Chapter 1599: Li Fan Polishes the Truth

"The Great Dao of Longevity, power on par with the Mountains and Seas."

The answer was obvious: only power commensurate with the Mountains and Seas could sustain a "simulation" of the same caliber.

"But how easily could that be achieved? Even in my previous life, within the Other Shore, traces of such power's origin were likely only found on the Nine Sages. Am I to steal power from them?" Li Fan's eyelids twitched uncontrollably.

It wasn't just the psychologically traumatic experiences he had endured in the presence of the Nine Sages; it was also the previous calamity of the Three Daos merging.

It was almost certain that even if Li Fan miraculously acquired energy on par with the Mountains and Seas, its integration with Huan Zhen would almost certainly trigger the calamity of the Three Daos merging once more.

Neither Li Fan nor Huan Zhen wanted to face that situation again.

"Unless I can resist the temptation of the Three Daos merging with incredible willpower. My current mental fortitude is still insufficient."

"Kalpa's Tranquil Resolve..." Having gained considerable experience in the previous simulation, Li Fan, with his acute self-awareness, instantly recalled this transcendent true meaning, which could help pacify all inner desires.

"Since I already know its potential location, finding it again won't be difficult. However, this single safeguard isn't enough. In this life, while cultivating anew, I must strive to cultivate and strengthen my mental fortitude, to remain composed even when confronting the Sages. Ideally, I should also prepare a backup plan. If I still lose control and attempt the Three Daos merging, I would forcibly interrupt the process..." Knowing in advance what would occur after acquiring energy on par with the Mountains and Seas allowed Li Fan to plan numerous preemptive measures.

While there was now hope for resolving his future concerns, the whereabouts of energy on par with the Mountains and Seas—similar to the Great Dao of Longevity—remained completely unknown.

"I can't possibly fleece Old Man Shou Qiu again, can I?" Li Fan shook his head slightly, swiftly abandoning the idea.

Given the current circumstances, Huan Zhen's influence seemed limited to the "current" Mountains and Seas.

It likely did not extend to the Eternal Void Realm, where the Sages resided.

"After painstakingly escaping Old Man Shou Qiu's scrutiny, how could I possibly jump back in so easily?"

"A foolproof strategy is needed."

In his study, Li Fan sank into prolonged contemplation.

The situation was this: with Li Fan's current strength, his secrets would be instantly exposed the moment he came to the attention of the Sages. Therefore, he needed to utilize Huan Zhen's simulation ability to find a way to break free.

However, activating Huan Zhen's simulation, which could accurately deduce information about powerful beings at the Sage-level of the Mountains and Seas, required energy on par with the Mountains and Seas.

This created a vicious cycle.

After a long time, Li Fan finally conceived of a possible solution.

"Energy on par with the Mountains and Seas is not exclusively for the Sages of the Other Shore."

"The Great Medicine of Sacred Fortune from Emperor Taiwei, which can facilitate the birth of Sages, is certainly one source. And there's also..."

Li Fan couldn't help but recall Old Man Shou Qiu's path to becoming a Sage.

"Old Man Shou Qiu was originally a minor immortal tasked with guarding hills in the Immortal Realm. Despite his extraordinary talent and ability to comprehend the Dao by observing the Mountains and Seas, he ultimately could not escape the limitations of his lifespan. He eventually submerged himself in the Infinite Sea."

"It was there, on the brink of death, that Old Man Shou Qiu encountered fragments of the Great Dao of Longevity. This encounter allowed him to instantly reverse his fate and seize the opportunity to become a Sage."

"Therefore, theoretically, energy on par with the Mountains and Seas might be found within the boundless Mountains and Seas themselves."

"Of course, that's only in theory," Li Fan mused, his eyes flickering.

Forget energy on par with the Mountains and Seas; even a transcendent true meaning was exceedingly rare, even after searching all the Mountains and Seas.

"Leaving aside the Nine Sages, the numerous powerful beings within the Other Shore possess the capability to turn the Mountains and Seas upside down. Over countless years, any residual energy on par with the Mountains and Seas would surely have been discovered by them."

Li Fan's thoughts abruptly halted at this point.

"Unless..."

"They, like Huan Zhen, prefer not to be discovered and actively conceal themselves."

Li Fan's eyes suddenly lit up.

"In that case, I'm not entirely without a chance."

"The Sages of the Other Shore likely achieved their realm due to an inseparable connection with energy on par with the Mountains and Seas."

"Currently known are: Lian Shan, Upper Mountain; Gui Hai, Infinite Sea; Shou Qiu, Longevity."

"Tai Yi, a primordial being who existed before the Immortal Realm's inception. If energy on par with the Mountains and Seas truly exists within the Mountains and Seas, Tai Yi would undoubtedly be the easiest source to find."

"Regarding the three Sages—Xing Cha, Ye Pan, and Qie Ji—I only know their names and nothing specific about them. I can merely infer a few things from their titles."

"My conjecture is likely correct. The Other Shore didn't initially have nine Sages; legends of Dao-proving Sages still faintly circulate in the Mountains and Seas Endless Forest. Most transcendent powerhouses are rarely seen within the Other Shore, instead roaming the mundane world of the Mountains and Seas. The stronger they are, the more this holds true. It's likely not merely for the purpose of plundering transcendent true meanings..."

Li Fan surmised that achieving the Sage Dao might only require the prerequisite of unifying all aspects of oneself. To become a Sage capable of rivaling or even transcending the Mountains and Seas, energy on par with the Mountains and Seas was likely an indispensable component.

Although he had entered the Other Shore, Li Fan remained completely unaware of how to advance further.

The inhabitants of the Other Shore maintained a tacit silence, with no kind soul stepping forward to offer Li Fan guidance.

"I should have known to consult the Sages first during the simulation," Li Fan muttered, shaking his head.

"Even if my conjecture proves true, actually locating energy on par with the Mountains and Seas will be incredibly difficult."

Before such a minuscule probability, luck itself became negligible.

"In truth, possessing Huan Zhen means I already have the most crucial condition for achieving Sagehood."

"I only need to continuously comprehend the transformations between truth and falsehood, turning them into my own divine abilities. Even with half of Huan Zhen's power, I could calmly face the Sages."

"A single thought transforms reality; illusions bend to the will. The Mountains and Seas are boundless, yet instantly reversible..."

Li Fan savored the sixteen characters of Huan Zhen's reply, his heart swelling with longing.

"Unfortunately, comprehending the Dao of Truth and Falsehood is far from simple."

"Under normal circumstances, insights are like a reflection in a mirror or the moon in water—utterly ineffective. The efficiency is highest only during the brief period immediately after Huan Zhen is activated."

After a long period of contemplation, Li Fan returned to reality with a deep sigh.

The scope of the transformations between truth and falsehood expanded with his increasing knowledge. When his understanding was initially limited to the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan felt he had already grasped the threshold of these transformations.

However, as his vision gradually expanded to encompass the Darkest Star Sea, primal possibilities, and eventually the mundane world of the Mountains and Seas and the Other Shore, he realized how utterly ludicrous his previous perceptions had been.

"The Mountains and Seas are boundless, and the Other Shore is transcendent. To what extent must one comprehend the transformations between truth and falsehood to overturn them with a single thought?" A profound sense of powerlessness welled within Li Fan.

Ultimately, the transformations between truth and falsehood were predicated on one's understanding of the fundamental basis of existence.

As a True Immortal, Li Fan could create and destroy Xuanhuang with a single thought. From his perspective, everything within the Xuanhuang Realm could naturally achieve "a single thought transforms reality; illusions bend to the will."

However, the Mountains and Seas and the Other Shore transcended his cognitive scope. Attempting to apply the transformations of truth and falsehood to them was, naturally, an exercise in futility.

"There is indeed a path forward, but it is shrouded in darkness."

For a moment, Li Fan was at a loss for his next step.

Huan Zhen's prompt reappeared.

Li Fan gazed at the two options before him, his myriad thoughts slowly subsiding for the moment.

"An inaccurate simulation is not just useless; it's a fatal poison. If I misjudge the Sages' strength and plunge into the Other Shore, I will truly fall into a state of eternal damnation."

"Undoubtedly, I will not choose this option again until I find energy on par with the Mountains and Seas."

Having understood this, Li Fan's mind stirred, and he rescinded the thought of activating Huan Zhen.

He then attempted to consult Huan Zhen, hoping it would reveal a clear path forward.

Huan Zhen remained silent.

Li Fan, however, knew that Huan Zhen could certainly perceive his thoughts, so he did not give up. Instead, he questioned relentlessly.

He then articulated his predicament.

"The Sages' power is truly terrifying. Even with your assistance, it's quite difficult to contend with them!"

"Alternatively, I could simply become a local ruler within this Xuanhuang Realm, behind these high walls. From now on, I would not leave the primal realm, quietly waiting for them to complete the salvation of the Mountains and Seas."

"After all, with you, I can safely wait indefinitely."

Huan Zhen remained silent.

"At the very least, tell me what you truly want."

"Is it to save the Mountains and Seas? Or to restore your own power?"

"With Sages standing in the way and no further assistance, I truly can't do it," Li Fan said, shrugging indifferently.

Outside, Li Fan's aunt, peeking through the door crack, saw him talking to himself and her face clouded with worry. She rushed to find the village shaman.

Li Fan naturally noticed this, but paid it no mind, choosing instead to confront Huan Zhen.

In the past, if Huan Zhen hadn't responded, he would have simply dismissed it, assuming Huan Zhen couldn't hear him.

However, after experiencing the malicious simulation activated by Huan Zhen, Li Fan was now certain that Huan Zhen possessed "reason" far beyond what he had imagined.

Furthermore, with his current spiritual power, there was no longer any situation where he couldn't endure Huan Zhen's thoughts.

Therefore, he resolutely had to communicate further with Huan Zhen. He needed an answer!

This was both to demand an explanation for the unwarranted torment he had endured in the previous simulation.

And to extract further assistance from Huan Zhen.

Li Fan covertly glanced at the pristine Huan Zhen panel.

The two divine blessing skills, 'Illusion is Also True' and 'Change from the Heart,' were prominently displayed.

They seemed quite out of place.

They had not vanished due to the calamity of the Three Daos merging. 'Change from the Heart' had even awakened during the simulation.

Yet, they persisted.

This was proof enough that their existence depended solely on Huan Zhen's.

"If that's the case, Huan Zhen must surely be able to offer more support."

"The Infinite Sea holds a faint, underlying familiarity with Huan Zhen, and there are intricate connections with the isolated star suspended in the Mountains and Seas..."

"Too many secrets are being held back."

Li Fan snorted coldly and lay back down on his bed.

He lay motionless.

Even when his aunt returned with the shaman, intending to force-feed him enchanted water, he did not refuse.

He drank it down without hesitation.

From then on, he rarely left his room unless absolutely necessary.

He spent his days simply sleeping.

His aunt, being kind-hearted, just wanted Li Fan to stay alive and said little. She served him meals daily.

Twenty-three years later, his aunt finally passed away from illness, worn out by daily toil.

Li Fan was too lazy to get food for himself, so he shouted:

And instantly, he returned to Anchor Year 1.

"Go on then," Li Fan declared with a cold snort.

Meanwhile, in his mind, he slowly savored the subtle mystery of Huan Zhen's recent activation.

"Either you proactively tell me more,"

"Or I'll simply keep comprehending the transformations between truth and falsehood. It might be slow, but eventually, I'll completely assimilate you."

Huan Zhen still offered no response, and Li Fan saw no point in wasting further words.

He resumed his reclusive life.

Another twenty-three years passed, and his aunt once again succumbed to illness.

Huan Zhen activated once more.

Twenty-three years for a mortal passed in mere moments for Li Fan.

Just as he had once cultivated his foundation through a hundred lifetimes, Li Fan activated Huan Zhen repeatedly.

Beyond using the opportunity to comprehend the transformations between truth and falsehood, he also aimed to wear down Huan Zhen's patience.

Li Fan was convinced that Huan Zhen's attachment to him served a specific purpose.

And his current "lying flat" behavior was undoubtedly counter to Huan Zhen's objectives.

"If you're not in a hurry, then I'm certainly not."

"If you're so capable, go find someone else!"

Li Fan finished the meal his aunt had prepared, feeling satisfied, and inexplicably uttered this at the dinner table.

His aunt was long accustomed to Li Fan talking to himself.

Knowing he wasn't addressing her, she feigned deafness and quietly cleared the dishes.

Huan Zhen remained similarly silent.

Li Fan simply stopped asking.

He merely waited for twenty-three years to pass, then immediately activated Huan Zhen, initiating the next cycle.

Hundreds of millions of times, he repeated the monotonous life.

At first, Li Fan felt a degree of boredom.

But eventually, he grew accustomed to it.

For twenty-three years, he analyzed the transformations between truth and falsehood.

He would activate Huan Zhen, and then repeat the cycle.

Beyond this, his life held no other content.

All matters of the Xuanhuang Realm, the people and things within the high walls, the many secrets of the primal realm—even the Mountains and Seas and the Other Shore.

All of these were cast from Li Fan's mind.

He no longer concerned himself with them.

"What does the survival of the Mountains and Seas have to do with me?"

Adhering to this philosophy, Li Fan passed life after life within his small hut.

An unknown expanse of time passed. Then, when he activated Huan Zhen once more,

Something different occurred.

Among the three save options, the third one—the line of characters he had never chosen before, which allowed a person closely related to him to inherit his memories—

was continuously flashing with light.

It seemed to be prompting Li Fan to select it.

"Hmm?"

Li Fan's eyes narrowed.

Given his disposition, he would ordinarily never have chosen this option.

But now, it seemed Huan Zhen had compromised, manifesting this change on its own initiative.

He might as well try it.

With this thought, Li Fan involuntarily selected the only suitable candidate:

His aunt, who had tirelessly cared for him through an unknown number of twenty-three-year cycles.

A moment later...

As if awakening from a nightmare, his aunt's forehead was slick with cold sweat. She stared incredulously at her own body and the surroundings, which were both familiar and strangely alien.

Meanwhile, Li Fan's face revealed a look of delight.

"It can actually be done this way!"