“ kǒng pà zhōng shén tōng xiǎo xiǎo de zhù jī xiū shì ， néng gòu jiāng qī cǎi yù xū liú guāng zhè děng bǎo wù jù wéi jǐ yǒu ， ér bù bèi bié rén qiǎng duó 。 yě shì yīn wèi jiāo chū diào yú chí ， ér huò dé de bì yòu 。” lǐ fán xīn zhōng yǒu xiē gǎn tàn 。
“恐怕钟神通小小的筑基修士，能够将七彩玉虚鎏光这等宝物据为己有，而不被别人抢夺。也是因为交出钓鱼池，而获得的庇佑。”李凡心中有些感叹。
"Perhaps it's not such a bad thing that little Foundation Establishment cultivator, Zhong Shentong, managed to possess this Seven-Colored Jade Void Luminescence treasure and prevent others from taking it," Li Fan mused.
yuán běn tā bù yīng gāi hū shì zhè yì diǎn de 。 kě xiān shì xǐ huò zhì bǎo ， ér hòu yòu tū pò chéng gōng 。 shǐ de tā de xīn tài yǒu xiē piāo piāo rán 。
原本他不应该忽视这一点的。可先是喜获至宝，而后又突破成功。使得他的心态有些飘飘然。
He shouldn't have overlooked this detail originally. But after his unexpected acquisition of the treasure and subsequent breakthrough success, he had become a bit overconfident.
biàn zhè qī qiāo zhī chù gěi hū lüè le 。
便这蹊跷之处给忽略了。
Thus, this peculiar aspect was easily brushed aside.
“ bù guò què yě bú shì shén me huài shì 。 zuì qǐ mǎ ， zhī dào le zhè qī cǎi shén guāng qīng yì dòng yòng bù dé 。 yǐ jí yǐn chū le zhè zūn dà lǎo 。” lǐ fán bù dòng shēng sè de cháo zhe shēn hòu de shí bǎn shū shēng kàn qù 。
“不过却也不是什么坏事。最起码，知道了这七彩神光轻易动用不得。以及引出了这尊大老。”李凡不动声色的朝着身后的石板书生看去。
"However, it's not necessarily a bad thing either. At least now I know that this Seven-Colored Luminescence can't be used lightly, and I've met this venerable elder," Li Fan silently observed as he glanced at the stone tablet scholar behind him.
dì mài bēn liú zhōng ， shū shēng zhǐ gēn pǔ tōng rén zǒu lù bān ， bù jǐn bù màn 。 ér yì bān huì duì chuǎng rù qí zhōng de xiū shì fā dòng gōng jī de dì mài gǔ shù ， cǐ kè yì diǎn yì dòng yě méi yǒu 。
地脉奔流中，书生只跟普通人走路般，不紧不慢。而一般会对闯入其中的修士发动攻击的地脉古树，此刻一点异动也没有。
The underground river flowed steadily, with the scholar walking like any ordinary person, neither hurrying nor slowing down. The ancient trees that usually attacked intruders showed no signs of movement.
shèn shì píng jìng 。 shèn zhì lián lín líng de hū huàn dōu yì diǎn dōu bù kěn huí yìng 。 lǐ fán xīn zhōng àn mà yī shēng ， shǐ huàn zhe lín líng jì xù gǎn lù 。
甚是平静。甚至连林灵的呼唤都一点都不肯回应。李凡心中暗骂一声，使唤着林灵继续赶路。
There was an unusual calmness; even Lin Ling's calls went unanswered. Li Fan cursed inwardly and urged Lin Ling to continue their journey.
yǔ cǐ tóng shí ， jiǔ shān zhōu 。 zhī qián de jiē tóu dì diǎn 。 lǐ fán yǔ shū shēng gòng tóng lí qù hòu bù jiǔ 。 yī wèi wǔ lǎo huì dǎ bàn de xiū shì shān shān lái chí 。
与此同时，九山州。之前的接头地点。李凡与书生共同离去后不久。一位五老会打扮的修士姗姗来迟。
Meanwhile, in Jiushan Province, the original rendezvous point. Not long after Li Fan and the scholar left, a cultivator dressed as one of the Five Elders arrived tardily.
děng hòu le xǔ jiǔ ， dōu méi jiàn dào yǒu rén chū xiàn 。 bù jīn yī tóu wù shuǐ 。…… yōng yùn zhōu 。 shān jiān xiǎo miào zhōng ， diào yú chí wài 。
等候了许久，都没见到有人出现。不禁一头雾水。……雍韵州。山间小庙中，钓鱼池外。
After waiting for a while without seeing anyone appear, he was thoroughly puzzled.
“ qián bèi qǐng kàn 。” lǐ fán gōng jìng de zhǐ zhe qián fāng de xiǎo chí táng ， shuō dào 。 yóu yú lái zhī qián ， jì shào lí tí qián dǎ guò zhāo hū ， suǒ yǐ zhōng shén tōng yǐ jīng zhī dào le huì yǒu rén qián lái 。
“前辈请看。”李凡恭敬的指着前方的小池塘，说道。由于来之前，季绍离提前打过招呼，所以钟神通已经知道了会有人前来。
In Yongyun Province, at a small temple nestled among the mountains, outside the fishing pond:
tā kàn zhe shí bǎn shū shēng gēn lǐ fán ， dà qì dōu bù gǎn chū 。 jiāng liú lí hù zài shēn hòu ， sǐ sǐ àn zhù tā xiǎng shēng ráo yǒu xìng qù de dǎ liàng le xǔ jiǔ 。
他看着石板书生跟李凡，大气都不敢出。将琉璃护在身后，死死按住她想生饶有兴趣的打量了许久。
"Please take a look," Li Fan respectfully pointed to the small pond and said. Ji Shao Li had informed Zhong Shentong beforehand that someone would come.
“ bù guò shì zài pǔ tōng bù guò de xiǎo chí táng bà le ……”
“不过是再普通不过的小池塘罢了……”
Zhong Shentong watched the stone tablet scholar and Li Fan with bated breath, shielding the lustrous fish behind him while scrutinizing her intently.
“ nán bù chéng ， yǒu shén me xuán xū ？” shū shēng lái le xìng qù 。 lǐ fán yǎn shén shì yì zhōng shén tōng shàng qián yǎn shì 。
“难不成，有什么玄虚？”书生来了兴趣。李凡眼神示意钟神通上前演示。
"It's just an ordinary small pond..."
“ jīn tiān de cì shù yǐ jīng yòng jǐn le 。” zhōng shén tōng yǒu xiē wú nài de shuō dào 。 lǐ fán jiàn zhuàng ， zhǐ dé qīn zì chū mǎ 。
“今天的次数已经用尽了。”钟神通有些无奈的说道。李凡见状，只得亲自出马。
"Could there be some hidden meaning?" The scholar showed interest. Li Fan gestured for Zhong Shentong to demonstrate.
duān zuò yú chí táng biān ， zhèng jīn wēi zuò 。 huī gān chuí diào 。 xià yī kè ， shí bǎn shū shēng de yǎn móu zhōng ， bào fā chū qí yì de sè cǎi 。
端坐于池塘边，正襟危坐。挥杆垂钓。下一刻，石板书生的眼眸中，爆发出奇异的色彩。
"I've used up my quota for today," Zhong Shentong said with a hint of helplessness. Seeing this, Li Fan had no choice but to step in.
děng dào lǐ fán shōu gān fǎn huí ， jiāng tā shǒu lǐ de bái sè guāng tuán jié guǒ chá kàn ， zhè cái huǎng rán dà wù 。
等到李凡收杆返回，将他手里的白色光团结果查看，这才恍然大悟。
He sat by the pond and cast his rod, fishing. In the next moment, an unusual color burst into Zhong Shentong's eyes.
“ yuán lái rú cǐ 。” tā pò bù jí dài de shàng qián ， xiǎng yào yě yī shì jiū jìng 。 lǐ fán zhèng yù chū shēng tí xǐng ， diào yú chí de zhèng què shǐ yòng fāng fǎ 。
“原来如此。”他迫不及待的上前，想要也一试究竟。李凡正欲出声提醒，钓鱼池的正确使用方法。
Only after Li Fan reeled in and examined the white light ball did he realize:
què jiàn shí bǎn shū shēng chén yín piàn kè ， ér hòu shēn xíng yī zhèn mó hú ， què shì zhí jiē biàn huàn le yàng mào ！ nà fù mú yàng de zhǔ rén ， lǐ fán yě shí fēn shú xī 。
却见石板书生沉吟片刻，而后身形一阵模湖，却是直接变幻了样貌！那副模样的主人，李凡也十分熟悉。
"Ah, I see." He eagerly stepped forward, eager to try it himself. Just as Li Fan was about to remind him of the correct usage method for the fishing pond, he saw Zhong Shentong hesitate before his figure blurred.
zhèng shì fēng fēng diān diān de yú fù ！ zhǐ shì bèi hòu de yú lǒu ， huàn chéng le chén zhòng de qīng sè shí bǎn ！
正是疯疯癫癫的渔父！只是背后的鱼篓，换成了沉重的青色石板！
Suddenly, he transformed into a different appearance! The owner of this appearance was familiar to Li Fan—Mad Fisherman!
“ duì le ， wàng le gēn nǐ shuō le 。 zhè shū shēng ， bìng fēi wǒ yuán běn de yàng mào 。”
“对了，忘了跟你说了。这书生，并非我原本的样貌。”
But instead of a fish basket, it now carried a heavy green stone slab.
“ ér shì wǒ mó páng de wǔ lǎo huì nà wèi 。”
“而是我模彷的五老会那位。”
"By the way, I forgot to tell you. This scholar is not my original form."
“ yú fù ” xiào le xiào ， zuǐ lǐ hēng chàng zhe shén me ， yī gān pāo chū 。 kàn qí shén qíng yǔ zī tài ， jī hū gēn zhēn zhèng de yú fù méi yǒu chā bié 。
“渔父”笑了笑，嘴里哼唱着什么，一杆抛出。看其神情与姿态，几乎跟真正的渔父没有差别。
"It's a copy of one from the Five Elders Association," Zhong Shentong added.
lǐ fán xīn zhōng yī chén 。 zhī qián de zāo yù ， qí shí tā duì zhè wèi cháng shēng jìng de qiáng zhě ， xīn lǐ bù miǎn yǒu xiē qīng shì de 。
李凡心中一沉。之前的遭遇，其实他对这位长生境的强者，心里不免有些轻视的。
The Mad Fisherman smiled and hummed something as he cast his rod. His demeanor was almost identical to that of an actual fisherman.
bì jìng chuàng shì shí bǎn de jiān kòng gōng néng ， zhǐ zài bù fèn qū yù qǐ zuò yòng 。 ér zhè wèi méi néng kàn chū zì jǐ de lái lì ， yòu gēn xún cháng xiū shì yī yàng ， jiàn dào zhì bǎo diào yú chí hòu mǎn shì xīn xǐ 。
毕竟创世石板的监控功能，只在部分区域起作用。而这位没能看出自己的来历，又跟寻常修士一样，见到至宝钓鱼池后满是欣喜。
Li Fan felt a sinking sensation. He had underestimated this immortal realm cultivator before, despite the monitoring function of the Creation Stone only working in certain areas. Zhong Shentong hadn't recognized him, and like other cultivators, he was overjoyed upon seeing the treasure fishing pond.
wú xíng zhī zhōng ， jiù bǎ tā de
无形之中，就把他的
This inadvertently reduced his "status." However, it seemed that even this Mad Fisherman was well-hidden. Although not a reverse-natured path to enlightenment, he couldn't be underestimated either.
“ bī gé ” gěi jiàng dī le xǔ duō 。 bù guò xiàn zài kàn lái …… zhè wèi tóng yàng yǐn cáng de hěn shēn 。 suī bú shì nì tiān zhī lǐ chéng dào ， dàn yě jué duì bù róng xiǎo qù 。
“逼格”给降低了许多。不过现在看来……这位同样隐藏的很深。虽不是逆天之理成道，但也绝对不容小觑。
Li Fan stood by silently, unwilling to make any moves. Zhong Shentong remained as still as a statue, his expression and body frozen in place.
lǐ fán zhàn lì yī páng ， bù gǎn wàng dòng 。 zhōng shén tōng gèng shì wán quán rú zūn diāo xiàng bān ， liǎn shàng de biǎo qíng yǐ jí shēn qū yǐ jīng níng gù 。
李凡站立一旁，不敢妄动。钟神通更是完全如尊凋像般，脸上的表情以及身躯已经凝固。
Only Lin Ling and Lustrous Fish dared to secretly watch the stone tablet Mad Fisherman. His first fishing process was unusually long.
zài chǎng wéi yǒu lín líng gēn liú lí ， liǎng wèi dǎn zi dà de ， qiāo mī mī dīng zhe shí bǎn yú fù 。 yú fù de dì yī cì chuí diào guò chéng ， gé wài màn cháng 。
在场唯有林灵跟琉璃，两位胆子大的，悄咪咪盯着石板渔父。渔父的第一次垂钓过程，格外漫长。
He seemed deeply engrossed in it, remaining seated for half a day without moving.
ér tā sì hū yě shí fēn chén jìn zài zhè ge chuí diào de guò chéng zhōng 。 zhí dào dà bàn tiān zhī hòu ， yī jiù duān zuò bù dòng 。
而他似乎也十分沉浸在这个垂钓的过程中。直到大半天之后，依旧端坐不动。
Li Fan began to doubt whether he had failed but was still putting on an act. However, as a brilliant golden light reappeared in the small temple, his doubts vanished.
yǐ zhì yú lǐ fán huái yí ， tā shì bú shì yǐ jīng shī bài le ， bù guò réng zài zhuāng zhuāng yàng zi 。 bù guò ， suí zhe yī dào cuǐ càn de jīn sè guāng máng ， zài dù chū xiàn zài shān jiān xiǎo miào lǐ 。
以致于李凡怀疑，他是不是已经失败了，不过仍在装装样子。不过，随着一道璀璨的金色光芒，再度出现在山间小庙里。
Seeing the golden light ball in the Mad Fisherman's hand, Li Fan couldn't help feeling lost. Zhong Shentong was equally stunned, unable to believe what he saw.
lǐ fán de zhì yí hěn kuài jiù xiāo sàn wú zōng 。 kàn zhe shí bǎn yú fù shǒu zhōng de jīn sè guāng tuán ， lǐ fán bù yóu dì yǒu diǎn huái yí rén shēng 。
李凡的质疑很快就消散无踪。看着石板渔父手中的金色光团，李凡不由地有点怀疑人生。
The Mad Fisherman stared at the light ball for a moment: "The Imperial Qi Codex?"
ér zhōng shén tōng yě shì dāi ruò mù jī ， gēn běn bù gǎn xiāng xìn zì jǐ de yǎn jīng 。 shí bǎn yú fù dīng zhe guāng tuán kàn le huì ：“《 tiān dì qì diǎn 》？”
而钟神通也是呆若木鸡，根本不敢相信自己的眼睛。石板渔父盯着光团看了会：“《天帝气典》？”
"Accomplishing the status of an emperor in this world by gathering the essence and fortune of all beings... becoming a powerhouse comparable to an immortal realm cultivator without cultivation..."
“ chéng jiù shì jiān dì zūn ， níng jù zhòng shēng 、 wáng cháo qì yùn 。 bù yòng xiū liàn ， jiù kě chéng wéi kān bǐ cháng shēng jìng de qiáng zhě ……”
“成就世间帝尊，凝聚众生、王朝气运。不用修炼，就可成为堪比长生境的强者……”
"This life is just about fighting and killing. It's not interesting," the Mad Fisherman said boredly, "I'll give it to you."
“ chéng tiān zhǐ xiǎng zhe dǎ dǎ shā shā ， zhēn méi yì si 。” shí bǎn yú fù bǎi wú liáo lài ：“ gěi nǐ men ba 。” shuō zhe ， suí shǒu jiù bǎ jīn sè guāng tuán cháo lǐ fán zhòng rén rēng le guò lái 。
“成天只想着打打杀杀，真没意思。”石板渔父百无聊赖：“给你们吧。”说着，随手就把金色光团朝李凡众人扔了过来。
He casually tossed the golden light ball towards Li Fan and his companions.
suī rán zhōng shén tōng yě xiǎng shēn chū shǒu qù jiē ， bù guò zài lǐ fán yǐn yǒu shā yì de yǎn shén shì yì zhōng ， hái shì bù gǎn fàng sì 。
虽然钟神通也想伸出手去接，不过在李凡隐有杀意的眼神示意中，还是不敢放肆。
Although Zhong Shentong also wanted to reach out, he hesitated under Li Fan's threatening gaze.
jiē guò jīn sè guāng tuán ， lǐ fán xùn sù chá kàn le yī fān 。 lǐ miàn de nèi róng gēn shí bǎn yú fù suǒ shuō yí zhì 。
接过金色光团，李凡迅速查看了一番。里面的内容跟石板渔父所说一致。
After receiving the golden light ball, Li Fan quickly examined its contents. They matched what the Mad Fisherman had said.
nǎi shì yí gè méi yǒu líng qì de shì jiè zhōng ， suǒ liú chuán de dú tè xiū xíng fǎ mén 。
乃是一个没有灵气的世界中，所流传的独特修行法门。
It was a unique cultivation technique from a world devoid of spirit energy.
“ dào yě shì jiàng xīn dú yùn 。”
“倒也是匠心独韵。”
"Still a clever idea."
“ zhǐ kě xī ， xiǎng yào qì yùn níng jù chéng diǎn jí zhōng de guī mó ， fēi shù bǎi nián 、 shí duō dài rén qián fù hòu jì gòng tóng nǔ lì bù kě 。”
“只可惜，想要气运凝聚成典籍中的规模，非数百年、十多代人前赴后继共同努力不可。”
"Unfortunately, achieving such an accumulation of fortune would require generations of effort over centuries," Li Fan lamented but still carefully stored it in his storage ring.
“ jī lèi 。” lǐ fán yǒu xiē yí hàn de píng jià dào ， bù guò hái shì zhèng zhòng de jiāng qí shōu zài chǔ wù jiè zhōng 。
“鸡肋。”李凡有些遗憾的评价道，不过还是郑重的将其收在储物戒中。
Looking at the Mad Fisherman, who continued to fish, Li Fan said, "Senior, this fishing pond only offers one chance per day." The Mad Fisherman yawned: "I know."
kàn zhe shí bǎn yú fù ， jiàn duì fāng yī jiù hái shì zài chuí diào de mú yàng ， lǐ fán bù jīn shuō dào ：“ qián bèi ， zhè diào yú chí ， yī tiān zhǐ yǒu yī cì de jī huì 。” shí bǎn yú fù dǎ le gè hā qiàn ：“ wǒ zhī dào 。”
看着石板渔父，见对方依旧还是在垂钓的模样，李凡不禁说道：“前辈，这钓鱼池，一天只有一次的机会。”石板渔父打了个哈欠：“我知道。”
"But I'm just fishing," he added. Li Fan was taken aback. It seemed that the Mad Fisherman truly enjoyed the process of fishing.
“ dàn wǒ yě zhǐ shì dān chún de diào yú ér yǐ 。” lǐ fán bù jīn è rán 。 shí bǎn yú fù sì hū zhēn de jí wéi xiǎng shòu diào yú de guò chéng 。
“但我也只是单纯的钓鱼而已。”李凡不禁愕然。石板渔父似乎真的极为享受钓鱼的过程。
He didn't care whether he could catch a light ball or not, unlike Zhong Shentong and Li Fan who were more like true fishermen.
ér bìng bù zài yì shì fǒu néng diào shàng lái guāng tuán fǎ bǎo 。 gēn zhōng shén tōng 、 lǐ fán xiāng bǐ ， tā wǎn rú yí gè zhēn zhèng de diào zhě 。
而并不在意是否能钓上来光团法宝。跟钟神通、李凡相比，他宛如一个真正的钓者。
"From now on, I'll stay here."
“ cóng jīn wǎng hòu ， wǒ jiù zài zhè zhù xià le 。”
“从今往后，我就在这住下了。”
"Don't worry about me; just pretend I'm not here," the Mad Fisherman said. "Whatever I catch, you can have it all."
“ nǐ men bù bì jǐn zhāng ， jiù dāng wǒ bù cún zài jiù shì le 。”
“你们不必紧张，就当我不存在就是了。”
The Mad Fisherman's sudden statement left Li Fan speechless. Even if he had anticipated this, how could he ignore such a powerful immortal realm cultivator?
“ diào shàng lái de dōng xī ， wǒ yě bú yào 。 quán dōu jiāo gěi nǐ men 。” shí bǎn yú fù hū de chū shēng dào 。 xīn lǐ zǎo yǒu yù liào ， dàn jí biàn duì fāng zhè me shuō ， lǐ fán yòu zěn me kě néng wú shì zhè me yī zūn cháng shēng jìng qiáng zhě ？
“钓上来的东西，我也不要。全都交给你们。”石板渔父忽的出声道。心里早有预料，但即便对方这么说，李凡又怎么可能无视这么一尊长生境强者？
"Senior, do you plan to find something useful from this fishing pond?" The Mad Fisherman seemed harmless.
“ qián bèi ， mò fēi nǐ xiǎng cóng zhè diào yú chí zhōng ， zhǎo dào shén me yǒu yòng de dōng xī ？” shí bǎn yú fù sì hū bìng méi yǒu shén me è yì 。
“前辈，莫非你想从这钓鱼池中，找到什么有用的东西？”石板渔父似乎并没有什么恶意。
Li Fan asked boldly. The Mad Fisherman replied straightforwardly: "Yes. In the Yellow-Black World, there's nothing that can remove my stone slab."
lǐ fán zhuàng zhe dǎn zi wèn dào 。 shí bǎn yú fù de huí dá yě shí fēn gān cuì ：“ shì a 。 xuán huáng jiè zhōng ， méi yǒu néng jiāng wǒ bèi hòu shí bǎn xiè xià lái de dōng xī 。”
李凡壮着胆子问道。石板渔父的回答也十分干脆：“是啊。玄黄界中，没有能将我背后石板卸下来的东西。”
"There might be something in this fishing pond," his answer surprised Li Fan, leaving him silent.
“ huò xǔ zhè diào yú chí zhōng ， kě néng cún zài 。” zhè ge dá ān ràng lǐ fán yǒu xiē shǐ liào wèi jí ， bù yóu xiàn rù le chén mò zhī zhōng 。
“或许这钓鱼池中，可能存在。”这个答桉让李凡有些始料未及，不由陷入了沉默之中。
Zhong Shentong and Lustrous Fish looked curiously at the ancient stone slab on the Mad Fisherman's back.
ér zhōng shén tōng 、 liú lí ， zé shì mǎn shì hào qí de ， kàn xiàng le duì fāng bèi hòu nà kuài gǔ piáo de shí bǎn 。
而钟神通、琉璃，则是满是好奇的，看向了对方背后那块古朴的石板。
"Too tiring. Too painful." The Mad Fisherman sighed as he fished.
“ tài lèi le 。 tài tòng kǔ le 。” shí bǎn yú fù yī biān chuí diào ， yī biān cháng tàn 。
“太累了。太痛苦了。”石板渔父一边垂钓，一边长叹。
"The events happening in the Yellow-Black World every moment."
“ xuán huáng jiè ， měi shí měi kè fā shēng de shì qíng 。”
“玄黄界，每时每刻发生的事情。”
"You can't control whether you want to know or not; they still appear in your mind."
“ jiù suàn nǐ bù xiǎng zhī dào ， yě kòng zhì bú zhù de chū xiàn zài nǎo hǎi zhōng 。”
“就算你不想知道，也控制不住的出现在脑海中。”
"Do you think it's a good thing?" The Mad Fisherman shook his head repeatedly.
“ nǐ men yǐ wéi shì jiàn hǎo shì ？” shí bǎn yú fù lián lián yáo tóu 。
“你们以为是件好事？”石板渔父连连摇头。
"At first, I tried splitting my head open directly."
“ zuì chū de shí hòu ， wǒ cháng shì guò bǎ zì jǐ de nǎo dài zhí jiē pī kāi 。”
“最初的时候，我尝试过把自己的脑袋直接噼开。”
"But the stone slab doesn't break, and neither do I."
“ kě shí bǎn bù miè ， wǒ jiù bù sǐ 。”
“可石板不灭，我就不死。”
"Even if I'm just a skeleton, memories still haunt me."
"Perhaps it's not such a bad thing that little Foundation Establishment cultivator, Zhong Shentong, managed to possess this Seven-Colored Jade Void Luminescence treasure and prevent others from taking it," Li Fan mused.
He shouldn't have overlooked this detail originally. But after his unexpected acquisition of the treasure and subsequent breakthrough success, he had become a bit overconfident.
Thus, this peculiar aspect was easily brushed aside.
"However, it's not necessarily a bad thing either. At least now I know that this Seven-Colored Luminescence can't be used lightly, and I've met this venerable elder," Li Fan silently observed as he glanced at the stone tablet scholar behind him.
The underground river flowed steadily, with the scholar walking like any ordinary person, neither hurrying nor slowing down. The ancient trees that usually attacked intruders showed no signs of movement.
There was an unusual calmness; even Lin Ling's calls went unanswered. Li Fan cursed inwardly and urged Lin Ling to continue their journey.
Meanwhile, in Jiushan Province, the original rendezvous point. Not long after Li Fan and the scholar left, a cultivator dressed as one of the Five Elders arrived tardily.
After waiting for a while without seeing anyone appear, he was thoroughly puzzled.
In Yongyun Province, at a small temple nestled among the mountains, outside the fishing pond:
"Please take a look," Li Fan respectfully pointed to the small pond and said. Ji Shao Li had informed Zhong Shentong beforehand that someone would come.
Zhong Shentong watched the stone tablet scholar and Li Fan with bated breath, shielding the lustrous fish behind him while scrutinizing her intently.
"It's just an ordinary small pond..."
"Could there be some hidden meaning?" The scholar showed interest. Li Fan gestured for Zhong Shentong to demonstrate.
"I've used up my quota for today," Zhong Shentong said with a hint of helplessness. Seeing this, Li Fan had no choice but to step in.
He sat by the pond and cast his rod, fishing. In the next moment, an unusual color burst into Zhong Shentong's eyes.
Only after Li Fan reeled in and examined the white light ball did he realize:
"Ah, I see." He eagerly stepped forward, eager to try it himself. Just as Li Fan was about to remind him of the correct usage method for the fishing pond, he saw Zhong Shentong hesitate before his figure blurred.
Suddenly, he transformed into a different appearance! The owner of this appearance was familiar to Li Fan—Mad Fisherman!
But instead of a fish basket, it now carried a heavy green stone slab.
"By the way, I forgot to tell you. This scholar is not my original form."
"It's a copy of one from the Five Elders Association," Zhong Shentong added.
The Mad Fisherman smiled and hummed something as he cast his rod. His demeanor was almost identical to that of an actual fisherman.
Li Fan felt a sinking sensation. He had underestimated this immortal realm cultivator before, despite the monitoring function of the Creation Stone only working in certain areas. Zhong Shentong hadn't recognized him, and like other cultivators, he was overjoyed upon seeing the treasure fishing pond.
This inadvertently reduced his "status." However, it seemed that even this Mad Fisherman was well-hidden. Although not a reverse-natured path to enlightenment, he couldn't be underestimated either.
Li Fan stood by silently, unwilling to make any moves. Zhong Shentong remained as still as a statue, his expression and body frozen in place.
Only Lin Ling and Lustrous Fish dared to secretly watch the stone tablet Mad Fisherman. His first fishing process was unusually long.
He seemed deeply engrossed in it, remaining seated for half a day without moving.
Li Fan began to doubt whether he had failed but was still putting on an act. However, as a brilliant golden light reappeared in the small temple, his doubts vanished.
Seeing the golden light ball in the Mad Fisherman's hand, Li Fan couldn't help feeling lost. Zhong Shentong was equally stunned, unable to believe what he saw.
The Mad Fisherman stared at the light ball for a moment: "The Imperial Qi Codex?"
"Accomplishing the status of an emperor in this world by gathering the essence and fortune of all beings... becoming a powerhouse comparable to an immortal realm cultivator without cultivation..."
"This life is just about fighting and killing. It's not interesting," the Mad Fisherman said boredly, "I'll give it to you."
He casually tossed the golden light ball towards Li Fan and his companions.
Although Zhong Shentong also wanted to reach out, he hesitated under Li Fan's threatening gaze.
After receiving the golden light ball, Li Fan quickly examined its contents. They matched what the Mad Fisherman had said.
It was a unique cultivation technique from a world devoid of spirit energy.
"Still a clever idea."
"Unfortunately, achieving such an accumulation of fortune would require generations of effort over centuries," Li Fan lamented but still carefully stored it in his storage ring.
Looking at the Mad Fisherman, who continued to fish, Li Fan said, "Senior, this fishing pond only offers one chance per day." The Mad Fisherman yawned: "I know."
"But I'm just fishing," he added. Li Fan was taken aback. It seemed that the Mad Fisherman truly enjoyed the process of fishing.
He didn't care whether he could catch a light ball or not, unlike Zhong Shentong and Li Fan who were more like true fishermen.
"From now on, I'll stay here."
"Don't worry about me; just pretend I'm not here," the Mad Fisherman said. "Whatever I catch, you can have it all."
The Mad Fisherman's sudden statement left Li Fan speechless. Even if he had anticipated this, how could he ignore such a powerful immortal realm cultivator?
"Senior, do you plan to find something useful from this fishing pond?" The Mad Fisherman seemed harmless.
Li Fan asked boldly. The Mad Fisherman replied straightforwardly: "Yes. In the Yellow-Black World, there's nothing that can remove my stone slab."
"There might be something in this fishing pond," his answer surprised Li Fan, leaving him silent.
Zhong Shentong and Lustrous Fish looked curiously at the ancient stone slab on the Mad Fisherman's back.
"Too tiring. Too painful." The Mad Fisherman sighed as he fished.
"The events happening in the Yellow-Black World every moment."
"You can't control whether you want to know or not; they still appear in your mind."
"Do you think it's a good thing?" The Mad Fisherman shook his head repeatedly.
"At first, I tried splitting my head open directly."
"But the stone slab doesn't break, and neither do I."
"Even if I'm just a skeleton, memories still haunt me."