Chapter 1682: United in Purpose to Defeat the Four Saints

Within the Xuanji Ring, Li Fan, Shou Qiu, and Bujue were, at this moment, without self or other, utterly indistinguishable from one another.

“In the past, by pure serendipity, you once comprehended fragments of the Great Dao of Longevity. It truly was destined! However, you’ve underestimated me somewhat. Even knowing you possess Huan Zhen, I would never resort to plunder. The greatest treasures of the Mountains and Seas are not held by the virtuous, but by those who can obtain them. Just as when I obtained the Great Dao of Longevity, once acquired, it became fate. How could it be so simple for others to snatch it away?”

“As the saying goes, circumstances change. With Huan Zhen in hand, one must be cautious. Even though I now deeply understand Shou Qiu’s nature, in the next life, I might not dare to easily let you know about Huan Zhen.”

“Perhaps we can use Huan Zhen’s memory inheritance option. From my perspective, this so-called memory inheritance is more like using the transformations of truth and falsehood to re-manifest beings that have already been destroyed, much like the cycle of reincarnation you experienced.”

As they exchanged thoughts, observing the Four Sages of Guiming charging forth to prevent the Xuanji Ring’s reappearance, Li Fan chuckled softly, “Ants trying to shake a great tree – how laughable and presumptuous. Today, let us use these Four Sages as a sacrifice, celebrating our acquaintance and mutual understanding.”

“Excellent!” Shou Qiu nodded.

The miraculous uses of the Xuanji Ring were truly unimaginable. With the memories, knowledge, and perceptions of Li Fan, Shou Qiu, and Bujue all merging, it was as if they were simultaneously comprehending the transformations of truth and falsehood that Li Fan had experienced, but doing so through Shou Qiu’s perspective of countless eons of life.

Although their moments of comprehension were limited to the hundred instances when Li Fan had activated Huan Zhen, what Shou Qiu comprehended and gained was undoubtedly far greater than Li Fan’s.

As for Bujue, even if he was slightly weaker than Li Fan, he still had his own unique insights.

A threefold intertwining, unifying them.

In just a brief moment after taking his place in the Xuanji Ring, Li Fan’s understanding of the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood increased exponentially.

The Xuanji Ring, which originally required the combined efforts of the three and decades to forge, was now instantly completed in just a few breaths under the influence of the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood!

As the white light roared and erupted, instantly enveloping the Mountains and Seas, the Four Sages of Guiming arrived head-on.

In that immensely familiar light, an instinctive fear surged within the hearts of the Sages.

“How is this possible? The Xuanji Ring was clearly shattered!” Guiming exclaimed, unable to conceal his shock.

Shou Qiu declared loudly, “Without seeing its true form, one naturally cannot comprehend its supreme mysteries. Cease your futile struggles; please enter the Great Dao of Returning to Truth!”

As Shou Qiu spoke, circles of white light, like ropes, continually bound the bodies of the Four Sages, moving from outside inward, from large to small. The Four Sages of Guiming might have been able to break one or two circles using their Sage powers.

However, the Xuanji’s restraints were countless. Just like their fate in the past, they were suppressed by the Xuanji Ring within moments.

They had originally thought it was merely a return to the Other Shore, to resume their world-saving efforts.

But they never expected…

Compared to when the Three Sages presided, the atmosphere within the Xuanji Ring now felt extremely peculiar.

“Shou Qiu, what do you intend to do?”

The Four Sages of Guiming vaguely sensed unease from the four characters ‘Great Dao of Returning to Truth’.

“What am I doing? Naturally, what needs to be done.”

Shou Qiu chuckled again, his expression utterly cold as he swept his gaze over the bound Sages. “You possess the realm of Sages in vain, yet are useless for saving the Mountains and Seas. Why not help Fellow Daoist Fan achieve his goals? When the world-ending crisis passes one day, your contributions can at least be recorded in the ledger of merits.”

“Shou Qiu’s words deeply resonate with me,” Li Fan echoed.

“Stop spouting nonsense! We were indeed not mistaken; with the Three Sages absent, your true nature has been utterly exposed! All that talk of great virtue was merely a pretense to deceive the world!” Duancheng retorted coldly.

“Even if we are captured now, you are merely relying on the advantages of the Xuanji Ring.

The Xuanji Ring only suppresses; it has no offensive capabilities. If you wish to kill us, I’m afraid it won’t be that easy!” Yepan retorted with a cold glare. Even while suppressed, he remained fearless.

“Is that so…?” Shou Qiu’s expression was unreadable.

“How can mortal eyes comprehend profound mysteries? Today, I shall let you witness it for yourselves. To be able to glimpse the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, you can consider yourselves to have died in your rightful place.” With these faint words, he pronounced the death sentence upon the Four Sages.

“Fellow Daoist Fan, pay close attention.”

Within the Xuanji Ring, an infinite array of Mountains and Seas images seemed to rise in an instant. This was not merely the creation of illusions, as in the past.

The Sages actually sensed the aura of real Mountains and Seas from them.

Above, the Continuous Mountains stretched boundlessly, and the Infinite Sea was vast without end.

The oppressive might of the Mountains and Seas itself caused the Sages’ breath to catch. And within the illusory images of the Mountains and Seas, a figure stood out.

Sitting among the mountains and gazing at the sea, his back turned to all beings.

“Have you ever heard the cries of the mountains and the roar of the seas?”

“Have you ever witnessed the mountains toppling and the seas overflowing?”

“Have you ever experienced the calamity of mountains collapsing and seas sinking?”

“Have you ever cowered before the ultimate end of mountains perishing and seas falling silent?”

Enveloped by the illusory figures of the Mountains and Seas, the Sages could barely discern Shou Qiu’s form.

Only the might of the Mountains and Seas, their toppling, their destruction – all these various manifestations, like wind-blades and frost-swords, pressed in on them simultaneously.

These were both Shou Qiu’s past experiences and insights, now imbued with the transformations of truth and falsehood, making them feel utterly substantial.

Although the Four Sages of Guiming possessed considerable power, they naturally could not escape such a vast catastrophe.

The illusory figures of the Mountains and Seas appeared and shattered. Everything returned to tranquility.

And the Four Sages of Guiming also seemed to have truly experienced a calamity of the Mountains and Seas’ destruction.

They were silently erased. From then on, they ceased to exist!

Only four faint streaks of light remained, resting within the Xuanji Ring.

These were the Dao Paths of the Four Sages.

Although Li Fan was astonished by the destructive power Shou Qiu displayed after mastering the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, he didn’t dither at this moment, immediately awakening Huan Zhen.

Under his gaze, the Dao Paths of the Four Sages were instantly absorbed.

Several more characters appeared in the ‘Great Dao of Returning to Truth’ column.

“To be able to achieve the Dao of a Sage is already extraordinary. Yet, looking at it now, it’s merely an inconspicuous brick on the endless wall of truth and falsehood.” Using Li Fan’s eyes, and personally witnessing the ‘Great Dao of Returning to Truth’ hall, Bujue couldn’t help but exclaim with emotion.

Shou Qiu was silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement, saying, “Even the Great Dao of Longevity is among them.”

“When this world ends, we too can enter it.”

The implication in Shou Qiu’s words was that before Li Fan’s Huan Zhen returned, he would willingly dissolve his being and transform into one of those within the Great Dao of Returning to Truth!

“Let’s not rush this matter. I observed that divine ability Shou Qiu just demonstrated; its power is truly terrifying. Even without the Xuanji Ring’s restraints and suppression, an ordinary Sage would likely find it difficult to resist.”

“The method for observing potential possibilities is called ‘Guan Shanhai’ (Observing Mountains and Seas). This Sage-slaying divine ability could be named…”

“Yi Shanhai (Razing Mountains and Seas).”

Li Fan meticulously replayed the entire process, from the appearance to the collapse of the illusory Mountains and Seas, feeling both surprise and joy.

Although he now understood this divine ability perfectly, thanks to the Xuanji Ring’s three-in-one state, without this state’s blessing in the next life, he might not comprehend its essence.

Sensing Li Fan’s thoughts, Shou Qiu meticulously explained everything to him.

“A thousand different manifestations are merely my past experiences, recreated through the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, and then imposed upon the opponent. Without the augmentation of the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, it would only be a slightly more realistic illusion. However, under the influence of the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, it can transform into methods capable of dealing with Sages!”

“The Three Sages of Lianshan might safely pass through it. But as for the other Sages on the Other Shore… even the strongest Qie Ji would find it hard to escape this calamity,” Shou Qiu said with great confidence.

With their consciousnesses intertwined, learning was even faster than Huan Zhen cloaking itself in the Dao of a Sage.

Even though this ‘Razing Mountains and Seas’ technique encompassed Shou Qiu’s insights from countless eons of his life, its core remained the transformations of truth and falsehood.

In less than a hundred years, Li Fan had completely mastered it.

During this period, the Xuanji Ring’s white light only enveloped most of the remaining Mountain and Sea regions.

It maintained the Mountains and Seas in their precarious state, preventing their complete dispersion, yet without truly resolving the crisis of destruction.

This was to create the illusion that Li Fan was still struggling, preventing the Three Sages of Lianshan from traversing over in a later era.

“This method cannot last long. The wisdom of the Three Sages is difficult for even me to fathom. Perhaps they have long subtly sensed that you possess Huan Zhen, but knowing that Huan Zhen cannot be stolen, or that stealing it would be useless, they allowed you to act as you wished,” Shou Qiu said calmly.

“As long as this matter isn’t exposed, it’s fine. I will continue to play the role of a true spirit infuser and a Mountain and Sea traveler. For the sake of restoring the Mountains and Seas, the Three Sages will eventually have to compromise, or even actively assist,” Li Fan mused, then replied.

“Going against the current, absorbing numerous Sages, and filling the Great Dao of Returning to Truth – I have a premonition that if that magnificent hall reappears from the void, even if the plan to restore the Mountains and Seas fails, the Mountains and Seas can still be saved. As for the Three Sages…”

“One must not disbelieve them entirely, nor believe them completely,” Shou Qiu advised.

“Why do you say that?”

“Before the Mountains and Seas are restored, they might adhere to their old ways. But what about after the Mountains and Seas are restored? That remains unknown. Furthermore, the Three Sages’ ultimate goal is to return to the time when the gods fell and the seas divided. Otherwise, even if the Mountains and Seas return to their prime, they still wouldn’t be a match for the Stars.”

In the Xuanji Forest, Li Fan and Shou Qiu conversed at length.

Shou Qiu’s experiences from countless eons, especially his interactions with the Three Sages, were an unimaginably valuable treasure to Li Fan.

They even made a rough plan for the subsequent cycles of reincarnation. “You can go against the current all the way; until I enter the Other Shore, there should be no major issues. However, any further…”

“Perhaps I won’t be able to assist you then.”

“It’s alright. I’ve long been accustomed to traveling alone. Besides, perhaps we can still journey together,” Li Fan said calmly.

Within the Xuanji Ring, three unusual fluctuations interrupted their conversation.

With a glance, Shou Qiu chuckled softly, “The Lianshan Staff, Guihai Shovel, and Zhongsheng Rod – these three treasures have fully recovered and are striving to break free.”

“Although they don’t know of our creation, they can sense some abnormality from the act of slaying the Four Sages. As it goes against the mission of the Three Sages, they naturally wish to depart. But for now, they are not at liberty to do so.”

Shou Qiu merely flipped his hand, easily suppressing the three treasures.

If it had been before he comprehended the transformations of truth and falsehood, Shou Qiu might not have been a match for the three treasures.

But with the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood now within him, no matter how wondrous the three treasures were, they were ultimately not the Three Sages themselves.

Furthermore, with the aid of the Xuanji Ring, they naturally could not escape Shou Qiu’s suppression.

“Time is running out. Since the Four Sages have been dealt with, let’s now deconstruct the Xuanji.

“Although we have reforged the Xuanji Ring, most of its creation was due to the three treasures providing the mold. If there’s no mold in the next life, and we want to create the Xuanji Ring from scratch again…”

“Even with the augmentation of the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, I’m afraid it won’t be that easy,” Shou Qiu said slowly, his gaze sweeping over the Xuanji Ring’s white light enveloping the Mountains and Seas.

“Precisely. Moreover, without the Xuanji Ring by your side, Fellow Daoist Fan would likely not feel at ease,” Bujue nodded.

Li Fan didn’t refute Bujue’s playful remark.

Instead, he frowned and said, “The Xuanji Ring is a supreme treasure crafted by the Three Sages. Even if I could recreate it out of thin air in the next life, I probably wouldn’t escape the Three Sages’ detection. I need to thoroughly comprehend its principles, to create a Xuanji Ring that is not *the* Xuanji Ring.”

“Or rather, a Xuanji Ring unique to me.” Li Fan’s words were a bit convoluted, but Shou Qiu and Bujue naturally understood his meaning instantly.

“I don’t have absolute certainty either, but let’s try our best,” Shou Qiu said.

The difficulty of analyzing the Xuanji Ring was somewhat beyond Li Fan’s expectations.

Even with their combined wisdom, progress was painstaking.

After all, it was the Three Sages’ reliance for achieving unity of mind and purpose with others; it was certainly not easy to decipher.

As they reached an impasse, Li Fan suddenly had a wild idea.

“With the power of just us three, we might be insufficient.”

“But what if we add the beings of the Mountains and Seas?”

“For those who join the Xuanji Ring later, there’s only subtle influence, not the effect of complete unity of mind. Perhaps it’s feasible,” Shou Qiu mused for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

Bujue also agreed, “The wisdom of the beings in the Mountains and Seas is not necessarily weaker than that of so-called Sages. They merely lack opportunity and destiny. Once they attain the Dao, they might find alternative paths and see what we have overlooked.”

After reaching an agreement, the Xuanji Ring’s light suddenly expanded again.

Its radiance illuminated the entire Mountains and Seas.

At this moment, the countless beings in the remaining Mountains and Seas all glimpsed the brilliant white circle above their heads.

Though their physical bodies seemed not to have entered, their souls and lingering thoughts had already been drawn within it.

Within the Xuanji Ring’s white circle, previously only Li Fan, Shou Qiu, and Bujue stood as three solitary, towering figures.

But now, countless specks of light, like a sky full of stars, appeared around them.

Newly arrived, some were startled, some were fearful, some were excited. Chirping and chattering, it was a cacophony.

Bujue frowned slightly, Li Fan’s eyes turned cold, while Shou Qiu merely smiled derisively.

“Silence!” Bujue’s voice echoed, clarifying their mission to all the myriad beings.

Those who sought the Dao, without needing to be asked, spontaneously began to explore the mysteries of the Xuanji.

As for those beings who were not interested, Li Fan was not worried that they would remain idle.

After all, with the Xuanji Ring’s influence of unity of mind and purpose, unwillingness would eventually transform into willingness.

Slowly, silence fell within the Xuanji Ring.

Countless specks of light floated about, traversing every corner of the Xuanji Ring.

What they knew and thought, what they sensed and comprehended.

All converged like trickling streams.

Though small and fine, they were precisely like all the rivers under heaven, eventually forming a great sea.

Eight hundred years gently passed, and the research into the Xuanji Ring had reached a critical juncture.

“Fellow Daoist Fan’s ingenious idea was indeed effective. The collective exploration of the countless beings in the Mountains and Seas is superior to our individual study.”

“This Xuanji Ring might have been created and evolved by the Three Sages, drawing inspiration from the Mountains and Seas. For the beings of the Mountains and Seas to decipher it is like finding the key. Naturally, this yields twice the result with half the effort.”

Shou Qiu’s words echoed within the Xuanji Ring.

Compared to eight hundred years ago, this place had now become much brighter and more transparent.

Many of the Xuanji Ring’s previously obscure and incomprehensible areas now appeared as transparent as glass to Li Fan and the others.

“So, this is what the Xuanji Ring looks like in the eyes of the Three Sages.”

“However, there is still one crucial core aspect yet to be understood.”

“That would be…”

“The secret of unity of mind and purpose.”