Chapter 684: Desire to Go to the White Mist

“They’re truly relentless!” A cold glint flashed in Li Fan’s eyes.

An isolated incident might be dismissed as coincidence, but repeated occurrences couldn't be explained away by mere luck. It was almost certain this was connected to Jiao Xiuyuan's assertion that Li Fan was the "Calamity Responder." However, Li Fan still had no idea how the Du'e Sect, hidden in the shadows and as persistent as flies, managed to detect and pinpoint him. After all, the Du'e Sect was an extremely mysterious entity even in the ancient cultivation world, let alone thousands of years later.

“Each time the reincarnation cycle resets, the Du'e Sect must also be affected. So, from their perspective, I'm merely a cultivator with a somewhat mysterious background, harboring certain secrets. Why are they consistently certain that I am their 'Calamity Responder,' the one who can help them avert disaster?”

“Could it be that, besides the True Return ability, there's something else special about me? Or is it simply that the Du'e Sect's cultivation methods are so profound they can foresee the future?”

Li Fan's thoughts churned in his mind.

Li Fan, possessing the True Return anomaly, was absolutely confident in his ability to escape the desperate Xuanhuang Realm, achieve longevity, and live a life of carefree freedom. Conversely, if there truly existed a savior in the Xuanhuang Realm, a place seemingly destined for destruction, then Li Fan, as the sole variable, was undoubtedly the most likely candidate.

“But when Ruomu spared me back then, it was very likely because it foresaw that I would commit boundless slaughter and bring unimaginable disaster to all cultivators in the world.”

“Salvation and destruction, both exist in my future?”

…

Li Fan's contemplation was interrupted by the blinding white light before his eyes. Perhaps because the scenes recorded by the Time Mirage were too astonishing, even real space-time was affected to some extent. Li Fan noticed that the already turbulent spiritual energy around him resonated and trembled in unison the moment the Southern Nether Sacred Beast Mountain emitted its realm-splitting light.

“Not good! Fellow Daoist Li, retreat quickly!”

Dongfang Yao, who had been greatly excited moments before, suddenly changed his expression, his figure flickering as he rapidly retreated outside the vortex. Still kindhearted, he didn't forget to remind Li Fan, who was still standing there transfixed.

“This is…”

Li Fan's body floated away, but his gaze remained fixed on the great vortex and the vast sea around it, where space seemed to be sliced into tiny, distinct regions. Every black crevice seemed to contain the ferocious figure of a demonic beast. Roaring, howling, baring fangs and brandishing claws, tearing space apart. Tens of thousands of demonic beasts united to split the Xuanhuang Realm.

Li Fan instantly recalled the scene in the Immortalfall Realm when the Heavenly Sword Sect forged realm-splitting divine weapons. They cast sword embryos, imbued with the sword dao insights of many, into the divine weapon furnace. The realm-splitting process of this Southern Nether Sacred Beast Mountain seemed to achieve a similar ingenious effect.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, who knows what exactly happened back then. Even after a thousand years, one can still experience the magnificent scene from that time through this illusion,” Dongfang Yao exclaimed emotionally.

The phenomenon of the towering white pillar of light lasted for several minutes. Eventually, it suddenly vanished without a sound. The stark contrast in lighting made the world in Li Fan's eyes seem to suddenly grow dim. After the Time Mirage disappeared, the winds and waves of the great vortex gradually calmed down. It seemed to have entered a period of calm after a great battle, quietly re-accumulating strength.

“What a pity. Who knows when the next fissure will appear,” Dongfang Yao said with some regret.

“But it seems to me, Fellow Daoist, that your enlightenment this time was not without reward,” Li Fan said with a smile.

Dongfang Yao waved his hand, “Enlightenment from wondrous sights, the more the better. After all, my understanding is still far from the true power of realm-splitting we just witnessed. It's a pity this place isn't like the Mortal God-Transformation Wall, which appears at a fixed location and time. This is purely a matter of chance.”

“Back then, before the God-Transformation Wall, I repeatedly contemplated it and finally achieved a Golden Core with four methods. Unfortunately, my comprehension ability was limited, and after that, I couldn't gain any further insights from it,” a hint of recollection flashed in Dongfang Yao's eyes.

“The Mortal God-Transformation Wall.” Li Fan's heart stirred.

It was another Time Mirage, recording the scene of Mr. Bai's ascension from a mortal to a God Transformation cultivator in a single stride. Li Fan had already heard of it. However, due to lingering doubts, he had never gone to observe it. The core question was whether Mr. Bai's apparent persona as “the best person in the world” was genuine or fake, and whether he was still alive.

From Li Fan's repeated encounters in the Immortalfall Realm, it was clear that Mr. Bai's cultivation had reached an almost immortal level, capable of miraculous feats. If such a figure truly still existed somewhere in the Xuanhuang Realm, then even seeing his image recorded by the Mortal God-Transformation Wall might be no different from meeting him in person. No one could say what might happen then. Before understanding Mr. Bai's true background, Li Fan only dared to interact with Mr. Bai's “past” through the Immortalfall Realm. Or rather, to make contact with “Mr. Bai of the past.” After all, the True Return anomaly was such a treasure that even a true immortal descending to the world would covet it fiercely.

Thoughts flashed by, and Li Fan casually followed along, saying, “The Mortal God-Transformation Wall is indeed extraordinary, a great wonder of Tianyun State!”

Dongfang Yao took out a cyan top and draped it over himself. Suddenly remembering something, his expression became a little strange as he said, “Although the God-Transformation Wall is powerful, if you ask me, the most extraordinary thing in Tianyun State is a black dog!”

“A black dog?” Li Fan was momentarily stunned. Then, the Dao Transformation Stone in his mind glowed faintly, and an anecdote he had once heard from the Divine Oracle instantly surfaced. “Is Fellow Daoist Dongfang referring to that heartless and unrighteous Chen Shimei, who refined his dao companion into a dao foundation?”

Dongfang Yao nodded repeatedly, “Exactly, that's him. This fellow's atrocious conduct angered Fairy Kongyou, and he was transformed into a black dog. Countless cultivators, to curry favor with Fairy Kongyou, brought all sorts of wild beasts to queue up and bully him.”

“The sight…”

Dongfang Yao shivered, feeling a chill.

“However, in truth, the real wonder of this matter goes beyond that,” Dongfang Yao suddenly changed his tone and lowered his voice.

“Oh? Is there more to this story?” Li Fan was slightly taken aback.

“Fellow Daoist, you know I possess an ancient demonic beast bloodline. Perhaps for this reason, as my physique grew stronger, I discovered another wondrous use of the demonic beast bloodline.” Dongfang Yao said somewhat mysteriously, “That is, the ability to communicate with all beasts.”

“Previously, when I passed through Tianyun State, I encountered the severely tormented Chen Shimei. To others, it sounded like miserable, inhuman dog barks, but to me, it was Chen Shimei constantly crying out for justice.”

“He said that he didn't refine his dao companion at all. Instead, his dao companion, wishing never to be separated from him for eternity, voluntarily transformed into a part of his dao foundation.”

“Ah?” Li Fan didn't react immediately.

Dongfang Yao shrugged, “Initially, I didn't believe it either. However, once Chen Shimei realized I could understand him, he latched onto me like a drowning man grasping at a straw, frantically revealing this secret to me.”

“He swore that it was all his perverse dao companion's idea. He simply woke up from a sleep to find his dao companion gone, and an additional dao foundation within himself.”

“What's even more terrifying is, he said his dao companion isn't actually dead. Through some unknown method, she can still communicate and talk with him every day.”

“Suffering an unjust accusation and undergoing daily mental and physical torment, Chen Shimei has gone completely mad.”

“That time, he desperately begged me to help him find release. But…”

Dongfang Yao wore a helpless expression: “Fairy Kongyou has countless admirers; I wouldn't dare offend her. Even if she's wrong, I can't just say it directly.”

“So, Chen Shimei can only continue to suffer injustice.”

Dongfang Yao sighed.

“Since then, I've known how terrifying women can be. I avoid them like the plague.”

“It's honest men like Fellow Daoist Li who are more to my taste.” He glanced at Li Fan, nodded with satisfaction.

“Hehe…” Li Fan subtly moved a little further away from Dongfang Yao.

“This is the first I've heard of this; it's truly fascinating. Fairy Kongyou…”

Li Fan had also heard of this Fairy Kongyou. He had even met her in his previous life. That was at the commendation ceremony after the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Array was completed, where merits were rewarded. Indeed, she was of peerless beauty, truly living up to her name as a fairy.

More importantly, she had a special constitution. Her accompanying wondrous item, the Yin-Yang Jade, was half a Heavenly Wonder. Through the method of Yin-Yang dual cultivation, she could integrate the Yang half of the Yin-Yang Jade with her dao companion. This would upgrade her dao companion's Foundation Establishment wondrous item, Golden Core, Nascent Soul cave-heaven, and even the impending transformations of life. Enough to transform a mediocre person into a peerless talent in a single leap. It could even be called defying destiny and altering fate. Precisely because of this, Fairy Kongyou was enthusiastically sought after by countless young, talented cultivators. She herself also seemed to have a profound background, as some foolish cultivators who tried to use force against her all ended up disappearing without a trace, never to be seen alive or dead again.

Dongfang Yao noticed Li Fan's somewhat subtle expression and couldn't help but advise, “Fellow Daoist Li, listen to me, you won't go wrong. Beautiful women are trouble; true brothers are the real deal…”

“Haha, Brother Dongfang speaks wisely. Such women are not for me to provoke!” Li Fan laughed loudly, interrupting him.

“The great vortex's storms have calmed; where will Fellow Daoist go next?” Li Fan asked again.

Hearing Li Fan agree with his words so readily, Dongfang Yao immediately beamed with joy: “I have a fellow Daoist named Huangfu Song. We share similar aspirations and are like brothers. Since Brother Li and I get along so well, I'm sure you'll also get along splendidly with him.”

“Not long ago, I heard he was going to some Raging Abyss, saying it was a rare opportunity to achieve great merit. He wanted to invite me along. I have nothing else to do, and recently I've comprehended a new divine ability, so I'm itching for some action. Thus, I thought I'd go join the fun.”

“How about it, Brother Li, are you interested?” Dongfang Yao looked at Li Fan, a hint of expectation in his eyes.

“Raging Abyss? White mist, labyrinth, achieving great merit?” Li Fan's eyes narrowed; countless clues linked together.

“It is exactly what I desire, but I dared not ask,” Li Fan thought for a moment, and without much hesitation, agreed.

“Good!” Dongfang Yao was overjoyed.

“I'll ask him where he is now, and we'll go meet up with him!”

With that, he took out a communication talisman and inquired.

Not long after, Dongfang Yao put away the talisman.

“Tianyü State, let's go!”

Hearing this familiar place name, Li Fan smiled faintly. Then, he followed behind Dongfang Yao, flying towards the nearest teleportation array.

In the Beast Seed Realm.

Xu Bai, who was further comprehending the world's destiny, suddenly opened his eyes. He stood in the sky, his lips slightly parted, as if uttering a word. The world suddenly fell silent. A moment later, tens of thousands of roars from different demonic beasts resounded throughout the world, one after another. Compared to the powerful exotic beasts that had previously dominated the Beast Seed Realm, these were the roars of the most formidable existences from the ancient demonic beast tribes. Carrying ancient malevolence and ferocity, the exotic beasts diligently working throughout the Beast Seed Realm all looked up towards the direction of the sound, trembling. Unable to control themselves, they knelt on the spot.

And before Xu Bai, black fissures appeared one after another, just like in the Time Mirage of the great vortex, tearing the surrounding space. The scene became distorted, and even the world itself became somewhat unstable.

A figure suddenly appeared. It was Fang Zaiji.

“Sect Master, what happened?”

He looked at Xu Bai somewhat flustered, asking repeatedly. He thought an enemy had forcibly broken through space, created a passage, and intended to abduct Xu Bai. Fang Zaiji was about to intervene to rescue him. However, he saw Xu Bai's lips tightly sealed. The roars of demonic beasts filling the sky instantly vanished, and the world became quiet again.

The tiny spatial fissures ceased to exist. Xu Bai glanced at Fang Zaiji and said faintly, “It's nothing, merely the comprehension of a divine ability.”

“Uh…” Fang Zaiji looked at Xu Bai with some surprise. “The anomaly just now, was it caused by a divine ability you comprehended, Sect Master? Is that true? Even my and Liu San's techniques would struggle to produce such an effect!”

Suspicion flickered across Fang Zaiji's face. Xu Bai ignored him completely, simply savoring the process of having just cast his divine ability.

“Strange, the talent of this clone is a bit too outrageous.”

“Observing the Realm-Splitting Time Mirage, my true self only gained some insights. But this clone…”

“While observing the figures of myriad beasts, it felt as if I was truly there, hearing the roars of thousands of beasts.”

“Even for those very blurry demonic beasts, whose origins were completely indiscernible, perfectly clear images appeared in my mind.”

“And what's more.”

Xu Bai looked at his hands.

“Seeing through the surface to the essence. Instantly comprehending and replicating the power of realm-splitting…”

“Can Xu Ke's vital blood, coupled with the Black Bird's feather, really achieve such a degree?”

“Or is it because of Mr. Bai?”

When this thought surfaced in Li Fan's mind, his first reaction was that it was somewhat absurd. He merely referenced Mr. Bai's demeanor, and they only bore a slight resemblance.

But…

What if it truly were so?