Even a tiny ripple from the river of time was more powerful than any Heavenly Tribulation in the mortal realm. While the Xuanhuang World remained undisturbed, Li Fan felt as if space itself was being violently folded, the sharp creases like countless blades slicing through his body and soul.
Though not his first encounter with such temporal turbulence, he still paled.
Instinctively, he invoked the Interplay of Truth and Illusion, attempting to simulate the protection of Illusion Becomes Reality. His recently recovered Dao Integration cultivation, and the accompanying improvement in his understanding of the Interplay of Truth and Illusion, made the simplified technique slightly more effective. Like a straw cloak in a storm, it offered minimal protection, allowing him to move and discern direction.
The ripples from the river of time showed no signs of abating, seemingly intent on persisting until the disturbance he had caused subsided. He was like a butterfly in a hurricane, constantly on the verge of being torn apart.
Desperately, he searched for a solution. He remembered his near-fatal journey upstream, his eventual landing guided by the familiar light of the Medicine King Cauldron.
"Even in this time, I'm adrift, without roots. To survive these temporal ripples, I need an anchor point, a connection to this era, like clinging to a rock in a raging river."
As the spatial distortions intensified, movement became increasingly difficult. He had no time to waste. He instantly identified the strongest anchor point available:
"If Lei Fanzi hadn't attacked me, the Great Dao Sect would have been ideal. But the identity I assumed is now dead."
He raced back to the Evergreen Valley, his Dao Integration speed far exceeding his Golden Core pace. The month-long journey was now instantaneous.
He sensed Elder Song's presence and descended silently, suppressing his aura.
"Elder Song, it's me!" he called out, struggling against the temporal ripples.
"You are…?" Elder Song narrowed his eyes, studying him with confusion. The simplified Illusion Becomes Reality had prevented him from recognizing Li Fan.
Without a solid anchor point, the temporal ripples intensified, threatening to engulf him. In that moment of crisis, he remembered the artifact Elder Song had given him. Fortunately, his frugal nature had prevented him from discarding the seemingly useless trinket.
Now, it was his lifeline.
Though he didn't recognize Li Fan, Elder Song recognized his own creation. The connection clicked.
"Oh, it's you."
With those words, Li Fan's existence in this time was solidified. He fell back into reality, the temporal ripples receding. The remaining disturbances were manageable.
Having narrowly escaped oblivion, Li Fan coughed slightly and approached the elder. "Yesterday, during a battle, this artifact saved my life. I came to thank you, Elder Song." He subtly created a crack in the artifact and, quickly condensing the surrounding spiritual qi into a high-grade spirit stone, offered it to the elder.
Elder Song, a mere Nascent Soul cultivator, couldn't detect Li Fan's manipulation.
He accepted the spirit stone with a smile. "How thoughtful of you."
The connection between them strengthened, and Li Fan felt the temporal ripples weaken further. The immediate crisis was averted.
"Relax. Loyal and respectful disciples like you are rare in the Evergreen Valley," Elder Song said, noticing Li Fan's emotional fluctuations. His words were both comforting and a genuine lament.
"Since your artifact is damaged, I'll give you another. But don't go looking for trouble. These are turbulent times. Focus on your cultivation." He retrieved another artifact, or rather, a magical treasure, from his storage ring. It was a simple, dark golden bronze bell, clearly superior to the previous gift.
He looked at the bell with a wistful expression. "This bell served me well for many years. But its materials limit its potential, and it's no longer useful to me. I'll give it to you. It can withstand attacks from cultivators below Nascent Soul."
Li Fan accepted the bell gratefully, instantly refining it. He wasn't interested in its defensive capabilities, but in its connection to time. Bound to Elder Song for most of his life, and now refined by Li Fan, it formed a new anchor point.
The temporal ripples vanished completely. He had survived the first backlash from altering history.
"I will repay your kindness, Elder Song!" Li Fan said earnestly.
"Your gratitude is enough," the elder replied, then left.
Li Fan found a courtyard within the Evergreen Valley and settled in. He refined the bronze bell further. For him, material limitations were irrelevant. With his formation skills, he could transform any object into a treasure rivaling an immortal artifact.
As he worked, he reflected on his recklessness.
"Traveling upstream to another time… you mustn't become rootless, like a tree without soil, or water without a source."
"It's not that you can't change history. The river of time is vast, filled with infinite possibilities. But you must be able to withstand the consequences."
"Besides strength, the key is anchor points, connections to people and events within that time."
"The Tai Heavenly Emperor's inheritance… lacked this crucial information…"
He considered this, dismissing the possibility of deliberate sabotage.
"The Tai Heavenly Emperor only reversed a few tens of thousands of years, and he was an Immortal Emperor. The countless True Immortals under his rule served as his anchor points. He didn't need to worry about the river's turbulence."
"The same applies to the Profound Heaven King. He had the countless beings under the Profound Heaven Sect's rule, and the Dharma Kings, some of whom were suspected reincarnations of Unnamed True Immortals."
"But I… both in the future and now… am alone."
"No wonder the river of time was so turbulent."
Understanding this, he breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't feel self-pity. If he lacked anchor points, he would create them.
"First, I'll secure my existence in this time. Then, I'll consider my next move."
The following day, Bai Li Shan displayed his might, repelling a group of rogue cultivators attempting to seize the Medicine King Sect's territory.
"Masterful, Senior Brother!"
"With such power, he's close to Nascent Soul! A blessing for our Evergreen Valley!"
"Hmph, perhaps the Evergreen Valley is too small for him."
"Nonsense! Bai Li Shan wouldn't abandon us!"
The Evergreen Valley disciples whispered amongst themselves.
Bai Li Shan, seemingly oblivious to their comments, returned to report to Sect Master Zou Yunhao.
"Master, you are like a father to me. The Evergreen Valley is my home. Even if I reach Nascent Soul, Deity Transformation, or even Dao Integration, I will never leave," he declared firmly.
Zou Yunhao nodded, pleased, but also slightly disappointed. "With your talent, Bai Li, you would have a brighter future in the Ten Immortal Sects. You could even compete with the best in the world. Staying in the Evergreen Valley…"
"Master," Bai Li Shan said proudly, "even if I stay here forever, I won't be inferior to those so-called prodigies of the Ten Sects!"
Zou Yunhao sighed, assuming it was youthful arrogance, a lack of understanding of the Ten Sects' true power. He remembered Bai Li Shan's nervous, watchful demeanor when he had first taken him in.
"We rarely have such a promising disciple. I can't let him stagnate. Perhaps this trip to the Supreme Being Sect will open new doors for him. True cultivation lies within the Ten Sects. Everything else is… unorthodox." He sighed internally.
Bai Li Shan was unaware of his master's thoughts. His confidence stemmed from the Supreme Dao Scripture. He had only glimpsed a fraction of its power, and his cultivation had already soared.
"If I can fully comprehend it, I might even reach True Immortal! The Ten Immortal Sects… insignificant!" Staying in the Evergreen Valley, where he was trusted implicitly, was safer than risking exposure in the Ten Sects.
Returning to his courtyard, preparing to study the Supreme Dao Scripture, he was startled to find someone waiting for him.
"Who are you?" Assuming his secret was out, he attacked without hesitation, his Evergreen spiritual qi forming a healing blade.
"Senior Brother, you have a poor memory. You've forgotten me, but surely you haven't forgotten the Supreme Dao Scripture I gave you?" Li Fan smiled, effortlessly deflecting the attack.
The words "Supreme Dao Scripture" triggered Bai Li Shan's fading memory.
"It's you?!" A mix of killing intent, fear, and confusion flashed across his face.
"Don't overthink it, Senior Brother. Look at this." Li Fan opened his hand, revealing another Supreme Dao Scripture disc.
Bai Li Shan checked his own storage, relieved to find his disc still there. He wasn't foolish. After a moment of thought, he understood.
"You… found two?"
"Exactly! You're truly insightful, Senior Brother." Li Fan clapped his hands. "I knew it was a treasure, but I couldn't unlock its secrets. So I gave one to you. And your progress over the past month confirms my suspicions."
"Are they identical?" Bai Li Shan asked, studying Li Fan intently.
"I'm not sure. But I suspect so. Take a look." He offered the disc to Bai Li Shan.
After a moment of hesitation, Bai Li Shan accepted it and examined it carefully.
"You're right. It's identical to mine," he confirmed, returning the disc.
"Please, Senior Brother, teach me how to use it."
Bai Li Shan explained his limited understanding. Li Fan listened intently, holding his disc, his eyes closed. Moments later, he opened them, a manic glint within them.
"So simple! Striving is unnecessary. One simply needs to follow the Dao."
Bai Li Shan snorted dismissively.
"What are your plans, Senior Brother?" Li Fan asked with a smile. "With such a treasure, you could go anywhere in the world."
Sharing the secret of the Supreme Dao Scripture created a bond between them. Though he still looked down on Li Fan, Bai Li Shan, fearing exposure, warned, "With the Supreme Dao Scripture, we can cultivate anywhere. But we are still weak. If our secret is revealed, we won't be able to protect ourselves."
As he continued his cautionary words, Li Fan felt a new anchor point forming in this time, solidifying his existence.
(End of Chapter)