Li Fan followed the direction of the sound and looked over. At the very center of the massive vortex, where wind and thunder clashed violently, stood a cultivator with a bare upper body, his frame lean but covered with tempered, powerful muscles. He was roaring toward the sky in fury.
Around him, countless tiny tornadoes could be faintly seen swirling. At the heart of the whirlwind, an abyssal darkness loomed, as if space itself had been torn apart.
The burly man drifted with the wind, the miniature tornadoes flickering in and out of existence in sync with his movements.
Even from a considerable distance away from the vortex’s core, Li Fan could feel the fierce winds slicing painfully against his skin. Yet, at the very heart of the storm, that muscular cultivator had no protective measures at all. He simply let the raging gales slam against his body, producing crisp, metallic collision sounds.
“That man is…”
Li Fan narrowed his eyes.
Though it was their first time meeting in this life, in his previous life, he had once crossed paths with this individual.
It was Dongfang Yao, the one who had overseen the construction of the Tianxuan Spirit-Locking Formation in the Ten-Thousand-Mile Scorching Sand Flats and Transformation Spirit Ravine. He was a close confidant of Huangfu Song and had already reached the Soul Transformation realm at that time.
However, it seemed that in this life, he had yet to break through that threshold and was still at the Nascent Soul stage.
Li Fan did not rashly approach but instead observed Dongfang Yao from a distance, contemplating his insights.
The violent winds howled as the vortex’s currents grew even more turbulent. Dongfang Yao attempted to steady himself within the storm, pushing toward the vortex’s core. Each step forward caused his body to emit ominous creaking noises, as if he were being compressed by immense pressure.
“Hmph!”
Dongfang Yao let out a deep roar, the veins on his neck bulging as a faint golden glow enveloped his muscles.
With unwavering resolve, he continued advancing toward the vortex’s center.
Suddenly, a black rift, resembling a bolt of lightning, appeared out of nowhere before Dongfang Yao. It was as if a sword had descended from the void, slashing directly across his body.
“Boom!”
A deafening explosion resounded, its force so immense that it pierced through the storm and rain. A fresh wound split open across Dongfang Yao’s body, forcing him several steps back.
Yet, instead of fear, his expression showed excitement.
“I’ve finally been waiting for you!”
With a strange shout, the grievous wound on Dongfang Yao’s body healed in an instant. He stomped hard against the void, and in a sudden burst of energy, he leaped forward dozens of feet in an instant.
A colossal black rift loomed ahead. It was unclear whether it had just appeared or had always been there, hidden since ancient times, beyond the sight of ordinary beings.
A black radiance, sharp as a sword, slashed straight down Dongfang Yao’s midline.
“Pfft!”
Dongfang Yao’s flesh was instantly torn apart, nearly splitting him open from chest to abdomen. His body was flung backward, retreating a thousand feet in the blink of an eye, returning to the outer perimeter of the vortex where it was relatively safe.
“Are you alright, Fellow Daoist?”
Seeing this, Li Fan called out at the right moment.
Without approaching, he flicked over a healing pill—a Hundred-Heal Pill, specially prepared for him by Liu San before this expedition. Though not quite a miraculous panacea that could revive the dead or regrow lost limbs, it was still an exceptional healing medicine. For ordinary injuries, it could heal completely within just a few breaths.
Dongfang Yao reached out and caught the Hundred-Healing Pill. With just a glance, he swallowed it whole.
“This is nothing! Many thanks for your concern, fellow Daoist!” As he spoke, the originally severe wounds on his body had already healed completely.
Not even a scar remained.
While part of the credit belonged to the Hundred-Healing Pill, the greater reason was Dongfang Yao’s exceptionally strong physique.
Li Fan couldn’t help but take notice.
“How should I address you, fellow Daoist?” Dongfang Yao temporarily halted his training amidst the wind and rain, soaring over to Li Fan’s side.
“I am Li Fan. I heard of the Grand Vortex Phenomenon in Lingxu Prefecture, so I passed by to witness it for myself. I never expected to meet such an extraordinary individual like you, fellow Daoist!” Li Fan’s gaze swept over Dongfang Yao’s well-defined muscles, his eyes filled with admiration.
“My name is Dongfang Yao!” He waved his hand dismissively. “I’m not extraordinary, just a bit sturdier than most!”
“Fellow Daoist Dongfang, you are being far too modest. With such an incredibly strong body, even the legendary body cultivators of ancient times might not compare to you!” Li Fan clicked his tongue in amazement.
Dongfang Yao burst into laughter. “Now, that’s something I like to hear…”
Just as he was about to continue speaking, he suddenly turned his head and looked toward the center of the Grand Vortex.
Amidst the roaring wind and thunder, a dark shadow seemed to surface once again.
“Fellow Daoist, wait here for a moment. I’ll be right back!”
His voice still echoed in the air as his figure shot toward the whirlpool’s core like a bolt of lightning.
A series of deafening explosions and collisions resounded once more.
A few breaths later, Dongfang Yao returned, covered in fresh blood and looking rather battered.
This time, however, Li Fan did not take out another Hundred-Healing Pill. Instead, he quietly observed Dongfang Yao heal himself.
His injuries were even more severe than before, but with just a bit more effort, he had fully recovered once again.
“So I worried for nothing and wasted a top-grade pill,” Li Fan remarked in feigned exasperation.
“Haha, it wasn’t wasted! I still have it stored in my stomach!” Dongfang Yao smugly patted his abdomen and laughed.
Li Fan was momentarily stunned before shaking his head with a wry smile. “You truly are a fascinating person, fellow Daoist.”
Dongfang Yao simply smiled without replying.
“To remain here at the Ancient Rift’s Vortex for so long without even flinching, you must be hiding some extraordinary abilities as well, Daoist Li,” Dongfang Yao said meaningfully after a moment of contemplation.
A trace of helplessness appeared on Li Fan’s face. “The Xuanhuang Realm is riddled with dangers. Without some means of survival, how could I dare to wander about? But it’s nothing more than a quick spiritual recovery technique—not even close to comparing with your abilities, fellow Daoist.”
“I’ve heard that body cultivation is extremely difficult. To reach this level, you must be a once-in-a-generation genius!” Li Fan remarked with genuine admiration.
Dongfang Yao waved off the praise, but the pride in his expression was impossible to conceal.
“It’s just that my physique is naturally a little special.”
As he spoke, the dark fissure at the whirlpool’s center reappeared. Dongfang Yao halted their conversation and charged into the chaos once more.
Again, he returned with severe injuries, and again, he conversed with Li Fan after healing.
After several repetitions of this cycle, Li Fan gradually pieced together some truths from Dongfang Yao’s words.
It turned out that Dongfang Yao, much like Ye Feipeng, carried a trace of ancient beast bloodline within him.
Though diluted over thousands of years to the point of near insignificance, Dongfang Yao had once encountered a rare treasure that fully awakened the latent potential of his beast lineage.
“At first, I worried it might turn me into something neither human nor beast, but that thing… truly miraculous,” Dongfang Yao sighed in amazement.