"Did Senior gain anything from this?" Li Fan asked from a distance, without drawing near.
"Heh heh, my luck was not bad." A hint of smug satisfaction appeared on Chen Ying's face as he said, "The lingering chill here is truly extraordinary. Much like the Heart-Severing Ice Intent Pill I refine, it has the effect of calming the mind, settling the spirit, and steadying emotions.
"In fact, the tier of that power surpasses even the Heart-Severing Ice Intent Pill. After this sudden epiphany, I am confident I can improve the pill formula. The refined Heart-Severing Pill should see its efficacy increase considerably."
A look of envy surfaced on Li Fan's face, and he said, "Alas, this junior's aptitude is dull, and I was unable to sense the frigid force Senior spoke of. To have such a fortuitous opportunity right before my eyes yet fail to gain any enlightenment from it truly makes my heart ache with regret!"
Chen Ying laughed heartily. "The fundamental level of that power is even above the Nascent Soul. It is only natural that a minor Foundation Establishment cultivator like you could not sense it.
"Had I not frequently ingested the Heart-Severing Ice Intent Pill and become intimately familiar with similar powers, I fear I would have had a hard time detecting its traces as well."
Chen Ying looked at Li Fan and comforted him, "My great harvest this time owes much to your contribution. I will not go back on my word. Speak, what reward do you desire? Contribution points? Pills? Or something else?"
Li Fan's expression turned solemn. "Junior dares not claim undue credit. I leave it entirely to Senior to decide!"
Chen Ying was very pleased with Li Fan's attitude.
After pondering for a moment, he produced a jade Lesser Heavenly Profound Mirror and transferred thirty thousand contribution points to Li Fan on the spot.
He then handed Li Fan a spiritual talisman and said, "Contribution points are more versatile, after all. Whatever you need, you can purchase it yourself through the Heavenly Profound Mirror. This is my communication talisman. If you have any pill-refining needs in the future, you may contact me."
"Uh..."
As if remembering something, Chen Ying added, "Right. For the immediate future, I might not be in the Congyun Sea. Headquarters recently discovered a grotto-heaven that has been sealed for a thousand years. Its wood-attribute spiritual energy is exceptionally dense, making it ideal for cultivating various spirit plants. Headquarters is mobilizing personnel from all over to develop it.
"I received notice that I must go as well. When that time comes, you might not be able to reach me."
Listening to this, Li Fan's heart stirred. He knew this grotto-heaven was likely the culprit behind the crash in Spirit Mist Grass prices. In fact, it was not just Spirit Mist Grass. The prices of most medicinal herbs and spirit plants currently on the market would be driven down by its yields, suffering a sharp collapse.
That was merely the beginning. What was truly astonishing was that near this wood-attribute grotto-heaven lay four other concealed grotto-heavens.
The five great grotto-heavens corresponded to the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—and faintly formed a grand formation.
Later on, they even triggered a war of contention between the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals and the Five Elders Association.
'Still, is it really fine for you to blurt out such confidential information so casually?'
Li Fan looked at Chen Ying, caught between tears and laughter.
It seemed this man truly lacked any scheming nature.
Immediately afterward, Chen Ying produced another communication talisman. "This is the communication talisman for my assistant, Mu Rong. He is a mid-Golden Core cultivator, and his pill-refining skill is quite good as well. While I am away, just contact him. I will let him know before I leave."
Li Fan stowed the two talismans away and said gratefully, "Thank you for Senior's favor. I will never forget such great kindness!"
"Hahaha! Our meeting was also a stroke of fate. Besides, I find you quite pleasing to the eye, so I am simply looking out for you a bit more. There is no need to speak of great kindness!" Chen Ying waved his hand dismissively.
"Now that business here is concluded, I must return to study how to refine my pill formula. I will linger no longer."
With that, Chen Ying moved to take his leave.
"Senior, wait!" Li Fan called out, stopping him.
"Oh? What else is there?" Chen Ying paused, surprised.
Seeing Li Fan hesitating as if unsure whether he should speak, Chen Ying frowned and urged, "Stop dawdling like an old woman! Speak freely!"
Li Fan observed Chen Ying's expression and demeanor, gaining a rough grasp of his personality.
Only then did he speak up: "Earlier, I heard Senior mention that your exploration of the Fallen Immortal Realm would deepen.
"Since I began cultivating, I have known that supreme figures in the Dao Integration and Longevity realms exist in this world.
"Yet I have never heard any tales regarding 'Immortals'.
"Thus, I am exceedingly curious about the Fallen Immortal Realm Senior spoke of.
"Might I ask what sort of place this Fallen Immortal Realm is? Did a true immortal genuinely perish within it?"
Li Fan's eyes shone brightly, filled with an apparently boundless thirst for knowledge, as he fixed his gaze on Chen Ying.
"So that is what you meant!" Realization dawned on Chen Ying.
Rather than answering Li Fan's question immediately, he asked, "What is your current cultivation level?"
Because Li Fan had activated the Trace-Extinguishing Talisman, Chen Ying could not discern his actual realm at this moment.
"Junior is currently at late Foundation Establishment," Li Fan answered honestly.
"Late Foundation Establishment..."
Chen Ying thought for a moment before continuing, "Originally, this matter was only meant to be known by cultivators at the Golden Core stage and above. But since you have already reached late Foundation Establishment, you must not be far from breaking through to the Golden Core stage.
"Learning of it ahead of time poses no great harm."
Chen Ying paused, then warned with a grave expression, "However, bear this strictly in mind: it is enough to know of the Fallen Immortal Realm's existence. Before you advance to the Golden Core stage, your divine sense will lack the necessary strength, so you must never attempt to explore it. Otherwise, not only will your divine sense be damaged, but your cultivation foundation will also suffer harm. In severe cases, it will leave you with no hope of Core Formation."
"Lack the necessary divine sense strength..." Li Fan silently repeated to himself and nodded in acknowledgment.
Immediately afterward, he caught on and asked in surprise, "This Fallen Immortal Realm? Could it be that even I can explore it?"
Chen Ying chuckled lightly. "Heh heh. Not just you—every single cultivator in the Xuanhuang Realm can enter and explore it on their own.
"However, a Golden Core cultivator's divine sense is barely strong enough to move within the Fallen Immortal Realm. If one truly wants to explore freely, one must wait until the Nascent Soul stage."
Li Fan could not help but grow increasingly curious. "Where exactly is this Fallen Immortal Realm?"
With his hands clasped behind his back, Chen Ying let out a wistful sigh. "The Fallen Immortal Realm...
"Is everywhere."
"Everywhere?" Li Fan was stunned.
"Indeed." Chen Ying nodded. "Anywhere in the Xuanhuang Realm, using a specific method, one can enter the Fallen Immortal Realm at any time.
"However, only one's divine sense enters; the physical body does not follow."
Hearing this, Li Fan frowned. "Could it be that this Fallen Immortal Realm is a realm of pure consciousness?"
Chen Ying replied, "You could look at it that way. However, it has already transcended the boundary between illusory and real, false and true.
"Whatever you gain in the Fallen Immortal Realm can genuinely be brought back to the Xuanhuang Realm.
"And dying in the Fallen Immortal Realm will, at most, injure your divine sense; you will not truly perish.
"Therefore, the Fallen Immortal Realm is the secret realm that cultivators at the Golden Core stage and above are most passionate about exploring."
Li Fan immediately grasped the value of the Fallen Immortal Realm.
"What is inside the Fallen Immortal Realm?" Li Fan could not resist asking.
"What is inside?" Chen Ying smiled.
He pointed to their surroundings. "Whatever is here, is in the Fallen Immortal Realm."
Chapter 172