A small chess piece could manifest a fragment of the Immortal Domain. This was because the so-called piece was actually an amalgamation of countless True Immortal Seal Characters, which were, in essence, True Immortals' interpretations of the Great Dao.
Previously, the Profound Immortal vessel had used a similar piece as armor. Now, under Li Fan's control, the thrown piece, using the Dao Net projection in his mind as a base, unfolded and flowed, forming a humanoid body.
However, it was still just an empty shell. The miniature Dao Net and the Immortal Domain fragment were external objects, their connection to Li Fan too weak.
Therefore…
Li Fan tapped his forehead. A force surged through his body, expelling a portion of his soul, along with flesh and blood, forming a thin, crimson shadow outside his body. Fighting dizziness, Li Fan directed this part of himself into the body formed by the Dao Net projection and Immortal Domain fragment.
Relying on his familiarity with both, he forcefully stuffed the crimson shadow inside. This wasn't simply creating an avatar, but a fusion of avatar creation and the Body Integration technique, drawing inspiration from Qiao Gong's creation of the Divine Punishment Puppet and Tian Yang's Immortal Puppet.
More than an avatar, it was a perfect blend of avatar and Dao Integration. Due to the potent materials used, Li Fan, fearing a loss of control like with the Sacred Emperor Li Ping, had set parameters for this powerful avatar from the start.
It possessed no emotions, only absolute obedience to Li Fan's commands. It would eliminate any obstacle, avoid those it couldn't defeat, and follow them secretly, seeking solutions. In short, this avatar puppet was a emotionless machine with a single mission: uncover the secrets within the wall. It even carried a self-destruct command upon mission completion.
The Dao Net projection was a reflection of the Heavenly Dao, while True Immortal Seal Characters were concrete depictions of the Dao. The two were inherently connected. The flesh and blood fragment from Li Fan, imbued with his understanding of the Dao, served as the glue, merging the three into one.
"This avatar's mind reflects the Dao Net, and its body is formed from the Great Dao. Upon creation, it has already reached a minor accomplishment in both Conscious Soul Formation and Corporeal Nascent Soul."
"In terms of combat power, it probably surpasses me…"
As the powerful puppet took shape, it began to pull Li Fan towards it, like a reflection in water reaching out to drag him in. Like a child wielding a heavy sword, before infiltrating the Shuo Star Sea and understanding the Dao Net, this avatar would have been beyond his control.
But now…
Li Fan calmly issued Dao Net commands. The Dao Net projection within the avatar flickered in response, slowly submitting, its power receding. This seemingly effortless act was backed by the Shuo Star Sea's countless years of Dao Net research, which Li Fan now applied to the Dao Net projection in his mind.
Compared to the vast Dao Net covering the Shuo Star Sea, the one in Li Fan's mind was minuscule, but it possessed the fundamental properties of the Dao Net. With its powerful physical body, this avatar could rival a True Immortal.
"Even better, this avatar lacks Immortal spiritual Qi, being a creation of Dao laws. If it conceals itself, it can blend seamlessly with the world, leaving no trace. Like an ordinary object, it won't be treated differently by the wall."
Controlling a miniature Dao Net with one's mind was no easy feat. Even with Li Fan's current mental strength, it required most of his focus to control the avatar.
"Temporarily releasing control shouldn't be a problem. I just need to bring it back under the Dao Net's control in time. It will still follow my commands. I just can't leave it in a free state for too long…"
"Otherwise, stray thoughts will arise!"
Li Fan understood.
Dao Net commands, woven into threads, bound the avatar puppet like a colossal beast on strings.
"Heaven and earth are not benevolent, and treat all things as straw dogs."
"You need not consider anything in this world, only follow my commands."
"I shall call you…"
"Li Buren (Li the Unbenevolent)!"
With the final command, the threads merged into the Dao Net within the avatar's mind, invisible to ordinary means. Li Fan felt a peculiar connection to Li Buren, more distant than a flesh and blood avatar, yet closer than a mind-controlled puppet.
Li Buren's expression was as cold as ice, devoid of emotion. His eyes reflected Li Fan's true nature, his utter indifference to all things. Even Li Fan felt a slight tremor in his heart upon meeting his gaze.
Li Buren's aura was imperceptible, like the world itself. Despite carrying the weight of the Great Dao, he was as light as a feather. One wouldn't notice him unless they looked directly at him, but once they did, his image would be unforgettable, a chilling, lingering presence in their minds.
Unwilling to linger with this embodiment of destruction, Li Fan simply said, "Go."
Li Buren transformed into a sword and vanished from the Xuanhuang World. Three breaths later, he had traversed the Dark Star Sea, arriving at the foot of the wall. Embodied by the Great Dao, moving within it was as effortless as a fish swimming in water, dozens of times faster than Li Fan's sword flight.
Without hesitation, he charged into the intangible wall. From start to finish, Li Buren remained as still as a statue, unaffected by the life-or-death situation.
"He didn't appear outside the wall…"
"There really is something within the wall!" Li Fan, combining his own senses with the Dreamland power outside the wall, confirmed his suspicions.
Moments later, images from Li Buren arrived.
"Fortunately, the wall can't completely block the connection between Daos."
Li Fan focused, sensing his avatar's experience. Since Li Buren's consciousness was suppressed to the minimum, he had no thoughts of his own, merely acting as Li Fan's "camera," observing the scene within the wall.
A strange world without a "sky." Above was a reflection of the ground below. However, Li Buren wasn't reflected in this mirrored sky. Not due to any concealment ability, but because… Li Buren didn't belong to this world!
Sensing the intruder, the world reacted. The mirrored sky and the ground trembled, moving towards each other, attempting to crush the newcomer.
Li Buren simply extended his right arm, which instantly expanded like a pillar, holding the converging sky and ground apart. The mirrored sky continued to press down, but to no avail, creaking under the strain. The point of contact between the sky and Li Buren's arm shattered.
However, beyond the shattered mirror wasn't an escape route, but another mirrored layer!
While supporting the world with his right arm, Li Buren detached his body from the arm and rapidly explored the space, searching for an exit. But this world seemed boundless. Even at his incredible speed, after a long while, he found no boundaries. It was as if the world expanded as he moved.
However, as he flew, he memorized every detail, finding no repetitions. Li Buren returned to his supporting right arm and grasped the pillar with his left hand. With a slight exertion, as if pulling a giant rod, he tilted the pillar, ripping a hole in the mirrored sky.
He swung the pillar repeatedly. With a whooshing sound, the mirrored sky shattered. He even inhaled the falling shards. The Dao Net projection in his mind flickered, analyzing the composition of the mirrored sky.
"The Dao as a curtain, obscuring the eyes of all beings."
"The exit is ahead."
Li Buren stated his conclusion without further thought. Like a giant from creation myths, he wielded the pillar, his body rapidly expanding, surpassing the shattered mirrored sky in moments. He continued to grow, smashing through layer after layer of mirrored skies with his head.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
When the final veil was shattered, Li Buren emerged, his body returning to normal size, vigilantly scanning his surroundings.
"No signs of life."
"No Dao energy fluctuations."
"Temporarily safe."
Looking back, he saw only a transparent, glass-like sculpture, its original form unclear due to the damage. Sixteen other sculptures stood nearby.
"There should be eighteen sculptures here."
"One is missing."
"Of the remaining sixteen, five are broken, and the rest are intact."
Li Buren calmly analyzed the situation. He approached the nearest intact sculpture.
"Beyond a certain distance, they are unclear. I must approach to see their appearance and the worlds within."
"Not due to any formations or restrictions…"
"But a law of this place."
Li Buren observed dispassionately, the miniature Dao Net appearing in his eyes. He reached out and touched the sculpture. A new light appeared in the Dao Net, a Dao law previously unknown to him, now sensed and captured, merging with his Dao Net projection.
Moments later, the light in his eyes faded. The eleven previously indistinct sculptures were now clearly visible, revealing different faces, or rather, Immortals!
"Each sculpture contains a Great Dao of heaven and earth."
"Likely the Dao cultivated by the Immortal within."
Li Buren approached the sculpture before him, sensing a Dao law related to "guarding." Since this law was already recorded in his Dao Net projection, he ignored it, pressing his eyes against the sculpture, peering inside.
If Li Fan's main body were here, he would be startled. But Li Buren remained impassive, meeting the gaze of wide-open eyes within. "A corpse."
"A True Immortal's corpse."
Li Buren moved to the next sculpture, observing it closely. Each sculpture contained a True Immortal corpse.
"They all cultivated different Daos."
"They are not the same True Immortal."
"But there was no corpse in the sculpture I emerged from…"
He stopped at the last intact sculpture. Without hesitation, he punched it. The sculpture remained motionless, not even trembling. Li Buren's punch, capable of shattering the Xuanhuang World, was completely absorbed.
But he persisted, punching repeatedly. Symbols formed from distorted True Immortal Seal Characters appeared on his body like tattoos.
"It seems undamaged."
"But each punch draws a small portion of the sculpture's Dao law into my body."
"A gradual weakening."
"It's working."
Li Buren continued his relentless assault. The transparent sculpture faded, turning from glass-like to water-like, finally dissolving under his steady blows.
However, the True Immortal corpse he had seen inside didn't fall out. Only fragments remained. Just like the scene after his own emergence.
"The corpse I saw wasn't a real corpse."
"But a condensation of the True Immortal's understanding of the Dao before death."
"The True Immortal has fallen, but someone has preserved their understanding in this way."
Li Buren placed a fragment in his mouth, chewing thoughtfully.
"Beneficial to me."
He opened his mouth wide and swallowed all the fragments, consuming the preserved Dao comprehension.
(End of Chapter)