Chapter 1597: Deceiving the Saint with Method

Crisp bell chimes resonated in Li Fan's ears, lingering like echoes around rafters, long and unending.

Since entering the Other Shore, a series of strange occurrences had unfolded: the secret of infinite spirituality was discovered, True Self was stripped away, and in a state of despair and confusion, he realized it was all a simulation. All the intense emotions brought forth by these events quietly faded with each peal of the bell. Li Fan's heart settled into a tranquility he hadn't experienced in a long time. Even the faint joy of discovering this transcendent truth and finally having hope of escaping the simulation vanished. Absolute calm, unmixed with any personal emotion, allowed for a more comprehensive and rational analysis.

“Kalpa Steadfast Mind…”

As the bell chimed, the name of this ancient bronze bell surfaced in Li Fan's mind. Along with it came endless flashes of light and shadow, depicting the life and deeds of this transcendent master. After reviewing them, Li Fan couldn't help but exclaim, “His life was like a smooth plain, without any significant setbacks. From Foundation Establishment to Dao Integration, from True Immortal to Nameless. Every setback, every tribulation, this person overcame with calm composure and steady steps.”

“Even after leaving his original possibility, when faced with the continuous waves of Dao Annihilation in the Infinite Mountains and Seas, he remained as still as an ancient well. Even at the most critical moments, when Dao Annihilation had already consumed most of his body, he maintained that composure.”

“In truth, this person also possessed emotions and desires, but with immense self-control, he resolved all distracting thoughts. Many tribulations only served to strengthen his steadfast mind…”

Slowly opening his eyes, Li Fan emerged from the immersive light and shadow, his expression solemn as he said, “Detached from worldly things, without self or nature. In this, I am not his equal!”

“Fan Wunian…” Engraving the name of this fallen transcendent master into his mind, Li Fan carefully put away the Kalpa Steadfast Mind Ancient Bell, preparing to return to the Other Shore.

This time, journeying to the Other Shore would not require him to search aimlessly through the mountains and seas like a headless fly, as he had before. Having already visited the Other Shore and received the Nine Saints' recognition, he could now vaguely perceive its silhouette from any corner of the mountains and seas by gazing towards the heavens. It was like a great sun in the sky, radiating endless warm light. Li Fan only needed to follow the light, and he would soon return to the Other Shore.

Li Fan leaped back into the mountains and seas. Looking back, the original possibility had become precarious due to the demise of many True Immortals, on the verge of being swallowed by Dao Annihilation at any moment.

“The outcome is irrelevant.”

Li Fan felt no ripple of emotion, and without looking back, he flew towards the Other Shore. Under the impact of the immense waves he stirred while crossing the Dao Annihilation, the already precarious possibility completely collapsed. Countless beings and True Immortals were annihilated in that instant. But this was merely an insignificant ripple in the vast expanse of the mountains and seas.

The Kalpa Steadfast Mind sent out chimes that clashed with the waves of Dao Annihilation. The Dao Annihilation seemed to hit an invisible barrier, all of it repelled. Li Fan strode atop the waves, free and uninhibited. Even without the aid of the Xuanhuang Immortal Boat for this crossing, it was far smoother than Li Fan's first journey through the mountains and seas. Gone was the lonely, cold feeling of being far from the mortal world. Even when facing the threat of Dao Annihilation, Li Fan remained calm. It seemed that Dao Annihilation was no longer a fatal crisis for him, but rather a series of immense opportunities!

“Once I escape this simulation and return to reality, I must immediately acquire this Kalpa Steadfast Mind Ancient Bell. Even among the myriad stone tablets in the boundless forest of the mountains and seas, this transcendent truth is definitely of the highest quality.”

“I just wonder how Fan Wunian perished in the first place.”

With the ancient bell's power assisting him, Li Fan's return speed was much faster than anticipated. As he rapidly traversed the mountains and seas, he constantly felt the warm glow of the Other Shore shining upon him. It not only guided his direction but also increased his speed across the Dao Annihilation.

“This must be the Immeasurable Light Chain.”

“The faster I traverse, the greater the auxiliary effect of the light chain.”

“The scroll of mountains and seas I vaguely saw within the light chain that day was likely penned only by a Saint. Its power permeates the mountains and seas…”

This journey through the mountains and seas further solidified Li Fan's inner conviction. The Nine Saints, and the Other Shore they guarded, had, in a sense, surpassed the mountains and seas.

“However, this only applies to the segment of the mountains and seas where I currently reside.”

“From what I know of the illusory image of the River of Time in the Other Shore, this segment of the mountains and seas, from beginning to end, would not exceed 500,000 years at most. This is but a drop in the ocean compared to the vast age of the mountains and seas.”

“The complete mountains and seas are infinitely more powerful than the segment we inhabit. Yet, even they were shattered by the tribulation of Dao Annihilation.”

“To completely resolve the calamity of Dao Annihilation, even the Nine Saints are powerless,” Li Fan realized.

Time holds no sway in the mountains and seas.

When Li Fan returned to the Other Shore, the collapse of the possibility where the Kalpa Steadfast Mind Ancient Bell resided had only just occurred within the illusory image of the River of Time. Li Fan clearly saw that due to the appearance of that ripple, the course of the surging river underwent an extremely subtle change. Countless possibilities were affected. But it perfectly aligned with the four words: 'The outcome is irrelevant.' At the beginning and end of the long river, two pitch-black abysses still stood silently. They remained unchanged, no matter how the river flowed incessantly.

Taking a deep breath, Li Fan proceeded to the Boundless Forest of Mountains and Seas. With some reluctance, he handed over the Kalpa Steadfast Mind Ancient Bell, saying, “It’s a pity True Self is not with me now. Otherwise, by leveraging the ability of ‘Following One’s Heart Transformation,’ I could have mastered its power myself.”

As the ancient bell left his hand, as if sensing the myriad transcendent truths above it that were similar to itself, it instantly radiated a faint green glow and ascended. Chimes reverberated through the tablet forest, rousing countless stone tablets to glow in unison. Suddenly, a finger descended from the sky. It gently pressed upon the ancient bell. The bell's chimes were instantly solidified, and then the green ancient bell transformed into a stone tablet, flying into the myriad boundless forest. The phantom finger vanished, leaving only lingering echoes.

Li Fan then chose to hand over the Solitary Sail of Mountains and Seas. Compared to the Kalpa Steadfast Mind, the commotion caused by this solitary sail was much smaller. Only a small number of surrounding transcendent stone tablets resonated, and no finger descended from the sky to suppress it. The solitary sail flew into the boundless forest, spontaneously transforming into a stone tablet.

After handing over the two transcendent truths, a piece of information flashed through Li Fan's mind. His accumulated “merit” was now sufficient for a single audience with the Saints!

The so-called merit in the Other Shore had no specific quantitative data, but its utility was indeed considerable. Besides being able to meet the Saints, its primary use was to exchange for a one-time “privilege” in various areas of the Other Shore. For instance, in the Boundless Forest of Mountains and Seas, one could, by the will of the Saints, find the transcendent truth stone tablet most likely to lead to renewed enlightenment and enjoy exclusive access to its insights for a period. Another example: using the observation capabilities of the Cycle of Birth and Death Tide Hub to experience the Void of Eternal Silence up close. After all, if one were to truly become trapped within it without sufficient power, there might not even be time for regret before one's life and cultivation were extinguished. However, through observation via the Cycle of Birth and Death Tide Hub, one could, to some extent, ascertain how much further they needed to progress to successfully cross the Void of Eternal Silence.

Beyond its various uses within the Other Shore, merit could also be exchanged for wondrous items from other factions. For example, the Great Saintly Fortune Medicine refined by Emperor Taiwei!

“The so-called Great Saintly Fortune Medicine is, in essence, no different from the loquats and white peony roots I encountered before. However, the ingredients used for refining are not the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, but rather the fortune of the Sacred Dynasty! The Sacred Dynasty stretches continuously, spanning the mountains and seas, and its accumulated vast fortune is said to even aid in achieving Sainthood.”

“The Great Saintly Fortune Medicine is not easy to refine; even Emperor Taiwei has limited stock. The portions available for exchange with Other Shore merit are naturally those acquired by the Saints through a certain cost from the Emperor. Furthermore, the Saints have explicitly stated that what can be exchanged with merit is not a complete portion of the Great Saintly Fortune Medicine, but rather pills they have divided into nine parts. Even so, the immortals of the Other Shore eagerly flock to this sacred medicine…”

“If not for the urgent priority of escaping this simulation, I probably would have chosen to accumulate more merit and exchange for a saintly medicine to try,” Li Fan suppressed his burgeoning desire and connected his divine sense to the Immeasurable Light Chain.

Perhaps due to the blessing of the merit he possessed, the scroll of mountains and seas Li Fan now saw was clearer than before. It distinctly depicted the continuous landscape of mountains and seas. And the massive orb of light leaping above the mountains and seas symbolized the Other Shore! As Li Fan's divine sense made contact with this light orb, his personal information began to surface. His past experiences, and even his thoughts and feelings at that very moment, were all meticulously cataloged.

At this moment, Li Fan felt as if he was back in that instant when he was thoroughly scrutinized by the Saints. Even knowing it was a simulation, an unnamable surge of anger rose within him again. But clearly, it was not the time for a tantrum. Li Fan forcefully suppressed his anger, and only after all his information had been fully displayed did he look at the merit data. A white halo, resembling the Nine Saints' ring, represented one unit of merit. The merit Li Fan obtained from recovering the two transcendent truths combined amounted to just over one unit.

“Exchange for an audience with the Saints.”

After confirmation, the white halo instantly dimmed. At the same time, Li Fan realized he could now meet the Saints at any moment.

“True Self says it’s a simulation, but it’s virtually indistinguishable from what actually happens in the mountains and seas.”

“Only my infinite spirituality and True Self's own involvement would cause things to happen beyond the simulation's tolerance. This is my opportunity to escape.”

“Now that True Self is controlled by the Nine Saints, its influence is deliberately blurred. To break this impasse…”

Li Fan mentally re-evaluated his already decided plan. Even with ninety-nine percent confidence that the plan would succeed, as the moment drew near, he still felt some hesitation.

“If the plan fails, I'll likely be humiliated by the Nine Saints again. Meeting them next time would be much harder. I might even be killed on the spot by them…”

His expression wavered, and at the crucial moment of taking this final step, Li Fan actually hesitated. Firstly, the psychological trauma inflicted by the Nine Saints earlier was too great and had not yet subsided. Secondly, Li Fan had now completely lost True Self's protection. If he were to perish in the simulation, he would truly die in reality, no different from an ordinary transcendent cultivator. When faced with the Saints' might and an action that could endanger his life, it was natural to be hesitant.

But Li Fan did not hesitate for long. As if the soft chimes of the Kalpa Steadfast Mind Ancient Bell echoed in his ears again, Li Fan's expression slowly grew resolute.

“After long deliberation, this is the only way to escape this simulation.”

“Besides, there's such a high probability of success. How could I be so afraid!” Li Fan chuckled, scoffing at himself.

“When I first entered Grand Xuan, as a mortal without any rare treasures, I wasn't so timid!”

“Audience with the Saints!” Li Fan declared, looking towards the sky above the Other Shore with unwavering resolve.

As if deities from the high heavens cast their gaze upon him, the scene before Li Fan instantly transformed. Below lay the continuous mountains and seas, above hung a solitary star. And before him, the Nine Saints in their halos!

The nine figures remained silent, merely observing Li Fan. Li Fan took a deep breath, calming his emotions. Then he asked in a deep voice, “Dare I ask, Saints, do you truly wish to save the mountains and seas?”

“We sacrifice our lives, pressing onward to the Void of Eternal Silence, precisely to save the mountains and seas from Dao Annihilation. If we can even abandon our own lives, how can you say we are unwilling?” a Saint's voice calmly replied.

“Dare I ask again, Saints, is True Self still here?” Li Fan asked emphatically, sweeping his gaze across the nine surrounding Saints.

True Self's simulation was based on reality. Even if True Self's influence could be obscured, True Self would only appear where it was meant to be. The Nine Saints, having obtained True Self, would not possibly hand it over to others. Ripples appeared around the figures of the Nine Saints. However, they eventually replied, “It is.”

“If True Self is here, why not use it to save the mountains and seas?” Li Fan challenged. “A hundred years have passed; have the Saints used True Self even once?”

As this question left his lips, Li Fan's heart felt as if it were lodged in his throat. He feared the Saints would grow furious and exact punishment, or that they would reply that True Self had been activated several times already, and he simply wasn't aware. But to his relief, the Saints responded with silence.

Li Fan secretly rejoiced and pressed on while the iron was hot, “With the supreme treasure True Self in hand, why ignore it and leave it unused?”

“Is it because the Saints are merely remnants of will, lacking the necessary sentience to utilize it?”

Without waiting for the Saints to reply, Li Fan, with a solemn expression, cupped his hands in a bow and slowly declared, “If that is the case, then I, Li Fan, am willing to offer my infinite spirituality for the Saints to wield, in order to save the mountains and seas!”

His voice, like thunder, reverberated within the halos, long and unceasing. The figures of the Nine Saints trembled, as if struck by a tsunami, shaking continuously. This time, the Saints could no longer respond with silence. Li Fan's demand was righteous and awe-inspiring. He was even willing to sacrifice himself to enable the Saints to use True Self.

If this were reality, then the Saints would undoubtedly proceed to extract Li Fan's infinite spirituality and utilize True Self, step by step saving the mountains and seas.

However… this was within True Self's simulation!