“ bù kě néng a 。 wǒ tǐ nèi huì jù de zhè páng dà xiān líng zhī lì ， fēn míng bú shì cuò jué 。”
“不可能啊。我体内汇聚的这庞大仙灵之力，分明不是错觉。”
"Impossible. The immense immortal spirit force gathered within me is clearly not a delusion."
lǐ fán sī niàn jí zhuǎn ， hěn kuài yòng shuǐ jìng shù zhào kàn le zì jǐ 。
李凡思念急转，很快用水镜术照看了自己。
Li Fan's thoughts raced as he quickly used the Water Mirror Technique to examine himself.
fā xiàn jū rán gēn tā cāi cè de yī yàng ， tā de miàn róng yǐ jīng bù zài shì bái xiān shēng ， ér shì tā zì jǐ de mú yàng le ！
发现居然跟他猜测的一样，他的面容已经不再是白先生，而是他自己的模样了！
Upon discovering that his appearance had indeed transformed into his own, rather than White Sir's, he was taken aback.
“ zhè ……”
“这……”
"How could this be?"
lǐ fán xīn zhōng dùn gǎn hài rán 。
李凡心中顿感骇然。
"Why would it happen like this?"
“ zěn huì rú cǐ ？”
“怎会如此？”
The face of White Sir suddenly flashed in his mind, like a lightning bolt through fog.
“ yǔn xiān jìng zhōng sǔn huǐ xiān qì huò dé de xiān líng zhī lì ， jū rán huì zhēn shí chū xiàn ……”
“陨仙镜中损毁仙器获得的仙灵之力，居然会真实出现……”
Li Fan stood still, dumbfounded.
zhèng dāng tā yǒu xiē mí máng de shí hòu ， nǎo hǎi zhōng mò rán fú xiàn de bái xiān shēng de miàn páng ， wǎn rú yī dào shǎn diàn 、 pī kāi mí wù 。
正当他有些迷茫的时候，脑海中蓦然浮现的白先生的面庞，宛如一道闪电、劈开迷雾。
"Then this is the case."
lǐ fán lèng zài yuán dì 。
李凡愣在原地。
Indeed, although everything Li Fan experienced within the Realm of Fallen Immortals was false, in reality, White Sir had indeed gathered and destroyed numerous immortal artifacts, thereby acquiring the power to cross barriers.
“ yuán lái shì zhè yàng 。”
“原来是这样。”
"So, White Sir did not choose to leave the Xuanhuang World. Therefore..."
méi cuò ， gāng gāng lǐ fán zài yǔn xiān jìng zhōng suǒ jīng lì de yī qiè suī rán dōu shì jiǎ de 。
没错，刚刚李凡在陨仙境中所经历的一切虽然都是假的。
A sharp light flashed in Li Fan's eyes as his heart began to beat rapidly.
dàn shì zài zhēn shí lì shǐ shàng ， bái xiān shēng kě shì dí què zhēn de sōu jí 、 bìng cuī huǐ le zhū duō xiān qì ， yóu cǐ huò dé le néng gòu kuà yuè gāo qiáng de lì liàng 。
但是在真实历史上，白先生可是的确真的搜集、并摧毁了诸多仙器，由此获得了能够跨越高墙的力量。
"The immense immortal spirit force from that time was preserved intact!"
“ bái xiān shēng zuì zhōng méi yǒu xuǎn zé lí kāi xuán huáng jiè 。 suǒ yǐ ……”
“白先生最终没有选择离开玄黄界。所以……”
"It is stored within the Realm of Fallen Immortals! In this final test scene for the Great Xuanhuang Supreme Deity!"
lǐ fán yǎn zhōng shà shí mào chū yī dào jīng guāng 。
李凡眼中霎时冒出一道精光。
...
xīn zàng yě bù zhēng qì de měng liè tiào dòng qǐ lái ：“ dāng nián zhè gǔ páng dà de xiān líng zhī lì ， bèi wán hǎo wú sǔn de bǎo liú xià lái ！”
心脏也不争气的猛烈跳动起来：“当年这股庞大的仙灵之力，被完好无损的保留下来！”
Li Fan felt the overwhelming power surrounding his body.
“ jiù cún fàng zài yǔn xiān jìng zhōng ！ zài zhè chéng wéi xuán huáng dà tiān zūn de zuì hòu yí mù kǎo yàn chǎng jǐng lǐ ！”
“就存放在陨仙境中！在这成为玄黄大天尊的最后一幕考验场景里！”
He now understood what he had to do—make the same choice as White Sir back then. Either inherit the immortal spirit force and cross barriers, living freely, or choose to stay in the Xuanhuang World and serve as the Great Xuanhuang Supreme Deity.
“……”
“……”
Although Li Fan did not know why White Sir chose to remain, he was far from noble like his predecessor.
lǐ fán gǎn shòu zhe wéi rào zhe zì jǐ shēn tǐ de nà gǔ páng bó zhī lì 。
李凡感受着围绕着自己身体的那股磅礴之力。
If given the chance to leave, how could he willingly be bound by the Xuanhuang World?
cǐ kè tā yǐ jīng míng bái le 。
此刻他已经明白了。
Almost without hesitation, Li Fan decided to inherit the immortal spirit force. But at the last moment, he suddenly changed his mind.
tā yào zuò chū ， gēn dāng nián bái xiān shēng yī mú yī yàng de jué zé 。
他要做出，跟当年白先生一模一样的抉择。
"Beyond the barriers... beyond the barriers..."
shì jì chéng zhè fèn xiān líng zhī lì 、 kuà yuè gāo qiáng ， cóng cǐ xiāo yáo zì zài 。
是继承这份仙灵之力、跨越高墙，从此逍遥自在。
"Is it really safe beyond the barriers?"
hái shì xuǎn zé fàng qì ， liú zài xuán huáng jiè ， dān rèn xuán huáng dà tiān zūn 。
还是选择放弃，留在玄黄界，担任玄黄大天尊。
A large question mark appeared in Li Fan's mind.
suī rán bù zhī dào ， dāng nián bái xiān shēng shì chū yú hé zhǒng yuán yīn ， zuò chū le liú xià lái de xuǎn zé 。
虽然不知道，当年白先生是出于何种原因，做出了留下来的选择。
His current body strength was only comparable to a mediocre Daoist Immortal at the Foundation Establishment Realm. In the Xuanhuang World, with the help of Spirit Wood World and others like Tianyang, he could barely defend himself.
dàn lǐ fán kě bù xiàng bái xiān shēng nà yàng gāo shàng 。
但李凡可不像白先生那样高尚。
But leaving the Xuanhuang World and venturing beyond the barriers...
rú guǒ yǒu jī huì lí kāi ， tā yòu zěn me huì xuǎn zé bèi xuán huáng jiè shù fù zhù ne ？
如果有机会离开，他又怎么会选择被玄黄界束缚住呢？
The danger would likely be far greater than when he first arrived as a mere mortal in the Xuanhuang World.
jī hū bù jiǎ sī suǒ de ， lǐ fán jiù yào zuò chū jì chéng xiān líng zhī lì de jué dìng 。
几乎不假思索的，李凡就要做出继承仙灵之力的决定。
After all, true immortals existed beyond the barriers. The sudden power surge from crossing the barrier might attract their attention.
dàn zuì hòu de guān tóu ， tā què tū rán fǎn huǐ le 。
但最后的关头，他却突然反悔了。
Moreover, Li Fan was still ensnared by the True Immortal's web of this world. Even at the Foundation Establishment Realm, he could not guarantee that his actions would draw a True Immortal's notice. But if an insignificant particle transformed into a true immortal in an instant...
“ gāo qiáng zhī wài 、 gāo qiáng zhī wài ……”
“高墙之外、高墙之外……”
Li Fan might be captured and studied without even having time to react.
“ gāo qiáng zhī wài ， zhēn de ān quán me 。”
“高墙之外，真的安全么。”
After much contemplation, Li Fan finally let out a long sigh, suppressing his desire.
lǐ fán xīn zhōng bù jīn fú xiàn chū yí gè dà dà de wèn hào 。
李凡心中不禁浮现出一个大大的问号。
The opportunity for transcendence had been before him for countless lifetimes, but now that he could truly leave, he hesitated.
tā rú jīn de běn tǐ shí lì ， bù guò shì kān bǐ pǔ tōng hé dào de yuán yīng jìng 。
他如今的本体实力，不过是堪比普通合道的元婴境。
Essentially, it was because of his current weakness and the complete lack of knowledge about what lay beyond the barriers.
zài xuán huáng jiè zhōng ， jiè zhù líng mù jiè yǐ jí tiān yáng děng rén zhī lì ， miǎn qiǎng néng gòu zuò dào zì bǎo 。
在玄黄界中，借助灵木界以及天阳等人之力，勉强能够做到自保。
He wasn't unwilling to leave; rather, the risk was too great. Even Li Fan, with the power of Truly Real, might hesitate.
dàn chū le xuán huáng 、 lái dào le gāo qiáng zhī wài ……
但出了玄黄、来到了高墙之外……
"Wait a bit more."
kǒng pà wēi xiǎn chéng dù ， hái yào yuǎn shèng guò dāng nián yǐ fán rén zhī qū lái dào xuán huáng jiè 。
恐怕危险程度，还要远胜过当年以凡人之躯来到玄黄界。
"It's not yet the right time."
yào zhī dào ， gāo qiáng zhī wài kě shì yǒu zhēn xiān cún zài de 。
要知道，高墙之外可是有真仙存在的。
"For others, missing this chance to escape from the Darkest Star Sea will mean they can never have it again."
kuà yuè gāo qiáng shùn jiān bào fā chū de lì liàng bō dòng ， jí yǒu kě néng huì xī yǐn tā men de mù guāng 。
跨越高墙瞬间爆发出的力量波动，极有可能会吸引祂们的目光。
"But I am different."
yóu qí cǐ shì ， lǐ fán yī jiù chù zài wú miàn zhēn xiān zhī wǎng zhōng 。
尤其此世，李凡依旧处在无面真仙之网中。
"Regardless, now that I know about this immense immortal spirit force, if needed, I can always come and retrieve it."
yuán yīng jìng ， wú lùn zěn me bèng da ， dōu wèi bì néng yǐn qǐ zhēn xiān zhù shì 。 dàn ruò shì yuán yīng jìng de wēi chén ， chà nà jiān biàn chéng le xiān rén ……
元婴境，无论怎么蹦跶，都未必能引起真仙注视。但若是元婴境的微尘，刹那间变成了仙人……
After a rational analysis, Li Fan's mind returned to its calm state.
dào shí hòu ， kǒng pà lǐ fán lián hái zhēn de fǎn yìng shí jiān dōu méi yǒu ， jiù yào bèi wú miàn zhēn xiān bǔ huò 、 zhuō qù yán jiū le 。
到时候，恐怕李凡连还真的反应时间都没有，就要被无面真仙捕获、捉去研究了。
Now faced with another question: should he inherit the Great Xuanhuang Supreme Deity?
lǐ fán chén yín xǔ jiǔ ， zuì zhōng cháng cháng de shū le yì kǒu qì 。
李凡沉吟许久，最终长长的舒了一口气。
Without much consideration, Li Fan made his choice.
jiāng chǔn chǔn yù dòng de yù wàng chè dǐ yā xià 。
将蠢蠢欲动的欲望彻底压下。
While in ancient times, the Great Xuanhuang Supreme Deity was unique and supreme, now things had changed. The benefits were uncertain, but the obligations and responsibilities were clearly significant.
kǔ kǔ zhuī xún le shàng bǎi shì lún huí de chāo tuō jī huì ， cǐ kè zài lǐ fán yǎn qián 。
苦苦追寻了上百世轮回的超脱机会，此刻在李凡眼前。
Restoring order, dealing with the spread of false teachings, and saving the Xuanhuang World from being swallowed by the Immortal Wasteland...
dàn zhēn de yǒu jī huì néng táo lí de shí hòu ， lǐ fán què tuì suō le 。
但真的有机会能逃离的时候，李凡却退缩了。
Li Fan had no interest in becoming a savior.
jiū qí gēn běn ， shì yīn wèi lǐ fán rú jīn de shí lì hái tài guò ruò xiǎo 。
究其根本，是因为李凡如今的实力还太过弱小。
He felt no real attachment to the Xuanhuang World.
ér duì gāo qiáng zhī wài zé shì chè dǐ de yī wú suǒ zhī 。
而对高墙之外则是彻底的一无所知。
Now that he had found a way to cross barriers, his next step was to quickly increase his strength or plan an escape method to test its validity and safety.
bú shì bù néng xiàn zài lí kāi ， ér shì lí kāi de fēng xiǎn tài dà 。
不是不能现在离开，而是离开的风险太大。
As for this Great Xuanhuang Supreme Deity, let others take it if they wanted; Li Fan would not join in the fray.
shèn zhì dà dào le ， nǎ pà yǒu hái zhēn de lǐ fán dōu bù gǎn qīng yì cháng shì de dì bù 。
甚至大到了，哪怕有还真的李凡都不敢轻易尝试的地步。
Since White Sir created this test, Li Fan believed he wouldn't force any choice upon cultivators.
“ zài děng děng ， zài děng děng 。”
“再等等，再等等。”
Sure enough, after expressing his willingness to abandon both choices, the surroundings began to violently shake and fragment like boiling water.
“ hái bú dào shí hòu 。”
“还不到时候。”
After a slight dizziness, Li Fan returned to reality.
“ duì qí tā rén ér yán ， zhè lí kāi zhì àn xīng hǎi de jī huì yí dàn cuò guò 、 jiù yǒng yuǎn bú huì zài yǒu 。”
“对其他人而言，这离开至暗星海的机会一旦错过、就永远不会再有。”
"It seems I still have some temper."
“ dàn wǒ bù yí yàng 。”
“但我不一样。”
Li Fan muttered to himself as he recalled this experience in the Realm of Fallen Immortals. Unfortunately, only vague memories remained, especially regarding specific techniques and secrets.
“ fǎn zhèng yǐ jīng zhī xiǎo le zhè gǔ páng dà xiān líng zhī lì de cún zài ， zhǐ yào yǒu xū yào ， wǒ néng suí shí lái qǔ 。”
“反正已经知晓了这股庞大仙灵之力的存在，只要有需要，我能随时来取。”
"If I had become the Great Xuanhuang Supreme Deity, perhaps all the history from the Realm of Fallen Immortals would be inherited.
yī fān lǐ xìng fēn xī zhī hòu ， lǐ fán de xīn jìng zhōng yú huí dào le gǔ jǐng wú bō de zhuàng tài 。
一番理性分析之后，李凡的心境终于回到了古井无波的状态。
"But..."
jì rán zàn shí fàng qì le kuà yuè gāo qiáng de jì huà ， xiàn zài yòu yǒu yí gè wèn tí bǎi zài lǐ fán miàn qián 。
既然暂时放弃了跨越高墙的计划，现在又有一个问题摆在李凡面前。
"The benefits do not outweigh the costs, especially given my current situation."
xū yào jì chéng xuán huáng dà tiān zūn me ？
需要继承玄黄大天尊么？
Li Fan calmed his thoughts. After a long while, he checked the time and was surprised to find that this journey through the Realm of Fallen Immortals had lasted over a year.
jī hū méi zěn me kǎo lǜ ， lǐ fán jiù guǒ duàn zuò chū le jué zé 。
几乎没怎么考虑，李凡就果断做出了抉择。
It seemed the test's temporal flow rate was different from ordinary realms, closer to reality.
rú guǒ shuō shàng gǔ shí qī ， xuán huáng dà tiān zūn hái néng wéi wǒ dú fǎ 。
如果说上古时期，玄黄大天尊还能唯我独法。
Li Fan realized something.
dàn xiàn zài shí dài yǐ jīng biàn le 。
但现在时代已经变了。
"This test is not casually created; it may require some energy."
hǎo chù bú jiàn de yǒu duō shǎo ， dàn shì suǒ xū chéng dān de yì wù 、 zé rèn ， què shì ròu yǎn kě jiàn de páng dà 。
好处不见得有多少，但是所需承担的义务、责任，却是肉眼可见的庞大。
"Though Mo Ru Bin entered the test realm earlier than me by more than a year, I had already experienced and known the plot beforehand. His actions might be slower."
bō luàn fǎn zhèng ， duì fù chuán fǎ ， huī fù xuán huáng jiè zhèng cháng zhì xù 。
拨乱反正，对付传法，恢复玄黄界正常秩序。
"There's a possibility he is still in the test realm."
bǎ xuán huáng jiè cóng jí jiāng bèi xiān xū tūn mò de mìng yùn zhōng zhěng jiù chū lái ……
把玄黄界从即将被仙墟吞没的命运中拯救出来……
With this thought, Li Fan began to review what happened over the past year.
lǐ fán kě méi yǒu xìng qù qù dāng shén me jiù shì zhǔ 。
李凡可没有兴趣去当什么救世主。
Master Zhou on the other side of transmission had not heard from Li Fan for some time, so he guessed that Li Fan must have successfully entered the test realm.
duì yú xuán huáng jiè ， tā yě méi yǒu shén me zhēn zhèng de guī shǔ gǎn 。
对于玄黄界，他也没有什么真正的归属感。
He sent multiple messages, asking how much of his experiences in the test could be shared and inquiring about various matters concerning the remnants of Xuantian Sect.
rú jīn yǐ jīng zhǎo dào le kuà yuè gāo qiáng de fāng fǎ ， jiē xià lái tā yào zuò de ， jiù shì jǐn kuài zēng jiā zì jǐ shí lì 、 yì huò zhě móu huà cháng shì ， yǐ cǐ fǎ táo tuō shì fǒu zhēn shí yǒu xiào 、 méi yǒu wēi xiǎn 。
如今已经找到了跨越高墙的方法，接下来他要做的，就是尽快增加自己实力、亦或者谋划尝试，以此法逃脱是否真实有效、没有危险。
Although Master Chen and others passed the Oath of Transmission, everyone knew they were no longer suitable for high positions within the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance.
zhì yú zhè shén me xuán huáng dà tiān zūn ， shuí ài dāng jiù dāng 。
至于这什么玄黄大天尊，谁爱当就当。
After a unanimous vote by the transmission masters, they voluntarily left their posts.
tā lǐ fán kěn dìng bú huì qù còu zhè ge rè nào de 。
他李凡肯定不会去凑这个热闹的。
(End of Chapter)
"Impossible. The immense immortal spirit force gathered within me is clearly not a delusion."
Li Fan's thoughts raced as he quickly used the Water Mirror Technique to examine himself.
Upon discovering that his appearance had indeed transformed into his own, rather than White Sir's, he was taken aback.
"How could this be?"
"Why would it happen like this?"
The face of White Sir suddenly flashed in his mind, like a lightning bolt through fog.
Li Fan stood still, dumbfounded.
"Then this is the case."
Indeed, although everything Li Fan experienced within the Realm of Fallen Immortals was false, in reality, White Sir had indeed gathered and destroyed numerous immortal artifacts, thereby acquiring the power to cross barriers.
"So, White Sir did not choose to leave the Xuanhuang World. Therefore..."
A sharp light flashed in Li Fan's eyes as his heart began to beat rapidly.
"The immense immortal spirit force from that time was preserved intact!"
"It is stored within the Realm of Fallen Immortals! In this final test scene for the Great Xuanhuang Supreme Deity!"
...
Li Fan felt the overwhelming power surrounding his body.
He now understood what he had to do—make the same choice as White Sir back then. Either inherit the immortal spirit force and cross barriers, living freely, or choose to stay in the Xuanhuang World and serve as the Great Xuanhuang Supreme Deity.
Although Li Fan did not know why White Sir chose to remain, he was far from noble like his predecessor.
If given the chance to leave, how could he willingly be bound by the Xuanhuang World?
Almost without hesitation, Li Fan decided to inherit the immortal spirit force. But at the last moment, he suddenly changed his mind.
"Beyond the barriers... beyond the barriers..."
"Is it really safe beyond the barriers?"
A large question mark appeared in Li Fan's mind.
His current body strength was only comparable to a mediocre Daoist Immortal at the Foundation Establishment Realm. In the Xuanhuang World, with the help of Spirit Wood World and others like Tianyang, he could barely defend himself.
But leaving the Xuanhuang World and venturing beyond the barriers...
The danger would likely be far greater than when he first arrived as a mere mortal in the Xuanhuang World.
After all, true immortals existed beyond the barriers. The sudden power surge from crossing the barrier might attract their attention.
Moreover, Li Fan was still ensnared by the True Immortal's web of this world. Even at the Foundation Establishment Realm, he could not guarantee that his actions would draw a True Immortal's notice. But if an insignificant particle transformed into a true immortal in an instant...
Li Fan might be captured and studied without even having time to react.
After much contemplation, Li Fan finally let out a long sigh, suppressing his desire.
The opportunity for transcendence had been before him for countless lifetimes, but now that he could truly leave, he hesitated.
Essentially, it was because of his current weakness and the complete lack of knowledge about what lay beyond the barriers.
He wasn't unwilling to leave; rather, the risk was too great. Even Li Fan, with the power of Truly Real, might hesitate.
"Wait a bit more."
"It's not yet the right time."
"For others, missing this chance to escape from the Darkest Star Sea will mean they can never have it again."
"But I am different."
"Regardless, now that I know about this immense immortal spirit force, if needed, I can always come and retrieve it."
After a rational analysis, Li Fan's mind returned to its calm state.
Now faced with another question: should he inherit the Great Xuanhuang Supreme Deity?
Without much consideration, Li Fan made his choice.
While in ancient times, the Great Xuanhuang Supreme Deity was unique and supreme, now things had changed. The benefits were uncertain, but the obligations and responsibilities were clearly significant.
Restoring order, dealing with the spread of false teachings, and saving the Xuanhuang World from being swallowed by the Immortal Wasteland...
Li Fan had no interest in becoming a savior.
He felt no real attachment to the Xuanhuang World.
Now that he had found a way to cross barriers, his next step was to quickly increase his strength or plan an escape method to test its validity and safety.
As for this Great Xuanhuang Supreme Deity, let others take it if they wanted; Li Fan would not join in the fray.
Since White Sir created this test, Li Fan believed he wouldn't force any choice upon cultivators.
Sure enough, after expressing his willingness to abandon both choices, the surroundings began to violently shake and fragment like boiling water.
After a slight dizziness, Li Fan returned to reality.
"It seems I still have some temper."
Li Fan muttered to himself as he recalled this experience in the Realm of Fallen Immortals. Unfortunately, only vague memories remained, especially regarding specific techniques and secrets.
"If I had become the Great Xuanhuang Supreme Deity, perhaps all the history from the Realm of Fallen Immortals would be inherited.
"But..."
"The benefits do not outweigh the costs, especially given my current situation."
Li Fan calmed his thoughts. After a long while, he checked the time and was surprised to find that this journey through the Realm of Fallen Immortals had lasted over a year.
It seemed the test's temporal flow rate was different from ordinary realms, closer to reality.
Li Fan realized something.
"This test is not casually created; it may require some energy."
"Though Mo Ru Bin entered the test realm earlier than me by more than a year, I had already experienced and known the plot beforehand. His actions might be slower."
"There's a possibility he is still in the test realm."
With this thought, Li Fan began to review what happened over the past year.
Master Zhou on the other side of transmission had not heard from Li Fan for some time, so he guessed that Li Fan must have successfully entered the test realm.
He sent multiple messages, asking how much of his experiences in the test could be shared and inquiring about various matters concerning the remnants of Xuantian Sect.
Although Master Chen and others passed the Oath of Transmission, everyone knew they were no longer suitable for high positions within the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance.
After a unanimous vote by the transmission masters, they voluntarily left their posts.
(End of Chapter)