Chapter 1585: Living Beings Generate Tai Chi

Compared to unleashing a divine ability that could destroy all true spirits, the merciful act of lighting a candle to dispel the biting cold within the Xuanyang Immortal Ark consumed a negligible amount of his spiritual energy.

For Li Fan, it was no burden at all. Yet, it ensured the safety of the helmsmen and crew on the ark. Therefore, he did it without hesitation.

"This extreme cold...""Where does it originate?"

The warmth generated by the burning True Spirit Fire only protected the beings within the Xuanyang Immortal Realm. However, Li Fan, as the master of Xuanyang, actively withdrew this protection. He chose to directly face the cold and desolate feeling prevalent throughout the mountains and seas.

The Xuanyang Immortal Ark cleaved through the waves in the darkness, utterly silent. Outside, time seemed to have lost its meaning. Li Fan stood atop the ark's lofty, solitary sail, like the darkness before him. As they traversed the mountains and seas, the passage of years went unnoticed. Within the Xuanyang Immortal Realm, seventy years had passed in a flash.

From the moment the Immortal Ark entered the Dao Annihilation, the "variables" of the entire Xuanyang Immortal Realm seemed to have been locked down. During these seventy years, no new cultivators at the Dao Integration stage were born. This was not a deliberate restriction imposed by Li Fan to conserve the ark's resources, but rather a consequence of the ark's own transformation.

Immersed for a long time in an environment far removed from the mundane world, Li Fan gradually began to comprehend the root cause of the pervasive coldness, which clung to them like a persistent affliction.

"Most beings of the mountains and seas are born in the mundane world. When we, as living beings, leave the mundane world, we move away from the most fundamental environment we rely on for our genesis, nurturing, and cultivation process. It's like a fish out of water, a bird trapped on the ground, or a subterranean creature suddenly exposed to sunlight."

"Due to a lack of adaptation, extinction ensues. In a sense, the transcendent true essence condensed by transcendent powerhouses is precisely the ability to safely navigate such drastic changes."

"Although I possess infinite spiritual energy, I still feel this sense of disorientation and discomfort when far from the mundane world..."

"Infinite spiritual energy might be connected to my transmigration and my original self. However, this body of mine is indeed a native being of the mountains and seas," Li Fan mused silently.

Within the Xuanyang Immortal Ark, almost all living beings, including the twelve True Immortals who boarded last, could not escape this feeling of icy solitude. There was only one exception: the unknown Primordial Being, long dormant in the Zhuyu Starfield, later nurtured by the twelve True Immortals.

The Primordial Being's consumption of energy was truly astounding. For the past fifty years, he had not stopped feeding it for a single moment. Over a hundred Xuanyang wood carvings had already been crushed. Yet, the Primordial Being was still just one step away from truly manifesting.

Fortunately, Li Fan had recently faintly sensed that it was beginning to show some resistance to his feeding. This wasn't because it had become an ungrateful wretch before even being born; rather, the Primordial Being had reached the limit of what it could absorb in its gestating state and could no longer consume more!

Li Fan invited the twelve True Immortals to come and witness the Primordial Being's manifestation within the orb of light. After all, they had painstakingly helped nurture it for tens of thousands of years.

It's worth noting that even after sharing the journey through the mountains and seas for over fifty years, the twelve True Immortals had still not seen the true form of the Xuanyang Immortal Ark. From beginning to end, they had been forced to squeeze onto the small wooden boat that Li Fan had conjured. Relying on the lone sail raised on the wooden boat, they were protected from the incessant erosion of the surrounding Dao Annihilation. They were completely unaware that above their small dwelling boat, another immensely larger ark existed, traversing the vastness!

Most of their mental energy was dedicated to combating the ceaseless feeling of solitude welling up within them. If any capacity remained, they seized every available opportunity to try and comprehend the Dao of "Traversing." Furthermore, given the vast disparity in power between them and Li Fan, it was difficult for them to discern the true nature of the Xuanyang Immortal Ark.

At that moment, seeing Li Fan suddenly appear, holding the Primordial Being, they were all slightly stunned. They then reacted, looking with complex expressions at the orb of light from which the being was about to emerge.

"To be able to witness the birth of a Primordial Being with our own eyes today is truly a blessing of three lifetimes.""Our past efforts were not in vain.""It's just unknown whether this Primordial Being will remember us."

"Not only did Senior rescue us from dire straits, but he also helped us fulfill our long-cherished aspirations. Such compassion is truly admirable," the twelve True Immortals said, acting naturally, without revealing any hint of resentment in their hearts.

Li Fan's gaze swept over them indifferently, causing a slight chill in everyone's hearts. A deathly silence permeated the area for a while. Only then did Li Fan speak again: "This beast should be emerging soon; just wait patiently."

The twelve True Immortals all grumbled inwardly at Li Fan calling the Primordial Being a "beast." However, they dared not express any dissent and could only nod and smile in agreement.

This wait lasted another nine years. For True Immortals, it was merely time spent in meditation, easily overlooked.

On this day, subtle fluctuations emanating from the orb of light in Li Fan's hand awakened everyone on the wooden boat. A black fissure appeared in the center of the orb. As if a shell had cracked open, an endless stream of light and shadow instantly burst forth from the fissure. It was a roar of mountains and seas, an image of countless possibilities emerging from destruction!

As if facing the mountains and seas directly, everyone on the boat became immersed in this spectacle. They did not, however, notice a black thread hidden within these light and shadows, shooting towards the weakest of the twelve True Immortals. Only when the black thread was almost upon him did Shi Qiwen, the True Immortal whose cultivation path was the way of nurture, belatedly realize the sudden attack as if awakening from a dream. However, before he could even register a change in expression, he was about to be pierced through by the black thread in the next moment.

"A beast, after all, remains a beast!" At that very moment, Li Fan's cold voice suddenly rang out.

A hand, acting later but arriving sooner, firmly clutched the black thread. A roaring sound, like the collision of mountains and seas, emanated from the black thread. The twelve True Immortals immediately felt thunderous blasts in their ears and experienced waves of dizziness. Shi Qiwen, who was closest, felt as if he had been struck by a heavy blow. The Dao he had comprehended seemed to subtly dissipate amidst that mighty roar. Fortunately, the twelve True Immortals shared a common life. With the help of the other eleven sharing the burden, Shi Qiwen narrowly escaped death.

The terror of the Primordial Being was thus evident. But in Li Fan's hand, this beast was utterly immobilized. It could only emit continuous, threatening roars. The twelve True Immortals thus clearly saw the black thread's true form: it resembled a rounded wooden staff, upon which countless intricate yet non-repeating patterns subtly emerged. At each end of the staff was a face. They were not human faces, but rather one black and one white, constantly shifting expressions that revealed the essence of a "face."

This Primordial Being, rather than a mere living creature, resembled more a tempered magical artifact. Though newly born, its nature remained fierce and violent. Now held in Li Fan's hand, unable to advance or retreat, it did not give up struggling for a moment. Accompanied by roars like crashing mountains and roaring seas, the patterns across its body seemed to come alive, rapidly shifting and separating, gathering at each end of the wooden staff. The Primordial Being instantly split into two: one completely black, the other entirely white. The two halves, like twin snakes, bit each other's tails and spun rapidly without pause. In an instant, they formed a Taiji symbol, surging in Li Fan's palm.

A mysterious force was born with it, as if someone had given Li Fan a forceful push, causing his firm grip on the Primordial Being to loosen slightly. The spinning Taiji diagram's colors instantly darkened, as if fleeing to another location.

Outside the Xuanyang Immortal Ark, the previously calm Dao Annihilation suddenly became turbulent with waves. It was as if something had violently plunged into the sea.

"Oh no, that beast is escaping!" exclaimed the twelve True Immortals upon seeing this.

Li Fan merely sneered. Towards the direction where the Taiji diagram had fled, he gently hooked his finger. The commotion within the Dao Annihilation suddenly intensified. One surging wave after another continuously battered the Xuanyang Immortal Ark. Everyone on board experienced the greatest shock since they began traversing the mountains and seas. It was as if two ancient leviathans were fiercely battling beneath the water!

Such a development was far beyond the expectations of the twelve True Immortals. They stared intently at the void outside the ark, occasionally glancing furtively at the composed Li Fan. They wondered what kind of divine ability this Senior possessed to be able to capture an enemy within the Dao Annihilation. It was simply unheard of.

The fierce battle within the Dao Annihilation did not last long. No matter how ferocious it was, it was, after all, only in its nascent state. Soon, the commotion within the Dao Annihilation gradually subsided, and the Taiji diagram quietly returned to the wooden boat. It stopped and spun, but ultimately could not maintain its form and reverted to its wooden staff appearance. The patterns on the wooden staff appeared significantly sparser than before, and the black and white expressions at its ends seemed to have become dispirited.

"This object was born at the dawn of the mundane world, mimicking the birth and evolution of the Great Dao...""However, it ultimately lacks true sentience and does not comprehend the fundamental principles of the Dao, possessing only its form but not its spirit.""Therefore, after such an immense passage of time, it still remains in this state." Li Fan lightly tapped the wooden staff with a finger, commenting indifferently.

Upon hearing this, the twelve True Immortals nodded in understanding.

It was naturally Mo Sha who had reached out and retrieved the Taiji wooden staff from the Dao Annihilation. After fifty years of contemplation and adaptation, Mo Sha finally recognized his true identity. He had completely separated himself from the omnipresent Dao Annihilation, existing solely as "Mo Sha," the spirit of the Xuanyang Immortal Realm, and Li Fan's humble subordinate!

Unlike all other beings and forces in the mundane world of mountains and seas, Mo Sha entering the Dao Annihilation truly felt like "a fish in water, moving with ease." The erosive power of the Dao Annihilation had virtually no effect on Mo Sha. Furthermore, when other entities were present, Mo Sha could even first use the power of the Dao Annihilation against his enemies. Capturing the Taiji wooden staff just now was his first test of skill. If he had fought the Taiji wooden staff solely by himself, without the aid of the Dao Annihilation, he would likely have been in for a bitter struggle. But with the assistance of the surrounding powerful force, the "Dao Annihilation," capturing it was instantaneous. And Li Fan's ability to so quickly discern the true nature of the Primordial Being was also thanks to Mo Sha.

If the Dao Annihilation was an boundless ocean, then almost all beings in the mountains and seas were unskilled in water. A few transcendent ones possessed the ability to swim. But Mo Sha... was a fish naturally born to exist in this very ocean!

"Even if the Immortal Ark were to capsize, with Mo Sha to rescue me, I would be safe and unharmed."

He did not reveal Mo Sha's existence to the twelve True Immortals. After completing his mission, Li Fan ordered him to return to the Xuanyang Immortal Realm. Upon sensing Mo Sha's departure, the Taiji wooden staff, which had been gravely injured and seemingly on the verge of death, instantly became vibrant and full of life again. However, Li Fan merely flicked and tapped it several times, instantly suppressing the energy it had accumulated. After several repetitions, the Taiji wooden staff finally recognized the vast difference in their strength and temporarily became docile.

"There are such wondrous beings in the mountains and seas.""Some Primordial Beings are even older than the Immortal Realm itself. They often symbolize the ancient Daos of the mountains and seas. It is said that some True Immortals, after subduing a Primordial Being, gained enlightenment from it. The moment they attained the nameless Dao was the very moment they achieved transcendence.""And I see the Taiji Dao derived from this beast is also quite remarkable..." the twelve True Immortals, who had witnessed Li Fan subduing the Taiji wooden staff throughout the entire process, all exclaimed with admiration.

"However, Senior already possesses sufficient divine abilities. This wooden staff wouldn't be of much help to you, Senior," Shi Qiwen remarked. As soon as he spoke, everyone on the boat fell silent.

Shi Qiwen also realized the impropriety of his words and was about to offer a wry apology. Yet, he heard Li Fan calmly state, "Indeed, this object is almost useless for one's Dao path. However, it is quite useful for this journey."

Upon hearing this, the twelve True Immortals were perplexed. But then they saw Li Fan throw the Taiji wooden staff, which had barely recovered some of its strength, back into the Dao Annihilation. The Taiji wooden staff seemed somewhat incredulous, remaining frozen in place for a moment. Then, as if awakening from a dream, it frantically fled deeper into the Dao Annihilation.

"Senior, this..." The twelve True Immortals were about to ask, but then they suddenly noticed that the small wooden boat beneath them seemed to be moving faster for some unknown reason. Upon closer inspection, they discovered that the Taiji wooden staff, which had fled into the Dao Annihilation, had several fine black threads connecting it to the boat's hull! Because of these connecting black threads, the Taiji wooden staff appeared to be towing the wooden boat rapidly through the Dao Annihilation.

"It can do this?" The twelve True Immortals were all dumbfounded.

"Although Primordial Beings possess powerful vitality, they ultimately cannot survive indefinitely within the Dao Annihilation.""Therefore, when trapped in the Dao Annihilation, if they wish to live longer, they instinctively seek 'food' for sustenance.""Primordial Beings are inherently unique existences within the mountains and seas. Their ability to perceive possibilities and life force far surpasses that of cultivators like us. We find it difficult to discern direction in this vast Dao Annihilation. They, however, might be able to sense the presence of food in the distance."

Li Fan stood at the bow, feeling the Xuanyang Immortal Ark slowly change direction under the Taiji wooden staff's pull, a peculiar expression on his face. Recalling Li Fan's act of burning away primordial possibilities with his True Spirit Fire without explanation, a chill involuntarily rose in the hearts of the twelve True Immortals. They had been told he would take them to the Great World on the Other Shore, but now it seemed... Awed by Li Fan's overwhelming power, the twelve True Immortals dared not show the slightest opposition. They merely praised Senior's unfathomable divine abilities in unison.

In its frantic flight, the Taiji wooden staff towed the Immortal Ark for forty days. Just as it was about to exhaust its energy and vanish within the Dao Annihilation, Li Fan rescued it in time.