Of course, all of this was merely Li Fan’s speculation.
His understanding of the Reversal of Heaven and Earth and the Struggle for Immortality was still too shallow. He could only analyze and judge based on the different historical evolutionary directions of the Xuanhuang Realm that he had experienced. He could only glimpse the surface but could not grasp its essence.
Perhaps only when he truly reached the realm of Reversal could he fully comprehend the events unfolding in the Xuanhuang Realm during this period.
While Li Fan was deep in thought, the argument between Huangfu and Dongfang had finally reached a reluctant consensus.
One should not act recklessly just because of the resurrection methods of the Rebirth Mansion. It was still necessary to cherish one’s life.
However, if one had the resources, it wouldn’t hurt to purchase rare treasures like the Soul-Stability Seal or the Rebirth Decree as a last resort. After all, life and death are unpredictable—no one could guarantee they wouldn’t suddenly perish due to unforeseen circumstances. It was always better to be prepared.
“The number of resurrected cultivators is still very small for now. I can’t even begin to imagine what will happen eighteen years from now when a large number of fallen cultivators return to life. What kind of impact will that have on the Xuanhuang Realm?” Huangfu Song sighed.
“I don’t know what the future will look like, but one thing is clear—the day when the White Mist Barrier is fully explored isn’t far away!” Watching another Samantabhadra True Boat rush past them, Dongfang Yao let out a cold snort.
“Brother Li, if you want to exchange for the Endstone Plate, you’d better hurry up,” he reminded.
As they delved deeper into the mist, Li Fan once again picked up the sound of the Tian Yi’s Wail.
However, this time, the sound was strange compared to before. It was as if something was interfering with or distorting its transmission. When Li Fan heard it, it barely resembled the “Tian Yi” anymore. If he hadn’t heard its wailing so many times while traveling through the Maze Zone, he might not have recognized it at all.
After contemplating for a moment, Li Fan chose not to act rashly.
Huangfu and Dongfang, seeing Li Fan stop, immediately asked why.
After hearing his explanation, the two of them spoke in unison, “We’ve been through all kinds of dangers together. Even if there’s a risk, there’s no need to be afraid. Besides, we can still resurrect, can’t we? Brother Li, don’t worry—let’s charge in!”
It seemed that although they had expressed concerns about the mysterious nature of resurrection, deep down, they had developed a sense of confidence.
After all, they could come back to life!
Li Fan smiled faintly.
“Alright, since both of you say so, then let’s venture into this Maze Zone.” He spoke in a deep voice, immediately steering the flying vessel toward the source of the distorted sound at full speed.
It was unclear how long they traveled, but after crossing an indistinguishable boundary, something suddenly and inexplicably happened—
The Samantabhadra True Boat came to an abrupt stop.
“What’s going on, Brother Li?” Huangfu and Dongfang looked at Li Fan with surprise.
“It wasn’t me,” Li Fan explained.
The three of them exchanged glances, their expressions turning solemn.
They extended their spiritual senses outward, scanning the surroundings of the Boat, but found nothing unusual.
Yet, they also couldn’t determine why the boat had stopped.
Li Fan thought for a moment, then took out the Black Death Talisman to protect himself before flying out of the Samantabhadra True Boat.
He planned to circle around and personally inspect the surroundings.
Above, ahead, behind—there was nothing unusual.
But when Li Fan flew to the underside of the Boat, the scene before him made his pupils contract sharply.
From the white mist below, a mass of black, viscous tendrils extended outward, their tips clinging to the underside of the Samantabhadra True Boat.
This black, unidentified substance seemed alive, producing a faint “rustling” sound as it wriggled, slowly spreading outward.
Li Fan could even hear the sound of it crawling along the bottom of the ship.
“This is…”
Li Fan was completely unable to sense anything with his divine sense and could only rely on his naked eye to discern the situation.
He flicked his fingers, sending out a burst of flame in an attempt to burn off the black tentacle clinging to the ship’s hull.
However, to his astonishment, the flames seemed to exist in an entirely different space. No matter how fiercely they burned, they failed to affect the black tentacle in the slightest.
Li Fan then unleashed a sword aura, but the result was the same. It was as if the tentacles did not exist at all—the sword light passed straight through them and shot off into the distance.
Yet, the thick black substance remained firmly adhered to the ship’s hull, showing no signs of breaking.
As Li Fan remained silent for a long time, spiritual energy fluctuations began to spread. This made Huangfu Song and Dongfang Yao uneasy. The two of them flew out of the ship together, witnessing the strange phenomenon with their own eyes.
They tried various methods but still could not sever the black tentacles.
“We can only follow them downward and see where they originate from,” Huangfu Song suggested.
As he spoke, he took out the Heaven-Measuring Mirror and placed it above his head.
“As expected, we’ve entered a new Maze Zone that no one has explored before,” he said, his tone carrying a hint of excitement.
“There are still three Samantabhadra True Boat as backups, but until we figure out what this thing is, it’s best not to use them. If they get entangled again, we might be forced to escape into the white mist with just our physical bodies,” Dongfang Yao advised.
Li Fan reassured them, “No worries. I have plenty of Black Death Talismans. Even without the Samantabhadra True Boat, the talismans alone are enough to ensure our safe return.”
Huangfu and Dongfang both nodded in praise. “Brother Li, you are always meticulous in your preparations.”
With their concerns addressed, the three of them immediately decided to follow the long black tentacle downward in search of its source.
Their flight was not particularly fast, but the sheer length of the thick black substance exceeded their expectations. It took them the time it takes to brew a cup of tea before they finally reached the origin.
Upon seeing what lay before them, all three were rendered speechless.
A massive black sphere, resembling a grotesque tumor, floated silently in midair.
It was composed of the same thick, black substance.
Hundreds of tentacles extended from the sphere, reaching in different directions through the white mist, seemingly clinging to something unknown.
At first glance, it looked like an enormous black web, with the sphere trapped at its center.
“Can you sense its presence with spiritual sense?” Huangfu Song asked through spiritual sense transmission, his expression somewhat tense.
Li Fan closed his eyes and concentrated. In his perception, there was nothing but empty space ahead. However, when he opened his eyes again, the black sphere was right there in front of him.
“No, I can’t,” Li Fan shook his head slightly, his expression solemn.
“Forget it. Let’s not disturb this thing. We’ll finish exploring this Maze Zone and then leave,” Dongfang Yao, who was usually bold, felt a rare sense of unease and suggested cautiously.
Li Fan stared at the black sphere for a long time before nodding slightly.
Anything that could block spiritual sense perception was certainly no ordinary object.
Caution was never a mistake.