The encounter between the Heavenly Profound Mirror and Legacy Transmission Celestial Venerable was inevitable, just as Li Fan's growing power destined him to cross paths with Legacy Transmission and the Starvation Immortal.
Though its primary function wasn't combat, it was still a mortalized immortal artifact. If Legacy Transmission had been alone, Mirror Profound might have held his own. However, he hadn't anticipated the Healer's presence.
The combined might of these two powerhouses subdued the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
For Mirror Profound, it was an unpleasant memory.
After a rapid flurry of blurry images, the Heavenly Profound Mirror was transformed, becoming the cornerstone and ultimate weapon of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
The Heavenly Profound Mirror's exploration of the Xuanhuang World hadn't been fruitless. As its analysis deepened, it developed new abilities, such as Division and Secondary Manifestation.
Division referred to the Heavenly Profound Sub-Mirrors scattered throughout the Alliance's regions and the smaller mirrors for individual use. They possessed a portion of the main mirror's power and were essentially extensions of it.
Secondary Manifestation, in contrast to Division, wasn't replication but mutation. The various secondary manifestations born from the Heavenly Profound Mirror, such as the Profound Azure Mirror, the Terminal Stone Disc, and the Dissociation Disc, appeared to be specialized versions of its functions. However, only Mirror Profound knew that their abilities within their respective domains surpassed even his own.
By studying these secondary manifestations, Mirror Profound could enhance his corresponding abilities. This process occurred instantaneously upon their creation, rendering the existing manifestations themselves useless to the main mirror.
Besides Division and Secondary Manifestation, the Heavenly Profound Mirror's most important insight was the profound principle of "Establishing the Dao within, Practicing the Dao without."
Mirror Profound firmly believed this enlightenment came not only from exploring the Xuanhuang World but also from the woman's parting guidance.
Establishing the Dao within meant strengthening the part of oneself connected to the Dao. The Great Dao permeated all things, and all existence relied on it. If one couldn't achieve the ethereal union with the Dao and attain enlightenment, one could instead focus on a specific aspect of it. Every being was born from the fusion of various Daos. By completely mastering one's foundational Dao, even if one's power remained inferior to Nameless True Immortals, the difference might not be significant. Moreover, some exceptionally gifted individuals could rival Nameless True Immortals simply by comprehending their own Dao!
Practicing the Dao without was the transcendence that followed Establishing the Dao within. Compared to the boundless Great Dao of heaven and earth, individual existence was limited. However, by crossing the boundary between "self" and "other," one could undergo a transformation, achieving limitless potential.
For the Heavenly Profound Mirror, "Establishing the Dao within, Practicing the Dao without" manifested as the coexistence and mutual support of artifact and human. Unhindered, both the mirror's main body and its human avatar could each achieve supreme enlightenment. Moreover, after one achieved a breakthrough, it could nourish the other.
…
Li Fan wasn't particularly interested in the gossip surrounding the Profound Heaven King and his childhood sweetheart. Instead, the Heavenly Profound Mirror's enlightenment gave him much to consider.
"The Primordial Dao Forms of the demonic beast race can be considered an extreme form of [Establishing the Dao within]."
"And this concept is similar to Self as Foundation, both focusing entirely on the self. However, under normal circumstances, Establishing the Dao is far more difficult than Self as Foundation."
"As for Practicing the Dao without…"
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, recalling Ji Yuzhen's Boundless Heavenly Axis Soul Severing Technique. Cultivated to its peak, using one's primordial soul as a catalyst, this technique could achieve the heaven-defying effect of [Dao Fusion].
"The Great Dao of heaven and earth originates from the Primordial Beginning. This might be the theoretical basis for Practicing the Dao without and achieving Dao Fusion."
"Whether relying on oneself or external objects, the essence is the same: merging with more [Daos]."
…
Li Fan eagerly absorbed the Heavenly Profound Mirror's millennia of accumulated insights, transforming them into nourishment for his future enlightenment.
Though it didn't immediately enhance his power or realm, he had a premonition that this method would prove invaluable, especially now that the Immortal Dao was no more.
"The Profound Heaven King's childhood sweetheart seems to have inherited his legacy. Her cultivation speed is astonishing, and she gained insights far beyond ordinary cultivators in a short time. As the saying goes, 'When a man gets Dao, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven!'"
As Li Fan claimed the Heavenly Profound Mirror's understanding of Establishing the Dao and Practicing the Dao, his replication of the mirror spirit accelerated dramatically.
He steadily eroded Mirror Profound's control, and it wouldn't be long before the original spirit ceased to exist.
Watching the figure within the mirror grow increasingly similar to himself, becoming more vibrant and lifelike, Mirror Profound's face paled. He abandoned all resistance.
The methods employed by this suddenly appearing True Immortal were simply too profound and mysterious. He couldn't comprehend them at all!
Mirror Profound even suspected this True Immortal's power surpassed his own creator!
Resigned to his fate, he no longer harbored any thoughts of defiance.
Witnessing Li Fan effortlessly subdue the Heavenly Profound Mirror, something even Legacy Transmission Celestial Venerable hadn't fully achieved in millennia, Di Sanmo and Legacy Transmitter Zhou fell silent, their awe deepening.
The Legacy Transmitters, the Mirror Masters, and the Illusionary Sages—the three true power holders of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance—had all been subdued by Li Fan. The Alliance had silently changed hands.
Sensing Legacy Transmission and the Healer still hurtling through the Star Sea, Li Fan smiled faintly. In the face of absolute power, schemes and backup plans were meaningless.
Li Fan had no intention of flaunting his new status as the Alliance's master. Everything continued as before, with the simulated Mirror Profound maintaining the balance.
Li Fan first ordered the retrieval of a cultivator named Qin Zhuang, imprisoned in the deepest depths of the Netherworld Prison.
Previously, Li Fan had attempted to use a downgraded immortal formation to probe the secrets within Qin Zhuang's mind, but he had been thwarted by an invisible interference.
Now, having reached the Half-Immortal Realm, he would try again!
Soon, the skeletal figure of Qin Zhuang was brought before him.
Initially, Qin Zhuang's expression was one of disdain and mockery. But upon seeing Li Fan, uncertainty flickered in his eyes.
Li Fan wasted no time. He pressed a finger to Qin Zhuang's forehead.
Within the illusionary formation, inconsistencies appeared in Qin Zhuang's experiences, interspersed with flashes of his past memories.
"You're joking, right? Sending me into the Obliteration Zone? Forget about some grand mission, there's no way I, Qin Zhuang, would ever go!"
"Ancestral Master's direct order? Then I'll reconsider."
…
"Your mission is to search for a descendant of the [Sacred Merchant] bloodline within the Obliteration Zone. According to information provided by Supreme Elder Ji, the infant's relatives all died in an internal power struggle. Before dying, his parents sent him back to the Obliteration Zone. If we can find him, we'll have an excuse to openly intervene in the Sacred Merchant's affairs."
"However, the Obliteration Zone is extremely dangerous. Remnants of past civilizations seem to linger beneath the ruins. As a precaution, we need to make some minor adjustments to your mind. Don't worry, everything will return to normal when you come back."
…
Within the illusion, a square-faced, middle-aged cultivator spoke sternly to Qin Zhuang. Suddenly, as if sensing something, his gaze shifted from Qin Zhuang, meeting Li Fan's across the boundary of the illusionary formation.
Like a frost-covered landscape, Qin Zhuang's memories instantly faded and blurred.
Li Fan sensed Qin Zhuang, who had clung to life despite the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's tortures, begin to irrevocably decay, both in body and soul.
"Hmph, it triggered the restriction after all."
Having finally found a way to glean information from beyond the wall, Li Fan wouldn't let Qin Zhuang die so easily.
He extended another finger, this time projecting not an illusionary formation but a phantom embodying the power of the entire Xuanhuang World.
Even though the method used to drain Qin Zhuang's life force was unlike anything Li Fan had encountered before—neither divine ability nor formation—brute force prevailed. This immense influx of power was enough to temporarily sustain Qin Zhuang's life.
Within the illusion, Qin Zhuang's memories, though now flickering shades of gray instead of vibrant color, continued to play out.
Li Fan frowned, scrutinizing them intently.
After seven days and nights, all the usable memories within Qin Zhuang's mind had been extracted. Having no further value, Li Fan allowed him to die.
Like ashes after a fire, Qin Zhuang's skeletal body crumbled into gray dust, scattering into the air.
Li Fan sensed these particles attempting to transmit a signal. With a flicker of his gaze, he sealed them within a formation.
After observing for a while to ensure there were no further complications, he began to process what he had learned.
"Perhaps Qin Zhuang's memories were deliberately edited. He knew nothing about powerful beings existing beyond the realm of possibility."
"In his worldview, the Dark Star Sea within the wall existed within the so-called Obliteration Zone."
"The Obliteration Zone, the place where the Dao Obliteration Calamity once struck. Most of it has been destroyed. Those who enter never return. Only within small spaces supported by the remaining ruins does a sliver of life persist."
"The wall we see is what they call the remaining ruins."
Li Fan remained silent, deep in thought.
Beyond the Obliteration Zone, within the endless starry sky, life seemed to flourish. The Obliteration Zone, scarred by the Dao Obliteration Calamity, was shunned by all cultivators, let alone explored.
If not for the Ancestral Master's direct command, Qin Zhuang would never have risked entering.
Within Qin Zhuang's memories, Li Fan saw the Ancestral Master's face.
"As expected, it's Situ Yao of the Heavenly Sword Sect."
"And that Supreme Elder Ji…"
Li Fan's eyes flashed. This was another familiar face—Ji Zhaoxuan, the cultivator he had possessed within the [Heavenly Sword Sect Sword Refining] trial of the Fallen Immortal Realm.
"Beyond the wall, various factions contend."
"The place where Qin Zhuang lived was no longer called the Heavenly Sword Sect but had been renamed [Sword Domain]. And that Sacred Merchant, seemingly Jiao Xiu's homeland…"
"The Merchant Immortal's Ark?" Li Fan wasn't certain.
From Qin Zhuang's memories, the Sacred Merchant was the most powerful faction beyond the wall. They possessed countless wondrous treasures, each capable of turning the tide of battle.
However, for unknown reasons, the Sacred Merchant had become increasingly isolated, even recalling treasures previously sold.
This sparked unrest among other factions who coveted their technology.
…
Despite the numerous factions beyond the wall, they all agreed on one thing:
The former Immortal Dao had brought about the Dao Obliteration Calamity.
To prevent its recurrence, cultivators abandoned their past methods.
And "Immortals" became targets to be hunted.
"The decree to slay Nameless Immortals?" Li Fan mused.
In Qin Zhuang's memories, there was awe, but not fear, of Immortals. This was because each faction beyond the wall possessed unique methods for dealing with them.
The [Cat Treasure] Li Fan had encountered was a creation of the Sacred Merchant!
And the White Ring, Falling to the Mortal Realm…
Based on Qin Zhuang's memories, Li Fan deduced it likely originated from a place called [Heavenly Mechanism].
Like the Sacred Merchant, Heavenly Mechanism excelled in crafting artifacts, but their methods were more traditional, closer to the refining techniques of former cultivators.
It was speculated that Heavenly Mechanism might be a coalition of cultivation sects who had fled the calamity. However, the Heavenly Mechanism cultivators vehemently denied this.
"Besides relying on external objects, the reason these factions beyond the wall can contend with, and even hunt, Nameless True Immortals,"
"Is because they possess a targeted trump card."
"Each faction's method is different, but the principle is the same."
"A weakened, targeted Dao Obliteration Calamity…"
Nameless True Immortals were merged with the Dao. If their Dao was infused with this weakened version of the Dao Obliteration Calamity, it would become an unshakeable curse, severely diminishing their power and leaving them vulnerable to the true calamity.
…
"A Nameless True Immortal version of the Celestial Mortal Miasma?"
"Or perhaps, a specialized Ink Kill?"
Li Fan now had a general understanding of the situation beyond the wall. Though not entirely clear, it was enough to form a rudimentary picture.
What puzzled him was that, despite their awareness of the Dao Obliteration Calamity, the factions within the habitable zones beyond the wall showed no particular concern, even daring to weaponize it.
They seemed confident the calamity wouldn't affect them.
"Is this genuine confidence, or a carefully constructed facade?"
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(End of Chapter)