Just as only a select few within the Xuanhuang Realm knew of the existence of the Immortal Ruins and the high wall, the memories extracted from Qin Zhuang's mind were not necessarily the objective truth of what lay beyond the wall. They might simply be a series of lies woven by the supreme powerhouses of the civilizations outside to preserve their own survival.
In Li Fan's view, the claims that those outer civilizations presented to the public contained at least two glaring flaws.
The Dao Annihilation Tribulation and True Immortals.
Nothing was more worthy of Li Fan's trust than Truereality. The apocalyptic countdown of 7,360,000 years was proof enough that the Dao Annihilation Tribulation was still unfolding. It was by no means something an outer civilization existing within a single possibility could withstand. Yet, whether intentionally or unintentionally, they had vastly downplayed the sheer horror of this tribulation...
As for True Immortals, the unified narrative and perception throughout outer civilizations described "immortals" as extreme threats to the survival of civilization—yet beings that could still be hunted and slain through concerted encirclement, much like ferocious beasts.
"I have indeed witnessed Maobao hunting an immortal. The Starvation Immortal had comprehended the Dao for tens of thousands of years. Judging by the extent to which the 'Hunger' Formula she left on the Southern Immortal Pillar could be restored, she probably wasn't far from the Nameless realm. Yet under Maobao's pursuit, she had almost no power to resist and was forcefully dragged away.
"However, throughout my past reincarnations, beings like the Faceless Immortal and the Angler Immortal still endure, which in itself speaks volumes. Although they appear exceptionally cautious and have never descended in their true bodies, their power can still cross the high wall and influence the interior of the Xuanhuang Realm..."
Li Fan understood clearly in his heart: "Faced with these powerhouses who survived the great catastrophe that destroyed the ancient Immortal Realm, the factions beyond the wall may not truly hold the upper hand. But they certainly possess the means to 'hunt' them.
"To bridge such a gap from mortal origins is truly remarkable!"
Precisely because he had already stepped halfway into the immortal realm, Li Fan was intimately aware of the immense chasm between mortal and immortal. As a result, he grew increasingly intrigued by the methods the civilizations beyond the wall used to close that divide.
"Beyond the wall, hunting True Immortals is handled by specialized cultivator organizations. Regardless of faction, they are referred to as the Immortal Hunters. Members of the Immortal Hunters must undergo rigorous training, and the divine abilities and techniques imparted to them far exceed the imagination of ordinary people. Qin Zhuang was an Immortal Hunter, though prior to coming to the Xuanhuang Realm, he was merely an initiate substitute who had never officially taken part in an operation to hunt a True Immortal."
Drawing on Qin Zhuang's memories, Li Fan attempted to recreate several divine abilities from the man's mind.
"Their manifestation of power is somewhat similar to True Immortal seal characters. Both evoke the fundamental principles of the Great Dao in the mortal world, but the difference lies in..."
Li Fan narrowed his eyes slightly, visualizing ninety-nine peculiar symbols in his mind.
These symbols were known to the civilizations beyond the wall as Dao Elements. Through different permutations and combinations, these ninety-nine Dao Elements could trigger resonances with the Great Dao, thereby channeling corresponding powers of the Dao.
"The True Immortal seal characters personally comprehended and transcribed by the Dao-Inscribing Immortal are, by comparison, closest to the root of the Dao—the most primordial.
"These Dao Elements, on the other hand, have undergone further systematic simplification, making them far easier to learn and master. Furthermore, through some mechanism I do not yet understand, they have achieved the miracle of harmonizing and blending the powers of different Great Daos..."
Within his sea of consciousness, the ninety-nine characters flickered rapidly between light and shadow. Thirty-six extinguished, while the remaining sixty-three flew out, assembling into a brand-new symbol.
"The first divine ability Qin Zhuang learned in the Immortal Hunters organization: Invoking the Sword.
"In theory, it can summon any sword stance that has ever existed in the history of the Sword Dao. With enough luck, it can even bring forth an entirely new sword dao divine ability. What is summoned seems linked to the flashing frequency when the Dao Elements merge—that is, to the mode of resonance between different Great Daos..." Li Fan's first attempt proved somewhat strenuous.
Even grasping the concept was rather difficult.
The main issue was that Qin Zhuang was merely an inexperienced novice in the art of Dao Elements, possessing only half-baked knowledge. For Li Fan to easily reproduce the fruits of countless years of effort by outer civilizations from such an unstable foundation was naturally no simple task.
After persevering through several hundred attempts without a single success, Li Fan frowned and stopped.
"My method isn't wrong.
"It's the environment that's wrong!"
After carefully savoring the resonance frequencies among the ninety-nine Dao Element symbols, Li Fan finally understood.
"The Annihilation Lands..."
Li Fan gazed out beyond the high wall. "According to the accounts from outside, the Great Dao within the Pitch-Black Star Sea is withered and desolate. In the regions that survived the Dao Annihilation Tribulation, the Great Dao itself exists in an exceptionally dormant state."
Li Fan had never stepped beyond the high wall, so he could not fully comprehend what this dormant state truly entailed. Even so, he could draw analogies and visualize it.
"Perhaps this condition can be understood in terms of environmental richness and resources.
"In a land where the Great Dao is withered, comprehending the Dao is difficult beyond measure. But if someone manages to cultivate successfully under such harsh conditions, the moment they leave and travel to a so-called high-activity region...
"While immersed within an environment, one naturally remains unaware. But once the external conditions undergo a drastic shift, one can instantly feel the tremendous impact of that change.
"I imagine that even an ordinary cultivator of modest talent would seem like a genius among geniuses there!"
As this thought flashed through his mind, an eager impulse stirred in Li Fan's heart.
Yet he swiftly suppressed it.
"The biggest problem is that the cultivation methods beyond the wall are completely different from those within. Furthermore, countless factions stand side by side; though there are no sweeping wars, minor conflicts never cease. They harbor immense suspicion toward outsiders. Setting aside the difficulty of infiltrating without an established identity, one would likely be seized and interrogated the moment any exposure occurred...
"Perhaps the identities of Qin Zhuang or Jiao Xiuyuan could serve as suitable points of entry." A sharp gleam flashed in Li Fan's eyes.
"Qin Zhuang was only taught ninety-nine Dao Elements, which is merely the most rudimentary technique of the Immortal Hunters. It is said that above him are peerless powerhouses capable of skillfully wielding 999, 9,999, or even an unlimited number of them.
"This is the very foundation that allows outer civilizations to hunt True Immortals."
Two scenes took shape side by side in Li Fan's sea of consciousness.
On the left stood rows of True Immortal seal characters. On the right hovered the ninety-nine Dao Element symbols.
Li Fan attempted to match the known True Immortal seal characters representing various Dao paths against these ninety-nine Dao Element symbols. However, it was evident that these Dao Element symbols had been specifically encrypted and no longer bore the recognizable traits of their original Dao paths.
Without systematic study, even someone of peerless talent like Li Fan could not decipher them directly.
Shaking his head slightly, he let the mental image fade away for the time being.
"True Immortals and Immortal Hunters. Though their realms and expressions of power differ drastically, at the fundamental level, both still rely on their depth of comprehension regarding the Great Dao.
"It is just that beyond the high wall, they applied a layer of translation to the Great Dao via these so-called Dao Element symbols. This allows mortals to grasp and wield the power of the Dao, while simultaneously preventing anyone from merging their body with the Dao and stealing it away."
The more Li Fan considered it, the more he marvelled. "The one who created these Dao Element symbols possessed an understanding of the Great Dao that was surely not inferior to that of the Dao-Inscribing Immortal of old!"
Now that he was no longer completely ignorant of what lay beyond the high wall, and seeing the possibility of progressing further without stepping into the immortal realm, Li Fan resumed deducing his exploration plans in his mind.
"Still, I must make thorough preparations.
"Aside from guarding against the various factions outside the wall, I must also remain wary of entities beyond other possibilities."
Leaping across possibilities was clearly far beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. Naturally, there was not the slightest mention of it in Qin Zhuang's memories. Li Fan even doubted whether more than a handful of beings in the entire civilization beyond the wall were aware of it.
Even so, steps had to be taken one at a time.
Compared to the Black Heavenly Physician and Evil Su Bai, Li Fan's current strength was still far too weak.
"For now, I still cannot find immortal spiritual energy that I can use, so the path forward remains severed. Furthermore, judging by the present circumstances, being a half-immortal is merely an elevation of status. If I were to truly attain the Dao as a True Immortal, traversing the world beyond the high wall would likely be fraught with peril, which might not be a good thing at all.
"I will first enhance my own strength using the Dao Element methods from outside the wall," Li Fan resolved.
"Additionally, once safety is assured, I must still make a personal trip outside the high wall to see what the so-called high-activity Dao regions are actually like."
Learning the art of translating the Great Dao through Dao Elements by no means meant Li Fan had to start from scratch.
On the contrary, compared to the vast majority of people in the outer civilizations, Li Fan possessed an insurmountable advantage: he already knew a vast number of True Immortal seal characters, and he even had the Nameless True Immortal thigh bone, which could manifest the primordial seal character state closest to the Dao itself.
Dao Elements were merely translated symbols. No matter how they were combined, altered, or resonated, their ultimate objective was to touch and harness the power of the Great Dao.
If one knew nothing of the Great Dao itself and could only fumble blindly with Dao Elements, it was akin to walking blindfolded, able only to reach out and grope about.
Yet with deep research already conducted on the Great Dao that served as the translation target, and with the distant destination clearly in sight as a reference, learning them would surely yield twice the results with half the effort, progressing at tremendous speed.
"In fact, if I learn enough Dao Element symbols, I might even be able to decipher them directly," Li Fan had a faint premonition.
"Of course, the powerhouse who originally created these Dao Element symbols could not have failed to anticipate this. There must be certain restrictions involved that I have yet to discover."
***
Before formally exploring beyond the high wall, Li Fan still had several other important matters to attend to.
The Five Elders Association and Carefree Paradise.
The Dao Transformation Mother Stone.
Dharma Transmitter Jiang.
The secrets of the Xuanhuang Realm, including the Ancient Realm-Protecting Immortal Formation.
And the Azure Nether Pearl, which still rested in the depression of the ground fissure within the Pitch-Black Star Sea.
***
Arranging his tasks in order of difficulty, Li Fan went first to see Dharma Transmitter Jiang.
In the past, the mystical trait of "All Things Are Like Me" possessed by this man had nearly caused Li Fan to stumble.
Now, Li Fan was immensely curious to see whether that mystical power could still affect him after he had attained the half-immortal realm.
Dharma Transmitter Jiang had spent years in secluded cultivation within the Guixu Realm, his true body never venturing outside.
Li Fan flashed into this pocket world, looking around with keen interest.
Dharma Transmitter Jiang, who sat meditating with his eyes closed inside, failed to notice his arrival in the slightest.
"The Guixu Realm can continually undergo Reversion to Origin. That is, no matter what occurs, it can reset to its most pristine state...
"To some degree, this is somewhat similar to my Truereality. Of course, its status is vastly inferior. It can only maintain this single pocket world. It cannot even reset time—merely the state of matter."
Even so, Li Fan remained curious about the principles behind the realization of Reversion to Origin.
Myriad dark golden threads surged forth around him like spilled mercury, acting as his eyes and tentacles to dissect and analyze the pocket world.
"Hmm... So that's how it is. It isn't an unrestricted reversion. The initial essence of this pocket world was etched exceptionally deep, much like marks carved into stone with a rasp.
"All the evolutionary changes that take place in this pocket world can be undone by directly shaving away a layer. Because the original engravings remain, once revealed, it appears to have returned to the starting point."
After a long moment, Li Fan came to understand, though he could not help feeling a touch of disappointment.
Yet upon further reflection, it made sense. Chuanfa was, after all, only at the Star Sea Supreme Realm. Without Truereality in hand, it was fundamentally impossible for him to achieve a genuine transformation of true and false.
To have devised such a method was already an act of pure genius.
"Though somewhat shallow and crude, it still offers me inspiration."
With his eyes flashing, Li Fan took a single stride, appearing right before Dharma Transmitter Jiang as the man sat motionless in midair.
He tilted his head and leaned down, scrutinizing him closely.
"All Things Are Like Me." Li Fan carefully savored the strange sensation welling up in his heart.
It had to be said that Dharma Transmitter Jiang truly deserved to be the sole existence whom Heavenly Venerable Chuanfa treated with special regard.
Even though Li Fan was already in the half-immortal realm, he still could not prevent this feeling from arising within him.
The longer he stared at Dharma Transmitter Jiang, the thicker the sense of familiarity and closeness became.
Yet unlike in his mortal days, Li Fan could now discern with absolute clarity the differences between Dharma Transmitter Jiang and himself.
"Like me.
"Yet ultimately not me.
"Without Truereality, the false can never become true."
Li Fan extended his right hand and flicked Dharma Transmitter Jiang's forehead with a finger.
Deep in secluded cultivation, Dharma Transmitter Jiang snapped his eyes open.
Upon seeing an utterly unfamiliar face, horror washed over him.
He demanded coldly, "Who are you?!"
Li Fan smiled. "Me? I am you!"
A bewitching, illusory light radiated from his eyes as Li Fan quietly laid down an immortal formation. Utilizing the Dissolving Disc, he deduced the array to simulate that miraculous trait, turning it back upon Dharma Transmitter Jiang.
As the original bearer of this trait, Dharma Transmitter Jiang did not lose his wits easily at first. He glared at Li Fan with intense vigilance.
Yet gradually, in his eyes, Li Fan's appearance and bearing inadvertently began to shift.
He grew more and more like himself.
In the end, they were truly as if one and the same!
As if looking into a mirror, Dharma Transmitter Jiang looked upon the "self" standing not far away, and all his wariness vanished completely.
"I have a premonition that my current strength is far from my limit.
"Isn't the highest realm of 'All Things Are Like Me' one where all Great Daos converge into my own person?"
Hearing the other "himself" speak those words, Dharma Transmitter Jiang felt his mind shake to its very core.
Chapter 1424