Incompatible Laws of Immortal Arts

Incompatible Laws of Immortal Arts

"How did the mortals in the Great Migration reach the Immortal Forsaken Land?" Perhaps Kou Hong had never cared about this question before; when he heard Li Fan ask it, he was struck dumb.

"The Great Plague Era passed thousands of years ago. We don't know the exact circumstances either. Everything about that time is basically just hearsay to us." After pondering for a moment, Kou Hong shook his head.

"What, you still haven't given up?" Kou Hong glanced at Li Fan and could not help sneering. "Even if you got out, what could you do? You're already seventy, and you still want to cultivate immortality..."

Halfway through his words, he saw Li Fan's icy gaze sweeping over him, while the Torturers beside them looked eager to make a move, watching him like tigers eyeing prey. He shuddered and sheepishly shut his mouth.

Kou Hong had already been released from the prison by Li Fan.

After Li Fan trapped him in the Secret Chamber and baptized him with Immortal-Mortal Miasma, his cultivation had plummeted, dropping directly to Early Qi Refining.

He could no longer use any Dao arts. Now, he was merely a somewhat stronger mortal.

After being captured, he had initially cursed without end. Yet after several rounds of harsh torture, Kou Hong finally became obedient.

"So, these lofty cultivators are no different from us mortals once they lose their cultivation. They even have less backbone than we do." One of the Torturers at the side said in a mocking, sarcastic tone.

"Exactly. This one didn't even last an hour under our hands." Another Torturer chimed in.

Kou Hong, however, was remarkably frank. "A miserable life is still better than a good death. Besides, in the Cultivation World, life and death, victory and defeat are commonplace. Though you are but a mortal, your methods and resolve are both extraordinary. My brother and I have nothing to say about being outmaneuvered by you. We were simply inferior!"

"You don't hate me?" Li Fan asked curiously.

"Hate you? Of course I hate you!" Kou Hong took a fierce gulp of the fine wine Li Fan had prepared for him. "But what can I do about it? Right now, you are the knife and chopping board, while I am the fish upon it. Should I really make threats against you? Wouldn't that be seeking my own death?"

"You're quite open-minded." Li Fan gave a scornful smile.

"I'm only scraping out a miserable existence!" Kou Hong snorted coldly.

"If you could return to the Cultivation World, could you continue cultivating?" After a moment of silence, Li Fan suddenly asked.

"What..." Kou Hong did not react at first.

"If you can help me find a way to reach the Cultivation World, perhaps I'll take you with me when the time comes," Li Fan promised.

"You treacherous scoundrel, you still want to trick me?" Kou Hong flew into a rage, but quickly calmed down and glared fiercely at Li Fan.

Li Fan's expression remained calm. "Truth or lie, it is still a hope. Are you willing to abandon this path to survival and simply grow old and die in this Square Inch of land?"

Hearing Li Fan's words, Kou Hong fell silent.

His expression shifted violently, clearly showing the fierce struggle in his heart.

After a long while, he finally let out a heavy sigh.

"Fine! I agree!"

"Rest assured. I, Li Fan, have always valued my word as gold. What I say is final," Li Fan said solemnly.

The Torturers beside them immediately turned grave and lowered their heads.

Throughout the court, who did not know that the current Grand Tutor's word was final? If he said he would slaughter your entire family, he would slaughter your entire family! "No need to paint me a grand feast to stave off hunger. I'm willing to help you only because I'm gambling on that sliver of survival." Kou Hong sneered.

Seeing this, Li Fan did not explain further and instead directly laid out his conjecture.

"If my guess is correct, the cultivators back then must have used Magical Artifacts similar to Flying Boats and Flying Shuttles to transport the mortals. In Ancient Times, the Cultivation World was densely populated, with sects standing everywhere and prosperity beyond compare. Such transport artifacts were quite common. Unfortunately, after the Great Heavenly Change, every cultivator feared for their own safety. From then on, they mostly acted alone, and Flying Boats and Flying Shuttles became rarely seen," Kou Hong slowly replied after hearing him out.

"The Great Heavenly Change refers to that bizarre Great Plague?" Li Fan asked.

"Immortal-Mortal Miasma may be strange, but it could not shake the foundations of cultivators. In truth, it was able to run rampant because the vast majority of cultivators in the world perished in a Great Calamity. The Cultivation World's strength fell drastically, leaving it unable to deal effectively with Immortal-Mortal Miasma." Kou Hong shook his head, his expression grave.

"The Great Heavenly Calamity?" Li Fan suddenly recalled the ruined Mountain Gate he had seen deep within the Void Abyss, and his heart stirred. "Could it have been... Incompatible Laws?"

Kou Hong looked at Li Fan in surprise, unable to understand how he had thought of that.

"That's right. Incompatible Laws!" Kou Hong let out a long sigh.

"In Ancient Times, there was no such restriction. Back then, countless great cultivation sects threw open their Mountain Gates, taking in disciples and teaching them their arts. Cultivators had their Masters to guide them; whenever they encountered difficulties in cultivation, they could ask for instruction at any time, and they could spar and exchange insights with their Senior Brothers and fellow disciples who cultivated the same techniques. What a vibrant and flourishing sight the entire Cultivation World was in those days!" As Kou Hong spoke, he could not conceal his yearning.

"Unfortunately! The Great Heavenly Change! One day, cultivators suddenly discovered that the efficiency of cultivating by circulating their techniques had greatly declined. While cultivating, they could even sense how many people throughout the entire Cultivation World were practicing the same method. More horrifying still, they discovered that the more people cultivated the same technique at once, the lower the cultivation efficiency became for everyone practicing that technique." Kou Hong spoke slowly in a low voice, a trace of fear flashing through his eyes.

"At first, everyone exercised restraint, hoping to find a solution. But over the following decades, countless cultivators remained trapped in place, their cultivation unable to advance an inch. When the end of their lifespans drew near, they could no longer conceal the killing intent in their hearts."

"A catastrophe that swept across the entire Cultivation World began. Anyone cultivating the same method as me was blocking my path of cultivation, an enemy who could not coexist with me! Masters and disciples, Senior Brothers and sisters of old, all became mortal enemies in an instant! Even if someone had no desire to kill, amid such a tide, how could they ensure the other side thought the same? Who dared guarantee that the other person would not suddenly rise up and stab them in the back? Every cultivator fell into endless suspicion. The only one people could trust was themselves!"

"At that time, every sect became hell in the span of a moment. And those independent cultivators who hid in deep mountains and hidden realms, trying to escape disaster, could not avoid it either. Because cultivators who practiced the same technique could even sense one another's locations!"

"Killing. Endless killing. No one knew how long it lasted before it gradually subsided. By then, the once incomparably prosperous Cultivation World had become utterly desolate. Every sect had ceased to exist, leaving only lone cultivators traveling by themselves." Kou Hong recounted this great change of Ancient Times in the Cultivation World in a steady stream.

Li Fan's heart rose and fell as he listened, but even greater doubts followed.

Since immortal arts could not be cultivated together, how did cultivators cultivate now? And what exactly was the present Cultivation World like?