Chapter 1170: The World-Connecting Fleet
Back in his 119th lifetime, the Heavenly Doctor had explained to Li Fan—then disguised as the heir to Tian Jue—that upon reaching the Dao Integration realm, cultivation techniques lost much of their significance.
What became crucial was one's comprehension of the world's fundamental essence and the workings of the Heavenly Dao.
However, without the heaven-sent talent of figures like Mr. Bai or the Dharma Spreader, how could someone of ordinary aptitude possibly hope to comprehend such a profound and esoteric Dao?
Even though Li Fan could leverage his endless cycles of reincarnation, borrowing the insights of the Xuanhuang Realm's geniuses and capitalizing on countless fortuitous encounters to indirectly grasp these concepts, the results could never match the depth of genuine, firsthand enlightenment.
The discovery that worlds, too, could be "insectified" opened up an entirely new path for Li Fan.
"I can feel it," he thought. "After the Five Elements Great Cave-Heaven was insectified, my dominant consciousness within it feels just as it did when I held dominion over the Spirit Wood Realm. To become the Heavenly Dao with my own being..."
"What could be easier than comprehending oneself?"
"Although the world's laws might deviate slightly after being insectified, it can still serve as a valuable reference. And with the aid of [Truth], I can restart endlessly, giving me more than enough opportunities for trial and error."
"Excellent."
The perspective shifted back to Saint Emperor Li Ping.
Having completely subjugated the insectified Five Elements Great Cave-Heaven, Li Ping gazed down at the behemoth beneath his feet, lost in deep thought.
His original plan had been to use the grotto-heaven as a petri dish for the mutated spiritual energy. Then, in a future war against the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, he would unleash it all at once to completely transform the battlefield and catch his enemies off guard.
But now, it seemed this insectified Five Elements Great Cave-Heaven had other, far greater uses.
A thought stirred in Li Ping's mind. Outside the grotto-heaven, the mutated spiritual energy once again coalesced, forming nine thick, black tentacles that stretched out toward the Great Qi small world.
Compared to the colossal Five Elements Great Cave-Heaven, the Great Qi small world was like an ant at a giant's feet.
Under Li Ping's deliberate guidance, both the Heaven and Earth Myriad Spirits Array and the Sage Dynasty's providence parted their defenses, allowing the nine tentacles to easily sink their roots deep into the small world.
They then coiled around the world's exterior several times, securing their grip.
"Move!"
The giant formed from the Sage Dynasty's providence, standing atop the insectified Five Elements Great Cave-Heaven, issued a low command.
The grotto-heaven rumbled, seeming to spring to life in an instant. It began to move slowly toward the depths of the void, distancing itself from the Xuanhuang Realm.
Like nine massive iron chains, the tentacles towed the Great Qi small world, pulling it along on their slow journey forward.
"Relative to the sheer size of the Five Elements Great Cave-Heaven, its movement through the void is slow," Li Ping noted. "But from a cultivator's perspective, it's incredibly fast—even faster than a Soul Transformation cultivator flying with all their might."
Sensing the ever-increasing distance between his creation and the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Ping nodded in satisfaction.
Even though Li Ping had already forged the Great Qi Sage Dynasty into an impenetrable fortress, protected by the Sky Patrolling Arrows, the Heaven and Earth Myriad Spirits Array, and numerous other defenses, one problem had always remained.
The Great Qi small world was simply too close to the Xuanhuang Realm.
It lacked strategic depth. If the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance ever discovered its precise location, it would be vulnerable to a surprise attack, facing the dire predicament of being completely surrounded.
But if it were hidden deeper...
For thousands of years, the pod of Split Boundary Whales had been ceaselessly carving out new paths in the void.
They had already created a perfect hiding place.
"The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance has records of the small worlds created for the great mortal migration."
"However, when they finally lock onto its coordinates and prepare to attack, they'll find nothing but empty void where the small world used to be. I imagine their surprise will be quite profound."
"Yes, I could even set up a series of deadly arrays in the small world's original location and wait for the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance to walk right into the trap. Hahaha..."
In that instant, countless sinister schemes flooded Li Ping's mind.
The slow, deliberate movement of the entire small world went completely unnoticed by the citizens of the Great Qi Sage Dynasty.
Even the nine black tentacles rooted deep within their world were perceived by only a handful of individuals, Sun Erlang among them.
However, upon learning that this was the work of Saint Emperor Li Ping, they merely marveled at his divine power.
"Fellow Daoist, just where do you intend to drag this world to...?"
Outside the world, in the void.
Having received Li Ping's aid and recovered some of her strength, Daoist Bai Hua sensed the world's unusual movement and immediately flew out into the void to investigate.
The sight that greeted her was the insectified Five Elements grotto-heaven, its nine tentacles towing the small world steadily onward.
She considered herself worldly and knowledgeable, but even she was utterly stunned by the scene.
"Why must there be a destination?"
Li Ping dismissed his giant avatar, returning to his normal form as he spoke calmly.
The recent maneuver had consumed a certain amount of the dynasty's providence, but given the Sage Dynasty's ascendant and ever-growing fortunes, it would take less than half a year to be fully restored.
"Fellow Daoist, in your opinion, which is harder to breach: a fixed fortress, or a warship drifting unpredictably down a river?" Li Ping asked quietly.
Daoist Bai Hua instantly grasped his meaning. "Indeed," she said, nodding. "Constantly shifting its position through the void makes it impossible to lock down its coordinates, let alone launch a siege. Your plan is truly brilliant, Fellow Daoist."
Bai Hua praised him warmly.
"However, there is one drawback at present."
"What is it?"
"Propelled by just a single Five Elements Great Cave-Heaven, its speed through the void is still a bit too slow."
A sense of foreboding suddenly bloomed in Daoist Bai Hua's heart.
"Which is why I must trouble you to make a few more trips, Daoist Bai Hua."
Li Ping turned to her, his tone earnest.
"I have a few more suitable targets. While they can't match the scale of the Five Elements Great Cave-Heaven, they will suffice. Once you have transported them all here, Fellow Daoist, I will use formations to link them together. Our propulsive power will increase severalfold."
Recalling her miserable ordeal moving the Five Elements grotto-heaven, and now looking at the detailed information Li Ping had sent her on more than a dozen *other* grotto-heavens, Daoist Bai Hua felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. The future seemed bleak indeed.
"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist," Li Ping said with a smile, pointing a finger into the air. "You are putting forth such effort for the Sage Dynasty; I will naturally not treat you unfairly."
A writhing golden dragon instantly appeared before Bai Hua.
"Is this... Myriad Spirits Nectar?" Daoist Bai Hua exclaimed in shock.
"Ah, no," she corrected herself a moment later, a hint of disappointment in her voice. "It's just a highly condensed form of cultivation base."
"Hehe. Source Power Essence can only be condensed by a True Immortal; how could I possibly wield such a thing?" Li Ping said lightly. "However, this refined source power should be more than enough to mend the damage you'll incur moving the grotto-heavens."
The source power forming the golden dragon was, of course, the collective energy gathered from the citizens of Great Qi cultivating the [Enlightened Wisdom Spirit Essence Technique].
It was a tier below Source Power Essence—a form of pure, attribute-less cultivation energy.
Daoist Bai Hua maintained her composure for a moment, but then opened her mouth and swallowed the golden dragon whole.
She refined it in an instant. Not only did her old injuries vanish, but her dark-gold, glazed body even grew a fraction more solid.
"Many thanks for your aid, Fellow Daoist."
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