Elder Nangong seed montarily stunned by Li Fan’s question, as if he had not expected it. After a brief pause, his gaze turned deep and serious.
“If there truly is such a person,” he said slowly, “then all the more reason not to let him approach the Derivation Law Jade.”
“To live alone for several hundred years and yet keep one’s emotions calm and unchanged from beginning to end… such a person must either be a madman or one with an extrely radical temperant.”
Li Fan interrupted, “I have heard that peerless geniuses in seclusion can cultivate for a hundred years without distraction. If they do not lose their composure from isolation, is that not quite normal?”
Elder Nangong chuckled faintly and shook his head with certainty. “Such geniuses would never co here, unless they have ulterior motives.”
Li Fan was montarily speechless.
At the side, Sun Luyuan’s expression also turned slightly awkward.
“Enough of that,” Elder Nangong said. “Welco to the Hall of Guardians. Next, I will explain certain matters that require special attention. Beyond the many regulations of the Immortal Alliance, there are additional precautions you must observe when dealing with the Derivation Law Jade.”
“Brother Sun, you may leave now. Your task is considered complete.”
This was precisely the mont Sun Luyuan had been waiting for. Relieved, he sighed softly, offered Li Fan a few more words of advice, and then took his leave.
For nearly half an hour, Elder Nangong continued speaking, his words unhurried and detailed. Then he took Li Fan with him, flying out from the spatial chamber.
They completed the formal procedures of appointnt, and Li Fan received the standard materials for a Hall of Guardians Elder.
He changed into the distinctive black-and-gold robe of the Hall and followed Elder Nangong toward the very center of the do, where the brightest star-like point of light floated.
“When I send you inside to complete the final handover, my duty will finally be over,” Elder Nangong said with a genuine smile of relief.
“Oh, one last reminder,” he added. “You will not be the only Elder guarding this place. There are two others. Unless absolutely necessary, do not attempt to transmit ssages or speak to them.”
“The space where the Derivation Law Jade resides records every fluctuation of sound transmission. Designated personnel inspect those records regularly.”
Elder Nangong spoke this via a secret voice transmission, his expression completely impassive, as if the warning did not co from him.
Li Fan cupped his hands in thanks.
After bidding farewell to Elder Nangong, he leapt into the white point of light.
Before his eyes appeared a scene that was already deeply familiar—the realm where the Derivation Law Jade existed.
A colossal sphere composed of countless runic characters floated in the void.
Every instant, the runes shifted endlessly, transforming without pause.
Occasionally, the entire sphere of runes would freeze for a brief mont, emit a pulse of light, and vanish, only to reappear and begin another endless cycle of transformation and deduction.
Beneath the massive sphere, a desk floated quietly in the void.
On it lay a little girl who appeared only five or six years old, her small body resting lazily on the table.
She stared at the characters that continually surfaced across the tabletop, looking listless and bored—exactly as she had each ti he had seen her before.
Sensing a new presence, Derivation Law Jade lifted her head slightly.
Upon seeing Li Fan’s stern face and the black-and-gold robe he wore, she pursed her lips, then lowered her head again.
“Another one who looks ugly,” she muttered under her breath.
Li Fan froze for a mont, his expression stiffening slightly.
“Heh, you’ll get used to it,” ca an elderly voice beside him.
It was one of the other Dao Integration Elders stationed here, who had been hiding within the space.
“Zhang Xu,” the old man said simply by way of introduction, and then fell silent once more.
As for the other colleague, he had never greeted Li Fan.
Li Fan did not take it to heart and flew toward his “work post.”
The so-called “work post” was actually a special position within this space.
It resembled a key node of a formation. Standing there felt like being high above, allowing one to overlook and perceive every surrounding energy fluctuation clearly.
Most of the ti spent guarding Derivation Law Jade was passed at this particular position.
“This is truly worse than being imprisoned. No wonder those few Dao Integration cultivators from the Sun Family were all unwilling to co here.”
Arriving at his post, Li Fan could not help but sigh.
He pretended to observe the surroundings as if familiarizing himself with the environnt. In truth, he was secretly contemplating where the weaknesses of the surveillance space might lie.
Other than the constantly shifting light and shadow on the massive sphere of runic characters, the place was quiet—so quiet that it almost felt suffocating.
Within a short ti, Li Fan had no clue how to contact Derivation Law Jade secretly or how to break through the restrictions.
Thus, about half a year quietly passed.
The little girl who had been bending over her desk suddenly straightened her back, raised her hands high, and cried out excitedly, “Yay! It’s rest ti!”
After saying that, she imdiately flopped back down and began to snore softly in her sleep.
“Six hours.”
At that mont, Elder Zhang Xu and another Dao Integration guardian spoke simultaneously.
Six hours—this was the rare rest period granted to Derivation Law Jade.
Once the ti was up, she had to be awakened on schedule.
Looking at Derivation Law Jade sleeping so soundly, Li Fan silently sighed in his heart. “This is a bit inhumane. She should at least rest for twelve hours.”
During the half year he had been stationed here, for so reason, no cultivators had entered this space using the Derivative Jade Token.
This ant Derivation Law Jade almost never had the chance to slack off even slightly.
After so thought, Li Fan finally voiced his doubt to Elder Zhang Xu, since it technically fell within his duties.
Zhang Xu remained silent for a mont before replying, “Three years ago, a spy from the Five Elders Association sohow obtained a Derivative Jade Token and infiltrated this place with ill intentions. Although we discovered and stopped him in ti before any major harm occurred, the incident still alard the upper ranks of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance.”
“Until responsibility for that matter is fully investigated, all Derivative Tokens interactions have been completely suspended.”
“It may take several more years before they resu.”
Zhang Xu said only a few words and then fell silent again.
Li Fan, however, fell into thought. “Each Derivative Jade Token is an imnsely precious item, bestowed by the Immortal Alliance upon cultivators who have rendered exceptional service.”
“To think that one actually fell into the hands of the Five Elders Association. And based on Nangong’s previous warning, spies from the Five Elders Association infiltrating the Alliance are not rare. Practically every few decades, an incident like that occurs.”
“In open confrontation, the Five Elders Association cannot match the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance. But when it cos to sches and subterfuge, the Alliance is far inferior.”
Thanks to the heaven-defying abilities of the Tianxuan Mirror’s source power, Li Fan already had a rough idea where the Derivative Jade Tokens that had gone missing were currently located.
“As one of the three stationed guardians, I am under strict surveillance, so taking direct action would be difficult.”
“Perhaps I could take an indirect route—use a Derivative Jade Token to create a private opportunity to et Derivation Law Jade alone.”
Li Fan pondered silently.
Twelve hours soon passed.
However...
Derivation Law Jade was still lying on the long table, sleeping soundly, showing no sign of waking up.
From the other two Dao Integration guardians, Li Fan faintly sensed a trace of helplessness.
“Brother Sun, it’s your turn.”
Elder Zhang Xu said with a cheerful tone through a voice transmission.
User Comments
0 comments from readers