bǐ àn bái quān guāng máng dà fàng ， jiāng wú jìn huí huán lǒng zhào qí zhōng 。
彼岸白圈光芒大放，将无尽回环笼罩其中。
The vast expanse of the Void Sea stretched before him, and Li Fan gradually understood what was happening. If the struggle between the Sea of Time and the Void Sea could be likened to a protracted war, then the region they had crossed to reunite the Sea of Time was merely the battlefield where two armies clashed.
shān hǎi wú jiè bēi shén yì fēi cháng ， chù lì zhàn dìng ， chù zhī nán jí 。 jiù gèng bié tí jiāng qí yí dòng le 。
山海无界碑神异非常，矗立站定，触之难及。就更别提将其移动了。
Even with the might of the Three Sages, they could only fight their way through seven times in and out. But if they truly found themselves surrounded by endless Void forces, there would be no escape but death.
bù guò què kě tōng guò kuò zhāng bǐ àn fù gài fàn wéi de fāng fǎ ， jiāng qí nà rù xuán jī huán de bǎo hù lǐ 。
不过却可通过扩张彼岸覆盖范围的方法，将其纳入璇玑环的保护里。
Thus, under the concentrated attack from the Void Sea, the collapse of the Sea of Time and the annihilation of the sages had occurred. Li Fan could understand this; he had witnessed firsthand how the Sea of Time deteriorated at its end, and how the last few sages struggled to resist the Devouring Waves.
“ shì yǒu hǎo huài ， jiē xià lái ， biàn yào shuō xiē bù hǎo de xiāo xī le 。”
“事有好坏，接下来，便要说些不好的消息了。”
However, what shocked him was that the Void Sea could resurrect the sages who had been devoured! The thought of facing an opponent with all the power of the Three Sages, acting without restraint, and solely for the destruction of the Sea of Time, made Li Fan feel a bit apprehensive.
“ wú děng chuān suō héng dù jiǔ wàn nián xū jiè ， jí jiāng dǐ dá qián yī duàn shān hǎi zhī shí ， fā xiàn dào yān làng cháo xiōng yǒng qǐ fú 、 jiǎo de hùn dùn yī piàn ， nán biàn fāng xiàng 。 gēn jù guò wǎng jīng yàn pàn duàn ， zhè shì shān hǎi jí jí kě wēi 、 jí jiāng bēng jiě zhī xiāng 。” lián shān xū yǐng jǐ jù huà ， dǎ duàn le zhū shèng zhù shì mù guāng 。
“吾等穿梭横渡九万年虚界，即将抵达前一段山海之时，发现道湮浪潮汹涌起伏、搅的混沌一片，难辨方向。根据过往经验判断，这是山海岌岌可危、即将崩解之相。”连山虚影几句话，打断了诸圣注视目光。
"Though you need not worry too much. Resurrecting and reviving sages requires the Void Sea to expend its own strength; it is not infinite."
zhòng rén wén yán jiē shì yī jīng 。
众人闻言皆是一惊。
"If these creations were enough, they could have already destroyed the Sea of Time."
“ ruò shì qián fāng shān hǎi qīng fù ， zhì shǐ xū jiè màn yán chāo guò shí wàn nián jí xiàn ， wú děng fù lián shān hǎi jì huà biàn huì gōng kuī yī kuì 。”
“若是前方山海倾覆，致使虚界蔓延超过十万年极限，吾等复联山海计划便会功亏一篑。”
"Therefore, I suspect that these resurrected beings are targeting those who pose a threat to the Void Sea."
“ dāng wù zhī jí ， biàn shì xiān qián qù zhù lì ， wěn zhù tài shì 。 ér hòu zài tán fù lián zhī shì 。”
“当务之急，便是先前去助力，稳住态势。而后再谈复联之事。”
"We've been lucky so far, but we must be cautious now. The reunification action cannot stop."
yī biān shuō zhe ， lián shān sān shèng xū yǐng yī biān cháo lǐ fán kàn qù 。
一边说着，连山三圣虚影一边朝李凡看去。
The Three Sages all turned their gaze towards Li Fan.
lǐ fán nèi xīn zhèng gǎn qí guài ， sān shèng què yǐ jīng dào míng yuán yīn ， jīng dé zhòng rén cuò è bù yǐ 。
李凡内心正感奇怪，三圣却已经道明原因，惊得众人错愕不已。
"Before the Sea of Time collapses completely, we need someone to stabilize its state. If we cross over and descend, it might attract the attention of these resurrected sages. Even though our strength is evenly matched, it's hard to predict who will win."
“ wú děng duì qián fāng de gǎn yìng ， duàn le 。 yào me shì ， qián duàn shān hǎi de ‘ lián shān 、 guī hǎi 、 tài yì ’， yǐ jīng héng dù lí qù ， shèn zhì jiù lián xū yǐng dōu méi yǒu liú xià 。 yào me jiù shì ……”
“吾等对前方的感应，断了。要么是，前段山海的‘连山、归海、太易’，已经横渡离去，甚至就连虚影都没有留下。要么就是……”
"You are not recorded in the Void Sea's memory list, so even if you cross over, it won't trigger any alarms."
“ wú děng jiē yǔn 。”
“吾等皆陨。”
"Stabilize the situation first. We'll help reunite the Sea of Time from within the Void Sea and won't keep you waiting long."
wú děng jiē yǔn ， zhè sì zì wǎn ruò jīng léi zhèn zhèn ， xiǎng chè xuán jī huán zhōng 。
吾等皆陨，这四字宛若惊雷阵阵，响彻璇玑环中。
"To prevent accidents, we'll each give you a protective treasure. Even if you encounter a resurrected being, you can still escape calmly."
zhū shèng jiē miàn lù nán yǐ zhì xìn zhī sè ， dīng zhe lián shān sān shèng ， yù zhāng zuǐ 、 shì yǒu wú qióng yí lǜ 。
诸圣皆面露难以置信之色，盯着连山三圣，欲张嘴、似有无穷疑虑。
"You have the ability to infuse your true essence; in case of emergencies, you don't necessarily need to go."
dàn zuì hòu zhōng jiū huà zuò yī jù ：“ zěn me kě néng ？”
但最后终究化作一句：“怎么可能？”
...
“ shēng sǐ nǎi shì xún cháng shì ， jiù lián chuàng shì zhī shén ， dōu shēn yǔn huà zuò shān hǎi 。 wú děng yǔn luò ， yòu qǐ shì shén me bù kě néng zhī shì ？” tài yì qīng xiào 。
“生死乃是寻常事，就连创世之神，都身陨化作山海。吾等陨落，又岂是什么不可能之事？”太易轻笑。
Under the gaze of the sages, Li Fan could only nod silently.
“ yě cóng cè miàn yìn zhèng le qián duàn shān hǎi de yì cháng 。 ruò shì wú děng jiē zài ， jué bú huì shǐ shān hǎi xiàn rù rú cǐ fù miè wēi jī 。” guī hǎi dàn dàn fēn xī dào 。
“也从侧面印证了前段山海的异常。若是吾等皆在，绝不会使山海陷入如此覆灭危机。”归海淡淡分析道。
Otherwise, it would not fit his character as a Sea Walker.
miàn duì “ zì jǐ ” shēn sǐ de jú miàn ， lián shān sān shèng hái néng bǎo chí dàn dìng 。
面对“自己”身死的局面，连山三圣还能保持淡定。
But Li Fan naturally did not intend to fight with the resurrected Void Sages. If anything went wrong, he would immediately activate the True Self.
dàn bǐ àn zhōng qí yú shèng zhě què shì nán yǐ lěng jìng le 。
但彼岸中其余圣者却是难以冷静了。
"The previous Sea of Time may collapse at any moment. We should leave right away."
lián shān sān shèng zhī qiáng ， yǒu mù gòng dǔ 。
连山三圣之强，有目共睹。
"However, we need to be cautious..."
héng dù xū jiè shí ， yī mǎ dāng xiān ， kāi pì dào lù 。 ér hòu yǐ shēn wèi tǎ ， zhào liàng hòu lái zhě dào lù 。
横渡虚界时，一马当先，开辟道路。而后以身为塔，照亮后来者道路。
"The area that can attract the attention of a resurrected being must be extremely important. Perhaps more important than three reunifications and our current location. With the Three Sages gone, it will undoubtedly be an unimaginable end-of-the-world scenario. Stabilizing the situation might not be easy."
ruò fēi yǒu sān shèng zài ， shén me fù lián shān hǎi de jì huà ， chún cuì dōu zhǐ néng shì yī cháng kōng tán 。
若非有三圣在，什么复联山海的计划，纯粹都只能是一场空谈。
"Comrade, you must be careful," Shou Qiu said with a solemn expression.
dàn xiàn zài ， què gào sù tā men ， sān shèng jí tǐ yǔn luò le ？
但现在，却告诉他们，三圣集体陨落了？
"I'll take your advice into consideration." Li Fan nodded slightly and then looked at the Three Sages.
dào dǐ yǒu shén me ， néng gòu shā sǐ lián shān 、 guī hǎi 、 tài yì zhè yàng de qiáng zhě ？
到底有什么，能够杀死连山、归海、太易这样的强者？
He was waiting for their promised protective treasures.
“ zhè yě gēn ， wú xiān qián gào zhī de 【 má fán 】 yǒu guān 。”
“这也跟，吾先前告之的【麻烦】有关。”
The Three Sages did not break their word. Each of them sent a beam of light that flew to Li Fan's side.
“ má fán ， yuán zì xū jiè 。”
“麻烦，源自虚界。”
As soon as the light appeared, its extraordinary nature became evident.
“ zhū wèi kě zēng yí huò ， wǒ men fù lián shān hǎi de xíng dòng ， shì fǒu yǒu xiē guò yú shùn lì le ？”
“诸位可曾疑惑，我们复联山海的行动，是否有些过于顺利了？”
Mountains sent by Lian Shan were uneven and seemed like they had been picked from a tree at random. However, the wood emitted an aura of沧桑 (sāngcāng), indicating it was far more complex than its appearance suggested.
“ zhǐ yào shèng zhě shù liàng zú gòu ， yǐ shēn zuò shéng 、 lián tōng qián hòu shān hǎi 。 ér hòu wú fēi shì zài fèi xiē zhōu zhé ， biàn kě shǐ de shān hǎi fù shēng 。 tūn mò yī qiè de xū jiè ， jū rán duì cǐ méi yǒu tài dà de fǎn yìng ， rèn yóu wú děng shī wéi 。”
“只要圣者数量足够，以身作绳、联通前后山海。而后无非是再费些周折，便可使得山海复生。吞没一切的虚界，居然对此没有太大的反应，任由吾等施为。”
Indeed, Lian Shan explained with a look of nostalgia: "This staff is what I used when I first ascended Mount Above long ago. Although it has accompanied me for many years, I have not used it again. Now that you are bearing the burden and facing danger, I will give it to you."
lián shān shèng zhě yī xí huà ， yǐn dé zhū shèng shén qíng zhú jiàn níng zhòng 。
连山圣者一席话，引得诸圣神情逐渐凝重。
Li Fan gently stroked the staff; as soon as he touched it, he felt a path through the mountains where Lian Shan had walked.
“ xū jiè tūn mò shān hǎi ， shì cóng shān hǎi zhī chū 、 lián mián zhì shí guāng zhī mò de hóng dà zhàn chǎng 。”
“虚界吞没山海，是从山海之初、连绵至时光之末的宏大战场。”
The unending, undevoured mountains stretched before him.
“ jì shì zhàn chǎng ， biàn yǒu qīng zhòng zhī fēn 。 yī shí yī dì zhī dé shī ， shí zé wú guān jǐn yào 。 jīn rì shān hǎi fù xiàn ， dào yān bèi bī tuì 。 míng rì xū jiè yì kě zhòng lái ， dào yān zài dù tūn mò yī qiè 。”
“既是战场，便有轻重之分。一时一地之得失，实则无关紧要。今日山海复现，道湮被逼退。明日虚界亦可重来，道湮再度吞没一切。”
Li Fan was overjoyed and put the staff in his bag. The gift from Lian Shan was invaluable.
“ zhēn zhèng zhòng yào de ……”
“真正重要的……”
Hui Hai's offering was also not insignificant; it was an ordinary-looking iron shovel. However, as soon as Li Fan touched it, he felt a surging force that seemed to nourish his entire body. It made him feel more relaxed.
“ zài yú 【 shèng 】。”
“在于【圣】。”
"Back then, I used this shovel to open the path from the Infinite to the Infinite Sea. With the fusion of the two seas, this shovel had no place left for use. Keeping it was a waste; you can take it," Hui Hai said calmly.
“ xū jiè běn shì lüè shèng shān hǎi yī chóu ， yǐ wēi ruò yōu shì 、 jīng nián lěi yuè ， biàn kě zuì zhōng jiāng shān hǎi tūn mò 。”
“虚界本是略胜山海一筹，以微弱优势、经年累月，便可最终将山海吞没。”
Li Fan calmed his excitement and accepted the shovel.
“ dàn yīn wèi yǒu le néng yǔ shān hǎi bǐ jiān zhě ， shèng de cún zài 。 zhè chǎng zhàn jú ， jiù píng tiān le jǐ duō biàn shù 。 wú děng zì shì xū jiè yǎn zhōng dīng 、 ròu zhōng cì 。” lián shān shèng zhě shí fēn píng jìng de shuō zhe ， wǎn ruò chén shù zhe gēn zì jǐ wú guān de shì shí 。
“但因为有了能与山海比肩者，圣的存在。这场战局，就平添了几多变数。吾等自是虚界眼中钉、肉中刺。”连山圣者十分平静的说着，宛若陈述着跟自己无关的事实。
Next came Tai Yi's turn.
“ kě zòng shǐ xū jiè chū shǒu ， yě nán yǐ xiǎng xiàng jiū jìng yǒu shén me shǒu duàn ， néng yī tóng shā sǐ nǐ men a ？”
“可纵使虚界出手，也难以想象究竟有什么手段，能一同杀死你们啊？”
"The other two were quite generous with their gifts. I don't have much to offer..."
bǎi xiǎo shuō chū le zài chǎng qí yú zhòng rén xīn zhōng yí wèn 。
百晓说出了在场其余众人心中疑问。
"This little thing is for you."
bì jìng yǐ sān shèng shí lì ， jī hū kě yǐ shuō wú jù dào yān qīn xí le 。
毕竟以三圣实力，几乎可以说无惧道湮侵袭了。
Tai Yi spoke lightly, but from the fleeting look in his eyes, it was clear that this gift was not just a trifle.
nán bù chéng ， xū jiè hái yǒu shén me qí tā tè bié shǒu duàn ？
难不成，虚界还有什么其他特别手段？
"Don't dishonor Him." Indeed, Tai Yi could not help adding when he saw Li Fan put away the staff.
lián shān shèng zhě bìng méi yǒu zài mài guān zi ， dàn dàn dì shuō dào ：“ néng gòu shā sǐ wú děng de ……”
连山圣者并没有再卖关子，淡淡地说道：“能够杀死吾等的……”
It was a stone rod. It looked good on the outside, like it was made of jade, but as soon as Li Fan touched it, he sensed an overwhelming stench of blood.
“ wéi yǒu wú děng zì jǐ 。”
“唯有吾等自己。”
Describing it with "a sea of corpses and rivers of blood" was insufficient to convey its horror.
qǐ chū zhòng rén bù jiě qí yì ， bù guò dāng shì xiàn kàn dào nà yōu suì wú bǐ de xū jiè zhī hòu ， fǎng fú zhōng yú míng bái le shén me 。
起初众人不解其意，不过当视线看到那幽邃无比的虚界之后，仿佛终于明白了什么。
Innumerable souls had lost their lives under this rod.
xīn zhōng yī gǔ hán yì ， xú xú yǒng shàng xīn tóu 。
心中一股寒意，徐徐涌上心头。
Even with his extensive experience, seeing such brutality caused a slight change in color on Li Fan's face. But he did not lose his grip on the stone rod out of fright.
“ bù cuò ， chū shǒu de ， yīng shì fù miè shān hǎi zhōng de 【 sān shèng 】。”
“不错，出手的，应是覆灭山海中的【三圣】。”
"I never imagined that Tai Yi, who always smiled and seemed so approachable, once walked down such a terrifying path of slaughter," Li Fan reflected, feeling surprised even after countless eons had passed since then.
“ bèi xū jiè tūn mò ， xiāo shī shì jiān hòu 。 yòu yǐ mǒu zhǒng fāng shì ， chóng xīn jiàng lín 。 huà shēn xū jiè zhǎo yá 。” guī hǎi diǎn tóu ， yìn zhèng le zhòng rén de cāi cè 。
“被虚界吞没，消失世间后。又以某种方式，重新降临。化身虚界爪牙。”归海点头，印证了众人的猜测。
Staff, shovel, and stone rod. The gifts from the Three Sages looked ordinary and even somewhat crude, but they were undoubtedly treasures of the Sea of Time.
“ jié nàn zhòu rán jiàng lín ， shān hǎi bèi xū jiè tūn mò zhī shí ， wú děng bìng fēi shì bèi shā sǐ 。 ér shì yǔ shān hǎi tóng yǔn 。 zòng shǐ jiān yǔ shān hǎi qí ， dàn ruò shì zhōu zāo gēn jī wán quán sàng shī 、 xiàn rù xū jiè bāo wéi zhī zhōng ， nán biàn gǔ jīn 。 suī yǒu qiān zhǒng shén tōng ， zuì zhōng jiě jué ， yě zhǐ néng shì bèi huó huó kùn sǐ 。”
“劫难骤然降临，山海被虚界吞没之时，吾等并非是被杀死。而是与山海同陨。纵使肩与山海齐，但若是周遭根基完全丧失、陷入虚界包围之中，难辨古今。虽有千种神通，最终解决，也只能是被活活困死。”
Holding the staff in his hand, wearing the shovel at his waist, and carrying the stone rod behind him, Li Fan bid farewell to the others on the other side of the Void Sea and prepared to cross over.
“ dàn qián duàn shān hǎi réng zài ， wú děng què yǐ rán shì qù ……”
“但前段山海仍在，吾等却已然逝去……”
"Be careful."
“ yīng gāi zhǐ cún zài zhè yī zhǒng qíng kuàng 。”
“应该只存在这一种情况。”
The sages naturally did not want anything to happen to Li Fan. They all gave him their blessings.
lián shān yǔ bì ， xuán jī huán zhōng zé shì xiàn rù le chè dǐ de sǐ jì zhī zhōng 。
连山语毕，璇玑环中则是陷入了彻底的死寂之中。
"Come here."
zhū shèng miàn miàn xiāng qù ， shéi dōu bù zhī dào gāi rú hé jiē huà 。
诸圣面面相觑，谁都不知道该如何接话。
Before Li Fan could say goodbye to everyone, the Three Sages' images exerted a powerful force together.
lián shān yòu shuō dào ：“ wú děng yě hái bìng méi yǒu tóng nà ge zhuàng tài de zì jǐ jiāo guò shǒu ， dàn cóng gēn xū jiè kàng zhēng de zhǒng zhǒng jīng yàn lái kàn 。 cóng xū jiè zhōng fù shēng wú děng ， shí lì yīng yǔ běn zūn ， bù xiāng shàng xià 。 yì huò zhě shuō ， jiù shì wǒ men zì jǐ 。 zhǐ shì ……”
连山又说道：“吾等也还并没有同那个状态的自己交过手，但从跟虚界抗争的种种经验来看。从虚界中复生吾等，实力应与本尊，不相上下。亦或者说，就是我们自己。只是……”
Li Fan felt himself being thrown into the boundless Void Sea by this immense force.
“ xuǎn zé zhàn zài le xū jiè yī biān 。”
“选择站在了虚界一边。”
Fortunately, he didn't lose his way but instead moved towards a predetermined direction at an incredible speed. It was as if riding the wind and breaking through obstacles.
“ bù jǐn jǐn shì wú děng 。 nà xiē bèi tūn mò shān hǎi zhōng de yī qiè shēng líng ， dōu yǒu kě néng bèi xū jiè fù shēng ， yòng lái duì fù tā men zì jǐ 。 yǐ qí rén zhī dào ， hái zhì qí rén zhī shēn 。 zhè biàn shì xū jiè zhēn duì shān hǎi shèng zhě de fāng fǎ 。”
“不仅仅是吾等。那些被吞没山海中的一切生灵，都有可能被虚界复生，用来对付他们自己。以其人之道，还治其人之身。这便是虚界针对山海圣者的方法。”
Occasional waves of the Void Sea rose up, but they could not stop him in the slightest.
“ wú děng zài xǔ jiǔ zhī qián ， biàn céng jiàn guò yī wèi xìng qíng jiǒng yì de gù rén 。 yī yán bù hé ， biàn shì è yǔ xiāng xiàng 。 nǎi zhì hòu lái yī cháng jī dòng 。 chū shí ， wú děng bù jiě qí yì 。 zhí zhì zuì hòu ， jiāng qí zhǎn shā ……”
“吾等在许久之前，便曾见过一位性情迥异的故人。一言不合，便是恶语相向。乃至后来一场激动。初时，吾等不解其意。直至最后，将其斩杀……”
In the Void Sea, 90,000 years passed in an instant.
“ wǎn ruò zài shān hǎi zhōng ， dǎ kāi le tōng xiàng xū jiè de tōng dào 。 wú qióng wú jìn de dào yān làng cháo ， xiōng xiōng ér lái 。 shì tou jī hū bǐ dé shàng jié nàn bào fā zhī chū 。 zòng shǐ wú děng miǎn lì wéi chí ， yì yě bèi chōng jī de nán yǐ wěn zhù shēn xíng 。 shān hǎi qǐng kè jiān lún sàng ， wú děng zhǐ néng cōng cōng ér táo 。”
“宛若在山海中，打开了通向虚界的通道。无穷无尽的道湮浪潮，汹汹而来。势头几乎比得上劫难爆发之初。纵使吾等勉励维持，亦也被冲击的难以稳住身形。山海顷刻间沦丧，吾等只能匆匆而逃。”
Before long, Li Fan saw the Three Sages' true forms ahead. They stood like beacons in the darkness, pushing back all the winds and waves around them.
“ shì hòu huí xiǎng qǐ lái ， fāng cái zhī xiǎo nà shì xū jiè fù shēng shǒu duàn 。”
“事后回想起来，方才知晓那是虚界复生手段。”
But...
……
……
Despite the protection of the Three Sages, Li Fan was acutely aware that the Devouring Waves here were far more active than they had been in the Sea of Time.
tīng wén lián shān sān shèng jiǎng shù ， lǐ fán zhú jiàn míng bái guò lái 。
听闻连山三圣讲述，李凡逐渐明白过来。
"Almost as rampant as at the end of time," he thought.
The vast expanse of the Void Sea stretched before him, and Li Fan gradually understood what was happening. If the struggle between the Sea of Time and the Void Sea could be likened to a protracted war, then the region they had crossed to reunite the Sea of Time was merely the battlefield where two armies clashed.
Even with the might of the Three Sages, they could only fight their way through seven times in and out. But if they truly found themselves surrounded by endless Void forces, there would be no escape but death.
Thus, under the concentrated attack from the Void Sea, the collapse of the Sea of Time and the annihilation of the sages had occurred. Li Fan could understand this; he had witnessed firsthand how the Sea of Time deteriorated at its end, and how the last few sages struggled to resist the Devouring Waves.
However, what shocked him was that the Void Sea could resurrect the sages who had been devoured! The thought of facing an opponent with all the power of the Three Sages, acting without restraint, and solely for the destruction of the Sea of Time, made Li Fan feel a bit apprehensive.
"Though you need not worry too much. Resurrecting and reviving sages requires the Void Sea to expend its own strength; it is not infinite."
"If these creations were enough, they could have already destroyed the Sea of Time."
"Therefore, I suspect that these resurrected beings are targeting those who pose a threat to the Void Sea."
"We've been lucky so far, but we must be cautious now. The reunification action cannot stop."
The Three Sages all turned their gaze towards Li Fan.
"Before the Sea of Time collapses completely, we need someone to stabilize its state. If we cross over and descend, it might attract the attention of these resurrected sages. Even though our strength is evenly matched, it's hard to predict who will win."
"You are not recorded in the Void Sea's memory list, so even if you cross over, it won't trigger any alarms."
"Stabilize the situation first. We'll help reunite the Sea of Time from within the Void Sea and won't keep you waiting long."
"To prevent accidents, we'll each give you a protective treasure. Even if you encounter a resurrected being, you can still escape calmly."
"You have the ability to infuse your true essence; in case of emergencies, you don't necessarily need to go."
...
Under the gaze of the sages, Li Fan could only nod silently.
Otherwise, it would not fit his character as a Sea Walker.
But Li Fan naturally did not intend to fight with the resurrected Void Sages. If anything went wrong, he would immediately activate the True Self.
"The previous Sea of Time may collapse at any moment. We should leave right away."
"However, we need to be cautious..."
"The area that can attract the attention of a resurrected being must be extremely important. Perhaps more important than three reunifications and our current location. With the Three Sages gone, it will undoubtedly be an unimaginable end-of-the-world scenario. Stabilizing the situation might not be easy."
"Comrade, you must be careful," Shou Qiu said with a solemn expression.
"I'll take your advice into consideration." Li Fan nodded slightly and then looked at the Three Sages.
He was waiting for their promised protective treasures.
The Three Sages did not break their word. Each of them sent a beam of light that flew to Li Fan's side.
As soon as the light appeared, its extraordinary nature became evident.
Mountains sent by Lian Shan were uneven and seemed like they had been picked from a tree at random. However, the wood emitted an aura of沧桑 (sāngcāng), indicating it was far more complex than its appearance suggested.
Indeed, Lian Shan explained with a look of nostalgia: "This staff is what I used when I first ascended Mount Above long ago. Although it has accompanied me for many years, I have not used it again. Now that you are bearing the burden and facing danger, I will give it to you."
Li Fan gently stroked the staff; as soon as he touched it, he felt a path through the mountains where Lian Shan had walked.
The unending, undevoured mountains stretched before him.
Li Fan was overjoyed and put the staff in his bag. The gift from Lian Shan was invaluable.
Hui Hai's offering was also not insignificant; it was an ordinary-looking iron shovel. However, as soon as Li Fan touched it, he felt a surging force that seemed to nourish his entire body. It made him feel more relaxed.
"Back then, I used this shovel to open the path from the Infinite to the Infinite Sea. With the fusion of the two seas, this shovel had no place left for use. Keeping it was a waste; you can take it," Hui Hai said calmly.
Li Fan calmed his excitement and accepted the shovel.
Next came Tai Yi's turn.
"The other two were quite generous with their gifts. I don't have much to offer..."
"This little thing is for you."
Tai Yi spoke lightly, but from the fleeting look in his eyes, it was clear that this gift was not just a trifle.
"Don't dishonor Him." Indeed, Tai Yi could not help adding when he saw Li Fan put away the staff.
It was a stone rod. It looked good on the outside, like it was made of jade, but as soon as Li Fan touched it, he sensed an overwhelming stench of blood.
Describing it with "a sea of corpses and rivers of blood" was insufficient to convey its horror.
Innumerable souls had lost their lives under this rod.
Even with his extensive experience, seeing such brutality caused a slight change in color on Li Fan's face. But he did not lose his grip on the stone rod out of fright.
"I never imagined that Tai Yi, who always smiled and seemed so approachable, once walked down such a terrifying path of slaughter," Li Fan reflected, feeling surprised even after countless eons had passed since then.
Staff, shovel, and stone rod. The gifts from the Three Sages looked ordinary and even somewhat crude, but they were undoubtedly treasures of the Sea of Time.
Holding the staff in his hand, wearing the shovel at his waist, and carrying the stone rod behind him, Li Fan bid farewell to the others on the other side of the Void Sea and prepared to cross over.
"Be careful."
The sages naturally did not want anything to happen to Li Fan. They all gave him their blessings.
"Come here."
Before Li Fan could say goodbye to everyone, the Three Sages' images exerted a powerful force together.
Li Fan felt himself being thrown into the boundless Void Sea by this immense force.
Fortunately, he didn't lose his way but instead moved towards a predetermined direction at an incredible speed. It was as if riding the wind and breaking through obstacles.
Occasional waves of the Void Sea rose up, but they could not stop him in the slightest.
In the Void Sea, 90,000 years passed in an instant.
Before long, Li Fan saw the Three Sages' true forms ahead. They stood like beacons in the darkness, pushing back all the winds and waves around them.
But...
Despite the protection of the Three Sages, Li Fan was acutely aware that the Devouring Waves here were far more active than they had been in the Sea of Time.
"Almost as rampant as at the end of time," he thought.