Chapter 1353: Immortal Puppet Secretly Boards the Boat

So far, the process of finding and integrating the Immortal Realm chess pieces has been too smooth. So smooth, in fact, that Li Fan couldn't help but suspect they might get stuck at the very last moment when the Immortal Realm Law fragments are supposed to merge.

If Sun Piaomiao truly left behind any restrictive measures, then the Medicine King Sect, as her descendants, should be able to bypass these restrictions to some extent.

This was just the first consideration. Li Fan's gaze swept over the seven Dao-melding cultivators from the Medicine King Sect who were present. "In the past, your cultivation might have barely counted as top-tier among cultivators. But ten thousand years have passed, and times have changed; now you are somewhat weak. It would even be difficult for you to assist me." "Therefore, I intend to help you enhance your power within a short period."

Upon hearing this, Liu Ruchen cautiously asked, "When Senior mentioned enhancing our power, did you mean...?" "Cultivators nowadays practice by devouring heaven and earth. It is precisely because they convert the power of heaven and earth for their own use, wielding its might in every action, that they can control spiritual energy on a scale far exceeding ancient cultivators." As Li Fan spoke, various aspects of cultivation that defied the principles of heaven and earth were presented before everyone.

The expressions on the faces of the Medicine King Sect's Dao-melding cultivators were not good. "No wonder the heavens brought down calamities because this cultivation method cannot coexist with the Law; it's simply a crooked path..." Liu San muttered softly.

Li Fan scoffed, "What is evil? What is righteousness? In the cultivation world, there is only strength and weakness! If the strong say the new law is righteous, then the new law is righteous!" Although the Medicine King Sect members disagreed with these words, they dared not refute him under Li Fan's imposing presence.

Li Fan shook his head slightly. "So be it. Perhaps only when you personally experience the marvels of the new law will your perspectives change." With a gentle wave of his hand, detailed information about various Celestial Spirits instantly appeared before everyone.

"Each of you, choose one. I will help you meld with the Dao again using the new law." The seven cultivators instantly trembled. "I choose this one, Scarlet Serpent," Jiang Yushan was the first to speak.

As a former warden of the Boundless Prison, Jiang Yushan had slain countless beings and cared nothing for distinctions between good and evil. As long as it could enhance her strength, she was willing to try. "Good! You have keen insight! The power of this Scarlet Serpent is balanced and peaceful. It can soothe the after-effects of the rampant killing intent within you," Li Fan nodded in approval.

With someone taking the lead, the remaining Dao-melding cultivators from the Medicine King Sect exchanged glances and no longer held back. They began selecting their choices. Soon, the division of the Celestial Spirits was complete.

"Without further delay, I will now take you hunting." A phantom wooden sword emerged from its sheath, enveloping the cultivators present. In an instant, they found themselves in the Profound Yellow Realm.

Even through the protection of the sword's phantom, Liu Ruchen and the others could still sense the faint influence of the cosmic principles that rendered cultivation incompatible with the Law. "I cannot always protect you. The 'World-Saving Longevity Scripture' only needs Liu Ruchen to cultivate it. The rest of you may switch to other Dao-melding cultivation methods." As Li Fan spoke, he displayed information on thousands of genuine Dao-melding techniques for everyone.

The power of each technique was no less than that of the 'World-Saving Longevity Scripture,' dazzling them. "We'll discuss this after you've returned to the Dao-melding state." "For now, focus your minds."

Li Fan's figure floated above everyone's heads. He looked up at the sky and casually cast a spell. Dark clouds surged, and winds howled with thunder. A gigantic vortex instantly formed in the sky. Like a rift in the firmament, countless bolts of lightning flashed within it.

Li Fan murmured in a voice only he could hear, "Pervert the Heavenly Principles!" The five-character mantra echoed in reverse to the heavens. Li Fan acted as if on a false heavenly mandate. Soon after, seven indistinct figures were simultaneously summoned, appearing within the vortex.

These were precisely the favored Celestial Spirits that the Medicine King Sect members and others had chosen earlier! As the seven Celestial Spirits materialized, the eyes of the Medicine King Sect members instantly turned bloodshot.

Each figure was like a longevity elixir, tempting to cultivators. And now, all seven had gathered... If not for Li Fan's power, which suppressed them firmly, this group of Dao-melding cultivators from the Medicine King Sect would likely have lost their minds and charged forward recklessly.

Faced with such immense temptation, Li Fan's expression remained unchanged. As the Celestial Spirits materialized, an immortal formation silently sealed off the area. The Celestial Spirits' perceptions were remarkably sharp.

Sensing their connection to the world's origin severed, they immediately awoke from their daze. But before they could make any moves, a shadowy cloud in the shape of five fingers had already covered them.

Li Fan, with an understated motion, pressed down with a palm. The seven Celestial Spirits, however, felt as if the weight of the entire world had been imposed upon them! In an instant, they were rendered immobile! Moreover, the invisible shackles and restraining power weighing on them grew stronger and stronger.

Li Fan slightly bent his fingers, transforming his palm into a claw. Bang! Bang! Bang! The sounds of the Celestial Spirits' law-bodies shattering inch by inch continuously echoed! Under the terrifying immense force, their figures were forced to stoop.

At the critical moment of life and death, the power of law within their bodies attempted a final struggle, boiling and surging, trying to escape Li Fan's control. But just like persistent waves crashing, they ultimately could not shake the mighty dam standing firm.

All the struggles of the Celestial Spirits were destined to be futile. Their dying burst not only failed to shake off their shackles but instead accelerated their demise.

Even while consumed by mind-numbing greed, the scene of Li Fan suppressing the seven Celestial Spirits with a single palm profoundly shocked the Dao-melding cultivators from the Medicine King Sect who were present.

It wasn't until Li Fan's reprimand came that they recovered from their shock: "What are you still standing there for?" Liu Ruchen and the others felt the restraining power on them disappear, and they no longer suppressed their inner desires.

They rushed towards their predetermined targets. Against the Celestial Spirits suppressed by Li Fan, they unleashed their killing moves.

It was only when they truly engaged with the Celestial Spirits that the Dao-melding cultivators from the Medicine King Sect truly experienced the immense power of heaven and earth. Even though the Celestial Spirits could not retaliate and simply endured their attacks, and even though they had already been severely wounded by Li Fan's single palm strike,

The cultivators still nearly exhausted all their spiritual energy just to barely kill these Celestial Spirits. "Even among all Celestial Spirits, the ones Senior chose for us are definitely top-tier," a thought involuntarily surfaced in their minds.

"And yet, such powerful Celestial Spirits had no power to resist before Senior..." The Medicine King Sect members, among others, once again gained a clear, quantifiable understanding of Li Fan's strength.

As each Celestial Spirit was slain, Li Fan also released the immortal formation's seal. Inheriting the power of the Celestial Spirits, the fundamental power of the Profound Yellow Realm's laws poured down directly from the gigantic vortex in the sky.

Like clouds pouring from the heavens, it descended upon the Medicine King Sect members and others. Their auras surged exponentially. Seven newly ascended Dao-melding Immortal Venerables had arrived in the Profound Yellow Realm!

Concurrently, phenomena appeared between heaven and earth. The demise of a single Celestial Spirit was enough to shake the heavens and earth. With seven falling at once... phenomena identical to those occurring after a cultivator's death illuminated the sky.

The Medicine King Sect members felt the pervasive, almost tangible, terrifying malevolence of heaven and earth surrounding them! Although Li Fan did not personally act, he perverted the principles of heaven and earth to suppress the Celestial Spirits.

He was also the prime culprit behind the Celestial Spirits' demise! The malevolence of heaven and earth he faced was hundreds, even thousands, of times greater than what the Dao-melding cultivators of the Medicine King Sect combined experienced! Their previous goodwill vanished, as if they were facing an irreconcilable enemy.

Being an enemy of heaven and earth, malevolence concretized around him, morphing into sinister whispers. This made the Medicine King Sect members, who had always upheld the belief of saving the world and its people, feel unaccustomed to it.

But to ask them to return the power they had already gained to the heavens... that was impossible. They would rather fight against heaven and earth!

In this situation, Li Fan, calm and prepared, stood before the Medicine King Sect's Dao-melding cultivators. Looking directly at the sky, he explained the reason for his actions.

The process of Profound Yellow's sublimation would be aided by several forces. For instance, the power of the revived Star Sea, or the residual power from other sealed cultivation worlds. And also, the immortal spirit power from the Great Celestial Venerable's legacy.

Such numerous, complex, yet immense powers were like strong doses of medicine. Given the Profound Yellow Realm's current battered and weak state, it might not be able to withstand them. Therefore, a "medicine primer" was needed as a buffer.

The Dao-melding cultivators from the Medicine King Sect who had consumed the Profound Yellow Realm's Celestial Spirits today were this very "medicine primer"! Next, Li Fan would first infuse them with the power to revive Profound Yellow, using various methods.

This was not about granting them power. Instead, they would serve as intermediary and buffering vessels. When the Profound Yellow Realm officially sublimated, these Dao-melding Immortal Venerables would perish, and all their accumulated power would return to the heavens!

External application and internal use, a two-pronged approach! The remedy would cure the illness, and sublimation would be within reach! Li Fan's convincing explanation could largely be summarized in a few words: "I am doing all this for your own good!"

However, these reasons were not fabricated by Li Fan. They were indeed true. Even the Profound Yellow Heavenly Dao could sense this.

The current Profound Yellow Realm was too far from its sublimated goal. The total power it intended to absorb subtly exceeded the realm's own capacity. There was indeed a possibility of it being too weak to handle such a drastic 'replenishment'.

The rapidly increasing malevolence of heaven and earth suddenly ceased. The Profound Yellow Heavenly Dao seemed to be pondering. Then, after a brief stalemate, the malevolence slowly receded.

This scene, from the perspective of the Medicine King Sect members, showed Li Fan facing the Profound Yellow heavens and earth alone, and then, by some unknown method, making the malevolence of heaven and earth completely vanish.

Such methods were truly unheard of. The Medicine King Sect members' awe for Li Fan deepened.

With the successful Dao-melding through the new law, their strength soared significantly. Especially Liu Ruchen, whose injuries not only fully recovered but who also gained insights during the Dao-melding process.

At this moment, Liu Ruchen, having returned to the Grand Profound Minor World, was reporting her insights to Li Fan. "According to what Senior previously said, to advance further in Dao-melding with the new law means to defy the principles of heaven and earth."

"However, during our Dao-melding process, we have already consumed Celestial Spirits. What are Celestial Spirits? They are the concretization of heavenly and earthly laws, the continuation of cosmic principles." "Therefore, to defy these principles, the easiest way to begin is to follow the clues, to seek out the person behind the shadow. To find the principles of heaven and earth that lie behind the Celestial Spirit you consumed."

Liu Ruchen spoke eloquently: "For example, I consumed the Celestial Spirit 'Azure Thread.' This actually pertains to the continuation of the principle of vitality." "With a specific direction, the principles of heaven and earth are no longer elusive. Through continuous cultivation and comprehension, one can find the origin of these principles. However, reversing these heavenly principles is almost unimaginably difficult."

"...It's like trying to lift oneself by pulling on one's own hair. Without relying on external forces, it's virtually an impossible feat."

Li Fan listened quietly to Liu Ruchen's exposition. It had to be said that Liu Ruchen's comprehension was indeed exceptional, enabling her to succeed as a sect leader.

The other newly ascended Dao-melding cultivators of the Medicine King Sect listened attentively, all showing thoughtful expressions. Finally, after Liu Ruchen had nothing more to say, everyone collectively looked at Li Fan.

"To comprehend so much on your very first day of Dao-melding with the new law, you are truly impressive." Li Fan's faint praise left Liu Ruchen flattered.

"However, you are still thinking too simply. Over thousands of years in the Profound Yellow Realm, only a handful of individuals have been able to defy the principles and attain longevity." "Furthermore, no new long-lived beings have appeared for a long time. Why is this?" "Think about it carefully."

Li Fan's guidance abruptly ceased, causing a subtle change in the expressions of the Medicine King Sect members as their minds wandered.

Following this, the seven Dao-melding cultivators of the Medicine King Sect led very fulfilling lives. They switched to new Dao-melding techniques and solidified their newly acquired foundations. Occasionally, they would listen to the phantom of the Saint Master preach from beneath the sermon platform. They would also spar with a senior whose aura was mysterious and unfathomable, and who was not good with words.

Even when this senior stood still, the Medicine King Sect's Dao-melding cultivators, despite exerting their full strength, could not harm him in the slightest. This allowed them to fully unleash and test what they had learned.

As for the other disciples of the Medicine King Sect... Li Fan looked at the pink eye, slightly smaller than the silver eye beside it, that had branched off before him.

Thousands of threads converged to form a thick, long bridge, connecting the silver and pink eyes. "The power of Oblivion permeates the Profound Yellow Realm; it's not confined solely to the territory of the Five Elders Association."

"Therefore, one doesn't need to go to the Five Elders Association to enter the Carefree Paradise. It's just that previously, no method was found." "But now, I have dispatched a total of 9,632 vanguards..."

"The Simulated Heavenly Grid fully synchronizes with their perceptions, allowing me to pinpoint the Carefree Paradise through their thoughts." The thousands of threads acting as a bridge were precisely the cultivators Li Fan had dispatched into the Carefree Paradise earlier.

And within the pink eye lay dormant vast numbers of Medicine King Sect disciples below the Dao-melding realm! With their actual bodies under Li Fan's control and direct orders from their Sect Master, these Medicine King Sect disciples could enforce strict commands even within the paradise.

Moreover, being part of the Medicine King Sect, they already shared an extraordinary rapport and bond. This made their exploration and actions within the paradise more efficient.

Besides the Medicine King Sect disciples, the pink eye also contained a large number of Grand Profound cultivators, densely arrayed, rushing into and exploring the paradise one after another.

The pink eye did not, in fact, decipher the paradise's secrets. It merely used the cultivators who had entered the paradise earlier to construct an entrance to the paradise within the Grand Profound Minor World.

The moment the pink eye formed, Li Fan had anticipated the direct presence of the Carefree Heavenly Venerable's power. Unfortunately, it seemed the Carefree Heavenly Venerable did not concern herself with such minor matters.

Failing to await the Carefree Heavenly Venerable, Li Fan was indeed somewhat disappointed. "I hope these people can bring me some surprises."

Li Fan always had a premonition that the secrets hidden within the Carefree Paradise might be more significant than he imagined.

Only one more piece was needed to fully restore the Immortal Realm. Li Fan first sealed the already collected pieces within the Grand Profound Minor World using an immortal formation.

Afterwards, he instructed the Dao-melding cultivators of the Medicine King Sect to arrange the Juntian ceremony in a mortal minor world, creating the illusion that he was still far away in Daqi, laboring over the ritual. His true body, however, remained unmoving, guarding Grand Profound.

He cast a phantom wooden sword, subtly sending Tianyang outside the Immortal Skiff. A wisp of his divine sense attached to the Tianyang Immortal Puppet, directing its actions.

Li Fan's true body did not personally undertake the theft because he had previously undergone the Juntian ceremony with the Immortal Skiff elders. Although the Immortal Skiff did not elaborate, Li Fan could vaguely surmise that all elders who participated in the Juntian ceremony could constantly sense his general location.

This sensation was not particularly strong; it even became ineffective outside the Immortal Skiff. However, close proximity would undoubtedly lead to instant detection.

The Immortal Skiff members were still useful to Li Fan; it wasn't yet time to fall out with them. Therefore, Li Fan decided to send Tianyang.

With a thought, the Tianyang Immortal Puppet's body expanded hundreds of times in an instant. It lay still, floating in the dark void, then suddenly accelerated, crashing towards the Immortal Skiff's location.

No aura emanated from the Tianyang Immortal Puppet. It was like a colossal meteor hurtling towards the Immortal Skiff.

Such a massive entity, brazenly charging, was naturally detected by the Immortal Skiff immediately. Because the Tianyang Immortal Puppet's speed wasn't excessively fast, they initially thought it was just ordinary debris.

They casually emitted a beam of light, intending to shatter the rock. But when the light struck Tianyang, it didn't even cause a ripple, and the impact continued. Only then did the Immortal Skiff abruptly realize something was wrong.

Several figures flashed into appearance one after another, led by Elder Jian Daosheng of the Immortal Skiff. Working together, they finally slowed down the Tianyang Immortal Puppet's impact speed.

They intercepted it outside the Immortal Skiff. "What is this?" Jian Daosheng asked with a strange expression.

Without Li Fan's instructions, Tianyang remained motionless with closed eyes, allowing the Immortal Skiff members to inspect it. A wisp of Li Fan's divine sense was hidden within the core immortal puppet, the Eternal Relic, concealed by an immortal formation.

"It seems to be... the corpse of some giant?" "No, this aura is extraordinary. And its bones..."

Soon, the few of them discovered the extraordinary nature of the Tianyang Immortal Puppet. Jian Daosheng dared not delay and immediately sent out a message.

Before long, the other Immortal Skiff elders arrived upon hearing the news. After all, being a civilization that had existed since ancient times, the Immortal Skiff members' knowledge was truly extraordinary.

They quickly grasped the general details of the Tianyang Immortal Puppet. "The remnants of an immortal artifact as its bones, true immortal flesh and blood as its skin. Hiss..." "Is this an immortal puppet?"

The elders were filled with doubt and astonishment, all standing frozen on the spot. "How could it have drifted here by chance?" "There's definitely something strange. Caution is best!" Everyone sensed an air of conspiracy.

"What should we do?" The elders looked at Zhong Daogong. Zhong Daogong pondered, then cast an unveiling talisman towards the Tianyang Immortal Puppet in front of them.

He wanted to use the power of True Immortal Seals to glimpse the origins behind this immortal puppet. However, to his surprise, although the immortal puppet lay dormant, it possessed a mysterious force field defense.

The True Immortal Seals, possessing immense power, could not affect the sleeping immortal puppet in the slightest! This discovery caused the Immortal Skiff elders to change expressions.

"This..." One had to remember that the Immortal Skiff's greatest reliance was on various True Immortal Seals. Now, an entity had descended from the heavens that was inherently immune to True Immortal Seals; how could they not feel terrified?

Zhong Daogong extended a hand, calming everyone. He stared at the Tianyang Immortal Puppet with a solemn expression.

Then Zhong Daogong first returned to the Immortal Skiff, and when he reappeared, he held a green, water-like dagger. Lights shimmered continuously around him as Zhong Daogong set up numerous protections and cautiously approached the Tianyang Immortal Puppet.

He attempted to use this green dagger to cut off a piece of flesh. Li Fan had previously visited the first and second levels of the Immortal Skiff's secret treasury but had not seen this dagger.

And this item, containing unknown power, could actually slowly penetrate the force field around the Tianyang Immortal Puppet! But... when the dagger met the true immortal flesh and blood, it produced a clang like metal striking metal.

It could not pierce it in the slightest. The green hue on the dagger rippled, as if it had suffered a great impact. A trace of pain flashed in Zhong Daogong's eyes; knowing the task was impossible, he quickly put away the dagger and rapidly retreated.

Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, he said to those present, "It is indeed an immortal puppet, no doubt. The pressure from the true immortal flesh and blood, and the protection that can ignore the power of True Immortal Seals..."

The Immortal Skiff elders' expressions changed again. After a round of discussions, they tried various methods but were still unable to truly break through the Tianyang Immortal Puppet's defenses, not even managing to cut off a single piece of true immortal flesh.

The elders, looking at the immortal puppet before them, were filled with reluctance. Then, without knowing what decision had been made, most of the Immortal Skiff elders collectively withdrew.

Only three elders remained, guarding the immortal puppet from a distance. One day, two days... Days passed, and the Tianyang Immortal Puppet remained quietly in the dark void, without the slightest movement.

Meanwhile, the elders responsible for guarding it on the Immortal Skiff rotated through successive shifts. From initial smooth handovers, arguments gradually began to arise later on.

Thus, half a year later, a group of Immortal Skiff elders gathered once more near the Tianyang Immortal Puppet. "It's not a solution to just leave this immortal puppet here," one said.

"Indeed, someone always needs to guard it. It appeared mysteriously from the starry sky; if we don't stop it, it might return to the stars one day."

"We can only watch it like this. Are we supposed to bring it back to the Immortal Skiff? The risk is too great." "Exactly, this immortal puppet's arrival is far too strange..."

The elders argued incessantly. Yet, during their discussions, their eyes remained fixed on the Tianyang Immortal Puppet not far away.

Ultimately, it was Zhong Daogong who interrupted their conversation: "Over the past half-year, our study of the force field surrounding this immortal puppet has yielded some minor results."

"But it's clear that if we could completely deconstruct the immortal puppet..." A flicker of greed appeared in the eyes of the Immortal Skiff elders.

"Bringing the immortal puppet back to the Immortal Skiff certainly carries immense risk. However, I believe it might be worth a try. After all, from the current situation, only that one thing can break through this immortal puppet's defenses."

At these words, the entire area fell silent. Soon after, the elders nodded in agreement.

Through silent glances, their opinions gradually converged. The elders worked together, as if weaving a net, and dragged the Tianyang Immortal Puppet into the Immortal Skiff.