Chapter 1743: Divine Flavor

The Mountain Sea was destined for destruction, its fate to return to the stars. This was an unchangeable destiny, a fixed outcome. Even with the combined might of all the Sages, they could only temporarily avert this outcome. Yet, all the God-Seekers truly desired was to delay the inevitable for as long as possible. Beyond buying enough time for the Eternal Void World to nurture the True-False Dao Marks, they also needed to discover a fundamental method to resist the ultimate return to godhood.

The life of the Mountain Sea, though vast, still seemed insufficient. From its genesis to the end of time, it stretched across a continuous span of one hundred and sixty billion years. The number of Mountain Sea fragments shattered by the encroachment of Dao Annihilation also numbered in the millions. Restoring even a single section of the Mountain Sea was a monumental task, demanding the unified effort and cooperation of numerous Sages. Yet, what initially appeared to be an insurmountable undertaking progressed with surprising speed.

Countless clones of Zhang Fan, imbued with true spirit and divine abilities, resolved the Sages' logistical issues within the Void Realm. The God-Seekers and the Primal Sages collectively managed and controlled the entire operation. In this manner, one hundred billion years of fragmented Mountain Sea were gradually, painstakingly repaired. Even the Sages who had been involved from start to finish found the achievement incredible when they looked back.

“I used to scoff at the notion of restoring the Mountain Sea. Now, it doesn't seem like such a difficult task after all!”

“All Sages uniting, letting go of all their disputes—that was nearly an impossible feat in itself. I'm more curious about what exactly those God-Seekers are collectively plotting.”

“Never mind, don't dwell on it. It only adds to our worries. I've been exhausted for too long; once the restoration is complete, I'm going to get some proper rest.”

“Soon, very soon.”

As all eyes watched, the final rift in the Mountain Sea was repaired. With their task complete, the Sages finally found release, yet a subtle sense of bewilderment immediately arose within them. For an extended period, their sole objective had been the Mountain Sea's restoration, a goal that had almost become ingrained as habit and instinct. Now that the project was finally complete, the Sages found themselves momentarily lost, feeling somewhat disoriented.

The God-Seekers had fulfilled their promises. The Life-Severing Blade above their heads gradually vanished, its threat now completely gone. However, the God-Seekers themselves seemed to have vanished from the Mountain Sea, as if evaporated, leaving no trace. Some Sages, their enthusiasm diminished, sought quiet havens within the Mountain Sea to retire. Others, longing for the might of the God-Seekers, remained insatiably ambitious and once again journeyed to the Primal Immortal Realm. Still others, during the restoration, had grown accustomed to living among the beings of the Mountain Sea. They chose to transform into mortals and blend in with the populace. The Eternal World was now no longer a complete void.

Instead, a magnificent and sacred temple now stood towering at the world's center. The temple was boundless, appearing to be a realm in itself. Within its infinitely vast expanse, all manner of Great Daos were solemnly arrayed. The God-Seekers scrutinized the Great Dao Temple, nodding in approval.

“The paths of all Mountain Sea Sages have been incorporated within.”

“The current complete state of the Mountain Sea should endure for ten billion years. After that, Dao Annihilation will resurface, and the Mountain Sea will once again shatter,” Pozhenzi stated slowly, as if envisioning the dark tide beyond the Mountain Sea that had been temporarily repelled.

Zhang Fan then added, "At that time, I will use the transformation of true and false to erase the Sages. Then, I will use this Great Dao Temple to rebuild a new batch of Mountain Sea Sages. This way, another cycle of Mountain Sea restoration can be initiated."

Xuanyuan Hong sighed lightly, "After all, we did make them a promise. If we were to force them again, a conflict would be unavoidable. While it would be a simple matter to do so, I fear they wouldn't exert themselves as much in the subsequent restorations of the Mountain Sea."

"It's better to simply recreate them using true and false."

None of the God-Seekers voiced any objection; it was clear they all shared this sentiment. After countless years of comprehending true and false, their way of thinking had subtly, yet imperceptibly, shifted. They might have momentarily sensed this change themselves, but having mastered true and false, it became genuinely difficult to view others or anything else as truly equal. Furthermore, the vast majority of the God-Seekers' energy remained concentrated on confronting the ultimate return to godhood. They paid little attention to other minor details.

“The True-False Dao Marks are already two-thirds developed.”

“However, the further along we get, the slower the evolution becomes. It might still require three times as long to fully mature.”

“It's of no consequence; it simply means three more cycles. We have already mastered the origins of the Sages, and with the Great Dao of True-False at our disposal, we can create new batches of Sages for restoration at any moment. The only true concern is the Mountain Sea itself.”

A continuous, boundless image of the Mountain Sea instantly materialized before the God-Seekers. In the restoration of the Mountain Sea, the Sages' footsteps had touched every inch of its expanse. The Sages were, in essence, their eyes. As the true architects of the current Mountain Sea, nearly every inch of it was now under the direct control of the present God-Seekers.

“The Mountain Sea's return to godhood is destiny—an irresistible destiny.”

“Though we forcefully reversed it, each new cycle of creation and destruction will become increasingly formidable, even doubling in intensity each time.”

“Until... Dao Annihilation manifests, and the Mountain Sea vanishes in an instant.”

“It will no longer afford us the opportunity for gradual restoration.”

“Therefore, our remaining time is truly limited.”

Under the watchful gaze of the God-Seekers, the image of the Mountain Sea underwent numerous transformations. Subsequently, a solitary star hung high, suspended above the Mountain Sea.

“Fellow Daoist Fan, how are your preparations coming along?”

"The existing Great Dao of the Mountain Sea is already perfectly clear to me. I can replace the Mountain Sea at any time and attain the position of a new god. The star formed by the Mountain Sea behind the scenes is certainly no match for me. My only concern remains the true God," Zhang Fan stated calmly.

"Therefore, we must still await the manifestation of the True-False Dao Marks."

Upon hearing this, all the God-Seekers nodded faintly. Over the years, as Zhang Fan's power deepened, he had gradually begun to detach from the collective 'unity of heart and mind'. Even if Zhang Fan intended to share with the other God-Seekers, his increasing proximity to godhood meant that he would often inadvertently slip away from their shared consciousness. Consequently, Zhang Fan's words carried unspoken implications.

Theoretically, the greater one's strength and preparedness, the greater one's confidence in slaying a god should be. However, the reality was quite the opposite. Zhang Fan had deduced the events following the destruction of the star countless times. Yet, every result he obtained was "nothing." There was no victory, no defeat. It was as if, upon completing the star's destruction, he would simply disappear into thin air. This peculiar outcome left Zhang Fan deeply perplexed. At this moment, he was arguably the closest entity to the true God in the entire Mountain Sea. Consequently, he understood the immense power of the true God with increasing clarity.

"It's still not enough." A fleeting sensation of helplessness arose in Zhang Fan's heart, though he swiftly suppressed it. Over the years, he had come to somewhat understand why his original self had dispersed clones and sought a way to break free from the situation. It was truly a case of exhausting all possibilities to no avail.

"But I am different from him." Zhang Fan extinguished all distracting thoughts. "What he could not achieve, I might very well be able to!"

"To slay the God..." Zhang Fan's gaze swept over the illusory image of the Mountain Sea, as if beholding the real thing. He silently made a decision.

Just as the God-Seekers had predicted. After ten billion years of stability, Dao Annihilation struck once more. The Mountain Sea fractured under its assault, and the Sages were shaken beyond words. Witnessing this familiar scene, memories of the past surged like a tide.

“They wouldn't, would they, force us to restore the Mountain Sea again?”

“Damn it, this time we'd sooner die than comply!”

“Hmph! Though the God-Seekers are mighty, we are not without the power to resist. If they try to coerce us again, then...”

While the Sages still hesitated, Zhang Fan's will had already encompassed the entire Mountain Sea.

“True becomes false.”

A mere utterance, light as a cloud, devoid of any discernible emotion. Moments later, the Sages were simply erased from existence. Not the slightest ripple appeared.

"Fellow Daoist Fan's comprehension of the Great Dao of True-False has grown even more profound," the Life-Severing Lord praised.

The Mountain Sea, suddenly devoid of its Sages, became like a cargo ship that had lost its ballast. Under the relentless assault of Dao Annihilation waves, it instantly grew unstable and adrift. In the next moment, it seemed poised to be overwhelmed by the tempest.

“False also becomes true!” Zhang Fan's indifferent voice echoed through the Mountain Sea once again.

And so... figures, one after another, began to appear, populating every corner of the Mountain Sea. This included the Primal Immortal Realm. Just as before. These artificially created Sages seemed completely unaware of their manufactured nature. They remained immersed in their past memories and behaviors.

“Let's go, we just need to round them up again.” The Life-Severing Lord sighed. The Angler, too, lacked his initial excitement, merely following in silence. Before long, the Mountain Sea restoration project recommenced. Only Zhang Fan and the God-Seekers knew that this was already the Sages' second arduous endeavor; the other Sages remained oblivious.

“The Mountain Sea, the Great Dao, True-False...”

Yet Zhang Fan, having completed such a monumental feat, felt no great strain. He was merely contemplating the inexplicable feelings surging within his heart. Sages, the very pinnacle of beings within the Mountain Sea. Yet, he could extinguish them with a single thought and reshape them with another. How much more so for others?

"Is this... what it means to be a God?" A peculiar glint appeared in Zhang Fan's eyes.

Thereafter, Zhang Fan grew increasingly taciturn. He seemed to be deeply immersed in secluded contemplation, only occasionally updating the God-Seekers on the general progress. The Mountain Sea swiftly underwent its second cycle. Restoration was successful, followed by a period of stability, and then destruction once more. This time, the Mountain Sea remained intact for five billion years.

“True becomes false!”

“False also becomes true!” the God-Seekers repeated, carrying out their task again. A new cycle recommenced. Only this time, their hearts had gradually grown somewhat numb. No sentiment arose; only mechanical repetition remained. In this manner, the Mountain Sea endured cycle after cycle. And with each recurrence, Dao Annihilation's backlash grew progressively stronger. The ultimate limit, where Dao Annihilation would appear and the Mountain Sea would instantly vanish, as predicted by the God-Seekers, was fast approaching.

Within the Eternal Void World.

“It's so close to completion, yet why can't the True-False Dao Marks manifest?” The usual calm had vanished from the God-Seekers' faces. The True-False Dao Marks had been on the verge of manifestation for a long time. Yet for some unknown reason, they seemed to be stuck, showing no further progress. Even after three Mountain Sea cycles, there had been no discernible progress. This caused the God-Seekers to begin harboring doubts. Could their plan truly succeed?

"Fellow Daoist Fan, how should we proceed?" asked the Life-Severing Lord. His tone and demeanor suggested a hint of caution. Zhang Fan was not present, but the Life-Severing Lord knew that merely mentioning his name would alert him. Over the years, Zhang Fan's aura had grown increasingly ethereal. It was akin to the elusive Great Dao of True-False—simultaneously real yet unmanifested in the world. Their 'unity of heart and mind' had effectively become a hollow formality. Zhang Fan's ethereal silhouette persisted, but they could no longer perceive any thoughts or intentions from it.

Moments later, Zhang Fan's voice resonated in their minds. "We have done everything within our power. Yet, the True-False Dao Marks still refuse to manifest..."

"This world, though called the Eternal Void and said to exist independently, still retains a faint connection to the Mountain Sea, stemming from the false universe. To truly nurture the True-False Dao Marks, we must sever all its external connections and banish it beyond the Mountain Sea."

"Only then might there be a glimmer of hope."

The God-Seekers naturally understood the implication of Zhang Fan's words. After a moment of silence, as if unburdening themselves, they responded, "We have done all that is humanly possible; the rest is up to fate. We have already done more than enough."

"Good," Zhang Fan replied with a single word.

In the next moment, within the Eternal World, the bodies of the God-Seekers instantly dissolved into myriad points of light. Like ashes, they drifted upwards into the air. All of them converged towards a single point. Subsequently, the entire Mountain Sea followed suit. It was as if an invisible, immense fire had descended, silently consuming everything within the Mountain Sea. There was no pain, no sensation. In profound silence, the Mountain Sea vanished, its beings annihilated, and the Sages gone. All the ash-like points of light converged into one singular entity.

That entity was Zhang Fan.

He now fully comprehended the initial intentions of his original self. To confront the true God while simultaneously preserving the Mountain Sea was utterly preposterous.

"Only by assimilating everything can there be..."

"...a glimmer of victory."

A flicker of hesitation crossed Zhang Fan's mind. To be honest, even now, he saw no possibility of defeating the true God. Yet, the arrow was already on the string; it had to be loosed.

The Mountain Sea was entirely engulfed by Zhang Fan. The Void Realm, having received not even a speck of residue, instantly erupted in fury. Having utterly failed the mission assigned by the Star, endless waves of Dao Annihilation surged towards Zhang Fan. Yet, for some unknown reason, moments later, chaos began to ripple within Dao Annihilation itself. It appeared the Void Realm itself harbored a certain expectation regarding the unfolding scene.

Zhang Fan naturally understood the reason.

"Is it Sun Piaomiao..."

"I shall free you."

"After all, it was once an integral part of the Mountain Sea."

The void of the Void Realm, when compared to True-False, was like a small sorcerer meeting a grand master. Wherever his will reached, all was erased. Or, more accurately, assimilated into the mundane. With both the Mountain Sea and the Void Realm gone, the stage that had been set violently shattered. What lay behind the scenes then emerged.

In mere moments, endless starlight cascaded upon the world. In this eerily familiar scene, Zhang Fan sensed boundless rage emanating from above. Under the starlight's glow, even the Great Dao of True-False trembled. But Zhang Fan merely snorted, "A secretive rat, daring to contend with me?"

Confronted by the showering starlight, Zhang Fan neither dodged nor retreated. His body expanded infinitely, absorbing all the starlight. Within the starlight, he perceived countless chaotic and frenzied thoughts. And an immeasurable number of fragmented images. These images held no practical meaning, merely representing the Mountain Sea — or rather, this world — and its past experiences within countless cycles of reincarnation. Yet, each one undeniably carried the full weight of the Mountain Sea. The moment of contact felt like a collision.

Zhang Fan sat alone, gazing upwards. He felt as though all the stars in the universe were plummeting towards him. If it had been Zhang Fan immediately after usurping his original self, he certainly would not have been able to endure such a terrifying assault. Yet, having endured multiple Mountain Sea cycles and assimilated everything, he could now calmly bear the full brunt of it.

"As I stated, the so-called star is no match for me."

"My only concern remains the true God."

The myriad stars in the sky gradually dimmed. Zhang Fan silently awaited the arrival of the final moment.