After purging the miasma from his body, Li Fan's status panel underwent a significant transformation.
Name: Li Fan
Realm: Mortal
Biological Age: 42/120↑
Mental Age: 505/2053↑
Void Energy Charge Progress: 121%
Anchor Charging Progress: 51%
Current Anchor Points: 1
Bound Items: Thousand Mysteries Jade Golden Seal, Taiyan Boat, Fragmented Stele (Damaged)
Cultivation Method: Xuanhuang Clear Heart Mantra
Li Fan's biological age limit broke through the hundred-year mark and was still on an upward trend. What surprised him even more was that his mental age limit almost doubled, reaching over two thousand years!
Such an effect was impossible to achieve with just the Purification Spirit Pool. Could it be due to the inexplicably appearing Xuanhuang Clear Heart Mantra...?
Li Fan was puzzled as to why the Clear Heart Mantra had transformed into the Refining Heart Mantra. In the spirit pool, he had nearly lost consciousness due to the unbearable pain and was unclear about what happened afterward.
However, this was not the time for detailed examination. Li Fan steadied his mind and cupped his hands towards He Zhenghao, saying, "I will never forget the Immortal Master's kindness. I will repay it generously one day."
He Zhenghao had been waiting for these words from Li Fan, so his tone became even more amiable. "What are you saying, young friend? The path of immortality is arduous, and I am merely doing my best to help where I can."
He took out a book and handed it to Li Fan. "After removing the miasma, the next step is to sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and draw it into your body. If you can condense the first strand of spiritual energy within, it signifies entering the Qi Refining stage, at which point you can officially be called an immortal cultivator. This Five Spirits Qi-Sensing Method is a summary of experiences from predecessors on sensing spiritual energy, and you should study it carefully."
He then took out a square-shaped talisman and solemnly handed it to Li Fan. "This is the Dust-Cleansing Talisman. You need to carry it with you before drawing qi into your body."
Seeing Li Fan put away these items, He Zhenghao explained, "Although you've purged the miasma from your body, it's not a one-time solution. You still live among mortals and need to interact with them daily. Over time, you may inevitably become contaminated with miasma again. This Dust-Cleansing Talisman can help shield you from miasma intrusion, but it can only last for about five years."
"However, with your talent, breaking through to the Qi Refining stage within five years shouldn't be difficult," He Zhenghao said with a smile.
"Once you break through to the Qi Refining stage, you can come to the island to find me. I will then take you to our Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals' base in the Congyun Sea, the Ten Thousand Immortals Island. Once on the island, you can choose the appropriate cultivation methods to continue your practice."
He Zhenghao detailed the precautions during the process of drawing qi into the body to Li Fan, who memorized them firmly.
After all related matters were explained, Li Fan tactfully took his leave.
"I hope this time will yield some results," He Zhenghao muttered to himself as he watched Li Fan's departing figure.
Then, surveying the mountain peak beneath him, He Zhenghao shook his head. "The potential is exhausted; it's time to change mountains."
With that, he flew above the sea of clouds, waved his long sleeves, and collected the rolling clouds into them.
Looking down at the continuous mountain range, He Zhenghao selected the mountain peak that would grow the highest in the next century.
The cultivation method He Zhenghao practiced was called the Sitting Mountain Technique. Its greatest feature was to sit on the mountain and reap the benefits.
By selecting a mountain peak, sitting atop it, and running the cultivation method for several years, one could harmonize their aura with the mountain. Thereafter, every increase in the mountain's height would feed back into one's cultivation, enhancing it accordingly.
Conversely, if one misjudged and the mountain's height did not increase, it would equate to wasting over a decade of cultivation time.
Besides benefiting from mountain growth, one could also gain advantages from helping others. For instance, by assisting Li Fan, if Li Fan later broke through to the Qi Refining stage, He Zhenghao would receive feedback, enhancing his cultivation.
It wasn't about stealing the other's cultivation but more akin to the saying, "when one person attains the Dao, their entire household ascends."
The mountain's growth would elevate the trees on it; a giant's growth would also uplift the items in its sleeves.
Of course, compared to mountains and rivers, the conditions for helping others were not as stringent, and one didn't need to bind to a single person, allowing for a broader approach. However, the initial investment would determine the future gains.
Therefore, when encountering promising juniors, He Zhenghao never hesitated to lend a helping hand.
...
After leaving the central array of Glass Island, Li Fan quietly returned to the Listening Pavilion without alerting others.
After purging the miasma, Li Fan indeed felt significantly different from before. It was as if he had become ten years younger, with improved vision and hearing.
He could vaguely sense the pure energy flowing throughout the world.
So this is spiritual energy...
Li Fan felt joy in his heart.
Once he drew qi into his body, he would become a Qi Refining stage cultivator.
Li Fan was eager to cultivate day and night without pause.
But before that, he needed to examine the inexplicably appearing Xuanhuang Refining Heart Mantra.
Searching his mind, he found no new method of operation.
So Li Fan began cultivating according to the Xuanhuang Clear Heart Mantra's method.
As soon as he started, Li Fan noticed the difference between the Refining Heart Mantra and the Clear Heart Mantra.
Previously, cultivating the Clear Heart Mantra required nearly half an hour to calm his mind and eliminate all other distractions from his mind.
But once the Refining Heart Mantra was activated, within moments, Li Fan felt his mind become as clear as a mirror.
It was as if a giant millstone appeared in his mind, continuously absorbing and grinding distractions into nourishment to enhance his spirit.
After three years of cultivating the Clear Heart Mantra, aside from some reflection on the Return to Origin panel, Li Fan hadn't noticed any other benefits.
But with the Refining Heart Mantra, Li Fan could clearly feel his spirit strengthening every moment.
Although the growth was very slight, it was indeed increasing!
Li Fan was overjoyed, but this was followed by countless doubts.
Why did the Xuanhuang Clear Heart Mantra, commonly used in the immortal cultivation world to remove miasma, transform into the extraordinary Xuanhuang Refining Heart Mantra for him?
Is the Refining Heart Mantra considered a cultivation method, given that one cannot cultivate multiple immortal methods simultaneously?
With his current understanding of the immortal cultivation world, Li Fan couldn't find an answer.
But Li Fan vaguely felt that there must be a great secret hidden within.
He resolved to investigate it secretly when the opportunity arose.
...
Just a step away from stepping into the threshold of an immortal cultivator and having acquired the miraculous Xuanhuang Refining Heart Mantra, Li Fan couldn't help but feel a bit elated.
However, it wasn't long before he received a letter.
The news in the letter shattered his complacency.
Xiao Heng had successfully drawn qi into his body and had already headed to the Ten Thousand Immortals Island.
(End of Chapter)