“ dài nǐ chéng shèng zhī shí ， qǐng nào shān hǎi 、 tiān fān dì fù ！”
“待你成圣之时，请闹山海、天翻地覆！”
"According to what you've said, the former Emperor of the Heavens was once a mere half-immortal. Yet, you still seemed interested in him..." The True Immortal of Virtue's expression changed slightly as he spoke.
lǐ fán wēi wēi yī xiào ， dào chū le zì shēn yāo qiú 。
李凡微微一笑，道出了自身要求。
"Half-immortals can also overturn heaven and earth," Li Fan said with a faint smile. "You must not underestimate them."
hé gān xiān zòng shǐ yǐ jīng tí qián zuò hǎo le xīn lǐ zhǔn bèi ， dàn cǐ kè tīng wén zhè qí guài de yāo qiú ， yě bù yóu wēi wēi zhèng zhù 。
何干仙纵使已经提前做好了心理准备，但此刻听闻这奇怪的要求，也不由微微怔住。
"When I escaped from the immortal realm, I happened to encounter the Emperor of the Heavens while we were both fleeing for our lives. I sensed his extraordinary nature and saved him. We had several close exchanges after that."
“ gǎn wèn dào yǒu ， zhè tiān fān dì fù 、 yòu jiū jìng shì duō dà ？”
“敢问道友，这天翻地覆、又究竟是多大？”
"However, later on, the Emperor of the Heavens discovered my lack of virtue and face. Since our ways diverged, he severed all contact with me."
“ zì rán shì shèng rén jiē zhī ！”
“自然是圣人皆知！”
"Afterward..."
yī wèn yī dá jiān ， hé gān xiān yǐn yǐn cāi dào le lǐ fán de mù dì 。 hè rán shì yào tā ， xī yǐn shān hǎi zhū shèng de mù guāng ！
一问一答间，何干仙隐隐猜到了李凡的目的。赫然是要他，吸引山海诸圣的目光！
"The Emperor of the Heavens was about to breakthrough when he suddenly encountered an unexpected misfortune. Before vanishing, he sent a message."
hé gān xiān běn néng de jiù yù tuì suō 。
何干仙本能的就欲退缩。
The content of the message from the Emperor of the Heavens and his final destination were exactly what Li Fan had been seeking for so long.
dàn yòu xiǎng dào ， zì jǐ suǒ shòu duì fāng ēn qíng 、 shí zài tài dà 。
但又想到，自己所受对方恩情、实在太大。
"According to the True Immortal of Virtue," Li Fan said slowly, "the crisis that the former Emperor of the Heavens encountered during his breakthrough came from the Heavens and Seas!"
sī lǜ liáng jiǔ zhī hòu ， yǎo yǎo yá dào ：“ wǒ zhǐ néng què bǎo ， jìn lì wèi zhī 。 dàn jiū jìng xiào guǒ rú hé ， néng chí xù jǐ shùn …… jiù bù néng bǎo zhèng le 。”
思虑良久之后，咬咬牙道：“我只能确保，尽力为之。但究竟效果如何，能持续几瞬……就不能保证了。”
"When he was a mere mortal, he severed all ties with the Heavens and Seas. Therefore, until just before ascending, he did not sense any danger. Only after fully re-entering the Heavens and Seas..."
lǐ fán xiào le xiào ：“ yǒu dào yǒu zhè jù huà ， wǒ jiù fàng xīn le 。”
李凡笑了笑：“有道友这句话，我就放心了。”
"Could it be that the former Emperor of the Heavens is also some unknown True Immortal reborn?" Li Fan asked.
tōng guò jǐ cì lún huí de jiē chù ， lǐ fán yǐ rán shēn zhī hé gān xiān pǐn xìng 。 jì rán tā kāi kǒu yīng xià ， jiù jué wú fǎn huǐ zhī lǐ 。
通过几次轮回的接触，李凡已然深知何干仙品性。既然他开口应下，就绝无反悔之理。
The True Immortal of Virtue's eyes flickered with a strange expression. "No, there was something in the Heavens and Seas that had already been watching him."
“ wǒ yǒu yī jì ， kě jiāng dào yǒu lìng wài shēn qū gěi yǐn yòu ér lái 。 zhù nǐ dào dé yuán mǎn ！ rú cǐ ， chéng shèng zhī lù ， gèng shì yī piàn tǎn tú 。” lǐ fán yòu tóu táo bào lǐ ， gěi le duì fāng gèng dà de jīng xǐ 。
“我有一计，可将道友另外身躯给引诱而来。助你道德圆满！如此，成圣之路，更是一片坦途。”李凡又投桃报李，给了对方更大的惊喜。
"To protect himself, he had to enter the realm of possibilities for mortals. Unfortunately, his extraordinary nature made it impossible for him to hide from the eternal world forever!"
hé gān xiān mù guāng zài dù yī níng 。
何干仙目光再度一凝。
Li Fan's eyebrows rose slightly.
xiàn zài ， tā shì zhēn yǒu xiē xiāng xìn ， duì fāng shì zì jǐ “ gù rén ” le 。
现在，他是真有些相信，对方是自己“故人”了。
However, recalling that many nameless True Immortals willingly stayed by Emperor Huaxian's side, even his childhood sweetheart was a transcendent powerhouse who controlled the Path of Folded Paper, it didn't make sense if the former Emperor of the Heavens were just an ordinary mortal.
shú zhī dào dé zhēn yì 、 shèn zhì hái zhī xiǎo zì jǐ guò qù dào dé fēn jiā zhī shì ……
熟知道德真义、甚至还知晓自己过去道德分家之事……
"Being extraordinary and watched by something in the Heavens and Seas... how did the former Emperor of the Heavens escape?"
fǎn zhèng yǐ jīng shòu duì fāng ēn huì ， zhài duō bù yā shēn 。
反正已经受对方恩惠，债多不压身。
"The Fisherman of the Heavens and Seas," the True Immortal of Virtue said softly, "discovered the secret of the Heavens and Seas fishing grounds when he was a mortal. At that time, the Fisherman of the Heavens and Seas also discovered his existence but did not disturb him, only observing silently. It was only after the former Emperor of the Heavens encountered danger that he intervened to save him."
ér hé gān xiān yě què shí duì lìng wài de zì jǐ pǒ wèi jì dàn ， yú shì shén qíng sù mù dào ：“ yuàn wén miào fǎ 。”
而何干仙也确实对另外的自己颇为忌惮，于是神情肃穆道：“愿闻妙法。”
"Was it not the Fisherman of the Heavens who saved him, rather than luring him away?" Li Fan had once tracked the former Emperor of the Heavens and found his last disappearance point related to a fishing pool. He originally thought the Fisherman of the Heavens had captured the former Emperor of the Heavens but was surprised to find that he actually saved him.
“ wú miàn xiān ， shēng xìng jǐn shèn duō yí 。 wéi yǒu nǐ zhī sǐ ， cái néng jiāng qí yǐn yòu chū lái ……”
“无面仙，生性谨慎多疑。唯有你之死，才能将其引诱出来……”
"However, why have I never heard or seen the Fisherman of the Heavens?" Li Fan frowned slightly.
lǐ fán jiāng zì jǐ jì cè qiǎo rán dào lái 。
李凡将自己计策悄然道来。
"Where is he now after taking the former Emperor of the Heavens away?"
“ tā wǒ tóng xīn ， xún cháng bàn fǎ 、 nán yǐ piàn guò qí chá tàn 。 dàn ruò shì zài yǒu nà chōng sè zhēn líng de kōng xiǎng xū yǐng de huà ……” hé gān xiān xīn zhōng wēi dòng ， diǎn tóu yīng xià 。
“他我同心，寻常办法、难以骗过其查探。但若是再有那充塞真灵的空想虚影的话……”何干仙心中微动，点头应下。
"When a fish is caught, it naturally appears by the side of the angler. As for their current location... they might not be within this segment of the Heavens and Seas." The True Immortal of Virtue took a deep breath.
èr rén yī fān zhǔn bèi hòu ， lǐ fán chóng xīn fǎn huí xuán huáng jiè ， zhǎo dào le wú miàn xiān shí xiàng 。
二人一番准备后，李凡重新返回玄黄界，找到了无面仙石像。
"Hmm?" Li Fan was momentarily stunned.
yī sī shén niàn dù rù 。
一丝神念渡入。
"Could the Fisherman of the Heavens and Seas, by pulling his fishing rod, actually cross the Eternal Void Realm? Could he also be one of the True Immortals of the Heavens and Seas?"
céng jīng chū xiàn guò de yī duàn duì huà ， zài dù fú xiàn 。
曾经出现过的一段对话，再度浮现。
"Based on the clues left behind by the former Emperor of the Heavens, it seems that way. However, the reason why he can carry a True Immortal across the void realm is not entirely due to his own power; there's also a significant connection with the Fishing Grounds of the Heavens and Seas."
“ shuí ？”
“谁？”
"The Fishing Grounds of the Heavens and Seas did not exist because of the Fisherman of the Heavens and Seas. Instead, it existed first, then came the Fisherman of the Heavens and Seas."
yī dào jǐng tì de shēng yīn chuán lái 。
一道警惕的声音传来。
"Perhaps we can consider this as a part of the Path of the Heavens and Seas. Although the Heavens and Seas are separated by the Eternal Void Realm, the Fishing Grounds scattered across different segments of the Heavens and Seas can act like beacons, serving as anchors to indicate directions for passage or as power relays..."
“ xuán tiān wáng gù rén 。” lǐ fán shùn kǒu shuō dào 。
“玄天王故人。”李凡顺口说道。
The True Immortal of Virtue's explanation made Li Fan understand instantly. The principle was similar to how the Heavens and Seas Traveler allowed people from the realm of birth and death to cross multiple segments of the Heavens and Seas in an instant by using the marks left behind and the mysterious connection between Qiu Xin Hui and his true self.
“ xuān yuán hóng de péng yǒu ？” duì miàn shēng yīn yǒu xiē yí huò 。
“轩辕宏的朋友？”对面声音有些疑惑。
However, Qiu Xin Hui's reliance was on creating something out of nothing in a desperate situation. The Fisherman of the Heavens and Seas, on the other hand, utilized the inherent characteristics of the Heavens and Seas.
“ tā bù rèn shí wǒ ， wǒ què rèn shí tā ， bìng qiě shòu tā zhī zhù duō yǐ 。”
“他不认识我，我却认识他，并且受他之助多矣。”
"But correspondingly, Qiu Xin Hui can only travel downstream. As for this Fisherman of the Heavens and Seas..."
……
……
"It's hard to say who is stronger."
duì huà zhōng ， lǐ fán rú guò qù nà bān ， tí chū yào bāng zhù wú miàn xiān duì fù hé gān xiān 。
对话中，李凡如过去那般，提出要帮助无面仙对付何干仙。
While Li Fan was pondering this, the True Immortal of Virtue continued: "Before leaving, the former Emperor of the Heavens asked me to take care of his childhood sweetheart, saying that he would surely return one day."
jǐn shèn de wú miàn xiān bìng méi yǒu xuǎn zé dā yìng ， ér shì yào kǎo lǜ kǎo lǜ 。
谨慎的无面仙并没有选择答应，而是要考虑考虑。
"On the other side of the Fishing Grounds of the Heavens and Seas, there are unknown dangers. To prevent his old companions from following him, he had to leave alone without leaving any information..."
zhí dào wǔ shí nián hòu ， chá jué dào hé gān xiān zài jìn xíng guān jiàn de zhǎn duàn dào dé ， tā zhōng yú shàng gōu 、 zhǔ dòng lián xì qǐ le lǐ fán 。
直到五十年后，察觉到何干仙在进行关键的斩断道德，他终于上钩、主动联系起了李凡。
"This Huaxian is indeed a man with feelings," the True Immortal of Virtue said.
lǐ fán gēn hé gān xiān ， pèi hé shàng yǎn le yī chū hǎo xì 。
李凡跟何干仙，配合上演了一出好戏。
Li Fan understood the implication in the True Immortal's words.
kě néng xìng de mò rì zhōng ， jiāng zì shēn céng jīng shú zhī zhī rén tú lù dài jìn hòu ， hé gān xiān kuáng xiào bù zhǐ ：“ yǔ wǒ hé gān ！ yǔ wǒ hé gān ！”
可能性的末日中，将自身曾经熟知之人屠戮殆尽后，何干仙狂笑不止：“与我何干！与我何干！”
"Then, if we follow the Fishing Grounds of the Heavens and Seas, can we go to where the former Emperor of the Heavens once was?"
lǐ fán shū rán xiàn shēn ：“ gàn de hǎo ！”
李凡倏然现身：“干的好！”
"Ah, according to reason, if one could trigger the Fisherman of the Heavens and Seas to cast his rod, that would be the case," the True Immortal of Virtue thought carefully before answering.
“ biàn yóu shān hǎi ， jīn rì zhōng yú zhǎo dào zhì tóng dào hé zhī rén le ！”
“遍游山海，今日终于找到志同道合之人了！”
Li Fan recalled a past life when he had been lured by a stone tablet from the Heavens and Seas due to his attempt to understand the essence of "fishing."
yī jù jù wèn dá zhōng ， lǐ fán huī dòng zhēn líng liè huǒ ， jiāng shān hǎi diǎn rán 。
一句句问答中，李凡挥动真灵烈火，将山海点燃。
"Could it be that he also went to another segment of the Heavens and Seas?" Li Fan mused.
liè huǒ xióng xióng ， lǐ fán zhì wèn “ shān hǎi dāng rǔ zhī miàn bèi fén jǐn 。 rǔ jiù shān hǎi ？ yān néng yǒu dào hū ？”
烈火熊熊，李凡质问“山海当汝之面被焚尽。汝救山海？焉能有道乎？”
"However, in the end, the former Emperor of the Heavens' childhood sweetheart followed him. The other me can't stop her," Li Fan added.
"According to what you've said, the former Emperor of the Heavens was once a mere half-immortal. Yet, you still seemed interested in him..." The True Immortal of Virtue's expression changed slightly as he spoke.
"Half-immortals can also overturn heaven and earth," Li Fan said with a faint smile. "You must not underestimate them."
"When I escaped from the immortal realm, I happened to encounter the Emperor of the Heavens while we were both fleeing for our lives. I sensed his extraordinary nature and saved him. We had several close exchanges after that."
"However, later on, the Emperor of the Heavens discovered my lack of virtue and face. Since our ways diverged, he severed all contact with me."
"Afterward..."
"The Emperor of the Heavens was about to breakthrough when he suddenly encountered an unexpected misfortune. Before vanishing, he sent a message."
The content of the message from the Emperor of the Heavens and his final destination were exactly what Li Fan had been seeking for so long.
"According to the True Immortal of Virtue," Li Fan said slowly, "the crisis that the former Emperor of the Heavens encountered during his breakthrough came from the Heavens and Seas!"
"When he was a mere mortal, he severed all ties with the Heavens and Seas. Therefore, until just before ascending, he did not sense any danger. Only after fully re-entering the Heavens and Seas..."
"Could it be that the former Emperor of the Heavens is also some unknown True Immortal reborn?" Li Fan asked.
The True Immortal of Virtue's eyes flickered with a strange expression. "No, there was something in the Heavens and Seas that had already been watching him."
"To protect himself, he had to enter the realm of possibilities for mortals. Unfortunately, his extraordinary nature made it impossible for him to hide from the eternal world forever!"
Li Fan's eyebrows rose slightly.
However, recalling that many nameless True Immortals willingly stayed by Emperor Huaxian's side, even his childhood sweetheart was a transcendent powerhouse who controlled the Path of Folded Paper, it didn't make sense if the former Emperor of the Heavens were just an ordinary mortal.
"Being extraordinary and watched by something in the Heavens and Seas... how did the former Emperor of the Heavens escape?"
"The Fisherman of the Heavens and Seas," the True Immortal of Virtue said softly, "discovered the secret of the Heavens and Seas fishing grounds when he was a mortal. At that time, the Fisherman of the Heavens and Seas also discovered his existence but did not disturb him, only observing silently. It was only after the former Emperor of the Heavens encountered danger that he intervened to save him."
"Was it not the Fisherman of the Heavens who saved him, rather than luring him away?" Li Fan had once tracked the former Emperor of the Heavens and found his last disappearance point related to a fishing pool. He originally thought the Fisherman of the Heavens had captured the former Emperor of the Heavens but was surprised to find that he actually saved him.
"However, why have I never heard or seen the Fisherman of the Heavens?" Li Fan frowned slightly.
"Where is he now after taking the former Emperor of the Heavens away?"
"When a fish is caught, it naturally appears by the side of the angler. As for their current location... they might not be within this segment of the Heavens and Seas." The True Immortal of Virtue took a deep breath.
"Hmm?" Li Fan was momentarily stunned.
"Could the Fisherman of the Heavens and Seas, by pulling his fishing rod, actually cross the Eternal Void Realm? Could he also be one of the True Immortals of the Heavens and Seas?"
"Based on the clues left behind by the former Emperor of the Heavens, it seems that way. However, the reason why he can carry a True Immortal across the void realm is not entirely due to his own power; there's also a significant connection with the Fishing Grounds of the Heavens and Seas."
"The Fishing Grounds of the Heavens and Seas did not exist because of the Fisherman of the Heavens and Seas. Instead, it existed first, then came the Fisherman of the Heavens and Seas."
"Perhaps we can consider this as a part of the Path of the Heavens and Seas. Although the Heavens and Seas are separated by the Eternal Void Realm, the Fishing Grounds scattered across different segments of the Heavens and Seas can act like beacons, serving as anchors to indicate directions for passage or as power relays..."
The True Immortal of Virtue's explanation made Li Fan understand instantly. The principle was similar to how the Heavens and Seas Traveler allowed people from the realm of birth and death to cross multiple segments of the Heavens and Seas in an instant by using the marks left behind and the mysterious connection between Qiu Xin Hui and his true self.
However, Qiu Xin Hui's reliance was on creating something out of nothing in a desperate situation. The Fisherman of the Heavens and Seas, on the other hand, utilized the inherent characteristics of the Heavens and Seas.
"But correspondingly, Qiu Xin Hui can only travel downstream. As for this Fisherman of the Heavens and Seas..."
"It's hard to say who is stronger."
While Li Fan was pondering this, the True Immortal of Virtue continued: "Before leaving, the former Emperor of the Heavens asked me to take care of his childhood sweetheart, saying that he would surely return one day."
"On the other side of the Fishing Grounds of the Heavens and Seas, there are unknown dangers. To prevent his old companions from following him, he had to leave alone without leaving any information..."
"This Huaxian is indeed a man with feelings," the True Immortal of Virtue said.
Li Fan understood the implication in the True Immortal's words.
"Then, if we follow the Fishing Grounds of the Heavens and Seas, can we go to where the former Emperor of the Heavens once was?"
"Ah, according to reason, if one could trigger the Fisherman of the Heavens and Seas to cast his rod, that would be the case," the True Immortal of Virtue thought carefully before answering.
Li Fan recalled a past life when he had been lured by a stone tablet from the Heavens and Seas due to his attempt to understand the essence of "fishing."
"Could it be that he also went to another segment of the Heavens and Seas?" Li Fan mused.
"However, in the end, the former Emperor of the Heavens' childhood sweetheart followed him. The other me can't stop her," Li Fan added.