What constitutes the universe?
It is a question asked countless people—geniuses and mundane alike—over the span of aeons. The answer was rather simple:
Imaginary Tree.
Outside the solar system, it was Genius Society #1, Zandar One Kuwambara who founded the Imaginary Tree Theory. Inside the solar system, it was Otto Apocalypse who did so.
The Imaginary Tree is the 'image' of this world, of this universe. It splits countless smaller worlds, spanning from planets to star systems, in branches. These branches signify the 'possibilities' each world possesses. At their ends lay the leaves. These leaves are the mark—outcomes—upon treading a certain branch.
That is as far as the knowledge from the game goes. The Divine Transformation Realm granted a unique 'status'. It is the proof of being a high-dimensional being. This 'status' allowed me to see more than what meets the eye.
For every 'world', there is only one 'Present'. It is the unshakeable, most unique branch out of them all. The rest of the branches merely exist as 'reflections' once the 'Present' is established.
Here comes the interesting part.
The temporal dimension of this world, when viewed using immortal cultivation, has flaws. A fog obscures them, interrupting the 'Past' and 'Future' to act according to the standards of immortal cultivation. I used to divine using the 'Present' timeframe back then. It worked more like a probability study and less of 'divination' itself.
The Divine Transformation Realm changes that. I attempted to peer through the fog and found a shocking result.
The fog is a cover.
Think of the Matrix, a simulation of the real world. It mimics the laws and phenomena of the real world. Only, it is a world inside a computer.
What was simulated by the cover are the Past and Future. Two entities took root of the Past and Future. They simulated the 'Past' and 'Future' with their powers.
Fuli, of the Remembrance Path, collects memories and establishes them as the "Past".
Nous, of the Erudition Path, extrapolates all possibilities of the world and anchors them as the "Future".
This 'cover' naturally affected the Imaginary Tree. It is that far-fetching.
My discovery ended there. I haven't tried 'tearing' the cover of the "Past" yet. I didn't want to provoke any potential enemies, not to mention whether I have the capability to do so.
It is enough to see the Imaginary Tree's 'true' situation.
The reason why the Imaginary Tree is very crucial is tied to Blade Mantra's next level.
"Formlessness."
I uttered its name. Everyone remained engrossed with our findings. Nobody paid attention to the bask of golden glow around us.
Ten years.
That was how long we worked on Blade Mantra 3.0. Boosted by the seventh level Dao of Enlightenment, one idea clashed after another. What should have taken hundreds of years only took ten.
Hum-!
A clear roar came from my heart.
{Tao Heart: Sixth level (Divine Sword, Breakthrough Requirements Met)}
The completed Blade Mantra 3.0 benefitted us a lot. We couldn't use it yet, but being its pioneers allowed for self-retrospection. This conference evolved from practical terms to the philosophy of life itself. That is how the Tao Heart is—metaphysical and philosophical.
"Cutting off one's karma… Never have I expected to be able to do so."
"There is the famous Divination Commission in Xianzhou Alliance. They won't be able to track your movements, Miss Shushang."
I looked at Shenzhou's "Pride" on my right. Her attire remains the same as her Jade Knight Battlesuit. Her shorter stature made the depths of her weapons more visible.
"Why does it feel like you are expecting me to have trouble?"
"Is it not? The adventures in the martial world are troublesome, much more the murky waters of the immortal world."
"That's true…"
I managed to gaslight… ahem, point out the truths.
"Items that can help in karma isolation are extremely rare. Comprehending the Blade Mantra prior to the Void Refinement Realm breakthrough is extremely helpful."
Eminence, True Form, Heart Intention, and Formlessness. These are the realms present in Blade Mantra 3.0.
Formlessness utilizes the stigma space born from the user. The first step requires cutting off the stigma space from the imaginary space, and then placing it inside the user. The seventh level Tao Heart will act as its anchor, preventing its disappearance.
Through this, a special inner space will be formed. It has two functions: to contain an Authority born from the Tree and grant a high status.
This Authority is the same authority held by Aeons.
Everyone who comprehends Formlessness will possess the capabilities of an Aeon.
The Imaginary Tree is the 'world'. Aeons are its administrators. Authorities are the 'empty slots' in which one can achieve Aeonhood.
Formlessness allows one to occupy an empty slot. However, the 'control' over the Authority must be exercised. The progress bar starts from 1%, with 100% signifying complete control, the level where an Aeon is at. Moreover, progress depends on the anchor's level. An eighth level Tao Heart is needed to move beyond 60%.
Nonetheless, reaching this 1% allows one to inherit the characteristics of Aeons—their karma being detached from the world. It is bound to be of great assistance in the Void Refinement and Dao Integration Realm. The former is involved with karma isolation. The latter is involved with the Authorities themselves.
They are flawed, akin to the Herrscher Cores I inherited, but they helped a lot in comprehending its Dao equivalent. The Dao of Ice and Miracles coming from my possession of Herrscher Cores of Ice and Origin is the living proof.
All of this…
They are under the condition of piercing through the simulated "Past" and "Future". A perfect grasp of the temporal dimensions and the Imaginary Tree is necessary to attain Formlessness. We need to pierce these two covers.
"What if we encounter a problem?"
Suddenly, Shushang raised a question.
"If… If there is a problem beyond the covers you spoke of…"
"We'll fix it. If we cannot benefit from it, then the next generation's lucky."
"A legacy."
"That's right. Just like the Empyrean's original intention in creating the Blade Mantra."
Success in immortal cultivation isn't tied on this. I am very confident we can reach the higher realms without Formlessness, just that it would take more time.
In the corner of my sight, I saw Senti's lips curl up.
"Do you want more praise? We won't mind seeing your nose held high, Senti."
"I don't need that." Senti opened her eyes and stared right at me. "One is enough. She won't be able to handle more."
Fu Hua's eyelashes trembled. Her desperate attempt in pretending to contemplate almost sent me laughing.
"Will you spread this knowledge to the universe?"
Bianka was the fifth one to awaken. Her query earned an answer instantly.
"Yes. Someday."
It wasn't a surprise to know that the knowledge of Blade Mantra feeds back to the Dao of Enlightenment. Having more people use it will only strengthen this special Dao of mine.
The two Xuanyuans woke up at the same time.
"That day…"
"We'll live to see it."
Hei Xuanyuan disposed of Ji Xuanyuan's doubts. Her temperament, no longer unruly, transformed into a sharp sword.
"Then, this marks the end of it. Thanks for the assistance, Fellow Daoists."
The First Sword Conference ended today.
*****
A/N: The entire thing about the Imaginary Tree is made from the implied canon details. For example, in HSR 3.7, it is revealed that Fuli collects memories. Herta metaphorically compared it to the Past. Nous "anchors" future events to lead the universe to the outcome it saw, being metaphorically compared to the Future. In short, Fuli manages the Past with memories while Nous creates "canon events" (Instances) for time to move forward to the future.