Landing in a Box

"The first layer, the Dusk Zone. The Black Sky Lotus there generally ranges from World Lord to ordinary Immortal, suitable for cultivators below the Marquis level."

"The second layer, the Dark Night Zone. The Black Sky Lotus there is at least High Army Lord-level, with Marquis-level Black Sky Lotus everywhere. There are even rumors that Peak King-level Black Sky Treasure King Lotus exists deep within the Dark Night Zone."

"The third layer, the Dawn Zone."

Void Gold Venerable's voice sank slightly.

"Don't go there, and don't ask!"

After hearing this, Fang Yan nodded thoughtfully.

Void Gold Venerable took a silver-black token from his robe and tossed it to Fang Yan.

"This is a pass token for the Black Heaven Secret Realm. It contains partial star maps of the secret realm's interior, marking relatively safe areas and known danger zones. Don't run around. There are places in the Dark Night Zone that even this old man has yet to fully explore."

"Thank you, Senior."

Fang Yan accepted the token and solemnly cupped his fists in salute.

At the entrance to the MH-2082 black hole, space twisted like a crumpled sheet of paper.

Fang Yan stood at the black hole's edge, feeling the overwhelming fluctuations of gravitational force.

The sensation was strange, as though an invisible giant hand were tearing at his body, while the entire universe dragged him toward that dark abyss.

"Master, are you really going in?"

Little Fox Fairy's voice came through the sensor, tinged with worry.

"According to the Virtual Universe Company's records, the spatial passageways within the Black Heaven Secret Realm are extremely unstable. Every entry results in random teleportation to a different region. What if you are thrown directly into the Dawn Zone..."

"Then I'll run."

Fang Yan smiled, his tone casual.

"The Spring Autumn Cicada avatar's Time Reversal isn't just for show."

He took a deep breath. The Wind-Following Wings unfolded behind him, six translucent azure wings trembling gently within the black hole's gravitational field.

"Master..."

Little Fox Fairy's voice paused.

"Be careful."

Fang Yan said nothing more. His figure moved, flying toward the entrance at the black hole's edge.

In that instant, space seemed to shatter.

Countless black fissures swept past him. The gravitational fluctuations became violent to the extreme; even his World Lord body, tempered for a hundred thousand years, creaked beneath the tearing force.

Fang Yan closed his eyes and allowed that force to drag him into the abyss.

Who knew how long passed? Perhaps a single breath, perhaps ten thousand years.

When Fang Yan opened his eyes again, utter darkness lay before him.

There was no starlight, no source of illumination. He could not even sense the cosmic microwave background radiation that pervaded the universe.

"The Dark Night Zone?"

Fang Yan's heart sank. This environment was exactly like the Dark Night Zone described in the information Little Fox Fairy had given him.

Before he could think further, a powerful sense of danger surged in from every direction.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Countless piercing sounds rang out in the darkness.

Fang Yan's pupils abruptly contracted.

Amid the darkness, countless black petals shot toward him like a torrential downpour.

Every petal was as thin as a cicada's wing, its edges sharp enough to slice through space itself.

Most terrifying of all, the Immortal power clinging to those petals was at least High Army Lord-level!

"Damn it!"

Fang Yan cursed as he immediately activated Time Pause.

However, there were simply too many petals, and even the power of Time Pause seemed inadequate.

Several petals broke through the seal of time power and shot toward Fang Yan's body with shrill whistling sounds.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

Fang Yan's human avatar was pierced dozens of times in that instant.

His divine body was rapidly depleted beneath the petals' attacks. In less than two breaths, it completely collapsed.

Landing in a box?

That was Fang Yan's final thought before his human avatar's consciousness dissipated.

A golden radiance lit up out of nowhere.

Within the light, a thousand-meter-long black-gold behemoth slowly emerged.

Time Reversal!

Golden light erupted from the Spring Autumn Cicada, and the timeline within a thousand-mile radius began reversing.

The black petals flying toward Fang Yan began retreating, returning to their original positions.

Ten seconds.

Time within a hundred meters of Fang Yan had reversed by a full ten seconds.

"Run!"

Without another word, Fang Yan activated the Wind-Following Wings and flew frantically toward the Dusk Zone's sensed location.

Behind him, the Black Sky Lotus seemed to realize that their prey had escaped, and countless petals shot out from the darkness once more.

But Fang Yan was prepared this time. Combining Time Pause with the Wind-Following Wings' high-speed maneuverability, he narrowly evaded most of the attacks.

After the time it took to burn an incense stick, Fang Yan finally shook off the pursuing Black Sky Lotus and set foot in the Dusk Zone. He felt as though he had survived a calamity.

"The Dark Night Zone... really isn't something to be trifled with."

Fang Yan panted heavily and looked down at his body.

His human avatar had directly landed in a box, while the Spring Autumn Cicada's origin power was now nearly exhausted.

"Master, are you all right?"

Little Fox Fairy's voice was clearly anxious.

"I'm fine."

Fang Yan took a deep breath, suppressing the lingering fear in his heart.

"I just got a rude welcome from those Black Sky Lotus in the Dark Night Zone."

Fang Yan looked around.

The Dusk Zone's environment was far milder than that of the Dark Night Zone.

It was not completely dark here. Instead, everything was shrouded in a dim yellow glow, like a sky forever frozen at dusk.

Specks of light floated through the void like fireflies, lending a touch of eerie beauty to this deathly silent space.

In the distance, scattered black lotuses grew here and there.

Some of those Black Sky Lotus were only as large as millstones, while others were as huge as mountain peaks. Their petals slowly unfurled in the void, emitting a faint black glow.

"This will do."

Fang Yan nodded, having made his decision.

The Black Sky Lotus in the Dusk Zone posed little threat to him, but there were enough of them to temper Late Wind.

"Master, are you sure you don't want to find somewhere safer to set up camp first?"

Little Fox Fairy's voice carried a trace of helplessness.

"With your luck of getting blown up the moment you landed, I'm really worried about you."

"Shut up."

Fang Yan retorted without changing expression.

"That was an accident. Who knew those Black Sky Lotus in the Dark Night Zone had no sense of fair play? They attacked without even saying hello."

"Master, when you ambushed that Spirit Magpie Race Marquis with God-Killing Powder last time, didn't you also skip the greeting?"

"...Little Fox Fairy, aren't you becoming increasingly rebellious?"

Although Fang Yan claimed not to be afraid, he still swiftly used the Breath Concealment secret technique from Time Illusory Martial Arts after his human avatar recovered.

Fang Yan pushed his Breath Concealment secret technique to its limit, and his entire body became like a faint, nearly imperceptible breeze blending into the void.

He found a relatively open stretch of space on the outskirts of the Dusk Zone. Beneath him lay the remains of a Black Sky Lotus that had mostly withered, giving off a faint decayed scent.

Fang Yan sat cross-legged within the remnant's Shadow, his aura completely concealed. Even a King-level expert would find it difficult to discover him without deliberately searching.

P.S. Thanks to Wandering Swordsman yd2210 for the monthly vote.