“ rú zhēn shì jiǎ ， shuí néng biàn zhī 、 shuí néng zhī zhī ？”
“如真似假，谁能辨之、谁能知之？”
"Whoever encounters such a formidable foe, no wonder Ti Jie would suffer such a devastating defeat," Li Fan thought with realization.
“ fán dào yǒu gāng gāng suǒ yǎn yī fāng shì jiè ， yǐ zhì jí huàn shì zhēn zhī jìng ， chāo yuè xún cháng yì yì shàng de 【 tuī yǎn 】 le 。” shǒu qiū gōng sì hū réng chén jìn zài mó nǐ huà miàn zhōng ， bù yóu gǎn tàn dào 。
“凡道友刚刚所衍一方世界，已至极幻似真之境，超越寻常意义上的【推衍】了。”守丘公似乎仍沉浸在模拟画面中，不由感叹道。
With the unexpected turn of events blocking their path, the Three Sages did not rush into action. Instead, they delved further into asking about Ti Jie's experiences.
dào dé yě jīng tàn bù yǐ ：“ zhēn jiǎ dà dào ， xuán miào zhì cǐ 。 yǔ qí shuō shì tuī yǎn ， dào bù rú shuō ， nǎi shì yī fāng zhēn shí shì jiè 。 zhǐ bù guò cún zài yú fán dào yǒu nǎo hǎi zhī zhōng ， suí niàn ér qǐ 、 suí niàn ér xiāo 。”
道德也惊叹不已：“真假大道，玄妙至此。与其说是推衍，倒不如说，乃是一方真实世界。只不过存在于凡道友脑海之中，随念而起、随念而消。”
"After my fragment was devoured, I didn't fully inherit its memories. I vaguely recall that upon entering this Primordial Realm, it seemed as if the entire universe turned against me. All the creatures around me attacked without reason, fighting to the death!"
“ cóng mù qián suǒ zhǎng wò xìn xī lái kàn ， nà wèi shén mì mò cè de shān hǎi xíng zhě ， dí què yǒu kě néng jiù shì qiū tiān huì 。 màn bù shān hǎi ， zòng lǎn quán jú 。 suǒ móu zhī shì ， fēi tóng xiǎo kě a 。”
“从目前所掌握信息来看，那位神秘莫测的山海行者，的确有可能就是丘天慧。漫步山海，纵览全局。所谋之事，非同小可啊。”
"I fought and fled, exhausting every ounce of strength, but ultimately failed to escape such a perilous fate!"
lǐ fán xiào le xiào ：“ yóu tā men qù zhēng ！ wú děng zhēn jiǎ zhī biàn zài shǒu ， jī hū lì yú bù bài zhī dì 。 zhǐ xū àn bù jiù bān ， jiù kě shùn lì qián wǎng shān hǎi zhī chū 。 shèn zhì nà fēn shén zhī shì ， yě wèi bì bù néng yī tàn jiū jìng ！”
李凡笑了笑：“由他们去争！吾等真假之变在手，几乎立于不败之地。只需按部就班，就可顺利前往山海之初。甚至那分神之事，也未必不能一探究竟！”
Ti Jie still seemed aggrieved.
……
……
"Moreover, at first, the creatures pursuing me were not much stronger than when I first arrived. But as my strength gradually recovered, the number and power of enemies following me increased dramatically. It felt...as if they were intentionally tormenting me to make me believe there was a chance for survival before slowly driving me to death!"
lǐ fán sān rén zǔ xīn zhōng àn zì jiāo liú ， bǐ àn xuán jī huán zhōng ， zhū shèng yě shì yì lùn fēn fēn 。
李凡三人组心中暗自交流，彼岸璇玑环中，诸圣也是议论纷纷。
As Ti Jie recounted his experience, his expression grew increasingly grim.
běn xiǎng zhe shùn téng mō guā ， zhǎo dào qiū tiān huì fū fù běn zūn yǐn nì suǒ zài 。 què méi xiǎng dào tā men zǎo jiù huà shēn dùn zǒu 。
本想着顺藤摸瓜，找到丘天慧夫妇本尊隐匿所在。却没想到他们早就化身遁走。
Taiyi nodded in agreement: "Indeed, this is the method of 'Suo'."
què piān piān yòu liú le liǎng dào niàn xiǎng 、 máo dìng 。
却偏偏又留了两道念想、锚定。
"Existing between life and death. Such a scenario can fully unleash the potential of all living beings. Only then can Suo complete its full feast."
suī shuō bú shì běn tǐ ， què yī rán qiān shè shān hǎi shēng líng zhī mì 。
虽说不是本体，却依然牵涉山海生灵之秘。
"You must have been forced to use the Ti Jie technique to cope with such a perilous situation, which was exactly what Suo intended..."
ruò shì luò rù xū jiè shǒu zhōng ， shān hǎi huò xǔ chà nà biàn huì xiàn rù wēi jú 。
若是落入虚界手中，山海或许刹那便会陷入危局。
Only now did Ti Jie understand why his path had been damaged.
zuì zhōng hái shì lián shān sān shèng ná dìng zhǔ yì 。
最终还是连山三圣拿定主意。
He was both shocked and angry, with a hint of incomprehension: "With my profound mastery over this path, how could I still be touched by others?"
“ wú lùn rú hé ， qián fāng shān hǎi zhòng yào xìng wú yōng zhì yí 。 xū jiè chóng chóng wéi kùn ， wú děng guāng míng zhèng dà fù lián ， huò xǔ huì jī qǐ jù liè fǎn kàng 。 jì rán fā xiàn le tā men suǒ liú zhè dào mài luò ， biàn kě jiè cǐ qián rù qí zhōng 。”
“无论如何，前方山海重要性毋庸置疑。虚界重重围困，吾等光明正大复联，或许会激起剧烈反抗。既然发现了他们所留这道脉络，便可借此潜入其中。”
The Sage of Mount Lian waved his hand gently to soothe Ti Jie's mind. He said slowly: "Our paths all originate from the Sea and Mountains. Suo excels in devouring mountains and seas. It is merely stealing someone else's plate."
“ jiāng cǐ èr rén ， zhèn yā bǎo hù qǐ lái 。 què bǎo qí ān quán zhī hòu ， wú děng biàn yóu xià yóu shān hǎi ， fā dòng fù lián zhī shì 。 lǐ yìng wài hé ， pò xū jiè wéi kùn zhī shì ！”
“将此二人，镇压保护起来。确保其安全之后，吾等便由下游山海，发动复联之事。里应外合，破虚界围困之势！”
"Doesn't this mean that my injuries cannot be healed?"
lián shān sān shèng shuō zhe ， jiāng shì xiàn luò zài qiè jī shēn shàng 。
连山三圣说着，将视线落在窃机身上。
Lian Mountain Sage's words brought a sudden shock to Ti Jie.
“ shēng líng xìng yùn ér ， zài chǎng zhōng wéi yǒu nǐ yī rén ……”
“生灵幸运儿，在场中唯有你一人……”
"It may not necessarily be so. Suo cares only for the Sea and Mountains themselves. Devouring Ti Jie was just to devour mountains and seas. Once it fully comprehends the principles of the Sea and Mountains, it will naturally expel what it has consumed..."
qiè jī shén qíng bìng wú yì yàng ， diǎn tóu yīng xià ：“ zhèng xiǎng huì yī huì tā men 。”
窃机神情并无异样，点头应下：“正想会一会他们。”
"If it only takes without giving back, Suo would have long been a target of everyone's arrows," the Sage of the Returning Seas comforted.
“ nǐ qù zhī hòu ， xū wéi chí běn xīn bù biàn ， yǐ shān hǎi dà jú wèi zhòng 。” lián shān shèng zhě ruò yǒu shēn yì de jiāo dài le yī jù 。
“你去之后，需维持本心不变，以山海大局为重。”连山圣者若有深意的交代了一句。
Hearing this, Ti Jie finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, his original path had already been taken by others and swallowed whole. He would need to wait for them to digest it before he could reclaim it, which truly left him feeling unusually frustrated.
ér hòu zhū shèng zhù shì xià ， zhǐ jiàn qiè jī shùn jiān bì mù 。
而后诸圣注视下，只见窃机瞬间闭目。
"Only regret that I am just a divine consciousness, born and divided. If my true self were to go there, who would be more formidable..."
yuán xiān suǒ fù shēn nà jù yīng ér ， rú guāng diǎn bān shū rán xiāo sàn 。
原先所附身那具婴儿，如光点般倏然消散。
"Still uncertain!" Ti Jie snorted coldly.
fú yú xū kōng zhī zhōng ， shùn zhe nà wú xíng de shān hǎi mài luò ， jiān nán cháo zhe shàng yóu shān hǎi nì liú ér qù 。
浮于虚空之中，顺着那无形的山海脉络，艰难朝着上游山海逆流而去。
Although he said so, he was still in the Pinnacle of the Other Shore, influenced by the Three Sages' concerted efforts, making it impossible for him to easily engage in a desperate battle.
chàn chàn wēi wēi ， yóu dòng de jí wéi jiān nán 。
颤颤巍巍，游动的极为艰难。
"Suo seeks [Sea and Mountain Spirits]. We must not let Him have His way."
měi xíng yī duàn jù lí ， suǒ níng jù guāng diǎn jiù xiāo sàn jǐ fēn 。
每行一段距离，所凝聚光点就消散几分。
"But how to break this deadlock..."
dāng zuì zhōng chéng gōng qián rù qián fāng shān hǎi zhī jì ， yǐ rán biàn dé àn dàn yì cháng ， jī hū gēn xún cháng fán rén wú yì 。
当最终成功潜入前方山海之际，已然变得黯淡异常，几乎跟寻常凡人无异。
Lian Mountain Sage glanced at the Sage of a Thousand Tales.
“ kàn lái ， shān hǎi shēng líng dà dào běn néng duì wài wù de pái chì shǔ shí yǒu xiē fēi tóng xiǎo kě 。 qiè jī dào yǒu suǒ fù zhuó lì liàng ， bèi xiāo mó dà bàn 。 jiàng shēng dào qián fāng shān hǎi hòu ， kǒng pà bù fù shèng zhě shí lì 。 yào gēn fán rén wú yì le 。” zhū shèng jiàn zhuàng ， jiē wēi wēi yáo tóu 。
“看来，山海生灵大道本能对外物的排斥属实有些非同小可。窃机道友所附着力量，被消磨大半。降生到前方山海后，恐怕不复圣者实力。要跟凡人无异了。”诸圣见状，皆微微摇头。
Despite his myriad of regrets, he could only follow suit. He divided his consciousness along the Sea and Mountains' path, entering it.
“ zuì zhǔ yào de ， shì kàn qiè jī dào yǒu néng fǒu bǎo liú zì jǐ jì yì 。 ruò shì kě yǐ ， yǐ tā zhī néng 、 jiù suàn cóng fán rén zhī jìng fù qǐ ， yě bù guò tán xiào zhī jiān 。” guǐ mìng duì qiè jī shèng zhě hěn yǒu xìn xīn 。
“最主要的，是看窃机道友能否保留自己记忆。若是可以，以他之能、就算从凡人之境复起，也不过谈笑之间。”晷命对窃机圣者很有信心。
It was unclear whether intentional or unintentional, but the Sage of a Thousand Tales performed even worse than Ti Jie.
“ qiě guān zhī ba 。”
“且观之吧。”
The light point had not yet entered the Sea and Mountains when it dissipated by half.
qiè jī běn zūn wǎn ruò shí xiàng bù dòng ， qí yú shèng zhě nài xīn děng dài biàn huà 。
窃机本尊宛若石像不动，其余圣者耐心等待变化。
By the time he successfully disappeared, only a grain of light remained. Its appearance suggested that he had become indistinguishable from an ordinary mortal.
bù zhī guò qù duō jiǔ ， fǎng fú kàn dào le shén me ， lián shān shèng zhě hū yòu shuō dào ：“ yě bù bì kōng děng 。 qiě fù xíng yòu ěr zhī shì 。 ruò shì qiè jī shì bài ， hái yǒu huí zhuǎn yú dì 。”
不知过去多久，仿佛看到了什么，连山圣者忽又说道：“也不必空等。且复行诱饵之事。若是窃机事败，还有回转余地。”
As expected, not long after, the Sage of a Thousand Tales opened his eyes again.
zhū shèng wén yán ， xīn zhōng dùn shí yī lǐn 。
诸圣闻言，心中顿时一凛。
"Sure enough, this is the scene of the Primordial Realm!"
suī méi yǒu míng shuō ， dàn huà lǐ yì si què yǐ jīng hěn míng xiǎn le 。 qiè jī zhè cì xíng dòng ， hěn yǒu kě néng huì shī bài 。 xū zǎo zuò lìng wài dǎ suàn 。
虽没有明说，但话里意思却已经很明显了。窃机这次行动，很有可能会失败。需早做另外打算。
"Both powerful and fierce!"
“ bù zhī lián shān kàn dào le shén me ？”
“不知连山看到了什么？”
However, unlike Ti Jie, the Sage of a Thousand Tales did not lose his essence. He seemed to have learned from his lesson and refrained from using his own Ti Jie path.
lǐ fán xīn zhōng yě shì yǒu xiē yí huò 。
李凡心中也是有些疑惑。
With trembling resolve, he recounted his experience: "My experiences are similar to those of my friend Ti Jie. Upon birth, I was relentlessly pursued by all creatures in the surrounding universe. However, with my friend's experience, I attempted to hide my strength during combat. But..."
tā céng gēn qiè jī shèng zhě jiāo guò shǒu ， shēn zhī qí xīn xìng 、 yì lì ， jiē shì shān hǎi shēng líng zuì dǐng jiān cún zài 。
他曾跟窃机圣者交过手，深知其心性、毅力，皆是山海生灵最顶尖存在。
The Sage of a Thousand Tales sighed helplessly: "That realm seemed to fully perceive everything about me. The vicious creatures dispatched were exactly those that required all my efforts to handle. Realizing this, it was likely not without being toyed with, so I ended my own life."
lǐ yīng bú huì shī shǒu cái duì 。
理应不会失手才对。
The Sages fell into silence.
suī yí lǜ cóng shēng ， què bìng bù fáng ài zhū shèng zài cì biàn sā shēng líng yòu ěr 。
虽疑虑从生，却并不妨碍诸圣再次遍撒生灵诱饵。
"Let us try again," Lian Mountain Sage pondered for a moment and said.
shà shí jiān ， xīng guāng diǎn diǎn ， yòu yǒu wú shù xīn shēng líng kāi shǐ yùn yù 。
霎时间，星光点点，又有无数新生灵开始孕育。
Thus, the story repeated itself.
cǐ cì xǐ zhòng biāo de ， nǎi shì bǎi xiǎo shèng zhě 。
此次喜中标的，乃是百晓圣者。
This time, the lucky one was Fangzhen.
zhǐ jiàn tā àn zì dí gū yī shēng ， yī liǎn huì qì 。
只见他暗自嘀咕一声，一脸晦气。
Fangzhen did not mind the temporary loss of his essence. He fought with all his might.
qià zài zhè shí ， qiè jī shèng zhě hū de zhēng kāi shuāng yǎn 。
恰在这时，窃机圣者忽的睁开双眼。
He managed to persist far longer than Ti Jie, but ultimately still failed.
bù zhī zāo shòu hé děng le hé děng biàn gù ， jìng rán yāng jí běn zūn qì xī bù wěn 。 yī kǒu xiān xuè tǔ chū ， miàn sè shùn jiān àn dàn le xià qù 。 zhū shèng zhù shì xià ， fǎng fú qí zhǎng kòng 【 qiè jī 】 dà dào dōu bèi zhǎn qù 、 sǔn shī jǐ fēn ！
不知遭受何等了何等变故，竟然殃及本尊气息不稳。一口鲜血吐出，面色瞬间黯淡了下去。诸圣注视下，仿佛其掌控【窃机】大道都被斩去、损失几分！
Clearly, the more he persisted, the more his essence was subtly devoured and consumed.
rú cǐ biàn gù ， dùn shí yǐn dé xuán jī huán zhōng zhū shèng sǒng rán ér jīng 。
如此变故，顿时引得璇玑环中诸圣悚然而惊。
When Fangzhen's consciousness returned, it appeared as if he had suffered severe injuries.
lǐ fán mī zhuó yǎn ， tiē xīn wèi qí guàn zhù zhēn líng 。 tóng shí yě jiè jī ， jìn jù lí guān chá shì fǒu shì qiè jī yáng zhuāng 。
李凡眯着眼，贴心为其灌注真灵。同时也借机，近距离观察是否是窃机佯装。
His face was pale, and his breath was faint!
fā xiàn qiè jī cǐ fān shāng shì dí què jí zhòng ， bù shì wěi zào 。
发现窃机此番伤势的确极重，不似伪造。
Li Fan quickly infused him with divine energy.
xīn zhōng gèng shì yǎ rán 。
心中更是哑然。
The Three Sages each released a stream of qi to stabilize Fangzhen's injuries.
zhū shèng yě méi yǒu cuī cù ， ér shì děng qiè jī shāo wēi huǎn guò lái hòu ， cái xún wèn qǐ le qián fāng fā shēng jiū jìng 。
诸圣也没有催促，而是等窃机稍微缓过来后，才询问起了前方发生究竟。
After the situation stabilized, Fangzhen described his experience: "Based on my two friends' experiences, I planned to adopt a different method. Relying on my speed, I would only seize and not kill."
“ qí yě guài zāi ！ wǒ míng míng shì sù liú jìn rù qián fāng shān hǎi ， zòng yǒu dào yān héng gèn ， zuì duō chā jù yě bù guò shí wàn nián zhī shù 。 dàn ……”
“奇也怪哉！我明明是溯流进入前方山海，纵有道湮横亘，最多差距也不过十万年之数。但……”
"At first, it was indeed effective. Those vicious creatures, although coming in overwhelming numbers, could not harm me at all. Without engaging in battle, the power of those vicious creatures remained constant for a long time. But later..."
“ wǒ zhī suǒ jiàn ， què shì yī fù mán huāng jǐng xiàng ！ shān hǎi bù xiǎn ， dà dào hùn dùn …… xiōng rén bèi chū 。 jìng hǎo sì chuán wén zhōng de tài chū xiān jiè ！” qiè jī shēn xī yì kǒu qì ， shén qíng yán sù dào 。
“我之所见，却是一副蛮荒景象！山海不显，大道混沌……凶人辈出。竟好似传闻中的太初仙界！”窃机深吸一口气，神情严肃道。
Fangzhen coughed lightly: "They eventually also slowly mastered my Fangzhen path! Their speed increased until it was almost on par with mine. I had no choice but to fight them..."
“ tài chū xiān jiè ？” zhū shèng è rán ， wèi le què rèn qiè jī xiān qián qù xiàng ， zài dù tái tóu wàng qù 。
“太初仙界？”诸圣愕然，为了确认窃机先前去向，再度抬头望去。
"Following in the footsteps of Ti Jie and the Sage of a Thousand Tales."
qián fāng shān hǎi suī bèi xū jiè chóng chóng wéi kùn ， dàn dà dǐ qíng xíng què gēn dāng qián shān hǎi bìng wú tè bié xiǎn zhù qū bié 。
前方山海虽被虚界重重围困，但大抵情形却跟当前山海并无特别显著区别。
"Fangzhen, for your efforts to save the Sea and Mountains at such great cost, you truly set an example!" The Sage of a Thousand Tales seemed ashamed.
“ kàn lái ， wǒ de guān chá méi yǒu cuò 。” lián shān shèng zhě cǐ shí kāi kǒu 。
“看来，我的观察没有错。”连山圣者此时开口。
Fangzhen said seriously: "Regardless, Suo will eventually expel what it has consumed. It is better to quickly understand its layout and come up with a solution than to lose temporarily."
“ gǎn wèn lián shān shèng zhě ， jiū jìng jiàn dào le shén me ？” zhū shèng lián máng wèn dào 。
“敢问连山圣者，究竟见到了什么？”诸圣连忙问道。
The Sages nodded in agreement, finding his words wise.
“ fēi shì jiàn dào le shén me 。 ér shì qiè jī dào yǒu zài jìn rù qián fāng shān hǎi de shùn jiān ， yú wǒ shì xiàn zhōng xiāo shī le 。” lián shān rú shí xiàng gào 。
“非是见到了什么。而是窃机道友在进入前方山海的瞬间，于我视线中消失了。”连山如实相告。
Instead of continuing their probing, the Three Sages closed their eyes and began to divine.
"Whoever encounters such a formidable foe, no wonder Ti Jie would suffer such a devastating defeat," Li Fan thought with realization.
With the unexpected turn of events blocking their path, the Three Sages did not rush into action. Instead, they delved further into asking about Ti Jie's experiences.
"After my fragment was devoured, I didn't fully inherit its memories. I vaguely recall that upon entering this Primordial Realm, it seemed as if the entire universe turned against me. All the creatures around me attacked without reason, fighting to the death!"
"I fought and fled, exhausting every ounce of strength, but ultimately failed to escape such a perilous fate!"
Ti Jie still seemed aggrieved.
"Moreover, at first, the creatures pursuing me were not much stronger than when I first arrived. But as my strength gradually recovered, the number and power of enemies following me increased dramatically. It felt...as if they were intentionally tormenting me to make me believe there was a chance for survival before slowly driving me to death!"
As Ti Jie recounted his experience, his expression grew increasingly grim.
Taiyi nodded in agreement: "Indeed, this is the method of 'Suo'."
"Existing between life and death. Such a scenario can fully unleash the potential of all living beings. Only then can Suo complete its full feast."
"You must have been forced to use the Ti Jie technique to cope with such a perilous situation, which was exactly what Suo intended..."
Only now did Ti Jie understand why his path had been damaged.
He was both shocked and angry, with a hint of incomprehension: "With my profound mastery over this path, how could I still be touched by others?"
The Sage of Mount Lian waved his hand gently to soothe Ti Jie's mind. He said slowly: "Our paths all originate from the Sea and Mountains. Suo excels in devouring mountains and seas. It is merely stealing someone else's plate."
"Doesn't this mean that my injuries cannot be healed?"
Lian Mountain Sage's words brought a sudden shock to Ti Jie.
"It may not necessarily be so. Suo cares only for the Sea and Mountains themselves. Devouring Ti Jie was just to devour mountains and seas. Once it fully comprehends the principles of the Sea and Mountains, it will naturally expel what it has consumed..."
"If it only takes without giving back, Suo would have long been a target of everyone's arrows," the Sage of the Returning Seas comforted.
Hearing this, Ti Jie finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, his original path had already been taken by others and swallowed whole. He would need to wait for them to digest it before he could reclaim it, which truly left him feeling unusually frustrated.
"Only regret that I am just a divine consciousness, born and divided. If my true self were to go there, who would be more formidable..."
"Still uncertain!" Ti Jie snorted coldly.
Although he said so, he was still in the Pinnacle of the Other Shore, influenced by the Three Sages' concerted efforts, making it impossible for him to easily engage in a desperate battle.
"Suo seeks [Sea and Mountain Spirits]. We must not let Him have His way."
"But how to break this deadlock..."
Lian Mountain Sage glanced at the Sage of a Thousand Tales.
Despite his myriad of regrets, he could only follow suit. He divided his consciousness along the Sea and Mountains' path, entering it.
It was unclear whether intentional or unintentional, but the Sage of a Thousand Tales performed even worse than Ti Jie.
The light point had not yet entered the Sea and Mountains when it dissipated by half.
By the time he successfully disappeared, only a grain of light remained. Its appearance suggested that he had become indistinguishable from an ordinary mortal.
As expected, not long after, the Sage of a Thousand Tales opened his eyes again.
"Sure enough, this is the scene of the Primordial Realm!"
"Both powerful and fierce!"
However, unlike Ti Jie, the Sage of a Thousand Tales did not lose his essence. He seemed to have learned from his lesson and refrained from using his own Ti Jie path.
With trembling resolve, he recounted his experience: "My experiences are similar to those of my friend Ti Jie. Upon birth, I was relentlessly pursued by all creatures in the surrounding universe. However, with my friend's experience, I attempted to hide my strength during combat. But..."
The Sage of a Thousand Tales sighed helplessly: "That realm seemed to fully perceive everything about me. The vicious creatures dispatched were exactly those that required all my efforts to handle. Realizing this, it was likely not without being toyed with, so I ended my own life."
The Sages fell into silence.
"Let us try again," Lian Mountain Sage pondered for a moment and said.
Thus, the story repeated itself.
This time, the lucky one was Fangzhen.
Fangzhen did not mind the temporary loss of his essence. He fought with all his might.
He managed to persist far longer than Ti Jie, but ultimately still failed.
Clearly, the more he persisted, the more his essence was subtly devoured and consumed.
When Fangzhen's consciousness returned, it appeared as if he had suffered severe injuries.
His face was pale, and his breath was faint!
Li Fan quickly infused him with divine energy.
The Three Sages each released a stream of qi to stabilize Fangzhen's injuries.
After the situation stabilized, Fangzhen described his experience: "Based on my two friends' experiences, I planned to adopt a different method. Relying on my speed, I would only seize and not kill."
"At first, it was indeed effective. Those vicious creatures, although coming in overwhelming numbers, could not harm me at all. Without engaging in battle, the power of those vicious creatures remained constant for a long time. But later..."
Fangzhen coughed lightly: "They eventually also slowly mastered my Fangzhen path! Their speed increased until it was almost on par with mine. I had no choice but to fight them..."
"Following in the footsteps of Ti Jie and the Sage of a Thousand Tales."
"Fangzhen, for your efforts to save the Sea and Mountains at such great cost, you truly set an example!" The Sage of a Thousand Tales seemed ashamed.
Fangzhen said seriously: "Regardless, Suo will eventually expel what it has consumed. It is better to quickly understand its layout and come up with a solution than to lose temporarily."
The Sages nodded in agreement, finding his words wise.
Instead of continuing their probing, the Three Sages closed their eyes and began to divine.