"So this Li Fan spoke the truth, and he really does have an ancestral Core Formation technique?"
Inside the Grand Preceptor Manor, Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi plotted in secret via divine sense transmission.
"Indeed, I saw it with my own eyes," Dao Xuanzi nodded.
"Can we just seize it by force? He's nothing more than a mere mortal..." Kou Hong showed his ruthless colors.
Dao Xuanzi hurried to dissuade him. "Though this Li Fan is just a mortal, he is, after all, a descendant of the Taiyan Sect. You saw that terrifying art of prophecy yourself—it was truly intimidating. If we take it by force, who knows what tricks he might have up his sleeve?
"Besides, helping him repair the Taiyan Boat is hardly difficult. Why cause further complications?" Of course, what mattered most to Dao Xuanzi was the fear that if they cornered Li Fan, the man might blurt out that the manual was actually a Nascent Soul technique.
Persuaded by Dao Xuanzi's reasoning, Kou Hong abandoned the thought of seizing it by force.
After another round of dividing up their expected gains in secret, the two finally agreed to help repair the Taiyan Boat.
The next day, the two beheld the Taiyan Boat Li Fan had spoken of.
Delighted at the sight, Kou Hong eagerly took it into his hands to inspect it closely.
"Truly worthy of the Taiyan Sect! The ingenuity of its crafting methods and the profound mystery of its formations far surpass everything I have learned!" The more Kou Hong looked, the more thrilled he became. "If I can repair it, my dao of artifact crafting will surely make great strides!"
"Then I leave it in your hands. If you require anything, please do not hesitate to ask, and this old man will certainly provide it," Li Fan said solemnly.
"Off you go, and don't disturb me." Kou Hong waved a hand, already absorbed in studying the Taiyan Boat.
...
In cultivation, time passed unnoticed.
Though it seemed like a tiny wooden boat, it took Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi nearly an entire year to complete the repairs.
On this day, upon hearing that the Taiyan Boat was fully repaired, Li Fan hurried to meet the two.
Receiving the Taiyan Boat from Kou Hong's hands, he was beside himself with joy.
Kou Hong said with some pride, "The Taiyan Boat's core propulsion formation, size-shifting formation, dust-cleansing formation, and others have been fully restored. Only the defensive and offensive formations, limited by materials, could only be given rudimentary repairs. Breaking through the Immortal Severing Formation will not be an issue, but handling an attack from cultivators might be a bit much to ask."
Li Fan did not mind this at all. "No matter. So long as I can emerge from the Immortal Severing Formation and return to the cultivation world, I can rely on my ancestor's keepsake to find my way back to the Taiyan Sect."
A flicker crossed Kou Hong's eyes, and he warmly began explaining how to operate the Taiyan Boat.
"This Taiyan Boat is powered by spiritual energy and requires divine sense to steer. According to your needs, it can shift between three sizes.
"At its smallest, it is only ten meters long and two or three meters wide, capable of carrying about ten people. The next size up is one hundred meters long, carrying several hundred people. And when expanded to its largest, it is a full thousand meters in length, capable of carrying tens of thousands! The two of us don't have many spirit stones in reserve, but what I installed as fuel is enough for you to leave this place in the second form.
"However, piloting this Taiyan Boat requires divine sense equivalent to at least the Qi Condensation stage. I wonder if you require our assistance..."
Before Kou Hong could finish, he saw the Taiyan Boat gradually expand under Li Fan's control, transforming from a tiny toy into a genuine small vessel.
Li Fan could hardly wait to step inside.
In its ten-meter form, the Taiyan Boat's structure was very simple, consisting of only a single deck. The foredeck was nearly two meters long, followed in turn by the control cabin and living quarters.
Standing inside the control cabin, Li Fan linked his divine consciousness to the boat. A feeling of seamless mastery washed over him, as though the vessel were an extension of his own limbs.
Under his guidance, the Taiyan Boat rose steadily into the air and hovered in midair.
Li Fan then piloted the boat upward, downward, left, and right, swooping through the air before suppressing his excitement and returning to the ground.
"Fellow Daoist's methods truly are extraordinary—to be able to control the Taiyan Boat despite being a mortal!" Kou Hong praised.
"Merely a trifling parlor trick, not worth mentioning!" Li Fan smiled slightly. "I must thank you two fellow Daoists! Trapped here for a thousand years, to now have hope of escape is entirely thanks to your efforts!"
Li Fan spoke with complete sincerity.
Though Kou Hong was deeply curious as to how Li Fan could control the boat without divine sense, seeing that Li Fan evaded the topic, he could only let the matter rest.
Dao Xuanzi, however, was already growing impatient. "Now that the Taiyan Boat has been repaired, I wonder..."
Li Fan laughed heartily. "It has long been prepared. Fellow Daoist, simply come with me to fetch it."
Dao Xuanzi was invigorated by his words and hurried to follow.
The two had already reached an understanding beforehand, so Kou Hong did not accompany them, remaining where he was.
Moments later, Dao Xuanzi returned beaming with smiles; clearly, the technique was in his hands.
Li Fan, Dao Xuanzi, and Kou Hong were all well pleased with the transaction.
To express his gratitude, Li Fan hosted a lavish banquet in their honor.
Food and wine flowed without end, and music and dancing continued without pause for three full days.
Three days later, Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi took their leave of Li Fan.
"Fellow Daoist, we have few spirit stones left. Staying any longer in this land severed from immortality carries the risk of our cultivation declining. Thus, we have come today to bid you farewell," Dao Xuanzi said to Li Fan.
Li Fan showed a hint of regret. "My clan still has a number of affairs here left unfinished, so I cannot accompany the two of you!"
Kou Hong said warmly, "No matter. Once you make your way out, you may come find me in Lingtian City in the Congyun Mountain Range."
With that, Kou Hong handed Li Fan a map.
"As you requested, I drew this map of the area around the Immortal Severing Formation's exit from memory. There are no blank jade slips here, so I had to make do with paper and brush."
Li Fan took the map solemnly and thanked him repeatedly.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi finally turned into two streaks of light and departed.
Dismissing the attendants, Li Fan went alone to the underground secret chamber.
Placing the map together with the Taiyan Boat, a surge of boundless emotion welled up in his heart.
Six cycles of reincarnation and over three hundred years of painstaking schemes had finally borne fruit at this moment.
These two items were the key to leaping out of this land severed from immortality and attaining hope for longevity!
...
The Eastern Ruins Abyss.
Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi stood suspended in the air, looking back in the direction of Xuanjing.
"When we broke into this land severed from immortality earlier, I thought that even if I didn't die on this trip, I would be severely wounded. Who would have thought that through a strange turn of events, we would come upon such a fortune?" Dao Xuanzi said quietly, sensing the Nascent Soul technique inside his storage ring.
Kou Hong nodded in agreement, then remarked with a touch of regret, "That Li Fan has remarkable willpower; he is quite a figure. Alas, his life expectancy is near its end. Even if he can return to the cultivation world, he doesn't have many years left to live."
"Without longevity, all is vanity. Was it not for the hope of longevity that you and I turned against each other and fought to the death?" Dao Xuanzi said calmly.
"Speaking of which, what technique did Li Fan actually hand over to you?" Kou Hong suddenly asked out of curiosity.
Dao Xuanzi did not answer, but instead chuckled. "It couldn't possibly be the same technique as the one in your hands, could it? Rest assured, once I return, enter seclusion, and break through to the Golden Core stage, I certainly won't default on the three favors I promised you."
Hearing this, Kou Hong pressed no further, feeling somewhat excited instead. "Once I break through as well, with the two of us brothers together, who in the Congyun Mountain Range could possibly be our match?"
"The protective mist of the formation has not yet dispersed. I wonder if Brother dares to brave it?" Looking at the thick fog above the Ruins Abyss, Dao Xuanzi suddenly took the lead and flew straight into it.
Clearly, he could hardly wait to return to the cultivation world and comprehend the technique.
"What is there to fear?" Kou Hong burst into hearty laughter, and plunged in right behind him.
Chapter 17