In his past life, Li Fan's Saint Embryo Avatar, accompanying the Profound Immortal Ark on its expedition to the Xuanhuang World, had fallen into the Legacy Transmission's trap and encountered the terrifying Celestial Overseer, who could strip away the life essence of a tenth of the Ark's population with a single glance. He had witnessed the Overseer refining a world, frozen and containing countless cultivators, into a Yin-Yang Pearl. Within the pearl were two distinct worlds: a boundless, desolate icy ocean, and its opposite, a vibrant, teeming sea.
When Li Fan first stumbled into the Yin-Yang Pearl's small world, he mistook it for the domain of the Samsara Celestial Venerable of the Xuanhuang World. After all, the cycle of life and death, the reversal of fortune within that world, seemed to fit the concept of reversing life and death.
However, as his understanding deepened and he witnessed numerous true immortal formations, he began to doubt his initial assessment. While the formations within the Yin-Yang Pearl were profound, Li Fan could partially comprehend them upon first glance. They were clearly not true immortal formations.
The cycle of life and death within the Yin-Yang Pearl wasn't driven by the Reversal of Life and Death Grand Formation but by the inherent power of the two worlds within the pearl, the power of the Celestial Overseer. The formation merely acted as a catalyst, accelerating the process.
In his past life, after wreaking havoc in the Xuanhuang World and pushing it to the brink of destruction with the All Things Return to the Void Grand Formation, despite the combined efforts of the Legacy Transmission and the Healer to resist him, the mysterious Samsara Celestial Venerable never appeared.
Perhaps this was because Lan Yu had chosen to cultivate in the Star Sea, and the true Samsara Celestial Venerable hadn't yet successfully reversed the natural order. However, Li Fan believed that even if the Samsara Celestial Venerable had existed, he wouldn't have intervened.
There was a deep connection between the Samsara Celestial Venerable and the Overseer. The Overseer, tasked by the Immortal Realm, not only monitored anomalies in the Xuanhuang World but also seemed to be collecting samples of all different types of humans within it.
The Samsara Celestial Venerable, on the other hand, seemed to have shed the shackles of the Immortal Realm's mission, acting solely in his own interest.
The Overseer that Li Fan and the Profound Immortal Ark encountered lacked independent consciousness, acting purely on instinct or pre-programmed rules, practically a puppet, hardly capable of fulfilling the duties of an Overseer. Therefore, Li Fan suspected that the Overseer's true spirit had left its body, seeking freedom from its duties after the Immortal Realm's destruction.
The backlash suffered by the Xuanhuang Grand Magus in his past life after neglecting his duties demonstrated that even after the Immortal Realm's destruction, its restrictions remained. No one wanted to be eternally bound by such shackles. Therefore, the Xuanhuang World Overseer's desire for freedom was entirely understandable.
"In my past life, I lured the Legacy Transmitters of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance into the Yin-Yang World with fake True Immortal remains, leading to their deaths. However, the Alliance acted as if nothing had happened. This means that the Legacy Transmission, or perhaps the Healer, definitely knew the Samsara Celestial Venerable's true identity. Perhaps the Healer even aided the Overseer's transformation into the Samsara Celestial Venerable…"
Now, the black and white spheres formed from Immortal Master Yin's eyes emitted an aura almost identical to that of the Yin-Yang Pearl. However, within these spheres, life and death were clearly separated, unlike the Yin-Yang Pearl, where life and death intertwined in a continuous cycle.
Li Fan stared at the spheres, remaining silent for a long time.
Finally, he spoke. "There's a similar creation in a hidden realm within the Xuanhuang World. However, with life and death intertwined, it's even more profound than your simple life and death spheres. Countless corpses are frozen within that Yin-Yang Pearl. I wonder…" Li Fan's eyes gleamed.
Having finished his demonstration, Immortal Master Yin reabsorbed the spheres, his eyes returning to normal. "There were indeed frozen corpses within the white sphere, but that was before the world's destruction. When the world died, those frozen corpses gradually melted, transforming into pure death Qi…"
Li Fan pondered inwardly. "That must be the difference caused by the missing Overseer. Among the many cultivation worlds in the lower realms, the Xuanhuang World is unique. Not only was it assigned a Grand Magus and an Overseer by the Immortal Realm, but a True Immortal even visited it in person. Although I don't know why, that True Immortal perished… And the world where Immortal Master Yin obtained the black and white spheres was also under the Immortal Realm's surveillance, but its level was lower than the Xuanhuang World."
Li Fan would definitely interact with the Samsara Celestial Venerable, suspected to be the Overseer who shed his former identity, in the future. However, his primary goal in this life was to achieve Dao Integration with the Heavenly and Earthly Immortal Soul. He needed to avoid unnecessary complications.
Immortal Master Yin continued, "I am a world soul. I thought I was destined to remain in this state, a mere remnant, for eternity. But the moment I sensed the immense life force within those black and white spheres, I had a strong premonition…" As he spoke, the life force within his black eye swirled faster.
"Perhaps there's no such thing as true decay. Being a remnant, a world soul, is simply a state of extinguished life force. If enough life force is infused…"
As he spoke, Immortal Master Yin's complexion improved, looking more and more like a normal cultivator. However, Li Fan's narrowed eyes saw that things weren't so simple.
As if triggered by the surging life force, the previously dormant grey eye began to spin faster. A desolate, decaying death Qi emanated from Immortal Master Yin, quickly neutralizing and suppressing the life force. A scent of decay slowly spread from him.
Immortal Master Yin coughed, and the storm within his black and white eyes gradually calmed, a hint of helplessness in his gaze.
Daoist Hundred Flowers watched thoughtfully, a flicker of schadenfreude in her eyes.
Li Fan spoke directly. "Life and death Qi, seemingly opposing forces, are actually one. Trying to stimulate life force while suppressing death Qi will only backfire. Life is the root of death, and death is the fruit of life. Uprooting the tree will inevitably damage the fruit. Picking the fruit, however, doesn't necessarily harm the roots…"
Perfectly playing the role of the Sacred Teacher, Li Fan began to preach to Immortal Master Yin.
Immortal Master Yin, already possessing exceptional comprehension, now further enhanced by the black and white spheres of life and death, understood Li Fan's cryptic words perfectly. The black and white energies within his eyes swirled faster.
Surprisingly, Daoist Hundred Flowers also seemed to have an aptitude for the Dao of Life and Death, gaining insights as she listened attentively.
The sermon lasted for half a day, practically emptying Li Fan's repertoire. Finally, with a wave of his hand, he imparted the Reversal of Life and Death Grand Formation into their minds. This formation, derived by the Terminal Dissociation Disc from the original formation within the Yin-Yang Pearl, was the most advanced application of the Dao of Life and Death in the Dark Star Sea.
Immortal Master Yin's surprise and delight were evident the moment he received the formation.
"While life and death are opposing forces, you can use this formation to gradually convert the death Qi within the white sphere into life force. However, you must maintain balance between the two."
Li Fan glanced at Daoist Hundred Flowers. "Consume the converted life force as quickly as possible. Besides purging your own decay, you can also assist Daoist Hundred Flowers."
Daoist Hundred Flowers trembled, unsure what secret of hers Li Fan had discovered.
Immortal Master Yin nodded slightly.
"Sacred Teacher, while absorbing the black and white spheres, I also learned some information about that shattered world. It's not much, but quite interesting." After briefly studying the Reversal of Life and Death Grand Formation, Immortal Master Yin spoke again.
"That world was called Taijia. Before its destruction, although not large, it was a powerful cultivation world in the Star Sea, a rare world without a Heavenly Dao. Its cultivators practiced the Taijia Divine Techniques, which supposedly allowed them to bypass the nonexistent Heavenly Dao and communicate directly with the Star Sea's source consciousness, utilizing its power…"
A hint of awe flickered in Immortal Master Yin's eyes. From the fragmented images he projected, the Taijia cultivators' abilities were indeed terrifying: swords traversing the Star Sea, fists shattering worlds, traversing the Star Sea with their physical bodies alone, without any protection…
His tone suddenly changed. "However, because of their direct connection to the Star Sea's source consciousness, when the True Immortal Script's power erupted in the Star Sea, the Taijia cultivators were among the first to be affected. The Star Sea's power, which they had relied upon, became useless. The once renowned Taijia Realm perished faster than most other cultivation worlds. The most comical thing is that as their world crumbled, some Taijia cultivators, instead of fighting back, knelt and continued to plead with the Star Sea's source consciousness…" Immortal Master Yin shook his head in disdain.
Daoist Hundred Flowers added, "We cultivators believe in cultivating our own strength. Borrowing the power of the Star Sea might grant temporary power, but when calamity strikes, it's just an illusion. The Eternal Life cultivators of the Xuanhuang World are the same…"
She abruptly stopped, realizing that their plan to elevate the Xuanhuang World and benefit from its ascension wasn't fundamentally different from the actions of the Xuanhuang World's Eternal Life cultivators or the Taijia cultivators.
Li Fan, seeing her hesitation, smiled faintly. "There's still a difference. The power we receive from the Xuanhuang World's transformation will become our own. It's a one-time deal. Even if we later turn against the Xuanhuang World, that power cannot be taken back. But those Taijia cultivators…"
He shook his head, not elaborating.
"However, that Taijia Divine Technique, with its direct connection to the Star Sea's source consciousness, does have its merits."
Li Fan had once shown Immortal Master Yin and the others the reviving source consciousness of the Star Sea.
"The Xuanhuang World isn't completely isolated. It's still within the Star Sea. If its ascension could gain the Star Sea's support…" Immortal Master Yin also realized the potential of the Taijia Divine Technique.
"However, the memories I obtained from the black and white spheres are just fragments," he said regretfully.
Immortal Master Yin then haltingly described the incomplete Taijia Divine Technique. Its strange, convoluted nature was clearly different from ordinary cultivation techniques. This was Li Fan's first encounter with this type of technique, and his interest was piqued.
"The key to this technique is communicating with the Star Sea's source consciousness. Ten thousand years ago, during the Star Sea's prime, even half-immortals were like ants in its eyes, let alone ordinary cultivators. Contacting the Star Sea's consciousness was incredibly difficult," Li Fan said slowly.
Immortal Master Yin nodded in agreement. "Indeed, cultivating the Taijia Divine Technique is extremely difficult, with very few achieving mastery. However, once mastered, the power it commands is far beyond that of ordinary cultivators."
Li Fan smiled. "However, times have changed. The Star Sea has been shattered, and its source consciousness is being reborn amidst the ruins. It's like a powerful being reincarnating, currently in its infancy…" A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. His voice was filled with confidence. "With the shift in power dynamics, communicating with it is now much easier. Let me try!"
He summoned the wooden sword's image and stepped onto it, instantly flying out of the Xuanhuang World, vanishing from their sight.
"Such an enviable escape technique. If I could learn it, I would no longer be bound by the Star Sea…" Daoist Hundred Flowers said enviously.
Immortal Master Yin didn't respond, focusing on the Reversal of Life and Death Grand Formation Li Fan had imparted to him. In his eyes, this formation was no less valuable than that escape technique.
In a flash, Li Fan traversed the Dark Star Sea, arriving at its center, where the reviving source consciousness of the Star Sea was most active. He hovered in the void, not immediately activating the incomplete Taijia Divine Technique.
While his previous words were true, he hadn't revealed everything. Even the nascent Star Sea consciousness was still vastly superior to a cultivator. Currently, only someone like the Sacred Emperor, a Child of Destiny capable of driving the Star Sea's revival, could directly communicate with it.
For an ordinary cultivator to achieve the same…
"I need to make the Star Sea notice me!"
A glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes as he instantly set up the Ascension Formation. A "peak" rose from the center of the Star Sea, slowly ascending.
Li Fan stood at its summit, looking up, like an ancient emperor performing a Fengshan ceremony, seeking to commune with the heavens. He wanted to stand even higher, increasing his "momentum," becoming more conspicuous in the eyes of the Star Sea's source consciousness.
Sensing that the Ascension Formation had reached its limit, Li Fan began to silently recite the Taijia Divine Technique. Although incomplete, its ability to communicate with the Star Sea's consciousness remained.
A strand of his will ascended, reaching towards the source of the Star Sea.
Boom!
Li Fan was instantly engulfed in a dazzling galaxy.
(End of Chapter)