Chapter 1555: The Lord of the Fallen Immortal Realm

Under Li Fan's manipulation, the collective thoughts of Xuanhuang's beings, though unable to completely destroy the core of the Fallen Immortal Realm, launched successive, tide-like offensives, steadily weakening it.

The illusory world surrounding the Fallen Immortal core quickly vanished, allowing Li Fan to gradually and vaguely discern the scene within it.

Vast star regions were swallowed by darkness, a scene of the Dao Annihilation Tribulation raging. However, this was merely the background of the Fallen Immortal core.

What truly captivated Li Fan was the countless characters, still shining like a brilliant starry sky and floating above the firmament, even amidst this apocalyptic scene!

He had not truly entered the core of the Fallen Immortal Realm but was merely observing from a distance in reality. The boundary between reality and illusion caused these characters to distort to varying degrees.

Yet, drawing upon his past experiences, Li Fan easily recognized the origin of these characters.

True Immortal Seal Script!

Each character represented a Great Dao of the heavens and earth!

"This floating expanse..."

"Is..."

Li Fan paused for a moment, then realized, "The Boundless Starfield, the Grand Dao Scripture?"

Li Fan had once witnessed this extraordinary sight—the Grand Dao Scripture spanning the starry sky—in Situ Xing's memories. A comparison now confirmed their striking resemblance!

"Could the master of the Fallen Immortal Realm actually be the renowned Dao Engraver Immortal?" Li Fan's mind was instantly shaken.

Even with Li Fan's current understanding, he couldn't help but feel a secret shock upon considering this possibility. The Dao Engraver Immortal's reputation was simply too immense. He had inscribed all Three Thousand Great Daos using True Immortal Seal Script. It was said that half of the True Immortals in the Primal Possibility were born only after observing the Grand Dao Scripture and receiving enlightenment from the Dao Engraver.

One could say that among the True Immortals of the Primal Possibility, their reverence for the Dao Engraver surpassed even that for the Mound Guardian and the Three Sages!

"In the past, countless True Immortals existed in the Immortal Realm."

"But beyond the Nameless Realm, even ordinary True Immortals were rarely known in the lower realms. Only the Dao Engraver, even to those unfamiliar with True Immortal Seal Script, was known through his legends. From where did such widespread recognition originate..."

"Reflecting Xuanhuang in a single glance, it formed a Fallen Immortal illusion almost identical to the real world. This illusion could not only self-evolve but also materialize from emptiness, appearing within the real Xuanhuang Realm."

"Such power is indeed beyond the capabilities of an ordinary Nameless Immortal."

The more Li Fan considered it, the more plausible this possibility seemed.

"There were rumors in the Immortal Realm that the Dao Engraver had fallen, though all immortals disbelieved them. If this Fallen Immortal truly is the Dao Engraver..." In an instant, a myriad of thoughts flashed through Li Fan's mind.

Instead of immediately retreating, he continued to gaze towards the Fallen Immortal core.

Within the grand tribulation scene where Dao Annihilation consumed the Boundless Starfield, the countless characters depicted by the Grand Dao Scripture stood like heavenly pillars, providing shelter and supporting a safe area.

The immortals, appearing as countless points of light amidst the tribulation, also detected the sole safe haven in the starry sky and swiftly flew towards the protected area of the Grand Dao Scripture.

"It is said that this tribulation marked the first outbreak of Dao Annihilation in the Primal. From then on, the Primal Immortal Realm declined from its peak, eventually perishing entirely."

While directing the collective thoughts of Xuanhuang's beings to continue attacking and weakening the Fallen Immortal Realm, Li Fan simultaneously peered into the imagery of the Fallen Immortal core.

As expected of the Grand Dao Scripture, capable of representing the Three Thousand Great Daos, its power was utterly incomparable to the imitation Li Fan had created.

Under its majestic, pillar-like support, the Dao Annihilation Tribulation actually showed signs of slowly subsiding!

"This differs from the records..." A sudden doubt arose in Li Fan's mind.

Just then, a black figure suddenly appeared within the dazzling Grand Dao Scripture.

Its purpose seemed clear: it headed directly for a particular character within the Grand Dao Scripture.

Its speed was too great, and it was concealed within the brilliance of the True Immortal Seal Script, making its appearance difficult to discern. As the black figure approached, that True Immortal Seal Script character also began to shake violently.

Before long, it vanished directly from the Grand Dao Scripture, as if scooped out by a knife from thin air!

This True Immortal Seal Script character seemed to carry immense weight. Without its support, the already precarious Boundless Starfield worsened considerably. The starry sky was devoured by Dao Annihilation at an accelerating rate, and the expansive Grand Dao Scripture also shook incessantly as the situation spiraled out of control.

The black figure, however, paid no heed. It went straight for the next True Immortal Seal Script character!

The black figure's anomalous actions attracted the attention of other surviving True Immortals in the Boundless Starfield. They decisively launched attacks towards the black figure, attempting to halt its movements.

Yet, whether through divine abilities, spells, or direct charges, anyone who approached within a thousand *zhang* of the black figure was, moments later, inexplicably teleported to another location. This could be billions of *li* away, or within areas where the Dao Annihilation was imminent.

The thousand-*zhang* radius around the black figure seemed to have become an absolute forbidden zone, untouchable by others!

The surviving True Immortals of the Boundless Starfield attempted various means and methods but could never get close, much less stop it.

They could only watch helplessly as the black figure stole the second True Immortal Seal Script character.

With yet another True Immortal Seal Script character lost, the Boundless Starfield's collapse accelerated even further. Seeing this, the surviving True Immortals no longer concerned themselves with stopping it and simply fled for their lives.

Consequently, the black figure's theft of characters became even more brazen.

Soon, the Grand Dao Scripture became riddled with holes.

"The True Immortal Seal Script characters in the Grand Dao Scripture are just characters, not true Dao paths. What purpose does it serve to go to such lengths to steal them while Dao Annihilation rages?" Just as Li Fan pondered this, another illusory figure appeared within the Boundless Starfield!

On the Grand Dao Scripture, the locations where characters had previously vanished after being stolen suddenly erupted with faint light once more, restoring the characters. However, compared to their former vibrant intensity, they were extremely transparent, as if they could vanish again at any moment.

Like a colossal pillar supporting the heavens, with the appearance of this illusory figure, the relentless Dao Annihilation Tribulation suddenly subsided. The entire Grand Dao Scripture also burst forth with unprecedented brilliance, as if welcoming its master's arrival!

"The Dao Engraver Immortal!" Li Fan instinctively recognized the identity of this illusory figure.

The Dao Engraver Immortal pointed an aerial finger at the thieving black figure, and countless densely packed, tiny characters instantly appeared around it. Though still a thousand *zhang* away, they were continuously advancing.

The characters wove together, seemingly creating worlds and paths out of nothing within the void of Dao Annihilation.

Nine hundred ninety-nine *zhang*, nine hundred ninety-eight *zhang*...

Inch by inch, they closed in on the black figure!

However, the black figure remained oblivious to its predicament, even brazenly and mockingly meeting the Dao Engraver Immortal's gaze.

And then continued its act of theft!

The Dao Engraver Immortal did not explode in fury; he merely increased the speed at which he wrote the characters.

The black figure was clearly not as nonchalant as it appeared; its speed in moving through the Grand Dao Scripture and stealing True Immortal Seal Script characters was noticeably much faster than before.

As a consequence, the surrounding territory was lost at an increasingly rapid pace.

"Strange, why doesn't the Dao Engraver Immortal simply put away the Grand Dao Scripture? Why does he allow the black figure to continue stealing?" A trace of doubt flashed through Li Fan's mind as he watched the two powerhouses battle.

"Could it be that..."

Li Fan suddenly thought of something, and his mind sobered.

What happened next seemed to confirm his suspicion.

After stealing nearly thirty characters, and with the True Immortal Seal Script woven by the Dao Engraver Immortal having encroached within five *zhang* of its body, the black figure finally chose to cease.

"Many thanks for your gift, fellow Daoist!"

"Zhu Kong will surely remember this!"

"Hahahahaha!"

The black figure burst into wild laughter, then abruptly expanded. Like a drop of ink in clear water, it bloomed and rapidly spread outwards.

Not only was all the lost territory within the thousand-zhang domain reclaimed, but even the True Immortal Seal Script characters written by the Dao Engraver Immortal were directly devoured by it.

However, judging from the constantly churning scene beneath the black figure, Zhu Kong didn't actually swallow what the Dao Engraver had written; rather, it temporarily suppressed them.

Like boiling water, the churning phenomena in the black figure's area intensified. During this process, the blackness in the central region slowly faded, revealing a clear, mirror-like expanse.

In this mirror-like surface, another world seemed to be reflected!

"Thief, halt!" Seeing the black figure about to escape, the Dao Engraver Immortal finally broke through Zhu Kong's blockade, appearing directly outside the mirror-like region.

Using his finger as a brush, he pressed down hard on the transparent, mirror-like surface!

At this moment, space-time seemed to fall into stillness.

Li Fan vaguely perceived endless, continuous scenes of the Immortal Realm being born from the Dao Engraver Immortal's fingertip. Like mountains, they pressed down towards the transparent, mirror-like surface.

Ripples suddenly surged, and the mirror-like surface seemed as if it could shatter at any moment.

However, at this very moment, on the other side of the mirror, four more black figures unexpectedly appeared.

In total, five figures formed a strange symbol, jointly blocking the suppression from the Dao Engraver's fingertip!

The ripples slowly subsided, and the mirror-like surface and black figures completely vanished from the Boundless Starfield, as if they had never been there.

The Dao Engraver Immortal stood there dumbfounded, seemingly unable to accept what had just transpired.

Due to the loss of thirty True Immortal Seal Script characters, the Grand Dao Scripture was no longer complete.

Under the assault of the Dao Annihilation Tribulation, it could no longer resist. The Boundless Starfield fell at an even greater speed than before.

Countless characters flew out from the Dao Engraver Immortal, rescuing as many True Immortals in sight as possible.

As for the Dao Engraver Immortal himself, he remained rooted to the spot.

Not until the Boundless Starfield was on the verge of complete collapse did the Grand Dao Scripture gradually contract from its unfurled state, transforming into a half-unfurled scroll that landed in the Dao Engraver Immortal's hand.

"The Realm of Samsara, Five Venerables of Shared Tribulation."

The Dao Engraver Immortal gazed at the location where the black figures had vanished, slowly uttering these eight characters.

He forcefully threw the scroll in his hand, casting it to an unknown destination.

The Dao Engraver Immortal took a step, and his figure, as if swallowed by Dao Annihilation, also vanished within the Boundless Starfield.

The imagery contained within the Fallen Immortal Realm's core ended there, then cycled back to the beginning.

"The True Immortal Seal Script characters in the Grand Dao Scripture are not merely simple depictions of the Great Dao. Rather, they seem subtly connected to the true Great Daos of the Primal Possibility! It's as if every branch and leaf of a towering tree is interconnected with its billions of roots underground."

"That black figure named Zhu Kong wasn't merely stealing True Immortal Seal Script characters. It was directly stealing the Great Daos of the Primal Possibility, taking as many as thirty at once!"

"No wonder the Dao Engraver Immortal was so enraged. And no wonder, ever since this tribulation, the Primal seemed to have become utterly dispirited, powerless to resist the Dao Annihilation Tribulation, its eventual demise predetermined."

"The Great Dao deficiencies I sensed, besides those Nameless Immortals who achieved Dao and fled, also stem from them being stolen by others." Li Fan's heart was shocked.

The strength displayed by this black figure from beginning to end already surpassed the realm of a Nameless True Immortal. Being able to effortlessly traverse possibilities, it was at least on the same level as Black Heaven Physician and Xie Subai.

"But even so, it was still forced into a desperate situation by the Dao Engraver Immortal. In the end, it barely survived with the help of the other four black figures. However, their objective was achieved: 'Damaging the surplus to supplement the deficit.' Stealing others' Great Daos to compensate their own. What exactly is the Realm of Samsara?" Li Fan's eyes narrowed involuntarily.

Various indications Li Fan had encountered previously suggested that the transcendent powerhouses in the mortal realm were all willing to gather and discuss methods of world salvation. Even lighting sparks in succession, struggling against the current to avert catastrophe, seemed to be the common choice for all these formidable beings.

However, Li Fan had long harbored doubts.

It was impossible for everyone to be so "noble."

A thousand people, a thousand faces. Especially when facing a life-and-death crisis, individual choices inevitably tend towards extremes.

"Indeed, besides those who chose to collectively save the world, there are also extremely selfish individuals like the black figure."

"Their actions are essentially the same as those of Black Heaven Physician and Xie Subai: acquiring resources from other possibilities to strengthen themselves. However, they are more extreme, and their actions are more significant. They simply directly steal the foundational building blocks of other possibilities..."

"To 'dismantle the east wall to repair the west wall.' If they dismantle enough, they might truly survive the great tribulation of the merging of mountains and seas." A faint light flashed in Li Fan's eyes.

Instinctively, such conduct was clearly more to Li Fan's liking.

However, from the first moment he learned about other possibilities to his current encounters with numerous transcendent powerhouses, only these so-called Five Venerables of Shared Tribulation have chosen this path.

Clearly, in the mortal realm, they were a minority.

"Furthermore, this act of undermining everyone's foundation should absolutely not be permitted. Once discovered, it would likely lead to an endless struggle." Under shrewd analysis, Li Fan temporarily suppressed the stirrings in his heart.

"The Dao Engraver Immortal pursued the Five Venerables of Shared Tribulation and has not returned since. It seems the situation is not optimistic."

"However, this implies that the master of the Fallen Immortal Realm is not the Dao Engraver Immortal?"

"Who exactly is it?"

Li Fan's gaze was intense as he looked into the Fallen Immortal core.

While doubts arose, he also breathed a sigh of relief. After all, if he were truly to face the Dao Engraver Immortal, even if it were only their remnants after their fall, it would be immensely stressful.

"To be able to preserve the last images before the Dao Engraver Immortal departed, could it be..."

Li Fan then thought of the half-unfurled scroll that the Dao Engraver Immortal had casually thrown away at the end.

"The Grand Dao Scripture?"

Li Fan's eyes lit up.

"If the Grand Dao Scripture truly possesses a spirit, then it definitely has the ability to 'reflect Xuanhuang in a glance'."

"Moreover, with the complete fall of the Immortal Realm and the disappearance of its foundational Great Daos, its demise would also be a natural consequence."