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Chapter 1684: The Sacred Medicine Aids the Realm Exploration

"Infusing so many Saints in a row seems to have taken a greater toll on me than I anticipated," Li Fan stated, his tone casual. "I may need to rest for a while longer."

Li Fan spoke with a serene expression, but the assembled Saints within the halo of the Other Shore fell into a profound silence.

"No matter. Your safe return is what's important," a voice finally broke the stillness. "It was our own lack of consideration."

It was the phantom of Shou Qiu who, after a long moment, dispelled the awkward atmosphere.

After all, Li Fan's ability of True Spirit Infusion was one of a kind in the entire Mountain and Sea.

Even if he were to lose the ability to traverse the Void Realm and remain permanently in the current segment of the Mountain and Sea, he could still serve as an endless wellspring of new Saints.

Thus, the Saints found it perfectly understandable.

In the sequence of Saints, [Xuanpin] was ranked at the very end.

As it turned out, even his sudden absence would have no impact whatsoever on this initial foray into the Void Realm.

An unknown amount of time passed before a sudden ripple broke the stillness.

It was the Saints, who had finally returned from their journey.

"Roughly eight hundred years have passed in the mortal realm of the Mountain and Sea."

"But here in the Other Shore, time itself has little real meaning."

The situation was much like it had been at the End of the Mountain and Sea.

The brilliant white light of the Armillary Ring seemed to freeze time itself, allowing the Other Shore to exist as if it had leaped from the great river of time to become an independent domain. While possibilities unfurled and time surged onward in the Mountain and Sea, here in the Other Shore, all was eternal and unchanging, an existence tethered to the very essence of the Mountain and Sea.

From the Other Shore, one could travel to any possibility, any point in time within the current segment of the Mountain and Sea.

Conversely, one could also depart from any point within the Mountain and Sea, traverse the void, and seek out the Other Shore's sanctuary.

This was the only way to attract a host of transcendent experts, providing a potential reserve force for the grand design to reconnect the Mountain and Sea.

The journey from a transcendent being to a Saint required an immense accumulation of time and insight.

Only within the frozen time of the Other Shore did these transcendent beings have a chance to attempt apotheosis and become Saints. If time were allowed to flow naturally, they would likely perish in the Dao Annihilation long before ever achieving a breakthrough.

Of course, the advent of Li Fan's True Spirit Infusion ability had undoubtedly accelerated this process immensely.

...

The newly ascended Saints returned to the Other Shore, their expressions mirroring Li Fan's: a moment of dazed confusion, followed by an instantaneous return to clarity.

Square Inch's brow was tightly furrowed. "The Void Realm is a hazy, boundless expanse. Not only is it impossible to distinguish between past and present, but one even begins to lose their sense of self. I did everything in my power to remain lucid, yet toward the end, I nearly forgot my very mission. Thankfully, I still had a faint recollection of our agreed-upon sequence, and sensing my fellow Daoists before and behind me, I managed to keep from panicking."

"I never could have imagined," he added, "that merely existing in the Void Realm would be so arduous."

The All Knowing Immortal, however, just smiled. "You might not believe this," he began, "but while in the Void Realm, I felt as if some will was trying to communicate with me. The very force that annihilates the foundation of all existence seemed to weaken in my presence, as if to protect me. It's a shame..."

The phantom of Lian Shan cut him off, his tone flat. "That was nothing more than a delusion. Had you not become a Saint, you might have truly been able to submit to the Star. But now that you have attained sainthood, there is no turning back. There is indeed a consciousness hidden within the void, but it is the collective will of the Eternal Silent Void Realm itself. Each encroachment of the Dao Annihilation upon the Mountain and Sea is a tangible manifestation of that will."

"Had you truly entertained the notion of defecting at that moment," Lian Shan continued, "you would have been devoured by the Void Realm long before we could have intervened."

Hearing this, the smile on the All Knowing Immortal's face froze.

He didn't doubt the truth of Lian Shan's words; he was, after all, the world's first immortal.

His understanding of the Dao Annihilation and the Mountain and Sea naturally far surpassed that of these younger generations.

Still, a question lingered in his mind. "Why is it that attaining sainthood makes one intolerable to the Star?"

It was Lian Shan's phantom who answered, "A Saint is one with the Mountain and Sea. This is true regardless of the path taken to sainthood. And the Star, by its very nature, is destined to devour the Mountain and Sea."

With a gentle wave of his hand, an image of the vast, sprawling Mountain and Sea materialized before them.

A straight black line slowly rose from below, threatening to submerge the entire landscape.

As the majestic phantom of the Mountain and Sea slowly vanished beneath the rising tide of black, the figures standing atop the highest peaks became increasingly conspicuous.

They became, in fact, the primary targets of its encroachment.

"We are born of and stand upon the Mountain and Sea. Though we are one with it, we cannot escape this destiny."

"As the Mountain and Sea is gradually lost, we will, in a sense, be forced to directly face the gaze of the Star."

"Or perhaps it is more accurate to say that from the very moment we achieved sainthood, we fell under its gaze."

Beyond the black line, a lone, high star seemed to hang in the void, rising slowly.

Everyone present had seen the vision Li Fan had shared—the [Star] devouring all of existence—and an intangible sense of oppression welled up within them.

"If you still refuse to believe," Lian Shan added, "you are welcome to test it."

"We will rescue you before you are completely consumed by the Void Realm," the phantom of Tai Yi offered calmly.

In the end, the All Knowing Immortal chose not to risk his life to test a fleeting feeling, and he fell into a sullen silence.

After the Saints finished exchanging their experiences, the phantom of Shou Qiu summarized the initial expedition.

"With the exception of a minor incident concerning our fellow Daoist Xuanpin, the performance of everyone else was even better than we had anticipated."

"With a few more sessions to acclimate, we should be able to begin the true execution of the plan to reconnect the Mountain and Sea."

Shou Qiu paused, then turned his gaze in Li Fan's direction. "And fellow Daoist Xuanpin, you need not worry. The original plan required thirteen Saints to form the connection. Even with you absent, given the current number of Saints in the Mountain and Sea and their performance today, it poses no significant problem."

Li Fan expressed his regret. "In that case, while I rest and recover, I shall observe the Mountain and Sea for any other promising talents. If I can forge another Saint to fill the vacancy, that would be for the best."

The Saints all agreed this was a fine idea.

When it came to Li Fan, the master of [True Spirit Infusion], the Saints were exceedingly tolerant.

As they were speaking, a streak of light suddenly shot forth from the depths of the Mountain and Sea.

The Armillary Ring offered no resistance, allowing it to fly directly before the assembled Saints.

When the radiance faded, the Saints fixed their gaze upon the object: six pills, shimmering with an iridescent light. Within each, the phantom of a magnificent sacred dynasty flickered in and out of existence.

The pills radiated the prosperous aura of the dynasty, an energy as vast as the Mountain and Sea itself. As the phantoms flickered, they released a fragrance that refreshed the heart and mind.

Upon smelling the fragrance, the six newly ascended Saints felt an irrepressible craving.

Shou Qiu chuckled. "The Saint Emperor's medicine is finally ready. While we toil in the Void Realm, he can't very well remain idle, can he?"

"Please, everyone, take them now."

Without hesitation, the six new Saints carefully took the Great Luck Saint Medicine before them and consumed it.

In an instant, the condensed will of countless beings from a sacred dynasty that had known endless years of peace and prosperity—a nation tranquil, its people content—transformed into a warm current that flowed through them as they swallowed the pills.

With a home, one has a place to stand.

With a nation, one has shelter from the chaos of the world.

With the magnificent medicine of the sacred dynasty within them, the Saints felt their resistance to the encroaching influence of the Void Realm increase significantly.

And this was no mere illusion.

Shou Qiu continued to explain, "Under the protection of this medicine's properties, the duration for which you can maintain your independent will in the Void Realm will be extended by at least double. The stronger your own willpower, the more potent the effect."

"The Saint Emperor will be sending five more for each of you. The medicine's efficacy will only fade after a total of six have been consumed."

"This should be enough to resolve the issue of maintaining one's senses within the Void Realm."

Having experienced the effects of the Great Luck Saint Medicine, the Saints voiced their approval.

And Li Fan finally understood why the Saints of the Other Shore hadn't included the Saint Emperor in their discussions about the mission to reconnect the Mountain and Sea.

It seemed this great personage, much like himself, was more effective in a "support" role from the rear than on the front lines in the Void Realm.

*However, the Great Luck Saint Medicine is still a far cry from my [True Spirit Infusion],* Li Fan mused.

With the Saint Emperor setting a precedent, he felt a little more at ease.

Strictly speaking, losing himself so quickly in the Void Realm was a major flaw, one inconsistent with the true power of a Saint.

However, True Spirit Infusion was a divine ability the likes of which had never been seen in the Mountain and Sea.

He used this as an excuse, and for the time being, even the great Saints like Lian Shan could not discern the truth of the matter.

Indeed, this ability to create Saints from thin air was enough to make the Saints of the Other Shore turn a blind eye to Li Fan's "flaw"!

However, Li Fan did not simply remain behind in the Mountain and Sea. Each time the Saints entered the Void Realm, he went along with them.

After consuming several of the Great Luck Saint Medicines, his ability to endure the void steadily increased.

As the boundless, cold darkness washed over him once more, a realization struck Li Fan: "Saints are one with the Mountain and Sea. The Void Realm devours the Mountain and Sea, and nothing that is part of it can escape. Though I wear the mantle of Xuanpin, I have not truly reached the Saint realm. It's only natural that I cannot escape the void's encroachment."

"But... there is a way."

"If quality is lacking, quantity can compensate."

Li Fan's knowledge was by no means limited to the Dao of [Xuanpin].

However, to avoid arousing the suspicion of the Saints around him, he refrained from calling upon the other Dao paths he had comprehended from the Armillary Ring.

Instead, he borrowed from the Dao of the last Saint of the Mountain and Sea: the Dao of [Fantasy Becomes Truth]!

Ever since he began his cultivation, Li Fan had been comprehending the transformation between truth and illusion.

With [Truth] in his possession, he had a unique advantage, allowing his comprehension in this area to surpass all other beings in the Mountain and Sea.

Qiu Xinhui had achieved sainthood through [Fantasy Becomes Truth], and while Li Fan's own comprehension of it had not yet reached that level...

...it was more than enough to reinforce the saintly mantle he wore!

With a single thought, an indescribable, enigmatic aura was woven into the fabric of his Xuanpin Dao.

The Dao of Fantasy Becomes Truth was difficult for the world to perceive.

And now, within the Eternal Silent Void Realm, it was even less likely to be detected by the other Saints.

With the two Daos layered one upon the other, Li Fan immediately felt the erosion of his memories by the Void Realm weaken.

"I was right!"

"Perhaps I can add other paths as well..."

As he added one comprehension after another, Li Fan finally emerged from the predicament of constantly being on the verge of losing his memories.

"A true Saint wouldn't need to resort to such superfluous additions," Li Fan sighed internally. "How could another's path compare to the solidity of one's own Dao? They need only hold fast to their own heart to preserve their self amidst the hazy darkness."

"Once the Xuanpin mantle reaches the level of a normal Saint, adding anything more will be useless."

Now able to think clearly, Li Fan began the difficult task of discerning the auras in the darkness.

"There... that seems to be the phantom I left behind."

"And ahead... are the Saints of the Other Shore..."

Li Fan's expression gradually grew serious.

He was startled to realize that while Square Inch and Taiqi should have been closer to him in terms of distance, the auras he sensed from the three Saints—Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Tai Yi—were far, far stronger!

They were like brilliant lighthouses standing tall in the darkness, guiding the other Saints through the void.

"The three Saints are intentionally releasing their auras so that the newcomers don't lose their way the moment they enter. That's how we've been able to proceed in an orderly fashion."

"They've been in the Void Realm for who knows how long, yet their presence remains so powerful, without the slightest sign of weakening."

...

Li Fan truly felt the power of the three Saints, and his heart grew ever more cautious.

With the three Saints setting the tone, the newcomers theoretically only needed to follow the established sequence, extending the proverbial rope straight ahead.

But things were far from simple. With the Saints making such a grand display, the Void Realm, with its collective consciousness, was not about to simply stand by and watch.

Just as Li Fan faintly sensed that, after a long advance, Moral was about to connect with the nine Saints ahead...

...a sudden undercurrent surged through the darkness. The rope forged by the nine original Saints, as if tempered a thousand times, remained unshakable. But the link between the six new Saints was shattered in an instant.

The group that had been behind was now in front, and the one that had been in front was now behind. All sense of direction was lost.

Fortunately, with the ancient Saints standing firm and the phantoms in the Other Shore as an anchor, they did not completely lose their bearings and become lost in the Void Realm.

But the incident had severed the connection they had forged.

Li Fan began to feel the strain and decisively retreated from the Void Realm first.

Before long, the other Saints appeared one after another, looking rather disheveled.

"The undercurrents of the void are utterly without pattern," Lian Shan's phantom explained. "They strike with ferocious intensity, and even we must exert all our effort to withstand them."

"There is no special technique to counter them; you can only rely on yourselves to slowly adapt."

"Beyond that, strengthening the connection between you will also help."

Shou Qiu also spoke, a smile on his face. "There is no need to be anxious. Reconnecting the Mountain and Sea cannot be accomplished overnight. Forging this rope is merely the first step."

"Once the rope is forged, the annihilated sections of the Mountain and Sea must be made to reappear. This process will also require our assistance."

The All Knowing Immortal asked curiously, "Assistance? What do you mean by that?"

Shou Qiu explained, "The Mountain and Sea was shattered, and all that was within it turned to nothingness. To turn that nothingness back into reality is no easy task. We must travel to key nodes within that history and catalyze their transformation. We will work from points to lines, like unblocking the body's meridians. Only then can our efficiency be greatly increased."

"Otherwise, the speed of restoration will not keep pace with the void's renewed encroachment. No matter how much we shoulder the burden, we will not be able to hold out."

The Saints began to vaguely understand.

Li Fan asked, "And what, precisely, are these key nodes?"

"There is no fixed definition. Anyone or anything that had a significant impact on the Mountain and Sea, or left behind a powerful memory, can serve as one."

"We will need to judge for ourselves when the time comes."

"However, the nodes chosen during previous reconnections can serve as a reference."

As Shou Qiu spoke, he displayed a series of images.

Li Fan was startled to see an image of the Xuanhuang Realm flash among them.

*I wonder where the previous fracture point in the Mountain and Sea was.*

*Which period of time was reborn from nothingness?*

Li Fan kept this question hidden in his heart, not voicing it aloud.

"Reconnecting the Mountain and Sea will be arduous," Tai Yi spoke into the silence, "but upon its completion, the benefits to us all will be immense!"