Chapter 150: Initial Test of the Mountain Sitting Technique

"Don't worry about the number of contribution points. Just pick the wonders and cultivation techniques you like."

Although he had spoken of being frugal, Li Fan still instructed Su Xiaomei and Xiao Heng, who both looked conflicted. They breathed a sigh of relief. After most of the morning, they finally selected what they needed from the vast list of resources in the Sky Profound Mirror.

For her Foundation Establishment wonder, Su Xiaomei chose the Blazing Feather, a top-grade Human Wonder, valued at 6,000 contribution points. As for her cultivation technique, she picked the advanced version of "Heart Fire Flame Technique," "Heart Blazing Flame Technique," also worth 6,000 contribution points.

Xiao Heng's Foundation Establishment wonder was the Drifting Cloud Stele, a top-grade Human Wonder, valued at 5,500 contribution points. His cultivation technique was the "Spring Breeze Transforming Rain Art," worth 5,500 contribution points.

Once they had made their selections, the two obediently moved closer to Li Fan, looking at him expectantly as he prepared to pay. The total came to 23,000 contribution points.

Even though Li Fan possessed a large sum of over 90,000 contribution points, his eyelids twitched. No wonder He Zhenghao had a limited perspective; he simply couldn't afford to support others.

Investing in a single Foundation Establishment cultivator required at least 10,000 contribution points. Li Fan recalled that the annual reward for guarding an island in the Cloud Sea was merely a few hundred to just over two thousand contribution points. Even with some extra income, accumulating over 10,000 contribution points would take at least two to three years. To give away something he had worked so hard for over such a long time... who could bear to part with it?

"As expected, this 'Mountain Sitting Art' is not for just anyone to cultivate," Li Fan mused, as he purchased the four items. In the blink of an eye, his 90,000 contribution points dropped to 67,000, plus the 1,100 points he had left over previously. Li Fan now had only 68,100 contribution points remaining.

"You can begin your Foundation Establishment here, and I will guard you," Li Fan instructed, handing the items to them. Overjoyed, the two immediately agreed. Feeling completely at ease with Li Fan, Su Xiaomei and Xiao Heng began their secluded cultivation for Foundation Establishment in the room.

With his Formless Killing Intent locked onto them, Li Fan once again took the opportunity to observe and comprehend the Foundation Establishment process. Although he had already completed Foundation Establishment in this life, Li Fan's ultimate goal was not merely to establish his Dao foundation using the Earth Wonder, Ocean Pearl. Therefore, gaining more insights into Foundation Establishment was always beneficial for Li Fan.

The talent of the two was truly extraordinary. Just one day later, as the phantom of a fiery bird took shape in Su Xiaomei's dantian, she successfully advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage. At the same time, Li Fan felt a surge of pure cultivation power suddenly emerge within him. And it didn't just appear once and then vanish completely. Instead, it continued to increase steadily, like a babbling brook in the mountains. However, the subsequent increments became very small, almost negligible.

After her breakthrough, Su Xiaomei looked excited. But she also knew her place; seeing that Xiao Heng was still in the process of Foundation Establishment, she didn't make a fuss. She quietly stood by Li Fan, waiting for Xiao Heng to complete his breakthrough.

Another half-day passed, and a blue cloud took shape, marking Xiao Heng's formal entry into the Foundation Establishment stage. However, the cultivation feedback from the "Mountain Sitting Art" in his case was only one-fifth of what Su Xiaomei had provided. As for subsequent increases in cultivation, they were practically non-existent.

After his breakthrough, Xiao Heng beamed with joy. But he quickly calmed down and kowtowed to Li Fan in salute. Li Fan nodded, accepting the gesture calmly, and then led the two to meet Su Changyu and the others.

Su Changyu and the Yin sisters were genuinely delighted to see the two breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment stage and offered their congratulations repeatedly. Zhao Erbao, on the other hand, widened his eyes, his gaze darting back and forth between the two and Li Fan, filled with disbelief.

After a period of celebration, Li Fan instructed, "Our current dwelling is still too rudimentary. Next, you will work together to build a proper cultivation abode at Moonlit Lake for everyone's future practice."

"I will give Xiao Heng 5,000 contribution points, and you can purchase the necessary materials yourself from the Small Sky Profound Mirror."

"I have something to attend to outside. I hope to see the abode completed when I return."

"There is also someone else in the stone chamber at the bottom of the lake; he is my friend. If you encounter any problems you can't solve, you may consult him."

Everyone acknowledged the command in unison.

After transferring 5,000 contribution points to Xiao Heng, Li Fan spent another twenty-odd days returning to Source Dao City. He entered the Sky Profound Mirror, spent 10,000 contribution points, and activated the assisted cultivation mode. He dedicated himself to cultivating the "Mountain Sitting Art."

Time flew by swiftly; a hundred days passed in a flash. In the blink of an eye, it was already Anchoring Year 29. Li Fan awoke from his seclusion, checking the increase in his cultivation. The result greatly surprised him. The cultivation he gained from over a hundred days of practice was only about double the cultivation feedback he received from Su Xiaomei's breakthrough.

"No, it shouldn't even be double. Over these hundred days, Su Xiaomei and Xiao Heng's strength must have increased. So, the cultivation I gained wasn't solely from my own practice; a small portion was also feedback from the 'Mountain Sitting Art'."

"It's foreseeable that as Su Xiaomei's cultivation continuously improves, the feedback will keep flowing. It should eventually stop only when they reach the complete Foundation Establishment stage."

"A rough conclusion can be drawn now. For the same amount of contribution points, the total cultivation increase obtained through this method far exceeds what I could gain from my own cultivation. However, this process is very lengthy. Investing in individuals with ordinary talent might often require nearly a hundred years to enjoy the full benefits."

"Investing in exceptionally gifted prodigies, however, can significantly shorten this process."

"But regardless, imparting the 'Mountain Sitting Art' is a sure bet, a no-loss venture."

"From this perspective, given sufficient contribution points, the fastest way to cultivate is a two-pronged approach: cultivating oneself in the Sky Profound Mirror while also imparting the art and reaping its passive benefits."

"Unfortunately, the consumption of contribution points for this is too immense; even 200,000 contribution points wouldn't last very long. It's not a long-term strategy."

"To maximize the return on contribution points, one should ideally not use the Sky Profound Mirror for personal cultivation. Instead, all contribution points should be invested in prodigies, relying on the cultivation increase from passive feedback to advance one's realm."

"Regrettably, prodigies are rare; across my two lives, I've only encountered two or three."

"And the cultivation speed certainly wouldn't be as fast as using spirit-awakening cultivation fully."

Li Fan paused his thoughts and then considered Xiao Heng's situation. "Imparting the art for a fee can also provide cultivation feedback. And if the safe recovery of contribution points can be ensured, wouldn't that be like profiting immensely with no capital?"

"What if I charged just a small fee..."

"Presumably, many cultivators stuck at bottlenecks and eager for breakthroughs would be willing to pay a negligible price to obtain cultivation techniques or wonders in advance."

"I have Formless Killing Intent, so I don't fear these cultivators fleeing. Su Xiaomei and Xiao Heng are my two great protectors; if someone defaults on a payment, I wouldn't even need to personally collect it."

"If I encounter a true prodigy, offering it for free wouldn't be out of the question either..."

"Good! Excellent!" Li Fan couldn't help but exclaim, growing more excited the more he thought.

"The 'Mountain Sitting Art' is truly a remarkable cultivation technique!"

"Such a divine art, yet you, Fellow Daoist He, didn't know how to use it! What a waste of a precious resource!"