“ shān hǎi shí huà ， rú yǐn zhèn zhǐ kě 。 suī yī shí duàn jué le dào yān qīn xí zhī kě néng ， dàn yě tóng shí yì wèi zhe cǐ chù shān hǎi ……”
“山海石化，如饮鸩止渴。虽一时断绝了道湮侵袭之可能，但也同时意味着此处山海……”
"Mountain and sea petrification, like drinking poison to stop thirst. Although it temporarily cuts off the invasion from the Void Realm, it also means that our future is cut short."
lǐ fán tiào wàng qián fāng shān hǎi shí bǎn ， xīn zhōng shēng qǐ le wǎn ruò miàn duì yī zūn gǔ mù de gǎn jué 。
李凡眺望前方山海石板，心中升起了宛若面对一尊古墓的感觉。
Li Fan gazed at the mountain and sea stone slabs ahead, a feeling akin to facing an ancient tomb rising in his heart.
cāng sāng sù mù ， sǐ qì chén chén 。
沧桑肃穆，死气沉沉。
Time-worn and solemn, lifeless and desolate.
zǔ gé le xū jiè de jìn gōng ， què yě duàn jué le zì shēn wèi lái 。
阻隔了虚界的进攻，却也断绝了自身未来。
It blocked the attack of the Virtual World but also severed their own future prospects.
“ zhè shì shān hǎi de tuō yán zhī cè 。 dào yān tōng guò shān hǎi mài luò qīn xí ， wǎn ruò dú sù jìn rù xuè guǎn 。 shān hǎi zhǔ dòng shí huà ， suī kě miǎn duǎn shí jiān nèi dú sù qīn rǎo ， rán duì zhěng tǐ shān hǎi ， yǒu hài wú yì 。 shèn zhì kě yǐ shuō ， wēi hài xìng bìng bù zài bèi xū jiè tūn mò zhī xià 。 fǒu zé miàn duì dào yān dà jǔ jìn fàn ， shān hǎi zǎo jiù kě xuǎn zé jìn shù shí huà le ……”
“这是山海的拖延之策。道湮通过山海脉络侵袭，宛若毒素进入血管。山海主动石化，虽可免短时间内毒素侵扰，然对整体山海，有害无益。甚至可以说，危害性并不在被虚界吞没之下。否则面对道湮大举进犯，山海早就可选择尽数石化了……”
"This is Mountain and Sea's delaying tactic. The Dao Obscuring force invades through the mountain and sea veins, like toxins entering the bloodstream. By petrifying itself proactively, it can avoid short-term toxin invasion, but this is harmful overall to the entire Mountain and Sea. In fact, it could be said that the harm is not less than being swallowed by the Void Realm. Otherwise, if faced with a large-scale invasion by Dao Obscuring, the Mountain and Sea would have long chosen complete petrification..."
lǐ fán shén niàn zài shí huà shān hǎi shàng sǎo guò ， yǒng qǐ zhū bān niàn tou 。 tā shí fēn mǐn ruì de chá jué dào ， shān hǎi shí bǎn ， zhèng zài suí zhe shí jiān de tuī yí ， màn màn kuò dà zì shēn fàn wéi 。
李凡神念在石化山海上扫过，涌起诸般念头。他十分敏锐的察觉到，山海石板，正在随着时间的推移，慢慢扩大自身范围。
Li Fan's spiritual perception swept over the petrified mountain and sea, stirring myriad thoughts within him. He keenly realized that as time passed, the range of the stone slabs was gradually expanding.
zēng sù suī huǎn ， què wú bǐ jiān jué 。
增速虽缓，却无比坚决。
Though the speed was slow, it was resolute.
yú shì xīn zhōng míng wù ：“ cǐ guò chéng ， bù kě nì 。 yí dàn kāi qǐ ， zuì zhōng quán bù shān hǎi dōu jiāng huì chéng wéi shí bǎn yī kuài 。 kě bī tuì xū jiè jìn fàn ， dàn què réng nán zǔ xīng zhī jiàng shì 。 shān hǎi huà quán bù wán chéng de nà yī tiān ， biàn shì gū xīng xiàn shì zhī shí 。”
于是心中明悟：“此过程，不可逆。一旦开启，最终全部山海都将会成为石板一块。可逼退虚界进犯，但却仍难阻星之降世。山海化全部完成的那一天，便是孤星现世之时。”
Thus, he understood: "This process is irreversible. Once initiated, all of the Mountain and Sea will eventually become a single stone slab. It can repel the Void Realm's invasion but still cannot prevent the Star's descent. The day the entire mountain and sea transforms into stone is when the Lone Star appears."
“ shuō dào dǐ ， shān hǎi fēn shén ， shì wèi le jì chéng shén de lì liàng 。 ér yǎn qián zhè kuài shí bǎn ……”
“说到底，山海分神，是为了继承神的力量。而眼前这块石板……”
"At its core, the division of the mountain and sea was to inherit divine power. And this stone slab...
“ suī yǒu shān hǎi bǎi dào ， què wú zī gé chēng wéi 【 shén 】。”
“虽有山海百道，却无资格称为【神】。”
Though it has a hundred paths of Mountain and Sea, it does not qualify as [divine]."
shǒu qiū gǎn yìng dào le lǐ fán de xiǎng fǎ ， yě chuán shēng pǒ wèi gǎn kǎi dào ：“ xī rì wǒ zuò shān wàng hǎi ， shēn jué zì shēn miǎo xiǎo yǔ shān hǎi hào hàn ， gù ér yǒu zhǒng zhǒng gǎn wù jiā shēn 。 rán ér rú jīn miàn duì zhè shí huà shān hǎi ， què wú rèn hé gǎn wù yǒng xiàn 。 qí yù suī guǎng ， qí dào suī bó 。 zhōng jiū yú shēng líng wú yì 。”
守丘感应到了李凡的想法，也传声颇为感慨道：“昔日我坐山望海，深觉自身渺小与山海浩瀚，故而有种种感悟加身。然而如今面对这石化山海，却无任何感悟涌现。其域虽广，其道虽博。终究于生灵无益。”
Shou Qiu sensed Li Fan's thoughts and echoed with considerable emotion: "In my days watching the mountains and seas, I felt how insignificant I was compared to their vastness, thus gaining various insights. But now facing this petrified mountain and sea, no such enlightenment arises. Its domain is broad, its path profound, but ultimately of no benefit to living beings."
dào dé yě zàn tóng dào ：“ wú děng dōu néng gǎn yìng chū zhè diǎn ， shān hǎi zì bú huì bù zhī 。 yǐ wèi lái zhī jué lù ， zhǐ wèi tuō yán yī shí bàn kè 。 kàn lái shān hǎi zhī chū ， zhēn yǒu dà biàn gù fā shēng le ！”
道德也赞同道：“吾等都能感应出这点，山海自不会不知。以未来之绝路，只为拖延一时半刻。看来山海之初，真有大变故发生了！”
Dào De agreed: "We can all sense this point; the Mountain and Sea would not be unaware. Using a future dead-end for just a moment's delay. It seems there was indeed a great upheaval at the beginning!"
“ sān shèng cǐ qián suǒ shuō ， nǎi shì ‘ fēn shén shí jī yǐ zhì ’， ér fēi ‘ shān hǎi fēn shén ’。 wú yí shì zhǐ ， shān hǎi chū zhū shèng yào yǔ shān hǎi ， yī zhēng fēn shén zào huà 。 ruò dāng nián fēn shén de bìng fēi shān hǎi ， nà me rú jīn shān hǎi zì bú huì cún zài 。 shì guān shān hǎi yǎn biàn hòu yī qiè ， zì xū wáng mìng yī bó 。 shān hǎi cǐ jǔ ， kǒng pà yě shì wú nài wèi zhī 。 jì yào miàn duì tāo tiè zhū shèng ， hái yào zài dào yān qiáng gōng xià bǎo quán zì shēn ……” lǐ fán lěng xiào dào 。
“三圣此前所说，乃是‘分神时机已至’，而非‘山海分神’。无疑是指，山海初诸圣要与山海，一争分神造化。若当年分神的并非山海，那么如今山海自不会存在。事关山海衍变后一切，自需亡命一搏。山海此举，恐怕也是无奈为之。既要面对饕餮诸圣，还要在道湮强攻下保全自身……”李凡冷笑道。
"The three sages' previous words were 'the time for division has come,' not 'Mountain and Sea division.' Undoubtedly, it means that the initial sages of the Mountain and Sea would compete with the mountain and sea to gain divine powers. If the division back then wasn't by the mountain and sea, they wouldn't exist now. Concerning everything after the Mountain and Sea's evolution, we must risk all. The Mountain and Sea's actions are likely out of necessity. They have to face the Feast of Vampires while defending themselves against Dao Obscuring attacks..." Li Fan sneered.
“ zhū shèng yǔ shān hǎi zhēng shén 。 xiǎng xiǎng biàn jī dòng rén xīn ， zhǐ kě xī wú děng wú yuán cān yù cǐ shèng yàn le 。 bù guò ， fán dào yǒu qián jǐ shì wèi hé bù céng jiàn dào cǐ biàn gù ？” dào dé wèn dào 。
“诸圣与山海争神。想想便激动人心，只可惜吾等无缘参与此盛宴了。不过，凡道友前几世为何不曾见到此变故？”道德问道。
"The sages compete with the mountain and sea for divinity. Just thinking about it is exhilarating, but alas, we cannot partake in this feast. But why didn't my dao friend see such changes in his previous lives?" Dào De asked.
“ cǐ shì yì biàn yuán qǐ ， kǒng pà hái yào guī yú 【 suǒ 】。” lǐ fán kàn zhe dà dào diàn táng shàng ， nà yǐ rán bù zài zhēng zhá de gǔ piáo zì fú 。
“此事异变缘起，恐怕还要归于【索】。”李凡看着大道殿堂上，那已然不再挣扎的古朴字符。
"This anomaly likely stems from [Suo]," Li Fan observed, looking at the ancient characters on the Great Dao Hall that no longer struggled.
“ bèi wǒ yǐ qiè jī dà dào ， tūn shì le bù fèn jīng huá 。 suǒ de shí lì bì dìng dà diē 。 tài chū xiān jiè ， jù shì xiōng rén 。 suǒ de yì cháng ， nán miǎn bèi tā rén fā xiàn 。 kǒng lún wèi páng rén pán zhōng zhī cān 。”
“被我以窃机大道，吞噬了部分精华。索的实力必定大跌。太初仙界，俱是凶人。索的异常，难免被他人发现。恐沦为旁人盘中之餐。”
"I devoured some of its essence with the Theft of Time technique. Suo's strength must have plummeted. The Primordial Divine World is filled with dangerous people. Any abnormality in Suo would be noticed by others and likely turned into a meal."
“ huò xǔ jiù shì fēn shén dǎo huǒ suǒ 。” lǐ fán méi tóu jǐn suǒ ， xiǎng yào tuī yǎn chū diǎn shén me lái 。
“或许就是分神导火索。”李凡眉头紧锁，想要推衍出点什么来。
"Perhaps it was the spark for division." Li Fan furrowed his brows, trying to derive something.
kě shì guān yú tài chū xiān jiè suǒ zhī ， shí zài tài shǎo 。
可是关于太初仙界所知，实在太少。
But knowledge of the Primordial Divine World was too limited.
zhōng wú suǒ shōu huò 。
终无所收获。
He found no answers.
“ bù guò ， kě tuī duàn chū shān hǎi chū zhū shèng duì yú xíng fēn shén zhī jǔ ， shí zé yě zhǐ chà yī bù zhī yáo 。 shāo yǒu zhù lì ， biàn kě yuè guò nà dào míng míng zhōng xiàn zhì 。”
“不过，可推断出山海初诸圣对于行分神之举，实则也只差一步之遥。稍有助力，便可越过那道冥冥中限制。”
---
sān rén àn zì jiāo liú 。
三人暗自交流。
"But we can deduce that the initial sages were only one step away from performing the division. With some assistance, they could have crossed that invisible barrier."
ér xū jiè zài mù dǔ le shān hǎi shí huà hòu ， yě jiāng chóng chóng wéi kùn lì liàng tuì qù 。
而虚界在目睹了山海石化后，也将重重围困力量退去。
The three exchanged thoughts privately.
suī yī jiù qī hēi yī piàn ， dàn zài lǐ fán děng rén yǎn lǐ ， què yǎn rán liàng táng le bù shǎo 。
虽依旧漆黑一片，但在李凡等人眼里，却俨然亮堂了不少。
After witnessing the mountain and sea's petrification, the Void Realm withdrew its heavy encirclement forces.
zhè duàn shān hǎi yǐ jīng méi yǒu le tūn shì de jià zhí ， wēi jī zì jiě 。
这段山海已经没有了吞噬的价值，危机自解。
Though still pitch-black, it seemed brighter to Li Fan and his companions.
zhè fān biàn huà ， què shì xiān qián wàn wàn méi yǒu xiǎng dào de 。
这番变化，却是先前万万没有想到的。
This section of the mountain and sea no longer had any value for consumption; the crisis was resolved on its own.
huò shuǐ dōng yǐn zhī jǔ ， yǐn qǐ le shān hǎi yì liào zhī wài de fǎn yìng ， dá dào le tóng yàng de zuì zhōng xiào guǒ 。
祸水东引之举，引起了山海意料之外的反应，达到了同样的最终效果。
Such a change was far from what they expected.
“ shān hǎi shí huà ， rú jù shí héng gèn 。 fù lián zhī jǔ ， yě biàn dé wú yì yì le 。”
“山海石化，如巨石横亘。复联之举，也变得无意义了。”
The diversion of the祸水东引had triggered an unexpected response in the mountain and sea, achieving the same final effect.
lǐ fán děng rén huí dào hòu shì yī jiù zhèng cháng de shān hǎi ， zuò yú xuán jī huán nèi 。 qí yú zhū shèng jiē yīn cháng jiǔ yǐ lái mù biāo de xiāo shī ， ér yī shí jiān biàn dé yǒu xiē mí máng 。
李凡等人回到后世依旧正常的山海，坐于璇玑环内。其余诸圣皆因长久以来目标的消失，而一时间变得有些迷茫。
"Mountain and sea petrification is like a giant stone blocking the way. The Alliance's efforts have become meaningless."
“ wú děng rú jīn ， wǎn ruò wèi yú jiāng shàng piān zhōu zhī zhōng 。 chuán bó chén mò yǔ fǒu ， jù yóu tā rén jué dìng 。 mìng yùn bù yóu rén …… zhe shí yǒu xiē bù shuǎng 。” bǎi xiǎo tàn le kǒu qì 。
“吾等如今，宛若位于江上扁舟之中。船舶沉没与否，俱由他人决定。命运不由人……着实有些不爽。”百晓叹了口气。
Li Fan and his companions returned to the normal mountain and sea from their past lives, seated within the璇玑环. The other sages were momentarily迷茫due to the disappearance of their long-term goal.
“ ruò yī jiù shì shān hǎi fēn shén ， nà dào yě wú fáng 。 jiù pà shì ， lìng wài shèng zhě ， zhàn jù le shān hǎi yuán běn dào lù 。 wú děng jiē dàn yú shān hǎi ， ruò shì shān hǎi yī kāi shǐ biàn bù cún zài 。 qǐ bù shì wú děng yě yào gēn zhe xiāo wáng ？”
“若依旧是山海分神，那倒也无妨。就怕是，另外圣者，占据了山海原本道路。吾等皆诞于山海，若是山海一开始便不存在。岂不是吾等也要跟着消亡？”
"We are now like passengers on a boat in a river. Whether we sink or float is decided by others. Our fate is not in our hands... quite frustrating," Bǎi Xiǎo sighed.
guǐ mìng de dān yōu bù wú dào lǐ 。
晷命的担忧不无道理。
"If it's still about dividing the mountain and sea, that would be fine. But what if another sage has taken over the path of the mountain and sea? We were born from the mountain and sea; if the mountain and sea didn't exist at the beginning, wouldn't we also disappear?"
zì sān shèng lí qù zhī hòu ， zhū shèng xīn zhōng jiē yǐ yǒng xiàn chū le nán yǐ yǎn yìng de bù ān 。
自三圣离去之后，诸圣心中皆已涌现出了难以掩映的不安。
Guǐ Mìng's concerns were valid.
yuán běn yǐ wéi shì yuán zì xū jiè qīn shí ， dàn cǐ kè suí zhe dào yān làng cháo tuì qù ， zhè gǔ bù ān fēi dàn méi yǒu xiāo chú 、 fǎn ér yù yǎn yù liè 。
原本以为是源自虚界侵蚀，但此刻随着道湮浪潮退去，这股不安非但没有消除、反而愈演愈烈。
Since the three sages left, an unease had emerged in their hearts that was hard to conceal.
wǎn ruò dà nàn lín tóu ， zāi jié jiāng zhì 。
宛若大难临头，灾劫将至。
Originally thought to be due to Void Realm erosion, but as Dao Obscuring's tide receded, this unease grew stronger instead of subsiding.
piān piān zhū shèng chú le mò mò děng hòu zì shēn mìng yùn ， sì hū qí tā shén me zuò bù liǎo 。
偏偏诸圣除了默默等候自身命运，似乎其他什么做不了。
It felt like a great calamity was imminent.
“ lóu yǐ shàng qiě tōu shēng ， wú děng nán dào jiù zhǐ néng zhè yàng děng sǐ ？” qiè jī yǎn zhōng mǎn shì bù gān 。
“蝼蚁尚且偷生，吾等难道就只能这样等死？”窃机眼中满是不甘。
Yet, except for waiting passively, the sages seemed powerless.
“ shān hǎi zhī chū 。 ruò shì xiān qián wú děng jiǎo bù zài kuài yì diǎn jiù hǎo le ！”
“山海之初。若是先前吾等脚步再快一点就好了！”
"Even ants seek survival. Can we only wait to die?" The Thief of Time's eyes were filled with reluctance.
zhèng dāng zhū shèng xīn shén zá luàn zhī jì ， lǐ fán hū de chū shēng ：“ wǒ dǎo shì yǒu yī jì ， huò kě shǐ zhū wèi miǎn yú cǐ jié 。 zhǐ shì bìng wú shí zú bǎ wò 。”
正当诸圣心神杂乱之际，李凡忽的出声：“我倒是有一计，或可使诸位免于此劫。只是并无十足把握。”
"At the beginning of the mountain and sea. If our steps had been just a little faster back then!"
“ zhòu huí dào yǒu dàn shuō wú fáng ！”
“宙廻道友但说无妨！”
Just as the sages' minds were in turmoil, Li Fan suddenly spoke up: "I do have a plan that might help you all avoid this calamity, but I'm not entirely sure."
“ fēn shén jié guǒ ， jué dìng zhe wú děng mìng yùn 。 xiǎng yào miǎn shòu qí yǐng xiǎng ， wéi yī de fāng fǎ ， biàn shì tiào chū shān hǎi zhī wài 。 wú děng shèng zhě ， suī shuō jiān yú shān hǎi qí ， rán ér què yuǎn chēng bù shàng dú yú shān hǎi 。” lǐ fán huǎn huǎn shuō dào 。
“分神结果，决定着吾等命运。想要免受其影响，唯一的方法，便是跳出山海之外。吾等圣者，虽说肩于山海齐，然而却远称不上独于山海。”李凡缓缓说道。
"Friend Dàoxiáng Zòu Huí! Speak freely!"
“ dí què rú cǐ 。 kě liú gěi wǒ men de shí jiān ， yǐ jīng bù duō le 。 fēn shén jié guǒ hěn kuài jí jiāng jiē xiǎo ， tiào chū shān hǎi zhī wài …… wú děng yòu rú hé zài zhè zhī qián néng zuò dào ？” zhū shèng bù jiě 。
“的确如此。可留给我们的时间，已经不多了。分神结果很快即将揭晓，跳出山海之外……吾等又如何在这之前能做到？”诸圣不解。
"The result of division determines our fate. To avoid its impact, the only way is to step outside the mountain and sea. Although we sages are bound by the mountain and sea, we are far from being solely within it," Li Fan said slowly.
“ shān hǎi jì bù róng wú děng ， wú děng biàn guī xiàng nà xū jiè zhōng 。” lǐ fán zhǐ zhe shān hǎi wài de nà piàn hēi àn 。
“山海既不容吾等，吾等便归向那虚界中。”李凡指着山海外的那片黑暗。
"Indeed so. But time is running out. The results of division will soon be revealed. How can we do this before then?" The other sages were puzzled.
“ zhè xiē nián lái ， wǒ bù duàn zhēn líng guàn zhù 。 yū jī zhēn líng ， shēn mái yú xū jiè nèi 。 jīng nián lěi yuè hū huàn ， wǒ jìng fǎng fú yú xū jiè chǎn shēng le mǒu zhǒng mò míng guān lián 。 zhǐ bù guò yǐ wǎng wú děng zhì zài fù lián shān hǎi ， dǎo shì bù biàn bào lù 。 jīn shí bù tóng wǎng rì ， shuō yǔ nǐ men ， dào yě wú fáng 。”
“这些年来，我不断真灵灌注。淤积真灵，深埋于虚界内。经年累月呼唤，我竟仿佛于虚界产生了某种莫名关联。只不过以往吾等志在复联山海，倒是不便暴露。今时不同往日，说与你们，倒也无妨。”
"If the mountain and sea does not accept us, let's return to the Void Realm," Li Fan pointed at the darkness beyond the mountain and sea.
gēn xū jiè dào yān duì kàng yǐ jiǔ ， yǐ rán chéng wéi běn néng 。 zhū shèng zuì chū wén yán ， jiē shì yī jīng 。
跟虚界道湮对抗已久，已然成为本能。诸圣最初闻言，皆是一惊。
"For years, I continuously infused my true essence. Buried deep within the Void Realm for long periods, I seemed to have developed some mysterious connection with it. But previously, our goal was to restore the mountain and sea, so we didn't want to reveal ourselves."
bù guò xiǎng dào rú jīn jìng yù ， yán sù jiè bèi shén qíng ， zhōng màn màn bú jiàn 。
不过想到如今境遇，严肃戒备神情，终慢慢不见。
Having long fought Dao Obscuring in the Void Realm, it had become an instinct. Initially, the sages were shocked.
“ guī yú xū jiè ？ zhòu huí dào yǒu kě zēng zhēn shì guò ？”
“归于虚界？宙廻道友可曾真试过？”
But as they thought of their current situation, their solemn and wary expressions gradually faded.
“ xū jiè zhōng ， suǒ yǒu cún zài xìng jiē xiāo shī 。 wú děng guī fù ， yòu jiāng hé wǎng ？”
“虚界中，所有存在性皆消失。吾等归附，又将何往？”
"Return to the Void Realm? Has Dàoxiáng Zòu Huí truly tried this?"
suī bìng bù fǎn duì ， zhū shèng xīn zhōng yí huò què zhōng jiū nán xiāo 。
虽并不反对，诸圣心中疑惑却终究难消。
"How can we exist if all existence in the Void Realm disappears when we join it?"
lǐ fán liǎn bù hóng xīn bú tiào ：“ suī cóng wèi zhēn zhèng shì yàn guò ， dàn xiǎng lái ， yòu jí dà chéng gōng kě néng 。 jūn bú jiàn xiān qián wéi gōng shān hǎi yī zhòng xū jiè huà shēn fǒu ？ qí xíng zhuàng ， yǔ zhēn shí shèng zhě wú yì 。”
李凡脸不红心不跳：“虽从未真正试验过，但想来，又极大成功可能。君不见先前围攻山海一众虚界化身否？其形状，与真实圣者无异。”
Though not opposing, the sages' doubts remained unresolved.
“ néng róng huà shēn ， yòu rú hé róng bù xià zhēn zhèng shèng zhě ？”
“能容化身，又如何容不下真正圣者？”
Li Fan's face showed no signs of agitation: "Although I've never truly tested it, there is a high chance of success. Haven't you seen how the Void Realm's avatars surrounded the mountain and sea? They look just like true sages."
lǐ fán chén shēng dào ：“ zhǐ xū yī shì jí kě 。 dà nàn lín tóu ， zhū wèi nán dào hái yǒu gèng hǎo fāng fǎ ？”
李凡沉声道：“只需一试即可。大难临头，诸位难道还有更好方法？”
"Can we accommodate avatars but not true sages?"
huà suī rú cǐ shuō ， rán zhōng jiū hái méi dào zuì wēi jí shí kè 。
话虽如此说，然终究还没到最危急时刻。
Li Fan said gravely: "A single test will suffice. In times of great peril, do any of us have a better method?"
zhū shèng réng rán xīn yǒu yí lǜ 。
诸圣仍然心有疑虑。
Though he spoke thus, it was still not the most critical moment.
zhí dào ……
直到……
The sages remained uncertain.
shān hǎi zài yī shùn jiān ， biàn dé xū wú piāo miǎo qǐ lái 。
山海在一瞬间，变得虚无缥缈起来。
Until...
In an instant, the mountain and sea became ethereal and insubstantial.
"Mountain and sea petrification, like drinking poison to stop thirst. Although it temporarily cuts off the invasion from the Void Realm, it also means that our future is cut short."
Li Fan gazed at the mountain and sea stone slabs ahead, a feeling akin to facing an ancient tomb rising in his heart.
Time-worn and solemn, lifeless and desolate.
It blocked the attack of the Virtual World but also severed their own future prospects.
"This is Mountain and Sea's delaying tactic. The Dao Obscuring force invades through the mountain and sea veins, like toxins entering the bloodstream. By petrifying itself proactively, it can avoid short-term toxin invasion, but this is harmful overall to the entire Mountain and Sea. In fact, it could be said that the harm is not less than being swallowed by the Void Realm. Otherwise, if faced with a large-scale invasion by Dao Obscuring, the Mountain and Sea would have long chosen complete petrification..."
Li Fan's spiritual perception swept over the petrified mountain and sea, stirring myriad thoughts within him. He keenly realized that as time passed, the range of the stone slabs was gradually expanding.
Though the speed was slow, it was resolute.
Thus, he understood: "This process is irreversible. Once initiated, all of the Mountain and Sea will eventually become a single stone slab. It can repel the Void Realm's invasion but still cannot prevent the Star's descent. The day the entire mountain and sea transforms into stone is when the Lone Star appears."
"At its core, the division of the mountain and sea was to inherit divine power. And this stone slab...
Though it has a hundred paths of Mountain and Sea, it does not qualify as [divine]."
Shou Qiu sensed Li Fan's thoughts and echoed with considerable emotion: "In my days watching the mountains and seas, I felt how insignificant I was compared to their vastness, thus gaining various insights. But now facing this petrified mountain and sea, no such enlightenment arises. Its domain is broad, its path profound, but ultimately of no benefit to living beings."
Dào De agreed: "We can all sense this point; the Mountain and Sea would not be unaware. Using a future dead-end for just a moment's delay. It seems there was indeed a great upheaval at the beginning!"
"The three sages' previous words were 'the time for division has come,' not 'Mountain and Sea division.' Undoubtedly, it means that the initial sages of the Mountain and Sea would compete with the mountain and sea to gain divine powers. If the division back then wasn't by the mountain and sea, they wouldn't exist now. Concerning everything after the Mountain and Sea's evolution, we must risk all. The Mountain and Sea's actions are likely out of necessity. They have to face the Feast of Vampires while defending themselves against Dao Obscuring attacks..." Li Fan sneered.
"The sages compete with the mountain and sea for divinity. Just thinking about it is exhilarating, but alas, we cannot partake in this feast. But why didn't my dao friend see such changes in his previous lives?" Dào De asked.
"This anomaly likely stems from [Suo]," Li Fan observed, looking at the ancient characters on the Great Dao Hall that no longer struggled.
"I devoured some of its essence with the Theft of Time technique. Suo's strength must have plummeted. The Primordial Divine World is filled with dangerous people. Any abnormality in Suo would be noticed by others and likely turned into a meal."
"Perhaps it was the spark for division." Li Fan furrowed his brows, trying to derive something.
But knowledge of the Primordial Divine World was too limited.
He found no answers.
---
"But we can deduce that the initial sages were only one step away from performing the division. With some assistance, they could have crossed that invisible barrier."
The three exchanged thoughts privately.
After witnessing the mountain and sea's petrification, the Void Realm withdrew its heavy encirclement forces.
Though still pitch-black, it seemed brighter to Li Fan and his companions.
This section of the mountain and sea no longer had any value for consumption; the crisis was resolved on its own.
Such a change was far from what they expected.
The diversion of the祸水东引had triggered an unexpected response in the mountain and sea, achieving the same final effect.
"Mountain and sea petrification is like a giant stone blocking the way. The Alliance's efforts have become meaningless."
Li Fan and his companions returned to the normal mountain and sea from their past lives, seated within the璇玑环. The other sages were momentarily迷茫due to the disappearance of their long-term goal.
"We are now like passengers on a boat in a river. Whether we sink or float is decided by others. Our fate is not in our hands... quite frustrating," Bǎi Xiǎo sighed.
"If it's still about dividing the mountain and sea, that would be fine. But what if another sage has taken over the path of the mountain and sea? We were born from the mountain and sea; if the mountain and sea didn't exist at the beginning, wouldn't we also disappear?"
Guǐ Mìng's concerns were valid.
Since the three sages left, an unease had emerged in their hearts that was hard to conceal.
Originally thought to be due to Void Realm erosion, but as Dao Obscuring's tide receded, this unease grew stronger instead of subsiding.
It felt like a great calamity was imminent.
Yet, except for waiting passively, the sages seemed powerless.
"Even ants seek survival. Can we only wait to die?" The Thief of Time's eyes were filled with reluctance.
"At the beginning of the mountain and sea. If our steps had been just a little faster back then!"
Just as the sages' minds were in turmoil, Li Fan suddenly spoke up: "I do have a plan that might help you all avoid this calamity, but I'm not entirely sure."
"Friend Dàoxiáng Zòu Huí! Speak freely!"
"The result of division determines our fate. To avoid its impact, the only way is to step outside the mountain and sea. Although we sages are bound by the mountain and sea, we are far from being solely within it," Li Fan said slowly.
"Indeed so. But time is running out. The results of division will soon be revealed. How can we do this before then?" The other sages were puzzled.
"If the mountain and sea does not accept us, let's return to the Void Realm," Li Fan pointed at the darkness beyond the mountain and sea.
"For years, I continuously infused my true essence. Buried deep within the Void Realm for long periods, I seemed to have developed some mysterious connection with it. But previously, our goal was to restore the mountain and sea, so we didn't want to reveal ourselves."
Having long fought Dao Obscuring in the Void Realm, it had become an instinct. Initially, the sages were shocked.
But as they thought of their current situation, their solemn and wary expressions gradually faded.
"Return to the Void Realm? Has Dàoxiáng Zòu Huí truly tried this?"
"How can we exist if all existence in the Void Realm disappears when we join it?"
Though not opposing, the sages' doubts remained unresolved.
Li Fan's face showed no signs of agitation: "Although I've never truly tested it, there is a high chance of success. Haven't you seen how the Void Realm's avatars surrounded the mountain and sea? They look just like true sages."
"Can we accommodate avatars but not true sages?"
Li Fan said gravely: "A single test will suffice. In times of great peril, do any of us have a better method?"
Though he spoke thus, it was still not the most critical moment.
The sages remained uncertain.
Until...
In an instant, the mountain and sea became ethereal and insubstantial.