"In today's immortal cultivation world, a mere mortal wishing to cultivate immortality has but a few choices," Kou Hong patiently explained.
"First is to join the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals. This alliance is a loose coalition formed by numerous immortal cultivators. Within the alliance, one can earn contribution points by completing tasks or trading with others. These points can then be exchanged for cultivation techniques and resources."
"Second is the Five Elders Council. This organization, established by five supreme experts, wields immense power. Anyone with the aptitude for cultivation can voluntarily join and choose a cultivation technique. The cost, however, is signing a soul contract to serve the council for a certain period."
"Third is to join local forces. Although these forces cannot compare to the two giants mentioned above, they are often more united and generally do not involve dangerous tasks, making them suitable for those with a lazy and indifferent disposition. As for other chaotic organizations, they are unreliable and not worth mentioning." Kou Hong slowly outlined the current state of the immortal cultivation world.
Li Fan frowned upon hearing this, somewhat puzzled, "From your description, why does it seem that cultivation techniques aren't that scarce in the immortal cultivation world?"
Kou Hong snorted coldly, "That's because the techniques obtained through these methods are all incomplete."
"Incomplete?" Li Fan was taken aback, then suddenly understood. "To acquire higher-level techniques, one must continue to serve them?"
"Exactly!" Kou Hong said bitterly. "These techniques have been newly compiled by the major forces over the years. Reaching the peak of the Qi Refinement stage is the limit. To further establish a Dao Foundation, one must switch to a new level of technique. The same applies above the Dao Foundation."
"Switch techniques? If one has to change techniques and start over with each breakthrough, doesn't that mean all previous efforts are in vain?" Li Fan was somewhat shocked.
"Not quite."
Kou Hong shook his head.
"Every cultivator must practice the 'Supreme Primordial True Scripture.' It is said that this scripture was the supreme true scripture of the Supreme Sect in ancient times, the foundation of their sect. After the great calamity, the Supreme Sect was annihilated, leaving only fragments of the 'Supreme Primordial True Scripture' in the world. This scripture is not a cultivation technique but more akin to a secret method. Its function is to allow cultivators to dissipate their cultivation realm without significant loss, enabling them to quickly catch up to their original realm after switching to other techniques."
"Such a miraculous method exists," Li Fan marveled. "It's just that the appearance of this fragment is so timely, allowing many cultivators to accept the constant change of techniques."
Li Fan sneered, "In my view, the 'Supreme Primordial True Scripture' may not be just a fragment. Perhaps those behind the scenes are only willing to release the part about dissipating and retraining."
Kou Hong sighed deeply, "Who doesn't understand this reasoning? But what can be done? True techniques are hard to come by. Being exploited is unfortunate, but at least there is a visible goal and path. With effort, it can still be achieved. Those unwilling to be controlled for life, willing to risk falling to seek opportunities in various secret realms and ancient sects, are indeed few."
Li Fan nodded, gaining a general understanding of the current situation in the immortal cultivation world. It was entirely different from the unrestrained, single-minded pursuit of immortality he had imagined, instead bearing some resemblance to the world he had known before crossing over.
Reflecting on these matters, Li Fan's heart filled with a cold sneer.
Kou Hong, however, did not notice Li Fan's unusual demeanor at this moment and instead sighed involuntarily, "Dao Xuanzi never knew until his death that the reason I stole the technique and fled was not just because it was a Core Formation technique, but because it was a true technique that directly pointed to the Nascent Soul realm."
"If it were truly a Core Formation technique, I might have restrained myself. But after all, it is a Nascent Soul true technique..." Kou Hong repeated.
Hearing this, Li Fan was stirred, touching the ring on his hand.
The items of Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi had been entirely confiscated by him and stored in this storage ring. Perhaps due to his experience of multiple reincarnations, his spiritual strength far exceeded that of ordinary people, allowing him to use this storage ring, which originally required a cultivator at the Qi Refinement stage to develop divine sense. However, if he could not find a way to leave the Immortal-Forsaken Land, these items were of no use to him, so he had not yet taken the time to examine them one by one.
Subsequently, Kou Hong introduced Li Fan to common knowledge in the immortal cultivation world, such as how the fall of an immortal cultivator would trigger celestial phenomena within a certain range, before finally returning to the main topic, discussing the possibility of Li Fan finding a flying boat from the Great Migration Era.
"There might indeed be such a possibility," Kou Hong said after careful consideration.
"I once heard a rumor that over the millennia, mortals exiled to the Immortal-Forsaken Land have secretly returned to the immortal cultivation world. However, most of these are idle gossip without solid evidence."
"There's no smoke without fire. Sometimes rumors are often the truth," Li Fan's heart was stirred. "After all, there are countless connections between mortals and immortal cultivators. It was normal for immortal cultivators to leave a way out for their mortal families. It seems these mortals returned through the backdoors left by those cultivators."
Kou Hong, however, was not optimistic, "Even so, thousands of years have passed. This world is vast, and the chances of finding it are very slim."
"As long as there is a glimmer of hope, I will not give up," Li Fan declared resolutely.
"I really don't know how an old man like you, with one foot in the grave, can still be so restless..." Kou Hong muttered softly.
Li Fan pretended not to hear and solemnly said to Kou Hong, "As long as you help me find a way to the immortal cultivation world, I will not only release you but also let you return with me. I will return all the items of yours and Dao Xuanzi's."
"Including that Nascent Soul true technique!"
"Is this true?!" Kou Hong suddenly looked up, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
"Of course," Li Fan nodded.
"Very well... In that case, I will do my utmost to help you," Kou Hong gritted his teeth, finally making up his mind.
Although he had been tricked by Li Fan several times and did not know how credible Li Fan's promise was, like Li Fan, he was unwilling to give up as long as there was even a sliver of hope.
To be trapped here for decades and then die of old age.
This was not what Kou Hong desired!
...
Thus, with Kou Hong's assistance, Li Fan scoured historical records and ancient texts, striving to find clues about the Great Migration Era from the fragmented words of ancient times.
At the same time, Li Fan mobilized the army to excavate ancient tombs extensively, attempting to find some traces. Although this incited public resentment and daily admonitions from officials, he forcibly suppressed them all.
Unfortunately, too much time had passed since the Great Migration Era, and his remaining lifespan in this world was too short.
Sixteen years later, with the anchor set at 66 years, Li Fan's lifespan limit approached, yet he still found nothing.
Ordering Kou Hong's release, Li Fan went alone to the underground chamber of the Grand Tutor's residence.
With a thought, Li Fan retrieved all the items from the storage ring and laid them out one by one.
First, Li Fan's gaze focused on the jade slip emitting a faint golden glow.
It was the Nascent Soul technique that had caused Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi to turn against each other.
(End of Chapter)