Li Fan regained consciousness.
He stared intently at the scene of the Taiyan Boat shattering within the light screen, a deep fear lingering in his heart, refusing to dissipate.
"What exactly was that thing?" Li Fan was puzzled.
Previously, when Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi traversed the Immortal-Sealing Grand Formation, they did not encounter this entity in the Dark Layer. Why was his experience different?
Could it simply be a matter of bad luck?
Li Fan didn't think so.
The Dark Layer within the Immortal-Sealing Formation was vast, and the small Taiyan Boat was but a drop in the ocean.
Yet, this unknown presence had precisely found him...
"Most likely, it's a method targeting mortals."
"It seems the safest approach is to wait until the thick fog disperses and the bottom of the Void Abyss emits light before exploring."
"Although the final attempt ended in failure, the gains from the previous life were indeed beyond expectations..."
Li Fan calculated silently in his heart, then chose to retain the "Taiyan Boat."
Name: Li Fan
Realm: Mortal
Biological Age: 20/86
Mental Age: 333/1113↑
Void Energy Charge Progress: 0%
Anchor Charging Progress: 1%
Current Anchor Points: 1
Bound Items: Thousand Mysteries Jade Golden Seal, Taiyan Boat
Observing the diminishing increase in the upper limit of his Mental Age, Li Fan felt a subtle pressure.
Fortunately, the Immortal Cultivation World was within reach; once he left this Immortal-Forsaken Land, the sky would be the limit!
With such anticipation, Li Fan's seventh life began.
Before the [Return to Origin] was fully charged, Li Fan was determined not to take any risks.
Thus, he planned to follow the script he had experienced several times to get through the first twenty years.
Anchoring for 3 years, Li Fan once again went into hiding in Wen County of Jiangnan.
Anchoring for 4 years, he secretly led his trusted followers to the tomb of Qian Hong.
This time, he used a spray containing immortal miasma to slowly erode, until the power of the Stele of Halt was weakened to the point where it could no longer penetrate steel armor.
Clad in steel armor, Li Fan entered the tomb and placed his hand on the stele.
"Detected a chargeable item: Stele of Halt (damaged)."
"Proceed with charging?"
The [Return to Origin] prompt appeared timely.
"Unfortunately, there's still some loss," Li Fan thought regretfully and chose yes.
The Stele of Halt gradually turned into void, disappearing.
After absorbing the Stele of Halt, the anchor charging progress of [Return to Origin] increased by 25%.
"Just three more times, and I can unlock the second anchor point?" Li Fan was overjoyed, but he also felt it wouldn't be that simple.
"Speculating too much is useless; I'll find out in the next life."
The other items in Qian Hong's tomb held no value for Li Fan. After ordering the tomb to be sealed again, Li Fan left.
Anchoring for 5 years, Li Fan couldn't resist and arrived at the eastern Void Abyss.
"I'll just take a look, not go down," Li Fan told himself.
Gazing at the endless sea of fog, his sight seemed to pierce through infinite spatial barriers, reaching the bottom of the Void Abyss.
Standing for a long time, as the strong wind howled, the thick fog gradually dispersed, and the once perilous Immortal-Sealing Grand Formation seemed to become less dangerous.
"At this moment, if I were to pilot the Taiyan Boat, I could smoothly reach the Immortal Cultivation World," a thought suddenly emerged in Li Fan's mind, growing uncontrollably, quickly occupying his entire consciousness.
"Yes, I've waited so long already, do I have to wait another fifteen years?"
"So what if [Return to Origin] isn't fully charged? How can I achieve the Great Dao by being so timid?"
"I've already tested it once in the previous life; as long as I carefully avoid that unknown creature in the Dark Layer, I can leave this cursed place!"
Voices continued to echo in Li Fan's ears, his eyes gradually losing focus, turning blood-red, as if bewitched by these voices.
Li Fan walked step by step towards the endless Void Abyss, getting closer and closer.
Just as Li Fan was about to be drawn into the Void Abyss, to be shattered to pieces.
A light suddenly burst forth from the bottom of the Void Abyss, piercing through the Immortal-Sealing Grand Formation, entering Li Fan's eyes.
The red haze of madness was temporarily suppressed, and the words "The Immortal Path is Dead" appeared vividly in Li Fan's vision.
"Boom!"
All the fervent thoughts of recklessly pursuing the path of cultivation and even leaping into the abyss vanished completely.
"What happened?" A cold sweat broke out on the awakened Li Fan.
In his eyes, the calm Void Abyss suddenly transformed into a lurking beast, its jaws wide open, ready to devour him.
Li Fan immediately turned around and fled without looking back.
After a long time, the fog reformed.
From the bottom of the Void Abyss, a faint, angry roar echoed.
Fifteen years later, anchoring for twenty years.
[Return to Origin] was finally fully charged.
With newfound confidence, Li Fan returned to the Void Abyss.
Recalling the scene from years ago, even after so much time had passed, Li Fan still felt a lingering fear.
"It seems I was right; the creature in the Dark Layer harbors great malice towards mortals. Perhaps its mission is to devour all mortals who approach this place."
Despite the danger, Li Fan was determined not to abandon the path to immortality.
Without hesitation, Li Fan piloted the Taiyan Boat, navigating through the Thunderstorm Layer without incident.
He didn't proceed further; instead, he stopped above the Dark Layer, patiently waiting.
"Whoo..."
The wind began to rise.
The raging thunderstorm, influenced by this mysterious wind, started to calm down, gradually weakening.
Tiny points of light emerged from the darkness, eventually forming a vast, continuous panorama.
Li Fan didn't look at this inverted spectacle; instead, he used the precious and brief light to search for the creature lurking in the darkness.
Unfortunately, he found nothing!
As the light was about to fade, Li Fan gritted his teeth, no longer hesitating, and drove the Taiyan Boat with all his might, rushing towards the bottom of the Void Abyss.
The strange sound echoed again, reaching him in an instant.
At this moment, Li Fan suddenly changed the direction of the Taiyan Boat's charge completely.
After drawing a beautiful curve, the Taiyan Boat, which had been diving straight down, now flew upwards at several times its previous speed!
Upwards, and upwards!
With full power, the Taiyan Boat returned to the Thunderstorm Layer amidst a roar of fury!
Using the last bit of fading light, Li Fan, from his high vantage point, finally saw the true form of the creature in the darkness.
It was a giant whale of indescribable size; even from a great distance, Li Fan couldn't see it in its entirety.
Even its gaping maw filled Li Fan's entire field of vision.
Seeing its prey return to the Thunderstorm Layer, the giant whale was agitated but could only swim back and forth, unable to advance.
After a few roars to vent its frustration, it reluctantly closed its mouth and vanished into the darkness.
(End of Chapter)