Previously, the “Han Wuyou” who visited Sikong Yi was, of course, a clone of Li Fan.
After considerable effort—pretending to demand 40% of the contribution, helping resolve the cultivation technique issue for the fellow cultivator, and strategizing together to explore the Yunshui Celestial Palace—the ultimate goal was to implant a suggestion in his mind.
This suggestion was to prompt him, after completing the first task of the Heavenly Doctor, to voluntarily trigger the mission to transport the white jade statue.
Judging by Sikong Yi’s recent actions of shuttling back and forth to the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace, it appears that Li Fan’s scheme has succeeded.
In this life, he intends to push for a battle between Old Fisherman, Sage, and the Heavenly Doctor.
But all his plans have a major premise: someone needs to deliver the statue of the Heavenly Doctor into the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace.
Only then would the Sage sense the presence of the Heavenly Doctor within the palace and drive his ox cart across the sea.
Such a dangerous mission was certainly not something Li Fan would undertake personally.
The “Four Techniques of Observation, Listening, Inquiry, and Pulse-taking” of the Heavenly Doctor were truly terrifying.
The previous handover of the [Cloud Water Atlas] and gaining 100,000 contribution points made Sikong Yi the ideal candidate for the task.
However, Li Fan wasn’t certain if Sikong Yi had received the same request from the Heavenly Doctor to help transport the statue.
To ensure the plan proceeded as intended, the visit of “Han Wuyou” took place.
Even if Sikong Yi or the Heavenly Doctor suspected this mysterious Han Wuyou, Han Wuyou was already dead.
He died within the eerie Cloud Water Heavenly Palace.
Li Fan believed that even for the Heavenly Doctor, tracking this matter might not be straightforward.
Besides, in the eyes of the Heavenly Doctor, Sikong Yi would at most be a greedy cultivator, blinded by profit and eager to latch onto a powerful figure.
He might not even be inclined to investigate further.
Overall, Li Fan’s plan was flawless, leaving no trace and eliminating the possibility of being discovered.
It was a perfect scheme.
This was the result of multiple reincarnations, experiencing various possibilities, and mastering a wealth of information.
Others could not replicate it.
Even a strong figure like the Heavenly Doctor had unknowingly fallen into the invisible web Li Fan had woven.
Although the impact was minor, the very act of manipulating a expert even stronger than Dao Integration to act according to one’s own expectations was significant in itself.
The gloom in Li Fan’s heart was completely dispelled, and the long-standing shadow that had been weighing on him finally began to dissipate.
“No matter how powerful you are, you’re still under my control!”
Despite his excitement, Li Fan didn’t let this small victory go to his head.
He deeply understood that this minor success was built on the premise of collecting enough possibilities.
Moving forward, his advantage had been exhausted.
What he faced next were unknown variables, requiring him to tread cautiously and carefully.
“It’s better to abandon than to force.”
“The Heavenly Doctor is already in place. The next step is to inform Old Fisherman of the Heavenly Fiend Sword being trapped in the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace during the 16th year, when the Sage reappears in the world.”
“This, too, needs an agent.”
In an instant, Li Fan had thought of a suitable candidate.
“Han Yi…”
Sensing the locking force of the Formless Killing Intent, it had been more than a year since Han Yi had returned to the Xuanhuang Realm from the Sea Swirl.
It seems his adventures have yielded substantial gains this time.
“No worries, he won’t escape my grasp.”
Li Fan gazed for a moment at the towering Cloud Water Heavenly Palace in the sky, then collected his thoughts and quietly returned.
…
Shenhua Island.
Ye Feipeng had been feeling quite pleased recently.
The Immortal Master, who had brought them to this island and then ignored them for a long time, suddenly reappeared.
Moreover, he even checked the cultivation progress of the children on the island.
Those who cultivated diligently and made unexpected progress were rewarded with spirit stones and elixirs.
Those who were lazy or stagnant in their cultivation were punished by having to fight the “Evil Puppet” for three days and three nights.
Although it was called a fight, it was actually a one-sided beating.
The “Evil Puppet” was what the children privately called the puppet that looked dull and foolish.
Initially, they thought the puppet would be easy to handle.
After cultivating for a while, some children became eager to challenge it.
The first one to step forward was Sun Erlang, who was naturally talented and proficient in martial arts.
Within half a year, he had advanced from an ordinary person to the mid-stage of Qi Condensation.
Coupled with his martial prowess, he could exert double his combat power.
In their usual sparring sessions, almost no one on the island could last a single round against him.
Gradually, his confidence swelled, and in front of everyone, he was the first to challenge the Tianyang Puppet.
The result was predictable.
Tianyang, following Li Fan’s instructions, beat him senseless without causing fatal injuries or harming his cultivation foundation.
While being extremely precise in his attacks, he made Sun Erlang truly understand what it meant to be deceived and outmatched.
It seemed that Tianyang was just slightly stronger than Sun Erlang, and that with a little more effort, he could be defeated.
Tianyang continuously lured Sun Erlang into attacking again and again.
But every time, at the critical moment, Sun Erlang failed.
With a strong desire to win, Sun Erlang fought until he was exhausted and passed out before the fight ended.
The next day, after waking up, Sun Erlang had an epiphany.
He went into seclusion for seven days and nights, and actually broke through to the late stage of Qi Condensation.
Overjoyed, he decided to regain his dignity and challenged Tianyang again.
The result…
He still lost by just a little!
The children on the island all noticed something was off.
This seemingly honest and simple puppet was actually toying with them!
Angry, Sun Erlang fainted again from the beating.
In the following days, no matter what level of cultivation the children displayed in their fights against Tianyang, the puppet only used slightly superior strength.
Some children, unable to accept it, called Tianyang a big villain.
Others gradually realized that Tianyang was the perfect sparring partner.
They began seeking him out for continuous battles.
Ye Feipeng was naturally one of them.
In truth, fighting wasn’t his preference, but as the only one on the island practicing “Three Methods Simultaneously,” he couldn’t allow himself to be weaker than others.
Unfortunately, his talent wasn’t top-notch. Initially, he could rely on his dual cultivation of physical and spiritual powers to gain an advantage.
But as others’ realms gradually increased, Ye Feipeng’s performance in fights against Tianyang also lagged behind.
Just as he was becoming anxious, the Immortal Master appeared.
While being strict with rewards and punishments, he gave Ye Feipeng special attention.
After examining his cultivation progress and conducting a comprehensive check on his body, the Immortal Master concluded that the “Sea-Stabilizing Sword” he was practicing might not be suitable.
So, he removed his cultivation and taught him a new technique called the “Sea Dragon Wandering Technique.”