Chapter 42: Heavenly Immortals Cannot Coexist

"I have no interest in cultivation."

Xiao Heng's expression when he said those words was still vivid in Li Fan's memory. How long had it been? How could he have successfully dispelled the miasma within his body and directly broken through to the Qi Condensation stage?

For a moment, Li Fan was filled with shock and bewilderment.

Li Fan reread the letter Xiao Heng sent him several times, then went out to inquire around before reluctantly accepting the truth. It turned out that although Li Fan had solemnly assured him that day that the rumors of illegal immigration on the island were directed at the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, Xiao Heng had remained restless and unable to sleep after returning home. Whenever he closed his eyes, he seemed to see a terrifying image of immortal masters descending from the sky and slaughtering everyone in the Mortal Realm.

For several consecutive days, Xiao Heng was in this state. After much agonizing reflection, Xiao Heng finally made up his mind. To sleep peacefully and, more importantly, to become a cultivator so he wouldn't have to live in daily fear, he began diligently practicing the Profound Yellow Pure Heart Mantra.

Unexpectedly, once Xiao Heng calmed his mind, his cultivation progress was astonishingly rapid. With the aid of medicine, he completely dispelled all the miasma from his body in less than a month. Afterward, he even felt the spiritual energy of heaven and earth circling him intimately, as if it were alive. He was deeply captivated by this sight, and his mind became immersed in it. It felt as if he had simply enjoyed a good night's sleep, and then successfully guided Qi into his body.

Initially, he was a bit unsure if he had truly become the legendary immortal master. However, after he attempted intimacy with a maidservant at home, only to suddenly feel a surge in his heart and instinctively strike her dead with a palm, Xiao Heng finally confirmed that he was now a cultivator.

Immortals and mortals must remain eternally separated.

Although he was now a Qi Condensation stage cultivator, Xiao Heng was completely at a loss about what to do next. So he wanted to meet the immortal master guarding Lapis Lazuli Island. Unfortunately, at that time, He Zhenghao was presiding over the Body Cleansing Spirit Pool Formation and could not leave. Xiao Heng could only return home and wait patiently. It wasn't until Li Fan emerged from the spirit pool and He Zhenghao finally became available that Xiao Heng was able to meet him.

He Zhenghao listened to Xiao Heng's experience, then carefully examined him, confirming that Xiao Heng had not lied. He was overjoyed at first, then slapped his thigh vehemently, appearing full of regret. After a moment, he composed himself and eagerly prepared to take Xiao Heng to Myriad Immortals Island.

Xiao Heng requested to bid farewell to his friends, which He Zhenghao naturally granted. Afterward, Xiao Heng bid farewell to everyone in the Mortal Realm one by one, then drifted away.

As for Li Fan, Xiao Heng had originally intended to visit him. However, he also knew that Li Fan was devoted to cultivation and had only just completed his body cleansing after more than three years. Moreover, he had personally told Li Fan not long ago that he had no interest in cultivation. Yet, in the blink of an eye, he had become a Qi Condensation cultivator! Xiao Heng truly didn't know how to face Li Fan, and also feared provoking him, so he merely left a letter and entrusted someone to deliver it.

Xiao Heng was very grateful for Li Fan's repeated help, so he said he would wait for him on Myriad Immortals Island and would surely repay Li Fan then.

"Brother, my current achievement is entirely thanks to your protection.I hear you have successfully dispelled the miasma, and I presume you will soon break through to Qi Condensation.I shall go ahead and respectfully await your arrival on Myriad Immortals Island.When we meet again, if you have any request, I would not hesitate even if it means facing death ten thousand times.Heng bows again in reverence."

Li Fan put down Xiao Heng's letter and slowly exhaled. Is this what they call a person of unparalleled talent? Breaking through to the Qi Condensation stage purely by accident, without any assistance. Even sensing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth showing affection towards him...

Although he had long known that cultivators varied greatly in aptitude, and Li Fan was aware his own talent wasn't high, this feeling of such a genius being right beside him... It truly was unsettling.

It seemed Xiao Heng's concern was not unfounded. If he had truly appeared suddenly before Li Fan, who had just successfully dispelled the miasma, Li Fan's mindset might indeed have become imbalanced.

Li Fan gave a wry smile. But it was only a slight imbalance in his mindset. Li Fan knew clearly that his reliance was never on his talent, but on the countless opportunities to start over that Huan Zhen had granted him. With Huan Zhen in hand, he was confident he could crush any genius, no matter how extraordinary. It was just that the process might be a bit lengthy, requiring planning over countless lifetimes.

As the Heart Refining Incantation circulated, Li Fan's jumbled thoughts gradually calmed. He opened the *Five Spirits Qi Sensing Art*, given to him by He Zhenghao, and slowly read it thoroughly.

The book recorded that in ancient times, there was a concept of spiritual roots. Back then, only mortals possessing spiritual roots could cultivate. There were ordinary five-element spiritual roots of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, as well as variant attribute spiritual roots like lightning, wind, and darkness. Those with a single spiritual root cultivated very quickly in the early stages and could easily achieve great success by specializing in cultivation methods of the corresponding attribute. Those with multiple spiritual roots cultivated more slowly, as they needed to balance various attributes, often wasting effort with little result. However, if a heaven-defying genius emerged, capable of excelling in all aspects with multiple spiritual roots, their strength would often far surpass that of single-spiritual-root cultivators at the same stage.

But this was all ancient history. In the cultivation world of ancient times, the emphasis was on the unity of heaven and man. Spiritual roots were a gift from heaven, and only those fortunate enough to be favored by heaven could perceive the laws of heaven and earth, thus qualifying to achieve the Dao and ascend to immortality. However, there were countless mortals in the world, and only a minority possessed spiritual roots. For the vast majority, cultivation was simply an unattainable dream. How unjust was that?

Fortunately, in ancient times, an Immortal Venerable imparted the Dao! The *Five Spirits Qi Sensing Art* recorded that at that time, the Immortal Venerable, embodying the laws of heaven and earth, faced countless mortals who had no hope of immortality and taught them the path to longevity. The Immortal Venerable declared: "If I wish to become an immortal, why seek it from heaven? If heaven does not grant it, I shall take it myself!"

"Follow heaven, remain mortal; defy heaven, become immortal!"

A mere mortal, aspiring to longevity, need not seek unity with heaven. They only need to contend with heaven!

Thus, the Immortal Venerable explicitly revealed his path to everyone. It was also the path of cultivation followed by the current cultivation world.

The path of immortality is:Absorb the spirits of heaven and earth to control their Qi;Borrow the wonders of heaven and earth to forge the Dao foundation;Glimpse the laws of heaven and earth to refine the Golden Core;Seize the essence of heaven and earth to form the Nascent Soul;Extract the marrow of heaven and earth to attain its spirit;Sacrifice the essence of heaven and earth to integrate with the Dao;Defy the principles of heaven and earth to achieve longevity!

*Thud.* The *Five Spirits Qi Sensing Art* fell to the ground. Li Fan's hands trembled as he picked it up, unable to conceal the shock in his heart.

The cultivation method of this world was completely different from what he had expected. In fact... it was somewhat terrifying. No wonder he had felt something strange ever since he started interacting with cultivators in this world. The Heavenly Dao of this world seemed to harbor immense, hidden malice towards cultivators. Whether it was the rule that immortal arts could not be cultivated concurrently, or the strange phenomenon of a cultivator's death illuminating the sky for thousands of miles like a broadcast, or the bizarre Immortal-Mortal Miasma in mortal bodies that was extremely harmful to cultivators—all of it hinted at this.

Now, with Li Fan's exposure to the cultivation world, the mystery was finally unveiled.

"Defy the principles of heaven and earth to achieve longevity!" Li Fan slowly whispered, letting out a long breath.