Chapter 1482: Wanxiang Tao Network Established

"Without the Profound Yellow Realm, there would be no Essence of Ancient Cyan."

"Without the Essence of Ancient Cyan, our race would be unable to cross possibilities. We would only be left to despair and await death where the Great Annihilation approaches," Di Sanmo said calmly, his ancient eyes, filled with boundless wisdom, fixed intently on Li Fan.

"That's not necessarily true, is it? I recall you saying your race has a method of merging into one, like a furnace. If you can cross possibilities, then the combined entity after all beasts merge should be able to do the same. Why seek help from others?" Li Fan said somewhat casually, his right index finger slowly rising to block Di Sanmo's gaze.

A small, bronze-colored energy sphere suddenly appeared at his fingertip. It was precisely the Essence of Ancient Cyan that Di Sanmo had diligently sought!

Di Sanmo's pupils constricted. Yet, before he could speak, the bronze sphere shattered like a bubble and vanished.

Knowing this was Li Fan's deliberate act, Di Sanmo took a deep breath and revealed the truth: "It's not that we won't, but that we can't."

"The method Khuying and I used to cross possibilities has significant limitations..."

"Not only can only a single consciousness travel each time, but there's also the risk of getting lost in space-time turbulence."

Li Fan did not answer, still quietly watching Di Sanmo.

Di Sanmo's face was full of helplessness: "After Wan Shiyong's death, Khuying traveled in his guise beyond the High Wall. Over the years, he experienced many things and joined the Immortal Hunt."

"This is the most powerful force in the Blight Star Sea outside the High Wall. Its cultivators possess a treasure called the Profound Coffin of Transference. The Immortal Hunt members seem unaware of its true origin, merely believing it to be a replica. However, Khuying can sense the fluctuations of our race, originating from another possibility, within this coffin."

"Presumably, because our race has traversed possibilities too many times, we are more sensitive than ordinary beings..."

As Di Sanmo was speaking, Li Fan suddenly waved his hand lightly: "Is it this object?"

A profound coffin thus appeared before Di Sanmo.

Di Sanmo was first stunned, then his expression sharply changed upon seeing it clearly.

This profound coffin was precisely the one Li Buren had previously acquired from Wuxian and Qian Ruochang's resting place.

The Blight Star Sea, meanwhile, seemed to have been concealing the existence of Li Fan, the "Hidden Emperor." Although Di Sanmo had Wan Shiyong as an inside agent, he was unaware that the dramatic changes in the Blight Star Sea over the past century were, in fact, greatly connected to the "senior" before him.

"This Profound Coffin of Transference was crafted from the remains of transcendent human powerhouses, enabling it to cross to the other shore. However, it requires specific techniques to function. You surely don't know these techniques, yet you managed to maximize its utility and complete the crossing... you indeed possess some skill," Li Fan commented lightly. He then casually put away the Profound Coffin of Transference, not allowing Di Sanmo to inspect it closely.

Although this profound coffin was indeed genuine, Li Fan had severed its spiritual essence, causing it to lose its ability to cross possibilities. At first glance, it might still deceive Di Sanmo. But if it remained visible for too long, he might discern something amiss.

The appearance of the profound coffin further attested to Li Fan's unfathomable power.

Di Sanmo's resolve became even stronger: "Senior displayed immense divine power when saving me earlier. With Senior's ability..."

"Indeed. I can help your race cross over. But why should I? As the saying goes, 'those not of our kind are sure to have different hearts.' In an era with thirteen primeval Dao forms present... if I help you complete the crossing, wouldn't I be inviting a wolf into my home?" Li Fan interrupted Di Sanmo.

Since Di Sanmo had come to persuade Li Fan, he had long prepared his arguments: "We anticipated Senior's concerns. However, please rest assured. In the possibility we currently inhabit, there is an object called the Myriad Beast Revolving Wheel!"

"This revolving wheel is actually the original Myriad Beast Furnace. It witnessed the entire process of our race's life, from myriad to one, and then from one back to myriad. Therefore, it possesses a certain authority that transcends our race's life form..."

As he spoke, Di Sanmo's long eyebrows and hair suddenly moved without wind, fluttering wildly in the air.

His hair connected, forming a ring. A phantom image of a revolving wheel materialized from within the ring.

From the phantom image before him, Li Fan seemed to see countless different kinds of exotic beasts roaring in competition.

"Our race is entirely controlled by this revolving wheel, even the thirteen primeval Dao forms..."

"Apart from the five Dao forms that initially perished at the hands of unknown human True Immortals, the remaining eight are also constrained by this revolving wheel."

"It goes without saying that Bofu the Unified, who unified with the myriad races, was most deeply influenced by the Furnace. However, primeval Dao forms like Quechen Xi and Jiliang Shou, when helping the race constantly cross possibilities and on the verge of extinction, also integrated part of themselves into the Furnace. Although this wasn't done by the primeval Dao forms in that glorious grand era possibility, strictly speaking, there is no real difference between them."

"With this revolving wheel, Senior's concerns can surely be alleviated," Di Sanmo explained, his expression normal.

The ethereal image of the revolving wheel gradually solidified into a tangible entity, which Di Sanmo presented to Li Fan.

Li Fan looked at the patterns on the revolving wheel and seemed to genuinely feel the majestic aura of myriad beasts galloping. In a previous reincarnation, he had also seen a Myriad Beast Revolving Wheel. However, that was merely the one from the Beast Taming Sect's legacy.

Compared to the one personally presented by Di Sanmo, the former was clearly far inferior.

After a review, Li Fan found that Di Sanmo had not lied. Holding the revolving wheel, a detailed process of the beast race's life, from non-existence to birth, seemed to unfold before his eyes. Even Di Sanmo and Di Yi were among them.

The mysteries of the demon beast race's life held no more secrets for Li Fan. He could effortlessly control them.

"Hehehe. Di San, do 'they' know about your act of presenting the Myriad Beast Revolving Wheel?" Li Fan asked, looking playfully at the wise beast before him.

Di Sanmo lowered his head and answered calmly: "They certainly do not know. In fact, they aren't even aware of the existence of the Myriad Beast Revolving Wheel in this world."

"Then won't you bear the eternal infamy of being a beast traitor?"

"Heh, I've carried this title for tens of thousands of years already. Doing it again is no big deal," Di Sanmo seemed genuinely unconcerned.

He looked at Li Fan with great sincerity: "Compared to the continuation of our race, everything else is insignificant."

Li Fan pondered, for a moment unsure of the true thoughts within this wise beast's mind.

But no matter what, he would never give up this grand feast of thirteen primeval Dao forms.

"With the current strength of my clone, Li Buren, he can probably only contend with one of the primeval Dao forms. But this is only under normal circumstances. If the power of the Guardian Lord of the Mound's phantom is fully unleashed..."

"Even if it further exacerbates the crisis of the Great Annihilation descending upon the Abyssal Star Sea, if it can secure the gluttonous opportunity of the thirteen Great Daos, it's worth it."

"Whether this Myriad Beast Revolving Wheel is useful or not, I can still thoroughly subdue these Dao forms..." A hundred thoughts raced through Li Fan's mind.

Then he burst into laughter: "Excellent. As the saying goes, 'a wise man adapts to circumstances.' Di San, you truly are the embodiment of your race's wisdom."

Li Fan's expression suddenly changed: "I won't hide it from you. The thirteen Dao forms of your race are of great use to me..."

As he spoke, Li Fan deliberately put on an expression of greed and yearning.

"Ultimately, I must return to my homeland."

"Furthermore, I will personally eliminate those two scoundrels who almost destroyed my homeland." Li Fan lightly tapped, and images of Hei Tianyi and Xie Subai appeared in the air before him.

Li Fan gazed at the two figures, then paused: "But I must admit, there's still some gap between my current strength and theirs. However, I have inherited a supreme Dao legacy, and with a bit more time and resources..."

He ended with a sneer, leaving Di Sanmo with endless conjectures.

"Supreme Dao legacy." Di Sanmo indeed keenly caught the key point in Li Fan's words.

In Li Fan's fabricated past, although his homeland's immortal realm was destroyed, it had left behind many Dao legacies in the lower realms, capable of even temporarily resisting the Great Annihilation.

And Li Fan's ability to conjure the Essence of Ancient Cyan with his own hands was the best proof of his inheritance of a supreme Dao legacy, leaving Di Sanmo no choice but to believe.

"Does Senior mean that the primeval Dao forms are the resources you require?" the wise beast quietly asked.

Li Fan nodded proudly in affirmation.

"You also needn't worry; I won't target your ordinary kin. Only the Dao forms, which are natural incarnations of the Great Dao, are my sustenance."

"Will you choose to abandon the primeval Dao forms, yet preserve the lives of most of your kin, or watch them all perish in the tide of the Great Annihilation..."

"Make your choice."

Di Sanmo's answer was swift: "My answer will not change. I have already thoroughly considered the stakes on my way here."

"The only thing I didn't anticipate was that Senior could manifest and utilize the form of the Great Dao. If compared to human cultivators, wouldn't that be..."

Li Fan smiled grimly: "Sometimes, being too clever isn't a good thing."

His figure appeared ghost-like beside Di Sanmo, his palm pressing onto his head.

Di Sanmo felt as if mountains were pressing down on him, rendering him instantly immobile.

It was as if an engraving knife constantly carved and cut within his mind. Even with his vast experience, he found such agony unbearable.

The physical anomaly came suddenly and vanished quickly. Moments later, he returned to normal.

The pain he had just experienced felt entirely like an illusion. Yet, a faint shadow, shaped like Li Fan, lingered persistently in his mind.

No matter how he tried to calm his mind, it remained firmly established over his consciousness.

"It's just a minor restrictive technique, no need to be nervous. As long as you follow the plan, everything will be fine."

"Otherwise..."

Li Fan let out an inscrutable chuckle: "I also don't mind if you try to test me with the lives of your entire race."

Di Sanmo's expression became solemn, and he bowed his head, declaring he would not dare.

Next, after Li Fan and Di Sanmo discussed the general details of the reception plan, Li Fan asked the crucial question: "How much Essence of Ancient Cyan is needed to cross possibilities?"

Di Sanmo took out a strange mask: "From our past experience, we just need to fill this divine mask."

Li Fan took the mask, and after sensing it, said lightly: "Alright. In three days, I will deliver a full load of Essence of Ancient Cyan to you."

"Additionally..."

"When you undertake this crossing of possibilities, wear this item as well."

Di Sanmo gazed intently, only to see a sculpture, made of unknown material, quietly floating before him.

Mountains and seas nestled together. And above them, a figure stood with hands clasped behind its back.

The moment he touched the sculpture, the image of mountains and seas merged into his body, making it impossible to detect where it was hidden.

"You may go."

After being dismissed, Di Sanmo's vision blurred, and he found himself back in the Profound Yellow Realm.

He did not leave, but simply waited quietly.

As he stood, he surveyed the surrounding landscape. Compared to a century ago, it had undergone a colossal transformation.

Not only were the heavens and earth vaster, but the most striking aspect was the pervasive, vibrant vitality.

Di Sanmo felt a faint disorientation, as if he had returned to ancient times, before the calamity befell them.

"If we could thrive and reproduce here, it would indeed be a blessing."

"Though it may not last, it is a paradise for now."

"Furthermore, as long as there is enough Essence of Ancient Cyan, even if this place becomes uninhabitable one day, we can always find another."

Di Sanmo thought silently to himself.

Inside the Celestial Pillar Space.

Li Buren stood with a serious expression, eyes closed. He served as the bridge connecting the main body and the Guardian Lord of the Mound's phantom power.

As an energy form capable of supporting the crossing of possibilities, the Essence of Ancient Cyan must be of extremely high grade. It was certainly not easy to conjure enough to fill an entire mask.

Even for the current Li Fan, it was somewhat strenuous.

Therefore, he needed to borrow power.

Of course, Li Fan would not allow the Guardian Lord of the Mound's phantom, or the power of other celestial pillars, to directly interact with his 'False Becomes True' ability. Instead, he used the Dao Net link between his clone and main body for conversion.

After a century of quiet enlightenment, the gradually expanding Myriad Dao Aspects of Ink Kill allowed Li Fan's main body to withstand the power of the Guardian Lord of the Mound's phantom.

The boundless Mountain-Sea power, using Li Buren as a conduit, was transferred into the vast net woven by the Ink Kill Dao Aspects.

It was just as Li Fan had expected.

Ink Kill and the Great Annihilation subtly shared similar natures, both belonging to transformations where mountains and seas merged.

As if of the same origin, the power of the Guardian Lord of the Mound's phantom was converted without any obstruction. Within the vast net woven by Li Fan, it surged like a torrent of stars and rivers, arriving abruptly and ceaselessly.

It was like the several-fold power amplification he gained when he cast "False Becomes True" on himself.

His power soared out of thin air, becoming inexhaustible.

"False Becomes True..."

The memories and sensations of conjuring the Essence of Ancient Cyan out of nothing resurfaced in his mind.

Li Fan silently recited in his heart.

Before him, bronze-colored specks of light continuously emerged from nothingness.

Objects created by Li Fan's own "False Becomes True" ability would only last for a few breaths. Then they would vanish completely, leaving only a small residue.

However, after a century of enlightenment, the proportion of residual matter had significantly increased. It had surged from roughly one ten-thousandth to five ten-thousandths.

And now, with external power boosting his strength directly to the Nameless realm, this retention rate had again leapfrogged to five thousandths (0.5%)! Even though there was still a 99.5% loss.

But in the face of its infinite nature, all these losses were negligible.

Operating the Myriad Aspects Dao Net of Ink Kill at maximum capacity, Li Fan was immersed in the experience of creation.

With the birth of every speck of light, his comprehension of the False-True Transformation deepened further.

Three days later.

Di Sanmo was summoned again.

A mask was thrown forcefully towards him; he instinctively caught it.

The surging, familiar aura emanating from the mask made the ancient, wise beast's body tremble slightly.

In his view, it contained not just energy, but the very hope of his entire race's survival.

"I will surely not fail Senior's trust."

Di Sanmo said solemnly.

If, before, there had been even a trace of hesitation in his heart, now, upon seeing a whole mask full of Essence of Ancient Cyan, there was no longer any doubt.

"As long as there's enough of this energy, we can continuously search for new safe habitats. Until the entire mortal realm is destroyed, at least until then, our race can always remain safe, without having to gamble anymore."

"In comparison..."

"The sacrifice of a few primeval Dao forms is utterly insignificant."

Di Sanmo's inner resolve was hidden beneath his cloudy eyes. He hastened once more towards the border of the Blight Star Sea.

Li Fan watched Di Sanmo's disappearing figure, sensing his location in his mind, and nodded slightly.

The mark he left in Di Sanmo's mind was a result of his comprehension of the Dao of Engraving during the past century.

He didn't expect it to function after Di Sanmo crossed possibilities, but only to track everything that happened inside the Profound Coffin of Transference. This way, even if Di Sanmo tried to betray him, Li Fan could still find his own way to the possibility where the thirteen Dao forms resided.

No matter where they were in enemy territory, no matter how weak his power there. As long as Li Fan could pinpoint their exact location.

He would have plenty of ways to deal with them later.

Moreover, in Li Fan's view, the likelihood of Di Sanmo betraying the plan was extremely small.

"It's time to make some arrangements in advance," he thought, feeling an inevitable excitement.

Only after truly assimilating the Great Dao contained within a Nameless one did Li Fan truly understand the extent of its enhancement to him.

From a cultivation perspective, Li Fan's main body was still in the "Half-Immortal" realm.

But as long as the Ink Kill Dao Net unfolded, he could easily capture opponents whose "weight" was beneath his.

"Weight" was Li Fan's description of the significance his cultivated path held within the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.

There were no quantified metrics, only anchors based on perception.

Just like the Dao of Engraving he had glimpsed from Situ Xing's memories—though somewhat incomplete, it originated from a Nameless one who had merged with the Dao. Its Dao-weight was almost equivalent to half a Nameless one.

Far beyond what an ordinary True Immortal could achieve.

And this was just one of the Dao aspects within Li Fan's Ink Kill Dao Net.

Formless, Hunger, Creation, Primordial Beginning...

And so on, too many to enumerate, distributed throughout the Dao Net.

With these comprehended Dao principles as weights, it was enough to allow Li Fan to contend with true Nameless True Immortals without falling into a disadvantage.

This had been verified over the past century through Li Fan's occasional sparring with his clone.

Strictly speaking, this was not Li Fan's own power. Rather, it was "adapting to local conditions and countering force with force."

If he left the current possibility, the usable "weights" in his Dao Net might vanish instantly.

But at the very least, within the original possibility, relying on this move, Li Fan was almost in a semi-invincible state.

Apart from some ancient monsters who survived the Immortal Realm Tribulation, Li Fan feared no others.

"Guardian Lord of the Mound's phantom. My own Dao Net."

"With each Nameless one suppressed and devoured, both of these can be significantly strengthened."

"The power of the Guardian Lord of the Mound's phantom still has an upper limit. But my Myriad Aspects Dao Net of Ink Kill is boundless. Perhaps its limit is my ideal: the Three Thousand Great Daos, all returning to my being."

Li Fan was very satisfied with the gains from his century of seclusion.

As the saying goes, "eating marrow knows the taste," so he couldn't help but turn his gaze to the nearby Blight Star Sea.

Due to the time difference caused by traversing different possibilities, it might be another century before Di Sanmo had any news.

Li Fan couldn't just idly wait during this time.

The Blight Star Sea, already having reached an initial cooperation agreement with the remaining True Immortals and thus teeming with them, was naturally his ideal hunting ground.

Over the century, Wuxian had consistently reported on the progress of both sides.

Although somewhat slow, with the combined efforts of certain forces, the Immortal Hunt and the True Immortals gradually set aside their former animosity. They agreed to jointly bear the responsibility of resisting the Great Annihilation.

After all, the Immortal Hunt's promise to release all True Immortals, including the Nameless True Immortals, imprisoned deep within the Dao Net, was indeed sincere.

However, the condition was that before leaving the Dao Net, they had to leave behind a "Dao-inheriting phantom" using the method of phantom Dao inheritance.

The only flaw of the Dao-inheriting phantom was that it would need to be retrieved during the true great transcendence in the future.

Even the Guardian Lord of the Mound hadn't achieved this, let alone these prisoners.

Therefore, they all readily agreed.

"They didn't reveal the list of released True Immortals, though."

Li Fan, hidden behind the High Wall, gazed at the nearby Blight Star Sea.

Over the past century, the continuous extraction of Blight Star Sea's Dao principles to nourish the weak and depleted Abyssal Star Sea, though having a negligible impact, still drew the attention of the Blight Star Sea. They dispatched people to investigate several times.

But Li Fan's intervention startled them away.

"I've endured it a few times, but I can't keep enduring it indefinitely."

"Let me stoke the flames for you a bit more."

For Li Fan, fighting near the High Wall offered an absolute geographical advantage. Therefore, any plan was best executed by drawing the battlefield here.

With his mind made up, the path transformed by Li Buren once again opened its gaping maw.

Like a bottomless abyss, it swallowed the Dao principles of the Blight Star Sea whole.

This time, Li Fan held nothing back, and the sheer magnitude of his power directly formed a distorted halo near the High Wall.

The Blight Star Sea was instantly alarmed.

After a brief silence, two figures approached together.

One of them was Wuxian.

The other figure, Li Fan had not seen before.

But there was no trace of True Immortal aura on this person. Instead, wherever he passed, it was as if a giant beast swam beneath the water, causing ripples of Dao principles throughout the surrounding starry sky.

"They're here to make a display of power," Li Fan thought, amused.

This person clearly belonged to the Immortal Hunt faction.

Given the power over the Dao Net that the opponent displayed, it was utterly impossible for them to cause such a large disturbance during their travels.

Li Fan quietly observed the aftermath of the Dao Net.

"A Dao Net woven for countless millennia, with Nameless True Immortals as its pillars. Indeed, its power is extraordinary, far surpassing my current Myriad Aspects Dao Net."

"However..."

"Such a commotion is still too presumptuous!"

With a thought, Li Fan unleashed the power of Wuji.

It transformed into a massive hand, reaching out to grasp the Immortal Hunter.