Watching this horrifying scene before him, Li Fan was moved.
This is indeed an anomaly!
Caught between life and death, between clarity and confusion, bound by obsessions, one can only follow established rules and repeat the eternal cycle.
Unable to break free.
Qin Tang was like this, and so was this Gu Daoist.
Seeing that Li Fan didn't respond, the Gu Daoist held up two golden pills and waved them in front of him. "Senior Brother, pills."
He looked at Li Fan with hope.
However, Li Fan shook his head regretfully. "My aptitude is too poor. Even if I eat this pill, my cultivation won't increase much. So, I definitely can't take this pill. I'll leave it for the senior brothers with better aptitude; it'll be more useful for them."
The Gu Daoist was a bit disappointed and was about to persuade him.
Li Fan continued, "However, I would like to ask Junior Brother for a favor. I don't know if Junior Brother is willing to agree."
The Gu Daoist became happy again. "Of course, I agree. Senior Brother, what's your request, just tell me."
"I want to learn from Junior Brother the method of capturing insects," Li Fan said slowly.
Anomalies have their own rules.
If you don't follow the rules of the anomaly, you will surely die under the anomaly.
But if you understand the rules, you can not only stay unharmed in the anomaly but also gain various benefits from it.
Like the previous statue in the Qin Tang's trial.
In Qin Tang's trial, if you performed well in all three tests, you could ask Qin Tang for help before leaving, using good wine.
Qin Tang would then help based on the specific performance in the tests, either by enhancing one's cultivation or by imparting a technique.
In the case of this Gu Daoist, if you chose to swallow the golden pills, you could obtain the Gu Daoist's alchemy technique.
However...
This alchemy technique is not a normal alchemy practice. It's the way of insect pills.
Not only are the materials for alchemy mostly from various bizarre flying insects, but the resulting pills also resemble flying insects.
What's more deadly is that the more insect pills you refine, the more you will gradually become like the Gu Daoist.
Becoming an inhuman, ghostly existence.
So Li Fan did not choose the golden pills as a reward but chose something else, which was completely comparable to the way of insect pills.
When the Gu Daoist heard Li Fan's words, he touched the back of his head somewhat embarrassedly. "Senior Brother, my Insect Binding Technique is just something I play with usually. Why do you want to learn this..."
Li Fan explained seriously, "Our senior brothers are fighting on the front lines, and annoying insects may harass them. Although my strength is weak and I can't personally fight, if I learn your art of capturing insects, I can help the senior brothers by dealing with these annoying insects from the sidelines."
Upon hearing this, the Gu Daoist suddenly realized, "I didn't expect the Insect Binding Technique to have such a use. Senior Brother, you're really clever!"
Li Fan sincerely said, "Thank you, Junior Brother, for teaching me."
The Gu Daoist was excited and blushed, "Okay, Senior Brother, I will teach you how to catch insects."
With a buzzing sound, the Gu Daoist revealed four pairs of transparent wings.
He reached behind him and tore off one.
The wing, still with wet with bloodstains, was handed to Li Fan.
Li Fan gently touched it, and the transparent wing turned into a burst of radiance, absorbed into his body.
At the same time, countless intersecting threads seemed to appear in the world before Li Fan's eyes.
He felt as if he could manipulate these threads at will, weaving them into a giant net that captured all creatures in his field of vision.
"This is it, the Insect Binding Technique."
The illusion of the threads in front of him gradually disappeared, but Li Fan knew that he had obtained this extremely powerful technique.
As long as the opponent's realm was lower than his own, once he activated the Insect Binding Technique, he could instantly restrain the opponent.
A cultivator bound by the Insect Binding Technique couldn't be cast any of their supernatural techniques or abilities.
They could only be like insects in a web, at the mercy of others.
At first glance, this Insect Binding Technique seemed to only be effective against cultivators lower in realm than oneself, making it seemingly not very useful.
But that's not the case.
You see, the realm does not necessarily represent actual combat power.
When exploring outside, which cultivator doesn't have a few tricks up their sleeves?
Under an unexpected outburst, even if the opponent's cultivation is higher, they wouldn't dare to guarantee they could retreat unharmed.
However, with this Insect Binding Technique, there was no such concern.
As long as the opponent's realm was lower, they could ignore any miraculous trump cards and directly capture the opponent.
It's most suitable for dealing with those whose realm is low but seem to have many secrets...
The figures of Sikong Yi and Baili Chen flashed in Li Fan's mind.
Having gained this technique, Li Fan didn't want to delay any longer.
"Junior Brother, I have learned the Insect Binding Technique. I will now go to the front lines to find our senior brothers. Take care!" Li Fan said.
The Gu Daoist was somewhat reluctant. "Senior Brother, you must be careful. Make sure to come back safely!"
And with Li Fan's departure, that worried expression slowly faded.
After an unknown amount of time, in the quiet Demon Refining Tower, the Gu Daoist's muttering once again echoed.
"...without alchemy materials, what should I do..."
...
Exiting the Demon Refining Tower, Li Fan sensed the location of Sikong Yi and Baili Chen.
They were very close to the central core area of Cloud Water Heavenly Palace: the Taiyi Hall.
Information about the Taiyi Hall instantly appeared in Li Fan's mind.
The Taiyi Hall is said to be the place where Cloud Water Heavenly Palace receives distinguished guests and holds sect discussions.
There was no particular risk, but the situation was quite unique.
Looking at Sikong Yi and Baili Chen, it seemed that they had stopped for some reason, moving slowly toward the central area.
Li Fan instantly had a clear idea.
He sneered and hurried towards the direction where the two were.
In front of the Taiyi Hall, countless broken swords were inserted into the ground.
The sword blades crisscrossed, forming a forest of swords blocking the way to the Taiyi Hall.
Sikong Yi and Baili Chen were standing on the sword handles, walking towards the Taiyi Hall.
With each step forward, a virtual shadow corresponding to the broken sword under their feet would appear above them.
Then it pierced through their hearts.
No blood spattered. After piercing, the virtual shadow would disappear.
It wouldn't cause actual harm, and would only bring pain.
The intense pain made them tremble uncontrollably, and sweat poured down their foreheads like raindrops.
After a long time, they finally eased from this indescribable pain.
The two took a deep breath and continued to step on the sword handles, moving forward.
Another sword shadow pierced through.
This was the reason why the speed of their progress was so slow.
Although it was extremely painful, there was no retreat in their eyes.
What they had worked so hard for was right in front of them, within reach.
How could they possibly give up now?
With firm determination, they gritted their teeth and continued to move forward.
At this moment, they sensed someone approaching from behind.
Looking back, they were shocked and couldn't help but exclaim, "It's you?! How is this possible?"
Watching this horrifying scene before him, Li Fan was moved.
This is indeed an anomaly!
Caught between life and death, between clarity and confusion, bound by obsessions, one can only follow established rules and repeat the eternal cycle.
Unable to break free.
Qin Tang was like this, and so was this Gu Daoist.
Seeing that Li Fan didn't respond, the Gu Daoist held up two golden pills and waved them in front of him. "Senior Brother, pills."
He looked at Li Fan with hope.
However, Li Fan shook his head regretfully. "My aptitude is too poor. Even if I eat this pill, my cultivation won't increase much. So, I definitely can't take this pill. I'll leave it for the senior brothers with better aptitude; it'll be more useful for them."
The Gu Daoist was a bit disappointed and was about to persuade him.
Li Fan continued, "However, I would like to ask Junior Brother for a favor. I don't know if Junior Brother is willing to agree."
The Gu Daoist became happy again. "Of course, I agree. Senior Brother, what's your request, just tell me."
"I want to learn from Junior Brother the method of capturing insects," Li Fan said slowly.
Anomalies have their own rules.
If you don't follow the rules of the anomaly, you will surely die under the anomaly.
But if you understand the rules, you can not only stay unharmed in the anomaly but also gain various benefits from it.
Like the previous statue in the Qin Tang's trial.
In Qin Tang's trial, if you performed well in all three tests, you could ask Qin Tang for help before leaving, using good wine.
Qin Tang would then help based on the specific performance in the tests, either by enhancing one's cultivation or by imparting a technique.
In the case of this Gu Daoist, if you chose to swallow the golden pills, you could obtain the Gu Daoist's alchemy technique.
However...
This alchemy technique is not a normal alchemy practice. It's the way of insect pills.
Not only are the materials for alchemy mostly from various bizarre flying insects, but the resulting pills also resemble flying insects.
What's more deadly is that the more insect pills you refine, the more you will gradually become like the Gu Daoist.
Becoming an inhuman, ghostly existence.
So Li Fan did not choose the golden pills as a reward but chose something else, which was completely comparable to the way of insect pills.
When the Gu Daoist heard Li Fan's words, he touched the back of his head somewhat embarrassedly. "Senior Brother, my Insect Binding Technique is just something I play with usually. Why do you want to learn this..."
Li Fan explained seriously, "Our senior brothers are fighting on the front lines, and annoying insects may harass them. Although my strength is weak and I can't personally fight, if I learn your art of capturing insects, I can help the senior brothers by dealing with these annoying insects from the sidelines."
Upon hearing this, the Gu Daoist suddenly realized, "I didn't expect the Insect Binding Technique to have such a use. Senior Brother, you're really clever!"
Li Fan sincerely said, "Thank you, Junior Brother, for teaching me."
The Gu Daoist was excited and blushed, "Okay, Senior Brother, I will teach you how to catch insects."
With a buzzing sound, the Gu Daoist revealed four pairs of transparent wings.
He reached behind him and tore off one.
The wing, still with wet with bloodstains, was handed to Li Fan.
Li Fan gently touched it, and the transparent wing turned into a burst of radiance, absorbed into his body.
At the same time, countless intersecting threads seemed to appear in the world before Li Fan's eyes.
He felt as if he could manipulate these threads at will, weaving them into a giant net that captured all creatures in his field of vision.
"This is it, the Insect Binding Technique."
The illusion of the threads in front of him gradually disappeared, but Li Fan knew that he had obtained this extremely powerful technique.
As long as the opponent's realm was lower than his own, once he activated the Insect Binding Technique, he could instantly restrain the opponent.
A cultivator bound by the Insect Binding Technique couldn't be cast any of their supernatural techniques or abilities.
They could only be like insects in a web, at the mercy of others.
At first glance, this Insect Binding Technique seemed to only be effective against cultivators lower in realm than oneself, making it seemingly not very useful.
But that's not the case.
You see, the realm does not necessarily represent actual combat power.
When exploring outside, which cultivator doesn't have a few tricks up their sleeves?
Under an unexpected outburst, even if the opponent's cultivation is higher, they wouldn't dare to guarantee they could retreat unharmed.
However, with this Insect Binding Technique, there was no such concern.
As long as the opponent's realm was lower, they could ignore any miraculous trump cards and directly capture the opponent.
It's most suitable for dealing with those whose realm is low but seem to have many secrets...
The figures of Sikong Yi and Baili Chen flashed in Li Fan's mind.
Having gained this technique, Li Fan didn't want to delay any longer.
"Junior Brother, I have learned the Insect Binding Technique. I will now go to the front lines to find our senior brothers. Take care!" Li Fan said.
The Gu Daoist was somewhat reluctant. "Senior Brother, you must be careful. Make sure to come back safely!"
And with Li Fan's departure, that worried expression slowly faded.
After an unknown amount of time, in the quiet Demon Refining Tower, the Gu Daoist's muttering once again echoed.
"...without alchemy materials, what should I do..."
...
Exiting the Demon Refining Tower, Li Fan sensed the location of Sikong Yi and Baili Chen.
They were very close to the central core area of Cloud Water Heavenly Palace: the Taiyi Hall.
Information about the Taiyi Hall instantly appeared in Li Fan's mind.
The Taiyi Hall is said to be the place where Cloud Water Heavenly Palace receives distinguished guests and holds sect discussions.
There was no particular risk, but the situation was quite unique.
Looking at Sikong Yi and Baili Chen, it seemed that they had stopped for some reason, moving slowly toward the central area.
Li Fan instantly had a clear idea.
He sneered and hurried towards the direction where the two were.
In front of the Taiyi Hall, countless broken swords were inserted into the ground.
The sword blades crisscrossed, forming a forest of swords blocking the way to the Taiyi Hall.
Sikong Yi and Baili Chen were standing on the sword handles, walking towards the Taiyi Hall.
With each step forward, a virtual shadow corresponding to the broken sword under their feet would appear above them.
Then it pierced through their hearts.
No blood spattered. After piercing, the virtual shadow would disappear.
It wouldn't cause actual harm, and would only bring pain.
The intense pain made them tremble uncontrollably, and sweat poured down their foreheads like raindrops.
After a long time, they finally eased from this indescribable pain.
The two took a deep breath and continued to step on the sword handles, moving forward.
Another sword shadow pierced through.
This was the reason why the speed of their progress was so slow.
Although it was extremely painful, there was no retreat in their eyes.
What they had worked so hard for was right in front of them, within reach.
How could they possibly give up now?
With firm determination, they gritted their teeth and continued to move forward.
At this moment, they sensed someone approaching from behind.
Looking back, they were shocked and couldn't help but exclaim, "It's you?! How is this possible?"
