Images of countless divine abilities and spells slowly seeped from the point of light. While the Dao Chronicle Projection had been effortlessly suppressed in the purple-clad figure's hand, its current instability forced Li Fan and the Dao Bearer into a defensive stance. After all, it contained the combined power of every divine ability manifested throughout an entire possibility's lifespan, from birth to annihilation. The potential destructive force was unimaginable. Even if this particular possibility lacked a being like the Hill Watcher, and even if Transcendents like the Three Sages of the Immortal Realm weren't recorded within, the Projection was still beyond their current ability to withstand. Even the entire Wall-Shuo Star Sea would be no match.
Their only option was to contain it before it erupted.
The Dao Bearer acted swiftly, manifesting a vision of existence. Gale-force winds compressed the escaping light and shadows back towards the orb's core.
"That purple-clad senior acts decisively, arriving and departing quickly," he said with a wry smile. "But he forgot the Projection Pearl."
"Perhaps it's a test," Li Fan cautiously retreated to a safe distance, using the Myriad Manifestations Dao Net to assist in the suppression.
The two brothers worked together, spending half a year barely managing to contain the Dao Chronicle Projection Pearl. Looking at the now-dim point of light, the Dao Bearer frowned. "This is just a temporary fix. We suppressed it this time, but the next eruption will be even stronger…"
"We might not be able to handle it."
Li Fan nodded. "A powerful treasure, but also a hot potato."
During these six months of suppressing the Projection Pearl, Li Fan benefited immensely. It was like constantly experiencing countless Dao techniques firsthand. Even if most were useless to him, the sheer volume meant that even a fraction of a percent offered incredible insights. He felt that even with the enhanced "Law Derivation Technique," deducing so many different divine abilities would have taken tens of thousands of years.
Li Fan absorbed everything indiscriminately, converting it into nourishment for his own cultivation. With computational power rivaling the Dao Transformation Stone Mother, he managed the influx effectively.
Despite this feast of Dao techniques and divine abilities, Li Fan felt little excitement. Guided by the purple figure's words, his sights were now set beyond the mortal realm, on the vastness of existence. With True Return's assistance, achieving the cultivation level required for traversing existence was almost certain. Even if he remained within the Wall, with time, he would eventually reach Transcendence step by step.
The problem lay in the method of crossing, the creation of his vessel. The requirements of character and will were esoteric, not achievable through mere accumulation. If the conditions weren't met, even eons of cultivation would be pointless. It either was, or it wasn't.
Li Fan had attempted to use Daoist Xuan and Kou Hong as raw materials, manipulating their experiences, trying to cultivate Eternal Will within them. He had, of course, failed. Now, reflecting on it, what seemed like a small gap was likely an insurmountable chasm.
This made him envious of those who could already condense Eternal Will. "Seeds of Transcendents…" he mused. "Unfortunately, cultivators with such talent are exceedingly rare. Throughout the entire history of the Xuanhuang World, there have only been a handful. There aren't many examples for me to learn from."
"It seems, as the purple-clad figure said, I must forge my own path."
Li Fan pondered, a rare indecision gripping him. A crucial question loomed. True Return, the interplay of truth and illusion… did that count as his own path? With the protection of "Illusion Becomes Real," once he reached the necessary realm, he could likely ignore the dangers of existence and traverse it freely. Far easier than the methods used by those Transcendents.
Did this mean he needn't worry about his own Dao path, that he didn't need to cultivate his own "vessel"? Judging by True Return's current power, it seemed so. Yet, a nagging unease lingered. His previous unquestioning trust in True Return seemed to have vanished after his glimpse beyond the mortal realm.
This question, crucial to his future path, filled him with uncertainty. The problem was, no one but True Return could provide the answer. Yet, True Return remained stubbornly silent, as if oblivious to his thoughts.
While he continued to exchange insights with the Dao Bearer, Li Fan's mind remained preoccupied with the relationship between True Return and his own Dao path.
"Junior Brother, something troubles you?" Even Li Fan's careful facade couldn't hide it from the Dao Bearer, whose cultivation seemed to have sharpened after witnessing the true face of existence and the meaning of traversing it.
Seeing through his disguise, Li Fan abandoned the pretense. "Senior Brother, have you found direction for your own path of crossing?"
He expected similar uncertainty, but the Dao Bearer's reply was resolute. "It wasn't just today's revelation. Since Master's guidance, I've known the answer. Even if existence is difficult to traverse, I only need to follow Master's path."
"Since Master can traverse existence with such ease, so can I."
"It's not that simple…" Li Fan started to argue, but then realized the logic, perfectly aligned with the meaning of "Dao Bearer."
A thoughtful expression crossed his face. "Perhaps I was overthinking it."
"There's no need to be so conflicted. If I can't determine whether True Return is my path, then I'll set it aside for now. Perhaps I've relied on it too much. From today onwards, I will act as if I don't possess this treasure and seek my own path of crossing, until the day I reach Transcendence."
"If I succeed, all is well. If I fail…"
"True Return can be my safety net." This thought, as soon as it surfaced, was ruthlessly extinguished. "With such a mindset, I'll never forge my own path. Having made this decision, I must commit fully." He thought of his "Samsara Between Worlds" ability, a nascent plan forming.
This current life wasn't suitable for experimentation. He would wait for the next, crafting the ideal possibility for enlightenment before attempting it.
His uncertainty subsided. He bowed to the Dao Bearer. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother."
The Dao Bearer waved his hand. "You realized it yourself. It has nothing to do with me."
After this brief interlude, their attention returned to the Dao Chronicle Projection Pearl.
"Senior Brother, I have a plan that might resolve this hidden danger," Li Fan said.
"Oh?" The Dao Bearer's eyes lit up.
"The reason the Projection Pearl is unstable is because the man from the Guangwu Star Sea had already activated it with the intention of mutual destruction. The divine abilities within were already detonated. He just didn't expect someone capable of single-handedly suppressing them all."
"The purple-clad senior contained the exploding divine abilities within the pearl, but now that he's gone, his suppressing power won't last forever."
"I understand that, naturally," the Dao Bearer nodded slowly.
"So the key lies in the divine abilities recorded within the pearl. Senior Brother, are you reluctant to part with this treasure?" Li Fan asked suddenly.
The Dao Bearer chuckled. "What are you saying, Junior Brother? Although this item is extraordinary…"
"How can it compare to the Dao of traversing existence? Even with a thousand spells and countless Daos… can they cross existence?"
"They still perished within the Dao Obliteration." The Dao Bearer's understanding was clear.
Li Fan smiled. "Then it's simple. It's better to guide than to suppress. Our forceful containment will only backfire, making future eruptions even more violent. We should release the divine abilities within the pearl, gradually, of course."
The Dao Bearer stroked his beard, pondering for a moment. Then he frowned. "But the number of divine abilities and spells recorded within the Dao Chronicle Projection Pearl is simply too vast. Even if we release them at the maximum rate without affecting the surrounding Star Sea, we might not be able to alleviate the pressure before the pearl ultimately explodes."
Li Fan didn't answer directly. Instead, he gestured towards the desolate, lifeless Wall-Shuo Star Sea, shrouded in endless darkness.
"Senior Brother, don't you find this Star Sea a bit… deserted? Compared to the Immortal Realm in its prime?"
"It pales in comparison, of course." The Dao Bearer, quick-witted, caught on.
He asked, somewhat surprised, "Junior Brother, are you suggesting… distributing the divine abilities and spells within the Dao Chronicle Pearl to the beings of the Star Sea?"
"Precisely!" Li Fan clapped his hands with a smile.
"Although the Star Sea is barren now, given time and the right environment, their numbers can increase indefinitely. Absorbing the Dao Chronicle Projection Pearl will be a trivial matter for them."
"Moreover, the divine abilities recorded within can serve as keys to their cultivation. With a large enough population, we might even create a few Unnamed True Immortals."
The Dao Bearer stared at the Dao Chronicle Projection Pearl, clearly tempted. "This treasure also contains the Daos of other possibilities. If absorbed by this Star Sea, it might compensate for what it lacks."
"And we can also observe all the divine abilities within the pearl through the eyes of the countless beings of the Star Sea. Multiple benefits with one action." Li Fan added with a smile.
…
After a brief discussion, they finalized this "Dao Return" plan, a boon for all beings in the Star Sea. The key to its success was a sufficiently large population. This was no problem for Li Fan and the Dao Bearer.
Under the Dao Net, reproductive desires, conception rates, survival chances, and growth rates all increased several times over. Within the Wall, the Xuanhuang World and the Primordial Immortal Realm were also under their control. And with the Infinite Sea providing limitless energy, there was no concern about resource scarcity, no matter how large the population grew.
The total number of beings in the Wall-Shuo Star Sea skyrocketed.
Sixty years passed. When the total number of beings in the Dark Star Sea increased nearly a hundred thousandfold, Li Fan and the Dao Bearer slowed the pace.
The Dao Return plan wasn't just initiated now; it had been gradually implemented over these sixty years. With each birth, they channeled a randomly selected ripple of a Dao technique or divine ability from the Projection Pearl, merging it with the newborn life. Under their protection, these ripples wouldn't harm the fragile newborns. Instead, they became like innate divine abilities, imprinted deep within their souls, serving as guiding lights throughout their growth.
Of course, the quality of the divine abilities and spells recorded within the Dao Chronicle Projection varied. The power of each being's innate divine ability was different, an unavoidable consequence. However, it made little difference to Li Fan and the Dao Bearer who received which ability. Every action of every being participating in the Dao Return plan was under their control.
The Dao Bearer wasn't familiar with this, but Li Fan had ample experience from the Xuanhuang World, managing the process with ease. Reinforced by immortal formations, there was no risk of things getting out of control, no matter how many beings were involved.
"I didn't realize Junior Brother was so skilled in formations," the Dao Bearer said admiringly.
"It's nothing, just a side path I explored during my past cultivation," Li Fan said modestly.
"Don't be so humble, Junior Brother. Who knows, perhaps the Dao of Formations can also traverse existence?" The Dao Bearer was serious.
"I remember a formation in the Immortal Realm called 'Primordial Origin Spirit'. Even Master praised its ingenuity. It supposedly played a significant role in the Immortal Realm's expansion within the Upper Mountain."
The Dao Bearer's words caught Li Fan's attention.
"Primordial Origin Spirit…"
"I know parts of that formation, but I didn't think it possessed such power." Li Fan asked tentatively, showing the Dao Bearer five formation diagrams he knew, including "Desolate Fall" and "Flowers Bloom in Empty Chambers."
Though the Dao Bearer wasn't versed in formations, matters of the mortal realm rarely deviated far from the principles of existence. After careful study, he saw some of the underlying principles.
"Each formation on its own is limited in power. But when combined and layered, their power increases a hundredfold, a thousandfold."
"Just like the rapidly expanding population of the Star Sea."
"Moreover, if I recall correctly, the parts of the Primordial Origin Spirit formation you're missing are the most crucial." The Dao Bearer narrowed his eyes, projecting an image of the Primordial Origin Spirit formation in action.
(End of chapter)