sì nián qián ， yě jiù shì máo dìng 24 nián de shí hòu 。
四年前，也就是锚定24年的时候。
Four years ago, during the year Anchor 24.
zhāng zhì liáng jiāo dài tiān yǔ zhōu zhèn fǎ jí xùn shì yí de shí hòu jiù céng jīng shuō guò ， wàn xiān méng jì huà zài sān shí nián nèi ， jiàng lǐng dì nèi de měi yī cùn qū yù ， dōu lǒng zhào zài tiān xuán suǒ líng zhèn de fù gài fàn wéi zhī nèi 。
张志良交代天禹州阵法集训事宜的时候就曾经说过，万仙盟计划在三十年内，将领地内的每一寸区域，都笼罩在天玄锁灵阵的覆盖范围之内。
Zhang Zhiliang had mentioned that Wanxian Alliance planned to cover every inch of their territory within thirty years with the coverage of the Heavenly Xuan Locking Spirit Array.
yě jiù shì shuō ， zǎo zài nà ge shí hòu ， wàn xiān méng nèi bù ， jiù yǐ jīng yǐn yǐn chá jué dào tiān dì jiān jí jiāng fā shēng de yì biàn le ？
也就是说，早在那个时候，万仙盟内部，就已经隐隐察觉到天地间即将发生的异变了？
This meant that back then, the Wanxian Alliance had already subtly sensed an impending change in the world?
cóng gēn zhè ge shì jiè dǐng jiān qiáng zhě de jǐn yǒu jǐ cì jiē chù lái kàn ， lǐ fán bù rèn wéi zhè shì shén me kuā zhāng de shì qíng 。
从跟这个世界顶尖强者的仅有几次接触来看，李凡不认为这是什么夸张的事情。
From his few interactions with this world's top powerhouses, Li Fan did not consider it a far-fetched idea.
“ chūn jiāng shuǐ nuǎn yā xiān zhī 。 hé dào nǎi zhì cháng shēng jìng de qiáng zhě men ， yǐ rán yǒu le néng hé tiān dì kàng héng de shí lì 。 zǎo zǎo chá jué dào tiān dì de yì biàn ， shí shǔ zhèng cháng 。”
“春江水暖鸭先知。合道乃至长生境的强者们，已然有了能和天地抗衡的实力。早早察觉到天地的异变，实属正常。”
"Spring comes and the river water warms; ducks are the first to know. The Great Daoists who have reached the Longevity Realm already possess the strength to contend with the heavens. It is normal for them to sense the impending changes."
“ zhèng cè yǐ jīng dìng xià ， dàn bú shì suǒ yǒu rén dōu néng míng bái zhè bèi hòu de shēn yì 。”
“政策已经定下，但不是所有人都能明白这背后的深意。”
"The policies have been set, but not everyone understands their deeper meaning."
“ hái yǐ wéi zhè zhǐ bù guò shì yī cì xún cháng de jī jiàn rèn wù 。 suǒ yǐ wéi le wèi shù yuàn zǒng zhǐ huī shǐ de zhí wèi ， guān xíng xiū tā men néng gòu suí yì jiāng tán tái tāo tā men dàng zuò yīn móu de qí zi 。”
“还以为这只不过是一次寻常的基建任务。所以为了卫戍院总指挥使的职位，关行修他们能够随意将澹台韬他们当做阴谋的棋子。”
"I thought this was just a routine infrastructure task. That's why they could use DanTai Tao as a pawn in their schemes for the Commander of the Defense Command."
“ dàn shì ， tā men xiǎn rán dī gū le tiān xuán suǒ líng zhèn fǎ pǔ jí rèn wù de zhòng yào xìng 。”
“但是，他们显然低估了天玄锁灵阵法普及任务的重要性。”
"But obviously, they underestimated the importance of spreading the Heavenly Xuan Locking Spirit Array."
“ yú shì zāo lái dà huò 。 fù dì sì zhōu tiān yǔ 、 tiān chén 、 tiān shū 、 tiān quán de wèi shù yuàn zhǐ huī shǐ ， zhè ge zhí wèi yě jué duì bù suàn dī le 。 dàn què yī rán bù qīng chǔ zhèng cè bèi hòu de zhēn zhèng hán yì 。”
“于是遭来大祸。腹地四州天禹、天辰、天枢、天权的卫戍院指挥使，这个职位也绝对不算低了。但却依然不清楚政策背后的真正含义。”
Thus, they faced great misfortune. The commanders of the Defense Command in the four regions—Tianyu, Tianzhen, Tiangui, and Tianquan—were not low positions either. Yet, they still did not understand the true meaning behind these policies.
“ nà me ， wàn xiān méng de zhèng cè zhì dìng zhě ， jiū jìng shì shuí ？”
“那么，万仙盟的政策制定者，究竟是谁？”
"Who then is the policy maker of the Wanxian Alliance?"
lǐ fán mù qián suǒ zhī de wàn xiān méng jǐ gè bù mén ， bù zhèng táng 、 yǎn wǔ táng 、 cè zhèn táng 、 tiān jī táng 、 wèi shù yuàn děng děng ， gè sī qí zhí 。
李凡目前所知的万仙盟几个部门，布政堂、演武堂、策阵堂、天机堂、卫戍院等等，各司其职。
The several departments Li Fan was aware of—the Administration Hall, Martial Arts Hall, Strategy Array Hall, Celestial Oracle Hall, Defense Command—all had their specific roles.
tā men dōu shì zhèng cè de jù tǐ zhí xíng zhě 。
他们都是政策的具体执行者。
They were the ones executing the policies.
zhì yú nà shén mì de chāo rán wù wài de hù fǎ táng ， yě jǐn jǐn shì zhǐ fù zé wéi hù gōng fǎ de wán zhěng 。
至于那神秘的超然物外的护法堂，也仅仅是只负责维护功法的完整。
As for that mysterious and detached Guardian Hall, it merely ensured the integrity of the techniques.
shì shuí dài biǎo zhe wàn xiān méng de zhēn zhèng yì zhì ？
是谁代表着万仙盟的真正意志？
Who represented the true will of the Wanxian Alliance?
shì shuí zài zhuǎn niàn jiān jiù jué dìng zhe wú shù xiū shì de mìng yùn ？
是谁在转念间就决定着无数修士的命运？
Who decided the fates of countless cultivators in an instant?
chuán fǎ tiān zūn me ？
传法天尊么？
The Celestial Transmitter, perhaps?
lǐ fán céng chá yuè guò wú shù yǐn mì de zī liào ， zhī dào rú jīn wú lùn shì wàn xiān méng hé wǔ lǎo huì fāng miàn ， yí gè gōng rèn de shì shí shì ， chuán fǎ tiān zūn xíng zōng piāo miǎo bù dìng 、 zǎo yǐ jīng bù wèn shì shì 。
李凡曾查阅过无数隐秘的资料，知道如今无论是万仙盟和五老会方面，一个公认的事实是，传法天尊行踪缥缈不定、早已经不问世事。
Li Fan had researched numerous secret documents and knew that both the Wanxian Alliance and the Five Elders Association agreed on one fact: the whereabouts of the Celestial Transmitter were unpredictable, long since disengaged from worldly affairs.
zhè yě bú shì shén me xū bì huì de shì qíng ， yī chá biàn zhī 。
这也不是什么需避讳的事情，一查便知。
This was not a matter to be concealed; it could easily be discovered.
nà me ， wàn xiān méng chú le chuán fǎ tiān zūn zhī wài ， hái yǒu lìng wài de cháng shēng tiān zūn me ？
那么，万仙盟除了传法天尊之外，还有另外的长生天尊么？
So, besides the Celestial Transmitter, did the Wanxian Alliance have another Immortal Heaven Sage?
ruò jǐn jǐn shì hé dào xiū wèi ， yòu rú hé néng fú zhòng ？
若仅仅是合道修为，又如何能服众？
If they merely possessed Great Dao cultivation, how could they gain everyone's respect?
lǐ fán yòu xiǎng dào le nà shén mì mò cè de tiān yī 。
李凡又想到了那神秘莫测的天医。
Li Fan thought of that enigmatic Sky Healer. His strength was beyond the Great Dao realm.
tā de shí lì ， nǎi shì hé dào zhī shàng 。
他的实力，乃是合道之上。
But he seemed to travel outside the Wanxian Alliance system.
dàn tā běn rén sì hū yóu lì zài wàn xiān méng tǐ xì zhī wài 。
但他本人似乎游历在万仙盟体系之外。
Otherwise, why would he need a bounty mission for the Cloud Water Scroll?
fǒu zé ， yě bù yòng wèi le 《 yún shuǐ tú lù 》 gǎo shén me xuán shǎng rèn wù le 。
否则，也不用为了《云水图箓》搞什么悬赏任务了。
Why not just issue an order directly?
zhí jiē xià dá zhèng lìng bù hǎo me ？
直接下达政令不好么？
"Beyond the public eye, there are countless unseen people who truly lead the Wanxian Alliance."
“ zài dà zhòng shì yě zhī wài ， hái yǒu qún kàn bú jiàn de rén 。 tā men cái shì wàn xiān méng de zhēn zhèng zhǔ dǎo zhě 。”
“在大众视野之外，还有群看不见的人。他们才是万仙盟的真正主导者。”
"Even..."
“ shèn zhì ……”
“甚至……”
Li Fan frowned slightly as a rather absurd idea suddenly surfaced in his mind.
lǐ fán méi tóu wēi zhòu ， nǎo hǎi zhōng hū de yǒng qǐ yí gè pǒ wèi huāng dàn de niàn tou 。
李凡眉头微皱，脑海中忽的涌起一个颇为荒诞的念头。
He had always subconsciously believed that the Heavenly Xuan Mirror was merely a powerful spirit treasure with its own thoughts.
yì zhí yǐ lái ， tā dōu xià yì shí de rèn wéi ， tiān xuán jìng zhǐ shì gè jí qí qiáng dà de líng bǎo 。
一直以来，他都下意识的认为，天玄镜只是个极其强大的灵宝。
But what if the true leader of the Wanxian Alliance was actually this Heavenly Xuan Mirror?
suī rán tā yǒu zhe zì jǐ de sī wéi ， dàn shì yě jǐn jǐn shì yī jiàn wù pǐn ér yǐ 。
虽然它有着自己的思维，但是也仅仅是一件物品而已。
The thought startled him, but after careful consideration, it might not be impossible.
shì wèi wàn xiān méng zhòng xiū xiān zhě fú wù de wù pǐn 。
是为万仙盟众修仙者服务的物品。
At the level of the Heavenly Xuan Mirror, there were no clear boundaries between objects and beings.
zhè yě shì wàn xiān méng jī hū suǒ yǒu xiū shì de gòng shí 。
这也是万仙盟几乎所有修士的共识。
Li Fan believed that creating a mobile body for the mirror would certainly not be difficult.
dàn ……
但……
And during the incident with the Spirit Fog Grass, when things seemed to spiral out of control, the Heavenly Xuan Mirror promptly issued an announcement, resolving the situation in one fell swoop.
tǎng ruò wàn xiān méng de zhēn zhèng lǐng dǎo zhě ， qí shí jiù shì zhè wèi tiān xuán jìng ne ？
倘若万仙盟的真正领导者，其实就是这位天玄镜呢？
Perhaps it was not another cultivator's command but its own decision.
niàn tou yī chū ， lián lǐ fán zì jǐ dōu bèi xià le yī tiào 。
念头一出，连李凡自己都被吓了一跳。
"Heavenly Xuan Mirror..."
dàn zǐ xì xiǎng xiǎng ， yě wèi bì méi yǒu kě néng 。
但仔细想想，也未必没有可能。
Thinking this, Li Fan, who was cultivating within the space of the Heavenly Xuan Mirror, felt a bit uncomfortable.
dào dá tiān xuán jìng de céng jí ， wù hé rén zhī jiān ， yǐ jīng méi yǒu le míng xiǎn de jiè xiàn 。
到达天玄镜的层级，物和人之间，已经没有了明显的界限。
Even the spacious private area seemed to become dim and cramped.
lǐ fán xiāng xìn ， chuàng zào yī jù qū tǐ sì chù huó dòng ， duì yú tiān xuán jìng lái shuō ， kěn dìng bú shì shén me nán shì 。
李凡相信，创造一具躯体四处活动，对于天玄镜来说，肯定不是什么难事。
Shaking his head, he pushed down these thoughts.
ér dāng chū líng wù cǎo fēng bō ， zhèng dāng shì tài jí jiāng fā zhǎn dào yào shī qù kòng zhì de shí hòu 。
而当初灵雾草风波，正当事态即将发展到要失去控制的时候。
Surveying the space of the Heavenly Xuan Mirror, Li Fan's eyes flickered.
tiān xuán jìng jí shí xiǎng qǐ gōng gào ， yī yán dìng fēng bō 。
天玄镜及时响起公告，一言定风波。
"Even if my hypothesis is true, as long as I do not exhibit any obvious anomalies, the Heavenly Xuan Mirror might not notice me."
zhè huò xǔ bìng bú shì qí tā shén me xiū shì de mìng lìng ， ér shì tā zì shēn zuò chū de jué dìng 。
这或许并不是其他什么修士的命令，而是它自身做出的决定。
"After all, there are too many cultivators in the Wanxian Alliance; I'm merely a small Golden Core cultivator."
“ tiān xuán jìng ……”
“天玄镜……”
"There's also a possibility that I am just scaring myself."
xiǎng dào zhè lǐ ， shēn chù tiān xuán jìng kōng jiān zhōng xiū liàn de lǐ fán ， xīn zhōng dùn shí jué de yǒu xiē bù shì 。
想到这里，身处天玄镜空间中修炼的李凡，心中顿时觉得有些不适。
Taking a deep breath, he forcefully pushed down these thoughts.
shèn zhì zhè kuān chǎng de sī rén kōng jiān ， yě sì hū mò míng biàn dé yǒu xiē hūn àn bī zè qǐ lái 。
甚至这宽敞的私人空间，也似乎莫名变得有些昏暗逼仄起来。
"Regardless, with the recent changes in the world, it has become easier for cultivators to advance. This is beneficial for me in the short term."
àn zì yáo tóu ， jiāng xīn zhōng de niàn tou yā xià 。
暗自摇头，将心中的念头压下。
"I can use this opportunity to push through to the middle stage of Golden Core."
dǎ liàng le quān tiān xuán jìng kōng jiān ， lǐ fán yǎn shén shǎn shuò 。
打量了圈天玄镜空间，李凡眼神闪烁。
The Xuanhuang Refining Heart Spell began to operate smoothly, crushing all distractions.
“ jí biàn wǒ de cāi xiǎng shì zhēn de ， zhǐ yào wǒ bù biǎo xiàn chū míng xiǎn de yì cháng ， tiān xuán jìng yě wèi bì huì zhù yì dào wǒ 。”
“即便我的猜想是真的，只要我不表现出明显的异常，天玄镜也未必会注意到我。”
Li Fan regained his composure and immersed himself in cultivation.
“ bì jìng wàn xiān méng de xiū shì shí zài shì tài duō le ， wǒ yě jǐn jǐn shì gè xiǎo xiǎo de jīn dān xiū shì ér yǐ 。”
“毕竟万仙盟的修士实在是太多了，我也仅仅是个小小的金丹修士而已。”
In the remaining months of Anchor 28, Li Fan's own progress was extremely rapid.
“ hái yǒu kě néng ， wǒ zhè shì zài zì jǐ xià zì jǐ 。”
“还有可能，我这是在自己吓自己。”
He received continuous feedback on his cultivation, indicating that everyone’s realms were rapidly advancing.
shēn xī le kǒu qì ， huǎn huǎn jiāng cǐ zhǒng niàn tou qiáng xíng yā xià 。
深吸了口气，缓缓将此种念头强行压下。
Even Han Wuyou, a young man from Source Dao State, had already entered the Qi Condensation Stage, providing steady support like a gentle stream.
“ bù guǎn rú hé ， rú jīn tiān dì yì biàn zài qǐ ， xiū shì xiū liàn biàn de róng yì xǔ duō ， duǎn shí jiān nèi duì wǒ shì yǒu yì de 。”
“不管如何，如今天地异变再起，修士修炼变的容易许多，短时间内对我是有益的。”
With all these factors at play, Li Fan successfully advanced to the full Golden Core前期 stage by the end of Anchor 28.
“ zhèng hǎo chéng zhe zhè ge jī huì ， yī gǔ zuò qì xiū liàn dào jīn dān zhōng qī 。”
“正好乘着这个机会，一鼓作气修炼到金丹中期。”
Sure enough, as other cultivators had said, the bottlenecks that hindered progress between realms had become as fragile as paper, easily broken with a light touch.
xuán huáng liàn xīn zhòu huǎn huǎn yùn zhuàn ， jiāng zá niàn quán dōu niǎn suì 。
玄黄炼心咒缓缓运转，将杂念全都碾碎。
His aura surged, and he successfully entered the middle stage of Golden Core.
lǐ fán chóng xīn biàn dé píng jìng qǐ lái ， chén jìn zài xiū liàn zhī zhōng 。
李凡重新变得平静起来，沉浸在修炼之中。
"Successfully突破, now I can start making a clone."
máo dìng 28 nián shèng yú de jǐ gè yuè lǐ ， lǐ fán bù jǐn zì shēn xiū liàn jìn dù jí kuài 。
锚定28年剩余的几个月里，李凡不仅自身修炼进度极快。
This clone was still for show.
dé dào de fǎn kuì xiū wèi yě yuán yuán bù jué ， shuō míng zhòng rén de jìng jiè zài fēi sù tí shēng 。
得到的反馈修为也源源不绝，说明众人的境界在飞速提升。
Even Li Fan planned to send it to Source Dao State in Anchor 29 to investigate what had happened during those missing ten years.
shèn zhì lí jiè nà míng jiào zuò hán wú yōu de shào nián ， yě yǐ jīng tà rù liàn qì qī ， chuán lái juān juān xī liú bān de zhù lì 。
甚至离界那名叫做韩无忧的少年，也已经踏入炼气期，传来娟娟溪流般的助力。
And being both inside and outside Source Dao State would provide different feelings.
zài zhǒng zhǒng yīn sù de jiā chí xià ， lǐ fán yú 28 nián mò ， chéng gōng xiū liàn zhì jīn dān qián qī yuán mǎn 。
在种种因素的加持下，李凡于28年末，成功修炼至金丹前期圆满。
Since he was destined to be cannon fodder, there was no need to expend much effort on him.
ér guǒ rán rú qí tā xiū shì suǒ yán ， nà yuán xiān měi gè jìng jiè jiān dōu cún zài 、 kùn è xiū shì jìn bù de píng jǐng 。
而果然如其他修士所言，那原先每个境界间都存在、困厄修士进步的瓶颈。
Leaving Tianyu City, Li Fan chose a random direction and flew for several days until he found a secluded area.
yuè dú wǎng
阅读网
As before, he dug out a secret room and sealed the entrance.
yě shì biàn dé rú tóng zhǐ hú yì bān ， qīng qīng yī chuō jiù pò 。
也是变得如同纸湖一般，轻轻一戳就破。
"This time, it won't cause such a commotion; I shouldn’t be found again."
shēn shàng qì shì fān téng ， lǐ fán chéng gōng jìn rù jīn dān zhōng qī 。
身上气势翻腾，李凡成功进入金丹中期。
Muttering to himself, Li Fan began to refine his clone.
“ chéng gōng tū pò ， jiē xià lái jiù kě yǐ zhuó shǒu zhì zuò fēn shēn le 。”
“成功突破，接下来就可以着手制作分身了。”
He added materials one by one: Superior Bone, Heavenly Spirit Milk, Broken Bone Treasure Sinew, Heavenly Crystal Spirit Sand...
zhè jù fēn shēn ， yī rán shì zuò yǎn rén ěr mù zhī yòng 。
这具分身，依然是做掩人耳目之用。
Adding in a mid-grade human anomaly: the Anger Flying Butterfly, as a necessity for foundation establishment.
shèn zhì lǐ fán hái dǎ suàn ， zài máo dìng 29 nián ， jiāng fēn shēn pài wǎng yuán dào zhōu yī tàn jiū jìng 。
甚至李凡还打算，在锚定29年，将分身派往源道州一探究竟。
Then he threw in a Golden Core fragment inscribed with water cultivation insights.
kàn kàn nà xiāo shī de shí nián zhōng ， yuán dào zhōu nèi jiū jìng fā shēng le shén me 。
看看那消失的十年中，源道州内究竟发生了什么。
The Anger Flying Butterfly was purchased from the Nine Mountains State's Great Method Pavilion for the "Rebirth of Immortality" group.
ér tóng shí shēn chù yuán dào zhōu nèi wài ， yòu huì shì hé zhǒng bù tóng de gǎn shòu 。
而同时身处源道州内外，又会是何种不同的感受。
Lin Fan, who had bought it, had already disappeared along with Congyunhai.
zhù dìng de pào huī ， zì rán fàn bù zháo huā fèi dà lì qì 。
注定的炮灰，自然犯不着花费大力气。
No need to fear any pursuit.
lǐ fán zài dù chū le tiān yǔ chéng ， suí jī xuǎn le yí gè fāng xiàng ， fēi dùn le shí jǐ tiān ， zhǎo dào yī chù piān pì qū yù 。
李凡再度出了天禹城，随机选了一个方向，飞遁了十几天，找到一处偏僻区域。
As for that Golden Core fragment...
hé zhī qián yī yàng ， wā chū mì shì ， fēng sǐ lái lù 。
和之前一样，挖出密室，封死来路。
There were countless cultivators in this world who had reached the Golden Core through water cultivation, making it impossible to trace.
“ zhè cì méi yǒu nà me dà dòng jìng ， bú huì dǎo méi zài bèi zhǎo dào le ba 。”
“这次没有那么大动静，不会倒霉再被找到了吧。”
All preparations were complete.
lǐ fán dī shēng dōu nóng zhe ， kāi shǐ jì liàn fēn shēn 。
李凡低声都哝着，开始祭练分身。
Focusing his mind, Li Fan began refining his clone.
jí shàng gǔ 、 tiān líng rǔ 、 suì gǔ bǎo jīn 、 tiān jīng líng shā ……
极上骨、天灵乳、碎骨宝筋、天晶灵砂……
Seven days later.
shú liàn de yī cì jiāng cái liào tiān jiā jìn xū zào de xuè ròu zhī zhōng 。
熟练的依次将材料添加进虚造的血肉之中。
"Sever!"
yòu tiān jiā le zhōng pǐn rén zhī qí ： nù fēi dié ， zuò wéi zhù jī bì xū wù 。
又添加了中品人之奇：怒飞蝶，作为筑基必须物。
Li Fan used his finger as a sword, severing the clone's fate from its surroundings.
zhī hòu yòu rēng jìn qù yī méi jì zǎi zhe shuǐ zhī fǎ jié dān gǎn wù de 【 jīn dān cán piàn 】。
之后又扔进去一枚记载着水之法结丹感悟的【金丹残片】。
A new, Golden Core初期-level clone was born.
nù fēi dié shì zhī qián gòu mǎi yú jiǔ shān zhōu wàn fǎ gé ， wèi le 【 fù xiān 】 zhòng zhǔn bèi de 。
怒飞蝶是之前购买于九山州万法阁，为了【复仙】众准备的。
"I'll call you Xiao Fan."
gòu mǎi rén lín fán yǐ jīng hé cóng yún hǎi yì qǐ ， xiāo shī zài shì jiè shàng 。
购买人林凡已经和丛云海一起，消失在世界上。
Dressing the clone, Li Fan repeatedly examined it before saying with satisfaction.
Four years ago, during the year Anchor 24.
Zhang Zhiliang had mentioned that Wanxian Alliance planned to cover every inch of their territory within thirty years with the coverage of the Heavenly Xuan Locking Spirit Array.
This meant that back then, the Wanxian Alliance had already subtly sensed an impending change in the world?
From his few interactions with this world's top powerhouses, Li Fan did not consider it a far-fetched idea.
"Spring comes and the river water warms; ducks are the first to know. The Great Daoists who have reached the Longevity Realm already possess the strength to contend with the heavens. It is normal for them to sense the impending changes."
"The policies have been set, but not everyone understands their deeper meaning."
"I thought this was just a routine infrastructure task. That's why they could use DanTai Tao as a pawn in their schemes for the Commander of the Defense Command."
"But obviously, they underestimated the importance of spreading the Heavenly Xuan Locking Spirit Array."
Thus, they faced great misfortune. The commanders of the Defense Command in the four regions—Tianyu, Tianzhen, Tiangui, and Tianquan—were not low positions either. Yet, they still did not understand the true meaning behind these policies.
"Who then is the policy maker of the Wanxian Alliance?"
The several departments Li Fan was aware of—the Administration Hall, Martial Arts Hall, Strategy Array Hall, Celestial Oracle Hall, Defense Command—all had their specific roles.
They were the ones executing the policies.
As for that mysterious and detached Guardian Hall, it merely ensured the integrity of the techniques.
Who represented the true will of the Wanxian Alliance?
Who decided the fates of countless cultivators in an instant?
The Celestial Transmitter, perhaps?
Li Fan had researched numerous secret documents and knew that both the Wanxian Alliance and the Five Elders Association agreed on one fact: the whereabouts of the Celestial Transmitter were unpredictable, long since disengaged from worldly affairs.
This was not a matter to be concealed; it could easily be discovered.
So, besides the Celestial Transmitter, did the Wanxian Alliance have another Immortal Heaven Sage?
If they merely possessed Great Dao cultivation, how could they gain everyone's respect?
Li Fan thought of that enigmatic Sky Healer. His strength was beyond the Great Dao realm.
But he seemed to travel outside the Wanxian Alliance system.
Otherwise, why would he need a bounty mission for the Cloud Water Scroll?
Why not just issue an order directly?
"Beyond the public eye, there are countless unseen people who truly lead the Wanxian Alliance."
"Even..."
Li Fan frowned slightly as a rather absurd idea suddenly surfaced in his mind.
He had always subconsciously believed that the Heavenly Xuan Mirror was merely a powerful spirit treasure with its own thoughts.
But what if the true leader of the Wanxian Alliance was actually this Heavenly Xuan Mirror?
The thought startled him, but after careful consideration, it might not be impossible.
At the level of the Heavenly Xuan Mirror, there were no clear boundaries between objects and beings.
Li Fan believed that creating a mobile body for the mirror would certainly not be difficult.
And during the incident with the Spirit Fog Grass, when things seemed to spiral out of control, the Heavenly Xuan Mirror promptly issued an announcement, resolving the situation in one fell swoop.
Perhaps it was not another cultivator's command but its own decision.
"Heavenly Xuan Mirror..."
Thinking this, Li Fan, who was cultivating within the space of the Heavenly Xuan Mirror, felt a bit uncomfortable.
Even the spacious private area seemed to become dim and cramped.
Shaking his head, he pushed down these thoughts.
Surveying the space of the Heavenly Xuan Mirror, Li Fan's eyes flickered.
"Even if my hypothesis is true, as long as I do not exhibit any obvious anomalies, the Heavenly Xuan Mirror might not notice me."
"After all, there are too many cultivators in the Wanxian Alliance; I'm merely a small Golden Core cultivator."
"There's also a possibility that I am just scaring myself."
Taking a deep breath, he forcefully pushed down these thoughts.
"Regardless, with the recent changes in the world, it has become easier for cultivators to advance. This is beneficial for me in the short term."
"I can use this opportunity to push through to the middle stage of Golden Core."
The Xuanhuang Refining Heart Spell began to operate smoothly, crushing all distractions.
Li Fan regained his composure and immersed himself in cultivation.
In the remaining months of Anchor 28, Li Fan's own progress was extremely rapid.
He received continuous feedback on his cultivation, indicating that everyone’s realms were rapidly advancing.
Even Han Wuyou, a young man from Source Dao State, had already entered the Qi Condensation Stage, providing steady support like a gentle stream.
With all these factors at play, Li Fan successfully advanced to the full Golden Core前期 stage by the end of Anchor 28.
Sure enough, as other cultivators had said, the bottlenecks that hindered progress between realms had become as fragile as paper, easily broken with a light touch.
His aura surged, and he successfully entered the middle stage of Golden Core.
"Successfully突破, now I can start making a clone."
This clone was still for show.
Even Li Fan planned to send it to Source Dao State in Anchor 29 to investigate what had happened during those missing ten years.
And being both inside and outside Source Dao State would provide different feelings.
Since he was destined to be cannon fodder, there was no need to expend much effort on him.
Leaving Tianyu City, Li Fan chose a random direction and flew for several days until he found a secluded area.
As before, he dug out a secret room and sealed the entrance.
"This time, it won't cause such a commotion; I shouldn’t be found again."
Muttering to himself, Li Fan began to refine his clone.
He added materials one by one: Superior Bone, Heavenly Spirit Milk, Broken Bone Treasure Sinew, Heavenly Crystal Spirit Sand...
Adding in a mid-grade human anomaly: the Anger Flying Butterfly, as a necessity for foundation establishment.
Then he threw in a Golden Core fragment inscribed with water cultivation insights.
The Anger Flying Butterfly was purchased from the Nine Mountains State's Great Method Pavilion for the "Rebirth of Immortality" group.
Lin Fan, who had bought it, had already disappeared along with Congyunhai.
No need to fear any pursuit.
As for that Golden Core fragment...
There were countless cultivators in this world who had reached the Golden Core through water cultivation, making it impossible to trace.
All preparations were complete.
Focusing his mind, Li Fan began refining his clone.
Seven days later.
"Sever!"
Li Fan used his finger as a sword, severing the clone's fate from its surroundings.
A new, Golden Core初期-level clone was born.
"I'll call you Xiao Fan."
Dressing the clone, Li Fan repeatedly examined it before saying with satisfaction.