The charred black end of the earth

“If Heavenly Capital truly fell, then it must be a replica built by later generations in remembrance,” Fang Zaiji said.

While Li Fan nodded in agreement on the surface, he had other thoughts in his mind.

Although Fang Zaiji repeatedly claimed that the phantom in Heavenly Capital possessed infinite mysteries and was undoubtedly a True Immortal, this matter had a strange aura from beginning to end.

Many years after the Immortal Path was severed, a True Immortal would actually pass by Xuanhuang World. Moreover, facing Daoist/Immortal Cultivators like ants, he would even voluntarily preach the Dao and impart techniques.

Honestly, how many Cultivators, after passing by a Mortal city, would kindly descend and even impart cultivation methods to them?

It's likely that someone like Shuo Feng, who casually slaughters all Mortals with a single sword and shows no concern, is the norm.

For Cultivators who rashly approach, it's good enough if they aren't killed. Why would they kindly preach the Dao?

Moreover, if Fang Zaiji's words were true, that Heavenly Capital figure clearly had a problem. Preaching might not have been intentional, but rather a spontaneous act.

Then, the boy who stood beside the Heavenly Capital figure and was the only one who had ever taken action, the Grand Astrologer of Heavenly Capital, seemed very suspicious.

“Perhaps this person was attracted by the Immortal Ruins and forced to descend to Xuanhuang World. And his true strength may not even be considered an Immortal. However, since Xuantian Sect couldn't take down Heavenly Capital back then, he must not be weak. At the very least, he's in the Half-step True Immortal Realm, comparable to the Profound Heaven King in Xuantian Sect.”

“And letting the Cultivators of the Immortal Dao Ten Sects enter Heavenly Capital might just be to cause trouble for Xuantian Sect. After all, what an Immortal would care about should be things of the same Rank.”

“Immortal Qi?”

Almost instantly, Li Fan, as a conspiracy theorist, conjured up a grand drama.

Although these were all unsubstantiated guesses, one thing could almost be confirmed now: the anomaly in Source Dao Province should be inextricably linked to Heavenly Capital.

“As fellow inheritors of Heavenly Capital's purple Qi, Mr. Fang, aren't you going to take a look at Source Dao Province?” Li Fan asked tentatively.

Fang Zaiji shook his head repeatedly: “Haha, no thanks. A Harmony Dao Realm Cultivator who has lived for several thousand years is definitely much stronger than me. Wouldn't I be walking into a tiger's den? Sect Master, let's go take care of the real business.”

Li Fan smiled slightly and nodded.

After this brief interlude, the two traveled for most of the day and finally arrived at the border of Shi Lin Province.

And the scene that greeted Li Fan's eyes made his pupils constrict slightly.

Looking into the distance, the ground was sunken and scorched black. Black molten lava flowed everywhere, giving off an aura like the end of the world.

From time to time, black molten fire would erupt from the ground, spreading into the air, baking the air hot and distorted.

What made Li Fan even more terrified was that the ground and air of this scorched black basin were irregularly scattered with numerous pitch-black hollows.

It was like an apple eaten by worms, full of devastation.

Moreover, Li Fan also discovered that these pitch-black Void Realm areas were not completely static. Instead, as if they had a life of their own, they would slowly creep towards the surroundings and also suddenly jump to another location, swallowing everything within the covered area in one gulp.

Facing this rather terrifying scene, even Fang Zaiji, who was in the Harmony Dao Realm, had a solemn expression.

“Sect Master, do we really have to go?” he asked hesitantly.

Li Fan did not answer immediately, but observed carefully for a long time.

“If we're careful, it shouldn't be a big problem. The jumps of those Void Realm溶洞 (melted caves) seem random, but in fact, they follow certain rules. They will only jump to relatively empty areas and will not approach existing溶洞 (melted caves).”

“So we just need to keep a certain distance from the Void Realm溶洞 (melted caves) and keep moving forward.”

“Besides, don't we still have the Medicine King True Cauldron?”

Saying that, Li Fan threw the Medicine King Cauldron towards a pitch-black hollow not far away.

“Sect Master!” Fang Zaiji exclaimed softly.

The Medicine King Cauldron emitted a yellowish-brown light, enveloping itself. In the midst of nothingness, although the light gradually dimmed, it still lasted for more than ten breaths of time.

“See, even if we accidentally enter, this much time is enough for us to escape,” Li Fan said, retrieving the Medicine King True Cauldron and smiling at Fang Zaiji.

“Sect Master, you're too reckless. What if something happens to the Medicine King True Cauldron? What would we do then?” Fang Zaiji grumbled.

“Don't we still have you? Even if the Medicine King True Cauldron is gone, I'm sure Mr. Fang, you can refine a new one for our Medicine King Sect,” Li Fan said carelessly.

These words made Fang Zaiji beam with joy, and he no longer procrastinated, following Li Fan and controlling the Medicine King Cauldron, flying into the scorched black basin.

Li Fan distinguished the direction and cautiously drove towards the location in his memory.

“This is truly terrifying and dreadful. I don't know how such a vast sea could suffer such a calamity,” Fang Zaiji sighed, looking at the surrounding scenery, “Back in our time, nothing like this ever happened. Looking at this momentum, it seems heaven and earth are going to completely destroy this place.”

Li Fan remained silent.

Congyun Sea was originally vast, and to avoid the ubiquitous Void Realm溶洞 (melted caves), the flying speed was further affected. As a result, it took Li Fan and the others more than thirty days to reach the entrance of the exotic beast Small World.

However, the scene here made Li Fan's expression turn a little ugly.

The original entrance had been completely swallowed by the Void Realm. The entrance passage naturally no longer existed.

Li Fan pondered for a moment, remembering that Han Yi had emerged from the Small World at another location.

So he set off to that place.

Fortunately, their luck was good this time; it was not within the range of the Void Realm溶洞 (melted caves), but hidden beneath the pitch-black molten lava.

“Sect Master, what if this exit is swallowed by the Void Realm after we enter? Wouldn't we be unable to return then?” Fang Zaiji also noticed the peculiarity of this place. Just as Li Fan was about to enter, he suddenly stopped him and asked.

“No worries, I'm already prepared.”

Saying that, Li Fan cleaned up the pitch-black molten lava. Then he took out a thin piece of paper from his storage ring and gently pressed it towards the entrance of the Small World.

It was as if a drop of ink had fallen on the paper, and faint patterns slowly emerged.

“This is…” Fang Zaiji narrowed his eyes, unable to discern its origin for a moment.

“The Star-Stealing and Lodge-Shifting Talisman can copy and record the spatial passage node data here. Then, after entering the Small World, perform the same operation on the opposite passage entrance, and a new passage can be re-established.”

After all the patterns on the Star-Stealing and Lodge-Shifting Talisman were formed, Li Fan took out a door-shaped talisman seal and threw it onto the thin paper.

Under the talisman seal's cover, a faint door appeared.

“Young Lord, this side can be connected,” Liu San's voice faintly came from within the door.

Li Fan pointed lightly, and the Star-Stealing and Lodge-Shifting Talisman flew into it.

“Mr. Fang, let's go. Old Liu's side will be preparing for the new passage in Chang Sheng Valley.”