-----------
This high quality machine translation is powered by: https:// geriatrictranslations.com/
Special Permission was given to upload the novel on WebNovel.
Geriatric Translations can be supported on patreon (https://www. patreon.com/geriatricvibes) where additional chapters can be enjoyed.
You can also join the Geriatric Translations Community on Discord to connect with other readers: https:// discord.gg/NSWvfN7vua
-----------
In his previous life, Li Fan, on the brink of his lifespan, stumbled upon a chance to break through the Heaven-Severing Array and entered the Cultivation World for the first time.
At that time, what he saw was a series of continuous mountains and a majestic city floating in the air.
But in this life, after Li Fan entered the Cultivation World, he found himself above a vast ocean.
Until then, Li Fan had not given it much thought, assuming that some mishap had occurred during the transmission.
It was only today, when Li Fan saw the desiccated Congyun Sea and the birth of the Vast Sea (Canghai), that he finally understood.
There was no mishap; he had indeed arrived at the same place through the Heaven-Severing Array.
It was just that the times at which he arrived in the Cultivation World were different.
In his previous life, when Li Fan entered the Cultivation World, he was already 85 years old, which was 65 years after the Anchoring.
But in this life, Li Fan entered the Cultivation World at the age of 40, after reaching 100% Void Transformation Energy Progress, which was 20 years after the Anchoring.
There was a 45-year gap between the two visits, one encountering the Vast Sea and the other encountering the mountains.
It was no wonder Li Fan hadn't thought about it this way.
Without personal experience, even if someone had told him about such a massive change in the world, he would have only half-believed it.
So Li Fan smiled.
First, he laughed at himself for still being unable to shake off the mentality of an ordinary person.
If he had connected the various anomalies Zhang Haobo had warned him about with the differences he had seen in his two visits, he might have foreseen this massive change earlier.
Second, he finally saw hope for the end of this disaster.
In the 50th year of the Anchoring, Kou Hong and Daoxuanzi intruded into Great Xuan, claiming they were from Skysoaring City in the Congyun Mountains.
It must have been that the drought had already passed by then.
The desiccated sea would transform into a vibrant mountain range.
Now, in the 34th year of the Anchoring, it was not far off.
Waiting without hope is the most tormenting, but knowing the ultimate outcome made this seemingly endless heat disaster less terrifying.
Li Fan calmed his mind and returned to Taian Island.
Seeing the mortals, who were in a state of constant fear and had become somewhat numb, praying and bowing day and night, Li Fan transmitted his voice to the entire island, telling them that this disaster would eventually pass.
Receiving the instructions of the immortal master, the island's residents were overjoyed and rekindled their hope for survival.
Li Fan then went into seclusion and took out the Vast Sea (Canghai) Pearl once again.
"Is the key to survival here?"
Li Fan observed this azure celestial wonder.
His divine sense flowed into it, but it vanished like a clay ox entering the sea, disappearing in an instant.
"It seems I will have to put in some effort to use it," Li Fan mused.
Celestial wonders are crucial for achieving the Dao Foundation, and how to find and use them is invaluable experience.
In the Heavenly Profound Realm, the exchange price for such knowledge is extremely high, requiring nearly 2000 contribution points.
Li Fan could only explore on his own.
Next, Li Fan tried various methods.
He infused it with spirit energy, nurtured it with his divine sense, even struck it with external force, and finally even attempted to refine it with his blood.
But the Vast Sea (Canghai) Pearl remained unmoved, unable to trigger the vast water vapor it contained.
Finally, a flash of inspiration struck Li Fan, and he recalled a method from the *Thousand Mechanisms Jade Ring Golden Chapter* to sense and refine the aura from various celestial and spiritual objects.
He immediately activated the "Discerning the Mechanism" divine ability and focused on the Vast Sea (Canghai) Pearl.
A deep blue radiance enveloped the Vast Sea (Canghai) Pearl.
Ancient, profound, and full of life...
Though small, the Vast Sea (Canghai) Pearl's aura was more complex and powerful than all the living beings on Taian Island.
It was currently in a state of nurturing and dormancy, so it was not easily discernible without careful observation.
Li Fan carefully sensed the aura of the Vast Sea (Canghai) Pearl.
As soon as he made contact, Li Fan felt his body disappear.
It was as if he had suddenly ascended to the ninth heaven, viewing the ocean below from a bird's-eye view.
The Congyun Sea had existed since ancient times, nurturing countless living beings.
But one day, a will of the heavens suddenly descended.
Thus, the ocean began to die.
The heavens create and destroy, such is the way of the Dao.
The heavens wished to burn the sea, and the sea had no power to resist.
But, it would not submit!
Thus, though the Vast Sea (Canghai) perished, a new Vast Sea (Canghai) was born!
...
Boom!
Li Fan was jolted out of that wondrous realm.
Before he could savor the scenes he had just seen, he suddenly felt a wave of weakness, nearly losing his balance.
Upon inspection, Li Fan was horrified to find that he had a strand of white hair and fine wrinkles on his face.
This was just a moment of resonance with the Vast Sea (Canghai) Pearl's aura!
Li Fan then opened the [True Illusion] panel, gasping in shock.
Name: Li Fan
Realm: Mid Qi Condensation Stage
Biological Age: 89/199
Mental Age: 517/2280↑
In that instant, Li Fan's biological age had jumped from 54 to 89.
It was as if he had aged 35 years in a single moment.
"No wonder even in the Ancient Heavenly Mechanism Sect, few people practice this technique. Just the consciousness of a Vast Sea (Canghai), when touched, rapidly consumes one's lifespan."
"If my lifespan hadn't been consumed so quickly, triggering a natural warning, I might have been unknowingly assimilated by the Vast Sea (Canghai) consciousness. Whether I could activate [True Illusion] would be uncertain then."
Li Fan understood what had just happened and felt a chill of fear.
"No, this is definitely not the right way to manipulate a celestial wonder."
Li Fan knew he must have made a mistake.
The time scale of human perception is incomparable to that of the heavens, mountains, and the Vast Sea (Canghai).
Even the most powerful cultivators, who can live for thousands of years, are far from comparable.
Rashly using human consciousness to make contact would only result in assimilation.
But how could he manipulate a celestial wonder then?
Li Fan held the Vast Sea (Canghai) Pearl, his expression uncertain.
...
Days passed, and Li Fan still had not figured out how to use the Vast Sea (Canghai) Pearl.
The weather became increasingly hot, as if the Congyun Sea was undergoing a final, thorough purification.
The mortals on the island gradually lost even the strength to pray.
Li Fan knew that if this continued, these mortals might die before the heat disaster ended.
Dying just before dawn is a desperate fate.
Li Fan also became restless, his mind filled with杂念.
To calm himself, he involuntarily began to practice the long-neglected *Yellow and Black Heart Cultivation Spell*.
Since becoming a Qi Condensation cultivator, he had devoted most of his energy to practicing techniques like the *Water Derivation Technique* and the *Thousand Mechanisms Jade Ring Golden Chapter*.
He hadn't deliberately practiced the *Yellow and Black Heart Cultivation Spell* for a long time.
Because it didn't significantly enhance his cultivation, and even without active practice, it would run slowly on its own.
So Li Fan had put it aside.
Now, as the heart cultivation spell ran, all the negative emotions in Li Fan's heart, such as unease, fear, and urgency, gradually dissipated, becoming nourishment for his Dao heart.
His mind became calm again, and Li Fan suddenly had a realization.
The key to his breakthrough lay with the Vast Sea (Canghai) Pearl.
(End of Chapter)