Chapter 1527: The Taiyuan Regeneration Furnace

Li Fan could clearly sense that Baili Shan, as an "anchor," was much more stable than Elder Song. This wasn't merely due to his seemingly closer relationship with Baili Shan. Instead, it was related to the depth of the "imprint" an anchor left in the long river of time.

"Unless something unexpected happened, Elder Song would only reach the Nascent Soul stage in this lifetime. He wouldn't be much different from the common people of the Xuanhuang Realm, eventually perishing like an ant in the upcoming great tribulation of cultivation."

"Baili Shan, on the other hand, having obtained the Supreme Dao Scripture, would undoubtedly ascend to the Integration stage, the peak of the Xuanhuang Realm. She would live longer and leave a deeper mark."

Li Fan's gaze seemed to pierce through the mists of history, penetrating the vast river of time, glimpsing scenes ten thousand years in the future.

With his conjecture confirmed, Li Fan changed his previous method of using Huan Yizhen to conceal his identity and began to frequently appear in public. Baili Shan was currently the center of attention in the Changqing Sect, and Li Fan, as her newly befriended acquaintance, also attracted considerable notice.

Compared to Baili Shan, a rising star, Li Fan was an unremarkable nobody, seemingly without any distinguishing qualities. Therefore, most Changqing disciples couldn't understand why his relationship with Baili Shan was so close. After some disciples with malicious intentions tried and failed to disrupt their bond, certain unsavory rumors began to quietly spread through Changqing Valley.

"Don't bother with those fools. You and I, in the end, don't exist in the same world as them," Baili Shan said dismissively. Sensing Li Fan's insights into the Supreme Dao Scripture, she was overjoyed: "Indeed, the Great Dao is like heaven; what you perceive varies depending on your perspective. When we share our insights and verify them with each other, our cultivation efficiency is many times higher than simply trying to figure things out alone!"

Initially, Baili Shan regarded Li Fan merely as "one of her own," someone who shared a secret. However, after witnessing Li Fan's rapid cultivation progress following his enlightenment of the Supreme Dao Scripture, Baili Shan's attitude gradually underwent a subtle change. She now saw Li Fan as a fellow seeker of the Dao, someone with whom she could mutually assist.

"Rumors are like floods; if left unchecked, they will only spread further. I don't particularly care, but the crucial point is that as the chief disciple of Changqing Valley, you are destined to inherit the position of Changqing Sect Master."

"If you allow these rumors to spread, later on..." Li Fan shook his head slightly.

Baili Shan's expression slowly froze. After a moment of thought, she frowned and said, "What you're saying makes sense. I'll go report this to my master right away..."

Li Fan waved his hand. "Brother Baili, you must learn to assert your position. The current situation isn't about you begging to stay in Changqing Valley; it's about Changqing Valley needing you to stay. If you can't handle such a small matter yourself, then perhaps Changqing Valley isn't worth staying in!"

"But..." Baili Shan hesitated upon hearing this. What Li Fan said seemed very reasonable, yet it ran contrary to her long-established way of doing things.

As if sensing Baili Shan's inner struggle, Li Fan volunteered, "Brother Baili, there's no need to worry. You only need to continue playing the role of the brilliant Senior Brother."

"I'll be the villain."

Baili Shan stared at Li Fan's calm expression, completely stunned.

Over the next few days, a considerable amount of bloodshed erupted in Changqing Valley. After those who fabricated and spread rumors were swiftly executed and their remains scattered before all the disciples, the rumors indeed ceased instantly. As for Li Fan's blatant, sect-rule-violating acts of slaughter, the Changqing Valley Sect Master and all the elders chose to turn a blind eye. They all assumed Baili Shan was simply cherishing her reputation and unwilling to act herself, thus instructing Li Fan to do so. Compared to Baili Shan, the rumor-mongers were disposable. Naturally, no punishment was meted out. Some even stepped forward to support the duo.

The commotion gradually faded. However, Li Fan's ruthless silhouette remained deeply etched in the hearts of the Changqing Valley disciples, like a nightmare.

"Indeed, this method of leaving anchors is also effective."

"And compared to ordinary methods, it's even more effective." In his secluded cultivation chamber, feeling the increasingly stable connections between himself and the mortal world, Li Fan's eyes slowly began to glow with a dangerous light, though he didn't reveal what he was thinking.

However, after some deliberation, the light slowly extinguished. "It can be used occasionally, but not as the primary method. The most crucial factor is still the existence of people, events, or objects in this timeline to serve as anchors. If they are all slaughtered or their numbers become too few, the anchoring effect will actually diminish..."

He stood up and stretched, then nodded with some satisfaction after feeling the stability of the established anchors. "Although Changqing Valley is only a small sect, its influence extends ten thousand miles around. My notorious reputation is now known throughout the valley. This foundation is temporarily sufficient for my activities as an anchor."

Li Fan didn't intend to stay there for too long. During this time, he had also secretly gathered some information about the fierce war the Ten Sects were currently engaged in.

The cultivation world warring with the Xuanhuang Realm was called Taiyuan. Compared to the Xuanhuang Realm, the Taiyuan Realm was not on the same level, either in scale or in the overall strength of its cultivators. Because of this, at the beginning of the war, the rulers of the Xuanhuang Realm, the Ten Immortal Dao Sects, did not take their opponents seriously. They believed the war would end quickly.

As expected, when faced with the Xuanhuang Realm's sudden invasion, the Taiyuan Realm suffered heavy losses due to being caught off guard. Several of its largest sects were almost completely wiped out. Only a few survivors remained, uniting to resist to the death.

Initially, the Ten Sects didn't pay much attention to these seemingly insignificant resistance forces, focusing only on quickly plundering the resources of the Taiyuan Realm. But no one anticipated that the survivor resistance army would grow very rapidly, delivering a heavy blow to the Ten Immortal Dao Sects. Not only did they almost wipe out the Xuanhuang vanguard cultivators, but they even counterattacked into the Xuanhuang Realm at one point. All of this was thanks to a world- trấn immortal artifact within the Taiyuan Realm: The Taiyuan Chaos Cauldron!

The following information was obtained by the Xuanhuang Realm at great cost. Any cultivator who perished in the Taiyuan Realm could be reborn in the Taiyuan Chaos Cauldron in full health by activating its furnace fire. It was said that the entire Taiyuan Realm was originally a testing ground for the Cauldron's effects. After the immortal realm was shattered, the Taiyuan Chaos Cauldron was, ironically, controlled by its own test subjects.

The enemies would be reborn endlessly, while their own forces would diminish with each death. How could such a war be fought? The moment this news spread, the morale of the Ten Immortal Dao Sects plummeted. Almost everyone was ready to abandon their plans to attack the Taiyuan Realm.

However, Qu Yixing, the Sect Master of the Primordial Beginning Sect, revealed a crucial secret at a critical moment. The information about the Taiyuan Chaos Cauldron was deliberately leaked by the enemy to force the Xuanhuang Realm's cultivators to retreat. While it was true that the Taiyuan Chaos Cauldron had the power of resurrection, immortal artifacts all required immortal qi to be activated. Since there were no true immortals in the Taiyuan Realm, the situation with the Taiyuan Chaos Cauldron should be similar to the remaining immortal artifacts within Xuanhuang. Each use depleted its power. The method of resurrection was not without limitations.

They had already sacrificed so much in the attack on the Taiyuan Realm; could they simply give up halfway? Furthermore, if the Taiyuan Chaos Cauldron truly possessed divine resurrection capabilities, then after completing the conquest and occupying it, perhaps the Ten Sects' cultivators who had perished in the Taiyuan Realm could also be revived.

Whether for benefit or righteousness, continuing the attack became the Ten Sects' only option. Thus, they chose to continue deploying their forces and engage in a war of attrition with the Taiyuan Realm. However, perhaps they had underestimated the available amount of immortal qi remaining within the Taiyuan Chaos Cauldron. Cultivators of the Taiyuan Realm were resurrected wave after wave, seeming as if they could never be completely killed off. And so, the war fell into a complete stalemate.

After organizing the information he had gathered, Li Fan's expression couldn't help but turn somewhat subtle. "They are not true immortals, so they don't know about the infinite nature of immortal spiritual power."

"Choosing to throw lives away..."

Not all so-called cultivation realms were as unique as the Xuanhuang Realm. As one of the most important experimental grounds within the Lan Ke Dao Field, it was strictly monitored. Even immortal artifacts there were merely semi-finished products with their functions curtailed. To speculate about other cultivation realms based on the situation in the Xuanhuang Realm would likely lead to an unpleasant outcome.

What piqued Li Fan's curiosity was the location of this so-called Taiyuan Realm. Li Fan, as a Guardian of the Mound, had once acquired the highest authority of the Lan Ke Dao Field. However, he hadn't found any trace of the Taiyuan Realm among the many experimental grounds in the starry sky.

"Either it was occupied and then annihilated by the Xuanhuang Realm at this point in time,"

"Or the Taiyuan Realm isn't within the high walls."

When Li Fan was at the Grand Dao Sect, he had closely observed the Horizontal Golden Lock, represented by the Floating Void Star Array. Given the power it displayed, it might indeed be capable of piercing the high walls and connecting to the external starry sky.

"Unfortunately, it seems to be forcibly activated at some cost."

"It's now on the verge of breaking down."

"With only one chance, no wonder the Ten Sects are fighting so desperately."

"It can only be said that their luck is truly bad."

"An immortal artifact capable of infinite resurrection..." In Li Fan's knowledge, such an immortal artifact would be considered top-tier even in the former immortal realm. Only ruling Immortal Emperors, who held power over the immortal realm, could forge them and then bestow them upon the Immortal Ministers of various star regions.

"Could it be another legacy left by a Hidden Emperor?" Li Fan looked distantly at the faint image of the Floating Void Star Array on the firmament, pondering to himself.

"In this moment of life-or-death crisis, someone must turn the tide and prevent the collapse of the grand edifice..." Li Fan murmured, his plan already set in his mind.

After sending a message to Baili Shan, Li Fan gracefully departed once more. Entering the Taiyuan Realm battlefield was not difficult. With insufficient forces, the Ten Immortal Dao Sects were forcibly conscripting. After obtaining a proof token from the Changqing Valley Sect Master, Li Fan arrived at the Taishang Sect's mountain gate. It was even more magnificent than what he had seen in paintings. Mountains floated in the sky, forming a majestic grand array. The disciples of the Taishang Sect, like celestial immortals, looked down upon the myriad mortal realms. Unfortunately, the current Taishang Sect was quite deserted.

"Are you here to volunteer?" Duan Yuxiao, a Spirit Transformation cultivator from the Taishang Sect, looked at Li Fan with a face full of astonishment. After scrutinizing Li Fan and confirming that his appearance matched the description given by Changqing Valley Sect Master Zou Yunhao, Duan Yuxiao set aside his doubts.

He said solemnly, "Good! At a time when sects across the land tremble at the mention of war, we need role models like you! Rest assured, we Ten Sects will certainly not treat you unfairly!"

"Follow me!"

Duan Yuxiao wasn't exaggerating. He led Li Fan directly to the Taishang Sect's treasury, generously pointing to the vast collection of cultivation techniques and magical artifacts and saying, "You may choose any three items from here!"

"If you can return alive, I will definitely report to the Sect Master Uncle and accept you as a direct disciple of our Taishang Sect!"

Li Fan cupped his hands and began to browse the Taishang Sect's treasury. Clearly, this was only the outermost layer of the treasury. While it boasted countless treasures, in reality, they were only valuable to cultivators below the Spirit Transformation stage. From Li Fan's current perspective, none of them were naturally impressive. Nor were there any dramatic discoveries of rare treasures. He merely chose a cultivation technique and two magical artifacts to put on a show.

Li Fan was then personally escorted to the battlefield by Duan Yuxiao. Within the Taishang Sect, there were also golden chains of the Floating Void Star Array. However, compared to what Li Fan had seen before, the situation seemed even more precarious. In Li Fan's view, these chains were clearly at their limit, with the potential to collapse at any moment. Duan Yuxiao, completely unaware of the danger, joyfully led Li Fan along the golden chains, completing the spatial traverse.

The moment he stepped into the Taiyuan Realm, Li Fan keenly sensed wisps of immortal qi flowing between heaven and earth. "Without the Grand Heavenly Venerate Xuanhuang causing trouble, surely it won't resist my insights anymore?"

Li Fan began to perceive the Great Dao manifested in this realm. After a moment, he couldn't help but slightly frown. While the situation was considerably better than in the Xuanhuang Realm, it was still far from optimistic. This was because the Great Dao of this realm was incredibly solid and unified, almost as if it were one entity. Li Fan almost believed that what stood before him was an unnamed True Immortal who had comprehended the Dao!

"Furthermore, the Great Dao of this realm is actually within my blind spot. It wasn't familiar to my former Myriad Phases Dao Net..." Li Fan felt a hint of pleasant surprise.

In contrast, Duan Yuxiao was not so pleased. As if he had discovered something, his expression turned serious the moment he entered the Taiyuan Realm. Grabbing Li Fan, he rapidly flew towards a building standing on the ground ahead. This place appeared to have been the stronghold of a Taiyuan Realm sect, now occupied by the Xuanhuang Realm. Having endured countless brutal battles, it was almost unrecognizable from its original appearance.

"Senior Brother Duan, why are you here?" a slightly surprised voice asked. The speaker was a female cultivator, emanating a strong scent of blood. The female cultivator had an ordinary appearance, but the heroic spirit in her eyes and brows was unforgettable.

Duan Yuxiao pointed to Li Fan and truthfully explained the situation. The female cultivator looked at Li Fan and nodded slightly. "Although his cultivation is a bit low, he can still be presented to everyone to boost morale."

"How is the battle progressing?" Duan Yuxiao asked.