Though Lanlin Province was remote, its natural landscape was remarkably peculiar.
Pillar-like stone peaks hung suspended in mid-air, a forest of a thousand needles. The chasm beneath those floating mountains was a terrifying forbidden zone composed entirely of black ash.
Even flying thousands of zhang high in the sky, Li Fan could still feel the unsettling, heart-gripping aura that occasionally wafted up from below.
Standing on the Dust-Crossing Boat, Huangfu Song surveyed the scenery below, his expression also shifting. "What a desolate, backwater place.
"Compared to this hellhole, the Searing Wastes of Ten Thousand Li we saw earlier hardly counts as treacherous."
Hearing this, Li Fan also peered down toward the chasm's depths.
Within the ocean of pitch-black ash, one could still see the scattered, unextinguished glimmers of dark flame.
Occasionally, a slight breeze would pass, lifting a wisp of that blackness from the ashen sea, sending it tumbling and soaring upward.
On one occasion, the ash that seemed to weigh nothing struck the Dust-Crossing Boat directly.
The moment it collided with the protective barrier, the vessel shuddered violently. A small hole punched through the layer of crimson light, sending ripples spreading outward as though from a tremendous blow
Even with only a strand of his mind controlling his body, Li Fan was startled by the sight.
He couldn't help but ask, "What in the world is this black ash?!"
Huangfu Song first maneuvered the Dust-Crossing Boat to climb higher, avoiding the ash stirred up from the chasm, before explaining. "This is the residue left after the Emberflow of Final Silence burns. All breath of life has vanished, leaving only the power of extinction lingering, stubborn and undispersed.
"It's sinister stuff. Best to avoid it if possible."
His words barely finished, the Dust-Crossing Boat accelerated, speeding toward the central region of Lanlin Province.
Gazing at the seemingly endless hellscape of a world below, Huangfu Song remarked with some emotion, "Fortunately, they used tens of thousands of mountain peaks to form an array back then, confining the Emberflow of Final Silence within this Lanlin Province. Otherwise, the surrounding regions would likely have suffered the same fate."
Emberflow of Final Silence? The aura permeating the black ash made Li Fan, whose body was already on its last legs, feel increasingly uncomfortable.
He frowned, pondering silently.
That name seemed familiar, like he'd seen it somewhere before.
Within his sea of consciousness, the Dao Transformation Stone flickered with light. Moments later, fragments of text he had once read flashed into his mind.
On a certain day, the four rivers and twenty-eight mountains of Cangwu Province vanished overnight without a trace, leaving behind only a bottomless abyss.
From this emerged a Curio of Earth, the Landscape Painting of Cangwu...
In the ninth year after the mountains and waters of Cangwu Province vanished, a black, liquid-like flame surged from the depths of the abyss.
The malignant blaze ran rampant, impossible to extinguish. People of that time called it Emberflow of Final Silence.
Li Fan thus asked, "That black flame that escaped from the Cangwu Abyss?"
Huangfu Song was momentarily taken aback, then narrowed his eyes as if recalling something.
A long while later, he finally nodded. "Correct. After the Emberflow of Final Silence appeared from the Cangwu Abyss, it began spreading to the surrounding areas.
"Several provinces in a row were impacted by the disaster. It wasn't until a region near this Lanlin Province that it was finally contained."
Li Fan grew somewhat horrified.
Cangwu Province was in the southwestern corner of the Xuanhuang World, while Lanlin Province was roughly due south.
The range the Emberflow of Final Silence had ravaged was probably... rather extensive.
"Young friend, don't worry. The Emberflow of Final Silence hasn't appeared again since that time.
"The cause of this cataclysm that nearly ended the world remains an unsolved mystery.
"Initially, the Alliance suspected the Five Elders Council was behind it. But after on-site investigation, that theory was dismissed.
"It was caused by the forces of nature, likely beyond the abilities of any cultivator."
Huangfu Song shared these accounts with Li Fan as they travelled. Within half a day, they reached their destination.
Pointing toward a needle-like peak that pierced the clouds ahead, Huangfu Song addressed Li Fan, "Before inspecting the Spirit-Locking Array, we should first pay our respects to the administrator residing here in Lanlin Province.
"This senior was originally a cultivator from our Tianyu Province and showed me much kindness in the past. Now that we're here, we must observe proper etiquette.”
After a moment's thought, Li Fan guessed who Huangfu Song meant.
"You mean the former Commander of the Tianyu Province Garrison Command, Senior Guan Xingxiu?"
Huangfu Song nodded with a smile, then stowed the Dust-Crossing Boat and led the group toward a small courtyard at the mountain's summit.
"All familiar faces, yet you stand on ceremony? Come in. I’m not getting up to greet you, lad!"
A voice reached them from afar.
"In that case, I thank you, Senior!" Huangfu Song's face broke into a smile as he responded.
Motioning for the other cultivators to wait at the gate, the portly man led only Li Fan into the courtyard.
The courtyard was rather simple, with only a single green pine standing alone.
Beneath the pine, a middle-aged cultivator lay leisurely on a reclining chair, gently rocking back and forth.
He held a palm-leaf fan, giving it an occasional wave.
"It's been many days, yet your demeanor remains unchanged, Senior!" Huangfu Song bowed respectfully.
Li Fan followed suit: "I pay my respects to Senior Guan!"
"You're Li Fan, correct? I've heard of your deeds." Guan Xingxiu looked Li Fan over, a playful expression on his face. "That drive of yours far surpasses what I had."
Li Fan's heart skipped a beat, and he replied quietly, "Haha, you flatter me, Senior."
Huangfu Song chimed in, "Although Fellow Daoist Li Fan is driven, he still falls short compared to you, Senior. Who among the cultivators of Tianyu Province doesn't know..."
Before he could finish, Guan Xingxiu cut him off.
"Lad, a true hero doesn't boast of past glories. I've fallen to this state, yet you come to my door singing praises of my former exploits. What are your intentions?" Guan Xingxiu's gaze swept over Huangfu Song, displeasure evident on his face.
Huangfu Song hadn't expected his flattery to backfire. He chuckled awkwardly, "Senior, you know me. I wouldn't dare oppose you even if I had ten times the courage."
Guan Xingxiu snorted coldly, though his expression returned to normal.
He said with waning interest, "You really are no fun.
"Fine. I've not seen any old acquaintances in a long time. That you came to pay your respects is commendable enough.
"I understand your intent. Proceed with confidence.
"With me here, this little patch of land called Lanlin Province won't be turned upside down."
With that, Guan Xingxiu gave his palm-leaf fan a light wave. A small golden sword suddenly appeared and flew into Huangfu Song's hand.
"It's been a while since I've shown my face before the crowd. I'd like to see if anyone truly wishes to test the sharpness of my blade."
Huangfu Song was overjoyed and quickly said, "Thank you, Senior!"
"By the way..." After storing the golden flying sword, Huangfu Song seemed about to say more.
But Guan Xingxiu stopped him.
"I have given Fellow Daoist Ji's suggestion serious consideration. However, I am merely a Spirit Transformation cultivator now. My presence would be of little help.
"Furthermore, our former leader has passed, and the matter of the Chief Commander position is settled. I have no desire to contend for anything further.
"You may go."
With that, Guan Xingxiu waved the leaf fan in his hand.
A gust of wind swept through, and Li Fan and Huangfu Song found themselves deposited outside the small courtyard.