"In the end, whether one can survive or not is all that truly matters," Di Sanmo said in an exceedingly somber tone.
Within the Great Boundary-Splitting Maelstrom, winds surged and clouds churned, torrential rain pouring unceasingly year-round. Any trace of Mount Nanming's past existence had long vanished into the river of history.
After a long silence settled over them, Di Sanmo spoke again: "Beyond fleeing the pursuit of that human Nameless True Immortal, the world-destroying Great Tribulations that followed in rapid succession also forced us into perpetual flight. Fortunate though we were to always find Jinggu Cangyuan to facilitate our leaps and escapes, certain facts we uncovered inevitably bred pessimism in our hearts."
"To prevent those emotions from having a fatal impact on the clan, Di Yi chose to fractalize and extrapolate them, leaving them to live and die on their own..."
Li Fan was naturally aware of the powerful beasts in the beast clan whose dispositions varied wildly yet were all exceedingly bizarre. He keenly seized upon the crux of Di Sanmo's words. "Facts?"
"Countless futures, infinite possibilities. That was our original, overarching perception of all worlds. Yet across one leap for survival after another, doubts began to surface regarding that belief. Theoretically speaking, every leap takes one to an entirely new possibility. The time node at which one arrives in that possibility should also be random. For instance, if our luck were great enough, we could very well have arrived in a world where the twelve Primordial Dao Manifestations had not yet been slaughtered and our clan remained flourishing."
"Perhaps our fortune was simply insufficient, for we never encountered such an era. If that were all, it would be one thing, but..."
Di Sanmo's expression turned grave in the extreme. "What filled our hearts with dread was that every time node we arrived at after leaping was relentlessly drifting further forward. Though we leaped across possibilities, we seemingly never reversed our position along the dimension of time."
"That is the fundamental reason I consistently speak of 'possibilities' rather than timelines."
Both Li Fan and Qiao Sidao immediately understood what Di Sanmo meant.
Qiao Sidao bowed his head in deep thought, masking the fear in his heart.
Li Fan, however, thought of the fact that every time he activated [Revert to the True], it reset the mortal realm's time node.
*The Dao Annihilation Tribulation is not merely destroying countless possibilities. It seems to be devouring the mortal realm's entire river of time starting from upstream.*
*Just as no matter how I activate Revert to the True, I can never return to a time before Anchored Year 1.*
*Taking the thought further, if an extraordinary wonder like Revert to the True did not exist in the mortal realm, wouldn't that mean...*
*Doom is inescapable?* Li Fan's eyes flickered.
If what Di Sanmo said was true, then the scale and dread of this Dao Annihilation Tribulation, as well as the importance of Revert to the True, far exceeded his wildest imagination.
Yet Li Fan had never crossed possibilities under his own power without the aid of Revert to the True, so he could not verify the truth of the information Di Sanmo provided.
It was even possible that the beast clan had simply been exceptionally unlucky, and every leap across possibilities had just happened to propel them further into the "future."
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Li Fan's mind. Since there was no way to verify them at present, letting his thoughts run wild was pointless. Thus, he steered the conversation back to the ruins in the Xuanhuang Realm where Jinggu Cangyuan had been discovered.
Li Fan had Di Sanmo describe the location and details of the ruins.
With a slight stir in his heart, he traced a map of the primordial Xuanhuang Realm in the air before him and tapped a spot near the center. "Is it here?"
Di Sanmo studied it carefully for a while, then nodded.
Li Fan immediately had an inkling of the answer.
The location of the Jinggu Cangyuan was likely the central core of the Xuanhuang Realm's ancient immortal array. Its antiquity predated even Heavenly King Xuan's Grand Star-Crossing Array, tracing back to the primordial creation of the Xuanhuang Realm.
*My earlier conjecture was that the Xuanhuang Realm was originally created as a testing ground to research how to resist the Dao Annihilation Tribulation. For example, the striking resemblance between Mo Sha and the black mist of the Dao Annihilation Tribulation. Furthermore, two lives ago, when the black mist spread like a torrential deluge, those countless Mo Sha-like figures that briefly appeared in a daze undoubtedly corroborated my suspicions from a certain angle.*
*It was just that previously, my understanding of the Dao Annihilation Tribulation was limited to simple black mist; I had not realized this catastrophe could even encompass countless possibilities.*
*It has not been long since I truly came into contact with the Dao Annihilation Tribulation. In the past, the Immortal Realm had beings at the Nameless True Immortal realm. They certainly must have shared similarities with the beast clan—perhaps their understanding of the tribulation ran even deeper.*
*Leaving behind a testing ground capable of leaping across timelines in the Xuanhuang Realm is thus entirely understandable.*
Li Fan could not help but recall the scenes from the True Immortal's memories he had once witnessed within the True Immortal flesh.
"...Qionglang Star Domain... annihilation... garrison..."
"...found the target."
Now that his understanding of the Dao Annihilation Tribulation had reached a certain level, looking back at these words allowed Li Fan to perceive nuances he had previously missed.
*The Immortal Realm was not entirely defenseless against the Dao Annihilation Tribulation. The catastrophe did not swallow every existence along an entire possibility in one sudden, violent surge. Rather, different regions fell gradually, step by step. Perhaps this was the achievement of the Immortal Heavenly Pillars, forged from the remains of Nameless True Immortals.*
*Furthermore, upon hearing the news that the Qionglang Star Domain had been submerged by the Dao Annihilation Tribulation, I did not sense any extraordinary panic from the True Immortal's memory. Clearly, the inhabitants of the Immortal Realm back then were not so thoroughly pessimistic about the Dao Annihilation Tribulation.*
*I simply do not know what happened later that caused the Immortal Realm's sudden collapse and ruin.*
As his thoughts drifted, Li Fan considered even more.
The Dao Annihilation Tribulation completely consumed possibilities. Even the exalted Immortal Realm had already vanished into the catastrophe; normally, the lower star seas should have disappeared long ago as well.
Yet they had endured for ten thousand years...
*Perhaps it is related to that vibrant civilization I saw beyond the high wall of the Pitch-Black Star Sea.*
Li Fan pondered in silence.
The situation he faced now was much like when he was still a mortal leaving Great Xuan and arriving in the Xuanhuang Realm, suddenly learning of the True Immortal of the Immortal Ruins and the invisible high wall.
*Looking too far ahead only agitates the mind.*
*Better to advance step by step and make plans steadily.*
...
As Li Fan fell into deep thought, neither Di Sanmo nor Qiao Sidao dared to interrupt.
After a long time, Li Fan finally broke the silence.
Addressing Qiao Sidao first, he said, "You possess boundless theoretical knowledge in vain, while your personal strength is virtually nil."
"In turbulent times, cultivation is the only safeguard of survival. Having reincarnated for so long, you surely understand this truth."
"For now, organize what you have learned and translate it into something applicable to reality. Soon, I will find a cultivation method tailored specifically for you..."
Looking solemn, Qiao Sidao bowed. "Thank you, Senior."
Li Fan then turned to Di Sanmo. "Are you willing to work for me?"
With merely a simple question from him earlier, Di Sanmo had spoken so at length, laying bare nearly all the clan's secrets. Well versed in human nature, Li Fan naturally saw through the beast's intentions.
Having witnessed Li Fan demonstrate the supreme might of the [Transformation of Real and Unreal], Di Sanmo had evidently conceived the desire to seek refuge and rely upon him. Hence, Li Fan asked plainly.
Di Sanmo answered just as forthrightly, bowing slightly. "I am willing to follow at your beck and call and serve you, Senior!"
Li Fan nodded slightly. "You hold the inherited memories of the beast clan spanning countless years, possessing unmatched intellect and vast experience—in certain regards, surpassing even mine. You are well suited to devise strategies for me!"
"Things having come to this, there is no need to hide anything further. I, too, came to this world from another possibility!" Li Fan said in a deep voice.
Qiao Sidao displayed a hint of astonishment.
Di Sanmo, on the other hand, wore an expression that suggested he had expected as much all along.
After all, this suddenly emerging "True Immortal," along with Li Fan's earlier remark asking what level of strength was needed to cross possibilities, had unmistakably hinted at his uniqueness.
"However, I did not cross possibilities by my own volition."
Li Fan furrowed his brows, appearing lost in memory.
"The world I hailed from shared many similarities with this realm, yet was also subtly different. Although the Immortal Realm had been destroyed, it left behind numerous orthodoxies in the lower realms, making its overall strength far superior to this place. There was not even any imminent danger of the Dao Annihilation Tribulation descending anytime soon. Who could have foreseen..."
Li Fan's expression darkened. "One day, two dreadfully terrifying powerhouses suddenly descended. Their might was far beyond even mine! With mere gestures, they utterly laid waste to my homeland! Even with the strength of a True Immortal, one was like an ant before those two!"
"Yet for reasons unknown, they did not appear to be comrades. Before long, they clashed against each other. Heaven and earth convulsed, and I could only flee in disarray by pure instinct. In a haze, I ended up arriving here..."
Li Fan's tale was thrilling and harrowing.
He projected scene after scene with flickers of light as he spoke.
The sight of heaven collapsing, earth shattering, and star seas being eradicated caused both Qiao Sidao and Di Sanmo to blanch slightly.
And when Di Sanmo saw Sinister Su Bai and the Blackened Heavenly Physician in the images Li Fan displayed, his expression turned to unrestrained horror.
Li Fan had anticipated this, and his tone immediately shifted. "Hmm? You seem to recognize these two?"
Not daring to speak rashly, Di Sanmo scrutinized them once more before replying, "These two must be supreme figures capable of leaping across possibilities through their own strength."
"In the history of this world, both were peerless prodigies. One of them is even still alive today. Moreover..."
Di Sanmo paused, then continued, "He also has deep ties with the de facto master of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, Heavenly Venerable Chuanfa."
He briefly summarized the lives of Su Bai and the Heavenly Physician for Li Fan.
Hearing this, Li Fan furrowed his brow deeply. "Speaking of which, my world seemed to have these two figures as well. However, with sects standing in great numbers and prodigies emerging in droves, they were not particularly conspicuous."
"Could it be that those two powerhouses crossed over specifically to hunt down their counterparts in other possibilities?"
Li Fan's words made Di Sanmo and Qiao Sidao exchange a glance, shock written on their faces.
Silence settled over them once again for a long time.
Li Fan looked out beyond the Museum of Divine Archives. "Those who have yet to attain the Immortal Realm are mere ants. The Heavenly Physician of this world is nothing to worry about. What concerns me is whether those two powerhouses might follow some resonance and arrive here as well."
This question clearly surpassed Di Sanmo's knowledge.
The wise beast was momentarily at a loss for an answer.
"It seems I must strike first and kill that Heavenly Physician," Li Fan said, his voice growing cold.
"I would advise against doing so, Senior," Qiao Sidao suddenly spoke up.
Li Fan looked at him, signaling him to continue.
"Assuming those two powerhouses are hunting down their counterparts for some reason, and judging from what Senior experienced in your world, this is not their first time doing so. Evidently, they possess some secret technique capable of sensing their own presence across other possible worlds..."
Qiao Sidao pondered, organizing his thoughts. "If, as Third Uncle said, time across all possibilities moves forward in a somewhat consistent manner, then their hunting behavior must also consume 'time,' even though they cross possibilities."
"Since they cannot slaughter them all simultaneously, their hunting must follow a sequence."
"The world we are currently in is temporarily safe because it has not yet drawn their attention."
"If Senior's killing triggers a resonance in the Heavenly Physician's counterpart at the boundary between life and death, it might instead draw that formidable enemy from outside this possibility straight to us," Qiao Sidao analyzed methodically.
Li Fan nodded slightly with a degree of satisfaction.
Naturally, he had no real intention of killing the Heavenly Physician.
After all, he currently possessed a thousand ways to trap him; why take a risk that might draw the Blackened Heavenly Physician?
He had not even revealed that the invisible high wall could isolate the Blackened Heavenly Physician's senses to a certain degree. Li Fan had merely wanted to test the usefulness of Di Sanmo and Qiao Sidao.
From the looks of it, they were fairly capable.
Di Sanmo chimed in as well: "Rather than taking risks, it would be better to imprison him. Using Jinggu Cangyuan as an energy source allows one to cross possibilities; this mysterious energy might also shield against perception originating from outside possibilities to some extent..."
This was something Li Fan had not considered before.
Better to believe it possible than dismiss it. Li Fan prepared to incorporate Jinggu Cangyuan into the array used to seal the Heavenly Physician.
The Dissociation Disc had already begun analyzing Jinggu Cangyuan.
Li Fan looked back toward Di Sanmo. "What are your thoughts on the existence of the Blackened Heavenly Physician and Sinister Su Bai?"
"Why would figures who have not even attained the True Immortal realm in this world be so terrifyingly powerful in other possibilities?"
Di Sanmo gave a wry smile. "Perhaps things in this world do not always have an explanation. Just like that Nameless True Immortal who wiped out our clan back then."
"An ordinary Nameless who could fight evenly against one of our Primordial Dao Manifestations was already considered a powerhouse. Yet that one took on all thirteen alone..."
"Before a true powerhouse, reason and logic cease to exist."
Qiao Sidao offered a similar perspective: "Since antiquity, those able to survive calamities have either been chosen darlings of fortune or absolute powerhouses."
"I believe those two belong to the latter."
Chapter 1419