Chapter 1249: Mr. Bai's Gift
"Reverse the logic, reverse the logic..."
"Could it really be like this?"
Yin Shangren stood frozen for a long moment before an uncontrollable tremor ran through his body.
Xu Ke's aged face was also flush with excitement. "No wonder Mr. Bai always told me back then that I only needed to wait."
"Aside from the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao descending to save itself, there are also countless mortals continuously embarking on the path of cultivation. The process of cultivation is the process of reversing the logic of the Immortal-Mortal Miasma. Thousands of years have passed, and the effect has accumulated day by day, month by month..."
The Faceless Saint Emperor spoke quietly, "What's counterintuitive is that eliminating the Immortal-Mortal Miasma—a task that seems utterly simple in the eyes of a cultivator, the very first step and prerequisite of cultivation—is, in essence, the same as achieving Longevity, the ultimate goal of cultivation."
"Both are acts of reversing the logic of heaven and earth."
At these words, incredibly complex expressions surfaced in the eyes of both Yin Shangren and Xu Ke.
Yin Shangren said, "If the 'Reverse Logic Heavenly Venerate' were still alive, it would not be so easy for the mortals of the Xuanhuang Realm to reverse the world's logic and embark on the path of cultivation. But precisely because Mr. Bai has already fallen, the restrictions imposed by the logic of the Immortal-Mortal Miasma have been weakened immensely."
Xu Ke's lips trembled, and it took him a long moment to force out the words. "The last time I saw Mr. Bai, I could see the resolve to die in his heart. I could never let it go all these years, but now... I think I'm beginning to understand."
Yin Shangren, however, fell back into an obsessive muttering. "Everyone in the world is reversing the logic of heaven and earth, but in the end, it's all still within the Dharma Spreader's cultivation system. Even knowing this, what use is it?"
"There must be something we've overlooked..."
But Li Ping stated with certainty, "The answer should lie within the Immortal-Mortal Miasma itself. When it comes to research on the miasma, there is likely no one in the current Xuanhuang Realm who has delved deeper than you. I'm afraid I must trouble you, fellow Daoist, to work a little harder."
"Although there are no longer any mortals afflicted with the Immortal-Mortal Miasma within the borders of the Great Qi, it won't be difficult to find subjects for your research from the conquered small worlds. I will have my people cooperate with you fully," Li Ping said to Yin Shangren.
"Rest assured, Saint Emperor." Yin Shangren suddenly grew excited.
...
Meanwhile.
Inside the Deduction Jade space of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
After the Saint Emperor witnessed the Realm Fragment Great Wall, ripples once again disturbed the calm of Li Fan's true self.
"Reversing the logic of heaven and earth? The Immortal-Mortal Miasma..."
Li Fan suddenly recalled his experience on Liuli Island, eliminating the Immortal-Mortal Miasma within the Pure Body Spirit Pool formation.
The pool's water, scorching like magma, ravaged his consciousness. Despite his resolute will, he eventually fell into a state of utter unawareness.
His mind went blank, and he acted purely on instinct.
Having practiced the Mysterious Yellow Cleansing Heart Mantra day and night before entering the spirit pool, Li Fan instinctively began to circulate the technique once more.
As he finally and completely purged the miasma from his body, Li Fan also inexplicably comprehended an advanced, sublimated version of the Mysterious Yellow Cleansing Heart Mantra.
The Xuanhuang Heart Refinement Mantra.
It later evolved into his current Xuanhuang Immortal Heart Mantra, a technique that had been of immense help to him on his journey.
"The pain within that Pure Body Spirit Pool was beyond what an ordinary person could endure. It's highly likely most would fall unconscious immediately. Even if one could remain awake, the extreme agony would leave no room for any other thought."
"Embracing the primal self, cleansing the inner mirror, following the way of nature..."
With his eyes tightly shut, a spark of inspiration flashed through Li Fan's mind.
"Man becomes one with the Dao. Actions driven by instinct, in a state of unawareness, are precisely the closest one can get to the Dao. Perhaps this is why so many mortals in the world succeed in eliminating the Immortal-Mortal Miasma and reversing the logic of heaven and earth."
"But in truth, this isn't a complete reversal of logic. The fact that their strength doesn't undergo a qualitative leap after dispelling the miasma proves this point."
Li Fan mused thoughtfully.
"For one, it's because they don't completely rely on their own power to eliminate the miasma. And for another..."
The Dao Transformation Stone flickered in his mind as Li Fan retrieved the momentary insight from back then, savoring it repeatedly.
He remarked pensively, "When the Immortal-Mortal Miasma was finally purged..."
"It was as if it simply vanished on its own."
"Just like how the Heart Refinement Mantra spontaneously evolved, as if it sensed me circulating the Cleansing Heart Mantra."
"Did it trigger some kind of condition?"
Li Fan then recalled the images of Dongji's life sent by the Zhenshi Immortal Venerable.
"The secret to reversing the logic of heaven and earth is hidden within the Immortal-Mortal Miasma."
Before his eyes, Li Fan seemed to see millennia of countless mortals breaking their mortal shackles and defying the law to step onto the path of cultivation.
"The birth of every single cultivator is an experience approximate to reversing the logic of heaven and earth."
"Even if they themselves are completely unaware, it is something that has genuinely happened."
"To reverse the logic of heaven and earth is tantamount to confronting the Dharma Spreader directly and completely overturning the cultivation system he personally created. Even geniuses of heaven-sent talent like Mr. Bai and Dongji ended in failure. This shows how immense the difficulty is. But..."
A sudden realization dawned on Li Fan.
He made a connection to his own process of simulation through countless cycles of [Truth].
"Every mortal's struggle against the Immortal-Mortal Miasma can be seen as a simulation of reversing the logic of heaven and earth."
"The strength of one person may have its limits. The strength of tens of millions also has its ceiling."
"But the strength of countless millions, multiplied over eons, becomes infinite and inexhaustible."
"Faced with a force of this magnitude, it is only a matter of time before the Dharma Spreader's New Method is broken."
Li Fan was shaken to his core. "The myriad spirits of heaven and earth, all beings refining the divine—it uses sheer numbers to shake the transcendent power of an immortal."
"Endless living beings, defying the law for all eternity... this is taking the advantage of numbers and amplifying it on the scale of time, turning quantitative change into a qualitative one..."
"As long as there are those in the Xuanhuang Realm unwilling to accept a mortal's fate, this method will continue forever."
Li Fan's thoughts raced, and his heart filled with an even deeper, sincere respect for Mr. Bai, who had created such a wondrous method.
To ignore the limits of one's lifespan, for one's methods to remain effective even after death, reaching across the river of time to influence events ages later.
Unlike Li Fan, who possessed the supreme treasure [Truth], this was the absolute limit of what an ordinary mortal cultivator could achieve.
Of course, for Li Fan himself, this held little value as something to be emulated.
What Mr. Bai needed thousands of years and all the cultivators of the Xuanhuang Realm to accomplish, Li Fan could achieve simply by continuously using [Truth].
But that didn't prevent Li Fan from reaping the fruits of Mr. Bai's labor.
"From my perspective, the so-called secret of reversing the logic of heaven and earth, hidden within the Immortal-Mortal Miasma, is nothing less than the accumulated insights of countless cultivators from their moments of purging the miasma over innumerable years."
"All of it has been recorded and preserved."
"Countless simulated experiences of approximating the reversal of heaven and earth's logic... If I could absorb it all..."
Li Fan prided himself on being indifferent to most treasures in the Xuanhuang Realm by now, even the Cat Treasure from beyond the High Wall. But he had to admit, at this moment, upon sensing this trove of countless experiences in reversing the logic, he was tempted.
Unlike a magic treasure, this gift package of experience was something that could directly enhance the very essence of Li Fan's soul.
It was enough to drastically shorten the gap between him and the likes of the Dharma Spreader and the Heavenly Doctor.
Though it was a one-time boon, its significance to Li Fan was immense. The sooner he found it, the better.
"At the very least, it could save me three lifetimes of reincarnation."
Li Fan began to calculate in his mind.
"So, where exactly did Mr. Bai hide this grand gift package?"
"In the Fallen Immortal Mirror? Or within the power of the Immortal-Mortal Miasma itself? And does it require some special condition to be triggered?"
If he hadn't already set the tone for this life to be one of "sitting on the mountain and watching the tigers fight," Li Fan would have been tempted to send his true self to investigate right now.
However, his years of experience allowed him to suppress this impulse.
"Having Yin Shangren and Xu Ke diligently researching it is certainly more efficient than me fumbling around in the dark."
"When they find out, it's the same as me finding out. It will all be mine in the end anyway, so there's no need to rush."
"I can also see just how substantial this gift package is. After the Saint Emperor clone absorbs it, will he truly be able to shake the Dharma Spreader?"
"Heh heh heh, I can't help but look forward to it."
Having been in seclusion within the Deduction Jade space for so long, Li Fan, who inevitably felt a touch of boredom, now felt a surge of anticipation.
...
The perspective returns once more to the Saint Emperor clone.
Unraveling the mystery of Mr. Bai's legacy was not a task that could be completed in a day or two.
Before that, the time for Li Ping's appointment with Ruomu had arrived.
The Saint Emperor once again arrived outside the White Flower Black Abyss.
He didn't let his absolute advantage make him careless. To prevent Ruomu from making a desperate move, he silently deployed a protective layer of Source Power Essence around himself.
Only then did Li Ping step back into the lifespan-withering domain.
Perhaps it was because of Li Ping's nourishment last time, or perhaps because Ruomu itself now saw a glimmer of hope.
This time, within the withered, yellow space that was once filled with deathly silence and despair, Li Ping actually sensed faint traces of life.
Though extremely faint, the appearance of this vitality, which shouldn't have existed here, was already telling.
Li Ping also noticed something else that was different from before.
The cultivators who had been hanging from Ruomu's branches...
Were all gone.
"Greetings, Saint Emperor."
The old Daoist appeared before Li Ping at that moment with a wide smile.
Ruomu noticed the direction of his gaze and, before Li Ping could ask, explained proactively, "Since I have resolved to pledge my allegiance to you, it is only natural that I make some changes. It's for the best that I discard such acts of impotent rage from my past."
"To be honest, after seeing so many of these human fruits, I'd grown quite tired of them."
Li Ping said flatly, "Where are they now?"
Ruomu chuckled. "Naturally, I had them Return their Dao to Heaven."
As he spoke, Ruomu handed over a leaf.
The leaf was a mix of green and yellow, and a closer look revealed a world within. Inside, Golden Cores of all kinds were piled up like a small mountain.
These Golden Cores looked as if they were dissolving, incomplete and fragmented.
Li Ping could vaguely make out the forms of Heaven and Earth Wonders within the cores of the Golden Cores.
"I was originally a spiritual creature of heaven and earth, holding the authority over life and death in the Xuanhuang Realm. Although that authority was gradually taken back, my connection to the world was never truly severed."
Ruomu glanced at Li Ping and continued, "Through my absorption and conversion, the worldly power devoured by these cultivators can be returned to heaven and earth much more quickly."
"As you can see, I have not embezzled any of it for myself."
Li Ping withdrew his gaze from the leaf. "I trust you are not so foolish. Compared to my rewards, these things are utterly insignificant."
Ruomu nodded repeatedly in agreement.
"Come here," Li Ping said suddenly.
The old Daoist hesitated for a moment but ultimately walked slowly before the Faceless Saint Emperor.
Compared to Li Ping's massive, ten-foot-tall frame, the stooped Daoist seemed as small as an infant.
Li Ping placed his palm gently on Ruomu's head.
Boom!
The scene before Ruomu's eyes shattered in an instant.
In that moment, it was as if he had left the lifespan-withering domain.
He found himself in an endless, dark, starry sky.
A golden vortex, like a majestic galaxy, swirled before him.
And at the center of the galaxy, the magnificent figure of the Faceless Saint Emperor could be faintly seen.
That powerful and sacred aura seemed to surpass even the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao that Ruomu was familiar with.
As one of the most ancient beings in the Xuanhuang Realm, Ruomu naturally understood the meaning behind such power.
The last vestiges of dissatisfaction in his heart slowly faded away.
Ruomu revealed his original form, no longer an ugly, old human Daoist, but a small, withered yellow sapling that looked malnourished.
Before the vast, golden galactic vortex, it was like an ant.
Its branches and leaves swayed gently, a gesture of Ruomu's submission.
The figure of the Faceless Saint Emperor expanded rapidly, filling Ruomu's entire field of vision in an instant.
The golden galaxy exploded with a deafening roar.
Endless starlight submerged Ruomu.
By the time Ruomu awoke from the illusion, Li Ping's figure had vanished.
"Wait patiently."
"When you are needed, you will be summoned."
Only Li Ping's voice was left, echoing in his mind.
And Li Ping had not gone back on his original promise.
Ruomu could clearly feel that his bond with the Xuanhuang Realm was slowly being restored.
Although returning to his peak from ages past was now an impossibility...
There was at least something to look forward to.
Moreover...
Ruomu looked at his palm.
Besides the original green leaf, a small green vial had appeared at some unknown time.
It was clearly left by the Faceless Saint Emperor before he departed.
The method to operate the restriction on it naturally appeared in his mind. Ruomu followed the instructions precisely and opened the small green vial.
A pure, refined life force wafted out from the green vial.
Even though it couldn't compare to being personally nourished by the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao, for Ruomu in his current state, it was an absolutely magnificent tonic.
Ruomu greedily devoured all the life force from the green vial in one gulp.
He only stopped reluctantly when not another drop could be coaxed out.
However, Ruomu noticed that the life force within the small green vial had not completely disappeared.
Instead, it was slowly generating on its own.
What astonished Ruomu even more was that the vial didn't seem to draw any energy from the outside world to generate this life force.
It was as if the life force was evolving entirely from the vial itself.
"What a truly fine treasure."
Ruomu smacked his lips in a most unseemly manner.
"It doesn't seem to be an item from the Xuanhuang Realm..."
Ruomu pondered for a moment, then chuckled dismissively.
"Why worry so much? As long as there's something to eat and drink, that's all that matters."
"Things can't possibly get any worse than they were before."
Only after losing something does one realize how precious it once was.
If anyone were to try and take these things away from him again...
Then, even if it were the Dharma Spreader himself, he, Ruomu, would dare to bite back.
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