Mortal Cultivator: Lin Tianzun

Chapter 51: Sect Leader Li Xuan
For the next two years, time seemed to freeze, flowing silently. Lin Fan immersed himself in the long journey of transforming his cultivation method, feeling as if he were detached from the world, completely cut off from the hustle and bustle. His training ground was so serene that even the rustling of the grass in the breeze could be heard clearly. Only the roaring roar of surging spiritual energy occasionally broke the silence.

At dawn, before the faint light had completely dispelled the darkness of night, Lin Fan had already begun his day of practice. He expertly sat cross-legged, his five hearts facing heavenward, his eyes closed, his entire being instantly entering a state of oblivion. The mantras of the Nine-Turn Sword Technique, like the melodious chanting of a Buddhist sutra, echoed and replayed in his mind. Guided by his mind, the mana within him flowed like a vibrant stream, flowing in an orderly fashion along specific meridians. In this process, the mana was continuously compressed and refined, its impurities gradually stripped away, each strand becoming richer and more refined, like pure gold that has been tempered through countless trials. At the point of utter ecstasy, the spiritual energy around him seemed to materialize into a lingering mist, lingering tightly and radiating ripples as the technique was practiced, creating a dreamlike experience.

Every seventh day is a significant day for Lin Fan, a day he cannot afford to miss. This is because on this day, the "Taiqing Jade Purifying Bottle" will produce the magical "Taiqing Immortal Liquid."

When the hour arrived, Lin Fan's expression was solemn and dignified, as if he were participating in a sacred and ancient sacrificial ritual. With gentle movements, he slowly withdrew the "Taiqing Jade Purification Bottle." This bottle was far from ordinary. Its entire body was lustrous and translucent, as if meticulously carved from a single block of top-quality jade. The light reflected it, radiating a dreamlike, brilliant halo. Mysterious runes swirled across the bottle like ethereal dragons, looming and swirling. Each pattern carried the weight of countless years, whispering ancient and mysterious stories.

Lin Fan carefully grasped the bottle's neck, resting his thumb lightly on the cork. Slowly, he applied force and gently pulled the cork free. Instantly, a fresh, rich, almost tangible spiritual energy emanated from the air like a wild horse unleashed. This aura, fresh yet tinged with a hint of sweetness, seemed to sweep away the dust from the depths of one's heart. Its richness, however, felt as if one were transported to the depths of a spiritual valley, where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is most abundant. Every breath was filled with the nourishment of spiritual energy. The overwhelming aura rippled the surrounding space, as if announcing to the world the extraordinary and precious nature of this treasure.

Holding the Jade Purifying Bottle, Lin Fan walked with light and cautious steps to the medicinal seedlings. He crouched down, his gaze filled with concentration and deep affection, as if all else in the world had ceased to exist, leaving only the seedlings before him, bearing his boundless hope. His eyes were filled with tenderness and expectation, like a loving father gazing at his children, filled with love and anticipation.

He tilted the jade bottle slightly, aiming it at a young seedling. The nectar-like Taiqing Immortal Liquid within, drawn by spiritual energy, transformed into a crystalline, thin line that slowly fell upon the seedling. As the Taiqing Immortal Liquid touched the seedling, a miraculous transformation occurred. The leaves trembled slightly at first, as if joyfully welcoming this precious gift, and then began to grow at a visible rate. The veins of the leaves grew clearer, their color intensifying, a lush green that seemed to drip with water at the slightest pinch. The once delicate stems grew thicker and stronger, reaching toward the sky, as if eager to embrace the vastness of the universe.

These seedlings, like sparks of hope gleaming in the darkness, carry Lin Fan's earnest hopes for the path to immortality after establishing his foundation. The path to immortality is fraught with thorns and countless difficulties and obstacles. After establishing one's foundation, if one wishes to rapidly advance one's mana, diligent cultivation alone is insufficient. Spiritual objects from the outside world, imbued with magical powers and capable of boosting mana, often play a decisive role at crucial moments, becoming the key to overcoming bottlenecks.

Lin Fan had no doubt about this, and he understood it all too well. He knew that these elixirs, carefully tended before him, would, once mature, become the most solid aids in his path to immortality. In the difficult moments of breaking through bottlenecks, they would unleash immense spiritual power, like a surging torrent, breaking through the barriers that hindered his mana advancement. This surge of power would be enough to transform his mana into a qualitative leap, helping him steadily advance on his path to immortality.

Winter and summer pass, spring fades and autumn arrives. Day after day, year after year, Lin Fan shuttles between his wooden house and the spiritual medicine nursery. He tirelessly rushes back and forth between the two. The focused expression on his face as he channels his spiritual energy, the meticulous care he gives to his young seedlings, is filled with his boundless longing for the future. He firmly believes that through his unremitting efforts, on this path of cultivation fraught with uncertainty and challenges, he will embrace a bright future of infinite possibilities.

Two years had flown by like a fleeting moment. Lin Fan breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes filled with relief and anticipation. He gazed at the lush, spiritually rich medicinal field before him. After two years of meticulous cultivation, the medicinal seedlings had all matured. Each plant was plump and robust, its leaves gleaming with a vibrant luster. Its thick roots, deeply embedded in the fertile spiritual soil, emanated a rich, mellow aura, as if telling of its growth and transformation over these long years.

Recalling the arduous journey of transitioning to a new cultivation technique, the countless days and nights of dedicated study and repetitive refinement, Lin Fan's lips curled up in a smile of satisfaction. Every technique and every movement of spiritual energy in the Nine Transformations Sword Art was like a brand etched deep within his soul, becoming a part of his being. Now that he had achieved perfection in his cultivation, the spiritual energy within him surged, yet he controlled it with perfect control. Every wisp of his magical power held boundless power, as if ready to burst forth at any moment.

Lin Fan knew it was time to take a new step. He carefully picked the ripe herbs one by one, his movements as gentle as if they were rare treasures. Each herb was carefully placed in a specially crafted jade box. The jade box isolated the spiritual energy and could maximize the medicinal potency of the herb, ensuring that its efficacy was not lost in the slightest.

After gathering the spiritual elixirs, Lin Fan summoned a flying sword. It gleamed with a cold light and hummed, as if excited for the journey ahead. He stepped on the sword, spiritual energy enveloping him, transforming into a brilliant stream of light as he sped towards the main hall of the Yellow Maple Valley.

In a moment, the towering figure of the Sect Master's Hall came into view. Lin Fan landed steadily in front of the hall, straightened his robes, took a deep breath, and strode into the hall with reverence and anticipation. Inside the hall, Sect Master Li Xuan sat upright in the main seat, exuding the majestic aura of a superior. The powerful spiritual energy fluctuations that only those in the Foundation Establishment stage could possess were not to be underestimated.

Lin Fan hurried forward, saluted respectfully, and said in a loud and firm voice: "My name is Lin Fan. I was lucky enough to break through the foundation-building stage a few days ago. I have come to report to the headmaster and register, and at the same time apply for the right to open a cave." Lin Fan stood respectfully in front of the headmaster Li Xuan, his posture as straight as a pine tree, his eyes showing determination and confidence, and his whole body exuding a vigorous vitality.

Li Xuan was startled for a moment, then a delighted smile spread across his face. He quickly said, "Congratulations, Junior Brother, on your successful foundation building! This joyous event is truly a blessing for our sect. From now on, we have gained another pillar of support." He reached into his storage bag, fumbled around, and pulled out a jade tablet as white as jade. The tablet was about the size of a palm, its surface smooth as a mirror, and faintly radiant with spiritual energy. It was immediately clear that it was no ordinary object.

Immediately afterwards, Li Xuan produced a gold-lacquered pen. The pen's body shone with a faint golden luster, and its tip was lustrous, as if imbued with a special spiritual power. Holding the pen, he walked over to a nearby table and gently placed the jade tablet on it. The tablet was already densely inscribed with numerous names. These were the names of all the disciples in the Foundation Establishment stage and above within the Yellow Maple Valley, recording their glorious journeys within the sect.

Li Xuan's expression was focused. He carefully dipped the tip of his brush into the gold lacquer and slowly wrote the two characters "Lin Fan" below the numerous names on the jade tablet. Every stroke was so powerful that it pierced through the paper, exuding a solemnity and awe. After finishing, he blew gently on the still-wet writing, examined it carefully, nodded with satisfaction, and said, "Finally, you're registered! This jade tablet records the information of our disciples who have reached the Foundation Establishment stage and above. Now you are among them. From now on, you must be even more diligent and not let your cultivation go to waste."

Li Xuan then reached into his storage bag and pulled out three mid-level spirit stones emitting rich spiritual energy, along with five small flags shrouded in a thin white mist, and handed them to Lin Fan. He then picked up a jade slip and handed it to Lin Fan, then slowly explained:

"Junior Brother Lin Fan, these three mid-level spirit stones are a one-time reward from our sect to each disciple who has just established their foundation. These spirit stones contain an extremely abundant amount of spiritual energy, which will greatly benefit you in consolidating your cultivation and accelerating your training. Furthermore, starting from the day you establish your foundation, the sect will provide you with one mid-level spirit stone free of charge every year. You won't need to undertake any other chores. This is our hope that you, the newly established disciples, can focus on your cultivation without distraction."

"As for these small flags, they're called Misleading Flags. They're essential for opening up a cave. While they aren't particularly powerful on their own, they're more than enough to keep out low-level beasts and mortals. After you've opened up the cave, place them around it to create a bewitching atmosphere, making it difficult for those with ill intentions to find the entrance. Of course, if you possess a more powerful formation, then I'll just pretend I never mentioned the Misleading Flags."

Seeing this, Lin Fan immediately reached forward and took it steadily. A deep expression of gratitude welled up on his face. He said respectfully, "Thank you, Master, for your careful guidance. I'm anxious to open up my cave abode and can't delay any longer. I'll take my leave now. When I have time, I'll definitely come back to see you again, Master, and have a long talk with you all night long, listening to your teachings. Farewell!" He bowed deeply again, his movements clean and smooth, revealing his composure. After the ceremony, Lin Fan slowly turned, straightened his back, and strode out of the hall with steady, powerful steps.

Next, Lin Fan rushed to the "Qilin Pavilion" without stopping. Just hearing the name, he felt a sense of extraordinary aura and awe. Qilin Pavilion was the crucial core of Yellow Maple Valley, holding a pivotal position within the valley.

The Qilin Pavilion is so special because it's a place within the valley specifically dedicated to the taming and breeding of spirit beasts. Most of the captive beasts within the valley are level one, including one called the "Double-Eyed Rat," which features prominently in the original novel. It was with its help that Han Li successfully found the Eye of the Spiritual Spring.

At first glance, the Double-Eyed Rat looks like an ordinary mouse, but don't underestimate it. This beast is gifted with divine eyes, a perfect tool for locating cave dwellings. As a first-level, intermediate-level demonic beast, its pupils seem to be able to dispel all illusions. Fog, rivers, trees—obstructions that would obscure the vision of ordinary cultivators—are completely obscured before it. Even more remarkable, this Double-Eyed Rat naturally burrows in areas rich in spiritual energy. If you're searching for a place with abundant spiritual energy, you can't go wrong with it! With its unique ability, Lin Fan is confident he'll find a perfect cave dwelling, laying a solid foundation for his subsequent cultivation.

(End of this chapter)