kòu hóng dào xuán zi fǎn huí xiū xiān jiè ， fā xiàn èr rén suǒ xiū de jìng rán shì tóng yī mén gōng fǎ hòu ， huì yǒu shén me yàng de fǎn yìng ， lǐ fán yǐ jīng bù zài yì le 。
寇洪道玄子返回修仙界，发现二人所修的竟然是同一门功法后，会有什么样的反应，李凡已经不在意了。
Cao Hong Dao Xuanzi returned to the world of cultivation and was surprised to find that both had been practicing the same mystical technique. Li Fan no longer cared about this.
cǐ kè ， tā yǐ jīng chǔ lǐ hǎo le yī qiè shì wù ， jià shǐ tài yǎn zhōu ， lái dào le xū yuān zhī shàng 。
此刻，他已经处理好了一切事物，驾驶太衍舟，来到了墟渊之上。
At this moment, he had already taken care of everything and was piloting the Taiyin Boat towards the Vortex Abyss.
àn cháng lǐ lái jiǎng ， yīng dāng děng dào měi shí wǔ nián yī cì de bái wù sàn kāi rì zài lái tàn suǒ zhè xū yuān cái shì 。
按常理来讲，应当等到每十五年一次的白雾散开日再来探索这墟渊才是。
According to common sense, one should wait for the white fog to disperse during the once-every-15-years event before exploring the Vortex Abyss.
kě shì rú jīn lǐ fán yǐ jīng 71 suì le ， jù lí xià yī cì bái wù sàn kāi ， hái yào zài děng 14 nián 。
可是如今李凡已经71岁了，距离下一次白雾散开，还要再等14年。
However, Li Fan was 71 years old now. He would have to wait another 14 years until the next dispersal of the white fog.
nà shí hòu tā dōu yǐ jīng 85 le ， dà xiàn jiāng zhì ， lián zǒu lù dōu fèi jìn ， gèng bié tí jià shǐ tài yǎn zhōu le 。
那时候他都已经85了，大限将至，连走路都费劲，更别提驾驶太衍舟了。
By then, he would be 85 and nearing his end. Walking would be difficult, let alone piloting the Taiyin Boat.
suǒ yǐ huán bù rú zǎo diǎn tàn yī tàn zhè xiān jué dà zhèn de xū shí 。
所以还不如早点探一探这仙绝大阵的虚实。
So it might as well be better to explore this Realm of Immortal Desolation sooner rather than later.
fǎn zhèng cǐ shì tā yǐ jīng méi yǒu shén me kě liú liàn de le ， suí shí kě yǐ kāi qǐ xià yī shì 。
反正此世他已经没有什么可留恋的了，随时可以开启下一世。
Since there was nothing left for him in this world, he could always start a new one at any time.
cāo zòng zhe tài yǎn zhōu ， lǐ fán màn màn dì cháo xū yuān dǐ bù xià jiàng 。
操纵着太衍舟，李凡慢慢地朝墟渊底部下降。
Guiding the Taiyin Boat, Li Fan slowly descended towards the bottom of the Vortex Abyss without using his divine sense to navigate. He had to rely on his vision instead.
méi yǒu shén shí tàn lù ， zhǐ néng yòng shì xiàn biàn bié fāng xiàng 。
没有神识探路，只能用视线辨别方向。
The thick fog obscured everything around him, making it feel unreal. The surroundings were eerily silent, only punctuated by his own breathing.
dà wù lǒng zhào ， zhōu wéi yī qiè dōu shì bái máng máng yī piàn ， ràng lǐ fán yǒu zhǒng jí dù bù zhēn shí de gǎn jué 。
大雾笼罩，周围一切都是白茫茫一片，让李凡有种极度不真实的感觉。
He focused intently and continued flying downwards.
sì zhōu yě shì jí wéi jì jìng ， zhǐ tīng de dào zì jǐ de hū xī shēng 。
四周也是极为寂静，只听得到自己的呼吸声。
Suddenly, as if he had hit something, the Taiyin Boat began to shake violently.
zhù yì lì gāo dù jí zhōng ， jì xù cháo xià fēi xíng 。
注意力高度集中，继续朝下飞行。
Li Fan became instantly tense.
hū de ， fǎng fú zhuàng dào le shén me dōng xī shì de ， tài yǎn zhōu zhōu shēn kāi shǐ jù liè huàng dòng 。
忽的，仿佛撞到了什么东西似的，太衍舟舟身开始剧烈晃动。
It seemed that an invisible force was squeezing him. Sounds like metal rubbing against each other echoed outside the boat.
lǐ fán dùn shí jǐn zhāng qǐ lái 。
李凡顿时紧张起来。
Fortunately, the defensive array activated in time, enveloping the boat with a faint golden light curtain.
sì hū zài bèi yī gǔ wú xíng jù lì jǐ yā ， tài yǎn zhōu wài zhuàn lái zhèn zhèn lèi sì jīn shǔ mó cā de shēng xiǎng 。
似乎在被一股无形巨力挤压，太衍舟外传来阵阵类似金属摩擦的声响。
The boat stabilized, and the eerie sounds disappeared. Only the constantly twisting and changing protective light curtain conveyed the terrifying pressure from the outside world.
hǎo zài fáng yù zhèn fǎ jí shí qǐ dòng ， yī céng dàn dàn de jīn sè guāng mù jiāng tài yǎn zhōu lǒng zhào qí zhōng 。
好在防御阵法及时启动，一层淡淡的金色光幕将太衍舟笼罩其中。
"Passed the Gaseous Wind Layer; below is the Illusory Light Layer," Li Fan recalled what Cao Hong had said about this Realm of Immortal Desolation.
zhōu shēn zhú jiàn biàn dé píng wěn ， nà yǒu xiē lìng rén máo gǔ sǒng rán de yì xiǎng yě xiāo shī bú jiàn 。
舟身逐渐变得平稳，那有些令人毛骨悚然的异响也消失不见。
The main purpose of the Immortal Desolation Array was to prevent exiled mortals from returning to the world of cultivation.
zhǐ yǒu nà bù duàn niǔ qū biàn huàn de fáng hù guāng mù zài sù shuō zhe wài jiè de kě bù yā lì 。
只有那不断扭曲变幻的防护光幕在诉说着外界的可怖压力。
The Gaseous Wind Layer was filled with strong winds. Blade-like gusts could easily tear through a mortal's body, even for Foundation Establishment cultivators who had to use spiritual energy to protect themselves.
“ guò le gāng fēng céng ， xià miàn jiù shì huàn guāng céng 。” lǐ fán huí xiǎng zhe zhī qián kòu hóng guān yú zhè xiān jué dà zhèn de jiè shào 。
“过了罡风层，下面就是幻光层。”李凡回想着之前寇洪关于这仙绝大阵的介绍。
Below the Gaseous Wind Layer lay the Illusory Light Layer.
xiān jué dà zhèn zhǔ yào shì wèi le fáng zhǐ bèi fàng zhú de fán rén fǎn huí xiū xiān jiè 。
仙绝大阵主要是为了防止被放逐的凡人返回修仙界。
A silken stream of seven-colored light flowed throughout this abyss.
gāng fēng céng biàn bù qiáng fēng 。
罡风层遍布强风。
Mortals would be ensnared in endless illusions upon seeing it.
fēng rèn kě qīng yì sī liè fán rén qū tǐ ， jiù lián zhù jī qī xiū shì yě yào yǐ líng lì fáng hù ， xiǎo xīn yìng duì 。
风刃可轻易撕裂凡人躯体，就连筑基期修士也要以灵力防护，小心应对。
Beneath the Illusory Light Layer was the Inverted Layer.
gāng fēng céng zhī xià nǎi shì huàn guāng céng 。
罡风层之下乃是幻光层。
Entering this layer, one would feel as if the world had been turned upside down; they couldn't distinguish up from down or left from right.
rú chóu duàn yì bān de qī cǎi guāng huī zài zhè céng shēn yuān chù sì chù liú tǎng 。
如绸缎一般的七彩光辉在这层深渊处四处流淌。
With everything shrouded in white fog and no divine sense to discern direction, one would inevitably get lost.
fán rén kàn jiàn hòu ， biàn huì xiàn rù wú qióng de huàn xiàng zhī zhōng 。
凡人看见后，便会陷入无穷的幻象之中。
After the Inverted Layer came the Fiery Flowing Layer.
huàn guāng céng xià ， shì diān dǎo céng 。
幻光层下，是颠倒层。
Countless flying stars and flames zipped through this space layer without any pattern, smashing anything that stood in their way.
jìn rù cǐ céng ， biàn jué tiān dì biàn huàn ， fēn bù qīng shàng xià zuǒ yòu 。
进入此层，便觉天地变换，分不清上下左右。
The thick fog provided cover, making it hard to guard against them.
jiā zhī sì zhōu yòu quán shì bái máng máng yī piàn ， méi yǒu shén shí biàn míng fāng xiàng ， bì rán yào mí shī qí zhōng 。
加之四周又全是白茫茫一片，没有神识辨明方向，必然要迷失其中。
Below the Fiery Flowing Layer was the Xuan Ice Layer.
diān dǎo céng zhī hòu ， shì liú huǒ céng 。
颠倒层之后，是流火层。
From here on, the dense fog gradually thinned out.
shù yǐ wàn jì de fēi xīng liú huǒ zài zhè céng kōng jiān lǐ háo wú guī lǜ de gāo sù fēi xíng ， jiāng yī qiè dǎng zài qián miàn de dōng xī zhuàng de fěn suì 。
数以万记的飞星流火在这层空间里毫无规律的高速飞行，将一切挡在前面的东西撞的粉碎。
There was nothing but extremely low temperatures in the Xuan Ice Layer.
yòu yǒu nóng nóng bái wù zuò wéi yǎn hù ， ràng rén nán yǐ fáng bèi 。
又有浓浓白雾作为掩护，让人难以防备。
Without proper protective measures, one might freeze solid upon entering.
liú huǒ céng zhī xià shì xuán bīng céng 。
流火层之下是玄冰层。
Beneath the Xuan Ice Layer lay the Thunderstorm Layer.
cóng zhè céng kāi shǐ ， dà wù jiù zhú jiàn xī shū qǐ lái 。
从这层开始，大雾就逐渐稀疏起来。
Endless bolts of lightning with a sense of impending doom thundered throughout this abyss layer.
xuán bīng céng méi yǒu shén me qí tā dōng xī ， yǒu de zhǐ shì jí dī de qì wēn 。
玄冰层没有什么其他东西，有的只是极低的气温。
Finally, there was an expansive void several times larger than the previous six layers combined.
ruò shì méi yǒu duì yìng de fáng hù shǒu duàn ， pà shì yī jìn qù jiù huì bèi dòng chéng bīng kuài 。
若是没有对应的防护手段，怕是一进去就会被冻成冰块。
According to Cao Hong, this layer posed no danger; it was just pitch black and unnerving.
xuán bīng céng zhī xià shì léi bào céng 。
玄冰层之下是雷暴层。
Passing through the Blackness Layer would lead out of the Realm of Immortal Desolation into the world of cultivation.
sàn fà zhe pò miè qì xī de wàn dào léi tíng yī kè bù xiē de hōng míng zài zhè céng shēn yuān 。
散发着破灭气息的万道雷霆一刻不歇的轰鸣在这层深渊。
Li Fan carefully controlled the Taiyin Boat for half an hour before finally crossing the Gaseous Wind Layer.
zuì hòu ， zé shì yí gè bǐ qián miàn liù céng jiā qǐ lái hái yào guǎng kuò jǐ bèi de kōng kuàng kōng jiān 。
最后，则是一个比前面六层加起来还要广阔几倍的空旷空间。
Entering the Illusory Light Layer, he found himself ensnared in a myriad of illusions under the bright light.
jù kòu hóng suǒ shuō ， zhè céng dǎo shì méi yǒu shén me wēi xiǎn ， zhǐ shì yī piàn hēi àn ， què piān piān ràng rén xīn jì 。
据寇洪所说，这层倒是没有什么危险，只是一片黑暗，却偏偏让人心悸。
In one such illusion, he successfully escaped the Realm of Immortal Desolation and arrived in the world of cultivation. He then stumbled upon a rare technique by chance and quickly ascended to Golden Core after just a century.
chuān guò hēi àn céng ， jiù néng lí kāi xiān jué dà zhèn ， qù wǎng xiū xiān jiè le 。
穿过黑暗层，就能离开仙绝大阵，去往修仙界了。
From there, his path was smooth sailing for thousands of years until he achieved immortality and flew up to the Celestial Realm.
lǐ fán xiǎo xīn yì yì de kòng zhì zhe tài yǎn zhōu ， huā fèi le bàn gè shí chén ， zhōng yú chuān yuè le gāng fēng céng 。
李凡小心翼翼的控制着太衍舟，花费了半个时辰，终于穿越了罡风层。
Starting as a miner from the Celestial Realm, Li Fan spent countless millennia reaching the God King realm, becoming the strongest existence in the Celestial Realm.
yī jìn dào huàn guāng céng ， mǎn mù liú guāng de zhào yào zhī xià ， lǐ fán jiù xiàn rù le chóng chóng huàn xiàng zhī zhōng 。
一进到幻光层，满目流光的照耀之下，李凡就陷入了重重幻象之中。
He then struggled through myriad hardships to ascend to the Ancient Celestial Realm, where he became an entry-level gatekeeper.
huàn xiàng lǐ ， tā chéng gōng táo lí le xiān jué dà zhèn ， dào dá xiū xiān jiè zhī hòu ， yòu jī yuán qiǎo hé zhī xià dé dào yī juàn xī shì gōng fǎ 。 bù guò duǎn duǎn bǎi nián ， jiù liàn chéng jīn dān 。
幻象里，他成功逃离了仙绝大阵，到达修仙界之后，又机缘巧合之下得到一卷稀世功法。不过短短百年，就炼成金丹。
He started all over again, layer upon layer...
zhī hòu yī lù xiū liàn ， jìn shì tǎn tú 。 qiān nián zhī hòu ， dé dào fēi shēng 。
之后一路修炼，尽是坦途。千年之后，得道飞升。
Finally, the illusion shattered.
dào le xiān jiè ， lǐ fán yòu cóng zuì dǐ céng xiān lì kāi shǐ yí bù bù xiū liàn ， zuì zhōng chéng wéi le ào shì xiān jiè de xiān dì 。
到了仙界，李凡又从最底层仙吏开始一步步修炼，最终成为了傲视仙界的仙帝。
Li Fan awoke and the memories of his previous experiences quickly faded away, leaving only faint traces behind.
suí hòu lǐ fán dǎ pò xiān jiè kōng jiān bì lěi ， fēi shēng dào le shén jiè 。
随后李凡打破仙界空间壁垒，飞升到了神界。
Feeling somewhat speechless about his experience in the illusion, Li Fan steadied himself and continued descending.
cóng shén jiè yí gè kuàng gōng gàn qǐ ， jīng lì wàn zài ， lǐ fán xiū liàn dào le shén wáng jìng ， chéng wéi le shén jiè zuì qiáng hèng de cún zài 。
从神界一个矿工干起，经历万载，李凡修炼到了神王境，成为了神界最强横的存在。
A wave of dizziness washed over him as he lost his sense of direction. He knew he had arrived at the Inverted Layer.
zhī hòu lǐ fán yòu fèi jìn qiān xīn wàn kǔ ， fēi shēng dào le tài gǔ shén jiè ， chéng wéi le tài gǔ shén jiè de dǐ céng kān mén rén 。
之后李凡又费劲千辛万苦，飞升到了太古神界，成为了太古神界的底层看门人。
Surrounded by endless white fog, the Taiyin Boat seemed like a drop in an ocean, with no clear up or down, and no idea where to go.
yòu xīn xīn kǔ kǔ cóng tóu kāi shǐ 。
又辛辛苦苦从头开始。
Thinking that this world's exploration was about to end, Li Fan was pleasantly surprised to find a mysterious intuition from within the boat guiding him on his path.
rú cǐ tào wá le bù zhī dào duō shǎo céng ……
如此套娃了不知道多少层……
Following the Taiyin Boat’s guidance, he left the Inverted Layer without much effort.
zhōng yú ， huàn jìng bēng kuì le 。
终于，幻境崩溃了。
Encouraged by the success, Li Fan no longer actively controlled the boat but merely provided power as it freely navigated through the Immortal Desolation Array.
lǐ fán qīng xǐng guò lái ， zhī qián de zhǒng zhǒng jīng lì jiù rú tóng tuì cháo bān zài nǎo hǎi zhōng xùn sù tuì sàn ， zhǐ liú xià xiē xǔ qiǎn qiǎn de hén jì 。
李凡清醒过来，之前的种种经历就如同退潮般在脑海中迅速退散，只留下些许浅浅的痕迹。
Fiery Flowing, Xuan Ice, Thunderstorm...
duì yú zì jǐ zhī qián zài huàn jìng zhōng de zāo yù yǒu xiē wú yǔ ， lǐ fán wěn le wěn xīn shén ， jì xù wǎng xià 。
对于自己之前在幻境中的遭遇有些无语，李凡稳了稳心神，继续往下。
These layers seemed perilous, but the Taiyin Boat moved steadily and narrowly avoided each destructive crisis.
dà nǎo yī zhèn xuàn yūn ， dùn shí mí shī le fāng xiàng ， lǐ fán zhī dào cǐ kè lái dào le diān dǎo céng 。
大脑一阵眩晕，顿时迷失了方向，李凡知道此刻来到了颠倒层。
With little danger, Li Fan smoothly arrived at the final layer, the Blackness Layer.
bèi wú qióng wú jìn de bái wù suǒ bāo wéi ， tài yǎn zhōu jiù rú tóng cāng hǎi zhōng de shuǐ dī ， bù zhī hé chù shì shàng ， hé chù shì xià ， bù zhī gāi wǎng hé chù qù 。
被无穷无尽的白雾所包围，太衍舟就如同沧海中的水滴，不知何处是上，何处是下，不知该往何处去。
"Indeed, the Taiyin Boat has been tasked with transporting mortals for a thousand years. The Great Migration lasted for centuries, so this flying boat must have made multiple trips. Judging by its condition, it might not have stopped migrating in the past century. The cultivator responsible likely found manually operating it tedious and left an automated passage within the boat to bypass the Immortal Desolation Array..." Li Fan was overjoyed but suddenly understood why everything had gone so smoothly.
běn yǐ wéi cǐ shì de tàn zhèn zhī lǚ jiù dào cǐ wéi zhǐ le ， lǐ fán què jīng xǐ de fā xiàn ， yī gǔ míng míng zhōng de zhí jué cóng tài yǎn zhōu zhōng chuán lái ， gào sù zì jǐ gāi wǎng hé chù xíng shǐ 。
本以为此世的探阵之旅就到此为止了，李凡却惊喜的发现，一股冥冥中的直觉从太衍舟中传来，告诉自己该往何处行驶。
The Taiyin Boat moved silently through the darkness.
lǐ fán shùn zhe tài yǎn zhōu de zhǐ yǐn ， méi yòng duō jiǔ ， jiù lí kāi le diān dǎo céng 。
李凡顺着太衍舟的指引，没用多久，就离开了颠倒层。
Thinking of his long-awaited return to the world of cultivation, even Li Fan's composure couldn't suppress his excitement.
jiē xià lái ， cháng dào le tián tóu de lǐ fán wán quán méi yǒu kè yì cāo kòng ， zhǐ shì tí gōng dòng lì ， ràng tài yǎn zhōu zì jǐ zài zhè xiān jué dà zhèn zhōng fēi xíng 。
接下来，尝到了甜头的李凡完全没有刻意操控，只是提供动力，让太衍舟自己在这仙绝大阵中飞行。
Suddenly, in the utter silence, a distant, ancient, and profound voice echoed throughout the Blackness Layer.
liú huǒ 、 xuán bīng 、 léi bào ……
流火、玄冰、雷暴……
This strange sound reverberated endlessly within the layer.
zhè xiē dì fāng kàn shì xiōng xiǎn yì cháng ， dàn tài yǎn zhōu bù jǐn bù màn de fēi xíng ， què zǒng néng měi měi yǔ yí gè gè huǐ miè wēi jī cā jiān ér guò 。
这些地方看似凶险异常，但太衍舟不紧不慢的飞行，却总能每每与一个个毁灭危机擦肩而过。
Li Fan's heart stopped, as if encountering some formidable enemy. His blood instantly turned cold.
yī lù yǒu jīng wú xiǎn ， lǐ fán jiù zhè me shùn shùn lì lì de lái dào le zuì hòu yī céng ， hēi àn céng 。
一路有惊无险，李凡就这么顺顺利利的来到了最后一层，黑暗层。
The voice grew closer, enveloping the small Taiyin Boat from all directions.
“ shì le ， zhè tài yǎn zhōu qiān nián yǐ qián jiù zhuān mén fù zé qiān yí fán rén 。 dà qiān xǐ shí dài chí xù shù bǎi nián ， zhè sōu fēi zhōu kěn dìng bú huì zhǐ wǎng fǎn le yī tàng 。 cóng tā de pò sǔn chéng dù lái kàn ， shuō bù dìng bǎi nián jiān qiān xǐ gōng zuò dōu méi yǒu tíng guò 。 dìng shì fù zé cǐ shì de xiū shì jué de měi cì dōu yào qīn zì cāo zòng shì jiàn láo shén de shì qíng ， gù zài zhè sōu tài yǎn zhōu nèi liú xià le àn mén ， ràng qí néng zì dòng chuān guò xiān jué dà zhèn ……” lǐ fán jīng xǐ wàn fēn zhī yú què shì tū rán xiǎng míng bái le cǐ xíng wéi hé huì chū hū yì liào de shùn lì 。
“是了，这太衍舟千年以前就专门负责迁移凡人。大迁徙时代持续数百年，这艘飞舟肯定不会只往返了一趟。从它的破损程度来看，说不定百年间迁徙工作都没有停过。定是负责此事的修士觉得每次都要亲自操纵是件劳神的事情，故在这艘太衍舟内留下了暗门，让其能自动穿过仙绝大阵……”李凡惊喜万分之余却是突然想明白了此行为何会出乎意料的顺利。
Then, it abruptly ceased.
tài yǎn zhōu zài yī piàn hēi àn zhōng qiāo qiāo qián xíng 。
太衍舟在一片黑暗中悄悄前行。
Silence returned.
xiǎng dào zì jǐ bǎi nián suǒ pàn de xiū xiān jiè jiù zài qián fāng bù yuǎn chù ， jí biàn yǐ lǐ fán de chéng fǔ ， cǐ shí yě rěn bú zhù jī dòng qǐ lái 。
想到自己百年所盼的修仙界就在前方不远处，即便以李凡的城府，此时也忍不住激动起来。
Everything was still black, but somehow different now.
hū rán ， wú bǐ jì jìng de hēi àn zhōng ， mò míng xiǎng qǐ yī dào cāng máng 、 gǔ lǎo 、 yōu yuǎn 、 shēn suì de jiào shēng 。
忽然，无比寂静的黑暗中，莫名响起一道苍茫、古老、悠远、深邃的叫声。
Li Fan felt a chill run down his spine.
zhè gǔ guài de shēng xiǎng zhuǎn shùn jiān jiù biàn bù zhěng gè hēi àn céng ， zài qí zhōng bù duàn de huí dàng 。
这古怪的声响转瞬间就遍布整个黑暗层，在其中不断的回荡。
He knew that the Taiyin Boat had been swallowed by some existence.
lǐ fán de xīn tiào shùn jiān tíng zhì ， fǎng fú yù dào le mǒu zhǒng tiān dí yì bān ， hún shēn de xuè yè chà nà jiān biàn dé bīng lěng 。
李凡的心跳瞬间停滞，仿佛遇到了某种天敌一般，浑身的血液刹那间变得冰冷。
"Bang!"
jiào shēng yuè lái yuè jìn ， zhuǎn yǎn jiān jiù bǎ xiǎo xiǎo de tài yǎn zhōu bāo wéi le yì bān ， cóng sì miàn bā fāng gè chù chuán lái 。
叫声越来越近，转眼间就把小小的太衍舟包围了一般，从四面八方各处传来。
The protective light curtain shattered instantly. The Taiyin Boat began to disintegrate as its energy rapidly depleted.
hū rán ， shēng yīn xiāo shī le 。
忽然，声音消失了。
Taking one last look at the darkness outside, Li Fan whispered,
chóng xīn biàn dé yī piàn jì jìng 。
重新变得一片寂静。
"Truly Real!"
Cao Hong Dao Xuanzi returned to the world of cultivation and was surprised to find that both had been practicing the same mystical technique. Li Fan no longer cared about this.
At this moment, he had already taken care of everything and was piloting the Taiyin Boat towards the Vortex Abyss.
According to common sense, one should wait for the white fog to disperse during the once-every-15-years event before exploring the Vortex Abyss.
However, Li Fan was 71 years old now. He would have to wait another 14 years until the next dispersal of the white fog.
By then, he would be 85 and nearing his end. Walking would be difficult, let alone piloting the Taiyin Boat.
So it might as well be better to explore this Realm of Immortal Desolation sooner rather than later.
Since there was nothing left for him in this world, he could always start a new one at any time.
Guiding the Taiyin Boat, Li Fan slowly descended towards the bottom of the Vortex Abyss without using his divine sense to navigate. He had to rely on his vision instead.
The thick fog obscured everything around him, making it feel unreal. The surroundings were eerily silent, only punctuated by his own breathing.
He focused intently and continued flying downwards.
Suddenly, as if he had hit something, the Taiyin Boat began to shake violently.
Li Fan became instantly tense.
It seemed that an invisible force was squeezing him. Sounds like metal rubbing against each other echoed outside the boat.
Fortunately, the defensive array activated in time, enveloping the boat with a faint golden light curtain.
The boat stabilized, and the eerie sounds disappeared. Only the constantly twisting and changing protective light curtain conveyed the terrifying pressure from the outside world.
"Passed the Gaseous Wind Layer; below is the Illusory Light Layer," Li Fan recalled what Cao Hong had said about this Realm of Immortal Desolation.
The main purpose of the Immortal Desolation Array was to prevent exiled mortals from returning to the world of cultivation.
The Gaseous Wind Layer was filled with strong winds. Blade-like gusts could easily tear through a mortal's body, even for Foundation Establishment cultivators who had to use spiritual energy to protect themselves.
Below the Gaseous Wind Layer lay the Illusory Light Layer.
A silken stream of seven-colored light flowed throughout this abyss.
Mortals would be ensnared in endless illusions upon seeing it.
Beneath the Illusory Light Layer was the Inverted Layer.
Entering this layer, one would feel as if the world had been turned upside down; they couldn't distinguish up from down or left from right.
With everything shrouded in white fog and no divine sense to discern direction, one would inevitably get lost.
After the Inverted Layer came the Fiery Flowing Layer.
Countless flying stars and flames zipped through this space layer without any pattern, smashing anything that stood in their way.
The thick fog provided cover, making it hard to guard against them.
Below the Fiery Flowing Layer was the Xuan Ice Layer.
From here on, the dense fog gradually thinned out.
There was nothing but extremely low temperatures in the Xuan Ice Layer.
Without proper protective measures, one might freeze solid upon entering.
Beneath the Xuan Ice Layer lay the Thunderstorm Layer.
Endless bolts of lightning with a sense of impending doom thundered throughout this abyss layer.
Finally, there was an expansive void several times larger than the previous six layers combined.
According to Cao Hong, this layer posed no danger; it was just pitch black and unnerving.
Passing through the Blackness Layer would lead out of the Realm of Immortal Desolation into the world of cultivation.
Li Fan carefully controlled the Taiyin Boat for half an hour before finally crossing the Gaseous Wind Layer.
Entering the Illusory Light Layer, he found himself ensnared in a myriad of illusions under the bright light.
In one such illusion, he successfully escaped the Realm of Immortal Desolation and arrived in the world of cultivation. He then stumbled upon a rare technique by chance and quickly ascended to Golden Core after just a century.
From there, his path was smooth sailing for thousands of years until he achieved immortality and flew up to the Celestial Realm.
Starting as a miner from the Celestial Realm, Li Fan spent countless millennia reaching the God King realm, becoming the strongest existence in the Celestial Realm.
He then struggled through myriad hardships to ascend to the Ancient Celestial Realm, where he became an entry-level gatekeeper.
He started all over again, layer upon layer...
Finally, the illusion shattered.
Li Fan awoke and the memories of his previous experiences quickly faded away, leaving only faint traces behind.
Feeling somewhat speechless about his experience in the illusion, Li Fan steadied himself and continued descending.
A wave of dizziness washed over him as he lost his sense of direction. He knew he had arrived at the Inverted Layer.
Surrounded by endless white fog, the Taiyin Boat seemed like a drop in an ocean, with no clear up or down, and no idea where to go.
Thinking that this world's exploration was about to end, Li Fan was pleasantly surprised to find a mysterious intuition from within the boat guiding him on his path.
Following the Taiyin Boat’s guidance, he left the Inverted Layer without much effort.
Encouraged by the success, Li Fan no longer actively controlled the boat but merely provided power as it freely navigated through the Immortal Desolation Array.
Fiery Flowing, Xuan Ice, Thunderstorm...
These layers seemed perilous, but the Taiyin Boat moved steadily and narrowly avoided each destructive crisis.
With little danger, Li Fan smoothly arrived at the final layer, the Blackness Layer.
"Indeed, the Taiyin Boat has been tasked with transporting mortals for a thousand years. The Great Migration lasted for centuries, so this flying boat must have made multiple trips. Judging by its condition, it might not have stopped migrating in the past century. The cultivator responsible likely found manually operating it tedious and left an automated passage within the boat to bypass the Immortal Desolation Array..." Li Fan was overjoyed but suddenly understood why everything had gone so smoothly.
The Taiyin Boat moved silently through the darkness.
Thinking of his long-awaited return to the world of cultivation, even Li Fan's composure couldn't suppress his excitement.
Suddenly, in the utter silence, a distant, ancient, and profound voice echoed throughout the Blackness Layer.
This strange sound reverberated endlessly within the layer.
Li Fan's heart stopped, as if encountering some formidable enemy. His blood instantly turned cold.
The voice grew closer, enveloping the small Taiyin Boat from all directions.
Then, it abruptly ceased.
Silence returned.
Everything was still black, but somehow different now.
Li Fan felt a chill run down his spine.
He knew that the Taiyin Boat had been swallowed by some existence.
"Bang!"
The protective light curtain shattered instantly. The Taiyin Boat began to disintegrate as its energy rapidly depleted.
Taking one last look at the darkness outside, Li Fan whispered,
"Truly Real!"