“ zhè zhǒng gǎn jué ？” xǔ bái bù jīn mī qǐ le yǎn jīng 。
“这种感觉？”许白不禁眯起了眼睛。
"Such a feeling?" Xu Bai couldn't help but squint his eyes.
měi yī shì dōu yào chuàng zào fēn shēn ， tā zǎo yǐ jīng xí guàn le xīn fēn èr yòng 。
每一世都要创造分身，他早已经习惯了心分二用。
Every incarnation required creating a clone, and he was already accustomed to splitting his consciousness into two. But now, as this additional, almost third clone was born from the holy embryo, Xu Bai felt something entirely different.
dàn cǐ kè ， suí zhe zhè lìng wài de 、 jī hū děng tóng yú dì sān fēn shēn de shèng tāi chuàng chū ， xǔ bái xīn zhōng què shì yǒng xiàn chū le wán quán bù yí yàng de gǎn jué 。
但此刻，随着这另外的、几乎等同于第三分身的圣胎创出，许白心中却是涌现出了完全不一样的感觉。
The True玄 Technique of Transforming Realness (奇玄真诀) was based on the Stealing Heaven Replacing Sun technique (偷天换日诀), further refined to become one of the most orthodox methods for creating clones in the world of cultivation.
qí xuán zhēn líng biàn ， shì yǐ 【 tōu tiān huàn rì jué 】 wèi jī chǔ lán běn ， jìn yí bù tuī yǎn ér chū 。
奇玄真灵变，是以【偷天换日诀】为基础蓝本，进一步推衍而出。
Both the main body and the clone were fully controlled by his own consciousness. However, when he looked at this [Holy Blood Embryonic Technique] (圣血化胎法), things seemed different.
kě yǐ shuō de shàng shì xiū xiān jiè zuì wèi zhèng tǒng de fēn shēn zhī shù 。
可以说的上是修仙界最为正统的分身之术。
Before the holy embryo separated from its mother, it indeed felt like a part of his own body, allowing him to control it freely. But since it had separated behind him, something mysterious and strange began to happen.
běn tǐ yì huò zhě fēn shēn ， dōu shòu dào zì jǐ yì shí de wán quán cāo kòng 。
本体亦或者分身，都受到自己意识的完全操控。
Sure enough, another consciousness was born within the holy embryo. And he still retained full control over the holy embryo.
fǎn guān zhè 【 shèng xuè huà tāi fǎ 】。
反观这【圣血化胎法】。
But...
zài shèng tāi shàng wèi tuō lí mǔ tǐ zhī qián ， dí què wǎn rú zì jǐ shēn tǐ de yī bù fèn 。 kě yǐ suí xīn jìn qíng kòng zhì 。
在圣胎尚未脱离母体之前，的确宛如自己身体的一部分。可以随心尽情控制。
Something didn't feel right.
dàn shì zì cóng tā yú bèi hòu tuō lí hòu ， jiù sì hū chǎn shēng le mǒu zhǒng xuán miào de biàn huà 。
但是自从他于背后脱离后，就似乎产生了某种玄妙的变化。
The holy embryo turned around, meeting Xu Bai's gaze head-on.
dí què zì shēn fèn chū lìng yī dào yì shí ， zài shèng tāi tǐ nèi 。
的确自身分出另一道意识，在圣胎体内。
It was like there was a mirror between them, except one was clothed and the other naked. From the outside, they looked identical. But after staring for a long time, Xu Bai still felt some sort of dissonance.
dí què yī jiù néng yǒu shèng tāi de wán quán kòng zhì quán 。
的确依旧能有圣胎的完全控制权。
He suddenly recalled a scene from a horror movie he had watched before his crossing over.
dàn ……
但……
In the dead of night, in the bathroom.
zǒng gǎn jué yǒu nǎ lǐ bú duì de dì fāng 。
总感觉有哪里不对的地方。
After finishing his ablutions, he accidentally caught sight of another version of himself in the mirror. And to his shock, that version was giving him an eerie smile.
shèng tāi zhuǎn guò shēn lái ， yǔ xǔ bái sì mù xiāng duì 。
圣胎转过身来，与许白四目相对。
The thought flashed by quickly.
jiù xiàng liǎng rén zhōng jiān cún zài zhe yí miàn jìng zi ， chú le yí gè shēn zhe yī wù ， yí gè hún shēn chì luǒ zhī wài 。
就像两人中间存在着一面镜子，除了一个身着衣物，一个浑身赤裸之外。
Nothing happened in reality where the holy embryo lost control and smiled at him for no reason. But Xu Bai's mind suddenly had a new idea as he looked at the holy embryo before him.
cóng wài biǎo shàng lái kàn ， liǎng zhě bìng wú sī háo qū bié 。
从外表上来看，两者并无丝毫区别。
If Li Fan himself were to perish, there would be no doubt that his clone would follow suit.
dàn xǔ bái níng shì xǔ jiǔ ， xīn zhōng shǐ zhōng jué de bǐ cǐ jiān yǒu xiē bù xié tiáo de dì fāng 。
但许白凝视许久，心中始终觉得彼此间有些不协调的地方。
But what about this holy embryo?
tā hū de xiǎng qǐ le ， chuān yuè qián céng jīng kàn guò de mǒu gè kǒng bù piàn qiáo duàn 。
他忽的想起了，穿越前曾经看过的某个恐怖片桥段。
Would it also die with him?
shēn yè ， xǐ shǒu jiān 。
深夜，洗手间。
The purpose of the Holy Blood Embryonic Technique was to ensure the imperial lineage's continuity. So the answer was clear: it wouldn't.
xǐ shù wán bì de tā wú yì jiān piē jiàn jìng zhōng de lìng yí gè zì jǐ 。
洗漱完毕的他无意间瞥见镜中的另一个自己。
"This is the fundamental difference between a clone and a holy embryo," Xu Bai realized.
què jīng sǒng wú bǐ de fā xiàn ， jìng zi lǐ de zì jǐ ， hū de zhèng cháo zhe zì jǐ lù chū yí gè guǐ yì de xiào róng 。
却惊悚无比的发现，镜子里的自己，忽的正朝着自己露出一个诡异的笑容。
"What Xiao Qing said... almost identical..."
sī xù zhuǎn shùn jí shì 。
思绪转瞬即逝。
"Almost, but not quite."
xiàn shí zhōng yě bìng méi yǒu fā shēng ， shèng tāi shī qù kòng zhì 、 cháo zhe zì jǐ mò míng wēi xiào de shì qíng 。
现实中也并没有发生，圣胎失去控制、朝着自己莫名微笑的事情。
With this understanding, Li Fan, who was deep in meditation on the Unbound盈虚 Technique (无极盈虚法) in Tianquan State, paused his practice. He reviewed the entire journey of his clone and a strange expression appeared on his face.
dàn kàn zhuó yǎn qián de shèng tāi ， xǔ bái nǎo hǎi lǐ què shì hū de yǒng xiàn chū yí gè xiǎng fǎ 。
但看着眼前的圣胎，许白脑海里却是忽的涌现出一个想法。
"It's interesting. I'm still affected by something, after all."
rú guǒ běn zūn lǐ fán yǔn luò ， nà me háo wú yí wèn ， fēn shēn xǔ bái yě huì gēn zhe sǐ qù 。
如果本尊李凡陨落，那么毫无疑问，分身许白也会跟着死去。
Looking back at it from his own perspective, Xu Bai's decision seemed too hasty.
dàn zhè shèng tāi ne ？
但这圣胎呢？
Of course, this was Li Fan's autonomous choice. But in different circumstances and environments, even the same person could make completely opposite choices.
yě huì gēn zhe yì qǐ sǐ wáng me ？
也会跟着一起死亡么？
What happened to Xu Bai was a perfect example of that.
【 shèng xuè huà tāi fǎ 】 de yòng tú ， jiù shì wèi le bǎo zhèng dì guó huáng shì chuán chéng bù miè 。
【圣血化胎法】的用途，就是为了保证帝国皇室传承不灭。
If he had personally experienced this situation, he would have first studied the red string before attempting the Holy Blood Embryonic Technique.
suǒ yǐ dá àn hěn míng xiǎn 。 bìng bú huì 。
所以答案很明显。并不会。
Although he did indeed plan on using the Holy Blood Embryonic Technique to create another clone, he wouldn't be so eager. He would be more cautious.
“ zhè jiù shì shèng tāi yǔ fēn shēn de běn zhì qū bié le 。” xǔ bái xīn zhōng huǎng rán 。
“这就是圣胎与分身的本质区别了。”许白心中恍然。
After quickly considering everything in an instant, Li Fan still didn't feel any sense of danger. But there was a subtle discomfort.
“ xiǎo qīng suǒ shuō de ， jī hū gēn fēn shēn wú yì ……”
“小青所说的，几乎跟分身无异……”
After much deliberation, he decided to directly activate the True Real Technique (还真).
“ yě zhǐ shì jī hū ér yǐ 。”
“也只是几乎而已。”
"Should I virtualize this scene and return to the initial anchor point?"
wù qīng chǔ zhè diǎn de tóng shí ， yuǎn zài tiān quán zhōu ， bì guān lǐng wù 【 wú jí yíng xū fǎ 】 de běn zūn lǐ fán ， shùn jiān bù yóu de tíng xià le dòng zuò 。
悟清楚这点的同时，远在天权州，闭关领悟【无极盈虚法】的本尊李凡，瞬间不由得停下了动作。
The surroundings gradually became ethereal as the prompt appeared: "Return to the initial anchor point."
jiāng fēn shēn cǐ cì dì guó zhī lǚ de shǐ mò huí wèi le yī biàn ， liǎn shàng bù yóu de fú xiàn chū mò míng de shén sè 。
将分身此次帝国之旅的始末回味了一遍，脸上不由得浮现出莫名的神色。
Li Fan hesitated. He thought of the yet-to-be-completed Unbound Spirit Technique (无极灵虚法), the unmerged Disintegration Discs, and the method he hadn't found for completely shielding his perception with the Endstone Plate.
“ yǒu diǎn yì si 。 guǒ rán hái shì bù miǎn shòu dào le mǒu zhǒng yǐng xiǎng me 。”
“有点意思。果然还是不免受到了某种影响么。”
He thought about not having used the Medicine King True Cauldron to break through the Xuanhuang Realm and explore the Immortal Vastness...
huí guò tóu lái ， zài yǐ běn zūn de shì jiǎo qù kàn 。
回过头来，再以本尊的视角去看。
If he left now, it would be too hard to part with everything.
fēn shēn xǔ bái de xuǎn zé ， wèi miǎn yǒu diǎn tài guò cǎo shuài le yì diǎn 。
分身许白的选择，未免有点太过草率了一点。
After a long pause, Li Fan seemed like a stone statue, completely still. His mind was in turmoil as his body began to tremble.
dāng rán ， zhè réng shì lǐ fán zì zhǔ zuò de jué dìng 。
当然，这仍是李凡自主做的决定。
"Should I virtualize this scene and return to the initial anchor point?"
dàn shēn chù qíng xíng 、 huán jìng bù tóng ， jiù suàn tóng yī gè rén ， yě jí yǒu kě néng zuò chū wán quán xiāng fǎn de jué zé 。
但身处情形、环境不同，就算同一个人，也极有可能做出完全相反的抉择。
The prompt sounded again. Li Fan's expression fluctuated between calm and anxious.
fā shēng zài xǔ bái shēn shàng de shì qíng ， jiù shì rú cǐ 。
发生在许白身上的事情，就是如此。
In the end, he chose not to do so.
rú guǒ běn zūn qīn zì jīng lì cǐ shì ， miàn duì hóng shéng yǔ 【 shèng xuè huà tāi 】， tā dìng rán huì shǒu xiān yán jiū hóng shéng 。
如果本尊亲自经历此事，面对红绳与【圣血化胎】，他定然会首先研究红绳。
Instantly, the virtualized scene returned to reality. The Li Fan who made that choice felt as if he had just gone through a battle, nearly collapsing from exhaustion with sweat-soaked clothes.
ér bú shì xiān xíng shèng xuè huà tāi 。
而不是先行圣血化胎。
But his instincts didn't allow him to be satisfied with this decision. He didn't rest for long and quickly reopened the True Real Technique panel.
suī rán tā dí què ， yǒu zhe lì yòng shèng xuè huà tāi ， zài chuàng zào yí gè fēn shēn de dǎ suàn 。
虽然他的确，有着利用圣血化胎，再创造一个分身的打算。
"Should I virtualize this scene and return to the initial anchor point?"
dàn què bú huì rú cǐ jí qiè 。
但却不会如此急切。
The prompt sounded again, but it no longer seemed as pleasant to Li Fan's ears.
ér shì huì shèn zhī yòu shèn 。
而是会慎之又慎。
People do anything driven by desires. The second time he opened the True Real Technique panel, his desire to activate it was weaker than before.
jiāng yī qiè zài chà nà jiān xiǎng qīng chǔ de lǐ fán ， suī rán xīn zhōng yī rán méi yǒu wēi jī gǎn chǎn shēng 。
将一切在刹那间想清楚的李凡，虽然心中依然没有危机感产生。
Thoughts of hesitation, reluctance, and attachment flooded his mind this time. He struggled for less time.
dàn hái shì gǎn dào le sī sī de bù tuǒ 。
但还是感到了丝丝的不妥。
In the end, Li Fan closed the True Real Technique panel.
quán héng liáng jiǔ ， tā xīn zhōng bù jīn chǎn shēng le zhí jiē 【 hái zhēn 】 de niàn tou 。
权衡良久，他心中不禁产生了直接【还真】的念头。
Phew...
“ shì fǒu jiāng dāng qián chǎng jǐng xū nǐ huà ， huí guī zuì chū máo diǎn 。”
“是否将当前场景虚拟化，回归最初锚点。”
As if all his strength had been drained in an instant, Li Fan collapsed onto the floor, panting heavily.
zhōu wéi chǎng jǐng zhú jiàn biàn dé xū wú ， miàn duì hái zhēn de tí shì 。
周围场景逐渐变得虚无，面对还真的提示。
After a long while, he勉强支撑起身体 with his hands, and a strange emotion flashed across his eyes. He tried again.
lǐ fán xīn zhōng què chǎn shēng le yī sī yóu yù 。
李凡心中却产生了一丝犹豫。
The result was obvious this time. His decision-making speed increased significantly. After just a few breaths, he closed the True Real Technique panel.
tā xiǎng dào le dé zhī bù yì 、 shàng wèi pò jiě wán bì de 【 wú jí líng xū fǎ 】。
他想到了得之不易、尚未破解完毕的【无极灵虚法】。
"Xuanhuang Immortal Heart Spell..."
xiǎng dào le shàng méi yǒu róng hé guī yī de jiě lí dié 。
想到了尚没有融合归一的解离碟。
The fourth time, Li Fan silently activated the supreme immortal technique that had saved him countless times—True Real Technique (还真).
xiǎng dào le hái méi yǒu zhǎo dào ， lì yòng zhōng mò shí pán wán quán píng bì tiān xuán bǎo jiàn gǎn zhī de fāng fǎ 。
想到了还没有找到，利用终末石盘完全屏蔽天玄宝鉴感知的方法。
But even with the Immortal Heart Spell in his possession, before he could open the True Real Technique panel, he exited on his own.
xiǎng dào le hái méi yǒu yù shǐ zhe yào wáng zhēn dǐng ， chōng chū xuán huáng jiè 。 qù xiān xū zhōng yī tàn jiū jìng 。
想到了还没有御使着药王真鼎，冲出玄黄界。去仙墟中一探究竟。
The Immortal Heart Spell was a technique that reversed one's cultivation heart. Now, Li Fan wanted to activate it to avoid disaster.
xiǎng dào le ……
想到了……
With the Immortal Heart Spell running, the idea of True Reality instantly became nourishment for his expanded consciousness.
ruò shì lí qù ， shí zài shì bù shě 。
若是离去，实在是不舍。
Failing once again, Li Fan stood in the secret room, silent for a long time.
chí zhì xǔ jiǔ ， lǐ fán hǎo sì yī zūn shí diāo ， wán quán jìng zhǐ zhù 。
迟滞许久，李凡好似一尊石雕，完全静止住。
This time, he didn't struggle but closed his eyes and calmly thought things through.
nǎo hǎi zhōng jī liè de sī xiǎng dòu zhēng bù duàn ， lǐ fán shēn qū kāi shǐ wēi wēi chàn dǒu bù yǐ 。
脑海中激烈的思想斗争不断，李凡身躯开始微微颤抖不已。
At this moment, Li Fan faced what was perhaps the most dangerous situation since crossing over. Because he had laid out plans for many lifetimes without reaping their benefits yet, he felt a lot of attachment.
“ shì fǒu jiāng dāng qián chǎng jǐng xū nǐ huà ， huí guī zuì chū máo diǎn 。”
“是否将当前场景虚拟化，回归最初锚点。”
Under some force's influence, these emotions were amplified to an extreme point where he actually didn't want to activate True Reality anymore.
hái zhēn de tí shì zài cì chuán lái 。
还真的提示再次传来。
Even now, Li Fan still felt that there was nothing wrong with him.
lǐ fán miàn róng yīn qíng bù dìng 。
李凡面容阴晴不定。
But he had become too greedy.
zuì zhōng què xuǎn zé le fǒu 。
最终却选择了否。
However, as someone who cherished his life and had a firm belief in immortality, he realized the danger of not activating True Reality. In this perilous Xuanhuang Realm, he could fall at any moment, never to return.
chà nà zhī jiān ， yuán běn xū huà de chǎng jǐng yòu chóng xīn biàn dé zhēn shí qǐ lái 。
刹那之间，原本虚化的场景又重新变得真实起来。
(End of chapter)
"Such a feeling?" Xu Bai couldn't help but squint his eyes.
Every incarnation required creating a clone, and he was already accustomed to splitting his consciousness into two. But now, as this additional, almost third clone was born from the holy embryo, Xu Bai felt something entirely different.
The True玄 Technique of Transforming Realness (奇玄真诀) was based on the Stealing Heaven Replacing Sun technique (偷天换日诀), further refined to become one of the most orthodox methods for creating clones in the world of cultivation.
Both the main body and the clone were fully controlled by his own consciousness. However, when he looked at this [Holy Blood Embryonic Technique] (圣血化胎法), things seemed different.
Before the holy embryo separated from its mother, it indeed felt like a part of his own body, allowing him to control it freely. But since it had separated behind him, something mysterious and strange began to happen.
Sure enough, another consciousness was born within the holy embryo. And he still retained full control over the holy embryo.
But...
Something didn't feel right.
The holy embryo turned around, meeting Xu Bai's gaze head-on.
It was like there was a mirror between them, except one was clothed and the other naked. From the outside, they looked identical. But after staring for a long time, Xu Bai still felt some sort of dissonance.
He suddenly recalled a scene from a horror movie he had watched before his crossing over.
In the dead of night, in the bathroom.
After finishing his ablutions, he accidentally caught sight of another version of himself in the mirror. And to his shock, that version was giving him an eerie smile.
The thought flashed by quickly.
Nothing happened in reality where the holy embryo lost control and smiled at him for no reason. But Xu Bai's mind suddenly had a new idea as he looked at the holy embryo before him.
If Li Fan himself were to perish, there would be no doubt that his clone would follow suit.
But what about this holy embryo?
Would it also die with him?
The purpose of the Holy Blood Embryonic Technique was to ensure the imperial lineage's continuity. So the answer was clear: it wouldn't.
"This is the fundamental difference between a clone and a holy embryo," Xu Bai realized.
"What Xiao Qing said... almost identical..."
"Almost, but not quite."
With this understanding, Li Fan, who was deep in meditation on the Unbound盈虚 Technique (无极盈虚法) in Tianquan State, paused his practice. He reviewed the entire journey of his clone and a strange expression appeared on his face.
"It's interesting. I'm still affected by something, after all."
Looking back at it from his own perspective, Xu Bai's decision seemed too hasty.
Of course, this was Li Fan's autonomous choice. But in different circumstances and environments, even the same person could make completely opposite choices.
What happened to Xu Bai was a perfect example of that.
If he had personally experienced this situation, he would have first studied the red string before attempting the Holy Blood Embryonic Technique.
Although he did indeed plan on using the Holy Blood Embryonic Technique to create another clone, he wouldn't be so eager. He would be more cautious.
After quickly considering everything in an instant, Li Fan still didn't feel any sense of danger. But there was a subtle discomfort.
After much deliberation, he decided to directly activate the True Real Technique (还真).
"Should I virtualize this scene and return to the initial anchor point?"
The surroundings gradually became ethereal as the prompt appeared: "Return to the initial anchor point."
Li Fan hesitated. He thought of the yet-to-be-completed Unbound Spirit Technique (无极灵虚法), the unmerged Disintegration Discs, and the method he hadn't found for completely shielding his perception with the Endstone Plate.
He thought about not having used the Medicine King True Cauldron to break through the Xuanhuang Realm and explore the Immortal Vastness...
If he left now, it would be too hard to part with everything.
After a long pause, Li Fan seemed like a stone statue, completely still. His mind was in turmoil as his body began to tremble.
"Should I virtualize this scene and return to the initial anchor point?"
The prompt sounded again. Li Fan's expression fluctuated between calm and anxious.
In the end, he chose not to do so.
Instantly, the virtualized scene returned to reality. The Li Fan who made that choice felt as if he had just gone through a battle, nearly collapsing from exhaustion with sweat-soaked clothes.
But his instincts didn't allow him to be satisfied with this decision. He didn't rest for long and quickly reopened the True Real Technique panel.
"Should I virtualize this scene and return to the initial anchor point?"
The prompt sounded again, but it no longer seemed as pleasant to Li Fan's ears.
People do anything driven by desires. The second time he opened the True Real Technique panel, his desire to activate it was weaker than before.
Thoughts of hesitation, reluctance, and attachment flooded his mind this time. He struggled for less time.
In the end, Li Fan closed the True Real Technique panel.
Phew...
As if all his strength had been drained in an instant, Li Fan collapsed onto the floor, panting heavily.
After a long while, he勉强支撑起身体 with his hands, and a strange emotion flashed across his eyes. He tried again.
The result was obvious this time. His decision-making speed increased significantly. After just a few breaths, he closed the True Real Technique panel.
"Xuanhuang Immortal Heart Spell..."
The fourth time, Li Fan silently activated the supreme immortal technique that had saved him countless times—True Real Technique (还真).
But even with the Immortal Heart Spell in his possession, before he could open the True Real Technique panel, he exited on his own.
The Immortal Heart Spell was a technique that reversed one's cultivation heart. Now, Li Fan wanted to activate it to avoid disaster.
With the Immortal Heart Spell running, the idea of True Reality instantly became nourishment for his expanded consciousness.
Failing once again, Li Fan stood in the secret room, silent for a long time.
This time, he didn't struggle but closed his eyes and calmly thought things through.
At this moment, Li Fan faced what was perhaps the most dangerous situation since crossing over. Because he had laid out plans for many lifetimes without reaping their benefits yet, he felt a lot of attachment.
Under some force's influence, these emotions were amplified to an extreme point where he actually didn't want to activate True Reality anymore.
Even now, Li Fan still felt that there was nothing wrong with him.
But he had become too greedy.
However, as someone who cherished his life and had a firm belief in immortality, he realized the danger of not activating True Reality. In this perilous Xuanhuang Realm, he could fall at any moment, never to return.
(End of chapter)