shí bǎn yú fù de huà ， xià dé liú lí gēn lín líng liǎn sè fā bái 。
石板渔父的话，吓得琉璃跟林灵脸色发白。
The words of the Stoneboard Fisherman scared Liu Li and Lin Ling so much that their faces turned pale.
lǐ fán yě shì shén qíng níng zhòng 。
李凡也是神情凝重。
Li Fan's expression was also grave. Every moment, he had to endure countless pieces of information, yet could not die...
měi shí kè měi kè ， dōu yào bèi pò jiē shòu wú shù xìn xī 。 qiú sǐ ér bù dé ……
每时刻每刻，都要被迫接受无数信息。求死而不得……
This indeed was an extremely painful experience.
zhè dí què shì yī jiàn jí duān tòng kǔ de shì qíng 。
这的确是一件极端痛苦的事情。
"If we really find a method in this fishing pond to sever the connection between the Stoneboard and Senior," Li Fan asked timidly after a brief silence inside the small temple, "would Senior die?"
“ rú guǒ zhēn de cóng zhè diào yú chí zhōng ， zhǎo dào néng gòu zhǎn duàn shí bǎn gēn qián bèi lián xì de fāng fǎ 。 nà me qián bèi huì sǐ me ？” xiǎo miào nèi ān jìng le piàn kè ， lǐ fán zhuàng zhe dǎn zi wèn dào 。
“如果真的从这钓鱼池中，找到能够斩断石板跟前辈联系的方法。那么前辈会死么？”小庙内安静了片刻，李凡壮着胆子问道。
The Stoneboard Fisherman chuckled lightly. He still faced the water, his voice soft yet profound: "I am just tired of living and want it to be easier. I'm not thinking about dying."
shí bǎn yú fù qīng xiào yī shēng ， yī jiù miàn duì zhe chí shuǐ ， yǔ qì yōu yōu dào ：“ wǒ shì huó de tài lèi ， xiǎng huó de qīng sōng diǎn 。 bú shì bù xiǎng huó le 。”
石板渔父轻笑一声，依旧面对着池水，语气幽幽道：“我是活的太累，想活的轻松点。不是不想活了。”
Li Fan understood.
lǐ fán liǎo rán 。
李凡了然。
After finishing speaking, the Stoneboard Fisherman closed his eyes, appearing as if he didn't want to be disturbed. Li Fan then brought Zhong Tianshen and Liu Li into the small temple.
shí bǎn yú fù shuō wán ， biàn jiāng yǎn jīng bì shàng 。 yī fù bù xiǎng bèi dǎ rǎo de yàng zi ， yú shì lǐ fán biàn jiāng zhōng shén tōng 、 liú lí dài dào xiǎo miào nèi 。
石板渔父说完，便将眼睛闭上。一副不想被打扰的样子，于是李凡便将钟神通、琉璃带到小庙内。
"Senior, who is that?" Zhong Tianshen asked nervously.
“ qián bèi ， nà wèi shì ……” zhōng shén tōng zhuì zhuì bù ān dì wèn dào 。
“前辈，那位是……”钟神通惴惴不安地问道。
"If you know too much, it won't benefit you. Just serve me loyally," Li Fan said coldly.
“ zhī dào de tài guò ， duì nǐ méi yǒu hǎo chù 。 xiǎo xīn shì fèng zuǒ yòu biàn shì 。 nà wèi zhǐ yào néng suí biàn tí diǎn jǐ jù ， duì nǐ ér yán dōu shì yī cháng dà zào huà 。” lǐ fán lěng shēng dào 。
“知道的太过，对你没有好处。小心侍奉左右便是。那位只要能随便提点几句，对你而言都是一场大造化。”李凡冷声道。
Zhong Tianshen nodded hurriedly.
zhōng shén tōng lián máng diǎn tóu 。
钟神通连忙点头。
Li Fan then turned to Lin Ling: "From now on, whatever Senior catches will be kept by you. I'll come and collect them regularly."
lǐ fán yòu kàn xiàng lín líng ：“ yǐ hòu qián bèi diào shàng lái de dōng xī ， dōu yóu nǐ shōu zhe 。 wǒ huì dìng qī guò lái jiē shōu 。”
李凡又看向林灵：“以后前辈钓上来的东西，都由你收着。我会定期过来接收。”
Lin Ling naturally agreed.
lín líng zì shì yīng xià 。
林灵自是应下。
Finally, Li Fan's gaze fell upon Little Liu Li.
zuì hòu ， lǐ fán jiāng shì xiàn luò zài xiǎo liú lí shēn shàng 。
最后，李凡将视线落在小琉璃身上。
This mysterious Little Liu Li was a transparent fruit that had transformed from the fishing pond. It belonged to the Golden Light grade of creation, at least above the Formation Realm level—definitely not something to be taken lightly.
zhè xiǎo liú lí ， lái lì shén mì 。 nǎi shì zhōng shén tōng zì diào yú chí zhōng diào shàng lái de ， tòu míng guǒ shí huà xíng ér chéng 。 jīn guāng jí bié de zào wù ， zuì qǐ mǎ yě shì hé dào zhī shàng jí bié de ， jué duì bù róng xiǎo qù 。
这小琉璃，来历神秘。乃是钟神通自钓鱼池中钓上来的，透明果实化形而成。金光级别的造物，最起码也是合道之上级别的，绝对不容小觑。
However, its true nature remained unclear for now. But with an innocent and naive young Taoist, Li Fan had plenty of ways to handle him.
zhǐ shì mù qián réng rán mō bù qīng dǐ xì 。 bù guò ， yí gè háo wú xīn jī de xiǎo dào tóng ， lǐ fán yǒu de shì bàn fǎ ná niē 。
只是目前仍然摸不清底细。不过，一个毫无心机的小道童，李凡有的是办法拿捏。
With a kind face, Li Fan gently advised Little Liu Li that the Stoneboard Fisherman Senior was a good person who didn't need to fear.
lù chū yī fù hé ǎi de miàn róng ， lǐ fán róu shēng dīng zhǔ liú lí ， shí bǎn yú fù qián bèi shì gè dà hǎo rén ， bù bì hài pà tā 。
露出一副和蔼的面容，李凡柔声叮嘱琉璃，石板渔父前辈是个大好人，不必害怕他。
He could accompany him in fishing whenever he wanted.
kě yǐ méi shì jiù péi tā yì qǐ diào diào yú 。
可以没事就陪他一起钓钓鱼。
Little Liu Li didn't dare answer but nodded dumbly.
xiǎo liú lí bù gǎn dá huà ， zhǐ shì měng dǒng de diǎn diǎn tóu 。
小琉璃不敢答话，只是懵懂的点点头。
"Thanks to the presence of Senior Stoneboard here, the fishing pond is safe. It's like turning misfortune into fortune," Li Fan thought inwardly.
“ yǒu shí bǎn qián bèi zài zuò zhèn ， kě bǎo diào yú chí wú yōu 。 yě suàn shì yīn huò dé fú le 。” lǐ fán xīn zhōng àn dào 。
“有石板前辈在坐镇，可保钓鱼池无忧。也算是因祸得福了。”李凡心中暗道。
On the surface, Li Fan appeared very helpless regarding the leak of information about the fishing pond.
duì yú diào yú chí de xiè mì ， lǐ fán biǎo miàn shí fēn wú nài 。
对于钓鱼池的泄密，李凡表面十分无奈。
In reality, he couldn't care less.
shí zé nèi xīn shēn chù ， gēn běn wú suǒ wèi 。
实则内心深处，根本无所谓。
The only secret that no outsider could covet...
duì tā ér yán ， wéi yī de 、 bù róng bèi wài rén jì yú de mì mì ……
对他而言，唯一的、不容被外人觊觎的秘密……
was [Truly Real Technique].
wéi yǒu 【 hái zhēn 】 ér yǐ 。
唯有【还真】而已。
If its existence were exposed, even if everything seemed peaceful now,
rú guǒ 【 hái zhēn 】 de cún zài yí dàn bào lù ， nà me jí biàn yǎn qián de qíng xíng zài zěn me kàn shì píng hé 。
如果【还真】的存在一旦暴露，那么即便眼前的情形再怎么看似平和。
he would immediately activate Truly Real Technique.
yě yào lì kè hái zhēn 。
也要立刻还真。
This was Li Fan's bottom line.
zhè jiù shì lǐ fán xīn zhōng de dǐ xiàn 。
这就是李凡心中的底线。
...
……
……
The Stoneboard Fisherman sat quietly by the small pond all night long, fishing without moving, like a sculpture.
shí bǎn yú fù duān zuò zài xiǎo chí táng biān ， chuí diào le yī yè 。
石板渔父端坐在小池塘边，垂钓了一夜。
The next day, when he reeled in his rod again, it only caught a white light ball.
yī dòng bù dòng ， wǎn rú diāo sù 。
一动不动，宛如雕塑。
Li Fan was somewhat surprised.
dì èr tiān ， zài dù qǐ gān zhī shí ， què shì zhǐ diào chū le gè bái sè guāng tuán 。
第二天，再度起竿之时，却是只钓出了个白色光团。
"Anything that bites is a good catch. In my eyes, there's no difference."
ràng lǐ fán yǒu xiē chà yì 。
让李凡有些诧异。
"And besides, even if the one who can sever the connection with the Creation Stoneboard has a higher grade, I wouldn't know," the Stoneboard Fisherman lazily explained.
“ zhǐ yào shàng gōu de ， dōu shì hǎo yú 。 zài wǒ yǎn zhōng ， bìng wú qū bié 。”
“只要上钩的，都是好鱼。在我眼中，并无区别。”
But it might have been better not to explain at all.
“ kuàng qiě ， néng zhù wǒ jiāng chuàng shì shí bǎn jī bàn zhǎn qù de ， pǐn jí yě wèi bì huì duō gāo 。”
“况且，能助我将创世石板羁绊斩去的，品级也未必会多高。”
Since this involved someone else's deepest secret, Li Fan didn't pry further but instead asked about how to conceal the seven-colored divine light.
shí bǎn yú fù lǎn yáng yáng de jiě shì le jǐ jù 。
石板渔父懒洋洋的解释了几句。
After all, the Seven-Colored Jade Void Radiance was too extraordinary. With its defensive and evasive capabilities integrated into one, if he couldn't use it freely, it would be a waste of power.
què hái bù rú bù jiě shì 。
却还不如不解释。
The Stoneboard Fisherman remained silent for a moment as if in thought.
shì guān duì fāng zuì shēn de mì mì ， lǐ fán yě méi yǒu duō wèn 。
事关对方最深的秘密，李凡也没有多问。
"It's not impossible."
ér shì zhuǎn ér xiàng duì fāng qǐng jiào le ， yǎn shì qī cǎi shén guāng de fāng fǎ 。
而是转而向对方请教了，掩饰七彩神光的方法。
After a while, he replied: "The reason why I noticed the Seven-Colored Divine Light immediately is because its unique fluctuations are too obvious. Just like a beam of light in darkness."
bì jìng qī cǎi yù xū liú guāng ， guò yú shén yì 。 gōng fáng dùn sān wèi yī tǐ ， rú guǒ bù néng suí xīn suǒ yù de shǐ yòng ， yě shí zài shì yǒu diǎn bào tiǎn tiān wù le 。
毕竟七彩玉虚鎏光，过于神异。功防遁三位一体，如果不能随心所欲的使用，也实在是有点暴殄天物了。
"But if you, who can emit a fluctuation no weaker than the Seven-Colored Divine Light, could suppress it, then its traces would be hidden. Like how light blends into the environment during the day."
shí bǎn yú fù chén mò le piàn kè 。
石板渔父沉默了片刻。
Li Fan was speechless upon hearing this.
sì hū shì zài sī suǒ 。
似乎是在思索。
To match the power of the Seven-Colored Divine Light, which used the essence of the cultivation world as a raw material, one must at least be above the Formation Realm.
“ yě bú shì méi yǒu bàn fǎ 。”
“也不是没有办法。”
Why hide if he had that strength?
piàn kè zhī hòu ， tā gěi chū le dá àn ：“ qī cǎi shén guāng ， zhī suǒ yǐ yī yǎn jiù bèi wǒ kàn chū duān ní ， zhèng shì yīn wèi tā dú tè de bō dòng tài guò xiǎn mù 。 zhèng rú hēi àn zhōng wéi yī de guāng shù bān 。”
片刻之后，他给出了答案：“七彩神光，之所以一眼就被我看出端倪，正是因为它独特的波动太过显目。正如黑暗中唯一的光束般。”
Seeing Li Fan's thoughts, the Stoneboard Fisherman turned and glanced at him.
“ dàn rú guǒ ， qī cǎi shén guāng de shǐ yòng zhě yě jiù shì nǐ ， néng gòu sàn fà chū bù ruò yú qī cǎi shén guāng de bō dòng ， jiù néng jiāng tā de hén jì gěi yā xià qù 。 jiù xiàng guāng shù zài bái tiān ， zì rán róng yú huán jìng zhōng 。”
“但如果，七彩神光的使用者也就是你，能够散发出不弱于七彩神光的波动，就能将它的痕迹给压下去。就像光束在白天，自然溶于环境中。”
"Others might not work. But you are different."
lǐ fán wén yán ， dùn jué yī zhèn wú yǔ 。
李凡闻言，顿觉一阵无语。
Li Fan's heart tightened again.
néng gēn yǐ yí gè xiū xiān jiè tiān guāng běn yuán wèi yuán liào liàn zhì de qī cǎi shén guāng tóng yī jí bié ， zuì qǐ mǎ yě dé shì hé dào zhī shàng ba ？
能跟以一个修仙界天光本源为原料炼制的七彩神光同一级别，最起码也得是合道之上吧？
"You broke through to the Formation Realm by swallowing the [Primordial Five Elements Origin Cavern], right?"
tā yào shì yǒu zhè ge shí lì ， hái yòng de zhe cáng zhe yē zhe ？
他要是有这个实力，还用的着藏着掖着？
"That thing can be considered half a cultivation world," the Stoneboard Fisherman said.
sì hū shì kàn chū le lǐ fán xīn zhōng suǒ xiǎng ， shí bǎn yú fù huí guò tóu lái ， piē le yī yǎn 。
似乎是看出了李凡心中所想，石板渔父回过头来，撇了一眼。
This made Li Fan slightly stunned.
“ bié rén de huà ， huò xǔ bù xíng 。 bù guò nǐ bù yí yàng 。”
“别人的话，或许不行。不过你不一样。”
"Haha, don't think that every cultivation world is like Xuanhuang. In ancient times, among many lower worlds, Xuanhuang was definitely one of the larger ones."
lǐ fán xīn zhōng dùn shí yòu yī jǐn 。
李凡心中顿时又一紧。
"Let alone now."
“ nǐ bú shì tūn le 【 wǔ xíng yuán shǐ dòng tiān 】 cái tū pò de yuán yīng jìng me ？”
“你不是吞了【五行元始洞天】才突破的元婴境么？”
"If you can fully unleash the power of the Primordial Five Elements Origin Cavern, under the Formation Realm, you wouldn't be invincible, but unbeatable," the Stoneboard Fisherman said indifferently.
“ nà wán yì ， qí shí yě miǎn qiǎng néng suàn dé shàng bàn gè xiū xiān jiè le 。”
“那玩意，其实也勉强能算得上半个修仙界了。”
Although Li Fan had long anticipated this, he was still elated.
shí bǎn yú fù de huà ， ràng lǐ fán wēi wēi zhèng zhù 。
石板渔父的话，让李凡微微怔住。
"The secret technique of [One Origin Sect] turned out to be stolen by a junior Golden Core cultivator after thousands of years." The Stoneboard Fisherman seemed to recall something and laughed softly.
“ hē hē ， bú yào yǐ wéi ， měi gè xiū xiān jiè dōu shì xiàng xuán huáng jiè zhè bān 。 shàng gǔ zhī shí ， zài zhū duō xià jiè zhōng ， xuán huáng yě jué duì suàn de shàng guī mó bǐ jiào dà de nà yī pī le 。”
“呵呵，不要以为，每个修仙界都是像玄黄界这般。上古之时，在诸多下界中，玄黄也绝对算的上规模比较大的那一批了。”
Li Fan looked curiously at the Stoneboard Fisherman, who explained without much concern: "At the beginning of the Great Tribulation, each sect had its own countermeasures. One Origin Sect found the root of Xuanhuang's world and used secret methods to forcefully create a Five Elements Cavern."
“ gèng bié tí xiàn zài le 。”
“更别提现在了。”
"According to their theory, the Xuanhuang world's Dao was already eroded and reversed beyond redemption. It would be better to abandon it and extract its essence, using the Five Elements Cavern as a blueprint for a new world within!"
“ nǐ ruò néng jiāng wǔ xíng yuán shǐ dòng tiān de lì liàng quán dōu fā huī chū lái ， cháng shēng jìng zhī xià ， bù shuō wú dí ， yě kě bù bài 。” shí bǎn yú fù dàn dàn de shuō dào 。
“你若能将五行元始洞天的力量全都发挥出来，长生境之下，不说无敌，也可不败。”石板渔父淡淡的说道。
"Just like how a mother gives birth to a child."
suī rán xīn zhōng zǎo jiù duì cǐ yǒu suǒ yù liào ， dàn lǐ fán réng shì xīn xǐ ruò kuáng de yàng zi 。
虽然心中早就对此有所预料，但李凡仍是欣喜若狂的样子。
"The idea is good, but unfortunately, people are still alive. And what about the Dao?" The Stoneboard Fisherman sneered.
“ dāng nián 【 yī shǐ zōng 】 de mì mì shǒu duàn ， què bù xiǎng shù qiān nián hòu ， bèi yí gè jīn dān xiǎo bèi zhāi le táo zi 。” shí bǎn yú fù shì shì xiǎng qǐ le shén me ， fā chū zhèn zhèn dī chén de xiào shēng 。
“当年【一始宗】的秘密手段，却不想数千年后，被一个金丹小辈摘了桃子。”石板渔父似是想起了什么，发出阵阵低沉的笑声。
"Action was just beginning when someone came and forced us to stop," he said.
lǐ fán mǎn shì hào qí de kàn zhe ， shí bǎn yú fù yě bù yǐ wéi yì de jiě shì qǐ lái 。
李凡满是好奇的看着，石板渔父也不以为意的解释起来。
Though very curious who had stopped One Origin Sect's plan, Li Fan knew that since the Stoneboard Fisherman didn't want to say more, he could only suppress his curiosity.
“ dāng nián dà jié chū zhì ， gè zōng dōu yǒu yìng duì shǒu duàn 。 zhè yī shǐ zōng ， biàn xún dào le xuán huáng tiān dì zhī gēn ， yǐ mì fǎ qiáng xíng cuī shēng wǔ xíng dòng tiān 。”
“当年大劫初至，各宗都有应对手段。这一始宗，便寻到了玄黄天地之根，以秘法强行催生五行洞天。”
After speaking so much, the Stoneboard Fisherman seemed tired and closed his eyes again.
“ àn zhào tā men de shuō fǎ ， xuán huáng jiè tiān dào yǐ jīng bèi qīn shí nì zhuǎn 、 huí tiān fá shù 。 bù rú zhí jiē jiāng qí fàng qì ， chōu qǔ qí jīng huá ， yǐ wǔ xíng dòng tiān wèi chú xíng 、 yǔ qí nèi bù zài yǎn xīn shēng shì jiè ！”
“按照他们的说法，玄黄界天道已经被侵蚀逆转、回天乏术。不如直接将其放弃，抽取其精华，以五行洞天为雏形、与其内部再衍新生世界！”
Li Fan, who was good at reading people, promptly withdrew.
“ jiù rú tóng mǔ tǐ dàn shēng tāi ér bān 。”
“就如同母体诞生胎儿般。”
On the third day,
“ xiǎng fǎ shì hǎo de ， zhǐ kě xī ， rén shàng hái gǒu qiě tōu shēng 。 gèng hé kuàng tiān dào hū ？” shí bǎn yú fù lěng xiào zhe 。
“想法是好的，只可惜，人尚还苟且偷生。更何况天道乎？”石板渔父冷笑着。
the Stoneboard Fisherman caught a purple light ball.
“ xíng dòng gāng gāng kāi shǐ ， jiù bèi rén zhǎo shàng mén lái ， bèi pò zhōng zhǐ le 。”
“行动刚刚开始，就被人找上门来，被迫中止了。”
"Hey?"
suī rán shí fēn hào qí ， jiū jìng shì shuí zǔ zhǐ de le yī shǐ zōng de zhè yī jì huà 。 dàn lǐ fán jiàn duì fāng méi yǒu shuō de yì si ， zhǐ dé jiāng hào qí xīn yā xià 。
虽然十分好奇，究竟是谁阻止的了一始宗的这一计划。但李凡见对方没有说的意思，只得将好奇心压下。
He didn't immediately give it to Lin Ling but examined it with great interest.
shí bǎn yú fù shuō le zhè xǔ duō huà hòu ， sì hū yǒu xiē fá le 。
石板渔父说了这许多话后，似乎有些乏了。
"What's wrong, Senior?" Li Fan asked hurriedly.
zài dù bì qǐ le shuāng yǎn 。
再度闭起了双眼。
The Stoneboard Fisherman didn't answer. He seemed to have discovered something extremely interesting and stared intently at the pond in front of him, motionless for seven days straight.
chá yán guān sè de lǐ fán guǒ duàn tuì xià 。
察言观色的李凡果断退下。
Li Fan followed his gaze, trying to figure out what had suddenly caught his attention.
dì sān tiān 。
第三天。
Though it was obvious, even without understanding anything, Li Fan still maintained a thoughtful expression.
shí bǎn yú fù diào shàng lái gè zǐ sè guāng tuán 。
石板渔父钓上来个紫色光团。
"Did you notice too?"
“ yí ？”
“咦？”
After an indeterminate amount of time, one evening, the Stoneboard Fisherman woke up from his silence.
méi yǒu zhí jiē rēng gěi lín líng ， ér shì ráo yǒu xìng qù de zǐ xì dǎ liàng qǐ lái 。
没有直接扔给林灵，而是饶有兴趣的仔细打量起来。
"I am foolish and couldn't see through any subtleties," Li Fan said honestly.
“ zěn me le ， qián bèi ？” lǐ fán lián máng shàng qián wèn dào 。
“怎么了，前辈？”李凡连忙上前问道。
"But I feel that this fishing pond is full of mysteries that could greatly benefit me."
shí bǎn yú fù méi yǒu huí dá ， zhǐ shì fǎng fú fā xiàn le shén me jí qí yǒu qù de shì qíng 。
石板渔父没有回答，只是仿佛发现了什么极其有趣的事情。
These empty words made the Stoneboard Fisherman nod in agreement.
chū shén de dīng zhe qián fāng chí táng 。
出神的盯着前方池塘。
(End of Chapter)
The words of the Stoneboard Fisherman scared Liu Li and Lin Ling so much that their faces turned pale.
Li Fan's expression was also grave. Every moment, he had to endure countless pieces of information, yet could not die...
This indeed was an extremely painful experience.
"If we really find a method in this fishing pond to sever the connection between the Stoneboard and Senior," Li Fan asked timidly after a brief silence inside the small temple, "would Senior die?"
The Stoneboard Fisherman chuckled lightly. He still faced the water, his voice soft yet profound: "I am just tired of living and want it to be easier. I'm not thinking about dying."
Li Fan understood.
After finishing speaking, the Stoneboard Fisherman closed his eyes, appearing as if he didn't want to be disturbed. Li Fan then brought Zhong Tianshen and Liu Li into the small temple.
"Senior, who is that?" Zhong Tianshen asked nervously.
"If you know too much, it won't benefit you. Just serve me loyally," Li Fan said coldly.
Zhong Tianshen nodded hurriedly.
Li Fan then turned to Lin Ling: "From now on, whatever Senior catches will be kept by you. I'll come and collect them regularly."
Lin Ling naturally agreed.
Finally, Li Fan's gaze fell upon Little Liu Li.
This mysterious Little Liu Li was a transparent fruit that had transformed from the fishing pond. It belonged to the Golden Light grade of creation, at least above the Formation Realm level—definitely not something to be taken lightly.
However, its true nature remained unclear for now. But with an innocent and naive young Taoist, Li Fan had plenty of ways to handle him.
With a kind face, Li Fan gently advised Little Liu Li that the Stoneboard Fisherman Senior was a good person who didn't need to fear.
He could accompany him in fishing whenever he wanted.
Little Liu Li didn't dare answer but nodded dumbly.
"Thanks to the presence of Senior Stoneboard here, the fishing pond is safe. It's like turning misfortune into fortune," Li Fan thought inwardly.
On the surface, Li Fan appeared very helpless regarding the leak of information about the fishing pond.
In reality, he couldn't care less.
The only secret that no outsider could covet...
was [Truly Real Technique].
If its existence were exposed, even if everything seemed peaceful now,
he would immediately activate Truly Real Technique.
This was Li Fan's bottom line.
...
The Stoneboard Fisherman sat quietly by the small pond all night long, fishing without moving, like a sculpture.
The next day, when he reeled in his rod again, it only caught a white light ball.
Li Fan was somewhat surprised.
"Anything that bites is a good catch. In my eyes, there's no difference."
"And besides, even if the one who can sever the connection with the Creation Stoneboard has a higher grade, I wouldn't know," the Stoneboard Fisherman lazily explained.
But it might have been better not to explain at all.
Since this involved someone else's deepest secret, Li Fan didn't pry further but instead asked about how to conceal the seven-colored divine light.
After all, the Seven-Colored Jade Void Radiance was too extraordinary. With its defensive and evasive capabilities integrated into one, if he couldn't use it freely, it would be a waste of power.
The Stoneboard Fisherman remained silent for a moment as if in thought.
"It's not impossible."
After a while, he replied: "The reason why I noticed the Seven-Colored Divine Light immediately is because its unique fluctuations are too obvious. Just like a beam of light in darkness."
"But if you, who can emit a fluctuation no weaker than the Seven-Colored Divine Light, could suppress it, then its traces would be hidden. Like how light blends into the environment during the day."
Li Fan was speechless upon hearing this.
To match the power of the Seven-Colored Divine Light, which used the essence of the cultivation world as a raw material, one must at least be above the Formation Realm.
Why hide if he had that strength?
Seeing Li Fan's thoughts, the Stoneboard Fisherman turned and glanced at him.
"Others might not work. But you are different."
Li Fan's heart tightened again.
"You broke through to the Formation Realm by swallowing the [Primordial Five Elements Origin Cavern], right?"
"That thing can be considered half a cultivation world," the Stoneboard Fisherman said.
This made Li Fan slightly stunned.
"Haha, don't think that every cultivation world is like Xuanhuang. In ancient times, among many lower worlds, Xuanhuang was definitely one of the larger ones."
"Let alone now."
"If you can fully unleash the power of the Primordial Five Elements Origin Cavern, under the Formation Realm, you wouldn't be invincible, but unbeatable," the Stoneboard Fisherman said indifferently.
Although Li Fan had long anticipated this, he was still elated.
"The secret technique of [One Origin Sect] turned out to be stolen by a junior Golden Core cultivator after thousands of years." The Stoneboard Fisherman seemed to recall something and laughed softly.
Li Fan looked curiously at the Stoneboard Fisherman, who explained without much concern: "At the beginning of the Great Tribulation, each sect had its own countermeasures. One Origin Sect found the root of Xuanhuang's world and used secret methods to forcefully create a Five Elements Cavern."
"According to their theory, the Xuanhuang world's Dao was already eroded and reversed beyond redemption. It would be better to abandon it and extract its essence, using the Five Elements Cavern as a blueprint for a new world within!"
"Just like how a mother gives birth to a child."
"The idea is good, but unfortunately, people are still alive. And what about the Dao?" The Stoneboard Fisherman sneered.
"Action was just beginning when someone came and forced us to stop," he said.
Though very curious who had stopped One Origin Sect's plan, Li Fan knew that since the Stoneboard Fisherman didn't want to say more, he could only suppress his curiosity.
After speaking so much, the Stoneboard Fisherman seemed tired and closed his eyes again.
Li Fan, who was good at reading people, promptly withdrew.
On the third day,
the Stoneboard Fisherman caught a purple light ball.
"Hey?"
He didn't immediately give it to Lin Ling but examined it with great interest.
"What's wrong, Senior?" Li Fan asked hurriedly.
The Stoneboard Fisherman didn't answer. He seemed to have discovered something extremely interesting and stared intently at the pond in front of him, motionless for seven days straight.
Li Fan followed his gaze, trying to figure out what had suddenly caught his attention.
Though it was obvious, even without understanding anything, Li Fan still maintained a thoughtful expression.
"Did you notice too?"
After an indeterminate amount of time, one evening, the Stoneboard Fisherman woke up from his silence.
"I am foolish and couldn't see through any subtleties," Li Fan said honestly.
"But I feel that this fishing pond is full of mysteries that could greatly benefit me."
These empty words made the Stoneboard Fisherman nod in agreement.
(End of Chapter)