Sun Zhang glanced at Su Changyu and patiently explained, "For mortals to cultivate, they must first purge the miasma from their bodies. You, who have returned from the Immortal-Forsaken Land, have a miasma concentration far exceeding that of ordinary people. Without removing this miasma, cultivation is impossible."
Su Changyu frowned and said, "We have long been aware of this. But how exactly can this miasma be removed?"
Sun Zhang replied, "There are several methods to remove miasma. The first is the Purification Spirit Pool on the island. By soaking in the pool for a day and night, all the miasma within the body can be completely removed. Unfortunately, the materials required to open the pool are astonishingly expensive. Even though Glass Island is wealthy, it can only be opened once every three years. I recall the last opening was a year ago, which means it will be nearly two years before the pool opens again."
"Moreover, the slots for entering the pool are limited and highly competitive. You outsiders, without any foundation, how could you possibly compete with the island's residents?" Sun Zhang shook his head.
"What about other methods?" Su Changyu continued to ask.
"The second method is to practice the Xuanhuang Clear Heart Mantra, combined with specific medicines and diet. Over time, this can gradually change one's constitution, eventually purging the miasma completely. Although this method takes a long time, often requiring five to six years, it is stable and requires no special sacrifices. The Xuanhuang Clear Heart Mantra and the corresponding pills can be purchased at the island's pharmacies."
"Five to six years..." Su Changyu murmured softly, unwilling to give up, "Is there anything else?"
"The third method is to become a test subject." At this point, Sun Zhang's expression turned somewhat grim, as if suppressing a deep-seated fear. Nonetheless, he answered Su Changyu.
"Test subject?" Su Changyu was somewhat bewildered.
"That's right. Some immortal masters are very interested in the miasma within us mortals. Every year, they select volunteers from the island's mortals to serve as test subjects. The immortal masters use special methods to continuously extract the miasma from the test subjects for research. It takes only a few months to completely extract the miasma."
Recalling something, Sun Zhang's face turned pale: "But the process is excruciatingly painful. It's a state of seeking life but unable to die. Most people can't endure until the miasma is fully extracted and end up driven insane by the torment."
"I don't recommend this method. It's truly beyond what ordinary people can endure."
Whether Su Changyu heeded Sun Zhang's advice was unclear. He merely remained silent for a moment before asking, "Are there any other methods?"
Sun Zhang shook his head: "It's said that the direct mortal descendants of those immortal masters can use heavenly treasures to reshape their bodies, not only eliminating the miasma but also enhancing their cultivation aptitude. However, such means are beyond our imagination. Even our Glass Island Lord doesn't have such privileges."
"That's all I know. If you truly wish to cultivate, you should consider your options carefully in the coming days."
With that, Sun Zhang noticed Su Changyu's somewhat lost expression and couldn't help but offer some consolation: "I know you all have returned from the Immortal-Forsaken Land with a heart set on the Dao. Who wasn't like that at first?"
"Unfortunately, the path of immortality is incredibly difficult. Even if you manage to purge the miasma, very few can sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and draw it into their bodies. Why trouble yourself? Being a mortal isn't so bad."
"With the spiritual energy of heaven and earth nourishing you invisibly, even if you can't cultivate, you can live longer than you did in the Immortal-Forsaken Land. It wasn't in vain that your families paid a great price to send you out."
"Instead of relentlessly pursuing the path of immortality, why not enjoy life, indulge yourself, and live in the moment."
...
After Sun Zhang finished speaking, he left.
Among those present, some were delighted, agreeing with Sun Zhang's words as if finding an excuse for indulgence; some couldn't accept the difficulty of cultivation and burst into tears; others were filled with worry, unsure of what to do...
Only Su Changyu's face remained resolute, as if he had made a certain decision.
Observing everyone's reactions, Li Fan felt a sense of emotion, realizing that the myriad beings of the world each had their own paths.
And each person's choice determined a completely different future.
Without meddling further, Li Fan took advantage of the moment when everyone was distracted to quietly leave.
He inquired along the way and found the place on the island where free housing was distributed.
Li Fan presented his spiritual talisman and was then led by a designated person to the residential area in the northern part of Glass Island.
Here, countless houses were densely packed, some vacant, others already occupied.
Most of these houses consisted of only one room, but fortunately, each had a small courtyard enclosed by walls, preventing them from appearing too shabby.
"The seventh house in the sixth row, this is it." Impatiently handing the key to Li Fan, the person hurriedly left.
Li Fan opened the courtyard gate, entered, and casually closed the door behind him.
The house was quite simple, with only a bed and a few tables and chairs, which made Li Fan feel somewhat unaccustomed.
However, he didn't mind these external things. After a simple cleanup, Li Fan settled down to contemplate his future plans.
"The start was quite fortunate; I settled down without much effort. It's thanks to those who left the Immortal-Forsaken Land. Unfortunately, apart from Su Changyu, the rest seem to be ordinary people without a heart for the Dao, unlikely to achieve greatness."
"Though this place of residence is somewhat simple, its safety is assured. I had already inquired before; Glass Island has immortal masters overseeing it, and it's been a long time since anyone dared to cause trouble."
"The primary goal now is to purge the miasma from my body. Although the slots for entering the Purification Spirit Pool are precious, the treasures I acquired from the Taiyan Boat are countless. Securing a slot shouldn't be difficult. The downside is that it would be too conspicuous; as the saying goes, wealth should not be flaunted. As an outsider without roots, suddenly revealing such wealth would surely attract attention. I need to plan carefully."
...
Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted Li Fan's thoughts.
"Who is it?" Li Fan immediately became vigilant.
"It's me." The voice was somewhat low, yet familiar.
Li Fan discreetly retrieved the Taiyan Boat, took out a dagger, and hid it in his sleeve.
Opening the door slightly, Li Fan saw the visitor's face.
It was the same chubby man who had tried to strike up a conversation with him earlier.
Li Fan decisively chose to close the door.
"Wait..." The chubby young man quickly blocked the door with his hand and whispered, "You're not one of us from the Immortal-Forsaken Land, are you?"
"What?" Li Fan was momentarily stunned.
The chubby man took the opportunity to slip inside.
He scrutinized Li Fan, speaking with ill intent, "Who exactly are you, and what is your purpose in infiltrating Glass Island?"
"How do you know I'm not from the Immortal-Forsaken Land?" Li Fan countered.
The chubby man sneered, "When we fell into the water, I vaguely saw your sneaky figure. At first, I thought it was an illusion, but after seeing your behavior last night, I became increasingly suspicious and kept an eye out. Seeing you eagerly seeking a residence, I secretly followed to test you."
"Sure enough, with a little probing, you revealed your true colors." The chubby man was somewhat smug.
"In that case, you do seem to be quite shrewd and meticulous." Li Fan nodded.
"Of course, besides me, none of those fools noticed a stranger had infiltrated."
"Are you sure no one else noticed this?" Li Fan asked.
"Of course! How could those fools compare to me..."
The chubby man's words were cut short.
Because a sharp dagger had already pierced his chest.
Looking at the chubby man who fell to the ground, Li Fan remained expressionless.
(End of Chapter)