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"In today's Cultivation World, a mortal who wishes to cultivate has a few options," Kou Hong patiently explained.
"First, one can join the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals. The Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals is a loose coalition formed by many cultivators. Within the alliance, one can earn contribution points by completing tasks or trading with others. These points can be used to exchange for cultivation techniques and resources within the alliance."
"Second, one can join the Council of the Five Elders. The Council of the Five Elders is an organization established by five top-tier powers, with vast influence. As long as one has the potential to cultivate, they can voluntarily join and choose a cultivation technique. However, the cost is that one must sign a Divine Soul Contract and serve the Council of the Five Elders for a certain period."
"Third, one can join local factions. Although these factions cannot compare to the two massive entities mentioned above, they are often more united and rarely assign dangerous missions, making them suitable for those with a laid-back and peaceful disposition. As for other miscellaneous organizations, they are generally unreliable and not worth mentioning." Kou Hong slowly explained the general situation of the current Cultivation World.
Li Fan frowned, somewhat puzzled, "From your description, it seems that cultivation techniques in the Cultivation World are not as scarce as I thought."
Kou Hong snorted, "That's because the cultivation techniques obtained through these methods are all incomplete."
"Incomplete?" Li Fan was taken aback, then suddenly realized. "To obtain a higher-level cultivation technique, one has to continue serving them?"
"Exactly!" Kou Hong said with a hint of resentment. "These cultivation techniques are all newly compiled by the major forces over the years. The limit is reaching the Great Perfection of Qi Refinement. To take the next step and Establish the Foundation of Dao, one must switch to a new, higher-level cultivation technique. The same applies beyond the Foundation of Dao."
"Switching cultivation techniques? If one has to switch techniques and start over with each breakthrough, wouldn't that mean all previous efforts are in vain?" Li Fan was somewhat shocked.
"That's not the case," Kou Hong shook his head. "All cultivators must cultivate the Supreme Original True Scripture. Legend has it that this scripture is the supreme true scripture and the foundation of the Supreme Dao Sect from ancient times. After the great calamity, the Supreme Dao Sect was obliterated, leaving only a fragment of the Supreme Original True Scripture in the world. This scripture is not a cultivation technique but more akin to a secret art. Its function is to allow cultivators to freely dissolve their cultivation realm with minimal loss, enabling them to quickly recover their original realm after switching to another cultivation technique."
"Such a miraculous method exists." Li Fan marveled. "It's just that this fragment appeared at the right time, allowing numerous cultivators to accept the constant changes in cultivation techniques."
Li Fan sneered, "In my view, the Supreme Original True Scripture may not be just a fragment. It's likely that the people behind the scenes only chose to release the part about dissolving cultivation and re-cultivating."
Kou Hong sighed deeply, "Who doesn't know this? But what can be done? True cultivation techniques are hard to come by. Although being exploited is frustrating, at least there's a visible goal and path. With effort, one can still achieve it. Those who are unwilling to be controlled for life and are willing to risk their lives to seek opportunities in various secret realms and ancient sects are few and far between."
Li Fan nodded, gaining a general understanding of the current situation in the Cultivation World. This was far different from the unbound, life-seeking path of immortality he had imagined, and somewhat similar to the world he had left behind.
Thinking of this, Li Fan felt a cold laugh rise in his heart.
Kou Hong, however, didn't notice Li Fan's unusual state and couldn't help but sigh, "Daoxuanzi never knew that I ran away with the cultivation technique not only because it was a technique for forming a golden core but because it was a true technique that could lead directly to the Nascent Soul Realm."
"If it were just a technique for forming a golden core, I might have been able to control myself. But it's a Nascent Soul True Technique…" Kou Hong repeated.
Li Fan's heart stirred as he touched the ring on his hand.
Kou Hong and Daoxuanzi's possessions had all been confiscated and stored in this Storage Ring. Perhaps due to his multiple reincarnations, his mental power far exceeded that of ordinary people, allowing him to use this Storage Ring, which originally required a cultivation of Qi Refinement to develop spiritual awareness. However, without a way to leave the Severed Immortal Land, these items were of no use to him, so he hadn't bothered to examine them one by one.
Afterward, Kou Hong introduced Li Fan to various common knowledge in the Cultivation World, such as the phenomenon of cultivators' deaths causing changes in the sky within a certain range, before finally returning to the main topic of the possibility of a Great Migration Era legacy flying boat.
"Perhaps there is such a possibility," Kou Hong carefully thought for a long time before saying.
"I once heard a rumor that over the past few thousand years, mortals who were exiled to the Severed Immortal Land have secretly returned to the Cultivation World. However, most of these stories are just idle gossip, with no concrete evidence."
"Rumors don't arise without reason. Sometimes, rumors are the truth," Li Fan's heart was stirred. "After all, there are countless connections between mortals and cultivators. It's normal for cultivators to leave a way out for their mortal families. It's likely that these mortals returned through the means left by those cultivators."
Kou Hong, however, wasn't very optimistic, "Even so, it's been thousands of years. This world is vast, and the chances of finding anything are extremely slim."
"As long as there's a glimmer of hope, I won't give up," Li Fan said resolutely.
"I don't know how an old man on the verge of death can still be so restless…" Kou Hong muttered under his breath.
Li Fan pretended not to hear and solemnly said to Kou Hong, "As long as you help me find a way to the Cultivation World, I will not only release you and take you back with me, but I will also return all the possessions of you and Daoxuanzi."
"Including that Nascent Soul True Technique!"
"Do you mean it?!" Kou Hong suddenly looked up, a glimmer of hope appearing in his eyes.
"Of course," Li Fan nodded.
"Alright… If so, I will do my best to help you." Kou Hong clenched his teeth, finally making up his mind.
Although he had been deceived by Li Fan several times and didn't know how much to trust Li Fan's promises, he was just like Li Fan—unwilling to give up as long as there was a glimmer of hope.
Being trapped here for decades and dying of old age was not what he, Kou Hong, wanted!
...
With Kou Hong's help, Li Fan gathered historical books and records, striving to find clues about the Great Migration Era from the fragmented ancient records.
At the same time, Li Fan mobilized the army to excavate ancient tombs, hoping to find some hints. Despite the widespread public resentment and daily petitions from officials, he forcefully suppressed them all.
Unfortunately, too much time had passed since the Great Migration Era, and his remaining lifespan in this world was too short.
Sixteen years later, in the 66th year of the Anchoring Era, Li Fan's time was running out, yet he had found nothing.
He ordered Kou Hong to be released and went alone to the underground chamber of the Grand Tutor's Mansion.
With a thought, Li Fan took out all the items from the Storage Ring and laid them out in order.
First, Li Fan's gaze focused on the jade slip emitting a faint golden glow.
It was the Nascent Soul cultivation technique that had caused the falling out between Kou Hong and Daoxuanzi.
(End of Chapter)