To comprehend all laws and attain immortality

Two streaks of light flashed across the clear sky.

One of them was Gu Fan, and the other was Qin Hui from the Service Hall.

"Uncle-Master Gu, this is Phoenix Perch Island," Qin Hui introduced.

Within the Lingxiao Sect's territory lies a lake, and Gu Fan's new cave dwelling is located on an island in the center of that lake.

The island is lush with vegetation, including a grove of sycamore trees. The birds in the grove are no longer afraid of people. When they see the two figures, they do not run away but instead dance around them.

In the center of the island stands a stone palace, entirely constructed of bluestone, covering an area of ​​several acres.

Gu Fan followed Qin Hui into the stone palace and looked around. Inside, there were not only places to live, sit, and lie down, but also places to entertain guests, meditation rooms for enlightenment, and even a stone chamber that had been connected to the earth fire, which was obviously a place for refining weapons.

In addition, there is an acre of spiritual field behind the stone palace where some spiritual herbs can be planted.

To Gu Fan's delight, the fire elemental energy was not suppressed by being in the center of the lake after he set foot on the island; on the contrary, it was very vibrant and vigorous.

Gu Fan's mastery of array formations was far beyond what it used to be, and he quickly grasped the key points after a little thought.

The various peaks and branches of the Lingxiao Sect correspond to the eight trigrams. This place belongs to the Li position, where the fire element is too strong and violent. Therefore, a lake was dug to balance the yin and yang.

"Is Uncle Gu satisfied?" Qin Hui asked respectfully, though he was also quite moved.

The two first met when he was on duty at the Hall of Diligence.

At that time, Qin Hui realized that Gu Fan was exceptionally talented from his talisman skills and wanted to befriend him. As Gu Fan's reputation grew, his idea was confirmed.

However, Gu Fan's achievement of Foundation Establishment after just over ten years of training was still beyond his imagination, not to mention that he was also accepted as a disciple by the head of Wendao Peak.

Therefore, Qin Hui was particularly careful when choosing a cave dwelling. Phoenix Perch Island was already top-tier among the inner disciples' residences, and it was in no way inferior to the residences of true disciples.

If one wishes to advance further, one must attain the Golden Elixir and be granted a blessed grotto-heaven.

"Excellent, this place suits my taste perfectly, thank you for your trouble."

Gu Fan nodded slightly, took out a bottle of pills and handed it to Qin Hui as payment for his services.

Qin Hui didn't refuse, thanked him happily, and then accepted it with both hands.

"In that case, I shall take my leave."

After saying this, and with Gu Fan nodding, Qin Hui soared into the sky and disappeared.

Gu Fan circled the Blue Stone Palace again, observing its location, before taking out array tools and setting them up.

Before long, mist rose from the island, obscuring the Blue Stone Palace.

The fog may seem ethereal, but if anyone ventures in rashly, they will lose their way and find themselves in an endless cycle of time. This formation was set up by Gu Fan, combining the Mistrait Formation and the Yuan Chen Formation, solely to protect the cave.

After making these arrangements, Gu Fan nodded in satisfaction and settled down on the island.

......

The next morning.

The morning glow shone on Phoenix Perch Island, and the sunlight pierced through the clouds and mist, scattering into seven colors, which was very bright and beautiful.

Gu Fan piloted the Sky-Breaking Shuttle straight towards Wendao Peak.

His ten-year agreement with Xuanji Zhenren has been fulfilled, and he should go to keep it.

Moreover, after establishing the foundation, the basic cultivation techniques have been perfected, and a new cultivation technique needs to be chosen, so it is natural to consult the teacher.

A short while later, Gu Fan landed in front of the Chenxing Pavilion.

Zhou Furui was overjoyed to detect Gu Fan's aura, but then a hint of worry flickered in his eyes.

"Senior brother, I have laid the foundation for my cultivation. Please guide me to pay my respects to our master."

Zhou Furui nodded and said, "Come with me."

After speaking, Zhou Furui took the lead and walked into Chenxing Pavilion. When he passed the second floor, he called out to Shang Linghe. The three of them came to the stone gate on the third floor to pay their respects to Xuanji.

After the stone door was opened, the three stepped inside, and Gu Fan immediately heard a burst of gratified laughter.

"Alright, alright, come forward!"

Xuanji's aged voice was filled with joy. As soon as she finished speaking, Gu Fan's vision went black. When he came to his senses, he was already on the white jade altar, with Zhou Furui and Fang Linghe beside him.

"Greetings, Master." The three bowed in respect.

Get up.

Xuanji Zhenren's gaze fell on Gu Fan, and she nodded slowly with a smile. After the three of them stood up, she looked at Gu Fan and said:

"We previously agreed that you could formally become my disciple after you reach the Foundation Establishment stage, and today I will fulfill that agreement."

Upon hearing this, Gu Fan bowed again: "Disciple greets Master."

But just as Gu Fan bent down, Master Xuanji stopped him with a wave of his whisk.

Gu Fan's heart skipped a beat.

"Wait, there is something else I need to tell you."

The smile on Xuanji Zhenren's face vanished. His gaze swept over Zhou Furui and Fang Linghe, and then he said in a deep voice:

"After you have established your foundation, you will need to choose a cultivation method. I can give you one."

"If you choose the cultivation method I have designated, you can become my personal disciple. However, this cultivation method is extremely dangerous. If you are not careful, your path to enlightenment will be cut off. Your two senior brothers are examples of this. Even I... am stuck at the late Golden Core stage and will never be able to form a Nascent Soul in this life."

Xuanji Zhenren's tone was full of melancholy, and Zhou Furui and Fang Linghe's eyes darkened slightly upon hearing this.

"If you are not willing to take this risk, then pretend that we have never met, and I will not make things difficult for you."

What do you think?

After Xuanji finished speaking, she stared intently at Gu Fan.

Gu Fan knew that the crucial moment had arrived.

From setting up the array to test her abilities, to the ten-year agreement, it seems that this is what Xuanji has been waiting for all along.

Gu Fan knew that the crucial moment had arrived.

From setting up the array to test her abilities, to the ten-year agreement, it seems that this is what Xuanji has been waiting for all along.

More importantly, the cultivation method given by Xuanji could lead to the severing of one's path if one was not careful during practice, even for Zhou Furui and Fang Linghe.

This is different from basic cultivation techniques.

The reason why the path to enlightenment is cut off when practicing superior techniques is because the practitioner lacks comprehension or is too careless during practice.

However, the two were clearly not dull-witted; on the contrary, they were exceptionally perceptive.

Zhou Furui was once a true disciple, and Fang Linghe also won the championship in the Three Sects Dharma Assembly. Both of them, with their exceptional talents, failed. Even though Gu Fan possesses the All-Seeing Eye, he still has to consider the consequences.

"Master, may I ask why you insist that I choose this cultivation method, and what the risks are?" Gu Fan asked solemnly.

"That's how it should be."

Master Xuanji nodded, but did not immediately answer Gu Fan's question. Instead, she changed the subject.

"Some secrets are little known, and the spiritual energy of Qionghua Realm is gradually declining."

"It can still support Golden Core cultivators to break through to Nascent Soul now, but in another thousand years it will probably no longer be able to support Nascent Soul cultivators."

Gu Fan's heart trembled upon hearing this.

Spiritual energy is the foundation of cultivation; if spiritual energy disappears, the path to immortality will naturally be severed.

But then he realized that since this concerned the inheritance of immortality, the immortal sects of the Qionghua Realm shouldn't just sit idly by and wait for their demise. He asked in surprise, "Haven't any of the many immortal sects in the Qionghua Realm thought of a solution?"

"Of course we've thought of a solution."

Master Xuanji said with a wry smile, "The Lingxiao Sect spent countless rare and precious materials and over a hundred years to build the Yunmeng Boat, intending to carry its disciples away from this world."

"Even though the Cloud Dream Boat was a top-tier magic weapon, it still couldn't withstand the crushing force of the spatial rift. The seven-story Cloud Dream Boat was reduced to only three stories, and after being repaired, it became nothing more than a decorative piece."

"The Hualingmen kowtow to the true spirit every day, yearning for its salvation, yet they have achieved nothing."

"Not only the three sects of Wei Kingdom, but also most of the sects of the six kingdoms in the eastern and western continents of Qionghua Realm have tried to save themselves, but none of them have succeeded. In the end, they can only place their hopes on the mercy of the Dao Ancestor."

"But why would the Dao Ancestor care about the life and death of some ants? Since the Qionghua Realm was shattered, no sect has ever received a response from the Dao Ancestor."

"The Qionghua Realm is shattered? Could this be...?" Gu Fan keenly grasped the key point.

"Not bad." Xuanji Zhenren nodded slightly, saying with a self-deprecating tone, "How can a land of two continents and six kingdoms be worthy of being called a realm? The former Qionghua Realm has long been shattered, and what remains now is just a corner."

"With the interface in such a dilapidated state, the spiritual energy naturally leaks out and dissipates."

"These sects... including the Lingxiao Sect, were all rebuilt by surviving cultivators."

"We are just survivors, or... fish that slipped through the net."