Li Fan couldn't help but frown. Could it be that Senior Brother Zhang cannot voluntarily activate his Purple Core state?
Recalling the scene where Zhang Qianmo's physical body had been completely destroyed before reforming from the Purple Core, Li Fan speculated: Does it only activate through destruction and subsequent rebirth?
The ensuing battle seemed to confirm Li Fan's suspicions.
Zhong Shentong's multicolored divine light attacks continued relentlessly for over twenty more days.
Eventually, the energy stored within Zhang Qianmo's Purple Core was completely depleted.
This time, when Zhang Qianmo was obliterated by countless beams of light, the Purple Core did not appear.
"My humble skills are nothing impressive," the old Daoist said with a faint smile.
He made a ceremonial bow toward where his opponent's remains had vanished, then gradually faded from view.
So this is the way to resolve it... Li Fan felt somewhat speechless. He never expected that Zhang Qianmo could be worn down to death through sheer attrition.
Indeed, while in his Purple Core state, Senior Brother Zhang was nearly invincible at the Foundation Establishment realm. The solution, then, was simply to prevent him from entering that state altogether.
In hindsight, the principle seemed straightforward. But the more Li Fan thought about it, the more he realized how difficult it truly was. To keep an opponent constantly suppressed, to wound without killing, to simply exhaust his strength—accomplishing all of that in practice was far more challenging than it sounded.
In his ordinary state, Zhang Qianmo's combat power already represented the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm.
To suppress him for such an extended period, injuring without killing, simply draining his energy—this was something no ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator could accomplish. Even average Golden Core cultivators would find it challenging.
Li Fan currently couldn't replicate this feat either. Still, he now understood the way to counter Senior Brother Zhang: attrition.
With a solution in mind, the path forward became clearer.
Li Fan considered his own combat abilities to be no inferior to Senior Brother Zhang's when in his ordinary state. All he needed was to find a method to endure longer in combat, and he could wear Zhang Qianmo down to death within the Fallen Immortal Realm.
His only concern was the time limit imposed each time he entered the Fallen Immortal Realm.
However, Li Fan had already devised a countermeasure for this, though he hadn't implemented it yet out of caution. This presented a perfect opportunity to test its effectiveness.
Before re-entering the Fallen Immortal Realm, Li Fan first searched for information about this Zhong Shentong.
The results surprised him greatly.
He had assumed this person was some kind of exceptionally gifted cultivation genius, with his white-haired elderly appearance being a facade.
Instead, he discovered that Zhong Shentong was truly just an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, one who had achieved success relatively late in life.
This man had remained a mortal until his sixties. Only when he was approaching the end of his lifespan did he finally develop the desire to cultivate.
He barely managed to enter the Qi Refinement realm before his lifespan was due to expire.
After decades of stagnation in the Qi Refinement realm, he barely advanced to the Foundation Establishment realm just as his lifespan was about to end again.
Normally, such a figure would have remained obscure even after becoming a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Yet this very person had recently comprehended a divine ability: the power to summon multicolored divine light against enemies.
These radiant beams were sharp as blades, capable of cutting through anything.
He could even transform into light itself, reaching unimaginable levels of speed that even Nascent Soul cultivators couldn't match.
It was precisely because of this multicolored divine light that Zhong Shentong's name gradually became renowned.
Interesting...
According to available intelligence, Zhong Shentong should have comprehended this multicolored divine light around the middle of Anchor Year 23.
Perhaps there's an opportunity to observe exactly how he achieved this.
It wasn’t surprising that Li Fan entertained such thoughts. After all, Zhong Shentong's natural aptitude couldn't be considered particularly strong. If there was a chance to seize this opportunity for himself, Li Fan naturally wouldn't let it pass.
Who could blame him? The multicolored divine light was simply too formidable.
Making a mental note of this matter, Li Fan turned to his primary task.
He began searching for methods to lengthen one’s endurance in combat.
The results yielded only a few possibilities.
First were special techniques, second were unique Foundation Establishment Curios, third involved utilizing specific artifacts, and fourth was consuming certain pills.
Li Fan naturally chose the most cost-effective solution.
High-grade Curio of Man: Vine of Shared Hatred.
Carrying the Curio of heaven and earth with him, Li Fan quietly departed from Myriad Immortals Island.
Following his usual routine, he found a concealed area deep beneath the sea and began his secluded cultivation.
First, he absorbed the Vine of Shared Hatred.
Then, Return to Truth simultaneously transformed into the Deepsea Pearl and Vine of Shared Hatred.
Li Fan tested his spiritual qi consumption rate.
To his pleasant surprise, with the combined enhancement of these two Curios, the recovery rate of spiritual qi within his body reached a terrifying level. It truly felt inexhaustible, like the waters of the ocean or the hatred of mankind.
Now possessing the means for prolonged battle, Li Fan felt greatly reassured.
After a moment's contemplation, he summoned the Blue Flame phantom spirit, entering a state of absolute rationality devoid of emotional fluctuations.
Then he performed the ritual.
"Blessed be Heavenly Venerable Xuanhuang!"
After a long interval, Li Fan finally re-entered the Fallen Immortal Realm.
"Junior Brother? Junior Brother?"
Hearing the familiar voice of Zhang Qianmo, Li Fan opened his eyes.
He found himself staring directly into Senior Brother Zhang's eyes.
Who would have thought that his senior brother, who was smiling just moments ago, would suddenly turn solemn, murderous intent flooding his gaze?
Yet Zhang Qianmo didn't immediately attack. Instead, he abruptly backed up into the distance, examining Li Fan from afar.
"You're not my junior brother.
"Heretic? Demon? Or...”
In his state of absolute rationality, Li Fan focused solely on achieving his objective.
Without wasting words on Zhang Qianmo, the shell belonging to Li Chen instantly dissolved, revealing Li Fan's true appearance.
Immediately, he activated the Deepsea Pearl and slashed out with the Congyun Sword.
Witnessing this horrifying scene, Zhang Qianmo flew into a thunderous rage.
"Audacious demon! How dare you act so insolently before Zhang Qianmo of the Purple Firmament Sect!"
Purple Firmament Divine Lightning descended from the heavens, aiming to strike Li Fan down.
But it was met by a Heaven-Overturning Palm, and the lightning instantly dissipated into nothingness.
Before Zhang Qianmo could react, Li Fan's attacks came flooding in like tidal waves.
Li Fan controlled the power of every move with great precision, maximizing spiritual qi efficiency while draining Zhang Qianmo's strength.
Their battle descended into a prolonged stalemate.
The great conflict lasted over thirty days, destroying countless mortal villages and cities in its wake.
Finally, Zhang Qianmo reached his limit before Li Fan, utterly spent like a lamp that had burned through its oil.
Li Fan struck him down with a single sword stroke.
The Purple Core Nirvana ability did not activate.
Zhang Qianmo was dead.
Li Fan had seized victory by the narrowest of margins. With this, he was finally freed from the obstacle that was Zhang Qianmo.
But before he could even begin to explore the surrounding area, a familiar fluctuation descended upon him.
His allotted time within the Fallen Immortal Realm had reached its limit.
It seems even using the Blue Flame Phantom Spirit doesn’t grant an unlimited stay in the Fallen Immortal Realm. Li Fan thought, returning to the real world.
As he withdrew the Blue Flame Phantom Spirit, a wave of profound exhaustion washed over him.
Over thirty days of intense battle had taken a heavy toll, not just physically, but mentally as well.
At least the gains are substantial. He mused to himself.
I’ve finally eliminated Zhang Qianmo, that lingering thorn in my side. Next time I enter the Fallen Immortal Realm, I shouldn’t be trapped in Ningyuan City again, right?
And...
A subtle expression crossed Li Fan’s face as he examined a text that had inexplicably surfaced in his mind.
This should be the reward for slaying Zhang Qianmo.
Though it wasn’t the complete Purple Firmament Thunder Invocation Art, it was still immensely valuable for Li Fan, filling a critical gap in his abilities.
Purple Firmament Divine Lightning Evasion.
Like the Purple Firmament Soul Observation Art, it was a secret technique derived from the Purple Firmament Thunder Invocation Art.