Chapter 1548: Dan Refining the Xuanyuan Realm

At its core, this is Li Fan’s true nature: he is extremely selfish and will never genuinely trust others.

Just as he did when he was still a mortal struggling to survive in the Great Xuan Dynasty, Li Fan always handled matters concerning his future, or even his life, personally. From searching for ore veins deep in the mountains and leading a musketeer squad to suppress bandits, to rescuing King Langya from the rebellious populace's assault and then personally ending his life—the fundamental reason for all this was his unwillingness to entrust these tasks to others. He had to act personally.

Now, after a hundred years of reincarnation, Li Fan's power is such that he can easily manipulate True Immortals. Yet, this aspect of him has remained unchanged. The continued existence of the mortal realm involves his own life, and therefore Li Fan would absolutely not leave its fate entirely to others. Even though Guardian Mound, the Three Sages, and others appear to surpass Li Fan in both moral standing and power at this moment, they cannot influence Li Fan's decisions in the slightest. The only reason he chooses to let them "bear the burden" for now is simply because he is currently lacking in power.

Withdrawing his gaze from the end of the River of Time, Li Fan, controlling the body of the Great Heavenly Venerate puppet, strolled through the Utmost Dark Star Sea. Although he had devoured all the Immortal Realm chess pieces, Li Fan vaguely perceived that the power of this puppet body had not actually improved much. Not to mention the transcendent realm, it was still far from achieving the Dao of the Nameless. Fortunately, Li Fan did not rely on the Great Heavenly Venerate Immortal Puppet as a true combat force; it merely served as a convenient tool for movement and to draw upon infinite immortal power. Immortal formations, the phantom of Guardian Mound, and the True-or-False divine ability—these were Li Fan's true trump cards.

After resolving the hidden dangers of the Immortal Ruins, Li Fan finally arrived at the depression beneath the Utmost Dark Star Sea, where countless life energies converged. At this point in time, the Azure Nether Pearl had not yet completely shattered, and Situ Xing had also not completely lost his power. The progress of the life form being cultivated in the underground river of the depression was also vastly different from what it would be eight thousand years later.

Li Fan first suppressed and collected the Azure Nether Pearl, and only then slowly began searching for traces of Situ Xing, or rather, Xing Wuque. Perhaps the mysterious disappearance of the Azure Nether Pearl, which was still emitting life energy, had alerted him. Even with his severe injuries, he fled rapidly through the underground river in the depression. Unfortunately, the entire life form beneath the Star Sea was already completely under Li Fan's control. Where could he possibly escape to?

Li Fan simply said indifferently, "Chancellor Situ, have you been well?" This single sentence ended his attempt to flee.

"Who is this old acquaintance?" After a moment of dead silence, a voice filled with excitement, doubt, and wariness came from Situ Xing.

Li Fan, controlling the Original Immortal Puppet, revealed its presence. Situ Xing froze slightly and couldn't help but say, "The Original? Wasn't it long ago..."

"No!" Situ Xing's expression changed dramatically, as if he had realized something. His body transformed into a wisp of black smoke, attempting to escape further. But how could he possibly succeed in time? In an instant, he was captured by Li Fan. Situ Xing was both shocked and enraged, but could no longer make a sound.

Having already thoroughly observed its inner workings, Li Fan directly skipped the interrogation process, refined it, and forged it into a Celestial Pillar. Thus, the four Celestial Pillars of the former Primordial Immortal Realm—Primordial, Hunger Immortal, Grandmaster Tiandu, and Situ Xing—were once again reunited in this lifetime.

"The effectiveness of the first three is slightly inferior to their previous incarnations. However, the Celestial Pillar transformed from Situ Xing, having avoided eight millennia of wear and tear, is actually more useful." Li Fan gently shook his head. "But it's still far from enough."

The Primordial Immortal Realm he had built in his previous life, seemingly impregnable and supported by the four Celestial Pillars suspended above the Star Sea, could to some extent resist the Calamity of Dao Annihilation. However, when the Guangwu Star Sea diverted disaster eastward, sending the Giant Rat Immortal and drawing the attention of the transcendent powerhouse's remains within the great tide of Dao Annihilation, the entire Primordial Immortal Realm immediately teetered on the brink. Even with the High Wall, it was always on the verge of collapse and destruction. It was only when Inheritor Dao later took the initiative to integrate the Dao Net of the Shuoxing Sea, creating the High Wall-Shuoxing Sea Alliance, that it barely managed to hold on. Now that Inheritor Dao was truly in a deep slumber, the Utmost Dark Star Sea within the High Wall had become Li Fan's foundation. Even though Inheritor Dao had shown sufficient goodwill in his previous life, Li Fan would not entrust his life and all his possessions to him.

Fortunately, Li Fan already had a contingency plan in mind. "To create the Eternal Immortal Vessel, I can still only rely on myself."

At Li Fan's behest, the Original Immortal Puppet flew to the periphery of the Utmost Dark Star Sea. It crossed the High Wall and arrived in the Shuoxing Sea.

Due to the Immortal Ruins' gravitational pull, there was a vast difference in the flow of time inside and outside the High Wall. In his previous life, Li Fan had measured the time difference to be as much as 120 times. If calculated by this ratio, eight thousand six hundred years before the Xuanhuang Realm's initial anchor point, the Shuoxing Sea should have been a million years ago! However, the Immortal Ruins' gravitational pull had slowly intensified due to the Hunger Immortal's enlightenment. The time flow ratio was also not constant but gradually increased.

Li Fan scanned the surrounding star field, comparing what he saw with the appearance of the Shuoxing Sea from his memories. He found that although there were changes, they were still barely discernible. "It seems the Shuoxing Sea has maintained a relatively safe and stable state during this period. Perhaps it's because of its proximity to the High Wall. The Dao Net does not yet exist, and numerous surviving cultivators, even True Immortals, have gathered."

Li Fan gazed at the distant, vibrant light, carefully discerning the auras within it. However, his purpose for crossing the High Wall this time was not the people within the Shuoxing Sea. He didn't go far; following the memories of his previous life, Li Fan soon arrived in a desolate star field outside the High Wall. Among a sea of ruins, he fortunately found his target: the Octagonal Four-Cornered Pagoda, the Ascension Platform!

In his previous life, Immortal Hunter Qian Ruochang had created a flesh-and-blood True Immortal precisely by relying on this Ascension Platform. "With this Ascension Platform in hand, I can, without exposing myself, enthrone countless immortals within the Utmost Dark Star Sea and rebuild the Immortal Realm! By then, whether it's pawns or materials for Celestial Pillars, everything will be readily available." Li Fan's eyes gleamed; he was completely confident in his plans.

Although he had once created the so-called Primordial Immortal Realm, Li Fan knew in his heart that that continent bore the name of an Immortal Realm but lacked its true essence. What he intended to build next, however, was a genuine Immortal Realm! An Immortal Realm rooted in Mount Above, connected to the Infinite Sea!

"In fact, it will be even more advanced than the original Immortal Realm once was. Imperishable through myriad calamities, indestructible in the face of Dao Annihilation."

With his objective secured, the Great Heavenly Venerate Immortal Puppet did not stop for a moment, returning directly within the High Wall. It merely glanced at the distant Shuoxing Sea, then left a wisp of divine thought to quietly infiltrate it. On one hand, to inquire about the Sacred Merchants; on the other hand, to simultaneously calculate the current time difference between inside and outside the High Wall. Though the Hunger Immortal was destroyed, the Celestial Pillars remained. Li Fan currently had no intention of directly sealing off the Hunger Immortal Celestial Pillar's gravitational pull and eliminating the time difference between inside and outside the High Wall.

Due to the High Wall's isolating effect, even if the Utmost Dark Star Sea experienced earth-shattering changes, it would not affect the Shuoxing Sea or the surrounding star regions in any way. Even without the escaped members of the Ten Sects, it would not affect the overall trajectory. Therefore, it was highly probable that they would continue to develop according to the historical process Li Fan was familiar with. And this was precisely the outcome Li Fan desired.

"The Dao Net contending with the surviving True Immortal factions, the Rebel Immortal repeatedly intervening to turn the tide..." Recalling Inheritor Dao's account, a glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes.

Carrying the Ascension Platform, he returned to the Xuanhuang Realm. The Great Heavenly Venerate Immortal Puppet then took out a stone slab. It was precisely the Key of Dao left by King Xuantian, also a replica of the Immortal Realm's Ascension Platform.

Li Fan placed both before him and carefully compared them. "King Xuantian is indeed not to be underestimated. A newly ascended True Immortal, not yet connected to the Infinite Sea, was actually able to perfectly replicate the immortal script on the Ascension Platform in such haste." A moment later, Li Fan couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. After his detailed comparison, the stone slab left by King Xuantian had almost perfectly replicated most of the useful True Immortal scripts engraved on the entire Ascension Platform. "Although it lacked the Ascension Platform's most crucial function: connection to the Infinite Sea. And it was precisely the absence of this part that prevented him from achieving True Immortal status for so long."

Li Fan gently stroked the Key of Dao stone slab, and countless specks of light seemed to swarm towards the slab from all directions in the void. Before long, another identical Octagonal Four-Cornered Ascension Platform appeared before him. While creating it out of thin air, Li Fan also conveniently filled in the missing content from the stone slab. Given Li Fan's multiple personal entries into the Infinite Sea, and even his past fusion with the mountains and seas, the immortal script characters he supplemented for connecting to the Infinite Sea were even more efficient than those originally left on the Ascension Platform.

Next, Li Fan replicated the process. He then created two more Octagonal Four-Cornered Pagodas out of thin air. In total, four Ascension Platforms quietly floated and stood above the Xuanhuang Realm.

"For mortal beings to access the Infinite Sea, besides reaching the potential of a True Immortal themselves, they also require the assistance of a duty-bound Immortal Official to use immortal spiritual power and specific True Immortal scripts to activate the Ascension Platform. This way, they can formally connect to the Infinite Sea and Mount Above. Stepping upon mountains and seas, they can attain the Dao of True Immortals." Li Fan's expression was one of pride. "The Great Heavenly Venerate Immortal Puppet can serve as the Xuanhuang Duty-bound Immortal Official. With these four Ascension Platforms, countless True Immortals can be enthroned." He engraved four different characters onto each of the four Ascension Platforms. The character shining on the Ascension Platform transformed from the Xuanhuang Key of Dao stone slab was precisely the Immortal-Mortal Transformation that Li Fan was familiar with. And the True Immortal scripts engraved on the other three Ascension Platforms were also extremely similar to the Immortal-Mortal Transformation character, differing only in subtle details.

"It's merely a method to access the Infinite Sea. If I didn't want to avoid exposing myself to the Infinite Sea's scrutiny, I wouldn't need all this trouble. With a single thought, I could send all beings in the Xuanhuang Realm into the Infinite Sea. But the consequences would be beyond my control."

With the Ascension Platforms now ready, Li Fan was not in a hurry to enthrone immortals. Currently, the Xuanhuang Realm's foundation was still too weak. The ripples caused by the appearance of a single True Immortal would likely be enough to easily tear it apart. While strengthening plans like the previous one to promote the Xuanhuang Realm's sublimation were certainly viable, for the current Li Fan, they were too troublesome and inefficient. He had a better method.

"Life and death are one, merging with the Dao to become true. Free from worldly constraints, my elixir is complete..." Li Fan slowly chanted under his breath, and the Great Heavenly Venerate Immortal Puppet cooperated, slowly exhaling a cloud of ethereal mist from its mouth. It was precisely the Immortal Ruins and several Immortal Realm chess pieces he had previously devoured, which, after being absorbed by him, had transformed into a pure energy form.

Li Fan sat cross-legged high in the sky, overlooking the chaotic world below. A pill furnace appeared vaguely in his eyes. With a flicker of his thought, the ethereal mist exhaled by the Great Heavenly Venerate Immortal Puppet was silently infused into various parts of the Xuanhuang Realm. "When the elixir is refined, even if the furnace fire burns fiercely, the beings within the furnace will remain unaware. Until..."

Li Fan continuously formed hand seals, using the authority of the Xuanhuang Great Heavenly Venerate to urge the Xuanhuang Heaven and Earth to cooperate and undergo subtle, drastic changes. After all, the Xuanhuang Realm was one of the Immortal Realm's Lan Ke Dao Field's most core testing grounds, possessing an instinctive familiarity with all things immortal. Like a puppy sniffing out dog food, the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao could hardly contain its inner excitement. It eagerly and repeatedly showed favor to Li Fan, swiftly executing all his instructions.

With the nurturing of the Immortal Realm's ethereal mist from the outside, and the world actively embracing drastic changes from within, the furnace fire within the Xuanhuang Realm flared immensely in Li Fan's eyes! To forge the Eternal Immortal Vessel and replicate the Immortal Realm, mere fragments of the Immortal Ruins and a few Immortal Realm chess pieces were certainly not enough.

"An inch higher on Mount Above means the earth is overturned and the heavens are inverted..." In Li Fan's mind, countless lines from the 'Primer on the Creation of Mountains and Seas' written by Saint Monarch Taiyi flashed like meteors. Indeed, with his current strength, he was far from capable of creating an Immortal Realm out of thin air from Mount Above. However, he could still barely manage to achieve 'resurrection through borrowed corpse' – transplanting the Xuanhuang Realm onto the surviving ruins of the former Immortal Realm on Mount Above.

Not long ago, after the Great Heavenly Venerate Immortal Puppet devoured the Immortal Ruins and the Immortal Realm chess pieces, it fleetingly saw their original appearance on Mount Above. Scattered like specks of light, distributed across endless mountain ranges, like constellations in the dark. Li Fan had realized it then: since they had not yet been swallowed by Dao Annihilation, their foundations left on Mount Above still existed. What Li Fan needed to do now was to collect all these remaining foundations, and then, upon the ruins, erect a magnificent structure once more!

As the furnace fire of Dao Refinement continuously pulsed, in Li Fan's vision, the specks of light scattered among the mountains were slowly drawn together by this unfathomable power. The entire process was extremely slow, and Li Fan was also very patient. After all, without Inheritor Dao as a safeguard now, if he were to make even a slight mistake during the pill refinement, the Xuanhuang Realm would be shattered to pieces. Then the anchor point foundation Li Fan had painstakingly built would instantly turn to dust. Even if he didn't die, he would have to struggle to survive in the River of Time once more.

Strangely, even though it involved his own life and safety, Li Fan had no hesitation or fear in his heart while refining the elixir. Instead, he was completely confident, as if certain of success. From the very beginning of the refinement, Li Fan had noticed this peculiar change within himself. As the refinement progressed, his confidence also grew with each passing moment.

"This confidence does not stem from my mastery of the Elixir King's Scripture on Refining Dao. Nor does it come from my knowledge of Mount Above or the Infinite Sea. Rather... the Xuanhuang Heaven and Earth itself is a half-formed elixir. I just need to follow the steps, without adding unnecessary embellishments. This elixir is bound to succeed! Sun Piaomiao!"

Li Fan's heart was enlightened, but his pill refining movements did not pause.