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Chapter 1652: The Lure of Transcendence

Li Fan was a good soul.

At this point, Rinsing Moon Bai had no doubt left in her heart.

Now that this had been confirmed, she felt bound by both emotion and reason to support him as much as possible.

"I don't need to be fixated on every single lifetime. Perhaps I should first find the optimal solution."

"Either I walk far enough down my own path—reaching the realm of the Nameless, the Transcendent, or even beyond. Under my protection, even with his mortal body, Fan'er would have no need to fear the Dao Annihilation Calamity."

"Or, I find a cultivation path that suits him. But..."

At this thought, Rinsing Moon Bai couldn't help but shake her head slightly.

"Fan'er's aptitude for cultivation is simply too poor. Even with my covert assistance, he struggled so mightily with even the most rudimentary techniques, like the Hundred Changes Roaming Dragon Art. For him to achieve anything in cultivation on his own..."

On this, Rinsing Moon Bai held little hope.

She had to complete the journey she had failed to finish last time: the path of transcendence.

"Although Cheng Dao deceived me, presiding over the core of the Dao Net does indeed accelerate one's cultivation speed to a degree unimaginable under normal circumstances. A true double-edged sword."

"But the most crucial thing is to find a way to break this stalemate. The resources within Shuo Xinghai are limited, insufficient to support my path to immortality. Perhaps an opportunity lies hidden in the Guangwu Xinghai. However, in just over nine hundred years, a cataclysm will occur there. The Dao Annihilation will descend and devour everything."

"..."

"There isn't much time left for me."

With these thoughts, Rinsing Moon Bai sealed the tomb she shared with Li Fan under layers of restrictive spells, hiding it from the world before tearing through the void and departing the small world of Great Xuan.

What followed was a series of mechanical, repetitive actions.

She cultivated, recovering a portion of her strength; she sought out the Immeasurable Wall and conspired with it to scheme for the Infinite Great Dao.

Before preparing to leave the Xuanhuang Realm for Shuo Xinghai, Rinsing Moon Bai didn't forget to once again place layer upon layer of wards, completely sealing off the Great Xuan small world.

This was to prevent any cultivator from accidentally stumbling upon it again and disturbing the peace of Li Fan's departed soul.

"Since you care so much, why not just take this little world with you?" the Immeasurable Wall grumbled, having watched her every move.

Rinsing Moon Bai's actions faltered for a moment, and she considered it seriously for a long time.

In the end, she shook her head and rejected the idea.

She recalled the scene from her previous life when the Dao Annihilation Calamity descended. After both Shuo Xinghai and Guangwu Xinghai were swallowed, the Dark Star Sea had remained.

"Fan'er will be safer here," Rinsing Moon Bai said faintly.

The Immeasurable Wall was perplexed. "You've never even left the Xuanhuang Realm. How could you know what the outside world is like right now?"

Rinsing Moon Bai simply smiled without answering.

As they traversed the High Wall, thanks to a reminder from Rinsing Moon Bai, the Immeasurable Wall discovered the hidden Rotten Axe Dojo.

Entering the dojo's central control, Rinsing Moon Bai stared, lost in thought, at the massive circular wall covered in a dense grid of countless star seas.

"So, the cosmos I inhabit is just one insignificant part of it all."

Moreover, within it, she sensed the familiar aura of the Shadow Projection for Dao Bearing.

"It seems Cheng Dao must also have come from within the High Wall," Rinsing Moon Bai mused, her eyes landing on a familiar Mountain and Sea world among the grids.

Because she hadn't scoured every secret of the Xuanhuang Realm as thoroughly as Li Fan had, Rinsing Moon Bai's understanding of the Rotten Axe Dojo was incomplete.

But in the end, any secrets of the past were inconsequential.

The Immeasurable Wall couldn't perceive all the secrets within the Rotten Axe Dojo, and Rinsing Moon Bai had no intention of digging deeper.

After offering a distant bow to the several phantoms standing within the dojo, she flew away and entered the Dao Net of Shuo Xinghai.

History repeated itself.

She took over from Cheng Dao, presiding over the core of the Dao Net.

She hunted immortals to comprehend the Dao, propelling the civilization of Shuo Xinghai forward.

With a thousand years of experience from her previous life, Rinsing Moon Bai demonstrated an astonishing mastery over the Dao Net.

She avoided many unnecessary detours.

In just a hundred years, she had swept clean the remaining True Immortals in Shuo Xinghai.

It took another fifty years for the various divisions of the Immortal Hunt to rapidly develop and essentially return to their peak strength from her previous life.

Right at that moment, the Guangwu Xinghai once again sent a Stargazer to make contact.

This time, Rinsing Moon Bai did not refuse.

Within the core space of the Dao Net, a group of figures was gathered in a circle.

Among them were Nameless True Immortals like Chaos, Tongsheng, and Shanhua, as well as mortals like Rinsing Moon Bai and Nangong Fusheng.

An inexplicable ripple descended, and a black cat that had been sleeping in the center of the room suddenly opened its eyes.

The black cat nodded in greeting to each person before its gaze settled on the one in charge: Rinsing Moon Bai.

The Guangwu Xinghai had heard of the dramatic changes that had swept through Shuo Xinghai in the last century. They maintained a curious yet cautious attitude toward this mysterious mortal of unknown origin.

Their original, cruder plan to divert the disaster onto their neighbors had been altered because of her.

"I have come on this occasion to seek cooperation."

"Cooperation? On what?"

Faced with the questions from the people of Shuo Xinghai, the Stargazer spoke with direct sincerity. "The Dao Annihilation is restless and threatens to run rampant. Guangwu and Shuo Xinghai are neighbors. When a house is collapsing, no room is safe. This calamity is one we can only hope to survive if we face it together."

Next, the Stargazer revealed that the Guangwu Xinghai had been using the Transcendent World Coffin as bait to fish within the Dao Annihilation.

"So you're saying you fished too many times, caught the attention of some powerful existence within the Dao Annihilation, and that's what brought this calamity upon us?" The people of Shuo Xinghai were enraged upon hearing this.

"You started this fire, and now you want to drag us in to put it out? What kind of logic is that?"

"If you don't court death, you don't die! It was the Heavenly Net Emperor's reckless actions back then that brought about the Dao Annihilation Calamity. And you've repeated the same mistake!"

...

The scene devolved into chaos.

Only Rinsing Moon Bai, who already knew of the impending Dao Annihilation, remained perfectly calm.

She cleared her throat softly. After the crowd quieted down, she asked, "Our two star seas, though adjacent, are still separated by the Dao Annihilation. How would we cooperate?"

The Stargazer had expected a long and difficult negotiation, but was surprised by how quickly Rinsing Moon Bai accepted the premise.

It hurriedly explained, "After years of fishing, we have accumulated considerable experience in dealing with the Dao Annihilation. Although we cannot traverse it as freely as a Transcendent being, we should be able to manage the journey between our two star seas."

"After all, within a possibility, the corrosion of the Dao Annihilation is far less ferocious than it is within the Mountain and Sea."

However, the immortals had an instinctual fear of the Dao Annihilation. They wouldn't be easily convinced by empty words.

The Stargazer had anticipated this. "If you will permit it," it said solemnly, "we will soon pay you a visit in person!"

The people of Shuo Xinghai were stunned by the proposal.

After a moment of silence, it was ultimately Rinsing Moon Bai who spoke. "In that case, I will be here to welcome your distinguished arrival!"

The immortals of Guangwu moved quickly.

A month and a half later, Rinsing Moon Bai sensed a growing ripple outside the Dao Net.

The disturbance was nothing compared to the world-ending calamity, amounting to little more than ripples on the surface of water.

But it was unmistakably coming from the direction of the Dao Annihilation's void!

Under the watchful eyes of all, a battered wooden boat swayed and rocked as it crossed the Dao Annihilation.

It tore through the void and arrived!

From this small wooden vessel, Rinsing Moon Bai sensed the presence of no fewer than twenty True Immortals and one Nameless True Immortal!

"If a mere delegation is of this scale, then the overall strength of Guangwu Xinghai is even greater than I imagined."

But Rinsing Moon Bai was not afraid.

She calmly welcomed the wooden boat into the Dao Net.

It was the immortals and the members of the Immortal Hunt of Shuo Xinghai whose nerves were on edge.

This was likely the first official contact between the two star seas since the lower realms were separated by the Dao Annihilation.

Guangwu Xinghai had even brought a welcoming gift.

"The Dao Sword and Dao Saber."

When the two spheres of light appeared, the people of Shuo Xinghai were all stunned by the immense power of the artifacts.

"The condensed remnant of an entire possibility... Is this what you fish out of the Dao Annihilation?"

Chaos stared intently at the flickering phantoms of the sword and saber, his voice tinged with greed.

The leader of the Guangwu delegation, a Nameless True Immortal who cultivated the Dao of "Myriad Victories," nodded. "In truth, this is but a trivial item among our harvests over the years."

Paying no mind to the fact that he had just exposed the depth of their wealth with a single sentence, Myriad Victories even volunteered more information. "As you can imagine, anything that can survive within the Dao Annihilation is bound to be extraordinary. I can almost say that any single item in our collection possesses power no weaker than that of a Nameless True Immortal."

His words left the people of Shuo Xinghai even more incredulous.

But his expression did not seem false.

Especially since they had offered such a powerful artifact as a simple introductory gift, it added a great deal of credibility to his claims.

"Fishing in the Dao Annihilation..."

And so, the expressions of the Shuo Xinghai cultivators began to shift subtly.

"Everyone! Everything has its pros and cons. We are not blinded by greed. It's just that the benefits of fishing in the Dao Annihilation truly outweigh the risks."

"Of course, the current danger is an unforeseen development. But as long as we weather this storm, we might just find a method of 'Transcendence'!"

Myriad Victories deliberately emphasized the word "Transcendence."

It drew the focused attention of the Shuo Xinghai cultivators.

"Transcendence?"

They knew nothing of the specific situation in Guangwu Xinghai, and could only listen as Myriad Victories spoke.

"To be perfectly honest, among all the items we have fished out, the most valuable is a Transcendent Relic!"

"Within the relic, the true meaning of transcendence remains perfectly preserved..."

As he spoke, Myriad Victories waved his hand, projecting an image for all to see: a solitary sail, crossing the boundless Mountain and Sea!

"The true meaning of transcendence is not something we can easily fathom. Merely trying to comprehend its surface cost us dearly. Therefore, this Transcendent Relic has been left untouched."

Watching the irrepressible greed flicker and rise in the eyes of the Shuo Xinghai immortals, Myriad Victories smiled faintly.

"If we can overcome this calamity together, we are willing to invite all of you to comprehend the true meaning of transcendence with us!"

His words struck like a thunderclap.

The immortals of Shuo Xinghai glanced at one another and, almost instantly, came to a unanimous decision.

Regardless of anything else, the arrival of the Dao Annihilation Calamity was now a certainty.

Guangwu Xinghai was extraordinarily powerful. If they joined forces, their chances of survival would be much greater.

Moreover, their counterparts were now offering their treasured Transcendent Relic as a reward...

There was no reason to refuse.

Rinsing Moon Bai was one of the few in the room who remained perfectly clear-headed.

She knew very well how precious a Transcendent Relic was.

For the Guangwu Xinghai to be willing to share such a treasure...

It spoke volumes about the magnitude of the trouble they had invited.

Recalling the terrifying Dao Annihilation cataclysm she had witnessed at the end of her previous life, Rinsing Moon Bai suddenly interrupted, "Cooperation is, of course, possible. But first, you must tell us the full situation, truthfully."

"To use transcendence as bait... I fear this calamity is not as simple as you've made it out to be."

Rinsing Moon Bai's cold voice sobered the Shuo Xinghai immortals somewhat.

Myriad Victories' expression turned serious as well. "Naturally. In fact, we already have a good idea of what this calamity entails. The one that has attracted it is likely the Transcendent Relic itself..."

"Hmm?"

The crowd from Shuo Xinghai was perplexed.

Myriad Victories continued to explain, "The Dao Annihilation seems to have a consciousness of its own. The more indestructible something is, the more fiercely it attacks. This Transcendent Relic has drifted through the Dao Annihilation for eons without decay, so the tide's focus on it has reached a terrifying level. If it remains within a star sea for too long, it will inevitably trigger the Dao Annihilation's corrosion."

"It was precisely because we realized this that we placed the Transcendent Relic back into the Dao Annihilation..."

"Wait!" Chaos sharply cut off Myriad Victories.

"A treasure of that caliber, and you just let it go?"

Myriad Victories gave a slight sneer. "We didn't let it go completely, of course. Like the coffin bait, we keep it close but not too close, using it to attract other treasures drifting in the Dao Annihilation."

"The Transcendent Relic, drifting outside, should have drawn the vast majority of the Dao Annihilation's attention. But for some reason..."

Myriad Victories' expression grew grim. "Recently, the Dao Annihilation's assaults on our possibility have been steadily increasing."

"We suspect that the Dao Annihilation may have discovered the connection between us and that Transcendent Relic."

The immortals of Shuo Xinghai looked at each other in dismay.

They could never have imagined that the Dao Annihilation could think like a living being, or that it might even possess intelligence.

"In that case, as long as you abandon the Transcendent Relic and let it drift into the depths of the Mountain and Sea, the calamity will resolve itself, will it not?" Among the crowd, only Rinsing Moon Bai quickly identified the key point.

Myriad Victories was struck dumb, only able to offer a helpless nod.

"But clearly, you are not willing to give up the Transcendent Relic so easily."

"You want to have your cake and eat it, too. Heh..."

Rinsing Moon Bai finally understood the specific reason for Guangwu Xinghai's destruction in her past life.

A flash of embarrassment crossed Myriad Victories' face, but he quickly composed himself. "The Transcendent Relic carries our hope for transcendence. We naturally will not abandon it so lightly. But rest assured, we have already developed a method to make the Dao Annihilation overlook the connection between us and the relic. It's just that..."

Myriad Victories paused, then lowered his voice. "Besides the Transcendent Relic, our other coffin baits have also been marked as targets by the Dao Annihilation. Facing pressure from multiple fronts simultaneously has become quite strenuous."

"Then just throw away the other coffins. You can't be reluctant to part with those, can you?" Chaos said irritably.

Myriad Victories sighed. "This is the fundamental reason we have come to you for cooperation."

"The so-called coffin baits are all part of a single whole. Break one, and you break them all."