Chapter 1741: 善衍

Angry Squid: ...............

Anchored for one year.

“Ah,”

As if waking from an extremely long dream, Zhang Fan felt his head splitting. His mind was a blank; he had no idea who he was or what his current situation was.

“Fan’er,”

Bai Shuyue came at the sound, her face filled with worry. Her appearance was like a spark, illuminating his blank, missing memories. All sorts of past scenes continuously surfaced.

“Auntie!” Zhang Fan instinctively cried out, then fainted again.

Three years later.

“The battle with my true self was even more tragic than I imagined. Both of us fought until we were almost completely exhausted. The most fatal part was that when I finally activated Returning to Truth, it was too close to the end of Returning to God.”

“Even after three years of continuously using the Grand Dao of Truth and Illusion to cleanse it, that fierce starlight still occasionally resurfaces.”

Zhang Fan, lying on a chair and gazing diagonally at the setting sun, gently massaged his slightly bulging temples. Forcibly wielding the transformations of Truth and Illusion with his weak, sickly body meant that his current body had not fully recovered from its weakened state. Even a brief moment of thought made his mind instinctively feel a wave of fatigue.

“Fortunately, Auntie is still taking care of me,” Zhang Fan sighed inwardly.

Just then, Bai Shuyue's voice called out, “Fan’er, it’s getting dark. Time to come home for dinner.” She pulled Zhang Fan, who was in a wheelchair, back into the house and personally fed him.

“Auntie, I have the strength to eat by myself,” Zhang Fan said, a little helplessly.

Bai Shuyue frowned. “You said the same thing a year ago, and then you just fainted again. Let’s focus on getting you completely well first. Although your auntie hasn't had much schooling, I still understand the principle that sickness arrives like a collapsing mountain and leaves like unwinding silk.”

Then, without allowing him to object, she continued bringing the food to Zhang Fan's mouth. A simple meal took a full half-hour. It was long and warm.

“My auntie is such a good person, yet my true self actually did such things to her – truly worse than a beast! Not only did he manipulate her like a puppet, but the plan to help her achieve sainthood also ultimately came to nothing.”

“With the power of true spirit infusion, combined with the Grand Dao of Truth and Illusion, even a mortal could be helped to achieve sainthood. Yet, he chose not to, preferring to assist outsiders.” Zhang Fan inwardly shook his head.

In his view, there was a distinction between close and distant relationships. Dao De, Fang Cun, Shou Qiu – they certainly couldn't compare to Bai Shuyue.

“I’ve taken your body and inherited your karma. I will atone for the sins you committed. In this life, I am determined to take Auntie and together, leave this Xuanhuang Realm.”

Zhang Fan secretly made up his mind. However, he was not in a hurry to act, deciding instead to patiently recover from his injuries first. According to his true self’s memories, this Xuanhuang Realm was indeed exceptionally perilous; a single misstep could lead to eternal damnation.

“How to put it? He truly lived up to being my true self. Even with the supreme treasure of Returning to Truth, managing to fight his way out of such a place was truly extraordinary.”

Comparing his experiences from his previous life with those of his true self, Zhang Fan had to admit that his own life had been remarkably smooth, almost ridiculously lucky.

“Or perhaps, my true self had sent countless clones into the Mountains and Seas. Only lucky ones like me could survive until the very end. As for the end, that desperate struggle, seizing control from the host… that was entirely due to my own tenacious will and indomitable spirit.”

Whenever he recalled how he had countered the situation in desperation, by leveraging the end of Returning to God, Zhang Fan couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.

“Reaching the peak of the Mountains and Seas, the highest point below true gods, my true self was indeed an unparalleled hero. It’s just a pity that the student has surpassed the master. I am superior!”

His heart grew increasingly complacent and triumphant, and even the injuries to his body and soul seemed to alleviate. It was a long time before his stirred emotions finally settled.

Lying on the bed amidst the night, Zhang Fan silently invoked Returning to Truth. The next moment, countless firefly-like lights seemed to gather from the surrounding darkness, forming a light screen, which slowly unfurled. However, a subtle resistance seemed to exist in the ether. The light screen formed extremely slowly. Moreover, an eerie glow occasionally flickered across it, just like the sudden burst of starlight at the very end of his previous life.

Zhang Fan knew it wasn't that Returning to Truth was damaged. Rather, in his current state, the influence of the True God had not been completely purged. Returning to Truth might be at risk of erosion, hence its instinctive resistance. Zhang Fan tried again. The more the Returning to Truth light screen unfurled, the faster the starlight flickered. The widespread radiance even showed a tendency to revert to the time of Returning to God's Doom. Zhang Fan, of course, knew this was an illusion, but it still sent a shiver down his spine.

“Never mind,” he thought. “I'll wait until I've completely cleansed myself of the god's influence.” Zhang Fan's myriad thoughts vanished, and he fell into a deep slumber.

It took another ten years for him to fully recover. During this period, Zhang Fan also secretly intervened to slow down his auntie's aging process. Although this slightly delayed his own recovery speed, Zhang Fan believed it was all worth it.

To make the path of cultivation appear more plausible, immediately after his recovery, Zhang Fan used the unfathomable mystic power of Truth and Illusion to change the environment of the Xuanhuang Realm.

“Mortals here cannot cultivate because of the existence of the Immortal-Mortal Miasma. Yet, the Heavenly Dao here was formed by the Transmission of Dharma going against the principles of heaven and earth.”

Having inherited his true self's memories, Zhang Fan was very familiar with all the past events of the Xuanhuang Realm. However, he didn't have a particularly good impression of them.

“Those who block the path, it's better they disappear.”

With a single thought of Truth and Illusion, the Transmission of Dharma and Heavenly Physician were directly erased from this world by Zhang Fan, as if they had never existed. Without the suppression of the Transmission of Dharma's defiance, the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao slowly returned to its normal flow amidst continuous rumbling. With another glance, he destroyed the Immortal Severing Array that sealed the Great Xuan Minor World.

A few days later, at the dinner table, Bai Shuyue suddenly said, “Fan’er, have you felt that the weather has become much more pleasant these past few days? It's strange, it was scorching hot just recently.”

Zhang Fan nodded in agreement. There was no need for anyone to actively spread cultivation techniques; as long as there was spiritual energy, cultivators would naturally emerge. Half a month later, the first Qi Refinement cultivator was born in the Great Xuan Minor World. News of immortal cultivation spread like wildfire.

“Cultivation... according to what they're saying, doesn't that mean I can cultivate too?” Inside the room, Bai Shuyue said, full of disbelief, as she felt the clearly perceptible gurgling flow of spiritual energy within her.

“What about you, Fan’er?” A moment later, Bai Shuyue asked with great concern.

“Don't worry, Auntie, I also sense the spiritual energy between heaven and earth,” Zhang Fan said with a smile.

Bai Shuyue couldn't help but feel relieved. “Heaven bless, ancestors bless!”

Once the path of cultivation was open, the two left Great Xuan and entered the Xuanhuang Realm to seek further possibilities. With Zhang Fan’s secret protection, there was naturally no risk. Their journey was smooth sailing, and they reached the Dao Confluence realm directly.

With the Transmission of Dharma gone and the path to longevity severed, having reached the end of cultivation in the Xuanhuang Realm, the two decided to delve into the Dark Star Sea to seek the legendary possibility of becoming immortals. The obstacle to leaving, the Nameless Hungry Immortal, had already been secretly erased by Zhang Fan. The constraints of the high wall were negligible before the transformations of Truth and Illusion. However, to make things appear more reasonable, Zhang Fan deliberately created some minor difficulties. On the surface, it appeared as though they had gone through immense hardship to enter within the high wall and obtain the Shou Qiu inheritance.

“The Infinite Sea, the Above Mountain.”

“This world is actually so vast,” Bai Shuyue said, lost in thought, upon learning the truth of the Mountains and Seas.

True Immortal, Nameless, Transcendence. These three realms, insurmountable for ordinary people, Bai Shuyue easily surpassed under Zhang Fan’s care.

“Next, it's time to truly engage with the Mountains and Seas. For Auntie, the Mountains and Seas are still too perilous. Only the protected world would be safer.” Zhang Fan thought this as he looked at Bai Shuyue’s face.

Towards the distant depths of the Mountains and Seas, where Senior Fisherman resided, Zhang Fan silently chanted in his mind: “May the one who takes the bait wish!”

In the ethereal void, a soft sound of surprise seemed to transmit. A moment later, an immense force traversed the Mountains and Seas. Enveloping Zhang Fan and Bai Shuyue, it drew them into the world where the God-Forgers resided. Bai Shuyue, like a fish in a basket, instantly lost consciousness. Zhang Fan, however, immediately broke free using the transformations of Truth and Illusion. He stood before the Fisherman.

“Senior, long time no see,” he said with a smile.

“You are?” The Fisherman couldn't help but narrow his eyes. The Fisherman did indeed vaguely feel that the person before him seemed very familiar, but it was only a faint sensation. The Mountains and Seas had not yet reached a critical state, and the memories of the God-Forgers had not fully awakened. The Fisherman was unaware of the various events that occurred in the previous life.

“Everyone, please come out together.”

With that, the profound aura of the Grand Dao of Truth and Illusion swirled around Zhang Fan. Then it suddenly shifted and flowed. Life-Severing, Angling, Oblivion, Longevity, Array-Breaking… All these Grand Daos manifested completely. The God-Forgers, who had been resting in this protected world, couldn't help but show expressions of shock when they sensed their own Daos on another person. Figures appeared one after another, surrounding Zhang Fan.

“The Three Sages, Lianshan, Guihai, and Taiyi, possess the method of ‘Unified Hearts and Minds.’ Are you all willing to join me?” Ignoring the gradually rising strange atmosphere in the field, Zhang Fan simply spoke directly and frankly.

“Unified Hearts and Minds?” Although the God-Forgers resided together, they didn't particularly get along with each other. Naturally, they were unwilling. However, the secret Zhang Fan revealed at this moment truly piqued their curiosity.

Po Zhenzi suddenly spoke at this moment: “I have a compromise method called ‘Youthful Roam.’ It can recreate past experiences, and without the power of ‘Unified Hearts and Minds,’ it can still prove your origin.” Looking at the expressions of the other God-Forgers, they also seemed to prefer this option.

Zhang Fan sighed lightly, pretending to be helpless: “It’s just a pity that you all will miss out on the Grand Dao of Truth and Illusion.”

“Truth and Illusion?” Upon hearing this, the eyes of all the God-Forgers burst forth with uncontrollable brilliance. At the same time, they became thoughtful.

“So that’s it. No wonder you could master our Daos. If it’s the transformations of Truth and Illusion, then everything makes sense.”

Like a single stone stirring a thousand waves, before Truth and Illusion, even the saints who had once achieved godhood couldn't help but lose their composure inwardly. Ultimately, unable to resist the temptation to glimpse Truth and Illusion, the God-Forgers agreed to unite their hearts and minds with Zhang Fan.

Within the protected world, there was a momentary surge of activity. Then, the entire world seemed to fall into an eerie stillness. After a long time, the God-Forgers finally awoke from their profound enlightenment.

“So this is what Truth and Illusion is like.”

“To hear the Dao in the morning, and die in the evening, is enough. Even if we ultimately cannot escape the fate of achieving godhood, we have no regrets.”

“I didn’t expect you to actually succeed?”

The God-Forgers each expressed their feelings, with only Xuanyuan Hong being filled with pleasant surprise. With Zhang Fan’s help, everyone had partially recovered their memories from the previous life.

Xuanyuan Hong said: “In the last cycle, we perceived the Grand Dao of Truth and Illusion descending, intending to erase us directly. We knew it must have been Senior Life-Severing’s secret arrangements taking effect. Although we couldn’t change the outcome of being erased by Truth and Illusion, we felt quite liberated in our hearts. Before disappearing, we decided to give you one last push. We originally didn’t hope for much. But we never expected...”

The untimely words of Lord Life-Severing suddenly rang out: “That former Master of Returning to Truth, who rose from obscurity, step by step from the perilous lands of the Xuanhuang Realm to the peak of the Mountains and Seas. His mind was meticulous, his methods ruthless and exceptional. He repeatedly managed to survive desperate situations. And this time, he was actually backlashed by his own clone?”

“Could it be a scheme he orchestrated?”

As these words were uttered, the atmosphere instantly grew cold. Zhang Fan responded immediately, his expression arrogant: “Absolutely impossible!” Just as the Master of Returning to Truth was certain that he had truly perished and transformed into Returning to Truth in the past, the current Zhang Fan was also absolutely certain that it was indeed his desperate fight for survival in a life-or-death situation that had allowed him to successfully seize control from his true self, and not a scheme orchestrated by the true self.

But seeing the thoughtful expressions of the God-Forgers present, Zhang Fan’s expression changed several times in an instant. After a moment, he still solemnly said: “I ask all of you, please help me investigate thoroughly.” Since they were already united in hearts and minds, there were no longer any private secrets to hide. Therefore, Zhang Fan directly opened up his divine soul, allowing the God-Forgers to examine it. Under ‘Unified Hearts and Minds,’ he was not afraid of encountering danger.

As it was a matter of great importance, the Fisherman and the others dared not be negligent. They began to inspect it meticulously. Once, twice. After a long time, everyone finally withdrew their divine senses.

“It is a perfect whole, without blemish, naturally formed. It seems we were overly concerned,” said Lord Life-Severing.

“Under Returning to God's Doom, without the blessing of the Grand Dao of Truth and Illusion, the so-called Master of Returning to Truth had no advantage. Either victory or defeat was possible. A clone backlashing the true self is indeed feasible.”

The God-Forgers exchanged views and found no flaws.

“However, after all, the Master of Returning to Truth possesses an unparalleled advantage over us. He has always retained his memories through countless cycles of reincarnation. It’s inevitable that he might have some methods we don’t know about. A bit of caution is still good.”

Even so, they had no particularly good way to intervene in the struggle between the clone and the true self. All they could do was offer a reminder.

Moving past this matter, everyone then began discussing the main topic. Now, the Grand Dao of Truth and Illusion was on their side. So, what should they do next? With the Grand Dao of Truth and Illusion in hand, there was a possibility of overthrowing the True Gods. And with Zhang Fan, this extraordinary individual, even the God-Forgers, who had always chosen to remain passive in this world, gradually found their minds stirring.

“I will certainly not follow that person’s path, to devour the Mountains and Seas and slay all gods. But how can we preserve the Mountains and Seas while avoiding falling into reincarnation again?”