Chapter 1088: The Void Outside the Xuanhuang Realm
While the Xuanhuang Realm was far mightier than any ordinary cultivation world, it was unlikely to withstand the cataclysmic blast of immortal spiritual energy that would be unleashed by a detonated immortal artifact.
Furthermore, if he were to set it off within the Xuanhuang Realm, it would undoubtedly alert the ancient monstrosities hiding within its depths.
Once his initial excitement subsided, Li Fan quickly came to this realization.
"Does this mean... I have to venture outside the realm?"
Li Fan instinctively glanced up at the sky.
The insistent urging of the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao's consciousness in his mind seemed to confirm his suspicions.
Yet, a sliver of doubt remained in Li Fan's mind. Thus far, he couldn't discern the true challenge in this trial for the title of Xuanhuang Great Heavenly Venerate.
Compared to the first three stages, this fourth—and likely final—trial had presented no real obstacles.
Anyone who simply followed the prescribed steps could have reached the same point he had.
"Detonating the immortal artifacts would grant me the power to surpass the High Wall. If I actually chose to leave, I would almost certainly forfeit my chance to become the Xuanhuang Great Heavenly Venerate. The only way to truly inherit the title is to follow the path Mr. Bai had taken in history: defy the will of the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao and remain in the Xuanhuang Realm..."
"But... could it truly be that simple?"
This was the Fallen Immortal's Illusory Realm, after all. What would happen even if he did choose to detonate the artifacts and cross the High Wall?
Beyond the High Wall lay a forbidden zone, a realm of utter unknowns where even the power of a Xuanhuang Heavenly Venerate had never reached. He was fairly certain that, just as the immortal edict implied, the Fallen Immortal Realm was incapable of simulating anything beyond that barrier.
Upon returning to the real world, he would still find himself within the Xuanhuang Realm.
Anyone in their right mind would never choose to leave the Xuanhuang Realm, would they?
What, then, was the point of this trial?
His mind swirling with questions, Li Fan quietly flew out of the Xuanhuang Realm.
At this point in time, the pull of the Immortal Ruins was not as overwhelming as it would be thousands of years later.
With a body possessing power far beyond that of an ordinary Longevity cultivator, resisting the Immortal Ruins and traversing the void was indeed not an exceptionally difficult task.
He sped through the void, and the image of the Xuanhuang Realm behind him dwindled.
Until it was finally swallowed by the darkness.
Everything around him was utter, pitch-black darkness.
Only the distant, insistent pull from the Immortal Ruins served as a reminder that this was no illusion.
"So this is the Darkest Star Sea..."
A bone-deep loneliness and an icy chill began to creep into his heart.
He scanned his surroundings, but every direction looked identical.
No matter how fast Li Fan flew, the vista around him remained utterly unchanged.
It made him wonder if he was actually moving at all, or simply spinning in place.
"Without any landmarks or a Void Latitude and Longitude Positioning Instrument, crossing the star sea by physical prowess alone is truly impractical."
Li Fan silently marked the passage of time.
After flying at full speed for three whole days, he judged the distance to be sufficient and finally came to a halt.
In the infinite blackness, he was utterly alone.
He took out all thirteen immortal artifacts he had gathered.
Though he was now far from the Xuanhuang Realm and had lost its support, causing his power to diminish, he was still just barely capable of destroying and detonating the immortal artifacts.
Spiritual energy surged violently within him as he channeled it into the first artifact: the Desolate God Seal.
It was like a series of heavy hammers striking the seal with ferocious intensity.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A violent burst of energy erupted in the void, but the soundless expanse swallowed it before it could travel far.
It failed to make even the slightest ripple.
Li Fan persisted, and soon, fine cracks began to spiderweb across the Desolate God Seal's already fragile surface.
Wisps of immortal spiritual energy began to seep from the fissures.
His spirits lifted, Li Fan hurriedly drew the energy into his own body.
The immortal energy remained distinct from his own spiritual power, refusing to be assimilated.
Yet, bolstered by this new power, Li Fan could clearly feel a change wash over him.
The most immediate difference was...
The entire Darkest Star Sea seemed to brighten, just a fraction.
It was as if his vision was gradually adjusting to the gloom.
He could now make out the distant pinprick of light that was the Xuanhuang Realm.
"Is this a sign of... transcending the High Wall?"
Even in the Fallen Immortal's Illusory Realm, a strange thrill coursed through Li Fan.
He wasted no time, increasing the output of his power.
Before long, the Desolate God Seal was completely shattered.
After absorbing all the immortal spiritual energy it contained, Li Fan turned his spiritual sledgehammer upon the second artifact.
This immortal artifact was the Great Sun Golden Bell.
Once Li Fan released its seals, the Great Sun Golden Bell flared to life, blazing with the scorching, blinding light of a true sun.
It illuminated a vast stretch of the dark star sea.
Thankfully, the light revealed no horrifying, colossal creature staring back at him from the depths of the void.
The light confirmed it: there was nothing but emptiness around him.
Following the same method, Li Fan began to dismantle the Great Sun Golden Bell.
A venomous shriek echoed in his ears, lingering long after.
Li Fan paid it no mind, his actions unwavering.
As the Great Sun Golden Bell vanished from existence, the immortal spiritual energy within him intensified once more.
Next came the third immortal artifact: the Yin Yang Hook Sword.
...
After he had destroyed nine of the thirteen artifacts...
The Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao's consciousness reacted with palpable excitement in his mind, and Li Fan knew he had gathered enough power.
The star sea no longer appeared as a pitch-black void to his eyes.
Instead, it was a bizarre, phantasmagorical canvas of shifting colors. The hues, appearing and vanishing like an aurora, were all warped, stretching toward the Immortal Ruins.
It was as if he had entered a new world, both visually and physically; his body felt immeasurably lighter.
He felt like a man floating on water, needing only the slightest push to leap free from its surface.
Li Fan savored the novel, unprecedented sensation for a long time before finally shaking his head with a soft sigh. "A pity it's all an illusion."
"Mission complete. Time to return."
The moment he made that decision, the scene around him froze in an instant.
Then, Li Fan's keen senses picked up on a subtle shift. Though nothing appeared to have changed, he felt that something was different.
"Hmm? Don't tell me... this is the end of the Xuanhuang Heavenly Venerate's trial?"
"That was far too easy."
"Wait, something's wrong!"
His gaze snapped toward the four remaining immortal artifacts.
Among them, to his astonishment, was the Great Sun Golden Bell—an artifact he was certain he had already destroyed!
"What's going on?"
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, reaching out to retrieve the four artifacts.
But he was stunned to discover they were mere phantoms.
"Could it be..."
A thought, almost too incredible to believe, surfaced in his mind.
"Have I already returned to the real world?"
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