"In this additional simulation, it seems I did not possess the miraculous treasure [Truth]. Aside from that, everything was no different from what I personally experienced."

Recalling the countless scenes that had suddenly flashed through his mind just moments ago, Li Fan's expression was solemn.

When the Dao Annihilation black qi swallowed the falling Xuanhuang Realm, with nowhere left to escape, he had not attempted to activate [Truth]. He had simply waited helplessly for death.

"But the me in the simulation did not find anything unusual about [Truth]'s disappearance. It was as though the me in the simulation had never possessed this supreme treasure in the first place. From the moment I activated the additional simulation, a branch that excluded [Truth] was created..."

"Interesting. Even when simulating [Truth] itself, as long as it is an additional simulation conducted while the main simulation already exists, the branch simulation still cannot simulate me possessing it?"

Li Fan's thoughts stirred. A flash of inspiration suddenly passed through his mind, and he seemed to understand something.

However, that inspiration was like a candle flame in the darkness. In an instant, it was swallowed by the boundless darkness around him. By the time Li Fan tried to recall it again, he could no longer remember it no matter how hard he tried.

Realizing that he might have missed an opportunity to glimpse the secret of [Truth], Li Fan's expression froze slightly, and for a moment, he felt somewhat melancholy.

But he quickly recovered.

Li Fan believed that as his comprehension of the Transformation Between Truth and Falsehood continued to deepen, and his compatibility with [Truth] continued to increase, there would eventually come a day when he could truly and completely uncover the secret of [Truth].

After taking a deep breath, Li Fan composed himself and carefully contemplated what had happened during the branch simulation.

"The plan for the Xuanhuang Ascension was almost entirely within my expectations. There were no major oversights in the preparations, nor did any unexpected enemies appear."

"The only obstacle preventing the Xuanhuang Realm from ascending was that it remained just a tiny step short of the final qualitative transformation. This is the starting point of the vast divide between immortals and mortals."

"Exactly how can this qualitative transformation be achieved?"

In an instant, countless possibilities flashed through Li Fan's mind.

"The Immortal Mortal Transformation character? Or should I continue using the Immortal Domain Go pieces? Or perhaps use the surviving ancient immortal formation as a foundation and attempt to repair the Floating Across Starry Sky Grand Formation?"

Every attempt involved endless possibilities. Most things related to immortals were completely unknown, and were beyond what Li Fan could deduce at his current level.

Li Fan's head ached from thinking, yet he still could not choose the most suitable solution.

It seemed that every method could work.

Yet it also seemed that every method would fail.

"Could it be that even after another lifetime, I still cannot achieve Dao Integration and ascend to the immortal realm?"

"If all else fails, I can simply try every method once. Sooner or later, I will find the correct path for the world's ascension."

This pessimistic thought quietly arose within Li Fan's heart.

Once it appeared, it was like a great river breaking through its dam, sweeping everything away in an instant. It completely shattered Li Fan's psychological defenses.

His thoughts became like a storm, roaring chaotically without end.

Li Fan stopped thinking about the conditions required for the Xuanhuang Realm to undergo ascension.

Instead, he began considering how to end this lifetime and what plans to make after beginning the next.

The plan was sound.

Yet for some reason, Li Fan remained restless and uneasy.

In theory, everything that happened within a simulation could be reproduced through another simulation. In this world, there was nothing that could truly be considered "lost" to Li Fan.

Except for the changes within Li Fan himself.

Whenever [Truth] activated a simulation and returned him to the predetermined anchor point, everything in the world would be reset.

Even the strength of Li Fan's body and his cultivation realm were reset in the same manner. He needed to rely on [Truth]'s cultivation inheritance function to return to the state he had reached during his previous simulation.

Yet within every reset, there was always one variable that continued moving forward.

That was Li Fan's heart and will.

More specifically, this manifested on the [Truth] interface as the upper limit of Li Fan's psychological age and the default [Truth] charging progress.

Yet both of these had remained unchanged for a very long time...

At this moment, Li Fan was more hesitant than ever before.

Time passed second by second, but Li Fan still could not make his final decision.

Only 20 hours remained before the point in the branch simulation of the Three-Pronged when he had activated the Xuanhuang Ascension.

With an indescribable expression, Li Fan took a step and arrived at the very starting point of everything.

Great Xuan.

The house where this mortal body had lived before his death.

Even though "Li Fan" had mysteriously disappeared, the study remained spotlessly clean, exactly as it had always been.

Clearly, that "aunt" still harbored a faint hope that "Li Fan" would someday return.

Li Fan lay down on the bed and closed his eyes.

It was as though he had returned to the moment when he had first transmigrated into this world.

Time fell into stillness.

Then, like ice cracking apart, it quietly began to flow again.

Across a hundred lifetimes of reincarnation, all kinds of experiences passed through Li Fan's mind once more in an instant.

Li Fan tried to use this method to search for a possibility of breaking through the deadlock.

Daylight turned into darkness.

Li Fan simply lay quietly on the wooden bed.

As though he had completely fallen asleep.

Indeed, Li Fan could use one [Truth] simulation after another, relying on the method of elimination to determine, one by one, the key to achieving that qualitative transformation.

This was also the safest method.

In theory, there was nothing wrong with it.

Yet whenever Li Fan decided in his heart to proceed this way, certain scenes would inexplicably flash through his mind.

There was Mo Rubin's obsession beneath the breach in the High Wall, where he had been willing to risk his very life simply to investigate it.

There was also the Heavenly Doctor within the illusion formation, who had ultimately abandoned his comprehension of the High Wall completely for the sake of the Heavenly Law Realm.

"Once lost, forever lost."

In the darkness, Li Fan suddenly opened his eyes.

He repeatedly whispered these four words.

With [Truth]'s existence, there should indeed be nothing in this world that could truly be lost forever to him.

Unless the item's level of existence surpassed [Truth] itself.

Clearly, merely transforming from mortal to immortal was nowhere near enough to achieve that.

"The true meaning of 'once lost, forever lost' exists within my heart."

"[Truth] can influence everything in the world, yet it alone cannot reverse the changes within me."

As though he had understood something, Li Fan's eyes gradually brightened, seemingly capable of piercing through the darkness.

"The loss of this unknown quality might not affect my ability to step into the True Immortal realm. But as for the path beyond the True Immortal realm, perhaps it will have profound consequences."

After a long period of contemplation, when the first ray of sunlight appeared upon the earth and drove away the darkness, Li Fan finally understood completely.

He finally understood where the uneasiness in his heart had come from.

"Why exactly is this happening?"

"Is it because I have become overly dependent on lost?"

"Or is there some other reason?"

"The path beyond the True Immortal realm is simply too distant for me. Moreover, based on my current understanding, it seems that reaching the Nameless True Immortal realm only requires completely mastering and refining a certain Great Dao. It seems to have nothing to do with this at all..."

Li Fan's brows furrowed tightly, his heart filled with confusion.

"But it seems that aside from exhaustive experimentation, I have no better choice."

...

Li Fan walked out of the house and looked at the rising sun on the horizon.

Continuing to ponder, he stepped out of the Great Xuan small world.

Within the Xuanhuang Realm, he began to wander aimlessly.

The surrounding scenery continuously changed in flickering bursts. Li Fan reflected everything around him into his own mind. Starting from the Congyun Sea in the east, he headed all the way west.

As his thoughts continued to race, the frequency at which the surrounding scenery flickered seemed to grow faster and faster.

Li Fan himself was immersed in a meditation state akin to sudden enlightenment, but this did not affect his ability to interact with the outside world.

The reason he was "traveling" faster and faster was precisely because of Li Fan's special relationship with the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao. Their relationship was almost like that between a reborn parent and child, and the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao held an extremely favorable impression of him.

Thus, without needing Li Fan to ask, the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao took the initiative to help him reduce the burden of traveling, almost as if trying to please him.

Even though the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao had no idea why Li Fan was suddenly rushing around the world for no apparent reason.

Perhaps it even mistakenly thought that Li Fan was making preparations for his final work before ascending and undergoing sublimation.

Li Fan naturally noticed the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao's attempts to please him.

However, he did not pay much attention to them.

Previously, when the Great Celestial Venerable Wuming had walked across the world in order to repair the various wounds of the Xuanhuang Realm, the Xuanhuang Realm had also provided him with such conveniences.

With a single step, the distance between heaven and earth would automatically change, as though space itself had been compressed into inches.

However, now that the various anomalies throughout the world had all been resolved, the Xuanhuang Realm had not taken the initiative to do so for a long time.

'What a damn dog!' Li Fan secretly cursed in his heart after seeing the true nature of the Xuanhuang Realm in the branch simulation.

'I possess the supreme movement art. Why would I need such crude assistance from you?'

With a thought, the phantom of the Wooden Sword immediately flew from its sheath and hovered protectively beside Li Fan.

He was just about to fly away and free himself from the Xuanhuang Realm Heavenly Dao's interference, making use of the remaining time to calmly think things through.

But Li Fan suddenly stopped.

He looked at the phantom of the Wooden Sword beside him.

His mind once again recalled how the Xuanhuang Realm had displayed its convenient ability.

A subtle expression gradually appeared on Li Fan's face.

'My supreme movement art was created by combining my understanding of the unstoppable momentum of the Sword Dao, the changes between reality and illusion, and...'

'The teachings of the Xuantian King contained within the soul memories of Ji Yuzhen, the Dharma King of the Xuantian Sect.'

'The core of the Golden Chains Across the Void Grand Formation, the Inch Apart, yet Worlds Away Grand Formation!'

'And the Inch Apart, yet Worlds Away Grand Formation was something the Xuantian King obtained from the Immortal Realm...'

Li Fan quickly recalled what he had witnessed back then.

The Xuantian King had gently said to Ji Yuzhen:

'The Golden Chains Across the Void spans across the heavens. Even if the target is at the far end of the distant Star Sea, as long as it is locked onto, the chains can arrive in an instant and capture it. I told you before that the reason it can achieve this effect is because the Inch Apart, yet Worlds Away Formation Grand Formation is embedded within it. This formation was originally engraved upon the Ascension Platform in the Immortal Realm. When I escaped back then, I brought the entire immortal formation down with me...'

Boom!

The Xuantian King's voice was like thunderous roars, crossing countless ages and piercing through the mist, illuminating Li Fan's mind.

'Wait! Could it be...'

A sharp glint flashed through Li Fan's eyes.

He waved his hand, dispersing the phantom of the Wooden Sword beside him.

Then he continued slowly strolling through the Xuanhuang Realm.

As expected, the moment the Xuanhuang Realm Heavenly Dao sensed Li Fan's movements, it once again began trying to please him.

Li Fan did not expend any effort at all. The Heavenly Dao itself began moving.

The scenery around him once again transformed rapidly.

Li Fan closed his eyes and carefully sensed the changes taking place in the Xuanhuang world around him.

'This feeling...'

'There is no mistake!'

'It is precisely the Inch Apart, yet Worlds Away Formation Reach!'

Li Fan suddenly stopped.

His heart was filled with uncontrollable excitement.

His thoughts raced.

'Although the Golden Chains Across the Void Grand Formation, as one component of the Floating Across Starry Sky Grand Formation, has already been damaged.'

'Every activation of this formation consumes an enormous amount of energy. The cautious Xuantian King had already reproduced three backup copies long ago, in preparation for unexpected circumstances.'

'The Inch Apart, yet Worlds Away Grand Formation itself is not the key. The key is...'

A brilliant light erupted from Li Fan's eyes as he swept his gaze across the entire Xuanhuang world.

'The Ascension Platform! The engraving! The complete one!'

Li Fan's body trembled slightly from excitement at this speculation.

'The Ascension Platform must have originally been a place where the Immortal Realm received cultivators ascending from the lower realm.'

'Since it was called an Ascension Platform, besides the Inch Apart, yet Worlds Away Grand Formation, there must have been other engravings of various powers incorporated into it.'

'At that time, the Xuantian King was also fleeing for his life in a panic. Moreover, he had only just entered the Immortal Realm. He simply did not have the conditions to independently separate the Inch Apart, yet Worlds Away Grand Formation from the entire immortal formation in such a short period of time.'

'Therefore, there is a very high possibility that the three sets of backup engravings left behind by the Xuantian King were actually the complete engravings from the Ascension Platform of the Immortal Realm!'

'This may be the key!'

Although he was not one hundred percent certain, Li Fan had undoubtedly found the existence most likely to provide that final push.

After so many years of experience, Li Fan had never dared to underestimate anything originating from the Immortal Realm.

'Now, the most important question is, where exactly are the three backup imprints left behind by the Xuantian King hidden?'

Li Fan had destroyed the Xuanhuang Realm more than once. The objects that remained until the end within the World-Destruction Formation had never included these engravings.

It seemed that these engravings were not within the Xuanhuang Realm.

If the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao had not inadvertently revealed this clue by taking the initiative to please him, Li Fan might have searched outside the Xuanhuang Realm, within the Eye of the Heavenly Beast, or even inside the Remnant World Great Wall beneath the High Wall, gathering clues one by one.

But now, the Xuanhuang Realm's inadvertent actions had revealed another possibility to Li Fan.

'The engravings from the Ascension Platform may actually be inside the Xuanhuang Realm itself!'

'Because of the influence of those engravings, the Xuanhuang world has imperceptibly learned the Inch Apart, yet Worlds Away Grand Formation.'

'Even some of the innate characteristics of the Xuanhuang Realm that I speculated in the branch illusion to have originated from the Immortal Realm may likewise have been influenced by the Ascension Platform!'

Li Fan forcefully suppressed the urge to turn the entire Xuanhuang Realm upside down and search every inch of it immediately.

He calmed his mind and, seemingly intentionally yet seemingly unintentionally, began communicating with the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao.

He brought up the matter of the Heavenly Dao taking the initiative to please him.

The Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao seemed rather proud of its actions.

It quickly fell into Li Fan's verbal trap.

It revealed everything to him in detail.

'Just as I expected!'

'It somehow learned this on its own!'

Li Fan restrained his impatience and continued asking about the relevant details.

After Li Fan's continuous strengthening, the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao's control over itself had also reached an unprecedented peak.

Thus, under Li Fan's guidance, it gradually discovered the source of this "inexplicable learning" as well.

Following the directions provided by the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao, Li Fan flashed toward the destination.

He seemed to have descended a million li beneath the earth of the Xuanhuang Realm.

Even the surging earth veins disappeared completely here. All around him was merely a pure accumulation of Xuanhuang power.

Li Fan looked at the somewhat familiar architectural style surrounding him. It resembled an ancient grand formation.

A stone slab was embedded in the center of the formation.

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