The seemingly nonsensical nursery rhyme came to an end.

Li Mo's entire body broke out in goosebumps. Every line of the rhyme seemed to carry a profound implication, making him shudder with dread upon deeper thought.

"Mountain Patrol…"

The word "Immortal" is composed of "man" and "mountain" in Chinese. "Mountain Patrol" was an ancient term for Immortal Seekers, but the nursery rhyme's "Mountain Patrol" obviously held a different meaning.

"Excluding the first and last individuals, the rest of the Mountain Patrol are all tied to Taoist inheritance—Demon Cultivators, Artifact Cultivators, Demon Cultivators, Beast Cultivators, Sword Cultivators, Pill Cultivators, Buddhist Practitioners, and Body Cultivators…"

"It doesn't make sense. Some Taoist inheritances were considered fringe paths in the ancient Cultivation World. Why would they influence the upheaval of Heaven and Earth?"

Body Cultivation only rose to prominence in later eras. After all, ancient times had lifespan limitations—Cultivators couldn't endlessly focus on the physical body's strength.

The only well-known Artifact Cultivation sect was the Sub-Device Sect.

But the Sub-Device Sect had always been excavating the Outer Heaven Meteorite Crater. During the Heaven and Earth upheaval, they hardly left the crater. How could they be connected?

Beast Cultivation, let alone...

Beast Cultivators weren't exactly rare. Spirit beasts were primarily used to transport goods in the ancient Cultivation World, but few sects revolved around this. Medium-scale ones were sparse.

Placed eight thousand years ago, the Heart Beast Sect was merely a small immortal sect handling grueling, dirty work.

"Could it be the steps of the Heaven and Earth upheaval?"

Li Mo furrowed his brows. "The first Mountain Patrol, who died of illness—it starts there. His identity remains unknown; perhaps it's just a symbolic reference?"

"Next is the turmoil in the Devil Sect. The rhyme speaks of drowning—it's likely that the Demon Cultivators tried to seize upon the newly emerging upheavals of Heaven and Earth, mistaking it for some opportunity, eventually triggering chaos within the Devil Sect."

"Then there's the Sub-Device Sect. No, this actually refers to the meteorite—a meteorite containing an unknown phosphorescent light, which became the second major event."

Li Mo's thoughts raced to their peak. Even Xia Dao Palace assisted in divining the rhyme's hidden meanings, while rolling black smoke billowed from the external projection of his Cave God's Eye.

He didn't notice at all that his surroundings had grown utterly silent.

"The meteorite sank deep underground. Inevitably, its phosphorescence affected the water veins. Dark rivers carried the phosphorescence everywhere, eventually converging into the sea."

"The Dragon Clan was drawn into this."

Li Mo's scalp tingled, almost as if he could see a hellish scene unfolding before him.

"Thinking back to the Heart Beast Sect's quiet mutation eight thousand years ago, where humans and beasts switched roles—I initially believed the calamity originated from Tian Chenzi."

"In truth… all wild beasts went berserk because the water itself was no longer safe, resulting in the mutated evolution of Beast Cultivation."

Li Mo narrowed his eyes, his breathing growing heavy.

"Stone Fall…"

"During the Heaven and Earth upheaval, the entire Heavenly Sword Sect was reportedly massacred by mortals. Some disciples were even killed outright by stones hurled at them."

"Damn it, the Heavenly Sword Sect believed mortals were the source of the upheaval. But why didn't the nursery rhyme mention this explicitly? Could the information be wrong?"

"Impossible—it can't be. Even from the fragmented memories the Creation Book glimpsed, the Heavenly Sword Sect's fear of mortals seemed genuine."

Li Mo shook his head, muttering to himself internally: "After the Heavenly Sword Sect comes the Medicine King Valley. The fate of Pill Cultivators is still unknown."

"The Buddhist Sect's situation should be slightly better. After all, they practice worldly cultivation, with some monks only studying Buddhist principles without pursuing Taoist creation."

"The surviving remnants hoped to escape the mortal world through Feather Transformation Ascension."

"As for the self-decapitation…"

Li Mo couldn't help but tremble. Everything aligned perfectly.

"Before Martial Arts flourished, martial artists were merely stronger mortals. They decapitated themselves while chasing down the fleeing Buddhist Sect."

"Human-headed kite…"

Li Mo silently mouthed another nursery rhyme once recited by the Three-Life Elder.

"The kite flies high, the child laughs and laughs."

"The kite's string stretches unbroken, reaching straight to the Outer Heaven Immortal Mountain."

"Mother asked me why I laugh."

"I said."

"The string snapped, and the immortals grew fearful."

The conclusion of the Heaven and Earth upheaval was that everyone perished, yet they all came back to life, barely clinging to existence in immortal, undying bodies.

An alternative possibility—Li Mo didn't dare consider it.

"Does that line about the Mountain Patrol coming back to life mean the Heaven and Earth upheaval will happen again?"

"No way, right? Even if someone behind the scenes has uncovered the truth, what benefit is there to repeating the upheaval? Once an indiscriminate catastrophe sweeps through, even Immortals cannot stand apart from it."

Li Mo felt himself on the brink of uncovering the truth about the Heaven and Earth upheaval, yet he was tormented as if stabbed in the back.

The ghostly shadows containing numerous Sword Ghosts continued their relentless screams, "Luan Chuan! Luan Chuan Immortal will not live alone!"

When Li Mo snapped back to his senses, he realized his surroundings had descended into a blinding, all-encompassing mist.

Ye Zhuo Daoist and the other Sword Cultivators were nowhere to be seen, the Great Sun Evil Extermination Eight Directions Sword Formation had vanished, and even the Fire Spirit Hall's buildings were reduced to nothing.

The mist stretched endlessly, bringing an almost tangible oppression.

Whoosh.

Relying on his razor-sharp five senses, Li Mo suddenly caught the sound of Sword Qi slicing through the air.

His pupils involuntarily dilated as his Taoist Body activated to its utmost. Simultaneously, the Golden Toad merged with him, causing his body to swell to over a hundred meters.

The dark golden scales that covered his skin layered fivefold.

The Golden Toad's defense surpassed all tattooed beasts. At this size, it brought out the complete potential of Tattoo Beastification, akin to Vajra Unbreakable defenses at the Divine Separation Stage.

"Something's not right."

Li Mo still felt danger. Even as he vaulted and twisted through midair, the oppressive sense didn't diminish.

Whoosh.

The Sword Qi drew near.

"Can't block it—it must be an attack wielded by a Void Refining cultivator or higher."

The Sword Qi resembled a wooden comb but was entangled in black hair, exuding an oppressive, suffocating aura. The black hair writhed incessantly.

Faced with this life-threatening Sword Qi, Li Mo, instead, seemed unnervingly calm.

Boom.

The airwaves surged.

Swirling light and dark appeared behind Li Mo as his Buddha Demon Body forcefully manifested in the external world and directly fused into one.

"Amitabha Buddha, Infinite True Demon."

The Buddha Demon Body possessed two heads—the Buddha Head on its neck, the kasaya billowing open to reveal the Demon Head on its abdomen, which resembled a grotesque puppet sewn together.

Its eight arms were distinctly marked by Buddhist and demonic traces.

Some parts of its skin shone like Jelly White Jade, emitting a faint seven-colored Buddha Light, while other areas were riddled with pustules and rotting flesh.

Li Mo extended a finger.

There was no hesitation in his movements; even the slightest misstep might lead to his death and Dao's disappearance.

"Achieve Enlightenment here and now."

Centered on the Buddha Demon Body, a range of ten thousand feet transformed into the Western Pure Land.

The Distant Path Sword Intent imbued the Buddha Demon Body, making the Nirvana illusion even more vivid. In reality, the illusion world was constructed by Sun Sword Intent.

One Seven Treasures Bodhi Tree after another sprung up, while the Eight Virtues Water transformed into a delicate drizzle. Lotus flowers, each as large as cartwheels, rose to cradle the believers.

The believers recited sutras as pavilions and towers appeared around them.

The Dharma Body proclaimed, "This Pure Land is an accomplishment of divine virtues and splendor."

The Buddha Light surged forth.

Li Mo locked eyes with the Wooden Comb Sword Qi, muttering, "Turn, and fall into the demonic path."

In the Pure Land, countless blood-and-flesh pillars rose. Suspended from these were tens of thousands of upside-down figures, each chained through their limbs as evil ghosts.

The believers chanting sutras began to bleed from their facial orifices, Bone Beads manifesting in their hands.

"Freedom through the Transformation Heaven—attaining liberation in the altered world."

The fusion of the Buddha Demon Body grew tighter, its aura so mighty that the sutras' chanting was deafening, surrounded by Buddha Demon Spirit Power.

Theoretically, merging the Buddha Demon Body into one required the Heavenly Palace Stage.

Li Mo barely managed to force it into use with Yin Yang Sword Intent. It might leave the Buddha Demon Body damaged afterward, but now he was staking his life.

Boom.

All eight arms shielded him as Buddha Demon Spirit Power erupted outward.

The moment the Wooden Comb Sword Qi collided with the Buddha Demon Body, an ear-piercing screech resounded.

The eight arms were severed, and Li Mo's right ear twitched as overwhelming flames erupted. Moments earlier, he had gained enlightenment in the top-quality fire attribute Sword Intent, Flame Sin.

The flames seemed alive, morphing into beasts and birds, entangling the Sword Qi.

As Li Mo twisted his body to dodge, the Illusion Fish Sword left its sheath, and the Yin Yang Treasure Vase tilted, unleashing a torrent of Sword Qi towards the source of the Wooden Comb Sword Qi.

The tattooed beasts descended one by one, using Spiritual Power to wear down the Sword Qi.

"Ahh…"

The Wooden Comb Sword Qi, weakened by ninety percent, still pierced straight through his chest.

Li Mo's heart ceased beating as black hair frantically grew from the wound. Fortunately, the cancer cells suppressed it; otherwise, he would have mutated completely.

The Symbiotic Dharma Body emerged from the Sword Pouch to assist Da Ai Mi Tian in resisting the mutation.

"Schools of fish, leaping through the dragon gate."

The Sun and Moon Sword Qi turned into countless carp that transformed as they swam.

The mist scattered in all directions.

Li Mo spotted an old woman standing in the distance.

The old woman's body was hunched, but grapevine-like tendrils sprouted from her neck, and the vine was laden with human heads. Her appearance unmistakably resembled the Three-Life Elder.

"So, it really is Three-Life. She must be connected to whoever is pulling the strings."

"Ahhh!!!"

Three-Life let out ear-piercing shrieks, causing the Yin Yang Sword Qi, which had already transformed into a flood dragon, to disintegrate.

The grapevine shook.

Heads fell, and the regenerating flesh twisted into Wooden Combs entangled with black hair.

Whoosh.

"Damn it, you think I'm afraid of you?!"

Li Mo didn't retreat—he advanced. Seven pairs of arms sprouted from his ribs.

At this point, the black hair at his chest had spread below his waist. The Primordial Fragment lost its senses, while his remaining Taoist Bodies put up a desperate defense.

Li Mo's palms continuously struck toward Three-Life, while the Buddha Demon Body mirrored his actions, unleashing a torrential barrage of blows upon a tiny spot.

The top-quality Yang attribute branch Sword Intent, Extreme Day.

Spiritual Power shone like light itself. All living beings stepped aside as the Buddha Demon Body radiated brilliance brighter than the Sun.

Boom boom boom boom boom…

The second Wooden Comb Sword Qi hesitated briefly before piercing through Li Mo's abdomen.

The White Bone Treasure Body spiraled out of control as black hair burrowed into his spinal column, creeping through the marrow toward his limbs and trunk. Even the Symbiotic Dharma Body struggled to fend it off.

Ahead, Three-Life shed yet another head.

But Li Mo's face broke into ecstatic laughter. "You can't kill me."

He realized the second Sword Qi only carried sixty percent of the first's power, and the third Sword Qi wasn't strong enough to even rival a Void Refining Cultivator.

In the Corpse Mountain Mini World, the fumes of alcohol roiled, causing the black hair within Li Mo to contract.

Despite the pain of fighting off mutation, Li Mo forced his Sword Intent to counter the Wooden Comb Sword Qi, weakening its power before the comb could fully form.

Whoosh.

Eight arms shielded him.

Clink.

The Buddha Demon Body's arms were riddled with cracks, but for the first time, the Wooden Comb Sword Qi was fully blocked.

Three-Life swayed her grapevine with an enigmatic expression. The Wooden Comb Sword Qi kept coming, though its strength had degraded to the Divine Separation Stage.

"Elder, who… exactly are you?"

Li Mo seized the Wooden Comb Sword Qi with one hand as his Treasure Vase poured Sword Qi down like a deluge.

"What the hell?!"

The Yin Yang Sword Qi passed straight through Three-Life as if she didn't exist, her eerie gaze fixed silently on him.

Unconvinced, Li Mo launched one spirit attribute Sword Qi after another in relentless attacks.

The result?

Three-Life seemed completely incorporeal.

As more and more Wooden Comb Sword Qi streaked forth, Three-Life's cultivation visibly declined.

Nascent Soul Stage.

Core Formation Stage.

Weak Crown Period.

Childhood.

And just as she returned to the state of the mundane...

Three-Life disappeared into nothingness, vanishing into thin air.

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