tiān dì jiān ， hūn chén chén sǐ jì yī piàn 。 wàn shì wàn wù dōu fǎng fú chù zài shí huà zhuàng tài zhōng 。
天地间，昏沉沉死寂一片。万事万物都仿佛处在石化状态中。
In the world, everything was shrouded in a dead silence. All things seemed to be in a state of stone-like stillness.
lǐ fán jìn rù dào xiān zhōu zǔ jiè zhī zhōng shí ， suǒ jiàn dào de biàn shì zhè bān jǐng xiàng 。
李凡进入到仙舟祖界之中时，所见到的便是这般景象。
When Li Fan entered the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm, he saw this scene.
rán ér zhè piàn sǐ jì bìng méi yǒu chí xù tài zhǎng shí jiān 。
然而这片死寂并没有持续太长时间。
However, this silence didn't last long.
rú tóng yī zhèn chūn fēng xí lái ， shì jiān yī qiè biàn kāi shǐ zì shí huà zhōng sū xǐng 。 guāng míng chóng xiàn ， wàn wù fù sū 。
如同一阵春风袭来，世间一切便开始自石化中苏醒。光明重现，万物复苏。
As if a gentle breeze had blown through, all life began to awaken from its stony state. Light returned, and everything came back to life.
shì jiè zài dù biàn dé xuān xiāo ， mǎn shì shēng jī 。
世界再度变得喧嚣，满是生机。
The world once again became bustling with vitality.
bù guò ， xiān zhōu zǔ jiè de shēng líng sì hū duì tā men bèi shí huà de chǔ jìng ， yǒu zhe míng què de rèn zhī 。 jué chù féng shēng hòu ， tā men qí qí guì dǎo zài dì ， gē sòng qǐ shén líng de ēn dé lái 。
不过，仙舟祖界的生灵似乎对他们被石化的处境，有着明确的认知。绝处逢生后，他们齐齐跪倒在地，歌颂起神灵的恩德来。
But the beings in the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm seemed to have a clear understanding of their own petrified state. After finding a way out of this dire situation, they all knelt down and praised the divine for their salvation.
cǐ fāng shì jiè bìng bù suàn dà ， shèn zhì hái bǐ bù shàng wèi dēng lín shí hòu de xuán huáng jiè 。 zhǐ shì shùn jiān ， lǐ fán shén niàn jiāng qí héng sǎo 。
此方世界并不算大，甚至还比不上未登临时候的玄黄界。只是瞬间，李凡神念将其横扫。
This realm wasn't particularly large; it was even smaller than Xuanhuang Immortal World before Li Fan had visited it. In an instant, his divine perception swept across the entire place.
yīn ér míng bái le zhè suǒ wèi shén líng de dǐ xì 。
因而明白了这所谓神灵的底细。
Thus, he understood the true nature of these so-called gods.
yuē měi gé bǎi nián shí jiān ， tiān dì jiān biàn huì yǒu yī cháng hào jié yùn yù ér shēng ， jiāng huǐ miè shì jiān suǒ yǒu shēng líng 、 shèn zhì zhè piàn tiān dì běn shēn 。
约每隔百年时间，天地间便会有一场浩劫孕育而生，将毁灭世间所有生灵、甚至这片天地本身。
Every hundred years or so, a great calamity would be born in the world, destined to destroy all living beings and even this very realm itself.
shì rén jué wàng zhī jì ， yǒu shén líng ， xīn huái dà cí bēi 。 zhǎo dào le wéi yī de jiù shì zhī fǎ 。
世人绝望之际，有神灵，心怀大慈悲。找到了唯一的救世之法。
When despair reigned among mortals, there were gods with great compassion. They found the only way to save the world.
dà jié lái lín zhī qián ， shén líng xiān yī bù jiāng suǒ yǒu shēng líng nǎi zhì tiān dì dōu shí huà ， yǐ dǐ zāi huò 。 dài dào jié nàn guò qù ， zài chóng xīn biàn huí 。
大劫来临之前，神灵先一步将所有生灵乃至天地都石化，以抵灾祸。待到劫难过去，再重新变回。
Before the great calamity struck, the gods petrified all life forms and the entire realm as a precaution against disaster. Once the calamity passed, they would revert back to their normal state.
bù zhī dào zuì chū ， xiān zhōu zǔ jiè zhòng shēng jiū jìng shì rú hé kàn dài zhè ge lüè xiǎn fēng kuáng de jì huà de 。 dàn jīng lì guò wú shù cì de shí huà bì jié ， zhè ge shì jiè de shēng líng ， què shì yǐ jīng xí guàn le měi bǎi nián de jù biàn le 。
不知道最初，仙舟祖界众生究竟是如何看待这个略显疯狂的计划的。但经历过无数次的石化避劫，这个世界的生灵，却是已经习惯了每百年的剧变了。
It was unclear how the beings in the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm initially viewed this seemingly mad plan. But after experiencing countless cycles of petrification, these beings had grown accustomed to such dramatic changes every hundred years.
“ cǐ jiè gēn wài miàn ， shí jiān liú sù bìng bù xiāng tóng 。”
“此界跟外面，时间流速并不相同。”
"This realm and the outside world have different rates of time flow."
“ zhè lǐ yī nián ， yě zhǐ yuē xiāng dāng yú xuán huáng xiān jiè yī tiān 。”
“这里一年，也只约相当于玄黄仙界一天。”
"Here, one year is roughly equivalent to a day in Xuanhuang Immortal World."
“ bù guò zhè lǐ qíng xíng ， què shì gēn wǒ zài wài jiè guān chá shí xiāng fǎn 。 chéng xiàn dào yān hēi sè shí ， zhè lǐ fǎn dào shì shēng jī àng rán 。 xiǎn lù chū nà bái sè shēng jī guāng máng shí ， cǐ jiè zé shì jì miè shí huà zhī zhōng 。”
“不过这里情形，却是跟我在外界观察时相反。呈现道湮黑色时，这里反倒是生机盎然。显露出那白色生机光芒时，此界则是寂灭石化之中。”
"But here, the situation is opposite from what I observed on the outside. When it shows the Daoyan blackness, this realm is teeming with life. But when it reveals that white light of vitality, this realm is petrified and silent."
lǐ fán tái tóu kàn xiàng le tiān mù zhī shàng 。
李凡抬头看向了天幕之上。
Li Fan looked up at the sky.
nà lǐ pán xuán zhe yī dào páng dà de yì niàn ， zhèng shì zào jiù zhè suǒ yǒu yì cháng de zuì kuí huò shǒu 。
那里盘旋着一道庞大的意念，正是造就这所有异常的罪魁祸首。
There, a massive thought-form was swirling—a culprit responsible for all these anomalies.
“ páng dà ”， zhǐ shì xiāng duì yú xiān zhōu zǔ jiè de qí tā shēng líng ér yán 。 gēn lǐ fán fēn huà de zhè dào yì niàn xiāng bǐ ， zé shì xiǎo wū jiàn dà wū le 。
“庞大”，只是相对于仙舟祖界的其他生灵而言。跟李凡分化的这道意念相比，则是小巫见大巫了。
"Large," but only in comparison to other beings in the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm. Compared to Li Fan's own fragmented thoughts, it was like a small witch seeing a great wizard.
méi yǒu jǐn shèn de bì yào ， lǐ fán dān dāo zhí rù ， yī kuī jiū jìng 。
没有谨慎的必要，李凡单刀直入，一窥究竟。
There was no need for caution. Li Fan went straight to the heart of the matter and delved into the memories.
wàn wù fù sū ，“ shén líng ” què xiàn rù le chén shuì 。 zòng shǐ yǒu xiē fáng hù shǒu duàn ， yě nán yǐ zǔ zhǐ lǐ fán 。
万物复苏，“神灵”却陷入了沉睡。纵使有些防护手段，也难以阻止李凡。
As life revived, the "god" fell into slumber. Even with some protective measures in place, they couldn't stop Li Fan from exploring their minds.
yīn ér lǐ fán néng gòu jǐn lǎn duì fāng jì yì 。
因而李凡能够尽览对方记忆。
Thus, he could see all the memories.
wú shù huà miàn suí zhī yǒng shàng xīn tóu 。
无数画面随之涌上心头。
---
yī qiè de qǐ yīn ， hái yào yuán yú xuán shāng xiān zhōu de pàn táo 。 běn shǔ yú bèi guān chá de shí yàn shù jù ， què cóng shí yàn chǎng zhōng táo chū 。 chù fā le jǐn jí yìng duì cuò shī ， cǐ chù shí yàn chǎng zì cǐ jiù bèi gé lí fēng bì qǐ lái 。
一切的起因，还要源于玄商仙舟的叛逃。本属于被观察的实验数据，却从实验场中逃出。触发了紧急应对措施，此处实验场自此就被隔离封闭起来。
The root cause of everything stemmed from the rebellion of Xuan Shang Immortal Boat. What was originally experimental data had escaped from its confines and triggered emergency measures, sealing off this experimental site.
ér zhè ge shì jiè yuán běn de jiān shì zhě ， yě yīn cǐ shòu dào zé fá ， huī fēi yān miè 。 ruò shì zài làn kē dào chǎng hái zhèng cháng yùn zhuàn de qíng kuàng xià ， hěn kuài jiù huì pài chū xīn de jiān shì zhě jiē rèn 。 dàn dào yān jiāng zhì ， dào chǎng yǐ jīng gè fāng fèi qì 。
而这个世界原本的监视者，也因此受到责罚，灰飞烟灭。若是在烂柯道场还正常运转的情况下，很快就会派出新的监视者接任。但道湮将至，道场已经各方废弃。
And since then, the original overseers of this world faced punishment, vanishing into thin air. If the Lankuo Dao Field were still functioning normally, new observers would have been sent soon. But with the approach of Daoyan, the Dao Field had already fallen into disrepair.
xiān zhōu zǔ jiè ， zì cǐ jiù xiàn rù le fēng bì gé jué zhī jìng 。
仙舟祖界，自此就陷入了封闭隔绝之境。
The Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm was thus sealed off and isolated.
dàn shì shí shàng ， méi yǒu dào chǎng shì lì gān shè de zhè duàn shí jiān ， fǎn ér shì xiān zhōu zǔ jiè zhěng tǐ fā zhǎn zuì wèi xùn měng de shí qī 。 gè fāng shì lì lián hé qǐ lái ， yán jiū xiān zhōu pàn táo 、 yǐ jí tiān dì jù biàn de yuán yīn suǒ zài 。
但事实上，没有道场势力干涉的这段时间，反而是仙舟祖界整体发展最为迅猛的时期。各方势力联合起来，研究仙舟叛逃、以及天地剧变的原因所在。
However, during this period without interference from the Dao Field forces, it became the most rapidly developing time for the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm. Various factions united to study why the immortal boat had rebelled and what caused such dramatic changes in the world.
zuì zhōng fā xiàn le yuán lái tā men shēn chù de shì jiè ， jìng shì xiān jiè bù zhì de shí yàn chǎng zhè yī jīng tiān mì mì 。
最终发现了原来他们身处的世界，竟是仙界布置的实验场这一惊天秘密。
They eventually discovered that they were actually part of a grand experiment set up by the Immortal World itself.
shuí rén yuàn yì wèi bái shǔ ？
谁人愿意为白鼠？
Who would willingly be guinea pigs?
zì rán ér rán de ， tā men xiǎng yào gēn xuán shāng xiān zhōu yì bān ， bǎi tuō zhè zhǒng mìng yùn 。
自然而然的，他们想要跟玄商仙舟一般，摆脱这种命运。
Naturally, they wanted to break free from this fate like Xuan Shang Immortal Boat did. They began researching and decoding the hidden immortal restrictions and arrays within their world. Factions worked together, turning these immortals into their own tools.
tā men kāi shǐ yán jiū jiě xī ， shì jiè nèi àn cáng de xiān jiā jìn zhì 、 fǎ zhèn 。 gè jiā gè pài zài wú jiàn xì ， tóng xīn xié lì 、 huà xiān wèi jǐ yòng 。
他们开始研究解析，世界内暗藏的仙家禁制、法阵。各家各派再无间隙，同心协力、化仙为己用。
The overall strength of Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm cultivators surged dramatically.
xiān zhōu zǔ jiè xiū shì de zhěng tǐ shí lì ， yīn ér xùn měng pān shēng 。
仙舟祖界修士的整体实力，因而迅猛攀升。
But breaking the seals on Lankuo Dao Field was still far from being achieved.
zhǐ shì jù lí dǎ pò làn kē dào chǎng de fēng jìn shǒu duàn ， hái chà de hěn yuǎn 。
只是距离打破烂柯道场的封禁手段，还差的很远。
Then, Daoyan descended.
jiù zài zhè shí ， dào yān jiàng lín le 。
就在这时，道湮降临了。
Technically speaking, what the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm faced wasn't the full-scale destruction brought by Daoyan. After all, they were protected by the presence of Shouchou's Illusionary Shadow above them. What they encountered were just droplets splashed from the collision between Daoyan and Shouchou's Illusionary Shadow.
yán gé lái shuō ， xiān zhōu zǔ jiè miàn duì de ， bìng fēi zhēn zhèng yì yì shàng 、 nà huǐ miè le xiān jiè de dào yān dà cháo 。 bì jìng shēn chù làn kē dào chǎng zhōng ， yǒu shǒu qiū xū yǐng zài shàng miàn zhī chēng 。 tā men zāo yù de ， jǐn jǐn shì dào yān gēn shǒu qiū xū yǐng pèng zhuàng hòu jiàn sā de xiē xǔ shuǐ dī bà le 。
严格来说，仙舟祖界面对的，并非真正意义上、那毁灭了仙界的道湮大潮。毕竟身处烂柯道场中，有守丘虚影在上面支撑。他们遭遇的，仅仅是道湮跟守丘虚影碰撞后溅撒的些许水滴罢了。
Even so, Daoyan was still too much for the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm to bear.
jí biàn rú cǐ ，【 dào yān 】 yě bú shì xiān zhōu zǔ jiè suǒ néng chéng shòu de 。
即便如此，【道湮】也不是仙舟祖界所能承受的。
Once-vast worlds, countless immortal caves like stars in the sky, had been mostly swallowed up by this calamity. Only a small portion struggled on, clinging to life.
céng jīng lián mián wú jìn de hào hàn shì jiè ， rú màn tiān fán xīng bān bù kě shèng shǔ de dòng tiān ， jiē jué dà duō shù bèi shùn jiān tūn mò 。
曾经连绵无尽的浩瀚世界，如漫天繁星般不可胜数的洞天，皆绝大多数被瞬间吞没。
Fortunately, they had collectively studied the Dao Field restrictions of Lankuo Dao Field before. By activating these remnants, they managed to resist Daoyan.
shèng xià yī xiǎo bù fèn ， zài jīng huáng zhī zhōng ， kǔ kǔ zhī chēng 。
剩下一小部分，在惊惶之中，苦苦支撑。
Just as the Immortal World once resisted Daoyan.
yě xìng kuī cǐ qián tā men duì làn kē dào chǎng de xiān zhèn jìn zhì jìn xíng le jí tǐ yán jiū ， yī kào cán cún jī fā xiān zhèn ， zhè xiē rén cái yǒu le gēn “ dào yān ” duì kàng de zī běn 。
也幸亏此前他们对烂柯道场的仙阵禁制进行了集体研究，依靠残存激发仙阵，这些人才有了跟“道湮”对抗的资本。
For years afterward, the remaining souls in the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm sought every possible means to survive under the shadow of Daoyan, using all their resources.
jiù rú tóng céng jīng de xiān jiè duì kàng dào yān yī yàng 。
就如同曾经的仙界对抗道湮一样。
Perhaps it was because of the extreme circumstances that human potential could be infinitely tapped.
cǐ hòu jīng nián ， xiān zhōu zǔ jiè cán cún shēng líng wèi le zì shēn de shēng cún ， xiǎng jǐn yī qiè bàn fǎ 、 qīng qí suǒ yǒu ， yù xún zhǎo dào néng zài dào yān yīn yǐng xià cún huó de bàn fǎ 。
此后经年，仙舟祖界残存生灵为了自身的生存，想尽一切办法、倾其所有，欲寻找到能在道湮阴影下存活的办法。
The cultivators of the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm actually found a way to resist this calamity.
huò xǔ shì zài shēng sǐ jué jìng zhōng ， rén de qián néng zhēn néng bèi wú xiàn jī fā 。
或许是在生死绝境中，人的潜能真能被无限激发。
Li Fan observed the sleeping consciousness before him. This consciousness wasn't just from one individual but from thousands of different thoughts combined.
xiān zhōu zǔ jiè de xiū shì jìng rán zhēn de xún zhǎo dào le ， kě néng de yìng duì zhī fǎ 。
仙舟祖界的修士竟然真的寻找到了，可能的应对之法。
---
lǐ fán guān chá zhuó yǎn qián chén shuì de zhè dào yì shí 。
李凡观察着眼前沉睡的这道意识。
Each thought represented a talented immortal in the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm.
cǐ yì shí bìng fēi zhǐ shì shǔ yú dān yī shēng líng ， ér shì yóu chéng qiān shàng wàn 、 bù tóng de yì niàn róng hé suǒ chéng 。
此意识并非只是属于单一生灵，而是由成千上万、不同的意念融合所成。
"These cultivators each understood the path of cultivation differently."
měi yī dào yì niàn ， dōu dài biǎo zhe xiān zhōu zǔ jiè zhōng ， yī wèi tiān zī zòng héng xiū shì 。
每一道意念，都代表着仙舟祖界中，一位天资纵横修士。
"Each cultivated a unique path, intertwining with others like a web. The web could bear the weight of Daoyan!"
“ zhè xiē xiū shì ， gè zì lǐng wù xiū xíng dà dào ， jiē bù xiāng tóng 。”
“这些修士，各自领悟修行大道，皆不相同。”
"While these ordinary cultivators couldn't grasp the profound Daoic principles as true immortals, they didn't face the full-scale Daoyan either. Thus, theoretically speaking, if more and more cultivators sacrificed themselves to join this consciousness, there might be a chance for success."
“ gè xiū yī dào ， bǐ cǐ jiāo zhī ， wǎn ruò dào wǎng 。 dào wǎng ， kě chéng dào yān zhī zhòng ！”
“各修一道，彼此交织，宛若道网。道网，可承道湮之重！”
"Unfortunately..."
“ suī rán qū qū fán sú xiū shì ， tā men suǒ néng lǐng wù de dào zé shēn kè chéng dù ， wán quán wú fǎ gēn zhēn xiān xiāng tí bìng lùn 。 dàn tā men suǒ yào miàn duì de ， yě bìng fēi zhēn zhèng de dào yān dà cháo 。 gù ér ， cóng lǐ lùn shàng lái jiǎng ， ruò shì qián fù hòu jì 、 xī shēng jiā rù zhè tuán yì shí de xiū shì yuè lái yuè duō ， dào yě dàng zhēn yǒu chéng gōng de kě néng 。”
“虽然区区凡俗修士，他们所能领悟的道则深刻程度，完全无法跟真仙相提并论。但他们所要面对的，也并非真正的道湮大潮。故而，从理论上来讲，若是前赴后继、牺牲加入这团意识的修士越来越多，倒也当真有成功的可能。”
Li Fan's gaze pierced through the combined thoughts to their core.
“ zhǐ kě xī ……”
“只可惜……”
There seemed to be a tiny void there.
lǐ fán de shì xiàn ， chuān guò zhè dào róng hé yì niàn ， dá dào nèi lǐ hé xīn 。
李凡的视线，穿过这道融合意念，达到内里核心。
Blackness flowed out of it like a stream.
zài nà lǐ ， fǎng fú cún zài zhe yí gè wēi xiǎo de kōng dòng 。
在那里，仿佛存在着一个微小的空洞。
"The Daoyan isn't static. On the contrary, it acts as if it has its own consciousness, cunningly seeping in from these weak droplets."
sī sī hēi sè ， zhèng cóng zhè kōng dòng zhōng liú chū 。 rú xī shuǐ bān huì jù ér lái 。
丝丝黑色，正从这空洞中流出。如溪水般汇聚而来。
"However, the people here couldn't realize this. Or perhaps by the time they did, it was too late."
“ dào yān yě bìng fēi yī chéng bù biàn de sǐ wù 。 qià qià xiāng fǎn ， dào yān yě wǎn ruò yǒu zì shēn yì shí bān ， shí fēn jiǎo huá 。 zuì chū dí què zhǐ shì fēi jiàn de shuǐ dī ， dàn zhēn zhèng de dào yān 、 wú kǒng bù rù 。 màn màn cóng zhè xiē wēi ruò de shuǐ dī zhōng ， shèn tòu guò lái 。”
“道湮也并非一成不变的死物。恰恰相反，道湮也宛若有自身意识般，十分狡猾。最初的确只是飞溅的水滴，但真正的道湮、无孔不入。慢慢从这些微弱的水滴中，渗透过来。”
With support, the once-weak droplets gradually grew into a full-scale calamity.
“ zhè ge shì jiè de rén ， què bù néng yì shí dào zhè yì diǎn 。 huò zhě shuō ， děng tā men fā xiàn zhè yí mù de shí hòu ， yǐ jīng tài chí le 。”
“这个世界的人，却不能意识到这一点。或者说，等他们发现这一幕的时候，已经太迟了。”
This level of disaster could no longer be resisted by ordinary cultivators, even geniuses like them.
yǒu le zhī yuán hòu ， céng jīng wēi ruò de shuǐ dī ， màn màn yǒu fā zhǎn zhuàng dà chéng zhēn zhèng dà cháo de qū shì 。
有了支援后，曾经微弱的水滴，慢慢有发展壮大成真正大潮的趋势。
"But in such dire straits, they still found ways to survive..."
zhè zhǒng chéng dù de zāi huò ， yǐ jīng bú shì fán sú xiū shì suǒ néng dǐ dǎng de le 。 nǎ pà tā men zài zěn me tiān cái yě shì rú cǐ 。
这种程度的灾祸，已经不是凡俗修士所能抵挡的了。哪怕他们再怎么天才也是如此。
"Remarkable!" Li Fan praised.
“ bù guò ， zài zhè zhǒng jué jìng zhī xià ， tā men yě yī rán néng zhǎo dào qiú shēng zhī fǎ ……”
“不过，在这种绝境之下，他们也依然能找到求生之法……”
"Though it's just a desperate survival method."
“ liǎo bù qǐ ！” lǐ fán bù lìn zàn shǎng dào 。
“了不起！”李凡不吝赞赏道。
The final desperate measure of the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm didn't escape Li Fan's notice. They adopted a strategy of blocking rather than diverting.
“ suī rán zhǐ shì ， bù dé yǐ ér wèi zhī de qiú shēng fǎ mén 。”
“虽然只是，不得以而为之的求生法门。”
They attracted and concentrated all leaks of Daoyan, using collective thoughts to build a dam to resist it. When they reached their mental limits, they would deliberately detonate the dam, redirecting the calamity into other spaces within Lankuo Dao Field.
In the world, everything was shrouded in a dead silence. All things seemed to be in a state of stone-like stillness.
When Li Fan entered the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm, he saw this scene.
However, this silence didn't last long.
As if a gentle breeze had blown through, all life began to awaken from its stony state. Light returned, and everything came back to life.
The world once again became bustling with vitality.
But the beings in the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm seemed to have a clear understanding of their own petrified state. After finding a way out of this dire situation, they all knelt down and praised the divine for their salvation.
This realm wasn't particularly large; it was even smaller than Xuanhuang Immortal World before Li Fan had visited it. In an instant, his divine perception swept across the entire place.
Thus, he understood the true nature of these so-called gods.
Every hundred years or so, a great calamity would be born in the world, destined to destroy all living beings and even this very realm itself.
When despair reigned among mortals, there were gods with great compassion. They found the only way to save the world.
Before the great calamity struck, the gods petrified all life forms and the entire realm as a precaution against disaster. Once the calamity passed, they would revert back to their normal state.
It was unclear how the beings in the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm initially viewed this seemingly mad plan. But after experiencing countless cycles of petrification, these beings had grown accustomed to such dramatic changes every hundred years.
"This realm and the outside world have different rates of time flow."
"Here, one year is roughly equivalent to a day in Xuanhuang Immortal World."
"But here, the situation is opposite from what I observed on the outside. When it shows the Daoyan blackness, this realm is teeming with life. But when it reveals that white light of vitality, this realm is petrified and silent."
Li Fan looked up at the sky.
There, a massive thought-form was swirling—a culprit responsible for all these anomalies.
"Large," but only in comparison to other beings in the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm. Compared to Li Fan's own fragmented thoughts, it was like a small witch seeing a great wizard.
There was no need for caution. Li Fan went straight to the heart of the matter and delved into the memories.
As life revived, the "god" fell into slumber. Even with some protective measures in place, they couldn't stop Li Fan from exploring their minds.
Thus, he could see all the memories.
---
The root cause of everything stemmed from the rebellion of Xuan Shang Immortal Boat. What was originally experimental data had escaped from its confines and triggered emergency measures, sealing off this experimental site.
And since then, the original overseers of this world faced punishment, vanishing into thin air. If the Lankuo Dao Field were still functioning normally, new observers would have been sent soon. But with the approach of Daoyan, the Dao Field had already fallen into disrepair.
The Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm was thus sealed off and isolated.
However, during this period without interference from the Dao Field forces, it became the most rapidly developing time for the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm. Various factions united to study why the immortal boat had rebelled and what caused such dramatic changes in the world.
They eventually discovered that they were actually part of a grand experiment set up by the Immortal World itself.
Who would willingly be guinea pigs?
Naturally, they wanted to break free from this fate like Xuan Shang Immortal Boat did. They began researching and decoding the hidden immortal restrictions and arrays within their world. Factions worked together, turning these immortals into their own tools.
The overall strength of Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm cultivators surged dramatically.
But breaking the seals on Lankuo Dao Field was still far from being achieved.
Then, Daoyan descended.
Technically speaking, what the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm faced wasn't the full-scale destruction brought by Daoyan. After all, they were protected by the presence of Shouchou's Illusionary Shadow above them. What they encountered were just droplets splashed from the collision between Daoyan and Shouchou's Illusionary Shadow.
Even so, Daoyan was still too much for the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm to bear.
Once-vast worlds, countless immortal caves like stars in the sky, had been mostly swallowed up by this calamity. Only a small portion struggled on, clinging to life.
Fortunately, they had collectively studied the Dao Field restrictions of Lankuo Dao Field before. By activating these remnants, they managed to resist Daoyan.
Just as the Immortal World once resisted Daoyan.
For years afterward, the remaining souls in the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm sought every possible means to survive under the shadow of Daoyan, using all their resources.
Perhaps it was because of the extreme circumstances that human potential could be infinitely tapped.
The cultivators of the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm actually found a way to resist this calamity.
Li Fan observed the sleeping consciousness before him. This consciousness wasn't just from one individual but from thousands of different thoughts combined.
---
Each thought represented a talented immortal in the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm.
"These cultivators each understood the path of cultivation differently."
"Each cultivated a unique path, intertwining with others like a web. The web could bear the weight of Daoyan!"
"While these ordinary cultivators couldn't grasp the profound Daoic principles as true immortals, they didn't face the full-scale Daoyan either. Thus, theoretically speaking, if more and more cultivators sacrificed themselves to join this consciousness, there might be a chance for success."
"Unfortunately..."
Li Fan's gaze pierced through the combined thoughts to their core.
There seemed to be a tiny void there.
Blackness flowed out of it like a stream.
"The Daoyan isn't static. On the contrary, it acts as if it has its own consciousness, cunningly seeping in from these weak droplets."
"However, the people here couldn't realize this. Or perhaps by the time they did, it was too late."
With support, the once-weak droplets gradually grew into a full-scale calamity.
This level of disaster could no longer be resisted by ordinary cultivators, even geniuses like them.
"But in such dire straits, they still found ways to survive..."
"Remarkable!" Li Fan praised.
"Though it's just a desperate survival method."
The final desperate measure of the Ancestral Immortal Boat Realm didn't escape Li Fan's notice. They adopted a strategy of blocking rather than diverting.
They attracted and concentrated all leaks of Daoyan, using collective thoughts to build a dam to resist it. When they reached their mental limits, they would deliberately detonate the dam, redirecting the calamity into other spaces within Lankuo Dao Field.