"Ultimately, survival is all that matters," Di Sanmo said gravely.
Within the World-Splitting Whale's vortex, storms raged and rain poured endlessly. All traces of the Southern冥 Sacred Beast Mountain were long gone.
After a long silence, Di Sanmo continued. "Besides that human Unnamed True Immortal, the world-ending calamities also forced us to flee. Although we were fortunate enough to always find Primordial Essence of Time to escape, certain discoveries filled us with dread."
"To prevent these negative emotions from crippling our people, Di Yi chose to separate and manifest these emotions, letting them run their course…"
Li Fan, aware of the strange and powerful Demonic Beasts within the Demonic Beast race, each with unique temperaments, sensed the key point in Di Sanmo's words. "Discoveries?"
"Countless futures, infinite possibilities. That was our understanding of the world. But after repeated escapes, we began to doubt this. Theoretically, each jump should take us to a completely new possibility, and the time of arrival should be random. With enough luck, we could arrive in a world where the twelve Primordial Dao Incarnates are still alive and our race thrives."
"Perhaps we're simply unlucky. But…"
Di Sanmo's expression turned serious. "What truly terrifies us is that with each jump, we arrive further and further into the future. Although we cross possibilities, we don't seem to be able to reverse our position in time."
"That's why I use the term 'possibility' instead of 'timeline.'"
Both Li Fan and Qiao Sidao instantly understood.
Qiao Sidao lowered his head, concealing his fear.
Li Fan recalled that each activation of True Return reset the mortal world's timeline.
"The Dao Obliteration Calamity isn't just destroying possibilities. It's also devouring the river of time, starting from its source."
"Just like how I can never return to before my first anchor point, no matter how many times I use True Return."
"Furthermore, if True Return didn't exist in the mortal world, wouldn't that mean…"
"…certain doom?" Li Fan's eyes flickered.
If Di Sanmo was telling the truth, then the scale and horror of the Dao Obliteration Calamity, and the importance of True Return, were far greater than he imagined.
But Li Fan had never crossed possibilities without True Return. He couldn't verify Di Sanmo's claims.
Perhaps the Demonic Beast race was simply unlucky, always landing further in the "future."
Countless thoughts raced through Li Fan's mind, but without evidence, speculation was useless. He steered the conversation back to the ruin where they found the Primordial Essence of Time within the Xuanhuang World.
He asked Di Sanmo to describe its location and details.
With a thought, he conjured a map of the primordial Xuanhuang World and pointed at a central location. "Was it here?"
Di Sanmo examined the map and nodded.
Li Fan had a hunch.
The Primordial Essence of Time was located at the core of the Xuanhuang World's ancient Immortal array, a formation even older than Profound Heaven King's Star-Crossing Grand Formation, dating back to the world's creation.
"My previous theory was that the Xuanhuang World was created as a testing ground for methods to resist the Dao Obliteration Calamity. The similarities between Mo Sha and the calamity's black qi, and the countless Mo Sha-like figures I saw during the calamity in my previous previous life, all support this theory."
"But previously, my understanding of the Dao Obliteration Calamity was limited to the black qi. I didn't realize it could affect countless possibilities."
"I've only encountered the Dao Obliteration Calamity recently. The ancient Immortal Realm had Unnamed True Immortals. They must have had a deeper understanding of the calamity, just like the Demonic Beast race."
"It makes sense that they would leave a testing ground for crossing timelines within the Xuanhuang World."
He recalled the fragmented memory he saw within the True Immortal flesh.
"…Qiong Lang Star Region…Obliteration…guarding…"
"…found the target."
With his deeper understanding of the Dao Obliteration Calamity, he gleaned new meaning from these words.
"The Immortal Realm wasn't completely helpless against the calamity. It didn't instantly consume an entire timeline, but gradually, region by region. Perhaps that's the purpose of the Immortal Heavenly Pillars, constructed from the remains of Unnamed True Immortals."
"And in that True Immortal's memory, after hearing about the Qiong Lang Star Region's destruction, there wasn't any panic. Clearly, the inhabitants of the Immortal Realm weren't entirely pessimistic about the calamity."
"I wonder what happened later that caused the Immortal Realm's sudden collapse."
Lost in thought, Li Fan considered another point.
The Dao Obliteration Calamity completely consumed possibilities, even the Immortal Realm. Logically, the lower Star Sea should have also vanished.
Yet, it persisted for millennia…
"Perhaps it has something to do with the vibrant civilization I saw beyond the wall."
Li Fan pondered.
His current situation was similar to when he first left the Great Xuan Small World and arrived in the Xuanhuang World, suddenly becoming aware of the True Immortal in the Immortal Ruins and the formless wall.
"Seeing too far ahead can be distracting."
"I should take things one step at a time."
…
Lost in thought, Li Fan remained silent, neither Di Sanmo nor Qiao Sidao daring to interrupt.
After a long while, he finally spoke.
Addressing Qiao Sidao, he said, "You possess vast theoretical knowledge, but your power is negligible."
"In these chaotic times, cultivation is essential for survival. Having experienced countless reincarnations, you must understand this."
"Organize and adapt your knowledge for practical use. I'll find a suitable cultivation method for you soon…"
Qiao Sidao bowed seriously. "Thank you, Senior."
Li Fan turned to Di Sanmo. "Are you willing to work for me?"
He had revealed so much, practically all of his race's secrets, after just a simple question. Li Fan, a keen judge of character, understood his intentions.
Clearly, witnessing the power of the Interplay of Truth and Illusion, he wanted to pledge his allegiance.
Di Sanmo didn't hesitate, bowing slightly. "I am willing to serve you, Senior!"
Li Fan nodded. "You possess the accumulated knowledge of your race, your wisdom and experience surpassing even mine in some aspects. You can be my advisor."
"There's no need for secrecy now. I've also come from another possibility!" Li Fan declared.
Qiao Sidao looked surprised.
Di Sanmo, however, seemed to have expected this.
The sudden appearance of this "True Immortal," and Li Fan's question about crossing possibilities, hinted at his unique nature.
"But I didn't cross over intentionally." Li Fan frowned, seemingly lost in thought.
"My world is similar to this one, yet different. While the Immortal Realm is destroyed, its legacies remain in the lower realm, making it far more powerful than this world. And there was no immediate threat of the Dao Obliteration Calamity. But then…"
His expression darkened. "One day, two terrifyingly powerful beings arrived. They were far stronger than me! They effortlessly destroyed my home! Even True Immortals were like ants before them!"
"But for some reason, they weren't allies. They soon turned on each other. Amidst the chaos, I fled instinctively, arriving here…"
Li Fan's story, accompanied by images of collapsing worlds and shattered star seas, shocked both Qiao Sidao and Di Sanmo.
And when he showed them images of the sinister Su Bai and the corrupted Healer, Di Sanmo was stunned.
Li Fan, having waited for this reaction, asked, "Do you recognize them?"
Di Sanmo hesitated, examining the images carefully. "These two are likely beings capable of crossing possibilities."
"In this world's history, they were considered exceptional geniuses. One of them is still alive. And…"
He paused. "He has close ties to the Legacy Transmission Celestial Venerable, the true power behind the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance."
He briefly explained the lives of Su Bai and the Healer.
Li Fan frowned. "There are similar figures in my world. But with so many sects and geniuses, they weren't particularly noteworthy."
"Could those two powerful beings be hunting down versions of themselves across possibilities?"
This made both Di Sanmo and Qiao Sidao exchange shocked glances.
After a long silence, Li Fan looked beyond the Divine Repository of Wonders. "Those below the Immortal realm are mere ants. The Healer in this world isn't a threat. I'm more concerned about those two powerful beings. Could they sense us and arrive here?"
This was beyond Di Sanmo's understanding.
The wise beast couldn't answer.
"It seems I have to act preemptively and kill the Healer," Li Fan said coldly.
"I wouldn't advise that, Senior," Qiao Sidao suddenly said.
Li Fan looked at him, gesturing for him to continue.
"Assuming those two beings are hunting down versions of themselves across possibilities, and based on your experience, Senior, this isn't their first time. They clearly have a method to sense their counterparts in other worlds…"
Qiao Sidao paused, carefully choosing his words. "As Uncle San said, time flows consistently forward across all possibilities. This means their hunt takes time, even if they can cross possibilities."
"If they can't kill all versions of themselves simultaneously, there must be an order to their hunt."
"Our world is currently safe because they haven't noticed us yet."
"If you kill the Healer, Senior, it might trigger a response from his counterparts, drawing those powerful enemies here," Qiao Sidao explained methodically.
Li Fan nodded, pleased.
He hadn't actually intended to kill the Healer.
He had countless ways to contain him. Why risk attracting the corrupted Healer?
He hadn't even mentioned that the formless wall could partially block the corrupted Healer's senses. He was testing Di Sanmo and Qiao Sidao's usefulness.
They hadn't disappointed him.
Di Sanmo added, "Instead of risking it, we should imprison him. Using the Primordial Essence of Time, the energy that allows for crossing possibilities, might shield him from detection…"
This was something Li Fan hadn't considered.
Better safe than sorry. He decided to incorporate the Primordial Essence of Time into the formation to imprison the Healer.
The Dissociation Disc was already analyzing the Primordial Essence of Time.
Li Fan looked at Di Sanmo. "What are your thoughts on the corrupted Healer and the sinister Su Bai?"
"Why are their counterparts in other possibilities so powerful, while they haven't even reached True Immortal in this world?"
Di Sanmo chuckled wryly. "Perhaps there are no easy answers. Just like the Unnamed True Immortal who destroyed our people."
"An ordinary Unnamed True Immortal fighting evenly against one of our Primordial Dao Incarnates is considered powerful. But that one… fought against thirteen…"
"Before true power, logic doesn't apply."
Qiao Sidao agreed. "Those who survive calamities are either incredibly lucky or incredibly powerful."
"I believe these two are the latter."
(End of chapter)