Chapter 544: Han Yi Reenters the Trap

“Or rather, a part of the Heaven-Fiend Sword.”

A sharp glint flashed in Li Fan’s eyes.

The Soul of Heaven and Earth, using itself as a cage, trapped the fragment of the Heaven-Fiend Sword, which was brimming with malevolent energy. The scene described by Long Yueyou instantly reminded Li Fan of the incident where the Azure Wind trapped a sword above the Cloud Sea.

However, unlike what Li Fan had witnessed previously, Long Jiuyuan’s opportunity to achieve Dao Integration was in Tianling Province. The Soul of Heaven and Earth there was a black mire, not the Azure Wind. Yet, the main subject was astonishingly consistent: a fragment of a sword overflowing with malevolent energy.

Li Fan was almost certain that both the fragment from the Cloud Sea and the one from Tianling Province were parts of the complete Heaven-Fiend Sword.

“The Heaven-Fiend Sword, as the Fisherman Elder’s weapon, was shattered into pieces and scattered everywhere. Yet, even these incomplete fragments could contend with the Soul of Heaven and Earth. Furthermore, the Heaven-Fiend Sword’s hilt was later able to break free from the Azure Wind’s confinement. At the Cloudwater Heavenly Palace, the Turtle-Snake Taiyi also had an extremely difficult time suppressing it, and was forced into a deep slumber. If fragments are this powerful, how strong is the complete Heaven-Fiend Sword?”

Li Fan was deeply shaken. He now knew of three fragments. Were there more in other places? What secrets did this Heaven-Fiend Sword hold that compelled all the Souls of Heaven and Earth to appear and suppress it? And what was the cultivation level of the Heaven-Fiend Sword’s owner, the Fisherman Elder?

“Fisherman, Heavenly Physician, Master...” Li Fan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

These three were clearly old acquaintances, but their past was extremely mysterious. It was as if they were constantly shrouded in a thick fog, making it impossible to discern their history. Moreover, Li Fan had a faint feeling that the secrets among them were very important to him!

He hoped that when these enemies met again and battled in this lifetime, he might gain some insight. While continuing to monitor Long Yueyou’s situation by locking onto Zhou Kebao’s Formless Killing Intent, Li Fan set off again, flying towards his original planned destination.

According to Long Yueyou’s subsequent account, when Long Jiuyuan witnessed the stalemate between the Heaven-Fiend Sword fragment and the Black Mire, he was also extremely shocked. However, he was not tempted by the readily available opportunity for Dao Integration, nor did he lose his rationality. Long Jiuyuan understood that the standoff between the sword fragment and the Black Mire had subtly reached a certain balance. If he were to rashly attack and break this balance, it would likely be counterproductive. He might even face a joint assault from both the sword fragment and the Black Mire. After all, a Soul Transformation cultivator interfering in a Dao Integration struggle was tantamount to a provocation.

Thus, Long Jiuyuan made a swift decision: with his protective artifact destroyed, he risked severe injuries and charged out of the Black Mire Sea. After a brief period of recovery, Long Jiuyuan set up the Heaven-Severing Earth-Isolating Grand Formation around the area. This formation had only one purpose: to sever the connection between the Soul of Heaven and Earth and the essence of Heaven and Earth itself.

Although the Soul of Heaven and Earth was a manifestation of laws, once isolated, it would be like water without a source or a tree without roots. Its power would slowly weaken as it was continuously consumed. The Black Mire and the Heaven-Fiend Sword fragment were originally evenly matched. With the Black Mire weakening, the Heaven-Fiend Sword gained an opportunity! Long Jiuyuan then hid nearby, quietly awaiting developments.

Indeed, several months later, the black mire in the deep mountains seemed to boil, churning violently. The anomaly lasted for half a day. Finally, a sword shadow broke through the Black Mire’s cage, shot into the sky, and disappeared. The sea of mud and mire melted like ice and snow, rapidly contracting inward. Moments later, it all gathered upon the Black Mire’s humanoid body. After briefly discerning the Heaven-Fiend Sword’s departure location, the Black Mire was about to give chase.

Just then, Long Jiuyuan made his move! His first strike was a full, unreserved burst of power. The outcome of this battle was already decided. The Black Mire was annihilated. Long Jiuyuan successfully achieved Dao Integration!

“I recall that during the great battle in Tianling Province in the previous life, a Dao Integration expert seemed to have fallen. I wonder if this newly promoted Dao Integration Immortal Venerable can escape this calamity.”

As this thought flashed through his mind, Li Fan’s destination was already in sight. It appeared to be an uninhabited barren island. The island itself wasn’t the key; the person on it was Li Fan’s target. It was Han Yi, who had been missing for a long time!

Since that day, after barely escaping death from Li Fan’s grasp and fleeing into the underwater ruins, he had not reappeared. It wasn’t until recently that Li Fan sensed his return to the cultivation world. He didn’t return through the original deep underwater cave, but emerged from ruins thousands of miles away. He looked quite disheveled, his clothes stained with blood and badly torn. He himself appeared to be severely injured and had to find a nearby island to rest.

Upon sensing the situation there, Li Fan decisively pursued him. Concealing his presence, Li Fan observed Han Yi from a distance. After a long absence, he was still at the perfected Qi Condensation stage, having failed to establish his foundation. However, he now carried a mysterious aura that hadn’t been there before.

Originally, Li Fan hadn’t noticed it. But now, Han Yi was unconscious due to his severe injuries. This aura naturally manifested, helping Han Yi to heal himself. His pale complexion visibly became ruddy at an almost perceptible speed. His formerly weak breathing gradually became steady and strong. A hint of surprise flashed in Li Fan’s eyes.

After a moment of contemplation, Li Fan revealed himself. He first used the “Bug Binding” divine ability to control Han Yi, then activated the “Cloudwater Illusionary Dream Art” to enter Han Yi’s dream. Perhaps because he had just escaped a calamity, Han Yi’s mental defenses were unexpectedly fragile. It didn’t take long for Li Fan to break through them.

Within the illusionary dream, Li Fan learned of Han Yi’s experiences during this time. That day, after being sucked into a suddenly erupting underwater vortex, Han Yi lost consciousness. When he awoke, he found himself naked and tightly bound. Beside him, a group of terrifying human-bodied, beast-faced creatures had gathered. They formed a circle, dancing and gesticulating, seemingly performing some mysterious ritual. In the center, a fierce fire blazed. It appeared they intended to offer Han Yi as some sort of sacrifice, throwing him into the flames.

Han Yi instantly turned pale with fright and tried to break free. However, he despairingly discovered that there was no spiritual energy whatsoever in the surroundings. And for some unknown reason, the spiritual power in his dantian had already dried up. Helpless and no different from a mortal, Han Yi could only watch as the human-bodied, beast-faced monsters cheered and prepared to carry him into the roaring fire.

Just as Han Yi thought he was certainly doomed, the sky suddenly darkened. A torrential downpour abruptly began, extinguishing the great fire in an instant. Han Yi was ecstatic. The monsters, on the other hand, were utterly terrified. They cast Han Yi aside and began to kowtow repeatedly.

The heavy rain lasted for half a day before ceasing. Astonishingly, the monsters also spent half a day fearfully begging for mercy in the rain. After the rain stopped, the monsters slowly dispersed. Han Yi, as the intended sacrifice, was naturally re-imprisoned.