The Dao that Situ Xing mastered was Engraving. Using himself as a knife, he could engrave anything in the world, tangible or intangible. This unique Dao technique was inspired by the Dao Inscription Immortal's methods, combined with Situ Xing's own skills.
The reason for his grand ascension ceremony was that his engravings could serve as a lesser substitute for the Dao Inscription Immortal's work. The Four Sage Monarchs, though revered for opening the path to immortality and accessing the Infinite Spring, were distant figures. Most True Immortals hadn't experienced the primordial era before Immortals existed. The existence of the path to immortality and the infinite nature of Immortal power were taken for granted. The Four Sage Monarchs were just symbolic deities to them.
The Dao Inscription Immortal, however, was truly admired. With his extraordinary talent, he comprehended all Three Thousand Great Daos and inscribed his understanding, sharing it with the world in the Supreme Dao Scripture.
It was said that almost half of the Unnamed True Immortals in the Immortal Realm achieved their breakthroughs after studying the scripture. Unfortunately, the Supreme Dao Scripture, once accessible to all Immortals in the Wuya Star Region, was consumed by the first large-scale Dao Obliteration Calamity.
It was said that when the tide of Dao Obliteration descended, every character in the scripture shone brilliantly, forming ribbons of light that temporarily held back the calamity, giving the studying True Immortals time to escape. However, being just a scripture, it couldn't withstand the calamity and was eventually consumed, along with the entire Star Region, leaving only a few Dao symbols behind.
Situ Xing, fortunate enough to be born before the scripture's destruction, had studied it and found his Dao path: to become the second Dao Inscription Immortal!
Although the scripture was accessible to all in the Wuya Star Region, the Immortal Realm, situated upon the Upper Mountain, was boundless. Even the Wuya region alone was beyond the reach of most Immortals. Few had the ability, determination, and luck to reach it and study the scripture.
The Supreme Dao Scripture, like a mural carved into the mountain, was immovable. However, if someone could replicate and distribute it, allowing True Immortals to study it without traveling to the Wuya Star Region, it would be an immense contribution!
This was Situ Xing's ambition. Without the scripture's guidance, becoming the second Dao Inscription Immortal was incredibly difficult. But Situ Xing, possessing extraordinary talent and luck, persevered, finally achieving the Unnamed realm after a long and arduous journey.
Mastering the Dao of Engraving meant a successor to the Dao Inscription Immortal had appeared. The Immortal Realm rejoiced. Numerous Unnamed True Immortals visited him. It was the pinnacle of Situ Xing's life.
Unfortunately… inscribing the Dao wasn't as easy as he imagined. Initially, relying on his memories of the Supreme Dao Scripture, he could engrave various Dao paths into tangible forms. However, as time passed, his success rate decreased. Having merged with the Dao of Engraving, he became increasingly detached from other Dao paths.
He tried and failed, tried and failed again, until finally giving up, recognizing the Dao Inscription Immortal's true greatness. Inscribing the Dao wasn't something just anyone could do.
Unfortunately, after leaving behind the Supreme Dao Scripture, the Dao Inscription Immortal vanished, making it impossible for Situ Xing to seek guidance on how to reconcile the various Daos.
Situ Xing wasn't one to be easily discouraged. Although he couldn't directly inscribe Dao paths, he could inscribe his and other Immortals' understanding of them. Although a step down, it still benefited the world. In a sense, he had achieved his goal of becoming a second Dao Inscription Immortal.
…
"Upper Mountain?"
"Supreme Dao Scripture?"
Li Fan withdrew from Situ Xing's glorious memories. Even fragmented, they were incredibly vivid, especially with the influence of the Supreme Dao Scripture, almost causing Li Fan to lose himself within them. Fortunately, the approaching Dao Obliteration Calamity and Situ Xing's turbulent thoughts brought him back.
He returned the borrowed power from the other pillars and the Hill-Guarding Immortal's projections. Supported by their combined strength, the Dao Obliteration Calamity receded. However, Li Fan noticed that the pressure on each pillar had increased slightly.
"It seems I can't overuse this method of scaring them with Dao Obliteration. Each use creates a weakness, hastening the calamity's arrival."
However, this wasn't a major concern. He could still use this method four or five more times before his next True Return, which should be sufficient. Moreover, having experienced the "Dao Obliteration scare," Situ Xing's mental defenses were weakened. Li Fan could now access his memories, like he had done with the Hunger Immortal.
From the memories of this long-ascended Unnamed True Immortal, Li Fan gleaned valuable information.
"Mortals ascend and become Immortals by climbing the mountain."
"The Linking Mountains Sage Monarch was the first to ascend the Upper Mountain, showing others the path."
"The Upper Mountain, the Infinite Sea. They are likely of the same scale."
"Immortals, although occupying the mountain to create the Immortal Realm, are still bound by the fate of the merging mountains and seas, the inevitable Dao Obliteration Calamity."
Having experienced the Infinite Sea, Li Fan understood its immensity. The Upper Mountain, being of the same rank, must be equally vast.
"The boundless Immortal Realm created upon the Upper Mountain is also, in a sense, infinite."
Compared to the mountains and seas, True Immortals were like ants. But these ants, having ascended, could temporarily stand above the mountains and seas. It almost felt like a triumph of human will over nature.
Besides the four Sage Monarchs, the Dao Inscription Immortal also seemed to defy the mountains and seas. In Situ Xing's memories, the Supreme Dao Scripture, floating above the Wuya Star Region, was both awe-inspiring and terrifying, seemingly containing the ultimate truths of the mountains and seas.
"The True Immortal Seal Characters I've seen, including 'Creation,' seem to originate from this scripture."
"Just a few characters are already so profound. I can't imagine the power of the complete scripture."
Even in the Lower Realm, legends of the Dao Inscription Immortal circulated. Li Fan had first heard of him from Daoist Hundred Flowers. His fame and influence in the Immortal Realm were evident. Although the Four Sage Monarchs and the Hill-Guarding Immortal might be more powerful, their fame was far less widespread.
This was determined by the nature of their respective Dao paths.
"The Dao Inscription Immortal vanished long ago, perhaps having left the original possibility."
"With his ability to inscribe the Three Thousand Great Daos, transcendence is only natural."
…
Li Fan suddenly felt a pang of doubt. Through his recent interactions with True Immortals, even Unnamed True Immortals, he had a basic understanding of the Immortal Realm's origin and the Dao Obliteration Calamity.
But now, an unavoidable question arose.
"The Immortal Realm was formed from the mountains and seas."
"But what is the connection between different possibilities and the Upper Mountain and the Infinite Sea?"
"From my theory of 'Convergence of All Selves,' the mountains and seas are clearly primordial beings of that level. Conversely, this means that even among infinite possibilities, there's only one Infinite Sea and one Upper Mountain."
"Perhaps existing within the same mountains and seas is the foundation for traversing possibilities."
…
After pondering, Li Fan shook his head slightly. Without reaching that level, even with boundless imagination, he couldn't truly understand. However, the concept of the mountains and seas provided a direction for his path, currently stalled at the Half-Immortal realm.
"Forget about transcending the mountains and seas."
"Even existing within them, achieving greater power requires utilizing their strength."
"Linking Mountains, Returning Seas. These are the titles of two Sage Monarchs, also the essence of Immortal power."
"Originally, everything was fine. True Immortals stood upon the mountains and seas, creating a glorious era. But now the problem is…"
"The merging of the mountains and seas."
From Situ Xing's memories, it seemed the Immortal Realm was built upon the Upper Mountain. When the mountains and seas merged, everything on the mountain would fall into the sea. The Immortal Realm would naturally vanish.
Recalling the Dao Obliteration Calamity, Li Fan suddenly realized something. "The Dao Obliteration Calamity isn't simply the Infinite Sea swallowing the Immortal Realm."
"It's the merging of the mountains and seas, where the mountain is no longer a mountain, and the sea is no longer a sea."
"Perhaps, it's a return to the state before the mountains and seas existed…" The fable left by Sun Piaomiao resurfaced in his mind. During the argument between the mountain and the sea, the sea had asked, "What do you mean 'belong'? Was our infinite lifespan innate?"
Images flooded Li Fan's mind.
"Situ Xing said the merging of the mountains and seas is an inevitable trend. But the key is why are they merging?"
Li Fan looked towards the direction from which the Black Heaven Healer had arrived.
"Perhaps the true answer lies in that Other Shore."
"The Healer, Su Bai, the Dao Inscription Immortal, the Hill-Guarding Immortal…"
"Those I've met and those I've only heard of might all be gathered there."
Faces flashed through his mind. Li Fan took a deep breath, calming his excitement. He was still far from reaching their level. However, with True Return, reaching their level was only a matter of time.
"The key is how."
"For now, using Ink Slaughter to assimilate and evolve the Three Thousand Great Daos remains my most suitable path."
"Especially after learning about the Supreme Dao Scripture."
"Unfortunately, it was consumed by Dao Obliteration, leaving only a few fragments. Otherwise, devouring the complete scripture might have allowed me to instantly transcend." Li Fan felt a pang of regret at missing such a perfect shortcut.
However, although the true scripture was gone, perhaps some who had seen it still lived.
"Those who survived the Immortal Realm's destruction are definitely powerful. Many likely visited the Wuya Star Region and saw the scripture. Such True Immortals, like Situ Xing, are valuable nourishment for me!"
"They can save me centuries of arduous cultivation!"
A glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes. Achieving his envisioned Ink Slaughter Dao Net by himself… even with his almost infinite spirituality, it would take countless reincarnations, far too inefficient. Directly "asking" the Immortals was much more convenient.
Just like in this life, after devouring the Hunger Immortal and the Grand Magus, he had created a rudimentary Ink Slaughter Dao Net. Now, with Situ Xing's memories, it would expand several times over.
"The theoretical limit for an Unnamed True Immortal in a single possibility is merging with a Dao. The next step is devouring counterparts from other possibilities."
"And each aspect of my Ink Slaughter can reach the Unnamed realm. Within a single possibility, by assimilating the Three Thousand Great Daos, I can potentially reach the level of the evil Su Bai or the Black Heaven Healer."
"And that's not all…" Li Fan's eyes narrowed.
"The limit for each Ink Slaughter Dao aspect is the level of those transcendent beings who have converged all their selves."
"The Black Heaven Healer, the evil Su Bai…"
"They will all be my prey."
He snorted coldly, Ink Slaughter black Qi enveloping the Situ Xing pillar, extracting the nourishment he needed.
With all threats within the Dark Star Sea eliminated, Li Fan could finally focus on cultivation, digesting his recent gains. With a thought, an invisible Dao Net enveloped the entire Dark Star Sea, analyzing and deconstructing all Dao laws within.
The path to the outside world reopened, drawing in the more complete Dao from the Shuo Star Sea. Comprehending even a single Dao path could take a lifetime, even for the most talented. Li Fan's goal of mastering all Three Thousand Great Daos would be a long process.
He was prepared for this. He wasn't aiming for mastery yet, but building a framework, a basic outline for each Dao, even if they were fragile and ineffective for now. As long as there were Immortals to "fill" them later, it would be enough.
"First, the Investiture of the Gods…"
"Then, the slaughter of Immortals."
As Li Fan mused, the rudimentary form of his Ink Slaughter Dao Net took shape, enveloping the three pillars and the five projections of the Hill-Guarding Immortal.
Time passed.
When Li Fan's dormant consciousness awakened, a century had passed. It wasn't the Dao Obliteration Calamity that roused him, but the return of someone he had been waiting for.
It was Di Sanmo, or rather, his Blissful Ignorance Dreamland avatar. He had volunteered to find Wan Shiyong and hadn't returned since. Even Di Sanmo's main body had lost contact with his avatar, the connection severed upon entering Wan Shiyong's Star Sea.
Li Fan had assumed the avatar was lost, but now, after a century, it had returned. And not just the avatar. Di Sanmo's main body, having finally accessed the avatar's memories, was also deeply shaken, immediately seeking an audience with Li Fan.
The reason for this ancient, wise beast's distress…
"You're saying you followed Wan Shiyong to another possibility?" Li Fan asked, his avatar observing the reunited Di Sanmo.
"Indeed. I didn't stay long in that possibility. After observing the general situation, I quickly returned, not expecting a century to have passed here. Although Withered Shadow warned me about such time discrepancies, it's still unsettling…" Di Sanmo's voice was filled with emotion.
"Another possibility…"
"What was it like?" Li Fan asked.
"All thirteen Primordial Dao Incarnate still exist. A golden age for our race," Di Sanmo replied slowly.
"Oh?" Li Fan raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing Di Sanmo, trying to discern the truth.
"Isn't that your dream? Why did you return? To bring your main body there?"
"Don't worry, I won't stop you," Li Fan said calmly.
Di Sanmo shook his head. "You misunderstand, Senior. In that possibility, without the slaughter by human Unnamed True Immortals, our race has thrived. Although there have been internal conflicts, we remain strong. However…"
"The Dao Obliteration Calamity still looms."
"And it's coming quickly." Di Sanmo's voice was filled with fear.
"The thirteen Primordial Dao Incarnate are struggling to hold it back, but they probably won't succeed. Our race doesn't have much time left."
"So?"
"You want to bring your people here?" Li Fan guessed.
Di Sanmo nodded. "Indeed."
"Although our current world also faces Dao Obliteration, the Lower Realm Star Sea is relatively stable, with a long period of safety remaining. If we can regroup here…"
Li Fan chuckled. "If you could traverse possibilities on your own, you wouldn't have come to me."
Di Sanmo didn't deny it. "I need your help, Senior."
"For some reason, the Xuanhuang World doesn't exist in that possibility. So…"
(End of Chapter)