shāng xiān zhōu rù kǒu chù ， nà wèi zuò zài tǔ huáng sè mù yǐ shàng de xū fà jiē wú de lǎo zhě ， jìng rán zhí jiē zhàn le qǐ lái 。
商仙舟入口处，那位坐在土黄色木椅上的须发皆无的老者，竟然直接站了起来。
At the entrance of the Merchant Immortal Boat, the elderly man with no hair or beard, who was sitting on a yellow wooden chair, suddenly stood up.
shēn xíng yě bù gōu lóu le ， yě bù dài lǐ fán dā yìng ， jiù gēn suí zhe wàn xiāng dào wǎng de huí suō ， xùn sù kào jìn 。
身形也不佝偻了，也不待李凡答应，就跟随着万相道网的回缩，迅速靠近。
His hunched posture straightened, and without waiting for Li Fan's response, he followed the retraction of the Ten Thousand Forms Dao Web, quickly approaching him.
tā zhè jù “ qián bèi qiě dài wǒ ！” suī rán shì duì lǐ fán shuō de 。
他这句“前辈且带我！”虽然是对李凡说的。
Though his words were directed at Li Fan, his gaze fixed intently on the Eternal Path within the Ten Thousand Forms Dao Web. His eyes, dark to the point of not revealing any light, showed a complex expression—both with uncontainable desire and some hesitation.
dàn lǎo zhě de shì xiàn ， què shì jǐn dīng zhe wàn xiāng dào wǎng zhī zhōng de yǒng héng dà dào 。 huì àn dào wán quán kàn bú jiàn rèn hé guāng liàng de yǎn móu zhōng ， hè rán xiǎn lù chū shí fēn fù zá de shén qíng 。
但老者的视线，却是紧盯着万相道网之中的永恒大道。晦暗到完全看不见任何光亮的眼眸中，赫然显露出十分复杂的神情。
The round-faced man representing the Primordial Eternal Path seemed oblivious to him; he remained unchanged from start to finish.
jì yǒu nán yǐ yì zhì de kě wàng ， yòu yǒu xiē jū jǐn 。
既有难以抑制的渴望，又有些拘谨。
But Li Fan did not ignore him. He paused slightly as he sized up the elderly man and asked, "You are not one of the True Merchants?"
dài biǎo zhe yuán chū yǒng héng dà dào de yuán liǎn nán zi ， fǎng fú wán quán méi yǒu kàn dào duì fāng 。 cóng shǐ zhì zhōng dōu méi yǒu sī háo de biàn huà 。
代表着原初永恒大道的圆脸男子，仿佛完全没有看到对方。从始至终都没有丝毫的变化。
The elderly man's gaze finally left the Eternal Path and he bowed respectfully towards Li Fan, answering solemnly, "No, no. I hope you will understand. Many years ago when I arrived at the Merchant Immortal Boat, it was to follow the steps of the Eternal Path. Now that the Eternal Path has moved, naturally, I must follow."
rán ér lǐ fán què bìng méi yǒu shì zhī bú jiàn 。
然而李凡却并没有视之不见。
Upon hearing this, Li Fan became interested. The Ten Thousand Forms Dao Web enveloped them and they were being evacuated towards the inner walls of the Xuanhuang Immortal Realm.
shēn xíng wēi dùn ， lǐ fán dǎ liàng zhe duì fāng ， wèn dào ：“ nǐ fēi shèng shāng zhī mín ？”
身形微顿，李凡打量着对方，问道：“你非圣商之民？”
The elderly man did not resist when faced with the wrapping of the Ten Thousand Forms Dao Web; he simply let Li Fan proceed as he wished.
lǎo zhě de shì xiàn zhè cái cóng yǒng héng shàng lí kāi ， duì zhe lǐ fán wēi wēi xíng lǐ ， zhèng zhòng de huí dá dào ：“ fēi yě 、 fēi yě 。 hái wàng qián bèi míng jiàn ， ruò gān nián qián lái dào shāng xiān zhōu ， jiù shì wèi le zhuī suí yǒng héng bù fá 。 rú jīn yǒng héng yí wèi ， wǒ zì shì yě yào gēn suí ér qù 。”
老者的视线这才从永恒上离开，对着李凡微微行礼，郑重的回答道：“非也、非也。还望前辈明鉴，若干年前来到商仙舟，就是为了追随永恒步伐。如今永恒移位，我自是也要跟随而去。”
During their journey back, in response to Li Fan's questions, he spoke freely without reservation.
lǐ fán wén yán ， dùn shí lái le xìng qù 。 wàn xiāng dào wǎng jiāng qí yì qǐ guǒ xié zhe ， cháo zhe gāo qiáng nèi xuán huáng xiān jiè chè lí 。
李凡闻言，顿时来了兴趣。万相道网将其一起裹挟着，朝着高墙内玄黄仙界撤离。
"Tell me, when did you arrive at the Merchant Immortal Boat?"
miàn duì wàn xiāng dào wǎng de bāo guǒ ， lǎo zhě yě bù fǎn kàng ， zhǐ shì rèn yóu lǐ fán shī wéi 。
面对万相道网的包裹，老者也不反抗，只是任由李凡施为。
"It has been too long since then, and I can't quite remember. But at that time, it was not a ship of immortals but a celestial cave within the world of cultivators. Later, this cave separated from the world, abandoned its home, and became the Xuan Merchant Immortal Ship. The ship drifted in the star sea, wandering aimlessly. Eventually, due to disagreements, it split into two during an internal conflict; one side emerged victorious as merchants, while the other lost as Xuan. I followed the divided Merchant Immortal Boat through the walls and arrived at a new expanse of stars..." the elderly man spoke calmly.
fǎn chéng tú zhōng ， miàn duì lǐ fán de xún wèn ， tā yě shì zhī wú bù yán yán wú bù jìn 。
返程途中，面对李凡的询问，他也是知无不言言无不尽。
"How can you see the Eternal Path when you are not a true immortal? A mere mortal like you should not be able to perceive it," Li Fan observed clearly, knowing that while this man seemed mysterious, he was just an ordinary cultivator without any connection to the mountains and seas. This was also why Li Fan felt comfortable letting him approach.
“ nǐ shì hé shí lái dào shāng xiān zhōu de ？”
“你是何时来到商仙舟的？”
"Let me explain to you, I come from the [Divine Witch] realm. I have a keen ability to perceive various paths of existence since birth. That's how I could spot the hidden Eternal Path among the world," the elderly man replied humbly.
“ shí zài guò qù tài jiǔ 、 wǎn bèi yǒu xiē jì bù qīng le 。 bù guò nà shí ， xiān zhōu hái bú shì xiān zhōu 、 ér shì xiū xiān jiè zhōng yī dòng tiān 。 hòu lái dòng tiān tuō lí shì jiè 、 qì jiè ér zǒu ， fāng cái huà zuò le xuán shāng xiān zhōu 。 hòu lái xiān zhōu yú xīng hǎi fú chén ， piāo bó bù dìng 。 zuì zhōng yīn wèi fēn qí ， zài nèi zhàn zhōng yī fēn wéi èr 。 shèng zhě wèi shāng ， bài zhě wèi xuán 。 wú yòu gēn suí fēn liè hòu de shāng xiān zhōu ， chuān guò le gāo qiáng 、 lái dào le xīn de xīng kōng ……” lǎo zhě bù jí bù xú ， huǎn huǎn dào lái 。
“实在过去太久、晚辈有些记不清了。不过那时，仙舟还不是仙舟、而是修仙界中一洞天。后来洞天脱离世界、弃界而走，方才化作了玄商仙舟。后来仙舟于星海浮沉，漂泊不定。最终因为分歧，在内战中一分为二。胜者为商，败者为玄。吾又跟随分裂后的商仙舟，穿过了高墙、来到了新的星空……”老者不疾不徐，缓缓道来。
"Divine Witch Realm?"
“ nǐ fēi zhēn xiān ， ròu yǎn fán tāi 、 hé yǐ néng kuī jiàn yǒng héng dà dào ?” lǐ fán kàn de fēn míng ， yǎn qián lǎo zhě suī rán pǒ wèi shén mì ， dàn shēn shàng bìng méi yǒu lián tōng shān hǎi de qì xī ， shì chún cuì de fán rén xiū shì 。 zhè yě shì lǐ fán fàng xīn ràng qí jiē jìn de zuì zhǔ yào yuán yīn 。
“你非真仙，肉眼凡胎、何以能窥见永恒大道?”李凡看的分明，眼前老者虽然颇为神秘，但身上并没有联通山海的气息，是纯粹的凡人修士。这也是李凡放心让其接近的最主要原因。
Li Fan was momentarily taken aback as he recalled an image in his mind: twelve solemn palaces standing tall in the clouds, distributed around, occupying the sky of the world. Each palace housed a statue. Countless cultivators like ants on earth were kneeling and praying.
“ hǎo jiào qián bèi zhī xiǎo ， wǎn bèi chū shēn zì 【 shén wū 】 yī jiè 。 tiān shēng duì yú zhū bān dà dào ， yǒu zhe mǐn ruì de dòng chá néng lì 。 yīn ér fāng néng yī yǎn kàn chū dà yǐn yú shì de yǒng héng zhī dào 。” lǎo zhě shí fēn qiān bēi de huí dá dào 。
“好叫前辈知晓，晚辈出身自【神巫】一界。天生对于诸般大道，有着敏锐的洞察能力。因而方能一眼看出大隐于世的永恒之道。”老者十分谦卑的回答道。
Turning his hand, Li Fan retrieved the Qingmeng Pearl and asked, "Do you recognize this?"
“ shén wū jiè ？”
“神巫界？”
In just a moment, the elderly man recognized it as a familiar object: "This... This is the Qingmeng Holy Pearl?"
lǐ fán wén yán ， wēi wēi yí zhèng 。 nǎo hǎi zhōng dùn shí fú xiàn chū yī fú huà miàn ： shí èr zuò chù lì zài yún xiāo zhī shàng de sēn yán gōng diàn ， huán rào fēn bù ， zhàn jù le shì jiè de tiān qióng 。 měi yī zuò gōng diàn zhōng ， dōu gòng fèng zhe yī zūn diāo xiàng 。 dà dì shàng wú shù rú lóu yǐ bān de xiū shì ， guì bài 、 qí dǎo 。
李凡闻言，微微一怔。脑海中顿时浮现出一幅画面：十二座矗立在云霄之上的森严宫殿，环绕分布，占据了世界的天穹。每一座宫殿中，都供奉着一尊雕像。大地上无数如蝼蚁般的修士，跪拜、祈祷。
Before he could examine it further, Li Fan had already put away the Qingmeng Pearl.
fān shǒu qǔ chū jiāng qīng míng zhū qǔ chū ， lǐ fán wèn dào ：“ nǐ kě shí dé cǐ wù ？”
翻手取出将青冥珠取出，李凡问道：“你可识得此物？”
"Please forgive me for my reaction. Seeing an old friend brings out such emotions," the elderly man said with a sigh.
jǐn jǐn shì piàn kè zhī hòu ， lǎo zhě jiù rèn chū le zhè jiā xiāng zhī wù 。 bǐ jiàn dào yǒng héng dà dào bèi lüè zǒu de qíng xù bō dòng hái yào dà ：“ zhè …… zhè shì qīng míng shèng zhū ？”
仅仅是片刻之后，老者就认出了这家乡之物。比见到永恒大道被掠走的情绪波动还要大：“这……这是青冥圣珠？”
"Tell me more."
lǎo zhě hái yù xì kàn ， lǐ fán què shì yǐ jīng jiāng qīng míng zhū shōu qǐ 。
老者还欲细看，李凡却是已经将青冥珠收起。
"The Qingmeng Holy Pearl is one of the twelve divine treasures from our Divine Witch Realm. These treasures were forged by the Twelve Witch Gods, who gathered various paths of existence and infused their essence into them. Before the Immortal Realm was created, these gods already existed, each possessing unimaginable power, not inferior to true immortals. Legend has it that after the creation of the Immortal Realm, in pursuit of its secrets, the witch gods used divine treasures as substitutes to enter the realm, thus opening a path for countless souls in our Divine Witch Realm."
“ hái wàng qián bèi jiàn liàng ， dǔ wù sī rén ， què shì yǒu xiē shī tài le 。” lǎo zhě chàng rán ruò shī dào 。
“还望前辈见谅，睹物思人，却是有些失态了。”老者怅然若失道。
"Later, a great calamity befell the world, and the Immortal Realm collapsed. Our Divine Witch Realm could not escape this disaster either. The Twelve Witch Gods united to save the world, buying time for the masses. I followed the portal opened by one of the witch gods and managed to survive..."
“ jiǎng jiǎng ba 。”
“讲讲吧。”
"The witch god opened a passage that led through these walls?" Li Fan chuckled, interrupting his words.
“ qīng míng shèng zhū ， nǎi shì wǒ shén wū jiè shí èr shèng qì zhī yī 。 shí èr shèng qì ， nǎi shì yóu shí èr wū shén 、 sōu luó zhū jiè dà dào ， róng rù zì shēn jīng xuè ， liàn zhì ér chéng 。 xiān jiè shàng wèi kāi pì shí ， shí èr wū shén biàn yǐ jīng cún zài 。 měi yī zūn ， dōu yǒu zhe nán yǐ xiǎng xiàng de wú shàng wēi néng 。 bìng bù ruò yú zhēn xiān 。 jù chuán ， xiān jiè dàn shēng hòu ， wèi le yī kuī xiān jiè zhī mì ， wū shén men biàn yǐ shèng qì wèi tì shēn ， jìn rù xiān jiè 。 cóng cǐ wèi shén wū jiè wú shù yún yún zhòng shēng ， kāi qǐ le shēng xiān lù 。”
“青冥圣珠，乃是我神巫界十二圣器之一。十二圣器，乃是由十二巫神、搜罗诸界大道，融入自身精血，炼制而成。仙界尚未开辟时，十二巫神便已经存在。每一尊，都有着难以想象的无上威能。并不弱于真仙。据传，仙界诞生后，为了一窥仙界之秘，巫神们便以圣器为替身，进入仙界。从此为神巫界无数芸芸众生，开启了升仙路。”
At that moment, the Ten Thousand Forms Dao Web brought them back to the Xuanhuang Immortal Realm with the Eternal Path.
“ hòu lái ， dà jié jiàng lín ， xiān jiè qīng tā 。 shén wū jiè yě nán yǐ bì miǎn cǐ děng zāi huò ， shí èr wū shén lián shǒu jiù shì ， wèi zhòng shēng zhēng qǔ le zuì hòu de táo wáng shí jiān 。 wǒ shùn zhe wū shén kāi qǐ de chuán sòng tōng dào ， zhè cái jiǎo xìng táo dé yī mìng ……”
“后来，大劫降临，仙界倾塌。神巫界也难以避免此等灾祸，十二巫神联手救世，为众生争取了最后的逃亡时间。我顺着巫神开启的传送通道，这才侥幸逃得一命……”
However, when faced with Li Fan's question, the elderly man could no longer answer.
“ wū shén kāi qǐ tōng dào ， jìng néng tōng xiàng zhè fēng bì de gāo qiáng zhī nèi de ？” lǐ fán qīng qīng yī xiào ， dǎ duàn le duì fāng de huà 。
“巫神开启通道，竟能通向这封闭的高墙之内的？”李凡轻轻一笑，打断了对方的话。
Upon seeing the Xuanhuang Immortal Realm, the Divine Witch Realm elder seemed frozen in place, standing still as if petrified.
cǐ kè ， wàn xiāng dào wǎng qià hǎo dài zhe èr rén yǐ jí yǒng héng dà dào ， fǎn huí xuán huáng xiān jiè 。
此刻，万相道网恰好带着二人以及永恒大道，返回玄黄仙界。
Divine Witch Realm cultivators could resonate with and manipulate the paths of existence, giving them a natural keen understanding of the world's fundamental principles. In that instant, the elderly man saw the vastness of this realm, the rebirth and prosperity of its paths, a vibrant scene unlike anything in the barren starry skies outside.
rán ér miàn duì lǐ fán de yí wèn ， lǎo zhě què shì yǐ jīng wú fǎ huí dá le 。
然而面对李凡的疑问，老者却是已经无法回答了。
Though he had never been to the Immortal Realm, the domain here seemed to be beyond what it was before!
zài jiàn dào xuán huáng xiān jiè de shùn jiān ， shén wū jiè lǎo zhě jiù hǎo sì bèi shí huà yì bān ， dāi lì dāng chǎng 。
在见到玄黄仙界的瞬间，神巫界老者就好似被石化一般，呆立当场。
He greedily looked around, as if every corner of Xuanhuang's heavens were filled with rare treasures. His ancient appearance gradually began to regain its youthful vitality as he observed.
shén wū jiè xiū shì ， yǐ shén hún gòng míng dà dào 、 cāo zòng dà dào 、 qǔ dài dà dào 。 duì tiān dì dà dào yǒu zhe tiān rán de mǐn ruì rèn zhī néng lì 。 gù ér zài jìn rù xuán huáng xiān jiè de shùn jiān ， lǎo zhě biàn kàn dào le ， cǐ jiè tiān gāo dì yuǎn 、 dà dào xīn shēng fán shèng ， yī pài bó bó shēng jī zhī xiàng 。
神巫界修士，以神魂共鸣大道、操纵大道、取代大道。对天地大道有着天然的敏锐认知能力。故而在进入玄黄仙界的瞬间，老者便看到了，此界天高地远、大道新生繁盛，一派勃勃生机之象。
While Li Fan watched the Divine Witch Realm elder, he also scrutinized him closely.
yuǎn fēi wài jiè diāo bì xīng kōng kě bǐ 。
远非外界凋敝星空可比。
Having placed the Eternal Path at the highest point in the vast expanse of Xuanhuang's sky, Li Fan now examined this Divine Witch Realm cultivator with great interest.
lǎo zhě bìng méi yǒu qù guò xiān jiè ， dàn kàn cǐ chù jiè yù ， huò xǔ yǐ jīng bù zài xī rì xiān jiè zhī xià le ！
老者并没有去过仙界，但看此处界域，或许已经不在昔日仙界之下了！
Clearly, he was in a state of enlightenment, but unlike ordinary cultivators. Li Fan could see that within such a short time in the Xuanhuang realm, his understanding of various paths had not deepened. The reason for his rejuvenation was simply that he drew power directly from countless principles of existence.
tā tān lán de tái tóu sì chù dǎ liàng 。 rú jī sì kě ， sì hū xuán huáng tiān dì de měi yī chù jiǎo luò 、 dōu chōng chì zhe xī shì zhēn bǎo bān 。
他贪婪的抬头四处打量。如饥似渴，似乎玄黄天地的每一处角落、都充斥着稀世珍宝般。
As the parent of Xuanhuang, Li Fan could sense the weakening of its path due to this Divine Witch Realm cultivator's absorption.
ér tā cāng lǎo zhì jí de róng mào ， yě bàn suí zhe tā de guān chá ， jìng rán màn màn de chóng xīn biàn dé nián qīng qǐ lái 。
而他苍老至极的容貌，也伴随着他的观察，竟然慢慢的重新变得年轻起来。
Even though the amount absorbed was negligible, it did indeed happen.
lǎo zhě zài guān chá zhe xuán huáng xiān jiè ， ér lǐ fán tóng shí yě zài guān chá zhe lǎo zhě 。
老者在观察着玄黄仙界，而李凡同时也在观察着老者。
"Similar to the New Black Death's ability, but much weaker. In an instant, almost simultaneously locking onto all intersecting principles in existence..."
yǐ jīng jiāng yǒng héng dà dào ， jiē dào xuán huáng xiān jiè cāng qióng zuì gāo chù ， hǎo shēng ān zhì 。 lǐ fán cǐ kè ， ráo yǒu xìng qù de zǐ xì dǎ liàng zhe zhè wèi shén wū jiè xiū shì 。
已经将永恒大道，接到玄黄仙界苍穹最高处，好生安置。李凡此刻，饶有兴趣的仔细打量着这位神巫界修士。
"There is some method to it."
hěn míng xiǎn ， tā shì zài wù dào 。
很明显，他是在悟道。
Li Fan snorted and directly severed his connection with Xuanhuang's path.
dàn gēn yì bān xiū shì wù dào de guò chéng bù tóng 。
但跟一般修士悟道的过程不同。
It was like having his eyes instantly blinded and his throat choked; the Divine Witch Realm cultivator let out a mournful cry. Realizing that he had angered Li Fan, he quickly fell to his knees, repeatedly begging for forgiveness.
lǐ fán kě yǐ kàn chū ， jìn rù xuán huáng xiān jiè de zhè duǎn duǎn shí jiān nèi ， cǐ rén duì tiān dì jiān zhū bān dà dào de lǐng wù chéng dù ， bìng méi yǒu jiā shēn 。 ér zhī suǒ yǐ néng fǎn lǎo huán tóng ， shì yīn wèi tā dān chún de ， cóng tiān dì wú shù dào zé zhōng ， zhí jiē jí qǔ le lì liàng 。
李凡可以看出，进入玄黄仙界的这短短时间内，此人对天地间诸般大道的领悟程度，并没有加深。而之所以能返老还童，是因为他单纯的，从天地无数道则中，直接汲取了力量。
"It was not my intention, it was just an instinct I could not control."
zuò wéi xuán huáng fù mǔ ， lǐ fán néng gòu mǐn ruì de chá jué dào ， xuán huáng tiān dì dà dào ， yīn wèi zhè wèi shén wū jiè xiū shì de jí qǔ ， ér ruò le nà me yī sī 。
作为玄黄父母，李凡能够敏锐的察觉到，玄黄天地大道，因为这位神巫界修士的汲取，而弱了那么一丝。
"Please forgive me, please forgive me!"
zòng shǐ bèi xī qǔ de wēi hū qí wēi ， dàn shì què què shí shí de fā shēng le 。
纵使被吸取的微乎其微，但是确确实实的发生了。
Li Fan saw through his sincerity.
“ jìng gēn xīn shēng mò shā de néng lì ， yǒu xiē xiāng sì 。 qiè qǔ néng lì ruò le xǔ duō ， bù guò zhè shùn xī jiān 、 jiù jī hū néng tóng shí suǒ dìng tiān dì jiān suǒ yǒu jiāo zhī dào zé ……”
“竟跟新生墨杀的能力，有些相似。窃取能力弱了许多，不过这瞬息间、就几乎能同时锁定天地间所有交织道则……”
However, the peculiar constitution of this Divine Witch Realm cultivator intrigued him. Ignoring his cries and pleas, Li Fan suppressed and sealed him. Then he projected a thread of divine consciousness into his body to examine him closely.
“ hái dàng zhēn yǒu xiē mén dào 。”
“还当真有些门道。”
Just as when he entered the Qingmeng Pearl, Li Fan's eyes were once again filled with the twelve majestic palaces standing tall in the sky.
At the entrance of the Merchant Immortal Boat, the elderly man with no hair or beard, who was sitting on a yellow wooden chair, suddenly stood up.
His hunched posture straightened, and without waiting for Li Fan's response, he followed the retraction of the Ten Thousand Forms Dao Web, quickly approaching him.
Though his words were directed at Li Fan, his gaze fixed intently on the Eternal Path within the Ten Thousand Forms Dao Web. His eyes, dark to the point of not revealing any light, showed a complex expression—both with uncontainable desire and some hesitation.
The round-faced man representing the Primordial Eternal Path seemed oblivious to him; he remained unchanged from start to finish.
But Li Fan did not ignore him. He paused slightly as he sized up the elderly man and asked, "You are not one of the True Merchants?"
The elderly man's gaze finally left the Eternal Path and he bowed respectfully towards Li Fan, answering solemnly, "No, no. I hope you will understand. Many years ago when I arrived at the Merchant Immortal Boat, it was to follow the steps of the Eternal Path. Now that the Eternal Path has moved, naturally, I must follow."
Upon hearing this, Li Fan became interested. The Ten Thousand Forms Dao Web enveloped them and they were being evacuated towards the inner walls of the Xuanhuang Immortal Realm.
The elderly man did not resist when faced with the wrapping of the Ten Thousand Forms Dao Web; he simply let Li Fan proceed as he wished.
During their journey back, in response to Li Fan's questions, he spoke freely without reservation.
"Tell me, when did you arrive at the Merchant Immortal Boat?"
"It has been too long since then, and I can't quite remember. But at that time, it was not a ship of immortals but a celestial cave within the world of cultivators. Later, this cave separated from the world, abandoned its home, and became the Xuan Merchant Immortal Ship. The ship drifted in the star sea, wandering aimlessly. Eventually, due to disagreements, it split into two during an internal conflict; one side emerged victorious as merchants, while the other lost as Xuan. I followed the divided Merchant Immortal Boat through the walls and arrived at a new expanse of stars..." the elderly man spoke calmly.
"How can you see the Eternal Path when you are not a true immortal? A mere mortal like you should not be able to perceive it," Li Fan observed clearly, knowing that while this man seemed mysterious, he was just an ordinary cultivator without any connection to the mountains and seas. This was also why Li Fan felt comfortable letting him approach.
"Let me explain to you, I come from the [Divine Witch] realm. I have a keen ability to perceive various paths of existence since birth. That's how I could spot the hidden Eternal Path among the world," the elderly man replied humbly.
"Divine Witch Realm?"
Li Fan was momentarily taken aback as he recalled an image in his mind: twelve solemn palaces standing tall in the clouds, distributed around, occupying the sky of the world. Each palace housed a statue. Countless cultivators like ants on earth were kneeling and praying.
Turning his hand, Li Fan retrieved the Qingmeng Pearl and asked, "Do you recognize this?"
In just a moment, the elderly man recognized it as a familiar object: "This... This is the Qingmeng Holy Pearl?"
Before he could examine it further, Li Fan had already put away the Qingmeng Pearl.
"Please forgive me for my reaction. Seeing an old friend brings out such emotions," the elderly man said with a sigh.
"Tell me more."
"The Qingmeng Holy Pearl is one of the twelve divine treasures from our Divine Witch Realm. These treasures were forged by the Twelve Witch Gods, who gathered various paths of existence and infused their essence into them. Before the Immortal Realm was created, these gods already existed, each possessing unimaginable power, not inferior to true immortals. Legend has it that after the creation of the Immortal Realm, in pursuit of its secrets, the witch gods used divine treasures as substitutes to enter the realm, thus opening a path for countless souls in our Divine Witch Realm."
"Later, a great calamity befell the world, and the Immortal Realm collapsed. Our Divine Witch Realm could not escape this disaster either. The Twelve Witch Gods united to save the world, buying time for the masses. I followed the portal opened by one of the witch gods and managed to survive..."
"The witch god opened a passage that led through these walls?" Li Fan chuckled, interrupting his words.
At that moment, the Ten Thousand Forms Dao Web brought them back to the Xuanhuang Immortal Realm with the Eternal Path.
However, when faced with Li Fan's question, the elderly man could no longer answer.
Upon seeing the Xuanhuang Immortal Realm, the Divine Witch Realm elder seemed frozen in place, standing still as if petrified.
Divine Witch Realm cultivators could resonate with and manipulate the paths of existence, giving them a natural keen understanding of the world's fundamental principles. In that instant, the elderly man saw the vastness of this realm, the rebirth and prosperity of its paths, a vibrant scene unlike anything in the barren starry skies outside.
Though he had never been to the Immortal Realm, the domain here seemed to be beyond what it was before!
He greedily looked around, as if every corner of Xuanhuang's heavens were filled with rare treasures. His ancient appearance gradually began to regain its youthful vitality as he observed.
While Li Fan watched the Divine Witch Realm elder, he also scrutinized him closely.
Having placed the Eternal Path at the highest point in the vast expanse of Xuanhuang's sky, Li Fan now examined this Divine Witch Realm cultivator with great interest.
Clearly, he was in a state of enlightenment, but unlike ordinary cultivators. Li Fan could see that within such a short time in the Xuanhuang realm, his understanding of various paths had not deepened. The reason for his rejuvenation was simply that he drew power directly from countless principles of existence.
As the parent of Xuanhuang, Li Fan could sense the weakening of its path due to this Divine Witch Realm cultivator's absorption.
Even though the amount absorbed was negligible, it did indeed happen.
"Similar to the New Black Death's ability, but much weaker. In an instant, almost simultaneously locking onto all intersecting principles in existence..."
"There is some method to it."
Li Fan snorted and directly severed his connection with Xuanhuang's path.
It was like having his eyes instantly blinded and his throat choked; the Divine Witch Realm cultivator let out a mournful cry. Realizing that he had angered Li Fan, he quickly fell to his knees, repeatedly begging for forgiveness.
"It was not my intention, it was just an instinct I could not control."
"Please forgive me, please forgive me!"
Li Fan saw through his sincerity.
However, the peculiar constitution of this Divine Witch Realm cultivator intrigued him. Ignoring his cries and pleas, Li Fan suppressed and sealed him. Then he projected a thread of divine consciousness into his body to examine him closely.
Just as when he entered the Qingmeng Pearl, Li Fan's eyes were once again filled with the twelve majestic palaces standing tall in the sky.