Chapter 1657: 1384: High Wall Welcomes Numerous Guests_2

Chapter 1657: Chapter 1384: High Wall Welcomes Numerous Guests_2

Sure, here is the translated text:

The sun rises and the moon sets; the scars of the epochal battle have gradually been worn away by time.

Occasionally, mortals passing by feel an unparalleled sense of peace.

Thus, some chose to settle here, and a small mortal town emerged.

Around this mystical tree, ten generations have thrived. Their dispositions are extraordinarily serene. Though their lives were ordinary, they lived contentedly, finding happiness in simplicity. Even when faced with hardship, a smile was all it took to carry on.

It wasn’t until the eleventh generation that one individual, seeking a livelihood, decided to become a storytelling master. In need of a fine wood slab for his performance, he chopped a segment from the tree in his backyard.

…

As thoughts surged, the first thing Li Fan did was begin digging around the base of the tree.

After realizing the Divine Sense search proved futile, Li Fan had no choice but to rely on manual investigation.

Soon enough, he found the mechanical figure discarded hundreds of years ago by that mysterious man.

Buried beneath layers of dust and soil, it was pulled out once more—and yet, it remained pristine.

Not a trace of time seemed to have marred it.

However, the third eye of the mechanical figure was inexplicably shut.

No matter how Li Fan attempted to activate it, there was no response.

Toying with the mechanical artifact, a faint familiarity stirred within him.

“Luo Fanchen…”

Li Fan’s heart grew heavy.

After a moment of contemplation, Li Fan made a decision.

He took out the white circle [Luo Fanchen] and directed it at the mechanical figure.

Luo Fanchen is the physical manifestation of the [Innate] Laws of Taoist essence.

For the past decade, Li Fan had carried the white circle, reflecting on the images that appeared on the Wordless Monument in his past life.

Attempting to comprehend the Tao encapsulated within.

But to his frustration, no matter how much he meditated, he couldn’t form his own understanding, as he had with other True Immortal Seal Characters.

It was as though…

The [Innate] principles had already unified into one entity—a realm beyond anyone’s grasp.

Li Fan ultimately didn’t demand success. After all, [Hai Zhen] was bound to the white circle, Luo Fanchen, allowing it to be invoked freely; the difference compared to true comprehension wasn’t too substantial.

At that moment, the white circle’s luminous beam locked onto the mechanical figure.

Enveloped in the white light, the figure—expected to disintegrate into void—remained intact!

It wasn’t that the figure’s rank surpassed that of Luo Fanchen.

Rather, the light emitted by the white circle changed to green upon sensing the mechanical figure.

The shift spared the figure from destruction.

Under the light’s stir, the long-dormant mechanical figure awoke, floated to rest on Li Fan’s palm, and opened its third eye.

It seemed to be searching for something, ceaselessly shifting.

But for some unknown reason, its rotations grew increasingly rapid.

As though losing control, it spun wildly, transforming into a whirling top.

“Is this… broken?”

Li Fan frowned slightly.

He refrained from intervening, allowing the figure to continue spinning.

Soon, Li Fan shifted his gaze to the verdant tree in the courtyard.

“A century ago, the figure pointed to this tree because it had absorbed a layer of material, including an infant’s outer skin.”

“That substance likely held the power of enlightenment and awakening.”

“But over time, especially after I absorbed it, its effect has diminished to almost nothing, prompting the figure to redirect itself elsewhere.”

“Still, even in its weakened state, it benefits me greatly—imagine its potency at its origin.”

Li Fan’s eyes shone as his thoughts deepened: “The white circle, Luo Fanchen, can resonate with the mechanical figure—it proves they share a common source.”

“Which indicates… my theory from the past life was indeed correct. That entity suppressed deep within the Dark Prison truly came from beyond the High Walls.”

Li Fan’s expression became somber.

Yes, the man’s silhouette that surfaced in the tree’s memory was the skeletal figure Li Fan had encountered in the deepest depths of the Dark Prison in his past life.

A cultivator who called himself Qin Zhuang!

“I used Soul Search but missed this particular memory entirely.”

“Clearly, he masked it with a Secret Technique—what a masterful move!”

Li Fan silently praised, feeling not anger over being deceived but rather a trace of exhilaration.

“He thinks his work flawless, but he fails to realize—wherever a mortal treads, traces remain.”

“While ordinarily such traces are hard to find, before the egalitarian Universal Illusion Array of the Xuanhuang Living Beings, they inevitably surface!”

Li Fan revisited the tree’s memory—the infant crawling out of the sphere.

“Qin Zhuang… Let’s refer to him as such for now.”

“He came within the High Walls seeking the infant’s whereabouts.”

“So, could the infant also originate from beyond the High Walls?”

“Qin Zhuang is connected to the Heavenly Sword Sect—might the infant be one of them?”

In a flash, countless speculations flooded Li Fan’s Spirit Consciousness.

In this life, the Immortal Alliance Hell had been enveloped by the Universal Illusion Array of the Xuanhuang Living Beings. Qin Zhuang could not avoid falling within the array’s grasp.

However, much like the results from his previous attempt at probing, Qin Zhuang would likely reveal no weak points.

“Twice in a row, nothing…”

“It appears that beyond the High Walls, methods to counter the array are already widely known.”

After contemplating briefly, Li Fan decided against apprehending and interrogating Qin Zhuang.

“If even an Immortal Array can be bypassed, other physical punishments would be equally futile.”

“I need to upgrade to far more specialized techniques—perhaps once I achieve Unity-Path, new options will emerge.”

…

Recollecting himself, Li Fan turned his attention once more to the still-spinning mechanical figure.

It showed no signs of halting.

Li Fan mused, observing it carefully.

“At first glance, it appears to be rotating, but each spin is accompanied by varying intervals.”

“Its movements resemble…”

“Simultaneously locating numerous targets, scattered across various regions of the Xuanhuang World.”

Li Fan arrived at an astonishing conclusion.

“Wait a moment, could it be…”

Suddenly, a spark of realization flashed through Li Fan’s Spirit Consciousness.

To confirm his suspicion, Li Fan carried the mechanical figure and started heading toward a specific location.

As he approached, sure enough, the frequency at which the figure aligned with Li Fan’s path increased.

Eventually, Li Fan reached his destination.

Looking at the now-still figure, a meaningful smile crossed Li Fan’s lips.