Chapter 384: Setting Up the Array with One’s Life

Looking at the map, the distance between Li Fan and his destination spanned almost half of the Water Attribute Grotto-Heaven.

Li Fan estimated that if he relied on his own flight, he wouldn't even think about reaching it for a month or two.

However, with the help of the Sky-Escaping Shuttle, it didn't even take a single day.

In a little over fourteen hours, Li Fan arrived at the marked location.

His speed gradually slowed down, and the black-gold fluid surrounding his body slowly reverted.

When Li Fan came to a stop, it transformed back into a small water-droplet-shaped object and was stored within his Dantian.

Li Fan surveyed the environment where he would be working for the foreseeable future.

Below him was still an endless expanse of azure waters.

And above, it seemed almost within reach.

A branch extending from the giant tree hanging upside down on the firmament had come into close contact with the Water Attribute Grotto-Heaven.

However, what surprised Li Fan was that while a vibrant tree should have become even more full of life upon contact with water,

the massive branch before him appeared completely withered, silent, and decayed.

The grayish-yellow wood was incomplete and riddled with numerous hollows.

It looked as if it might snap and fall at any moment.

He wasn't sure if it was an illusion born from staring for too long,

but within those remnant branches gnawed by deathly silence, he actually saw many fragmented silhouettes of "people."

He withdrew his gaze, but when he looked again a moment later,

that feeling had vanished without a trace.

Li Fan shook his head, took out the Dutian Record, and once again carefully studied the construction plan.

In the time he had just spent inspecting the surroundings, the plan had already been updated once.

Five more Cultivators had been assigned as his assistants and were rushing over with logistics supplies.

Li Fan did not wait for them.

The Dutian Record emitted a beam of light, targeting the sky.

After determining the coordinate nodes, Li Fan went straight to work on the construction of the Lock Spirit Array.

Unlike in the Chizha Abyss, where he constantly needed to guard against the Devouring Yuan White Mist and the Abyssal Demonic Sounds,

there was almost no danger to speak of in this Water Attribute Grotto-Heaven.

The Spiritual Qi was dense, which was even more conducive to the construction of the Formation.

With no constraints, Li Fan was able to perform to his heart's content.

After several years of weighted training, Li Fan's normal speed of setting up arrays had reached a new level.

Like an instinct carved deep into his Soul, he didn't even need to think.

He worked with ease; wherever his will reached, the array was formed in an instant.

Li Fan's heart was devoid of joy or sorrow as he advanced the layout of the array at an absolutely efficient and terrifying speed.

For a time, he fell into a state of self-forgetfulness.

When the five-person support team arrived, what they saw was Li Fan's intense focus as he constructed the Lock Spirit Array as freely as if he were splashing ink.

This wasn't the first time they had participated in the construction of a Formation.

But the Formation Masters they had encountered before, whether in terms of speed or elegance,

clearly could not be compared to the white-haired Golden Core Formation Master before them.

The five of them looked at each other in surprise.

"Does this person really only have a Golden Core cultivation?"

"Li Fan… he looks a bit familiar. Wait, could it be *that* Li Fan?"

"It must be him. Truly worthy of the man who would strive on the front lines of constructing Lock Spirit Arrays until his death. His proficiency in setting up arrays is simply shocking."

"Phew, being able to cooperate with him this time is also our blessing."

The five communicated with each other using Divine Sense.

They didn't disturb Li Fan, but instead began building a base on the water surface below.

Although they had heard that Li Fan was extremely hardworking and didn't need to rest at all when setting up arrays,

a landing point for special circumstances was still necessary.

Besides, they couldn't handle several years of continuous work without rest.

This work was also familiar to them, and with their combined efforts, a small base suspended over the water was completed in just three days.

Afterward, they began the process of inspecting and verifying the array units that Li Fan had already completed.

The results further refreshed their understanding.

In the past, they had heard of how quickly certain Formation Geniuses could set up arrays.

But the structure of the Lock Spirit Array was incredibly complex, containing countless array units.

Coupled with the influence of external environmental factors, even for someone with outstanding talent, errors were inevitable during the construction process.

But the array Li Fan had laid out actually had no errors at all.

Tireless, efficient, and precise.

All of this was happening to an old, nearly dying Golden Core cultivator.

It was simply incredible.

The five of them were filled with admiration.

As time passed, the area where Li Fan had completed the array expanded rapidly.

As one array node after another was completed, the five of them grew even more respectful of Li Fan from the bottom of their hearts.

Because this man was truly as the rumors said.

He didn't know the meaning of fatigue and didn't rest for a single moment.

Even the five of them, working in shifts, were finding it a bit hard to keep up.

But they didn't dare to have the slightest complaint.

In this way, a year quietly passed.

When the completed area of the array had covered a radius of five thousand miles from the initial node,

the task originally assigned to Li Fan and the others was nearing completion.

"It was originally planned to be completed within three years, but I didn't expect it to be finished in just one year."

Among the five, the Nascent Soul Cultivator named Yan Hang looked at the array in the sky and sighed with emotion.

"Now, we can finally have a good rest for a while."

He was full of exhaustion, his face showing the signs of weariness.

The others heard this and all nodded in agreement.

However, after Li Fan completed the final construction of the array,

he paused in the air for a moment, but had no intention of resting.

Instead, he continued to extend the array outward.

"What is Great Master Li doing? That's clearly no longer within our work scope!"

Yan Hang, who was already prepared to go back and relax, couldn't help but cry out in shock upon seeing this.

"This…"

"Quick, look at the Dutian Record, the work plan has been updated!"

"Great Master Li volunteered to assist the surrounding Formation Masters in setting up their arrays?!"

"We are to cooperate fully and must not be slack?"

As they spoke one after another, their hearts suddenly went cold.

Their faces were filled with despair.

It took a long time for the five of them to recover.

Yan Hang gritted his teeth and encouraged the group: "Great Master Li is working so hard, we have no reason to say no."

"Brothers, let's put in some more effort and persist for a while longer."

One of them sighed: "It has to be so. If we back out now, we'll probably be laughed at if word gets out."

"I don't really mind. My main concern is Great Master Li. Haven't you noticed? He seems to be getting older and older."

With this reminder, the others suddenly realized.

They carefully observed the figure not far away, which, although aged, was still standing straight.

Everyone's heart was filled with alarm.

"It does seem to be the case."

"He didn't have many years to live to begin with, and with such hard work, the depletion of his Lifespan will indeed more than double."

"What should we do?"

They looked at each other.

"No, we can't just watch Great Master Li perish before our eyes."

"Report this situation immediately!"

Yan Hang said in a deep voice.