Chapter 1427: Dao Yuan Weaves the Path Network

Copy and reproduce the Grand Dao?

The legendary Inscriber Immortal of the Nameless Realm, it was said, could only describe Grand Daos using True Immortal Seal Script. Could this Chu Youhong truly accomplish something to that extent?

Li Fan’s first reaction upon hearing this was disbelief.

Chu Youhong’s expression seemed to confirm his judgment.

Chu Youhong gave a wry smile, "I was fortunate enough to retain a trace of the Grand Dao's imprint, and that was during the anomalous phenomenon when a Nameless True Immortal perished and their Dao returned to heaven and earth…"

"Furthermore, without the assistance of this Sky-Painting Brush in my hand, it would have been absolutely impossible. Brother Lu, you don't need to overpraise me."

"On the other hand, your divine ability to mend the heavens with a single hand is truly known by everyone in the Shuo Star Sea."

The white-robed cultivator, surnamed Lu, did not deny Chu Youhong's flattery. He merely showed a slight smile.

Chu Youhong then changed the subject, returning to the main point: "The Nameless True Immortal who secretly attacked just now was indeed a bit strange. Although I couldn't fully depict the Grand Dao's panorama, I was still able to clearly sense the traces left by its flow. However…"

Chu Youhong's expression grew serious: "There was no sound, no trace. It was completely unlike an attack from a True Immortal of the Nameless Realm. The residual traces were even lighter than those left by an ordinary True Immortal."

The cultivator surnamed Lu nodded in agreement, "That's also why I sought to speak with you alone, Brother Chu. I believe that either the one who attacked this time was not a Nameless True Immortal, or that Nameless True Immortal has found a way to shield their traces within the Dao Web."

The two exchanged glances. "Regardless of which it is, it's not good news for us."

"If it wasn't a Nameless True Immortal, yet they could escape calmly from our encirclement, their actual combat strength is not inferior to that of the Nameless Realm. The power of a new system—this is what we've been most worried about. After all, the many methods we've summarized so far are all aimed at Immortals. Once Immortals break free from past constraints, even if it means they have to start anew, we correspondingly face entirely new and unknown enemies."

"As for shielding traces within the Dao Web," a hint of worry flashed across Chu Youhong's brows.

The white-robed cultivator surnamed Lu glanced back at the vibrant Shuo Star Sea. "Our last encirclement of the Nameless failed, resulting in heavy losses. Some individuals are already stirring. It's hard to say if this is someone's 'pledge of allegiance.' If those True Immortals master methods of concealment and Dao Web manipulation, things will become dire!"

"The Dao Web's patterns must be modified simultaneously. Besides that…"

The cultivator surnamed Lu then looked at Chu Youhong, "We'll also have to trouble you, Brother Chu, to discreetly inform Senior Wan Shiyong."

"After all, this senior has an eccentric temperament. Since you're from the same world as him, you might barely be able to get through to him."

Chu Youhong seemed a bit troubled, but eventually nodded in agreement. "The Shuo Star Sea is currently leaderless and also faces covetous eyes from other regions. It truly needs a senior figure who can command respect to step forward and oversee the situation."

"Although I was soundly beaten the last time I disturbed Senior Wan, considering we're both cultivators from the Profound Yellow World, he probably won't truly harm me," Chu Youhong muttered to himself as he flew towards the Shuo Star Sea with the white-robed cultivator.

In just a moment, their figures vanished.

While pondering their recent conversation, Li Fan controlled his dream tentacles and arrived at the previous battleground.

Generally, after a battle between masters, there are always lingering traces, fluctuations, and auras. However, Li Fan's careful observation of the hunt for the True Immortal revealed not a single remnant sign.

It was as if a major battle had never taken place.

"Aside from the white-robed cultivator's act of mending the heavens, which consumed all the remnants to consolidate the Grand Dao here, it's as if something else subtly absorbed the residual power simultaneously."

After much deliberation, Li Fan vaguely came to a conclusion.

He couldn't help but think of the Dao Web mentioned by Chu Youhong and the white-robed cultivator.

"The term 'Dao Web,' although it never appeared in Qin Zhuang's mind, might be a product that only emerged in the Shuo Star Sea after Qin Zhuang went to the Profound Yellow World. But as the name suggests, it is clearly inseparable from a web interwoven with the Grand Dao of heaven and earth."

"Nameless True Immortals merge with a Grand Dao. Every action they take is bound to leave traces in the Dao Web. This is to be expected. However, Chu Youhong said they could modify the Dao Web?"

Li Fan's eyes showed deep contemplation.

Although the conversation between Chu Youhong and the white-robed cultivator was brief, it contained a considerable amount of information.

First, the encirclement of the True Immortal resulted in heavy losses, indicating that the battle between the Shuo Star Sea and the True Immortal was not one-sided. The Shuo Star Sea was leaderless, suggesting that all its high-ranking figures were engaged in some critical matter.

Second, besides the Shuo Star Sea, there were other factions, possibly another starfield surrounded by the Land of Annihilation. They were eyeing the Shuo Star Sea covetously. The situation in the Shuo Star Sea seemed far from optimistic.

Third, it was clear from the white-robed cultivator's words that he knew Chu Youhong was from the Profound Yellow World. And the person he mentioned, Wan Shiyong, also from the Profound Yellow World…

Li Fan's brows furrowed tightly.

"Wan Shiyong, the founding patriarch of the Beast Taming Sect. An old acquaintance of Emperor Sanmo, and an unparalleled figure who comprehended the True Beast Taming Art from the Beast Taming Samsara."

"Anyone Emperor Sanmo chose to rely on must have been exceptionally brilliant. But wasn't this Wan Shiyong supposed to have perished, according to my memories?"

Puzzled, Li Fan immediately summoned Emperor Sanmo and questioned him.

"Hmm?" Hearing Li Fan suddenly mention that name, the wise beast seemed momentarily dazed. After all, that was tens of thousands of years ago.

"He is indeed dead. I personally buried his body. Even with all his myriad talents, he ultimately could not escape the limitations of a mortal lifespan," Emperor Sanmo replied with certainty after reminiscing for a moment.

"Then why is there another Wan Shiyong in the Shuo Star Sea beyond the high wall?" Li Fan immediately gave Emperor Sanmo a brief account of what he had seen through his dream tentacles.

Emperor Sanmo pondered for a moment, then seemed to recall something: "An eccentric temperament…"

"Could it be Wan Shiyong's companion beast from when he was alive?" he said with some uncertainty.

Li Fan was somewhat surprised. "Wan Shiyong's tamed beast wasn't you?"

Emperor Sanmo looked a bit embarrassed, then stroked his beard and said, "Wan Shiyong and I merely had a cooperative relationship. As a mere mortal, he naturally wasn't qualified to command me. Wan Shiyong's tamed beast was actually a Withered Shadow Beast. It resembled a shadow and could change its form in countless ways."

"Normally, it hid in Wan Shiyong's shadow. At critical moments, it could leap into an enemy's shadow, transforming and replicating."

"The shadow was like the person, capable of achieving complete similarity. Even the one being replicated could barely distinguish it. After Wan Shiyong died, that child disappeared without a trace. If he has been living as Wan Shiyong, given his familiarity with Wan Shiyong during his lifetime, others might not necessarily notice the difference," Emperor Sanmo slowly analyzed.

"Since he is a member of the demon beast race, are the old methods of restraint still effective? Or, at the very least, can you sense or contact him?" Li Fan asked.

Emperor Sanmo hesitated for a moment, uncharacteristically failing to provide an answer.

"Under normal circumstances, yes. But if, as you just said, Senior, Chu Youhong, who can copy Grand Dao imprints, is no match for that Wan Shiyong…"

"I'm afraid the other party is already beyond our control."

Fearing Li Fan might misunderstand that he wasn't trying, Emperor Sanmo paused, then quickly explained, "Since Senior already knows, the current demon beast race is entirely derived from Emperor Yi."

"And Emperor Yi, in turn, originated from the fusion of countless members of the original tribe. The crucial point is the tribe's very first origin…"

Emperor Sanmo emitted a bright light, and within it, the visages of thirteen strange ancient beasts appeared before Li Fan.

"These are the thirteen Primordial Dao Forms of our tribe. Although they were the supreme powerful beings within the tribe, innate incarnations of the Grand Dao, they were not the source of the tribe. In fact, there is no consensus on the tribe's true origin. Even in the memories of the Primordial Dao Forms, there is no answer. But one point was our shared understanding in ancient times."

A nostalgic look appeared on Emperor Sanmo's face as he gazed at the Primordial Dao Forms before him.

Then he slowly continued, "In our timeline, the tribe was favored by the Grand Dao of heaven and earth. The thirteen Primordial Dao Forms were merely an insignificant part compared to the myriad Grand Daos of the cosmos. All other tribe members had the potential for post-natal Dao transformation. Analogous to your human cultivators, this means cultivating to the realm of a Nameless True Immortal."

"To completely merge all the Grand Daos of heaven and earth and evolve them into individual Primordial Dao Forms—this was the golden age our tribe dreamed of…"

"It's a pity that before new Primordial Dao Forms could even emerge, fierce Nameless True Immortals crossed over from other possibilities and slaughtered you all," Li Fan interjected, interrupting Emperor Sanmo's reverie unseasonably.

Emperor Sanmo showed no embarrassment, only letting out a slight sigh. "Within our own possibility, our tribe was indeed favored by the Grand Dao. However, there are also strengths and weaknesses among possibilities. The strong prey on the weak; we have no complaints about being defeated by others."

Emperor Sanmo's topic then returned to Wan Shiyong: "What I wanted to convey is that although all members of our tribe originate from Emperor Yi, each possesses the potential to surpass Emperor Yi. Even theoretically, this possibility is extremely small, almost impossible. Yet, it is ultimately not zero."

"As long as the history of proliferation is long enough, this possibility can become a certainty. This was something the Primordial Dao Forms considered when they first entered the giant furnace. However, the one thing they didn't anticipate was that it wasn't merely the possibility we inhabited that fell into crisis, but rather all possibilities welcomed a world-ending catastrophe. Repeated escapes left our tribe with no time to recuperate, and the power of the Primordial Dao Forms was completely depleted…" Emperor Sanmo sighed deeply.

After a moment of silence, Emperor Sanmo suddenly volunteered, "I wish to go and speak with this Wan Shiyong."

"Even if his current strength far surpasses mine, I am confident he will never harm me."

Li Fan pondered for a moment, then finally agreed, "I will use the power of dreams to help you manifest a body."

"Once you establish contact with him, if there are no issues, I will then send your physical body over."

"Remember, a dream body is essentially a manifestation of Wuyou and the thoughts of all beings in the Profound Yellow World. Aside from a trace of your own consciousness within it, it doesn't have much to do with your true self. You will need to figure out how to gain Wan Shiyong's trust," Li Fan further instructed.

Emperor Sanmo nodded. "Don't worry, Senior. Our tribe has its own methods for communication and identification."

"The situation in the Shuo Star Sea is unclear. Even if the first attempt fails, it's no big deal."

As Li Fan spoke, his dream tentacles slowly manifested a body outside the Shuo Star Sea.

The body glowed yellow throughout, with a face identical to Emperor Sanmo's real one. Initially, it seemed to exist between reality and illusion.

But with the infusion of specks of blood-red light and an incredibly profound and mystical power,

this illusory body astonishingly turned from false to real.

It materialized out of thin air from within the void.

Emperor Sanmo felt his new body and his eyes filled with astonishment. "Senior's methods are truly unimaginable. I can't feel any difference from my real body!"

Li Fan's voice then echoed in Emperor Sanmo's ear, "Not all dream avatars can achieve such a lifelike state."

"I've prepared some energy for you within this body. It should be enough for your journey. Proceed carefully; a dream avatar's consciousness and body are fused. As long as the energy remains, it can continuously regenerate. However, once the energy is depleted, the body will be completely destroyed, and your consciousness will cease to exist."

"If your consciousness doesn't return to the Dream Paradise before destruction, then this segment of memory will be completely lost. Therefore, I advise you to return periodically to report information."

"Of course, this is provided you ensure you don't expose yourself. Although dream power is subtle and hard to detect, the Shuo Star Sea's strength is considerable. Too much manifestation will inevitably reveal your presence…"

Li Fan gave his instructions.

Emperor Sanmo, meanwhile, narrowed his eyes and, relying on a faint, unseen connection, rapidly concealed himself and departed towards the target location.

Initially, Li Fan could still sense Emperor Sanmo's surroundings through the power of the dream.

However, as he approached a place where light converged, even the dream connection was severed.

"Sword Domain, Holy Merchant—the various faction strongholds in the Shuo Star Sea indeed possess some kind of protective power."

"The Dao Web, then…"

Li Fan watched Emperor Sanmo's dream avatar depart, sensing the so-called Dao Web power.

Based on the deductions from the Dao Transformation Stone in his Sea of Consciousness, Li Fan was now certain that this Dao Web must be built upon the Dao Origin system.

He recalled how the Heavenly Profound Mirror once took the place of the heavens, weaving a "Profound Web" across the firmament of the Profound Yellow World.

"Being able to modify the Dao Web means it's not impenetrable or immune to infiltration."

"It's just a matter of finding the right method."

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