Li Fan put on a look of bewilderment and asked insincerely, "Fellow Daoist Yin, what has happened to you? Could there be some flaw in this method of establishing the foundation with oneself that I deduced?"
Looking at Li Fan's utter bafflement, Master Yin opened his mouth, hesitating as if wanting to speak.
In the end, he slumped and gave up.
After a long, vacant daze, he finally rose to his feet once more.
Walking around Li Fan, he stepped before a blank wall in the underground secret chamber and used his hand as a brush, writing down the method of establishing the foundation with oneself in one flowing breath.
When he finished, he stood rooted before the wall, intoxicated by what he saw.
His expression shifted continuously—filled with marvel, profound sighing, and deep regret.
Li Fan did not disturb him either, standing alongside him before this peerless foundation establishment method to admire it in silence.
Who knew how much time passed before Master Yin finally came back to his senses.
He turned to Li Fan, bowed deeply, and said, "If this method was truly comprehended by you, Fellow Daoist...
"...then you are truly an unparalleled talent of this world; I am far, far inferior to you!
"This version of establishing the foundation with oneself is flawless. It can serve as a legacy for the ages!"
Then he let out a long sigh. "Had I been fortunate enough to obtain this method when I established my foundation back then, I would not have ended up in my current state."
"What does Fellow Daoist Yin mean by that?" Li Fan feigned ignorance.
Master Yin merely grinned. His body split open down the middle, revealing another version of himself nestled inside.
He then offered an explanation.
"Once one has established the foundation with oneself, there is not even an opportunity to regret it and restart cultivation," Master Yin lamented.
Li Fan seized the opening to console him, playing along: "Actually, there is no great difference between the two. Both lead nowhere ahead, halting at Foundation Establishment."
Master Yin was slightly stunned. "Fellow Daoist, you mean..."
Li Fan confessed with apparent sincerity, "This is the other reason I came looking for you, Fellow Daoist Yin.
"After deducing the method of establishing the foundation with oneself, I was initially beside myself with excitement, believing I had forged a brand-new Dao path. I had planned to forge ahead with full confidence, deducing the subsequent stages of Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and beyond.
"Yet, alas..."
Li Fan shook his head slightly, his face steeped in bitterness. "Though I pondered long and hard, I could not find where the road ahead lies at all.
"After establishing the foundation with oneself, myriad techniques return to one's own body. Presumably, the Golden Core should be the same. Drawing on ancient cultivation scriptures, I have come to call it the 'Hunyuan Golden Core.'
"Yet how exactly to form this perfect 'Hunyuan Golden Core' remains an utter mystery to me despite all my racking of wits. It is as if all my inspiration has been completely drained, or as if some entity is intentionally obstructing me from exploring further..."
As Li Fan spoke, his expression grew thoroughly pained.
Master Yin felt an implicit surge of shared empathy and quickly offered comfort.
"Fellow Daoist was able to pierce through the mystery of establishing the foundation with oneself—that alone makes you a rare prodigy under heaven, far surpassing ordinary cultivators. Why be so hard on yourself?
"As for this Hunyuan Golden Core you speak of..."
Master Yin pondered thoughtfully. "That is a road bound to be fraught with hardship. It can truly be called defying the heavens."
Saying this, Master Yin seemed to recall something and suddenly lapsed into silence.
"I have a faint intuition in my heart. Perhaps in this lifetime, it is impossible for me to advance any further along this new path. That is why I came to seek you out, Fellow Daoist." Li Fan gazed at Master Yin with utmost sincerity. "To be the first to propose the method of establishing the foundation with oneself, your trailblazing vision must be far superior to mine. Perhaps you can pioneer yet another step forward?"
Right then and there, without second thought, he laid out his discourse on the Hunyuan Golden Core in a single breath.
Having finished, he fixed his gaze on Master Yin, full of anticipation. "What does Fellow Daoist think?"
Master Yin could not help himself, listening in rapt fascination.
"Mmh, let me think... let me think." He seemed to plunge directly into deduction, his expression turning slightly dazed.
Only after a long while did he come to his senses.
"This method is arduous, even more so than establishing the foundation with oneself. It cannot be unraveled in a short span of time.
"Moreover, I have other matters to research..." Master Yin's expression showed some hesitation.
"Observing the conditions on Fellow Daoist's island, it seems related to the immortal-mortal miasma?" Li Fan asked.
Master Yin nodded. "Fellow Daoist truly possesses a discerning eye. I have a premonition that a tremendous secret of heaven and earth is concealed within this immortal-mortal miasma."
"Then allow me to wish Fellow Daoist an early success in unraveling this mystery! When that day comes, I hope you might share some of it with me," Li Fan laughed heartily, speaking with complete naturalness.
"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist! You were willing to impart the perfected method of establishing the foundation with oneself without holding anything back; naturally, I won't hold out on you either." Master Yin looked Li Fan over, thoroughly delighted. "I never imagined I would meet someone in this world who shares such a kindred spirit."
"Before coming here, I never expected that we would hit it off so well either." Li Fan's face was likewise filled with gratification.
"By the way, I actually feel that Fellow Daoist need not worry that deducing the Hunyuan Golden Core will delay your research into the immortal-mortal miasma. In my experience, one can alternate between the two in parallel. When one reaches a dead end or an impasse, it does no harm to turn to the other for a while. Perhaps inspiration will arise naturally before long." Li Fan expounded upon his "experience and insights" in a ceaseless flow.
Master Yin listened as vibrant light repeatedly flashed in his eyes.
Feeling as though they had met far too late, the two held a long discussion on the island for three days and three nights.
Only when finally parting did Li Fan extend an invitation to Master Yin.
"This island is far too shabby. How could it be worthy of your stature? I happen to possess a pocket world with magnificent scenery, quiet and pristine. It is perfectly suited for us to devote ourselves to research. Why not return with me?"
In the Xuanhuang Realm, anyone who possessed their own grotto-heaven or pocket world was either immensely wealthy or exceedingly noble.
Hearing this, a flicker of astonishment passed through Master Yin's eyes.
He hesitated, but ultimately declined Li Fan's generous invitation.
"Though this island is on the smaller side, I've grown accustomed to living here. Perhaps someday when I tire of it, I'll pay you a visit and mooch off you for a bit."
Li Fan was not surprised by Master Yin's response.
His face showed a look of deep regret, and he bade farewell with reluctant fondness.
Before departing, he even handed over his own communication talisman, saying that they absolutely must stay in frequent contact and exchange insights.
Turning to leave Yinyin Island, after flying some distance away, he suddenly pulled up short.
Looking back at the island, Li Fan hesitated for a moment and ultimately abandoned his intention to use Formless Killing Intent to lock onto Master Yin.
"Master Yin's strength is somewhat peculiar; he cannot be judged as an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator. In this lifetime, I've already earned his initial trust by relying on the method of establishing the foundation with oneself. There is no need to paint legs on a snake.
"Although Formless Killing Intent is concealed, there is no guarantee he wouldn't detect it."
After pondering for a while, Li Fan finally departed.
Flying westward all the way, he left the Congyun Sea and arrived in Shilin Province.
Ever since the fall of Jiushan Province, the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals had attempted to organize several counteroffensives, trying to retake it.
Alas, Jiushan was a perilous terrain, every mountain and river serving as a natural rampart.
The counterattacks had all ended in failure.
Chapter 817