Though it could be said that the Primordial Immortal Realm was forged by Li Fan's own hands, he differed markedly from a "Creator God" in the true sense.
The primary reason the Primordial Immortal Realm had manifested lay in channeling the power of the Sea of Infinity. And Li Fan had been able to accomplish this entirely thanks to the divine blessing granted by Revert to the True.
If this continent truly had a Creator God, it could only be Revert to the True.
Li Fan was merely the recipient of divine favor, exercising authority on its behalf.
Quickly adjusting and grounding his mindset, Li Fan pondered what could be accomplished with this Primordial Immortal Realm.
"Originally, I only intended to casually throw together a facade for show. I never expected that with Revert to the True's aid, an actual immortal domain would truly be created. Not only is it enough to bluff those True Immortals in the Shuo Star Sea, but..."
Li Fan's consciousness instantly focused upon the thirteen Scars of Heaven and the five realm consciousnesses.
Although these colossal consciousnesses, born alongside the Primordial Immortal Realm, were trained by Li Fan like domestic hounds, it was only because he held the critical reins of being able to sever their connection to the Sea of Infinity at any moment.
Toward anyone else, they were by no means so accommodating.
Brutality, caprice, and scorn were the true nature of these primordial entities.
"In theory, the actual combat strength of each one should be no weaker than a Nameless True Immortal. But since they rely entirely on instinct, how much of that power they can actually unleash remains to be seen.
"Still, their numbers speak for themselves. Against those True Immortals in the Shuo Star Sea, they are more than enough."
Li Fan once again gazed into the distance, waiting for the bait to be taken.
Ever since fifteen years ago, when Immortal Wu witnessed the power Li Fan casually displayed and received word of his intent to re-establish the Immortal Court, the Shuo Star Sea faction had shown the necessary deference due to a supreme power.
They no longer questioned Li Fan's siphoning of the Shuo Star Sea's complete Great Dao. They had even deliberately loosened the Dao Net's restrictions in the starry sky surrounding the Great Wall, smoothing Li Fan's path in absorbing the Dao.
Li Fan had never truly intended to completely drain the Shuo Star Sea's Great Dao and bring about Dao Annihilation prematurely; it was merely to replenish the withered principles within the Pitch-Black Star Sea.
And after the Primordial Immortal Realm was forged, though it was a newly born continent, backed by the Sea of Infinity its naturally evolving Dao principles far exceeded those of the surrounding Pitch-Black Star Sea.
Thus, Li Fan no longer needed to borrow from the Shuo Star Sea.
In the tenth year, he sealed the "Path" and ceased all siphoning of the Shuo Star Sea's Great Dao. Naturally, Li Fan was not so kind as to let the Primordial Immortal Realm benefit the Shuo Star Sea either.
With the Great Wall's barrier, the outside world remained unaware of this immortal domain continent's birth.
Yet Li Fan's voluntary restraint was in itself a signal that the "Immortal Court was being re-established."
Over the next five years, Immortal Wu visited several times. Though he made no direct mention of the Immortal Court in his words, he delivered a name list compiled by the Shuo Star Sea.
"Led by a Nameless True Immortal, accompanied by six True Immortals.
"A lineup that could hardly be called small.
"They are all from the True Immortal factions. Not a single person from Immortal Hunt. Suppressing that fellow surnamed Wei in an instant must have frightened them," Li Fan chuckled.
The list did not specify the Dao path comprehended by the leading Nameless True Immortal.
"Transformation of Goodness, Reversal, Chaos...
"I wonder if it will be one of these three."
Li Fan drew back his gaze. Looking down upon the Primordial Immortal Realm beneath him, he crooked his fingers in a slight grasping motion.
The shifting lights and shadows of this primordial realm were seized in an instant, converging into Li Fan's palm.
They formed a lifelike, flowing scroll.
The scroll gradually condensed from illusory to solid.
"Thirteen," Li Fan called out placidly.
Amidst overflowing brilliance, a silver figure appeared before Li Fan.
The outline of the figure shifted continuously without physical form, yet it faintly resembled Li Fan—evidently an intentional imitation by this Scar of Heaven.
"Make a trip. Deliver this scroll to our neighbors.
"When the scroll unfurls, it shall mark the day the Immortal Court is officially re-established."
Thirteen bowed his head to receive the command.
Then, like a bolt of lightning, he flashed and vanished instantly from the Primordial Immortal Realm.
Leaving the Primordial Immortal Realm for the first time, Thirteen was initially rather excited. But when he saw the barren starry sky beyond the Great Wall with his own eyes, his curiosity slowly turned to disappointment and disdain.
If the Primordial Immortal Realm, suffused with infinite immortal energy, was a magnificent palace, then the Shuo Star Sea before him could not even compare to a humble thatched hut. At best, it was merely a haphazardly constructed den fit only for beasts.
Not wanting to linger for even a moment and desiring only to complete the task and return quickly, Thirteen tore ahead recklessly, flying toward the location Li Fan had indicated.
There were no obstacles whatsoever, until he suddenly felt as though he had plunged into a massive net.
It was as though billions of threads adhered to every inch of his body at once. Thirteen felt an enormous resistance pressing from outside.
"Who goes there!"
Perhaps sensing that the direction Thirteen came from was precisely Li Fan's location, the Shuo Star Sea did not attack the reckless intruder directly, but inquired with great caution first.
"By order of the Grand Master, I deliver the scroll of the Primordial Immortal Realm.
"When this scroll unfurls, it shall be the day the Immortal Court is rebuilt.
"Those on the list may come to pay homage."
The arrogant Thirteen raised the scroll Li Fan had bestowed above his head. Irked by the resistance around him, he spoke with deliberate resonance.
Like a towering tidal wave or a howling gale, an upheaval abruptly surged through the Dao Net.
Thousands of Dao strings trembled incessantly. For a moment, the indestructible Dao Net swayed like duckweed in the wind.
Hearing the gasps and cries echoing from across the star sea, Thirteen was thoroughly delighted.
Yet in the next instant, the storm subsided just as abruptly as it had arrived.
It was as though some presence had instantly suppressed the turbulence within the Dao Net.
"Huh?"
At that moment, Thirteen sensed several auras similar to those of his strongest elder brothers, and he could not help but rein himself in.
Moreover, beyond the Dao Net, a gaze seemed to fall upon him.
It felt identical to being watched by the Grand Master.
"No wonder the Grand Master invited these people to observe the ceremony," Thirteen realized, abandoning any further insolence.
He merely clasped his hands, voiced a farewell, and turned into silver lightning once more, speeding away.
In the vast Shuo Star Sea, not a single person stepped forward to stop him, allowing him to roar in and roar out unchallenged.
Amidst the absolute silence.
Everyone focused their gaze on the scroll Thirteen had left behind.
Even though the scroll had yet to unfold, everyone could still sense the extraordinary aura emanating from it.
Especially the True Immortals of the Shuo Star Sea.
In a faint daze, they seemed to see once again the Immortal Realm that had long been destroyed.
The Dao Net gleamed, recovering from the disarray and shielding the glowing scroll from outside eyes.
Within the shielded spherical boundary, figure after figure materialized beside the scroll.
They gazed in silence, spellbound, without uttering a word.
A pair of translucent blue hands descended from the heavens and came to rest upon the scroll.
Exerting slight force, they attempted to force the scroll open.
Blue radiance flared from the translucent hands, yet the scroll did not budge in the slightest.
"This scroll... bears the weight of vast oceans and towering peaks.
"It seems that Hidden Emperor's talk of re-establishing the Immortal Court was no empty boast," a ripple of intent transmitted from the blue hands, devoid of emotion.
Another figure stepped forward to try, with the same result.
"This feeling is virtually identical to when the Immortal Emperor opened a nascent immortal domain upon Mount Shangfang in bygone days.
"It is indeed the method of a Ruling Immortal Emperor.
"Could it truly be the descent of an ancient Immortal Emperor?" The figure stepped back, tone laden with shock and doubt.
No one could answer his query.
"Since that is the case, we should go in person and investigate thoroughly.
"This Hidden Emperor possesses unfathomable strength, and his intentions remain unclear. Let me lead the team.
"Even if he harbors sinister designs, I can at least bring everyone back safely. Having endured several tribulations, we truly cannot afford any more losses," yet another voice transmitted from nothingness.
The True Immortals standing beside the scroll did not dispute his words.
Even knowing Li Fan's capabilities, the True Immortals still took for granted that the owner of this voice could come and go at will. Their trust in his strength was evident.
"Though none of the Hidden Emperors are good people, given the current situation, it is best not to antagonize him. If he truly still commands the methods of a Ruling Immortal Emperor to open immortal domains, cooperating with him is not out of the question." After a silence, the only figure among the True Immortals who showed his true face spoke.
This person wore white robes, and upon his shoulder lay an all-black kitten.
It formed a striking contrast of colors.
The kitten seemed to be asleep, yet its ears twitched from time to time as if listening for something.
This white-robed True Immortal appeared to carry immense weight among the immortals. Once he spoke, the others merely nodded in agreement.
"Let us wait.
"It shouldn't be more than a few days."
Having reached a consensus, the immortals simply waited beside the scroll.
To them, decades or centuries were merely the blink of an eye. Waiting a few days was no different than taking a brief nap where they stood.
Li Fan did not keep them waiting long.
On the ninth day after the scroll reached the Shuo Star Sea, an intense ripple welled up from it.
Gusts of howling wind whipped up out of nowhere.
Seeming as if they would blow the scroll open.
In the fierce winds, the True Immortals seemed unable to keep their footing and fell back one after another.
Only that point of nothingness, the figure bearing the black cat, and the pair of translucent blue hands remained unmoving.
Yet their eyes remained fixed on the unfurling scroll in their midst, their auras growing solemn as never before.
"The aura of the Sea of Infinity.
"And fresh, at that.
"How many years has it been? At last, we meet it again."
...
Their voices carried complex emotions—a mix of caution and deep sighing wistfulness.
The more of the Primordial Immortal Realm scroll was revealed, the fiercer the wind it gave off became.
This was no ordinary wind.
It was Li Fan projecting the might of the Sea of Infinity through Illusion Becoming True, casting a high-and-mighty pressure down upon the mortal world.
Only supreme figures like the Mound-Guarding Lord, who could stand firm atop peaks and shores, could withstand it.
Li Fan had tested it himself: outside the state of Illusion Becoming True, even utilizing the strength of several Mound-Guarding phantom images, he could not bear it, crumbling after enduring only a few breaths.
Among the three figures, none appeared to possess strength close to the Mound-Guarding Lord's.
When nine-tenths of the scroll was unfurled and the pressure peaked, all of them stepped back to varying degrees.
Yet the difference in their retreat revealed their respective strength.
The weakest was the point of nothingness.
Even though it could neutralize all external influences, faced with pressure originating from beyond the mortal world, this immunity seemed to fail, forcing it backward inch by inch.
Faring slightly better was the translucent blue pair of hands. The palms turned increasingly transparent, seeming to blend completely into the surroundings. Yet they were not drawing on the environment to resist the majesty of the Sea of Infinity; rather, they were helping the Shuo Star Sea Dao Net survive this overwhelming pressure.
Having diverted a portion of their strength, they were forced backward.
The strongest among the three was the white-robed figure.
In the howling wind brought by the Sea of Infinity, the black cat on his shoulder had already awakened.
Its two eerie green eyes, like jewels, stared intently at the scroll ahead. It extended its tongue to lick its lips, its tail swaying gently and restlessly.
Man and cat as one, he had barely been forced to move in the fierce wind.
When the scroll fully unfolded, a miniature panorama of the Primordial Immortal Realm was revealed before them all.
That scene of surging, boundless vitality caused those accustomed to the deathly stillness of the star sea to fall into a daze for a moment.
"If this Hidden Emperor can reproduce this divine ability...
"...and coupled with our methods, returning from death to life may not be out of reach."
The one speaking was not any of the three True Immortals.
Rather, it was the black cat on the white-robed figure's shoulder.
Yet it seemed not to be the black cat's own words, for as it spoke, its green eyes suddenly dimmed.
Once the sentence was finished and the green light flared anew, the black cat appeared somewhat bewildered, entirely unaware of what had just transpired.
It was as though some presence had borrowed its body.
"Since the scroll has opened, I shall go ahead to test his depths."
The others all nodded slowly, their eyes still glued to the scroll.
...
Within the Primordial Immortal Realm.
While the True Immortals of the Shuo Star Sea were examining the scroll, Li Fan was also observing them through it.
Yet he did so through the divine ability of Illusion Becoming True, concealed within the Sea of Infinity, and thus went unnoticed.
Everything else was manageable; the strength of the True Immortals who appeared in the Shuo Star Sea did not exceed Li Fan's expectations.
Until the white-robed figure with the black cat appeared.
The instant he saw the black cat, Li Fan's heart could not help but skip a beat.
Before his eyes, the memory of Maobao leaping forward and devouring the Hunger Immortal seemed to surface once more.
Yet after that instant of instinctive vigilance, Li Fan discovered that this black cat was not the Maobao he had seen before.
Li Fan had once carved various wooden statues of Maobao and knew Maobao's form like the back of his hand.
Thus, after a brief pause, he discerned the distinct differences between the two.
He exhaled a slight sigh of relief.
"If the cat perched on his shoulder truly were Maobao, my plans might have needed adjusting. Fortunately not."
Using the Hunger Immortal as an anchor, Li Fan now had a rough estimate of the power Maobao had displayed back then.
No weaker than the formidable figures among Nameless True Immortals.
Yet it could not match a single phantom image of the Mound-Guarding Lord.
Present-day Li Fan could say that even if he truly encountered Maobao, he was qualified to face it without fear.
The crucial concern was the unknown faction backing Maobao.
Chapter 1493