Chapter 1367: The Former Residence of the Xuantian King
Chapter 1367: The Former Residence of the Xuantian King
"The Supreme Realm..."
"So this is the realm the Heavenly Doctor claims to have reached."
Li Fan's mind raced. He once again deployed formations around the Heavenly Doctor to stall for time, his gaze shifting to the nearby Mo Rubin.
It was almost identical to the Heavenly Doctor's reaction inside the Grand Array of All Life in Xuanhuang when he touched the High Wall.
No particular aura emanated from him, yet Mo Rubin looked as if he had truly witnessed the scene beyond the High Wall. Like a man who had attained the Dao in a single day, tears streamed down his face.
Fortunately, Mo Rubin was gradually emerging from his state of enlightenment, clarity slowly returning to his eyes.
"Let's go!"
Several golden threads shot from his hand, leaping across the distance in an instant to wrap tightly around Mo Rubin's body.
He pulled Mo Rubin to his side, and the phantom of the Wooden Sword emerged from its sheath.
A moment later, they were far beyond the range of the Heavenly Doctor's senses.
Mo Rubin still seemed lost in the afterglow of his enlightenment, his expression distant and dazed.
Li Fan left him undisturbed for the moment, continuing their journey toward the Xuanhuang Realm while he mentally organized the insights he had gained from trapping the Heavenly Doctor.
As the creator of this world-altering immortal array, Li Fan was far more than a mere spectator.
The Illusory Grand Array of All Life in Xuanhuang was both illusion and reality. Rooted in an immortal-grade formation, it was infused with a trace of Li Fan's [True False Transformation]. Rather than calling it a mere illusion experienced by the Heavenly Doctor, it was more accurate to say that it was a real, historical possibility where the Tianfa Realm had triumphed over the Xuanhuang Realm.
However, this possibility only existed as long as the immortal array was maintained.
Once the immortal array was broken by the Heavenly Doctor, everything would be annihilated.
Every living being within the grand array, except for the Heavenly Doctor, was infused with a trace of Li Fan's will.
Su Bai, Ni Rong, and the others.
Even the so-called Tianfa Realm, the heavenly demons, and the High Wall itself were constructed from fragments of Li Fan's consciousness.
Therefore, Li Fan was able to experience the Heavenly Doctor's every move firsthand and at extremely close range.
He could even sense the Heavenly Doctor's thoughts and emotional fluctuations.
This was the terrifying power of an immortal array!
After all, the Heavenly Doctor had once taught Li Fan the [Heavenly Doctor's Immortal Sutra] and the [Heaven Mending Record], making him, in a way, half a teacher to Li Fan.
Li Fan was also well aware of the various trials the Heavenly Doctor had faced.
Whether it was the theoretical foundations or the manifestation of his divine abilities, now that Li Fan had completely analyzed them, replicating them...
For the current Li Fan.
Was not difficult!
In fact, by infusing the technique with his transcendent [True False Transformation], the thousands of golden needles Li Fan now wielded had surpassed the original, a true case of the student surpassing the master.
The thousands of golden threads entwined around Mo Rubin seemed to gradually vanish.
In reality, they had already been quietly implanted inside his body.
For the moment, they were merely hidden in a state of [False], a trump card held in reserve.
Not only was Mo Rubin completely unaware, but likely no one in the entire Darkest Star Sea could have detected this seemingly insignificant yet utterly transcendent maneuver.
When the time came, Li Fan could activate the transformation from false to true, and the thousands of golden threads would shift from illusory to real, erupting within Mo Rubin's body in an instant.
"These golden threads, though they appear as such, are in truth manifestations of my comprehension of the principles of heaven and earth, of the Great Dao itself."
"Though my overall strength may still be slightly inferior to the Heavenly Doctor's, my level of comprehension in this area is absolutely not!"
Beyond this golden thread technique, Li Fan had also learned the Heavenly Doctor's method for sealing the heavenly demons.
The method, using eighty-one golden needles, was different from the [Soul Sealing World Replacement] the Heavenly Doctor had used in the previous lifetime, but it stemmed from the same origin.
Li Fan had already secretly learned the vast majority of it.
With a bit more time to study it, deciphering it completely would be no difficult task.
Beyond these two techniques, the Heavenly Doctor's actions as the Grand Venerable of All Laws, taken to save the Tianfa Realm, were also a source of great inspiration for Li Fan.
His final move, in particular—condensing the common Dao of all laws to freeze the very workings of the world—
—gave Li Fan a nascent idea about the Spirit of Heaven and Earth that was about to merge with the Dao in this era.
"The Heavenly Doctor truly is an endless treasure trove. It's just a shame that the same immortal array probably won't be able to trap him again."
"I can wait until the next life and use the same trick again."
"Using the Grand Array of All Life in Xuanhuang as my eyes, I will squeeze dry every last bit of knowledge and foundation he possesses!"
...
As they neared the Xuanhuang Realm, Mo Rubin finally regained full consciousness.
He stared blankly for a moment, and upon realizing his situation, he immediately tried to turn back toward the High Wall.
Li Fan's brow furrowed slightly as he bound the man with thousands of golden threads.
Mo Rubin instinctively struggled but found he couldn't break free. His expression shifted, surprised that Li Fan had such a powerful technique in reserve.
"Calm yourself, Mo Rubin."
"You've had two epiphanies at the High Wall. If you still can't resist its lure, I fear you will be trapped for the rest of your life, forever lost to its influence!"
Li Fan's ice-cold words finally snapped Mo Rubin out of his trance.
His struggles gradually ceased.
But Li Fan did not release the golden threads.
"Do you still feel that sense of 'lost once, lost forever'?" Li Fan asked in a low voice.
Even with his own profound aptitude, Li Fan had yet to grasp anything from the [flaw] in the High Wall. The basis for his question came entirely from the insights the Heavenly Doctor had gained within the immortal array.
Mo Rubin's expression was complicated. "'Lost once, lost forever.' That phrase is... all too fitting."
He cupped his hands, thanking Li Fan for holding off their foe earlier, then let out a long sigh. "Thanks to you, fellow Daoist, I was able to fully glimpse the secret of the High Wall's flaw."
"However, everything I comprehended..."
Mo Rubin paused for a long time before continuing slowly, "...is not something that the me of this moment can perceive."
"Hmm?" Li Fan raised an eyebrow.
"I know it sounds convoluted, perhaps even unbelievable. But that is the truth of it."
"It's an understanding that does not exist within the Darkest Star Sea. Only through the medium of the High Wall can one know and perceive it."
"And once I leave the High Wall, even though I have 'memorized' and 'comprehended' it, I ultimately cannot manifest this non-existent thing..." Mo Rubin's expression grew distant as he struggled, word by painstaking word, to explain his experience.
Li Fan could, to some extent, understand Mo Rubin's predicament.
It was like trying to explain the [True False Transformation] to Mo Rubin; without possessing the [Truth] himself, Mo Rubin would be utterly incapable of grasping even a sliver of the concept.
He would likely just dismiss Li Fan as a charlatan spouting nonsense.
Because from Mo Rubin's perspective, the so-called [True False Transformation] simply did not exist.
"Touching the High Wall allows me to recall this comprehension. But after leaving it, the comprehension is lost completely..."
"Isn't that just like the moon's reflection in water, or a flower in a mirror—completely useless? It's even worse, in fact. At least you can still *see* the flower and the moon," Li Fan remarked, his tone deliberately laced with disappointment.
Mo Rubin considered this for a moment, then slowly shook his head. "That's not entirely true. Even if I can't retain the comprehension itself, these two epiphanies have allowed me to translate the nature of the High Wall's existence into a form I can understand."
As he spoke, Mo Rubin lightly tapped his index finger, drawing a circle in the air before Li Fan.
Enclosing Li Fan within it.
From Li Fan's perspective, Mo Rubin suddenly vanished.
Even the entire Darkest Star Sea disappeared from his range of observation.
Furthermore, his spiritual sense and even the connection to the golden needles he had implanted earlier were completely severed!
It was as if a high wall had been erected all around him—above, below, and on every side—trapping him completely and blocking all his senses.
"A bit interesting."
"A miniature High Wall."
But Mo Rubin's wall obviously couldn't compare to the one that encircled the entire Darkest Star Sea.
He didn't even need to use the [Nine Heavens Descending Dust Finger].
Simply by ascending slightly and taking a casual step, Li Fan passed over the barrier.
Mo Rubin remained where he was, unsurprised that Li Fan had broken free so quickly.
"My level of comprehension is still somewhat lacking."
"If I had a bit more time," Mo Rubin said slowly, "I suspect it wouldn't be so easy for you to escape."
Li Fan, however, frowned. "Your technique, Mo Rubin, seems to be missing a crucial element when compared to the actual formless High Wall..."
"It's this absence that greatly reduces its power. If you could analyze and grasp that element, you could probably create a prison with a mere gesture!"
Hearing this, a flicker of unwillingness mixed with longing crossed Mo Rubin's eyes.
For someone who cultivated the [Myriad Tribulations Indestructible Devil Heart Immortal Art], having his emotions stirred so easily was nearly impossible. That it was happening now could only mean one thing: the secret of the High Wall's flaw had shaken the very foundations of his spirit.
"I have [Truth], so I don't need to worry about its 'lost once, lost forever' nature. Yet for some reason, I still haven't been able to grasp anything from it. Is the difference in our aptitude really that vast? It seems I'll have to return later and continue using the beings of the small world to aid my comprehension. Though there might not be much time left in this life," Li Fan mused silently.
Next, Li Fan asked Mo Rubin about his plans.
"Search for the Xuantian King's traces in the remaining areas of the Floating Starry Sky Grand Formation?"
"While you were at the High Wall, I searched the Xuanhuang Realm again. Unlike the Tian Beast's Eye or the Spirit Gathering Immortal Ascension Array, the other sections of the Floating Starry Sky Grand Formation are probably too severely damaged. They wouldn't provide the right conditions for the Xuantian King to hide himself..." Li Fan said slowly.
Mo Rubin gazed at the Xuanhuang Realm in the distance.
At the mention of the Xuantian King, the wavering expression on his face faded, and he reverted to the inscrutable Dharma King of the Xuantian Sect.
Perhaps Li Fan's earlier self-sacrifice to hold off their enemy had further solidified his trust.
Mo Rubin hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly, "There is one last place I want to go."
"But ten thousand years have passed. The Xuanhuang Realm has changed so drastically that I'm having trouble getting my bearings..."
"That's easy enough."
In an instant, a comparative map showing the changes to the Xuanhuang Realm over the ages appeared before Mo Rubin.
"Here."
Mo Rubin studied it carefully for a moment before finally selecting a location.
Li Fan's expression immediately became rather peculiar.
"What is it?" Mo Rubin was sharp enough to notice the change in Li Fan's expression.
Li Fan shook his head slightly. "You'll know when you get there."
With a flicker of the Wooden Sword's phantom, Li Fan brought Mo Rubin to their destination.
It was none other than the small hill and the Daoist temple where the Fishing Pool was located!
In this lifetime, Li Fan had not activated the Fishing Pool.
He had only forcibly relocated Zhong Shentong, the Daoist child Liuli, and the others from the temple.
"This was once Brother Xuanyuan's hometown."
"It was also the place of his final ascension."
"To think it has become so desolate now."
Mo Rubin walked slowly into the Daoist temple, observing his surroundings carefully as he lamented.
"The last place of ascension in the Xuanhuang Realm?" Li Fan was slightly surprised.
"Yes. Back then, Brother Xuanyuan was unusually fond of this place. Whenever he went missing, we could always find him here. I never knew what was so special about it, or what he experienced here." Mo Rubin paced slowly, as if searching for any trace of the Xuantian King's aura.
He continued until he reached the temple's backyard.
Upon seeing the small, utterly ordinary pond, Mo Rubin's pupils contracted sharply.
Then he rushed forward.
"This..."
"Ten thousand years have passed, and this place hasn't changed in the slightest?!" Mo Rubin was shaken, keenly aware that this place was anything but ordinary.
"Your strange expression just now... you were referring to this place?"
Mo Rubin whipped his head around and asked.
Li Fan nodded slightly. "I found that I was unable to destroy this little pond. That's how I knew there was something strange about it."
"However, I've searched it many times and have never found anything out of the ordinary..."
Hearing this, Mo Rubin looked at the Fishing Pool again.
"The mountains and rivers all around have changed dramatically, yet only this pond remains untouched. It must be hiding something..."
"Strange. But Brother Xuanyuan never mentioned any secrets here back then."
Having latched onto this single clue, Mo Rubin was not about to let it go.
He tried every method he could think of, even personally diving into the water.
But in the end, he found nothing.
It was as if this was truly nothing more than a simple, perfectly ordinary little pond.
The secret was right before his eyes, yet he could not perceive it.
Mo Rubin's face couldn't help but darken.
"This was the Xuantian King's hometown? What kind of person was he before his ascension?" Li Fan took the opportunity to ask.
"The first half of Brother Xuanyuan's life was truly unremarkable. So unremarkable that he once passed right in front of me, and I didn't even deign to look his way."
"At the time, I was the direct heir of the Nine Refinements Temple. He was nothing but a minor Qi Refining cultivator."
"However, no one could have known the peerless talent hidden beneath his common exterior. He rose to prominence in a single stroke, relying on no sect resources, only on himself. He became the first—and the last—person to ascend from the Xuanhuang Realm in that era..."
Mo Rubin's expression was filled with infinite reminiscence.
But Li Fan, hearing these words, fell into deep thought.
Li Fan, of course, knew of the Fishing Pool's existence.
But just when the Fishing Pool had come to exist in the Xuanhuang Realm was unknown.
After all, the Fishing Pool seemed to be the creation of a Nameless True Immortal, a thing that completely transcended the Xuanhuang Realm.
Even the Creation Stone Slab, which recorded the entire history of the Xuanhuang Realm, contained no information about it.
All along, Li Fan had subconsciously assumed that the Fishing Pool had appeared abruptly in the Xuanhuang Realm only after the Star Sea calamity had descended and the other realms were destroyed.
But now, it seemed...
"Could it be that the Xuantian King, Xuanyuan Hong, owed his meteoric rise to this supreme treasure, the Fishing Pool?"
A thought couldn't help but surface in Li Fan's mind.
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