zài shāng shǎo jūn miàn qián yǎn wán xì ， shèng tāi lǐ fán biàn zhuǎn ér quán shén guàn zhù guān chá qǐ dù chén zhōu wài de biàn huà lái 。
在商少君面前演完戏，圣胎李凡便转而全神贯注观察起渡尘舟外的变化来。
In front of Shaojun's business, the Saint Embryo Li Fan turned his full attention to observing the changes outside the Dushen Boat.
cǐ kè ， dù chén zhōu yǐ jīng fēi lín shì jiè biān jiè 。
此刻，渡尘舟已经飞临世界边界。
At this moment, the Dushen Boat had already flown over the boundary of the world.
zhěng gè xuán huáng jiè dōu zài jiǎo xià ， yī lǎn wú yú 。
整个玄黄界都在脚下，一览无余。
The entire Xuanhuang World was beneath him, visible in its entirety.
céng jīng lǐ fán yǐ zhè yàng de shì jiǎo guān chá xuán huáng jiè 。 rán ér ， bǐ shí de xuán huáng jiè jiù gēn céng jīng zài chāo jù chuán sòng fǎ zhèn zhōng suǒ jiàn de nà yàng ， bèi yī céng méng lóng de huáng guāng suǒ lǒng zhào ， kàn shàng qù jiù xiàng yī dà tuán guāng qiú bān 。 shì jiè nèi bù 、 dà dì zhī shàng de jǐng xiàng xì jié ， què shì gēn běn kàn bù qīng chǔ 。
曾经李凡以这样的视角观察玄黄界。然而，彼时的玄黄界就跟曾经在超距传送法阵中所见的那样，被一层朦胧的黄光所笼罩，看上去就像一大团光球般。世界内部、大地之上的景象细节，却是根本看不清楚。
Previously, Li Fan had observed the Xuanhuang World from such a perspective. However, back then, the Xuanhuang World appeared as a large ball of light, shrouded by a hazy yellow glow, making it impossible to see any details within or on top of the world.
dàn xiàn zài ， shòu dào lái zì xīng hǎi shēn chù de páng dà xī lì yǐng xiǎng ， nà céng dàn dàn de huáng guāng ， bèi jiē kāi le yī bù fèn 。
但现在，受到来自星海深处的庞大吸力影响，那层淡淡的黄光，被揭开了一部分。
But now, under the influence of the immense suction force from the depths of the Star Sea, that thin layer of yellow light was partially lifted away, revealing the true nature of the hidden world below.
lù chū le yǐn cáng zài xià de shì jiè zhēn mào 。
露出了隐藏在下的世界真貌。
The Saint Embryo Li Fan saw the twisted white fog barrier and...
shèng tāi lǐ fán kàn dào le niǔ qū de bái wù bì zhàng ， yǐ jí ……
圣胎李凡看到了扭曲的白雾壁障，以及……
"Monsters made of severed limbs and flesh."
“ cán zhī suì ròu féng hé chéng de guài wù 。”
“残肢碎肉缝合成的怪物。”
This phrase suddenly flashed through his mind.
zhè ge cí huì bù jīn zhòu rán fú xiàn zài lǐ fán de nǎo hǎi zhōng 。
这个词汇不禁骤然浮现在李凡的脑海中。
Even from high above, subtle differences between different regions could be discerned. The living beings within the states might find it hard to tell apart, but from outside the Xuanhuang World, such discrepancies were immediately noticeable.
jí shǐ zài jiǔ tiān zhī shàng ， réng rán kě yǐ kàn chū ， bù tóng qū yù zhī jiān de xì wēi chā bié 。 shēn chù zhōu yù zhī jiān de shēng líng huò xǔ nán yǐ biàn bié ， dàn zài xuán huáng jiè zhī wài fǔ shì ， zé shì yī yǎn jiù néng fā xiàn zhè zhǒng bù xié tiáo 。
即使在九天之上，仍然可以看出，不同区域之间的细微差别。身处州域之间的生灵或许难以辨别，但在玄黄界之外俯视，则是一眼就能发现这种不协调。
The Saint Embryo Li Fan quickly snapped out of his slight daze.
shèng tāi lǐ fán hěn kuài jiù cóng wēi wēi lèng shén zhōng sū xǐng le guò lái 。
圣胎李凡很快就从微微愣神中苏醒了过来。
The Dushen Boat was making a series of creaking sounds, indicating that it was being strongly compressed by external forces.
dù chén zhōu fā chū zhèn zhèn gē zhī gē zhī de shēng xiǎng ， nà shì shòu dào wài jiè qiáng liè jǐ yā lì liàng de biāo zhì 。
渡尘舟发出阵阵咯吱咯吱的声响，那是受到外界强烈挤压力量的标志。
Li Fan showed no fear or hesitation. Instead, he accelerated the Dushen Boat even more.
shèng tāi lǐ fán méi yǒu sī háo jīng jù ， bù guǎn bù gù ， shèn zhì zài dù jiā kuài le dù chén zhōu de sù dù 。
圣胎李凡没有丝毫惊惧，不管不顾，甚至再度加快了渡尘舟的速度。
Once they had completely left the Xuanhuang World, he felt the surroundings suddenly grow dark.
chè dǐ tuō lí xuán huáng jiè hòu ， tā gǎn dào zhōu wéi hū rán àn le xià lái 。
彻底脱离玄黄界后，他感到周围忽然暗了下来。
Like at dusk when the sun instantly sank below the horizon.
jiù xiàng bàng wǎn shí fēn ， tài yáng shùn jiān luò yú dì píng xiàn xià 。
就像傍晚时分，太阳瞬间落于地平线下。
Darkness, coldness, silence...
yīn àn 、 bīng lěng 、 sǐ jì ……
阴暗、冰冷、死寂……
All these sensations flooded Li Fan's mind.
zhǒng zhǒng gǎn jué fēn fēn yǒng shàng shèng tāi lǐ fán xīn tóu 。
种种感觉纷纷涌上圣胎李凡心头。
The Xuanhuang Immortal Heart Spell began to operate on its own, shielding him from negative emotions.
xuán huáng xiān xīn zhòu zì fā yùn zhuàn ， wèi lǐ fán dǐ yù zhè xiē fù miàn qíng xù 。
玄黄仙心咒自发运转，为李凡抵御这些负面情绪。
"Sure enough, it’s different from what I’ve experienced through puppets and visions."
“ tōng guò yǐng xiàng gēn kuǐ lěi suǒ zhī ， guǒ rán hái shì gēn qīn shēn jīng lì bù tóng 。”
“通过影像跟傀儡所知，果然还是跟亲身经历不同。”
"Whether it’s the synchronized感应 of the puppet or the lingering effects of the Medicine King Cauldron, nothing compares to this real experience."
“ wú lùn shì kuǐ lěi tóng bù gǎn yìng ， hái shì yào wáng dǐng liú cún yǐng xiǎng ， dōu bù rú cǐ kè zhēn shí 。”
“无论是傀儡同步感应，还是药王鼎留存影响，都不如此刻真实。”
As Li Fan was thinking this, he suddenly turned his head.
shèng tāi lǐ fán zhèng zhè me xiǎng zhe ， hū de zhuǎn tóu wàng qù 。
圣胎李凡正这么想着，忽的转头望去。
For some inexplicable reason, a sense of insecurity had crept into him. It felt as if something dangerous would suddenly appear behind him and strike him down. Even though his divine consciousness had already clearly told him there was no danger, the feeling compelled him to turn around and look for himself.
zài gāng gāng nà yī shùn jiān ， tā xīn zhōng méi yóu lái shēng chū yī gǔ bù ān quán gǎn 。 jiù hǎo xiàng bèi hòu huì yǒu shén me dōng xī tū rán chū xiàn 、 duì tā zào chéng zhì mìng yī jī shì dé 。 jí biàn shén shí sǎo miáo yǐ jīng shí fēn qīng chǔ de gào sù tā ， bèi hòu bìng bù cún zài shén me wēi xiǎn 。 dàn xīn zhōng de gǎn jué què cuī cù bù duàn cuī cù tā ， yí dìng yào zhuǎn guò tóu lái 、 qīn zì kàn yī kàn 。
在刚刚那一瞬间，他心中没由来生出一股不安全感。就好像背后会有什么东西突然出现、对他造成致命一击似得。即便神识扫描已经十分清楚的告诉他，背后并不存在什么危险。但心中的感觉却催促不断催促他，一定要转过头来、亲自看一看。
When he finally confirmed that nothing threatening existed, the strange sensation gradually subsided.
dāng zhōng yú què dìng ， bìng bù cún zài shén me xiǎng xiàng zhōng de wēi jī hòu ， xīn zhōng de yì yàng cái huǎn huǎn xiāo tuì 。
当终于确定，并不存在什么想象中的危机后，心中的异样才缓缓消退。
The Dushen Boat's creaking sounds had turned into a loud rumbling.
cǐ kè dù chén zhōu cóng xiān qián de wēi wēi de gē zhī shēng ， yǐ jīng biàn chéng le hōng rán zuò xiǎng 。
此刻渡尘舟从先前的微微的咯吱声，已经变成了轰然作响。
It seemed as if countless ancient ferocious beasts were continuously battering against its hull. Cracks began to appear on the boat.
jiù xiàng shì yǒu wú shù tóu shàng gǔ xiōng shòu zài bù duàn chōng jī zhe chuán shēn yī yàng ， zhōu shàng kāi shǐ chū xiàn yī dào dào liè wén 。
就像是有无数头上古凶兽在不断冲击着船身一样，舟上开始出现一道道裂纹。
The inscribed array patterns also started showing signs of breaking apart.
juān kè zhe de zhèn fǎ ， yě kāi shǐ chū xiàn suì liè de jì xiàng 。
镌刻着的阵法，也开始出现碎裂的迹象。
Li Fan was already prepared to abandon the Dushen Boat.
shèng tāi lǐ fán zé shì yǐ jīng zuò hǎo le qì zhōu ér qù de zhǔn bèi 。
圣胎李凡则是已经做好了弃舟而去的准备。
Ninety-nine sword shadows suddenly appeared around him, swirling and cutting out a layer of absolute space as a buffer.
shēn biān jiǔ shí jiǔ dào jiàn yǐng zhà xiàn ， huán rào zuǒ yòu 、 bù duàn fēi xuán 。 qiē gē chū yī duàn céng jué duì kōng jiān de huǎn chōng dài 。
身边九十九道剑影乍现，环绕左右、不断飞旋。切割出一断层绝对空间的缓冲带。
Li Fan's body gradually withered, losing its flesh tone. It began to take on an eerie metallic luster.
shèng tāi lǐ fán de shēn tǐ yě màn màn kū wěi ， ròu sè bù zài 。 ér shì chéng xiàn chū yī zhǒng guǐ yì de jīn shǔ guāng zé 。
圣胎李凡的身体也慢慢枯萎，肉色不再。而是呈现出一种诡异的金属光泽。
Although the immense force from the depths of the Star Sea had indeed affected the suction power of the Immortal Ruins,
suī shuō lái zì xīng hǎi shēn chù de páng dà lì liàng ， dí què duì xiān xū de xī lì zào chéng le yí dìng de yǐng xiǎng 。
虽说来自星海深处的庞大力量，的确对仙墟的吸力造成了一定的影响。
the Immortal Ruins were still in their home territory and the strange force had significantly weakened over time since the anomaly occurred.
dàn bì jìng xiān xū zhǔ chǎng zuò zhàn ， ér qiě jù lí yì biàn fā shēng yǐ jīng guò qù le yī duàn shí jiān 、 xīng hǎi wèi zhī lì liàng yǐ jīng yǒu le hěn dà chéng dù de shuāi jiǎn 。
但毕竟仙墟主场作战，而且距离异变发生已经过去了一段时间、星海未知力量已经有了很大程度的衰减。
Thus, the Dushen Boat did not drift towards the Star Sea like the stone puppets had been arranged to do.
yīn ér dù chén zhōu bìng méi yǒu xiàng zhī qián bù zhì de shí zhì kuǐ lěi yī yàng ， cháo zhe xīng hǎi shēn chù piāo qù 。
因而渡尘舟并没有像之前布置的石制傀儡一样，朝着星海深处飘去。
Instead, it slowly fell towards the Immortal Ruins.
ér shì bù kě bì miǎn de ， màn màn zhuì xiàng xiān xū 。
而是不可避免的，慢慢坠向仙墟。
However...
bù guò ……
不过……
The trajectory's curvature and speed changes were much less pronounced than when Li Fan had driven the Medicine King Cauldron into the Immortal Ruins on his own initiative.
wú lùn shì guǐ jì gǎi biàn de qū lǜ ， hái shì sù dù biàn huà de dà xiǎo 。
无论是轨迹改变的曲率，还是速度变化的大小。
"Sure enough! This is indeed a rare opportunity to escape the Xuanhuang World!"
dōu gēn cǐ qián lǐ fán jià shǐ zhe yào wáng dǐng ， zhǔ dòng chōng rù xiān xū xiāng chā shèn yuǎn 。
都跟此前李凡驾驶着药王鼎，主动冲入仙墟相差甚远。
As the Dushen Boat was about to completely shatter, Li Fan no longer hesitated.
“ wǒ cāi de guǒ rán méi cuò ！ dí què shì qiān zǎi nán féng de tuō lí xuán huáng jiè de dà hǎo shí jī ！”
“我猜的果然没错！的确是千载难逢的脱离玄黄界的大好时机！”
"Ten Thousand Swords as One!"
yǎn kàn zhe dù chén zhōu jí jiāng chè dǐ suì liè ， shèng tāi lǐ fán bù zài yóu yù 。
眼看着渡尘舟即将彻底碎裂，圣胎李凡不再犹豫。
The image of countless rusted swords from the Sword Tomb flickered behind him. Moments later, these sword shadows merged into his body.
“ wàn jiàn rú wǒ ！”
“万剑如我！”
The dark void around the Dushen Boat was illuminated, and a dazzling white light erupted from Li Fan's body.
bèi hòu yǐn yuē jiān fú xiàn chū jiàn zhǒng nèi wàn qiān xiù jiàn de shēn yǐng ， piàn kè zhī hòu ， zhè xiē jiàn yǐng xī shù róng rù dào tā de shēn tǐ zhī zhōng 。
背后隐约间浮现出剑冢内万千锈剑的身影，片刻之后，这些剑影悉数溶入到他的身体之中。
His entire being was consumed by this light.
dù chén zhōu zhōu wéi qī hēi de xū kōng bèi zhào liàng ， lǐ fán shēn shàng yǒng xiàn chū yī dào xuàn mù zhì jí de bái guāng 。
渡尘舟周围漆黑的虚空被照亮，李凡身上涌现出一道炫目至极的白光。
Man and sword became one.
jiāng shēn tǐ wán quán tūn shì 。
将身体完全吞噬。
Then, like a brilliant beam of light splitting open the heavens, it slashed out instantly.
rén jiàn hé yī 。
人剑合一。
The Dushen Boat was swallowed by the sword light and vanished without a trace.
ér hòu ， fǎng fú kāi tiān pì dì de cuǐ càn jiàn guāng ， shà shí zhǎn chū 。
而后，仿佛开天辟地的璀璨剑光，霎时斩出。
But the white sword light continued to diverge from the Immortal Ruins towards the depths of the Star Sea!
dù chén zhōu bèi jiàn guāng tūn mò ， xiāo shī de wú yǐng wú zōng 。
渡尘舟被剑光吞没，消失的无影无踪。
This sword light was so bright and dazzling that even in the sky of the Xuanhuang World, it momentarily created a star as radiant as the sun itself.
bái sè jiàn guāng què shì bèi lí xiān xū ， cháo zhe xīng hǎi shēn chǔ jué rán ér xíng ！
白色剑光却是背离仙墟，朝着星海深处决然而行！
At this moment, countless cultivators turned their gazes toward Li Fan's location.
zhè dào jiàn guāng ， shí zài tài guò míng liàng 、 duó mù 。
这道剑光，实在太过明亮、夺目。
Shaojun's expression instantly faltered with a sense of loss.
shèn zhì zài xià fāng de xuán huáng jiè tiān kōng zhōng ， dōu shà shí chū xiàn le yī kē néng yǔ tiān shàng dà rì zhēng huī bái rì zhī xīng 。
甚至在下方的玄黄界天空中，都霎时出现了一颗能与天上大日争辉白日之星。
The sword light moved swiftly without pause.
zhè yī kè ， wú shù xiū shì cháo zhe shèng tāi lǐ fán suǒ zài de wèi zhì tóu lái mù guāng 。
这一刻，无数修士朝着圣胎李凡所在的位置投来目光。
Li Fan felt the restraint from the Immortal Ruins gradually easing.
ér shāng shǎo jūn gèng shì shùn jiān shī shén ， xīn zhōng chàng rán ruò shī 。
而商少君更是瞬间失神，心中怅然若失。
Apart from transforming into a black sword and delivering an ultimate strike, the key reason for his success was the mysterious force from the depths of the Star Sea.
jiàn guāng wú pǐ ， jí sù qián xíng 。
剑光无匹，急速前行。
Outside the Xuanhuang World, there were no world rules to interfere with him. He could more clearly sense the residual forces in the void.
shèng tāi lǐ fán gǎn shòu dào xiān xū de shù fù yuè lái yuè xiǎo 。
圣胎李凡感受到仙墟的束缚越来越小。
"Unlike the eternal suction power of the Immortal Ruins, this Star Sea force is like tides, intermittent and continuous."
zhī suǒ yǐ néng zhè me shùn lì ， chú le shēn huà hēi jiàn tiān zhī qí 、 zhǎn chū jí zhì de yī jiàn ， gèng zhòng yào de yuán yīn ， hái shì xīng hǎi shēn chù nà dào shén mì lì liàng de yǐng xiǎng 。
之所以能这么顺利，除了身化黑剑天之奇、斩出极致的一剑，更重要的原因，还是星海深处那道神秘力量的影响。
As Li Fan felt waves of immense power surging towards him, he had a strange sensation as if he were navigating a small boat through a stormy sea, bobbing up and down with the waves.
chū le xuán huáng jiè ， méi yǒu shì jiè zhōng zhǒng zhǒng fǎ zé de gān rǎo 。
出了玄黄界，没有世界中种种法则的干扰。
"Wait? Is that one of my stone puppets from before?"
yīn ér gèng néng qīng xī gǎn shòu dào xū kōng zhōng jǐn cún de lì liàng 。
因而更能清晰感受到虚空中仅存的力量。
After traveling for some time in the void, Li Fan once again felt the broken connection.
“ gēn xiān xū xī lì yǒng héng cún zài bù yí yàng ， zhè xīng hǎi zhī lì ， yóu rú cháo xī 、 duàn duàn xù xù ， mián mián dàng dàng 。”
“跟仙墟吸力永恒存在不一样，这星海之力，犹如潮汐、断断续续，绵绵荡荡。”
But what startled him was not all the puppets remaining intact. At least a third of them had inexplicably disappeared!
shèng tāi lǐ fán gǎn shòu dào yī zhèn zhèn de hào hàn wěi lì yǒng lái ， shèn zhì shēng chū le cǐ kè zhèng jià shǐ yí yè piān zhōu 、 zài kuáng fēng bào yǔ de dà hǎi shàng ， suí bō fú chén de cuò jué 。
圣胎李凡感受到一阵阵的浩瀚伟力涌来，甚至生出了此刻正驾驶一叶扁舟、在狂风暴雨的大海上，随波浮沉的错觉。
"There's a possibility they failed to escape the Immortal Ruins' constraints."
“ ń ？ qián miàn shì wǒ zhī qián fàng zhì de shí zhì kuǐ lěi ？”
“嗯？前面是我之前放置的石制傀儡？”
"But there might also be..."
zài xū kōng zhōng qián xíng méi duō jiǔ ， shèng tāi lǐ fán jiù zài dù gǎn shòu dào le zhī qián duàn kāi de gǎn yìng 。
在虚空中前行没多久，圣胎李凡就再度感受到了之前断开的感应。
Accelerating towards the location of the puppets, Li Fan suddenly slowed down.
dàn shì ràng lǐ fán xīn zhōng yī tiào de shì ， bìng bú shì suǒ yǒu suǒ yǒu de kuǐ lěi shàng qiě wán hǎo 。
但是让李凡心中一跳的是，并不是所有所有的傀儡尚且完好。
Just now, one more puppet from the surviving seventy-four had vanished without any apparent reason! It was gone from his sense and surveillance!
zhì shǎo yǒu sān fēn zhī yī de kuǐ lěi ， yīn wèi bù míng yuán yīn xiāo shī le ！
至少有三分之一的傀儡，因为不明原因消失了！
Li Fan still couldn't figure out how that puppet disappeared.
“ yǒu kě néng ， tā men bù xìng ， méi yǒu chéng gōng bǎi tuō xiān xū zhì gù 。”
“有可能，它们不幸，没有成功摆脱仙墟桎梏。”
"In the darkest Star Sea, dangers truly abound."
“ dàn yě yǒu kě néng ……”
“但也有可能……”
A chill ran through Li Fan's mind as he controlled his speed. The remaining seventy-three puppets led the way while he followed at a distance.
shèng tāi lǐ fán zhèng jiā sù cháo zhe kuǐ lěi suǒ zài de wèi zhì jiē jìn 。
圣胎李凡正加速朝着傀儡所在的位置接近。
The disappearing puppets continued to warn Li Fan of the perilous nature of this void in the darkest Star Sea.
dàn hū rán jiān ， tā què shì xià yì shí de jiǎn huǎn le sù dù 。
但忽然间，他却是下意识的减缓了速度。
As more puppets vanished, Li Fan gradually regained his composure.
yīn wèi jiù zài gāng gāng ， zhè xiē xìng cún de gòng qī shí sì zūn kuǐ lěi zhōng ， yòu wú gù xiāo shī le yī zūn ！
因为就在刚刚，这些幸存的共七十四尊傀儡中，又无故消失了一尊！
"These puppets aren't being attacked by some unknown existence. They just passed through places that don't exist."
jiù zài tā de gǎn yìng 、 jiān shì zhī zhōng ！ mò míng bú jiàn le ！
就在他的感应、监视之中！莫名不见了！
"There... there's no space itself left; only pure emptiness."
ér lǐ fán yě gēn běn méi yǒu gǎo qīng chǔ ， nà zūn kuǐ lěi jiū jìng shì zěn me xiāo shī de ！
而李凡也根本没有搞清楚，那尊傀儡究竟是怎么消失的！
"Like a series of dark, bottomless caves on an otherwise flat road. Step into one and you're gone without a trace."
“ zhì àn xīng hǎi zhōng ， guǒ rán wēi jī chóng chóng 。”
“至暗星海中，果然危机重重。”
While Li Fan was pondering this, another puppet vanished.
shèng tāi lǐ fán xīn zhōng wú duān yǒng qǐ yī sī hán yì 。
圣胎李凡心中无端涌起一丝寒意。
Only sixty-one remained.
kòng zhì zhe zì shēn fēi xíng de sù dù ， ràng shèng xià de qī shí sān zūn kuǐ lěi dǎ tóu zhèn ， lǐ fán yuǎn yuǎn gēn zài hòu miàn 。
控制着自身飞行的速度，让剩下的七十三尊傀儡打头阵，李凡远远跟在后面。
Halfway through Chapter 12...
ér jiē xià lái ， shí bù shí tū rán shī zōng de kuǐ lěi ， xiàng lǐ fán zhāo shì zhe zhì àn xīng hǎi xū kōng zhōng de xiǎn è zhī chù 。
而接下来，时不时突然失踪的傀儡，向李凡昭示着至暗星海虚空中的险恶之处。
(End of chapter)
In front of Shaojun's business, the Saint Embryo Li Fan turned his full attention to observing the changes outside the Dushen Boat.
At this moment, the Dushen Boat had already flown over the boundary of the world.
The entire Xuanhuang World was beneath him, visible in its entirety.
Previously, Li Fan had observed the Xuanhuang World from such a perspective. However, back then, the Xuanhuang World appeared as a large ball of light, shrouded by a hazy yellow glow, making it impossible to see any details within or on top of the world.
But now, under the influence of the immense suction force from the depths of the Star Sea, that thin layer of yellow light was partially lifted away, revealing the true nature of the hidden world below.
The Saint Embryo Li Fan saw the twisted white fog barrier and...
"Monsters made of severed limbs and flesh."
This phrase suddenly flashed through his mind.
Even from high above, subtle differences between different regions could be discerned. The living beings within the states might find it hard to tell apart, but from outside the Xuanhuang World, such discrepancies were immediately noticeable.
The Saint Embryo Li Fan quickly snapped out of his slight daze.
The Dushen Boat was making a series of creaking sounds, indicating that it was being strongly compressed by external forces.
Li Fan showed no fear or hesitation. Instead, he accelerated the Dushen Boat even more.
Once they had completely left the Xuanhuang World, he felt the surroundings suddenly grow dark.
Like at dusk when the sun instantly sank below the horizon.
Darkness, coldness, silence...
All these sensations flooded Li Fan's mind.
The Xuanhuang Immortal Heart Spell began to operate on its own, shielding him from negative emotions.
"Sure enough, it’s different from what I’ve experienced through puppets and visions."
"Whether it’s the synchronized感应 of the puppet or the lingering effects of the Medicine King Cauldron, nothing compares to this real experience."
As Li Fan was thinking this, he suddenly turned his head.
For some inexplicable reason, a sense of insecurity had crept into him. It felt as if something dangerous would suddenly appear behind him and strike him down. Even though his divine consciousness had already clearly told him there was no danger, the feeling compelled him to turn around and look for himself.
When he finally confirmed that nothing threatening existed, the strange sensation gradually subsided.
The Dushen Boat's creaking sounds had turned into a loud rumbling.
It seemed as if countless ancient ferocious beasts were continuously battering against its hull. Cracks began to appear on the boat.
The inscribed array patterns also started showing signs of breaking apart.
Li Fan was already prepared to abandon the Dushen Boat.
Ninety-nine sword shadows suddenly appeared around him, swirling and cutting out a layer of absolute space as a buffer.
Li Fan's body gradually withered, losing its flesh tone. It began to take on an eerie metallic luster.
Although the immense force from the depths of the Star Sea had indeed affected the suction power of the Immortal Ruins,
the Immortal Ruins were still in their home territory and the strange force had significantly weakened over time since the anomaly occurred.
Thus, the Dushen Boat did not drift towards the Star Sea like the stone puppets had been arranged to do.
Instead, it slowly fell towards the Immortal Ruins.
However...
The trajectory's curvature and speed changes were much less pronounced than when Li Fan had driven the Medicine King Cauldron into the Immortal Ruins on his own initiative.
"Sure enough! This is indeed a rare opportunity to escape the Xuanhuang World!"
As the Dushen Boat was about to completely shatter, Li Fan no longer hesitated.
"Ten Thousand Swords as One!"
The image of countless rusted swords from the Sword Tomb flickered behind him. Moments later, these sword shadows merged into his body.
The dark void around the Dushen Boat was illuminated, and a dazzling white light erupted from Li Fan's body.
His entire being was consumed by this light.
Man and sword became one.
Then, like a brilliant beam of light splitting open the heavens, it slashed out instantly.
The Dushen Boat was swallowed by the sword light and vanished without a trace.
But the white sword light continued to diverge from the Immortal Ruins towards the depths of the Star Sea!
This sword light was so bright and dazzling that even in the sky of the Xuanhuang World, it momentarily created a star as radiant as the sun itself.
At this moment, countless cultivators turned their gazes toward Li Fan's location.
Shaojun's expression instantly faltered with a sense of loss.
The sword light moved swiftly without pause.
Li Fan felt the restraint from the Immortal Ruins gradually easing.
Apart from transforming into a black sword and delivering an ultimate strike, the key reason for his success was the mysterious force from the depths of the Star Sea.
Outside the Xuanhuang World, there were no world rules to interfere with him. He could more clearly sense the residual forces in the void.
"Unlike the eternal suction power of the Immortal Ruins, this Star Sea force is like tides, intermittent and continuous."
As Li Fan felt waves of immense power surging towards him, he had a strange sensation as if he were navigating a small boat through a stormy sea, bobbing up and down with the waves.
"Wait? Is that one of my stone puppets from before?"
After traveling for some time in the void, Li Fan once again felt the broken connection.
But what startled him was not all the puppets remaining intact. At least a third of them had inexplicably disappeared!
"There's a possibility they failed to escape the Immortal Ruins' constraints."
"But there might also be..."
Accelerating towards the location of the puppets, Li Fan suddenly slowed down.
Just now, one more puppet from the surviving seventy-four had vanished without any apparent reason! It was gone from his sense and surveillance!
Li Fan still couldn't figure out how that puppet disappeared.
"In the darkest Star Sea, dangers truly abound."
A chill ran through Li Fan's mind as he controlled his speed. The remaining seventy-three puppets led the way while he followed at a distance.
The disappearing puppets continued to warn Li Fan of the perilous nature of this void in the darkest Star Sea.
As more puppets vanished, Li Fan gradually regained his composure.
"These puppets aren't being attacked by some unknown existence. They just passed through places that don't exist."
"There... there's no space itself left; only pure emptiness."
"Like a series of dark, bottomless caves on an otherwise flat road. Step into one and you're gone without a trace."
While Li Fan was pondering this, another puppet vanished.
Only sixty-one remained.
Halfway through Chapter 12...
(End of chapter)