Chapter 1688: Three Reunited

Angry Squid

“When Fellow Daoist Fan attained sainthood and preached to the Mountains and Seas, it caused a considerable upheaval in the Holy Dynasty, which took a lot of effort to quell,” the Taiwei Holy Emperor suddenly remarked before his departure.

Li Fan instantly understood the reason.

The citizens of the Holy Dynasty lived perpetually under the Taiwei Holy Emperor’s protection, free from disaster or misfortune. While their lives could be called blissful, they remained entirely ignorant of anything beyond the Holy Dynasty.

Concepts like True Immortals, the Nameless, Transcendence, and even the Mountains and Seas were utterly unheard of by the Holy Dynasty’s citizens.

When Li Fan attained enlightenment, he fully revealed the secrets of the Saints of the Mountains and Seas.

This allowed countless citizens of the Holy Dynasty to vaguely glimpse scenes they were never meant to see.

Only then did they realize that the Holy Emperor was not the greatest being in all the Mountains and Seas, and that they too could become as powerful as the Holy Emperor.

Even surpass him!

People's hearts grew restless, and ripples of unrest began to emerge in the stable and peaceful Holy Dynasty.

Although the Taiwei Holy Emperor decisively suppressed it, it still caused considerable damage. While not a crippling blow, it was severe enough to cause significant disruption.

This was unprecedented in the Holy Dynasty's history, which was why the Taiwei Holy Emperor made that remark.

“What's meant to come will always come. I merely ignited it prematurely. Perhaps, it might even prove more beneficial to you,” Li Fan said meaningfully.

With a slight gesture of his hand towards the Void Realm, he drew a cluster of stagnant True Spirits and infused them into a Holy Fate Elixir he held.

“This elixir serves as compensation to make up for your losses, Fellow Daoist. Furthermore, if among the countless citizens of the Holy Dynasty, there truly are those who stand out and excel, what harm is there in letting them forge their own path?”

The Taiwei Holy Emperor knew that Li Fan's vision could penetrate the barriers of the Void Realm, an act of remarkable foresight.

“Could it be that he saw something in the future?”

“For instance, my demise?”

Li Fan's attitude made the Taiwei Holy Emperor murmur to himself. He accepted the True Spirit-infused Holy Fate Elixir, while secretly pondering Li Fan's words. “Perhaps Fellow Daoist Fan is right. If someone truly possesses the potential for sainthood, what harm is there in letting them achieve it? If they emerge from the Holy Dynasty, they will naturally be my allies in the future. Perhaps they could even help me refine Holy Fate Elixirs, saving me so much effort in the future…”

The Taiwei Holy Emperor's heart stirred, and his perspective was subtly rewritten without him realizing it.

The Holy Emperor bid farewell and departed.

It was time for Li Fan, Shouqiu, and Daode to set off towards the Void Realm.

“We await good news from you all.”

Under the gaze of the other Saints, the three successively vanished into the Void Realm.

At first, a faint trace of their aura could still be sensed. But soon, the boundless, murky Void Realm obscured everything.

“Let's hope it truly is good news.”

“That Saint of the Mountains and Seas, his intentions are inscrutable!”

“No matter. The outcome… should be beneficial to us.”

In the eyes of Saint Lianshan, countless images seemed to flash in an instant, and he declared his judgment.

Guihai paused slightly, then nodded in agreement.

“What benefits for a moment may not benefit for an eternity. It's a pity we are confined and cannot see the full picture,” Taiyi sighed softly, his gaze deep and lost in the depths of the Void Realm.

Spanning nearly a hundred thousand years, this journey was extremely long.

Even with the aid of three Saints at the start, their assistance was completely depleted by the halfway point of the journey.

Li Fan and Shouqiu were relatively fine. One was a Saint of the Mountains and Seas, wielding the transformation of truth and falsehood, with unfathomable reserves. The other possessed the Great Dao of Longevity, for whom watching mountains and seas was a trivial matter.

Daode, however, was merely a newly ascended Saint. Among the Saints, his power ranked only in the middle, and he was now gradually showing signs of exhaustion.

“Let's rest for a while first.”

Resting in the Void Realm was originally a fantastical notion. However, with Li Fan's ability to infuse True Spirits, it became a possibility.

Daode and Shouqiu felt the foundations of their existence, which had been eroded by the Void Realm, slowly replenishing, even showing signs of improvement. Both exclaimed, “Fellow Daoist Fan's divine ability is truly inconceivable! It's a blessing for the Mountains and Seas!”

“Being able to harness countless stagnant True Spirits from the Void Realm holds immense significance for restoring the Mountains and Seas,” Shouqiu said with considerable excitement, having personally experienced the benefits of the True Spirit infusion.

Just as the two were marveling, they suddenly noticed a figure abruptly descending into the Void Realm.

It originated from Li Fan himself.

This phantom figure had an unfathomable aura. Even in the Void Realm, its instantaneous appearance drew the gaze of Shouqiu and Daode.

“Fellow Daoist Fan… what is this?” Daode murmured in a daze.

He actually saw everything within the Mountains and Seas upon this blurry, distorted phantom figure.

Not just the illusory forms on the surface of the Mountains and Seas, but even all possible principles within them!

Crucially, Li Fan had never revealed the existence of this phantom figure before, neither in the Mountains and Seas nor in front of the other Saints.

“This is the Shadow of the Divine.”

“It was obtained by imitating the mysteries within the Three Saints' Mystery Ring.”

“The Mountains and Seas ahead face the Void Realm avatars of the Three Saints, and there is no room for any error.”

“I ask the two of you to join me and take your seats within the Mystery Ring!”

With that, a brilliant yet familiar white light erupted from the phantom figure.

The phantom figure vanished, replaced by a white ring strikingly similar to the Mystery Ring in the Other Shore. However, this white ring flickered erratically, not very stable, as if it could disappear at any moment in the Void Realm.

Li Fan had already taken his seat within it, smiling as he awaited Shouqiu and Daode.

“This…”

Shouqiu and Daode immediately felt doubt.

It wasn't that they doubted the authenticity of the Mystery Ring before them, as they had sat within it for countless ages. Its almost identical aura was clearly discernible.

It was simply… when had Li Fan gained the ability to create a Mystery Ring like the Three Saints?

It was known that although the Three Saints had, in their words, intended to entrust the secret of the Mystery Ring to Li Fan, they could only reforge the Mystery Ring by relying on the three treasures: Lianshan Staff, Guihai Spade, and the Rod of Sentient Beings.

Yet now, Li Fan had reproduced the Mystery Ring without relying on any of the three treasures, but solely by himself!

“Could it be that he comprehended its profound mysteries in the short time he was within the Mystery Ring?”

“How is that possible?”

The two knew Li Fan could see further than most, but they couldn't possibly imagine he could see *this* far.

Observing the subtle changes in Shouqiu's and Daode's expressions, Li Fan smiled and said, “There's truly no need for you two to hesitate. All your doubts will be resolved once you take your seats within the Mystery Ring.”

“Don't you know that only the very first three to take their seats can truly be of one heart and mind?”

The Mystery Ring's light flickered uncertainly, and Li Fan's voice was like a phantom.

Shouqiu and Daode exchanged glances. In the end, Shouqiu, unfazed, stepped boldly into it.

“I can tell that Fellow Daoist Fan harbors no ill will.”

“This journey is perilous; only by being of one heart and mind can we better confront the crisis.” Seeing this, Daode gritted his teeth and followed closely.

Once the three Saints were seated, the Mystery Ring's previously flickering aura instantly stabilized.

Li Fan's insights into the Shadow of the Divine truly emerged in their minds like a flowing spring.

Even for Saints, this level of insight was an incredibly valuable treasure.

But they had no time to focus on it at that moment, concentrating instead on forging and stabilizing the Mystery Ring.

There was no further disturbance.

After an unknown period, a new Mystery Ring, independent of the Three Saints', was born in the Void Realm.

Meanwhile, Shouqiu and Daode's expressions changed dramatically one after another.

“So that's how it is, so this is it!”

“The fortune Fellow Daoist Fan gained after this 'Reversion' is far beyond what I imagined.”

“Indeed, only those who wield the transformation of truth and falsehood can truly comprehend its great power. Who could have imagined that a mere 'reversion' could elevate an ordinary Saint to rival the Three Saints?” Shouqiu sighed softly.

“The Three Saints cultivated for countless ages to attain their present divine abilities. Yet, you, Fellow Daoist, only needed five hundred years of reincarnation… The disparity is truly striking.”

Li Fan replied with a smile, “Shouqiu's assistance was indispensable. Otherwise, how could I have comprehended the Shadow of the Mountains and Seas in such a short time?”

Compared to Elder Shouqiu, with whom he had already collaborated once, Daode clearly seemed a bit dejected.

“Fellow Daoist Fan previously used the advantage of reincarnation to trick me several times.”

“But my guidance led you to sainthood, which is an undeniable fact,” Li Fan said dismissively. “Ah…” Daode was rendered speechless.

Shouqiu chuckled and said, “If being tricked in such a way could lead to attaining sainthood, I believe countless beings in the Mountains and Seas would be willing.”

Daode had to admit that Shouqiu's words were nothing but the plain truth.

All past grievances were wiped clean with a laugh.

Next, it was time for unity of heart and mind, the trinity!

“So, Fellow Daoist Fan, is your plan truly to save the Three Saints?” Shouqiu, having learned Li Fan's inner thoughts, was somewhat surprised.

Li Fan nodded slightly: “This time, I've thoroughly observed the Outline of Mountains and Seas Transformation. While I've generally surveyed the changes in the Mountains and Seas, I'm still lacking too much in the minute details. Hence, I've only grasped the Shadow of the Mountains and Seas, but not its Divine Essence.”

“Therefore, I plan to use the Three Saints' variables to meticulously examine this period of Mountains and Seas transformation.”

Li Fan pointed forward and said proudly.

“To grasp one is to grasp the whole. If I can gain enlightenment, I can deduce the entire span of the Mountains and Seas. Moreover…”

“We can hide in the shadows and observe all the Three Saints' methods. Under the threat of their lives, they will surely hide nothing. Perhaps we can uncover their ultimate trump cards.”

Li Fan elaborated on the reasons for his actions.

After pondering, Shouqiu, however, proposed a different idea.

“Why not try to eliminate the Three Saints instead?”

“If we could draw the Great Daos of Lianshan, Guihai, and Taiyi into the Hall of the Great Dao's Reversion, it might settle everything in one stroke and save countless troubles.”

Daode sensed something, narrowed his eyes slightly, and spoke for Li Fan: “Fellow Daoist Fan is afraid. Not just of the Three Saints' unfathomable divine abilities. But also because…”

“Leaving aside Saint Taiyi, Lianshan and Guihai are rather difficult to fathom.”

Li Fan then slowly continued: “This is also something I only vaguely perceived after observing the Outline of Mountains and Seas Transformation this time. What are known as Lianshan and Guihai, there are no such paths in the Mountains and Seas. They became Saints *because* of Lianshan and Guihai, not by attaining sainthood *through* Lianshan and Guihai.”

“How can one be Lianshan? By what means can one be Guihai?”

“Their greatest trump cards, we have never truly seen clearly.”

Shouqiu nodded in agreement: “Indeed.”

Li Fan said, “All Three Saints originated from the very beginning of the Mountains and Seas' formation, making them difficult to gauge by ordinary means. Perhaps they even obtained fortune from primordial artifacts, who knows? If we rashly expose 'Reversion' directly…”

“It seems that the attempt to seize 'Reversion' by force, though unsuccessful, left you with a considerable shadow,” Daode scoffed.

Shouqiu came to Li Fan's aid: “That's just human nature.”

After a moment of thought, Shouqiu added, “Prudence has its merits. Our wings are not yet fully grown, so it's indeed not suitable to contend directly with the Three Saints, especially since you mentioned they might have gained fortune from primordial artifacts…”

“I believe there's truth to that!”

The three were of the same mind. Li Fan quickly realized, “Elder Shouqiu's suspicion stems from the Shadow of the Divine?”

Shouqiu nodded: “In the previous life, when I saw the Shadow of the Divine, I merely thought it was a testament to the Three Saints' profound power, allowing them to glimpse the past existence of the divine. However, after reading the Outline of Mountains and Seas Transformation from 'Reversion,' I had a new thought.”

“With 'Reversion's' mighty power, this scroll only records its shadow, but hardly its divine essence. How then could the Three Saints obtain the Divine Essence of the Mountains and Seas? Was it truly just by virtue of their peerless talent?”

At these words, Li Fan and Daode both fell silent.

“There are countless beings in the world, and indeed some may be extraordinary, but there's always an upper limit. Yet, some things clearly transcend such boundaries. The Three Saints, creating something out of nothing and splitting heaven and earth, were indeed geniuses. But I believe…”

“Beings of the Mountains and Seas are, after all, born within the Mountains and Seas. To behold the true divine, one must forcibly borrow external objects,” Elder Shouqiu said with a sigh of emotion, gazing at the Shadow of the Divine floating above Li Fan's head.

Li Fan could vaguely empathize with Shouqiu's thoughts.

Although Shouqiu often humbly claimed his cultivation and attainments were mediocre,

yet to cultivate from a mere hill-gazing official to a Saint, he certainly harbored a great deal of pride in his heart.

But all of that was instantly leveled after truly witnessing the immense power of 'Reversion'.

So-called talent and effort could all be disregarded in the face of 'Reversion'.

And sights that would be impossible to glimpse even after cultivating for countless eons were already clearly visible under 'Reversion's' guidance.

“This has nothing to do with so-called aptitude; it's due to the limitations of our origins.”

“As creations of the Mountains and Seas, our vision is destined to be confined within this realm. To presumptuously face the divine, one must rely on external objects from beyond the Mountains and Seas.”

“Fellow Daoist Fan, since you were a mortal, you've had the supreme treasure 'Reversion' by your side, so perhaps your understanding of this isn't as profound. Daode's experience should be deeper,” Shouqiu slowly said.

After a long silence, Li Fan inwardly agreed with Shouqiu's conjecture.

His estimation of the Three Saints' strength subtly increased by another level.

“This opportune moment might allow us to use the Void Realm avatars to fully glimpse the Three Saints' secrets.”

The three, having completed their rest, once again set off towards their destination.

This time, however, Li Fan and Daode served as protectors, while Shouqiu entered secluded cultivation.

After obtaining the Outline of Mountains and Seas Transformation, Li Fan could comprehend the Shadow of the Divine.

Shouqiu naturally gained insights as well.

Furthermore, over the years, he had personally witnessed all sorts of transformations in the Mountains and Seas.

The detailed entries recorded in the Outline were as if they were everything he had experienced.

Vividly present before his eyes.

As if he had experienced another cycle of Mountains and Seas changes, Elder Shouqiu's aura became increasingly ethereal.

“In the previous life, after comprehending the transformation of truth and falsehood, Elder Shouqiu could already instantly slay four Saints.”

“Now, in this life, having again obtained the Outline of Mountains and Seas recorded by 'Reversion,' who knows how much stronger he will become.”

Li Fan looked at Elder Shouqiu, who sat cross-legged with closed eyes, feeling as if he had gained sudden confidence.

Even if six Saints were to battle ahead, there was no longer any need to be so timid.