Chapter 1567: Dao One Transforms Ink to Kill

The true miraculous effects of the Sky-Snatching Cats directly correspond to their name. What was once the pharmacological effect of medicinal ingredients on the human body, upon their transformation into Sky-Snatching Cats, is now applied to heaven itself.

The cycle of life and death for all things is like the ebb and flow of heaven and earth’s breath. Baigan manages life and death, following nature. In primordial times, there was the Great Sage Jingfen, who sorted out the rise and fall of the Dao, ensuring the immortal realm's eternal existence. Yet, the Grand Micro Sacred Dynasty, with just one dose of Baigan, could achieve nearly half the effects of the Great Sage Jingfen.

The Great Dao rises and falls, without beginning or end. Loquat intercepts the life essence of the Dao, nurturing all things. In the Xuanhuang Realm, there is a tree named Ruomu, which governs all life force. However, Ruomu's life force originates from the Xuanhuang Realm itself. If Xuanhuang prospers, Ruomu naturally thrives without worry. But if Xuanhuang weakens, Ruomu withers and declines. Yet, Loquat's life force is intercepted directly from the Dao. Breaking free from the limitations of a single possibility, wherever the Great Dao flows, Loquat can intercept the Dao to be born.

One dose of Loquat can preserve the world's vitality, unshifting for ten thousand generations!

Li Fan was shaken by the effects of the Sky-Snatching Elixirs and couldn't help but look at the other medicinal ingredients.

The magnificent figure standing before thousands of medicinal ingredients was undoubtedly the Grand Micro Sacred Emperor. As if sensing Li Fan's prying gaze, the figure slightly turned, their eyes meeting Li Fan's.

At that instant, time seemed to freeze, falling into complete stillness.

It seemed either because Li Fan habitually had the True Illusion Divine Blessing upon him, or because True Reality had fallen into slumber at that moment, and the power of the Great Dao of Longevity had also been expelled from Li Fan's body. In any case, the Grand Micro Sacred Emperor did not perceive Li Fan's uniqueness due to this momentary gaze.

But neither did he break off Li Fan's prying gaze.

He even seemed to smile slightly, waving a large hand with magnificent generosity, letting Li Fan gaze to his heart's content.

The scene before his eyes was suddenly magnified ten million times.

Countless Sky-Snatching Elixirs, densely packed, like continuous dark clouds, covered his entire field of vision. Not only were there ordinary ingredients, but even the extremely dazzling Seven Sky-Snatching Elixirs Li Fan had seen before were present in immeasurable and countless numbers!

Only then did Li Fan realize.

What he saw were clearly vast expanses of medicinal gardens! Each type of Sky-Snatching Elixir was cultivated by the Grand Micro Sacred Emperor within its designated garden. They stretched endlessly, a truly magnificent sight!

The Grand Micro Sacred Emperor relied precisely on the endless divine medicines cultivated in these gardens to establish and expand the Grand Micro Sacred Dynasty, spanning mountains and seas.

The reason he so generously displayed his secrets, even when facing Li Fan's prying eyes, was precisely due to his imperial magnanimity!

"This is no mere Grand Micro Sacred Emperor," Li Fan thought, "this is practically the Azure Emperor!"

Li Fan's heart almost got lost in this boundless ocean of divine medicines. He found a faint sign within himself of being swayed by the Grand Micro Sacred Emperor's bearing.

He quickly and deliberately broke off his prying gaze.

It was a long while before his mood somewhat calmed.

"I never imagined the Grand Micro Sacred Emperor was already so powerful. The moment I peered at just one of his countless medicinal ingredients through the Xuanhuang Immortal Realm, he could simultaneously sense my situation. He knew I had suppressed and imprisoned the two Sky-Snatching Cats. But... the Grand Micro Sacred Emperor simply doesn't care. There are simply countless Sky-Snatching Elixirs in the Grand Micro Sacred Dynasty..."

The gap between him and a powerhouse like the Grand Micro Sacred Emperor became tangible. Inevitably, a faint sense of frustration arose in Li Fan's heart.

He even entertained various thoughts that were not far from "surrendering."

At Li Fan's current cultivation level, his mind was like a clear mirror; the origin and progression of all thoughts were completely under his control. Li Fan naturally knew this was a deterrent tactic by the Grand Micro Sacred Emperor, and one of the reasons for deliberately showing him the Sacred Emperor's medicinal garden.

"If it were an ordinary person, just this one glance would probably make them completely submit to the Emperor's might and willingly seek refuge with Grand Micro. Even Transcendent Realm powerhouses might find it difficult to avoid this influence. Fortunately..."

A faint cold gleam flashed in Li Fan's eyes. He quickly crushed and eliminated the numerous unusual thoughts in his mind, restoring his normal state of mind.

"Though the Grand Micro Sacred Emperor is strong, he hasn't reached the same level as the Mountains and Seas. I can even abandon the Great Dao of Longevity, which is comparable to the Mountains and Seas. How could I be intimidated or beguiled by you?"

He snorted coldly. Not being the Grand Micro Sacred Emperor's match did not prevent Li Fan from experimenting with the Emperor's medicinal ingredients.

Knowing the true nature of the Sky-Snatching Cats, Li Fan acted without further reservation.

"Ink Kill!"

Dark ominous clouds rolled in, heavily surrounding the two Sky-Snatching Cats. Sensing the arrival of a deadly crisis, the two Sky-Snatching Cats' fur bristled, and they continuously growled. As the Ink Kill clouds continued to approach and they realized they could not resist the erosion, after a moment of hesitation, the two Sky-Snatching Cats finally made a decision.

Amidst high-pitched meows, the two Sky-Snatching Cats successively transformed into black-and-white, and orange-yellow light masses. The two light masses approached each other, stalled for a moment, then rapidly merged. The black and white halos fused into the orange-yellow. This did not dilute the orange-yellow color; instead, it made it even more dazzling.

"This is 'medicine supplementing medicine,' pushing the Sky-Snatching ability even further!"

Li Fan, also knowledgeable in pharmacology, observed the Sky-Snatching Cats' transformation and soon understood the reason.

Meanwhile, Loquat, having consumed Baigan, also re-transformed.

Its orange-yellow fur now had some black-and-white stripes. Its overall size had also increased by several folds. It no longer looked like a cat; instead, it resembled a newborn tiger!

Facing the tide-like Ink Kill clouds, Loquat was utterly fearless. With a soft roar, it released a large amount of vibrant yellow light around its body, which, like a dam, temporarily held back Ink Kill's invasion.

Seeing Ink Kill's setback, Li Fan was not surprised but rather pleased.

"So this is 'withstanding the tribulation of Dao Annihilation and traversing the Mountains and Seas'? With 'medicine supplementing medicine,' this Sky-Snatching Cat, Loquat, has truly reached the Transcendent Realm."

Protected by the orange-yellow light, Loquat charged wildly through the Ink Kill clouds, showing a strong tendency to break through the encirclement. Even though the Ink Kill clouds were boiling, they could not immediately overpower it.

If not for the Xuanhuang Immortal Realm as support, Loquat would have probably already broken through Ink Kill's blockade.

"Although it cannot completely counteract the tribulation of Dao Annihilation, its own strength is sufficient to travel and find a safe place before being engulfed by Dao Annihilation. This is the most fundamental principle of traversing the Mountains and Seas. The stronger one's power, the longer one can stay within Dao Annihilation. Traversing the Mountains and Seas then becomes more effortless."

Li Fan recalled the towering Great Dao previously displayed by Ziyi, and the single leaf-like boat from the Transcendent remnant fished out from the Guangwu Star Sea. Comparing and verifying them with the scene before him, various previously incomprehensible insights now surged in his mind like an eruption.

Facing the Transcendent Realm Loquat, Ink Kill was at a disadvantage. However, its abilities of engulfment and analysis had not failed.

A vast amount of pharmacological knowledge about Sky-Snatching Elixirs and Loquat slowly emerged in Li Fan's mind.

"This can be seen as Loquat's path to transcendence. Unfortunately, this principle is only suitable for medicine, not for humans."

Although it had extreme limitations, Li Fan did not despise it. He still regarded it as a rare insight, meticulously pondering it in his mind.

"Though I cannot directly use Loquat's pharmacology, I can integrate it into my Xuanhuang Immortal Realm through the 'Alchemy Dao Medicine King Scripture'! Since it's a medicinal ingredient, no matter how extraordinary, it is ultimately just that: an ingredient. Returning to the proper path is your destiny!"

Loquat truly lived up to its name as one of the Seven Sky-Snatching Prototypes. The intercepted life essence within it was truly boundless. It charged left and right within the Ink Kill clouds for a full thirty-three days, showing no signs of weakening.

Li Fan, through Ink Kill's absorption, had already grasped most of Loquat's pharmacology.

He then coldly pointed at the orange cat in the clouds. Ink Kill churned, instantly transforming into a giant alchemy furnace!

Though it was merely a change in form, its restrictive effect on Loquat seemed to intensify hundreds of times in an instant. The endlessly vibrant and nimble orange cat seemed to have its limbs bound. It was no longer swift as before, only attempting to charge onward with agonizing slowness. Moreover, the protective orange-yellow light around it, as if buffeted by a strong wind, was no longer as steady as a mountain. Instead, it swayed continuously, appearing as though it could collapse at any moment.

The Ink Kill furnace stood above the Outer Heaven of the Xuanhuang Immortal Realm.

Li Fan personally presided. First, he invited his Eternal "Martial Uncle" to cast a gaze upon it.

Then, with a flourish of his pen, he wrote an illusory scripture and cast it into the Ink Kill furnace.

This scripture was precisely the 'Mountains and Seas Genesis Chapter,' obtained from Shanhua in his previous life!

The Genesis of Mountains and Seas was born from the Grand Prime Sacred Monarch's insights gained by observing the two Saints, Lianshan and Guihai, as they created the immortal realm from nothing. It contained both the principles of Mountains and Seas and the Dao of Grand Prime.

Ink Kill's foundation was precisely Grand Prime and Eternity.

At this moment, both foundations were further strengthened under Li Fan's guidance. Though not comparable to the two great powerhouses acting personally, it was equivalent to a certain degree of "borrowing" their power.

Like pouring oil on a raging fire, the power of the reborn Ink Kill instantly expanded severalfold.

The furnace solidified, becoming lifelike, as if transforming from illusion into reality.

The black color intensified greatly, instantly suppressing the last bit of orange-yellow within the furnace.

In front of the temporarily strengthened reborn Ink Kill, even a Transcendent Realm Loquat had only one outcome: suppression!

The reborn Ink Kill was born in the Xuanhuang Immortal Realm.

But now, with the strengthening of the two great primordial powers, it had subtly begun to transcend the constraints of the Xuanhuang Immortal Realm.

Fortunately, Li Fan was presiding and at the helm, able to withdraw the support of Eternity and Grand Prime at any time. Otherwise, after devouring Loquat, it might have gone a step further and swallowed the Xuanhuang Immortal Realm as well.

"It's like asking a tiger for its hide. But I have no choice but to use it."

Li Fan's trump card was not only Ink Kill. With a thought, countless pulsating black dots from various parts of the Xuanhuang Immortal Realm began to converge towards the Outer Heaven.

Compared to the Ink Kill clouds, which everyone could see, these black dots were visible only to Li Fan.

These were the Dao One Worms!

"Ink Kill, in the end, is someone else's creation. It has too many uncontrollable factors and poses too great a hidden danger. The Dao One Worms, on the other hand, are truly my own creation and promotion, built from nothing. Loquat can devour Baigan, Dao One can devour Mountains and Seas. Ink Kill resembles Dao Annihilation... Dao One can transform into Ink Kill!"

As Ink Kill transformed into a furnace, focusing on refining the Sky-Snatching Cat within,

without its knowledge, the Dao One Worms on the outside of the furnace were also attempting to erode it!

Li Fan could see that the Dao One Worms' progress in erosion and assimilation was extremely slow.

But their efforts were not in vain.

Li Fan quietly shared his insights into the path of Ink Kill with these Dao One Worms, slightly accelerating their assimilation speed.

However, the Ink Kill perceived by the Dao One Worms was likely different from the Ink Kill perceived by Li Fan.

Therefore, Li Fan's assistance had only a minuscule effect.

"But that's fine. If it can begin, it's halfway to success."

Li Fan continued to urge Ink Kill, keeping its attention focused on dealing with Loquat, thereby creating more space for the Dao One Worms' erosion.

And Ink Kill indeed lived up to expectations.

Black smoke billowed, completely engulfing the last remaining bit of Loquat within the furnace.

Next, just as Li Fan had predicted.

After completely devouring Loquat, Ink Kill did not stop there.

The furnace expanded, attempting to encompass this Outer Heaven of the Xuanhuang Immortal Realm.

Fortunately, Li Fan was prepared and promptly withdrew the blessings of Eternity and Grand Prime's power.

Losing the support of the two great primordial forces, the expanding Ink Kill instantly returned to its original state.

The anomaly ceased accordingly.

Under Li Fan's gaze, it finally calmed down.

The ominous clouds churned, spitting out wisps of orange-yellow light.

These transformed into an orange-yellow, almost golden, condensed pill.

"So this is Loquat's intercepted life essence from the Dao."

A strange gleam appeared in Li Fan's eyes.

He toyed with it in his hand for a long time, but Li Fan did not consume it. Instead, he crushed this pill of Dao-intercepting Loquat essence in his hand, then scattered it across the Xuanhuang world.

On that day, a blazing sunset glow, illuminating half the sky, appeared in the Xuanhuang Immortal Realm. It did not dissipate even when the moon reached its zenith.

From then on, the birth of life in the Xuanhuang Immortal Realm quietly changed.

The living beings between heaven and earth were unaware of this, as there was currently no obvious change in either the quantity or quality of life force.

"Only when tribulation descends will the difference become apparent."

"Even if I unleash a world-ending catastrophe, annihilating all beings except those listed on the Investiture of the Gods, if I don't specifically interfere and allow the Xuanhuang Immortal Realm to recover on its own, it would only take approximately three years to go from complete desolation to once again teeming with life."

In Li Fan's eyes, the terrifying recovery scene of the Xuanhuang Immortal Realm, under the blessing of the intercepted Dao life essence, emerged.

"'Intercepting the Dao', 'Intercepting the Dao'."

"Where exactly does this intercepted life essence come from?"

Li Fan couldn't help but look beyond Xuanhuang.

In his perception, there was indeed a faint, elusive life force, like ethereal celestial music, drifting over.

Yet, it arrived without any trace, its source utterly undiscoverable.

After observing for a long time, an answer vaguely formed in Li Fan's mind.

"It's not stolen from other possibilities, but intercepted from the Great Dao itself. It comes from the ebb and flow of the Dao's creation and destruction... As long as the Great Dao continues to exist and has not fallen into a state of annihilation, this Loquat's intercepted Dao life essence can continuously acquire life force. So this is a Sky-Snatching Elixir..."

Recalling the countless other medicinal ingredients in the Sacred Emperor's medicinal garden, Li Fan once again gained a clear understanding of the strength of the proud Grand Micro Sacred Emperor.