Chapter 898

Chapter 898: The Sweeping Old Man

Although Xu Fan had destroyed Blood Eyes in the Awareness Space, he wasn’t interested in his memories at all.

He simply tossed them to Grape for analysis.

"Sixty celestial tools, with six of them being of decent quality. Not bad," Xu Fan remarked, nodding as he glanced over the treasure vault, which was as vast as a small world.

"Master, according to Blood Eyes’ memories, there are eighty-six celestial tools in the little Immortal Realm. The rest are held by the true immortals," Grape reported.

Xu Fan nodded.

"Have you finished analyzing Blood Eyes’ memories?"

"Halfway through. Give me three more hours, and I’ll fully digest them," Grape replied.

"Must be something interesting if it’s taking you this long."

Xu Fan chuckled lightly, then walked over to an area filled with extremely cold Spiritual Treasures.

In the center of a freezing spiritual liquid lake, a five-colored ice lotus was in full bloom.

"The five-colored ice lotus is about to advance to six colors. Once it does, it’ll become an Immortal-grade treasure—a rare and valuable herb."

"Master, let’s move this treasure vault back to the Hidden Spirit Sect," Grape suggested.

"Why even ask? Of course," Xu Fan said, rolling his eyes at Grape. He then stepped into another space filled with sword qi.

With a casual wave of his hand, the wind-attribute Immortal Sword at the center of the sword qi space flew into Xu Fan’s grasp.

"This wind-attribute Immortal Sword carries a hint of the essence of the Wind Dao. Once I reach the Immortal Realm, I’ll refine it with higher-grade spirit ore for celestial tools."

As he spoke, he stored it in his space of the celestial tool.

Xu Fan then collected over forty celestial tools from the vault, all to replenish his celestial tool river.

"Even though it’s called a celestial tool river, it only holds about two hundred celestial tools. I’ll need to add more in the future," Xu Fan noted.

At that moment, a faint shadow flickered in front of Xu Fan, and Avatar Number Three appeared.

"The cleanup is done. Aside from thirty-four Great Ascension stage slaves, everyone else has been dealt with," Avatar Number Three stated emotionlessly, standing behind Xu Fan.

"Indeed, I’ve received a massive wave of Merit and Fortune as a result of resolving those blood feuds," Xu Fan said.

Avatar Number Three remained silent, standing quietly behind Xu Fan.

"Let’s explore this little Immortal Realm for a while. We’ll head back home in one year," Xu Fan said, his figure appearing atop a high peak as he gazed at the clouds below.

Six months later, Xu Fan was wandering through a town when an old man sweeping the street caught his eye.

He looked at the old man, and the old man looked back at him.

That night, in a lakeside pavilion not far from the town, Xu Fan met the sweeping old man.

"Thank you, friend, for avenging the blood feud of this realm."

The old man, now dressed in a white robe, looked youthful despite his white hair, exuding the aura of a wise master.

"You’re too kind, friend. Even if I hadn’t done it, you would have settled the score eventually," Xu Fan said with a smile as he looked at the sweeping old man.

From the moment Xu Fan arrived in the town, he had sensed something unusual.

The entire little Immortal Realm was controlled by the Blood Peak Immortal Sect. In the fairy city Xu Fan had passed through, everyone was busy cultivating and producing resources for the Blood Peak Immortal Sect.

Upon arriving in this small town, it felt just like stepping into a mundane world, completely untouched by the influence of the Blood Peak Immortal Sect.

“If it weren’t for you, friend, I might never have been able to avenge this grudge in my lifetime,” the Sweeping Old Man said, shaking his head. He knew his limits—under normal circumstances, he could never stand a chance against Blood Eyes.

“Since we’re both in the supreme realm, I feel you’re stronger than Blood Eyes. With the right opportunity, revenge shouldn’t be out of reach,” Xu Fan remarked, looking at the Sweeping Old Man.

Xu Fan was genuinely surprised to meet someone of the same realm here. Logically, when Blood Eyes was offering up the world, as long as he emerged, he would have been favored by the Heavenly Way, with a high chance of success.

The Sweeping Old Man looked at Xu Fan with a resigned expression and explained, “When the Blood Peak Realm was offered up, I was in the star region, exchanging knowledge with other friends from the middle thousand worlds.”

“By the time I returned, the entire realm had been sacrificed, and my entire sect was wiped out.”

“Blood Eyes also advanced to Quasi-Immortal; I’m no match for him.” The old man clenched his fists tightly, the regret in his eyes deep enough to fill the Endless Sea.

“So, with the help of the Heavenly Way’s Will, I infiltrated the little Immortal Realm, suppressing my cultivation, waiting for the right moment to strike back at Blood Eyes.”

“Now, it’s no longer necessary—all thanks to you, friend.” The Sweeping Old Man stood up and bowed deeply to Xu Fan in gratitude.

Xu Fan waved his hand lightly, and a tea set appeared on the stone table. A humanoid puppet then emerged to boil water and brew tea for the two of them.

“What are your plans now, friend? The path in this realm is cut off; staying here, the highest you can reach is true immortal,” Xu Fan said.

“I plan to ascend directly to other middle thousand worlds, but before that, I need to find a way out for this little Immortal Realm.”

“Originally, I wanted this little Immortal Realm to merge with your middle thousand world, but now that you’re here, it seems unnecessary,” the Sweeping Old Man said with a smile, looking at Xu Fan.

“You cultivate the path of returning to the mundane. I happen to have some insights into this path—we could exchange ideas,” Xu Fan said, glancing at the Sweeping Old Man.

Hearing this, the old man was puzzled—what was there to exchange?

Without waiting for a response, Xu Fan began explaining the true essence of the path of returning to the mundane.

At first, the old man listened half-heartedly, but soon he grew more attentive, his expression shifting to one of awe.

Three months later, the Sweeping Old Man’s aura had become more unassuming, and both his body and soul had reached the level of an ordinary person.

“Friend, what’s the purpose behind this teaching? You can just tell me directly.”

“This kindness is too great—I don’t know how to repay it,” the Sweeping Old Man said, his eyes filled with gratitude as he looked at Xu Fan.

“How about joining my sect? If you don’t mind, you can sweep the floors, tend to some plants, and raise a few pets,” Xu Fan said with a smile.

From the moment he first saw the Sweeping Old Man, a vision had flashed in Xu Fan’s mind.

In a scenario where a hostile sect was at the gates, the Hidden Spirit Sect could send out just one Sweeping Old Man to fight fiercely in all directions, leaving the invaders dead and the sky stained with blood.

This vision sparked Xu Fan’s desire to recruit him. Though such a scenario might never happen, having a seemingly ordinary Sweeping Old Man in the sect who could unleash such power was an exhilarating thought.

“If I join your sect, will I be able to discuss the path with you often?” the Sweeping Old Man asked eagerly. Over the past three months of Xu Fan’s teachings, he had gained immensely, even feeling as though he could almost touch the Supreme State.

“Of course, whenever I have the time,” Xu Fan replied with a nod and a smile.

“Could you leave me the coordinates of your middle thousand world? I need to visit other middle thousand worlds to bid farewell to my close friend,” the Sweeping Old Man said.