Chapter 140: Far Escape From the Cloud Cluster

Due to their shared responsibility for collecting Dao Rhyme artifacts, Su Xiaomei and the Yin Yueting sisters grew very close. Furthermore, having grown up, Su Xiaomei had had little contact with outsiders, apart from Xiao Heng and Su Changyu. Therefore, two years of constant companionship fostered some affection between them.

Encouraged by Su Xiaomei, the Yin Yueting sisters also began cultivating the "Profound Yellow Clear Heart Spell," hoping to dispel the miasma from their bodies and embark on the path of immortality. However, their cultivation proved even more challenging than Su Changyu's. Yet, they approached it with a calm mindset, so even though their progress was slow, it was constant.

Li Fan merely observed for a while, remaining unseen. After confirming there were no unexpected developments, Li Fan returned to Myriad Immortals Island. After returning the formation crown to Zhang Zhiliang, Li Fan once again immersed himself in studying formations.

It was now Anchoring Year 22, and he had set a six-year timeframe for himself. In his previous life, when he emerged from seclusion in Anchoring Year 31, the Crimson Flame Consuming Sea had already begun. And in Anchoring Year 30, he had also visited Myriad Immortals Island to submit the Tai'an Fruit. Therefore, the Crimson Flame should appear between Anchoring Year 30 and 31. But in this life, Zhang Haobo was an unstable factor. To be safe, Li Fan decided he must leave by Anchoring Year 28 at the latest. Before then, he still had to seize every moment to learn formations. After all, he wouldn't find this opportunity again. After arriving in the unfamiliar Yuandao State, where else would he find a formation grandmaster to personally teach him?

Time was pressing, and Li Fan became even more diligent. Immersed in the study of formations, he never rested for a moment. Even when Zhang Zhiliang subtly advised him to rest for a bit, Li Fan righteously refused. Over several years, the formation apprentices around Zhang Zhiliang came and went. But there was no one else like Li Fan, who remained single-minded and consistently dedicated. Zhang Zhiliang's gaze towards Li Fan grew softer.

Time flowed, and in a flash, four years had passed. It was now Anchoring Year 26. Li Fan, who was studying formations, paused slightly in thought. This was because his clone, Lin Fan, who had been in seclusion deducing cultivation methods, had run out of contribution points and was forced to emerge. Equivalent to 270 years of comprehension, the result was neither excellent nor terrible.

Creating one's own cultivation method was truly difficult; even adapting existing methods, rather than creating something from scratch, presented immense challenges. Of the two cultivation methods, only one had been successfully deduced. The remaining one was only a little over halfway complete. Li Fan estimated that another thirty years should be sufficient. On average, it took him about 150 years to deduce a new method. And this was only for Foundation Establishment stage cultivation methods. No wonder the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Council could monopolize cultivation methods. It was truly more trouble than it was worth, with costs far outweighing the benefits.

Li Fan examined the new cultivation method he had comprehended: "Intent Spirit Illusion Technique." It was deduced by combining the "Nether Spirit Illusion Technique" with insights from Zhang Haobo's sword intent Foundation Establishment. With this cultivation method, the Blue Flame Illusion Spirit would achieve further growth. As for the new movement technique based on the "Shadow Following Art," it had not yet been deduced.

He didn't cultivate it for now; Li Fan still seized the remaining time to improve his understanding of formations as much as possible. Meanwhile, his clone Lin Fan performed various odd jobs on Myriad Immortals Island to accumulate contribution points, sustaining himself in the Heavenly Profound Realm, while also gathering information on events that had occurred over the past few years. But he didn't uncover any useful news. Since Anchoring Year 22, the entire Congyun Sea had fallen into an eerie calm, as if something was brewing.

The river of time continued to surge forward. In a flash, it was Anchoring Year 28. The time Li Fan had planned to withdraw from Congyun Sea had arrived, just as he was about to find an excuse to bid farewell to Zhang Zhiliang. Instead, Zhang Zhiliang led him alone to a secluded, enclosed space.

In the distance was a dazzling star river. Li Fan, who had been studying formations for nearly ten years, could vaguely discern the traces of a slowly operating grand formation. "I have something I need you to do for me," Zhang Zhiliang said, looking at Li Fan with a serious expression. His words were unusually firm, giving Li Fan no chance to refuse.

"You will make a trip to Tianyu State for me, which is where the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters are located. Once you arrive there, open this item, and you will naturally know what to do next." Li Fan was slightly taken aback and took the item Zhang Zhiliang handed him. He saw that it was a small rectangular black box with a sleek, dark surface. A formation was engraved on it, serving as a seal.

"While carrying this item, you cannot use teleportation formations. You will need to fly the entire way. Tianyu State is a long journey; at your speed, it will likely take two to three years to reach it. While traveling, don't be idle. Break the sealing formation on it. I believe with your current level in the way of formations, the seal will naturally be broken by the time you reach Tianyu State."

Li Fan initially didn't understand the purpose of Zhang Zhiliang's mysterious task. However, after hearing his series of demands, he understood. He silently put away the small black box, didn't ask about compensation, and prepared to take his leave.

As he was about to leave, Li Fan still asked, "Master Zhang, aren't you leaving?" Zhang Zhiliang was startled for a moment, then carefully re-examined Li Fan. His eyes filled with approval as he replied, "Leave? The world is vast, but where can one go? You may go!"

Li Fan respectfully bowed, said nothing more, and left the Strategy Formation Hall. "I hope I haven't misjudged him," Zhang Zhiliang said, watching the direction Li Fan had disappeared in, and sighed.

Standing on the Transmission Square, looking at the statue of the Transmission Immortal Venerable and the bustling cultivators of Congyun Sea, Li Fan understood. It was time. Using a communication talisman, he contacted Su Xiaomei. He asked her to wait with everyone on Night Orchid Island. Immediately, he used a teleportation formation to arrive at Glazed Island. He planned to take Su Xiaomei and the others and leave together.

However, as soon as he exited the teleportation formation, he was called out by Yuwen Xing, the Glazed Island guardian. "I have a good assignment here; I wonder if fellow Daoist is interested?" Yuwen Xing asked, looking at Li Fan enthusiastically. "Oh? What kind of assignment?" Li Fan politely asked, though he didn't take it seriously. Anyway, no matter what Yuwen Xing said, he would definitely refuse.

"The Tai'an Island guardian and I have a good relationship," Yuwen Xing began. "He's currently facing a cultivation bottleneck and wants to go out to seek opportunities. However, due to his duties, he cannot leave without authorization. So he asked me if I could recommend a suitable person. Coincidentally, I met you." Yuwen Xing said with a smile.

Li Fan only heard one sentence before he knew something was wrong. By the time Yuwen Xing finished speaking, his face had darkened even more. "Again?" "No, no. I've been entrusted with a task that requires me to travel. I really can't spare the time." "Fellow Daoist should seek someone more capable!" Li Fan said, cupping his hands and refusing without hesitation.