Unable to find a way to escape the dream world in the short term, Sun Erlang and the others decided to focus on increasing their power within the dream. Among the three, Yue Zhenwei had the purple-gold gourd, and Sun Erlang had the spirit-devouring technique. Only Wang Xuanba had gained nothing, making him their weak point.
So, they pooled their Blissful Ignorance coins and purchased a protective divine ability for him:
"Undying Samsara Body (Beginner)"
"A supreme technique of the Samsara Sect, an ancient sect of the Xuanhuang World. At minor completion, it grants immunity to Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements. At major completion, it grants immortality and invulnerability to all calamities."
This brief description was enough to convince Wang Xuanba.
Sun Erlang's expression was a bit odd. He muttered, "If this Samsara Sect technique was really that powerful, how were they so easily destroyed?"
Yue Zhenwei chuckled. "It only cost 5,000 Blissful Ignorance Coins. It can't be that amazing. But it should be enough for self-defense at this stage."
Wang Xuanba, now experiencing the changes in his body, said, "There was another decent protective divine ability called 'Carefree Wanderer's Will,' but it didn't seem to be from Xuanhuang, and I wasn't familiar with it. Its concept also didn't suit me…"
Sun Erlang mused, "I've noticed many items in the Celestial Venerable's Treasury aren't native to Xuanhuang. Could this Land of Blissful Ignorance encompass things from beyond our world?"
The three exchanged glances, their understanding of the Blissful Ignorance Celestial Venerable's power deepening.
Their remaining coins were insufficient to unlock another dream world, so they had to wait for a free one to open.
The name "Land of Blissful Ignorance" truly lived up to its name. Even outside their personalized dream worlds, the ordinary realm was a paradise for cultivators.
"It includes not just the Council of Five Elders' territory, but the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's as well. Though the Legacy Transmission Celestial Venerable and the Alliance itself are absent here. Cultivation resources are unlimited, there's no conflict, and cultivators can enjoy the scenery. For a small fee, they can even establish cave abodes anywhere in Xuanhuang."
"And with the Celestial Venerable's power, countless cave abodes can exist in the same location. No more fighting over land, and cultivators won't even encounter each other…"
A miniature Xuanhuang World appeared before them. They could instantly teleport to any location for a negligible fee.
They even saw an option to…
"Leave Xuanhuang and live in other cultivation worlds in the Star Sea?"
"Each world boasts magnificent scenery, no less impressive than Xuanhuang."
Sun Erlang's face lit up with longing.
"Too bad it requires experience level 6."
Their attempt to teleport failed, leaving them disappointed.
…
The silver eye displayed Sun Erlang and the others' experiences within the Land of Blissful Ignorance to Li Fan, allowing him to see everything without entering himself.
"To survive the All Things Return to Nothing Formation and even protect others… this Land of Blissful Ignorance is extraordinary."
"Its reach extends beyond Xuanhuang, into the Dark Star Sea?" This surprised Li Fan.
Gazing towards the Council of Five Elders' territory from within the Great Qi small world, his eyes flickered. "Blissful Ignorance's descriptions shouldn't be entirely fabricated. Some depictions of the cultivation worlds match what I know."
"The Star Sea is a desolate void."
"Yet, Blissful Ignorance can recreate these worlds…"
"There are a few possibilities. First, Blissful Ignorance might have visited them. Second, it could be based on ancient texts."
"Or…" A thought struck Li Fan.
"Perhaps the Blissful Ignorance Celestial Venerable uses the world fragments within the Great Wall of Shattered Worlds as blueprints. If true, that means Blissful Ignorance, or the Land itself, has power comparable to the High Wall?"
"Deep, unknown dream worlds…" Li Fan's expression turned serious.
"The High Wall's seal, the Profound Heaven King's message, the flaw in the High Wall."
"The Dao Transformation Stone Mother, the Taiyan Sect's indestructible information, their entire sect's escape."
"The Land of Blissful Ignorance."
Countless pieces of information converged in his mind. A bold idea emerged.
"Could the Blissful Ignorance Celestial Venerable, using the power of the dream world, have already touched the flaw in the High Wall?"
Previously, Li Fan wouldn't have considered this. Someone suppressed by the Legacy Transmission for millennia suddenly gaining the ability to potentially cross the High Wall seemed absurd.
But considering the Land of Blissful Ignorance's resilience against the world-destroying immortal formation in his previous life, it became plausible.
"Perhaps, restricted by the New New Law in reality and forever beneath the Legacy Transmission…"
"…the Council of Five Elders chose a different path."
"If they truly have such power, it explains their silence."
"They're just biding their time."
Li Fan knew this was speculation. But for him, evidence was secondary. Suspicion warranted investigation.
"The Land of Blissful Ignorance accepts all who pass its trials."
"And I have plenty of cultivators."
Li Fan instantly identified suitable candidates within the small worlds through the Dao Discussion Platforms. Silently, they received the Master's guidance and set off for the Land of Blissful Ignorance, becoming Li Fan's informants.
"The Land of Blissful Ignorance may be vast, but a single thought can traverse it!"
Li Fan wasn't worried about Blissful Ignorance retaliating. He remained hidden, manipulating his pawns with the power of the Nine Star Crimson Pearl Formation and ancient immortal formations. He doubted Blissful Ignorance could find him.
Besides, even if he was discovered, so what? With his current power, only a True Immortal posed a threat. He no longer needed to hold back.
Li Fan created another simulated personality to monitor the information gathered from the Land of Blissful Ignorance. Too many secrets were hidden within the dream world for his pawns to uncover quickly.
He then turned his attention to the Terminal Dissociation Disc. Its task in this life was to downgrade immortal formations. Finally, a breakthrough.
The disc's progress had been slow. Analyzing an immortal formation was one thing; simplifying it without losing its power was another. But after Li Fan's repeated ascensions and observations of the Star Sea from a higher dimension, things changed.
"The projection of the Grand Dao descends from above, like an inverted cone."
"The principles of the Immortal Realm are profound, beyond mortal comprehension."
"But mortals are the foundation of the Grand Dao."
"The two share common ground."
This was Li Fan's realization while studying the Interplay of Truth and Illusion. Using this theory, the Dissociation Disc, focusing on the commonalities between mortals and immortals, finally began downgrading immortal formations.
The first formation simplified and tested was the "Immortal Descent, All Things Return to Nothing" formation. The legacy of the Xuanhuang Grand Magus's immortal spiritual energy was needed for Xuanhuang's ascension. If this world-destroying formation couldn't be activated, Li Fan's deterrent would be weakened. And after the ascension, without a means of destruction, he would be vulnerable.
With his spectral wooden sword, Li Fan arrived in the Dark Star Sea to begin his experiment. He pointed forward, and golden threads appeared, like paintbrushes drawing intricate formation structures in the void.
This test version only covered a one-zhang (approximately 3.3 meters) area, so the Source Power Essence required wasn't substantial. As the structure neared completion, the world-destroying formation took shape.
Downgrading didn't mean weakening. It meant adapting it for mortal energy.
The golden light vanished as the formation completed. Sensing the destructive power within the darkened area, Li Fan silently enveloped himself in protective sword phantoms.
Ensuring his safety, he took out a black starstone and tossed it into the formation. This stone was from the Celestial Ark's vault, formed from the indestructible impurities of a shattered cultivation world, a physical remnant of a world's spirit. Its ability to withstand True Immortal power spoke volumes about its durability.
But the moment it entered the formation, it was as if countless blades struck it. Cracks appeared, rapidly multiplying.
With a pop, the stone shattered. The world-destroying storm raged on, grinding the fragments into dust.
"Weaker than the original, but powered by Source Power Essence, it's acceptable."
Li Fan deactivated the formation and collected the dust.
"Excellent forging material. Its ability to resist True Immortal power could save my life."
Next, he downgraded other formations like Desolation and Blossoming in an Empty Room, all successfully. The formations that had only existed in theory were now real. He was elated.
After savoring their power, Li Fan returned to Xuanhuang and began setting up formations throughout the unascended world. With his mastery and the Terminal Dissociation Disc, even without the Xuanhuang Grand Magus, it wasn't difficult.
His main constraint was Source Power Essence. Despite his accumulated stores from the Nether Race, it wasn't enough. He had to conserve some. Once depleted, he could only wait for more before continuing.
He checked on Mo Rubin, still studying the flaw in the High Wall.
"Brother Mo, thirty days have passed. Any progress?"
After a while, Mo Rubin replied, "Not… yet. But I'm close."
"You promised to return after thirty days if you found nothing," Li Fan sighed.
Mo Rubin was silent, then pleaded, "Thirty more days. I'm so close! I'll regret it forever if I leave now. Just thirty more days!"
"After that… I'll decide!"
He went silent.
Li Fan smiled. The High Wall's secrets were to Mo Rubin what forbidden knowledge was to a scholar. Its allure was irresistible. Even after thirty days, Li Fan would receive the same reply.
"If not for that black vortex in the Star Sea, he wouldn't have even set a time limit."
Thinking of the black energy, Li Fan frowned. He suspected it was related to his use of the Ascension Formation. However, after rechecking those locations, he found black energy hadn't appeared everywhere.
He speculated it was related to descending from a higher "potential."
"Like ripples on water, only a large enough 'fall' creates noticeable ripples."
"My own descent was insignificant."
"But a world's…"
"…would be enough to generate black energy."
"But the Star Sea's center is an exception. Perhaps due to its unique nature."
Li Fan pondered. He'd observed the black energy's spread and determined it wouldn't affect Xuanhuang before his ascension plan was complete. Ignoring it for now was safe.
"My only concern is that if it grows stronger, it might alert the True Immortal in the Immortal Ruins."
The True Immortal wasn't completely oblivious. If threatened, he would react. His past reactions to the Medicine King Cauldron and the Return to Nothing formation were proof.
"A harbinger of Dao Obliteration?" Li Fan murmured Mo Rubin's theory, focusing on the black energy sealed within golden light within himself, obtained from decomposing True Immortal flesh. It was on a different level from the energy generated by his descent but still unsettling.
"What caused the Dao Obliteration Calamity that destroyed the Immortal Realm?"
While not his immediate concern, it was an unavoidable reality as his power grew. His descent wasn't the root cause, merely a trigger, prematurely unleashing the hidden calamity. Even without his actions, the Star Sea would likely follow the Immortal Realm's fate.
"Relentless pressure, no respite."
"True immortality and freedom are hard-won."
Unable to confront the black energy yet, Li Fan simply acknowledged it.
After a month, he finally completed the All Things Return to Nothing formation. Its structure was hidden beneath Xuanhuang. With the Source Power Essence condensed and the formation inactive, it was undetectable.
Upon its completion, only a few in Xuanhuang felt a fleeting sense of doom, quickly dismissed as an illusion. Even the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao only vaguely sensed it, evident from its unchanged favor towards Li Fan.
Li Fan, impassive, observed the beings of Xuanhuang calming down.
"Sometimes, one should trust their instincts."
About to return to Great Qi, his gaze fell upon a familiar individual—Zhang Haobo. They had interacted at the beginning of this reincarnation, but as Li Fan's power grew, Zhang Haobo faded from his attention. This was a casual glance, yet it rekindled his interest.
Li Fan had begun setting up the formation in the familiar Congyun Sea. A month ago, Zhang Haobo, still a mortal, had been living there. But now, he had left with his family.
"Did the Crimson Flame Burning the Sea happen early?" Li Fan wondered. He calculated but found no such indication.
"Why did he leave?" He was intrigued.
Focusing his divine sense on Zhang Haobo, he found him restless since leaving, still wanting to flee, but relenting due to his exhausted family's objections. He still seemed worried, frequently looking at the sky.
His family couldn't understand his behavior. He remained despondent.
Perhaps only Li Fan understood.
"He can sense the world-destroying killing intent I've set up?"
Li Fan recalled Zhang Haobo, then a fisherman, telling him about the changes in the Congyun Sea. With a wave, Zhang Haobo, frozen, appeared before him. If his previous perception had been intuition, his current sense of doom after the formation's completion was extraordinary.
"Does this old acquaintance harbor a secret?"
Li Fan's divine sense swept through Zhang Haobo. Still a mortal, he could hide nothing.
Within his brain, almost fused with his tissue, was a shimmering mirror shard, a third the size of a fingernail. Li Fan recognized its aura.
"A fragment of the Boundless Mirror?"
He understood. Sun Luyao had mentioned remaining fragments. He'd found most in his previous life, but some remained, perhaps devoured by the world.
This fragment was causing Zhang Haobo's premonition. The Boundless Mirror could foresee the future, granting him a sense of the impending calamity.
"A fragment can sense my formation?" Li Fan frowned, taking the shard and examining it.
"This is the Boundless Mirror's core sensing and data collection component, even more sensitive than the main body."
"As an immortal artifact, sensing an immortal formation is normal."
Li Fan looked at the frozen Zhang Haobo.
"Unfortunately, it's too small."
"It could influence him as a mortal."
"But once he cultivates, especially after reaching Foundation Establishment and fusing with a wondrous item, its influence will weaken."
"It probably resents him for fusing with something else."
Li Fan chuckled. In his palm, the Xuanhuang World-Ending Transformation activated. The shard flickered frantically, but there was no escape. Like shifting light, it dissolved, becoming nourishment for Xuanhuang.
Sensing the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao's favor return to normal, Li Fan nodded, returning Zhang Haobo. Without the fragment, his worry would vanish. He would live peacefully with his family.
Fortunate or unfortunate?
This reminded Li Fan that while the formation was undetectable, artifacts like the Heavenly Profound Mirror might sense the danger it posed.
"Precautions are necessary."
"But no need to worry. What can they do?" Disdain flickered in his eyes.
"If they dare to show themselves…"
"…they'll become nourishment for Xuanhuang!"
Now able to deploy immortal formations, Li Fan had earned that confidence.
"Also…" He scanned the beings of Xuanhuang, focusing on those who sensed the formation despite its concealment.
He found a few more digesting immortal artifact fragments, too small to be useful. He fed them to Xuanhuang.
Another check yielded nothing.
Li Fan withdrew his gaze.
"Few useful secrets remain in Xuanhuang."
"As for the rest…"
"…I'll explore them after ascending with the Heavenly Soul." He sighed.
While preparing for Xuanhuang's ascension, he didn't neglect the Celestial Ark, designating a small world with thirty million people as his contribution. Then, he paused.
He sensed Wuming, in the Thirteen Peaks world, was about to emerge. The image of the small world appeared.
Having fused with its Heavenly Dao, Wuming descended the mountain. After bidding farewell to his relatives, he stepped out of the Thirteen Peaks world.
Before him were hundreds of World-Splitting Whales swimming through the void, playfully creating and destroying space. This captivated Wuming.
Days passed before he regained his senses, then reluctantly turned towards Xuanhuang.
Technically, Wuming wasn't a cultivator yet, just a frail mortal. But possessing a small world's Heavenly Dao made him more than that.
Guided by Li Fan, the immortal formations couldn't stop him. Like Li Fan before him, he broke through, arriving in Xuanhuang!
The vast sky, the pervasive white mist, the blazing sun, the gentle breeze… Wuming was mesmerized by the unfamiliar beauty.
He stood motionless, like when he'd lain on the mountain peak, sensing the Heavenly Dao. A profound aura emanated from him as he instantly reached the Qi Refining stage. His aura continued to rise, then abruptly stopped, like a river hitting a dam.
Wuming opened his eyes, confused. Looking up, he saw the restrictions placed upon this world by the Legacy Transmission Celestial Venerable. In the past, he could have instantly reached Nascent Soul like Master Bai.
But times had changed.
Undeterred, like the Heavenly Dao Bai Li Fan had once summoned, he followed Xuanhuang's current cultivation rules, searching for materials. He reached out, feeling the wind, searching for wondrous items needed for Foundation Establishment.
He stood motionless, then opened his eyes and took a step.
…
"He chose cultivation instead of immediately starting the Immortal Ascension ritual." Li Fan observed Wuming with interest.
He wasn't worried about Wuming disrupting his plans. His subtle guidance was still effective.
"Since it's just guidance, he has more autonomy than the puppet-like Sun Tianci."
"Let him cultivate."
"With the path to immortality blocked by the Legacy Transmission Celestial Venerable, even the most talented can't surpass him."
"Even if the Legacy Transmission himself comes, he'll have to sit down and talk to me."
Despite this, Li Fan assigned a simulated personality to monitor Wuming. This life's plan couldn't fail.
He shifted his focus back to the pet-like silver eye. Having consumed so many world Heavenly Grids, the Simulated Heavenly Grid he'd created seemed on the verge of a final transformation. Its aura fluctuated, its gaze constantly shifting, yet always centered on Li Fan.
After some consideration, Li Fan chose the Heavenly Grid of a medium-sized small world and fed it to the silver eye.
A flash of light erupted from it.
(End of Chapter)