Chapter 652: Sword at Its Peak, Force Reverses

Chapter 653: Convergence of the Dao Divides into Four Realms

"Fellow Daoist, what's the maximum power level your 'Backlash Sword' can rebound?" Li Fan asked Shuo Feng, his expression subtly changing as he felt the rebounded attack nearly double in power. With a sweep of his hand, he suppressed the water sword.

Shuo Feng, too, seemed to be savoring the wooden sword's recent self-defense. It was a long moment before he finally came back to his senses.

"The Backlash Sword..." He shook his head. "I prefer to call it the Sword of Ceasefire, the Sword of Non-Combat."

Without further explanation, Shuo Feng continued, "It can effortlessly rebound the power of a typical Nascent Soul cultivator's Heaven-Grotto. A full-force strike from a Spirit Transformation cultivator would be a bit challenging. As for Integration and above..."

"Fellow Daoist, you are only at the Foundation Establishment stage, yet you can achieve such astounding feats. If you were to advance to Spirit Transformation, wouldn't you be able to contend with Integration cultivators?" Li Fan asked, feigning great astonishment.

"It's not that simple. Not all Integration cultivators are alike. The very essence of heaven and earth is divided into..."

Li Fan's heart stirred, and he prepared to listen intently. However, Shuo Feng's mouth was moving, but no sound emerged.

Shuo Feng quickly became aware of this and promptly fell silent.

Li Fan appeared contemplative and, sensing the situation, chose not to press for details.

"In any case, although I possess a Heavenly Wonder, I still have a very long way to go if I wish to defeat my mother," Shuo Feng said with a wry smile.

"Moreover, while establishing one's foundation with a Heavenly Wonder grants great power, it comes with its own drawbacks. For instance, advancing in cultivation is significantly more difficult and slower than for ordinary cultivators, even with ample resources and the benefits of new techniques."

This was the first time Li Fan had heard such a thing, and he promptly inquired, "Why is that?"

Shuo Feng replied directly and without hesitation, "A Heavenly Wonder is, in essence, a Heavenly Law. Establishing one's foundation with a Heavenly Wonder makes it difficult to accommodate anything else."

"Ordinary cultivators must observe the laws of heaven and earth, seize its essence, extract its marrow, and venerate its spirit, ascending step by step. However, cultivators of Heavenly Wonders are different. They use the Heavenly Wonder as their law, their Heaven-Grotto, their cosmic transformation, and their very essence of heaven and earth."

"They only need to continuously comprehend their personal Heavenly Wonder to its utmost extent, allowing them to progress unimpeded straight to the Integration realm."

Upon hearing this, Li Fan couldn't help but ask, "Isn't that a good thing? Why do you then say cultivation becomes even more difficult?"

Shuo Feng, however, countered, "Fellow Daoist, don't you think that, compared to forcibly acquiring external resources, a cultivation method that relies solely on one's own comprehension would result in slower progress?"

"Naturally..." Li Fan seemed to have realized something and abruptly paused.

"Brother Shuo, are you implying that establishing one's foundation with a Heavenly Wonder is more akin to cultivating using ancient methods?" Li Fan asked quickly, having inadvertently changed his address.

"To be precise, it's cultivating with ancient methods, but with shackles," Shuo Feng sighed softly. "This is where the advantages and disadvantages lie. However, I have no regrets; though the path is more arduous, the potential ceiling is much higher!"

As if something had just occurred to him, Li Fan suddenly asked, "If one achieves Integration through a Heavenly Wonder, then the next step would be to reverse the principle of that Heavenly Wonder?"

A flicker of appreciation crossed Shuo Feng's eyes. "Precisely! What makes the Longevity realm so challenging? The principles of heaven and earth are elusive, merely abstract concepts that are difficult for ordinary people to perceive. How easy is it, then, to reverse them?"

"Finding the principles of heaven and earth, becoming familiar with them, mastering them, and reversing them..."

"All these steps must be completed within the Integration realm. Although Integration cultivators possess extended lifespans, each progression demands an incredibly arduous price. Throughout history, how many brilliant talents have fallen just before the final step?"

"However, establishing one's foundation with a Heavenly Wonder directly bypasses the first step. From the moment one begins cultivation at Foundation Establishment, they are already practicing the second and third steps. This is effectively saving nearly half the effort."

Shuo Feng did his best to explain to Li Fan in clear, comprehensible language.

Li Fan, too, seemed to grasp a subtle understanding.

"Finding, familiarizing, mastering, reversing – perhaps these correspond to the respective stages within the Integration realm."

Li Fan suddenly recalled that Ji Hongdao had once remarked to Senior Sister Zhao, "After a Heavenly Venerate establishes principles, they should no longer involve themselves in mundane disputes."

"To 'establish principles' means one has already reversed the principles of heaven and earth, ultimately replacing them and transforming oneself into a part of heaven and earth. This is the true entry into the Longevity realm."

"And before that, Integration cultivators still have four steps to complete."

Seeing Li Fan lost in thought for a moment, Shuo Feng couldn't help but advise, "What I've shared today is simply to repay your kindness for your guidance. Fellow Daoist, you must not become overly ambitious or lose your mental clarity because of this. Otherwise, my good intentions would inadvertently cause harm."

Li Fan snapped out of his reverie and replied with a smile, "Brother Shuo, you worry too much. Am I truly someone who doesn't appreciate kindness? I merely used to believe that Longevity was only a few major realms away from us cultivators, and that I might not be unable to reach it."

"Now, however, it appears there are several abysses, each deep enough to induce despair."

"One must always give people hope, mustn't one?" Shuo Feng nodded in agreement, then inexplicably added.

"Oh, by the way, I still don't know your name, Fellow Daoist. Observing your character and talent, you shouldn't be an unknown figure," Shuo Feng asked Li Fan with a hint of curiosity.

Li Fan cupped his hands. "My name is Li Fan!"

Shuo Feng's eyes narrowed slightly, and he immediately scrutinized Li Fan closely.

"It's merely a common name! I've often been misunderstood because of it in the past!" Li Fan explained.

Shuo Feng nodded slowly.

"I am skilled in sensing aura. Passing by this area, I detected something peculiar, so I descended to investigate. Who would have thought that before I could uncover anything, I was nearly killed by you, Fellow Daoist?" Li Fan explained the sequence of events.

"Now that you mention it, I also sense something amiss nearby," Shuo Feng realized instantly, gazing towards the distance.

His gaze fell precisely in the direction where Han Yi's stone statue stood.

However, it seemed he hadn't actually noticed the statue's existence, merely sensing an anomaly there purely by instinct.

"How interesting..."

"Fellow Daoist, why don't you accompany me to investigate further?" Li Fan suggested.

"That's precisely what I had in mind," Shuo Feng, clearly unafraid of trouble, immediately agreed.

Just as the two were about to depart, the sky suddenly turned a soft pink.

Shuo Feng's expression abruptly shifted.

Crimson snowflakes began to drift slowly downwards.

A melodious female voice suddenly echoed, "Feng'er, you've been away from home for a long time; it's time to return."

Shuo Feng's face stiffened slightly.

However, he dared not defy his mother's will and merely offered Li Fan an apologetic expression.