Chapter 367: Life and Death Can Refine the Heart

"If you Cultivate like this, who wouldn't go mad?"

After a long while, Li Fan, having finished reading the entire Jade Slip, couldn't help but sigh.

What was recorded in the Jade Slip was, naturally, the Mystic Life-and-Death Art that Zhong Shentong had mentioned earlier, which he practiced.

It was only half a remnant, and it was unknown where he had obtained it.

The essence of the Cultivation Technique was even more incredible.

The first chapter of the technique stated its principles clearly from the start.

It posited that everything in the world would eventually die.

Birds, beasts, vegetation, humans.

Even Cultivators, Yao Beasts, and the world itself.

None could escape this fate.

If one wished to achieve Transcendence over death, one had to, before one's own death arrived, reach a state of life-and-death superposition, a state of neither life nor death, and both life and death.

This was also the highest Realm envisioned by the Cultivation Technique.

To achieve "Coexistence of Life and Death," one needed unparalleled insight and understanding of the essence of life and death.

The "Life-and-Death Sensing Chapter" was a method within the Cultivation Technique used to perceive life and death.

From the initial "Attachment to Life and Fear of Death," to "Abandoning Life and Forgetting Death," and finally to "Coexistence of Life and Death."

The Mystic Life-and-Death Art was such a peculiar Cultivation Technique that utilized the power of life and death to Cultivate.

Because its premise was extremely high, the content of the Cultivation Technique was also extremely profound and obscure.

Compared to the Qi Xuan True Spirit Transformation, it was even more so.

Perhaps it was because the founder of the Cultivation Technique had not reached that state of neither life nor death, either.

The latter half of the cultivation content was mostly speculation and conjecture.

As Li Fan browsed through it roughly, he could see one or two contradictions.

"The Cultivation Technique is not bad, but unfortunately, it is incomplete. If it were completed, it might be barely useful. As it is now, it can only serve as a reference."

"Also, it is a pity that Zhong Shentong's Seven-Colored Divine Light does not seem to be related to this Mystic Life-and-Death Art."

Li Fan shook his head slightly.

Putting away the Jade Slip, Li Fan pondered for a moment and attempted to circulate the "Life-and-Death Sensing Chapter."

This chapter was a prerequisite method that one must Cultivate to enter the Mystic Life-and-Death Art; even a Mortal could practice it.

Li Fan naturally had no issues with it.

Each word and phrase flowed quietly through Li Fan's heart.

Three days and three nights later.

Li Fan, who was cultivating with his eyes closed, suddenly felt a turbulence in his mind.

Countless images suddenly appeared before his eyes.

He seemed to have vaguely returned to Great Xuan, the high spirits when he passed the three top examinations in succession, his wanton behavior in the Empress Dowager's palace, the arrogance of ruling the world…

And later, how he had overcome dangers, broken through the Immortal Severing Grand Formation, and finally arrived in the Cultivation World.

Step by step, from a Mortal, to Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, and Core Formation.

In his past life, every event that had excited him surged into his heart, one after another.

Making it as if Li Fan were experiencing it all again in person.

In such a short time, many great joyous events were superimposed.

Even with Li Fan's mental fortitude, he couldn't help but become somewhat lightheaded and joyful.

Just as this joyful atmosphere reached its peak…

All the scenes, like bubbles, burst one after another.

Replacing them were the near-death moments Li Fan had encountered time and again.

"Father, Father…"

"Husband!"

Vague, heartbreaking wails reached his ears; that was during his first life, before he had achieved Awakening of Huan Zhen, when he was about to die of illness.

"It is merely seeking a glimmer of survival!" Kou Hong's frantic laughter, accompanied by a huge roar and flames filling the sky, appeared before Li Fan's eyes.

That was his second life, when Dao Xuanzi and Kou Hong fought, Xuan Capital was destroyed in an instant, and Li Fan narrowly escaped death.

The World-splitting Whale of the Immortal Severing Grand Formation, the rapid aging from turning into the vast sea, the pursuit by the Protector Elder…

Scene after scene of deadly crises seemed to descend upon Li Fan at the same moment.

Until the space within the tianxuan mirror was torn apart, and a kind-looking old man's face was vaguely visible ahead.

The fear in his heart could no longer be suppressed.

Li Fan broke free from his cultivation.

"Huan…"

The remaining half of the word 'Zhen' had not yet been called out in his heart.

All kinds of fearful imagery disappeared in an instant.

Li Fan managed to force himself to stop.

His whole body was soaked in cold sweat, and his breathing was as rapid as if he had just escaped death.

Li Fan's gaze flickered as he recalled the experience just now.

"The cultivation failed."

"This Life-and-Death Sensing Chapter, which stirs up the heart's fear of death, is absolutely not just like a simple illusion."

"Rather, it is somewhat similar to that intent horse, extremely illusory yet close to the truth."

"If the heart believes it to be true, then it is true."

"It is indeed extremely dangerous. If one were to sink deep into it and find it difficult to distinguish between true and false, I fear there is a real possibility of being scared to death by oneself."

"No wonder that Zhong Shentong is crazy…"

"Only in this way can one truly feel the fear of death."

Thinking of this, Li Fan sighed slightly.

"Unfortunately, this method is useless to me."

"Ordinary people naturally feel panic and despair when facing the threat of death."

"But I am different."

"No matter the situation, I have a straw to clutch for survival."

"That is my 【Huan Zhen】."

"When the Life-and-Death Sensing is circulated to the extreme, facing a substantial threat of death, I will instinctively call out 【Huan Zhen】 to restart everything…"

"Wait…"

In an instant, Li Fan thought of something, and his expression changed slightly.

"Survival instinct…"

"Profound Yellow Heart Refining Mantra…"

Standing up abruptly, Li Fan's thoughts raced.

Pacing back and forth, he considered the feasibility.

"Reverse-cultivating the Dao Heart requires me to resist the instincts in my heart."

"And for me, the greatest instinct is to call out 【Huan Zhen】 when I am about to die."

"If I use this to reverse-Cultivate the Dao Heart, the gains must be incredible."

"But it is impossible to truly give up the plan of using Huan Zhen at the moment of life and death."

"Using the Life-and-Death Sensing Chapter, this problem will not exist."

Li Fan's eyes flashed, and after a moment, he stabilized his mind.

He restarted the sensing method.

When this time, the beauty of life was completely shattered and the threat of death descended again.

Li Fan still couldn't shake off this habit that seemed to be carved into the depths of his Soul, and he still called out 【Huan Zhen】.

The second attempt failed.

Li Fan was persistent; the third time, the fourth time…

Until after the fifty-sixth time.

Facing the Heavenly Doctor's face, Li Fan circulated the Profound Yellow Heart Refining Mantra.

At the same time, with immense willpower, he temporarily suppressed the instinctive urge to call out 【Huan Zhen】.

But the threat of death did not disappear with Li Fan's restraint.

Instead, it became increasingly real.

The Heavenly Doctor's features gradually became clear before his eyes, and Li Fan's spiritual sense was constantly and frantically sounding warnings.

In the end, Li Fan broke free from the Life-and-Death Sensing cultivation, drenched in sweat.

"Perhaps, this Sensing Chapter can only truly face death without harming oneself after cultivating to the stage of 'Abandoning Life and Forgetting Death'."

Li Fan knew very well that if he had forced himself just now, even if he didn't fall on the spot, the outcome would definitely not be any better.

"This Cultivation Technique is really quite wicked."

"However, in that short moment just now, the gains were also huge."

In the great heart-refining millstone, a slightly larger amount of cool Qi than what he had gained from the events of crossing the White Mist and risking his life to seek help poured down upon his head.