fǎng fú céng jīng qīn shēn tǐ huì guò yì bān ， bái fà qīng nián xiàn rù huí yì ， yōu yōu shuō dào ：“ ruò shì néng shùn lì tuō lí le zhè 【 shān hǎi 】 shēn fèn de guī shǔ ， jí biàn méi yǒu dá dào shèng zhě jìng jiè ， yě yī jiù néng yú yǒng jì xū jiè zhōng xìng cún ！”
仿佛曾经亲身体会过一般，白发青年陷入回忆，幽幽说道：“若是能顺利脱离了这【山海】身份的归属，即便没有达到圣者境界，也依旧能于永寂虚界中幸存！”
Seemingly recalling a past experience, the white-haired youth fell into his memories as he softly said, "If we can successfully detach ourselves from this [Mountain and Sea] identity, even if we don't reach the Saint Realm, we can still survive in the Eternal Void!"
“ xiāng jiào yú réng chù shān hǎi zhī nèi ， dào yān de shā shāng lì ruò le bù zhǐ yī chóu 。 zhè biàn gěi le wú děng zuì hòu de yī sī zì jiù jī huì 。”
“相较于仍处山海之内，道湮的杀伤力弱了不止一筹。这便给了吾等最后的一丝自救机会。”
"Compared to remaining within the Mountain and Sea, Dao Yan's destructive power is significantly weaker. This gives us our last chance for self-rescue."
lǐ fán mī zhuó yǎn ， dǎ liàng zhe bái fà qīng nián 。
李凡眯着眼，打量着白发青年。
Li Fan squinted his eyes as he sized up the white-haired youth.
shēng miè zhī jiè qí yú zūn zhě sì hū duì bái fà qīng nián jí wéi xìn rèn 。 tā suǒ shuō de jié lùn ， zhòng rén jiē shì shēn xìn bù yí 。
生灭之界其余尊者似乎对白发青年极为信任。他所说的结论，众人皆是深信不疑。
The other Immortal Elders of the Birth-and-Death Realm seemed to trust the white-haired youth immensely. Everyone believed in his conclusion without a doubt.
rán lǐ fán nèi xīn de yí huò què bù kě néng jiù zhè bān xiāo chú 。
然李凡内心的疑惑却不可能就这般消除。
However, Li Fan's doubts couldn't be easily dispelled.
“ tuō lí shān hǎi zhī hòu ne ？”
“脱离山海之后呢？”
"Once we leave the Mountain and Sea, what then?"
“ jí biàn zhēn rú nǐ suǒ shuō ， wǒ men néng yú yǒng jì xū jiè zhōng cún huó 。 dàn yòu néng jiān chí duō jiǔ ？”
“即便真如你所说，我们能于永寂虚界中存活。但又能坚持多久？”
"What if as you say, we can survive in the Eternal Void? How long can we endure?"
miàn duì lǐ fán de zhì yí ， bái fà qīng nián dàn dàn shuō dào ：“ shān hǎi jì fù ， xīng zì zhòng xiàn 。 cóng mǒu zhǒng yì yì shàng lái shuō ， biàn jìn rù le xià yī lún huí zhī zhōng 。 huò xǔ yǒu zhāo yī rì ， yòu yǒu shān hǎi fù xiàn ， jiāng xīng tūn mò 。 dàn wǒ men zǒng guī shì néng zài xīn shí dài lǐ ， zhàn jù le yī xí zhī dì 。”
面对李凡的质疑，白发青年淡淡说道：“山海既覆，星自重现。从某种意义上来说，便进入了下一轮回之中。或许有朝一日，又有山海复现，将星吞没。但我们总归是能在新时代里，占据了一席之地。”
Facing Li Fan's skepticism, the white-haired youth said calmly, "When the Mountain and Sea are covered, stars will naturally reappear. In a sense, it means entering another cycle. Perhaps one day, there might be another Mountain and Sea that swallows the stars. But at least we have secured our place in this new era."
“ shèn zhì yú ， huò xǔ xīng duì yú wǒ men zhè xiē shān hǎi tóu chéng zhě ， yě yǒu yōu dài yě shuō bù dìng 。”
“甚至于，或许星对于我们这些山海投诚者，也有优待也说不定。”
"Perhaps even, for us who submitted to the Mountain and Sea, there could be some preferential treatment."
“ zhè wán quán shì cāi cè ba ？” tīng wán bái fà qīng nián de dà jì ， lǐ fán shén qíng biàn dé pǒ yǒu xiē wēi miào 。
“这完全是猜测吧？”听完白发青年的大计，李凡神情变得颇有些微妙。
"This is just speculation, right?" Li Fan's expression turned somewhat complex after hearing the white-haired youth's grand plan.
“ shì …… yě bù quán shì 。”
“是……也不全是。”
"It... isn't entirely so."
bái fà qīng nián bìng méi yǒu zài jiě shì xià qù ， zhǐ jiǎn dān shuō le zhè me yī jù ， biàn bù zài huí dá 。
白发青年并没有再解释下去，只简单说了这么一句，便不再回答。
The white-haired youth didn't elaborate further. He simply said this much before refusing to answer any more questions.
yǎn kàn chǎng miàn sì hū xiàn rù jiāng jú ， míng dào xiān zhè shí hòu zhàn chū lái dǎ yuán chǎng ：“ xū zhī ， duì wǒ děng méi yǒu dá dào shèng zhě jìng jiè de xiū shì ér yán ， zhè yǐ jīng shì suǒ néng tuī yǎn chū lái de zuì hòu qiú shēng zhī fǎ le 。 zài suǒ yǒu fāng àn zhī zhōng ， zhè yǐ jīng shì shēng cún gài lǜ zuì gāo de nà yí gè le 。”
眼看场面似乎陷入僵局，铭道仙这时候站出来打圆场：“需知，对我等没有达到圣者境界的修士而言，这已经是所能推衍出来的最后求生之法了。在所有方案之中，这已经是生存概率最高的那一个了。”
Seeing that the situation seemed to be at a stalemate, Míng Dào Xiān stepped forward to mediate: "Remember, for us who haven't reached the Saint Realm, this is already our last chance for survival. Among all the plans, this one has the highest probability of success."
“ huàn jù huà shuō ， zòng shǐ méi néng zài shān hǎi guī xīng de nà yī shùn ， wán chéng dú lì 。 wǒ men yě bì jìng huó dào le shān hǎi zhī mò ， shì yě bú shì ？”
“换句话说，纵使没能在山海归星的那一瞬，完成独立。我们也毕竟活到了山海之末，是也不是？”
"In other words, even if we didn't achieve independence when the Mountain and Sea returned the stars, at least we survived until its end, isn't that right?"
“ dāng rán ……”
“当然……”
"Of course..."
míng dào xiān huà fēng yī zhuǎn ， kàn xiàng lǐ fán ：“ dào yǒu nǐ zì shì gēn wǒ men bù yí yàng de 。 rú jīn ， nǐ yǐ zhí zhǎng 【 xuán pìn 】 dà dào ， ruò shì bù chū yì wài 、 jiāng lái chéng jiù shèng zhě ， jī hū shì bǎn shàng dìng dīng zhī shì 。 rú guǒ nǐ bù yuàn cān yù wǒ men xíng dòng ， wǒ men yě kě lǐ jiě 。”
铭道仙话锋一转，看向李凡：“道友你自是跟我们不一样的。如今，你已执掌【玄牝】大道，若是不出意外、将来成就圣者，几乎是板上钉钉之事。如果你不愿参与我们行动，我们也可理解。”
Míng Dào Xiān changed his tone and looked at Li Fan. "My Daoist friend, you are different from us. Now that you have mastered the [Xuán Mǔ] Great Path, if everything goes as planned, becoming a Saint is almost certain. If you don't want to join our mission, we can understand."
“ wú lùn shì tóu bèn bǐ àn ， yì huò zhě shèng cháo ， dōu kě zì wèi zhī ！ wǒ men jué bù zǔ lán 。”
“无论是投奔彼岸，亦或者圣朝，都可自为之！我们绝不阻拦。”
"You can go either way—towards the Other Shore or the Holy Dynasty! We won't stop you," he said sincerely.
“ wéi wàng kàn zài zhè me duō nián xiāng chǔ de qíng miàn shàng ， bú yào jiāng shēng miè zhī jiè mì mì xiè lòu chū qù 。” míng dào xiān yán cí kěn qiè dào 。
“唯望看在这么多年相处的情面上，不要将生灭之界秘密泄露出去。”铭道仙言辞恳切道。
"Only hope that for all these years of companionship, you won't leak this Birth-and-Death Realm's secret." Míng Dào Xiān earnestly requested.
lǐ fán tàn xī yī shēng ， chén yín bù yǔ 。
李凡叹息一声，沉吟不语。
Li Fan sighed and remained silent in thought.
“ wǒ xiǎng yī xiǎng ， zài gěi nǐ men dá fù 。”
“我想一想，再给你们答复。”
"I'll think about it and give you a response later."
lǐ fán de fǎn yìng ， yě zài yī zhòng zūn zhě de yù liào zhī nèi 。
李凡的反应，也在一众尊者的预料之内。
As expected, Li Fan's reaction was within the expectations of the other Immortal Elders. After all, he had already reached the "near-Saint" realm.
bì jìng tā yǐ jīng shì “ zhǔn shèng ” le 。
毕竟他已经是“准圣”了。
If he had directly agreed to join the Birth-and-Death Realm without any reservations, Míng Dào Xiān and others might have found it strange.
ruò shì háo wú gù jì biàn zhí jiē dā yìng jiā rù shēng miè zhī jiè de jì huà ， míng dào xiān men kǒng pà fǎn ér huì jué de qí guài 。
若是毫无顾忌便直接答应加入生灭之界的计划，铭道仙们恐怕反而会觉得奇怪。
---
lǐ fán zú zú sī kǎo le sān nián shí jiān ， fāng cái gěi zūn zhě men dá fù 。
李凡足足思考了三年时间，方才给尊者们答复。
After three years of contemplation, Li Fan finally gave his response to the Immortal Elders.
“ xiāng jiào yú bǐ àn nà xiē bù zhī míng xìng de shèng zhě ， wǒ hái shì gèng yuàn yì xiāng xìn nǐ men 。”
“相较于彼岸那些不知名姓的圣者，我还是更愿意相信你们。”
"Compared to those anonymous Saints at the Other Shore, I still trust you more."
cǐ yán yī chū ， zòng shǐ yǐ míng dào xiān děng rén chéng fǔ ， yě bù yóu fēn fēn xǐ chū wàng wài 。
此言一出，纵使以铭道仙等人城府，也不由纷纷喜出望外。
These words brought joy to even Míng Dào Xiān's stoic expression. "Since I can obtain the [Xuán Mǔ] Great Path thanks to your efforts, how could I betray you in this matter concerning life and death?"
“ bì jìng wǒ néng huò dé xuán pìn dà dào ， yě shì tuō zhū wèi de fú 。 yòu qǐ néng zài zhè guān hū shēng sǐ de shì shàng ， gū fù zhū wèi ？”
“毕竟我能获得玄牝大道，也是托诸位的福。又岂能在这关乎生死的事上，辜负诸位？”
"After diligently practicing Daoist cultivation and achieving Sainthood sooner, executing our plan will be more feasible," Li Fan said with righteous resolve.
“ dài wǒ xīn qín wù dào xiū xíng ， zǎo rì chéng jiù shèng zhě ， jiāng lái zhí xíng jì huà yě jiù gèng duō jǐ fēn bǎ wò 。” lǐ fán yì zhèng yán cí 。
“待我辛勤悟道修行，早日成就圣者，将来执行计划也就更多几分把握。”李凡义正言辞。
The Immortal Elders all agreed heartily.
zhū zūn zhě jiē lián lián chēng shàn 。
诸尊者皆连连称善。
After this incident, Li Fan finally gained the trust of Míng Dào Xiān and others, fully integrating into the ranks of the Birth-and-Death Realm's Immortal Elders.
jīng cǐ yī shì ， lǐ fán cái suàn shì zhēn zhèng huò qǔ le míng dào xiān tā men de xìn rèn 、 chè dǐ róng rù shēng miè zhī jiè zūn zhě háng liè zhī zhōng 。
经此一事，李凡才算是真正获取了铭道仙他们的信任、彻底融入生灭之界尊者行列之中。
In subsequent discussions, Li Fan gradually learned more about their secrets. The white-haired youth was indeed created by the Mountain and Sea Traveler through the method of empty imagination.
zài jiē xià lái de jiāo liú zhī zhōng ， lǐ fán yě jiù màn màn zhī xiǎo le gèng duō tā men de yǐn mì 。
在接下来的交流之中，李凡也就慢慢知晓了更多他们的隐秘。
Long ago, the Five Sages encountered the Mountain and Sea Traveler coincidentally.
nà bái fà qīng nián ， dí què shì nà wèi shān hǎi xíng zhě tōng guò kōng xiǎng zhī fǎ píng kōng fù xiàn shēng chéng de 。
那白发青年，的确是那位山海行者通过空想之法凭空复现生成的。
The Mountain and Sea Traveler told them about the empty imagination technique and the future of the Mountain and Sea.
xǔ jiǔ zhī qián ， tóng jié wǔ zūn ǒu yù shān hǎi xíng zhě 。
许久之前，同劫五尊偶遇山海行者。
Initially, they didn't believe him. So, in front of the Five Sages, the Mountain and Sea Traveler demonstrated his empty imagination technique.
shān hǎi xíng zhě xiàng wǔ zūn jiǎng shù le kōng xiǎng zhī fǎ yǐ jí shān hǎi zhī mò de guāng jǐng 。
山海行者向五尊讲述了空想之法以及山海之末的光景。
Amidst swirling vague light, the white-haired youth slowly emerged.
wǔ zūn zuì kāi shǐ zì shì bù xìn 。
五尊最开始自是不信。
Arriving at a strange region, he was initially confused. But after feeling the current state of the Mountain and Sea and seeing the heavily injured Mountain and Sea Traveler due to the empty imagination technique, he said with sorrow, "It seems I failed in the end."
yú shì nà wèi shān hǎi xíng zhě ， dāng zhe wǔ zūn de miàn ， qīn zì shī zhǎn le kōng xiǎng gòu zhù de dà shén tōng 。
于是那位山海行者，当着五尊的面，亲自施展了空想构筑的大神通。
The Mountain and Sea Traveler smiled. "But there's still a chance to save everything."
mó hú guāng yǐng yǒng dòng zhōng ， bái fà qīng nián ， xú xú zǒu chū 。
模糊光影涌动中，白发青年，徐徐走出。
"Let’s hope so. You go about your business. If I fail again..."
lái dào le yī chù mò shēng dì yù ， bái fà qīng nián xiān shì yī zhèn mí máng 。 bù guò zài gǎn shòu dào suǒ chù shān hǎi jìng yù ， yǐ jí kàn dào nà wèi yīn wèi kōng xiǎng gòu zhù ér yuán qì dà shāng de shān hǎi xíng zhě zhī hòu ， shén qíng yōu shāng 、 tàn xī dào ：“ kàn lái ， wǒ zuì zhōng hái shì shī bài le 。”
来到了一处陌生地域，白发青年先是一阵迷茫。不过在感受到所处山海境遇，以及看到那位因为空想构筑而元气大伤的山海行者之后，神情忧伤、叹息道：“看来，我最终还是失败了。”
"I’ll come back," the Mountain and Sea Traveler confidently declared before disappearing.
shān hǎi xíng zhě wēi xiào dào ：“ dàn què yǒu wǎn huí yī qiè de jī huì 。”
山海行者微笑道：“但却有挽回一切的机会。”
His name was Qi Xinhui, originally one of the most outstanding cultivators in the last remnants of time. An unparalleled genius who still achieved Sainthood in an era where all saints had fallen and the Great Path was almost extinct!
“ dàn yuàn ba 。 nǐ qù zuò nǐ de shì ， ruò shì wǒ zài shī bài ……”
“但愿吧。你去做你的事，若是我再失败……”
However, Qi Xinhui was born at the wrong time. The Saints from the end of time were far weaker than those of the current era.
“ nà wǒ hái huì zài huí lái de 。” shān hǎi xíng zhě xìn shì dàn dàn dì shuō dào 。
“那我还会再回来的。”山海行者信誓旦旦地说道。
---
suí jí jiù zhè yàng xiāo shī zài le wǔ zūn miàn qián 。
随即就这样消失在了五尊面前。
After Qi Xinhui's calculations, even if he could cross the Eternal Void and successfully reach the previous Mountain and Sea in another timeline, he would still be severely injured, transforming into an ordinary transcendental cultivator.
bái fà qīng nián míng jiào qiū xīn huì ， běn shì shí guāng zhī mò nà zuì hòu cán cún kě néng xìng zhōng ， zuì wèi jīng cái jué yàn de xiū shì 。
白发青年名叫丘心慧，本是时光之末那最后残存可能性中，最为惊才绝艳的修士。
Without his Saint status, what was the point of going to other timelines?
zài zhū shèng jiē yǔn 、 dà dào wàn bù cún yī de mò fǎ shí dài zhōng ， réng néng zhèng dào shèng wèi de jué shì tiān cái ！
在诸圣皆陨、大道万不存一的末法时代中，仍能证道圣位的绝世天才！
Thus, Qi Xinhui abandoned his plan to personally cross over. Instead, he created a [Mountain and Sea Traveler] to travel back in time and inform the Saints from previous timelines.
rán ér qiū xīn huì què shì shēng cuò le shí dài 。
然而丘心慧却是生错了时代。
He urged them not to give up and unite to save the Mountain and Sea.
shí guāng zhī mò de shèng zhě ， xiāng jiào yú xiàn shí dài ， shí lì ruò le bù zhǐ yī chóu 。
时光之末的圣者，相较于现时代，实力弱了不止一筹。
After nearly exhausting all of his Saintly power to create the Mountain and Sea Traveler, Qi Xinhui began executing his second plan—his last-ditch effort to save himself at the critical moment when the Mountain and Sea returned.
jīng guò qiū xīn huì tuī yǎn ， zòng shǐ tā néng héng dù yǒng jì xū jiè ， chéng gōng qián wǎng shàng yī duàn shí kōng shān hǎi 。 yě huì shēn shòu zhòng shāng ， tuì biàn de gēn xún cháng chāo tuō xiū shì wú yì 。
经过丘心慧推衍，纵使他能横渡永寂虚界，成功前往上一段时空山海。也会身受重伤，蜕变的跟寻常超脱修士无异。
"So, that Mountain and Sea Traveler already traveled from the end of the Mountain and Sea back to its beginning. After completing his mission, he returned to the end of the Mountain and Sea. Seeing your failure, he taught the Five Sages the empty imagination technique and brought you into existence to save your fate?" Li Fan began to understand after hearing Qi Xinhui's explanation.
méi yǒu le shèng zhě shēn fèn ， qián wǎng qí tā shí kōng ， yòu yǒu shén me yì yì ？
没有了圣者身份，前往其他时空，又有什么意义？
The white-haired youth nodded.
yú shì qiū xīn huì fàng qì le qīn zì héng dù de jì huà 。
于是丘心慧放弃了亲自横渡的计划。
"Several questions: how could you, as the original form, ignore the threat of the Eternal Void and freely move through the Mountain and Sea? How did he manage it?" Li Fan frowned.
ér shì chuàng zào le yī wèi 【 shān hǎi xíng zhě 】， tì tā nì xíng ér shàng ， chuán gào guò qù shí kōng zhū wèi shèng zhě 。
而是创造了一位【山海行者】，替他逆行而上，传告过去时空诸位圣者。
"I am not unable to cross," Qi Xinhui corrected him. "But after crossing, I would suffer severe damage and lose my Saintly cultivation."
ràng tā men wù bì bú yào fàng qì ， lián hé qǐ lái ， zhěng jiù shān hǎi 。
让他们务必不要放弃，联合起来，拯救山海。
"Falling from a Saint is extremely difficult to recover. Even for me, there's no absolute confidence."
jī hū jiāng shèng zhě lì liàng hào jìn ， fāng cái chéng gōng dǎ zào chū shān hǎi xíng zhě hòu 。
几乎将圣者力量耗尽，方才成功打造出山海行者后。
"But the Mountain and Sea Traveler..."
qiū xīn huì zì jǐ yòu kāi shǐ zhí xíng le dì èr jì huà 。
丘心慧自己又开始执行了第二计划。
"Has a special constitution that allows him to persevere through any adversity."
zhè biàn shì gū zhù yí zhì ， zài shān hǎi guī xīng de zuì hòu guān tóu ， quán lì zì jiù 。
这便是孤注一掷，在山海归星的最后关头，全力自救。
"Even if he falls into obscurity, as long as he has enough resources and time, he will definitely recover to his peak state."
“ suǒ yǐ shuō ， nà wèi shān hǎi xíng zhě ， shì yǐ jīng nì xíng ér shàng ， zì shān hǎi zhī mò 、 dào shān hǎi zhī chū zǒu le yī zāo 。 wán chéng le zì shēn shǐ mìng hòu ， yòu huí dào le shān hǎi de jìn tóu 。 kàn jiàn nǐ běn zūn shī bài jié jú hòu ， wèi le wǎn huí nǐ de mìng yùn ， zhè cái jiāng kōng xiǎng zhī fǎ chuán shòu tóng jié wǔ zūn ， bìng jiāng nǐ fù xiàn chū lái ？” tīng wán qiū xīn huì de zì shù ， lǐ fán yǐn yǐn míng bái guò lái 。
“所以说，那位山海行者，是已经逆行而上，自山海之末、到山海之初走了一遭。完成了自身使命后，又回到了山海的尽头。看见你本尊失败结局后，为了挽回你的命运，这才将空想之法传授同劫五尊，并将你复现出来？”听完丘心慧的自述，李凡隐隐明白过来。
"He is perfect for this task of traveling between the Mountain and Sea. And I personally raised him, so I can fully trust him," Qi Xinhui explained.
bái fà qīng nián diǎn tóu 。
白发青年点头。
This explanation seemed to make sense, but Li Fan still felt that there was something unspoken in Qi Xinhui's words.
Seemingly recalling a past experience, the white-haired youth fell into his memories as he softly said, "If we can successfully detach ourselves from this [Mountain and Sea] identity, even if we don't reach the Saint Realm, we can still survive in the Eternal Void!"
"Compared to remaining within the Mountain and Sea, Dao Yan's destructive power is significantly weaker. This gives us our last chance for self-rescue."
Li Fan squinted his eyes as he sized up the white-haired youth.
The other Immortal Elders of the Birth-and-Death Realm seemed to trust the white-haired youth immensely. Everyone believed in his conclusion without a doubt.
However, Li Fan's doubts couldn't be easily dispelled.
"Once we leave the Mountain and Sea, what then?"
"What if as you say, we can survive in the Eternal Void? How long can we endure?"
Facing Li Fan's skepticism, the white-haired youth said calmly, "When the Mountain and Sea are covered, stars will naturally reappear. In a sense, it means entering another cycle. Perhaps one day, there might be another Mountain and Sea that swallows the stars. But at least we have secured our place in this new era."
"Perhaps even, for us who submitted to the Mountain and Sea, there could be some preferential treatment."
"This is just speculation, right?" Li Fan's expression turned somewhat complex after hearing the white-haired youth's grand plan.
"It... isn't entirely so."
The white-haired youth didn't elaborate further. He simply said this much before refusing to answer any more questions.
Seeing that the situation seemed to be at a stalemate, Míng Dào Xiān stepped forward to mediate: "Remember, for us who haven't reached the Saint Realm, this is already our last chance for survival. Among all the plans, this one has the highest probability of success."
"In other words, even if we didn't achieve independence when the Mountain and Sea returned the stars, at least we survived until its end, isn't that right?"
"Of course..."
Míng Dào Xiān changed his tone and looked at Li Fan. "My Daoist friend, you are different from us. Now that you have mastered the [Xuán Mǔ] Great Path, if everything goes as planned, becoming a Saint is almost certain. If you don't want to join our mission, we can understand."
"You can go either way—towards the Other Shore or the Holy Dynasty! We won't stop you," he said sincerely.
"Only hope that for all these years of companionship, you won't leak this Birth-and-Death Realm's secret." Míng Dào Xiān earnestly requested.
Li Fan sighed and remained silent in thought.
"I'll think about it and give you a response later."
As expected, Li Fan's reaction was within the expectations of the other Immortal Elders. After all, he had already reached the "near-Saint" realm.
If he had directly agreed to join the Birth-and-Death Realm without any reservations, Míng Dào Xiān and others might have found it strange.
---
After three years of contemplation, Li Fan finally gave his response to the Immortal Elders.
"Compared to those anonymous Saints at the Other Shore, I still trust you more."
These words brought joy to even Míng Dào Xiān's stoic expression. "Since I can obtain the [Xuán Mǔ] Great Path thanks to your efforts, how could I betray you in this matter concerning life and death?"
"After diligently practicing Daoist cultivation and achieving Sainthood sooner, executing our plan will be more feasible," Li Fan said with righteous resolve.
The Immortal Elders all agreed heartily.
After this incident, Li Fan finally gained the trust of Míng Dào Xiān and others, fully integrating into the ranks of the Birth-and-Death Realm's Immortal Elders.
In subsequent discussions, Li Fan gradually learned more about their secrets. The white-haired youth was indeed created by the Mountain and Sea Traveler through the method of empty imagination.
Long ago, the Five Sages encountered the Mountain and Sea Traveler coincidentally.
The Mountain and Sea Traveler told them about the empty imagination technique and the future of the Mountain and Sea.
Initially, they didn't believe him. So, in front of the Five Sages, the Mountain and Sea Traveler demonstrated his empty imagination technique.
Amidst swirling vague light, the white-haired youth slowly emerged.
Arriving at a strange region, he was initially confused. But after feeling the current state of the Mountain and Sea and seeing the heavily injured Mountain and Sea Traveler due to the empty imagination technique, he said with sorrow, "It seems I failed in the end."
The Mountain and Sea Traveler smiled. "But there's still a chance to save everything."
"Let’s hope so. You go about your business. If I fail again..."
"I’ll come back," the Mountain and Sea Traveler confidently declared before disappearing.
His name was Qi Xinhui, originally one of the most outstanding cultivators in the last remnants of time. An unparalleled genius who still achieved Sainthood in an era where all saints had fallen and the Great Path was almost extinct!
However, Qi Xinhui was born at the wrong time. The Saints from the end of time were far weaker than those of the current era.
---
After Qi Xinhui's calculations, even if he could cross the Eternal Void and successfully reach the previous Mountain and Sea in another timeline, he would still be severely injured, transforming into an ordinary transcendental cultivator.
Without his Saint status, what was the point of going to other timelines?
Thus, Qi Xinhui abandoned his plan to personally cross over. Instead, he created a [Mountain and Sea Traveler] to travel back in time and inform the Saints from previous timelines.
He urged them not to give up and unite to save the Mountain and Sea.
After nearly exhausting all of his Saintly power to create the Mountain and Sea Traveler, Qi Xinhui began executing his second plan—his last-ditch effort to save himself at the critical moment when the Mountain and Sea returned.
"So, that Mountain and Sea Traveler already traveled from the end of the Mountain and Sea back to its beginning. After completing his mission, he returned to the end of the Mountain and Sea. Seeing your failure, he taught the Five Sages the empty imagination technique and brought you into existence to save your fate?" Li Fan began to understand after hearing Qi Xinhui's explanation.
The white-haired youth nodded.
"Several questions: how could you, as the original form, ignore the threat of the Eternal Void and freely move through the Mountain and Sea? How did he manage it?" Li Fan frowned.
"I am not unable to cross," Qi Xinhui corrected him. "But after crossing, I would suffer severe damage and lose my Saintly cultivation."
"Falling from a Saint is extremely difficult to recover. Even for me, there's no absolute confidence."
"But the Mountain and Sea Traveler..."
"Has a special constitution that allows him to persevere through any adversity."
"Even if he falls into obscurity, as long as he has enough resources and time, he will definitely recover to his peak state."
"He is perfect for this task of traveling between the Mountain and Sea. And I personally raised him, so I can fully trust him," Qi Xinhui explained.
This explanation seemed to make sense, but Li Fan still felt that there was something unspoken in Qi Xinhui's words.