Chapter 288: Illusion and Reality at Chaoyuan Sect

After leaving Yinyin Island, Su Changyu's expression was exhilarated, and it took him a long time to calm his excited mood.

"I didn't expect such an amazing encounter on this trip."

Although he was still some distance from reaching Foundation Establishment, unlike before, he was now filled with an immense desire to cultivate. He wished he could achieve Qi Condensation completion and reach Foundation Establishment as soon as possible.

"After I achieve Foundation Establishment, my cultivation speed should be able to catch up with Xiao Heng, Xiaomei, and the others," Su Changyu thought to himself.

He didn't delay anywhere else. After discerning his direction, he flew straight towards the barren island.

Inside the Heavenly Profound Mirror.

Li Fan recalled the scenes he had just witnessed through Su Changyu, his brows slightly furrowed.

"I didn't expect Su Changyu to inexplicably end up with Revered Yin and learn about the secrets of 'Foundation Establishment through Oneself.' It seems the hidden guidance I sensed from heaven and earth was indeed real."

Li Fan was still quite looking forward to seeing whether Su Changyu could successfully achieve Foundation Establishment through himself in this lifetime.

However, Li Fan was more concerned about Revered Yin's condition now.

In the Twelfth Lifetime, when Li Fan first met Revered Yin in year 13 of the anchor, his hair was still streaked with black and white.

Now, in year 25 of the anchor, only twelve years later, his hair had turned completely white.

Such rapid aging was almost impossible for a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

This indicated that Revered Yin had suffered immense mental exhaustion over the years.

What concerned Li Fan even more was that all the test subjects on Yinyin Island, along with many treasures Revered Yin once highly valued, had been destroyed.

Yet, Revered Yin seemed completely indifferent.

Or rather...

He himself must have destroyed those things.

Considering the sudden burst of flames on the island and Revered Yin's increasingly deranged expression.

"Does he want to commit suicide?"

A thought stirred in Li Fan's mind.

To confirm his suspicion, Li Fan left the Heavenly Profound Mirror and hurried towards Yinyin Island.

By the time he reached his destination, the square building had indeed been reduced to ruins.

It had burned very thoroughly.

Li Fan searched for a while but found nothing of value.

Standing silently above the ruins, Li Fan's brows were tightly furrowed.

"Why?"

"Revered Yin must have been researching the secrets of the Immortal-Mortal Miasma all these years."

"What exactly did he discover to even consider taking his own life?"

One should know that cultivators' desire for survival far exceeded that of mortals by thousands of times.

It was rare to hear of cultivators committing suicide.

"Was it truly suicide, or was he forced?"

Revered Yin's somewhat crazed words from back then resurfaced: "Aren't you curious? Why can a mere mortal plague infect cultivators? If I can figure out the source of this mutation, perhaps I can solve the Immortal-Mortal Miasma from its root! By then, I will be a great existence remembered by the entire cultivation world!"

Li Fan's expression grew somewhat serious: "I used to think he was just a Foundation Establishment cultivator, incapable of researching anything significant. So, I always ignored him."

"I didn't expect him to actually make some discoveries."

"Perhaps, in the next life, I can pay special 'attention' to him."

Li Fan mused to himself.

After another glance at the ruins of Yinyin Island, Li Fan was about to leave when he suddenly paused.

A sea breeze swept through, and amidst the scorched ground, a crystalline white light suddenly appeared.

Li Fan flew closer and retrieved the glowing object.

It was somewhat familiar.

A white rib bone.

It seemed to be the rib bone of the first cultivator infected with the Immortal-Mortal Miasma, which Revered Yin had valued most during his lifetime.

Revered Yin himself had turned to ashes in the raging flames, yet this rib bone had been perfectly preserved.

It was said to be a highly coveted item, and indeed, it seemed to possess some unique property.

Li Fan casually tucked it into his storage ring.

Returning to Myriad Immortals Island, he asked the Heavenly Profound Mirror to appraise it.

However, he only received the result: "Cultivator's remains, worth 1 contribution point."

"It seems this is only valuable to specific individuals," Li Fan shook his head and put the rib bone away again.

He then sensed the situation of the various prodigies.

"Xiao Heng still arrived at the Cloudwater Heavenly Palace. However, he didn't enter immediately, instead standing outside, gazing up at the colossal azure building suspended in the sky. He was likely contemplating something."

"Su Xiaomei and her two companions seemed not far from the Chaoyuan Sect ruins."

"It's almost harvest time again."

At this moment, within Li Fan's Dantian, two Tribulation Bodies had fully formed.

The phantom of the third Tribulation Body was gradually forming.

"The cultivation stored in these can be seamlessly converted once I break through to the Golden Core stage. If I accumulate enough Tribulation Bodies, I might even break through again as soon as I enter Golden Core."

Li Fan couldn't help but show a look of joy, like an old farmer.

"As for He Zhenghao..."

"Why hasn't there been any cultivation feedback from him recently?"

The distance was too great, and the Formless Killing Intent could no longer sense the other party's perspective.

Li Fan thought for a moment and sent him a message, inquiring about his recent situation.

However, he received an automatic reply: "Currently undergoing closed training at the Garrison Academy. Unable to reply. Please forgive."

"So, Fellow Daoist He has already entered the Garrison Academy?"

Counting the time, it had been almost three years since He Zhenghao took office.

"Jing Xuan's work is indeed reliable; the contribution points weren't wasted."

"After the formation training in Tianyu Prefecture concludes, the Congyun Sea should be gone. I'll then head directly to Tianyun Prefecture to meet up with Fellow Daoist He."

As Li Fan quietly planned for the future.

Su Xiaomei and her two companions had already arrived at the Thousand-Mile Marsh, the site of the Chaoyuan Sect ruins.

Having finally reached their destination, Su Xiaomei gazed excitedly at the magnificent complex of buildings not far away, wishing she could rush into the ruins the very next second.

Zhang Haobo, however, was somewhat puzzled: "Didn't they say the ruins attracted many cultivators for exploration? Why is the road so deserted? Where are the people?"

Shuofeng also frowned: "It is a bit strange. But there's no need to overthink it; we'll know once we go closer and see."

Upon reaching the entrance of the Chaoyuan Sect ruins, it was not as bustling as rumored.

Some cultivators hesitated, unwilling to enter but also reluctant to leave.

After a brief inquiry, they learned why the ruins, which had been bustling and lively just recently, now looked like this.

It turned out that just seven days ago, a terrifying event occurred at the Chaoyuan Sect ruins, which cultivators had previously believed to be relatively safe.

A Golden Core cultivator who came seeking opportunities first mysteriously disappeared.

When he reappeared, everyone discovered that he had become an existence similar to the phantoms that occasionally appeared in the ruins.

They could even hear and see him frantically scrambling through the Chaoyuan Sect, filled with despair, trying to find a way to return to his original state.

However, this Golden Core cultivator seemed to have entered another world; no matter what, he could not interact with people in the real world.

Nor could he leave the confines of the Chaoyuan Sect ruins.