"Don't worry about the contribution points. Just choose the Curios and techniques that appeal to you."
Though he'd intended to be frugal, Li Fan still gave this instruction upon seeing Su Xiaomei and Xiao Heng's conflicted expressions.
They breathed sighs of relief, and finally managed to select what they needed from the Tianxuan Mirror's vast catalog.
Su Xiaomei chose the Blazing Flame Feather for her Foundation Establishment Curio, a high-grade Curio of Man worth 6000 contribution points. For her technique, she selected the advanced version of Blazing Heart's Fury Art called Inferno Heart's Fury Art, also valued at 6000 contribution points.
Xiao Heng selected the Wandering Cloud Stele for his Foundation Establishment Curio, a high-grade Curio of Man worth 5500 contribution points. His technique was the Nurturing Rain Art, valued at 5500 contribution points.
After making their selections, they obediently gathered beside Li Fan, watching him with eager eyes as he paid the bill.
Total contribution points spent: 23,000. Even with Li Fan's substantial wealth of over 90,000 contribution points, his eyelid twitched at the amount.
No wonder He Zhenghao had to restrict his investments—this was truly an enormous expense. Supporting even a single Foundation Establishment cultivator required at least ten thousand contribution points.
Li Fan recalled that the annual compensation for guardians of the Congyun Sea’s islands ranged from just a few hundred to slightly over two thousand contribution points.
Even with additional side income, accumulating over ten thousand contribution points would take at least two to three years of intensive saving.
To give to others what he'd worked so long to earn... who could bear to part with so much of their wealth?
The Mountain-Sitting Art truly isn't meant for the ordinary cultivator. Li Fan sighed as he purchased all four items.
In the blink of an eye, his contribution points dropped to over 67,000. Plus the previous remaining 1100, Li Fan now possessed just over 68,100 contribution points.
"Begin establishing your Dao Foundation here. I'll protect you," Li Fan instructed, handing the items to them.
Overjoyed, they immediately agreed.
Placing complete trust in Li Fan, Su Xiaomei and Xiao Heng began their Foundation Establishment process in the chamber.
With Formless Killing Mechanism locked onto both of them, Li Fan once again took the opportunity to observe and comprehend the Foundation Establishment process.
Although he had already completed his Foundation Establishment in this lifetime, Li Fan's ultimate goal was far more ambitious than simply building his Dao Foundation with the Curio of Earth, Deepsea Pearl. Therefore, every insight into Foundation Establishment was precious to him.
Their talents were truly extraordinary. Just one day later, the projection of a fiery bird took form in Su Xiaomei's dantian, and she successfully advanced to the Foundation Establishment realm.
Simultaneously, Li Fan felt a surge of pure cultivation energy manifest within his own body. Moreover, it didn't simply appear once then vanish completely. Rather, it continued growing steadily like a bubbling mountain stream, though the increments became minuscule, almost negligible.
After her breakthrough, Su Xiaomei's face glowed with excitement. But she noticed Xiao Heng was still in the midst of his Foundation Establishment process and refrained from disturbing him.
She stood obediently beside Li Fan, waiting for Xiao Heng to complete his breakthrough.
Another half a day passed before a blue cloud took shape, marking Xiao Heng's official advancement to the Foundation Establishment realm.
This time, the cultivation feedback from the Mountain-Sitting Art was only one-fifth of what Su Xiaomei had provided. The subsequent cultivation progress it granted was practically nonexistent.
After his breakthrough, joy spread across Xiao Heng's face. But then he quickly composed himself, bowing and kowtowing once more to Li Fan.
Li Fan nodded, accepting the gesture with equanimity, then led the two to meet Su Changyu and the others.
When Su Changyu and the Yin sisters saw that both had broken through to the Foundation Establishment realm, they were genuinely delighted, repeatedly offering congratulations.
Zhao Erbao's eyes widened in disbelief, his gaze shifting back and forth between the two and Li Fan.
After the celebratory commotion subsided, Li Fan issued his orders: "Our current dwelling is far too crude. From now on, you must work together to carve out and construct a proper cave dwelling at Brightmoon Lake, where everyone can cultivate in the future.
"I will transfer five thousand contribution points to you, Xiao Heng. You may purchase the necessary materials from the Mini Tianxuan Mirror.
"I have matters to attend to outside and will be away for a time. I hope to see the cave dwelling completed upon my return.
"A friend of mine resides in the stone chamber at the bottom of the lake. If you encounter any problems you cannot solve, feel free to seek his counsel."
The group acknowledged the instructions in unison.
After transferring the five thousand contribution points to Xiao Heng, Li Fan spent over twenty days returning to Yuandao City.
After entering the Tianxuan Mirror, he spent ten thousand contribution points to activate the Assisted Cultivation Mode. Then, he immersed himself in cultivating the Mountain-Sitting Art.
Time flowed like a river, and a hundred days slipped swiftly by.
In the blink of an eye, Anchor Year 29 arrived.
Li Fan awoke from his secluded cultivation, examining the progress of his cultivation.
The results left him deeply astonished.
His cultivation progress in over a hundred days of dedicated practice was only double compared to the cultivation feedback he received when Su Xiaomei broke through.
No, it’s less than double. During these hundred days, Su Xiaomei and Xiao Heng's strength must have increased as well. So my cultivation progress came partly from my own efforts and partly from the Mountain-Sitting Art's feedback.
It's foreseeable that as Su Xiaomei's realm continues to rise, the feedback will keep flowing in. It should only cease completely once they reach the final-stage Foundation Establishment realm.
A preliminary conclusion can be drawn: for the same amount of contribution points, the total cultivation progress through this method far exceeds what I could achieve through my own cultivation. However, it is a long process. If I invest in those with mediocre talent, it might take nearly a century to reap the full benefits.
Investing in exceptionally gifted prodigies can significantly shorten this process.
Regardless, transmitting techniques while the Mountain-Sitting Art is activated guarantees a profit with no loss.
From this perspective, with sufficient contribution points, the fastest method of cultivation for me is to cultivate within the Tianxuan Mirror myself while simultaneously transmitting techniques and reaping rewards.
Unfortunately, the consumption of contribution points is simply too great if I go with this plan. Even two hundred thousand contribution points wouldn't last long. It's not a sustainable long-term strategy.
To maximize the efficiency of contribution points, I should refrain from using the Tianxuan Mirror for my own cultivation. Instead, invest all contribution points in prodigies and rely solely on the cultivation growth from feedback to advance my realm.
Yet true prodigies are rare. Across both my lifetimes, I've encountered only two or three.
My cultivation speed would undoubtedly be slower than if I devoted all my contribution points to the epiphanic state boost.
Li Fan's thoughts paused, then turned to Xiao Heng.
Even compensated technique transmission can yield cultivation feedback. And if I can ensure the safe recovery of contribution points, wouldn't that be like reaping profits without investment?
If I just charge a small fee, surely many cultivators trapped by their bottlenecks, desperate for breakthroughs, would be willing to pay this negligible price to obtain techniques or Curios in advance.
I possess the Formless Killing Mechanism divine ability, so I needn't fear these cultivators fleeing. With Su Xiaomei and Xiao Heng as my two chief enforcers, I wouldn't even need to personally handle collections when debtors miss their payments.
And if I encounter true prodigies, I could provide the resources without charge... Excellent! Truly excellent!
The more Li Fan contemplated, the more excited he became, until the words escaped his lips unbidden.
"The Mountain-Sitting Art is truly a marvelous technique!
"Such a divine art, yet you never learned to wield it properly, Fellow Daoist He. What a tragic waste of heaven's gifts!"