"There's no real need to worry..."
As he spoke, Layman Qiaogong seemed to recall the calamity in the Immortal Realm all those years ago and suddenly fell silent.
"Then again, it's hard to say. After all, the journey of pursuing a Dao Root is fraught with deadly peril. Even ordinary Immortals, if they are not Nameless True Immortals who exist alongside the Dao, inevitably face the risk of falling," Layman Qiaogong sighed.
With those words spoken, a long silence fell between the two once more.
Li Fan seemed to be digesting this, his brow furrowed deeply in thought.
After quite a while, he finally returned to his senses and asked, "When you said earlier that non-believers would suffer a backlash, were you referring to the consequence of seeking another Dao Root?"
"Indeed." Layman Qiaogong nodded. "Not only would it alert the progenitor Immortal at the source, but it could even provoke turbulence within the Dao Root itself.
"Because, according to the information we currently possess, each Dao Root is exceedingly pure, independent, and mutually exclusive. Of course, perhaps above the realm of Nameless True Immortals, there exists an even more unimaginable realm where myriad Daos merge. But that is entirely groundless conjecture, without a single shred of evidence.
"Meanwhile, the theory of Dao Roots bearing fruit that I spoke of earlier was a conclusion reached by our Tianji Realm through studying and dissecting the body of the Ancestor. Back then, it was already a consensus among everyone, so it should not be mistaken." A trace of sorrow flashed in Layman Qiaogong's eyes.
"I observed that the Common People Lingyuan Technique you created also seems to carry traces of this 'Dao Root bearing fruit,'" Li Fan said at an opportune moment.
"Heh, Fellow Daoist noticed as well. Not only the Common People Lingyuan Technique, but even this Xuanhuang Realm's cultivation method of 'defying the principles of Heaven and Earth to attain longevity' actually conforms in secret to the true essence of the Dao Root." Layman Qiaogong lowered his voice, his tone solemn.
"The Dharma-Transmitting Heavenly Venerable... this man. Though he has not yet reached the realm of an Immortal, through this method, he has secured upstream control over all downstream cultivators. Truly dreadful and terrifying.
"Although he is not an Immortal, he already wields a portion of an Immortal's authority. Just as I said before, one must either become his believer and cultivate his method, or kill him outright." Layman Qiaogong was clearly filled with deep awe and dread toward the Dharma-Transmitting Heavenly Venerable as he whispered.
Li Fan furrowed his brow upon hearing this. "Then according to what you say, if the Dharma-Transmitting Heavenly Venerable were to die suddenly for some reason, could it even affect all cultivators in the Xuanhuang Realm?"
Layman Qiaogong shrugged. "That possibility really cannot be ruled out. That is why I say this man is utterly terrifying. I even suspect he is an Immortal reincarnated. Otherwise, it would be exceedingly difficult to apply the theory of Dao Roots with such consummate mastery."
Li Fan's brow knitted deeply.
This was something he had never considered before. It seemed the difficulty of dealing with the Dharma-Transmitting Heavenly Venerable was far beyond what he had anticipated.
"By the way, I saw that the two Creation Golden Men guarding you looked identical to the Dharma-Transmitting Heavenly Venerable. Is there some secret behind this? Could it be that the puppet Ancestor of your Tianji Realm looked like that as well?" After a moment, Li Fan voiced the question lingering in his mind.
Layman Qiaogong hastily shook his head. "Fellow Daoist misunderstands. The Ancestor's form was broken and incomplete, completely unrecognizable. The only reason I designed the Creation Golden Men in the likeness of the Dharma-Transmitting Heavenly Venerable was likely because doing so better aligned with the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao."
Fearing Li Fan might not understand, Layman Qiaogong took the initiative to explain: "Fellow Daoist, as you can see, aside from being forged with Source Power, this Tianji puppet of mine also incorporates many mechanical parts. But those Creation Golden Men are composed purely of Source Power.
"Although it is Source Power gathered through cultivating the Common People Lingyuan Technique, within the Xuanhuang Realm, it was ultimately influenced by the Dharma-Transmitting Heavenly Venerable. Thus, in order to maintain structural stability, they were crafted in his likeness."
A few words dispelled the misgivings in Li Fan's heart.
If it was confirmed that the Dharma-Transmitting Heavenly Venerable was a reincarnated Immortal, then in the future, Li Fan would need to keep an even lower profile within the Xuanhuang Realm.
Yet judging by the current situation, even if the man was not a true Immortal, he was not far from one.
"Speaking of which, what is your attitude toward joining our Myriad Realms Association, Fellow Daoist?" After a long silence, Li Fan spoke again.
Layman Qiaogong did not hesitate in the slightest. "Of course I will join. In these times, the Immortal Path is severed; ascending to become an Immortal and pursuing a Dao Root have long become ephemeral fantasies. To have an opportunity to enter the fold of this..."
"Compassionate True Immortal of the Mortal Realm..." Layman Qiaogong recited the title with profound reverence.
"...is truly a tremendous honor. One must understand, with calamity spreading across the astral realm today, an extant True Immortal is an absolute dream backer for countless cultivators." Layman Qiaogong's eyes were filled with yearning and longing.
"If I can borrow the power of a True Immortal, the various plans that were stalled back then due to insufficient conditions should also be smoothly implemented." Layman Qiaogong's final sentence revealed the true reason he was willing to join the Myriad Realms Association.
To avoid arousing Li Fan's suspicion, Layman Qiaogong quickly took the initiative to explain: "Back when we studied the Ancestor puppet, we gained far too much. The Tianji puppet was merely the most basic among our conceptual designs.
"Fellow Daoist can see that what powers its operation is Source Power, which is the Dao Fruit. But if one could harness the power of a Dao Flower to craft a puppet..."
Light shone in Layman Qiaogong's eyes, full of longing. "It would surely be possible to create a true Immortal puppet whose strength utterly crushes ordinary cultivators.
"Although it couldn't compare to a genuine Immortal, being able to stand against Longevity realm cultivators shouldn't be much of a problem."
Layman Qiaogong was brimming with confidence.
As he spoke, he looked once more toward the golden vow power that still swirled around Li Fan's fingertips—the power of the so-called Dao Flower.
Hearing this, Li Fan nodded slowly.
He drew the golden vow power back into his Tribulation Body and stored it away.
"Since that is the case, follow me to pay respects to the statue of the Compassionate True Immortal of the Mortal Realm!"
Layman Qiaogong felt his vision blur, and he found himself standing within a circular grand hall.
Ahead, a stone statue whose facial features were obscured stood imposing and tall.
And the aura sensed from the stone statue bore an uncanny resemblance to the lingering traces on the Ancestor countless years ago!
It was the power belonging to an Immortal!
All lingering doubt vanished from Layman Qiaogong's heart.
Willingly and wholeheartedly, he followed Li Fan and recited the oath of initiation with absolute sincerity.
Almost the moment the oath was completed, Li Fan felt the most devout power among all inductees connect to him.
It was even several degrees stronger than that of Dao Xuanzi, whom he had previously assessed as a 'devout seeker of the Dao.'
'Perhaps because he has truly witnessed an Immortal's power, he is all the more devout and incapable of harboring thoughts of defiance,' Li Fan mused silently.
However, to follow the path of an existing True Immortal in the world and become a subservient dog was clearly not something Li Fan would ever do.
Of course, for a lifetime or two, borrowing their strength...
That was not out of the question either.
Chapter 1013