NOVPUB"Over three hundred years have passed, and the Xuanhuang World must have drawn closer to the Immortal Ruins by now. Yet, it still hasn’t collapsed..." the meaning behind Craftsman’s words was not explicitly stated, yet clear.
Li Fan nodded in agreement and said, "While all other realms face annihilation, only Xuan Huang survives. There must be no small number of cultivators like us who have fled here from other Immortal Cultivation Worlds. However, they all lie low in hiding, most likely deterred by the force that shelters the Xuanhuang World."
"Not to hide it from you, fellow Daoist, but I have some understanding of Array Techniques. When I first arrived in Xuan Huang, I observed a vast and indistinct Great Array enveloping the entire world. Its energy level was so high that it might compare to the fabled Immortal Level Formations. Struck with awe, I have since kept a low profile in my actions."
"I wouldn’t dare to operate on the same grand scale as you did with the Elemental Spirit Sect!"
Hearing this, Craftsman couldn’t help but bitterly smile, "It seems you have had your eye on me for quite some time!"
After a long pause, Craftsman continued to explain, "The Elemental Spirit Sect may seem sizable, but it’s just a rabble, not taken seriously by the Alliance of Thousands of Immortals. It’s only because Jiushan Province has a unique geographical environment and borders the Five Elders Organization, where dragons and snakes mingle. Instead of meticulously managing it, it’s better to let the Elemental Spirit Sect grow wildly."
"At the very least, I have to hand over a portion of the vast amounts of Source Force that I harvest each time."
"The question is, what exactly has happened over these three hundred years..." A shadow passed over the eyes of Craftsman.
Li Fan immediately laughed, "My friend, you are truly scaring yourself. In fact, over these years, the growth of the Elemental Spirit Sect has been flourishing. It was only recently that it suffered an unprovoked disaster, becoming collateral damage when the Heavenly Venerable Law Phases of the Celestial Dharma Bearer suddenly appeared and annihilated Jiushan Province."
With that, Li Fan projected the scene of the Celestial Dharma Bearer’s Law Phases first showing their might in front of them.
Craftsman took a look and grimaced, unable to contain his shock as he exclaimed, "What has happened to warrant the intervention of the Celestial Dharma Bearer?"
"It’s simply that, during the warfare between two titanic forces, the decision was made to ally with the side of the Five Elders Organization," Li Fan explained.
Craftsman’s face was full of disbelief, and then he uttered resentfully, "How foolish!"
After pondering the unbelievable turn of events, Craftsman seemed to have thought of something, and with a mix of shock and uncertainty, he said, "No, that’s not right. I distinctly feel that there are nearly a million people in the world who are still cultivating the Vital Element Art of the Myriad Beings..."
"Oh, that," Li Fan replied very calmly, "I couldn’t bear to see your foundation destroyed overnight, so I took over."
Upon hearing this, Craftsman was completely stunned, "You..."
A moment later, as thoughts rapidly turned over in his mind, he realized everything, "No wonder you discovered my location so soon after my resurrection..."
"No, you must have found the method for my resurrection long before that, right?"
Craftsman’s face kept changing expressions.
Li Fan simply nodded slightly, "Rest assured, my friend, I meant no harm. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have revealed everything to you so openly."
"Oh? Then, what exactly is your intention…" Craftsman asked with an unsettled expression.
"It’s simply that, seeing my friend’s extraordinary skills, possessing the creativity that rivals the heavens, I wished to invite you to join us in pursuing grand ambitions!" Li Fan said earnestly.
Afterwards, Li Fan detailed the proposition of the alliance of the Ten Thousand Realms and the restoration of the Crimson Compassionate Immortal’s Tao Lineage.
"There’s actually a True Immortal Tao Lineage?" Craftsman narrowed his eyes, skeptical yet intrigued.
It wasn’t until Li Fan passed over a thread of gold-colored Spirit Elixir that Craftsman was once again inexplicably shocked.
"Essence of Source Power?!" He blurted out a term that differed from the one Daoist Baihua had described.
"Oh? And what is this Essence of Source Power you speak of? In our WanSheng Realm, we call this substance Spirit Elixir." Li Fan asked with keen interest.
The Artisan stared intently at the object in Li Fan’s hand as though he were looking at some peerless treasure, "Source Force is the fundamental force that propels cultivators to advance their realms. The Essence of Source Power, on the other hand, is the primordial force that gives birth to the Source Force."
"Or, according to a past terminology that was popular in the Immortal Cultivation World, the realm is the core, and the cultivation base is the fruit. The Essence of Source Power is the true form of the [Flower of Tao], and as for the origin of everything, the root, it is the [Tao] that drives the development of all things."
Li Fan’s Spirit Consciousness then recounted Daoist Baihua’s description of the Spirit Elixir.
It was a part abandoned by the Namesless Immortals while absorbing the traces of the [Tao].
"Your metaphor is indeed quite novel," Li Fan mused over these words, deep in thought.
Meanwhile, the Artisan continued to fixate his gaze upon the Essence of Source Power in Li Fan’s hand, unwilling to look away.
"Does the [Flower of Tao] have poison?" Li Fan suddenly inquired.
The Artisan was taken aback for a moment but then grasped Li Fan’s meaning. He pondered briefly before explaining, "It is harmless to believers. Non-believers, however, will surely receive backlash!" 𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘱𝘶𝑏.𝘤𝘰𝑚
"Bear in mind that the root of [Tao], as well as the [Flower of Tao], are not powers that we cultivators, yet to achieve Ascension to Immortality, can master."
"If we wish to make use of it, we must rely on the [Immortal]."
"But the [Immortal] are beings beyond our comprehension. As They seek the root of the [Tao], They will inevitably leave behind Their traces. Therefore, the [Flower of Tao], [Fruit of Tao], and [Core of Tao] that emerge are all imbued with Their unique aura."
"The flowers of the mundane world undergo the process of taking root, branching out, blooming, and bearing fruit. Yet, as cultivators pursuing the Tao, we begin with the fruit to search for the cause. We seek the origin of everything, the root of [Tao]..."
"An endeavor so elusive—if one does not personally comprehend it and seeks to take shortcuts, without fully understanding the true essence of the power of the [Fruit of Tao], and is eager to trace back to the root of [Tao], they can only depend on the accomplishments of others."
"Do you understand what I’m saying, my fellow Daoist?"
Perhaps because he had laid eyes on the true [Flower of Tao], the Artisan became excited and ended up speaking quite a bit in a single breath.
"According to your words, it seems that there isn’t much harm in utilizing the power of the [Flower of Tao], is there?" Li Fan asked.
"That’s natural, as long as you don’t go seeking other roots of [Tao] in the future," the Artisan replied.
Li Fan thought for a moment and then had an epiphany, "One root leads to one fruit?"
"Correct, once tainted by the power of the [Flower of Tao], one is almost unable to escape for a lifetime. If there’s a chance to advance further in the future, one can only follow the path already determined, to seek the root of [Tao] that is mystically bound. However, a True Immortal has already taken the first step on the path ahead..."
The Artisan chuckled, "Therefore, you either become a follower or a vassal of the other party. Or, you must eliminate them and become the strongest in the path of [Tao]."
"Oh, by the way, there’s one more thing I forgot to mention. The fruit arises from the root, and if the root withers, the fruit too will perish. Hence, if the Immortal standing at the source dies, those downstream who have borrowed His power to be tainted by the [Flower of Tao] will also die violently."
"However, after all, it’s an Immortal. The likelihood of demise is much lower compared to us ordinary cultivators."
