It is hard to change the marrow

In less than a day, the power of The Rhapsody of Intercourse between Heaven and Earth had become as if innate, deeply ingrained in his bones.

It was completely fused with his own cultivation power, indistinguishable from it.

It was like the Origin Cultivation Technique from which his cultivation originated; if he were to forcibly abolish it, falling several major Realms would be the least of his worries. It was highly likely to damage his Dao Foundation and forever sever his connection to the cultivation path.

"This…" Li Fan sat cross-legged, tried for a long time, and finally gave up dejectedly, his expression grim.

Zhao Shijie also frowned slightly, saying, "The Xuantian Sect's demonic art is indeed strange. It seems we currently cannot easily get rid of it."

"It is said that the Supreme Sect's Supreme Primordial Scripture can allow cultivators to change Cultivation Techniques at will. If we are fortunate enough to observe it, we might be able to abolish The Rhapsody of Intercourse between Heaven and Earth."

"Supreme Primordial Scripture?" Li Fan frowned slightly. Although he had never heard of this Cultivation Technique, for some reason, he had a faint sense of familiarity.

Zhao Shijie shook her head, abandoning this unrealistic fantasy as she spoke: "Unfortunately, like our Great Dao Sect's "Scripture of the Great Dao of Executing Heaven", it is a Sect-guarding absolute art and a secret not to be passed down."

"Within our own Sect, only the Sect Leader's direct lineage can cultivate it, let alone outsiders like us."

Seeing Zhao Shijie's helpless appearance, Li Fan embraced her, gently comforting her, "Since things have come to this, we can only take it one step at a time."

"The Xuantian Sect has been destroyed for a long time, and The Rhapsody of Intercourse between Heaven and Earth is merely a Dual Cultivation Cultivation Technique. I don't think the Sect elders will necessarily notice anything."

Although Zhao Shijie nodded in agreement, the worry in her eyes lingered.

The two rested in the relic's secret chamber for half a month, during which they thoroughly consolidated their Realm with the help of Dual Cultivation.

Only then did they set off to return to the Great Dao Sect.

Before leaving, Zhao Shijie's sword light crisscrossed, completely destroying the relic site.

Upon returning to the Sect, the shattering of Qin Shou's life lamp had already caused a huge stir.

Zhao Shijie and Li Fan secretly discussed for a while and felt that the matter could not be concealed.

They simply decided to meet their Master together and confessed that Qin Shou had secretly followed them all the way, harbored ill intentions, and was ultimately counter-killed by their combined efforts.

However, they concealed the details, not mentioning the Xuantian Sect.

They only said that they had a Breakthrough at a critical moment of life and death, which allowed them to successfully counter-kill him.

Zhang Wangshuang, however, seemed to have known all along and showed little surprise.

She punished the two with ten years of confinement, protectively imprisoning them in the back mountain.

Ten years passed in a flash.

The ups and downs of the Great Dao Sect had nothing to do with the two in the confinement room.

Initially, they still had some reservations about cultivating Dual Cultivation within the Sect.

But in the third year, they both encountered a Bottleneck. So, they bravely resumed cultivating The Rhapsody of Intercourse between Heaven and Earth together.

Perhaps it was due to the long-awaited relief, or perhaps because their cultivation had improved, the effect of this Dual Cultivation was even better than three years prior.

Zhao Shijie broke through to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage, and Li Fan's Realm also reached the Golden Core Middle Stage.

The speed of their cultivation left them secretly astonished.

The apprehension in their hearts inevitably surged.

They knew that occasional Breakthroughs could be explained by Opportunity. But if their progress continued to be so rapid, exceeding the scope of what their talents could explain, it would surely arouse suspicion.

If they were found to possess the Xuantian Sect's demonic arts, their end would undoubtedly be miserable. Having their cultivation abolished would probably be the least of their worries.

After a difficult discussion, the two decided not to engage in Dual Cultivation unless absolutely necessary.

The plan was beautiful, but…

Another five years passed, and that strange Bottleneck reappeared within their bodies.

No matter how they cultivated, they simply could not advance an inch.

The two persevered in their struggle for a year.

For an entire year, they did not rest for a moment, dedicating all their energy to cultivation.

They tried to break through the Bottleneck with human effort.

But it was futile.

The despair of their cultivation remaining stagnant tormented the two.

And Li Fan and Zhao Shijie were both individuals devoted to the Dao, unwilling to remain at their current Realm forever.

So, in the ninth year of their confinement, they could no longer resist and performed Dual Cultivation for the third time.

Like dry wood meeting a raging fire, the intoxicating pleasure was even greater than before.

As expected, after Dual Cultivation, the Bottleneck disappeared without a trace. The cultivation of the two also advanced further.

Although they did not break through on the spot, they were not far from it.

After the passion subsided, the calm duo felt afraid.

Firstly, because they were afraid that their cultivation of the Xuantian Sect's Cultivation Technique would be discovered.

Secondly, because The Rhapsody of Intercourse between Heaven and Earth was so bizarre, they worried that they might be controlled by it for the rest of their lives.

Both of them were proud individuals, unable to tolerate such a thing happening.

For the last period, they did not cultivate. Instead, they spent their days together, living a simple life like a Mortal couple.

At the same time, they researched a way to break free.

"Heaven creates all things, hence there is also the saying of Heavenly Father and Earthly Mother in the world. All living beings in the world, from the day of their birth, bear the [Imprint] left by Heaven and Earth."

"It is rumored that the Xuantian Sect, in usurping the authority of Heaven, also mastered the power to bestow and change this [Imprint] given by Heaven and Earth."

"Even unarmed Mortals, after being [Enfeoffed] by the Xuantian Sect, could be no different from us cultivators today."

"Furthermore, it is said that the Heavenly Kings of the Xuantian Sect also possessed the so-called [longevity fruit]. Whoever obtained it could attain longevity, living as long as Heaven and Earth."

Zhao Shijie recounted the secret knowledge she had heard from various sources to Li Fan.

"Attain longevity…" A strange look flashed in Li Fan's eyes.

"Senior Sister, do you mean that the Xuantian Sect's Cultivation Technique also possesses the ability of this [Imprint]?"

Zhao Shijie sighed softly: "It's just my guess. What remains of the Xuantian Sect in the world today is but fragments. But from the lines, one can vaguely know how terrifying the Xuantian Sect was back then. Its rules were strict, like heavenly decrees. It dominated the world, and no one dared to defy it."

"Although it is just a resurrected ghost, it is not easy for us to break free."

Li Fan grabbed his Senior Sister's hand, his eyes firm: "Don't worry, we can definitely do it."

Time flew by, and soon the ten-year confinement period was over.

The sealed door opened with a roar, and the two walked out of the confinement room with uneasy hearts.

Originally, they were a little worried that their rapid progress within ten years would arouse suspicion.

However, upon returning to the Sect, they were astonished to find that their current cultivation progress was completely insignificant.

Originally, it was in the second year of their confinement.

A so-called "New Law" quietly spread throughout the world.

Absorbing the Qi of Heaven and Earth, borrowing the wonders of Heaven and Earth, prying into the laws of Heaven and Earth…

Until it went against the principles of Heaven and Earth.

It was completely opposite to the current method of sensing the Heavenly Dao and cultivating in accordance with Heaven. It plundered Heaven and Earth, using any means necessary.

But the actual effect was far superior to the current cultivation methods.