Thud! Thud! Thud!
It seemed that uttering the words "Heavenly Physician" had completely agitated the emotions of the contorted monster.
It smashed its head against the ground with immense force, again and again.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the hard, desolate earth from the impacts.
Simultaneously, broken, choked sobs spilled from its mouth, mingled with bloody tears.
Though the creature was hideous to behold, the sheer wretchedness of the scene stirred an inexplicable sense of pity within Li Fan.
Was this massacre truly the work of the Heavenly Physician?
Instantly, the image of that kindly, grandfatherly figure surfaced in Li Fan's mind. On the surface, he appeared benevolent, his smile warm. Yet his actual deeds were so horrifying.
A wave of revulsion washed over Li Fan.
He recalled the time in Cloudwater Palace when Qin Tang and the other disciples, upon seeing the statue of the Heavenly Physician, had all let out those grief-stricken, resentment-filled wails. It seemed the fall of Cloudwater Palace was definitely connected to the Heavenly Physician as well.
But where exactly is this place? And why did it become a spatial fragment, appearing within the White Mist Barrier?
Why would the Heavenly Physician carry out such indiscriminate slaughter of these cultivators?
And also...?
Li Fan slowly calmed the shock in his heart, watching the contorted monster that was still kowtowing.
It had survived the Heavenly Physician's vicious attack back then and lived alone in this Lost Domain for so long. The Great Five Elements Annihilation Sword that Li Fan was so proud of couldn't even scratch its hide. All signs pointed to its formidable strength.
Yet now, it was like a commoner suffering a grievous injustice, kowtowing and pleading its case before Li Fan, this "righteous official."
Having served as an official for many years, Li Fan was intimately familiar with such a scene.
Why was this happening?
It certainly couldn't be because Li Fan was stronger than this contorted monster.
Has it mistaken me for someone else?
That's it, it must be. As for why this contorted monster made the mistake...
In Li Fan's past simulation cycles, such a case of "mistaken identity" had also happened once before.
To test his theory, his Golden Core churned within. Li Fan summoned forth a single thread of Heaven-Scorning’s power, condensing it into a sword.
Sure enough, sensing that faintly familiar aura, the contorted monster grew even more agitated. Its wails grew louder, and it seemed intent on pounding a hole straight through the ground.
The Heaven-Scorning Sword. Old Man Fisher.
Li Fan watched the monster kneeling before him, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
The reason it pleads with me like this is solely because it senses Heaven-Scorning’s Law within my Great Five Elements Annihilation Sword, mistaking me for the master of the Heaven-Scorning Sword.
Even Old Man Fisher himself nearly made the same mistake. This monster has been trapped here for who knows how many years. Its mind is addled, and it now acts purely on instinct.
It’s perfectly normal that it mistook me for someone else.
It seems Old Man Fisher was likely a leader among the cultivators who perished in this Lost Domain. When the Heavenly Physician slaughtered everyone back then, he must have clashed with him.
The Heaven-Scorning Sword is broken and scattered; Old Man Fisher lost his memories and went mad. Perhaps this was also the Heavenly Physician's handiwork.
But soon, Li Fan felt something was amiss.
If this truly was the Heavenly Physician's doing, then having lived this much longer, his current power must be far greater than it was at the time of the massacre.
He couldn't possibly be unaware of Old Man Fisher's existence.
Why not eradicate the root of the problem, instead of allowing Old Man Fisher to live all this time?
Or was it truly as Li Fan had previously guessed—that Old Man Fisher had already become an Oddity, something that simply could not be eliminated?
Heavenly Physician...
Li Fan narrowed his eyes.
He was not a magnanimous man. In the past, the Heavenly Physician had used the arts of observation, listening, inquiry, and palpation to detect the existence of his true self.
He had then directly bypassed the protection of the Tianxuan Mirror, intending to capture Li Fan alive.
The terror Li Fan had felt in that moment was something he had never been able to forget.
It was just that the disparity in strength between him and the Heavenly Physician was currently far too vast, forcing him to bury any thoughts of revenge deep within his heart.
Now, having discovered that Old Man Fisher and the Heavenly Physician might be mortal enemies, Li Fan felt a stirring of ambition.
Next lifetime, perhaps I can cause some trouble for him.
If Old Man Fisher recovers the Heaven-Scorning Sword and happens to come knocking right when the Heavenly Physician and Fuzi are locked in battle...
Li Fan's gaze flickered. Drawing upon the experiences of several lifetimes, a rough plan took shape in his mind in an instant.
He gave a cold laugh, temporarily setting the thought aside, and turned his attention back to the contorted monster before him.
The Black Death Talisman can last another day. Perhaps my hope of escape lies with it.
Withdrawing Heaven-Scorning’s power, Li Fan attempted to soothe the creature and communicate with it.
Through his words, he conveyed that he had been deceived and trapped here by the Heavenly Physician, that he was searching for an exit to seek vengeance upon him in the world outside.