Chapter 10

"How did the mortals during the Great Migration come to the Immortal Cut-off Land?" Perhaps he had never cared about this question before, Kou Hong was directly stunned when Li Fan asked him.

"The Great Plague Era has passed for thousands of years, and we are not clear about the specific situation at that time. As for the details, we mostly just hear them from others." After pondering for a moment, Kou Hong shook his head.

"What, you still haven't given up?" Kou Hong looked at Li Fan and couldn't help but sneer, "Even if you go out, what can you do? You're already seventy years old and still want to cultivate immortality..."

He was halfway through his words when he saw Li Fan's cold gaze scanning him, and the few cruel officials beside him looking eager and menacing. He couldn't help but shiver and awkwardly closed his mouth.

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

After being confined in a secret room and baptized with the Immortal Mortal Miasma by Li Fan, his cultivation had drastically regressed, falling directly to the early stage of Qi Condensation.

He could no longer use any Dao techniques and was now just a slightly stronger mortal.

After being captured, he had initially been cursing nonstop, but after several rounds of severe torture, Kou Hong finally became honest.

"The lofty cultivators, once they lose their cultivation, are no different from us mortals. They might even lack our backbone." One of the cruel officials said sarcastically.

"Indeed, this one didn't even last an hour under our hands." Another cruel official chimed in.

Kou Hong, however, was quite calm: "Better to live a miserable life than to die. Besides, in the cultivation world, life and death, success and failure are common. Although you are just a mortal, your methods and will are extraordinary. Being outsmarted by you, my brother and I have no complaints. It's just that our skills were inferior!"

"Do you not hate me?" Li Fan was somewhat curious.

"Hate, of course I do!" Kou Hong took a fierce sip of the fine wine Li Fan had prepared for him, "But what can I do? Now you are the butcher and I am the fish. Should I still threaten you? Isn't that just courting death?"

"You are quite open-minded!" Li Fan smiled wryly.

"Just living a miserable life!" Kou Hong snorted.

"If you could return to the cultivation world, could you continue to cultivate?" After a moment of silence, Li Fan suddenly asked.

"What..." Kou Hong was momentarily at a loss.

"If you can help me find a way to the cultivation world, perhaps I will take you with me." Li Fan promised.

"You deceitful scoundrel, are you trying to trick me?" Kou Hong was furious, but he quickly calmed down and glared at Li Fan.

Li Fan's expression was calm: "Whether it's the truth or a lie, it's ultimately a hope. Are you willing to give up this chance to live and just grow old and die in this small place?"

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

His expression changed dramatically, clearly struggling internally.

After a long time, he finally sighed.

"Fine! I agree!"

"Rest assured, I, Li Fan, always keep my word and never go back on it." Li Fan said solemnly.

The cruel officials beside him became serious and lowered their heads.

In the entire court, who didn't know that the current Grand Tutor always kept his word: if he said he would kill your entire family, he would kill your entire family!

"Don't paint me a rosy picture. I am willing to help you just to gamble for a chance at survival." Kou Hong sneered.

Seeing this, Li Fan didn't bother to explain but directly explained his conjecture.

"If my guess is correct, the cultivators used flying boats or flying shuttles to migrate the mortals. In ancient times, the cultivation world was populous, with numerous sects and great prosperity. Such transportation tools were very popular. Unfortunately, after the great change in the heavens and earth, cultivators were in constant danger, and they mostly acted alone. Flying boats and shuttles became rare." Kou Hong responded slowly after listening.

"Was the great change in the heavens and earth referring to that strange Great Plague?" Li Fan asked.

"Although the Immortal Mortal Miasma was strange, it did not shake the foundation of the cultivators. In fact, the Immortal Mortal Miasma could spread because most of the cultivators in the world perished in a great calamity. The strength of the cultivation world plummeted, and it could no longer effectively deal with the Immortal Mortal Miasma." Kou Hong shook his head, his expression grave.

"Heavenly calamity?" Li Fan suddenly remembered the dilapidated mountain gate he had seen deep in the Xuyuan Abyss, and his heart stirred, "Could it be that the cultivation of immortality cannot be shared?"

Kou Hong looked at Li Fan in surprise, not understanding how he had come to this conclusion.

"You are correct, the cultivation of immortality cannot be shared!" Kou Hong sighed deeply.

"In ancient times, there were no such restrictions. Back then, numerous great cultivation sects widely opened their doors, taking in disciples and teaching them. Cultivators had their masters to guide them, and they could seek advice whenever they encountered difficulties in cultivation. They could also discuss and learn from fellow disciples who practiced the same techniques. At that time, the entire cultivation world was a scene of vibrant vitality!" Kou Hong spoke, unable to hide his nostalgia.

"Unfortunately! The great change in the heavens and earth! One day, the cultivators suddenly realized that the efficiency of their cultivation techniques had greatly decreased. During cultivation, they would sense how many people in the entire cultivation world were practicing the same technique. They also discovered in horror that the more people practicing the same technique, the lower the cultivation efficiency for all of them." Kou Hong spoke softly, a trace of fear in his eyes.

"At first, everyone maintained restraint, trying to find a solution. But over the next few decades, countless cultivators were stuck in place, unable to make any progress in their cultivation. As their lifespan approached, they could no longer hide their murderous intentions."

"A great calamity swept through the entire cultivation world. Anyone who practiced the same technique as me was an obstacle on my path, and we would fight to the death! Former masters and disciples, brothers and sisters, instantly became mortal enemies! Even if someone was unwilling to kill, how could they be sure that the other person felt the same? Who could guarantee that the other person wouldn't suddenly attack? All cultivators fell into endless suspicion, and the only person they could trust was themselves!"

"At that time, all sects instantly turned into hell. Even the scattered cultivators hiding in deep mountains and secret realms could not escape. Because cultivators practicing the same technique could still sense each other's locations!"

"Killing, endless killing. No one knows how long it lasted before it gradually subsided. By then, the once prosperous cultivation world had become desolate, and all sects had vanished, leaving only solitary cultivators." Kou Hong narrated the ancient great change in the cultivation world.

Li Fan listened with a heart full of emotion, but a greater question also arose.

If the cultivation of immortality cannot be shared, how do the current cultivators practice? What is the current state of the cultivation world?