Chapter 302: Chapter 716-720: Wang Poh's Death-Faking Espionage (6.5k+ words)
The jade slip listed the values of items far beyond Wang Qiupo's imagination. As a spy who left home at a young age, some items were unknown even to him.
In that instant, Wang Qiupo began to believe Xu Bai's words to some extent. After pondering for a moment, he gestured for Xu Bai to wait and then silently lay back on the vine chair behind him, seemingly falling into a deep sleep.
In Xu Bai's view, Wang Qiupo's vitality was dissipating at an astonishing speed. In the blink of an eye, he seemed to have peacefully passed away, resembling a lifeless corpse.
"Not bad for a spy who has concealed himself for eight hundred years without exposure. Indeed, there's some skill," Xu Bai observed, scrutinizing him for a while.
The hut where Wang Qiupo resided seemed to have some mystical aspects. The disappearance of Wang Qiupo's vitality went unnoticed outside. The people continued to wait patiently in line.
After a cup of tea, a gentle breeze seemed to sweep through the room. Then, like a withered tree revived in spring, Wang Qiupo regained vitality. However, Xu Bai keenly sensed that this elderly man, who had lived for eight hundred years, seemed to have come closer to death.
With a light cough, Wang Qiupo stood up again and approached Xu Bai.
"I have confirmed with the organization. Young man, what you said is true."
"The content of our previous transactions does indeed demonstrate the credibility of your Overheaven Society. However..."
Wang Qiupo's aged eyes stared at Xu Bai. "How can you prove that you are a member of the Overheaven Society and not an attempt by the Immortal Alliance to expose my true identity and retaliate?"
"What were the contents of our first two transactions?"
Faced with Wang Qiupo's consecutive questions, Xu Bai was not surprised. With a faint smile, he provided the answers.
"The first time was the entrance exam questions for the Immortal Alliance. The second time was about the true identity of an ancient cultivator sought by the Immortal Alliance..."
Upon hearing these two sentences, Wang Qiupo's tense posture instantly relaxed.
After a moment, he said in a deep voice, "The organization has indeed observed traces of the reversal of the principles of heaven and earth. However, they have not yet identified the true identity of this Celestial."
"For this trade, the organization has agreed."
"However, concerning the Longevity Celestial, if we were to sign a contract, it might be sensed vaguely by them. Therefore, this trade can only be verbally agreed upon, relying on the credibility of both parties."
Xu Bai's gaze flickered slightly.
Then, shaking his head, he smiled, "It's okay; we will have plenty of opportunities for cooperation in the future. I believe you won't go back on your word."
"In that case, I will inform you of this matter first."
Xu Bai's expression became serious as he whispered, "The principle that this Celestial is reversing is the 'Principle of Life and Death.'"
"Some time ago, we discovered some cultivators in the Devouring Yuan White Mist who seemed neither alive nor dead, resembling living corpses."
"Combined with the recent observation of the traces of the reversal of the principles of heaven and earth, after investigation, we finally confirmed this matter."
"As for the true identity of this Celestial, we currently have no leads."
"But there are some suspicious targets."
After saying that, Xu Bai used his hand as a pen and wrote the names "Blue Feather" and "Heavenly Physician" in the air.
Wang Qiupo squinted his eyes and firmly memorized them.
Just as he was about to lie back on the vine chair, Xu Bai suddenly asked the previous question again, "Old sir, do you want to return to your hometown?"
"With the information I've provided, you can negotiate terms with the Five Elders. I believe they should agree."
Wang Qiupo's eyes first lit up with a trace of hope, but it quickly extinguished. He shook his head and said calmly, "The fate of spies like us is to decay in a foreign land, both body and soul."
"As for my hometown..."
"I've long forgotten what it looks like."
With a low voice, Wang Qiupo lay on the vine chair, and his vitality slowly dissipated once again.
"The items on the list will be delivered to you as agreed."
"Go now; I won't wake up again this time before my vitality completely disappears," he said before the vitality vanished.
Xu Bai nodded, "In that case, let me borrow your life, shall we?"
Wang Qiupo was initially puzzled, then seemed to understand something. He nodded slowly, using his last bit of strength.
Before his vitality completely disappeared, Xu Bai struck with a palm, and Wang Qiupo instantly turned to dust.
At the same time, Xu Bai angrily shouted, "So, it's a lackey from the Five Elders! Seeking death!"
With Wang Qiupo's death, the restriction on the hut disappeared, and Xu Bai's voice reached the outside. Accompanied by the celestial phenomenon in the sky, the group of cultivators outside instantly understood what had happened.
This attractive young man had killed the renowned Wang Qiupo of Tianliang Prefecture!
An uproar ensued—anger, shock, and astonishment filled the hearts of the onlookers.
"Capture him!"
The cultivators indignantly surrounded Xu Bai as he walked out of the house.
However, Xu Bai remained indifferent, facing the approaching crowd and reprimanding, "Are you also accomplices to the Five Elders' spies?"
Hearing this, the cultivators were all momentarily stunned.
Although they had vaguely heard something about the Five Elders' lackeys just now, they didn't immediately connect it with Wang Qiupo. After all, the reputation of this old man was too prominent, known by almost everyone in Tianliang Prefecture.
But the young man in front of them didn't seem like someone who would boast or talk nonsense.
"What's going on?"
The crowd exchanged glances, unexpectedly intimidated by Xu Bai's words.
"Report to the Lord immediately!" It took a while for someone to react.
"You can't leave before the City Lord arrives!" They blocked Xu Bai.
"No problem. It's better to summon people from the Martial Hall and Garrison as well. Investigate, and you'll know that my words are not false," Xu Bai calmly said without resistance.
Seeing this, the crowd became even more uneasy.
"If what this person said is true, and Wang Qiupo is indeed a spy for the Five Elders..."
"The sky is falling."
Thinking about the numerous cultivators he had recommended over the years, everyone swallowed hard, a sudden chill in their hearts.
Not waiting long, an orange-colored streak of light descended from the sky.
It was none other than the City Lord of Tianliang, Xiang Rongxin.
After scanning the surroundings, he locked his gaze onto Xu Bai.
Without a second word, he unleashed a giant palm from a high vantage point, intending to kill Xu Bai on the spot!
"This is killing to silence!"
Witnessing this, the cultivators were shocked, but no one dared to intervene.
Just when they thought this attractive cultivator was about to meet a tragic end, they saw him calmly take out a folding fan with a "swish."
Before the giant palm could hit him, invisible ripples appeared, neutralizing the deadly move.
"Hmm?"
Xiang Rongxin's face showed a hint of confusion.
Seeing Xu Bai's seemingly mocking gaze, a sinister glint flashed in his eyes.
Just as he was about to exert all his strength to kill Xu Bai, a lazy voice suddenly came from the sky.
"City Lord, hold on!"
"I heard that someone reported killing a spy from the Five Elders. Is it true?"
Before the words fell, a black-robed cultivator appeared in the field.
Xiang Rongxin's face instantly darkened.
Because the newcomer was the commander of the Tianliang Prefecture Garrison, Nangong Shirong.
With him around, it was impossible to suppress the matter.
This is trouble.
Looking at the lingering celestial phenomenon above, Xiang Rongxin sighed slightly in his heart.
"Wang Qiupo, oh Wang Qiupo, you've left me with a problem."
After hearing the news from his subordinates, Xiang Rongxin immediately made a judgment. Regardless of whether "Wang Qiupo is a spy for the Five Elders" is true or not, he must handle this matter deceptively.
Otherwise...
Looking at the smiling face of Nangong Shirong, Xiang Rongxin seemed to foresee the imminent chaos that would sweep through Tianling Prefecture and even the entire Wanxian Alliance.
"Young friend, come with me." Nangong Shirong spoke kindly to Xu Bai.
"Exactly what I had in mind," Xu Bai arched his hand, fearless.
The following events progressed rapidly.
Xu Bai firmly asserted that, based on some clues, he discovered Wang Qiupo's possible identity as a spy. With the goal of purging evil for the Wanxian Alliance, he personally visited to test the waters.
Unexpectedly, this person openly admitted his true identity and even attempted to attack Xu Bai.
Forced to counterattack, Xu Bai killed him.
The matter was straightforward.
Nangong Shirong didn't seem to delve into the truth of Xu Bai's words. Instead, he directly ordered his subordinates to investigate Wang Qiupo.
Even if he wasn't a spy, he couldn't withstand the meticulous investigation of the Garrison.
Where one walks, traces are left.
Moreover, Wang Qiupo was indeed a spy for the Five Elders.
Before long, Nangong Shirong had gathered plenty of "evidence" in his hands.
"Hahaha, young friend, you've made great contributions to our Wanxian Alliance this time!" Nangong Shirong vigorously patted Xu Bai's shoulder, his expression extremely pleased.
"Before the dust settles, stay here and don't go out. Be cautious to avoid malicious retaliation. Rest assured, after everything is clarified, you'll be duly rewarded!"
Xu Bai solemnly said, "Clearing evil for the Wanxian Alliance is our duty."
Seeing Xu Bai's high level of understanding, Nangong Shirong was very satisfied.
He patted Xu Bai's shoulder again, encouraging him before hastily leaving.
The conclusion of this matter was faster than Xu Bai anticipated because the Five Elders also took action.
Facing the questioning and accusations from the Wanxian Alliance, the Five Elders claimed there was no such thing. Wang Qiupo had no connection with the Five Elders whatsoever.
The Five Elders consistently upheld the principle of peaceful coexistence and would never actively damage relations.
They hoped the Wanxian Alliance side wouldn't create trouble out of nowhere.
...
The more they denied, the deeper the suspicion grew.
Although various signs indicated that this might be a spy's plot by Wang Qiupo before his death.
But...
Better to wrongly kill a thousand than let one escape.
In just over ten days, the cultivators promoted by Wang Qiupo were all isolated for investigation.
Even those exploring the white mist were forcibly called back.
The final result was evident.
A small number with proven issues were directly taken down.
Most, although there was no evidence of wrongdoing, were no longer trusted. They were assigned to insignificant positions, and if nothing unexpected happened, they would spend the rest of their lives there.
As the entire Immortal Alliance fell into turmoil,
A Garrison cultivator, who took advantage of the situation to fill vacant positions, arrived in front of Li Fan.
"These are the agreed-upon resources."
"The organization is very satisfied with this transaction."
"Looking forward to our next collaboration."
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 717: Giant Stitched Corpse
The young Garrison cultivator appeared righteous, but unexpectedly, he was a spy for the Five Elders. He had even participated in the previous arrest of Five Elders' spies, making it more absurd.
Leaving behind a casual remark and a piece of "Void Clear Stone," he quickly left without attracting any attention.
Xu Bai remained composed, swiftly collecting the plentiful Void Clear Stones.
After inspecting them, the variety and quantity perfectly matched his requirements.
"In this aspect, the Five Elders do have some merit. At least, they are more reliable than the Wanxian Alliance," Xu Bai thought to himself.
Despite some twists and turns, he obtained the required true bait. However, Xu Bai couldn't leave Tianliang Prefecture yet. The series of cases caused by Wang Qiupo had not officially concluded, and as the instigator, he had an obligation to continue cooperating with the investigation.
At this moment, public attention was mostly focused on the purge of Wang Qiupo's old faction and the fierce competition for vacant positions. Xu Bai was temporarily forgotten.
Meanwhile, within the vast white mist,
"What happened? Yesterday, I saw that there were only five Dissociation Discs left after the exchange. How come the quantity is back to six now?" Puxian Zhenzhou was flying rapidly through the mist, and Huangfu Song suddenly exclaimed.
Dongfang Yao's face changed dramatically. "Could it be that we've entered some strange illusionary realm? Did time rewind to a day ago?"
Li Fan remained silent for a moment and then said somewhat helplessly, "It should be influenced by Wang Qiupo's case. Of the four who exchanged Dissociation Discs, one should be related to Wang Qiupo. Suspected of being a spy, the valuable Dissociation Disc couldn't stay with him. It must have been retrieved."
The three had recently just come out of the maze and reestablished communication with the Tianxuan Mirror. So they were aware of the recent major events in the Immortal Alliance.
Dongfang and Huangfu quickly grasped the situation.
"Brother Li, your mind is quick," Dongfang Yao chuckled.
Huangfu Song breathed a sigh of relief, "I was a little worried. With our progress, we wouldn't have been able to grab a Dissociation Disc. Now with one extra appearing out of thin air, we should be stable."
The three simultaneously focused their gazes on their respective Cyan Tokens.
"36,000 points."
Following their previous experience, completing one or two more maze explorations would fill the remaining 14,000 points.
"Now, even in the most remote areas within the white mist, occasional glimpses of cultivators can be seen. It's as if the entire Wanxian Alliance has swarmed in like bees. It's really ridiculous! The mapped areas we've explored are practically useless now," Dongfang Yao complained.
"Yeah, luckily Brother Li has extraordinary abilities and can hear strange sounds from the maze in the white mist," Huangfu Song glanced subtly at Li Fan.
"Speaking of which, Brother Li, what does the sound you hear sound like? Can you describe it to us?" Huangfu Song asked tentatively.
Li Fan sneered inwardly and was about to answer.
"Heaven..."
"Physician..."
The eerie voice resounded in Li Fan's ears once again.
"There's a maze nearby." Li Fan, who had gradually become familiar with such situations, was not terrified. Instead, he stopped the rapidly flying Puxian Zhenzhou and carefully discerned the direction from which the voice came.
However, this time seemed somewhat different from the past.
Because the wailing cries resembling the "Heavenly Physician" were getting louder.
Just like...
It seemed as if a maze was rapidly approaching!
Li Fan's expression changed instantly, and his divine sense quickly expanded towards the outside of the white mist, attempting to understand the surrounding situation.
However, the white mist was like still water in a clear pond, without a ripple.
He had no idea where the crisis was coming from.
"Heaven..."
"Physician!"
The voices of anger and resentment became increasingly clear.
It was unmistakably the words "Heavenly Physician."
Coming from all directions, it was as if countless irrational ancient beasts were roaring and approaching.
The sound had already made Li Fan's eardrums ache.
He glanced at Huangfu and Dongfang, who seemed not to have heard this terrifying sound.
"Something seems off around us," Dongfang Yao, more alert, suddenly spoke.
"Run!"
The sudden surge of a sense of crisis intensified. Li Fan decisively made a move.
Puxian Zhenzhou accelerated abruptly, attempting to break through the mist.
At this moment, a massive hand suddenly emerged from the white mist below.
Its five fingers curved, forming a cage, attempting to grab Puxian Zhenzhou.
"What is this thing?" Huangfu Song's expression changed suddenly. Along with a sharp scream, he swiftly threw out a apricot-yellow array flag, flying like an arrow towards the giant hand.
The array flag burst open, turning into yellow silk threads that bound the giant hand, causing it to pause slightly.
"Quick, run!"
However, Huangfu Song hurriedly shouted, sounding extremely anxious.
Without waiting for them to speak, Li Fan had already fully activated Puxian Zhenzhou, fleeing in the direction they came from.
Not surprising that none of them had any intention of lingering in the fight; the abruptly appearing giant hand was too terrifying.
Li Fan had once witnessed the severed palm of the Ancient Venerable outside the Eternal Immortal Stronghold in the Abyss.
However, even the shock brought by the Ancient Venerable's palm was far less than the giant hand they had just witnessed!
Because, astonishingly, this so-called hand was actually composed of the bodies of numerous cultivators, stacked and stitched together.
In that fleeting glance, Li Fan could even see their twisted bodies and faces, as well as the black, eerie threads linking their bodies together!
What made Li Fan feel particularly creepy was that, although these cultivators showed no trace of vitality, their mouths continued to open and emit roars from the depths of hell.
"Heaven!"
"Physician!"
The giant hand was temporarily trapped by Huangfu Song's "Thousand Threads Hundred Webs Array," but another one suddenly appeared from the depths of the white mist.
It rudely tore apart the yellow threads.
The three could see clearly that it was still a colossal arm, formed by countless connected corpses, incredibly grotesque, as if a dead giant was hidden in the white mist, observing and pursuing them.
"The Immortal Alliance's 'Heaven-Cleaving Cannon,' could it be targeting this thing?" Dongfang Yao shouted with a trembling voice.
Gritting his teeth, he threw a punch towards the giant behind them.
The black rifts, like blades, exploded. It was precisely the divine ability Dongfang Yao comprehended in the Vortex of the Fractured Realm.
However, this killing move, capable of slightly tearing even the fabric of space, couldn't even slow down the movements of the dead giant.
The bodies of the cultivators making up its form were shattered by the dark marks, but immediately, another one wriggled out from the depths of the corpse pile to replace it.
This horrifying scene chilled Huangfu Song and Dongfang Yao to the core.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 718: Life Amidst Desperation
"Hurry, we can't withstand this monstrous thing!"
While Huangfu Song shouted in alarm, he also set up several formations outside the Prabhūtaratna Vessel.
The speed of the flying vessel instantly multiplied as it attempted to escape.
However, the horrifying dead giant still relentlessly chased after them.
Moreover, its speed seemed not much slower than that of the Prabhūtaratna Vessel!
"Quick, return to the nearest Luo Smoke Prefecture. This kind of creature is probably something only the official forces of the Immortal Alliance can deal with!"
Without waiting for his command, Li Fan had already initiated the fastest escape route, manipulating the flying vessel to flee.
However...
According to the distance on the map and their flight speed, they should have already exited the range covered by the white mist by now.
But the surroundings were still filled with boundless white mist, seemingly unchanged for thousands of years.
"Trouble, we should have unknowingly been dragged into a maze by this dead giant," Li Fan said with a somewhat grim expression.
"What?" Huangfu Song was shocked, and after checking, he found that Li Fan's words were not false.
"This... We can neither fight nor escape. Isn't this a dead end?" Dongfang Yao's face turned slightly pale.
"Escape while figuring out a solution," Li Fan decisively said.
The Prabhūtaratna Vessel maintained its rapid flight, attempting to find the exit of the maze. Meanwhile, the dead giant continued to pursue, vowing not to let Li Fan and the others go.
Several times, the Prabhūtaratna Vessel was almost caught by the dead giant. Fortunately, relying on Li Fan's expertise in controlling the flying vessel, honed in the Immortal Array, they narrowly averted the crisis each time.
"Darn it, why is it following us? What deep-seated grudge does it have?" Unable to endure such stimulation, Huangfu Song couldn't help but rage.
"Hmm?" This inadvertent remark actually reminded Li Fan.
This horrifying and bizarre dead giant was clearly related to the Heavenly Physician. It lacked subjective consciousness, seemingly acting purely on instinct. Why was it relentlessly chasing Li Fan's group?
While chasing, it emitted cries of resentment and hatred.
"Could it be that it senses the aura of the Heavenly Physician on me?" Li Fan thought of this possibility in an instant.
However, he quickly dismissed this speculation.
Not only in this life, but even since his split body showed a flaw in front of the Heavenly Physician, being pursued and forced to reveal his true self in the Sky Profound Space, Li Fan hadn't encountered the Heavenly Physician for a long time.
Not to mention having any aura associated with the Heavenly Physician.
Li Fan then glanced at the nearby Huangfu and Dongfang.
They couldn't even hear the "Heavenly Physician" sounds emitted by the dead giant. Obviously, they had no connection with this powerful being.
"So, it's something I carry on me that attracted this dead giant?"
In an instant, Li Fan vaguely thought of a possibility.
After scanning and counting all the items on him, discarding some suspicious ones without hesitation, but still not changing the dead giant's behavior, Li Fan finally locked his gaze on a white rib bone.
This was the only item dropped by Yin Shangren after killing him in this life.
It belonged to the first carrier of the Immortal-Faith Miasma.
"Could it be because of this thing?"
Li Fan pondered for a moment, grabbing the bone.
Feeling the strange and chilly yet warm touch of it, Li Fan forcefully threw it in the opposite direction of the flying vessel.
After a moment.
"Heaven..."
"Physician..."
The dead giant did change its pursuit target!
Abandoning the Prabhūtaratna Vessel, it roared while chasing after the white rib bone!
"...."
Chapter 719: Unseen Crisis
"What does this mean?" Li Fan was somewhat stunned, his brows slightly furrowed as he carefully contemplated.
And then, something even more incomprehensible happened.
When the dead giant obtained the rib bone, Li Fan thought it would go on a rampage in retaliation.
However, it slowed down slightly, then stood still.
The continuous cries of "Heavenly Physician" gradually subsided.
The clumsy dead giant cradled the rib bone in its hands, protecting it close to its heart.
Then, it sank and disappeared into the vast white mist.
The change happened in an instant. Except for Li Fan, the other two on the ship were unable to understand what had occurred.
They only saw Li Fan seemingly casually throw something away, and then the terrifying giant was led away.
Surviving the ordeal, they stared blankly at Li Fan.
After a long time, Li Fan came back to his senses. He shrugged and said, "Just lucky, that's all."
Huangfu and Dongfang remained silent. However, since Li Fan had saved their lives, and he wasn't willing to reveal more, they didn't press for details.
During this period, they had developed a life-and-death bond.
Although not expressing deep affection, it was definitely deeper than the connections between most cultivators.
At least, that's how Huangfu and Dongfang saw it.
Everyone has their secrets, and they tacitly chose to avoid discussing this matter.
With the threat of the giant gone, the three of them made some effort and eventually escaped from this maze.
However, for some reason, this maze did not reward any Qingxuan Points.
Preserving their lives was already a great fortune; they couldn't expect more.
After discussing for a while in a state of shock, the three originally planned to temporarily return for a brief rest.
However, the excitement brought by the loss of two Dissociation Discs in the Quantian Mirror made them change their minds.
Regardless of the recent narrow escape, they plunged back into the white mist.
---
"So, people die for wealth, and birds perish for food; this is the law of heaven and earth. Although we cultivators cannot avoid it, unless another Eternal Supreme appears to reverse this law, such incidents will continue to happen within our Immortal Alliance."
Nangong Shirong spoke confidently in front of Xu Bai, but he wasn't referring to Huangfu Song and the other two.
Instead, it was towards the Lord of Tianliang City, Xiang Rongxin.
After a meticulous investigation lasting dozens of days, mediating between various forces, the primary scapegoat for the Wang Qiupo incident was finally determined to be this city lord.
It couldn't be helped; most of the cultivators recommended by Wang Qiupo followed his path. Moreover, he readily admitted to having taken many treasures from Wang Qiupo.
The position of the city lord was eventually revoked. Fortunately, he retained his life and preserved his cultivation realm.
He was exiled to the far southwest Cangwu Abyss to guard against the increasingly frequent disturbances from abyssal monsters.
Nangong Shirong, who had made significant contributions in this case, naturally and seamlessly inherited Xiang Rongxin's position.
The internal resolution had been set, and in a few days, the edict would be officially issued.
In his triumphant mood, Nangong Shirong naturally didn't forget Xu Bai, the "great contributor."
He even extended an olive branch, inviting him to take a position in Tianliangzhou.
After all, although he rose to prominence very quickly this time, he had indeed offended many people.
With a weak foundation, he urgently needed to cultivate his own influence.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 719: Tianliang Communication Envoy
Xu Bai didn't immediately refuse. Instead, after some contemplation, he showed a troubled expression.
"What's the matter? Do you have something hard to say, little friend?" Nangong Shirong asked.
"Not hiding anything, Senior Nangong. In fact, I'm not a member of the Immortal Alliance. I am a dormant ancient cultivator..." Xu Bai then explained in detail how he obtained the identity of the Immortal Alliance using the Tianling Flower.
Nangong Shirong burst into laughter. "No need to worry, young friend. I've already investigated these matters thoroughly. Including the Dao-Integration-level Ritual Plate that fell into your hands, right?"
Xu Bai's face showed surprise.
Nangong Shirong waved his hand, signaling him not to be nervous. "Although it does deviate a bit from the usual procedures, in any case, your Immortal Alliance status is recognized by the Tianxuan Mirror. That's not a problem!"
"Even Five Elder-level cultivators can reform themselves and assimilate into the Immortal Alliance. Let alone ancient cultivators like you?"
"Besides, in the Wang Qiupo incident, your loyalty to the Immortal Alliance has been unquestionably proven! If it weren't for your vigilance, who knows how many more nails he would have planted within our Immortal Alliance!"
Nangong Shirong coldly snorted, then looked at Xu Bai with a smile.
"Xu Xiaoyou, I'm short of manpower on my side. Why not lend me a hand?"
"Rest assured, with me here, no matter who it is, they won't be able to criticize your past!"
The words had come to this point. If Xu Bai didn't agree, he might find it difficult to leave this room.
So, after pretending to hesitate for a moment, Xu Bai expressed his gratitude to Nangong Shirong, saying, "Thank you, Senior, for nurturing me!"
After getting Xu Bai's affirmative response, Nangong Shirong laughed heartily.
With his approval, Xu Bai's onboarding process went exceptionally smoothly.
Even the test at the White Jade Heart Inquiry Platform was just a formality.
A few trivial questions were asked, and then he was hastily approved.
Xu Bai's assigned position was the "Tianliangzhou Communication Envoy."
Directly responsible for one province, the authority was neither big nor small.
It all depended on the word of the Lord of Tianliang City.
If the position of the "Secret Envoys" that Li Fan had previously held was to handle the affairs of a province for the city lord, the Communication Envoy was responsible for coordinating communication between Tianliangzhou and other provinces connected to the headquarters of the Immortal Alliance.
The person in control of the province would inevitably arrange positions for juniors due to various factors.
However, to avoid attracting too much attention, these arrangements were often made in other familiar provinces instead of directly within their own. After accumulating enough experience over a dozen or so years, they would be brought back.
This was to gain public approval.
Even if the Immortal Alliance headquarters investigated, it would still be in full compliance with the regulations, making it difficult to find fault.
The Communication Envoy's responsibilities were dominated by this matter.
As soon as Li Fan took office, he was faced with this issue.
After all, it was widely known that many key positions in Tianliangzhou were vacant.
With only Nangong Shirong benefiting, there were still many other forces eager to get a share. Balancing various interests and ensuring everyone was satisfied was not an easy task.
Done well, it was expected. If there were mistakes, Nangong Shirong could easily push Xu Bai out as a scapegoat to appease public anger.
It was a well-thought-out plan.
Faced with countless letters of recommendation that arrived one after another, Xu Bai ignored them all.
He lied, concealed his presence, and went straight back to Changsheng Valley.
When Nangong Shirong inquired, Xu Bai just smiled and replied, "Let them wait for a while. If there's any problem, the city lord can handle everything on my behalf!"
After pondering for a moment, Nangong Shirong said, "Clever," and disappeared.
Returning smoothly, Xu Bai took out the "True Temptation Fruit" and arrived at the Medicine King's True Cauldron.
Next door, in the room where Jiang Yushan was in a deep sleep, was where Liusan resided.
Chapter 719: Tianliang Communication Envoy
Xu Bai smoothly entered.
With minimal modification of thoughts, he simply changed the appearance of Liu Yihang in her memory to that of Li Fan. Additionally, he implanted suggestions of deep trust in "Liu Yihang."
He then called in Liu San and awakened Jiang Yushan in front of him.
Jiang Yushan's eyelashes trembled slightly, and Liu San's face was extremely excited.
Xu Bai quietly distanced himself a bit.
Sure enough, when Jiang Yushan woke up, her eyes initially showed some confusion. However, her expression quickly changed, and she shot a black death light towards Liu San.
The black light, like a sword, was full of murderous intent.
However, Xu Bai faintly sensed an aura similar to Changsheng Green Qi within it. It was indeed peculiar.
"Yushan, it's me!" Liu San hurriedly blocked the black death light and called out.
Jiang Yushan was slightly stunned, then closed her eyes, concealing the killing intent in her heart.
After a moment, she reopened her eyes.
"What's going on? Have we arrived in Xiaoyao Realm?"
Her voice was not as soft and melodious as a typical female cultivator's but rather hoarse and harsh, like the friction of metal against metal.
Liu San didn't mind and explained the ins and outs of the situation to Jiang Yushan.
"Back to Xuanhuang Realm?"
"Thousands of years have passed?"
Even though this female cultivator had spent a long time in the harsh No End Prison, she seemed somewhat bewildered upon hearing this outrageous news.
"I want to go out and take a look!"
Apparently, she didn't trust Liu San very much.
With a glance from Liu San, Xu Bai released her from the Medicine King's Cauldron.
Then, led by Liu San, they circled around the current Xuanhuang Realm.
Not long after, she returned somewhat lost.
"What just happened? Did you subconsciously attack me because of the calamity of 'Incompatible Cultivation Techniques'?" Liu San took the initiative to find a reason for Jiang Yushan.
Jiang Yushan furrowed her brows slightly. "To prevent myself from killing you, I'd better revert to my original cultivation technique."
Liu San waved his hand repeatedly. "No need, no need. Now, our sect urgently needs the Elixir of Immortality. Yushan, your Changsheng Green Qi will help me refine it together."
However, she decisively refused, "The Changsheng Green Qi I cultivate may differ from the one your Medicine King Sect practices. Ingesting the elixir I refine may breed murderous thoughts."
"Find someone else for this!"
Unexpectedly, Liu San was stunned, "Now, apart from me, only you still possess the Compassionate Life Sutra."
"The calamity of 'Incompatible Cultivation Techniques' is terrifying. It's hard to control with more than three people," Liu San explained with hesitation.
Jiang Yushan's eyes flashed with a hint of coldness, and Liu San's words suddenly stopped.
"Elder Jiang, rest assured about refining the elixir. Even if there are slight side effects, the current cultivators of the Immortal Alliance won't mind," Xu Bai intervened at a critical moment.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 720: Where Does the Celestial Physician Come From
Jiang Yushan looked at Xu Bai.
His attractive appearance didn't evoke any psychological fluctuations in her. However, a momentary hesitation arose when the face of "Liu Yihang" flickered in her mind.
From Liu San, she learned that "Xu Bai" was a clone created by Liu Yihang. With the fall of Liu Ruchen, Liu Yihang had become the current sect master of the Medicine King Sect.
After a brief hesitation, Jiang Yushan nodded slightly.
"If the Sect Master says so, then let's give it a try."
"But I lived in the No End Prison in my early years and have absorbed an overwhelming murderous aura that cannot be eliminated. Is that really okay?" She frowned, a bit puzzled.
"Given the current demand among Immortal Alliance cultivators for the Elixir of Immortality, even if it has some side effects, it should be within an acceptable range. After all, one is dying of old age, and the other is just a bit of damage to the body. They can distinguish between them," Xu Bai confidently said.
At the same time, he briefly introduced the background of the Devouring Yuan White Mist and the current Immortal Alliance policy encouraging cultivators to explore the mist to Jiang Yushan.
"When flying outside just now, I noticed those white mist walls that spanned the heavens and the earth. Consuming lifespan, dividing the heavens and the earth..."
"A millennium has passed, and such significant changes have occurred," Jiang Yushan sighed almost inaudibly.
"Now is the best time for the sales of the Elixir of Immortality, with demand exceeding supply. With only Liu Laoyi's efforts, it's not enough to meet the demand. I hope Elder Jiang can lend a hand," Xu Bai whispered.
"Alchemy... let's give it a try." Jiang Yushan nodded.
In the alchemy room of the Changsheng Valley, ninety-nine Foundation Establishment disciples were gathered, and the Worldly Life and Eternal Life Grand Array was set up.
Liu San and Jiang Yushan sat in the center of the array, infusing Changsheng Green Qi into the core of the Medicine King's Cauldron.
As the two forces merged, Xu Bai keenly sensed their differences.
If Liu San's Changsheng Green Qi was like the vitality of spring, Jiang Yushan's contained a thread of killing intent within the vitality.
Moreover...
This murderous aura made Xu Bai vaguely feel familiar.
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Xu Bai remained calm, waiting for the completion of the Elixir of Immortality.
With Jiang Yushan's assistance, the array turned at a speed almost three times faster than before. Plus, with Liu San's adept management of the array, it didn't take long for the first batch of Elixir of Immortality to be refined.
Three pills, with a natural blue color, were unfortunately tainted with a strand of black clouds, giving them a gloomy appearance. Even the natural fragrance of life-prolonging medicines was suppressed.
Even holding the pills, there was no immediate desire to swallow them.
"Is this kind of pill acceptable, Sect Master?" Jiang Yushan furrowed her brow.
Xu Bai didn't answer immediately. Instead, he threw one into his mouth, closed his eyes, and sensed it.
Without caring about the increased lifespan, he felt the pill melting in his body. He also felt the murderous aura that appeared alongside the Changsheng Green Qi, ruthlessly destroying the physical body.
"Indeed..."
"The aura of Heavenly Murder..."
Xu Bai felt a bit solemn.
"Elder Jiang, can you explain in detail what this murderous aura is all about?" Spiritual power circulated, gradually repairing the damage caused by the murderous aura. Xu Bai opened his eyes and asked.
Jiang Yushan hesitated for a moment, then explained to Xu Bai.
"In ancient times, cultivators transcended the heavenly tribulation to ascend. This heavenly tribulation was a test and an opportunity. Although there was a risk of death, if successfully transcended, one would be infused with immortal qi, transforming into an immortal."
"However, later on, the path to immortality was cut off, and the heavenly tribulation no longer appeared. However, the killing intent of heaven and earth still needed an outlet, leading to the descent of murderous aura."
"This is the original origin of the murderous aura in the No End Prison. However, later, many extremely wicked individuals were imprisoned in the No End Prison, mixing it with endless human killing intent."
"Tian Ren interaction, the murderous aura becomes increasingly mysterious and tricky. Even though I have distanced myself from it for dozens of years, constantly purifying my body with the intention of saving the world, it remains difficult to eliminate," Jiang Yushan said slowly. "Accumulated over time, the irreversible damage to a cultivator's body caused by the murderous aura. My somewhat unique voice is a result of it."
"However, with the vast changes in the Xuanhuang Realm, I wonder what it's like inside the No End Prison now." Jiang Yushan's face showed a trace of trance.
"Heavenly Murder, Heavenly Slaughter..." Xu Bai wore a contemplative expression.
"Elder Jiang, have you ever seen this person or a sword full of murderous aura?" Xu Bai depicted the images of the fisherman and the Sword of Heavenly Murder in the void.
Staring at it for a while, Jiang Yushan shook her head. "Never seen them."
"That's okay."
This result was within Xu Bai's expectations. He waved his hand, dissipated the image of the fisherman, and said to Jiang Yushan and Liu San, "You two don't need to worry. Although the Elixir of Immortality you jointly refine will indeed cause damage to a cultivator's physical body, it's a minor flaw compared to its life-prolonging effects. I believe many people will still rush to buy it. At most, we'll lower the price a bit."
Dispelling their concerns, Xu Bai let them proceed with alchemy.
"How many pills should we refine? I'm quite interested in this world after thousands of years and want to go out for a stroll," Jiang Yushan asked directly.
Xu Bai was momentarily speechless. Looking at Liu San, who was infatuatedly staring at Jiang Yushan, it was evident he wouldn't oppose her decision.
After some contemplation, Xu Bai said, "Just consume half of the raw materials for the Elixir of Immortality in Changsheng Valley. Otherwise, it's a waste to keep pressing, and it's more efficient."
It seemed that there was no specific quantification of the medicinal herbs within Changsheng Valley. Jiang Yushan nodded, readily agreeing.
"Thank you both for your hard work."
Xu Bai smiled slightly and gracefully left Changsheng Valley.
"At least for a year or two, she won't be able to come out."
"However."
In Xu Bai's mind, the figure of Tian Jue, the old fisherman, appeared again.
The murderous aura on Jiang Yushan was surprisingly similar to the aura on Tian Jue, but with subtle differences.
It was difficult to express these differences in words, but for Li Fan, who had contact with both, it was easy to distinguish.
If one had to use an appropriate analogy, the "difference in salt concentration between two seas" might vividly describe the distinction between the two.
Ambiguous, yet distinct...
"From two different worlds."
A gleam of light flashed in Xu Bai's eyes.
Jiang Yushan came from the No End Prison and the Medicine King Sect. In the current Xuanhuang Realm, records of her could still be found.
So the result was evident.
He had vaguely speculated about this a long time ago.
The Celestial Physician, Tian Jue, Tian Yu, and the others, along with the Cloudwater Sky Palace, were likely not native cultivators of the Xuanhuang Realm.
Instead...
They were outsiders.
(End of this chapter)
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