Chapter 1736: The Hidden Principle of Borrowing the Potential of Life
The living beings of the Mountain Sea acted as a catalyst, further accelerating the process of its cosmic fusion.
But as with all things that reach their zenith, decline was inevitable. The calamity finally arrived.
Where the first Dao Annihilation tide came from was a mystery that even the Three Saints, who had already attained their Dao, could not perceive.
It was as if it had sprung from the void, leaping into existence without warning.
At that time, the various segments of the Mountain Sea were still at their peak. The disappearance of a few possibilities was no more significant than a person shedding hair each day. It meant nothing.
But the Dao Annihilation tide lingered, and as time flowed on, it became a constant companion to the Mountain Sea.
One day, it matured into a significant force.
Unseen, unheard, it had grown powerful enough to challenge the Mountain Sea itself. It drifted out like a phantom, a shadow confronting the light.
The Mountain Sea was severed.
What was once a continuous, unified existence was forcibly carved into countless fragments.
The Mountain Sea could still rely on its own intrinsic network to maintain a faint, mystical connection.
But the beings within it were fractured across the layers of time, reduced to broken, isolated individuals.
Not only was their strength drastically diminished, but even their memories were affected, becoming twisted and incomplete.
As the Three Saints looked back across the hundred-billion-year history of the Mountain Sea, they often encountered memory fragments shrouded in a hazy, grayish-white film.
Those were the parts lost to the fracturing of the Mountain Sea, later reconstructed through the Saints' own contemplation.
In the perception of the Three Saints, a staggering fifty billion years had passed from the first appearance of the Dao Annihilation to the present day.
It was an almost incomprehensible span of time.
Furthermore, the consciousness of the Three Saints was no single entity. It was splintered into billions of incarnations, spread across nearly every possibility.
It encompassed the vast majority of the Mountain Sea's civilizations, sacred spirits, and paths of Dao.
The sheer volume of data was unimaginable. Had the Three Saints not deliberately blurred the details, the torrent of fifty billion years of memories would have been enough to erode, distort, and even rewrite the very personalities of the observing Saints.
Although it was an ethereal, accelerated journey, it did not prevent the Saints from truly experiencing the path the Three Saints had walked.
They did not delve into the countless individual possibilities within the Mountain Sea, but instead focused on the totality of time it had endured.
The Saints saw that in the beginning, the blight of Dao Annihilation was indeed negligible.
The possibilities consumed by its erosion were less than one ten-thousandth of those that faded through the Mountain Sea's natural evolution.
But in the eternal struggle of the Great Dao, as one wanes, another waxes.
Once a trend of decay begins, if left unchecked, it is destined to grow without end.
Even the smallest variable, compounded over tens of billions of years, will swell into a number of astronomical proportions.
By now, the Void Realm formed by the Dao Annihilation's corrosion could already stand on equal footing with the Mountain Sea.
And in the more distant twilight of time, the ultimate demise of the Mountain Sea seemed to have already become an immutable fate.
...
A long journey was slowly drawing to its close.
After withdrawing from the memories of the Three Saints, the other Saints took a long while for their gazes to regain clarity.
"Even though it's the path we've already traveled, the thought of having to walk it again in reverse makes my scalp tingle,"
"This road is simply too long, too difficult." The All Knowing Immortal heaved a long sigh, his voice thick with emotion.
"From an outsider's perspective, the birth of the Dao Annihilation seems utterly senseless. Beyond the Mountain Sea, the Void Realm did not exist. There was nothing but that watchful gaze. Yet, as the Mountain Sea evolved, the Dao Annihilation emerged from nowhere to erode it..."
"Could it be that the Void Realm originated from that gaze upon the Mountain Sea?"
After the initial wave of emotion passed, the Saints focused their attention on the unsettling points within the Three Saints' memories.
"From what I have seen, I fear that is not the case. Even with the Mountain Sea in its current state of decay, the Void Realm is merely its equal. It was only through the slow, cumulative erosion of eons that it ultimately brought about the Mountain Sea's ruin. But that gaze..." Stealing Opportunity paused, turning to look at Saint Lian Shan.
"If Saint Lian Shan's perception at the time was not mistaken... the pressure from that gaze was absolutely superior to the Mountain Sea itself!"
The other Saints mulled this over and found themselves in deep agreement.
"When Lian Shan attained his Dao, he became one with the Mountain Sea. Yet before that gaze, he could not stand for even a moment. It seems only natural, then, that the Mountain Sea was altered by it."
At this point, a strange silence fell over the Saints.
Since they were discussing the gaze from beyond the Mountain Sea, they could not avoid the question of its origin.
The answer seemed obvious.
Yet it was so incredible that the Saints hesitated, none daring to be the first to voice it.
It was Li Fan, unburdened by such reservations, who broke the silence and asked the question directly.
"It seems everyone here shares the same question I do."
"To possess such power, to alter the Mountain Sea with a single glance... could this gaze belong to the [God]?"
It seemed to be the only logical answer.
The Saints could not answer Li Fan's question and all turned to Saint Lian Shan, the only one who had truly witnessed that gaze.
"I do not know either..." After a moment of silence, Saint Lian Shan offered a rare, wry smile.
"The true face of the God, aside from the splintered consciousness of the Mountain Sea, has never been seen by anyone. I have not seen the God, nor do I know its form. Even if I might have met its gaze, how could I be certain?"
"However, if we follow conventional reasoning... your speculation is likely correct," Lian Shan added.
Tai Yi, however, shook his head. "The God transcends the Mountain Sea and cannot be measured by conventional logic. All our speculations and deductions are unlikely to lead to the correct answer."
"But one thing is certain. Even if that gaze did not belong to the God, it came from an existence superior to the Mountain Sea. It can be compared to the Star."
"Perhaps it was a remnant of the Mountain Sea's splintered consciousness that was not fully devoured. Or perhaps it came from some unknowable place, a being of the same caliber as the God. All the changes in the Mountain Sea since its state of eternity were set in motion by it," Saint Gui Hai concluded.
A warmth spread through the Saints' hearts along with Saint Gui Hai's voice.
It washed away the wearying sense of ages from witnessing a hundred billion years of memory, and it gently brushed away the lingering influence of that oppressive gaze.
Lian Shan looked at Li Fan. "Daoist Zhouhui, what are your thoughts? Do you still harbor doubts?"
Li Fan first nodded, then shook his head. "Even having lived through it once, the path back still feels fraught with immense difficulty. I possess neither the wisdom, courage, nor perseverance of the Three Saints. However..."
"Even an ant will cling to life. As Saints, besides reconnecting and saving the Mountain Sea, there seems to be no better way for us to survive. For the sake of survival, we can only try our best."
Li Fan's frankness came as a slight surprise to the Saints present.
But it was also true, and they all nodded slightly.
"A journey of a thousand years begins with a single step. Let's first conquer the peak before us," Li Fan said with a smile.
Li Fan was, of course, referring to the segment of the Mountain Sea ahead, besieged on all sides by the Void Realm.
Their spirits restored, the Saints' wills refocused on their divided bodies in the forward segment of the Mountain Sea.
The Three Saints from that previous spacetime began to explain the situation.
"Compared to the crisis we once faced when besieged by the avatars of the Void Realm, this is not much worse."
"The reason the situation has deteriorated to this point is because the Dao Annihilation's assault is too severe. Even with our protection, the Mountain Sea is inevitably fading day by day," Saint Lian Shan explained, pointing to the tides of energy blowing in from beyond the Mountain Sea.
The warm, white light of the Armillary Ring covered the entire segment of the Mountain Sea.
But one could see with the naked eye that it was constantly warping and shuddering.
It was as if an invisible hand was kneading it at will, relentlessly changing its shape.
With the Armillary Ring in such a state, the Mountain Sea it protected seemed like a fragile bubble, perilously close to bursting at any moment.
"The weight of the Dao Annihilation is indeed exceptionally rare."
"Even in Saint Lian Shan's hundred-billion-year memory, a concentration of Dao Annihilation of this magnitude is seldom seen. No wonder it is said that once this trial is passed, the path ahead will be clear."
"Within this Dao Annihilation, if we were only to protect ourselves, it might not be difficult. But to simultaneously protect the Mountain Sea..."
Feeling this immense pressure from beyond the Mountain Sea for the first time, the Saints frowned, each contemplating a course of action.
"The pressure of the Dao Annihilation is equal to that of the Mountain Sea. Only a Saint who is one with the Mountain Sea can bear its weight. Previously, when we were in dire straits, the number of Saints was dwindling. But now..."
"With my True Spirit Infusion ability, as long as we keep the Mountain Sea from perishing, we can always create a sufficient number of Saints. With each new Saint, the pressure of the Dao Annihilation lessens. If there are enough Saints, this calamity will resolve itself without us even needing to act," Li Fan said softly.
Then his tone shifted. "But this can only be a last resort. Firstly, while True Spirit Infusion has the heaven-defying ability to change fate, it still requires suitable candidates. The number of Transcendent cultivators who are just a step away from Sainthood..."
"...is actually not that large. And secondly, I'm afraid time is not on our side."
Saint Lian Shan nodded slightly. "Daoist Zhouhui's perception is indeed sharp. Perhaps sensing the departure of [Snare], the pressure from the Void Realm beyond the Mountain Sea has intensified. The waves of Dao Annihilation are rising higher and higher. It will soon reach its peak. We do not have the time to slowly create Saints."
As if to prove Saint Lian Shan's words, the white light outside the Armillary Ring suddenly twisted violently.
Even the Saints seated within the ring felt a powerful jolt.
Looking up, they saw overlapping silhouettes beginning to descend from the pitch-black Void Realm.
It was like an army bearing down on them, its spearhead pointed directly at them.
"Avatars of the Void Realm..."
The Three Saints frowned in unison.
Previously, the Void Realm was willing to deploy over a dozen avatars just to stop Li Fan and the others from providing aid.
Now, to completely capture this segment of the Mountain Sea where the veins of life and the Great Dao resided, the Void Realm would naturally dispatch even more forces.
Especially after [Snare] had been forced to retreat by Li Fan.
The sheer pressure of the Dao Annihilation was already almost too much to bear.
And now, with so many avatars of the Void Realm added to the mix...
"What is the plan?"
For a moment, all the Saints felt the situation was dire.
"I have a plan, though I am unsure if it will work," said Shou Qiu Gong.
Of course, he was actually voicing the thoughts of Li Fan, with whom he shared the Same Heart Same Virtue.
"Shou Qiu, please speak freely."
"Earlier, from the memories of the Three Saints, we witnessed the Mountain Sea changing in response to circumstances. And this place is where the lifeblood of the Mountain Sea flows..."
"Perhaps we can stimulate the power of the Mountain Sea itself to counter the force of the Dao Annihilation!" Shou Qiu stated calmly.
The Saints fell silent, seeming to ponder his words.
Shou Qiu continued on his own, "The Mountain Sea appears weak, on the verge of collapse, in need of our salvation. But after viewing the Three Saints' hundred-billion-year memory, I have a new understanding."
"Are the civilizations of the Mountain Sea, the Great Dao of the Mountain Sea, the living beings of the Mountain Sea, truly the Mountain Sea itself?"
"They are merely derivatives, born from the Mountain Sea's adaptive changes! In the very beginning, that scene of the Mountain and Sea coexisting in eternal harmony—that is how the Mountain Sea was meant to be."
"In other words, all of this is, to the Mountain Sea, relatively external. Like a person's clothes."
"Not the Mountain Sea itself!"
Shou Qiu's words were earth-shattering.
The Saints now understood that the so-called civilizations, beings, and Dao of the Mountain Sea were, for the most part, the origin of the Three Saints.
Now Shou Qiu was making the astonishing claim that the Three Saints did not represent the Mountain Sea.
Inside the Armillary Ring, there was a dead silence.
The Saints lowered their gazes, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, but quietly observing the reactions of the Three Saints.
"Civilization to civilization, the Mountain Sea to the Mountain Sea. Lord Shou Qiu's words are brilliant. I deeply agree. What are the thoughts of the Three Saints?" Li Fan, however, stood firmly on Shou Qiu Gong's side.
After Li Fan, Moral also voiced his agreement.
With three other Saints raising doubts, the Three Saints could no longer remain silent.
"Shou Qiu has sat on the mountain and viewed the sea for countless ages. After receiving our memories, he has indeed gained a deeper insight into the mysteries of the Mountain Sea."
"In a sense, you are correct."
"Everything attached to the Mountain Sea cannot represent the Mountain Sea itself."
"Ever since the first living being was created and tainted with congenital malice, forcing the Mountain Sea to destroy it, the ideal state envisioned by the Mountain Sea was that period of eternity after the destruction of the Primitive Immortal Realm."
"Possibilities would rise and fall like ripples, and living beings would multiply and vanish within them, without affecting the Mountain Sea in the slightest."
"The Mountain Sea would remain eternally independent, until the end of time. But alas..."
"That attempt failed."
"The Mountain Sea and the civilizations that evolved within it became entangled once more, the connection growing deeper and deeper. But if we trace it back to its roots, their essences are still different," Lian Shan did not deny Shou Qiu Gong's speculation.
Lian Shan's words sent all the Saints into deep thought.
"In a sense, our appearance has, in fact, been more harmful than helpful to the Mountain Sea."
"For the splintered consciousness of the Mountain Sea, the most ideal outcome would be to jointly achieve a new Godhood. Even if that's not possible, maintaining that initial state of endless eternity would still be the best option. But..."
Li Fan recalled the scene he had once witnessed, of the lone star descending and devouring everything. A realization dawned on him, and he slowly spoke, "Any so-called living being, civilization, or Dao within the Mountain Sea is a manifestation of the Mountain Sea's fundamental power being divided. In essence, it represents the loss of Their power..."
"The stronger the civilizations and beings of the Mountain Sea become, the weaker the Mountain Sea itself grows."
In that instant, a thought struck Li Fan, and his words came to an abrupt halt.
He had a theory, but it was so incredible that he did not voice it rashly.
He could only continuously replay the scene of the star's descent in his mind.
"The Mountain Sea Variation Outline, the Star Radiance Rhythm Summary..."
Saint Lian Shan seemed unaware of the turmoil in Li Fan's mind and continued, "Shou Qiu's idea is indeed sound. The Mountain Sea stands against the Void Realm. Now that the Void Realm's army is at our doorstep, the Mountain Sea should naturally be able to muster its own forces to fight back. The key question is..."
"...how exactly can it be done?"
"Behind the scenes of the Void Realm, a will seems to be in command. But the Mountain Sea..."
Saint Lian Shan shook his head slightly. "Since the collapse of the Mountain Sea's eternal state, its true will has not been felt for a long time. Even when we can occasionally sense it, it's merely instinct."
"An unconscious instinct might be able to rise up and fight back when faced with a crisis. But it cannot marshal forces and adapt to the situation like the Void Realm can. This is perhaps the most important reason why the Mountain Sea is at a disadvantage."
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