Li Fan piloted the Taiyan Boat back above the Abyssal Chasm.
What in the world was that thing... Li Fan’s expression was somewhat grim.
Though he had played a small trick to get a clear look at the monster’s true form, he had absolutely no clue how to escape its notice. Until he found a solution, he would never be able to cross the Darkness Layer.
The Taiyan Boat is just a speck in the Darkness Layer. Yet every single time I approach, that great whale always finds me, like a cat spotting a mouse... Li Fan felt a headache coming on.
I can only try other methods. Fortunately, I still have plenty of opportunities left. Li Fan sighed helplessly.
***
Fifteen years later, in Anchor Year 35.
This time, Li Fan hid himself within the Thunderstorm Layer well in advance.
Over these fifteen years, he had attempted to force his way through the Darkness Layer several times. Yet with every entry into the Darkness Layer, the great whale seemed to get better at detecting him.
Given the Taiyan Boat’s flight speed, he simply couldn’t outpace it. Each time, after a brief period of dodging the whale, he would be forced to retreat in disarray.
Only on the days when the white fog recedes does the great whale take a while to notice me, seemingly delayed by something. Perhaps with this extra bit of time, I’ll be able to fly to the bottom of the Abyssal Chasm.
This time, Li Fan decided to risk it all, aiming to fly through the Darkness Layer at maximum speed and make it through before the great whale could react.
A strong wind began to rise.
The Taiyan Boat operated at full power, bursting forth with astonishing speed.
The illusory scenery drew closer and closer. Yet, just as he was about to reach it, the great whale’s terrifying cry rang out once more, rapidly approaching Li Fan’s position.
There’s still about a quarter of the distance left to go. I don’t have enough time. Li Fan made his judgment.
Narrowing his eyes, Li Fan felt a fierce, reckless anger stir within him.
He gave up on reaching the bottom of the Abyssal Chasm altogether, instead turning around and charging fiercely toward the source of the cry.
Unfortunately, sheer ferocity was useless.
There was no collision. Li Fan saw his surroundings turn black and knew he had been swallowed by the great whale once again.
“Return to Truth!” Li Fan roared viciously.
[This simulation has ended]
Li Fan let out a frustrated sigh.
It took him a long time to calm his emotions. This time, Li Fan chose to accelerate the charging process.
Name: Li Fan
Realm: Mortal
Biological Age: 20/86
Psychological Age: 368/1116
The limit of his Psychological Age had reached a ceiling and would increase no further.
At least I still have 748 years to squander. Li Fan could only comfort himself like this.
In Anchor Year 4 of his eighth life, Li Fan once again opened Qian Hong’s tomb.
[Discovered item convertible to charge: Halt Stele Fragment (Damaged).]
[Proceed with charging?]
Seeing the prompt from Return to Truth, Li Fan’s mood finally improved a little.
At this moment, the charging progress of the next anchor point had reached 51%.
At the very least, this life wasn’t a complete waste... Li Fan mused with a hint of self-mockery.
In Anchor Year 5, the white mist receded, but with the virtualization charging progress yet to reach 100%, he could only wait patiently.
In Anchor Year 20, Li Fan made an attempt, and failed.
In Anchor Year 35, Li Fan made another attempt, and still failed.
However, these attempts were not entirely wasted. At the very least, he had gotten increasingly proficient at maneuvering the Taiyan Boat, and could now endure the great whale’s relentless pursuits for longer periods.
In Anchor Year 50, Li Fan did not choose to force his way through the Darkness Layer again. He had grown old, and his reactions and mental acuity had significantly declined. Even if he made an attempt now, he saw no possibility of success.
So, he chose to meet two old friends, to see if he could glean any clues from them.
On the day of Li Fan’s seventieth birthday, Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi arrived right on time.
“Dao Xuanzi! Do not push me too far!”
As he listened, Li Fan suddenly felt a pang of nostalgia.
Once again, he used the pretext of a Golden Core technique to lure the two of them to the Grand Preceptor’s estate. After three rounds of wine, Li Fan produced a scroll painting.
The painting looked quite old. It depicted a terrifying, colossal great whale that hid within the darkness. Only its ferocious, gaping maw was revealed, poised to seize and devour anything it encountered.
“Have either of you ever seen such a monster?” Li Fan inquired. “While on his deathbed, my ancestor said that if one ever gets the chance to escape this Immortal Forsaken Land in the future, one has little to worry about apart from this creature. Within the protection of my sect’s Taiyan Boat, one should be safe and sound. However, a great whale lurks in the final layer, and one must be exceedingly cautious.”
“Such a fierce beast actually lives in that vast, pitch-black emptiness?” Kou Hong glanced at the painting, his brow furrowing slightly with disbelief. “Why have I never seen it?”
“Could it be...” Dao Xuanzi, however, seemed to recall something.