Chapter 1747: God's Return

Angry Squid:

The Mountains and Seas are destroyed, and then return to the stars. This is fate, a foregone conclusion. Even with the combined strength of all Saints, they could only temporarily reverse the situation. But what the Godseekers wanted was merely to delay it as much as possible. Besides creating enough time for the Eternal Void World to nurture the True-False Dao marks, they also needed to find a fundamental way to counter the Divine Demise.

Although the lifespan of the Mountains and Seas was long, it still seemed insufficient. From the dawn of the Mountains and Seas to the end of time, it spanned a total of one hundred and sixty billion years. The number of Mountain and Sea fragments, broken by the intrusion of Dao Annihilation, also numbered in the millions. Reconstituting even a single section of the Mountains and Seas was a massive undertaking, requiring the concerted effort of many Saints.

However, what initially seemed unattainable progressed unexpectedly quickly. Countless clones of Zhang Fan, imbued with true spirits and divine abilities, resolved the Saints' supply issues in the Void Realm. The Godseekers and the Primordial Saints collectively oversaw the entire situation. One hundred billion years of shattered Mountains and Seas were thus slowly mended, bit by bit. Even the Saints who participated throughout felt it was incredible when they looked back.

“I used to scoff at the idea of reconstituting the Mountains and Seas. Now, it doesn't seem so difficult after all!”“The Saints uniting and laying aside all their feuds—this in itself was almost impossible. I'm curious what exactly those Godseekers are collectively planning.”“Never mind, don't think about it. It'll only add to our worries. We've been tired for too long; once the reconstitution is complete, I'm going to get some proper rest.”“Soon, soon.”

Under the gaze of countless beings, the last rift in the Mountains and Seas was mended. As the Saints finally felt liberated, a faint sense of bewilderment immediately arose in their hearts. For a long time, their goal had been the reconstitution of the Mountains and Seas. It had almost become a habitual instinct. Now that the project was finally complete, the Saints felt lost for a moment, somewhat at a loss.

The Godseekers fulfilled their promise. The Life-Severing Blade above their heads gradually faded, its threat gone. However, the Godseekers also vanished as if evaporated from the Mountains and Seas, leaving no trace. Some Saints, weary of mind, sought quiet places in the Mountains and Seas to retire. Others, yearning for the power of the Godseekers, remained endlessly greedy and returned to the Primordial Immortal Realm. Still others, during the reconstitution process, grew accustomed to spending time with the beings of the Mountains and Seas. They transformed into mortals and hid among the populace.

The Eternal World was no longer an empty void. Instead, a magnificent and sacred hall now stood in the center of the world. The hall was boundless, seemingly a world unto itself. Within its endlessly vast space, all manner of Great Daos were arrayed in solemn order. The Godseekers surveyed the Hall of Daos, nodding repeatedly.

“The paths of all Mountains and Seas Saints have been integrated within.”

“The current intact state of the Mountains and Seas should last for ten billion years. After ten billion years, Dao Annihilation will rise again, and the Mountains and Seas will shatter once more,” Pozhenzi slowly stated, seemingly seeing the temporary repelled dark tide beyond the Mountains and Seas.

Zhang Fan then spoke: “At that time, I will use the transformation of True and False to erase the Saints. Then, using this Hall of Daos, I will rebuild a new batch of Mountains and Seas Saints. This way, another round of Mountains and Seas reconstitution can commence.”

Xuanyuan Hong sighed lightly: “After all, we did promise them. If we were to force them back again, a struggle would be inevitable. While it wouldn't be much trouble, I worry they wouldn't put as much effort into the subsequent reconstitutions as they did the first time.”

“It’s better to simply recreate them with True and False.”

None of the Godseekers raised any objections; it was clear they all thought the same. Having comprehended True and False for countless years, their ways of thinking had subtly changed without them realizing it. They might have noticed it themselves at some point, but after wielding True and False, it had indeed become difficult to regard other people or things as equals. Furthermore, the vast majority of the Godseekers' energy was still focused on dealing with the Divine Demise. They didn't pay much attention to other minor details.

“Two-thirds of the True-False Dao marks have already been nurtured.”

“However, the further we go, the slower the evolution speed becomes. It might still take three times as long to fully form.”

“No matter, it’s just three more cycles. We already control the origins of the Saints; with the True-False Dao, we can create a new batch of Saints for reconstitution at any time. The only concern is the Mountains and Seas themselves.”

An endless, continuous image of the Mountains and Seas instantly appeared before the Godseekers. In the reconstituted Mountains and Seas, the Saints' footprints covered every inch of the realm. The Saints served as their eyes. As the true creators of the Mountains and Seas, virtually every inch of it was under the control of the present Godseekers.

“The Mountains and Seas returning to God is destiny. An irresistible destiny.”

“Although we forcibly reversed it, each new birth and destruction will inevitably become more ferocious.”

“Even doubling each time.”

“Until… Dao Annihilation appears, and the Mountains and Seas vanish in an instant.”

“Leaving us no chance for slow reconstitution.”

“Therefore, truly, not much time is left for us.”

Under the Godseekers’ gaze, the image of the Mountains and Seas underwent many transformations. Then, a solitary star hung high, hovering above the Mountains and Seas.

“Fellow Daoist Fan, how are your preparations going?”

“The existing Great Daos of the Mountains and Seas are already clear in my mind. I can replace the Mountains and Seas at any time and attain the position of a new god. The star formed from the Mountains and Seas behind the scenes is absolutely no match for me. My only concern remains the True God,” Zhang Fan said indifferently.

“Therefore, we still need to wait for the True-False Dao marks to fully emerge.”

Hearing this, all the Godseekers nodded slightly. Over the years, as Zhang Fan’s power grew deeper, he had gradually detached himself from their shared understanding and purpose. Even if Zhang Fan intended to share it with the Godseekers, as he drew closer to becoming a god, he would often inadvertently disappear from their shared understanding and purpose. Therefore, there were unspoken implications in Zhang Fan’s words.

Theoretically, the higher one’s power and the more complete one’s preparations, the greater their confidence in slaying a god should be. However, the reality was precisely the opposite. Zhang Fan didn't know how many times he had deduced what would happen to him after destroying the star. But the results were always “nothingness.” No victory, no defeat. It was as if he would vanish into thin air after completing the destruction of the star. Such an unsettling outcome deeply perplexed Zhang Fan.

Now, he could be said to be the closest existence to a god in the entire Mountains and Seas. Thus, he understood the True God’s power with increasing clarity.

“It's still not enough.”

A momentary sense of powerlessness arose in Zhang Fan's heart, though he quickly suppressed it. Over these years, he had somewhat understood why his original self had scattered clones and sought methods to break the deadlock. It was truly a matter of exhausting all means to no avail.

“But I am different from him.”

Zhang Fan extinguished all distracting thoughts.

“What he couldn't achieve, I might still be able to!”

“Slaying the True God…”

Zhang Fan’s gaze swept over the illusory image of the Mountains and Seas, as if witnessing the true realm. He secretly made a decision in his heart.

Just as the Godseekers had anticipated. After ten billion years of stability, Dao Annihilation struck again. The Mountains and Seas broke under its force, and the Saints were shaken beyond words. Witnessing this familiar scene, past memories surged back like a tide.

“They won't, will they, drag us back to reconstitute the Mountains and Seas again?”“Damn it, this time we’d rather die than comply!”“Hmph! While the Godseekers are strong, we are not without means to resist. If they force us again, then…”

While the Saints were still hesitating, Zhang Fan’s will already enveloped all of the Mountains and Seas.

“True made false.”

Just a simple, light utterance, devoid of any emotion. Moments later, the Saints' existence was erased. Not even a ripple was stirred.

“Fellow Daoist Fan’s comprehension of the True-False Dao has grown ever deeper,” praised the Lord of Severed Fate.

The Mountains and Seas, suddenly devoid of its Saints, seemed like a cargo ship that had lost its ballast. Under the pounding waves of Dao Annihilation, it instantly became unstable and precarious. It seemed on the verge of being swallowed by the surging chaos the next moment.

“False made true!”

Zhang Fan’s indifferent voice echoed through the Mountains and Seas once more. And so… figure after figure, one after another, appeared in various parts of the Mountains and Seas. Including the Primordial Immortal Realm. Just as before. These artificially created Saints seemed utterly unaware of anything amiss. They remained immersed in their past memories and behaviors.

“Let’s go, we just need to round them up again.”

The Lord of Severed Fate sighed. The Angler, too, no longer showed his initial excitement; he simply followed silently. Before long, the Mountains and Seas reconstitution project commenced once more. Only Zhang Fan and the Godseekers knew that this was already the Saints' second arduous undertaking.

“Mountains and Seas, Great Dao, True and False…”

Zhang Fan, having completed such a monumental feat, did not feel particularly strained. He merely contemplated the inexplicable feelings that arose in his heart. Saints, the pinnacle of beings in the Mountains and Seas. Yet, with a single thought, he could destroy; with another, he could reshape. What then of anything else?

“Is this… what it means to be a god?”

A strange glint flashed in Zhang Fan’s eyes. Thereafter, Zhang Fan became increasingly taciturn. He seemed to be immersed in secluded contemplation, only occasionally reporting general progress to the Godseekers.

The Mountains and Seas soon experienced a second cycle. Reconstitution succeeded, followed by a period of stability, and then destruction once more. This time, the Mountains and Seas remained intact for five billion years.

“True made false!”“False made true!”

The Godseekers repeated their actions. A new cycle began once more. But this time, their hearts gradually grew somewhat numb. No longer feeling any sentiment, they simply repeated their tasks mechanically.

Thus, the Mountains and Seas went through cycle after cycle. And each time, the backlash of Dao Annihilation became increasingly fierce. The final limit, where Dao Annihilation appears and the Mountains and Seas vanish, as deduced by the Godseekers, was fast approaching.

Within the Eternal Void World.

“It's clearly just a sliver away, so why can't the True-False Dao marks finally emerge?”

The composure that had once been on the Godseekers' faces was gone. The True-False Dao marks had been on the verge of emergence for a long time. But for some reason, they seemed stuck, with no further progress. Even after three cycles of the Mountains and Seas, there was no progress whatsoever. This led the Godseekers to involuntary question themselves. Could their plan truly succeed?

“Fellow Daoist Fan, how should we decide?” asked the Lord of Severed Fate. From his tone and demeanor, there was even a hint of caution. Zhang Fan was not present, but the Lord of Severed Fate knew that merely mentioning his name would alert Zhang Fan. Over these years, Zhang Fan's aura had become increasingly ethereal. Just like the elusive True-False Great Dao, both truly existing yet not manifesting in the world. Their shared understanding and purpose had become virtually meaningless. Zhang Fan’s illusory form was still there, but they could no longer sense any thoughts from it.

Moments later, Zhang Fan’s voice resonated in their minds.

“We have done everything we could. Yet the True-False Dao marks have been slow to appear…”

“This world, though called the Eternal Void and existing independently, still has a faint connection with the Mountains and Seas, originating from a false universe. To truly nurture the True-False, we must sever all its external connections and banish it beyond the Mountains and Seas.”

“There might be a sliver of a chance.”

The Godseekers naturally understood what Zhang Fan meant. After a moment of silence, they said, as if relieved: “We have done our utmost; the rest is up to fate. We have already done more than enough.”

“Good.” Zhang Fan replied with a single word.

The next moment, within the Eternal World, the bodies of the Godseekers instantly transformed into myriad points of light. Like ashes, they drifted into the air, converging entirely towards a single point. And then, the entire Mountains and Seas followed suit. It was as if an invisible great fire had descended, silently incinerating everything within the Mountains and Seas. There was no pain, no sensation. In silent stillness, the Mountains and Seas perished, living beings vanished, and the Saints were no more.

All points of light, like ashes, gathered into one place. That place was Zhang Fan. He now fully understood his original self's intentions from back then. To face the True God while preserving the Mountains and Seas. It was pure nonsense.

“Only by returning everything, can there be…”

“A sliver of a chance for victory.”

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

The Mountains and Seas were entirely swallowed by Zhang Fan. The Void Realm, which had received not a single shred, instantly flew into a rage. Having completely failed the mission entrusted by the Star, endless waves of Dao Annihilation surged towards Zhang Fan. But for some reason, moments later, the interior of the Dao Annihilation also became chaotic. It seemed as though the Void Realm itself was somewhat anticipating the current situation. Zhang Fan naturally knew the reason.

“Sun Piaomiao, is it…”

“Then I shall help you find liberation.”

“After all, it was once a part of the Mountains and Seas and cannot be omitted.”

The voidness of the Void Realm, when compared to True and False, paled in comparison. Wherever his will reached, everything was erased. Or rather, assimilated into Zhang Fan. With both the Mountains and Seas and the Void Realm gone, the stage that had been set collapsed with a roar. What lay behind the scenes then emerged.

In just a moment, endless starlight showered the world. In this familiar scene, Zhang Fan felt boundless rage emanating from above. Under the starlight, even the True-False Great Dao trembled. But Zhang Fan merely snorted coldly: “A secretive rat, dares to contend with me?”

Facing the widespread starlight, Zhang Fan did not dodge or evade in the slightest. His body expanded infinitely, accepting all the starlight. Within the starlight, he sensed countless chaotic and frenzied thoughts, along with an immeasurable number of fragmented scenes. These scenes held no practical meaning, merely representing the past of the Mountains and Seas, or rather, this world, throughout its endless cycles of rebirth. But each one carried the profound weight of the Mountains and Seas. The moment he made contact, it felt as if a collision occurred.

Zhang Fan sat alone, looking up. He felt as if all the stars in the entire universe were falling towards him. If this were Zhang Fan immediately after absorbing his original self's power, he certainly wouldn't be able to withstand such a terrifying invasion. But having gone through multiple cycles of the Mountains and Seas and swallowed everything, he could now calmly endure it all.

“As I said, the so-called Star is absolutely no match for me.”

“My only concern is the True God.”

The stars across the sky gradually dimmed. Zhang Fan silently awaited the final moment.

(End of Chapter)

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