Chapter 1458: First Trial of Truth and Falsehood |
In order to force the two immortals inside the coffin to take their next step as soon as possible, and also to carefully study this so called Mystic Coffin of World Traversal, Li Fan released the power of the Ink Death Celestial Spirit and wrapped the Mystic Coffin in layer upon layer of it.
The Ink Death Celestial Spirit was extremely close to the Dao Annihilation Calamity. It could almost completely seal off the power of the Dao Net.
The faint black mist not only surrounded the Mystic Coffin. It also seeped inward as if it could penetrate through every opening, attempting to infiltrate the coffin itself.
The Mystic Coffin of World Traversal was reputed to be capable of avoiding all disasters and calamities in the world. However, this was based on escaping into other possibilities. In reality, it could not withstand the Dao Annihilation Calamity.
It could not even completely isolate the inside of the Mystic Coffin from the outside world.
After a moment of silence, the two immortals inside the coffin clearly sensed the destructive aura outside. Violent tremors once again appeared within the Mystic Coffin of World Traversal.
This time, however, the disturbance was far more intense than before.
Previously, it had been caused by the aftershocks of the two sides fighting one another. But now...
The two immortals were likely trying to join forces and break out of the coffin.
And it was under this desperate situation of life and death that Li Fan truly witnessed the methods of True Immortals.
The seemingly sacred chanting within the coffin began once again.
This time, however, it was almost inaudible. Only by relying on the power of the Ink Death Celestial Spirit that enveloped the Mystic Coffin could Li Fan barely sense it.
The one chanting seemed to still be Qian Ruochang.
Li Fan intended to use the same method as before, weaving demonic chanting through the power of dreams to interfere with it.
Yet the two forms of sound seemed to exist in entirely different worlds. They remained parallel and independent, unable to affect one another in the slightest.
The chanting continued without end, while the seven colored light within the coffin grew increasingly brilliant.
"There is a force isolating the Mystic Coffin from the world. Although I can sense it through the power of the Ink Death Celestial Spirit, I cannot affect it in any way."
"This is that [Devoid] Immortal taking action."
"Since they cannot break out of the coffin, they have simply chosen to join forces and cross into another world instead."
Li Fan sneered inwardly. Since he had dared to force them into a desperate situation of life and death, how could he have failed to anticipate the reaction of the two immortals inside the coffin?
"Crossing between possibilities..."
"Let me see exactly how it works."
The black qi transformed into countless tentacles, tightly entangling the Mystic Coffin of World Traversal. As an extension of Li Fan's senses, they touched and analyzed the essence of the Mystic Coffin.
Without interference from outside forces, the Mystic Coffin of World Traversal was fully activated.
Seven colored radiance suddenly surged out from within the coffin, actually forcing back all the power of the Ink Death Celestial Spirit for a time.
Li Fan seemed to see countless phantoms appearing simultaneously and overlapping upon the Mystic Coffin.
Every phantom of the Mystic Coffin was exactly identical to the others. What differed was the scenery surrounding each Mystic Coffin.
The chanting grew increasingly sonorous, and the Mystic Coffin in reality seemed to be drawn into this countless overlapping imagery. It was about to separate from reality itself.
At the same time, however, the number of overlapping Mystic Coffins appearing simultaneously suddenly began to decrease from infinity.
From the fleeting scenes that occasionally flashed past, Li Fan saw nothing but "perfect worlds" where the Dao Annihilation Calamity had not yet ravaged the world.
Although the Ink Death Celestial Spirit still tightly bound the Mystic Coffin, the tangible sensation of Li Fan's touch was becoming increasingly faint. The Mystic Coffin was about to fade away from his grasp and escape.
"This Mystic Coffin of World Traversal does not travel to other possibilities unconditionally. Instead, it seems that it can only travel to possibilities where another Mystic Coffin of World Traversal also exists."
"By relying on the Mystic Coffin's [Unity], it can escape from the current possibility."
"So that is how it is..."
Li Fan gradually understood.
Since identical individuals existing in different possibilities could cross possibilities and devour themselves, then certain special objects could naturally do the same.
The so called "world traversal" of the Mystic Coffin cleverly made use of this characteristic.
In fact, Li Fan's use of the [Truth] to preserve objects from the previous simulation and bring them back into the reality of this life could also be regarded as a form of "Unity."
However, not every object could continuously grow stronger through Unity.
Only the "Heaven and Earth Wonders" of the Xuanhuang Realm seemed capable of appearing simultaneously and instinctively devouring one another.
The Dao Deviation Stones that came from beyond the heavens could not do this. Li Fan had to actively promote their fusion.
"The materials used to forge this Mystic Coffin of World Traversal should possess properties somewhat similar to those of the Heaven and Earth Wonders."
"Only by being completely identical to the Mystic Coffin in other possibilities can it borrow the power of Unity and leap across possibilities..."
No matter how powerful the binding force of the Ink Death Celestial Spirit was, the Mystic Coffin of World Traversal ultimately continued to grow increasingly indistinct.
As Li Fan observed and pondered, the Mystic Coffin had already almost escaped from the current possibility.
A force transcending everything, one that even a True Immortal could not perceive, quietly descended.
"When truth becomes falsehood, falsehood becomes truth."
Before Li Fan's eyes, it seemed as though those seven incomparably familiar characters appeared once again.
Now that he had reached the Half Immortal realm, Li Fan could already barely accomplish 'the falsehood becomes truth.' He could even create something from nothing through [Ancient Cang Primal Essence], an energy capable of helping the Beast race leap across possibilities.
Yet he had always been unable to even enter the Dao of 'the truth becomes falsehood.'
In theory, destruction should have been easier than creation.
Li Fan had been unable to understand this for a long time. Only now, after clearly observing the entire process of the Mystic Coffin traversing worlds through the Ink Death Celestial Spirit, did he finally realize that he had been thinking too narrowly.
Turning a complete, genuinely existing object into nothingness out of thin air was the ability of 'falsehood becomes truth.' The difficulty of using this ability did not depend on the target.
Whether the target was a powerful existence like Evil Su Bai or the Darkened Heavenly Doctor, or merely an ant crawling upon the earth, the difficulty for Li Fan was exactly the same.
Because as long as they remained beneath the level of the [Transformation Between Truth and Falsehood], none of them could resist the occurrence of the concept of 'falsehood becomes truth.'
However, transforming a complete true object into falsehood corresponded to transforming a falsehood object into reality.
Furthermore, its existence would not disappear simply because the power of truth and falsehood vanished.
Such a realm of great attainment was naturally beyond what Li Fan, who had only barely entered the Dao, could accomplish.
"It is probably because an object's true state can be maintained for a certain period of time. But once it falls into a false state, it no longer has an opportunity to become true again."
"Once it disappears, it disappears forever."
The reason Li Fan was suddenly able to grasp this crucial point was because he had observed that the Mystic Coffin of World Traversal did not disappear from the current possibility in an instant.
Instead, the countless particles constituting the Mystic Coffin first completed corresponding verification with their counterparts in other possibilities. Only afterward did they enter the state of Unity and escape from the current possibility.
It was not the Mystic Coffin's main body traveling across possibilities.
Rather, it divided into countless individuals.
Once they arrived in another possibility, they would once again merge from many into one.
"There are naturally shackles between different possibilities. Compared to a complete individual, those extremely tiny particles, which are even beyond my ability to observe, should be much easier to move across possibilities."
"Divide the whole into parts."
"By the same principle, what I need to do is not directly turn the entire Mystic Coffin from true into false."
"As long as I disrupt the verification process of the Mystic Coffin and make this Mystic Coffin different from its original state, that will be enough."
Li Fan understood instantly.
The Transformation Between Truth and Falsehood immediately enveloped the Mystic Coffin.
Within his mind, he visualized and recalled the sensation of repeatedly undergoing simulations and rebirth, one life after another.
"Truth, is, also, falsehood!"
He uttered each word slowly within his heart.
The object upon which it acted was not the Mystic Coffin as a macroscopic whole.
What Li Fan touched was instead one of the countless particles that made up the Mystic Coffin.
It was like gently wiping away a little dust.
On the surface, the Mystic Coffin appeared completely unchanged.
But...
The chanting had already reached its climax.
Yet the overlapping images of the Mystic Coffin within the seven-colored radiance suddenly went dark.
Although only some insignificant particle had been removed, the Mystic Coffin was no longer the Mystic Coffin of World Traversal.
The truth had become falsehood, and the crossing of the world could no longer continue.
Qian Ruochang's chanting abruptly came to a halt.
It seemed that neither of the two immortals inside the coffin could accept this reality. For a long time, they remained unable to react.
An eerie silence filled the Mystic Coffin.
Qian Ruochang and Devoid Immortal were both utterly silent, as if they had already departed with the Mystic Coffin of World Traversal, without making the slightest sound.
They also seemed to have resigned themselves to their fate and stopped struggling.
Li Fan's attention was not focused on the two of them. Instead, he was immensely delighted that he had successfully performed the Transformation Between Truth and Falsehood.
In theory, the degree to which he could make the truth become falsehood should be equal to the degree to which he could make the falsehood become truth.
In other words, although he currently could not completely erase an individual, he should certainly be capable of more than merely wiping away a few particles.
"I can now temporarily stack my strength to three times its original level."
"By the same principle, I should also be able to weaken something to a certain extent."
In Li Fan's understanding, when a person or an object was viewed as a whole, if a portion of it were suddenly removed, then it would inevitably become weaker accordingly. As for where exactly this weakness would manifest...
Li Fan instinctively wanted to conduct an experiment on himself.
However, the moment this thought arose, his heart suddenly began pounding. Even [Truth] faintly sent out a fluctuation, seemingly issuing a warning.
This had never happened before.
"It seems that the weakening effect of making the truth become falsehood is even more terrifying than I imagined."
Leaving the Mystic Coffin of World Traversal aside, Li Fan first summoned several test subjects and began his experiments.
There were ten of them in total. Some were ordinary mortals, while others were cultivators.
Among the cultivators, there were those of mediocre aptitude, those with considerable talent, and those who could become heavenly prodigies.
Their consciousnesses had previously been immersed in the Carefree Dreamland. At this moment, for the sake of experimental rigor, Li Fan recalled all of their consciousnesses.
He once again recalled the sensation he had experienced when casting the divine ability earlier.
As the saying went, the first time was difficult, but the second time was easier. This time, Li Fan performed it without the same awkwardness and difficulty as before.
It was like an eraser gently rubbing against a figure drawn on paper.
After finishing his divine ability, Li Fan carefully examined all ten people.
"Strange..."
"Their cultivation has not decreased. Their souls and consciousnesses also seem no different from before."
"Where exactly has my divine ability of making the truth become falsehood manifested itself?"
After a long time, Li Fan frowned tightly, having found nothing.
Since he could not detect the answer, it meant that the degree of change was still insufficient.
Thus, Li Fan continued his experiments.
Compared to the already familiar technique of making the falsehood become truth, this divine ability of making the truth become falsehood placed an enormous burden on Li Fan.
Even though he was now far stronger than before and had the support of the dream power generated by countless beings of the Xuanhuang Realm immersed in dreams, after performing it three times consecutively, he still felt completely drained and exhausted.
An unprecedented sense of weakness also surged through his heart.
Li Fan was secretly alarmed and wisely stopped the experiment.
Fortunately, his efforts had not been in vain.
After continuously "erasing" them, Li Fan finally discovered where exactly his divine ability had taken effect.
The changes in the few mortals were still insignificant.
Even among the cultivators, Li Fan could not discern any obvious difference in the mediocre ones.
The key lay with that heavenly prodigy.
This person's name was Yin Changshou. Originally, because of his birth, resources, and other factors, he had remained obscure within the Xuanhuang Realm.
But after everyone entered the Carefree Paradise, he suddenly emerged as a dark horse.
His performance was even more outstanding than that of the likes of Wang Xuanba and Sun Erlang. He had already begun probing the boundaries of dreams at the High Wall.
When Li Fan had previously selected his test subjects, he had immediately taken a liking to him.
But now...
Under Li Fan's scrutiny, he discovered that the 'spiritual aura' surrounding Yin Changshou seemed to have disappeared.
This spiritual aura was not the same as spiritual energy.
Rather, it was an indescribably profound sensation.
It had nothing to do with his current cultivation realm. Instead, it was a kind of 'premonition' regarding what achievements he might attain in the future.
Previously, the moment Li Fan saw Yin Changshou, he had known that if there were no strong external interference and he were allowed to develop freely, then even if he could not reach the Longevity Immortal realm, achieving Dao Integration should have been virtually certain.
But now...
It was as if his potential had already been exhausted, with no path ahead.
This feeling that he would never amount to anything in the future had now appeared in the very heavenly prodigy Li Fan had selected at first glance.
The drastic contrast before and after left Li Fan secretly shocked.
"The spiritual aura I speak of is the sum of comprehension, fortune, physique, talent, and everything else. Although my divine ability of making the truth become falsehood cannot directly lower one's cultivation at present, an effect like this..."
"It is like a blade that digs out one's bones and strips away one's soul. It is even more vicious!"
"No wonder [Truth] issued a warning when I previously had the thought of experimenting on myself."
"If this blade were to fall, I am afraid even I would be unable to restore the changes."
For a true genius, perhaps death itself was not frightening.
What was truly terrifying was for the talent they took pride in to suddenly leave them one day.
To go from being a genius to an ordinary person, or even a fool.
This was an attack upon the heart, far more devastating than killing the person himself.
"This divine ability cuts away one's entire future."
"And I vaguely feel that it may not end there."
It was as if inspiration lay just ahead, within reach. Yet a layer of mist stood between him and it, and he could never quite see through it.
After resting briefly, Li Fan began the experiment once more.
The blade of truth and falsehood descended inch by inch.
In Li Fan's eyes, Yin Changshou gradually became even less useful than an ordinary mortal.
A mortal could still forcibly embark upon the path of cultivation through the use of sufficient resources. But Yin Changshou at this moment had been completely cut off from the path ahead.
No matter what method was used, he could no longer advance even a single step.
"His cultivation regressing in every aspect is already certain. But why do I still feel that the true harm has yet to manifest?"
Li Fan stared intently at Yin Changshou. After gazing at him for a long time, he finally brought down the last strike.
It was like continuously rubbing a picture with an eraser until the image was completely wiped from the canvas.
Yet in reality, Yin Changshou did not simply disappear.
Rather, some possibility had been completely severed.
Li Fan suddenly sensed something. He abruptly raised his head and looked beyond the heavens.