Confusion in integration by substitution

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I have a following line integral along curve $l$:

$$\int f(l) \dfrac{dx}{dl}dl$$

Here $\dfrac{dx}{dl}$ denotes the $x$-axis direction cosine of element $dl.$

Now by substitution, the integral becomes:

$$\int f(l) dx$$

Now since $dl$ has disappeared, along what curve are we integrating?