Chapter 858: Desire to be Liberated

"It seems that Zhong Shentong, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, was able to keep a treasure like the Seven-Colored Jade Void Luster for himself without it being stolen. This must be due to the protection he gained by handing over the fishing pond," Li Fan mused with a touch of emotion.

He shouldn't have overlooked this point originally. However, first, he had rejoiced in obtaining such a treasure, and then successfully achieved a breakthrough. This had made him feel a little overconfident, and he had thus overlooked this peculiar aspect.

"However, it's not a bad thing after all. At the very least, I've learned that this Seven-Colored Divine Light cannot be easily used, and it has brought out this formidable figure," Li Fan thought, subtly glancing at the Slate Scholar behind him.

Amidst the flowing earth veins, the scholar walked unhurriedly, like an ordinary person. The ancient earth vein trees, which typically attacked cultivators who trespassed, showed no unusual movements at all. It was extremely calm. They wouldn't even respond to Lin Ling's calls. Li Fan cursed under his breath, then prompted Lin Ling to continue their journey.

Meanwhile, in Jiushan Province, at the previous meeting point, shortly after Li Fan and the scholar departed, a cultivator dressed in Five Elders Association attire arrived belatedly. After waiting for a long time and seeing no one appear, he was utterly bewildered.

...

In Yongyun Province, outside a small temple in the mountains, near the fishing pond.

"Senior, please take a look," Li Fan said respectfully, pointing to the small pond ahead. Since Ji Shaoli had already given a heads-up before their arrival, Zhong Shentong knew someone was coming. He watched the Slate Scholar and Li Fan, not daring to breathe. He held Liuli behind him, firmly restraining her attempts to curiously examine them for a long time.

"It's just an incredibly ordinary small pond..."

"Could there be something mysterious about it?" The scholar became interested. Li Fan signaled with his eyes for Zhong Shentong to step forward and demonstrate.

"Today's uses are already exhausted," Zhong Shentong said with some helplessness. Seeing this, Li Fan had no choice but to do it himself.

He sat upright by the pond's edge, holding his posture. He cast his rod. The next moment, a strange light burst forth in the Slate Scholar's eyes. It wasn't until Li Fan reeled in his line and retrieved the white light cluster from his hand for examination that the scholar suddenly understood.

"So that's how it is." He eagerly stepped forward, wanting to try it for himself. Li Fan was about to speak up and explain the correct way to use the fishing pond. However, he saw the Slate Scholar ponder for a moment, then his figure blurred, and he directly changed his appearance! Li Fan was very familiar with the owner of that transformed appearance. It was none other than the eccentric Old Fisherman! Only, the fishing basket on his back had been replaced with a heavy, greenish-blue slate!

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. This scholar's appearance isn't my original one," the "Old Fisherman" said. "It's the one from the Five Elders Association whom I'm imitating." He smiled, humming something under his breath, and cast his rod. His expression and posture were almost indistinguishable from the true Old Fisherman.

Li Fan's heart sank. In previous encounters, he had, in fact, somewhat underestimated this expert in the Longevity Realm. After all, the surveillance function of the Genesis Slate only worked in certain areas. And this person hadn't been able to discern Li Fan's origins, and like ordinary cultivators, was filled with joy upon seeing the supreme treasure, the fishing pond. Invisibly, this had significantly lowered his "status" in Li Fan's eyes. But now, it seemed... this individual was also deeply hidden. Although he hadn't achieved enlightenment through defying heavenly principles, he was absolutely not to be underestimated.

Li Fan stood to the side, not daring to make a move. Zhong Shentong was like a statue, his facial expression and body completely frozen. Only Lin Ling and Liuli, the two bolder ones present, stealthily watched the Slate Fisherman. The Fisherman's first fishing attempt was exceptionally long. He seemed deeply engrossed in the fishing process. Even after most of the day passed, he remained seated motionless. This made Li Fan wonder if he had already failed but was just pretending. However, as a brilliant golden light reappeared in the small mountain temple, Li Fan's doubts quickly vanished. Looking at the golden light cluster in the Slate Fisherman's hand, Li Fan couldn't help but question reality a little. Zhong Shentong, too, was dumbfounded, unable to believe his eyes.

The Slate Fisherman stared at the light cluster for a moment: "The Heavenly Emperor's Scripture? Achieve the status of an earthly emperor, gather the fortune of all beings and dynasties. Without cultivation, one can become an expert comparable to the Longevity Realm..."

"Constantly thinking about fighting and killing is really boring," the Slate Fisherman said indifferently. "Here, take it." With that, he casually tossed the golden light cluster towards Li Fan and the others.

Although Zhong Shentong also wanted to reach out and catch it, under Li Fan's subtly murderous gaze, he dared not act presumptuously. Taking the golden light cluster, Li Fan quickly examined it. The content was consistent with what the Slate Fisherman had said. It was a unique cultivation method circulated in a world without spiritual energy.

"It's quite ingenious in its own way," Li Fan commented. "It's just a pity that for the fortune to accumulate to the scale described in the scripture, it would require hundreds of years and more than a dozen generations of continuous, collective effort."

"A mere 'chicken rib' [something of little value but still worth keeping]," Li Fan commented with some regret, but still carefully placed it into his storage ring.

Looking at the Slate Fisherman, who was still fishing, Li Fan couldn't help but say, "Senior, this fishing pond can only be used once a day." The Slate Fisherman yawned, "I know. But I'm just simply fishing." Li Fan was stunned. The Slate Fisherman truly seemed to greatly enjoy the act of fishing itself. He didn't care whether he caught light clusters or magical treasures. Compared to Zhong Shentong and Li Fan, he was like a true angler.

"From now on, I'll live here," the Slate Fisherman suddenly announced. "You don't need to be nervous; just pretend I'm not here. I don't want anything I fish up. I'll give it all to you." Li Fan had already anticipated this, but even with such words, how could he ignore a Longevity Realm expert of this caliber?

"Senior, are you perhaps trying to find something useful from this fishing pond?" The Slate Fisherman seemed to bear no ill will. Li Fan asked, emboldened. The Slate Fisherman's answer was straightforward: "Yes. In the Xuanhuang Realm, there's nothing that can remove the slate on my back. Perhaps something in this fishing pond can." This answer was quite unexpected for Li Fan, and he fell into silence. Zhong Shentong and Liuli, meanwhile, looked with great curiosity at the ancient slate on his back.

"It's too exhausting. Too painful," the Slate Fisherman sighed deeply while fishing. "Everything that happens in the Xuanhuang Realm, every single moment. Even if you don't want to know, it uncontrollably appears in your mind. Do you think that's a good thing?" The Slate Fisherman shook his head repeatedly.

"At first, I tried to split my own head open," he continued. "But as long as the slate isn't destroyed, I won't die. Even if I were just a pile of bones, the memories would still appear in my mind."