Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Different Practices of the Immortal Law
"How did the mortals arrive at the Immortal Realm during The Great Migration?" Perhaps he had never paid attention to this question, Kou Hong was taken aback when Li Fan asked.
"The Great Plague Era has been over thousands of years ago, and we aren't clear about the specific circumstances of that time. About those old stories, we basically only heard it through the grapevine." After pondering for a while, Kou Hong shook his head.
"Don't tell me, you haven't given up?" Kou Hong glanced at Li Fan, mocking, "Even if you managed to leave, then what? 70 years old and still fancy Cultivation..."
Before he could finish, he saw Li Fan's cold eyes sweeping over him, and the stern administrators next to him seemed eager and watchful, which made him shiver and shut up unwillingly.
Kou Hong had already been released from the prison by Li Fan.
After being trapped in a secret room by Li Fan and subjected to the Immortal-Ordinary Miasma, his cultivation level significantly regressed, falling directly back to the initial stage of energy refining.
He was unable to use all the Taoist techniques and was now merely a slightly stronger mortal.
After being captured, despite his resistance and cursing at first, after being severely tortured a few times, Kou Hong became obedient.
"So the high and mighty cultivators, once they lose their cultivation, aren't any different from us mortals. In fact, they're even less resilient than us." A stern administrator sarcastically remarked.
"Yeah, he couldn't even withstand one hour under our hands." another administrator echoed.
Kou Hong was rather blunt: "Better to be a coward than a dead hero. Besides, in the Immortal Cultivation World, life and death, success, and failure are common. Although you're a simple mortal, your methods and determination are exceptional, and being outwitted by you, we brothers have no complaints. It's simply that our skills were inferior!"
"You don't resent me?" Li Fan asked curiously.
"Resent, of course resent!" Kou Hong took a heavy gulp of the good wine Li Fan had prepared for him, "But what can that do? Now you hold all the power, and I'm your helpless prey. Would it be wise to provoke you? Isn't that just a path to death?"
"How open-minded!" Li Fan chuckled.
"Just trying to survive!" said Kou Hong with a cold snort.
"If you can return to the Immortal Cultivation World, could you continue cultivating?" After a moment of silence, Li Fan suddenly asked.
"What..." Kou Hong was caught off guard.
"If you help me find a way back to the Immortal Cultivation World, perhaps when the time comes, I may take you with me," promised Li Fan.
"You cunning rogue, you're trying to deceive me?" Kou Hong raged, but he quickly calmed down and stared at Li Fan intently.
Li Fan was calm: "True or false, it's a glimmer of hope. Are you willing to abandon this lifeline, only to die slowly in this small place?"
Upon hearing Li Fan's words, Kou Hong fell silent.
His facial expression was changing dramatically, revealing his lingering inner struggle.
After a long time, he let out a long sigh.
"Fine! I agree!"
"Rest assured, I, Li Fan, have always kept my word." Li Fan assured in a deep voice.
The stern administrators all bowed their heads solemnly at this point.
Everyone knew, if you were on the bad side of the regent, he would not be afraid to wipe you and your family out!
"You don't have to entice me with promises, my agreement is simply a bet on a slim chance of survival," Kou Hong scoffed.
Not needing further explanation, Li Fan then directly laid out his speculation to him.
"If I'm not mistaken, the tools used by ancient cultivators to transport mortals during The Great Migration should have been something like magic tools that resembled flying boats or shuttles. In the ancient times, the Immortal Cultivation World had a large population, abundant sects, and was incredibly prosperous; thus, these sorts of transportation magic tools were very popular. Unfortunately, after the massive changes of heaven and earth occurred, all cultivators began to fend for themselves, and tools like flying boats and shuttles gradually disappeared," Kou Hong responded slowly after hearing this.
"The massive changes to heaven and earth, are you referring to that strange Great Plague?" asked Li Fan.
"Although the Immortal-Ordinary Miasma was strange, it couldn't shake the core of the cultivators. The reality is, the reason why the Immortal-Ordinary Miasma was able to wreak havoc was because the majority of the cultivators in heaven and earth fell during a Great Calamity. The overall strength of the Immortal Cultivation World greatly declined, which is why it wasn't able to effectively deal with the Immortal-Ordinary Miasma," Kou Hong shook his head, his expression somewhat severe.
"The Great Calamity?" Li Fan suddendly thought of the scene of the ruined mountain gate deep in the ruined abyss he had previously seen, a sudden idea occurred to him, "Could it be, the prohibition of practicing multiple Immortal Laws?"
Kou Hong looked at Li fan in surprise, unclear how he came up with it.
"Correct, the prohibition of practicing multiple Immortal Laws!" Kou Hong heaved a sigh.
"In the ancient times, there wasn't such a restriction. Back then, numerous Great Sects of Cultivation opened their doors to admit and teach students. Cultivators had the guidance of their masters, were able to seek advice when faced with cultivation difficulties, and could discuss and exchange ideas with their peers who engaged in the same techniques. The entire Immortal Cultivation World was so vibrant!" Kou Hong spoke, unable to conceal his longing.
"But what a pity! Massive changes to heaven and earth occurred! One day, cultivators suddenly found that the efficacy of their cultivation was greatly reduced. During cultivation, they could sense intuitively that a large number of people in the entire Immortal Cultivation World were practicing the same techniques. They were horrified to find that the more people practicing the same technique at the same time, the lower the cultivation efficacy for everyone involved." Kou Hong told the story slowly, his eyes reflecting a flash of fear.
"At first, everyone tried to keep their composure and find a solution to the problem. However, after several decades, countless cultivators were stuck at the same stage, unable to progress in their cultivation. When the end of their life force approached, they could no longer conceal their murderous intentions."
"A catastrophe that swept across the entire Immortal Cultivation World began. If I practiced the same technique as you, you would be a stumbling block, and we'd fight till death! Former masters and disciples, brothers and sisters, instantly became lifelong enemies! Even if someone didn't want to kill, who could guarantee that others felt the same? Who could be sure that others might not suddenly turn violent and attack them? All cultivators fell into endless suspicion, trusting no one but themselves!"
"In an instant, every sect turned into purgatory. Even those cultivators hiding deep in the mountains or secret realms to avoid the conflict couldn't escape. Because cultivators who practiced the same technique were able to sense each other's locations!"
"Battles, endless battles. We don't know how long they lasted till they gradually subsided. By then, the once-prosperous Immortal Cultivation World had become extremely bleak, all the sects had disappeared, leaving only individual cultivators who operated independently." Kou Hong recounted this massive ancient transformation of the Immortal Cultivation World.
Li Fan was also aroused by Kou Hong's narration, but even more questions arose.
If the Immortal Laws were not allowed to be cultivated at the same time, how could cultivators practice nowadays? What was the current state of the Immortal Cultivation World?
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone