nǎ pà shì shí guāng cháng hé zhōng fēi jiàn qǐ de yī duǒ wēi bù zú dào de làng huā ， yě bǐ chén shì jiān suǒ wèi de tiān jié shā shāng lì yào dà 。
哪怕是时光长河中飞溅起的一朵微不足道的浪花，也比尘世间所谓的天劫杀伤力要大。
Even though he had just returned from a perilous journey, the fluctuations in the Time River were still quite severe. The changes caused by altering history had already begun to take effect, and the first backlash was about to be felt.
xuán huáng jiè yī jiù jìng qiāo qiāo yī piàn ， dàn zài lǐ fán de gǎn guān zhī zhōng ， zé shì wǎn ruò kōng jiān bèi wài lái jù lì qiáng xíng zhě zhòu yì bān 。 nà yī dào dào jiè xiàn fēn míng de fēn gē xiàn ， dōu hǎo sì fēng lì wú bǐ de lì rèn 。 qiē gē zhe lǐ fán de shēn qū 、 shén hún 。
玄黄界依旧静悄悄一片，但在李凡的感官之中，则是宛若空间被外来巨力强行褶皱一般。那一道道界限分明的分割线，都好似锋利无比的利刃。切割着李凡的身躯、神魂。
The Time River's waves surged violently, as if it wanted to wash away all the traces of his interference. But he was not afraid; he knew that this was a natural reaction after changing the course of history. He needed to find a way to stabilize himself in this time and space before taking any further actions.
jí biàn bú shì dì yī cì jiàn shí zhè yuán zì shí guāng cháng hé de fēng làng le ， lǐ fán yě yī jiù wēi wēi sè biàn 。
即便不是第一次见识这源自时光长河的风浪了，李凡也依旧微微色变。
After receiving the Tai Shang Dao Jing from Master Brother Bai Li, he quickly returned to his temporary residence within the Green Cloud Valley. The first thing he did was refine the golden bronze bell again. For him, the inherent flaws of the material were not a limitation; with the intricate array formations engraved on it, ordinary objects could rival divine artifacts.
wēi jī guān tóu ， lǐ fán dì yī shí jiān zuò chū le zuì zhèng què de xuǎn zé 。
危机关头，李凡第一时间做出了最正确的选择。
As he helped the golden bronze bell complete its transformation, he reflected on his somewhat reckless actions in the past.
lì yòng zì shēn gǎn wù zhēn jiǎ zhī biàn ， cháng shì mó nǐ 【 huàn yì zhēn 】 de bì yòu 。
利用自身感悟真假之变，尝试模拟【幻亦真】的庇佑。
"Now that I think about it, those who flow against the current to enter another time and space must be wary of becoming rootless trees or water without a source."
yě duō kuī le gāng gāng huī fù hé dào xiū wèi ， zhēn jiǎ zhī biàn de lǐng wù xiàng qián jìn le yī xiǎo bù 。 huàn yì zhēn de xiào lǜ yě suí zhī zēng jiā le shǎo xǔ 。
也多亏了刚刚恢复合道修为，真假之变的领悟向前进了一小步。幻亦真的效率也随之增加了少许。
"Of course, we can't change history. After all, the Time River is vast and endless, with countless possibilities existing within its depths."
rú tóng fēng yǔ zhī zhōng ， chuān shàng le jiàn suō yī 。 lǐ fán zuì qǐ mǎ néng gòu miǎn qiǎng xíng dòng 、 biàn bié fāng xiàng le 。
如同风雨之中，穿上了件蓑衣。李凡最起码能够勉强行动、辨别方向了。
"But at the same time, when making changes, one must have the ability to bear the backlash from the river's redirection."
shí guāng cháng hé zhōng dàng qǐ de lián yī jiǔ jiǔ bù xī ， sì hū yào děng dào lǐ fán yǐn qǐ de gǎi biàn fēng bō xiāo shī zhī hòu ， cái huì tíng xiē 。
时光长河中荡起的涟漪久久不息，似乎要等到李凡引起的改变风波消失之后，才会停歇。
"Beyond personal strength, the most crucial thing is a 'anchor point.' In simpler terms, it means establishing connections with other people, events, or objects in this time and space."
fēng bō xǐ lǐ xià de lǐ fán ， rú tóng kuáng fēng bào yǔ zhōng de hú dié ， suí shí dū huì yǒu bèi chè dǐ sī suì de fēng xiǎn 。
风波洗礼下的李凡，如同狂风暴雨中的蝴蝶，随时都会有被彻底撕碎的风险。
"The传承 given by Great Emperor Tai Tian only lacked this key element..."
diàn guāng huǒ shí jiān ， lǐ fán xiǎng dào le zì jiù zhī fǎ 。
电光火石间，李凡想到了自救之法。
After pondering for a long time, he ruled out the possibility that his opponent was intentionally trying to harm him.
tā huí xiǎng qǐ le zì jǐ zài shí guāng cháng hé zhōng nì liú ér shàng 、 xiǎn xiē mí shī ， zuì zhōng fā xiàn le dài biǎo zhe yào wáng dǐng de shú xī guāng diǎn ， zhè cái ān rán zhuó lù zhī shì 。
他回想起了自己在时光长河中逆流而上、险些迷失，最终发现了代表着药王鼎的熟悉光点，这才安然着陆之事。
"Great Emperor Tai Tian flowed against the current for at most tens of thousands of years. He once held the title of Celestial Emperor in the Divine Realm, where countless true immortals could serve as anchor points. There's no need to worry about the backlash from the river's redirection."
“ jiù suàn lái dào le zhè ge shí jiān diǎn ， wǒ yī jiù rú fēng zhōng fú píng ， méi yǒu gēn jī 。 xiǎng yào zài shí guāng lián yī zhōng cún xù ， jí xū zhǎo dào wǒ zài zhè ge shí dài de 【 máo diǎn 】， chè dǐ róng rù qí zhōng 。 jiù hǎo xiàng piāo liú zài tuān jí de cháng hé zhī zhōng ， zhuā zhù jiāo shí jiù mìng yì bān ……”
“就算来到了这个时间点，我依旧如风中浮萍，没有根基。想要在时光涟漪中存续，急需找到我在这个时代的【锚点】，彻底融入其中。就好像漂流在湍急的长河之中，抓住礁石救命一般……”
"The same logic applies to Great Heavenly King Xuan Tian. The myriad people under his rule and several suspected immortal reincarnations can also be considered anchor points."
kōng jiān zhōng zhě zhòu yuè lái yuè mì jí ， lǐ fán jī hū yǐ jīng dào le jǔ bù wéi jiān de dì bù 。
空间中褶皱越来越密集，李凡几乎已经到了举步维艰的地步。
"But I am always alone, whether a thousand years in the future or now..."
yǐ jīng méi yǒu tài duō kě làng fèi de shí jiān le ， jī hū shì shùn jiān ， lǐ fán jiù yǐ jīng zhǎo dào le zì jǐ zài cǐ shí jiān jié diǎn shàng kě lì yòng ， zuì jiān gù de nà ge máo diǎn 。
已经没有太多可浪费的时间了，几乎是瞬间，李凡就已经找到了自己在此时间节点上可利用，最坚固的那个锚点。
"Thus, the surging waves of the Time River are only natural."
“ běn lái ， ruò shì nà léi fán zi méi yǒu dòng shǒu de huà ， dà dào zōng cái shì zuì jiā de xuǎn zé 。 zhǐ kě xī wǒ suǒ bàn yǎn de nà ge shēn fèn ， yǐ jīng shì gè sǐ rén le 。” lǐ fán xīn zhōng yǒng qǐ yī zhèn míng wù 。
“本来，若是那雷樊子没有动手的话，大道宗才是最佳的选择。只可惜我所扮演的那个身份，已经是个死人了。”李凡心中涌起一阵明悟。
After sorting through these thoughts, he sighed deeply but did not fall into self-pity.
jiāng dùn fǎ fā huī dào jí zhì ， jí sù cháo zhe cháng qīng gǔ fǎn huí 。
将遁法发挥到极致，极速朝着长青谷返回。
Since there was no anchor point, he decided to create one.
hé dào sù dù ， shèng guò jīn dān shí bǎi bèi bù zhǐ 。 yí gè yuè lǚ tú ， shùn xī ér fǎn 。
合道速度，胜过金丹时百倍不止。一个月旅途，瞬息而返。
"Stabilize my existence in this time and space first. Then consider other matters." He made up his mind.
cháng qīng gǔ shàng fāng ， wēi wēi gǎn yìng le xià sōng zhǎng lǎo suǒ zài ， shōu liǎn qì xī 、 qiǎo rán jiàng xià 。
长青谷上方，微微感应了下松长老所在，收敛气息、悄然降下。
The next day:
“ sōng zhǎng lǎo ， shì wǒ ！”
“松长老，是我！”
"Master Brother's divine might!"
lán zài sōng zhǎng lǎo miàn qián ， lǐ fán gēn shí guāng lián yī zuò kàng zhēng de tóng shí ， jǐn liàng bǎo chí zhe píng jìng shuō dào 。
拦在松长老面前，李凡跟时光涟漪作抗争的同时，尽量保持着平静说道。
"The power of Master Brother is formidable; he must be close to entering the realm of Primordial Spirit! What a blessing for Green Cloud Valley!"
“ nǐ shì ……” sōng zhǎng lǎo mī qǐ yǎn jīng ， dǎ liàng lǐ fán yī fān hòu ， yǒu xiē mí huò 。
“你是……”松长老眯起眼睛，打量李凡一番后，有些迷惑。
"Hmph, perhaps the temple of Green Cloud Valley is too small to accommodate such a great deity."
yīn wèi cǐ qián huàn yì zhēn de zuò yòng ， tā bìng méi yǒu rèn chū lǐ fán 。
因为此前幻亦真的作用，他并没有认出李凡。
"What nonsense are you saying? Bai Li Shan isn't that kind of ungrateful person!"
máo diǎn bù chéng ， shí guāng lián yī yīn cǐ sī háo méi yǒu jiǎn ruò de shì tou 。 yù fā mì jí de zhé xiàn ， jī hū bù mǎn zhěng gè shì jiè 。 lǐ fán gǎn dào ， jī hū xià yī miǎo ， zì jǐ jiù jiāng chè dǐ bèi zhǎng guāng cháng hé suǒ yān mò 。
锚点不成，时光涟漪因此丝毫没有减弱的势头。愈发密集的折线，几乎布满整个世界。李凡感到，几乎下一秒，自己就将彻底被长光长河所淹没。
...
zhè wēi jí guān tóu ， lǐ fán fú lín xīn zhì ， jiāng cǐ qián sōng zhǎng lǎo cì yǔ de nà jiàn fǎ qì gěi qǔ le chū lái 。 yě kuī de tā xiàng lái qín jiǎn de hǎo xí guàn ， bìng méi yǒu yīn wèi fǎ qì méi yǒu yòng jiù jiāng qí zhí jiē diū qì ， ér shì yì zhí suí shǒu shōu zài shēn biān 。
这危急关头，李凡福临心至，将此前松长老赐予的那件法器给取了出来。也亏得他向来勤俭的好习惯，并没有因为法器没有用就将其直接丢弃，而是一直随手收在身边。
In the sky, Bai Li Shan displayed his divine might, repelling a group of rogue cultivators who coveted the Medicine King Sect. Below, the cultivators of Green Cloud Valley whispered among themselves.
cǐ kè qǔ chū ， què chéng le shí fēn guān jiàn de jiù mìng dào cǎo 。
此刻取出，却成了十分关键的救命稻草。
Bai Li Shan seemed completely indifferent to others' opinions as he led his fellow disciples back and reported to the sect's leader, Zou Yunhao.
sōng zhǎng lǎo suī rèn bù dé lǐ fán ， què rèn shí zì jǐ suǒ liàn zhì de fǎ qì 。 yīn ér xiǎng qǐ le lǐ fán de shēn fèn 。
松长老虽认不得李凡，却认识自己所炼制的法器。因而想起了李凡的身份。
"Master, rest assured. As a disciple, I will always be your son. Green Cloud Valley is my eternal home. Even if Bai Li ascends to the realm of Primordial Spirit or even merges with the Dao, I won't leave Green Cloud Valley for half a step," Bai Li Shan said resolutely.
“ ó ， shì nǐ 。”
“哦，是你。”
Zou Yunhao stroked his beard and nodded in satisfaction.
suí zhe tā zhè jù huà ， lǐ fán yě zhōng yú shì bèi luò shí le shēn fèn 。
随着他这句话，李凡也终于是被落实了身份。
Then he sighed sadly: "Actually, given your talent, if you were to enter one of the Ten Great Sects of Immortal Dao, you would surely have a better future. You might even get a chance to compete with the best in the world. Staying here..."
shà shí jiān yòu cóng shí guāng cháng hé ， diē luò dào xiàn shí shí kōng zhī zhōng 。 shí guāng cháng hé ， lián yī jiàn xiāo 。
霎时间又从时光长河，跌落到现实时空之中。时光长河，涟漪渐消。
Bai Li Shan said proudly: "Master, rest assured. Even if I spend my whole life at Green Cloud Valley, I won't be weaker than those so-called prodigies of the Ten Great Sects!"
zòng shǐ hái yǒu xiē yú bō ， lǐ fán zì jǐ yě néng miǎn qiǎng yìng duì le 。
纵使还有些余波，李凡自己也能勉强应对了。
Zou Yunhao sighed and didn't say anything more.
cóng guǐ mén guān liū le yī quān de lǐ fán ， qīng ké le yī shēng ， lián máng còu shàng qián qù ：“ zuó rì zài yǔ rén zhēng dòu zhōng ， zhè fǎ qì zài guān jiàn shí hòu ， jiù le wǒ yī mìng 。 gù ér jīn rì tè lái gǎn xiè sōng zhǎng lǎo nín ……”
从鬼门关溜了一圈的李凡，轻咳了一声，连忙凑上前去：“昨日在与人争斗中，这法器在关键时候，救了我一命。故而今日特来感谢松长老您……”
He thought it was just Bai Li Shan's youthful arrogance, not having seen the true strength of the Ten Great Sects. Recalling how nervous and eager he looked when he first came to Green Cloud Valley, Zou Yunhao said inwardly: "We are lucky to have such a young dragon in our valley. We can't let him be wasted. Perhaps this trip to Tai Shang Sect will help find a better path for him."
lǐ fán yī biān shuō zhe ， yī biān qiǎo rán zài fǎ qì shàng zhì zào le yī dào liè hén 。 tóng shí xùn sù jiāng zhōu zāo líng lì yā suō níng jù chéng yī kuài jí pǐn líng shí ， dì le shàng qù 。
李凡一边说着，一边悄然在法器上制造了一道裂痕。同时迅速将周遭灵力压缩凝聚成一块极品灵石，递了上去。
"True immortals' divine techniques lie in the Ten Great Sects. Everything else is just minor paths..." Zou Yunhao sighed inwardly.
céng jīng shì zhēn xiān de hé dào zhī diān chū shǒu ， zì rán bú shì zhè cháng shēng gǔ de sōng zhǎng lǎo néng gòu chá jué de 。
曾经是真仙的合道之巅出手，自然不是这长生谷的松长老能够察觉的。
Bai Li Shan was unaware of his master's thoughts.
tā kàn zhuó yǎn qián bèi dì shàng lái de liàng jīng jīng 、 yī kàn jiù bù shì fán pǐn de líng shí ， wēi wēi yī xiào ：“ nǐ dǎo shì yǒu xīn le 。”
他看着眼前被递上来的亮晶晶、一看就不似凡品的灵石，微微一笑：“你倒是有心了。”
The reason he had such absolute confidence and refused to go to the Ten Great Sects was because he unexpectedly obtained the Tai Shang Dao Jing. After studying this treasure for some time, Bai Li Shan was convinced that its name "Tai Shang" was indeed fitting. Just by glimpsing a tiny fraction of its light, his cultivation soared.
shùn shǒu jiāng líng shí shōu xià 。
顺手将灵石收下。
"If I can thoroughly understand this scripture, true immortals might be within reach!"
liǎng rén zhī jiān de guān xì yù fā mì qiè ， lǐ fán yě chá jué dào ， xiàn shí zhī wài de shí guāng lián yī ， yòu xiǎo le xiē 。
两人之间的关系愈发密切，李凡也察觉到，现实之外的时光涟漪，又小了些。
"What nonsense are the Ten Great Sects! They're not worth mentioning!"
wēi jī zàn shí jiě chú ， lǐ fán bù yóu sōng le kǒu qì 。
危机暂时解除，李凡不由松了口气。
Going to the Ten Great Sects would risk revealing his possession of such a treasure, but staying here at Green Cloud Valley meant he was trusted. The choice was clear.
“ bù yòng zhè bān jǐn zhāng 。 wǒ men cháng qīng gǔ xiàng nǐ zhè yàng xiào shùn 、 dǒng shì de dì zǐ ， què shì bù duō le 。” sōng zhǎng lǎo yǎn jiè dǎo shì bù cuò ， kàn chū le lǐ fán shēn shàng qíng xù de jù dà biàn huà ， bù yóu chū shēng ān wèi dào 。 tóng shí yě shì fā zì nèi xīn de gǎn kǎi 。
“不用这般紧张。我们长青谷像你这样孝顺、懂事的弟子，却是不多了。”松长老眼界倒是不错，看出了李凡身上情绪的巨大变化，不由出声安慰道。同时也是发自内心的感慨。
Bai Li Shan returned to his small courtyard and was about to retreat into seclusion to further study the Tai Shang Dao Jing when he noticed someone in his room.
“ nà jiàn fǎ qì jì rán pò sǔn le ， wǒ jiù zài cì nǐ yī jiàn 。 bù guò nǐ bù dé zhàng zhe qì lì ， jiù qù yǔ rén zhēng dòu 。 rú jīn duō shì zhī qiū ， ān wěn xiū xíng cái shì zhèng dào 。” sōng zhǎng lǎo zhèng sè dào 。
“那件法器既然破损了，我就再赐你一件。不过你不得仗着器利，就去与人争斗。如今多事之秋，安稳修行才是正道。”松长老正色道。
"Who are you?" Thinking that his secret had been exposed, Bai Li Shan immediately transformed his green cloud energy into a medical knife and thrust it out.
yòu cóng zì jǐ chǔ wù jiè zhōng ， ná chū yī jiàn fǎ qì 。
又从自己储物戒中，拿出一件法器。
"S Brother, you really forget things. You don't remember me, but can you not remember the Tai Shang Dao Jing I gave to you?" Li Fan smiled as he effortlessly deflected Bai Li Shan's attack.
yì huò zhě shuō ， fǎ bǎo 。
亦或者说，法宝。
The four characters "Tai Shang Dao Jing" triggered Bai Li Shan's long-lost memories.
chéng sè bǐ qǐ shǎng cì gěi lǐ fán de míng xiǎn yào gāo shàng yí gè dàng cì ， nǎi shì yī méi gǔ piáo de àn jīn sè tóng zhōng 。
成色比起赏赐给李凡的明显要高上一个档次，乃是一枚古朴的暗金色铜钟。
"You!?"
sōng zhǎng lǎo kàn zhe zhè méi tóng zhōng ， yǎn zhōng shǎn guò yī sī miǎn huái 。
松长老看着这枚铜钟，眼中闪过一丝缅怀。
In an instant, countless thoughts raced through Bai Li Shan's mind—anger, fear, and doubt.
“ zhè zhōng ， dāng chū yě céng gēn suí zài wǒ shēn biān xǔ jiǔ 。 zhǐ bù guò shòu zhì yú liàn zhì cái liào ， rú jīn duì wǒ yǐ jīng méi shén me bāng zhù le 。 jīn rì jiù sòng gěi nǐ ba 。”
“这钟，当初也曾跟随在我身边许久。只不过受制于炼制材料，如今对我已经没什么帮助了。今日就送给你吧。”
Bai Li Shan was young, so his thoughts were clearly visible on his face.
“ dǐ dǎng yuán yīng zhī xià de gōng jī ， shì méi yǒu shén me wèn tí de 。”
“抵挡元婴之下的攻击，是没有什么问题的。”
"Don't overthink it. Look at this," Li Fan said with a smile as he extended his palm.
lǐ fán wén yán dà xǐ ， lián máng jiāng tóng zhōng shōu xià 。
李凡闻言大喜，连忙将铜钟收下。
Bai Li Shan focused and saw a thin, extremely strange piece of paper lying there—the familiar Tai Shang Dao Jing!
bài xiè sōng zhǎng lǎo de tóng shí ， yǐ jīng zhuǎn shùn jiān jiāng tóng zhōng liàn zhì 。
拜谢松长老的同时，已经转瞬间将铜钟炼制。
He was startled and instinctively checked his body to ensure nothing had been lost. He then sighed in relief.
lǐ fán kàn shàng de ， zì rán bú shì zhè jiàn tóng zhōng ， zuò wéi fǎ bǎo de xiào yòng 。 ér shì tā běn shēn níng jù de shí guāng 。
李凡看上的，自然不是这件铜钟，作为法宝的效用。而是它本身凝聚的时光。
He wasn't stupid; after some thought, he realized:
gēn sōng zhǎng lǎo dà bàn shēng xiāng guān lián ， cǐ kè yòu jīng yóu liàn zhì ， jiāng zhè fèn jī bàn qiān lián dào le lǐ fán shēn shàng 。
跟松长老大半生相关联，此刻又经由炼制，将这份羁绊牵连到了李凡身上。
"You... found two pieces?" Bai Li Shan suddenly understood.
shí guāng cháng hé de fēng bō ， chè dǐ dàn qù 。
时光长河的风波，彻底淡去。
"Exactly! S Brother, you are indeed wise," Li Fan praised him.
gǎi xiě lì shǐ suǒ dài lái de dì yī cì fǎn shì ， bèi lǐ fán ān rán huà jiě 。
改写历史所带来的第一次反噬，被李凡安然化解。
"But I vaguely knew that this treasure was extraordinary but couldn't find the right way to use it. That's why I decided to give one of them to you."
“ sōng zhǎng lǎo jīn rì zhī cì ， wǒ rì hòu bì yǒu hòu bào ！” lǐ fán zhèng zhòng de shuō dào 。
“松长老今日之赐，我日后必有厚报！”李凡郑重的说道。
"And your performance over these past months has confirmed my suspicions," Li Fan said with a smile.
sōng zhǎng lǎo bǎi le bǎi shǒu ：“ yǒu zhè kē xīn biàn hǎo 。”
松长老摆了摆手：“有这颗心便好。”
"Are these two pieces identical?" Bai Li Shan scrutinized Li Fan, asking first.
shuō wán ， biàn màn yōu yōu lí qù 。
说完，便慢悠悠离去。
"I don't know about that. But I suspect there's no difference between them. S Brother, please check it out?" Li Fan handed the piece of paper he held to Bai Li Shan.
lǐ fán mù sòng qí lí kāi hòu ， zài cháng qīng gǔ zhōng zhǎo le chù yuàn luò ， zàn qiě ān dùn xià lái 。
李凡目送其离开后，在长青谷中找了处院落，暂且安顿下来。
Bai Li Shan hesitated but took it and examined it carefully.
shǒu xiān jiāng nà àn jīn sè tóng zhōng ， zài dù chóng xīn liàn zhì le yī fān 。
首先将那暗金色铜钟，再度重新炼制了一番。
After a moment, he exhaled and returned the so-called "Tai Shang Dao Jing."
duì yú lǐ fán lái shuō ， tiān shēng cái zhì dì quē xiàn gēn běn bú shì xiàn zhì 。 dào dào fán fù zhèn fǎ kè yìn zhī xià ， fán wù yě néng pì měi xiān qì 。
对于李凡来说，天生材质的缺陷根本不是限制。道道繁复阵法刻印之下，凡物也能媲美仙器。
"You were right; your piece is exactly the same as mine," Bai Li Shan said solemnly.
yī biān bāng zhù zhè tóng zhōng wán chéng tuì biàn ， lǐ fán yī biān fǎn sī zì jǐ zhī qián yǒu xiē mào shī de xíng wéi 。
一边帮助这铜钟完成蜕变，李凡一边反思自己之前有些冒失的行为。
"Please teach me how to use this Tai Shang Dao Jing."
“ xiàn zài kàn lái ， nì liú ér shàng lái dào lìng wài de shí kōng zhě ， zuì jì huì zuò nà wú gēn zhī mù 、 wú yuán zhī shuǐ 。”
“现在看来，逆流而上来到另外的时空者，最忌讳做那无根之木、无源之水。”
Bai Li Shan shared his insights slowly after some thought. Li Fan tightly gripped the thin paper, closed his eyes in deep contemplation, and then opened them with a look of madness.
“ bú shì shuō bù néng gǎi biàn lì shǐ 。 bì jìng shí guāng cháng hé tāo tāo ， wú biān wú yín 。 qí zhōng běn jiù yǒu wú qióng wú jìn de kě néng xìng cún zài 。”
“不是说不能改变历史。毕竟时光长河滔滔，无边无垠。其中本就有无穷无尽的可能性存在。”
"Originally, it's so simple. What I sought for so long is not necessary; just follow the path of the Dao!"
“ ér shì shuō ， zài gǎi biàn de tóng shí ， yào yǒu chéng dān shí guāng cháng hé gǎi dào fǎn shì de néng lì 。”
“而是说，在改变的同时，要有承担时光长河改道反噬的能力。”
Bai Li Shan snorted disdainfully.
“ chú le zì shēn de qiáng dà zhī wài ， zuì guān jiàn de ， biàn shì máo diǎn 。 jiǎn ér yán zhī ， jiù shì gēn shí kōng zhōng qí tā rén 、 shì 、 wù de lián xì 。”
“除了自身的强大之外，最关键的，便是锚点。简而言之，就是跟时空中其他人、事、物的联系。”
Li Fan smiled and asked: "What are your plans for the future? With such a precious treasure by your side, can you go anywhere in the world?"
“ tài tiān dì zhī qián gěi wǒ de chuán chéng zhōng ， què wéi dú shǎo le zhè me guān jiàn de dì fāng ……”
“泰天帝之前给我的传承中，却唯独少了这么关键的地方……”
With both holding the Tai Shang Dao Jing, they now shared a secret. Although Bai Li Shan looked down on Li Fan, to prevent him from exposing it and牵连 himself, he warned solemnly: "For us, as long as we have the Tai Shang Dao Jing, there's no difference in where we practice. Our strength is still too weak; once exposed, we won't be able to protect ourselves..."
lǐ fán sī cǔn bàn tiān ， pái chú le duì fāng shì gù yì yào jiā hài zì jǐ de kě néng 。
李凡思忖半天，排除了对方是故意要加害自己的可能。
Bai Li Shan continued to advise.
“ tài tiān dì nì liú ér shàng zuì duō jǐ wàn nián ， ér tā céng wèi xiān jiè xiān dì 。 xiān jiè wú shù zhēn xiān ， dōu kě yǐ kàn zuò tā de máo diǎn 。 zì rán bù yòng dān xīn shí guāng cháng hé gǎi dào de fēng bō 。”
“泰天帝逆流而上最多几万年，而他曾为仙界仙帝。仙界无数真仙，都可以看做他的锚点。自然不用担心时光长河改道的风波。”
Li Fan felt that Bai Li Shan now considered him an "insider."
“ ér xuán tiān wáng ， yě shì tóng yàng de dào lǐ 。 xuán tiān jiào tǒng zhì xià de yún yún zhòng shēng ， yǐ jí yí sì shì wú míng zhēn xiān zhuǎn shì de ruò gān fǎ wáng 。”
“而玄天王，也是同样的道理。玄天教统治下的芸芸众生，以及疑似是无名真仙转世的若干法王。”
Another anchor point was left behind in this time and space.
“ ér wǒ ， wú lùn shì zài wàn nián zhī hòu ， hái shì xiàn zài 。 dōu shǐ zhōng gū líng líng yī rén ……”
“而我，无论是在万年之后，还是现在。都始终孤零零一人……”
(End of Chapter)
Even though he had just returned from a perilous journey, the fluctuations in the Time River were still quite severe. The changes caused by altering history had already begun to take effect, and the first backlash was about to be felt.
The Time River's waves surged violently, as if it wanted to wash away all the traces of his interference. But he was not afraid; he knew that this was a natural reaction after changing the course of history. He needed to find a way to stabilize himself in this time and space before taking any further actions.
After receiving the Tai Shang Dao Jing from Master Brother Bai Li, he quickly returned to his temporary residence within the Green Cloud Valley. The first thing he did was refine the golden bronze bell again. For him, the inherent flaws of the material were not a limitation; with the intricate array formations engraved on it, ordinary objects could rival divine artifacts.
As he helped the golden bronze bell complete its transformation, he reflected on his somewhat reckless actions in the past.
"Now that I think about it, those who flow against the current to enter another time and space must be wary of becoming rootless trees or water without a source."
"Of course, we can't change history. After all, the Time River is vast and endless, with countless possibilities existing within its depths."
"But at the same time, when making changes, one must have the ability to bear the backlash from the river's redirection."
"Beyond personal strength, the most crucial thing is a 'anchor point.' In simpler terms, it means establishing connections with other people, events, or objects in this time and space."
"The传承 given by Great Emperor Tai Tian only lacked this key element..."
After pondering for a long time, he ruled out the possibility that his opponent was intentionally trying to harm him.
"Great Emperor Tai Tian flowed against the current for at most tens of thousands of years. He once held the title of Celestial Emperor in the Divine Realm, where countless true immortals could serve as anchor points. There's no need to worry about the backlash from the river's redirection."
"The same logic applies to Great Heavenly King Xuan Tian. The myriad people under his rule and several suspected immortal reincarnations can also be considered anchor points."
"But I am always alone, whether a thousand years in the future or now..."
"Thus, the surging waves of the Time River are only natural."
After sorting through these thoughts, he sighed deeply but did not fall into self-pity.
Since there was no anchor point, he decided to create one.
"Stabilize my existence in this time and space first. Then consider other matters." He made up his mind.
The next day:
"Master Brother's divine might!"
"The power of Master Brother is formidable; he must be close to entering the realm of Primordial Spirit! What a blessing for Green Cloud Valley!"
"Hmph, perhaps the temple of Green Cloud Valley is too small to accommodate such a great deity."
"What nonsense are you saying? Bai Li Shan isn't that kind of ungrateful person!"
...
In the sky, Bai Li Shan displayed his divine might, repelling a group of rogue cultivators who coveted the Medicine King Sect. Below, the cultivators of Green Cloud Valley whispered among themselves.
Bai Li Shan seemed completely indifferent to others' opinions as he led his fellow disciples back and reported to the sect's leader, Zou Yunhao.
"Master, rest assured. As a disciple, I will always be your son. Green Cloud Valley is my eternal home. Even if Bai Li ascends to the realm of Primordial Spirit or even merges with the Dao, I won't leave Green Cloud Valley for half a step," Bai Li Shan said resolutely.
Zou Yunhao stroked his beard and nodded in satisfaction.
Then he sighed sadly: "Actually, given your talent, if you were to enter one of the Ten Great Sects of Immortal Dao, you would surely have a better future. You might even get a chance to compete with the best in the world. Staying here..."
Bai Li Shan said proudly: "Master, rest assured. Even if I spend my whole life at Green Cloud Valley, I won't be weaker than those so-called prodigies of the Ten Great Sects!"
Zou Yunhao sighed and didn't say anything more.
He thought it was just Bai Li Shan's youthful arrogance, not having seen the true strength of the Ten Great Sects. Recalling how nervous and eager he looked when he first came to Green Cloud Valley, Zou Yunhao said inwardly: "We are lucky to have such a young dragon in our valley. We can't let him be wasted. Perhaps this trip to Tai Shang Sect will help find a better path for him."
"True immortals' divine techniques lie in the Ten Great Sects. Everything else is just minor paths..." Zou Yunhao sighed inwardly.
Bai Li Shan was unaware of his master's thoughts.
The reason he had such absolute confidence and refused to go to the Ten Great Sects was because he unexpectedly obtained the Tai Shang Dao Jing. After studying this treasure for some time, Bai Li Shan was convinced that its name "Tai Shang" was indeed fitting. Just by glimpsing a tiny fraction of its light, his cultivation soared.
"If I can thoroughly understand this scripture, true immortals might be within reach!"
"What nonsense are the Ten Great Sects! They're not worth mentioning!"
Going to the Ten Great Sects would risk revealing his possession of such a treasure, but staying here at Green Cloud Valley meant he was trusted. The choice was clear.
Bai Li Shan returned to his small courtyard and was about to retreat into seclusion to further study the Tai Shang Dao Jing when he noticed someone in his room.
"Who are you?" Thinking that his secret had been exposed, Bai Li Shan immediately transformed his green cloud energy into a medical knife and thrust it out.
"S Brother, you really forget things. You don't remember me, but can you not remember the Tai Shang Dao Jing I gave to you?" Li Fan smiled as he effortlessly deflected Bai Li Shan's attack.
The four characters "Tai Shang Dao Jing" triggered Bai Li Shan's long-lost memories.
"You!?"
In an instant, countless thoughts raced through Bai Li Shan's mind—anger, fear, and doubt.
Bai Li Shan was young, so his thoughts were clearly visible on his face.
"Don't overthink it. Look at this," Li Fan said with a smile as he extended his palm.
Bai Li Shan focused and saw a thin, extremely strange piece of paper lying there—the familiar Tai Shang Dao Jing!
He was startled and instinctively checked his body to ensure nothing had been lost. He then sighed in relief.
He wasn't stupid; after some thought, he realized:
"You... found two pieces?" Bai Li Shan suddenly understood.
"Exactly! S Brother, you are indeed wise," Li Fan praised him.
"But I vaguely knew that this treasure was extraordinary but couldn't find the right way to use it. That's why I decided to give one of them to you."
"And your performance over these past months has confirmed my suspicions," Li Fan said with a smile.
"Are these two pieces identical?" Bai Li Shan scrutinized Li Fan, asking first.
"I don't know about that. But I suspect there's no difference between them. S Brother, please check it out?" Li Fan handed the piece of paper he held to Bai Li Shan.
Bai Li Shan hesitated but took it and examined it carefully.
After a moment, he exhaled and returned the so-called "Tai Shang Dao Jing."
"You were right; your piece is exactly the same as mine," Bai Li Shan said solemnly.
"Please teach me how to use this Tai Shang Dao Jing."
Bai Li Shan shared his insights slowly after some thought. Li Fan tightly gripped the thin paper, closed his eyes in deep contemplation, and then opened them with a look of madness.
"Originally, it's so simple. What I sought for so long is not necessary; just follow the path of the Dao!"
Bai Li Shan snorted disdainfully.
Li Fan smiled and asked: "What are your plans for the future? With such a precious treasure by your side, can you go anywhere in the world?"
With both holding the Tai Shang Dao Jing, they now shared a secret. Although Bai Li Shan looked down on Li Fan, to prevent him from exposing it and牵连 himself, he warned solemnly: "For us, as long as we have the Tai Shang Dao Jing, there's no difference in where we practice. Our strength is still too weak; once exposed, we won't be able to protect ourselves..."
Bai Li Shan continued to advise.
Li Fan felt that Bai Li Shan now considered him an "insider."
Another anchor point was left behind in this time and space.
(End of Chapter)