“Wait, Outpost 01-11 has run out of supplies, is barely holding on, and is urgently requesting reinforcements? How is that possible? Didn’t Leng Yingyi just deliver a shipment of supplies?”

“They actually forced an array master like you to take the risk in person? What a bunch of scum!”

“A newly formed Lost Domain is blocking the route? That explains it...”

"It’s rather fortunate that you managed to escape such a Lost Domain."

“Ah, what a shame. Just a little too late. You don’t have much time left now...”

With the occasional exclamations of the azure-robed Hao Hui, Li Fan gave a rough account of his journey.

He left out only a handful of details about the Chaos Stone Lost Domain—anything connected to the Heavenly Physician—and told the rest plainly, without embellishment, sticking closely to what had actually happened.

After hearing what Li Fan had done, and seeing this white-haired, utterly depleted cultivator whose face was nonetheless perfectly calm, a flicker of respect passed through Hao Hui's eyes.

Someone of such noble character was exceptionally rare, even across the entire Myriad Immortals Alliance.

His face grew serious, and his tone softened. “Fellow Daoist, put your mind at ease. I’ll send people to Outpost 01-11 at once. I won’t fail the desperate call for help you delivered at the cost of your lifespan.”

Li Fan coughed lightly and gave a small nod.

He had already done everything he could. This body clearly couldn’t take any further burden; even ordinary movement would be difficult without careful recuperation.

Hao Hui stepped out and shut the door behind him.

At the same moment, Li Fan sensed the faint shadow in the corner of the room disappear as well.

Fifty-seven years remain in this lifetime. While I could take some life-extending treasures, my current situation is somewhat similar to Immortal Venerable Jicheng's—both of us are nearing the very end of our lifespans. The effects of life-extending treasures might not be as potent as one might hope.

Even if I don't have long to live, it doesn't necessarily mean I cannot achieve my goals.

Li Fan closed his eyes and sank into thought.

***

At the very forefront of Severed Hand Immortal City, in a hidden place facing the Roaring Abyss...

Countless demonic noises burst forth from the nearby void. Pouring through a rupture, they streamed ceaselessly into the space without obstruction.

It was like the unutterable clamor of hell’s deepest depths, reverberating and raging without end.

The powerful, pure demonic sound seemed to affect the very structure of space. One after another, grotesque and twisted faces continually took shape there.

Before those incomprehensible visages sat a lone figure.

His features could not be clearly made out; his body resembled a rippling river, flickering and shifting without pause.

The demonic sounds that struck ordinary cultivators with terror seemed to have no effect on him at all. As for the warped faces born from the sound’s vibrations, the moment they drifted close, they were seized by some unseen force and swallowed directly into his body.

His form rippled, and the faces disappeared. Yet his expression remained utterly calm.

Suddenly, he lifted a hand.

A bluish stone door rose up, sealing the breach in the space. The demonic sounds abruptly weakened.

The light dimmed at once, and every remaining demonic-sound-face vanished in an instant.

The rippling of his body grew even more violent.

“Junior Lord.”

A patch of darkness gathered at his side and took the shape of a cultivator in black robes. He began reporting what he had just seen.

A short while passed.

“Is that really true?” Junior Lord Shang asked, his voice edged with skepticism.

“From my own observation, Li Fan wasn’t lying. And his lifespan had indeed been almost entirely consumed by the Lifespan-Devouring White Mist,” the black-robed cultivator answered. “If he’d been even a little slower that day, it’s uncertain whether he would have survived.

“Before coming here, I also verified things with Ji Hongdao. Li Fan’s identity is legitimate.

“And on the route to Outpost 01-11, there were signs of a newly formed Lost Domain.

“Still, it has already withdrawn back into the depths of the White Mist. It was probably just a chance phenomenon.”

Hearing this, Junior Lord Shang fell quiet for a moment.

“A story this stirring—the more people who hear it, the better,” he said at last. “Especially now, when morale is wavering. We need a sharp contrast to make certain people feel ashamed.

“See to this matter.”

The black-robed cultivator inclined his head.

He turned to go, but glanced back at Junior Lord Shang, clearly hesitant.

“Hm?” His superior motioned for him to speak.

After a pause, the black-robed cultivator asked carefully, “Yan Huan has been hanging at the center of the Immortal Fortress and whipped nonstop for eleven days.

“When can we take him down?

“At this rate, I’m afraid he won’t last much longer. Even if it’s for show, the Demonic Sound Whip is very real.”

He spoke cautiously, clearly wary of provoking the man before him.

Junior Lord Shang didn’t lose his cool. “The point of having him spread rumors on purpose was to correct the atmosphere inside the Immortal Fortress.

“Now that we have a far better piece for propaganda, he’s no longer necessary.

“Take him down tomorrow.

“Send him a Soul-Mending Pill. Let him recover properly.” 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Relief crossed the black-robed cultivator’s face. “Thank you, Junior Lord.”

Then he disappeared soundlessly from the hidden chamber.

To Junior Lord Shang, the exchange was nothing more than a minor interruption.

As the bluestone door lowered again, the howling demonic sounds rushed back in, and his body began to rock and drift once more.

***

With Junior Lord Shang’s deliberate encouragement, Li Fan’s desperate plea for rescue spread through the entire Eternal Immortal Fortress in less than half a day.

Some dismissed it; others were profoundly moved.

And once He Chen and the other cultivators stranded at Outpost 01-11 were brought back and questioned, the rumors were confirmed.

Though a small number stubbornly insisted it was an elaborate act staged from start to finish, most chose to accept it as true.

As everyone marveled at and respected Li Fan’s selfless sacrifice, they also couldn’t help but regret that he supposedly had only a few decades left to live.

As for Li Fan himself, after receiving wave after wave of visitors, he finally welcomed a rare moment of peace.

After some recuperation, I've more or less adapted to this aged body.

Although I could transform my appearance to look youthful, it obviously wouldn't attract as much attention as this current look.

His first attempt at inversely refining his Dao Heart was flawlessly completed. The growth of his soul left him with a craving for more.

So Li Fan readied himself to begin his second inverse refinement plan.

For the Tianxuan Soul-Locking Array Competition, I originally planned to just go through the motions, putting on a show. He mused inwardly.

But now I’ll do the opposite. I’ll devote every remaining day of my life to building the array.

I will spend every remaining bit of my strength on the universal deployment of the Tianxuan Soul-Locking Array, until my final day.

Just the thought of it sent a shiver through Li Fan, raising goosebumps across his skin.

Suppressing the discomfort in his heart, Li Fan donned a mask of unwavering resolve.

With slow yet firm steps, he walked out of the room.