Although Lanlin Province was situated in a remote corner, its natural scenery was quite peculiar.
Pillar-like peaks hovered suspended in midair, standing like a forest of a thousand needles.
Beneath these floating mountains lay deep valleys—a terrifying forbidden zone formed entirely of black cinders and ash. Even flying myriad zhang high in the sky at this moment, Li Fan could still sense the heart-palpitating aura that wafted up from below from time to time.
Standing aboard the Dust-Crossing Boat and surveying the vista below, Huangfu Song could not help but grimace slightly. "What a desolate, godforsaken place."
"Compared to this damned area, that Ten-Thousand-Li Flame-Scorched Shoal we saw earlier doesn't even count as perilous."
Hearing this, Li Fan also gazed down toward the bottom of the deep valley.
Amid the sea of pitch-black cinders, scattered specks of unextinguished dark flame were still visible.
From time to time, a breeze swept by, picking up wisps of darkness from the cinder sea. Tossing and tumbling upward, they struck the Dust-Crossing Boat carrying Li Fan.
Though seemingly weightless, the moment the cinders collided with the Dust-Crossing Boat's protective barrier, they caused a violent tremor.
As if sustaining a massive impact, a small puncture appeared in the crimson layer of light.
Ripples then spread outward in ring after ring.
Even with only a sliver of mind driving his body, Li Fan was startled by the sight.
He could not help asking, "What on earth is that black ash?!"
Huangfu Song first steered the Dust-Crossing Boat higher to evade the rising ash from the valley below, then explained, "Those are the remnants left behind by the burning of the Cinder-Oblivion Flowing Fire. Every trace of life has been wiped out, leaving only a lingering power of silent oblivion that refuses to dissipate."
"It's bizarre and wicked. Best to steer clear of it if you can."
Before his words had fully faded, the Dust-Crossing Boat accelerated, speeding toward the central region of Lanlin Province.
Looking down at the seemingly boundless world of pitch-black oblivion below, Huangfu Song remarked with some emotion, "Fortunately, back then tens of thousands of peaks were arrayed into a formation to contain the Cinder-Oblivion Flowing Fire within Lanlin Province. Otherwise, the surrounding regions would likely have met the same fate."
"Cinder-Oblivion Flowing Fire?" The aura permeating from the black cinders made Li Fan, whose life was already nearing its end, feel increasingly uncomfortable. He furrowed his brows and pondered inwardly.
The name seemed familiar, as if he had read it somewhere before.
Inside his Sea of Consciousness, the Dao Transformation Stone gleamed. Moments later, fragments of text he had read in the past surfaced at once:
"Cangwu Province, four rivers and twenty-eight mountains.
In a certain year and month, it vanished overnight without a trace, leaving only a bottomless abyss.
The wonder of Earth, the Cangwu Landscape Chart, emerged from this."
...
"In the ninth year after Cangwu Province's landscape vanished, black, fluid-like flame surged forth from the bottom of the abyss."
"Fierce and raging, impossible to extinguish. The people of that era called it the Cinder-Oblivion Flowing Fire."
Li Fan then asked, "Is it the black fire that came out of the Abyss of Cangwu?"
Huangfu Song blinked in surprise, then narrowed his eyes, seemingly recalling the past.
Only after quite a while did he nod. "Indeed. After the Cinder-Oblivion Flowing Fire emerged from Cangwu Abyss, it spread outward into the surrounding areas."
"Several provinces suffered one after another. It was only brought under control near Lanlin Province."
Li Fan was inwardly appalled.
Cangwu Province lay in the southwestern corner of the Xuanhuang Realm, whereas Lanlin Province was roughly due south.
The expanse ravaged by the Cinder-Oblivion Flowing Fire was terrifyingly vast.
"No need to worry, my young friend. Ever since that time, the Cinder-Oblivion Flowing Fire has never reappeared."
"As for what triggered that apocalyptic catastrophe, it remains an unsolved mystery to this day."
"At first, the Alliance believed it was the handiwork of the Five Elders Association. But after inspecting the site firsthand, they refuted that theory."
"That was genuine heaven-and-earth might, something far beyond the reach of cultivators."
Huangfu Song shared his knowledge with Li Fan in an easygoing, conversational manner.
Less than half a day later, they arrived at their destination.
"Before inspecting and accepting the Spirit-Locking Formation, you and I should pay a visit to the person in charge of Lanlin Province who resides here."
"This senior originally hailed from our Tianyu Province and looked after me a great deal in the past. Now that we are here, we must not neglect proper etiquette."
Huangfu Song pointed to a needle-sharp peak piercing through the clouds ahead and spoke to Li Fan.
With a shift in thought, Li Fan guessed who the senior was.
"Do you mean Senior Guan Xingxiu, the former Garrison Court Commander of Tianyu Province?"
Huangfu Song smiled and nodded, then stowed the Dust-Crossing Boat and led the group flying toward a small courtyard atop the peak.
"We're all familiar acquaintances, why stand on ceremony? Come in, I won't bother greeting you in person, lad!"
From afar, a voice reached everyone's ears.
"In that case, many thanks, Senior!" A smile surfaced on Huangfu Song's face as he called back repeatedly.
Signaling the other cultivators to stand watch outside the entrance, the fat cultivator took only Li Fan and stepped into the courtyard.
The courtyard was rather austere, home to nothing more than a lone green pine.
Beneath the pine, a middle-aged cultivator reclined leisurely on a bench, gently rocking.
Holding a cattail leaf fan, he fanned himself every now and then.
"It has been many days, Senior, yet your bearing remains as splendid as ever!" Huangfu Song bowed in greeting.
Li Fan followed suit. "Greetings, Senior Guan!"
"You are Li Fan, aren't you? I've heard of you." Guan Xingxiu sized up Li Fan with an amused look. "That driven grit of yours is far greater than mine ever was."
Li Fan's heart gave a slight jolt, and he replied in a subdued tone, "Heh, Senior overpraises me."
Huangfu Song chimed in, "Though young friend Li Fan puts his life on the line, he still falls short compared to you, Senior. Among the cultivators of Tianyu Province, who doesn't know—"
Before he could finish, Guan Xingxiu cut him off.
"Brat, a true hero doesn't dwell on past glories. Now that I have fallen so low, you come knocking on my door just to preach my former exploits—what are your intentions?" Guan Xingxiu ran his eyes over Huangfu Song, looking displeased.
Huangfu Song hadn't expected his flattery to backfire so completely. He said sheepishly, "Senior, you know me."
"Even if someone lent me the courage of a lion, I wouldn't dare cross you."
Guan Xingxiu gave a cold snort, though his expression returned to normal.
With a languid sigh, he said, "You brat are truly dull."
"Fine. Since coming here, I haven't seen an old friend in a long time. It's good enough that you came to pay your respects."
"I already understand what you want. Go ahead and proceed boldly."
"With me around, this little acre of Lanlin Province won't be turned upside down."
With that, Guan Xingxiu gave his cattail leaf fan a gentle wave. A small golden sword suddenly manifested and flew into Huangfu Song's hand.
"It just so happens I haven't shown my face in public for a long time. I'd like to see if anyone truly dares test whether my sword is sharp."
Huangfu Song was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "Many thanks, Senior!"
"By the way..." Stowing the golden flying sword, Huangfu Song wanted to say something more.
Yet Guan Xingxiu stopped him.
"I have given Fellow Daoist Ji's suggestion careful consideration. However, I am merely a Soul Formation cultivator now; going there wouldn't be of much help."
"Moreover, my former superior has already passed away, and the post of Chief Commander has been settled."
"I have no desire to fight for anything anymore."
"Be on your way!"
With that, Guan Xingxiu waved the cattail leaf fan in his hand.
After a gust of wind, Li Fan and Huangfu Song were swept right outside the courtyard.
Chapter 393