The surrounding seawater poured ceaselessly into the black hole, only to vaporize into mist the moment it touched the event horizon.
Above the void, the air twisted and shimmered from the intense heat. Wreathed in rising clouds of steam, the scene was a stark, monochrome tableau of destruction.
A wave of primal fear crashed over Li Fan as he watched from the deck of the Taiyan Boat.
Myriad Immortals Island was just... gone?
Memories flashed through his mind—the Dao Transmission Plaza with its countless statues, the endless streams of cultivators coming and going, the grand, majestic buildings at center of the island said to house Spirit Transformation powerhouses... All of it had been simply erased. Not even a speck of dust remained.
What kind of power could accomplish this? The malice of the Heavenly Dao?
Li Fan didn't know. His thoughts were a chaotic jumble in the face of such overwhelming devastation.
Cultivation, attaining eternal life... the goals he had clung to now seemed utterly laughable.
In the face of this sudden catastrophe, cultivators were no different from mortals; all were as insignificant as ants.
Once that terror took root, it became impossible to suppress.
Escape! I must get away from this damned place!
Li Fan’s eyes turned bloodshot as he pushed the Taiyan Boat to its limits, fleeing desperately toward the western region of the Congyun Sea.
He had to get to a continent. He had to put as much distance as possible between himself and this hellish region of the sea.
He flew for what felt like an eternity, his mind a numb void.
Boom!
The Taiyan Boat slammed into something invisible and shuddered to a violent halt.
Thankfully, its protective arrays held, preventing the vessel from shattering and killing him instantly.
The impact jolted Li Fan, causing a few minor injuries, but the shock also helped clear his head.
He looked outside. Nothing was there.
In the distance, a coastline stretched into the horizon. He was close to the continent.
He tried to maneuver the boat forward again.
Boom!
Something barred his path. He rammed against the invisible barrier again and again, but he couldn't advance an inch.
He tried every direction. The result was the same.
An unseen barrier separated the Congyun Sea from the nearby continent. It allowed entry, but not exit.
Li Fan stared, dumbfounded. A phrase surfaced in his mind: a turtle trapped in a jar.
After a long moment, he let out a hollow laugh. He looked up at the sky.
How ruthless.
Then, a sense of bewilderment set in. Should he activate Return to Truth and return to the initial anchor point? Or should he look around a bit more first? He felt adrift, his purpose gone.
Aimlessly, he piloted the Taiyan Boat, drifting across the Congyun Sea.
He passed Yelan Island. Like all the others, it was a scene of apocalypse, devoid of survivors.
He passed Liuli Island. Its island protection array was shattered. He Zhenghao was nowhere to be found. The island was littered with corpses, not a single trace of life remaining.
Liuyun Island, Zhongqiu Island... all had become dead zones.
On the rare occasions he encountered other survivors, they had all been driven mad. They screamed and fled in terror once they saw Li Fan, as if he were a ghost.
Eventually, somehow, he found himself back at Tai’an Island. Here, and only here, did he finally sense a sliver of vitality. Perhaps these were the only living souls left in the entire Congyun Sea.
Li Fan walked through the streets, observing the mortals of Tai’an Island.
They remained unaware of the cataclysm that had unfolded beyond their shores, their faces still etched with the relieved smiles of those who had narrowly escaped death.
Little did they know that what awaited them was an inescapable doom.
Yet, perhaps ignorance was a blessing in itself. Witnessing such an apocalyptic scene would surely haunt their nightmares every night thereafter.
Li Fan couldn’t help but mock himself inwardly.
He continued walking when suddenly, the sound of devout prayers reached his ears.
“O Immortal Master who saves from suffering and calamity, bless us with favorable winds and rains, and grant us plentiful harvests year after year.”
“O Immortal Master who saves from suffering and calamity, protect my little Yu’er and let her grow up safe and sound.”
Li Fan paused, turning to look.
It turned out that a temple had been erected on Tai’an Island at some point.
Inside, a statue was enshrined. On the plaque before it, the following words were inscribed: “Immortal Master Who Saves From Suffering and Calamity.”
The statue bore a faint resemblance to Li Fan. Its eyes were slightly downcast, gazing with compassion at the people kneeling before it.
Immortal Master Who Saves from Suffering and Calamity... Li Fan thought silently.
After a long while, he let out a deep sigh.
Very well. I shall protect you for as long as I am able.