It was as if the entire world responded to that figure’s words, plunging into darkness in an instant.
Xu Bai vaguely heard a sound of helpless wailing.
Then, the thin figure slightly shook his head and turned around.
Their eyes met.
Boom!
Xu Bai’s mind instantly exploded, roaring with noise. He was shocked to discover that the figure’s appearance was identical to his own!
No…
In a flash, his vision blurred, and the face abruptly changed. Xu Bai seemed to see the peerless visage of Mr. Bai.
However, it was different from the time he saw him at the Beast-Taming Sect. Back then, Mr. Bai appeared as an unrivaled, celestial being.
His clear eyes seemed to carry countless emotions and stories waiting to be told, like a vortex gradually engulfing Xu Bai’s mind.
“Wake up!”
A soft yet powerful voice rang out, like a great bell echoing from beyond the heavens. It pierced through the endless worlds and suddenly resounded in Xu Bai’s ears.
Xu Bai’s previously dull, lifeless gaze instantly regained a trace of clarity.
When he looked again at Mr. Bai, the flesh on his face melted away like a candle, revealing a horrifying and sinister sight.
The once breathtakingly beautiful face now appeared eerie and grim.
In just a brief moment, the terrifying transformation spread from Mr. Bai’s face to his entire body.
Like being stripped away by a gust of wind, he instantly became a skeletal figure, his hollow eye sockets staring straight at Xu Bai.
Xu Bai was overwhelmed with shock.
The surroundings shattered like glass, cracking and breaking apart in an instant.
A faint sense of dizziness washed over him as the illusion completely dissipated.
The black-robed cultivator who came to guide him scanned him briefly before speaking slowly:
“This space contains a lingering aura of the Dharma-Transmitting Immortal Ancestor. Any cultivator coming here for the first time will sense it and experience hallucinations.”
Having visited the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance headquarters before, Xu Bai naturally understood.
The last time his true self came, he had seen the towering statue of the Dharma-Transmitting Immortal Ancestor.
From that statue, Li Fan felt an extreme sense of danger, as well as a vague sense of familiarity.
This time, however, he used Xu Ke’s blood essence and Mr. Bai’s divine charm to refine a clone to come here.
What he saw was a strange and eerie scene.
“The path to immortality lies ahead, yet it cannot be treaded. The Dharma-Transmitting Immortal Ancestor stands above…”
“Mr. Bai’s face turned identical to that of the clone. And in the end, he suddenly transformed into a skeletal figure…”
“What exactly does all of this signify?”
Even after escaping the illusion, Xu Bai remained deeply shaken, instinctively following behind the black-robed cultivator who led the way.
It seems that Xu Bai’s heaven-defying appearance had an effect, as the black-robed cultivator did not disturb them upon seeing him.
He merely led the way in silence.
When the two of them passed through the teleportation formation and transformed into beams of light, swiftly traversing the space of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance headquarters, Xu Bai slowly emerged from the illusions’ influence.
At this moment, the black-robed guide cultivator explained to Xu Bai, “This trace of aura left behind by the Dharma-Transmitting Immortal Ancestor is usually referred to as the ‘True Meaning of Dharma Transmission.’ The True Meaning of Dharma Transmission is profoundly mysterious and possesses countless wondrous applications. A cultivator only experiences its effects the first time they enter the Alliance headquarters, caught off guard and falling into illusions. Once they stay here for a while and their body adapts to the presence of the True Meaning of Dharma Transmission, it becomes almost impossible to face such illusions again.”
In his previous life, when Li Fan’s original self came here with Han Yi and Ximen Yue, the guide did not explain things in such detail.
“It seems that judging people by their appearance is human nature. Even as cultivators, we cannot completely escape from this mundane mindset.”
Xu Bai silently ridiculed in his heart but seized the opportunity to ask,
“According to what Senior said, the chance to directly face the ‘True Meaning of Dharma Transmission’ is extremely rare—possibly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But aside from seeing some illusions, I didn’t notice any other effects?”
The black-robed cultivator responded solemnly,
“We practitioners all follow the new methods passed down by the Heavenly Sovereign. Hence, when confronting the ‘True Meaning of Dharma Transmission,’ it’s not just simple illusions we see. It is highly likely to be related to each individual’s ‘Ultimate Dao.’”
Before Xu Bai could ask, the guide took the initiative to explain the concept of the ‘Ultimate Dao’:
“Every cultivator, from the moment they set foot on the path of cultivation, generally feels that the immortal path is vast and the future perilous. How to cultivate each realm and choose the most suitable technique—these are things we must explore on our own.”
“But life offers no second chances. One mistake can lead to lifelong regret, forever severed from the Dao. Therefore, every step we take must be careful and prudent.”
“The ‘Ultimate Dao’ represents the final destination of our cultivation as seen from the perspective of the Heavenly Sovereign—the path most suited for us. The Dharma-Transmitting Immortal Ancestor is an extraordinary being whose vision far surpasses ours. What he acknowledges is almost indistinguishable from the truth.”
“That is why the illusion just now is of utmost importance. If you contemplate it day and night, you will certainly gain tremendous insights each time.”
Countless floating lands flashed rapidly behind them as the black-robed guide calmly spoke of the profound nature of the ‘True Meaning of Dharma Transmission,’ eventually concluding with a sigh:
“The path of cultivation is like a road to the heavens, shrouded in dense fog. A single misstep can lead to a fatal fall, shattering one’s path to immortality.”
“The ‘True Meaning of Dharma Transmission,’ which reveals the Ultimate Dao, is like an unmistakably bright torch at the peak of the heavenly road. Its light pierces through the fog, illuminating the way forward.”
“This is the Heavenly Sovereign’s compassion toward all living beings under the heavens!”
As the two transformed from beams of light back into human form and their feet touched the ground again, the black-robed cultivator fell silent, resuming his usual cold demeanor.
A straight, verdant stone path stretched toward a towering black stone stele at the end, which marked the headquarters of the Protectorate Hall of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance.
As he stepped onto the Path of Dharma, the spiritual energy within Xu Bai instantly sank, rendering him as ordinary as a mortal. Step by step, he walked solidly toward his destination, traversing the rather long path.
Upon reaching the end, the black-robed guide spoke once again, this time in a softer tone:
“Present your Derivative Jade Token here, and you may enter. I am not permitted to follow, so I will wait here.”
Xu Bai slightly bowed, then took out the jade token.
As in his previous life, a colorful passage emerged from the stone stele, and Xu Bai strode into it.
…
“Applicant for the Derivation Law Token: Xu Bai.”
“Number: 03. Authority Level: Dao Integration.”
“Please wait here patiently. Estimated remaining waiting time: thirteen hours.”
A somewhat familiar voice rang in Xu Bai’s ears.