So that’s why Yin Shangren’s voice was always repeated, with one slightly ahead and the other trailing just behind. There was another “him” inside his body!
The bizarre sight sent a chill down Li Fan’s spine.
Fortunately, Yin Shangren seemed aware of how terrifying his true form appeared. After revealing it for only a moment, his body merged back together, returning to its usual state.
He continued, “I used myself as a subject to verify my hypothesis. Everything that exists in heaven and earth can be considered an unfinished Curio.
“The process of refinement within heaven and earth’s crucible, I call it Curio-forging.”
“However, if one wishes to use an unfinished Curio to build a Dao Foundation, they must complete the Curio-forging process themselves.
“The difficulty is far too great. If you fail, the worst outcome is instant death. Even if you miraculously survive, your body will undergo all sorts of odd transformations, like the wretched state I’m in now,” Yin Shangren chuckled darkly.
Li Fan couldn’t help but ask, “Didn’t you say you succeeded in establishing your foundation?”
“I succeeded... but not completely. My understanding of myself wasn’t thorough enough. At the final moment, when success was within reach... I failed.” Yin Shangren spoke with clear regret.
“If I could try a few more times... no, even just one more time! If I could attempt it again, I would undoubtedly achieve a perfect Self Foundation.”
“Self Foundation?” The term caught Li Fan’s attention. “If one succeeds in using themselves as a foundation, what would happen?”
Yin Shangren’s eyes shone with fervent longing. “It would be like borrowing the power of heaven and earth’s crucible to remake your body. And that body would become the most perfect constitution I can imagine.
“There’s a saying: what fits you best is what is best. Nowadays, cultivators undergoing Foundation Establishment often seek a Curio of heaven and earth that resonates with their own nature. That way, they can maximize the Curio’s potential.
“But no matter what tier of Curio of heaven and earth it is—even a legendary Curio of Heaven—none can compare to a Self Foundation!
“Think about it. What could possibly be more suitable for you than yourself?
“Your Dao Foundation would merge with you perfectly. Every divine ability, every technique, would become an innate part of your being.
“From then on, I imagine you would master any technique instantly, achieving profound skill as soon as you learn it...”
Seeing Yin Shangren growing more and more excited, Li Fan interrupted him. “These are all just your conjectures, aren’t they?”
Yin Shangren paused, then shook his head vigorously. “Even though I only completed half of the Self Foundation process, I could clearly feel tremendous improvement in every aspect compared to before. Not just my aptitude for cultivation and comprehending techniques, but also my affinity with spiritual qi, even the agility of my thoughts... It’s nothing like what it was before!”
Hearing him boast so extravagantly, Li Fan pressed further. “If a Self Foundation is so miraculous, what is its success rate?”
Yin Shangren explained, “Look at me, I nearly succeeded on my first attempt. So the probability of success surely can’t be low.
“You must believe me, Fellow Daoist! This is the conclusion I reached after dissecting hundreds of Foundation Establishment cultivators’ corpses and decades of painstaking research. It can’t be wrong. When you undergo Foundation Establishment, you must give it a try!” Yin Shangren gazed at Li Fan with burning enthusiasm.
“Well, I’ll certainly consider trying it... Wait, did you say you dissected hundreds of Foundation Establishment cultivators’ corpses?” Li Fan’s heart jumped, and the question slipped out before he could stop himself.
"Indeed. Fellow Daoist, why do you look at me like that? Do you doubt me? They're still lying in my basement. Would you like to see them?" Yin Shangren asked.
"Ah, that won't be necessary. I'm just curious, where did you obtain these hundreds of Foundation Establishment remains?"
"Hmm?" Yin Shangren pondered for a moment, his eyes growing vacant and confused. "Right, where did I get so many corpses? Strange, why can't I remember..." he muttered to himself.
Li Fan already had his answer. "It's not important. If you can't remember, let it be."
"True enough." Yin Shangren nodded, appearing thoroughly convinced.
"Thank you for resolving my doubts. Now that my questions are answered, I won't trouble you further."
Earlier, when Yin Shangren mentioned that "everything in heaven and earth can be considered an unfinished Curio," something had clicked within Li Fan. The bottleneck that had plagued him suddenly vanished.
As long as he had a Curio of heaven and earth in hand, he could immediately begin establishing his foundation.
Having achieved his goal, Li Fan had no desire to remain here any longer. Though Yin Shangren likely meant no harm, the atmosphere of this place was deeply unsettling. Thus, Li Fan decisively took his leave.
Yin Shangren tried to persuade him to stay, but Li Fan refused all entreaties.
"Fellow Daoist, remember to try my Self Foundation method!" Yin Shangren urged earnestly before they parted.
Li Fan repeatedly assured him he would, then swiftly departed.
Long after Li Fan had vanished into the distance, Yin Shangren murmured to himself, "You must try it. I truly haven't lied."
After a long silence, he fell quiet once more. Then, he turned and walked back to the massive rectangular transparent cage.
All the mortals in the four corners had dissolved into pools of flesh and blood. None had survived.
"Such a pity. Not a single one endured," he said with apparent regret. "I'm running low on test subjects. Looks like I'll need to make another trip outside."
Amidst grinding and creaking sounds, the dissolved mortals were removed from the four cages.
A new batch of test subjects appeared within the enclosures, and agonized screams once again filled the air.
Yin Shangren, long accustomed to such sights and sounds, showed no reaction. He stared intently at the rectangular transparent prison before him, clutching the white rib bone in his hand tightly.
In a nearly pathological tone, he whispered, "Don't worry, I will avenge you. I will find the one who created the Immortal-Mortal Miasma. I will avenge you...
"I will find you. I will find you..."
Yin Shangren's murmuring voice once again echoed through the bizarre structure.
***
Myriad Immortals Island.
Back within the Tianxuan Mirror, Li Fan searched for information on the Self Foundation method.
It wasn’t some secret technique. Yet, all cultivators treated it as a joke, and nobody actually believed in it.
This was because everyone who had tried this method had died disastrously while establishing their foundation.
Self Foundation... Of course, Li Fan didn't entirely believe what Yin Shangren had said. But at least one statement held true: "Everything in heaven and earth can be considered an unfinished Curio."
Li Fan considered the statement to be fundamentally sound. That realization, however, led to a far more pressing question.
Was Return to Truth, the very ability that had allowed him to cycle through lifetimes, one of these Curios of Heaven and Earth?
And if it was... could he somehow use Return to Truth as his own Dao Foundation?