"The three Saint Monarchs are that powerful? The only ones in all worlds…" Li Fan was momentarily stunned.
"The Immortal Realm is vast and boundless, and throughout history, countless prodigies have emerged. Yet, only those four could be called [Saints]. Even Master, with his heaven-defying abilities, is only honored as 'Lord,' not 'Saint.' You mustn't underestimate them, Junior Brother," Dao Bearer cautioned.
"It's not that I underestimate them," Li Fan said with a wry smile. "It's just that my understanding of the Immortal Realm is based on fragmented records, making it difficult to form an accurate picture. If not for your guidance, Senior Brother…"
"The only one in all worlds, or perhaps the only one within the Mountain and Sea… That must be the legendary realm of true Transcendence, right? Saint Monarchs Lianshan and Guihai achieved it by creating Upper Mountain and opening the Infinite Spring, respectively. But how did Saint Monarch Taiyi reach that level? Could there be something else comparable to the Mountain and Sea?" Li Fan skillfully changed the subject.
Dao Bearer chuckled. "Although I've seen much, the secrets of a Saint Monarch's Dao Integration are beyond my understanding. Unless they reveal it themselves, who can know for sure? However, it's true that Saint Monarch Taiyi possesses the same level of power as Lianshan and Guihai. Saint Monarch Lianshan himself confirmed this before Immortal Emperor Louhuang and numerous Unnamed True Immortals. As for Great Saint Jingfen, the last to achieve Dao Integration…"
"With all due respect, in the eyes of the three Saint Monarchs, Jingfen is probably just a somewhat capable junior."
"They are the Saint Monarchs of the Mountain and Sea, while Jingfen is merely the Saint Monarch of our world."
"But this is just based on our understanding at the time of the Immortal Realm's destruction. After so many years, it's impossible to say what level of power Great Saint Jingfen has reached. Perhaps he, like the other three, has also taken that final step towards Transcendence."
…
Li Fan continued to inquire about the secrets of the Immortal Realm before steering the conversation back to the impending arrival of the Guang Wu Star Sea's envoy, the coffin Immortal from the Other Shore.
"Transformation has located the coffin, following Kuixing's guidance."
"As you predicted, Senior Brother, the coffin is indeed formed from compressed Dao. At their current speed, the coffin Immortal will arrive in our Primordial Immortal Realm in approximately five hours," Li Fan said, showing Dao Bearer the images sent by Transformation.
"Should we change the location of our confrontation? Our battle with that Other Shore Immortal might damage this continent," Dao Bearer asked, glancing at the world below.
"We can simply rebuild it. If it can't withstand this small tribulation, then it's not worth keeping. Besides, although the beings in this world are somewhat weak, they can still be of assistance," Li Fan declined.
Dao Bearer praised him sincerely, "Junior Brother, your mindset is truly reminiscent of a Saint of the Immortal Realm."
Li Fan chuckled but didn't respond.
"However, facing a formidable foe, we should still make some preparations…"
Dao Bearer pondered for a moment. "If you don't mind, Junior Brother, I have a divine ability I can teach you. Although we don't know the Dao Path of that coffin Immortal, this divine ability will ensure your safety, even if it can't defeat him."
Li Fan was overjoyed. "Senior Brother, you're too kind. I would be honored!"
Without further ado, Dao Bearer tapped Li Fan's forehead.
Li Fan felt like he was immersed in the Infinite Sea once more, his body and soul washed by rapidly changing scenes.
He saw a solitary figure sitting on a mountain, overlooking the sea – Keeper Qiu.
Li Fan had seen this image numerous times in the [Keeper Qiu's Musings].
However, what Dao Bearer imparted was different. It was a third-person perspective, looking up at Keeper Qiu!
It wasn't Keeper Qiu's own perspective.
Keeper Qiu not only sat watching the Mountain and Sea, but he also sheltered a spirit stone beneath him, protecting it from their collision.
"[Unmoving Amidst the Mountain and Sea]."
"Activating this divine ability allows one to remain unmoved, like Keeper Qiu, even amidst the tumultuous changes of the Mountain and Sea."
"Besides defense, depending on one's comprehension of the Mountain and Sea's phenomena, one can also emulate their erosive power. This doesn't mean one can truly replicate the Mountain and Sea, but it can draw the opponent into the vastness of the Mountain and Sea, making them feel as if they are facing Keeper Qiu!"
"If the opponent possesses Keeper Qiu's abilities or has inherited his teachings, this effect will be negligible. But for ordinary individuals…"
"Especially those who have experienced the despair of the Mountain and Sea, to face them again after finally escaping… it could be enough to break them!"
As Li Fan learned the [Unmoving Amidst the Mountain and Sea] technique, he explained its intricacies, not to himself, but to Dao Bearer.
Dao Bearer nodded repeatedly, pleased with Li Fan's rapid comprehension.
"This technique is truly ingenious, Senior Brother."
"It won't harm fellow disciples, yet it's highly effective against other True Immortals. The more they fear the Dao Obliteration Calamity and shirk their responsibilities, the more susceptible they will be to its effects," Li Fan continued to praise.
He then activated the [Unmoving Amidst the Mountain and Sea].
Li Fan remained unchanged, but the image of the Mountain and Sea now surrounded him.
Dao Bearer's eyes lit up. "Junior Brother, your understanding of the Mountain and Sea is quite profound."
"It's all thanks to Master and Senior Brother's teachings!"
…
With Dao Bearer's guidance, Li Fan spent the next few days consolidating his mastery of the Unmoving Amidst the Mountain and Sea technique. Although he already had the protection of [Illusion Becomes Reality], additional defensive measures were always welcome.
Therefore, he practiced diligently, asking Dao Bearer for clarification whenever he had doubts.
Dao Bearer was not only patient but also quite pleased with his dedication.
"He's here."
Li Fan suddenly deactivated the technique, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
The image of the Mountain and Sea surrounding him vanished, but within the Primordial Immortal Realm, strange phenomena began to manifest.
Creak… creak…
A grating sound, like rusted metal scraping against metal, echoed across the Primordial Immortal Realm, filling all who heard it with an uncontrollable restlessness.
As the sound intensified, the restlessness transformed into an urge.
An urge to go towards the source of the sound.
This urge, once ignited, was difficult to suppress.
Numerous figures on the continent, losing control, flew towards the edge of the world.
Li Fan's cold snort echoed throughout the Primordial Immortal Realm.
Under the creator god's authority, many regained their senses, suppressing their urges and returning to the ground.
But some, disregarding everything, continued to fly towards the sound, as if it were their ultimate pursuit, more important than even their lives or the Great Dao!
"Such childish mind control tricks. This coffin Immortal can't possibly only have this up his sleeve," Li Fan thought, no longer stopping the inhabitants from rushing towards their doom.
He saw that a corner of the coffin's lid had been opened, revealing a dark, bottomless abyss that devoured everything that approached.
All beings within a certain radius of the coffin were instantly swallowed.
The grating sound within the coffin grew louder, accompanied by new, unsettling noises.
If the initial sound was the coffin lid slowly opening, now it sounded like something was scratching the inside of the coffin with its claws, struggling to escape.
The coffin was clearly heading towards Li Fan's Primordial Immortal Realm, accelerating continuously.
The changing sounds didn't diminish their allure. Beings within the Dark Star Sea flocked towards the coffin like moths to a flame.
With each being consumed, its speed increased.
Li Fan's expression grew grim as the coffin reached the heavens of the Primordial Immortal Realm.
"Allow me to greet him first, Junior Brother."
Dao Bearer stood up abruptly and, with a single step, appeared near the coffin.
"You dare make such a racket in my presence?"
Despite his frail appearance, he seemed to possess boundless energy. He struck the coffin with his palm.
The faint sound of the roaring Mountain and Sea accompanied his movement, suppressing the unsettling noises emanating from the coffin.
For a moment, Li Fan saw the image of the colliding Mountain and Sea, waves crashing against each other.
"Is this Dao Bearer's true power?" Li Fan's pupils constricted.
The coffin trembled violently under the onslaught of the Mountain and Sea.
Already damaged, it was now reaching its limit.
It seemed about to disintegrate.
But the Guang Wu Star Sea's hopes weren't placed on the coffin itself but on the Other Shore Immortal within.
Bang!
A loud thud echoed from inside the coffin, as if something was striking its walls from within, responding to the roaring Mountain and Sea outside.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The pounding grew more frantic, like thunderclaps piercing the night sky, or a beacon cutting through the fog.
Even the sound of the Mountain and Sea couldn't completely suppress it.
Then, the pounding abruptly stopped.
At that moment, the coffin shattered, and a dark figure emerged, charging towards Dao Bearer.
"Senior Brother, watch out!" Li Fan shouted.
Before his warning reached him, the figure collided with Dao Bearer.
The resulting shockwave, like a torrential downpour, even reached Li Fan, who was observing from a distance.
The Primordial Immortal Realm, comparable in scale to the former Immortal Realm, swayed like a lone boat on a stormy sea.
Li Fan felt the world's stable Dao Principles being disrupted.
Ignoring the Primordial Immortal Realm for now, he instructed the five Grand Emperors and thirteen Venerables to maintain order and turned his attention to the battle.
The dark figure, the coffin Immortal, had revealed its true form.
It wasn't human.
It was a giant rat!
Simply calling it a rat wasn't accurate. Its movements, as it lunged and attacked with its claws and teeth, were eerily human-like.
Its fur was a vibrant tapestry of colors, like an embroidered garment.
It wore a small, earthy yellow straw hat, with a bite mark missing from its brim.
Its expressions were as vivid as a human's, displaying greed, focus, and urgency.
"A member of the Beastkin race?"
Li Fan thought of Di Sanmo's kin.
But he quickly dismissed the idea.
Not only was the Beast Taming Wheel unresponsive to this strange rat, but Dao Bearer's mental transmission confirmed his suspicions.
"Junior Brother, be careful! This is a [Giant Rat Immortal]!"
Dao Bearer explained what a Giant Rat Immortal was.
It wasn't an Unnamed True Immortal who had mastered the Dao of the [Giant Rat] but a True Immortal who had become distorted through their insatiable greed and endless consumption of the Great Dao.
Under normal circumstances, Giant Rat Immortals wouldn't appear in the densely populated Immortal Realm.
They typically existed only in dying possibilities.
To maximize their chances of survival within the coffin, coffin Immortals would gather any remaining fragments of the Great Dao to construct their coffins.
However, if they drifted for too long, they would either perish or be consumed by the Dao-infused coffin itself.
Unnamed True Immortals embodied a single Dao.
The Three Thousand Great Daos were inherently incompatible. After merging with one, an Unnamed One couldn't accommodate another.
But within the confines of a coffin drifting across the Mountain and Sea, the miracle of an Unnamed True Immortal merging with multiple Daos could occur.
But the price was…
Distortion. The Unnamed True Immortal would transform into a grotesque being.
The Giant Rat Immortal was a prime example.
It retained some sentience but was driven by an instinctive desire to merge with the Dao, to devour anything that could enhance its power.
"Master might offer a proper burial for deceased coffin Immortals, but these distorted Immortals deserve only death!"
"They are a menace!"
"After I suppress this beast, I'll settle the score with the Guang Wu Star Sea!" Dao Bearer's voice was filled with anger.
As Li Fan watched the Giant Rat Immortal, its every movement causing the surrounding Dao to tremble, a strange feeling arose within him.
"The Guang Wu Star Sea came for me because of how I subdued the Dao Sword and Dao Knife. They wouldn't entrust such a task to a mindless Giant Rat Immortal…"
At that moment, he saw a glint of intelligence in the rat's eyes.
He immediately warned Dao Bearer, "Senior Brother, be careful! This isn't an ordinary Giant Rat Immortal."
"Someone might be possessing it!"
Dao Bearer's movements faltered.
At that moment, a black light emanated from the Giant Rat Immortal's claws.
The light erupted, enveloping Dao Bearer.
The Giant Rat Immortal leaped back, a smug expression on its human-like face as it stroked its whiskers.
"That black light…"
Li Fan sensed an aura similar to Mo Annihilation.
"It seems the [Lankedao] Domain isn't the only one studying the power of the merging Mountain and Sea," Li Fan mused.
Although the black light was terrifying, Li Fan wasn't worried about Dao Bearer.
Having survived for eons by Keeper Qiu's side, near the Mountain and Sea, he wasn't easily defeated.
(End of Chapter)