Li Fan's prediction was correct. Within the black light domain, which resembled Mo Annihilation, absolute silence should have reigned. However, just as the Giant Rat Immortal was reveling in his triumph, the sound of crashing waves against mountains, the clash of the Mountain and Sea, pierced through the black domain, echoing throughout the Primordial Immortal Realm.
The Immortal Realm responded with a symphony of sounds: the rustling of wind through forests, the gurgling of streams, the howling of wind and clouds, the cries of newborn life, the rumbling of shifting mountains…
These notes of life, movement, and change resonated with the sound of the Mountain and Sea in the sky, forming surging waves that tore through the black domain.
"Such petty tricks! You dare display your meager skills before an expert?"
Dao Bearer roared, bursting from the black light. The moment he escaped, his figure merged with the world, vanishing from sight.
The Giant Rat Immortal let out a strange laugh, unfazed. He shook his massive body, and thousands of tiny, multicolored hairs fell from his shimmering fur.
These hairs transformed into human figures, thousands of True Immortals appearing, surrounding and protecting the Giant Rat Immortal.
"These figures are…"
"Unnamed True Immortals?"
Li Fan saw clearly. Each hair that fell from the Giant Rat Immortal represented a Great Dao. These Dao Manifestations were essentially the same as Unnamed True Immortals who had embodied a Dao!
The Giant Rat Immortal, distorted by his insatiable greed for the Great Dao, was now regurgitating the Daos he had consumed.
Despite losing some Daos, the Giant Rat Immortal didn't weaken. Instead, his aura became even more profound and unsettling. Li Fan also noticed a subtle change in his appearance.
His claws became hands, his hunched back straightened, and his face became even more human-like.
A fierce wind swept through the Mountain and Sea, scattering the Dao Manifestations surrounding the Giant Rat Immortal.
Li Fan saw in this scene the countless possibilities, worlds, and beings lost within the tumultuous Mountain and Sea.
Although Dao Bearer had contained his power within a certain area, some of the wind, stirred by their fierce battle, escaped, slicing through the Primordial Immortal Realm like invisible blades.
Wherever the wind blades passed, all things perished, leaving behind a massive chasm in the void.
Even with the constant replenishment of Immortal Power, this scar wouldn't heal quickly.
This demonstrated the sheer destructive power of their battle.
Amidst the howling wind, the Dao Manifestations danced like willow branches, resiliently enduring the onslaught.
Then, a strange, continuous sound emerged from the Giant Rat Immortal's mouth, a mix between a rat's shriek and a poet's passionate recitation.
More hairs fell from his body, transforming into even more True Immortals.
As he shed his fur, the Giant Rat Immortal became even more human-like, though still covered in rat skin.
The rapid recitation abruptly ceased, as if a knife had sliced through the skin.
The Giant Rat transformed into a human.
Unlike the surrounding Dao Manifestations, which were merely vague outlines, the Giant Rat Immortal, although naked, was now indistinguishable from a human.
"Greetings, fellow Daoists…"
"Giant Rat offers his humble salutations~"
A voice, neither male nor female, emerged from the human-shaped Giant Rat Immortal.
He greeted them casually, not expecting a response from Li Fan or Dao Bearer. Before they could react, he gestured with his hands, manipulating the surrounding True Immortal projections like a puppeteer pulling strings.
Empowered by the Giant Rat Immortal, the faces of the myriad True Immortal projections became slightly more human-like.
And they no longer attacked instinctively but fought like true Unnamed Ones, unleashing their divine abilities and spells to their fullest extent.
They wielded not only the Daos of the Five Elements, Solitude, and Stillness, which existed within the [Primordial] possibilities, but also Daos completely unfamiliar to Li Fan.
Before the Giant Rat Immortal's transformation, the True Immortal projections had fought as a disorganized mob. But now, under his control, their true power was unleashed.
The pressure on Dao Bearer increased a hundredfold.
Li Fan saw in this scene a commanding figure, a leader of armies, effortlessly vanquishing powerful foes.
"These Unnamed Ones served under his command during their lives."
"So, the Giant Rat Immortal's true identity is…"
"Similar to a ruling Immortal Emperor?"
Li Fan's mind raced. He voiced his suspicion, "Your Majesty! My death was unjust!"
His ghostly voice pierced through the howling wind and the ranks of Unnamed Ones, reaching the Giant Rat Immortal.
The Giant Rat Immortal, who had been enjoying his control over the True Immortal projections, froze.
Although he quickly recovered, this subtle change didn't escape Li Fan's notice.
"Don't worry, Senior Brother!"
"I'm coming to help!"
His suspicions confirmed, Li Fan sneered. With the Boundless Rod clearing the path, he charged towards the Giant Rat Immortal.
Countless True Immortal projections attempted to intercept him.
Most were blocked by the Boundless Rod.
Even those whose Daos were outside the scope of the Primordial Boundless Great Dao couldn't penetrate Li Fan's double defenses of the Myriad Manifestations Dao Net and Unmoving Amidst the Mountain and Sea.
Enduring the attacks, Li Fan pressed on, determined to slay the "Immortal Emperor" amidst his army.
Dao Bearer understood Li Fan's intention and cooperated. The wind of the Mountain and Sea intensified, and a massive, looming figure appeared above the True Immortal projections, its mere gaze annihilating countless Dao Manifestations.
Although the Giant Rat Immortal's power had greatly increased after regurgitating all the Daos he had consumed, his physical body was undoubtedly at its most vulnerable.
Li Fan was incredibly fast, reaching within three meters of the Giant Rat Immortal in a flash.
The attack was so sudden that the Giant Rat Immortal couldn't even reabsorb the expelled Daos. He had only managed to regrow a sparse layer of fur when Li Fan struck.
The Boundless Rod, followed by the Dao Sword and Dao Knife, descended upon him.
Trapped, the Giant Rat Immortal bared his fangs, unafraid of the combined attack of the three treasures.
He lunged at the Boundless Rod, the Dao Sword, and the Dao Knife, attempting to devour the very weapons that threatened his life!
Truly a creature of insatiable greed!
The Giant Rat Immortal's reaction was within Li Fan's expectations.
With a laugh, the Boundless Rod, Dao Sword, and Dao Knife vanished, replaced by several Dao Pills enveloped in a purple aura.
Even though he saw the transformation, the Giant Rat Immortal's greed made him unable to resist.
He had devoured countless Immortals in the celestial court, even entire worlds.
What was there he dared not consume?
As the True Immortal projections vanished, the Giant Rat Immortal reverted from his human form back into a ferocious beast.
He swallowed the Dao Pills Li Fan had offered and then searched for his attacker.
But Li Fan had already retreated to a safe distance, waiting for the poison to take effect.
"I'll see if you can stomach so many poison pills!"
However, the poison took longer to affect the Giant Rat Immortal than Li Fan had anticipated.
As a being who had crossed the Mountain and Sea within a coffin, he had developed some resistance to the power of the Dao Obliteration Calamity.
After a long stalemate with Dao Bearer, the Giant Rat Immortal finally showed signs of distress.
His multicolored fur began to turn purple and uncontrollably fall out.
This was the Dao Transformation effect of Li Fan's poison pills.
At first, the Giant Rat Immortal didn't notice, until purple hairs filled the sky.
He let out a piercing shriek that ripped through the clouds.
He stopped fighting Dao Bearer and frantically tried to gather his falling fur.
Li Fan heard not only fear in his cry but also anxiety and reluctance.
This was unexpected.
But whatever history the Giant Rat Immortal shared with his former subjects, it didn't prevent Li Fan from seizing this opportunity to finish him off.
He waved his sleeve, competing with the Giant Rat Immortal for the Dao Transformed hairs while also manipulating the poison within him, ready to activate the Myriad Manifestations Dao Net.
The more fur he lost, the weaker he became. And the weaker he became, the harder it was to suppress the poison.
His defeat was inevitable.
Finally, the moment of harvest arrived. Li Fan wouldn't be polite.
"Life and death are one, merging with the Dao to achieve true unity. Detached from the mundane, my Dao Pill is formed."
Li Fan chanted silently, using his Myriad Manifestations Dao Net as the cauldron and the power of the Mo Annihilation Heavenly Soul as the fire, refining this Other Shore Immortal, this drifter from another possibility, into a Dao Pill.
The Giant Rat Immortal struggled desperately, but the net tightened relentlessly. His efforts were futile.
Dao Bearer reappeared. He observed Li Fan's actions, then hesitated, but ultimately didn't interfere.
Having lost all his fur, the Giant Rat Immortal returned to his human form.
He stopped struggling, simply looking at Li Fan and Dao Bearer.
"Those who devour others will eventually be devoured themselves."
"How true!"
"Fellow Daoists, don't follow in my footsteps!"
"Hahaha…"
Amidst his maniacal laughter, the Giant Rat Immortal was completely refined, becoming a translucent Dao Pill, radiating a seven-colored purple aura, in Li Fan's palm.
Undoubtedly, this was the most beautiful and precious Dao Pill Li Fan had ever refined.
"It's a pity I can't consume it directly."
Li Fan looked at Dao Bearer, whose expression was serious, and an idea struck him.
"Senior Brother, here."
He solemnly offered the Dao Pill.
"Oh? That's not necessary." Dao Bearer was surprised by Li Fan's offer but immediately refused.
It wasn't that he had seen through the Dao Pill's true nature.
Even Li Fan wasn't entirely sure if there was a problem with the Dao Refining Medicine King Scripture passed down by Sun Piaomiao. He was simply being cautious.
Dao Bearer's refusal stemmed from his adherence to Keeper Qiu's teachings. Even the most valuable treasures shouldn't be taken from fellow disciples.
Although the Dao Pill was extraordinary, it wasn't enough to make him break Keeper Qiu's rules.
"I was able to suppress this rat solely because of your efforts in confronting him directly, Senior Brother."
"If you hadn't occupied his myriad True Immortal projections, I wouldn't have been able to approach him so easily and refine this Dao Pill. You deserve it."
"Besides, after consuming this pill, you can share your insights into the Daos of other possibilities with me. If I consume it, I wouldn't be able to explain it to you in such detail!"
…
Li Fan's reasoning was sound.
After his heartfelt explanation, Dao Bearer finally accepted the Dao Pill.
"Senior Brother, how do you feel?" Li Fan asked tentatively after a while.
"Alas."
"This Giant Rat, and those myriad True Immortal projections, were merely pitiful creatures," Dao Bearer sighed, shaking his head.
"What do you mean, Senior Brother?" Li Fan asked.
"I saw countless images after consuming the Dao Pill," Dao Bearer replied, waving his hand, projecting the scenes for Li Fan to see.
At first, it was a peaceful and prosperous Immortal Realm.
The Giant Rat Immortal had ruled as the Immortal Emperor for nearly two hundred million years. During his reign, all Immortals submitted, and the realm flourished.
Even the three Saint Monarchs hadn't interfered in the Immortal Realm's affairs since his ascension.
The Immortals knew only their Emperor, not the Saint Monarchs.
Their decline began with the sudden arrival of the Dao Obliteration Calamity.
Initially, the Giant Rat Immortal was ambitious, confident in his ability to lead the Immortals to victory against the calamity.
However, the Dao Obliteration Calamity repeatedly subsided and then resurfaced.
Although it could be temporarily suppressed, there seemed to be no permanent solution.
Outwardly maintaining his composure, the Giant Rat Immortal grew increasingly anxious. He decided to seek guidance from the three Saint Monarchs.
However, to his shock…
…they were gone.
They had vanished from the world without a trace.
Although most Immortals had forgotten about the Saint Monarchs, they still represented the pinnacle of power and hope.
With the ongoing calamity, the people were already restless.
If they learned of the Saint Monarchs' disappearance, the Immortal Realm would descend into chaos before even being destroyed by the Dao Obliteration Calamity.
After careful consideration, the Giant Rat Immortal decided to conceal the news.
To prevent the truth from being revealed, he even impersonated the three Saint Monarchs himself.
Although as an Immortal Emperor who had ruled for eons, his power far surpassed that of ordinary Immortals, impersonating one Saint Monarch was already a stretch.
Impersonating all three without revealing any flaws…
…was nearly impossible.
So, the Giant Rat Immortal desperately sought ways to increase his strength quickly.
In his desperation, he resorted to devouring True Immortals and stealing their Daos.
The results were remarkable.
With his immense cultivation, he managed to merge multiple Dao Paths within himself.
(End of Chapter)