Daoist Baihua was momentarily speechless. After pausing to think carefully, she said:
"If Dao Integration cultivators like us live among mortals for a long time, even without directly being exposed to immortal miasma, merely being infected by its residual breath is enough to pose the danger of falling in realm, isn't it?"
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, glanced at the mortals below, and nodded.
"That's right. Because of this, immortal cultivators of the Xuanhuang Realm usually live separately from mortals."
Daoist Baihua frowned slightly and continued:
"The mission target is in this city? Although it isn't large, there are probably more than a hundred thousand mortals here. I didn't detect any cultivator aura either. Searching one by one would be troublesome. In my opinion, it would be better to act directly—wipe out the city and force the other party to reveal themselves!"
Having witnessed Li Fan's previous methods, Daoist Baihua now spoke with obvious enthusiasm.
Her so-called "action" was naturally an indiscriminate large-scale attack, erasing the mortal city of Weidu entirely.
The final survivor would be the Tianxuan Mirror clone.
As for the lives of the hundred thousand mortals in the city—
they had never truly mattered in the eyes of immortal cultivators.
Especially outside the Xuanhuang Realm, where immortal miasma was absent, mortals were no different from ants. Killing them carried no psychological burden at all.
Thus, despite her outwardly refined demeanor, Daoist Baihua spoke these bloody words with alarming casualness.
However, Li Fan did not agree.
He chuckled softly and said:
"Daoist Baihua is truly brimming with killing intent. The so-called virtue of cherishing life belongs to the Soul Transformation realm—but we are merely searching for one person. Why add unnecessary slaughter?"
As soon as these words fell, Daoist Baihua straightened instinctively, a look of awe flashing across her face.
Lin Ling murmured quietly and glanced at Li Fan, but ultimately did not dare to question him.
In truth, it wasn't that Li Fan had suddenly become soft-hearted.
Rather, the small world he currently controlled still had a sparse population. Large-scale cultivation through the Common People's Spiritual Energy Method, as well as future explorations into the history of creation, required a sufficient population base.
Natural growth was far too slow.
Plundering a portion from the Xuanhuang Realm was a viable alternative.
As for how to find the Tianxuan Mirror clone among tens of thousands of mortals—
Li Fan's consciousness swept across Weidu City.
In an instant, the appearances and movements of every mortal—men, women, old and young—were reflected simultaneously in his sea of consciousness.
The blue light of the Fossil Transformation Stone flickered, separating them into distinct individuals for focused observation.
Li Fan hovered silently in the air, calmly analyzing.
After all, the Tianxuan Mirror was not a true human.
It originated as an immortal artifact and must possess a certain level of cultivation.
Even if its "acting" was flawless, its habits and reactions would inevitably differ subtly from ordinary mortals.
Especially now—under such an unrestrained sweep of divine consciousness—the Tianxuan Mirror clone would certainly realize that Li Fan had come specifically for it.
That alone would make flaws easier to expose.
Before long, Li Fan identified dozens of suspects.
After half a day of deeper observation, the true target was finally locked in.
Above Weidu City, the four had already set up a blockade formation.
Li Fan focused his gaze and appeared instantly before the Tianxuan Mirror clone.
It turned out to be a young restaurant waiter.
At this moment, he had just finished serving customers and was resting in a corner.
Li Fan's sudden arrival caused the previously lively environment to fall into dead silence.
The waiter showed no shock at Li Fan's appearance, only curiosity.
"How did you find me so quickly?" he asked.
Li Fan smiled faintly and did not act immediately.
"If you were a real mortal waiter," he said gently, "you'd be eager to close your eyes and fall asleep during rest. How could you remain as alert as you are now, observing every person in the room?"
The Tianxuan Mirror clone was slightly startled, then nodded.
"So that's it."
He sighed softly.
"Observation is my nature. Even reincarnated as a human, it seems I can't change it so quickly."
After a pause, he asked calmly:
"Are you here to kill me?"
"Perhaps. Perhaps not," Li Fan replied, his tone unreadable.
"Oh?" The Tianxuan Mirror clone grew more interested. He stared at Li Fan for a long moment, frowning slightly.
In the end, he shook his head.
"There's a familiar aura about you. It's just a pity that after reincarnating as a human, many things are no longer clear."
Without waiting for Li Fan to respond, he asked again:
"So you're not from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance?"
"There's no trace of the Fifth Heavenly Lord's aura on you…"
The Tianxuan Mirror clone continued to scrutinize Li Fan as if examining an intriguing novelty.
When their eyes met, Li Fan felt an inexplicable discomfort.
This was the same gaze he used when observing creatures of the Xuanhuang Realm—
cold, detached, and fundamentally indifferent.
To now be viewed the same way by the Tianxuan Mirror clone…
"I represent only myself," Li Fan said coldly.
The clone laughed and shook his head again.
"Haha. I don't believe that."
"Once contaminated by immortal spirit, no one truly escapes."
"Is it possible that you and I are both trapped in the same net, and you've come seeking a way out through me?"
With startling accuracy, the Tianxuan Mirror clone exposed Li Fan's entanglement with the True Immortal's Net.
Li Fan's eyes flashed with killing intent.
"Even if you are an immortal artifact clone, with your current fragile human body, I can suppress you easily. I wonder if you'll still speak so sharply then."
The Tianxuan Mirror clone was unafraid.
He smiled, brushing dust from his clothes.
"If you truly intended to act, you'd have done so already. Why waste so many words with me?"
At these words, Li Fan fell silent.
Indeed—this was a spirit-born immortal artifact.
In just a brief exchange, Li Fan felt as though every advance had been deflected, every test countered effortlessly.
The opponent had turned defense into offense without missing a beat.
"To see through my nature and hesitation so quickly…"
Li Fan sneered inwardly.
"It's a pity…"
"What you see is only the surface."
Then, instead of pressing further, Li Fan admitted calmly:
"You are, after all, a Tianxuan Mirror clone. Killing you outright would be a waste."
"If you can offer something valuable enough, I may let you live."
The Tianxuan Mirror clone laughed.
"Do you believe your own words?"
"Even if I benefit you, destiny will still not let me escape."
"People like you…"
"I can only keep my distance. I will never trust your promises."