"In that extra simulation, I didn't seem to possess True Return. Otherwise, it was identical to my own experiences." Li Fan's expression was grim as he recalled the events. When the Dao Obliteration's black Qi had consumed the falling Xuanhuang World, he hadn't tried to activate True Return, simply resigning himself to death.
"But the simulated me didn't find True Return's absence strange, as if I'd never possessed it. From the moment I activated the extra simulation, a branch without True Return was created…"
"Interesting. Even within True Return's simulations, extra branches, created after the main simulation, can't simulate True Return itself." A flash of inspiration struck him. He seemed to grasp something fundamental, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving no trace.
He knew he had missed a crucial insight into True Return's secrets, a momentary pang of regret washing over him. But he quickly recovered. He believed that as his understanding of the Interplay of Truth and Illusion deepened, his connection to True Return would strengthen, eventually revealing its secrets.
He took a deep breath, refocusing on the events within the branch simulation.
"Xuanhuang's ascension proceeded almost exactly as planned. My preparations were thorough, and no unexpected enemies appeared."
"The only obstacle was that final, crucial step towards transformation, the fundamental difference between mortal and Immortal."
"How can I achieve it?" Countless possibilities flashed through his mind.
"The Transformation of Immortal and Mortal character? The Immortal Realm chess pieces? Or perhaps repairing the Star-Crossing Grand Formation using the remnants of the ancient Immortal Arrays?"
Each option held endless possibilities. Most Immortal-related concepts were beyond his current comprehension. His head ached from thinking, unable to choose the best approach. Each seemed viable, yet each seemed destined to fail.
"Could it be that I can't achieve Dao Integration and ascend in this lifetime?"
"If necessary, I'll try every method until I find the right path." This disheartening thought took root, eroding his resolve. His mind became a storm of conflicting ideas.
He stopped thinking about ascension, focusing instead on ending this cycle and planning for the next. He planned meticulously, yet a nagging unease lingered. Theoretically, everything within a simulation could be replicated. Nothing was truly lost, except for changes within himself. Each True Return activation reset the world, including his physical body and cultivation, requiring him to actively inherit them. But one variable always progressed: his mental and spiritual state, reflected in True Return's interface as his maximum psychological age and default energy level. And these hadn't changed in a long time…
He hesitated, unable to make a decision. Time ticked by. Only ten hours remained before his simulated self initiated Xuanhuang's ascension. With an unreadable expression, he returned to where it all began: his former home in the Great Xuan Small World.
Even after his disappearance, his study remained untouched, as if his "aunt" still held hope for his return. He lay on the bed, closing his eyes, as if reliving his arrival, time seemingly freezing, then thawing, flowing again.
Memories of countless cycles flashed through his mind, searching for a solution. Day turned to night. He lay motionless, as if asleep.
He could indeed use repeated simulations to identify the key to ascension through trial and error. It was the safest approach, theoretically flawless. But whenever he considered it, certain images would flash through his mind: Mo Rubin's desperate attempts to understand the barrier's weakness, and the Healer abandoning his pursuit of understanding the barrier to save the Heavenly Law World.
"A one-time opportunity." He whispered the words in the darkness, his eyes snapping open.
With True Return, nothing should be a one-time opportunity, unless it surpassed True Return itself. A mere ascension to the Immortal realm shouldn't qualify.
"The true one-time opportunity lies within me."
"True Return can affect everything, but it can't reverse my own changes." Realization dawned, his gaze brightening in the darkness.
"Losing this unknown quality might not prevent me from becoming a True Immortal, but it might affect my path beyond!"
As sunlight pierced through the darkness, chasing away the night, he finally understood the source of his unease.
"Why is this happening?"
"Is it my overreliance on True Return?"
"Or something else?"
"The path beyond True Immortal is still distant. And from what I understand, reaching the Unnamed realm simply requires mastering a specific Dao. There shouldn't be any connection…" He frowned, confused.
"But I have no other choice but to try every possibility."
…
He stepped outside, watching the sunrise, continuing his contemplation as he left the Great Xuan Small World and wandered through Xuanhuang. The surrounding scenery shifted rapidly, reflecting in his mind.
He started from the Congyun Sea in the east, heading west. The scenery shifted faster and faster. He was in a meditative state, akin to enlightenment, his external abilities unaffected. His increasing speed was due to his unique relationship with Xuanhuang's Heavenly Dao. Like a grateful child, the Heavenly Dao, eager to please, was actively assisting him, reducing the burden of travel, even though it didn't understand his aimless wandering, perhaps mistaking it for preparations for ascension.
Li Fan noticed the Heavenly Dao's efforts, but didn't care. It had done the same for Wuming. With a single step, the world shifted around him, like teleportation. But with the various regional anomalies resolved, it hadn't done this in a while.
"Damn thing," he cursed inwardly, remembering Xuanhuang's true nature from the branch simulation.
"I have my own superior movement techniques. I don't need your paltry assistance." He summoned his wooden sword, preparing to leave, to escape the Heavenly Dao's interference and focus his thoughts.
But he stopped, looking at the wooden sword, recalling the Heavenly Dao's assistance. A subtle expression appeared on his face.
"My movement technique is a fusion of my understanding of the Sword Dao, the Interplay of Truth and Illusion, and…"
"…the Profound Heaven King's teachings from Ji Yuzhen's memories."
"The core of the Golden Chains Across the Sky Formation: the Ends of the Earth, Within Reach Formation!"
"And the Profound Heaven King obtained that from the Immortal Realm…" He quickly recalled the memory.
The Profound Heaven King had said gently to Ji Yuzhen, "The Golden Chains Across the Sky can span the heavens. Even a target at the farthest reaches of the Star Sea can be captured instantly. I told you before, this is achieved through the embedded Ends of the Earth, Within Reach Formation. It was originally inscribed on the Immortal Ascension Platform in the Immortal Realm. I brought the entire array with me when I escaped…"
Boom!
The Profound Heaven King's words echoed like thunder, piercing through the fog in his mind.
"Wait! Could it be…?" A glint flashed in his eyes. He dispelled the wooden sword, resuming his walk. As expected, the Heavenly Dao, sensing his movement, resumed its assistance. The scenery shifted rapidly. He closed his eyes, focusing on the changes occurring around him.
"This feeling…"
"It's unmistakable!"
"It's the Ends of the Earth, Within Reach Formation!" He stopped abruptly, his heart pounding with excitement.
His mind raced. "The Golden Chains Across the Sky Formation, part of the Star-Crossing Grand Formation, is damaged."
"But activating it consumes vast amounts of energy. The Profound Heaven King, ever cautious, created three replicas."
"The Ends of the Earth, Within Reach Formation isn't the key. The key is…" His eyes gleamed, scanning Xuanhuang.
"The Immortal Ascension Platform! Inscribed! Complete!" He trembled with excitement.
"The Immortal Ascension Platform must be where Immortals ascended from the lower realm."
"Besides the Ends of the Earth, Within Reach Formation, it must contain other inscriptions."
"The Profound Heaven King was fleeing. As a newcomer to the Immortal Realm, he couldn't have isolated the formation in such a short time."
"So, it's highly likely that his three replicas contain the complete inscriptions from the Immortal Ascension Platform!"
"This… this is the key!" Though not entirely certain, he had found the most likely solution. Years of experience had taught him to never underestimate anything from the Immortal Realm.
"Now, the crucial question is: Where are these replicas hidden?" He had destroyed Xuanhuang multiple times, and these inscriptions weren't among the surviving remnants. They weren't within Xuanhuang.
If not for the Heavenly Dao's inadvertent assistance, revealing its use of the formation, he might have searched the Celestial Beast's Eye, even the Great Wall of Shattered Worlds, for clues. But now, the Heavenly Dao had revealed another possibility.
"The Immortal Ascension Platform's inscriptions are within Xuanhuang!"
"Its influence has subtly taught the Heavenly Dao the Ends of the Earth, Within Reach Formation."
"And perhaps even some of Xuanhuang's innate Immortal qualities are also derived from it!" He suppressed his urge to immediately dissect the world, calming himself as he subtly questioned the Heavenly Dao about its assistance.
The Heavenly Dao, seemingly proud of its helpfulness, readily fell into his trap, revealing everything.
"As I suspected!"
"It learned it somehow, instinctively!" He patiently inquired further.
Empowered by Li Fan, the Heavenly Dao's self-awareness had also reached an unprecedented level. Under his guidance, it slowly identified the source of its newfound knowledge.
Following its guidance, Li Fan arrived at his destination, deep within Xuanhuang, millions of miles beneath the surface, beyond even the flowing earth veins, surrounded by pure world power. He observed the familiar, ancient, array-like structures.
A stone tablet was embedded at the center of the array.
(End of chapter)