Dead on Arrival

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

"The second layer, the Dark Night Zone. The Black Sky Lotuses there are at least High Army Lord-level. Marquis-level Black Sky Lotuses are everywhere, and there are even rumors that a 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 listening, Fang Yan nodded thoughtfully.

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

"This is a passage token for the Black Heaven Secret Realm. It contains part of the star map within the secret realm, 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 hasn't fully explored."

"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 sheet of crumpled paper.

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

The sensation was strange, as though an invisible hand were tearing at his body, and as though the entire universe were dragging him into that dark abyss.

"Master, are you really going in?"

Little Fox Fairy's voice came through the communicator, carrying a trace of worry.

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

"Then I'll run."

Fang Yan smiled, his tone relaxed.

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

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

"Master..."

Little Fox Fairy's voice paused.

"Be careful."

Fang Yan said nothing more. With a flash, he flew 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 beyond measure; even his World Lord body, tempered for a hundred thousand years, creaked under the strain of that tearing force.

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

He did not know 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, not even the cosmic microwave background radiation that permeated 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, an intense sense of danger surged in from every direction.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Countless piercing sounds rang out in the darkness.

Fang Yan's pupils contracted sharply.

In 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 seem capable of cutting space itself.

Most terrifyingly, the immortal power clinging to those petals was at least High Army Lord-level!

"Damn it!"

Fang Yan cursed and immediately activated Time Pause.

Yet there were simply too many petals, and even the power of Time Pause seemed stretched thin.

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

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

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

His divine body was rapidly consumed under the petals' attacks, and in less than two breaths, it completely shattered.

Dead on arrival?

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

A golden light lit up out of nowhere.

Within the radiance, a black-gold giant creature a thousand meters long slowly emerged.

Time Reversal!

Golden light erupted from the Spring Autumn Cicada, and the timeline within a thousand kilometers began to reverse.

The black petals flying toward Fang Yan began to retreat, 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 madly toward the Dusk Zone's sensed location.

Behind him, those Black Sky Lotuses seemed to notice their prey escaping. Countless petals shot from the darkness once more.

But this time, Fang Yan was prepared. Using Time Pause alongside 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 escaped the pursuit of those Black Sky Lotuses and set foot in the Dusk Zone. He felt as though he had survived a disaster.

"The Dark Night Zone... really isn't something to be taken lightly."

Fang Yan panted heavily and looked down at his body.

His human Clone had been killed outright, while the Spring Autumn Cicada's Origin Force was nearly exhausted as well.

"Master, are you all right?"

Little Fox Fairy's voice was clearly anxious.

"I'm fine."

Fang Yan took a deep breath and suppressed the lingering fear in his heart.

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

Fang Yan looked around.

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

There was no absolute darkness here. Instead, everything was veiled in a dim yellow glow, like a sky forever frozen at dusk.

Specks of light floated through the void like fireflies, adding a strange beauty to this silent space.

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

Some of those Black Sky Lotuses were only as large as millstones, while others were as huge as mountain peaks. Their petals slowly unfurled through the void, giving off a faint black radiance.

"This will do."

Fang Yan nodded, having made his decision.

The Black Sky Lotuses of the Dusk Zone posed little threat to him, but there were enough of them to hone "Late Wind."

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

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

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

"Shut up."

Fang Yan rebutted her without changing expression.

"That was an accident. Who knew those Black Sky Lotuses 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, it seemed like you didn't say hello either?"

"...Little Fox Fairy, aren't you getting more rebellious by the day?"

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

With Fang Yan's "Breath Concealment" secret technique activated to its utmost limit, his entire body seemed to merge with the void like a faint, barely perceptible breeze.

He found a relatively open stretch of space on the outskirts of the Dusk Zone. Below him lay the remains of a Black Sky Lotus that had mostly withered away, emanating a weak, decayed aura.

Fang Yan sat cross-legged in the shadow of those remains, completely concealing his aura. Even a King-level powerhouse would find it difficult to discover him without deliberately searching.

PS. Thanks to wandering swordsman yd2210 for the monthly pass.