"To attain immortality in today's cultivating world, a mortal has several options," Kou Hong patiently explained.
"First, you can join the Alliance of Thousands of Immortals. This loosely structured union comprises many cultivators and allows you to gain contributions by completing assigned tasks or trading with others. These contributions can then be used to acquire the resources and cultivation techniques required for immortality."
"Second, you can join the Five Elders Organization, a powerful group established by five preeminent elders. As long as one has the ability to cultivate, they can voluntarily join, choose a cultivation method, and offer their service to the organization for a stipulated period according to the Soul's Contract they have signed."
"Third, you can choose to join your local powers. Although they can't compete with the above two formidable forces, these local powers are often unified and carry minimal risk. This suits those who prefer a casual approach. I won't bother mentioning other hare-brained outfits that are not worth your time." Kou Hong slowly outlined the current landscape of the cultivation world.
Upon hearing this, Li Fan furrowed his brows, seemingly puzzled, "From your description, it seems like gaining cultivation techniques aren't that elusive in the cultivating world?"
Kou Hong huffed coldly. "That's because, what one obtains through this method, are all incomplete techniques."
"Incomplete?" Li Fan was taken aback, but soon after, he put two and two together. "So, to acquire a higher-level technique, I would need to keep working hard for them?"
"Exactly!" Kou Hong spat out bitterly. "These techniques were devised in recent years by the major powers. Their limit is the Perfect Stage of Energy Refining. To move further and build the Tao Foundation, you need to switch to a new set of techniques, and the same applies once you reach beyond Tao Foundation."
"Switching techniques? If one has to start from scratch with new techniques every time they break through a realm, wouldn't that mean all prior efforts were in vain?" Li Fan was somewhat taken aback.
"Not necessarily," Kou Hong shook his head. "Every cultivator is required to practice the 'Supreme Primordial Scripture.' It is rumoured that this scripture was the foundational text of the Supreme Sect during ancient times. After the Great Calamity, only remnants of the 'Supreme Primordial Scripture' were left in this world. The scripture isn't a cultivation method, but is closer to a secret technique. Its effect allows cultivators to get rid of their built-up energy and hardly suffer much loss, thus they can catch up to their former cultivation realm quickly after switching techniques."
"Indeed, such a miraculous technique," Li Fan admired. "This remnant scripture appeared precisely when needed. Only in this way, can numerous cultivators accept changing cultivation techniques constantly."
Li Fan sneered, "In my view, it's likely more than just remnants of the 'Supreme Primordial Scripture' survive. Perhaps those behind the scenes only agreed to reveal the part concerning switching techniques."
Kou Hong sighed deeply, "Who doesn't realize this? But it is what it is. Genuine techniques are hard to come by; though being exploited is bitter, at least we have a conceivable goal and approach. To work hard is to hope for some return. Only a few are unwilling to submit to others and risk falling, seeking opportunities in secret realms and ancient sects."
Li Fan nodded, realizing the current situation of the cultivating world. This was drastically different from the freedom to seek immortality he'd imagined, and oddly similar to the world he'd come from before his transmigration.
Considering all this, Li Fan smirked.
Kou Hong didn't notice the shift in Li Fan's mood and couldn't help but sigh, "To his dying day, Dao Xuanzi didn't realize why I'd stolen the technique and run. It wasn't solely because it was a Golden Core technique, but because it was the true technique that could point directly to the Nascent Soul Realm."
"If it really was a Golden Core technique, I might have been able to restrain myself. But it was a Nascent Soul True Technique..." Kou Hong kept repeating.
Upon hearing this, Li Fan had a thought and touched the ring on his hand.
All the belongings of Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi had been seized by him and stored in this Storage Ring. Maybe because he'd been through numerous reincarnations, and his spirit was stronger than ordinary people, he was able to use this Storage Ring, which normally required a cultivator in the Energy Refining Stage to develop Divine Sense to control, quite easily. However, if he didn't find a way out of the Immortal Realm, all these things would be worthless, so he hadn't bothered to examine them one by one.
Subsequently, after sharing more commonplace knowledge about the cultivation world, such as the celestial phenomena that occurs when a cultivator falls, Kou Hong finally returned to the topic of the probability of a leftover flying boat from the Great Migration Era.
"Perhaps there is such a possibility," Kou Hong said thoughtfully after a long pause.
"I've heard rumors that over the thousands of years since the banishment, many mortals have managed to secretly return to the cultivation world. Yet, these are generally unsubstantiated gossip without any solid proof."
"Still, there's no smoke without fire. At times, rumors may reflect the truth," Li Fan mused with excitement. "After all, there are myriad connections between mortals and cultivators. It is only realistic that some cultivators would provide their mortal families with a fallback plan. I guess these mortals managed to return with the help of the foresight these cultivators had."
However, Kou Hong was less optimistic, "Even if that's the case, thousands of years have passed, and finding anything in such a vast area is extraordinarily unlikely."
"As long as there's a glimmer of hope, I won't give up," Li Fan asserted.
"I have no idea how an old and infirm man like you can still push yourself so hard..." Kou Hong mumbled under his breath.
Li Fan pretended not to hear, and sincerely said to Kou Hong, "If you help me find a way to the cultivation world, not only will I let you go and take you with me, but I'll also return everything that belongs to you and Dao Xuanzi."
"Including that Nascent Soul True Technique!"
"Is... is that true?!" Kou Hong looked up abruptly, hope ignited in his eyes.
"Of course," Li Fan nodded.
"Fine... In that case, I'll do my best to help you," Kou Hong gritted his teeth, finally making up his mind.
Although he had been tricked by Li Fan on several occasions, and didn't completely trust Li Fan's promise, he was like Li Fan in one aspect. Even if there was the slightest hope, he wouldn't want to give it up.
Stuck in this place for decades, just to die of old age...
This was not something Kou Hong desired!
...
So, under Kou Hong's assistance, Li Fan began collecting historical records and books around the world, hoping to find clues about the Great Migration Era from the fragmented records of ancient times.
At the same time, Li Fan sent his armies to explore ancient tombs intensively, trying to find some clues there. Although this incited the discontent of the masses and prompted constant admonishments from government officials, he pressed forward with the effort relentlessly.
Unfortunately, the Great Migration Era had passed too long ago, and the remaining days of his life were too short.
After sixteen years, in the 66th year of his life, when Li Fan was on the brink of death, he still had nothing to show for his efforts.
After instructing his people to release Kou Hong, Li Fan returned alone to the underground secret chamber of the Grand Master Mansion.
With a wave of Divine Sense, he took out all the items stored in the Storage Ring and enumerated them.
First, Li Fan's gaze focused on the Jade Scroll emitting a faint golden glow. This was indeed the Nascent Soul cultivation technique that caused Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi to turn against each other.