Chapter 1592: The Weakest Detachment

"Potential?" Xiao Wangsheng seemed to have some difficulty understanding what Li Fan said.

"In the Dynasty, it's true that occasionally one or two individuals appear who cannot fully perceive Shan Hai. However, firstly, we, the Shan Hai Sacrifices, help them recover. Secondly, the Dynasty has billions of people; even if a few were missing, it wouldn't make much difference."

"On the other hand, I've never heard of widespread disability occurring within a single possibility..."

It was no wonder Xiao Wangsheng kept referring to them as "disabled." After all, from his perspective, someone who couldn't achieve synchronous sensation with all their selves across different possibilities was essentially no different from being "disabled."

Li Fan didn't refute him, but instead pondered, "If spirituality is considered a quantifiable resource, then the people of the Yichao Dynasty possessed a spiritual level that, on average, far surpassed that of current Shan Hai beings."

"Both were nurtured within Shan Hai, yet there's such a disparity..."

"It seems that Shan Hai itself has gradually suffered immense damage during the Daoyan Calamity."

Li Fan didn't continue discussing the topic with Xiao Wangsheng, instead turning to consult him about matters to pay attention to after entering the Beyond.

"Aside from our ultimate goal of encouraging the Immortals of the Beyond to support the Star Gaze Project, it's best not to conceal anything else. This includes even your origins, Brother Xiao..."

"Even though it's an age of declining dharma, eroded by Daoyan, the possibilities within Shan Hai are still endless, and anything can happen. A survivor of an ancient civilization like you, Brother Xiao, is certainly not particularly rare. As for the people of the Yichao Dynasty, none survived except you, Brother Xiao. As long as you don't reveal any flaws, there's no need to worry about our secrets being exposed."

"Those who can reach the Beyond are all exceptionally talented, possessing great perseverance and broad perspectives. Their views cannot be easily overturned or changed in a short time. It might take a considerably long period to see results. Brother Xiao, do not be impatient..." Li Fan tirelessly advised.

"Rest assured, my friend, I still possess that much composure," Xiao Wangsheng said gravely.

Li Fan wasn't genuinely considering Xiao Wangsheng; he was merely looking for an excuse to buy himself time. The considerable effort spent "reviving" Xiao Wangsheng was precisely to gain an extra layer of security upon reaching the Beyond.

He had once sparred with Xiao Wangsheng. As expected, Xiao Wangsheng was a powerful being who had already mutated and become Shan Hai-aligned in ancient times. Even if the current Xiao Wangsheng was merely a fragmented remnant, his strength was not to be underestimated.

Even igniting the True Spirit Fire of possibilities could hardly harm him in the slightest. In Xiao Wangsheng's own words, only a catastrophe involving the large-scale collapse and destruction of Shan Hai itself could truly threaten him. Or, alternatively, a powerful force like "Star," which transcends Shan Hai.

Beyond that, standing within Shan Hai, he was almost invincible.

"In the past, most of the Shan Hai Sacrifices weren't particularly skilled in combat techniques," Xiao Wangsheng explained. "This was because within Shan Hai, there was simply no one who could stand against them. A single thought was enough to eliminate a target. Why would they need to study any special techniques?"

"This is truly 'one force conquering all methods'!" After trying various methods and failing to pose any threat to Xiao Wangsheng, Li Fan said with some emotion.

Although Xiao Wangsheng had nothing to teach Li Fan regarding techniques or divine abilities, their occasional sparring, as beings Shan Hai-aligned, greatly honed Li Fan's adaptability when facing Shan Hai. Gradually, the roaring sounds emanating from the continuous Shan Hai became less jarring to the mind. Li Fan, too, gradually became able to calmly observe the mountains and the sea, much like Old Man Shouqiu.

In fact, during the years the True Spirit Dispersal Project was implemented, as the ethereal Xuanhuang Immortal Skiff's footprint covered almost every corner of Shan Hai, Li Fan's strength increased exponentially every day, to an unbelievable degree. His own consciousness now covered one percent of the current Shan Hai. Although he hadn't yet reached the state of "All Selves Unified," he was not far from the concept of a true "Transcendent" expert within the Beyond.

This was because Li Fan was different from other powerful individuals who followed the path of "All Selves Unified." For beings like Black Sky Healer and Xie Subai, their other selves across different possibilities varied in strength. The stronger ones might achieve the realm of an unnamed True Immortal, while the weaker ones might not even reach the True Immortal realm. After all, amidst the rampant Daoyan Calamity, the destruction of the Immortal Realm and the severance of the path to immortality were highly probable. Swallowing other selves who had not become True Immortals would result in extremely limited improvement.

But for Li Fan, the ethereal selves he had secretly dispersed each possessed at least a certain level of strength, no weaker than a True Immortal, providing a guaranteed minimum. Especially with the support of the unique structure of the Myriad Aspect Dao Net, he could even instantly lend a portion of his main body's power to his ethereal selves far across Shan Hai. Moreover, these ethereal selves, residing in different possibilities, could also continue to cultivate by plundering resources within their respective possibilities. Improvements at individual points led to overall enhancement. It could be said that if Li Fan hadn't deliberately hidden his true strength, his current rate of power increase would have been several times faster.

This was the highly efficient cultivation achieved through unified will and coordination, similar to the people of the Yichao Dynasty. The increase in strength accumulated with every breath was something that could not be achieved even by spending tens of millions of years in a single possibility.

"This is also why the Transcendent Realm represents a true qualitative change compared to an ordinary unnamed True Immortal. It allows one to transform the infinite nature of Shan Hai itself into a part of one's own foundation..."

Li Fan recalled his initial encounters with Xie Subai and Black Sky Healer; it was truly like an ant seeing the bright moon. "No wonder Transcendent beings are so indifferent to matters within a single possibility."

"Everything you see is merely an insignificant part of my vision."

However, Li Fan also noticed a clear limit to this rapid enhancement achieved by leveraging Shan Hai's infinite possibilities. Once this limit was crossed, the improvements gained from expanding into new possibilities would rapidly diminish. And now, Li Fan had officially touched this limit. This is why, after dispersing his ethereal selves to approximately one percent of Shan Hai, satisfying the requirement to ignite the True Spirit Grand Fire at any time, Li Fan abandoned further expansion and instead turned his attention to the true reason for the Beyond's evolution.

"To advance further, reaching the Saint realm like Old Man Shouqiu, capable of traversing the Eternal Void, I don't know what methods are needed." Regarding this, Li Fan's knowledge was still completely blank. He probably wouldn't know the answer until he reached the Beyond.

Although his strength had made a leap, Li Fan did not lose himself in arrogance. He clearly realized that the method he employed was purely opportunistic. Compared to the "All Selves Unified" path of the Immortals in the Beyond, his foundation could be described as extremely unstable. At the very least, for beings like Black Sky Healer and Xie Subai, even if Shan Hai collapsed and most possibilities were annihilated, their strength would not be harmed in the slightest.

But for Li Fan, with the disappearance of each possibility where his ethereal self resided, his strength would be diminished. It wouldn't even require the Daoyan Calamity to affect him; if a Transcendent being were to act and perform targeted purges on possibilities one by one, then Li Fan would almost instantly be reverted to his original state. One wouldn't even need to confront Li Fan directly to severely wound him. Furthermore, apart from igniting Shan Hai and perishing together, Li Fan could find no other counter-measure.

"The Transcendent whose strength grows the fastest is also the Transcendent most easily killed," Li Fan thought, mockingly.

In addition, what made Li Fan most aware of his true capabilities was that none of this could be preserved or recorded by "Return to Truth." "'Return to Truth' only exists within my main body. Even with the added function of the Dao Origin, it's still limited to a corner of the Xuanhuang Immortal Skiff."

"Once I 'Return to Truth,' this grand vision I've spent endless years building will vanish in an instant."

"I would have to accumulate it all again."

"My true strength is merely that of a Transcendent who has adapted to the turbulence within Shan Hai." This was the predicament Li Fan currently faced, a predicament that even the awakening of "Return to Truth" could not resolve.

"So many years of accumulation are only enough for one splurge. Therefore, I must maximize the advantages brought by this current powerful strength."

"I even need to borrow strength from others, leveraging it as much as possible." Li Fan subtly glanced at Xiao Wangsheng beside him. Then, he followed his line of sight.

"I hope to find other unowned Transcendent True Intents in the Beyond."

"Only when 'Return to Truth' awakens will I have my true reliance."

It was unclear whether Li Fan simply had bad luck, or if Transcendent True Intents were truly too rare. The Xuanhuang Immortal Skiff had spread across one percent of Shan Hai. Yet, apart from the initial Solitary Sail of Shan Hai, Li Fan had not found any other Transcendent True Intents. Thus, despite the long years, the awakening of "Return to Truth" remained a distant prospect. Clearly, this injury to "Return to Truth" could not be healed by time alone. It required nourishment from external forces.

"More likely, powerful beings in the Beyond regularly patrol Shan Hai, actively collecting and retrieving unowned Transcendent True Intents. That's why I've found nothing." Recalling the caution with which Zi Yi put away the Solitary Sail in his previous life, Li Fan couldn't help but think this.

"My friend, look ahead!" Xiao Wangsheng suddenly exclaimed amidst the long silence.

Li Fan didn't need the reminder; he already knew, thanks to the immense tremors experienced by the Xuanhuang Immortal Skiff. The Beyond was not far now. Just as waves become more pronounced the closer one gets to the shore, due to the presence of the Beyond, the impact of Daoyan here in Shan Hai was far greater than in other regions.

The Xuanhuang Immortal Skiff hadn't experienced such violent swaying in a long time. Fortunately, Li Fan had refined it to be sturdy enough not to disintegrate in these turbulent waves.

Li Fan stood at the prow, gazing into the distance. A massive wall of light stretched across his vision. Li Fan was certain that he had never seen such a wall of light in Shan Hai before. It had only appeared suddenly after the Xuanhuang Skiff passed through the Daoyan waves. Li Fan extended his hand, feeling the warm radiance emanating from the wall of light, and felt a faint sense of familiarity. During his journeys through Shan Hai, although he hadn't observed the existence of the Beyond's light wall, its radiance had indeed shone in almost every corner of Shan Hai.

It was formless and intangible. Before Li Fan saw the Beyond, he couldn't have realized its pervasive presence. Only now, truly witnessing the Beyond and recalling what he had seen and heard before, could he retrospectively comprehend it.

"Only with knowledge can one perceive; without it, one sees nothing."

"This method feels somewhat familiar..." Li Fan almost instantly thought of the numerous relics left by Sun Piaomiao. The methods Sun Piaomiao used to conceal his secrets bore an extreme resemblance to the nature of the Beyond's radiance.

As Li Fan's thoughts churned, the Xuanhuang Immortal Skiff continued forward. Once they were sufficiently close to the light wall, the surrounding winds and waves suddenly calmed down in an instant. As if traversing empty space, just as the Xuanhuang Immortal Skiff was about to collide with the Beyond's light wall, a clear female voice suddenly rang out.

"Wait."

Within the light wall, overlapping shadows appeared. A gigantic eye quietly emerged, staring intently at the Xuanhuang Immortal Skiff and the countless beings within it. The Immortal Skiff's forward momentum was blocked, and it came to a halt.

Li Fan's expression remained unchanged as he spoke loudly, "This junior has endured countless hardships, searched throughout Shan Hai, and finally reached the land of the Beyond. Has this junior committed any offense? Why does senior block my path?"

"To be able to reach this place indicates qualification to join the Beyond. However... others are always alone, solitary figures. For someone like you, bringing an entire household, this is a first for Shan Hai."

"The Path of Carrying Boats, huh... I need to inquire about this." The giant eye, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, disappeared from the light wall after a brief reply.

Li Fan assumed a posture of patient waiting, but in reality, ripples had already begun to stir in his heart. At first, he hadn't recognized it. Only after the eye spoke more did Li Fan realize with a start that its voice was somewhat familiar. It was ninety percent similar to "Hunger Immortal"!

"Could it be that I've run into an acquaintance right after arriving in the Beyond?"

"Thankfully, the Hunger Immortal, sealed as a sky pillar within the Xuanhuang Immortal Skiff, I had already given to Xie Subai. Otherwise, I would likely have been in for some trouble."

Xiao Wangsheng, unaware of Li Fan's inner thoughts, simply stared at the light wall. After a long while, he suddenly transmitted, "My friend, this light wall... it has significance."

"Oh? Please tell me, Brother Xiao."

"When I look at this light wall, it's as if I'm seeing the Shan Hai Sacrifices of old," Xiao Wangsheng whispered. "Or rather, seeing Shan Hai itself."

Upon hearing this, Li Fan couldn't help but narrow his eyes. However, with his current perception, he still couldn't discern the form of Shan Hai within it.

Xiao Wangsheng continued, "If I'm not mistaken, this light wall is formed by the combined power of many beings Shan Hai-aligned. Some of them are in slumber, but most are still active. Only... they don't seem to be within this particular Shan Hai."

"Regardless, the foundation of the Beyond is considerably stronger than I had imagined."

Li Fan and Xiao Wangsheng waited for a long time at the prow of the Immortal Skiff. It wasn't until thirty days and nights had passed within the Xuanhuang Immortal Realm that the Hunger Immortal's eye reappeared.

"Although your situation is highly complex, the Sages have discussed it and still permit your entry into the Beyond."