Chapter 866-870: Shattering the Xuanhuang Realm (6k+ words)

With the Stone Tablet Scholar's words, Li Fan's heart was already extremely nervous.

However, the current Li Taishi already possessed Dao-combined combat power, and he had many powerful techniques like the Rainbow Jade Illusory Light.

He wouldn't be easily frightened by a few words now.

Even if the other party was the Longevity Heavenly Sovereign!

Li Fan decided...

To further probe the other party's details!

So, Li Fan pretended to be somewhat puzzled and a bit surprised, "Transcending beyond the Xuanhuang Realm? What does that have to do with me?"

The Stone Tablet Scholar smiled, "Since you refuse to admit, let's see what the tablet records about you."

A burst of green light emanated from the stone tablet on his back.

The breath of ancient years radiated from the scholar. Various images began to surround and manifest around the two individuals.

It was like falling into the river of history, scenes from the past in the Xuanhuang Realm unfolding like a scroll.

The scholar even grunted, and his body began to expand.

His face and the clothes on his body, for some reason, changed rapidly.

At times, he was a handsome scholar, at times, a strong woodcutter.

Sometimes, he turned into a charming beauty.

And sometimes, not even a human.

A tree, a flower.

Birds in the sky, beasts on the ground.

...

Only the eternal green light on the stone tablet behind him remained unchanged.

Finally, the images surrounding the light screen gradually stabilized.

A radiant light emerged, and what appeared on it was Li Fan!

However, there was no scene of him flying out of the Great Mystery at the beginning.

Even the scene of him coming to the Xuanhuang Realm through the spatial channel and heading straight to the Tianyang Cave to subdue Tianyang was not there.

It only showed him entering Stone Linzhou with Tianyang.

Finding the entrance to the Spirit Wood Realm.

Entering and coming out again, then capturing Shang Tianci in Jiushan Prefecture.

In the underground of Taihua Prefecture, finding Mr. Bai's secret room.

After returning to the Spirit Wood Realm, he came out again with Lin Ling's consolidated Dao strength.

First completing the transaction with the Five Elders, then heading straight to the Wuxing Grand Cave of the Tianlingzhou.

...

The scenes kept changing.

However, Li Fan's vigilance in his heart suddenly relaxed.

"Just as I thought."

"The Creation Stone Tablet records everything that happens in the Xuanhuang Realm in great detail. However, it's only for the original Xuanhuang Realm!"

"You see, the current Xuanhuang Realm is composed of the original Xuanhuang Realm, countless caves, small worlds, and even fragments from many other cultivation realms!"

"For these outsiders, the Creation Stone Tablet may not have the ability to record!"

Let's go back to the analogy of a house.

The original Xuanhuang Realm was like a standalone room.

But after all these years of expansion by countless cultivators, the Xuanhuang Realm has become much larger.

The Creation Stone Tablet, born in the original small room along with heaven and earth, had full recording privileges.

But for these foreign lands, the Creation Stone Tablet lost its ability to record!

...

The scenes continued to change.

As Li Fan had anticipated, they were intermittent.

Most importantly, the Cloud Sea, Spirit Wood Realm, and Wuxing Grand Cave of Tianlingzhou...

None of them were within the recording range.

So, it mostly showed him traveling, continuously traveling scenes.

"Then, what did this scholar say about coming for me..."

"Where is the flaw?"

Li Fan's thoughts quickly turned.

Chapter 866: Shattered Xuanhuang Realm

The scenes presented by the stone tablet were approaching the current timeline.

Suddenly, Li Fan's clone, Ji Shaoli, appeared in the scene.

The moment he entered Yongyunzhou, the image abruptly cut off.

After Ji Shaoli left Yongyunzhou, he headed straight for the Spirit Wood Realm.

The scene dimmed, and then it showed Li Fan advancing to the Nascent Soul stage, using the Seven-Colored Divine Light to swiftly traverse between regions.

"Did the Seven-Colored Divine Light attract his attention?" Li Fan couldn't help but think.

What the Stone Tablet Scholar said next confirmed his speculation.

"I'm not really concerned about the authenticity of the Multiverse United Council," the scholar said. "What interests me more is where you obtained this Seven-Colored Divine Light."

He looked at Li Fan with intense scrutiny. "The level of this thing is beyond what the remnants of the regional land can nurture."

Li Fan countered, "Couldn't it be a divine ability I comprehended myself?"

The scholar chuckled, "With the Creation Stone Tablet in my possession, I'm familiar with the aura emanating from your Seven-Colored Radiance. It's a force that almost condenses the laws of a world. If you had such ability, you wouldn't be asking questions here today; it would be you."

Although there was no mockery in his words, his expression and tone made Li Fan snort.

Seeing Li Fan's silence, the Stone Tablet Scholar continued, "Rest assured, I won't snatch your things. The Seven-Colored Divine Light, while powerful, is just a burden to me."

"What I really want to know is the place where the Seven-Colored Divine Light was born," the scholar confessed.

Li Fan squinted, "What do you mean, Senior? How do you know that the Seven-Colored Divine Light is produced by something? Couldn't it just be a standalone treasure hidden in Yongyunzhou?"

The scholar sighed.

The surrounding light curtain suddenly turned pitch black.

Then, a point of colorful light appeared in the darkness.

In the dark, it was incredibly dazzling and conspicuous.

The scholar looked at Li Fan. "Do you understand now?"

"Such treasures, as long as they exist in the world, whether or not they've been refined by someone, they all appear like this."

"Once... some people thoroughly searched the entire Xuanhuang Realm. Except for the Heavenly Mystery Mirror, nothing like the treasures on the realm vessels exists in the world today."

"So, your Seven-Colored Divine Light must have just appeared recently..."

Hearing this, Li Fan's face became somewhat unsightly.

He didn't expect that, although the Seven-Colored Divine Light was powerful, it would be so eye-catching in the eyes of a true expert?

Facing the scholar's inquiry, Li Fan was also anxiously considering how to answer.

After a moment, he came up with a plan.

Making a very distressed expression, struggling visibly, he finally sighed and said, "Forget it, I knew this matter couldn't be concealed forever."

"Senior, come with me, and you'll understand at a glance."

Saying that, he awakened Lin Ling, who had been in a dazed state, watching from the side without daring to interrupt.

Then, they dived into the ground and headed straight for Yongyunzhou.

In the earth veins, the Stone Tablet Scholar walked casually, following at a steady pace.

Seeing this scene, Li Fan couldn't help but marvel.

But he also thought, "No wonder in the previous life, even though he had treasures like the Fishing Pond, Zhong Shentong didn't keep watch over them. Instead, he roamed around recklessly."

"Presumably, after leaving Yongyunzhou and revealing the Seven-Colored Divine Light, he was discovered by this Stone Tablet Scholar, who then came knocking on his door."

"Forced to lose ownership of the ultimate treasure."

"How careless."

Chapter 867: Seeker of Liberation

"I'm afraid Zhong Shentong, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, can possess treasures like the Seven-Colored Jade Illusionary Radiance without being snatched away by others because he handed over the Fishing Pond and received its protection," Li Fan sighed inwardly.

He couldn't help but lament in his heart.

Originally, he shouldn't have overlooked this point. However, the joy of obtaining an ultimate treasure and then successfully breaking through made his mentality somewhat floaty, causing him to neglect this peculiar aspect.

"But it's not a bad thing either. At least, now I know that the Seven-Colored Divine Light can't be used easily and has attracted this powerful figure."

Li Fan glanced discreetly at the Stone Tablet Scholar behind him.

In the flow of the earth's veins, the scholar walked casually, neither fast nor slow.

The ancient trees in the earth veins, which would usually attack intruding cultivators, showed no signs of movement. Everything was remarkably calm, and even Lin Ling's calls went unanswered.

Li Fan inwardly cursed and urged Lin Ling to continue moving.

Meanwhile, in Jiushan Prefecture, the previous meeting point.

Not long after Li Fan and the Stone Tablet Scholar left together, a cultivator dressed in the style of the Five Elders of the Five Elders Council arrived.

Having waited for a long time without seeing anyone, he couldn't help but become puzzled.

In Yongyunzhou.

In a small temple between the mountains, outside the Fishing Pond.

"Senior, please have a look." Li Fan respectfully pointed to the small pond in front.

Because Ji Shaoli had informed him in advance, Zhong Shentong already knew that someone would come.

He watched the Stone Tablet Scholar and Li Fan without daring to make any moves. He protected Liuli behind him, firmly holding her head down to prevent her from peeking.

The Stone Tablet Scholar observed with interest for a long time.

"It's just an ordinary small pond..."

"Could there be something mysterious about it?"

The scholar became interested.

Li Fan gestured for Zhong Shentong to step forward and demonstrate.

"I've already used up my chances for today," Zhong Shentong said helplessly.

Seeing this, Li Fan had to personally take action.

Sitting by the pond, he fished with proper posture.

In the next moment, strange colors erupted in the eyes of the Stone Tablet Scholar.

When Li Fan finished fishing and showed him the white light in his hand, the scholar suddenly realized.

"So, that's how it is."

He eagerly stepped forward, wanting to give it a try as well.

Li Fan was about to remind him of the correct usage of the Fishing Pond when he saw the Stone Tablet Scholar ponder for a moment. Then, his figure blurred, directly transforming his appearance!

The owner of that appearance was someone Li Fan was very familiar with.

It was the eccentric fishing old man!

However, the fish basket on his back had been replaced by a heavy blue stone tablet!

"Oh right, I forgot to tell you. This scholar doesn't have my original appearance."

"But rather, it's an imitation of someone from the Five Elders Council."

The "fishing old man" smiled, humming something as he cast his line.

His expression and posture were almost indistinguishable from a real fisherman.

Li Fan felt a sinking feeling. Initially, he had somewhat underestimated this Lifeseizing Realm expert due to their previous encounter. After all, the monitoring function of the Creation Stone Tablet only worked in certain areas.

However, this person, who couldn't discern his origin, acted like an ordinary cultivator and was joyous upon seeing the precious Fishing Pond. Unintentionally, Li Fan had lowered his "demeanor."

But now...

This person was equally deep in hiding.

Although not reaching the realm of defying natural order, he was undoubtedly not to be underestimated.

Li Fan stood silently on the side, not daring to act recklessly.

Zhong Shentong resembled a statue, frozen in both expression and posture.

Only Lin Ling and Liuli, the two daring ones, were sneakily staring at the Stone Tablet Fisherman.

The first fishing process of the fisherman seemed extraordinarily lengthy.

He appeared deeply immersed in the fishing process.

Until half a day later, he remained seated, unmoving. This made Li Fan suspect whether he had failed but was still pretending.

However, with the emergence of a dazzling golden light in the small temple in the mountains, Li Fan's doubts quickly dissipated.

Watching the golden light in the hands of the Stone Tablet Fisherman, Li Fan couldn't help but question life.

Zhong Shentong, too, was completely shocked and couldn't believe his eyes.

The Stone Tablet Fisherman stared at the light ball in his hand for a while. "The Emperor's Qi Manual?"

"It can achieve the status of an Emperor without cultivation, gathering the life energy and the fortune of a dynasty. It can make one a powerhouse comparable to the Lifeseizing Realm without practicing... It's boring to think about fighting all day long."

The Stone Tablet Fisherman was bored. "Here, take it."

Saying that, he casually threw the golden light ball toward Li Fan and the others.

Although Zhong Shentong wanted to reach out and catch it, under Li Fan's eyes filled with murderous intent, he didn't dare to act recklessly.

Li Fan took the golden light ball and quickly checked its contents.

The contents matched what the Stone Tablet Fisherman had said.

It was a unique cultivation method passed down in a world without spiritual energy.

"It's quite unique."

"Unfortunately, to condense the fortune into a classic on the scale mentioned in the manual requires the efforts of hundreds of years and generations."

"It's mediocre."

Li Fan regretfully commented, but still solemnly stored it in his storage ring.

Looking at the Stone Tablet Fisherman, seeing that he was still fishing, Li Fan couldn't help but say, "Senior, this Fishing Pond only has one opportunity per day."

The Stone Tablet Fisherman yawned, "I know."

"But I'm just fishing for the sake of fishing."

Li Fan couldn't help but be amazed.

The Stone Tablet Fisherman seemed to genuinely enjoy the process of fishing and didn't care whether he could catch a light ball artifact.

Compared to Zhong Shentong and Li Fan, he was like a true fisherman.

"From now on, I'll settle here."

"You don't need to be nervous, just pretend I don't exist."

"I don't want anything caught from fishing. Give it all to you."

The Stone Tablet Fisherman suddenly spoke.

Anticipating this, even if the other party said so, how could Li Fan possibly ignore such a powerful Lifeseizing Realm expert?

"Senior, could it be that you want to find something useful from this Fishing Pond?"

The Stone Tablet Fisherman seemed to have no ill intentions.

Bravely, Li Fan asked.

The Stone Tablet Fisherman's answer was straightforward, "Yes. In the Xuanhuang Realm, there is nothing that can remove the stone tablet on my back."

"Perhaps something like that could exist in this Fishing Pond."

This answer caught Li Fan off guard, leaving him in silence.

As for Zhong Shentong and Liuli, they were full of curiosity, looking at the ancient stone tablet behind the Stone Tablet Fisherman.

"Too tired. Too painful."

The Stone Tablet Fisherman sighed while fishing.

"Everything happening in the Xuanhuang Realm at every moment."

"Even if you don't want to know, it appears uncontrollably in your mind."

"Do you think it's a good thing?"

The Stone Tablet Fisherman shook his head repeatedly.

"At the beginning, I tried to split my head open."

"But the stone tablet won't be destroyed, and I won't die."

"Even if I'm just a set of white bones, memories will still appear in my mind."

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 868: A Thousand Years of Calculation

The words of the Stone Tablet Fisherman frightened Liuli and Lin Ling, making their faces turn pale.

Li Fan also looked serious.

Being forced to accept countless information every moment, longing for death but unable to achieve it... It was indeed an extremely painful experience.

"If a method is truly found from this Fishing Pond to sever the connection between the stone tablet and the senior, would the senior die?" The small temple fell silent for a moment, and Li Fan, bravely, asked.

The Stone Tablet Fisherman chuckled lightly, still facing the water, speaking with a tranquil tone, "I'm tired of living, just want to live a bit more relaxed. It's not that I don't want to live."

Li Fan understood.

After finishing speaking, the Stone Tablet Fisherman closed his eyes. Appearing like he didn't want to be disturbed, Li Fan then led Zhong Shentong and Liuli into the small temple.

"Senior, who is that..." Zhong Shentong asked nervously.

"Knowing too much won't benefit you. Just be obedient, and any guidance from him will be a great blessing for you." Li Fan said coldly.

Zhong Shentong nodded quickly.

Li Fan then looked at Lin Ling. "From now on, everything senior fishes up will be taken care of by you. I will come periodically to collect them."

Lin Ling readily agreed.

Finally, Li Fan's gaze fell on Little Liuli.

This Little Liuli had a mysterious origin. She was formed from a transparent fruit that Zhong Shentong had fished up from the Fishing Pond. It was at least a creation of the Gold-tier level, not to be underestimated.

However, her details were still unclear. Yet, for this naïve little Taoist, Li Fan had ways to handle her without any ulterior motives.

Wearing a gentle expression, Li Fan softly instructed Liuli, reassuring her that the Stone Tablet Fisherman was a good person, and she didn't need to be afraid of him. She could accompany him to fish whenever there was nothing to do.

Little Liuli dared not speak, just nodding in confusion.

"With the presence of Senior Stone Tablet, the Fishing Pond is worry-free. It can be considered a blessing in disguise." Li Fan thought to himself.

As for the leak about the Fishing Pond, Li Fan seemed very helpless on the surface.

But in reality, he didn't care at all.

For him, the only secret that couldn't be coveted by outsiders...

Was only the "True Return."

If the existence of the "True Return" were exposed, even if the current situation seemed peaceful, he would immediately enact the "True Return."

That was Li Fan's bottom line.

...

The Stone Tablet Fisherman sat by the small pond, fishing all night.

Without any movement, like a statue.

The next day, when he raised his fishing rod again, he only caught a white light ball.

This surprised Li Fan a bit.

"As long as it gets hooked, it's a good catch. In my eyes, there is no difference."

"Moreover, something that can help me sever the bond of the Creation Stone Tablet might not necessarily be of high rank."

The Stone Tablet Fisherman lazily explained.

But it was better off not explaining.

Concerning the deepest secret of the other party, Li Fan didn't ask much.

Instead, he sought advice on how to conceal the Seven-Colored Divine Light.

After a moment of silence, the Stone Tablet Fisherman seemed to be pondering.

"It's not impossible."

After a moment, he gave an answer. "The reason why I could see through the Seven-Colored Divine Light at a glance is because its unique fluctuations are too conspicuous. It's like the only beam of light in the dark."

"But if the user of the Seven-Colored Divine Light, namely you, can emit fluctuations not weaker than the Seven-Colored Divine Light, you can suppress its traces. It's like a beam of light in the daytime, naturally blending into the surroundings."

Hearing this, Li Fan felt a moment of speechlessness.

Being on the same level as the Seven-Colored Divine Light, which was refined from the original source of the heavenly light in the cultivation world, would require at least a level above the Unity Realm, right?

If he has this strength, why bother hiding it?

It seemed like the Stone Tablet Fisherman could perceive what Li Fan was thinking. He turned around and gave him a glance.

"Others might not be able to, but you are different."

Li Fan's heart tightened.

"Weren't you the one who broke through the Nascent Soul Realm by swallowing the [Five Elements Origin Celestial Cave]?" the Stone Tablet Fisherman asked.

"That thing can barely be considered half of the cultivation world," he continued.

The Stone Tablet Fisherman's words made Li Fan slightly stunned.

"Hehe, don't think that every cultivation world is like the Xuanhuang Realm. In ancient times, Xuanhuang was considered relatively large among many lower realms."

"Let alone now."

"If you can fully unleash the power of the Five Elements Origin Celestial Cave, under the Longevity Realm, you won't be invincible, but you can certainly remain unbeaten," the Stone Tablet Fisherman said casually.

Although Li Fan had expected this, he couldn't help but be overjoyed.

"Back then, the secret technique of the [One Beginning Sect], unexpectedly, after thousands of years, was picked by a Golden Core junior." The Stone Tablet Fisherman seemed to recall something and chuckled with a deep voice.

Li Fan looked curiously, and the Stone Tablet Fisherman explained.

"At the beginning of the great calamity, each sect had its own way to cope. The [One Beginning Sect] found the root of the Xuanhuang world and forcibly created the Five Elements Celestial Cave with a secret method."

"According to them, the heavenly dao of the Xuanhuang world had been eroded and reversed, beyond recovery. Instead of abandoning it, they extracted its essence, using the Five Elements Celestial Cave as the prototype to create a new world within it!"

"Similar to a fetus being born from the mother's body."

"The idea was good, but unfortunately, humans were still struggling for survival. Not to mention the heavenly dao?" The Stone Tablet Fisherman sneered.

"The plan was interrupted as soon as it started when someone came knocking on their door."

Although he was very curious about who had stopped the plan of the One Beginning Sect, since the other party showed no intention to tell, Li Fan had to suppress his curiosity.

After speaking so much, the Stone Tablet Fisherman seemed a bit tired.

He closed his eyes again.

Li Fan, who observed the situation, promptly withdrew.

On the third day, the Stone Tablet Fisherman fished up a purple light ball.

"Huh?"

Instead of directly giving it to Lin Ling, he carefully examined it with great interest.

"What's wrong, senior?" Li Fan quickly asked.

The Stone Tablet Fisherman didn't answer, as if he had discovered something extremely interesting.

He stared blankly at the pond.

Motionless.

Like petrification, it lasted for a full seven days.

During these seven days, Li Fan never left.

Following the Stone Tablet Fisherman's line of sight, he also looked over.

Trying to comprehend, Li Fan suddenly felt the reason the other party was attracted.

The result was obvious.

Even if he couldn't see anything, Li Fan still put on a thoughtful expression.

"You also see it?"

After who knows how long, one evening, the Stone Tablet Fisherman suddenly woke up from silence.

"I'm dull and couldn't see any mysteries," Li Fan honestly said.

"I just feel that this Fishing Pond is extremely mysterious and could be very beneficial to me."

This nonsense made the Stone Tablet Fisherman nod in agreement.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 869: Li Fan's Clever Plan

"Indeed, I had a misjudgment before."

"I originally thought that the things in this Fishing Pond were placed there when it was forged a thousand years ago."

"But the thing I fished up last time wasn't something from that time at all."

"It's something from the last five hundred years."

The Stone Tablet Fisherman opened his palm, revealing a curved black jade resembling a horn.

"This is..." Li Fan couldn't recognize it.

"The [Conquest Horn]. An invention of the Myriad Immortals Alliance. It can temporarily harness the power of a province's heavenly dao when blown," the Stone Tablet Fisherman succinctly explained.

"Myriad Immortals Alliance?" Li Fan was initially puzzled, then his expression changed.

Turning his head to look at the Fishing Pond, thoughts surged in his mind.

"Do you understand now? The things inside this Fishing Pond are not fixed. They are replenished from the outside, not only from the Xuanhuang Realm but even from other cultivation realms."

"While we are fishing in the starry sky, it is also fishing in the various heavens..."

The Stone Tablet Fisherman's words confirmed Li Fan's speculation.

It was like causing an overwhelming wave, making his state of mind unable to calm for a long time.

Even though he had personally experienced the wonders of the Fishing Pond, he never expected that it still wasn't fully understood.

"So, this is the power of immortal tools."

"Not only does it contain countless treasures, but there's no need to worry about exhausting them."

Li Fan thought so.

However, what the Stone Tablet Fisherman cared about was different.

His calm tone had a few ripples, "This is the true Way of [Fishing]."

"This immortal tool is not simple."

"If I can master it, maybe I can fish the heavens without relying on it, finding what I want on my own." The Stone Tablet Fisherman's voice sounded excited.

Li Fan couldn't help but fall into silence.

Only then did he react.

An extraordinary item like the Stone Tablet, how could it possibly choose an ordinary person as its host?

With the Stone Tablet Fisherman revealing new discoveries, he stopped fishing.

At the same time, his appearance changed.

No longer in the form of a fisherman but that of a seemingly newborn baby.

He closed his eyes and slept soundly by the pond.

After waiting for a few more days without any signs of awakening, Li Fan shook his head and left.

"Even with the Stone Tablet Senior's comprehension, understanding the Way of Fishing might not be a matter of a moment."

"But he occupies the Fishing Pond, and no one dares to disturb him."

Li Fan felt helpless.

He could only instruct Lin Ling to wait here and contact him if there were any movements.

Li Fan, on the other hand, returned alone to the Spiritwood Realm.

At this time, he received news from the Five Elders Association.

"Even the contact from the Five Elders Association was fake."

"This Senior Stone Tablet really put on quite a performance." Thinking back to the other party's tone and expression, Li Fan shook his head secretly.

"Fortunately, he has a good temper. He didn't try to kill me without saying a word."

Following the Stone Tablet Senior these past few days, besides learning some ancient secrets, the most important thing was understanding the nature of the conflict between the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Association.

Recalling the other party's sighs, Li Fan thought.

"The Xuanhuang Realm is like a sinking ship."

"The Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Association are vying for the ultimate control of the ship."

"They both have absolute confidence that they can free the Xuanhuang Realm from its sinking fate. But the premise is that they must determine a final ruler."

"Hehe, just like the Immortal Dao Ten Sects from many years ago."

"It's not that they are blinded by power, but they want to escape. They must coordinate and concentrate the entire world's power. If there are people playing both sides internally..."

"So, fighting and killing is okay. Once it really threatens the existence of the Xuanhuang Realm, both sides will join hands. Just like five hundred years ago, when those traitors returned."

Chapter 869: Li Fan's Cunning Plan

"Five hundred years ago, it should be when the small worlds counterattacked. However, these small worlds seem to be just puppets. The true mastermind should be the cultivators who once betrayed the Xuanhuang Realm." In the Spiritwood Realm, Li Fan pondered over Stone Tablet Fisherman's words, which corroborated with the secrets he had previously investigated.

"No wonder the bearer of the Creation Stone Tablet knows so many secrets. It's a pity that his strength is insufficient."

"To know more, it all depends on the other party's mood to reveal. Otherwise, we might have to interrogate him day and night."

Li Fan's thoughts slowly turned.

From the perspective of Senior Stone Tablet, many things that Li Fan couldn't see clearly and seemed to be shrouded in mist became clear.

At that time, after hearing the Stone Tablet Fisherman's discourse on the competition between the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Association, Li Fan couldn't help but ask, "What about the Patriarch of the Transmission Sect? What is his attitude towards all of this?"

The Stone Tablet Fisherman seemed to have heard an extremely amusing joke.

He laughed as if no one was around.

Then he answered, "The Patriarch of the Transmission Sect?"

"Although Xuanhuang is sinking..."

"But the Patriarch can fly, right?"

"He doesn't care at all."

"However..."

The Stone Tablet Fisherman's smile suddenly receded.

"This is just my speculation."

"In fact, for the Patriarch of the Transmission Sect, who regards Xuanhuang Realm as his own property, his attitude is also somewhat unpredictable."

"Otherwise, over these years, he could have left already."

The voice of the Stone Tablet Fisherman gradually weakened, becoming inaudible.

...

"The Patriarch can fly."

"It seems that he has already been able to ignore the influence of the Immortal Domain and leave on his own."

Li Fan contemplated in secret.

"I wonder, to what extent must one's strength reach to escape from the Xuanhuang Realm?"

"Perhaps..."

"I can give it a try."

Suddenly, this thought emerged in Li Fan's mind.

Although in the Xuanhuang Realm, besides the Patriarch of the Transmission Sect, there was no precedent for any Longevity Realm cultivator escaping.

But Xuanhuang Longevity is bound to the world.

It might not be that their strength is insufficient but rather the counteraction caused by the bond.

Just like Senior Stone Tablet.

"Moreover, it doesn't necessarily have to rely solely on one's own strength. External forces can also be used."

Li Fan recalled the countless spires towering over the Xuanhuang land during the 114th era.

"I achieved Nascent Soul with the Five Elements Origin Cave. If I merge the five elements into one and refine a new world."

"Then, by building spires on the land and utilizing thrust..."

"There might be a possibility of escaping the Xuanhuang Realm."

In fact, with the presence of [Still True], Li Fan had no intention of confronting the Xuanhuang Realm head-on.

If possible, finding another cultivation realm would undoubtedly be much better than staying in this cursed place.

After all, it's not surprising for the Xuanhuang Realm, on the brink of sinking, to have strange occurrences.

Along the way, Li Fan had encountered too many monsters and demons.

"A dual approach, a kind of attempt."

Li Fan silently calculated in his mind.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 870: Glorious Path of Union

To escape the sinking ship that is the Xuanhuang Realm, it was essential to have the corresponding technical reserves.

Relying solely on Li Fan himself would clearly not be sufficient for this endeavor.

By drawing inspiration from the existing achievements of the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Association, and then innovating upon them, there might be a chance to break through.

"I wonder how the Immortal Candidate Plan is progressing."

"Even if the Myriad Immortals Alliance had ill intentions from the beginning, until the truth is revealed, they are still the highly anticipated Immortal Candidates, the hope of the alliance."

"They should be able to play a role as insiders."

With these thoughts, Li Fan replied to the Five Elders Association without revealing the presence of Senior Stone Tablet. He claimed to have received an urgent notice, and due to the risk of exposure in this meeting, it had to be canceled.

As for the issue, it must be on the side of the Five Elders Association. Li Fan also instructed them to thoroughly investigate; it must be infiltrated by Myriad Immortals Alliance spies.

Although it was a fabricated story, Li Fan didn't care. As long as they investigated, they were bound to find something.

Setting aside the matters with the Five Elders Association for now, Li Fan focused his consciousness on the Five Elements Origin Cave within his body.

Previously, he thought that this Five Elements Cave was naturally derived from the evolution of the Xuanhuang Realm, and thus, there was nothing to fear.

However, now, thanks to Senior Stone Tablet's information, he learned that it was the work of [One Beginning Sect] thousands of years ago...

Given Li Fan's cautious nature, he would definitely conduct a careful inspection.

Fortunately, it was just a false alarm for Li Fan. After careful examination, there were no imprints left by the remnants of [One Beginning Sect] within the Five Elements Grand Cave.

This slightly relieved Li Fan.

After all, Xuanhuang Realm was treacherous, and any possible threat had to be treated with caution.

"With the completion of Nascent Soul, the next step is to look forward to the Nascent Divinity."

"The transformation of life by the heavens..."

In Li Fan's mind, scenes from the 115th era flashed, where Mr. Bai traveled across various places in Xuanhuang, assimilating the changes in Xuanhuang into his own Origin Cave.

Thanks to Mr. Bai, Li Fan was well aware of almost all the usable "Transformations of Life" available in Xuanhuang within the next hundred years.

"With the [Seated Immortal Technique] and the continuous feedback of cultivation from the members of the Universal Alliance, there is almost no need to worry about the accumulation of cultivation."

"The only concern is the existence of Heavenly Calamities and how to harmoniously accommodate several different Transformations of Life."

After achieving Nascent Soul with the Five Elements Grand Cave, Li Fan had lost interest in the ordinary methods of Nascent Divinity. Even the soul of the heavens and the earth didn't attract him much.

Too weak!

It wasn't that Li Fan's mentality had swelled.

It was a fact.

Although he hadn't exerted his full strength so far, the immense power derived from the Five Elements Grand Cave within his body had already surpassed the category of ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators by a wide margin.

When he was in the Foundation Establishment stage, he could rely on various means to contend with Nascent Soul cultivators.

Now, with his strength having increased many times over, crushing an ordinary Nascent Soul was no more difficult than crushing an ant.

In addition to having the Five Elements Annihilation Sword, the Seven-Colored Jade Illusory Radiance, and even the [Chaos] technique in his possession.

Entities like Vermillion Blaze and Black Abyss, the souls of heaven and earth, were no match for him.

Only existences at the level of Mo Kill posed a slight challenge to Li Fan.

But even in front of them, he should be able to escape unscathed.

With Nascent Soul already at this level, how could Li Fan be willing to follow the ordinary path of Nascent Divinity and Union?

Like Mr. Bai, assimilating all the Transformations of Life in Xuanhuang into his own Origin Cave.

Transforming the Nascent Soul Grand Cave into an inner world.

Then skillfully assimilating many souls of the heavens and the earth, aggressively stealing the origin power of the Xuanhuang world.

This was the most ideal and power-expanding method. 

For now, let's not consider whether doing so would make him an enemy of Patriarch of the Transmission Sect.

Li Fan believed that if he could truly achieve that level, he would at least not be at a disadvantage when facing ordinary Eternal Heaven Venerables.

"Moreover, if I can find a way to escape the Xuanhuang Realm, my cultivation level in other cultivation realms, at the same realm, would definitely be unparalleled."

Xuanhuang Realm cultivators were powerful, surpassing conventional cultivation methods. Li Fan, being even stronger than ordinary New Law cultivators, had an overwhelming advantage.

However, despite having such ideals, a problem loomed before Li Fan that needed urgent resolution.

Mr. Bai was subtly the incarnation of the will of the Heavenly Dao. Taking transformations of life and the souls of heaven and earth was as easy as taking one's own belongings.

Naturally, he would encounter no resistance.

But who was Li Fan?

Why should the Heavenly Dao of Xuanhuang Realm allow him to do such a thing?

Ordinary cultivators practicing New Laws were already resented by the heavens and earth.

If Li Fan were to proceed as he imagined, it would be equivalent to skinning, boning, and extracting marrow. It was nothing less than an archenemy of the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao.

In a situation where the heavens and earth were adversaries, how could he assimilate the Transformations of Life and the souls of heaven and earth?

Even if he could forcibly absorb one or two, a riot would inevitably occur.

"Unless..."

Li Fan's eyes flickered.

For the well-experienced Li Fan, this was not an insurmountable problem. In an instant, he thought of a countermeasure.

The reason the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao was so hostile to cultivators was merely that cultivators had to seize resources from the Xuanhuang Realm for their cultivation.

As long as this aspect didn't change, there would be no possibility of resolving their conflicts.

However, now, Xuanhuang Realm was at an absolute disadvantage in the ongoing struggle.

This gave Li Fan a slim chance.

That chance was to realign, to choose to stand on the side of the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao.

Li Fan vaguely remembered that when he brought Qian Hong's remains back from the Great Mystery to the Xuanhuang Realm, there should have been an unusual phenomenon, which should have occurred at the time of death.

However, it happened again without any reason.

After completing all of this, Li Fan felt that there seemed to be some special changes in his body.

Initially, he couldn't quite understand the significance of it.

But after so many years and having browsed through countless cultivation secrets in the cultivation world, Li Fan had already understood the reason.

Although such occurrences were rare in Xuanhuang Realm, they had indeed happened.

There were cultivators who, despite being forced to cultivate new laws due to changes in the principles of the heavens and earth, overall benefited the heavens and earth during their lifetime.

For example...

Helping to slaughter New Law cultivators, accelerating the return of the way to the heavens.

Although, in the eyes of cultivators, such individuals were unquestionably true devil cultivators, subject to severe crackdowns within both the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Association.

In the eyes of the heavens and earth, they were genuinely good cultivators.

Good cultivators who stood on the side of the heavens and earth!

Of course, this was just an extreme example. Apart from slaughtering cultivators, mending the heavens and earth's defects, or helping the souls of the heavens and earth fulfill their heavenly duties...

All of these actions could increase the favorability of the heavens and earth.

Once the favorability reached a certain level, when a cultivator fell, although there would still be an anomaly, it would not be a joyous occasion.

(End of this chapter)