Chapter 16: Playing Immortals Like Chess Pieces

Li Fan narrowed his eyes as he gazed into the distance, his expression tinged with nostalgia.

“Though my ancestor once joined the Taiyan Sect, he cared little for cultivation. Instead, he was obsessed with the arts of divination and calculation. At first, it mattered little—until the great calamity reshaped the world, forcing all mortals to migrate.

“With my ancestor’s early-stage Qi Refinement cultivation, no one could have compelled him if he refused. Yet he did not sever his worldly ties. Seeing his family lost in panic and uncertainty, he volunteered to oversee the mortal migration. And so, he remained here with our clan ever since.”

Li Fan spoke with measured eloquence, his voice thick with emotion.

Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi listened intently, slowly nodding as his words subtly aligned with ancient rumors they had heard before.

Kou Hong couldn’t help but ask, astonished, “The Taiyan Sect still existed during the Great Migration Era? I heard that all ancient sects had collapsed in the earlier Great Reformation.”

Li Fan paused, then shook his head. “Merely rumors upon rumors. Though the Great Reformation ended the sharing of immortal techniques, the Taiyan Sect had techniques as vast as a sea of stars. Was it so difficult for each disciple to claim one? True, the sect suffered losses, but annihilation was never a possibility.”

His words carried unshakable conviction. In particular, the words “techniques as vast as a sea of stars. Was it so difficult for each disciple to claim one?” left Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi dizzy with awe.

Then, Li Fan abruptly asked, “From your words, it seems the Taiyan Sect has long vanished from the world outside?”

Dao Xuanzi shook his head. “Not just the Taiyan Sect; the Taishang Sect, the Great Dao Sect, the Heavenly Sword Sect... all the ancient sects have disappeared without a trace.”

Li Fan murmured to himself, “The path of immortality is arduous indeed. Just as my ancestor foretold, the sects chose seclusion to evade calamity...”

Dao Xuanzi and Kou Hong exchanged glances, silently communicating through transmission:

“I’ve always doubted the tales that the ancient sects had collapsed. Now that I think about it, it is indeed suspicious. Their foundations were unfathomably deep. How could they vanish overnight?”

“It’s no wonder they went into hiding. If word spread that these sects still existed, challengers would come knocking every other day, no matter how powerful they are.”

After a brief exchange, Dao Xuanzi cupped his hands and asked, “May I know why you broke up our fight, Fellow Daoist?”

Li Fan sighed. “For thousands of years, no cultivator has set foot in these lands. When I saw you two today, I knew you were the ones my ancestor prophesied before his death, the key to my clan’s liberation. But when I saw you about to fight to the death over a mere core formation method, I had to intervene.”

Dao Xuanzi admitted frankly, “You must find us laughable. You may not know this, but techniques are now extremely scarce. Battling over a single technique is commonplace.”

Li Fan shook his head repeatedly. “How could it come to this?”

Dao Xuanzi probed cautiously, “From your tone, it seems...”

“Indeed. Before his passing, my ancestor left behind a technique, one that leads directly to the Golden Core realm,” Li Fan declared with pride.

Dao Xuanzi drew a sharp breath. “What would you like in return, Fellow Daoist?”

Kou Hong was overjoyed. “Wonderful! If my brother obtains this technique, the two of us need not fight any longer.”

“My ancestor’s lifelong wish was to return to the Taiyan Sect in the cultivation world. Besides this technique, he also passed down an artifact before his death, the Taiyan Boat. Though damaged, he once used the Taiyan sect’s divination arts to predict that two cultivators would arrive here, one skilled in sword arts, the other devoted to artifact forging. They would be able to help his descendants repair the Taiyan Boat and escape this desolate place.” Li Fan took a sip of wine, speaking unhurriedly.

Both Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi paled.

“My elder brother Kou Hong is devoted to the art of artifact forging, while my own expertise lies in sword techniques. The Taiyan sect’s divination arts... they are truly this unfathomable?” Dao Xuanzi was utterly stunned, taking a long moment before he regained his composure.

“To possess such unfathomable divination abilities at the Qi Refinement realm... it’s unimaginable...” Kou Hong, too, was left dumbfounded.

Li Fan chuckled. After a pause, he added, “Words alone are no proof. Please, follow me to examine this technique firsthand.”

Dao Xuanzi’s face lit up with joy as he stood and followed. Seeing Kou Hong also rise to join them, he immediately grew wary. “What? Elder Brother, you’ve already obtained a core formation method. Are you still not satisfied?”

Kou Hong gave an awkward laugh. “Fine, I won’t go then.”

Dao Xuanzi snorted coldly and quickened his pace to catch up with Li Fan.

Seeing that Kou Hong had indeed stayed behind as expected, Li Fan finally relaxed. He knew his plan for this lifetime had already half-succeeded.

He led Dao Xuanzi to a hidden mechanism, which opened the way to an underground chamber beneath the Grand Preceptor’s estate.

Just as Dao Xuanzi was about to step inside, a sudden chill ran down his spine, freezing him in place.

He swept the surroundings with his divine sense, then gasped in alarm. “Immortal-Mortal Miasma!”

Indeed, the chamber’s mechanisms were laced with Immortal-Mortal Miasma, so concentrated that it made Dao Xuanzi’s heart tremble with fear.

Li Fan smiled. “One can never be too cautious. We mortals must resort to such measures to protect our family’s treasures.”

Dao Xuanzi forced a strained smile but refused to take another step forward. Instead, he retreated slightly.

Li Fan said nothing more. He entered the chamber alone, retrieving a jade slip from a chest. He didn’t step back out, merely holding it where Dao Xuanzi could see.

This jade slip was none other than the Thousand Mechanisms Jade Cosmos Scripture—the very technique he had taken from Kou Hong in his previous life!

That’s right. Li Fan was gambling.

Based on Kou Hong’s past accounts, he had snatched the technique and fled immediately, meaning Dao Xuanzi had never actually seen what the technique was.

This made it the perfect bait to lure both Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi into helping him repair the Taiyan Boat!

If Li Fan’s guess was wrong, the Grand Preceptor’s estate was already swarming with his loyal men, ready to strike at a moment’s notice.

Worst case? He’d just try a different approach in his next life!

Li Fan didn’t feel the slightest unease, for he could see that Dao Xuanzi’s attention was wholly ensnared by the golden jade slip in his hand.

“The Thousand Mechanisms Jade Cosmos Scripture... a Nascent Soul technique... an actual Nascent Soul technique...” Dao Xuanzi’s breathing grew heavy, a dangerous glint flickering in his eyes.

But the traces of the Immortal-Mortal Miasma in the chamber, coupled with Li Fan’s knowing smirk, snapped him back to his senses.

“Well? Do you trust me now?” Li Fan asked with a smile. “Earlier, in front of your elder brother Kou Hong, I only claimed that our ancestor’s legacy was a core formation method to prevent him from harboring designs again.”

“Your foresight is impeccable, Fellow Daoist. I am in awe,” Dao Xuanzi said, nodding gravely.

Then, with renewed fervor, he added, “Rest assured, my brother Kou Hong is a master of artifact forging. I will persuade him to devote his full efforts to repairing your Taiyan Boat.”

Li Fan laughed heartily. “Then I shall leave it in your hands. Once the task is complete, I will present this technique to you myself.”

With the prospect of extending his lifespan now within reach, Dao Xuanzi could hardly wait to drag Kou Hong into action.

He watched reluctantly as Li Fan stored away the technique and sealed the chamber, then rushed off to find Kou Hong without another moment’s delay.