Chapter 268: Hidden Dangers in the Azure Flame

"Intent riding the Purple Firmament, body like thunder…"

"What a wonderful escape technique!"

After studying the secret art "Purple Firmament Divine Thunder Escape" in its entirety, a hint of joy couldn't help but flash in Li Fan's eyes.

Immediately after, he felt a bit of regret: "It's a pity that without the coordination of the Divine Thunder True Intent from the 'Purple Firmament Thunder Control True Art', the speed of this escape technique will be greatly discounted."

"If I use it alone, I estimate I can only reach half the speed of its complete state."

"Even so, it is still much faster than the standard escape techniques sold in the Tianxuan Mirror."

Being able to obtain a secret technique after defeating Zhang Qianmo this time was purely an unexpected delight.

Normally, killing characters in the Realm of Fallen Immortals yields no rewards.

Otherwise, exploring the Realm of Fallen Immortals would be simple—just form a team and go on a killing spree.

Generally, when this situation occurs, it is because the obsession of the slain character is directly related to being defeated.

"The 'Seeking Defeat' Zhang Qianmo?"

Li Fan couldn't help but think to himself.

"However, if not for the technique of the Azure Flame Illusion Spirit, which allowed me to greatly extend my existence time in the Realm of Fallen Immortals,"

"outlasting Senior Brother Zhang would have been practically impossible."

Entering the absolute rational state of the Azure Flame Illusion Spirit could increase the duration of stay in the Realm of Fallen Immortals.

This had been inspired by Chen Ying of the Medicine Hall.

To improve efficiency when exploring the Realm of Fallen Immortals, Chen Ying needed to use blue blood coral to refine the ice intent heart-severing pill.

And after the blue blood coral was tainted with a trace of the icy aura of the Blue Feather Illusion Spirit, the efficacy of the refined ice intent heart-severing pill actually increased significantly out of thin air.

At that time, Li Fan surmised that triggering the special state of the Azure Flame Illusion Spirit might replace or even surpass taking the ice intent heart-severing pill.

Testing it this time proved it was indeed exactly as anticipated.

The reason he hadn't used the Azure Flame Illusion Spirit during previous explorations of the Realm of Fallen Immortals was due to faint misgivings in Li Fan's heart.

After practicing the [Mystic Yellow Heart Cleansing Mantra] as if it were a breathing instinct, diligently cultivating without cease across a hundred lifetimes,

although he still hadn't achieved any substantial Breakthrough, Li Fan's degree of awareness regarding his own "state of mind" far exceeded that of ordinary people.

This time, in the Realm of Fallen Immortals, Li Fan remained in that special state continuously for nearly thirty days.

After exiting, besides exhaustion, Li Fan keenly noticed the "erosion" that the cold exerted on himself.

Ever since witnessing existences like the Heavenly Doctor and [It] from Daoyuan Province,

Li Fan had always maintained a degree of vigilance toward the high-tier powers of this world.

The same was true for this [Azure Flame] he had mysteriously visualized.

Unlike other Cultivation Techniques, the "Netherworld Illusion Art" and its later upgraded version, "Intent Spirit Illusion Art", belonged to a special summon-type series of Cultivation Techniques.

That cold, rational power did not stem from the Cultivation Technique itself, but from the visualized illusion spirit.

This was a fundamental difference.

Not to mention that this Azure Flame Illusion Spirit might actually have a concrete physical counterpart in the real world.

Of course, Li Fan could not feel completely at ease with it.

It stood to reason that overpowered strength came with commensurate side effects.

Using it occasionally as a surprise move might allow the Mystic Yellow Heart Cleansing Mantra to dissolve its side effects.

However, if abused without restraint…

there was no guaranteeing it wouldn't subtly alter his mindset without him realizing.

The strange erosion he sensed this time was the best proof.

Moreover, although the Azure Flame Illusion Spirit could greatly increase his survival duration in the Realm of Fallen Immortals, its drawbacks were also extremely obvious.

The Realm of Fallen Immortals was a world manifested from consciousness.

Suppressing consciousness fluctuations to an extremely low level was, in the eyes of the natives of the Realm of Fallen Immortals, definitely a terrifying anomaly.

The fact that Zhang Qianmo saw through Li Fan at a glance and subsequently acted with full vigilance proved this point.

It was only suitable for dealing a decisive final blow after establishing an action plan, not for ordinary exploration.

Regardless, with the assistance of the Azure Flame Illusion Spirit, Li Fan had ultimately resolved the roadblock that was Zhang Qianmo.

This made Li Fan, who had been stuck in Ningyuan City, eagerly anticipate his experiences upon entering the Realm of Fallen Immortals next time.

After all, the Realm of Fallen Immortals was even vaster than the Xuanhuang World; if he remained trapped in one spot without being able to behold its profound mysteries,

wouldn't that be far too regrettable?

With the issue that had been weighing on his mind finally resolved, Li Fan couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.

After destroying all traces at his seabed secluded cultivation spot, Li Fan was about to return to Ten Thousand Immortals Island when he suddenly received a message transmission from Zhang Zhiliang.

Asking Li Fan to come to the Strategy Formation Hall.

Pondering for a moment, Li Fan did not delay.

Transforming the [Continuous Hate Branch] inside his Dantian into the [Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart], he headed straight for the Strategy Formation Hall.

Entering the interior of that slanted metal building, Li Fan skillfully arrived at Zhang Zhiliang's location.

His figure stood tall, seemingly unchanged from before.

However, the faint, persistent sense of crisis welling up in Li Fan's heart was something he had never experienced when facing Zhang Zhiliang before.

"It seems…"

The moment the thought surged in his mind, Li Fan used the Mystic Yellow Heart Cleansing Mantra to suppress it.

"Greetings, Great Master!"

Bowing in greeting, his mind devoid of stray thoughts.

Zhang Zhiliang scrutinized Li Fan, nodded, and spoke, "It seems your progress is good. Once Opportunity arrives, breaking through to the Golden Core will happen naturally."

Changing the topic, he suddenly asked, "You have already claimed the [Dividing Spirit Jade Slip] from me three times."

"How has your study of the recent Dividing Spirit Jade Slip gone?"

Li Fan reported the situation truthfully.

Zhang Zhiliang then tossed a Spirit-Sensing Orb over, gesturing for Li Fan to take a test.

Sending his Divine Sense inside, complex Formation problems came rushing at him one after another.

Li Fan answered them one by one.

Compared to the test from the Spirit-Sensing Orb Zhang Zhiliang gave him in his previous life, the difficulty of these questions was clearly much higher.

However, having studied Formations continuously for nearly ten years, Li Fan was no longer the novice he used to be.

After the test concluded, Zhang Zhiliang looked at the glowing points of light on the Spirit-Sensing Orb and finally revealed a look of satisfaction.

"Not bad."

"Though lacking drive, your foundation is very solid."

"I can tell you have put in painstaking effort into the Dao of Formations."

Li Fan lowered his head and replied, "Great Master overpraises me. Your Junior knows he is dull-witted, so in order not to fall behind, diligence is my only way to compensate for clumsiness."

Zhang Zhiliang chuckled, "To learn the Dao of Formations I imparted to such an extent in just a few short years… your Aptitude is not bad at all!"

"There is no need to belittle yourself!"

Zhang Zhiliang stated conclusively.

Of course, if he knew Li Fan's actual learning time, he would definitely not think that way.

Fortunately, he didn't know.

"Your Aptitude is not bad, and you are diligent to the point of self-forgetfulness."

Zhang Zhiliang looked Li Fan over again and said, "In two years, there will be a closed-door training session in Tianyu State for young talent in Formations across the provinces of the Myriad Immortals Alliance."

"Our Congyun Sea has three spots."

"I intend to give one of them to you."

"Are you willing to go?"