Chapter 1398: Unity-Path Proves Half Immortal (7k)
When the pen descends, tempest roars; with each word, the cosmos is sealed!
Li Fan relied on the gourd as a model and successfully engraved the complete Immortal-Mortal Transformation characters manifested on the leg bone of Nameless True Immortal onto the Key of the Dao stone tablet.
At that instant, above the Sky Dome, it seemed as though an unnameable existence descended.
In the turbulence, Xuan Huang Heavenly Earth, and all things of the world, appeared to be forcibly frozen in time.
Even Li Fan, who was leading Xuanhuang World's ascension, was no exception.
Thousands of bolts of Thunder flashed simultaneously upon Xuanhuang World's Vault of Heaven.
With every lightning strike, Xuanhuang World trembled faintly, as though struck by a massive hammer.
Boom, boom, boom...
Xuanhuang World, already stitched together from countless realms, began a further fusion under the weight of this divine power.
The Element Devouring White Fog, existing as the state region's boundary, grew ever thinner under these blows, eventually dissipating entirely.
The distance between Heaven and Earth also narrowed with each strike.
Still more terrifying, with each flash of Thunder, a region within Xuanhuang World vanished in annihilation, unable to withstand the immense pressure of the Elevated Immortal Domain's ascension, crumbling into dust.
The void left by the annihilated regions was quickly compressed and replaced by neighboring lands.
...
Changes born from the accumulation of countless millions of years were unfolding in mere moments within Xuanhuang World. This moment was akin to a tempering furnace of Thunder and fire, refining and purging impurities.
The aura flowing through Heaven and Earth became ever more sacred, while Xuanhuang World's scope was gradually reduced step by step.
Though Li Fan was immobilized by the great power of the world's ascension, his mind remained active.
He fixed his gaze upon the vortex in the sky, sensing within it the primordial and ancient aura of the Immortal-Mortal Transformation Tao.
Compared to the Immortal-Mortal Transformation characters, it was even harder to fathom, inspiring instinctive reverence.
Under the influence of this Taoist Aura, Xuanhuang World managed to surpass the point of ascension and qualify for further climbs toward the Immortal Domain.
It is already a struggle for cultivators to transform from mortal to immortal—a feat as difficult as ascending the heavens. What of an entire realm?
Even with Li Fan's myriad preparations and unparalleled accumulation to aid Xuanhuang World, during the formal ascension to immortality, it faced countless perils, swaying like a small fishing boat amid a tempest, seemingly always on the verge of capsizing.
Within the vortex, thousands of bolts of Thunder hammered relentlessly without end.
Xuanhuang World's bloated form was gradually shorn away inch by inch.
...
"Something feels off."
"This world's consumption from the Immortal-Mortal Transformation is far too excessive!"
Li Fan vaguely sensed something amiss, his expression growing significantly grave.
"It's just like my previous experiments..."
In a flash, Li Fan recalled the ancient Immortal Cultivation World accounts of cultivators succeeding in tribulations and ascending thereafter.
"Without Thunder Tribulation showing itself, nor Immortal Spirit Energy infusing the body to aid its transformation. Relying solely on one's foundation to endure the Immortal-Mortal Transformation—under normal circumstances, this is an impossible feat."
The desperate signal of Xuanhuang World's plea for help rang in his ears once more. Yet under the torment of the ascension tribulation, it was now on the brink of collapse.
Li Fan's fortunes were tied to Xuanhuang World for now; hence, he made a swift decision.
He tapped into Xuanhuang World's remaining power, temporarily breaking free from the immobilizing awe of the Immortal-Mortal Transformation Taoist Aura.
Li Fan commanded with a thought: Daoist Child Qiu Shui reverted back to its Azure Sword form. Then Sword Light scattered like rain across Xuanhuang World, using the sword's body as a medium to absorb Infinite Star Sea's power.
Meanwhile, within the depths of Xuanhuang World's lands, over a hundred fountains suddenly erupted into the sky. These were none other than the vitality Li Fan had siphoned and redirected from the Abyss Star Ocean Rift Valley.
The two streams of endless energy resembled two massive elixirs, fiercely sustaining the precarious life of Xuanhuang World.
Yet above in the vortex, the lightning intensified in frequency, becoming so swift that the intervals between flashes were almost nonexistent—forming an unbroken, haunting purple glow that illuminated Xuanhuang World below.
As the distance between Heaven and Earth diminished further, the sky seemed to collapse, pressing down heavily.
Of the five Heavenly Pillars, only the central pillar—the leg bone of Nameless True Immortal—remained steadfast.
The other four were fully crushed under the horrifying pressure, crumbling inch by inch into dust.
This led to the formation of a central peak with four sunken corners—a dome-like shape.
It became apparent that Xuanhuang World's self-evolved "Heavenly Pillars" were insufficient to support the collapsing heavens.
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, continuously weaving hand seals.
Suddenly, the small Tian Beast nurtured by Immortal Spirit Energy let out a heaven-shaking roar.
Its body uncontrollably flipped over.
Then, in an instant, it expanded a million times, its four limbs extending skyward, becoming akin to pillars supporting the plummeting Sky Dome.
The immense pressure of the falling heavens was borne by the small Tian Beast. Even with its extraordinary physique and having devoured several Immortal Domain Chess Pieces, it was unwilling to simply become expendable.
A flash of dangerous red light flickered in its eyes as it struggled violently, growling low, seemingly seeking to break free of Li Fan's control.
"I invoke Wooden Sword's Heaven's Wonder!"
Li Fan's expression grew solemn as he chanted aloud.
The wooden sword once guarded by ten thousand swords in the Heavenly Sword Sect's Sword Tomb Ruins emitted a faint hum.
In a flash of Sword Light, it darted into Li Fan's hand.
This wooden sword, forged by Mr. Bai in days past, represented the embodiment of Xuanhuang World's Sword Dao.
Throughout Xuanhuang World's ascension, this Sword Dao continued to transform alongside it.
Now, as it entered Li Fan's hand, it had already merged with certain transcendent, supreme elements of the Sword Dao.
"Slash!"
As the sword moved with his intent, in the blink of an eye, Wooden Sword's Heaven's Wonder transformed into white light and drew a circle around Xuanhuang World's four corners.