Chapter 623: Tian Yang Wishes To Unite With The Dao

This is an open cessation of war, and also a shift to a different form of competition. Li Fan was no stranger to this.

This is a perfect opportunity to see the true caliber of the prodigies on both sides.

He was extremely interested.

To make it convenient for all cultivators to follow along, the Myriad Immortals Alliance had specially crafted a type of mirror artifact, the Tianling Observation Mirror. 

It was inexpensive, costing only a hundred contribution points. Cultivators could use it to watch scenes from the conference anytime and anywhere, replaying the competition footage between the two sides as many times as they wished. 

More importantly, the mirror surface would synchronize the commentary from the Tianxuan Mirror in real-time, sparing lower-realm cultivators from being completely lost.

As soon as the Tianling Observation Mirror went on sale, it sparked a purchasing frenzy. Besides its low price and the fact that cultivators didn't want to miss this rare momentus event, some cultivators simply wanted to own one as a collectible.

According to older cultivators, the Myriad Immortals Alliance had released a similar Observation Mirror during the first Amity Conference. 

It had attracted little attention at the time as  information about the conference was easily searchable on the Tianxuan Mirror, so only wealthier cultivators had bothered to buy one.

No one expected that once the competition ended, those mirrors would become prized collector's items. 

Their intrinsic value was one thing, but what mattered most was the competition footage they had recorded.

After that first conference, the representatives from both sides had gone on to become major figures in their respective organizations, nearly all of them rising to the Dao Unity realm. 

Whether it was their open discussions on the Dao or their combat techniques and duels, repeated study of those records proved immensely beneficial for lower-realm cultivators. 

Some shrewd individuals even gifted the Observation Mirrors containing the victory images of relevant prodigies to the subjects themselves, hoping to curry favor.

And over the years, as cultivators fell, the number of mirrors in circulation had steadily dwindled. Now, finding one was nearly impossible.

With that precedent in mind, it was no wonder the new Tianling Observation Mirror had become such a hot commodity.

For a hundred contribution points, Li Fan naturally bought one.

When it arrived, he found the craftsmanship rather crude. It didn't compare to the Mini Tianxuan Mirror, and it fell short of even an ordinary mortal's bronze mirror. It was essentially a polished stone.

Is this outsourced too? A hundred contribution points a piece, and who knows what the production cost actually is. The unit price is low, but with the number of cultivators in the entire Myriad Immortals Alliance… someone is getting very rich off this.

He grumbled privately, put the mirror away, and slipped back to Embodiment Island while the rest of the island's cultivators were busy debating the conference.

Over the past few days, Liu San and the others had been working without pause, exhausting every last scrap of the previously prepared raw materials. 

They had successfully refined a total of twenty-eight Longevity Pills, each capable of extending life by roughly two hundred years, with slight variations in quality.

When Liu San presented them, shame was written across his face. "I have disappointed you, Young Master. I suspect it is the Exclusivity of Techniques at work—the purity of my Longevity Verdant Force has fallen far below what I anticipated. Even after purification through the ninety-nine Mini Medicine King Cauldrons, it remained the same. Pills of this quality… if the old Sect Leader were still alive, I shudder to think how he would mock me." A trace of melancholy colored his voice.

Li Fan waved it off. "Old Liu, there is no need for self-reproach. Without reaching Eternal Life, one cannot contend with the changes of heaven and earth. Besides, I have been watching the market. Pills of this quality are sufficient for our purposes right now. Releasing pills of too high a quality all at once would actually be a bad idea.”

As he spoke, he held out a storage ring.

"I have also made some progress on the whereabouts of Longevity Valley. It may be located at one of the marked positions on the map. All of them lie within the White Mist Barrier, but the ring contains an artifact called the Samantabhadra True Boat. If you pilot that vessel, it should nullify the effect of lifespan consumption."

A flicker of joy crossed Liu San's face.

"The environment within Longevity Valley is unique, slightly different from that of the world outside. If I could refine pills there, the quality might very well reach a higher level."

"Exactly," Li Fan said. "Then I will entrust this matter to you. The so-called Amity Conference is about to begin, the eyes of the entire world will be fixed on it. This is the perfect opportunity for you to make the trip.

“As always, your own safety comes first. The revival of our Medicine King Sect cannot do without you."

Liu San was deeply moved by the sincerity in those words.

"I will not fail your trust, Young Master."

With that, he familiarized himself with the Samantabhadra True Boat, then transformed into a streak of light and shot toward the marked location on the map.

I hope his journey goes smoothly, and that he finds Longevity Valley.

This Congyun Sea… it’s becoming untenable.

Li Fan rose above Embodiment Island and lifted his gaze to the sky. His eyes narrowed as he felt the faint killing mechanisms gradually taking shape between heaven and earth.

The killing mechanisms of heaven and earth merged into all things, subtle to the point of imperceptibility. 

Perceiving them had little to do with one's cultivation realm and more to do with an individual's personal comprehension. Li Fan possessed Formless Killing Mechanism and could borrow heaven's will for his own use, which made him exceptionally attuned to such shifts.

The killing mechanisms in this lifetime are fierce and aggressive. Far stronger than in my previous lives. 

Is it because the Heavenly Physician and the others have all appeared in the world at once?

He frowned inwardly, an evacuation plan already taking shape in his mind.

He returned to the island and led Tian Yang alone into a secret chamber.

"Junior Brother, an opportunity to advance to Dao Unity has arisen. I wonder if you are willing to take it."

Tian Yang tilted his head, seemingly unable to grasp Li Fan's meaning. Only after Li Fan repeated himself did the puppet straighten. A trace of solemnity settled across his face.

"You should know that in this world, danger and opportunity always coexist," Li Fan continued. "The chances of success are not great, and the danger is real. You could die permanently. 

“Even so, are you willing?"

He asked patiently, his expression gentle.

Without much hesitation, a halting mechanical voice issued from Tian Yang.

"Tian Yang is not weaker than others!"

Li Fan had long known what the answer would be. Even so, hearing it spoken aloud moved him.

"Good. Then, as your senior brother, I will do everything in my power to help you." His voice was low and steady.

The Qiankun Heavenly Mechanisms Die appeared in his hand. After a few spins, a subtle premonition stirred in his mind.

About a year from now, I suppose. That is enough.

With Tian Yang at his side, Li Fan descended into the deepest reaches of the Congyun Sea.

He would strengthen Tian Yang's body once more, sparing no expense. 

One by one, he drew priceless natural treasures from his own grotto-heaven.

Among them were sizable chunks of Eternal Calamity Gold, a material that could endure the five elements convergence.

Let’s see if Ink Death can truly annihilate everything.