Chapter 419: Ancient Cultivation Reaches the Future

"Indeed!"

Li Fan's resonant voice echoed through the space.

The Jade Heart-Questioning Platform remained silent, without the slightest reaction.

The old man scrutinized Li Fan once more, then continued, "May I ask where Fellow Daoist was slumbering before, and approximately when you awoke?"

Li Fan showed a hint of displeasure but still said in a deep voice, "On the outskirts of the Congyun Sea, in an underground cavern. As for the time, it should have been about twenty-six days ago."

"Please wait a moment, Fellow Daoist," the old man said with a smile, then closed his eyes.

Li Fan waited patiently on the Heart-Questioning Platform.

An entire day passed, and Li Fan began to show signs of impatience.

"Not done yet, old man?!"

"They truly get worse with each generation. Back in the day, when our Heavenly Mechanism Sect selected disciples, it wasn't nearly this troublesome..."

He muttered under his breath.

A moment later, the old man opened his eyes.

"It has been confirmed that a cultivator did indeed emerge from the Hundred Stones Grotto-Heaven a few days ago."

"However, Fellow Daoist, please don't rush. There's still one final procedure to complete."

The old man offered an apologetic smile. As he spoke, an ancient bronze mirror appeared above Li Fan's head. It emitted a faint green light, enveloping Li Fan.

"Here it comes..."

Li Fan's heart stirred slightly, yet he felt no fear. In a previous future, the Myriad Phenomena Furnace Art combined with the Sky-Shrouding Secret Art was enough to deceive the upgraded version of the Heavenly Arcane Mirror, the Profound Net. Now, Li Fan was further bolstered by the Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart, and what had come to verify him was merely a Heavenly Arcane Mirror clone. The possibility of exposure was negligible.

As expected, moments later, the Heavenly Arcane Mirror retracted its green light and vanished.

The old man's expression grew even more benevolent. "Welcome, Fellow Daoist, to our Myriad Immortals Alliance!"

"Time flows, and all things change. Many significant events have transpired in the world during the years you've been slumbering."

"If Fellow Daoist has any needs, our Myriad Immortals Alliance can dispatch a specialist to help you adapt to current life as quickly as possible..."

Li Fan waved his hand. "I appreciate the kind offer! However, before coming here, I had an encounter with He Zhenghao from Glazed Isle, so I've already learned quite a bit about your esteemed Alliance's affairs."

The old man nodded. "That's even better. Your identity information has been recorded, and you are now free to move about."

Hearing this, Li Fan stepped away.

"Oh, and Fellow Daoist, please remember to change your terminology from now on. It's no longer 'your esteemed Alliance,' but 'our Myriad Immortals Alliance,'" the old man said with a smile, seemingly with a deeper meaning.

Li Fan's steps paused slightly, but he didn't reply, simply walking straight away.

Leaving the central area of Myriad Immortals Island, he arrived before the Heavenly Arcane Mirror. Gazing at the seemingly ordinary and harmless mirror surface, Li Fan couldn't help but recall the vast green net that enveloped the entire Profound Yellow Realm in the future.

After staring for a long time, Li Fan took a deep breath and stepped into the mirror.

"Ancient cultivator Li Fan, welcome to the future!"

The Heavenly Arcane Mirror's familiar mechanical voice rang out. Following that was a series of introductory explanations for the Heavenly Arcane Mirror. Li Fan pretended to listen attentively, trying out every single function.

After a long while, the Heavenly Arcane Mirror's voice faded.

Li Fan looked at his contribution point balance.

"10,000 points."

"That's surprisingly generous. I remember only getting 1,000 points when I was in the late Foundation Establishment stage."

"Or perhaps, ancient cultivators who pledge allegiance receive special treatment?"

He secretly shook his head, putting this trivial matter out of his mind.

After searching through the cultivation technique list in the Heavenly Arcane Mirror, Li Fan took out a pile of jade slips from his storage ring, requesting to sell them. These were the many cultivation techniques he had acquired from the Hundred Stones Grotto-Heaven. Fortunately, all these cultivation techniques were unique copies. Originally, there were twenty Golden Core cultivation techniques and ten Nascent Soul cultivation techniques. Li Fan kept three of each, for future contingencies. He sold off all the rest.

The Heavenly Arcane Mirror offered an acquisition price of 13,000 points per Golden Core cultivation technique on average, and 85,000 points per Nascent Soul cultivation technique on average. Li Fan didn't quibble and immediately made the sale.

Thus, in an instant, Li Fan's account balance became 826,000 contribution points.

"Flipping cultivation techniques is truly the quickest way to earn money. It's so easy, almost comparable to what I gained from teaching at the Bright Moon Palace for many years back then."

"It's truly a basic necessity."

Li Fan couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"Over 800,000 contribution points will last for a while, but it's still not enough..."

Li Fan was currently at the mid Golden Core stage. Eight years from now, in Anchor Year 16, the Five Elements Grand Grotto-Heaven will be discovered and subsequently relocated to the Myriad Immortals Alliance's heartland. In Anchor Year 36, the Five Elements Grotto-Heaven will reappear in the void of Tianling State, drawing the Myriad Immortals Alliance's attention once more. This means Li Fan only has 20 years.

Time is pressing; Li Fan must advance to the peak Golden Core stage within eight years. Only then will he be qualified to scheme for the void region of Tianling State. Eight years, from mid Golden Core to peak Golden Core. Given Li Fan's cultivation aptitude, this is somewhat challenging. Therefore, he naturally needs to employ some methods.

Li Fan looked at his reflection in the mirror. It wasn't his original twenty-year-old youthful appearance. Instead, it was the appearance of a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties. This transformation was achieved through the "Mysterious True Spirit Transformation Art."

"Wearing another skin and not showing my true face gives me a unique sense of security in this perilous Profound Yellow Realm."

"If things go awry, it's just a matter of changing identities."

Li Fan smiled faintly and purchased the materials needed to refine a clone from the Heavenly Arcane Mirror. Afterward, he used a teleportation array to reach Taian Island. After locking onto Zhou Qingang, the guardian of Taian Island and also a spy for the Five Elders Association, with the Formless Killing Intent, he pretended to leave Taian Island but in reality didn't go far, instead submerging and lurking underwater.

He waited for over a month until he finally found an opportunity for Zhou Qingang to venture out to sea alone. He trailed him all the way to a deserted sea area. His Binding Insect Divine Ability suddenly activated, capturing him. Bringing him to the seabed, he dug out a secret chamber as usual.

Li Fan wasted no more words. With a light tap of his index finger, the Cloudwater Illusionary Dream Art was activated. Zhou Qingang immediately fell into a deep sleep. With his experience from the previous life, Li Fan knew that a special restriction from the Five Elders Association existed within Zhou Qingang's soul. If he forcefully soul-searched, it would trigger the restriction and cause his soul to scatter. Therefore, in this life, Li Fan chose a different method: by constructing a false dream world to peer into the deepest secrets of his mind.

Slowly, a faint smile gradually appeared at the corner of Zhou Qingang's mouth. In the dream, he diligently infiltrated the Myriad Immortals Alliance for centuries. He started from the bottom, and after breaking through to the Soul Transformation stage, he finally became the Lord of Myriad Immortals Island. Then, with his internal assistance, the Five Elders Association launched a massive and unstoppable attack, conquering the entire Congyun Sea in just a few days. And Zhou Qingang, having finally achieved his merits, returned to his hometown full of pride and vigor.

"The Nation of Gentlemen?"

Li Fan looked thoughtfully at Zhou Qingang, who was deeply immersed and unable to extricate himself from the illusionary dream.