Judging by the map, the distance between Li Fan and his destination spanned nearly half the Water Grotto-Heaven.
Li Fan estimated that relying solely on his own flight, he could not hope to reach it in under a month or two.
Yet with the Sky-Evading Shuttle, it took less than a single day.
In just over seven shichen, Li Fan arrived at the marked location.
His speed gradually diminished, and the black-gold fluid enveloping his body slowly retracted. Once Li Fan came to a complete halt, it reverted into a tiny teardrop-shaped object and was retrieved into his dantian.
Li Fan surveyed what would be his working environment for the coming period.
Below remained a boundless expanse of azure waters.
And above, seemingly within arm's reach, a branch extending from the inverted colossal tree on the vault of heaven made intimate contact with the water-attribute grotto-heaven.
What caught Li Fan somewhat by surprise, however, was that a tree brimming with vitality should have flourished even more upon touching water. Yet the massive branch before him presented a picture of utter desolation and decay. The grayish-yellow wood was battered and incomplete, riddled with numerous hollow cavities, looking as if it might snap and plummet at any moment.
Perhaps it was merely an illusion born of staring at it for so long, but amidst those withered branches gnawed by lifeless silence, he seemed to make out the mangled silhouettes of numerous "people."
He looked away, and when he turned back a moment later, the sensation had vanished.
Shaking his head, Li Fan brought out the Overseeing Heaven Record and studied the construction plan closely once more.
In the short time he had spent inspecting his surroundings, the plan had already undergone an update. Five cultivators had been assigned as his assistants and were rushing over with logistical supplies.
Li Fan did not wait for them.
The Overseeing Heaven Record released a beam of light aimed into the sky. Having fixed the coordinate node, Li Fan proceeded straight to constructing the Spirit-Locking Formation.
Unlike in the Chizha Abyss, where one constantly had to guard against the Essence-Devouring White Mist and the abyssal demonic sound, this water-attribute grotto-heaven harbored virtually no danger. The rich spiritual energy was all the more conducive to formation construction.
Free of hindrance, Li Fan could perform unreservedly.
After years of weighted training, his formation-laying speed under normal conditions had reached an entirely new level. As if etched deep into the marrow of his soul, the technique required no thought at all. A flick of his wrist, a shift of his intent, and formations materialized in an instant.
Li Fan felt neither sorrow nor joy, advancing the formation's deployment with terrifying, absolute efficiency. For a time, he fell into a state of selfless absorption.
By the time the five-man support team arrived, what met their eyes was the sight of Li Fan completely focused, laying out the Spirit-Locking Formation as casually and effortlessly as splashing ink across paper.
This was by no means their first time taking part in formation construction. Yet none of the formation masters they had encountered before—whether in terms of deployment speed or sheer fluidity—could remotely hold a candle to the white-haired Golden Core formation master before them.
The five exchanged bewildered glances.
"Does this man truly have only a Golden Core cultivation?"
"Li Fan... that name sounds familiar. Wait, could it be that Li Fan?"
"It has to be him. Truly worthy of a man who vows to fight on the front lines of constructing the Spirit-Locking Formation until his dying breath. Such mastery in laying formations is downright shocking."
"Phew, to collaborate with him on this assignment is a blessing for us."
The five communicated amongst themselves via divine sense. Without disturbing Li Fan, they began constructing an outpost on the water's surface below.
Although rumors claimed Li Fan drove himself to the extreme and never needed rest while laying formations, a foothold to handle contingencies was still indispensable. Besides, their band of brothers certainly couldn't endure years of nonstop labor.
Such work was familiar territory for them. Working together, they took just three days to complete a small outpost suspended above the water. After that, they followed standard procedure to inspect and verify the formation units Li Fan had already erected.
The results shattered their understanding even further.
In the past, they had heard tales of formation prodigies deploying formations with blazing speed. Yet the structure of the Spirit-Locking Formation was immensely complex, comprising countless units. Factor in external environmental elements, and no matter how extraordinarily gifted a cultivator was, making errors during the construction process was inevitable.
Yet in the formations Li Fan had laid, there was not the slightest flaw.
Tireless, efficient, precise.
All of this manifested in a decrepit Golden Core cultivator whose life was nearing its end. It was simply unbelievable, leaving the five in boundless awe.
As time passed, the area Li Fan completed expanded rapidly in all directions. With node after node erected, the five felt an ever-deepening admiration for Li Fan. For this man truly lived up to the rumors: he knew not what fatigue meant, never resting for a single moment. Working around the clock alongside him, even the five of them were beginning to buckle under the strain. Yet none dared utter the slightest complaint.
In this manner, a year slipped by quietly.
When the completed area extended across a radius of five thousand li from the initial node, the task originally assigned to Li Fan and his team was nearly finished.
"It was originally scheduled for three years, yet to think it's almost done in just one," Yan Hang, the Nascent Soul cultivator among the five, looked at the formation spanning the sky and marveled. "Now, we can finally take a good, long rest."
Exhaustion weighed heavily on him, his face etched with weary lines.
Hearing this, the others nodded repeatedly in heartfelt agreement.
However, once Li Fan completed the final section of the formation, he paused in midair for only a moment, showing no intention of resting. Instead, he continued extending the array outward.
"What is Master Li doing? That clearly isn't within our assigned sector anymore!" Yan Hang, who had already been preparing to return and unwind, blurted out in dismay.
"This..."
"Quick, look at the Overseeing Heaven Record! The work plan has been updated!"
"Master Li volunteered to assist the neighboring formation masters?!"
"'We must cooperate fully and must not slack off'?!"
Voices overlapping in disbelief, their hearts turned cold, and despair washed over their faces.
It took a long time for the five to pull themselves together.
Gritting his teeth, Yan Hang rallied the group: "Master Li is pushing himself this hard; we have no right to refuse. Brothers, put your backs into it. Let's endure a while longer."
One of them sighed. "There's no other choice. If we back out now, we'll only be laughed at if word gets out."
"I don't mind either way. My main worry is Master Li. Haven't you noticed? He seems to be growing more and more decrepit."
Jolted by the reminder, the others suddenly realized the truth. Observing the distant silhouette—weathered by age yet still standing ramrod straight—a collective jolt went through their hearts.
"It does seem that way."
"He didn't have many years left to live in the first place, and pushing himself like this must be burning through his lifespan at more than double the rate."
"What should we do?"
They looked at each other.
"No, we can't just stand by and watch Master Li perish before our eyes. Report this situation immediately!" Yan Hang said gravely.
Chapter 382