Chapter 1457: Really Pointing Out

“Spirituality,” as it’s called, is a unique aptitude that Li Fan’s true self could perceive in cultivators and living beings only after comprehending the Divine Ability of Truth-Falsity.

It is almost a comprehensive judgment of all factors such as disposition, talent, innate quality, and luck, involving the probability of a living being transcending possibilities.

Previously, Li Fan’s perspective focused solely on the myriad beings of the Xuanhuang Realm. Those he encountered in the Shuoxing Sea were also prodigies, but their numbers were too small to form a judgment.

Now, Li Buren’s observation scope has suddenly expanded to the entire experimental star sea. The Xuanhuang Realm is just one of countless stars, and the volume of data has increased by tens of millions of times.

Li Fan suddenly discovered a fact: “Among the vast and boundless immortal cultivation worlds, the aptitude of beings in the Xuanhuang Realm is absolutely among the foremost.”

The factors leading to this difference in the average aptitude level of beings in the immortal cultivation world, however, remain unknown.

“However, the True Immortals in the experimental field must have discovered this peculiarity. It is only natural for them to consider the Xuanhuang Realm a primary subject of observation.”

Throughout the entire Dark Star Sea, the Xuanshang Immortal Vessel was Li Buren’s primary concern.

At this point in time, the Xuanshang Immortal Vessel had already begun to travel between various realms. Because its position was not fixed, it would sometimes even venture near areas of astrological explosions. Consequently, the experimental field’s records of the Xuanshang Immortal Vessel were not continuous.

During certain periods, observations of the Xuanshang Immortal Vessel would be completely lost. Soon after, the vessel would “leap” to another location in the star sea.

Moreover, there seemed to be a method within the immortal vessel itself that could interfere with the experimental field’s records.

The images were very unclear, intermittent, as if the signal was lost. This was reflected in Li Buren’s exploration, as his divine sense encountered obstacles everywhere during its wanderings. He was completely unable to fully perceive what was happening inside the Xuanshang Immortal Vessel.

“It is said that the Xuanshang Immortal Vessel discovered that beings from various realms were being raised like livestock, and thus abandoned the idea of settling in one realm. Instead, they continuously roamed the star sea, hoping to escape this fate. To some extent, they indeed achieved this.”

“According to the current Xuanshang Immortal Vessel, it likely possessed an immortal treasure or a method that only True Immortals could employ. Such a miraculous effect could only be achieved by using immortals to counter immortals.”

As usual, he noted all suspicious occurrences involving the Xuanshang Immortal Vessel over the past fifty years.

Li Buren was about to examine the two other square star seas beyond the Xuanhuang Realm when he suddenly felt as though he had overlooked something.

Pondering, his thoughts returned to the fifty years of recorded images of the Xuanhuang Realm.

This time, he no longer focused on the prominent and dazzling beings. Instead, his gaze fell upon the ordinary multitude.

Li Buren discovered that some of the faces were strikingly familiar.

At this recorded point in time, Li Fan himself did not exist.

The reason Li Buren found some of them familiar was because they had once appeared in the Life-Death Heavenly Venerate’s Grand Array of Life-Death Reversal, as one of the countless frozen corpses.

“Not just these. Could it be that one or two of these faces still exist in the current Xuanhuang Realm?”

With a thought, Li Fan’s true self, within the Carefree Dreamland Paradise, pinpointed two individuals.

They were originally mortals who only embarked on the path of cultivation after the Dreamland Paradise enveloped the entire Xuanhuang Realm.

According to the experimental field’s records, these two individuals also existed as inconspicuous mortals in the ancient Xuanhuang Realm.

Four faces, spanning vast periods of time, overlapped in pairs before Li Fan.

Even with his current power to destroy the Xuanhuang Realm with a mere thought, Li Fan couldn’t help but feel a subtle chill in his heart.

He then recalled the mortal he had seen in the recorded images, who had suddenly deviated from their life’s trajectory, as if transformed, to receive True Immortals.

“These mortals are likely just NPCs used to populate the Xuanhuang Realm, endlessly recycled through reincarnation. At certain critical moments, they can even receive special instructions to complete tasks given by True Immortals…”

“This method of control is not achieved through any divine abilities or spells. Instead, it is likely rooted deep within the core of these mortals.”

Even before ascending to immortality, Li Fan could barely create beings using the “Form of Life.” Therefore, he had no doubt that the True Immortals of the Immortal Realm in the past possessed the ability to mass-produce living beings.

“These created beings are recycled. This suggests the experimental field considered the issue of consumption. Because the base number is sufficiently large, thousands of years have passed in the world each time they are put into reincarnation, making it almost impossible for anyone to detect.”

“Even if accidentally discovered, it could easily be explained as a coincidence, making it difficult to confirm.”

“Only someone like me, who spans two periods of time and fully comprehends the appearances of beings in the Xuanhuang Realm, can make such a definitive judgment.”

“Not only are all events recorded, but even the environment of the immortal cultivation world and most of its beings are pre-set. It truly lives up to its name as an experimental field…”

“I just don’t know if other immortal cultivation worlds besides the Xuanhuang Realm are also like this.”

All other realms have already been destroyed, so Li Fan cannot verify this.

However, it is likely that their structure was also similar to that of the Xuanhuang Realm.

“The maintenance of the experimental field is undoubtedly linked to the uncertain rings in the ancient Xuanhuang Realm formation I discovered before, and the Nine-Star Red Pearl. The Nine-Star Red Pearl is now missing, suspected to have been taken by someone.”

“Traces of the Return Character Incantation were also left at the scene.”

“If an insider from the experimental field had taken it, they certainly wouldn’t have needed such an elaborate process. Therefore, it must have been an outsider.”

“From what I initially saw, the remnants of the Nine-Star Red Pearl pattern and the influence record data in this experimental field suggest that the Nine-Star Red Pearl should contain all the life data of beings who have ever existed in the Xuanhuang Realm’s history…”

Billions of different faces seemed to flash rapidly before Li Fan’s eyes.

A question suddenly surfaced in his mind.

If those mortals were NPCs created to fill the world’s blanks, then what exactly were those cultivators—those once-illustrious, even eternally renowned peerless experts—who were active throughout the Xuanhuang Realm’s history?

“In the history of the Xuanhuang Realm, prodigies emerged frequently.”

“All who once ascended to True Immortals left no records. Either they were intentionally erased, or they all achieved the nameless state and spontaneously vanished from the world’s records.”

“If it’s the former, that’s fine. But if it’s the latter…”

Nameless True Immortals, even if they perished like ants during the Immortal Realm’s destruction, would not be numerous, as each nameless ascension requires integrating one’s body with the Dao.

Moreover, this is based on the existence of countless, immeasurable immortal cultivation worlds in the lower realms.

No matter how blessed and exceptional the Xuanhuang Realm is, it’s impossible for so many Nameless True Immortals to emerge frequently.

Like a bolt of lightning, the thought pierced through the fog.

A thought couldn’t help but surface in Li Fan’s mind: “Could it be that Nameless True Immortals descended to the lower realms in some way, using themselves as bait, attempting to attract and capture ‘Returning True’?”

Li Fan’s thoughts raced.

“A supreme treasure from the Infinite Sea, capable of reversing the Calamity of Dao Annihilation. Even Nameless True Immortals would surely be tempted. If it were me, knowing about the existence of this experimental field in the lower realms, I would try every means to get involved. Even if it wasn’t officially permitted, I’d smuggle myself in.”

“After all, it’s just a clone, easily created. What if it really got captured?”

“But how could ‘Returning True’ be so easily lured away? They are destined to return empty-handed.”

“Those who can cultivate into Nameless True Immortals undoubtedly possess exceptional aptitude. Even if they lack the memories of their true selves for the sake of being convincing bait, regaining the True Immortal realm should not be an issue.”

“Theoretically, as an experimental field, it should be impossible for experimental beings to escape through ascension. However, those who came from the Immortal Realm are naturally not subject to these restrictions. Some are even beings that the True Immortals overseeing the experimental field cannot afford to offend. Naturally, they would choose to let them pass obediently.”

Li Fan suddenly recalled Mo Rubing’s description of King Xuantian’s memories.

“King Xuantian was able to successfully ascend to immortality because the immortal official in charge of the lightning tribulation happened to perish in the calamity that destroyed the Immortal Realm, which allowed him to fortunately ascend. In King Xuantian’s own words, that lightning tribulation was never intended for any cultivator to pass…”

“King Xuantian was already subtly considered the foremost person in the Xuanhuang Realm throughout eternity. It was even suspected that he had the assistance of a ‘fishing pond’ from the very beginning of his cultivation journey. Even so, he still had no chance against that ascension lightning tribulation.”

“It seems that under normal circumstances, escaping from this experimental field is simply impossible.”

Li Fan’s expression was grim, yet he also felt a slight sense of relief.

Fortunately, the Calamity of Dao Annihilation descended and destroyed the Immortal Realm. True Immortals scattered in all directions to survive and no longer cared about this experimental field.

“Otherwise, even with the advantage of ‘Returning True,’ I would likely be nothing more than a bird in a cage or a fish in a net…”

Thinking of this, Li Fan suddenly froze.

Pondering it carefully, he thought: “Or perhaps the True Immortals of the past were not wrong in their calculations. ‘Returning True’ did indeed appear in this designated experimental field. It’s just that…”

“Perhaps they also didn’t anticipate that ‘Returning True’ possessed its own consciousness. Such methods might deceive ordinary mortals, but how could they deceive ‘Returning True’?”

“Therefore, it never revealed itself. It was waiting…”

“It was waiting not only for the Immortal Realm to be destroyed and the experimental field to be ruined, but also for a qualified, unique vessel.”

With this conjecture, ‘Returning True,’ which had been silent since its return from the Infinite Sea, finally showed signs of fluctuation again.

However, the emotion it conveyed this time made Li Fan somewhat unable to fathom it.

“There was a hint of affirmation.”

“And a touch of amusement.”

“This…”

Li Fan’s expression remained normal, and he even shamelessly wanted to ask for more guidance.

Having spent a hundred cycles of reincarnation with ‘Returning True’ day and night, almost no subtle change in ‘Returning True’ could escape his notice.

Li Fan keenly noticed that ever since its return from the Infinite Sea and potential contact with its past acquaintances, ‘Returning True’ had gradually become more “active.”

Previously, it would only respond lazily in certain extreme circumstances. But now…

This time, facing Li Fan’s sincere inquiry,

‘Returning True,’ which had always been impassive, actually gave an answer.

Li Fan himself was caught off guard by this result. He was slightly stunned for a moment, then immediately sought out the location of ‘Returning True’s’ guidance.

Neither his true body nor his clone puppet, Li Buren, showed the slightest change.

The change existed in…

…the segment of time Li Fan created in this lifetime, named Endless Reincarnation.

The True Heavenly Venerate, trapped within it, had already experienced nine thousand three hundred and sixty-three cycles of reincarnation.

No matter how he tried, he was always unable to rewrite the outcome of the Xuanhuang Realm’s destruction.

So, after the eight hundredth attempt, the True Heavenly Venerate finally chose to give up.

Abandoning all pursuits, at the beginning of each cycle, he resigned himself to waiting for destruction to arrive.

Gradually, he actually began to feel that this wasn’t so bad.

After all, no matter how it was destroyed, he would always return to the initial point in time. So, in a way, didn’t that mean he was immortal?

Having understood this point, the True Heavenly Venerate became even more at peace with his resigned attitude.

He lived a muddled existence.

He did not notice in the slightest that the speed at which he experienced reincarnation was getting faster and faster.

From Li Fan’s perspective, due to ‘Returning True’s’ disturbance, the speed of reincarnation for this period of time had been suddenly accelerated.

The True Heavenly Venerate trapped within could not perceive this, but Li Fan could see millions of cyclical evolutions unfolding before him in an instant.

The completely resigned True Heavenly Venerate abandoned all struggle in every reincarnation.

As a result, the reincarnation lost its variables.

Each cycle was identical to the previous one.

Staring intently at the True Heavenly Venerate in reincarnation, Li Fan’s expression became somewhat unreadable.

Because he saw that the True Heavenly Venerate’s spirituality was slowly being eroded as the number of reincarnations increased.

Just as if Li Fan were continuously employing the Divine Ability of Truth-Falsity.

Ultimately, his spirituality was completely lost, and his future was cut off!

Li Fan’s mind buzzed with a revelation.

“‘When true is false, false is also true.’”

“The Divine Ability of Truth-Falsity can diminish a cultivator’s spirituality.”

“And isn’t every activation of my reincarnation equivalent to Truth-Falsity?”

“Moreover, this Truth-Falsity was even personally activated by ‘Returning True’…”

Li Fan’s heart trembled violently, and he conjured a water mirror before himself.

He had observed the spirituality of countless beings.

But he had never seen his own.

With apprehension and trepidation.

Li Fan looked at himself.

His face and body, more familiar than anything.

Under Li Fan’s renewed scrutiny this time…

What made him breathe a sigh of relief was that what he had worried about had not happened.

Furthermore…

Li Fan’s expression became somewhat peculiar.

He stroked his chin and suddenly realized.

What exactly was ‘Returning True’s’ guidance?

The reason why Li Fan, as a vessel, was unique?

Why, among the endless myriad beings, was Li Fan specifically chosen?

Li Fan gazed at his own face.

His spirituality did not seem particularly outstanding.

Yet, it gave Li Fan an inexplicable feeling.

His own spirituality was incredibly profound.

Even after being eroded by reincarnation time and again, there was still little change.

“If the ability to withstand Truth-Falsity is also a form of aptitude,”

“then perhaps my aptitude in this regard is top-tier in the world.”

“Unlike other cultivation aptitudes, this is what ‘Returning True’ truly valued.”

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