Chapter 712: The Mist-Shrouded Presence

"There can be no mistake, this is the Time-Space Node that my master and I used back in the day. Now that so much time has passed, it has drifted slightly from its original position."

The Wudao Gong artifact spirit stated firmly.

Li Qianjun, standing beside Li Heng, had his eyes light up. He could sense that the aura behind this Light Gate was extremely wondrous, carrying the implications of the end, finality, and the terminus of all possibilities.

"Senior, I am willing to be the first to step through this gate!"

He bowed to Li Heng with cupped hands and said in a clear voice.

"Since that is the case, you may go in."

Li Heng said calmly; since someone was able to scout the path for him and act as a test subject, why not?

However, Li Qianjun was clearly no fool. After receiving Li Heng's consent, he split off an avatar to enter the Light Gate, only for it to be instantly shattered by the gate and reduced to nothingness.

Li Qianjun's face turned deathly pale.

"Senior, look at this..."

Li Heng's expression remained calm, showing no surprise at all. He took out that Light Orb and threw it directly into the Light Gate. As the Light Orb merged into the Light Gate, the gate bloomed with profound Dao rhymes, and that aura of finality and ending became increasingly clear.

"Very well, try again."

Li Qianjun nodded and once again split off an avatar.

This time, the avatar was not shattered by the light but successfully walked into the Light Gate. However, the next moment, Li Qianjun's expression changed abruptly, and he turned to speak respectfully.

"Senior, I have lost contact with that avatar of mine."

Li Heng nodded, lost in thought, just as he had expected.

If this Node truly led to the Space-Time End Region of the Time-Space Mother River, then it would inevitably span an unimaginable distance. With such a vast gap, it would be strange if the avatar and the main body could still sense each other.

However, he had just used his Source Power to foresee the situation slightly and discovered that Li Qianjun's avatar had not met with a major disaster; it was merely that its origin was damaged and it was on the verge of death.

From a rational perspective, it was not dead yet.

"I just performed a slight deduction; your avatar is not far from death. It is not because this Light Gate is a trap, but because your cultivation simply cannot withstand the pressure of the transmission from this gate. Are you still certain you wish to head to the end of time and space?"

Li Heng said.

Li Qianjun was slightly stunned, then nodded heavily.

"Senior, I am willing. 'To hear the Dao in the morning, one can die in the evening.' As long as I can witness the scenery at the end of the Time-Space Mother River and witness the end of all things and the infinite possibilities, I will have no regrets even if I die."

"Since that is the case, I will help you and settle this Causality."

Li Heng separated a portion of his power to form a light membrane, enveloping Li Qianjun's entire body. "This layer of light membrane can withstand a full-strength strike from my level. If you are lucky, you should be able to endure the pressure of the Light Gate's transmission and reach the end of time and space."

"But if you are unlucky, you should understand."

Li Qianjun bowed respectfully.

"Many thanks for your help, Senior. Li Qianjun is eternally grateful. If I do not die on this journey, I will surely go through fire and water for you in the future, without hesitation!"

"The way you say that makes you sound less like an Immortal and more like a chivalrous hero."

Li Heng smiled and shook his head. "Alright, go. This Light Orb does not seem capable of keeping the Light Gate open permanently."

"An Immortal? I would rather I were not an Immortal."

Li Qianjun gave a self-deprecating smile, bowed to Li Heng once more, then turned around, head held high, and strode into the Light Gate, never to be seen or sensed again.

"This Li Qianjun is quite interesting. Cultivating the Immortal Dao should clearly be about being tranquil and natural, independent of the mundane world, yet he harbors such deep obsessions and regrets in his heart."

The Wudao Gong artifact spirit remarked, offering this critique.

"He has a tribulation of Causality from his past. However, my connection with him has ended, and that is no concern of mine. Now, I am more curious about the origin of this Light Gate."

Li Heng examined the Light Gate closely.

"Why? Have you noticed something? If the Light Gate really is a trap, then Li Qianjun is surely dead."

"No, I just performed a deduction; it is not a trap. But that is exactly why I am even more curious. The mysterious person who left the Route Map, the Light Gate standing here that can reach the Space-Time End Region—all of this is filled with extremely strong traces of guidance."

"It is as if it is saying: 'This leads straight to the end of time and space, come quickly!'"

The Wudao Gong artifact spirit agreed upon hearing this.

"I have that feeling too. Are you still planning to go in? If it were up to me, I wouldn't go; after all, that place at the end of time and space is not a good destination."

"Even if one were to go, it shouldn't be through this Light Gate Node."

Li Heng ignored this.

He began to manifest great power and Great Divine Ability to backtrack the surroundings, peeking into the past events of this Light Gate. Although this was the pure Void, devoid of time and space, for him as he was now, he could backtrack even if there was nothing there.

The past history of this Light Gate began to manifest.

Li Heng captured a scene within the historical fragment.

A presence shrouded in mist suddenly appeared before the Light Gate, reached into it, took out a Light Orb, and threw it out into the Void.

After doing this, the presence looked directly at Li Heng.

"Shh."

The mist-shrouded presence extended a finger and spoke.

Then, it walked into the Light Gate and vanished.

"Interesting, my backtracking was detected by them."

Li Heng frowned and said.

At this moment, the Wudao Gong artifact spirit cried out in alarm.

"That layer of mist!"

"What do you mean?"

"Li Heng, although I do not know what this presence is, the layer of mist around them is something that exists in that Shikong Zhongmo, in that Zhanchang! It can be said to shroud most of the battlefield; it is a geographical wonder!"

"So that is how it is. It seems it is related to the Shikong Zhongmo."

Li Heng nodded.

"We had better not go; it is too mysterious."

The artifact spirit of Wudao Gong appeared extremely grave.

"Why not go? They have already invited us."

Li Heng chuckled softly.

"Invited?"

"What else is it if not an invitation? Between the Route Map and the Light Orb key, regardless of what is there, I must go take a look; otherwise, how could I satisfy my curiosity?"

"Of course, one must still be well-prepared."

With a thought, Li Heng set a Source Power Anchor here, ensuring that after he entered the Light Gate, no matter when or where he was, he could instantly return via the Source Power Anchor.

Of course, this consumed a great deal of energy and was best left unused.

"Let's go, don't waste any more time."

He could not be bothered to pay attention to the artifact spirit of Wudao Gong, pulling him directly into the Light Gate together; their figures vanished, and they began their journey toward the End Battlefield at the end of the Time-Space Mother River.

At the same time, in the region approaching the end of the Time-Space Mother River.

Within a dark and obscure place, a mysterious existence spoke in confusion, "Eh? Why is that fellow who took so many of my experimental subjects getting closer and closer to me?"

"Could it be that he is coming toward me? No! It seems to be..."

He furrowed his brows, standing tall there, and looked further ahead toward the Time-Space Mother River; it was a battlefield filled with war and slaughter.