Dead branches appear in Yueyang

Although according to the conversation Scarle Nine-Headed had before his death, as remembered by Little Hei, the Yao Race should have successfully evacuated.

However, since it was relayed by several people, there might be some inaccuracies.

Seeing is believing.

If the Yao Race, led by Di Yi, could truly pass through Southern Underworld Sacred Beast Mountain and breach the world to depart, then it indicates that the Heavenly Sword Sect also achieved this feat in the past.

Perhaps, in the Fallen Immortal Realm, I can focus on researching how to obtain the forging method for Breaching World Divine Weapon.

Not only would it provide a fallback option for himself, but such a secret technique would surely be of great interest to both the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance and the Five Old Men Association.

Le Yang Province is located in the southwest of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, not too far from the Central Four States.

Within its borders lies a large lake named Yueyang Lake.

The province is named after the lake.

It is said that every day at sunrise, one can witness the magnificent sight of a red sun leaping from the bottom of the lake.

At that moment, the concentration of solar Qi far exceeds that of other regions.

Absorbing and comprehending it for a moment is equivalent to several days of ordinary arduous cultivation.

Because of this, a group of Cultivators has gathered around Yueyang Lake.

Furthermore, the lake is extremely rich in produce, and the fish in the lake, influenced by the abundant solar Qi daily, also become extraordinary.

Their flesh is delicious, and eating them is like consuming a fire-attributed Spirit Stone, warming the entire body.

Relying on this large lake, many Cultivators with ordinary Aptitude can also progress very quickly.

Of course, such a good thing naturally attracted the envy of people across the land.

To prevent outsiders from seizing resources, the Cultivators of Yueyang Prefecture spontaneously formed an Alliance.

They claimed a large area of Yueyang Lake for themselves.

Cultivators who came from other regions, drawn by the lake's reputation, could only compete for the inferior quality areas that were allocated.

After more than ten days, Li Fan entered Le Yang Province.

Instantly, he felt several gazes fall upon him.

However, seeing that Li Fan was not flying towards Yueyang Lake, they gradually withdrew their tracking gazes.

Without bothering with these people, Li Fan flew towards Qi Hong Island.

Qi Hong Island is located by the Jinsha River, a tributary that flows into Yueyang Lake.

Whenever the sun rises over Yueyang Lake and the solar Qi vigorously erupts, the Jinsha River also shimmers with golden light.

It is considered the afterglow of pure solar Qi, but for some unknown reason, it is tainted with traces of Evil Qi, making it impossible for Cultivators to absorb.

Therefore, few Cultivators come here, making it one of the quieter areas in Yueyang Prefecture.

Xi Menyu’s name is still quite well-known here.

Without much effort, Li Fan found his Immortal Cave.

From outside, he could hear his loud shouts from afar: “How many times have I told you? If you want the complete ‘Ancient and Modern Topography,’ come to Qi Hong Island to find me.

Transmission through the tianxuan mirror will be blocked.”

“What? You don’t believe such a thing would happen in the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, and you think I’m lying to you? And you want to expose me as a liar to others?”

“You…!”

After Xi Menyu’s exasperated curses ended, Li Fan said loudly, “Is this Daoist Ximen present?”

“This humble one, Han Wuyou, has heard of Fellow Daoist’s virtuous name and has come to pay a visit!”

“Come in,” Xi Menyu’s lazy voice drifted out.

The large door opened, and Li Fan entered the Immortal Cave.

The place was not large, nor was it decorated.

Only Jade Slips were scattered all over the floor.

There were even many paper books and wooden slips.

Li Fan glanced over them and found that they were all written in unfamiliar characters.

“Are you here for the ‘Ancient and Modern Rivers and Mountains’?” Xi Menyu asked, without raising his head, meticulously staring at a section of a dead branch extending from the Immortal Cave floor.

“Indeed,” Li Fan replied straightforwardly.

Xi Menyu casually pointed, and a paper book flew out from the cluttered floor.

“Ten thousand contribution points.

It needs to be kept confidential and cannot be resold.”

At the same time, a golden light flew towards Li Fan along with the book.

Li Fan smiled.

While signing the contract, he threw over ten Top-Grade Spirit Stones.

He temporarily put away the ‘Ancient and Modern Rivers and Mountains’ without reading it in detail.

Li Fan did not rush to leave; instead, he asked with interest, “Fellow Daoist Ximen, why do you not record things on Jade Slips? Instead, you use these paper books?”

Xi Menyu paused his action of studying the withered branch.

He glanced at Li Fan and said indifferently, “Content engraved on Jade Slips can generally only be preserved for ten thousand years.

If Spiritual Qi is lost, this time will be even shorter.”

“However, writing with Evil Qi ink on paper made from evergreen trees can last for thirty to fifty thousand years without fading.”

“If directly carved into evergreen wood, it can remain clearly visible even after one hundred thousand years.”

Li Fan smiled upon hearing this: “Fellow Daoist’s thoughts are truly extraordinary.

Always thinking in terms of tens of thousands of years…”

“Whether the Xuanhuang World will still exist in ten thousand years is still unknown,” Li Fan sighed.

Xi Menyu suddenly turned his head, his eyes grave.

“What do you mean by that, Fellow Daoist?”

Li Fan was somewhat surprised: “It was just a casual remark.

What’s wrong?”

“Hmph.

Then, you may leave.”

After sizing Li Fan up again, Xi Menyu turned his head away and said nothing more.

“Until we meet again!” Li Fan cupped his hands, about to leave.

“Boom!”

Just as he reached the entrance of the Immortal Cave, he suddenly felt the ground tremble slightly.

A familiar yet strange energy appeared within Li Fan’s perception.

Li Fan couldn’t help but look back, only to see a yellowish-brown energy erupting from the withered branch that Xi Menyu was observing.

Xi Menyu seemed to have been waiting for a long time.

He took out a small white jade bottle and absorbed all the yellow spray.

The eruption lasted for half an incense stick of time before slowly subsiding.

Xi Menyu looked at his harvest this time, revealing a relieved smile.

“Is this the power of the Earth Vein?” Li Fan leaned closer, asking with some curiosity.

Xi Menyu’s expression changed.

He put away the jade bottle and blocked Li Fan’s gaze, which was fixed on the withered branch.

“Fellow Daoist, you do have some insight.

Indeed, I have completed my research on the ‘Ancient and Modern Topography,’ and now I am researching matters related to the Earth Vein.”

“This concerns personal privacy, so Fellow Daoist should not inquire too much,” Xi Menyu said with an unfriendly tone.

Li Fan’s face showed a hint of apology: “It’s not that I intended to.

It’s just that I find this withered branch of yours a bit familiar.”

“Hmm?” Xi Menyu was slightly startled, then his expression changed slightly.

“Fellow Daoist, do not make fun of me!”

“This humble one never speaks falsely,” Li Fan said seriously.

“Once, in Tianling State, I also encountered such a withered branch in the wilderness.

After touching it, I vaguely found myself in an unknown space.”

“A dilapidated grand tree, reaching to the sky, stood there, making one feel desolate.

I didn’t stay long before I awoke from the vision.”

“The withered branch in my hand had disappeared, as if it were a dream.”

Li Fan sighed slightly: “This withered branch of yours is somewhat similar to what I saw that day.

However, there seem to be some slight differences…”

The more Xi Menyu listened, the more surprised his expression became.

Upon hearing the end, he waved his hand to close the Immortal Cave door and asked in a deep voice, “Where in Tianling State did Fellow Daoist see that withered branch?”