In a remote mountain within Tongyan Prefecture, Li Fan spent considerable effort before finally locating this place.
Even from outside the cave abode, he could faintly sense waves of sinister energy emanating from within.
There were also countless whispering sounds, softly rustling and echoing around his ears, like the wails of resentful spirits from ancient tales.
However, Li Fan knew clearly that within the Xuanhuang Realm, there were no so-called ghost cultivators.
After a cultivator’s fall, in most cases, their essence would return directly to the Dao.
Only under very rare circumstances could a trace of remnant soul remain.
Even retaining complete mories and clear consciousness from one’s lifeti was already difficult, let alone cultivating again in the form of a remnant soul.
Of course, those strange beings of the Cloudwater Heavenly Palace were exceptions, not within the realm of ordinary discussion.
Li Fan let out a cold snort, and instantly, the murmuring voices vanished without a trace.
He strode into Luo Suzhen’s cave abode, only to see human skeletons scattered everywhere in chaotic poses.
Each was arranged in a lifelike position, giving the eerie illusion that they were still alive.
A dwarf cultivator, barely reaching Li Fan’s knee, was solemnly conversing with one of the skeletons.
“Third Brother, do not worry. I know you are dissatisfied with the new wife I found for you.”
“It’s alright, I’ve already chosen another for you. Also, persuade Fourth Brother. It was already shaful that he couldn’t find a Dao companion while alive. Does he plan to remain alone for eternity, even after death…”
He muttered on and on with a serious expression, as if the skeleton before him were truly alive.
Li Fan watched expressionlessly. He gave a light cough, pulling the dwarf cultivator back to his senses.
“Eh? Who are you?” The dwarf cultivator tilted his head up, squinting as if trying to discern Li Fan’s face.
But Li Fan had long since changed his appearance and concealed his aura, making it impossible for the dwarf to see through.
“You are the cultivator capable of reconstructing the living appearance of the deceased from their skulls?” Li Fan stated his purpose directly.
The dwarf cultivator blinked, then nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes, that’s .”
Rubbing his hands together, he continued, “I’ve been waiting for you for quite so ti. I heard that as long as the reconstruction task is completed, the minimum reward is ten thousand contribution points?” ṛα₦ȱＢËꞩ
Li Fan smiled faintly and nodded. “Rest assured, you will be fully compensated.”
“But, are you truly confident?” Li Fan looked down at him, his tone deepening.
The invisible pressure emanating from Li Fan made the dwarf shudder involuntarily.
Soon, however, he slapped his chest with a loud pa pa pa, vowing earnestly, “I, Luo Suzhen, have dealt with the dead since childhood. In my eyes, they are not piles of bones, but living, breathing people! If even I cannot do it, then no one in this world can!”
Only then did Li Fan speak slowly. “Then let us begin.”
He set up a formation around the area, sealing off the entire cave abode.
Then, in midair, Li Fan projected the image of a skull—the very sa one displayed at the center of the Divine Treasure Museum.
At first, Luo Suzhen seed distracted, occasionally glancing at the skeletons scattered throughout his abode.
But as the skull gradually took shape, his attention was drawn entirely to it.
When the projection finally solidified, Luo Suzhen was completely entranced, stepping closer unconsciously, his expression filled with awe.
“So perfect…”
“How could there be such a flawless cranial structure in this world?” he murmured to himself.
“Perfect?” Li Fan frowned slightly.
Thinking Li Fan was doubting him, Luo Suzhen quickly beca animated, gesturing excitedly.
“Isn’t it perfect? Look at the frontal bone, the parietal bone, and the occipital bone… marvelous! Their proportions and combinations fit together with absolute precision. It’s simply, simply…”
After holding his breath for a long while, he finally exclaid eight words, “Naturally ford, flawless and divine.”
Li Fan narrowed his eyes slowly.
Without waiting for Li Fan’s urging, Luo Suzhen impatiently began to restore the skull’s appearance from before its death.
His thod was rather strange. It was not through any secret art or mystical technique.
Instead, he nervously attempted to communicate directly with the skull.
Of course, it was only a projection and could not possibly respond to Luo Suzhen.
Yet Luo Suzhen seed to truly receive so kind of reply, his expression growing more and more excited.
While Li Fan was still doubtful of this, he suddenly saw Luo Suzhen waving his right hand through the air, beginning to sketch the face that the skull once possessed.
So Li Fan patiently waited once more.
As the appearance gradually took shape, Li Fan’s expression grew increasingly solemn.
When the image finally appeared completely before him...
He struggled to control his facial expression, trying to hide the shock surging in his heart.
He stared at the image floating in the air for a long while.
In a low and heavy voice, Li Fan asked, “You... are certain you made no mistake?”
Even though he knew the question was aningless, he still asked it.
As expected, Luo Suzhen reacted with strong emotion. “A mistake? You dare question my—”
Before he could finish, Li Fan took a deep breath, his wide sleeve flicking out. He imdiately swept Luo Suzhen together with everything inside the cave mansion into his Five Elents Cave Heaven, suppressing it all.
Then he erased every trace left behind.
“How could it be him?”
Hovering in the air for a long ti, Li Fan still could not comprehend.
He could not face this truth.
“The first cultivator to be infected by the Immortal-Mortal Miasma. The first cultivator to be infected by the Immortal-Mortal Miasma...”
Li Fan muttered for a long while, then his figure flashed away, heading toward the Congyun Sea.
His destination, naturally, was where Daoist Yin was also conducting research on the Immortal-Mortal Miasma.
According to Li Fan’s spiritual sense, Daoist Yin had yet to reach a final conclusion in his research.
But Daoist Yin seed to have sensed sothing, becoming hesitant and uneasy.
The frequency of his experints had clearly slowed down.
It even seed... as if he no longer wished to conduct the final verification.
With his speed pushed to the limit, Li Fan quickly arrived before Daoist Yin.
Daoist Yin was startled by Li Fan’s sudden appearance.
Just as he was about to speak, Li Fan raised his hand slightly to stop him.
“Daoist Yin, regarding the first cultivator who was infected by the Immortal-Mortal Miasma...”
“I have made a shocking discovery.”
Daoist Yin’s whole body trembled, his face filled with disbelief as he stared at Li Fan.
“This result is too inconceivable. It defies all reason. You must have had so premonition already, right?”
Daoist Yin was silent for a long while before nodding bitterly.
Li Fan took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, “Then, please begin the final verification.”
“I would also like you to help confirm this.”
Daoist Yin stood still for a long ti, then sighed dejectedly. Finally, he led Li Fan to the testing chamber.
Through the transparent outer wall, Li Fan could faintly see the white rib bone that Daoist Yin had been keeping.
Thick white miasma continuously sprayed from the surroundings, filling the entire space.
Daoist Yin ford hand seals repeatedly, his expression changing constantly.
Under his control, the mist slowly thinned.
Gradually, it seed that sothing invisible within the air was being drawn into the white rib bone.
When the transparent chamber was finally cleared of mist, Daoist Yin’s face turned deathly pale as he fell to the ground.
“So it really is so. It really is so.”
He murmured weakly to himself.
Li Fan slowly spoke the final conclusion.
“The first cultivator infected by the Immortal-Mortal Miasma... was the very person who created it.”
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