Chapter 1317: Luring the Enemy with True Immortal Power (+2K words)

True to its name, the Horizon at Hand Grand Formation could shrink vast distances, turning the
ends of the earth into a single step. Once completed, it would connect the Xuanhuang World to
the edge of the Star Sea, allowing instantaneous travel without resorting to the wooden sword
technique.
While it resembled a teleportation formation, it was different. The Dark Star Sea was permeated
with residual True Immortal power. The Xuanhuang World, situated at the edge of the Immortal
Ruins, was subjected to an immense gravitational pull, distorting spacetime. Over such vast
distances, with so many unpredictable factors, teleportation was simply impossible.
The Horizon at Hand Grand Formation employed the most basic method of travel: shrinking the
distance between origin and destination to a single step.
The entire Great Xuan Small World couldn’t contain this massive immortal formation. Therefore,
Li Fan established the formation in the void outside the Great Xuan Small World, within the
Xuanhuang World, concealing it with another formation.
As he finished setting up the formation at the edge of the Dark Star Sea, an incredibly profound
wave of energy emanated outwards, threatening to spread throughout the area. However, with a
flick of his fingers, Li Fan contained it within a concealing formation.
The formation’s golden light dimmed, and a two-way passage between the Xuanhuang World
and the edge of the Star Sea was silently established.
Li Fan hovered in the air, regulating his breathing and recovering. “As expected of an immortal-
level formation, even with the Terminal Dissociation Disc’s assistance, it was quite taxing.” His
accumulated Source Power Essence was completely depleted, leaving him momentarily
drained.
“Source Power Essence is still qualitatively inferior to true immortal spiritual energy,” Li Fan
thought. Within a few breaths, his strength returned.
He extended a strand of divine consciousness into the Horizon at Hand Grand Formation and
activated it. His vision blurred momentarily, and in the next instant, he was back in the void
outside Great Xuan, within the Xuanhuang World.
Li Fan then leisurely returned to the wooden sword’s image.
“I’ve set up a teleportation formation here. Future travels will be much more convenient,” he said
casually.
Immortal Master Yin and the others were stunned. With their experience, they understood the
profound significance of a teleportation formation spanning the entire Dark Star Sea. Even
constructing a teleportation formation between regions within the Xuanhuang World required a
team of over ten formation masters working diligently for half a year. This grand formation
connecting the edge of the Star Sea to the Xuanhuang World was on a completely different
level. Yet, the Sacred Teacher had completed it seemingly effortlessly…
Initially, the four were skeptical. However, after Li Fan invited them to try it and they passed
through the formation, sensing the familiar aura of the Great Xuan Small World, their doubts
vanished, replaced by awe and reverence for Li Fan.
“A single formation transforms the endless Dark Star Sea into a thoroughfare. The Sacred
Teacher’s abilities are truly comparable to a True Immortal,” Craftsman Qiao exclaimed in
admiration.
“This formation… this formation…” Immortal Master Yin murmured, overwhelmed.
Li Fan’s voice brought them back. “This will serve as our transit and resupply point for future
explorations. Both the Sea of Relics and the Great Wall of Shattered Worlds are far more vast
than the Xuanhuang World. Finding a suitable shattered world will not be easy.”
Craftsman Qiao asked, “Please enlighten us, Sacred Teacher. What are the intricacies
involved? Isn't it enough to find a shattered world to serve as a catalyst for the Xuanhuang
World’s consumption?”
Li Fan smiled faintly and extended a hand towards the distant Sea of Relics.
Whoosh!
A relic, a blue and white robe, tattered and stained with darkened bloodstains from ages past,
was drawn towards them at high speed.
“Hmm?”
While the relic was still some distance away, Craftsman Qiao and the others felt a sudden shift.
The distance between them and their companions rapidly increased as the robe approached, as
if the world had suddenly expanded while they had shrunk countless times. Even
communication between them became faint.
“True Immortal power!” They finally realized that this effect was caused by the residual True
Immortal power clinging to the robe.
As the robe drew closer, the distance between them continued to grow. Although standing right
next to each other, they couldn't see one another, as if isolated by the entire world.
In the vast emptiness, Li Fan’s voice boomed from above. “In the Dark Star Sea, countless
worlds have perished. However, the power of the True Immortal Script, the culprit behind their
destruction, still lingers. The various calamities we encountered on our journey to the center of
the Dark Star Sea were all manifestations of this residual True Immortal power. The endless
Sea of Relics and the Great Wall of Shattered Worlds are similarly imbued with this power. This
robe contains the character ‘Li’ [Separation].”
Boom!
Their vision snapped back to normal, and the relic robe changed direction, flying back towards
the Sea of Relics. Above them, a profoundly complex character shimmered faintly.
“True Immortal… Script?”
They stared at the character, vaguely sensing the terrifying power it contained.
“Li…” Recalling the experience of being separated from everything around them, they traced the
character in the air with their hands, trying to learn and imitate it. However, the character
dimmed and vanished. Even the memory of it in their minds became blurred, impossible to
recall completely.
"There’s too much residual True Immortal power in the Dark Star Sea. Careless actions might
trigger a resonance. Studying the True Immortal Script requires special methods." Li Fan tapped
his finger, and a cultivation technique entered their minds.
It was the technique Li Fan learned from the Profound Immortal Ark in his past life, a method
universally used within the Dao Confirmation Academy, the Celestial Axis Institute, and even the
Severing Immortality Pavilion to study, teach, and transmit the True Immortal Script: the Method
of Similitude.
Each character of the True Immortal Script was a projection of the power of the Dao. Even near-
perfect replicas, not the true script itself, contained immense destructive power. If unleashed
within the Ark, they would cause irreparable damage. To study the script safely without
triggering its power, generations on the Profound Immortal Ark had painstakingly developed this
method.
Each stroke of each character, even the motion of writing, was deliberately altered, creating a
semblance but not the true form. Dots weren’t dots, horizontals weren’t horizontals, and
downward strokes weren’t downward strokes. Combined, they resembled characters but weren't
truly characters.
Like the clumsiest imitation, characters copied using this method possessed only the form, their
power reduced a millionfold compared to the true script. Thus, the influence of the True
Immortal Script during research became negligible. Moreover, when the true, complete
character was reproduced, the sudden surge of energy served as a clear indicator of success.
To unleash the true power of the script, one simply had to revert the alterations when activating
it.
Thanks to this ingenious method, the inhabitants of the Ark could study and transmit the True
Immortal Script across generations.
On the Ark, only disciples of the ruling elders were privy to this method. Now, Li Fan had
imparted this precious technique to Immortal Master Yin and the others without any conditions.
Both the Method of Similitude and the character "Li" deeply shocked them. If everything Li Fan
had taught before belonged to the realm of mortals, then this "Li" character was undoubtedly
true immortal power. In the current cultivation world, to possess such power and share it
selflessly…
Regardless of their speculations about Li Fan's motives, they were all awed by his generosity.
“Truly worthy of the title ‘Sacred’,” they all thought in unison.
Li Fan’s lesson continued.
Writing the "Li" character again using the Method of Similitude, he said frankly, “I haven't seen
the true ‘Li’ character itself. I merely deduced the essence of the True Immortal Script from the
residual power on this relic. Like blind men touching an elephant, there are bound to be
discrepancies. The smaller the discrepancy, the closer it is to the true power of the True
Immortal Script. I’ve achieved a 98% similarity with this ‘Li’ character, but I haven't been able to
improve upon it for quite some time.”
Everyone stared intently at the character Li Fan had written, not dismissing it for being merely a
similitude.
As they studied, a strange fluctuation emanated from afar. While Immortal Master Yin and the
others didn't notice, a glint flashed in Li Fan’s eyes.
“Finally.”
With a wave of his hand, he concealed the wooden sword's image and the Horizon at Hand
Grand Formation. He then sped towards the source of the fluctuation.
Soon, two figures met.
Li Fan saw that the figure before him was Zhong Daogong, Grand Elder of the Severing
Immortality Pavilion!
Zhong Daogong’s expression was solemn. He looked at Li Fan with a hint of confusion in his
eyes. He had sensed a familiar power fluctuation erupt and vanish nearby while on the Ark and
had come to investigate. He expected to find residual True Immortal power from a relic, but he
never thought the source would be a cultivator!
It had been ages since he had seen a cultivator outside the Ark.
Cautiously, Zhong Daogong asked, “May I ask, fellow Daoist, what drew you here?”
Li Fan chuckled. “Fellow Daoist, you must have misunderstood. I was merely teaching my
disciples the True Immortal Script, and I didn't expect to attract your attention.”
“Unexpectedly, there are still cultivators surviving at the edge of the Dark Star Sea?” Li Fan’s
voice was filled with surprise and curiosity.
Zhong Daogong narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Li Fan. He noticed the phrase “edge of the Dark
Star Sea” and was startled by the mention of teaching the True Immortal Script.
Uncertain of Li Fan's intentions, Zhong Daogong refrained from attacking, opting to probe
further. "From your words, it seems you’ve come from the depths of the Dark Star Sea? Could it
be that there are still civilizations surviving within?"
Li Fan sighed. “My journey here was through utter emptiness. I also thought I was the only
survivor in the Star Sea. But unexpectedly, I’ve encountered another cultivator at the end of my
journey…”
The two exchanged words, each probing the other. After a brief exchange, Zhong Daogong only
knew that Li Fan had come from the depths of the Dark Star Sea, but he knew nothing about the
form, scale, or strength of his world. Clearly, this cultivator capable of traversing the Dark Star
Sea wasn’t naive or benevolent.
Zhong Daogong studied Li Fan more closely. Unable to discern his true strength, he suppressed
the urge to capture him.
“Fellow Daoist, you mentioned teaching your disciples the True Immortal Script. I wonder…”
Zhong Daogong changed the subject, continuing to probe.
This time, Li Fan didn't conceal anything. He said frankly, “With the collapse of civilizations in
the Star Sea and the rampant residual True Immortal power, we must utilize this power to
survive. After thousands of years of research, we’ve made some progress. Survival is no longer
as difficult as it once was.”
Li Fan's words resonated with the philosophy of the Profound Immortal Ark. Zhong Daogong
nodded in agreement.
“It seems your world’s research into the True Immortal Script has reached a remarkable level.
We, too, have studied the True Immortal power for thousands of years, yet we haven't dared to
traverse the Star Sea like you, remaining confined to our corner.”
Li Fan smiled faintly. “Fellow Daoist, you are too modest. I can sense… the scent of the True
Immortal Script on you.” His tone was enigmatic.
Zhong Daogong's expression shifted slightly.
Before he could speak, Li Fan traced the character “Li” in the air.
“Fellow Daoist, what do you think of this character?”
The faintly shimmering character drifted in the void.
Zhong Daogong could no longer hide his shock. He retreated hastily, regarding Li Fan with
wariness. “Who are you? Why do you know our Profound Immortal Ark’s Method of Similitude?”
“Method of Similitude?” Li Fan looked bewildered, then suddenly understood. “You mean, the
Method of Approximation? This is naturally the technique developed by our ancestors for
analyzing the True Immortal Script.”
Li Fan looked at Zhong Daogong with great interest. “Could it be that you also know this
method?”
Know it? Zhong Daogong’s expression flickered. His mind raced, trying to recall the list of those
on the Ark who knew the method. None had shown any signs of leaving.
“Could it really be a coincidence?” Zhong Daogong wasn't sure.
He stared at the "Li" character Li Fan had written.
“It’s… even more advanced than the Ark’s research?!”
This discovery shocked him profoundly, not only because Li Fan’s understanding of the "Li"
character surpassed their own but also because he so readily displayed such a precious
character to a stranger. Every character of the True Immortal Script was a closely guarded
secret on the Ark. Even he, as Grand Elder of the Severing Immortality Pavilion, wasn't
authorized to divulge them casually.
“This can only mean that the study of the True Immortal Script in his world has reached such a
level that the ‘Li’ character is no longer considered a secret,” Zhong Daogong concluded.
A thought arose in his mind.
“Fellow Daoist, would you be interested in visiting us?”
Li Fan hesitated.
Understanding his hesitation, Zhong Daogong said, "If you’re concerned, we can meet in the
void of the Dark Star Sea. I mainly wish to discuss our research on the True Immortal Script with
you."
(End of Chapter)