"As the saying goes, when the nest is overturned, how can any eggs remain unbroken? When the Xuanhuang Realm is no longer the Xuanhuang Realm, those who rely on its existence today—like Fellow Daoist—will likely face liquidation as well."
"The Longevity figures of this world will also find it impossible to escape," the Faceless Sacred Emperor concluded.
When Li Ping finished speaking, a sense of crisis naturally welled up in Stone Slab's heart, as though his spiritual intuition were echoing Li Ping's conclusion.
"That is something I never considered before. I wonder what the other Longevity figures think. It has been many years since our paths crossed."
After pondering for a long time, Stone Slab spoke these words.
Li Ping sneered. "Those few still intend to sit on the mountain and watch tigers fight.
"No matter. Neutrality is fine as well. They were never a factor in my plans to begin with."
Stone Slab skipped past this topic. "So, Fellow Daoist, you say the key is for Xuanhuang to remain the orthodox lineage.
"How can that be achieved? Moreover, if what you say is true, should any of us make an unusual move, Chuanfa is bound to notice and stop us..."
Li Ping remained silent for a long time without answering.
Instead, he suddenly said, "I had better first help Fellow Daoist resolve the trouble caused by the stone slab on your back."
Stone Slab knew that in the eyes of this Sacred Emperor, he was not yet someone to whom the full plan could be confided. Thus, he did not press further, cupping his hands and saying, "In that case, I thank Fellow Daoist in advance. If it does not succeed, that is fine as well."
"Since I am taking action, there is no such thing as failure."
The Sacred Emperor's words left Stone Slab speechless.
*Clap!*
The Book of Crossing Adversity was tossed onto the floor of the grand hall by Li Ping.
Its pages fluttered rapidly without any wind.
One gilded paper figurine after another surged out from the book, lining up in neat ranks like soldiers in formation.
Leading them, naturally, was the thick-eyebrowed little golden figure from earlier.
No one knew what method the Sacred Emperor had employed, but after being suppressed for less than half a day, they seemed to have undergone an earth-shattering transformation compared to when they had just emerged from the Crossing Adversity Sect.
Stone Slab's gaze was fixed on the Crossing Adversity Sect paper figurines.
Li Ping, however, sensed an unusual stir from Maobao within the Sacred Dynasty's treasury.
As if having discovered something of immense interest, the creature flashed to Li Ping's side.
Perched upon Li Ping's shoulder, it nuzzled affectionately against his head, its eyes staring straight down at the paper figurines below.
An inexplicable atmosphere instantly enveloped the Sacred Emperor Throne hall.
The paper figurines, who had been bobbing their heads and making subtle movements, suddenly froze solid like ice sculptures in an instant.
Not one dared to make a move.
The lead golden figure went so far as to immediately circulate the technique of "Eternal Calamitous World."
Yet the golden radiance over its body flickered constantly like a candle in the wind, precarious and teetering on the verge of collapse.
One had to know that even earlier, when faced with the Sacred Emperor's threat to refine the entire Crossing Adversity Sect, the sect members had never been this terrified.
Yet at this moment, it was as if they had encountered a true natural predator.
Stone Slab, who had been watching the Crossing Adversity Sect paper figurines all along, naturally noticed the abnormality in the hall. Suspicious and unsettled, he looked toward the Faceless Sacred Emperor seated high above.
And judging from Stone Slab's expression, Li Ping deduced that he had not noticed Maobao's presence on his shoulder.
Casting an imperceptible glance at the restless Maobao, a flurry of thoughts flashed through the Sacred Emperor's mind.
*It hasn't spotted "food" and isn't looking to hunt; this is pure curiosity.*
*The entire Crossing Adversity Sect cannot see Maobao either, but because of the techniques they cultivate, they instinctively sense a lethal calamity and crisis. To be frightened to this degree... interesting.*
*Maobao, beyond the High Wall...*
Li Ping separated out a wisp of golden Source Power to soothe the restless Maobao.
After sizing up the paper figurines below, Maobao seemed to lose interest all at once. Lapping up a bit of Source Power from Li Ping, it flashed away, returning to the Sacred Dynasty treasury below to rest.
The eerie atmosphere in the grand hall gradually returned to normal.
No one brought up the strange occurrence that had just taken place. Yet the Crossing Adversity Sect had instantly transformed from an unruly rabble into a battle-hardened army, moving in lockstep with the Sacred Emperor's will.
Receiving Li Ping's permission, the thick-eyebrowed golden figure glanced at Stone Slab and began to explain: "The Genesis Stone Slab connects to the fundamental laws of the Xuanhuang Realm. Like the growth rings of a tree, it autonomously records everything that occurs in the Xuanhuang Realm at every single moment.
"Given the sheer scale of a world, let alone tens of thousands of years, even encompassing every matter great and small over hundreds of thousands or millions of years is nothing. However, when all of this is borne by a mortal human...
"Naturally, it becomes excruciatingly agonizing."
The little golden figure cupped its hands toward Li Ping. "In fact, if the Venerable wishes to resolve this matter, the solution is quite simple. The first way is to increase his carrying capacity; the second is to create a buffer."
Acting as if he did not know Stone Slab at all, the leader of the Crossing Adversity Sect beckoned toward the Book of Crossing Adversity nearby.
As the pages fluttered, countless scenes recorded by the World-Observing Divine Eyes flashed across them.
"Our Crossing Adversity Sect, much like the Genesis Stone Slab, has maintained a degree of surveillance over the Xuanhuang Realm over the years. The difference, however, is that none of us directly exposed ourselves to this astronomical volume of information. Instead, we first recorded and preserved it, then divided the labor of reviewing it. For one person to handle it alone, strength naturally falls short. But handled with the power of an entire sect, it is done with ease."
The little golden figure looked at Stone Slab once more. "If you are alone and wish to ease or even break free from the weight of the slab, you must rely on external objects. Previously, being rejected by the Heavenly Dao made that rather difficult. But now, with the Venerable's assistance, it should present little problem."
From the little golden figure's phrasing and demeanor, Stone Slab grew even more certain that he was the former acting sect master of the Crossing Adversity Sect, Daoist Yijue. However, since the other party refused to acknowledge it, he could only pretend not to recognize him.
Once Yijue finished speaking, Li Ping finally said to Stone Slab, "Fellow Daoist, wait for me a moment."
With that, the Sacred Emperor's figure vanished from the Sacred Emperor Throne.
His aura could no longer be sensed anywhere within the entire Daqi pocket world.
Only the group of Crossing Adversity Sect paper figurines and the standing Stone Slab remained in the grand hall.
Stone Slab looked at Yijue, hesitating to speak.
"Since we have submitted to the Venerable's banner, the past is like fleeting smoke and clouds, no longer to be spoken of," Yijue said, looking straight ahead.
"Of course, if you become like us as well, then as colleagues, perhaps getting a little closer would do no harm."
This pragmatic attitude was the spitting image of Yijue from back then.
Stone Slab nodded slightly, indicating he understood the reasoning.
"In Chuanfa's sealed space, even when faced with refinement by golden flames, our Crossing Adversity Sect didn't truly feel much fear. Because we didn't perceive a genuine, inescapable calamity.
"Yet just now, within this grand hall...
"A terrifying disaster such as we have never felt before. Be careful; that person is far from simple..."
Yijue's barely audible voice drifted into Stone Slab's ears, making his heart clench.
He wanted to speak with him further, but the little golden figure refused to respond any longer.
Shortly afterward, the Faceless Sacred Emperor, Li Ping, returned to the grand hall.
"This Dao Transformation Stone's quality should be sufficient."
He tossed a blue crystal toward Stone Slab.
"The Venerable is perceptive. A high-grade Dao Transformation Stone will definitely have no problem serving as a recording buffer," Yijue of the Crossing Adversity Sect cut in before Stone Slab could respond.
"Actually, even a mid-grade one would have been enough; a high-grade one is somewhat wasteful." The little golden figure's tone was positively flattering.
Seeing this, Stone Slab shook his head slightly and reached out to grasp the Dao Transformation Stone before him.
He made an attempt; although the rejection by the laws of the Heavenly Dao was weaker than in the past, it still did not permit an external object to enter.
Stone Slab looked at Li Ping.
"It is merely a high-grade Dao Transformation Stone. So long as Fellow Daoist does not find it lacking, that is all that matters," the Sacred Emperor said graciously.
"Follow me."
Instructed by Li Ping, Stone Slab and all the Crossing Adversity Sect paper figurines followed him into the sky above the Daqi pocket world.
Where the powers of the unknown formation enveloping the entire pocket world converged, golden threads could be seen circling and winding from time to time, forming a void opening.
Above the opening, the heavens were no longer azure, but pitch-black, as though connected to an unknown existence.
Arriving here, the inexplicable sense of crisis resurfaced in Stone Slab's heart.
*What sort of formation is this again?*
Stone Slab had grown somewhat numb to it all, but out of instinct, he still observed the traces of the formation.
The Crossing Adversity Sect paper figurines, on the other hand, each bore ordinary expressions, as though oblivious to the danger here.
Li Ping stepped forward, arriving at the center of the void opening, and sat cross-legged in the emptiness.
An inexplicable aura surged from the Sacred Emperor. Before long, a straight beam of golden light shot from the crown of his head, plunging into the unknown darkness.
Like opening a passage, the blackness was stirred, its color gradually shifting closer to the normal sky around it.
And looking up, Stone Slab sensed an incomparably familiar aura belonging to the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao emanating from the far end of the opening.
"Fellow Daoist, come here," Li Ping spoke at that moment.
Stone Slab's figure drifted over, floating cross-legged opposite the Sacred Emperor.
The aura of the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao cascaded down from the crown of his head like a waterfall. Stone Slab felt a long-lost comfort.
The torment inflicted by the countless scenes was also soothed at this instant.
At the same time, infused with this aura of the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao, Stone Slab keenly perceived subtle changes occurring within his body.
*This is...*
*Xuanhuang's thousand-year changes?*
After contemplating it, Stone Slab grew thoughtful.
The stone slab he bore on his back had only recorded the events occurring within the Xuanhuang Realm proper over these years. But outside the original Xuanhuang Realm, the various changes caused by merging with fragments of other cultivation realms were things he originally could not perceive.
Now, however, as the Heavenly Dao's aura was poured into him, he was able to experience the dramatic transformation of the world firsthand.
Stone Slab vaguely felt that not only was the rejection of external forces by the Xuanhuang laws in his body weakening, but the stone slab itself had also undergone an inexplicable change.
Some blurred scenes originating from the implanted provinces also appeared among the stone slab's records.
However, because the fusion was not yet complete, the writing appearing on the stone slab was exceedingly faint, as though a gentle swipe could wipe it away.
"If the Xuanhuang Realm were given tens of millions of years to slowly accomplish its devouring of other worlds on its own, perhaps the so-called Xuanhuang orthodoxy could still be preserved. The slab on my back would also record everything occurring in the absorbed provinces. Regrettably, reality will not grant it that much time..."
While Stone Slab was lost in thought, the Faceless Sacred Emperor's voice suddenly reached his ears.
"Spirit Unity with Dao Transformation."
Stone Slab instantly snapped back to attention and pressed the high-grade Dao Transformation Stone in his hand against his glabella.
He attempted to integrate it into his body.
Sure enough, it was entirely different from before.
The Heavenly Dao's repulsive force inside his body had weakened immensely. Furthermore, as the Heavenly Dao aura from above was channeled in, the resistance grew fainter and fainter.
"Touch it with spirit, fuse it with deduction."
"Object and self unite, spirit becomes one with Dao transformation..."
Stone Slab silently recited the secret art of the Taiyan Sect. Like ice melting into water, the blue crystal was gradually guided into his sea of consciousness.
The entire process went very smoothly.
Just as only the final tip of the Dao Transformation Stone remained exposed, an anomaly within the void opening above caught Stone Slab's attention.
"What is that...?"
Streaks of withered yellow light were flying out from the far end of the pitch-black passage.
At first, only dozens flew out together, but gradually, the yellow lights in the passage multiplied.
By the thousands and tens of thousands, dense and packed like a swarming hive of bees.
Moreover, the yellow lights carried an aura that, while posing no threat to Stone Slab, caused him immense discomfort.
The sky full of yellow lights continually flew before the Sacred Emperor.
Li Ping reached out, catching them one by one.
Only then did Stone Slab realize that these lights were actually paper figurines bearing eerie expressions.
Unlike the vivid and lifelike figures of the Crossing Adversity Sect, these were pure paper figurines.
Emanating an aura of decay, even without looking directly into their faces, the paper figurines seemed to stare unblinkingly at Stone Slab, evoking an unsettling irritability.
"World-Observing Divine Eyes?" After a momentary daze, Stone Slab came to an understanding.
"These things do harm to the world without any benefit; naturally, they must be reclaimed," Li Ping said flatly.
"Didn't the Crossing Adversity Sect claim that once implanted, they could never be retrieved? Back then, we..."
As if remembering something, Stone Slab froze in astonishment and could not help turning to look at Daoist Yijue.
Daoist Yijue acted as though he had not seen Stone Slab's look at all, speaking only to the Sacred Emperor with deep respect: "Although these World-Observing Divine Eyes are somewhat worn and dilapidated, with a round of re-refinement, they can still be put to use again.
"The raw materials for these items come from beyond the heavens, and our Crossing Adversity Sect did not have much left. Such precious and miraculous items were originally planned to be reclaimed after we crossed the calamity. Now, it is merely being moved ahead of schedule."
...
Seeing Yijue's calm, unperturbed expression, Stone Slab forcibly suppressed the urge to strike and teach him a lesson.
"Using them occasionally to scout enemy movements is well and good. Having them all over the world, however, is unnecessary," Li Ping remarked calmly, sensing the surging affinity from Xuanhuang as the World-Observing Divine Eyes were removed.
"The Venerable's rebuke is entirely correct," Daoist Yijue of the Crossing Adversity Sect responded with a genial chuckle.
Stone Slab simply stopped looking at the two of them and focused on integrating the Dao Transformation Stone.
When the stone vanished completely from the outside, a brilliant crystal materialized within his sea of consciousness.
The countless pent-up scenes seemed to freeze for an instant.
Then, they surged madly into the Dao Transformation Stone.
At the same time, Daoist Yijue's voice echoed continuously.
It was the Crossing Adversity Sect's proprietary technique for storing and recording the world's information.
Chapter 1253