Chapter 1662: Chemical Rope Connects Mountains and Seas

The Angry Squid was speechless.

Li Fan’s few words, though brief, revealed an astonishing amount of information. The eight characters—"Saint of the End of Mountains and Seas" and "Created Saints"—struck like thunder. The Saints' aura surged instantly, and all eyes converged on Li Fan.

Within the halo of the Beyond, the remaining phantom Saints could no longer remain still. Light and shadows flickered as they descended one after another.

"Could it be, fellow Daoist, that you hail from the end of the Mountains and Seas?" asked Guardian Qiu with a solemn expression.

With all the Saints present, everything in the Mountains and Seas should have been under control. Yet, unexpectedly, three Saints had been born in succession today. This anomaly could perhaps only be explained by a "guest from time."

Li Fan merely smiled, neither admitting nor denying.

Although he wore an enhanced version of the Profound Female Robe, the Saints' power was unfathomable. Some, like Lianshan and Guihai, had even laid the foundation of the immortal realm. Even facing mere phantoms, Li Fan could not guarantee that lying in front of them would not reveal a flaw.

Therefore, Li Fan would only selectively speak the truth.

"I am indeed not from this segment of the Mountains and Seas. Since awakening, my cultivation had fallen. After a period of recuperation, I only recovered my realm today. During this time, I coincidentally met two promising talents who were just one step away from becoming Saints. So, I lent them a hand," Li Fan said nonchalantly, pointing to Daode and Jingui.

However, all the Saints knew just how difficult it was to take that final step.

The Saints were already fully aware of Daode and Jingui. They were indeed transcendent powerhouses belonging to this segment of the Mountains and Seas. They had also previously come to the Saints' attention. But there were quite a few transcendent cultivators like them throughout the Mountains and Seas.

If they could attain sainthood in such a short time, wouldn't that mean...

The implications were simply too significant!

The Saints' attention quickly focused on the "Myriad Selves" method Li Fan had mentioned. "This method is based on the 'fantasy divine ability,' derived by the joint efforts of the Saints at the end of the Mountains and Seas, who deduced it for countless ages in frozen time."

"Even in the extremely desolate state of the Mountains and Seas at the end of time, it still spawned thousands of half-Saints. If applied in a stronger, resource-richer past of the Mountains and Seas, the effectiveness of this method would undoubtedly multiply."

"I've put it to a small test, and it indeed proves effective."

A yellow light flickered continuously in Li Fan's hand as he personally demonstrated the Myriad Selves method to the Saints.

With the Saints' insight, they instantly recognized the extraordinary nature of this method.

"Using fantasy to generate boundless selves, then gathering myriad selves back into one to achieve sainthood. This method... is truly remarkable!"

The Taiwei Holy Emperor's crown gently swayed, revealing a glimpse of his face beneath. He offered a faint compliment.

"However, a fantasy body is, after all, merely an illusion. Theoretically, no matter how lifelike it appears, it should not possess one's true spirit. But..."

As Guardian Qiu's phantom spoke, the Saints' gazes simultaneously fell on Li Fan once more.

"He can actually transform the true spirits accumulated in the Void Realm for his own use?"

Even though Li Fan had personally demonstrated it in front of them, the Saints still found it somewhat unbelievable.

However, each Saint of the Mountains and Seas possessed unique aspects. How it was achieved was not important. What truly mattered was that this ability, combined with the Myriad Selves method, could indeed create Saints!

The Saints' phantoms flickered with countless lights, as if deducing the immense impact this matter would have on the cosmic game of the Mountains and Seas.

What Li Fan said next made it even harder for them to maintain their inner calm.

"The birth of this method... also seemed to be beyond destiny. The Saints at the end of the Mountains and Seas had originally intended to use this method to fight against the stars. It's just a pity..." Li Fan sighed softly.

"The Star?!"

The word seemed to possess some forbidden magical power; not only did the Saints' aura momentarily stagnate, but even outside the Mountains and Seas and within the Void Realm, there seemed to be a response. The waves of Dao Annihilation surged even more fiercely in an instant, as if its mere conceptual appearance could inspire boundless morale in the Void Realm.

"The end of the Mountains and Seas failed, and in a short time, no method to break the deadlock seemed to be found. But if this method appeared in the past, when the Mountains and Seas were stronger, it might become a variable to seize a sliver of hope."

"My presence here now is the very cause of that variable." Li Fan said somberly.

"Dare I ask, fellow Daoist, did you witness the face of the Star at the end of the Mountains and Seas?"

Among the phantoms of the Saints of the Beyond, Lianshan finally spoke.

As the first immortal in the Mountains and Seas, Saint Lianshan's power had already reached an unfathomable realm. As he spoke, Li Fan seemed to see a solitary figure arduously climbing a boundless mountain above. Although the mountain was infinitely high and distant, that figure eventually reached the summit, then looked down upon the myriad living beings below.

Perhaps due to the other party's special status as "the first immortal in the world," when he spoke, Li Fan inexplicably felt a sense of being scrutinized. It was as if any anomaly in his heart would be laid bare before the other party.

Fortunately, Li Fan had not lied on this matter. In his previous life, he had indeed witnessed the scene of the lone Star descending and engulfing everything.

Li Fan steadied his mind and nodded slightly. Then, he truthfully showed the Saints the scene he had witnessed.

The lone Star, like the morning sun, slowly rose from the darkness, evaporating everything.

The Mountains and Seas, the Void Realm—all perished under the Star's radiance. As far as the eye could see, only the isolated Star remained, beginning to expand endlessly!

As if reliving the Star's manifestation, cold sweat dripped from Li Fan's forehead, and his body trembled uncontrollably. In front of the Star that devoured everything, even Saints had no power to resist.

The scene he depicted possessed less than a ten-thousandth of the Star's true essence. Yet, that terrifying image still sent a shiver down the Saints' spines. Although they knew of the Star's existence, they had never truly seen it. Today, through Li Fan's narration, they caught a glimpse of the Star's mysterious appearance. Only then did they realize that they had severely underestimated the Star's power.

"Even the Eternal Void Realm was easily crushed like a blank sheet of paper."

Karma Judge's expression was solemn as he exchanged glances with the other Saints of the Beyond.

"It seems our plans need to be re-adjusted. Furthermore, this matter is crucial and must be conveyed to the past as soon as possible." Saint Guihai spoke slowly.

In an instant, countless thoughts seemed to be exchanged among the Saints. The Taiwei Holy Emperor's expression was also far from pleasant.

"Even if the Holy Dynasty expanded a hundredfold, I fear it would be difficult to withstand the Star's radiance." Such a thought suddenly emerged in the Taiwei Holy Emperor's mind.

However, the Holy Emperor did not question his own path because of this. His gaze deepened as he began to ponder a countermeasure.

All the Saints remained silent, immersed in the Star's image displayed by Li Fan.

As the one who had initiated it, Li Fan's own feelings were also extraordinary.

First, when he reproduced the image of the Star he had seen in the past, the Star outside the Mountains and Seas and the Void Realm—which had been forcibly dragged back by Huanzhen—seemed to sense his presence. The surging waves of the Void Realm outside were a direct result of this.

"It was as if it had been awakened from slumber, and I don't know what impact it will have on this generation of Mountains and Seas."

Li Fan keenly perceived that due to the premature appearance of the Star's will, Dao Annihilation had become somewhat more active. And it was as if the commander-in-chief had already issued a mobilization order; the subsequent assaults of Dao Annihilation would be wave after wave, each stronger than the last.

Second, it was Li Fan's understanding of the Star's inherent power.

"The Starlight is mysterious and unfathomable, surpassing even the Mountains and Seas and the Void Realm. Even if I tried my best to reproduce it, I could hardly show one ten-thousandth of it. But..."

Li Fan recalled the "Starlight Abridgement" within the "Huanzhen Inheritance" options.

"If this scene before me is my record of the sudden suspension of the lone Star," he thought, "then the Starlight Abridgement is Huanzhen's record and comprehension. If I could inherit it, this illusory scene would truly possess some of the Star's power, even if it's only a very small part."

Li Fan had personally experienced the aggressively invasive Starlight, which had overbearingly consumed everything in the scenes. Thus, he naturally understood how terrifying the scene would be if that power were truly unleashed. Even Saints, he feared, would not be able to withstand it.

"But correspondingly, I must first at least possess the strength to inherit the Starlight. It seems my previous premonition was correct. If my strength is insufficient, I would first be annihilated by the Starlight the moment I chose to inherit it."

"Furthermore," he continued, "my crude depiction alone has already drawn the attention of the Star outside the Void Realm. If I were to truly manifest a portion of the Star's power, the changes would be unfathomable." Li Fan had not lost his sanity. Instead, his heart grew increasingly cautious.

The Saints present harbored various thoughts until the scene reproduced by Li Fan finally dispersed. Only the surging waves of Dao Annihilation outside remained.

"On behalf of all Saints of the Mountains and Seas, I thank you, fellow Daoist, and that Saint of the End."

"Your achievement this time, fellow Daoist, is no less than the previous feats of the Mountains and Seas Travelers," Saint Lianshan spoke again.

Li Fan shook his head and said, "It was merely an attempt to do my best. Whether it succeeds or not is truly unknown. How can it be called an achievement? Although I have recovered my Saint realm, my full power has not returned. Transmitting messages to the past next will likely trouble you all," Li Fan said with a sudden sigh, changing the subject.

Guardian Qiu nodded. "My true form is still in the Void Realm and has not moved too far away. It will return shortly. After fully comprehending this Myriad Selves method, I will then depart."

"However... this method, I'm afraid, can only be performed with your assistance, fellow Daoist."

"While I recover, I ask you all to select promising talents within the Mountains and Seas. I will naturally help them achieve sainthood. However, I cannot stay here indefinitely. After I recover, I will proceed to the next segment of the Mountains and Seas," Li Fan said solemnly.

As he spoke, Li Fan suddenly noticed that the Saints present seemed to have something more to say. He chuckled lightly, "Fellow Daoists, please speak freely. If it is within my power, I will certainly not make excuses."

It was the Taiwei Holy Emperor who spoke, addressing Li Fan's unspoken question. "Perhaps, with the assistance of three more Saints, we will be able to connect to the previous segment of the Mountains and Seas."

After a period of deduction, the Saints of the Beyond all nodded. Li Fan's heart subtly stirred: "Reconnect the Mountains and Seas?" His thoughts raced, and in an instant, he came up with a possible answer: "Could it be... using a Saint's body as a bridge?"

"Precisely!"

"In the Void Realm, we are divided and strive to exert our power. We use our bodies as ropes to restore the Mountains and Seas. If those ropes can reconnect the upstream and downstream segments of the Mountains and Seas, relying on the Mountains and Seas' own innate vitality, it would take no more than a few years for them to be reborn from the void and repel Dao Annihilation! To be frank, the segment of the Mountains and Seas where you are currently, fellow Daoist, has already been connected once by us," said the Taiwei Holy Emperor with a proud tone.

Li Fan's face showed just the right amount of shock. "If such a marvelous method exists, wouldn't it mean that as long as there are enough Saints, the Mountains and Seas can be restored?"

Guardian Qiu shook his head and said, "Not so. The premise for us to act as ropes and restore the Mountains and Seas is that the upstream and downstream segments are not far apart. The time they've been separated by Dao Annihilation must not exceed one hundred thousand years. Otherwise..."

"Even if the ropes are connected, the Mountains and Seas would not be able to regain vitality. We were merely a bit lucky that the segments of Mountains and Seas we were in happened to be close by."

Li Fan vaguely understood: "Just like lotus roots that are broken but still connected by threads. If the distance is short, the threads remain. But if Dao Annihilation's invasion is severe and the intervening Void Realm is too vast, then the threads would be completely broken. The Mountains and Seas, ultimately, cannot be revived!"

The Taiwei Holy Emperor, however, said coldly: "Reconnecting the Mountains and Seas also brings us great benefits. It's akin to the act of gathering myriad selves into one. After becoming Saints, there is only one Mountains and Seas. Only through this method can we advance further. But that was in the past. Now, with this Myriad Selves method..."

Li Fan nodded and said, "The infusion of true spirits indeed benefits the Saint realm as well. If any of you have need, I will certainly do my utmost to assist."

The Saints did not decline, but thanked him in advance.

After another discussion, he, along with Daode and Jingui, finally entered the Beyond. Having arrived back there, the situation was now vastly different compared to before. They no longer needed to undergo scrutiny; instead, they now had their own positions within the white circle. From then on, the Nine Saints of the Beyond became Twelve Saints.

"This white halo of light, it also seems to possess its own profound mysteries?" Li Fan sat within it, carefully savoring its essence.

"Fellow Daoist, your insight is sharp. Since the Void Realm separated the Mountains and Seas, the beings within the Mountains and Seas have also been fragmented into countless selves along the longitudinal axis of time. Just as with the previous analogy of lotus roots that are broken but still connected by threads, if the threads of the Mountains and Seas were completely severed, then the beings within the Mountains and Seas would gradually become independent selves. Even if they could cross the Void Realm and meet another version of themselves, two distinct intentions would still exist. Although with a Saint's composure, the two consciousnesses would eventually merge into one, this process would inevitably involve a period of turmoil."

"Our true forms have all left this segment of the Mountains and Seas. However, to prevent the remaining phantoms from developing self-awareness due to the Void Realm's separation, this white circle was created. Additionally, the white circle is a creation formed by the combined efforts of all Saints, possessing our collective power. Even if only phantoms reside within it, their combined strength can still exert power no less than that of our true forms," Lianshan's phantom explained to Li Fan.

"Indeed profound." Sitting amidst the white light, Li Fan could indeed feel the palpable power of the other Saints' phantoms within his reach. It was as if he had gained several pairs of independently conscious arms.

"Before I depart, may I also leave a phantom?"

"As you wish, fellow Daoist." The Saints nodded slightly.

The combined wills of the Saints were immeasurably more efficient than Li Fan searching alone. Soon, two more transcendent powerhouses with the potential for sainthood were found.

However, they were still one Saint short of the three needed to achieve the Mountains and Seas connection plan.

"Beneath the Myriad Ages Heavenly Steps, there seems to be a suitable candidate. However—"

"Atoning for past sins with merit is certainly acceptable."