Chapter 62: Mysteriously Being Hunted

After the strange vision vanished, Li Fan keenly sensed an inexplicable change within himself.

However, a thorough examination revealed nothing concrete about what this change might be. Still, it didn't seem to be a bad thing. Li Fan decided to put it aside for now, simply making a mental note of it.

After determining his current location, Li Fan realized it was slightly different from where he had appeared in the cultivation world in his previous life. The difference wasn't significant. Since he was closest to Glazed Island, Li Fan decided to go there first. After all, he had spent a long time on Glazed Island in his previous life and was quite familiar with it. Although the "goody-two-shoes" He Zhenghao had a touch of greed, he was at least reliable in his dealings. Compared to others, Li Fan preferred to deal with familiar faces to minimize uncertainties.

After choosing a direction, Li Fan didn't pilot the Taiyan Skiff. Instead, he performed a Wind Manipulation Art and flew towards Glazed Island. The identity he intended to assume was that of a rogue cultivator from the Cloud Sea, who had, by chance, cultivated to the late Qi Condensation stage. Unable to find a way to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, he wished to join the Myriad Immortals Alliance.

In the current cultivation world, rogue cultivators had an extremely difficult life. Unlike members of the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Council of Five Elders, who had established channels for obtaining cultivation techniques, rogue cultivators often had to risk their lives exploring various ancient sect ruins just to find a single cultivation method. They not only had to contend with the strange phenomena and traps within the ruins but also had to guard against their equally covetous fellow cultivators. A single misstep could lead to death and the annihilation of their cultivation path.

Yet, even under such circumstances, these rogue cultivators were unwilling to join the two major organizations, simply because they didn't want to be controlled by others or sacrifice their lives for them. For rogue cultivators, freedom superseded everything else. Such different choices merely reflected varying philosophies; it was hard to say which was superior or inferior.

Therefore, for a rogue cultivator, the Taiyan Skiff was a bit too conspicuous. To avoid unnecessary trouble and suspicion, Li Fan chose to fly using the Wind Manipulation Art. It was a bit slower, but Li Fan wasn't in a hurry and used the opportunity to adapt.

The reason for this was that, back in Da Xuan, Li Fan had faintly felt that his affinity for spiritual energy had inexplicably increased in this life. However, lacking spiritual energy in the land devoid of immortals, he had been unable to verify it. Now, having arrived in the cultivation world and sensing the spiritual energy around him, Li Fan finally confirmed his premonition was correct.

In his previous life, he had forcibly absorbed spiritual energy from the world through the Root of Heaven and Earth, much like a pump. This life, however, with just a thought, the spiritual energy of the world would cooperatively flow into his dantian, no longer requiring coercion. While still not reaching the "spiritual energy intimacy" described by Xiao Heng, it was significantly better than before.

Li Fan speculated that the reason for this change likely lay with the Root of Heaven and Earth itself. In his previous life, the Root of Heaven and Earth had been cultivated from five emotions: greed, fear, rage, hatred, and egoism. This life, however, the Root of Heaven and Earth in Li Fan's dantian had been directly manifested through "Returning to Truth." If the Root of Heaven and Earth cultivated by the Five Spirits Qi Sensing Method was filled with tyrannical, dark, and other negative emotions, then the Root of Heaven and Earth bestowed by "Returning to Truth" was balanced, peaceful, and natural.

He hadn't expected that inheriting his previous life's cultivation through "Returning to Truth" would come with such a benefit. Beyond his delight, Li Fan faintly felt that there might be an even deeper reason behind all this.

However, before he could ponder further, his expression suddenly changed. This was because, in Li Fan's perception, a killing intent had emerged from afar, locking onto him firmly and rapidly approaching. Furthermore, the opponent's aura was powerful, at least at the Foundation Establishment stage!

Although it felt somewhat inexplicable, Li Fan didn't hesitate. He immediately summoned the Taiyan Skiff, accelerated to maximum speed, and fled towards the nearest Glazed Island. The opponent seemed to not have anticipated Li Fan possessing such a treasure as a flying skiff, first pausing in surprise, then increasing their speed even further.

Inside the Taiyan Skiff, Li Fan's expression was grim. The distance was too great, beyond the range of his spiritual sense. But judging by the slowly approaching killing intent, the opponent's speed was definitely superior to his own even with the Taiyan Skiff.

Li Fan hesitated for a moment, then still unleashed a formless killing intent towards his pursuer. Suddenly, his vision dimmed, and faint whispers reached his ears. The surrounding scenery became illusory and distorted. It was as if countless eyes were secretly staring at Li Fan. Fortunately, this illusory scene came and went quickly. It was merely a fleeting blur before his vision returned to normal. Li Fan knew that what he had just experienced was the side effect of releasing a formless killing intent across cultivation stages.

The formless killing intent borrowed the mandate of heaven. Since it involved borrowing the mandate of heaven, it naturally couldn't be without risk. If a mortal falsely transmitted an imperial decree, they would face execution and the extermination of their entire clan; how much more so for feigning the mandate of heaven. The greater the difference in cultivation between himself and the target of the killing intent, the more easily it would be detected by the will of heaven and earth. Fortunately, it seemed that crossing just one major cultivation stage didn't pose too significant a problem for now.

After the formless killing intent was unleashed, there was no immediate reaction. But soon, Li Fan perceived a sudden gust of wind appearing between heaven and earth. This wind incessantly swirled in the opponent's path, quickly forming a whirlwind. The whirlwind, carrying a faint blue light, roared towards the opponent like a massive dragon. Caught off guard, the person was struck head-on by the whirlwind. Li Fan seized this opportunity to accelerate his escape.

Shortly after, a deafening roar came from behind. The opponent seemed to have broken free from the whirlwind and was flying even faster in Li Fan's direction. Their killing intent intensified.

Just as they were about to close in on Li Fan again, a giant crocodile shark leaped high out of the sea and swallowed them whole. The crocodile shark then plunged back into the sea, sending up high splashes.

"Bang!"

A fierce flame erupted from the sea. The crocodile shark was incinerated, leaving no trace, and the person flew out of the water looking somewhat disheveled and utterly enraged. Sensing Li Fan's aura, they accelerated their pursuit. Yet, every time they were about to get close to Li Fan, they would encounter some sudden, unforeseen situation. And so, the two continued their chase, and although the pursuer was much faster than Li Fan, they simply couldn't catch up.

Finally, Glazed Island came into view. The person cautiously scanned left and right for a moment. Seeing that no more unexpected incidents seemed to occur, they breathed a sigh of relief. With a serious expression, they were about to cast a dao spell to blast Li Fan to death.

In the sky, under the bright daylight, a bolt of lightning suddenly struck down. It hit them squarely. If not for a flash of light that appeared on their body at the crucial moment, neutralizing most of the lightning's damage, they would likely have lost their life immediately. Even so, the person was charred all over, looking barely human.

Seeing this, Li Fan quickly flew towards the central protective formation of Glazed Island. The person paused in mid-air for a moment before recovering. Filled with shock and rage, they roared loudly, "He Zhenghao, come out and help me kill this little scoundrel!"

From Glazed Island, Li Fan heard a familiar voice: "Protector Wan? What happened to you?"

Li Fan, who was flying towards Glazed Island, heard their conversation and immediately stopped. Surrounded by the two and seeing no escape, Li Fan cursed under his breath. He then silently chanted in his mind.

"Returning to Truth!"