Chapter 1421: Repairing the Qingming Pearl

## Chapter 1429## Repairing the Azure Nether Bead

Li Fan thoroughly reviewed Zhao Ruoxi's memories in an instant, accessing them through the array patterns rooted deep within her soul. As expected of the One-Hearted Heavenly Venerate, who embodied the will of myriad beings, her experiences were astonishing. But that wasn't the main point. Li Fan quickly found what he was looking for.

"Taking Heaven's Place..." It was a secret treasure from the Grand Dao Sect, one of the rich legacies acquired after the destruction of the Xuan Heavenly Sect. It was rumored to completely strip Xuan Heavenly Sect disciples of their cultivation techniques and power, even allowing the practitioner to transfer the realms and abilities gained from cultivating Xuan Heavenly Sect techniques onto themselves, as if grafting.

Li Fan remained skeptical of this secret art's description. After all, figures like the Twelve Dharma Kings shouldn't be so easily controlled by a simple secret art. Nevertheless, most of the Xuan Heavenly Sect's cultivation techniques originated from the Azure Nether Bead. It wasn't beyond the realm of possibility for them to be reclaimed by it. What Li Fan needed to do now was verify if this secret art, "Taking Heaven's Place," had any connection to the Azure Nether Bead.

By feeding cultivation back into the Azure Nether Bead, he aimed to pull it back from the brink of total collapse. Afterward, Li Fan would further repair it step by step using the 'Truth and Falsehood Transformation'. As for the cultivation fed into the Azure Nether Bead... Zhao Ruoxi, who cultivated the 'Eternal Solitary Self Art', was naturally the best source! From Zhao Ruoxi's memories, Li Fan already knew that although she had achieved enlightenment based on the principle of "myriad beings as one," the core of her cultivation technique was still the 'Eternal Solitary Self Art'.

"Addicted to games, lacking ambition," Li Fan snorted coldly in his mind, making his assessment. "Her success in defying principle was also due to the heaven-defying characteristics of this cultivation technique." In the blink of an eye, he was back at the hollow beneath the high wall, where the Azure Nether Bead was located.

The Disintegration Disk had already translated the "Taking Heaven's Place" secret art into an array formation. Fine points of light, carrying array information, invisibly entered Senior Sister Zhao's soul. The points of light spread along the dense array patterns, operating to slowly extract Senior Sister Zhao's cultivation. In Li Fan's hand, drops of strange green liquid were slowly forming.

Zhao Ruoxi naturally acutely noticed her cultivation suddenly draining away. For someone at her Longevity Realm, nothing was more terrifying than becoming a mortal overnight. Her face pale, she didn't know how she had offended that unpredictable True Immortal. Zhao Ruoxi's cultivation drained increasingly fast. But she was helpless, only able to watch as the essence she had diligently accumulated over thousands of years vanished before her eyes.

Moreover, she soon realized something even more horrifying. Since defying principle and becoming a Longevity Heavenly Venerate of the Xuanhuang Realm, she had become a part of the Xuanhuang Realm. Although she was currently still in the Longevity Realm, with the massive loss of cultivation, her increasingly weak body seemed unable to support the Xuanhuang Principle she had defied! As if crushed by a heavy weight, her soul and body began to ache faintly.

"Ugh..." Zhao Ruoxi let out an uncontrollable groan, as countless tiny blood streaks appeared across her body. And it wasn't just this one body of hers. All of her were on the verge of collapse. The pain intensified. Her spiritual energy drained completely, leaving her even weaker than an ordinary Qi Refinement cultivator. Zhao Ruoxi felt an unprecedented weakness. The sensation of her soul being crushed and torn apart, inch by inch, was amplified a thousandfold as her power diminished. Blood spurted from the countless cracks covering her body, drenching her into a blood-soaked figure, hiding her flowing tears. The pain prevented her from screaming, only allowing hoarse sounds to escape her throat.

The fear of instantly reverting to a mortal, combined with the increasing and omnipresent pain in her soul and body, made Zhao Ruoxi feel as if she had returned to Mount Daqing in her youth. At that time, bandits plundered and murdered in the village, with blood staining the sky. Hiding outside the village, Zhao Ruoxi was panic-stricken as she watched the fierce bandits, who seemed to have spotted her, rush towards her with sinister grins. She spotted a figure standing motionless nearby, though she didn't know when it had appeared. As if grasping at the only possible straw of salvation, Zhao Ruoxi cried out, pleading: "Immortal Master, save me! Immortal Master, please save me!"

The hoarse cries from her throat seemed to overlap with those from her past memories. However, the figure Zhao Ruoxi saw as her savior was no longer Zhang Rong, the fourth-generation disciple of the Grand Dao Sect's Moon Blossom lineage, whom she had long since retaliated against and devoured. Instead, it had become Li Fan! The features of the blurry figure in Zhao Ruoxi's mind gradually became clear. As if in response to her plea, Li Fan smiled faintly.

From the center of the countless array patterns in Zhao Ruoxi's soul, within the phantom image of the Xuanhuang Realm, threads of incredibly pure energy emanated. At first, it was merely a gurgling stream, but in an instant, it transformed into a raging river, surging and roaring incessantly. In an instant, it completely filled Zhao Ruoxi's body. This One-Hearted Heavenly Venerate, who had been on the verge of death, instantly became vibrant and full of life once more. Feeling the seemingly inexhaustible and immense power from the phantom image of the Xuanhuang Realm within her, Zhao Ruoxi felt herself become stronger than ever before. The bloodstains on her fair skin vanished. Zhao Ruoxi bowed deeply and respectfully to the figure standing deep within her soul, offering her thanks.

Ignoring the minor stirrings from Zhao Ruoxi's side, Li Fan's full attention was now on the extremely fragile Azure Nether Bead before him. Zhao Ruoxi's lifelong cultivation from practicing the 'Eternal Solitary Self Art' had only transformed into four drops of green liquid. Li Fan didn't need to control it much; by virtue of its mysterious connection to the Azure Nether Bead, the energy from the green liquid slowly diffused towards the nearby Azure Nether Bead from the moment it appeared. The nearly ten thousand years of arduous cultivation by a Longevity Heavenly Venerate finally allowed this immortal artifact to successfully emerge from the brink of destruction!

Li Fan rejoiced inwardly, his divine sense following like a shadow, quickly enveloping the Azure Nether Bead. The surface of the Azure Nether Bead, like a vast azure sky, swirled in layers, attempting to prevent Li Fan's prying. This protective layer might still be useful against mortals. Or perhaps, if the Azure Nether Bead had been in its prime, it might have been able to stop Li Fan. But at present, it had just barely escaped its near-destroyed state, half-dead. How could it possibly block Li Fan, who possessed a demi-immortal body? His divine sense, like a needle, pierced the azure sky, driving straight in and penetrating the Azure Nether Bead's interior. The scene before Li Fan's eyes shook violently; the next moment, he felt as if he had arrived in a strange realm.

Twelve majestic palaces stood above the clouds, arranged in a circle, occupying the world's firmament. In each palace, a statue was enshrined. An endless stream of cultivators ascended from the ground, kneeling and praying. And on the statues, active faces would occasionally manifest, seemingly communicating with the kneeling cultivators. The Divine Witch Realm! After the images in his mind dissipated, Li Fan understood what he had just seen. That wisp of divine sense had been forcefully expelled by the Azure Nether Bead.

Li Fan did not attempt to intrude again. With that recent contact and the unique aura of the Azure Nether Bead, he could recreate it in a short time using the Truth and Falsehood Transformation! But Li Fan did not immediately try. He already had a premonition that using the Truth and Falsehood Transformation to conjure another Azure Nether Bead out of thin air would undoubtedly incur a far greater burden than before. He needed to prepare in advance.

The Azure Nether Bead could not be moved for now, so Li Fan set up layers of arrays around it. Points of light, representing immortal-grade arrays, constantly flickered around him. Only then did Li Fan feel a bit at ease. "Falsehood is also Truth!" Li Fan chanted softly in his mind, but the target of his divine ability wasn't the Azure Nether Bead. It was himself! His cultivation, soul, and various levels of power surged by a factor of one. Li Fan looked at the Azure Nether Bead, still feeling it wasn't enough. After a brief respite, he cast the 'Falsehood is also Truth' divine ability again.

The superposition of three times his cultivation could not last long. Li Fan merely waited for his body to adapt to the intensity of the burden before concentrating his mind and focusing on the Azure Nether Bead. Using the vibrant azure color as an index, Li Fan recalled the fleeting glimpse of the Divine Witch Realm scene. He envisioned the existence of another Azure Nether Bead. "Falsehood..." "Is also Truth!"

Li Fan felt himself struggling dozens of times more than when he had previously replicated the Esoteric Ancient Vast Source. This was likely because the Esoteric Ancient Vast Source was merely a single form of energy, whereas the Azure Nether Bead before him was a convergence of numerous laws. Veins bulged on his forehead. And in an instant, he felt as if his body had been completely drained. He felt incredibly weak. But he saw that the color on the Azure Nether Bead seemed to have become more distinct and vibrant. Li Fan knew his attempt had succeeded.

The superimposed 'Falsehood is also Truth' cultivation slowly faded. Physical and mental exhaustion, like a mountain collapsing, assailed him. But Li Fan merely closed his eyes and rested for a moment before beginning to replicate the Azure Nether Bead again. Each time he used the Truth and Falsehood Transformation, his comprehension deepened slightly. But just like things conjured out of thin air, most of these insights would slowly dissipate with time. Only a very small portion would remain.

"'Truth and Falsehood Transformation' is elusive, yet it is the foundation of my existence," Li Fan mused. "Relying solely on each 'Reversion to Truth', which is an auxiliary comprehension from the Endless Cycle of Reincarnation, is far from enough." A flicker of determination appeared in his eyes. Li Fan, while the insights from his previous use of the divine ability still lingered, endured the mental and physical exhaustion. He once again employed the 'Falsehood is also Truth' method.

Within the hollow's hidden river, indescribably wondrous auras descended and vanished in succession. Time slowly passed. Although Li Fan's appearance remained unchanged, his aura, however, became inexplicably more elusive and profound, truly like an ethereal and transcendent True Immortal of this era! After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Li Fan finally felt that his body and soul had reached their limit. He sighed faintly as a tidal wave of weariness surged over him, unstoppable. He paid no mind to the Azure Nether Bead nearby, which had been repaired and almost reborn. Li Fan first closed his eyes and sat cross-legged, resting well. In his mind, there was no thought or sensation. He seemed to have fallen into a deep slumber. Only faintly, as if countless points of light continually flickered on, only to return to darkness shortly after, repeating endlessly.

By the time Li Fan had re-energized his spirit, three days had passed. Through short-term, high-intensity, and near-limit use of 'Falsehood is also Truth', Li Fan gained insights into the Truth and Falsehood Transformation equivalent to what he would have obtained from nearly five 'Reversions to Truth'. "This is also because it's my first time attempting such continuous, extreme efforts," he thought. "It awakened insights from past uses of the Truth and Falsehood Transformation that I had forgotten. The next time I cultivate this way, the effect certainly won't be as good. But it's still very significant."

With this attempt, Li Fan had realized something. The insights into the Truth and Falsehood Transformation gained from each activation of 'Reversion to Truth' seemed different from those obtained by imitating its use himself. Undoubtedly, the insights gained from activating 'Reversion to Truth' were purer and closer to reality. While the insights Li Fan gained through his own attempts were slightly weaker, they were much easier to control. "From comprehension to practical application, there's still a road to travel," he mused. "Each 'Reversion to Truth' deepens my progress in comprehension, but the actual practice still requires my personal effort." Li Fan had a realization in his heart.

At this moment, 'Reversion to Truth' even sent a ripple of "teachable" feedback. Li Fan pondered, continuing to try and communicate with 'Reversion to Truth', but he received only silence. Li Fan shook his head slightly, set the matter aside for now, and looked at the Azure Nether Bead not far away. He reached out and drew it over.

Perhaps because Li Fan had repaired a small portion of it, he felt no resistance, and the immortal artifact floated lightly into his hand. "Although it barely escaped its fragmented state, its power has still severely declined," he thought, looking at the abundant vital energy in the hollow's hidden river. "After all, the vital energy contained within it was extracted and used to repair the Abyssal Star Sea." But what Li Fan valued was not the Azure Nether Bead's vital energy, but its rumored miraculous functions. "The Azure Nether Bead can devour other immortal artifacts and transfer their functions into itself," he noted. "And it can also extract the cultivation techniques of cultivators from their corpses."

After some examination, Li Fan discovered that the Azure Nether Bead no longer contained an artifact spirit. If not for Li Fan's repairs, it would now be just an empty shell, completely devoid of function. But now... "Its functions can still be used." Li Fan's heart stirred, and he returned to the Xuanhuang Realm with the Azure Nether Bead. To prevent the Starfall Wasteland's Hungry Immortals from noticing, the surrounding concealing immortal array did not dissipate but transformed into a layer of white mist, which made Li Fan appear even more ethereal, like an immortal.

"Devouring immortal artifacts..." Li Fan looked towards the Sun family's underground secret chamber, where the Boundless Mirror was located. He stretched out his hand, and the Boundless Mirror pierced through space-time, appearing in Li Fan's palm. "Who goes there!" Ignoring the Boundless Mirror spirit Sun Luyao's exclamation, Li Fan directly fed it to the Azure Nether Bead. Although both had been immortal artifacts and both were severely damaged, the Boundless Mirror was clearly not on the same level as the Azure Nether Bead. Moreover, with Li Fan suppressing it from the side, the Boundless Mirror had no power to resist whatsoever. It simply submerged into the vast azure color of the Azure Nether Bead. On the surface of the Azure Nether Bead, it was as if a heavy rain had fallen, stirring up ripples. It seemed to be too weak; suddenly devouring an artifact might have been too much for its depleted state. This time, the Azure Nether Bead's digestion took almost half a day. As the heavy rain subsided, a unique aura emerged from the Azure Nether Bead.