My Simulated Road to Immortality Chapter 2364 - 1761: A Shift in Goodwill (Part 2)
Previously on My Simulated Road to Immortality...
Back then, I nearly believed that revealing my rare treasure would lead straight to my doom.
Surprisingly, though, neither Xuan Yuanhong nor the Old Fisherman showed any desire to take my possessions.
Actually, they frequently offered support during my path of cultivation after that.
That's how the current Zhang Fan emerged.
During this journey, the trio of us turned into close allies, sharing everything without reservation.
Naturally, Zhang Fan clearly recognized the vast difference in power separating him from the pair, casting a lingering doubt in his mind.
Not until this day, after achieving breakthrough in the Dao transcendence, did Zhang Fan feel he had the standing and power to engage with Xuan Yuanhong and the Old Fisherman as equals. It was then that he finally asked the question buried deep inside him.
"The True and False Dao, powerful enough to upend the Mountain Sea. How does Brother Xuan Yuan stay so indifferent?"
Xuan Yuanhong appeared to have foreseen Zhang Fan's inquiry, let out a light laugh, and replied, "First off, I understand completely. I've felt the sting of being targeted myself, so I refuse to inflict that on anyone else. Second..."
"The True and False Dao is truly enigmatic and profound. Yet the moment I laid eyes on it, I realized it was far beyond what I could grasp. Instead of yearning pointlessly, I decided to turn away, avoiding any potential disaster."
Xuan Yuanhong's statement hinted at something deeper, as he flashed a knowing smile.
Though Zhang Fan didn't fully catch the nuance in the King of Mystic Sky's remark, he nodded in contemplation.
"Regarding Senior Fisherman..." Xuan Yuanhong looked toward the Old Fisherman of Mountains and Seas, who remained seated, fishing steadily like an unyielding stone statue.
"To him, nothing matters but 'fish.' The True and False Dao appeals to him no more than some feeble creature swimming below."
As Xuan Yuanhong finished speaking, the Old Fisherman abruptly pulled in his line.
A frantic shape ended up gripped in the Old Fisherman's grasp.
The Old Fisherman burst into hearty laughter, clearly in a delightful state.
"A simple stone tablet actually tries to peek at what I've made."
"Hmm?"
The Old Fisherman first appeared ready to let go of the entity he'd hooked, but soon after, something made him reconsider.
"But then..."
"Passing on a couple of techniques won't do any harm."
With those words, the Old Fisherman flung the shape away and pointed into the emptiness.
"Watch carefully, absorb it all."
No one knew the initial shape or background of that frantic entity, yet it shifted into a young boy. Clad in a reed cape, topped with a bamboo hat, and clutching a fishing pole, he stood by the Old Fisherman.
Once the first wave of fear subsided, he copied the Old Fisherman's style and threw out his line to catch something.
A stretch of water was absent before the Old Fisherman.
Still, his throw summoned a Mountain Sea Fishery into being.
Deep in his angling, he ignored Zhang Fan's admiring words.
At first, Zhang Fan minded this behavior.
But these days, he's gotten used to it.
"Within the Transcendence Realm, cultivators can cross the Dao Yan to venture into the immense Mountain Sea. It's rumored that amid infinite paths, at the core of the Mountain Sea, stands the Other Shore, built by the united work of All Saints."
"Legend has it, a mighty empire stretches across countless paths in the Mountain Sea, ruled by the Taiwei Saint Emperor..." Xuan Yuanhong outlined the broad features of the Mountain Sea for Zhang Fan.
Even after going through many rebirths early in his cultivation, he stayed tied to just one path.
Listening to Xuan Yuanhong depict the awe-inspiring Mountain Sea, Zhang Fan felt an inevitable surge of desire and aspiration.
He was convinced that holding the True and False Dao, regardless of the daunting challenges to come, he could forge his own domain and even claim the Mountain Sea Saint status.
Noticing the faint shift in Zhang Fan's face, Xuan Yuanhong halted briefly before going on: "That said, be it the Other Shore Saints or the Taiwei Saint Emperor, their situations might not be as..."
"Ideal." The King of Mystic Sky chose his phrasing carefully.
"What are you getting at, Brother Xuan Yuan?" Zhang Fan felt somewhat confused.
"Brother Zhang has dwelled in this space, shielded by us, oblivious to Dao Yan's perils. I used to fear that learning Dao Yan's reality would disrupt your cultivation heart. Since you've now transcended... fine, it's time you learn the actual Mountain Sea."
Xuan Yuanhong cast a look toward the Old Fisherman of Mountains and Seas.
The Old Fisherman lifted his head just a touch.
All at once, the skies and lands shifted hues.
It felt like a enduring veil of safety had abruptly lifted.
Zhang Fan plunged right into the authentic Mountain Sea.
In truth, Dao Yan proved far more than the occasional gentle brook amid peaks that he'd pictured.
It formed a ferocious deluge of floodwaters wrapping around the whole range!
Gales howled wildly, surges rose high, ready any second to engulf the tiny peak they held onto!
At Zhang Fan's fresh transcendent level, wading a simple brook remained doable.
Enduring this brutal rush...
Utterly out of the question!
Anyone stepping into it would get devoured in a flash.
Seeing this sight, Zhang Fan broke out in icy sweat, his frame quivering faintly from sheer terror.
Right then, Xuan Yuanhong's soft voice rang out once more.
"Brother Zhang, why don't you glance toward the heavens."
Xuan Yuanhong's tone held a compelling charm, so Zhang Fan obeyed and lifted his eyes skyward.
His form stiffened at once, locked in frost.
The boundless heavens stretched dark and profound.
Brimming with Dao Yan's essence!
The realm where he stood resembled a mere speck amid the boundless sea!
"This is the Void Realm."
"The enduring Mountain Sea amounts to just a lone isle in the Void Realm's watery expanse." Xuan Yuanhong's words resounded precisely when needed.
Like thunder crashing, it jolted Zhang Fan's soul.
Zhang Fan's frame slackened, on the verge of crumpling down.
Overwhelmed by dread, he pulled back his sight.
A storm of questions flooded his thoughts.
He'd never dreamed Dao Yan could be this horrifying?
The sea sprawled endlessly, without limits, impossible to measure. How to cross it? Who could possibly cross?
His once lofty dreams crumbled away in a heartbeat.
Zhang Fan tried over and over to utter words, yet faltered, speechless.
"That's sufficient, stop frightening him." The Old Fisherman at last broke his silence.
The shadowy, gloomy vista faded in an instant.
The world regained its brightness.
The crushing pressure of the Dao Yan Void Realm lifted, like rescuing a near-drowned soul onto solid ground.
Zhang Fan panted heavily, eagerly seizing the precious feeling of security.
Only instants before, encircled by the Void Realm, he'd teetered on the edge of hopelessness.
After quite a while, once Zhang Fan's feelings had fully settled, Xuan Yuanhong addressed him again.
Wearing a sorry expression, he explained, "Brother Zhang, understand I'm not trying to alarm you on purpose. Yet the dire condition of Mountain Sea has been irreparable for ages. Even this predicament was set in motion eons back."
"Mountain Sea is doomed to fade away in the end."
After enduring that prior trial, the news of Mountain Sea's inevitable demise didn't hit Zhang Fan as hard as he might have thought.
He merely creased his brow and muttered, "In the end? Inevitable?"
Confronted by Xuan Yuanhong's resolute statement, he couldn't help doubting it on instinct.
Xuan Yuanhong offered no clarification, pressing on instead, "Mountain Sea dissolving into the void stands as an unchangeable fate. Any resistance proves pointless."
"Just like the world's endless loop of birth and demise."
"Without demise, what value does existence hold?"
"Mountain Sea merging back into the void doesn't mean total closure. It could herald a fresh start."
"Attempting to rescue the realm just invites more chaos." The King of Mystic Sky let out a soft sigh.
"So, Brother Xuan Yuan, what are you suggesting..." Zhang Fan gazed vacantly at the King of Mystic Sky.
To Zhang Fan's query, Xuan Yuanhong answered gravely, "Rather than venturing forth and toiling without purpose, remain in this place, savor the tranquility, and wait for the Reincarnation to renew."
"It's fine to reveal now that, besides Senior Fisherman, a few other elders hide away here too. Plenty to hold on until Mountain Sea's final instant."
Xuan Yuanhong's points held a certain validity.
Yet Zhang Fan pursued cultivation seeking eternal life and ease.
Without ever facing the Mountain Sea Reincarnation firsthand, he wouldn't simply quell the stirring ambitions within.
He gave no reply, staying quiet.
Xuan Yuanhong, discerning Zhang Fan's true sentiments, went on, "Naturally, should you possess unyielding determination, grasp the realities of Mountain Sea and Dao Yan, and retain the boldness to advance..."
"We won't hinder you in the slightest."
While Xuan Yuanhong uttered this, an odd look passed over his features.