"Aptitude and comprehension might have an upper limit in their influence on cultivation. Anyone reaching True Immortal wouldn't be lacking in these aspects."
"But to go further…" Qiao Sidao continued his reasoning.
"…requires luck and coincidence."
"Every choice shapes one's future. The sinister Su Bai and the corrupted Healer you encountered, Senior, made vastly different choices compared to their counterparts in this world, leading to their unimaginable power."
"And by observing the phenomenon of being hunted by stronger versions of ourselves from other possibilities, we can infer the state of the entire…" Qiao Sidao paused, searching for the right word.
"Let's call it the 'mortal realm,'" Li Fan interjected, gesturing for him to continue.
"Ah, yes, the mortal realm," Qiao Sidao smoothly adopted Li Fan's terminology. "We can infer its overall condition."
"Elaborate," Li Fan said, his eyes flickering. He had already guessed Qiao Sidao's line of thought.
"If the mortal realm still contains countless possibilities, it means that, theoretically, every individual in the Xuanhuang World has an infinitely powerful counterpart beyond the Star Sea, capable of crossing possibilities. Uncle San, myself, and every being in the Xuanhuang World would have such counterparts."
"Conversely, if the Dao Obliteration Calamity has already annihilated most possibilities, this might not be the case. But how to verify this without endangering ourselves…"
Qiao Sidao frowned. "That's beyond my current understanding. Such hypothetical enemies are far too powerful."
"Having a hypothesis is a good start," Li Fan praised casually.
Qiao Sidao's difficulty was no problem for him.
"I can make a basic assessment in this life."
"But considering the corrupted Healer's power, I need to prepare."
Li Fan then asked Di Sanmo for more information about Su Bai and the Healer, focusing on Su Bai.
Di Sanmo's account largely matched Li Fan's experiences in the Fallen Immortal Realm.
But some aspects concerning the sinister Su Bai weren't revealed in the trial.
"The Beast Taming Sect, one of the ten great Immortal sects ruling the Xuanhuang World, wouldn't simply submit to an unknown individual making such outrageous demands."
"But after a brutal battle, weighing the pros and cons, they had no choice but to yield," Di Sanmo said wryly.
In the battle described by Di Sanmo, Master Bai initially only targeted Demonic Beasts, sparing the cultivators. But as the carnage continued, he became increasingly ruthless, his demeanor shifting.
Di Sanmo, noticing this, warned the Beast Taming Sect leader.
And the timely arrival of Lu Ya, raised by Master Bai, likely prevented a massacre.
Unaware of the sinister Su Bai's influence on Su Bai after he partially crossed the wall, Di Sanmo attributed this change to Su Bai's hidden nature.
"Although my homeland was destroyed, I believe many of my acquaintances, like me, escaped to other possibilities."
"My short-term goal is to find a stable method to cross possibilities. My long-term goal is revenge!"
"Despite their power, they shouldn't treat us like ants. Such reckless actions must be punished!" Li Fan declared solemnly, crafting his persona.
These words resonated with Di Sanmo, who shared a similar experience.
Qiao Sidao also nodded in agreement.
While Li Fan could force their cooperation, he believed willing followers were more efficient and reliable.
"This world is less developed than my homeland. Achieving this goal won't be easy."
"We must work together." Li Fan looked beyond the Divine Repository of Wonders, towards the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance headquarters.
Understanding his intent, Di Sanmo said, "The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance has three ruling factions: the Legacy Transmitters, the Mirror Masters, and the Illusionary Sages. I lead the Illusionary Sages. They are formed from souls selected by the [Era] device, using backup life essence stored within the Divine Repository of Wonders, combined with our race's merging techniques."
"The most exceptional among them is the creation known as First Grand Scholar."
"His birth was a series of coincidences, his story no less legendary than Qiao Sidao's…"
Di Sanmo explained the origin of First Grand Scholar's name.
He wasn't a single soul.
The similarity to the Demonic Beast king, Di Yi, wasn't a coincidence. During the process of creating bodies for the selected souls, a rare accident occurred. An explosion merged the remaining life essence and hundreds of souls.
Such a mixture shouldn't have produced a sentient being. But from this chaotic mess emerged the genius known as First Grand Scholar.
Di Sanmo said regretfully, "Despite my efforts to hide his uniqueness, the Legacy Transmitters and the Mirror Masters discovered it. Fearing his potential, they suppressed him."
"Without the necessary resources, even the most exceptional talent is limited by the Legacy Transmission Celestial Venerable's new cultivation system. He possesses incredible aptitude, yet he remains stuck at the Soul Transformation realm…" Di Sanmo sounded indignant.
"This is also related to the nature of our Illusionary Sages. When I joined the Legacy Transmitter, we agreed that I wouldn't interfere in the alliance's affairs, only offering assistance in special circumstances. I couldn't intervene directly," he explained to Li Fan.
Li Fan was familiar with First Grand Scholar.
Even when he was weaker, he had heard tales of his rapid progress: "Foundation Establishment in three years, Golden Core defeating Nascent Soul, surpassing Soul Transformation." Later, when appointed as the island lord of Myriad Immortals Island, he received instructions from First Grand Scholar to construct Congyun Immortal City and suppress the Netherworld Tunnel beneath the island.
But with True Return, Li Fan could gather information and resources without consequences in each life.
After achieving Nascent Soul with the Five Elements Grotto-Heavens, he no longer considered this so-called "genius" a threat.
"First Grand Scholar would be a suitable pawn."
"To test the remaining possibilities in the mortal realm."
"Even with infinite possibilities, where everyone has a chance to reach the peak, those with greater aptitude, comprehension, and temperament have a higher probability of success, and thus, a higher chance of survival after the Dao Obliteration Calamity. Those like He Zhenghao, achieving the Unnamed realm, are incredibly rare, even within infinity."
"I can categorize them based on their aptitude and send them beyond the wall…" A plan formed in Li Fan's mind.
Instead of summoning First Grand Scholar immediately, he had Di Sanmo lead him to the Legacy Transmitters' council.
As the leader of the Illusionary Sages, appointed by the Legacy Transmission Celestial Venerable himself, Di Sanmo gathered most of the Legacy Transmitters under the pretense of an "emergency."
Knowing their weaknesses, Li Fan didn't waste time. He used his Immortal array to suppress them all.
After some "re-education," those deemed useful would be released. The rest would be eliminated, replaced by new Legacy Transmitters created using Simulated Personalities and Di Sanmo's merging techniques.
The Demonic Beast race's merging techniques were similar to those developed in the miniature world of the Empire. However, the Empire's technology, based on beasts devoid of Demonic Beast bloodlines, could unlock greater potential. While seemingly less advanced, its essence wasn't inferior.
Di Sanmo was amazed and inspired after Li Fan shared this knowledge.
Having silently seized control of the Legacy Transmitters' council, Li Fan didn't confront the Heavenly Profound Mirror directly.
He first visited the Guardians' Hall.
After the three Nascent Soul realm guardians confirmed the authenticity of their reassignment orders and hurriedly left the Law Derivation Jade's chamber, leaving only the jade itself, the seemingly listless little girl,趴 on a long wooden table, finally stirred.
She cautiously raised her head.
"What's going on?" she wondered.
After thinking for a while, unsure of the situation, but noticing the lack of guards, the Law Derivation Jade, instead of escaping, simply went back to sleep.
After a while, a figure appeared before her, tapping on the table.
The little girl startled awake, expertly wiping drool from her mouth and widening her eyes, as if she hadn't been sleeping at all.
She examined the newcomer cautiously. "Are you the new guardian?"
Li Fan smiled faintly. "Yes and no."
"I hate riddles," the little girl huffed, turning away dismissively, seemingly counting on her fingers, her eyes glancing at the large sphere of characters above.
Unfazed, Li Fan conjured an identical wooden table.
He laid out paper, ground ink, and picked up a brush.
With a single stroke, he wrote two characters on the table.
These two characters instantly captivated the little girl's attention.
She stared blankly, then, as if remembering something, let out a scream.
"You… you… you…" The Law Derivation Jade trembled, pointing at Li Fan, unable to speak coherently.
Li Fan glanced at her calmly.
Startled again, but under his gaze, she froze, staring at him in fear.
"How much of your Immortal Realm memories remain?"
After she calmed down, Li Fan asked softly.
This question confirmed her suspicions.
Her fear intensified. She shook her head vigorously. "I don't remember anything!"
"Hmm?" Li Fan raised an eyebrow.
The little girl waved her hands frantically. "I'm not lying!"
"I'm also curious about this. But Big Brother Mirror Profound said that to escape the calamity in the Immortal Realm, most Immortal Artifacts had to sever their connection to the past…"
"I only remembered those two characters after seeing you write them."
Immortal Artifacts, Immortal Puppets, Immortal Servants…
They seemed inherently subservient to True Immortals.
With a single glance from Li Fan, the Law Derivation Jade revealed everything she knew.
The Law Derivation Jade within her, though originating from the Immortal Realm, was already incomplete.
After merging with it, her past memories had faded.
"Don't move."
Li Fan placed his hand on her head, examining her condition.
The Law Derivation Jade was no longer a separate entity, having almost completely fused with her human body.
But traces of her "human" nature remained. She hadn't been fully consumed.
"I sense your desire."
"Do you wish to continue as the [Law Derivation Jade], or as a true person?"
Li Fan withdrew his hand, asking softly.
The little girl froze, then opened her mouth slightly.
She hesitated, conflicted.
"As the Law Derivation Jade, you'll lose your freedom, but gain immortality."
"As a person, you'll be free from the constraints of an artifact, but true freedom in this world is elusive," Li Fan reminded her.
She lowered her head, pondering.
But, as Li Fan expected, she chose the latter.
To become a person.
"Very well. Since you've made your decision, I'll grant your wish."
Countless golden threads erupted, piercing the Law Derivation Jade.
The little girl cried out in pain.
Unfazed, Li Fan carefully extracted the artifact from her body.
(End of Chapter)