ragginovel Chapter 1736 Hidden Principles and Borrowing Momentum
Chapter 1736 Hidden Principles and Borrowing Momentum
Chapter 1736 Hidden Principles and Borrowing Momentum
The creatures of the mountains and the sea acted as a catalyst, further accelerating the process of integration between the mountains and the sea.
When things reach their peak, they decline; and calamity inevitably follows.
The origin of the first Dao Annihilation was unknown even to the three sages who had already attained enlightenment.
It seemed to appear out of thin air, suddenly leaping out.
However, since both sides are still at their peak, the disappearance of some possibilities is just like the shedding of human hair in daily life. It doesn't really prove anything.
Until the tides of time subside, the mountains and seas remain ever-present companions.
One day, it will become a force to be reckoned with.
Unbeknownst to them, they had grown to the point where they could contend with the mountains and seas. They appeared suddenly like ghosts, confronting the mountains and seas.
Wherever it goes, possibilities crumble and the Great Way ceases to exist.
Mountains and seas separate them.
What was originally a continuous whole was forcibly cut into countless parts.
Even mountains and seas can maintain their mysterious connection through their own internal pathways.
However, creatures within mountains and seas are divided into fragmented and broken individuals across time.
Not only has their strength been greatly reduced!
Even some memories are affected, becoming distorted and incomplete.
Looking back at the past billions of years of the mountains and seas from the perspective of the Three Saints, one often encounters certain fragments of memory that seem to be covered by a layer of gray and white.
That is the part that was broken by the mountains and seas and then restored by the self-contemplation of the Three Saints.
In the memories of the Three Saints, from the first appearance of Dao Yan to the present day, a long period of 50 billion years has passed.
It was far too long.
Furthermore, the three saints' intentions are not merely individual entities, but rather multiplied into countless forms, pervading almost every possibility.
It encompasses most of the civilizations, holy spirits, and paths of the mountains and seas.
The sheer volume of data is unimaginable. If the three sages hadn't intentionally obscured it, this torrent of memories spanning 50 billion years would have been enough to erode, distort, and rewrite the personalities of all the sages who witnessed it.
Although it was a virtual leap, it did not prevent the saints from truly experiencing the journey that the three saints had once taken.
However, it does not delve into the countless possibilities within the mountains and seas, but focuses on the overall time span experienced by the mountains and seas.
The sages saw that the initial calamity of the annihilation of the Dao was indeed negligible.
The possibility of disappearing due to the erosion of the Dao is even less than one in ten thousand of the evolution and extinction of the mountains and seas themselves.
However, in the struggle for the Great Way, one side rises and the other falls.
Once a trend of collapse is established, it is destined to grow indefinitely if it is not stopped.
Even the smallest variable, when accumulated over hundreds of billions of years, will become an astronomical figure.
Now, the void realm formed by the erosion of the Dao has become a force to be reckoned with, rivaling the mountains and seas.
Even in the far future, the demise of mountains and seas seems to be a foregone conclusion.
……
A long journey has slowly come to an end.
After withdrawing from the memories of the three saints, it took the saints a long time for their eyes to regain their clarity.
"Although it's the same road I've traveled before, the thought of having to go back in reverse still sends chills down my spine."
"This road is far too long and too difficult to travel," Bai Xiao sighed, filled with emotion.
"From an outsider's perspective, the emergence of Dao Annihilation seems completely illogical. Beyond the mountains and seas, there was originally no void realm. Apart from that gaze, there was nothing else. But as the mountains and seas evolved, Dao Annihilation arose and began to erode them..."
"Could it be that the illusory realm originated from the vision of mountains and seas?"
After the initial exclamations subsided, the saints still focused on the strange aspects of the three saints' memories.
"In my opinion, I'm afraid that's not the case. Even with the current state of the collapse of the mountains and seas, the Void Realm is only on par with them. It's just that the decay of the mountains and seas was ultimately caused by the long passage of time and the cumulative erosion. And that gaze..." As he spoke, he looked towards the Sage of Lianshan.
"If the Saint of Lianshan's perception at that time was not mistaken... the pressure brought by that gaze was definitely above mountains and seas!"
The other sages pondered this for a while and deeply agreed.
"Lian Shan proved his Dao, and in fact he was on par with the mountains and seas. Yet he couldn't even withstand that gaze for a moment. It's only natural that the mountains and seas changed because of him."
At this point, all the sages fell into an eerie silence.
Now that we've brought up that gaze from beyond the mountains and seas, we can't avoid discussing its origin.
The answer seems obvious.
Yet it was so absurd that even some of the sages dared not be the first to utter it.
Li Fan, on the other hand, without any reservations, went straight to asking the question.
"It seems that you all share the same doubts as me."
"With such power, a single glance can change mountains and seas. Could this gaze come from [God]?"
This seems to be the only reasonable answer.
Unable to answer Li Fan's question, the saints all looked towards Lian Shan Saint, the only one who had truly seen that gaze.
"I don't know either..." After a moment of silence, the Sage of Lianshan gave a rare bitter smile.
"The true face of God has never been seen by anyone except those who have manifested in the mountains and seas. Since I have never seen God, I do not know his form. Even if it were possible to look into his eyes, how could I be certain?"
“However, if we follow common sense... your guesses are probably not wrong,” Lian Shan added.
Taiyi shook his head: "Gods transcend mountains and seas, and are naturally difficult to deduce using common sense. Our various guesses and deductions will probably not yield the correct results."
"However, one thing is certain. Even if that gaze does not belong to a god, it originates from an existence higher than mountains and seas. It can be compared to a star."
"Perhaps it was a remnant of the Mountain and Sea that was divided and did not completely devour. Or perhaps it came from a being of divine rank in a mysterious and unknowable place. All the changes in the Mountain and Sea since their eternal state have arisen from this being," the Saint of Returning to the Sea concluded.
A warm feeling welled up in the hearts of all the saints as the voice of the Saint of Returning to the Sea resonated.
While diluting the sense of vicissitudes of billions of years of memories, it also slowly brushed away the invisible influence brought about by that gaze.
Lian Shan looked at Li Fan: "Fellow Daoist Zhou Hui, how are your senses? Do you still have any doubts?"
Li Fan first nodded, then shook his head: "Even having gone through it once, retracing the path would still be incredibly difficult. I do not possess the wisdom, courage, and perseverance of the Three Sages. However..."
"Even ants try to survive. As a saint, it seems there is no better way to survive than to join the Avengers to save the world. I can only try my best to survive."
Li Fan's frankness surprised the saints present.
However, it was indeed true, and all the saints nodded slightly.
"A journey of a thousand years begins with a single step. Let's conquer this peak before us first," Li Fan said with a smile.
What Li Fan was referring to was the mountain and sea area ahead, which was heavily besieged by the void realm.
Having rectified their spirits, the saints focused their attention back on the bodies that the mountains and seas had created for them.
The situation was then introduced by the three saints of the previous timeline.
"It's not any worse than when we faced the crisis of being surrounded and attacked by the avatars of the Void Realm."
"The reason why the situation has deteriorated to this point is because the invasion of Dao Annihilation is too severe. Even with our protection, the mountains and seas are bound to gradually disappear." The Sage of Lianshan said, pointing to the waves blowing from the mountains and seas.
The warm white light of the Xuanji Ring covers the entire stretch of mountains and sea.
But it is visibly in a state of constant distortion and vibration.
It's as if it's being manipulated at will by an invisible hand, constantly changing shape.
The Xuanji Ring is like this, and the mountains and seas protected by it are truly like fragile bubbles, precarious and in danger of bursting at any moment.
"The weight of the Dao is indeed extremely rare."
"Even in the billions of years of memories of the Lian Shan Saint, such a gathering of Dao Yan is extremely rare. No wonder that once we pass this pass, the road ahead is smooth."
"Within this annihilation path, if we only seek to protect ourselves, it might not be difficult. However, if we wish to simultaneously protect the mountains and seas..."
For the first time, the saints personally felt the immense pressure emanating from beyond the mountains and seas, and each of them frowned and pondered countermeasures.
"The pressure of the Dao is as overwhelming as mountains and seas. Only a sage who can stand shoulder to shoulder with mountains and seas can withstand it. Previously, when we were in dire straits, the number of sages was dwindling. But now..."
"With my true spirit infused with divine power, as long as the mountains and seas remain intact, we can always create a sufficient number of saints. With each additional saint, the pressure on the Dao Annihilation will lessen. If there are enough saints, this calamity will dissipate on its own without our intervention," Li Fan said softly.
Then, changing the subject, he continued, "However, this can only be a last resort. Firstly, while True Spirit Infusion has the power to defy fate, it also requires a suitable recipient. The number of cultivators in the Transcendent Realm who are only one step away from becoming a Saint is..."
"In reality, there aren't that many. Secondly, I'm afraid time is running out."
Sage Lianshan nodded slightly: "Fellow Daoist Zhouhui's perception is indeed keen. Perhaps you have sensed the departure of [Suo] and the increasing pressure from the outer void of the mountain. The Dao Annihilation Tide is rising higher and higher. It will soon reach its peak. We do not have that much time to slowly create sages."
As if confirming the words of the Sage of Lianshan, the white light outside the Xuanji Ring suddenly twisted violently.
Even the saints sitting in the ring felt a sudden tremor.
Looking up, in the pitch-black void, it seemed as if countless figures were beginning to descend.
Like a massive army pressing in, their forces pointing directly at the border.
“Avatar in the Void Realm…”
The three saints frowned simultaneously.
Previously, in order to block Li Fan and others from coming to provide support, the Void Realm was willing to call upon more than a dozen Void Realm avatars.
Now, in order to completely seize this mountain and sea where the Great Dao of Living Beings is located, the Void Realm will naturally allocate more resources.
Especially after [Suo] was forced to retreat by Li Fan.
Even the sheer force of Dao Annihilation is difficult to resist.
Now, with such a large number of illusory avatars added to the mix...
"What's the plan?"
For a moment, all the sages felt somewhat troubled.
"I do have a plan, but I don't know if it's feasible." It was Shouqiu Gong who spoke.
Of course, it actually represented Li Fan's thoughts, which were of one mind and one heart.
"Shouqiu, please speak freely."
"From the memories of the Three Sages, we glimpsed a scene of the Mountains and Seas changing due to circumstances. And this place is where the lifeblood of the Mountains and Seas lies..."
"Perhaps it can unleash the power of the mountains and seas themselves to counter the overwhelming force of Dao Annihilation!" Shouqiu said calmly.
The saints remained silent, as if deep in thought.
Shouqiu continued, seemingly oblivious to the situation, "The mountains and seas appear weak and in grave danger, needing our intervention. However, observing the memories of the Three Saints spanning billions of years has given me new insights."
"Is the civilization of mountains and seas, the great way of mountains and seas, and the creatures of mountains and seas truly mountains and seas themselves?"
"These are just various derivatives of the changes that have occurred since the mountains and seas were altered by the changing circumstances! In the very beginning, the scene of the mountains and seas being interdependent and eternally existing was the original form of the mountains and seas."
"In other words, all these things are merely external things relative to mountains and seas, just like a person's clothes."
"Not the mountains and seas themselves!"
Shouqiu's words were astonishing.
The sages now know that the civilization, creatures, and great Dao of the mountains and seas are largely the origin of the Three Sages.
Now, Shouqiu has uttered a shocking statement: the Three Saints cannot represent the mountains and seas.
Inside the Xuanji Ring, all was deathly silent.
The sages observed the three sages' reactions, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
"Civilization belongs to civilization, and mountains and seas belong to mountains and seas. Lord Shouqiu's words are very insightful, and I wholeheartedly agree. I wonder what the Three Sages think?" Li Fan clearly sided with Lord Shouqiu.
Following Li Fan, moral voices once again voiced their approval.
The other three saints raised their concerns at the same time, and they could no longer sit idly by.
"After guarding the hill for countless years, sitting on the mountain and gazing at the sea, and having obtained our memories, he has indeed gained a deeper understanding of the mysteries of the mountains and seas."
"In a sense, you're right."
"Nothing attached to mountains and seas can represent mountains and seas themselves."
"Since the first living being was created and tainted with innate ferocity, the mountains and seas had no choice but to destroy it. The perfect state that the mountains and seas envisioned was the eternal time after the destruction of the Primordial Immortal Realm."
"Possibilities rise and fall like ripples, in which living beings multiply and disappear, without affecting the mountains and seas in the slightest."
"Mountains and seas stand eternally independent, for all eternity. It's just a pity..."
"This attempt has failed."
"The mountains and seas, and the civilizations that evolved within them, have become entangled once again, their bond growing ever deeper. However, in the final analysis, their essence remains different." Lian Shan did not deny Shouqiu Gong's conjecture.
All the sages fell into deep thought after hearing Lian Shan's words.
"In a sense, our appearance is actually more harmful than beneficial to the mountains and seas."
"The ideal outcome of the division of the Mountain and Sea into gods would be the joint creation of a new god. Even if that's not possible, maintaining the original, eternal state would still be the best option. But..."
Recalling the scene he had witnessed—a lone star descending upon the world and engulfing everything—Li Fan slowly said with a sense of unease, "Any so-called living beings, civilizations, or Daos within the mountains and seas are merely manifestations of the differentiation of the primordial power of the mountains and seas. In reality, they represent the loss of their power..."
"The stronger the civilization and creatures of the mountains and seas, the weaker the mountains and seas themselves become."
In an instant, Li Fan seemed to realize something, and his words suddenly stopped.
I had my suspicions, but it was truly unbelievable, so I didn't speak rashly.
He kept recalling the scene of the lone star's birth.
"Outline of Changes in Mountains and Seas, Rhythmic Movement of Starlight..."
The Sage of Lianshan seemed oblivious to Li Fan's inner turmoil and continued, "Shouqiu's idea is indeed good. The Mountain and Sea are on equal footing with the Void Realm, and now that the Void Realm's army is pressing in, the Mountain and Sea can naturally mobilize troops to fight back. The key issue is..."
"How exactly is this done?"
"Behind the scenes of the illusory realm, a wisp of consciousness is faintly in control, directing operations. But the mountains and seas..."
The Sage of Lianshan shook his head slightly: "Since the collapse of the Eternal Time of Mountains and Seas, it has been a long time since we have sensed its true will. Even if we can sense it occasionally, it is just a matter of instinct."
"Unconscious instincts may enable one to face crises and fight back, but they cannot, like the Void Realm, deploy troops and guide the situation. This is perhaps the most important reason why the Mountain and Sea Realm is at a disadvantage."