Flawless

Of course, Li Fan wasn't really asking the old ghost; he was asking the system. And the system, as expected of a system, never disappointed him unless it was a question like "you'll understand when you comprehend the Dao." There was always an answer, right, System!

'It's a super- Extra Greater Chi.'

... Okay, that's the answer after all, so what the hell is Zhi? Why are you always adding prefixes! There is no next stage of evolution!

'The Chi is the remnant soul of one of the five insects. It cannot be upgraded.'

So what exactly are the five insects?

'The five types of insects—skinned, hairy, feathered, and burrowing—can all cultivate. The leader of the skinned insects is a human, while the others are also called Spirit Race, Demon Race, and so on.'

Oh, so it's a demon... So, the souls behind the door are those of ancient demons from the time of immortals... And these demons are like the Nascent Soul Stage of the Demon Race?

' The Nascent Soul Stage is the term used by Human Race in the Taiji Xian Dao. The ancient methods of the Five Insects don't lead to the True Person Realm, but they are roughly similar to the Primordial Spirit. Most cultivate the dragon form, a state formed by being tainted with evil energy, resembling a long dragon; these are mostly Chi.'

Oh, so those thick, long lines were imitating a dragon! He thought it was... cough cough cough!

In short, the world on the other side of this gate is probably a prison used by the Immortal Venerable to imprison the souls of ancient Demon Race. The Luo Feng Immortal Army is actually a kind of jailer.

While Li Fan was still distracted, Luo Feng Patriarch had already raised a spirit banner that was over five zhang tall!

The flagpole is the spine of some kind of Divine Beast, covered with incantations and talismans. The flag itself is woven from the hide of some kind of animal. When unfolded, it radiates a myriad of rays of light, reflecting thousands of auspicious patterns. On the flag is a purple-sky white phoenix, which soars and circles within the banner. The divine phoenix's thirteen tails radiate divine light like swords, piercing out dazzling white rays, almost like the rising sun, or like high beams at night, instantly illuminating the deep Void Abyss and abyss!

The demons, large and small, who were feasting in the sea of evil below were completely blinded by the dazzling light and scattered in all directions with screams.

As Luo Feng Patriarch waved the spirit banner, the white phoenix on the banner transformed into a beam of light and swept out, turning the demons into ashes. The banner also swept down across the sky and the earth, like a tsunami, overturning the surface of the evil sea and absorbing all the evil energy ocean on the bronze gate into the banner.

At first glance, the scene looked quite spectacular, somewhat like a Dolby Cinema stereo blockbuster, with a lot of buzzing and vibration, but it was pitch black and I had no idea what I was watching...

However, watching Luo Feng Patriarch sweep back and forth with the banner more than ten times, just like a door cleaner, he cleaned away the filth and evil spirits on the bronze door.

Bai Feng used her bright light to extinguish the scattered, humanoid and dragon-shaped demons around her. Then she sucked the scattered spirits into her mouth, ate until she let out a full burp, and then flew back to the spirit banner to rest, her belly rounded.

Li Fan watched from the sidelines, feeling a strange sense of speechlessness...

Well, this old ancestor really can't get away. Cleaning with the Guanmen closed like this only eliminates about 90% of the demons. Some will inevitably slip through the net. Even those huge, trashy demons terrified the four concubines like little turtles. If the old ancestor doesn't take care of things here, and a gigantic demon breaks through the door, wouldn't the sky outside collapse...?

"We're still trying to get out of quarantine. I was thinking of asking them to come down and help. Damn, I'm exhausted..."

The ancestor was also sweating profusely from the work. That spirit banner was probably a top-grade magic treasure, the kind that suppresses destiny. Even with the ancestor's astonishing cultivation, he was panting heavily after shaking it a dozen times. "Don't get in my way here. Why do I have to take you up there?"

"That would be perfect... cough cough cough! I mean, Laozi, are you really not going to care about your disciples and grand-disciples anymore?"

This time, the Thunder Department's expedition presents a rare opportunity for the Xun Kingdom to seize the throne Jueyin Shenjun's side launching counterattacks, having internal spies, and calling for reinforcements, I think he's planning to take advantage of the chaos to pull off something big!

The Jueyin Shenjun specifically instructed me to make sure you come out of seclusion. He has thoroughly assessed the military strength of the Xun Kingdom. If they were to fight all the way to Xingye City, given the Ruler of Xun Country's years of scheming, in the worst-case scenario, he could muster fourteen Nascent Divine Transformation to help. The Jueyin Shenjun said that Luo Feng's six fellow disciples could at most deal with nine of them; the rest would all depend on you, Ancestor, to hold them off."

The old patriarch immediately jumped up and down, "Oh! Is that how he treats me?! He wants me to go up and fight five of them all by myself?!"

Li Fan laughed, "That's right, look at what he said, what do you mean by 'holding them off'! With your supernatural abilities of 'Heaven and Earth Manifestation,' you could kill a thousand or a hundred in one move, what are five? Just now, with a bang! They were shattered in an instant!"

"Hmph! Don't try to flatter me! I don't fall for that! Hmm... Xun Kingdom, Xun Kingdom is indeed quite troublesome. It would be a shame not to take advantage of the chaos and pull off a big heist against them..."

Luo Feng Old Lord pondered for a moment, glanced at the scattering demons, and suddenly seemed to remember something. He put away the spirit banner, then reached into his robes and pulled out a reddish-brown pottery jar. "Take this with you. Here are some demons I've captured."

"So you can control demons??" Li Fan held the jar in his hands, looking warily at the opening sealed only with oilcloth and a talisman. This packaging isn't very reliable...

"How could I possibly handle these things?" Luo Feng Patriarch picked his nose. "I was just bored before, so I got a few thousand of them, put them in jars to make some medicinal wine, but it didn't work out..."

"You'll eventually take it back to Jueyin, and then just dump it in Xingye City, wow~~ hahahaha! That'll be enough to give those bastards a hard time! So what if there are fourteen Nascent Divine Transformation? Forty of them won't stand a chance! Hehehe!"

Li Fan was dumbfounded. "No way, Laozi, you've worked so hard to protect all living beings for so many years, and you're just letting these demons go?!"

Luo Feng Patriarch rolled his eyes at him, "What do I care about the common people! If my Luo Feng Immortal Palace weren't located at the exit of the Heavenly Demon Cave, I wouldn't care about these demons and ghosts dying! And don't be like Feng A, always talking about the Nascent Soul Stage and ruining their mood. If you didn't have the cultivation of a Nascent Soul cultivator, these Heavenly Demons might not even look at you!"

Oh, so you're going to use targeted explosives on Nascent Soul Stage cultivators? That's not bad. But you old man are way too damn arrogant. You've been complaining for ages, all unwilling and reluctant, and you're still squatting here, too afraid to leave...

"What's with that expression you're making, kid?!"

"No, no, but I understand what you mean, Ancestor. We need to let the outside world know how serious the problems are inside the Taiyin Demon Cave. Stop all this infighting and fighting amongst ourselves!"

Li Fan rolled his eyes and considered the matter for a moment, concluding that even if he really threw the jar outside, it wouldn't be a big problem.

This jar is said to contain several thousand Heavenly Demons, which should be the lowest level of Chi. Chi need to seize the bodies of others to evolve into Great Chi and pose a physical threat, and they also need to cultivate evil energy to become Super Greater Chi. They can't pose much of a threat in an instant.

If this could really kill three to five hundred Nascent Soul Stage in the Xun Kingdom, even the arrival of Divine Transformation ancestor might not be enough to achieve such a great result. Even if only a dozen or so Nascent Soul Stage cultivators could be sacrificed, the chaos caused by this power struggle would probably be enough to give the Xun Kingdom a hard time.

Moreover, even if we take a step back and assume the worst, it would be good to let the Three Realms practice their methods for dealing with Celestial Devil in advance. In case this demon cave really falls one day, if the Three Great Sects have no countermeasures against the demons, it would be a huge disaster if they were to be caught off guard by the Celestial Devil and the great demons.

Anyway, this earthenware jar is like a nuclear bomb; whether you use it or not, it's a deterrent.

"The Heavenly Book of the Kingdom of Kexun..."

"Oh, you've read a few books too, haven't you? Then you're destined to encounter these heavenly books! Since you've come all the way down here, just go and get them yourself. If you get the heavenly books, bring them to me so I can take a look."

By the way, this "Dalu Jing Tian Finger" is Cultivation Method I comprehended while in seclusion in the Demon Cave. Practicing this technique can undo the meridians I sealed earlier, and it can also be used to show off my skills to the barefoot man. With your aptitude, you should be able to learn it... It's up to you whether you learn it or not!"

Of course I have to learn that! Don't even mention that bang just now! It slammed the door shut, and Li Fan's shoulder is still numb!

"And another thing, have Jueyin send down a few more slender immortals. These four are too fat and greasy; I don't like them."

Being slightly chubby is good, I don't know anything...

So Li Fan, carrying the 'gift' from Luo Feng Patriarch, flew straight out of the Demon Cave. He slaughtered his way through the cave, and because Li Fan was a bit of a perfectionist, he deliberately circled around a few times to raise his mood cap to 6000 points before using his escape technique and Sword Light to fly out of the Demon Cave.

This simple errand run yielded nearly 1500 points of mood points, which is a huge win! The evil energy in the Demon Cave is endless, basically equivalent to cultivating a Gui Xu Nascent Soul in the Tai Su Realm. I can visit the Demon Cave more often when I have some free time. Anyway, the Taiyin Jing Tian Palace still has BCCD that the Ancestor doesn't care about to relieve loneliness, cough cough.

However, this time Li Fan not only failed to summon the ancestor, but also brought bad news that there would be changes in the Taiyin Demon Cave, which made Jueyin Shenjun quite unhappy.

"A golden opportunity, yet the Heavenly Demons act strangely... Could it be that the fate of the Xun Kingdom is not yet exhausted...?"

After pondering for a long time, the Jueyin Shenjun smiled at Li Fan and said, "Li Daoyou, since the Ancestor is currently unable to leave, what do you suggest I do? Should we go to war with the Xun Kingdom, or send someone to the Jing Tian Palace to assist in defending against the Heavenly Demon?"

Li Fan thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "The choice is no longer in your hands, Divine Lord. Once the outcome is decided in Kun Country and the dust settles in Xun Kingdom, the Three Enclosures will still send people to attack Baiyue Mountain. They won't stop until they annihilate the Luo Feng Daoist Tradition. For the sake of Kun Country, they'll even fight to the death with the Divine Sect, which is also one of the Three Great Sects. They probably won't just sit idly by and watch Xun Kingdom be destroyed by Luo Feng, will they?"

For the Three Enclosures Immortal Palace, the Divine Cult was merely a minor ailment; Luo Feng was the real threat!

"And the situation at the Heavenly Demon Cave can't be resolved overnight. In my opinion, the situation down there will only get worse, but Laozi can still hold it off in the short term. Even if one or two more Divine Lords go down to help, it won't make much difference."

The Jueyin Shenjun laughed, "You see things very clearly. Then I'll release these Heavenly Demons and launch a surprise attack on Xingye City while Xun Kingdom is unprepared?"

Li Fan shook his head again, "Brothers may quarrel within their own walls, but they unite against external threats. Right now, those two factions are causing a huge uproar. If Luo Feng Palace were to jump out and retaliate at this time, the Ruler of Xun Country would probably have to thank you. Let's sit back and watch the tigers fight, and wait for time to change things."

"Hahahaha! That's true!" Jueyin Shenjun nodded with a laugh. "I've also received news that the Xun Kingdom is spreading rumors that my disciple Luo Feng assassinated the direct descendants of the four great clans. They're planning to gather a large army to attack the mountain. Heh, if you want to find fault, you can always find a pretext. We're all so familiar with each other, yet they still use such an excuse. They're shameless."

Well, this time they really weren't framing me...

The Jueyin Shenjun tossed the jar containing the Heavenly Demon back to Li Fan, along with a jade pendant. "My Luo Feng Palace is closing its gates to prepare for war and await the opportune moment, so we will not entertain Fellow Li Daoyou any longer. Please deliver this jar to Xingye City, and use this token to hand it over to my spy. He will help you seize the Heavenly Book from the Ruler of Xun Country."

Li Fan breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, although the old man hadn't tricked him, as long as the Heavenly Book quest hadn't failed, he could continue pushing forward!

But Jueyin Shenjun spoke again, "However, you'll have to change your identity. As I said, there are spies from the Three Realms in my palace, and the Xun Kingdom might know that as well. Qingyue from Ink Bamboo Mountain has come to Luofeng Palace to pay her respects. If you enter the city so brazenly, you might be targeted, and it would be bad if my inside agent were harmed."

Therefore, 'Qingyue' still needs to cultivate in the Heavenly Demon Cave, and your two attendants will also have to stay in the mountains as guests for the time being. Don't worry, there's no other reason. I will have my disciples guide their cultivation. If a fight breaks out, they will be sent out of the mountains in advance. It won't delay them."

"Thank you for your concern," Li Fan, not worried that a dignified Divine Lord would play a hostage game with him, but he still hesitated. "What identity should I adopt to meet your sect's inside agent for the safest outcome?"

Jueyin Shenjun smiled, "That's fine with me. Just make sure you have no connection with Ink Bamboo Mountain and Baiyue Mountain. When you travel the world, who doesn't have a pseudonym for murder and robbery? Besides, isn't your Mozhu Mountain the most proficient in the art of transformation? Just transform into one, as long as you don't give yourself away. Come on, I'll send you on your way."

"Hey!"

A strange laugh came from beneath the deity's robe, followed by a strong wind. Li Fan felt himself enveloped in a whirlwind of flying sand and stones. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself outside the cave, in the mountains of Baiyue Mountain.

This Jueyin Shenjun is being far too cautious... He even used his supernatural powers to teleport him away...

That makes sense, though. This time they're going to steal the Heavenly Book, and incidentally find an inside man to deliver a nuclear bomb, so it's best to be careful.

So Li Fan rubbed his hands on his face, altered his brow bone, and grew out eyebrows and a beard, transforming himself into a handsome old man. He changed into a silk robe and put on boots, and in any case, there was no trace of Qingyue, the disciple of Ink Bamboo Mountain, left.

Thinking about it more carefully, this time she needs to hide her identity. She doesn't know if anyone will recognize Golden Dragon White Star, so she might have to keep a secret. Moreover, when she visited Baiyue Mountain, she used the Xuan Tian Lightning Sword Technique with the jade flute in public, as well as the mountain lord's signature Ghost Hand. So this time when she goes to Xun Kingdom's capital, Qingyue will have to hide all her special skills.

But it doesn't matter, he still has the <Dalu Jing Tian Finger> that he got by flattering the old ghost.

The so-called "six in heaven and five in earth" is the constant principle of numbers. The "Dalu Jing Tian Finger" is based on the <Six Classics> of celestial phenomena, using the six forms of Yin, Yang, wind, rain, darkness, and light to deduce the grand scheme of the celestial net, Cultivation Method that brings finger strength to its ultimate limit. It not only allows one to concentrate all the body's power into a single point for a powerful burst, amplifying the force a hundredfold, but also encompasses the power variations of the six celestial phenomena, and can be further enhanced by various internal energy cultivation techniques.

Without a doubt, the <Dalu Jing Tian Finger>, as Divine Transformation Realm Cultivation Method, far surpasses the <Ghost Hand> in its intricate and profound manipulation of true qi Dao Breath. Or rather, the Ghost Hand is really nothing special; it's just a powerful slap, and the Mountain Lord is simply too strong...

Well, in short, Li Fan had to admit that the Dalu Jing Tian Finger Technique was indeed more suitable for a genius like him with first-grade comprehension; most people might not even be able to learn it.

However, Luo Feng Patriarch was also cunning. He did not pass on the Qi Refinement Stage method used to activate the Dalu Jing Tian Finger to Li Fan. Therefore, although Li Fan could see that this method could use specific true essence Dao Breath to enhance his power, he could not use his Returning Void True Essence and Bane Qi. It was just a matter of practicing a move.

Old Ghost probably hoped that Li Fan would comprehend the power of this technique and seek Luo Feng's Daoist cultivation, but he underestimated Li Fan's comprehension and his cheat-like abilities. After Li Fan's calculations and system confirmation, he discovered that among the various Cultivation Method he possessed, there happened to be one that could be used to enhance this Heavenly Finger Technique.

That is the Qingcheng Sect's <<Jade Pure Return to Dust Primordial Qi Technique>>.

The Dalu Jing Tian Finger technique evolved from the Supreme Three Pure Ones Heaven, and its power can certainly be unleashed using the Qi of the Three Pure Ones!

Now that Li Fan has reached the Nascent Soul Realm and has mastered the Zhongshan Mountain God Body, he can refine the Return-to-Dust Zhenqi into Primordial Qi to forge a Golden Core. Moreover, if he really has too much free time, he can certainly further refine the Yuqing Zhenyuan and cultivate the Jade Purity Nascent Soul Stage.

Of course, Li Fan wasn't that troubled. Why bother refining so many Nascent Soul Stage? Refining just one would take at least seven or eight years. But if the Yuqing Zhenyuan could be used to activate the Dalu Jing Tian Finger, things would be different.

Li Fan then circulated his qi and adjusted his breathing, successfully refining the Yuqing Zhenyuan. Following the Dalu Jing Tian Finger technique, he opened up the meridians and acupoints around his shoulders and activated the power of the Dalu Jing Tian Finger.

A faint sound of air being torn apart could be heard. Li Fan, using his blindfold, could clearly see a seven- or eight-inch-long, jade-colored beam of light flash briefly. However, it wasn't launched; instead, it appeared at his fingertips like a pillar of energy, resembling a lightsaber. This finger technique differed from ordinary sword energy. While sword energy is launched and immediately released, the energy from this finger technique could be maintained indefinitely, further concentrating the power at a single point.

To be honest, just being touched by that finger technique would be enough to hurt, but to keep pushing it in is quite impressive.

Then Li Fan put away the Heavenly Finger Technique. Seeing that he still had some Yuqing Zhenyuan, he simply decided to practice the Earth Escape Technique, <<Jade Pure Jade Quality Flawless Escape>>, which he had also learned from the Lei Marsh Swamp Mine.

Earth Escape Techniques are generally good at concealing oneself and holding one's breath. However, the most distinctive feature of the Qingcheng Sect's Earth Escape Technique, besides its ability to move stealthily, is its ability to restore health. The <<Jade Pure Jade Quality Flawless Escape>> and <<Jade Pure Return to Dust Primordial Qi Technique>> are a set. When both techniques are practiced to the Nascent Soul Stage, one can upgrade from a petrified Dao body, using Yuqing Zhenyuan to refine the mortal body into a jade-like Dao body. This body can then be integrated into the earth's veins for secluded cultivation, absorbing Return to Dust Earth Qi to repair severely injured and damaged Dao bodies. It is a supreme Dao technique for healing injuries, preserving life, and even bringing the dead back to life.

It's likely that Jade Toad Granny, who was often beaten half to death, relied on this escape technique to barely survive, and then used the Wind and Cloud Dragon Ascent Technique to stealthily escape.

Of course, with so many ways to protect himself, Li Fan didn't prioritize practicing the "cowardly turtle" escape technique. He only practiced these techniques while playing a disguise and infiltration game to build up his character.

After making some preparations and feeling that it was about time, Li Fan used the Imperishable Escape Technique to burrow underground and head straight for Xingye City in the north.