“ qiè jī dào yǒu kě shì chá jué shén me bù tuǒ ？” lǐ fán míng zhī gù wèn dào 。
“窃机道友可是察觉什么不妥？”李凡明知故问道。
"May I ask the Three Sages, how many years ago is this so-called beginning of the Sea and Mountains? And for such reunions like this, how long will it continue?"
“ què yǒu jǐ fēn gǔ guài 。 xiān qián yī shùn ， wǒ …… fǎng fú gǎn dào lìng wài de 【 qiè jī 】 shèng zhě jiàng lín shān hǎi jiān 。” yóu yù le piàn kè ， qiè jī shèng zhě hái shì qiǎo shēng shuō dào 。
“确有几分古怪。先前一瞬，我……仿佛感到另外的【窃机】圣者降临山海间。”犹豫了片刻，窃机圣者还是悄声说道。
These words caused an immediate silence within the璇玑 ring.
“ shuāng dào tóng rì ér lì ， xiàn yú shān hǎi zhī jiān 。 wǒ zhǐ gǎn jué zì jǐ gēn jī yáo yáo yù zhuì ， shì yǒu bèi duì fāng duó zǒu jì xiàng 。 tóng shí xīn zhōng yì jīng jù 、 tān niàn gōng qǐ ……”
“双道同日而立，现于山海之间。我只感觉自己根基摇摇欲坠，似有被对方夺走迹象。同时心中亦惊惧、贪念公起……”
Even if not all sages present were aware of the vastness of the Sea and Mountains' history, those who had transcended the Sea and Mountains knew that its duration was indeed immense. Measuring steps might seem romantic, but in practice...
“ nà gǎn jué ， qián suǒ wèi jiàn ！” qiè jī miàn dài yōu sè dào 。
“那感觉，前所未见！”窃机面带忧色道。
Moreover, each segment they traversed was punctuated by the perils of Dao Annihilation and the Void Realm. It could not be summarized as merely "a thousand difficulties."
“ ń ？ jìng yǒu cǐ shì ？” lǐ fán chī le yī jīng 。
“嗯？竟有此事？”李凡吃了一惊。
The previous three sages did not specify exact figures, only giving vague approximations due to the influence of the璇玑 ring and their desire to avoid this topic.
xuán jí shēn shēn zhòu méi ：“ zhè zěn me kě néng ？ dào yǒu yǐ 【 qiè 】 chéng shèng ， yī dào bù róng èr zhǔ ， shān hǎi jiān yòu qǐ huì yǒu dì èr …… ń ？”
旋即深深皱眉：“这怎么可能？道友以【窃】成圣，一道不容二主，山海间又岂会有第二……嗯？”
Now that Li Fan had brought it up, they were forced to address it.
shuō dào zhè lǐ ， lǐ fán fǎng fú hū rán xiǎng qǐ le shén me ， huà yǔ měng dì zhǐ zhù 。
说到这里，李凡仿佛忽然想起了什么，话语猛地止住。
How long had the Sea and Mountains' life spanned?
qiè jī zì shì shùn jiān chá jué le lǐ fán yì yàng ， lián máng wèn dào ：“ dào yǒu kě shì xiǎng qǐ le shén me ？”
窃机自是瞬间察觉了李凡异样，连忙问道：“道友可是想起了什么？”
None present except for the Three Sages knew the answer. Shouqiu held longevity through the Longevity Dao, but even he could only consider himself a young sage in comparison to the Three Sages.
lǐ fán jǐ dù yù yán yòu zhǐ ：“ fā shēng zài dào yǒu shēn shàng guǐ jué biàn huà ， dí què yǒu jì kě xún 。 bù guò ……”
李凡几度欲言又止：“发生在道友身上诡谲变化，的确有迹可循。不过……”
Even Shouqiu did not have an accurate answer to this question.
cháo zhe yī páng de shǒu qiū gōng piē le yī yǎn ， lǐ fán màn màn dào ：“ shì shè tā rén yǐn mì ， què yě bù hǎo zhí yán 。 dào yǒu mò jí ， dài wǒ qiě xiān wèn yī wèn 。”
朝着一旁的守丘公瞥了一眼，李凡慢慢道：“事涉他人隐秘，却也不好直言。道友莫急，待我且先问一问。”
The gaze of all sages focused on the Three Sages.
“ nà jiù xiān xiè guò dào yǒu le ！” qiè jī shén qíng yī sù dào 。
“那就先谢过道友了！”窃机神情一肃道。
It was clear that they truly did not want to answer.
zhuāng mú zuò yàng ， gōu tōng yī fān 。
装模作样，沟通一番。
A long silence fell within the璇玑 ring.
guò le hǎo yī huì ， lǐ fán zhè cái chuán yīn qiè jī ， wěi wěi dào lái ：“ dào yǒu xiǎng bì zhī dào ， shǒu qiū gōng nǎi shì dé 【 cháng shēng 】 dà dào suì piàn ér chéng shèng ……”
过了好一会，李凡这才传音窃机，娓娓道来：“道友想必知道，守丘公乃是得【长生】大道碎片而成圣……”
Then, the divine consciousness avatar from a later era spoke up, breaking the silence.
qiè jī bì jìng cōng huì ， lǐ fán zhǐ tí le tí ， tā shùn jiān jiù fǎn yìng guò lái 。
窃机毕竟聪慧，李凡只提了提，他瞬间就反应过来。
"Since Sage Zhaoyuan has asked, I will speak."
“ nǐ shì shuō ， shǒu qiū gōng céng gēn wǒ chū xiàn guò yī yàng de gǎn jué ？”
“你是说，守丘公曾跟我出现过一样的感觉？”
"The past is not mentioned because it might hinder your reunification efforts. However, after several successful reunifications of the Sea and Mountains, I believe we now have sufficient resilience to hear this."
“ shèn zhì hái yuǎn bǐ dào yǒu yán zhòng 。 shǒu qiū céng yán ， tā bìng fēi zhēn zhèng cháng shēng zhī zhǔ ， ér zhǐ shì jiǎo xìng dé le qí zhōng yī kuài suì piàn 。 zhǐ bù guò nà wèi zhēn zhèng de cháng shēng zhī zhǔ ， bìng bù cún zài yú shǒu qiū shēng huó shí jiān duàn de shān hǎi 。 zhǐ cún zài yú ， shān hǎi zhī chū 。 qià rú bǐ shí zhū duō qiáng zhě nà yàng 。”
“甚至还远比道友严重。守丘曾言，他并非真正长生之主，而只是侥幸得了其中一块碎片。只不过那位真正的长生之主，并不存在于守丘生活时间段的山海。只存在于，山海之初。恰如彼时诸多强者那样。”
Upon hearing these words from another self, Lianshan nodded.
“ tā men wèi le miǎn shòu dào yān zhī jié ， ér shī 【 zhǎn wèi lái 】 zhī shén tōng 。 gù ér dé yǐ yǒng jiǔ cún yú guò qù 。 méi yǒu tè shū qíng kuàng ， jué bú huì tà zú zhōng mò shān hǎi yī bù 。 nà 【 suǒ 】 jì lái zì shān hǎi zhī chū ， yòu yīn zì shēn bào lù cōng cōng ér zǒu ……”
“祂们为了免受道湮之劫，而施【斩未来】之神通。故而得以永久存于过去。没有特殊情况，绝不会踏足中末山海一步。那【索】既来自山海之初，又因自身暴露匆匆而走……”
"Knowing in advance can be an advantage. If so..."
“ lín xíng zhī qián ， sì hū yòu jí yòu nù 。 jiā shàng dào yǒu chá jué dào lìng wài shǔ yú qiè jī de qì xī 。”
“临行之前，似乎又急又怒。加上道友察觉到另外属于窃机的气息。”
The Three Sages simultaneously waved their hands, revealing a continuous image of the Sea and Mountains before everyone.
zhū duō tiáo jiàn róng hé ， lǐ fán gěi chū le dá àn ：“ mò fēi bǐ shí jiàng lín de ， shì shān hǎi zhī chū 、 zhǎng qiè jī de gǔ shèng zhě ？”
诸多条件融合，李凡给出了答案：“莫非彼时降临的，是山海之初、掌窃机的古圣者？”
They had seen such panoramas many times, but they did not have a clear sense of which segment of the Sea and Mountains they were currently in.
bù xiāo lǐ fán zhè me shuō ， qiè jī zì jǐ zǎo yǐ jīng shēn qū wēi zhèn ， xiǎng dào le zhè yì diǎn 。
不消李凡这么说，窃机自己早已经身躯微震，想到了这一点。
"The Sea and Mountains are interconnected; there is a discernible pattern."
běn néng jué de fěi yí suǒ sī ， bù guò zì jǐ nà shāo zòng jí shì de gǎn jué kěn dìng méi cuò 。
本能觉得匪夷所思，不过自己那稍纵即逝的感觉肯定没错。
"Like tree rings, each increment represents one [year]."
“ shān hǎi jiān ， jìng rán dàng zhēn hái yǒu lìng wài zhǎng 【 qiè jī 】 de cún zài ？”
“山海间，竟然当真还有另外掌【窃机】的存在？”
"One year of the Sea and Mountains equals a million years for us."
“ wǒ duì qiè jī dà dào ， jìng hái méi yǒu wán quán zhǎng kòng ？”
“我对窃机大道，竟还没有完全掌控？”
At this point, the expressions of the sages remained relatively natural. The figure "billion" might seem daunting, but some among them had indeed lived that long.
“ dàn shēng yú shān hǎi zhī chū ， dǐ yùn bì dìng bǐ wǒ shēn hòu 。 jiā shàng nà shí hòu wǒ nèi xīn méng fā de zhǔ dòng qíng xù ……”
“诞生于山海之初，底蕴必定比我深厚。加上那时候我内心萌发的主动情绪……”
Thus, they could accept it temporarily.
“ mò fēi cǐ rén zào huà ， hái zài wǒ zhī shàng ？”
“莫非此人造化，还在我之上？”
Lianshan cast a glance at everyone's emotions before continuing: "Since the Sea and Mountains merged and we were born, there have been nearly a thousand years since our memories began."
qiè jī xiàn rù le duì zì jǐ de shēn shēn huái yí zhī zhōng 。
窃机陷入了对自己的深深怀疑之中。
The sight of Lianshan seemed to imbue him with an air of age.
jiē xià lái ， qiè jī xiǎn de yǒu xiē hún bù shǒu shè 。
接下来，窃机显得有些魂不守舍。
Silence fell within the璇玑 ring.
zhí dào yòu chéng gōng fēn huà chū yì niàn ， jì jū yú shān hǎi shēng líng xìng yùn ér tǐ nèi ， zhè cái zhōng yú huǎn guò shén lái 。
直到又成功分化出意念，寄居于山海生灵幸运儿体内，这才终于缓过神来。
One year equaled one billion years.
zài dù tōng guò shān hǎi mài luò ， suǒ jiàn biàn shì zhū shèng zài liè 。
再度通过山海脉络，所见便是诸圣在列。
A thousand years in the Sea and Mountains equaled one trillion years.
yǒu lián shān 、 guī hǎi 、 tài yì 、 guǐ mìng 、 duàn chèn 、 shǒu qiū ， děng qián duàn shān hǎi liù shèng 。
有连山、归海、太易、晷命、断谶、守丘，等前段山海六圣。
At first glance, this might not seem like a particularly long time.
yě yǒu shí duō dào shì qiè jī zhè bān ， suī biǎo miàn fēi shèng zhě ， shí zé shì hòu yī duàn shān hǎi zhū shèng huà shēn 。
也有十多道似窃机这般，虽表面非圣者，实则是后一段山海诸圣化身。
But for those present who had walked through the Sea and Mountains using their own feet, it was no small feat to repair just a million years.
yuán běn qiè jī jiù xiàn rù jīng shén dòng dàng zhī zhōng ， cǐ shí zhòu jiàn qián fāng shān hǎi 、 zì jǐ quē xí ， xīn zhōng gèng shì měng dì yī tū 。
原本窃机就陷入精神动荡之中，此时骤见前方山海、自己缺席，心中更是猛地一突。
And now they faced a journey of a thousand times that length...
suī cǐ qián yǐ jīng tōng guò lǐ fán zhī kǒu ， zhī xiǎo qián fāng shān hǎi zhàn kuàng cǎn liè ， zhǐ yú liù shèng shàng cún 。 bù guò duì zì jǐ shí lì yǒu xìn xīn de qiè jī ， yuán běn jiān xìn zì jǐ jué duì shì huó zhe de liù shèng zhī yī 。
虽此前已经通过李凡之口，知晓前方山海战况惨烈，只余六圣尚存。不过对自己实力有信心的窃机，原本坚信自己绝对是活着的六圣之一。
Even with the resilience of sages, this revelation left them momentarily dizzy.
bù xiǎng lái dào zhè lǐ ， què jiàn zì jǐ yuán běn zuò wèi shàng kōng kōng rú yě ！
不想来到这里，却见自己原本座位上空空如也！
Despite Lianshan's mention of the next one thousand years ahead, they had only covered a mere 0.1% of it!
biàn gèng yǒu xiē hún bù shǒu shè le ：“ shí lì yuǎn bù rú wǒ zhě ， yì huó le xià lái 。 cǐ fēi míng míng zhōng zhāng shì zhe shén me ？”
便更有些魂不守舍了：“实力远不如我者，亦活了下来。此非冥冥中彰示着什么？”
Could they really complete it?
hǎo zài zhǐ shì fán rén huà shēn ， yòu shì chuān guò shān hǎi mài luò qiáng xíng héng dù ér lái ， qí yú zhū shèng yī shí jiān dào yě méi yǒu chá jué qiè jī xīn zhōng yì cháng 。
好在只是凡人化身，又是穿过山海脉络强行横渡而来，其余诸圣一时间倒也没有察觉窃机心中异常。
The thought suddenly struck each sage.
zhǐ shì zài shāng yì fù lián shān hǎi dà jì 。
只是在商议复联山海大计。
Inside the璇玑 ring, the true forms of the Six Sages were still relatively calm.
“ zhòu huí dào yǒu ， yǐ jīng zài sōu shān jiǎn hǎi 、 xún cháng kě sù zhī cái le 。 hòu lái zhě rén cái jǐ jǐ ， jīn shì què shì diāo bì yì cháng 。 piān piān xū jiè lái shì yù fā xiōng měng ……”
“宙廻道友，已经在搜山检海、寻常可塑之才了。后来者人才济济，今世却是凋敝异常。偏偏虚界来势愈发凶猛……”
With the Three Sages' shared resolve supporting them, even knowing the truth did not completely shake their faith.
“ wú jīn suī yǐ huì hé ， què réng bù kě dà yì a 。” guī hǎi shèng zhě tàn xī yī shēng dào 。
“吾今虽已汇合，却仍不可大意啊。”归海圣者叹息一声道。
However, the divine consciousness avatars that had crossed over through the Sea and Mountains' veins were experiencing varying degrees of mental storms.
yě bù zhī jīng lì le hé děng cán kù de dà zhàn ， cǐ duàn shí kōng de sān shèng ， shǎo le xiē pì nì 、 duō le xiē wèi yǔ chóu móu de xiǎo xīn jǐn shèn 。
也不知经历了何等残酷的大战，此段时空的三圣，少了些睥睨、多了些未雨绸缪的小心谨慎。
If a journey of a hundred miles was ninety percent done at the end, then they had barely begun.
zài shān hǎi méi yǒu zhèng shì fù lián zhī qián ， tā men suī shì tóng yī rén ， què yīn bù tóng de jì yù 、 yǒu le lüè wēi bù tóng de xìng gé 。
在山海没有正式复联之前，他们虽是同一人，却因不同的际遇、有了略微不同的性格。
Their realization of the arduous nature of their mission did not result in immediate collapse; it was a testament to their sage-like resolve.
sān shèng yì niàn huà shēn méi yǒu xuān bīn duó zhǔ ， yī rán yǐ běn shí kōng sān shèng wèi hé xīn 。
三圣意念化身没有喧宾夺主，依然以本时空三圣为核心。
Li Fan's expression mirrored that of the other sages—shocked and speechless.
jù shì zàn tóng diǎn tóu 。
俱是赞同点头。
He had long anticipated this. After all, others could only roughly estimate the scale of the Sea and Mountains based on occasional glimpses provided by the Three Sages. But Li Fan had once obtained the "Outline of Changes in the Sea and Mountains" from Zhen.
chǎng zhōng qì fēn yī shí níng zhòng le xiē ， lián shān shèng zhě yòu dào ：“ hǎo zài zhǐ xū dù guò cǐ jié ， qián fāng shān hǎi 、 mù zhī suǒ jiàn ， jìn shì yī piàn tǎn tú ！ ruò cǐ cì néng fù lián chéng gōng ， jiē xià lái sān qiān wàn nián shān hǎi ， zài méi yǒu néng zǔ dǎng wú děng zhě 。”
场中气氛一时凝重了些，连山圣者又道：“好在只需渡过此劫，前方山海、目之所见，尽是一片坦途！若此次能复联成功，接下来三千万年山海，再没有能阻挡吾等者。”
This record was not limited to a snapshot but encompassed the entirety of the Sea and Mountains.
zhòng rén wén yán ， bù yóu jīng shén yī zhèn 。
众人闻言，不由精神一震。
Even with his resilient spirit, Li Fan nearly lost himself when witnessing such vast data. It was no wonder that Zhen kept this option hidden until Li Fan had grown sufficiently.
jīng guò shù cì fù lián ， tā men zǎo yǐ jīng zhī xiǎo qí zhōng hǎo chù 。
经过数次复联，他们早已经知晓其中好处。
After fully imprinting the Sea and Mountains with infinite spirituality and achieving sainthood through them, Li Fan felt a deep doubt about the Three Sages' reunification plan.
ér jǐ duàn pò suì shān hǎi jiā qǐ lái ， dōu bú dào bǎi wàn nián shí guāng 。
而几段破碎山海加起来，都不到百万年时光。
The history of the Sea and Mountains was indeed too long.
xiàn zài lián shān shèng zhě jìng rán shēng chēng ， qián fāng gèng yǒu sān qiān wàn nián màn cháng shí guāng shān hǎi zài děng zhe tā men 。
现在连山圣者竟然声称，前方更有三千万年漫长时光山海在等着他们。
Even if they were united like ants, there were still countless obstacles posed by the Void Realm...
tǎng ruò zhēn yī yī gōu lián ， tā men de shí lì yòu huì péng zhàng dào hé děng dì bù ？
倘若真一一勾连，他们的实力又会膨胀到何等地步？
With Li Fan's assistance, true spirits could indeed successfully reunify the Sea and Mountains several times.
zhū shèng yī shí jiān bù yóu xiàn rù xiá xiǎng zhī zhōng 。
诸圣一时间不由陷入遐想之中。
But what if there had been no Li Fan in the Sea and Mountains?
jí biàn shì yǒu xiē huǎng hū de qiè jī ， yě yīn zhī zhèn fèn qǐ lái jīng shén 。
即便是有些恍惚的窃机，也因之振奋起来精神。
Would the Sea and Mountains truly be able to reunite?
“ bù cuò ， tā duǒ yú shān hǎi zhī chū ， shí lì yǐ rán gù dìng 。 ér wǒ nì liú ér shàng ， jiāng guò wǎng zhī wǒ jìn shù xiāng hé 。 qiè jī zhēn zhèng suǒ shǔ ， yóu wèi kě zhī yě ！”
“不错，祂躲于山海之初，实力已然固定。而我逆流而上，将过往之我尽数相合。窃机真正所属，犹未可知也！”
The idea of reunifying the Sea and Mountains originated from its end and was passed down by Sea and Mountain travelers.
……
……
Despite their strategic minds, the Three Sages believed it and acted upon it.
lǐ fán hū de kāi kǒu wèn dào ：“ gǎn wèn sān shèng ， suǒ wèi shān hǎi zhī chū ， jiū jìng shì duō shǎo nián qián ？ shì zhè yàng de fù lián ， yòu yào chí xù duō jiǔ ？”
李凡忽的开口问道：“敢问三圣，所谓山海之初，究竟是多少年前？似这样的复联，又要持续多久？”
From a theoretical standpoint, if one could succeed once, they could do so many times more. It would be merely a matter of following through with this process.
cǐ yán yī chū ， xuán jī huán nèi dùn shí wèi zhī yī jìng 。
此言一出，璇玑环内顿时为之一静。
The reunification of the Sea and Mountains was indeed possible.
bù shuō zài chǎng zhū shèng ， nǎ pà shān hǎi jiān chāo tuō xiū shì ， dōu zhī shān hǎi suì yuè màn cháng 。
不说在场诸圣，哪怕山海间超脱修士，都知山海岁月漫长。
But this was contingent on the Void Realm being calm and peaceful.
yǐ bù zhàng liáng ， kàn qǐ lái làng màn 。 dàn zhēn zhèng shí xíng qǐ lái ……
以步丈量，看起来浪漫。但真正实行起来……
However, in just a short million years, Li Fan had encountered numerous changes, including manifestations of the Void Realm and ancient sages' webs.
jiā zhī qí zhōng ， měi guò yī duàn biàn yǒu dào yān 、 xū jiè héng gé 。
加之其中，每过一段便有道湮、虚界横隔。
It was hard to imagine what further challenges lay ahead.
yuǎn fēi “ qiān nán wàn nán ” sì zì néng gòu gài kuò 。
远非“千难万难”四字能够概括。
Li Fan felt that his current life span was already long enough. But compared to a billion years, he was still like an infant.
guò qù sān shèng bù yán jù tǐ ， zhǐ shì jiāng jù tǐ nián fèn mó hú 。
过去三圣不言具体，只是将具体年份模糊。
The vast difference caused him some doubt.
shòu dào xuán jī huán yǐng xiǎng ， jiā zhī zhū shèng yǒu yì táo bì 。 gù ér xuǎn zé duì zhè wèn tí shì ér bù jiàn 。
受到璇玑环影响，加之诸圣有意逃避。故而选择对这问题视而不见。
This thought had been in his heart for a long time but never found the right moment to express it until now.
rú jīn bèi lǐ fán yī yǔ diǎn pò ， zài chǎng zhū shèng cǐ kè yòu bù dé bù miàn duì qǐ lái 。
如今被李凡一语点破，在场诸圣此刻又不得不面对起来。
Finally voicing this, Li Fan felt a sense of relief.
shān hǎi shēng mìng ， jiū jìng lián mián yán xù duō jiǔ ？
山海生命，究竟连绵延续多久？
His question was not merely out of skepticism or provocation.
zài chǎng chú le sān shèng ， shuí yě bù zhī dào zhè ge dá àn 。
在场除了三圣，谁也不知道这个答案。
It contained genuine inquiry as well.
shǒu qiū zhí cháng shēng ， yǐ jīng suàn shì zhū shèng zhōng shòu mìng zuì wèi yōu jiǔ zhě 。
守丘执长生，已经算是诸圣中寿命最为悠久者。
Even Shouqiu, who held longevity through the Longevity Dao, could not alleviate Li Fan's doubts.
rán ér zài sān shèng miàn qián ， yě zhǐ néng yǐ nián qīng rén zì jū 。
然而在三圣面前，也只能以年轻人自居。
Only the Three Sages might be able to do so.
jí biàn shì shǒu qiū ， duì yú zhè ge wèn tí yě méi yǒu bàn diǎn zhǔn què dá àn 。
即便是守丘，对于这个问题也没有半点准确答案。
Seeing everyone's somewhat lost expressions, Lianshan smiled and shook his head slightly: "That is why I did not want to reveal the true age of the Sea and Mountains."
zhū shèng zhǐ dé jiāng shì xiàn jù jiāo zài sān shèng shēn shàng 。
诸圣只得将视线聚焦在三圣身上。
"From a common life perspective, seeing the real vastness of the Sea and Mountains would indeed lead to genuine bewilderment."
kàn de chū lái ， sān shèng shì zhēn de bù xiǎng huí dá zhè ge wèn tí 。
看的出来，三圣是真的不想回答这个问题。
"But..."
xuán jī huán zhōng xiàn rù le yī zhèn cháng jiǔ de chén mò zhī zhōng 。
璇玑环中陷入了一阵长久的沉默之中。
"Since we are willing to execute this reunification plan, it must be feasible!"
hái shì lái zì hòu shì de shén niàn huà shēn ， xú xú kāi kǒu ， dǎ pò le sǐ jì 。
还是来自后世的神念化身，徐徐开口，打破了死寂。
"A billion years may seem long. But it is merely our path back."
“ zhòu huí dào yǒu jì wèn ， nà biàn shuō bà 。”
“宙廻道友既问，那便说罢。”
"If you wish, I can allow each of you to truly experience a thousand years of the Sea and Mountains' past within my heart."
“ guò qù bù tí ， shì yīn wèi dān xīn ài le zhū wèi fù lián zhī zhì 。 bù guò jīng guò shù cì shān hǎi fù lián chéng gōng ， wú xiǎng ， yīng gāi dōu jù bèi zú gòu de chéng shòu néng lì le 。”
“过去不提，是因为担心碍了诸位复联之志。不过经过数次山海复联成功，吾想，应该都具备足够的承受能力了。”
"I believe that once you have walked through it personally, your confusion will dissipate."
lián shān shèng zhě tīng wén lìng wài zì jǐ de huà ， zuì zhōng diǎn tóu 。
连山圣者听闻另外自己的话，最终点头。
Lianshan's voice echoed within the璇玑 ring, causing a faint white light.
“ zǎo zhī yě yǒu zǎo zhī de hǎo chù 。 jì rú cǐ ……”
“早知也有早知的好处。既如此……”
The sages were stirred by this, regaining some of their resolve.
sān shèng tóng shí huī shǒu ， jiāng shān hǎi lián mián yǐng xiàng zhǎn xiàn yú zhòng rén miàn qián 。
三圣同时挥手，将山海连绵影像展现于众人面前。
Li Fan began to understand.
yǐ jīng bú shì dì yī cì jiàn guò shān hǎi wēi suō quán jǐng le ， dàn zhū shèng duì yú zì jǐ jiū jìng shēn chù nǎ yī duàn shān hǎi ， shí zé bìng méi yǒu què qiè de gǎn niàn 。
已经不是第一次见过山海微缩全景了，但诸圣对于自己究竟身处哪一段山海，实则并没有确切的感念。
From a human perspective, such a vast number like a billion would naturally be daunting.
“ shān hǎi xiāng róng ， yǒu jì kě xún 。”
“山海相融，有迹可循。”
But for the Three Sages, they were embodiments of the Sea and Mountains.
“ rú tóng nián lún ， měi shēn yī cùn ， biàn chēng zhī 【 suì 】。”
“如同年轮，每深一寸，便称之【岁】。”
As they said, a billion years was merely the path they had walked before.
“ shān hǎi yī suì ， huàn zuò wú děng gèng wéi shú xī jì nián ……”
“山海一岁，换做吾等更为熟悉纪年……”
Repeating it now might add some twists but what harm could that do?
“ yuē wèi yì zài guāng yīn 。”
“约为亿载光阴。”
"Because we have experienced it, we believe," Li Fan mused.
huà shuō dào zhè lǐ ， zhū shèng shén qíng hái bǐ jiào zì rán 。
话说到这里，诸圣神情还比较自然。
He spoke first: "May I borrow your memories to walk a thousand miles of the Sea and Mountains."
【 yì 】 zhè ge jì shù ， kàn shàng qù xià rén ， dàn bì jìng zhū shèng zhōng shì yǒu de què huó le zhè me jiǔ de 。
【亿】这个计数，看上去吓人，但毕竟诸圣中是有的确活了这么久的。
"It is like fulfilling the prophecy of reunification."
gù ér yī shí jiān hái néng jiē shòu 。
故而一时间还能接受。
"I fear I may not be able to endure it without this experience."
piē le yǎn zài chǎng zhòng rén qíng xù ， lián shān jiē zhe xú xú shuō dào ：“ zì shān hǎi xiāng róng 、 wú děng jiàng shēng ， yǒu jì yì yǐ lái 。 shān hǎi yǐ yǒu jìn qiān suì shí guāng le 。”
撇了眼在场众人情绪，连山接着徐徐说道：“自山海相融、吾等降生，有记忆以来。山海已有近千岁时光了。”
Li Fan's expression was somewhat downcast.
fǎng fú zhān rǎn le nà yōu jiǔ de suì yuè qì xī ， zhū shèng yǎn zhōng de lián shān ， zài zhè chà nà jiān dōu fǎng fú biàn dé yǒu xiē cāng lǎo qǐ lái 。
仿佛沾染了那悠久的岁月气息，诸圣眼中的连山，在这刹那间都仿佛变得有些苍老起来。
The other sages did not speak, but they all shared similar thoughts.
xuán jī huán zhōng ， yī piàn sǐ jì 。
璇玑环中，一片死寂。
The logic was clear, but experiencing it personally versus relying on vague beliefs were two different matters.
yī suì wèi yī yì nián 。
一岁为一亿年。
The Three Sages exchanged glances, as if carefully considering their decision before nodding in agreement.
shān hǎi qiān suì ， biàn shì yī qiān yì nián 。
山海千岁，便是一千亿年。
"A billion years is indeed long."
zhà yī kàn ， sì hū yě bìng bú shì rú hé màn cháng de shù zì 。
乍一看，似乎也并不是如何漫长的数字。
"You will experience it with us, but you may not be able to endure the entire journey."
dàn zài chǎng zhū shèng ， jiē shì yòng zì jǐ shuāng jiǎo zhàng liáng 、 fù lián guò shān hǎi de 。
但在场诸圣，皆是用自己双脚丈量、复联过山海的。
"Do not force yourselves. Just do your best."
jǐ dù xīn kǔ ， bù guò xiū fù bǎi wàn nián shí guāng 。
几度辛苦，不过修复百万年时光。
"Since a partial consciousness cannot bear this, we should use our true forms instead."
ér jiē xià lái hái yǒu qiān yì de màn cháng lǚ tú zài děng zhe ……
而接下来还有千亿的漫长旅途在等着……
Lianshan's consciousness avatar spoke these words.
ráo shì yǐ shèng zhě xīn xìng ， zài míng wù le hòu ， yě bù yóu gǎn dào shùn jiān de tóu yūn mù xuàn 。
饶是以圣者心性，在明悟了后，也不由感到瞬间的头晕目眩。
The scene returned to Li Fan's true form within the current Sea and Mountains璇玑 ring.
zòng shǐ jiā shàng qián fāng lián shān shèng zhě suǒ shuō qiān wàn nián tǎn tú ， zhè tiáo lù tā men yě bù guò zǒu le wàn fēn zhī yī ！
纵使加上前方连山圣者所说千万年坦途，这条路他们也不过走了万分之一！
A faint light began to surround the Three Sages' bodies, as if containing boundless light and scenery.
zhēn de néng zǒu wán ma ？
真的能走完吗？
After confirming with all sages, a brilliant light enveloped them completely!
"May I ask the Three Sages, how many years ago is this so-called beginning of the Sea and Mountains? And for such reunions like this, how long will it continue?"
These words caused an immediate silence within the璇玑 ring.
Even if not all sages present were aware of the vastness of the Sea and Mountains' history, those who had transcended the Sea and Mountains knew that its duration was indeed immense. Measuring steps might seem romantic, but in practice...
Moreover, each segment they traversed was punctuated by the perils of Dao Annihilation and the Void Realm. It could not be summarized as merely "a thousand difficulties."
The previous three sages did not specify exact figures, only giving vague approximations due to the influence of the璇玑 ring and their desire to avoid this topic.
Now that Li Fan had brought it up, they were forced to address it.
How long had the Sea and Mountains' life spanned?
None present except for the Three Sages knew the answer. Shouqiu held longevity through the Longevity Dao, but even he could only consider himself a young sage in comparison to the Three Sages.
Even Shouqiu did not have an accurate answer to this question.
The gaze of all sages focused on the Three Sages.
It was clear that they truly did not want to answer.
A long silence fell within the璇玑 ring.
Then, the divine consciousness avatar from a later era spoke up, breaking the silence.
"Since Sage Zhaoyuan has asked, I will speak."
"The past is not mentioned because it might hinder your reunification efforts. However, after several successful reunifications of the Sea and Mountains, I believe we now have sufficient resilience to hear this."
Upon hearing these words from another self, Lianshan nodded.
"Knowing in advance can be an advantage. If so..."
The Three Sages simultaneously waved their hands, revealing a continuous image of the Sea and Mountains before everyone.
They had seen such panoramas many times, but they did not have a clear sense of which segment of the Sea and Mountains they were currently in.
"The Sea and Mountains are interconnected; there is a discernible pattern."
"Like tree rings, each increment represents one [year]."
"One year of the Sea and Mountains equals a million years for us."
At this point, the expressions of the sages remained relatively natural. The figure "billion" might seem daunting, but some among them had indeed lived that long.
Thus, they could accept it temporarily.
Lianshan cast a glance at everyone's emotions before continuing: "Since the Sea and Mountains merged and we were born, there have been nearly a thousand years since our memories began."
The sight of Lianshan seemed to imbue him with an air of age.
Silence fell within the璇玑 ring.
One year equaled one billion years.
A thousand years in the Sea and Mountains equaled one trillion years.
At first glance, this might not seem like a particularly long time.
But for those present who had walked through the Sea and Mountains using their own feet, it was no small feat to repair just a million years.
And now they faced a journey of a thousand times that length...
Even with the resilience of sages, this revelation left them momentarily dizzy.
Despite Lianshan's mention of the next one thousand years ahead, they had only covered a mere 0.1% of it!
Could they really complete it?
The thought suddenly struck each sage.
Inside the璇玑 ring, the true forms of the Six Sages were still relatively calm.
With the Three Sages' shared resolve supporting them, even knowing the truth did not completely shake their faith.
However, the divine consciousness avatars that had crossed over through the Sea and Mountains' veins were experiencing varying degrees of mental storms.
If a journey of a hundred miles was ninety percent done at the end, then they had barely begun.
Their realization of the arduous nature of their mission did not result in immediate collapse; it was a testament to their sage-like resolve.
Li Fan's expression mirrored that of the other sages—shocked and speechless.
He had long anticipated this. After all, others could only roughly estimate the scale of the Sea and Mountains based on occasional glimpses provided by the Three Sages. But Li Fan had once obtained the "Outline of Changes in the Sea and Mountains" from Zhen.
This record was not limited to a snapshot but encompassed the entirety of the Sea and Mountains.
Even with his resilient spirit, Li Fan nearly lost himself when witnessing such vast data. It was no wonder that Zhen kept this option hidden until Li Fan had grown sufficiently.
After fully imprinting the Sea and Mountains with infinite spirituality and achieving sainthood through them, Li Fan felt a deep doubt about the Three Sages' reunification plan.
The history of the Sea and Mountains was indeed too long.
Even if they were united like ants, there were still countless obstacles posed by the Void Realm...
With Li Fan's assistance, true spirits could indeed successfully reunify the Sea and Mountains several times.
But what if there had been no Li Fan in the Sea and Mountains?
Would the Sea and Mountains truly be able to reunite?
The idea of reunifying the Sea and Mountains originated from its end and was passed down by Sea and Mountain travelers.
Despite their strategic minds, the Three Sages believed it and acted upon it.
From a theoretical standpoint, if one could succeed once, they could do so many times more. It would be merely a matter of following through with this process.
The reunification of the Sea and Mountains was indeed possible.
But this was contingent on the Void Realm being calm and peaceful.
However, in just a short million years, Li Fan had encountered numerous changes, including manifestations of the Void Realm and ancient sages' webs.
It was hard to imagine what further challenges lay ahead.
Li Fan felt that his current life span was already long enough. But compared to a billion years, he was still like an infant.
The vast difference caused him some doubt.
This thought had been in his heart for a long time but never found the right moment to express it until now.
Finally voicing this, Li Fan felt a sense of relief.
His question was not merely out of skepticism or provocation.
It contained genuine inquiry as well.
Even Shouqiu, who held longevity through the Longevity Dao, could not alleviate Li Fan's doubts.
Only the Three Sages might be able to do so.
Seeing everyone's somewhat lost expressions, Lianshan smiled and shook his head slightly: "That is why I did not want to reveal the true age of the Sea and Mountains."
"From a common life perspective, seeing the real vastness of the Sea and Mountains would indeed lead to genuine bewilderment."
"But..."
"Since we are willing to execute this reunification plan, it must be feasible!"
"A billion years may seem long. But it is merely our path back."
"If you wish, I can allow each of you to truly experience a thousand years of the Sea and Mountains' past within my heart."
"I believe that once you have walked through it personally, your confusion will dissipate."
Lianshan's voice echoed within the璇玑 ring, causing a faint white light.
The sages were stirred by this, regaining some of their resolve.
Li Fan began to understand.
From a human perspective, such a vast number like a billion would naturally be daunting.
But for the Three Sages, they were embodiments of the Sea and Mountains.
As they said, a billion years was merely the path they had walked before.
Repeating it now might add some twists but what harm could that do?
"Because we have experienced it, we believe," Li Fan mused.
He spoke first: "May I borrow your memories to walk a thousand miles of the Sea and Mountains."
"It is like fulfilling the prophecy of reunification."
"I fear I may not be able to endure it without this experience."
Li Fan's expression was somewhat downcast.
The other sages did not speak, but they all shared similar thoughts.
The logic was clear, but experiencing it personally versus relying on vague beliefs were two different matters.
The Three Sages exchanged glances, as if carefully considering their decision before nodding in agreement.
"A billion years is indeed long."
"You will experience it with us, but you may not be able to endure the entire journey."
"Do not force yourselves. Just do your best."
"Since a partial consciousness cannot bear this, we should use our true forms instead."
Lianshan's consciousness avatar spoke these words.
The scene returned to Li Fan's true form within the current Sea and Mountains璇玑 ring.
A faint light began to surround the Three Sages' bodies, as if containing boundless light and scenery.
After confirming with all sages, a brilliant light enveloped them completely!