Chapter 1000: Centennial Backup

What is cultivation? It is a concept that is somewhat abstract, yet it genuinely exists.

Each cultivator practices different techniques, but despite their varied paths, they ultimately achieve similar results. Nevertheless, their cultivation always carries the unique imprint of their specific method.

The three golden figures before Li Fan were human-sized. Like the glowing cube he had encountered earlier, they were pure creations formed from solidified cultivation, an immeasurable sum condensed to its utmost limit.

Not only that, Li Fan also keenly noticed that each of these three golden figures contained a distinct aura. Each was different, but they shared a significant characteristic: they resembled precise mechanical constructs, forming a unique structure. Li Fan was certain that if he inadvertently triggered a mechanism on any of the golden figures, they would likely carry out a predetermined task.

“There’s no trace of spiritual energy flowing within them. They are formed entirely by the stacking of cultivation itself,” Li Fan mused. “Is this designed for complete concealment? Such an exquisitely ingenious application is truly hard to imagine.”

Li Fan pondered for a moment, then projected a wisp of spiritual energy into the air and retreated to a safe distance. He then manipulated that wisp of spiritual energy like a fuse, forcefully driving it into one of the golden figures.

Like a pile of dynamite barrels suddenly exploding, an extremely violent and unstable aura erupted with a roar. The golden light quickly receded inward, with only an uncontrollable radiance still spilling from its eyes. Li Fan was then able to clearly see the golden figure’s appearance.

To his surprise, this golden figure, entirely constructed from pure cultivation, looked almost identical to the Dharma-Imparting Celestial Venerable! Or rather, it was built exactly like the Celestial Venerable statues found throughout the Myriad Immortals Alliance!

Upon awakening, the golden figure showed no trace of confusion. Following what appeared to be predetermined steps, its gaze swept over the materials stored within the space. Its hands made ethereal gestures in the air, and streams of golden light emanated from its body, flying toward various objects. After being touched by the golden light of cultivation, these previously inanimate objects seemed to suddenly gain sentience. They quickly and spontaneously assembled into a rough humanoid shape.

Having completed this, Golden Figure One looked at its two still-sleeping companions, shooting a beam of light from each eye onto them. Golden Figures Two and Three were then activated in succession.

Golden Figure Two shattered, transforming into a viscous golden liquid that flowed into the amorphous humanoid shape assembled by Golden Figure One. Golden Figure Three, meanwhile, transformed into a streak of light, burrowing out from beneath the ground and disappearing in an unknown direction.

After absorbing the golden liquid, the humanoid figure became significantly more vivid. However, it did not seem to have developed its own consciousness. It wasn't until a short while later that Golden Figure Three returned, inserting a black, continuously pulsating unknown object into it. An aura of life suddenly descended.

“Is this the Spirit Essence Sect Master’s backup plan for resurrection?” Li Fan, peeking from a distance, couldn't help but wonder to himself.

And as if to confirm Li Fan's conjecture, as the golden liquid underwent strange contortions and gradually solidified into a physical form, a somewhat bizarre, hoarse voice, like metal grating, emerged from underground: “I… am I dead?” The voice held a mix of confusion and indignation.

The Spirit Essence Sect Master looked at the two golden figures guarding him, showing a hint of surprise: “Figures of Creation? Did I actually manage to develop these things? Damn it…”

Having returned from the dead, the Spirit Essence Sect Master showed no joy; instead, he was filled with anxiety and unease. “According to the progress in my memory, it should have taken at least another hundred years of research to achieve a qualitative breakthrough.”

“Oh, right, there should be a time chronometer here.”

After some searching, the Spirit Essence Sect Master indeed found what he was looking for in a corner. After examining it, his expression drastically changed: “Three hundred and twenty-eight years later? So much time has passed, how could this memory backup still be restored?”

After a brief moment of panic, the young Spirit Essence Sect Master quickly calmed down. “Given my usual caution, it’s impossible that I didn’t back up my memories for over three hundred years. Yet, my revival still depended solely on me…”

“The only plausible explanation is that an unforeseen disaster occurred, destroying all memory backups from that point onward.”

“Hiss…” The Spirit Essence Sect Master gasped.

“It seems the Spirit Essence Sect must have been destroyed along with me. As expected, it’s too difficult to achieve great things with a rabble.”

As he spoke, perhaps to verify his conclusion, the Spirit Essence Sect Master began attempting to activate the All-Being Spirit Essence Cultivation. To his astonishment, the cultivation proceeded without any hindrance, exceptionally smoothly. At the same time, he vaguely sensed over a million people cultivating the All-Being Spirit Essence Cultivation simultaneously!

“What’s going on?” The Spirit Essence Sect Master was instantly unsettled. He furrowed his brow and paced back and forth. He eventually deduced a possibility: a traitor appeared within the sect, not only assassinating him but also deleting all his memory backups. Only the original backup, perhaps due to its extreme age, managed to remain safely preserved.

However, this deduction only made the Spirit Essence Sect Master more perplexed. “What on earth did I go through to trust an outsider so much? To leak even my deepest secrets. And then to trust the wrong person and be directly killed by them…”

The Spirit Essence Sect Master racked his brains but couldn't make sense of it. He finally let out a long sigh: “Until I figure out what exactly happened, I can only keep a low profile. But then again, I’ve always lived like this, so I’m used to it. After all the trouble of escaping to a cultivation world that survived, it turns out to be this dreadful state. Damn it…”

As the Spirit Essence Sect Master complained, his body, composed of parts and solidified cultivation, began to transform. His arm transformed into a long pipe, which pierced into the cube-shaped wall beneath his feet. The continuous golden flashes from the pipe indicated that the Spirit Essence Sect Master was absorbing the cultivation stored within the cube. His cultivation realm, which had been at the early Qi Condensation stage upon his revival, rapidly soared.

“Fortunately, over the years, I’ve accumulated a considerable amount of reserve cultivation,” he stated. “I should be able to restore my original strength soon.”

Just then, he was stunned to discover that he had suddenly lost control of his body. Realizing he was under attack, he immediately prepared to order the two golden figures to protect him. But before he could issue the command, he saw a stone statue, radiating an aura of divine compassion, take over his mind.

“Mortal World Compassion…”

His mind seized, all his thoughts were instantly interrupted. When he regained consciousness, he still didn’t know where he was. When he tried to contact the two guardian golden figures, he found he couldn't reach them at all.

The Spirit Essence Sect Master’s heart sank.