The sudden burst of light was so intense that even Li Fan instinctively narrowed his eyes. He sensed not just brilliance, but a profound rhythm converging upon the silver eye, a rhythm he'd encountered before in his reincarnations, similar to the one that appeared during the ascension of small worlds, emanating from the vortex in the sky.
However, the rhythm now present on the silver eye was far more powerful and unfathomable. Even with Li Fan's current cultivation and understanding of the Dao, he couldn't grasp its essence.
Enveloped by the rhythm, the silver eye was rapidly being refined, countless details added as if by an invisible brush. While its form remained unchanged, it felt increasingly "alive" to Li Fan, the observer. Eventually, he felt a sense of unfamiliarity towards his own creation.
This heightened "aliveness," having reached its peak within the silver eye, began to spread to the Great Qi small world like a gentle spring breeze followed by a soft, nourishing rain. Even after Li Fan had used the "Creation" character and other transformative powers to propel this small world's ascension, this new force continued to enhance it further.
"This is true Creation power, not driven by the 'Creation' True Immortal Seal script, but a natural phenomenon arising from the flow of the Grand Dao."
"It's the very rule embodied by the 'Creation' character."
"Or perhaps, just a part of it… incredibly useful for my plan to ascend the Xuanhuang World in this life!"
Li Fan intently observed everything happening within the Great Qi small world, trying to memorize every detail.
The Creation rhythm lasted for less than ten breaths. Within the small world, only Li Fan could perceive this extraordinary transformation. Even after the rhythm subsided, the changes it had brought about continued, unfolding unseen throughout the world.
Li Fan, immersed in the spectacle, savored the experience. When he finally calmed down and looked at the Simulated Heavenly Grid, the silver eye, he noticed a change. It no longer gazed at him with its usual eagerness to please. Most of the time, its eye was closed, only occasionally opening to observe the Great Qi small world below, as if its creator was no longer its primary focus.
"Interesting…"
This newfound "independence" intrigued Li Fan. After careful examination, he confirmed that the Simulated Heavenly Grid was still under his complete control. However, perhaps due to consuming so many small world Heavenly Grids, it had gained a sense of "purpose"—to maintain the normal operation of the small world.
Fulfilling this purpose was its second highest priority, only superseded by Li Fan's control. Therefore, when Li Fan didn't issue any commands, the silver eye instinctively operated in the manner of a world's Heavenly Dao.
It was now even closer to a true world Heavenly Dao than before. Or rather, it was a small world's Heavenly Dao, having completed its transformation from "simulated" to "real."
Moreover, its Heavenly Dao level now surpassed that of ordinary small worlds, causing further changes within the world itself.
"If my previous use of the Creation character and immortal spiritual energy to ascend the world was a forceful, external transformation…"
"…then the changes happening within the silver eye are a gentle, internal transformation."
"Both achieve the same goal, but the latter is clearly more sophisticated."
Li Fan pondered, absorbing the entire process, refining his ascension plan for this life.
"A world's ascension can be seen as climbing to a higher 'potential.'"
"External force is like being dragged upwards. Once the force disappears, there's a risk of falling. Without an anchor, the entire world would shatter."
"Internal ascension is like a gradual ascent based on one's own foundation, a slow but steady climb with no risk of falling. But the disadvantage is its slow pace! It can take millions of years, which I can't afford to wait."
A flash of understanding crossed Li Fan's eyes. "Perhaps I can use both methods simultaneously."
His divine sense entered the silver eye, replaying the entire transformation process of the Simulated Heavenly Grid, comparing it with his external observations. He gained many insights in a short time.
"It seems the optimal solution for ascending Xuanhuang is to create a Heavenly Grid and replace the existing one."
"But with my current methods, while I can simulate a small world's Heavenly Grid, creating one for Xuanhuang…" Li Fan shook his head slightly.
It wasn't just because the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao had devoured countless other cultivation worlds over millennia. It was also because the Legacy Transmission's perverse New New Law had bound Longevity realm cultivators to the Xuanhuang World.
To destroy the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao and replace it with a simulated one, he would have to eliminate all these Longevity realm cultivators simultaneously.
Setting aside the Legacy Transmission, even the Blissful Ignorance Celestial Venerable, who controlled the Land of Blissful Ignorance and survived the world-destroying immortal formation, was beyond Li Fan's current ability to kill.
"However, the Healer and the Legacy Transmission's method of patching Xuanhuang with the corpses of other worlds is essentially the second method, the internal ascension."
"Feeding other worlds to Xuanhuang."
"So, the Healer's goal isn't just to resurrect the Heavenly Law World through possession, but to ascend the revived world to an Immortal Realm."
"This is the 'breaking the cocoon and ascending' mentioned in the Record of Mending the Heavens!"
"Unfortunately…" A cold glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes. "All of this will ultimately benefit me!"
His consciousness focused on the Immortal Realm fragment within him, formed from the fusion of six pawns.
"In terms of devouring, even millions of lower realm worlds can't compare to a complete Immortal Realm."
"Once the final pawn returns from beyond the heavens, it should be complete. Then, during Xuanhuang's ascension, I'll merge it…"
"And I'll be in control!"
His thoughts churned, anticipating all possible interference.
"The preparations are almost complete."
"Next, I need to consider how to prevent interruptions during the ascension."
"The Healer and the Legacy Transmission will surely return from the Star Sea. The True Immortal in the Immortal Ruins might also awaken."
"And…"
"The Grand Magus of Tiandu, the Faceless Immortal…"
These names, each once capable of forcing Li Fan to instantly activate True Return, were now figures he was plotting against.
…
Half a month later, a disturbance from the Xuanhuang World interrupted Li Fan's planning. It was a reaction from the mark he'd left on the Tian Yang puppet.
In this life, as he secretly propelled Xuanhuang's ascension, certain things hidden within the world were also undergoing subtle transformations. For example, the ancient, mutated Celestial-Mortal Miasma hidden within the underground cavern in the Qiling Region.
And Tian Yang, his puppet body being tempered by the Earthfire Return to Origin Formation deep beneath the Congyun Sea.
The Earthfire was far more powerful than in his previous life, causing Tian Yang to show signs of premature awakening.
Li Fan appeared at the bottom of the Congyun Sea, gazing at the puppet body buried beneath the earth. He recalled the scene from his previous life where the Tian Yang puppet had single-handedly faced the Legacy Transmission Celestial Venerable. Although hopelessly outmatched, it had stood its ground.
He mused, "Tian Yang is truly a valuable asset."
"He was beaten too badly by the Legacy Transmission in my last life…"
"This time, I'll help him get his revenge!"
Li Fan's divine sense pierced through the blazing Earthfire, reaching the Tian Yang puppet. Since it was awakening naturally in a complete state, Tian Yang's remaining consciousness wasn't as agitated as when it had been disturbed before.
There was no "Tian Yang yields to none."
Only the confusion of awakening in a new era.
"Even after absorbing the Earthfire for millennia, this body is still too weak."
"At most, peak Nascent Soul…"
"Does it deserve the words 'yields to none'?"
Li Fan's words echoed in Tian Yang's consciousness sea. The awakening puppet, enraged by these words, caused the earth to tremble and the Earthfire to surge. The massive puppet body was about to erupt from the seabed.
"Tian Yang yields…" Its deep, booming voice roared, echoing its eternal belief across millennia.
However, this volcanic rage instantly subsided when it heard Li Fan's gentle words that followed: "Little Junior Brother."
This title evoked feelings of familiarity, grief, and guilt. Its anger vanished, replaced by a desire to confirm the speaker's identity.
"This Senior Brother will lend you a hand!" Li Fan's blurry figure appeared.
"Nine Heavens…"
"…Dustfall Finger!"
As he spoke, the entire Congyun Sea calmed, its surface as smooth as a mirror.
A finger descended slowly from the heavens. Although just a single finger, it possessed world-covering power. It precisely targeted and pressed down on Tian Yang's massive puppet body.
Forged by the Earthfire for millennia, Tian Yang's puppet body was beyond the realm of ordinary materials. Yet, under Li Fan's finger, every part of it was instantly crushed into dust!
Tian Yang was stunned. Its unyielding will faltered, about to dissipate completely.
Then, a voice, like that of its Master, Guang Yangzi, echoed in its fading consciousness.
"Transform your body into an object, transcend time!"
Along with the voice, a body bound by golden chains appeared. Tian Yang, looking at the body, felt as if it was looking at its past self.
"Go, Tian Yang."
"Become the strongest in this world!" Master Guang Yangzi's aged voice reverberated.
Tian Yang's remaining consciousness instinctively drifted towards the body, activating the "Body Transformation, Unfettered Freedom" technique ingrained within its very being. Without any resistance, it successfully possessed the new body.
Tian Yang also discovered another consciousness within the body, similar to its own but lacking autonomy. Without any command, this consciousness flowed towards Tian Yang, nourishing its fading will.
In a daze, Tian Yang saw the events of its past body transformation. Buried memories resurfaced. A flame of defiance rekindled from the ashes.
Tian Yang roared once more.
"Tian Yang yields…"
"…to none!"
Its fragmented consciousness settled within the new body.
Tian Yang realized that this body was less flesh and blood, and more like a puppet, a puppet constructed from a fusion of strange metals and flesh containing terrifying, unknown energy.
"Master was right. This puppet body is far stronger than my previous Earthfire-forged one."
"Master, I'm still so useless." A wave of guilt washed over it as Tian Yang's last vestiges of independent thought merged with the flesh and blood puppet.
…
The moment Tian Yang's consciousness entered the new body, Li Fan transferred them both to the Great Qi small world. The ascended Simulated Heavenly Grid, along with multiple immortal formations, sealed the flesh and blood puppet.
The surging aura emanating from the puppet forced even Li Fan to retreat. It was the terrifying power of True Immortal flesh, far surpassing anything mortal!
This puppet was Li Fan's creation, using the bronze immortal crane as a base, infused with True Immortal flesh and Tian Yang's Eternal Remnants. Lacking life force and a soul, it had been waiting for Tian Yang's awakening. Before giving it to Tian Yang, Li Fan had also added a large amount of pulverized black starstone. The puppet's durability was now so great that it could probably walk on the Immortal Ruins itself, ignoring its terrifying suction force!
As Tian Yang's consciousness merged with the puppet, Li Fan observed its changing expression from afar.
"With the Eternal Remnants supporting it, it should be able to withstand the power contained within the True Immortal flesh without being completely consumed."
"But it's still just a mortal. Its remaining consciousness after resisting the immortal power won't be much."
"Like the previous Tian Yang puppet, it will act mostly on instinct…"
"My fabricated identity as Guang Yangzi will be enough to ensure its obedience."
"But this puppet is far stronger than the original."
Li Fan was satisfied, carefully observing the changes.
The bronze immortal crane, from the Celestial Ark's vault, was reportedly forged from fragments of an immortal artifact.
The True Immortal flesh was regenerated by Li Fan from a True Immortal's bone hand using the Ancient character.
The pulverized black starstone was the finest dust from world fragments, refined by the world-destroying immortal formation.
All three could resist immortal power. Fused with Tian Yang's Eternal Remnants… this puppet truly deserved the title of "Immortal Puppet"!
The True Immortal flesh, originally just clinging to the bronze bones, now, with Tian Yang's consciousness as its core, extended tendrils, fusing completely with the bronze. Tian Yang's Eternal Remnants, like an unyielding diamond, shone brightly within the puppet's consciousness sea.
The puppet's features became more defined and lifelike. Its fluctuating aura gradually stabilized. The reborn Tian Yang stood silently, eyes closed.
Li Fan didn't remove the protective formations.
He tested his control, issuing commands to Tian Yang in the guise of Guang Yangzi. The puppet obeyed. Unfortunately, as Li Fan had predicted, in the process of merging with and resisting the True Immortal flesh, Tian Yang's independent will had been severely eroded. Its remaining instincts were even less than he'd anticipated.
"A pity."
"But I have experience now. In the next life, before the fusion, I can strengthen Tian Yang's consciousness."
Taking the Tian Yang Immortal Puppet to the depths of the Star Sea, Li Fan began testing its durability.
First, he unleashed a Great Five Elements Annihilation Sword, a technique he'd developed himself but hadn't used in a long time as his power approached the level of immortals. The black light, capable of annihilating anything, struck the Tian Yang Immortal Puppet, yet not even a scratch remained!
Li Fan raised an eyebrow, then unleashed a torrent of black sword light, enveloping the puppet. However, this seemingly powerful attack didn't even trigger the puppet's instinctive defenses. It stood motionless, unfazed by the barrage, as if facing a gentle breeze instead of a deadly attack.
After a while, Li Fan nodded in satisfaction, stopping the assault.
"The Immortal Puppet's body is truly impervious to mortal power."
"But…"
"This doesn't mean my Great Five Elements Annihilation Sword is useless."
"The Five Elements cycle endlessly, annihilating everything. Its concept is still sound. But against immortal-level beings, relying solely on the power of the Five Elements for annihilation is insufficient." Li Fan pondered.
"But if I could incorporate the 'Real as Fake' transformation…"
He raised a finger, wanting to unleash a sword strike towards the distant stars, but hesitated.
"My comprehension is still too shallow. Incorporating it into my escape technique is my current limit."
"Using it for attack…"
"…will require a few more reincarnations, or perhaps the help of that wondrous item that can trigger True Return's automatic simulation."
Li Fan shook his head slightly, calming his thoughts, and lowered his finger.
He resumed his testing of the Immortal Puppet.
Next were the powers of various True Immortal Seal scripts.
Chaos, Suppression, Submergence… Using Source Power Essence as ink, Li Fan unleashed his knowledge. The protective formations contained the energy fluctuations.
The power of True Immortals descended upon the Immortal Puppet.
Facing this pseudo-immortal level destructive power, the puppet finally reacted. The True Immortal flesh pulsed like a bellows, emitting a force field that blocked the effects of the True Immortal Seal scripts.
This wasn't a command from Li Fan, but the puppet's instinctive defense mechanism.
Li Fan, sensing the invisible force field, his pupils constricting, continued unleashing the True Immortal Seal scripts. The rules of True Immortals were absorbed and neutralized by the force field. The storm of True Immortal power was like a strong wind, ruffling the puppet's clothes but causing no harm.
"Is this… the power of a True Immortal?"
"And this is just the True Immortal flesh's automatic defense…"
Li Fan's eyes gleamed. He wanted to understand and study this force field. But to his disappointment, it was like the flaw in the High Wall. Clearly present, yet intangible, invisible, and unknowable.
An image flashed through Li Fan's mind. An eagle in the sky, spotting its prey on the ground, swooped down with its talons extended. Just as it was about to seize its prey, it slammed into a transparent glass barrier. Dizzy and disoriented, it steadied itself, pecking at the glass, unable to understand why it couldn't reach its prey, just inches away.
It couldn't comprehend the existence of glass.
Just like Li Fan couldn't comprehend the High Wall or the force field.
"True Immortal power is beyond my current reach."
"But a wise man utilizes tools. Being able to use the Immortal Puppet is enough for now."
"This gives me leverage, even against the Celestial Ark."
Li Fan stopped his futile attempts and began his final test. With a serious expression, he chanted, "Nine Heavens Soaring Intent, True Immortal Descends!"
He unleashed the Nine Heavens Dustfall Finger once more, but this time, with all his might. Burning a mass of True Immortal flesh, empowered by the Ascension Formation, his vision rapidly ascended. In an instant, he seemed to stand at the pinnacle of the Star Sea, the High Wall visible in the distance.
The Tian Yang Immortal Puppet, despite its name, lacked true immortal power. It was still beneath the level of immortals. From this higher dimension, it was as small as an ant. The caution and respect he'd felt before vanished.
Li Fan suddenly felt like a True Immortal gazing down upon the world, his face filled with disdain as he locked onto the Immortal Puppet and pressed down with a finger.
Boom!
A violent storm erupted within the confining formation. The world-crushing Soaring Intent, combined with the force of his descent, manifested as a gigantic finger, growing from the size of a soybean to the size of a collapsing sky, pressing down relentlessly.
Facing this terrifying power, the Immortal Puppet finally sensed danger. Its eyes glowed crimson as it raised its hand to support the heavens.
Li Fan grunted, his finger meeting an unyielding resistance, like pressing against a massive boulder. It trembled but couldn't descend any further.
Fortunately, the Immortal Puppet only defended instinctively, not counterattacking. Otherwise, Li Fan would have been severely injured!
While Li Fan struggled, the Immortal Puppet, enduring his strongest attack, wasn't unscathed. It wasn't a true Immortal Puppet, but a fusion of near-immortal materials. The force of the descending attack caused some of its flesh to crumble, and the bronze bones creaked under the immense pressure.
His goal was only to test the puppet's strength, not destroy it. Seeing that it had reached its limit, Li Fan deactivated his technique.
Deactivating the Ascension Formation, he descended from the pinnacle of the Star Sea, slowly regulating his breathing and calming his turbulent energy.
Looking at the Immortal Puppet, Li Fan frowned slightly. "It's still just a puppet, not a true living being. It can't heal itself."
"The True Immortal flesh it lost during the test won't regenerate…"
As he thought this, the True Immortal flesh clinging to the bronze bones suddenly surged, as if multiplying itself, driven by the Eternal Remnants at its core. The puppet's wounds vanished in an instant, its battered body returning to its peak condition.
Li Fan was stunned. He recalled the scene of the True Immortal flesh multiplying uncontrollably when he'd used the Ancient character to create it.
After a long silence, he murmured, "The power of True Immortals is truly profound and unfathomable."
Then, he frowned. "If not for Tian Yang's Eternal Remnants as its core, suppressing the True Immortal flesh, this puppet would likely lose control."
He now understood that the puppet wasn't incapable of healing, but lacked the autonomy to do so instinctively. It only acted when prompted by Li Fan.
"It's because Tian Yang's consciousness was too severely eroded during the fusion."
"Its durability is sufficient, but expecting it to effectively hold back the Legacy Transmission, the Healer, or even the True Immortal in the Immortal Ruins is unrealistic."
"To maximize its combat power, I need to enhance its autonomy."
Li Fan's eyes narrowed. "I remember Craftsman Qiao still has the combat experience of Ancestor, the immortal puppet from the Heavenly Mechanism Realm…"
"But he's probably trapped in the fissure network of the Star Sea, like Xu Ke."
Li Fan turned towards the edge of the Star Sea, sensing the mark he'd left on Craftsman Qiao. Like before, Craftsman Qiao's aura was stable, unlike Xu Ke's erratic signature. And he seemed closer than before.
"Interesting."
"It seems he'll return on his own."
"Excellent!"
Li Fan glanced around. The confining formation transformed into the All Things Return to Nothing formation, its storm erasing all traces of the battle.
"Downgraded immortal formations are truly convenient."
He didn't leave immediately, but waited patiently.
The Star Sea was eternally dark and silent.
After half a month of waiting, what he'd anticipated didn't happen.
"It seems my theory is correct. An individual's descent after ascension doesn't generate black energy."
"Only the 'fall' of a world, or a descent in a special location like the center of the Star Sea, will trigger it."
"This is the observed phenomenon. But what is the underlying cause?"
"Dao Obliteration…" Li Fan murmured as he returned to the Xuanhuang World with the Tian Yang Immortal Puppet.
Although the eagle couldn't initially comprehend the existence of glass, as it began to touch and study it, change would eventually occur.
(End of Chapter)