This is only natural. Although these puppet mechanisms have reduced their combat power to the Qi Condensation stage, their physical strength alone is capable of withstanding attacks from Nascent Soul stage cultivators. How can a group of Qi Condensation cultivators hope to harm them?
After a series of pitiful attacks from the thirty-plus Qi Condensation cultivators, the seventeen puppets remained unfazed. They were impervious to any damage.
In return, the puppets' offensive capabilities, limited to the Qi Condensation stage, didn't appear as menacing. After a grueling battle, the third exploration team, although battered, managed to preserve most of their lives.
Finally, everyone began to understand that this cave of Tian Yang was far beyond the reach of their group of low-level Qi Condensation cultivators. The seventeen high-defense puppet mechanisms were like formidable gatekeepers, keeping all intruders at bay.
Li Fan pondered, wondering how things had turned out for this cave in the past. Since he joined the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, he had never heard anyone discuss the matter. It seemed the cave had disappeared long ago.
"Perhaps, in the end, a powerful expert will intervene to resolve this matter," Li Fan speculated.
With the storm raised by the cave gradually calming down, cultivators began to deliberately forget about this treasure that they could see but not possess. Some with ulterior motives attempted to secretly rally others, hoping to assemble hundreds of Qi Condensation cultivators for another exploration. The plan was to use a large group to engage the seventeen puppets while the others ventured deep into the mansion to seek opportunities.
But no one paid attention to their proposals. Everyone was a Qi Condensation cultivator, and they were unwilling to take the risks and potentially sacrifice their lives for someone else's gain. Thus, the number of cultivators with the cave in their minds gradually dwindled, and the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance seemed to forget the matter entirely.
The Cong Yun Sea became calm once more, and Li Fan, who seldom had time to focus on his cultivation, finally settled down to practice in peace. Time passed, and half a year later, the 13th year had arrived.
On this day, Li Fan was examining the results of his half-year intensive cultivation. He compared the "Jade Cosmos Thousand Variations Sutra" with the "Sun Stealing Technique" and practiced them together. Both techniques had advanced to the later stages of the Qi Condensation realm, and he could sense the existence of bottlenecks. Once he broke through these bottlenecks, he would be able to use a Heavenly Treasure to establish his foundation and become a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
As for the "Cloud Water Illusory Dream Art," it had progressed slowly after reaching the third layer, and he had to temporarily halt his practice. This third layer was already capable of affecting Nascent Soul stage cultivators, with the specific effects determined by the difference in spiritual strength between Li Fan and the opponent.
However, the "Stalking Shadow Technique" and the "Netherworld Spirit Illusion Technique" didn't receive much attention over this period.
"Maybe having so many techniques to practice isn't such a good thing. Perhaps I should consider merging and simplifying them... Of course, with my current level of insight into these techniques, I can't achieve that," Li Fan pondered.
However, if one were to use the Tianxuan Mirror's enlightenment over a long period of time, it might not be impossible.
His clone, Fan Lin, was still immersed in enlightenment. He had already consumed over six thousand points of contribution, but Li Fan didn't mind. The longer Fan Lin's enlightenment lasted, the more profound the insights he might gain. Li Fan even hoped that Fan Lin could spend all of his hundred thousand contribution points.
Suddenly, Li Fan felt a subtle weakening of the Formless Killing Intent that had been locked onto Zhang Haobo all along.
Zhang Haobo finally advanced to the Qi Condensation stage?"
"That's great, faster than I expected."
"Who knows, perhaps he'll achieve the Golden Core stage in just over a decade."
In less than a year, Zhang Haobo had transformed from an ordinary mortal into a Qi Condensation stage cultivator. With his altered fate, his cultivation speed had increased significantly compared to the previous life. The faster he cultivated, the stronger his power, and the greater influence he could exert.
Although he might not directly participate in the upcoming incineration of the Cong Yun Sea, Li Fan was well aware of the cascading effects a Golden Core cultivator could trigger.
"The incineration of the sea in this life is really worth looking forward to."
Three months later, Li Fan received a message from Yuwen Xing while in seclusion.
"Li Fan, do you know that we have an incredible individual on our Liuli Island recently?"
Li Fan's eyes lit up. "Oh? I'd like to hear more."
"Hehe, have a look," Yuwen Xing sent over a video.
In the video, seventeen massive puppets, entirely red, wielded huge fists as they fought with a blue water sword in front of them. At the center, surrounded by the seventeen puppets, stood one person, unmistakably Zhang Haobo. He had seven floating blue swords that rotated around him, acting as a protective formation. Zhang Haobo controlled ten more water swords simultaneously, engaging all the puppets in battle.
This kind of combat was clearly extremely taxing on his mental power. After a short time, three puppets broke through the sword blockade and approached Zhang Haobo.
Out of the seven protective swords, Zhang Haobo instantly divided three to face the incoming puppets while retreating.
In the blink of an eye, within the fury and frustration of the puppets, Zhang Haobo left the cave.
After a while, Yuwen Xing's triumphant voice came through.
"What do you think?"
"Are these seventeen puppets from the cave of Tian Yang? Fighting alone against seventeen puppets, although he only lasted for a short time, it's still quite impressive. Who is this person?" Li Fan pretended not to know.
"Hehe, this person is called Zhang Haobo. Just over a year ago, he was just an ordinary mortal."
"A few months ago, he advanced to the Qi Condensation stage, and I introduced him to our Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance."
"After hearing about the cave of Tian Yang, he went there alone."
"At first, I didn't know what he was doing, but later, I found out."
"He went there to practice against those seventeen puppet mechanisms!"
"In the beginning, it's said he could only last a few breaths. Then, as time passed, he could endure longer against the puppets."
"The video I sent you was from over half a month ago. I wonder what the situation is like now."