Situ Xing smiled wryly. "As the saying goes, two tigers cannot coexist on the same mountain. Numerous Unnamed True Immortals gathering in one realm is already unbelievable. But for us, a group of such powerful beings, to gather around one person, treating each other as brothers, maintaining a stable relationship, is even more incredible…"
"Especially Luo Yichen and Ji Yuzhen, those two women. They were already rivals in the Upper Realm."
Seeing Li Fan's interest, Situ Xing continued, "Luo Yichen, known as the Qīngxī Divine Mother in the Immortal Realm, behaved just like she did in the Xuanhuang World before meeting Xuanyuan Hong. She loved keeping male companions, regardless of their gender. An entire Star Region was under her sway."
"And Ji Yuzhen's name in the Upper Realm remained the same. It's said she was born in the Qīngxī Star Region, deeply influenced by its unique culture of servitude. However, by chance, she left the Qīngxī Star Region and entered a normal, chancellor-ruled region. The stark contrast twisted her mindset, turning her reverence into hatred…"
Situ Xing hesitated, then added, "My memories of the Upper Realm are fragmented, so these might not be entirely accurate. However, their rivalry is definitely real. We were all puzzled by their seemingly innate animosity."
"Later, when Ji Yuzhen regained her original consciousness first, she immediately tried to kill Luo Yichen. Fortunately, Xuanyuan Hong intervened."
"I still remember the look in Ji Yuzhen's eyes. Hehe…" Situ Xing chuckled.
"Xuanyuan Hong was truly remarkable. Not only did he maintain the balance between the two women while he was present, but even after his disappearance, they coexisted peacefully for a while, until their differing opinions on how to deal with his absence caused a rift."
"Luo Yichen, believing she had no connection to the treasure, and seeing the Qīngxī Star Region, though untouched by Dao Obliteration, on the verge of collapse, chose to return to the Immortal Realm to escape."
"Ji Yuzhen, however, followed the clues Xuanyuan Hong left behind. She firmly believed he wouldn't abandon her."
Situ Xing smiled wryly. "Ji Yuzhen's stubbornness was quite renowned in the Upper Realm."
Li Fan, recalling the countless Ji Yuzhen souls wandering in the circular mountains of Dongyong Prefecture, raised an eyebrow. "Isn't Ji Yuzhen dead?" He waved his hand, showing Situ Xing the current state of Dongyong Prefecture.
Situ Xing was initially surprised, then shook his head slightly after observing. "Ji Yuzhen's cultivation method makes her difficult to kill. These countless soul fragments, including the hidden original soul, are almost entirely memories related to Xuanyuan Hong. She likely discarded them intentionally."
"And that Dongyong Prefecture is where Xuanyuan Hong returned after ascending, searching for the place where he met her. Perhaps she wanted to sever her attachment to him."
As expected of a former Unnamed True Immortal, he could discern the truth from just a glimpse.
"No wonder all the memories I saw within those soul fragments involved Xuanyuan Hong." Li Fan now believed Situ Xing's words.
"Of the Twelve Dharma Kings, how many truly died, and how many vanished intentionally?"
Situ Xing felt this senior was overly interested in the former Profound Heaven Sect. "Could he have encountered one of us later?"
Despite the looming threat of the two pillars, he answered honestly, "Uh, Sikong Lin is probably truly dead. Affected by the Dao Obliteration Calamity in the Immortal Realm, his main body perished, and his avatar was severely injured, beyond recovery. Zhou Yangli and Cui Zhiyuan's main bodies were also definitely affected, but I'm not sure if they escaped."
"As for the others…"
"That's beyond my knowledge."
Li Fan pointed towards the underground River of Life in the Dark Star Sea. "What about you? How did you end up like this?"
Situ Xing looked embarrassed. "My original consciousness awakened last. I hadn't recovered even before Xuanyuan Hong disappeared. I didn't understand what was happening and continued following his orders, carving the Shape of Life beneath the Star Sea. I rarely interacted with the others. Even if they regained their original consciousness, they wouldn't know my true identity, or even if I was a True Immortal who had descended…"
"Not long after I started working beneath the Dark Star Sea, my main body perished, and I was affected. It's fortunate that even a fragment of my consciousness remains." He sighed.
"So you were quite loyal," Li Fan observed.
"Not entirely, Senior. Actually, I sensed the benefits of creating the Shape of Life, so I willingly stayed in that underground River of Life." Situ Xing didn't hide anything.
"Benefits?"
"After the Immortal Realm's destruction, our infinite Immortal power was affected. Some were fortunate enough to retain it, while others lost their connection to the Infinite Sea. I was among the latter."
He continued, "By shaping and revitalizing this Star Sea through the Shape of Life, I could utilize its access channel to reconnect with the Infinite Sea. Then, even with the Immortal Realm destroyed, I would remain a True Immortal, unaffected even if my main body perished."
"Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned."
"The Infinite Sea is the source of Dao Obliteration. Even with the Immortal Realm destroyed, you're still obsessed with it!" Li Fan interrupted coldly.
Situ Xing seemed to finally understand why Li Fan lacked Immortal power. He carefully explained, "It's not the Infinite Sea that causes Dao Obliteration, but the failure to contain it. We True Immortals connect to the Infinite Sea through the power of Linking Mountains, like a bridge between the mountain and the sea."
"Whether or not we use infinite Immortal power doesn't affect the overall situation of the Dao Obliteration tide."
"I suspect Immortal Emperor Tianluo's actions bear the greatest responsibility for the Immortal Realm's destruction."
This was new information to Li Fan. Unable to verify its truth, he asked, "I've heard of Immortal Emperor Tianluo's reckless actions before the Immortal Realm's destruction. What was he trying to do?"
Situ Xing's expression turned strange, similar to when recalling Xuanyuan Hong.
"Immortal Emperor Tianluo wanted to permanently resolve the threat of Dao Obliteration. His method…"
"Was to have the entire Immortal Realm ascend again. If successful, we would transcend the mountains and seas, unaffected by the tides."
"Hmm?" Li Fan's expression also turned strange.
"Either that Immortal Emperor Tianluo was a complete madman, or he had something to rely on. I heard he had many followers…" He stared at Situ Xing, seeking an answer.
"Theoretically, his plan was feasible. Otherwise, I wouldn't have followed him. Unfortunately, he ultimately failed."
"But the specifics, involving the Immortal Realm's ascension plan, are classified. I didn't have access to that information. And that secret was likely lost with the Immortal Realm's destruction." A hint of regret flashed in Situ Xing's eyes.
Silence fell within the pillar space.
"The Immortal Realm ascending…" Li Fan pondered the words. It was indeed madness. No wonder Qingyin and the True Immortal Ling, stationed in the testing ground, thought Emperor Tianluo was crazy and chose to flee.
Immortal power came from the mountains and seas. Emperor Tianluo wanted the entire Immortal Realm to transcend them. Even with some unknown advantage, it seemed overly ambitious.
However, as a ruling Immortal Emperor, Tianluo was no ordinary being. He must have carefully considered his decision. At least, he must have believed there was a significant chance of success.
"Even True Return might not be able to transcend the mountains and seas. With the Immortal Realm struggling against the Dao Obliteration tide, what gave Emperor Tianluo such confidence?" Li Fan was incredibly curious.
However, this question wouldn't be answered anytime soon.
"You said infinite Immortal power isn't the cause of Dao Obliteration. So you believe the Immortals bear no responsibility for the calamity?" Li Fan steered the conversation back.
His stance was clear. Glancing at the nearby pillar, Situ Xing hesitated before replying, "It's not just me. Most True Immortals believe this. And it's true. Whether or not we use infinite Immortal power, the Infinite Sea remains."
"And the merging of the mountains and seas is an inevitable trend. If anyone is to blame…"
"Perhaps the birth of Immortals itself was a mistake."
"Ever since Immortals appeared, utilizing the power of Linking Mountains, the encroachment of the Infinite Sea was inevitable."
Situ Xing stood his ground, not changing his stance even under Li Fan's intimidating gaze.
"You Unnamed True Immortals, having transcended, bear no responsibility?" Li Fan asked sharply. He waved his hand, and the five projections of the Hill-Guarding Immortal appeared, surrounding Situ Xing.
"Can't you even leave behind Dao-bearing projections like the Hill-Guarding Immortal, let alone becoming pillars yourselves?"
The name "Hill-Guarding Immortal" held weight. Seeing the projections, Situ Xing was stunned, his body trembling. After calming down, he bowed respectfully to the projections, then continued, "This was discussed in the Immortal Realm."
"The merging of the mountains and seas is an unstoppable trend, not something a few Dao paths can reverse. In fact, from a larger perspective, the presence or absence of a few Dao paths makes little difference. Like the sanctuary you've built here with two pillars, Senior, although seemingly safe for now, but ultimately…"
"Destruction is inevitable."
"Perhaps it can be delayed, but not prevented."
"We can't simply deny True Immortals the path of ascension because of this. Moreover, by achieving the Unnamed realm, through minor or even true transcendence, rising above the mountains and seas, perhaps we can find a way to stop their merging."
Situ Xing's voice rose, his eyes filled with conviction. This was his true belief.
"Hmph. Placing your hopes on an uncertain future."
"The Immortal Realm is destroyed, countless True Immortals have transcended. Have they found a solution?" Li Fan countered.
Situ Xing could only remain silent. After a while, he replied, "Perhaps a world on the other side of the Infinite Sea has found a solution."
"Countless transcendent True Immortals from various worlds travel to that other shore, gathering in that grand world. With their combined efforts, they might find a solution. This was the tacit understanding among Unnamed True Immortals."
"Clinging to a single world… Emperor Tianluo has already demonstrated the outcome."
"Senior, not having walked the path of Immortality, you naturally wouldn't understand."
Although eloquent, Situ Xing's words couldn't sway Li Fan. The cold, steadily decreasing numbers on True Return's interface spoke of the mortal world's inevitable fate.
"Perhaps he's right."
"The merging of the mountains and seas is the true, unstoppable trend."
"Before them, even a single possibility is insignificant, let alone an Unnamed True Immortal merged with only one Dao."
"No matter what they do, whether or not they leave behind Dao-bearing measures, they can only delay the inevitable."
Li Fan thought of the evil Su Bai, the Black Heaven Healer, and the Hill-Guarding Immortal, who, despite possessing the power to resist Dao Obliteration, chose to leave.
"A tacit understanding among Unnamed True Immortals?"
"Are they driven by their own ambition, or are they truly upholding this agreement?"
"Does that grand world on the other shore truly exist?" Countless thoughts raced through Li Fan's mind.
However, regardless of his thoughts, he couldn't show any sign of being swayed by Situ Xing.
"The lives of countless beings were cut short because of your excuses."
"How will you account for this?"
"Did they deserve to die?" Li Fan waved his hand, and images of countless beings crying out in the apocalypse appeared before Situ Xing.
(End of Chapter)