qiān lǐ táng nèi yī shí jiān xiàn rù le guǐ yì de ān jìng zhī zhōng ， jiāo xiū yuǎn yòng nán yǐ zhì xìn de yǎn shén kàn zhe lǐ fán ， liǎn shàng mǎn shì cuò è 。
千里堂内一时间陷入了诡异的安静之中，焦修远用难以置信的眼神看着李凡，脸上满是错愕。
In the Thousand Mile Hall, a strange silence settled. Jiao Xiuyuan stared at Li Fan with disbelief, his face showing shock.
“ bié yòng zhè zhǒng biǎo qíng kàn wǒ ma ， yuán běn wǒ shì xiǎng fù qián de ， kě wǒ wú lùn zěn me hǎn nǐ ， nǐ dōu méi fǎn yìng a 。”
“别用这种表情看我嘛，原本我是想付钱的，可我无论怎么喊你，你都没反应啊。”
"Stop looking at me like that. I was actually planning to pay for it, but no matter how much I called you, you didn't respond."
lǐ fán sǒng le sǒng jiān ：“ ér děng nǐ xǐng guò lái ， wǒ hái méi lái de jí shuō shá ， nǐ zì jǐ jiù xiān zhà le 。 zhè néng guài wǒ ma ？”
李凡耸了耸肩：“而等你醒过来，我还没来得及说啥，你自己就先炸了。这能怪我嘛？”
Li Fan shrugged. "And when you woke up, I hadn’t even had a chance to say anything before you exploded on your own. Can you blame me?"
jiāo xiū yuǎn kàn zhe lǐ fán mǎn shì wú gū de shén qíng ， liǎn chōu le chōu 。
焦修远看着李凡满是无辜的神情，脸抽了抽。
Jiao Xiuyuan’s face twitched as he looked at Li Fan's innocent expression.
xiǎng le xiǎng ， duì fāng yě bù xiàng shì nà zhǒng bù wèn ér qǔ de rén ， zhǐ dé gù zuò dà fāng dì shuō dào ：“ suàn le ， zhǐ bù guò yī jù kuǐ lěi bà le ， zhà biàn zhà le ！ wǒ de kuǐ lěi ， hái yǒu hěn duō ！”
想了想，对方也不像是那种不问而取的人，只得故作大方地说道：“算了，只不过一具傀儡罢了，炸便炸了！我的傀儡，还有很多！”
After some thought, realizing that Jiao wasn’t the type who would take something without permission, he said with a forced generosity: "Forget it, just one puppet. It exploded! I have many more!"
“ jiāo dào yǒu dà qì ！” lǐ fán gǔ zhǎng ér zàn dào 。
“焦道友大气！”李凡鼓掌而赞道。
"Friend Jiao is generous!" Li Fan clapped and praised him.
“ wǒ jì de nà fù huà shàng miáo huì de ， yīng gāi shì shàng gǔ zhī shí tiān jiàn zōng de chǎng jǐng 。 lǐ dào yǒu mò bú shì dǔ wù sī qíng ， huí xiǎng qǐ dāng nián wǎng shì le ？” jiù zài zhè shí ， jiāo xiū yuǎn hū de dǎ liàng le yǎn lǐ fán ， mò míng wèn dào 。
“我记得那副画上描绘的，应该是上古之时天剑宗的场景。李道友莫不是睹物思情，回想起当年往事了？”就在这时，焦修远忽的打量了眼李凡，莫名问道。
"Didn't you remember? The painting should depict scenes from the ancient Heaven Sword Sect," Jiao Xiuyuan suddenly asked as he sized up Li Fan.
lǐ fán kàn zhe jiāo xiū yuǎn ， nǎo hǎi zhōng sī niàn jí zhuǎn 。
李凡看着焦修远，脑海中思念急转。
Li Fan looked at Jiao Xiuyuan, his mind racing with memories.
piàn kè zhī hòu ， lǐ fán yáo le yáo tóu ， yǔ qì yí huò ：“ tiān jiàn zōng ？ dào yǒu kěn dìng shì gǎo cuò le 。 suī rán wǒ zài shù qiān nián de chén shuì zhōng ， sàng shī le bù fèn jì yì 。 bù guò tiān jiàn zōng shān mén qián nà liǎng zūn 【 zhǐ bù 】、【 zhǐ gē 】 de shí bēi ， wǒ hái shì yǒu diǎn yìn xiàng de 。 zhè huà zhōng zōng mén ， kàn shàng qù bù tài xiàng a ！”
片刻之后，李凡摇了摇头，语气疑惑：“天剑宗？道友肯定是搞错了。虽然我在数千年的沉睡中，丧失了部分记忆。不过天剑宗山门前那两尊【止步】、【止戈】的石碑，我还是有点印象的。这画中宗门，看上去不太像啊！”
After a moment, he shook his head. "No, it can’t be the Heaven Sword Sect. You must have made a mistake. Although I lost some of my memory during millennia of slumber, I still remember those two stone steles, [Stopstep] and [Cease Warfare], in front of the sect’s entrance. This sect doesn't look like that at all!"
jiāo xiū yuǎn yī pāi nǎo dài ：“ hē hē ， qiáo wǒ zhè jì xìng ， kě néng shì gāng gāng sǔn shī le yī jù kuǐ lěi ， dǎo zhì jì yì chū xiàn wěn luàn le 。”
焦修远一拍脑袋：“呵呵，瞧我这记性，可能是刚刚损失了一具傀儡，导致记忆出现紊乱了。”
Jiao Xiuyuan rubbed his head. "Haha, it must be because I just lost a puppet, causing my memory to go haywire."
“ tài shàng zōng ， yīng gāi shì tài shàng zōng ！” jiāo xiū yuǎn zài dù shuō dào 。
“太上宗，应该是太上宗！”焦修远再度说道。
"Probably the Supreme Sect!" Jiao Xiuyuan said again.
“ tài shàng zōng ……” lǐ fán wēi mī shuāng yǎn ， sì hū zài huí yì zhe xiē shén me 。
“太上宗……”李凡微眯双眼，似乎在回忆着些什么。
"The Supreme Sect…" Li Fan narrowed his eyes slightly as if recalling something.
guò le huì ， tā huǎn huǎn yáo tóu ：“ bú duì ， dāng nián wǒ céng bài fǎng guò tài shàng zōng 。 zōng nèi sān shí sān zuò xuán fú shān fēng ， yě hé huà zhōng jǐng sè duì yìng bù shàng 。”
过了会，他缓缓摇头：“不对，当年我曾拜访过太上宗。宗内三十三座悬浮山峰，也和画中景色对应不上。”
After a while, he shook his head slowly. "No, I visited the Supreme Sect in the past. The thirty-three floating peaks inside don’t match this painting’s scenery."
lǐ fán yǒu xiē hú yí de kàn zhe jiāo xiū yuǎn ：“ jiāo dào yǒu ， nǐ ……”
李凡有些狐疑的看着焦修远：“焦道友，你……”
Li Fan looked at Jiao Xiuyuan suspiciously. "Friend Jiao, you…?"
jiāo xiū yuǎn gān xiào le jǐ shēng ， lián máng shuō dào ：“ yòu jì cuò le ！ é ， wǒ xiǎng xiǎng ……”
焦修远干笑了几声，连忙说道：“又记错了！额，我想想……”
Jiao Xiuyuan chuckled nervously and quickly said, "I must have gotten it wrong again! Let me think…"
“ yīng gāi shì dù è zōng ！ zhè xià jué duì cuò bù liǎo le ！” tā xìn shì dàn dàn dì dào 。
“应该是渡厄宗！这下绝对错不了了！”他信誓旦旦地道。
"It should be the Ferrying Disaster Sect!" he confidently declared.
“ dù è zōng ？” lǐ fán xīn zhōng yī dòng 。
“渡厄宗？”李凡心中一动。
"Ferrying Disaster Sect?" Li Fan’s mind stirred.
jiāo xiū yuǎn de liǎng cì yǒu yì shì tàn jiē shì luò kōng ， zhè huí shuō chū de dù è zōng ， yīng dāng bú shì jiǎ de le 。
焦修远的两次有意试探皆是落空，这回说出的渡厄宗，应当不是假的了。
The two deliberate probes by Jiao had failed. This time, saying Ferrying Disaster Sect was probably true.
shàng yī shì zài wǔ xíng dà dòng tiān wài ， dāng wǔ xíng guī yī shí ， lǐ fán céng jīng kàn jiàn le yī duì dù è zōng shī tú de shí guāng shèn jìng 。
上一世在五行大洞天外，当五行归一时，李凡曾经看见了一对渡厄宗师徒的时光蜃境。
In his previous life, outside the Five Elements Great Cavern when all five elements returned to their original state, Li Fan once saw a pair of Ferrying Disaster sect members in a Time Mirage Realm.
ér qiě dāng shí ， zài dù chén zhōu shàng de yī zhòng xiū shì zhōng ， wéi yǒu zì jǐ néng gòu kàn dào 。
而且当时，在渡尘舟上的一众修士中，唯有自己能够看到。
And at that time, among all the cultivators on the Ferrying Dust Boat, only he could see them.
yuán běn lǐ fán yǐ wéi ， zhǐ shì zì jǐ shén hún qiáng rèn ， yì yú cháng rén de yuán gù 。
原本李凡以为，只是自己神魂强韧，异于常人的原故。
Originally, Li Fan thought it was just because his soul was exceptionally strong.
kě ruò shì dāng chū tā zài xū yuān xià jiàn dào de jǐng xiàng yě lái zì dù è zōng de huà ……
可若是当初他在墟渊下见到的景象也来自渡厄宗的话……
But if what he had seen in the Vast Abyss came from the Ferrying Disaster Sect…
lǐ fán yòu xiǎng qǐ ， dāng chū zài xū yuān páng biān ， zì jǐ tiào wàng yuān dǐ de shí hòu ， céng jīng yǒu guò nà me yī shùn jiān ， bèi xū yuān de lì liàng gǔ huò 。
李凡又想起，当初在墟渊旁边，自己眺望渊底的时候，曾经有过那么一瞬间，被墟渊的力量蛊惑。
Li Fan recalled a moment when he gazed into the abyss near the Vast Abyss. He had been momentarily swayed by its power and almost lost his sanity, nearly rushing to explore the Vast Abyss before the [Truly Real] technique was fully charged.
xiǎn xiē sàng shī lǐ zhì ， zuò chū zài 【 hái zhēn 】 shàng wèi wán chéng chōng néng jiù yào yī tàn xū yuān de zuò sǐ xíng wéi 。
险些丧失理智，做出在【还真】尚未完成充能就要一探墟渊的作死行为。
Just then, a sudden light appeared from the bottom of the Vast Abyss.
ér jiù zài nà wēi jī shí kè ， xū yuān dǐ bù hū de guāng máng dà fàng 。
而就在那危机时刻，墟渊底部忽的光芒大放。
The words "Immortal Dao Perished" flashed into view, restoring his senses.
【 xiān dào wáng yǐ 】 sì zì yìng rù yǎn lián ， shǐ tā huī fù zhèng cháng 。
【仙道亡矣】四字映入眼帘，使他恢复正常。
It had saved him.
kě yǐ shuō jiù le tā le yī mìng 。
可以说救了他了一命。
"It seems I have an intricate connection with the Ferrying Disaster Sect. Strange…"
“ kàn lái ， zhè dù è zōng ， jìng rán yǔ wǒ yǒu zhe qiān sī wàn lǚ de lián xì 。 qí guài ……”
“看来，这渡厄宗，竟然与我有着千丝万缕的联系。奇怪……”
Thinking hard and recalling past experiences, Li Fan couldn’t find any reason for this connection.
xiǎng le bàn tiān ， huí sù yǐ wǎng jīng lì ， lǐ fán dōu méi néng zhǎo dào lián xì chǎn shēng de yuán yīn 。
想了半天，回溯以往经历，李凡都没能找到联系产生的原因。
"The Ferrying Disaster Sect. Heard of it but never been there. How much do you know about this sect, Friend Jiao?" Li Fan asked Jiao Xiuyuan.
“ dù è zōng 。 zhǐ wén qí míng ， dàn hǎo xiàng wǒ bù céng qù guò 。 jiāo dào yǒu nǐ duì zhè dù è zōng zhī dào duō shǎo ？” lǐ fán zhuǎn ér wèn qǐ le jiāo xiū yuǎn 。
“渡厄宗。只闻其名，但好像我不曾去过。焦道友你对这渡厄宗知道多少？”李凡转而问起了焦修远。
"I wonder why I feel so familiar with the scenery inside the Ferrying Disaster Sect," Li Fan said, showing confusion on his face.
“ bù zhī wèi hé ， wǒ jìng rán huì duì zhè dù è zōng nèi jǐng sè gǎn dào shú xī 。 mò bú shì wǒ de jì yì yě fā shēng cuò luàn le ？” lǐ fán liǎn shàng lù chū yí huò de shén qíng 。
“不知为何，我竟然会对这渡厄宗内景色感到熟悉。莫不是我的记忆也发生错乱了？”李凡脸上露出疑惑的神情。
Ignoring Li Fan’s playful tone, Jiao Xiuyuan said in surprise, "Is it really true? That's quite something!"
jiāo xiū yuǎn wú shì lǐ fán huà lǐ de xì xuè ， yǒu xiē jīng yà de shuō dào ：“ guǒ zhēn rú cǐ ？ nà kě shì zhēn shì liǎo bù dé a ！”
焦修远无视李凡话里的戏谑，有些惊讶的说道：“果真如此？那可是真是了不得啊！”
"Oh? How so?" Li Fan asked quickly.
“ ó ？ cǐ huà zěn jiǎng ？” lǐ fán lián máng wèn dào 。
“哦？此话怎讲？”李凡连忙问道。
"You might be the [One Who Bears the Tribulation] of the Ferrying Disaster Sect who left this painting!" Jiao Xiuyuan said seriously, his gaze deepening as he looked at Li Fan.
“ dào yǒu hěn kě néng ， shì dāng chū liú xià zhè fú huà de dù è zōng xiū shì de 【 yīng jié zhī rén 】！” jiāo xiū yuǎn shén sè zhèng zhòng de shuō dào ， kàn xiàng lǐ fán de mù guāng biàn dé shēn suì qǐ lái 。
“道友很可能，是当初留下这幅画的渡厄宗修士的【应劫之人】！”焦修远神色郑重的说道，看向李凡的目光变得深邃起来。
"One Who Bears the Tribulation?" Li Fan repeated the phrase. "What does that mean?"
“ yīng jié zhī rén ？” lǐ fán zuǐ lǐ chóng fù niàn le jǐ biàn zhè ge cí yǔ ，“ zhè shì hé jiě ？”
“应劫之人？”李凡嘴里重复念了几遍这个词语，“这是何解？”
"The sect is named after its purpose. Ferrying Disaster Sect cultivators use [Ferrying Disaster] as their cultivation resources. Their technique, [Eternal Calamity Eternal World], draws strength from various calamities. Each time they successfully navigate a disaster, their power leaps to new heights."
“ zōng rú qí míng 。 dù è zōng xiū shì ， yǐ 【 dù è 】 wèi xiū xíng zī liáng 。 tā men de gōng fǎ 【 yǒng jié héng shì 】， zhèng shì yào cóng zhǒng zhǒng zāi è zhōng jí qǔ lì liàng 。 měi dù guò yī cháng zāi è ， tā men de shí lì jiù huì dé dào zhì dì fēi yuè 。”
“宗如其名。渡厄宗修士，以【渡厄】为修行资粮。他们的功法【永劫恒世】，正是要从种种灾厄中汲取力量。每渡过一场灾厄，他们的实力就会得到质的飞跃。”
"The stronger the calamity, the more feedback they receive after overcoming it."
“ zāi è yuè qiáng ， chéng gōng dù guò hòu dé dào de fǎn kuì zhī lì yě jiù yuè duō 。”
“灾厄越强，成功渡过后得到的反馈之力也就越多。”
"But conversely, each subsequent promotion requires them to face even greater disasters."
“ dàn fǎn guò lái ， xià yī cì jìn shēng ， yě jiù xū yào yǐ gèng jiā wēi xiǎn de zāi è de wèi mù biāo 。”
“但反过来，下一次晋升，也就需要以更加危险的灾厄的为目标。”
"Since there are countless calamities in this world, even heaven and earth might be destroyed by fate. How can Ferrying Disaster Sect cultivators have full confidence that they will survive every disaster?"
“ kě shì jiān zāi è ， shǔ bù shèng shǔ 。 nǎ pà shì tiān dì ， dōu yǒu kě néng zài jié nàn zhōng pò miè 。 dù è zōng xiū shì nǎ yǒu yòu yǒu wàn quán de bǎ wò néng gòu dù guò ne ？”
“可世间灾厄，数不胜数。哪怕是天地，都有可能在劫难中破灭。渡厄宗修士哪有又有万全的把握能够渡过呢？”
"When they realize their survival is uncertain for the next calamity, they use secret techniques to temporarily hide from the world."
“ dāng chá jué dào zì shēn kě néng wú fǎ zài xià cì zāi è zhōng cún huó zhī hòu ， tā men jiù huì shǐ yòng mì fǎ 、 zàn qiě yǐn yú tiān dì zhī zhōng 。”
“当察觉到自身可能无法在下次灾厄中存活之后，他们就会使用秘法、暂且隐于天地之中。”
"They leave behind various means to wait and sense who could solve this calamity."
“ tóng shí liú xià zhǒng zhǒng shǒu duàn ， děng dài 、 gǎn yìng néng gòu jiě jué zhè chǎng zāi è de rén chū xiàn 。”
“同时留下种种手段，等待、感应能够解决这场灾厄的人出现。”
"Such a person is called the [One Who Bears the Tribulation]!
“ zhè zhǒng rén ， yě jiù shì suǒ wèi de 【 yīng jié zhī rén 】！
“这种人，也就是所谓的【应劫之人】！
Jiao Xiuyuan slowly explained.
jiāo xiū yuǎn huǎn huǎn wèi lǐ fán jiě shì dào 。
焦修远缓缓为李凡解释道。
Li Fan frowned deeply. "There’s such a technique? So I’m being watched by some Ferrying Disaster Sect cultivator? Do you have any way to deal with it, Friend Jiao?"
lǐ fán wén yán ， shēn shēn zhòu qǐ le méi tóu ：“ hái yǒu rú cǐ gōng fǎ ？ zhè me shuō qǐ lái ， wǒ qǐ bù shì bèi mǒu gè dù è zōng de xiū shì dīng shàng le ？ jiāo dào yǒu kě yǒu pò jiě zhī fǎ ？”
李凡闻言，深深皱起了眉头：“还有如此功法？这么说起来，我岂不是被某个渡厄宗的修士盯上了？焦道友可有破解之法？”
Jiao Xiuyuan waved his hand. "Don’t be so tense! After thousands of years, who knows if the Ferrying Disaster Sect cultivator who left this painting is still around?"
jiāo xiū yuǎn bǎi le bǎi shǒu ：“ bié nà me jǐn zhāng ma ！ shù qiān nián guò qù ， shuí zhī dào dāng chū liú xià zhè fù huà zuò de dù è zōng xiū shì hái zài bù zài ？”
焦修远摆了摆手：“别那么紧张嘛！数千年过去，谁知道当初留下这副化作的渡厄宗修士还在不在？”
"Even if he is, there’s no need for concern. He needs you to help him navigate disasters. Before he successfully overcomes a calamity, he won't harm you."
“ kuàng qiě jiù suàn tā zài ， dào yǒu yě wú xū dān xīn shén me 。 duì fāng xiǎng yào dù è ， hái yào wán quán yǎng zhàng nǐ ne 。 zài dù guò zāi è zhī qián ， tā kě shì jué duì bú huì duì nǐ bù lì de 。”
“况且就算他在，道友也无需担心什么。对方想要渡厄，还要完全仰仗你呢。在渡过灾厄之前，他可是绝对不会对你不利的。”
"But if you help him overcome it, he owes you a huge favor. At that time, he must repay this debt. This has always been the rule of Ferrying Disaster Sect. Otherwise, who would play such games?"
“ ér ruò shì dào yǒu bāng tā dù guò zāi è ， nà duì fāng kě shì qiàn le nǐ gè dà dà de rén qíng 。 dào shí hòu ， zhè ge ēn tā yě shì bì xū yào hái de 。 zhè yě shì dù è zōng yì zhí liú chuán xià de guī jǔ 。 fǒu zé ， shuí hái huì gēn tā men wán zhè zhǒng bǎ xì 。”
“而若是道友帮他渡过灾厄，那对方可是欠了你个大大的人情。到时候，这个恩他也是必须要还的。这也是渡厄宗一直流传下的规矩。否则，谁还会跟他们玩这种把戏。”
"Moreover, think about it. You can solve a calamity others cannot. He will be in your power then. Without causing him trouble, he should be praying for good fortune. How dare he oppose you."
“ zài zhě ， nǐ xiǎng xiǎng 。 duì fāng dōu bù néng dù guò de zāi è ， nǐ què néng pò jiě 。 pà bú shì dào shí hòu ， nǐ de shí lì jiù zài duì fāng zhī shàng le 。 bù qù zhǎo duì fāng de má fán ， tā jiù gāi shāo gāo xiāng le 。 nǎ lǐ hái gǎn gēn nǐ guò bù qù 。”
“再者，你想想。对方都不能渡过的灾厄，你却能破解。怕不是到时候，你的实力就在对方之上了。不去找对方的麻烦，他就该烧高香了。哪里还敢跟你过不去。”
Jiao Xiuyuan looked at Li Fan with renewed interest.
duì yú lǐ fán de dān yōu ， jiāo xiū yuǎn bù yǐ wéi rán ， fǎn dào shì chóng xīn ráo yǒu xìng qù de dǎ liàng zhe lǐ fán qǐ lái 。
对于李凡的担忧，焦修远不以为然，反倒是重新饶有兴趣的打量着李凡起来。
"Fellow Jiao, being recognized as the [One Who Bears the Tribulation] by Ferrying Disaster Sect means your future is truly limitless!"
“ lǐ fán dào yǒu ， néng bèi dù è zōng xiū shì gǎn yìng zuò 【 yīng jié zhī rén 】， nǐ zhī wèi lái ， dàng zhēn bù kě xiàn liàng a ！”
“李凡道友，能被渡厄宗修士感应作【应劫之人】，你之未来，当真不可限量啊！”
After hearing this from Jiao Xiuyuan, Li Fan felt a bit more at ease but still harbored a lingering concern.
jīng guò jiāo xiū yuǎn zhè yī xí huà ， lǐ fán xīn zhōng shāo ān 。
经过焦修远这一席话，李凡心中稍安。
Given his previous help in the Vast Abyss, the Ferrying Disaster Sect cultivator must still be alive.
bù guò què zhōng shì zài xīn zhōng zhǎng le gēn cì 。
不过却终是在心中长了根刺。
Even if they couldn’t constantly monitor him, prolonged surveillance could reveal something.
cóng zhī qián duì fāng zài xū yuān de xiāng zhù lái kàn ， zhè dù è zōng xiū shì dìng rán hái cún huó yú shì 。
从之前对方在墟渊的相助来看，这渡厄宗修士定然还存活于世。
"I need to find an opportunity to resolve this隐患," Li Fan thought to himself.
suī rán bù zhì yú shí kè néng jiān shì dào lǐ fán de yī jǔ yī dòng ， dàn zhǎng shí jiān de kuī tàn zhī xià ， yě shuō bù zhǔn huì fā jué xiē shén me 。
虽然不至于时刻能监视到李凡的一举一动，但长时间的窥探之下，也说不准会发觉些什么。
"Fellow Jiao is truly knowledgeable. You know about ancient sects’ secrets like it’s the back of your hand! Impressive!"
“ kàn lái yào zhǎo gè jī huì ， jiě jué zhè ge yǐn yōu 。” lǐ fán xīn zhōng àn dào 。
“看来要找个机会，解决这个隐忧。”李凡心中暗道。
"By the way, how many contribution points does this painting cost? I can’t let you make a loss on this deal!"
“ dào yǒu zhēn shì xué shí yuān bó ， lián shàng gǔ zhè xiē zōng mén yǐn mì ， dōu shì liǎo ruò zhǐ zhǎng 。 pèi fú ！ pèi fú ！”
“道友真是学识渊博，连上古这些宗门隐秘，都是了若指掌。佩服！佩服！”
While thinking, Li Fan acted normally and said to Jiao Xiuyuan.
In the Thousand Mile Hall, a strange silence settled. Jiao Xiuyuan stared at Li Fan with disbelief, his face showing shock.
"Stop looking at me like that. I was actually planning to pay for it, but no matter how much I called you, you didn't respond."
Li Fan shrugged. "And when you woke up, I hadn’t even had a chance to say anything before you exploded on your own. Can you blame me?"
Jiao Xiuyuan’s face twitched as he looked at Li Fan's innocent expression.
After some thought, realizing that Jiao wasn’t the type who would take something without permission, he said with a forced generosity: "Forget it, just one puppet. It exploded! I have many more!"
"Friend Jiao is generous!" Li Fan clapped and praised him.
"Didn't you remember? The painting should depict scenes from the ancient Heaven Sword Sect," Jiao Xiuyuan suddenly asked as he sized up Li Fan.
Li Fan looked at Jiao Xiuyuan, his mind racing with memories.
After a moment, he shook his head. "No, it can’t be the Heaven Sword Sect. You must have made a mistake. Although I lost some of my memory during millennia of slumber, I still remember those two stone steles, [Stopstep] and [Cease Warfare], in front of the sect’s entrance. This sect doesn't look like that at all!"
Jiao Xiuyuan rubbed his head. "Haha, it must be because I just lost a puppet, causing my memory to go haywire."
"Probably the Supreme Sect!" Jiao Xiuyuan said again.
"The Supreme Sect…" Li Fan narrowed his eyes slightly as if recalling something.
After a while, he shook his head slowly. "No, I visited the Supreme Sect in the past. The thirty-three floating peaks inside don’t match this painting’s scenery."
Li Fan looked at Jiao Xiuyuan suspiciously. "Friend Jiao, you…?"
Jiao Xiuyuan chuckled nervously and quickly said, "I must have gotten it wrong again! Let me think…"
"It should be the Ferrying Disaster Sect!" he confidently declared.
"Ferrying Disaster Sect?" Li Fan’s mind stirred.
The two deliberate probes by Jiao had failed. This time, saying Ferrying Disaster Sect was probably true.
In his previous life, outside the Five Elements Great Cavern when all five elements returned to their original state, Li Fan once saw a pair of Ferrying Disaster sect members in a Time Mirage Realm.
And at that time, among all the cultivators on the Ferrying Dust Boat, only he could see them.
Originally, Li Fan thought it was just because his soul was exceptionally strong.
But if what he had seen in the Vast Abyss came from the Ferrying Disaster Sect…
Li Fan recalled a moment when he gazed into the abyss near the Vast Abyss. He had been momentarily swayed by its power and almost lost his sanity, nearly rushing to explore the Vast Abyss before the [Truly Real] technique was fully charged.
Just then, a sudden light appeared from the bottom of the Vast Abyss.
The words "Immortal Dao Perished" flashed into view, restoring his senses.
It had saved him.
"It seems I have an intricate connection with the Ferrying Disaster Sect. Strange…"
Thinking hard and recalling past experiences, Li Fan couldn’t find any reason for this connection.
"The Ferrying Disaster Sect. Heard of it but never been there. How much do you know about this sect, Friend Jiao?" Li Fan asked Jiao Xiuyuan.
"I wonder why I feel so familiar with the scenery inside the Ferrying Disaster Sect," Li Fan said, showing confusion on his face.
Ignoring Li Fan’s playful tone, Jiao Xiuyuan said in surprise, "Is it really true? That's quite something!"
"Oh? How so?" Li Fan asked quickly.
"You might be the [One Who Bears the Tribulation] of the Ferrying Disaster Sect who left this painting!" Jiao Xiuyuan said seriously, his gaze deepening as he looked at Li Fan.
"One Who Bears the Tribulation?" Li Fan repeated the phrase. "What does that mean?"
"The sect is named after its purpose. Ferrying Disaster Sect cultivators use [Ferrying Disaster] as their cultivation resources. Their technique, [Eternal Calamity Eternal World], draws strength from various calamities. Each time they successfully navigate a disaster, their power leaps to new heights."
"The stronger the calamity, the more feedback they receive after overcoming it."
"But conversely, each subsequent promotion requires them to face even greater disasters."
"Since there are countless calamities in this world, even heaven and earth might be destroyed by fate. How can Ferrying Disaster Sect cultivators have full confidence that they will survive every disaster?"
"When they realize their survival is uncertain for the next calamity, they use secret techniques to temporarily hide from the world."
"They leave behind various means to wait and sense who could solve this calamity."
"Such a person is called the [One Who Bears the Tribulation]!
Jiao Xiuyuan slowly explained.
Li Fan frowned deeply. "There’s such a technique? So I’m being watched by some Ferrying Disaster Sect cultivator? Do you have any way to deal with it, Friend Jiao?"
Jiao Xiuyuan waved his hand. "Don’t be so tense! After thousands of years, who knows if the Ferrying Disaster Sect cultivator who left this painting is still around?"
"Even if he is, there’s no need for concern. He needs you to help him navigate disasters. Before he successfully overcomes a calamity, he won't harm you."
"But if you help him overcome it, he owes you a huge favor. At that time, he must repay this debt. This has always been the rule of Ferrying Disaster Sect. Otherwise, who would play such games?"
"Moreover, think about it. You can solve a calamity others cannot. He will be in your power then. Without causing him trouble, he should be praying for good fortune. How dare he oppose you."
Jiao Xiuyuan looked at Li Fan with renewed interest.
"Fellow Jiao, being recognized as the [One Who Bears the Tribulation] by Ferrying Disaster Sect means your future is truly limitless!"
After hearing this from Jiao Xiuyuan, Li Fan felt a bit more at ease but still harbored a lingering concern.
Given his previous help in the Vast Abyss, the Ferrying Disaster Sect cultivator must still be alive.
Even if they couldn’t constantly monitor him, prolonged surveillance could reveal something.
"I need to find an opportunity to resolve this隐患," Li Fan thought to himself.
"Fellow Jiao is truly knowledgeable. You know about ancient sects’ secrets like it’s the back of your hand! Impressive!"
"By the way, how many contribution points does this painting cost? I can’t let you make a loss on this deal!"
While thinking, Li Fan acted normally and said to Jiao Xiuyuan.