Chapter 160 - 160: 149: First Investment

Translator: 549690339

Li Fan had no intention of deriding.

The original “Mountain-Seating Secret”, indeed, was not created by a cultivator.

Where it came from specifically can no longer be known.

But according to the records in the technique, if the initial version of the “Mountain-Seating Secret” wanted to elevate cultivation level, one could only rely on “seating mountain”.

Depending on the chosen mountain peak to continuously elevate its height to obtain corresponding cultivation feedback.

This process was overly long.

During ancient times, the mountains and rivers didn’t change as easily as they do today.

A mountain peak often took thousands of years just to increase a little in height.

If the “Mountain-Seating Secret” wasn’t a joke, it might have been meant for trees and rocks on the mountain, rather than human cultivators.

But as far as Li Fan knew, in the current Immortal Cultivation world, there were no stories of any spirits or beasts — save humans – being bestowed the power to cultivate.

Even the slightly more powerful exotic beasts could only exercise a touch of the extraordinary power through their innate blood ties.

They were absolutely incapable of cultivation.

“Could it be that in the beginning, this world was also teeming with spirits? And was it that some mishap happened later on, causing all beasts to disappear?” Li Fan couldn’t help but guess.

But no matter how the actual situation was, it didn’t relate much to Li Fan’s practice of this “Mountain-Seating Secret”. He only mused about it for a while, delving into it was pointless.

In the original “Mountain-Seating Secret”, it was impossible for cultivators to use for cultivation.

However, as the Great Calamity descended and the mountains and rivers morphed more frequently, this “Mountain-Seating Secret” became barely cultivatable.

Later, a genius of an era discovered the “Mountain-Seating Secret” by chance thousands of years ago.

Based on its essence of “seating mountains and reaping their accomplishments,” he modified the technique.

One’s own cultivation could also enhance the progression of the technique.

Furthermore, he expanded the application range of “enjoying the fruits of others’ labor” from mountains to people.

This officially turned the “Mountain-Seating Secret” into an exceptionally cherished technique.

It’s a pity that this unrivaled genius only recorded this event in the preface of the technique and didn’t leave his own name.

Like “The Godly Sword of Calming Seas”, the “Mountain-Seating Secret” is a cultivation method for the Golden Core stage.

In this world, it should certainly be enough for Li Fan to cultivate.

Li Fan, according to the mnemonic chants of the technique, managed to make the first step into the “Mountain-Seating Secret” within a moment’s work.

However, the feelings of stagnancy in his cultivation appeared again.

Evidently, the “Mountain-Seating Secret” did not match with Li Fan’s Ocean Pearl, an item for establishing the foundation.

Li Fan hesitated for a moment, but he decided to cultivate the “Supreme Primordial Scripture” and started practicing the “Mountain-Seating Secret” instead.

With the aid of the extensive and refined cultivation at the foundation establishment phase, it didn’t take long for Li Fan to cultivate the

“Mountain-Seating Secret” to the foundation establishment phase. “Next, I need to see what effect this ‘Reaping the Benefits’ actually has.”

“If its effect is mediocre, then I might as well cultivate ‘The Godly Sword of Calming Seas’.”

Having made up his mind, Li Fan took out the jade scroll of “The Golden Seal of the Jade Realm of a Thousand Mechanisms”.

“The favor of transmitting a technique is great indeed, especially in this world where differing immortal laws cannot be cultivated together. The favor of transmitting a technique is almost equivalent to giving someone a new life.”

“He Zhenghao used to take care of me a lot, probably due to this ‘Reaping the Benefits’. ”

“Unfortunately, his vision was too narrow, it was all minor favors. Even if it could feed back cultivation, there wouldn’t be much.”

“Investment yields return, the larger the investment, the bigger the return.”

“Might as well play big this time and see how this ‘Mountain-Seating Secret’ turns out.”

With that, he took out the small Tianxuan mirror and began checking the market rates of nascent soul cultivation techniques.

In the Alliance of Thousands of Immortals, prices for energy refining stage techniques typically ranged between 1000-3000 contribution points.

Foundation establishment techniques usually range between 5000-10000 contribution points.

Starting from the Golden Core techniques, prices saw a significant leap.

The lowest ones cost 30000 points, and the more exquisite Golden Core sects, the higher the price.

It ranged from 40000 to 50000 points.

Nascent soul true techniques started at 50000, and 100000 points was not considered much.

Li Fan even saw a technique called “The Dual Cultivation of Yin and Yang: The Joining of the Three Realms” marked at an astonishing price of 150000 points.

He didn’t know what was so exceptional about it.

“Kou Hong, Dao Xuanzi, I won’t let you brothers kill each other in this life.”

Li Fan chuckled lightly and chose to sell the Nascent Soul cultivation technique: “The Golden Seal of the Jade Realm of a Thousand Mechanisms”.

The Small Tianxuan Mirror emanated a soft light over it.

After waiting for a while, it offered an impressive 90000 contribution points.

Taken into account that the Tianxuan Mirror offers less for purchases, it seems that “The Golden Seal of the Jade Realm of a Thousand Mechanisms” was indeed not too bad.

Li Fan did not hesitate and directly chose to accept.

A golden contract scroll flew out of the Small Tianxuan Mirror and stopped in front of Li Fan.

Li Fan carefully read it.

The contract scroll explained various precautions about the transaction of the technique.

Once the transaction is comDleted, the technique would be owned bv the Alliance of Thousands of Immortals.

Any use of the technique afterwards will have nothing to do with the original owner.

The transaction cannot be reversed.

Memory of the original owner regarding the technique will automatically disappear after the transaction is completed.

Please be sure not to retain any copies of the technique and trade them with others. Otherwise, you will bear the consequences.

There were no objections.

Using spiritual power as a pen, Li Fan signed his name on the golden contract scroll.

The contract scroll then transformed into countless golden particles. Some disappearing into Li Fan’s body.

A portion of them returned to the Small Tianxuan Mirror with the Jade Scroll.

Once the transaction was completed, memories concerning the specific contents of “The Golden Seal of the Jade Realm of a Thousand Mechanisms” technique were gone from Li Fan’s mind.

He only remembered once having practiced this technique, but every word, every sentence of the technique, left no trace in his memory.

Li Fan had no sense of loss. After all, it was a [Real] bindable item which he did not fear losing.

“It seems, with this, I can make a fortune in every lifetime.”

With 90,000 contribution points on hand, Li Fan’s experiment regarding the [Reap Without Sowing] effect began.

“The experiment needs a control group. Let’s pick Xiao Heng.”

The first investment target of “The Mountain-Seating Secret” was naturally the Innate Immortal Body, the extraordinarily talented Su Xiaomei.

The clone put on clothes, and the Invisible Talisman concealed his cultivation, making him stand aside.

Then he utilized a Communication Talisman to summon the pair.

Before long, Su Xiaomei and Xiao Heng arrived within the stone chamber at the bottom of the lake.

They looked curiously at the clone standing next to Li Fan, unaware of who this unfamiliar cultivator was.

However, since Li Fan remained silent, they didn’t dare to ask any questions.

“Greetings Master!”

“Greetings senior!”

The duo respectfully saluted.

“How is your cultivation coming along?” asked Li Fan, his back turned to them.

“Master, my cultivation is advancing quickly. I have reached the peak of the energy refining stage and I am about to establish my foundation. But establishing the foundation requires techniques and a Natural Treasure. Those things require a lot of contribution points, which I still need to accumulate,” Su Xiaomei said, fixing Li Fan with her large eyes in a pitiful manner.

“Senior, like Xiaomei, I am also preparing to establish my foundation, ” Xiao Heng replied somewhat reservedly.

There was a moment of silence as if he was contemplating something.

After a while, Li Fan turned around and said, “You have been delayed because of gathering Dao Rhyme Antiques for me.”

Xiao Heng quickly responded, “That’s far from it, Senior. It’s an honor for juniors like us to be able to serve you. Without you, we would not have been able to leave the worldly realm and embark on the Immortal Path.” “Moreover, the techniques that we are cultivating were also provided by you.” “The grace of the law transmission is something we will never forget.”

Only after Xiao Heng finished speaking did Li Fan respond, “Cultivation rewards both Quickness and perseverance.”

“If you rely solely on your own accumulation, I’m afraid you would have to wait three to five more years.”

“Delaying your most precious time in cultivation, I’m afraid, will lead to completely different future achievements.”

“So…”

Li Fan paused, then continued, “In this Tianxuan Mirror, pick the techniques and treasures you like and I will pick up the tab.”

“Once you get them, immediately establish your foundation and don’t delay any longer.”

Su Xiaomei and Xiao Heng were stunned at first, seemingly unable to comprehend this windfall.

By the time their faces showed excitement and they were about to kneel to pay their respects.

They heard Li Fan say, “Su Xiaomei has always referred to me as her master.

Although I’ve never agreed, after all, there is some emotional attachment. That’s why I won’t require contribution points from her. Consider this a master’s care for his disciple.”

“However, as for you… the contribution points will be considered as a loan. In the future, you need to collect Natural Treasures for me as repayment. Do you have any objections?”

This speech made Su Xiaomei and Xiao Heng react completely differently.

Su Xiaomei cheered “Long Live Master” and upon finishing one kowtow, rushed towards the Tianxuan Mirror to choose her techniques and treasures.

Xiao Heng watched Su Xiaomei and gave a bitter smile.

Then his expression became solemn, “Senior, you’re willing to lend me contribution points, allowing me to establish my foundation early. This is already a great kindness. How could I be discontent.”

“Once I establish my foundation, I will do my best to collect Natural Treasures in order to repay your kindness.”

Upon hearing this, Li Fan slowly nodded, “In that case, you may go ahead as well.”

After Xiao Heng also kowtowed, he went to the Tianxuan Mirror and started choosing with Su Xiaomei.

Seeing the excited expressions on their faces, Li Fan’s eyes showed profundity.

Su Xiaomei and Xiao Heng’s differing treatments were obviously Li Fan’s way of controlling variables.

After transmitting the law, with the improvement of their cultivation, Li Fan needed to know how much cultivation feedback he would gain.

Whether it’s worth the investment.

The feedback received from gratis and compensated law transmissions, how much would they differ.

Whether using the same amount of contribution points, the cultivation improvement brought about by investing with “The Mountain-Seating Secret” or by cultivating within the Tianxuan Mirror is more.

All these issues were what Li Fan needed to clarify.

This would determine how Li Fan would use “The Mountain-Seating Secret’s” [Reap Without Sowing] feature in the future.

After the early Foundation Establishment Stage, the Tianxuan Mirror’s consumption had risen to a hundred points per day.

The bonus rate also decreased from twenty-seven times to about twenty times.

And the Foundation Establishment stage of cultivation, compared to the Energy Refining Stage, had a quantum leap in difficulty.

Both Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi were no mediocres.

However, it took them more than two centuries to reach the Full Cycle of the Foundation Establishment.

This in a sense spoke volumes about the difficulty of cultivation.

The consumption of contribution points was simply too significant.

Although Li Fan was able to foresee and easily accumulate lots of contribution points, he still needed to crunch the numbers in detail..