Chapter 357: A New Realm Outside the Abyss

"Unafraid of death, sacrificing oneself for others?"

"If I didn't have Huan Zhen and couldn't start over at any time, I would never have made such a choice!"

"It truly makes one feel unpleasant!"

Amidst the vast sea of mist, Li Fan executed the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder Escape, transforming into a streak of purple light as he rapidly flew toward the Eternal Immortal Fortress.

The feeling of frustration and depression in his heart refused to dissipate for a long time.

And the Profound Yellow Heart Refining Mantra, which had previously been all-conquering, was unexpectedly running extremely slowly.

Like an incredibly heavy millstone, it drew in his inner thoughts and slowly ground them down.

It was different from before when Li Fan had cultivated incorrectly and everything was crudely crushed.

Now, the Heart Refining Mantra refined these rebellious emotions generated by violating his Dao Heart, converting them into wisps of cool air that flowed into the depths of his body and mind, nourishing him.

The cool sensation slightly soothed his irritable mood.

Reverse cultivation of the Dao Heart was, in essence, actively seeking out 'unresolved grievances'.

This naturally made Li Fan, who had always acted according to his own whims, feel extremely uncomfortable.

Fortunately, the Profound Yellow Heart Refining Mantra did not disappoint Li Fan.

As he carefully sensed the effect of the cool air on his body, Li Fan's mind soon shook violently.

"This feeling…"

"Is actually so similar to when I first consumed the intent horse?!"

"Previously, the Heart Cleansing Mantra could strengthen Divine Sense, but correctly practicing the Heart Refining Mantra can actually strengthen the Divine Soul?"

A storm of shock instantly surged in Li Fan's heart.

"No wonder its cultivation grade is even higher than the Cloud Water Illusion Dream Skill, which is a Dao-Merging level technique."

"I have seen a few techniques for strengthening Divine Sense in the special contribution exchange list of the tianxuan mirror."

"But one that can strengthen the Divine Soul…"

"Is truly unheard of."

The Divine Soul is internal, while Divine Sense is external.

When the Divine Soul becomes stronger, Divine Sense will naturally become stronger accordingly.

Divine Sense is like muscle; it can be continuously enhanced through Acquired exercise and cultivation.

But the Divine Soul is like bone, fixed by one's Innate nature. It can only be strengthened when one's Realm breaks through—a means that nearly changes the life form itself—or by consuming Heaven And Earth Treasures like the intent horse.

Back then, the Soul Transformation Cultivator Zhang Zhiliang had also said that the intent horse, which could strengthen the Divine Soul, was extremely precious.

While the intent horse was good, its enhancement effect was limited.

But the enhancement of the Divine Soul by the Profound Yellow Heart Refining Mantra seemed to have no visible upper limit!

As long as he kept reverse cultivating his Dao Heart, his Divine Soul seemed capable of strengthening endlessly!

One must know that when the Divine Soul is strong enough, it can be used directly as a means to destroy enemies.

For example, the terrifying Thousand-Faced Demon Lord officially announced by the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance had discarded his physical body and existed directly as a Divine Soul entity.

Relying on his powerful Divine Soul, he committed acts of Possession at will.

"If I practice the Profound Yellow Heart Refining Mantra and my Divine Soul keeps getting stronger, one day, even if a real Thousand-Faced Demon Lord exists, he will be far from my match."

"And…"

"Huan Zhen and I are essentially one. After every Reincarnation, everything in the world returns to the selected anchor point."

"Only my own changes still exist."

"Even if I choose to retain nothing, it remains so."

"Back when I was still a Mortal, my will grew stronger through continuous Reincarnations. Later, I could even operate the taiyan boat with a Mortal body. This is the proof."

"Will, Divine Soul…"

"Doesn't that mean everything in the world returns to the starting point with each of my choices,"

"While my Divine Soul is constantly expanding?"

"One day, even if I don't choose to retain my cultivation, my powerful Divine Soul alone will be enough to crush everything?"

The more he thought about it, the more incredible Li Fan felt it was.

"The Profound Yellow Heart Refining Mantra can be called a Heaven-Defying divine skill, yet it was hidden within the common Mystic Yellow Heart Cleansing Mantra found everywhere in the Mortal world?"

"Just what…"

Instinctively, Li Fan felt that some kind of conspiracy must be hidden within this.

His heart was filled with suspicion, but after some struggle, Li Fan still decided to continue practicing it.

"With such a technique right before my eyes, it's impossible for me to give it up."

"Even if there's some trick, the strengthening of my Divine Soul is real."

"If the mastermind behind this can truly ignore the influence of Huan Zhen, then I'll accept it."

"If they can't, then no matter how much they plot, it's all useless before Huan Zhen."

Once he made his decision, Li Fan breathed a sigh of relief.

The actual effect of this Profound Yellow Heart Refining Mantra truly far exceeded his expectations.

"It's just that this method of reverse cultivating the Dao Heart is a bit of a torment."

Li Fan faintly felt that it wasn't enough to just say things that contradicted his Dao Heart to practice it.

He had to unify knowledge and action; his actual behavior also had to go against his Dao Heart.

Only then could it be transformed into nourishment for the Divine Soul.

This was also why he had plunged into the White Mist alone.

"To others, the combination of the Demon Sound tide and the Devouring Yuan White Mist is indeed a place of extreme danger, a narrow escape from death."

"But for me, the danger level isn't that high."

"The only thing I fear is a method that would instantly make me lose my ability to resist."

"Whether facing the White Mist or the Demon Sound, if I truly encounter some fatal danger, I have time to calmly activate Huan Zhen."

"Overall, the benefits of this choice far outweigh the risks."

"On the contrary, in the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance territory, which usually seems risk-free, trying to reverse Cultivate the Dao Heart would be fraught with danger."

"If I'm not careful, I might provoke the existence of a Dao-Merging expert."

…

Li Fan flew toward his destination while pondering.

With the black death talisman protecting him and blocking the Devouring Yuan White Mist, the only thing Li Fan had to worry about was the Demon Sound tide that would suddenly attack from time to time.

Whenever whispered murmurs reached his ears, to be safe, Li Fan would stop flying.

He would light the Nirvanic Glazed Lamp, wait for the Demon Sound to weaken, and then set off again.

Although surrounded by dangers, under Li Fan's cautious actions, the journey was peaceful.

Soon, Li Fan had been flying in the White Mist for over two days.

With the Five Elements power within him forming its own cycle, he didn't have to worry about running out of spiritual energy.

However, Li Fan's expression gradually became serious.

"If the threat was only at this level, nothing could have happened to Cold Responding Clothes."

"He hasn't returned for so long; what did he encounter?"

"And where is this growing unease in my heart coming from?"

Li Fan became increasingly alert, releasing his Divine Sense to scout the surroundings.

However, in the sea of mist without the Demon Sound tide, it was deathly silent.

After searching for a long time, he still couldn't find the source of the threat.

Li Fan could only deal with whatever came his way, continuing to fly in the sensed direction of the Eternal Immortal Fortress.

Thus, another two days passed.

Li Fan, who was flying rapidly, suddenly stopped.

His face turned ugly.

"I finally know why Cold Responding Clothes never returned. So that's how it is."

According to his speed, flying and stopping along the way,

He should have reached the Eternal Immortal Fortress in two days at most.

But now, four days had passed since Li Fan left Jiaxu Outpost.

In his sensing, the Eternal Immortal Fortress was indeed not far ahead.

But…

Despite being such a small distance, no matter how he flew, he couldn't cross it.

"It clearly seems just a stone's throw away, yet it's like a natural chasm that can't be crossed. we call these locations in the White Mist Barrier 'Mystic Domains'."

The words Huangfu Song had once said suddenly echoed in Li Fan's ears.

He temporarily gave up on flying and stood in the Void Realm, his expression flickering.

"Outside the Chizha Abyss, on the mandatory path between Jiaxu Outpost and the Eternal Immortal Fortress, a Mystic Domain has actually unknowingly formed."

"Silently, without anyone knowing."

"Cold Responding Clothes must have gotten lost in this Mystic Domain."

"And now, so have I."

Li Fan looked forward, as if seeing the massive Bluestone Severed Palm right ahead.

But he couldn't reach it.

"So close yet so far…"

Li Fan sighed slightly in his heart.

However, although he had inadvertently fallen into a desperate situation, Li Fan wouldn't use Huan Zhen immediately.

There were still many unfinished matters in this life; giving up so easily would be a pity.

It also fit Li Fan's character of not giving up until all hope was lost.

So, Li Fan decided that before his energy was exhausted and his supplies ran out, he would see if he could find a way to cross this newly formed Mystic Domain.

A so-called Mystic Domain was, in the end, just an extremely vast space.

It wasn't an absolute place of certain death.