The other party mentioned that individuals like Li Fan, who value emotions so deeply, are extremely rare in today's Immortal Cultivation World, which is why they specifically inquired.
Li Fan glanced at the name of the other party. Song Weiyu, who seemed to be a female cultivator.
Should he go or not? The cave mansion of a Golden Core True Person, with a Nascent Soul expert leading the team, seemed to offer a guarantee of safety. However, after considering it, Li Fan politely declined her invitation.
All he sought was the remains of He Zhenghao. If Song Weiyu succeeded in her venture, she could naturally bring them back. Why take the risk? And if there truly was some great fortune within the cave mansion, he could always gather information and venture there in his next life.
Seeing Li Fan's refusal, Song Weiyu did not press further.
After settling all matters, Li Fan began cultivating the Dream Illusion Technique.
Li Fan was particularly attentive to Zhang Haobo, this pawn in his game. To prevent him from deviating from the growth path Li Fan had set, he needed to periodically remodel his dreams.
In the mortal stage, it was manageable. However, once Zhang Haobo broke through to the Qi Refining stage, influencing his thoughts would become significantly more challenging. Therefore, Li Fan needed to advance the Dream Illusion Technique to the second level.
This cultivation method was quite unique. It consisted of seven levels and did not correspond to stages like Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment. Instead, it was related to the strength of one's divine sense and the intricacy of constructing illusions. The higher the level of cultivation, the stronger the influence of the illusions.
In theory, even a mere mortal, if possessing strong enough mental power, could trap even Golden Core or Nascent Soul cultivators in an illusion. However, a cultivator's realm typically determined the strength of their divine sense, making such scenarios rare.
...
Three months later.
Glass Island.
Aboard the Cangyuan Ship.
Zhang Haobo stood at the bow, facing the sea breeze, gazing at the ocean surface. His brows furrowed, seemingly searching for something.
Suddenly, he noticed a familiar-looking reef ahead. His spirit lifted, and he immediately leaped into the sea, causing a stir among the surrounding crew.
Zhang Haobo navigated the dim underwater environment, diving deeper. Soon, he reached the seabed. An ordinary mortal would have succumbed to the immense pressure of the ocean depths, their body bursting apart.
However, after three months of cultivation, Zhang Haobo had cleared most of the immortal miasma from his body. His physique had greatly strengthened, and he was close to breaking through to the Qi Refining stage. Coupled with his natural affinity for water, he was unafraid.
As Zhang Haobo swam through the seabed, his gaze suddenly sharpened. His speed increased dramatically as he swam towards a skeleton half-buried in the mud. Extracting the skeleton from the silt, Zhang Haobo indeed found a book at its chest.
"Ocean-Calming Divine Sword."
"It's not a dream; I have been reborn." Zhang Haobo caressed the book's cover in a daze. Although he had already accepted his rebirth, the notion was still incredibly surreal. As memories from his previous life gradually faded, he couldn't help but waver in his belief.
Fortunately, perhaps due to his imminent breakthrough to the Qi Refining stage, some forgotten details had resurfaced in his mind. Including the location where he initially retrieved the Ocean-Calming Divine Sword.
Taking advantage of this seafaring trip, he came here to verify. To see whether he truly had been reborn or if it was merely a terrifyingly realistic dream.
Now, with the skeleton and the Ocean-Calming Divine Sword in hand, he was finally certain of his rebirth.
His gaze became resolute as Zhang Haobo tucked the book into his chest. "I can't delay any longer. I must quickly elevate my cultivation. Only then can I prevent that calamity."
"Just Qi Refining won't suffice. As a minor figure, my words carry no weight and cannot convince others."
"At the very least, I need to reach Foundation Establishment, or even Golden Core..."
With these thoughts, Zhang Haobo slowly swam back to the surface and climbed back onto the Cangyuan Ship. The crew, seeing their leader's serious expression, dared not ask questions.
Since a while ago, their leader seemed to have undergone some inexplicable change. The once jovial captain who enjoyed joking with everyone was gone. Zhang Haobo had become increasingly stern, his aura growing stronger by the day, resembling the immortal masters on the island.
In his presence, the crew couldn't help but feel apprehensive and restrained.
...
Above the Cangyuan Ship.
Li Fan, hidden from view, observed Zhang Haobo from afar. Utilizing the Heaven-Stealing Sun-Swapping Technique, he examined Zhang Haobo's fate.
"Indeed, his fate seems to have undergone some peculiar change."
This transformation was subtle, but since it was orchestrated by Li Fan himself, he was particularly attentive. Thus, he keenly sensed it.
Li Fan carefully contemplated the minute differences before and after, gaining some insight. "In cultivation, a head start often leads to continued advantage."
"In his previous life, Zhang Haobo embarked on the path of cultivation in middle age due to a fortunate coincidence. Although he possessed remarkable fortune, reaching Foundation Establishment within a decade was his limit."
"That was his destined fate."
"But in this life, under my influence, he began cultivating over a decade earlier."
"With fate altered, it flows naturally. Like standing at the forefront, the strong become stronger..."
Li Fan murmured softly, his eyes growing brighter. Witnessing the transformation of someone's fate firsthand was a significant opportunity for Li Fan.
Without the aid of the Return to Origin, allowing the comparison of destinies across two lives, under the workings of the heavenly dao, Li Fan, like countless others, would be struggling like ants.
How could he then discern his own fate, or that of others?
Just as one must transform into the vast ocean to glimpse the heavenly killing intent, only by spanning two lives can one understand the changes in fate.
In his epiphany, Li Fan let out a low chuckle. "Perhaps, you will indeed bring me some surprises."
"I'm truly looking forward to your performance, Zhang Haobo."
...
In a cheerful mood, Li Fan leisurely flew towards Glass Island. Three months had passed, and his avatar Lin Fan was still in the midst of an epiphany with the "Life and Death Lock Chain." The enlightenment state had not ceased.
The contribution points were being spent like flowing water, nearly two thousand points used up. Fortunately, the avatar had a base of one hundred thousand contribution points, able to withstand such consumption.
"I wonder, once the avatar emerges, what kind of divine ability will he comprehend?"
With such musings, Li Fan arrived within the Island Protection Array of Glass Island. Just as he was about to use the teleportation array to return to Ten Thousand Immortals Island, he noticed Yu Wenxing with a grave expression, worry etched on his face.
"Fellow Daoist Yu Wen, what has happened?" Li Fan politely inquired.
Yu Wenxing seemed deep in thought and did not respond immediately.
"Fellow Daoist Yu Wen?" Li Fan had to repeat himself.
Yu Wenxing finally snapped out of his reverie. He looked at Li Fan and sighed. "Something has happened."
"The team led by True Lord Gou Xuan to explore the cave mansion has been completely wiped out."
"Even True Lord Gou Xuan himself couldn't escape."
(End of Chapter)