Chapter 1292

All Returns to Truth (7K)

"Thousands of souls shift, hundreds of spirits turn.""Blameless."

The illusory figure continued its sermon. It was not transmitted through sound or divine sense, but resonated directly within everyone's minds. Even the Saint Emperor, the Dharma Transmitter, and the Celestial Doctor, deeply concerned about Xuang Huang's safety, found their minds uncontrollably immersed in the immortal incantation being imparted by the Dao Child.

It wasn't until the entire incantation was recited that the Dao Child's illusory figure became indistinct again, and its voice faded in and out. The three men regained their senses, breaking out in a cold sweat. Glancing at each other, they instinctively flew backward, distancing themselves from the illusory figure of the Dao Child.

The Dao Child's figure did not try to stop them, as if its mission was complete, allowing the three to depart. The voice of the sermon grew weaker and weaker. Finally, it vanished mysteriously into the void along with the Dao Child's illusory figure.

Seeing this, the three men's expressions were subtly complex. They pondered the reason for the sudden appearance of the illusory figure imparting knowledge, and its subsequent gradual disappearance. At the same time, the three were replaying the immortal incantation in their minds.

Unlike mortal cultivation techniques, immortal incantations were extremely difficult and abstruse, especially since the Dao Child's illusory figure merely recited the content without any explanation. Although the Saint Emperor and the other two possessed comprehension abilities that were arguably at the pinnacle of the mortal realm, comprehending an entire immortal incantation in such a short time was challenging. They could only grasp the general idea.

"It's not a cultivation technique, but a method to avert disaster. It also seems to contain some records of the immortal realm…"

The Saint Emperor's thoughts raced, but his movements didn't cease; he turned back and re-entered the Xuang Huang Realm. The Dharma Transmitter followed closely. As for the Celestial Doctor, he had vanished at some point.

The Saint Emperor cast an inadvertent glance towards Daoyuan Province in the Xuang Huang Realm but sensed no awakening aura from Tiandu. "The Xuang Huang Realm is about to be destroyed, yet that place remains indifferent. But just now, it voluntarily revealed its presence... Is it due to the Annihilation Wind Disaster?" Even with many unresolved questions, this was not the time for deep investigation. Many thoughts flashed through his mind, but the Saint Emperor focused his attention on the current state of the Xuang Huang Realm.

Outside the Xuang Huang Realm, an endless rain of golden needles descended again. However, the energy dissipating from the needles after they landed showed a subtle change from before. With a glance, the Saint Emperor noticed some clues. If previously it was a heavy dose of medicine for a critical illness, now it was a gentle recuperation after recovery from a major illness. The power of the golden needles was much softer and more soothing.

Faint thunder rumbled, and fine rain drizzled continuously. It was like the awakening of spring, with all things reviving and flourishing. The turbulent Xuang Huang Realm surprisingly displayed a scene of vibrant vitality, if not for the faintly discernible aura of a hidden grand formation.

True to his title as Celestial Doctor, in such a short time, relying solely on golden needles, he had forcefully reversed the fusion of the various Xuang Huang realms. He restored the Xuang Huang world to its original state. What was even more commendable was that the world itself had suffered no damage as a result.

Healing the heavens was like healing a person; golden needles reversed life and death. To reach such a realm, high cultivation or power alone was insufficient. It also required a profound understanding of the world's essence. As a Grand Supreme cultivator himself, who once claimed to be an incarnation of the Heavenly Dao and had an extremely close connection with the heavens and earth, the Saint Emperor now clearly understood that he could never achieve what the Celestial Doctor had.

"Yet, even a figure like the Celestial Doctor cannot find the mastermind behind this…" A heavy feeling weighed on the Saint Emperor's heart.

Since returning from the void outside Daqi, the Xuang Huang Realm felt increasingly ominous to the Saint Emperor. If it was previously like water boiling in a pot, now it was only a hair's breadth away from reaching its boiling point. A qualitative change could occur at any moment.

The Dharma Transmitter and the Celestial Doctor sensed this too, no longer holding back, finally unleashing their methods. In the Heavenly Cities of each province, at the locations where the stone statues of the Dharma Transmitter Heavenly Venerate once stood, whether the statues still existed or not, enormous illusory figures of the Dharma Transmitter appeared with a spatial tremor, covering the original sites. Like points of light illuminating one after another, they shone across a large part of the Xuang Huang Realm's body.

Simultaneously, in the territory of the Five Elders Association, five different colored points of light also lit up. Six colors, connected into lines, resembled the meridians of the Xuang Huang Realm, shining brightly in broad daylight.

"Soul Sealing!""Realm Substitution!"

The Celestial Doctor's stern voice resonated through the heavens and earth. The Dharma Transmitter's figure once again manifested in a gigantic form. The Celestial Doctor subtly appeared above the Dharma Transmitter's Dharmakaya. Then, in his right hand, he held a seven-colored needle. With a solemn expression, he pierced it into the Baihui acupoint of the Dharma Transmitter. The Dharma Transmitter's Dharmakaya instantly erupted with dazzling seven-colored light.

Then, as if dissolving, his figure transformed into streams of light, flying towards the constantly flickering meridians of the Xuang Huang Realm below. Silently, the seven-colored light completed a full circulation the moment it flowed into the Xuang Huang meridians. After a moment of stillness, the seven-colored light began to circulate again within the meridians.

"Soul Sealing and Realm Substitution?""Is the Celestial Doctor temporarily sealing the Dharma Transmitter's soul and introducing it into the Xuang Huang world, to briefly act as the heavens?"

The Saint Emperor, observing this from afar, felt an inexplicable shock in his heart. Having once merged with the heavens, the Saint Emperor understood how difficult it was to achieve such a feat. Let alone an entire world, even taking over a cultivator's body was no easy task. The Xuang Huang Realm not only possessed a Heavenly Dao consciousness but was also extremely active due to its special environmental factors, being outside the Immortal Ruins and constantly facing potential annihilation. Not long ago, someone had even inherited the position of Xuang Huang Grand Heavenly Venerate.

With so many factors, the Celestial Doctor and Dharma Transmitter, working together, were still able to forcefully suppress and seal the Xuang Huang Realm's primordial consciousness, replacing it with their own...

"Even if the Xuang Huang Realm's Heavenly Dao is unaware of the current crisis, if the Dharma Transmitter replaces it and conducts a self-inspection, he will definitely find the location of that hidden grand formation!" This method of suppressing the origin would undoubtedly cause great damage to the Xuang Huang Realm. However, in the face of the current crisis, such considerations had to be put aside!

The Saint Emperor stood firm, awaiting the Dharma Transmitter's discovery. When the seven-colored light had circulated over 3,600 times through the Xuang Huang meridians, the circulation suddenly paused. At one location, as if the meridian was blocked, a pillar of black malevolent energy shot up into the sky.

The Celestial Doctor's eyes snapped open, his compassionate gaze showing a rare hint of killing intent. Nine golden needles, like threads, instantly flew towards the locked-on location. The Saint Emperor reacted simultaneously. His figure flashed, appearing alongside the nine golden needles. The surrounding earth had already turned to nothingness in the black energy burst, revealing a hidden void deep below.

In the void, two figures sat and stood. The seated figure was no larger than a child of seven or eight, with tightly furrowed brows. The standing figure's face was indistinct. Yet, facing the Celestial Doctor's golden needles and the furious Saint Emperor, the figure showed no fear. It was utterly calm.

"This familiar feeling again..." The Saint Emperor felt as if he had fallen into an abyss, his heart cold. In a daze, the rapidly descending golden needles seemed to slow. The Saint Emperor seemed to see the figure below slowly utter a phrase.

"Immortal Descent...""All things return to nothingness!"

An invisible storm instantly erupted. The Celestial Doctor's nine golden needles were instantly scattered. The rapidly fleeing Saint Emperor felt as if he had violently slammed into a wall. It wasn't just a simple case of seeing stars; his body and soul nearly disintegrated. Fortunately, starlight surged forth, barely repairing the Saint Emperor's injuries.

Even with a continuous supply of primal energy essence, the Saint Emperor, a Grand Supreme realm cultivator, could only barely survive in the surrounding chaotic and violent environment. The void concealing the mastermind had already vanished from sight. Even the entire Xuang Huang Realm was no longer visible to the Saint Emperor. It was like a terrifying sandstorm, blotting out the sky and rolling forth, enveloping everything in the world.

The Celestial Doctor's nine golden needles had long since been scattered by the violent gusts, their whereabouts unknown. The auras of the Dharma Transmitter and the Celestial Doctor were also undetectable. All he could sense was the surrounding chaos.

The Saint Emperor's mind went blank for a moment, then an overwhelming grief and indignation surged within him. Even without witnessing it directly, he knew that the Xuang Huang Realm was disintegrating inch by inch within this terrifying grand formation. Nothing could be salvaged.

"Bastard! Bastard! Bastard!" The Saint Emperor lost control, cursing wildly. Disregarding his own safety, he charged recklessly through the chaotic storm, desperate to find the familiar yet strange mastermind. However, the only response was an increasingly vast and merciless storm.

When the power of immortal energy, transformed through the immortal formation, became a storm of nothingness capable of destroying everything, the destruction of the Xuang Huang Realm was already sealed. This land where myriad realms converged, the only haven in the now pitch-black Star Sea, was swiftly consumed by this world-ending storm.

In the core of the formation, Sun Tianci, who had previously been trying to awaken his mother, now paid no heed to her curses. He suddenly startled, staring blankly at the Xuang Huang Realm, which had become riddled with holes in an instant.

"Mas... Master?" After a long while, Sun Tianci painstakingly tried to call out. However, his seemingly omnipotent Master, who had always responded before, never appeared again.

As the Xuang Huang Realm was about to be destroyed, Sun Tianci not only felt the power he had just inherited from the Xuang Huang Grand Heavenly Venerate rapidly draining away. Due to his immense dereliction of duty, the Grand Heavenly Venerate's backlash suddenly descended upon him. An unnamed fire suddenly ignited in Sun Tianci's heart. Without any pain, Sun Tianci only felt his very existence being consumed by this fire.

In his sea of consciousness, his mother, who had been relentlessly cursing him, oblivious to the outside world, gradually seemed to forget her own existence. She slowly quieted down, staring blankly.

"Tianci, Tianci...""Tianci... who is that?"

Myriad demonic thoughts transformed into wisps of green smoke, vanishing without a trace. In the end, only Wu Ninglu's original appearance remained, staring blankly at the empty surroundings. A tear inexplicably fell from the corner of her eye. Wu Ninglu and Sun Tianci perished together in the heart-burning fire of the Xuang Huang Grand Heavenly Venerate.

In the core of the immortal formation, Li Fan's clone slowly materialized. He frowned slightly, feeling as though he had forgotten the existence of certain individuals. However, after some deduction, he determined that they were merely insignificant pawns that had helped bring the immortal formation to fruition, so he shook his head slightly and paid them no further attention. Instead, he focused on the few figures still struggling within the immortal formation.

Grand Master Yin and Xu Ke. Not long after escaping from the Museum of Divine Artifacts, they witnessed the startling changes continuously occurring in the Xuang Huang Realm. While they were still marveling, a world-ending storm suddenly descended. Although both were undoubtedly powerful cultivators in the Xuang Huang Realm, before this world-ending immortal formation, they could only despair and await death. If not for the skull of Mr. Bai they carried, which protected them, they would likely have perished long ago.

The chaotic storm intensified. The protective power emanating from Mr. Bai's skull also slowly weakened. They probably wouldn't last much longer. On the verge of extinction, Xu Ke and Grand Master Yin, unlike other beings, were not filled with fear. White-haired Xu Ke, cradling Mr. Bai's skull, stared blankly into space: "I should have died a long time ago. I only continued to live for Mr. Bai's mission. Now, to be buried alongside Mr. Bai, I consider it a fitting end..." Grand Master Yin, with calm, slightly crazed eyes, looked at the storm ahead: "I am merely a world phantom, having died once already. I wonder what it will be like to die again?" Their response was the ceaseless howling of the invisible wind. Grand Master Yin and Xu Ke were slowly and completely swallowed by the chaotic storm. The skull of Mr. Bai in their hands was also in precarious condition. Just before the skull disappeared into the storm, a flicker of light and shadow occurred, and it vanished without a trace.

Countless golden needles encircled, forming a tough protective shell to resist the erosion of the outer storm. It was quite effective, but under the increasingly fierce winds, the golden light shield inevitably dimmed. The Celestial Doctor's gaze swept around, appearing somewhat bewildered. He seemed to have lost the goal he had struggled for so long, momentarily stunned. However, his eyes quickly grew somber again. He extended one hand beyond the golden light shield, drawing in a wisp of the world-ending storm from the immortal formation. The Celestial Doctor's hand dissolved into nothingness in the storm. But at the same time, a storm seemed to brew in the Celestial Doctor's eyes.

The Dharma Transmitter Heavenly Venerate recovered from his gigantic manifestation. When the world-ending immortal formation activated, he was temporarily taking over the Xuang Huang Realm through the Soul Sealing and Realm Substitution technique. Therefore, when the raging world-ending storm erupted across the Xuang Huang Realm, he was practically facing this terrifying disaster head-on. Although this storm seemed slightly less potent than the Annihilation Wind Disaster he had previously encountered, it was undoubtedly a manifestation of pure immortal energy. The Annihilation Wind Disaster, in contrast, was merely a tiny residual force. The original Annihilation Wind Disaster's destructive power naturally far exceeded that of the immortal formation's storm. However, the immortal formation's calamity erupting in the Xuang Huang Realm now vastly surpassed the residual power of the wind disaster. Even the Dharma Transmitter, a Grand Supreme realm cultivator, felt like a helpless mortal within it. His heavily wounded body slowly disintegrated. The Heavenly Profound Mirror he carried fell powerlessly. The Heavenly Profound Mirror emitted a faint, ghostly green light, flickering unsteadily, as if it could extinguish at any moment. A transparent figure emerged from the Dharma Transmitter's dissolving body. It bore some resemblance to the Dharma Transmitter but was subtly different. The transparent figure seemed to possess strong resistance to the immortal formation's annihilation storm. Even with eyes slightly closed, deep in slumber, it was temporarily unaffected by the storm's harm.

In the territory of the Five Elders Association, most beings were instantly annihilated the moment the immortal formation erupted. But an unseen ominous cloud seemed to perpetually shroud the Five Elders Association's territory. Even when the Xuang Huang Realm vanished, the ominous cloud persisted. It even protected countless lives that had disappeared within the immortal formation.

Within the white mist barrier, "Finally out." The entire Xuanxian Boat, through collective efforts, had finally deciphered the secrets of the Array of Reversing Life and Death. Having found the array's core, the Xuanxian Boat successfully broke free. However, before they could even go trouble the Dharma Transmitter... the world-ending immortal formation had already descended. The Xuanxian Boat, their very means of survival, swayed uncontrollably like a tumbleweed in the wind. Its hull, protected by numerous restrictions, rapidly dissolved like ice and snow.

"Quick! Use True Immortal Script, immortal against immortal!" The elders of the Xuanxian Boat cried out in unison. However, it was merely a clumsy imitation, not the true power of a True Immortal. The fluctuations caused by the True Immortal Script only slightly disturbed the immortal formation's storm. Then, it was in turn swallowed by the immortal formation, becoming energy to strengthen the storm. The Xuanxian Boat, amidst the painful lamentations of its occupants, who regretted their past actions, was reduced to ashes.

"Using True Immortal Script is indeed extremely destructive. But until now, no True Immortal Script related to protection has ever been found. Because when the calamity descended, the Xuanxian Boat, which could restrain two Grand Supremes, was so vulnerable..."

Li Fan's Holy Embryo did not resist. He simply watched his body dissolve in the chaotic storm. As the only pure land in the pitch-black Star Sea, the Xuang Huang Realm undoubtedly concealed many secrets. However, at this moment, the Immortal Descent, All Things Return to Nothingness Formation was truly like an extremely violent storm, mercilessly uncovering all the secrets that had shrouded it.

Within the core of the immortal formation, Li Fan's clone intently observed everything happening inside the formation. After all, the source of the formation's power was not provided by him. He couldn't see the full panorama within the formation. But he only needed to focus on the energy nodes that were violently fluctuating within the formation. These were beings struggling for survival, fully revealing everything they had to resist the immortal formation's storm.

Li Fan suddenly recalled the first time he witnessed the aftermath of the Scarlet Flame Burning Sea. The Congyun Sea had been completely evaporated, and countless lives were lost. But it also revealed the secrets buried deep beneath the seabed. At that time, the small Qi Refining stage cultivator gained a thorough understanding of the Congyun Sea's secrets. Now, looking at the Xuang Huang Realm, energy fluctuations transmitted, and there were even some unexpected existences. He couldn't help but feel a realization: "It seems the principles are always interconnected. Secrets often reveal themselves after extinction."

Li Fan's clone fell into contemplation, unconsciously caressing a clear, flawless skull in his hand. "What a pity, without the main body, there's no perception at all.""The Heavenly Profound Mirror seems to still have its own spiritual consciousness, but I can't draw it in…"

Just as Li Fan's clone's thoughts raced, recording all the scenes, as the observer who activated the formation, he suddenly discovered something extremely unusual. The world-ending immortal formation, which had swallowed half of the Xuang Huang Realm and should have been intensifying and spreading outwards into the void... for some reason, now showed signs of the storm gradually dying down.

Logically, this should be impossible. Unless... something had stopped the storm!

A strong sense of crisis instantly surged within Li Fan's heart. Not just in his clone, but in his main body as well!

"The All Things Return to Nothingness Immortal Formation, and the dual protection of the Heavenly Profound Mirror...""Even a True Immortal cannot stop me from returning to truth."

Li Fan, who had once been able to 'return to truth' in front of a True Immortal in the Immortal Ruins, was not frightened by the fear in his heart. Instead, after a calm analysis, he made a decision. After all, the only one near the Xuang Huang Realm capable of stopping the immortal formation from expanding should be that being... Li Fan thought to himself.

Li Fan's guess was quickly confirmed. A figure suddenly appeared in the center of the immortal formation. The raging storm around it slowly calmed down the moment it approached. Amidst the chaotic storm, the beings of the Xuang Huang Realm were perishing. But the appearance of this figure was like a great sun descending from the heavens, re-illuminating the darkness. He was so striking. So out of place with his surroundings. So much so that the moment he appeared in the immortal formation, Li Fan's clone immediately sensed his presence.

Li Fan was no stranger to this figure. He had even met him once before. It was precisely that True Immortal who sat outside the Xuang Huang Realm, meditating with closed eyes! However, unlike the skeletal appearance he had seen on the Immortal Ruins land before, the True Immortal appearing now did not seem to be his main body descending. It was merely an illusory projection. Not only had his figure become full again, but the shackles binding him were also gone.

The True Immortal's gaze swept over the immortal formation, frowning slightly. He slowly extended his palm. The raging, howling world-ending storm slowly gathered towards his hand. The immortal formation sensed the presence attempting to destroy the array, and its defenses were activated. In the chaos, humanoid illusions materialized. They were formed from the immortal formation's power, yet bore the appearance of the Xuang Huang Realm beings who had died under the formation. With fierce eyes, they surged towards the True Immortal, fearless of death, like a rolling tide, infused with the immortal formation's destructive power.

The True Immortal's figure remained completely unmoved, his posture unchanged. All immortal formation power attempting to approach was absorbed into the True Immortal's palm without any resistance. No energy was seen gathering; it was just that the True Immortal's figure seemed to solidify further.

With the True Immortal's continuous absorption, the immortal energy driving the All Things Return to Nothingness Grand Formation rapidly diminished. All of it flowed into his palm. Within the grand formation, the chaotic storm gradually subsided. The Celestial Doctor, the Saint Emperor, and other survivors were initially puzzled. But without exception, after a moment, their gazes all focused on the True Immortal's figure. As if it were only natural, they couldn't avert their eyes.

The survivors of the Xuang Huang Realm trembled. Although there was no explanation, the moment they saw the True Immortal's figure, they understood his identity. Ten thousand years after the Immortal Path was severed, a True Immortal had returned to the world! The survivors all bowed, showing their reverence for the True Immortal.

The True Immortal's figure said nothing, as if searching for something. The Saint Emperor, at this moment, finally reacted. The raging anger in his heart actually temporarily canceled out the True Immortal's inherent suppression. Even though the Xuang Huang Realm had turned into void, he immediately pointed out the direction of the immortal formation's core that he had previously discovered.

The True Immortal's gaze instantly fell upon the void where Li Fan's clone was located. The remaining immortal energy circulating around the immortal formation rapidly drained away. Under the True Immortal's gaze, Li Fan's clone, whose thoughts had almost come to a standstill, instantly sprang back to life, propelled by his main body. He was just about to self-detonate to "return to truth" for his main body.

However, Li Fan's clone witnessed a scene he utterly could not comprehend, which made him halt his action of "returning to truth."

"This...""How is this possible?"

The True Immortal's illusory figure was gazing at Li Fan's clone in the core of the immortal formation. But another figure was also gazing back at the True Immortal, slowly approaching without anyone noticing. When Li Fan's clone, located in the core of the immortal formation with a comprehensive view, saw the existence of that figure, it had already quietly arrived behind the True Immortal's figure.

"Meow."

As if it had finally found its long-awaited prey, Cat Treasure, usually languid, let out an extremely excited cry. It leaped up, landing on the True Immortal's shoulder. The True Immortal's figure was taken aback, staring at the suddenly appearing cute creature on its shoulder. Cat Treasure opened its beautiful large eyes, staring intently at the True Immortal.

The expression on the True Immortal's face slowly shifted from astonishment to terror.

"Meow."

Cat Treasure meowed again, then slightly opened its mouth. It instantly swallowed the True Immortal's figure whole.

After that...

Cat Treasure looked up towards the True Immortal's main body, seated outside the Xuang Huang void in the Immortal Ruins. Its body arched, and it leaped upwards, vanishing from sight. The next moment, it appeared beside the True Immortal in the Immortal Ruins. The entire Pitch-Black Star Sea trembled slightly. And the sound of something disintegrating came from an extremely distant place.

In a daze, the Saint Emperor's mind replayed the scene he had just witnessed. He simply couldn't reconcile Cat Treasure, who could so easily swallow a True Immortal's figure, with the Cat Treasure that usually loved to sleep on his shoulder.

Cat Treasure had been accidentally fished out of a fishing pond by a citizen of the Saint Dynasty. Even with its many mysterious abilities, the Saint Emperor had never imagined that Cat Treasure's true prey was actually... a True Immortal?!

The Saint Emperor was utterly horrified. And the Xuang Huang survivors present, regardless of their cultivation level, all looked incredulous.

"Did the fishing pond fish out Cat Treasure...""Or did Cat Treasure, sensing the True Immortal, willingly take the bait?""The one who fishes is also fished..."

The Saint Emperor's heart felt utterly cold. "Even a True Immortal is like this... What exactly lies beyond the wall..."

Not just the Saint Emperor, but all the Xuang Huang survivors present, after their initial shock, felt an uncontrollable surge of terror. A terror even greater than the world's destruction.

Li Fan was naturally also greatly shaken. But having experienced multiple reincarnations, he had some psychological pre-assessment for Cat Treasure's mysteriousness. He was the first to react, looking towards where Cat Treasure had gone: the Immortal Ruins not far away.

There, observation seemed to be blocked. However, what Li Fan could feel was that... the Immortal Ruins' suction was disappearing. The Pitch-Black Star Sea began to churn again. Continuous sounds echoed, and many survivors who had managed to evade the world-ending immortal formation were instantly annihilated by these grand sounds.

"Return to Truth!" In the space of the Derivation Jade, Li Fan's main body, without the slightest hesitation, silently recited.