Chapter 580: 亘洹桓恒垣

A gentle breeze swept by, carrying a faint scent of decay. Dry leaves rustled, and a few occasionally drifted down from the treetops, vanishing before they could reach the ground. Li Fan distinctly saw distorted, pained faces flash across the surface of the leaves.

Ordinarily, anyone encountering such a bizarre scene would feel a sense of dread. However, in Li Fan's eyes at this moment, this place, known as Frying Human Lifespan, was indescribably beautiful. He took a deep breath; the putrid air entering his lungs suddenly felt sweet. He greedily took a few more breaths.

Observing the cultivators on the trees closely, he noticed their eyes were completely black, pupils indiscernible, and strange smiles adorned their faces. Their hair was intertwined with the branches, serving as ropes to hang them. Some cultivators' clothes were still intact, while others seemed to have been hanging on the tree for years; their clothes had long since corroded, appearing tattered and ragged. Some decayed branches wrapped around their bodies, concealing certain areas while deeply penetrating their flesh.

"Wonderful, simply wonderful!"

Without the need for the Rottenwood Daoist to introduce it, the moment he entered Frying Human Lifespan, Li Fan understood everything about how the place operated. Facing this chilling sight, Li Fan felt no alarm or fear; instead, he clapped his hands in praise. There was even a hint of envy in his tone, as if all cultivators in the world were meant to be hung from branches. And to have this withered tree penetrate their flesh was an unimaginable honor!

"What do you think, Fellow Daoist Yu? Was I exaggerating?" The Rottenwood Daoist seemed increasingly weak, coughing for a long time before recovering enough to ask.

"Indeed, your words are true!" Li Fan nodded in agreement. "What a truly magnificent creation! What is this tree called, I wonder?" Staring intently at the withered giant tree, a look of fascination appeared in his eyes.

"It was originally called Ruomu, but now..." The Rottenwood Daoist also looked up, his expression unreadable. "It's called Genuan Huanhengyuan."

It was an extremely awkward word to pronounce, but the moment the Rottenwood Daoist uttered it, Li Fan understood its meaning. "It has existed since primordial times and will continue to exist eternally. Standing atop the River of Life, it supports the heavens like a wall."

"No, I still prefer its original name," Li Fan said, shaking his head.

The Rottenwood Daoist let out a grim laugh, unconcerned. "A name is just a designation. As time flows, generations of beings come and go, and so do the names by which it is known. But that has no bearing on its existence."

For some reason, as he spoke this, a shadow seemed to flicker in the Rottenwood Daoist's eyes. Li Fan, however, agreed: "That may be true, but times have changed." Every moment he lingered there, numerous images spontaneously flooded Li Fan's mind. Thus, Li Fan naturally came to know much related information. He showed a nostalgic expression and recited to himself: "Heaven and Earth birthed spirits, Ruomu curtailed their lifespan. Drawing life to yield longevity fruit, consuming it grants eternal life."

In the Rottenwood Daoist's clouded eyes, a faint gleam appeared as they subtly shifted upon hearing the verses Li Fan recited. After a long silence, the two finally resumed their conversation.

"Fellow Daoist Yu, you truly possess great wisdom!" the Rottenwood Daoist suddenly sighed. "Thousands of cultivators have visited this place over the years, but it's exceedingly rare to see someone whose thoughts transform as quickly as yours."

Li Fan's eyes narrowed slightly, and he said in a deep voice: "It's not that I possess great wisdom; it's that they are inherently foolish. What essential difference is there between the cultivators here and other living beings? Trees bear fruit, flowers yield nectar. Beasts give birth, birds lay eggs. People take and consume these things, deeming it normal. Why, then, when they themselves are taken, do they find it so hard to accept? Do they truly believe themselves to be spirits of heaven and earth, masters of all creation?" Li Fan scoffed.

The Rottenwood Daoist was momentarily speechless, as Li Fan had preempted some of the arguments he had prepared.

"In my view," Li Fan continued, shaking his head, thoroughly engrossed in his thoughts, "it's merely 'the strong prey on the weak.' To consume now brings satisfaction. Should one be consumed by others someday, simply don't complain. The Heavenly Dao always repays; retribution is swift and unfailing!"

The Rottenwood Daoist watched Li Fan for a moment, then suddenly understood. "So, it's not that his views have changed, but that he already thought this way. What a pity, what a pity!" The Rottenwood Daoist shook his head slightly.

Li Fan, however, paid no heed, as if he hadn't heard the old man's words at all. He continued to stare at the withered Ruomu before him, as if something within it deeply captivated him.

"But to think such an anomaly could arise among cultivators..." The Rottenwood Daoist frowned slightly, seemingly deep in thought.

"Cough, cough..." He suddenly broke into a violent coughing fit, and a faint trickle of green blood could be seen at the corner of his mouth. The Ruomu above him also swayed without a breeze, and countless withered leaves drifted down with it.

"Good death, good death!" Unsure what scene he was witnessing, a sinister expression suddenly crossed the Rottenwood Daoist's face. Then he burst into unrestrained laughter: "Indeed, the Heavenly Dao repays; evil people meet even greater evil! Keeping this fellow here is useless; better to send him back to wreak havoc! Retribution, it's all retribution!"

After a long period of delirium, the Rottenwood Daoist gradually regained his composure. He returned to how he had been when Li Fan first met him outside. "Fellow Daoist Yu, now that you've seen it firsthand, I'm sure you have a good idea of our product quality. We can proceed with our previous transaction, can't we?" he asked with a strange smile.

"Transaction?" Li Fan turned his head, momentarily disoriented. "Oh, that matter! No rush!" He waved his hand, unexpectedly rejecting the proposal.

"Heh heh..." The Rottenwood Daoist let out another unpleasant laugh. "This place is good, but it's not where you belong. The Xuanhuang Realm outside, I believe, suits you far better."

Just as Li Fan was about to retort, the Rottenwood Daoist grabbed his shoulder. Rolling gray mist surged from beneath his feet, threatening to engulf him once more. "Fellow Daoist, why are you so eager to send me away?" Li Fan urgently asked.

The Rottenwood Daoist merely chuckled, offering no reply. "You want Golden Cores, don't you? Well, I might as well finish what I started. This time, I'll give you some for free!" The gray mist completely obscured his vision, and Li Fan faintly heard the Rottenwood Daoist say this near his ear.

His vision blurred, and Li Fan stumbled, finding himself back in the courtyard of the Dao Discussion Building in Tianling Province. The Rottenwood Daoist, Genuan Huanhengyuan, and the countless cultivators hanging from the branches had all vanished in an instant. Everything seemed to have been merely Li Fan's hallucination. Only a withered yellow branch lying quietly on the table served as proof.

Without the influence of Ruomu, Li Fan's thoughts returned to normal. Recalling his recent experience, he felt as though he had plunged into the depths of winter. Yet, fearing that the Rottenwood Daoist might still be observing, he forced himself to suppress his fear and feign composure.