During his 119th lifetime, the Heavenly Physician had once told Li Fan—who was disguised as the successor of Tianjue—that after reaching the Dao Integration realm, cultivation techniques ceased to be so critical.
What mattered far more was an understanding of the essence of the world and the workings of the Heavenly Dao.
However, without the heaven-sent genius of figures like Mr. Bai and Chuanfa, how could someone of mediocre talent easily comprehend such profound Daos?
Even though Li Fan could reincarnate time and again, relying on geniuses of the Xuanhuang Realm and all sorts of fortunate encounters to indirectly decipher them, the results could never match a direct, personal realization experienced firsthand.
The discovery that even a world could undergo insectification opened a whole new line of thought for Li Fan.
"I can sense that after the Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven was insectified, my dominant consciousness within it is truly like when I ruled the Spirit Wood Realm. With my own body, transforming into the Heavenly Dao..."
"What could be easier than contemplating oneself?"
"Though its worldly laws might suffer slight distortions along with the insectification, it can still serve as a reference. And with the help of Trueness, I can start over endlessly, possessing plenty of chances for trial and error."
"Excellent."
The true body's thoughts churned, slowly laying out plans for the future.
The perspective returned once more to Sacred Sovereign Li Ping.
After completely subduing the insectified Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven, Li Ping gazed at the behemoth beneath his feet and fell into deep thought.
He had originally planned to use this grotto-heaven as a petri dish for mutated spiritual energy, intending to unleash it all during a future battle with the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals to thoroughly alter the battlefield environment and catch them unprepared.
Now, however, it seemed this insectified Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven could serve an even greater purpose.
With a stir of Li Ping's mind, the mutated spiritual energy outside the grotto-heaven once again manifested into nine thick, black tentacles, reaching toward the Great Qi pocket world.
Compared to the Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven, the Great Qi pocket world was practically an ant at the feet of a giant.
Under Li Ping's deliberate guidance, the Grand Formation of Heaven and Earth Myriad Spirits and the Sacred Dynasty's destiny parted their defenses in unison, allowing the nine tentacles to easily take deep root within the pocket world.
They then coiled several times around the exterior of the world.
"Set forth!"
Standing tall atop the insectified Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven, the titan formed from the Sacred Dynasty's destiny let out a low shout.
The grotto-heaven rumbled, springing to life in an instant as it began to slowly move toward the depths of the void, away from the Xuanhuang Realm.
Like iron chains, the nine tentacles tethered the Great Qi pocket world, dragging it along as they steadily advanced together.
"Using the Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven as a reference point, its movement through the void seems relatively slow. But from a cultivator's perspective, it is remarkably fast—nearly faster than a Soul Formation cultivator flying at full tilt."
Li Ping sensed the steadily growing distance from the Xuanhuang Realm and nodded slightly.
Previously, even though Li Ping had fortified the Sacred Dynasty of Great Qi into an impregnable stronghold with defenses like the Sky-Patrolling Arrows and the Grand Formation of Heaven and Earth Myriad Spirits, one problem remained unavoidable:
The Great Qi pocket world was simply too close to the Xuanhuang Realm.
Without strategic depth, if the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals ever discovered its exact location, a surprise assault could trap them in a desperate siege.
But if it hid deeper...
For thousands of years, pods of fission whales had been carving out the void without rest.
They had already created an ideal hiding environment.
"The Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals has records detailing the pocket worlds where mortals migrated back then."
"However, when they lock onto the coordinates and prepare to attack, only to find that the former pocket world has turned into empty void, they will surely be dumbfounded."
"Indeed, I could even lay down layers of lethal killing formations where the Great Qi pocket world used to be, waiting for the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals to walk right into the trap. Heheheh..."
In an instant, countless devious schemes flooded Li Ping's mind.
The overall slow movement of the pocket world did not attract the notice of the populace within the Sacred Dynasty of Great Qi.
Even the nine black tentacles deeply rooted into the world were noticed by only a handful of people, including Sun Erlang.
Once they realized this was Sacred Sovereign Li Ping's doing, however, they merely marveled at the Sacred Sovereign's divine might.
"Fellow Daoist, just where do you intend to haul this world to...?"
Outside the world, in the void.
Having received Li Ping's aid, Daoist Baihua had recovered somewhat. Sensing the anomalous disturbance in the world, she hastily flew out to investigate.
What greeted her eyes was the insectified Five Elements Grotto-Heaven pulling the pocket world along at high speed with nine tentacles.
Even though she prided herself on having seen much of the world, she was thoroughly stunned by the spectacle before her.
"Why must there be a destination?"
Li Ping dispersed the titan avatar, returned to his normal form, and replied calmly.
The actions just now had consumed some of the dynasty's destiny, but with the Sacred Dynasty prospering like the sun at high noon, it would fully recover in less than half a year.
"Between a fortress at a fixed location and a warship drifting unpredictably on a river, which do you think is harder to conquer?" Li Ping asked in a faint tone.
Daoist Baihua instantly understood Li Ping's intent and nodded. "Indeed. Constantly shifting positions in the void, where an enemy cannot even lock down your exact location, let alone lay siege. This move of yours is truly brilliant," Baihua praised lavishly.
"There is still a shortcoming at present, however."
"What is that?"
"Towed by only a single Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven, our speed through the void is still a bit too slow."
An ominous premonition suddenly seized Daoist Baihua's heart.
"Therefore, I must trouble Fellow Daoist Baihua to make a few more trips."
Li Ping turned his head, his tone earnest.
"I have several other suitable targets here. Though their scale cannot compare to the Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven, they will still suffice. Once you have hauled them all here, I will link them together with formations. When that time comes, our forward propulsion will multiply several times over."
Recalling her miserable ordeal while hauling the Five Elements Grotto-Heaven, and looking at the details of over a dozen grotto-heavens transmitted by Li Ping, Daoist Baihua felt dizzy, her future appearing utterly bleak.
"Heheh, rest assured, Fellow Daoist. You have served the Sacred Dynasty with such devotion; I naturally will not treat you shabbily." Li Ping smiled and pointed toward the empty air.
A golden swimming dragon instantly materialized before Baihua.
"This is... Myriad Spirits Nectar?" Daoist Baihua cried out in surprise.
"Wait, no. It is merely a slightly condensed form of cultivation base." An instant later, Baihua felt a twinge of regret.
"Heheh, Source Power Essence can only be condensed by a True Immortal. How could I possibly command it? Still, this refined Source Power should compensate for the damage you sustained while hauling the grotto-heaven," Li Ping said flatly.
The Source Power forming the golden dragon had naturally gathered from the people of Great Qi cultivating the Mind-Enlightening Lingyuan Technique.
It was an existence one tier below Source Power Essence—pure cultivation base devoid of any attributes.
After hesitating reservedly for a moment, Daoist Baihua opened her mouth and swallowed the golden dragon into her belly.
Refining it in an instant, not only were her old injuries healed, but even her dark-golden glazed body grew noticeably more solid.
"Many thanks for your aid, Fellow Daoist."
Chapter 1170