第七百六十章 人心仙难测

háo wú yí wèn de shì ， bái xiān shēng yí dìng gēn yǔn xiān jìng yǒu zhe mò dà de guān lián 。

毫无疑问的是，白先生一定跟陨仙境有着莫大的关联。

There was no doubt that Mr. Bai had a significant connection with the Fallen Immortal Realm.

ér ruò shì yǐ fēn shēn xǔ bái jìn rù qí zhōng ， shuō bù dìng huì yǐn qǐ cún zài yú yǔn xiān jìng zhōng de bái xiān shēng de zhù yì ……

而若是以分身许白进入其中，说不定会引起存在于陨仙境中的白先生的注意……

If Shi Bai were to enter it as his clone, perhaps it would catch the attention of the Mr. Bai within the Fallen Immortal Realm...

dàn jié guǒ ， què zhù dìng shì huò fú nán liào de 。

但结果，却注定是祸福难料的。

But the result was destined to be uncertain and fraught with danger.

zì chuān yuè ér lái ， jīng lì le tài duō de lǐ fán ， zǎo yǐ jīng bú huì qīng yì xiāng xìn rèn hé shì qíng 。 nǎ pà shì tā qīn yǎn suǒ jiàn 。

自穿越而来，经历了太多的李凡，早已经不会轻易相信任何事情。哪怕是他亲眼所见。

Li Fan, who had experienced so much since crossing over, no longer easily believed in anything, even if he witnessed it himself. Especially when it concerned his own life.

yóu qí shì shì guān tā de shēng mìng ān wēi de 。

尤其是事关他的生命安危的。

After much contemplation, Shi Bai ultimately suppressed his urge to explore the Fallen Immortal Realm.

sī lǜ xǔ jiǔ ， xǔ bái zuì zhōng hái shì àn nà xià zhè mò míng yǒng qǐ de 、 yī tàn yǔn xiān jìng de chōng dòng 。

思虑许久，许白最终还是按捺下这莫名涌起的、一探陨仙境的冲动。

"Strange occurrences demand caution," Shi Bai's expression was inexplicable.

“ lái de gǔ guài ， bù dé bù jǐn shèn 。” xǔ bái shén sè mò míng 。

“来的古怪，不得不谨慎。”许白神色莫名。

This body had been crafted from Mr. Bai's essence and infused with his divine presence.

zhè jù shēn qū ， shì yóu xǔ kè jīng xuè ， jiā zhī bái xiān shēng shén yùn de liàn zhì ér chéng 。

这具身躯，是由许克精血，加之白先生神韵的炼制而成。

Even a slight touch of his divine aura caused numerous strange phenomena on Shi Bai: he was endowed with extraordinary natural talents, often felt compassion, and frequently experienced uncontrollable thoughts in his mind.

jǐn jǐn shì zhān rǎn le tā de xiē xǔ shén yùn ， xǔ bái shēn shàng jiù chū xiàn le bāo hán dàn bù xiàn yú “ shòu tiān dì suǒ zhōng ， tiān fù chāo qún ”、“ shí cháng xīn shēng cè yǐn zhī xīn ”、“ shí bù shí nǎo hǎi zhōng huì chǎn shēng bù shòu zì jǐ kòng zhì de xiǎng fǎ ” děng zhū duō qí guài xiàn xiàng 。

仅仅是沾染了他的些许神韵，许白身上就出现了包含但不限于“受天地所钟，天赋超群”、“时常心生恻隐之心”、“时不时脑海中会产生不受自己控制的想法”等诸多奇怪现象。

These signs were enough to demonstrate the strength of Mr. Bai. They also made Li Fan wary.

zhè qí zhōng zhǒng zhǒng ， zú yǐ shuō míng bái xiān shēng de qiáng dà zhī chù 。 gèng ràng lǐ fán bù yóu bù xīn shēng jǐng tì 。

这其中种种，足以说明白先生的强大之处。更让李凡不由不心生警惕。

If the effects were limited only to the clone, it would be manageable.

ruò shì yǐng xiǎng zhǐ jú xiàn yú fēn shēn hái hǎo shuō 。

若是影响只局限于分身还好说。

What truly frightened Li Fan was that these changes could subtly influence the original through their connection, affecting him over time.

lǐ fán zhēn zhèng suǒ wèi jù de shì ， zhè zhǒng biàn huà shùn zhe fēn shēn yǔ běn zūn zhī jiān de lián xì ， duì běn zūn zài qián yí mò huà jiān chǎn shēng yǐng xiǎng 。

李凡真正所畏惧的是，这种变化顺着分身与本尊之间的联系，对本尊在潜移默化间产生影响。

Would he still be himself then?

dào nà shí hòu ， tā hái shì tā zì jǐ me ？

到那时候，他还是他自己么？

Could he really free himself from this "pollution"?

jiù suàn hái zhēn ， shì fǒu yě néng bǎi tuō diào zhè zhǒng “ wū rǎn ”？

就算还真，是否也能摆脱掉这种“污染”？

Indeed, in Li Fan's eyes, such a change in his nature was an unacceptable form of pollution.

méi cuò ， zài lǐ fán yǎn zhōng ， zhè zhǒng gǎi biàn zì shēn yuán běn xìng qíng de guǐ jué xiàn xiàng ， jué duì shì duì tā de mǒu zhǒng wū rǎn 。

没错，在李凡眼中，这种改变自身原本性情的诡谲现象，绝对是对他的某种污染。

"If there are any signs of the original being affected, I must immediately return to my True Real Technique," Shi Bai made up his mind inwardly.

shì tā wàn wàn wú fǎ jiē shòu de 。

是他万万无法接受的。

After calming down, Shi Bai left the Immortal Longevity Valley and returned to Tianliang Prefecture. He continued handling various matters that required the attention of the liaison officer.

“ rú guǒ yǒu yī dīng diǎn běn zūn shòu dào yǐng xiǎng de jì xiàng ， jiù yào lì kè hái zhēn 。” xǔ bái xīn zhōng àn zì zuò le jué dìng 。

“如果有一丁点本尊受到影响的迹象，就要立刻还真。”许白心中暗自做了决定。

Since the grand curtain of conquest over minor worlds was raised, he had an additional responsibility: monitoring the number of known caves and minor worlds within his jurisdiction and coordinating with cultivators to eliminate them.

píng fù qǐ xīn qíng ， xǔ bái shén sè rú cháng ， lí kāi cháng shēng gǔ 。

平复起心情，许白神色如常，离开长生谷。

The fundamental reason for this was that all unknown minor worlds represented a vast accumulation of merits and contributions for cultivators. They would not willingly share unless under special circumstances.

huí dào tiān liáng zhōu ， jì xù chǔ lǐ lián tōng shǐ xū yào fù zé de zhǒng zhǒng shì jiàn lái 。

回到天凉州，继续处理联通使需要负责的种种事件来。

Often, they preferred to share with close friends or family first.

zì cóng zhēng fá xiǎo shì jiè de dà mù lā kāi yǐ lái ， tā yòu duō le lìng wài yī xiàng zhí zé 。

自从征伐小世界的大幕拉开以来，他又多了另外一项职责。

Finding the entrance to a minor world and openly sharing information with other Immortal Alliance members was an extremely rare occurrence due to the passage of time.

nà jiù shì guān zhù jìng nèi yǐ jīng tàn míng de dòng tiān 、 xiǎo shì jiè shù liàng ， bìng qiě tǒng chóu 、 xié tiáo xiū shì men ， duì qí jìn xíng tǎo fá 。

那就是关注境内已经探明的洞天、小世界数量，并且统筹、协调修士们，对其进行讨伐。

Cultivators had already realized that conquering minor worlds was a non-renewable resource. It might be their only way to rapidly accumulate merits and contributions in this lifetime.

jiū qí běn zhì yuán yīn ， nǎi shì mù qián shì shàng suǒ yǒu de wèi zhī xiǎo shì jiè ， duì yú xiū shì ér yán ， qí shí dōu dài biǎo zhe dà liàng de gōng xūn 、 gòng xiàn 。

究其本质原因，乃是目前世上所有的未知小世界，对于修士而言，其实都代表着大量的功勋、贡献。

Therefore, they would meticulously plan for maximum benefit.

bú shì tè shū qíng kuàng ， dōu bú huì xuǎn zé ràng yǔ bié rén 。

不是特殊情况，都不会选择让与别人。

Thus, after initial rapid expansion, the conquest process slowed down significantly.

wǎng wǎng dū huì xuǎn zé shuài xiān yǔ qīn péng 、 hǎo yǒu gòng xiǎng 。

往往都会选择率先与亲朋、好友共享。

The Immortal Alliance was well aware of the reasons behind this phenomenon.

zhǐ yǒu zài xiǎo shì jiè lì liàng tài guò qiáng dà ， zì shēn xiǎo tuán tǐ shí zài wú fǎ jiě jué de qíng kuàng xià ， zhè cái wú nài zhī xià yǔ qí tā rén gòng fēn xiǎng 。

只有在小世界力量太过强大，自身小团体实在无法解决的情况下，这才无奈之下与其他人共分享。

This led to his new task: although there were no mandatory measures, he still held an official position within the Immortal Alliance. His involvement often facilitated strong alliances among groups.

wàn xiān méng yù xiǎng zhōng de ， fā xiàn xiǎo shì jiè rù kǒu hòu 、 biàn dà dà fāng fāng yǔ xiān méng qí tā xiū shì tóng bù xìn xī ， shí zài shì jí qí hǎn jiàn de qíng kuàng 。

万仙盟预想中的，发现小世界入口后、便大大方方与仙盟其他修士同步信息，实在是极其罕见的情况。

As a result, he faced little resistance and even had more requests for assistance after gaining fame.

yīn wèi yǐ jīng guò qù zhè me zhǎng shí jiān ， xiū shì men yǐ jīng fēn fēn fǎn yìng guò lái 。

因为已经过去这么长时间，修士们已经纷纷反应过来。

After interacting with many cultivators, Shi Bai understood their demands:

xiǎo shì jiè de zhēng fá ， qí shí shì zhǒng bù kě zài shēng de zī yuán 。 hěn kě néng yě shì tā men cǐ shēng zhōng ， wéi yī néng yù jiàn de ， rú cǐ kuài sù jī lěi gōng xūn yǔ gòng xiàn de fāng shì le 。

小世界的征伐，其实是种不可再生的资源。很可能也是他们此生中，唯一能遇见的，如此快速积累功勋与贡献的方式了。

First, they could share information about minor world entrances but expected those who benefited to prioritize them in future endeavors.

jì rán rú cǐ ， zì rán yào jīng dǎ xì suàn 、 zuò dào lì yì zuì dà huà 。

既然如此，自然要精打细算、做到利益最大化。

Second, conquering a minor world was not as simple as eating or drinking; it involved constant bloody battles. Trust and reliability were crucial. They should be trusted companions, if not lifelong partners.

suǒ yǐ zài zuì kāi shǐ de xùn sù kuò zhāng zhī hòu ， zhēng fá wàn jiè de jìn chéng què shì yī xià zi biàn dé màn le xià lái 。

所以在最开始的迅速扩张之后，征伐万界的进程却是一下子变得慢了下来。

Third, "good things shouldn't go to strangers." The minor worlds within Tianliang Prefecture should ideally be conquered by local cultivators.

ér wàn xiān méng zì rán shì qīng chǔ zhè zhǒng xiàn xiàng chū xiàn de yuán yīn de 。

而万仙盟自然是清楚这种现象出现的原因的。

...

yú shì biàn yǒu le tā zhè xīn zēng jiā de rèn wù zhí zé 。

于是便有了他这新增加的任务职责。

Shi Bai hadreincarnationed through countless lifetimes, claiming to understand human nature thoroughly. Yet, facing these scheming cultivators, he still felt a headache.

suī rán bù cún zài shén me qiáng zhì cuò shī ， dàn hǎo dǎi tā yě guà zhe wàn xiān méng guān fāng shēn fèn 。 ér yóu tā chū miàn ， wǎng wǎng yě shì huì cù chéng bù shǎo xiǎo tuán tǐ de qiáng qiáng lián hé 。

虽然不存在什么强制措施，但好歹他也挂着万仙盟官方身份。而由他出面，往往也是会促成不少小团体的强强联合。

Often, only a few members of the teams he introduced returned, keeping silent about fallen comrades and blaming each other.

yīn ér bìng méi yǒu zāo dào shén me dǐ zhì ， fǎn ér zài míng shēng chuán chū zhī hòu ， huì yǒu xiū shì zhǔ dòng zhǎo shàng mén ， xún qiú bāng zhù 。

因而并没有遭到什么抵制，反而在名声传出之后，会有修士主动找上门，寻求帮助。

But when they were contacted again for future expeditions, most would agree, knowing some details about their behavior.

gēn tā men jiē chù de duō le ， xǔ bái yě jiù dà dǐ míng bái le tā men de sù qiú 。

跟他们接触的多了，许白也就大抵明白了他们的诉求。

Compared to completely unknown partners, familiar ones were more trustworthy.

dì yī ， tā men kě yǐ jiāng shǒu zhōng zhǎng wò de xiǎo shì jiè rù kǒu xìn xī yǔ bié rén gòng xiǎng 。 dàn xiāng duì yīng de ， zhè cì cóng zhōng huò lì de xiū shì ， zài jīn hòu fā xiàn qí tā xiǎo shì jiè zhī hòu ， rú guǒ xū yào bāng shǒu ， yě tóng yàng yào yōu xiān kǎo lǜ tā men 。

第一，他们可以将手中掌握的小世界入口信息与别人共享。但相对应的，这次从中获利的修士，在今后发现其他小世界之后，如果需要帮手，也同样要优先考虑他们。

"Human nature truly is unfathomable."

jí suǒ wèi hù bāng hù zhù 。

即所谓互帮互助。

Shi Bai shook his head in exasperation.

dì èr ， zhēng fá xiǎo shì jiè ， bìng fēi shì chī fàn hē shuǐ bān jiǎn dān 。 ér shì xū yào shí shí kè kè miàn duì xuè xīng shā lù ， shāo yǒu bù shèn jiù yào mìng sàng dāng chǎng de 。 suǒ yǐ tóng háng de xiū shì ， bì dìng shì zhí de xìn lài de 。 bù tí tóng shēng gòng sǐ ， zuì chà yě bù néng bèi hòu tǒng dāo zi 。

第二，征伐小世界，并非是吃饭喝水般简单。而是需要时时刻刻面对血腥杀戮，稍有不慎就要命丧当场的。所以同行的修士，必定是值得信赖的。不提同生共死，最差也不能背后捅刀子。

In his mind, the names of cultivators resembled chess pieces, each with different abilities and dispositions. Shi Bai was trying to find a way to maximize the use of Tianliang Prefecture's cultivator strength.

dì sān ， suǒ wèi féi shuǐ bù liú wài rén tián 。 rú guǒ kě yǐ ， tiān liáng zhōu nèi de xiǎo shì jiè ， zuì hǎo dōu yóu tiān liáng zhōu běn tǔ xiū shì men zì jǐ xiāo huà diào 。

第三，所谓肥水不流外人田。如果可以，天凉州内的小世界，最好都由天凉州本土修士们自己消化掉。

It could be seen as an alternative form of cultivation.

……

……

"Currently, thirteen minor worlds have been identified in Heavenly Spirit Province. One is extremely dangerous; repeated attempts have failed, so it has been temporarily shelved. The other twelve have been mostly cleared..."

xǔ bái lún huí bǎi shì ， zì xǔ dòng xī rén xīn 。 dàn miàn duì zhè xiē àn huái guǐ tāi de xiū shì zhī shí ， réng rán wēi wēi gǎn dào yǒu xiē tóu dà 。

许白轮回百世，自诩洞悉人心。但面对这些暗怀鬼胎的修士之时，仍然微微感到有些头大。

After the Immortal Alliance cultivators completely destroyed a minor world's resistance and completed its scan with the Sky-Bound Treasure Mirror, a team of black-robed cultivators would take over.

wǎng wǎng jīng yóu tā jiè shào de yī duì biǎo miàn shàng hé mù wú bǐ de xiū shì ， zuì zhōng zhǐ yǒu liáo liáo shù rén huí lái 。

往往经由他介绍的一队表面上和睦无比的修士，最终只有寥寥数人回来。

They would expel all irrelevant people and seal the entrance, though their activities remained unknown.

duì duì wǔ zhōng yǔn luò de xiū shì bì kǒu bù tí ， ér hù xiāng zhǐ zé qǐ lái 。

对队伍中陨落的修士闭口不提，而互相指责起来。

Even after inquiring from Nan Gong Shierong, Shi Bai couldn't find out much.

dàn xià yī cì ， zài lián luò tā men ， wèn shì fǒu néng gòu yì qǐ zǔ duì zhēng fá de shí hòu 。 tā men shí yǒu bā jiǔ ， hái huì tóng yì cǐ shì 。

但下一次，再联络他们，问是否能够一起组队征伐的时候。他们十有八九，还会同意此事。

However, based on feedback from his subordinates, these minor world entrances mysteriously disappeared shortly after being taken over by the black-robed cultivators.

gài yīn suī rán míng zhī duì fāng yīn àn xíng wéi ， dàn yě bì jìng zhī xiǎo xiē dǐ xì 。

盖因虽然明知对方阴暗行为，但也毕竟知晓些底细。

While the locations were marked on the Sky-Bound Treasure Mirror map, they could not be found in reality.

bǐ qǐ wán quán wèi zhī 、 mò shēng de huǒ bàn ， fǎn dào shì gèng jiā zhí de xìn rèn 。

比起完全未知、陌生的伙伴，反倒是更加值得信任。

"It's not hidden; it's changed."

“ rén xīn ， dàng zhēn shēn bù kě cè 、 nán yǐ zhuó mó 。”

“人心，当真深不可测、难以琢磨。”

"The entrance is still there but seems encrypted. Ordinary methods can't find it," Shi Bai concluded after his exploration.

xǔ bái yáo tóu gǎn tàn zhe 。

许白摇头感叹着。

...

zài tā nǎo hǎi zhōng ， yí gè gè xiū shì míng zì wǎn ruò qí zi ， yīn qí xìng qíng 、 néng lì de bù tóng ， bǐ cǐ jiān yǒu zhe bù tóng de pái liè zǔ hé 。

在他脑海中，一个个修士名字宛若棋子，因其性情、能力的不同，彼此间有着不同的排列组合。

As Shi Bai was busy in Tianliang Prefecture,

xǔ bái zhèng shì tú zhǎo dào ， néng gòu zuì dà jiàng tiān liáng zhōu xiū shì lì liàng lì yòng qǐ lái de fāng fǎ 。

许白正试图找到，能够最大将天凉州修士力量利用起来的方法。

the original Li Fan finally bid farewell to theenthusiastic Shu锋 and left his residence.

dǎo shì yě bù shī wèi ， lìng wài yī zhǒng dú tè de xiū xíng fāng shì 。

倒是也不失为，另外一种独特的修行方式。

Though he had benefited from being entangled with Shuofeng for these days, Li Fan was more amazed by Shuofeng's rapid progress.

xǔ bái xīn zhōng àn dào 。

许白心中暗道。

Initially, he could not resist the【Drawn Thread to Drain Life】technique at all, relying on his peculiar constitution to endure it.

“ rú jīn tiān líng zhōu ， yī gòng yǐ jīng tàn míng liǎo shí sān chù xiǎo shì jiè 。 qí zhōng yǒu yī chù jí wéi wēi xiǎn ， shù cì tǎo fá dōu wú rén shēng huán ， yǐ jīng zàn shí bèi gē zhì 。 qí yú shí èr chù ， yǐ jīng wán quán sù qīng le yí bàn ……”

“如今天灵州，一共已经探明了十三处小世界。其中有一处极为危险，数次讨伐都无人生还，已经暂时被搁置。其余十二处，已经完全肃清了一半……”

Later, Shuofeng gradually adapted to the effects of the technique.