Li Fan narrowed his eyes slightly, gazing into the distance, as if filled with endless nostalgia.

"Although my ancestor entered the Taiyan Sect back then, he did not care for Cultivating. Instead, he was obsessed with the art of deduction and calculation. Originally, that would have been fine, but who could have foreseen the great changes in the world, requiring all Mortals to migrate.

With my ancestor's cultivation at the Qi Refinement Stage Early Stage, no one would have forced him if he hadn't wanted to go. However, my ancestor's worldly ties were not yet severed. Seeing the members of his Family wandering in fear, he volunteered to take charge of the Mortal migration. Afterward, he remained here with the Family."

Li Fan spoke eloquently, filled with deep emotion.

Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi listened, realizing that what the other party said vaguely aligned with the various ancient legends they had heard before, and both nodded slowly.

Kou Hong asked curiously, "Did the Taiyan Sect still exist during the Great Migration era? I heard before that all ancient Sects perished during the previous Great Tribulation."

Li Fan was stunned for a moment, then shook his head, "That is merely hearsay. Although the Great Tribulation made it impossible to practice Immortal Arts together, the Cultivation Techniques within the Taiyan Sect were as vast as a sea of stars. How could it be difficult for each person to receive one? The Sect did suffer significant losses back then, but it was absolutely impossible for it to have perished."

Li Fan spoke boldly, and the phrase "Cultivation Techniques as vast as a sea of stars, with one for everyone" left Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi dazzled and mesmerized.

Immediately after, Li Fan suddenly asked, "Judging by your words, it seems the Taiyan Sect has not appeared in the outside world for a long time?"

Dao Xuanzi shook his head, "It is not just the Taiyan Sect. Including the Supreme Sect, Great Dao Sect, and the Heavenly Sword Sect, all these ancient Sects have now vanished without a trace."

Li Fan heard this and muttered to himself, "The path of immortality is difficult. It is truly as my ancestor said; the Sects have also chosen to live in seclusion to avoid disaster…"

Dao Xuanzi and Kou Hong exchanged glances and privately transmitted their voices, "I was already suspicious about the ancient Sects all perishing. Now that I think about it, it is indeed suspicious. The foundations of the ancient Sects were so profound; how could they have disappeared overnight?"

"It is no wonder they chose to live in seclusion. If news of these Sects still existing were to spread, no matter how strong they were, I fear people would come knocking on their doors every few days."

The two exchanged a few sentences in an instant, and then Dao Xuanzi cupped his hands, "May I ask, Fellow Daoist, what is the reason for stopping us?"

Li Fan sighed, "No Immortal Cultivator has set foot in this place for thousands of years. Seeing you both today, I knew you were the people my ancestor prophesied before his passing, the key to our clan's escape. Seeing that you were about to fight to the death over a Core Formation Technique, I hurriedly spoke up to dissuade you."

Dao Xuanzi said frankly, "You make me ashamed, Fellow Daoist. However, you may not know that Cultivation Techniques are hard to come by in the outside world. It is quite normal to turn against each other and fight over a scroll of technique."

Li Fan shook his head repeatedly, "Why go to such lengths!"

Dao Xuanzi asked tentatively, "Listening to your tone, Fellow Daoist, it seems…"

"That is correct. Before my ancestor passed away, he handed down a Cultivation Technique that points directly to the Golden Core Realm," Li Fan said proudly.

Dao Xuanzi took a deep breath, "May I ask, Fellow Daoist, what do you seek?"

Kou Hong was overjoyed, "That is great! If you, Dao Xuanzi, can obtain this Cultivation Technique, we two brothers will no longer need to fight."

"My ancestor's lifelong wish was to return to the Taiyan Sect in the Cultivation World. Before he passed, in addition to this Cultivation Technique, he also handed down a Magical Artifact called the Taiyan Boat. Although it is damaged, my ancestor used the art of Taiyan to predict that years later, two Immortal Cultivators would arrive here—one skilled in sword techniques, and one fond of Artifact Refining. They could help his descendants repair the Taiyan Boat and escape this desperate land," Li Fan sipped his wine and said slowly.

Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi both changed color.

"My brother Kou Hong is obsessed with the path of Artifact Refining, and my specialty is indeed sword techniques. Is this art of Taiyan truly so inconceivable?" Dao Xuanzi was shocked beyond words, and it took him a long while to come back to his senses.

"To have such unfathomable Divine Might with only the cultivation of the Qi Refinement Stage is truly unimaginable…" Kou Hong was also stunned into speechlessness.

Li Fan smiled, and after a moment, said again, "Words are not proof. Please, follow me to take a look at this Cultivation Technique."

Dao Xuanzi's face lit up with joy, and he stood up to follow. Seeing that Kou Hong also wanted to follow, he immediately became vigilant, "What is this? Brother, you have already obtained a Core Formation Technique, are you still not satisfied?"

Kou Hong heard this and said sheepishly, "Alright, I won't go."

Dao Xuanzi snorted coldly and caught up with Li Fan.

Seeing that Kou Hong had not followed as expected, Li Fan finally breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that his plan for this life had already succeeded halfway.

He led Dao Xuanzi to open the mechanism and arrived in the underground secret chamber of the Grand Preceptors Mansion.

Dao Xuanzi was about to walk into the secret chamber when he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine and stopped in his tracks.

He carefully scanned his surroundings with his Divine Sense and immediately exclaimed in shock, "Immortal-Mortal Miasma!"

It turned out that the mechanisms all around the secret chamber were hiding Immortal-Mortal Miasma. The aura was so thick that it made Dao Xuanzi tremble with fear.

Li Fan smiled, "One cannot be too careful. As Mortals, in order to protect our Family's greatest treasure, we have no choice but to act this way."

Dao Xuanzi smiled with difficulty, but he refused to take another step forward, instead retreating a little further.

Li Fan didn't say anything, but walked into the secret chamber and took out a Jade Slip from a box.

He did not walk out of the secret chamber, but held it in his hand so that Dao Xuanzi could see it.

This Jade Slip was exactly the "Thousand Machines Jade Universe Golden Chapter" he had obtained from Kou Hong in his previous life!

That's right, Li Fan was gambling.

According to Kou Hong's description in his previous life, he had snatched the Cultivation Technique and run away; clearly, Dao Xuanzi had never seen the true appearance of this technique.

He would use this as bait to get Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi to help him repair the Taiyan Boat!

As for if Li Fan guessed wrong…

A group of death soldiers in the Grand Preceptors Mansion were already in position. If he really couldn't defeat them…

He would just try a different method in the next life!

Li Fan was not at all panicked, because he noticed that Dao Xuanzi's attention had been completely captured by the golden Jade Slip in his hand.

"The 'Thousand Machines Jade Universe Golden Chapter', a Nascent Soul Cultivation Technique, it is actually a Nascent Soul Cultivation Technique…" Dao Xuanzi's breathing became heavy, and a hint of a dangerous look even flashed in his eyes.

However, seeing Li Fan's half-smiling expression, and the faint sense of crisis from the Immortal-Mortal Miasma in the secret chamber, Dao Xuanzi instantly sobered up.

"How is it? Is what this old man said true?" Li Fan asked with a smile. "Earlier, in front of your brother Kou Hong, I only said that what my ancestor passed down was a Core Formation Technique, just to fear he might harbor evil intentions again."

"You are meticulous, Fellow Daoist, I admire you." Dao Xuanzi looked as if he deeply agreed.

Afterward, he was somewhat excited, "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist, my brother Kou Hong is proficient in the art of Artifact Refining. I will definitely persuade him to do his utmost to help you repair the Taiyan Boat."

Li Fan laughed, "Then I will leave it to you. Once it is done, I will certainly present this Cultivation Technique to you with both hands."

With hope for longevity, Dao Xuanzi could not wait to drag Kou Hong to start working immediately.

Reluctantly watching Li Fan put away the Cultivation Technique and close the secret chamber, Dao Xuanzi impatiently found Kou Hong.