wú shù zhū shén biàn tǐ ， tā men suǒ xié dài de 【 hái zhēn 】 zì rán bù kě néng gēn yuán bǎn yī yàng ， jù yǒu shùn xī zhī jiān zhòng zhì shān hǎi de néng lì 。
无数诛神变体，他们所携带的【还真】自然不可能跟原版一样，具有瞬息之间重置山海的能力。
Innumerable true and false paths, the power to overturn the mountains and seas. Why is Brother Xuan not moved by it?
ér shì zuì chū jiāng zhòng zhì fàn wéi xiàn dìng zài le dān yī kě néng xìng 。
而是最初将重置范围限定在了单一可能性。
Xuan Hong seemed to have anticipated this question from Zhang Fan and smiled: "Firstly, I can empathize with him. I know what it's like to be coveted, so I won't do that to others. Secondly..."
bìng qiě hái yǒu yì bǎi cì de shǐ yòng xiàn zhì 。
并且还有一百次的使用限制。
The true and false paths are indeed mysterious and hard to fathom. But the moment I saw Him, I understood that He was beyond my reach. It would only bring me unnecessaryannoyance if I kept thinking about it; better to pretend not to see.
jí biàn xiàn zhì rú cǐ yán kē ， zhèng cháng qíng kuàng xià ， yě zú gòu zhū shén biàn tǐ shùn lì xiū xíng dào chāo tuō jìng jiè le 。
即便限制如此严苛，正常情况下，也足够诛神变体顺利修行到超脱境界了。
Xuan Hong's words carried a hint of meaning, his smile profound. Zhang Fan could not understand Xuan Hong’s meaning but nodded thoughtfully nonetheless.
zài yuè chū shēn chù kě néng xìng zhī hòu ， tā men suǒ xié dài de “ hái zhēn ” biàn huì “ shēng jí ”。
在跃出身处可能性之后，他们所携带的“还真”便会“升级”。
As for the Senior Fisher... "He sees nothing but fishing in His eyes. The true and false paths are even less attractive than weak fish."
zhòng zhì bù jǐn jǐn zhǐ jú xiàn zài dān yī kě néng xìng ， ér shì zì jǐ zhōu shēn yí dìng fàn wéi zhī nèi 。 bìng qiě rú guǒ yù dào shí lì yuǎn chāo zì shēn de shān hǎi shèng zhě ，“ hái zhēn ” suǒ néng shēng xiào fàn wéi ， hái huì jìn yí bù suō jiǎn 。
重置不仅仅只局限在单一可能性，而是自己周身一定范围之内。并且如果遇到实力远超自身的山海圣者，“还真”所能生效范围，还会进一步缩减。
With those words, the Fisher suddenly reeled in. A frightened figure was caught in his hand.
gèng yǒu yì diǎn ……
更有一点……
The Fisher laughed loudly as if he were extremely happy: "A mere stone slab dares to pry into my treasures."
ruò shì liǎng wèi zhū shén biàn tǐ ， hù xiāng jù lí tài jìn ， nà me tā men de “ hái zhēn ” dōu jù huì shī xiào 。 tóng shí bǐ cǐ xīn shēng gǎn yìng 。
若是两位诛神变体，互相距离太近，那么他们的“还真”都俱会失效。同时彼此心生感应。
"Hmm?"
wéi yī néng huī fù “ hái zhēn ” gōng néng de fāng fǎ ， biàn shì jiāng duì fāng shā sǐ ， lüè duó duì fāng shēn shàng zào huà 。
唯一能恢复“还真”功能的方法，便是将对方杀死，掠夺对方身上造化。
Xuan Hong seemed about to release this captured figure but changed his mind after a moment.
shèng zhě shēng ，“ hái zhēn ” gōng néng huī fù ， shèn zhì hái yīn tūn shì duì shǒu “ hái zhēn ”， duì yú zhēn jiǎ dà dào lǐng wù gèng yǒu jīng jìn 。
胜者生，“还真”功能恢复，甚至还因吞噬对手“还真”，对于真假大道领悟更有精进。
"But..."
bài zhě sǐ 。
败者死。
"Teaching you a few things won't hurt."
què bìng bú shì chè dǐ xiāo sàn 。
却并不是彻底消散。
With that, the Fisher threw the figure aside and pointed at it in mid-air. "Learn well, learn well."
ér shì zài zhēn jiǎ dà dào bì yòu xià ， huí guī lǐ fán běn tǐ suǒ zài 【 zhū shén biàn 】 shì jiè zhōng 。
而是在真假大道庇佑下，回归李凡本体所在【诛神变】世界中。
Zhang Fan could not recall what the frightened figure looked like or where he came from before. Now, he had transformed into a child wearing a fishing hat and holding a fishing rod, standing beside Xuan Hong.
jì yì jīng lì ， fǎn bǔ běn zūn 。
记忆经历，反哺本尊。
After a brief moment of shock, this child began to fish just as Xuan Hong did.
ér hòu jīng yóu 【 hái zhēn 】 yǐn dǎo ， xuē qù yī qiè jì yì hòu ， zài rù shān hǎi lún huí ！
而后经由【还真】引导，削去一切记忆后，再入山海轮回！
Before the Fisher, there was no pond. But with each cast, a fishing ground appeared in the vast mountains and seas.
rú cǐ xún huán wǎng fù ， zhí zhì shān hǎi huǐ miè 。
如此循环往复，直至山海毁灭。
Zhang Fan ignored his flattery, lost in thought over fishing. Initially, he was somewhat concerned, but now it had become routine.
níng jù dǎ zào zhū shén biàn shù ， bìng fēi zhāo xī zhī gōng 。
凝聚打造诸神变数，并非朝夕之功。
"Beyond the true and false paths lies the boundless world of mountains and seas. It is said that beyond countless possibilities, there are various sages building a paradise."
shèn zhì jiù lián lǐ fán zì jǐ zài háng dòng qián ， yě bìng bù zhī xiǎo jiū jìng jī lěi dào hé zhǒng chéng dù ， cái néng chéng gōng zhū shén 。 dàn tā míng bái ， zhè shì zhū shén wéi yī de fāng fǎ 。
甚至就连李凡自己在行动前，也并不知晓究竟积累到何种程度，才能成功诛神。但他明白，这是诛神唯一的方法。
"It is also said that there are grand dynasties spanning countless possibilities in the mountains and seas. Their ruler is called the Supreme Saint Emperor Taiwei..." Xuan Hong introduced Zhang Fan to the vastness of the mountains and seas.
yú shì tā háo bù yóu yù de zhè me zuò le 。
于是他毫不犹豫的这么做了。
Despite experiencing multiple cycles of rebirths, he was always confined to a single possibility. Hearing Xuan Hong describe the magnificent scenery, Zhang Fan's heart soared with admiration.
suí zhe shí jiān de liú shì ， píng jìng shān hǎi zhōng ， bō lán jiàn qǐ 。
随着时间的流逝，平静山海中，波澜渐起。
With the true and false paths in his possession, even if the path ahead was treacherous, he believed he could carve out a place for himself and become a saint of the mountains and seas.
yǐ zuì chū lǐ fán wèi mú bǎn suǒ dǎ zào wú shù biàn tǐ ， xiū xíng zī zhì jiē shì xún cháng 。 dàn xiāng jiào yú běn zūn ， tā men de kāi jú chǔ jìng ， jué dà duō shù qíng kuàng xià huì hǎo hěn duō 。
以最初李凡为模板所打造无数变体，修行资质皆是寻常。但相较于本尊，他们的开局处境，绝大多数情况下会好很多。
Xuan Hong noticed these subtle changes in Zhang Fan’s demeanor. He paused before continuing: "However, regardless of the sages beyond or the Supreme Saint Emperor Taiwei, their situations may not be as you imagine..."
jí biàn dì yī shì xiū xíng bù lì ， lì jīng duō cì lún huí hòu ， píng jiè xiān zhī xiān jué zhī néng ， jī běn dōu néng shùn lì tà shàng xiū xíng zhī lù 。
即便第一世修行不利，历经多次轮回后，凭借先知先觉之能，基本都能顺利踏上修行之路。
"Alright," Xuan Hong carefully chose his words.
nǎi zhì dēng lín zhēn xiān ， tóu fàng biàn tǐ jī běn dōu bú huì hào fèi chāo guò sān shí shì 。
乃至登临真仙，投放变体基本都不会耗费超过三十世。
"What is Brother Xuan's meaning?" Li Fan was puzzled.
dàn cóng zhēn xiān zhì chāo tuō ， què rú yī dào gōu hè lán zhù le jī hū suǒ yǒu biàn tǐ 。
但从真仙至超脱，却如一道沟壑拦住了几乎所有变体。
"You are always under our protection in this world and do not know the dangers of the void. I feared that knowing its true nature would affect your resolve to cultivate, but now that you have transcended... it’s time for you to truly understand the mountains and seas."
yǒu jìn hū jiǔ chéng de biàn tǐ ， lún huí yì zhí dào le jiǔ shí shì ， dōu méi néng zhǎo dào chāo tuō zhī fǎ 。
有近乎九成的变体，轮回一直到了九十世，都没能找到超脱之法。
Xuan Hong looked at the Fisher.
zhè qíng kuàng ， gēn lǐ fán běn zūn de xiū xíng lù kě yǐ shuō qià qià xiāng fǎn 。
这情况，跟李凡本尊的修行路可以说恰恰相反。
The Fisher slightly raised his head.
xuán huáng jiè 、 yǐ jí yuán chū kě néng xìng suī rán biàn dì shēn kēng ， yī bù yī xiōng xiǎn 。 dàn cóng mǒu zhǒng yì yì lái jiǎng ， duì yōng yǒu kě yǐ bù duàn huí sù néng lì de lǐ fán ér yán ， què chōng mǎn liǎo wú shù jī yuán 。 zhǐ yào rèn yì zhuā zhù qí yī ， biàn néng lǐng wù chāo tuō dào tú 。
玄黄界、以及原初可能性虽然遍地深坑，一步一凶险。但从某种意义来讲，对拥有可以不断回溯能力的李凡而言，却充满了无数机缘。只要任意抓住其一，便能领悟超脱道途。
Suddenly, the sky changed dramatically as if a protective layer had been removed. Zhang Fan was plunged into the true mountains and seas.
dàn shān hǎi jué dà duō shù kě néng xìng ， dōu bìng fēi rú cǐ 。
但山海绝大多数可能性，都并非如此。
He realized that the void was not just the babbling stream he had always known; it was a raging flood surrounding the entire mountain!
qióng jìn zhěng tiáo kě néng xìng ， suǒ yǒu rén cái 、 suǒ yǒu zī yuán 、 suǒ yǒu cháng shì 。 wǎng wǎng dōu jí nán chéng gōng sù zào chāo tuō zhī lù 。
穷尽整条可能性，所有人才、所有资源、所有尝试。往往都极难成功塑造超脱之路。
Wind rushed, water surged, waves crashed. At any moment, they could be submerged by this torrent!
fǒu zé yǐ shān hǎi zhī wú jìn kě néng xìng 、 wú qióng zhòng shēng wèi jī shù ， suǒ yùn yù chāo tuō xiū shì de shù liàng yě bú huì nà me shǎo le 。
否则以山海之无尽可能性、无穷众生为基数，所孕育超脱修士的数量也不会那么少了。
With his initial transcendent state, crossing the stream was still possible. But surviving in this raging current...
jiān shì zhū shén biàn jì huà yùn zhuàn de 【 hái zhēn 】， zì rán shì hěn kuài jiù yì shí dào le zhè yì diǎn 。
监视诸神变计划运转的【还真】，自然是很快就意识到了这一点。
It was impossible!
bú dào shèng zhě jìng jiè ， nǎ pà shù liàng zài duō ， yě jué duì suàn bù shàng “ biàn shù ”。
不到圣者境界，哪怕数量再多，也绝对算不上“变数”。
He would be swallowed whole the moment he stepped into it.
zài dà bù fèn biàn tǐ hái zhēn cì shù jí jiāng yòng jǐn zhī qián ， tā chū shǒu le 。
在大部分变体还真次数即将用尽之前，祂出手了。
Zhang Fan's body trembled with fear as sweat poured down him.
bìng fēi zhí jiē cì yǔ ， ér shì fàng zài le yí gè qià dào hǎo chù de wèi zhì 。 zhǐ yào biàn tǐ zhí dào zuì hòu yī shì 、 zuì hòu yí kè ， dōu yī jiù méi yǒu fàng qì xún dào chāo tuō 。 nà me shì qíng jiù huì zài jué wàng zhī jì ， fēng huí lù zhuǎn 。
并非直接赐予，而是放在了一个恰到好处的位置。只要变体直到最后一世、最后一刻，都依旧没有放弃寻道超脱。那么事情就会在绝望之际，峰回路转。
Suddenly, Xuan Hong’s voice echoed again: "Brother Zhang, look up and toward the sky."
chāo tuō hòu ，“ hái zhēn ” biàn zài huì shēng jí ， yòu píng zēng yí bèi zhòng zhì jī huì 。
超脱后，“还真”便再会升级，又凭增一倍重置机会。
Xuan Hong's voice seemed to have a special power. Zhang Fan obeyed and looked up.
shǐ de chéng shèng zhī lù bù zhì yú wú wàng 。
使得成圣之路不至于无望。
His body instantly froze as if encased in ice.
zhì yú nà xiē jué jìng zhī xià ， zhǔ dòng fàng qì de biàn tǐ 。
至于那些绝境之下，主动放弃的变体。
The vast, endless sky was dark and deep with the aura of the void!
jīng lì jì yì yī jiù huì fǎn bǔ běn zūn ， bì jìng zhè yě shì lǐ fán de yī bù fèn 。
经历记忆依旧会反哺本尊，毕竟这也是李凡的一部分。
Compared to his world, it was like a drop in the ocean!
dàn què bú huì zài cì tóu fàng zhì shān hǎi lún huí zhī zhōng 。
但却不会再次投放至山海轮回之中。
"This is the Void Realm."
ér shì yóu 【 hái zhēn 】 jiāng qí xiāo huǐ 。
而是由【还真】将其销毁。
"Surviving in the mountains and seas is merely an island in this vast sea." Xuan Hong's voice resounded again, like thunder striking Zhang Fan’s heart.
yǒu zhēn jiǎ dà dào zài ， néng gòu suí shí suí dì shēng chū wú liàng wú shù biàn tǐ ， dào yě bù yòng dān xīn huì xiāo hào dài jìn zhī shì 。
有真假大道在，能够随时随地生出无量无数变体，倒也不用担心会消耗殆尽之事。
Zhang Fan fell to his knees, overwhelmed with fear. He looked away, his mind filled with doubts.
xiāng jiào yú zhè xiē jīng yóu 【 hái zhēn 】 àn zhōng bāng zhù cái chéng gōng chāo tuō de “ shī bài zhě ”。
相较于这些经由【还真】暗中帮助才成功超脱的“失败者”。
He never imagined the void could be so terrifying!
nà xiē píng jiè zì jǐ jiù shùn lì zǒu chū chāo tuō dào tú de biàn tǐ ， gèng jiā zhí de guān zhù 。
那些凭借自己就顺利走出超脱道途的变体，更加值得关注。
The boundless ocean, unfathomable. How could one cross it? How could they cross?
【 hái zhēn 】 xū yǐng ， zhù shì zhe shān hǎi zhōng mǒu chù 。
【还真】虚影，注视着山海中某处。
His ambitions shattered instantly.
“ gōng hè zhāng dào yǒu ， yī bù tà chū ， zì cǐ bù shòu zhì gù ！”
“恭贺张道友，一步踏出，自此不受桎梏！”
Zhang Fan hesitated several times but could not bring himself to speak.
tīng wén ěr pàn chuán lái de shēng yīn ， zhū shén biàn tǐ zhāng fán ， cái cóng zhèng dào chéng gōng de xīn xǐ zhōng píng jìng xià lái 。
听闻耳畔传来的声音，诸神变体张凡，才从证道成功的欣喜中平静下来。
"Enough, don't scare him anymore." The Fisher finally spoke.
tā shén qíng yī sù ， gǒng shǒu dào ：“ hái yào duō xiè xuān yuán dào yǒu chū shǒu xiàng zhù ， fǒu zé ……”
他神情一肃，拱手道：“还要多谢轩辕道友出手相助，否则……”
The dark and vast scene disappeared, the sky cleared once more. The pressure from the void realm vanished as if he had been rescued from drowning.
“ zhè yī bù ， yǐ wǒ zī zhì ， shì jué jì zǒu bù chū de 。”
“这一步，以我资质，是决计走不出的。”
Zhang Fan took deep breaths, greedily inhaling the newfound safety.
zhāng fán shēn páng xiū shì xiào le xiào ：“ yǔ qí xiè wǒ ， bù rú xiè guò chuí diào wēng qián bèi 。”
张凡身旁修士笑了笑：“与其谢我，不如谢过垂钓翁前辈。”
After being in the midst of the void for so long, he nearly lost hope.
ruò shì lǐ fán běn zūn zài cǐ ， dìng huì yī yǎn rèn chū zhè xiū shì shēn fèn 。
若是李凡本尊在此，定会一眼认出这修士身份。
Only after Zhang Fan’s emotions stabilized did Xuan Hong continue: "Brother Zhang, you must know that I didn't scare you on purpose. The perilous state of the mountains and seas has been inevitable since ancient times."
zhèng shì xuán tiān wáng 、 xuān yuán hóng ！
正是玄天王、轩辕宏！
"The mountains and seas will eventually perish."
wú shù tóu fàng shí yàn zhū shén tǐ ， biàn bù shān hǎi gè chù 。 jī yuán qiǎo hé zhī xià ， qí zhōng zhī yī jìng rán yǔ xuán tiān wáng xiāng jiāo mò nì 。
无数投放实验诸神体，遍布山海各处。机缘巧合之下，其中之一竟然与玄天王相交莫逆。
With his previous experience, Zhang Fan was not surprised by this revelation.
zhēn kě wèi shì shì xuán qí ， nán yǐ chuǎi duó 。
真可谓世事玄奇，难以揣度。
He frowned: "Eventually? Inevitably?"
rán ér zhāng fán zì shì bù zhī běn zūn yǔ xuán tiān wáng jiū gé ， zhǐ shì rèn tóng de diǎn le diǎn tóu ：“ ruò fēi chuí diào wēng qián bèi zhì bǎo xiāng zhù ， wǒ kǒng pà jiù lián zhēn xiān zhī jìng dōu nán yǐ tà zú 。”
然而张凡自是不知本尊与玄天王纠葛，只是认同的点了点头：“若非垂钓翁前辈至宝相助，我恐怕就连真仙之境都难以踏足。”
Faced with Xuan Hong's certainty, he instinctively doubted it.
shuō zhe ， zài xiàng yuǎn chù yī dào pán zuò bù dòng shēn yǐng xíng le gōng shēn xíng le yī lǐ 。
说着，再向远处一道盘坐不动身影行了躬身行了一礼。
But Xuan Hong did not explain further. Instead, he continued: "The mountains and seas returning to the void is a set fate; all struggles are in vain."
nǎo hǎi zhōng què shì bù yóu huí yì qǐ zì jǐ xiū xíng lù tú lái 。
脑海中却是不由回忆起自己修行路途来。
"Just as there is birth and death in this world."
yě bù zhī jiū jìng shì xìng yùn hái shì bù xìng 。
也不知究竟是幸运还是不幸。
"If there were no death, what would be the point of life?"
zài tā hái shì xiǎo xiǎo zhù jī qī xiū shì de shí hòu ， zì jǐ shēn xié 【 hái zhēn 】 de mì mì ， jiù bèi xuān yuán hóng gēn chuí diào wēng qián bèi gěi fā xiàn le 。
在他还是小小筑基期修士的时候，自己身携【还真】的秘密，就被轩辕宏跟垂钓翁前辈给发现了。
"The return to the void does not signify an end but perhaps a new beginning."
zhí dào xiàn zài ， zhāng fán hái shí fēn qīng chǔ de jì de ， dāng chū zhòu rán fā xiàn tā men èr rén bìng méi yǒu gēn zhěng gè shì jiè yì qǐ bèi zhòng zhì shí hòu de zhàn lì 、 kǒng jù 。
直到现在，张凡还十分清楚的记得，当初骤然发现他们二人并没有跟整个世界一起被重置时候的颤栗、恐惧。
"Struggling for salvation is merely addingannoyance." Xuan Tianwang sighed.
dāng shí jī hū yǐ wéi ， bào lù yì bǎo de zì jǐ bì sǐ wú yí le 。
当时几乎以为，暴露异宝的自己必死无疑了。
"So, Brother Xuan's meaning is..." Zhang Fan stared at Xuan Hong in confusion.
què méi yǒu xiǎng dào ， wú lùn shì xuān yuán hóng 、 yì huò zhě chuí diào wēng ， dōu méi yǒu lüè duó zì jǐ bǎo wù de xiǎng fǎ 。
却没有想到，无论是轩辕宏、亦或者垂钓翁，都没有掠夺自己宝物的想法。
Xuan Hong replied solemnly: "Rather than stepping out and struggling aimlessly, it would be better to stay here, enjoying freedom. Wait until the next cycle begins."
shèn zhì hái zài cǐ hòu xiū xíng lù tú shàng ， lǚ lǚ chū shǒu xiàng zhù 。
甚至还在此后修行路途上，屡屡出手相助。
"I can tell you this much; apart from Senior Fisher, there are several other sages living here who can support us until the end of the mountains and seas."
fāng cái yǒu le jīn rì zhī zhāng fán 。
方才有了今日之张凡。
Xuan Hong's words seemed reasonable.
yī lù zǒu lái ， sān rén yǐ jīng xiāng jiāo mò nì 、 kě yǐ shuō shì wú huà bù tán 。
一路走来，三人已经相交莫逆、可以说是无话不谈。
But Zhang Fan was on his journey for immortality and freedom. He had not experienced the despair of the cycles firsthand, so he did not extinguish his inner desires.
dāng rán ， zhāng fán shí fēn qīng chǔ de zhī dào ， zì jǐ zhōng jiū gēn tā men èr rén yǒu zhe bù kě yú yuè de shí lì chā jù 。 suǒ yǐ xīn zhōng shǐ zhōng xīn cún xiē xǔ jiè dì 。
当然，张凡十分清楚的知道，自己终究跟他们二人有着不可逾越的实力差距。所以心中始终心存些许芥蒂。
He remained silent without a response.
zhí dào jīn rì ， chéng gōng zhèng dào chāo tuō de zhāng fán ， rèn wéi zì jǐ zhōng yú yǐ jīng jù bèi zī gé shí lì ， yǔ xuān yuán hóng gēn chuí diào wēng zhēn zhèng píng děng xiāng chǔ le 。 fāng cái zhōng yú jiāng nèi xīn yǐ lái ， yì zhí de yí huò wèn chū kǒu 。
直到今日，成功证道超脱的张凡，认为自己终于已经具备资格实力，与轩辕宏跟垂钓翁真正平等相处了。方才终于将内心以来，一直的疑惑问出口。
Seeing this, Xuan Hong said: "Of course, if you are truly resolute and can accept the truth about the void and mountains and seas..."
“ zhēn jiǎ dà dào ， diān fù shān hǎi zhī néng 。 wèi hé xuān yuán xiōng ， jìng néng bù dòng xīn ne ？”
“真假大道，颠覆山海之能。为何轩辕兄，竟能不动心呢？”
"We will not stop you."
xuān yuán hóng sì hū zǎo jiù liào dào zhāng fán yǒu cǐ yī wèn ， xiào le xiào ：“ yī lái ， gǎn tóng shēn shòu 。 wǒ shí fēn qīng chǔ bèi rén jì yú de zī wèi ， suǒ yǐ bú huì fǎn shī yú rén 。 èr zhě ……”
轩辕宏似乎早就料到张凡有此一问，笑了笑：“一来，感同身受。我十分清楚被人觊觎的滋味，所以不会反施于人。二者……”
Xuan Hong’s face showed a strange expression.
Innumerable true and false paths, the power to overturn the mountains and seas. Why is Brother Xuan not moved by it?
Xuan Hong seemed to have anticipated this question from Zhang Fan and smiled: "Firstly, I can empathize with him. I know what it's like to be coveted, so I won't do that to others. Secondly..."
The true and false paths are indeed mysterious and hard to fathom. But the moment I saw Him, I understood that He was beyond my reach. It would only bring me unnecessaryannoyance if I kept thinking about it; better to pretend not to see.
Xuan Hong's words carried a hint of meaning, his smile profound. Zhang Fan could not understand Xuan Hong’s meaning but nodded thoughtfully nonetheless.
As for the Senior Fisher... "He sees nothing but fishing in His eyes. The true and false paths are even less attractive than weak fish."
With those words, the Fisher suddenly reeled in. A frightened figure was caught in his hand.
The Fisher laughed loudly as if he were extremely happy: "A mere stone slab dares to pry into my treasures."
"Hmm?"
Xuan Hong seemed about to release this captured figure but changed his mind after a moment.
"But..."
"Teaching you a few things won't hurt."
With that, the Fisher threw the figure aside and pointed at it in mid-air. "Learn well, learn well."
Zhang Fan could not recall what the frightened figure looked like or where he came from before. Now, he had transformed into a child wearing a fishing hat and holding a fishing rod, standing beside Xuan Hong.
After a brief moment of shock, this child began to fish just as Xuan Hong did.
Before the Fisher, there was no pond. But with each cast, a fishing ground appeared in the vast mountains and seas.
Zhang Fan ignored his flattery, lost in thought over fishing. Initially, he was somewhat concerned, but now it had become routine.
"Beyond the true and false paths lies the boundless world of mountains and seas. It is said that beyond countless possibilities, there are various sages building a paradise."
"It is also said that there are grand dynasties spanning countless possibilities in the mountains and seas. Their ruler is called the Supreme Saint Emperor Taiwei..." Xuan Hong introduced Zhang Fan to the vastness of the mountains and seas.
Despite experiencing multiple cycles of rebirths, he was always confined to a single possibility. Hearing Xuan Hong describe the magnificent scenery, Zhang Fan's heart soared with admiration.
With the true and false paths in his possession, even if the path ahead was treacherous, he believed he could carve out a place for himself and become a saint of the mountains and seas.
Xuan Hong noticed these subtle changes in Zhang Fan’s demeanor. He paused before continuing: "However, regardless of the sages beyond or the Supreme Saint Emperor Taiwei, their situations may not be as you imagine..."
"Alright," Xuan Hong carefully chose his words.
"What is Brother Xuan's meaning?" Li Fan was puzzled.
"You are always under our protection in this world and do not know the dangers of the void. I feared that knowing its true nature would affect your resolve to cultivate, but now that you have transcended... it’s time for you to truly understand the mountains and seas."
Xuan Hong looked at the Fisher.
The Fisher slightly raised his head.
Suddenly, the sky changed dramatically as if a protective layer had been removed. Zhang Fan was plunged into the true mountains and seas.
He realized that the void was not just the babbling stream he had always known; it was a raging flood surrounding the entire mountain!
Wind rushed, water surged, waves crashed. At any moment, they could be submerged by this torrent!
With his initial transcendent state, crossing the stream was still possible. But surviving in this raging current...
It was impossible!
He would be swallowed whole the moment he stepped into it.
Zhang Fan's body trembled with fear as sweat poured down him.
Suddenly, Xuan Hong’s voice echoed again: "Brother Zhang, look up and toward the sky."
Xuan Hong's voice seemed to have a special power. Zhang Fan obeyed and looked up.
His body instantly froze as if encased in ice.
The vast, endless sky was dark and deep with the aura of the void!
Compared to his world, it was like a drop in the ocean!
"This is the Void Realm."
"Surviving in the mountains and seas is merely an island in this vast sea." Xuan Hong's voice resounded again, like thunder striking Zhang Fan’s heart.
Zhang Fan fell to his knees, overwhelmed with fear. He looked away, his mind filled with doubts.
He never imagined the void could be so terrifying!
The boundless ocean, unfathomable. How could one cross it? How could they cross?
His ambitions shattered instantly.
Zhang Fan hesitated several times but could not bring himself to speak.
"Enough, don't scare him anymore." The Fisher finally spoke.
The dark and vast scene disappeared, the sky cleared once more. The pressure from the void realm vanished as if he had been rescued from drowning.
Zhang Fan took deep breaths, greedily inhaling the newfound safety.
After being in the midst of the void for so long, he nearly lost hope.
Only after Zhang Fan’s emotions stabilized did Xuan Hong continue: "Brother Zhang, you must know that I didn't scare you on purpose. The perilous state of the mountains and seas has been inevitable since ancient times."
"The mountains and seas will eventually perish."
With his previous experience, Zhang Fan was not surprised by this revelation.
He frowned: "Eventually? Inevitably?"
Faced with Xuan Hong's certainty, he instinctively doubted it.
But Xuan Hong did not explain further. Instead, he continued: "The mountains and seas returning to the void is a set fate; all struggles are in vain."
"Just as there is birth and death in this world."
"If there were no death, what would be the point of life?"
"The return to the void does not signify an end but perhaps a new beginning."
"Struggling for salvation is merely addingannoyance." Xuan Tianwang sighed.
"So, Brother Xuan's meaning is..." Zhang Fan stared at Xuan Hong in confusion.
Xuan Hong replied solemnly: "Rather than stepping out and struggling aimlessly, it would be better to stay here, enjoying freedom. Wait until the next cycle begins."
"I can tell you this much; apart from Senior Fisher, there are several other sages living here who can support us until the end of the mountains and seas."
Xuan Hong's words seemed reasonable.
But Zhang Fan was on his journey for immortality and freedom. He had not experienced the despair of the cycles firsthand, so he did not extinguish his inner desires.
He remained silent without a response.
Seeing this, Xuan Hong said: "Of course, if you are truly resolute and can accept the truth about the void and mountains and seas..."
"We will not stop you."
Xuan Hong’s face showed a strange expression.