Though a trace of regret lingered on Huangfu Song's face, the purpose of this trip had clearly been achieved.
"Let's go. With Guan Xingxiu's Falling Star Divine Sword for protection, we’ll be safe on this journey."
He summoned the Dust-Crossing Boat once more, unable to contain his delight.
Recalling the conversation between the two in the courtyard moments ago, Li Fan asked, "Has the local resistance movement grown so serious already? To the point that you need to secure a backer?"
Huangfu Song replied, "Better safe than sorry. In this remote place, anything could happen.
"If things get out of hand and they really tie us up, toss us into the Emberflow of Final Silence, and claim it was an accident... what could we do about it?
"But with Guan Xingxiu's Falling Star Divine Sword present, it's a different story."
A look of considerable pride spread across Huangfu Song's face. "Don't be fooled by his current Spirit Transformation cultivation. A Spirit Transformation cultivator who has fallen from the Dao Unity realm is far more formidable than your average Spirit Transformation practitioner.
"At the very least, here in Lanlin Province where no Dao Unity Immortal Venerable resides, Guan Xingxiu's flying sword alone can suppress all dissent."
The fat man took out that small golden sword again and caressed it lovingly, unable to put it
down.
From Li Fan’s perception, the Falling Star Divine Sword emitted a sharp, indomitable aura that seemed to pierce the heavens.
Recalling the lazy, listless figure he had just seen, he couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion.
A Dao Unity cultivator, brought so low simply for failing to read the situation.
Then, remembering Guan Xingxiu's words, he couldn't resist asking, "When Senior Guan mentioned the former leader passing, was he referring to the fall of Immortal Venerable Jicheng?”
"Indeed. It happened not long ago.
“He ultimately passed away quietly in his Heavenly Pinnacle Estate, alongside that willow tree."
The image of Immortal Venerable Jicheng's aged face surfaced in Li Fan's mind.
If not for Return to Truth, I would have ended up just like him before long, waiting for death in fear and trepidation.
What use is Dao Unity cultivation? Without attaining eternal life, it is all ultimately an illusion.
Perhaps the melancholy brought on by the passing of an old-school Dao Unity powerhouse had loosened his tongue. Huangfu Song put away the Falling Star Divine Sword and let out a long sigh.
"Perhaps Guan Xingxiu's disillusionment is also connected to this.
"Despite the foundation Immortal Venerable Jicheng built over five centuries of leading the Myriad Immortals Alliance's Garrison Command, he still found no hope for eternal life. It shows just how difficult it is to defy the principles of heaven and earth.
"For Guan Xingxiu, stripped of his cultivation and forced to start again from Spirit Transformation, the path is even more arduous.
"You must understand, to re-enter Dao Unity, one must rely on a Soul Arbiter of heaven and earth similar in nature to the one used before.
"Soul Arbiters of heaven and earth are already exceedingly rare. To require a specific nature on top of that makes it nearly impossible...”
As they chatted, the Dust-Crossing Boat arrived at the central zone of the Spirit-Locking Array, the predetermined location for installing the Tianxuan hub device.
The array was not yet fully constructed, and they would have to wait a few more days.
Aside from the array masters who were also fellow trainees at the Cosmos Branch Academy, the other cultivators present were not particularly friendly towards Huangfu Song and Li Fan's arrival.
At least, that was the appearance they gave.
However, after Huangfu Song revealed the Falling Star Divine Sword, these cultivators had no choice but to rein in their hostility.
***
Meanwhile, in Shilin Province, near what was once the Congyun Sea and was now the Congyun Abyss, Zhang Haobo gazed at the endless void not far away, a look of sorrow etched on his face.
Even though this was not the first time he had witnessed this scene, he still found it difficult to accept.
To see his former homeland, that azure sea brimming with vitality, transformed into this... this state.
"My condolences, Haobo." Xiao Heng walked over, patted his shoulder, and offered words of comfort.
"What exactly happened back then? How could the vast Congyun Sea suddenly turn into this?" Zhang Haobo couldn't help but ask once more.
Xiao Heng shook his head. "I don't know either. Back then, Senior Skull suddenly warned that a great calamity might befall the Congyun Sea. So, not long after you all left for Jiushan Province, I also fled far away from the Congyun Sea.
"Ye Feipeng, however, seemed to know something. He stubbornly refused to leave with me.
"I thought he might have known about some secret opportunity and was hiding it from me. Who could have guessed that he would never appear again after that?
"Most likely, he is long gone from this world.
"If I had known, I should have tried harder to persuade him back then." A flicker of sorrow passed through Xiao Heng's eyes.
After a long silence, he continued.
"Over the years, I tried to investigate what happened to the Congyun Sea. But what I never expected was that in less than a year, most cultivators seem to have almost no memory of the Congyun Sea at all.
"It’s as if this region had never existed.
"Even now, I only recall the Congyun Sea's existence when I look upon this abyss with my own eyes."
Zhang Haobo sighed, "It's the same for me. In my nearly ten years in Jiushan Province, I never once recalled the Congyun Sea.
"It was only after returning to find you all and witnessing the Congyun Abyss that the memories of the past came flooding back.”
He paused, lowering his voice. "This must be the influence of that Eternal Heavenly Venerable."
Xiao Heng also gave a slight nod. "Perhaps soon, even this memory in our minds will vanish completely, just like the Congyun Sea."