The transformed True Immortal Seal Script emitted an extraordinary aura. It was only exposed for a short while before a surge of activity, like monstrous waves, emanated from beyond the Realm of Life and Death.
It was as if something unknown within the Great Annihilation had been drawn to it.
The unsettling feeling of being watched only subsided when the Venerables cast spells to conceal it once more.
Venerable Mingdao and the others, accustomed to such occurrences, calmly said, "As one of the most outstanding awakeners, you might also have a chance to capture the Grand Dao of Mountains and Seas. Hence, this forewarning."
"Furthermore, this deception also requires your effort."
Xingfu naturally nodded in agreement.
"None of us has truly witnessed the Grand Dao of Mountains and Seas descend, so all preparations can only be inferred based on estimations. However, unforeseen circumstances are always a concern, so..."
Venerable Mingdao paused, looking at Xingfu and said:
"You must prepare for the worst in advance."
A blank scroll unfurled in mid-air. The Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation—Jinxiao, Fengcang, Yuanzang, Shengshi, and Guangmo—let out a low, synchronized cry.
They projected their forms onto the scroll.
It was as if five characters had appeared on the scroll, or like five lively figures had leaped onto the paper. Venerable Mingdao's scroll instantly transformed, becoming extraordinary.
Then came the remaining two.
The white-haired youth, a creation of fantasy from the End of Mountains and Seas.
And the taciturn middle-aged man.
The white-haired youth was familiar enough; Xingfu had received guidance from him during their first meeting.
But the middle-aged man had an extremely low presence.
Despite Xingfu having been in the Tribulation of Life and Death for many years, he had never once heard him utter a single word.
Both of them followed suit, leaving their imprints on Venerable Mingdao's scroll.
The white-haired youth left behind an eye.
Its gaze was icy and devoid of emotion, as if it had witnessed all the suffering in the world and countless destructions.
As Xingfu met the gaze emanating from the painting, he momentarily felt the illusion of being at the End of Mountains and Seas, surrounded by the Great Annihilation. The imprint left by the middle-aged man was even more peculiar.
It was an exact replica of himself!
It was as if his entire being had been split into two separate parts, one remaining in reality and the other leaping into the painting.
With the imprints of the seven Venerables added, the scroll seemed to become thousands of times heavier.
Venerable Mingdao's action of closing and retracting it was visibly much more strenuous.
"Condense!"
As he uttered a soft, low cry, the scroll was slowly reeled in.
It transformed into a thin sheet of white paper.
Then Venerable Mingdao gently blew on it.
The white paper instantly disintegrated into countless fragments. They scattered through the air, like a long, snow-white dragon, leaping into the myriad flowing rivers below.
Having observed the countless imagined possibilities within the Realm of Life and Death many times, Xingfu keenly noticed that with the infusion of the Venerables' scroll,
the entire Realm of Life and Death subtly transformed.
"If anything unexpected occurs, the Realm of Life and Death will automatically retreat."
"With this backup plan, even if we unfortunately perish,
we can be reborn in fantasy later."
"Your task is to become the new Venerable of the Realm of Life and Death, awaiting our return," Venerable Mingdao said in a deep voice.
With such a heavy responsibility placed upon him, Xingfu seemed momentarily overwhelmed.
But he still nodded firmly in acceptance:
"Xingfu will not fail the trust of you, seniors."
Next, Venerable Mingdao taught Xingfu the method to control the myriad fantasy currents of the Realm of Life and Death.
And reiterated:
"If the situation gets out of control, you are to escape without concern for us. With you here, you would actually be a burden to us."
"This junior understands," Xingfu replied very seriously.
With everything prepared, all that remained was to await the descent of the Grand Dao of Mountains and Seas.
As for how to use bait to attract the Grand Dao of Mountains and Seas and seal off the aura and disturbance of its descent, Venerable Mingdao did not mention it to Xingfu. Clearly, it was beyond his current capabilities to participate in.
A century passed in a flash.
It was a bit longer than Xingfu had anticipated.
On this day, the fantasy imitation was finally complete.
Stimulated by its aura, the yellow gem suspended above the heads of all beings in the Realm of Life and Death pulsed with countless lines, like a swarm of snakes, surging wildly.
A vast net of heaven and earth was quietly laid out.
As for the transformed True Immortal Seal Script used as bait, it was nowhere to be seen. Or perhaps, it had integrated into the entire net.
Even Xingfu, observing from the side, could discern the extraordinary nature of this construct woven from countless lines.
Though dim and lusterless, it glowed brightly in the darkness!
The eight Venerables stood in a circle.
Suspended within the net.
With a long laugh, Venerable Mingdao transformed his body into a boundless white scroll.
The other Venerables followed suit, just as they had left their fallback imprints before. However, this time it was not merely their imprints, but their true forms personally entering the Mingdao Scroll.
The originally blank scroll instantly became vibrant and multicolored.
In an instant, the scroll expanded countless times its size.
Rustling, it covered the vast net of heaven and earth.
Using the countless lines emerging from the yellow gem as its framework, the Mingdao Scroll transformed into a colossal pouch.
It enveloped the entire Realm of Life and Death within!
Inside the pouch, it seemed to be cut off from the Mountains and Seas.
The surging waves caused by the imminent descent of the Grand Dao of Mountains and Seas vanished without a trace in an instant.
Xingfu was even more horrified to discover that while inside this pouch, his cultivation was slowly but uncontrollably decreasing. "Is this because I've truly left the Mountains and Seas?" Xingfu instantly understood.
All of Xingfu's power, his very life's foundation, originated from the Mountains and Seas.
And when he was confined by the pouch, effectively leaving the Mountains and Seas in a sense, the very foundation of his existence gradually faded away.
"It's as if I'm in the Eternal Desolate Void!"
"To simulate the creation of the Void Realm with non-Saint bodies... The Venerables' power is truly extraordinary!" Xingfu couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
Of course, the divine power of the pouch only achieved a certain degree of similarity.
The rate at which Xingfu's foundation of existence was disappearing certainly couldn't be compared to being in the Eternal Desolate Void itself.
Therefore, he wasn't worried about his own safety at all, and he watched the changes in the field with unwavering attention.
Once the pouch was formed, the Grand Dao of Mountains and Seas showed no sign of realizing it was a trap.
It was merely attracted by the nearly "kindred" aura within.
It descended precisely as planned.
It was as if a great wind had started to blow from nothingness.
The pouch instantly expanded thousands of times its size.
Its expansion quickly exceeded Xingfu's perception range.
And it seemed to be endlessly filling up.
"The Great Annihilation plunders the very foundation of the Mountains and Seas; it is the key to the decline of the Mountains and Seas."
"The root of heaven and earth, giving birth to myriad things."
"This is the Grand Dao of Profound Female!"
At this moment, Venerable Mingdao's slightly excited voice faintly drifted over.
"Everyone, now that the Grand Dao is in the net, it's time to rely on your own abilities."
"The Boundless Pouch can only hold for a limited time. Whether we can subdue it before it shatters depends on our fortune!" Waves of fluctuations emanated from various parts of the Boundless Dao.
It seemed to be the Venerables' collective response.
The captured Grand Dao of Mountains and Seas, however, paid no attention to the Venerables' communication.
Like a hurricane, it relentlessly surged back and forth within the pouch.
Attempting to find its "kindred."
Within the Boundless Pouch, infinite light and shadow seemed to surge covertly.
These were the Venerables attempting to sense and capture the Grand Dao of Mountains and Seas.
But the Grand Dao of Mountains and Seas was formless and shapeless.
Even knowing it was currently within, truly touching it remained as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
It was unknown how much time had passed, and still, no change occurred.
Although the Boundless Pouch was a divine ability cast by the combined efforts of eight Venerables, it had not yet reached the realm of Saints.
Though it could contain the Grand Dao of Mountains and Seas for a time, it could not bind it forever.
Having searched in vain for a long time, the Grand Dao of Profound Female seemed to grow impatient.
It gave up the game of pursuit and search, and instead tried to extricate itself and leave.
At this very instant, the Boundless Pouch was stretched to its limit.
The yellow gem lines, serving as its framework, twisted to their extreme. The Mingdao Scroll could no longer hold.
The entire Boundless Pouch was about to turn into dust under the impact of the Grand Dao of Profound Female.
Just then, all the pressure inexplicably vanished in an instant.
Without external agitation, the maximally expanded Boundless Pouch immediately contracted in reverse. In a breath, it returned to its original size.
The eight Venerables emerged somewhat disheveled from the Mingdao Scroll.
All of them looked around in utter bewilderment. "What... what just happened?"
"Where is the Grand Dao of Profound Female?"
The eight looked at each other, confirming that none of them had succeeded in capturing it.
Then they instinctively scanned their surroundings.
And then, a figure entered their sight.
Initially, in their eyes, the figure was nothing more than a mortal ant.
But with every second it remained in their vision, this figure expanded millions of times. Just like the Boundless Pouch earlier.
Before long, it already stood towering, like mountains and seas.
Exceeding the limits of their "sight"!
"Ah!"
Their eyes stung, and amidst cries of pain, Venerable Mingdao and the others were forced to avert their gaze.
At the same time, their hearts filled with inexplicable horror.
"Is this... becoming a Saint?"
They naturally recognized the figure.
It was none other than Xingfu, who had come seeking refuge, willing to spend countless years in solitary meditation for the grand cause of fantasy.
However, even though they already knew that the Grand Dao of Mountains and Seas attaching itself had nothing to do with strength, relying entirely on one's own destiny and fortune,
at this moment, personally witnessing the Grand Dao of Mountains and Seas they had sought for so long being occupied by a junior,
they still felt a momentary imbalance in their hearts.
And, naturally, the thought of plundering it arose.
This was not their original intention, but rather an instinct of cultivators, a natural change that occurred after witnessing the Grand Dao of Mountains and Seas change hands.
Soon, all eight Venerables recovered from their momentary daze. "Hehehe, truly unexpected. To think it would be occupied by him."
"It is the time, the destiny, the fortune. Not a fault of battle." Among the eight Venerables, the reticent middle-aged figure finally spoke. He let out a long sigh and shook his head helplessly.
"But, has he become a Saint? Why do I feel..." Shengshi stared intently at Xingfu, his brows slightly furrowed.
Venerable Mingdao shook his head:
"Attaining Sainthood is not that easy. Although he currently bears the Grand Dao of Profound Female, fully controlling it will likely not be simple."
"The reason we mistakenly thought he had become a Saint just now was because what we suddenly saw was not him, but the Grand Dao of Profound Female itself. Compared to the Grand Dao of Mountains and Seas, his own cultivation and strength are almost negligible. This led to our misjudgment."
"Indeed, looking again now, that oppressive feeling is slowly disappearing," Jinxiao agreed.
The white-haired youth chuckled softly:
"It's a good thing, after all. The Grand Dao of Mountains and Seas has been contained. This person was invited by Mingdao and has been in the Realm of Life and Death for so many years; we know his background thoroughly."
"Wielding the Grand Dao of Mountains and Seas, he has already set one foot on the path to Sainthood. If we can gain the assistance of a Saint, our plan..."
As the eight Venerables whispered amongst themselves, Xingfu finally opened his eyes.
His aura and power were completely restrained; at first glance, he seemed no different from a mortal.
"Congratulations, fellow Daoist!" the Venerables said, their tones varied.
"I must also thank all of you for making this possible!" Xingfu, or rather Li Fan, replied with a smile.
Upon hearing Li Fan's words, all the Venerables felt a mixed sense of discomfort.
The atmosphere cooled for a moment.
Fortunately, Li Fan quickly extended his hand, revealing a mass of invisible, profound, and mysterious energy before everyone.
"Everyone, please observe."
Even without Li Fan speaking, his actions had already captured the attention of Venerable Mingdao and the others.
"Is this, then, the Grand Dao of Profound Female?"
"It seems... not much different from the Dao of Mountains and Seas?"
The others, with puzzled expressions, all looked towards Venerable Mingdao.
As one whose Dao was Mingdao itself, in terms of comprehension of the Dao, Venerable Mingdao was undoubtedly far above everyone else. After observing for a long time, Venerable Mingdao finally spoke:
"The true Grand Dao of Mountains and Seas is not something we can perceive. What is before us... perhaps can be called the Dao of Profound Female that Fellow Daoist Xingfu has comprehended."
"It is merely an insignificant fraction of the Grand Dao of Mountains and Seas, the Profound Female."
Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly understood.
Li Fan smiled and nodded:
"What Mingdao said is excellent! Acquiring the Grand Dao of Mountains and Seas is like entering a treasure mountain. However, with limited arm strength, few can carry anything out."
"The treasure mountain I've seen is boundless. With my current power, fully excavating it would take who knows how many years."
"However, a man's crime is his treasured jade. I am concerned that if outsiders perceive this, it might invite calamity and plunder. Therefore, I implore all fellow Daoists to look after me before I fully comprehend the Dao and become a Saint!" As he spoke, Li Fan bowed sincerely to everyone.
Seeing this, the Venerables finally felt a little better.
Worried about outsiders coveting his power, yet sincerely asking for their protection.
Clearly, he regarded them as "his own people."
Venerable Mingdao was the first to agree:
"Of course. The path to Sainthood is not achieved overnight. In the past, it took Keeper Qiu over a hundred epochs to achieve longevity and then attain the Dao."
"Before your success, you may cultivate and comprehend the Dao here as you wish. With us present, no outsider will dare disturb you."
The other Venerables also voiced their assurances.
"In that case, I thank you all in advance," Li Fan said, his face full of gratitude.
"May I ask, what are your plans next?" Changing the subject, Li Fan suddenly inquired.
Despite having acquired the Grand Dao of Mountains and Seas and with Sainthood within reach,
he still cared about the future of the Realm of Life and Death.
Venerable Mingdao and the others exchanged glances, all feeling that "Xingfu" was reliable.
"In fact, using fantasy to manifest the Grand Dao of Mountains and Seas and gain the power of a Saint is merely one part of our plan."
"Our true objective is to acquire sufficient self-preservation capabilities and maintain the flow of the Realm of Life and Death. Until..."
"The End of Mountains and Seas!"
It was the white-haired youth who spoke.
At the mention of the End of Mountains and Seas, his eyes subtly twitched, as if remembering something.
[57 seconds ago] Chapter 975: Foul-Smelling Monster
[5 minutes ago] Chapter 4787: Hardbreaking the Mysterious Desert
[9 minutes ago] Chapter 1685: Sage's Tombstone
[12 minutes ago] Chapter 4786: Condensed Dao Golden Fruit
[14 minutes ago] Chapter 974: Seeking the Ripple
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