Chapter 1506: Mountain and Sea Storm Arises

"Is the entire mortal world, including the mountains and seas, merely a larger version of the Samsara of No-Recess?"

"Just as True Celestial Venerable, no matter how hard he tried, could not change the fate of the Xuanhuang Realm being swallowed by the Immortal Ruins, so too will the mountains and seas ultimately be unable to escape their destiny of fusion."

"How can one truly change and transcend?"

When the time of the Samsara of No-Recess restarted, Li Fan's consciousness had already withdrawn from it. However, the doubts arising from this attempt continued to linger in his mind.

They were difficult to dispel for a long time.

Even when he quietly experimented with the Heavenly Pillar Immortal Embankment in reality, these thoughts often crossed his mind.

It proved that the Samsara of No-Recess was almost identical to the primal possibility. Li Fan's experimental results within it could truly be transferred directly to reality without any changes.

When Cheng Dao witnessed the method Li Fan demonstrated for constructing the Immortal Embankment, he couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "Junior Brother, you are truly a prodigy! How long has it been, and you've already replicated this project? And you did it merely by glimpsing it from memory, without a physical visit."

"Once you understand the principle, replicating it isn't difficult. What's truly extraordinary are the new Dao nets that Senior Brother manifested after his enlightenment. These don't even exist in our world," Li Fan said humbly, pointing to the Dao net surrounding the high wall.

As Li Fan comprehended the Immortal Embankment, Cheng Dao had already fully integrated the original strands of Dao strings into the Dao net. Li Fan could faintly sense that with the addition of these new forces, the starry sky near the High Wall of Shuoxing Sea had become much more stable.

It seemed that with the auxiliary support of these previously non-existent Dao principles, an effect greater than the sum of its parts was achieved.

Cheng Dao naturally also noticed this anomaly and recounted an anecdote to Li Fan.

Once, during his communication with Lord Shouqiu, he had asked about possible methods to resist Dao Annihilation. As Shouqiu's disciple, Cheng Dao also wished to emulate his master's heroic feat of saving an era and turning the tide from collapse.

Lord Shouqiu did not mock his disciple's overestimation of his own abilities; instead, he seriously offered two suggestions.

First, to continue cultivating the art of Shadow Inheritance. If one became powerful enough, even if the ultimate fate of being swallowed by Dao Annihilation could not be changed, one might endure until the very last moment of the mountains and seas' fusion.

If the first method relied on external assistance, the second method was to strengthen the possibility itself. If it were inherently robust, it would naturally no longer need any heavenly pillars or shadows.

However, the possibility Cheng Dao inhabited was already critically ill and riddled with holes. To reverse a terminal illness naturally required extraordinary measures.

This involved drawing on the Great Dao from other possibilities to fill its own deficiencies.

To take from the abundant and give to the insufficient!

Lord Shouqiu also told Cheng Dao that such individuals indeed existed between the mountains and seas. They would cross over to other possibilities, extract and refine the Great Dao, and then return to their homelands to sustain a collapsing heaven.

"This must be what Master spoke of. It seems everything truly needs to be verified in person; no matter how much one speculates, it's no match for hands-on experience," Cheng Dao said, stroking his beard and smiling, clearly pleased with his masterpiece.

Li Fan and Cheng Dao then exchanged insights.

Although it was a pretense, their interactions genuinely resembled those of actual senior and junior brothers.

Time flew by in this exceptionally harmonious atmosphere, and in the blink of an eye, fifty years had passed.

Cheng Dao still hadn't received a message from Lord Shouqiu, but the Thirteen Primeval Dao Forms, long-awaited by Li Fan, finally arrived.

On this day, subtle anomalies emanated from the periphery of the High Wall of Shuoxing Sea.

Like waves from a massive cruise ship cutting through the wind, they continuously crashed upon the shore. The area, already surrounded by the Land of Annihilation and supported only by the High Wall's Dao net, felt precarious.

Now, under this violent tremor, it instantly felt like a solitary island in a massive tsunami, on the verge of capsizing.

Li Fan and Cheng Dao simultaneously appeared, looking towards the source of the anomaly.

It was remarkably similar to the scene outside the world when Dao Annihilation was imminent.

However, in addition to the roaring of the mountains and seas, there was a dull thudding sound, like heavy metal hammers constantly colliding and striking.

With each sound, a thread seemed to be forged out of nothingness in the void.

The dull thuds continued, and thousands of threads converged, growing thicker. It was as if divine power was parting the sea, forcibly carving a path through Dao Annihilation.

Staring at the wondrous sight before him, Li Fan suddenly recalled the moment when Black Heaven Physician burst through the high wall and descended into the world.

"Senior Brother, have you ever seen someone cross over from another possibility?"

Cheng Dao paused slightly at the question, then remembered the nameless alien Li Fan had mentioned to him earlier.

His expression immediately turned serious.

"It seems that Emperor Sanmo was hiding something."

"Such a commotion doesn't seem like something thirteen mere nameless True Immortals could cause."

Li Fan nodded in agreement, "That tremor could briefly repel Dao Annihilation... Ordinary nameless True Immortals would probably be instantly pulverized by such a sound."

"But with Senior Brother here, we have nothing to fear from them."

Cheng Dao smiled and said coldly, "Materials for mending the sky are naturally always welcome; we fear no arrivals."

The anomaly at the periphery of Shuoxing Sea grew increasingly magnificent until the wisp of thread in the void completely solidified. Only then did the tremor cease. A towering pillar of green light then shot out from this thread moments later.

Behind the light pillar, Dao Annihilation once again swallowed the thread.

Unlike the immense commotion of its creation, the swallowing by Dao Annihilation was utterly quiet. No sound at all.

The light pillar seemed to have long ago locked onto the high wall's location. Although it was its first descent, it didn't hesitate at all, hurtling straight towards them.

However, just as it was about to arrive, it seemed to suddenly discover the Shuoxing Sea Dao net, which was layered like a protective barrier outside the high wall.

It then abruptly halted.

The green light receded, revealing its true form.

It was a bizarre, grotesque thousand-armed flesh orb.

A faint, eerie green glow still enveloped the surface of the flesh orb, obscuring its details.

Nevertheless, Li Fan could vaguely discern the characteristics of numerous exotic beasts on the massive orb.

"Junior Brother, it seems something major has happened to this exotic beast race."

"Senior Brother is right, I noticed it too. Within this colossal fusion body, there isn't a multitude of consciousnesses..." Li Fan stared ahead, and with a thought, he attempted to activate the Myriad Beast Wheel.

After it activated, it indeed had an effect. The colossal flesh orb's myriad tentacles swayed continuously, as if rocking in the wind.

Or perhaps it was mocking Li Fan.

"Boy, is the Myriad Beast Wheel fun?"

Billions of different voices echoed simultaneously, each carrying a distinct emotion.

There was anger, sarcasm, the greed of seeing delicious food, the ecstasy of surviving a calamity, and the relief of finally seeing a habitable continent after drifting at sea for years.

Li Fan shook his head slightly and said to Cheng Dao with a hint of regret, "It seems we ultimately underestimated them."

"After all, it's a complete civilization of possibilities. Though they are an alien race, they aren't so easily outwitted. Even the same person can change drastically across different possibilities, let alone an entire race," Cheng Dao said, offering comfort.

"Nevertheless, they have arrived. It truly aligns with Master's words: 'Regardless of the outcome.'"

Since his encounter in the Samsara of No-Recess, Li Fan had grown increasingly fond of these four words. Beyond their inherent profound meaning, Li Fan was more drawn to the composure they implied—the sense of having everything under control.

"Hahaha, Junior Brother, well said! Regardless of the outcome!"

"Arrogant aliens, since you've come, stay!"

Before Li Fan could make a move, Cheng Dao's figure vanished from his spot.

The hidden Dao net outside the high wall suddenly shimmered with endless light in an instant. Then it rapidly expanded, engulfing the entire surviving starry sky that surrounded the Land of Annihilation.

The massive thousand-armed flesh orb, caught off guard, had already fallen into the net.

Although it had only been able to cross possibilities thanks to the Ancient Profound Source provided by Li Fan, the immense commotion it caused upon its arrival also subtly affirmed the flesh orb monster's formidable strength.

It was highly probable that it was the entire alien race, including the Thirteen Primeval Dao Forms, fused into one entity. Its power naturally could not be underestimated.

Although it was now caught in the net, it was not surprised; instead, it rejoiced.

"Delicious!"

"You understand the art of hospitality so well, I must thank you properly!"

"Hehehehe!"

Billions of maniacal laughs emanated from the flesh orb.

Countless images of ferocious exotic beasts illuminated the flesh orb in succession. Some had their eyes gouged out, others their heads severed. All were incomplete and covered in blood. But without exception, they all performed "devouring" motions towards the surrounding Dao net.

As if to swallow the heavens and earth, a tremendous gravitational pull instantly emanated from the monster.

This suction force differed from what the Hunger Immortal caused.

The Hunger Immortal's devouring was driven by hunger, whereas this alien fusion body devoured simply because it desired to.

The Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, all things.

All were merely its sustenance!

Besides devouring, the thousand-armed flesh orb also displayed a maniacal desire for acceptance and fusion.

It seemed intent on transforming Li Fan and everything in this starry sky into a part of itself.

With just one bite from the monster, a small void was directly created in the Shuoxing Sea Dao net.

Even Li Fan hadn't expected the alien fusion body to devour and digest Dao principles so rapidly.

Not only did it devour, but it also transformed what it consumed into a part of its own power in an extremely short time.

Li Fan clearly saw that the flesh orb had grown hundreds of tentacles due to this act of devouring.

"Vile beast!"

Cheng Dao roared, and the light emanating from the tangible Dao net grew even brighter.

It spanned across the starry sky.

The alien fusion body's devouring efficiency instantly slowed down.

At this moment, Cheng Dao's hands tore through the void and descended upon the thousand-armed flesh orb.

Ignoring the exotic beast's devouring, he firmly pressed it down.

No matter how greedily the beast images gnawed, he remained unmoving.

Cheng Dao's figure was even more stable than the Great Dao itself.

The alien fusion body could gnaw away at the Great Dao, but it was helpless against the stubborn rocks of the mountains and seas!

In that instant, tens of thousands of tentacles disintegrated with agonizing screams due to the backlash.

The blurred flesh and blood scattered on the ground seemed to contain their original forms.

However, before they could even struggle, countless tiny, dense tentacles emerged from the alien fusion body's surface, dragging the flesh and blood back inside.

Before long, the massive flesh orb grew new tentacles again.

"Wind, come!"

In the starry sky, a giant hand manifested by Cheng Dao continued to press down firmly on the alien fusion body.

The other hand, however, gently beckoned towards the void where the thousand-armed flesh orb had appeared.

Buzzing...

It was like a prelude to an approaching hurricane; the scene of continuous heavy hammer strikes reappeared.

Only this time, it wasn't about parting the void or creation.

Instead, ripples of Dao Annihilation were being drawn in!

Li Fan, watching the battle, narrowed his pupils. This move was one Cheng Dao had never used before. He had never even mentioned it during their usual discussions on Dao. Clearly, the alien fusion body's devouring act had ignited his true fury.

"Those ripples... they're not an illusion. They're real Dao Annihilation!"

"But not as a sudden, overwhelming tide, rather as continuous wisps of clear wind?!"

Li Fan's eyes showed surprise, and he quickly discerned the mystery of Cheng Dao's divine ability.

"The essence of Dao Annihilation is the fusion of mountains and seas."

"When mountains and seas meet, the crashing waves are a form of their fusion. But the howling wind between mountains and seas is also..."

Li Fan watched as the alien fusion body's countless tentacles completely evaporated in the ripples stirred by the mountains and seas. Not even fragments of flesh and blood remained.

It was as if he saw the wind blowing from between the mountains and seas, purifying the mortal world.

"The great tide has not yet arrived, but the wind has come first."

"Only those who guard the hills and gaze at the sea can perceive it in advance."

As Li Fan gained enlightenment, Cheng Dao's guidance also reached his ears.

It must be said, the alien fusion body was truly formidable.

Under the assault of this great wind of mountains and seas, the entire Shuoxing Sea might not have been able to withstand it for long. Yet, the entity, relying on its extremely powerful regeneration, stubbornly persisted without defeat.

Even as billions of its surface tentacles were eradicated by the ripples, an endless supply quickly surged from within.

These tentacles were its devoured kin. At this moment, they also served as its multiple layers of defense.

Although it knew it was no match for the expert wielding the Wind of Mountains and Seas, its path of retreat was cut off. With no escape, the desperation only further ignited the alien fusion body's ferocity.

Billions of screeching sounds continuously exploded from the surface of the flesh orb.

Tentacles, one after another, reverted to their original exotic beast forms.

They flew away from the fusion body, scattering and fleeing in all directions.

The massive flesh orb itself, however, split open with a huge fissure down its center.

Within the deep, dark fissure, a single orange-yellow eyeball was hidden.

Under its gaze, even the ripples of the mountains and seas paused for a brief moment.

Although the Wind of Mountains and Seas quickly resumed its original state, it granted the scattered tentacles valuable time to escape.

If Li Fan hadn't been there.

Shortly after flying out, thousands of exotic beasts...

...all mysteriously vanished.

It was as if some unknown hunter had been waiting for a long time.

The alien fusion body even perceived that the parts of itself that had vanished shared the same fate as those cleansed by the ripples of the mountains and seas.

Its connection to them was completely severed.

"What the hell is that?!"