After the anomaly vanished, Li Fan keenly sensed that something inexplicable had changed within him. However, after a thorough examination, he couldn't pinpoint exactly what the change was. Nevertheless, it didn't seem to be a bad thing. Li Fan decided to temporarily set it aside, simply keeping it in mind.
After identifying his current location, Li Fan realized it was slightly different from where he had appeared in the Immortal Cultivation World in his previous life. However, the difference wasn't significant. This place was closest to Glass Island, so Li Fan decided to head there first. After all, he had spent a long time on Glass Island in his previous life and was quite familiar with it. Although Immortal Master He Zhenghao was somewhat greedy, he was at least reliable in his actions. Compared to others, Li Fan preferred dealing with acquaintances to minimize uncertainties.
Having chosen his direction, Li Fan didn't operate the Taiyan Boat but instead performed a Wind Riding Technique to fly towards Glass Island. The identity he intended to assume was that of a rogue cultivator from the Congyun Sea Region, who had fortuitously cultivated to the late Qi Refining stage. Unable to find a method to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, he sought to join the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals.
In the current Immortal Cultivation World, the life of a rogue cultivator was extremely difficult. Unlike members of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals and the Five Elders Council, who had fixed channels to obtain cultivation methods, rogue cultivators often had to risk their lives exploring ancient sect ruins to find a cultivation method. They not only had to face the dangers and mechanisms within the ruins but also be wary of other cultivators eyeing them covetously. A single misstep could lead to death and the end of their path.
Despite this, rogue cultivators were unwilling to join the two major organizations, simply because they didn't want to be controlled or serve others. For rogue cultivators, freedom was paramount. Different choices were merely due to differing philosophies, and it wasn't about who was superior.
Therefore, the Taiyan Boat was a bit too conspicuous for someone posing as a rogue cultivator. To avoid unnecessary trouble and suspicion, Li Fan chose to fly using the Wind Riding Technique. Although it was slower, Li Fan wasn't in a hurry and took the opportunity to adapt.
The reason for this was that back in the Great Xuan Kingdom, Li Fan had vaguely felt that his affinity for spiritual energy had inexplicably increased in this life. However, due to the lack of spiritual energy in the Immortal-Forsaken Land, he couldn't verify it. Once he was in the Immortal Cultivation World and sensed the surrounding spiritual energy, Li Fan finally confirmed that his intuition was correct.
If in his previous life, he had forcibly absorbed spiritual energy from the heavens and earth like a pump through the spirit of heaven and earth, in this life, with just a thought, the spiritual energy would naturally flow into his dantian without any force. Although it still couldn't compare to the affinity for spiritual energy described by Xiao Heng, it was much better than before.
Li Fan speculated that the cause of this change might lie in the spirit of heaven and earth. In his previous life, the spirit of heaven and earth was cultivated from the five emotions of greed, fear, rage, hatred, and ego. In this life, the spirit of heaven and earth in Li Fan's dantian was directly manifested through [Return to Origin]. If the spirit of heaven and earth cultivated by the Five Spirits Qi-Sensing Method was filled with violent and dark emotions, then the spirit of heaven and earth bestowed by [Return to Origin] was balanced, peaceful, and natural.
Unexpectedly, inheriting his previous life's cultivation through [Return to Origin] also brought such benefits. While delighted, Li Fan also vaguely felt that there might be deeper reasons behind this.
However, before he could ponder further, his expression suddenly changed. In his perception, a killing intent emerged from afar, locking onto him and rapidly approaching. Moreover, the opponent's aura was powerful, at least at the Foundation Establishment stage!
Although it felt inexplicable, Li Fan didn't hesitate. He immediately summoned the Taiyan Boat, accelerating to its maximum speed, and fled towards the nearest Glass Island. The opponent seemed surprised that Li Fan possessed such a treasure as a flying boat, hesitating for a moment before increasing their speed.
Inside the Taiyan Boat, Li Fan's expression was grim. The distance was too great, beyond the range of his divine sense. However, judging by the steadily approaching killing intent, the opponent's speed was definitely faster than his own on the Taiyan Boat.
After hesitating for a moment, Li Fan released a formless killing intent towards the opponent. Suddenly, a darkness enveloped him, and faint murmurs echoed in his ears. The surroundings became illusory and distorted, as if countless eyes were secretly watching him. Fortunately, this hallucination-like scene came and went quickly, as if it was just a momentary blur before returning to normal.
Li Fan understood that this was the side effect of releasing a formless killing intent across realms. The formless killing intent was a borrowed heavenly mandate. Since it was a borrowed heavenly mandate, there were naturally risks involved. Even mortals who falsely conveyed an emperor's decree would face execution, let alone pretending to be a heavenly mandate. The greater the difference in cultivation between himself and the target of the killing intent, the more likely it was to be detected by the will of heaven and earth. Fortunately, for now, crossing just one major realm wasn't too problematic.
After the formless killing intent was released, there was initially no reaction. But soon, Li Fan noticed a sudden wind appearing between heaven and earth. This wind spun continuously in the opponent's path, quickly forming a tornado. The tornado, with a faint azure glow, resembled a giant dragon, roaring towards the opponent. Caught off guard, the person was ensnared by the tornado. Li Fan seized this opportunity to accelerate his escape.
Before long, a loud explosion echoed from behind. The opponent seemed to have broken free from the tornado, flying even faster towards Li Fan's direction, with an intensified killing intent. Just as they were about to reach Li Fan, a giant crocodile shark leaped high from the sea, swallowing the person whole. The crocodile shark then plunged back into the sea, splashing water high into the air.
"Boom!" A burst of flames erupted from the sea. The crocodile shark was incinerated, leaving no remains, and the person emerged from the sea, somewhat disheveled and frantic. Sensing Li Fan's location, they accelerated in pursuit. Yet, whenever they were about to catch up to Li Fan, unexpected incidents would occur.
Thus, the two continued their chase, with the opponent faster than Li Fan but unable to catch up. Finally, Glass Island came into view. The person cautiously surveyed the surroundings, seemingly relieved that no more unexpected incidents occurred, and prepared to unleash a spell to kill Li Fan.
Suddenly, in the bright daylight sky, a bolt of lightning struck down, hitting them directly. If not for a protective glow that absorbed most of the lightning's damage at the critical moment, they might have lost their life. Even so, the person was charred and unrecognizable.
Seeing this, Li Fan quickly flew towards the central Island Protection Array of Glass Island. The person paused in mid-air, recovering slowly. Filled with shock and anger, they shouted, "He Zhenghao, aren't you coming out to help me kill this little thief?"
From Glass Island, Li Fan heard a familiar voice, "Protector Wan? How did you end up like this?"
...
Li Fan, who was flying towards Glass Island, stopped upon hearing their conversation. Surrounded with no escape, he cursed inwardly. Then, he silently recited in his heart, "[Return to Origin]!"
(End of Chapter)