“ xuán …… hē hē ， rú jīn yǐ shì 【 zhòu huí 】 le 。”
“玄……呵呵，如今已是【宙廻】了。”
"Zhou Xuanhan, you've made significant progress in the Void Cycle. It seems like your understanding of the Sea and Mountain Path has deepened considerably after this endless cycle of trials." Zhou Yan nodded.
“ zhòu huí jì yǐ guī wèi ， jiē xià lái biàn shì duì xià yī duàn shān hǎi de zhǎn wàng le 。” tài yì shèng zhě de shēng yīn ， jiāng lǐ fán de sī xù dǎ duàn 。
“宙廻既已归位，接下来便是对下一段山海的展望了。”太易圣者的声音，将李凡的思绪打断。
Zhou Xuanhan bowed slightly as he noticed that the Three Mountains Sage had already vanished into the void world. Only their shadows remained seated there.
duì shèng zhě ér yán ， kě méi yǒu xiū xī de gài niàn 。
对圣者而言，可没有休息的概念。
"Let us proceed ahead. The ten-thousand-year-long void world is no small matter," said Zhou Yan, his voice echoing through the void. "Before the Sea and Mountain paths converge, our progress has been halted not only due to the sheer length of this void path but also for other reasons. With our strength multiplied, let us test once more. If we can resolve it, that would be better. Otherwise, we will discuss further methods."
héng dù xū jiè ， yǐ shēn wèi qiáo ， fù lián shān hǎi 。 zhè biàn shì tā men zhí zhuó yǐ qiú zhī shì 。
横渡虚界，以身为桥，复联山海。这便是祂们执着以求之事。
Zhou Xuanhan was curious about what kind of peril even the Three Mountains Sages found difficult in the void world. However, Zhou Yan's shadow didn't elaborate any further and instead changed the subject.
“ zhèng rú xiān qián suǒ shuō ， jīng guò liǎng cì fù lián 。 rú jīn wǒ men shēn chù zhè yī duàn shān hǎi ， zú zú lián mián sān shí sān wàn jiǔ qiān bā bǎi nián shí guāng 。 bù guò xià yī cì de xíng zǒu ， jiù wèi bì yǒu nà me róng yì le 。”
“正如先前所说，经过两次复联。如今我们身处这一段山海，足足连绵三十三万九千八百年时光。不过下一次的行走，就未必有那么容易了。”
"Return to the endless cycle once more. While you digest the medicine, let us take a look back and discover something we might have overlooked," Zhou Yan said, his voice only for Zhou Xuanhan alone.
zhū shèng xīn zhōng jiē míng bái tài yì bú huì wú dì fàng shǐ ， dùn shí níng shén qīng tīng 。
诸圣心中皆明白太易不会无的放矢，顿时凝神倾听。
This transmission was private, not broadcasted publicly. Zhou Xuanhan felt taken aback. He had already conquered the Sea and Mountain Path; what could he possibly miss?
“ jīng yóu wú tàn chá ， qián fāng xū jiè suǒ zhàn jù shí guāng ， yǐ jīng kuài yào jiē jìn shí wàn nián 。 ruò shì xū jiè zài dù qīn bī ， dǎ pò zhè ge jí xiàn ……”
“经由吾探查，前方虚界所占据时光，已经快要接近十万年。若是虚界再度侵逼，打破这个极限……”
But the Three Mountains Sages wouldn't play tricks on him in such matters. Zhou Xuanhan's expression turned serious as he looked at the endless cycle once more.
“ shān hǎi lián xì chè dǐ duàn liè ， kǒng fù lián wú wàng 。”
“山海联系彻底断裂，恐复联无望。”
With his residual Void Cycle power suppressing it, the cycle hadn't collapsed yet. It seemed unchanged compared to when he had experienced it firsthand.
“ yī lái ， wú děng yào zhèn shǒu shān hǎi ， miàn duì dào yān qīn xí 、 bù néng zài tuì yī bù 。”
“一来，吾等要镇守山海，面对道湮侵袭、不能再退一步。”
At the Sage level, Zhou Xuanhan scanned this tiny space repeatedly but still couldn't find what the Three Mountains Sages were referring to. He didn't give up and sought advice from Zhou Yan's shadow, instead pondering on his own.
“ èr lái ， zhè yī cì de fù lián xíng dòng ， zài wú róng cuò yú dì 。 zhǐ néng yī cì chéng gōng 。 fǒu zé ， xū jiè fǎn shì zhī xià ， jiù suàn wú děng qí xīn xié lì ， yě wèi bì néng dǐ dǎng zhù nà tāo tiān fēng làng 。”
“二来，这一次的复联行动，再无容错余地。只能一次成功。否则，虚界反噬之下，就算吾等齐心协力，也未必能抵挡住那滔天风浪。”
Scene after scene replayed in his mind as if he had relived them all over again. But this time, he viewed them from an outsider’s perspective.
lián shān shèng zhě huī huī shǒu ， wèi zhū shèng zhǎn shì le qián fāng lián mián xū jiè chǎng jǐng 。
连山圣者挥挥手，为诸圣展示了前方连绵虚界场景。
Finally, Zhou Xuanhan noticed something.
yōu yuǎn shēn suì ， suǒ dài lái yā lì ， gèng shèng xiān qián suǒ yù jiàn xū jiè 。
幽远深邃，所带来压力，更胜先前所遇见虚界。
"The Void Cycle Path should not have detected the presence of other sages beyond the void world when I was lost. At that moment, it had ample time to escape."
wǎn ruò shēn lín qí jìng ， zhū shèng shēn qū hǎo sì bèi hēi àn zhān rǎn ， jiē chén mò bù yǔ 。
宛若身临其境，诸圣身躯好似被黑暗沾染，皆沉默不语。
"Why did it choose to stay and even risk dragging me into this cycle? Even in its desperate attempt to survive, it only took a small part of itself while leaving the rest behind to maintain the endless cycle's possibility."
“ dāng rán ， yě yǒu hǎo xiāo xī 。 jīng guò liǎng cì fù lián ， wú děng shí lì yě dé yí dìng chéng dù zēng fú 。 ér qiě ……”
“当然，也有好消息。经过两次复联，吾等实力也得一定程度增幅。而且……”
"Without external interference, as long as the Void Cycle Path exists within the Sea and Mountain paths, the cycle can continue."
“ duō le shí duō wàn nián de shān hǎi dǐ yùn ， yǒu wǒ men zhè wèi shān hǎi xíng zhě zài ， huò xǔ néng zài zào duō wèi shèng zhě zhù lì 。” tài yì zhèng shuō zhe ， yī dào huáng huáng jīn sè liàng guāng ， zì shān hǎi zhōng ér qǐ ， bǐ zhí cháo zhe bǐ àn jī shè ér lái 。
“多了十多万年的山海底蕴，有我们这位山海行者在，或许能再造多位圣者助力。”太易正说着，一道煌煌金色亮光，自山海中而起，笔直朝着彼岸激射而来。
"Was it a diversion or a retreat?"
què shì tài wēi shèng dì 。
却是太微圣帝。
"What is this thing that the Void Cycle Path is guarding or valuing!"
zhè yī cì ， tóng yàng méi yǒu shén me hán xuān 、 yī jiù zhí rù zhǔ tí ：“ yǒu zhēn líng guàn zhù zhī fǎ ， wú jiù méi yǒu zài liàn zhì tōng shèng dà yào 。 cǐ fān quán gǎi wéi shèng yùn dà yào ， liǎng duàn shān hǎi 、 jiā shàng qí zhōng yóu xū zhuǎn shí ， sān shí wàn nián jī lěi bèi wǒ chōu kòng 。”
这一次，同样没有什么寒暄、依旧直入主题：“有真灵灌注之法，吾就没有再炼制通圣大药。此番全改为圣运大药，两段山海、加上其中由虚转实，三十万年积累被我抽空。”
Zhou Xuanhan suddenly understood. A glint of insight flashed in his eyes as he scanned the endless cycle once more.
“ zài dé jiǔ méi 。”
“再得九枚。”
Even the Three Mountains Sages almost overlooked it, indicating its profound concealment.
tài wēi shèng dì sǎo shì le yī quān ， jiāng jiǔ méi sàn fà zhe jīng yíng tī tòu guāng máng 、 shì yǒu zì jǐ shēng mìng de guāng tuán qǔ chū 。
太微圣帝扫视了一圈，将九枚散发着晶莹剔透光芒、似有自己生命的光团取出。
But now that Zhou Xuanhan knew its value, he became very patient.
“ dé yì yú shān hǎi fù lián ， cǐ cì liàn zhì shèng yùn dà yào ， xiào yòng gèng shèng yǐ wǎng 。 fú zhī huò yǒu shèng cháo yì yì zhòng shēng qián chéng niàn tou chōng jī 。 zhèn yě shì fú le liǎng méi jiù tíng zhǐ le 。 xīn jìn shèng zhě ， liàng lì ér xíng 。”
“得益于山海复联，此次炼制圣运大药，效用更胜以往。服之或有圣朝亿亿众生虔诚念头冲击。朕也是服了两枚就停止了。新晋圣者，量力而行。”
He explored countless possibilities one by one, no longer skimming over them. His mind was fully immersed.
“ xià yī cì ， sān wàn nián hòu 。”
“下一次，三万年后。”
Meanwhile, other sages woke up and saw Zhou Xuanhan still closed his eyes, assuming he was still digesting the medicine. They didn't pay much attention to him but focused on the Three Mountains Sages' exploration of the void world.
shuō bà ， bù děng zhū shèng huí yìng ， tài wēi shèng dì biàn yòu cōng cōng lí qù 。
说罢，不等诸圣回应，太微圣帝便又匆匆离去。
Silently, Zhou Xuanhan spent a similar amount of time as before, thoroughly checking every possibility in the endless cycle.
“ wǒ men zhè me duō rén fēn jiǔ méi ， tā yī rén biàn tūn le liǎng méi 。” bǎi xiǎo àn zì dí gū 。
“我们这么多人分九枚，他一人便吞了两枚。”百晓暗自嘀咕。
Finally, he found his target.
tài yì xiào dào ：“ tài wēi běn tǐ xū zhèn yā wēi wēi shèng zhāo qì yùn ， qīng yì dòng tán bù dé 。 gù ér měi cì lái qù dōu shì shí fēn cāng cù 。 zhì yú zhè shèng yùn dà yào ……”
太易笑道：“太微本体需镇压巍巍圣朝气运，轻易动弹不得。故而每次来去都是十分仓促。至于这圣运大药……”
All these cycles existed to hide something created by the Void Cycle Path. The reason it lingered until the very end was because of this existence.
“ zhòu huí nǐ kě xiān qǔ yī méi 。”
“宙廻你可先取一枚。”
A seemingly ordinary cycle where everything flowed through the seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—on an endless plain stood a solitary stone monument.
lǐ fán wén yán ， wēi wēi yí zhèng 。
李凡闻言，微微一怔。
The words on it seemed faintly etched.
shàng yī cì tā kě shì méi néng chī dào zhè shèng yùn dà yào de ， zěn me cǐ fān fēn de rén duō le 、 shèng yào xiào lì gèng qiáng le ， fǎn ér yǒu fèn le ne ？
上一次他可是没能吃到这圣运大药的，怎么此番分的人多了、圣药效力更强了，反而有份了呢？
Zhou Xuanhan appeared before the stone monument, reaching out to touch it.
lián shān 、 guī hǎi 、 tài yì sān shèng tóng xīn tóng dé 。
连山、归海、太易三圣同心同德。
But he touched nothing, as if passing through a mirage.
tài yì jì rán fā huà ， qí yú zhū shèng zì rán yě bú huì yǒu yì jiàn 。
太易既然发话，其余诸圣自然也不会有意见。
"Even with my divine sense scanning from above, I couldn't see its existence."
jiàn lǐ fán yǒu xiē chí yí ， tài yì jiě shì dào ：“ nǐ suī yǐ jīng dé zhèng zhòu huí dà dào ， dàn xiáng fú guò chéng zhōng ， cǐ dào běn jiù yǒu bù fèn sǔn hào 。 kuàng qiě jiāng lái hái yào fù zé zhēn líng guàn zhù ……”
见李凡有些迟疑，太易解释道：“你虽已经得证宙廻大道，但降服过程中，此道本就有部分损耗。况且将来还要负责真灵灌注……”
"One must come here personally to see its shadow."
tài yì qīng qīng yī zhǐ ， qí zhōng yī méi guāng tuán biàn xú xú fēi zhì lǐ fán shēn biān 。
太易轻轻一指，其中一枚光团便徐徐飞至李凡身边。
"This stone..."
lǐ fán àn dào yī shēng cán kuì ， bù guò hái shì jiāng nà shèng yùn dà yào fú xià 。
李凡暗道一声惭愧，不过还是将那圣运大药服下。
Zhou Xuanhan was certain that the Three Mountains Sages had been here before. Even though they left no trace of their presence, the stone monument bore the shadows of the Three Mountains Sages!
bì mù xiāo huà qǐ lái 。
闭目消化起来。
More accurately, lines.
lǐ fán dú dé yī méi ， zhū shèng fēn yú xià bā méi 。
李凡独得一枚，诸圣分余下八枚。
Zhou Xuanhan scanned the many scratches on the stone monument, searching for traces of the Three Mountains Sages.
lián shān sān shèng bù xū yào ， xīn jìn shèng zhě dé yī ， qiè jī 、 guǐ mìng děng shí lì gèng qiáng zhě dé bàn 。
连山三圣不需要，新晋圣者得一，窃机、晷命等实力更强者得半。
"This place..."
bù duō shí ， tài wēi sòng lái bǎo wù biàn yǐ rù zhū shèng dù zhōng 。
不多时，太微送来宝物便已入诸圣肚中。
Two new marks represented the Three Mountains and Return to Sea.
guǒ rú tài wēi shèng dì suǒ yán ， shèn zhì qí hái yǒu suǒ bǎo liú 。
果如太微圣帝所言，甚至其还有所保留。
"And here."
cǐ fān yào xiào ， jī hū bèi shèng xiān qián 。
此番药效，几乎倍胜先前。
A faded but newly added mark was left by Zhou Yan.
guāng tuán rù dù ， lǐ fán shí hǎi zhōng biàn bèi wú qióng wú liàng de guāng yǐng suǒ tūn mò 。
光团入肚，李凡识海中便被无穷无量的光影所吞没。
Just a few sparse lines were enough to summarize their presence.
shì jiǎo jí lüè ， hǎo sì zài wú yín wú jì de dà dì shàng chuān suō 。
视角急掠，好似在无垠无际的大地上穿梭。
The lines etched into the stone monument seemed like shadows cast by the Three Mountains Sages, as if they had personally appeared there.
rù mù suǒ jí ， jìn shì lián mián wò tǔ 。
入目所及，尽是连绵沃土。
"Other marks on this stone..."
zhòng shēng ān jū lè yè ， xiǎng lè tài píng 。 yú xián xiá zhī jì ， jiā jiā hù hù jiē xīn zhōng mò sòng shèng dì ēn dé 。
众生安居乐业，享乐太平。于闲暇之际，家家户户皆心中默诵圣帝恩德。
Zhou Xuanhan was momentarily stunned.
shèng cháo zhī zhōng ， wú jī huāng 、 wú zāi huò 。
圣朝之中，无饥荒、无灾祸。
But he quickly realized that with the Sea and Mountain paths being devoured by Daoian, the current state of the Three Mountains Sages far from their peak power represented a certain period in time.
rén rén fēng yī zú shí ， jū yǒu qí wū 。
人人丰衣足食，居有其屋。
"But those who left shadows here must be no less powerful. At least they are Sea and Mountain sages."
shèng dì zhī yǐng ， jūn lín tiān xià ， dòng chá yī qiè 。 suǒ yǒu fǔ bài 、 zuì è ， zài fā shēng de shùn jiān ， jiù huì bèi qǐng kè mǒ qù 。
圣帝之影，君临天下，洞察一切。所有腐败、罪恶，在发生的瞬间，就会被顷刻抹去。
"Perhaps even before the Sea and Mountain paths were severed..."
zhè shì háo wú yí wèn de shèng shì 。
这是毫无疑问的盛世。
Zhou Xuanhan sensed the presence of other sages on the stone monument, most of whom had achieved their status through the Sea and Mountain Path.
yě wéi yǒu rú cǐ shèng shì ， fāng cái néng níng jù chū jiù lián shèng zhě dōu néng shòu yì de dà yào 。
也唯有如此盛世，方才能凝聚出就连圣者都能受益的大药。
"This stone must have existed for some time because even the Three Mountains and Return to Sea hadn't left any marks earlier."
lǐ fán yě céng yǒu guò shèng huáng fēn shēn 。
李凡也曾有过圣皇分身。
"That was a time when only the Three Mountains Sage existed."
tā zì rán zhī xiǎo ， rú cǐ huī huáng shèng shì ， què shì jiàn lì zài tài wēi shèng dì qiáng dà de shí lì zhī shàng 。
他自然知晓，如此辉煌盛世，却是建立在太微圣帝强大的实力之上。
"But at that time, Zhou Yan had not yet reached his peak."
ruò shì méi yǒu le shèng dì zhèn yā ， kǒng pà suǒ yǒu de měi hǎo ， dōu jiāng huì zài qǐng kè jiān fǔ xiǔ 、 jì ér bēng tā 。
若是没有了圣帝镇压，恐怕所有的美好，都将会在顷刻间腐朽、继而崩塌。
Zhou Xuanhan reached out again, trying to touch the etched lines of the Sea and Mountain paths.
“ nán guài tài wēi shèng dì bù néng cháng jiǔ lí kāi 。”
“难怪太微圣帝不能长久离开。”
"It seems there are more Sea and Mountain paths than I imagined."
“ zhèng shì yīn wèi yǒu tā shí kè zài bō luàn fǎn zhèng ， shèng cháo cái zhī suǒ yǐ néng chēng wéi shèng 。”
“正是因为有他时刻在拨乱反正，圣朝才之所以能称为圣。”
"However, ancient sages have already taken their place. Therefore, later comers must find other ways—through unity or creating a new world."
yī méi shèng yùn dà yào ， hǎo sì níng jù le shèng cháo wú shù zi mín de yì niàn 。
一枚圣运大药，好似凝聚了圣朝无数子民的意念。
...
tā men yī shēng de jīng lì ， nǎi zhì suǒ sī suǒ xiǎng 。
他们一生的经历，乃至所思所想。
Thinking this, Zhou Xuanhan's thoughts paused. He suddenly realized something was amiss.
zài sǐ hòu jiē rú juān juān xī liú bān ， bèi shèng dì níng liàn tí qǔ ， huà zuò kě yòng dà yào 。
在死后皆如涓涓溪流般，被圣帝凝练提取，化作可用大药。
Why were so many sages in the Sea and Mountain paths now reduced to just a few like the Three Mountains Sages?
lǐ fán xì xì tǐ wù 。
李凡细细体悟。
Where had those who left marks gone?
yǐ tā de xīn zhì ， zòng shǐ shèng yào fēi fán ， yě bù kě néng zhēn de yǐng xiǎng dào tā 。 shǐ qí chǎn shēng duì tài wēi shèng dì fā zì nèi xīn de jìng yǎng zhī qíng 。
以他的心志，纵使圣药非凡，也不可能真的影响到他。使其产生对太微圣帝发自内心的敬仰之情。
"Either they perished in the current time,"
fǎn ér tā zài wú shù sī xù huì liú zhī zhōng ， fā xiàn le mǒu xiē yǒu yì si de dōng xī 。
反而他在无数思绪汇流之中，发现了某些有意思的东西。
"Or before the Sea and Mountain paths were divided by Daoian, they vanished. Hence, they are not present in this current time."
jí biàn shì tài wēi shèng cháo zhè jī hū zhǐ cún zài lǐ xiǎng zhōng de lè tǔ ， yě bìng fēi suǒ yǒu de zi mín dū huì gǎn dào mǎn zú 。
即便是太微圣朝这几乎只存在理想中的乐土，也并非所有的子民都会感到满足。
...
shèn zhì yǒu bù fèn ， xīn zhōng huì àn zì mán yuàn ， shèng dì wēi yā yī shì 、 guǎn de shí zài tài kuān le 。
甚至有部分，心中会暗自埋怨，圣帝威压一世、管的实在太宽了。
"They must be the latter."
nǎo hǎi zhōng ， shí bù shí shǎn guò sī sī bù qiē shí jì de wēi xiǎn xiǎng fǎ 。
脑海中，时不时闪过丝丝不切实际的危险想法。
Given the current state of the Sea and Mountain paths, all sages working together for salvation made self-destruction impossible.
dāng rán ， yǐ tā men de běn shì ， zì rán shì wú fǎ fǎn kàng tài wēi shèng dì de 。
当然，以他们的本事，自然是无法反抗太微圣帝的。
If they had perished due to Daoian, the other sages on the other side would have mentioned it. But there was no mention of such an event.
què bù fáng ài tā men měi guò yī duàn shí jiān ， jiù ná chū lái chàng xiǎng yī fān 。
却不妨碍他们每过一段时间，就拿出来畅想一番。
This indicated that these sages did not exist in the current Sea and Mountain paths.
shèng cháo zhōng suǒ yǒu shēng líng jiē bú huì zhī dào ， tā men nǎo hǎi zhōng de měi yí gè xiǎng fǎ ， shí zé dōu zài tài wēi shèng dì de zhǎng kòng zhī zhōng 。
圣朝中所有生灵皆不会知道，他们脑海中的每一个想法，实则都在太微圣帝的掌控之中。
In short, those who left marks on the stone monument did not live long enough for Zhou Xuanhan to be born.
dàn tài wēi què yǒu yì wèi zhī ， yǔn xǔ zhè xiē bù hé xié yīn sù cún zài 。
但太微却有意为之，允许这些不和谐因素存在。
They had already perished before the disaster struck.
ér huò xǔ zhèng shì yīn wèi zhè xiē “ è niàn ”， cái shǐ de shèng yùn dà yào méi yǒu nà me de “ tián ”。
而或许正是因为这些“恶念”，才使得圣运大药没有那么的“甜”。
Why? What force could kill a sage?
néng gòu bèi ān rán tūn fú 。
能够被安然吞服。
Many questions arose in Zhou Xuanhan's mind.
“ zhè tài wēi shèng dì ， dào yě shì gè miào rén 。”
“这太微圣帝，倒也是个妙人。”
But the Three Mountains Sages only pointed out the existence of the stone monument without revealing its background information.
“ zhǐ kě xī ， tài lèi le 。”
“只可惜，太累了。”
Zhou Xuanhan knew almost nothing about that ancient time, making it hard to guess.
lǐ fán xīn rú pán shí ， wú shù tiáo huì jù yì niàn zhōng ， wú lùn shì duì shèng dì de zàn měi 、 yì huò zhě dǐ huǐ ， jiē wú fǎ dòng yáo tā de běn xīn 。
李凡心如磐石，无数条汇聚意念中，无论是对圣帝的赞美、亦或者诋毁，皆无法动摇他的本心。
"Even sages cannot last long."
zhǐ shì dān chún liú lǎn xī shōu zhōng shēng jīng lì ， huà wèi jǐ yòng 。
只是单纯浏览吸收终生经历，化为己用。
Just as Zhou Xuanhan was reflecting on this, he felt a subtle tremor within his body.
"Zhou Xuanhan, you've made significant progress in the Void Cycle. It seems like your understanding of the Sea and Mountain Path has deepened considerably after this endless cycle of trials." Zhou Yan nodded.
Zhou Xuanhan bowed slightly as he noticed that the Three Mountains Sage had already vanished into the void world. Only their shadows remained seated there.
"Let us proceed ahead. The ten-thousand-year-long void world is no small matter," said Zhou Yan, his voice echoing through the void. "Before the Sea and Mountain paths converge, our progress has been halted not only due to the sheer length of this void path but also for other reasons. With our strength multiplied, let us test once more. If we can resolve it, that would be better. Otherwise, we will discuss further methods."
Zhou Xuanhan was curious about what kind of peril even the Three Mountains Sages found difficult in the void world. However, Zhou Yan's shadow didn't elaborate any further and instead changed the subject.
"Return to the endless cycle once more. While you digest the medicine, let us take a look back and discover something we might have overlooked," Zhou Yan said, his voice only for Zhou Xuanhan alone.
This transmission was private, not broadcasted publicly. Zhou Xuanhan felt taken aback. He had already conquered the Sea and Mountain Path; what could he possibly miss?
But the Three Mountains Sages wouldn't play tricks on him in such matters. Zhou Xuanhan's expression turned serious as he looked at the endless cycle once more.
With his residual Void Cycle power suppressing it, the cycle hadn't collapsed yet. It seemed unchanged compared to when he had experienced it firsthand.
At the Sage level, Zhou Xuanhan scanned this tiny space repeatedly but still couldn't find what the Three Mountains Sages were referring to. He didn't give up and sought advice from Zhou Yan's shadow, instead pondering on his own.
Scene after scene replayed in his mind as if he had relived them all over again. But this time, he viewed them from an outsider’s perspective.
Finally, Zhou Xuanhan noticed something.
"The Void Cycle Path should not have detected the presence of other sages beyond the void world when I was lost. At that moment, it had ample time to escape."
"Why did it choose to stay and even risk dragging me into this cycle? Even in its desperate attempt to survive, it only took a small part of itself while leaving the rest behind to maintain the endless cycle's possibility."
"Without external interference, as long as the Void Cycle Path exists within the Sea and Mountain paths, the cycle can continue."
"Was it a diversion or a retreat?"
"What is this thing that the Void Cycle Path is guarding or valuing!"
Zhou Xuanhan suddenly understood. A glint of insight flashed in his eyes as he scanned the endless cycle once more.
Even the Three Mountains Sages almost overlooked it, indicating its profound concealment.
But now that Zhou Xuanhan knew its value, he became very patient.
He explored countless possibilities one by one, no longer skimming over them. His mind was fully immersed.
Meanwhile, other sages woke up and saw Zhou Xuanhan still closed his eyes, assuming he was still digesting the medicine. They didn't pay much attention to him but focused on the Three Mountains Sages' exploration of the void world.
Silently, Zhou Xuanhan spent a similar amount of time as before, thoroughly checking every possibility in the endless cycle.
Finally, he found his target.
All these cycles existed to hide something created by the Void Cycle Path. The reason it lingered until the very end was because of this existence.
A seemingly ordinary cycle where everything flowed through the seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—on an endless plain stood a solitary stone monument.
The words on it seemed faintly etched.
Zhou Xuanhan appeared before the stone monument, reaching out to touch it.
But he touched nothing, as if passing through a mirage.
"Even with my divine sense scanning from above, I couldn't see its existence."
"One must come here personally to see its shadow."
"This stone..."
Zhou Xuanhan was certain that the Three Mountains Sages had been here before. Even though they left no trace of their presence, the stone monument bore the shadows of the Three Mountains Sages!
More accurately, lines.
Zhou Xuanhan scanned the many scratches on the stone monument, searching for traces of the Three Mountains Sages.
"This place..."
Two new marks represented the Three Mountains and Return to Sea.
"And here."
A faded but newly added mark was left by Zhou Yan.
Just a few sparse lines were enough to summarize their presence.
The lines etched into the stone monument seemed like shadows cast by the Three Mountains Sages, as if they had personally appeared there.
"Other marks on this stone..."
Zhou Xuanhan was momentarily stunned.
But he quickly realized that with the Sea and Mountain paths being devoured by Daoian, the current state of the Three Mountains Sages far from their peak power represented a certain period in time.
"But those who left shadows here must be no less powerful. At least they are Sea and Mountain sages."
"Perhaps even before the Sea and Mountain paths were severed..."
Zhou Xuanhan sensed the presence of other sages on the stone monument, most of whom had achieved their status through the Sea and Mountain Path.
"This stone must have existed for some time because even the Three Mountains and Return to Sea hadn't left any marks earlier."
"That was a time when only the Three Mountains Sage existed."
"But at that time, Zhou Yan had not yet reached his peak."
Zhou Xuanhan reached out again, trying to touch the etched lines of the Sea and Mountain paths.
"It seems there are more Sea and Mountain paths than I imagined."
"However, ancient sages have already taken their place. Therefore, later comers must find other ways—through unity or creating a new world."
...
Thinking this, Zhou Xuanhan's thoughts paused. He suddenly realized something was amiss.
Why were so many sages in the Sea and Mountain paths now reduced to just a few like the Three Mountains Sages?
Where had those who left marks gone?
"Either they perished in the current time,"
"Or before the Sea and Mountain paths were divided by Daoian, they vanished. Hence, they are not present in this current time."
...
"They must be the latter."
Given the current state of the Sea and Mountain paths, all sages working together for salvation made self-destruction impossible.
If they had perished due to Daoian, the other sages on the other side would have mentioned it. But there was no mention of such an event.
This indicated that these sages did not exist in the current Sea and Mountain paths.
In short, those who left marks on the stone monument did not live long enough for Zhou Xuanhan to be born.
They had already perished before the disaster struck.
Why? What force could kill a sage?
Many questions arose in Zhou Xuanhan's mind.
But the Three Mountains Sages only pointed out the existence of the stone monument without revealing its background information.
Zhou Xuanhan knew almost nothing about that ancient time, making it hard to guess.
"Even sages cannot last long."
Just as Zhou Xuanhan was reflecting on this, he felt a subtle tremor within his body.