Li Fan's thoughts raced, but his hands didn't stop. He separated the myriad Xuanhuang World Destruction Transformations from Ink Slaying's essence. Each transformation could create a powerful Nascent Soul realm being.
"Though called 'world destruction,' they are, in fact, transformations of creation."
"I should collect them. Even after Xuanhuang ascends, releasing them simultaneously would cause chaos!" With this in mind, he sealed the transformations within golden threads, storing them within himself.
"As for Ink Slaying…" His expression turned serious again. The almost extinguished speck of darkness had fully recovered, resuming its relentless corruption.
"One is all. True to its nature as a miniature Dao Obliteration Calamity, even a fragment can regenerate!"
Li Fan recalled everything he knew about Ink Slaying. It rarely acted, but each appearance brought devastation, annihilating entire regions. Even the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance and the Council of Five Elders avoided it.
"Those five old turtles must have realized Ink Slaying is no ordinary Heavenly Soul."
"Integrated into Xuanhuang's laws, it grants the world resistance. Even after annihilation, life returns."
"Does this mean that after ascending, Xuanhuang will be able to withstand the Dao Obliteration Calamity?" Li Fan's heart pounded.
"That must have been the ancient Immortals' plan. Whether it works remains to be seen."
After numerous experiments, Li Fan finally understood Ink Slaying's nature. He brought it to the heart of the Star Sea, near the black Qi.
The surging black Qi steadily consumed the Star Sea, unnoticed by the Star Sea consciousness. The ever-expanding darkness deeply disturbed Li Fan. Even within its containment, Ink Slaying became agitated near the black Qi, frantically struggling against the golden threads.
"As expected!" Li Fan's eyes gleamed.
Having confirmed the connection between Ink Slaying and the Dao Obliteration Calamity, he noticed Ink Slaying drawing energy from the black Qi. He quickly retreated, returning it to the Congyun Sea within Xuanhuang.
He needed Ink Slaying for his ascension, so he couldn't destroy it yet.
Freed from containment, Ink Slaying searched for its captor, venting its fury on Hong Xi and the Congyun Sea.
Poor Hong Xi, newly ascended, was being celebrated on Myriad Immortals Island when darkness descended from the sky, engulfing everything.
Despite its brief contact with the black Qi, subtle changes had occurred within Ink Slaying, noticed not only by Li Fan, but also by the Xuanhuang World itself. Before Ink Slaying could completely annihilate the Congyun Sea, leaving only a thin layer of bedrock, the world's consciousness recalled it.
"It's faster and more violent than before."
"And…" Li Fan examined the last remnants of the Congyun Sea.
A corrosive force lingered, preventing the world's regenerative processes.
"This contradicts Xuanhuang's nature. The purpose of destruction is complete fusion. But now…" He pressed his finger against the bedrock.
A sizzling sound echoed, like flesh burning or being corroded by acid. A force of annihilation began to devour his body and soul, just like Ink Slaying had.
"Even after being recalled, its power lingers."
"This is impossible for a Heavenly Soul. Yet, it's happening…"
"Is it losing control even before full contact?"
Taking a chunk of bedrock for further study, Li Fan's frown deepened. Understanding Ink Slaying's true nature, the unease stemming from True Return's self-initiated simulation intensified. He set aside everything else, going to the former site of Mount Jielidie and meditating on the Dao Discussion Platform.
"I must trust my instincts."
"I've never felt this level of unease, not even in countless cycles."
"The source…"
"Must be that self-initiated simulation."
"Normally, True Return wouldn't simulate without my command."
"Sun Piaomiao's Three-Pronged Tree must be related to Dao resonance, perhaps even the Dao itself. Absorbing it triggered this anomaly."
"The simulation itself isn't the problem. The problem is that I have no memory of it." A shadow crossed Li Fan's face.
"Until now, every simulation was centered on me. I experienced every cycle."
"True Return is still integrated with me, showing no signs of going rogue."
"There's only one explanation. In that simulation, something happened… and I died." A cold glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes.
He froze for a moment, then continued his analysis. "I didn't even have time to activate True Return."
"True Return reversed everything on its own."
"That's why I have no memory of it. It exists only within True Return."
"Only after consuming Kou Hong's near-Eternal Remnant Will did True Return reveal those memories." Reaching this conclusion, his unease lessened, though not completely. At least he understood the cause.
"I… died once?" An unprecedented coldness gripped him.
"Those fragmented memories weren't from this cycle. They were from the one where I died."
"I'm following the same path."
"If I don't change course…"
"I'm doomed!" He envisioned his death, yet felt a strange sense of relief.
"Simply put, after absorbing the Three-Pronged Tree, True Return ran a simulation. In that simulation, unaware of the divergence, I proceeded with my plan to ascend Xuanhuang and integrate with a Heavenly Immortal Soul."
"Blind to the hidden danger, despite my preparations, I failed and died."
Li Fan exhaled slowly.
"The Three-Pronged Tree is truly a divine object. Without that simulation, I would have met the same fate."
"I wonder if True Return will absorb it again in the next cycle."
His thoughts returned to the present. If his deductions were correct, a crucial question remained: What caused his death in the simulation?
He had Immortal Arrays, unparalleled escape techniques, and two Supreme Being level protectors: Tian Yang and Autumn Water. Even if his ascension plan failed, he should have had time to activate True Return.
"There aren't many things that can truly threaten me."
"Within the barrier: the True Immortal in the Immortal Ruins, the sentient will within the True Immortal's remains in the Subterranean World, and the black Qi of the Dao Obliteration Calamity."
"Beyond the barrier: everything is unknown." He paused, then realization dawned.
"And… one of the key components for Xuanhuang's ascension: Sun Piaomiao's Immortal Realm fragments." Having eliminated all other possibilities, only these remained.
"The Dao Obliteration Calamity, a catastrophe targeting the Immortal Realm. Even if it hasn't fully arrived, the black Qi is a harbinger. It might strike the moment I ascend Xuanhuang."
"Even countless True Immortals couldn't escape it. Caught off guard, I wouldn't stand a chance." He identified the most likely cause of his death.
"As for the dead and living True Immortals in the Subterranean World and the Immortal Ruins, the Myriad Xuanhuang Beings Grand Formation should buy me some time."
"The forces beyond the barrier… shielded by the barrier itself, based on my past experience, I should have enough time to react. But not enough!"
"When the barrier collapses and the Star Sea is in turmoil, I'll create a massive diversion, concealing myself from their gaze!" He thought of the boundless life force within the crevice network and the Shape of Life.
"Their arrival will threaten the Star Sea. Amplified by the Grand Method of the Supreme Armour…"
"The Star Sea's infinite power should delay them."
Li Fan added more preparations to his list.
"Finally, there's the Immortal Realm composed of those chess pieces."
"Though I attempted fusion before and didn't sense any True Immortal presence during the initial stages, only a pure Immortal Realm world…"
"It was too hasty." His expression turned serious. "A True Immortal could easily conceal themselves from my perception."
"How can I be certain it's safe without fully unfolding it?"
"It's only a single cycle, twenty or thirty years." He had made his decision. He had to fully unfold the Immortal Realm and confirm its safety.
"Its reemergence will undoubtedly cause a stir."
"I need a secure location."
"If there's a True Immortal inside, I'll activate True Return and find another method to anchor myself to the world's momentum in the next cycle."
"If it's safe, even better…" He still wanted to minimize the impact.
"Use the lowest point to offset the highest."
"The crevice network, the lowest point in the Star Sea, should be perfect."
"Its complexity, combined with the Shape of Life, should confuse any potential enemies."
Li Fan returned to the crevice network, avoiding the still-working Xu Ke. He reached the center of the explored area, minimizing external interference. With utmost care, he set up layers of Immortal Arrays, utilizing all his knowledge and resources. Then, with unwavering resolve, he restarted the unfolding of the Immortal Realm.
A violent wind swept through the arrays, threatening to tear them apart. Li Fan's prized formations were like a dilapidated hut, barely holding on. He constantly reinforced them with Source Power Essence, buying himself time.
His gaze was fixed on the swirling, overlapping images within the array – humanoid yet not, landscapes yet not, just as he'd seen before. Only this time, instead of being interrupted by the black Qi, the unfolding continued under his control.
Boundless light erupted from the Immortal Realm. Li Fan saw the shadows transforming into profound characters, scattering and then melting like water, forming interwoven lines that became the foundation of heaven and earth.
Countless characters emerged from the boundless light, weaving a brighter, more vibrant world. The Immortal Realm was about to be reborn in the Dark Star Sea!
Li Fan sensed the changes occurring within the Star Sea, including the awakening of the True Immortal in the Immortal Ruins, the Healer's surprise, and the Star Sea consciousness's reaction. But he ignored them all, his focus solely on the forming Immortal Realm. He needed to confirm whether Sun Piaomiao's fragments contained anything other than the laws of the Immortal Realm.
"This is causing a bigger stir than I anticipated!"
"Even if it's safe, I can't stay in this cycle for long."
"But it's not a complete waste. I've avoided a deadly trap. The next cycle will just be a repeat performance."
Li Fan's thoughts raced.
As the Immortal Realm blossomed, about to burst forth from the crevice and into the Star Sea, he finally saw a shadowy figure emerge within – a wordless stele, standing tall amidst the Immortal Realm's heaven and earth.
(End of chapter)