Chapter 664: Heartfelt Desire to Ascend Immortality

Everything proceeded smoothly, without any obstacles.

When Li Fan emerged from his seclusion, he had successfully broken through to the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

"Has it already been seventeen years since the anchoring…?"

"After all, progress was considerably slower since only Enlightenment Pills were used as aid, lacking the awakening effects of the Heavenly Profound Mirror."

He examined his current state. The Five Elements Grotto-Heavens within his body had expanded to more than three times their previous size when he was in the early Nascent Soul stage. Each grotto-heaven was also becoming increasingly vibrant, a stark contrast to their previous deathly stillness. However, it was clear that the emergence of new creations was still some way off. Only the circulation of the Five Elemental forces had significantly quickened, as if something was brewing within the grotto-heaven world.

Now, Li Fan had achieved complete control over both his Five Elements Grotto-Heavens and this Beast Seed Minor World. He could be described as an entity akin to the Heavenly Dao itself.

However, upon closer comparison, Li Fan discerned numerous differences between them.

The Five Elements Grotto-Heaven, pilfered from the Xuanhuang Realm, had been strengthened and integrated into his being using new methods. Yet, much like a mortal cannot fully control their own body, the grotto-heaven's operation and evolution were largely spontaneous, the self-generated result of certain laws. While he could clearly perceive every change within the grotto-heaven, Li Fan currently could not fully comprehend them, much less alter or create at will.

The Beast Seed World, however, was different. Wind, rain, thunder, lightning, ice, snow, and flowing fire – the materialized laws of the world – were all within his control. Should Li Fan wish it, the Beast Seed World could instantly be fixed in a particular state and remain unchanged indefinitely. Simultaneously, Li Fan could freely transform the Beast Seed World according to his desires. Raising mountains or leveling rivers with a single thought were merely ordinary feats.

"Under normal circumstances, even someone who managed to usurp all the heavenly fortune of a minor world through some method wouldn't achieve my level of effortless control in the initial stages. They would still require years of profound comprehension and resonance with the world's origin. But Xiao Hei has already completed this process for me. I have merely inherited its legacy and greatly benefited from it."

Li Fan looked at the familiar image within the Profound Bird Feather inside his body and instantly understood.

His attention returned to the Beast Seed World. Two years had passed, and the realm had undergone a dramatic transformation. Not only had the spiritual energy concentration surged to a level only slightly inferior to the Xuanhuang Realm, but the previously desolate land had also become vibrant with life.

Various spiritual plants and herbs were cultivated in categorized plots, and diligently working in the spiritual fields were none other than the beast seeds themselves. However, there were no "Beast Control Rings" around their necks, contrary to what Fang Zaiji had previously mentioned.

Li Fan's divine sense swept across the entire world, revealing that only the most powerful few exotic beasts bore any signs of being controlled.

"Controlling the strong allows one to control the weak. Indeed, dealing with these beast seeds doesn't require much effort."

Liu San and Fang Zaiji were not in the Beast Seed World at that moment. Li Fan passed through the spatial passage and arrived in Longevity Valley, where he found the two of them gathered together, seemingly in discussion.

Sensing Li Fan's presence, a hint of joy appeared on both their faces.

"Sect Master, you've emerged from seclusion!"

"What happened? Why do you both seem a little serious?" Li Fan asked, addressing the two.

"Congratulations, Young Master, on your continued progress in cultivation!" Liu San said, his eyes scanning Li Fan before he smiled.

Fang Zaiji then proceeded to explain directly to Li Fan the reason for his and Liu San's solemn expressions.

Approximately six months prior, a group of Myriad Immortals Alliance cultivators, piloting Puxian True Boats, arrived within the white mist. Initially, Liu San believed their target was Longevity Valley and prepared for a major confrontation. He even mobilized all the Medicine King Sect cultivators, ready to flee at a moment's notice.

However, Liu San soon realized it was a false alarm. The Myriad Immortals Alliance cultivators did not stop at the entrance of Longevity Valley; their destination seemed to be deeper within the white mist.

This brought Liu San a sense of relief, as he believed the Myriad Immortals Alliance cultivators were merely passing through.

However, what transpired next made Liu San realize he was gravely mistaken. Over the past six months, dozens of Puxian True Boats, each filled with cultivators, periodically sailed into the depths of the white mist. They appeared to be on a mission, emanating a subtle aura of solemnity. Occasionally, cultivators would also retreat from the depths of the white mist, their expressions somber and dejected.

The cultivation levels of these cultivators were generally not very high, but for safety, Liu San did not probe too closely, merely observing from afar.

While it was true that the Myriad Immortals Alliance cultivators' objective was not the Medicine King Sect, their frequent passage was unsettling. No one could guarantee that by chance, they wouldn't discover the location of Longevity Valley, or whether a conflict with the Medicine King Sect might ensue if they did.

Consequently, Liu San and Fang Zaiji had been constantly on edge during this period.

"Is this a secret operation of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, or is it an openly conducted one? Do ordinary Myriad Immortals Alliance cultivators know about this?" Li Fan asked, his eyes flickering after hearing their report.

"Ordinary cultivators are unaware of this," Fang Zaiji replied. "At least, that's what our inquiries suggest."

Li Fan pondered for a moment, then stated, "This matter is somewhat unusual. We should adapt to any changes. I will make a decision after I go out and investigate the truth."

With great confidence in Li Fan's abilities, the two immediately agreed.

Subsequently, Liu San retrieved twelve jade bottles and handed them over. "These are the pills I've refined recently," he explained. "Nine bottles contain a total of eighty-one Longevity Pills, and two bottles contain twenty Grand Dao Heartless Pills. And there's one more..."

Liu San paused, his expression somewhat peculiar. "...It's the Mind-Ascension Immortal Pill."

"Thank you for your hard work, Old Liu," Li Fan said, collecting the other pills. He took the jade bottle containing the Mind-Ascension Immortal Pill in his hand, intending to open it for inspection.

However, Liu San suddenly stopped him.

"Is there something amiss with this pill?" Li Fan asked, frowning.

Liu San let out a bitter laugh. "While this pill is not poisonous, its actual harm is no less than any poison in the world."

"The Mind-Ascension Immortal Pill is a peculiar concoction that has a minuscule chance of forming during the refining process of the Grand Dao Heartless Pill," Fang Zaiji continued to explain. "Any cultivator who consumes it will experience the illusion of comprehending the Great Dao and being on the verge of immediate ascension to immortality."

"Furthermore, the more one consumes, the more intense this illusion becomes. Eventually, to truly experience the taste of ascension, addicted cultivators are capable of doing anything."

Li Fan subconsciously tightened his grip on the jade bottle in his hand.

He now understood what this so-called Mind-Ascension Immortal Pill truly was.

"In the past, this pill caused considerable trouble, so it was absolutely forbidden under the rule of the Ten Immortal Sects. However, our disciples have inquired, and it seems the current Myriad Immortals Alliance has no prohibition against this pill."

"I considered that this item might be useful to the Young Master, so I did not destroy it," Liu San added.