Chapter 1591: The Distant Shore Is Within Sight

The people of the Yi Dynasty had long since accepted death. For the future of their dynasty, they were resolute in sacrificing themselves at any moment, whether as individuals within a single possibility or as the collective sum of all their selves across the mountains and seas.

It was precisely this mindset that gave the ancient Mountain and Sea Sacrificers the confidence to embark on a seemingly ethereal plan, even if it meant sacrificing the lives of every living being in the dynasty. They knew that even if only one person from the Yi Dynasty remained, as long as the Star's Gaze descended and the sublimation was successfully completed, the Yi Dynasty could be rebuilt beyond the mountains and seas.

What they didn't anticipate was the catastrophe arriving so swiftly and with such ferocity.

The plan had barely begun when the Tide of Dao Annihilation, like a tsunami, swallowed everything in the dynasty.

"The mountains and seas seemed to perceive our actions and specifically obstructed them..."

Even as a mere fragment, the Mountain and Sea Sacrificer remained deeply resentful about the dynasty's downfall. He vehemently asserted this to Li Fan.

Furthermore, he repeatedly and meticulously described how illogical the timing and scale of that disaster truly were.

Initially, Li Fan thought this was just the Mountain and Sea Sacrificer's one-sided account, distorted by his reluctance to accept the dynasty's demise. However, as he listened closely, he too noticed something peculiar.

The Calamity of Dao Annihilation was, in essence, the merging of mountains and seas.

This implied that the scale of Dao Annihilation generated during the early stages of the mountains and seas' merger should have been far less than its current state.

Yet, the disaster that swallowed the Yi Dynasty back then...

"At that time, the Yi Dynasty spanned across the entire mountains and seas, while Dao Annihilation should have only occurred in the regions where the mountains and seas were just beginning to merge."

Li Fan's expression grew solemn.

For countless years, having survived the catastrophe as only a fragment, the Mountain and Sea Sacrificer used his remaining consciousness to ponder the reasons for all this. He ultimately concluded that the consciousness of the mountains and seas had detected the Yi Dynasty's plan to transcend.

From the perspective of the mountains and seas, this was nothing short of complete betrayal.

Therefore, punishment was inflicted, which was one explanation.

This was also why Li Fan felt an extremely strong desire to devour mountains and seas when he first came into contact with the fragment.

While the beings of the Yi Dynasty seemed innocent, upon closer thought, the people of Yi were born from the mountains and seas themselves. Now that the mountains and seas faced a calamity, they not only offered no support or contributions, but their first thought was to surrender to an unknown entity beyond the mountains and seas...

Even if the mountains and seas were no match for the star, could they not still deal with these "parasites"?

"That is indeed understandable." Li Fan secretly nodded to himself after shifting his perspective.

"If this speculation is true, it serves as a reminder to me. The Infinite Sea and the Mountains Above are both great existences with their own will, not passive entities to be slaughtered. When I eventually undertake the act of burning mountains and boiling seas, I must be wary of retaliation from them."

Although he thought this, Li Fan did not show it. Instead, he posed a question to the Mountain and Sea Sacrificer. The Yi Dynasty perished due to Dao Annihilation, but Dao Annihilation was a force that even the mountains and seas could not control. If the mountains and seas wished to punish the Yi Dynasty, they could use a myriad of different methods. Why would they choose a method that would inevitably harm themselves?

Upon hearing this, the Mountain and Sea Sacrificer's incessant chatter abruptly ceased, followed by a long silence.

Ultimately, he had merely eliminated all other potential culprits, leaving only the mountains and seas as the sole option. In reality, there was no sufficient or reasonable basis for this.

"My friend, in my humble opinion, perhaps the downfall of the Yi Dynasty back then was merely an accident," Li Fan sighed faintly.

"A calamity of Dao Annihilation of such magnitude could even shake the foundations of the mountains and seas. It must have involved existences on par with the mountains and seas, or even the star beyond them. The mountains and seas were momentarily plunged into turmoil, and although they ultimately endured the calamity due to their profound resilience, the Yi Dynasty, like a floating vessel within the mountains and seas, failed to survive..."

"Since then, the mountains and seas have steadily declined, and their merging has accelerated," Li Fan elaborated on his theory.

The Yi Dynasty Mountain and Sea Sacrificer listened in silence.

It was evident that Li Fan's speculation was more reasonable than his original conclusion.

Yet, for a moment, he found it difficult to accept that the demise of his dynasty and the fall of countless beings were merely an accident.

"Or perhaps, it wasn't an accident. But an inevitability."

"If the mountains and seas themselves could barely survive, how could the beings within them?"

"The past is gone, my friend. You should let go of everything and look towards the future."

"By sheer chance, you have survived until now. And it just so happened that I rescued you—is this not a form of destiny? Perhaps, in the unseen, you are destined to restore and rebuild the Yi Dynasty."

"Summoning the Star's Gaze, completing what was left undone, and transcending beyond the mountains and seas..."

The Mountain and Sea Sacrificer, who spent his days observing the mountains and seas, had little experience with schemes and machinations. Building on the trust already established with Li Fan, he was gradually, subtly persuaded by Li Fan's arguments.

"Even if you consider the mountains and seas your enemy, my friend... open your eyes and look at them now. Dao Annihilation has spread everywhere, and the mountains and seas are on the verge of collapse. Is not your great revenge already taken?"

From the Mountain and Sea Sacrificer's shifting emotions, Li Fan sensed that the other party had been convinced to some extent.

However, beliefs accumulated over countless years are not so easily overturned.

Fortunately, Li Fan persevered.

He consistently nourished the fragment with the power of longevity to aid its recovery, while relentlessly 'brainwashing' it, persuading it to abandon unnecessary hatred and look towards the future.

As the saying goes, 'a rope saws through wood, and dripping water wears away stone.'

One year, ten years, a hundred years, a thousand years, ten thousand years...

As Li Fan's plan to scatter true spirit seeds was nearing completion,

The resentful souls accumulated within the fragment over countless years, bearing grudges against the mountains and seas, finally dispersed.

A brilliant white radiance erupted from the fragment. After the light faded, a figure appeared.

It was indeed the Mountain and Sea Sacrificer!

Yet, he was not in a human form, but entirely sea-blue with long, slender limbs. His facial features, though similar to humans, had distinct differences. Most notably, his head was transparent.

Blue light flowed within it like seawater. One could seemingly see various brilliant and fantastical lights shimmering simultaneously inside.

"My friend, allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Xiao Wangsheng."

Li Fan could clearly see that the lights shimmering within Xiao Wangsheng's head were now entirely gentle in hue.

Li Fan smiled faintly, cupped his hands, and said, "Congratulations, my friend, on your rebirth and transformation today."

A ripple of light blue, sad emotion flickered within Xiao Wangsheng's head.

"I must also thank my friend for your tireless assistance."

The two had already forged a deep friendship through their long conversations, so Li Fan did not stand on ceremony. He inquired about Xiao Wangsheng's next plans.

"Since the dynasty has fallen and there are no longer countless people to support it, the plan to summon the Star's Gaze must change," Xiao Wangsheng mused, speaking slowly.

He pointed into the distance: "I can faintly perceive a gathering of numerous powerful beings there. Many of them even rival my strength from my former peak. If we could persuade them to join the plan..."

Li Fan squinted, looking in the direction Xiao Wangsheng indicated.

It was precisely where the Great World of the Other Shore was located!

He couldn't help but smile wryly, then recounted the current state of the mountains and seas to Xiao Wangsheng once more.

"Oh? Is that the Other Shore?" Xiao Wangsheng nodded. "It's considerably weaker than I imagined."

Xiao Wangsheng's statement naturally stemmed from his confidence.

In ancient times, there were nearly a thousand Mountain and Sea Sacrificers. And Xiao Wangsheng was merely one of the younger ones among them.

The longer one could endure in a 'Mountain and Sea-ized' state, the more powerful they were.

The power of the Mountain and Sea Sacrificers back then was thus evident.

"Even the ancient Temples of Invocation were powerless before the calamity of the mountains and seas. These people's so-called 'Other Shore salvation plan' will ultimately be in vain," Xiao Wangsheng remarked, shaking his head.

"Perhaps it's because the true powerful beings of the Other Shore have already crossed the Eternal Void and journeyed into the more ancient past," Li Fan explained to Xiao Wangsheng.

Only after hearing about the deeds and displays of strength from numerous powerful figures like the Elder of the Tomb, and the Three Sages of Lianshan, Guihai, and Taiyi, did Xiao Wangsheng discard his inner disdain.

"Just like you, my friend Xiao. The beliefs of the people of the Other Shore are not so easily swayed. If we were to approach them directly and try to persuade them to execute some Star's Gaze plan, we would surely be met with outright refusal."

"We must proceed cautiously..."

Xiao Wangsheng knew nothing about the beings of the current era. Hearing Li Fan's words, he found them somewhat reasonable. He then inquired, "What plan do you propose, my friend?"

In his view, Li Fan was already a "comrade-in-arms" standing on the same front as him.

After all, Li Fan had personally witnessed the Star's Gaze and even nearly lost himself within it. According to Xiao Wangsheng's experience, anyone who personally experienced the power of the star would unswervingly pursue the Star's Gaze plan.

Because apart from relying on the star, no other method could ensure survival during this great calamity of mountain and sea destruction.

Li Fan smiled faintly: "The best way to persuade them is to first integrate into their group. Genuinely consider their perspectives, and help them realize the flaws in their current choices. Once all the unfeasible answers have been eliminated, what remains can only be our plan."

"We won't need to persuade them; for their own survival, they will first persuade themselves."

Upon hearing Li Fan's words, Xiao Wangsheng's head momentarily displayed a flurry of colors, like a swirling dust storm.

"My friend, this plan is excellent!"

"However, I don't know how one is supposed to join this so-called Other Shore."

In his subconscious, Xiao Wangsheng still considered himself a being of an ancient civilization, with many invisible barriers between himself and the current beings of the mountains and seas. He instinctively felt that integrating into the Other Shore collective was nearly impossible.

However, Li Fan said, somewhat taken aback, "The Other Shore has no restrictions; as long as one can reach it, they are considered a member. Of course, that's just superficial integration. To truly become part of their core and gain the ability to change their beliefs, one needs to make significant contributions."

Although Li Fan had not yet truly set foot on the Other Shore, he had encountered many of its Immortals. He could largely infer the nature of the Other Shore's organization.

"Just reaching it is enough? That simple?" Xiao Wangsheng was somewhat astonished upon hearing this.

"Crossing the mountains and seas is a common feat for you, my friend Xiao. However, for most beings in the current era, it's something unattainable in a lifetime. Even I would need to construct a Xuanhuang Immortal Boat to travel there." Li Fan sighed deeply, his emotions genuine.

"My friend Xiao, please help me return to my true body. It's time for us to sail towards the Other Shore." Li Fan bowed to Xiao Wangsheng.

Xiao Wangsheng nodded.

Guided by Li Fan's provided location, Xiao Wangsheng's gaze easily pierced through the endless obstructions of the mountains and seas, seeing Li Fan's true body standing at the bow of the Xuanhuang Immortal Boat. Li Fan was smiling faintly at him.

After a nod of acknowledgment, Xiao Wangsheng waved his wide sleeve, enveloping the ethereal immortal boat beneath him, and stepped forward.

For cultivators now, crossing the mountains and seas requires comprehending beyond true meaning.

But for an ancient being like Xiao Wangsheng, moving and traversing freely within the mountains and seas was an instinct.

Even carrying the burden of an ethereal immortal boat, it was no difficult feat for him.

Braving the winds and waves, he swiftly moved through the mountains and seas.

The true Xuanhuang Immortal Boat, feeling the rising waves, began to gently vibrate. However, after countless years of tempering and strengthening, the Xuanhuang Immortal Boat could long ignore such levels of wind and waves.

A figure shot out from the waves of Dao Annihilation.

The ethereal immortal boat merged with the Xuanhuang Immortal Boat.

Xiao Wangsheng stood before Li Fan's true body. A tacit understanding already existed between them, so no further words were needed.

Controlling the Xuanhuang Immortal Boat, they set course towards the Other Shore.

At the Immortal Boat's normal cruising speed, it would likely take hundreds of thousands of years to truly arrive.

But now, Xiao Wangsheng stood alone at the bow, guiding it with his own body. He propelled the entire Xuanhuang Immortal Boat forward at high speed, single-handedly.

The speed of the Immortal Boat increased by more than ten thousand times!

Li Fan saw that this was not merely due to Xiao Wangsheng's immense power. Rather, it was as if by innate talent and instinct, he possessed a natural technique for traversing the mountains and seas.

Li Fan humbly began to learn from Xiao Wangsheng.

Xiao Wangsheng naturally did not hold back his teachings.

"For the people of our dynasty, while this was an innate ability, it still required postnatal learning and reinforcement."

"But those were all things learned before the age of one," Xiao Wangsheng said, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth as if recalling amusing past events. However, he quickly realized that the dynasty in his memories no longer existed. The smile swiftly vanished.

He then earnestly began instructing Li Fan.

"While the so-called 'Transcendent True Meaning' can indeed cross the mountains and seas, it ultimately involves traversing them as an 'outsider,' with difficulty."

"In reality, we are beings of the mountains and seas, originating from them. Using the power of the mountains and seas to cross the mountains and seas themselves—how could there be any resistance?"

Xiao Wangsheng tried to help Li Fan grasp the principle of assimilation with the mountains and seas.

However, what seemed incredibly simple to him, Li Fan simply could not learn.

Xiao Wangsheng could only console him, "Perhaps it's due to the changing times; beings are different now."

Li Fan, however, recalled something and couldn't help but ask, "In the current era, there's a concept of 'potential' within a single possibility. There's a certain upper limit to the powerful beings that can be born within a specific possibility."

"I wonder, was there such a thing as 'potential' among the mountains and seas in ancient times?"