"Our Xuanshang Immortal Ark has left its footprints throughout the Star Sea. If we truly want to find someone, even if they flee to the most remote wilderness at the edge of the Star Sea, they cannot escape." Jia Chu spoke in a calm tone, yet it carried quiet confidence and authority.

Even Lu Yuzhi and the other Xuan Immortal Ark elders ten thousand years later unconsciously straightened their backs, their eyes filled with pride.

Within the recorded scene, the scruffy man trembled slightly upon hearing this and hurriedly waved his hands.

"No, no, no. It is better to explain all these troublesome matters at once. I hate dealing with trouble the most."

As he spoke, he somehow produced a cucumber from nowhere. While reminiscing, he happily chewed on it.

"I actually received this thing from someone I rescued years ago. They gave it to me to repay the debt of saving their life. They said it could somehow 'Guard Against Calamities and Ward Off Disasters.'"

"I never really understood what that meant. I just guessed it could protect its owner from disaster in times of crisis, so I happily accepted it." At this point, the scruffy man paused and wiped the juice from the corner of his mouth.

"That was what I originally thought. But not long ago, those debt collectors nearly beat me to death, and this thing did absolutely nothing..." The man let out a loud burp and spoke with a face full of frustration.

Jia Chu chuckled softly.

"It is useless, yet you still want to sell it to our Xuanshang Immortal Ark?"

"It is not useless. It just is not for saving lives," the scruffy man corrected.

"Although this puppet is useless to me, your Immortal Ark travels across the Star Sea. Sooner or later you will encounter a cultivator who needs it. When that time comes, raise the price tenfold and resell it. You will make a fortune. Besides, with the connections your Immortal Ark has, even if your luck is bad and you never find someone who actually needs it, you are bound to run into a fool willing to buy it. No matter what, this thing will never end up gathering dust in your hands..." the scruffy man tried his best to persuade him.

Judging from Jia Chu's expression, however, he had never really cared whether the deal would make a profit or a loss. From the very beginning, he had already intended to purchase the figurine.

Lu Yuzhi sighed with emotion.

"Jia Chu truly embodies the style of an Immortal Ark merchant. For the Xuanshang Immortal Ark that once roamed the Star Sea in ancient times, spirit stones were merely numbers. Even temporary profits and losses were of little importance."

"What truly mattered was enriching the Immortal Ark's secret treasury and increasing the bargaining chips to oppose the True Immortals."

Zhong Daogong's voice suddenly drifted in from outside the small building.

Before his words had fully ended, he had already appeared inside.

"Elder Zhong."

Everyone immediately greeted him respectfully.

Zhong Daogong nodded in return, but his gaze remained fixed upon the scene being displayed.

Because of Zhong Daogong's arrival, the recorded projection temporarily paused.

"You actually have time to come over?" Li Fan asked with a smile.

As the chief elder of the Severed Immortal Tower, Zhong Daogong managed every major and minor affair concerning the Immortal Ark. Naturally, unlike the other elders, he rarely found time to casually visit Li Fan's courtyard.

"When Yuzhi was searching through the records just now, I also discovered something interesting. Continue watching first."

The recorded scene resumed.

At the conclusion of the transaction, besides the agreed forty-five thousand spirit stones, Jia Chu handed the scruffy man an additional five thousand.

"What is the meaning of this, Brother Jia?" Although he asked this, the scruffy man did not hesitate in the slightest. He immediately pocketed the five thousand spirit stones, afraid Jia Chu might change his mind.

Jia Chu smiled gently.

"I simply wish to ask about the person you rescued back then. If this figurine truly sells for a high price in the future, we may continue purchasing them. I would like to keep a contact for future business."

After receiving the spirit stones, the scruffy man became exceptionally cooperative.

"Just that? No problem!"

"Let me think. What was that fellow's name again? Right. Sun Piaomiao. He was not a native cultivator of our Unfettered Free Realm. He came from the Xuanhuang Realm and crossed the Star Sea to get here. Just before arriving, he encountered the Star Sea phenomenon known as the Heavenly Whale Leap. Although he narrowly survived, he was gravely injured and fell from the sky."

"If I had not suddenly been moved by compassion and taken good care of him, he definitely would not have survived in that condition." The scruffy man spoke with obvious pride.

"Xuanhuang Realm. Sun Piaomiao..."

The scene ended abruptly with Jia Chu's quiet murmur.

The name Sun Piaomiao immediately stirred the Immortal Ark elders.

"That name sounds familiar. I feel like I have heard it somewhere."

"Sun Piaomiao. Sun Piaomiao..."

The moment Li Fan heard the name, his heart also shook.

Because Sun Piaomiao was none other than the founding ancestor of the Medicine King Sect in the Xuanhuang Realm.

Back then, Sun Piaomiao had traveled through many cultivation worlds, leaving behind a travel journal that recorded the Dao Coordinates of twelve different cultivation worlds. Among them were Unfettered Free and Xuanshang.

Li Fan looked toward Zhong Daogong, who had suddenly arrived.

"The interesting matter you mentioned refers to this Sun Piaomiao?"

Zhong Daogong nodded and waved his hand lightly.

Three illusory objects instantly appeared before everyone.

"According to the surviving records of the Immortal Ark, ten years after the figurine transaction, Sun Piaomiao visited the Xuanshang Immortal Ark. He then accompanied the Immortal Ark in pursuing the Star Sea phenomenon known as the Starfall Hailstorm."

"The Starfall Hailstorm was one of the rarest phenomena in the Star Sea during that era. Countless enormous crystal meteors surged from the depths of darkness like a torrential storm. Everything that blocked their path was smashed to pieces. Every collision unleashed dazzling sparks and icy mist, creating terrifying storms where freezing cold and blazing heat intertwined. Even if only the edge of such a storm brushed against a cultivation world, it would bring about an extinction level catastrophe."

Zhong Daogong briefly explained the Starfall Hailstorm.

"Although the Starfall Hailstorm is unimaginably dangerous, at the very core of the meteor swarm there often forms a unique substance called Abyssal Frost Dust."

"It is said that a single speck of this substance is enough to freeze an entire ordinary cultivation world. When the frozen world finally shatters, the force released possesses nearly the might of creating heaven and earth."

"Were they successful?" Li Fan asked, completely absorbed.

"The Xuan Immortal Ark contains no record of the outcome. However, I believe they succeeded in obtaining at least some Abyssal Frost Dust. Sun Piaomiao took a portion and left behind these three items as payment. The remainder was most likely taken away later by the Shang Immortal Ark." Zhong Daogong's voice was filled with regret.

Li Fan was not surprised.

After all, the Shang Immortal Ark had ultimately emerged as the true victor of that era, taking away nearly all of the Immortal Ark's forces that had reached the threshold of immortality. From Zhong Daogong's description, the destructive power unleashed by Abyssal Frost Dust rivaled that of a True Immortal. It was only natural that the Shang Immortal Ark would value it.

The important matter was the three objects left behind by Sun Piaomiao.

"I do not remember seeing these in the Hidden Immortal Compendium of the Hundred Tales secret treasury. Were they also taken to the Shang Immortal Ark?" Li Fan asked with a frown.

Zhong Daogong smiled.

"Not at all. These three items still remain in the collection of our Xuan Immortal Ark. However, the section you previously visited was only the outer layer of the secret treasury. These items should be stored within the second layer."

Li Fan was not offended. Instead, he joked.

"That makes it sound as though there is also a third layer and a fourth layer."

"The deepest part is only the third layer. You already know about the theft committed by outsiders back then. These are simply necessary security precautions." Zhong Daogong answered calmly without the slightest embarrassment.

Li Fan did not pursue the matter further and instead focused on Sun Piaomiao's three relics.

Their appearance was remarkably similar to that bowing figurine.

The first was a gray bird with broken wings. Although its wings had been severed, it still held its head high as though crying out toward the heavens.

The second item was a three-pronged tree. At the end of each branch were not leaves, but countless miniature trees.

As for the third item, it was something Li Fan was extremely familiar with.

It was a small cauldron. Judging from its appearance, it was almost identical to the Medicine King Cauldron of the Medicine King Sect.

"This Sun Piaomiao does not look like some peerless powerhouse. Yet the items he left behind actually contain power capable of contending against what lies beyond the High Wall..." Li Fan remarked thoughtfully.

Sun Piaomiao

Zhong Daogong said in a deep voice, "The era in which Sun Piaomiao lived was one where the Immortal Ascension Passage had not yet been severed. There were even records of True Immortals descending into the mortal world. Although, judging from the records within the Immortal Ark concerning Sun Piaomiao's travels, his cultivation only appeared to be at the peak of Dao Integration, we cannot rule out the possibility that he concealed his true strength."

Li Fan nodded slightly.

However, he did not voice his own speculation.

There was no doubt that Sun Piaomiao was immensely powerful, having crossed the starry sky alone and safely returned.

But Li Fan was equally certain that he had never ascended to become an Immortal.

Throughout the long ancient history of the cultivation world, every record of those from the Xuanhuang Realm who successfully ascended to immortality had been mysteriously erased. No trace of them could be found.

This was the meaning behind the saying that True Immortals have neither names nor surnames.

Perhaps only someone like Mo Rubin, who had personally lived through the transition between the old and new eras, could preserve by word of mouth the story of the Nine Refinements Temple's founding ancestor, Master Miaofa, ascending and later perishing.

First, the descendants of the Medicine King Sect never mentioned their founder Sun Piaomiao ascending to immortality. They did not even know his ultimate fate. Did he die peacefully of old age, perish in an accident, or simply disappear without a trace? The records concerning Sun Piaomiao ended after his return from his journey through the starry sky. After that, there was no further information.

Second, Sun Piaomiao's existence was not recorded only within the Medicine King Sect. As the unparalleled expert who saved countless lives and founded the Medicine King lineage, he was mentioned in many ancient texts throughout the Xuanhuang Realm. His existence had never been erased.

"When Sun Piaomiao crossed the starry sky, he had originally intended to continue exploring even deeper. However, after discovering something unusual about the starry sky surrounding the Xuanhuang Realm, he ultimately turned back."

"Was it because he was unwilling, or because he was unable?"

Just as Li Fan was deep in thought, Zhong Daogong spoke again.

"These three items left behind by Sun Piaomiao are like the bowing servant figurine you selected before. Although the Immortal Ark carefully examined them and found nothing unusual, since they all came from Sun Piaomiao, perhaps they conceal some hidden secret."

Li Fan remained silent, but the other elders could no longer sit still.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go take a look!"

Li Fan calmly looked at Zhong Daogong.

Zhong Daogong smiled faintly.

"Based on your contributions during this period, I doubt any member of the Council of Elders would object to allowing you into the second layer of the Hidden Immortal Compendium of the Hundred Tales."

Not long afterward, Li Fan entered the second layer of the Hidden Immortal Compendium of the Hundred Tales together with the elders.

Compared to the first layer, the space here was much smaller.

Every treasure was sealed within an individual sphere of light.

The colorful spheres floated throughout the air.

Their protective method was neither a formation, nor a restriction, nor even True Immortal seal script.

Li Fan narrowed his eyes as he observed the countless treasure spheres overhead. He vaguely sensed a trace of life from within them.

"These spheres... are alive?"

Zhong Daogong nodded approvingly.

"Your intuition truly is sharp."

"Correct. Guarding the second layer of the treasury is a wondrous lifeform known as the Heavenly Star Light Lotus. Even during the flourishing age of the ancient Star Sea, this creature was extraordinarily rare. Its dreamlike radiance could envelop half a star region, weaving itself into the form of a magnificent lotus. When the lotus bloomed, the entire star region was bathed in dazzling light. When it withered, the star region sank into lifeless darkness."

"Whenever a world within that star region perished, a lotus seed would form within the Heavenly Star Light Lotus. This cycle repeated for countless ages without end. The light spheres before you were formed in exactly this manner."

As Li Fan listened to Zhong Daogong's explanation, he could almost see the magnificent spectacle of the ancient Star Sea unfolding before his eyes.

"Back then, the Shang Immortal Ark took away many treasures. This Heavenly Star Light Lotus was one of the most valuable things left behind."

"The treasures are sealed within the lotus seeds and cannot easily be removed. If someone wished to seize them through brute force..."

Zhong Daogong let out a cold snort.

"Unless they destroy the entire Heavenly Star Light Lotus. This spiritual lifeform exists as a parasite upon the Star Sea itself. It has survived countless calamities throughout endless ages. Destroying it requires nothing less than Immortal-level power."

"Moreover, we have already tested it. Even by using the power of True Immortal seal script, it cannot be destroyed in a short period of time."

The elders of the Immortal Ark were clearly extremely confident in the Heavenly Star Light Lotus's protective abilities.

Li Fan, however, had a different thought flash through his mind.

'During my previous life, beneath the Grand Formation of All Things Return to the Void, this so-called Heavenly Star Light Lotus did not seem to last very long.'

'Now, I would not even need to use an Immortal-grade formation. The Descending Mortal Finger alone would be enough to destroy it. Destroying it is easy. Retrieving the treasures preserved within the lotus seeds is the truly difficult part.'

Naturally, the elders of the Immortal Ark had no idea of the dangerous thoughts running through Li Fan's mind.

Working together, they opened the three light spheres containing Sun Piaomiao's relics.

Everyone focused their attention on the three treasures.

Meanwhile, Li Fan's heart stirred slightly.

From the three-pronged tree, he sensed the same [Truth] reaction that he had felt from the bowing servant figurine.

However, he did not reveal it and instead carefully observed the relics alongside the elders.

The gray bird with the broken wings and the second Medicine King Cauldron appeared to contain no special power.

"'Guard Against Calamities and Ward Off Disasters.' It is almost like a projection of the Dao itself. Sun Piaomiao truly was extraordinary."

"And this ability was never passed down to the Medicine King Sect."

A flicker of light passed through Li Fan's eyes as he suppressed [Truth]'s eager desire to absorb it.

"Gentlemen, have any of you discovered anything?" Zhong Daogong asked after observing for quite some time.

"I cannot find anything unusual. But these objects truly do give me a very strange feeling."

Lu Yuzhi's words immediately drew agreement from the other elders.

If one did not already know that these three relics were extraordinary, then at first glance, nothing seemed out of place.

However, once one already knew there was something unusual about them, every careful observation produced an increasing sense of disharmony.

If only one or two people felt that way, it could be dismissed as an illusion.

But when all more than ten elders present experienced the same feeling...

Then it was certainly far more than mere imagination.

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