My Simulated Road to Immortality

Though Lanlin Province is remote, its natural landscape is rather peculiar.

Jagged stone peaks hang in midair, like a forest of piercing needles.

Underneath these floating mountains, the deep valleys are composed entirely of black ashes, constituting a terrifying forbidden area. Even as Li Fan was soaring high above, he still could sense a heart-palpitating aura emerging from below.

Huang Fusong stood on the Dustcrosser Boat, looking down at the landscape below, couldn’t help but change his expression, “Such a forsaken place.”

“Compared to this hellish place, the Ten Thousand Mile Flame Burning Beach we saw earlier doesn’t seem so perilous anymore.”

At his words, Li Fan also looked down into the deep valley.

In the ocean of black ashes, he could see discrete remnants of dark flames that hadn’t been extinguished.

Occasionally, a whiff of wind would whip up, making the ashes in the valley roll and leap in the air, colliding with the Dustcrosser Boat on which Li Fan stood.

The seemingly weightless ashes, upon contact with the boat’s protective shield, caused an intense shudder.

As if having been dealt a great blow, a small hole appeared in the red light layer.

This sparked a series of waves that spread out in all directions.

Even though he was using only a bit of his spiritual mind to control his body, Li Fan was shocked by what he saw before him.

He couldn’t help but ask, “What the hell are these black ashes?!”

Huang Fusong, after maneuvering the Dustcrosser Boat to avoid the ashes billowing from the valley below, explained, “These are the remnants of the Silent Flame of Ashes. All signs of life have been extinguished, leaving behind only a lingering presence of quiet destruction.”

“Very bizarre. It’s best to avoid it as much as possible.”

No sooner had he spoken than the Dustcrosser Boat sped off towards the central region of Lanlin Province.

Looking down at the seemingly endless world of dark destruction below, Huang Fusong couldn’t help but sigh, “It’s fortunate that the Silent Flame of Ashes was contained within Lanlin Province by mountains. Otherwise, the surrounding areas wouldn’t have had a chance.”

“Silent Flame of Ashes?” The pervasive aura of the black ashes made Li Fan – who was about to turn wooden – feel increasingly uncomfortable. He frowned and pondered.

He felt like he had heard that name somewhere before.

The aura of the Huadao Stone flickered in his mind and, after a moment, traces of something he had once read surfaced.

“Cangwu State, twenty-eight mountains from four rivers.”

In a certain year, in a single night, it disappeared entirely, leaving behind a deep abyss whose bottom couldn’t be seen.

The Earth’s Wonders, Map of Cangwu’s Mountains and Rivers, was born from here.”

“Nine years after Cangwu State’s mountains and rivers disappeared, a black, water-like flame gushed from the bottom of the abyss.”

“The brutal flame ran rampant, impossible to extinguish. People of that time called it the Silent Flame of Ashes.”

With that, Li Fan asked, “You mean that black flame that unleashed from the Abyss of the Verdant Wutong?”

Huang Fusong was slightly taken aback, then squinted his eyes as if he were recalling something.

After a long while, he finally nodded, “Yes. After the Silent Flame of Ashes appeared from the Abyss of the Verdant Wutong, it spread in all directions.”

“Several provinces suffered consecutively. It wasn’t until near Lanlin Province that it was contained.”

Li Fan was shocked.

Cangwu State was located in the southwest corner of Xuanhuang World, while Lanlin Province was almost directly south.

The rampage of the Silent Flame of Ashes covered a terrifying range.

“Young friend, there is no need to worry, since that time, the Silent Flame of Ashes hasn’t appeared again.”

“This cataclysm, which could be called an apocalypse, is still a mystery as to its cause.”

“Initially, it was thought within our alliance that it was a machination of the Five Elders Organization. However, upon field investigation, this idea was repudiated.”

“This is the true power of Heaven and Earth, I fear it isn’t something that any cultivator could produce.”

With a smile, Huang Fusong shared his knowledge and experiences with Li Fan.

Half a day later, they arrived at their destination.

“Before we go to inspect the Spirit-locking Formation, you and I should first pay a visit to the provincial lord residing here.”

“This senior was originally a cultivator from our own Tianyu Province, and he has always looked after me. Now that we are here, we can’t forget the proper etiquette.”

Pointing at a needle-like mountain peak piercing through the clouds ahead, Huang Fusong said to Li Fan.

With a shift in his thoughts, Li Fan guessed who the senior Huang Fusong mentioned might be.

“You mean, the former commander of the Tianyu State Garrison Command, Senior Guan Xingxiu?”

Huang Fusong nodded with a smile, then put away the Dustcrosser Boat and led everyone to a courtyard at the peak of the mountain.

“Why the formalities with an old friend? Just come in then, I can’t be bothered to come to the door to greet you!”

From afar, a voice reached their ears.

“In that case, thank you, senior!” Huang Fusong’s face broke into a smile, responding immediately.

Signaling the rest of the cultivators to wait at the door, the chubby man took only Li Fan and entered the courtyard.

The courtyard was rather simple, with only a single green pine occupying its center.

Under the pine, a middle-aged cultivator was comfortably lying on a long chair, casually swinging back and forth.

With a fan in his hand, he waved it around occasionally.

“Long time no see, senior. You haven’t changed a bit!” Huang Fusong bowed and saluted.

Li Fan also followed suit, “Greetings, Senior Guan!”

“You’re Li Fan, right? I’ve heard about you,” Guan Xingxiu looked at Li Fan with an amused expression. “Your determination is much stronger than mine.”

Li Fan’s heart skipped a beat, and he replied quietly, “Hehe, senior, you flatter me.”

At this point, Huang Fusong also chimed in, “Although young friend Li Fan is determined, compared to you, senior, he is still a bit lacking. Who among the cultivators of Tianyu Province doesn’t know…”

Before he could finish, he was interrupted by Guan Xingxiu.

“Young man, true heroes don’t brag about their past achievements. I, now marooned here, and you come barging in recalling my past glory, what are your intentions?” Guan Xingxiu allowed his gaze to wander over Huang Fusong’s figure, showing a hint of discontent.

Huang Fusong, having unexpectedly stepped on a landmine while ass-kissing, awkwardly said, “Senior, you know what I’m about.”

“Even if you lent me the guts, I wouldn’t dare to oppose you.”

Guan Xingxiu hmphed, but his face resumed its normal expression.

Unimpressed, he said: “You really have no sense of fun.”

“Fine, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen any old acquaintances here. The fact that you came to visit is already more than I could ask for.”

“I know what you’re getting at, go ahead and do as you please.”

“While I’m here, nothing will flip this plot of land in Lanlin Province upside down.”

Having said that, Guan Xingxiu casually fanned his fan, and a small golden sword appeared out of thin air to fly into Huang Fusong’s hand.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve shown my face in public. I look forward to seeing if anyone dares to test how sharp my sword is.”

Delighted, Huang Fusong quickly said, “Thank you, senior!”

“By the way…” Just as Huang Fusong was about to say something else after putting away the golden flying sword, he was interrupted by Guan Xingxiu.

“I’ve carefully considered Master Ji’s suggestions. However, I’m just a God Transforming cultivator now, I can’t be of much help.”

“Moreover, since the leaders of the past are gone and the position of the Commanding General has settled down,”

“I have no intention of fighting for anything anymore.”

“You guys go on!”

With that, Guan Xingxiu waved his fan again.

After the wind blew, Li Fan and Huang Fusong found themselves standing outside of the courtyard.