Chapter 1305: Xuantian Sect Dharma King

Besides Ji Yuzhen, the images of the eleven former Dharma Kings of the Black Heaven Sect appeared one after another before Li Fan.

Sun Xingwang, who was always mysterious and often hidden in the shadows.

Sikong Lin, the giant filled with heroic spirit and unconcerned with minor details.

Mo Rubin, silent and reserved, who only followed the Black Heaven King's lead.

Cui Zhiyuan, the eldest and most senior among the Dharma Kings.

Zhou Yangli, the youngest Dharma King, a sharp and ambitious youth.

Gongye Tianzong, with a curly beard and powerful physique, whose artifact refining skills secretly reached their peak. Even the Black Heaven King, returning from the Immortal Realm, would occasionally seek his advice.

Luo Yichen, the peerless beauty of the Mysterious Yellow Realm, whose face was always veiled in white cloth. Originally skilled in the Dual Cultivation method and having countless male consorts, she later killed all the cultivators she had been involved with to rectify her Dao heart.

Old Madam Nie, who managed the Langhuan Immortal Pavilion, one of the largest merchant guilds in the Mysterious Yellow Realm, with informants spread throughout the world and a knack for handling all situations gracefully.

Xing Wuque, who lacked all four limbs and whose facial features were destroyed. He always wore a bronze tusked mask and rarely communicated with others.

Tian Xingke, the plump, smiling peacemaker.

Yue Qianjie, the Twelve Dharma Kings' combat specialist, widely acknowledged as the strongest in battle, obsessed with fighting, and proficient in all methods.

Li Fan had only seen most of these individuals once in Ji Yuzhen's memories and did not know their specific details.

However, some of them were quite familiar to Li Fan.

"In his previous life, Mo Rubin had personally told the Sacred Emperor's clone that his strength was the weakest among the Twelve Dharma Kings."

"He had originally thought it was an exaggeration, but now it seemed..." Li Fan observed the few relevant memories within Ji Yuzhen's mind.

Although they were all Dharma Kings, Ji Yuzhen's entire focus had been on Xuanyuan Hong. She wasn't particularly close to the other Dharma Kings, viewing them merely as colleagues. However, she still had a general understanding of their relative strengths.

While there had been no formal contests, Mo Rubin's strength was indeed among the lowest tier of the Twelve Dharma Kings.

However, this impression was from before the Dharma Kings began cultivating the immortal methods granted by the Black Heaven King.

The immortal methods were incredibly profound, and after they transitioned, Ji Yuzhen could no longer discern their true power.

"The giant's skeleton that Senior Sister Zhao discovered in the cave back then belonged to Sikong Lin. The cultivation method Sun Xingwang practiced was also left there, so it's likely he also met a grim fate."

"Mo Rubin is still in slumber. As for the others..."

After the Black Heaven Sect's demise, the Ten Immortal Sects relentlessly pursued them.

Even so, Li Fan didn't believe that all these Dharma Kings, except for Mo Rubin, had perished.

"Perhaps they are still in slumber, recuperating in some corner of the Mysterious Yellow Realm."

Li Fan shook his head slightly, not particularly concerned.

Even if they had been at the pinnacle of the Mysterious Yellow Realm back then, if they couldn't survive the World-Ending Immortal Array, they wouldn't truly catch Li Fan's attention.

In his previous life, the Dharma Kings of the Black Heaven Sect were not among the light spots that persevered until the very end amidst the devastating World-Ending Storm.

"Unless the survivors among them have long since left the Mysterious Yellow Realm," a thought suddenly flashed through Li Fan's mind.

It took Li Fan nearly half a month to fully assimilate all of Ji Yuzhen's memories.

Besides information about the Twelve Dharma Kings, the most important revelations concerned the Azure Nether Pearl and the methods for controlling the 'Golden Locks Across the Sky' formation of the Floating Void Star Sea Grand Array.

Xuanyuan Hong had once demonstrated this treasure, obtained from the Immortal Realm, before Ji Yuzhen.

As its name suggested, the pearl itself resembled a vast, azure sky, slowly flowing. Besides being able to analyze the cultivation methods practiced by a cultivator during their lifetime and convert them into inheritances within the pearl, the Azure Nether Pearl was also said to be able to devour other immortal artifacts, copying and transferring their original powers into itself.

Unfortunately, as an immortal artifact itself, the Azure Nether Pearl required a massive amount of immortal spiritual energy to activate. The Black Heaven King had only introduced it to Ji Yuzhen and never truly demonstrated this function.

"This Azure Nether Pearl is truly a treasure," Li Fan thought.

"It's said that the Black Heaven Sect possesses a secret technique called 'Replacing Heaven,' which can not only completely strip away cultivation methods and cultivation bases, but also transfer the realms and strengths gained from cultivating Black Heaven Sect techniques, much like grafting. Perhaps this is achieved through the Azure Nether Pearl. After all, the immortal methods cultivated by all the Dharma Kings originated from the Azure Nether Pearl's inheritance."

"The Azure Nether Pearl is an immortal treasure and absolutely capable of withstanding the World-Ending Immortal Array. Yet, in the previous life's storm, there was no trace of it...” Numerous thoughts flashed through Li Fan's mind.

Finally, his thoughts converged, and Li Fan's gaze focused on the translucent figure ahead, enveloped by a golden net of essence energy.

The figure was extremely faint, as if it could dissipate completely at any moment. Most importantly, it was incomplete and tattered, as if torn apart.

This indistinct figure was naturally Ji Yuzhen's primordial soul.

"Even after being tormented like this, I can still feel its vitality persisting. Truly worthy of an immortal method,” Li Fan mused.

"Furthermore, the most vital part of this primordial soul is missing, yet it still fills me with a subtle allure...” Li Fan secretly praised it.

Despite facing such a delectable feast for the soul, Li Fan did not choose to devour it directly. Instead, he channeled a stream of pure soul energy, like a gentle current, into the fragmented primordial soul.

Like an adhesive, this energy slowly reconnected Ji Yuzhen's fragmented primordial soul, stabilizing it.

This soul energy was naturally not Li Fan's own.

It came from the countless ordinary split souls of Ji Yuzhen that he had just destroyed. Since they originated from the same source, there was no resistance to their absorption.

The golden light continued to wrap around it, completely sealing Ji Yuzhen's slumbering primordial soul.

With a wave of his hand, Li Fan withdrew the golden light.

Next, he reappeared in a flash at the ruins of the Purple Cloud Sect, his gaze falling upon Mo Rubin below.

With a cold snort, Li Fan did not disturb Mo Rubin.

Instead, he silently began weaving a massive golden net outside Mo Rubin's hidden space.

The immortal array's degradation deduction from the Doomsday Disintegration Disc had already yielded initial results.

Although essence energy was used in place of immortal spiritual energy for the formation, its power was inevitably somewhat weaker compared to a true immortal array.

Yet, it could still be considered at the peak of mortal power, unbreakable by anything less than a Grand Zenith.

Mo Rubin never awoke from beginning to end. The space he occupied was already enveloped by the immortal array and successfully relocated.

After temporarily placing the two remaining Black Heaven Sect Dharma Kings together, Li Fan did not awaken them.

Upon learning of the Azure Nether Pearl's existence from Ji Yuzhen's memories, a vague plan began to form in his mind.

"The cultivation methods practiced by both Mo Rubin and Ji Yuzhen originated from the Azure Nether Pearl's inheritance."

"Does this mean there's an extremely subtle connection between them and the Azure Nether Pearl? Even if this connection is almost imperceptible, it must be real."

"It's like the divine tree on the Profound Immortal Ark, which evolved from a Seed of Transformation, still sensing Ruomu, who devoured the extraterrestrial divine wood of the Mysterious Yellow Divine Wood Sect."

"In the previous life, the Profound Immortal Ark used the power of True Immortal Runes to amplify these subtle connections, allowing it to traverse the star sea and pinpoint the Mysterious Yellow Realm's location beneath the Immortal Ruins."

"If I follow this method, I might be able to trace the Azure Nether Pearl, and perhaps even the Black Heaven King's whereabouts,” Li Fan mused, his eyes gleaming.

The only obstacle currently was that the True Immortal Runes he had learned while possessing Zhao Xian on the Profound Immortal Ark in his previous life did not include those that amplified connections between things.

However, this wasn't a major issue for Li Fan.

Soon, he would be taking Venerable Yin and a few others to the Great Wall of the Fragmented Realm, beneath the high wall, passing by the Profound Immortal Ark on the way.

Having a thorough understanding of the temperament of the influential elders on the Immortal Ark, Li Fan believed it wouldn't be difficult to "borrow" this True Immortal Rune.

Having set up the pseudo-immortal array and sealed the two Black Heaven Sect Dharma Kings, the essence energy accumulated over these days had been completely depleted. Maintaining the immortal array's operation also required a continuous supply of essence energy.

"Without Cat Treasure's life-form simulation and marrow-cleansing functions, replicating the Grand Heavenly Venerate's bloodline is still beyond my current means."

"I can only use the exotic beast flesh-and-blood factory cultivation method to produce as many Nether Race individuals as possible."

In this life, Li Fan entrusted the task of cultivating the Nether Race to the Empire's Minor World.

With Xu Ke's intervention, the Empire's Minor World offered no resistance. Little Qing, Little Hong, and the Imperial Daughter immediately put their efforts into practice after receiving the experience and memory inheritance from Li Fan's Dao-preaching illusion.

The entire Empire's Minor World dedicated all its strength to cultivating the Nether Race.

"Compared to direct replication in a flesh-and-blood factory, it still requires a full growth cycle, making it significantly less efficient. But it's the best method available right now."

Of course, Li Fan could also generate large amounts of essence energy through the surviving statue of the Faceless True Immortal. If he could escape the True Immortal's net once, he could escape countless times.

To a certain extent, he could almost ignore the threat posed by the Faceless True Immortal.

Especially now that he was aware of Cat Treasure's existence.

"I wonder what would happen if the Faceless True Immortal were to be drawn here and then accidentally encounter Cat Treasure...” Such a scene couldn't help but form in Li Fan's mind.

Of course, it was just a fleeting thought.

Both the Faceless True Immortal and Cat Treasure were beings beyond his control.

Even Li Fan's greatest trump card at the moment, an immortal-level grand array, probably couldn't shake them in the slightest.

So, for now, he could only avoid them.

"But soon enough,” Li Fan's eyes gleamed slightly.

After his Dao integration in this life, he might just seize the opportunity to test them.

Time flew by.

There were still ten days until Venerable Yin and the others made their final decision.

During this period, besides sending out Dao-preaching illusions to continue spreading his teachings in the Grand Profound Minor World, Li Fan also sought out Ouyang Daozi and his son, Ouyang Shangtian.

Ouyang Daozi was inconsequential; Ouyang Shangtian was the important one.

At this point, the power of the Qiankun Bone Hand and the Myriad Deaths Tome within him had not yet truly awakened.

As wondrous artifacts of heaven and earth fused with immortal artifacts, both possessed incredible power.

Particularly in this life, as the Mysterious Yellow Realm underwent transformation and sublimation, these two wondrous artifacts within Ouyang Shangtian were also undergoing corresponding changes.

Li Fan observed the specific circumstances within Ouyang Shangtian's body.

The Qiankun Bone Hand had merged with Ouyang Shangtian's arm, making it almost indistinguishable.

As for the Myriad Deaths Tome, it was hidden in Ouyang Shangtian's Sea of Consciousness.

At present, it was just a faint, translucent mark, yet to reveal its true form.

"So this is what they call a Child of Destiny, isn't it?”

Li Fan sensed that the wondrous artifacts within Ouyang Shangtian still maintained a connection with the Mysterious Yellow Realm's Heavenly Dao, and he couldn't help but think this.

He tried to discern the patterns of immortal artifacts circulating between heaven and earth after being devoured by the Mysterious Yellow Realm, hoping to discover more traces of ancient immortal artifacts.

However, it appeared to be purely random.

Ouyang Shangtian's physique itself had nothing special about it.

It was merely chosen by the Mysterious Yellow Heavenly Dao at birth to serve as a symbiotic host for the immortal artifacts.

Based on Li Fan's understanding of the Mysterious Yellow Heavenly Dao, its actions must have some hidden purpose.

After all, Mysterious Yellow cultivators consumed heaven and earth, and the Heavenly Dao harbored immense hatred for cultivators.

There was no reason for the Heavenly Dao to bless cultivators.

"The only logical explanation is that the Mysterious Yellow Heavenly Dao doesn't possess the ability to digest these immortal artifacts on its own."

"Therefore, it needs to transit them through cultivators."

"The immortal artifacts are first transformed by a cultivator's body, and after the cultivator's demise, the power contained within the artifacts is returned to the heavens and then absorbed by the Mysterious Yellow Heavenly Dao...”

Li Fan looked up at the Mysterious Yellow Realm's sky. “What a clever scheme,” he murmured.

Placing his hand on the sleeping Ouyang Shangtian's head, Li Fan sensed the process of the two wondrous artifacts merging into his body. He slowly confirmed his conjecture.

"This method, however, is worth learning,” he thought.

In his other hand, an ancient mirror appeared.

It was none other than the Sun family's most precious treasure, the Immeasurable Mirror.

Its mirror spirit had already been erased by Li Fan.

Replaced by a simulated persona.

The Sun family, meanwhile, remained completely unaware of their treasure's absence.

Due to the scarcity of essence energy, the Calamity of Annihilation Wind hidden within the Immeasurable Mirror had not yet been completely removed.

Thus, Li Fan had no immediate plans to use the Immeasurable Mirror.

Although the Immeasurable Mirror was an immortal artifact, its most crucial deduction function was completely useless to Li Fan. Furthermore, due to the influence of the Calamity of Annihilation Wind, there was no immortal spiritual energy within it.

To Li Fan, the value of this Immeasurable Mirror was truly low.

Li Fan had even previously attempted to disassemble the Immeasurable Mirror using the white circle, Luo Fanchen, to see if it could decompose and transform into immortal spiritual energy.

Unfortunately, it seemed Luo Fanchen had some inherent limitation regarding immortal artifacts. The white circle's decomposition ability did not activate.

"It's not that it can't be disassembled, but rather that there's a special limitation,” Li Fan mused, his mind wandering about the white circle's origins.

He had originally thought the Immeasurable Mirror would henceforth be a practically useless item he carried around.

However, the Mysterious Yellow Realm's approach gave Li Fan an idea.

"If I transform the Immeasurable Mirror into a wondrous artifact of laws, and then have it merge into the Mysterious Yellow Heavenly Dao through a cultivator's demise...”

"Expanding on that idea, it wouldn't just be limited to immortal artifacts like the Immeasurable Mirror."

"Perhaps any foreign object from the star sea could be processed in this manner."

"This would provide another way to strengthen the Mysterious Yellow Realm, in addition to the star sea's resurgence, immortal spiritual energy, and the residual power of the fragmented realms."

Li Fan gripped the Immeasurable Mirror tightly in his hand.

The Mysterious Yellow World-Ending Transformation: The passage of time, the changing of seas into mulberry fields, instantly activated.

This particular transformation allowed the Mysterious Yellow Realm to accelerate its own evolution, hoping to find a way to counter the world-ending calamity.

Instantly, the space-time around the Immeasurable Mirror seemed to accelerate countless times over.