Chapter 803: A Hundred Lives, A New Journey
To have seen the world from its highest peak, yet upon returning to its base, still know precisely where you stand.
This, too, was an expression of an immortal’s heart.
Temporarily pushing aside the deeds of True Immortals beyond the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan calmed his mind and opened the [Truth] panel.
This was now the 119th life he had experienced.
Time: Anchor Year 2.
Location: Summit of Jieli Mountain.
Lines of small text cascaded down like a waterfall.
Name: Li Fan
Realm: Mid Golden Core
Mental Age: 1368/9999
[Truth] Charge Progress: 16%
Anchor Charge Progress: 0%
Current Anchor Points: 3
Available Anchor Points: 2
Bound Items: *Jade Cosmos Thousand Variations Sutra*, Grand Derivation Boat, Stop Tablet Fragment (Damaged), Myriad Lives Blood Essence, Dao Transformation Stone, Final Dissociation Disc
Techniques: Xuanhuang Heart Refining Mantra, Sitting Immortal Technique, Cloud Water Illusory Dream Art, Body Transformation Dao, Mysterious True Spirit Transformation, Melting Furnace of Ten Thousand Forms, Creation Forge Art
Divine Abilities: Chaos, Limitless Fullness and Emptiness, Thread Extraction, Heaven Transformation, Reverse Five Elements Creation-Destruction Sword, Life and Death Chain, Formless Killing Intent, Insect Binding
...
Because he had chosen to retain the item [Final Dissociation Disc] instead of his cultivation realm, Li Fan was still at the Mid Golden Core stage. His physical age limit had also reverted from 999 to 599.
However, something like a lifespan limit was largely irrelevant to Li Fan. After all, across so many lives, he had rarely died of old age, except during his mortal periods. And now that he had unlocked the [Incarnation] function, it mattered even less.
His mental age limit, however, had not decreased with the regression of his cultivation. He supposed it was connected to his mind and soul.
“Now, [Truth] only needs six years to fully charge. This means I can enter the Xuanhuang Realm two years ahead of schedule.”
Li Fan’s gaze shifted downward, landing on the six items bound to [Truth], and his brow furrowed slightly.
“The *Jade Cosmos Thousand Variations Sutra*, the Grand Derivation Boat, the Stop Tablet Fragment...”
“These are all things I saved from my struggles during my mortal reincarnations, all to escape the Great Xuan world. Back then, they were priceless treasures to me.”
“But now, they’ve lost much of their use. Most importantly, seeing them constantly displayed on the [Truth] panel is just annoying.”
“If only there was a way to get rid of them.”
As this thought crossed his mind, a faint message from [Truth] rippled through his awareness.
“Expend one Anchor Point to replace a bound item?”
Li Fan paused, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, then narrowed them in thought.
“This is certainly a good thing. But this replacement function never existed before.”
“The charge time for [Truth] has also shortened...”
“Has [Truth]’s power been enhanced?”
Li Fan pondered for a moment, then carefully tried to sense any other changes to [Truth]’s functions.
To his slight disappointment, however, he couldn't find any other changes for the time being.
“I used to guess that the charging speed of [Truth] was related to my soul and willpower. Now, it seems it might be linked to some other unknown factors as well.”
“Could it be because my horizons have broadened after witnessing a True Immortal?”
“Has my so-called ‘exploration progress’ increased again?”
The thought of the True Immortal inadvertently surfaced again, and Li Fan’s mind wavered once more.
It took him the better part of half a day to regain his composure.
His attention returned to the [Truth] panel.
As for the remaining techniques and divine abilities, there wasn't much to say.
Although they looked magnificent on paper, their actual performance was indeed extraordinary.
One could even say they made him invincible against those at the same level and capable of killing those above him.
But having seen Mr. Bai, the Dharma Spreader, and even a [True Immortal] in action...
...Li Fan couldn't help but feel that all these abilities now seemed a bit flashy and superficial.
“In this world, it seems realm is everything.”
“A single realm higher means absolute, crushing power. It completely defies reason.”
“An ordinary Dao Integration cultivator wouldn't last a single exchange against a Longevity Heavenly Venerate.”
“And a True Immortal from the Immortal Ruins could annihilate the entire Xuanhuang Realm with a single glance.”
“So-called 'killing across realms' is nothing more than a big fish eating a smaller fish within the same pond.”
...
Li Fan fell silent for a long moment, any trace of arrogance vanishing from his heart.
But he quickly rallied his spirits.
“With [Truth] in my possession, even the realm of True Immortals might not be beyond my reach.”
“However, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
“I must proceed one step at a time.”
“The *Sitting Immortal Technique* has already reached the Dao Integration level, so I won’t have to worry about my primary cultivation method for a long time.”
“The *Limitless Fullness and Emptiness* is a divine ability that strengthens the soul. My soul is my greatest vulnerability. Whether facing Ruomu or Mr. Bai, I was almost completely defenseless...”
“I hope this divine ability, derived by the Tianxuan Mirror, can offer at least some protection.”
Having gained a clear understanding of the power of those old monsters, Li Fan didn't believe this single divine ability could completely fend them off. He would be thankful if it simply allowed him to detect any anomalies the moment he was being ‘tainted’.
Although, judging by the events that unfolded in the last life after he transformed into the world...
Mr. Bai did indeed seem to be an unequivocally good person, with no intention of seizing [Truth] from him. In comparison, Li Fan's own series of actions felt like a clown's performance, utterly laughable.
But...
Who could guarantee that this wasn't all just a performance for Li Fan's benefit, put on because he knew he could no longer find Li Fan's transformed body?
Therefore, even if he had to do it all over again, Li Fan would make the same choices.
Li Fan always prioritized his own safety above all else. He would never blindly trust anyone.
Then again, risks and rewards are two sides of the same coin.
In the previous life, although dangers loomed at every turn...
...the rewards were even greater.
First, he had confirmed one thing: while the Dharma Spreading Heavenly Venerate was powerful, dominating the entire Xuanhuang Realm...
...He was not omniscient.
After Li Fan detonated numerous Chaos-script puppets across the Xuanhuang Realm, his Holy Embryo clone seized the moment of chaos to pilot the Medicine King True Cauldron and slip out of the realm undetected.
If the Dharma Spreading Heavenly Venerate truly had a grasp on everything within the Xuanhuang Realm, then even with the Medicine King True Cauldron coated in a material that blocked spiritual sense, and even with the disruptive influence of the Chaos script...
...the cauldron should never have been able to escape His control.
And yet, it did.
This was enough to prove that the Dharma Spreading Heavenly Venerate was still within the conceptual scope of a [cultivator].
Just an exceptionally powerful one.
His actions could be predicted based on experience and knowledge.
But a True Immortal...
...was a being entirely beyond mortal reasoning, someone best left undisturbed.
“The Dharma Spreader seems so invincible because He achieved His Dao through the New Method. Any cultivator who practices it subsequently contributes a portion of their power to Him.”
“Thousands of years of accumulation have elevated Him to an unfathomable level.”
“To defeat the Dharma Spreader, one must first destroy his foundation.”
“This is also why, after the [Foundation Establishment Through Oneself] method appeared, He was willing to personally manifest just to erase it.”
---
Comments