Chapter 1275

Preaching at Fifty (7K)

The vortex in the sky was about to heal. The Sacred Emperor reached out and grasped the last ray of starlight emanating from it.

Nebulae swirled, shimmering brilliantly, and after being refined in the Sacred Emperor's palm, flowed like gentle streams beneath him, forming a throne of starlight.

The Sacred Emperor sat upright, his voice like thunder, and slowly spoke: "From chaos and primal void, the limitless innate; Yin and Yang separate, the Five Elements circulate; all things originate, created by the Great One..."

Every word and phrase was profoundly mysterious and difficult to comprehend. Yet, as the Sacred Emperor recited, all beings fortunate enough to listen in this world faintly felt a dawning understanding. The fleeting sense of enlightenment, which had just emerged from being enveloped by the starlight overhead, became clear once more amidst the profound sound of the Great Dao from the Sacred Emperor's every word.

"The Dao governs Heaven and Earth, mastery leads to immortality; roam freely in the boundless sky, control creation; imperishable through countless kalpas, qi permeates the eight directions..."

Even those of mediocre talent and low cultivation gained some insight from the Sacred Emperor's voice. Spiritual energy spontaneously poured into their bodies, presenting a clear image of instant enlightenment. And those with exceptional talents, like Sun Erlang and Ouyang Tian, had bright eyes, even attracting streams of purple qi to swirl around them.

Venerable Yin scratched his scalp, feeling as if his intrinsic Dao foundation within him was eager to burst forth. "Is this 'when one attains the Dao, even his pets ascend to heaven'? No, this is clearly selflessly imparting one's own understanding to others, regardless of closeness. Hiss..."

The Sacred Emperor's sermon lasted for three days and three nights. The enlightened populace listened as if mesmerized. Even after the Sacred Emperor's image dissipated, they remained immersed, completely oblivious. Most of them would need their entire remaining lives to digest the Sacred Emperor's teachings.

Meanwhile, the Sacred Emperor had returned to his throne. His six disciples stood in a line.

"Congratulations, Master, on your enlightenment!" Sun Erlang bowed and said. The other disciples did likewise.

"This is my fortune, and also yours."

"Three years."

"I give you three years to comprehend. Three years from today..." The Sacred Emperor's gaze swept over the six disciples below: "My Sacred Dynasty of Great Enlightenment will conquer the Myriad Immortal Alliance and reclaim the Profound Yellow Realm!"

All six disciples trembled upon hearing this. They had long known this war was inevitable, but none had expected it to arrive so swiftly! However, at this crucial moment, no one dared to question the Great Sacred Emperor's decision. They all bowed their heads in affirmation.

"During these three years of preparation, some tactics can be deployed in advance." The Sacred Emperor's voice echoed in everyone's hearts.

***

In the Profound Yellow Realm, Tianquan Province.

Sun Luyuan was eloquently speaking at a gathering when he suddenly sensed something, quickly cutting short his lengthy discourse. And, while no one was paying attention, he hastily left the cave dwelling.

"The Dark Needle Plan is finally being implemented? I've waited too long for this day." A glint flashed in Sun Luyuan's eyes. He suppressed his excitement and a hint of fear for the future, concealed his aura, and rushed towards the agreed meeting point.

The so-called Dark Needle Plan was a sabotage operation targeting the Myriad Immortal Alliance's Heavenly Profound Mirrors and teleportation formations. The Myriad Immortal Alliance governed most of the Profound Yellow Realm provinces, yet could still exert control as easily as moving an arm, precisely because of the Heavenly Profound Mirrors and transmission formations spread across various provinces. Should any province experience an incident, support from various provinces and even the Immortal Alliance headquarters could arrive swiftly. Therefore, to counter the Myriad Immortal Alliance, disabling or interfering with this network became paramount.

"That Ouyang Tian kid said he could influence or even destroy the Heavenly Profound Sub-Mirrors in each province, though I don't know what method he used. But my loyalists in each province are already ready." Sun Luyuan pondered continuously as he hurried along. He knew there was no turning back once the arrow was shot; this action would solidify his identity as a traitor to the Myriad Immortal Alliance. If discovered, there would be no chance of survival.

But Sun Luyuan had already made up his mind. Besides the previous reasons that prompted his betrayal, a larger factor was the recent demise of Sun Luchang. When he was chosen to go outside the Profound Yellow Realm, Sun Luyuan still held a glimmer of hope for Sun Luchang's survival. Only when the cluster of vital blood left in the underground blood pool suddenly withered did Sun Luyuan's heart turn to ashes.

These past few days, he watched as the Myriad Immortal Alliance still occasionally released messages about departing rainbow light, which even included images of the already deceased Sun Luchang. The anger in his heart accumulated further. Sun Luyuan had been waiting for the Myriad Immortal Alliance to give him an explanation. Even a casual, perfunctory reassurance would have sufficed. But it was clear that Sun Luyuan had overestimated them. The Dao Harmonization guardians of each province, and those so-called Immortal Alliance grandees, were truly just expendable materials. They could be abandoned at will.

"Myriad Immortal Alliance..." At this point, Sun Luyuan had completely severed any hope he held for the Myriad Immortal Alliance. He fully committed to the Sacred Dynasty of Great Enlightenment.

"Putting everything else aside, the benefits I've gained from the Sacred Dynasty in recent years are far greater than what I got from diligently serving the Myriad Immortal Alliance."

As Sun Luyuan thought this, he arrived at the agreed meeting point. It was beside the white mist barrier in Tianquan Province that towered between heaven and earth. A few years prior, due to the Great Profound Yellow Turmoil, the white mist barrier here had fractured and crashed to the ground. The unbound Soul-Devouring White Mist flowed and spread wantonly, mercilessly consuming all living beings it enveloped. Although the turmoil gradually subsided later and the white mist barrier also recovered, this desolate land never regained its vitality. This was enough to show the terrifying nature of the Soul-Devouring White Mist.

"Who would have thought that the Sacred Dynasty actually had a way to almost completely nullify the effects of this Soul-Devouring White Mist? Meeting in this place couldn't be safer!"

Sun Luyuan scanned his surroundings, ensured he wasn't followed, and then carefully took out the Puxian True Boat. He flew into the boat and steered it into the white mist barrier. Moving at a constant speed, continually changing direction, after traveling for some time, he indeed saw another Puxian True Boat quietly parked within the white mist. A black light flew out from it, subtly piercing the white mist, and arrived before Sun Luyuan.

Sun Luyuan took it, finding it to be a storage ring made of black jade. When he looked up again, the previous Puxian True Boat had already vanished without a trace. "So cautious, not even willing to show their face."

Inside the black jade ring, nearly a thousand square jade artifacts, engraved with profound characters, were neatly arranged. Sun Luyuan took one out, examined it carefully, and simultaneously read the instructions for using the jade artifact that had just been transmitted via the black light.

"'Just take it into a Heavenly Profound Sub-Mirror or a teleportation array, cast a spell, and detonate it?'"

"'That simple?'" Sun Luyuan was a little surprised. An urge to try it out immediately arose in his heart. However, after careful study, he could only shake his head helplessly.

"'The activation time has already been set. It can only be detonated three years from now. If the time isn't right, even the core formation within it won't activate; it's just an ordinary jade artifact...'"

"'No wonder I couldn't sense even a trace of spiritual energy fluctuation.'"

Sun Luyuan put the jade artifact back, his expression gloomy: "Let those cultivators, whom the Myriad Immortal Alliance regards as ants, ring its death knell first."

***

Just as the Sacred Dynasty's plans for the conquest three years later began to mobilize across all its territories, Li Fan had also, using the Spirit Void Grand Formation, annihilated four small worlds. He had collected enough of the substance he called the Essence of All Things. It was a pure energy aggregate, emitting a dreamy, colorful, viscous luster. To Li Fan, it felt similar to the golden Source Energy Essence.

"Have you learned this formation?" Li Fan gazed into the distance, but his question was directed at the Boundless Mirror.

Sun Luyao, the simulated personality recreated several times, was silent for a moment before finally replying: "I've mostly learned it, Senior."

Li Fan nodded in satisfaction, lightly tapped a finger, and a ray of light entered Sun Luyao's phantom: "Then next, go to these places and continue setting up formations."

"Just set up the formations discreetly, no need to activate them."

As he spoke, Li Fan flicked all the Source Energy Essence he had plundered from the Sun family recently, giving it to the Boundless Mirror. Sun Luyao quickly collected the golden light and thanked Li Fan excitedly. Then, he transformed into a beam of light and departed towards the target small world. If it were the real Sun Luyao, executing Li Fan's mission alone, he might have feigned compliance. But now he was merely a simulated personality. Even the joy of receiving the Source Energy Essence was faked, so naturally, he wouldn't disobey Li Fan's orders.

"The Boundless Mirror Spirit's formation-setting is even worse than mine. But destroying a realm is more than sufficient. After all, the weak small worlds I chose for him are those without cultivators."

"Although I shouldn't appear in this world again, leaving some contingencies is appropriate."

The connection with the Sacred Emperor had been completely severed. Yet, Li Fan still vaguely sensed the immense changes happening to the Sacred Emperor. "Did he have another enlightenment in the Star Sea?"

"My clone's original talent was merely ordinary, yet with so many fortuitous encounters and blessings, he actually started to resemble a true Son of Destiny..." A hint of sarcasm flashed across Li Fan's face. "What a pity, it's destined to be in vain!"

Li Fan's clone transformed into a thin line and flew towards the territory of Guangyang Province. He intended to transfer the collected Essence of All Things, meant for self-protection, to his main body. In less than half a day, Li Fan had already found his target: Daoist Qianxun, who had concealed his identity and cultivated in the mortal world.

***

The clone silently drifted into the body of a nearby Golden Core cultivator. The person's body stiffened for a moment, then quickly returned to normal. He turned his feet and came before Daoist Qianxun. "Elder, how about a game of chess?"

The scruffy Daoist, who was picking his feet and had no decorum, immediately looked up.

After Li Fan successfully obtained the Audience Jade Plaque from Daoist Qianxun, he first went to the Discourse Tower in Guangyang Province and used all his savings to rent a small courtyard. Then, using the Dao Pill method, he completely took over the body of the possessed cultivator. Li Fan stretched out his hand, looked at his new body, and slightly furrowed his brow.

"Compared to the environment of the Immortal Profound Ark exposed in the Star Sea, this body-snatching method seems less perfect in the Profound Yellow Realm."

Li Fan moved around and felt a slight sense of disharmony. "Taking over Zhao Xian's body could fool the Immortal Severing Pavilion. But taking over this one, Fu Yuansheng, might not be able to evade the Myriad Immortal Alliance's checks. I still need to refine it further."

Li Fan manipulated Fu Yuansheng's body and set up a circle of formations around it. Then he strode into the formation.

"Using the body as a vessel, refine it with the formation."

Li Fan softly chanted, using the power of the formation to slowly polish and eliminate the disharmonious aspects within the taken body. During this process, the experiences of the Sacred Emperor's cultivation in this life, the Sacred Embryo's observations in the Immortal Profound Ark, and the main body's insights from secluded enlightenment, all came flooding into his mind. These were integrated and mastered by Li Fan. He continuously tapped his fingers, modifying and perfecting the formation he had just set up. The anomalies between his body and soul also slowly and completely disappeared during this time.

"From today onwards, I am Fu Yuansheng!" Li Fan's clone smiled faintly.

To verify this, Li Fan first entered a Heavenly Profound Sub-Mirror in Guangyang Province. As expected, he bypassed the Heavenly Profound Mirror's inspection and successfully entered its space as Fu Yuansheng. "A full two thousand contribution points..."

"How truly shabby." Li Fan shook his head with a light sigh, but made no changes. He merely rested for a while as usual, then left the Heavenly Profound Mirror.

He walked to the most prosperous area of Guangyang Heavenly City and activated the Audience Jade Plaque. The sudden burst of light immediately attracted everyone's attention.

"What is that?"

"That kind of jade plaque... Hiss, it couldn't be that thing, could it!"

Soon, someone recognized the object Li Fan held, and exclamations of surprise and disbelief followed one after another. The curious cultivators surrounded Li Fan tightly. Li Fan also put on an act of being pale-faced and barely holding on. Only with the arrival of the welcoming cultivator did the chaotic scene improve.

"Silence!" The power emanating from the welcoming cultivator unmistakably indicated his Soul Transformation stage strength.

The onlookers instantly fell silent, like cicadas in cold weather. The welcoming cultivator weighed the jade plaque in his hand, but instead of directly taking Li Fan to the Immortal Alliance headquarters, he surprisingly asked via voice transmission: "This Audience Jade Plaque is of considerable quality; it can request the Derivation Jade to deduce a Dao Harmonization cultivation technique... You are merely at the Golden Core stage, it's somewhat wasted on you."

"Are you interested in transferring this jade plaque to me? Of course, I will certainly not treat you unfairly. I will still bestow upon you a Dao Harmonization cultivation technique, and even prepare all the resources required for your advancement from Nascent Soul to Soul Transformation."

"Thank you for your generosity, Senior..." Li Fan cupped his hands, "But I am not interested in transferring the jade plaque."

The welcoming cultivator, who had expected Li Fan to agree, changed his expression upon hearing the reply: "Young man, you should think carefully! It's not that having a Dao Harmonization cultivation technique means you can cultivate to Dao Harmonization. I've already investigated your background; without family support, by yourself, I doubt you'll even reach the Nascent Soul stage!"

"I'm doing this for your own good!" The welcoming cultivator stared intently at Li Fan.

Li Fan was somewhat surprised: "Did Senior not hear clearly? Then I'll say it again."

"This junior has no interest in transferring the Audience Jade Plaque." This sentence was not a voice transmission, but rather spoken loudly in public. The surrounding cultivators all turned to look at the welcoming cultivator. Although no one dared to openly comment, their gazes spoke volumes.

The welcoming cultivator, being quite shrewd, showed no change in his expression: "In that case, so be it. I was merely kindly reminding you. A Golden Core cultivator, holding a Dao Harmonization technique... who knows how many malicious individuals it will incite to take risks."

"Isn't that right, Fu Yuansheng!" he also declared loudly in front of everyone.

Under the welcoming cultivator's deliberate control, the voice boomed, faintly spreading throughout the entire Guangyang Heavenly City. The city instantly erupted in an uproar. Everyone's gaze instantly focused on Li Fan. Their expressions varied, but without exception, all concealed greed.

Li Fan's face turned completely ashen, and a well-acted flicker of resentment and fear passed through his eyes as he lowered his head and said: "Thank you for your concern, Senior."

The welcoming cultivator snorted coldly, then opened the passage to the Immortal Alliance headquarters. After the two departed, Guangyang Immortal City, which had been suppressed into silence, instantly erupted into a clamor. A Golden Core cultivator, a Dao Harmonization cultivation technique. The combination of these two was truly too impactful, instantly becoming a hot topic of discussion among everyone. Information regarding Fu Yuansheng's background was also quickly dug up. Those quick-witted individuals had already begun sending people to pressure the Fu family. Powerless and of low cultivation, even if he obtained a treasure, how could he keep it safe?

In Guangyang Heavenly City, inside the Discourse Tower.

A white-robed cultivator, watching this scene, couldn't help but sigh softly: "This welcoming cultivator is truly pushing people to their doom!"

A graceful young man opposite also nodded in agreement: "Unless that Fu Yuansheng keeps hiding in the Heavenly Profound Mirror and never comes out, ignoring the fate of his friends and family around him, otherwise, I don't see him being able to keep that Dao Harmonization cultivation technique."

The young man paused, then his tone sharply shifted: "It's just a Dao Harmonization cultivation technique, yet it's being fought over with such life-and-death urgency. And this is happening in broad daylight, under the clear sky... We just came out for tea and encountered one such incident. One can only imagine how many similar events are happening beneath the surface."

"The corruption of the Immortal Alliance is clearly evident!"

The white-robed cultivator remained silent, and after a long while, he helplessly shook his head and sighed.

"That's why I say, joining our Sacred Dynasty and overthrowing the Immortal Alliance's corrupt rule is the wise choice. Tianming, you've also been to our Sacred Dynasty; such tyrannical coercion simply cannot happen there!" The young man transmitted his voice, speaking fluently.

The white-robed cultivator named Tianming had to nod in agreement: "Brother Tianci, you are right. In that fishing pond, countless treasures were fished out, and all of them belonged to the individual citizens of Great Enlightenment. There's no need to worry about anyone forcibly taking them... On this point alone, the Sacred Dynasty has already surpassed the Immortal Alliance by far!"

Shang Tianci smiled: "It seems to me, Brother Tianming has made up his mind."

The white-robed cultivator also responded with a smile.

"Another one successfully persuaded. This time it truly is a gift from heaven for me." Shang Tianci thought to himself, as the next name flashed in his mind. "I wonder how the progress of the others is going."

Without the Myriad Immortal Alliance's knowledge, such anomalies were continuously occurring in various places. Once hearts were lost, persuasion and mobilization were only a matter of time.

***

Immortal Alliance Headquarters.

When he arrived at the Immortal Alliance Headquarters again in Fu Yuansheng's body, as expected, just like the previous times, Li Fan once again fell into an illusion. The master of the illusion was still the Dharma Imparting Celestial Venerable. However, the scene witnessed this time was different from all the previous ones.

Beneath a continuous chain of cloud-shrouded immortal mountains, a man past fifty was mercilessly stopped.

"This is an immortal's blessed land; how dare a mere mortal like you trespass?"

"Strange, wasn't there an illusion formation set up outside? How did this mortal break in?"

A cultivator in a blue Daoist robe mumbled, and kicked the middle-aged man away. The middle-aged man tumbled a few times on the ground, somewhat dishevelled, then astonishingly got up as if nothing happened, and said with a smiling face: "Immortal Master, can you give me a chance? I feel... I should be able to cultivate."

The cultivator scoffed upon hearing this: "You're already half in the grave, and you're still thinking of cultivating? Cultivation relies on talent, on resources, someone like you..." Disdain filled the cultivator's face: "Even if you could barely cultivate, our Tianyuan Sect wouldn't accept you!"

The middle-aged man didn't give up, even extending his arm, offering it: "Immortal Master, if you don't believe me, look at my talent..." A trace of killing intent flashed in the cultivator's eyes, spiritual energy surged within him, and he was about to blast this presumptuous fellow to death.

But then a friendly voice came from overhead: "What is your name?"

"Xuanyuan Dog Egg... No, Xuanyuan Tuo, my name is Xuanyuan Tuo." The middle-aged Dharma Imparter said somewhat awkwardly.

"Martial Uncle Xu!" The cultivator's expression changed, he immediately withdrew his killing intent, and hastily bowed to the newcomer.

Also appearing middle-aged, but this Martial Uncle Xu looked much more energetic than Xuanyuan Tuo. He came to Xuanyuan Tuo's side and scrutinized him carefully. He even extended his hand, sent a stream of spiritual energy, and examined Xuanyuan Tuo's body. A moment later, Martial Uncle Xu shook his head slightly and said with some regret: "Although you are indeed capable enough in heart cultivation, your age is simply too advanced. It will be difficult to achieve anything significant."

"I'm afraid even forming a Foundation will be incredibly difficult..."

Xuanyuan Tuo quickly said: "Immortal Master, my demands are not high. As long as I can cultivate. I've farmed for half my life, and my heart is always restless, feeling that I shouldn't spend my entire life in the fields."

Martial Uncle Xu was somewhat surprised, not expecting this old farmer before him to utter such words. Just as he was hesitating, a clear, resonant bell chime suddenly came from a distant mountaintop. The blue-robed cultivator behind him also spoke up to remind him: "Martial Uncle, the Sect Master has called a meeting."

Martial Uncle Xu looked back at the mountaintop, swallowing the words he was about to say. He took out a book and handed it to Xuanyuan Tuo. "You go back first and read this scripture. If you can cultivate spiritual energy within a year, then you can come find me again." After saying this, Martial Uncle Xu gracefully flew away.

Xuanyuan Tuo watched with wide-eyed wonder.

"Xiao Qin, don't make things difficult for him." Before leaving, Martial Uncle Xu specifically instructed.

The blue-robed cultivator nodded in affirmation, looked at Xuanyuan Tuo, and snorted coldly: "Truly, fools have fool's luck."

"Hurry up and leave! Come back when you've truly cultivated spiritual power!"

Seeing this, Xuanyuan Tuo could only reluctantly depart. After walking for a while, he seemed to remember something, his expression drastically changed, and he wanted to turn back, but found that the vast immortal mountain from before had vanished at some unknown point. Xuanyuan Tuo slapped his thigh, filled with urgent regret: "I can't read!"

The illusion shattered, and Li Fan returned to reality. Recalling the content, his expression was strange.

"What did you see?" the welcoming cultivator beside him asked.

Li Fan feigned a shocked expression and replied: "I saw the Celestial Venerable manifesting heaven and earth, preaching in the mortal world..."

"Hmph. A trace of the Celestial Venerable's aura remains in the Immortal Alliance headquarters, so any cultivator entering here for the first time will experience illusions..." The welcoming cultivator snorted coldly, then explained.

He led Li Fan all the way to the Guardian Hall headquarters. Along the way, Li Fan secretly pondered. "I wonder what this illusion I saw is related to? This Dharma Imparter also has some peculiar habits, actually putting his life story here for his disciples and grand-disciples to watch..."

"Heh, I didn't expect the dignified Dharma Imparting Celestial Venerable to have such an embarrassing past." Li Fan found it difficult to connect the dark-skinned old farmer with the white-haired, long-bearded, sorrowful-faced old man. "If the Tianyuan Sect had accepted the Dharma Imparter back then, perhaps the history of the Profound Yellow Realm would have taken a different course? But maybe not. After the Dharma Imparter awakened, it wasn't something a small sect like that could change. Speaking of which, the Tianyuan Sect barely lasted long after the Great Calamity descended, perishing in internal strife. That Martial Uncle Xu, however, looks somewhat similar to Xu Yuanxian, the Chief of the Guardian Hall. Could he be an ancestor?"

In an instant, many thoughts flashed through his mind. Once on the long bluestone road outside the Guardian Hall, Li Fan reined in his thoughts.

The process was exactly the same as using the Audience Jade Plaque in his previous life. After waiting in line for several days, he finally entered the Derivation Jade's space. Looking at the "listless" Derivation Jade, Li Fan put on a very excited act.

"Here again," the Derivation Jade mumbled, its annoyed expression not feigned. After all, normal cultivation technique deductions could be handled by simulated personalities. But this kind of custom cultivation technique deduction for an Audience Jade Plaque required her personal intervention.

"What are your requirements!" The Derivation Jade threw a piece of paper over. Just before it reached the other person, it was caught by "Sun Ang," who was guarding the place.

"Wait!"

Sun Ang's action caught the attention of the other two guardians. "Brother Sun, is something amiss?" Hua Yueye's expression was somewhat solemn.

Sun Ang shook his head: "It's just that, in the midst of it all, I suddenly felt something was amiss. It's better to inspect it carefully once more." Since it was for the safety of the Derivation Jade, the other two guardians exchanged glances and did not object.

Fu Yuansheng appeared somewhat nervous about Sun Ang's arrival. "Greetings, Senior..."

Sun Ang, however, completely ignored him, placing his right hand on his head. Fu Yuansheng's body instantly stiffened. A moment later, Sun Ang withdrew his right hand. But his tightly furrowed brows did not relax.

"Sirs, please try again."

Hua Yueye and Zhang Xu nodded, then each stepped forward and thoroughly examined him. Naturally, they found nothing.

"Perhaps Brother Sun is being overly cautious?" Hua Yueye said.

Sun Ang still seemed unsettled, but since the inspection yielded no results, there was no reason to stop them further. He merely kept a close eye on Fu Yuansheng throughout the deduction process. After the cultivation technique deduction was complete, Fu Yuansheng, pale as ash, fled from the place as if escaping.

"Is it because you've been here too long?" Hua Yueye asked with some concern, now that no outsiders were present.

Sun Ang, who was Li Fan's main body, sensed the Essence of All Things he had acquired. He excused himself, saying: "Not so. My mind is unsettled..."

"Perhaps something happened to a bloodline member of my family."