“Can you tell his story?”
Master Yin sat paralyzed on the ground, his expression dazed, his voice faintly trembling as he finally broke the long silence.
Not long ago, still clinging to a sliver of hope, Master Yin had conducted a final test in the underground prison of the Holy Capital.
The result was exactly as Li Ping had said.
He no longer spoke further. Instead, he carefully stored away the rib bone of Mr. Bai.
Then he returned to the Holy Emperor’s throne hall, sitting before the projected image of Mr. Bai, staring blankly at it.
Li Ping did not disturb him, but also stood silently, eyes fixed on the sa portrait, as if in rembrance.
At this mont, when Master Yin finally spoke, it was precisely what Li Ping had been waiting for.
He imdiately began to recount the general story of Mr. Bai’s life.
Master Yin listened intently.
“I only knew that in the ancient Xuanhuang Realm, there existed Great Celestial Venerable above all Longevity Immortal Heavenly Sovereigns,” he murmured. “But I never expected…”
“That such a figure would sacrifice himself for re mortals.”
Confusion and sorrow intertwined on Master Yin’s face.
“The departed are gone,” Li Ping said solemnly. “What we can do now is fulfill Mr. Bai’s final wish, to console his spirit in the heavens.”
“The reason I established this Holy Dynasty of Qi was also for the sake of these mortals. Tell , sir, compared with the Xuanhuang Realm, how are the lives of mortals within my dynasty?”
Master Yin turned his gaze outward, as if in that instant his sight reached across every corner of Great Qi.
After a long silence, he nodded slightly, sighing with admiration. “Compared to the Xuanhuang Realm, where mortals are raised and treated like cattle and horses, your land can indeed be considered a paradise for ordinary people.”
“My vision,” Li Ping said proudly, “is to extend this system across all small worlds of Xuanhuang, and eventually to the Xuanhuang Realm itself.”
Master Yin studied Li Ping for a mont and sighed, yet did not refute him.
Li Ping smiled faintly. “Sir, there is no need for despair. Please, hear out.”
“The strength of the Xuanhuang Realm lies in Immortal Ancestor. The invincibility of Immortal Ancestor lies in innovation. If we can use the thod passed down by Mr. Bai to disrupt the very foundation of Immortal Ancestor…”
“Then once Immortal Ancestor collapses, the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance and even the Five Elders Association will be nothing more than clay chickens and pottery dogs.”
Master Yin stared blankly at Li Ping. He could not understand how a cultivator whose aura was only at the Soul Transformation realm could speak with such audacity.
Yet more astonishingly, he sensed from Li Ping an unwavering confidence.
“It does not sound like an empty boast. Could he be concealing his true strength?” Master Yin thought, carefully examining him again.
“To shatter the foundation of Immortal Ancestor,” Li Ping said with utmost solemnity, “there is no one in this world more suited than you, sir.”
Master Yin hesitated. “With my talent alone, I fear that may be impossible…”
Li Ping stepped forward, clasping both of Master Yin’s hands tightly. “Sir, I believe in you.”
His eyes shone with genuine sincerity. “If ten years is not enough, then a hundred. If a hundred years fail, then a thousand. I have waited so long for even this faint glimr of hope. How could I possibly give it up?”
“Surely you do not wish to disappoint Mr. Bai’s expectations either, do you?”
Master Yin’s body trembled slightly. His fists clenched unconsciously.
“Just focus on developing a new Dharma thod,” Li Ping continued. “Leave everything else to .”
After this long conversation, Master Yin finally resolved to stay and devote himself to researching a new cultivation thod that would follow after Foundation Establishnt.
After all, for him, lifespan was no longer a concern. Without a aningful purpose, it would only be a matter of ti before he lost all self-awareness and rged completely with the wandering souls of the world.
Having gained Master Yin’s promise, Li Ping was overjoyed.
They imdiately led him into a secret chamber beneath the Holy Capital City.
It was a vast underground area that had long been prepared as a private research facility for Master Yin.
“I have a plan, sir. Please see if it is feasible.”
“Select a large number of gifted but ignorant young children, and grant them this [Foundation Built Upon Oneself thod]. Then afterward…”
Li Fan explained in full detail the thod he had once used.
Master Yin pondered for a mont, his expression turning grave. “It might be feasible. But to know for sure, it will still need to be tested in practice.”
Li Fan waved his hand. “The thoughts of children are unrestrained like wild horses. Even if they cannot truly stumble upon a path by chance, as long as it gives you a hint of inspiration, sir, that will be enough.”
Master Yin was clearly not a pedantic man. He nodded and approved of Li Fan’s plan.
As for the miserable lives of those chosen children, he felt little sympathy.
“By the way, there is another matter that has weighed heavily on my heart. I have long wanted to complete it, yet never found the way…” Li Ping paused, appearing sowhat hesitant.
Master Yin glanced at Li Ping, gesturing for him to continue.
“Sir Bai’s remains are scattered across the Xuanhuang Realm. I wish to gather them and bury them properly. The others are fine, mostly kept in private by cultivators. But…”
“His skull is kept by the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance in their main headquarters, within the Divine Treasure Museum.”
A flicker of hostility flashed in Li Ping’s eyes as he said with hatred, “Those insects of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance actually dare to handle it carelessly, displaying it for public viewing without the slightest respect. Every ti I think of this, I wish to rush in regardless of the cost and reclaim that skull myself.”
“Unfortunately, I have tried once. There was absolutely no chance of success. Within that Divine Treasure Museum seems to be hidden a mysterious expert. Placing Mr. Bai’s skull at the very center of the museum was also his idea. It is clearly a trap, ant to lure people like who care deeply about Mr. Bai.”
“You have entered the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance headquarters before?” Master Yin was visibly shocked.
After hearing Li Ping describe every scene and detail of his infiltration, Master Yin’s gaze toward him subtly changed.
“I could infiltrate once, and I could do it again. But that Divine Treasure Museum alone…”
“…is truly difficult to deal with.” Li Ping sighed.
At this ti, Master Yin spoke. “Fellow Daoist, do not be discouraged. In truth, I once had the sa thought. But after discovering the identity of the museum’s curator, I gave up.”
“This person is one of the three Emperor Sovereigns of the ancient Demonic Beast Clan, existing since primordial tis. Even in those days, the Immortal Ancestor treated him with courtesy.”
Li Ping frowned slightly. “Such power? In those days, Mr. Bai slaughtered those monster beasts like chickens and dogs. The Immortal Ancestor was even stronger than Mr. Bai. With his strength and status, why would he treat that Emperor with such respect?”
His tone was full of doubt. Clearly, Li Ping did not believe Master Yin’s words.
Master Yin shook his head slightly. “In any case, I am certain that when the Immortal Ancestor t that being, he truly acted so. His attitude was entirely different from how he treated others.”
“Either that being’s strength earned the Ancestor’s recognition, or…”
Master Yin paused. “They were already acquainted.”
“But that should have been their first eting,” Master Yin said in a lowered voice, as if confused even himself.
Li Ping knew that Master Yin was a remnant soul of the old world devoured by the Xuanhuang Realm, possessing fragntary mories of a bygone heaven and earth. Therefore, what he saw could not be false.
“Emperor Sanmo was originally an elder of the Beast-Taming Sect, one of the Ten Great Immortal Sects. After conflict arose between the Ten Sects and the Immortal Ancestor, he chose to side with the Immortal Ancestor. Thousands of years later, he transford into the curator of the Divine Treasure Museum, and even beca one of the three supre ruling powers of the Immortal Alliance—the Illusory True Sage…”
“An old acquaintance then?”
Li Ping suddenly thought of another question.
Did the Heavenly Law Realm have any monster beasts?
The Xuanhuang monster beasts all originated from Emperor Yi’s transformations.
Then what about the Heavenly Law Realm?
…
At the sa ti, in the Derivation Space of the Immortal Alliance Headquarters, the true body of Li Fan suddenly revealed a faint, almost imperceptible glimr in his eyes.
“Perhaps, I will need to make another trip to the Fallen Immortal Realm.”
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