Chapter 679: Meeting Lu Xuejing Again

“Speaking of which, I’ve only ever heard your mother’s title in passing: ‘Scarlet Snow.’ She’s known for her profound cultivation and her great skill in artifact forging, and everyone respects her. I had no idea your Xuan Family held such influence within the Myriad Immortals Alliance.

“A nameless rogue cultivator like myself knows how hard it is to earn merit in the Alliance. Cultivators slave away, risking life and death, and barely scrape to Yan 2 rank in the end. Yet with just a nod from you, Brother Shuo, someone could gain Yan 30 permissions instantly…

“Meeting you that day truly was the fortune of three lifetimes!” Li Fan downed another cup of spirit tea, a hint of emotion in his voice.

“Haha, I never imagined that a moment’s unexplained loss of control over Sword would lead me to meet a man as extraordinary as you, Brother Li. Defeating me with a divine ability at the Nascent Soul realm... few in the entire Myriad Immortals Alliance could manage that!” Shuo Feng thought no less of Li Fan for his lack of official status.

“The two of us are truly fated to be friends…” Shuo Feng, now in high spirits, had Zhijin bring out more rare delicacies.

The two were halfway through their fragrant spirit wine when a faint voice drifted in from outside the house.

“Brother Shuo! Brother Shuo!”

Displeasure flickered across Shuo Feng’s face, and his smile vanished instantly.

Before he could speak, a white-clad figure flew into the center of the hall.

She was tall and slender, dressed in white, her skin possessing the smooth, lustrous quality of white jade.

“Brother Shuo, why didn’t you tell me when you got back?” She puffed out her cheeks, seemingly a little angry, but her eyes were full of adoration as she looked at him.

“I only returned a short while ago,” Shuo Feng said offhandedly, a hint of impatience in his voice.

“Fine,” the woman said, sulking.

She turned to Li Fan, her large eyes darting over him. “Brother Shuo, who is this? I’ve never seen him before.”

Shuo Feng answered dismissively, “A new friend of mine. Li Fan.”

“That name... feels like I’ve heard it somewhere...” The woman tilted her head, studying Li Fan carefully.

Li Fan’s gaze swept over her, and a flicker stirred in his chest.

Though this woman did not know Li Fan, he knew her well. She was Lu Xuejing, daughter of Lu Xichan, Chief Array Master of the Strategy Array Hall. She was also someone he had shared a master-servant relationship with in a past life.

Both of them are second-generation members of the Alliance, so it makes sense they know each other. I just never expected that this haughty and willful Lu Xuejing, who’s surrounded by a crowd of adoring young elites, would act like this in front of Shuo Feng despite her noble status.

Li Fan let his eyes brush past Lu Xuejing and quickly looked away. He turned to Shuo Feng and asked, already knowing the answer, “Brother Shuo, this is...”

“Her surname is Lu. Lu Xuejing.” He gave only her name, without mentioning her mother’s identity.

The implication was clear enough, so Li Fan asked nothing further.

“Since a lady has come to visit, I won’t intrude on you any longer, Brother Shuo.” Li Fan cupped his hands, preparing to take his leave.

“Regarding the Tianling Flower, please continue to inquire on my behalf, Brother Shuo,” he added casually before leaving.

He hadn’t expected those words to anger Lu Xuejing.

“What?! It was you who asked Brother Shuo to look for the Tianling Flower?” She glared at Li Fan, her voice sharp with anger. “How could he lie to me and say it was for himself? I wasted so much effort getting those idiots to help me search for it!”

Li Fan looked at Shuo Feng.

“How did I lie to you? Brother Li’s business is my business.” Though a bit embarrassed, Shuo Feng’s voice grew tense at the sight of Lu Xuejing’s aggrieved face, and he hurried to explain.

Lu Xuejing just shook her head, refusing to listen.

She didn’t vent her anger on Shuo Feng directly. Instead, she gave Li Fan a disdainful look.

“Which family are you from? I don’t know your face! You wouldn’t be a spy from the Five Elders Council, getting close to Brother Shuo just to find out where the Tianxuan Mirror is, would you? You just don’t look like a good person. Brother Shuo has never lied to me before—”

“Lu Xuejing, what nonsense are you spouting!” Shuo Feng’s expression shifted at her recklessness, and he barked at her.

Caught in the crossfire of Lu Xuejing’s baffling logic, Li Fan felt no real anger.

Instead, his eyes narrowed slightly at her words.

The Xuan family. So they really are connected to the Tianxuan Mirror.

“Brother Li, my apologies. Let’s stop here for today. I’ll invite you to my residence another time,” Shuo Feng said, apologetic.

He had Zhijin see Li Fan out, then turned, a headache already forming, to soothe the tearful Lu Xuejing.

Li Fan shot them both a long, deep look, then left the cave dwelling.

After Shuo Feng’s gentle coaxing, Lu Xuejing finally calmed down.

Then she spoke again, solemn this time.

“Brother Shuo, you have to believe me. That Li Fan is really not a good person. There’s something wrong in his eyes. You should keep your distance from him from now on.”

But Shuo Feng trusted his own instincts more than anyone else’s words.

“Mm, alright. I understand,” he said dismissively, not taking a single word of hers to heart.

***

The Scarlet Snow Immortal Venerable. Expert in artifact forging. Has a son. Father unknown.

Lu Xichan. Chief of the Strategy Array Hall. Main implementation lead of the Tianxuan Soul-Locking Arrays in a past life. Has a daughter. Father also unknown.

The two know each other. Perhaps they are close friends.

Both connected to the Tianxuan Mirror...

On the road back to Longevity Valley, Li Fan analyzed the scraps of intelligence he had acquired, the threads of a clue taking shape.

Interesting. I wonder if there’s a chance to get Old Man Fisher to act again in this life. But the Heaven-Swapping Token was lost in Cloudwater Palace this time around. Even if I captured Lu Xuejing, I don’t know what I could trade her for.

Back at Longevity Valley, he found no trace of Fang Zaiji, who had gone off somewhere to craft the protective artifacts his avatar Xu Bai needed.

Liu San, meanwhile, was busy overseeing the Medicine King Sect disciples as they sent their divine sense into the Oneiric Seasons Array.

Half a year. Once everything is ready, the avatar can leave the valley.

Until then, his true self would keep lying low.

Li Fan entered his secluded meditation chamber. The restriction on entering the Fallen Immortal Realm had lifted.

“Blessed be Xuanhuang Heavenly Venerable!”

Li Fan performed the ritual and arrived once more in the warped, transparent space.

Before him, three different scenarios flickered.

The newest, Heavenly Sword Sect Forges The Sword, had been unlocked. He could enter it now.

Li Fan didn’t hesitate. He focused his divine sense, and after a brief spell of dizziness, entered the Fallen Immortal Realm.

Before he could even sort through the memories of the person he now possessed, a mix of excited and indignant voices reached his ears.

“Quick, a good show is about to start! Some outer disciple, fresh to the sect, just swaggered in and declared he wants to challenge Big Senior Brother!”

“Are you joking? What cultivation does Big Senior Brother have? Does this outer disciple really think he can survive a single blow from him?”