Upon stepping into the Qi Refining stage, Li Fan immediately felt the earth-shattering changes within himself. Spiritual qi surged and circulated within his body, silently rejuvenating Li Fan's slightly aged physique. The fine wrinkles on his face vanished, and his skin became smooth once more.
A long-lost vitality surged within Li Fan, as if he had returned to his youth, brimming with endless energy. Rejuvenated, his physique was greatly enhanced. Most importantly, Li Fan could now manipulate the spiritual qi of heaven and earth.
Threads of spiritual qi were controlled by Li Fan, transforming into various shapes. Unfortunately, he was currently only able to manipulate the qi instinctively. To use it more efficiently, he would certainly need the appropriate spells.
After some exploration, Li Fan dispersed the qi in his hand and focused his attention on the [Return to Origin] panel.
Name: Li Fan
Realm: Early Qi Refining Stage
Biological Age: 47/199
Mental Age: 510/2169↑
After breaking through to the Qi Refining stage, Li Fan's lifespan limit had already reached the extreme of one hundred ninety-nine years. The Five Spirits Qi-Sensing Method once mentioned that while the lifespan of an immortal cultivator far exceeds that of ordinary people, it is still greatly suppressed compared to ancient times.
The lifespan of a Qi Refining stage cultivator does not exceed two hundred years. Even a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator can only live a little over a hundred more years before reaching their lifespan limit.
Only by achieving the Golden Core stage and glimpsing the laws of heaven and earth can one's lifespan dramatically increase to around five or six hundred years. In contrast to the biological age is the mental age, which has hardly increased.
After all, Li Fan had already significantly increased it through practicing the Xuanhuang Heart Refining Mantra, so he wasn't particularly surprised.
Next, Li Fan retrieved the Thousand Mysteries Jade Golden Seal from the Taiyan Boat. He had long obtained this Nascent Soul stage cultivation method from Kou Hong, but had been unable to examine it due to the lack of divine sense. It had always been on his mind.
Now, having finally stepped into the Qi Refining stage, Li Fan was eager to know its contents.
"Thousand Mysteries Jade Golden Seal, Nascent Soul stage cultivation method, current practitioners: 0." Picking up the jade slip, the description of the cultivation method naturally appeared in his mind.
Li Fan knew this was also a change that occurred after the great calamity of heaven and earth, when immortal methods could no longer be practiced simultaneously. As his divine sense touched the jade slip, countless words and images surged into Li Fan's mind like a tide. Reading a jade slip for the first time, Li Fan was somewhat unaccustomed.
He felt as if his mind was being forcibly filled with many things, and his temples throbbed slightly. Fortunately, his divine sense was much stronger than that of an average Qi Refining cultivator, and he quickly adapted and returned to normal.
Calming his mind, Li Fan carefully examined the cultivation method. After a long time, Li Fan finally had a general understanding of it. The Thousand Mysteries Jade Golden Seal was a cultivation method practiced by the ancient Tianji Sect.
In ancient times, the emphasis was on the unity of heaven and man. The Tianji Sect believed that all things in heaven and earth, like humans, had their own thoughts. These were difficult to detect by ordinary means.
But just as a person emits a killing intent when harboring murderous thoughts, all things in heaven and earth occasionally emit traces of qi. When heaven emits a killing intent, it results in the withering of all things and the shifting of stars.
When earth emits a killing intent, it results in the transformation of seas into mulberry fields and the rise of dragons and snakes on land. By capturing and refining the various qi in heaven and earth, one can trace back to the source and achieve a state of resonance and unity with it.
The Thousand Mysteries Jade Golden Seal is a method of sensing and refining qi to make it one's own. Once mastered, not only can one use the killing intent of heaven and earth to harm others, but also deduce and predict the future through qi. This cultivation method is powerful but also very dangerous to practice.
The will of heaven and earth is vast, and even a trace of qi is a thousand times greater than that of a cultivator. Recklessly contacting it can easily result in being harmed by the qi itself. One might even be unknowingly assimilated, becoming a puppet of the will of heaven and earth.
Therefore, when the ancient Tianji Sect practiced, they did not choose to refine and sense the qi of heaven and earth, but instead opted for various alternative methods. They nurtured their own killing intent, drew upon the vitality of spring's burgeoning life, and sensed qi from certain spiritual objects of heaven and earth...
By gathering countless qi, they concealed themselves, thereby achieving the purpose of confusing the heavenly mechanism and sensing the will of heaven and earth. Theoretically, if this method is cultivated to the highest level, one can merge with heaven and earth and transform into the Dao. Unfortunately, this is only theoretical.
In reality, even with clever methods, practicing the Thousand Mysteries Jade Golden Seal is extremely difficult. The ancient Tianji Sect, with its millennia of heritage, had tens of thousands of cultivators practicing the Thousand Mysteries Jade Golden Seal. But the highest they achieved was the Nascent Soul stage.
It was so in ancient times, let alone in today's immortal cultivation world, where the malice of heaven and earth is omnipresent. However, with the assistance of [Return to Origin], Li Fan need not worry too much about the risks of practicing this cultivation method.
Li Fan pondered for a moment, deciding not to rush into choosing a primary cultivation method. He could first go to Ten Thousand Immortals Island to see the current state of the immortal cultivation world before making a decision. Thus, Li Fan went to the central array of Glass Island, intending to meet Immortal Master He.
As he approached the array, he found several servants waiting for him. Led by the servants, Li Fan once again met He Zhenghao. This time, he was not on the previous towering peak but on an ordinary small hill, unremarkable amidst the surrounding mountains.
He Zhenghao was seated in a small pavilion at the hilltop.
"I just sensed a change in the island's spiritual qi and knew it must be your breakthrough," He Zhenghao said with a gratified expression as he looked at Li Fan.
"Though it took some time, you finally broke through."
"I must thank you for your guidance, senior," Li Fan replied politely.
"It was just a small effort," He Zhenghao said with a smile, feeling the slight increase in his own cultivation.
"Are you here to go to Ten Thousand Immortals Island?"
"Indeed. With no mundane matters holding me back, I can depart at any time," Li Fan nodded.
"Very well, then follow me."
He Zhenghao flashed to Li Fan's side, grabbing his shoulder.
"Do not resist."
Hearing He Zhenghao's voice, Li Fan dispersed the protective qi around him. With He Zhenghao leading, Li Fan soared into the sky. Their speed was astonishing, and in the blink of an eye, they passed through the sea of clouds and arrived above the mountains.
"Draw!"
He Zhenghao formed a seal with one hand and pointed towards the endless mountains below. Moments later, countless peaks in their view emitted beams of white light, converging in front of He Zhenghao to form a massive sphere of light.
"Open!"
He Zhenghao raised his hand upwards. The sphere of light accelerated sharply, following He Zhenghao's guidance straight upwards. In an instant, it formed a pillar of light piercing the heavens, striking the sun above.
The surface of the sun twisted, then split open, forming a portal in the center.
"Let's go!"
(End of Chapter)