Xiao Heng’s words were not without reason.
However, Su Xiaomei and Zhang Haobo had each finally sensed their own destined opportunity; it was impossible for them to give it up so easily.
Once Su Xiaomei’s explosive temper took hold, she wouldn’t listen to anyone.
Zhang Haobo had an even stronger reason: he had started cultivating relatively late, being more than a decade older than the others from the Li World. He was already far behind, yet he was being asked to wait again? Who knew when the next opportunity would appear?
One had to understand that on the path of cultivation, a single step ahead meant staying ahead.
Zhang Haobo was already many steps behind; he truly couldn’t afford any more delays. Nothing could change his mind.
His speech and resolute gaze left Xiao Heng momentarily unable to find a rebuttal.
He could only turn to Su Changyu, Ye Feipeng, and the others for help, hoping they would persuade them.
Ye Feipeng was blasé and unconcerned. "Xiao Heng, stop worrying about it," he said nonchalantly. "Think about it. I managed to escape from a Nascent Soul cultivator of the Myriad Immortals Alliance back then. Those two have great fortune, and their cultivation levels aren’t lower than mine. If they’re careful, what danger could there possibly be?"
Su Changyu remained silent, showing no intention of stopping Su Xiaomei.
With her brother’s backing, Su Xiaomei grew even bolder. She was impatient to set off immediately.
A flustered Xiao Heng quickly stopped her, using every argument he could think of to persuade her to wait. Eventually, he managed to convince the two of them to spend some time making proper preparations first before heading to Jiushan Province.
Looking at Su Xiaomei, who was glaring at him fiercely, Xiao Heng sighed, unable to voice his grievances.
He knew Su Xiaomei’s temper all too well. If they managed the journey without interacting with other cultivators, it might be fine. But once they encountered outsiders, it was almost certain that Su Xiaomei would clash with them.
If possible, Xiao Heng wanted to go along to provide protection. But after Su Xiaomei and Zhang Haobo left, the only ones on the desolate island with any semblance of combat strength would be himself and Ye Feipeng.
Ye Feipeng was secretive and often away on mysterious trips, making him utterly unreliable. If Xiao Heng went too, and some danger arose, the desolate island would be left completely defenseless.
Taking Su Changyu and the others along on the expedition was even less feasible. Even if they wanted to go, Xiao Heng could never agree.
After some thought, Xiao Heng initiated the ritual and entered the Bone Vanguard Realm.
He intended to seek help from Senior Skull, hoping to gain some assistance.
Li Fan was already aware of the situation here. He was also very interested in the Chaoyuan Sect ruins in Jiushan Province.
He hadn’t expected that in this lifetime, Su Xiaomei and Zhang Haobo’s core formation opportunities would be connected to these ruins. This was a perfect chance to investigate.
Immediately, through the altar, he sent over two random teleportation necklaces, one Myriad Immortals Array Banner Set, and two protective talismans.
The teleportation necklaces and the array banner set were naturally for the two youngsters’ protection.
If they were to die tragically just when the harvest was about to come in, Li Fan would make significant losses.
As for those so-called protective talismans, they were actually defensive artifacts engraved with the Spirit-Startling Array.
Their defensive use was only secondary. Their true purpose was to act as mediums that strengthened Li Fan’s connection to Su Xiaomei and Zhang Haobo.
Li Fan's Formless Killing Mechanism had a range limitation. At his current late-stage Foundation Establishment realm, if the distance to the target exceeded a single province, the clarity of the sensory images would drastically deteriorate, becoming severely compromised.
The Congyun Sea and Jiushan Province were separated by a vast distance.
Previously, when Li Fan's avatar had traveled to the Wanfa Pavilion to purchase techniques, the journey had taken the group nearly half a year.
Without the Spirit-Startling Array as a medium, he would only be able to vaguely lock onto their location, unable to perceive any clear images.
Therefore, if he wanted to monitor their situation as it unfolded, these protective talismans were essential. With Formless Killing Mechanism for surveillance, Li Fan could also intervene to assist when necessary.
Beyond these items, Li Fan also imparted the Dao Reestablishment method to Xiao Heng. After all, the further Su Xiaomei and the others advanced in cultivation, the greater Li Fan's harvest would be.
If He Zhenghao could achieve core formation with four laws, albeit with a certain degree of luck, then Su Xiaomei and Zhang Haobo should at least manage three laws.
Li Fan's little scheme was humming along nicely.
Having received so much aid, Xiao Heng felt a surge of emotion.
He kowtowed several times toward the place where Senior Skull was slumbering.
Senior provided so many precious treasures this time; he must have foreseen the dangers ahead. I must instruct Xiaomei and the others carefully. Xiao Heng thought to himself.
He stored the items securely, exited the vanguard realm, and distributed them to Su Xiaomei and Zhang Haobo. He then painstakingly reiterated his warnings and instructions.
Su Xiaomei pursed her lips and nodded in agreement, but her attention was focused on the newly acquired treasures. A hint of delight shone in her eyes as she quietly examined them.
Zhang Haobo first kept his items carefully, then, with a solemn expression, reassured Xiao Heng.
With preparations complete and after another round of farewells, the two of them, armed with a map Ye Feipeng had procured from who-knows-where, set off in the direction of Jiushan Province.
As two of their companions embarked on their journey into the unknown for the sake of core formation, those who remained felt a mix of reluctance and worry, but also a surge of motivation.
I must also form my core quickly. When Xiaomei returns, I'll be sure to surprise her. Xiao Heng secretly resolved.
The Yin sisters exchanged a glance and returned to the depths of the barren island to cultivate diligently with renewed vigor.
Su Changyu gazed into the distance where Su Xiaomei had departed, his expression growing ever more resolute.
Ye Feipeng, however, didn't seem particularly sorrowful.
Seeing that Xiao Heng had returned from his trip to the vanguard realm with so many treasures, his eyes began to dart around shrewdly.
After everyone had dispersed, he mimicked what Xiao Heng had done, entering the vanguard realm to pour out his woes, attempting to wheedle some benefits from Senior Skull.
Witnessing this, Li Fan was both amused and exasperated. Looking at the little fatty's utterly pitiable act, if Li Fan hadn't been monitoring him all along, he might almost have been fooled by this masterful performance.
Considering how hard the boy was trying, Li Fan decided not to ignore him this time. After a moment's thought, Li Fan inscribed the Creation Forge Technique onto a jade slip and sent it over to Ye Feipeng. This was none other than the method he had developed for utilizing the human body's hidden reserves to strengthen the physique.
A flash of white light appeared before Ye Feipeng.
Seeing that he had actually gained something this time, Ye Feipeng was overjoyed.
He leaped to his feet, snatched the jade slip, and began reading with desperate eagerness.
Creation Forge Technique?
The title of the technique was so domineering, so imposing, that it stunned him.
His pupils contracted sharply. Instinctively, he tucked the jade slip away and scanned his surroundings.
Confirming he was alone in the vanguard realm, Ye Feipeng devoured the technique's contents with a ravenous hunger.
A moment later, a strange expression crossed his face.
That's it?
Something felt off.
Unwilling to accept it, Ye Feipeng carefully read through the text again.
And again.
No, no. The Creation Forge Technique. A technique that sounds so mystical, so unfathomably profound... how can it be so... simplistic?
Could it be that it's too profound? Is my aptitude insufficient to comprehend its depths?
For a time, the little fatty plunged into a deep well of self-doubt.