Fearless unto death, sacrificing oneself for others?
If not for Return to Truth, which allows me to start over at any time, I would absolutely never make such a choice!
It truly leaves a sour taste!
Amidst the boundless sea of mist, Li Fan employed Purple Firmament Divine Lightning Evasion, transforming into a streak of violet light as he sped toward the Eternal Immortal Fortress.
A feeling of stifling frustration and gloom lingered stubbornly within him.
And the previously ever-reliable Xuanhuang Heart Refinement Sutra was, contrary to its nature, operating with extreme sluggishness.
Like an immensely heavy millstone, it drew his thoughts inward and ground them down slowly.
Before, when Li Fan had practiced it incorrectly, everything was crudely pulverized. Now, the Heart Refinement Sutra tempered these rebellious emotions born from defying his Dao Heart, refining them into threads of icy-cold energy that flowed into the depths of his mind and body, nourishing him.
The cooling sensation slightly soothed his agitated state of mind.
Inversely refining the Dao Heart was, in essence, actively pursuing those unsettled grievances.
This naturally made Li Fan, who had always followed his own whims, feel extremely uncomfortable.
Fortunately, the Xuanhuang Heart Refinement Sutra did not disappoint him.
After carefully contemplating the effect of the icy energy on his body, Li Fan's spirit was soon shaken by a violent tremor.
This feeling...
It's so similar to when I consumed the Intent Horse?!
The Heart Clarification Sutra could strengthen divine sense, but cultivating the Heart Refinement Sutra correctly can actually fortify the soul?
A tempest of astonishment surged within Li Fan's heart.
No wonder its grade as a technique surpasses even the Dao Unity-level Cloudwater Dream Illusion Art.
Techniques that strengthen divine sense—I've seen one or two of those on the special merit redemption catalog within the Tianxuan Mirror.
But ones that can strengthen the soul... that is truly unheard of.
The soul was the interior; divine sense was the exterior. If the soul grew stronger, divine sense naturally followed suit.
Divine sense was like muscle; it could be continuously enhanced through later training and cultivation.
But the soul was like bone, fixed at birth. Only methods that nearly altered a lifeform, such as a breakthrough in one's cultivation realm, or consuming natural treasures like the Intent Horse, could strengthen it.
Back then, Zhang Zhiliang had also said that the soul-strengthening Intent Horse was incredibly precious.
Yet no matter how effective the Intent Horse was, its benefits were ultimately limited.
The Xuanhuang Heart Refinement Sutra was another matter entirely—its soul fortification effects appeared to have no ceiling at all. So long as one continued inversely refining the Dao Heart, the soul seemed to grow stronger without limit.
It was crucial to understand that once the soul reached a certain level of strength, it could be wielded directly as a weapon against enemies.
For instance, the Myriad Immortals Alliance officially acknowledged the existence of the terrifying Thousand-Faced Demon Lord, who had abandoned his physical body and existed solely as a soul entity. Relying on the overwhelming strength of his soul, he rampaged through the world, forcibly possessing others.
If I keep cultivating the Xuanhuang Heart Refinement Sutra and my soul continues to strengthen, then one day, whether or not the Thousand-Faced Demon Lord truly exists, he would be no match for me.
And furthermore, Return to Truth and I are one. After each simulation cycle, everything in the world returns to the selected anchor point. Only the changes within me remain.
Even if I choose to retain nothing, this is still the case.
When I was still a mortal, my will grew stronger and stronger across cycles. Later, I could even manipulate the Taiyan Boat with a mortal body. That is proof.
Will, soul...
Doesn't that mean all things in the world return to their original state with each cycle, while my soul grows stronger and stronger?
And one day, even if I choose not to retain my cultivation, my powerful soul alone will be enough to crush everything?
There was no mistake.
The more Li Fan thought about it, the more incredible it seemed.
The Xuanhuang Heart Refinement Sutra, a heaven-defying divine technique, was actually hidden within the common, everyday Xuanhuang Heart Clarification Sutra?
What in the world...
Instinctively, Li Fan felt there must be some conspiracy hidden within.
His heart was filled with doubt and suspicion, but after an internal struggle, he still decided to continue cultivating.
With such a technique right before my eyes, there’s simply no way I can give it up.
Even if there is some trick, the strengthening of my soul is real and tangible.
If the mastermind behind this can truly ignore the effects of Return to Truth, then so be it.
If not, then no amount of scheming is of any use in the face of Return to Truth.
Having made his decision, Li Fan immediately felt a wave of relief.
The actual effects of the Xuanhuang Heart Refinement Sutra far exceeded his expectations.
It’s just that this method of inversely refining the Dao Heart... is rather agonizing.
Li Fan vaguely understood that one couldn’t cultivate it by simply saying things contrary to one’s Dao Heart.
One must align knowledge with action; one’s actual deeds must also defy the Dao Heart.
Only then could it transform into nourishment for the soul.
This was also the reason he had ventured alone into the White Mist.
For others, facing both the demonic sound tide and the Lifespan-Devouring White Mist makes this an extraordinarily dangerous journey. Less than one in ten will make it back. But for me, the odds aren't nearly that grim.
The only thing I fear is a method that can instantly strip me of my ability to resist.
Whether facing the White Mist or the demonic sounds, if I truly encounter any mortal danger, I have time to activate Return to Truth.
Overall, the benefits of this choice far outweigh the risks.
On the contrary, the territories of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, which usually seem risk-free, are fraught with peril when trying to defy the Dao Heart.
A single moment of carelessness might attract the attention of a Dao Unity powerhouse.
As Li Fan pondered, he continued flying toward his destination.
Protected by the Black Death Talisman, which kept the Lifespan-Devouring White Mist at bay, the only thing Li Fan had to worry about was the demonic sound tide that assaulted him from time to time.
Whenever whispers and murmurs reached his ears, Li Fan would stop flying as a precaution.
He would light the Extinction Crystal Lamp, wait quietly for the demonic sounds to weaken, then set off again.
Although surrounded by danger on all sides, Li Fan’s careful progress ensured that the journey was an uneventful one.
Before long, he had been flying through the White Mist for over two days.
The power of five elements within his body formed a self-sustaining cycle, so he didn’t need to worry about running out of spiritual power.
Yet, Li Fan’s expression gradually grew serious.
If the threat were only at this level, Leng Yingyi couldn’t have come to harm.
What did he encounter that kept him from returning?
And where does this growing sense of unease within me come from?
Li Fan grew increasingly wary, releasing his divine sense to probe his surroundings. However, within the sea of mist now devoid of the demonic sound tide, there was only silence.
He searched for a long time but could not find the source of the threat.
Li Fan could only react as situations arose, continuing to fly in the direction of the Eternal Immortal Fortress.
Thus, another two days passed.
Li Fan suddenly halted.
His face turned grim.
Now I finally know why Leng Yingyi never returned. So that’s how it is.
At his pace, flying and pausing along the way, he should have reached the Eternal Immortal Fortress within two days at most.
But four days had now passed since he left Outpost 01-11.
In his perception, the Eternal Immortal Fortress was right there ahead of him, almost within reach.
And yet no matter how far he flew, that distance never closed.
.....
“There are places that seem a hand’s breadth away, yet getting to them is like trying to cross an impassable chasm. They are simply impossible to reach. We call these places within the White Mist Barriers, Lost Domains.”
.....
The words Huangfu Song had once spoken suddenly echoed in Li Fan's ears.
He stopped flying for the moment. Standing suspended in the void, his expression flickered.
Beyond the Roaring Abyss, on the crucial route between Outpost 01-11 and the Eternal Immortal Fortress, a new Lost Domain quietly spawned without anyone’s knowledge, and no one noticed.
Leng Yingyi must have gotten trapped inside it.
And now I have as well.
Li Fan looked forward, as though he could already see the enormous bluestone hand lying just ahead.
But he still couldn’t reach it.
So near, yet separated by a heavenly chasm...
He let out a silent sigh.
Even though he had accidentally fallen into a dire situation, Li Fan had no intention of immediately choosing to Return to Truth.
There were still too many loose ends in this life; giving up now would be a real shame.
And it was also his nature—he was not someone who would yield until every last trace of hope was gone.
So, before his strength was depleted and his provisions ran out, Li Fan resolved to search for a way across this newly formed Lost Domain.
A Lost Domain, in the end, was simply an immensely vast stretch of space.
It wasn’t a true dead end.