Chapter 266: Blue Flame Conceals Danger

Angry Squid:

“Mind riding the purple heavens, body like thunder…”

“What an excellent evasion technique!”

After thoroughly studying the secret art of the Purple Heavens Divine Thunder Evasion, a hint of joy flashed in Li Fan’s eyes.

Immediately, he felt a slight regret: “Unfortunately, without the true essence of the divine thunder from the Purple Heavens Thunder Control Manual, the evasion technique’s speed will be greatly reduced.”

“If I use it alone, I estimate it will only achieve half of its full speed.”

“Even so, it’s still significantly faster than the evasion techniques normally sold in the Heavenly Profound Mirror.”

Obtaining this secret art after defeating Zhang Qianmo was a complete surprise.

Normally, killing figures in the Immortal Annihilation Realm wouldn’t yield any rewards.

Otherwise, exploring the Immortal Annihilation Realm would be simple; one could just form a group and slaughter.

This situation usually arises because the slain figure’s obsession is directly linked to being defeated.

“Dugu Qiubai Zhang Qianmo?”

Li Fan couldn’t help but think this.

“However, if not for the Blue Flame Illusory Spirit method, which allowed me to greatly extend my time in the Immortal Annihilation Realm…”

“…it would have been almost impossible to exhaust Senior Brother Zhang to death.”

Entering the absolute rational state of the Blue Flame Illusory Spirit could increase one’s duration in the Immortal Annihilation Realm.

This was inspired by Chen Ying from the Medicine Hall.

To improve the efficiency of exploring the Immortal Annihilation Realm, Chen Ying needed to refine the Ice-Heart Severing Emotion Pill using blue blood coral.

Surprisingly, after the blue blood coral was imbued with a trace of the Blue Feather Illusory Spirit’s icy aura, the potency of the refined Ice-Heart Severing Emotion Pill significantly increased out of thin air.

At that time, Li Fan surmised that activating the special state of the Blue Flame Illusory Spirit might substitute for, or even surpass, the effects of consuming the Ice-Heart Severing Emotion Pill.

This recent test proved to be exactly as he had anticipated.

The reason Li Fan hadn’t used the Blue Flame Illusory Spirit in previous Immortal Annihilation Realm explorations was due to a faint concern in his heart.

After cultivating the Profound Yellow Pure Heart Spell as if it were a breathing instinct, and diligently practicing it for centuries without ceasing…

…although he still hadn’t achieved any substantial breakthrough, Li Fan’s understanding of his own “mental state” far surpassed that of ordinary people.

This time, in the Immortal Annihilation Realm, Li Fan remained in that special state for nearly thirty days.

After exiting, Li Fan, despite his fatigue, keenly noticed the “erosion” caused by that icy coldness on himself.

Ever since witnessing existences like the Heavenly Physician and the entity from Dao Source State…

…Li Fan had always maintained a cautious attitude towards the transcendent powers of this world.

The same applied to this inexplicably manifested Blue Flame.

Unlike other cultivation methods, the ‘Nether Spirit Illusory Art’ and its later advanced version, the ‘Intent Spirit Illusory Art,’ belonged to a special series of summoning techniques.

That cold, rational power did not originate from the cultivation method itself, but from the visualized illusory spirit.

This was a fundamental difference.

Not to mention, this Blue Flame Illusory Spirit might have a tangible counterpart existing in the real world.

Naturally, Li Fan couldn’t be entirely at ease with it.

Overpowered abilities naturally come with corresponding negative effects; this was to be expected.

Used occasionally as a trump card, its negative effects might be neutralized by the Profound Yellow Pure Heart Spell.

However, if it were abused without restraint…

…it was uncertain if one’s mind would be subtly altered by it.

The inexplicable erosion he felt this time was the best proof of that.

Moreover, while the Blue Flame Illusory Spirit could greatly extend one’s duration in the Immortal Annihilation Realm, its drawbacks were also extremely apparent.

The Immortal Annihilation Realm was a world derived from consciousness.

Such a method of suppressing consciousness fluctuations to an extremely low level would undoubtedly be seen as a terrifying anomaly by the native inhabitants of the Immortal Annihilation Realm.

Zhang Qianmo’s immediate recognition of Li Fan and his subsequent cautious demeanor clearly demonstrated this point.

It was only suitable for decisive actions after a plan had been finalized, not for routine exploration.

In any case, with the assistance of the Blue Flame Illusory Spirit, Li Fan ultimately dealt with the obstacle Zhang Qianmo.

This made Li Fan, who had been trapped in Ningyuan City, greatly anticipate his next encounter after re-entering the Immortal Annihilation Realm.

After all, the Immortal Annihilation Realm was even vaster than the Profound Yellow World; if he remained confined to one area and couldn’t fully explore its profound mysteries…

…wouldn’t that be too great a pity?

With the long-standing issue in his mind finally resolved, Li Fan couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief.

After destroying the traces of his underwater seclusion, Li Fan was about to return to Myriad Immortals Island when he suddenly received a message from Zhang Zhiliang.

The message asked Li Fan to come to the Strategy Formation Hall.

After pondering for a moment, Li Fan did not delay.

Transforming the ‘Connected Hatred Branch’ in his dantian into a ‘Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart,’ he headed straight for the Strategy Formation Hall.

Entering the slanting metal building, Li Fan, familiar with the way, arrived at Zhang Zhiliang’s location.

Zhang Zhiliang stood tall, seemingly unchanged from before.

However, a persistent, faint sense of crisis that kept surfacing in Li Fan’s heart had never appeared when he faced Zhang Zhiliang previously.

“It seems…”

As soon as the thought emerged in his mind, Li Fan suppressed it using the Profound Yellow Pure Heart Spell.

“Greetings, Master!”

He bowed in salute, his mind clear of distractions.

Zhang Zhiliang appraised Li Fan, nodded, and said, “It seems your progress is good. Once the opportunity arises, you’ll naturally be able to break through to the Golden Core stage.”

Changing the topic, he suddenly asked, “You have already received three Divine Split Jade Slips from me.”

“How has your study of the most recent Divine Split Jade Slip been?”

Li Fan truthfully reported the situation.

Zhang Zhiliang then tossed over a Spirit-Sensing Orb, indicating for Li Fan to take a test.

As his divine sense entered it, numerous formation puzzles came whistling towards him.

Li Fan answered them one by one.

Compared to the Spirit-Sensing Orb test Zhang Zhiliang gave him in his previous life, the difficulty of this set of questions was clearly much higher.

However, after nearly a decade of continuous formation study, Li Fan was no longer the unlearned person he once was.

After the test concluded, Zhang Zhiliang looked at the glowing points on the Spirit-Sensing Orb and finally revealed a hint of satisfaction.

“Not bad.”

“While your ambition isn’t particularly strong, your foundation is very solid.”

“It’s clear that you’ve put in a lot of hard work in the path of formations.”

Li Fan lowered his head and replied, “Master, you flatter me. This junior knows he is slow-witted, so to avoid falling behind, diligence is the only way to compensate for clumsiness.”

Zhang Zhiliang smiled. “To learn the Way of Formations I taught to such an extent in just a few years, your aptitude is not bad!”

“There’s no need to belittle yourself!”

Zhang Zhiliang made his judgment.

Of course, if he knew Li Fan’s actual study time, he would certainly not think this way.

Fortunately, he didn’t know.

“Good aptitude, coupled with tireless diligence.”

Zhang Zhiliang looked at Li Fan again and said, “Two years from now, there will be a closed training session in Tianyu State for young formation prodigies from various states of the Myriad Immortals Alliance.”

“Our Congyun Sea has three spots.”

“I intend to give one of them to you.”

“Are you willing to go?”