Chapter 713: Heavenly Venerated Once More Defies the Principle

Because not only are there no records of them currently, but even the members of the Yaowang Sect, who journeyed through time from the ancient immortal cultivation world, know nothing about Tianyi. This is highly unusual and inevitably leads one to question their origins. Such powerful individuals would certainly not be nameless.

“If that is the case, then many things become clear.”

“When I attempted to form a Golden Core using the Heavenly Fiend and Vast Ocean methods, I sensed a fatal danger. If I had solely used those two methods, it would have certainly provoked a backlash from heaven and earth. Only by incorporating insights from other principles, such as Azure Flame and Ink Kill, could the Golden Core be stabilized. This is because the Heavenly Fiend and Vast Ocean methods I observed and emulated were not originally indigenous to the Profound Yellow Realm.”

“Had I forcibly formed a core using just those two, perhaps heaven and earth would have perceived me as a complete outsider. The outcome then…”

Several images of the Cloudy Sea being utterly destroyed flashed through Li Fan’s mind.

“This might be why Cloudy Sea had to be destroyed.”

“An entity not belonging to the Profound Yellow Realm, yet flourishing by drawing sustenance from it. Like a foreign object embedded in the body, it would inevitably be expelled.”

“Yet, Zhang Haobo’s successful Foundation Establishment with the Heavenly Fiend Sword Intent on that day suggests that these former outsiders are gradually being assimilated into the Profound Yellow Realm.”

“Similar to the Cloudy Sea, which was once decimated by Crimson Flame and Ink Kill but then revived. It seems heaven and earth’s hostility towards it would significantly lessen.”

“Contact and integration, then…”

Li Fan fell into contemplation.

That day, within the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace, when Hanshai accused Yufu of annihilating the entire Cloud Water Heavenly Palace, he stated: “No one can wield the Heavenly Killing artifact except for Venerable Tianjue.”

Initially, Li Fan assumed Hanshai was referring to the term ‘Heavenly Fiend’. After all, when Zhang Haobo perished, the unusual celestial phenomena revealed his Dao foundation to be the Heavenly Fiend Sword Intent. Furthermore, one of Li Fan’s nine methods is the Heavenly Fiend method.

Now it appears that in Tianyi’s original world, ‘Heavenly Fiend’ might have been ‘Heavenly Killing’. However, upon their arrival in the Profound Yellow Realm, their own principles and those of the Profound Yellow Realm underwent a convergent evolution. Consequently, subtle distinctions emerged.

Li Fan also considered that the current Profound Yellow Realm has expanded considerably, almost doubling in size compared to ancient times. While plundering other grotto-heavens and worlds, thereby avoiding the fate of being devoured by the Immortal Ruin, yet, there are also conflicting principles between different worlds. This could be the origin of the world’s oddities.

“Could Tianjue’s amnesia, and the transformation of Tianyu and the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace inhabitants into anomalies, be due to the influence of world integration?”

“If so, Tianyi, who remained unscathed throughout this process, appears even more terrifyingly powerful.”

“Moreover, Tianyi has lived for millennia, and the various bizarre, illusory domains within the white mist are clearly connected to him. I wonder what exactly he is plotting.”

“The most peculiar aspect is the reaction of the Profound Yellow Realm’s several Immortal Heavenly Venerables. I certainly wouldn’t believe they are oblivious to Tianyi’s subtle manipulations, yet they have consistently remained unconcerned. Have they reached some kind of agreement, or…?”

Tianyi’s face surfaced in Xu Bai’s mind. After a long moment, he finally shook his head slightly, temporarily pushing down his myriad thoughts.

Upon returning to Tianliang Province and re-establishing his communication talisman connection, countless messages immediately poured in like snowflakes. Xu Bai, unhurried, processed them one by one. He had already mastered the art of balancing fairness, having perfected it during his time as Grand Tutor of Da Xuan.

Currently, there are 640 remaining vacant positions in Tianliang Province. However, only just over two hundred of these positions were approved by Nangong Shirong for negotiation and compromise with other factions. Yet, over a thousand individuals sought to gain a share from this matter. How to satisfy the majority while offending the fewest truly required careful deliberation. While researching these individuals’ backgrounds, Xu Bai also responded to messages and inquired about their personalities.

Just as Xu Bai found himself incredibly busy with his new responsibilities, a major event suddenly captivated the attention of the entire world. Lan Yu Immortal Venerable, the leader of Yuandao Province, whose lifespan was nearing its end, issued a worldwide call to all cultivators for any treasures capable of prolonging life. He also provided a list of all life-extending treasures he had already consumed. Furthermore, he declared that anyone providing an effective treasure would be allowed to choose freely from his vast collection.

Lan Yu Immortal Venerable had governed Yuandao Province for millennia. His collection was extraordinarily vast, even more generous than the rewards offered by the Immortal Alliance to encourage cultivators to explore the white mist. Consequently, the world was shaken. Numerous cultivators hastily returned from the white mist, diverting their efforts to search for life-extending treasures.

Li Fan, staring at this news, was momentarily stunned. “Is Lan Yu abandoning his all-or-nothing attempt to reverse life and death?”

“It seems news of a Heavenly Venerable achieving enlightenment has been leaked. Was the information leaked from within the Immortal Alliance, or…”

“The Five Elders Association?”

While Li Fan was lost in thought, Huangfu Song meticulously studied the message Lan Yu had released, shaking his head and sighing. “Lan Yu Immortal Venerable has ruled a province for millennia; what kind of life-extending treasure hasn’t he already consumed? This list is practically a comprehensive catalog of all such treasures in the Profound Yellow Realm. To hope for a reward from him…”

“At least, I don’t possess that kind of luck,” he added with a hint of self-deprecation.

“Damn it, so many of these things, Dongfang, I haven’t even heard of. And he’s consumed them all,” Dongfang Yao exclaimed, clicking his tongue. “In my opinion, what’s destined to die will die eventually. Why struggle so much, prolonging the inevitable? It’s better to find release sooner.”

Listening to the complaints of the two beside him, Li Fan suddenly had an epiphany. “A long-prepared plan has suddenly been disrupted. What Lan Yu needs most now is time, and offering a worldwide bounty is a desperate measure.”

“What will he do next?”

In fact, at this point, Lan Yu has few options left. One option is to alter the principle he intends to defy, grasping at a slim chance to achieve immortality. However, acquiring the conditions to defy such principles is clearly not an overnight feat. Achieving this in a short timeframe is nearly impossible. Otherwise, Lan Yu would not have waited until he was near death to set up his grand formation and make his desperate gamble.

Therefore, what remains is Lan Yu’s only viable option. “He will defy the principles of life and death once more, and contend with that unnamed Immortal Heavenly Venerable!” Li Fan suddenly realized.

“Although it will be extremely difficult, Lan Yu is, after all, more familiar with the principles of life and death. Compared to shifting which principle to defy, the likelihood of success is actually higher.”

“And perhaps, he will even have the support of the Five Elders Association in this endeavor.”

Li Fan’s thoughts raced. “Interesting. Now, let’s see what choice the Immortal Alliance will make.”

“Will they support the unknown Immortal Heavenly Venerable, or Lan Yu?”