tōng guò gēn xuán huáng jiè shí jiān liú sù de duì bǐ ， shèng tāi lǐ fán néng gòu dà zhì pàn duàn jù lí mù dì dì de yuǎn jìn 。
通过跟玄黄界时间流速的对比，圣胎李凡能够大致判断距离目的地的远近。
Through the comparison of time flow rates between the Xuanhuang Realm and his own, Saint Embryo Li Fan could roughly gauge how close he was to his destination.
dāng shuāng fāng de shí jiān liú sù bǐ ， màn màn jiàng dào le sān bǐ yī 。
当双方的时间流速比，慢慢降到了三比一。
When the ratio of their time flows slowly dropped to three to one, Saint Embryo Li Fan knew that the unknown existence he sought was just ahead.
shèng tāi lǐ fán zhī dào zì jǐ cǐ cì xún qiú de wèi zhī cún zài ， jiù zài qián fāng le 。
圣胎李凡知道自己此次寻求的未知存在，就在前方了。
On his journey, besides the desiccated giant corpse, he encountered other remnants from the ancient shattered cultivation realm, including but not limited to the corpses of cultivators and ruins of buildings. He even found some法宝that had once been used by cultivators, though they had lost their spiritual essence after floating in the void for too long and could no longer be utilized.
qián jìn lù shàng ， chú le nà gān shī jù rén zhī wài ， tā hái yù dào le qí tā yī xiē 、 lái zì shàng gǔ pò miè xiū xiān jiè de dōng xī 。
前进路上，除了那干尸巨人之外，他还遇到了其他一些、来自上古破灭修仙界的东西。
However, these relics came from various different cultivation realms based on the way they were crafted and their external features. These "rubbish" seemed to remain here due to a delicate balance between two forces within the void, not being drawn towards the Immortal Vastness or pulled into the Star Sea depths. Instead, they quietly lingered in this place, seemingly forgotten by the entire world.
bāo kuò dàn bù xiàn yú ， xiū shì de shī hái 、 jiàn zhù de fèi xū 。
包括但不限于，修士的尸骸、建筑的废墟。
The more he advanced, the more such trash appeared in the void. They were remnants of different cultivation realms from long ago. Uncertain if these relics still contained the power of True Immortal seals, Saint Embryo Li Fan did not dare to touch them and merely controlled his puppet and sword body to avoid them, slowing down his progress.
shèn zhì lǐ fán hái jiǎn dào le yī xiē xiū shì céng jīng shǐ yòng guò de fǎ bǎo 。
甚至李凡还捡到了一些修士曾经使用过的法宝。
"Fortunately, my guess was right; as I get closer to the Star Sea's might, the influence of the 'Solo' Technique on me is weakening."
bù guò zài xū kōng zhōng piāo fú le tài jiǔ ， quán dōu yǐ jīng líng xìng jǐn shī 、 wú fǎ shǐ yòng le 。
不过在虚空中漂浮了太久，全都已经灵性尽失、无法使用了。
"I have temporarily escaped the danger of being assimilated."
dàn cóng fǎ bǎo liàn zhì de fāng shì ， yǐ jí qí wài biǎo tè zhēng lái kàn ， tā men lái zì gè zhǒng bù tóng de xiū xiān jiè 。
但从法宝炼制的方式，以及其外表特征来看，它们来自各种不同的修仙界。
However...
zhè xiē yóu rú lā jī bān de “ zá wù ”， sì hū shì yīn wèi xū kōng zhōng de liǎng gǔ lì liàng dá chéng le mǒu zhǒng wēi miào píng héng de yuán gù ， bìng méi yǒu bèi xī yǐn zhe cháo xiàng xiān xū 。
这些犹如垃圾般的“杂物”，似乎是因为虚空中的两股力量达成了某种微妙平衡的缘故，并没有被吸引着朝向仙墟。
The power of True Immortal seals was not something to be underestimated. Though he had not been completely eroded by it, Saint Embryo Li Fan felt changes in his behavior and thoughts, such as a sudden urge to retreat from everything or an increasing sense of separation between himself and the Black Sword Heaven within him.
yì huò zhě shì bèi lā xiàng xīng hǎi shēn chù 。
亦或者是被拉向星海深处。
From a secular perspective, this was an inconceivable occurrence. After all, after consuming them and integrating their power into his Dao foundation, he had become one with them—man as sword, sword as man.
ér shì jìng jìng de tíng liú zài cǐ dì 。
而是静静的停留在此地。
But the power of True Immortal seals could forcibly revert such integration.
fǎng fú bèi zhěng gè shì jiè suǒ yí wàng 。
仿佛被整个世界所遗忘。
"Completely alone?"
yuè wǎng qián jìn ， xū kōng zhōng de zhè xiē lā jī ， yě jiù yuè duō 。
越往前进，虚空中的这些垃圾，也就越多。
"Lonely?"
dōu shì xī rì bù tóng xiū xiān jiè céng jīng cún zài de diǎn dī zhèng jù 。
都是昔日不同修仙界曾经存在的点滴证据。
A sense of unease stirred within Saint Embryo Li Fan. Could this loneliness affect the main body and the 'Truly Real' Technique?
bù què dìng zhè xiē zá wù shàng ， shì fǒu hái zhān rǎn zhe zhēn xiān zhuàn zì de lì liàng ， shèng tāi lǐ fán bù gǎn yǔ qí chù pèng 。
不确定这些杂物上，是否还沾染着真仙篆字的力量，圣胎李凡不敢与其触碰。
Although the latter had a high position, his current strength was still lacking. Even if there was just a possibility, it was a risk he could not bear.
zhǐ shì kòng zhì zhe kuǐ lěi yǔ jiàn tǐ ， bù duàn bì ràng 。
只是控制着傀儡与剑体，不断避让。
Saint Embryo Li Fan made up his mind. "Even if I waste this exploration opportunity, I cannot let the loneliness affect the main body."
rú cǐ yī lái ， sù dù yě jiù bù miǎn màn le xià lái 。
如此一来，速度也就不免慢了下来。
"I must end my existence before any signs appear."
“ hǎo zài wǒ cāi cè méi cuò ， jù lí nà xīng hǎi wěi lì yuè jìn ，【 dú 】 zì jué duì wǒ de yǐng xiǎng yě jiù yuè ruò 。”
“好在我猜测没错，距离那星海伟力越近，【独】字诀对我的影响也就越弱。”
With these thoughts, he swallowed the last spiritual soul nourishing treasure and activated the Soul Igniting Technique, drastically increasing his speed as he darted through the trash-filled void.
“ yǐ jīng zàn shí tuō lí bèi qīn tūn de wēi xiǎn le 。”
“已经暂时脱离被侵吞的危险了。”
These relics from ancient cultivation realms formed an endless ocean with no apparent end. Despite nearly exhausting the nurturing power within him, he still could not break out of this sea's boundaries.
bù guò ……
不过……
"These remnants can be preserved..."
zhēn xiān zhuàn zì de lì liàng bì jìng bù róng xiǎo qù 。
真仙篆字的力量毕竟不容小觑。
"Could fragments of past cultivation realms also remain intact?"
suī méi yǒu bèi chè dǐ qīn shí ， dàn shèng tāi lǐ fán yě gǎn shòu dào le zì jǐ zài háng wèi 、 sī xiǎng shàng de zhǒng zhǒng biàn huà 。
虽没有被彻底侵蚀，但圣胎李凡也感受到了自己在行为、思想上的种种变化。
As he wandered in this sea of relics, Saint Embryo Li Fan suddenly recalled Transcendental Teachings and Heavenly Physician moving world fragments from the Star Sea to mend the Xuanhuang Realm.
bǐ rú wú duān nǎo hǎi zhōng huì yǒng qǐ yào yuǎn lí yī qiè de bì shì niàn tou 。
比如无端脑海中会涌起要远离一切的避世念头。
"Who is it?"
zài bǐ rú ， tǐ nèi xiū xíng gēn jī de hēi jiàn tiān zhī qí ， jìng rán yǐn yǐn gēn zì jǐ chǎn shēng le yī sī gé hé 。
再比如，体内修行根基的黑剑天之奇，竟然隐隐跟自己产生了一丝隔阂。
Just as he was deep in thought, Li Fan's heart tightened as a divine consciousness seemed to have locked onto him! He shouted loudly, looking towards the source of the lock. The locking sensation vanished instantly, leaving only a blurry figure rapidly flickering and disappearing into the darkness.
zhè yòng shì sú de yǎn guāng kàn ， gēn běn shì yī jiàn bù kě sī yì zhī shì 。
这用世俗的眼光看，根本是一件不可思议之事。
Saint Embryo Li Fan's face darkened as he arrived at the spot where the figure had appeared. "Not some mysterious entity but a living person? In the darkest Star Sea, there are other surviving cultivation civilizations besides Xuanhuang?"
yào zhī dào ， shèng tāi lǐ fán jiāng qí tūn shì 、 huà zuò zì shēn dào jī hòu ， tā men jiù děng yú yī tǐ de cún zài 。
要知道，圣胎李凡将其吞噬、化作自身道基后，他们就等于一体的存在。
Li Fan was shaken to his core by this realization. Not only did he sense the aura of the figure, but it also left behind a message.
rén rú jiàn ， jiàn rú rén 。
人如剑，剑如人。
To Li Fan, it seemed like an odd form of communication, not clearly something only cultivators could perform.
dàn zhēn xiān zhuàn zì de lì liàng ， què néng jiāng zhè zhǒng róng hé ， gěi qiáng xíng huán yuán 。
但真仙篆字的力量，却能将这种融合，给强行还原。
"丙三, 七日朔？"
“ chè chè dǐ dǐ de gū jiā guǎ rén ？”
“彻彻底底的孤家寡人？”
"Jiao?"
“ gū dú me ？”
“孤独么？”
Li Fan pondered these two short sentences. "It must be some kind of code. But the universal cultivation script is undoubtedly from surviving cultivators."
shèng tāi lǐ fán xīn zhōng shèn zhì yǐn yǐn yǒng qǐ lìng wài de bù ān 。
圣胎李凡心中甚至隐隐涌起另外的不安。
Though he had yet to witness the Star Sea's might that caused the Xuanhuang Realm's tremor, knowing there were other civilizations in the Star Sea was already significant.
zhè gū dú zhī lì ， huì bú huì duì běn zūn gēn 【 hái zhēn 】 chǎn shēng yǐng xiǎng ？
这孤独之力，会不会对本尊跟【还真】产生影响？
"This has been going on for so many years; besides ensuring survival resources, resisting the Immortal Vastness's pull is crucial. This place lies at a delicate balance between two forces, creating a safe haven."
suī rán 【 hái zhēn 】 wèi gé zú gòu gāo ， dàn jià bú zhù běn zūn shí lì mù qián shàng qiě bù jìn rén yì a ！
虽然【还真】位格足够高，但架不住本尊实力目前尚且不尽人意啊！
This also indicated...
nǎ pà zhǐ shì yǒu zhè ge kě néng ， zhè fēng xiǎn yě bú shì lǐ fán néng gòu chéng shòu de 。
哪怕只是有这个可能，这风险也不是李凡能够承受的。
Saint Embryo Li Fan's eyes flashed as he carefully did not reply to the message.
shèng tāi lǐ fán xīn zhōng màn màn yǒu xiē jué yì 。
圣胎李凡心中慢慢有些决议。
"The Star Sea's might that can counter the Immortal Vastness isn't something new; it must have suddenly erupted due to some unforeseen event. That’s why Xuanhuang Realm sensed it from afar."
“ nǎ pà làng fèi zhè cì tàn suǒ de jī huì ， yě bù néng ràng gū dú zhī lì yǐng xiǎng dào běn zūn 。”
“哪怕浪费这次探索的机会，也不能让孤独之力影响到本尊。”
"..."
“ zài yǒu jì xiàng xiǎn lù zhī qián ， wǒ jiù yào tí qián jié shù zì jǐ xìng mìng 。”
“在有迹象显露之前，我就要提前结束自己性命。”
Li Fan's mind returned to Transcendental Teachings and Heavenly Physician, who had traveled through the darkest Star Sea for a long time and would surely know of this.
shèng tāi lǐ fán rú cǐ xiǎng zhe ， jiāng zuì hòu de zī bǔ shén hún bǎo wù tūn xià ， rán hòu jī fā qǐ le rán hún jué 。
圣胎李凡如此想着，将最后的滋补神魂宝物吞下，然后激发起了燃魂决。
"It's interesting."
sù dù zhòu rán bào zhǎng ， zài xū kōng biàn bù de lā jī fèng xì lǐ ， jí sù chuān suō 。
速度骤然暴涨，在虚空遍布的垃圾缝隙里，急速穿梭。
With the loneliness dissipating his coldness, Li Fan's interest was rekindled upon learning about new civilizations. However, he forcefully suppressed it.
zhè xiē lái zì shàng gǔ xiū xiān jiè de yí wù ， zǔ chéng le yī chù wú jìn de hǎi yáng ， sì hū méi yǒu jìn tóu bān 。
这些来自上古修仙界的遗物，组成了一处无尽的海洋，似乎没有尽头般。
"Even if we haven't met yet, surviving in such an environment is no easy feat."
tǐ nèi de zī yǎng zhī lì jī hū yǐ jīng bèi xiāo hào dài jìn le ， què yī jiù méi yǒu néng chuǎng chū zhè piàn dà hǎi de fàn wéi 。
体内的滋养之力几乎已经被消耗殆尽了，却依旧没有能闯出这片大海的范围。
"And the laws here are more refined than Xuanhuang Realm, with higher potential. They have been living here for so long..."
“ zhè xiē zá wù dōu néng bǎo cún ……”
“这些杂物都能保存……”
"They are formidable."
“ nà me ， huì bú huì wǎng xī xiū xiān jiè de cán piàn yě néng bǎo cún de bǐ jiào wán hǎo ？”
“那么，会不会往昔修仙界的残片也能保存的比较完好？”
However, Li Fan was not overly concerned about the Xuanhuang Realm.
cháng yáng zài zhè yí wù wāng yáng zhōng ， shèng tāi lǐ fán yòu hū de xiǎng qǐ chuán fǎ gēn tiān yī cóng xīng hǎi zhōng bān yùn shì jiè cán piàn 、 féng bǔ xuán huáng jiè de xíng wéi 。
徜徉在这遗物汪洋中，圣胎李凡又忽的想起传法跟天医从星海中搬运世界残片、缝补玄黄界的行为。
With monsters constantly appearing and Transcendental Teachings' new techniques, while this place had scarce resources, a conflict would result in the Xuanhuang Realm's dominance.
“ shén me rén ？”
“什么人？”
"I overestimated the situation. The distance is so great; even if we meet by chance, it’s still a luxury."
zhèng dāng tā chén sī de shí hòu ， lǐ fán zhòu rán xīn zhōng yī jǐn ， yīn wèi tā jū rán gǎn dào xū kōng zhōng yī dào shén shí suǒ dìng le zì jǐ ！
正当他沉思的时候，李凡骤然心中一紧，因为他居然感到虚空中一道神识锁定了自己！
Putting aside the idea of a confrontation between the two remaining civilizations, Li Fan faced another pressing issue: his time was running out.
gāo hē yī shēng ， cháo zhe suǒ dìng lái yuán kàn qù 。
高喝一声，朝着锁定来源看去。
Should he continue deeper into the ruins to find the source of the Star Sea's might or try to contact this civilization?
suǒ dìng gǎn shà shí bú jiàn ， zhǐ kàn dào yī dào mó hú de shēn yǐng ， kuài sù shǎn shuò 、 xiāo shī zài hēi àn zhōng 。
锁定感霎时不见，只看到一道模糊的身影，快速闪烁、消失在黑暗中。
Without much deliberation, after a brief moment of thought, Saint Embryo Li Fan made his decision—contacting them.
shèng tāi lǐ fán yīn chén zhuó liǎn ， lái dào le nà dào shēn yǐng yuán xiān chū xiàn de wèi zhì 。
圣胎李凡阴沉着脸，来到了那道身影原先出现的位置。
"They have lived here for so long; they must know more about that Star Sea's might."
“ bú shì shén me shén mì guǐ yì cún zài ， ér shì huó zhe de rén ？”
“不是什么神秘诡异存在，而是活着的人？”
"Rather than wandering aimlessly, I should seek knowledge from others."
“ zhì àn xīng hǎi zhōng ， chú le xuán huáng jiè ， jū rán hái yǒu qí tā xiū xiān wén míng xìng cún ？”
“至暗星海中，除了玄黄界，居然还有其他修仙文明幸存？”
Li Fan's eyes sparkled. (End of Chapter)
Through the comparison of time flow rates between the Xuanhuang Realm and his own, Saint Embryo Li Fan could roughly gauge how close he was to his destination.
When the ratio of their time flows slowly dropped to three to one, Saint Embryo Li Fan knew that the unknown existence he sought was just ahead.
On his journey, besides the desiccated giant corpse, he encountered other remnants from the ancient shattered cultivation realm, including but not limited to the corpses of cultivators and ruins of buildings. He even found some法宝that had once been used by cultivators, though they had lost their spiritual essence after floating in the void for too long and could no longer be utilized.
However, these relics came from various different cultivation realms based on the way they were crafted and their external features. These "rubbish" seemed to remain here due to a delicate balance between two forces within the void, not being drawn towards the Immortal Vastness or pulled into the Star Sea depths. Instead, they quietly lingered in this place, seemingly forgotten by the entire world.
The more he advanced, the more such trash appeared in the void. They were remnants of different cultivation realms from long ago. Uncertain if these relics still contained the power of True Immortal seals, Saint Embryo Li Fan did not dare to touch them and merely controlled his puppet and sword body to avoid them, slowing down his progress.
"Fortunately, my guess was right; as I get closer to the Star Sea's might, the influence of the 'Solo' Technique on me is weakening."
"I have temporarily escaped the danger of being assimilated."
However...
The power of True Immortal seals was not something to be underestimated. Though he had not been completely eroded by it, Saint Embryo Li Fan felt changes in his behavior and thoughts, such as a sudden urge to retreat from everything or an increasing sense of separation between himself and the Black Sword Heaven within him.
From a secular perspective, this was an inconceivable occurrence. After all, after consuming them and integrating their power into his Dao foundation, he had become one with them—man as sword, sword as man.
But the power of True Immortal seals could forcibly revert such integration.
"Completely alone?"
"Lonely?"
A sense of unease stirred within Saint Embryo Li Fan. Could this loneliness affect the main body and the 'Truly Real' Technique?
Although the latter had a high position, his current strength was still lacking. Even if there was just a possibility, it was a risk he could not bear.
Saint Embryo Li Fan made up his mind. "Even if I waste this exploration opportunity, I cannot let the loneliness affect the main body."
"I must end my existence before any signs appear."
With these thoughts, he swallowed the last spiritual soul nourishing treasure and activated the Soul Igniting Technique, drastically increasing his speed as he darted through the trash-filled void.
These relics from ancient cultivation realms formed an endless ocean with no apparent end. Despite nearly exhausting the nurturing power within him, he still could not break out of this sea's boundaries.
"These remnants can be preserved..."
"Could fragments of past cultivation realms also remain intact?"
As he wandered in this sea of relics, Saint Embryo Li Fan suddenly recalled Transcendental Teachings and Heavenly Physician moving world fragments from the Star Sea to mend the Xuanhuang Realm.
"Who is it?"
Just as he was deep in thought, Li Fan's heart tightened as a divine consciousness seemed to have locked onto him! He shouted loudly, looking towards the source of the lock. The locking sensation vanished instantly, leaving only a blurry figure rapidly flickering and disappearing into the darkness.
Saint Embryo Li Fan's face darkened as he arrived at the spot where the figure had appeared. "Not some mysterious entity but a living person? In the darkest Star Sea, there are other surviving cultivation civilizations besides Xuanhuang?"
Li Fan was shaken to his core by this realization. Not only did he sense the aura of the figure, but it also left behind a message.
To Li Fan, it seemed like an odd form of communication, not clearly something only cultivators could perform.
"丙三, 七日朔？"
"Jiao?"
Li Fan pondered these two short sentences. "It must be some kind of code. But the universal cultivation script is undoubtedly from surviving cultivators."
Though he had yet to witness the Star Sea's might that caused the Xuanhuang Realm's tremor, knowing there were other civilizations in the Star Sea was already significant.
"This has been going on for so many years; besides ensuring survival resources, resisting the Immortal Vastness's pull is crucial. This place lies at a delicate balance between two forces, creating a safe haven."
This also indicated...
Saint Embryo Li Fan's eyes flashed as he carefully did not reply to the message.
"The Star Sea's might that can counter the Immortal Vastness isn't something new; it must have suddenly erupted due to some unforeseen event. That’s why Xuanhuang Realm sensed it from afar."
"..."
Li Fan's mind returned to Transcendental Teachings and Heavenly Physician, who had traveled through the darkest Star Sea for a long time and would surely know of this.
"It's interesting."
With the loneliness dissipating his coldness, Li Fan's interest was rekindled upon learning about new civilizations. However, he forcefully suppressed it.
"Even if we haven't met yet, surviving in such an environment is no easy feat."
"And the laws here are more refined than Xuanhuang Realm, with higher potential. They have been living here for so long..."
"They are formidable."
However, Li Fan was not overly concerned about the Xuanhuang Realm.
With monsters constantly appearing and Transcendental Teachings' new techniques, while this place had scarce resources, a conflict would result in the Xuanhuang Realm's dominance.
"I overestimated the situation. The distance is so great; even if we meet by chance, it’s still a luxury."
Putting aside the idea of a confrontation between the two remaining civilizations, Li Fan faced another pressing issue: his time was running out.
Should he continue deeper into the ruins to find the source of the Star Sea's might or try to contact this civilization?
Without much deliberation, after a brief moment of thought, Saint Embryo Li Fan made his decision—contacting them.
"They have lived here for so long; they must know more about that Star Sea's might."
"Rather than wandering aimlessly, I should seek knowledge from others."
Li Fan's eyes sparkled. (End of Chapter)