The cave mouth appeared out of thin air less than thirty feet before him, like a giant maw suddenly opening and forcibly tearing a rift through the space within this stretch of seawater.
The black opening radiated an immensely powerful suction force. The surrounding seawater was sucked into it at terrifying speed, forming a visible spiral current.
The instant that suction force appeared, Li Bufan's body was firmly locked onto it.
Its strength far exceeded his expectations. Even though he immediately circulated his True Essence to steady himself, he was still dragged forward against his will.
His feet plowed two deep trenches through the seabed rock. Mud and shattered stones churned ceaselessly beneath his feet, yet he still could not halt the force dragging him forward.
He tried to drive the Seven Killings Blade into the ground to anchor himself, but the instant its edge touched the rock, the surrounding seawater was whipped into a storm by the suction force and swept him, blade and all, into the black opening.
In that instant, his vision became pure darkness, and his body spun and fell in a weightless void.
After roughly several breaths, the weightlessness abruptly vanished. His body slammed heavily onto solid ground, sending dust and gravel flying in all directions.
He instinctively rolled across the ground to dissipate the impact, then sprang to his feet and held the Seven Killings Blade across his chest. Blood-colored blade light flowed restlessly in his palm like a crescent moon.
His gaze swept the surroundings like an eagle's, while his divine sense spread out at full force the instant he landed.
A massive stone gate stood not far ahead. Its entire body was built from a dark grayish-white stone, its surface marked by ancient, weathered patterns.
The gate stood several hundred zhang tall.