Chapter 52: Guarding Taian Island

"All the mortals on the island had vanished. And the city, once bustling with people, was now inexplicably filled with lush, large trees, like a primeval forest.

"From the branches of those trees hung countless human-faced fruits.

"As a gentle breeze swept through, the human faces on the fruits revealed a chilling smile."

As He Zhenghao spoke, Li Fan felt as if countless human faces were smiling at him.

Recalling that he had just eaten one of these fruits, Li Fan involuntarily broke out in goosebumps.

He Zhenghao continued his narration.

"The Golden Core guardian recovered from his shock and descended into the city to investigate.

"Not a single mortal survived on the entire island; all had transformed into smiling fruits. The Golden Core guardian couldn't discern why this bizarre event had occurred, so he reported the matter.

"The Myriad Immortals Alliance dispatched specialists to investigate, though no one knew their specific findings. Later, all the large trees in the city were felled, and the city returned to its original state. The smiling fruits, as if nothing had happened, continued to live in the city as before.

"Generation after generation, they proliferated to this day. The Myriad Immortals Alliance also constructed a grand formation here, assigned dedicated guardians, and harvested the fruits."

Upon hearing this, Li Fan couldn't help but say, "So, it seems these Taian fruits are essentially humans, aren't they?"

He Zhenghao shook his head. "How could they be human? They possess no consciousness of their own; they act purely on instinct. At most, they are merely remnants of human obsessions."

Li Fan pondered for a moment but ultimately did not refute him.

The matter was too enigmatic, and he didn't know how to define these Taian fruits.

However, once cultivators discovered their life-extending properties, none of that mattered anymore.

Not to mention these Taian fruits, even if they were true mortals, if consuming them could extend one's lifespan, they wouldn't escape the fate of being eaten.

Li Fan fell into deep thought.

He Zhenghao, too, seemed lost in thought, falling silent.

After a long while, both men finally snapped out of their reverie.

Next, He Zhenghao briefed Li Fan on various matters requiring attention for guarding the island.

Li Fan committed them all to memory.

"The grand formation covers the entire island, and each time it operates, it draws a wisp of vital energy from the mortals within it.

"The amount drawn is minimal and doesn't affect the mortals. However, when these wisps of vital energy accumulate, they become a considerable quantity.

"Once transformed, this vital energy can increase the concentration of spiritual energy within the formation.

"Therefore, cultivating within this island-protecting grand formation, while not as efficient as the auxiliary cultivation mode in the Heavenly Profound Mirror, is still significantly faster than cultivating in the ordinary outside world."

Finally, He Zhenghao, with a hint of pride, shared a secret with Li Fan that only cultivators who had served as island guardians would know.

After a few more instructions, telling Li Fan to contact him anytime if he had questions, He Zhenghao leisurely departed.

Holding the guardian's token, Li Fan's divine sense, enhanced by the grand formation, instantly enveloped the entire island.

The ordinary mortals on the island and the Taian fruits in the central core formation were all busily going about their lives.

Gazing for a long time, Li Fan sighed.

"To strip the world of its marrow to fuel cultivation."

If he could, Li Fan naturally wanted to do something. Unfortunately, he was currently just a small Qi Refining cultivator.

For now, the only thing he could do was diligently cultivate.

Li Fan suppressed the various thoughts in his mind.

From then on, Li Fan was stationed on Taian Island.

It had to be said, the position of island guardian was indeed relatively relaxed.

The mortals on the island dared not disturb the immortal master without reason.

All Li Fan had to do was check periodically if the island-protecting grand formation was operating normally and promptly harvest and store the ripe Taian fruits, among other minor tasks.

The rest of the time, Li Fan was free to use as he pleased.

Li Fan naturally dedicated all his time to diligent cultivation.

*One Hundred Uses for Spiritual Energy*, *Introduction to Spells*, *Secrets to Victory in Combat: Strike First*, *Survival is Victory*, *Speed Is Unbreakable*...

Starting with these foundational cultivation texts, Li Fan gradually mastered some simple minor spells.

These included the Concealment Spell, Feigned Death Spell, Wind Control Spell, Herculean Strength Spell, and others.

While studying, Li Fan couldn't help but marvel at the Myriad Immortals Alliance's extent of protection over its knowledge monopoly.

Knowledge acquired and learned from the Heavenly Profound Realm was perfectly fine for one's own study and use.

However, trying to teach it to others after learning it was forbidden.

Unless one's strength surpassed that of the Heavenly Profound Mirror, it would be impossible to naturally break the restrictions embedded within.

Li Fan didn't know precisely what cultivation realm the Heavenly Profound Mirror, a spiritual treasure, was equivalent to in terms of power.

But by common sense, it should at least be no weaker than a Soul Transformation stage cultivator.

The might of Soul Transformation cultivators was far beyond Li Fan's current ability to fathom.

Therefore, no matter how dissatisfied he was, he could only temporarily accept reality.

After finishing these books, Li Fan began to attempt reading content related to alchemy, artifact refining, and formations.

Compared to the previous spell sections, this content was far too complex.

With a myriad of topics, Li Fan didn't know where to begin.

Merely reading through the fundamentals of alchemy in *Introduction to Alchemy*—the years, effects, identification, and analysis of various herbs—took Li Fan a full ten days just to read through completely.

Not to mention the subsequent sections on the selection and control of alchemical flames, cauldron refinement, and practical alchemy. Li Fan estimated it would be impossible for him to finish reading all of it in less than a year and a half.

Knowing that these skills often required guidance from a renowned master, Li Fan, after some internal struggle, finally decided to temporarily give up on them.

So he temporarily cast aside distractions and began cultivating the *Thousand Mechanisms Jade Ring Golden Tome*.

This ancient cultivation technique from the Heavenly Mystery Sect was truly abstruse and difficult to comprehend, vastly different from the *Minor Water Transformation Art* Li Fan had cultivated previously, seeming to belong to an entirely different system.

Even with the constant aid of the Glazed Pearl to enhance his comprehension, it took Li Fan a full half a year to barely achieve initial mastery.

The hardship involved even made Li Fan briefly consider going to the Heavenly Profound Mirror and cultivating the *Thousand Mechanisms Jade Ring Golden Tome* in the super auxiliary cultivation mode.

But in the end, Li Fan suppressed this thought.

Ultimately, Li Fan still couldn't feel at ease with the Myriad Immortals Alliance.

Judging by their methods, the Myriad Immortals Alliance was clearly not benevolent.

If he were to pique the interest of the Heavenly Profound Realm, exposing an Infant Soul cultivation technique wouldn't be too bad; however, if he exposed the true existence of something beyond that, that would truly be an eternal damnation.

Therefore, Li Fan preferred to cultivate slowly on his own.

Just like that, a year passed.

Li Fan returned to Myriad Immortals Island and received his remuneration as interim guardian: 800 contribution points. He then exchanged these for the late-stage Qi Refining section of the *Minor Water Transformation Art*.

After cultivating for another five days in the Heavenly Profound Mirror's auxiliary cultivation mode, he reluctantly returned to Taian Island.

Five days of rapid cultivation had made Li Fan faintly feel that he was not far from reaching the late Qi Refining stage.