"The Dao trace is broken..."
Lin Fan crouched down and touched the surface of the Immortal Stele, which was covered with Dao patterns. A strange sensation came from his fingertips...
The guide said, "You don't need to be too disappointed. Although the Dao Comprehension Stele is incomplete, it was once the object through which Immortal Emperor proved his Dao. The remaining fragments of laws within it are still enough to support you in reaching that stage."
Lin Fan looked up. "How long can you hold out?"
The guide looked at him, his gaze calm yet profound. "To become an immortal."
Lin Fan was silent for a moment, then grinned. "That's alright, not a huge loss."
He stood up and his gaze returned to the dark gray Immortal Stele.
The cracks on the surface of the stele are still dense, but the hollow feeling has lessened compared to before. It is as if the resonance of the three fragments is slowly bridging the gap. Although it cannot be completely repaired, it is enough to allow the remaining Daoist charm to flow again.
"Senior."
Lin Fan turned to the guide. "You just said that if there is enough opportunity and good fortune, it might be possible to complete the Dao Comprehension Stele in the future?"
The guide nodded. "Heaven and earth have flaws, but they are not beyond repair. Some things require a higher level of power to fill the gaps. For example, the complete Law of the Immortal Dao."
Lin Fan's eyes flickered slightly.
He didn't rush to speak, but silently asked in his mind, "System, can you complete the Dao Comprehension Stele?"
[Ding! Dao Comprehension Stele status detected: [Incomplete] Required for completion: Origin Law of the Immortal Dao, Heaven and Earth Origin Power ×1, Villain Points unknown.]
[The current host does not have enough Villain Points to complete the task.]
Lin Fan's eyelid twitched.
Unknown Villain Points?
So powerful?
But thinking about it, it makes sense; it's something from Immortal Emperor...
This thing, if used to fill a gap, can at least elevate one to the level of Immortal King; its value is self-evident...
At least for now, Lin Fan cannot afford it...
The future is uncertain!
He took a deep breath, swallowing back the thought, and maintained a thoughtful expression on his face.
"It seems this matter can't be rushed."
He muttered something under his breath, his gaze returning to the Immortal Stele.
Although it cannot be fully restored for the time being, the remaining Daoist essence, combined with his own Chaos Gods and Devils Body and a Immortal Qi, should be enough for him to comprehend the second Immortal Qi...
"Young man, I have a question for you."
Just then, the guide suddenly spoke, his tone carrying a hint of probing.
Lin Fan looked up. "Please speak, senior."
The guide's gaze fell upon him, as if examining a sword about to be drawn. "Have you heard of the Darkness Clan?"
Lin Fan was slightly taken aback.
He didn't answer immediately, but first glanced at the guide's expression.
Those eyes, which had been filled with the marks of countless years, held no greed, no probing, but rather an indescribable solemnity, as if confirming something of utmost importance.
"I've heard of it."
Lin Fan answered truthfully, his tone casual. "I've heard of it more than once. He even killed several Dark Clan prodigies in the Demon God Secret Realm not long ago."
"One of them, named An Yuan, opened a portal to Gate of Darkness!"
"I smashed it with the Hunyuan Bell. There was also one called the Dark Emperor Physique, from the Holy Spirit Clan, which I reduced to dust at the entrance of the Legendary Ancient Road."
He spoke casually, as if he were talking about what he ate that day.
But the guide's gaze suddenly lit up when he uttered the names An Yuan and Dark Emperor Physique.
He looked at Lin Fan, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly smiled.
The smile was faint, yet it carried a sense of relief that had been suppressed for countless years, as if a stone that had been weighing on one's heart for a long time had finally been put down.
"Good! Good! Good!"
"I was still hesitating... about whether to use that last resort, but now that you've already fought against the Dark Clan, I'm relieved."
Lin Fan: "Senior, what's the final solution?"
The guide did not answer.
He simply turned around, his gaze falling on the slowly rotating Dao Comprehension Stele, and his aura began to change.
"Buzz!"
This extremely faint golden halo slowly seeped out from his body, like the afterglow of Immortal Dao polished by countless years, rippling with the Law of the Immortal Dao!
"I've lived for so long that I can't even remember my own name."
His voice became very soft, like a page of a book about to be blown away by the wind. "Back then, when the Immortal Ancient Era collapsed, my original body had already perished, leaving only this wisp of remnant soul, guarding this monument, waiting for someone who can walk here."
"I've waited too long!"
"I've lived this long! I'm tired of living!"
His voice remained calm, yet carried a sense of relief at impending departure. " The Darkness Clan is about to make a comeback. Your time is running out."
Lin Fan's pupils contracted slightly. "Senior, what do you want to do?"
The guide said, "Actually, there is another way to complete the Dao Comprehension Stele..."
Lin Fan's pupils contracted slightly. "Senior, you wouldn't be thinking of..."
The guide turned around and glanced at him. "Although I am a remnant soul, the Law of the Immortal Dao within me are indeed complete, enough to mend some of the cracks on the Dao Comprehension Stele."
"I've lived this long, it's time I did something worthwhile."
Lin Fan suddenly stood up. "Senior, there's no need for this! We can think of another way!"
Other methods?
The guide laughed, "Patchwork and mending are no match for a sacrifice. I'm tired of living, so this final journey is just to save you some time."
The words had barely left his mouth...
The golden halo around him suddenly lit up, like an ancient candle flame being lit, slowly spreading out around him.
That wasn't fire; it was the Law of the Immortal Dao.
He was burning himself, and strands of golden threads were constantly drawn from his body, flowing towards the Dao Comprehension Stele like rivers flowing into the sea.
"Buzz!"
The Dao Comprehension Stele trembled violently.
The cracks on the monument began to heal rapidly under the infusion of layers of golden light, like an ancient, parched land finally receiving its first rain.
"Senior..."
Lin Fan tried to stop him.
But as soon as he took a step, his palm passed through a cloud of light dust, grasping nothing. Only a wisp of warm afterglow flowed through his fingers, and the golden light and shadow had already turned into a sky full of light dust, merging into the Dao Comprehension Stele.
The guide's figure had faded to almost nothing.
Only a pair of eyes remained, still gazing at him with a clear and calm expression, carrying the kind of contentment an elder would feel when looking at a younger person.
"By the way, kid."
The guide's voice came from deep within the monument, now extremely faint and distant. "After you become an immortal, remember to go to the Emperor Pass for me... and see how those old fellows are doing."
Then, he said one last thing, "Tell those who come after, the ancient immortals have not perished, and the flame of the Dao will never be extinguished!"