Chapter 43: Condensing the Root of Heaven and Earth

As Li Fan read the descriptions of the immortal path in the "Five Spirits Qi Induction Method," a growing sense of dread crept over him.

Before the Golden Core stage, things seemed relatively normal: absorbing the spirit of heaven and earth, borrowing its wonders, and glimpsing its laws.

However, once it reached the Nascent Soul stage, the methods described became increasingly unsettling. They involved seizing the essence of heaven and earth, extracting its marrow, and sacrificing its very soul—ultimately, they aimed to defy the very principles of heaven and earth.

Merely reading these phrases sent shivers down one's spine.

The Heavenly Dao reigned supreme, nurturing all creation. For cultivators to practice in this manner was akin to turning against heaven, an act of grave defiance. Didn't cultivators understand the implications of such actions?

Nevertheless, this cultivation method offered incredibly rapid progress. The book stated that after the Immortal Venerable imparted this teaching, a large number of mortals, who were previously unable to cultivate, rose to prominence within mere decades. Cultivators at the Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Soul Transformation stages emerged one after another, like bamboo shoots after rain. The cultivation world at that time was so prosperous that Golden Core cultivators were commonplace, and Nascent Soul cultivators were hardly exceptional.

As for the cultivators who adhered to the ancient methods, seeing their cultivation levels easily surpassed by mere mortals, how many could truly stick to their original path and resist trying the Immortal Venerable's method? Consequently, ancient cultivation methods gradually declined, replaced by the new approach.

A millennium after the new method became widespread, the cultivation world's prosperity reached its peak. Unfortunately, as the Heavenly Dao dictates, what flourishes must inevitably decline. Countless cultivators greedily plundered the resources of heaven and earth like wolves, without restraint. Even the increasingly frequent heavenly tribulations could not suppress the growing number of cultivators.

Then, one day, the Heavenly Dao's retaliation finally arrived. Heaven and earth underwent immense changes, and a great tribulation descended. From that point on, immortal cultivation methods could no longer be practiced simultaneously! The thriving cultivation world suffered a devastating blow. To secure a sliver of hope, cultivators plunged into endless mutual slaughter. For a long time, the cultivation world was marked by desolation and decline. It took several millennia for it to slowly recover.

Present-day cultivators have grown accustomed to the malevolence of heaven and earth. They learned from their experiences and established a new cultivation order upon the desolate ruins left by the great tribulation.

With the history of the current cultivation world covered, the book then delves into the "Five Spirits Qi Induction" method. It states that if a mortal, after dispelling miasma, cannot easily draw Qi into their body, they can nurture their five innate spirits, forcibly absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, refine it, and then break through to the Qi Refining stage.

These "five spirits" refer to the five emotions inherent in human nature: greed, fear, rage, hatred, and self-centeredness. These five emotions are hidden deep within the human heart, inexhaustible and ever-present. The Five Spirits Qi Induction method uses these five spirits as fuel to cultivate the "Root of Heaven and Earth" within the Dantian. The Root of Heaven and Earth connects the cultivator's Dantian to heaven and earth; once formed, the cultivator can use it to forcibly draw spiritual energy from the world and convert it for their own use.

Compared to ancient cultivation methods, which solely depended on innate talent, the Five Spirits Qi Induction method stands out for its stability. Those with exceptional talent could cultivate the Root of Heaven and Earth within a single day and night, thus embarking on the path of cultivation. Even individuals with no cultivation talent could, through persistent effort day after day, form their own Root of Heaven and Earth within at most ten years.

Having grasped the method of drawing Qi into his body, Li Fan began to live a secluded life, practicing the "Five Spirits Qi Induction Method" at home every day. Even though he was mentally prepared for his cultivation journey not to be smooth, three years passed day after day, and Li Fan still hadn't successfully drawn Qi into his body. Li Fan was well aware of his cultivation talent; he was of average aptitude, not a genius, but certainly not poor. There had to be another reason for his current predicament.

"The Profound Yellow Heart Forging Spell... its blessings and curses are truly unpredictable," Li Fan thought with a hint of helplessness. The Five Spirits Qi Induction method required these five emotions as fuel to facilitate the formation of the Root of Heaven and Earth. However, because Li Fan practiced the Profound Yellow Heart Forging Spell, his accumulation of these five emotions was minimal. Even when he wasn't consciously activating the Heart Forging Spell, it instinctively crushed these negative emotions in his mind. This was akin to carrying a heavy burden, which significantly slowed Li Fan's progress.

Li Fan had also tried to draw Qi into his body without relying on the Root of Heaven and Earth. But he clearly lacked Xiao Heng's kind of talent. The external spiritual energy seemed entirely indifferent to him. Without guidance from others and relying solely on his own exploration, Li Fan had no idea how long it would take him to successfully draw Qi into his body. Therefore, Li Fan decided to stick with the Five Spirits Qi Induction method to break through to the Qi Refining stage. It was slow, but it offered stability. What Li Fan had in abundance was time.

During the initial period of these three years, He Zhenghao occasionally sent people to inquire about Li Fan's cultivation progress. However, after Li Fan showed no progress for a long time, fewer inquiries were made. As for the Sky Treasure Pavilion, even without the Myriad Splendor Merchant Association's backing, its business operations on the surrounding islands actually improved, thanks to Li Fan and Xiao Heng. No one wanted to offend a merchant house that might have an immortal master's backing, so they tried to avoid conflict with the Sky Treasure Pavilion as much as possible. Consequently, over these three years, the Sky Treasure Pavilion aggressively expanded its market, presenting a thriving appearance. Yin Yuzhen, filled with renewed confidence, was eager to return to Nightfall Island and reclaim control of the Sky Treasure Pavilion's headquarters.

Li Fan only occasionally paid attention to external affairs. The vast majority of his energy was focused on cultivating the Root of Heaven and Earth. Unfortunately, this was not something that could be rushed. Li Fan estimated that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, he would need about two more years to succeed.

Having been cooped up at home for a long time, one day Li Fan, restless from prolonged quiet, felt like going out for a walk. Without alarming anyone, he changed his clothes, put on a felt hat, and went to the market on Glazed Island. Compared to three years ago, nothing here seemed to have changed. The sounds of haggling, vendors calling out to customers, and children playing echoed continuously. Here, Li Fan sensed the long-lost "human touch." Various thoughts in his mind surged forth, like parched saplings finally receiving water. In that single moment, the progress of his Root of Heaven and Earth surpassed what he had achieved through three days of arduous secluded cultivation at home.

Li Fan suddenly understood. For most cultivators, secluded meditation and diligent practice were essential because ordinary people had no shortage of the five spirits that served as fuel. However, Li Fan's situation was unique; the Heart Forging Spell constantly operated in his mind, transforming these stray thoughts into nourishment for his own spiritual strength. The Five Spirits Qi Induction method was clearly not as advanced as the Profound Yellow Heart Forging Spell, unable to seize much of this energy, only managing to pick up what was left over. Li Fan couldn't change this situation yet. To accelerate the formation of the Root of Heaven and Earth, he needed to increase the amount of daily stray thoughts generated in his mind. Secluded cultivation every day was clearly not the answer; he needed to engage with the world.

Realizing this, Li Fan felt a surge of joy. It seemed he might enter the Qi Refining stage in less than two years.

"Elder Li?" Just then, a somewhat familiar voice came from behind him. Li Fan turned his head, recognized the person's appearance, and after a moment, recalled who it was. It was Zhang Haobo, the captain of the Cangyuan, whom he had met once before on Glazed Island.