As Li Fan was sighing quietly to himself, his chuckle earlier had unexpectedly drawn Kou Hong's displeasure.
He flew closer, glaring at Li Fan, and asked in an unfriendly tone, "Fellow Daoist, what are you laughing about?"
Feng Mu's face shifted. This Foundation Establishment cultivator looked like someone best not crossed.
He seemed ready to come to blows over the slightest disagreement.
Li Fan, however, showed no fear. Letting out a long sigh, he said, "Fellow Daoist, you do not understand. I have always prided myself on having seen much of the world, yet I never imagined that in today's cultivation world, there could still be cultivators of such noble integrity and high moral standing as yourself, wholly unswayed by cultivation techniques.
"I truly feel ashamed of my own insignificance and inadequacy beside you!
"Might I ask your esteemed name?"
Li Fan asked, feigning ignorance.
Hearing this, Kou Hong's expression softened slightly, and he declared proudly, "My name is Kou Hong."
Then, pointing at Dao Xuanzi beside him, he added, "This is my brother, Dao Xuanzi."
Dao Xuanzi did not come over; instead, he watched Li Fan and Feng Mu from a distance and gave a slight nod.
Li Fan's expression turned solemn as he said, "To think I would stand face-to-face with the esteemed Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi! I have long admired your great names!"
Seeing Li Fan's reaction, Kou Hong was somewhat dazed. Then, staring suspiciously at Li Fan, he said with disbelief, "You've heard of our brotherly pair?"
Dao Xuanzi was also taken aback and began scrutinizing Li Fan closely.
Unfortunately, Li Fan had concealed his cultivation with a Form-Concealing Talisman, making it impossible to see through his background.
"Naturally. Kou Hong's Daoist arts have reached the pinnacle of perfection, and he is a master of artifact crafting; while Dao Xuanzi's sword arts are divine, his Rusty Sword Dao Xuan peerless in might. How could I not have heard of you?" Li Fan said solemnly.
Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi both flushed slightly.
Dao Xuanzi hurried closer and said, "Keep your voice down, Fellow Daoist. Two Soul Formation Immortal Lords are locked in a fierce battle above us; we hardly deserve such praise."
Kou Hong, however, quickly regained his composure and said in delight, "To think that the names of us two brothers have actually spread all the way to Yuandao Province!
"May I know how to address you, Fellow Daoist?"
"I am Li Fan."
...
The two immediately fell into conversation.
The more they spoke, the more Kou Hong felt an instant rapport with him.
The topics and temperament suited Kou Hong's taste to perfection.
It was as though they were born to be sworn brothers, with an endless stream of shared interests.
Furthermore, Li Fan's claim of having seen much of the world was no empty boast.
He tossed out all kinds of cultivation world secrets with ease—many of which were classified matters that Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi had never even heard of.
Formations, artifact crafting, talisman crafting, alchemy—he dabbled in them all.
His attainments in the Dao of formations in particular were extraordinary.
Kou Hong was fond of artifact crafting and also dabbled slightly in formations.
Yet compared to Li Fan, the difference was like an apprentice before a grandmaster—worlds apart.
With just a few concise remarks, Li Fan would impart an epiphany that completely dispelled the doubts Kou Hong had accumulated while self-studying formations.
This opened Kou Hong's eyes and left a deep impression on him.
Moreover, unlike conversing with Dao Xuanzi, Li Fan would weave in casual flattery every now and then during their talk.
This made Kou Hong float on air, filled with uncontrollable pride.
Thus, he found Li Fan more and more pleasing to the eye, and a feeling of regretting not having met sooner welled up naturally.
Dao Xuanzi listened from the side without interrupting, only nodding occasionally in deep agreement.
Watching this unfold, Feng Mu had a strange expression, though it flickered and vanished in an instant, concealed well enough that neither Dao Xuanzi nor Kou Hong noticed.
Just like that, they chatted while watching the duel.
The battle between the Soul Formation cultivators raged for two more days, and the group continued conversing without pause for those two days as well.
Two days later, the clash of the Soul Formation cultivators overhead finally came to a temporary halt.
Yet the outcome remained undecided.
Dugu Xi and Dugu Shi agreed to duel again in one year.
Afterward, they each transformed into a streak of light and flew away from Tiandu Martial Arena one after the other.
With the grand battle concluding, the crowd of spectating cultivators gradually dispersed.
"I intend to return to Yuandao City. Would you two Daoist brothers care to join me?" Li Fan asked warmly at this moment.
Kou Hong, still longing for more conversation, was about to agree.
Catching a meaningful look from Dao Xuanzi, however, he said with obvious regret, "We have some matters to attend to for now, so we won't be heading back just yet.
"When we have the chance next time, we'll talk our fill!"
"Very well, I will definitely keep you company!" Li Fan agreed readily.
After exchanging communication talismans, Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi watched Li Fan's departing figure and could not help sighing, "To think that in this Yuandao Province, we could meet such a kindred spirit."
"Had we met a century or two earlier, the three of us would surely have become sworn brothers," Dao Xuanzi echoed.
"It's a pity that there are only two Blue Feather Legacy Treasures in that place. Otherwise, inviting him along wouldn't have been out of the question."
...
"Blue Feather Legacy Treasures again? I thought it might be the cave abode where they found the *Golden Chapter of Thousand Mechanisms and the Jade Cosmos*...
"Then again, it makes sense. It's still far too early for them to discover that technique."
Moving into the distance, Li Fan felt a touch of regret as he sensed the images transmitted by Heavenly Sight and Earthly Hearing.
Cozying up to Kou Hong was naturally Li Fan planning ahead and preparing for the future.
Li Fan had not forgotten that the core cultivation technique he currently practiced would be found by these two in roughly twenty years.
In such a short time, Li Fan most likely would not reach the late Foundation Establishment stage.
And he and Kou Hong had conversed with such delight, practically ready to swear brotherhood on the spot.
Therefore, to prevent the tragedy of brothers slaughtering each other,
Li Fan would simply have to find an opportunity before then to orchestrate their deaths.
On the way back, Feng Mu looked at Li Fan several times, hesitating as if wanting to speak. In the end, he said nothing. Once the two arrived at Yuandao City, they bade each other farewell and parted ways.
Li Fan headed straight for the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
His visit to Yuandao City this time was to purchase some defensive formations.
With his current attainments in the Dao of formations, bluffing Kou Hong with words was fine, but if he were truly to set up a grand formation capable of repelling outside foes, he still lacked the ability.
At present, Li Fan had 14,600 contribution points remaining.
For the absolute security of his Foundation Establishment breakthrough, combined with the future necessity of guarding his cave abode and protecting his artifacts with Dao charm, Li Fan decided to spare no expense and buy a formation capable of withstanding the attack of a Golden Core Master.
He immediately began browsing within the Heavenly Mystery Realm.
Before long, Li Fan's eyes lit up as he read the description of one of the items.
"Ten Thousand Immortals Formation Flags.
"A set of three hundred and sixty-five formation flags. Capable of forming a miniature Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, covering an area of up to thirty li in radius. Cannot be breached even by a cultivator at the peak of the Golden Core stage.
"When the formation flags are fully deployed, the covered area is regarded as an asylum protected by the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals.
"Anyone who attacks without cause will be hunted down by the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals' Martial Practice Hall.
"Note: Not recommended for use outside Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals territory.
"Recommended to purchase together with a Lesser Heavenly Profound Mirror for a 10% discount.
"Lesser Heavenly Profound Mirror.
"A mirror avatar of the Heavenly Profound Mirror, available in multiple editions.
"The most basic edition only provides searching and purchasing of information and items within the Heavenly Profound Mirror, as well as posting and accepting tasks.
"The upgraded edition includes access to the Heavenly Profound Mirror space, allowing for cultivation and Spirit Enlightenment.
"The supreme edition additionally features enemy-defense capabilities, able to defend against and reflect all attacks from Nascent Soul cultivators."
Chapter 146