Chapter 366: Blood Solidifies the Path

It was like drinking a bowl of ice water in the height of summer; Li Fan felt refreshed, both body and mind.

His spirit was growing stronger at a perceptible rate.

"It really works!"

"The Profound Yellow Heart Refining Spell, combined with the Life-Death Perception Scroll, truly has a miraculous effect!"

His hypothesis confirmed, Li Fan was immediately delighted.

"This way, the speed at which my spirit strengthens will likely reach an extremely terrifying level."

Just as Li Fan was about to redouble his efforts and try the Life-Death Perception Scroll again, the outcome deviated from his expectations.

Perhaps due to the recent excessive fright, he had developed a psychological adaptation. This time, even when the Celestial Physician's face was nearly touching Li Fan's, not a shred of fear arose in Li Fan's heart. Thoughts like "Forget it, just get it over with. Kill me, quickly" even occasionally flickered through his mind.

"If the heart fears not, how can death intimidate it?" Li Fan seemed to grasp something, shook his head, and ceased his cultivation.

"I finally understand why Zhong Shentong attempted suicide. It seems it truly is the influence of this Life-Death Profound Art."

"However, despite its drawbacks, abandoning this cultivation method, especially when combined with the Heart Refining Spell, would be quite a pity."

"After all, completing a full 'reverse cultivation of the Dao heart' is quite troublesome."

"With the help of this Life-Death Perception Scroll, the feedback is almost instantaneous."

"Moreover, both can be combined and used simultaneously."

"In this lifetime, I'll try cultivating it again after the adaptation period to see the effect."

"In the next lifetime, perhaps I can complete the 'Life-Death Profound Art' through the Yanfa Jue."

For him, the flaws in cultivation techniques were not an issue at all. As long as there were merits, he could incorporate them into his own use. Perhaps, once he collected enough cultivation techniques, he could use the Yanfa Jue to deduce a truly unique "Heavenly Net Divine Art" that belonged only to him.

Zhong Shentong's unexpected visit led Master Li, who was always known for his diligence, to uncharacteristically enter seclusion for several days of rest. The cultivators of the Jiaxu remained unfazed. They even wished Li Fan would rest for a longer period. If Li Fan were to actually die from overwork on the job, they would likely be condemned for life.

However, the cultivators' hopes were destined to be in vain. As soon as Li Fan emerged from his secluded chamber, he immediately resumed the work of constructing the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Array without delay. And once he started this time, there was not a moment's pause.

After the outer array structure of the locking formation was completed and he rejoined Xue Mu and the other array masters, Li Fan volunteered to take the lead in building the inner formations towards the center. This desperate exertion filled Xue Mu and the others with shame. They could only follow suit, working tirelessly.

In this manner, time advanced to Anchor Year 35.

On this day, Li Fan, who was meticulously constructing an array unit, suddenly experienced a tremor in his hand, resulting in an exceptionally rare array-laying failure. The cultivators guarding him all looked at Li Fan with surprise. This was something that had never happened since they started following Li Fan. Master Li was renowned for the efficiency and precision of his array placements. In the Grand Competition's Gold Rankings, he now held a position within the top ten. Many array masters even traveled great distances to observe him, remarking how inferior they felt in comparison.

Could it be that years of fatigue were finally taking their toll on his body? The group exchanged worried glances.

However, moments later, the surges of spiritual energy emanating from Li Fan filled them with pleasant surprise.

"Master Li, have you advanced further in your cultivation?" He Chen couldn't help but ask.

Li Fan calmed the sudden, continuous surge of cultivation feedback within him and nodded slightly. Upon seeing Li Fan's personal admission, He Chen and the others wore inexplicable expressions. Working in such arduous conditions, with almost no cultivation for several years, and with his lifespan already nearing its end. Despite all these unfavorable factors combined, Master Li still managed to make a breakthrough? This completely overturned their understanding. Could this be the legendary "Heaven helps those who help themselves"?

Li Fan, however, had no time to consider the thoughts of the cultivators around him. He was attempting to use the Formless Killing Intent to check on Su Xiaomei and Zhang Haobo. The enormous surge in his cultivation progress, a feedback in cultivation, came precisely from the two individuals who had been missing in the Chaoyuan Sect ruins for nearly ten years.

"For these ten years, they seemed to have completely vanished from this world. There was not a single bit of feedback."

"And now, after ten years, their reappearance has given me a huge surprise."

This was the most significant return on investment Li Fan had received since cultivating the "Sitting Mountain Art." It far exceeded the maximum feedback a Golden Core cultivator could provide. Li Fan estimated that Su Xiaomei and Zhang Haobo had likely both entered the Nascent Soul realm.

"Interesting. Even with their talent, cultivating from Foundation Establishment Completion to Nascent Soul realm in ten years seems overly exaggerated."

"Furthermore, where did they obtain these cultivation techniques and grotto-heavens?"

"It seems they've truly gained a lot within the Chaoyuan Sect."

Perhaps because they were deep within the white mist, too far from Jiushan Province, even with the help of the Spirit-Awakening Shocking Divine Array he had left for them, he couldn't perceive the situation on their side for the time being. Instead, the Bone Vanguard Realm, which had been unvisited for a long time, welcomed a long-awaited guest.

As the master of the Bone Vanguard Realm, Li Fan felt a stirring within him. He immediately motioned for everyone to rest, returned to the Jiaxu stronghold, entered the secret chamber, and performed a ritual. By the time he entered, there was no trace of the visitor left in the Vanguard Realm. However, judging by the residual aura, the visitor was undoubtedly Su Xiaomei.

Li Fan scanned the area and quickly noticed something at the designated resting place of the "Skull" senior. A pile of strange, oddly shaped objects was laid out there. Remembering his past instructions, Li Fan's heart skipped a beat. He flew forward, took hold of one item, and examined it carefully.

"Rechargeable item detected. Do you wish to absorb it?" The prompt indeed appeared at the opportune moment. After Li Fan made his selection, the anchor charging progress flickered slightly. Ultimately, there was no change.

"Heaven and Earth Wonders?" Li Fan looked at the pile of ragged "junk" before him, his expression peculiar. "And they are all damaged Heaven and Earth Wonders, precipitated from within cultivators after their deaths."

As for the quantity... Li Fan counted them subtly, and his heart immediately pounded. Three thousand seven hundred and sixty-two items. Undoubtedly, these were all obtained by Su Xiaomei from the Chaoyuan Sect ruins.

Li Fan picked up another item and observed it closely. They didn't resemble ancient historical relics; instead, they looked as if they had just been extracted from deceased cultivators. There was even a faint, strong scent of blood clinging to them.

"Cultivation techniques, grotto-heavens, so many Heaven and Earth Wonders..."

"What exactly did Shuofeng, Su Xiaomei, and the others encounter within the Chaoyuan Sect ruins?"

Even with a myriad of questions in his mind, Li Fan did not delay absorbing the Heaven and Earth Wonders. After continuously absorbing thirteen of these wondrous items, the anchor's charging progress finally flickered. It changed from 2% to 3%.