Chapter 63: Return to Liuli Island

The simulation ended.

Li Fan, who had regained consciousness, was still somewhat speechless. The previous life was the shortest he had experienced since activating the Reincarnation of Truth, forcibly ending after just nine years.

Originally, he had great ambitions and made various plans. Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered the cultivation world, he was inexplicably pursued. Even more absurdly, his pursuers were members of the Myriad Immortals Alliance. Unaware of their identity, he had even tried to seek refuge with He Zhenghao on Glazed Island. As a result, he was cornered by two Foundation Establishment cultivators.

They had traveled a thousand miles with a clear objective: to kill Li Fan. Li Fan didn't believe asking them why they were chasing him would yield an honest answer. Facing two Foundation Establishment cultivators, Li Fan had no chance of survival. So, he decisively chose to restart.

Why did the Myriad Immortals Alliance pursue him? And so soon after he entered the cultivation world? Li Fan frowned, falling into deep confusion. Unless this problem was solved, all his future plans would be futile. The Cloud Sea Realm was currently still under the Myriad Immortals Alliance's control, and they could clearly track his location through some means. Where did things go wrong?

Could it be because he brought Qian Hong's remains back to the cultivation world? Or was it...

Li Fan checked and ruled out each item he possessed. Ultimately, he pinpointed the culprit: the Lesser Yan Water Art. After much thought, only this cultivation technique seemed to be the most suspicious. After all, he currently had no connection with the Myriad Immortals Alliance. Only this cultivation technique was inherited from the Myriad Immortals Alliance in his previous life.

Li Fan narrowed his eyes, pondered carefully, and a faint answer began to form in his mind. "The Myriad Immortals Alliance must constantly monitor the Lesser Yan Water Art and all other cultivation techniques. If they suddenly find a technique that hasn't been exchanged for, yet has an extra practitioner, they'll know the technique has been leaked."

"Regardless of how it was leaked, the Myriad Immortals Alliance would surely retrieve the technique. And the method of retrieval would naturally be to simply kill the practitioner."

"Why could they pinpoint my location directly..."

"Those who cultivate the same technique can sense each other's location."

"To deal with a Qi Refining stage technique, they actually dispatched Foundation Establishment cultivators. Judging by his tone when speaking to He Zhenghao, his cultivation was probably even higher than He Zhenghao's. At the very least, he was at the Mid Foundation Establishment stage, and Late Foundation Establishment was not impossible."

He seemed to visualize a scene. Within the Myriad Immortals Alliance, thousands of cultivation technique records were arranged in dense rows, like a towering wall. In front of this high wall, a pair of eyes watched intently, taking in every slight change in these techniques. Once a technique that was being cultivated suddenly had zero practitioners; or a technique that no one was cultivating suddenly gained a practitioner without being exchanged; the owner of these eyes would calmly make arrangements.

"Protector, protector..."

"What a 'Protector' indeed!" Li Fan clapped in admiration.

Looking at the options still before him, Li Fan calmed himself and chose to retain his cultivation level from the previous life. In an instant, he returned to the Qi Refining stage. Afterward, without hesitation, Li Fan activated the *Grand Primordial True Scripture* to dispel his late-stage Qi Refining cultivation of the Lesser Yan Water Art. Following this, just as he had done in his previous life, anchored for 9 years, Li Fan re-entered the cultivation world.

Passing through the Immortal Severance Array, Li Fan waited for a long time at his spot. Indeed, his conjecture was correct. Without cultivating the Lesser Yan Water Art, he didn't attract the pursuit of the Myriad Immortals Alliance's Protector. Only then did Li Fan slowly make his way towards Glazed Island.

As he flew to the sea area near Glazed Island, a certain scene from Li Fan's memory suddenly flashed. He immediately stopped and looked down. His gaze pierced through the obstructing seawater, reaching the depths of the ocean floor.

There, groups of Glazed Fish dragged the corpses of mortals, collected from various parts of the ocean who had met their demise for various reasons, offering them as tribute to a massive golden Glazed Fish. This golden Glazed Fish swayed its bloated body, devouring the human corpses collected by its subordinates one by one. After chewing and spitting out the fragments of bone, it still wore a somewhat dissatisfied expression. It stared with its large eyes, greedily looking at the surface of the sea. It seemed as if there were more, fresher mortals there.

Li Fan watched this scene and snorted coldly. The Formless Killing Intent activated instantly.

Deep beneath the sea, the Glazed Fish that had originally clustered around their leader, diligently offering food, suddenly froze. The golden Glazed Fish, somewhat displeased, was about to scold its subordinates when it suddenly realized that the Glazed Fish around it had become abnormal. Their eyes glowed red, all staring at the colossal golden Glazed Fish. The golden Glazed Fish sensed trouble and tried to escape, but it was too late. Innumerable Glazed Fish frantically swarmed and surrounded it. The golden Glazed Fish's form vanished within the school of fish. Streaks of golden blood slowly floated to the surface.

Li Fan held a glazed pearl the size of a pigeon egg in his hand, observing it carefully. "What a pity, it's not a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure."

"However, just carrying it on one's person has an effect similar to consuming a Glazed Pill. This item is quite extraordinary." Li Fan put it away with satisfaction and continued flying towards Glazed Island.

Nearing Glazed Island, Li Fan stopped mid-air and released his spiritual energy. After only a moment, a voice drifted from afar: "Which fellow daoist comes to my Glazed Island?" Accompanying the voice was the figure of He Zhenghao.

He Zhenghao, being a Foundation Establishment cultivator, was not arrogant when facing a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator who had arrived unannounced, addressing him as 'fellow daoist' as well. "Greetings, Fellow Daoist He!" Li Fan cupped his hands. "My name is Li Fan, a rogue cultivator from the Cloud Sea Realm. Cultivating to the late Qi Refining stage has been incredibly difficult, and I know that Foundation Establishment is hopeless for a rogue cultivator. Therefore, I wish to join the Myriad Immortals Alliance to obtain a Foundation Establishment cultivation technique." Li Fan paused, then added: "I have long heard of your reputation for righteousness and generosity, which is why I came to visit you. I hope fellow daoist can recommend me. After it's done, I will surely repay your kindness!"

He Zhenghao was already somewhat stunned upon hearing that Li Fan wanted to join the Myriad Immortals Alliance. He never expected such a good thing to fall into his lap one day. After Li Fan said he would repay him in the future, He Zhenghao was even more overjoyed: "Oh, fellow daoist, don't mention it. We cultivators all know that cultivation is not easy, so we help whenever we can. Rest assured, I will personally handle your application to join the Myriad Immortals Alliance!"

Li Fan smiled faintly: "Your reputation as ‘Timely Rain’ is indeed well-deserved, I admire you greatly."

He Zhenghao was about to explain that he didn't have the nickname 'Timely Rain', but then he had a change of heart, thinking the name was quite fitting. If it could spread, it would greatly benefit his cultivation of the *Sitting Mountain Art*, so he didn't deny it. The two then exchanged a smile.