Dharma Kings of the Xuantian Sect

Aside from Ji Yuzhen, the figures of the other eleven former Dharma Kings of the Xuantian Sect appeared before Li Fan one after another. Sun Xingwang, muttering eccentrically, perpetually cloaked in shadows. Sikong Lin, the giant of boundless bravado who paid no heed to trivialities. Mo Rubin, reticent and reserved, following King Xuantian's lead in all things. Cui Zhiyuan, the eldest among the Dharma Kings and possessing the highest seniority. Zhou Yangli, the youngest of them all, a youth brimming with sharp, unbridled brilliance. Gongye Tianzong, thick-bearded and burly, who had quietly reached the pinnacle of artifact refinement—a master whose counsel even King Xuantian occasionally sought after returning from the Immortal Realm. Luo Yichen, a peerless beauty of the Xuanhuang Realm whose face was perpetually veiled in white cloth. Originally supreme in the Dao of dual cultivation and surrounded by thousands of male favorites, she later slaughtered every cultivator she had ever lain with to rectify her Dao heart. Nie Daniang, helm of the Langhuan Immortal Pavilion, one of the Xuanhuang Realm's largest merchant associations, possessing eyes and ears across the entire world, thoroughly tactful and astute in all affairs. Xing Wuque, missing all four limbs and horribly disfigured, forever wearing a bronze fanged mask and scarcely uttering a word to anyone. Tianxingke, the pot-bellied, ever-smiling mediator. Yue Qianjie, the martial pillar and universally acknowledged strongest fighter among the Twelve Dharma Kings, a battle-obsessed fanatic proficient in all arts. ... Most of them Li Fan had only glimpsed once within Ji Yuzhen's memories, knowing little of their specific details. A few, however, were quite familiar to him. *In the previous life, Mo Rubin told the Saint Emperor avatar himself that his strength was the lowest among the Twelve Dharma Kings.* *I thought it was merely humble talk, but looking at it now...* Li Fan examined the scarce memories within Ji Yuzhen's mind. Though she had been one of the Twelve Dharma Kings herself, Ji Yuzhen's heart had been wholly devoted to Xuanyuan Hong. She had not been particularly close to the other Dharma Kings, treating them merely as colleagues. Even so, she had possessed a general sense of everyone's relative strength. Though they had never held a formal contest, Mo Rubin's strength had indeed ranked near the bottom among the Twelve Dharma Kings. That impression, however, predated the Dharma Kings switching to the immortal arts bestowed by King Xuantian. Immortal arts were profoundly subtle and peerless; once they switched cultivations, Ji Yuzhen could no longer see through their true depths. *The giant skeleton Senior Sister Zhao found in that cave all those years ago belonged to Sikong Lin. The cultivation manual Sun Xingwang practiced was also left behind there, so it is safe to say he met an untimely end as well.* *Mo Rubin is still in slumber. As for the rest...* After the destruction of the Xuantian Sect, the Ten Sects of the Immortal Dao had maintained a relentless pursuit against them. Even so, Li Fan did not believe that all of the Dharma Kings save Mo Rubin were dead. *Perhaps they are slumbering and nursing their wounds in some remote corner of the Xuanhuang Realm.* Li Fan shook his head slightly, not particularly concerned. Even if they had once stood at the very pinnacle of the Xuanhuang Realm, any who could not survive the World-Extinguishing Immortal Array were hardly worth his notice. In his previous life, those spots of light that had persevered to the very end amid the raging apocalyptic storm had not included these Dharma Kings of the Xuantian Sect. *Unless the survivors among them are simply no longer in the Xuanhuang Realm.* The thought flashed through Li Fan's mind. After spending nearly half a month, Li Fan finally digested all of Ji Yuzhen's memories. Aside from the information regarding the Twelve Dharma Kings, the most critical gains were undoubtedly the Azure Nether Pearl and the operational method for the Grand Star-Crossing Array's component, the Golden Lock Traversing the Void. Xuanyuan Hong had once displayed this treasure obtained from the Immortal Realm before Ji Yuzhen. True to its name, the bead's surface presented a vista of clear azure skies flowing slowly like water. Beyond analyzing the cultivation methods practiced by a cultivator's corpse in life and converting them into inheritances within the bead, the Azure Nether Pearl was also said to be capable of swallowing other immortal artifacts and duplicating their original might within itself. Unfortunately, as an immortal artifact itself, driving the Azure Nether Pearl required immense immortal spiritual power. King Xuantian had merely introduced its capabilities to Ji Yuzhen without actually demonstrating this effect. *This Azure Nether Pearl is truly an unadulterated treasure.* *It is said that within the Xuantian Sect there was a secret technique called Usurping Heaven. It could not only thoroughly strip away someone's cultivation and techniques, but even graft the realm and strength attained through practicing Xuantian Sect arts onto another. Perhaps that was achieved via this Azure Nether Pearl. After all, the immortal arts practiced by the Dharma Kings all came from the inheritances within it.* *The Azure Nether Pearl is an immortal treasure; it would certainly have withstood the World-Extinguishing Immortal Array. Yet in the apocalyptic storm of the previous life, there was no sign of it...* Numerous thoughts flitted across Li Fan's mind. Reining in his thoughts, Li Fan focused his gaze on the transparent figure ahead, bound within a golden net of Source Power Essence. The silhouette was extraordinarily faint, as if it might completely dissipate at any moment. More importantly, it was torn and battered, looking like a tattered rag. This blurry figure was naturally Ji Yuzhen's primordial soul. *Even after being tormented to this degree, I can still sense its inextinguishable vitality. As expected of an immortal art.* *Furthermore, even with the most vital essence of this primordial soul missing, it still exerts a faint allure on me...* Li Fan inwardly praised. Faced with such a divine soul delicacy, Li Fan did not choose to devour it directly. Instead, he channeled a steady, trickle-like stream of pure divine soul power into the broken primordial soul. Like glue, it slowly bound Ji Yuzhen's shattered primordial soul back together, stabilizing it. This divine soul power was not Li Fan's own, but rather the remnants harvested from obliterating Ji Yuzhen's myriad ordinary divided souls. Since they stemmed from the same origin, the soul accepted it without the slightest resistance. Golden light continued to wrap around her, thoroughly sealing Ji Yuzhen's slumbering primordial soul. With a wave of his hand, Li Fan retrieved the golden light. Next, he flashed into the Zixiao Sect ruins, his gaze settling upon Mo Rubin below. With a cold snort, Li Fan took care not to disturb Mo Rubin. Instead, he quietly wove a massive golden net outside the hidden pocket of space where Mo Rubin lay. The Terminal Dissociation Disc's deduction of a downgraded immortal array had already yielded initial results. While using Source Power Essence in place of immortal spiritual power unavoidably rendered the array slightly weaker than a true immortal array, it could still be described as the mortal limit—unbreachable by anyone below the Supreme stage. From beginning to end, Mo Rubin never woke, yet the space he occupied had already been enveloped by the immortal array and successfully relocated. Having placed the two remaining Dharma Kings of the Xuantian Sect together for the time being, Li Fan did not awaken them. After learning of the Azure Nether Pearl's existence from Ji Yuzhen's memories, a vague plan had formed in his mind. *The cultivation techniques practiced by Mo Rubin and Ji Yuzhen both originated from the Azure Nether Pearl's inheritance.* *Does this mean there is an extremely subtle connection between them and the Azure Nether Pearl? Even if virtually imperceptible, it truly exists.* *Just as the Divine Tree grown from the Seed of Genesis aboard the Xuan Celestial Vessel could still sense Ruomu after it swallowed the otherworldly divine wood of the Xuanhuang Divine Wood Sect.* *In the previous life, the Xuan Celestial Vessel used the power of True Immortal seal characters to amplify that unseen connection, allowing it to span the Sea of Stars and lock onto the Xuanhuang Realm beneath the Immortal Ruins.* *If I follow the same method, I might be able to trace the vine to the melon, locating the Azure Nether Pearl—or even King Xuantian himself.* Li Fan's eyes flickered. The only obstacle at present was that among the True Immortal seal characters he had learned while possessing Zhao Xian aboard the Xuan Celestial Vessel in his previous life, none served to amplify connections between objects. Yet to Li Fan, this was no insurmountable issue. Before long, he would escort Master Yin and the others toward the Great Wall of Remnant Worlds beneath the High Wall, passing right by the Xuan Celestial Vessel. Having already gained a thorough understanding of the personalities of those elders holding power aboard the vessel, Li Fan was confident that "borrowing" that True Immortal seal character would not be difficult. Setting up the pseudo-immortal array to seal the two Dharma Kings had completely exhausted the Source Power Essence he had accumulated over recent days. Furthermore, maintaining the array required a steady, unending supply of Source Power Essence. *Without Cat Treasure's capabilities of mimicking living beings and cleansing marrow, replicating the lineage of a Great Heavenly Venerable remains beyond my current means.* *My only choice is to rely on the alien beast flesh-and-blood factory method to breed as many You people as possible.* In this life, Li Fan had assigned the task of breeding You people to the Empire pocket world. With Xu Ke stepping forward, the Empire pocket world offered no resistance whatsoever. Xiao Qing, Xiao Hong, and the Imperial Daughter immediately threw themselves into practice after receiving the experiential memories transmitted by Li Fan's Dao-transmitting phantom. They mobilized the entire strength of the Empire pocket world to breed You people at full tilt. *Compared to direct replication in a flesh-and-blood factory, having them go through a complete growth cycle is more than a step slower. But it is the best method available right now.* Of course, Li Fan could also generate Source Power Essence in massive quantities through the surviving statue of the Faceless True Immortal. Since he had escaped from the True Immortal's Web once, he could escape it countless times. To a certain extent, he could almost disregard the threat of the Faceless True Immortal. Especially now that he knew of Cat Treasure's existence. *I wonder what kind of reaction there would be if the Faceless True Immortal were lured here, only to collide head-on with Cat Treasure...* The scene could not help but play out in Li Fan's mind. Of course, it was merely an idle thought. Whether the Faceless True Immortal or Cat Treasure, both were entities far beyond his control. Even Li Fan's greatest trump card at present, the immortal-grade array, likely could not shake them in the slightest. For now, he could only avoid them. *It won't be long, though.* Li Fan's eyes gleamed faintly. Once he achieved Dao Integration in this life, he might well take the opportunity to test the waters. ... Time slipped by in a flash. Only ten days remained before Master Yin and the others had to make their final decision. During this period, aside from sending out Dao-transmitting phantoms to continue preaching the Dao in the Great Xuan pocket world, Li Fan summoned the father and son, Ou Daozi and Ou Shangtian. Ou Daozi was of little consequence; what mattered was Ou Shangtian. At this point in time, the Qiankun Bone Hand and the Myriad Deaths Registry within him had not yet truly awakened. As wondrous natural objects merged with immortal artifacts, both possessed unfathomable might. Particularly in this life, as the Xuanhuang Realm underwent metamorphosis and sublimation, the two wonders within Ou Shangtian were undergoing corresponding transformations. Li Fan examined the specific situation inside Ou Shangtian's body. The Qiankun Bone Hand had merged seamlessly with Ou Shangtian's arm, making it almost impossible to tell apart. The Myriad Deaths Registry, on the other hand, lay concealed within Ou Shangtian's sea of consciousness. At this moment, it was merely a faint, transparent mark, having yet to reveal its true form. *Is this what they call a Child of Destiny?* Sensing the ongoing connection between the wonders in Ou Shangtian and the Heavenly Dao of the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan could not help but muse. He attempted to discern the patterns governing how immortal artifacts circulated throughout heaven and earth after being swallowed by the Xuanhuang Realm, hoping to uncover more traces of ancient immortal artifacts. Yet it appeared entirely random. Ou Shangtian's own constitution held nothing extraordinary. He had merely been selected by the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao at the moment of his birth to serve as a living host for these immortal artifacts. Given Li Fan's understanding of the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao, it undoubtedly harbored hidden motives for doing so. After all, cultivators devoured heaven and earth, earning the profound hatred of the Heavenly Dao. There was no reason for the Heavenly Dao to bestow blessings upon a cultivator. *The only plausible explanation is that the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao lacks the capacity to digest these immortal artifacts on its own.* *Thus, it must use cultivators as an intermediary.* *The immortal artifacts are first transformed through the cultivator's body. Once the cultivator perishes, the power contained within the artifacts is returned to heaven through the return of Dao, allowing the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao to absorb it...* Li Fan looked toward the Xuanhuang sky. *Quite a scheming design indeed.* Resting his hand on the head of the slumbering Ou Shangtian, Li Fan sensed the process of the two wonders melding into his body, gradually confirming his hypothesis. *However, this method is well worth learning from.* In his other hand, a simple, archaic mirror appeared. It was none other than the Sun Clan's supreme treasure, the Boundless Mirror. The mirror spirit within had already been erased by Li Fan and replaced with a simulated personality. As for the Sun Clan, they remained entirely oblivious to the loss of their heirloom. Due to the shortage of Source Power Essence, the obliteration wind calamity concealed inside the Boundless Mirror had not yet been fully purged. Consequently, Li Fan had no immediate plans to use it. Although the Boundless Mirror was an immortal artifact, its most critical deduction ability was completely useless to Li Fan. Furthermore, tainted by the obliteration wind calamity, it contained no immortal spiritual power within. To Li Fan, its value was truly negligible. Previously, Li Fan had even attempted to dismantle the Boundless Mirror using the white circle, Descending into the Mortal Dust, to see if it could be broken down and converted into immortal spiritual energy. Unfortunately, Descending into the Mortal Dust seemed to harbor some intrinsic restriction when it came to immortal artifacts; the white circle's dismantling power had failed to trigger. *It isn't that it cannot be dismantled, but that a specific restriction exists.* Li Fan let his thoughts wander regarding the origins of the white circle. He had thought the Boundless Mirror would become a useless burden to carry around. Yet the Xuanhuang Realm's approach gave Li Fan inspiration. *If I convert the Boundless Mirror into a wondrous law object, and then let it merge into the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao upon a cultivator's demise...* *Broadening the concept further, this needn't be limited to immortal artifacts like the Boundless Mirror.* *Any foreign object from the Sea of Stars could potentially be handled this way.* *Beyond the revival of the Sea of Stars, immortal spiritual power, and the remnant strength of broken worlds, here lies yet another avenue to strengthen the Xuanhuang Realm.* Li Fan gripped the Boundless Mirror tightly. Xuanhuang World-Extinguishing Transformation: Passage of Years, Sea Turned to Mulberry Fields activated in an instant. This transformation accelerated the Xuanhuang Realm's own evolution in hopes of finding a solution to the apocalyptic catastrophe. In a flash, the space-time surrounding the Boundless Mirror seemed to accelerate countless times over.