Chapter 1167: 渡尘出玄黄

"That's completely wrong!" Saint-embryo Li Fan sternly retorted before Shang Shaojun could reply. "The source of this power is not close at hand. It's deep within the star sea!"

"Huh?" Hearing Li Fan's words, Shang Shaojun was taken aback.

"I know you don't believe me, Shaojun. But it doesn't matter. Once I successfully break free from the Immortal Ruins' shackles and fly out of the Xuanhuang World, you'll know I was right!" Saint-embryo Li Fan then bowed deeply with a solemn expression. "Please, Shaojun, lend me a hand!"

How could Shang Shaojun accept such a bow from Li Fan? He quickly stopped him. "Brother Li, there's no need for this. It's just a matter of some supplies; with our friendship, it's nothing."

"Yan Huan!" Shang Shaojun called his trusted subordinate forward and instructed him to handle the matter. "Don't worry, everything will be ready in three days at most."

"Too slow! This is a heaven-sent opportunity, not to be missed. One day!" Saint-embryo Li Fan said unceremoniously.

Shang Shaojun pondered for a moment, then gritted his teeth, "Alright! One day it is!" He then seemed to transmit a private message with instructions.

After doing all this, he turned and stared at Li Fan, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating.

"Is there anything, Shaojun? Please speak freely!"

"Brother Li, are you really going to..." Shang Shaojun still seemed somewhat incredulous.

Saint-embryo Li Fan smiled faintly and explained his judgment to him: "The powerful force that caused this Xuanhuang tremor comes from the depths of the starry sky. It's completely different from the gravitational pull of the Immortal Ruins that has always attracted the Xuanhuang World. In the past, rashly flying out of the Xuanhuang World without the world's protection, let alone a Dao Integration cultivator like you or me, even an ordinary Immortal Longevity realm cultivator would likely perish. Perhaps only beings with the strength of a Dharma Transmitting Celestial Venerable could barely resist. But now, it's different..."

Suddenly, a pool of water appeared before Li Fan. In the center of the water, a massive vortex spun rapidly, with turbulent currents devouring everything around it.

Saint-embryo Li Fan lightly pointed a finger. Outside this vortex, another vortex of the same size surprisingly appeared. The forces of the two vortices interfered with each other, and the direction of the water flow became unstable.

Shang Shaojun instantly understood Li Fan's meaning.

"However, these are all your conjectures, Brother Li, aren't they? What if you're wrong..."

"If one learns the truth in the morning, one can die in the evening without regret." Saint-embryo Li Fan's face was calm, showing no fear whatsoever. "Missing this rare opportunity, even if I live, I will regret it for the rest of my life. So I must go," Li Fan said with determination. "I want to see what kind of existence could possess such immense power." His eyes shone with light.

Shang Shaojun remained silent.

The Qingxuan Army's efficiency was trustworthy. Within a day, all the materials Li Fan needed were prepared.

"Beyond the star sea, dangers abound. Brother Li, aren't you going to prepare more? Are you planning to traverse the starry sky with just these?" Shang Shaojun muttered to himself.

"If time were ample, it would naturally be better to build a sturdy flying vessel. But isn't time not allowing it? We can only reluctantly use the Immortal Alliance's Dust-Crossing Boat as a substitute."

The Dust-Crossing Boat was currently the Immortal Alliance's only designated flying magical treasure for traveling to and from the White Mist Maze. In his 114th life, Li Fan had traveled to the Roaring Abyss aboard this very boat with Ji Hongdao. The Dust-Crossing Boat was forged from numerous rare materials and came with various protective formations. The entire Eternal Immortal Fortress possessed only two such vessels. To offer one of them showed that Shang Shaojun was truly loyal and generous.

"However, as long as we can endure past the Xuanhuang World's outer boundary, where the two forces are most fiercely contending, there should be no more danger," Saint-embryo Li Fan seized the last moments to modify the Dust-Crossing Boat.

In fact, there was one more point he didn't explicitly state. Saint-embryo Li Fan's greatest reliance for daring to traverse the starry sky wasn't any external object, but his own Foundation-Building Wonder: the Black Sword of Heavenly Wonders! As an embodiment of a law, the Black Sword was far more indestructible than most things in the Xuanhuang World. Moreover, unlike ordinary protective materials that gradually wear out, the Black Sword could continuously "temper" its body by using external forces, thereby enhancing its adaptability.

"It's also thanks to the Dharma Transmitting Celestial Venerable's new method. Even if I abandon my physical body, as long as the Law of the Sword remains, I can continue to survive in the void."

While full of confidence, Saint-embryo Li Fan also considered various unexpected situations he might encounter after flying out of the Xuanhuang World. For instance... The law embodied by the Black Sword of Heavenly Wonders was a manifestation of the Xuanhuang World's Law of the Sword. If he left the Xuanhuang World and lost its support, would his power immediately plummet? Would he become extremely weak? Furthermore, Celestial Physician had once mentioned that outside the Xuanhuang World, in the void, one needed to worry about a certain "illness." Li Fan had also seen this illness on Han Zhong. It was a dark decay that infected the soul. Even the Boundless Waxing and Waning Method, which could repair the soul, had no alleviating effect on it. Saint-embryo Li Fan didn't seek to be immune to this illness; he only hoped to use a large amount of precious soul-nourishing materials to extend the time he could endure in the void.

Another day swiftly passed. The tremors in the Xuanhuang World were visibly nearing their end. The cultivators of the Xuanhuang World all looked relieved, as if having survived a great catastrophe. Many still remained anxious, fearing the return of the terrifying disaster.

Outside the Roaring Abyss, Saint-embryo Li Fan had everything ready. The Dust-Crossing Boat was now vastly different from its original appearance. Li Fan bid farewell to the Qingxuan Army personnel and slowly walked into the flying vessel.

Looking at Li Fan's back, Shang Shaojun wanted to speak but hesitated. In his heart, an impulse surged uncontrollably: to follow along, break out of the Xuanhuang World, and explore the secret behind that immense power. As a cultivator, how could one not be curious about power of that magnitude? However... He wasn't a lone individual after all. He had too many things to consider. Shang Shaojun suddenly felt a tinge of envy for the figure on the Dust-Crossing Boat.

"Shao jun, at this moment, are you considering disregarding life and death to come with me?" As if reading his mind, the other person suddenly transmitted a message just before departing.

Before Shang Shaojun could answer, Saint-embryo Li Fan said with a smile, "That won't do." Shang Shaojun was slightly taken aback.

"Don't forget, Shaojun, that there are still petty schemers secretly hidden within the Xuanhuang World. If both of us were to leave, wouldn't we be letting those villains succeed?"

"I thought you'd forgotten about that in the blink of an eye," Shang Shaojun grumbled to himself.

The Dust-Crossing Boat slowly ascended. Saint-embryo Li Fan's voice echoed in Shang Shaojun's ears. "The future of the Xuanhuang World and the Myriad Immortal Alliance rests on you, Shaojun. If I am fortunate enough to survive this ordeal, I will surely return to lend you a hand!"

Shang Shaojun followed the Dust-Crossing Boat, leaving the white mist, and watched it disappear into the horizon. A sense of loss welled up in his heart. Although he had not known Li Fan for long, he was deeply impressed by the latter's strength and demeanor.

"Live well," Shang Shaojun silently urged.