The preparations for refining Xuanhuang into an Ascension Elixir were almost complete.
Now, Li Fan only needed to wait.
Wait for Wuming to fully inherit the authority of the Great Celestial Venerable of Xuanhuang, and for the Xuanhuang World to absorb enough essence and reach its limit.
"Three years at most, one year at the earliest."
Regardless of success or failure, the remaining time in this life wouldn't be long.
It was time to enact his plan.
He first appeared within the Nether Race's small world.
The [Imprisonment] character inscription remained isolated in the corner of the stele, gradually being covered by the characters of the Transformation of Immortal and Mortal. Though the exact number revealed was uncertain, Li Fan sensed that the complete manifestation of this mysterious inscription was imminent.
His divine sense swept over the small world. As expected, the Nether Race's physique had continued to strengthen during his absence.
Carefully examining each Nether Race member, he selected the strongest among them.
He then projected a thread of divine sense, possessing the body using the [Dao Pill] technique.
Avoiding the other Nether Race members, he walked through the formation towards the stele.
Observing the partially revealed inscription on the Nameless True Immortal's leg bone through the Nether Race body, Li Fan felt his blood surge.
A burning sensation coursed through his veins, as if a scalding spring was boiling his blood.
He instinctively averted his gaze.
The internal turmoil continued, like the relentless beating of drums.
"It seems glimpsing that True Immortal inscription touches upon some taboo…"
"But I will try regardless!"
Li Fan snorted coldly. The possessed Nether Race body's gaze became even more reverent.
He kowtowed, sensing the subtle changes within his body.
With the experience from his previous life's glimpse of the Transformation of Immortal and Mortal inscription, Li Fan quickly sensed its profound traces.
The Nether Race body seemed to be struck by a divine punishment. Time rapidly accelerated for it, its hair turning snow-white in an instant, its life force rapidly consumed.
Unfazed, Li Fan focused on the traces of the Transformation of Immortal and Mortal.
Using the already revealed portion of the inscription as a reference, he eliminated it from his focus, concentrating solely on the remaining traces.
Fully prepared, Li Fan probed the vast True Immortal inscription even faster than in his previous life.
But the glimpses were still fleeting, insufficient to grasp its complete form.
The possessed Nether Race body crumbled to ashes, consumed like a burnt offering.
Simultaneously, Li Fan's true body appeared before the stele, imprinting his insights upon it, just as the Starvation Immortal of the Immortal Ruins had done in his previous life.
The mysterious inscription on the stele rapidly expanded, more than doubling in size.
After devouring Li Fan's insights on the Transformation of Immortal and Mortal, the stele attempted to absorb him as well!
Having witnessed the true power of the Southern Immortal Heavenly Pillar, Li Fan was prepared.
The phantom of his wooden sword materialized, allowing him to evade the stele's pull.
But even that brief contact caused his cultivation to plummet from peak Soul Formation to mid-Soul Formation.
A moment's hesitation would have reduced him to a mortal!
"Anything related to a Nameless True Immortal is truly terrifying and shouldn't be underestimated!"
Li Fan took a deep breath, regaining his composure. He carefully examined the stele.
Besides the now doubled progress on the Transformation of Immortal and Mortal inscription, there were also mottled shadows forming a ring, clearly resembling the Five Elements Great Grotto-Heavens.
"The Dao of the Five Elements…"
Unfortunately, the traces were too faint to discern any details.
Li Fan turned his attention to his main objective.
"Among the True Immortal inscriptions I know, Starvation and Chaos are of one level."
"Creation and Transformation are a level higher."
"Above them are the Transformation of Immortal and Mortal, and the Shape of Life."
Comparing and cross-referencing the two, Li Fan felt a sense of relief.
"I've deduced eighty percent. At the current rate of Nether Race sacrifices, it should be enough."
"If it's still not enough, I can sacrifice the entire Nether Race."
Li Fan nodded to himself.
"As for the complete Shape of Life…" He frowned slightly.
If, as he suspected, it was on the same level as the Transformation of Immortal and Mortal, then his current understanding was less than a fifth of the complete form!
"Even a glimpse of its complete form is already this difficult. Comprehending its essence is another matter entirely."
However, Li Fan didn't seek complete understanding. Being able to use it, like the Profound Heaven King, was sufficient!
"Little Wangba is the manifestation of a jade pendant. I wonder if offering it to the stele would reveal its true form?" A sudden impulse surged within Li Fan.
But after careful consideration, he suppressed it.
"I'll raise Little Wangba a bit more first. If that doesn't work, then I'll use the stele."
It wasn't a surge of kindness, but rather a prioritization of stability.
Sacrificing mundane objects to the Nameless True Immortal's leg bone was one thing. But Little Wangba, a creature of the Immortal Realm, possessed immense power. If the leg bone devoured it completely…
Unforeseen consequences might arise.
Li Fan hadn't forgotten the image of the leg bone inexplicably flying towards him after the Wordless Stele exploded in his previous life.
"I must be cautious."
"I can't be blinded by immediate gains."
In fact, Li Fan had many other things he wanted to feed to the stele for analysis.
Including the Azure Underworld Pearl, still buried deep within the chasm!
Though Xu Ke claimed it had disintegrated upon contact due to energy depletion in his previous life, Li Fan was certain it still existed in its final, barely stable form.
Ordinary mortals couldn't collect it.
But the Nameless True Immortal's leg bone likely could!
"This stele is a natural enlightenment machine."
"Anything dangerous can be fed to it for indirect comprehension."
"Even…"
Li Fan's gaze shifted from the stele to the depths of the starry sky.
"Sacrificing the entire Dark Star Sea, even the wall itself, is not out of the question."
"The entirety of a Star Sea should reveal enough laws on the stele!"
The thought exhilarated him.
"That day will come, but not now."
"First, I must ensure my own safety before attempting such a feat!"
(End of Chapter)