NOVPUBLi Fan’s face showed a trace of astonishment, and he feigned ignorance as he asked, "Yin Shangren, what’s the matter with you?"
"Is there an error in the [Art of Self-Founded Cultivation] that I deduced?"
Looking at Li Fan’s completely puzzled expression, Yin Shangren opened his mouth as if to speak but hesitated.
In the end, he gave up dejectedly.
After some time lost in thought, he finally got up again.
He walked past Li Fan to a blank wall in the Underground Secret Chamber and, with his hand as his brush,
recorded the [Art of Self-Founded Cultivation] in one breath with lavish strokes.
After finishing the writing, he stood before it, his expression one of rapture.
His face showed a succession of emotions: amazement, contemplation, and regret.
Li Fan did not intrude but instead stood in front of this peerless Foundation Establishment method and silently admired it.
It was not known how much time had passed when Yin Shangren finally came out of his reverie.
He looked at Li Fan, bowed deeply, and said, "If friend Li truly comprehended this method on your own…"
"Then you are a peerless genius indeed, and I am nowhere close to your level!"
"This edition of the [Art of Self-Founded Cultivation] is flawless. It could be regarded as a law to pass down through the ages!"
He then sighed deeply and said, "If I had had the good fortune to acquire this method when I was at the stage of Foundation Establishment, I wouldn’t have ended up the way I am now."
"What do you mean by that, Yin Shangren?" Li Fan pretended to be ignorant.
Yin Shangren cracked a smile, his body splitting open to reveal another self within.
Then he offered an explanation.
"Once the [Art of Self-Founded Cultivation] is complete, there is no chance for regret or to start over," Yin Shangren said with a sigh.
Li Fan seized the opportunity to console him, "Actually, there’s not much difference between the two. Both lead to a dead end, stopping at Foundation Establishment."
It was then that Yin Shangren became slightly taken aback, "What do you mean by that, friend Li…?"
Li Fan confessed honestly, "This is another reason why I came to seek you out, Yin Shangren."
"After deducing the method of [Art of Self-Founded Cultivation], I was initially exhilarated. I thought I had opened up a completely new path and intended to continue with full confidence, deducing the subsequent stages of Gold Core, Nascent Soul, and so on."
"However…"
Li Fan slightly shook his head with a bitter expression on his face, "I pondered for a long time, but I simply could not find the way forward."
"After Building Foundation with Me, all laws return to oneself. I presume the Gold Core would be the same. Based on the ancient texts of cultivators, I have called it ’The Primordial Golden Pill’."
"But how to achieve this perfect Golden Pill of Chaos, I cannot fathom. It’s as if my inspiration has completely run out, or as if there’s something intentionally blocking me from exploring all these possibilities…"
Li Fan said, his expression becoming very pained.
Yin Shangren could somewhat empathize and quickly began to console him.
"Friend Li, just uncovering the secret of the [Art of Self-Founded Cultivation] already makes you a rare genius in this world, far exceeding ordinary cultivators. Why be so hard on yourself?"
"As for the Golden Pill of Chaos you mentioned..."
Yin Shangren reflected, "It’s a path that’s bound not to be easy. Truly, it defies the Heavens."
As he spoke, Yin Shangren seemed to recall something and suddenly fell silent.
"I have an intuition that in this lifetime, I might no longer be able to advance further on this new path. That’s why I’ve come to seek you out," Li Fan said, looking earnestly at Yin Shangren.
"Having been the first to propose the [Art of Self-Founded Cultivation], your innovative thinking must surely surpass mine. Perhaps you could pioneer the next step?"
Without hesitation, he relayed his entire discourse on the [Primordial Golden Pill] in one breath.
Having finished, he looked at Yin Shangren with hopeful eyes, "What do you think, Daoist friend?"
Yin Shangren couldn’t help but become utterly fascinated as he listened.
"Hmm, let me think, let me think," he seemed to be directly engrossed in the deduction, his expression turning somewhat vacant.
After a long while, he finally came to his senses.
"This method is arduous, even more challenging than the Art of Self-Founded Cultivation. It’s not something that can be solved in a short time."
"Besides, I have other matters to research..." Yin Shangren’s face was tinged with hesitation.
"I notice that the situation on your island seems to be related to the Immortal-Ordinary Miasma?" Li Fan asked.
Yin Shangren nodded, "Daoist friend truly has a discerning eye. I have a premonition that within this Immortal-Ordinary Miasma, lies a great secret of Heaven and Earth."
"Then let me wish you an early success in unraveling this mystery! When that day comes, I hope that you can share your findings with me," Li Fan laughed heartily, speaking very naturally.
"Rest assured, Daoist friend! You have shared the perfect [Art of Self-Founded Cultivation] with me without any concealment, and naturally, I will not withhold anything." Yin Shangren scrutinized Li Fan, expressing great joy, "I never expected that I would meet someone like you in this world, a person of like minds and shared paths."
"Before I came here, I never imagined that I would get along with you so well," Li Fan said, his face full of relief.
"By the way, I think that Daoist friend need not worry that deducing the [Primordial Golden Pill] will delay the research on the Immortal-Ordinary Miasma. From my experience, it’s best to alternate and proceed with both simultaneously. When one encounters a dead end, it might be helpful to switch to the other. Who knows, inspiration might sprout before long," Li Fan continued non-stop with his own "experience and insights."
Hearing this, Yin Shangren’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
The two shared a sense of regret for not having met sooner and talked on the island for three days and three nights.
It was only when it was time to part that Li Fan extended an invitation to Yin Shangren.
"This island is rather modest. How could it match Daoist friend’s elegance? I possess a Small World, a place of strange beauty and natural serenity. It’s perfect for immersing ourselves in research. Why not join me and return together?"
In the Xuanhuang World, only the rich and noble possess their own Cave Heavens and Small Worlds.
Upon hearing this, a trace of surprise flashed across Yin Shangren’s eyes.
He hesitated, but ultimately declined Li Fan’s generous invitation.
"Although the island is small, I have grown accustomed to it. Perhaps one day, when I grow tired of it, I will come to visit and impose upon you," he said.
Li Fan was not surprised by Yin Shangren’s response.
He showed an expression of great regret and then bade farewell with reluctance.
Before leaving, he handed over his Communication Talisman.
He insisted on staying in touch and sharing insights.
As Li Fan turned to leave Yin Ying Island and flew away for some distance, he suddenly stopped.
Looking back at the island, Li Fan hesitated for a moment before ultimately abandoning his intention to deploy the [Invisible Malice] to lock onto Yin Shangren.
"Yin Shangren’s strength is somewhat unusual and cannot be viewed as an ordinary Foundation Establishment. This world has already won his initial trust with the Art of Self-Founded Cultivation. There is no need to overdo it."
"The Invisible Malice may be concealed, but that does not guarantee he won’t detect it."
After pondering for a moment, Li Fan finally left for good.
He flew westward, leaving the Misthaven Ocean, arriving in Shilin State.
Since the fall of Jiushan Province, the Alliance of Thousands of Immortals had attempted several counterattacks.
Trying to reclaim it.
However, the Perilous Lands of Jiushan had natural barriers in every mountain and river.
The counterattacks all ended in failure.
