Chapter 1410: Ancient Path Transforms

Fragility and strength, two seemingly opposite words, appeared to converge in Qiao Sidao. Even though his soul was on the verge of collapse, nearing its end before Li Fan rescued it, the vast and complex memories it contained made Li Fan's expression subtly change.

"If my soul's strength were merely this, it would be utterly insufficient to sustain so many memories..."

Setting aside the peculiar nature of Qiao Sidao's soul, Li Fan first broadly scanned the countless memories it held.

Li Fan had little interest in most of the worlds derived through temporal evolution. Even the various cultivation methods and divine abilities Qiao Sidao encountered during his personal experiences were of limited use to Li Fan now. What was more useful were the ancient secrets about the Immortal Realm that Qiao Sidao had incidentally learned while entering the Ten Immortal Sects multiple times under different identities.

"It's uncertain how accurate this information is. Is it merely a setting within the simulated worlds, or does it originate from clues passed down after the destruction of various realms..."

After reviewing all the worlds Qiao Sidao experienced across hundreds of billions of reincarnations, only two caught Li Fan's attention. One was the Eternal Immortal Realm, and the other was the Turbulent Timeline.

The Eternal Immortal Realm, in the simulations, represented a perfect world where cultivation civilization had reached its pinnacle without a world-ending catastrophe. Not only were average lifespans extremely long—even non-cultivators lived for thousands of years—but there was also the grand existence known as the Immortal Spirit Pagoda.

The Immortal Spirit Pagoda was ubiquitous, ceaselessly releasing pure spiritual energy day and night. Any knowledge one desired—cultivation techniques, formations, alchemy, medicine refinement—could be accessed and learned within the Immortal Spirit Pagoda without restriction. It was within the Immortal Spirit Pagoda that Qiao Sidao accumulated enough experience to finally escape the Epoch Device.

After all, it was merely a theoretical system derived from simulations and could not be fully applied to reality. With his current insight, Li Fan naturally spotted the numerous inconsistencies in what Qiao Sidao had learned.

"It's plausible yet not quite right. It might be effective in a simulated virtual world, but..."

Li Fan used an extremely powerful formation from Qiao Sidao's memories as an experiment. The formation was named "Heaven and Earth Overturned." Despite its unassuming name, once activated, it could genuinely reverse the sky and ground of a world. All non-flying creatures would uncontrollably fall from the ground towards the sky. They would either starve to death during the fall or smash into the world's boundary, being utterly annihilated.

If it truly functioned as described, the formation would indeed be quite interesting. However, when Li Fan brought it into the Dissolution Disk for examination, he found that the formation could not be formed at all.

"Perhaps in a possibility perfectly identical to the simulated world, this formation could operate normally. But in the current reality, where the Grand Dao is incomplete and conflicting, the operating environment is simply incompatible."

Although it couldn't be used immediately, Li Fan wasn't disappointed. "It illuminates a certain possibility that doesn't align with reality. Yet, with appropriate modifications, it could function."

"Qiao Sidao merely existed within a virtual Epoch Device, and his understanding of reality stemmed only from what he witnessed there; he might not possess such capabilities. But I am different."

Within his Sea of Consciousness, the Immortal Formation Dissolution Disk shimmered with light. Formation data, like a glowing river, was extracted from Qiao Sidao's memories and drawn into the Dissolution Disk. Qiao Sidao's soul felt as if it were undergoing torture by a thousand cuts, prompting a muffled groan. If Li Fan hadn't stabilized his soul, this act alone might have shattered it completely. Yet, Qiao Sidao proved himself worthy of having struggled and escaped endless reincarnations; he remained silent thereafter, even gradually growing accustomed to the torment, his complexion slowly returning to normal.

Not much time was spent. Through the Dissolution Disk's transformation, countless formations from Qiao Sidao's memories changed from illusory arrays into real ones, compatible with the actual environment! With a flick of his wrist, Li Fan outputted the conclusions derived by the Dissolution Disk back to Qiao Sidao.

Keenly perceiving that the formations Li Fan transmitted were different from what he had learned and known, Qiao Sidao first showed a slight daze, then became uncontrollably excited. Qiao Sidao could still recall how powerful he had been in the Epoch Device after countless reincarnations, capable of discerning the greatest mysteries of heaven and earth and breaking out of situations. However, the extreme contrast upon arriving in the real world made it difficult for him to accept his current state. So fragile was he that it felt as if a mere gust of wind could extinguish his soul. Qiao Sidao knew this was the difference between the Epoch Device and reality.

But now... Through the changes between the two types of formations transmitted by the mysterious senior before him, Qiao Sidao vaguely seemed to grasp the precise nature of this difference.

"When one method is mastered, all methods are mastered. If you give me some time, I should be able to convert everything I've learned." Qiao Sidao greedily absorbed the knowledge transmitted by Li Fan, momentarily forgetting to thank him.

Li Fan paid no mind. He recognized that Qiao Sidao was currently in a state of enlightenment. This soul, indeed, did not disappoint him. It was quite useful!

Li Fan then turned to Emperor Sanmo, resuming their unfinished conversation from the previous life.

"What level of strength is truly required to transcend possibilities?"

"And what exactly is this energy contained within Sacred Beast Mountain?"

As Li Fan spoke, he used the transformation of reality and illusion to conjure a small bronze-colored energy sphere and tossed it towards Emperor Sanmo. Li Fan's two sentences had already made the immortal beast somewhat nervous after his initial immense shock.

As he greedily absorbed the incredibly pure energy into his body and felt a sense of revival spread through every part of him, Emperor Sanmo confirmed that the one before him had certainly reached the legendary stage. Perhaps his body was too old and decayed. The utterly pure Ancient Azure Source he had swallowed was slowly but continuously dissipating, with only a small residue remaining in the end. Yet, even this small amount held immense significance for him. At the very least, it could extend his lifespan by another ten thousand years. More crucially, he had witnessed with his own eyes this senior continuously conjuring Ancient Azure Source as if performing a magic trick. This divine substance, originally consumed with each use, diminishing with every portion. If it could be inexhaustible...

In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Emperor Sanmo's mind. But in the end, they coalesced into a single, resolute conviction. No matter what, he had to stay by this senior's side!

For the sake of survival—his own or that of his entire species—Emperor Sanmo had aligned himself with different individuals multiple times. First it was Emperor Yi, then the Beast Taming Sect, and later, the Heavenly Venerate of Dharma Transmission. The hope Emperor Sanmo had seen in all these combined paled in comparison to what he saw in the person before him now. He was not one to hesitate. Once a decision was made, it was immediately translated into action.

When Li Fan inquired, Emperor Sanmo held nothing back, speaking freely and comprehensively.

"To inform you, Senior, according to the ancient memories passed down in our clan, in the vast primordial era, even an Archaic Dao-Form, whose body was united with the Dao, could not easily transcend possibilities."

"An Archaic Dao-Form, by analogy, can be considered equivalent to an Unnamed True Immortal among human cultivators. However, compared to human cultivators who comprehend the Dao, the magnificent Archaic Dao-Forms are inherently manifestations and derivations of the Grand Dao itself. Both their strength and their comprehension of the Dao are naturally superior. Apart from a few supreme experts, most Unnamed True Immortals cannot compare to Archaic Dao-Forms." Even though he intended to fully align himself with Li Fan, Emperor Sanmo did not embellish his account, merely recounting the memories from his lineage truthfully.

Li Fan listened noncommittally, gesturing for Emperor Sanmo to continue.

"The existence of Archaic Dao-Forms is both an advantage and a disadvantage. This is because some powerful Grand Daos in heaven and earth did not evolve into Dao-Forms. And due to inherent repulsion, they forever lost the opportunity to comprehend these Grand Daos."

"However, human cultivators are different. Any inherent Dao in heaven and earth can be refined and mastered by humans." Emperor Sanmo's tone suddenly grew heavy. "This was also the beginning of our clan's catastrophe."

"In our clan's original world, the number of human cultivators was far incomparable to ours. Most humans were treated as pets or food. We monopolized cultivation methods; only obedient humans were allowed to cultivate, becoming our pawns, helping us suppress other humans..."

Emperor Sanmo slowly recounted the hidden history of the demonic beast race. Qiao Sidao, who was in enlightenment nearby, couldn't help but divert his attention to listen. This period of history was something he had never encountered, even during his countless cycles in the Epoch Device. Hearing that humans were merely food for demonic beasts, he couldn't help but slightly frown. He had been under Emperor Sanmo's care for a long time yet had never heard him mention this.

Li Fan, however, remained expressionless.

"We are not a short-sighted or unintelligent race. From those human cultivators who submitted to us, we saw the terrifying potential contained within human bodies. Consequently, we further tightened our control over humanity."

"According to the trajectory of normal historical development, theoretically speaking, there was no possibility for human cultivators to rise in our homeland. And indeed, that was the case. Because a massive variable emerged from beyond the world's possibilities!" Emperor Sanmo's tone carried a hint of helplessness at this point.

Upon hearing this, Li Fan seemed to understand something, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

"Then one day, a great calamity inexplicably befell our clan. An Unnamed True Immortal surprisingly transcended possibilities and descended into our timeline. After witnessing the human suffering, he began a frenzy of slaughter and retribution. Initially, our clan had thirteen Archaic Dao-Forms. However, in battle against that Unnamed True Immortal, more than half were killed or injured..."

Although Emperor Sanmo's tone was calm, Li Fan could discern the deep fear hidden within it.

"Although that Unnamed True Immortal also temporarily retreated due to severe injuries, before leaving, he plundered the remains of five Archaic Dao-Forms he had slaughtered. If he were to refine the Grand Dao contained within those remains, our clan would undoubtedly face extinction. The remaining Dao-Forms exhausted countless possibilities but found no method by which the clan could win. Thus, in despair and utter helplessness, they could only choose to flee. However, as I mentioned before, in the primordial era, transcending possibilities was extremely difficult. Although we don't know how that Unnamed True Immortal, who inexplicably descended into our timeline, managed to do it, based on our derivations and calculations, even if all eight surviving Dao-Forms sacrificed themselves, the majority of the clan could not escape. Exhausting everything in the world could only allow one to escape!"

The image of Emperor Yi flashed across Li Fan's mind instantly. "All Phenomena Return to One?"

Emperor Sanmo nodded. "Our clan all evolved from Archaic Dao-Forms. At that time, to preserve a sliver of hope, the only path was to fuse and revert to the ancient form. To ensure, as much as possible, the integrity of the surviving clan in the future, countless clan members, willingly or unwillingly, entered that massive furnace. Ultimately, they merged to become Emperor Yi," Emperor Sanmo stated calmly.

"It's a pity that five of the most primal and powerful Archaic Dao-Forms were already lost. And then seven more sacrificed themselves, dissipating while transcending possibilities. Of the thirteen Archaic Dao-Forms, only one remained. Our clan, from then on, could never again achieve the glory of the primordial era." Emperor Sanmo's tone was somewhat desolate.

"Seven Archaic Dao-Forms were needed to jump through the timeline?" Li Fan, paying no mind to Emperor Sanmo's emotions, narrowed his eyes and asked.

"That's ancient history. Since the great calamity descended, the power threshold required to transcend possibilities has been steadily decreasing." Emperor Sanmo waved his hand, and countless illusions appeared within the ruins of Mount Nanming before them. They were identical to what Li Fan had seen in the Fallen Immortal Realm.

"As the saying goes, 'be prepared for danger in times of peace.' Although temporary safety was achieved after the escape, and Emperor Yi successfully separated the myriad phenomena of our clan, the terror brought by that Unnamed True Immortal still lingered in our hearts. Therefore, we have constantly been searching for a way to escape possibilities. The Ancient Azure Source is our discovery."

Li Fan extended his hand, and the bronze-colored energy sphere reappeared. "Ancient Azure Source?" Li Fan mused, lost in thought.

"This is what our clan calls it. In truth, human cultivators likely have another name for it. This is because we actually discovered this substance in the ruins of human cultivators. However, despite integrating into human society for tens of thousands of years, I've never found any record of it," Emperor Sanmo explained in detail. "The divine mask sealing the Ancient Azure Source and the key to unlock the restriction were both obtained by us from the ruins."

"This ruin, is it in the Xuanhuang Realm?" Li Fan's eyes gleamed.

Emperor Sanmo nodded: "Each possibility has subtle differences in naming and actual location. But at least in every one we've experienced, its existence can be found within this general area."

"It seems you've fled more than once," Li Fan said, staring intently at Emperor Sanmo.

"In the face of countless possibilities, time and number of occurrences hold little meaning."

Emperor Sanmo looked towards the Great Rift Realm Vortex, which was now completely empty.