“Could such a thing really happen? Are you trying to fool me because I don’t understand?” Li Fan still looked unconvinced, unwilling to let the matter go.
After the shopkeeper explained repeatedly and bystanders chimed in to confirm, he finally, though reluctantly, accepted the explanation.
“So, you’re telling me that the Heavenly Spirit Flower, once the most stunning bloom in the entire Xuanhuang Realm, has now completely disappeared?”
Li Fan looked dazed and filled with regret, muttering, “Had I known this would happen, I would have done anything to come and witness its beauty a few years ago!”
“I heard that the Heavenly Spirit Flower’s petals bloom in different shapes. When it fully blossoms, each petal reveals a unique vision—some depict vast green mountains, some show surging rivers, while others resemble snow falling from the heavens. A single flower encompasses all the wonders of the world, embodying the essence of heaven and earth, an unparalleled beauty…”
Li Fan’s words instantly stirred memories among the cultivators present.
Most of them were native to the Tianling Prefecture and had once seen the breathtaking elegance of the Heavenly Spirit Flower. As they began reminiscing, sharing their own accounts one after another, the atmosphere grew wistful.
The unattainable is always the most beautiful.
The more they thought about it, the more they felt it was a great loss. Many cultivators sighed and shook their heads in lament.
“I hereby offer a reward—anyone who can grant me the opportunity to see the original Heavenly Spirit Flower in person will receive a Longevity Pill capable of extending one’s lifespan by three hundred years!”
With that, he openly displayed a pill in the palm of his hand, allowing everyone to see.
The moment his words spread, an uproar followed. When they laid eyes on the pill in his hand, many felt an irresistible pull from within their souls.
A treasure that could extend life by three centuries was already incredibly rare. Yet, this man was willing to exchange it merely for a chance to gaze upon the Heavenly Spirit Flower!
“You are truly a man of passion, my friend! I respect that! Rest assured, I have a friend who once specialized in cultivating Heavenly Spirit Flowers—perhaps he still has a preserved specimen.”
“I’ll ask around as well!”
…
The crowd instantly became lively.
Even the florist’s eyes flickered with interest as he picked up a communication talisman to make some inquiries.
Li Fan, however, simply stood tall in the middle of the gathering, quietly waiting.
As expected, the result was just as he had anticipated.
After half a day, expressions of deep regret appeared on everyone’s faces. Word had spread throughout Tianling City, yet no one had been able to produce an intact Heavenly Spirit Flower.
Li Fan let out a long sigh, his disappointment palpable.
“If I cannot fulfill this wish, I shall never rest in peace!”
“My offer remains indefinitely. I kindly ask everyone to keep an ear out for me!” He cupped his hands toward the crowd before departing with a melancholic air.
Though this matter seemed insignificant on the surface, in the quiet and desolate Tianling City—still recovering from the great war—it became a rare and intriguing topic.
As people discussed it, the previously overlooked news of the “extinction of the original Heavenly Spirit Flower” began to spread.
After all, the number of cultivators who had seen or heard of the legendary flower was not small.
And as this story continued circulating, their memories of the Heavenly Spirit Flower resurfaced from the depths of their minds.
“Ah, it really is a pity.”
“Such a rare treasure, and I never got to see it myself? Once missed, it is gone forever!”
More and more cultivators found themselves lost in similar thoughts, unable to shake off their lingering regret.
The mastermind behind all this, Li Fan, was watching discussions about the Heavenly Spirit Flower increasing across various regions through the Tianxuan Mirror. Satisfied, he nodded.
“Next, I need to let the emotions ferment for a while. The ordinary cultivators have already set a good precedent. With the disciples of the Medicine King Sect adding fuel to the fire, there shouldn’t be much of a problem.”
“However, if I truly want to inflate the value of the Heavenly Spirit Flower, it will still depend on the real aristocrats of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance.”
A sharp gleam flashed in Li Fan’s eyes as he took out the communication talisman left to him by Shuo Feng.
“Brother Shuo, how have you been lately?”
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Li Fan got straight to the point: “I have a matter that I need to trouble you with.”
“The Heavenly Spirit Flower…”
After sending his message, Li Fan quietly waited for a response.
Before long, Shuo Feng replied, “The Heavenly Spirit Flower? I think I’ve heard of it before. No big deal, I’ll ask around for you.”
Li Fan smiled slightly. “Then, I’ll thank you in advance, Brother Shuo!”
On Shuo Feng’s side, there was silence for the time being.
“Now, all I need to do is wait for the flower to bloom.”
Instead of rushing back to Longevity Valley, Li Fan browsed through the past two years’ worth of events in the Xuanhuang Realm using the Tianxuan Mirror, reviewing everything in detail.
Being well-versed in the course of history, Li Fan was naturally able to detect traces of hidden and unusual changes from the smallest clues.
For example, something he had been particularly concerned about—the information regarding the ruins of the Chaoyuan Sect in Jiushan Prefecture—had completely vanished overnight. It was as if the flying abode that once soared into the sky, attracting cultivators to explore it, had never existed. All that remained were sparse records about the ancient Chaoyuan Sect.
Another example was the mysterious drafting of cultivators from martial academies across various regions. No one knew where they were being sent. This sudden vacancy in positions had even sparked competition and unrest.
…
Li Fan carefully committed these clues to memory.
“I still need to resolve the issue of authority. The amount of information I can gather as an unranked individual is too limited. There are too many restrictions.”
After half a day, Li Fan temporarily stopped his search.
After some thought, he sent another message to Shuo Feng:
“Brother Shuo, I recently comprehended a new divine ability. Thinking back to our past sparring sessions, I can’t help but feel a little eager. Do you have time for another duel?”
This time, Shuo Feng replied swiftly.
“Oh? What’s this? After more than two years, you think you can beat me now? I forgot to mention, I’ve already broken through to the Golden Core stage. Even if you go all out with your Nascent Soul cultivation, I’m afraid you might not win.”
“There’s no need for words—let’s test it in battle,” Li Fan replied bluntly.
His response immediately ignited Shuo Feng’s fighting spirit.
“Come here.” Shuo Feng sent him a location.
Li Fan glanced at it—it was in a mountain range on the outskirts of Tianquan City, in Tianquan Prefecture.
“Alright, I’ll be there soon. Please wait a moment, Brother Shuo.”
“No rush. I’ll be here for the next few days.” After Shuo Feng sent this message, there was no further response.
Li Fan then exited the Tianxuan Mirror and used a teleportation array to travel to Tianquan Prefecture.
Tianquan Prefecture was filled with the cave dwellings of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance’s aristocracy.
Naturally, the location Shuo Feng had chosen was one of them.
Soaring through the sky, Li Fan carefully avoided the defensive formations that enshrouded the area and headed straight for his destination.