Chapter 2036: Chapter 1581: The Immortal Boat on the Verge of Sinking

The turning point occurred after the last Immortal Emperor in the Immortal Realm, Emperor Zhai Yang, stepped down. The successor was not the Emperor of the Celestial Net, but Xuan Yi.

Unlike the Celestial Net Emperor, who was ambitious and wanted to solve the entire Immortal Realm’s Path-obliterating Calamity in one fell swoop, Emperor Xuan Yi had a very clear objective from the start.

To concentrate all usable resources and power to ensure the survival of the nine central star domains of the Immortal Realm.

The other star domains of the Immortal Realm, as well as the countless Immortal Cultivation Worlds in the mortal realm, could be sacrificial targets.

Emperor Xuan Yi’s strategy proved surprisingly effective. The nine star domains of the Immortal Realm stood like elevated highlands above the surging tide of Path-obliteration. Although it was at the cost of the countless star domains submerged below, at least a temporary victory was achieved.

In contrast to the many star domains of the Immortal Realm, the destiny of the countless cultivation worlds in the lower realm was quite a bit more favorable. Their level of power was so low that they couldn’t even serve as sacrificial conditions. Therefore, they could be preserved until the final moment came. Once absorbed into the Immortal Realm, not only did they no longer need to worry about the calamity of Path-obliteration, but the mortals of the lower realm also unexpectedly benefited, ascending to immortality and realizing Feather Transformation.

As for why the new Immortal Realm needed to absorb the lower realm, the reason was simple. Although Emperor Xuan Yi temporarily overcame the Path-obliterating Calamity, he did not relax. He knew well that the Path-obliterating Calamity had not truly disappeared. With the deepening of the overall Path-obliteration process of the Mountains and Seas, the calamity could very likely resurge at some future time.

The multitude of worlds absorbed from the lower realm served as pre-risk mitigation. Compared to the vast star domains of the Immortal Realm, these worlds were as fragile as smoke and dust. This meant that they were more sensitive in the face of calamity.

Therefore, they could act as warning sensors for the arrival of the Path-obliterating Calamity.

The Great Calamity approaches, the annexed worlds are destroyed first.

Based on the number and speed of the annexed worlds being destroyed, the Immortal Realm could have an early judgment of the might of the oncoming Path-obliterating Calamity.

…

“This Emperor Xuan Yi seems more reliable than Emperor Tai Tian.”

“I might even adopt some of his warning methods,” Li Fan nodded quietly.

“It’s just that I don’t understand. Clearly, among the possibilities within the Mountains and Seas, there must be many like Emperor Xuan Yi, who successfully resisted the Path-obliteration. Why don’t others directly follow these successful examples? I think, the Immortal Emperors of the Immortal Realm, even if they can’t cross the Mountains and Seas, should have the ability to observe the possibilities…”

“Could it be, due to the different circumstances among all possibilities, that there’s no universal method to save the world?”

Among twenty-eight possibilities, twenty-six are quite similar to the Primordial where Li Fan resides. As for the other two…

In one, all living beings have abandoned their physical bodies and exist in purely spiritual form. Released from the shackles of the flesh, they can attach themselves at any time to the Mountain Sea Path, making it easier to survive the Path-obliterating Calamity.

The other possibility is extremely strange.

It seems that at a very early stage, the direction of history shifted. The Immortal Realm does not exist.

There is only a wild, vast, endless starry sky.

This starry sky itself is connected to the Mountain Sea. Its life force is incredibly strong, allowing it to independently resist the Path-obliterating Calamity to some degree. Even in some parts of the dead silent starry sky swallowed by Path-obliteration, life can occasionally slowly recover.

As a result, although the residents of this wild starry sky are much weaker compared to the immortals, they can live longer facing the erosion of the Path-obliterating Calamity with relatively little effort.

“However, this wild starry sky seems extremely averse to cultivators. The pioneer Merchant Immortal Boats that entered, were only able to survive after completely depleting their cultivation base. It is suspected that the stronger the cultivator, the stronger the backlash they suffer from heaven and earth there. If a True Immortal goes there…”

Li Fan estimated that this wild starry sky’s ability to resist Path-obliteration, if not possessing transcendent strength, would likely result in either death or mutilation upon entering.

“In fact, this wild starry sky itself can be seen as a strongman connecting the Mountains and Seas. It’s just unknown what events in the past led to the non-existence of the Immortal Realm. Logically speaking, the Three Saints of Mountain Lian, Gui Hai, and Taiyi should exist across all the worlds…” A flash of doubt crossed Li Fan’s mind.

“However, it is also possible that there is an error in the information transmitted by the predecessors of the Holy Merchants. After all, with his level of strength, he might not be able to fully perceive the reality of an entire possibility.”

Li Fan shook his head slightly.

Among these twenty-eight possibilities, the Holy Merchant predecessors stood like towering, bright lighthouses. If one possesses the ability to traverse the Mountains and Seas, it would only take following the direction in the depths, to eventually reach the destination.

And Li Fan had also found a method in the memory of the master of Fairy Holy Commerce to venture alone to other possibilities.

A diamond-like, pristine and translucent eyeball!

The light it projected seemed to transverse the Mountains and Seas. A single charge could send a consciousness to another possibility.

But this seemingly supreme treasure of the Holy Merchants had pitifully weak protective power, so fragile it couldn’t even withstand the power of a Nascent Soul Monk.

Therefore…

It likely vanished along with the destruction of Holy Commerce.

Unexpectedly, within Holy Commerce, such a remarkable object existed, causing Li Fan to feel a slight sense of regret.

However, it was mere regret.

When the Xuanhuang Immortal Realm is complete and can serve as a Traverse World Immortal Boat, Li Fan could explore the Mountains and Seas on his own.

Knowing the circumstances of the place beforehand only makes things more convenient.

“Besides, transcendent strongmen should have means to observe the possibilities within the Mountains and Seas. Otherwise, how would they accurately find their destination in the vast Mountains and Seas?” Li Fan couldn’t help but think.

“Even if I’ve reached the transcendence realm through opportunistic means, with no foresight on the way forward, I can proceed according to these twenty-eight coordinates of the Holy Merchants. It’s not like I’m completely in the dark.”

The path Li Fan currently walks might be unique across the whole Mountain Sea.

Other transcendence strongmen and even various saints can’t serve as a reference for Li Fan. He has to take each step and observe as he goes.

After dealing with the information in the mind of the master of Holy Commerce concerning the possibility beyond the Primordial, Li Fan focused his attention on the various aspects within the Primordial.

“Ancestral land.”

“If I’m not mistaken, this so-called ancestral land should also be within the High Wall, in the Rotten Stump Dojo.”

“However, with the Guardian Hill inheritance, I have vast knowledge of all worlds within this experimental space, yet there’s nothing that matches the description of the ancestral land in his memory.”

Li Fan’s intent once again entered the control center of the Rotten Stump Dojo, searching thoroughly to ensure nothing was overlooked.

“When the Mysterious Merchant Immortal Boat escaped, it activated defense mechanisms. The Ancestral Land fell into a closed state, perhaps for this reason?”

Li Fan carefully checked once more.

His gaze swept repeatedly over the familiar light screens composed of countless divided cube spaces.

This time, Li Fan’s focus wasn’t on those areas where Radiance flickered.

Instead, on those pitch-black spaces that Li Fan originally deemed as transformed into deathly silence.

“These black voids, all regions swallowed by the Path-obliterating Calamity. With my familiarity with Dao Yan, there shouldn’t be any errors. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have failed to discover the so-called Immortal Boat’s Ancestral Land for so long.”

One area after another, Li Fan observed carefully.

Once, twice…

In theory, even a deeply hidden Immortal Boat Ancestral Land shouldn’t escape such meticulous scrutiny by Li Fan. Yet, a vague premonition lingered within him.

The Immortal Boat’s Ancestral Land might not be ordinary.

Thus, with immense patience, he continuously searched, leaving no detail unchecked.

His Divine Sense enveloped all black spaces for a hundred days.

Suddenly, among them, an inexplicable and barely perceptible fluctuation occurred.

It vanished in an instant.

Had Li Fan not been fixated, it would likely have gone unnoticed.

“This is…” A glint flashed in Li Fan’s eyes.

“A disguised presence devoured by the Path-obliterating Calamity’s aura?!”

“With Mo Sha as the trump card, never did I expect to be deceived by Mo Sha!”

Overwhelmed with both shock and delight, Li Fan immediately directed a Divine Sense to flow into the black void.

But unexpectedly, the moment his Divine Sense entered, it disappeared instantly as if swallowed.

Instantly, streaks of black Qi emerged incessantly around Li Fan’s true self.

“This…”

“This isn’t a mere illusion but a true Path-obliterating Calamity! My Divine Sense recklessly entered, and Dao Yan traced the connection between my Divine Sense and true self to find me!”

Li Fan’s hair stood on end instinctively as he employed the [Illusion as Reality] Divine Technique.

The impending Dao Yan black Qi swiftly lost its target. Yet unperturbed, it turned towards Xuanhuang Immortal Realm Heaven Beyond Heaven.

Like an Immortal Boat not fully constructed, instantly devoured by parasites, creating several holes.

The surging Dao Yan slowly poured through these apertures.

“Now, the holes are small, still salvageable. If they grow larger…”

“My Xuanhuang Immortal Boat would sink before even launching!”

Tension gripped Li Fan’s heart; he hurriedly instructed Mo Sha and Dao Yi Bug to patch these gaps.

Swiftly, he himself flickered into the Sea of the Northern Stars.

Guided by Tai Shang Dao Book clues, he managed to capture and suppress several True Immortals, including the three Nameless [Wealth], [Yan Jian], [Bu Yan], to fill the Heavenly Pillar.

After arduous efforts, he barely managed to quell Dao Yan.

Half a day later, after inspecting the Xuanhuang Immortal Realm to ensure no more signs of Dao Yan’s spread, Li Fan wiped his brow of cold sweat, exhaling in relief.

Gazing at the newly added Heavenly Pillars between Heaven and Earth, he sighed, “Initially, these were meant for the Xuanhuang Taoist Immortals to practice. Now, circumstances necessitate immediate action.”

Since his memory returned in this life, Li Fan hadn’t suffered such a significant loss.

His expression turned somewhat somber as he eyed the black void overshadowing the Rotten Stump Dojo.

Pitch black, swallowed by Dao Yan.

“The strange fluctuation I previously sensed was undoubtedly real.”

“So, there was only that fleeting opportunity?”

Li Fan squinted, concentrating fully, anticipating the fluctuation’s reappearance.

This time, he waited for over one hundred and fifty days.

With preparations, Li Fan fully observed the changes this time.

As if a black curtain lifted, revealing inner white radiant life force.

Only a moment’s duration before the black shroud began descending anew.

Seizing the opportunity, Li Fan’s Divine Sense teleported within.

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