Chapter 1683: Wonderful Understanding of the Three Saint Energies

Li Fan and the other two looked up simultaneously.

The three sat cross-legged in the center, seemingly surrounded by an inexplicable intertwining force. It was this very connection that endowed the Xuanji Ring with its initial characteristic of unity and shared purpose when the three first entered. One heart, one mind, as if a single entity—this was the Xuanji Ring's highest mystery. All the subtle influences experienced by the other beings seated within the ring stemmed from this core principle.

Shouqiu gazed for a long time, then thoughtfully remarked, "There's no hurry to uncover this final step. After all, this is a supreme treasure crafted by the Three Sages working together. The moment this secret is deciphered by an outsider, the Three Sages might subtly sense it. Even across the Void Realm, we cannot rule out that possibility."

Li Fan nodded upon hearing this.

Shouqiu had been seated within the Xuanji Ring for many years. Although he hadn't synchronized his thoughts and memories with the Three Sages, his long association allowed him to glean their true strength from occasional details.

For instance, the Three Sages' "Impulse" divine ability was extremely formidable. They could often foresee events long before they happened, allowing them to prepare in advance. And the success rate of these premonitions... over countless ages, through countless instances, they had never once erred. Initially, the Sages of the Other Shore were astonished. Later, however, they grew accustomed to it.

"Even when the Void Realm avatars attacked, the Three Sages seemed to have foreseen it. However, for reasons unknown, they chose not to evade, but rather to meet the challenge resolutely."

"This 'Impulse' is somewhat similar to Daoist Fan's intuition, yet not entirely the same. The Three Sages' 'Impulse' doesn't just appear when an event is imminent; it can foretell things from an extremely distant past. Furthermore, the Three Sages can even actively activate this ability to perceive. Thus, their thoughts are profound and difficult for others to fathom."

"Besides 'Impulse,' the Three Sages have displayed another divine ability to others."

"That is the Primordial Undying."

Through their intertwined divine senses, Li Fan instantly understood what the Primordial Undying entailed.

Shouqiu continued to elaborate: "This is a divine ability developed by the Three Sages the moment before the Shan Hai Realm was split apart. Although, on a historical and contemporary level, the Three Sages, like the Shan Hai Realm, were divided into individual segments, they have maintained their overall integrity through unfathomable divine power."

"To put it simply, the Three Sages existing in different time segments of the Shan Hai Realm can be viewed as a unified whole. The demise of any individual segment does not affect the overall strength of this whole. The overall strength's lower limit remains constant at the moment the Shan Hai Realm was split, while its upper limit can rise accordingly."

"If an individual segment perishes in the current space-time of the Shan Hai Realm, the overall strength remains unchanged. The resulting effect is that the power of the remaining Three Sages will increase to some extent. In certain extreme circumstances, if all Three Sages across all space-times are annihilated, and only one remains, then the power of these last surviving Three Sages will return to their peak state."

"The Primordial Unity, eternally indestructible—this was the countermeasure temporarily created by the Three Sages to cope with the Void Realm's crisis of splitting the Shan Hai Realm. Its purpose was to ensure that, in the worst-case scenario, they could still turn the tide and possess the power to strike back."

"Beyond this, the Three Sages might possess other divine abilities, but those are beyond my knowledge. It's a pity I didn't witness the battle between the Three Sages and the Void Realm avatars; otherwise, I would surely have gleaned more insights into their true nature."

Li Fan's brows furrowed. "In that case, the Three Sages are indeed extremely difficult to deal with. It's almost impossible to conceive of a method that could truly kill them."

Shouqiu nodded. "However, at least for a long time, you won't need to be an enemy of the Three Sages. As for the future..."

Shouqiu smiled. "Even if the Three Sages are mystifying and unfathomable, they are absolutely no match for the Grand Dao of Truth and Falsehood. If you can truly master the changes of truth and falsehood, let alone the Three Sages, even the very survival of the Shan Hai Realm will be within your grasp."

Li Fan shook his head. "How difficult it is to fully comprehend the changes of truth and falsehood! In the past, based on my understanding, after hundreds of reincarnations, I felt I had just begun to grasp the basics. Yet today, with the insights gained from Shouqiu's countless years of experience, I suddenly perceive even more unknowns. It's astounding. I realize my understanding was merely the tip of the iceberg."

Inside the Xuanji Ring, the three immediately fell silent.

Given the Three Sages' unfathomable mystery, Shouqiu had been able to articulate their intricacies. Yet, before the boundless and infinite changes of truth and falsehood, even Shouqiu became like a novice. It was truly a challenge for Master Fan.

As time passed and the endless beings of the Shan Hai Realm continued their analysis, the Xuanji Ring grew increasingly luminous. Finally, when all other hidden secrets were deciphered, with only the secret of unity and shared purpose remaining, Li Fan's journey in this lifetime was finally nearing its end.

"We need to make full preparations in advance."

"Regardless of success or failure, we should not remain in this world for long," Shouqiu gravely stated, glancing towards the Void Realm beyond the Shan Hai Realm.

"The Three Sages could arrive in the Shan Hai Realm at any moment, then..." Sensing the subtle crisis Shouqiu perceived, Li Fan nodded slightly.

"As I said before, before your return to truth, I will merge into the Grand Dao of Truth-Return. However, there might be unexpected circumstances. If the Truth-Return fails, you must not cling or hesitate; it would be best to depart early."

"Shouqiu means..." Bu Jue's expression tightened.

"The 'Longevity' I obtained from the Infinite Sea was merely a fragment," Shouqiu said slowly, his voice faint. "Although it was on par with the Shan Hai Realm, and I cultivated to the Saint realm with it, beyond the vast unknown, other forms of longevity might exist. While I am willing to return to the truth, it might not be. At that time, a conflict or collision might erupt."

"But that's just my premonition," Shouqiu added with a smile, temporarily easing the tense atmosphere. "It might not actually happen."

"The Three Sages, the Shan Hai Realm, the Void Realm, the Stars, and other unknown existences... Even at the Saint realm, dangers abound, and progress is arduous," Bu Jue sighed.

After a final, thorough discussion, they rehearsed all possible upcoming scenarios. Li Fan and the other two finally extended their perception towards the profound mystery above their heads.

As if touching a taboo of the Xuanji Ring, the once bright and transparent ring instantly dimmed. It was like dark clouds pressing down on a city, presaging a coming storm. Streaks of light, like lightning, flickered within it. The Xuanji Ring seemed on the verge of disintegration at any moment.

Li Fan and his companions, however, ignored all these omens. Under their mental command, countless points of light, formed from the living beings of the Shan Hai Realm, fearlessly surged towards the ultimate secret. It resembled a reverse meteor shower, vast and breathtakingly beautiful. The moment the points of light touched the Xuanji's mystery, they withered and vanished like flowers. In every instant, hundreds of millions of beings disappeared. Yet, under the influence of the unity and shared purpose, life and death, as conventionally understood, could not truly affect these points of light.

At the cost of lives, the Xuanji Ring's ultimate mystery was slowly, gradually unveiled.

"This is..."

Even Shouqiu's expression subtly changed upon witnessing the scene before him.

Though surprised, Li Fan also realized, "All beings of the Shan Hai Realm originate from the Divine. They are inherently of one mind, and naturally of one purpose. But I never imagined the Three Sages could already glimpse the form of the Divine?!"

At that moment, in their eyes, what floated above their heads, maintaining the Xuanji Ring's mystery of unity and shared purpose, was an unspeakable figure. It seemed to possess the same features as a "human" body, with a recognizable face. Yet, it also appeared to have three heads and six arms, as if formed from the fusion of three individuals. Furthermore, it resembled an amorphous shadow, eerie and unpredictable.

Even with their shared purpose, the specific form of the figure that Li Fan and the other two saw in that instant differed for each of them. But without exception, the moment they witnessed this shadow, a single word appeared in their minds. The profound principles condensed within this shadow seemed no less significant than the Grand Dao of Truth and Falsehood. Even with Li Fan's current understanding, comparing the two only led to the conclusion that they were "evenly matched."

"This is the Three Sages' deconstruction of the Divine."

"Although it seems to have emerged from the Three Sages' comprehension, yet..."

"It must have its foundational basis!" Shouqiu regained his composure and sternly warned.

They desired to glimpse more.

However, roars were already echoing from beyond the Shan Hai Realm. Not just from the future direction from which Li Fan had arrived, even from a more ancient Shan Hai Realm, beings seemed to be rushing towards them. Li Fan and the other two's attempt to decipher the divine shadow within the Xuanji Ring had already touched upon the Three Sages' reverse scale. They appeared to disregard everything, intending to directly traverse and descend. With every passing moment, the colossal roars multiplied exponentially. It was as if the sea receded before a tsunami. The extraneous dao beyond the Shan Hai Realm also vanished at this moment.

"There's no time. Let's wait for the next lifetime!"

Li Fan still felt some reluctance, his gaze deeply drawn to the profound and unfathomable divine shadow. This was the first time he had seen something that could rival the Truth-Return.

But Shouqiu had already come to his senses. With a low cry, immense and vigorous life force erupted from his body. It was precisely the Grand Dao of Longevity! Longevity manifested, and all things sprang to life. The Shan Hai Realm, originally precarious under the pressure of Dao Annihilation, was stimulated by this unparalleled life force. In an instant, it was like withered wood meeting spring, seemingly returning to its most flourishing period. Infinite possibilities suddenly unfolded, presenting a scene of myriad things vying for emergence.

However, all these illusions of vitality collapsed the moment the Grand Dao of Longevity vanished. And this immense stimulation even had a counter-effect. After the brief resurgence, what followed was an even swifter demise. Amidst the counterattack of the Dao Annihilation wave, the Shan Hai Realm disintegrated one by one. Meanwhile, in the Grand Dao of Truth-Return section of the panel, a line of multicolored characters representing the Shan Hai Realm's Grand Dao of Longevity quietly appeared. Just as Shouqiu had predicted, this absorption into truth was not as smooth as previous instances! An invisible pulling force seemed to exert influence from outside. The characters appeared and vanished several times, fluctuating unpredictably.

In the actual Shan Hai Realm, Shouqiu's figure slowly blurred. He disappeared first. Seeing this, Bu Jue also didn't hesitate, decisively dissolving his physical form and merging into the Grand Dao of Truth-Return. Compared to the Grand Dao of Longevity, the integration of his comprehended Dao of Endless Flow was much smoother. There were no complications; a few more lines of characters appeared in the Grand Dao of Truth-Return section.

However, after losing the assistance of Shouqiu and Bu Jue, it was as if he had instantly lost two parts of his brain, becoming muddled and disoriented. Even his previously clear thoughts were somewhat affected. But a needle-like, tangible crisis warning instantly freed Li Fan from the side effects of losing the unity and shared purpose state.

At this moment, as if time had stood still, Li Fan clearly grasped the critical situation. The Shan Hai Realm was on the verge of destruction, and beyond it, the Three Sages from two different space-time segments were arriving one after another. Without external observation, the divine phantom had already concealed itself. But similarly, with no one presiding over it, the Xuanji Ring gradually lost its suppressive power. The three treasures—the Mountain-Connecting Staff, the Sea-Returning Shovel, and the Myriad Beings Rod—were stirring restlessly. Meanwhile, within the Truth-Return panel, the Grand Dao of Longevity, into which Shouqiu had transformed, was still being tugged by some force. It had not fully merged into the Grand Dao of Truth-Return.

"Fortunately, apart from the divine shadow, we had anticipated all other scenarios."

A gleam flashed in Li Fan's eyes, and he proceeded according to plan. Leveraging the Xuanji Ring's final suppressive power, he seized the three treasures. Then, sweeping up all remaining beings of the Shan Hai Realm, he silently chanted the Great Art of Spirit Incineration. Though the true spirits of ordinary beings were weak, their boundless numbers, when piled together, were clearly no less potent than a Saint's. Now enveloped and ignited by Li Fan, they became like a sudden, fierce blaze, illuminating the dying Shan Hai Realm. Already fragile and on the brink of annihilation, how could it possibly withstand such a great fire? In just a moment, raging flames erupted, and firelight stretched endlessly.

Li Fan, hidden within the roaring inferno, held the three treasures like torches. He aimed them at the center of the Xuanji, where the divine shadow resided. With a cold gaze, he threw them forcefully. Carrying intensely burning true spirit flames, the sky-filling radiance violently collided with the hidden divine shadow. Yet, Li Fan still felt it wasn't enough. He took a deep breath and, with a distant gesture towards the Void Realm outside the Shan Hai Realm, beckoned.

"Come!"

He exerted his utmost, summoning all the accumulated true spirits from the Void Realm. Like adding oil to a raging fire, the sky-filling flames of the Shan Hai Realm suddenly surged by more than several times. And the blaze continued to grow, grow!

However, the one who started the fire could hardly escape. As the instigator who ignited the Shan Hai Realm, Li Fan was already surrounded by the fierce flames. Inevitably, he himself caught fire.

"Ahhh..." The agony inflicted by the burning true spirit flames was indescribable by any earthly words. Every part of his soul felt subjected to the most brutal torture. But Li Fan merely endured all the pain. His eyes burned brightly as he intently watched the center of the Xuanji Ring, being scorched by the great true spirit fire.

Without unity and shared purpose, relying solely on his own thoughts, Li Fan's decision also changed.

"A steady approach seems good," he mused. "If I hadn't glimpsed the divine shadow, I might indeed have followed Shouqiu's advice. But... this divine shadow cannot be truly deciphered by conventional means. Only by risking everything can its mystery be unraveled! No matter how many times I reincarnate, it will remain this way. Might as well do it sooner!"

Both his body and soul were ignited, melting into the vast sea of true spirit flames. His own boundless spiritual essence diffused, serving as fuel, continuing to sustain the sky-engulfing blaze. The Shan Hai Realm was incinerated by it, and even the Void Realm was temporarily pushed back. Under the scorching true flames, the three treasures—including the Mountain-Connecting Staff—had already turned to ash.

And the Xuanji Ring, too, could finally no longer hold on; its outer layers shattered.

Within it... the divine shadow reappeared!

Freed from the Xuanji Ring's confinement, the divine shadow seemed to reveal its true form. It resembled the Shan Hai Realm, and yet also the myriad beings within it. Even the fierce true spirit flames could not harm it in the slightest.