Chapter 1512: Getting the Gift of Eternal Life

Normally, given the power displayed by the green fragment in the image, the aging Master of the Mound should have been utterly unable to approach it. Furthermore, it was highly questionable whether the Master of the Mound could even survive in the Infinite Ocean at that time.

Yet, perhaps it was the green fragment's own choice, a destiny predestined. In any case, the Master of the Mound miraculously reached the fragment unharmed. The fragment radiated brilliant light at the bottom of the Infinite Ocean, momentarily freezing the turbulent whirlpools around it. This allowed the Master of the Mound to traverse numerous obstacles and touch the green fragment.

Afterward, though the whirlpools briefly stilled and then resumed, even more furiously, they could no longer harm the Master of the Mound, who was now imbued with vibrant life force. No matter how time passed, or how the great Dao of the world cycled through creation and destruction, nothing could affect the Master of the Mound, now grasping eternal life, in the slightest.

This was true immortality!

With this power, one could traverse mountains and seas and be free from worries for all eternity. His greying hair and beard turned black, and all signs of decay and aging vanished from his body. Restored to youth, the Master of the Mound slowly walked out from the depths of the Infinite Ocean without any effort. Wherever he stepped, a tangible green light condensed, forming a path that spanned mountains and seas.

Even amidst roaring mountains, raging seas, terrifying winds, and tumultuous waves, this path of immortality remained entirely unaffected.

After the Master of the Mound returned from the Infinite Ocean, the endless green light on the immortal path dissipated, scattering across the sky. Many fragments were swallowed by the waves, entering the myriad possibilities nurtured within the Infinite Ocean. Yet, the Master of the Mound showed no concern.

He returned to the edge of the mountains and seas, the familiar place he had guarded for almost his entire life. As usual, the Master of the Mound sat cross-legged, guarding the mound and gazing at the sea.

Just as before.

As Li Fan immersed himself in that past scene, Cheng Dao's voice softly drifted into his ears.

"Master is the true owner of eternal life," Cheng Dao explained. "However, he has no intention of monopolizing it; he is willing to share it with me. This is due to the infinite nature of eternal life."

"Just as the Mountains and Seas are infinite, one who obtains eternal life can gain an endless lifespan. Even if it were distributed among all living beings in the world, each would still receive an infinite amount."

"The method of ascending to immortality is to connect with the Mountains and Seas. And this wondrous method of eternal life is to link with eternal life itself!"

"It says: 'Mountains and Seas bear all things, solitary stars arise. Heaven and Earth begin to endow, eternal life prospers for all. All realms are arrayed like chess pieces, myriad spirits enlighten. Once interconnected through sensation, the pursuit of the Dao reaches its pinnacle. Whatever is imagined shall surely respond, whatever is contemplated shall come to pass...'"

Li Fan held his breath and concentrated, his attention more focused than ever before. He memorized Cheng Dao's recitation word for word, constantly replaying and savoring it.

On the surface, it seemed this was not merely a description of a divine ability or wondrous method. Rather, it resembled a poem, composed and sung by the Master of the Mound while guarding the mound by the mountains and seas. An ancient, weathered voice crossed the mountains and seas, pierced through time, and entered Li Fan's ears in that moment.

Through the eyes of the Master of the Mound, Li Fan seemed to witness the passage of time within the boundless Mountains and Seas. The flow of time within the illusion felt real, and Li Fan could faintly sense its corrosive effect on him. But the Master of the Mound's song of eternal life firmly protected him, sparing Li Fan from the suffering of time's erosion.

Movement and stillness, destruction and creation, annihilation and eternity… The various differences between these concepts allowed Li Fan to vaguely comprehend what true immortality was.

"The sea's infinitude. The mountain's power and momentum."

"And also 'Return to True,' eternal life."

"It seems these Mountain and Sea-level creations each represent a supreme power unique to themselves. The Mountains above can create true immortals in the world, while the Infinite Ocean can enable true immortals to leap in strength, gaining infinite attributes."

"My 'Return to True'..."

"In an instant, it can overturn mountains and seas, returning to the past. When true becomes false, false also becomes true. Everything can be like a dream or a fleeting illusion, or transformed into reality with a single thought."

Li Fan couldn't help but recall every detail of his use of 'Return to True'. Each time he grasped the transformation between truth and falsehood, it was as if the two ancient sages, Lianshan and Guihai, were creating mountains and seas and forging the immortal realm.

"In fact, the principles are the same. All involve creating a path from nothing. It's just that the ultimate destinations of these three paths—cultivating immortality, eternal life, and 'Return to True'—are different."

Li Fan combined his own experiences and pondered the immortal poem left by the Master of the Mound. To his surprise, he discovered that perhaps his conjecture was correct. There were many similarities in the principles between the three paths. He had already traveled a long way on two of these paths.

Now, as Li Fan entered the third great Dao, after a little contemplation, he found himself already familiar with it. Consequently, under Cheng Dao's utterly shocked gaze, a towering pillar of green light suddenly surged from Li Fan's body.

The vibrant life force that erupted from it was billions of times greater than the accumulated life force within the high wall over the past century. In just a few breaths, it reversed life and death. The abyssal star sea, originally a desolate expanse where only the Xuanhuang Realm and the Primordial Immortal Realm had life, was transformed, no longer dim, but filled with light. Any living being that caught sight of this green light would have its lifespan increase tenfold at minimum. And those fortunate enough to absorb the few fragments that dispersed after the green pillar disintegrated had already become what the mortal world called 'immortal beings.' They would share the lifespan of heaven and earth, enduring countless eons without decay.

As for Li Fan… On the surface, he appeared calm. But as he stared at the 'Return to True' panel, a surging tempest had quietly risen within him.

The age displayed, which had once been like a doomsday countdown, had now disappeared. It had transformed into a highly peculiar green symbol. It greatly resembled a missing piece of something, yet it possessed its own complete characteristics. Although the symbol seemed to be composed of only a few strokes, Li Fan found himself unable to fully perceive it. Merely the thought of trying to see it clearly caused him to feel dizzy, as if he had been drinking for three days and three nights, his stomach and soul utterly churned.

Li Fan was forced to suppress the urge to investigate further.

However, this discomfort was not what surprised Li Fan the most. What truly filled him with thoughts was the unstable, constantly shifting state of the green symbol. That's right, this green symbol of eternal life was not permanently and fixedly displayed on the 'Return to True' panel. It merely alternated with the original age number. Both were true. Yet, neither was entirely true.

"Could it be that the true owner of eternal life is not me, but the Master of the Mound?" Li Fan mused. "I merely touched the threshold of eternal life through a pathway he left after walking it. Once the Master of the Mound chooses to close this pathway, I will lose the ability of eternal life."

"It's like how the Primordial Bone once followed me, smuggled back to an anchor point. Although it also experienced the transformation of truth and falsehood, that was based on my mastery of everything. In the next life, the Primordial Bone was refined into a Heavenly Pillar, but it didn't truly obtain the great power of 'Return to True'..."

"The Master of the Mound can freely share eternal life with others, yet I cannot teach the divine ability of 'truth becoming falsehood and falsehood becoming truth' to anyone. This seems to indicate that he has fully mastered the great Dao of eternal life, while I haven't truly mastered 'Return to True'."

In an instant, countless thoughts surged into Li Fan's mind, completely occupying his focus. So much so that he didn't even have time to properly experience the true taste of eternal life.

Immediately afterward, a sense of crisis inexplicably surged into Li Fan's heart. The feeling of being watched, which he had experienced when spied upon by Grand Sage Jingfen, reappeared. This time, although the feeling was fainter, the instinctive sense of crisis in his heart was even stronger.

Li Fan knew in his heart that once he truly touched the great Dao of eternal life through the wondrous method left by the Master of the Mound, even with the protection of 'illusion becoming true,' he could not prevent the owner of the great Dao of eternal life from sensing him. But perhaps it was because the Master of the Mound himself was not within the mundane world of Mountains and Seas. Although he had sensed Li Fan, this sudden intruder, the Master of the Mound did not immediately descend.

However, Li Fan had a premonition. Once the Master of the Mound returned to the Mountains and Seas, the first thing he would likely do was come before Li Fan to scrutinize the background of this sudden inheritor of eternal life.

"It seems I can't stay long in this lifetime," Li Fan sighed inwardly. At the very beginning of cultivating and comprehending this immortal poem, Li Fan had already had a premonition that his subsequent actions would inevitably alarm the Master of the Mound.

But he still proceeded. After all, the great Dao of eternal life was within reach. How many could resist such a temptation? Moreover, Li Fan had 'Return to True' as a fallback, which gave him the confidence to experience it once and then immediately escape.

The Master of the Mound could return and descend at any moment, making Li Fan feel as if he was sitting on pins and needles. Yet, he did not choose to leave immediately. Instead, he seized this final opportunity to meticulously savor the great Dao of eternal life within himself.

"Actually, upon closer thought, there's nothing particularly extraordinary about it."

"It's merely the two characters 'eternal life.' But because it is utterly simple, it is utterly sacred. Just like 'Return to True,' which can disregard everything in the mortal world amidst its transformations of truth and falsehood, these simple two characters, 'eternal life,' can similarly disregard all worldly calamities."

"Although I do not possess the full power of eternal life, I am still confident that I can float without falling during the Calamity of Dao Annihilation. All the more so for the Master of eternal life, the Master of the Mound."

In a sense, Li Fan, having gained the fortune of eternal life, already possessed the conditions to become a transcendent powerhouse. However, it came from another's gift, not his own cultivation. Should the Master of the Mound retract this fortune, or close the pathway and cease sharing it with others, Li Fan would instantly revert to his original state.

Even though he knew that the fortune of eternal life in his grasp was temporary, Li Fan was, for a short while, unwilling to let go. Just as the older one gets, the more one fears death, a true possessor fears loss even more. Holding something of immense weight, he was reluctant to cast it aside.

Li Fan, ravenous, seized every last moment to comprehend this great Dao of eternal life.

Li Fan was calm, but Cheng Dao, who had imparted the wondrous method to him, was not so composed. As if drained of essence and spirit, Cheng Dao stared blankly at Li Fan, who had suddenly attained the Dao, several times on the verge of speaking but stopping himself.

He was utterly dismayed. Even the nourishment of eternal life's fortune could not dispel the senility that surged from within him.

After a long time, Cheng Dao finally couldn't help but ask, "Junior brother... have you comprehended it?"

Li Fan nodded slightly. "I must thank Senior Brother for your guidance. I have indeed gained some insight."

The last shred of hope in his heart was completely shattered. Even with Cheng Dao's mental fortitude, he couldn't help but be lost in a daze. He even found it hard to comprehend, starting to lament, "I have walked on this path for countless years, yet I have only vaguely glimpsed the shadow of true eternal life."

"I thought you were restless recently, Junior Brother," Cheng Dao continued, "likely because you saw no hope of transcendence and were troubled by concerns about your life. That's why I imparted Master's method on his behalf."

"But who would have thought..."

Cheng Dao let out three bitter laughs. "You, who have just embarked on this path, not only surpassed me in an instant but have you even reached the destination?" He gazed blankly towards the sky. "Master, is it your favoritism, or is this disciple simply foolish?"

Although their relationship in this lifetime was that of a true senior and a false junior brother, Cheng Dao's actions on several occasions had left Li Fan with a very good impression. Seeing his confusion now, Li Fan, while comprehending the great Dao of eternal life, did not forget to offer words of comfort.

"Senior Brother, there's no need to be disheartened," Li Fan said. "In my opinion, walking this path too quickly is not necessarily a good thing."

"For some reason, I have an extremely good affinity with this path. I didn't walk it step by step; instead, it was a direct leap from the starting point to the destination. While fast, it left no personal mark. If one day Master severs this pathway, I will instantly fall from the pinnacle. Any fortune of eternal life I possess will likely not even leave a trace."

"However, Senior Brother, you are different."

"Firstly, you are cultivating the method of 'Inheriting the Dao.' Your step-by-step emulation aligns perfectly with your Dao path. Secondly, this path is one you have personally walked slowly over a long period. It is covered with your footprints. Even if one day Master truly severs the path, with the footprints you've left behind, you will still be able to retain some of the power of eternal life's fortune to a certain extent. Not to mention being co-existent with the Mountains and Seas, rivaling transcendence would not be difficult."

Li Fan slowly advised. At this moment, their roles seemed to have reversed. Li Fan was the senior brother who had long comprehended the Dao, while Cheng Dao was the junior brother just embarking on the path of cultivation.

Cheng Dao pondered for a long time before realizing Li Fan's words were true. He immediately felt much better. However, the gloom in his heart could not be dispelled in a short time. He couldn't help but mock himself, saying, "In my opinion, Junior Brother, you are the true disciple of the Master of the Mound. As for me, I'm just a lucky, stubborn rock by the edge of the mountains and seas."

Li Fan gave a wry smile and said nothing more. While he felt envy, Cheng Dao's heart did not, however, harbor even a trace of jealousy because of this.

A few days later, after his mindset had adjusted, the atmosphere of communication between the two reverted to how it had been before. However, now, the one who frequently offered guidance was Li Fan. And the listener was Cheng Dao.

Cheng Dao did not feel ashamed or displeased by this. With the direct, close-at-hand guidance from Li Fan, this forerunner who had already reached the destination, Cheng Dao's comprehension of the fortune of eternal life also progressed by leaps and bounds. Furthermore, the depth of his foundation was far beyond what Li Fan could compare with.

Li Fan was not misled by his own astonishing performance of instantly attaining the Dao. He understood in his heart that the reason his Dao comprehension was so smooth was absolutely related to 'Return to True'.

"Either it's giving 'Return to True' face."

"Or it sensed my unusual status as the master of 'Return to True' and intentionally allowed me passage to leave a mark."

"Regardless of the reason, my current situation is extremely dangerous."

Li Fan also subtly gazed towards the sky.