Chapter 59: The Seas Change to Mulberry Fields

As soon as he saw the crimson figure, countless pieces of information flooded into Li Fan's mind.

The Soul of Heaven and Earth is the physical embodiment of a specific natural law.

When certain conditions are met, a Soul of Heaven and Earth is born, appearing in a particular area.

If Heaven's murderous intent dictates a purge of cultivators, then the Soul of Heaven and Earth is the plan's concrete enforcer.

They have no thoughts of their own; they only act according to predetermined instincts.

They are the laws themselves, slaughtering cultivators with the same ease as butchering animals.

Their mission is to execute those cultivators who defy Heaven and Earth.

For cultivators, the Soul of Heaven and Earth is extremely dangerous.

Once targeted, it essentially means certain death.

But at the same time…

As an incarnation of the Great Dao's laws, the Soul of Heaven and Earth also represents an immense opportunity for cultivators.

It is said that by sacrificing a Soul of Heaven and Earth, one can achieve Dao integration.

Once a cultivator can refine a Soul of Heaven and Earth, no matter their previous cultivation level, they can immediately achieve the Dao Integration realm.

She is the cultivators' natural enemy, yet also holds an unparalleled allure for them.

At this moment, as Li Fan witnessed the Soul of Heaven and Earth, Scarlet Flame, an infinite greed surged from the depths of his heart.

"Devour her! Devouring her will grant you insight into the Great Dao, devouring her will allow you to ascend to immortality!"

It was as if a person on the verge of starvation had stumbled upon a gourmet feast, or a traveler who had walked for days and nights in the desert had found a clear lake.

This greed, like a devil's whisper, constantly spoke into Li Fan's ear.

Driving and tempting him to rush towards the crimson figure in the sky.

While alleviating the scorching sensation emanating from the Azure Sea Pearl, Li Fan furiously circulated the Xuanhuang Heart Refining Incantation to dissolve the surging greed within his heart.

He knew clearly that he was only able to observe Scarlet Flame, the Soul of Heaven and Earth, by borrowing the Azure Sea Pearl.

In Scarlet Flame's eyes, Li Fan was merely an unformed Azure Sea consciousness, so even after sensing Li Fan's gaze, she only glanced at him before losing interest.

But if Li Fan were to lose his sanity and attack Scarlet Flame, exposing his cultivator identity, he would undoubtedly be mercilessly killed by her.

Reason and desire tore at Li Fan's soul.

Two diametrically opposed thoughts almost ripped his consciousness in two.

Li Fan could only struggle to maintain the circulation of the Xuanhuang Heart Refining Incantation and preserve his Dao heart.

After an unknown period, the storm of greed gradually subsided.

Li Fan was still shaken and dared not pry any further.

It was incredibly fortunate that he managed to glimpse heavenly secrets while keeping his consciousness clear.

Li Fan vaguely felt he had gained something. Just as his consciousness was about to leave the Azure Sea Pearl and return to his body, he discovered an extremely awkward truth.

It turned out that dissolving the greed brought on by the Soul of Heaven and Earth had taken Li Fan nearly half a year!

His consciousness had been merged with the Azure Sea Pearl for too long, exceeding the limit that a Qi Condensation stage cultivator could withstand.

It was fortunate that his consciousness was still connected to the Azure Sea Pearl; if he were to return to his main body, he would likely age rapidly and die soon after.

A mere distant glance had caused such dreadful consequences.

It seemed his cultivation in this life would have to end here.

Though Li Fan felt a touch of regret, he had no true remorse.

He had learned the truth behind the dramatic changes in the Cloud Sea, witnessed Scarlet Flame, the Soul of Heaven and Earth, and personally comprehended the mysteries of Heaven and Earth.

Li Fan's gains were undeniably immense.

Even if this life were to end now, he could accept it.

Moreover, he didn't plan to activate 'Return to Truth' and end this life just yet.

Since he was already here, he might as well make the best of it. Since his consciousness was already trapped within the Azure Sea Pearl, he decided to seize this opportunity to once again comprehend the flow of Heaven and Earth.

As long as he didn't foolishly try to pry into the Soul of Heaven and Earth again, merely comprehending the flow of Qi should be harmless.

Now, his body's lifespan was exhausted. Without the nourishment of a physical body, his consciousness was like water without a source or a tree without roots, destined to be gradually consumed within the Azure Sea Pearl.

According to Li Fan's estimation, he could at most last another ten-odd years.

If he could properly utilize this time, he might still achieve further insights.

Li Fan drew out a trace of pure power from the Azure Sea Pearl to protect his body, preventing it from decaying.

His consciousness then once again immersed itself in the perspective of the Azure Sea Pearl.

He observed the flow of Heaven and Earth's Qi, and the rising and setting of the sun, moon, and stars.

He watched the remaining lives in the Cloud Sea gradually perish.

He felt the indifferent, detached, and unchanging murderous intent throughout Heaven and Earth.

Thus, in the blink of an eye, five years passed.

By the 40th year of the anchoring, the Cloud Sea had completely dried up, becoming a veritable dead land.

Only Tai'an Island, protected by Li Fan, still had a small number of mortals surviving.

One day, Li Fan suddenly felt something and looked up at the sky.

The crimson figure that had stood in the sky for over ten years was finally gone.

Her mission complete, she naturally dissipated.

No one could say where in the cultivation world she might appear again one day.

Li Fan gazed in the direction where Scarlet Flame had vanished, and his mind once again quieted within the Azure Sea Pearl.

As time passed, Li Fan's consciousness grew weaker and weaker.

His thoughts also became increasingly sluggish.

As if losing the ability for self-reflection, he could only silently observe the world from the Azure Sea Pearl's perspective.

In the second year after Scarlet Flame's disappearance, several cultivators in green Daoist robes arrived at the Cloud Sea.

As various incantations were cast, the long-awaited heavy rain finally fell from the sky.

Then more cultivators arrived.

Green light blossomed on the dried-up seabed.

Vegetation, representing vital energy, appeared on the land.

A gentle breeze swept through, and trees rose from the ground one by one.

In just over a year, the scorched lands were once again teeming with life.

The recent scene of Scarlet Flame boiling the sea seemed to be gently blown away, like a nightmare.

The Cloud Sea also completed its transformation into the Cloud Mountain Range.

A city, suspended in the air, began to be built above the Cloud Mountain Range.

Once completed, it attracted more and more cultivators from all corners of the world.

The Cloud Mountain Range also became increasingly bustling.

Occasionally, cultivators would also come, drawn by reputation, to visit the only island that survived the infernal disaster, hoping to find opportunities.

However, shrouded by Li Fan's instinctive concealment, they found nothing.

In the 48th year of the anchoring, a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator returned to the Cloud Sea.

He arrived at the former Glazed Island, now the Glazed Mountain Range, with a desolate expression.

Li Fan's divine sense swept over from not far away, and witnessing this scene, he also felt a surge of emotion.

Li Fan recognized this person.

It was none other than Zhang Haobo, who had previously decided to migrate out of the Cloud Sea due to his inner unease.

More than twenty years had passed, and this person, having had some unknown fortuitous encounter, had actually become a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Scenes from this life flashed rapidly through Li Fan's mind; his consciousness was about to dissipate.

Before completely vanishing, Li Fan's consciousness returned to his body.

Over a decade of comprehending the flow of Heaven and Earth's Qi had caused the bottleneck hindering Li Fan's breakthrough to suddenly dissipate.

Spiritual energy from Heaven and Earth surged in, and Li Fan's cultivation immediately broke through to the late Qi Condensation stage.

A faint smile appeared on Li Fan's face, then froze.

His body rapidly aged, and with a gust of wind, it turned into dust and dispersed into Heaven and Earth.

Only a skeleton remained, lying quietly.

"Return to Truth!"