On the map, the distance between Li Fan and his destination spanned nearly half of the water attribute grotto-heaven.
Li Fan estimated that if he had relied on his own power to fly over, it would have taken him one or two months to make the journey. Yet with the Sky-Soaring Shuttle, it required less than a single day. A little over fourteen hours, and he arrived at the marked location.
His speed gradually decreased, and the black-gold fluid surrounding his body slowly reverted to its original form. When Li Fan came to a complete stop, it transformed once more into a tiny, droplet-shaped object that he stored within his dantian.
Li Fan surveyed his workplace for the coming period.
Below stretched an endless expanse of cerulean water. Above, seemingly within arm's reach, a branch from the colossal inverted tree hanging from the sky met the water attribute grotto-heaven in an intimate embrace.
What struck Li Fan as somewhat unexpected was that a tree brimming with vitality should exhibit even more vigorous growth upon contact with water, yet the enormous branch before him was a scene of complete desolation and decay.
The trees were a sickly gray-yellow, broken and full of gaping holes. They looked on the verge of splintering and falling apart any second.
Perhaps it was an illusion born from staring too long, but from within the deathly stillness of those broken branches, he could vaguely discern the fragmented silhouettes of “people."
He averted his gaze. When he looked back a moment later, that sensation had vanished.
Li Fan shook his head, retrieved the Celestial Oversight Ledger, and began meticulously studying the construction plans once more.
In the brief time he had spent surveying the surroundings, the plan had already been updated. Five additional cultivators had been assigned as his assistants and were en route with logistical supplies.
Li Fan did not wait for them. The Celestial Oversight Ledger released a beam of light, projecting coordinates into the air. After confirming the coordinates of the nodes, Li Fan immediately commenced construction on the Spirit-Locking Array.
Unlike the Roaring Abyss, where one constantly had to guard against the Lifespan-Devouring White Mist and demonic sounds, this water attribute grotto-heaven held almost no danger. In fact, the dense spiritual qi was highly conducive to array construction.
Thus, unfettered by constraints, Li Fan could operate at full capacity.
After years of “weighted training,” Li Fan's speed in laying arrays under normal conditions had ascended to another level entirely.
It was like an instinct carved into the depths of his soul, requiring no conscious thought; his hand moved where his will directed, and in the blink of an eye, an array was formed.
Li Fan's heart held neither sorrow nor joy; he simply proceeded with the array's construction with an absolute, terrifying efficiency, losing himself completely in the work.
By the time the support team of five arrived, what they witnessed was Li Fan, utterly focused, casually constructing the Spirit-Locking Array as if freely splashing ink.
They were not novices to array construction, but the speed and effortless grace displayed by the array masters they had previously encountered paled in comparison to this white-haired Golden Core array master before them.
The five exchanged glances.
"Is he truly only at the Golden Core realm?"
"Li Fan... that name seems familiar. Wait, could it be that Li Fan?"
"There’s no mistake. As expected of the man who worked himself to death on the front lines of the Spirit-Locking Array’s construction. His proficiency is simply astounding."
"To think we would have the fortune of cooperating with him this time."
After a brief exchange via divine sense, they did not disturb Li Fan. Instead, they began constructing their base camp on the water's surface below.
While they had heard that this Li Fan was extremely driven and required no rest once he started laying arrays, having a foothold for unexpected situations was still necessary. Besides, the five of them couldn't endure working non-stop for years on end.
This work was second nature to them, and they completed a small outpost suspended above the water in just three days.
Afterward, they began the standard procedure of inspecting and verifying the array units Li Fan had already completed.
The results shattered their preconceptions.
They had previously heard tales of certain geniuses of the array path working with astonishing speed. But the Spirit-Locking Array's structure was immensely complex, containing countless array units.
Combined with the influence of the external environment, even the most gifted individuals were bound to make occasional errors during construction.
Yet every array Li Fan had constructed was flawless.
Tireless, efficient, precise—all of this was being accomplished by a wizened, fading Golden Core cultivator on the brink of death.
It was simply unbelievable, leaving the five of them filled with profound admiration.
Time passed, and the area of the array Li Fan had constructed rapidly expanded.
With each array node that stood completed, the five men's respect for Li Fan deepened. This man truly was as the rumors said—he seemed not to know the meaning of fatigue, never resting for a moment. Even they, working in shifts, were starting to feel the strain, yet they dared not voice the slightest complaint.
Thus, a year slipped quietly past. Soon, the completed section of the array had grown to five thousand li in all directions from the initial node, and the task originally assigned to Li Fan and his team was nearly finished.
"The original plan was to finish within three years. Who would have thought we'd be done in just one?" remarked Yan Hang, a Nascent Soul cultivator among the five, gazing at the array in the sky with a sigh. "We can finally get some proper rest now."
He was utterly exhausted, his face etched with weariness. The others nodded in vigorous agreement.
However, when Li Fan finished constructing the final section of the array, he paused in mid-air for a moment but showed no intention of resting. Instead, he continued extending the array outward.
"What is Master Li doing? That area is clearly outside our assigned scope!" Yan Hang, who had been ready to return and relax, couldn't help but exclaim.
"This... Quick, check the Celestial Oversight Ledger! The work plan has been updated!"
"Master Li has volunteered to assist the array masters in the surrounding areas?!"
"And we are to provide our utmost cooperation without slacking off?"
The men spoke over each other, their hearts instantly turning cold. Despair washed over their faces.
It took a long while for the five to recover. Gritting his teeth, Yan Hang tried to rally them. "If Master Li is pushing himself this hard, we have no grounds to refuse. Brothers, let's dig deep and endure a while longer."
One of them sighed. "It seems we must. If we back out now, word would get out, and we'd be a laughingstock. For myself, I don't mind. My main concern is for Master Li. Haven't you noticed... he seems to be aging more rapidly?"
The others jolted at the remark. They turned their gazes toward the figure in the distance—bent with years, yet still standing.
A chill ran through them all.
"It does seem that way."
"He only had a few years of his lifespan left to begin with. Pushing himself like this... the drain on his vitality must be multiplied severalfold."
"What do we do?"
They exchanged glances.
"No. We cannot stand by and watch Master Li fall before our eyes."
"Report this situation immediately!"
Yan Hang's voice was low and grim.