[[Spacetime Token] connection, [Heaven's Mandate] inquiry, forcible interruption]

[Seeing your plan obstructed, you no longer hesitated and decided to use the [Spacetime Token] yourself.]

[In stark contrast to Chen Qingyan's fruitless attempts, the moment you sank your consciousness into the token, the process went unbelievably smoothly, without the slightest resistance.]

[Familiar spacetime fluctuations rippled outward, and a stable Light Screen unfolded before you.]

[On the other side of the Light Screen was the same scholar in a moon-white robe, holding a folding fan made of jade bone, his bearing gentle and refined yet unfathomable—the [Supreme Dao Immortal Venerable], Lin Feng.]

["The [Spacetime Token] responded?" His faintly curious gaze fell on you through the Light Screen.]

[You did not answer him immediately. Instead, you first turned toward Chen Qingyan beside you, pointed at the Light Screen, and asked, "Can you see it?"]

[Chen Qingyan focused his gaze on it, then slowly shook his head after a moment.]

[Just as I thought... You sighed inwardly. The [Spacetime Token]'s binding property had completely cut off the shortcut of having Chen Qingyan contact Lin Feng directly.]

[At that moment, Lin Feng's voice came through again, carrying a hint of amusement:]

["Interesting. Junior, this isn't your first time using the [Spacetime Token], is it?"]

[Observing your excessively composed demeanor in the face of the spacetime connection, he had already formed a suspicion.]

[You felt a slight chill within, but kept your expression unchanged and offered the explanation you had prepared long ago:]

["Your insight is keen, Senior. This is indeed not my first time using it, but I truly know little of this token's mysteries."]

[Your words were ambiguous, neither an admission nor a complete denial.]

["Oh?" At your words, Lin Feng gently waved his folding fan, and a meaningful smile appeared on his face.]

["Then, excellent!" He actually refrained from questioning you further, as though he did not care at all about your evasiveness, maintaining that same transcendent goodwill.]

[Such inexplicable trust and tolerance put your heart somewhat at ease.]

[You decided to seize the opportunity and lay out all the questions about the foundations of cultivation that had troubled you for so long.]

[Even if doing so might trigger [Karmic Law] Punishment, you believed that, given the cultivation realm of this lord of [Beyond Heaven], he would surely be able to withstand it.]

[You knew full well that the [Spacetime Token]'s connection time was extremely limited. Based on your previous experience, it lasted only about "half an incense stick."]

[Time was short. You had to hurry.]

[First, you repeated what you had done in the previous simulation and stated your identity outright:]

["Senior Lin Feng, I am Chen Fan, a descendant of the [Chen Family]."]

[You first established your basic background, laying the groundwork for any requests for help that might follow.]

[—Even though this most likely meant making this senior bear yet another bolt of karmic lightning Punishment.]

[Immediately afterward, you asked the question whose answer you most urgently needed:]

["Senior, if I... obtained this realm's [Heaven's Mandate]—in other words, gathered this realm's remaining providence—but thereby drew the attention of a [supreme being], how should I deal with it?"]

[Originally, you had felt there was nothing to worry about for now, but Chen Qingyan's words had still left you somewhat uneasy, so you decided to ask.]

[This concerned your very safety in this simulation. You had to uncover the true risks hidden behind the [Heaven's Mandate] Talent.]

[On the other side of the Light Screen, Lin Feng's relaxed, carefree expression abruptly vanished upon hearing your question.]

[He fell silent for a moment, then uttered two words that made your heart sink:]

["You're cooked!"]

[His tone grew extraordinarily grave, even carrying a rare trace of chilling severity:]

["If what you call [Heaven's Mandate] truly means gathering the remaining providence of the [Supreme True Realm], this core Great World...]

[Then, the moment you successfully gathered it and drew that attention, you were already doomed ten times over, without a single chance of survival! There could be no escape!"]

[Your heart lurched violently. It's that serious?!]

[Yet Lin Feng's tone immediately shifted, and his pride that looked down upon all under heaven, along with his intent to protect his "junior," surged forth once more:]

["But—what can I do? I'm your senior, after all. If I don't help you, who will!"]

[The instant his words fell—]

["BOOOOM!!!"]

[A bolt of [Karmic Law] Punishment, far thicker than any before, deeper in color, and even faintly carrying an aura of chaotic destruction,]

[Tore through the void of [Beyond Heaven] without warning, ignored every obstacle, and savagely struck down at Lin Feng!]

[The might of this Punishment far exceeded all those before it!]

[Even a trace of that destructive aura passed through the Light Screen as it teetered on the verge of shattering, making you tremble!]

[The violent thunder was deafening, and raging currents of energy swept over everything in an instant.]

[Under this utterly terrifying impact, the Light Screen formed by the [Spacetime Token] failed to hold for even a single breath!]

[The connection was forcibly severed.]

[Silence returned to the cave, leaving only the [Spacetime Token] in your hand, once again dim and lightless, its charge reduced to zero.]