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Chapter 1248: Reversing the Xuanhuang Principle Again

Hearing Sun Erlang’s words, the white-haired Daoist offered a faint smile.

"You're right. Every person has their own independent will and thoughts. It is the instinct of all living beings to flee in their own direction when disaster strikes. Getting everyone to unite in heart and mind is indeed a monumental task. The long history of the Xuanhuang Realm is proof enough of that."

The white-haired Daoist gently waved his horsetail whisk, and in an instant, countless images materialized in the pure white space before Sun Erlang’s eyes.

A dark shadow, representing the apocalypse, hovered over the Xuanhuang Realm, threatening to descend at any moment. Yet, when it came to confronting this catastrophe, the various sects and factions of the Xuanhuang Realm each clung to their own disparate views.

Some were determined to abandon the realm and flee. Some chose to bury their heads in the sand like cowards. Others worked tirelessly, trying to rally everyone to stand united.

And then there were those who exploited the chaos, seeking to satisfy their own selfish desires.

The figures in these scenes had no distinct features; they were all represented by faceless mannequins.

But the absurd farces they enacted were all too real.

"But that was the Xuanhuang Realm of the past."

"A multitude with a single heart, a will that tears destiny apart. Divine power openly aligned, carefree, and so fearless in mind. A single word to settle the nine tripods..."

As the Zhenshi Heavenly Venerate spoke, what appeared before Sun Erlang were detailed vignettes of human life within the territories of the Five Elders Council.

"What do you think? How does this compare to the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance?" the Zhenshi Heavenly Venerate asked.

"It is, of course, far superior to the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance," Sun Erlang answered without a moment's hesitation.

Then he added, "It's just a shame that all of this is built upon the immense divine power of the five Heavenly Venerates. It is as ephemeral as a flower in a mirror or the moon on the water. If one day, one of the five Heavenly Venerates were to meet a sudden end, this seemingly perfect world would shatter in an instant."

To openly discuss the potential demise of a Heavenly Venerate while standing on the territory of the Five Elders Council was a statement bordering on blasphemy, yet the white-haired Daoist before him, who was likely the Zhenshi Heavenly Venerate himself, showed no anger.

Instead, he nodded in agreement. "What you say has a sliver of truth, and yet it is entirely without merit."

Sun Erlang paused, taken aback, then bowed respectfully. "I ask for the Heavenly Venerate's guidance."

"I say you have a point because, from the perspective of an ordinary cultivator, an outsider, it certainly appears that way. The order here exists because of the five Heavenly Venerates. If we were to perish, the order would vanish with us."

"But I say you are without merit because you fail to grasp the true meaning of the Longevity realm in this world."

The Zhenshi Heavenly Venerate stroked his beard and spoke slowly, "Reverse the principle of heaven and earth to attain Longevity."

"After a cultivator reverses this principle, they naturally become a part of the world's principle itself. We are like the sunlight, the raindrops, the very air—all components that collectively constitute the 'world'."

"A person is not an isolated individual. To deny the existence of the Longevity realm and then proceed to discuss the cultivators living under its aegis is meaningless."

Sun Erlang didn't quite understand the Heavenly Venerate's words.

To him, it sounded a lot like a form of sophistry.

But a Longevity Heavenly Venerate, a being standing at the absolute apex of this world, would surely not engage in a mere war of words with a junior like him.

Sun Erlang frowned and began to ponder the statement carefully.

After a long while, a thought surfaced. "We are discussing the cultivators of the Xuanhuang Realm. That is the fundamental premise. And the Longevity Heavenly Venerates have already become an inseparable part of the Xuanhuang Realm, so..."

"No, that's not right." A sudden sense of alarm struck Sun Erlang. "The key is that your power doesn't seem to cover the entire Xuanhuang Realm, does it? It's limited to this region alone."

The Zhenshi Heavenly Venerate asked, "Have you ever perceived the existence of the Wuyou Heavenly Venerate's divine power?"

Sun Erlang nodded. "Of course, I am aware of it."

"As fellow cultivators in the Longevity realm, Wuyou's strength is not significantly greater than any of ours. What he can achieve..."

"We can naturally achieve as well," the Zhenshi Heavenly Venerate stated deliberately.

Hearing this, Sun Erlang’s first instinct was disbelief.

But as he contemplated the implications, his expression grew increasingly solemn.

"Then why?" he couldn't help but ask.

"Because the time is not yet right," the white-haired Daoist said with a light chuckle, waving his whisk once more.

The white space of the Truth Inducing Fruit began to slowly recede.

And the figure of the Zhenshi Heavenly Venerate started to blur.

"Heavenly Venerate!"

Only then did Sun Erlang suddenly remember his master's instructions. "Heavenly Venerate, do you know of the matter concerning the Eastern Extremity Heavenly Venerate?" he called out hastily.

"See for yourself, and you shall know."

The white space shattered violently.

A final, explosive burst of countless lights and shadows bloomed within Sun Erlang’s mind.

He had returned to the real world, but his mind was still immersed in the images the Zhenshi Heavenly Venerate had shown him.

"Reverse the principle of heaven and earth again? Are you mad? You've already come this far, just a single step away from reversing the principle. As long as you proceed normally, you're guaranteed to attain Longevity. Why would you do this?" a younger version of the Daoist demanded, his expression full of confusion, his words sharp.

"Longevity? It's nothing more than transforming oneself into the Dao," replied the figure opposite him. His face was obscured, but his tone dripped with disdain for the Longevity realm.

He continued, "If *that existence* wasn't here, it wouldn't matter if we became the Dao and attained Longevity. But the entire cultivation system is built upon the framework he created..."

"Xinghan, do you have any idea what the consequences will be?"

The young Daoist remained silent.

"The Xuanhuang Realm is being reborn through destruction. That is the only thing he cares about right now. He couldn't care less if someone else attains Longevity. In fact, he would be delighted to see a Longevity cultivator who fits his ideals emerge. Do you know why that is?"

The young Daoist kept his head lowered, saying nothing.

"Your talents are no less than mine. How could you not understand? You're just clinging to a sliver of hope."

"Let me be blunt. One day, when the Xuanhuang Realm's rebirth is complete, the so-called Longevity Heavenly Venerates will be completely assimilated into the new world's Heavenly Dao... a fate worse than death, or perhaps beyond life and death altogether."

"We'll be nothing more than tools for reshaping the world," the figure scoffed.

"That's just your imagination, your speculation..." After a long pause, the young Daoist weakly retorted.

The blurry figure ignored him, speaking as if to himself. "But I refuse to believe it! I will fight him!"

"Reverse the principle of heaven and earth to attain Longevity. That is the foundation of his Dao, but it is also his greatest weakness. If I can reverse *his* principle again, I can instantly steal all of his creation and take his place..."

"Dongji! You..." The young Daoist frantically glanced around, terrified that someone might overhear these heaven-defying words.

But the blurry figure was consumed by ambition, his eyes burning with it.

"Don't be nervous, Xinghan. I am not alone on this path," Dongji suddenly said, his tone reassuring.

"Within that Immortal-Mortal Miasma lies the secret to reversing the principle of heaven and earth again. It comes from the previous, deceased Xuanhuang Great Heavenly Venerate..."

"I've recently found some clues. As long as I..."

Boom!

Before Dongji could finish, the image suddenly shattered.

When the scene before him cleared again, it was still Dongji's figure.

But...

The once proud and ambitious Dongji looked utterly grotesque.

His head hung low, his body bare.

His long hair drifted around him, and from his flesh, countless threads stretched out.

They extended into an endless void beyond sight.

"Dongji!"

This horrifying scene, accompanied by the Zhenshi Heavenly Venerate's shocked cry, abruptly shattered and vanished.

...

"What was that?" Sun Erlang's mind reeled.

Though the exchange had been brief, every secret it revealed was world-shattering.

Sun Erlang first looked around and realized that not much time had passed since he entered the Truth Inducing Fruit's illusionary world of creation.

There were still cultivators with their eyes closed, undergoing the trial on the fruits.

But Sun Erlang no longer had any desire to linger here.

He had to return as quickly as possible and tell his master what he had seen and heard.

Fortunately, the attention of the cultivators in the city was focused on the "prodigies" still trapped within the illusion.

Few paid any mind to a failure like Sun Erlang.

He slipped out of the city unnoticed and headed straight for the entrance to the Great Qi small world.

As he flew, Sun Erlang's thoughts raced.

"The Zhenshi Heavenly Venerate knew I was here all along?"

"That's why he appeared in the illusion to meet me."

"They already knew what happened to the Eastern Extremity Heavenly Venerate. Since I came here on my master's orders, they used me to convey these images to him..."

"What is the deeper meaning behind all this?"

Even though Sun Erlang considered himself well-versed in the ways of the world, he found it difficult to maintain his composure in the face of a truth that touched upon the deepest secrets of the Xuanhuang Realm.

Involuntarily, Sun Erlang pushed himself to fly even faster.

...

In truth, there was no need for him to personally return to the Great Qi small world.

Through the golden web woven from Source Power Essence, the Faceless Saint Emperor had already perceived everything that happened to Sun Erlang the moment he entered the illusion of truth.

Likewise, the Zhenshi Heavenly Venerate hadn't truly been speaking to a minor cultivator who had yet to even reach Dao Integration.

He had been communicating with the Faceless Saint Emperor.

Li Ping carefully replayed the images sent by the Zhenshi Heavenly Venerate.

The other party's cryptic words echoed in his mind.

"Tools for the Dharma Spreader's new world?"

"It seems they have some self-awareness. Seeing me emerge to contend with the Dharma Spreader, they made a veiled gesture of goodwill..."

"However, I cannot fully trust them."

Li Ping snorted coldly.

It was true that the five Heavenly Venerates had transformed themselves into the Dao.

But faced with the Dharma Spreader's pressure, Li Ping refused to believe they had done nothing but sit idly by for all these years.

"The Land of Carefree Joy has become a world unto itself."

"The Realm of Reality has given birth to countless worlds."

"As for the others, they've mostly adopted a wait-and-see attitude, sitting on the mountain to watch the tigers fight."

"Only someone truly desperate, like the current Heavenly Dao of Xuanhuang, would eagerly grasp at any glimmer of hope."

Li Ping's thoughts were perfectly calm, unaffected by the slightly horrifying images sent by the Zhenshi Heavenly Venerate.

"But what the Eastern Extremity Heavenly Venerate said... that the secret to reversing the principle of heaven and earth again is hidden in the Immortal-Mortal Miasma... that might be true."

"Dongji's Pure Body Spirit Pool, just like the Xuanhuang Cleansing Heart Mantra, can nullify the principle that Su Bai reversed."

"Reversing the principle of heaven and earth again..."

Li Ping mused, pondering these words.

"I can't rely on it entirely, but it's not a bad way to shake the Dharma Spreader's power."

With this in mind, Li Ping's figure flickered and reappeared near Yin Shangren.

Xu Ke was also present.

They were both observing a little girl who looked as if she were carved from jade, marveling at her.

Seeing Li Ping arrive, Yin Shangren spoke first. "You're just in time. Come and take a look at this little one."

The Saint Emperor's majestic aura and his faceless form made the little girl a bit nervous.

But she summoned her courage and looked directly at Li Ping.

His divine sense swept through the girl's body in an instant. Li Ping paused, then asked via voice transmission, "Didn't you say they were all practicing the New New Method?"

"How is it that this child is practicing the Dharma Spreader's method?"

Xu Ke answered with a touch of emotion, "Saint Emperor, please don't misunderstand. No one here taught her this cultivation method. She figured it out on her own."

"And in this batch of children, she's not the only one."

Yin Shangren's tone was also strange. "As they say, a desperate person will find a new path. They failed at the Foundation Establishment Through Oneself method, and seeing their peers constantly progressing, they instinctively stumbled upon another path of cultivation out of desperation."

"To avoid influencing the children practicing the New New Method, we had no choice but to bring them here."

The Faceless Saint Emperor fell silent upon hearing this.

This time, he used the Source Power Essence to sweep through the children, observing the detailed state of their bodies.

"This is no coincidence."

"The Dharma Spreader's method has already become a part of the Xuanhuang Realm's Heavenly Dao."

"It's like a path that naturally exists in the world. Even if you blindfold yourself, you will instinctively walk onto it."

Li Ping was reminded of the scene in the world Sun Erlang had just created.

"This is the 'Dao' of Xuanhuang. The supreme Dao. Even the Heavenly Dao of Xuanhuang itself cannot escape its influence."

"Follow its Dao, and you can attain the highest state in this realm—Longevity."

"To speak of opposing its Dao..."

"It's either you die, or I do."

An image of Dongji's bizarre, puppet-like body flashed before Li Ping's eyes.

But there was not a trace of fear or hesitation in Li Ping's heart.

"Su Bai, Dongji... they failed."

"That doesn't mean I will!"

"The Dharma Spreader is strong, but he is not unbeatable."

Li Ping's strategy hadn't changed from the very beginning.

"To successfully oppose the Dao, one must first reverse its principle and disrupt its foundation."

"Second, one must use strength to crush strength, to break the situation with overwhelming force. The Dharma Spreader's Dao is indeed supreme in the Xuanhuang Realm. But the world is not limited to just the Xuanhuang Realm. Beyond the world, there is the Star Sea. And beyond the Star Sea, there is the High Wall..."

As his thoughts turned, Li Ping explained the purpose of his visit to Yin Shangren and Xu Ke.

"The Immortal-Mortal Miasma?"

Yin Shangren found it strange that Li Ping would suddenly bring up his former research subject.

"Mr. Bai paid the price of his own life to succeed in reversing the principle. Because he was so favored by the Heavenly Dao, the deeper the entanglement, the greater the backlash. In the end, he could not escape his fate and returned his Dao to Heaven..." Yin Shangren explained.

"If it is a reversed principle, then why can it be dispelled?"

"Doesn't that mean that every act of dispelling the Immortal-Mortal Miasma is equivalent to reversing the principle of heaven and earth again?"

Li Ping asked calmly.

This was a question Yin Shangren had never considered before. He stood frozen on the spot.

(End of Chapter)