Fulfilling Tianyang’s wish

After swallowing the medicine, Li Fan felt a little more energetic.

Using the medicinal effect as a fulcrum, he stimulated a trace of hidden power within his Body.

“Pfft!”

He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, startling his Master, Guangyang Zi.

The Creation Furnace Skill had already begun to circulate.

Guangyang Zi hurried off to prepare more medicinal Materials for Li Fan.

Li Fan, taking advantage of this opportunity, carefully examined his own Physical Body’s condition.

Recalling the relevant case records in the Heavenly Physician Immortal Scripture, he pondered countermeasures.

His Physical Body was too weak, and after only a moment, he felt a dizzy spell.

Thus, he could only empty his mind and quietly recuperate.

After accumulating a little more strength, he continued to ponder.

This was repeated over and over.

Three days later, Li Fan, synthesizing the Heavenly Physician Immortal Scripture, improved the prescription he had used during the second “Mimicry” process.

After much persuasion, he finally managed to convince Guangyang Zi to change the medicine.

The new prescription was remarkably effective.

Coupled with the Creation Furnace Skill continuously improving his Physique.

Within two months, Li Fan was already able to walk with some difficulty.

“Junior Brother, you’re truly amazing! I didn’t expect the prescription to actually work! How did you know?” Second Senior Brother Ling Xiao asked, supporting Li Fan.

“It just appeared in my mind!” Li Fan said with wide, innocent eyes.

“Junior Brother is extraordinary! Perhaps he is the hope for the revival of our Body Transformation Dao!” Third Brother Lian Chang, standing by, couldn’t help but exclaim.

Li Fan just giggled foolishly.

“The first step is considered a success.”

“The key now is to become stronger than Senior Brother Si Xing within six years, before the Immortal Recruitment Order arrives.”

“To replace him in going to war, and to avoid personally witnessing the tragic scene of everyone in Body Transformation Dao perishing one after another.”

“This is where Immortal Master Tian Yang’s obsession lies.”

Li Fan mused to himself.

“Senior Brother Si Xing is a Golden Core cultivator. To surpass him within six years by cultivating step by step is nothing short of a pipe dream.”

“I must find another way.”

Li Fan’s eyes flickered.

On this day, he privately sought out his Master, Guangyang Zi.

“Body Transformation Self?” Guangyang Zi’s expression changed drastically when faced with his young disciple’s question.

“Where did you hear that? Was it that little rascal Ling Xiao spreading rumors again?” Guangyang Zi fumed, his beard bristling, and cursed loudly.

“Master, I thought of it myself,” Li Fan said earnestly.

“The Body Transformation Other Freedom Cultivation Technique that our Body Transformation Dao Cultivates, its mysterious aspect lies in its ability to borrow from external objects.”

“But I suddenly thought, what exactly is an external object?”

“Senior Brother’s sword, Second Senior Brother’s brush, Third Brother’s bell—these are all external objects.”

“Then, can my frail Physical Body also be considered an external object?”

“Through the continuous tempering of the Cultivation Technique, the Senior Brothers’ Incarnations are also becoming stronger and stronger. If I can treat my own Physical Body as an Incarnation, wouldn’t that mean I can change my own Physique?”

“I would no longer be as weak as I am now.”

Li Fan spoke slowly and deliberately.

Guangyang Zi’s expression also kept changing.

After a long while, he sighed.

“Tian Yang, you are truly a prodigy! To have such insight at such a young age, it’s truly…”

Guangyang Zi stroked Tian Yang’s head, somewhat comforted: “With such a disciple, my Body Transformation Dao shall flourish!”

“Indeed, cultivating the Body Transformation Other Freedom Cultivation Technique can indeed achieve Body Transformation Self.”

Guangyang Zi suddenly became serious, looking at Li Fan, and said gravely: “However, my disciple, you must never attempt it.”

Li Fan looked up at his Master, his small face full of confusion: “Why, Master?”

Guangyang Zi’s expression was somewhat dazed, he paused for a moment, then began to explain to Li Fan: “Body Transformation Other Freedom, the most important thing is the unity of object and self.”

“Body Transformation Self, in theory, is indeed feasible. It is also the most perfect choice within the Cultivation Technique.”

“But…”

Guangyang Zi sighed.

“Too difficult! Too difficult!”

“Compared to ordinary objects, how complex is the human body?”

“Objects can be continuously tried to achieve harmony with oneself. If there are errors in the Cultivation process, only the Incarnation is damaged.”

“But Body Transformation Self requires constantly using one’s own Physical Body as an experimental ground.”

“Even a slight mistake will result in severe injury.”

“The loss to the Physical Body is secondary. The most terrifying thing is the damage to the Divine Soul.”

A hint of sadness flashed in Guangyang Zi’s eyes: “Once, I had an incredibly talented Senior Brother. His talent was the highest I have ever seen in my life, unmatched by anyone.”

“At that time, he was recognized within the sect as ‘the foremost person in Body Transformation Dao in a thousand years,’ and Master placed great hopes on him.”

“However, he was arrogant and believed he could succeed in cultivating Body Transformation Self.”

“He cultivated forcefully, disregarding everyone’s dissuasion.”

“The result…”

Guangyang Zi paused.

“At first, he was just a bit deranged, and everyone still wanted to heal him.”

“But later, his madness grew worse. He completely lost the ability to distinguish between reality and illusion.”

“One night, he went on a killing spree.”

“The dead were countless.”

“From then on, our Body Transformation Dao never recovered…”

At this point, Guangyang Zi shook his head slightly.

“So, my good disciple, remember. You absolutely must not try it!” Guangyang Zi warned very seriously.

Li Fan nodded heavily: “Mm! I understand, Master!”

After bidding farewell to Guangyang Zi, Li Fan returned to his room.

After much thought, Li Fan abandoned the idea of forcefully cultivating Body Transformation Self.

Just like “Foundation Establishment with Myself,” this Body Transformation Self was indeed not something ordinary people could achieve.

Judging from Immortal Master Tian Yang’s later situation, he also did not choose this path.

“Puppet…”

Recalling the Soul Transformation Puppet from years later, Li Fan gradually formed an idea in his mind.

The next day, Li Fan found his Senior Brothers and told them he wanted a Puppet.

“Don’t worry, Junior Brother. Leave it to me! Recently, my thoughts have been flowing like a spring, and my pen has been blooming, I’ve written several books in a row. They can be called the Peak of my career!” Second Senior Brother Ling Xiao patted his chest and assured him. “I’ll take them to the market and sell them, and pick out the coolest Puppet for you!”

…

A few days later, Li Fan got his wish and obtained a mechanical Puppet.

Ling Xiao looked smug: “Junior Brother, this Puppet is said to have Golden Core strength. I spent a lot of effort to buy it from someone!”

“Senior Brother, you’re amazing! Thank you, Senior Brother!” After praising him, Li Fan picked up the Puppet and ran off, disappearing from sight.

“Junior Brother’s Physical Body is recovering better and better!” Ling Xiao exclaimed.

In the secret room.

Li Fan placed the Puppet in front of him and cut a wound on his hand.

He let fresh blood drip onto it.

At the same time, he activated the Body Transformation Other Freedom Cultivation Technique, refining it while sensing the subtle changes happening on the Puppet.

Li Fan had given up on the idea of Body Transformation Self.

But he hadn’t completely abandoned it.

His plan could actually be seen as a form of Body Transformation Self under special circumstances.

Even more extreme.

That was to discard his own Physical Body and completely transform himself into a Puppet.

Just like the true Immortal Master Tian Yang did in history.

However, later Tian Yang chose to absorb ground fire to temper and enhance the Puppet.

But Li Fan’s answer was to become a Puppet, and then perform Body Transformation Self.

Undoubtedly, this was a self-destructive approach.

The gap between a Golden Core Puppet and the upper limit of the human body was immeasurable.

But for Li Fan, who urgently wanted to improve his combat strength, it was the best choice.

Cultivating Body Transformation Self with a Puppet’s body drastically reduced the difficulty.

Firstly, the precision of a Puppet is far below that of a human body, making it easier to achieve the unity of object and self.

Secondly, there was no need to worry about personal injury.

Repairing a Puppet was much easier as long as the Materials were sufficient.

And once the Puppet completed its Body Transformation Self Cultivation, the combat strength it could unleash in a state of object-self unity would be several times stronger than simply using a Puppet as an Incarnation.

“The first thing to do is to abandon the Physical Body and integrate into the Puppet.”

This method within Body Transformation Other Freedom went exceptionally smoothly for Li Fan.

“It should be because Tian Yang’s Physical Body was a premature birth, and his Divine Soul and Physical Body were not very coordinated to begin with,” Li Fan mused thoughtfully.

Thus, without the knowledge of the others in Body Transformation Dao, Li Fan began his own Cultivation plan.

This plan was so bizarre that even Guangyang Zi did not notice the changes happening to his young disciple.

He only felt that he really liked the Puppet Ling Xiao had bought for him, almost to the point where he never let it out of his sight.

Just like that, time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, six years passed.

The Immortal Recruitment Bell rang, and the Immortal Recruitment Order arrived.

The three Senior Brothers of Body Transformation Dao started arguing about who should go to enlist.

Just then, Li Fan, along with his Puppet, suddenly appeared before them.

"Senior Brother Si Xing, Senior Brother Ling Xiao, Senior Brother Lian Chang."

"I think it's better if I go."

Ling Xiao and the other two looked at the serious-faced Li Fan, utterly astonished.

"Junior Brother, what are you saying? This is not a game…" Ling Xiao trailed off, suddenly freezing.

Because that last sentence had actually come from the mouth of the Puppet following behind Li Fan.

"Bang! Bang!"

The Puppet stepped forward, coming before the three.

"Going to war this time is a near-certain death. If someone has to go, it should naturally be the strongest among us!"

"Senior Brothers, what do you think?"

Li Fan looked at Si Xing and the other two, asking softly.

"Tian Yang! You! This is absurd!" Guangyang Zi instantly saw the changes happening to Li Fan's body first.

His face turned pale, and he wanted to step forward, but then he seemed to think of something and stopped.

Only his slightly trembling hands indicated the extreme turmoil in his heart.

"You, you anticipated this day long ago?"

Guangyang Zi stammered, asking.

Li Fan smiled without answering.

Looking at his Senior Brothers: "Please enlighten me, Senior Brothers!"

The three Senior Brothers gradually came back to their senses.

Looking at their Junior Brother's body, which had already transformed into a Puppet, their eyes were filled with regret and sadness.

For a moment, they stood rooted to the spot, unsure what to say.

It was the First Senior Brother who made the first Move.

He summoned his own longsword, thin as a cicada's wing and emerald green, pointing it at Li Fan.

"Junior Brother, actually, this kind of thing, just leave it to me."

"How can a Senior Brother send his Junior Brother to die?!"

Li Fan's figure flickered, swinging his fists, and came beside the First Senior Brother.

"Senior Brother, don't underestimate me!"

Feeling the immense force coming at him, Si Xing's expression changed slightly.

The longsword danced, trying to block Li Fan.

But the normally indestructible blade, when it struck Li Fan's body, failed to leave even a tiny mark.

This Puppet's body was not only extremely hard.

Its speed was also several times faster than that of an ordinary Golden Core cultivator.

Between its broad and sweeping Moves, various strange-shaped mechanisms would also shoot out from different parts of its body.

For a moment, Si Xing could only dodge awkwardly.

"Junior Brother Tian Yang, it seems you truly put a lot of effort into this. However, if that's the case, I can even less allow you to go in my place!"

"Be careful!"

Si Xing's eyebrows rose, his figure transforming into a stream of light, merging with the green sword.

"Zheng!"

The longsword trembled slightly, emitting a crisp sound.

Then, the sword body, like flowing water, extended forwards and backwards.

"Sword Water Heavenly Heart!"

The First Senior Brother's soft cry echoed from within the sword body.

The water-like sword light arrived in an instant.

Upon striking Li Fan's Puppet body, it didn't dissipate as it had before.

Instead, it bounced back like light.

It flowed in the air for a moment, then instantly changed direction, attacking Li Fan again from the other side.

It was still repelled by Li Fan's hard body.

It traced an arc, arriving in an instant.

The flowing water sword light became faster and faster, looking as if a giant water-shaped net was slowly enveloping the clumsy Puppet in its center.

At this moment, being only a Puppet body, most Divine Abilities could not be used.

Under Si Xing's continuous offensive, Li Fan gradually fell into a disadvantageous position.

"Ancient Cultivators are indeed not to be underestimated."

Li Fan thought this, his expression solemn.

The Puppet let out a mighty roar, its body emitting a dark red light.

It transformed amidst vibrations, and in an instant, the humanoid body disappeared.

In its place was a giant palm.

Flexibly bypassing the sword light blockade formed by Sword Water Heavenly Heart, the giant palm came above the water net.

It then expanded further.

The shadow covered all the water swords, then pressed down.

He had used his self-comprehended Divine Ability, the Heaven-Turning Palm.

When used through the Puppet's massive body, it truly had a suppressing Aura.

"What a Divine Ability!"

The Great Master Si Xing exclaimed excitedly.

"I also have a Move; please enlighten me, Junior Brother!"

"Heaven's will is like water, supreme and formless!"

"Sword Name: Heavenly Form!"

The water sword flowing under the Heaven-Turning Palm instantly disappeared.

Li Fan, however, felt a strange sense of crisis.

"Whoosh!"

An invisible sword light flashed.

Before the giant palm could even press down, a thin mark appeared on its back.

Li Fan stared at this space.

But he couldn't find any trace of Si Xing.

Another sword mark appeared.

Li Fan mobilized his Spiritual Qi, trying to heal his injuries.

But he found that the sword marks seemed to be attached with invisible Sword Qi, inhibiting the wound's recovery.

The sword marks appeared faster and faster.

In an instant, Li Fan's body became covered in wounds.

"Junior Brother, surrender!"

Si Xing's voice came from all directions.

Yet, he himself remained completely invisible.

"Senior Brother also has a good Divine Ability!"

Li Fan praised him sincerely.

"However…"

Li Fan suddenly raised his voice.

"I still have one Move; if Senior Brother can block it, I'll surrender immediately!"

"Good! I'll be waiting!" Si Xing responded.

Li Fan reined in his Aura.

After a moment, he said to Second Senior Brother Ling Xiao: "Senior Brother Ling Xiao, please lend me a brush!"

"Ah?" Ling Xiao was startled at first.

"Oh, okay!" Then an ink brush flew over and was grasped by Li Fan.

Pouring Spiritual Qi into it, Li Fan wrote in the air with a single stroke.

That was…

The character "Chaos" (乱).

The moment the character 'Chaos' descended, terrifying cracks suddenly appeared on Li Fan's body.

He could no longer maintain the giant hand form, reverting to a humanoid Puppet, and fell to the ground.

"This kind of consumption…"

Li Fan felt a bit horrified.

His hard body, made of special stone Materials, was disintegrating.

Even more, many places directly exploded.

This was a Divine Ability Li Fan had comprehended from the 'Chaos Stone' in the Mystic Domain. Its power was far beyond Li Fan's expectations.

The caster himself suffered such terrible side effects.

Not to mention First Senior Brother Si Xing, who directly faced the character 'Chaos'.

His Heavenly Form state receded, and he appeared in a disheveled state.

But in front of the 'Chaos' character, he couldn't Move.

His entire body's Spiritual Qi was running wild, uncontrollable.

The green sword, his Incarnation, was darting around like a headless fly.

"Puff!"

Si Xing's arm snapped in an unnatural direction, and a hint of horror flashed in his eyes.

Because he realized that this change was about to play out across his entire body.

"Enough!"

Just at this critical moment, Guangyang Zi finally made his Move.

His Incarnation was a willow tree.

The green willow blocked in front of Si Xing, and its branches immediately danced wildly.

After a long while, everything slowly calmed down.

The willow tree disappeared, and Guangyang Zi's hand, clasped behind his back, trembled slightly.

Si Xing looked with complex eyes at Li Fan, who was slumped on the ground, also severely injured.

"You won, Junior Brother," he said softly.

Li Fan slightly relaxed.

"Tian Yang, your just now…" Guangyang Zi looked at his youngest disciple, hesitating to speak.

A moment later, he sighed deeply, giving up on questioning him further.

"Forget it. I can tell you have a great secret."

"However, your willingness to join our humble Body Transformation Dao is also a blessing for our declining small sect."

Guangyang Zi, feeling dispirited, waved his hand and left.

Si Xing was at a loss for words for a while.

Only Second Senior Brother Ling Xiao was shouting and yelling, quickly treating Li Fan's injuries.

…

A Puppet's body, as long as there are enough Materials, is easy to repair even from the most severe injuries.

Ling Xiao made another trip to the market, and soon after his return, Li Fan was fully recovered.

Under the watchful eyes of Master Guangyang Zi and his three Senior Brothers, Li Fan, along with the Immortal Enlistment Envoy who had come to urge him, left Body Transformation Dao together.

He stepped onto the battlefield.

The surrounding scenery suddenly froze.

Then, like shattering glass, it exploded.

Turning into specks of flowing light, they all surged into Li Fan's mind.

Thousands of years ago, the memories belonging to Immortal Master Tian Yang, emerged with unparalleled clarity.

Including the Cultivation Technique of Body Transformation Other Freedom, the method for refining Puppets, and even the 'Earth Fire Ascension Array' for refining and upgrading Puppet Ranks with earth fire, all these were firmly imprinted in his mind as if he had experienced them personally.

But Li Fan currently had no time to examine these.

Because his entire mind was drawn by the prompt from Huan Zhen.

"Though dead, still exists; True Spirit is immortal."

"Transforming the body into an object, traversing through eternity."

"Unlocked the Incarnation function."