Chapter 1674: Mountain and Sea Boundless Stele

It seemed that after the true forms of the Three Sages of Mount Lian went to the Void Realm, they genuinely lowered their guard significantly.

Li Fan could clearly perceive that the fluctuations from the Huanzhen within him spread out, enveloping the numerous ancient marks on the stone stele before him. It was as if faint shadows were being traced from the stele.

Correspondingly, changes appeared in the "Return to Dao" section on the Huanzhen panel. Black lines appeared out of nowhere. They didn't show their respective Dao names but simply arrayed themselves in order, each occupying a position. The "Return to Dao" section, which previously only had the first and second entries and seemed largely empty, suddenly became spacious and even substantial. Numerous Grand Daos were majestically arrayed. Although not yet in their final places, their ultimate fate was already sealed.

The scene before him reminded Li Fan of the Grand Dao Hall that Taiyi had once encountered. Although the "Return to Dao" here still lacked a bit in grandeur and scale, it already subtly possessed that profound and infinitely mysterious atmosphere. As Li Fan's consciousness lingered within, he gradually developed a sense of belonging, feeling as if all Daos were orderly and complete, scattered like stars and reflecting the primordial spirit. Even though the place was still empty and void, with only two Grand Daos and several unformed lines, he felt as if he were at home and was reluctant to leave.

It wasn't until he was forcefully expelled by Huanzhen that he abruptly awoke. In the "Return to Dao" section, the absorbed lines suddenly vanished. Huanzhen seemed to have deliberately hidden them, leaving only the first, "Profound Womb," and the second, "Cosmic Recurrence," to prevent Li Fan from becoming lost again in his prying.

Li Fan, who was gradually sobering up, was secretly startled. He observed that while it possessed no active allure, it surpassed all worldly temptations, feeling like everyone's true homeland. At the same time, he reluctantly savored the scene he had just witnessed within the "Return to Dao." He noted that there were no traces representing the Three Sages, indicating that Huanzhen still harbored some apprehension towards them. Alternatively, he mused, perhaps Huanzhen had absorbed only the masterless Mountain-Sea Daos, or those destined to be on its future "hunting list."

Li Fan refocused his attention on the "Return to Dao" section. He found that although those Dao traces had been actively hidden by Huanzhen, he could still faintly sense their presence with more concentration. However, the sense of majestic order and feeling of being at home was gone; he would no longer lose himself in it. He realized that if he focused his mind on one of the lines, it was like observing it directly before the stone stele. And even more... Li Fan had a premonition that he could follow the subtle guidance and discover the Mountain-Sea Daos represented by these lines! Of course, this was assuming these Daos still existed within the current segment of the Mountain-Sea realm.

Li Fan's heart instantly stirred. He scanned through all the targets one by one. Unfortunately, the Dao traces recorded on the stone stele were simply too ancient. None could be found corresponding to any current marks in the Mountain-Sea realm. However, he reasoned, since Huanzhen had recorded them, it meant that in Huanzhen's view, he would one day encounter them and absorb them. They hadn't truly vanished but still existed somewhere in the Mountain-Sea realm.

Li Fan slightly raised his gaze, as if looking beyond the endless Void Realm, directly to the genesis of the Mountain-Sea realm. But what did the Three Sages mean by specifically pointing out this stone stele to him? Although the stone stele no longer held practical value, Li Fan didn't leave immediately. Either it was a test, or this stone stele was of immense help to the newly advanced Cosmic Recurrence. The previous creation was attributed to Huanzhen. Next, Li Fan needed to find what would be beneficial for a Cosmic Recurrence Sage.

After much contemplation, a thought suddenly struck him. He attempted to emulate the Three Sages of Mount Lian, trying to leave his own mark on the stone stele before him. The power of temporal cycles enveloped Li Fan. He stood motionless before the stone stele, like a statue, intending to engrave the power of Cosmic Recurrence upon it. But the stone stele seemed uninterested in the power Li Fan displayed. It remained entirely unresponsive, no matter what Li Fan did. Was his current strength too low? "No," he corrected himself. "Even if I haven't reached the Three Sages' realm, I'm certainly not weaker than some of the lines on the stele."

After observing for a long time, Li Fan subtly gained some insight. He realized: "Ultimately, I am only wearing the mantle of Cosmic Recurrence, not a true Cosmic Recurrence Sage. If this were a blank sheet of paper, with my understanding of this Dao, I might be able to leave a mark. But with this ancient stone stele... It's hard enough to carve deeply into wood, let alone into stone. In short, my mastery isn't sufficient. A powerful being like the Three Sages would only need to stand before this stele, without any action, to leave their impression upon it."

Understanding this, he wasn't disheartened. Since Cosmic Recurrence had entered the "Return to Dao," his comprehension of it would be more than twice as effective!

As Li Fan thought, the four characters "Second Cosmic Recurrence" on the Huanzhen panel gradually burst forth with dazzling, vibrant light. Under the enhancement of Huanzhen's profound power, the Dao of Cosmic Recurrence began to shed its layers, revealing all its secrets to Li Fan without reservation. Others sought enlightenment, but for him, the Dao actively presented itself. Everything was revealed with perfect clarity. Every second, Li Fan's comprehension of the Cosmic Recurrence Grand Dao increased at an astonishing rate.

Theoretically, Huanzhen's control effectively meant Li Fan's control. He could very well use Huanzhen's absolute manipulative power to leave a mark on the stone stele. However, for some reason, Li Fan preferred to try and comprehend the Cosmic Recurrence Grand Dao solely on his own.

On the vast, empty plain, a wind seemed to gradually rise. The aura of the Mountain-Sea Grand Dao emanating from Li Fan became increasingly intense, like gusts of mountain wind, like roaring ocean waves, continuously sweeping and lapping against the ancient stone stele before him. Slowly, a genuine mark truly began to appear as time flowed. The stone stele was like a mirror, engraving and recording everything around it. And those who could enter this mirror...

In an instant, Li Fan felt as if he had fallen into the stone stele. He returned to the primordial beginning, surrounded by shadowy figures, all peerless experts comparable to the Mountain-Sea realm itself. At that time, mountains enveloped seas, yet distinct separation was absent. The sea was still the sea, and the mountain still the mountain, yet they were intertwined. Beyond the Mountain-Sea realm lay the dim, unknown realm, where creation was hard to manifest.

Suddenly, a stone stele seemed to spring forth from within the Mountain-Sea realm, as if out of nowhere. Or perhaps it came from beyond the Mountain-Sea realm. It fell into the Mountain-Sea realm. Mountains trembled, and great waves surged. Mountain and sea merged, becoming boundless because of it!

Li Fan abruptly retreated from the boundless illusion. He was still standing before the stone stele, and what he had just seen felt like an illusion. But the ancient scene and aura of the Mountain-Sea realm before its separation... It was absolutely real. He wondered what exactly the origin of this stone was. Li Fan tried to re-enter the stele to see the scene again, but he couldn't succeed no matter what. Recalling what he had just witnessed, Li Fan remained silent for a long time.

He realized that this stele was called the "Mountain-Sea Boundless Stele." It was because of its existence that the Mountain-Sea realm became boundless. Li Fan couldn't help but recall the prophecy left by Sun Piaomiao. From the description, he mused, it seemed that at the genesis of the Mountain-Sea realm, it was indeed more 'independent' than it was now. He recalled a previous record: "A creature born in the sea sought to reach the mountains. After countless hardships, though it eventually succeeded, it still perished." Unlike now, where immortals and sages stand firm in the Mountain-Sea realm as if it were commonplace. Although the Two Sages, Mount Lian and Returning Sea, contributed to this, it now appeared that this Mountain-Sea Boundless Stele was also indispensable, or perhaps even more crucial. Without this stele making the Mountain-Sea realm boundless, the birth of living beings within it would likely have been exceedingly difficult.

Li Fan attempted to reach out and touch this ancient object, to investigate its origin. But it was still the same; his hand passed through it like a shadow, unable to make contact. He realized that "engraving the Dao into the stele had other benefits beyond seeing the scene of the stele establishing the Mountain-Sea realm."

After inspecting himself, Li Fan made another discovery. The Cosmic Recurrence mantle had become more "form-fitting," no longer seeming like an outer garment but rather like his own skin, integrated perfectly. Even if the Three Sages investigated deeply, they would find it hard to spot any flaw. This transformation was due both to Li Fan's Dao comprehension and the assistance of the stone stele!

He thought: "Engraving the Dao into the stele felt like an acknowledgment. I am indeed now a Sage worthy of the Cosmic Recurrence Grand Dao. Although I comprehended it so quickly thanks entirely to Huanzhen's help, all paths lead to the same destination... Even if I were to lose Huanzhen right now and return to being a mortal, I could still, by myself, reach the Sage realm step by step!"

Like continuous bolts of lightning, these thoughts detonated repeatedly within Li Fan's sea of consciousness. For a long time, Li Fan's greatest underlying worry—"What would I do if I ever lost Huanzhen, or if Huanzhen left me?"—was first exposed, then shattered like a bubble. Li Fan's expression was dazed; he felt no joy as he had imagined. Instead, a sense of melancholy loss arose. It was as if some change had occurred between him and Huanzhen, yet at the same time, nothing had changed. Even if he now possessed the potential to become a Sage, asking him to abandon Huanzhen... What good was being a Sage? At the end of the Mountain-Sea realm, at the end of time, even with boundless power, one could only be helplessly swallowed by the stars. Without Huanzhen's assistance, it would ultimately be a dead end. And asking Huanzhen to abandon him... Looking across the entire Mountain-Sea realm, could another individual possessing an infinite true spirit be found? Although he didn't know the exact purpose Huanzhen had for an infinite true spirit, Li Fan was certain that he was equally indispensable to Huanzhen! He thought, "The path of an ordinary Sage is ultimately not suitable for me. Carrying Huanzhen, I am destined to possess more. However... it's good to have a backup plan."

Li Fan silently gazed at the faint mark he had left on the Mountain-Sea Boundless Stele, thinking this. Despite the profound changes he had just undergone, Huanzhen remained silent. Li Fan had grown accustomed to this and couldn't be bothered to dwell on it.

His mind returned to the Other Shore, and his true self suddenly opened its eyes, bowing slightly to the Three Sages of Mount Lian. The Taiyi phantom expressed some surprise, stating he hadn't expected Li Fan to be able to leave a mark so quickly, and that he had thought Li Fan would take much longer to consolidate his Dao after switching from Profound Womb. Li Fan shook his head, stating it was merely some talent, and that his faint mark couldn't compare to those of the Three Sages.

After this exchange, the other Sages only then discovered the stone stele hidden within the endless cycles. Baixiao expressed his curiosity, saying he had thought Daoist Cosmic Recurrence was still consuming Sage Luck Elixirs, not realizing there was another opportunity. He took the lead and approached the Mountain-Sea Boundless Stele. However, after half a day of exploration, he found himself utterly unable to leave his own Dao mark. Naturally, he couldn't see the scene of the stele establishing the Mountain-Sea realm.

The other Sages each tried, but only four succeeded: Shouqiu, Guiming, Yepan, and Xuanpin. And all of them, the moment their Dao entered the stone stele, witnessed the vast scene of the Mountain-Sea realm before its separation.

Back on the Other Shore, the Three Sages of Mount Lian began to explain to everyone. The Returning Sea Sage explained that the Cosmic Recurrence Grand Dao had been reluctant to depart because of the stele's existence. It was hidden so deeply that even they had almost missed it. He added that a newly ascended Cosmic Recurrence Sage could rely on the stele to leave their mark, fully consolidating their Dao and ensuring future stability. Even if any mishap occurred during the infusion of true spirits or the reconnection of the Mountain-Sea realm, it wouldn't affect their foundation, which was why they had allowed Li Fan to proceed first.

After the Returning Sea Sage finished, the Taiyi Sage added that when the stele appeared, even he hadn't been born, but he had heard snippets about it from other, more ancient beings. Baixiao, still unhappy about being unable to leave a mark on the stele, couldn't help but ask about its origin. He wondered how it could have established the Mountain-Sea realm's structure in one stroke. If the Mountain-Sea realm came from a god, then wasn't this stele perhaps a "creation of the dim unknown"? Taiyi nodded, then shook his head, stating that it could be called that. He explained that they speculated the "creations of the dim unknown" were remnants of a divine separation of the Mountain-Sea realm. From the various supernatural abilities the stele displayed, it indeed fit the description of coming from a god. However, he added meaningfully, "Before the most ancient times, who can truly know? Perhaps there were beings who could even rival gods?" Hearing this, all the Sages fell silent.

Li Fan, however, suddenly spoke up, stating he disagreed. He pointed out that the stele was not seen at the end of the Mountain-Sea realm, indicating it couldn't escape the invasion of Dao Annihilation. He suggested it was less like a divine creation and more like an evolution of the Mountain-Sea realm's own will. The Sages present fell silent for a moment. The Mount Lian phantom chuckled softly, saying that Cosmic Recurrence had misjudged. He explained that this stele was different from other things in the Mountain-Sea realm; unlike them, it didn't continuously exist within the Mountain-Sea realm. Instead, it only existed for that single instant, that single moment. Before and after that, there was no other Mountain-Sea Boundless Stele on that grassland. Li Fan was stunned.

The other Sages hadn't noticed this before either, but now, looking back at the existence of the Mountain-Sea Boundless Stele, they slowly began to discern some clues. They acknowledged that it indeed seemed to form its own space-time, existing independently of the Mountain-Sea realm. They realized this was why the Cosmic Recurrence Grand Dao had previously created numerous cyclic possibilities to conceal it; the cycles revolved around the central point where the Boundless Stele was located. They concluded that the Boundless Stele was likely truly a divine artifact, unique in the entire Mountain-Sea realm, and it was great fortune that they had encountered it. They thanked Sage Cosmic Recurrence, noting that without searching for his opportunity for re-ascension, they might have missed this chance. However, they wondered if the Boundless Stele had any other uses beyond leaving Dao imprints.

Following this, the Sages engaged in further discussion. However, they ultimately couldn't reach any conclusion regarding this ancient creation. Through this incident, Li Fan also realized that the Three Sages of Mount Lian were not omniscient or omnipotent. They merely lived longer and were stronger compared to ordinary Sages. They, too, would encounter things beyond their comprehension.