Chapter 120: Li Fan Wants to Weave Magic

Over the past few years, the clone has been busy. It has been voraciously browsing various hidden knowledge of the cultivation world. Contribution points have also been rapidly consumed, with only a little over 73,000 points remaining. This level of knowledge is sufficient to handle most current situations. Therefore, Li Fan temporarily paused his research.

For a long time to come, Li Fan intends to focus his energy on studying cultivation techniques. As he is about to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, it is time to upgrade several of his current techniques. The *Thousand Machines Jade Ring Golden Sutra* can be cultivated all the way to the Nascent Soul stage, so he does not need to worry about it for now. The same applies to the *Cloud Water Illusory Dream Technique*.

According to its records, the *Steal Heaven Exchange Sun Art* could be cultivated up to the Dao Integration stage in ancient times. However, for unknown reasons, the lineage of the Heaven-Stealing and Sun-Exchanging Sect has been declining over the years. Only one Soul Transformation cultivator appeared over two thousand years ago; others could, at most, cultivate to the Nascent Soul stage and then found it difficult to advance further. Recalling the Heaven-Stealing and Sun-Exchanging Token still lying in his storage ring, a premonition Li Fan had felt before grew stronger. He decided that after reaching Foundation Establishment, he would find an opportunity to try it.

The *Shadow Following Technique* is just a relatively ordinary movement technique; it can be discarded at any time and replaced with an escape technique suitable for the Foundation Establishment stage. However, after observing Zhang Haobo's movement technique, which was as fluid as a breeze, Li Fan gained some insights. Perhaps he could combine the profound essence of that movement technique with the *Shadow Following Technique* to form an entirely new cultivation method.

The *Netherworld Spirit Illusion Technique* was quite important to Li Fan. The Blue Flame Phantom Spirit had various mystical effects and could even resist the greed brought by the Soul of Heaven and Earth. So, Li Fan searched the Heavenly Profound Mirror for cultivation techniques similar to cultivating phantom spirits for the Foundation Establishment stage. He indeed found quite a few. There was even a technique that seamlessly connected with the *Netherworld Spirit Illusion Technique*, called the *Underworld Illusion Technique*, which was a superior, upgraded version.

However, Li Fan was not in a hurry to exchange for it. Also inspired by observing Zhang Haobo condensing his sword intent, Li Fan felt he could likewise try to integrate this insight with the *Netherworld Spirit Illusion Technique*, thereby deriving a new cultivation technique.

That's right. Li Fan was going to attempt to become a Weaver of Laws for once. Li Fan knew that deriving new cultivation techniques was extremely difficult, but he didn't yet have a quantifiable or concrete understanding of just how difficult. As the saying goes, 'to truly know, one must personally experience.' This was a perfect opportunity to find out for himself.

Li Fan's clone, under the dual enhancements of the Spirit Awakening and Exquisite Glazed Pearl, had an insight efficiency 27 times higher than usual. The remaining contribution points could support its continuous secluded cultivation for ten years. With two hundred and seventy years of time, dedicated to deducing two Foundation Establishment techniques, Li Fan mused that even though he was of average aptitude, there was still a high probability of success. After all, ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators typically only lived for about that long.

If successful, he could break free from the limitations of the Myriad Immortals Alliance's cultivation techniques and could even cultivate directly in his next life. More importantly, it would open up a completely new possibility for obtaining cultivation techniques: using the original cultivation techniques obtained from the Myriad Immortals Alliance as a blueprint, integrating the insights of prodigies acquired through the Formless Killing Intent's Heaven-Sight and Earth-Listen, and then employing an exceptionally talented clone—re-condensed with the essence blood of a prodigy—to painstakingly deduce new cultivation techniques within the Heavenly Profound Mirror. These new techniques would then be for the main body's cultivation.

If this entire 'industry chain' truly proved viable, then Li Fan could barely be called a Weaver of Laws himself. Having made up his mind, Li Fan no longer hesitated. The clone's mind became immersed, entering secluded cultivation for insight.

Meanwhile, Zhang Haobo continued his diligent cultivation every day. His cultivation speed did not slow down after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage; instead, it accelerated. As for Li Fan's main body, since he planned to wait for the appearance of the Azure Sea Pearl before reaching Foundation Establishment, his cultivation temporarily stagnated. For a time, having nothing specific to do, he spent a rare period of leisure on Myriad Immortals Island. He wandered around the island daily, befriending many Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment cultivators. Although these cultivators were of average strength, they were all grassroots personnel of the Myriad Immortals Alliance controlling the Cloud Sea. Most of them were well-informed and far from ordinary. Li Fan also gained a lot from interacting with them.

After some time passed in this manner, Li Fan suddenly received an image transmission."Chen An?" Li Fan frowned slightly as he looked at the sender's name. But soon, he realized who Chen An was: the Qi Condensation cultivator who had asked him about the mysteries of Qin Tang's dedicated trial in the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace. After narrowly surviving the Qin Tang stone statue, this person wisely retreated and left the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace immediately. He could be considered quite astute. He hadn't contacted Li Fan again in all these years. What business did he have with Li Fan now?

Li Fan then opened the transmission. Chen An's smiling face immediately appeared."Fellow Daoist Li Fan, how have you been recently? It has been over five years since we parted at the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace. I still clearly remember and cannot forget your demeanor that day, as you casually unraveled the strange mysteries of the Qin Tang stone statue. Recently, something happened in the Cloud Sea that might interest you, fellow Daoist."

After listening to Chen An's message, Li Fan understood why Chen An had suddenly contacted him. It turned out that a strange phenomenon had recently appeared in the Cloud Sea. A massive, constantly moving white mist abruptly appeared. Curious cultivators flew into the white mist and discovered a colossal green ox, as large as a mountain, pulling a two-wheeled cart, walking upon the sea. On the cart was a dilapidated thatched hut. Outside the hut, two strange beings stood guard. One creature had no mouth and a terrifying face. The other was burly and strong, wielding a wooden club. From within the thatched hut, faint sounds of reading aloud could be heard.

Such an unusual sight naturally caught the attention of that cultivator. This person was also quite bold. Convinced that there must be an opportunity within, he flew to the front of the thatched hut, intending to investigate. However, he was blocked by the two guardian figures. The cultivator politely greeted them, wishing to enter the thatched hut. To his surprise, not only did he receive no response, but he was instead violently beaten with the wooden club and driven out of the green ox's pulling range. When he tried to re-enter, he found that no matter what, he could no longer fly close to the thatched hut. Therefore, he had no choice but to give up.

After returning and telling his friend about it, his friend also became interested. So they ventured together and returned near the green ox's cart the next day. To the cultivator's surprise, he found that he could approach the thatched hut again. The two cautiously approached, only to be driven out again with the club. Undeterred, they tried again on the third day. The result was the same. But instead of being discouraged, they became somewhat pleasantly surprised. Because since there was no life-threatening danger, they could simply call more people to join them. They were sure to find a way to enter the thatched hut.