Chapter 10: Different Cultivation Methods of Immortal Arts

"How did mortals from the Great Migration arrive at the Land of Immortal Seclusion?" Kou Hong was stunned when Li Fan asked this question, perhaps because he had never considered it before.

"The Great Plague era ended thousands of years ago. We don't know the specifics of what happened then. Most of what we know about that time is just hearsay," Kou Hong said, shaking his head after a moment of thought.

"What, you're still not giving up?" Kou Hong looked at Li Fan and scoffed, "Even if you get out, what then? You're seventy years old, and you still want to cultivate immortality..." He stopped mid-sentence as he saw Li Fan's cold gaze sweeping over him. The several cruel officials nearby looked eager and menacing, causing Kou Hong to shiver and sheepishly shut his mouth.

Kou Hong had been released from the prison by Li Fan. After being trapped by Li Fan in a secret chamber and "baptized" with the Immortal-Mortal Miasma, his cultivation had significantly regressed, plummeting directly to the early Qi Refining stage. With all his Taoist techniques unusable, he was now just a slightly stronger mortal.

After his capture, he had initially cursed and complained constantly, but after several rounds of severe torture, Kou Hong finally behaved.

"So, it turns out even a high and mighty immortal cultivator is no different from us mortals once they lose their cultivation. They might even have less backbone than us," one of the cruel officials said sarcastically.

"Indeed, this one couldn't even last an hour under our hands," another official echoed.

Kou Hong, however, was quite candid: "It's better to live poorly than to die well. Besides, in the cultivation world, life and death, success and failure, are common. Although you are a mere mortal, your methods and resolve are extraordinary. We brothers have nothing to say about being ambushed by you. It's simply a matter of being outmatched!"

"You don't hate me?" Li Fan asked, a little curious.

"Hate? Of course I hate you!" Kou Hong took a large gulp of the fine wine Li Fan had prepared for him. "But what can I do? You're the butcher, and I'm the fish. Should I really utter threats against you? Wouldn't that just be asking for death?"

"You're quite open-minded!" Li Fan chuckled.

"Just barely surviving, that's all!" Kou Hong snorted coldly.

"If you could return to the cultivation world, could you continue to cultivate?" After a moment of silence, Li Fan suddenly asked.

"What...?" Kou Hong didn't immediately react.

"If you can help me find a way to the cultivation world, perhaps I'll take you with me when the time comes," Li Fan promised.

"You treacherous scoundrel, still trying to deceive me?" Kou Hong was furious, but he quickly calmed down, glaring fiercely at Li Fan.

Li Fan's expression remained calm: "Whether it's the truth or a lie, it's still a glimmer of hope. Are you willing to give up this chance at life and simply die of old age in this small place?"

Hearing Li Fan's words, Kou Hong fell silent. His expression changed dramatically, clearly showing his inner struggle. After a long while, he finally let out a deep sigh.

"Alright! I agree!"

"Rest assured, I, Li Fan, have always honored my promises and kept my word," Li Fan said in a deep voice.

The cruel officials nearby immediately sobered, lowering their heads. Who among the court officials didn't know that the Grand Tutor of the current dynasty was a man of his word: if he said he'd kill your whole family, he would kill your whole family!

"You don't need to sweet-talk me. I'm willing to help you, but it's just a gamble on that sliver of hope," Kou Hong sneered.

Seeing this, Li Fan didn't bother to explain further, instead directly outlining his hypothesis to him.

"If my guess is correct, the cultivators back then likely used artifacts similar to flying boats or shuttles to transport mortals. In ancient times, the cultivation world was densely populated, with numerous sects thriving, and such transport artifacts were very common. Unfortunately, after a great change in the world, cultivators became self-preserving and mostly acted alone. Flying boats and shuttles were rarely seen afterward," Kou Hong responded slowly after hearing Li Fan's words.

"The great change in the world, does that refer to that strange Great Plague?" Li Fan asked.

"Although the Immortal-Mortal Miasma is strange, it couldn't fundamentally shake cultivators. In fact, the reason the Immortal-Mortal Miasma was able to run rampant was because most cultivators in the world perished in a great calamity. The cultivation world's power plummeted, which is why it couldn't effectively deal with the Immortal-Mortal Miasma," Kou Hong shook his head, his expression solemn.

"A great calamity?" Li Fan suddenly recalled the dilapidated mountain gate he had seen deep within the Void Abyss, and his heart stirred. "Could it be that immortal cultivation techniques cannot be practiced concurrently?"

Kou Hong gave Li Fan a surprised look, not understanding how he had come to that conclusion. "That's right, immortal cultivation techniques cannot be practiced concurrently!" Kou Hong sighed deeply.

"In ancient times, there was no such restriction. Back then, countless major cultivation sects opened their doors wide, accepting disciples and imparting skills. Cultivators had masters to guide them, could ask questions whenever they encountered difficulties in cultivation, and could spar and learn from fellow disciples practicing the same techniques. What a vibrant and magnificent sight the entire cultivation world was then!" Kou Hong spoke, unable to hide his longing.

"Alas! A great change occurred! One day, cultivators suddenly discovered that the efficiency of their cultivation techniques had drastically decreased. While cultivating, they would also sense how many others in the entire cultivation world were simultaneously practicing the same method. They were horrified to realize that the more people who cultivated the same technique concurrently, the lower the cultivation efficiency became for everyone practicing it." Kou Hong recounted softly and slowly, a flicker of fear in his eyes.

"At first, everyone maintained restraint, trying to find a solution. But in the following decades, countless cultivators found themselves stuck, unable to make any progress in their cultivation. As their lifespans neared their end, they could no longer conceal the murderous intent within their hearts."

"A cataclysm that swept through the entire cultivation world began. Anyone practicing the same method as me became an obstruction to my path, a mortal enemy! Former masters and disciples, senior and junior siblings, instantly transformed into sworn enemies. Even if some were unwilling to kill, how could they ensure the other party felt the same way amidst such a trend? Who dared guarantee that the other person wouldn't suddenly attack and stab them? All cultivators fell into endless suspicion; the only one they could trust was themselves!"

"At that time, all sects instantly turned into purgatories. And even rogue cultivators hiding in deep mountain secret realms, attempting to find refuge, could not escape. This was because cultivators practicing the same technique could sense each other's locations!"

"Slaughter, endless slaughter. It's unknown how long it lasted before gradually subsiding. By then, the once incredibly prosperous cultivation world had become utterly desolate; all sects ceased to exist, leaving only individual cultivators who acted alone." Kou Hong slowly recounted this ancient cataclysm of the cultivation world.

Li Fan listened, his heart stirring, but a greater question emerged. Since immortal cultivation techniques could not be practiced concurrently, how did cultivators practice now? What was the current state of the cultivation world like?