During this period, the Tribulation Body containing the cultivation feedback from the Mountain-Sitting Art had reached a half-tangible, half-illusory state.
If one were to quantify it, it was roughly equivalent to half of Li Fan’s own final-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.
With He Zhenghao's breakthrough to Golden Core, Li Fan welcomed the largest return on investment since he began cultivating the Mountain-Sitting Art. The sheer amount even somewhat exceeded Li Fan's expectations.
The silhouette of the Tribulation Body in his dantian instantly transformed from illusory to tangible, and the stored cultivation turned completely tangible after reaching the level equivalent to final-stage Foundation Establishment.[1]
A vivid miniature figure, with clearly visible features, sat cross-legged within Li Fan's dantian.
Li Fan had a vague understanding that this Tribulation Body had reached its limit in the amount of cultivation it could absorb.
Just as he felt some regret, thinking the remaining feedback cultivation would go to waste, a second Tribulation Body abruptly appeared, storing up the remaining one-third of the feedback.
Truly worthy of a Four-Law Golden Core... the returns are staggering. Li Fan couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.
After careful sensing, Li Fan gained further insight.
Other than the Four-Law Golden Core vastly surpassing ordinary Golden Cores, the intricate connections between He Zhenghao and myself are also a crucial factor behind the immense cultivation feedback I received.
First, I personally transmitted the technique to him. Second, by intervening, He Zhenghao averted his destined death, an act that undeniably counts as saving his life.
Moreover, the fact that he could break through safely this time is also tied to my constant vigilance and protection.
All these factors combined to produce such a dramatic result. Had I only transmitted the technique, the feedback from He Zhenghao’s Golden Core breakthrough would never have been anywhere near this much.
As his thoughts flowed, the chaotic fluctuations from He Zhenghao's body gradually calmed. His aura withdrew, and he slowly opened his eyes.
"Congratulations on achieving a Four-Law Golden Core, Fellow Daoist. Your future prospects are now limitless!" Li Fan said with a smile.
He Zhenghao let out a hearty laugh, as though emptying out all the pent-up frustration from his chest.
Then, he said seriously, "No one understands their own circumstances better than themselves. Your contribution accounts for at least half the reason I was able to form my core, Fellow Daoist. Though I have now stepped into the Golden Core realm, your own breakthrough is not far off. I’ve simply taken the first step ahead.
“We should continue interacting as we did before, how about that?"
He Zhenghao was very respectful, which left Li Fan satisfied. The two engaged in another round of mutual praise.
During their casual conversation, the topic of the palace complex naturally came up.
He Zhenghao frowned as he spoke. “When I was breaking through, I originally intended to form my core with three laws. But while using the array diagram to sense the Three Undersea Faults, I inexplicably detected something concealed deep beneath the seabed. It even resonated faintly, forming a distant connection with the Law of the Hidden Abyss.
“I initially thought it might be some esoteric treasure, but never expected it to be an entire site of ruins."
Li Fan then added, "Who knows where these ruins came from? Right when you were breaking through, it shrank to the size of an ordinary cave dwelling and flew eastward.
“Have you taken an interest in these ruins, Fellow Daoist?"
He Zhenghao shook his head. "I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t interested. Unfortunately, even with my present cultivation, the memory of confronting it alone makes my heart tighten with danger.
“The world holds countless opportunities; there's no need to seize every single one we encounter. Let's forget about it!"
Li Fan nodded. "You speak wisely, Fellow Daoist."
Since being reunited with his daughter, Fellow Daoist He has become much more cautious. If he were still alone, he might have been tempted to explore. He thought internally.
Li Fan then changed the subject. "What are your plans now, Fellow Daoist?"
Members who reached the Golden Core realm would be promoted to new positions in the Myriad Immortals Alliance, hence Li Fan's question.
He Zhenghao hesitated before answering, "If possible, I'd like to use this promotion to transfer closer to Tianyu Province.
"Of course, Tianyu Province is the heartland of the Myriad Immortals Alliance. Even with my Four-Law Golden Core, getting a direct transfer there isn't realistic.
"But I can take it step by step, using other provinces as stepping stones. When I break through to Nascent Soul next time, I'll see if there's an opportunity.
"Anyway, I want to leave this remote Congyun Sea first."
Hearing this, Li Fan felt a spark of insight.
He Zhenghao escaped the calamity he was destined for, reunited with his daughter, and broke through to a new realm. Now his fate has shifted inexplicably. By chance, he's developed the desire to leave the Congyun Sea.
It seems even without my intervention, he would have escaped the catastrophe of Crimson Flame scorching the sea.
This is what they mean by “to survive a great disaster is to be blessed with unforeseen fortune.”
Li Fan knew exactly why He Zhenghao wanted to return to Tianyu Province, and couldn't resist teasing him. “All heroes fall to a pretty face indeed.
"Go for it, Fellow Daoist. If you need contribution points to smooth the way, just say the word," Li Fan assured with a smile.
He Zhenghao's face brightened immediately. He knew full well how much Li Fan had profited during the Spirit Mist Grass incident; the man was flush with resources.
With my existing connections, my Four-Law Golden Core, and enough contribution points to pave the way... I might just land an unexpectedly good position. He Zhenghao thought privately.
Perhaps I won't need to go to Shilin Province this lifetime. After all, it's unfamiliar territory. Maybe I can ride Fellow Daoist He's coattails instead. I'll wait and see. Li Fan decided.
The two returned, each occupied with their own thoughts.
He Zhenghao went back to Liuli Island first to stabilize his cultivation.
Li Fan returned to the Tianxuan Mirror.
News of the underwater cave dwelling's appearance had gradually spread. Many cultivators were following its eastward path, hoping to find opportunities.
However, by the time the architectural complex had appeared in public sightings, it had already shrunk considerably.
Thus, it appeared rather small, and not many cultivators were willing to chase it.
If nothing unexpected happened, the several dozen cultivators following it would soon go missing, and this matter would slowly fade from memory.
But Li Fan wanted these cultivators to scout the path for him and uncover the ruins' secrets. How could he allow such a thing to happen?
So he decided to add fuel to the fire.
Posing as an eyewitness, he spread the story of the ancient ruin’s appearance within the Tianxuan Mirror.
It didn't take long for it to cause a sensation.
After all, an ancient cultivator's cave dwelling and the ruins of an ancient sect were two completely different concepts.
A cultivator's cave dwelling typically contained only limited techniques and artifacts. But the potential opportunities to be found within a sect’s ruins were beyond estimation, especially one that had just emerged after being sealed for countless years.
The prosperity of the ancient cultivation world was deeply ingrained in people's minds. Even obtaining a single random technique would be a tremendous gain.
Moreover, according to Li Fan's description, the sprawling complex stretched across a hundred li. That hardly resembled some obscure, feeble sect.
Thus, the cultivators' fervor was swiftly ignited.
1. In the raws, the author stated it was tangible to illusory, but it contradicts the “vivid” and “clearly visible features” description below so I think he meant it the other way round ☜