Lines now crisscrossed the once uniform surface of the Azure Underworld Pearl, dividing it into distinct regions.
Most of these regions had blurry, indistinct boundaries.
Only one, depicting a luminous mirror, seemed "alive," pulsating with an energy different from the pearl itself.
From this emanating aura, Li Fan could faintly discern the form of a complete Boundless Mirror.
"These different sections represent the immortal artifacts devoured by the Azure Underworld Pearl?"
"But with the pearl's damage, these functions became unusable. Only the newly created Boundless Mirror section is barely functional…" Understanding dawned upon Li Fan.
This Boundless Mirror region was easier to penetrate than the rest of the pearl.
Patiently using it as a point of entry, Li Fan finally managed to insert a thread of divine sense into the Azure Underworld Pearl's core. This time, it wasn't expelled.
Instead, it took root within the Boundless Mirror region.
Soon, formations arose, flourishing alongside his divine sense. A pale green, almost identical to the pearl itself, spread from the Boundless Mirror region.
Li Fan attempted to refine and control the immortal artifact using the "Formation Refining" technique.
With the immortal-level Dissociation Disc's assistance, the process was swift.
Within a day, a connection formed between Li Fan and the Azure Underworld Pearl.
He exhaled, turning the pearl over in his hand. It felt smooth and cool to the touch, strangely comforting.
Reborn from near destruction, the Azure Underworld Pearl was like a newly forged artifact, its past restrictions and seals seemingly vanished.
At least, after a thorough examination, Li Fan found no traces of unknown energies.
Even so, he remained cautious, continuing the refinement process. Silver stars, representing the formations' activity, gradually appeared within the azure light on the pearl's surface.
Li Fan first studied the Boundless Mirror's function. Having previously infiltrated the damaged artifact, he was intimately familiar with it.
"The Boundless Mirror's divine abilities are based on the [Boundless, Primordial Manifestation] immortal-level formation. Theoretically, it can analyze anything, even entities beyond its own level, though the process is slow and arduous."
"But the Boundless Mirror I encountered in the Xuanhuang World was severely weakened. It could barely glimpse through the defenses of even fellow immortal artifacts like the Heavenly Profound Mirror, let alone analyze everything."
"And now…"
Li Fan returned to the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance with the Azure Underworld Pearl.
Within the Alliance headquarters, the azure light within the pearl rippled, transforming into the form of the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
A faint glow emanated outwards.
Li Fan received no warning from the Heavenly Profound Mirror's simulated spirit.
But he sensed a new functional area being created within the Azure Underworld Pearl.
Another small mirror, this one an ancient bronze-green, identical to the Heavenly Profound Mirror's main body!
"The Boundless Mirror I devoured was a weakened, damaged version. But the Azure Underworld Pearl can restore its full functionality!"
"Moreover, it seems after devouring the Boundless Mirror, it can now replicate other immortal artifacts' functions simply through [analysis]?"
Li Fan was both surprised and delighted.
But his joy was short-lived.
Perhaps because it was generated through the Boundless Mirror's analysis, the Heavenly Profound Mirror section within the pearl was adjacent to the Boundless Mirror section, their boundary indistinct.
After a brief moment, the Heavenly Profound Mirror section was absorbed by the Boundless Mirror section.
And Li Fan couldn't control this fusion.
The image of the small mirror on the pearl's surface shifted. The bronze-green faded, and its shape became circular.
Within the mirror's surface, an eye seemed to be watching, observing everything.
With a thought, Li Fan materialized the illusory mirror in his hand.
Though the analysis wasn't complete, it already possessed many functions of both the Boundless Mirror and the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
Besides the standard functions of internal space, storage, deduction, and analysis, Li Fan was most interested in the Heavenly Profound Mirror's "Division and Secondary Manifestation" abilities.
Unfortunately, these seemed to be acquired abilities, not innate. The Azure Underworld Pearl couldn't directly replicate them.
"The Boundless Immortal Formation should be sufficient. The information on the Heavenly Profound Mirror analyzed by the Azure Underworld Pearl is almost identical to what I extracted from the simulated mirror spirit."
"The only difference is the lack of a spirit."
Li Fan hesitated. He decided against imbuing the Azure Underworld Pearl with sentience or a simulated personality.
The twelve statues he glimpsed within the Divine Witch World still unsettled him.
"For now, it's better to use it purely as a tool."
After the Boundless Mirror and Heavenly Profound Mirror's fusion was complete, Li Fan tested the Azure Underworld Pearl's ability to extract cultivation techniques.
He instructed Di Sanmo to bring him several corpses, which he fed to the pearl.
As the bodies vanished into the azure light, new auras emerged within the pearl, forming texts floating in the azure expanse.
They were the cultivation techniques practiced by the deceased, even those forcibly abolished before their deaths. The Azure Underworld Pearl revealed them all!
A perfect match.
Li Fan reached out, summoning one of the texts.
"Nine Refinements Soul Wandering Technique…"
He absorbed the text.
Not just the technique itself, but also the deceased's understanding and insights gained through practice flooded Li Fan's mind!
"With the 'predecessor's' experience, cultivation becomes so much faster!"
"The only pity is that there are insights, but no memories."
Though slightly disappointed, Li Fan knew the pearl was still an unparalleled treasure.
"Learning from the deceased is far more efficient than ordinary instruction."
"After all, corpses can't hide anything."
But within the current Dark Star Sea, few cultivators were worth learning from.
"I wonder if these can still be of use."
With this thought, he tentatively fed the ashes of Qin Zhuang, the Immortal Hunter silenced beyond the wall, to the Azure Underworld Pearl.
As the ashes were absorbed, Qin Zhuang, even in death, continued to contribute.
A wind seemed to stir within the pearl.
Li Fan watched intently, not wanting to miss a single detail.
The Azure Underworld Pearl, a treasure valued even by the Profound Heaven King, wasn't fooled by ordinary methods of destroying evidence.
After a period of gestation, a uniquely colored aura emerged within the boundless azure. It was strikingly distinct, a continuous gradient from black to white, encompassing all the colors of time.
Li Fan drew it towards him.
"[Dao Origin Fundamentals: Thirty Lectures]…"
Li Fan's expression twitched at the title. But he quickly immersed himself in Qin Zhuang's understanding and practice of the Dao Origin symbols.
This was a completely different experience from forcibly probing memories with a formation. Extracting memories, especially with the restrictions within Qin Zhuang's soul, lacked the immersive quality. It merely revealed what Qin Zhuang had learned and how long he had spent learning it.
But with the Azure Underworld Pearl, all of Qin Zhuang's thoughts and insights related to the Dao Origin symbols replayed within Li Fan's mind.
It was as if he was reliving Qin Zhuang's life!
When Li Fan regained his senses, he had mastered the [Dao Origin Fundamentals: Thirty Lectures].
In fact, incorporating his own understanding, he had surpassed even Qin Zhuang, the Immortal Hunter.
This effortless acquisition of knowledge was intoxicating. Li Fan couldn't help but smack his lips.
"With this treasure, I could sweep through the world beyond the wall, gaining centuries of cultivation in an instant."
A dangerous glint appeared in his eyes.
But he resolutely suppressed it.
The risk was one factor.
More importantly, he wasn't sure if there were any side effects to gaining insights through this method.
The changes within his soul had persisted through multiple activations of True Return. Small changes could be ignored, but if they accumulated, becoming too significant for True Return to cleanse, the consequences could be dire.
"I'll first conduct safety tests with numerous subjects."
"And, theoretically, if it can capture a corpse's thoughts, it shouldn't be limited to cultivation techniques."
"I wonder if there's a way to restore all of a corpse's memories and thoughts."
"If so, I could create a perfect replica of any cultivator."
Li Fan turned the Azure Underworld Pearl, which had reverted to its original form, over in his hand, his mind racing.
…
The remaining four Eternal Life Celestial Venerables of the Council of Five Elders arrived as summoned.
Without alerting anyone else, Di Sanmo and Qiao Sidao personally escorted them to the Gui Xu World where Legacy Transmitter Jiang resided.
Due to the Heaven Connecting Formation's concealment, they were unaware of his presence at the formation's core.
However, Li Fan deliberately shared some of Legacy Transmitter Jiang's insights with them.
Upon entering the small world, they were immediately immersed in the profound understanding of "The Great Dao As I Am."
Especially Zhao Ruoxi.
Myriad Ages, I Alone Art Supreme and The Great Dao As I Am were conceptually similar.
But Myriad Ages, I Alone Art Supreme sought union with the Dao through constant devouring.
While The Great Dao As I Am bypassed all intermediate steps, directly reaching the final stage: I am the Dao, the Dao is me.
Despite Li Fan's rigorous "training" and her transformed mindset, Zhao Ruoxi couldn't help but feel a pang of envy and resentment.
The other three Eternal Life Celestial Venerables, as well as Di Sanmo and Qiao Sidao, weren't much better.
"I thought Senior's [Grand Method of the Supreme Armour], used for motivation within the Alliance and capable of connecting with the Star Sea, was already a marvel. But this direct communion with the Great Dao…" Qiao Sidao was speechless, overwhelmed.
[The Great Dao As I Am] felt like a direct conversation with the Dao, providing profound insights. But upon returning to reality, it was as if nothing had happened, leaving no trace of understanding.
As Li Fan withdrew his "benevolent" gift, their disappointment was evident.
"Well?" he asked, appearing before them.
They straightened, bowing respectfully before speaking, showering him with praise.
"I intend to integrate this Dao comprehension into your dream world, Land of Blissful Ignorance," Li Fan said calmly.
His words startled them.
Especially Blissful Ignorance.
After the initial surge of excitement, a wave of terror washed over her.
Such a stroke of good fortune…
Was this another of the True Immortal's twisted methods of torment?
Blissful Ignorance had heard stories from Zhao Ruoxi.
As she hesitated, Li Fan continued.
"Within the dream world, there is no life or death."
"Cultivators, unafraid of death, are perfect pawns for exploring beyond the wall."
"But there's a drawback: they are too weak, their cultivation progresses too slowly."
Li Fan smiled. "Even a vast number of ants can't topple a giant."
"But if the ants become hyenas, that's a different story."
"Power within the dream world is based on consciousness. Through this direct communion with the Great Dao, almost like a forceful empowerment, even mortal cultivators can quickly reach the Eternal Life Realm."
"And it's quantifiable and controllable."
Li Fan's casual words were like thunder to their ears.
Though still skeptical, his recent demonstrations of power compelled them to believe.
"Take this soul, for example."
Li Fan opened his palm, revealing a speck of light—a promising candidate he had selected from the [Era] device.
With a thought, he infused the soul with the transformative insights of the [Heaven Connecting, Great Dao As I Am Formation].
Though still incredibly weak, the soul's theoretical understanding expanded at an astonishing rate.
Not only with Legacy Transmitter Jiang's insights, but also with Li Fan's accumulated knowledge and understanding.
Everything except the Transformations of Truth and Falsehood had been incorporated into the Heaven Connecting Formation.
(End of Chapter)