Chapter 1338: Same Fate as the Immortal Boat

The timing of these Immortal World law fragments appearing was too coincidental. Just as he was about to elevate the Xuanhuang World towards the Immortal World, they were discovered. Given Li Fan’s personality, it was hard for him not to immediately become suspicious. So he tried to slowly unravel the logical connections.

“The stealthiness of these chess pieces is truly frightening. Neither those aboard the Immortal Ark nor the Dharma-Transmitting Celestial Doctors, despite personally interacting with them multiple times over tens of thousands of years, detected any abnormalities.” “The only reason I so easily discovered the peculiarity of these pieces was purely due to Huanzhen’s guidance. Without Huanzhen, I would have considered them ordinary...”

Thinking of this, Li Fan’s heart stirred slightly. “From this perspective alone, it’s true that the chess pieces could be bait specifically targeting Huanzhen.” “However... there are many other things only Huanzhen can sense, such as the Eternal Vestiges. It’s simply that Huanzhen’s level is too high, so all these anomalies cannot hide from him.” “I can’t draw such a crude conclusion. But caution is certainly warranted.”

Li Fan observed the iridescent chess piece resting quietly within him. The piece seemed entirely independent of Li Fan. Spiritual energy, divine sense, and other powers flowed past its location without any obstruction, as if it didn’t exist at all. Aside from the “burden” of the integrated Immortal Realm fragment, the piece had no other effect on Li Fan.

“Thirteen gray chess pieces were hidden by Sun Piaomiao in thirteen cultivation worlds he had once visited. He recorded their world coordinates in his travelogue, passing them on to future generations.” “However, it’s clear these pieces were not crafted by Sun Piaomiao but by true Immortals from the Upper Realm. Perhaps they were preparations made by certain pessimists, a contingency for the Immortal Realm’s revival amidst the outbreak of the Calamity of Dao Annihilation.” “For some unknown reason, they fell into Sun Piaomiao’s hands.”

Li Fan pondered, his thoughts racing. “During Sun Piaomiao’s era, the Immortal Realm had not yet been destroyed, and the path to Immortality was not severed. Most true Immortals were still actively fighting the Calamity of Dao Annihilation. It’s conceivable that in such a time, the defeatist true Immortals who forged these pieces would not have been accepted by the mainstream and could only act in secret. Is that why they were secretly passed down to the lower realms?” “But for some unknown reason, these contingencies have not been activated to this day. The most likely scenario is that the true Immortals who forged them perished in the Calamity of Dao Annihilation that led to the Immortal Realm’s destruction.” “Or perhaps...” Li Fan narrowed his eyes, recalling the structure of the Immortal Ark’s Myriad Phenomena Yin-Yang Diagram.

“Throughout the entire Darkest Star Sea, no black and white chess pieces are found still on the chessboard. Only these ‘discarded’ gray pieces remain. Perhaps, in some unknown place beyond this high wall, those black and white pieces have already completed their mission of reshaping the Immortal Realm?” This was merely Li Fan’s speculation, unsupported by any current evidence.

“Regarding these gray chess pieces, Sun Piaomiao should know more. Sun Piaomiao himself is missing, but if there are any clues left in the Star Sea, the most likely place would be the Medicine King Cauldron he left behind at the Medicine King Sect.” “Fifteen years anchored, stars falling back to Xuanhuang. It’s coming soon...”

Although there might be hidden dangers behind these chess pieces, Li Fan certainly wouldn’t abandon his plan to elevate the Xuanhuang World by integrating an Immortal Realm fragment based on a mere “possibility” of danger. With Immortal Realm fragments as a foundation, the likelihood of the Xuanhuang World’s successful elevation was significantly greater.

Li Fan calmed his thoughts and looked at Reverend Yin and Baihua. They had witnessed the entire process of the gray chess piece integration. They dared not speak much, only watched in silence. Li Fan didn’t explain to them the birth of the Immortal Realm fragment after the piece integrated. However, they had guessed that these pieces, forged from dead worlds, likely played a crucial role in the Xuanhuang Ascension plan.

“Earlier, I asked you to check that location deep in the Star Sea; did you find anything?” Li Fan, who had been scrambling to collect chess pieces since returning to Daqi and only now found a moment of rest, gazed at Baihua and asked. In Li Fan’s estimation, it would have taken Baihua considerable effort to explore that unknown “high ground.” Yet, not long after, she returned and reunited with Reverend Yin at the edge of the Star Sea.

Baihua deliberated for a moment, then explained, “Perhaps it’s my incompetence. I searched for a long time in the direction you indicated, Holy Master, but found nothing unusual. Seeing that staying longer would be a waste of time, I reluctantly gave up and went with Fellow Daoist Yin to search for Xu Ke’s whereabouts.” “Perhaps that opportunity wasn’t meant for me,” Baihua sighed.

Li Fan nodded and asked again, “And what about Xu Ke’s trace? Any findings?” Reverend Yin replied, “We’ve had some success. We found that Xu Ke might have been drawn into a peculiar area within the Wall of Ruined Realms. The Wall of Ruined Realms is a convergence of countless destroyed worlds at the foot of the high wall. Though it consists of billions of fragments, they are subtly interconnected.”

“The principle behind its formation is still unclear for now, but perhaps it can be viewed as a long rope woven from countless fine threads. And the place where Xu Ke disappeared is a knot formed by this rope to maintain its own stability.” “However, just as we were about to explore that knot further, we received your message, Holy Master,” Reverend Yin said with some regret.

“A knot...” Li Fan mused for a moment, then continued, “It was a sudden development; to acquire the chess pieces, I had to ask for your help in putting on a show.” “The individuals you saw that day were from the Immortal Ark civilization at the edge of the Star Sea.” “To avoid revealing the existence of the Xuanhuang World, I previously disguised myself as a member of the non-existent Daqi civilization and interacted with them. The Xuanxian Ark is highly skilled at deciphering the true Immortal script power remaining in the Star Sea, and I also exchanged the true Immortal scripts I possessed with them several times. Both sides gained something from these exchanges.”

“This time, during the transaction, I accidentally discovered the presence of gray chess pieces within the Immortal Ark’s treasury.” “These pieces are far too important for the Xuanhuang Ascension to miss. Therefore, I resorted to a small trick...” Li Fan casually explained the cause and effect of the situation to them.

“The Xuanxian Ark still has some utility for the Xuanhuang World for now, so you should avoid contact with them to prevent exposure. Especially you, Reverend Yin, as your aura of life and death is too obvious; at a glance, they’d know you were the one who took the gray chess pieces,” Li Fan told Reverend Yin. Reverend Yin and Baihua naturally wouldn’t side with the Xuanxian Ark. They merely smiled, paying little mind to Li Fan’s clever acquisition of the gray chess pieces.

“There are still a few chess pieces remaining at the Immortal Ark and the Wall of Ruined Realms that haven’t been collected; just leave them to me. You two should first focus on investigating Xu Ke’s whereabouts.” “Once I’ve collected all the pieces, the ultimate Xuanhuang World won’t be far off,” Li Fan instructed. Reverend Yin’s expression was solemn as he nodded in agreement.

After giving his instructions, Li Fan first used the Horizon’s Edge Array to reach the outskirts of the Wall of Ruined Realms. His wooden sword phantom constantly shuttled through, and it took a considerable amount of effort to acquire all four remaining gray chess pieces from that location. Even with his heaven-defying escape technique, the depths of the Wall of Ruined Realms at the foot of the high wall were indeed fraught with danger.

The fluctuating, surging, wave-like reverberating starlight could only be barely countered by Li Fan’s wooden sword phantom for a large part. He still had to contend with the ubiquitous gravitational pull. Furthermore, constantly bearing the weight of the Immortal Realm meant that Li Fan’s consumption when using his wooden sword phantom escape technique was nearly two or three times what it normally was. Consequently, after collecting the four chess pieces from this area, Li Fan was already physically and mentally exhausted.

Yet, ultimately, the harvest was significant. Li Fan gazed within himself. Four gray chess pieces and one larger iridescent piece floated quietly. They faced each other remotely. Perhaps due to their small number, these newly acquired four pieces merely revolved around each other and did not react with the already integrated iridescent piece.

“Only two pieces remain now. One at the Xuanxian Ark, and one at the Medicine King Sect.” “Once all thirteen pieces are in place, if all goes as expected, a corner of the ancient Immortal Realm should be recreated.” Li Fan narrowed his eyes.

Then, he thrust out his palm, striking his own chest forcefully. He grunted, his already tired face turning even paler. Without mobilizing his spiritual power to heal his injuries, Li Fan maintained his current appearance and slowly headed towards the Immortal Ark.

Approaching the Immortal Ark, Li Fan made no attempt to conceal his aura, and the elders already reacted. Led by Zhong Daogong, they came out together to greet him. “Fortunately, I did not fail the mission,” Li Fan said lightly, clearing his throat and cupping his hands. “You’ve worked hard, Fellow Daoist!” Zhong Daogong said with a solemn expression, even bowing in a salute.

Li Fan frowned, dodging aside. He scoffed, “Don’t bother with these empty gestures. Although the ritual isn’t complicated, it took considerable effort to hide it from my Master and the Holy Masters.” “I don’t know the exact population covered by the ritual, but I imagine it should be enough.”

Zhong Daogong nodded with a smile. “Approximately one hundred million beings. That’s certainly enough to bear the backlash of performing the Juntian Divine Art.” “If that’s the case, there’s no need to keep anything from me anymore, is there?” Li Fan’s gaze swept over the elders present. “This isn’t the place to talk; let’s discuss it in detail once we’re inside the Immortal Ark.”

The Immortal Ark elders remained cautious as always. They proceeded to the deepest chamber within the Immortal-Slaying Pagoda, located at the top of the divine art’s structure. The black Xuan Jade floor was already intricately carved with mysterious patterns. Li Fan was no stranger to these symbols; they were part of the Juntian Divine Art ritual. It seemed the Immortal Ark elders were quite impatient.

The elders took their respective seats. Li Fan also received his position here. One hundred million beings served as his pledge of allegiance. One hundred million humans was an unimaginably vast number on the Xuanxian Ark, where survival resources were scarce and life was dwindling. Therefore, after Li Fan completed the ritual, coupled with his previous actions, he finally earned the absolute trust of everyone on the Immortal Ark.

“Fellow Daoist, please calm yourself.” “Please take a seat first and test the effects of the Juntian Divine Art,” Zhong Daogong said, pointing to Li Fan’s position. Li Fan didn’t hesitate, gracefully floating into the seat. The patterns beneath him instantly emitted a faint glow.

After he sat down, the scene in Li Fan’s vision also changed under the glow. The positions of the surrounding Immortal Ark elders shifted strangely in space. Initially, they were all seated on the same plane, but now, in Li Fan’s eyes, they were distributed within a three-dimensional cubic space. They were arranged in an orderly yet scattered manner, occupying every part of the cube. Li Fan, meanwhile, was at the center of the cube, the focal point of everyone’s gaze.

Li Fan’s expression remained unchanged. “The boundless heavens and earth, ancient and profound. Originally one entity, all beings equal...” The chanting voices of the Immortal Ark elders echoed. They were ancient, vast, and carried a hint of eeriness.

As the chanting continued, the elders raised their arms. Using their fingers as brushes, they began writing in the empty space before them. Each elder wrote not a complete true Immortal script, but only a segment of the incredibly complex characters. To Li Fan, it suddenly seemed as if countless moving lines appeared around him. These lines encircled him, and as they continuously perfected themselves, the character ‘均’ (Jūn - meaning ‘equal’ or ‘even’) slowly took shape.

In an instant, Li Fan’s body trembled slightly. His vision uncontrollably floated upwards, eventually stopping at a fixed position. From this vantage point, looking down, the magical structures inscribed by all the elders on different planes combined to form the character ‘均’ on a single plane! And Li Fan’s body was suppressed directly in its center!

The character ‘均’ was somewhat more complex than other characters Li Fan had seen before, such as ‘饥’ (Jī - hunger) or ‘乱’ (Luàn - chaos). While not comparable to ‘造化’ (Zàohuà - creation/good fortune), it possessed its own unique profound mystery. Under the pervasive power of the Juntian Divine Art, Li Fan slowly began to feel the changes occurring in his body. Li Fan also checked his Huanzhen panel.

His lifespan, which had originally only ten years remaining, was now slowly increasing! Strands of black began to appear amidst his full head of white hair. Bursts of vitality materialized out of thin air, nourishing Li Fan’s decaying flesh.

However, Li Fan was not delighted by this sudden increase in lifespan; he merely continued to observe Huanzhen with utmost caution. It wasn’t until the transmitted vitality gradually depleted and the Juntian Divine Art ritual concluded that Li Fan finally relaxed, as Huanzhen had shown no other reactions besides the changes in his physiological age on the panel.

“Indeed, a mere ‘均’ character is not enough to affect Huanzhen.” “It only affects the target locked by the Juntian Divine Art, such as the lifespan that was extended for me this time.” “Other aspects, like divine sense or cultivation, remained unchanged.”

After carefully examining his internal condition, Li Fan reached his conclusion. He then looked at the members of the Immortal Ark Elder Council. Compared to before the ritual, they all undoubtedly appeared somewhat older. However, because the lifespan reduction was evenly distributed among them, it wasn’t very noticeable.

“How do you feel?” Zhong Daogong asked on behalf of the elders. Hearing this, Li Fan pretended to awaken from a dream, looking at his rejuvenated body. He then bowed to the elders, expressing his gratitude for this life-saving grace. The Immortal Ark elders all returned the bow.

“From now on, we are all family,” Zhong Daogong said very seriously.

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