In these past few years, the clone hasn't been idle. It has been voraciously browsing through various hidden knowledge of the cultivation world, rapidly depleting its contribution points. Now, there are only a little over 73,000 points left.
The current knowledge reserve should be sufficient for most situations.
Therefore, Li Fan decided to take a break for now. In the upcoming period, he plans to focus his energy on studying techniques. As he is about to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, it's time to upgrade some of his existing techniques.
The "Jade Cosmos Thousand Variations Sutra" can be practiced all the way up to the Nascent Soul stage, so there's no immediate need to change it. The same goes for the "Cloud Water Illusory Dream Art."
However, the Sun Stealing Technique, according to its records, could be practiced up to the Dao Integration stage in ancient times. But over the many years, the Sun Stealing Sect seemed to decline, and there were no reports of practitioners reaching such high levels. In the past two thousand years, there was only a single record of a Soul Transformation cultivator. Most could only progress to the Nascent Soul stage. Thinking about the Sun Stealing Token still lying in his storage ring, Li Fan had a strong premonition.
After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, he decided to seize an opportunity to give it a try.
The "Stalking Shadow Technique" is just a relatively common body movement technique. It could be replaced at any time with a Foundation Establishment stage technique.
After observing Zhang Haobo's sword intent which was as gentle as a breeze, Li Fan gained insights. Perhaps he could combine the essence of that sword intent with the "Stalking Shadow Technique" to create a completely new technique.
The "Netherworld Spirit Illusion Technique" was particularly important to Li Fan. The Azure Flame Illusionary Spirit had various mystical effects, especially its ability to resist the desires brought about by the world's soul.
So, Li Fan searched in the Tianxuan Mirror to find Foundation Establishment stage techniques that could nurture illusory spirits. He found several, and there was even one called the "Unholy Netherworld Spirit Illusion Technique." This was an upgraded version of the "Netherworld Spirit Illusion Technique." But Li Fan didn't rush to exchange it.
After observing how Zhang Haobo condensed sword intent, Li Fan believed he could try to integrate this insight with the "Netherworld Spirit Illusion Technique" to create a new technique.
Yes, Li Fan was going to try to be a pathweaver.
Li Fan knew that creating new techniques was extremely difficult, but he didn't have a quantitative understanding of just how difficult it was. He figured that the best way to understand was to try it himself.
He had his secondary body, boosted by the Tianxuan Mirror's Enlightenment Mode and the Golden Liuli Pearl, which increased his insight efficiency by a factor of twenty-seven.
The contribution points remaining on his secondary body would support continuous closed-door cultivation for ten years.
In these next two hundred and seventy years, he could work on creating two Foundation Establishment stage techniques. Li Fan pondered. Though he might only be an average individual, there was still a high probability of success.
After all, ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators could live for approximately this long.
If he succeeded, he could break free from the constraints of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's techniques, and his next life would allow him to cultivate directly.
Moreover, what was even more important was that he was pioneering a new, feasible method for obtaining techniques. By using the raw techniques obtained through the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance as a base, integrating the insights he gained from the Tianxuan Mirror's enlightenment abilities, and refining them with his observance of prodigies through Formless Killing Intent and Vision of Heaven and Earth, he could create new techniques for his main body's cultivation.
If this production chain turned out to be truly viable, then he, Li Fan, could barely be called a pathweaver.
With a determined mind, Li Fan no longer hesitated. His secondary body's spiritual sense immersed itself in closed-door cultivation to begin the enlightenment process.
On Zhang Haobo's side, he continued to diligently cultivate without rest each day. His cultivation speed not only didn't slow down as he entered the Foundation Establishment stage but instead increased.
However, on Li Fan's side, he had decided to wait for the emergence of the Canghai Pearl before breaking into Foundation Establishment. So, his cultivation had temporarily come to a halt.
During this time, he couldn't find much to do and instead enjoyed some rare leisure on the Ten Thousand Immortals Island.
He spent his days leisurely strolling on the island and making friends with many Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment cultivators. These cultivators might not have outstanding strength, but they were the grassroots of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's control of the Cong Yun Sea. Most of them were knowledgeable and not ordinary individuals.
Interacting with them, Li Fan learned much from the experience. After some time passed, Li Fan suddenly received a transmission message.
"Chen An?"
Li Fan looked at the name and frowned slightly. But soon, he remembered who Chen An was. It was the Qi Condensation cultivator who had asked him about the mysteries of Qin Tang's trial in the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace.
This man had managed to survive the trial involving Qin Tang, and he promptly retreated and left the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace. He was quite cautious.
For years, there had been no contact between them. Li Fan was curious about why Chen An was reaching out now.
He opened the message, and the image of Chen An with a smile appeared.
"Fellow Daoist Li Fan, how have you been lately?"
"Since the day we parted at the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace, it has been over five years. Your outstanding performance in solving the Qin Tang anomaly is still vivid in my memory, unforgettable."
"Recently, something unusual has happened in the Cong Yun Sea, which you might find interesting."
...
After listening to Chen An's transmission, Li Fan understood why Chen An had suddenly contacted him.
Recently, in the Cong Yun Sea, an extraordinary event had occurred. A massive, constantly shifting white mist suddenly appeared in the Cong Yun Sea. A curious cultivator who flew into the white mist found a colossal, mountain-like blue bull pulling a two-wheeled cart, walking on the sea.
On the cart was a dilapidated thatched cottage. Outside the cottage stood two strange creatures. One of them had no mouth and had a terrifying appearance, while the other was robust and strong, carrying a wooden staff.
From inside the cottage, a faint, melodious sound of someone reading aloud could be heard. This bizarre sight naturally drew the curiosity of the cultivator. This individual was quite bold.
Convinced that there must be a chance to gain some fortune in this, he flew to the front of the thatched cottage to investigate. However, he was blocked by the two doorkeepers.
Politely, he greeted them and attempted to enter the cottage. However, there was no response, and instead, he was struck with a chaotic beating from the wooden staff, expelling him from the range of the blue bull's cart.
When he tried to approach again, he found that no matter what he did, he couldn't fly close to the thatched cottage.
So, he had no choice but to give up. He returned and informed his best friend about this event. They were also intrigued.
They came together and visited the blue bull's cart the next day. Surprisingly, the cultivator found that he could once again approach the thatched cottage. So, the two of them cautiously approached and were struck by the wooden staff again, forcing them out.
However, they didn't get discouraged. On the third day, they tried once more, and the result remained the same.
But they were not disheartened. In fact, they were somewhat delighted because, since there was no danger to life, they could simply invite more people.
They would definitely find a way to enter the thatched cottage.