Chapter 786: The Theory of Information Immortality
Chapter 786: The Theory of Information Immortality
Xu Bai gave him a long, deep look.
Chen Tianhai’s words were heavy with meaning.
It was as if he had seen through Xu Bai’s origin as a clone.
But he didn’t expose him, maintaining a cryptic air. Fang Zaiji found it all rather baffling.
“However, you were right about one thing. We of the Taiyan Sect are indeed very interested in scenes from beyond the Immortal Ruins.”
“To be more precise, any records from outside the Xuanhuang Realm are of the utmost importance to us.”
“What do you want in exchange?”
Chen Tianhai changed the subject, asking bluntly.
He recovered quickly and stated his demand decisively. “I want Transformation Dao Stones—the higher the quality, the better.”
“Transformation Dao Stones...” Chen Tianhai mused for a moment before finally shaking his head slightly.
“We no longer have any individual Transformation Dao Stones within the Taiyan Sect. You might have better luck trying in the Xuanhuang Realm itself.”
“Make another request.”
Hearing this, Fang Zaiji grew displeased. “Old Chen, are you trying to pull one over on us because our sect master is young and easy to bully? The man who led us in here just now explicitly said that anyone who joins your Taiyan Sect gets a medium-grade Transformation Dao Stone for free.”
“So how is it that when it comes to you, you suddenly have none?”
Chen Tianhai glanced at Fang Zaiji and chuckled. “Brother Fang, there's no need to test me further.”
“It's just as you suspected...”
“As of now, all of us depend on the Transformation Dao Stone Mother for our very existence.”
Even though he had harbored some suspicions, hearing Chen Tianhai admit it himself still sent a slight tremor through Fang Zaiji's body.
“You...”
In that instant, Chen Tianhai's body once again became blue and transparent.
“To maximize the power of the Transformation Dao Stone Mother, we gathered every Transformation Dao Stone we could find back then. Since that day, we have never separated any from the whole. Therefore, we truly are powerless to fulfill your request,” he said to Xu Bai, speaking frankly.
“Existing by relying on the Transformation Dao Stone Mother.” Xu Bai wasn't particularly disappointed.
He simply studied Chen Tianhai's form in silence.
After his initial shock, Fang Zaiji boldly stepped forward and reached out to touch Chen Tianhai's body.
Just as he expected, it was like a projection of light—completely intangible.
His hand passed right through the form.
“How can dignified cultivators tolerate existing in such a state?” he exclaimed, clearly still finding it hard to accept.
“It's not all that different, really. In fact, it offers many conveniences. Care to give it a try?” Chen Tianhai asked, completely unfazed.
Startled, Fang Zaiji quickly retracted his hand.
“What is the actual state of your entire Taiyan Sect now? According to you, everyone from top to bottom is an illusory existence. So what about the Dao Integration cultivator who went to the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance to negotiate your surrender?” Fang Zaiji asked, perplexed.
“We can shift freely between illusion and reality. Most of the time, we exist in an illusory state. But when necessary, we can manifest physical bodies, no different from real cultivators,” Chen Tianhai explained truthfully.
“However, doing so consumes a vast amount of resources and the computational power of the Transformation Dao Stone Mother. We don't do it unless absolutely necessary.”
“Normally, we only maintain the real forms of a dozen or so disciples.”
Fang Zaiji couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement. “Is that even possible?”
“Is this the solution you devised for the great calamity back then?” Xu Bai asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
“Isn't the price a bit too steep? To be imprisoned within a stone for all eternity. And if it were to shatter, you risk collective annihilation,” Xu Bai pointed out bluntly.
“The great calamity?” A chilling smile reappeared on Chen Tianhai's face.
“If we merely wanted to safely navigate the calamity of the Law cannot be cultivated together, our Taiyan Sect has dozens of methods.”
“But that was never our goal.”
The transparent blue figure clasped his hands behind his back, his tone suddenly infused with a heroic spirit.
“What we in the Taiyan Sect desire is true transcendence.”
“A transcendence that allows one to remain composed even in the face of a true world-ending catastrophe, like falling into the Immortal Ruins or the destruction of the Xuanhuang Realm.”
His words sent a violent tremor through the minds of both Xu Bai and Fang Zaiji.
Fang Zaiji couldn't help but retort, “And you expect to achieve that with just your Transformation Dao Stone Mother? You probably don't truly understand the horrors of the Immortal Ruins...”
But Chen Tianhai cut him off with a merciless wave of his hand.
“I know. The gravitational pull of the Immortal Ruins is strong enough to warp spacetime.”
“But that is its limit.”
“It hasn't yet reached the point where it can destroy spacetime itself.”
Chen Tianhai tapped his right foot lightly on the ground, and a circle of blue light spread out from beneath him.
A moment later, the walls once again became transparent.
And in that instant, the building, and indeed the entire floating city, turned blue and transparent, just like Chen Tianhai.
If one looked closely, countless scenes seemed to flicker ceaselessly within the blue translucence.
Like countless worlds being born and dying.
“This floating city... it's the Transformation Dao Stone Mother?” Fang Zaiji asked in astonishment, finally realizing where he was.
Chen Tianhai didn't answer.
Instead, he continued as if to himself, “As long as spacetime is not destroyed, information will exist forever. And so, the Taiyan Sect can also exist forever.”
“The Transformation Dao Stone Mother? There is no such thing in this world anymore.”
“In that one moment, long ago, we all became one.”
Fang Zaiji's mouth hung open, but no words came out for a long moment. He was clearly, once again, stunned by the sheer madness of the Taiyan Sect.
“As long as spacetime is not destroyed, information will exist forever. A truly rare and ingenious idea. And your Taiyan Sect actually managed to realize it. How brilliant,” Xu Bai said, unable to stop himself from applauding.
“Though ordinary methods cannot completely destroy you, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance possesses your natural nemesis.”
“The Heavenly Profound Mirror.”
“With its power, the Heavenly Profound Mirror might not be able to erase you easily. But it should be capable of trapping you within itself forever.”
Xu Bai mused aloud, “No wonder you surrendered so quickly.”
“There is no shame in doing what is necessary for survival. Besides, if we truly fought, It would not have an easy time either. Its primary task right now is to complete its own ascension. Naturally, it would not move against us. And since there is no conflict of interest between us, it readily accepted our surrender,” Chen Tianhai said without denial, his tone casual.
“Well said. But I have a question,” Xu Bai said, staring directly at Chen Tianhai.
“How does your Taiyan Sect know that the Immortal Ruins cannot destroy spacetime?”
“What if the pull of the Immortal Ruins has been growing stronger over the years?”
“Just because it can't now doesn't mean it won't be able to in the future.”
Xu Bai's tone was haunting.
Comments