After testing the transformation of his movement technique, Ye Feipeng tirelessly began experimenting with his other insights.
Wind blades, wind prisons, windstorms...
Infused with Azure Wind True Intent, even though they fell far short of the azure wind's own might, their power had undergone a qualitative leap compared to ordinary spells.
In Li Fan's eyes, this manifested concretely: the spells cast by Ye Feipeng, still in the Qi Condensation stage, possessed destructive force infinitely close to that of the mid Foundation Establishment stage.
However, between this Azure Wind True Intent and the Heaven Fiend Sword Intent that Zhang Haobo had grasped back then, it was genuinely hard to say which was stronger.
If Li Fan had to choose, he would still pick the Heaven Fiend Sword Intent.
After all, in terms of sheer lethality, the azure wind was more than a cut below the Heaven Fiend Sword.
Li Fan acted cautiously and generally avoided fighting others. Once he did fight, it would inevitably be a life-or-death battle. Naturally, the Heaven Fiend Sword Intent suited him far better than the Azure Wind True Intent.
...
Having finished his drills, Ye Feipeng, whose strength had progressed by leaps and bounds, did not immediately return to the deserted island to flaunt his might.
Instead, he slipped quietly back into that mysterious space.
After waiting for a while, he tailed another faint wisp of azure light and swallowed it as well.
Unfortunately, judging from his crestfallen expression, the gains did not seem significant.
Only after giving up hope did the chubby youth saunter back to the island and challenge Xiao Heng.
Xiao Heng had never expected Ye Feipeng's strength to undergo such a colossal change after just one outing. Caught off guard, despite unleashing the power of the Sea-Calming Divine Sword to its fullest, Xiao Heng held out for only half a day before suffering defeat.
Tasting victory over Xiao Heng for the first time, Ye Feipeng roared with triumphant laughter. He patted Xiao Heng on the shoulder, hummed a jaunty tune with boundless smugness, and swaggered off, swaying his head.
Watching Ye Feipeng's departing figure, Xiao Heng was initially shocked and incredulous.
Soon, however, his expression grew solemn.
Without a word, he silently threw himself into cultivation.
Led by his example, the atmosphere on the deserted island—which had grown much livelier—gradually turned solemn once more. The daily playful banter dwindled, and Su Xiaomei, Zhang Haobo, and the others also began training diligently alongside him.
"Very good. There must be enough pressure to provide sufficient motivation.
"The chubby fellow may not have great character, but he serves perfectly as the catfish.
"Looking at this alone, my investment wasn't in vain."
Taking all this in, Li Fan nodded with deep satisfaction.
With the youngsters cultivating hard, Li Fan naturally could not slack off either.
Pulling back his attention, he immersed himself once more in arduous cultivation.
Midway through the anchor's fifteenth year.
A fiery meteor illuminated the heavens.
Shortly thereafter, it streaked across the sky and vanished.
In the hearts of all cultivators who witnessed it, an indescribable sense of trepidation naturally welled up.
Some cultivators attempted to trace its path, but all came up empty-handed.
Currently, in the entire cultivation world, Li Fan was the only person who knew that this fiery meteor was the Medicine King Cauldron that had torn through the realm and departed back then.
However, Jiao Xiuyuan's years of machinations were gradually beginning to bear fruit.
Countless cultivators suddenly recalled a piece of news they had heard in passing long ago and brushed off as a joke:
The Medicine King Cauldron was about to return to the Xuanhuang Realm.
Only those possessing a Small Medicine King Cauldron could enter it.
Thus, they could not help but speculate:
"Could that fiery meteor actually be the Medicine King Cauldron?"
Though it was merely an unfounded guess at the moment, that did not stop them from investigating further.
Consequently, several cultivators skilled in divination and deduction began calculating the meteor's origin, half out of curiosity and half at the behest of others.
Yet to everyone's astonishment, an enigmatic force seemed attached to this fiery meteor.
Every divination technique related to it failed completely.
It was as though heavenly secrets had been thrown into disarray, sinking into absolute chaos.
Forcing a deduction not only yielded no answers, but also carried the risk of backlash.
This only piqued the cultivators' curiosity even more.
Even if this fiery meteor was not the Medicine King Cauldron, it undoubtedly concealed an immense secret.
Under the allure of a hidden opportunity, countless cultivators sprang into action, searching for traces of the meteor.
On this day, inside the Heavenly Profound Mirror, Li Fan's clone—who was using his own body to experiment with unlocking the human body's secret treasures—received an ecstatic transmission from Jiao Xiuyuan.
"It blew up! It blew up! Fellow Daoist Lin Fan, overnight, the number of people inquiring about the Small Medicine King Cauldrons has multiplied several times over!
"That meteor appeared at the perfect moment!
"I was just fretting that my previous measures had produced so little effect!"
Li Fan coughed lightly and asked, "Have you sold the small cauldrons in your hands?"
"Eh? Why does your voice sound a bit weak, Fellow Daoist? Are you injured?" Jiao Xiuyuan did not answer immediately, instead inquiring with slight confusion.
"Cough, cough. It's nothing, just a minor mishap during cultivation. Nothing serious," Li Fan replied casually.
Only then did Jiao Xiuyuan return to the main topic: "Hehe, don't worry, Fellow Daoist. After preparing for so long, how could I sell them off so easily?
"The journey of these Small Medicine King Cauldrons appreciating in value has only just begun.
"For the next step, I plan to follow your advice and hire a divination master to endorse these small cauldrons.
"Once the hype is built up, I'll partner with someone to host a grand auction.
"We'll sell one of them first to test the waters.
"What do you think of my plan, Fellow Daoist? Is there anything that needs improvement?"
Ever since Li Fan offered him counsel last time, Jiao Xiuyuan had regarded him with immense admiration, considering Li Fan's mastery of commerce rarely seen in this world. Hence, he valued Li Fan's opinions greatly.
Li Fan did not offer an opinion right away. Instead, he searched and reviewed all recent events regarding the fiery meteor within the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
After pondering in silence for a moment, he said, "Hehe, the situation has changed. As I see it, hiring someone for an endorsement is no longer necessary.
"That fiery meteor can shield heavenly secrets, which is the best publicity on its own.
"A product that is mysterious and leaves room for imagination is all the more valuable.
"If you truly want to make a move, you might as well have this divination master keep his mouth shut."
Jiao Xiuyuan was taken aback, somewhat puzzled. "Keep his mouth shut? What do you mean?"
Li Fan chuckled. "Just have this master claim that while deducing the origin of the Small Medicine King Cauldrons, he suffered backlash and was gravely injured.
"And has gone into secluded cultivation to recuperate for a time."
Jiao Xiuyuan thought it over and immediately realized the brilliance of the move.
"Rather than what others promote, most people are far more inclined to believe what they imagine themselves. Brilliant, Fellow Daoist, absolutely brilliant!" Jiao Xiuyuan praised repeatedly.
"Also, when hosting the auction, don't bother hiring shills to bid up prices behind the scenes.
"Furthermore, after the auction concludes, ensure the safety of the cultivator who wins the Small Medicine King Cauldron. Do not let any murder-and-robbery occur.
"In short, the first auction isn't meant to bring immense profit.
"Its sole purpose is to thoroughly spread the fame of the Small Medicine King Cauldrons."
Li Fan laid out strategy after strategy for Jiao Xiuyuan.
Chapter 239