là zhuàng de pí zhì ， màn màn róng jiě 。
蜡状的皮质，慢慢溶解。
The waxy skin slowly dissolved, absorbed by the strange cultivator within the corpse.
bèi shī tǐ nèi de mò shēng xiū shì huǎn huǎn xī shōu 。
被尸体内的陌生修士缓缓吸收。
Faced with this eerie scene, Zhang Qianmo did not immediately kill Li Chan. Instead, he observed intently and waited.
miàn duì zhè guǐ yì de yí mù ， zhāng qiān mò méi yǒu zhí jiē jiāng qí zhǎn shā ， ér shì ráo yǒu xìng qù de zǐ xì guān chá děng dài qǐ lái 。
面对这诡异的一幕，章阡陌没有直接将其斩杀，而是饶有兴趣的仔细观察等待起来。
After a moment, Li Chan's body was entirely consumed by the Xuanhuang Refining Heart Spell.
piàn kè zhī hòu ， lǐ chén de qū qiào jìn shù bèi xuán huáng liàn xīn zhòu suǒ xī shōu 。
片刻之后，李尘的躯壳尽数被玄黄炼心咒所吸收。
Li Fan revealed his true appearance as well.
lǐ fán yě lù chū le tā de yuán běn xiàng mào 。
李凡也露出了他的原本相貌。
He smiled slightly at Zhang Qianmo and bowed respectfully: "Met Brother!"
cháo zhe zhāng qiān mò wēi wēi yī xiào ， lǐ fán gǒng shǒu xíng lǐ ：“ jiàn guò shī xiōng ！”
朝着章阡陌微微一笑，李凡拱手行礼：“见过师兄！”
Zhang Qianmo narrowed his eyes, the purple lightning mark on his forehead becoming more prominent.
zhāng qiān mò yǎn jīng wēi mī ， é tóu de zǐ sè léi diàn yìn jì tū xiǎn 。
章阡陌眼睛微眯，额头的紫色雷电印记凸显。
"Who are you? What kind of creature are you?"
“ nǐ jiū jìng shì shén me dōng xī ？”
“你究竟是什么东西？”
"An evil demon? A域外天魔?"
“ yāo xié ？ yù wài tiān mó ？”
“妖邪？域外天魔？”
Zhang Qianmo's questioning gaze did not faze Li Fan. He replied calmly: "Brother Zhang, it’s just a new body. Can’t you recognize me now?"
duì miàn zhāng qiān mò de zhì wèn ， lǐ fán miàn sè rú cháng ：“ zhāng shī xiōng ， zhǐ shì huàn le fù pí náng ， jiù rèn bù dé wǒ le me ？”
对面章阡陌的质问，李凡面色如常：“章师兄，只是换了副皮囊，就认不得我了么？”
Before he could finish speaking, a blue light illuminated the sky.
huà yīn wèi luò ， tiān dì jiān jiù liàng qǐ yī mǒ lán guāng 。
话音未落，天地间就亮起一抹蓝光。
Long Sword and Heaven-Turning Palm arrived in quick succession.
cóng yún yī jiàn hé fān tiān zhǎng xiān hòu ér zhì 。
丛云一剑和翻天掌先后而至。
Zhang Qianmo showed surprise on his face as the long spear clashed with Long Sword, purple lightning roaring and devouring each other.
zhāng qiān mò miàn lù yà sè 。
章阡陌面露讶色。
In the end, the purple lightning had the upper hand.
zhǎng jǐ rú lóng ， zǐ diàn páo xiào ， hé cóng yún jiàn xiāng jī zài yì qǐ 。
长戟如龙，紫电咆孝，和丛云剑相击在一起。
"Good sword technique!" Zhang Qianmo praised.
lán zǐ guāng máng hù xiāng tūn shì 。
蓝紫光芒互相吞噬。
Facing the无形掌法 descending from above, Zhang Qianmo did not dodge but instead delivered a powerful punch.
zuì zhōng yǐ zǐ diàn shèng guò yī chóu 。
最终以紫电胜过一筹。
Punch and palm collided, releasing a tremendous burst of energy that spread outwards from their location, devastating Ningyuan City below.
“ hǎo jiàn fǎ ！” zhāng qiān mò zàn dào 。
“好剑法！”章阡陌赞道。
The shockwave reduced the already ruined city to rubble, leaving only the Life-Extending Tree standing amidst the ruins under the protective barrier.
zhī hòu miàn duì cóng tiān ér jiàng wú xíng zhǎng fǎ ， zhāng qiān mò zé shì bù shǎn bù bì ， chōng tiān yī quán 。
之后面对从天而降无形掌法，章阡陌则是不闪不避，冲天一拳。
Zhang Qianmo showed no concern for the lives lost. He merely stared at Li Fan with a serious expression.
quán zhǎng pèng zhuàng zài yì qǐ 。
拳掌碰撞在一起。
"Who are you? Why did you sneak into my Purple Void Sect in secret? Judging from your palm and sword, they display boundless power, unlike mere scattered cultivators."
yī gǔ páng bó de néng liàng bào fā chū lái ， yǐ liǎng rén suǒ zài dì diǎn wèi hé xīn ， hōng rán kuò sàn 。
一股磅礴的能量爆发出来，以两人所在地点为核心，轰然扩散。
Li Fan avoided answering but asked instead: "Brother Zhang, what technique is this? You only have Foundation Establishment cultivation yet can condense a Golden Core within your body. Even killing an opponent across a great realm seems effortless?"
chōng jī bō sǎo guò xià fāng de níng yuǎn chéng ， jiāng yuán běn jiù yǐ jīng cán pò bù kān 、 méi yǒu duō shǎo fán rén cún huó de chéng shì ， chè dǐ biàn zuò le yī piàn fèi xū 。
冲击波扫过下方的宁远城，将原本就已经残破不堪、没有多少凡人存活的城市，彻底变作了一片废墟。
Zhang Qianmo snorted coldly, his resolve to kill growing as Li Fan remained silent.
wéi yǒu zhōng jiān nà yī zhū huà shēng shòu shù ， zài jié jiè de fáng hù zhī xià ， yī rán shēng jī àng rán 。
唯有中间那一株化生寿树，在结界的防护之下，依然生机盎然。
He then ceased holding back and wielded the long spear with both hands, summoning purple lightning from above to aid in combat.
zhāng qiān mò duì yú fán rén de shēng sǐ zé shì háo bù zài yì 。
章阡陌对于凡人的生死则是毫不在意。
This was Li Fan's first encounter with such an evenly matched opponent. He moved at maximum speed, forming a sword array with the Calming Sea Sword to block Long Sword.
zhǐ shì kàn zhe lǐ fán ， miàn sè níng zhòng 。
只是看着李凡，面色凝重。
Between attacks, he interwove Long Sword and Heaven-Turning Palm.
“ nǐ jiū jìng shì shuí ？ wèi hé àn zhōng qián rù wǒ zǐ xiāo zōng ？ guān nǐ zhè yī zhǎng yī jiàn ， qì xiàng wàn qiān ， bù shì páng mén sàn xiū 。”
“你究竟是谁？为何暗中潜入我紫霄宗？观你这一掌一剑，气象万千，不似旁门散修。”
However, his limited experience showed only basic techniques. Zhang Qianmo, on the other hand, had endless招式道法.
lǐ fán bì ér bù dá ， fǎn wèn dào ：“ shī xiōng nǐ zhè shì shén me shǒu duàn ？ míng míng zhǐ shì zhù jī xiū wèi ， què néng zài tǐ nèi níng jié jīn dān ？ shèn zhì kuà yī dà jìng jiè shā dí ， yì shì rú cǐ qīng sōng xiě yì ？”
李凡避而不答，反问道：“师兄你这是什么手段？明明只是筑基修为，却能在体内凝结金丹？甚至跨一大境界杀敌，亦是如此轻松写意？”
The body born from the Golden Core was impervious to all attacks.
zhāng qiān mò lěng hēng yī shēng ， jiàn lǐ fán méi yǒu huí dá de yì si ， xīn zhōng shā yì jiàn nóng 。
章阡陌冷哼一声，见李凡没有回答的意思，心中杀意渐浓。
Li Fan’s strikes occasionally landed but caused only minor wounds that quickly healed.
yú shì bù zài liú qíng 。
于是不再留情。
In contrast, Li Fan's divine consciousness suffered increasingly severe injuries as more purple lightning struck. The whispers in his ears began to affect him.
zhǎng jǐ zòng héng ， kāi hé zhī jiān ， dōu yǒu zǐ sè tiān léi cóng tiān ér jiàng ， bāng zhù yù dí 。
长戟纵横，开合之间，都有紫色天雷从天而降，帮助御敌。
After several dozen rounds, Zhang Qianmo finally cut Li Fan’s divine consciousness in half with a single spear strike.
lǐ fán yě shì shēng píng dì yī cì yù dào zhè děng shí lì zài bó zhòng zhī jiān de duì shǒu 。
李凡也是生平第一次遇到这等实力在伯仲之间的对手。
No blood spilled; instead, the body disintegrated into countless particles that dispersed with the wind.
shēn fǎ yùn zhuàn dào jí zhì ， dìng hǎi shén jiàn zǔ chéng jiàn zhèn ， jiāng rú lóng zhǎng jǐ lán xià 。
身法运转到极致，定海神剑组成剑阵，将如龙长戟拦下。
"This person's cultivation techniques are extraordinary, both sword and palm displaying boundless mysteries. He must come from a major sect."
gōng shǎn zhī jiān ， bù shí jiā zá zhe cóng yún jiàn hé fān tiān zhǎng 。
攻闪之间，不时夹杂着丛云剑和翻天掌。
"Yet his practical skills are rather weak."
dàn tā bì jìng hěn shǎo yǔ rén jiāo shǒu ， fān lái fù qù jiù nà me yì diǎn shǒu duàn 。
但他毕竟很少与人交手，翻来覆去就那么一点手段。
Zhang Qianmo shook his head in confusion.
ér zhāng qiān mò zé shì zhāo shì dào fǎ céng chū bù qióng 。
而章阡陌则是招式道法层出不穷。
...
nà jù zì jīn dān zhōng dàn shēng de qū tǐ ， yě shì wàn fǎ bù qīn bān 。
那具自金丹中诞生的躯体，也是万法不侵般。
In the Ten Thousand Immortals Mirror, Li Fan slowly regained consciousness. Unlike what Chen Ying mentioned, he felt a slight enhancement of his divine consciousness.
lǐ fán de gōng jī ǒu ěr luò zài tā de shēn shàng ， yě shì zhǐ dài lái le xì wēi de shāng kǒu 。
李凡的攻击偶尔落在他的身上，也是只带来了细微的伤口。
Recalling his experiences in the Golden Core Realm, Li Fan pondered deeply.
hěn kuài jiù huī fù yuán zhuàng 。
很快就恢复原状。
"Should be due to the Xuanhuang Refining Heart Spell."
fǎn guān lǐ fán ， suí zhe yī dào dào zǐ léi bù duàn de hōng jī ， shén shí huà shēn de shāng shì yuè lái yuè yán zhòng 。
反观李凡，随着一道道紫雷不断的轰击，神识化身的伤势越来越严重。
"But I wonder why this spell has such effects within the Golden Core Realm."
ěr biān de dī yǔ shēng zài cì xiǎng qǐ ， xīn shén yě bù miǎn shōu dào xiē xǔ yǐng xiǎng 。
耳边的低语声再次响起，心神也不免收到些许影响。
"In general, after occupying another's body and dying, one would return directly to the real world."
cǐ xiāo bǐ zhǎng xià 。
此消彼长下。
"I instead consume and reorganize, forming a new divine consciousness. It’s like having two lives in the Golden Core Realm."
guò le èr shí jǐ gè huí hé ， lǐ fán zhè jù shén shí huà shēn ， zuì zhōng hái shì bèi zhāng qiān mò yī jǐ zhǎn chéng le liǎng bàn 。
过了二十几个回合，李凡这具神识化身，最终还是被章阡陌一戟斩成了两半。
"Unknown if anyone else can do the same as me."
méi yǒu xiān xuè héng liú de chǎng miàn ， zhǐ shì shēn tǐ huà wèi wú shù wēi lì ， suí fēng ér sàn 。
没有鲜血横流的场面，只是身体化为无数微粒，随风而散。
"This exploration yielded no results but did strengthen my divine consciousness."
“ cǐ rén gōng fǎ xuán qí ， jiàn zhǎng jù yǒu wú qióng ào miào ， dìng shì dà pài chū shēn 。 dàn shí zhàn què yòu xī sōng píng cháng ， shèn zhì yǒu diǎn ruò de lí pǔ 。”
“此人功法玄奇，剑掌俱有无穷奥妙，定是大派出身。但实战却又稀松平常，甚至有点弱的离谱。”
...
“ zhēn shì qí guài 。”
“真是奇怪。”
With slight joy, Li Fan prepared for another ritual to enter the Golden Core Realm.
zhāng qiān mò yáo le yáo tóu ， xīn zhōng chōng mǎn le bù jiě 。
章阡陌摇了摇头，心中充满了不解。
However, there was no response.
……
……
He reluctantly gave up.
tiān xuán jìng zhōng 。
天玄镜中。
"According to Chen Ying, it usually takes three to six months to re-enter. A pity."
lǐ fán huǎn huǎn huī fù le yì shí 。 méi yǒu chén yīng suǒ tí jí de xū ruò gǎn ， shèn zhì hái gǎn dào shén shí yǒu le yī sī sī xiǎo fú dù de zēng qiáng 。
李凡缓缓恢复了意识。没有陈英所提及的虚弱感，甚至还感到神识有了一丝丝小幅度的增强。
"If I could enter endlessly without restrictions..."
huí xiǎng qǐ zài yǔn xiān jìng zhōng de zāo yù ， lǐ fán ruò yǒu suǒ sī 。
回想起在陨仙境中的遭遇，李凡若有所思。
Shaking his head, he discarded this unrealistic thought.
“ yīng dāng shì xuán huáng liàn xīn zhòu de yuán gù 。”
“应当是玄黄炼心咒的缘故。”
Checking the time,
“ zhǐ shì bù zhī ， zhè xuán huáng liàn xīn zhòu ， wèi hé zài yǔn xiān jìng nèi huì yǒu rú cǐ gōng xiào 。”
“只是不知，这玄黄炼心咒，为何在陨仙境内会有如此功效。”
Less than a day had passed since entering the Golden Core Realm.
“ yì bān lái shuō ， zhàn jù yuán běn shēn fèn sǐ wáng zhī hòu ， huì zhí jiē fǎn huí xiàn shí shì jiè de 。”
“一般来说，占据原本身份死亡之后，会直接返回现实世界的。”
"I saw the cultivation world before the Great Tribulation and Immortal-Demon Mist appeared."
“ wǒ què huì tūn shì chóng zǔ ， xíng chéng xīn de shén shí huà shēn 。 jiù xiāng dāng yú zài yǔn xiān jìng nèi ， yǒu le liǎng tiáo xìng mìng 。”
“我却会吞噬重组，形成新的神识化身。就相当于在陨仙境内，有了两条性命。”
"Also exposed my current issues: though powerful, practical skills are lacking."
“ bù zhī hái yǒu méi yǒu qí tā rén ， néng xiàng wǒ zhè yàng 。”
“不知还有没有其他人，能像我这样。”
"Without ambushes using array formations, I can still fight ordinary Golden Core cultivators. But against true prodigies, it’s difficult."
“ cǐ fān dì yī cì tàn suǒ ， suī rán méi yǒu rèn hé shōu huò 。 dàn shén shí què dé dào le yí dìng de zēng qiáng 。”
“此番第一次探索，虽然没有任何收获。但神识却得到了一定的增强。”
"But this is more about the difference between eras than personal shortcomings."
……
……
"In Brother Zhang Qianmo's era, disciples could freely study various cultivation techniques with no restrictions and easily find peers to train with.
lüè wēi xīn xǐ zhī xià ， méi yǒu pí bèi gǎn de lǐ fán ， dāng jí zhǔn bèi kāi shǐ zài cì jìn xíng yí shì 。
略微欣喜之下，没有疲惫感的李凡，当即准备开始再次进行仪式。
"Nowadays, obtaining powerful cultivation techniques is extremely difficult—either through self-discovery or joining the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance using merits and contributions."
kàn kàn néng chóng xīn jìn rù yǔn xiān jìng 。
看看能重新进入陨仙境。
"Moreover, finding someone to train with is incredibly hard."
kě xī de shì ， méi yǒu dé dào huí yìng 。
可惜的是，没有得到回应。
"The Ten Thousand Immortals Mirror can simulate various scenarios but lacks combat training. This should be a measure by the alliance to limit general cultivators' power.
lǐ fán zhǐ dé yí hàn de zuò bà 。
李凡只得遗憾的作罢。
"But with the Golden Core Realm, I can hone my actual combat skills there."
“ jù chén yīng suǒ shuō ， yì bān xū yào sān gè yuè zhì bàn nián de shí jiān ， cái néng zài cì jìn rù 。 dǎo shì kě xī le 。”
“据陈英所说，一般需要三个月至半年的时间，才能再次进入。倒是可惜了。”
"Of course, more importantly, it’s about advancing in cultivation stages."
“ ruò shì néng wú xiàn jìn rù ， méi yǒu xiàn zhì de huà ……”
“若是能无限进入，没有限制的话……”
Li Fan checked his contributions: over 37,000 points.
yáo le yáo tóu ， jiāng zhè bù qiē shí jì de niàn xiǎng pāo zài nǎo hòu 。
摇了摇头，将这不切实际的念想抛在脑后。
Enough for some time of cultivation in启灵状态.
chá kàn le xià shí jiān 。
查看了下时间。
"Still need to reach Foundation Establishment perfection first."
jù lí tā jìn rù yǔn xiān jìng ， zhǐ guò le xiǎo bàn tiān bú dào de shí jiān ér yǐ 。
距离他进入陨仙境，只过了小半天不到的时间而已。
So Li Fan took out the Lustrous Crystal and began seclusion training.
“ cǐ cì zài yǔn xiān jìng zhōng ， jiàn dào le dà jié jiàng lín zhī qián 、 xiān fán zhàng hái wèi chū xiàn shí de xiū xiān jiè 。”
“此次在陨仙境中，见到了大劫降临之前、仙凡瘴还未出现时的修仙界。”
Time passed, and after an indeterminate amount of time,
“ yě bào lù le wǒ mù qián de jǐ gè wèn tí 。 suī yǒu shén tōng ， dàn shí zhàn wèi miǎn yǒu xiē lā kuà 。”
“也暴露了我目前的几个问题。虽有神通，但实战未免有些拉跨。”
Li Fan was awakened by a communication talisman message.
“ bù kào zhèn fǎ tí qián mái fú de huà ， miàn duì pǔ tōng de jīn dān xiū shì ， shàng néng yī zhàn 。 dàn ruò shì yù dào zhēn zhèng de tiān jiāo ， jiù yǒu diǎn zhuō jīn jiàn zhǒu le 。”
“不靠阵法提前埋伏的话，面对普通的金丹修士，尚能一战。但若是遇到真正的天骄，就有点捉襟见肘了。”
It was from He Zhenghao’s communication spirit talisman.
“ bù guò ， zhè yǔ qí shuō shì wǒ de wèn tí ， dào bù rú shuō shì liǎng gè shí dài de chā bié 。”
“不过，这与其说是我的问题，倒不如说是两个时代的差别。”
He did not immediately check it but first assessed his recent cultivation gains.
“ zhāng qiān mò suǒ chù de nà ge nián dài ， zōng mén dì zǐ kě yǐ jìn qíng yán xí xiū xíng gè zhǒng gōng fǎ mì shù ， méi yǒu shén me xiàn zhì 。 yě néng qīng yì de zhǎo dào shī xiōng dì qiē cuō 。”
“章阡陌所处的那个年代，宗门弟子可以尽情研习修行各种功法秘术，没有什么限制。也能轻易的找到师兄弟切磋。”
Two months of辅助修炼, half the contributions spent.
“ ér rú jīn ， gōng fǎ duì huàn kùn nán chóng chóng 。 shāo wēi wēi lì qiáng yì diǎn de gōng fǎ ， chú le kào zì jǐ lǐng wù ， jiù shì yào rù zhí wàn xiān méng 、 yòng gōng xūn hé gòng xiàn dù duì huàn le 。”
“而如今，功法兑换困难重重。稍微威力强一点的功法，除了靠自己领悟，就是要入职万仙盟、用功勋和贡献度兑换了。”
Gains...
“ ér qiě ， zhè nián tóu ， xiǎng zhǎo gè rén qiē cuō ， kě shì tài nán le 。”
“而且，这年头，想找个人切磋，可是太难了。”
Li Fan sighed.
“ tiān xuán jìng nèi ， kě yǐ mó nǐ gè zhǒng chǎng jǐng 。 dàn wéi dú yǔ rén duì zhàn de méi yǒu 。 zhè yě yīng gāi shì wàn xiān méng xiàn zhì yì bān xiū shì zhàn lì de shǒu duàn 。”
“天玄镜内，可以模拟各种场景。但唯独与人对战的没有。这也应该是万仙盟限制一般修士战力的手段。”
Equivalent to three years of cultivation in normal state.
“ bù guò ， yǒu le yǔn xiān jìng cún zài 。 wǒ dǎo shì kě yǐ zài qí nèi dǎ mó tí shēng zì jǐ de shí jì zhàn lì 。”
“不过，有了陨仙境存在。我倒是可以在其内打磨提升自己的实际战力。”
But still far from Foundation Establishment perfection.
“ dāng rán ， gèng zhòng yào de ， hái shì jìng jiè de tí shēng 。”
“当然，更重要的，还是境界的提升。”
However, Li Fan knew he couldn’t be impatient.
lǐ fán kàn le kàn zì jǐ de gòng xiàn dù ， sān wàn qī qiān duō diǎn 。
李凡看了看自己的贡献度，三万七千多点。
After the Foundation Establishment stage, ordinary cultivators needed decades to advance a small realm.
gòu zài qǐ líng zhuàng tài xià xiū xíng yī zhèn shí jiān le 。
够在启灵状态下修行一阵时间了。
"Still need The Sitting Mountain Technique!"
“ xiān xiū liàn dào zhù jī yuán mǎn zài shuō 。”
“先修炼到筑基圆满再说。”
He reflected and checked He Zhenghao’s message.
yú shì ， lǐ fán ná chū líng lóng liú lí zhū ， bì guān xiū liàn qǐ lái 。
于是，李凡拿出玲珑琉璃珠，闭关修炼起来。
"Friend Li Fan! Good news, it's done!"
shí jiān liú shì ， bù zhī guò le duō jiǔ 。
时间流逝，不知过了多久。
"After my efforts, I managed to secure the position of Formation Array Repairer at Zhang Zhi liang’s place!"
The waxy skin slowly dissolved, absorbed by the strange cultivator within the corpse.
Faced with this eerie scene, Zhang Qianmo did not immediately kill Li Chan. Instead, he observed intently and waited.
After a moment, Li Chan's body was entirely consumed by the Xuanhuang Refining Heart Spell.
Li Fan revealed his true appearance as well.
He smiled slightly at Zhang Qianmo and bowed respectfully: "Met Brother!"
Zhang Qianmo narrowed his eyes, the purple lightning mark on his forehead becoming more prominent.
"Who are you? What kind of creature are you?"
"An evil demon? A域外天魔?"
Zhang Qianmo's questioning gaze did not faze Li Fan. He replied calmly: "Brother Zhang, it’s just a new body. Can’t you recognize me now?"
Before he could finish speaking, a blue light illuminated the sky.
Long Sword and Heaven-Turning Palm arrived in quick succession.
Zhang Qianmo showed surprise on his face as the long spear clashed with Long Sword, purple lightning roaring and devouring each other.
In the end, the purple lightning had the upper hand.
"Good sword technique!" Zhang Qianmo praised.
Facing the无形掌法 descending from above, Zhang Qianmo did not dodge but instead delivered a powerful punch.
Punch and palm collided, releasing a tremendous burst of energy that spread outwards from their location, devastating Ningyuan City below.
The shockwave reduced the already ruined city to rubble, leaving only the Life-Extending Tree standing amidst the ruins under the protective barrier.
Zhang Qianmo showed no concern for the lives lost. He merely stared at Li Fan with a serious expression.
"Who are you? Why did you sneak into my Purple Void Sect in secret? Judging from your palm and sword, they display boundless power, unlike mere scattered cultivators."
Li Fan avoided answering but asked instead: "Brother Zhang, what technique is this? You only have Foundation Establishment cultivation yet can condense a Golden Core within your body. Even killing an opponent across a great realm seems effortless?"
Zhang Qianmo snorted coldly, his resolve to kill growing as Li Fan remained silent.
He then ceased holding back and wielded the long spear with both hands, summoning purple lightning from above to aid in combat.
This was Li Fan's first encounter with such an evenly matched opponent. He moved at maximum speed, forming a sword array with the Calming Sea Sword to block Long Sword.
Between attacks, he interwove Long Sword and Heaven-Turning Palm.
However, his limited experience showed only basic techniques. Zhang Qianmo, on the other hand, had endless招式道法.
The body born from the Golden Core was impervious to all attacks.
Li Fan’s strikes occasionally landed but caused only minor wounds that quickly healed.
In contrast, Li Fan's divine consciousness suffered increasingly severe injuries as more purple lightning struck. The whispers in his ears began to affect him.
After several dozen rounds, Zhang Qianmo finally cut Li Fan’s divine consciousness in half with a single spear strike.
No blood spilled; instead, the body disintegrated into countless particles that dispersed with the wind.
"This person's cultivation techniques are extraordinary, both sword and palm displaying boundless mysteries. He must come from a major sect."
"Yet his practical skills are rather weak."
Zhang Qianmo shook his head in confusion.
...
In the Ten Thousand Immortals Mirror, Li Fan slowly regained consciousness. Unlike what Chen Ying mentioned, he felt a slight enhancement of his divine consciousness.
Recalling his experiences in the Golden Core Realm, Li Fan pondered deeply.
"Should be due to the Xuanhuang Refining Heart Spell."
"But I wonder why this spell has such effects within the Golden Core Realm."
"In general, after occupying another's body and dying, one would return directly to the real world."
"I instead consume and reorganize, forming a new divine consciousness. It’s like having two lives in the Golden Core Realm."
"Unknown if anyone else can do the same as me."
"This exploration yielded no results but did strengthen my divine consciousness."
...
With slight joy, Li Fan prepared for another ritual to enter the Golden Core Realm.
However, there was no response.
He reluctantly gave up.
"According to Chen Ying, it usually takes three to six months to re-enter. A pity."
"If I could enter endlessly without restrictions..."
Shaking his head, he discarded this unrealistic thought.
Checking the time,
Less than a day had passed since entering the Golden Core Realm.
"I saw the cultivation world before the Great Tribulation and Immortal-Demon Mist appeared."
"Also exposed my current issues: though powerful, practical skills are lacking."
"Without ambushes using array formations, I can still fight ordinary Golden Core cultivators. But against true prodigies, it’s difficult."
"But this is more about the difference between eras than personal shortcomings."
"In Brother Zhang Qianmo's era, disciples could freely study various cultivation techniques with no restrictions and easily find peers to train with.
"Nowadays, obtaining powerful cultivation techniques is extremely difficult—either through self-discovery or joining the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance using merits and contributions."
"Moreover, finding someone to train with is incredibly hard."
"The Ten Thousand Immortals Mirror can simulate various scenarios but lacks combat training. This should be a measure by the alliance to limit general cultivators' power.
"But with the Golden Core Realm, I can hone my actual combat skills there."
"Of course, more importantly, it’s about advancing in cultivation stages."
Li Fan checked his contributions: over 37,000 points.
Enough for some time of cultivation in启灵状态.
"Still need to reach Foundation Establishment perfection first."
So Li Fan took out the Lustrous Crystal and began seclusion training.
Time passed, and after an indeterminate amount of time,
Li Fan was awakened by a communication talisman message.
It was from He Zhenghao’s communication spirit talisman.
He did not immediately check it but first assessed his recent cultivation gains.
Two months of辅助修炼, half the contributions spent.
Gains...
Li Fan sighed.
Equivalent to three years of cultivation in normal state.
But still far from Foundation Establishment perfection.
However, Li Fan knew he couldn’t be impatient.
After the Foundation Establishment stage, ordinary cultivators needed decades to advance a small realm.
"Still need The Sitting Mountain Technique!"
He reflected and checked He Zhenghao’s message.
"Friend Li Fan! Good news, it's done!"
"After my efforts, I managed to secure the position of Formation Array Repairer at Zhang Zhi liang’s place!"