Because not only is there currently no record of them, but even the people from the Medicine King Sect, who have traversed time from the ancient cultivation world, know nothing about the Tian Yi.
This anomaly inevitably raises suspicions about their origins. After all, such powerful beings could not possibly remain obscure and unknown.
“If that’s the case, then many things can be explained.”
“Back when I intended to form a Golden Core using the Heavenly Calamity Law and the Vast Ocean Law, I sensed a mortal danger. If I had formed the core solely with these two techniques, it would have undoubtedly provoked a backlash from the heavens. Only by incorporating other laws like Blue Flame and Ink Death could I stabilize the core. This is because the Law of Heavenly Calamity and Vast Ocean studied were not originally laws of the Xuanhuang Realm.”
“If one forcibly forms a core using only these two law, it might be treated by the world as a complete outsider. The outcome would be…”
In Li Fan’s mind, scenes of the Congyun Sea being utterly destroyed flashed by.
“Perhaps this is the reason why the Congyun Sea had to be annihilated.”
“An existence that doesn’t belong to the Xuanhuang Realm, yet thrives on its resources and flourishes like a foreign object lodged within the body, must be eliminated without delay.”
“However, the fact that Zhang Haobo successfully built his foundation with the Heavenly Calamity Sword Intent proves that these ancient outsiders are gradually becoming part of the Xuanhuang Realm.”
“Assimilation… integration…”
Li Fan pondered deeply.
On that day, within the Cloud-Water Heavenly Palace, when the Vast Ocean accused the Fisherman of being the murderer who wiped out the entire sect, he once said:
“The Heavenly Calamity Weapon—other than the Venerable Tian Jue, no one else can wield it.”
Originally, Li Fan thought that what he meant was the two words [Tian-sha]. After all, when Zhang Haobo fell in the past, the foundation of Zhang Haobo’s Dao, revealed through the anomalous phenomena of heaven and earth, was the [Heavenly Calamity Sword Intent]. And one of Li Fan’s nine laws was precisely the Law of Heavenly Calamity.[1]
Now it seems that, perhaps in the original world of the Heavenly Doctor, [Heavenly Calamity] might have been [Heavenly Slaughter].
However, upon arriving in the Xuanhuang Realm, their laws underwent a convergent transformation, giving rise to subtle differences.
Li Fan also recalled that the current Xuanhuang Realm has almost doubled in size compared to ancient times.
In its quest to devour other realms and avoid the fate of being consumed by the Immortal Ruins, conflicts between different world laws arose.
This might be the true origin of the world’s anomalies.
“The amnesia of Tian Jue… the transformation of Tian Yu and the Cloud-Water Heavenly Palace disciples into anomalies—could it all be the result of world fusion?”
“In that case, the fact that the Heavenly Doctor remains unscathed throughout this process only makes his power seem all the more terrifying.”
“Moreover, the Heavenly Doctor has lived for thousands of years, and the countless eerie and strange areas within the white fog clearly have some connection to him. Who knows what he’s planning?”
“The strangest thing of all is the reaction of the Longevity Immortal Heavenly Sovereigns of the Xuanhuang Realm. It’s impossible to believe they know nothing of the Heavenly Doctor’s subtle manipulations, yet they remain utterly indifferent. Have they reached some kind of agreement, or is there another reason…”
The image of the Heavenly Doctor surfaced in Xu Bai’s mind.
After a long moment, he shook his head slightly and suppressed his thoughts for the time being.
Upon returning to Tianliang Prefecture and reestablishing the connection with the communication talisman, countless messages flooded in like snowflakes.
Xu Bai remained calm and handled them one by one.
Balancing interests without causing conflict was a skill he had honed to perfection during his time as the Grand Tutor of the Great Xuan Dynasty.
Currently, there were still 640 positions available in Tianliang Prefecture. Of these, only around 200 had been approved by Nangong Shirong for negotiation and compromise with other forces.
However, the number of parties hoping to gain a share exceeded a thousand.
To satisfy the majority while offending the fewest possible people required careful deliberation.
As he continued to investigate the backgrounds of those involved and respond to their messages, Xu Bai remained composed and thoughtful.
…
While Xu Bai was busy with his new position, a major event suddenly captured the attention of the entire world.
The leader of Yuandao Prefecture, Immortal Sage Blue Feather, whose lifespan was nearing its end, announced to all cultivators that he was seeking any and all longevity-extending treasures.
At the same time, he released a list of longevity treasures he had already consumed.
He proclaimed that anyone who could provide an effective treasure would be allowed to choose freely from his vast collection.
Immortal Sage Blue Feather had ruled over Yuandao Prefecture for thousands of years.
His collection was immensely rich—so much so that it far surpassed even the rewards offered by the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance to encourage cultivators to explore the White Mist.
The world was shaken.
Many cultivators hurriedly returned from the White Mist, choosing instead to embark on dangerous quests in search of longevity treasures.
Li Fan stared at the news, momentarily lost in thought.
“Has Blue Feather given up on risking everything to reverse life and death?”
“It seems news of a Heavenly Sovereign attaining the Dao has already leaked. Was it an internal leak from the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, or…”
“The Five Elders Association?”
While Li Fan was still deep in thought, Huangfu Song carefully studied Lanyu’s announcement and shook his head with a sigh.
“Immortal Sage Blue Feather has ruled one state for thousands of years—what kind of longevity treasure hasn’t he consumed? This list is practically an Encyclopedia of Longevity Treasures in the Xuanhuang World. Trying to earn a reward from him…
“Well, I certainly don’t have that kind of luck,” he said with a touch of self-mockery.
“Damn it, so many of these things—I’ve never even heard of them,” Dongfang Yao exclaimed, sticking out his tongue. “He’s eaten everything under the sun. If you ask me, the doomed are bound to die. Why struggle and cling to life? Wouldn’t it be better to find peace sooner?”
Listening to his companions’ complaints, Li Fan suddenly gained a moment of clarity.
“A long-prepared plan, suddenly disrupted. What Blue Feather needs most now is time. Offering a reward to the entire world is his only choice under these circumstances.”
“What will he do next?”
At this point, Blue Feather didn’t have many options left.
First, he could attempt to change the fundamental laws of life and death and fight for a slim chance to attain immortality.
However, it was obvious that mastering such a reversal was not something achievable in a short time. If it were, Blue Feather wouldn’t have waited until death was imminent before setting up a great formation and risking everything.
Therefore, the only option left for him was the most realistic one.
“To once again defy the laws of life and death and contend with that mysterious Longevity Immortal Heavenly Sovereign!” Li Fan’s heart suddenly became clear.
“Although this path is also incredibly challenging, Blue Feather is, after all, more familiar with the principles of life and death. Compared to changing the nature of principal in reversal, his chances of success might actually be slightly higher.”
“It’s possible that he might even gain support from the Five Elders Association.”
Li Fan’s thoughts raced.
“This is getting interesting. Let’s see how the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance decides.”
“Will they support that mysterious Longevity Immortal Heavenly Sovereign, or will they back Blue Feather?”
TL Note: ‘天煞’ (Tiansha) here means ‘heavenly calamity,’ but it sounds just like ‘天杀’ (also Tiansha), which means ‘heavenly slaughter’—same sound, different meaning!”