Like a bolt of lightning, Li Fan's words shattered Legacy Transmitter Jiang's long-held assumptions, guiding his thoughts down a new path.
"Exactly! All things are as I am, heaven and earth are as I am, the Great Dao is also as I am…"
At this moment, Legacy Transmitter Jiang was like an ant, living in a daze since birth, suddenly seeing the clear sky. But instead of feeling inferior, shocked, or afraid, a boundless ambition to devour the heavens surged within him.
"The Dao is as I am, the Dao is as I am…" Legacy Transmitter Jiang muttered, as if possessed. As his eyes glowed with increasing intensity, flickering images appeared within the Gui Xu World.
This was Li Fan, using his power to relocate a complete small world from the Xuanhuang World to aid Legacy Transmitter Jiang's comprehension.
Under the formation's influence, Legacy Transmitter Jiang lost himself, immersed in enlightenment. Indeed, with his supreme characteristic of "All things are as I am," he could perceive and assimilate everything, even the myriad Daos of heaven and earth.
But he was too weak. The gap between him and the Great Dao was far greater than that between an ant and the sky. His ambition to assimilate the Dao, even with an endless lifespan, was pure delusion. The Dao Obliteration Calamity would consume the mortal realm long before he achieved his goal.
If Legacy Transmitter Jiang were still lucid, he wouldn't make such a foolish attempt. But trapped within Li Fan's formation, he was no longer in control.
Li Fan didn't care whether he succeeded. What mattered was that Legacy Transmitter Jiang was currently "comprehending the Dao with his body."
Through the formation's simulated "All things are as I am" characteristic, Li Fan could faintly perceive Legacy Transmitter Jiang's thoughts, feelings, and insights.
Under normal circumstances, such close resonance between two beings would alert both parties. But Li Fan's formation shielded him from Legacy Transmitter Jiang's perception, allowing for one-way observation.
Though not perfectly aligned with Legacy Transmitter Jiang's true thoughts, it was as if Li Fan had a constantly enlightened avatar comprehending the Great Dao on his behalf.
Moreover, he believed that as the Dissociation Disc further refined the illusionary formation, the gap between their comprehension would narrow.
Li Fan's form within the Gui Xu World gradually faded. Before departing, he extended his hand.
The vast Gui Xu World shrunk in comparison to his body, eventually resting in his palm like a luminous pearl.
Though slight, during Legacy Transmitter Jiang's enlightenment, Li Fan had clearly sensed his own understanding of the [Dao] slowly but steadily increasing.
He was quite pleased with Legacy Transmitter Jiang's peculiar nature and intended to keep this enlightenment machine with him.
"It's essentially a controllable, albeit weaker, version of an Immortal Heavenly Pillar."
"Moreover, though its speed of comprehension is far slower than a Nameless True Immortal, its precision might be comparable, perhaps even superior!"
Li Fan compared the two, a realization dawning. "Legacy Transmitter Jiang doesn't comprehend through his own talent or understanding, but through his innate characteristic, which is, in a sense, a Dao itself."
"Comprehending the Dao with the Dao. How ingenious!"
"The only drawback is his weakness. But if he were too powerful, he might sense something amiss and break free from my control. There's no such thing as perfection. I'll have to wait until I'm stronger before finding a way to enhance his power."
Li Fan sealed the Gui Xu pearl, containing Legacy Transmitter Jiang, deep within his body.
He then turned his attention to the mesmerizing formation derived by the Dissociation Disc, based on Legacy Transmitter Jiang's characteristic.
"This characteristic definitely originates from an extraordinary immortal artifact. Mastering it would make comprehending and analyzing the Dao from scratch a tangible possibility."
"Unfortunately, it fused completely with Legacy Transmitter Jiang long ago and cannot be separated. But my simulated version achieves eighty to ninety percent of the effect."
"This formation shall be called…"
After some thought, Li Fan declared, "Heaven Connecting, Great Dao As I Am Formation!"
He sensed that this Heaven Connecting Formation wasn't limited to Legacy Transmitter Jiang. It could use any being as a tool for comprehending the Dao.
"However, careful selection is crucial."
"Legacy Transmitter Jiang's comprehension is closest to the Dao's essence. But others, no matter how talented they appear, are limited by their cultivation and understanding. Their insights will inevitably deviate from the Dao's essence, and these deviations could taint my own understanding."
While he pondered, the Dissociation Disc presented the first iteration of the Heaven Connecting Formation, capable of encompassing an entire world.
Though the Dissociation Disc possessed boundless immortal spiritual energy, the amount it could utilize at any given time was limited. Li Fan hadn't yet found a way to increase this limit.
Deploying this [Heaven Connecting Formation] would require approximately thirty days of preparation.
Li Fan personally oversaw the process.
Under his command, an announcement quickly spread throughout the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
The Celestial Venerable, in his benevolence, seeks to enlighten all beings, regardless of origin.
All who believe themselves to be talented are welcome to undergo testing in the Alliance's regional cities. Those who meet the criteria, regardless of birth, past deeds, age, or gender, will be granted access to the Alliance headquarters and a chance to unlock the Celestial Venerable's hidden treasures. They will also have the opportunity to receive his personal teachings.
This announcement sent shockwaves throughout the world. The promises were simply too good to be true, suggesting a hidden agenda.
However, while the Alliance had occasionally engaged in questionable activities, it never dared to act recklessly in the name of Legacy Transmission Celestial Venerable. Initially, the public was skeptical.
But there were always those tempted by profit and unafraid of death. And when they truly entered the Celestial Venerable's hidden treasures, emerging laden with riches, the proof was undeniable. Greed and temptation triumphed over reason.
Every day, countless cultivators, confident in their talent, flocked to the Alliance's regional cities for testing. The number of geniuses recommended each year even became a key performance indicator for each region. The city lords spared no effort, employing every means to find talented individuals within their domains, even among mortals.
Some even clashed over promising candidates.
With the entire Alliance focused on a single goal, its efficiency far surpassed Li Fan's individual efforts.
Groups of exceptional talents were continuously sent to the [Net World] created by Li Fan.
Their true bodies, barring unforeseen circumstances, would remain there permanently.
Meanwhile, replicas, constructed from simulated personalities and flesh and blood, reappeared in the public eye, serving as both inspiration and deception.
Floating in the air, Li Fan observed the growing [Net World] and nodded in satisfaction.
True Immortal inscriptions floated throughout the world, each paired with ninety-nine Dao Origin symbols.
Before the assembled geniuses, a phantom of Legacy Transmission Celestial Venerable sat, imparting his teachings and answering their questions.
This phantom wasn't the real Legacy Transmission but a creation of Li Fan.
To reap a harvest, one must first sow the seeds.
And as expected, the geniuses within the [Net World] would provide Li Fan with a return far exceeding his investment.
"Currently, the insights gained from the beings within the Net World are less than those from Legacy Transmitter Jiang alone. However, as their understanding deepens, this gap will quickly narrow."
Pleased with the Alliance's efficiency, Li Fan naturally rewarded them. With his current resources, even a small offering was immensely valuable. This time, he chose a modified version of the Grand Method of the Supreme Armour, capable of connecting with the Star Sea.
He didn't directly impart the technique but instead created a formation, granting the Alliance members the opportunity to connect their minds with the true essence of the Star Sea.
The cultivators of the Xuanhuang World, trapped by the Immortal Ruins' pull, had never witnessed the true power of the Star Sea. This technique allowed them to comprehend the Dao of the Star Sea while remaining within the Xuanhuang World.
In this lifetime, Li Fan hadn't pushed for the Xuanhuang World's ascension. On the surface, it remained an ordinary cultivation world within the Star Sea. The laws of the Star Sea were far more profound than those of the Xuanhuang World.
Even a brief moment of enlightenment within the Star Sea greatly benefited the cultivators.
And as Li Fan predicted, all who experienced it were awestruck and captivated, yearning for another opportunity.
This fueled their dedication to earning his favor and rewards.
Entrusting control of the formation to Di Sanmo, Li Fan chose to remain hands-off.
He first ventured into the void, suppressing and sealing Legacy Transmission and the Healer as they returned.
Then, with a flicker of his wooden sword's phantom, he entered the subterranean river beneath the wall.
Following his previous memories, he arrived before the quietly floating Azure Underworld Pearl.
After eons of releasing life force, it was on the verge of collapse, its form barely maintained by a phantom image.
Though it no longer possessed the power of an immortal artifact, it still held immense significance for Li Fan.
He didn't approach, observing it carefully from afar, not even extending his divine sense.
"[Divine Witch World] creation…" Li Fan mused.
"I initially planned to infuse it with life force, pulling it back from the brink of destruction, then gradually 'repair' it with the Transformations of Truth and Falsehood."
"Now, it seems that's too risky."
He had a premonition that the slightest disturbance would cause the already fragile pearl to disintegrate.
"The only way is to directly apply the Transformations of Truth and Falsehood, reversing its current state of decay."
But to utilize the Transformations of Truth and Falsehood, he needed sufficient observational data. He didn't need to fully comprehend the pearl's essence, but he needed a "target" for the technique, just as he had with the Primordial Essence of Time.
However, the Azure Underworld Pearl was simply too fragile. Li Fan couldn't even observe it closely, let alone interact with it.
After a long stalemate, inspiration struck.
"I can't interfere externally. I can only rely on the pearl's own changes."
"The twelve Dharma Kings of the Profound Heaven Sect derived their techniques from this pearl."
"And the Profound Heaven Sect possessed a secret technique called [Seize the Heavens and Replace], capable of stripping and absorbing the cultivation of its members."
"I recall Zhao Ruoxi mentioning in her dream that the Great Dao Sect obtained this technique after destroying the Profound Heaven Sect."
"…"
Li Fan's eyes narrowed. "It seems to obtain the Azure Underworld Pearl, I must first visit the Council of Five Elders."
"Very well. There's also an Eternal Remnant there. I'll take that as well."
Having made his decision, Li Fan soared out of the Star Sea chasm. He didn't head directly to the Council of Five Elders.
Instead, he first went to Myriad Immortals Island.
Beneath the island lay the bones of countless fallen Legacy Transmitters, sealing the so-called Netherworld Tunnel Entrance.
This entrance, constantly emitting a strange power, was merely an undigested anomaly created during the Xuanhuang World's absorption of other worlds. The power of a mere cultivation world no longer concerned Li Fan.
He was far more interested in the countless Legacy Transmitter bones.
"There's no trace of an Eternal Remnant here."
"But the Soul Crushing Disc of the Council of Five Elders seems to contain one."
"The Council once raided Myriad Immortals Island to steal these bones…"
Past memories surfaced. With a thought, Li Fan caused Myriad Immortals Island to tremble violently.
Then, as countless cultivators watched in horror, the island slowly rose from the sea.
"It seems the key lies in the Soul Crushing Disc."
Collecting the eerie Legacy Transmitter bones, Li Fan sensed no reaction from True Return.
He turned towards the Council of Five Elders and sped off.
Without Li Fan's power, Myriad Immortals Island crashed back into the ocean. Freed from its suppression, strange powers began to emanate from the Netherworld Tunnel Entrance below.
As the island's cultivators panicked, lights flickered within a teleportation formation, under Li Fan's command. Squads of black-clad cultivators emerged, sealing the entrance and restoring order.
Li Fan didn't use his wooden sword technique, deliberately slowing his pace. He circled the territories of the five Eternal Life Celestial Venerables of the Council of Five Elders.
In the past, stepping into their domains would have affected him uncontrollably.
But now, their defiance of heaven and earth couldn't touch him.
Having attained the True Immortal Realm, he had transcended the limitations of heaven and earth.
(End of chapter)