“Sitting idly on a mountain and reaping the benefits, I never expected such a technique still exists in this world.”
“Unfortunately, he just mentioned it briefly and didn’t leave the technique behind.”
“I wonder if fellow Daoist He’s remains can still be found…”
“The ‘Mountain Meditation Technique’ is just too suitable for me. It can fully leverage the advantages of [Truth]’s precognition and anticipation.”
He didn’t know about the ‘Mountain Meditation Technique’ before, but now that he knew its profound aspects, he was determined to master it, and no one could stop him!
He Zhenghao had passed away and apparently hadn’t passed on the technique. But it didn’t matter. Li Fan had the ‘Sun Stealing Technique,’ which could strip He Zhenghao’s memories using soul puppets. Maybe he could recreate the ‘Mountain Meditation Technique.’
If luck wasn’t on his side and he failed, he could plan for the next life. Thinking about it, Li Fan became interested in the ancient cave where He Zhenghao had perished.
He Zhenghao, along with five Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, had all perished, with only one Golden Core stage cultivator narrowly surviving.
This shocking news had stirred quite a commotion on Liuli Island. Rumors were flying everywhere.
After some inquiry, Li Fan gradually understood the whole story.
This cave was located inside an underwater volcano. It had remained hidden until recently when the volcano suddenly erupted. Passing cultivators noticed the hidden cave, so He Zhenghao’s group decided to explore it.
One Golden Core stage and five Foundation Establishment stage cultivators. It wasn’t a weak lineup by any means. According to the information they obtained, the cave belonged to a Golden Core cultivator from ancient times named Tian Yang.
According to common sense, exploring a Golden Core cultivator’s cave should not have been too difficult. Even if they couldn’t carry everything away, they should have been able to leave safely, even if they encountered danger.
But as they ventured deeper into the cave and triggered a restriction, they found that Tian Yang was a skilled practitioner of a long-lost mechanical art from ancient times.
A dozen or so mechanical puppets were instantly activated, surrounding the group.
Only a cultivator named Zheng Xiaoyun, who was in the Golden Core stage, managed to escape despite severe injuries.
The other five Foundation Establishment stage cultivators all met gruesome ends at the hands of the mechanical puppets.
Because three of the deceased Foundation Establishment stage cultivators were island guardians of Cong Yun Sea Islands, the official authorities of the Ten Thousand Immortals League even sent a Nascent Soul expert to investigate whether there was any intentional foul play involved.
The conclusion was that it was indeed an accident.
The death of the five Foundation Establishment stage cultivators didn’t dampen the enthusiasm for exploring the cave. On the contrary, it ignited even more passion among cultivators.
Ignoring the priceless mechanical puppets within the cave, the inheritance left behind by the five Foundation Establishment stage cultivators had already made many people envious.
It was said that the second exploration team had already been assembled.
The leader this time was a Nascent Soul expert, True Lord Gouxuan.
This person was obsessed with various esoteric techniques, and when he heard that a long-lost mechanical art had reappeared in the world, he couldn’t contain his excitement. So, he decided to go see for himself.
“I wonder if this exploration will be successful? But this time, the team is made up of Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators. I won’t join in the excitement.”
“There are so many treasures there; surely no one would want to compete with me over fellow Daoist He’s remains, right?”
“Maybe I can post a bounty? 1,000 contribution points? That might be too much, 500 should be enough…”
Li Fan wasn’t worried about the ‘Mountain Meditation Technique’ leaking out. Cultivators in this realm usually didn’t carry their technique jade slips with them. Generally, after mastering a technique, they chose to destroy the jade slip and re-record it when needed. The need often arose when trading techniques.
Cultivation techniques couldn’t be practiced concurrently, making them the most valuable resource in the cultivation world. A technique like the ‘Mountain Meditation Technique,’ found inadvertently in an ancient cave, can be sold to the Ten Thousand Immortals League or other organizations for a good price if you choose not to practice it.
Techniques like the ‘Minor Yan Water Technique,’ exchanged from the Tianxuan Mirror, can also be sold back after breaking through to the next realm, thus recovering some contribution points.
After selling a technique, the memories related to it are naturally erased from your mind.
“There are roughly two types of cultivation techniques in the world.”
“One type is developed after the Great Calamity, with corresponding backups. Even if the cultivator who practices it accidentally dies, the technique won’t be lost but will be collected and sold again, just like the two techniques in Qian Hong’s tomb.”
“The other type includes techniques that existed before the Great Calamity, but due to various reasons, they aren’t known to the world. Only the cultivator practicing it knows about it. If that practitioner passes away without leaving a copy, it usually means the technique is entirely lost. ‘Mountain Meditation Technique,’ ‘Sea Fixing Sword Technique,’ and others fall into this category.”
“Using the ‘Sun Stealing Technique,’ I can, with a certain probability, recreate lost techniques from the remains of a cultivator…”
“Or perhaps, this is the correct way to use the ‘Sun Stealing Technique’?”
Li Fan fell into contemplation.
After a while, he shook his head.
“Let’s get fellow Daoist He’s remains out first. Before that, I need to do a few tasks to earn some contribution points.”
Creating a clone could only be done by the main body. Furthermore, since he had decided that the clone Fan Lin wouldn’t have any connection with the main body, it was better for the main body to issue the task personally.
For most cultivators, 500 contribution points might take half a year or more to accumulate, but for Li Fan, who had knowledge of many secrets in the Cong Yun Sea, it was just one task.
Three years had passed since he last completed the Blue Blood Coral task. Doing one or two tasks at this time wouldn’t attract too much attention.
So, Li Fan began browsing the task list.
Soon, he picked a 2,000-point reward bounty mission.
Accepting the task, he replied.
“In the southwest sea area of the Cong Yun Sea, below the Gonghai Island, there is a sea creature matching the description you’re looking for.”
“Equivalent to late Qi Condensation stage, but they move in groups, making them challenging to deal with.”
“Note that this cave has two layers. You need to explore it carefully to find the entrance to the second layer.”
“The sea creatures are in the second layer.”
…
He still only provided information.
After half a day, the other party confirmed the accuracy of the information.
Quite generously, they awarded Li Fan with 1,000 contribution points.
With the contribution points in hand, Li Fan immediately issued a 500-point contribution task in the Tianxuan Mirror.
In the task description, he mentioned his close friendship with He Zhenghao over almost forty years, describing their bond as inseparable. He expressed his reluctance to leave his remains exposed outside and therefore offered a reward to bring back He Zhenghao’s remains for a proper burial.
He originally thought it would take some time for someone to accept the task.
However, to his surprise, it was picked up quickly.
The person who accepted the task was a member of the exploration team currently assembling. He was a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator.
The person sent a message asking Li Fan if he wanted to join them.
“With a Nascent Soul expert leading the team, you’re sure to return safely,” they reassured Li Fan.