Chapter 1328: Ten Thousand Years of Favorability

The Enraged Squid:

“As my body becomes the universe, my will journeys through the starry river. Taijia boundless, spirit wanders; Taijia unchangeable, spirit transforms; Taijia without void, spirit…”

Li Fan chanted continuously in his heart.

In his vision, just like the experience of the Sacred Emperor before him, the seemingly utterly dark and desolate Star Sea suddenly illuminated with countless specks of light.

This time, however, was different from directly touching the true essence of the Star Sea’s origin.

With the Taijia Divine Art acting as a “translator” between them, Li Fan felt that the true essence of the Star Sea’s origin naturally developed a degree of goodwill towards him. Not only did its contempt for “ant-like” beings fade and disappear, but Li Fan even perceived that the Star Sea’s consciousness was listening.

How vast was the disparity between a cultivator and the immense Star Sea?

Yet, by virtue of the Taijia Divine Art, this difference could be significantly reduced! While this was partly due to the Star Sea being in a new ecological state of recovery after its destruction, and Li Fan’s power having already reached the pinnacle of mortals within the Star Sea, it must be said that the Taijia Divine Art was indeed an extremely profound divine ability.

“Only with a sufficiently high understanding of the Star Sea’s essence could this divine ability have been created.”

“Perhaps, the creator of this divine art ascended to become an immortal long ago,” a thought suddenly flashed through Li Fan’s mind.

However, he did not forget the purpose of this communication.

Maintaining the active state of the Taijia Divine Art, Li Fan’s expression was solemn. He first extolled the greatness of the Star Sea and its recovery from destruction. Then, he elaborated on the Star Sea’s current state of deathly silence, emphatically pointing out the sole source of life within it: the Xuanhuang Realm. Finally, Li Fan sincerely implored the Star Sea’s consciousness for its assistance in elevating the Xuanhuang Realm and escaping the Immortal Ruins.

It was akin to an ancient emperor offering sacrifices and prayers to the heavens.

After articulating his plea, Li Fan remained silent, patiently awaiting a response from the Star Sea’s origin consciousness.

It seemed he had posed a difficult problem for It, as the Star Sea’s consciousness remained silent for a long time. However, Li Fan felt that their connection had not been severed, so he continued to stand and wait.

During his communion with the Star Sea’s consciousness, various thoughts and insights concerning the Dao of the Star Sea flooded in. It was as if he had entered the legendary state of “unity between heaven and man,” experiencing continuous epiphanies every moment. To Li Fan’s slight regret, however, these insights were like waves on a surging sea. Though they rose and fell, they quickly dissipated back into the water as the larger waves crashed down.

“These aren’t my own insights, but merely phenomena that naturally arise from being in a special state. As for how much I can ultimately retain, that depends on my own fortune...” Li Fan understood in his heart.

Immersed in this nearly enlightened state, an unknown amount of time passed. The Star Sea’s consciousness finally provided an answer. Afterward, Li Fan was forcibly expelled, and his connection with the Star Sea’s consciousness was severed. The Taijia Divine Art could not be used again for a period of time. A peculiar summoning ritual, along with a deeper understanding of the divine art’s mechanism, simultaneously appeared in Li Fan’s mind.

“It seems the principle of the Taijia Divine Art is to consume the Star Sea’s origin consciousness’s goodwill. This goodwill slowly accumulates over time. Since the destruction of Taijia, no cultivator has performed this divine art for ten thousand years. Therefore, the accumulated goodwill over these years reached an astonishing level. That’s why I just had the feeling that the Star Sea was listening...” Li Fan, having completed a Star Sea communication ritual, suddenly understood.

“However, the goodwill accumulated over these years was directly depleted by the request I made. For at least the remaining twenty years of this life, It won’t be able to do anything useful for me. But it’s fine; after all, I’ve mastered this Taijia Divine Art. In the next life, I’ll have another ten thousand years’ worth of accumulated goodwill to expend.”

Perhaps the ten thousand years of accumulated goodwill were truly abundant. Or perhaps the elevation of the Xuanhuang Realm also benefited the Star Sea’s overall recovery. In any case, the Star Sea’s consciousness granted Li Fan’s request and promised its full assistance in the matter of Xuanhuang’s elevation. The ritual It conveyed was the method for receiving the Star Sea’s aid.

“Once the ritual is set up, the Star Sea will directly bestow its great power.”

“Even a nascent Star Sea is far beyond what the Xuanhuang Realm, a fusion of ten thousand realms, can compare to.”

“With this added layer of assistance, the plan for Xuanhuang’s elevation has gained several more assurances.”

A peculiar expression suddenly flashed in Li Fan’s eyes: “I just wonder if this ritual will still be useful in the next life?”

A moment later, Li Fan shook his head slightly, dismissing his own thought: “To put it plainly, this ritual is just a signal transmitter. Whether or not it exerts its power is still up to the Star Sea’s consciousness. Without a prerequisite for communication, the Star Sea would likely only feel disturbed and then enraged. Not only would there be no Star Sea aid, but it might even unleash disaster and punishment.”

After all the goodwill was consumed, Li Fan became indistinguishable from any other cultivator in the eyes of the Star Sea. As the duration of the Ascending Array also reached its limit, Li Fan promptly commanded the wooden sword phantom to depart, allowing the array to collapse.

The collapse of the towering peak stirred a few ripples in the center of the Star Sea. After the commotion gradually subsided, an extremely faint wisp of black gas unknowingly emerged. It was identical to the wisp of black gas produced earlier when Li Fan used the Ascending Array for the small world elevation experiment, causing the small world to fall from a great height and vanish. However, this time there was no small world falling; the black gas was purely born because this location was near where the Star Sea’s origin consciousness was most active.

Compared to the wisp later consumed by Jiang, the Conveyor of Laws, this trace in the center of the Star Sea appeared much weaker. However, this “weakness” was undoubtedly just an illusion. This wisp of black gas steadily grew stronger with the passage of time. Wherever it enveloped, the Star Sea, which had shown some signs of recovery, was plunged entirely into void.

Yet, strangely, the Star Sea’s origin consciousness did not detect the presence of this black gas, which was like a worm burrowing within it. It allowed the gas to continuously devour the Star Sea’s vitality, powerless to stop it. The growth rate of the black gas was extremely slow at first. However, as it consumed more regions of the Star Sea, its capacity for expansion continuously increased. Presumably, before long, this black gas of unknown origin would sweep across the Star Sea with terrifying speed.

At present, however, the black gas was still silently developing. All surviving beings in the Star Sea remained oblivious to this. As for Li Fan, the unwitting instigator, he also had no idea of the disaster he had carelessly caused.

He had now returned to the Xuanhuang Realm and recounted his experiences in the center of the Star Sea to Elder Yin and the others.

Bao Hwa exclaimed in continuous surprise, her eyes gleaming with joy: “Taijia Realm’s ten thousand years of accumulation have now become a wedding gown for the Xuanhuang Realm! With the Star Sea’s consciousness helping, Xuanhuang’s elevation is just around the corner!”

Elder Yin, however, was much calmer: “I previously found world fragments near the Taijia Realm remnants that could serve as a prime ingredient for Xuanhuang. However, because I rashly devoured the Taijia Realm fragments, the stability of the Remnant Realm Great Wall was affected. It will probably be some time until the reverberating stellar energy storm completely subsides before we can proceed with the next step of the plan.”

Bao Hwa became even more delighted: “It truly is smooth sailing, step by step. It seems we’ll be able to formally begin the Xuanhuang elevation plan in six months at most!”

Li Fan smiled: “It’s not that simple, though. Although we have the Star Sea’s assistance, we mustn’t become complacent. The Star Sea’s immense power is like a potent restorative medicine. If taken properly, it can naturally cure all ills. But if not properly administered...”

“The weak cannot endure such potent remedies and will instead suffer harm!”

Bao Hwa’s expression turned solemn at his words.

Drawing upon the principles of the Human-Heavenly World, Li Fan once again lectured the two, then assigned them their respective tasks.

“Xu Ke is still beneath the high wall; his life force is not extinguished, and he should have had another fortunate encounter. Since you created the reverberating stellar energy storm, you should go and retrieve him!” Li Fan said to Elder Yin.

“It is only right!” Elder Yin nodded in response.

Li Fan then looked at Bao Hwa: “During the journey to the Star Sea’s fringes, both Elder Yin and Xu Ke gained something, but while you returned safely, you were unfortunately without a fortunate encounter...”

Bao Hwa gave a bitter smile, then, as if something occurred to her, looked at Li Fan, a hint of expectation surfacing in her eyes.

“In the Star Sea, fortunate encounters aren’t limited to what’s beneath the high wall. Go and explore this place; you might find something.” Li Fan said, his expression unreadable, as he indicated a location within the utterly dark Star Sea not far from the Xuanhuang Realm.

“Remember, do not be greedy; safety comes first. If you find no connection there, simply return.”

Bao Hwa firmly committed the location Li Fan provided to memory, then cupped her hands in thanks.

Watching the two disappear one after another, and calculating that enough time had passed, Li Fan slowly made his way back to the Immortal Ark.

The location Li Fan indicated for Bao Hwa was a natural “high ground” outside the Xuanhuang Realm. Li Fan had passed by it several times during his flights. Although he hadn’t found anything obvious, he always had a faint feeling that some unknown secret might be hidden within. During this brief communication with the Star Sea’s consciousness, Li Fan became even more certain of his judgment. Therefore, he decided to have Bao Hwa investigate first. The already explored high grounds in the Star Sea, the high wall, and the Abyssal Sea, were all fraught with crises. Even though Li Fan now possessed sufficient self-preservation abilities, he still wouldn’t lead the charge himself.

Before long, he arrived outside the Profound Immortal Ark. He deliberately released his aura, and soon, the elders of the Immortal Ark arrived, surrounding Li Fan. Seeing Li Fan return as promised, they all first let out a sigh of relief. Then, their expressions turned solemn, and they inquired about the main business.

“Fellow Daoist, what did Daqi say...?” Jian Daosheng was the first to ask.

A flicker of annoyance crossed Li Fan’s eyes: “They are despicable, scheming wretches! It’s not worth mentioning!”

Zhong Daogong smiled faintly, his gaze flickering: “It seems, Fellow Daoist, that your persuasion failed?”

“Something like that,” Li Fan snorted. “I’ve already told my master about what I witnessed beneath the high wall, but they still don’t take it seriously.”

“My master even told me that in the Star Sea, such high points are actually not few. However, compared to the height of the Great Wall, these high points are like the difference between the peaks of earthly mountains and the vast sky...”

“To wish to cross it is a fool’s dream!”

Li Fan’s words caused all the elders of the Immortal Ark to slightly change their expressions.

“Without special means, merely using height alone indeed cannot traverse the high wall,” Zhong Daogong said with a faint, unreadable smile.

“However... Fellow Daoist just said there are many other high points in the Star Sea?” Zhong Daogong suddenly changed the subject, asking with a somewhat serious expression.

Li Fan nodded: “That’s right. My master even personally took me to one of them. It was true; although its position was a bit lower than that on the Remnant Realm Great Wall, one could still gaze upon the high wall from there.”

Upon hearing this, Zhong Daogong remained silent for a long time. After perhaps discussing something with the other elders, he slowly said after a good while, “It seems we of the Immortal Ark have indeed underestimated the people of this world. How could a civilization that has survived the Great Tribulation until now be simple?”

“Strong they may be, but they are timid as mice, lacking even the courage to try,” Li Fan retorted with a cold snort upon hearing this.

Zhong Daogong, in turn, took it upon himself to defend Daqi: “Fellow Daoist, you are thinking too simply about this matter. Even with traces left by predecessors, crossing the high wall would require a civilization to expend all its might. It cannot be described as a simple ‘try it out.’ They have lived securely in the Star Sea for tens of thousands of years, and perhaps will continue to survive. There’s absolutely no need to take such a dangerous gamble. Of course, Fellow Daoist, your life is short, so it’s understandable that you wish to grasp the true Dao before your death,” Zhong Daogong spoke eloquently.

Li Fan snorted again but did not argue further.

An awkward silence fell between the two parties for a moment.

It was Jian Daosheng who spoke again: “Of course, Fellow Daoist, rest assured. Our Immortal Ark’s conviction to traverse the high wall has never changed. If you wish to achieve your aspiration, cooperating with us is probably your only option.”

As if just remembering something, Li Fan frowned and asked: “What is the reason for your Immortal Ark’s persistence in this matter? Is it merely because another half of the Immortal Ark exists beyond the high wall?”

Jian Daosheng did not answer directly, but hinted: “Before this, the Immortal Ark’s situation was actually similar to yours, Fellow Daoist. Now, although there might be other opportunities, we’re already riding a tiger and can’t get off. Furthermore, with the precedent of the Shang Immortal Ark, we wish to replicate the feat of traversing the high wall...”

“It’s not as difficult as imagined.”

“Limited to our Profound Immortal Ark,” Zhong Daogong added.

Li Fan narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the elders of the Immortal Ark: “It seems your Immortal Ark still holds secrets.”

Zhong Daogong merely smiled without speaking.

“Since you have such confidence, how could I be timid?” Li Fan said in a deep voice. “I will do my utmost to help the Immortal Ark succeed. All that I have learned throughout my life from Daqi was originally not meant to be shared. But now...”

Upon hearing this, the eyes of the Immortal Ark elders couldn’t help but flicker with joy.

“To be frank, gentlemen, besides True Immortal Inscriptions, my humble self has delved deepest into the path of arrays. Furthermore, I also possess an ancient divine art capable of communicating with the Star Sea’s consciousness...” Li Fan held his head high, introducing himself to the assembled elders.

The elders of the Immortal Ark listened, their eyes shining with wonder.

“Are the True Immortal Inscriptions studied by Daqi the supreme creation that Fellow Daoist demonstrated to us last time?” Zhong Daogong, however, posed the most crucial question.

Li Fan immediately dropped the arrogance from his face.

“Given my status in Daqi, among the True Immortal Inscriptions I had access to, that one was indeed the highest creation. However...”