Sun Zhang glanced at Su Changyu and explained patiently, "If mortals wish to cultivate, they must first dispel the miasma within their bodies. For mortals like you returning from the Land of Exile, the concentration of miasma in your bodies far exceeds that of ordinary people. Thus, without expelling every trace of this miasma, you cannot cultivate."
Su Changyu frowned and said, "We already know of this matter. May I ask how this miasma can be removed?"
Sun Zhang said, "There are multiple ways to remove the miasma. The first is the Purifying Spirit Pool on the island. Soaking in the spirit pool for a day and a night can completely purge the miasma in one's body. Unfortunately, the materials required to open the spirit pool are staggering. Though our Liuli Island is wealthy, it can only be opened once every three years. Let me think... the last time it opened was a year ago, which means you will have to wait roughly two more years for the pool to open.
"Moreover, the quota of spots to enter the spirit pool is limited, and competition is fierce. You outsiders have no foundation—how could you possibly win against the island's locals?" Sun Zhang shook his head.
"What about the other methods?" Su Changyu continued to ask.
"The second method is cultivating the Xuanhuang Mind-Clearing Incantation. Paired with specific medicinal herbs and diet, it can gradually alter your constitution over time, eventually cleansing the miasma from your body entirely. Although this method takes a long time, often requiring five to six years of effort, its merit lies in its stability. Nor does it require any extraordinary price. The Xuanhuang Mind-Clearing Incantation and the corresponding medicinal pills can be purchased directly from the medicine shops on the island."
"Five or six years..." Su Changyu murmured in an undertone, unwilling to give up as he asked again, "Is there anything else?"
"The third method is to serve as a test subject." At this point, Sun Zhang's expression turned somewhat ugly, seemingly tinged with barely suppressed dread. Even so, he answered Su Changyu.
"A test subject?" Su Changyu asked, bewildered.
"That's right. Some immortal masters are quite interested in the miasma within mortals. Every year, they select volunteers from the island's mortals to serve as test subjects. Using special methods, the immortal masters continuously extract the miasma from the subjects' bodies for research. Within just a few months, they can draw out every last wisp of miasma."
As if remembering something, Sun Zhang's face paled slightly. "It is just that this process is excruciatingly agonizing. You could truly call it a fate worse than death—wishing to live, yet unable to; wishing to die, yet unable to die. More often than not, the vast majority cannot endure until the moment the miasma is completely drawn out before they are driven utterly mad by the torture.
"I do not advise you to use this method. It is truly not something an ordinary person can bear."
It was impossible to tell whether Su Changyu had taken Sun Zhang's advice to heart. After a moment of silence, he asked again, "Are there any other ways?"
Sun Zhang shook his head. "It is said that the direct mortal descendants of those immortal masters can rely on heavenly treasures to reshape their physical bodies. Not only do they no longer have to worry about the affliction of miasma, but their cultivation talent is also improved at the same time. However, such methods are beyond the imagination of people like you and me. Even our Liuli Island Master does not enjoy such treatment.
"That is all I know. If you truly wish to cultivate, take the coming days to think it over carefully."
Having said that, seeing Su Changyu looking somewhat lost and dejected, Sun Zhang could not help but offer words of comfort: "I know that having braved a thousand hardships to return from the Land of Exile, you all possess hearts devoted to the Dao. Who among us didn't at the start?
"Alas, the immortal path is fraught with hardship. Even if one can dispel every bit of miasma, very few can sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and draw qi into their bodies afterward. Why invite trouble upon yourselves? There is nothing wrong with living as a mortal." Sun Zhang seemed to be comforting Su Changyu, or perhaps comforting himself.
"With the invisible nourishment of heaven and earth's spiritual energy, even if you cannot cultivate, you will live far longer than you would have in the Land of Exile. It won't have been in vain that your families paid such a tremendous price to send you out.
"Rather than bitterly pursuing the immortal path, you might as well enjoy life to the fullest, indulge yourselves, and live in the moment."
...
Having finished his speech, Sun Zhang departed.
Among those present, some looked delighted, agreeing wholeheartedly with Sun Zhang's words as though they had found an excuse to indulge themselves; some broke down in tears, unable to accept that immortal cultivation was so difficult; others wore faces full of sorrow, at a complete loss for what to do...
Only Su Changyu wore a resolute expression, seemingly having arrived at some firm resolve.
Taking in everyone's reactions, Li Fan sneered inwardly.
Not one to poke his nose into other people's business, Li Fan slipped away quietly while everyone was distracted.
Inquiring along the way, he found the place where free housing was assigned on the island.
Li Fan showed his spiritual talisman and, led by an attendant, arrived at the residential district in northern Liuli Island.
Innumerable houses stood tightly packed together, some vacant, others already occupied.
Most of these houses had only a single room, but fortunately, each had a small courtyard separated by walls, so it did not seem overly shabby.
"Sixth lane, seventh room. This is it." Handing the key to Li Fan with an impatient air, the man hurried off.
Li Fan opened the courtyard gate, stepped inside, and closed the gate behind him.
The interior of the house was exceedingly sparse, furnished with only a bed and a few tables and chairs, which Li Fan was rather unaccustomed to.
Still, he cared little for such material comforts. After giving the place a brief clean, Li Fan settled down to rest, pondering his future plans.
*My start wasn't bad; I settled down without much trouble. I have those people from the Li Realm to thank for that. Unfortunately, aside from Su Changyu, the rest appear to be utterly mediocre folk with no heart for the Dao, incapable of achieving anything great.*
*This lodging might be a bit sparse, but at least there's no need to worry about safety. I asked earlier—Liuli Island is overseen by immortal masters, and no reckless scoundrels have dared commit crimes here for a long time.*
*My primary goal now is to dispel the miasma in my body. Although spots in the Purifying Spirit Pool are precious, the countless plundered treasures stored in my Taiyan Boat are beyond number; securing a spot shouldn't be difficult. The downside is that it would be too conspicuous—as the saying goes, wealth should never be flaunted. As an outsider with no backing, abruptly revealing so much wealth would inevitably invite prying eyes. I still need to plan this carefully.*
...
Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted Li Fan's thoughts.
"Who is it?" Li Fan instantly grew vigilant.
"Me." The voice was somewhat low, yet sounded faintly familiar.
Keeping his composure, Li Fan took out the Taiyan Boat, drew a dagger from it, and concealed it in his sleeve.
Cracking the door open a sliver, Li Fan saw the visitor's face clearly.
It was unexpectedly that chubby youth who had tried to strike up a conversation with him before.
Li Fan decisively moved to shut the door.
"Wait..." The chubby youth hastily blocked it with his hand and whispered, "You're not from our Li Realm, are you?"
"What?" Li Fan froze for a moment.
The chubby youth seized the opportunity to slip inside.
Sizing Li Fan up with ill intent, he said, "Just who are you, and what is your purpose in sneaking onto Liuli Island?"
"How do you know I'm not from the Li Realm?" Li Fan countered.
The chubby youth sneered with disdain. "When we fell into the water, I vaguely caught sight of your suspicious figure. At first, I thought it was a hallucination. But after seeing how you acted last night, the more I thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed, so I kept an eye out. When I saw you eagerly seeking out a residence, I quietly followed you to test you.
"Sure enough, one test and you showed your true colors." The chubby youth seemed rather smug.
"Looking at it this way, you are indeed quite shrewd and observant," Li Fan said, nodding.
"Of course! Aside from me, not a single one of those idiots noticed a stranger had snuck in."
"Is it truly the case that no one else discovered this except you?" Li Fan asked.
"Of course! How could those fools possibly compare to yours truly..."
The chubby youth's words cut off halfway, never to be finished.
For a sharp dagger had already pierced through his chest.
Looking down at the chubby youth collapsed on the ground, Li Fan remained expressionless.
Chapter 24