Of the thirteen people who entered the central formation array, all were teenagers in their youth except for Li Fan.
Having received strict instructions beforehand, they did not dare speak rashly, only letting their eyes dart around at their surroundings with excitement and curiosity.
The moment they stepped into the array, their environment became entirely different from Liuli Island.
It was as though they had been transported from a bustling market into deep mountains in an instant. All around them, lush trees flourished with vibrant green, filled with the endless chirping of birds and the hum of insects.
Looking into the distance, peaks were shrouded in mist, the mountain ranges rolling and undulating.
A gentle breeze swept past, rustling like waves of water that echoed continuously.
Li Fan and the others stood at the foot of a mountain.
Looking up, the summit was swallowed by thick clouds and mist, nowhere to be seen.
The group climbed the weathered stone steps upward without pausing for two whole shichen.
These youths all possessed remarkable constitutions. After climbing for so long, not one of them was even out of breath.
Li Fan, on the other hand, was well past his youth and had not exercised in a long time. Drenched in sweat, he could only barely keep up without falling behind.
After another shichen, the group finally reached the summit.
The mountain peak was merely a small patch of open ground. Scattered about, they already felt somewhat cramped.
This peak was the tallest among all the surrounding mountains. Looking out in all directions, nothing met their eyes but a vast, boundless sea of white clouds.
The wind howled in gusts, the sea of clouds churned, and occasionally the crest of a mountain peeked through like an island.
Having been born and raised on the open sea, these youths had never witnessed such a magnificent sight.
At that moment, all of them stared in stunned awe, lost in the view.
To Li Fan, however, this scenery was nothing out of the ordinary. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and stared at the sun in the sky.
They had been inside the formation array for more than half a day, yet the sun's position had not shifted in the slightest.
It was evidently some sort of illusion.
"How is the scenery?" a voice suddenly rang out beside them.
The youths jumped in fright, then quickly gathered their wits.
"Greetings, Immortal Master!" they bowed and greeted in unison.
Li Fan bowed along with them.
The newcomer was naturally Immortal Master He, who guarded Liuli Island.
He appeared to be only around thirty years old and wore a robe of azure.
With kind features, an amiable smile, and an approachable demeanor, he presented the picture of an affable gentleman.
Seeing that this immortal master was not as terrifying as rumors made him out to be, one of the youths gathered the courage to reply, "The scenery here is breathtaking. It is truly worthy of an immortal sanctuary."
"I have never seen such a miraculous sight. It stirs the soul."
...
Immortal Master He nodded with a smile, but the words that followed instantly silenced the young people present. "When I first came to Liuli Island, this mountain peak was the lowest among the ranges, buried far beneath the sea of clouds."
Stunned by Immortal Master He's words, the youths remained quiet for a long while before someone ventured a compliment: "The Immortal Master's divine powers are truly inconceivable, to actually pull a mountain upward and make it grow."
Immortal Master He chuckled and shook his head. "I am merely a humble Foundation Establishment cultivator. How could I possess such ability?"
The youth who had just attempted to flatter him flushed crimson, hanging his head in shame.
The others exchanged bewildered glances, having no idea what Immortal Master He meant.
Li Fan, however, looked out over the myriad peaks amidst the sea of clouds, lost in thought.
"Do you know that the mountains and rivers of this world, just like mortals, can gradually grow taller?" Immortal Master He said slowly, no longer speaking in riddles.
Hearing this, the youths were dumbfounded, their faces filled with disbelief.
"This is truly unbelievable..."
"Is... is it really true? Could these great mountains and rivers all be living beings as well?"
Although the idea of mountains growing was utterly shocking, since the words came from an exalted immortal master, the youths naturally chose to believe him.
Even so, their faces turned pale, struggling to process it all.
Immortal Master He continued, "Some peaks seem towering, yet their destiny has run its course, and they can never advance another step in their entire existence. Others are mere mounds of earth today, yet their potential is limitless. Who is to say that after enough years, one might not grow into a pillar supporting the heavens?"
"Just like Mount Shaowei beneath your feet. Back then, it was entirely unremarkable, yet in just a few decades, it already looks down upon all the other peaks."
"Of course, far more are like the countless mountains submerged beneath this sea of clouds—destined from beginning to end to serve merely as a backdrop, silently looking up at the peaks above the clouds."
"If this holds true for mountains, how much more so for people?"
"Today, you are fortunate enough to step into the spirit pool and wash away the miasma within your bodies. Whether you can step onto the path of immortality, or even hope to attain the Great Dao of Longevity, and what heights of achievement you will reach in the future, will depend entirely on your own fortune."
Looking at the bewildered, dazed youths before him, Immortal Master He sighed.
"Regardless of what the future holds, you must give your all today. That is all I have to say. Off with you!"
"Immortal Master He, may I ask where the Purifying Spirit Pool is located?" Though some of the youths had failed to grasp the deeper meaning of his words, they could at least understand that they were finally being allowed into the Purifying Spirit Pool.
With youthful eagerness, one of them could not resist piping up to ask.
"Right over there!" Immortal Master He replied calmly.
The group followed his gaze. The place Immortal Master He pointed to was none other than beyond the small patch of the mountain summit—a sheer cliff dropping tens of thousands of zhang into the abyss!
"Is the Immortal Master joking?" one youth could not help blurting out in alarm.
Immortal Master He's expression darkened. With a cold snort, without any visible movement, that youth's head flew high into the air, and his headless body collapsed with a thud.
Blood sprayed violently, splashing over the people standing nearby.
This sudden scene left the youths completely petrified.
Some wanted to scream in terror, but clapped their hands tightly over their mouths, trembling uncontrollably with faces as pale as paper.
Others went completely limp with fear, collapsing onto the ground.
Still others immediately dropped to their knees, kowtowing repeatedly to Immortal Master He to beg for forgiveness.
"Let me teach you another lesson. Once you step onto the path of cultivation in the days ahead, discernment is of paramount importance. Whom you can bully, whom you must never offend, what words you may say, and what words you must never utter—weigh every one of them carefully. Do not wait until your body perishes and your Dao is extinguished to blame me for not warning you today." Immortal Master He shed his earlier affable persona, looking down upon the youths with chilling indifference.
Watching this spectacle and observing the varied reactions of the youths, Li Fan knew the lesson taught by Immortal Master He would leave an indelible mark on them.
Not just the youths—even Li Fan felt he had gained something from Immortal Master He's words.
He gave Immortal Master He a deep bow and said with genuine sincerity, "I have learned much."
He then turned and walked toward the edge of the mountain.
Ahead lay a sheer drop of tens of thousands of zhang. A single misstep would undoubtedly dash him to pieces.
Yet Li Fan did not hesitate or falter for a single second. Without changing expression, he stepped forward.
He did not fall. The vast sea of clouds ahead seemed almost sentient, churning and converging beneath Li Fan's feet to hold him firmly aloft.
He brought his other foot forward. Once he stood steady, the rolling white clouds wrapped around Li Fan, carrying him away toward the depths of the cloud sea.
Immortal Master He watched Li Fan's receding back and could not help muttering to himself, "Such remarkable temperament. A pity, though—his age is far too advanced!"
"What a pity!"
Chapter 39