bàn suí zhe zhè wǔ dào xū yǐng miàn róng zhà xiàn de ， hái yǒu píng jìng zhì jí de dàn dàn huà yǔ 。
伴随着这五道虚影面容乍现的，还有平静至极的淡淡话语。
Accompanying the sudden appearance of these five ethereal shadows were calm, almost tranquil words.
sì hū bìng bú shì duì mào rán chuǎng rù de lǐ bù rén shuō de ， ér shì yī duàn zǎo yǐ jīng jì lù hǎo de shēng yīn 。
似乎并不是对贸然闯入的李不仁说的，而是一段早已经记录好的声音。
It seemed not directed at Li Fan, but rather a pre-recorded message.
「 shǒu qiū xiān shèng dé ， gǎn yè hòu shū xián zhě 。」
「守丘仙盛德，敢谒后尗贤者。」
"Guardian of the Mound, with great virtue and respect, dares to pay homage to the wise."
「 jì zhèng wú míng ， běn wèi chāo tuō 。 rán dào yān àn cáng ， wú děng bù kě shī jiān tóu zhī zhòng 。」
「既证无名，本为超脱。然道湮暗藏，吾等不可失肩头之重。」
"Having witnessed the nameless, we are meant to transcend. Yet, as the path is obscured, we cannot afford to neglect our duties."
「 ǒu dé cǐ liáng fǎ ， yǐ yǐng dài shēn ， kě dǐ yù tāo tāo jié nàn 。」
「偶得此良法，以影代身，可抵御滔滔劫难。」
"By chance, I discovered this technique, using shadows in place of my true form, to withstand countless trials."
「 yǔ jūn gòng xiǎng zhī ……」
「与君共享之……」
"I share it with you..."
wǔ dào xū yǐng ， yì kǒu tóng shēng 。
五道虚影，异口同声。
The five ethereal shadows spoke in unison.
jiē xià lái de ， jiù bìng fēi xún cháng de shēng yīn 。 ér shì wǎn ruò kè dāo yì bān ， zhí jiē jiāng cǐ fǎ mén lào yìn zài bèi xū yǐng huán rào de lǐ bù rén shēn qū shàng 。
接下来的，就并非寻常的声音。而是宛若刻刀一般，直接将此法门烙印在被虚影环绕的李不仁身躯上。
What followed was not a normal voice but seemed to carve directly into Li Fan's body, surrounded by the shadows.
méi yǒu gǎn dào rèn hé de tòng kǔ ， shèn zhì yě dōu méi yǒu sī háo de yì cháng 。 jiù hǎo sì ， yuán běn jiù shǔ yú zì jǐ 、 dàn què bèi chén fēng yí wàng de jì yì chóng xīn xiǎn lù 。 bú shì bèi chuán shòu ， ér shì zài dù 「 xiǎng qǐ 」。
没有感到任何的痛苦，甚至也都没有丝毫的异常。就好似，原本就属于自己、但却被尘封遗忘的记忆重新显露。不是被传授，而是再度「想起」。
There was no pain or abnormality; it felt as if he was recalling memories that had been long buried. Not taught, but rather 'remembered.'
zhí jiē shěng qù le chuǎi mó 、 xué xí 、 jīng tōng de zhěng tào guò chéng 。
直接省去了揣摩、学习、精通的整套过程。
The entire process of comprehension, learning, and mastery was bypassed.
jì zhī zhī ， biàn yǐ shì dà chéng ！
既知之，便已是大乘！
Knowing this technique meant mastering it at a grand level!
bù guò ràng lǐ bù rén gǎn dào yǒu xiē yí hàn de shì ， wǔ dào xū yǐng zhī suǒ yǐ huì zhǔ dòng chuán fǎ 、 shì yīn wèi xiāng dāng yú yī zhěng gè xiān yù de suǒ yǒu qí zi qí zhì 。 cóng wèi gé lái jiǎng ， jī hū děng tóng yú yī zūn wú míng zhēn xiān 。 gù ér ， zhè wèi shǒu qiū xiān shì jiāng suǒ yǒu de qí zi ， kàn chéng le yí gè zhěng tǐ 。
不过让李不仁感到有些遗憾的是，五道虚影之所以会主动传法、是因为相当于一整个仙域的所有棋子齐至。从位格来讲，几乎等同于一尊无名真仙。故而，这位守丘仙是将所有的棋子，看成了一个整体。
However, Li Fan found some disappointment in the fact that these five shadows only transmitted this technique because they represented all the pieces on the board, equivalent to an unnamed True Immortal. Thus, the Guardian of the Mound saw them as one entity, and their teachings were reserved for those who could truly understand.
juān kè 、 lào yìn ， yě zhǐ shì zài zhè ge zhěng tǐ shàng suǒ jìn xíng 。
镌刻、烙印，也只是在这个整体上所进行。
"Of course, the ethereal shadows of the Guardian of the Mound would only appear in front of a nameless True Immortal; not out of stinginess but because they cannot be borne by lesser beings!"
lǐ bù rén suǒ de ， yě zhǐ shì qí zhōng de yī xiǎo bù fèn 。
李不仁所得，也只是其中的一小部分。
Enveloped by the Guardian's thoughts, Li Fan felt as if he had returned to the infinite sea. Each droplet around him carried countless years.
dàn zhè bù zhǐ yǒu wú míng zhēn xiān jìng jiè cái néng xiū xíng de mì fǎ ， yě zú yǐ ràng tā dà kāi yǎn jiè le ！
但这部只有无名真仙境界才能修行的秘法，也足以让他大开眼界了！
"According to the Guardian, the invasion of the sea on the mountain has been ongoing since ancient times. Just like the tides in this world, they change unpredictably, with moments of strength and weakness."
「 cǐ fǎ ， míng wèi 【 shǒu qiū màn bǐ 】。」
「此法，名为【守丘漫笔】。」
"Since the Guardian began guarding the mound, observing the sea, its power has consistently risen, even surpassing expectations. It hasn't reached its peak yet."
「 dà yáng zhī biān ， yǒu yī zuì ěr shān qiū ， wú yǒu míng xìng 。」
「大洋之边，有一蕞尔山丘，无有名姓。」
"In the twentieth century, the Guardian first noticed these signs. Over a hundred centuries later, this view was confirmed."
「 shèng dé shǒu qiū ， gòng bǎi èr shí sān jì 。 jiàn cháo qǐ cháo luò ， shuǐ shēng shuǐ xiāo 。 měi měi xīn yǒu suǒ gǎn ， jù suí bǐ jì zhī 。 guāng yīn rěn rǎn ， màn bǐ suì chéng ……」
「盛德守丘，共百二十三纪。见潮起潮落，水生水消。每每心有所感，俱随笔记之。光阴荏苒，漫笔遂成……」
"Did he issue warnings to no avail?"
lǐ bù rén shū lǐ zhe nǎo hǎi zhōng de 「 huí yì 」。 pǔ sù de wén zì ， fǎng fú miáo huì le yī dào gū jì de shēn yǐng ， yì bǎi èr shí sān jì nián yǐ lái ， yì zhí shǒu zài hào miǎo de dà yáng zhī biān 。 zhàn zài wú míng shān qiū shàng ， tiào wàng wú jìn hǎi yáng 。 yǔ cháo shuǐ gòng dù de huà miàn 。
李不仁梳理着脑海中的「回忆」。朴素的文字，仿佛描绘了一道孤寂的身影，一百二十三纪年以来，一直守在浩渺的大洋之边。站在无名山丘上，眺望无尽海洋。与潮水共度的画面。
Li Fan found himself deeply puzzled.
「 zhè wèi shǒu qiū xiān ， néng gòu yǐ wǔ dào xū yǐng 、 jiān kàng dào yān zhī jié 。 tā de shí lì gēn jìng jiè ， jué bù xiàng màn bǐ zhōng zì qiān de zhè me jiǎn dān 。」
「这位守丘仙，能够以五道虚影、肩抗道湮之劫。他的实力跟境界，绝不像漫笔中自谦的这么简单。」
Later, the self-narration of the Guardian of the Mound provided answers. At that time, he was still an ordinary True Immortal and had not yet reached the nameless realm. His words were naturally dismissed.
lǐ bù rén zhǎng shū yì kǒu qì ， sì hū yào cóng zhè duǎn duǎn jǐ xíng zì dài lái de cāng sāng suì yuè zhōng zhèng tuō chū lái 。
李不仁长舒一口气，似乎要从这短短几行字带来的沧桑岁月中挣脱出来。
But in the eighty-eighth century, the Guardian of the Mound accumulated strength before finally entering the nameless realm without making a fuss, continuing to guard the mound as usual.
「 zhī qián sūn piāo miǎo de chuán yīn zhōng ， jiù yǒu tiān luó jì de xiāng guān miáo shù 。 jì ， yīng gāi shì xiān jiè suǒ yòng de lì fǎ jì niàn 。 jiù shì bù zhī dào xiān jiè yī jì ， duì yìng zhe xuán huáng jiè duō shǎo nián 。」
「之前孙缥缈的传音中，就有天罗纪的相关描述。纪，应该是仙界所用的历法纪念。就是不知道仙界一纪，对应着玄黄界多少年。」
At that time, it seemed the entire Immortal Realm was preoccupied with some anomaly, and no one paid attention to his mountain on the distant coast.
「 dàn bù guǎn rú hé ， xiǎng bì bǎi èr shí sān jì ， jué duì shì yī duàn jí qí màn cháng de suì yuè le 。」
「但不管如何，想必百二十三纪，绝对是一段极其漫长的岁月了。」
Until one day, the waves surged over the mountain.
「 ér xū yào hào fèi rú cǐ guāng yīn ， qù yì zhí zhèn shǒu de hǎi yǔ qiū 。 dìng rán yě jué fēi pǔ tōng yì yì shàng de dà hǎi yǔ shān qiū 。」
「而需要耗费如此光阴，去一直镇守的海与丘。定然也绝非普通意义上的大海与山丘。」
...
lǐ bù rén hū de xiǎng qǐ le nà běn yí sì sūn piāo miǎo suǒ liú shū jí zhōng ， guān yú shān yǔ hǎi de yù yán 。
李不仁忽的想起了那本疑似孙缥缈所留书籍中，关于山与海的寓言。
Having distanced himself from the Guardian of the Mound's vast yet subtle life, Li Fan began focusing on the technique of "Ethereal Shadows Bearing Dao."
「 rú guǒ hǎi shì dài biǎo wú xiàn hǎi de huà ， nà me shān ， yòu shì dài biǎo zhe shén me de ……」
「如果海是代表无限海的话，那么山，又是代表着什么的……」
"According to the Guardian, sitting atop the mound and facing the sea, he faced countless cosmic laws in the form of wave after wave."
zhè wèi shǒu qiū xiān 、 shèng dé suǒ liú de màn bǐ ， bù jǐn jǐn jiǎn dān chuán shòu le shēn liú xū yǐng zhī fǎ 。 ér shì xiáng xì wú bǐ de ， jì lù le shǒu qiū xiān gǎn wù chū cǐ fǎ de zhěng gè sī xù jīng lì 。
这位守丘仙、盛德所留的漫笔，不仅仅简单传授了身留虚影之法。而是详细无比的，记录了守丘仙感悟出此法的整个思绪经历。
"The waves and the dao are two sides of the same coin."
cǐ fǎ bìng fēi hū yǒu yī rì dùn wù ér chéng 。
此法并非忽有一日顿悟而成。
"A person standing at the mountain's peak is like a giant stone. Each day, they are worn down by the waves, but also leave unique traces between the mountain and the sea."
ér shì rì jī yuè lěi ， yú wú qióng xiá sī zhōng jīng liàn fāng chéng 。
而是日积月累，于无穷遐思中精炼方成。
...
lǐ bù rén dé cǐ fǎ ， jiù hǎo sì 「 chuān yuè 」 dào le xī rì de shǒu qiū xiān shēn shàng ， yǐ tā de shēn qū 、 shén hún 、 niàn tou ， chóng xīn jīng lì le yì bǎi èr shí sān jì yuán de cāng sāng suì yuè 。
李不仁得此法，就好似「穿越」到了昔日的守丘仙身上，以他的身躯、神魂、念头，重新经历了一百二十三纪元的沧桑岁月。
The Guardian of the Mound's writings were incredibly obscure, even for Li Fan after countless lifetimes.
zòng shǐ zhěng rì miàn duì de zhǐ yǒu shān yǔ hǎi 。
纵使整日面对的只有山与海。
"Without the True Virtue, I might have been lost in this technique, unable to grasp its essence. It could easily be dismissed as a joke!"
nà sì hū wú qióng wú jìn liàng jí de shù jù ， yě jī hū yào jiāng lǐ bù rén chè dǐ yān mò 。
那似乎无穷无尽量级的数据，也几乎要将李不仁彻底淹没。
"This technique is fundamentally different from the world's cultivation systems," Li Fan realized.
wàn xìng de shì ， tā cǐ fān shì tóng qí tā xiān yù qí zi gòng tóng chéng dān 。 yǐ tā shén niàn dào wǎng tóu yǐng 、 shēn qū xiān yù fǎ zé suì piàn de chāo jí tǐ zhì ， cái néng miǎn qiǎng zhī chēng xià lái 。
万幸的是，他此番是同其他仙域棋子共同承担。以他神念道网投影、身躯仙域法则碎片的超级体质，才能勉强支撑下来。
But what made the Guardian of the Mound's writings remarkable was that even if the recipient couldn't understand it, the five ethereal shadows actively inscribed the technique, allowing them to use it effortlessly.
「 nán guài shǒu qiū xiān xū yǐng ， zhǐ yǒu zài miàn duì wú míng zhēn xiān shí cái huì xiǎn xiàn 。 bú shì tā lìn sè 、 bù yuàn xiàng qí tā xiān rén chuán shòu cǐ fǎ ， ér shì wú míng zhī xià ， gēn běn chéng shòu bù néng ！」
「难怪守丘仙虚影，只有在面对无名真仙时才会显现。不是祂吝啬、不愿向其他仙人传授此法，而是无名之下，根本承受不能！」
"It doesn’t require any personal sacrifice. It merely extracts traces left in history and dao, manifesting as an ethereal shadow to bear the weight of the dao..."
bèi shǒu qiū xiān de gǔn gǔn sī cháo guǒ xié zhe ， lǐ bù rén hǎo sì huí dào le wú xiàn zhī hǎi zhōng 。 zhōu zāo de měi yī shuǐ dī ， dōu yǒu yì wàn nián guāng yīn
被守丘仙的滚滚思潮裹挟着，李不仁好似回到了无限之海中。周遭的每一水滴，都有亿万年光阴
"This power is truly beyond imagination!"
zhī zhòng 。
之众。
Moreover, Li Fan sensed that this "Ethereal Shadows Bearing Dao" had more than just resisting the dao's erosion.
「 jù shǒu qiū xiān zhī yán ， hǎi duì shān de qīn xí ， zì gèn gǔ zhī chū jiù yǐ jīng cún zài 。 dàn zhèng rú chén shì jiān cháo shuǐ ， biàn huàn wú duān ， yǒu qiáng yǒu ruò 。」
「据守丘仙之言，海对山的侵袭，自亘古之初就已经存在。但正如尘世间潮水，变幻无端，有强有弱。」
"Unscathed by a hundred trials, repelling all techniques, eternal life... The key is 'transcendence'—breaking free from the cosmic web."
「 zì tā shǒu qiū wàng hǎi yǐ lái ， qí shì suī bù duàn qǐ fú ， dàn zhěng tǐ shàng què shì chù zài guī mó de shàng zhǎng qī 。 shèn zhì …… hái yuǎn méi yǒu dá dào gū suàn zhōng de 【 jí diǎn 】。」
「自祂守丘望海以来，其势虽不断起伏，但整体上却是处在规模的上涨期。甚至……还远没有达到估算中的【极点】。」
At the same time, extracting traces left in the mountains and seas also severed ties with the world.
「 shǒu qiū xiān zài dì èr shí jì ， jiù fā xiàn le cǐ duān ní 。 hòu miàn zú zú yì bǎi jì de shí jiān ， yìn zhèng le cǐ guān diǎn 。」
「守丘仙在第二十纪，就发现了此端倪。后面足足一百纪的时间，印证了此观点。」
...
「 zǎo jiù xiàng shì rén fā chū jǐng gào ， zhǐ kě xī rén wēi yán qīng ？」
「早就向世人发出警告，只可惜人微言轻？」
With his solitary form, no longer bound by the dao's net...
「 zhè ……」
「这……」
Li Fan was filled with awe and longing.
lǐ bù rén wén zhī ， dùn shí dà gǎn bù jiě 。
李不仁闻之，顿时大感不解。
As the Guardian of the Mound's teachings came to an end, he realized that all of "The Writings of the Mound" had been inscribed.
bù guò hòu lái shǒu qiū xiān shèng dé de zì shù ， gěi chū le dá àn 。 yuán lái bǐ shí ， shǒu qiū xiān hái shì yī míng 「 xún cháng 」 zhēn xiān 。 jiù lián wú míng zhī jìng ， dōu shàng wèi zhèng dé 。 huà yǔ zì rán huì bèi hū shì 。
不过后来守丘仙盛德的自述，给出了答案。原来彼时，守丘仙还是一名「寻常」真仙。就连无名之境，都尚未证得。话语自然会被忽视。
The five ethereal shadows of the Guardian of the Mound bowed slightly towards Li Fan before dissipating, returning to their silent state.
dàn zài dì bā shí bā jì ， shǒu qiū xiān hòu jī bó fā ， zhōng rù wú míng zhī jìng 。
但在第八十八纪，守丘仙厚积薄发，终入无名之境。
Li Fan solemnly returned a bow. He knew this was the Guardian's hope for future sages who might also carry on this technique.
bù guò què bìng méi yǒu shēng zhāng ， zhǐ shì yī jiù mò mò shǒu qiū wàng hǎi 。
不过却并没有声张，只是依旧默默守丘望海。
"Perhaps there are other ethereal shadows of the Guardian beyond these walls."
ér bǐ shí qià hǎo xiān jiè sì hū zāo féng le yī cháng yì biàn ， xiān jiè zhū xiān dōu wú xiá gù jí tā zhè yáo yuǎn hǎi biān de shān qiū shǒu guān le 。
而彼时恰好仙界似乎遭逢了一场异变，仙界诸仙都无瑕顾及他这遥远海边的山丘守官了。
"Now that he has left behind these ethereal shadows, where is he? Has he already moved beyond current possibilities?"
zhěng gè xiān jiè ， dōu sì hū jiāng tā yí wàng 。
整个仙界，都似乎将他遗忘。
Thinking about the star sea below, which still harbored life despite the dao's erosion, Li Fan suddenly understood.
zhí zhì yī rì ， hǎi làng tāo tiān ， fān yuè shān qiū ér lái 。
直至一日，海浪滔天，翻越山丘而来。
And his faith in the Guardian of the Mound’s ability to transcend possibilities was unshaken.
……
……
"Regardless, leaving behind these ethereal shadows and a mysterious technique for salvation is enough. The Guardian has certainly fulfilled his duty."
cóng shǒu qiū xiān kàn shì píng dàn 、 shí zé bō lán zhuàng kuò de yī shēng zhōng tuō lí chū lái ， lǐ bù rén kāi shǐ zhuān zhù yú nà 【 xū yǐng chéng dào 】 zhī fǎ 。
从守丘仙看似平淡、实则波澜壮阔的一生中脱离出来，李不仁开始专注于那【虚影承道】之法。
"Worthy of the name 'Majestic Virtue.'"
「 àn zhào shǒu qiū xiān suǒ shuō ， tā zuò qiū wàng hǎi ， bō tāo qǐ fú 、 hǎo sì zhí miàn shì jiān wú shù dà dào 。」
「按照守丘仙所说，他坐丘望海，波涛起伏、好似直面世间无数大道。」
After much contemplation, Li Fan finally regained his composure and looked at the other Immortal Realm fragments.
「 làng huā duǒ duǒ ， gēn dà dào lǜ dòng ， shí zé yì tǐ liǎng miàn 。」
「浪花朵朵，跟大道律动，实则一体两面。」
These fragments, once just floating silently, now seemed more mundane, easily overlooked by others.
「 rén lì shān diān ， rú yī kuài jù shí 。 měi rì shòu dào hǎi làng pāi dǎ ， biàn huì yīn zhī mó sǔn 。 dàn què tóng shí ， zài shān yǔ hǎi zhī jiān ， liú xià dú shǔ yú zì shēn de hén jì 。」
「人立山巅，如一块巨石。每日受到海浪拍打，便会因之磨损。但却同时，在山与海之间，留下独属于自身的痕迹。」
"Perhaps it's more accurate to say they are gradually detaching from this world."
「……」
「……」
Li Fan felt a sudden sense of caution. He remembered how that nameless True Immortal leg bone had moved towards him during the True Virtue phase, seemingly sensing something.
shǒu qiū xiān de màn bǐ ， jí wéi huì sè nán dǒng 。 zòng shǐ lǐ fán lún huí bǎi shì ， jīng lì wú shù ， yī shí jiān yě nán yǐ lǐ jiě 。
守丘仙的漫笔，极为晦涩难懂。纵使李凡轮回百世，经历无数，一时间也难以理解。
"The nameless realm cannot be simply measured in life and death."
「 ruò fēi wǒ shēn fù hái zhēn ， qiě céng qīn rù wú xiàn zhī hǎi 。 kǒng pà zòng dé cǐ fǎ mén ， yě shì rú zhuì yún lǐ wù lǐ ， wán quán bù zhī qí suǒ yǐ rán 。 shèn zhì dōu yǒu kě néng ， jiāng qí dàng zuò xiào tán ！」
「若非我身负还真，且曾亲入无限之海。恐怕纵得此法门，也是如坠云里雾里，完全不知其所以然。甚至都有可能，将其当做笑谈！」
"Though it's just a leg bone, still fragmented, who knows what might happen after receiving 'The Writings of the Mound'?"
「 gài yīn cǐ fǎ ， gēn shì jiān xiū xíng tǐ xì ， dà bù xiāng tóng 。」 lǐ fán xīn zhōng míng wù 。
「盖因此法，跟世间修行体系，大不相同。」李凡心中明悟。
Li Fan tentatively summoned one white fragment.
dàn shǒu qiū xiān de màn bǐ ， shén qí jiù shén qí zài zhè lǐ 。 jí biàn bèi chuán shòu zhī rén ， wú fǎ zhī xiǎo qí ào miào 。 rán ér yīn wèi wǔ dào xū yǐng zhǔ dòng de kè yìn ， bèi chuán zhě què néng rú bì zhǐ shǐ bān ， jiāng zhè 【 xū yǐng chéng dào 】 miào shù ， gěi wú zhàng ài shī zhǎn qǐ lái 。
但守丘仙的漫笔，神奇就神奇在这里。即便被传授之人，无法知晓其奥妙。然而因为五道虚影主动的刻印，被传者却能如臂指使般，将这【虚影承道】妙术，给无障碍施展起来。
From the network of Daoist pieces, his true form materialized.
「 wán quán bù xū yào sǔn hào zì shēn 。 zhǐ shì jiāng wǎng xī liú zài lì shǐ 、 dà dào zhōng de hén jì gěi tí liàn chū lái ， huà zuò xū yǐng 。 yǐ chéng dào yān zhī zhòng ……」
「完全不需要损耗自身。只是将往昔留在历史、大道中的痕迹给提炼出来，化作虚影。以承道湮之重……」
A repulsive force pushed him down from the highest point of the circular hall, carrying the Medicine King's True Cauldron with him.
「 zhè zhǒng shén tōng ， dí què yǒu xiē chāo hū xiǎng xiàng ！」
「这种神通，的确有些超乎想象！」
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Accompanying the sudden appearance of these five ethereal shadows were calm, almost tranquil words.
It seemed not directed at Li Fan, but rather a pre-recorded message.
"Guardian of the Mound, with great virtue and respect, dares to pay homage to the wise."
"Having witnessed the nameless, we are meant to transcend. Yet, as the path is obscured, we cannot afford to neglect our duties."
"By chance, I discovered this technique, using shadows in place of my true form, to withstand countless trials."
"I share it with you..."
The five ethereal shadows spoke in unison.
What followed was not a normal voice but seemed to carve directly into Li Fan's body, surrounded by the shadows.
There was no pain or abnormality; it felt as if he was recalling memories that had been long buried. Not taught, but rather 'remembered.'
The entire process of comprehension, learning, and mastery was bypassed.
Knowing this technique meant mastering it at a grand level!
However, Li Fan found some disappointment in the fact that these five shadows only transmitted this technique because they represented all the pieces on the board, equivalent to an unnamed True Immortal. Thus, the Guardian of the Mound saw them as one entity, and their teachings were reserved for those who could truly understand.
"Of course, the ethereal shadows of the Guardian of the Mound would only appear in front of a nameless True Immortal; not out of stinginess but because they cannot be borne by lesser beings!"
Enveloped by the Guardian's thoughts, Li Fan felt as if he had returned to the infinite sea. Each droplet around him carried countless years.
"According to the Guardian, the invasion of the sea on the mountain has been ongoing since ancient times. Just like the tides in this world, they change unpredictably, with moments of strength and weakness."
"Since the Guardian began guarding the mound, observing the sea, its power has consistently risen, even surpassing expectations. It hasn't reached its peak yet."
"In the twentieth century, the Guardian first noticed these signs. Over a hundred centuries later, this view was confirmed."
"Did he issue warnings to no avail?"
Li Fan found himself deeply puzzled.
Later, the self-narration of the Guardian of the Mound provided answers. At that time, he was still an ordinary True Immortal and had not yet reached the nameless realm. His words were naturally dismissed.
But in the eighty-eighth century, the Guardian of the Mound accumulated strength before finally entering the nameless realm without making a fuss, continuing to guard the mound as usual.
At that time, it seemed the entire Immortal Realm was preoccupied with some anomaly, and no one paid attention to his mountain on the distant coast.
Until one day, the waves surged over the mountain.
...
Having distanced himself from the Guardian of the Mound's vast yet subtle life, Li Fan began focusing on the technique of "Ethereal Shadows Bearing Dao."
"According to the Guardian, sitting atop the mound and facing the sea, he faced countless cosmic laws in the form of wave after wave."
"The waves and the dao are two sides of the same coin."
"A person standing at the mountain's peak is like a giant stone. Each day, they are worn down by the waves, but also leave unique traces between the mountain and the sea."
...
The Guardian of the Mound's writings were incredibly obscure, even for Li Fan after countless lifetimes.
"Without the True Virtue, I might have been lost in this technique, unable to grasp its essence. It could easily be dismissed as a joke!"
"This technique is fundamentally different from the world's cultivation systems," Li Fan realized.
But what made the Guardian of the Mound's writings remarkable was that even if the recipient couldn't understand it, the five ethereal shadows actively inscribed the technique, allowing them to use it effortlessly.
"It doesn’t require any personal sacrifice. It merely extracts traces left in history and dao, manifesting as an ethereal shadow to bear the weight of the dao..."
"This power is truly beyond imagination!"
Moreover, Li Fan sensed that this "Ethereal Shadows Bearing Dao" had more than just resisting the dao's erosion.
"Unscathed by a hundred trials, repelling all techniques, eternal life... The key is 'transcendence'—breaking free from the cosmic web."
At the same time, extracting traces left in the mountains and seas also severed ties with the world.
...
With his solitary form, no longer bound by the dao's net...
Li Fan was filled with awe and longing.
As the Guardian of the Mound's teachings came to an end, he realized that all of "The Writings of the Mound" had been inscribed.
The five ethereal shadows of the Guardian of the Mound bowed slightly towards Li Fan before dissipating, returning to their silent state.
Li Fan solemnly returned a bow. He knew this was the Guardian's hope for future sages who might also carry on this technique.
"Perhaps there are other ethereal shadows of the Guardian beyond these walls."
"Now that he has left behind these ethereal shadows, where is he? Has he already moved beyond current possibilities?"
Thinking about the star sea below, which still harbored life despite the dao's erosion, Li Fan suddenly understood.
And his faith in the Guardian of the Mound’s ability to transcend possibilities was unshaken.
"Regardless, leaving behind these ethereal shadows and a mysterious technique for salvation is enough. The Guardian has certainly fulfilled his duty."
"Worthy of the name 'Majestic Virtue.'"
After much contemplation, Li Fan finally regained his composure and looked at the other Immortal Realm fragments.
These fragments, once just floating silently, now seemed more mundane, easily overlooked by others.
"Perhaps it's more accurate to say they are gradually detaching from this world."
Li Fan felt a sudden sense of caution. He remembered how that nameless True Immortal leg bone had moved towards him during the True Virtue phase, seemingly sensing something.
"The nameless realm cannot be simply measured in life and death."
"Though it's just a leg bone, still fragmented, who knows what might happen after receiving 'The Writings of the Mound'?"
Li Fan tentatively summoned one white fragment.
From the network of Daoist pieces, his true form materialized.
A repulsive force pushed him down from the highest point of the circular hall, carrying the Medicine King's True Cauldron with him.
(Read and bookmark for future reference!)