“ liǎng duàn bèi fēn gē shān hǎi xiāng róng shùn jiān ， wǎn ruò zhū wǒ hé yī 。 zhēn líng bèi zēng ， zòng shǐ shèng zhě zhī jìng ， yì néng cóng zhōng shòu yì 。 qián tí shì ， zài guò qù nà duàn shān hǎi zhōng ， yǒu nǐ de cún zài 。”
“两段被分割山海相融瞬间，宛若诸我合一。真灵倍增，纵使圣者之境，亦能从中受益。前提是，在过去那段山海中，有你的存在。”
In the split moment when the divided mountains and seas merged, it seemed as if all selves were merging into one. True spirits multiplied, even a saint realm could benefit from this. The prerequisite was that there had to be your presence in the past mountain-sea.
“ dāng qián duàn shān hǎi ， lián mián yán xù shí jiǔ wàn sān qiān liù bǎi sì shí wǔ nián 。 qián fāng yǒng jì xū jiè ， zé yuē fù gài wǔ wàn bā qiān liù bǎi yú nián 。 ruò shì wǔ wàn nián qián ， zhū wèi shàng méi yǒu dàn shēng ， zì rán bú huì dé cǐ fú zhǐ 。 fǒu zé ， jí biàn zhǐ shì yīng ér zhuàng tài ， yě néng xiǎng shòu zhù wǒ hé yī de bì yì 。”
“当前段山海，连绵延续十九万三千六百四十五年。前方永寂虚界，则约覆盖五万八千六百余年。若是五万年前，诸位尚没有诞生，自然不会得此福祉。否则，即便只是婴儿状态，也能享受助我合一的裨益。”
"The current mountain-sea stretches continuously for 193,645 years. The eternal void before us covers approximately 58,600 years. If none of you existed five thousand years ago, naturally, no one would receive this blessing. Otherwise, even as infants, you could still enjoy the benefits that help unify your selves."
lián shān xū yǐng sǎo guò zài chǎng xīn jìn shèng zhě ， zuì hòu luò zài lǐ fán shēn shàng ：“ chú le zì shān hǎi mò ér lái xuán pìn zhī wài ， qí yú jiē wú cǐ dān yōu 。 zhū wǒ hé yī ， zì shēn yuè qiáng ， shòu yì yuè gāo 。 ér qiě yě bìng fēi zhǐ shì dān yī zhēn líng fāng miàn 。 shān hǎi fù lián zhī jì ， nǐ men dāng zì yǒu tǐ huì 。”
连山虚影扫过在场新晋圣者，最后落在李凡身上：“除了自山海末而来玄牝之外，其余皆无此担忧。诸我合一，自身越强，受益越高。而且也并非只是单一真灵方面。山海复联之际，你们当自有体会。”
The shadow of Mount Lian swept over the new saints present and finally landed on Li Fan: "Apart from Xuanpin who came from the end of the mountain-sea, none need worry. The more unified the self is, the greater the benefit. Moreover, it's not just about a single true spirit. During the reunion of mountains and seas, you should have some experience."
lián shān huà yòu dùn le dùn ：“ zòng shǐ shì xuán pìn zhè bān ， qián duān shān hǎi bù cún zài jǐ shēn zhě ， yě bù yòng dān xīn yī wú suǒ huò 。 wú děng shèng zhě ， yǔ shān hǎi qí 。 wǎn ruò jiǎo cǎi shān hǎi zhī shàng ， shān hǎi yuè shì qiáng shèng ， wú děng shí lì yě huì zì rán ér rán 、 shuǐ zhǎng chuán gāo 。 ruò shì zài xìng yùn yī xiē ， zì shēn suǒ zhí dào tú 、 qián duān shān hǎi wú suǒ zhǎng zhě 。 nà me qǐng kè jiān ， biàn néng jiāng qí huà wèi jǐ yòng ， píng kōng zēng tiān zào huà ……”
连山话又顿了顿：“纵使似玄牝这般，前端山海不存在己身者，也不用担心一无所获。吾等圣者，与山海齐。宛若脚踩山海之上，山海越是强盛，吾等实力也会自然而然、水涨船高。若是再幸运一些，自身所执道途、前端山海无所掌者。那么顷刻间，便能将其化为己用，凭空增添造化……”
Mount Lian paused again: "Even if it seems like Xuanpin, where there are no traces of oneself in the front mountain-sea, there’s no need to worry about gaining nothing. As saints, we are on par with the mountains and seas. It's as if we stand atop them; the stronger the mountains and seas become, our strength will naturally rise. If even more fortunate, those paths you hold or the front mountain-sea that doesn’t control you can be transformed into your own use, adding to your blessings..."
lǐ fán wēi wēi diǎn tóu ， gǎn jī lián shān shèng zhě jiǎng jiě 。
李凡微微点头，感激连山圣者讲解。
Li Fan nodded slightly, grateful for Mount Lian's explanation.
dào lǐ gēn dà dào guī zhēn ， shí zé lèi sì 。 yī shōu jí yǒng shōu 。
道理跟大道归真，实则类似。一收即永收。
The principle was similar to returning to the Dao of truth; once it is achieved, it remains forever. Those who become saints must have reached the pinnacle in their understanding of their path. If they could encounter the same great Dao in the front mountain-sea and instantly subdue it, it would be fitting.
néng chéng shèng zhě ， duì zì shēn dào tú lǐng wù dìng rán yǐ dá dào dēng fēng zào jí zhī jìng 。 ruò néng zài qián duàn shān hǎi zhōng ， yù jiàn tóng yàng dà dào ， shùn jiān jiāng qí shōu fú yě shì yīng yǒu zhī shì 。
能成圣者，对自身道途领悟定然已达到登峰造极之境。若能在前段山海中，遇见同样大道，瞬间将其收服也是应有之事。
When Li Fan heard Mount Lian's words about how strength in the mountains and seas naturally increased his own power, he thought of the three characters: "Sitting Mountain."
lǐ fán zài tīng dào lián shān “ shān hǎi yuè shì qiáng shèng ， wú děng shí lì yě huì zì rán ér rán 、 shuǐ zhǎng chuán gāo ” zhè jù huà de shí hòu ， nǎo hǎi zhōng què shì fú xiàn chū le 【 zuò shān jué 】 sān gè zì 。
李凡在听到连山“山海越是强盛，吾等实力也会自然而然、水涨船高”这句话的时候，脑海中却是浮现出了【坐山诀】三个字。
This ancient divine wood sect's technique had been continuously refined since Li Fan obtained it. Sitting Mountain, Sitting Immortal, Sitting Heaven.
zhè mén shàng gǔ shén mù zōng de gōng fǎ ， zì lǐ fán dé dào hòu ， bèi yí bù bù tuī yǎn 。
这门上古神木宗的功法，自李凡得到后，被一步步推衍。
Unfortunately, its effects were limited to before transcendence. Once one crossed the threshold of transcendence towards becoming a saint, the Sitting Mountain Technique became ineffective.
zuò shān 、 zuò xiān 、 zuò tiān 。
坐山、坐仙、坐天。
"The effect is on those in the realm of transcendence; there can be no further feedback for cultivation. Forget about the saint realm."
kě xī ， qí xiào yòng zhǐ jú xiàn zài chāo tuō zhī qián 。
可惜，其效用只局限在超脱之前。
"Otherwise, with my ability to infuse true spirits..."
mài guò chāo tuō mén kǎn ， cháo xiàng chéng shèng zhī lù yǐ hòu ， zuò shān jué jiù yǐ rán shī xiào le 。
迈过超脱门槛，朝向成圣之路以后，坐山诀就已然失效了。
"There would be too many saints, and even the Three Sages of Mount Lian might not be my match."
“ zuò yòng duì xiàng chāo tuō jìng jiè ， jiù wú fǎ zài shēng chéng fǎn kuì xiū wèi 。 gèng bié tí shèng zhě zhī jìng le 。”
“作用对象超脱境界，就无法再生成反馈修为。更别提圣者之境了。”
No matter how extraordinary it was, it was still a mundane technique. Its only role was to assist Li Fan in transcending; he no longer held high hopes for it after his own transcendence.
“ fǒu zé ， píng wǒ zhè yī shǒu guàn zhù zhēn líng de běn shì ……”
“否则，凭我这一手灌注真灵的本事……”
But today's words from Mount Lian opened up new possibilities for Li Fan.
“ zào de shèng duō le ， lián shān sān shèng kǒng pà dōu wèi bì shì wǒ duì shǒu 。”
“造的圣多了，连山三圣恐怕都未必是我对手。”
"The path of sitting on the mountain remains even among mountains and sages."
zài zěn me shén yì ， yě zhǐ shì fán sú gōng fǎ 。 néng gòu fǔ zhù lǐ fán chāo tuō ， yǐ jīng shì qí néng lì de jí xiàn le 。 lǐ fán chāo tuō hòu ， běn yǐ jīng bù zài duì qí bào yǒu qī dài 。
再怎么神异，也只是凡俗功法。能够辅助李凡超脱，已经是其能力的极限了。李凡超脱后，本已经不再对其抱有期待。
"Thus, if we derive 'sitting heaven' into 'sitting saint,' perhaps we can still reap its benefits!"
dàn jīn tiān lián shān shèng zhě yī xí huà ， què shì dǎ kāi le lǐ fán de xīn sī lù 。
但今天连山圣者一席话，却是打开了李凡的新思路。
"But how to improve it."
“ zuò shān ér gāo zhī dào ， zài shān hǎi 、 shèng zhě shēn shàng ， yī rán cún zài 。”
“坐山而高之道，在山海、圣者身上，依然存在。”
Though he had a vague idea, implementing it in detail was impossible in the short term.
“ rú cǐ shuō lái ……”
“如此说来……”
Firstly, Li Fan himself hadn't reached the sage realm.
“ ruò shì zài yǎn zuò tiān wèi zuò shèng ， huò néng yī rán zuò xiǎng qí chéng ！”
“若是再衍坐天为坐圣，或能依然坐享其成！”
Even if he did reach that realm, successfully deriving the Sitting Sage Decision would be nearly impossible.
“ zhǐ shì ， gāi rú hé gǎi jìn 。”
“只是，该如何改进。”
All sages were on par with the mountains and seas.
suī yǒu le mó hú de xiǎng fǎ ， dàn xiǎng yào jù tǐ shí shī ， duǎn shí jiān nèi què wú cóng xià shǒu 。
虽有了模糊的想法，但想要具体实施，短时间内却无从下手。
Especially the Three Sages of Mount Lian, who were legendary figures.
xiān bù tí lǐ fán zì jǐ běn jiù méi yǒu dá dào shèng zhě jìng jiè 。
先不提李凡自己本就没有达到圣者境界。
What kind of technique or great Dao could cover their bodies without being detected?
jiù suàn tā shēn zhì shèng zhě zhī jìng ， xiǎng yào chéng gōng tuī yǎn zuò shèng jué ， yě jī hū shì tiān fāng yè tán 。
就算他身至圣者之境，想要成功推衍坐圣决，也几乎是天方夜谭。
"Perhaps I'm overthinking. The goal of the Sitting Sage Decision is not to target existing saints in the mountain-sea but those potential transcenders. Its benefits only apply before they become sages."
zhū shèng jiē yǔ shān hǎi qí 。
诸圣皆与山海齐。
"The feedback from the qualitative change from transcendence to sagehood, if collected and utilized, would be an unimaginable source of power."
yóu qí shì lián shān sān shèng ， gèng shì zhèn gǔ shuò jīn de cún zài 。
尤其是连山三圣，更是震古烁今的存在。
Li Fan's thoughts raced, finding a possible breakthrough.
shén me yàng de gōng fǎ 、 dà dào ， néng gòu fù gài qí shēn ， ér bù bèi qí chá jué ？
什么样的功法、大道，能够覆盖其身，而不被其察觉？
But it was just a concept.
“ huò xǔ shì wǒ zuān niú jiǎo jiān le 。 zuò shèng jué de mù biāo ， bìng fēi shì shān hǎi yǐ chéng zhī shèng ， ér shì nà xiē kě sù chāo tuō qiáng zhě 。 xiào yòng zhǐ fù gài qí chéng shèng zhī qián 。”
“或许是我钻牛角尖了。坐圣决的目标，并非是山海已成之圣，而是那些可塑超脱强者。效用只覆盖其成圣之前。”
With his current foundation, he couldn't derive this ideal technique in the short term.
“ cóng chāo tuō zhì shèng zhě de zhì biàn fǎn kuì ， ruò dāng néng shōu jí lì yòng ， yě jué duì shì yī gǔ jīng tiān dòng dì de néng liàng 。”
“从超脱至圣者的质变反馈，若当能收集利用，也绝对是一股惊天动地的能量。”
However...
lǐ fán sī niàn jí zhuǎn ， zhǎo dào le kě néng de tū pò kǒu 。
李凡思念急转，找到了可能的突破口。
There were fourteen sages right by Li Fan!
dàn yě jǐn jǐn shì gè sī lù 。
但也仅仅是个思路。
Without any reservations, he said: "Mount Lian Sage's insight is profound. Sitting on high mountains indeed makes sense; thinking about it carefully, that’s how it should be. But I wonder if there's a sage of the mountain-sea who practices 'sitting.' Not only can we benefit from the mountain-sea but perhaps even all beings within and us sages."
yǐ lǐ fán rú jīn dǐ yùn ， shàng bù zú yǐ tuī yǎn chū zhè mén lǐ xiǎng zhōng de miào fǎ 。
以李凡如今底蕴，尚不足以推衍出这门理想中的妙法。
"If such a sage exists, our progress could push them further."
bù guò ……
不过……
Li Fan's words caused the other sages to look surprised.
lǐ fán xiàn zài shēn biān ， què shì yǒu zú zú shí sì zūn shèng zhě cún zài ！
李凡现在身边，却是有足足十四尊圣者存在！
The pursuit of great Dao is endless. Even though they had achieved the sage realm and were on par with the mountains and seas, it was impossible to be satisfied.
méi yǒu shén me gù jì ， tā zhí jiē kāi kǒu dào ：“ lián shān shèng zhě gāo jiàn 。 zuò shān ér gāo ， xì xì xiǎng lái ， dí què shì zhè me gè dào lǐ 。 jiù shì bù zhī ， shān hǎi jiān yǒu méi yǒu zhè yàng yī wèi 【 zuò shān 】 shèng zhě 。 qí suǒ néng lì yòng zhě ， bù jǐn jú xiàn yú shān hǎi ， huò xǔ hái kě bāo kuò shān hǎi jiān zhòng shēng ， shèn zhì wú děng shèng zhě 。”
没有什么顾忌，他直接开口道：“连山圣者高见。坐山而高，细细想来，的确是这么个道理。就是不知，山海间有没有这样一位【坐山】圣者。其所能利用者，不仅局限于山海，或许还可包括山海间众生，甚至吾等圣者。”
After all, there were still gods and stars visible above the mountain-seas. Even if gods existed from the beginning and stars from the end, these sages only knew their names but not their forms.
“ ruò zhēn cún zài ， wú děng bù bù gāo jǔ ， qǐ fēi néng jiāng qí tuī zhì gèng jìn yí bù ？”
“若真存在，吾等步步高举，岂非能将其推至更进一步？”
This didn't stop them from aspiring for more. The realm beyond sages had no name or definition; it could only be compared horizontally with similar strength.
lǐ fán cǐ yán yī chū ， zhū shèng jiē miàn lù yì sè 。
李凡此言一出，诸圣皆面露异色。
Few understood this realm thoroughly.
dà dào zhī qiú ， yǒng wú zhǐ jìng 。
大道之求，永无止境。
No one in the room could answer Li Fan's question, and a long silence followed.
zhòng rén suī yǐ chéng jiù shèng zhě 、 yǔ shān hǎi qí ， dàn ruò shuō jiù cǐ mǎn zú ， xiǎn rán shì bù kě néng de 。
众人虽已成就圣者、与山海齐，但若说就此满足，显然是不可能的。
Finally, Mount Lian’s shadow emitted a rare but slight fluctuation: "Back then, I ascended to the top of the mountain and gazed at countless possibilities within the mountain-sea."
bì jìng ， ròu yǎn kě jiàn de ， shān hǎi zhī shàng ， hái yǒu 【 shén 】 yǔ 【 xīng 】 de cún zài 。
毕竟，肉眼可见的，山海之上，还有【神】与【星】的存在。
"Countless beings striving upward, forsaking their lives in pursuit. Unyielding, relentless climbers."
jí biàn shén cún yú shān hǎi zhī chū ， xīng dàn yú shān hǎi zhī mò 。
即便神存于山海之初，星诞于山海之末。
"I deeply felt that vibrant life force, endless and even capable of moving mountains and seas."
zhū shèng dōu zhǐ wén qí míng ， bú jiàn qí yǐng 。
诸圣都只闻其名，不见其影。
"But I also saw the hardships of these beings."
què bìng bù fáng ài xīn xiàng wǎng zhī 。
却并不妨碍心向往之。
"After all, only a few could reach the peak of the mountain-sea.
shèng zhě zhī shàng de jìng jiè ， rú jīn jiù lián míng zì 、 dìng yì dōu bù cún zài 。 zhǐ néng kào zhe huò xǔ tóng děng guī gé de lì liàng jìn xíng héng xiàng bǐ duì 。
圣者之上的境界，如今就连名字、定义都不存在。只能靠着或许同等规格的力量进行横向比对。
Most would never take that first step throughout their lifetimes."
zhū shèng duì qí liǎo jiě yě shì shǎo zhī yòu shǎo 。
诸圣对其了解也是少之又少。
"At that time, there were two choices before me: one was to leverage my position as the first ascender to practice 'sitting on the mountain.' Utilizing the boundless life force of the mountain-sea's countless beings to push me forward. Perhaps I could reach for the stars.
lǐ fán de wèn tí ， wú rén kě yǐ huí dá 。 chǎng zhōng yī shí jiān xiàn rù cháng jiǔ de chén mò 。
李凡的问题，无人可以回答。场中一时间陷入长久的沉默。
The other choice was to be a bridge for all beings, creating a path to the peak. The road may be rugged, but with wisdom and strength, one can still climb up and see the scenery."
zuì zhōng ， lián shān xū yǐng ， jí qí hǎn jiàn de xiǎn huà chū qīng wēi bō dòng 。
最终，连山虚影，极其罕见的显化出轻微波动。
Mount Lian’s shadow swayed as if lost in ancient memories.
“ dāng chū ， wú dēng lín shàng fāng shān dǐng ， tiào wàng shān hǎi jiān wú shù kě néng xìng 。”
“当初，吾登临上方山顶，眺望山海间无数可能性。”
The Nine Sages on the other side seemed familiar with this story; they didn't find it strange.
“ yún yún zhòng shēng ， péng fā xiàng shàng 。 shě shēng wàng sǐ ， bù xiè pān dēng 。”
“芸芸众生，蓬发向上。舍生忘死，不懈攀登。”
But the newly minted six sages were deeply shaken by the news.
“ wú shēn qiè gǎn shòu dào le nà gǔ àng rán shēng jī ， lián mián wú jìn 、 shèn zhì kě yǐ hàn shān dòng hǎi 。”
“吾深切感受到了那股盎然生机，连绵无尽、甚至可以撼山动海。”
Even though Mount Lian's shadow said it casually, it was clear that whichever choice he made back then would have had a significant impact on future generations.
“ dàn wú yě kàn dào le ， zhòng shēng zhī jiān nán 。”
“但吾也看到了，众生之艰难。”
He chose "Sitting Mountain" over "Mount Lian."
“ bì jìng shì wǒ zhè bān ， néng gòu dēng lín shān hǎi zhī diān zhě ， bù guò liáo liáo shù rén 。”
“毕竟似我这般，能够登临山海之巅者，不过寥寥数人。”
Thus, the era of mountain-sea cultivation was born.
“ jué dà duō shù ， zhōng qí yī shēng ， jiù lián dì yī bù dōu wú fǎ mài chū 。”
“绝大多数，终其一生，就连第一步都无法迈出。”
But if he had chosen "sitting," what might have happened?
“ bǐ shí ， bǎi zài wǒ miàn qián yǒu liǎng zhǒng xuǎn zé 。”
“彼时，摆在我面前有两种选择。”
All sages felt a shiver of fear.
“ yī shì yǐ xiān dēng zhī shì ， xíng 【 zuò shān 】 zhī jǔ 。 lì yòng shān hǎi wú jìn zhòng shēng bó fā zhī lì ， tuī wǒ xiàng qián 。 huò kě chù shǒu mō xīng 。”
“一是以先登之势，行【坐山】之举。利用山海无尽众生勃发之力，推我向前。或可触手摸星。”
"Perhaps a great being could indeed stand alongside the stars, but we would be stuck in perpetual obscurity."
“ èr shì ， yǐ shēn wèi qiáo ， wèi zhòng shēng dǎ zào yī tiáo tōng wǎng shān diān zhī lù 。 lù suī kǎn kě ， dàn zhǐ yào lì zhì qí bèi 、 shí jiē ér shàng ， zǒng guī néng jiàn shān zhòng fēng jǐng ……”
“二是，以身为桥，为众生打造一条通往山巅之路。路虽坎坷，但只要力智齐备、拾阶而上，总归能见山中风景……”
"Mount Lian Sage is our peer, yet undeniably, he paved the way for us."
lián shān xū yǐng zhèn zhèn huàng dòng ， sì hū xiàn rù le gǔ jiù de huí yì zhōng 。
连山虚影阵阵晃动，似乎陷入了古旧的回忆中。
Thinking about this, all sages showed respect and bowed to Mount Lian's shadow.
bǐ àn jiǔ shèng ， sì hū duì zhè wǎng shì zǎo yǐ shú zhī 。 bìng bù yǐ wéi yì 。
彼岸九圣，似乎对这往事早已熟知。并不以为异。
After the bow, Li Fan looked up and suddenly asked: "Mount Lian Sage, do you regret your decision?"
rán xīn jìn liù shèng chū wén cǐ shì ， què jù shì xīn shén jù zhèn 。
然新晋六圣初闻此事，却俱是心神剧震。
"While Mount Lian created the era of mountain-sea cultivation, it also lost the opportunity to compete with stars. Now that the mountain-sea has fallen, its fate is tied to the stars..."
bié kàn lián shān shèng zhě xū yǐng qīng piāo piāo nà me yī jù huà 。 xiǎn ér yì jiàn de ， dāng chū wú lùn lián shān shèng jūn zuò chū nǎ zhǒng xuǎn zé ， dōu bì jiāng duì hòu shì chǎn shēng jí qí zhòng dà de yǐng xiǎng 。
别看连山圣者虚影轻飘飘那么一句话。显而易见的，当初无论连山圣君做出哪种选择，都必将对后世产生极其重大的影响。
"If I had chosen 'sitting' back then, perhaps the outcome would have been different."
zuò shān yǔ lián shān ， tā xuǎn zé le lián shān 。
坐山与连山，他选择了连山。
Mount Lian smiled silently: "Once a decision is made after much thought, how can there be regret? Even if I were to go back, my choice wouldn't change."
yú shì fāng yǒu hòu shì xiū xiān shèng shì 。
于是方有后世修仙盛世。
"Just repeating what was done."
In the split moment when the divided mountains and seas merged, it seemed as if all selves were merging into one. True spirits multiplied, even a saint realm could benefit from this. The prerequisite was that there had to be your presence in the past mountain-sea.
"The current mountain-sea stretches continuously for 193,645 years. The eternal void before us covers approximately 58,600 years. If none of you existed five thousand years ago, naturally, no one would receive this blessing. Otherwise, even as infants, you could still enjoy the benefits that help unify your selves."
The shadow of Mount Lian swept over the new saints present and finally landed on Li Fan: "Apart from Xuanpin who came from the end of the mountain-sea, none need worry. The more unified the self is, the greater the benefit. Moreover, it's not just about a single true spirit. During the reunion of mountains and seas, you should have some experience."
Mount Lian paused again: "Even if it seems like Xuanpin, where there are no traces of oneself in the front mountain-sea, there’s no need to worry about gaining nothing. As saints, we are on par with the mountains and seas. It's as if we stand atop them; the stronger the mountains and seas become, our strength will naturally rise. If even more fortunate, those paths you hold or the front mountain-sea that doesn’t control you can be transformed into your own use, adding to your blessings..."
Li Fan nodded slightly, grateful for Mount Lian's explanation.
The principle was similar to returning to the Dao of truth; once it is achieved, it remains forever. Those who become saints must have reached the pinnacle in their understanding of their path. If they could encounter the same great Dao in the front mountain-sea and instantly subdue it, it would be fitting.
When Li Fan heard Mount Lian's words about how strength in the mountains and seas naturally increased his own power, he thought of the three characters: "Sitting Mountain."
This ancient divine wood sect's technique had been continuously refined since Li Fan obtained it. Sitting Mountain, Sitting Immortal, Sitting Heaven.
Unfortunately, its effects were limited to before transcendence. Once one crossed the threshold of transcendence towards becoming a saint, the Sitting Mountain Technique became ineffective.
"The effect is on those in the realm of transcendence; there can be no further feedback for cultivation. Forget about the saint realm."
"Otherwise, with my ability to infuse true spirits..."
"There would be too many saints, and even the Three Sages of Mount Lian might not be my match."
No matter how extraordinary it was, it was still a mundane technique. Its only role was to assist Li Fan in transcending; he no longer held high hopes for it after his own transcendence.
But today's words from Mount Lian opened up new possibilities for Li Fan.
"The path of sitting on the mountain remains even among mountains and sages."
"Thus, if we derive 'sitting heaven' into 'sitting saint,' perhaps we can still reap its benefits!"
"But how to improve it."
Though he had a vague idea, implementing it in detail was impossible in the short term.
Firstly, Li Fan himself hadn't reached the sage realm.
Even if he did reach that realm, successfully deriving the Sitting Sage Decision would be nearly impossible.
All sages were on par with the mountains and seas.
Especially the Three Sages of Mount Lian, who were legendary figures.
What kind of technique or great Dao could cover their bodies without being detected?
"Perhaps I'm overthinking. The goal of the Sitting Sage Decision is not to target existing saints in the mountain-sea but those potential transcenders. Its benefits only apply before they become sages."
"The feedback from the qualitative change from transcendence to sagehood, if collected and utilized, would be an unimaginable source of power."
Li Fan's thoughts raced, finding a possible breakthrough.
But it was just a concept.
With his current foundation, he couldn't derive this ideal technique in the short term.
However...
There were fourteen sages right by Li Fan!
Without any reservations, he said: "Mount Lian Sage's insight is profound. Sitting on high mountains indeed makes sense; thinking about it carefully, that’s how it should be. But I wonder if there's a sage of the mountain-sea who practices 'sitting.' Not only can we benefit from the mountain-sea but perhaps even all beings within and us sages."
"If such a sage exists, our progress could push them further."
Li Fan's words caused the other sages to look surprised.
The pursuit of great Dao is endless. Even though they had achieved the sage realm and were on par with the mountains and seas, it was impossible to be satisfied.
After all, there were still gods and stars visible above the mountain-seas. Even if gods existed from the beginning and stars from the end, these sages only knew their names but not their forms.
This didn't stop them from aspiring for more. The realm beyond sages had no name or definition; it could only be compared horizontally with similar strength.
Few understood this realm thoroughly.
No one in the room could answer Li Fan's question, and a long silence followed.
Finally, Mount Lian’s shadow emitted a rare but slight fluctuation: "Back then, I ascended to the top of the mountain and gazed at countless possibilities within the mountain-sea."
"Countless beings striving upward, forsaking their lives in pursuit. Unyielding, relentless climbers."
"I deeply felt that vibrant life force, endless and even capable of moving mountains and seas."
"But I also saw the hardships of these beings."
"After all, only a few could reach the peak of the mountain-sea.
Most would never take that first step throughout their lifetimes."
"At that time, there were two choices before me: one was to leverage my position as the first ascender to practice 'sitting on the mountain.' Utilizing the boundless life force of the mountain-sea's countless beings to push me forward. Perhaps I could reach for the stars.
The other choice was to be a bridge for all beings, creating a path to the peak. The road may be rugged, but with wisdom and strength, one can still climb up and see the scenery."
Mount Lian’s shadow swayed as if lost in ancient memories.
The Nine Sages on the other side seemed familiar with this story; they didn't find it strange.
But the newly minted six sages were deeply shaken by the news.
Even though Mount Lian's shadow said it casually, it was clear that whichever choice he made back then would have had a significant impact on future generations.
He chose "Sitting Mountain" over "Mount Lian."
Thus, the era of mountain-sea cultivation was born.
But if he had chosen "sitting," what might have happened?
All sages felt a shiver of fear.
"Perhaps a great being could indeed stand alongside the stars, but we would be stuck in perpetual obscurity."
"Mount Lian Sage is our peer, yet undeniably, he paved the way for us."
Thinking about this, all sages showed respect and bowed to Mount Lian's shadow.
After the bow, Li Fan looked up and suddenly asked: "Mount Lian Sage, do you regret your decision?"
"While Mount Lian created the era of mountain-sea cultivation, it also lost the opportunity to compete with stars. Now that the mountain-sea has fallen, its fate is tied to the stars..."
"If I had chosen 'sitting' back then, perhaps the outcome would have been different."
Mount Lian smiled silently: "Once a decision is made after much thought, how can there be regret? Even if I were to go back, my choice wouldn't change."
"Just repeating what was done."