To comprehend all laws and attain immortality

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Gu Fan never imagined that he would stay on these stone steps for ten years.

The first 500 stone steps all tested first-order array diagrams, which posed no difficulty for him.

After reaching level 500, second-tier array diagrams appeared one after another, which he could easily handle.

When he reached the thousandth stone step, the test officially entered the realm of the third-order array path. When he stepped onto the two thousandth stone step, the difficulty increased again, and a fourth-order array diagram appeared.

These array diagrams are not real, activatable combat arrays, but rather "test questions" designed specifically to assess cultivators' comprehension of array principles. The content is diverse and extremely complex, sometimes incomplete, sometimes containing hidden traps, yet every single one is closely tied to the core of array principles, pointing directly to the origin.

The principles of array formation contained within, as well as the methods for combining various array patterns, broadened Gu Fan's horizons. It was as if a reclusive master of array formations was explaining the essence and mysteries of array formations to him in a simple and easy-to-understand way.

This profound inheritance of array formations far surpasses the foundation of the Lingxiao Sect; it is a supreme method he has never encountered before.

When Gu Fan realized this, he was overwhelmed with emotion and could hardly contain himself.

Cultivating immortality and comprehending the Dao is the ultimate pursuit of cultivators throughout their lives. Strictly speaking, immortality is merely a fruit casually picked on the path to immortality. It is only because this fruit is too sweet that countless cultivators become addicted to it and forget their original intentions.

Gu Fan is not without shortcuts.

He could easily use his Myriad Manifestations Eye to see through all the flaws in the array diagrams, speed up the way, quickly climb to the top of the stone steps, and catch a glimpse of the true face of the Immortal Palace.

However, in doing so, he would miss out on the endless true meaning of array formations contained within the array diagram. Naturally, he would not do something that would be putting the cart before the horse or buying the box and returning the pearl.

Fortunately, there is no time limit for the test on these stone steps.

The clouds and mist outside the stone steps remained calm and still, and the fluorescent white magic array behind him that had teleported him away always shone brightly, giving him enough confidence.

Gu Fan simply calmed down and focused on deciphering the array diagram while absorbing the principles of array formation contained within it.

If his mind became tired, he would stop for a while, play with the gourd, or chat with Chang Yuan for a few minutes to rest.

It is worth mentioning that the two spiritual leaves he plucked from the Dao Source Ancient Tree were so precious that even Chang Yuan did not recognize them.

Although Gu Fan did not know its effects, he could tell from its aura that it was definitely not poisonous.

After a moment's thought, he broke off a tiny piece and fed it to the gourd in his arms.

As the gourd swallowed the spirit leaf fragment, its round eyes lit up instantly, as if it had tasted a top-quality delicacy. Its body swayed slightly as it stared intently at the spirit leaf in Gu Fan's hand, reaching out its chubby little hand to grab it.

Through the spiritual contract, Gu Fan could clearly perceive its inner desires.

Gu Fan chuckled, pressed his hand on the gourd's forehead, and then casually put the spirit leaf into the jade box.

Hulu pouted and turned away with a displeased expression.

Half a day later, Gu Fan keenly noticed that the gourd's aura had become more solid.

This is clearly a sign of improved cultivation!

His last lingering concern vanished, and he felt completely at ease.

Without further hesitation, he took out a spirit leaf and slowly swallowed it.

The leaves melt upon entering the mouth, transforming into a lingering, warm medicinal power that flows along the meridians into the dantian, firmly enveloping the golden elixir, and then slowly permeating it through the golden elixir's mystical aperture.

The medicinal power penetrated the golden core, blending seamlessly with the magical power, gentle and mellow, without any interference.

Gu Fan focused his mind and looked inward, clearly perceiving that the Golden Core was growing at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye. The already solid foundation became more stable, and the magical power became more profound and refined, circulating more smoothly.

Since he first refined the Golden Core and opened the first Mysterious Aperture, the Golden Core's spiritual energy has become even more vibrant, like a parched sapling receiving sweet rain.

"No wonder that seven-colored phoenix is ​​so powerful. It probably feeds on these spirit leaves, which is why it has such a profound source of power." This thought suddenly flashed through Gu Fan's mind.

He slowly opened his eyes and explained the effects of the spirit leaf to Chang Yuan.

Chang Yuan was speechless with amazement after hearing this, exclaiming, "You actually have such a good thing? Your luck is truly enviable!"

"Senior, could there be a deeper meaning behind your words?" Gu Fan's heart stirred, and he quickly asked.

Chang Yuan said leisurely, "According to what you said, the tempering of magical power by the spiritual leaves is only secondary; nourishing the spiritual essence of the golden core is the core! The stronger the spiritual essence of the golden core, the deeper the foundation of the Dao, and the more powerful the innate divine power that can be comprehended when the golden core breaks into the nascent soul in the future."

Upon hearing this, Gu Fan felt a surge of joy.

His innate divine power could only be awakened at the Nascent Soul stage, and although it was currently out of reach, it gave rise to endless imagination.

"I wonder what my innate divine power will look like?"

......

The stone steps space is neither day nor night.

Gu Fan spent his days studying the Dao of Arrays, meditating and cultivating, his fingertips gathering spiritual light to deduce array patterns. He was single-minded and did not find it boring.

With each breakthrough and advancement, he would inscribe the insights he gained into his divine consciousness, immersing himself in them, unaware that ten years had passed.

As he unraveled yet another array and stepped forward, he was surprised to find that he had reached the end of the stone steps.

That celestial palace I've longed for stands at the edge of the clouds.

Looking back, the three thousand stone steps stretched straight ahead, disappearing into the clouds below.

The celestial palace is simple and unadorned, with simple cloud patterns carved on the eaves. The palace body is covered with a faint spiritual light, understated yet possessing a profound atmosphere.

Upon reaching the gate, the palace gate opened by itself without any wind. The hall was silent, and the sound of footsteps echoed as they landed.

In the center stands a stone statue about ten feet tall, sitting cross-legged. Its face is obscured by a thin light, making its eyebrows and eyes indistinct. It wears a yin-yang robe with clearly discernible folds. It holds a jade bottle steadily in its hand, the bottle's surface shimmering as if emanating a spiritual light.

A section of emerald green bamboo is inserted diagonally into the bottle, its leaves unfurling and surrounded by a ray of clear light.

"The Pure Heart Bamboo of Crystal!"

Chang Yuan's snake eyes narrowed suddenly, his snake body straightened, and his tail tip trembled wildly. Before Gu Fan could react, he was about to rush forward.

Gu Fan reacted swiftly, grabbing the snake's tail with his backhand and shoving it back into his spirit beast pouch while it struggled.

After doing all this, he composed himself, stepped forward slowly, bowed to the stone statue, and said in a deep voice, "This junior, Gu Fan, is not a successor of the Tai Chi lineage, but I have been fortunate enough to receive guidance from you on the Dao of Arrays, which allowed me to glimpse its path. I will never forget this kindness."

The hall was silent; no one responded.

Gu Fan stood still for a moment, then straightened up and looked at the piece of jade bamboo.

The Solomon's Seal bamboo is about three feet long and as thick as a little finger, with several branches and leaves spreading out, and a faint light flowing around the bamboo.

Gu Fan reached out and beckoned, and the jade bamboo and bottle floated from the stone statue's hand.

He understood that this must be the real opportunity to ascend to this point, and he couldn't help but reach out to touch it.

Unexpectedly, the moment his fingertips touched the Crystal Pure Heart Bamboo, the jade bamboo transformed into a ray of light and pierced straight into his body.

The next instant, Gu Fan noticed that a section of the jade bamboo phantom had appeared in his sea of ​​consciousness.

The unexpected turn of events left him no choice but to release Chang Yuan again.

As soon as Chang Yuan came out, he looked around and noticed the empty bottle in the man's hand. He asked in surprise, "You refined the Crystal Pure Heart Bamboo?"

"No, it entered my consciousness on its own." Gu Fan shook his head. "Since you recognize this thing, could you please tell me its origin?"

"I'm not telling you!"

Chang Yuan huffed and puffed, then plunged back into his spirit beast pouch.

Helpless, Gu Fan looked down at the jade bottle in his hand. He saw that there was still a little less than half a bottle of spiritual liquid left in the bottle, and the spiritual energy was so concentrated that it was almost solidified.

"Heaven-Mending Elixir!" His pupils contracted slightly.

He was no stranger to the Heaven-Mending Elixir.

When he was promoted to a true disciple of the Lingxiao Sect, he entered the Zhuoling Pool in Xiaoguang Cave to cleanse his marrow. At the bottom of the pool was a sky-mending stone left by Ancestor Yunxiao. It was pure white and had been soaked in spiritual spring water for many years, which could optimize his aptitude and broaden his meridians.

According to the records of the Lingxiao Sect, the Heaven-Mending Stone was formed from the Heaven-Mending Elixir after ten thousand years of condensation.

The marrow cleansing, which occurs once every sixty years, consumes only a single drop of the Heaven-Mending Elixir.

And in his hand, there was a full half bottle!