céng jīng lǐ fán yù jiàn guò shān hǎi yī chù qí tè wén míng de yí jì cán liú 。
曾经李凡遇见过山海一处奇特文明的遗迹残留。
Li Fan understood why the Void Realm was determined to kill the Three Sages. Not only were they a significant obstacle due to their transcendent strength, but from the perspective of the Void Realm, the Three Sages might be considered part of the Sea and Mountain civilization that needed to be eradicated.
【 yì 】 cháo shān hǎi sì ， xiāo wàng shēng 。
【黓】朝山海祀，萧忘生。
The collision between the countless lines representing different civilizations intensified. Each intersection seemed like an epic battle between countless civilizations. Though there was no bloodshed, the atmosphere was filled with a sense of impending doom.
suī rán nà gǔ lǎo wáng cháo zǎo yǐ jīng xiāo shī zài le lì shǐ de cháng hé zhī zhōng ， dàn xiāo wàng shēng què gǒu huó le xià lái ， bìng qiě gēn lǐ fán yǒu guò yí miàn zhī yuán 。
虽然那古老王朝早已经消失在了历史的长河之中，但萧忘生却苟活了下来，并且跟李凡有过一面之缘。
Li Fan also realized why the Void Realm was so intent on eliminating the Three Sages. The Three Sages were deeply intertwined with the Sea and Mountain civilization's evolution, making it difficult to sever their connection completely.
lǐ fán yīn zhī kuī jiàn le gǔ lǎo shān hǎi de yī jiǎo 。
李凡因之窥见了古老山海的一角。
As the lines of civilization clashed, a figure suddenly appeared amidst the chaos. This figure was none other than Shou Qiu, who revealed his presence by brandishing the staffs of Continuous Mountains, Eternal Seas, and All Beings as tokens of his identity.
cǐ kè wèi le yìn zhèng zì jǐ de cāi cè ， lǐ fán hǎo sì shēn huà shān hǎi jì sì de yī yuán ， yú xū jiè wú shù máng máng xiàn tiáo zhōng ， xún zhǎo zháo zì jǐ shú xī de nà lǚ qì xī 。
此刻为了印证自己的猜测，李凡好似身化山海祭祀的一员，于虚界无数茫茫线条中，寻找着自己熟悉的那缕气息。
"Shou Qiu..."
shān hǎi cóng chū dàn zhì jīn ， suī lì jīng wú shù zài 。
山海从初诞至今，虽历经无数载。
The Three Sages recognized him immediately. They had only just parted ways, but in a short time, Shou Qiu's aura had undergone a dramatic transformation. His appearance was like a sword plunged into the heart of the battlefield, causing a shockwave that reverberated through the entire arena.
dàn yì cháo yě céng mián yán chí xù wú shù jì yuán ， ruò fēi cún zài shān hǎi xiāng róng de dào yān jié shù ， tā men zhè qún yī fù shān hǎi de cún zài yě wèi bì huì zhè me róng yì fù miè 。
但黓朝也曾绵延持续无数纪元，若非存在山海相融的道湮劫数，他们这群依附山海的存在也未必会这么容易覆灭。
Countless lines representing civilizations instantly converged on Shou Qiu, their intent to attack palpable. Each line carried an intensity comparable to a powerful strike from a transcendent being.
yì ， zhōng jiū zài shān hǎi lì shǐ zhōng ， liú xià le shǔ yú zì shēn de yī lǚ yìn jì 。
黓，终究在山海历史中，留下了属于自身的一缕印记。
Despite the overwhelming pressure, Shou Qiu remained unshaken. He smiled and said, "I once sat atop mountains and gazed upon the sea, witnessing its collapse."
ér xiàn zài ……
而现在……
"Your demise does not concern me. My extinction is irrelevant."
hǎo sì huà shēn shān hǎi sì de lǐ fán ， dàng zhēn cóng zhōu zāo wú shù xiàn tiáo zhōng ， gǎn yìng dào le “ gù tǔ ” de shú xī qì xī ！
好似化身山海祀的李凡，当真从周遭无数线条中，感应到了“故土”的熟悉气息！
"The fusion of Sea and Mountain and the calamity of the Void Realm may destroy countless civilizations, but..."
zì jǐ suǒ shú xī de qí tā jì sì men ， yì cháo wú shù zi mín men ， fǎng fú dōu bìng wèi sǐ qù 。 ér shì yī jiù jù jí zài nà lǐ ， hū huàn zhe zì jǐ guī lái ！
自己所熟悉的其他祭祀们，黓朝无数子民们，仿佛都并未死去。而是依旧聚集在那里，呼唤着自己归来！
"What impact do they have on me?"
lǐ fán xún jì ér wǎng ， zhōng jiū méi yǒu jiàn dào yǐ jīng pò miè de yī qiè 。
李凡循迹而往，终究没有见到已经破灭的一切。
A mysterious aura enveloped Shou Qiu as he faced the onslaught from the lines of civilization with a serene demeanor.
suǒ jiàn ， zhǐ shì yì céng jīng zài shān hǎi jiān cún zài guò de wú jìn guāng yǐng 、 suǒ níng jù chéng de yī tiáo sī xiàn 。
所见，只是黓曾经在山海间存在过的无尽光影、所凝聚成的一条丝线。
It seemed as if nothing could harm him or that he was invincible through countless trials.
zhè tiáo sī xiàn ， biàn dài biǎo zhe yì cháo wén míng ， zài shān hǎi zhōng suǒ liú xià de yìn jì ！
这条丝线，便代表着黓朝文明，在山海中所留下的印记！
At first glance, it appeared that Shou Qiu had already grasped the essence of the Longevity path. However, only Li Fan noticed something different.
lǐ fán yì niàn huí guī jǐ shēn ， cóng yì cháo sī xiàn jǐng xiàng zhōng tuì chū 。 fàng yǎn kàn xiàng zhōu zāo 。
李凡意念回归己身，从黓朝丝线景象中退出。放眼看向周遭。
Longevity was merely an outward appearance. What truly supported Shou Qiu's ability to remain unscathed in the face of overwhelming calamity was the transformation between truth and falsehood.
shì zhè bān de wén míng sī xiàn ……
似这般的文明丝线……
The civilization's blades or the Void Realm's invasion could not harm him because he had already transformed into what they were attacking.
wú qióng wú jìn 、 wú biān wú yá ！
无穷无尽、无边无涯！
A thin, shell-like fragment flew from the Continuous Mountains' shadow. It quickly approached Shou Qiu's head, appearing weightless but carrying the force of a mountain when it struck his body.
lǐ fán xīn zhōng zhèn dòng fēi cháng 。
李凡心中震动非常。
This was the Above Mountain!
“ wǒ chū chū yuán chū shí ， jiàn shān hǎi jiān wú shù kě néng xìng bìng liú ， yǐ wéi biàn zhī shān hǎi zhī dà 。”
“我初出原初时，见山海间无数可能性并流，以为便知山海之大。”
Though Shou Qiu could sit atop mountains and gaze upon the sea, in this moment, everything seemed to be inverted. The continuous range of mountains now pressed down on him from above.
“ rán jīn rì suǒ jiàn zhǒng zhǒng ， fāng cái zhī xiǎo ……”
“然今日所见种种，方才知晓……”
Shou Qiu grunted as if his body had shrunk by an inch under the immense pressure. However, instead of lowering his head, he raised it higher, his eyes gleaming with determination as he examined the shell fragment above him.
“ shān hǎi zài shí jiān kè dù shàng de zòng xiàng shēng mìng cháng dù ， bìng bù ruò yú héng xiàng zhī 【 wú xiàn 】 duō shǎo 。”
“山海在时间刻度上的纵向生命长度，并不弱于横向之【无限】多少。”
The fragment emitted a faint greenish light, its intricate patterns resembling mountain ranges. Though limited to a small area, the image within was in constant flux, growing and changing endlessly.
“ nán yǐ chuǎi cè 、 kān chēng wú jìn de màn cháng ！”
“难以揣测、堪称无尽的漫长！”
Shou Qiu felt an increasing pressure from this fragment. This was something the Continuous Mountains Sage had never used before, but his Void Realm avatar threw it without hesitation after witnessing Shou Qiu's transformation.
lǐ fán hái xiǎng qǐ le ， zì jǐ céng jīng zài dào yān zhōng chuí diào qǐ de yī méi guǐ yì xiǎo hēi hé 。
李凡还想起了，自己曾经在道湮中垂钓起的一枚诡异小黑盒。
Similarly, the Eternal Seas and Taiyi Sages' avatars revealed their own devastating attacks. A transparent stone fragment or a shattered bone suddenly struck Shou Qiu, bypassing the distance to hit him directly in the brow.
nǎi shì shān hǎi gǔ wù 、 qīng jí ér hēi hòu de zhuàng tài xiǎn huà 。
乃是山海古物、青极而黑后的状态显化。
Shou Qiu's body trembled as he tried to process what was happening. Li Fan's voice snapped him back to reality.
“ zuì chū shì shān hǎi tūn shén de nà duàn shí jiān ， cún yú shān hǎi de dà liàng zǎo lèi shēng mìng xíng tài de yī yuán 。 lì jīng wú shù zài suì yuè chén diàn ， fāng cái yǎn biàn chéng le nà bān mú yàng 。”
“最初是山海吞神的那段时间，存于山海的大量藻类生命形态的一员。历经无数载岁月沉淀，方才衍变成了那般模样。”
"Shou Qiu, maintain your transformation to protect yourself! This bone..."
“ shèn zhì shān hǎi tūn shén hòu de nà yī duàn shí qī ， huò xǔ shí jì yě bǐ wǒ yù xiǎng zhōng de yào màn cháng de duō 。”
“甚至山海吞神后的那一段时期，或许实际也比我预想中的要漫长的多。”
"It's strange!"
zǎo lèi shēng mìng bìng méi yǒu zhǔ guān yì shí ， wéi yǒu shēng cún de běn néng 。
藻类生命并没有主观意识，唯有生存的本能。
Without further explanation from Li Fan, Shou Qiu realized that the broken bone was harming him. The damage to his brow was secondary; what truly alarmed him was the bone's parasitic nature and its replacement of his own body.
dàn jiù lián tā dōu duì zì jǐ suǒ jīng lì yǒu zhe “ jí qí jiǔ yuǎn ” de yìn xiàng ， zú yǐ kě jiàn shān hǎi zhī gǔ 。
但就连它都对自己所经历有着“极其久远”的印象，足以可见山海之古。
The bone rooted itself in his brow and began to penetrate deeper into his body. Normally, his body would have repelled such an intrusion with defensive forces. However, this bone seemed to be a part of Shou Qiu from the start, allowing it to invade without resistance.
“ běn shì xiàng shān qù ， gù chēng zhī lián shān 。”
“本是向山去，故称之连山。”
The bone grew along Shou Qiu's meridians and bones, as if it were forming another body within him.
“ běn zì hǎi zhōng lái ， gù cái chéng guī hǎi 。”
“本自海中来，故才成归海。”
Shou Qiu felt the transformation deeply. If left unchecked, he might truly be replaced by this foreign bone!
“ yuán lái mí dǐ jiù zài mí miàn shàng 。”
“原来谜底就在谜面上。”
However, even with his usual methods or the Longevity path's defenses against such an intrusion, they offered little help. Shou Qiu could only rely on his transformation to delay the process.
wú qióng de wén míng sī xiàn luàn liú zhī zhōng ， lǐ fán fǎng ruò kàn qīng le lián shān 、 guī hǎi èr shèng zhēn zhèng de lì liàng yóu lái 。
无穷的文明丝线乱流之中，李凡仿若看清了连山、归海二圣真正的力量由来。
Despite the danger, Shou Qiu remained calm and knew that if he died now, everything would revert to its original state once Li Fan achieved True Perfection.
“ gǔ zhī shān hǎi wén míng měi yī cì lián shān kuà hǎi de cháng shì ， dōu shì duì lián shān shèng zhě dàn shēng de tuī dòng 。”
“古之山海文明每一次连山跨海的尝试，都是对连山圣者诞生的推动。”
"Even if I die, understanding their true methods this time is worth it."
“ ér měi yí gè wén míng xiāo shī 、 huí guī wú xiàn hǎi de guò chéng ， dōu shì guī hǎi shèng zhě chū xiàn de yòu yīn 。”
“而每一个文明消失、回归无限海的过程，都是归海圣者出现的诱因。”
He focused on observing the foreign bone within him. The bone was occupying his body and soul, allowing Shou Qiu to examine them closely.
“ fēi yī rén yī shí zhī lì dēng lín shān diān ， ér shì wú shù jì yuán 、 wú shù wén míng ， gòng tóng tuī dòng 。 fāng cái yǒu nà jīng shì píng kōng yī yuè ！”
“非一人一时之力登临山巅，而是无数纪元、无数文明，共同推动。方才有那惊世凭空一跃！”
The more he looked, the more alarmed he became.
lǐ fán yòu bù yóu xiǎng qǐ le lián shān shèng zhě céng jīng zì shù ， zài zuì chū dēng lín shí 、 yù jiàn mìng shū shí de chǎng jǐng le 。
李凡又不由想起了连山圣者曾经自述，在最初登临时、遇见命枢时的场景了。
"It's not deceiving my senses in some way; rather..."
lián shān dēng lín hòu ， mìng shū fǎng fú yù jiàn le shén me jí wéi kě bù zhī shì ， huāng máng dùn zǒu 。
连山登临后，命枢仿佛遇见了什么极为可怖之事，慌忙遁走。
"Seems like they are truly part of me!"
“ xiàn zài xiǎng lái ， huò xǔ shì lián shān gōng chéng shùn jiān ， mìng shū yě rú tóng wǒ zhè bān ， kuī jiàn le qí zhēn miàn mù le 。”
“现在想来，或许是连山功成瞬间，命枢也如同我这般，窥见了其真面目了。”
"No, more accurately, I am from this broken bone."
“ lián shān shèng zhě de lì liàng lái yuán ， shí zé shì suǒ yǒu cháng shì ‘ lián shān ’ zhī jǔ ér yòu wèi jìng de cún zài zǒng hé 。 yě jiù yì wèi zhe ， suǒ yǒu cháng shì dēng lín zhī rén ， dōu kě shì tā de yǎng liào 。”
“连山圣者的力量来源，实则是所有尝试‘连山’之举而又未竟的存在总和。也就意味着，所有尝试登临之人，都可是祂的养料。”
Recalling the source of the Eternal Seas Sage's power—the inertia of returning to the Infinite Sea after civilization's end—Shou Qiu suddenly understood.
“ mìng shū nà yī kè suǒ jiàn ， pà bú shì yì lì zài wú shù shī gǔ duī dié zhī shàng de kě bù guài wù 。 wèi jù ér zǒu ， yě jiù bù zú wéi qí le 。”
“命枢那一刻所见，怕不是屹立在无数尸骨堆叠之上的可怖怪物。畏惧而走，也就不足为奇了。”
"This bone..."
suī rán míng bái le èr shèng de zhèng dào zhī fǎ ， dàn lǐ fán xīn zhōng réng bù miǎn yǒu zhū duō yí huò 。
虽然明白了二圣的证道之法，但李凡心中仍不免有诸多疑惑。
"It might be the ancestor of all life in the Sea and Mountain?"
bǐ rú ， shì wén míng lián shān cháng shì 、 yǔn luò hòu huí guī guàn xìng ， zhè bān “ chōu xiàng ” gài niàn duì shān hǎi de yǐng xiǎng 。 yòu shì rú hé jù xiàng chéng zhēn zhèng de cún zài de ？
比如，似文明连山尝试、陨落后回归惯性，这般“抽象”概念对山海的影响。又是如何具象成真正的存在的？
It was as if everything originated from and returned to this being, making it a natural conclusion. Shou Qiu felt an inexplicable shock.
“ shān hǎi fēn shén ， ér hòu yǒu shēng líng 、 wén míng dàn shēng ， zhè shì bì rán 、 hái shì ǒu rán ？”
“山海分神，而后有生灵、文明诞生，这是必然、还是偶然？”
Even with his sage body, he couldn't help but feel reverence for such an ordinary fragment of bone upon seeing it.
xū jiè zhī zhōng ， lǐ fán yǒu suǒ wù 。
虚界之中，李凡有所悟。
This was the instinctive respect for life's beginning that arose after encountering its origin.
gēn tā xīn niàn xiāng tóng de shǒu qiū ， tóng shí yě míng bái le shén me 。
跟他心念相同的守丘，同时也明白了什么。
Shou Qiu could only confirm that this broken bone was the ancestor of all Sea and Mountain life. The connection to the true creator god remained a mystery.
“ fán dào yǒu kě hái jì de ， cháng shēng dà dào zhēn zhèng zhī zhǔ me ？ shàng yī shì nǐ hái zhēn zhī hòu ， cháng shēng dà dào jìng duì guī yú hái zhēn diàn táng ， mò míng dǐ chù 。”
“凡道友可还记得，长生大道真正之主么？上一世你还真之后，长生大道竟对归于还真殿堂，莫名抵触。”
Under the dual pressure of the shell and the ancestral bone, Shou Qiu was pushed to his limits almost instantly. However, the Eternal Seas Sage's final attack arrived next.
“ wǒ tóng yàng zài zhè wú jìn wén míng sī xiàn zhī zhōng ， yǐn yǐn kuī jiàn le tā cún zài de hén jì ！”
“我同样在这无尽文明丝线之中，隐隐窥见了祂存在的痕迹！”
It appeared as mere rope, but upon closer inspection, each strand was composed of countless different life forms!
“ zhǐ cún zài yú shān hǎi zhī gǔ ， mǒu yī shā zhī qián 。 yǐ jìn hū yǔn luò zhī fǎ ， zǔ zhǐ le zì shēn gēn suí shān hǎi yī tóng yǎn biàn 。”
“只存在于山海之古，某一刹之前。以近乎陨落之法，阻止了自身跟随山海一同衍变。”
This seemed like an amalgamation of all life forms that had ever existed in the Sea and Mountain realm. The sight caused dizziness and a sense of dread.
“ huò xǔ shì yù jiàn le shān hǎi xiāng róng de dào yān jié jú ！”
“或许是预见了山海相融的道湮结局！”
It felt as if he could be trapped by this rope at any moment!
Li Fan understood why the Void Realm was determined to kill the Three Sages. Not only were they a significant obstacle due to their transcendent strength, but from the perspective of the Void Realm, the Three Sages might be considered part of the Sea and Mountain civilization that needed to be eradicated.
The collision between the countless lines representing different civilizations intensified. Each intersection seemed like an epic battle between countless civilizations. Though there was no bloodshed, the atmosphere was filled with a sense of impending doom.
Li Fan also realized why the Void Realm was so intent on eliminating the Three Sages. The Three Sages were deeply intertwined with the Sea and Mountain civilization's evolution, making it difficult to sever their connection completely.
As the lines of civilization clashed, a figure suddenly appeared amidst the chaos. This figure was none other than Shou Qiu, who revealed his presence by brandishing the staffs of Continuous Mountains, Eternal Seas, and All Beings as tokens of his identity.
"Shou Qiu..."
The Three Sages recognized him immediately. They had only just parted ways, but in a short time, Shou Qiu's aura had undergone a dramatic transformation. His appearance was like a sword plunged into the heart of the battlefield, causing a shockwave that reverberated through the entire arena.
Countless lines representing civilizations instantly converged on Shou Qiu, their intent to attack palpable. Each line carried an intensity comparable to a powerful strike from a transcendent being.
Despite the overwhelming pressure, Shou Qiu remained unshaken. He smiled and said, "I once sat atop mountains and gazed upon the sea, witnessing its collapse."
"Your demise does not concern me. My extinction is irrelevant."
"The fusion of Sea and Mountain and the calamity of the Void Realm may destroy countless civilizations, but..."
"What impact do they have on me?"
A mysterious aura enveloped Shou Qiu as he faced the onslaught from the lines of civilization with a serene demeanor.
It seemed as if nothing could harm him or that he was invincible through countless trials.
At first glance, it appeared that Shou Qiu had already grasped the essence of the Longevity path. However, only Li Fan noticed something different.
Longevity was merely an outward appearance. What truly supported Shou Qiu's ability to remain unscathed in the face of overwhelming calamity was the transformation between truth and falsehood.
The civilization's blades or the Void Realm's invasion could not harm him because he had already transformed into what they were attacking.
A thin, shell-like fragment flew from the Continuous Mountains' shadow. It quickly approached Shou Qiu's head, appearing weightless but carrying the force of a mountain when it struck his body.
This was the Above Mountain!
Though Shou Qiu could sit atop mountains and gaze upon the sea, in this moment, everything seemed to be inverted. The continuous range of mountains now pressed down on him from above.
Shou Qiu grunted as if his body had shrunk by an inch under the immense pressure. However, instead of lowering his head, he raised it higher, his eyes gleaming with determination as he examined the shell fragment above him.
The fragment emitted a faint greenish light, its intricate patterns resembling mountain ranges. Though limited to a small area, the image within was in constant flux, growing and changing endlessly.
Shou Qiu felt an increasing pressure from this fragment. This was something the Continuous Mountains Sage had never used before, but his Void Realm avatar threw it without hesitation after witnessing Shou Qiu's transformation.
Similarly, the Eternal Seas and Taiyi Sages' avatars revealed their own devastating attacks. A transparent stone fragment or a shattered bone suddenly struck Shou Qiu, bypassing the distance to hit him directly in the brow.
Shou Qiu's body trembled as he tried to process what was happening. Li Fan's voice snapped him back to reality.
"Shou Qiu, maintain your transformation to protect yourself! This bone..."
"It's strange!"
Without further explanation from Li Fan, Shou Qiu realized that the broken bone was harming him. The damage to his brow was secondary; what truly alarmed him was the bone's parasitic nature and its replacement of his own body.
The bone rooted itself in his brow and began to penetrate deeper into his body. Normally, his body would have repelled such an intrusion with defensive forces. However, this bone seemed to be a part of Shou Qiu from the start, allowing it to invade without resistance.
The bone grew along Shou Qiu's meridians and bones, as if it were forming another body within him.
Shou Qiu felt the transformation deeply. If left unchecked, he might truly be replaced by this foreign bone!
However, even with his usual methods or the Longevity path's defenses against such an intrusion, they offered little help. Shou Qiu could only rely on his transformation to delay the process.
Despite the danger, Shou Qiu remained calm and knew that if he died now, everything would revert to its original state once Li Fan achieved True Perfection.
"Even if I die, understanding their true methods this time is worth it."
He focused on observing the foreign bone within him. The bone was occupying his body and soul, allowing Shou Qiu to examine them closely.
The more he looked, the more alarmed he became.
"It's not deceiving my senses in some way; rather..."
"Seems like they are truly part of me!"
"No, more accurately, I am from this broken bone."
Recalling the source of the Eternal Seas Sage's power—the inertia of returning to the Infinite Sea after civilization's end—Shou Qiu suddenly understood.
"This bone..."
"It might be the ancestor of all life in the Sea and Mountain?"
It was as if everything originated from and returned to this being, making it a natural conclusion. Shou Qiu felt an inexplicable shock.
Even with his sage body, he couldn't help but feel reverence for such an ordinary fragment of bone upon seeing it.
This was the instinctive respect for life's beginning that arose after encountering its origin.
Shou Qiu could only confirm that this broken bone was the ancestor of all Sea and Mountain life. The connection to the true creator god remained a mystery.
Under the dual pressure of the shell and the ancestral bone, Shou Qiu was pushed to his limits almost instantly. However, the Eternal Seas Sage's final attack arrived next.
It appeared as mere rope, but upon closer inspection, each strand was composed of countless different life forms!
This seemed like an amalgamation of all life forms that had ever existed in the Sea and Mountain realm. The sight caused dizziness and a sense of dread.
It felt as if he could be trapped by this rope at any moment!