Chapter 254 Ruoshui and Zhenghao

Li Fan's thoughts raced, and he instantly understood where He XinXin's 'extreme danger' in her calculations came from.

it was the same flaw that his Clone had exposed when facing the Heavenly Doctor previously.

In this life, if the matter of He XinXin's deduction had not occurred, according to Li Fan's original plan, he would still have gone to Source Dao Province.

When it came time for it to devour time again in the 29th year of anchoring, would it mysteriously discover something?

That on Li Fan, this tiny Cultivator, there were already traces of 'it having taken a bite'?

But it could be certain that it had not stolen Li Fan's time before.

This unknown terrifying existence would surely instantly think of the most likely reason for this scene to occur.

Facing the Heavenly Doctor, Li Fan could still activate Huan Zhen while conscious.

But facing this monster that could devour others' time, Li Fan didn't even have a chance to silently chant Huan Zhen.

The reason it was 'extreme danger' and not 'certain death' was probably this.

The only chance of survival lay in Huan Zhen's active protection, which could awaken Li Fan's consciousness and shield him for a moment.

Allowing him to activate Huan Zhen.

At this point, Li Fan had a basic guess about this 'missing decade'.

In Li Fan's view, this was probably the guess closest to the truth.

As for other possibilities…

If it was merely a single life where he couldn't perceive the stolen decade, and he only realized it immediately after Huan Zhen, when reviewing what happened in the previous life.

Then Li Fan would still suspect whether it was the work of Lan Yu Immortal Venerable's Primordial Devouring Rebirth Formation.

But to be able to affect Huan Zhen, preventing Li Fan from ever noticing.

Until he was reminded by someone, and then searched for a long time before finally discovering it…

it's not that Li Fan looks down on Lan Yu, but with his quasi-Heavenly Venerable strength alone, he really might not be qualified.

"This world is bizarre and full of crises…"

"A single misstep, a single wrong move, and the whole game is lost."

"Precisely because I have Huan Zhen, I am even more dangerous in front of the top mighty figures of this world."

…

"The only good news is that its influence seems to be limited to Source Dao Province. And it has no active aggressive intent, merely simple time theft."

"In the tenth life, when I first entered the Cultivation World. I transformed into Congyun Sea and lived until the 48th year of anchoring."

"No time theft ever occurred."

"it seems I can't go to Source Dao Province anymore."

"Also, I need to find a way to eliminate its influence on me."

"Otherwise, it will be like a thorn in my throat, a significant hidden danger."

Humans are just like that.

When facing completely unknown fear, their hearts tremble uncontrollably.

But once the opponent has even just a concept, the fear will naturally lessen.

And as understanding of it deepens, the fear will gradually dissipate.

Although Li Fan doesn't yet know what exactly it is.

He might as well first consider it a top-tier expert residing in Dao Source State, capable of devouring the lifespan of all living beings.

If he can't provoke it, it's best to just avoid it.

At the very least, from the current situation, Huan Zhen still seems to be superior to it.

As long as he doesn't run into its hands again, the problem shouldn't be big.

"it's also my Li Fan's destiny not to perish; before going to Source Dao Province, I met He XinXin and resolved a calamity."

"Speaking of which, Fellow Daoist He is truly my lucky star. If it weren't for the sudden failure of the Formless Killing Intent monitoring him, I wouldn't have had a sudden impulse to come to Liuli Island to investigate."

Thinking of this, Li Fan rarely showed a gentle smile.

He Zhenghao, seeing this, felt a sudden inexplicable throb in his heart and quickly asked, "Fellow Daoist Li Fan, is there any serious matter?"

Li Fan patted his shoulder: "it's nothing, just a small matter. Thanks to Fellow Daoist, I've already thought of a way to resolve it."

"Speaking of which, I really have to thank Xin Xin. If it weren't for her reminder, I truly don't know what would have happened!"

He XinXin's face immediately turned red from the praise, looking a little embarrassed.

He Zhenghao, however, laughed heartily, very pleased.

"How long is Xin Xin planning to stay here…?" Li Fan knew that He XinXin had probably snuck out and couldn't stay by He Zhenghao's side indefinitely, hence the question.

"When Mother discovers it, I'll go back…" He XinXin stopped halfway, only then realizing something.

She stuck out her tongue, glanced at the somewhat awkward He Zhenghao, and lowered her head, no longer speaking.

He Zhenghao sent her aside and began to tell Li Fan about him and He XinXin's mother.

it was not much different from a third-rate romance story.

He XinXin's mother was named Heng Ruoshui.

She was from Tian Yu State.

When she was young, she traveled outside without her parents' knowledge and met He Zhenghao.

He Zhenghao was quite handsome in his youth.

Heng Ruoshui rarely had contact with other males.

Spending day and night together, it was natural for feelings to develop easily between them.

Just as the young couple was deeply in love, Heng Ruoshui's parents suddenly appeared.

After carefully observing He Zhenghao, they didn't immediately try to break them apart.

Instead, they took the two back to Tian Yu State.

For a period of time thereafter, one young talent after another continuously appeared, pursuing Heng Ruoshui.

In terms of appearance, each had sword-like brows and starry eyes, exuding a handsome aura.

In terms of cultivation, most were Golden Core and Nascent Soul Realm. Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn't even meet Heng Ruoshui.

At that time, He Zhenghao was merely in the Late Qi Refining Stage.

In front of these Cultivators whose cultivation was two major Realms higher than his, he didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

Heng Ruoshui still had some feelings for He Zhenghao.

Facing these Cultivators who were far superior to He Zhenghao, she did not fall in love with someone else.

However, she really couldn't stand He Zhenghao's useless appearance, so she verbally criticized him a few times.

He Zhenghao was young and impetuous at the time, and his pride got the better of him, leading to a big argument with Heng Ruoshui.

He even spoke wildly, vowing to become a Nascent Soul cultivator and achieve great things.

To make Heng Ruoshui look at him with new eyes.

Then he just ran away directly.

The young He Zhenghao then encountered a series of harsh realities in life.

After much hardship, he finally cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

He participated in the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's once-a-decade unified examination, preparing to enter the Guardian Hall and become a Protector.

Who would have thought that after the examination results came out, he did pass.

But his position was not Protector, but Town Guardian.

Even more absurdly, the town he was assigned to was not Tian Yu State, but the extremely remote Congyun Sea, which he had never even heard of before.

Originally, He Zhenghao wanted to refuse, but the appointment order had already been issued at lightning speed.

With the transfer order in front of him, how could He Zhenghao dare to defy the orders of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance?

Even though he knew there were many tricks involved, and it must have been Heng Ruoshui's parents secretly causing trouble.

But he could only dejectedly travel far to Congyun Sea to take up his post.

He stayed there for decades.

With both love and career withered, He Zhenghao lost all his ambition.

His cultivation stagnated, stopping at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment.

Instead, he became engrossed in Formations, making considerable achievements in the Dao of Formations and making many good friends.

A blessing in disguise.

One day, while chatting with a friend, He Zhenghao accidentally learned.

Heng Ruoshui had actually been pregnant back then.

However, she knew her parents strongly objected, and He Zhenghao had left and disappeared.

For the safety of the unborn child, she used a secret technique to halt the fetus's growth.

From then on, she saw no outsiders and diligently cultivated.

it wasn't until a dozen years ago, after becoming a Nascent Soul Weaver and gaining enough say in front of her parents.

Only then did she reveal the truth and give birth to the child.

And named her He XinXin.

This matter caused quite a stir in Tian Yu State, and the story spread widely.

People at the time regarded Heng Ruoshui as an extraordinary woman.

Many Cultivators even didn't mind that she had a child and fiercely pursued her.

But she rejected them all without exception.

He Zhenghao, far away in Congyun Sea, heard this news and felt as if struck by lightning.

He shed tears of regret, regretting his past but helpless.

He also had no face or courage to see Heng Ruoshui again.

Until He XinXin sensed her biological father's fatal crisis and came to this remote Congyun Sea…

As He Zhenghao recounted, tears welled up in his eyes, full of sighs.

After listening, Li Fan couldn't help but curse inwardly: "He Zhenghao, what kind of man are you!"

Yet, he patted his shoulder and boasted: "Fellow Daoist He, rest assured, one day, I will surely let you return to Tian Yu State gloriously, making up for everything from back then!"

"A hundred years of time, for Mortals, might mean eternal separation. Regrets are hard to mend."

"But for us Cultivators, it's not something that cannot be remedied!"