Chapter 1912: Chapter 1512: Relic of the Eternal Path (Part 2)

Vaguely, the spherical remnant hinted at a once human form, but now it had decomposed into threads.

“Is this the relic of a strong being who crossed mountains and seas…?”

Li Fan was not concerned about the battle between the two.

Rather, it was about what gradually emerged from the strongman’s relic as it was suppressed and decomposed.

From where the head might have originally been, many floating shadows slowly came to light.

To Li Fan’s astonishment, the light and shadow concealed in the strongman’s relic’s brain were, astonishingly, the image of a mountain and sea!

Even though the body had decayed, and the divine soul dispersed, this vision of mountains and seas persisted.

“Perhaps this is the fundamental reason why the relic can drift among the mountains and seas,” Li Fan pondered with insight.

Yet, what Li Fan glimpsed in this miniature scene of mountains and seas once again shook him deeply.

The mountain and sea within the strongman’s relic’s spirit consciousness seemed indistinguishable from what Li Fan was seeing now.

But upon closer inspection, one could see a solitary sail suspended, traversing between mountains and seas!

Even with the vast ancient presence of the mountains and seas, it only slightly faded the solitary sail, not completely engulfing it.

In an instant, Li Fan realized: “It wasn’t the image of the mountain and sea that immortalized the relic. It was the solitary sail of those mountains and seas!”

“Is this…”

“The path of transcendence of the strongman before life?!”

Li Fan fixated on the solitary sail amidst the mountain and sea, inexplicably feeling a sense of familiarity.

At the same time, the long-slumbering Hai Zhen finally transmitted the faintest mental wave, further confirming Li Fan’s judgment.

“Eternal Memento?!”

Li Fan’s heart raced violently for a moment.

To be more precise, that lone sail crossing the mountain and sea might share the same essence as all the eternities Li Fan had encountered before.

But undoubtedly, it was far more potent than what Li Fan had previously absorbed. Even if it couldn’t finally cross the mountain and sea, its ability to safeguard the relic in the tide of the Mountain and Sea Meld for millions of years testified to its extraordinariness.

Compared to it, the mementos of figures like Tianyang and Su Bai seemed insignificant.

“But in essence, they are the same.”

“It’s more than a simple projection of the Tao; it resonates with one’s own will. This is also the most fundamental reliance for crossing mountains and seas…”

“The sea of mountains has no boundaries, only I make the boat!”

Zi Yi’s previous words resurfaced in Li Fan’s spirit consciousness, like a bolt of lightning cutting through the mist, illuminating the answer.

“If Tianyang were fortunate enough to reach the Realm of Transcendence, then his method of crossing would be to use ‘Not Inferior to Others’ as his boat. If it were Su Bai, it would be crossing the arduous path of ‘True Compassionate Love’.”

“In short, those cultivators capable of forming an ‘Eternal Memento’ after death had already half a foot into their own path. They were already seeds of transcendent strongmen! This path was not about cultivation realm but was seemingly related to one’s disposition and will.”

“Yet, to transcend, one’s path and cultivation realm were indispensable!”

“If the cultivation was sufficient but couldn’t make a boat, one could only sigh in despair. And if the boat was made but one’s strength was insufficient, entering the mountain and seas would only lead to death.”

Li Fan was deeply moved in his heart.

Indeed, it was a great fortune.

Through the strongman’s relic, Zi Yi, together with Li Fan, almost pointed out the way to transcendence.

Perhaps relying solely on Li Fan’s constant attempts in Reincarnation, he might eventually comprehend the mystery. But Zi Yi’s guidance undoubtedly spared several cycles of reincarnation time!

“The path of crossing mountains and seas. No wonder even Hai Zhen would always yearn upon encountering it.”

“Could Hai Zhen be absorbing these to simulate and deduce ways to counter the mountains and seas?” a bold idea surfaced in Li Fan’s mind.

It seemed as if sensing Zi Yi’s presence from not afar, Hai Zhen, after emitting faint waves, soon fell silent again without responding to Li Fan’s speculation.

Beyond The Mortal World, Zi Yi had already extracted all the lines outside the solitary sail of the mountain and sea. However, he did not absorb them but cast them into the mountains and seas.

Without the support of Reincarnation, those lines melted like ice in water, causing not even a ripple before being swallowed by the mountains and seas.

Since revealing himself, maintaining the stance of a transcendent strongman, Zi Yi faced the solitary sail of the mountain and sea with a rare solemnity, mixed with genuine admiration.

The solitary sail, slightly yellowed, seemed to sense Zi Yi’s mind and emitted waves of seven-colored radiance in response.

Zi Yi displayed the means of the Path to the Heavens between the mountains and seas once more. A thin line, instantly formed, spanned the mountains and seas, reaching the unknown other side.

The solitary sail, enveloped in seven-colored light, set sail along this path.

Zi Yi watched the solitary sail depart, and when it completely vanished from view, he then retracted the Path to the Heavens.

Maintaining the existence of such a path among the mountains and seas, evidently, was quite a burden for Zi Yi. His magnificent attire flowed as if blown by the wind; only the blood pearl at his forehead emitted red glowing waves, calming Zi Yi.

After retrieving the solitary sail, Zi Yi did not return from the mountains and seas.

Before the Path to the Heavens line closed, he sent a message from afar: “My task is complete. I’ve extended the path of crossing for you for three days, take care.”

And then, as he had appeared suddenly, he vanished without a trace.

As for the countless True Immortal Purple Talismans still drifting in Guangwu Star Sea, he showed no concern for their fate.

Leaving Li Fan and Bearing the Dao, who hadn’t yet come to their senses, standing silently in the starry sky.

Long after.

When the thread beyond the Vault of Heaven gradually faded, the scene of mountains and seas also disappeared. Only then did Bearing the Dao reluctantly withdraw his gaze.

With the disappearance of his enlightenment wave, Li Fan’s clever mirroring technique also failed.

“Senior Brother, do you think the final destination of that solitary sail of the mountain and sea…”

“Could it be the Other Shore?” Li Fan reflected on the events, whispering.

Bearing the Dao remained silent and serious for a moment before replying: “Most likely.”

Li Fan inhaled deeply: “So, that solitary sail represents the true intent of the strongman to cross between mountains and seas? No wonder when I first came across the Taoist Sword Dao Blade, I felt something familiar…”

Bearing the Dao comet: “If one isn’t strong enough and has not yet formed his own boat of intent, he might never be able to cross the mountains and seas.”

He continued: “After all, for those cultivators who can gather after death into an Eternal Memento. ”

“They are in fact, already treading their Path of Transcendence. It is not just about cultivation base and realm, but seems to follow one’s own temperament and will.”

“But wanting transcendence requires both a personal path and cultivation realm, neither can be overlooked!”

“Even with adequate cultivation, if you can’t shape your Path for a boat, you’ll only face despair, and your ill-fated journey into the mountains and seas would lead but to a path of death.”

Li Fan’s heart trembled.

It truly was a great opportunity.

Thanks to the strongman’s relic, Zi Yi illuminated the path of transcendence for Li Fan and Bearing the Dao.

Though Li Fan might have himself discovered this profound mystery through countless reincarnations, Zi Yi’s guidance had undoubtedly saved a considerable amount of time!

“The Path of Crossing Mountains and Seas. No wonder even Hai Zhen, whenever encountering it, always sent out a yearning intent.”

“Hai Zhen absorbs these in an attempt to simulate and deduce a method against the mountains and seas?” A bold thought emerged in Li Fan’s mind.

Noticing Zi Yi in the distance, even Hai Zhen, after a few feeble tremblings, once more fell silent. He didn’t respond to Li Fan’s guess.

Beyond the Mortal World, Zi Yi had already extracted all the strands outside the Mountain Sea Solitary Sail. Still, he did not absorb them but cast them back into the mountain and sea.

Without the support of the Reincarnation, these threads dissolved into the sea like ice melting in water, not even causing a ripple, and were completely engulfed by the mountains and seas.

Since his first appearance, Zi Yi, as if animated by the wind at his eyebrows like a Bright Pearl, extended the Path of the Heavens through the Star Sea once more until it quickly dissolved into the Starry Sky.

Seeing off the solitary sail into the distance, Zi Yi disappeared without further communication as soon as the Heavensreach line closed, leaving no further response to Li Fan’s conjecture.

As for the ruins still floating in the Guangwu Star Sea, he paid no heed to them.

For a long time after.

When the Vault of Heaven faded away into a dark starry sky, the two of them felt as if they had awakened from a dream.

Much later.

Li Fan reflected quietly: “If Tianyang ever reaches the Realm of Transcendence, his method of crossing will be a Path of ‘Not Inferior to Others.’ But for Su Bai, it will be a difficult crossing of the ‘Way of True Compassionate Love.'”

“Simply put, for those cultivators capable of condensing into ‘Eternal Memento’ after death, they have already stepped one foot onto their own path. They’ve become seedlings of transcendent strongmen! This path is not just about cultivation realm, it seems to be bound to one’s inner disposition and will.”

“However, to truly transcend, both the path of one’s own making and a certain level of cultivation base are indispensable!”

“With sufficient cultivation, if you cannot make a boat, you can only look at the ocean in despair. And even if you built the boat, without sufficient power, recklessly entering the mountain sea would be a path to death.”

Li Fan was shaken inside.

Truly, it was a grand fate.

Using the strongman’s relics, Zi Yi almost pointed out the path of transcendence to both Bearing the Dao and Li Fan.

Perhaps only relying on his own exploration, Li Fan could have eventually penetrated this mystery. But the insight from Zi Yi undoubtedly saved countless cycles of Reincarnation!

“The path of crossing mountains and seas. No wonder even Hai Zhen, every time he encounters it, transmits a yearning desire.”

“Is Hai Zhen absorbing these to simulate ways to fight against mountain and sea?” A daring thought surfaced in Li Fan’s mind involuntarily.

It seemed that, sensing the presence of Zi Yi, not far away, after emitting faint tremors, Hai Zhen quickly returned to silence. He gave no response to Li Fan’s speculation.

Beyond the Mortal World, Zi Yi had extracted all threads from the Mountain Sea Solitary Sail outside. However, he did not absorb them himself but cast them into the Mountain Sea.

No longer supported by the Reincarnation, these threads, like ice melting in water, didn’t even make a splash before being swallowed by the Mountain Sea.

Since first appearing, his brow was like a glowing pearl. Zi Yi, once again extending the Heavensreach line between mountains and seas, watched the solitary sail drift away with genuine admiration and respect.

Then, just before the path was completely closed, he transmitted from afar: “What I have to do is done; you take care on the Path of Transcendence.”

And, in an instant, he vanished.

As for the Guangwu Star Sea, countless ruins still drifted like fleeting shadows.

At last, long afterward.

Guided by a stroke of luck, Li Fan and Bearing the Dao felt as if they had just awoken from a dream.

Counting silently: three hundred seventy-five pieces.

Supreme Treasure, one Taoist Echo Pearl.

This vast waste… We will be at ease in the Star Sea.

Fin.

“””