After leaving Liuli Island, Li Fan followed He Zhenghao's directions, flying west for two days until he arrived at a sea expanse riddled with hidden reefs and whirlpools.
Activating the Form-Concealing Talisman, Li Fan plunged into the sea and found the entrance to the Li Realm within a ruin deep beneath the waves.
An inconspicuous well.
Slipping inside, he felt an aura familiar to him—reminiscent of the Ruins Abyss in Great Xuan.
Following the shaft further down, Li Fan was suddenly seized by a wave of dizziness after an indeterminate time.
When he came to his senses, the surrounding seawater was gone, and he stood in a pitch-black, boundless void.
"It seems the Immortal Severing Formations sealing each minor world are all alike," Li Fan mused, gazing out across the darkness.
A pod of tens of thousands of Realm-Rifting Whales lurked in the gloom, tirelessly carving out space and pushing the Li Realm further away from the cultivation world.
Just like Great Xuan before it.
The Realm-Rifting Whales were exceedingly sensitive to the aura of mortals, yet completely indifferent to cultivators.
Even so, Li Fan chose to steer carefully around them as he arrived before the Thunderstorm layer.
At this moment, He Zhenghao's instructions resurfaced in his mind.
"The Immortal Severing Formation seals the Li Realm off from the cultivation world. If one tries to force their way through, even a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator must tread with utmost caution. But as long as you breach it using the method I explained, you won't trigger the formation's attacks..."
Li Fan circulated the spiritual energy in his body according to He Zhenghao's method, then flew into the Thunderstorm layer.
Pausing in place for a short while, he watched furious lightning crash incessantly all around him, yet not a single bolt struck him.
*It really works. This way, one can pass through the Immortal Severing Formation even without the Taiyan Boat. That ordinary wooden boat given to the mortals of the Li Realm simply uses an array to stabilize these fluctuations, thereby avoiding attacks from the Immortal Severing Formation.*
*The Taiyan Boat's passage through the Immortal Severing Formation relies on a method preset into its arrays from the time of its construction. He Zhenghao, on the other hand, effectively cracked the formation's defensive network and carved out a private back door for himself.*
*From the looks of it, he wasn't boasting after all. His attainments in the Dao of Formations are truly extraordinary.*
With the information verified, Li Fan no longer chose to cross by physical flight alone.
Releasing the Taiyan Boat, he navigated smoothly through the Immortal Severing Formation, heading straight toward Great Li.
***
Both Great Li and Great Xuan were mortal realms, similar in their general landscape.
Except that at the heart of this realm stood a volcano thousands of meters high.
Every two to three hundred years, the volcano would erupt, claiming countless lives.
Moreover, the intervals were growing shorter, and the scale of each eruption was growing larger.
The ruling class of the Great Li Dynasty feared that one day, the volcano would turn this world entirely into a molten hell, so they did everything in their power to find a way to escape.
Yet they could never find a way out.
Until fifty years ago, an immortal master suddenly descended. He promised that every ten years, he could take a group of people away from here.
The condition was that they had to help him gather the supplies on his list.
The dignitaries of Great Li naturally agreed with overflowing joy.
Thus, the dealings between both sides had continued for fifty years.
As the agreed time for this transaction drew closer, immortal-watching officials kept constant watch in the four watchtowers of Great Li's capital.
Hence, the moment Li Fan flew over the capital, he heard bells tolling incessantly below.
Before long, the Emperor of Great Li led his civil and military officials before Li Fan.
"We welcome the Immortal Master!"
Across the square, the Emperor of Great Li and his officials knelt across the ground, crying out in unison.
"The agreed day has arrived. Have you gathered all the supplies?" Li Fan asked coldly, looking down on them.
The Emperor of Great Li answered hastily, "Reporting to Immortal Master, everything on the list has been fully prepared."
Li Fan nodded. "In that case, take me to them."
Led personally by the Emperor of Great Li, Li Fan arrived at the imperial treasury.
Here, the supplies He Zhenghao had requested were neatly sorted into stacks, each bearing a label detailing its name and quantity.
Li Fan swept his divine sense across them and nodded in satisfaction.
Not only was nothing missing, but every item was slightly in excess of what had been required.
Stowing the materials into the storage ring He Zhenghao had provided, the mission was successfully completed.
Smooth sailing, without a hitch.
Aside from the time spent traveling, the risk was practically zero.
No wonder He Zhenghao kept it close to heart; it truly was an immensely lucrative business.
Handing the array-inscribed wooden boat to the Emperor of Great Li, Li Fan took in the joy on the ruler's face and suddenly asked, "Is Great Li's King Zhennan present today?"
The emperor froze. In the past, the immortal master had always taken the supplies and flown straight away; why would he suddenly inquire about King Zhennan today?
Not daring to slight him, the emperor replied with some trepidation, "To answer the Immortal Master, my imperial brother guards the southern border year-round and is not in the capital."
"However, his son, Xiao Heng, is here," the emperor quickly added, fearful of angering the immortal master.
Li Fan nodded. Knowing Xiao Heng was being kept in the capital as a hostage, he was not surprised. "Where is he now? Take me to see him!"
How could the emperor possibly know where a mere hostage prince lived on an ordinary day? Unable to answer, he was caught flat-footed on the spot, cold sweat breaking out on his brow in panic.
Fortunately, a personal attendant eunuch beside him quickly whispered, "Your Majesty, Xiao Heng should be fostered at Scholar Su's residence."
"The Su family..." Li Fan's heart stirred upon hearing this.
The emperor let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly arranged for someone to lead the way.
Before long, Li Fan saw Xiao Heng at the Su residence.
At this time, he was only a child of seven or eight. Suddenly surrounded and stared at by so many strangers, his little face was taut with nervous tension.
Seeing that small figure overlap with the Xiao Heng in his memories, Li Fan gave a soft chuckle.
"I see that this child possesses extraordinary talent. He is destined for far greater things," he suddenly declared.
Hearing this, the people present showed varied expressions, turning to look at Xiao Heng, who still wore a dazed expression, entirely oblivious to what was happening.
Then Li Fan lightly tapped a finger against Xiao Heng's forehead.
He transmitted the *Xuanhuang Mind-Clearing Incantation* along with the instructions for using its companion medicines directly into the boy's mind.
"When I return ten years from now, I will personally take him away," Li Fan said indifferently, casting his gaze over the crowd.
In an instant, anyone harboring wicked intentions broke out in cold sweat, trembling in terror.
The Emperor of Great Li naturally understood the meaning behind Li Fan's words and hurriedly pledged, "Rest assured, Immortal Master. I will certainly see to it that he is well cared for."
Li Fan nodded in satisfaction.
For now, his footing in the cultivation world was still precarious, and in two years he would explore the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace ruins with an uncertain future ahead.
He could only impart the *Xuanhuang Mind-Clearing Incantation* to Xiao Heng first and wait until the boy had grown older before returning to bring him into the cultivation world.
With matters in the Li Realm concluded, Li Fan prepared to depart.
Yet a tender voice suddenly called out from the crowd.
"Immortal Master, please save my sister!"
Chapter 71