Chapter 373: Qing River Flows Through the Deep Valley

They seemed accustomed to Li Fan's extensive knowledge. Huangfu Song wasn't surprised in the least that Li Fan could pose such an unusual and difficult question. Instead, he sneered, retorting, "You're asking me? Who should I ask? If you're truly curious, you can experience it for yourself later."

Li Fan, undeterred by Huangfu Song's retort, remained unbothered. Based on his limited understanding, since the Celestial Mirror was intricately linked to the Xuantian Treasure Mirror, the supreme treasure of the ancient Xuantian Sect, it was highly probable that the Spirit Transformation Stone and the Immortal Severing Stone were one and the same. Huangfu Song's words, by chance, hit the mark. He had used the Immortal Severing Stone in the Fallen Immortal Realm before. When he encountered the Spirit Transformation Stone later, he would naturally know if they were indeed the same.

The Ten Thousand Li Fiery Beach was indeed a vast expanse of scorched earth. The Dust-Crossing Boat had been flying rapidly for several days, and all Li Fan had seen was an unchanging landscape of apocalyptic desolation. Only scorching heat persisted across the land, with no trace of any other life. During the journey, explosive molten fire would occasionally erupt abruptly from underground. Like dark red dragons leaping from an abyss, they stirred up chaos and turbulence in the surrounding space. Faced with such terrifying conditions, the Dust-Crossing Boat had no choice but to take detours.

The danger didn't just come from below ground. Lethal threats could also descend from above at any moment. Without warning or pattern, fiery meteors would suddenly fall from the sky. Colliding with the ground, they would unleash terrifying, world-destroying energy. Li Fan personally witnessed a giant fiery meteor crashing in the distance. The ensuing shockwave, accompanied by hot streams of fire, tossed the Dust-Crossing Boat like a tumbleweed in the wind, causing it to lose control and spin uncontrollably.

"What kind of hellish place is this..." In the Ten Thousand Li Fiery Beach, every step was fraught with danger; a single moment of carelessness could mean certain death. Li Fan, encountering such a perilous region for the first time, couldn't help but feel a sense of solemnity. Fortunately, the helmsman, Huangfu Song, was highly experienced and this wasn't his first visit. After a total of five days, the group finally arrived at their destination, the Spirit Transformation Ravine, mostly unscathed despite a few frights.

Li Fan knew even before Huangfu Song announced it, spotting it from a great distance. The reason was simple: the Spirit Transformation Ravine was strikingly unique amidst the Ten Thousand Li Fiery Beach. A long, winding azure chasm abruptly cut across the crimson earth. It looked like a sudden scar, cutting deep into the ground. The molten fire encountered along the way, seemingly capable of destroying everything, continuously erupted and encroached upon the azure chasm. However, the moment they approached, all of it instantly transformed from crimson to azure. From molten fire, they became dark azure currents of air, shooting high into the sky.

"Be careful. It might get a little bumpy now," Huangfu Song's 'kind' warning suddenly rang in Li Fan's ears as the Dust-Crossing Boat plunged into the Spirit Transformation Ravine. Before he finished speaking, the rapidly moving Dust-Crossing Boat instantly lost all momentum. Even its forward inertia vanished. And it began to plummet towards the chasm's depths. Li Fan also felt the powerful force within the Spirit Transformation Ravine that extinguished all spiritual energy. In an instant, he became as powerless as a mortal. As they plummeted, his heart seemed to leap into his throat. Faint gasps of alarm echoed within the Dust-Crossing Boat.

Just as Li Fan almost resigned himself to the boat's destruction and everyone's demise, a powerful current of air inexplicably gushed forth from the bottom of the Spirit Transformation Ravine. It directly countered the plummeting Dust-Crossing Boat. As if caught in a strong gale, the boat shook violently, its descent gradually slowing. When the current subsided, the Dust-Crossing Boat finally came to a stable, if difficult, halt.

"Everyone out." At Huangfu Song's command, the group exited the cabin and stepped onto the deck.

"Hahaha, Brother Huangfu! It's been a while!" A hearty laugh suddenly rang out. Moments later, a lean, shirtless man leaped up from below, landing directly on the Dust-Crossing Boat. He landed with a resounding thud. The entire vessel swayed slightly.

"Brother Dongfang! Long time no see!" Huangfu Song's plump face immediately lit up with a smile as he enthusiastically stepped forward to embrace Dongfang. "Twenty-three years have passed since we parted ways at the Thousand-Page Book Forest. Brother Dongfang, your vigor remains undiminished from those days!"

After they released each other, Huangfu Song appraised Dongfang, murmuring in admiration. "I can't compare to your cultivation progress, Brother Huangfu; I'm quite envious!" Dongfang chuckled, patting Huangfu Song's ample belly without the slightest reservation. Huangfu Song showed no hint of annoyance. "The feeling's mutual!" he replied.

As the two men exchanged greetings, Li Fan subtly observed the cultivator named Dongfang. Li Fan couldn't detect any traces of spiritual energy fluctuations from him either. And his jump from the deep chasm below onto the Dust-Crossing Boat earlier seemed to have been accomplished purely through physical strength. Although his physique appeared somewhat slender, the sharply defined muscle lines showcased the explosive power contained within. This was the first time Li Fan had encountered someone with such formidable physical prowess.

"Brother Huangfu, please rest here for a few days. The grand formation here will be completed in half a month at most," Dongfang told Huangfu Song. With that, a strange cry suddenly emanated from his throat. Li Fan's eyes narrowed slightly; he vaguely felt the sound was familiar. Suddenly, the 'ground' beneath the Dust-Crossing Boat began to tremble. A distant, resonant cry rose from the 'ground'. Subsequently, this section of 'land' began to move, as if flying. It continued its descent, plunging deeper into the Spirit Transformation Ravine.

"This is...""A Rift Whale?"

Li Fan's heart skipped a beat. Amidst the startled exclamations of those on board, he finally saw clearly: what was carrying the Dust-Crossing Boat was no land at all. Instead, it was a colossal black beast. Its appearance was strikingly similar to the Rift Whale Li Fan had once seen, which sealed off mortal minor realms.

"The airflow that prevented the Dust-Crossing Boat from plummeting just now seemed to have come from this strange whale as well." As the colossal beast continued its deep dive, Li Fan observed closely, lost in thought. "It's not a Rift Whale; it's much smaller. It just bears a resemblance."

The Spirit Transformation Ravine seemed bottomless. The colossal beast had flown downwards for a long time, yet they still hadn't reached its lowest point. Along the cliff walls on both sides, numerous exposed azure stones were visible. Some cultivators, clad in peculiar attire, were suspended in mid-air. Wielding hammers and chisels made of an unknown material, they were mining Spirit Transformation Stones. Occasionally, formation masters in the standardized uniforms of the Myriad Immortal Alliance could also be seen, hurrying past the colossal beast. They appeared unaffected by the Spirit Transformation Stone, still able to utilize their internal spiritual energy.

The Spirit Transformation Ravine was not, after all, a truly bottomless abyss. After roughly half a day, as the whale-like colossal beast let out a joyous cry, the group finally reached the bottom of the Spirit Transformation Ravine. A long, verdant river stretched across the chasm's floor.