“[Sitting Mountain], without [Mountain Ascension]…”

He Zhenghao’s eyes lit up. He seemed to have gleaned some incredible information from Li Fan, this senior. He was eager for Li Fan to elaborate, but the latter suddenly clammed up.

This made He Zhenghao anxious. He hesitated several times before speaking.

“What’s the matter? We’re both cultivating the same technique now. It’s good enough that we’re not drawing swords at each other. You still want me to guide you?” Li Fan sneered.

He Zhenghao could see that this senior was just a little intimidating in appearance. He wasn’t truly a villain.

He quickly said, “Senior, your eyes are like torches, you’ve seen through me. The Sitting Mountain Technique (坐山訣) is a divine technique, but my cultivation is too slow. I’ve already thought about changing techniques.”

“Please rest assured, Senior. I will absolutely not compete with you for the technique.”

Hearing He Zhenghao’s statement, Li Fan’s expression softened slightly.

“You’re a smart kid. It saves me from having to commit more bloodshed.”

He Zhenghao tentatively asked, “However, I’ve cultivated the Sitting Mountain Technique for over a hundred years, pouring my heart and soul into it. I know I might have been practicing it wrong, but I don’t know the correct way to cultivate it. It’s truly frustrating.”

“I hope Senior can enlighten me.” He Zhenghao said earnestly.

Li Fan carefully scrutinized him. He Zhenghao felt the same nervousness he had as a mortal when he first encountered a cultivator.

“Forget it. We were originally separated by thousands of years, but we can cultivate the same technique. It’s truly a deep connection. The Heavenly Secrets are unpredictable. Perhaps it was fate that I met you after I woke up.”

After a long silence, Li Fan sighed lightly.

“The subworld where you obtained the technique is also…”

Li Fan shook his head, abruptly stopping. He said seriously, “Since you’re also cultivating the Sitting Mountain Technique, you naturally know that the essence of the technique lies in the four words: ‘坐享其成’ (Sit and Enjoy the Benefits).”

He Zhenghao nodded repeatedly.

Li Fan continued, “But the changes in the world happen over thousands of years. Just relying on ‘Sitting Mountain’, cultivation is too slow. In truth, it might not even be considered a third-rate technique.”

He Zhenghao agreed even more.

“Therefore, if you want to cultivate the Sitting Mountain Technique quickly, you have to rely on ‘Sitting Immortal’!” Li Fan said emphatically.

“Help cultivators who are in dire straits. Once their luck turns around and they soar to great heights, their cultivation will advance rapidly. We will naturally benefit greatly.”

“Furthermore, the feedback from one person may be small, but with a wide net, little by little, it will accumulate and become a towering structure. How can cultivation be slow?”

“However…”

Li Fan’s voice changed, “The crux lies here. Although there are many cultivators in the world, ultimately only a small percentage can cultivate from the Qi Refinement Stage, Foundation Establishment Stage, all the way to the Golden Core Stage and Nascent Soul Stage.

“If you lack special methods and blindly invest, not only will it be inefficient, but more often than not, it will be a waste of effort.”

“I think this is the reason why your cultivation has been so slow.”

He Zhenghao nodded eagerly.

“Therefore, the key lies in finding the right people.”

“So-called ‘Harmony between Heaven and Man’ (天人交感). If there is extraordinary talent, Heaven and Earth will naturally respond with a Heavenly Secret (天機).”

“My Tian Ji Sect (天機宗) has a secret technique that can locate and pinpoint those with extraordinary talents in this world based on the changes in Heavenly Secret within Heaven and Earth.”

“If we bestow favors on them before they grow up…”

Li Fan stopped talking, but He Zhenghao was filled with excitement.

“In this way, the cultivation of the Sitting Mountain Technique will definitely be a hundred, a thousand times faster!”

“Amazing, amazing!” He was lost in his own beautiful fantasies.

It was Li Fan’s cold snort that brought him back to reality.

“Alright, I’ve given you the answer you want. When are you going to change techniques?”

“Anyway, with the Transmutation Chapter of the ‘Supreme Primordial True Scripture’ (太上原始真經), it won’t affect you much.” Li Fan questioned.

He Zhenghao’s expression faltered slightly, and he said awkwardly, “Junior wants to change to a technique that requires a lot of Contribution Points.”

“My resources are a bit tight right now. I’m afraid…”

Li Fan’s face suddenly darkened, “Kid! Are you trying to play me?”

“If that’s the case, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

Seeing a black light flash in Li Fan’s eyes, He Zhenghao’s hair stood on end. He felt like he was being targeted by an ancient beast, his heart frantically warning him.

He Zhenghao quickly said with a bitter face, “It’s true! It’s true!”

“The technique Junior wants is called the ‘Mountain River Hidden Dragon Technique’ (山河隱龍功). It requires a total of 250,000 Contribution Points to redeem…”

He spoke extremely quickly, spilling all his secrets in one breath.

“Oh?” The black light in Li Fan’s eyes didn’t dissipate.

“So how many Contribution Points have you accumulated now?”

He Zhenghao hesitated.

“I usually keep about a thousand Contribution Points for emergencies. The rest are invested in various channels.”

He Zhenghao took out a Tianxuan Mirror, glanced at it, and his expression changed.

“All in all, I should have… fifteen or sixteen hundred thousand.” He carefully glanced at Li Fan.

To his surprise, Li Fan didn’t get angry. He simply nodded and said, “Hmm, you’re still short 100,000 Contribution Points.”

“Give you a month, that should be enough, right?”

He flicked his finger. He Zhenghao felt a cold sensation enter his body. When he tried to sense it again, he couldn’t detect it.

Li Fan said coldly, “This is the Tian Ji Sect’s secret technique ‘Soul Locking Binding’ (鎖靈縛). No one can undo it except the person who cast the spell.”

“Once the time is up, if the Soul Locking Binding isn’t removed, you will only be reduced to ashes, death and destruction!”

He Zhenghao’s face turned pale at these words.

“Kid, remember! Within a month, change techniques on your own. Otherwise…”

Li Fan glanced at He Zhenghao and was about to flee.

He Zhenghao couldn’t help but lament, “Senior, you’re being too unreasonable! 150,000 into 250,000 in a month! How is that possible! You might as well kill…”

Li Fan suddenly returned and landed in front of He Zhenghao.

He Zhenghao stopped abruptly.

“You little brat, why are you so noisy? I’ve already been merciful by giving you so much time.”

“You can’t turn 150,000 into 250,000 in a month?”

“Then what are you investing in?” Li Fan said impatiently.

He Zhenghao mumbled, looking like he was angry but didn’t dare to say anything.

Li Fan suddenly became furious, “What kind of expression is that?”

He Zhenghao had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, “It’s not that Junior is shirking responsibility, it’s just…”

Li Fan waved his hand, “You kid are just a piece of useless mud. Such a simple matter, it’s as if you’re being asked to give your life.”

“If I were to do it, I wouldn’t need a month. I could do it in seven or eight days.”

The expression on He Zhenghao’s face spoke volumes.

Li Fan sneered, “What? You don’t believe me?”

“How about we make a bet?”

He Zhenghao was unusually tough this time, “Bet on it! But Senior can’t go back on your word if you lose!”

(To be continued)