Fragility and strength, two opposing concepts, seemed to coexist within Qiao Sidao.
Though his soul was on the verge of collapse before Li Fan's intervention, the sheer volume of his complex memories startled even Li Fan.
"My soul couldn't withstand such a burden…"
Setting aside the unique nature of Qiao Sidao's soul, Li Fan quickly scanned his memories.
He wasn't interested in most of the worlds simulated by [Era]. Even the techniques and abilities Qiao Sidao encountered were of little use to him now.
He was more interested in the ancient secrets of the Immortal Realm that Qiao Sidao gleaned from his multiple infiltrations of the ten great Immortal sects.
"But how reliable is this information? Is it just part of the simulated worlds, or are there traces of truth from the destroyed realms?"
Among the countless worlds Qiao Sidao experienced, only two caught Li Fan's attention.
One was the [Eternal Immortal Realm], and the other was the [Turbulent Spacetime].
The Eternal Immortal Realm was a perfect world, a simulation of a cultivation civilization reaching its peak without the Dao Obliteration Calamity. Its inhabitants enjoyed incredibly long lifespans, even mortals living for thousands of years. And within this world existed the [Immortal Spirit Towers].
These towers, scattered across the world, constantly emitted pure spiritual energy. Cultivation techniques, formations, alchemy, medicine… any knowledge imaginable was freely available within these towers.
It was within an Immortal Spirit Tower that Qiao Sidao accumulated enough knowledge to escape [Era].
But as a theoretical construct, it couldn't be fully applied to reality.
Li Fan quickly noticed inconsistencies in Qiao Sidao's acquired knowledge.
"Seemingly correct, but effective only within the simulated world…"
He tested a powerful formation from Qiao Sidao's memories.
The [Heaven and Earth Overturned Formation]. Despite its simple name, it could supposedly invert a world, causing all non-flying beings to fall into the sky, either starving to death or crashing against the world's boundary.
If true, it would be a useful formation. But when Li Fan analyzed it with the Dissociation Disc, it was deemed unworkable.
"Perhaps it could function in a possibility identical to the simulated world. But in the current reality, with its missing and conflicting Daos, the environment is unsuitable."
While not immediately usable, Li Fan wasn't disappointed.
"It highlights a potential, albeit unrealistic, that could be adapted."
"Qiao Sidao, existing only within the virtual [Era], his understanding of reality is limited to what he's seen within the simulation. He likely lacks the ability to adapt these techniques. But I can."
The Immortal Legion Dissociation Disc within his sea of consciousness flickered.
Formation data, like a flowing river of light, was extracted from Qiao Sidao's memories and channeled into the Dissociation Disc.
Qiao Sidao groaned, his soul feeling as if it were being torn apart. If not for Li Fan's stabilizing influence, he might have been annihilated.
But Qiao Sidao, a survivor of countless reincarnations, remained silent, gradually adapting to the pain, his expression returning to normal.
It didn't take long.
The Dissociation Disc transformed the countless formations within Qiao Sidao's memories, turning them from theoretical constructs into practical, functional arrays.
Li Fan then transmitted the adapted formations back to Qiao Sidao.
Noticing the differences between these formations and his own knowledge, Qiao Sidao was first startled, then overwhelmed with excitement.
He remembered his immense power within [Era], able to unravel the world's greatest mysteries and escape. But the stark contrast upon entering the real world had been difficult to accept.
He was so fragile that a gust of wind could extinguish his soul. This was the difference between [Era] and reality.
But now…
Through the changes in the formations transmitted by this mysterious senior, he glimpsed the nature of this difference.
"Master one method, and you master all methods. Given time, I can adapt everything I've learned." Engrossed in this sudden enlightenment, he forgot to thank Li Fan.
Li Fan didn't mind. He could see Qiao Sidao's focus.
This soul hadn't disappointed him.
He was useful!
Li Fan turned to Di Sanmo, resuming their unfinished conversation from his previous life.
"What level of power is required to cross possibilities?"
"And what exactly is the energy contained within the Sacred Beast Mountain?"
As he spoke, he used the Interplay of Truth and Illusion to create a bronze-green energy sphere, tossing it to Di Sanmo.
Li Fan's questions, and the energy sphere, made the Longevity Beast nervous.
As he greedily absorbed the pure energy, feeling its revitalizing effect, he realized this senior had reached the legendary realm.
Perhaps because his body was too old and decayed, most of the [Primordial Essence of Time], pure and potent, leaked away, only a small portion remaining.
But even this small amount was significant, extending his lifespan by at least ten thousand years.
More importantly, he had witnessed this senior seemingly conjure the Primordial Essence of Time at will.
This normally finite resource… if it were truly inexhaustible…
Countless thoughts flashed through Di Sanmo's mind.
But they all converged into a single, unwavering resolve.
He had to stay by this senior's side!
For the sake of his own survival, and that of his people, Di Sanmo had pledged allegiance to various figures throughout his long life.
First Di Yi, then the Beast Taming Sect, and later the Legacy Transmission Celestial Venerable.
None of them offered the hope he now saw in this person before him.
He wasn't one to hesitate.
Once he made a decision, he acted.
He answered Li Fan's questions without reservation.
"Senior, according to our ancient ancestral memories, in the primordial era, even the [Primordial Dao Incarnates], embodying the Dao itself, couldn't easily cross possibilities."
"Primordial Dao Incarnates are similar to Unnamed True Immortals in the human cultivation system. But unlike humans who achieve enlightenment through cultivation, Primordial Dao Incarnates are born from the Great Dao itself. Their power and understanding of the Dao are innately superior. Except for a few exceptionally powerful beings, most Unnamed True Immortals are no match for them." Despite his decision to follow Li Fan, Di Sanmo didn't embellish, simply recounting his ancestral memories.
Li Fan listened impassively, gesturing for him to continue.
"The existence of Primordial Dao Incarnates is both a blessing and a curse. Some powerful Daos didn't manifest incarnates, and due to their innate nature, these incarnates could never comprehend those Daos."
"But human cultivators are different. They can potentially master any Dao."
Di Sanmo's voice turned somber.
"This was the beginning of our people's calamity."
"In our original world, human cultivators were far fewer than us. They were treated as pets, as food. We monopolized cultivation, only allowing obedient humans to cultivate and become our tools, helping us suppress their own kind…"
Di Sanmo revealed the secrets of the Demonic Beast race.
Qiao Sidao, momentarily distracted from his enlightenment, listened intently. He had never encountered this history, even in his countless reincarnations within Era. Hearing that humans were once mere food for Demonic Beasts, he frowned. Di Sanmo had never mentioned this.
Li Fan's expression remained unchanged.
"We weren't shortsighted. We saw the terrifying potential within human cultivators. Thus, we tightened our control."
"According to the normal course of history, humans had no chance of rising in our world."
"And that was indeed the case. Until an unforeseen variable appeared from beyond our possibility!"
Di Sanmo's voice was filled with resignation.
Li Fan's eyes gleamed, sensing a crucial piece of the puzzle.
"One day, a calamity struck our people."
"An Unnamed True Immortal crossed possibilities and arrived in our world. Witnessing the plight of humanity, he unleashed a furious wave of vengeance."
"Initially, our people had thirteen Primordial Dao Incarnates. But in the battle against that Unnamed True Immortal, most of them perished…"
Despite his calm tone, Di Sanmo couldn't hide his fear.
"Although injured, the Unnamed True Immortal retreated, taking the remains of the five Primordial Dao Incarnates he had killed. If he refined the Dao within their remains, our people would be doomed."
"The remaining Dao Incarnates, despite searching across countless possibilities, couldn't find a path to victory. In despair, they chose to flee."
"But, as I said, crossing possibilities in the primordial era was incredibly difficult. We don't know how that Unnamed True Immortal achieved it. But according to our calculations, even sacrificing all eight remaining Dao Incarnates wouldn't be enough to save our people."
"Only one could escape!"
Di Yi's image appeared in Li Fan's mind.
"The Convergence of All Things?"
Di Sanmo nodded.
"Our people are all descended from Primordial Dao Incarnates. To preserve our lineage, we had to merge, to reverse our primordial forms."
"To ensure the survival of our species…"
"Countless individuals, willingly or forcefully, entered the great crucible."
"They merged into [Di Yi]," Di Sanmo said softly.
"Unfortunately, five of the original, most powerful Primordial Dao Incarnates were already gone."
"And seven more sacrificed themselves to facilitate the crossing."
"Of the thirteen Primordial Dao Incarnates, only one remained. Our people could never regain their former glory." Di Sanmo's voice was filled with sorrow.
"Seven Primordial Dao Incarnates to cross timelines?" Unfazed by Di Sanmo's emotions, Li Fan narrowed his eyes.
"That was in the primordial era. After the calamity, the power required to cross possibilities has decreased." Di Sanmo waved his hand, and images appeared within the Southern冥 Sacred Beast Mountain ruin, identical to what Li Fan had seen in the Fallen Immortal Realm.
"One must always be prepared. Even after escaping and reaching safety, and even after Di Yi successfully separated our people, the terror of that Unnamed True Immortal lingered."
"So, we continued searching for a way to escape possibilities."
"And we found the [Primordial Essence of Time]."
Li Fan conjured another bronze-green energy sphere.
"Primordial Essence of Time?" Li Fan mused.
"That's what we call it. Human cultivators likely have a different name. We found it within a human ruin. But even after integrating into human society for tens of thousands of years, I haven't found any records of it," Di Sanmo explained.
"The Divine Face that seals the Primordial Essence of Time, and the key to unlock it, were both found within the ruin."
"This ruin is within the Xuanhuang World?" Li Fan's eyes gleamed.
Di Sanmo nodded. "Each possibility has slight variations in names and locations. But we've always been able to find it within this general area."
"It seems you've escaped more than once," Li Fan said, staring intently at Di Sanmo.
"Across countless possibilities, time and number hold little meaning."
Di Sanmo looked towards the now empty World-Splitting Whale's vortex.
(End of Chapter)