A Single Glance Reflects Ten Thousand Years

Seeing the confusion in Li Fan's eyes, Chen Ying continued his explanation before Li Fan could even ask. "Why is the Fallen Immortal Realm called the Fallen Immortal Realm? "It is because its creation was merely the result of an unimaginably formidable being casting one final glance at the Xuanhuang Realm before his fall. "In that moment, every sight and object within the Xuanhuang Realm was captured in his eyes. "After he fell, this lingering thought refused to dissipate for a very long time. Over thousands of years of evolution and development, it eventually became the Fallen Immortal Realm of today. "The Fallen Immortal Realm is as vast as the Xuanhuang Realm—perhaps even vaster. "Scenes from thousands of years ago were recorded by that final glance before his demise. "Ever since, they have continued to play out within it, vivid and lifelike, in an endless loop. "Every cultivator who enters, standing before this magnificent miracle that is indistinguishable from the real world, is filled with shock and awe at the sheer might of that being. "Such power could likely only be achieved by an 'Immortal' from ancient legends. "Even though I have entered it countless times, every time I witness everything within the Fallen Immortal Realm, I still feel a profound reverence from the bottom of my heart. "The shock of it is truly beyond words. Only by seeing it with your own eyes can you truly understand." Chen Ying shook his head, sighing with immense emotion. "A single glance reflects ten thousand years; after his fall, it formed its own realm." Li Fan could not help being stunned by this unbelievable truth. After remaining silent for a long while, he couldn't help thinking: If a single glance before death possessed such awe-inspiring majesty, just how powerful was he in life? And how could someone of such stature have fallen? As if discerning the doubts in Li Fan's heart, Chen Ying sighed in echoing sentiment. "Unbelievable, isn't it? That a figure so unimaginably formidable could actually fall. "Creating a world with a single thought—not even a Longevity Heavenly Venerable could likely accomplish that. "Therefore, everyone unanimously agrees that the one who fell back then was likely a True Immortal." "An Immortal? Do such things as Immortals truly exist?" Li Fan could not help asking. Yet Chen Ying was entirely certain. "We cultivate immortality—we 'cultivate to become Immortals.' If there were no Immortals, where would our cultivation methods have come from? "If you are ever able to go to the Fallen Immortal Realm and live in that Xuanhuang Realm of thousands of years ago, you will know that Immortals have never been mere ethereal myth. "Many sects preserve images of their ancient forebears rending tribulation clouds and ascending in broad daylight. "It is said that within certain major sects, there are even Immortal Artifacts passed down by Immortals, possessing infinite might. "However, at some unknown point in time, the immortal road was severed. Once a cultivator's cultivation reaches the Dao Integration realm, they cannot advance even half a step further. "Thus, countless cultivators with heaven-defying abilities could only watch helplessly as their lifespans ran out, waiting in terror for death. "Later, in order to survive, the ultimate goal of cultivation for cultivators was no longer ascension, but seeking longevity. "This is also the origin of the 'Longevity' realm." As Chen Ying spoke, he shook his head and sighed. "That period of history is far too ancient. Even in the Fallen Immortal Realm of thousands of years ago, it was already a legendary matter. So as for what truly happened back then, and why the immortal road suddenly severed, it has long been lost to time." Li Fan nodded slowly. Next, Chen Ying explained in detail the exact method to enter the Fallen Immortal Realm, as well as the precautions Li Fan needed to observe when exploring it. "Remember: before reaching the Golden Core stage, never attempt it!" Before departing, Chen Ying exhorted him once more. Li Fan readily agreed. Afterward, Chen Ying, eager to return and work on improving his pill formula, departed first and returned to Wanxian Island. Li Fan did not linger either, swiftly returning and entering the Heavenly Profound Mirror. Now that he knew of such a wondrous realm as the Fallen Immortal Realm, how could Li Fan not give it a try? After all, having undergone a hundred reincarnations, the strength of his divine sense was far beyond what any ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator could compare to. Even so, to be safe, Li Fan still conducted a test within the Heavenly Profound Mirror. The surrounding scene shifted, and straw effigies suddenly appeared one after another. Li Fan's divine sense was like an arrow, piercing fiercely into these sequentially appearing straw effigies. Upon being struck by his divine sense, the withered yellow straw effigies immediately changed color. From yellow to green, and then to blue. Once all the straw effigies were dyed, they vanished collectively. The scene reverted to normal, and before long, the test results appeared. Li Fan's current divine sense strength was equivalent to that of an ordinary late Golden Core cultivator. "My divine sense is a whole major realm higher than my cultivation base..." Li Fan was not particularly surprised. "In that case, there is no need to worry about my divine sense being insufficient. "In the Fallen Immortal Realm, the flow of time does not match that of the real world. Even in different regions of the Fallen Immortal Realm, time flows at different rates. "Generally speaking, however, it is much faster than the real world. "Every time one enters the Fallen Immortal Realm, the spawn location is completely random. "Consequently, one faces different encounters. "Some regions endlessly repeat that period of history across thousands of years in a recurring cycle, resetting the scene at set intervals. "Others have continued to develop over thousands of years, giving rise to all manner of bizarre and wondrous transformations. "In short, it is fundamentally a world born from the consciousness of a dying being. Therefore, any manner of unbelievable things might be encountered within the Fallen Immortal Realm. "There is no risk of true death. Certain conditions must be met to bring items obtained within the Fallen Immortal Realm back to reality. "One can force an exit midway without suffering any harm. "However, just like exiting after obtaining an item, one must wait a certain period before being able to enter the Fallen Immortal Realm again." ... Unable to find any relevant information about the Fallen Immortal Realm within the Heavenly Profound Mirror, Li Fan could only silently review the exploration guidelines Chen Ying had provided. Meanwhile, he purchased over a dozen sets of the items required for each entry into the Fallen Immortal Realm. It was not that Li Fan had grown careless or arrogant; it was simply that a set of these items was far too cheap. More than a dozen sets together cost less than two hundred contribution points. Each set consisted of four items: An ordinary hemp robe. A plump ear of rice. A small, exquisite model of a house. A lifelike miniature donkey cart. The four items were placed in four corners respectively. Li Fan took a deep breath. Taking his first step, facing the direction of the hemp robe, he chanted in a low voice: "Fusheng Xuanhuang Immortal Venerable." With the second step, he turned toward the plump ear of rice and recited sincerely in his heart: "Fusheng Xuanhuang Heavenly Monarch." With the third step, looking at the exquisite house, he held his breath and whispered: "Fusheng Xuanhuang High Sovereign." With the fourth step, fixing his gaze upon the cart that seemed laden with cargo, Li Fan exhaled a breath of turbid air and recited earnestly in his mind: "Fusheng Xuanhuang Heavenly Venerable." The instant the ritual concluded, Li Fan felt the surroundings suddenly plunge into silence. Even though there had been virtually no sound within the Heavenly Profound Mirror to begin with, at this moment, he still sensed a chilling, palpitation-inducing stillness. It was starkly different from the mere quietness of before. Then, as if a silver vase had burst asunder, all at once, countless sounds erupted beside Li Fan's ears. The wailing of infants, the cries of mortals, the furious shouts of cultivators... Spells crisscrossed through the air, mountains trembled, the earth shook, and the wind howled amidst driving rain. Darkness rushed before his eyes, as though a sack had been pulled over his head. Li Fan immediately lost consciousness.