"But…" Sun Tianci hesitated, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. "Isn't this… taking advantage of others for personal gain? I could achieve the same result through diligent cultivation, couldn't I?"
Li Fan didn't mock his disciple's naiveté. Instead, he explained patiently, "The way of Heaven is to diminish excess and supplement insufficiency. The cultivation method I've imparted to you harmonizes with the Heavenly Dao of the Xuanhuang World. Otherwise, how could it be so effective?"
"Cultivators plunder the Heavenly Souls of this world, transforming them into their own power, achieving Dao Integration. They are thieves, stealing from Heaven itself. Returning what was stolen… is that good or evil?"
"From the perspective of a cultivator, your actions are unforgivable. But from the perspective of the Xuanhuang World's Heavenly Dao… you are performing a meritorious deed."
Each word resonated with a profound truth.
Sun Tianci listened, the uncertainty in his eyes fading, replaced by a growing conviction.
The images and memories Li Fan had shown to Wu Ninglu were a blend of truth and fabrication.
Sun Tianci, though undeniably talented, couldn't have achieved such feats without guidance. Without Li Fan's subtle manipulations.
"Born into Dao Integration… his starting point is far higher than that of most cultivators. And with my assistance…" Li Fan observed Sun Tianci, studying the subtle aura that clung to him, a power that was growing stronger with each passing day. "Soon. Once his power grows, once his connection to the Xuanhuang World deepens… I can send him to the Fallen Immortal Realm."
Li Fan's efforts to cultivate Sun Tianci weren't solely for the purpose of manipulating the upcoming war between the Alliance and the Sacred Dynasty. He had a far grander scheme in mind.
He intended for Sun Tianci to inherit the mantle of the Grand Celestial Venerable of the Xuanhuang World.
When he had created the Sacred Emperor persona, he had severed all memories related to the Fallen Immortal Realm and the trials required to become the Grand Celestial Venerable.
That's why the Sacred Emperor hadn't shown any interest in that place.
He had earned the recognition of the Xuanhuang World through his actions, his dedication to its well-being.
But becoming the Grand Celestial Venerable required more than just the world's approval. There was a ritual, a succession ceremony, a tradition passed down since the creation of the Xuanhuang World itself. It was a failsafe, a hidden mechanism, independent of the Heavenly Dao's will.
Even now, with the lineage broken, the ritual remained, hidden deep within the Fallen Immortal Realm.
Becoming the Grand Celestial Venerable would grant him access to the full power of the Xuanhuang World. And perhaps… access to the memories and legacy of his predecessors.
It was a gamble.
Li Fan wasn't interested in becoming the Grand Celestial Venerable himself. But he craved the knowledge, the secrets hidden within the Xuanhuang World. And the Celestial Artifacts that might still be hidden within its depths.
The memory of his previous life's final trial within the Fallen Immortal Realm surfaced in his mind.
"The combined power of nine Celestial Artifacts… a destructive force capable of breaching even the Wall."
"Four of those artifacts still remain, including the Great Sun Golden Bell. Genuine Celestial Artifacts, passed down from ancient times."
Having glimpsed the true power of the Primordial Origin Spirit Grand Formation, and having successfully replicated a fraction of its might, Li Fan understood the true potential of Celestial Artifacts.
They were game-changers. Weapons capable of turning the tide of any conflict. And perhaps… the key to exploring the world beyond the Wall.
"Master Bai, concerned for the safety of the Xuanhuang World, chose not to unleash their power against Legacy Transmission. But I… I have no such qualms."
"Of course," he added, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow, "I'll need to earn their recognition. The Grand Celestial Venerable… he would have placed restrictions on their use."
…
Li Fan's thoughts raced, his gaze returning to Sun Tianci, who was now deep in meditation, absorbing the insights gleaned from his master's teachings. "Less than three years… it should be enough."
Sun Tianci's cultivation was interrupted by a frantic servant.
"Someone is blocking the entrance to the Sun Clan's estate! They're… they're challenging you, Young Master!"
Sun Tianci blinked, his mind still hazy from his meditative state.
The servant, his face pale with fear, stammered, "It's true, Young Master! Anyone who tries to leave… they're beaten and thrown back inside! It's been going on for ten days! The Clan Head is… occupied. He can't… he can't deal with this right now. We had no choice but to disturb your cultivation."
Seeing the servant's distress, Sun Tianci reassured him gently. "It's alright. Take me to them."
To Sun Tianci, cultivation was as natural as breathing. A minor interruption was nothing to be concerned about.
He followed the servant to the entrance of the Sun Clan's estate.
Standing there, blocking the path, was a child, no older than five or six, roughly the same age as Sun Tianci.
He wore purple robes, his gaze clear and innocent.
Or perhaps… simply vacant.
"You… fight," the child said, pointing at Sun Tianci.
Sun Tianci shook his head. "No."
The child's eyes narrowed at his refusal.
Sun Tianci, sensing the child's growing hostility, decided to explain. "You are only at the Nascent Soul stage. You are no match for me. I will not bully a child."
His words, spoken with genuine sincerity, seemed to calm the child. The murderous aura that had been building around him dissipated slightly.
Sun Tianci then heard the hushed whispers of his clan members.
"Be careful, Young Master! We've investigated this child. He's… not ordinary. He's obsessed with fighting. His strength is terrifying. Though only at the Nascent Soul stage, he can defeat even Soul Formation experts with ease."
"They say he has no known background. The Alliance ignores him. They call him… the Martial Child."
Sun Tianci nodded, acknowledging their warnings.
He turned back to the Martial Child, his expression serious. "While you may be able to defeat Soul Formation experts at the Nascent Soul stage, the gap between Soul Formation and Dao Integration… it's like the difference between heaven and earth. You have no chance of winning."
"I fear I might… injure you."
The Martial Child shook his head, unconvinced. "Victory in battle is not determined by cultivation level."
"Fight."
"Not afraid to die."
Sun Tianci sighed. This was going to be troublesome.
He led the Martial Child to the Sun Clan's training grounds.
Though the Sun Clan was a relatively new family, their estate was deceptively well-equipped. Its hidden training grounds were comparable to those of ancient clans, built to withstand even the most powerful attacks.
This particular training ground was built upon the bones of a deceased Dao Integration expert, a testament to the Sun Clan's growing wealth and influence. It could easily withstand the attacks of a Dao Integration cultivator.
The two children faced each other, their expressions solemn, their auras radiating power.
The surrounding Sun Clan members watched, their nerves stretched taut.
Sun Tianci was their most precious asset. Though his cultivation level was far higher than that of his opponent, even a minor injury would result in severe punishment for those who had allowed this spar to take place.
"Please," the Martial Child said, his voice low.
In the blink of an eye, he was moving, a silver spear materializing in his hand, its tip aimed directly at Sun Tianci's face.
"So fast!" Sun Tianci was momentarily surprised, but not overly concerned.
A Nascent Soul cultivator's attack wouldn't even scratch him.
The spear dissolved as it neared him, like ice melting in water.
"Hmm?" But as he neutralized the attack, a flicker of surprise registered in his mind.
As he paused, a ripple spread through the air before him. The silver spear reappeared, as if leaping from the depths of the sea, its tip aimed at his chest.
"Martial!" The Martial Child roared, his voice surprisingly deep and resonant.
The silver spear shimmered, multiplying, its form dividing into eighteen distinct weapons, each one a perfect replica of the original, surrounding Sun Tianci.
Swords, spears, axes, halberds…
It was as if eighteen different cultivators wielded these weapons, each one executing a different technique.
They struck as one.
BOOM!
A blinding flash of silver light engulfed Sun Tianci.
"Young Master!"
"Tianci!"
The Sun Clan members cried out in alarm.
Had the training grounds not been sealed, they would have rushed in to protect their precious prodigy.
"Calm yourselves," Sun Luyuan's voice boomed, his tone reassuring. "That attack… it won't harm him."
He had arrived just in time to witness the spar, his expression a mixture of curiosity and concern.
The Martial Child knew his initial attack wouldn't be enough.
As the silver light engulfed Sun Tianci, he too was moving, launching a relentless barrage of attacks.
He fought like a seasoned martial artist, his movements fluid and precise, his spear a blur of motion. Then he shifted, channeling spiritual energy, transforming his spear into various weapons, unleashing esoteric techniques, each one aimed at exploiting a weakness, at finding a crack in Sun Tianci's defenses. He even mimicked the techniques of Dao Integration experts, channeling the power of Heavenly Phenomena.
The training grounds trembled, the protective formations straining under the onslaught.
Sun Luyuan, his expression grim, reinforced the formations, his spiritual energy flowing outwards, strengthening the barriers.
Sun Tianci, hailed as the greatest prodigy of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance in centuries, was on the defensive, his movements clumsy, his earlier confidence shaken.
None present could comprehend the shock that coursed through him.
The technique his master had taught him, the one that allowed him to neutralize attacks, to absorb their power and return it to the Heavenly Dao… it wasn't working against this Martial Child.
"Why? Is it because his cultivation is too low? Is this technique… only effective against Dao Integration experts?"
He had been cultivating since birth. He had sparred with countless opponents, both within his master's illusions and against real Dao Integration experts. But never before had his most potent weapon been rendered useless.
Panic threatened to overwhelm him.
But he was Sun Tianci, the prodigy, the chosen one.
And despite the Martial Child's relentless assault, the gulf in cultivation between them was vast, a chasm of two major realms.
As he weathered the storm of attacks, Sun Tianci gradually adapted, his movements becoming more fluid, his defenses strengthening. He began to see patterns, to understand the nature of his opponent's attacks.
"No… the technique isn't useless!" he realized, his mind racing. "Just like before, when I neutralize his attacks, his aura weakens. But…"
"He's replenishing his power! Drawing energy directly from the Xuanhuang World's Heavenly Dao!"
This realization sent a jolt of shock through him.
His technique wasn't simply dissipating the Martial Child's energy. It was stripping him of his essence, his foundation, returning it to the Heavenly Dao.
But the Martial Child… he was absorbing that very essence, replenishing his power as quickly as it was drained.
"How is this possible?!"
"This… this goes against everything the Celestial Venerable has taught us!"
The Martial Child's actions defied logic, defied the very laws of cultivation as he understood them. It was as if he was constantly devouring Heavenly Souls, Transformations of Birth, even entire Grotto-Heavens, without any repercussions from the Heavenly Dao!
It was unthinkable. Impossible.
Distracted by this revelation, Sun Tianci faltered, his defenses momentarily weakened.
The Martial Child seized the opportunity, his spear piercing through Sun Tianci's protective barrier, striking him directly.
Sun Tianci gasped, a trickle of blood escaping his lips. A flash of understanding, then acceptance, filled his eyes.
Shimmering white light erupted from his body, forcing the Martial Child back.
His Heavenly Soul – the White Silk.
But this wasn't the same White Silk that had manifested upon his birth. Years of cultivation, guided by Li Fan, had transformed it into something far more potent, far more refined.
"You've forced my hand." A grim determination hardened his gaze. "Master was right. There are countless talented individuals in this world. I am not special."
His breathing evened out, his heart calming as he enveloped himself in the protective embrace of the White Silk, neutralizing the Martial Child's relentless attacks with effortless grace.
"Don't focus on the why," his master's voice echoed in his mind. "Focus on the how."
"I don't understand how he's drawing power from the Xuanhuang World's essence," he thought, his mind racing. "But it doesn't matter!"
"Sever the connection. That's the key."
A spark of inspiration lit up his eyes.
The White Silk swirled around him, a blinding white tornado, lifting him into the air.
He raised one hand towards the sky, the other pointing towards the Martial Child.
He chanted a single word.
The Martial Child's relentless assault faltered, then stopped completely. He stared at Sun Tianci, his eyes wide with surprise.
Two fingers, like a pair of celestial shears, severed the connection between the Martial Child and the Heavenly Dao.
A wave of weakness, unlike anything he had ever experienced, washed over him.
And to Sun Tianci's surprise, the Martial Child's form flickered, becoming translucent, almost… ethereal.
"He's…"
"A Heavenly Soul, given human form?" A glimmer of understanding flashed through his mind.
But he didn't hesitate.
Channeling his connection to the Xuanhuang World's Heavenly Dao, he asserted his dominance over this space, momentarily severing the Martial Child's link to the world's essence.
It wouldn't last.
"Suppress!" He brought his outstretched hand down, his voice booming with power.
The White Silk converged, transforming into a giant, ethereal finger, a pillar of pure white light that descended from the heavens, aimed directly at the Martial Child.
The space around the Martial Child solidified, trapping him, preventing him from moving, from escaping.
The giant finger plunged downwards, its descent accompanied by a deafening roar, the very fabric of space cracking under the immense pressure.
Sun Tianci's expression remained impassive.
And the Martial Child, beneath the descending finger, was equally serene.
There was no fear in his eyes. Only… curiosity. A flicker of understanding.
As the attack was about to crush him, he too raised a finger, mimicking Sun Tianci's gesture.
His purple robes transformed into a swirling vortex of purple energy, flowing into his outstretched finger.
The attack, though far less impressive than Sun Tianci's, seemed denser, more… refined.
A look of profound understanding, of enlightenment, dawned on the Martial Child's face.
Purple and white clashed, one rising from the earth, the other descending from the heavens.
The impact was catastrophic.
BOOM!
A blinding flash of light engulfed the training grounds.
"No!" Sun Luyuan's face paled. With a wave of his sleeve, he grabbed the surrounding Sun Clan members, teleporting them to safety.
Simultaneously, he activated the protective formations surrounding the training grounds.
His actions saved their lives.
The shockwave from the colliding attacks ripped through the training grounds, obliterating everything in its path.
It continued outwards, tearing through the Sun Clan's carefully constructed defensive formations as if they were made of paper.
The destructive wave spread, consuming a large portion of the Sun Clan's estate.
Only the combined efforts of the two Dao Integration experts within the Sun Clan managed to contain it.
Silence descended, broken only by the crackling of the dissipating energy.
Sun Luyuan surveyed the damage, his face twitching.
He was relieved to sense that Sun Tianci was still alive, his aura, though weakened, still strong.
He rushed to the epicenter of the blast, where the training grounds had once stood.
Now, there was nothing but a gaping void.
The Martial Child was gone.
Sun Tianci stood there, motionless, his eyes closed, as if deep in meditation.
Sun Luyuan ordered the others to stay back, taking up position beside his nephew, protecting him as he delved deeper into his cultivation.
As he surveyed the destruction, a wave of unease washed over him.
"Such a difference in power… even at the same cultivation level."
"And Tianci is only five years old. His potential…"
A thought, a possibility he had never dared to consider before, surfaced in his mind.
"How long has it been since the Xuanhuang World has seen a new Eternal Celestial Venerable?"
"With Tianci's talent… it's not impossible. Not at all."
"Especially with the upcoming… changes. Chaos breeds opportunity. From troubled times, heroes rise…"
Sun Luyuan, a Dao Integration expert for over five centuries, felt his hands tremble.
He closed his eyes, hiding his excitement, his ambition.
Meanwhile, within Sun Tianci's mind, guilt gnawed at him.
"I didn't mean to kill him."
"But he countered with the same technique…"
"I couldn't control the power."
His self-recrimination was interrupted by Li Fan's voice, cold and sharp. "Fool! Do you think you could so easily kill a being like that?"
"Don't worry. Even if your entire clan were to perish, he would endure."
Relieved to hear that the Martial Child hadn't died, Sun Tianci's guilt subsided, replaced by curiosity.
"Master, who… what is he?"
"Is he… a Heavenly Soul, given human form?"
Li Fan snorted. "You're not completely clueless, I see."
He didn't reveal the whole truth. Not yet.
"Zhang Qianmo's reincarnation technique… it's truly remarkable."
"A body forged from the Grand Wish to exterminate all demons, infused with the fundamental laws of the Xuanhuang World."
"And the Martial Child's body…"
He had encountered the Martial Child in previous iterations, but he hadn't possessed the insight to understand the truth behind his existence.
But this time… this time was different. The insights gained from his connection to the Xuanhuang World's Heavenly Dao, his multiple enlightenments within the Star Sea… it had given him the knowledge he needed to see through Zhang Qianmo's reincarnation technique.
"Zhang Qianmo made three Grand Wishes. To exterminate all demons. To surpass the ten great immortal sects. And to gather all cultivation techniques and share them with the world."
"Exterminating demons… that is the path of Destruction."
"Surpassing the ten great immortal sects… that is the path of Martial Prowess."
"Sharing cultivation techniques with the world… that is the path of Enlightenment."
"The ancient sages… they achieved enlightenment, transformed the world, and ascended to the Celestial Realm, leaving behind a legacy for future generations. This… this is an ancient method, a path to true immortality…" A flicker of understanding, of respect, lit up Li Fan's eyes.
"Though each wish, on its own, is almost impossible to achieve, his reincarnation technique… it's like my simulations. It amplifies the probability of success, allowing him to achieve the impossible."
"Had the path to immortality remained unbroken, Zhang Qianmo might have actually succeeded. He might have fulfilled all three Grand Wishes and ascended to the Celestial Realm."
"Unfortunately…" Li Fan shook his head, a hint of regret in his voice. "Time has passed. The path is broken. The world is in peril. This method…"
"It's not the method itself that is flawed. It's the Dao. It has changed."
"A technique that once led to immortality… now, at best, it can only grant power within a single world."
"But compared to his contemporaries, those who have long since turned to dust… Zhang Qianmo's method… it is far superior. Perhaps, if the Xuanhuang World survives this tribulation, if the path to immortality is restored…"
"…He might still achieve his goal."
Li Fan's mind drifted, contemplating this possibility. "A long and arduous path… but to achieve true immortality… it would be worth it."
He returned his attention to the present. "The Xuanhuang World… the last bastion of cultivation in the Star Sea. For Zhang Qianmo's Grand Aspiration Ascension Method to reach its second stage… that's no small feat. Had Di Yi not led the other beasts beyond the realm, it would have taken him millennia."
"And now, this second stage…"
Li Fan had observed the battle between Zhang Qianmo's reincarnation and Sun Tianci.
He had seen the Martial Child's connection to the Heavenly Dao, his ability to draw upon its power.
"This Grand Aspiration Ascension Method… it relies on the world's own power, its inherent drive to evolve and grow stronger."
"Becoming one with the world… the opposite of the Celestial Venerable's New Law."
"Both can be seen as parasites, but the New Law only takes, only consumes. While the Grand Aspiration Ascension Method… it benefits the world."
"No wonder the Xuanhuang World's Heavenly Dao supports him so readily. After all, there are very few in this world who are willing to stand by its side."
"It's a brilliant technique. But without the prospect of ascension… it's ultimately… limited."
"Inferior to the path of the Grand Celestial Venerable."
…
Sun Tianci, relieved to hear that the Martial Child hadn't died, began to analyze the battle, his mind still buzzing with the thrill of combat.
It was the first time he had faced an opponent of similar age and comparable strength in a real battle. It had been… exhilarating.
"Master's Suppress technique… it's truly powerful."
"I've only grasped a fraction of its potential. If I could unleash its full power…"
He traced the complex symbols of the technique in the air, his mind immersed in their intricate patterns.
This Suppress technique wasn't a true Celestial Script character.
It was a fragment, a remnant, something Li Fan had deduced from his research on the Celestial Barge.
But even this incomplete version was incredibly potent.
Li Fan had imparted this technique to Sun Tianci, hoping his talented disciple might be able to unlock its deeper secrets.
He wasn't disappointed.
…
Though Sun Luyuan had forbidden anyone from discussing the details of Sun Tianci's spar with the Martial Child, the state of the Sun Clan's training grounds after the battle was impossible to hide.
News of Sun Tianci's power, of his monstrous talent, spread even further.
Several battle-hungry Dao Integration experts sought him out, eager to test their skills against the rising star.
Sun Tianci welcomed these challenges, never refusing a spar.
With each battle, his skills grew sharper, his understanding of the Dao deepening.
After thirty spars, after diverting a portion of the Heavenly Souls from thirty different Dao Integration experts back into the Xuanhuang World, the accumulated power within him surpassed that of a typical Dao Integration cultivator.
Quantity had transformed into quality.
One day, Sun Tianci paused, his gaze lifting towards the sky, his eyes widening, his body trembling.
Tears streamed down his face as he whispered a single word.
"Xuanhuang…"
His voice was filled with a profound sorrow, a deep and abiding love for his world.
A gentle breeze swirled around him, a subtle shift in the air that only Li Fan recognized.
"Finally," Li Fan mused, observing the subtle change in his disciple's aura. "He's met the requirements."
"The Xuanhuang World's Heavenly Dao… its standards have increased since it gained the Sacred Emperor's support."
"Back then, slaughtering a few New Law cultivators was enough."
"But it's not time for the Grand Celestial Venerable trial yet."
He sensed a subtle difference between the Heavenly Dao's attention towards Sun Tianci and its connection to the Sacred Emperor. A hint of… wariness. Suspicion.
Perhaps due to his own presence within Sun Tianci's mind.
Sun Tianci, however, was oblivious to this nuance, lost in the euphoria of his connection to the Heavenly Dao.
Only Li Fan, having experienced the true, unreserved embrace of the Heavenly Dao as the Sacred Emperor, could perceive this subtle difference.
"More preparation is needed."
"And I know just the thing."
Li Fan wasn't irritated by the Heavenly Dao's hesitation.
He was already formulating a plan.
"To gain something," he mused, a cold smile playing on his lips, "one must first give something."
"A small taste of… sweetness."
He waited for Sun Tianci to emerge from his meditative state.
Three days later, Sun Tianci, his eyes shining with excitement, informed his master of his breakthrough.
Li Fan's response, however, surprised him. "We're not going to spar with other Dao Integration experts anymore?"
"But Master, it's been so effective!"
"Too slow! I don't have time for such slow progress! My soul could dissipate at any moment!" Li Fan snapped, his tone impatient. Then he transmitted a new plan, a new set of instructions, directly into Sun Tianci's mind.
"This…" Sun Tianci's eyes widened in disbelief. "Master, this… this is a grave offense! A crime against the Alliance!"
"I… I wouldn't mind, but… what about my clan?"
He hesitated, the weight of his master's request settling upon him.
Li Fan had tasked him with infiltrating the Alliance's most secure prison - the Eternal Wall - and releasing the trapped cultivators, restoring the fragments of the Xuanhuang World's power that had been stolen from them and used to fuel the Wall.
(End of Chapter)