An Immortal?

Senior Li's cat wasn't a cat, but a tiger?

A White Tiger?

"Indeed, it's a White Tiger, and its bloodline is exceptionally strong... It's incredibly rare throughout the entire Profound Heaven Realm!"

Huo Ling'er spoke with certainty. Although she didn't dare use the Eye of Blazing Fire, her eyesight was still remarkable.

"...Also, the wood this senior uses to stoke the fire... seems to be... Mystic Fire Wood." Her expression was deeply conflicted.

Mystic Fire Wood was an extremely precious resource, even to the Fire Kingdom Royal Family!

Mystic Fire Wood was an excellent material for refining weapons, and the flames it produced were something fire cultivators could only dream of obtaining.

Yet here, this senior was using it merely to cook food for his pet...

What kind of being was he...?

As she thought this, she suddenly blinked rapidly. More tears spilled from her eyes. She had rashly tried to observe this senior's Small Courtyard just now, and the aftereffects were far too strong.

She had no idea how long she would keep crying.

At this, the others were even more shaken.

He kept a White Tiger with a rare bloodline as a cat?

He burned Mystic Fire Wood to cook food for his pet?

There was probably no one else in this world with such means besides Senior Li!

Still, Yu Qishui felt somewhat relieved. He knew that in Senior Li's Small Courtyard, there probably wasn't a single living being who was ordinary...

Li Fan hadn't paid any attention to them. He calmly put out the firewood and set a bowl of cooked cat food aside to cool.

Carrots stewed with meat—the meat came from game he'd hunted on the mountain, and he'd grown the carrots himself... Li Fan was quite satisfied.

"It's a bit hot. Let it cool before you eat."

Holding the cat in one hand, Li Fan lifted the bowl with the other and blew on it. Only when the food had cooled to a comfortable temperature did he let Little White start eating.

Bai Xiaoqing had been holding back for ages. She immediately began devouring the food!

Mrow! It was so delicious! What kind of heavenly food was this...?

Watching Little White enjoy her meal, Li Fan smiled, then got up and turned to look at the group.

Why was that beautiful girl still teary-eyed...?

Last time, Mu Qianning and the others had come looking for a gemstone, but he'd turned them down. Had they come now to ask for something similar?

Yu Qishui had already risen to his feet. Looking uneasy and nervous, he said, "Senior Li, this is Miss Huo Ling'er. She came to visit you because she wanted to tell you something..."

Something?

Li Fan felt a pang of annoyance. He didn't want to get too involved with these cultivators.

Besides, they seemed to have an obsession with gemstones. Whatever they wanted to tell him was probably about one of those things.

These cultivators were so vulgar, weren't they?

He shook his head. "There's no need to tell me."

No need?

Everyone stared at him in astonishment.

"All things are but illusions."

Li Fan said, "If you're bewitched by things that are empty and unreal, you'll sink into them and lose yourself. Only by seeing through the blossoms in the air and the bubbles in the water can you attain true freedom."

It was a word of advice from him.

After spending years cultivating his mind and body in the Small Mountain Village, he truly felt little attachment to worldly possessions. Each day, raising his cat and painting a little was already a rare kind of peace.

But upon hearing this, Yu Qishui and the others all wore expressions of sudden enlightenment!

"I understand now! Senior Li already knew that the Evil God was going to descend!"

"Even the Evil God's descent is nothing but an illusion in Senior Li's eyes. He doesn't take it seriously at all!"

"Could it be that even the Evil God isn't worthy of joining the game Senior Li is playing?"

They were all stunned.

Huo Ling'er's beautiful eyes widened, too.

He didn't even take the Evil God seriously? Could it be... that this senior had touched the path of immortality?

If this had happened before, she would never have believed it!

But now, she was completely awed.

Could the person standing before her really be an Immortal?

That would be terrifying.

It couldn't be true!

She forced herself to believe otherwise.

In the Profound Heaven Realm, the most recent person to become an immortal was Supreme Beichen, a thousand years ago.

Those who became immortals had almost all ascended.

Who would stay in the Profound Heaven Realm? It was impossible!

Just then, Li Fan saw that Huo Ling'er was still teary-eyed. Unable to bear it, he took out a handkerchief and offered it to her. "Wipe your eyes."

Huo Ling'er froze.

She looked at Li Fan, and for a moment, met his eyes. She could clearly feel that this senior's gaze was as vast as the ocean, yet gentle; as deep as the starry sky, yet merciful...

But she hurriedly lowered her head, took Li Fan's handkerchief, and said, "Thank you, Senior."

She gently wiped her eyes.

Hm?

The next moment, she froze completely.

In an instant, the aftereffects of peering into Li Fan's courtyard vanished.

What's more, her eyes felt warm.

It was incredibly soothing!

Deep in her eyes, the two faint red flames suddenly blazed brighter and turned orange!

"From the Eye of Blazing Fire to the Eye of Mystic Fire..."

"In just a moment?"

She was utterly astonished.

She knew that this eye art was a closely guarded secret of the Fire Kingdom Royal Family. It was extraordinary, but incredibly difficult to master.

Even her own father, the ruler of the entire Fire Kingdom, had only cultivated the Eye of Mystic Fire!

Yet in that single instant, she had made the leap... and reached the very peak of the Eye of Mystic Fire?

She instinctively glanced at the handkerchief in her hands.

Good heavens, what kind of treasure was this?

This senior was incredible! He used such a treasure as nothing more than a handkerchief?

If her father knew about it, he would probably be willing to trade the entire Fire Kingdom for it!

Though compared to a senior like this, the Fire Kingdom was probably no more significant than a blade of grass by the roadside.

She rose and took a deep breath. "Thank you, Senior!"

Then she held the handkerchief out to Li Fan with both hands, respectfully.

Li Fan casually took it back. "No need to thank me."

At that moment, a bold thought flashed through Huo Ling'er's mind.

What an extraordinary opportunity it would be to stay by this senior's side!

In this life, she would surely have a chance to reach the Great Ascension stage. Perhaps she could even explore the Integration Realm...

Thinking of the great vengeance for her mother, and of how her enemies were still living arrogantly among her clan... hatred welled up in her heart!

For revenge, and for her future!

Summoning her courage, she gritted her teeth and said, "Senior Li... Ling'er would like to take you as her master. Is... is that all right?"

She was so nervous she could hardly bear it.

Yu Qishui and the others were all a little stunned.

The Fire Kingdom's Princess was asking him to take her as his disciple outright?

But when they thought about it, it made sense. What did the Fire Kingdom matter when faced with someone like Senior Li?

Li Fan's brow furrowed slightly.

Take her as his disciple?

This girl really wouldn't give up until she hit a dead end.

Wasn't asking to be his disciple just an excuse to stay by his side and get him to find gemstones for her?

"I can't give you what you want."

"Please leave."

Li Fan showed her the door!

Huo Ling'er's face changed at once!

Everyone's faces changed at once!

They had all heard the anger in Li Fan's words!