Chapter 711: Heaven-Shattering Cannon Clears The Lost Domain

"This..."

Having narrowly escaped death, Huangfu Song and Dongfang Yao both felt cold sweat bead on their foreheads.

With ashen faces, they stared blankly at the long, empty tunnel not far away, speechless.

If Li Fan had been even a fraction slower a moment ago, the black beam would have already pulverized the three of them and the Samantabhadra True Boat to dust!

Huangfu Song swallowed hard. His legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed onto the deck.

"What in the world was that thing...?" Dongfang Yao, who was bolder by nature, recovered from the shock first. He forced down his terror and peered out beyond the boat.

The black beam's destructive power was truly terrifying. Even after a long time, the hole it had pierced through the Lifespan-Devouring White Mist still hadn't closed.

The black light also seemed to carry a strange, corrosive force. The beam had already dissipated, but when the three of them looked at that empty, hollow space from a distance, a faint sense of crisis still rose in their hearts.

"I say, shouldn't we get farther away for now? Otherwise, if another one comes, we're dead meat," Dongfang Yao said in a low voice after a moment of watching.

Li Fan, still relatively calm, spoke up. "No. Better to stay put and adapt. We don't know where that black beam came from, but it's already struck this spot once. The chances of another hit are sli—"

Before he could even finish the word "slim," his expression changed again.

He channeled his spiritual qi to its limit and poured it all into the Samantabhadra True Boat. The boat lurched forward and shot upward.

A moment later, another horrifying black beam blasted from the depths of the White Mist.

It was even more precarious this time. The Samantabhadra True Boat just barely dodged it. Even through the hull, they could almost feel the suffocating, all-consuming power of the black light.

Two brushes with death in such a short span broke Huangfu Song's nerve. He plopped down onto the deck.

Li Fan, his prediction instantly disproven, cursed under his breath.

Fortunately, he had a tenacious will. He suppressed the urge to flee and forced himself to stay put.

Sure enough, seven more black beams tore from the depths of the White Mist, nearly sweeping the entire region clean.

The Lifespan-Devouring White Mist, unmoved for ten thousand years, seemed scoured by this world-blasting power, thinning visibly.

The magnificent and terrifying sight left all three of them stunned.

After a moment, as if recalling something, Huangfu Song cried out in shock. "A World-Quelling Divine Artifact... this is the Myriad Immortals Alliance's World-Quelling Divine Artifact, the Heaven-Shattering Cannon..."

His words instantly caught Li Fan and Dongfang Yao's attention.

"World-Quelling Divine Artifact?" Li Fan's eyes flickered.

Cultivators of the Xuanhuang World used the term World-Quelling Divine Artifact for supremely powerful weapons capable of turning the tide of war between two sides.

At the previous Amity Conference between the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Council, each side had displayed one. The display alone was said to have shifted the stance of many militant cultivators.

The existence of World-Quelling Divine Artifacts was classified information within the Myriad Immortals Alliance, something ordinary cultivators could hardly ever glimpse.

Li Fan and the other two had never expected to encounter one here. On top of that, it was operating at full power, apparently fighting something.

There was a moment of silence on the Samantabhadra True Boat before Dongfang Yao hazarded a guess. "Are they... clashing with the Five Elders Council again?"

"It shouldn't be..." Huangfu Song said, though doubt colored his voice. He pulled out a communication spirit talisman and contacted someone. Only then did he let out a relieved breath.

"Stop being paranoid. It's the Myriad Immortals Alliance's Martial Hall. They're clearing a Lost Domain. It’s just our rotten luck to be here at the wrong time." Huangfu Song shot Dongfang Yao a look.

"What kind of Lost Domain requires a weapon like that? And not even a warning? If Brother Li hadn't reacted fast, we'd all be dead. They're treating lives like weeds!" Dongfang Yao swore loudly.

"Keep your voice down." Huangfu Song shushed him quickly.

Li Fan stared deep into the riddled White Mist. Even from this distance, he could faintly detect ripples of spiritual qi coming from that direction.

They waited a moment longer, until they were certain the Heaven-Shattering Cannon's bombardment had ceased. Only then did the three steer the Samantabhadra True Boat away and speed off.

"Brothers, have you decided what you'll redeem?" On the road back to the city for supplies, Huangfu Song opened the item catalog of the Heaven-Measuring Mirror again, gazing at it with anticipation as he asked.

"I've got my eye on that method for nourishing the body through eating. My constitution is special. As long as an injury isn't too severe, I can recover instantly. But I always feel like there's unseen damage building up. It's not a big deal usually, but I'm afraid it'll drag me down when I break through to a higher realm." Dongfang Yao laid out his future plans in detail, straightforward as ever.

"Heh, I'm looking at that secondary entity of the Tianxuan Mirror, the Disassembler Disc. Six are still left. If we move a bit faster, we might still have a chance." Huangfu Song chuckled but didn't explain his choice.

"And you, Brother Li?" Dongfang Yao asked curiously.

"I'll keep looking. There’s no rush to decide." Li Fan's expression stayed calm.

But when they returned to the nearest city, Tianyu City, the three of them who had just begun to relax suddenly felt urgency crash down on them.

The Myriad Immortals Alliance had officially issued its decree.

Cultivators across the land stirred at the news. Groups of three to five banded together, and Samantabhadra True Boats launched from every corner of the Xuanhuang World, racing recklessly into the White Mist.

The Great Exploration Era had officially begun!

These cultivators lacked connections and backing, so they'd lost the head start, already behind in exploration progress. But their sheer numbers were overwhelming. Who knew if one or two lucky ones might emerge from their ranks?

Anyone who stumbled onto a place as significant as the Life-Death Reversal Lost Domain would earn thirty thousand Qingxuan Points on the spot.

And here Li Fan and his companions were, breaking their backs for a mere twenty-one thousand points!

To be honest, that pitiful lead meant nothing next to those truly blessed by heaven.

So, after replenishing their necessary supplies, they didn't even pause to rest before plunging back into the White Mist.

It was worth noting that the Longevity Pills, which Li Fan had "accidentally" acquired at a bargain price to remarkable effect, had now begun sprouting across the Alliance's market like bamboo after rain.

They could be found in the Thousand Li Halls of every city.

"Whoever's behind these Longevity Pills must be raking it in. They don't have to venture into the White Mist like we do. Just sell a single pill and they're richer than all of us."

Huangfu Song's voice dripped with envy as he watched the crowds swarm the Thousand Li Hall, jostling to buy the Longevity Pills.