Li Fan sensed that Bai Li Shan was a more stable anchor point than Elder Song. This wasn't just because of their closer relationship, but because of the depth of Bai Li Shan's imprint on the river of time.
"Barring unforeseen circumstances, Elder Song will only reach Nascent Soul, ultimately perishing in the upcoming calamity, like countless others. But Bai Li Shan, with the Supreme Dao Scripture, will reach Dao Integration, leaving a far deeper mark on history."
Li Fan's vision pierced through the mists of time, glimpsing the future.
His theory confirmed, he abandoned his cautious approach, appearing frequently in public. As Bai Li Shan's star rose within the Evergreen Valley, Li Fan, as his close friend, attracted attention.
Compared to the rising prodigy, Li Fan was unremarkable. Most disciples couldn't understand their close bond. Failed attempts to sow discord between them led to the spread of unsavory rumors.
"Ignore those fools. We are not of their world," Bai Li Shan said dismissively. He was too engrossed in the Dao comprehension Li Fan shared through the Supreme Dao Scripture. "The Dao is vast. Different perspectives reveal different truths. Sharing our insights accelerates our cultivation exponentially."
Initially, he had seen Li Fan as a fellow keeper of secrets. But witnessing his rapid progress, he began to see him as a true companion on the path of cultivation.
"Rumors are like floodwaters. If left unchecked, they will only spread. I don't care, but as the chief disciple, you're destined to become Sect Master. These rumors could harm you in the future," Li Fan cautioned.
Bai Li Shan's expression faltered. After a moment of thought, he frowned. "You're right. I'll inform Master."
Li Fan shook his head. "Bai Li, you must understand your position. You're not begging to stay. They need you to stay. If you can't handle this yourself, then perhaps the Evergreen Valley isn't worth your time."
Bai Li Shan hesitated. Li Fan's words made sense, but they contradicted his ingrained habits.
Seeing his hesitation, Li Fan offered, "Don't worry, Senior Brother. Just continue being the brilliant chief disciple. I'll handle the unpleasantness."
Bai Li Shan stared at him, speechless.
Over the next few days, a wave of violence swept through the Evergreen Valley. Those who had spread the rumors were publicly executed, their bodies reduced to ashes. The rumors stopped instantly.
The Evergreen Valley's Sect Master and elders turned a blind eye to Li Fan's brutal actions, assuming Bai Li Shan, wanting to maintain his image, had ordered him to act. Compared to Bai Li Shan's future, the lives of a few rumor-mongers were insignificant. There were no repercussions. The sect leadership even publicly supported their actions.
The incident faded, but the image of Li Fan's ruthlessness remained etched in the disciples' minds.
"This method of establishing anchor points… is effective. Even more so than conventional methods." Within his secluded chamber, Li Fan sensed his connection to this time solidifying. A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.
"This can be used occasionally, but not as a primary method. Anchor points must be based on existing connections. Eliminating everyone, or having too few connections, weakens the effect."
He stood up, testing the stability of his anchor points, nodding in satisfaction.
"Though the Evergreen Valley is a small sect, its influence spans a vast area. My notoriety is now widespread. This should be enough for now."
He didn't intend to stay long. He had learned more about the Ten Sects' ongoing war.
Their enemy was a cultivation world called Taiyuan. Compared to the Xuanhuang World, Taiyuan was far larger and more powerful. Initially, the Ten Immortal Sects hadn't taken them seriously, expecting a swift victory.
As predicted, the Taiyuan World suffered heavy losses in the initial surprise attack, several major sects nearly annihilated. The survivors united in a desperate resistance.
The Ten Sects, focused on plundering Taiyuan's resources, initially ignored this ragtag resistance. But they underestimated their enemy. The resistance grew rapidly, inflicting heavy casualties on the Xuanhuang World's forces, even launching a counterattack into the Xuanhuang World itself.
Their success was due to a world-protecting immortal artifact: the Taiyuan Chaos Furnace.
According to information obtained at great cost, the furnace could revive any cultivator who fell in the Taiyuan World. The world itself was said to have been created as a testing ground for the furnace. After the Immortal Realm's destruction, the furnace had been seized by its test subjects.
Faced with an endlessly respawning enemy, the Ten Sects' morale plummeted. They considered abandoning the invasion.
But Qu Yi Xing, Sect Master of the First Beginning Sect, saw through the deception. The information about the Taiyuan Chaos Furnace had been deliberately leaked to discourage them.
While the furnace could revive cultivators, immortal artifacts required spiritual qi to function. The Taiyuan World had no True Immortals. The furnace, like the artifacts left behind in the Xuanhuang World, likely had limited uses.
Each revival depleted its power.
Having invested so much in the invasion, could they give up now? Besides, if the furnace truly possessed such power, capturing it would allow them to revive their own fallen comrades.
Both logic and greed dictated they continue.
They committed more forces, hoping to outlast Taiyuan. But they had miscalculated the furnace's remaining power. Waves of Taiyuan cultivators were revived, seemingly without end.
The war reached a stalemate.
Li Fan's expression turned grim as he processed this information.
"Not True Immortals… unaware of the infinite nature of immortal spiritual power. Choosing to throw lives away…"
Not all cultivation worlds were like the Xuanhuang World, a closely monitored testing ground within the Lankedao Domain, its artifacts mere imitations. Applying the Xuanhuang World's logic to other worlds was a mistake.
He was curious about the Taiyuan World's location. As Shou Qiu Gong's disciple, he had accessed the highest levels of the Lankedao Domain, but he hadn't encountered the Taiyuan World among the countless testing grounds.
"Either it was conquered and destroyed by the Xuanhuang World at this point in time, or it's outside the High Wall."
He had observed the Star-Crossing Grand Formation's golden chain while at the Great Dao Sect. Perhaps it was powerful enough to breach the High Wall.
"But it's being forcefully activated, at a cost. It's nearing its limit. They only have one chance. No wonder the Ten Sects are so desperate."
"Their luck is truly terrible. An artifact capable of endless revivals…" Such an artifact was a treasure even in the former Immortal Realm, crafted by the ruling Immortal Emperor and bestowed upon regional governors.
"Could it be… another legacy of a Hidden Emperor?" He looked towards the faint image of the Star-Crossing Grand Formation in the sky, lost in thought.
"In these dire times, someone must step forward to turn the tide…" A plan formed in his mind.
After sending a message to Bai Li Shan, he set off.
Joining the war effort wasn't difficult. Short on manpower, the Ten Sects were conscripting cultivators. With a token from the Evergreen Valley's Sect Master, he arrived at the Supreme Being Sect. It was even more impressive than in the painting, countless peaks suspended in the sky, forming a grand formation. The disciples seemed like celestial beings, looking down upon the mortal world.
But the sect felt strangely empty.
"You're volunteering?" Duan Yuxiao, a Deity Transformation cultivator, looked at him in surprise. He examined Li Fan, comparing him to the description provided by Zou Yunhao, and his doubts vanished.
"Good! In these times, when even mentioning war makes cultivators tremble, we need examples like you! Rest assured, the Ten Sects will reward you handsomely!"
"Follow me."
He led Li Fan to the sect's treasury, gesturing towards the vast collection of techniques and artifacts. "Choose three."
"If you return alive, I'll recommend you to the Sect Master as a direct disciple!"
Li Fan bowed slightly and began browsing. This was clearly the outer layer of the treasury. Though impressive to cultivators below Deity Transformation, it held nothing of interest to him. There were no hidden treasures to be found.
He casually selected a technique and two artifacts, then Duan Yuxiao personally escorted him to the battlefield.
The Supreme Being Sect also had a golden chain connected to the Star-Crossing Grand Formation, but it seemed far more unstable than the one he had seen before, nearing its breaking point.
Duan Yuxiao, oblivious to the danger, led him through the chain, into the Taiyuan World.
The moment he arrived, Li Fan sensed the subtle flow of immortal spiritual qi.
"Without the Grand Celestial Venerable interfering, there should be no resistance to my comprehension."
He focused on the world's Daos, then frowned slightly. Though better than the Xuanhuang World, the situation wasn't ideal. The Daos here were dense and intertwined, almost like a single, unified entity.
He felt as if he were facing an Unnamed True Immortal who had mastered Dao Integration!
"And these Daos… are completely unfamiliar. Not even my Myriad Manifestations Dao Net encompasses them…" He was intrigued.
Duan Yuxiao, however, wasn't as pleased. He seemed to sense something amiss, his expression grim. He grabbed Li Fan and flew towards a structure on the ground.
It was the ruined remnants of a Taiyuan sect, now occupied by the Xuanhuang World's forces, bearing the scars of countless battles.
"Duan, what are you doing here?" a surprised voice called out. It was a female cultivator, radiating a potent, bloody aura.
Though her appearance was ordinary, her fierce gaze was unforgettable.
Duan Yuxiao explained the situation, gesturing towards Li Fan.
The female cultivator nodded. "Though his cultivation is low, his presence will boost morale."
"How is the battle progressing?" Duan Yuxiao asked.
(End of Chapter)