Chapter 97: The Killing Plan

“Sitting Mountain Skill to enjoy the fruits of others’ labor. I never thought such a Cultivation Technique existed in this world.”

“Unfortunately, he only mentioned it in passing and didn’t leave the Cultivation Technique behind.”

“I wonder if Fellow Daoist He’s remains can still be recovered…”

The Sitting Mountain Skill was truly too suitable for Li Fan, as it could fully leverage Huan Zhen’s foresight advantage.

It was fine not knowing about the Sitting Mountain Skill before, but now that he was aware of its profoundness,

then he was determined to cultivate this Cultivation Technique, and no one could stop him!

He Zhenghao was already dead and seemingly failed to pass down the Cultivation Technique.

But it didn’t matter; Li Fan had the Day Stealing Sun Replacement Art, which allowed him to seize He Zhenghao’s memories by refining a Clone.

Perhaps he could re-manifest the Sitting Mountain Skill.

If he was truly unlucky and didn’t succeed, Li Fan could continue to scheme in his next life.

Thinking of this, Li Fan couldn't help but become interested in the ancient Immortal Cave where He Zhenghao met his demise.

He Zhenghao and his group of five Foundation Establishment cultivators all perished, with only one Golden Core Stage Cultivator miraculously surviving.

Such shocking news still caused quite a stir on Wanxian Island.

For a time, rumors flew everywhere.

After some inquiries, Li Fan gradually understood the whole story.

This Immortal Cave was located inside an underwater volcano.

Previously, due to the volcano’s dormancy, the Immortal Cave had never been discovered. It wasn't until the volcano suddenly erupted recently that a passing Cultivator noticed the hidden Immortal Cave within.

Thus, He Zhenghao and others teamed up to explore it.

One Golden Core, five Foundation Establishment.

This lineup could not be considered weak.

After all, according to the information they had obtained, this was merely the Immortal Cave of a Golden Core cultivator named Immortal Master Tian Yang from ancient times.

Logically speaking, when exploring a Golden Core cultivator’s Immortal Cave, even if He Zhenghao and his group couldn’t return with a full load, it shouldn’t have been difficult for them to retreat safely if they encountered danger.

However, it was only after they delved deep into the Immortal Cave and triggered a Restriction that they discovered that while Immortal Master Tian Yang indeed had Golden Core cultivation,

what he cultivated was the ancient art of puppetry, which existed in ancient times but had long been lost.

More than a dozen firestone Puppet were instantly activated, surrounding the group.

Only the Golden Core cultivator named Zheng Xiaoyun managed to escape, albeit severely wounded.

The other five Foundation Establishment cultivators all died tragically at the hands of the Puppet.

Because three of the five Foundation Establishment cultivators who died this time were Town Guardian of Congyun Sea islands,

the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance officially dispatched a Nascent Soul powerful figure to investigate Zheng Xiaoyun to see if there was a possibility of intentional entrapment.

The conclusion was that it was indeed just an accident.

The demise of the five Foundation Establishment cultivators not only failed to dampen everyone’s desire to explore the Immortal Cave but instead made their enthusiasm even higher.

Not to mention the priceless Puppet within the Immortal Cave, just the inheritance of the five Foundation Establishment cultivators was enough to make many people envious.

It was said that the second exploration team was already gathering.

This time, the leader was a Nascent Soul powerful figure, Gou Xuan True Lord.

This person was obsessed with various secret arts. Upon hearing that the lost art of puppetry had reappeared, he was itching to see it for himself.

Therefore, he decided to personally go and investigate.

“I wonder if this exploration will be successful? However, since those going this time are all Nascent Soul and Golden Core powerful figures, I won’t join in the fun.”

“There are so many treasures, surely they won’t compete with me for Fellow Daoist He’s remains, right?”

“Perhaps I can issue a bounty quest?”

“1000 contribution points? Perhaps that’s too much; 500 points should be about right…”

Li Fan also wasn’t worried about the Sitting Mountain Skill being leaked.

Cultivators in this Realm would not choose to carry Cultivation Technique Jade Slip with them.

Generally, after learning a Cultivation Technique, they would choose to destroy the Jade Slip. They would re-engrave it when needed.

The so-called “when needed” naturally referred to Cultivation Technique transactions.

Immortal arts cannot be cultivated simultaneously, so Cultivation Technique are the most valuable resource in the Cultivation World.

Like the Sitting Mountain Skill, a Cultivation Technique inadvertently found in an ancient Immortal Cave, if one does not cultivate it themselves, they can sell it to the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance or other organizations for a good price.

And Cultivation Technique like the Small衍Water Decisive, which were exchanged from the Heavenly Mystery Realm, if one changes to another Cultivation Technique after Breakthrough in Realm, they can also choose to sell them back to recoup some losses.

After selling the Cultivation Technique, the memories of the Cultivation Technique in one’s mind would naturally be erased.

“Cultivation Technique in the world can be roughly divided into two types.”

“One type is newly deduced after the Great Tribulation, with corresponding backups. Even if the Cultivator practicing it dies unexpectedly, the Cultivation Technique will not be lost. It will merely be recovered and resold. Just like the two Cultivation Technique in Qian Hong’s tomb.”

“The other type is Cultivation Technique that existed before the Great Tribulation, which, for various reasons, are not known to the world, and only the Cultivator practicing it is aware of them. If that Cultivator perishes without leaving a copy, then it generally means that this Cultivation Technique is completely lost. The Sitting Mountain Skill, Technique of Calming the Sea Divine Sword, etc., all fall into this category.”

“And I can use the Day Stealing Sun Replacement Art to revive lost Cultivation Technique from a Cultivator’s remains with a certain probability…”

“Or, is this the correct way to use the Day Stealing Sun Replacement Art?”

“Could it be that I’m going back to my old trade?”

Li Fan couldn’t help but fall into contemplation.

After a while, Li Fan shook his head.

“Let’s get Fellow Daoist He’s remains out first. Before that, I need to do some quests to earn some contribution points.”

Refining a Clone can only be done by the main body.

And since he had already decided that the Lin Fan Clone would not have any contact with the main body, it was better for the main body to personally issue this quest.

500 contribution points might take other Cultivators half a year to accumulate.

But for Li Fan, who possessed many secrets of the Congyun Sea in his mind, it was just a matter of one quest.

Three years had passed since the last time he submitted the blue blood coral quest, so completing one or two more quests at this time wouldn’t be too conspicuous.

So Li Fan began to browse the quest list.

Soon, he picked a bounty quest with a reward of 2000 points.

He accepted the quest and replied.

“In the underwater cave below Gonghai Island, in the southwest of Congyun Sea, you will find the type of sea beast you are looking for.”

“They have the equivalent of Late Qi Refining Stage cultivation, but they are in groups and difficult to deal with.”

“Note, this cave has two layers. You need to explore carefully to find the entrance to the second layer of the cave.”

“The sea beast group is in the second cave.”

… …

He still only provided information.

After more than half a day, the other party confirmed the authenticity of the information.

Quite generously, they gave Li Fan 1000 contribution points.

With the contribution points in hand, Li Fan immediately posted a bounty quest of 500 contribution points in the Heavenly Mystery Realm.

In the quest, he stated that he and He Zhenghao had been close friends for nearly forty years, their friendship unshakeable.

Unable to bear seeing his remains exposed, he issued a bounty to bring his remains back for proper burial.

He originally thought it would take some time for someone to accept the quest.

Unexpectedly, not long after, the quest was accepted.

This person was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, a member of the exploration team currently gathering.

The other party even sent a message, asking Li Fan if he wanted to go along.

“With a Nascent Soul powerful figure leading the team, we will surely return safely.”

The other party vowed.