"From the first signs of the principles of Heaven and Earth being inverted, to successfully inverting the principle and attaining the Longevity Dao, the entire process took no more than ten years."
"Under normal circumstances, a Dao Integration cultivator wouldn't have even finished the first step of inverting the principle, yet this one has already completed ascension."
"I almost suspect whether this Heavenly Venerable Rebirth might be a survivor from the outside world—a great cultivator who was already exceptionally close to the Longevity realm. That would explain why it all went so smoothly." Dharma Transmitter Zhou spoke in a rather unnerved tone.
"An outsider?" Hearing these words, Li Fan also fell into deep thought for some inexplicable reason.
"Fortunately, however, this Heavenly Venerable does not seem interested in meddling in the disputes of the Xuanhuang Realm. Whether with us or with the Five Elders Association, He has made no move to show Himself and initiate contact. As for the ramifications of inverting life and death, we are still evaluating them. But it can be foreseen that, regarding the waging of war, both sides will likely become increasingly cautious in the future," Dharma Transmitter Zhou remarked with some emotion.
Li Fan nodded in agreement.
Despite appearances, inverting life and death and enabling infinite resurrection did not simply mean infinite manpower.
The critical issue was that resurrection took time.
Furthermore, the rate at which the Xuanhuang Realm itself birthed new lives had been diminished to the extreme.
Once major casualties occurred, an extended gap period would be required to slowly recover. And as the number of resurrections grew, the time required for each revival would likely stretch longer and longer.
In the short term, nothing disastrous would occur.
The real danger was if this continued over the long haul...
Li Fan suddenly spoke up, "Fellow Daoist Zhou needn't worry excessively either. If I remember correctly, hasn't your Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals suppressed and put many cultivators into eternal slumber? At a critical juncture, releasing them could still serve as an emergency buffer."
What Li Fan referred to here were the cultivators suppressed within the Eternal Immortal Wall by the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, including those whose bodies had previously been possessed by the million gods and demons he had summoned using the Bright Spirit Method of Three Disasters and a Hundred Tribulations.
Although they had basically lost their self-awareness and were reduced to empty shells, they could still barely serve as cannon fodder.
Dharma Transmitter Zhou gazed at Li Fan for a moment without answering.
She merely ended the conversation with a polite smile.
"I have a nagging premonition about the identity of this Heavenly Venerable Rebirth..."
"Perhaps in the next life, this can be tested and verified together. No need to introduce needless variables in this life."
Li Fan's eyes flickered, and he returned to his own preparations.
...
Time flew, and in the blink of an eye, it was Year 24 of the Anchor.
By the shore of the Congyun Sea, Li Fan appeared quietly, looking into the distance.
"Because I previously fabricated Heavenly Will, provoking the wrath of the Heavenly Dao's consciousness, not only has the catastrophe of the Crimson Flame Burning Sea arrived three years early in this life, but Crimson Flame's intensity has also increased yet another step."
Squinting, he looked at that crimson figure that seemed to dance with the wind.
It was still a blurry humanoid shape, but unlike the solitary figure holding a flame seen previously,
in this life, Crimson Flame sat cross-legged atop an auspicious cloud condensed of flames, its eyes full of killing intent as it glared down at the living beings of Congyun.
Wrapped around it was a draconic creature, which was also staring at the Congyun Sea below like a predator watching prey.
Suddenly, as if sensing Li Fan's gaze, they whipped their heads around toward Li Fan's direction.
However, with formations shrouding Li Fan's body, it was naturally impossible for them to detect him.
"A brand-new form I haven't seen before. It seems my step-by-step arrangements over these years have aroused the unease and vigilance of Xuanhuang's Heavenly Dao." Li Fan smiled.
"Unfortunately for it, as long as I do not strike, no one in this world can predict what I am plotting."
"All this resistance of yours is entirely in vain."
Li Fan did not stop the progression of the Crimson Flame Burning Sea; he merely observed silently from the sidelines.
In this life, he had no intention of drawing Mo Sha out.
As the strongest among the animas of Heaven and Earth, once Mo Sha emerged, it would inevitably attract the eyes of the world's Longevity Heavenly Venerables.
Even though Li Fan was no longer afraid of them now,
the apocalyptic preparations he was making could not see the light of day. In order to avoid jeopardizing his plan to drive the tiger to swallow the wolf, keeping a low profile for the time being was the best course.
And the reason Li Fan had come to the Congyun Sea today was to observe the specific changes that would occur during the Xuanhuang Realm's process of self-purification.
Having thoroughly studied the Heavenly Physician's *Mending the Heavens Record*, Li Fan had already gained a brand-new understanding of the event known as the Crimson Flame Burning Sea.
The Congyun Sea originated from the Tianfa Realm and did not belong to the Xuanhuang Realm proper. During the mutual fusion of the two realms, various "rejection" reactions were bound to occur—most notably, the anomalies breaking out frequently all over the Congyun Sea.
Crimson Flame's seemingly world-destroying act was actually meant to facilitate a better integration between the Congyun Sea and the Xuanhuang Realm.
"The same event looks completely different when viewed from humanity's perspective compared to the perspective of the Heavenly Dao."
"There is no right or wrong."
As the mutated Crimson Flame slowly gathered power, a layer of sealing force began to emerge along the borders of the entire Congyun Sea, attempting to prevent any living beings from escaping.
Yet at the final moment before this cage of heaven and earth took effect, Li Fan saw a group of people hurrying in on a ship across the sea.
After reaching the shore with great difficulty, they hurriedly abandoned the ship and fled.
The one in the lead could be considered an acquaintance of Li Fan. It was none other than Zhang Haobo!
In this life, Li Fan had no interactions with him. Yet relying on the obscure premonitions in his heart and his own fortune,
Zhang Haobo had still managed to lead his family and friends to escape before the great tribulation arrived.
"Haobo, we were living so well on Liuli Island. Why did we have to leave our homeland behind and come to this strange continent?"
"Yeah, Boss. Even though I definitely trust you and will follow you forever, I'm still really puzzled deep down."
...
Facing the doubts of those around him, Zhang Haobo's expression barely wavered.
He merely unfolded a map, determined their position, and methodically directed everyone to keep moving.
As he walked, he said, "Haven't you noticed that there seem to be fewer people on the island recently? Ever since the last time an immortal master from the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals reportedly visited."
"Not just our island, but other islands too—including the immortal masters themselves—are all quietly evacuating the Congyun Sea."
"Clearly, some major upheaval is about to happen," Zhang Haobo analyzed calmly. "Rather than staying in the Congyun Sea waiting to die, it's better to come here and take our chances."
Hearing this, the others still wore looks of disbelief.
Some even could not resist arguing back: "But isn't everyone saying that under the Heavenly Venerable's mighty power, everyone can rise from the dead? If we can be revived, what is there to fear?"
Zhang Haobo gave a cold snort and did not explain.
"Those willing to follow me, keep following. Those who aren't, the ship is still by the shore—you can turn back on your own at any time," he merely said coldly.
Hearing his words, everyone fell as silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to utter another word.
Chapter 1104