Chapter 1419: The Ancient March of Annihilation
Chapter 1419: The Ancient March of Annihilation
"Whether we ultimately survive is all that matters," Emperor Sanmo said, his voice heavy.
Within the World Cracking Great Vortex, storms raged and torrential rains fell year-round. All traces of the former Nanming Sacred Mountain had long since vanished into the river of history.
After a long silence, Emperor Sanmo spoke again. "Beyond evading the pursuit of that Nameless True Immortal, we were also forced into a constant flight by the world-ending calamity that followed. We were fortunate enough to always find the Primordial Essence of Antiquity needed to leap and escape, but certain truths we discovered inevitably bred a sense of pessimism within us."
"To prevent these emotions from having a fatal impact on our people, Emperor Yi chose to fracture and evolve them, then allowed them to live and die on their own..."
Li Fan was, of course, aware of the powerful yet peculiar beasts within the demon beast clan, each with a distinct temperament. He keenly caught the key word in Emperor Sanmo's statement. "Truths?"
"Countless futures, infinite possibilities. That was our general understanding of all worlds. But after leaping to escape time and again, we began to doubt that understanding. In theory, each jump should have taken us to a completely new possibility. The point in time we arrived should have been random. For example, with enough luck, we could have arrived in a world where the twelve primordial Dao forms had not yet been slaughtered, where our race was still strong."
"Perhaps our luck was simply never good enough. If that were all, it would be one thing, but..."
Emperor Sanmo's expression grew incredibly grave. "What struck fear into our hearts was that the point in time we reached after every jump, every arrival, was always further along. Though we leaped between possibilities, we never seemed to reverse our position on the temporal dimension."
Both Li Fan and Qiao Sidao immediately understood the implication of Emperor Sanmo's words.
Qiao Sidao lowered his head in thought, concealing the fear in his heart.
Li Fan, on the other hand, was reminded of how he reset the entire world's timeline every time he activated [Truth].
"The Dao Annihilation Calamity isn't just destroying countless possibilities. It seems to be devouring the entire river of time, starting from its very source."
"It's just like how, no matter how many times I activate Truth, I can never return to a time before my first anchor point."
"Taking it a step further, if a wondrous object like [Truth] didn't exist in this world... does that mean..."
"...that disaster is inescapable?" Li Fan's eyes flickered.
If what Emperor Sanmo said was true, then the scale and horror of this Dao Annihilation Calamity, as well as the importance of [Truth], were far beyond his imagination.
However, Li Fan had never crossed between possibilities himself without the aid of [Truth]. Therefore, he couldn't confirm the authenticity of Emperor Sanmo's information.
It was even possible that the beast clan was just incredibly unlucky, and every jump just so happened to land them further in the future.
Countless thoughts flashed through Li Fan's mind in an instant. But with no way to verify them at present, idle speculation was pointless. He steered the conversation back to the ruins in the Xuanhuang Realm where the Primordial Essence of Antiquity was discovered.
Li Fan had Emperor Sanmo describe the location and details of the ruins.
His heart stirred. He sketched a map of the primordial Xuanhuang Realm in the air before them and pointed to a central location. "Was it here?"
Emperor Sanmo studied it for a moment, then nodded.
Li Fan instantly had a vague answer.
The location of the Primordial Essence of Antiquity had to be the core of the Xuanhuang Realm's ancient immortal array. Its age predated even the Xuantian King's Floating Starry Sky Grand Formation, tracing back to the very creation of the Xuanhuang Realm.
"My previous theory was that the Xuanhuang Realm was originally created to serve as an experimental site for researching how to resist the Dao Annihilation Calamity. The high degree of similarity between Ink Death and the black energy of the calamity, for instance. And in the life before last, when the black Dao Annihilation energy spread like a tidal wave, I vaguely saw countless figures resembling Ink Death appear. In a way, all of this confirms my speculation."
"It's just that before, my understanding of the Dao Annihilation Calamity was limited to simple black energy. I never realized this catastrophe could affect innumerable possibilities."
"I have only been in direct contact with the Dao Annihilation Calamity for a short time. In the former Immortal Realm, there were beings at the level of Nameless True Immortals. Like the beast clan, they must have understood the calamity, perhaps even more deeply."
"It makes sense that an experimental site capable of jumping timelines would be left behind in the Xuanhuang Realm."
Li Fan couldn't help but recall the memories he had seen within the True Immortal's flesh.
"...Qionglang Star Domain... Annihilated... Guard..."
"...Target found."
Now that his understanding of the Dao Annihilation Calamity had reached a certain level, he looked back at these words and perceived information that had previously eluded him.
"The Immortal Realm was not entirely powerless against the Dao Annihilation Calamity. The calamity didn't just suddenly engulf all existence within a possibility at once. Rather, different regions fell gradually. Perhaps the credit for that goes to the celestial pillars forged from the corpses of Nameless True Immortals."
"And when I heard the news that the Qionglang Star Domain was submerged by the Dao Annihilation Calamity, I didn't sense any particular panic in the True Immortal's memories. Clearly, the inhabitants of the Immortal Realm at that time were not so pessimistic about the calamity."
"I just don't know what happened later to cause the heavens of the Immortal Realm to suddenly collapse and shatter."
As his thoughts drifted, Li Fan considered even more.
The Dao Annihilation Calamity completely devours possibilities. Even the lofty Immortal Realm has already vanished within it. Under normal circumstances, the mortal Star Sea below should have disappeared long ago as well.
Yet it has managed to endure for tens of thousands of years...
"Perhaps it has something to do with that vibrant civilization I saw beyond the high wall of the Darkest Star Sea."
Li Fan pondered inwardly.
The situation he faced now was just like when he was still a mortal, leaving the Great Xuan and arriving in the Xuanhuang Realm, only to immediately learn of the True Immortals of the Immortal Ruins and even the existence of the invisible high wall.
"Looking too far ahead only serves to unsettle the mind."
"Better to take things one step at a time."
...
Li Fan fell into deep thought, and neither Emperor Sanmo nor Qiao Sidao dared to disturb him.
After a long while, Li Fan finally spoke again.
First, he addressed Qiao Sidao. "You possess infinite theoretical knowledge, but your own strength is practically zero."
"In these chaotic times, cultivation is the only guarantee of one's safety and survival. You have reincarnated for a long time; surely you understand this principle."
"For now, organize what you have learned and transform it into practical application. Soon, I will find a cultivation technique tailor-made for you..."
Qiao Sidao's expression was solemn as he bowed. "Thank you, Senior."
Li Fan then turned to Emperor Sanmo. "Are you willing to work for me?"
He had only asked a simple question, yet Emperor Sanmo had revealed so much, laying bare nearly all his clan's secrets. Li Fan, a master of understanding people, already knew what he was thinking.
It was clear that after witnessing the supreme power of Li Fan's [True False Transformation], he had developed the idea of seeking refuge and support. Thus, Li Fan asked him directly.
Emperor Sanmo's reply was just as direct. He bowed slightly. "I am willing to serve you loyally, Senior!"
Li Fan nodded slightly. "You carry the inherited memories of the beast clan from countless years, and your wisdom is extraordinary. Your knowledge is vast, even surpassing my own in some respects. You are perfect to advise me and devise strategies!"
"At this point, there is nothing more to hide. I have indeed come to this world from another possibility!" Li Fan declared in a low voice.
Qiao Sidao showed a hint of astonishment.
Emperor Sanmo, however, looked as if he had expected it all along.
After all, the sudden appearance of this "True Immortal" and Li Fan's question—"what level of strength is required to cross possibilities"—had already indicated his uniqueness.
"However, I did not cross over by choice." Li Fan's brow furrowed as if lost in memory.
"The world I come from is similar to this one in many ways, yet also subtly different. Although the Immortal Realm was destroyed, it left many legacies in the mortal world, and its overall strength was far greater than here. There was not even any immediate danger of the Dao Annihilation Calamity descending. Who would have thought..."
Li Fan's face darkened. "One day, two terrifyingly powerful beings suddenly descended. Their strength was far beyond my own! With a mere gesture, they destroyed my home! Even a True Immortal was like an ant before them!"
"But for some unknown reason, these two powerhouses did not seem to be allies. Soon after, they began to fight each other. The world shook, and I fled in disarray, relying only on instinct. In a daze, I found myself here..."
Li Fan's story was breathtaking and heart-pounding.
From time to time, he projected images to accompany his words.
The scenes of worlds collapsing and the Star Sea being annihilated caused both Qiao Sidao's and Emperor Sanmo's faces to pale slightly.
And when Emperor Sanmo saw the images Li Fan displayed of Evil Su Bai and the Black Heaven Physician, he could not hide his utter shock.
Li Fan had been waiting for this. His tone changed instantly. "Hmm? You seem to recognize these two?"
Emperor Sanmo dared not speak rashly. He studied the images carefully once more before saying, "These two must be supreme powerhouses capable of leaping between possibilities on their own."
"In the history of this world, these two were also peerless geniuses. In fact, one of them is still alive. And..."
Emperor Sanmo paused, then added, "...he has a close relationship with the true master of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, the Dharma Spreader Heavenly Venerate."
He briefly recounted the life stories of Su Bai and the Heavenly Doctor for Li Fan.
Hearing this, Li Fan's brow tightened. "Now that you mention it, there were figures like them in my world as well. But with so many sects and a constant stream of geniuses, they didn't particularly stand out."
"Could it be... that those two powerhouses were hunting their counterparts in other possibilities?"
Li Fan's words made Emperor Sanmo and Qiao Sidao exchange a look, their faces filled with alarm.
Another long silence fell.
Li Fan gazed out beyond the Museum of Divine Treasures. "All those who have not reached the Immortal Realm are ants. The Heavenly Doctor of this world is no threat at all. What I worry about is whether those two powerhouses might follow their senses and come here as well."
This question was clearly beyond Emperor Sanmo's comprehension.
For a moment, this beast of wisdom could not answer.
"It seems the only option is to strike first and kill that Heavenly Doctor," Li Fan's voice grew cold.
"I would not advise you to do that, Senior," Qiao Sidao suddenly spoke up.
Li Fan looked at him, gesturing for him to continue.
"Assuming those two powerhouses are, for some reason, continuously hunting their own counterparts. And based on your experience in your world, Senior, this is not the first time they have done so. It's clear they possess some secret method to sense their own existence in other possibilities..."
Qiao Sidao paused, organizing his words. "As Third Uncle said, time in all possibilities maintains a consistent forward momentum. This means their hunt also consumes 'time,' even though they are crossing between possibilities."
"Since they cannot slaughter all counterparts at the same instant, their hunt must have an order, a sequence."
"The world we are in now is temporarily safe because it has not yet drawn their attention."
"If your actions, Senior, were to cause the Heavenly Doctor to have a near-death experience, it might trigger a connection between him and his counterparts. That could, in turn, attract those powerful enemies from beyond this possibility," Qiao Sidao analyzed methodically.
Li Fan nodded, quite satisfied.
He, of course, had no real intention of killing the Heavenly Doctor.
After all, he had a thousand ways to imprison him now. Why would he take such a risk and potentially lure the Black Heaven Physician here?
He hadn't even revealed that the invisible high wall could, to some extent, block the Black Heaven Physician's senses. Li Fan's goal was simply to test the usefulness of Emperor Sanmo and Qiao Sidao.
And so far, the results were quite good.
Emperor Sanmo chimed in. "Rather than take the risk, it would be better to imprison him. The Primordial Essence of Antiquity is an energy that allows one to cross possibilities. Such a mysterious energy might be able to shield him from perceptions from beyond this possibility..."
This was something Li Fan hadn't considered.
Better to be safe than sorry. Li Fan prepared to integrate the Primordial Essence of Antiquity into the array he would use to seal the Heavenly Doctor.
The Dissociation Disk had already begun analyzing the Primordial Essence of Antiquity.
Li Fan looked back at Emperor Sanmo. "What are your thoughts on the existence of the Black Heaven Physician and Evil Su Bai?"
"Why is it that individuals who haven't even reached the True Immortal realm in this world are so immensely powerful in other possibilities?"
Emperor Sanmo gave a bitter smile. "Perhaps some things in this world don't have a reason. It's just like that Nameless True Immortal who destroyed my clan all those years ago."
"An ordinary Nameless Immortal who could fight on even terms with one of the primordial Dao forms would already be considered a powerhouse. But that one... that one could fight thirteen of them at once..."
"In the face of true power, so-called reason does not exist."
Qiao Sidao offered a similar perspective. "Since ancient times, those who survive great calamities are either the chosen, lucky ones, or they are absolute powerhouses."
"I believe those two are the latter."
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