Though the conversation before Chi Jiutou's death in Xiao Hei's memories indicated that the demon race should have already successfully evacuated, it had, after all, passed through several retellings, making some degree of distortion inevitable.
Nothing beat seeing it with his own eyes.
If the demon race, under Di Yi's leadership, truly could pass through Nanming Sacred Beast Mountain and shatter the boundary to depart through the void, then it would prove that the Heavenly Sword Sect of old had accomplished the very same feat.
Perhaps in his upcoming explorations of the Fallen Immortal Realm, he could focus on researching how to obtain the forging method for the Boundary-Splitting Divine Weapon.
Not only would this secure an escape route for himself, but such an esoteric art would undoubtedly be of immense interest to both the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals and the Five Elders Association.
Leyang Province was situated in the southwest of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, not particularly far from the Central Four Provinces. Within its borders lay a vast lake known as Yueyang Lake, from which the province took its name.
Legend had it that at sunrise each day, one could witness the magnificent spectacle of a crimson sun leaping up from the depths of the lake. In that fleeting moment, the density of solar qi far surpassed that of any other region. Absorbing and contemplating it for even a short while was equivalent to several days of arduous cultivation under normal circumstances.
Because of this, quite a crowd of cultivators gathered along the shores of Yueyang Lake. Furthermore, the lake teemed with abundant resources; the fish swimming within, nourished daily by the potent solar qi, had grown distinct from ordinary creatures. Their flesh was exceptionally delicious, and eating them was like consuming a fire-attribute spirit stone, suffusing one's entire body with comforting, radiant warmth.
Thanks to this great lake, countless cultivators of mediocre talent were able to advance at rapid speed.
Naturally, such a boon aroused envy across the world. To prevent outsiders from swooping in to snatch their resources, the cultivators of Leyang Province formed an alliance of their own accord, claiming the vast majority of Yueyang Lake as their private domain.
Outsiders drawn by the lake's fame who wished to obtain its resources had no choice but to vie with one another over the few inferior areas that had been cordoned off.
After traveling for a dozen or so days, Li Fan arrived in Leyang Province.
Instantly, he sensed several gazes falling upon him.
However, seeing that Li Fan was not flying toward Yueyang Lake, those tracking gazes gradually withdrew.
Li Fan did not bother with them and flew toward Qihong Isle.
Qihong Isle was located beside the Jinsha River, a tributary that flowed into Yueyang Lake.
Whenever the morning sun rose over Yueyang Lake and the solar qi surged forth, the Jinsha River would also shimmer with sudden bursts of golden light. It was essentially the afterglow of pure solar qi, yet for reasons unknown, it was tainted by faint traces of fiendish energy, rendering it impossible for cultivators to absorb.
Consequently, very few cultivators ever came here, making it one of the quieter regions in Leyang Province.
Ximen Yu's name was fairly well-known in these parts. Without much effort, Li Fan located his cave dwelling.
From afar outside, he could hear the man shouting and hollering: "How many times do I have to tell you? If you want the complete Studies of Ancient and Modern Terrains, come to Qihong Isle and find me yourself! Transmitting it through the Heavenly Profound Mirror gets blocked!"
"What? You don't believe such a thing could happen in the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, and you think I'm conning you? You even want to expose me as a fraud to others?"
"You motherf—"
Only after Ximen Yu's furious cursing subsided did Li Fan speak up in a clear voice, "Might Fellow Daoist Ximen Yu be within? I am Han Wuyou. Having long heard of Fellow Daoist's illustrious reputation, I have come to pay a visit!"
"Come in," Ximen Yu's listless voice called out.
The doors swung wide, and Li Fan stepped inside the cave dwelling.
The place was not large, nor did it have any decorations. However, jade slips were strewn all over the floor. There were even numerous paper books and wooden slips.
Scanning them briefly, Li Fan found that they were written in characters he did not recognize.
"Did you come for the Studies of Mountains and Rivers Across Past and Present?" Without even lifting his head, Ximen Yu asked, his eyes fixed intently on a withered tree branch jutting out from the cave floor.
"Indeed," Li Fan replied with equal bluntness.
Ximen Yu casually flicked a finger, and a paper book flew up from the cluttered ground.
"Ten thousand contribution points. Confidentiality is required; resale is forbidden."
At the same time, a streak of golden light flew before Li Fan alongside the book.
Li Fan gave a faint smile. As he signed the contract, he tossed over ten supreme-grade spirit stones.
He stowed *Studies of Mountains and Rivers Across Past and Present* away for the moment without reading it closely.
Rather than leaving in a hurry, Li Fan asked with keen interest, "Fellow Daoist Ximen, why do you not record this on jade slips, but instead preserve it in a paper book?"
Ximen Yu paused in his study of the withered branch. Glancing sideways at Li Fan, he said flatly, "Content carved into jade slips generally only lasts ten thousand years. If spiritual qi leaks away, that lifespan is even shorter. But if one uses fiend ink to write on paper made from evergreen trees, it will not fade for thirty to fifty thousand years. And if it is carved directly onto evergreen wood, it will remain clearly legible even after a hundred thousand years."
Hearing this, Li Fan smiled. "Fellow Daoist's foresight is truly extraordinary, reckoning time by tens of thousands of years at every turn... Ten thousand years from now, whether the Xuanhuang Realm still exists or not remains unknown," Li Fan sighed.
Ximen Yu whipped his head around, his gaze turning grave.
"What do you mean by that, Fellow Daoist?"
Li Fan looked slightly taken aback. "It was merely an idle remark. Is something the matter?"
"Hmph. In that case, you may leave." After sizing Li Fan up once more, Ximen Yu turned his head away and said nothing more.
"Until next time!" Li Fan cupped his hands and was about to leave.
*Boom!*
Just as he reached the cave entrance, he suddenly felt the earth shudder faintly beneath his feet.
An energy both familiar and foreign entered Li Fan's perception.
Li Fan could not help turning back to look. He saw an earthy-yellow energy erupting from the withered branch Ximen Yu had been examining.
Ximen Yu seemed to have waited for this for a long time. Producing a small white jade bottle, he absorbed every bit of the yellow stream into it.
The eruption lasted for the time it took to drink half a cup of tea before slowly subsiding.
Looking at his harvest this time, Ximen Yu broke into a gratified smile.
"Is that the power of earth veins?" Li Fan stepped closer, asking curiously.
Ximen Yu's expression changed. Stowing the jade bottle, he moved to block Li Fan's view of the withered branch.
"You are quite knowledgeable, Fellow Daoist. Indeed. I have already completed the Studies of Ancient and Modern Terrains, and now I am researching matters related to earth veins. This concerns private matters; you would do well not to pry," Ximen Yu said in an unfriendly tone.
An apologetic look appeared on Li Fan's face. "It was not my intention to pry. It is just that this withered branch of yours looks rather familiar to me."
"Hm?" Ximen Yu froze for a moment, then his expression shifted slightly. "Do not make sport of me, Fellow Daoist!"
"I never speak untruths," Li Fan said solemnly. "Once, in the wilds of Tianling Province, I encountered a withered branch just like this. Upon touching it, I dizzily found myself transported into an unknown space. A dilapidated giant tree stood towering between heaven and earth, filling one's heart with desolate sorrow. Before long, I awoke from the vision. The withered branch in my hand had vanished, as though it were all a dream."
Li Fan sighed softly. "This withered branch of yours bears some resemblance to what I saw back then. And yet, there seem to be subtle differences..."
The more Ximen Yu listened, the more astonished his expression became.
By the end, he waved his hand to seal the cave entrance and asked in a low, heavy voice, "Where in Tianling Province did you see that withered branch, Fellow Daoist?"
Chapter 683