"Dao Inscription Immortals use True Immortal scripts to depict the path to immortality. However, even these paths… they vary in level, in potency."
"The scripts I've encountered – Hunger, Chaos, Solitude, Return – they are… basic. Fundamental. The one that might represent [Creation]… it's clearly on a higher level."
"And this… remnant… this trace of power within the Nether Race… this path of transformation, of transcendence, from mortal to immortal… it surpasses even Creation."
"And the True Return…"
Li Fan took a deep breath, calming his racing thoughts.
Though he had lived one hundred and twenty-five lifetimes, each one ending with the world-resetting power of the True Return, though he knew its power transcended everything he had encountered so far…
…the interference he had experienced during his last merging process, coupled with Mao Bao's terrifying display of power, had planted a seed of doubt. Could he truly rely on the True Return? Would its power hold true, even against the forces beyond the Wall?
This discovery, this… echo of the True Return's power within the Nether Race, had reassured him.
The True Return's potential… it was far greater than he had imagined.
"The laws of the Xuanhuang World are a reflection, a projection, of the Dark Star Sea's laws. And the Dark Star Sea's laws, in turn, are a reflection of the Celestial Realm's laws."
"But the True Return… it stands above them all. And through the 'when the real is made to appear fake' principle… I can, theoretically, replicate anything I encounter. Create it from nothing."
"As long as my power, my understanding of the Dao… is sufficient." He recalled the sensation of tracing that mysterious symbol, the echo of the Nether Race's power, his mind racing, connecting the dots.
"And that's just one aspect of the True Return's power. The 'fake becomes real' principle. There's also… its reverse. The 'real becomes fake' principle."
He picked up a nearby stone, focusing his will upon it, attempting to… erase it. To unmake it.
But each time he activated the True Return, the world around him would distort, blurring, as if shrouded in a thick fog, obscuring the process itself, the mechanics of its reality-bending power.
"Perhaps… this time… I can try to… dispel the fog. To see… how it works."
"If I can understand this principle, combined with the True Return's power… I could potentially… erase my enemies from existence. With a mere thought."
As his mind raced, exploring the possibilities, he compiled the fragments of the mysterious symbol he had glimpsed within the Nether Race, the echoes of that unknown power, and transmitted them to the Terminal Dissociation Butterfly for analysis and… application.
The Butterfly, now tasked with two Celestial-level projects, its computational power divided, its efficiency decreased.
"It's time for an upgrade. Relying solely on the data from Celestial formations… it's not enough. It's still limited by its… mortal shell."
"The Alliance's nine original Dissociation Discs… they're nothing compared to mine. Their contribution is… negligible. To truly transcend, to become a Celestial Artifact… it needs Celestial Spiritual Qi."
He rubbed his temples, soothing the slight ache caused by the Butterfly's increased workload, then turned his attention to the Nether Race.
They weren't mourning the death of the body he had inhabited. They were… celebrating his sacrifice, their devotion to the Great Sea of Gloom unwavering.
He was… touched by their piety. With a wave of his hand, he gathered them, their forms shrinking, their bodies becoming… dormant as he stored them within his spatial ring.
He would take them to the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty, provide them with a comfortable life, allow them to continue their prayers, their devotion… redirected.
"And this small world… it shouldn't be wasted."
The Nether Race's world, even smaller and weaker than the Great Xuan Small World, didn't possess a Heavenly Dao consciousness.
His task was… easier.
He created a Simulated Heavenly Grid, replacing the nonexistent Heavenly Dao, ensuring the world's continued stability.
Then, repeating the process he had used with the Great Xuan Small World, he connected it to the Xuanhuang World, their essences merging.
Practice made perfect. This time, the "surgery" was swift and precise.
Another Heavenly Dao avatar, another source of insight, its fragments of knowledge, like waves crashing against the shore, washing over him, their constant flow, though individually insignificant, becoming… something more.
"Useless to me," he mused, "but to others…"
He returned to the Great Xuan Small World, having settled the Nether Race, their faith now firmly directed towards him, and observed the cultivators gathered on the Dao Discussion Platform, their numbers growing.
A new platform, shimmering with light, materialized above them, below the platform displaying the cultivation techniques.
Its surface was covered in intricate carvings of landscapes, of creatures, of objects, their forms shifting, changing, as if… alive.
And within these carvings, tiny sparks of light, almost imperceptible, flickered.
Fragments of insight, gleaned from the Simulated Heavenly Grid, useless to him, but… invaluable to these cultivators. Those who could decipher them would experience rapid breakthroughs, perhaps even develop unique, powerful techniques.
"Every being within this… classroom… is under my observation. Their insights… they become… mine."
"Though their understanding is limited, their… creativity… when amplified, when combined… it's… impressive. Even if only one in ten thousand offers something of value… with these numbers… the accumulated knowledge… it will be… significant."
"And if necessary… I can… influence their thoughts, guide their meditations, use them to… solve problems… decipher mysteries…"
Within the Dao Discussion Platform, the silvery-white pearl, like a giant, all-seeing eye, absorbed the cultivators' thoughts, their inspirations, their… dreams, its surface shimmering, its form… almost alive.
Li Fan's projection, having completed the initial phase of his plan within the Great Xuan Small World, created another projection, sending it to another small world, its mission… to spread the Dao, to gather followers.
This new projection wasn't fueled by his own power, but by the faith of his disciples, their belief in him, their devotion, channeled through the Dao Discussion Platform.
Like the Heavenly Emperor's Qi Scripture, but on a smaller scale, the soldiers replaced by students, the Sacred Emperor… by the Sacred Teacher.
These projections would handle the initial expansion, the… recruitment. And when their actions inevitably attracted the attention of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, or the other hidden powers within the smaller worlds, then… he would intervene personally.
But first, he had to prepare.
The… re-educated Nether Race members had begun to generate Source Power Essence, a trickle at first, but it would grow.
Using this as bait, along with promises and threats, he recruited his usual… associates – Hundred Flowers, the Ingenious Craftsman, Immortal Master Yin.
"A great change is coming," he announced, his voice echoing across the Dao Discussion Platform, his form replacing the projection, his expression solemn. "A transformation that will shake the very foundations of this world. I will… enlighten you."
Immortal Master Yin, Hundred Flowers, the Ingenious Craftsman, and the others listened intently as he described the Star Sea's resurgence, its impact on the Xuanhuang World.
They were skeptical.
He smiled, pointing towards the sky, creating a swirling vortex of energy that seemed to… open a window into the Star Sea beyond.
"Come. See for yourselves."
Enveloping them in a protective aura of rainbow-hued light, he led them through the vortex.
They exchanged glances, their apprehension evident, but they followed, their trust in him… absolute.
The rainbow light shot outwards, piercing through the vortex, carrying them beyond the Xuanhuang World, into the vast emptiness of the Star Sea.
Their faces paled as they felt the familiar pull of the Immortal Ruins, the terrifying force that threatened to drag them into its depths.
But the rainbow light protected them, its different colors separating, weaving themselves into a complex, ever-shifting pattern that defied the Immortal Ruins' pull, guiding them safely through the treacherous currents of the Star Sea.
They were awestruck.
Li Fan continued his journey, his speed increasing as he ventured deeper into the Star Sea.
Its desolate emptiness, its chilling silence, filled them with a sense of… unease.
The hidden dangers, the lurking remnants of True Immortal power, made them wary, their expressions grim.
And Li Fan's ability to navigate this treacherous realm, to avoid its dangers as if he knew every hidden current, every lurking predator, impressed them. How many times had he made this journey?
As they neared their destination, his pace slowed, as if he, too, was… searching.
Their instincts hadn't deceived them. The Sacred Emperor, during his enlightenment at the heart of the Star Sea in his previous life, his connection to his true self weakening, his memories fading… he hadn't been able to fully… record his journey.
He was following a… half-forgotten map.
Guided by instinct, by a faint resonance, he had almost reached the… source. The primordial consciousness of the Star Sea. But unlike the Sacred Emperor, who, as an avatar of the Xuanhuang World's Heavenly Dao, a potential savior, had drawn its attention… he, Li Fan, hadn't yet earned its… notice.
And he didn't intend to reveal himself just yet.
"We've arrived," he announced, his voice filled with a quiet reverence.
They looked around, their expressions confused.
This part of the Star Sea… it was… different. Brighter, somehow. Warmer. But it was still… desolate. Lifeless. Far from the vibrant, thriving realm he had described.
Had he brought them here for… nothing?
Perhaps… they weren't insightful enough? Perhaps they lacked the… sensitivity to perceive this… resurgence?
They redoubled their efforts, their senses straining, their gazes fixed on the seemingly empty void, hoping to… see what he saw. To understand.
Li Fan observed their struggles, a faint smile playing on his lips.
After a long silence, he asked, "Have you… gained any insights?"
Silence.
He feigned surprise, then, with a wave of his hand, sent beams of light towards them, fragments of the Sacred Emperor's understanding of the Star Sea's resurgence, his memories, his knowledge, flowing into their minds.
Their eyes widened, their expressions shifting from confusion to… understanding. Awe.
Around them, faint, almost imperceptible tendrils of life force materialized, their presence a subtle but undeniable confirmation of his words.
Hundred Flowers, the Ingenious Craftsman, Immortal Master Yin… they were survivors of the Celestial Realm's destruction, their talent, their resilience, undeniable. They simply hadn't been able to perceive the Star Sea's resurgence, its subtle energy masked by the desolation, the lingering echoes of the Tribulation's destructive power.
But now, with the Sacred Emperor's insights, the key to unlocking this hidden truth… they understood.
"It's… true," Hundred Flowers murmured, her voice filled with wonder. "If I could master this power… perhaps I could… restore the Ten Thousand Flourishing Realm…"
Immortal Master Yin scratched his head, the remnants of the world fragments he had consumed stirring within him, as if drawn to this revitalizing energy, their dormant consciousnesses… awakening.
Lost in contemplation, their minds focused on the vast, almost overwhelming power of the Star Sea, they didn't notice Li Fan's subtle retreat.
He had, in fact, used a near-Celestial level formation to mask his presence, his aura fading, becoming… indistinguishable from the surrounding void.
He couldn't risk revealing himself to the Star Sea's primordial consciousness, not yet.
"Not until I reach Dao Integration," he mused, observing them from afar. "Not until I reach the pinnacle of… mortal cultivation."
They emerged from their meditative states at different times, their reactions varying.
The Ingenious Craftsman was the first, his mind buzzing with new ideas, eager to return to the Xuanhuang World and begin his experiments.
Immortal Master Yin seemed to have struggled the most, his time spent suppressing the restless spirits within him.
But to Li Fan's surprise, Hundred Flowers was the last to emerge, her gaze fixed on the distant Xuanhuang World, her expression… serene. Hopeful.
"Congratulations," Li Fan said, his voice warm, his smile genuine. "You have all gained… valuable insights."
"But the Star Sea is a dangerous place. We shouldn't linger. Let's return."
They nodded, their respect for him, their… teacher, evident in their eyes.
Their journey back to the Great Xuan Small World was uneventful.
Having witnessed the Star Sea's resurgence firsthand, their earlier skepticism had vanished, replaced by a newfound belief in his words, in his… vision.
"The Star Sea's recovery… it will take time," Li Fan said as they reassembled on the Dao Discussion Platform. "The Xuanhuang World, the last bastion of cultivation, it must become the source of this revitalization. The wellspring of life."
They considered his words, then nodded in agreement.
"There is no greater merit than aligning oneself with the… inevitable tide of change. The Star Sea's resurgence… if we contribute, if we assist in its recovery… the rewards… they will be… substantial."
He looked at them, his gaze steady, his words a promise.
Hundred Flowers, the Ingenious Craftsman, and Immortal Master Yin exchanged glances, their ambition, their greed, ignited.
"Even if the path to immortality remains severed," the Ingenious Craftsman said, his eyes gleaming, "the Star Sea's resurgence… it could… elevate us. Make us… the most powerful beings in existence."
(End of Chapter)