Chapter 692: Life and Death Move Forward Again

The sophistication of this formation was on par with the Sky Profound Spirit-Locking Array that Li Fan had learned in his previous life. Even with their considerable expertise in formation arrays, it took Li Fan and Huangfu Song a long time, and much discussion, to barely comprehend this one. Of course, they had only managed to understand it. As for how the array operated, or how death energy and life force transformed, these aspects were beyond their comprehension.

"Defying the laws of life and death..." Li Fan was deeply shaken, thinking, "Could the mastermind behind Lan Yu's failed Ascension, and the cultivators who emerged from the white mist, seemingly dead yet alive, be connected to this formation?" Meanwhile, Huangfu Song murmured to himself, "To die is to perish completely, body and soul. How can one defy death and return to life? Unbelievable, unbelievable..."

Watching his two companions, who seemed utterly enchanted and remained oblivious for a long time, Dongfang Yao, who knew nothing about formation arrays, felt both annoyed and anxious. Finally, he couldn't help but let out an angry shout, jolting them awake. "You two have been studying this for so long, do you have any conclusions?" he asked, frowning.

Huangfu Song shook his head and replied decisively, "In my opinion, even if Chief Lu of our Strategy Array Hall were here in person, he might not be able to set up this formation. Such a magnificent grand formation, yet it remains unknown to the world, quietly hidden within the misty domains of the white fog..." A hint of dread flashed across his face. "It seems we have stumbled into the setup of a mighty being who is currently ascending to immortality." "There are countless misty domains in the white fog, yet we happened to encounter one containing this formation. I truly don't know if this is fortune or misfortune," Huangfu Song said, his face pale.

"Perhaps it's not a coincidence at all. What if there's more than just one misty domain containing this formation?" Li Fan suddenly suggested. Hearing this, Huangfu Song was momentarily stunned. Then, a shiver of dread ran through him, and he dared not speak further. Li Fan, in fact, kept many thoughts to himself.

He had found this misty domain by following the source of a whispered voice, which he suspected belonged to the "Celestial Physician." This domain contained a grand formation capable of reversing life and death. In his previous life, a cultivator had successfully defied the laws of life and death, achieving the status of a new Immortal Celestial Venerable. Connecting all these dots, it seemed logical to infer that the Celestial Physician was the mastermind behind it all. And that it was he who would soon ascend to become the Immortal Celestial Venerable. Yet... Li Fan still harbored some doubts.

Logically, the formation in this misty domain was crucial for the Celestial Physician's ascension to immortality. Such an important place should not tolerate the slightest mishap. So how could Li Fan and his companions have entered so easily? "This completely undefended appearance..." "Is it a trap? Or does the master of this place simply not care much about this formation? Or perhaps, he has absolute confidence that even if someone were to stumble in, they wouldn't be able to disturb the formation's foundation?"

Li Fan suddenly recalled the small wooden hut on the summit of Mount Jieli in the Great Xuan. It was his dwelling and cultivation place while he waited for Huan Zhen to finish charging. Just like this misty domain, it had no defensive formations. He had only laid down an illusion array outside Mount Jieli to prevent mortals from accidentally entering. Because Li Fan believed it wasn't necessary. "Do I view mortals as He views cultivators?" "Is it the Celestial Physician?" Li Fan couldn't be sure.

Yet, Li Fan asked himself, even if he were only dealing with mortals, if it concerned his own advancement, he would absolutely deploy countermeasures out of caution, just in case. "But He chose not to do so..." Just as Li Fan was filled with confusion, a remark from Dongfang Yao unintentionally enlightened him. "Brother Huangfu," Dongfang Yao said, "I think you're a bit off. While I don't understand the intricacies of this formation, if you say it can reverse life and death, then the senior who set it up must be even more capable of doing so, right?" "After all, if one doesn't understand the principles, how can they set up the formation? Being able to defy the laws of life and death, isn't that already the means of an Immortal Celestial Venerable? Why have I never heard of this Venerable's name?"

Li Fan was instantly enlightened. "That's right. I previously thought the master of this place intended to use this formation to achieve the reversal of life and death. But it's also possible that He himself could already do this. Then this place..." Li Fan looked around. "This isn't a place of ascension. It's an experimental ground after achieving the Dao!" Li Fan's thoughts raced. "After achieving immortality, the laws of heaven and earth would also change for Him. Logically, with a single thought, He could bring these frozen cultivators back from death to life. But He chose to go through the extra trouble of setting up another formation..." "What else is He still researching? Is achieving immortality not enough; does He seek to go even further?"

Li Fan's gaze shifted to the core of the grand life-and-death reversal formation they had previously found. "Perhaps the answer lies there." Li Fan said in a deep voice, "This senior likely became an Immortal Celestial Venerable long ago. This place has been abandoned by Him, which is why we could enter so easily. There should be no danger in leaving from the formation's core. Let's move quickly." With that, without waiting for Huangfu Song and Dongfang Yao to react, he was the first to fly towards the formation's core. Huangfu Song and Dongfang Yao were slightly taken aback by his words. Yet, finding Li Fan's reasoning sound, they quickly followed.

Before long, they arrived at the center of the grand formation, where the death energy was most concentrated. The strange beast from the silent black sea had vanished precisely at this spot. "Brother Li, shouldn't we reconsider?" Huangfu Song asked, looking at the black sea below with a hint of trepidation.

Li Fan, however, focused on Huan Zhen's panel showing 200% charge progress, and shook his head. "He who hesitates is lost. We have explored this entire area; staying longer would be futile. Are you still hoping to comprehend this grand life-and-death reversal formation and then break out of it? Rather than waiting for death, it's better to fight for a chance!" As he spoke, an extremely dense wood-attribute spiritual energy enveloped his body. "Stay close!" Li Fan commanded with a sharp cry, and plunged headfirst into the Sea of Death. Seeing that things had come to this, Huangfu Song and Dongfang Yao had no choice but to grit their teeth and follow.

The moment they entered the seawater, an unimaginable deathly silence instantly swept over them from all directions. It was like countless worms gnawing at and drawing away Li Fan's life force. This sensation was remarkably similar to the Soul-Devouring White Mist. Li Fan, who had personally experienced his lifespan draining away in the white mist, was no stranger to this feeling. Without much panic, he quickly took out five Longevity Pills and popped them into his mouth. As the medicinal effects erupted, Li Fan channeled the longevity-imbued azure energy from the pills out of his body, forming a protective shield to resist the erosion of the death energy. He pushed his movement technique to its limit, rapidly diving into the pitch-black seabed. Within a few breaths, he was already nearing the bottom of the sea. Li Fan's eyes narrowed slightly; he seemed to sense a miniature vortex ahead. Within the vortex, a sliver of life force suddenly appeared. "That's it!"

The next moment... After a slight dizzy spell, light suddenly greeted his eyes. A gentle sea breeze, salty and humid air, and the occasional cries of flying birds... Once Li Fan could clearly see his surroundings, he found himself above a vast blue ocean. It was vibrating with life.