My Simulated Road to Immortality Chapter 2284: 1713: Guardian Hill's Subtle Union (Part 2)
Previously on My Simulated Road to Immortality...
“In your prior existence, your ascent to sainthood through the Shadow of Mountain and Sea was perhaps too bold. You must realize that even a minor True Spirit Infusion is sufficient to draw the scrutiny of the Three Saints. It would be wiser to remain obscure and dormant, quietly supporting the Three Saints in their quest to unify the Mountain and Sea while delving deeper into ancient eras.”
“Regarding the periodic destruction of the Mountain and Sea across time and space, I advise you to observe silently. Even if the Three Saints were to vanish momentarily, their fundamental power would remain unshaken. In truth, the more their influence wanes in our vicinity, the more authority you can wield; it is not out of the question for leadership within the Xuanji Ring to change hands.”
“Naturally, if you prefer to operate independently from the Three Saints, that is your prerogative. However, my counsel is to remain shielded behind them when you first arrive at Mountain and Sea…”
Lord Guardian Hill provided a calm analysis, outlining the advantages and risks without forcing Li Fan’s hand.
After Li Fan weighed these words for a long duration, he finally gave a nod of concurrence.
“Guardian Hill’s perspective is sound. It is far more comfortable to seek shade beneath a massive tree; let us allow the Three Saints to remain our shelter for a few more lifetimes!”
“Nevertheless, those are future concerns. I must conduct a rigorous investigation into the shifts within Mountain and Sea triggered by the factions behind the Void Realm. I sense that this could be immensely helpful for grasping the True and False Changes, and perhaps even for the reconstruction of the Mountain and Sea.”
Guardian Hill reflected on the events of the previous life, lost in thought: “The struggle between the Void Realm and Mountain and Sea has already drawn in the supreme powers of both sides. It resembles a chess match spanning endless eons.”
“Utilizing the True and False Changes to recreate Mountain and Sea could be interpreted as returning every stray piece on and off the board to its rightful place. By observing the shifts on the board, one might catch a glimpse of the hand moving the pieces from outside…”
“The plan appears viable.”
Upon hearing Guardian Hill’s assessment, Li Fan felt his confidence in the strategy grow.
Following their discussion, they began to execute the plan.
In this incarnation, Li Fan opted not to inherit his former Cultivation base. Technically, his current status was merely that of a Mortal.
Yet, given Li Fan’s accumulated experience, ascending from a Mortal back to the Realm of the Saint was no daunting feat.
To prepare for any accidents, the Phantom of Guardian Hill bestowed a protective power upon him before departing.
Li Fan no longer sought sainthood via the Shadow of God he had visualized, nor did he recklessly claim the title of a Mountain Sea Saint. Instead, he advanced through traditional, methodical Cultivation.
He selected the Cosmic Cycle path as his Dao Path.
Though he moved step-by-step, his profound mastery of the Cosmic Reincarnation Path and its origins allowed his progress to be breathtakingly rapid.
Where it had required five centuries in his last life, he achieved it in just over three hundred years this time, leaping directly into the Realm of the Saint.
The Mountain and Sea were shaken by his feat!
“Reincarnation is, in itself, a magnificent Creation.”
Through this personal journey of practice, Li Fan attained fresh revelations regarding the Cosmic Cycle path.
Simultaneously, on the Returning to Truth panel, the characters for [Second Cosmic Cycle]—which had been radiant with seven-colored light—began to shift.
That brilliance slowly receded, as if returning to a state of simplicity, shedding all superficiality to reveal a raw, unembellished essence.
It now looked identical to any other Tao character in its primal state.
However, as the master of the [Cosmic Cycle], Li Fan could sense that the [Second Cosmic Cycle] had finally earned genuine acknowledgment from the Returning to Truth Path.
Li Fan gazed at the vacant positions remaining in the Great Dao True Hall, a mysterious light flashing in his eyes.
“The Great Dao Returns to Truth might not be about entering the state of Returning to Truth, but rather restoring things to their primal forms.”
“Every Mountain and Sea Tao begins with God. Yet, once the Mountain and Sea split from God, they were corrupted by the fluctuations of the world, and the Tao shifted accordingly. Only by purging the influence of Mountain and Sea can they be restored to their source and reveal their true nature.”
Li Fan realized that without walking the path of Cultivation once more, such an epiphany would have remained out of reach.
Following this path again under Guardian Hill's guidance had led to these profound insights.
This reinforced Li Fan’s belief that bringing Guardian Hill into the Returning to Truth was a masterstroke.
Attaining sainthood through the Cosmic Cycle did not ignite the same massive uproar as in his previous life. Instead, he slipped into the Xuanji Ring without fanfare, introduced merely as a “friend of Guardian Hill.”
However, once Li Fan “accidentally” displayed his unique True Spirit Infusion technique, he once again became the focus of the other saints.
When questioned about the source of this power, Li Fan feigned ignorance.
He hinted that it might be linked to the Emperor Tian Luo.
“When the Way-Mantle Whale consumed the Immortal Realm, I narrowly escaped death. My physical form was destroyed, leaving only a sliver of True Spirit to flee into the sea of stars in the lower realms. After drifting through many incarnations, I finally reached my current state. Upon this reincarnation, I found that something nameless had shifted within me. My talent was not only heightened, but I had developed this strange ability.”
“I’ve wondered if this is connected to the Emperor Tian Luo’s desperate gambit from long ago.”
“I consulted Guardian Hill, and he also saw benefits after our Immortal Realm home vanished. However, because his strength is so immense, the effects were less obvious than mine,” Li Fan explained slowly, his brow furrowed.
Guardian Hill gave a supporting nod.
With Guardian Hill acting as his witness, the weight of Li Fan’s claims increased significantly.
The other saints within the Xuanji Ring fell into deep thought.
Seizing the opening, Li Fan asked, “Given the power of the Three Saints, the Mountain and Sea should be within your grasp. When our homeland underwent its transformation, did you detect anything unusual?”
Saint Tai Yi answered with a soft smile, “The Mountain and Sea are in a state of constant flux. It is not impossible for things to vanish in a heartbeat, and we are neither all-knowing nor perfect. It is not shocking that things are overlooked. However…”
Saint Tai Yi hesitated, appearing to calculate something internally.
“Now that Cosmic Cycle mentions it, we did indeed feel a strange premonition stir in our hearts back then.”
The Three Saints looked at one another, but their explanation trailed off.
After a long silence, Liânshan finally spoke, “It felt as though a great destiny had brushed past us. That sensation of opportunity was very much like the excitement we felt during our first Tao certification.”
“But it was a mere flicker—a very subtle omen. Had Cosmic Cycle not mentioned it today, we would have ignored it.”
“This Tian Luo Emperor…”
“God originates from Mountain and Sea. Beyond the Mountain and Sea Void, there is nothing. If one wishes to transcend further, where is there to go? The gifts you obtained might not be the result of a successful transcendence. It could be that the entire Immortal Realm and the artifacts of Tian Luo Emperor vanished together, creating a massive ripple…”
Guardian Hill immediately caught Saint Liânshan’s meaning, “So, the changes we experience might actually stem from the remnants of Tian Luo Emperor? To trigger such shifts, what kind of Creation must that be?”
Return to Sea smiled slightly, “Everything has turned to void, so it cannot be found. Yet, perhaps the ancient Mountain and Sea still contain some traces. As the Mountain and Sea reunite and we travel back to the era of Tian Luo Emperor, we can investigate it ourselves.”
“With the help of our friend from the Cosmic Cycle, our chances of succeeding in this endeavor are much higher.”
Li Fan immediately adopted a humble posture and dropped the subject.
The True Spirit Infusion technique proved to be a revolutionary aid in the unification of the Mountain and Sea.
It not only provided a steady supply of backup power from the saints but also ensured the other saints didn't have to fear the Way-Mantle corruption within the Void Realm, removing all their anxieties.
All focus was now directed toward reuniting the Mountain and Sea.
Much like the previous lives Li Fan had seen, the monumental task of unifying the Mountain and Sea—which once required the Three Saints to work with extreme caution—could now be finished amidst the lighthearted laughter of the assembled saints.
Following the first successful unification, every saint received a Creation, and a spirit of joy filled the Beyond.
Only the Three Saints, looking toward the even more ancient Mountain and Sea, sensed their approaching end.
“Permit me to ask the Three Saints, is there a great danger ahead?”
At this moment, Guardian Hill spoke up.
After a brief hesitation, the Three Saints confessed the lethal crisis that the Mountain and Sea were about to face.
This revelation caused the merry atmosphere in the Beyond to vanish instantly.
Li Fan spoke with solemn conviction, “The Three Saints are our foundation and the heart of reuniting the Mountain and Sea; they must not be lost. Since the Mountain and Sea ahead are fraught with peril, we must act immediately to help!”
“What does a mere crisis of time and space matter to us, whether it involves the Three Saints or not?”
His speech was filled with righteous passion, radiating both bravery and determination.