Inside the outpost, Li Fan looked at the golden list projected by the Tianxuan Mirror.

「This Guo Yezhong is quite an interesting character. If there isn’t a special reason, then he’s blatantly causing trouble under everyone’s gaze. This is practically slapping the face of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.”

Recalling the ordinary appearance of Guo Yezhong during the initial training, Li Fan couldn’t help but marvel.

“If he still has zero points at the end of the competition, I’ll respect him as a man.”

Once again, a faint murmuring of resentment echoed in his ears, something Li Fan had grown accustomed to over the past year.

He calmly lit a glass lamp inside the room, and eerie black flames illuminated, instantly dissipating the abyssal noise.

“This Silencing Glass Lamp is really useful,” Li Fan couldn’t help but praise.

The Silencing Glass Lamp, a new type of sound-suppressing treasure delivered by the Martial Hall two months ago.

Hailing from the Western Ethereal Province.

After igniting the Silencing Cord within the lamp, it emitted black flames that turned all surrounding sounds into nothingness.

Simple to use, with outstanding effects.

Moreover, unlike other treasures that absorb demonic sounds, it doesn’t risk mutation after prolonged exposure.

This lamp remains unaffected until it burns out completely. It can be extinguished when not in use, extending its lifespan.

Among all sound-suppressing treasures, the Silencing Glass Lamp is the most outstanding.

Unfortunately, it’s said that the critical component, the Silencing Cord, requires special craftsmanship, making production cycles long and extremely precious.

So only Li Fan, Xue Mu, and other array masters would carry it with them.

Under the Azure Mystery Army, it’s only brought out in times of crisis.

However, Li Fan lighting the Silencing Glass Lamp at this moment isn’t extravagant.

The outpost has been cut off from other outposts and the Eternal Immortal Stronghold since the sudden surge of the Demonic Sounds from Abyss of Roars that erupted fifteen days ago.

Communication talismans, spell transmissions, and even the Tianxuan Mirror couldn’t connect with the outside world.

In fact, the list Li Fan lazily glanced at just now was frozen data from before the surge erupted.

According to the words of the Azure Mystery old soldier and Nascent Soul cultivator who guarded him, Leng Yingyi, the momentum of this tide was once in a hundred years.

Based on Leng Yingyi’s experience, the duration of the abyssal surge is almost directly proportional to its power.

The sudden eruption of the surge was beyond everyone’s expectations.

The resources within the point, including the vital **Black Death Talisman** that sustains survival in the devouring white mist, are running low and need timely replenishment.

So, Leng Yingyi, along with three subordinates, braving the risk of falling, returned to the Eternal Immortal Stronghold to seek supplies during the empty period after the abyssal surge erupted.

However, they haven’t returned yet.

Although Li Fan was a bit puzzled why he encountered the once-in-a-century abyssal surge.

But according to the current situation, the point is still relatively safe, so there’s no need to panic.

It’s just that under the dual influence of the surge and the white mist, not only communication but even spiritual energy has become chaotic.

Unable to concentrate, forcing cultivation would cause irregular movement of spiritual energy in the body, damaging Qi and blood.

Unable to cultivate, even the diligent Li Fan became idle.

He had also tried to perform rituals to enter the Fallen Immortal Realm.

However, the connection with the realm is too weak within this white mist.

Several attempts failed, leaving Li Fan dizzy and shaken.

So he had no choice but to give up.

The only way to pass the time is to chat with other cultivators in the point.

However, as time passes, seeing the dwindling resources in the point and no sign of Leng Yingyi’s return, everyone’s mood becomes heavy, and idle chatter gradually diminishes.

The black flames flicker and dance incessantly.

Casting a somewhat gloomy shadow on Li Fan’s face.

“Could it be that this world is coming to an end right here?”

After staring blankly for a long time, such thoughts occasionally pop into his mind.

He takes a deep breath, habitually activates the Xuanhuang Heart Refinement Mantra, suppressing stray thoughts.

With nothing else to do, Li Fan decides to devote all his attention to practicing this refining mantra.

Ever since reaching the Qi Condensation Stage, although he had turned the Xuanhuang Heart Refinement Mantra into a breathing-like instinct,

There’s still a difference between wholeheartedly comprehending and instinctively practicing.

At this moment, it’s also the first time in a long time that Li Fan earnestly practices the refining mantra.

When he was still a mortal, the Clear Heart Mantra was his hope to break the barrier between mortal and immortal.

So he could endure sleepless nights and persevere in bitter cultivation for years.

But when he broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, and the Clear Heart Mantra transformed into the Refining Heart Mantra,

Its effectiveness became somewhat questionable.

Unable to elevate even a shred of cultivation, its apparent function is only to suppress and crush the miscellaneous thoughts in the mind.

In today’s cultivation world, where character isn’t highly valued, it’s almost useless.

Moreover, Li Fan’s willpower is exceptionally strong, and he hardly ever encounters mental disturbances.

So for Li Fan, the efficacy of the Refining Heart Mantra is almost negligible.

If it weren’t for his intuition and the ranking of the Refining Heart Mantra as the first technique in the Anchor Point panel, it indirectly indicated the value of the mantra,

Li Fan might have abandoned it long ago.

After all, no matter how powerful a dragon-slaying technique is, if there are no dragons in the world, it’s just a useless skill, not worth wasting time on.

“Refine the heart, refine the heart.”

“How to refine, I already know like the back of my hand.”

“But what to refine into, what’s the ultimate goal, I have no clue.”

“Perhaps this is why my progress in practicing the Refining Heart Mantra has always been inconsistent over the years.”

“What am I refining for?”

…

This question may be too profound.

Even Li Fan, who considers himself to have decent insight, momentarily fell into a dilemma.

Time passes slowly in this process.

There are limited effects to fumbling in the dark.

On the thirty-sixth day after the eruption of the abyssal surge, Li Fan, who had been unable to find an answer, temporarily stopped practicing.

He simply strolled around the point, listening, observing, feeling, and contemplating.

Compared to a dozen days ago, changes quietly occurred within the outpost in a short period of time.

The enclosed environment, the unknown future, the occasional onslaught of abyssal sounds.

The gradually depleting survival resources.

As the cultivators in the point lived through each day feeling like years, an inexplicable emotion began to slowly breed in their hearts.

Although it hasn’t reached the point of complete despair yet, Li Fan, who can see through people’s hearts, was the first to sense it.

“Apart from me, three Nascent Soul stage cultivators, six Foundation Establishment stage cultivators.”

“My strength is the weakest, but if I play the pig to eat the tiger, sit back and reap the benefits, it shouldn’t be a problem in the end.”

This was the thought that first popped into Li Fan’s mind.