lǐ fán yù jué fěi yí suǒ sī 。
李凡愈觉匪夷所思。
Li Fan found the situation increasingly inexplicable.
bì jìng 【 mò shā 】 shì bèi xiān jiè nà qún rén jì yǐ hòu wàng ， yòng lái duì kàng shān hǎi xiāng róng dà jié de “ dá àn ”。 zì cóng jī yuán qiǎo hé zhī xià ， lǐ fán fù xiàn chū mò shā xiān pò de lì liàng hòu ， qí yě jī hū yì zhí bǎi shì bǎi líng 、 gōng wú bù kè 。
毕竟【墨杀】是被仙界那群人寄以厚望，用来对抗山海相融大劫的“答案”。自从机缘巧合之下，李凡复现出墨杀仙魄的力量后，其也几乎一直百试百灵、攻无不克。
After all, [Mo Shi] had been seen as a solution by those in the Immortal Realm to counter the Great Fusion of Mountains and Seas. Since Li Fan rediscovered Mo Shi's immortal essence through sheer luck, it had almost always proven effective against everything he encountered.
rán ér xiàn zài ， zhè jù cáng nì zài shāng xiān zhōu zhōng de hái gǔ ， jìng rán néng wú shì mò shā de qīn xí ！
然而现在，这具藏匿在商仙舟中的骸骨，竟然能无视墨杀的侵袭！
However, now this skeleton hidden within the Merchant Immortal Vessel was defying Mo Shi’s attacks!
rú guǒ shuō zài jiāng chí zhōng 、 jiāng mò shā dǐ yù ， lǐ fán hái néng miǎn qiǎng jiē shòu 。 dàn xiàn zài zhè zhǒng jú miàn ， jī hū shì yī biān dǎo de kè zhì 。 què ràng lǐ fán zěn me yě xiǎng bù tōng le 。
如果说在僵持中、将墨杀抵御，李凡还能勉强接受。但现在这种局面，几乎是一边倒的克制。却让李凡怎么也想不通了。
If Li Fan could hold off Mo Shi in a stalemate, he could accept that. But the current situation seemed one-sided and overwhelming, leaving him utterly perplexed.
“ yào me cǐ dào ， bù zài chén shì zhī nèi 、 líng jià yú shān hǎi zhī shàng 。”
“要么此道，不在尘世之内、凌驾于山海之上。”
"Either this path exists beyond the mortal world, above the mountains and seas."
“ yào me ……”
“要么……”
"Or..."
mò shā yīn yún yǒng dòng ， rú tóng fèn nù de liè quǎn ， shì yào jiāng xiān hái tūn shì 。 rán ér mò shā de jǔ dòng ， zhù dìng zhǐ shì tú láo de 。
墨杀阴云涌动，如同愤怒的猎犬，誓要将仙骸吞噬。然而墨杀的举动，注定只是徒劳的。
Mo Shi's dark clouds surged like an angry hound, vowing to consume the immortal corpse. However, Mo Shi’s actions were destined to be futile.
bèi yīn yún yān mò ， xiāo shī 。 bù jiǔ hòu yòu qiǎo rán fù xiàn 。
被阴云淹没，消失。不久后又悄然复现。
The dark clouds enveloped it, then vanished only to reappear shortly after.
rú cǐ chóng fù lún huí 。
如此重复轮回。
This cycle repeated itself.
lǐ fán jiāng xīn zhōng de yí lǜ zàn qiě yā xià ， nài zhe xìng zi jì xù guān chá 。
李凡将心中的疑虑暂且压下，耐着性子继续观察。
Li Fan temporarily set aside his doubts and continued observing patiently.
zhè jù hái gǔ shàng yùn hán dào zé ， wèi gé suī gāo 。 rán ér jué bù kě néng líng jià yú shān hǎi 。
这具骸骨上蕴含道则，位格虽高。然而绝不可能凌驾于山海。
Though this skeleton contained a profound Dao principle, its status was too high to transcend the mountains and seas.
lún huí xiū xíng zhì jīn ， zhè diǎn yǎn lì lǐ fán què xìn zì jǐ hái shì jù bèi de 。
轮回修行至今，这点眼力李凡确信自己还是具备的。
After so much practice in the Realm of Immortal Desolation, Li Fan was certain he could recognize such a feat.
nà me jiū jìng shì wèi shén me ， shǐ qí néng gòu miǎn shòu mò shā qīn shí ？
那么究竟是为什么，使其能够免受墨杀侵蚀？
So, what allowed it to resist Mo Shi's corruption?
jiāng chǎng zhōng lún huí huà miàn yí mù mù kàn zài yǎn dǐ ， lǐ fán chén jìn qí zhōng ， bù zhī guò qù duō jiǔ 。 hū de xīn zhōng yī dòng 。
将场中轮回画面一幕幕看在眼底，李凡沉浸其中，不知过去多久。忽的心中一动。
Watching the cycle of reincarnation unfold before his eyes, Li Fan immersed himself in the scene. Suddenly, an idea struck him.
tā dīng zhuó yǎn qián fān téng de mò hǎi ， ruò yǒu suǒ sī dào ：“ mò shā bù néng tūn shì de ， chú le chāo chū zì shēn néng lì fàn wéi yǐ wài zhī wù ……”
他盯着眼前翻腾的墨海，若有所思道：“墨杀不能吞噬的，除了超出自身能力范围以外之物……”
He stared at the surging black sea and pondered aloud: "Mo Shi cannot devour anything beyond its own capabilities..."
“ shèng xià de ， jiù shì tā zì shēn le 。”
“剩下的，就是祂自身了。”
"Which leaves only... itself."
“ nán bù chéng ……”
“难不成……”
"Could it be..."
lǐ fán de sī xù ， huí dào le dāng chū dì yī cì jiàn dào tiān dōu dà fǎ shī zhī shí 。
李凡的思绪，回到了当初第一次见到天都大法师之时。
Li Fan's thoughts returned to when he first met Great Sage Dafa.
jiè zhù dà fǎ shī tǐ nèi de wú shù xū yǐng ， lǐ fán míng wù le mò shā de liǎng dà jī shí ： tài yì 、 yǒng héng 。
借助大法师体内的无数虚影，李凡明悟了墨杀的两大基石：太易、永恒。
Through countless virtual images within the Great Sage, Li Fan understood Mo Shi’s two foundational principles: Taiyi and Eternity.
zhèng shì zhè biàn yǔ bù biàn de liǎng dà shén shèng lì liàng jiāo zhī ， cái zào jiù le néng yǔ shān hǎi xiāng róng xiāng kàng héng de lì liàng 。
正是这变与不变的两大神圣力量交织，才造就了能与山海相融相抗衡的力量。
It was these forces of change and constancy that created a power capable of fusing with and resisting the mountains and seas.
“ bǐ shí ， wǒ shì tú yòng mò shā zhèn shā dà fǎ shī 。 rán ér què bèi tā jiǎn jiǎn dān dān liǎng jù huà gěi huà jiě 。”
“彼时，我试图用墨杀镇杀大法师。然而却被他简简单单两句话给化解。”
"At that time, I tried to suppress the Great Sage using Mo Shi. But he defused it with just two simple words."
“ qǐng shī zūn sàn 、 qǐng shī bó sàn 。”
“请师尊散、请师伯散。”
"Please, Master, disperse; please, Senior, disperse."
“ tài yì ， nǎi shì wú jí zhī shī ； ér yǒng héng ， zé shì wú jí shī bó 。”
“太易，乃是无极之师；而永恒，则是无极师伯。”
Taiyi was the master of the boundless; Eternity, his senior uncle.
“ bó zhě ， zhǎng yě 。 yǒng héng suī rán bìng bú shì sān shèng zhī yī ， rán ér dé bèi wú jí chēng yī shēng shī bó ， qí shí lì 、 dì wèi ， yě dī bú dào nǎ qù 。”
“伯者，长也。永恒虽然并不是三圣之一，然而得被无极称一声师伯，其实力、地位，也低不到哪去。”
"A senior is long-lived. Although not one of the Three Sages, being called Uncle by the Boundless Master means he has significant power and status."
“ yǎn qián zhè jù hái gǔ zhōng yùn hán dà dào ， bìng fēi 【 tài yì 】。”
“眼前这具骸骨中蕴含大道，并非【太易】。”
"The immortal in this skeleton contains a Dao principle, but it's not Taiyi."
yī shùn qiān niàn ， lǐ fán huí xiǎng qǐ gāng gāng jǐn jiē bèi cuī huǐ de shāng xiān zhōu ， zài kū lóu kōng dòng de zhù shì xià 、 qǐng kè fù yuán de huà miàn 。
一瞬千念，李凡回想起刚刚尽皆被摧毁的商仙舟，在骷髅空洞的注视下、顷刻复原的画面。
In an instant, Li Fan recalled how the Merchant Immortal Vessel had been instantly restored under Mo Shi’s influence. He finally understood.
xīn zhōng zhōng yú yǒu le dá àn 。
心中终于有了答案。
"Eternity Dao..."
“ yǒng héng dà dào ……”
“永恒大道……”
Before recognizing its origin, no matter how he observed, he couldn’t discern any details. But once he recognized where it came from, as if a veil was lifted, revealing the true form of the skeleton.
zài méi yǒu biàn bié zhī qián ， wú lùn zěn me guān chá ， dōu nán yǐ kàn qīng chǔ qí duān ní 。 dàn shì zài rèn chū le qí lái lì zhī hòu ， sì hū fú qù le méng zài hái gǔ shàng de céng céng wěi zhuāng 。
在没有辨别之前，无论怎么观察，都难以看清楚其端倪。但是在认出了其来历之后，似乎拂去了蒙在骸骨上的层层伪装。
Instead of a skeleton, it transformed into a smiling middle-aged man with a round face and kind eyes!
yǎn qián bù zài shì hái gǔ mú yàng 。
眼前不再是骸骨模样。
However, he seemed to be in a deep sleep, his eyes tightly closed, indifferent to everything around him.
ér shì xiǎn huà chū yuán xíng ， miàn dài wēi xiào 、 liǎn páng yuán rùn 、 cí méi shàn mù dì zhōng nián nán zi ！
而是显化出原型，面带微笑、脸庞圆润、慈眉善目的中年男子！
"I once interacted with Taiyi and Eternity through Great Sage Dafa. But that was just my perception. I mistook Taiyi for Illusory Birth, and similarly, my understanding of Eternity was flawed. That’s why I failed to recognize it when it stood before me."
bù guò tā sì hū zhèng zài chén shuì zhī zhōng ， shuāng mù jǐn bì 。 duì yú wài jiè yī qiè fǎng fú dōu bù shèn zài yì 。
不过他似乎正在沉睡之中，双目紧闭。对于外界一切仿佛都不甚在意。
Li Fan looked at the round-faced middle-aged man, as if seeing an eternal existence unchanged through time. He sat quietly, seemingly condensing both time and space.
“ wǒ céng jīng jiè zhù dà fǎ shī ， duì 【 tài yì 】、【 yǒng héng 】 èr dào ， yǒu guò jiē chù yǔ gǎn wù 。 rán ér nà zhǐ shì wǒ rèn zhī zhōng yǐ wéi de 。 jiù xiàng shì wǒ cuò bǎ tài yì rèn zuò huàn shēng yī yàng ， wǒ duì 【 yǒng héng 】 de rèn zhī ， yě chū xiàn le piān chā 。 suǒ yǐ cái dǎo zhì ， yǒng héng dāng miàn 、 wǒ què bù shí 。”
“我曾经借助大法师，对【太易】、【永恒】二道，有过接触与感悟。然而那只是我认知中以为的。就像是我错把太易认作幻生一样，我对【永恒】的认知，也出现了偏差。所以才导致，永恒当面、我却不识。”
Eternity Dao was undoubtedly one of the most primordial top-tier Daos. Li Fan’s mind brimmed with countless insights just by looking at it.
lǐ fán kàn zhe bù yuǎn chù de yuán liǎn zhōng nián nán zi ， huǎng hū jiān fǎng fú jiàn dào le zì gǔ zhì jīn 、 gèn gǔ bù biàn de cún zài 。 tā jìng jìng pán zuò zài nà lǐ ， jiù hǎo sì jiāng shí jiān yǔ kōng jiān gòng tóng níng jù 。 rèn yóu zhōu zāo shí guāng liú zhuǎn ， tā què bù gǎi fēn háo 。
李凡看着不远处的圆脸中年男子，恍惚间仿佛见到了自古至今、亘古不变的存在。他静静盘坐在那里，就好似将时间与空间共同凝聚。任由周遭时光流转，他却不改分毫。
Li Fan’s innate wisdom, bolstered by the Ten Thousand Phenomena Dao Web and the Supreme Dao Book, gave him a natural advantage in understanding all primary Daus. Yet, as he observed Eternity, every insight felt fleeting like fragile bubbles, vanishing almost immediately.
yǒng héng dà dào ， jué duì shì yuán chū zuì wèi dǐng jiān de dà dào zhī yī 。 jiù shì zhè me kàn zhe ， lǐ fán nǎo hǎi zhōng ， shà shí jiān dōu fǎng fú yǒu wú shù gǎn wù yǒng shàng xīn tóu 。
永恒大道，绝对是原初最为顶尖的大道之一。就是这么看着，李凡脑海中，霎时间都仿佛有无数感悟涌上心头。
No matter how hard Li Fan tried, his efforts remained fruitless.
lǐ fán de wù xìng běn jiù bù ruò ， xiàn zài yǒu zhe wàn xiāng dào wǎng yǐ jí tài shàng dào shū de jiā chí ， kě yǐ shuō duì yuán chū zhōng suǒ yǒu dà dào ， dōu yǒu zhe xiān tiān de wù dào shú xī yōu shì 。
李凡的悟性本就不弱，现在有着万相道网以及太上道书的加持，可以说对原初中所有大道，都有着先天的悟道熟悉优势。
The faint smile on the middle-aged man’s face seemed to silently remind Li Fan that Eternity Dao belonged solely to him.
dàn piān piān ， xiàn zài guān mó 【 yǒng héng 】 de guò chéng zhōng ， zòng shǐ shí kè dōu néng shēng chū wú shù gǎn wù 。 dàn zhè xiē gǎn wù què jiē rú cuì ruò de pào mò ， zhǐ chí xù piàn kè hòu ， jiù qiǎo rán zhà liè 。 bù fù cún zài 。
但偏偏，现在观摩【永恒】的过程中，纵使时刻都能生出无数感悟。但这些感悟却皆如脆弱的泡沫，只持续片刻后，就悄然炸裂。不复存在。
Realizing this, Li Fan stopped trying to understand. He dismissed Mo Shi and didn’t retreat from the space.
rèn píng lǐ fán zěn me nǔ lì cháng shì ， jié guǒ dōu bú huì gǎi biàn 。
任凭李凡怎么努力尝试，结果都不会改变。
After observing, he became even more certain of his earlier judgment.
yuán liǎn zhōng nián nán zi liǎn shàng nà dàn dàn de wēi xiào ， sì hū zài mò mò tí xǐng zhe lǐ fán 。 yǒng héng zhī dào ， shǔ yú 、 bìng qiě yǒng yuǎn zhǐ shǔ yú tā yī rén 。
圆脸中年男子脸上那淡淡的微笑，似乎在默默提醒着李凡。永恒之道，属于、并且永远只属于祂一人。
"Eternity is still alive, but its state is peculiar."
zhōng yú fǎn yìng guò lái ， lǐ fán yě bú shì bù shí shí wù zhě ， guǒ duàn zàn shí tíng zhǐ liǎo wù dào de xíng wéi 。
终于反应过来，李凡也不是不识时务者，果断暂时停止了悟道的行为。
Li Fan squinted and observed for a few hours before finally understanding the anomaly.
huī shǒu shōu qǐ mò shā ， tā què méi yǒu zì cǐ chù kōng jiān tuì qù 。
挥手收起墨杀，他却没有自此处空间退去。
"Eternity Dao persists, but the true immortal who achieved this..."
yī fān guān chá hòu ， fǎn dào shì gèng jiā què dìng le zì jǐ cǐ qián de pàn duàn 。
一番观察后，反倒是更加确定了自己此前的判断。
"His consciousness seems to have dissipated. The actions he performs are merely instinctual."
“ yǒng héng suī rán hái huó zhe ， dàn tā de zhuàng tài ， què yǒu xiē qí guài 。”
“永恒虽然还活着，但祂的状态，却有些奇怪。”
"What stands before me isn’t Eternity Immortal; it’s Eternity Dao itself. But it's been transformed or perhaps fused with an achieved Eternity Immortal."
lǐ fán mī zhuó yǎn ， jì xù guān chá le xiǎo bàn tiān ， fāng cái yǒu xiē gǎo qīng chǔ zhè guài yì zhī chù 。
李凡眯着眼，继续观察了小半天，方才有些搞清楚这怪异之处。
Though Li Fan couldn’t fully explain the cause, he had some guesses.
“ yǒng héng zhī dào réng rán cún xù 。 dàn zhèng dào yǒng héng de zhè wèi zhēn xiān ……”
“永恒之道仍然存续。但证道永恒的这位真仙……”
"Perhaps this is still related to Eternity itself."
“ tā de yì shí ， què sì hū yǐ jīng xiāo sàn le 。 wéi chí zhe tā gāng gāng xíng dòng de ， zhǐ shì běn néng bà le 。”
“祂的意识，却似乎已经消散了。维持着祂刚刚行动的，只是本能罢了。”
"If there were any fluctuations in its consciousness, maintaining true eternity would be impossible. Only by integrating one’s will into pure Dao could it sustain eternal existence. In some realms of the Immortal Realm, a cultivator's ultimate goal isn't ascending but merging with the world’s Dao."
“ zài wǒ miàn qián de ， yǔ qí shuō shì 【 yǒng héng zhēn xiān 】， ér bù rú shuō shì 【 yǒng héng dà dào 】 běn shēn 。 zhǐ bù guò ， gēn yuán běn de yǒng héng dà dào hái yǒu suǒ bù tóng ， tā xiàn zài shì bèi zhèng dào zhēn xiān gǎi zào 、 yì huò zhě shuō róng hé hòu de bǎn běn le 。”
“在我面前的，与其说是【永恒真仙】，而不如说是【永恒大道】本身。只不过，跟原本的永恒大道还有所不同，祂现在是被证道真仙改造、亦或者说融合后的版本了。”
"This alternative 'harmony' allows for self-transcendence and immense power like the world itself. But it extinguishes individual will, becoming a machine to maintain cosmic order."
suī rán mù qián shàng bù néng wán quán nòng qīng chǔ zào chéng zhè guǐ yì yí mù de yuán yīn ， bù guò lǐ fán yě duō shǎo yǒu xiē cāi cè 。
虽然目前尚不能完全弄清楚造成这诡异一幕的原因，不过李凡也多少有些猜测。
"Eternity’s current state resembles this harmony."
“ kǒng pà ， hái shì gēn 【 yǒng héng 】 běn shēn ， tuō bù liǎo gān xì 。”
“恐怕，还是跟【永恒】本身，脱不了干系。”
After further observation, Li Fan tested his hypothesis.
“ ruò shì yǒu zì shēn yì shí bō dòng ， pà shì nán yǐ wéi xì zhēn zhèng de yǒng héng zhuàng tài 。 wéi yǒu chè dǐ jiāng zì shēn yì zhì ， róng rù chún cuì de dà dào zhōng ， cái néng shǐ de yǒng héng cún xù de qián tí chéng lì 。 zài mǒu xiē xiū xiān jiè zhōng ， xiū shì de zuì gāo jìng jiè ， bìng fēi fēi shēng 。 ér shì yǔ shì jiè tiān dào xiāng hé 。”
“若是有自身意识波动，怕是难以维系真正的永恒状态。唯有彻底将自身意志，融入纯粹的大道中，才能使得永恒存续的前提成立。在某些修仙界中，修士的最高境界，并非飞升。而是与世界天道相合。”
"It has no autonomous aggression but maintains its Dao characteristics."
“ zhè zhǒng lìng lèi de ‘ hé dào ’， suī néng shǐ xiū shì wán chéng zì wǒ chāo yuè 、 biàn dé gēn shì jiè yī yàng qiáng dà 。 dàn què huì mǐn miè zì shēn yì zhì ， chéng wéi wéi xì tiān dào yùn zhuàn de jī qì 。”
“这种另类的‘合道’，虽能使修士完成自我超越、变得跟世界一样强大。但却会泯灭自身意志，成为维系天道运转的机器。”
"Any external stimuli elicits corresponding reactions."
“ yǒng héng xiàn zài de jú miàn ， jiù gēn zhè zhǒng hé dào ， yǒu xiē xiāng sì 。”
“永恒现在的局面，就跟这种合道，有些相似。”
Thus, Li Fan, who had been initially startled by the apparent manifestation of Eternity Dao, now felt a renewed urge to act.
yòu zǐ xì guān chá le xǔ jiǔ 。 lǐ fán jǐ fān shí yàn zhī xià ， suàn shì miǎn qiǎng yàn zhèng le zì jǐ de pàn duàn 。
又仔细观察了许久。李凡几番实验之下，算是勉强验证了自己的判断。
In some sense, this Eternity was an abstract embodiment of Dao principles. It was highly independent and powerful, yet unperceivable by others.
“ bìng méi yǒu zì zhǔ gōng jī xìng 。 dàn shǐ zhōng wéi xì zì shēn dà dào tè xìng 。”
“并没有自主攻击性。但始终维系自身大道特性。”
"Yet it can be triggered and used." Recalling how Mo Shi had restored the destroyed Merchant Immortal Vessel, Li Fan’s eyes lit up.
“ duì yú wài jiè jī fā shǒu duàn ， yě huì yǒu xiāng yìng de fǎn yìng 。 cuò bù liǎo le 。”
“对于外界激发手段，也会有相应的反应。错不了了。”
"With this in place, it's like having a small true essence bodyguard. No wonder the Merchant Immortal Vessel survived the Great Collapse of the Immortal Realm and consistently outpaces others."
yú shì zhī qián bèi tū wù xiǎn huà de yǒng héng dà dào suǒ jīng dào de lǐ fán ， nèi xīn yòu kāi shǐ chǔn chǔn yù dòng le 。
于是之前被突兀显化的永恒大道所惊到的李凡，内心又开始蠢蠢欲动了。
Though Li Fan harbored mischievous thoughts about Eternity Dao, successfully triggering its power was no easy task.
cóng mǒu zhǒng yì yì shàng lái shuō ， yǎn qián de 【 yǒng héng 】， jiù shì jù xiàng huà de dào zé 。 ér qiě zhè dào zé gāo dù dú lì ， qiě qiáng dà 。 wú fǎ bèi páng rén gǎn wù 。
从某种意义上来说，眼前的【永恒】，就是具象化的道则。而且这道则高度独立，且强大。无法被旁人感悟。
The Merchant Immortal Vessel had wielded Eternity for countless years, merely allowing it to wake up and restore itself. Li Fan, a newcomer with Eternity’s unique nature, couldn’t perceive or understand it in the short term. Achieving the Merchant Immortal Vessel's level of mastery seemed like a dream.
“ dàn què kě yǐ bèi jī fā 、 shǐ yòng 。” huí xiǎng qǐ zhī qián ， yǒng héng jiāng fù miè shāng xiān zhōu huán yuán de chǎng jǐng ， lǐ fán yǎn jīng yī liàng 。
“但却可以被激发、使用。”回想起之前，永恒将覆灭商仙舟还原的场景，李凡眼睛一亮。
After numerous failed attempts, he changed his approach.
“ yǒu cǐ wù zài ， xiāng dāng yú xiǎo hái zhēn hù tǐ le 。 yě nán guài shāng xiān zhōu néng gòu zì xiān jiè pò miè dà jié cún huó zhì jīn ， ér qiě néng měi měi zǒu zài suǒ yǒu rén de qián miàn 。 táo lí gāo qiáng ， táo lí yuán chū 。 zhèng shì yīn wèi yǒu yǒng héng dōu dǐ ， suǒ yǐ cái yǒu dǐ qì ， qù jìn xíng gè zhǒng kàn shì wēi xiǎn zhì jí 、 háo bù lǐ zhì de cháng shì 。”
“有此物在，相当于小还真护体了。也难怪商仙舟能够自仙界破灭大劫存活至今，而且能每每走在所有人的前面。逃离高墙，逃离原初。正是因为有永恒兜底，所以才有底气，去进行各种看似危险至极、毫不理智的尝试。”
Eternity’s immortal skeleton was independent, unchanging, and indestructible.
suī shuō lǐ fán duì 【 yǒng héng 】 dà dào dòng le wāi xīn sī ， dàn xiǎng yào xiàng shāng xiān zhōu nà yàng ， chéng gōng de jī fā yǒng héng de lì liàng ， bìng fēi yī jiàn yì shì 。
虽说李凡对【永恒】大道动了歪心思，但想要像商仙舟那样，成功的激发永恒的力量，并非一件易事。
However, since the Merchant Immortal Vessel could use Eternity to restore a destroyed vessel, it suggested there was some connection between this space and the Eternity immortal skeleton.
shāng xiān zhōu zhí yǒu yǒng héng bù zhī duō shǎo nián ， xiàn zài zuò de ， yě jǐn jǐn shì néng shǐ qí zhēng yǎn 、 jiāng shāng xiān zhōu huán yuán bà le 。
商仙舟执有永恒不知多少年，现在做的，也仅仅是能使其睁眼、将商仙舟还原罢了。
"Since I can’t figure it out, let me learn by stealing."
lǐ fán chū lái zhà dào ， yòu yīn yǒng héng tè xìng ， wú fǎ duì qí jìn xíng gǎn wù 。 duǎn shí jiān jiù xiǎng yào dá dào shāng xiān zhōu de yùn yòng shuǐ píng ， sì hū yǒu xiē chī rén shuō mèng le 。
李凡初来乍到，又因永恒特性，无法对其进行感悟。短时间就想要达到商仙舟的运用水平，似乎有些痴人说梦了。
Unable to perceive Eternity Dao but confident in understanding the Merchant Immortal Vessel’s mysterious connections, Li Fan activated the Ten Thousand Phenomena Dao Web. This time, its target wasn't the Eternity immortal skeleton but everything else in this space.
cháng shì le zhū duō bàn fǎ ， dōu méi yǒu qǐ dào rèn hé de shí jì xiào guǒ 。
尝试了诸多办法，都没有起到任何的实际效果。
Dark clouds surged, sweeping through inch by inch to ensure nothing was missed.
lǐ fán yú shì huàn le gè sī lù 。
李凡于是换了个思路。
Like a tidal wave, the dark clouds revealed all hidden elements within the space.
yǒng héng xiān hái ， yí shì dú lì ， zì chéng yī tǐ ， bù xiāo bù miè 。
永恒仙骸，遗世独立，自成一体，不消不灭。
Li Fan thus understood how the Merchant Immortal Vessel operated.
rán ér jì rán shāng xiān zhōu néng gòu yùn yòng yǒng héng de lì liàng ， jiāng fù miè xiān zhōu chóng xiàn 。 jiù shuō míng xià fāng shāng xiān zhōu kōng jiān ， gēn yǎn qián zhè jù yǒng héng xiān hái ， cún zài zhe yí dìng de guān lián 。
然而既然商仙舟能够运用永恒的力量，将覆灭仙舟重现。就说明下方商仙舟空间，跟眼前这具永恒仙骸，存在着一定的关联。
To forcibly connect with the already "Daoified" Eternity and draw its attention, it used a zafu (cushion).
“ jì rán zì jǐ yán jiū bù xíng ， nà jiù tōu ér xué zhī 。”
“既然自己研究不行，那就偷而学之。”
The zafu appeared ordinary, made of purple bamboo.
duì yǒng héng dà dào gǎn wù bù dé ， duì yú zhè shāng xiān zhōu zào jiù de mò míng lián xì ， lǐ fán hái shì yǒu bǎ wò néng gòu kān pò de 。
对永恒大道感悟不得，对于这商仙舟造就的莫名联系，李凡还是有把握能够勘破的。
"Eh? This zafu seems familiar?"
xīn niàn wēi dòng ， mò shā zhǔ dǎo de wàn xiāng dào wǎng ， zài dù xiàn shì 。 zhǐ shì zhè yī cì de mù biāo ， bìng fēi shì nà jù yǒng héng xiān hái 。
心念微动，墨杀主导的万相道网，再度现世。只是这一次的目标，并非是那具永恒仙骸。
After a moment’s hesitation, Li Fan recalled where he had seen it: in Great Sage Dafa's memory, the zafu under his Master Taiyi!
ér shì cǐ chù kōng jiān zhōng ， chú le yǒng héng xiān hái yǐ wài de yī qiè 。
而是此处空间中，除了永恒仙骸以外的一切。
Compared to what was in the Great Sage’s memory, this zafu seemed much more worn and damaged. Yet its unique rhythm remained unchanged.
mò cháo xiōng yǒng ， yī cùn cùn de héng sǎo ér guò 。 què bǎo méi yǒu yí lòu 。
墨潮汹涌，一寸寸的横扫而过。确保没有遗漏。
Li Fan stared at it for a long time until he saw a blurry figure of Taiyi on the zafu!
Li Fan found the situation increasingly inexplicable.
After all, [Mo Shi] had been seen as a solution by those in the Immortal Realm to counter the Great Fusion of Mountains and Seas. Since Li Fan rediscovered Mo Shi's immortal essence through sheer luck, it had almost always proven effective against everything he encountered.
However, now this skeleton hidden within the Merchant Immortal Vessel was defying Mo Shi’s attacks!
If Li Fan could hold off Mo Shi in a stalemate, he could accept that. But the current situation seemed one-sided and overwhelming, leaving him utterly perplexed.
"Either this path exists beyond the mortal world, above the mountains and seas."
"Or..."
Mo Shi's dark clouds surged like an angry hound, vowing to consume the immortal corpse. However, Mo Shi’s actions were destined to be futile.
The dark clouds enveloped it, then vanished only to reappear shortly after.
This cycle repeated itself.
Li Fan temporarily set aside his doubts and continued observing patiently.
Though this skeleton contained a profound Dao principle, its status was too high to transcend the mountains and seas.
After so much practice in the Realm of Immortal Desolation, Li Fan was certain he could recognize such a feat.
So, what allowed it to resist Mo Shi's corruption?
Watching the cycle of reincarnation unfold before his eyes, Li Fan immersed himself in the scene. Suddenly, an idea struck him.
He stared at the surging black sea and pondered aloud: "Mo Shi cannot devour anything beyond its own capabilities..."
"Which leaves only... itself."
"Could it be..."
Li Fan's thoughts returned to when he first met Great Sage Dafa.
Through countless virtual images within the Great Sage, Li Fan understood Mo Shi’s two foundational principles: Taiyi and Eternity.
It was these forces of change and constancy that created a power capable of fusing with and resisting the mountains and seas.
"At that time, I tried to suppress the Great Sage using Mo Shi. But he defused it with just two simple words."
"Please, Master, disperse; please, Senior, disperse."
Taiyi was the master of the boundless; Eternity, his senior uncle.
"A senior is long-lived. Although not one of the Three Sages, being called Uncle by the Boundless Master means he has significant power and status."
"The immortal in this skeleton contains a Dao principle, but it's not Taiyi."
In an instant, Li Fan recalled how the Merchant Immortal Vessel had been instantly restored under Mo Shi’s influence. He finally understood.
"Eternity Dao..."
Before recognizing its origin, no matter how he observed, he couldn’t discern any details. But once he recognized where it came from, as if a veil was lifted, revealing the true form of the skeleton.
Instead of a skeleton, it transformed into a smiling middle-aged man with a round face and kind eyes!
However, he seemed to be in a deep sleep, his eyes tightly closed, indifferent to everything around him.
"I once interacted with Taiyi and Eternity through Great Sage Dafa. But that was just my perception. I mistook Taiyi for Illusory Birth, and similarly, my understanding of Eternity was flawed. That’s why I failed to recognize it when it stood before me."
Li Fan looked at the round-faced middle-aged man, as if seeing an eternal existence unchanged through time. He sat quietly, seemingly condensing both time and space.
Eternity Dao was undoubtedly one of the most primordial top-tier Daos. Li Fan’s mind brimmed with countless insights just by looking at it.
Li Fan’s innate wisdom, bolstered by the Ten Thousand Phenomena Dao Web and the Supreme Dao Book, gave him a natural advantage in understanding all primary Daus. Yet, as he observed Eternity, every insight felt fleeting like fragile bubbles, vanishing almost immediately.
No matter how hard Li Fan tried, his efforts remained fruitless.
The faint smile on the middle-aged man’s face seemed to silently remind Li Fan that Eternity Dao belonged solely to him.
Realizing this, Li Fan stopped trying to understand. He dismissed Mo Shi and didn’t retreat from the space.
After observing, he became even more certain of his earlier judgment.
"Eternity is still alive, but its state is peculiar."
Li Fan squinted and observed for a few hours before finally understanding the anomaly.
"Eternity Dao persists, but the true immortal who achieved this..."
"His consciousness seems to have dissipated. The actions he performs are merely instinctual."
"What stands before me isn’t Eternity Immortal; it’s Eternity Dao itself. But it's been transformed or perhaps fused with an achieved Eternity Immortal."
Though Li Fan couldn’t fully explain the cause, he had some guesses.
"Perhaps this is still related to Eternity itself."
"If there were any fluctuations in its consciousness, maintaining true eternity would be impossible. Only by integrating one’s will into pure Dao could it sustain eternal existence. In some realms of the Immortal Realm, a cultivator's ultimate goal isn't ascending but merging with the world’s Dao."
"This alternative 'harmony' allows for self-transcendence and immense power like the world itself. But it extinguishes individual will, becoming a machine to maintain cosmic order."
"Eternity’s current state resembles this harmony."
After further observation, Li Fan tested his hypothesis.
"It has no autonomous aggression but maintains its Dao characteristics."
"Any external stimuli elicits corresponding reactions."
Thus, Li Fan, who had been initially startled by the apparent manifestation of Eternity Dao, now felt a renewed urge to act.
In some sense, this Eternity was an abstract embodiment of Dao principles. It was highly independent and powerful, yet unperceivable by others.
"Yet it can be triggered and used." Recalling how Mo Shi had restored the destroyed Merchant Immortal Vessel, Li Fan’s eyes lit up.
"With this in place, it's like having a small true essence bodyguard. No wonder the Merchant Immortal Vessel survived the Great Collapse of the Immortal Realm and consistently outpaces others."
Though Li Fan harbored mischievous thoughts about Eternity Dao, successfully triggering its power was no easy task.
The Merchant Immortal Vessel had wielded Eternity for countless years, merely allowing it to wake up and restore itself. Li Fan, a newcomer with Eternity’s unique nature, couldn’t perceive or understand it in the short term. Achieving the Merchant Immortal Vessel's level of mastery seemed like a dream.
After numerous failed attempts, he changed his approach.
Eternity’s immortal skeleton was independent, unchanging, and indestructible.
However, since the Merchant Immortal Vessel could use Eternity to restore a destroyed vessel, it suggested there was some connection between this space and the Eternity immortal skeleton.
"Since I can’t figure it out, let me learn by stealing."
Unable to perceive Eternity Dao but confident in understanding the Merchant Immortal Vessel’s mysterious connections, Li Fan activated the Ten Thousand Phenomena Dao Web. This time, its target wasn't the Eternity immortal skeleton but everything else in this space.
Dark clouds surged, sweeping through inch by inch to ensure nothing was missed.
Like a tidal wave, the dark clouds revealed all hidden elements within the space.
Li Fan thus understood how the Merchant Immortal Vessel operated.
To forcibly connect with the already "Daoified" Eternity and draw its attention, it used a zafu (cushion).
The zafu appeared ordinary, made of purple bamboo.
"Eh? This zafu seems familiar?"
After a moment’s hesitation, Li Fan recalled where he had seen it: in Great Sage Dafa's memory, the zafu under his Master Taiyi!
Compared to what was in the Great Sage’s memory, this zafu seemed much more worn and damaged. Yet its unique rhythm remained unchanged.
Li Fan stared at it for a long time until he saw a blurry figure of Taiyi on the zafu!