Xue Mu seemed a bit dazed and a little hesitant.
“I am…”
Ji Hongdao’s brow slightly furrowed. “Hmm?”
Xue Mu’s body trembled slightly, hastily saying, “I am willing to obey Senior’s instructions.”
Only then did Ji Hongdao nod slowly, but his expression towards Xue Mu was not as kind as it was towards Li Fan earlier.
“The construction plan for the Tianxuan Spirit Lock Formations in various provinces will not officially begin for another year or so.”
“I should clarify that although some subworlds have gradually started setting up formations, for the sake of fairness in the competition, I will wait until a year later when the competition begins to apply for your transfer.”
Ji Hongdao seemed to recall something, looking at Li Fan, then added, “During this year, I won’t restrain you.”
“Wherever you want to go, you can.”
“In Tianyu Province, there are many wonders and sights. Observing them will greatly benefit your cultivation and skills.”
“During your time in Tianyu Province, you haven’t had time to tour around, right? This is a good opportunity to do so.”
“Just return immediately upon receiving my message.”
Ji Hongdao suggested with a smile.
Seeing Li Fan hesitate, he smiled again and said, “No need to worry too much. The unexpected event encountered by Tantai Tao and the others is unlikely to happen again.”
Li Fan’s heart stirred, but he didn’t say much.
“In that case, thank you, Senior!”
“Alright, you two can leave! I’ve been dealing with you juniors for so long, and I’m a bit tired.” Ji Hongdao finished explaining and waved his hand to dismiss the two.
Li Fan and Xue Mu both bowed, and then left the Huan Yu Courtyard.
“Fellow Daoist Li… I wonder what plans you have for this year?” Inside Tianyu City, Xue Mu asked somewhat cautiously.
“Hehe, fellow Daoist Xue, no need to be nervous.” Li Fan looked at Xue Mu with a friendly smile and replied, “A year can be both long or short. If I’m in seclusion, it’ll pass in the blink of an eye. If I travel around, I might be able to explore all of Tianyu Province.”
“Cultivation doesn’t need to happen at this moment. Instead, opportunities are fleeting and will not wait. I plan to follow Senior Ji’s advice and travel around the nearby provinces.”
“What about you, fellow Daoist Xue? Your aura seems to be fluctuating, and you seem to be close to a breakthrough?” Li Fan asked.
Xue Mu was surprised. “Fellow Daoist has keen eyesight. I won’t hide it from you. During this period of closed-door training, although it was tough, I also grasped something. The bottleneck that originally left me stuck at the Foundation Establishment stage naturally dissipated, and I can break through to the Golden Core realm at any time.”
“Congratulations, fellow Daoist!” Li Fan looked very happy.
Perhaps it was because they were both from the Cong Yun Sea and had an inherent intimacy, or perhaps it was because Xue Mu wasn’t good at socializing, hadn’t communicated much with others during the closed-door training, and had been stifled for too long.
At this moment, Xue Mu suddenly opened up and poured out his troubles to Li Fan.
“Ah, fellow Daoist doesn’t know. If I had achieved the Golden Core stage back in Cong Yun Sea at the age of forty, I would have been extremely satisfied.”
“However, after coming to Tianyu Province, I’ve met countless geniuses, and most of them have achieved Golden Core with two or even three laws.”
“In comparison, I am unwilling to achieve only a measly Single Law Golden Core.”
“But I only have one year of free time left. In this year, if I want to comprehend another law, it may be somewhat difficult for me.”
As he spoke, Xue Mu’s face showed a trace of hesitation.
At this moment, Li Fan smiled.
“Hehe, so fellow Daoist is troubled by this.”
“I have a method that may help fellow Daoist get through this difficulty. I wonder if fellow Daoist would like to give it a try?”
Xue Mu was slightly stunned, then delighted. “Please teach me, fellow Daoist!”
Li Fan didn’t beat around the bush and slowly said, “Fellow Daoist, do you know about the marvelous sight in the neighboring Tianyun Province called the Mortal Transcendence Wall?”
“Mortal… transcendence?” Xue Mu’s eyes lit up, shaking his head gently.
“This wall records a scene from ancient times when a mortal ascended to immortality and reached the heavens in a single step.”
“When this marvel reappears, it will also resonate with the laws of heaven and earth, giving birth to countless astonishing phenomena.”
“Practitioners below the realm of Soul Transformation can almost always gain insights from witnessing the spectacle of a mortal transcending to immortality.”
“Not long ago, there was even a practitioner who comprehended the Great Dao and eventually reached the realm of the Five Law Golden Core!”
“I see that fellow Daoist possesses extraordinary talent and comprehension. Why not try your luck?”
Li Fan looked at Xue Mu, his gaze intense.
Xue Mu was filled with excitement. “Such a marvel exists?”
“This is truly a blessing for me!”
“Tianyun Province, I’m going there right away!”
Xue Mu muttered to himself, his face flushing red, and he rushed towards the Transmission Square in Tianyu City.
After walking a few steps, he seemed to remember something and turned back, somewhat embarrassed, and asked, “Fellow Daoist Li Fan, why not come with me?”
Li Fan smiled and declined.
“I have other arrangements. Fellow Daoist, you don’t need to worry about me, just go on your own!”
Upon hearing this, Xue Mu didn’t insist.
He bowed and said solemnly, “Regardless of whether this trip is fruitful or not, I will never forget the kindness of your guidance, fellow Daoist Li Fan.”
“Haha, these words are already enough,” Li Fan thought to himself.
Of course, he couldn’t just say it so bluntly.
The play had to be acted out.
Waving his hand dismissively, he said nonchalantly, “It was just a casual remark, fellow Daoist. You don’t need to take it to heart.”
However, judging from Xue Mu’s expression, he had already firmly remembered Li Fan’s “kind words”.
“These days, it’s rare to see honest people with good talent like this.” Watching Xue Mu’s figure disappear into the distance, Li Fan couldn’t help but sigh.
“Barely half a crop is better than nothing, I suppose.”
After Xue Mu left Tianyu City, Li Fan used a teleportation formation to arrive at Liangqu City on the outskirts of Tianyu Province.
He had already investigated beforehand and knew that this area was relatively desolate with a sparse population.
Li Fan concealed his figure and flew low to the ground at extreme speed for two days, finally finding a suitable hiding place.
Underneath a narrow canyon, Li Fan dug out a secret chamber in the mountain, and then sealed the entrance.
This time, during his seclusion outside, Li Fan was trying to escape the sight of the Tianxuan Mirror and test the divine ability he had envisioned.
The Five Elements Annihilation Sword.
After a long time, Li Fan, who had tested it countless times in his mind, opened his eyes.
“The five elements as the foundation,” he silently recited in his heart.
The power of the Golden Core circulated, the Five Elements were born from each other, and a huge, endless rotating force emerged from his dantian.
“Heavenly Calamity, Ink Death as the edge.”
A hint of madness flashed in his left eye, while a touch of ghostly darkness appeared in his right eye.
The rotating power of the Five Elements slowly converged in the face of the two annihilating forces.
Li Fan lightly pointed towards the ground.
A pitch-black light bloomed from his fingertip.
It shot downwards rapidly.