Chapter 1394: Mysterious Yellow Ascension Domain

All the shifting patterns on the stone slab had smoothed out and become hidden. It looked exactly like an ordinary stone slab from the mortal world, utterly unremarkable. However, Li Fan had personally witnessed the stone slab's divine power before, so how could he be fooled by its current seemingly ordinary appearance?

"The key is how to activate the stone slab's power," Li Fan mused, lost in thought.

The stone slab in his hand remained unresponsive to any external stimuli. Neither spiritual energy, primeval essence, nor even the power of True Immortal flesh and blood or the Calamity Wind of Annihilation, could elicit the slightest reaction from it when used to approach or threaten it. Li Fan could even faintly sense that the stone slab truly possessed no defensive power whatsoever against the various forces he used to test it. If these forces were to advance further and actually touch the slab, it would likely be torn to pieces in an instant.

"This..." Given that it concerned his success in attaining Dao-union and ascension in this life, Li Fan's eyes flickered. He ultimately decided to temporarily abandon the idea of testing it by directly destroying it.

His gaze swept over the stone slab repeatedly. Recalling how it had displayed immense divine power at the center of the mysterious formation earlier, a thought suddenly arose in Li Fan's mind.

"Could it be that this stone slab, in its ordinary state, is indeed exactly what it appears to be—an utterly mundane object? And that its various wondrous properties are only activated when placed within that unknown formation?"

Li Fan couldn't help but look towards the mysterious formation not far away, which seemed to have dissipated into the heavens and earth after the stone slab was removed.

"It was so difficult to retrieve it; am I really just going to put it back?" An indecisive expression flickered across Li Fan's face.

At that moment, he suddenly felt a longing for Cat Treasure. "If Cat Treasure's replication ability were available, I wouldn't have to be so conflicted."

He certainly couldn't put the stone slab directly back in its original position. Otherwise, given the little Heaven Beast's current near-death state, it would definitely be unable to pass through the formation again and retrieve the stone slab.

"From the looks of it, the stone slab and the formation activate each other; neither can exist without the other. Although I cannot replicate the stone slab, I can replicate the formation."

"Even if it's only a small part of it..."

Li Fan temporarily set aside the stone slab, which King Xuantian had replicated from the Immortal Realm's Ascension Platform. He then focused intently on observing and studying the mysterious formation not far away, buried millions of miles beneath Xuanghuang.

Without the stone slab's amplification, the formation became hidden. Yet, it hadn't truly vanished. At the very least, compared to the 'invisibility' of the high wall, Li Fan could still faintly perceive the formation's presence.

With a thought, thousands of golden threads shot forth, piercing into the area enveloped by the formation. They transformed into countless tentacles for Li Fan, aiding his perception and analysis.

Within his Sea of Consciousness, the Disintegration Disk suddenly flared with brilliant light. It wasn't because its load had been overloaded; rather, it had vaguely sensed a completely new type of formation. Quite uncommonly, it burst forth with emotions of longing and excitement.

Li Fan stood silently, synchronizing everything he had discerned with the Terminal Disintegration Disk. At the same time, he adjusted his observation methods based on the Terminal Disintegration Disk's feedback. This process repeated itself.

Even though its core could already deduce immortal techniques, the Disintegration Disk still struggled greatly to analyze this formation. Time passed by the minute and second. Only three hours remained until the point in the branch simulation when Li Fan would undertake Dao-union.

In fact, Li Fan could ignore the results of the branch simulation and was not in a hurry to achieve a breakthrough in Dao-union within these twelve hours. However, that would mean more unexpected variables. Within the timeframe covered by the 'Returning to Truth' branch simulation, everything unfolded as if Li Fan were experiencing it firsthand. The actions of the Dharma Spreader, Heavenly Physician, Grand Archmage, Hunger Immortal, and others were all under control. This allowed Li Fan to focus on propelling the Xuanghuang Realm towards ascension and sublimation, without worrying about other external interferences.

But if the time extended beyond the branch simulation's coverage... Anything could happen. With too many variables, it would be like treading on thin ice.

"If I hadn't vaguely perceived the existence of a 'once lost, forever lost' characteristic during the attempt to ascend to immortality, I wouldn't need to be so cautious and meticulous. After all, 'Returning to Truth' can turn the tide, and even if something unexpected occurs, my life would at least be safe."

"If my pursuit were merely to become a True Immortal, that would be fine. A thousand attempts, and I would eventually achieve the rank of True Immortal."

"But what I seek is eternal life!" Li Fan's gaze was profound, revealing no emotional fluctuations. "Truly eternal life! Not True Immortals who perish like ants when the Great Tribulation arrives; nor the nameless True Immortal whose leg bone was sealed and forged into a Celestial Pillar... None of these are my ultimate goal!"

"Free and unfettered eternal life! This is what I have painstakingly pursued all along!"

As he gained clarity about his deepest inner desires, all of Li Fan's anxieties and unease vanished the moment that thought emerged. Miscellaneous thoughts about numerous possibilities dissipated like smoke. At this moment, his mind contained only the purest and most resolute intention: to seek the Dao, ascend to immortality, and vow to prove eternal life.

The Terminal Disintegration Disk also sensed its master's resolve at that instant. Its own radiance surged unprecedentedly. No longer considering its limits of endurance, it performed deductions without reservation. Innumerable formation unit data rapidly shifted, and cracks began to appear on the surface of the Disintegration Disk. Li Fan, too, turned a blind eye to the impending collapse of the Disintegration Disk, which was now risking its very existence. His mind was entirely focused on comprehending the formation.

Across a hundred cycles of reincarnation, from He Zhenghao's Hundred Meridian Formation Chart to Zhang Zhiliang's Infinite Law. From the Myriad Immortal Alliance's Profound Heaven Spirit Locking Grand Formation to the Ancient Profound Heaven Sect's Floating Starry Sky Grand Formation. And even the Immortal Formation, Profound Primeval Spirit... From ancient times to the present, from mortal to immortal, Li Fan had witnessed too many formations. Moreover, with the supreme treasure, the Terminal Disintegration Disk, by his side, he constantly innovated day and night. Li Fan's mastery of array arts had long been unparalleled throughout the star sea.

Although Li Fan had never encountered this strange type of formation before, it still fell within the scope of formations after all. Under the joint deduction with the Disintegration Disk, Li Fan gradually understood the existence form of this formation.

Li Fan's eyes flickered, and he thoughtfully recalled the 'Medicine King Scripture of Dao Refining' passed down by Sun Piaomiao: "What is a formation? Zhang Zhiliang of the Verdant Cloud Sea once said that formations are standardized laws. But in my view, formations are shortcuts to connecting various laws."

"The reason cultivators like us can move mountains and fill seas with mortal bodies is by invoking the power of the laws of heaven and earth. The most basic formations can be seen as such a tool."

"And more profound formations, immortal formations... connect, merge, and alter the laws of heaven and earth, transforming decay into wonder at will!"

In Li Fan's mind, countless sparks of inspiration burst forth, as if pushing him into an unfathomably mysterious realm.

"The laws of the Great Dao in the world endure eternally and flow perpetually. Ordinary formations require energy to operate because, to invoke the power of laws based on the formation, one must first initiate a connection."

"As for this formation before me..." A strange glint suddenly flashed in Li Fan's eyes: "Using the Dao as a formation!"

"It omits the connection process, relying on the inherent flow of the Great Dao itself to power the formation! Furthermore, the Great Dao itself has no physical form. If the delicate balanced structure of 'using the Dao as a formation' is broken, the formation will naturally return to the Great Dao and cease to manifest in the world!"

Li Fan's thoughts raced faster and faster. What lay before him was no longer an ordinary formation. Instead, it was a supreme divine ability, formed by subtly plucking the laws of the Great Dao from the heavens and earth, then molding and transforming them through unfathomable means!

Upon realizing this, Li Fan felt as if he were directly facing a part of the Great Dao itself, and his mind was inevitably shaken.

At this moment, the Disintegration Disk, which had been probing the Dao Formation, continued to operate in an overloaded state for an extended period. It finally reached its limit. Innumerable cracks appeared one after another. Like ravines across the earth, they instantly covered its surface. After a crisp sound, the Disintegration Disk, which had accompanied Li Fan for so long, disintegrated! It scattered into countless glittering specks, remaining within Li Fan's soul.

Without the aid of the Disintegration Disk, Li Fan's vision immediately blurred. He could no longer perceive the true essence of the Dao Formation. However, no look of dejection appeared on Li Fan's face. He shifted his gaze from the Dao Formation to the stone slab beside it.

"If this formation is a manifestation of the Great Dao, then this stone slab is the key to activating different aspects of the Great Dao."

"In fact, there's nothing particularly special about this stone slab. It's just that the patterns inscribed upon it happen to correspond to the Dao integrated within the Dao Formation."

The surging aura around him completely receded and settled into calm.

"A wise person does not differ from others in birth; they are simply adept at making use of external things."

"Even if I can't fully perceive the essence of the Dao Formation for now, it doesn't hinder me from... using it!"

"'Using the Dao as a formation...' Li Fan softly murmured these four words. His figure flickered, and in an instant, he left the underground and arrived beneath the sky of the Xuanghuang Realm."

"'Using the Dao as a formation.' Li Fan silently repeated these four words in his mind. 'Transforming mortal into immortal.' Then, with an inexplicable expression, he looked at the stone monument standing in the You Race's small world."

On the stone monument, the characters representing the transformation from mortal to immortal, accelerated by Li Fan's various methods, were just a sliver away from complete manifestation. Taking a deep breath, Li Fan used his finger as a brush, not infusing it with any energy, but merely replicating the patterns. With slight pressure, he left only faint imprints on the stone slab. And these imprints seemed as if they could vanish at any moment.

At this moment, Li Fan's expression was utterly focused. Even though the characters for the transformation from mortal to immortal were not yet complete, it didn't prevent him from simply copying them. While copying the True Immortal seal characters, Li Fan also observed every subtle change in the heavens and earth.

To his slight disappointment, even when he had completely written all the currently known characters for the transformation from mortal to immortal on the stone slab, no anomalous phenomena appeared whatsoever.

"'Could it be that they must be complete?' Li Fan couldn't help but frown. Looking at the last remaining You Race members in the small world, Li Fan considered whether to throw them all into the nameless True Immortal's leg bone to fully manifest the characters for the transformation from mortal to immortal."

"'Or perhaps... it needs to be done somewhere else.' After pondering for a moment, Li Fan temporarily refrained from acting. Instead, he took the stone monument and arrived at the center of the star sea."

"'Ascension!'"

As Li Fan's thought emerged, the True Immortal flesh and blood burned fiercely, transforming into boundless power for the ascension formation. Holding the stone slab aloft with one hand, the star sea in Li Fan's vision rapidly shrank. Yet, what was incredibly bizarre was that no matter how Li Fan's momentum surged, the stone slab he held suspended in mid-air remained unchanged in size!

Initially, it was merely a negligible tiny speck compared to the entire star sea. But as Li Fan's momentum continued to rise, amidst the changes and non-changes, the stone slab almost became comparable in size to the entire star sea!

"The projection of the Great Dao descends from above. Whether mortal or immortal, all can glimpse a part of the Great Dao. It's just that the scenery in their respective eyes is not the same. The level of one's cultivation makes no difference to the Great Dao itself. The Great Dao glimpsed through one's eyes will not change significantly."

"The only thing that can influence it to some extent is one's own comprehension of the Dao."

"As it is with the Great Dao, so it is with the Key of Dao."

Ascending to the limits of the mortal realm, Li Fan's internal energy drained at an extremely terrifying rate. Only by borrowing the boundless star sea power of the Dao Child Qiushui could he barely maintain it for a short time. And holding the stone slab consumed double the power. Were it not for the star sea's aid, Li Fan probably couldn't have remained at such a high position for even a moment.

Calming his mind, Li Fan, with extreme difficulty, continued the unfinished task on the stone slab. Using his hand, he inscribed the characters for the transformation from mortal to immortal! Still, only faint engravings were left. But unlike before... Li Fan's actions actually elicited a resonance from a corresponding symbol within the stone slab. Or rather, a true resonance! Just as it had been activated by the Dao Formation earlier, patterns began to appear regularly on the stone slab. However, it wasn't countless patterns constantly shifting; it was only a single one.

Buzz...

As the stone slab underwent astonishing changes, corresponding anomalies also appeared within the star sea. At the center of the star sea, a dull thud suddenly occurred, like the sound of paper being pierced by a pen tip. A profound and mysterious principle of the Great Dao descended upon the center of the star sea, summoned by the stone slab! It was as if someone at a mountain peak had been lifted even higher.

Li Fan felt the star sea scenery in his vision completely converge. Countless lines curled and converged into a single point. All his spiritual energy, flesh and blood, and even his soul, became hot and seething, as if being scorched by fierce flames. Like forging gold in a raging fire, or sifting sand with crashing waves—to discard the dross and extract the essence.

However, the consumption from this refining and extraction was simply too terrifying. Even though Li Fan cultivated a new method, allowing him to continuously grow flesh and blood through his grotto-heaven, and mastered the Infinite ebb and flow method, ensuring an inexhaustible supply of primeval energy and an indestructible soul, he still couldn't endure for too long in the face of such a massive consumption rate.

Li Fan, feeling somewhat horrified by the changes within his body, decisively made a choice. The wooden sword's phantom unsheathed, carrying the stone slab, and plunged downwards at light speed. The anomalous phenomenon in the star sea paused for a moment. Then, amidst utter silence, a thunderous sound like the collapse of a high heaven erupted, echoing endlessly and lingering for a long time.

At the same time, like waves stirred up by a large rock falling into water, shortly after Li Fan departed, billowing black mist emerged from the center of the star sea. Li Fan naturally knew the consequences of attempting ascension in this special region at the center of the star sea. But he also knew that the black mist of the Dao Annihilation Tribulation would not spread quickly. It would not have any impact on his plan to propel Xuanghuang towards ascension and sublimation in this lifetime. He had a reason for needing to act in this specific location.

"The center of the star sea, the power of the mundane."

"The superposition of these two conditions created the highest point attainable within the star sea, apart from True Immortals."

"It was one step closer to the Great Dao itself."

"It was precisely this extra step that allowed the functions of the stone slab, the Key of Dao, to finally manifest normally." Back in the regular Xuanghuang Realm, Li Fan stroked the stone slab in his hand. All the imprints on it had long since faded. Just as the Dao comes and goes, leaving no trace. But Li Fan's conjecture had been confirmed.

"The Dao Formation is a formation created by using supreme means to extract strands of numerous Great Dao laws and then fusing them together."

"The stone slab is the key to activating the laws within the Dao Formation."

"If True Immortal seal characters are the concretization of the Great Dao, then the Dao Formation is the countless True Immortal seal characters disassembled and integrated into the use of the formation."

"Strictly speaking, it's remarkably similar to compressing and expanding True Immortal seal characters to form Immortal Realm fragments."

The stone slab in his hand had a very peculiar feel. It felt like gold yet also like wax, cool yet with a hint of softness. Yet, when truly pressed, its indestructible texture could be felt. Li Fan gently stroked it, closing his eyes to sense it.

"This Key of Dao existed within the former Ascension Platform. It is conceivable that the process of ancient cultivators successfully ascending involved the corresponding laws inscribed within this Key of Dao."

"Activating the Key of Dao is certainly no easy task. Perhaps in the ancient Immortal Realm, there was a simpler method. But the most primitive and fundamental method is to inscribe upon it True Immortal seal characters that represent the laws themselves."

"The True Immortal seal characters cause the inscriptions within the Key of Dao to resonate. And the Key of Dao's inscriptions, in turn, mobilize the Great Dao laws corresponding to those True Immortal seal characters..."

In Li Fan's mind, a perfect cycle had emerged.

"It's like using the correct password to log into an account and gain usage rights to the Key of Dao."

"Then, using the Key of Dao, one can mobilize the corresponding power of the laws."

"In the fragile lower realm's star sea, the destructive power manifested by True Immortal seal characters and the Great Dao itself is actually not much different. However, certain special Great Dao laws are different."

"And the Key of Dao just happens to contain one of them."

Li Fan's eyes snapped open, a sharp glint appearing within them.

"Dao-union and ascension, this very day."

The final moment of the 'Returning to Truth' branch simulation had arrived. Li Fan proceeded systematically, catalyzing and propelling the Xuanghuang Realm towards sublimation and dramatic transformation, following the memories from the simulation. However, with the memories of foreknowledge, Li Fan had still made some minor adjustments as a precaution.

Among the eighteen bronze figures besieging the Grand Archmage of Tiandu, in addition to secretly containing the Calamity Wind of Annihilation and Decaying Greenery, Li Fan had also secretly set up the 'Ends of the Earth, Inches Away' Grand Formation within the core of each bronze figure. The connected location was precisely the center of the star sea. If the Grand Archmage dared to appear and could successfully suppress the Calamity Wind of Annihilation and Decaying Greenery, then the 'Ends of the Earth, Inches Away' Grand Formation would immediately activate, teleporting him to the vicinity of the billowing black mist, a precursor to the Dao Annihilation Tribulation. Given the black mist's sensitivity to 'Immortal'-level power, as demonstrated in the previous life, it was certain that the Grand Archmage would not escape unharmed.

Amidst the roaring of the Xuanghuang Realm, numerous grotto-heavens and blessed lands, akin to Xuanghuang's organs, began to evolve. Each area enveloped by a circle of light contained newly emerging laws of heaven and earth from the Xuanghuang Realm's process of sublimation and ascension. The moment these grotto-heavens and blessed lands descended, a black shadow would invariably and silently infiltrate them. Hiding within, they comprehended the laws.

These black shadows were all strands of Li Fan's spiritual sense. Besides personally and concretely comprehending the nascent laws of the Xuanghuang Immortal Realm, their greater purpose was to induce and ignite the Xuanghuang Annihilation at critical moments within the grotto-heavens and blessed lands. Combined with the countermeasures he had previously secretly planted within the Xuanghuang Realm, even if the Xuanghuang Realm successfully transformed into an Immortal Realm, it would inevitably be turned upside down by Li Fan's single thought. Li Fan didn't need to directly contend with the Xuanghuang Immortal Realm; rather, he would use its own strength against it. He would return its methods upon itself.

Everything was precisely as it had been in the branch simulation. After the grotto-heavens had finished evolving, four great celestial pillars rose from the four corners of the Xuanghuang Realm. Concurrently, Li Fan continuously performed hand seals and cast spells. In the center of the Xuanghuang Realm, the phantom of the Faceless True Immortal's stone monument also appeared simultaneously. The five peaks stood side by side, supporting the heavens, a truly magnificent sight.

Next, Grand Heavenly Venerate Wu Ming made his appearance. The Great Sun Golden Bell, the Primordial Five Elements Disc, and the Grand Void Azure Underworld Lamp—these three immortal artifacts—were successively integrated into the Xuanghuang Realm by him. However, something even the Xuanghuang Heavenly Dao itself did not perceive was that strands of strange power accompanied these immortal artifacts into the Xuanghuang Realm's body. This 'strangeness' was not an adjective but an actual entity named 'Strangeness'. The inspiration came from the Heaven-Piercing Arrow, retaining and refining the discordant power generated when worlds merged. Once controlled by Li Fan, it was subtly introduced into the Xuanghuang Realm along with the integrated immortal artifacts, like a targeted medicine.

Under the amplification of the three immortal artifacts' powers, the overall balance between the Xuanghuang Realm's power and the cultivators' power shifted, with one rising as the other declined. But it did not affect Li Fan. In fact, by utilizing the controlled power of Strangeness, Li Fan could even, to some extent, invoke the power of these newly integrated immortal artifacts. However, Li Fan didn't show this. Instead, he still pretended to be somewhat overwhelmed, his body subtly dropping slightly.

All preparations were complete. Next, Li Fan, holding the decree jade tablet, began to write grandly upon the Xuanghuang land. He penned the two characters for 'Creation' in a single stroke! Having had previous experience, Li Fan's writing flowed even more smoothly this time.

Before long, the sacred power of Creation began to permeate the heavens and earth. The four great immortal pillars once again ascended, directly connecting with the sky. The grotto-heavens and blessed lands overflowed with brilliant light, their contained laws appearing increasingly sacred. The beings of the land reaped the benefits effortlessly; their soul and physical strength advanced by leaps and bounds daily...

Everything that had occurred in the branch simulation was once again played out synchronously. As for Li Fan, who was already prepared, he circulated the Heaven-Sitting Art, transforming the seemingly endless feedback power into a phantom of the Xuanghuang Realm within his Dantian. Because he had been involved from the very beginning of the Xuanghuang Realm's transformation, he received the full feedback of the sublimation power. When the Xuanghuang Realm could advance no further, the phantom of the Xuanghuang Realm gathered within Li Fan's Dantian was already equivalent to thirty-six times the total power of the Xuanghuang Realm at its critical ascension state.

Even Li Fan, who had experienced this once before, was still somewhat shaken by it. The feedback from a complete ascension, from beginning to end, was far superior to assisting halfway through.

"This is not the limit yet."

"The greatest feedback will arrive after the Xuanghuang Realm officially ascends to become an Immortal Realm."

"I truly don't know what kind of scene will unfold then..."

In Li Fan's thoughts, the journey of Xuanghuang's ascension had already reached its end. Next, if no other external factors interfered, then its fate would be the same as in the branch simulation. It would plummet violently, then be engulfed by the endless Dao Annihilation Qi.

As if sensing its impending doom, the Xuanghuang Realm, startled and terrified, frantically sent desperate pleas for help to Li Fan. After all, Li Fan was the one who personally brought about all these changes, and he was the only lifeline it could currently rely on. Without any politeness, Li Fan made an exorbitant demand, requesting immense authority from the Xuanghuang Realm. The authority he sought was almost like a slave contract, far surpassing that of the Xuanghuang Grand Heavenly Venerate. Facing this 'selling the rope to hang oneself' kind of deal, the Xuanghuang Realm, despite its myriad reluctance and helplessness, was forced to agree under the duress of life and death.

The transaction between Li Fan and the Xuanghuang Realm took place in an instant. Just as the sublimated Xuanghuang Realm was about to begin its descent, Li Fan made his move. Supporting the collapsing heavens and earth, he turned the tide.

The Xuanghuang Realm's momentum had already reached the pinnacle of the mortal realm. Utilizing the newly acquired authority, Li Fan, whose body, spirit, and will were now one with the Xuanghuang Realm, no longer needed to ascend further. Li Fan's phantom stood tall, embodying the heavens and earth. He once again donned the mysterious black and gold interwoven robe, a starry crown glittering on his head. However, this time, Li Fan no longer obscured his facial expression. Instead, he deeply imprinted his visage into every living being within the Xuanghuang Realm, whether they were conscious or not. Even the Heavenly Dao of the Xuanghuang Realm was deeply instilled with Li Fan's majestic appearance as a savior.

He had already become a giant towering over the heavens and earth, yet in Li Fan's eyes, the stone slab he had continuously held aloft remained unchanged in size. Li Fan's mind instantly grasped the situation, and with a thought, he began to invoke the residual immortal spiritual energy from the heavens and earth, dividing it into three streams.

One stream he used to begin writing the characters for the transformation from mortal to immortal on the stone slab. The second stream surged into Li Fan's body. As his body was still mortal, he could not directly utilize immortal spiritual energy. Once the immortal spiritual energy entered his body, it was absorbed by the scattered fragments of the Terminal Disintegration Disk within Li Fan's soul. The countless fragments gleamed like a myriad of stars. Within each fragment, nurtured by the immortal spiritual energy, a new Terminal Disintegration Disk seemed to be born.

As for the last stream, Li Fan directed it towards the dying little Heaven Beast, which was still healing and unconscious. Immortal spiritual energy seemed to be a great tonic for it. Even though it was unconscious, when the immortal spiritual energy approached, it instinctively raised its head, craving it greedily. What surprised Li Fan somewhat was that Dao Child Qiushui, also a sentient being, recoiled from the immortal spiritual energy. It was as if this immortal spiritual energy, yearned for by countless beings, was poison to him.

The Xuanghuang Heavenly Dao had countless grievances regarding Li Fan's misuse of the already scarce immortal spiritual energy. However, under Li Fan's imposing might, it dared not show even a hint of it. Because as Li Fan wrote on the stone slab, a vortex suddenly appeared in the sky of the Xuanghuang Realm. Within it seemed to be an endless vista, which anchored the Xuanghuang Realm, preventing its impending descent.

"Congeal!" Li Fan uttered a low cry in his mind.

Innumerable You Race members, like ants, were absorbed by the nameless True Immortal's leg bone. The characters for the transformation from mortal to immortal were finally completed. Li Fan also wrote the final stroke on the stone slab.