sudden breakthrough.

However, at this moment, he felt neither joy nor sorrow. He didn't leave Flower Realm prematurely but continued to sit quietly, ignoring the occasional glances around, focusing on the Tianling True Flower above.

It wasn't until the host, Jiao Xiuyuan, collected the flower into the wooden box, declaring the end of the first tasting event, that he snapped out of his thoughts.

Excitement, regret, admiration—various sounds echoed successively.

"Friend Jiao, name your price! How much for this Tianling True Flower!"

Some cultivators, having witnessed its wonders, couldn't contain their curiosity and eagerly inquired.

This sparked a lot of interest among others.

Facing the inquiries, Jiao Xiuyuan smiled and said, "I've told you so many times. The attitude of the Flower Master is clear: not for sale, not for sale, still not for sale!"

"Although I would like to make this deal, if someone insists like this, there's nothing I can do!"

The crowd below became restless upon hearing this.

A middle-aged cultivator with a big belly stood up, looked at Jiao Xiuyuan, and arrogantly said, "I don't believe it. As long as the price is high enough, what can't be bought? Ten million contribution points, what do you think? If not, I can add more!"

Before Jiao Xiuyuan could respond, someone in the crowd immediately sneered, "Oh, isn't this Zhu Yuhua from Tianshu Prefecture? I heard you're always extravagant. How come you're only offering ten million contribution points? Look down on someone?"

"Hehe, with just this much, you want to buy the Tianling True Flower? I think those imitations are more suitable for you!"

...

Zhu Yuhua's face changed slightly, looking at the few who spoke. They were indeed influential figures. Ten million contribution points weren't a significant number for them.

The words at the corner of his mouth were swallowed back. With a gloomy face, Zhu Yuhua was about to speak up to raise the bid.

However, Jiao Xiuyuan took the initiative to step forward, playing the mediator.

"Everyone, everyone..."

He raised his voice a few degrees, regaining everyone's attention.

"The Flower Master of Tianling Flower is an extremely free-spirited person. Whether in appearance or temperament, he is the most extraordinary I've ever seen in my life. He is absolutely unwilling to sell the only Tianling True Flower in the world."

"But..." Jiao Xiuyuan shifted the focus.

"He also knows that keeping this unique flower secluded and only appreciated by a few is a desecration. After some persuasion from me, he finally decided on a compromise."

Jiao Xiuyuan paused, then announced, "Although not for sale, the Tianling True Flower can be rented out to external parties!"

"If any friends are interested, you can stay and listen to the details."

...

"Only for rent, not for sale. The Flower Master of Tianling Flower really knows how to do business." Sun Qi chuckled.

Watching the crowd flocking towards Jiao Xiuyuan, Sun Qi knew he didn't have the ability to rent the Tianling Flower. Shaking his head, he quietly left the Flower Realm.

The first person he visited after leaving was his uncle, Sun Liancheng. After all, the fundamental reason for his breakthrough this time was the "Flower Invitation" gifted by Sun Liancheng.

Waiting only a moment in his uncle's cave, Sun Liancheng hurriedly arrived.

"Good... good..." Sun Liancheng looked up and down, even more excited than Sun Qi's breakthrough.

"The genius of our Sun family has finally returned after many years." Sun Liancheng kept expressing his emotion.

"Born to build the foundation, Full Moon Golden Core. In those years, I indeed lived up to the name of a genius. But now, I'm already 213 years old..."

Sun Qi shook his head slightly. "What kind of genius is this? Uncle, please don't call me that again. Others have already achieved the stage of Yuanying and Nascent Divinity, while I'm still lingering in the Golden Core realm."

"It would be laughed at if this spread."

Sun Liancheng dismissed it: "Why should our Sun family care about others' opinions? Qi'er, you've been in the Golden Core stage for over two hundred years. Now, with a sudden breakthrough, your accumulated efforts guarantee an unlimited future."

"Moreover..."

Sun Liancheng's face showed a mysterious expression: "The breakthrough was tough, but it's not your fault. After all, you bear the bottleneck of the entire family alone."

"Adding to that, with the companion rare item 'Qi of Heaven and Earth,' you naturally attract multiplied hostility from heaven and earth. Breaking through the 'Curse of the Heavens' in the Golden Core stage in one's lifetime is already fortunate. Many ancestors didn't even reach the Golden Core stage and died. But now..."

Sun Liancheng patted Sun Qi's shoulder, expressing relief: "The future looks promising!"

Sun Qi's expression remained unchanged.

"The next bottleneck in the 'Inverted Genesis Chronicles' is in the late Nascent Divinity stage, right?" Sun Liancheng asked.

Sun Qi nodded slightly.

"Don't worry; the clan will prepare the required resources like pocket realms and celestial marrow for you. Just focus on your cultivation."

After a long silence, Sun Liancheng spoke with a touch of melancholy: "Qi'er, the entire family's burden rests solely on you. Due to this, your cultivation has stagnated, and you can't share it with others; you can only silently endure. Do you feel wronged or unwilling?"

Sun Qi's face showed no emotion: "It's my duty. Countless ancestors sacrificed silently like me, and it's their contributions that made our Sun family strong. How can I feel unwilling?"

Sun Liancheng squinted, carefully examining Sun Qi, seemingly trying to distinguish the truth in his words.

After a long time, just as he was about to speak, his expression suddenly changed: "Someone is coming."

"It's okay, nephew; you can stay. It's nothing important." Sun Liancheng stopped him.

"Hahaha, Lao Sun, we've made a fortune this time." The voice arrived before the person.

Hearing Jiao Xiuyuan's voice, Sun Qi closed his mouth and stood silently.

Soon, Jiao Xiuyuan walked in with great enthusiasm.

"Friend Jiao, the number of cultivators who came from afar is even more than you think, haha..."

Speaking halfway, he saw Sun Qi standing quietly on the side, suddenly stopping. A trace of surprise seemed to flash in his eyes.

"Hehe, Friend Jiao, it's okay to speak. Qi'er is not an outsider." Sun Liancheng waved his hand.

Jiao Xiuyuan opened his mouth but eventually just smiled lightly, not saying much.

"Lao Sun, you've misunderstood. How could I not know the relationship between this kid and you? But when we made the contract initially, it was agreed to be kept confidential."

The voice suddenly disappeared. He closed his lips, and after hearing his words, Sun Liancheng's expression was both surprised and delighted.

After saying a few more words, Jiao Xiuyuan took out a Tianxuan small mirror from his pocket.

After completing the transaction on the spot, he hurriedly left.

"I didn't expect someone to be willing to offer an 'Offering Jade Card' at the Dao Integration level to be the first to rent the Tianling True Flower..."

"It seems that our Sun family still has a considerable gap compared to the real aristocrats in the Immortal Alliance." Sun Liancheng sighed slightly, "Our road is long and arduous!"

Hearing this, Sun Qi couldn't help but be stunned: "Wasn't it supposed to be kept secret?"

"No matter, staying here is fine. It's not a big deal." Sun Liancheng stopped him. 

Sun Liancheng laughed heartily, shaking his head: "Qi'er, you're still too young. The Tianling True Flower master is just trying hard to meet Yanshi Fajue and find a suitable Dao Integration technique for themselves. If the other party is a spy, would they waste this rare opportunity in such a place?"

"Furthermore, Yanshi Fajue is in the headquarters of the Immortal Alliance Guardian Hall. With the 'Transmitted True Intent' suppressing, what kind of spy would dare to cause trouble at the headquarters? It's a death wish."

Sun Qi remained silent.

How could a small Golden Core cultivator like him know about these secrets? His uncle Sun Liancheng's actions were just a reminder: even if he broke through to the Nascent Soul realm, compared to the entire Sun family, he was still nothing. Just focus on cultivating the 'Inverted Genesis Chronicles,' bear the burden of the family bottleneck, and don't have any rebellious thoughts.

"Humph."

Suppressing the fleeting dangerous thoughts deep in his heart, Sun Qi dared not show any trace of emotion.

Sun Liancheng seemed quite satisfied with his performance and allowed him to stay in the lord's mansion from then on.

Seven days later, Sun Qi encountered the extremely mysterious Tianling True Flower master, Xu Bai, at the mansion.

Considering himself mentally resilient, he still had a moment of distraction when he saw the other person. He now understood that Jiao Xiuyuan's description of "Tianling True Flower master being extremely elegant and rare" was not an exaggeration.

Xu Bai seemed to be here for Immortal Alliance affiliation.

For Sun Liancheng, who wielded great power in a province, this was just a casual matter.

In just half a day, he bypassed various reviews and completed Xu Bai's affiliation.

After Xu Bai verified his identity on the spot with the Tianxuan small mirror, he nodded in satisfaction.

After praising Sun Liancheng for his "overwhelming influence," he put away his folding fan and gracefully left.

Sun Qi's gaze followed him all the way until he disappeared.

"It does carry some favor from the heavens..."

"Unfortunately, he's on the wrong path." Sun Liancheng snorted, evaluating it as such.

Sun Qi was puzzled at the words. He was still contemplating what mistake he had made recently that angered his uncle.

After a moment, Sun Qi finally reacted; his uncle wasn't talking about him.

It was about Xu Bai who had just left.

"Wrong path? What does uncle mean?" Sun Qi didn't understand.

"The person favored by heaven, in the ancient cultivation world, might have been a sought-after existence by major sects, a natural seed of cultivation."

"But now..." A hint of disdain flashed in Sun Liancheng's eyes.

"The new method of the Heavenly Veneration is going against the natural order. The more blessings you receive from heaven and earth, the more difficult it will be when you go against the principles of heaven and earth in the future."

"Even when offering the souls of heaven and earth, you will face the backlash of the will of heaven and earth multiple times. Even with high talent, you'll mostly be stuck at the Nascent Divinity stage."

"Like your companion rare item, 'Qi of Heaven and Earth.' It's a half celestial rarity, a blessing from heaven and earth. Have you ever felt the malice of heaven and earth towards you in your cultivation? As your cultivation progresses, this malice will become more apparent."

"Originally, heaven and earth loved you all so much. Yet, you still choose to cultivate the new method and turn against them."

"Not hating people like you is strange."

Ignoring the faint sarcasm in Uncle Sun Liancheng's words, Sun Qi nodded slowly, falling into deep thought.

However, neither he nor Sun Liancheng in the Dao Integration realm noticed that their entire conversation, from start to finish, was observed by someone.

It was Li Fan, who monitored Sun Qi with an untraceable killing intent.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 708: Xu Bai, the Face of the Celestial Venerate

In the beginning, outside the void of the Tianling Province, Li Fan, who successfully stole the Five Elements Grand Dao and broke through to the Nascent Soul realm, was preparing to sneak away.

However, he discovered a cultivator named Sun Qi below who seemed to faintly sense his presence, even aware of the untraceable killing intent.

It's worth noting that even ordinary Dao Integration cultivators find it challenging to perceive the untraceable killing intent used by Li Fan at the Nascent Soul realm.

Yet, this small Golden Core cultivator seemed to comprehend it.

Given these signs, Sun Qi was not an ordinary person. So, Li Fan casually released an untraceable killing intent to lock onto him.

For a long time, Sun Qi showed no abnormalities, conducting himself like an ordinary cultivator, practicing and carrying out tasks assigned by the Immortal Alliance.

Until recently, the Lord of Tianling City, Sun Liancheng, found him and gave him a 'Flower Invitation.'

In the maze, Li Fan, sensing the distant scene, paused.

"The more blessings from heaven and earth, the harder it is to go against reason..." Li Fan pondered.

"Brother Li, can't hold on anymore?" Huangfu Song's voice brought Li Fan back to reality.

Dongfang Yao angrily shouted, "Hide behind me! Huangfu, how much longer?"

"Only the last 1% is left; we can completely handle this maze. Endure a little longer!" Huangfu Song exclaimed.

"Damn it, be faster!" Dongfang Yao swung his fist, tearing dozens of silently approaching shadow beasts into pieces.

Looking outside, Li Fan saw countless black shadow beasts, like waves, besieging them from all directions, enclosing the three of them.

This was their third exploration into a maze during this period.

Compared to the previous two barren and desolate mazes, the danger level here had increased several times over.

On the seemingly calm ground, numerous shadow creatures hidden among rugged rocks could be seen.

There was little activity during the day.

When night fell and a red moon rose, under the illumination of orange moonlight, all the shadows seemed to come to life.

Furiously attacking intruders in the maze, like Li Fan and others.

These shadow beasts were not only swift and stealthy but also extremely powerful.

Even Dongfang Yao, with his robust physical body, became bloody after a few scratches.

What made Li Fan and the others headache-inducing was that even after putting in a lot of effort to kill all these frenzied shadow beasts, the next night, when the red moon rose again, all the shadow beasts reappeared.

Not only did their numbers not decrease, but it seemed they retained memories of the previous night's battle against Li Fan and the others.

It immediately put Li Fan and his companions in a tough fight.

They barely managed to hold on amidst the tide of shadow beasts, depleting almost all their supplies.

Before they could complete the exploration of the entire maze on the third day, the red moon descended prematurely.

Their situation suddenly became precarious.

Fortunately, both Huangfu Song and Dongfang Yao had decent strength, and Li Fan had concealed the majority of his cultivation power.

So, it was more of a close call than actual danger.

The defensive lines seemed like they could be broken through by the shadow beasts at any moment, but they held remarkably firm, persisting without collapsing.

Finally, when the Sky Mirror completed recording all the data,

the three of them exerted their full strength, instantly clearing the surrounding area. Then, the Universal Wisdom Boat soared into the sky, rushing towards the red moon in the air.

Even though the shadow beasts went into madness, they couldn't stop them. They could only watch Li Fan and the others fly into the red moon.

"Damn, that was too close!" Seeing the familiar white mist around, Dongfang Yao, covered in blood, couldn't help but curse.

"If we had listened to Brother Huangfu, we wouldn't have fought them to the death on the first night but explored while fighting. We would have completed the progress and escaped." Complaining, he took a deep breath, and several wounds, deep enough to reveal bone, slowly healed.

"Well, it's not entirely my fault. It's this damn rule of the Immortal Alliance. Exploring 99% and 100% both only give half the reward of Qingxuan points. It forces people to explore the entire maze." Huangfu Song wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, sounding a bit innocent.

Li Fan, on the other hand, remained calm. "After all, the real crisis might be hidden in that remaining 1%. Exploring 100% can directly eliminate the danger. The Immortal Alliance's approach is not entirely unreasonable."

"Let's see what gains we have this time. With an additional 1,600 points, plus the previous ones..."

"Only 2,400 points."

The expressions of Li Fan and his companions became rather unpleasant.

"I didn't expect such a big difference in value between mazes."

"I really miss the time when we easily got 30,000 Qingxuan points at the beginning..." Dongfang Yao muttered.

"Say a few less words!" Huangfu Song said with some annoyance.

Li Fan didn't join their argument but stared at the Qingxuan point exchange list that appeared in the Sky Mirror.

"Dissociation Disk: 50,000 Qingxuan points."

"Remaining quantity: 8."

Li Fan snorted coldly in his heart. "Sure enough, this thing is brought out to fool people. I wonder who the poor soul is that bought the first one."

This time, perhaps to increase the enthusiasm of cultivators exploring the white mist, the precious items in the Qingxuan point exchange list all had quantity limits.

Once exchanged, they would be unavailable.

However, the rewards were indeed generous. In addition to the nine Dissociation Disks, the list also included the [Spirit of the Mysterious Mirror] and [End Stone Plate].

The Spirit of the Mysterious Mirror was a somewhat ignorant consciousness with a considerable degree of wisdom. It could be melted into any magic weapon, enhancing its power.

As for the End Stone Plate, it was the latest secondary creation. Its appearance resembled a round stone plate, hence the name.

Its specific effects had not yet been discovered.

"This End Stone Plate seems to be the [Stone of Annihilation]. In the previous life, the people of the Overcast Heaven Society used this to mass-produce [Annihilation Stones] that could shield Xuan Net perception. The cultivators of the Overcast Heaven Society took many years to discover its magical uses. Now that this item has just been born, and the Immortal Alliance has not figured out its effects yet, it's normal."

"One hundred thousand Qingxuan points..."

Li Fan touched his chin, recalling the areas along the way where he had noted the continuous wails of the "Heavenly Physician."

Based on his recent experiences, not all mazes allowed Li Fan to hear the faint sound of the "Heavenly Physician." However, once the sound of the "Heavenly Physician" appeared, it meant that a maze could be found nearby.

"They probably aren't all trial grounds of that Transcendent Lord who reverses life and death."

"There's some risk, but it's worth a try."

Li Fan felt a restless excitement in his heart.

---

While Li Fan was exploring in the white mist, within the Beast World, Xu Bai was already preparing to go to the headquarters of the Immortal Alliance.

"Master, why are you taking off the protective treasures I refined for you? Is there something you're dissatisfied with, Old Fang?" When Fang Zaiji saw Xu Bai, he took down items such as the folding fan, white robe, and sachet one by one, feeling a bit flustered.

Xu Bai chuckled, "When we arrive at the headquarters of the Immortal Alliance, if we really encounter any danger, these things won't be of much use."

"Rather than burying them with the avatar, it's better to leave them here."

Liu San glared at Fang Zaiji fiercely and then reassured Xu Bai, "Young Master, don't worry. I asked Daoist Jiao about it. Immortal Alliance cultivators using the Jury Jade Tablet rarely encounter accidents. They can usually return safely."

"I believe your avatar should be fine as well."

Xu Bai waved his hand, "You two don't need to worry. It's just an avatar. Even if it's lost, I can reforge it."

"Lao Liu, is the Great Dream Spring and Autumn Formation ready?" Xu Bai asked solemnly.

Liu San nodded seriously, "I have connected the consciousness of Young Master's avatar to a blank node. If an irresistible force is encountered, it can help him maintain a moment of clear consciousness."

"That's enough." Xu Bai smiled.

Then, alone, he left the Eternal Life Valley.

Through a teleportation array, he crossed several states and arrived at the Fuyu State in the central part of the Immortal Alliance.

In a remote and uninhabited area, he used the Jury Jade Tablet.

Soon, a square door appeared out of thin air. A black-robed cultivator walked out of it.

Glancing at the Jury Jade Tablet in Li Fan's hand, the black-robed cultivator didn't say much. He simply led Li Fan through the transparent door.

In the blink of an eye, Li Fan already knew he had arrived inside the headquarters of the Immortal Alliance.

Unlike the image of the Transcendent Lord seen in the previous life, this time, when the avatar entered the headquarters of the Immortal Alliance, he saw an illusion of a slender figure.

With hands behind the back, looking up at the sky, sighing softly.

"There's a divine path ahead that I can't tread; the Transcendent Lord in charge from above!"

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 709: Passing on the Ultimate Law

As if responding to the figure's words, the entire world suddenly became dark in an instant.

Xu Bai even vaguely heard the sound of helpless cries.

Then, the slender figure shook its head slightly and turned around, locking eyes with Xu Bai.

Boom!

A thunderous explosion echoed in his mind. To Xu Bai's astonishment, he discovered that the figure's appearance was exactly the same as his own! No, wait...

In the blink of an eye, the face changed suddenly. Xu Bai seemed to see Mr. Bai's unparalleled beauty again.

However, unlike the encounter at the Beast Sect, this time was somewhat different. It lacked the otherworldly charm and heavenly aura, carrying more of a human touch, with a few traces of sorrow. It seemed more genuine, with a hint of the "common people."

His clear eyes seemed to hold countless emotions and stories, like a vortex gradually engulfing Xu Bai's mind.

...

"Wake up!"

A light drink, like a bell tolling, seemed to come from beyond the sky. It appeared in Xu Bai's ears, piercing through the barriers of infinite worlds.

In an instant, Xu Bai's eyes, previously dull and lifeless, regained a trace of vitality.

Looking at Mr. Bai in front of him again, the flesh on his face unexpectedly melted like a candle, slowly dissolving. The once breathtaking face now appeared eerie and terrifying.

In just a moment, the horrifying anomaly on Mr. Bai's face spread to his entire body.

As if swept away by a gust of wind, he turned into a pale skeleton in the blink of an eye.

Hollow eye sockets stared straight at Xu Bai.

Xu Bai was suddenly horrified.

The surroundings, like glass, cracked into fissures.

In an instant, it shattered.

A slight dizziness enveloped him, and the illusions disappeared entirely.

The black-robed cultivator who had guided him here scanned him for a moment before slowly saying, "There's a trace of the Transcendent Lord's aura remaining in this space. Cultivators who come here for the first time will have a certain feeling and experience illusions."

Xu Bai, who had been to the Immortal Alliance headquarters before, naturally understood this.

The last time his main body came here, he saw the towering statue of the Transcendent Lord.

From that statue, Li Fan felt an extreme sense of crisis and a faint sense of familiarity.

This time, however, when the avatar created with Xu Ke's blood and Mr. Bai's charm arrived here, he witnessed such a bizarre scene.

"There's a divine path ahead that I can't tread; the Transcendent Lord in charge from above..."

"Mr. Bai's face unexpectedly became exactly the same as the avatar. And finally, the chilling scene of him suddenly turning into white bones..."

"What does all this imply?"

Even after leaving the illusion, Xu Bai seemed to still be immersed in the shock it brought.

Instinctively, he followed behind the black-robed guide, and perhaps due to Xu Bai's extraordinary charm, the guide didn't disturb him.

Silently leading the way, the two swiftly traversed the space within the Immortal Alliance headquarters, passing through teleportation arrays and turning into beams of light. It was only then that Xu Bai slowly emerged from the influence of the illusion.

At this point, the black-robed guide explained to Xu Bai, "We usually call this lingering Transcendent Lord's aura the 'True Intent of Transmission.' It's mysterious and has infinite applications. Cultivators are affected by illusions when entering the Immortal Alliance headquarters for the first time, catching them off guard. After spending some time here and adapting to the True Intent of Transmission, facing illusions again becomes extremely difficult."

During the previous visit of Li Fan's main body, guided by Han Yi and Ximen Yue, the guide didn't explain things in such detail.

"It seems that judging people by their appearance is human nature. Even we cultivators cannot escape this."

Thinking to himself, Xu Bai seized the opportunity to ask, "According to what you said, the opportunity to face the True Intent of Transmission seems extremely rare, once in a lifetime. However, besides seeing some illusions, I didn't perceive any other effects. Why is that?"

The black-robed cultivator solemnly replied, "We, who practice the new methods transmitted by the Transcendent Lord, see more than just simple illusions when facing the True Intent of Transmission. It's highly likely that what each person sees is related to their 'Ultimate Path.'"

Before Xu Bai could inquire further, the guide proactively explained the 'Ultimate Path': "Every cultivator, since embarking on the path of cultivation, generally feels that the immortal path is vast and the journey ahead is arduous. At each level, they need to explore how to cultivate and choose the most suitable techniques. These are things we must figure out ourselves."

"But life doesn't offer second chances. Once a mistake is made, it can only be regretted for a lifetime, leading to a self-imposed exile from the Dao. Therefore, we must tread cautiously and be extremely careful with every step we take."

"The 'Ultimate Path' is the Transcendent Lord's view of the endpoint that is most suitable for our cultivation. Who is the Transcendent Lord? His perspective is far beyond ours. What he determines is essentially identical to reality."

"So, the illusion you just experienced is truly crucial. Contemplate it day and night, and you will undoubtedly gain something each time."

Countless floating land masses swiftly passed behind them as the black-robed cultivator calmly expounded the profundities of the True Intent of Transmission.

He concluded with a sigh, "Our cultivation is like a path to the heavens, obscured by layers of mist. One slight misstep, choosing the wrong path, and we may fall, shattered into pieces."

"The True Intent of Transmission reveals the Ultimate Path, like a blazing torch lit at the highest point of the path to the heavens. Its light penetrates the mist, illuminating the direction."

"This is the compassion of the Transcendent Lord for all living beings!"

When the two transformed from beams of light back to human form and their feet touched the ground again, the black-robed cultivator's words ceased.

He returned to his cold and unfeeling demeanor.

The straight green stone path led directly to the towering black stone monument at the end.

There was where the headquarters of the Immortal Alliance Guardian Hall was located.

Walking on the path of reverence, the spiritual energy within Xu Bai's body instantly immersed him.

Like an ordinary person, Xu Bai proceeded step by step, steadily walking towards his destination.

It was quite a lengthy journey.

Upon reaching the destination, the guiding black-robed cultivator spoke again with a gentle tone, "Present your Reverence Token here, and you can enter inside. However, I cannot enter; I'll wait for you here."

Xu Bai nodded slightly and then took out the token.

Just like the previous life, a colorful passage appeared from the monument, and Xu Bai walked into it with broad steps.

...

"Applicant for the Expanding Law Bead, Xu Bai."

"Serial Number: 03. Authorization Level: Harmonizing Dao."

"Please wait patiently here. Estimated remaining wait time: thirteen hours."

A somewhat familiar voice echoed in Xu Bai's ears.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 710: Farewell to the Expanding Law Bead

Looking around, it was still a closed space, but compared to the previous life's Reverence Token at the Yuan Infant level, it was much more spacious.

Besides the familiar works like "Instructions for Using the Expanding Law Bead" and "Ten Discourses on Expanding Law" on the bookshelves, there were also some short anonymous articles.

"Discussion on the Future Relationship Between the Immortal Alliance and the Five Elders Society," "The Secret of the Special Constitution of the Empty and Quiet Fairy," "On the Immortal Alliance's First Beauty"...

To avoid standing out, Xu Bai first pretended to flip through relevant books like "Instructions for Using the Expanding Law Bead." Then, with a sudden burst of energy, he carefully read through the anonymous articles.

"There are quite a few outstanding individuals in the Immortal Alliance. However, being able to enter the Harmonizing Dao-level waiting room here is not something an ordinary person can achieve."

After reading several books, Xu Bai was still not satisfied. Feeling sentimental, he took out another book and started reading.

These anonymous articles were left by cultivators who had visited here before. Without leaving names, they couldn't be traced, allowing them to speak freely.

Discussing various topics freely and without taboos, although they were personal opinions and might not be close to the truth, it was enough for amusement.

What's more, newcomers could also add comments to these anonymous articles and engage in discussions, giving it a taste of a hundred schools of thought.

Xu Bai got absorbed in reading, and thirteen hours passed in the blink of an eye.

"Cultivator Xu Bai, it's almost your turn. Please get ready."

The familiar prompt woke him up.

Checking the countdown displayed on the spatial wall, Xu Bai placed the books back in their original positions.

With a slight smile, he left a comment on the book "On the Immortal Alliance's First Beauty": "Fellow Daoist has great talent. Why not try evaluating the 'First Beauty of the Five Elders Society'? Combining the two, we can create the 'Mystical Yellow Beauty List'!"

With a smile, the countdown reached zero.

The scenery in the room instantly became illusory.

Transforming into points of light, they scattered towards a distant direction, shimmering like a long ribbon, illuminating the darkness.

Following the direction of the light, Xu Bai arrived in front of Expanding Law Bead.

Underneath a huge sphere made up of countless characters, floating on the desk, the little loli Expanding Law Bead was supporting her chin with both hands, eyes half-closed, nodding incessantly. There was even a drool hanging down, seemingly very sleepy, and she hadn't noticed Xu Bai approaching.

"Um-hum!" Xu Bai coughed lightly.

The little loli's body trembled, instantly awakened by the noise.

Chapter 710: Farewell to Expanding Law Bead

A trace of discontent appeared on her face as she frowned and pouted, looking towards Xu Bai, the person who had awakened her.

After seeing Xu Bai's appearance clearly, her eyes widened, and her small mouth opened slightly.

Wiping away the drool at the corner of her mouth, she sat up straight.

"Hello... you." Surprisingly, a hint of shyness appeared on the little loli's face.

Remembering the experiences from the previous life, Xu Bai couldn't help but feel silent in his heart.

However, without delaying his actions, he politely bowed, "Excuse me, are you Expanding Law Bead?"

"Yes, it's me. Do you have any requests?" The little loli nodded repeatedly, staring at Xu Bai with big eyes.

"Just say it; I will help you!" She patted the table with a childish voice, and a blank piece of paper flew in front of Xu Bai.

This paper seemed to be much larger than what the main body received in the previous life, no matter how you looked at it.

"..." Xu Bai remained silent for a moment, but then with a thought, he started writing on it.

Lines of characters appeared.

"Based on the Golden Elixir technique 'Mountain Sitting Secret,' with references from the 'Great Dream Spring and Autumn Array' and the 'Heavenly Sight, Earth Listening' technique."

"Derive a Harmonizing Dao version of the 'Mountain Sitting Secret.'"

"While retaining the 'Mountain Sitting Secret's' feature of enjoying the benefits while sitting, I hope to monitor the sources of feedback from participating cultivators to some extent. Ideally, connect and share the consciousness of all cultivators involved with the 'Mountain Sitting Secret.'"

Xu Bai wrote down his requirements as detailed as possible.

Although the paper hadn't reached Expanding Law Bead's hands yet, she seemed to have already seen the contents.

Her face showed a mix of surprise and a hint of distress.

After the blank paper was densely filled with writing, Li Fan handed it over.

Pretending to take it, the little loli carefully examined it.

Silence filled the space for a while.

"What's wrong? Are you facing any difficulties?" Xu Bai showed a charming smile and asked with concern.

"If you feel a bit overwhelmed, I can lower the requirements for the technique," he said softly.

The chubby little loli slapped the table forcefully, "What's the big deal! Don't underestimate me! How could something like this possibly stump me!"

"Hmph!"

She furrowed her brows, seeming serious.

After reviewing the paper Li Fan presented, she tossed it upward.

The characters on the paper instantly came to life, rushing towards the massive ball of characters above her head.

"Creak..."

Instantly, the frequency of character changes in the sphere accelerated countless times compared to before, even producing some strained noises.

"Snap."

Looking over, Xu Bai saw that the little loli had already rested her head on the table, sound asleep.

With a faint smile, Xu Bai looked up, continuing to focus his gaze on the enormous light sphere.

Having advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, his perception was many times stronger than when he was in the Golden Elixir stage. He could barely discern some of the changes within.

As characters continuously transformed, some gradually faded away, seemingly removing ineffective arrangements.

Sometimes, a burst of bright white light erupted, eliminating countless characters together. However, quickly, a new set of unnecessary characters emerged, once again flickering and deriving.

"This should be the successful derivation of a new technique."

Xu Bai carefully observed the gigantic character sphere.

He noticed that nearly one-tenth of the area was still undergoing the regular technique derivation.

However, the vast majority, around ninety percent, had a significantly faster rate of character shining and transformation.

"It should be assisting in deriving the follow-up to 'Mountain Sitting Secret.'"

"Compared to the previous life, they are truly exerting full effort. This can't be explained simply by using encouraging methods or motivation."

"What the heavens favor, the extraordinary transformation of the heavens..."

"I see."

Xu Bai's peripheral vision glanced over the seemingly slumbering Expanding Law Bead. Suddenly, everything became clear in his mind.

The time allowed for the derivation of the technique, granted by the Harmonizing Dao level Expanding Law Bead, was two days.

Xu Bai stood quietly under the character sphere, waiting for the final result of Expanding Law Bead's derivation.

However, perhaps due to the overly demanding nature of Xu Bai's request, the difficulty of deriving this technique seemed to surpass Expanding Law Bead's capabilities.

When a virtual countdown appeared before Xu Bai's eyes, the little loli still hadn't completed the technique derivation.

(End of this chapter)