liǎng dào shēng yīn tóng shí xiǎng qǐ ， huí dàng zài tài yī diàn zhī qián 。
两道声音同时响起，回荡在太一殿之前。
Two voices rang out simultaneously, echoing in front of the Taiyi Pavilion.
“ bù kě néng ！ nǐ zěn me kě néng cóng nà guǐ dì fāng huó zhe chū lái ？” èr rén yì kǒu tóng shēng ， mǎn liǎn bù kě zhì xìn 。
“不可能！你怎么可能从那鬼地方活着出来？”二人异口同声，满脸不可置信。
"Impossible! How could you possibly survive from that cursed place?" The two men spoke in unison, their faces filled with disbelief.
jiàn lín zhī qián ， lǐ fán shuāng shǒu huán bào ， kàn zhe shī sè de sī kōng yí yǔ bǎi lǐ chén ， lěng xiào bù dá 。
剑林之前，李凡双手环抱，看着失色的司空宜与百里尘，冷笑不答。
Li Fan stood before the sword forest, his arms crossed. He sneered at Si Kong Yi and Bai Li Chen, who looked pale, but said nothing as he stepped onto a sword hilt, as if to chase after them.
zhǐ shì yī jiǎo tà shàng jiàn bǐng ， shì shì yào zhuī gǎn èr rén 。
只是一脚踏上剑柄，似是要追赶二人。
A shadow pierced through, followed by an excruciating pain.
xū yǐng cì guò ， zuān xīn de jù tòng suí zhī chuán lái 。
虚影刺过，钻心的剧痛随之传来。
Li Fan nearly lost control of his body, teetering on the edge.
lǐ fán chà diǎn méi néng kòng zhì zhù shēn tǐ ， xiǎn xiē shuāi xià qù 。
李凡差点没能控制住身体，险些摔下去。
Falling from the hilt wouldn't be fatal, just a return to the outermost part of the sword forest and starting over.
cóng jiàn bǐng shàng shuāi xià qù dào bù huì sǐ ， zhǐ shì huì bèi chuán sòng huí jiàn lín de zuì wài wéi ， chóng xīn kāi shǐ ér yǐ 。
从剑柄上摔下去倒不会死，只是会被传送回剑林的最外围，重新开始而已。
Of course, if someone was desperate enough to try crossing above...
dāng rán ， ruò shì yǒu xiǎng bù kāi de ， shì tú cóng jiàn lín shàng fāng guò qù ……
当然，若是有想不开的，试图从剑林上方过去……
They would experience firsthand what it meant to have a thousand swords pierce their heart.
nà me jiù néng tǐ huì dào wàn jiàn chuān xīn jiū jìng shì shén me zī wèi le 。
那么就能体会到万剑穿心究竟是什么滋味了。
This was the test of the sword forest before Taiyi Pavilion. Unlike other parts of Cloud Water Heavenly Palace, there were no fatal dangers as long as one didn't take unnecessary risks.
zhè jiù shì tài yī diàn qián ， jiàn lín de kǎo yàn 。
这就是太一殿前，剑林的考验。
At most, one could experience being pierced by countless swords.
gēn yún shuǐ tiān gōng qí tā dì fāng bù tóng 。 cǐ chù zhǐ yào zì jǐ bù zuò sǐ ， biàn méi yǒu shén me zhì mìng wēi xiǎn 。
跟云水天宫其他地方不同。此处只要自己不作死，便没有什么致命危险。
In his previous life, many cultivators endured the pain and passed through the sword forest to enter the interior of Taiyi Pavilion.
zuì duō yě jiù shì tǐ yàn xià bèi yī bǐng yòu bǐng de jiàn ， chuān xīn ér guò de gǎn jué bà le 。
最多也就是体验下被一柄又柄的剑，穿心而过的感觉罢了。
However...
qián yī shì ， jiù yǒu bù shǎo xiū shì ， yǎo yá rěn shòu zhe jù tòng ， chuān guò le jiàn lín ， jìn rù dào le tài yī diàn nèi bù 。
前一世，就有不少修士，咬牙忍受着剧痛，穿过了剑林，进入到了太一殿内部。
The grand hall was empty. There was nothing inside!
rán ér ……
然而……
"Could it be that Si Kong Yi took all the treasures from within the Taiyi Pavilion at the start?"
dà diàn nèi kōng kōng rú yě ， shén me dōu méi yǒu ！
大殿内空空如也，什么都没有！
"Is this the opportunity for cultivation in the Taiyi Pavilion, The Cloud Water Scroll?"
“ nán dào shuō ， shì yīn wèi yī kāi shǐ ， tài yī diàn nèi de zhēn bǎo jiù bèi zhè sī kōng yí qǔ zǒu de yuán gù ？”
“难道说，是因为一开始，太一殿内的珍宝就被这司空宜取走的缘故？”
Although he could use his Binding Insects Technique to subdue them now, there was no guarantee he could force them to reveal how they obtained the scroll.
“ zhè tài yī diàn nèi de jī yuán ， jiù shì 《 yún shuǐ tú lù 》？”
“这太一殿内的机缘，就是《云水图箓》？”
According to Li Fan's knowledge, ancient cultivators had cruel methods to read others' memories forcefully.
suī rán xiàn zài jiù kě yǐ yòng fù chóng shén tōng jiāng zhè èr rén ná xià ， dàn què bù néng bǎo zhèng cóng tā men kǒu zhōng bī wèn chū 《 yún shuǐ tú lù 》 jiū jìng shì rú hé qǔ dé de 。
虽然现在就可以用缚虫神通将这二人拿下，但却不能保证从他们口中逼问出《云水图箓》究竟是如何取得的。
Unfortunately, he couldn't do that yet.
jù lǐ fán suǒ zhī ， shàng gǔ xiū xiān jiè ， yǒu è dú de sōu hún zhī fǎ ， kě yǐ qiáng xíng dú qǔ xiū shì de jì yì 。
据李凡所知，上古修仙界，有恶毒的搜魂之法，可以强行读取修士的记忆。
So, for safety, it would be better to wait until they revealed the scroll.
kě xī lǐ fán mù qián hái bú huì 。
可惜李凡目前还不会。
Li Fan pondered this as a blue flame illusion appeared in his mind. His body temperature gradually dropped, and he felt incredibly calm and rational.
suǒ yǐ ， wěn tuǒ qǐ jiàn ， hái shì yào děng zhè èr rén jiāng 《 yún shuǐ tú lù 》 qǔ chū zài shuō 。
所以，稳妥起见，还是要等这二人将《云水图箓》取出在说。
No external distractions could disturb him.
lǐ fán xīn xià sī liáng zhe ， shí hǎi zhōng lán yán huàn líng zhà xiàn 。
李凡心下思量着，识海中蓝炎幻灵乍现。
He stepped forward onto the sword hilt, feeling pain but remaining unafraid.
tǐ wēn zhú jiàn jiàng dī ， lǐ fán gǎn jué zì jǐ biàn dé wú bǐ lěng jìng yǔ lǐ zhì 。
体温逐渐降低，李凡感觉自己变得无比冷静与理智。
He walked several steps before stopping to pretend he was resting, to keep a distance from Si Kong Yi and Bai Li Chen without alarming them too much.
rèn hé wài wù ， dōu wú fǎ rǎo luàn zì jǐ de xīn jìng 。
任何外物，都无法扰乱自己的心境。
Seeing that Li Fan wasn't dead, Si Kong Yi and Bai Li Chen were already shocked. As they approached him, their shock turned into anxiety.
yī jiǎo cháo qián ， tà yú jiàn bǐng 。
一脚朝前，踏于剑柄。
They gritted their teeth and rushed forward several steps.
suī rán yě néng gǎn shòu dào téng tòng ， dàn ……
虽然也能感受到疼痛，但……
Four sharp swords pierced them simultaneously, the pain far more than a simple sum of four wounds.
lǐ fán wú suǒ wèi jù 。
李凡无所畏惧。
The agony suddenly doubled, making it difficult for them to maintain balance.
yī lián wǎng qián zǒu le hǎo jǐ bù ， wèi le bù guò fēn de xià dào sī kōng yí èr rén ， zhè cái tíng le xià lái ， jiǎ zhuāng xiū xī 。
一连往前走了好几步，为了不过分的吓到司空宜二人，这才停了下来，假装休息。
Fortunately, just as they were about to fall, they supported each other and managed to steady themselves.
sī kōng yí hé bǎi lǐ chén ， jiàn lǐ fán méi sǐ ， yǐ jīng shì dà wèi zhèn jīng 。
司空宜和百里尘，见李凡没死，已经是大为震惊。
Li Fan took three steps forward, then pretended he was struggling. He kept a distance from the two while maintaining an appearance of determination to catch up.
cǐ kè jiàn lǐ fán lí zì jǐ yuè lái yuè jìn ， bù yóu de cóng zhèn jīng biàn dé jiāo jí qǐ lái 。
此刻见李凡离自己越来越近，不由的从震惊变得焦急起来。
This gave Si Kong Yi and Bai Li Chen a sense of pressure, like prey being chased by hounds.
dāng xià fā hěn ， yī yǎo yá ， cháo zhe qián fāng měng zǒu le jǐ bù 。
当下发狠，一咬牙，朝着前方猛走了几步。
They gradually approached Taiyi Pavilion.
sì bǐng lì jiàn tóng shí jiā shēn ， dài lái de téng tòng kě bú shì xiāng jiā nà me jiǎn dān 。
四柄利剑同时加身，带来的疼痛可不是相加那么简单。
Finally, they reached the end of the sword forest.
tòng chǔ dǒu rán jiān dié jiā le shù bèi ， ràng èr rén jī hū nán yǐ wéi chí shēn xíng de wěn dìng 。
痛楚陡然间叠加了数倍，让二人几乎难以维持身形的稳定。
Jumping off the hilt, they fell to the ground as if exhausted. But Li Fan continued to approach them relentlessly.
hái hǎo zài tā men jí jiāng shuāi xià lái de piàn kè ， èr rén xiāng hù fú chí ， cái kān kān wěn zhù 。
还好在他们即将摔下来的片刻，二人相互扶持，才堪堪稳住。
In desperation, Bai Li Chen pulled out a blue spirit token and shouted towards Taiyi Pavilion.
lǐ fán jiàn le ， yě xiàng qián zǒu le sān bù ， suí hòu biàn yòu yī fù nán yǐ wéi chí de yàng zi 。
李凡见了，也向前走了三步，随后便又一副难以维持的样子。
"I am the 165th direct disciple of Cloud Water Heavenly Palace, Bai Li Chen. I seek an audience with Taiyi Ancestor!"
jiù zhè yàng ， lǐ fán shǐ zhōng yǔ èr rén bǎo chí zhe yī duàn jù lí ， lā dī duì fāng de jiè xīn 。
就这样，李凡始终与二人保持着一段距离，拉低对方的戒心。
Bai Li Chen's voice echoed.
dàn què yòu shì shì yào zhuī shàng de yàng zi ， gěi tā men yī zhǒng yā pò gǎn 。
但却又是誓要追上的样子，给他们一种压迫感。
Li Fan suddenly stopped in his tracks, staring ahead intently.
fǎng fú bèi liè quǎn zhuī gǎn zhe de liè wù ， sī kōng yí hé bǎi lǐ chén ， yí bù yí bù ， lí tài yī diàn yuè lái yuè jìn 。
仿佛被猎犬追赶着的猎物，司空宜和百里尘，一步一步，离太一殿越来越近。
The grand Taiyi Pavilion seemed to come alive, slowly rising into the air as the ground began to shake.
zuì zhōng ， tā men zǒu dào le jiàn lín de jìn tóu 。
最终，他们走到了剑林的尽头。
"Bang! Bang!"
cóng jiàn bǐng shàng tiào xià ， èr rén hǎo sì xū tuō yì bān ， diē dǎo zài dì 。
从剑柄上跳下，二人好似虚脱一般，跌倒在地。
Four thick legs like pillars extended from below the pavilion and landed on the ground with force.
dàn hòu fāng lǐ fán bù bù jǐn bī ， yuè lái yuè jìn ， tā men yě gù bù dé xiū xī 。
但后方李凡步步紧逼，越来越近，他们也顾不得休息。
A grotesque monster's head appeared before Li Fan, its presence almost tangible.
qíng jí zhī xià ， bǎi lǐ chén cóng huái zhōng tāo chū yī méi lán sè líng pái ， cháo zhe tài yī diàn de fāng xiàng ， dà shēng hǎn dào 。
情急之下，百里尘从怀中掏出一枚蓝色灵牌，朝着太一殿的方向，大声喊道。
The remaining swords in the sword forest trembled.
“ yún shuǐ tiān gōng dì yì bǎi liù shí wǔ dài qīn chuán dì zǐ ， bǎi lǐ chén ， qiú jiàn tài yī zǔ shī ！”
“云水天宫第一百六十五代亲传弟子，百里尘，求见太一祖师！”
"Ho!"
bǎi lǐ chén de shēng yīn bù duàn huí dàng 。
百里尘的声音不断回荡。
With a strange roar, a massive turtle finally fully emerged.
lǐ fán měng dì zhǐ zhù le mài chū de jiǎo bù ， sǐ sǐ dīng zhe qián fāng 。
李凡猛地止住了迈出的脚步，死死盯着前方。
Carrying Taiyi Pavilion on its back, it continued to bellow. Two black snakes emerged from within, one going forward and entwining with the head, while another went backward, opening its bloodstained maw as if serving as a tail.
qì shì huī hóng de tài yī diàn ， cǐ kè huó le guò lái yì bān ， zài bù duàn chàn dǒu zhōng huǎn huǎn shēng shàng bàn kōng 。
气势恢宏的太一殿，此刻活了过来一般，在不断颤抖中缓缓升上半空。
If the visual impact of this monstrous creature was already enough, the scene on its body made Li Fan feel physically uncomfortable.
jiǎo xià de dì miàn kāi shǐ zhèn dòng 。
脚下的地面开始震动。
Every inch of its surface was filled with broken swords. It was impossible to count how many swords were embedded in it.
“ pēng ！”
“砰！”
At first glance, the monster seemed composed entirely of swords.
“ pēng ！”
“砰！”
The tiny sword forest before Taiyi Pavilion appeared as a mere fragment from this creature.
sì tiáo rú tóng tiān zhù yì bān de cū tuǐ ， cóng tài yī diàn xià fāng shēn chū ， měng dì tà zài dì miàn shàng 。
四条如同天柱一般的粗腿，从太一殿下方伸出，猛地踏在地面上。
"Cloud Water Heavenly Palace, Taiyi Ancestor? Has so much time passed that he's still alive? Or has he become something strange like Qin Tang and Insect Path Man?" Li Fan couldn't be sure.
zhēng níng de guài wù tóu lú ， yě rú huàn yǐng jiàng shì bān ， fú xiàn zài lǐ fán yǎn qián 。
狰狞的怪物头颅，也如幻影降世般，浮现在李凡眼前。
In his previous life, there were no rumors about Taiyi Ancestor.
jiàn lín zhōng de cán jiàn ， bù duàn chàn dòng 。
剑林中的残剑，不断颤动。
Li Fan hesitated, observing from a distance.
“ hǒu ！”
“吼！”
Seeing the true form of the ancestor, Bai Li Chen was overwhelmed with emotion. He knelt down and kept bowing.
bàn suí zhe guài yì de hǒu jiào ， yī zhī jù dà de wū guī ， zuì zhōng wán quán xiǎn xiàn 。
伴随着怪异的吼叫，一只巨大的乌龟，最终完全显现。
"Are you Bai Li Chen? A direct disciple of Cloud Water Heavenly Palace?"
jù guī bèi shàng tuó zhe tài yī diàn 。
巨龟背上驮着太一殿。
An old voice responded.
ér suí zhe jù guī bù duàn de háo jiào ， tài yī diàn nèi ， liǎng tiáo hēi sè jù shé cóng zhōng zuān le chū lái 。
而随着巨龟不断的嚎叫，太一殿内，两条黑色巨蛇从中钻了出来。
The monster lowered its head as if trying to see Bai Li Chen clearly.
yī tiáo wǎng qián ， yǔ tóu lú jiū chán zài yì qǐ 。
一条往前，与头颅纠缠在一起。
"I am a descendant of the Bifeng lineage," Bai Li Chen replied in trembling tones.
yī tiáo wǎng hòu ， zhāng zhe xuè pén jù kǒu ， chōng dāng guī wěi 。
一条往后，张着血盆巨口，充当龟尾。
"Fifeng... Yes, that's correct."
rú guǒ shuō zhè guī shé yī tǐ de páng dà guài wù ， zài shì jué shàng yǐ jīng zú gòu chōng jī de huà 。
如果说这龟蛇一体的庞大怪物，在视觉上已经足够冲击的话。
"Then there is still someone from his line alive?" The monster seemed uncertain.
nà me zhè guài wù shēn shàng de chǎng jǐng ， yǐ jīng ràng lǐ fán gǎn dào shēng lǐ bù shì le 。
那么这怪物身上的场景，已经让李凡感到生理不适了。
But it was too old. Even simple thinking was difficult for him.
zhǐ jiàn ：
只见：
The pain from countless broken swords on its body felt like a curse, constantly affecting his thoughts.
guài wù de shēn qū shàng ， měi yī cùn biǎo miàn ， dōu chā mǎn le cán pò de lì jiàn 。
怪物的身躯上，每一寸表面，都插满了残破的利剑。
After a moment of fruitless contemplation, he spoke slowly: "So, what did you awaken me for?"
mì mì má má ， gēn běn kàn bù chū jiū jìng yǒu duō shǎo bǎ jiàn chā zài le guài wù de shēn shàng 。
秘密麻麻，根本看不出究竟有多少把剑插在了怪物的身上。
Bai Li Chen seemed relieved and hurried to say, "I seek the Cloud Water Scroll from Ancestor."
měng dì yī kàn shàng qù ， zhè guài wù fǎng fú gēn běn jiù shì yóu lì jiàn zǔ chéng de yì bān 。
猛地一看上去，这怪物仿佛根本就是由利剑组成的一般。
"The Cloud Water Scroll? What is that? Let me think..."
ér tài yī diàn qián de xiǎo xiǎo jiàn lín ， yě hǎo xiàng zhǐ shì cóng tā shēn shàng diào xià de ， jí qí wēi bù zú dào de yī bù fèn 。
而太一殿前的小小剑林，也好像只是从它身上掉下的，极其微不足道的一部分。
A short while later:
“ yún shuǐ tiān gōng ， tài yī zǔ shī ？ zhè me duō nián guò qù le ， tā hái huó zhe ？ hái shì rú tóng qín táng hé chóng dào rén yī yàng ， biàn chéng le guǐ yì ？” lǐ fán bù gǎn què dìng 。
“云水天宫，太一祖师？这么多年过去了，他还活着？还是如同秦堂和虫道人一样，变成了诡异？”李凡不敢确定。
"Oh. It's this, nothing significant."
zài qián shì ， yě gēn běn méi yǒu sī háo guān yú zhè tài yī zǔ shī de chuán wén 。
在前世，也根本没有丝毫关于这太一祖师的传闻。
The monster's voice held a hint of nostalgia: "Back then,vast sea of sandonce said that only disciples of Cloud Water Heavenly Palace could receive it."
lǐ fán yī shí bù gǎn qīng jǔ wàng dòng ， zhǐ shì zài yuǎn chù guān chá zhe 。
李凡一时不敢轻举妄动，只是在远处观察着。
"You are the descendant of Bifeng..."
bǎi lǐ chén jiàn dào zǔ shī zhēn róng ， jī dòng wàn fēn 。
百里尘见到祖师真容，激动万分。
He hesitated for a moment before continuing.
tā guì le xià lái ， bù duàn kē tóu 。
他跪了下来，不断磕头。
"Then giving it to you seems fine."
“ nǐ jiào bǎi lǐ chén ？ shì wǒ yún shuǐ tiān gōng qīn chuán dì zǐ ？”
“你叫百里尘？是我云水天宫亲传弟子？”
Bai Li Chen's face lit up with joy as he kept bowing. "Thank Ancestor! Thank Ancestor!"
cāng lǎo de shēng yīn xiǎng qǐ 。
苍老的声音响起。
Just as the monster was about to hand over the Cloud Water Scroll, another voice interrupted.
guī shé guài wù wēi wēi dī xià tou lú ， sì hū xiǎng yào kàn qīng bǎi lǐ chén de mú yàng 。
龟蛇怪物微微低下头颅，似乎想要看清百里尘的模样。
"Hold on!"
“ huí bǐng tài yī zǔ shī ， dì zǐ nǎi shì fú yún yī mài 。” bǎi lǐ chén yòng chàn dǒu de shēng yīn huí fù dào 。
“回禀太一祖师，弟子乃是拂云一脉。”百里尘用颤抖的声音回复道。
Bai Li Chen and the monster turned towards the source of the voice.
“ fú yún a ……” cāng lǎo de shēng yīn sì hū xiàn rù le huí yì 。
“拂云啊……”苍老的声音似乎陷入了回忆。
Li Fan had been steadily approaching, his body pierced by sword shadows but unaffected by pain.
“ ń ， shì fú yún yī mài de qì xī méi cuò 。”
“嗯，是拂云一脉的气息没错。”
He took two steps at once, quickly passing through the sword forest before landing gracefully.
“ yuán lái ， nà xiǎo zi shàng qiě hái yǒu hòu rén zài shì ？” guī shé guài wù yǐn yǐn jué de bú duì 。
“原来，那小子尚且还有后人在世？”龟蛇怪物隐隐觉得不对。
Taking a breath, he bowed to the monster: "I am Li Fan, also a direct disciple of Cloud Water Heavenly Palace. I seek Ancestor's blessing for the Cloud Water Scroll!"
dàn tā yǐ jīng tài lǎo le 。
但他已经太老了。
As he spoke, he activated his Cloud Water Illusion Technique.
Two voices rang out simultaneously, echoing in front of the Taiyi Pavilion.
"Impossible! How could you possibly survive from that cursed place?" The two men spoke in unison, their faces filled with disbelief.
Li Fan stood before the sword forest, his arms crossed. He sneered at Si Kong Yi and Bai Li Chen, who looked pale, but said nothing as he stepped onto a sword hilt, as if to chase after them.
A shadow pierced through, followed by an excruciating pain.
Li Fan nearly lost control of his body, teetering on the edge.
Falling from the hilt wouldn't be fatal, just a return to the outermost part of the sword forest and starting over.
Of course, if someone was desperate enough to try crossing above...
They would experience firsthand what it meant to have a thousand swords pierce their heart.
This was the test of the sword forest before Taiyi Pavilion. Unlike other parts of Cloud Water Heavenly Palace, there were no fatal dangers as long as one didn't take unnecessary risks.
At most, one could experience being pierced by countless swords.
In his previous life, many cultivators endured the pain and passed through the sword forest to enter the interior of Taiyi Pavilion.
However...
The grand hall was empty. There was nothing inside!
"Could it be that Si Kong Yi took all the treasures from within the Taiyi Pavilion at the start?"
"Is this the opportunity for cultivation in the Taiyi Pavilion, The Cloud Water Scroll?"
Although he could use his Binding Insects Technique to subdue them now, there was no guarantee he could force them to reveal how they obtained the scroll.
According to Li Fan's knowledge, ancient cultivators had cruel methods to read others' memories forcefully.
Unfortunately, he couldn't do that yet.
So, for safety, it would be better to wait until they revealed the scroll.
Li Fan pondered this as a blue flame illusion appeared in his mind. His body temperature gradually dropped, and he felt incredibly calm and rational.
No external distractions could disturb him.
He stepped forward onto the sword hilt, feeling pain but remaining unafraid.
He walked several steps before stopping to pretend he was resting, to keep a distance from Si Kong Yi and Bai Li Chen without alarming them too much.
Seeing that Li Fan wasn't dead, Si Kong Yi and Bai Li Chen were already shocked. As they approached him, their shock turned into anxiety.
They gritted their teeth and rushed forward several steps.
Four sharp swords pierced them simultaneously, the pain far more than a simple sum of four wounds.
The agony suddenly doubled, making it difficult for them to maintain balance.
Fortunately, just as they were about to fall, they supported each other and managed to steady themselves.
Li Fan took three steps forward, then pretended he was struggling. He kept a distance from the two while maintaining an appearance of determination to catch up.
This gave Si Kong Yi and Bai Li Chen a sense of pressure, like prey being chased by hounds.
They gradually approached Taiyi Pavilion.
Finally, they reached the end of the sword forest.
Jumping off the hilt, they fell to the ground as if exhausted. But Li Fan continued to approach them relentlessly.
In desperation, Bai Li Chen pulled out a blue spirit token and shouted towards Taiyi Pavilion.
"I am the 165th direct disciple of Cloud Water Heavenly Palace, Bai Li Chen. I seek an audience with Taiyi Ancestor!"
Bai Li Chen's voice echoed.
Li Fan suddenly stopped in his tracks, staring ahead intently.
The grand Taiyi Pavilion seemed to come alive, slowly rising into the air as the ground began to shake.
"Bang! Bang!"
Four thick legs like pillars extended from below the pavilion and landed on the ground with force.
A grotesque monster's head appeared before Li Fan, its presence almost tangible.
The remaining swords in the sword forest trembled.
"Ho!"
With a strange roar, a massive turtle finally fully emerged.
Carrying Taiyi Pavilion on its back, it continued to bellow. Two black snakes emerged from within, one going forward and entwining with the head, while another went backward, opening its bloodstained maw as if serving as a tail.
If the visual impact of this monstrous creature was already enough, the scene on its body made Li Fan feel physically uncomfortable.
Every inch of its surface was filled with broken swords. It was impossible to count how many swords were embedded in it.
At first glance, the monster seemed composed entirely of swords.
The tiny sword forest before Taiyi Pavilion appeared as a mere fragment from this creature.
"Cloud Water Heavenly Palace, Taiyi Ancestor? Has so much time passed that he's still alive? Or has he become something strange like Qin Tang and Insect Path Man?" Li Fan couldn't be sure.
In his previous life, there were no rumors about Taiyi Ancestor.
Li Fan hesitated, observing from a distance.
Seeing the true form of the ancestor, Bai Li Chen was overwhelmed with emotion. He knelt down and kept bowing.
"Are you Bai Li Chen? A direct disciple of Cloud Water Heavenly Palace?"
An old voice responded.
The monster lowered its head as if trying to see Bai Li Chen clearly.
"I am a descendant of the Bifeng lineage," Bai Li Chen replied in trembling tones.
"Fifeng... Yes, that's correct."
"Then there is still someone from his line alive?" The monster seemed uncertain.
But it was too old. Even simple thinking was difficult for him.
The pain from countless broken swords on its body felt like a curse, constantly affecting his thoughts.
After a moment of fruitless contemplation, he spoke slowly: "So, what did you awaken me for?"
Bai Li Chen seemed relieved and hurried to say, "I seek the Cloud Water Scroll from Ancestor."
"The Cloud Water Scroll? What is that? Let me think..."
A short while later:
"Oh. It's this, nothing significant."
The monster's voice held a hint of nostalgia: "Back then,vast sea of sandonce said that only disciples of Cloud Water Heavenly Palace could receive it."
"You are the descendant of Bifeng..."
He hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"Then giving it to you seems fine."
Bai Li Chen's face lit up with joy as he kept bowing. "Thank Ancestor! Thank Ancestor!"
Just as the monster was about to hand over the Cloud Water Scroll, another voice interrupted.
"Hold on!"
Bai Li Chen and the monster turned towards the source of the voice.
Li Fan had been steadily approaching, his body pierced by sword shadows but unaffected by pain.
He took two steps at once, quickly passing through the sword forest before landing gracefully.
Taking a breath, he bowed to the monster: "I am Li Fan, also a direct disciple of Cloud Water Heavenly Palace. I seek Ancestor's blessing for the Cloud Water Scroll!"
As he spoke, he activated his Cloud Water Illusion Technique.