The sky above Xuanhuang churned with sudden changes. Both the revitalizing energy of the Star Sea and the insights gained from Li Fan's ascension were secrets previously inaccessible to the Xuanhuang World's Heavenly Dao. It instinctively absorbed this knowledge, triggering subtle transformations throughout the world. However, like the Star Sea's revival, this was a long process. Currently in its nascent stages, these changes were imperceptible to almost everyone in the Xuanhuang World.
Li Fan, as the source of these changes and still connected to the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao, had a clear view of this transformation. It was a force of evolution diametrically opposed to the destructive changes that had brought about Xuanhuang's previous demise, yet equally vast and powerful, a captivating spectacle.
Li Fan also sensed the rapidly increasing favor of the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao. Wielding the authority of the Star Sea's Source and offering the tangible benefit of his teachings, this combination of carrot and stick had boosted its favor even faster than the Sacred Emperor in his previous life.
When the rate of increase finally slowed, Li Fan temporarily ended his "lesson." The Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao was reluctant to let him go, but Li Fan resolutely severed the connection, returning to the Great Qi small world.
As Li Fan's birthplace and the location of his first Dao Discussion Platform, Great Qi's sky, unlike the other small worlds, wasn't shrouded by a wall of darkness. However, the Dao Discussion Platform still stood tall, its influence encompassing almost all human settlements.
As the people listened to the Master's teachings, their thoughts and insights were recorded within the platform, accessible to Li Fan. It was as if millions of beings were simultaneously helping him comprehend the Dao, their thoughts encompassing everything imaginable.
Currently, however, aside from the Great Qi platform, all other comprehension attempts in the small worlds were focused on the flaw in the High Wall. This was why Li Fan had chosen to maintain Great Qi's normal state: to ensure diversity of thought.
Within the Dao Discussion Platform, the Simulated Heavenly Grid, resembling a silver eye, seemed motionless, yet it was spinning billions of times per second. It observed the comprehending beings in Great Qi, the mountains and rivers, the flowing water and clouds of the small worlds. Compared to its initial creation, the silver eye was now more vibrant, less like a cultivator's creation and more like a living being.
"What exactly is a world's Heavenly Dao?"
Remembering the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao's almost dog-like eagerness to please, Li Fan pondered this question. He opened his left hand, revealing a golden, cage-like space containing wisps of formless intent. These were the Heavenly Dao consciousnesses of the small worlds that had dared to resist him when he created the illusion of the dark wall. He had extracted and imprisoned them here, using the Simulated Heavenly Grid to maintain the normal operation of their respective worlds.
"What I extracted wasn't the complete Heavenly Dao, but the 'Heavenly Grid,' imbued with the world's characteristics, developed over countless years. With it removed, the small worlds revert to their primordial state, operating on instinct. Without my Simulated Heavenly Grid to fill the void…"
"The characteristics of a world's Heavenly Grid are likely related to the world's size, resources, and other factors."
"For example, this one, from a calamity-ridden small world, feels cautious and wary of the outside. And this one, from a mortal world similar in size to Great Qi, feels complete and righteous. Ignoring its scale, it's even more 'orthodox' than the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao…"
Li Fan examined the various Heavenly Grids within the cage, then slowly fed them one by one to the silver eye. Although he didn't yet understand how world Heavenly Grids were formed or the specific conditions required, he was certain that their very existence represented a form of power.
He could almost see the silver eye becoming more vibrant as it consumed the small world Heavenly Grids. It felt increasingly "alive." While it had previously resembled a living being, it was now almost indistinguishable from a sentient pet.
Before consuming the world Heavenly Grids, the silver eye had only faithfully executed Li Fan's commands, monitoring and sensing the thoughts of the beings in the Great Qi small world. But now, it occasionally glanced at Li Fan, its gaze filled with a clear desire to please. When Li Fan met its gaze, it seemed encouraged, rolling its eye playfully as if seeking approval.
"Interesting."
Li Fan saw a longing for more world Heavenly Grids in its gaze. He remained impassive, beckoning slightly. The silver eye floated closer, pressing itself against his outstretched hand.
Instantly, countless thoughts, past and present, from the Great Qi small world appeared around Li Fan, meticulously categorized by the silver eye for easy viewing. With a single thought from Li Fan, the silver eye quickly sensed his needs, organizing and presenting the relevant information.
"It's certainly more intelligent and efficient than before."
"No wonder cultivators in the ancient era often refined entire worlds into artifacts. This world Heavenly Grid is practically the ultimate artifact spirit." Li Fan observed the silver eye thoughtfully.
"Unfortunately, even after consuming so many small world Heavenly Grids, it still feels inferior to the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao."
"Replacing it seems unrealistic."
"What exactly triggers its qualitative change?"
Replacing the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao consciousness with his own creation would be a significant achievement for Li Fan. Transforming the Xuanhuang World into an impregnable fortress under his complete control would make it the perfect bridgehead for exploring beyond the High Wall.
Lost in thought while absorbing the collective thoughts relayed by the silver eye, Li Fan's attention was suddenly drawn to a highlighted piece of information. His eyes narrowed slightly.
It was the synchronized experiences of Sun Erlang, Wang Xuanba, and Yue Zhenwei. Following Li Fan's instructions, they had gone to the Council of Five Elders' territory to search for the Nascent Soul Grotto-Heaven, but after a series of events, they had stumbled into the Land of Blissful Ignorance, trapped in a dream world filled with man-eating demons. After much difficulty, they had found a way to break free, but instead of leaving the Land of Blissful Ignorance, they had decided to explore the remaining two dream boundaries, seeking to uncover its secrets.
"It's been a while. They should have discovered something by now."
"The Land of Blissful Ignorance…"
With a thought, countless images flooded Li Fan's mind, revealing Sun Erlang and the others' recent experiences.
Having conquered the first dream world, they had assumed the remaining two would be easier. But they had severely underestimated the dangers of the Land of Blissful Ignorance.
The second dream world they entered was a terrifying post-apocalyptic world unlike anything they had ever seen. In the vast Star Sea, civilization had crumbled, and life was fading. Horrific insects reigned supreme, devouring all living beings in their path, leaving behind only indigestible stones.
When Sun Erlang and the others arrived, they found a desolate, lifeless wasteland. Their task was to survive for six months amidst the relentless attacks of the insect swarms.
This second dream world was completely different from the first. There were no riddles. The moment they entered, they received instructions and the method to escape, even rewards for completing the task.
Initially, they hadn't thought the task would be difficult. But after engaging the overwhelming swarms, they realized their mistake. Even with the divine abilities they'd learned from the Master's phantom, they felt powerless against the sheer number of insects. They couldn't kill them all. No matter how many they destroyed with their techniques, more would emerge from the ground, filling the void.
Having learned their lesson, the three quickly changed their tactics, fighting and retreating. But the insects were everywhere. No matter where they fled, the endless swarms pursued them relentlessly.
Within seven days, they were on the brink of collapse. Wang Xuanba cursed, convinced that the task was impossible.
Fortunately, Sun Erlang had learned the spirit-devouring technique from the pig demon statue in the previous dream world. During the arduous battles, he finally mastered the basics, devouring the corpses of the insects to replenish his strength.
With this endless supply of energy, their situation improved. Sun Erlang held the line.
Then, Wang Xuanba stumbled upon a powerful artifact within the belly of an insect—a device that could summon a thirty-foot-tall mechanical puppet. Initially, the puppet remained motionless after being summoned. But after some experimentation, Wang Xuanba discovered its true usage. He transformed his body into light and entered the puppet, merging his consciousness with it. Wielding the puppet's immense power, he began slaughtering the insect swarms.
Although their situation improved, facing the endless sea of insects still filled them with despair. After three grueling months, their bodies and wills were nearing their limits. Knowing that they couldn't truly die within the dream, they almost gave up.
At the last moment, the meticulous Yue Zhenwei noticed that although the insects seemed to act on instinct, their movements followed a pattern, as if being controlled by something.
This discovery reinvigorated them.
Confirming the likelihood of Yue Zhenwei's observation, they decided to take a gamble. Using themselves as bait, they finally lured out the entity controlling the insects.
They had expected it to be a higher-ranking insect. But they were astonished when it finally appeared. The controller of the insect swarms was clearly a cultivator's creation—a purple-gold gourd covered in unknown talismans. Standing atop the gourd was a wooden puppet boy.
He pointed at Sun Erlang and the others, surrounded by the insect swarms. The purple-gold gourd emitted a strange light, and the insects went berserk, swarming towards them with reckless abandon.
The three knew that if they could defeat the wooden puppet boy and gain control of the purple-gold gourd, they could control the insect swarms and easily complete their survival task.
They fought with everything they had. Wang Xuanba, transformed into the mechanical puppet, drew the attention of the swarms. Sun Erlang, like an arrow, charged towards the wooden puppet boy, disregarding his own safety. And in the shadows, Yue Zhenwei, the weakest of the three, prepared his final strike.
He shattered the wooden puppet.
By the end of the battle, all three were on the verge of death, surrounded by the insect tide. But as Yue Zhenwei grasped the purple-gold gourd, the ferocious insects froze.
The survival task was as good as done.
Two months later, they completed the second dream world.
Upon leaving, not only were their injuries fully healed, but Yue Zhenwei also brought the purple-gold gourd with him. Inside the gourd were ninety-nine trillion, nine hundred ninety-nine billion, nine hundred million Star-Devouring Insects!
Of course, at the Golden Core realm, Yue Zhenwei couldn't fully utilize the artifact's power. He could only control nine hundred million of the weakest Star-Devouring Insects. As his cultivation increased, the number and power of the insects he could control would also increase.
Despite obtaining such a treasure, the three weren't elated. Instead, they were filled with confusion and fear. Ninety-nine trillion Star-Devouring Insects represented a world-destroying force, even in the real Xuanhuang World. And now, this power was in the hands of a Golden Core cultivator.
Although it was only within a dream, and they weren't sure if they could bring it back to reality, it still felt absurd. They had gained so much in such a short time within the dream world. It was hard to imagine what kind of power those who remained within the dreams permanently might possess.
With trepidation, they rested briefly before setting off towards the third dream world. With a treasure like the purple-gold gourd and nine hundred million Star-Devouring Insects, surely the third world would be a breeze?
But reality dealt them another blow.
The moment they entered the third dream world, they transformed into immobile, speechless scarecrows. Their spiritual energy and treasures vanished. They could only communicate using the limited power of the dream itself.
This time, there were no demonic beasts or insect swarms. There were no instructions.
Just three scarecrows lying on a black rock atop a mountain, exposed to the wind, sun, rain, and lightning.
Unable to move, they initially spent their days speculating about the conditions for completing the task.
But as time passed, their spirits began to crumble.
(End of Chapter)