My Simulated Road to Immortality Chapter 2255 - 1699: The Xuanji Ring Within the Heart
Previously on My Simulated Road to Immortality...
"Interesting."
Filled with lingering resentment and an eternal craving for the "True and False Dao," the consciousness of the Stealing Mechanism spiraled within its path.
However, everything dissolved into pure Taoist Principle the moment Li Fan intervened.
"The insights gained by the Stealing Mechanism may appear deep, but they are ultimately just the delusions of someone who has never witnessed the True and False Changes."
After observing the fragments left by the Stealing Mechanism for a long time, Li Fan gave a slight shake of his head.
"The manifestations of the True and False Changes are merely the stable foundation of all existence, the transition between the illusory and the real, and the equilibrium of countless wonders."
"It is similar to the Great Dao Returns to Truth; while it can reveal every Tao under the heavens and seems to hold all the truths between the Mountain and Sea, its essence remains rooted in those four words: 'Great Dao Returns to Truth'."
"The genuine core of the True and False Changes..."
"is found within those seven words."
As if reacting to Li Fan’s thoughts, a row of small characters reading "Turning the True to False, False becomes True" suddenly materialized on the Hai Zhen panel before silently fading into the dark.
It appeared to hold boundless enigmas, yet it flared up for only a heartbeat before concealing itself once more in the shadows.
"No matter how much is spoken, everything settles upon a single thought of truth and falsehood."
"This represents the simplicity of the Great Dao."
Naturally, Li Fan had to concede that the Stealing Mechanism’s ability to gain such profound wisdom merely by touching the Hai Zhen proved his comprehension was superior to his own.
Li Fan’s current mastery of the True and False Changes was the result of knowledge gathered and refined over the course of endless reincarnations.
"Touching the Hai Zhen is one thing. Whether the Hai Zhen truly wishes to remain with you is an entirely different matter."
Li Fan gave a cold snort internally. Within the 'Great Dao Returns to Truth' section, the "Fourth Stealing Mechanism" suddenly radiated a magnificent, seven-colored light.
In that moment, as if he were the incarnation of the Stealing Mechanism Saint, Li Fan scanned his surroundings and reached out toward the nearby Void Realm.
He recaptured the vast Qi Destiny that had been scattered during the Stealing Mechanism’s desperate gamble, catching those strands that had not yet drifted too far.
"The Qi Destiny of the body truly makes a difference."
Narrowing his eyes, Li Fan relished the sensation of possessing such immense fortune.
"With my present grasp of the Cosmic Reincarnation Path, I can attain Saintship through independent comprehension. Afterward, I might attempt to assume the identity of the Stealing Mechanism once more."
"Wielding the power of two Saints might not exactly double my strength, but it certainly provides an additional trump card during a genuine conflict."
Li Fan had become fully aware of the intimidating power of the Stealing Mechanism Path during his stalemate with the entity.
"In truth, the Stealing Mechanism is less useful to me than the Great Dao Returns to Truth. However, since the Hai Zhen cannot be easily revealed to others, I can use the Stealing Mechanism's name as a cover."
Beyond his realizations regarding truth, falsehood, and the Stealing Mechanism, Li Fan also caught glimpses of ancient myths within the lingering consciousness.
"Did God truly leave behind three contingency plans?"
"If the first two are the Hai Zhen and the Star, then what constitutes the final one?"
Li Fan had once traveled to the very edge of the Mountain and Sea, witnessing its collapse and the arrival of the Lone Star.
At that time, nothing else remained in the Mountain and Sea except for the Hai Zhen, which was capable of turning the tide and resisting the Star.
"It couldn't possibly be me, could it?" Li Fan mused, half-joking.
He tried to elicit a response from the Hai Zhen.
Regrettably, the Hai Zhen remained as quiet as ever.
Li Fan was unbothered.
As his power grew to a level where he could face and even defeat Saints, he was drawing closer to the peak of the Mountain and Sea.
"I expect it won't be long until all the answers are revealed."
Li Fan discarded the Stealing Mechanism's guise, letting the vast Qi Destiny he had seized disperse once more.
With the Hai Zhen in his possession, even the greatest fortune seemed insignificant.
"I wonder how Lord Guardian Hill is faring."
Having finally stabilized his internal injuries, Li Fan quickly retreated back the way he had come.
From a distance, he could feel the massive aura of the battle between All Saints crashing like violent waves.
He saw Lord Guardian Hill wielding the Three Saints Supreme Treasures, holding his ground against the combined assault of Gui Ming, Duan Chen, Ye Pan, and Xing Cha without faltering!
The figure of Guardian Hill sat like a mountain.
He was unaffected by shifts in fate, the manipulation of prophecy, or the judgment of karma.
He remained stoic and unmoving.
Xing Cha attempted to find an opening, showering the area in starlight to pierce through Guardian Hill’s protection.
However, the Lianshan Staff and the Sea Returning Shovel easily parried the attack.
Meanwhile, the Stick of All Beings would manifest out of thin air, occasionally striking the Saints from behind when they least expected it.
Despite being surrounded, Guardian Hill found moments to strike back.
Nevertheless, the numerical disadvantage was significant. If the Four Saints remained committed to the siege, he would be unable to break free for some time.
The battle reached its peak at that moment.
Yet, Li Fan had returned from the depths of the Void Realm!
While Lord Guardian Hill was filled with joy, the other Four Saints were momentarily paralyzed with shock.
If Cosmic Cycle had returned, where were Sui Jun and the Stealing Mechanism?
After all, the prowess of those two exceeded that of the Four Saints present.
If even they had met a sudden end...
Xing Cha and the other three Saints were forced to halt their offensive, peering into the depths of the Void Realm.
They searched for any sign of the missing Sui Jun and the Stealing Mechanism.
However, Li Fan’s declaration crushed their expectations.
"Sui Jun and the Stealing Mechanism have been wiped out, yet you still refuse to surrender!"
At first, the Four Saints dismissed his words as a mere trick.
But as more time passed without the return of the Stealing Mechanism or Sui Jun, their confidence began to waver.
Could they truly have been defeated?
The Four Saints looked at one another in confusion.
"Stubborn and blind. Do not blame me for being merciless."
"You must realize that when I arrived, the Three Saints granted me the authority to 'Act with no restrictions and at my convenience.' I had hoped you would help rebuild the Mountain and Sea and stand against Dao Yan together, but now..."
"There is no hope left for you."
These words were directed at Lord Guardian Hill.
With that, Li Fan stopped hiding and unleashed the aura of the Stealing Mechanism.
He reached through the air, targeting Gui Ming first!
Instantly, Gui Ming felt a freezing, unseen hand brush against the crown of his head.