Fearless unto death, sacrificing oneself for others?
If not for Return to Truth, which allows me to start over at any time, I would absolutely never make such a choice!
It truly leaves a sour taste!
Amidst the boundless sea of mist, Li Fan employed Purple Firmament Divine Lightning Evasion, transforming into a streak of violet light as he sped toward the Eternal Immortal Fortress.
A feeling of stifling frustration and gloom lingered stubbornly within him.
And the previously ever-reliable Xuanhuang Heart Refinement Sutra was, contrary to its nature, operating with extreme sluggishness.
Like an immensely heavy millstone, it drew his thoughts inward and ground them down slowly.
Before, when Li Fan had practiced it incorrectly, everything was crudely pulverized. Now, the Heart Refinement Sutra tempered these rebellious emotions born from defying his Dao Heart, refining them into threads of icy-cold energy that flowed into the depths of his mind and body, nourishing him.
The cooling sensation slightly soothed his agitated state of mind.
Inversely refining the Dao Heart was, in essence, actively pursuing those unsettled grievances.
This naturally made Li Fan, who had always followed his own whims, feel extremely uncomfortable.
Fortunately, the Xuanhuang Heart Refinement Sutra did not disappoint him.
After carefully contemplating the effect of the icy energy on his body, Li Fan's spirit was soon shaken by a violent tremor.
This feeling...
It's so similar to when I consumed the Intent Horse?!
The Heart Clarification Sutra could strengthen divine sense, but cultivating the Heart Refinement Sutra correctly can actually fortify the soul?
A tempest of astonishment surged within Li Fan's heart.
No wonder its grade as a technique surpasses even the Dao Unity-level Cloudwater Dream Illusion Art.
Techniques that strengthen divine sense—I've seen one or two of those on the special merit redemption catalog within the Tianxuan Mirror.
But ones that can strengthen the soul... that is truly unheard of.
The soul was the interior; divine sense was the exterior. If the soul grew stronger, divine sense naturally followed suit.
Divine sense was like muscle; it could be continuously enhanced through later training and cultivation.
But the soul was like bone, fixed at birth. Only methods that nearly altered a lifeform, such as a breakthrough in one's cultivation realm, or consuming natural treasures like the Intent Horse, could strengthen it.
Back then, Zhang Zhiliang had also said that the soul-strengthening Intent Horse was incredibly precious.
Yet no matter how effective the Intent Horse was, its benefits were ultimately limited.
The Xuanhuang Heart Refinement Sutra was another matter entirely—its soul fortification effects appeared to have no ceiling at all. So long as one continued inversely refining the Dao Heart, the soul seemed to grow stronger without limit.
It was crucial to understand that once the soul reached a certain level of strength, it could be wielded directly as a weapon against enemies.
For instance, the Myriad Immortals Alliance officially acknowledged the existence of the terrifying Thousand-Faced Demon Lord, who had abandoned his physical body and existed solely as a soul entity. Relying on the overwhelming strength of his soul, he rampaged through the world, forcibly possessing others.
If I keep cultivating the Xuanhuang Heart Refinement Sutra and my soul continues to strengthen, then one day, whether or not the Thousand-Faced Demon Lord truly exists, he would be no match for me.
And furthermore, Return to Truth and I are one. After each simulation cycle, everything in the world returns to the selected anchor point. Only the changes within me remain.
Even if I choose to retain nothing, this is still the case.
When I was still a mortal, my will grew stronger and stronger across cycles. Later, I could even manipulate the Taiyan Boat with a mortal body. That is proof.
Will, soul...
Doesn't that mean all things in the world return to their original state with each cycle, while my soul grows stronger and stronger?
And one day, even if I choose not to retain my cultivation, my powerful soul alone will be enough to crush everything?
There was no mistake.
The more Li Fan thought about it, the more incredible it seemed.
The Xuanhuang Heart Refinement Sutra, a heaven-defying divine technique, was actually hidden within the common, everyday Xuanhuang Heart Clarification Sutra?
What in the world...
Instinctively, Li Fan felt there must be some conspiracy hidden within.
His heart was filled with doubt and suspicion, but after an internal struggle, he still decided to continue cultivating.
With such a technique right before my eyes, there’s simply no way I can give it up.
Even if there is some trick, the strengthening of my soul is real and tangible.
If the mastermind behind this can truly ignore the effects of Return to Truth, then so be it.
If not, then no amount of scheming is of any use in the face of Return to Truth.
Having made his decision, Li Fan immediately felt a wave of relief.
The actual effects of the Xuanhuang Heart Refinement Sutra far exceeded his expectations.
It’s just that this method of inversely refining the Dao Heart... is rather agonizing.
Li Fan vaguely understood that one couldn’t cultivate it by simply saying things contrary to one’s Dao Heart.
One must align knowledge with action; one’s actual deeds must also defy the Dao Heart.