The current Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao hadn't yet been warped by the Legacy Transmission's new cultivation methods. With the Immortal Realm destroyed, this was the Heavenly Dao's strongest era. While it might not detect Li Fan as being from the future, it recognized him as an outsider. His attempts to comprehend its Daos were met with resistance.
However, Li Fan's level of cultivation, even weakened by the river of time, transcended such limitations. He had countless ways to overcome the Heavenly Dao's resistance.
"The Heavenly Dao's rejection hinders my cultivation, making it twice as difficult. But the solution is simple. If the heavens won't provide, I'll take it myself!"
With his vast experience in new cultivation methods, he could forcefully comprehend the Heavenly Dao even with a mortal body. The Legacy Transmission Celestial Venerable should only be at the Immortal Venerable stage now. If Li Fan achieved Longevity before him, he could usurp his position, becoming the new Legacy Transmission Celestial Venerable!
But this carried significant risk.
The Legacy Transmission was the Healer, using the Celestial Demon, inhabiting the body of Xuanyuan Tuo, a native of the Xuanhuang World. When the Ten Immortal Sects investigated his identity, this disguise initially misled them, giving the Legacy Transmission time to rise. But if Li Fan, a complete outsider, revealed himself, he would face their combined wrath. Until he recovered his strength, he couldn't risk confronting them.
"Besides, the new cultivation method is flawed. Even at its peak, it's only powerful within the Xuanhuang World. Outside, its power diminishes significantly. It's far inferior to my Myriad Manifestations Dao Net."
"Unfortunately…" he sighed. Not only had he lost the insights that formed the Dao Net, requiring him to rebuild it from scratch, but the core power of the Mo Annihilation Immortal Soul had been washed away by the Mountain and Sea fusion.
"But I can perhaps use Illusion Becomes Reality to manifest it, without having to elevate the Xuanhuang World into a new Immortal Realm."
So, it all came back to comprehending the Xuanhuang World's Daos. Only then could he utilize his various techniques.
"The resistance is so strong, even absorbing spiritual qi is a struggle. It's no easier than when I first started cultivating. But traces of the Dao of Longevity remain within me. Perhaps I can use that as a starting point."
As he resumed his cultivation, the Heavenly Dao's intense rejection filled him with both rage and confusion. It felt like more than just instinctive xenophobia.
"This isn't just the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao acting alone. It's like someone is controlling it." He looked up, a realization dawning.
"Who could it be? Who controls the Heavenly Dao's consciousness at this point in time…?" Several figures flashed through his mind, stopping at a specific scene from a past simulation: the moment he had elevated the Xuanhuang World into a new Immortal Realm.
Even with the boundless life force from the Star Sea, it hadn't been enough. He had summoned the imprints of past Grand Celestial Venerables of the Xuanhuang World, eight figures in total.
The last was the Unnamed Grand Celestial Venerable, whom he had helped install. Before the Unnamed One was Su Bai. And before Su Bai…
Not the Profound Heaven King.
Between the King and Su Bai was a mysterious figure, their face a blank void. This Grand Celestial Venerable seemed to have appeared and vanished without a trace, leaving behind only their imprint, which Li Fan had been unable to decipher.
"This is before Su Bai's enlightenment and ascension. This must be when he was in control," Li Fan mused. "It's a Grand Celestial Venerable's duty to repel outside threats and instruct the Heavenly Dao accordingly. But this means every attempt to comprehend the Dao is dangerous."
Though he hadn't been discovered yet, each attempt was like sending a beacon, especially as his cultivation grew. At Nascent Soul or Deity Transformation, it would be impossible to hide. He would inevitably attract the attention of this mysterious Grand Celestial Venerable.
He wasn't necessarily doomed. He could explain he was from the future, tasked with saving the world. Given the high moral standards required for the position, the Grand Celestial Venerable might spare him.
But he wouldn't risk it. Entrusting his life to another's morality wasn't his style.
"I didn't expect simple cultivation to be so complicated," he sighed, rubbing his temples. "I wonder how others who traveled upstream handled this."
After careful consideration, he decided on his approach. If he couldn't directly comprehend the Heavenly Dao, he would borrow others' understanding. With the Evergreen Valley on the brink of conflict, it was the perfect opportunity for a test.
Using his simplified Illusion Becomes Reality, he "borrowed" materials from the sect's storehouse and tricked Wang Yi, a formation master, into crafting a hundred small discs.
"Brother Ping, what are these for? They're neither defensive nor offensive," Wang Yi asked, wiping his brow, puzzled.
Li Fan ignored him, subtly altering his memories.
"Who are you? Get out of my workshop! Don't disturb my research!" Wang Yi shooed him away.
Formation masters were rare in the Evergreen Valley, which focused mainly on alchemy. Wang Yi, holding a high position, was accustomed to ordering around junior disciples like Li Fan.
Li Fan left, leaving a confused and exhausted Wang Yi behind.
Back in his room, he laid out the discs and, using spirit stones, began modifying them.
Hours later, the plain discs were transformed. Each now bore the inscription "Supreme Dao Scripture" in characters resembling True Immortal script, surrounded by intricate patterns of flowers and mythical beasts. And within the background, barely visible, was the faint outline of the Mountain and Sea.
After completing the hundred discs, Li Fan had exhausted his spirit stones and was near collapse. This was partly due to his mortal body forcefully manipulating materials, but mainly because these "Supreme Dao Scriptures" represented the pinnacle of his current formation skills, surpassing countless generations, rivaling even immortal formations despite being crafted in the mortal realm.
The loss of his Dao comprehension had severely weakened his formation skills, but his knowledge remained. He had used Wang Yi to create basic formations, then combined and refined them into these powerful discs.
Though small, each disc held immense power. Most importantly, they served as communication devices, connecting directly to Li Fan, even across vast distances.
The name "Supreme Dao Scripture," though exaggerated, wasn't entirely false. Anyone possessing a disc could seek answers to their cultivation questions, and Li Fan, having lived countless lives, achieved True Immortal, and experienced the fusion of Mountain and Sea, Longevity, and True Return, could answer any question within Primordial Possibility, let alone the Xuanhuang World.
Essentially, each disc granted its owner a personal tutor of unparalleled knowledge.
If not for his current predicament, Li Fan wouldn't have resorted to this mutually beneficial method.
After resting briefly, he began his plan, distributing the discs gradually. Quality over quantity was key.
"Friend, wait!"
Bai Li Shan, the Evergreen Valley's chief disciple, turned around, seeing a cultivator leading him to a secluded corner.
"You are…?" He recognized the cultivator vaguely, likely a fellow disciple, but couldn't place him.
His attention, however, was drawn to the disc the cultivator offered.
"This is the Supreme Dao Scripture, a treasure of immense power. Though I obtained it, I am unworthy of its wisdom. I offer it to you, Senior Brother," Li Fan whispered.
Bai Li Shan was amused. A mere Qi Refinement cultivator offering him a treasure? But the name "Supreme Dao Scripture" was intriguing. He examined the disc, captivated by its intricate patterns. When he looked up, the cultivator was gone.
"His name…"
"What was it?" He frowned, realizing he couldn't remember.
(End of Chapter)