Understood

'Oh, interesting. They can actually achieve a jump by expanding the fourth dimension within a finite coordinate system? I used to think it was outrageous enough that people over there could autonomously evolve biological batteries to simulate supercomputers, but I never imagined they could even evolve a jump engine from their physical bodies. That's pretty impressive...'

'What do you mean by this? A jump engine? The fourth dimension?'

'Extra dimension, fifth dimension, hypersurface, shallow membrane—there are many names, but his doesn't delve into deep theory; it's just a brief shortcut...'

Hey! You two, speak like normal people!

'Okay, to put it simply, if you can only perceive one dimension, such as a meridian from south to north, then a bug crawling eastward will disappear from your linear world. Furthermore, if we can only perceive a two-dimensional plane, then when the bug takes flight, we will see it slowly disappear.'

If a fourth dimension exists, and a super bug exists that can move within it, then when its four-dimensional path intersects with our three-dimensional space, the bug will appear before our eyes like a ghost, then vanish in a flash.

Therefore, if we can find a fourth dimension for stable navigation, we can achieve teleportation beyond the limitations of three-dimensional space. This is the basic principle of the jump engine, a very outdated technology.

Previously, some attempted to achieve faster-than-light travel using this method, exploring stable four-dimensional navigational charts to connect various colonies. However, these attempts failed due to various reasons, including technological limitations, cost, and war. But Li Fan, you actually turned into an insect yourself...

'Wow... Li Fan, you can turn into a bug... Awesome! Awesome!'

Holy crap? Am I really that cutesy?

"Huh? Don't you know what you just did? By the way, how did you learn that move?"

How else could he learn that? Although he'd only been to the Xuanmen sect twice, he used formations all the time, and he'd also mastered the <<Qingyang Death Gate Tai Xuan>>. Combined with the Blind Observation Method, he could directly connect to the control formation in the main hall with his Divine Sense. Just try the hand seals a few more times and it'll activate...

'... So you didn't even know what the Mountain Protecting Array was supposed to do, yet you were just using it blindly?'

... Damn it! I just know how to open the refrigerator door and put an elephant in, that's all! Do I need to know how to build a refrigerator?! And this amazing trick is supposed to be outdated technology you guys use??

"... Alright, as long as you understand. But you should have noticed that the coordinate system constructed by the Tai Xuan Dao requires a large amount of data and computing power to operate. Therefore, the correct solution can only be obtained within this specific, limited space and time. Once you leave this closed space, the Tai Su Realm cannot be used in other Taiji Realm."

In other words, as the boundaries of the unknown expand, this theory of the known world not only becomes outdated but also erroneous, and is therefore eliminated.

Of course, you can still treat this as a trick for now. Don't be discouraged. Humanity evolves and develops through trial and error in this spiral of the unknown and the known. Who knows, you might evolve even more amazing devices in the future.

'Or it could become an even more awesome bug.'

Damn, I don't think it was that awesome anymore...

So Li Fan rolled his eyes, looking at the Hengshan Daoist opposite him who looked utterly shocked, truly showing no emotion whatsoever in attaining enlightenment.

"So you've been coveting the <Tai Xuan Scripture> for this? You call this the Tai Xuan Gate? The Tai Xuan Gate, the Xuan Gate? Oh, so the Xuan Gate of the Xuan Gate can only transport the primordial spirit, but the authentic Tai Xuan Gate can transport the physical body. That's what you want, isn't it?"

Liu Daoming stood up abruptly, "I never imagined that Li Daoyou is truly a disciple of the Tai Xuan lineage! If you are willing to hand over the cultivation methods of the Tai Xuan Dao... no, you don't need to! I, Liu Daoming, am willing to swear an oath to invite you to be a guest elder of my Shangqing Palace! To come to Hengshan to select disciples! To continue the Tai Xuan Dao lineage!"

Li Fan curled his lip, "You guys really will stop at nothing to achieve your goals. You actually think highly of someone like me, Demon Path? Fine! You've got guts! But I refuse!"

Li Fan looked into the arena and saw that Hengshan Daoxi Zhenren had one arm torn off, one eye gouged out, and his body covered in wounds and blood. He was almost unable to stand, but he had managed to tear the ghost god to pieces and smash all its heads before collapsing to the ground dead.

Li Fan, without any hesitation, flicked his finger and unleashed a sword aura, beheading Daoxi in one strike and earning five hundred points.

Upon seeing his junior brother's death, Liu Daoming's excited expression vanished instantly, replaced by a grim look. "Fellow Daoist, are you determined to become an enemy of Hengshan?"

"Wow! You think you're kidding me?! Use your brains, fellow senior brothers! I'm currently in charge of the protective array in the Tai Xuan Dao ancestral temple, and I can directly use all the magic treasures and spells of the Tai Xuan Dao. Not to mention, I can teleport at will using the Tai Xuan Gate. You guys are trying to sneak into my protective array to fight me, and you want to take me on one-on-one? Isn't that ridiculous?"

Li Fan waved his hand, and the corpses of Daoxi Zhenren and the Demon God were swept up by the gale, swirling together and falling into his palm, transforming back into a painting. Then, he yawned and scratched his back with the painting.

"I'm not afraid to tell you, this formation has twenty-seven levels, eighty-one halls, and seven hundred and twenty-nine guardian deities. Although Zhu Ming Jianjun has profound cultivation and can slay demons with his sword and break through all laws with his strength, he still has to pass through nine halls and three levels each time before he can come back to me. But I can make him start all over again with a snap of my fingers! I can play with him like this for at least two more hours. How long do you think he can last? So you don't need to count on waiting for Zhu Mingjianjun to come to the rescue and then attacking him together to win."

However, I think the Xuanmen's abilities are probably not limited to this. Otherwise, how did you manage to label Taixuan as a demonic sect in the first place?

Alright then, there are six of you left, and I happen to have six paintings left. You want to fight with swords? Fine, let's have a match! If you can break one of my paintings, I won't use the Tai Xuan Gate; we'll have a one-on-one duel. I'll give you that chance.

But you need to come up with some new techniques, instead of just throwing around magical treasures all the time, it's really boring, otherwise I won't be interested. Want to play or not?

Liu Daoming chuckled coldly, "You want to experience the secret techniques of the Xuanmen Sect? Fine! Daoyan!"

At that moment, a Daoist disciple from Hengshan stepped forward, sword in hand, chest puffed out, and declared, "Xu Daoyan of Hengshan!"

Seeing that his opponent had been hit, Li Fan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. To be honest, activating the Tai Xuan Gate consumed a lot of energy. He had to be on guard at all times and control the movement of the Zhu Ming Jianjun to avoid being killed by it in one strike. He had to wear it down until the body it had possessed was exhausted. If the opponent attacked all at once now, he would be a little worried.

Of course, on the surface, Li Fan still laughed arrogantly, changed to a new painting, and threw it with his hand. The painting turned into a three-headed, six-legged lion with yellow fur all over its body, opening its mouth to bite Xu Daoyan!

Xu Daoyan didn't dodge, opened his mouth and eyes, and roared! He spat out a bolt of lightning, instantly turning the multi-legged lion into ashes!

"Yo~~ Thunder magic, huh? Interesting, very interesting." Li Fan clapped his hands with a smile, his eyes narrowed, but inwardly he was quite intimidated.

Damn it! Thunder magic is definitely the best counter to ghosts and spirits! That painting was completely destroyed and can't be retrieved! Thunder magic is so annoying!

'Why don't you just use that move you just used and instantly kill them with a single swipe of your magic?'

The system was even offering unsolicited advice.

Li Fan was speechless. Actually, that move was a secret of the Tai Xuan Dao, and he didn't want to use it too often, lest these elites of the Xuanmen discover its secrets. But it might be quite effective against lightning magic.

Now Li Fan also needed to hurry and eliminate these Hengshan experts before Zhu Ming Jianjun broke through all the protective passes of Tai Xuan Dao. So he didn't delay and went down to the arena as agreed. He bowed to Xu Daoyan while making hand seals, "Qingyue of Tai Xuan Dao."

The two exchanged a glance, and in the next instant, they attacked simultaneously!

Xu Daoyan roared, "Nine Heavens Responding to the Origin of Thunder, Universal Transformation Heavenly Venerable, Earthly Deity Roaring Thunder Great Law--!"

With both palms extended simultaneously, electric snakes leaped between his ten fingers, and lightning flashed! High-energy currents, like branches, were generated by the earth's energy! Like a centipede or millipede, its hundred legs touched the ground, blazing with lightning and thunder, shooting straight towards Li Fan!

Li Fan, of course, knew the rules of the duel. Whether he could win or not was another matter, but he absolutely couldn't lose in terms of momentum. So, not to be outdone, he roared, "Tai Xuan Death Gate Azure Yang Divine Art--!"

Then Li Fan transformed into a whirlwind, rushing towards the lightning bolts. In that instant, he dodged the lightning bolts, and the boundless vortex of gale-force winds exploded, striking Xu Daoyan squarely in the heart and lungs! With a bang, Xu Daoyan was reduced to dust!

The thunder and lightning swept through the courtyard, and with a deafening boom, the Daoist temple and its surrounding buildings on the east side of the main hall of the Tai Xuan Temple were reduced to rubble and ashes!

Li Fan appeared amidst the swirling wind and bloodstains, his body devoid of any crimson, only exuding an overwhelming aura of iron-like killing intent!

Not bad, one move! In True Cultivator battles, a single move, whether it hits or misses, is enough to determine the winner!

Liu Daoming didn't seize the opportunity to attack, but simply watched as another junior brother died. He coldly met Li Fan's gaze and said without a trace of emotion, "This person didn't use any sorcery. He can Dao Integration, reverse the gale, and manifest nature! This is a different technique from the Tai Xuan Sect! He used it together earlier to avoid the Sword Lord's attack, and it was also a smokescreen! The Tai Xuan Sect must have set up a formation! Set up the Crimson Fiend Formation to seal the Xun position, break his technique! Destroy his formation!"

Holy crap! Seriously?! They figured it out after just one hit?! That's ridiculous!

"Hehe! Fellow Daoist Liu truly lives up to his reputation as a true disciple of Hengshan; he can see through the changes in my Tai Xuan Dao at a glance."

Seeing the remaining four Hengshan Daoists leap out and raise their banners to form a battle formation, Li Fan clapped his hands and smiled as he confronted Liu Daoming, seizing the time to increase his cultivation.

"Indeed! My Tai Xuan Dao can calculate nature, evolve the microcosmic orbit, and transform the body into earth, water, fire, and wind, alternating between the real and the illusory, with heaven and earth mutually generating each other. As long as the method is inexhaustible, the body will not perish, and the Dao will not be extinguished! However, I think the true lineage of the Xuanmen actually looks down on this Dao, doesn't it?"

This is precisely Li Fan's current understanding of the true teachings of the Tai Xuan Dao. The reason why we need to calculate the destiny and timing of heaven and earth is because the Tai Xuan Dao has a state of merging with the Dao Integration, which transforms the physical body into earth, water, fire, and wind. As long as the primordial spirit is condensed, the changed form can be reassembled. In the system's words, it is a temporary transformation from a human into an insect, no, into a certain element within the system, breaking through the boundaries of three-dimensional space and heading to the fourth dimension of the Dao!

Those paintings, those magical artifacts, and that Tai Xuan Gate all follow the same principle. It's similar to how the physical body transforms into malevolent energy during Moon Worship, but that's the problem. The Tai Xuan Dao system can have earth, water, fire, and wind, and it can have the nine elements, but it doesn't have malevolent energy! This determines the limits of this path in the outside world!

Liu Mingdao nodded, "This is the first time I have experienced the true teachings of the Tai Xuan Dao, but I do have some knowledge of the unorthodox methods of the Tai Xuan Death Sect."

"Your sect's Death Gate Dao actually involves transforming one's body into the energy of life and death, hiding in underground caves and graves. Such underhanded tricks are far inferior to your true teachings of manifesting the Way of Nature, and are utterly insignificant compared to the Great Dao of my Xuanmen, which involves refining the Three Pure Ones, absorbing the Nine Qi, gathering the sun and moon, lifting the stars, and shattering the void!"

Li Fan curled his lip, "Wow, a little bit less and it's not even worth mentioning... You really know how to brag..."

However, I think so too. The Death Gate Dao has been lurking for so many years, Tai Xuan Dao Sect has been wiped out since then. In terms of cultivation methods alone, they are no longer what they used to be. It is not worth the Xuan Sect mobilizing such manpower and resources.

So why did you get involved in this calamity? I really don't understand. Why did you have to do this? Even the Xuanmen sect is short of demonic soldiers and corpses? Is it really for an outdated <Tai Xuan Scripture>? Or for the Taixuan Gate? Or some other magic?"

Liu Mingdao was about to speak when he suddenly shut up and turned his head to look to the side.

Li Fan also turned his head and saw another disciple of Kongsang Mountain, one of the nine who had escaped earlier, standing at the mountain gate holding the Zhu Ming Divine Sword.

It seems this guy managed to escape through three passes, only to be captured by Zhu Ming Jianjun came charging in head-on? Tsk, then this guy can hold out for a while longer.

This time, Zhu Ming Jianjun had learned his lesson. Knowing that if he burned his Dao body to rush forward, he would have to teleport away and start over, he suppressed his temper and stepped forward, saying, "You..."

Li Fan, too lazy to waste words with the others, snapped his fingers and teleported Zhu Mingjian away again. Then he turned to Liu Ming and said, "Fellow Daoist, please continue."

Liu Daoming nodded. Things had come to this point, and he was too lazy to lie or hide anything, so he stated frankly, "Because Hengshan aspires to unify the world!"

Li Fan narrowed his eyes at the other person, "I can see that, but you haven't explained my question. Obtaining the Tai Xuan Dao lineage will allow you to unify the world? Although the strategic value of physical teleportation is very high, you should also be able to guess that the spells here have many flaws and are almost impossible to use outside, right?"

Liu Daoming nodded. "Fellow Daoist is a man of deep thought. You should also know who the greatest obstacle is if Hengshan wants to unify the world."

"A cult? It can't be Penglai, can it..." Li Fan shrugged, but then a sudden thought struck him, and he looked at the person opposite him in disbelief, "...No, that's not right! It's Emei!"

Liu Daoming smiled, "Fellow Daoist is right, it is Emei."

Yes! Emei! It can only be Emei!

Although the Ten Absolutes God Sect has caused so much trouble, in reality, despite their meticulous planning, the lines of power don't lie. No matter how many victories they win, it will still be difficult for them to push their influence across Kunlun Mountain! And although the Three Great Sects are fighting tooth and nail, no matter how they change their tactics, fight, or struggle, there is no group in the Central Plains that can directly challenge Emei!

Because Emei is the Xuanmen! Emei is the world! The current Emei is truly too strong! The Three Elders and Four Ancestors are at least on par with Xuantian! But even though the Beichen Sword Sect was wiped out, not a single one of them died!

The sheer number of True Cultivator at Penglai Mountain is already incredible! But Zhou Chengxue only applied there as his second choice! Penglai only recruits locals from the East Sea, and it's already so crowded! And among all the talented people in the Central Plains, even someone like the Ghost Mother, who doesn't admire the leader of the orthodox Xuanmen sect, Emei! And among the younger generation of Emei now, who knows how many true disciples there are!

Look at the incident with Xun Kingdom. A whole host of forces were involved, including the Three Palaces Grand Tutor Manor, Mount Song, Mount Heng, Penglai Mountain, the Divine Sect, and Luofeng Palace. But was Emei involved? Absolutely not! Because it wasn't needed! No matter how much they schemed, did Mount Heng have a chance to replace Emei? Absolutely not!

Therefore, as long as Emei is in charge, Yuntai Peak will be as stable as Mount Tai, and the world will be as stable as Mount Tai! No, it will be as stable as Emei! Ahem, sorry, Mount Tai...

"... But regardless, Emei has no intention of conquering the world or replacing the Immortal Palace..."

Although everyone says that, after thinking about it carefully, Li Fan realized he wasn't entirely confident himself.

Perhaps the current generation of Three Elders and Four Ancestors are all reclusive immortals who were exhausted from fighting the madman Xuantian back then, and that's why they're now focused solely on cultivating immortality and have no interest in worldly affairs. But can you guarantee that there aren't ambitious individuals among the next generation of Daoist successors of Emei? Who knows when this behemoth will suddenly make its move and shock the world...?

Li Fan put himself in that shoes and thought about it for a moment, and suddenly had a bold guess.

"Could it be... that you intend to use the Tai Xuan Gate and these demonic soldiers to launch a surprise attack on Emei?"

Liu Daoming's smile froze instantly. Even the four Hengshan disciples who had been making arrangements just moments before stopped what they were doing and stared at Li Fan in shock.

But Li Fan's mind raced, and he suddenly realized the possibility and feasibility of it, and couldn't help but shout,

"I understand, I understand everything! No wonder! No wonder there are Hengshan people everywhere! No wonder the Divine Sect has been making all sorts of arrangements and deployments in the Central Plains all these years, as if they were entering an empty land! I knew that when traveling the world, what disguise could be more secure than the disciples of the Nine Great Xuan Sects! Yes, yes! The Divine Sect is not lurking in Guyeshan! They are lurking in Hengshan!"

So that's how it is! You two joined forces to deal with Emei! No, it's not just you two! No wonder Nangong, Luofeng, Hou Gu, Western Imperial Guards, and Heng Hai Army all reacted so strangely! They're all acting like they're courting death, so they're doing it to the extreme! Because the Eight Feudal Immortal Armies were already being suppressed by the Three Palaces Immortal Clan, and joining forces with you is their last chance!

It's not that there's no opportunity! No! The opportunity is created by your joint efforts!

You've all worked together! Colluding with each other! Not only did you severely humiliate the Three Realms in the Kun Country, but you also created turmoil in the Twelve Countries to attract the attention of Yuntai Peak! Are you also planning to take advantage of this Xuanmen expedition to the Divine Sect's headquarters to join forces with the Ten Absolutes God Sect and the remnants of the immortal armies of the Twelve Countries to launch a surprise attack on Mount Emei!

Because no matter who it is, only by defeating Emei can one truly seize the world! And once Emei is gone...

Oh--! I get it all now! You guys are going to do something new! Three Great Sects!

Yes or no!"