Chapter 1727: The Heavy Shadows of the Gods

In the previous life, I had a close encounter with the True God on the verge of descending. Besides the Dao of Truth and Falsehood, I had nothing left.

However... It was not a big problem.

Li Fan looked at the Heaven's Will panel. It was as if it were unfolding for the first time. Instead of everything appearing at once, characters popped out one by one.

What appeared immediately disintegrated; all the complex content vanished, leaving only a few lines of characters:

Name: Li Fan.Dao Path: Truth, Falsehood.Dao of Truth Repository:

In the Dao Path column, the words "Truth" and "Falsehood" flickered like breathing, as if these two words alone encompassed all laws and all things in the world.

The Dao of Truth Repository, which had previously begun to take shape, was now completely empty. The First Xuanpin, Second Zhouhui, and all other captured Daos had vanished.

At the end of the previous life, to verify the origin of the Dao of Truth and Falsehood, Li Fan had strained himself to the very last moment he could endure. The God had devoured all things. Even Heaven's Will itself had been dismembered and separated.

All the functions previously derived from the paths of the Saints, and all the Daos within the Dao of Truth Repository, had been swallowed by the True God on the verge of awakening. What remained of Heaven's Will was only Li Fan and the Dao of Truth and Falsehood.

But for Li Fan now, possessing Truth and Falsehood meant possessing everything. All other things were irrelevant.

“Falsehood is also Truth!”

Li Fan stared at the flickering characters before him, recalling the two solitary glows that had enveloped him at the end of the previous life, and his past comprehension of the Daos within the Dao of Truth Repository. His heart stirred.

And then, out of nothing, something came into being. Rows of colorful characters were born from emptiness, writing themselves in mid-air.

The First Xuanpin, Second Zhouhui... and the paths of all Saints on the Other Shore, all appeared. The empty Dao Repository instantly became filled with numerous Daos, shining brightly. It was no different from what Li Fan had previously mastered, but it did not exceed its original limits.

Li Fan then visualized the Dao of One Mountain and Sea Diagram. Unfortunately, as the dark clouds of Dao of One surged, although the Mountain and Sea Diagram largely took shape, it couldn't perfectly replicate its strongest state from when the Mountain and Sea Boundary Stele was present. Residing within the Mountain and Sea Diagram was the True God's Finger, even fainter and more ethereal than before. One would struggle to detect its existence without close observation.

“The transformations of Truth and Falsehood are all built upon my understanding of everything. Through countless reincarnations, my mastery of the Dao of Mountain and Sea is already sufficient to manifest it with a single thought.”

“But...”

“The True God's Finger is different.”

The image of stars filling the sky just before the True God's revival reappeared in Li Fan's mind.

“Even if one sees a god, it is difficult to truly comprehend one. Based on my experiences from endless reincarnations, it's still far from enough to analyze a god.”

“But perhaps my past self could have.”

With a thought, the Heaven's Will inheritance option, suppressed for a long time, finally appeared. He skipped all previous options and went straight to the last line. It was a brand new option, one that had never appeared before.

“Pantheon of Gods.”

Li Fan stared intently at these three words, but he hesitated to choose. For some reason, a chilling dread surged within him, rising and falling, impossible to calm.

“Pantheon of Gods. What does this mean?”

Li Fan already knew that Heaven's Will was the sum total of his memories and experiences from countless reincarnations, along with the paths of the Saints and the transformations of Truth and Falsehood.

“The Pantheon of Gods is the insight my past self gained after witnessing the awakening True God. But why 'gods' (plural)?” Li Fan couldn't help but recall the rumors he had once heard about the Creator God.

“The mighty Creator God defeated Its peers, drawing their power to evolve all living beings in the world...”

“The only recorded source for this was from Sun Piaomiao's notes.”

“The parables of Mountain and Sea, and all other elements, have aligned with my observations of Mountain and Sea. Only this one about the Creator God has remained a mystery.”

Li Fan's expression fluctuated; he did not choose to inherit directly. Instead, he resumed his cultivation until he reached the Saint realm, and only after gaining a certain degree of self-preservation ability did he open it again.

A phenomenon akin to starlight re-entering the world unfolded. Profound darkness swallowed everything around him. Heaven and Earth, the original location, and Mountain and Sea—all ceased to exist.

In absolute void, Li Fan only vaguely sensed the presence of certain indescribable beings around him. They were beyond the scope of Li Fan's comprehension and observation, thus unseen and unknowable. Yet, he could feel drastic changes occurring within the darkness.

Without warning, one of the indescribable beings suddenly vanished. It was as if something had abruptly devoured it. Next, the second, then the third vanished. Originally, the 'Pantheon of Gods' seemed to have been reduced to only the last remaining existence.

This scene aligned perfectly with what Sun Piaomiao had recorded. Li Fan immediately had an epiphany: “Sun Piaomiao must have glimpsed this scene from the thoughts of Mountain and Sea at the very beginning of their separation. That’s why he wrote the parable of the Creator God slaying other deities.”

“But...” Li Fan frowned slightly, feeling that something wasn't quite right. “At this moment, Mountain and Sea did not exist. How could Mountain and Sea have known this scene?”

The boundless darkness did not recede. It lingered around Li Fan. Li Fan suppressed the myriad doubts in his mind, quietly awaiting the next change.

It lasted longer than the combined time it took for the 'Pantheon of Gods' to disappear. A faint light suddenly appeared, illuminating this unknowable world. It allowed Li Fan to glimpse the blurred images hidden within the darkness.

Numerous figures overlapped, merging into one. They seemed to be devouring and chewing, yet also merging and sublimating. Many were one, and one was many. Encompassing all, containing everything.

Yet within this, a discord was quietly brewing. Li Fan seemed to see two images struggling to break free from it. Compared to the other unknowable, unseen presences, these two figures were quite familiar.

“Mountain, Sea!”

Li Fan's mind was violently shaken.

At this moment, light suddenly erupted in the void. The darkness was dispelled, and Li Fan returned to reality.

Compared to observing the Outline of Mountain and Sea Transformations or the Synopsis of Star Radiance Rhythms, this so-called Pantheon of Gods had no particular impact. It was even like an illusory dream; after Li Fan disengaged, he quickly emerged from its effects.

“This doesn't mean that the True God is weaker than Mountain and Sea or Star.”

“Rather...”

“My past self's experiences and memories finally became ineffective in such a scene. It exceeded comprehension too much; his insights were, in fact, not much different from my own. It could only generate such an unclear image. The legacy of my past self has finally been exhausted.”

Li Fan was not surprised by the arrival of this day. In fact, he had long accomplished what his past self had not, discerning the truth of Mountain and Sea, and Star. He had witnessed the scene of the awakening True God on the verge of descending.

“The path ahead truly depends entirely on myself now.”

The moment this thought appeared in his mind, another self seemed to materialize before Li Fan's eyes. It smiled faintly, then its form completely shattered, transforming into countless specks of starlight, surging into Li Fan.

All past memories, like a surging flood, rushed towards Li Fan. If before he had only partially accessed them, now, he was undergoing a complete inheritance.

After sitting in quiet contemplation for a long time, Li Fan finally fully assimilated the memories of his past self. Beyond countless reincarnation experiences, there were also insights into the various Daos of Mountain and Sea.

“This is the cornerstone of how the Dao of Truth and Falsehood operates, the fundamental reason why Heaven's Will can be realized.”

Although these were originally Li Fan's own memories and insights, the current Li Fan felt a certain disconnect during the inheritance.

“My past self was me, yet also not me.”

“That past Li Fan truly perished. Only through such a decisive severing could a completely different possibility for breaking the deadlock be nurtured.” Li Fan understood this clearly in his heart.

Although he couldn't directly transform all of his past self's cultivation and divine abilities, this gift was akin to a direct enlightenment. Li Fan's comprehension of the Dao of Mountain and Sea and the transformations of Truth and Falsehood increased dramatically with every passing moment.

From another perspective, it was as if Li Fan and Heaven's Will were beginning to merge gradually. They were slowly becoming indistinguishable.

“The day the merge is complete will be the day Heaven's Will perishes.”

“But one could also say that Heaven's Will has not perished. For I am Heaven's Will, and Heaven's Will is me.”

Li Fan's heart was incredibly calm as he looked up towards the beginning of Mountain and Sea.

“The Dao of Truth and Falsehood is merely a means of self-preservation. To truly break this deadlock, I still need to seek a method to slay gods.”

“The Pantheon of Gods I glimpsed was far too blurry. There should be more clues when Mountain and Sea split.”

“Therefore, I will follow the established plan and journey backward towards the beginning of Mountain and Sea.”

“A hundred billion years is an extremely long journey, even with my current cultivation. I shall proceed slowly.”

“By the time I arrive...”

“Perhaps the integration and absorption of Heaven's Will will be largely complete.”

Li Fan's thoughts slowly turned, and his form transformed into a thread, escaping into the Void Realm.

The Void Realm was vast and boundless, not only posing the danger of Dao Annihilation's devouring but also the peril of being unable to distinguish between past and present. This was the greatest obstacle for ordinary Saints attempting to traverse and travel backward.

Li Fan didn't know how Sun Piaomiao had managed to reach the beginning of Mountain and Sea step by step. But for him, traversing backward was no longer a difficult task.

With the transformations of Truth and Falsehood enveloping him, Dao Annihilation could not harm him in the slightest. Thanks to memories and experiences from the past, from countless reincarnations saving the world, Li Fan had personally walked through every part of Mountain and Sea, and even the Void Realm.

What was indistinguishable between past and present for others felt intimately familiar to Li Fan everywhere. He strolled as if in his own garden. Without any hesitation, Li Fan journeyed onward.

Ignoring the conflicts between Mountain and Sea and Dao Annihilation, his sole focus was on the possible whereabouts of Sun Piaomiao and the couple Qiu Tianhui. He did indeed find faint traces left by Sun Piaomiao, further verifying his past backward journey. Yet, eerily, the couple Qiu Tianhui seemed to have vanished from Mountain and Sea.

“Only their life force pulse remained, but their forms were nowhere to be seen.”

“They traveled from the end of Mountain and Sea back to its beginning. What exactly were they seeking?”

Qiu Xinhui, as a creation of the two, could faintly sense Li Fan's Heaven's Will. Perhaps the couple Qiu Tianhui also had some awareness.

“The so-called Mountain and Sea Revival Alliance plan they promoted... was fundamentally useless for saving the world. They couldn't possibly be unaware of this.” Li Fan journeyed backward, pondering as he went.

Like a transient passing through Mountain and Sea, he traversed the entire realm without leaving any trace.

He didn't know how much time had passed, until...

He took a step forward, and instantly, it felt as if the heavens and earth were spinning. The scene of towering mountains above and endless seas flowing below inexplicably vanished. In an instant, he found himself amidst a vast and boundless land.

“The Primordial Immortal Realm.” A glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes.

This was the initial stage of Mountain and Sea's fusion, and even included Mountain and Sea's attempts to prevent its own destiny. However, it was interfered with by the True God's Finger, which led to the realm's self-destruction.

“Only the Saints within vaguely sensed something, using the method of 'severing the future' to gain temporary peace.”

“The Primordial Saints...”

“Hmph, they're all just despicable cowards.”

In his countless past reincarnations, Li Fan had naturally interacted with these Primordial Saints. Yet, none of them could become a comrade-in-arms.

“They failed to contend for godhood, and failed to save the world. All they could do was hide in this isolated realm and fight amongst themselves.” Although Li Fan felt disdain, he did not underestimate them.

The Primordial Immortal Realm seemed isolated from Mountain and Sea, with time and space stagnant. The internal strife among the Saints had lasted for an unknown duration, and all who managed to survive here possessed the potential for godhood. All they lacked was an opportunity. Li Fan's previous two experiences witnessing the birth of different new gods were the best proof of this.

He looked towards the sky, attempting to gaze further back in time. However, it was as if something was blocking it, preventing him from seeing clearly. He wanted to step forward and go against the current, but it felt as if he was stuck in a quagmire, unable to move.

“This is why the Primordial Immortal Realm, despite its gathering of Saints, has yet to witness any contention for godhood.”

“Before the Primordial Immortal Realm was the time of Mountain and Sea's separation.”

“Mountain and Sea naturally wouldn't allow their creations to disturb or affect them. Thus, they established this 'Divine-Mortal Boundary'.”

“Severing time and space, cutting off karma.”

Li Fan reached out, attempting to break the Divine-Mortal Boundary using the method of 'Truth is also Falsehood'. But the moment he made his move, all the Saints in the Primordial Immortal Realm simultaneously turned their gazes towards him! The next moment, various Daoist arts and divine abilities rained down upon him like a deluge.

“There are the Three Saints of Lianshan, and also the old acquaintance Suo.”

“Hmm, and Hua, Ding, Liu...”

Ripples of light shimmered before him, blocking all harm. Although he disregarded the Saints' attacks, Li Fan also felt his energy being rapidly depleted. His protective Dao of Truth and Falsehood also began to vibrate increasingly.

With a slight frown, Li Fan's figure faded once more, vanishing from plain sight.

Although a few divine senses could still track him, Li Fan's successive displacements allowed him to escape the Saints' sight.

“Firstly, the Divine-Mortal Boundary is a restriction left by Mountain and Sea. It cannot be easily broken.”

“Secondly, all the Saints are eyeing each other covetously; anyone attempting to step forward, regardless of their potential for success, will surely be attacked by the group. One less rival for godhood means a greater chance for oneself.”

“The opportunity for godhood has arrived. What exactly are the conditions to break this stalemate?”

Li Fan, in concealment, quickly began to deduce, based on his experiences from two previous lives of god-making.

“The Saints have been entangled in conflict for many years, forming a strange equilibrium.”

“No one can overcome another, and no one can advance further.”

“It's like stagnant water.”

“Stagnation means no change. At this point, what's needed is an external stone, thrown in with force.”

A faint glint flickered in Li Fan's eyes, and as his figure shifted again, he had silently appeared beside Suo. Suo had been 'plucked' by Li Fan several times, leaving his name in the Dao of Truth Repository. Naturally, he couldn't escape Li Fan's search.

Countless tentacle-like dark shadows swayed and drifted. The moment they detected Li Fan, they spread out like a net, coiling around him.