jìn rù zhōng yāng fǎ zhèn de shí sān rén zhōng ， chú le lǐ fán zhī wài ， dōu shì xiē shí jǐ suì de shào nián 。
进入中央法阵的十三人中，除了李凡之外，都是些十几岁的少年。
Among the thirteen people who entered the central mystic array, apart from Li Fan, they were all teenagers in their teens.
tā men dé le fēn fù ， bù gǎn qīng yì shuō huà ， zhǐ shì yòng xīng fèn yòu hào qí de mù guāng dǎ zhe zhe zhōu wéi de yī qiè 。
他们得了吩咐，不敢轻易说话，只是用兴奋又好奇的目光打着着周围的一切。
They had been given instructions and dared not speak easily. Instead, they stared around with excited and curious eyes.
zài zǒu jìn fǎ zhèn de chà nà ， tā men shēn chù de huán jìng yǐ jīng hé liú lí dǎo jié rán bù tóng 。
在走进法阵的刹那，他们身处的环境已经和琉璃岛截然不同。
As soon as they stepped into the mystic array, the environment around them was drastically different from that of Lustrous Isle.
fǎng fú yī shùn jiān yóu nào shì lái dào le shēn shān ， sì zhōu shù mù mào shèng ， lǜ yì àng rán ， niǎo jiào chóng míng bù jué 。
仿佛一瞬间由闹市来到了深山，四周树木茂盛，绿意盎然，鸟叫虫鸣不绝。
It felt like they had instantly moved from a bustling city to deep mountains. The surroundings were lush with trees, greenery, and the constant chirping of birds and insects.
yuǎn chù wàng qù ， qún fēng liáo rào ， shān luán qǐ fú 。
远处望去，群峰缭绕，山峦起伏。
In the distance, towering peaks surrounded them, their forms undulating in the landscape.
yī zhèn wēi fēng chuī guò ， shā shā de shēng yīn bō tāo bān bù duàn huí xiǎng 。
一阵微风吹过，沙沙的声音波涛般不断回响。
A gentle breeze blew past, creating a continuous wave-like sound as it brushed by.
lǐ fán tā men tā men cǐ kè zhèng zhàn zài shān jiǎo xià 。
李凡他们他们此刻正站在山脚下。
Li Fan and his companions stood at the foot of the mountain. Looking up, the peak was shrouded in thick clouds, making it invisible.
tái tóu wàng qù ， shān dǐng yǐn méi yú nóng nóng yún wù zhī zhōng ， bú jiàn zōng yǐng 。
抬头望去，山顶隐没于浓浓云雾之中，不见踪影。
The group climbed up ancient stone steps without stopping for two hours. These young men had strong physiques; they hadn’t even panted after such a long climb. Li Fan, however, who wasn't as young anymore and hadn’t exercised much recently, was drenched in sweat but managed to keep up with the others.
zhòng rén cǎi zhe gǔ piáo de shí tī xiàng shàng pān pá ， yī lián liǎng gè shí chén méi yǒu tíng xiē 。
众人踩着古朴的石梯向上攀爬，一连两个时辰没有停歇。
After another hour, everyone finally reached the summit.
zhè xiē shào nián tǐ zhì jiē shì bù sú ， pá le zhè me jiǔ ， jū rán lián qì dōu dài bù chuǎn yí gè 。
这些少年体质皆是不俗，爬了这么久，居然连气都带不喘一个。
The top of the mountain was just a small patch of open space, and they stood there, feeling crowded.
dǎo shì lǐ fán ， bì jìng nián jì bù xiǎo le ， yě xǔ jiǔ méi yǒu duàn liàn guò ， yǐ jīng shì mǎn tóu dà hán ， zhǐ néng miǎn qiǎng néng gēn shàng bù diào duì 。
倒是李凡，毕竟年纪不小了，也许久没有锻炼过，已经是满头大汗，只能勉强能跟上不掉队。
This peak was the highest point among all the mountains. Looking around, everything was covered by a white cloud sea.
yòu guò le yí gè shí chén ， zhòng rén cái zhōng yú dào le shān dǐng 。
又过了一个时辰，众人才终于到了山顶。
The wind howled, and the clouds swirled, occasionally revealing peaks that looked like islands.
shān dǐng zhǐ bù guò yī piàn xiǎo xiǎo de kòng dì ， zhòng rén fēn sàn zhàn zhe ， yǐ jīng yǒu xiē yōng jǐ 。
山顶只不过一片小小的空地，众人分散站着，已经有些拥挤。
These young men had grown up on vast seas; such scenes were beyond their experience. They stood in awe, staring into space.
cǐ chù shān fēng shì qún shān zuì wèi gāo sǒng chù ， sì zhōu wàng qù ， jìn shì bái máng máng de yī piàn yún hǎi 。
此处山峰是群山最为高耸处，四周望去，尽是白茫茫的一片云海。
For Li Fan, this scenery was just ordinary. He squinted at the sun in the sky.
fēng shēng zhèn zhèn ， yún hǎi fān gǔn ， ǒu ěr lù chū dǎo yǔ bān de shān tóu 。
风声阵阵，云海翻滚，偶尔露出岛屿般的山头。
They had been inside the mystic array for half a day, but the position of the sun hadn’t changed. It seemed to be some kind of illusion.
zhè xiē shào nián quán dōu chū shēng zhǎng dà yú dà hǎi zhī shàng ， rú hé jiàn guò zhè děng zhuàng guān de jǐng xiàng 。
这些少年全都出生长大于大海之上，如何见过这等壮观的景象。
"Is the view good?" A voice suddenly sounded beside them.
cǐ kè quán dōu zhēng zhēng kàn zhe chū le shén 。
此刻全都怔怔看着出了神。
The teenagers were startled and immediately reacted.
ér duì lǐ fán lái shuō ， cǐ jǐng zhǐ bù guò shì xún cháng 。 dǎo shì tā mī zhuó yǎn dīng zhe tiān shàng de tài yáng kàn le kàn 。
而对李凡来说，此景只不过是寻常。倒是他眯着眼盯着天上的太阳看了看。
"Met the Immortal Master!" They bowed in greeting.
tā men jìn rù fǎ zhèn zhōng yǐ jīng dà bàn tiān shí jiān le ， zhè tài yáng de wèi zhì què yì zhí dōu méi biàn guò 。
他们进入法阵中已经大半天时间了，这太阳的位置却一直都没变过。
Li Fan also bowed.
kàn lái yīng gāi shì mǒu zhǒng zhàng yǎn fǎ 。
看来应该是某种障眼法。
The speaker was naturally the Immortal Master who guarded Lustrous Isle, He Xiashi.
“ zhè fēng jǐng rú hé ？” hū rán ， yī dào shēng yīn zài zhòng rén shēn biān xiǎng qǐ 。
“这风景如何？”忽然，一道声音在众人身边响起。
He looked no more than thirty years old, dressed in a light green robe. His kind face and warm smile made him appear very amiable, like an easy-going person.
shào nián men xià le yī tiào ， suí hòu quán dōu lì mǎ fǎn yìng guò lái 。
少年们吓了一跳，随后全都立马反应过来。
Seeing that this Immortal Master wasn't as terrifying as legends suggested, one of the young men bravely replied: "The scenery here is breathtaking; it truly lives up to being a holy place for immortals."
“ jiàn guò xiān shī ！” tā men gōng shēn wèn hòu dào 。
“见过仙师！”他们躬身问候道。
"Never have I seen such a spectacular sight. It stirs my heart."
lǐ fán yě gēn zhe xíng lǐ 。
李凡也跟着行礼。
...
lái zhě zì rán shì zhèn shǒu liú lí dǎo de hé xiān shī 。
来者自然是镇守琉璃岛的何仙师。
He Xiashi smiled and nodded, but his words immediately silenced the young people present.
cǐ rén kàn shàng qù bù guò sān shí suì zuǒ yòu de nián jì ， chuān zhe yī shēn qīng sè yī shān 。
此人看上去不过三十岁左右的年纪，穿着一身青色衣衫。
"When I first arrived at Lustrous Isle, this mountain was far from the highest in the range, hidden deep beneath the cloud sea," He Xiashi said without further ado.
cí méi shàn mù ， xiào róng mǎn miàn ， shèn shì hé ǎi ， yǎn rán yī fù lǎo hǎo rén xíng xiàng 。
慈眉善目，笑容满面，甚是和蔼，俨然一副老好人形象。
The teenagers were speechless for a moment before someone praised: "Immortal Master's power is truly inconceivable. You can actually make mountains grow."
jiàn zhè wèi xiān shī bù xiàng chuán shuō zhōng de nà me xià rén ， zhè qún shào nián zhōng yǒu rén biàn zhuàng zhe dǎn zi huí dá dào ：“ zhè lǐ fēng jǐng jué jiā ， bù kuì shì xiān jiā shèng dì 。”
见这位仙师不像传说中的那么吓人，这群少年中有人便壮着胆子回答道：“这里风景绝佳，不愧是仙家圣地。”
He Xiashi chuckled wryly: "I'm just an ordinary Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator; I don't have that kind of ability."
“ cóng lái méi yǒu jiàn guò rú cǐ qí jǐng ， lìng rén xīn cháo pēng pài 。”
“从来没有见过如此奇景，令人心潮澎湃。”
The young man who had flattered him turned red and lowered his head in shame.
……
……
The others exchanged glances, unsure what the Immortal Master meant by this.
hé xiān shēng xiào mī mī dì diǎn zhe tóu ， shuō chū lái de huà què ràng zài chǎng de nián qīng rén dǒu rán ān jìng le xià lái ：“ wǒ chū lái liú lí dǎo shí ， zhè zuò shān fēng de gāo dù bù guò wèi yú qún shān zhī mò ， yuǎn zài yún hǎi zhī xià 。”
何先生笑眯眯地点着头，说出来的话却让在场的年轻人陡然安静了下来：“我初来琉璃岛时，这座山峰的高度不过位于群山之末，远在云海之下。”
Li Fan, however, looked thoughtfully at the countless peaks in the cloud sea.
shào nián men bèi hé xiān shēng yī xí huà zhèn zhù le ， chén mò le bàn shǎng ， fāng cái yǒu rén kāi kǒu chēng zàn ：“ xiān shī de shén tōng dàng zhēn bù kě sī yì ， jū rán néng bá shān ér zhǎng 。”
少年们被何先生一席话镇住了，沉默了半晌，方才有人开口称赞：“仙师的神通当真不可思议，居然能拔山而长。”
"Did you know that mountains and rivers grow just like people?" He Xiashi said without further ado.
hé xiān shēng yǎ rán shī xiào ：“ wǒ yī xiǎo xiǎo de zhù jī qī xiū shì ， nǎ néng yǒu zhè děng néng nài 。”
何先生哑然失笑：“我一小小的筑基期修士，哪能有这等能耐。”
The teenagers were stunned, their faces full of disbelief.
fāng cái pāi mǎ pì de nà shào nián dùn shí zhàng hóng le liǎn ， xiū kuì de dī xià tou qù 。
方才拍马屁的那少年顿时涨红了脸，羞愧的低下头去。
"This is truly unbelievable..."
qí yú zhòng rén yě dōu shì miàn miàn xiāng qù ， bù zhī dào hé xiān shī zhè fān huà lǐ shì shén me yì si 。
其余众人也都是面面相觑，不知道何仙师这番话里是什么意思。
"Truly... Is it really so? Could these great mountains and rivers be living beings?"
dǎo shì lǐ fán kàn zhe zhè yún hǎi zhōng de wú shù shān fēng ， ruò yǒu suǒ sī 。
倒是李凡看着这云海中的无数山峰，若有所思。
Although the idea of mountains growing was terrifying, they believed what the high-ranking Immortal Master said. Their faces turned pale as they struggled to accept this.
“ nǐ men kě zhī ， shì jiān shān chuān ， yě huì hé rén yì bān ， jiàn jiàn zhǎng gāo ？” hé xiān shī bù zài mài guān zi ， huǎn huǎn shuō dào 。
“你们可知，世间山川，也会和人一般，渐渐长高？”何仙师不再卖关子，缓缓说道。
He Xiashi continued: "Some peaks may seem tall but are actually at their end, unable to grow any further. Some that are just small hills now have immense potential; who knows if they will one day become towering pillars?"
shào nián men tīng wén cǐ yán ， quán dōu shì mù dèng kǒu dāi ， mǎn liǎn de nán yǐ zhì xìn 。
少年们听闻此言，全都是目瞪口呆，满脸的难以置信。
"Like this Lesser Micro Mountain under our feet, it was insignificant in the past. In just a few decades, it has already surpassed all other mountains."
“ zhè zhēn shì tài bù kě sī yì le ……”
“这真是太不可思议了……”
"Of course, most of them remain as mere background, silently looking up at the peaks above the cloud sea."
“ zhēn …… zhēn de rú cǐ ？ nán bù chéng zhè xiē dà shān dà chuān yě dōu shì huó wù bù chéng ？”
“真……真的如此？难不成这些大山大川也都是活物不成？”
"Just like the mountains, what about people?"
suī rán shān chuān yě huì zhǎng gāo yī shì tài guò hài rén ， dàn shuō chū cǐ huà nǎi shì gāo gāo zài shàng de xiān shī ， shào nián men zì rán xuǎn zé xiāng xìn 。
虽然山川也会长高一事太过骇人，但说出此话乃是高高在上的仙师，少年们自然选择相信。
"Today you have the chance to enter the Spirit Pool and cleanse your body of evil miasma. Whether or not you can embark on the path of immortality and even achieve the Way of Eternal Life depends entirely on your own destiny."
zhǐ shì liǎn sè fēn fēn fā bái ， yī shí jiān nán yǐ jiē shòu 。
只是脸色纷纷发白，一时间难以接受。
Seeing the confused and dazed teenagers, He Xiashi sighed.
hé xiān shī suí hòu yòu jiē zhe shuō dào ：“ yǒu xiē shān fēng ， kàn shì gāo sǒng ， shí zé mìng shù yǐ jǐn ， zhōng shēn bù néng zài jìn yí bù 。 yǒu xiē rú jīn zhǐ shì gè xiǎo tǔ pō ， dàn què qián lì wú qióng ， yān zhī ruò gān nián hòu ， bú huì chéng zhǎng wèi chēng tiān yī zhù ？”
何仙师随后又接着说道：“有些山峰，看似高耸，实则命数已尽，终身不能再进一步。有些如今只是个小土坡，但却潜力无穷，焉知若干年后，不会成长为撑天一柱？”
"No matter what happens in the future, today must be given your all. I have said my piece; go now!"
“ zhèng rú jiǎo xià zhè zuò shǎo wēi shān yì bān ， dāng rì sī háo bù qǐ yǎn ， bù guò shù shí nián ， yǐ rán néng yī lǎn zhòng shān xiǎo le 。”
“正如脚下这座少微山一般，当日丝毫不起眼，不过数十年，已然能一览众山小了。”
"Immortal Master, where is this Spirit Pool?" Some teenagers who hadn’t understood the meaning of His words finally asked about entering the Spirit Pool.
“ dāng rán ， gèng duō de zé shì rú zhè yún hǎi xià de wú shù shān fēng yī yàng ， cóng shǐ zhì zhōng zhǐ néng zuò wéi péi chèn ， mò mò yǎng shì zhe yún hǎi zhī shàng de yī zhòng shān fēng 。”
“当然，更多的则是如这云海下的无数山峰一样，从始至终只能作为陪衬，默默仰视着云海之上的一众山峰。”
Always with a youthful spirit, they eagerly asked.
“ shān yóu rú cǐ ， hé kuàng rén hū ？”
“山犹如此，合况人乎？”
"It's right there!" He Xiashi replied calmly.
“ jīn rì nǐ děng yǒu xìng tà rù líng chí ， xǐ qù yī shēn zhàng qì 。 néng bù néng tà shàng xiān tú ， shèn zhì yú yǒu wàng cháng shēng dà dào ， rì hòu yòu huì yǒu hé děng chéng jiù ， zé quán píng gè zì de zào huà le 。”
“今日你等有幸踏入灵池，洗去一身瘴气。能不能踏上仙途，甚至于有望长生大道，日后又会有何等成就，则全凭各自的造化了。”
Everyone looked in the direction he pointed. The place He Xiashi indicated was on the edge of the summit, far beyond the cliff’s edge!
kàn zhe yī liǎn mí máng 、 mí mí hū hū de yī zhòng shào nián ， hé xiān shī tàn le kǒu qì 。
看着一脸迷茫、迷迷糊糊的一众少年，何仙师叹了口气。
"Is Immortal Master joking?" One teenager couldn't help exclaiming in shock.
“ wú lùn rì hòu rú hé ， jīn rì xū quán lì yǐ fù 。 yán jǐn yú cǐ ， ěr děng qù ba ！”
“无论日后如何，今日需全力以赴。言尽于此，尔等去吧！”
He Xiashi’s expression changed as he coldly snorted. Without any visible action, that teenager's head flew up high, and his body crashed to the ground.
“ hé xiān shī ， qǐng wèn zhè jìng tǐ líng chí yòu zài hé chù ne ？” yǒu de shào nián suī rán méi néng míng bái hé xiān shī huà lǐ de yì si ， dàn zuì hòu zhōng yú néng jìn rù jìng tǐ líng chí zǒng guī shì tīng de dǒng de 。
“何仙师，请问这净体灵池又在何处呢？”有的少年虽然没能明白何仙师话里的意思，但最后终于能进入净体灵池总归是听得懂的。
Blood spurted out, splattering everyone around.
shǐ zhōng shì shào nián xīn xìng ， yú shì yuè yuè yù shì dì chū yán wèn dào 。
始终是少年心性，于是跃跃欲试地出言问道。
This sudden scene left all the teenagers stunned.
“ jiù zài nà lǐ ！” hé xiān shī dàn rán dào 。
“就在那里！”何仙师淡然道。
Some were so frightened they wanted to scream but tightly covered their mouths, trembling and pale.
zhòng rén shùn zhe fāng xiàng wàng qù ， hé xiān shī suǒ zhǐ zhī dì ， hè rán shì shān dǐng fāng cùn zhī dì yǐ wài ， wàn zhàng xuán yá zhī chù ！
众人顺着方向望去，何仙师所指之地，赫然是山顶方寸之地以外，万丈悬崖之处！
Others fell to the ground in sheer terror.
“ xiān shī mò bú shì kāi wán xiào ？” yǒu wèi shào nián dùn shí rěn bú zhù jīng jiào qǐ lái 。
“仙师莫不是开玩笑？”有位少年顿时忍不住惊叫起来。
Still others immediately knelt down, bowing to apologize.
hé xiān shī miàn sè yī biàn ， lěng hēng yī shēng ， yě bú jiàn zěn me dòng zuò ， nà wèi shào nián de tóu lú biàn gāo gāo fēi qǐ ， shēn qū zé shì hōng rán dǎo xià 。
何仙师面色一变，冷哼一声，也不见怎么动作，那位少年的头颅便高高飞起，身躯则是轰然倒下。
"Let me give you another lesson. When you step onto the path of cultivation, your horizons are crucial. Know who can be bullied, who cannot be offended, what words can be said, and what should not be said. Don’t wait until it’s too late before realizing I didn't warn you," He Xiashi changed from his easy-going demeanor to a cold look.
xiān xuè pēn sǎ ér chū ， jiàn le sì zhōu rén yī shēn 。
鲜血喷洒而出，溅了四周人一身。
Li Fan watched the scene unfold, seeing the reactions of the various teenagers, knowing that this lesson would leave a deep impression on them.
zhè tū rán de yí mù jīng dāi le yī zhòng shào nián 。
这突然的一幕惊呆了一众少年。
Not just these teenagers, but Li Fan himself also gained insight after listening to Immortal Master's words.
yǒu de rén hài pà de xiǎng yào dà jiào ， dàn què sǐ sǐ de wǔ zhù le zì jǐ de zuǐ bā ， zhǐ shì hún shēn chàn dǒu 、 miàn sè cǎn bái 。
有的人害怕的想要大叫，但却死死的捂住了自己的嘴巴，只是浑身颤抖、面色惨白。
He bowed deeply and sincerely said: "I have learned."
yǒu de zé shì zhí jiē xià dé hún shēn yī ruǎn ， diē dǎo zài dì 。
有的则是直接吓得浑身一软，跌倒在地。
Turning around, he walked to the edge of the mountain.
yǒu de zé shì lì mǎ guì le xià lái ， xiàng hé xiān shī kē tóu xiè zuì 。
有的则是立马跪了下来，向何仙师磕头谢罪。
Before him was a thousand-foot cliff; stepping off it would mean certain death.
“ zài gěi nǐ men shàng yī kè ， tā rì tà shàng xiū xíng lù ， yǎn jiè yě shì jí wéi zhòng yào de 。 shén me rén néng qī rǔ ， shén me rén bù néng dé zuì ， shén me huà néng shuō ， shén me huà bù néng shuō ， dōu yào diān liáng qīng chǔ 。 bié děng dào rì hòu shēn sǐ dào xiāo de shí hòu ， guài wǒ jīn rì mò yǒu tí xǐng nǐ men 。” hé xiān shī yī zhuǎn zhī qián de lǎo hǎo rén xíng xiàng ， lěng mò dì kàn zhe yī zhòng shào nián 。
“再给你们上一课，他日踏上修行路，眼界也是极为重要的。什么人能欺辱，什么人不能得罪，什么话能说，什么话不能说，都要掂量清楚。别等到日后身死道消的时候，怪我今日没有提醒你们。”何仙师一转之前的老好人形象，冷漠地看着一众少年。
But Li Fan didn’t hesitate. With a steady face, he stepped out.
lǐ fán kàn zhe zhè chū hǎo xì ， kàn zhe fǎn yìng gè yì shào nián men ， zhī dào zhè hé xiān shī de zhè yī kè bì rán huì gěi tā men liú xià jí shēn de yìn xiàng 。
李凡看着这出好戏，看着反应各异少年们，知道这何仙师的这一课必然会给他们留下极深的印象。
He didn't fall. The swirling clouds below seemed to sense his presence and gathered beneath him, supporting him securely.
bié shuō zhè xiē shào nián le ， lǐ fán tā tīng le hé xiān shī de zhè yī xí huà ， yě shì ruò yǒu suǒ de 。
别说这些少年了，李凡他听了何仙师的这一席话，也是若有所得。
With another step, he was enveloped by the rolling white mist, flying deep into the cloud sea.
tā cháo zhe hé xiān shī shēn shēn yī jū ， zhēn xīn shí yì dào ：“ shòu jiào le 。”
他朝着何仙师深深一鞠，真心实意道：“受教了。”
Seeing Li Fan’s back, He Xiashi muttered: "Outstanding in character, but too old!"
suí hòu zhuǎn shēn ， zǒu dào le shān biān 。
随后转身，走到了山边。
"Too bad!"
Among the thirteen people who entered the central mystic array, apart from Li Fan, they were all teenagers in their teens.
They had been given instructions and dared not speak easily. Instead, they stared around with excited and curious eyes.
As soon as they stepped into the mystic array, the environment around them was drastically different from that of Lustrous Isle.
It felt like they had instantly moved from a bustling city to deep mountains. The surroundings were lush with trees, greenery, and the constant chirping of birds and insects.
In the distance, towering peaks surrounded them, their forms undulating in the landscape.
A gentle breeze blew past, creating a continuous wave-like sound as it brushed by.
Li Fan and his companions stood at the foot of the mountain. Looking up, the peak was shrouded in thick clouds, making it invisible.
The group climbed up ancient stone steps without stopping for two hours. These young men had strong physiques; they hadn’t even panted after such a long climb. Li Fan, however, who wasn't as young anymore and hadn’t exercised much recently, was drenched in sweat but managed to keep up with the others.
After another hour, everyone finally reached the summit.
The top of the mountain was just a small patch of open space, and they stood there, feeling crowded.
This peak was the highest point among all the mountains. Looking around, everything was covered by a white cloud sea.
The wind howled, and the clouds swirled, occasionally revealing peaks that looked like islands.
These young men had grown up on vast seas; such scenes were beyond their experience. They stood in awe, staring into space.
For Li Fan, this scenery was just ordinary. He squinted at the sun in the sky.
They had been inside the mystic array for half a day, but the position of the sun hadn’t changed. It seemed to be some kind of illusion.
"Is the view good?" A voice suddenly sounded beside them.
The teenagers were startled and immediately reacted.
"Met the Immortal Master!" They bowed in greeting.
Li Fan also bowed.
The speaker was naturally the Immortal Master who guarded Lustrous Isle, He Xiashi.
He looked no more than thirty years old, dressed in a light green robe. His kind face and warm smile made him appear very amiable, like an easy-going person.
Seeing that this Immortal Master wasn't as terrifying as legends suggested, one of the young men bravely replied: "The scenery here is breathtaking; it truly lives up to being a holy place for immortals."
"Never have I seen such a spectacular sight. It stirs my heart."
...
He Xiashi smiled and nodded, but his words immediately silenced the young people present.
"When I first arrived at Lustrous Isle, this mountain was far from the highest in the range, hidden deep beneath the cloud sea," He Xiashi said without further ado.
The teenagers were speechless for a moment before someone praised: "Immortal Master's power is truly inconceivable. You can actually make mountains grow."
He Xiashi chuckled wryly: "I'm just an ordinary Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator; I don't have that kind of ability."
The young man who had flattered him turned red and lowered his head in shame.
The others exchanged glances, unsure what the Immortal Master meant by this.
Li Fan, however, looked thoughtfully at the countless peaks in the cloud sea.
"Did you know that mountains and rivers grow just like people?" He Xiashi said without further ado.
The teenagers were stunned, their faces full of disbelief.
"This is truly unbelievable..."
"Truly... Is it really so? Could these great mountains and rivers be living beings?"
Although the idea of mountains growing was terrifying, they believed what the high-ranking Immortal Master said. Their faces turned pale as they struggled to accept this.
He Xiashi continued: "Some peaks may seem tall but are actually at their end, unable to grow any further. Some that are just small hills now have immense potential; who knows if they will one day become towering pillars?"
"Like this Lesser Micro Mountain under our feet, it was insignificant in the past. In just a few decades, it has already surpassed all other mountains."
"Of course, most of them remain as mere background, silently looking up at the peaks above the cloud sea."
"Just like the mountains, what about people?"
"Today you have the chance to enter the Spirit Pool and cleanse your body of evil miasma. Whether or not you can embark on the path of immortality and even achieve the Way of Eternal Life depends entirely on your own destiny."
Seeing the confused and dazed teenagers, He Xiashi sighed.
"No matter what happens in the future, today must be given your all. I have said my piece; go now!"
"Immortal Master, where is this Spirit Pool?" Some teenagers who hadn’t understood the meaning of His words finally asked about entering the Spirit Pool.
Always with a youthful spirit, they eagerly asked.
"It's right there!" He Xiashi replied calmly.
Everyone looked in the direction he pointed. The place He Xiashi indicated was on the edge of the summit, far beyond the cliff’s edge!
"Is Immortal Master joking?" One teenager couldn't help exclaiming in shock.
He Xiashi’s expression changed as he coldly snorted. Without any visible action, that teenager's head flew up high, and his body crashed to the ground.
Blood spurted out, splattering everyone around.
This sudden scene left all the teenagers stunned.
Some were so frightened they wanted to scream but tightly covered their mouths, trembling and pale.
Others fell to the ground in sheer terror.
Still others immediately knelt down, bowing to apologize.
"Let me give you another lesson. When you step onto the path of cultivation, your horizons are crucial. Know who can be bullied, who cannot be offended, what words can be said, and what should not be said. Don’t wait until it’s too late before realizing I didn't warn you," He Xiashi changed from his easy-going demeanor to a cold look.
Li Fan watched the scene unfold, seeing the reactions of the various teenagers, knowing that this lesson would leave a deep impression on them.
Not just these teenagers, but Li Fan himself also gained insight after listening to Immortal Master's words.
He bowed deeply and sincerely said: "I have learned."
Turning around, he walked to the edge of the mountain.
Before him was a thousand-foot cliff; stepping off it would mean certain death.
But Li Fan didn’t hesitate. With a steady face, he stepped out.
He didn't fall. The swirling clouds below seemed to sense his presence and gathered beneath him, supporting him securely.
With another step, he was enveloped by the rolling white mist, flying deep into the cloud sea.
Seeing Li Fan’s back, He Xiashi muttered: "Outstanding in character, but too old!"
"Too bad!"