“ xuè guāng zhī zāi ？” chén yīng kàn zhe lǐ fán shà yǒu jiè shì de yàng zi ， bù yóu yí zhèng 。
“血光之灾？”陈英看着李凡煞有介事的样子，不由一怔。
"Bloodlight disaster?" Chen Ying was taken aback by Li Fan's serious demeanor.
“ zhè cóng hé tán qǐ a ？” shí zài méi xiǎng dào zhè wèi shàng gǔ tiān jī zōng xiū shì chū cì jiàn miàn jiù gěi le zì jǐ yí gè jīng xǐ ， chén yīng jiāng xìn jiāng yí dì wèn dào 。
“这从何谈起啊？”实在没想到这位上古天机宗修士初次见面就给了自己一个惊喜，陈英将信将疑地问道。
"Where do you come up with this idea?" Chen Ying, who hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise from the ancient Heaven Mechanism Sect cultivator on their first meeting, asked hesitantly.
lǐ fán méi yǒu mǎ shàng huí dá ， ér shì miàn sè níng zhòng ， bì yǎn 、 qiā zhǐ tuī suàn qǐ lái 。
李凡没有马上回答，而是面色凝重，闭眼、掐指推算起来。
Li Fan didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he frowned and began to calculate using his fingers.
chén yīng jiàn zhuàng ， zhàn lì yī páng ， bù gǎn dǎ rǎo 。
陈英见状，站立一旁，不敢打扰。
Seeing this, Chen Ying stood by silently, not daring to disturb him.
tuī yǎn zú zú chí xù le yī zhù xiāng de gōng fu 。
推衍足足持续了一炷香的功夫。
The calculation lasted for nearly an incense stick's worth of time.
lǐ fán de qì xī qǐ fú bù dìng ， liǎn sè yě biàn dé yuè lái yuè cāng bái 。
李凡的气息起伏不定，脸色也变得越来越苍白。
Li Fan’s breathing was erratic, and his complexion grew increasingly pale.
bǎ chén yīng hǔ de gēn zhe jǐn zhāng qǐ lái 。
把陈英唬的跟着紧张起来。
Chen Ying became nervous as well.
mò dì ， lǐ fán zhēng kāi shuāng yǎn ， měng tǔ chū yī kǒu xiān xuè 。
蓦地，李凡睁开双眼，勐吐出一口鲜血。
Suddenly, Li Fan opened his eyes and spat out a mouthful of blood.
“ lǐ fán dào yǒu ， nǐ méi shì ba ？”
“李凡道友，你没事吧？”
"Friend Daoist Li Fan, are you alright?"
chén yīng xià le yī tiào ， jiù yào shàng qián chá kàn 。
陈英吓了一跳，就要上前查看。
Chen Ying was startled and wanted to step forward to check on him.
“ bù dǎ jǐn ， zhǐ bù guò shòu dào le xiē xǔ fǎn shì bà le 。” lǐ fán cā le cā zuǐ jiǎo de xuè jì ， bǎi shǒu dào 。
“不打紧，只不过受到了些许反噬罢了。”李凡擦了擦嘴角的血迹，摆手道。
"Don't worry, just a bit of backlash," Li Fan wiped the blood from his lips and waved him off.
bù děng chén yīng yǒu suǒ fǎn yìng ， lǐ fán biàn jǐn dīng zhe tā ， chū shēng fā wèn ：“ chén dào yǒu ， nǐ zuì jìn kě shì yào chū yī tàng yuǎn mén ？”
不等陈英有所反应，李凡便紧盯着他，出声发问：“陈道友，你最近可是要出一趟远门？”
Before Chen Ying could react, Li Fan stared intently at him and asked, "Friend Daoist Chen, are you planning to travel far in the near future?"
chén yīng xiān shì yī lèng ， suí hòu dǒu rán yī jīng 。
陈英先是一愣，随后陡然一惊。
Chen Ying was taken aback. Shortly before, he had indeed received an order from headquarters to go to a newly discovered Wood属性洞天.
bù jiǔ qián ， tā dí què jiē dào le zǒng bù de diào lìng ， yào tā qián wǎng yī chù xīn fā xiàn de mù shǔ xìng dòng tiān 。
不久前，他的确接到了总部的调令，要他前往一处新发现的木属性洞天。
But he hadn’t told anyone about it. How did Li Fan know?
bù guò cǐ shì tā hái wèi gēn qí tā rén tí qǐ guò ， zhè lǐ fán yòu shì zěn me zhī dào de ？
不过此事他还未跟其他人提起过，这李凡又是怎么知道的？
Could it be that he really saw something through his divination techniques?
nán bù chéng ， tā zhēn de tōng guò tuī yǎn zhī shù ， kàn dào le xiē shén me ？
难不成，他真的通过推衍之术，看到了些什么？
Chen Ying quickly took out a [Life-Sustaining Essence Pill] and offered it to Li Fan.
chén yīng lián máng tāo chū yī lì 【 huó qì bào yuán dān 】， gěi lǐ fán dì le guò qù 。
陈英连忙掏出一粒【活气抱元丹】，给李凡递了过去。
"Friend Daoist, please take this medicinal pill; it can help with your injuries."
“ dào yǒu qiě jiāng zhè dān yào fú xià ， kě huǎn jiě shāng shì 。”
“道友且将这丹药服下，可缓解伤势。”
After Li Fan swallowed the pill and his complexion improved, Chen Ying asked seriously, "Yes, I am indeed going on a long journey. Is that related to the bloodlight disaster you mentioned?"
dài lǐ fán jiāng qí tūn xià ， miàn sè hǎo zhuǎn zhī hòu ， chén yīng cái zhèng zhòng de wèn dào ：“ què yǒu cǐ shì ， wǒ zuì jìn dí què yīn gù yào lí kāi cóng yún hǎi 。”
待李凡将其吞下，面色好转之后，陈英才郑重的问道：“确有此事，我最近的确因故要离开丛云海。”
Li Fan nodded slowly: "It's better to return sooner rather than later. The longer you stay out, the more dangerous it will be."
“ dào yǒu suǒ shuō de xuè guāng zhī zāi ， shì fǒu jiù gēn zhè tàng yuǎn xíng yǒu guān ？”
“道友所说的血光之灾，是否就跟这趟远行有关？”
Hearing this, Chen Ying’s heart sank.
lǐ fán huǎn huǎn diǎn tóu ：“ zǎo guī wú fáng ， zài wài tuō dé yuè jiǔ ， kǒng pà yuè shì xiōng xiǎn 。”
李凡缓缓点头：“早归无妨，在外拖得越久，恐怕越是凶险。”
This mission would take at least ten years, and he wouldn’t be able to return.
chén yīng yī tīng ， dùn shí xīn zhōng liáng le bàn jié 。
陈英一听，顿时心中凉了半截。
Did that mean he was doomed from the moment he left?
zhè tàng rèn wù ， méi yǒu gè shí nián bàn zǎi ， dìng rán shì huí bù lái de 。
这趟任务，没有个十年半载，定然是回不来的。
Thinking about it, Chen Ying had the urge to defy orders.
nà qǐ bù shì shuō ， zhǐ yào qián qù ， nà jiù zhù dìng xiōng duō jí shǎo ？
那岂不是说，只要前去，那就注定凶多吉少？
But there was no way around it. He couldn't refuse an order from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance headquarters as a mere Golden Core cultivator.
niàn jí cǐ chù ， chén yīng bù jīn shēng chū le kàng mìng de xiǎng fǎ 。
念及此处，陈英不禁生出了抗命的想法。
Dead end? No escape?
bù guò yě zhǐ shì xiǎng xiǎng ér yǐ 。
不过也只是想想而已。
No wonder he felt uneasy lately but couldn’t figure out why.
wàn xiān méng zǒng bù de diào lìng ， gēn běn bù róng tā zhè ge xiǎo xiǎo de yuán yīng xiū shì jù jué 。
万仙盟总部的调令，根本不容他这个小小的元婴修士拒绝。
It must be here!
bì wú kě bì ， sǐ lù yī tiáo ？
避无可避，死路一条？
Chen Ying’s expression turned grim.
nán guài zuì jìn zì jǐ zǒng yǒu diǎn xīn shén bù níng ， què yòu zǒng zhǎo bú dào yuán yīn 。
难怪最近自己总有点心神不宁，却又总找不到原因。
After a moment, he looked at Li Fan and had an idea.
jìng rán yīng zài cǐ chù ！
竟然应在此处！
"Since this journey is unavoidable, please save me!" Chen Ying said with hope in his eyes.
chén yīng de liǎn sè shùn jiān biàn dé wú bǐ nán kàn 。
陈英的脸色瞬间变得无比难看。
Li Fan sighed: "Knowing the heavens is easy; defying them is hard. I can still try to predict future events. But changing your fate...?"
dāi le piàn kè ， tā kàn zhe yī páng de lǐ fán ， xīn zhōng yī dòng 。
呆了片刻，他看着一旁的李凡，心中一动。
"You've put me in a difficult position."
“ cǐ tàng yuǎn xíng wú fǎ bì miǎn ， hái qǐng dào yǒu jiù wǒ ！” chén yīng mǎn liǎn xī jì dì shuō dào 。
“此趟远行无法避免，还请道友救我！”陈英满脸希冀地说道。
"But I can offer you some advice."
lǐ fán wēi wēi tàn kǒu qì ：“ zhī tiān yì 、 nì tiān nán 。 kuī cè wèi lái xuán jī ， wǒ hái miǎn qiǎng néng gòu zuò dào 。 xiǎng yào nì tiān gǎi mìng ， zhè ……”
李凡微微叹口气：“知天易、逆天难。窥测未来玄机，我还勉强能够做到。想要逆天改命，这……”
"I won't guarantee it will work, but it might help."
“ dào yǒu zhe shí yǒu diǎn wéi nán wǒ le 。”
“道友着实有点为难我了。”
Just as Chen Ying was about to lose hope, Li Fan's tone changed.
“ bù guò ， wǒ dǎo shì kě yǐ gěi nǐ tí gōng diǎn jiàn yì 。”
“不过，我倒是可以给你提供点建议。”
Chen Ying’s face lit up: "Please tell me!"
“ zhǐ jìn rén shì zhī jǔ ， bù gǎn bǎo zhèng jué duì yǒu yòng 。”
“只尽人事之举，不敢保证绝对有用。”
Li Fan sized him up and asked, "May I ask, if you were in a life-or-death situation, what would your combat strength be?"
zhèng dāng chén yīng wú bǐ shī wàng de shí hòu ， lǐ fán huà fēng yī zhuǎn ， tū rán dào 。
正当陈英无比失望的时候，李凡话锋一转，突然道。
Chen Ying blushed slightly. "There are things one excels at. Alchemy and nurturing objects... but fighting..."
chén yīng dà xǐ guò wàng ：“ dào yǒu qǐng jiǎng ！”
陈英大喜过望：“道友请讲！”
He shook his head.
lǐ fán xiān shì dǎ liàng le yī fān chén yīng ， suí hòu wèn dào ：“ shù wǒ mào mèi ， gǎn wèn dào yǒu ， ruò zhēn de shēng sǐ xiāng bó zhī jì ， nǐ de zhàn lì rú hé ？”
李凡先是打量了一番陈英，随后问道：“恕我冒昧，敢问道友，若真的生死相搏之际，你的战力如何？”
Li Fan continued: "If there's an ambush, how good is your survival ability? Have you prepared any defensive or evasive techniques?"
chén yīng wén yán ， miàn sè yǒu xiē jiǒng pò ：“ suǒ wèi shù yè yǒu zhuān gōng 。 liàn dān 、 yù wù zhè xiē ， wǒ zài háng 。 dǎ dǎ shā shā ……”
陈英闻言，面色有些窘迫：“所谓术业有专攻。炼丹、育物这些，我在行。打打杀杀……”
"Since the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance has been peaceful for a long time, I’ve always tried to be kind. These things seem unnecessary..." Chen Ying replied honestly.
chén yīng yáo yáo tóu 。
陈英摇摇头。
Li Fan sighed deeply: "That’s the problem! You have no guard against danger; if it strikes suddenly, you’ll fall easily."
lǐ fán zài wèn ：“ ruò shì yù dào tū xí ， dào yǒu bǎo mìng néng lì rú hé ？ fáng hù 、 yǐn zōng 、 dùn shù zhǒng zhǒng shǒu duàn ， dào yǒu píng shí kě yǒu zhǔn bèi ？”
李凡再问：“若是遇到突袭，道友保命能力如何？防护、隐踪、遁术种种手段，道友平时可有准备？”
"This disaster can’t be avoided, so we must endure it."
“ wàn xiān méng chéng píng yǐ jiǔ ， wǒ yòu xiàng lái yǔ rén wéi shàn 。 zhè xiē dōng xī ， shí zài jué de píng shí yòng bù shàng ……” chén yīng lǎo shí dá dào 。
“万仙盟承平已久，我又向来与人为善。这些东西，实在觉得平时用不上……”陈英老实答道。
"I see that your purchase of this cave on the Ten Thousand Immortals Island indicates a high value. The only option now is to spend money to avoid disaster!"
lǐ fán cháng tàn yī shēng ：“ zhè jiù shì le ！ dào yǒu nǐ wán quán méi yǒu jiè bèi zhī xīn ， ruò shì jié nàn zhòu rán lái xí ， háo wú fáng bèi zhī xià ， zì rán róng yì yǔn luò 。”
李凡长叹一声：“这就是了！道友你完全没有戒备之心，若是劫难骤然来袭，毫无防备之下，自然容易陨落。”
"The Heavenly Mystical Mirror contains many defensive treasures and techniques. You shouldn't hesitate; buy and strengthen yourself as much as possible."
“ cǐ jié jì rán wú fǎ duǒ bì ， jiù zhǐ néng yìng kàng 。”
“此劫既然无法躲避，就只能硬抗。”
"If you can withstand an attack from a Great Dao cultivator for just a moment, it might give you a chance."
“ wǒ guān dào yǒu néng zài wàn xiān dǎo shàng gòu mǎi rú cǐ dòng fǔ ， shēn jià bì dìng bù fēi 。 rú jīn zhī jì ， zhǐ yǒu pò cái miǎn zāi yī tiáo lù le ！”
“我观道友能在万仙岛上购买如此洞府，身价必定不菲。如今之计，只有破财免灾一条路了！”
Li Fan continued.
“ tiān xuán jìng zhōng ， yǒu zhū duō fáng wèi fǎ bǎo 、 shǒu duàn 。 dào yǒu bì bù kě lìn sè ， jǐn kě néng de gòu mǎi 、 qiáng huà zì shēn 。”
“天玄镜中，有诸多防卫法宝、手段。道友必不可吝啬，尽可能的购买、强化自身。”
"Attack from a Great Dao Immortal?" Chen Ying was startled.
“ ruò shì néng zuò dào piàn kè dǐ dǎng hé dào xiū shì de gōng jī ， xiǎng lái huò xǔ jiù néng xún dé yī xiàn shēng jī 。”
“若是能做到片刻抵挡合道修士的攻击，想来或许就能寻得一线生机。”
With his accumulated contributions over the years, he could indeed afford to buy some defensive treasures that could resist attacks from Great Dao cultivators if he sold everything.
lǐ fán wěi wěi dào lái 。
李凡娓娓道来。
But those were meant for exchanging for Great Dao techniques.
“ hé dào xiān zūn de gōng jī ？” chén yīng sǒng rán yī jīng 。
“合道仙尊的攻击？”陈英悚然一惊。
If this disaster didn’t happen, it would be a waste of contributions.
yǐ tā zhè xiē nián jī zǎn de gòng xiàn dù ， ruò shì qīng jiā dàng chǎn ， huò xǔ dí què néng mǎi dào yī liǎng jiàn dǐ dǎng hé dào xiū shì gōng jī de bǎo wù 。
以他这些年积攒的贡献度，若是倾家荡产，或许的确能买到一两件抵挡合道修士攻击的宝物。
He’d have to start all over again.
kě nà shì tā wèi le duì huàn hé dào gōng fǎ zhǔn bèi de 。
可那是他为了兑换合道功法准备的。
"Is there any...?" Chen Ying couldn't help but ask, only to see Li Fan shake his head slightly.
rú guǒ zhè lǐ fán suǒ shuō de jié nàn méi yǒu fā shēng ， jiù xiāng dāng yú bái bái làng fèi le zhè me duō gòng xiàn dù 。
如果这李凡所说的劫难没有发生，就相当于白白浪费了这么多贡献度。
"I’ve said my piece. Whether you believe me or not is none of my concern!"
yī qiè dōu yào cóng tóu kāi shǐ jī lěi 。
一切都要从头开始积累。
Li Fan turned to leave.
“ shì fǒu yǒu diǎn ……” chén yīng rěn bú zhù fā wèn ， què jiàn lǐ fán wēi bù kě jué de yáo le yáo tóu 。
“是否有点……”陈英忍不住发问，却见李凡微不可觉的摇了摇头。
Chen Ying hurriedly stopped him: "Friend Daoist, you came here in a hurry; don’t go so quickly! I’ll repay your life-saving kindness later. Let me show you around as the host today!"
“ wǒ yán jǐn yú cǐ 。 dào yǒu xìn yǔ bù xìn ， gēn wǒ wú guān le ！”
“我言尽于此。道友信与不信，跟我无关了！”
After introducing Li Fan to his unique method for cultivating spirit plants and personally refining a batch of medicinal pills, Chen Ying found that Li Fan was indeed an ancient cultivator.
lǐ fán zhuǎn shēn jiù yù lí qù 。
李凡转身就欲离去。
His knowledge was extensive, though he didn’t understand alchemy.
chén yīng lián máng shàng qián quàn zhù 。
陈英连忙上前劝住。
But all kinds of pharmacological knowledge came naturally, even some viewpoints that benefited him greatly.
“ dào yǒu cōng cōng ér lái ， qǐ kě cōng cōng ér qù ？ jiù mìng zhī ēn ， rì hòu róng wǒ zài bào 。 jīn rì xiān qiě ràng wǒ yī jǐn dì zhǔ zhī yì ！” yā xià xīn tóu de zhǒng zhǒng xiǎng fǎ ， chén yīng dài zhe lǐ fán cān guān le zì jǐ de zhè chù dòng fǔ 。
“道友匆匆而来，岂可匆匆而去？救命之恩，日后容我再报。今日先且让我一尽地主之谊！”压下心头的种种想法，陈英带着李凡参观了自己的这处洞府。
Li Fan stayed in Chen Ying’s cave for seven days before bidding farewell reluctantly.
wèi lǐ fán jiè shào le dú chuàng de cuī shēng líng zhí de jìn zhì shǒu duàn hòu ， chén yīng yòu zài tā miàn qián qīn zì liàn zhì le yī lú dān yào 。
为李凡介绍了独创的催生灵植的禁制手段后，陈英又在他面前亲自炼制了一炉丹药。
Before leaving, Chen Ying generously gave Li Fan a bottle of [Thought-Provoking Pill].
ér zài bǐ cǐ de jiāo tán guò chéng zhōng ， chén yīng fā xiàn ， cǐ rén bù kuì shì shàng gǔ xiū shì 。
而在彼此的交谈过程中，陈英发现，此人不愧是上古修士。
This was a special pill he had refined using his unique methods; it would be highly effective during the transition from Golden Core to Great Dao.
xué shí yuān bó ， suī rán bù tōng liàn dān zhī dào 。
学识渊博，虽然不通炼丹之道。
The material was rare, and the success rate was extremely low.
dàn zhǒng zhǒng yào lǐ zhī shí què shì xìn shǒu niān lái ， shèn zhì yǒu xiē guān diǎn ràng tā dōu shòu yì fěi qiǎn 。
但种种药理知识却是信手拈来，甚至有些观点让他都受益匪浅。
Chen Ying didn’t have much stock and usually wouldn’t sell it but give it as a gift in special circumstances.
lǐ fán zài chén yīng dòng fǔ zú zú dāi le qī rì ， zuì zhōng cái zài chén yīng de yī yī bù shě zhōng gào cí 。
李凡在陈英洞府足足呆了七日，最终才在陈英的依依不舍中告辞。
It was Chen Ying’s way of repaying Li Fan for his recovery to late-stage Golden Core and impending reformation.
lín xíng qián ， chén yīng dà fāng de sòng le yī píng 【 sī wù dān 】 gěi lǐ fán 。
临行前，陈英大方的送了一瓶【思悟丹】给李凡。
"This person is no charlatan; he has true talent."
cǐ dān shì tā yǐ dú mén shǒu duàn liàn zhì ， jīn dān tū pò zhì yuán yīng jìng qī jiān shǐ yòng ， huì yǒu qí xiào 。
此丹是他以独门手段炼制，金丹突破至元婴境期间使用，会有奇效。
After seeing off Li Fan, alone, Chen Ying thought to himself: "Bloodlight disaster... just some contributions. I can earn more if needed. At most, it will be a bit harder work, refining more medicinal pills."
cái liào hǎn jiàn ， chéng dān gài lǜ gèng shì dī dé chū qí 。
材料罕见，成丹概率更是低得出奇。
"If I die, everything’s over."
chén yīng běn rén dōu méi yǒu duō shǎo kù cún ， yì bān bìng bú huì yòng lái fàn mài 。
陈英本人都没有多少库存，一般并不会用来贩卖。
"Better to believe the worst than the best."
ér shì dàng zuò tè shū qíng kuàng xià de lǐ wù sòng chū 。
而是当做特殊情况下的礼物送出。
With this in mind, Chen Ying made up his mind.
yě shì chén yīng kàn chū lǐ fán xiū wèi yǐ jīng huī fù dào le jīn dān hòu qī 、 mǎ shàng yào chóng xīn jié yīng ， tóu táo bào lǐ zhī jǔ 。
也是陈英看出李凡修为已经恢复到了金丹后期、马上要重新结婴，投桃报李之举。
He opened the Heavenly Mystical Mirror and searched through its contents.
“ cǐ rén bú shì gù nòng xuán xū zhī bèi ， ér shì yǒu zhēn cái shí xué 。”
“此人不是故弄玄虚之辈，而是有真才实学。”
...
sòng zǒu le lǐ fán ， dú zì yī rén de chén yīng àn zì sī cǔn dào 。
送走了李凡，独自一人的陈英暗自思忖道。
"I wonder if Chen Ying can survive."
“ xuè guāng zhī zāi me ……”
“血光之灾么……”
Outside the cave, with the numerous restrictions blocking him, the Formless Killer Intent could no longer sense Chen Ying precisely.
“ bù guò xiē xǔ gòng xiàn dù ér yǐ 。 méi le hái kě yǐ zài zhēng ， zuì duō yě jiù shì xīn kǔ xiē ， duō kāi jǐ lú dān yào biàn shì 。”
“不过些许贡献度而已。没了还可以再挣，最多也就是辛苦些，多开几炉丹药便是。”
It only vaguely felt his presence.
“ ruò shì sǐ le ， kě jiù wàn shì jiē xiū le 。”
“若是死了，可就万事皆休了。”
"Let fate decide for him," Li Fan left the residential area of the Ten Thousand Immortals Island and returned to the Heavenly Mystical Mirror.
“ nìng kě xìn qí yǒu ， bù kě xìn qí wú 。”
“宁可信其有，不可信其无。”
"If not for knowing that the entire Wood属性洞天 would disappear soon, I’d still buy a cave."
niàn jí cǐ chù ， chén yīng àn zì xià dìng le jué xīn 。
念及此处，陈英暗自下定了决心。
Feeling the relatively cramped space within the Heavenly Mystical Mirror, Li Fan had this thought.
"Bloodlight disaster?" Chen Ying was taken aback by Li Fan's serious demeanor.
"Where do you come up with this idea?" Chen Ying, who hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise from the ancient Heaven Mechanism Sect cultivator on their first meeting, asked hesitantly.
Li Fan didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he frowned and began to calculate using his fingers.
Seeing this, Chen Ying stood by silently, not daring to disturb him.
The calculation lasted for nearly an incense stick's worth of time.
Li Fan’s breathing was erratic, and his complexion grew increasingly pale.
Chen Ying became nervous as well.
Suddenly, Li Fan opened his eyes and spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Friend Daoist Li Fan, are you alright?"
Chen Ying was startled and wanted to step forward to check on him.
"Don't worry, just a bit of backlash," Li Fan wiped the blood from his lips and waved him off.
Before Chen Ying could react, Li Fan stared intently at him and asked, "Friend Daoist Chen, are you planning to travel far in the near future?"
Chen Ying was taken aback. Shortly before, he had indeed received an order from headquarters to go to a newly discovered Wood属性洞天.
But he hadn’t told anyone about it. How did Li Fan know?
Could it be that he really saw something through his divination techniques?
Chen Ying quickly took out a [Life-Sustaining Essence Pill] and offered it to Li Fan.
"Friend Daoist, please take this medicinal pill; it can help with your injuries."
After Li Fan swallowed the pill and his complexion improved, Chen Ying asked seriously, "Yes, I am indeed going on a long journey. Is that related to the bloodlight disaster you mentioned?"
Li Fan nodded slowly: "It's better to return sooner rather than later. The longer you stay out, the more dangerous it will be."
Hearing this, Chen Ying’s heart sank.
This mission would take at least ten years, and he wouldn’t be able to return.
Did that mean he was doomed from the moment he left?
Thinking about it, Chen Ying had the urge to defy orders.
But there was no way around it. He couldn't refuse an order from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance headquarters as a mere Golden Core cultivator.
Dead end? No escape?
No wonder he felt uneasy lately but couldn’t figure out why.
It must be here!
Chen Ying’s expression turned grim.
After a moment, he looked at Li Fan and had an idea.
"Since this journey is unavoidable, please save me!" Chen Ying said with hope in his eyes.
Li Fan sighed: "Knowing the heavens is easy; defying them is hard. I can still try to predict future events. But changing your fate...?"
"You've put me in a difficult position."
"But I can offer you some advice."
"I won't guarantee it will work, but it might help."
Just as Chen Ying was about to lose hope, Li Fan's tone changed.
Chen Ying’s face lit up: "Please tell me!"
Li Fan sized him up and asked, "May I ask, if you were in a life-or-death situation, what would your combat strength be?"
Chen Ying blushed slightly. "There are things one excels at. Alchemy and nurturing objects... but fighting..."
He shook his head.
Li Fan continued: "If there's an ambush, how good is your survival ability? Have you prepared any defensive or evasive techniques?"
"Since the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance has been peaceful for a long time, I’ve always tried to be kind. These things seem unnecessary..." Chen Ying replied honestly.
Li Fan sighed deeply: "That’s the problem! You have no guard against danger; if it strikes suddenly, you’ll fall easily."
"This disaster can’t be avoided, so we must endure it."
"I see that your purchase of this cave on the Ten Thousand Immortals Island indicates a high value. The only option now is to spend money to avoid disaster!"
"The Heavenly Mystical Mirror contains many defensive treasures and techniques. You shouldn't hesitate; buy and strengthen yourself as much as possible."
"If you can withstand an attack from a Great Dao cultivator for just a moment, it might give you a chance."
Li Fan continued.
"Attack from a Great Dao Immortal?" Chen Ying was startled.
With his accumulated contributions over the years, he could indeed afford to buy some defensive treasures that could resist attacks from Great Dao cultivators if he sold everything.
But those were meant for exchanging for Great Dao techniques.
If this disaster didn’t happen, it would be a waste of contributions.
He’d have to start all over again.
"Is there any...?" Chen Ying couldn't help but ask, only to see Li Fan shake his head slightly.
"I’ve said my piece. Whether you believe me or not is none of my concern!"
Li Fan turned to leave.
Chen Ying hurriedly stopped him: "Friend Daoist, you came here in a hurry; don’t go so quickly! I’ll repay your life-saving kindness later. Let me show you around as the host today!"
After introducing Li Fan to his unique method for cultivating spirit plants and personally refining a batch of medicinal pills, Chen Ying found that Li Fan was indeed an ancient cultivator.
His knowledge was extensive, though he didn’t understand alchemy.
But all kinds of pharmacological knowledge came naturally, even some viewpoints that benefited him greatly.
Li Fan stayed in Chen Ying’s cave for seven days before bidding farewell reluctantly.
Before leaving, Chen Ying generously gave Li Fan a bottle of [Thought-Provoking Pill].
This was a special pill he had refined using his unique methods; it would be highly effective during the transition from Golden Core to Great Dao.
The material was rare, and the success rate was extremely low.
Chen Ying didn’t have much stock and usually wouldn’t sell it but give it as a gift in special circumstances.
It was Chen Ying’s way of repaying Li Fan for his recovery to late-stage Golden Core and impending reformation.
"This person is no charlatan; he has true talent."
After seeing off Li Fan, alone, Chen Ying thought to himself: "Bloodlight disaster... just some contributions. I can earn more if needed. At most, it will be a bit harder work, refining more medicinal pills."
"If I die, everything’s over."
"Better to believe the worst than the best."
With this in mind, Chen Ying made up his mind.
He opened the Heavenly Mystical Mirror and searched through its contents.
...
"I wonder if Chen Ying can survive."
Outside the cave, with the numerous restrictions blocking him, the Formless Killer Intent could no longer sense Chen Ying precisely.
It only vaguely felt his presence.
"Let fate decide for him," Li Fan left the residential area of the Ten Thousand Immortals Island and returned to the Heavenly Mystical Mirror.
"If not for knowing that the entire Wood属性洞天 would disappear soon, I’d still buy a cave."
Feeling the relatively cramped space within the Heavenly Mystical Mirror, Li Fan had this thought.