"It seems it wasn't simply the Source Power Essence that tamed Mao Bao."
"Rather, Mao Bao instinctively felt a kinship with the Sacred Emperor and therefore willingly stayed by his side, serving him faithfully."
Looking at the black cat back on Transformation's shoulder, Li Fan pondered the origin of his Sacred Emperor avatar.
He had created Sacred Emperor Li Ping using the blood essence of Wang Xuanba and Sun Erlang.
However, during that lifetime, Mao Bao had interacted with both Wang Xuanba and Sun Erlang but hadn't shown any particular affection towards them.
"So, the key lies in this body of [Li Fan]?"
He had used their blood essence only to usurp their talents. The connection between the avatar and himself relied on his own blood essence.
Li Fan's eyes flickered, and a storm surged within his heart. The [Li Fan] he referred to wasn't himself but the original owner of this body, the frail scholar who existed before Li Fan transmigrated and obtained the [True Return] treasure.
Although after a hundred lifetimes, Li Fan had completely merged with this body, he couldn't deny that he had essentially "stolen" it.
"If Mao Bao's original owner was the original Li Fan…"
Li Fan discreetly glanced beyond the Great Wall.
"The original body's cultivation aptitude was indeed poor, but not completely hopeless."
"And that was within the Great Wall, in the Xuanhuang World, a place where the Great Dao was withered."
"In a normal environment, he would have been considered a promising talent."
"Infinite possibilities…"
Li Fan's thoughts raced.
"Theoretically, there exists the possibility of an ordinary mortal rising to the pinnacle of cultivation."
"In other words, theoretically, anyone within the Great Wall, or even within the [Primordial] possibilities, could have a counterpart who is a supreme expert in another possibility, just like Black Healer and Evil Su Bai."
"But the reality is different."
The Great Wall shielded those within from the attention of their powerful counterparts in other possibilities who sought to devour them. However, after Li Fan entered the Testing Grounds, obtained Keeper Qiu's projection, and gained control over the Dark Star Sea, he had sent batches of so-called prodigies beyond the Wall.
None of them triggered any unusual fluctuations from other possibilities.
There were no intrusions like Black Healer's, nor any mental manipulation or control like Evil Su Bai's.
These prodigies included individuals like First Scripture and Qiao Sidao, whom Li Fan considered to possess top-tier talent.
"If infinite possibilities truly existed, there would definitely be powerful counterparts of these individuals."
"But there aren't."
"This means that infinity isn't truly infinite."
"Due to the ravages of the Dao Obliteration Calamity, the vast majority of possibilities have already been annihilated."
"The powerful counterparts of most people in this world probably only exist in the past records of the Infinite Sea."
Those who had survived in a world with only seven million years of lifespan remaining were either incredibly lucky or, like Keeper Qiu, possessed the power to resist the Dao Obliteration Calamity to some extent.
Neither scenario was good news for Li Fan.
Based on what happened with the Healer and Su Bai, if his conjecture was correct, the moment he stepped beyond the Great Wall, he might be sensed by the [Sacred Emperor Li Fan] from another possibility.
And their encounter would undoubtedly be a fight to the death.
"If he can truly cross between possibilities, even with all my resources, I might not be a match for him. I would have to rely on the protection of [Illusion Becomes Reality] and flee back to the True Return."
Verifying this conjecture was simple. Li Fan only needed to step beyond the Great Wall.
Taking a deep breath, he suppressed the urge.
Even if he was eager to confirm his suspicions, the time wasn't right.
"Fortunately, I've been cautious and haven't rashly ventured beyond the Wall."
"Otherwise, I would have been in for a nasty surprise."
"The best course of action now is to steadily increase my strength. The remaining True and Unnamed Immortals of the Shuo Star Sea, the Guang Wu Star Sea, and the thirteen Dao Incarnates. If all of them aren't enough, then I'll suppress and devour all the remaining True Immortals within the [Primordial] possibilities."
"I refuse to believe I still won't be a match for that [Sacred Emperor]."
Thinking this, Li Fan coldly addressed the trembling Transformation: "You have thirty days to handle this matter. If you fail to deliver satisfactory results after thirty days…"
Li Fan glanced at Transformation.
Transformation's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly reiterated his promise.
Without uttering any threats, Li Fan simply waved his sleeve, dismissing Transformation.
His turbulent emotions gradually subsided as he began to process his recent gains.
The most valuable, of course, was the [Chapters on the Primordial Creation of the Mountain and Sea] written by Saint Monarch Taiyi. But what could most significantly enhance his current combat power…
Li Fan extended his left hand, and a pair of sword and knife, radiating an eerie green light, appeared in his palm. They were the trump card of the Unnamed One called [Kuixing], who had possessed the black cat.
Truth be told, the Shuo Star Sea Immortals had reason to be confident in their attack.
Even with the combined forces of the Primordial Immortal Realm's inhabitants and Li Fan himself, they might not have survived the onslaught of the sword and knife.
"Within the Shuo Star Sea, there's Blade Island and Sword Domain, formed from the remnants of the Dao of the Blade and the Dao of the Sword within the Primordial possibilities."
"And this pair of sword and knife, their forms are merely superficial."
Li Fan gently caressed the green light in his palm, closing his eyes as if transported to that desolate, murderous star region.
"Slaughter, devour, until all Daos merge."
"That is the true essence of this treasure."
"A perfect match for my Myriad Manifestations Dao Net!"
Li Fan was overjoyed.
He opened his mouth and swallowed the green sword and knife.
A myriad of green lights erupted from them, merging into his Myriad Manifestations Dao Net.
A pair of translucent sword and knife now faintly hung upon the originally sinister Dao Net. They seemed out of place among the various humanoid Dao Manifestations, yet they added a unique touch to the Myriad Manifestations Dao Net.
"Blades, slaughter, the end."
A completely new understanding of Dao, vastly different from anything within the Primordial possibilities, flowed through Li Fan's heart.
This Dao Path wasn't just from another possibility. It was a Dao Path attached to and carried by a "non-living vessel," a completely new concept.
Although within his Primordial possibilities, there were instances of the Great Dao manifesting as objects, these treasures couldn't cultivate like humans.
Possessing a single Dao was their inherent nature, but also their lifelong limit.
The Dao Sword and Dao Knife from the desolate star region opened a new path for these existences.
With a thought, a blood-red circular jade appeared before Li Fan.
It was the main body of the Law Derivation Jade, extracted from the little lolita's body.
Without infinite Immortal Power, the now-broken Law Derivation Jade was no longer a true Immortal Artifact. Its ability to deduce mortal laws was useless to Li Fan.
He had once planned to replicate the process of the Xuanhuang World's ascension and transformation into an Immortal Realm, hoping to push the broken Law Derivation Jade, like himself, to transform from mortal to immortal. But now, he had found a better method.
"I can even create a superior replacement for the Law Derivation Jade."
"The Dao Derivation Jade!"
Li Fan had carefully studied the Law Derivation Jade. Its ability to deduce all possibilities stemmed from a form of [exhaustive search]. However, its brute-force approach to exploring countless possibilities was surprisingly efficient. It seemed to instinctively discard impossible outcomes.
"The Law Derivation Jade represents the Dao of [Derivation]."
"Although it's just a partial projection of the Dao, perhaps I can use the Dao Sword and Dao Knife's method of devouring and strengthening to reverse the process."
"Transform the projection into reality!"
Li Fan clutched the blood-red ring tightly. He absorbed the images and understanding of the desolate weaponry possibility gathered by the Myriad Manifestations Dao Net and channeled them into the jade.
The already eerie blood jade, now infused with a chilling green light, became even more sinister.
A true teaching can be conveyed in a single sentence.
With the Dao Sword and Dao Knife's extensive experience in devouring and merging, the broken Law Derivation Jade quickly learned. Like a starving creature, it instinctively tried to attack its surroundings.
But Li Fan slapped it down mercilessly with a blow infused with [Boundless] power.
"You can only consume what I give you."
"You can only watch what I don't give you."
After several attempts to feed itself and subsequent punishments, Li Fan successfully established the rules.
Looking at the eagerly awaiting blood-red ring, he turned to the several smaller Heavenly Pillars he had sealed.
Without reaching the Unnamed realm, they barely possessed the capacity to embody the Dao. They merely resembled Heavenly Pillars in form but lacked their true essence. And their understanding of the Dao was now useless to Li Fan after being absorbed by the Myriad Manifestations Dao Net.
They simply stood there, an eyesore.
Perfect fodder for the Law Derivation Jade.
These leftovers, although scraps to Li Fan, were a feast for the Law Derivation Jade.
As the smaller Heavenly Pillars vanished, the Law Derivation Jade gradually became translucent. The blood-red color faded, becoming a gentle, warm glow.
Li Fan examined the now-satiated Law Derivation Jade.
As expected, its ability to [derive] had increased tenfold.
And, as he anticipated, it had begun to transcend the limitations of "deriving laws," rapidly evolving towards the broader Dao of [Derivation].
"The Dao Sword and Dao Knife represent a bottom-up approach, gradually devouring projections to complete their true Dao Path, eventually encompassing all Three Thousand Great Daos."
"In essence, it can be considered another form of the Myriad Manifestations Dao Net."
"However, there's a subtle difference. The Myriad Manifestations Dao Net truly merges all Daos. No matter how much it devours, it only reflects the complete form of the absorbed Daos. But the Dao Sword and Dao Knife's method of devouring…"
"Inevitably retains the attributes of their original selves. Even after devouring an entire possibility's Dao Path, they still retain their fundamental nature as [weapons]."
"The Law Derivation Jade is the same. No matter how it evolves, it will always remain a [Derivation Jade]."
Li Fan didn't lament this limitation. On the contrary, it made them even more useful to him.
"By analogy, this applies not just to the Law Derivation Jade but to any projection of the Dao."
Lost in thought, Li Fan had found a way to create trouble for Black Healer, Evil Su Bai, and the others.
"I must experiment with this."
Thirty days passed quickly.
And Transformation didn't disappoint.
On the twenty-fifth day, he returned with Chaos to visit Li Fan.
"Please forgive my earlier hesitation and indecision," Chaos apologized before Transformation could speak.
"I knew they intended to harm Senior, yet I didn't stop them…"
Although his expression remained impassive, Chaos's words were filled with regret.
Li Fan smiled. "You're a clever man, and I appreciate obedient, clever men."
Chaos was overjoyed, his anxiety dissipating. "I am willing to serve Senior in any way I can."
Li Fan glanced at Transformation, who echoed Chaos's sentiment, and asked, "Transformation, you possess the [Chapters on the Primordial Creation of the Mountain and Sea]. Have you studied it?"
Chaos, surprised, glanced at Transformation and shook his head. "I haven't had the fortune to peruse it."
Li Fan waved his hand, and the scripture written by Saint Monarch Taiyi appeared before Chaos.
Like anyone encountering this scripture for the first time, Chaos was instantly captivated.
But before he could savor its contents, Li Fan retrieved it.
Chaos looked disappointed but dared not complain in Li Fan's presence. He suppressed his instinctive urge.
"Rewards for merit, punishment for transgressions."
"Do you two wish to earn merit or commit transgressions?"
Finally, Transformation had a chance to speak. "Chaos and I have discovered that four Unnamed Ones are still imprisoned within the Shuo Star Sea's Dao Net. We intend to offer them all to Your Great Venerableness, including the [Great Net] itself."
"Great Net?"
"That's what we call the creator of the Dao Net. Shamefully, we've fought against him for millennia and cooperated with him for a century, yet we still don't know his true identity or Dao Path," Chaos explained.
"But he is undoubtedly an Unnamed One. And his strength is no less than mine or Chaos's," Transformation added with certainty.
"So, how do you plan to offer these five to me?" Li Fan asked, intrigued.
Chaos and Transformation exchanged a glance, and Transformation finally spoke in a low voice: "Our previous contact with the Guang Wu Star Sea was entirely through [Divine Thought] and my black cat."
"Divine Thought has already been captured by you…"
Transformation looked towards the location where Divine Thought had been transformed into a Heavenly Pillar, only to find it empty. He paused mid-sentence.
"Are you looking for him?"
Li Fan slowly revealed the blood-red ring in his hand.
Even these two, who had survived countless calamities, couldn't help but pale.
(End of chapter)