“Hurry and devour this Eternal Remnant, then Truth, run!”
“To be placed in the center of the Museum of Divine Treasures, this skull must be extraordinary. Quickly devour its remnant, you will surely uncover the secrets it holds!”
“Act quickly!”
“Take it and leave, no one can stop you!”
…
Amidst Truth’s increasingly urgent urging, thoughts arose one after another, surging within Li Fan’s mind. They whispered in his ear, constantly tempting him.
For a moment, Li Fan was truly on the verge of succumbing, about to act. But ultimately, with immense willpower, he forcibly suppressed this urge.
He recalled the scene when he absorbed Tian Yang Zhenren’s Eternal Remnant. First, he felt the surrounding space becoming somewhat illusory. Then, Tian Yang’s skeletal remains were decomposed into a brilliant white light, gradually absorbed by him. His mind was jolted violently, and he lost consciousness. After seemingly experiencing Tian Yang’s long life firsthand, Truth’s prompt finally arrived. Finally, the Eternal Remnant was fully absorbed.
Based on his experiences, Li Fan quickly made his judgment. Absorbing an Eternal Remnant would cause a considerable commotion. Not only would it result in the disappearance of the remnant’s host, but the white light representing the Eternal Remnant would also precisely mark Li Fan, the culprit, as the one who absorbed it.
The absorption of an Eternal Remnant was not instantaneous, but required a certain amount of time. Moreover, during this process, he might temporarily lose consciousness due to the impact of the remnant’s owner’s lingering imprint.
Realizing these points, Li Fan made a swift decision. He couldn’t absorb this skull’s Eternal Remnant! If he recklessly attempted to absorb it, it would be tantamount to seeking death! Don’t let the empty space around the skull fool you, making it seem completely undefended.
But where was this place? The headquarters of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, the Museum of Divine Treasures, where countless treasures were collected. The most central area of the Museum. Could there be no hidden defenses here? That was simply ludicrous. Li Fan was certain that if he were swayed by greed and foolishly absorbed the Eternal Remnant, the next moment he would be caught in a web of countless traps and restrictions, and then apprehended for study.
Perhaps, there was a slim possibility that this skull was truly unguarded. But… Li Fan wouldn’t gamble. Because if he failed, it would mean eternal ruin. And this Eternal Remnant, according to Truth’s previous hints, could be repeatedly used after each restart, once Li Fan found its carrier again. Its essence was no different from the Dao Transformation Stone in Yi Xing’s tomb, both were repeatable items. What completely dispelled Li Fan’s thoughts of absorption was that the Eternal Remnant couldn’t be bound to Truth. After acquiring it, Truth couldn’t bring it back. Taking such a high risk would inevitably be a futile endeavor.
…
After analyzing the known information, Li Fan should have completely abandoned the idea of absorbing this Eternal Remnant with a rational assessment. But its allure to Truth was so strong. The high walls of reason were simply no match for it. The Xuanhuang Heart Refinement Mantra spun frantically, Li Fan desperately suppressing the surging desire. So, he requested that Guide Bing Yin take him to rest, away from the skull. Bing Yin nodded in understanding, even kindly offering to support Li Fan. To disguise his abnormality and distract himself, Li Fan took the initiative to start a conversation: “Senior Bing Yin, you mentioned earlier that this skull was specifically placed in the central location by the curator of the Museum?”
“Yes, it’s quite strange. There are countless treasures in the Museum, but it’s unknown why the Curator favors this one so much,” Bing Yin replied.
“It seems that the Curator might be able to sense the remnant contained within it,” Li Fan mused. He casually asked, “I wonder which senior from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance is the Curator? I don’t seem to have heard of them before.” Bing Yin smiled, “It’s normal that you don’t know. The Curator is a reclusive figure, always keeping a low profile. Even us Guides find it difficult to meet him.” “But if we were to rank by seniority, I doubt there are many in the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance who would dare say they are above the Curator.” Bing Yin said with a hint of pride.
“Oh?” Li Fan couldn’t help but be curious.
Bing Yin lowered his voice, “The Curator has been in existence since the distant ancient times, when the human race was not yet flourishing. That was a long time ago, before the rise of all things.” “Almost everything in the world is within his purview. He is considered to be omniscient and omnipresent.” Bing Yin’s admiration was evident.
Li Fan found the other’s words familiar. “He is a symbol of longevity and wisdom. We revere him as Emperor San, the Immortal Sage.” Bing Yin said slowly.
Li Fan’s expression shifted slightly, he thought to himself, “Emperor San…貘 (貘, Mo, a mythical beast)?”
Bing Yin, however, didn’t notice Li Fan’s change, continuing to extol the virtues of the old Curator, how learned and wise he was. After they arrived at the rest room, he was still somewhat reluctant to stop. But seeing Li Fan’s poor physical condition, he wisely refrained. “Rest assured and relax here.”
“The Museum of Divine Treasures is vast, you won’t be able to see it all in a short time.” “This is a dedicated resting place for visitors, don’t worry about being disturbed.” Bing Yin gave his instructions and, seeing Li Fan gradually recover, left behind the control jade token and departed.
Li Fan manipulated the jade token, activating the restriction to completely seal the rest room. Deep within the secret chamber, the strange skull also disappeared from his perception, his trembling body finally calming down. It felt like the aftermath of a great battle, Li Fan felt his body drained.
His already aging body was now even worse. “Eternal Remnant…” Li Fan, now calm, pondered the reason behind Truth’s unusual behavior. Humans feel hungry because they need to eat to replenish the energy necessary for survival. But Truth actually had a desire to eat. This could only mean that something useful to Truth could be obtained from the Eternal Remnant.
Let’s set aside the skull in the Museum of Divine Treasures for now. What in Tian Yang Zhenren’s remnant would Truth need?
“Special: Eternal Remnant (Tian Yang) (Usable times: 1)”
Li Fan looked at the information on Truth’s panel and made a decision. He took out materials from his storage ring and set up a ritual to enter the Fallen Immortal Realm, using it as a diversion. Then, Li Fan consumed the last use of the Eternal Remnant, activating Truth’s mimicry function. After a bout of dizziness, a voice rang in Li Fan’s ears: “Tian Yang, it’s time for your medicine…” The voice of his master, Guang yangzi, echoed in Li Fan’s ears.