Chapter 1239

A Gift from Mr. Bai

"Against reason, against reason..."

"Could it really be like this?"

Elder Yin stood frozen for a long time, then began to tremble uncontrollably where he stood.

Xu Ke's aged face was also filled with excitement: "No wonder Mr. Bai always told me back then that I only needed to wait."

"Beyond the self-salvation brought by the descent of the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao, countless mortals have consistently embarked on the path of cultivation. The very act of cultivating reverses the principle of the Immortal-Mortal Miasma. Over thousands of years, this has steadily accumulated..."

The Faceless Holy Emperor's voice was low and thoughtful: "Counter-intuitively, removing the Immortal-Mortal Miasma—a seemingly simple task for cultivators, an initial step and prerequisite for cultivation—is, in essence, identical to achieving eternal Dao, the ultimate goal of cultivation. Both processes involve reversing the principles of heaven and earth."

At these words, Elder Yin and Xu Ke both showed incredibly complex expressions in their eyes.

Elder Yin said, "If Heavenly Venerate Nilu were still alive, it would be far from easy for the mortals of the Xuanhuang Realm to defy the natural order again and embark on the path of cultivation. But precisely because Mr. Bai has already perished, the restrictions of the Immortal-Mortal Miasma have been greatly weakened."

Li Ping then interjected, "Moreover, Heavenly Venerate Dongji also deciphered this mystery. With the so-called Pure Body Spirit Pool formation, he further reduced the difficulty of reversing the principles."

Xu Ke's lips trembled slightly, and it took him a while to utter with difficulty, "When I last saw Mr. Bai, I recognized the death wish in his heart. I couldn't come to terms with it all these years, but now, I might finally understand a little."

Elder Yin, meanwhile, fell back into a trance of muttering: "Everyone in the world is defying the natural order, but frankly, this is still within the cultivation system established by the Dao Transmitters. Even if we know this, what good does it do? There must be something we haven't thought of yet..."

Li Ping, however, stated confidently, "The answer should lie within the Immortal-Mortal Miasma. When it comes to research on the Immortal-Mortal Miasma, I doubt anyone in the Xuanhuang Realm today has delved deeper than you. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you, my friend, to work a little harder."

"Although there are no longer any mortals containing the Immortal-Mortal Miasma within the Grand Qi territory, it won't be difficult to find some for research from the conquered smaller worlds. I will ensure full cooperation for you," Li Ping said to Elder Yin.

"Rest assured, Holy Emperor," Elder Yin suddenly became excited.

Meanwhile, in the Myriad Immortals Alliance's Derivation Jade space.

After the Saint Embryo saw the Great Wall of the Fragmented World, Li Fan's true self, whose heart had been calm, felt ripples once again.

"Reversing the principles of heaven and earth again? Immortal-Mortal Miasma..."

Li Fan suddenly recalled his experience of removing the Immortal-Mortal Miasma in the Pure Body Spirit Pool formation on Liuli Island.

The lava-like scorching pool water ravaged his consciousness. Even with a firm resolve, he eventually fell into a state of unconsciousness.

His mind was blank, acting solely on instinct.

Before entering the spirit pool, Li Fan, who had been practicing the Xuanhuang Clear Mind Incantation day and night, instinctively reactivated this technique.

As he finally completely removed the miasma from his body, Li Fan also inexplicably comprehended an advanced, sublimated version of the Xuanhuang Clear Mind Incantation: the Xuanhuang Tempering Heart Incantation.

Later, it evolved into the current Xuanhuang Immortal Heart Incantation, a technique that has provided immense help to Li Fan throughout his journey.

"The suffering within the Pure Body Spirit Pool is beyond what ordinary people can endure. There's a high probability of directly falling into a coma, and even if one remains conscious, the extreme pain leaves no room for any other thoughts."

"Embrace the unity of spirit and body, cleanse the profound vision, emulate nature..."

With his eyes tightly closed, a flash of insight suddenly struck Li Fan.

"Humanity unites with the Dao. Instinctive actions performed without conscious thought are precisely what come closest to the Dao. This might be why so many mortals in the world have successfully removed the Immortal-Mortal Miasma and rearranged the principles of heaven and earth."

"However, in reality, this is not a complete reversal of principles. The lack of a qualitative leap in power after removing the Immortal-Mortal Miasma demonstrates this."

Li Fan pondered deeply.

"Firstly, because the Immortal-Mortal Miasma wasn't removed entirely through one's own power, and secondly..."

The Dao Transformation Stone glowed in his mind, and Li Fan revisited his instantaneous realization from back then, savoring it repeatedly.

He mused, "When the Immortal-Mortal Miasma was finally removed... It was as if it just disappeared on its own. It was as if it sensed my operation of the Xuanhuang Clear Mind Incantation and spontaneously generated the evolving Tempering Heart Incantation. Did it trigger some kind of condition?"

Li Fan also recalled the images of Dongji before his death, transmitted by Heavenly Venerate Zhenshi.

"The secret to reversing the principles of heaven and earth again is hidden within the Immortal-Mortal Miasma."

Before Li Fan's eyes, it was as if he saw countless mortals, over thousands of years, breaking the immortal-mortal shackles and defying the established methods to embark on the path of cultivation.

"The birth of every cultivator involved a process akin to reversing the principles of heaven and earth again."

"Even if they themselves were completely unaware, this truly and undoubtedly occurred."

"To reverse the principles of heaven and earth again is tantamount to directly confronting the Dao Transmitters and completely overthrowing the cultivation system they personally shaped. Even geniuses like Mr. Bai and Dongji ultimately failed. This clearly shows the immense difficulty. But..."

Li Fan suddenly realized.

He thought of his own repeated reincarnation simulations.

"The process of every mortal fighting against the Immortal-Mortal Miasma can be seen as a simulation of reversing the principles of heaven and earth again."

"The power of one person might have its limits. The power of millions also has its boundaries. But the power of millions, over countless eons, is endless and inexhaustible."

"In the face of such immense power, the Dao Transmitters' new method being broken is merely a matter of time."

Li Fan's heart trembled: "The myriad spirits of heaven and earth, the refining of divine consciousness by all beings, shakes the extraordinary power of immortals through sheer quantity."

"Endless beings, forever defying methods—this amplifies the advantage of quantity across the scale of time, leading from quantitative change to qualitative transformation..."

"As long as there are beings in the Xuanhuang Realm unwilling to accept a mortal fate, this method will continue indefinitely."

Li Fan's thoughts raced, and he felt even more heartfelt respect for Mr. Bai, who had created such a brilliant method.

Ignoring the limits of lifespan, his methods remained effective even after his death, crossing the river of time to influence events years later.

Unlike Li Fan, who possessed the True Reversion Supreme Treasure, this was already the limit of what ordinary mortal cultivators could achieve.

Of course, for Li Fan, this held little practical significance for his own methods.

What Mr. Bai needed to accomplish with the help of thousands of years of cultivators in the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan could achieve simply by continuously performing True Reversion.

But this did not prevent Li Fan from claiming Mr. Bai's achievements.

"In my opinion, the so-called secret of reversing the principles of heaven and earth again, hidden within the Immortal-Mortal Miasma, is the accumulated insights of countless cultivators over countless years as they removed the Immortal-Mortal Miasma."

"All of them have been recorded and preserved."

"If one could absorb these countless simulated experiences, each akin to reversing the principles of heaven and earth again..."

Li Fan prided himself on being able to disregard most treasures in the Xuanhuang Realm, even the cat treasures from beyond the high wall. Yet, he had to admit that upon realizing these countless experiences of defying principles, his heart was stirred.

Unlike magical artifacts, this "experience package" was something that could directly enhance the essence of Li Fan's divine soul.

It was enough to significantly narrow the gap between him and the Dao Transmitters, as well as the Heavenly Physician.

Although it was a one-time gain, it was of great significance to Li Fan, and the sooner he found it, the better.

"At the very least, it could save me three lifetimes of reincarnation time."

Li Fan began to calculate in his mind.

"So, where exactly did Mr. Bai hide this grand package?"

"Is it in the Fallen Immortal Mirror, or within the power of the Immortal-Mortal Miasma itself? Does it require any special conditions to be triggered?"

If it weren't for the established strategy of "sitting on the mountain and watching the tigers fight" this lifetime, Li Fan would have yearned to send his true self to investigate immediately.

However, years of experience helped him suppress this impulse.

"With Elder Yin and Xu Ke diligently researching, it's definitely more efficient than me fumbling around blindly."

"Once they know, it's as good as me knowing. After all, it will ultimately be mine, so there's no need to rush."

"I can also see how substantial this grand package truly is. After the Holy Emperor's clone absorbs it, will it truly be able to shake the Dao Transmitters?"

"Heh heh heh, it certainly makes me somewhat anticipate it."

Li Fan, who often felt bored from prolonged seclusion in the Derivation Jade space, now felt a surge of excitement.

The perspective shifted back to the Holy Emperor's clone.

Unraveling the mystery of Mr. Bai's legacy was not something that could be accomplished in a day.

Before that, the time Li Ping had agreed upon with Ruomu had already arrived.

The Holy Emperor once again arrived outside the White Flower Black Abyss.

He did not grow careless despite having an absolute advantage; to prevent Ruomu from acting desperately, a layer of refined source power quietly formed a protective barrier around him.

Only then did Li Ping step back into the Life-Frying Space.

Perhaps due to Li Ping's previous nourishment, or because Ruomu itself had seen hope.

In the previously desolate and despair-filled withered yellow space, Li Ping surprisingly sensed faint traces of vitality this time.

Although extremely weak, the mere appearance of this vitality, which should not have existed, already indicated certain things.

Li Ping also noticed something different from before.

The cultivators hanging from Ruomu's branches... had all disappeared.

"Greetings, Holy Emperor."

The old Daoist priest appeared before Li Ping with a smiling face.

Ruomu noticed the direction of the other party's gaze, and without waiting for Li Ping to ask, he proactively explained, "Since I have decided to pledge allegiance to you, I naturally must make some changes. It's better to abandon the helpless rage of the past. And truth be told, I've grown a bit tired of seeing these 'human flesh fruits'."

Li Ping said calmly, "Where are they now?"

Ruomu chuckled, "Naturally, I've returned them to the heavens."

Saying this, Ruomu handed over a leaf.

The leaf was mottled green and yellow, and upon closer inspection, it contained a universe within. It was filled with a small mountain of various Golden Cores.

These Golden Cores appeared to be dissolving, incomplete and fragmented.

Li Ping could vaguely discern the appearance of heavenly and earthly wonders within the cores of the Golden Cores.

"I was originally a spirit of heaven and earth, holding the authority over life and death in Xuanhuang. Although that authority has gradually been reclaimed, my connection with heaven and earth has never truly been severed."

Ruomu glanced at Li Ping and continued, "Through my absorption and transformation, these powers of heaven and earth, which were consumed by cultivators, can be returned to heaven and earth more quickly. As you can see, I haven't embezzled anything."

Li Ping withdrew his gaze from the leaf: "I trust you aren't that foolish. Compared to my rewards, these are utterly insignificant."

Ruomu nodded repeatedly in agreement.

"Come here," Li Ping suddenly commanded.

The old Daoist priest hesitated for a moment, but eventually walked slowly to stand before the Faceless Holy Emperor.

Compared to Li Ping's massive body, roughly thirty-three feet tall, the stooped Daoist priest appeared like an infant.

Li Ping gently placed his palm on Ruomu's head.

The scene before Ruomu's eyes shattered instantly.

In an instant, it was as if he had left the Life-Frying Space and arrived in the endless dark starry sky.

A golden vortex, like a galaxy, majestically spiraled.

And in the center of the galaxy, the majestic figure of the Faceless Holy Emperor could vaguely be seen.

That powerful and sacred aura seemed even superior to the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao that Ruomu was familiar with.

As one of the oldest existences in the Xuanhuang Realm, Ruomu naturally understood the meaning of such power.

The last bit of dissatisfaction in his heart slowly vanished.

Ruomu revealed its true form, no longer the unsightly old human Daoist, but a withered, yellow, seemingly malnourished small sapling.

Before the vast golden-yellow swirling galaxy, it was like an ant.

Its branches and leaves gently swayed, a gesture from Ruomu signifying submission.

The Faceless Holy Emperor's figure rapidly expanded, instantly filling Ruomu's entire vision.

The golden galaxy also exploded with a rumble.

Endless starlight engulfed Ruomu.

When Ruomu awoke from the illusion, Li Ping's figure had already vanished.

"Wait patiently. When you are needed, you will be summoned."

Only Li Ping's voice continued to echo in his mind.

And Li Ping's promise from before had not been broken.

Ruomu clearly felt that its bond with the Xuanhuang Realm was slowly recovering.

Although returning to its former peak state was no longer possible, there was, at least, hope.

Moreover...

Ruomu looked at its palm.

Besides the original green leaf, a small green bottle had appeared at some unknown time.

It was clearly left by the Faceless Holy Emperor before he departed.

A method for controlling the restriction naturally appeared in his mind, and Ruomu, following the pattern, opened the small green bottle.

A surge of pure vitality emerged from the green bottle.

Even if it couldn't compare to nourishment directly from the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao, for Ruomu in its current state, it was an absolute tonic.

Ruomu greedily swallowed all the vitality from the green bottle in one gulp.

It only reluctantly stopped when not another drop could be poured out.

However, Ruomu noticed that the vitality in the small green bottle had not completely disappeared.

Instead, it was slowly generating on its own.

What astonished Ruomu even more was that the small green bottle was not drawing any energy from the outside world for this vitality generation.

It was as if the vitality was entirely derived from the bottle itself.

"This is truly a good treasure."

Ruomu smacked its lips in a rather undignified manner.

"It doesn't seem to be something from the Xuanhuang Realm..."

Ruomu mused for a moment, then gave a self-deprecating smile.

"Why bother with so many questions? As long as there's something to eat and drink. It can't get any worse than before, right?"

Only after losing something does one realize its preciousness.

If anyone wished to seize these things again... then, even if the opponent was a Dao Transmitter, Ruomu would dare to bite back twice.