It was as if the Nameless True Immortal who had already fallen was being reborn from their withered bones.

The light flickered and transformed. A blurred figure gradually emerged from the overlapping True Immortal bones.

Around the figure, the Immortal Domain distorted completely, with the figure at its center. It seemed that this Nameless being was rejecting all the Great Dao laws that constituted the Immortal Domain.

Yet with the aid of the phantom of Lord Hill Guardian, Li Fan could vaguely see that what the Nameless figure was doing was not complete rejection. After clearly separating itself from the Dao of the Immortal Domain, it was also silently transforming everything it came into contact with around it, incorporating it into itself.

Perhaps the word 'absorption' was not quite appropriate. 'Transformation' was more accurate.

The portions of the Immortal Domain that disappeared were not absorbed by the Nameless immortal figure. Under the influence of some unfathomable power, they instead became existences whose essence was almost identical to that of the figure.

Everything was exactly the same as the scene Li Fan had witnessed the first time the Immortal Domain unfolded and the Wordless Stele emerged.

All things returned to their primordial origin, returning to the Wordless Stele. The evolution of the Dao reversed back to the origin of the Dao.

At this moment, Li Fan clearly saw the Dao that this Nameless immortal figure had merged with.

"[Primordial Origin]."

The weight carried by these two words needed no further explanation.

It could reestablish earth, fire, water, and wind, causing a world to return to the state in which it had first been created.

The Immortal Celestial Pillar that had originally been used to resist the annihilation of a Dao, after revealing its true form, had instead transformed into the source of a vortex that devoured the Immortal Domain.

The changes outside the Immortal Domain were happening even faster than Li Fan had expected.

What made Li Fan's heart tighten even more was that as the amount of Primordial Origin of the Dao within this space increased, the figure of the Nameless immortal once again became blurred. It was as if it might escape from this phantom space at any moment.

Even with the gaze of the Lord Hill Guardian phantom, Li Fan was beginning to lose his grasp on the exact location of the [Primordial Origin].

Knowing that any delay might lead to complications, Li Fan no longer hesitated.

On the taishi's chair, it was as though countless trillions of supernovas had erupted simultaneously. The projected Dao Net of Li Buren's divine sense instantly transformed into an incomparably dazzling mass of white light.

Within the phantom space, a pair of tangible giant hands suddenly descended.

They crossed from the illusory realm into reality and abruptly seized the [Primordial Origin] at the center of the collapsing Immortal Domain.

The stalemate lasted only a few breaths before the victor was determined.

During this confrontation, Li Fan also gained a glimpse into the nature of the powers possessed by both sides.

Primordial Origin was the very beginning of the Dao. Although sacred and impossible to comprehend, it was still a manifestation of the power of the Dao.

The aura of the Lord Hill Guardian's power, however, seemed to be closer to [Mountains and Seas]. Even the [Primordial Origin], which occupied a transcendent position among the Three Thousand Great Daos, had no choice but to submit.

"Even if these bones represent only a portion of the power of [Primordial Origin], the one opposing it is merely a phantom left behind by the Lord Hill Guardian."

"The changes I have witnessed are enough to show that the Lord Hill Guardian's strength is above that of [Primordial Origin]."

"Lord Hill Guardian, Watching the Sea..."

To resist a calamity capable of even annihilating the Great Dao with one's own strength had clearly surpassed the limits of what could be accomplished by a cultivator who cultivated immortality and comprehended the Dao.

"The one who controls the sea is none other than the mountain."

"But what exactly does this [mountain] refer to?"

The descent of the Primordial Origin phantom had been earth shaking, yet its suppression occurred without a sound.

Under Li Buren's precise control, the tangible giant hands compressed it together with the remaining Immortal Domain and fragments of the Wordless Stele into a solitary stone pillar.

Then, he fiercely hurled it toward the area within the starry sky of the experimental field inside the High Wall where the Dao Annihilation black qi appeared most frequently.

The effect was immediate.

The unsettling and obscure fluctuations seemed as though they had never existed at all, disappearing without a trace in an instant.

The Dao Annihilation black qi, which originally would never disappear without cause and could only grow increasingly severe, also began to dissipate slowly like water without a source.

"As expected of [Primordial Origin]. It occupies an absolutely crucial position among the countless laws of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. Its ability to suppress Dao Annihilation is even better than I imagined."

"No wonder it was chosen as the material for constructing the Southern Immortal Celestial Pillar."

Li Fan observed that [Dao Pillar].

After revealing itself for only a few breaths, it had already melted into the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth like ice entering water.

Mortal eyes were destined to be unable to perceive it.

Even Li Fan's true body could only vaguely sense that something unusual existed within that area of space. He was unable to investigate it to its source.

Only by borrowing the gaze of the Lord Hill Guardian could he perceive it clearly.

"Aside from the Southern Immortal Celestial Pillar, perhaps the other Immortal Pillars also contain Nameless bones whose Dao is no weaker than [Primordial Origin]."

"These things should be the remains left behind by Nameless beings after their transcendence."

From the memories of Qian Ruochang and Devoid Immortal, Li Fan had uncovered many secrets.

After a True Immortal transcended and escaped the restraints of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, that particular possibility would no longer contain the Dao with which they had merged.

This was also one of the reasons Li Fan had previously speculated could have led to the arrival of the Dao Annihilation Calamity.

Yet clearly, these seniors who had cultivated to the pinnacle of the True Immortal realm were not all completely indifferent to the survival of their fellow beings.

"According to Qian Ruochang, before they transcended and departed, they would leave behind remains, phantoms, precious treasures, and other things, which would undertake a portion of the responsibilities of the missing Great Daos."

"The things within these Immortal Celestial Pillars should be what those True Immortals who transcended in the past left behind."

"However, compared to the Lord Hill Guardian's method of [Dao Bearing Phantom], this method of leaving behind one's remains seems to..."

Li Fan observed the stone pillar, recalling how the Primordial Origin bones had seemed to possess consciousness and attempted to follow him in jointly returning to [Truth]. He also remembered how, after two identical bones overlapped, there had unexpectedly been signs of a manifestation of [Primordial Origin].

"It is unlike the phantom that bears the Dao, which exists completely independently of its original self. Even if it can be abandoned temporarily, still..."

Li Fan sank into contemplation.

"After the Minor Transcendence of leaping beyond the realm of possibilities, there is the Great Transcendence of countless possibilities [Returning to Oneness]. That is True Transcendence."

"To take that step, one probably still needs to reclaim the things one left behind in the past."

Understanding dawned within Li Fan's heart.

Perhaps this was precisely why some Transcendent True Immortals were unwilling to leave behind objects that suppressed and stabilized the Dao.

As Li Fan pondered, the aftereffects caused by invoking the power of the Lord Hill Guardian phantom had already been completely eliminated.

The two Primordial Origin bones serving as an Immortal Pillar had also, just as Li Fan had guessed, taken on a portion of the burden imposed by Dao Bearing Phantom.

Li Fan sensed it carefully.

"If quantified, it means that roughly the equivalent of one and one third Primordial Origin bones worth of power can be freely invoked by me."

"I only need to consider the directional changes suffered by Li Buren, without worrying about the heavens suddenly collapsing or the Dao Annihilation Calamity descending upon the world."

"Of course, as time passes, the Dao Annihilation pressure being endured will certainly grow increasingly greater. The amount of power that can be utilized will gradually weaken."

Nevertheless, Li Fan was already extremely satisfied with the current result.

"In other words, if I can capture another Nameless True Immortal and use them as an Immortal Pillar, I will be able to free up another portion of power."

"Until I completely unleash the power of the Lord Hill Guardian phantom projection."

Just as Li Fan was indulging in this fantasy, the dire condition coming from Li Buren's divine sense instantly pulled him back to reality.

After repeatedly invoking the Lord Hill Guardian phantom, Li Buren had suffered an erosion of power far beyond his limits.

Li Fan concentrated his thoughts on the projected Dao Net of the clone. In a sudden moment of trance, he seemed to see that figure standing with his back turned, hiding himself while watching over the mountain and gazing toward the sea.

Only after being inexplicably startled into a cold sweat did he finally break free from the illusion.

“Even though the phantom of Lord Hill Guardian has no ill intentions, invoking it so frequently is like using an enormous external force to mold something. The clone underwent uncontrolled deformation from the inside out.”

“If I were to draw a comparison, when the Heavenly Dao Bai descended into this world through my clone back then, it was the same principle.”

Knowing that he could not act too hastily, Li Fan temporarily abandoned the idea of invoking the phantom of Lord Hill Guardian again in the short term.

“Unless I encounter an uncontrollable situation.”

“For now, I still need to get to the root of the problem. First, I should restore the clone to its original state.”

This was not difficult for Li Fan.

With his true body as an anchor, he could compare the two sides and gradually strip away the influence brought by Lord Hill Guardian, layer by layer, like cutting away bone and scraping away flesh.

It was merely troublesome and time-consuming.

“After restoring it, I also need to find a way to strengthen the clone’s ability to withstand the strain.”

“Otherwise, even with the Nameless Power in hand, the amount of time I can invoke it will still be limited.”

Li Fan already had a vague idea about this.

The power of Lord Hill Guardian seemed to originate from mountains and seas.

Only mountains and seas can control mountains and seas.

And within Li Fan’s body, there happened to be something that could barely be associated with the word “sea.”

“The power of the Ink Death Celestial Spirit.”

Even though he had achieved Dao Integration by devouring the Heaven and Earth Celestial Soul, Ink Death, allowing him to freely wield this wondrous power, Li Fan had previously still not fully understood the essence of the Ink Death Celestial Spirit power.

But now, after obtaining Lord Hill Guardian’s insights into gazing upon the sea over more than a hundred epochs, Li Fan vaguely sensed something.

The projection of the Dao Net within Li Buren’s divine sense seemed to have been crudely stretched until it broke, becoming twisted and deformed. It had even temporarily become somewhat disconnected from the true body.

Li Fan did not rush over personally. Instead, he remained firmly seated at the center and did not move.

While slowly restoring the projection of the Dao Net, he infused strands of Ink Death Celestial Spirit power into the clone’s repaired divine sense.

“The black qi is an omen that Dao Annihilation is about to arrive.”

“It is like waves formed when seawater crashes against a mountain.”

“Or perhaps, it is the manifestation of mountains and seas merging together.” A sharp light flashed in Li Fan’s eyes.

As strands of ink-colored power were infused, the originally pure and dazzling projection of the Dao Net seemed to acquire a layer of dark edging.

Although it still reflected the myriad Heavenly Daos, it had gained something different from before.

From Li Fan’s instinctive perception, this projected net had become slightly more “sturdy.”

But Li Fan did not rush to conduct an experiment.

Instead, again and again, he proceeded as if repeatedly making rough strokes with a paintbrush.

Under this repetition, the divine sense of the clone, Li Buren, completely transformed from illusion into reality.

His entire body seemed to be formed from the manifestation of the projection of the Dao Net.

Meanwhile, the power of the Ink Death Celestial Spirit served as the flesh and blood filling it.

Under Li Fan’s meticulous sculpting, an entirely new body finally came into being.

Li Buren clenched his fist. Although he no longer possessed an Immortal Domain Body, and his strength seemed to have weakened, he could clearly feel that he had become much more 'durable.'

Looking toward the remnants of Dao Annihilation black qi still lingering in the experimental starry sky, Li Buren remained expressionless. He opened his mouth wide and directly swallowed the dissipating clouds of black qi into his abdomen.

The surging black qi, powerful enough to annihilate all things in the world, churned violently within Li Buren’s stomach.

Li Buren felt nothing but intense pain.

Yet his body itself did not dissipate.

Had it been his previous body formed from fragments of an Immortal Domain, it absolutely would not have been able to withstand such power.

“Just as I thought.”

The verification in his heart had been confirmed. Li Fan experienced the tumultuous churning within the clone’s abdomen.

“The collision between mountain and sea.”

His thoughts seemed to return to the long years spanning more than a hundred epochs recorded in the [Hill Guardian's Miscellaneous Notes].

He watched the vast sea repeatedly wash and crash against the mountain beneath it.

Every collision between the two brought about some kind of change in the mortal world.

“What a pity. The inheritance of Lord Hill Guardian was shared among the other Immortal Domain Go pieces. Otherwise, I should have been able to glimpse the true essence of mountains and seas.”

After observing and comprehending for a long time without gaining anything, Li Fan had no choice but to regretfully withdraw himself from that mysterious state.

Mountains and seas were clearly not things belonging to the mortal world.

Even merely visualizing them as if he were personally present had brought corresponding changes to Li Fan.

The most obvious was his lifespan.

After entering the Half Immortal Realm, Li Fan’s lifespan had become infinite. It was equivalent to 7,360,000 years in this mortal world.

Although it was not a fixed number and could change according to Li Fan’s actions and behavior, such changes were limited to the lower digits, within the millions, hundreds of thousands, tens of thousands, thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones.

But now, this lifespan had suddenly plummeted.

It had been reduced by a full one third!

Li Fan stared at the number, his expression becoming somewhat complicated.

“In theory, the stronger I become, the greater the possibility that I can save this entire mortal world.”

“The theoretical lifespan figure should have skyrocketed.”

“How is it that after merely glimpsing the mysteries of mountains and seas, even the future survival of this entire mortal world has been reduced along with it?”

Li Fan was utterly perplexed.

But it was obvious that this was not a good omen.

Li Fan did not stubbornly continue.

“The secret of mountains and seas seems to be beyond what I can touch at my current level.”

“I should first perfect the clone’s body and increase its ability to withstand the strain.”

“If the power of Lord Hill Guardian’s phantom can be fully developed, it should be enough for me to roam unhindered within this ruined possibility.”

At present, to Li Fan, the phantom’s power within the experimental site was like a balance. If he wanted to invoke the power of Lord Hill Guardian, he first had to place an equivalent weight upon it.

“The only power I can currently use without any pressure is that of one and one third [Primordial Origin] bones. The Primordial Origin Dao is the Immortal of Ten Thousand Daos. Even if it is merely a remnant skeleton, it should not be much weaker than an ordinary Nameless True Immortal.”

“If that still is not enough, I can release more of Lord Hill Guardian’s power.”

Li Fan pondered his next hunting target.

There were not many Nameless True Immortals whose identities were currently known.

Li Fan first turned his gaze toward the Immortal Ruins outside the Xuanhuang Realm.

Aside from the Hunger Immortal, who was faintly approaching the realm of a Nameless True Immortal, there was also the power beneath her feet, which might have been left behind by the previous Hunger Immortal and was being used to withstand Dao Annihilation Calamity.

Although the Hunger Immortal was being wantonly trampled beneath the feet of Evil Su Bai without even realizing it, with Li Fan’s current strength, scheming against her still required careful planning.

And Li Fan did not merely want to capture a True Immortal with her current level of power.

He wanted something even more ambitious, to capture the true [Hunger Immortal] who had attained the Nameless Realm.

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