Chapter 149: First Investment

Li Fan wasn't complaining. It was simply that the "Mountain Sitting Art" was genuinely not created by cultivators in the first place.

Its precise origin was untraceable. However, according to the cultivation method's records, the initial version of the "Mountain Sitting Art" required "sitting on a mountain" to advance one's cultivation realm. One would gain cultivation feedback by continuously increasing the height of a chosen peak. This process was incredibly slow.

In ancient times, mountains and rivers were not as prone to change as they are today. A single peak would often take thousands of years to grow even slightly taller. If the "Mountain Sitting Art" wasn't a joke, then it seemed less intended for human cultivation and more for the trees and rocks atop the mountains.

However, as far as Li Fan knew, the current cultivation world had no plant spirits or mutated demonic beasts, only humans. Even the slightly stronger exotic beasts could only harness a trace of extraordinary power through their bloodlines, but they were utterly incapable of cultivation.

"Could it be that, originally, this world also contained spirits and monsters? Perhaps some unforeseen event occurred later, causing all the demonic beasts to vanish," Li Fan mused.

Regardless of the truth, it had little bearing on Li Fan's cultivation of the "Mountain Sitting Art." He merely pondered for a moment, knowing that further inquiry would be futile.

The original "Mountain Sitting Art" was simply not viable for cultivators. However, with the onset of the Great Tribulation, as geographical changes became increasingly frequent, the "Mountain Sitting Art" paradoxically became somewhat trainable.

Later, a millennium ago, an astonishingly talented individual inadvertently acquired the "Mountain Sitting Art." Building on its core principle of "reaping what the mountain sows," they modified the technique. Their revisions allowed personal cultivation to also advance the art's progress. Furthermore, they expanded the scope of "reaping without sowing" from mountains to people. This transformation officially made the "Mountain Sitting Art" a rare and exceptional method.

Unfortunately, this peerless genius only documented this in the technique's preface, never revealing their name.

The "Mountain Sitting Art," like the "Sea Stabilizing Divine Sword," was a Core Formation stage cultivation method. For this lifetime, it would certainly suffice for Li Fan's cultivation.

Li Fan began circulating the art's incantations, and in mere moments, he had grasped the fundamentals of the "Mountain Sitting Art." However, the familiar sensation of stagnation in his cultivation soon reappeared. It was clear that the "Mountain Sitting Art" also didn't harmonize with Li Fan's Foundation Establishment Spirit Item, the Azure Sea Pearl.

Li Fan hesitated briefly before activating the "Supreme Primordial True Scripture." He completely dissipated his cultivation base from the "Thousand Machines Jade Ring Golden Chapter" and switched to cultivating the "Mountain Sitting Art" instead.

Aided by the vast and refined cultivation base of the Foundation Establishment stage, Li Fan swiftly cultivated the "Mountain Sitting Art" to the Foundation Establishment realm.

"Next, I need to determine the true efficacy of this 'reaping without sowing' ability."

"If its effects are merely average, I might as well cultivate the 'Sea Stabilizing Divine Sword' instead."

Having made up his mind, Li Fan retrieved the jade slip containing the "Thousand Machines Jade Ring Golden Chapter."

"They say no kindness surpasses imparting a cultivation method, especially in this world where immortal arts cannot be simultaneously cultivated. The grace of imparting a technique is akin to recreation."

"He Zhenghao previously took considerable care of me, likely due to the 'reaping without sowing' effect."

"Unfortunately, his scope was too limited, offering only minor favors and benefits. Even if there was cultivation feedback, I doubt it would be substantial."

"With investments, naturally, the greater the input, the greater the return."

"I might as well take a big gamble and see what the 'Mountain Sitting Art' is truly capable of."

He then took out the Sky Profound Small Mirror to check the market value of Nascent Soul stage cultivation methods.

Within the Myriad Immortals Alliance, Qi Condensation stage cultivation methods typically cost between 1,000 and 3,000 contribution points. Foundation Establishment methods ranged from 5,000 to 10,000 points. However, a significant price jump occurred with Core Formation methods.

Even the lowest-grade ones started at 30,000 points, with more refined Core Formation techniques fetching higher prices, ranging from 40,000 to 50,000. True Nascent Soul methods began at 50,000, and 100,000 contribution points was not uncommon.

Li Fan even noticed a technique called the "Yin-Yang Dual Cultivation Harmony Pact," marked with an astounding price of 150,000 points. He wondered what profound secrets it held.

"Kou Hong, Dao Xuanzi, in this life, I certainly won't let you two brothers turn on each other."

Li Fan offered a slight smile and decided to sell the Nascent Soul cultivation method: the "Thousand Machines Jade Ring Golden Chapter."

The Sky Profound Small Mirror cast a faint glow. After a moment, it quoted a price of 90,000 contribution points.

Given that the Sky Profound Mirror purchased items at a discounted rate, this suggested the "Thousand Machines Jade Ring Golden Chapter" was indeed quite formidable.

Li Fan didn't hesitate and accepted the offer immediately.

A golden contract flew from the Sky Profound Small Mirror and paused before Li Fan.

Li Fan read it meticulously. The contract detailed various stipulations for the cultivation method transaction: once completed, the method would become the property of the Myriad Immortals Alliance. Any future use of the method would be unrelated to the original owner. The transaction was irreversible. The original owner's memories of the method would also automatically vanish upon completion. It strongly warned against keeping copies or trading it with others, stating that any consequences would be the owner's responsibility.

Finding no objections, Li Fan used his spiritual power as a brush and signed his name on the golden contract. The contract then disintegrated into countless golden particles; some vanished into Li Fan's body, while others, carrying the jade slip, returned into the Sky Profound Small Mirror.

Once the transaction was finalized, Li Fan's memory of the "Thousand Machines Jade Ring Golden Chapter"'s specific content vanished. He merely recalled having once possessed the technique, but every word and phrase was entirely forgotten.

Li Fan felt no sense of loss whatsoever. After all, it was an item bound to him even across reincarnations, so there was no fear of losing it.

"It seems I'll be able to profit handsomely from this in every future life."

With 90,000 contribution points secured, Li Fan's experiment on the "reaping without sowing" effect commenced.

"The experiment requires a control group; Xiao Heng will be perfect."

The "Mountain Sitting Art"'s first investment target was naturally Su Xiaomei, with her innate immortal physique and heaven-defying talent.

His clone dressed, concealed its cultivation with a Concealment Talisman, and stood to the side. Then, he used a communication talisman to summon them both.

Soon, Su Xiaomei and Xiao Heng arrived in the stone chamber at the bottom of the lake. They looked curiously at the clone beside Li Fan, wondering who this unfamiliar cultivator was. However, as Li Fan remained silent, they dared not inquire.

"Hello, Master!" "Greetings, Senior!" The two saluted respectfully.

"How has your cultivation progressed?" Li Fan inquired, his back still facing them.

"Master, I've been cultivating so fast! I've already reached the peak of Qi Condensation and can soon achieve Foundation Establishment. But Foundation Establishment requires Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, and a Foundation Establishment cultivation method. It needs so, so many contribution points; I still have to save for a long time," Su Xiaomei explained pitifully, her large eyes fixed on Li Fan.

"Senior, like Xiaomei, I am also preparing for Foundation Establishment," Xiao Heng replied, somewhat reservedly.

He paused for a moment, seemingly deep in thought.

After a moment, Li Fan turned and said, "Collecting ancient Dao Rime artifacts for me has certainly delayed your progress."

Xiao Heng quickly responded, "Senior, what do you mean? It is my honor to serve you. If not for you, how could any of us have left the Isolated Realm and embarked on the path of immortality?"

"Furthermore, the cultivation methods we practice were also provided by you, Senior. This junior will never forget the grace of receiving such teachings."

Li Fan waited for Xiao Heng to finish before adding, "Cultivation emphasizes making quick progress initially, which then leads to accelerated progress throughout."

"If you rely solely on accumulating resources yourselves, I'm afraid you'll have to wait another three to five years."

"Wasting a few years of your most valuable cultivation time could drastically alter your future achievements."

"Therefore..." Li Fan paused, then continued, "You two may select the cultivation methods and wondrous items you prefer from this Sky Profound Mirror; I will cover the cost."

"Once you have them, proceed with your Foundation Establishment immediately; do not delay any further."

Su Xiaomei and Xiao Heng initially froze, seemingly unable to process the incredible good fortune that had just befallen them.

Just as joy blossomed on their faces and they were about to prostrate themselves in gratitude, they heard Li Fan say, "Su Xiaomei has always addressed me as Master, and though I've never officially acknowledged it, there's an unspoken bond between us. Therefore, I won't ask her for contribution points. Consider it a master's care for a disciple."

"As for you... the contribution points will be considered a loan from me. In the future, you will need to collect Heavenly and Earthly Treasures to repay it. Do you have any objections?"

These words produced starkly different reactions from Su Xiaomei and Xiao Heng.

Su Xiaomei cheered, "Long live Master!" then kowtowed once before eagerly rushing to the Sky Profound Small Mirror to select her cultivation method.

Xiao Heng watched Su Xiaomei, offering a wry smile. Then, his expression grew solemn: "Senior, your willingness to lend me contribution points and allow me to achieve Foundation Establishment early is an immense benevolence. How could this junior possibly be ungrateful?"

"After achieving Foundation Establishment, this junior will certainly dedicate all his efforts to collecting Heavenly and Earthly Treasures to repay Senior's kindness."

Li Fan nodded slowly at this. "Very well, you may go too."

Xiao Heng also kowtowed before joining Su Xiaomei by the Sky Profound Small Mirror to make his selection.

Observing the two excited faces, Li Fan's gaze was profound.

The starkly different treatment of Su Xiaomei and Xiao Heng was, of course, Li Fan's method of controlling variables.

He wanted to know how much cultivation feedback he would receive as their cultivation improved after he imparted the techniques. Would it justify his initial investment? And what would be the difference in feedback between imparting techniques freely versus charging for them?

For the same number of contribution points, would investing through the "Mountain Sitting Art" yield more cultivation, or would cultivating directly within the Sky Profound Mirror provide a greater boost?

These were all questions Li Fan needed to resolve, as they would determine how he would utilize the "reaping without sowing" characteristic of the "Mountain Sitting Art" in the future.

After reaching the early Foundation Establishment stage, the cost of activating the Sky Profound Mirror had increased to one hundred points per day. The cultivation multiplier had also dropped from twenty-seven times to approximately twenty times.

Moreover, the difficulty of cultivating in the Foundation Establishment stage represented a qualitative leap compared to the Qi Condensation stage. Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi were far from mediocre, yet it still took them over two hundred years each to reach the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment. This, to a certain extent, highlighted the immense difficulty of cultivation.

The consumption of contribution points was simply too high. While Li Fan could easily earn large amounts of contribution points due to his foreknowledge, he still needed to manage them meticulously.