Spring gave way to autumn, cold receded and summer arrived; time cycled on like this, swiftly slipping away in silence!
As Li Yan traveled, he continued cultivating. In his spare time, he also studied other matters. For instance, he had carefully examined quite a few Black Flame Stones he had brought out.
Unfortunately, once these stones left Black Flame Mountain, aside from being harder and heavier than ordinary rocks, they completely conformed to the laws of the outside world.
This utterly dispelled Li Yan's remaining expectations after all his efforts, though his investigations had still yielded some discoveries.
When he brought these Black Flame Stones onto the smaller mountain within "Tuban," they actually clung directly to the mountain as though drawn by magnets, quickly merging into one with it.
But if he brought those stones to any of the other peaks within "Tuban," there was no reaction whatsoever. Other than that, the Black Flame Stones displayed no further phenomena.
Li Yan had no idea what this phenomenon was supposed to signify.
"Perhaps that half-sentient thing feels a certain closeness toward its 'homeland'? After all, that is where its roots lie!"
Other than that possibility, Li Yan could not deduce any other reason...
One day, within a vast and imposing city, Li Yan emerged from the city's teleportation hall and swiftly blended into the endless stream of people...
Half a day later, Li Yan appeared in the same teleportation hall again. After paying the spirit stones and receiving his teleportation token, he headed toward the rear of the hall.
Zuo Qiudan was no longer in this city. Whether Li Yan had gone to inquire at the shop where Zuo Qiudan had once stayed or secretly swept the city with his divine sense, he had found no trace of Zuo Qiudan's aura.