Chapter 1704: Returning Harm to Its Originator

The Angry Squid:

In fact, with Suo's true strength, if it had truly fought desperately, it would not have collapsed so quickly. For one thing, Li Fan attacked with the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, and his performance was truly terrifying. The Net of Devourment, meticulously arranged by Suo, crumbled at a mere touch before Li Fan, offering not even a shred of resistance. The disparity between them seemed as vast as heaven and earth. Entangled by the unknown and filled with profound dread, Suo could not muster the slightest will to fight.

For another, Suo was not originally a being from this current segment of the Mountain and Sea Realm. It had merely come to hunt the Great Dao of the Mountain and Sea beings. Even if the hunt failed, it would suffer no substantial loss. But if it were to truly entangle itself with Li Fan, this unpredictable and formidable individual, along with Qi Ji, Bai Xiao, Fang Cun, Tai Wei, Li Fan… all those who had entered the net this time came one after another, well-prepared. Even if it defeated Li Fan, there might be even stronger individuals who would follow. Moreover, its existence had already been exposed, making this place no longer suitable for it to remain.

The combination of these reasons caused Suo to focus solely on escaping, with no intention of fighting. It actually allowed Li Fan to rampage freely within its net, as if entering an uninhabited territory. The Primal Immortal Realm, meticulously woven by Suo, largely transformed into resources for Li Fan and his enlightened creations to comprehend the Dao. The process of Truth and Falsehood erasing the traces of Suo's net was also how Li Fan comprehended its essence.

Ordinarily, the Mountain and Sea Realm was guarded by numerous Saints. Even if Li Fan wished to freely employ his Truth and Falsehood divine ability to verify his insights, he would not have a suitable opportunity. But at this moment, Li Fan could unleash it without any restraint. The Primal Immortal Realm, though merely a superficial manifestation derived from what Suo had devoured since the dawn of the Mountain and Sea Realm, its reality was still no less substantial than the current Mountain and Sea Realm.

Truth and Falsehood continuously erased the surrounding scenes, while various profound insights continuously surged into Li Fan's mind. Like a satisfying meal after prolonged hunger, an unprecedented sense of fulfillment overwhelmed Li Fan.

"As the saying goes, what is learned from paper remains shallow; true understanding comes only through personal practice. Merely knowing something versus actually experiencing it – there truly is a significant difference. Even shared memories from a unified mind cannot fully replace my own direct experience. I once, from Shou Qiu's perspective, experienced waving a hand to erase countless Saintly phantoms. But that feeling was far less exhilarating than what I am experiencing now..."

Since his reincarnation, this was the first time Li Fan had unleashed the full power of Truth and Falsehood to his heart's content. While fully displaying his unique skill, he did not forget his current objective. The hidden net was gradually shattering, and Suo, the primordial Saint of the Mountain and Sea Realm hidden behind it, finally revealed its true form. It was not actually in a "human" form, but a massive, writhing, circular aggregation of shadows. Countless tiny black tentacles surrounded its body, occasionally manifesting and flashing glimpses of the Mountain and Sea scenes it had devoured. Observing its appearance, it was just like a massive spider, composed purely of black shadows, coiling above the Mountain and Sea Realm!

The moment he saw it, Li Fan instinctively felt a sense of unease. It was as if the black shadow, merely through the touch of his gaze, invaded his body and began to attempt to erode him. Li Fan snorted coldly, and with the transformation of Truth and Falsehood, instantly erased Suo's influence.

Heart's Transformation also activated instantly.

On the Great Dao Reversion to Truth panel, Qi Ji, previously shrouded in colorful, variegated luster, instantly lost its vibrant hues, becoming plain black and white, its profound spiritual charm gone. And in the real Mountain and Sea Realm, Li Fan, at this instant, transformed from the Saint of Cycles, becoming the Saint of Stealth!

He looked at Suo, whose figure was gradually fading, and said coldly, "You stole my Great Dao, and now you think you can just walk away? What you took from me... give it back!"

Around Suo's body, one of its countless flickering shadow tentacles suddenly exploded without warning. It transformed from an inky black to an equally cold gray. Then, as if losing control, it surged into the other tentacles, wantonly devouring and plundering like a ravenous beast! Suo possessed the ability to devour mountains and seas, yet under the wanton plundering of this suddenly active gray anomaly, it found itself surprisingly difficult to resist! It could only watch helplessly as the other party seized a portion of its accumulated essence.

Although both superficially involved devouring, their fundamental principles were essentially different. Suo's devouring of mountains and seas was like hunting prey, an act of forceful seizure. But this gray, strangely cold aura... Taking without permission is to steal! This suddenly uncontrolled gray aura within Suo's body was precisely the portion of the Great Dao's origin that it had forcefully seized from the Saint of Stealth earlier. It had originally been swallowed whole by Suo, becoming a part of its own power. However, under the pressure of the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, Suo attempted to escape. Under the control of Li Fan, now transformed into the Saint of Stealth, this wisp of origin instantly went out of control. It returned to Li Fan's embrace, then in turn, frantically began stealing Suo's essence.

Within Suo's body lay the accumulation of its painstaking devouring of mountains and seas over countless years. It was an undeniable treasure trove. Under normal circumstances, even the true Saint of Stealth would not find it easy to steal the Great Dao within it. But precisely now, the thief was already inside the treasure trove! The outermost and strictest defensive measures no longer needed to be considered; what remained was simply to plunder as much as possible before the treasure trove could be moved!

Although the treasure trove contained myriad valuables, Li Fan profoundly understood that the most valuable thing was not the Great Dao Suo had devoured over the years. Rather, it was the treasure trove itself! It contained the most fundamental structure that constituted Suo's ability to devour mountains and seas—the very reason for Suo's attainment of the Dao!

"Such a golden opportunity, truly once in a millennium!"

Li Fan narrowed his eyes, feeling a torrent slowly transferring from Suo to himself. Besides Suo's accumulated power, cultivation, and aptitude, there were also its luck and destiny... The entire sum of its substantial existence was peeled away by Li Fan inch by inch, then skillfully taken.

"Damn it!"

Suo, this primordial being of the Mountain and Sea Realm, finally let out a roar of extreme rage. The sound was incredibly sharp, not like a human voice, but rather like the simultaneous screeching of myriad insects. The black shadow trembled violently, seemingly driven into a frenzy by the theft from its treasure trove. "What? You can steal, but others can't?"

Li Fan paid no heed, his skillful hands never ceasing. He even periodically taunted it. "You..." Suo's dimming figure seemed to show signs of regaining its inky blackness. But for some unknown reason, it ultimately chose not to continue fighting Li Fan. It chose to escape as quickly as possible, minimizing its losses. Before leaving, it did not forget to utter harsh threats. Its venomous voice echoed throughout the world that was about to shatter.

"Qi Ji... very well! I'll remember this!"

The inky blackness completely faded. The treasure trove also gradually became ethereal, as if vanishing into thin air within this segment of the Mountain and Sea Realm. What Li Fan could steal became less and less. Ultimately, he could only watch helplessly as Suo disappeared without a trace.

Li Fan sighed with a hint of dissatisfaction, "The Great Dao of Stealth is indeed extraordinary. Back then, it could even touch and sense the true existence within my True Spirit." This small display of its power only now truly revealed its profound and wondrous nature. No wonder Qi Ji, such a cautious person at that time, was willing to abandon everything and fight so desperately. Besides his inherent disposition, it was also due to his absolute confidence in the Dao path he had mastered. "What a pity. If Huan Zhen himself hadn't been unwilling, it's truly possible it might have succeeded."

In his identity as the Saint of Stealth, Li Fan stripped away a layer of Suo's essence. Consequently, a new line of characters was added to the Great Dao Reversion to Truth Hall. Although currently just a faint shadow, it already manifested its distinctiveness. It was not enveloped in colorful hues, but covered in a simple, ancient gray aura. It revealed an inexpressible aura of vicissitude. Besides "ancient," there was also a peculiar charm intertwined with it. As Li Fan observed it carefully, he subtly discerned a certain quality. It was precisely the word "Taboo"!

It seemed as if it was neither tolerated by the Mountain and Sea Realm nor by this Great Dao Hall. Unlike the other Great Daos of the Mountain and Sea Realm that Li Fan had encountered and absorbed before, which would obediently remain once integrated, this one was constantly restless, with the intention of breaking free and escaping. Although suppressed by the Great Dao Reversion to Truth, its struggles were destined to be in vain. But this "rebelliousness" already highlighted the unique nature of Suo's Dao.

Li Fan pondered, "The Three Saints once said that once Suo, who always hides in the shadows, is exposed, even its own mastered Dao path would be affected accordingly. This is the backlash from attempting to evolve its own Dao path to the extreme, beyond the Mountain and Sea Realm. Now, judging from the wisp of aura I stole from the Great Dao Reversion to Truth, Suo's Dao path indeed bears traces of breaking through the limits of the Mountain and Sea Realm."

There was no time to savor this recent harvest. Without Suo's support, the manifesting Primal Immortal Realm was about to shatter layer by layer. Li Fan suddenly shed the outer guise of Qi Ji and reverted to his original Zhou Hui appearance.

"Master, save us!"

Suddenly, continuous cries for help reached Li Fan's ears. They originated from the beings Li Fan had enlightened. After the catastrophe of world destruction, only a fraction of them remained. However, those who survived had all gained significant benefits. Li Fan thought for a moment and casually gathered them. He wasn't worried about them leaking secrets. How could ordinary beings comprehend the transformation of Truth and Falsehood? Let alone them. Even if the Saints of the Other Shore had been present for this battle between Li Fan and Suo, they would have seen it only vaguely, unable to comprehend its intricacies.

As Suo's net shattered, Li Fan appeared within the true Mountain and Sea Realm. In just an instant, he appeared in the front section of the Mountain and Sea Realm, visible to the Saints. Li Fan's expression remained unchanged as he allowed the tendrils of power around him to guide him into the Xuanji Ring. Looking around, this segment of the Mountain and Sea Realm was far less vibrant than the one Li Fan had just left. It even seemed somewhat desolate. Not to mention those who later achieved Sainthood, of the original nine Saints of the Other Shore, only six remained. It appeared that the Void Realm and Suo had indeed put them under immense survival pressure.

"May I ask, fellow Daoist, where are you from?" asked Saint Gui Hai with a solemn expression.

Li Fan simply recounted the whole story, explaining everything one by one. He only concealed his transformation into the Saint of Stealth and the subsequent "feasting."

"Is that truly the case?" Upon learning that reinforcements were arriving from the later Mountain and Sea Realm, and that they possessed such formidable power, even the Three Saints couldn't help but show signs of excitement, their faces lighting up with joy. "Fellow Daoist's ability to infuse True Spirits is truly a great fortune for the Mountain and Sea Realm!"

Li Fan, however, said, "The immediate plan should be to quickly reconnect the divided Mountain and Sea Realms and jointly build a defensive line. Although the Void Realm's current siege is formidable, it absolutely cannot withstand our combined strength!" After speaking, Li Fan looked towards the location of his main body.

In fact, when Suo's net collapsed and Li Fan's avatar formally entered the front section of the Mountain and Sea Realm, blurry images had already faintly appeared within the Xuanji Ring. It was just that a moment before, the transmitted images from Li Fan had suddenly vanished, leaving the Saints in a state of surprise and doubt. "I observed that Fellow Daoist Fan's progress was smooth, and he was about to break the stalemate. What happened?"

Li Fan frowned, and after sensing for a while, slowly said, "The vital network of the Mountain and Sea beings was affected, and I couldn't sense what exactly happened within Suo's net. However, at the last moment, I detected signs that that world was about to collapse. For us, that should be a good thing."

The Saints remained silent. They had originally said that Li Fan's departure was merely to stall for time, but they hadn't expected him to actually break Suo's net. Although in reality, eight-tenths of the credit for this breakthrough belonged to Saint Emperor Tai Wei for revealing the truth behind the scenes earlier, this achievement was genuinely beyond the Saints' expectations.

The Three Saints looked towards the front section of the Mountain and Sea Realm, and a moment later, nodded slightly, "The power Suo uses to cover the Mountain and Sea Realm is indeed disappearing. It is leaving."

Having received confirmation from the Three Saints, the other Saints within the Xuanji Ring couldn't help but sigh in relief. "Without Suo's covetousness, we only need to face the threat of the Void Realm now. Although its power is formidable, we have, after all, slowly grown accustomed to it."

Compared to the Void Realm's Dao Annihilation, the Saints still clearly found the existence from the beginning of the Mountain and Sea Realm more challenging to deal with. This was not to say that the primordial beings of the Mountain and Sea Realm were even stronger than the Void Realm. Rather, while the Void Realm's calamity was terrifying, it presented fewer variables. Everything was laid out clearly. In contrast, primordial Saints of the Mountain and Sea Realm like Suo, while unfathomably strong, had thoughts and actions filled with unknowns. For example, its daring journey to the middle and late period of the Mountain and Sea Realm this time was completely beyond the Saints' expectations. Regardless of the outcome, it always introduced many variables. If it were just a game between two sides, that would be fine; it would merely be about responding to each other's moves. Yet, they also had to simultaneously face the Void Realm, their greatest threat. With both troubles present, even the Three Saints felt somewhat vexed.

However, with Suo's escape this time, they finally saw the light. With Li Fan's avatar serving as the link, the two sections of the Mountain and Sea Realm quickly reached a consensus. On the surface, both sides maintained a wait-and-see approach, so as not to provoke a strong reaction from the Void Realm. Covertly, Li Fan's avatar used the True Spirit Infusion method to create as many newly ascended Saints as possible. Meanwhile, the Saints from the later section of the Mountain and Sea Realm gradually smuggled their respective avatars to the front through the vital network of the Mountain and Sea beings. When all preparations were complete, both sides would launch a simultaneous assault. The front section of the Mountain and Sea Realm would draw the attention of the Void Realm's forces, while the Saints from the later section of the Mountain and Sea Realm would all emerge to swiftly reconnect the Mountain and Sea Realms. Once the reconnection succeeded, the Void Realm's siege would collapse on its own!

"What was originally almost a dead end has now unexpectedly become a highly favorable situation!"

"Fellow Daoist Fan's True Spirit Infusion divine ability has been indispensable!"

"Alas, without Saint Emperor Tai Wei, we would still be worrying about how to break the net."

As the Saints chatted and laughed, the atmosphere within the Other Shore slowly relaxed.

Only Qi Ji privately transmitted a message to Li Fan. "May I ask, Fellow Daoist Fan, did you encounter any anomalies when Suo escaped?"

Li Fan asked, somewhat puzzled, "Fellow Daoist Qi Ji, why do you ask? The Primal Immortal Realm shattered into chaos. I could only strive to protect myself and didn't notice anything unusual. Or rather..." Li Fan's words suddenly paused. "When Suo left, it seemed extremely angry. And not just because of its escape."

Upon hearing this, Qi Ji appeared thoughtful.