chuán fǎ tiān zūn de zhù shì xià ， wǔ lǎo huì zài jiǔ shān zhōu bù zhì de céng céng fáng xiàn ， qǐng kè jiān tǔ bēng wǎ jiě 。
传法天尊的注视下，五老会在九山州布置的层层防线，顷刻间土崩瓦解。
Under the gaze of Transcendent Teaching Supreme, the层层防线 (layered defenses) set up by the Five Elders' Alliance in Jiushan State crumbled instantly.
zài jué duì de lì liàng chā jù miàn qián ， suǒ yǒu de zhēng zhá 、 fǎn kàng ， dōu shì wú yòng ！
在绝对的力量差距面前，所有的挣扎、反抗，都是无用！
In the face of such a vast power gap, all struggles and resistances were futile!
yī zhōu zhī nèi de suǒ yǒu shēng líng ， bāo kuò wǔ lǎo huì zhù zhā de xiū shì 、 líng yuán jiào zhòng ， shèn zhì wú shù fán rén 。
一州之内的所有生灵，包括五老会驻扎的修士、灵元教众，甚至无数凡人。
All living beings within the state—cultivators from the Five Elders' Alliance, spirit essence believers, and countless ordinary people—perished at the moment Transcendent Teaching Supreme opened his eyes.
dōu zài chuán fǎ tiān zūn zhēng kāi yǎn de chà nà ， jìn shù sǐ jué ！
都在传法天尊睁开眼的刹那，尽数死绝！
It was as if Jiushan State's inhabitants could not bear to face the might of Transcendent Teaching.
jiù xiàng shì xuán huáng jiè ， chéng shòu bù liǎo zhēn xiān zhí shì yī yàng 。
就像是玄黄界，承受不了真仙直视一样。
Many cultivators died in an instant.
jiǔ shān zhōu shēng líng ， yě wú fǎ zhí miàn chuán fǎ zhī wēi ！
九山州生灵，也无法直面传法之威！
Numerous celestial phenomena should have appeared in the sky due to the fallen stars, but perhaps because Transcendent Teaching's form did not dissipate, those phenomena failed to materialize under the oppressive pressure.
zài yī shùn jiān sǐ le bù zhī dào duō shǎo xiū shì 。
在一瞬间死了不知道多少修士。
This scene seemed as if even the Heaven Dao of Xuanhuang World was retreating before Transcendent Teaching, unwilling to mock or celebrate the deaths of cultivators.
yuán běn tiān kōng zhōng ， lǐ yīng yǒu shù zhī bù jìn de yǔn luò yì xiàng chǎn shēng 。
原本天空中，理应有数之不尽的陨落异象产生。
...
dàn huò xǔ shì yīn wèi chuán fǎ de shēn yǐng bìng méi yǒu sàn qù 。
但或许是因为传法的身影并没有散去。
The Five Elders' Alliance's footage abruptly ended.
wēi yā zhī xià ， nà xiē yǔn luò yì xiàng ， yě chí chí méi néng níng jù 。
威压之下，那些陨落异象，也迟迟没能凝聚。
Though shocking, this spectacle meant little to Li Fan who had seen true immortals destroy worlds.
zhè mù chǎng jǐng ， jiù hǎo xiàng shì chuán fǎ tiān zūn miàn qián ， jiù lián xuán huáng jiè tiān dào yě yǒu shōu liǎn 。 bù gǎn sì yì fā chū duì xiū shì sǐ wáng de cháo fěng yǔ qìng zhù 。
这幕场景，就好像是传法天尊面前，就连玄黄界天道也有收敛。不敢肆意发出对修士死亡的嘲讽与庆祝。
After repeated contemplation, he noticed something amiss.
……
……
"Transcendent Teaching? The Thirty-Third Chosen One?"
wǔ lǎo huì tí gōng de huà miàn jiá rán ér zhǐ 。
五老会提供的画面戛然而止。
In the 115th era, Transcendent Teaching Supreme once revealed his true form, causing Xuanhuang World to tremble in fear. This time, the Transcendent Teaching appearing in Jiushan State was clearly weaker.
suī rán dí què yǒu jǐ fēn zhèn hàn 。
虽然的确有几分震撼。
"What is this—projection or avatar?" Li Fan's eyes flashed with a hint of insight.
dàn duì yǐ jīng jiàn guò zhēn xiān miè shì chǎng jǐng de lǐ fán ér yán ……
但对已经见过真仙灭世场景的李凡而言……
According to his senses, Wei Qi-zheng, one of the Chosen Ones, was still alive. The Five Elders' Alliance had mentioned that this Transcendent Teaching might appear more frequently in the future, indicating it could be repeatedly manifested rather than a one-time消耗 technique.
bù guò rú cǐ 。
不过如此。
"Though far weaker than the true form, he is undoubtedly a powerhouse of the Immortal Realm."
fǎn fù pǐn wèi zhī hòu ， lǐ fán hái shì lì mǎ chá jué dào le bú duì jìn de dì fāng 。
反复品味之后，李凡还是立马察觉到了不对劲的地方。
More crucially, Li Fan was unsure how Transcendent Teaching's projection appeared over Jiushan State. If it could ignore location and summon projections at will...
“ chuán fǎ yé ？ sān shí sān xiān xuǎn zhě yé ？”
“传法耶？三十三仙选者耶？”
The threat would be too great. Without a countermeasure, the Five Elders' Alliance wouldn't dare act rashly.
115 shì de shí hòu ， chuán fǎ tiān zūn céng jīng xiǎn lù zhēn róng 。
115世的时候，传法天尊曾经显露真容。
Li Fan's eyes flickered as he surveyed Jiushan State. Many lives had perished recently, but there was no trace of blood—blood had been crushed under Transcendent Teaching's pressure.
zhěng gè xuán huáng jiè ， dōu zài tā de wēi shì xià ， sè sè fā dǒu 。
整个玄黄界，都在祂的威势下，瑟瑟发抖。
"Truly fitting for a means called 'Transcendent Teaching.' It is more about destruction than slaughter."
fǎng fú mò shì jí jiāng lái lín ， suí shí dōu yǒu kě néng bèi tā de wēi néng chè dǐ sī liè 。
仿佛末世即将来临，随时都有可能被祂的威能彻底撕裂。
After clarifying the situation in Jiushan State, Li Fan left quickly.
xiāng bǐ jiào ér yán ， zhè cì chū xiàn zài jiǔ shān zhōu de chuán fǎ tiān zūn ， bù zhǐ ruò le yī chóu 。
相比较而言，这次出现在九山州的传法天尊，不止弱了一筹。
"If my guess is correct, if the Five Elders' Alliance wants to retaliate, they will likely use the [Supreme Samantabhadra True Boat] and launch a surprise attack from the white fog."
“ zhè suàn shén me ， tóu yǐng ？ fēn shēn ？”
“这算什么，投影？分身？”
"Once in the heart of the Immortal Alliance's domain, the Alliance will be wary of using that projection again."
lǐ fán yǎn zhōng shǎn guò yī sī wēi máng 。
李凡眼中闪过一丝微芒。
"But such a trick would only work once. The Five Elders' Alliance should wait for the decisive moment to use it..."
zài tā de gǎn yìng zhōng ， zuò wéi xiān xuǎn zhě zhī yī de wèi qí zhèng ， hái huó de hǎo hǎo de 。
在他的感应中，作为仙选者之一的卫奇正，还活的好好的。
"It is interesting. Let’s see how they choose to act."
ér gāng gāng wǔ lǎo huì de xiū shì yě céng tí jí guò ， tā ， yě jiù shì chuán fǎ xū yǐng ， yǐ hòu kě néng huì gèng jiā cháng tài huà de chū xiàn 。
而刚刚五老会的修士也曾提及过，祂，也就是传法虚影，以后可能会更加常态化的出现。
The threat from Transcendent Teaching was indeed formidable. Even after just one appearance in Jiushan State, other Five Elders' members in border regions retreated.
zhè jiù zhèng míng liǎo bìng bú shì yí cì xìng xiāo hào shǒu duàn 、 ér shì kě yǐ bù duàn fù xiàn de cāo zuò 。
这就证明了并不是一次性消耗手段、而是可以不断复现的操作。
The Immortal Alliance reclaimed several lost states effortlessly, shocking those used to the Alliance's defeats.
“ suī rán shí lì yuǎn bù jí chuán fǎ běn zūn ， dàn yě jué duì shì cháng shēng jìng de zhàn lì le 。”
“虽然实力远不及传法本尊，但也绝对是长生境的战力了。”
Conspiracy theories spread as news of these victories circulated.
“ gèng guān jiàn de shì ， xiàn zài hái bù qīng chǔ ， chuán fǎ tóu yǐng jiū jìng shì tōng guò hé zhǒng fāng shì chū xiàn zài jiǔ shān zhōu tiān qióng shàng de 。 cóng shǐ zhì zhōng ， nà xiē xiān xuǎn zhě dōu méi yǒu chū xiàn zài guò 。 rú guǒ néng wú shì dì diǎn de xiàn zhì ， rèn yì zhào huàn chuán fǎ tóu yǐng jiàng lín ……”
“更关键的是，现在还不清楚，传法投影究竟是通过何种方式出现在九山州天穹上的。从始至终，那些仙选者都没有出现在过。如果能无视地点的限制，任意召唤传法投影降临……”
In Cunyun Sea and Haixuan Island:
“ nà me wēi shè yě tài dà le 。 zài méi yǒu zhǎo dào yìng duì zhī dào qián ， wǔ lǎo huì gēn běn bù gǎn mào jìn 。”
“那么威慑也太大了。在没有找到应对之道前，五老会根本不敢冒进。”
"The speed at which the Immortal Alliance recaptured lost territories is too fast. Isn't there something fishy about this?"
lǐ fán mù guāng shǎn dòng ， huán shì shēn zài de jiǔ shān zhōu dì qū 。
李凡目光闪动，环视身在的九山州地区。
"Haha, I heard a rumor. These states weren't taken by us; they were deliberately returned to us by the Five Elders' Alliance!"
bù zhī dào yǒu duō shǎo shēng líng ， zài bù jiǔ qián zàng shēn cǐ chù 。 dàn què shí fēn tè shū de ， wén bú dào yī dīng diǎn de xuè xīng wèi 。
不知道有多少生灵，在不久前葬身此处。但却十分特殊的，闻不到一丁点的血腥味。
"Hardly won, how could the Five Elders' Alliance give them up so easily?"
bì jìng chuán fǎ wēi yā xià ， xuè yè dōu bèi niǎn de bù fù cún zài 。
毕竟传法威压下，血液都被碾的不复存在。
"But you don’t know. They gave them back, but only in ruins. Anything of value was stripped away. According to a friend, the current state of those states is unbearable!"
“ bù kuì shì yǐ chuán fǎ wèi xíng de shǒu duàn 。 yǔ qí shuō shì shā lù ， bù rú shuō shì huǐ miè 。”
“不愧是以传法为形的手段。与其说是杀戮，不如说是毁灭。”
"Ah! This is the Five Elders' Alliance's scheme. We rebuild these lost territories, and they come back to take everything again!"
lǐ fán xīn zhōng gǎn tàn dào 。
李凡心中感叹道。
...
gǎo qīng chǔ le jiǔ shān zhōu fā shēng hé shì ， lǐ fán biàn bù zài cǐ chù dòu liú 。
搞清楚了九山州发生何事，李凡便不在此处逗留。
Conspiracy theories always attract attention.
xùn sù tōng guò dì mài zhī lì fǎn huí 。
迅速通过地脉之力返回。
Unable to accept the Immortal Alliance’s sudden success after being weak for so long.
“ rú guǒ wǒ méi yǒu cāi cuò ， jiē xià lái wǔ lǎo huì rú guǒ xiǎng yào fǎn jī ， nà me hěn yǒu kě néng jiù huì shǐ yòng 【 pǔ xián zhēn zhōu 】， yú bái wù zhī zhōng chū qí bīng le 。”
“如果我没有猜错，接下来五老会如果想要反击，那么很有可能就会使用【普贤真舟】，于白雾之中出奇兵了。”
Some cultivators began speculating about possible conspiracies.
“ zhǐ yào zài xiān méng fù dì dǎ qǐ lái ， wàn xiān méng zài xiǎng shǐ chū nà yī zhāo chuán fǎ tóu yǐng ， yě bì dìng shì gù jì chóng chóng 。”
“只要在仙盟腹地打起来，万仙盟再想使出那一招传法投影，也必定是顾忌重重。”
Suddenly, their conversation angered two people.
“ bù guò zhè zhǒng qí zhāo ， zhǐ yǒu dì yī cì xiào guǒ zuì dà 。 wǔ lǎo huì yīng gāi huì xiǎng zhe yī chuí dìng yīn de jué zhàn shí kè zài yòng ……”
“不过这种奇招，只有第一次效果最大。五老会应该会想着一锤定音的决战时刻再用……”
"Bang!"
“ yǒu yì si 。 jiù kàn kàn wǔ lǎo huì jiū jìng rú hé xuǎn zé ba 。”
“有意思。就看看五老会究竟如何选择吧。”
A figure abruptly stood up with a loud thud.
chuán fǎ tóu yǐng de wēi shè lì ， guǒ rán fēi tóng xiǎo kě 。
传法投影的威慑力，果然非同小可。
"I thought this Cunyun Sea Mutual Aid Association was renowned far and wide, surely an impressive organization."
jí biàn zhǐ shì zài jiǔ shān zhōu shǐ yòng le yī cì ， yě xià dé qí tā biān jìng xiàn luò zhī dì de wǔ lǎo huì chéng yuán men ， fēn fēn shōu suō lì liàng 。
即便只是在九山州使用了一次，也吓得其他边境陷落之地的五老会成员们，纷纷收缩力量。
"But I never expected it to be so despicable!" he said coldly as he surveyed the assembled cultivators.
jī hū méi fèi shén me gōng fu ， wàn xiān méng jiù yī jǔ jiāng cǐ qián diū shī de shù gè biān jìng zhōu yù tōng tōng shōu le huí lái 。
几乎没费什么功夫，万仙盟就一举将此前丢失的数个边境州域通通收了回来。
"Now that the front lines are still in turmoil, how many comrades have fallen on the battlefield. You all did nothing but gossip behind my back!"
jié bào pín chuán ， ràng yì zhí xí guàn le wàn xiān méng chī biě de xiū shì men ， fēn fēn nán yǐ zhì xìn 。
捷报频传，让一直习惯了万仙盟吃瘪的修士们，纷纷难以置信。
"I, Kao Hong, will not associate with you!"
yǐ zhì yú ， yī shí jiān gè dì jìng rán yǒu yīn móu lùn liú chū 。
以致于，一时间各地竟然有阴谋论流出。
"Rubbish!"
cóng yún hǎi ， hǎi xuān dǎo 。
丛云海，海轩岛。
Kao Hong glared fiercely, his voice like thunder.
“ xiān méng zhè shōu fù shī dì de sù dù ， yě wèi miǎn tài kuài le 。 nǐ men shuō ， zhè qí zhōng shì bú shì yǒu shén me gǔ guài ？”
“仙盟这收复失地的速度，也未免太快了。你们说，这其中是不是有什么古怪？”
Beside him stood a tall, bearded cultivator in white robes who also rose and laughed loudly: "Brother, I agree. I despise these beasts as well!"
“ hēi hēi ， wǒ dǎo shì tīng shuō gè xiǎo dào xiāo xī 。 jù shuō zhè jǐ gè zhōu ， gēn běn bú shì wǒ men wàn xiān méng dǎ xià lái de 。 ér shì wǔ lǎo huì gù yì huán gěi wǒ men de ！”
“嘿嘿，我倒是听说个小道消息。据说这几个州，根本不是我们万仙盟打下来的。而是五老会故意还给我们的！”
Their words infuriated the small group, who coldly looked at Kao Hong and Daoxuanzi, their eyes filled with murderous intent.
“ hǎo bù róng yì gōng xià lái ， wǔ lǎo huì yòu zěn me kě néng gān xīn jiù zhè yàng fàng qì ？”
“好不容易攻下来，五老会又怎么可能甘心就这样放弃？”
If they were not in Ji Shouli's territory, they would have killed the two outspoken cultivators on the spot.
“ zhè nǐ jiù bù zhī dào le ba 。 hái shì hái le ， hái huí lái de què zhǐ shì yī piàn fèi xū 。 shāo wēi yǒu jià zhí de ， dōu bèi wǔ lǎo huì nà bāng rén sōu guā zǒu le 。 jù wǒ yí gè péng yǒu suǒ shuō ， qián xiàn nà jǐ gè zhōu rú jīn de zhuàng kuàng ， kě shì cǎn bù rěn dǔ a ！”
“这你就不知道了吧。还是还了，还回来的却只是一片废墟。稍微有价值的，都被五老会那帮人搜刮走了。据我一个朋友所说，前线那几个州如今的状况，可是惨不忍睹啊！”
"This mutual aid association is no longer needed!"
“ sī ！ wǒ dǒng le ！ zhè jiù shì wǔ lǎo huì de yáng móu 。 shī dì bèi shōu fú ， zǒng guī shì yào chóng jiàn de ba ？ děng wǒ men xīn xīn kǔ kǔ jiàn hǎo le ， wǔ lǎo huì yòu dǎ guò lái le ！ dào shí hòu yòu shì lüè duó yī kōng ……”
“嘶！我懂了！这就是五老会的阳谋。失地被收服，总归是要重建的吧？等我们辛辛苦苦建好了，五老会又打过来了！到时候又是掠夺一空……”
Kao Hong and Daoxuanzi angrily left. Just as they were about to depart, someone stopped them.
“ wǒ shuō de ， zán men zěn me tū rán yìng qì qǐ lái le 。 yuán lái shì zhè yàng ！”
“我说的，咱们怎么突然硬气起来了。原来是这样！”
Everyone turned to see Ji Shouli, the owner of Haixuan Island and leader of Cunyun Sea Mutual Aid Association, arrive in person!
……
……
"Friend Ji, since our ways diverge, let us part ways here!" Kao Hong ignored Ji Shouli. Daoxuanzi, with some courtesy, bowed and said.
yīn móu lùn zǒng shì shòu dào dà zhòng de huān yíng 。
阴谋论总是受到大众的欢迎。
Ji Shouli's avatar did not speak but watched the familiar faces with a smile playing on his lips.
wú fǎ jiē shòu yí xiàng “ chán ruò ” de wàn xiān méng ， zài duǎn shí jiān nèi qǔ dé le rú cǐ huī huáng de zhàn guǒ 。
无法接受一向“孱弱”的万仙盟，在短时间内取得了如此辉煌的战果。
He silently mused: "Fate is truly wondrous!"
yǒu xiē xiū shì zé kāi shǐ nǎo bǔ zhè qí zhōng kě néng de yīn móu qǐ lái 。
有些修士则开始脑补这其中可能的阴谋起来。
Watching two individuals who were only at the foundation stage in their original timeline now at the early Golden Core stage, he made up his mind.
zhèng dāng tā men tǎo lùn de yǒu xiē bù yì lè hū de shí hòu ， què bù zhī dào tā men de duì huà rě nǎo le liǎng rén 。
正当他们讨论的有些不亦乐乎的时候，却不知道他们的对话惹恼了两人。
(End of Chapter)
Under the gaze of Transcendent Teaching Supreme, the层层防线 (layered defenses) set up by the Five Elders' Alliance in Jiushan State crumbled instantly.
In the face of such a vast power gap, all struggles and resistances were futile!
All living beings within the state—cultivators from the Five Elders' Alliance, spirit essence believers, and countless ordinary people—perished at the moment Transcendent Teaching Supreme opened his eyes.
It was as if Jiushan State's inhabitants could not bear to face the might of Transcendent Teaching.
Many cultivators died in an instant.
Numerous celestial phenomena should have appeared in the sky due to the fallen stars, but perhaps because Transcendent Teaching's form did not dissipate, those phenomena failed to materialize under the oppressive pressure.
This scene seemed as if even the Heaven Dao of Xuanhuang World was retreating before Transcendent Teaching, unwilling to mock or celebrate the deaths of cultivators.
...
The Five Elders' Alliance's footage abruptly ended.
Though shocking, this spectacle meant little to Li Fan who had seen true immortals destroy worlds.
After repeated contemplation, he noticed something amiss.
"Transcendent Teaching? The Thirty-Third Chosen One?"
In the 115th era, Transcendent Teaching Supreme once revealed his true form, causing Xuanhuang World to tremble in fear. This time, the Transcendent Teaching appearing in Jiushan State was clearly weaker.
"What is this—projection or avatar?" Li Fan's eyes flashed with a hint of insight.
According to his senses, Wei Qi-zheng, one of the Chosen Ones, was still alive. The Five Elders' Alliance had mentioned that this Transcendent Teaching might appear more frequently in the future, indicating it could be repeatedly manifested rather than a one-time消耗 technique.
"Though far weaker than the true form, he is undoubtedly a powerhouse of the Immortal Realm."
More crucially, Li Fan was unsure how Transcendent Teaching's projection appeared over Jiushan State. If it could ignore location and summon projections at will...
The threat would be too great. Without a countermeasure, the Five Elders' Alliance wouldn't dare act rashly.
Li Fan's eyes flickered as he surveyed Jiushan State. Many lives had perished recently, but there was no trace of blood—blood had been crushed under Transcendent Teaching's pressure.
"Truly fitting for a means called 'Transcendent Teaching.' It is more about destruction than slaughter."
After clarifying the situation in Jiushan State, Li Fan left quickly.
"If my guess is correct, if the Five Elders' Alliance wants to retaliate, they will likely use the [Supreme Samantabhadra True Boat] and launch a surprise attack from the white fog."
"Once in the heart of the Immortal Alliance's domain, the Alliance will be wary of using that projection again."
"But such a trick would only work once. The Five Elders' Alliance should wait for the decisive moment to use it..."
"It is interesting. Let’s see how they choose to act."
The threat from Transcendent Teaching was indeed formidable. Even after just one appearance in Jiushan State, other Five Elders' members in border regions retreated.
The Immortal Alliance reclaimed several lost states effortlessly, shocking those used to the Alliance's defeats.
Conspiracy theories spread as news of these victories circulated.
In Cunyun Sea and Haixuan Island:
"The speed at which the Immortal Alliance recaptured lost territories is too fast. Isn't there something fishy about this?"
"Haha, I heard a rumor. These states weren't taken by us; they were deliberately returned to us by the Five Elders' Alliance!"
"Hardly won, how could the Five Elders' Alliance give them up so easily?"
"But you don’t know. They gave them back, but only in ruins. Anything of value was stripped away. According to a friend, the current state of those states is unbearable!"
"Ah! This is the Five Elders' Alliance's scheme. We rebuild these lost territories, and they come back to take everything again!"
...
Conspiracy theories always attract attention.
Unable to accept the Immortal Alliance’s sudden success after being weak for so long.
Some cultivators began speculating about possible conspiracies.
Suddenly, their conversation angered two people.
"Bang!"
A figure abruptly stood up with a loud thud.
"I thought this Cunyun Sea Mutual Aid Association was renowned far and wide, surely an impressive organization."
"But I never expected it to be so despicable!" he said coldly as he surveyed the assembled cultivators.
"Now that the front lines are still in turmoil, how many comrades have fallen on the battlefield. You all did nothing but gossip behind my back!"
"I, Kao Hong, will not associate with you!"
"Rubbish!"
Kao Hong glared fiercely, his voice like thunder.
Beside him stood a tall, bearded cultivator in white robes who also rose and laughed loudly: "Brother, I agree. I despise these beasts as well!"
Their words infuriated the small group, who coldly looked at Kao Hong and Daoxuanzi, their eyes filled with murderous intent.
If they were not in Ji Shouli's territory, they would have killed the two outspoken cultivators on the spot.
"This mutual aid association is no longer needed!"
Kao Hong and Daoxuanzi angrily left. Just as they were about to depart, someone stopped them.
Everyone turned to see Ji Shouli, the owner of Haixuan Island and leader of Cunyun Sea Mutual Aid Association, arrive in person!
"Friend Ji, since our ways diverge, let us part ways here!" Kao Hong ignored Ji Shouli. Daoxuanzi, with some courtesy, bowed and said.
Ji Shouli's avatar did not speak but watched the familiar faces with a smile playing on his lips.
He silently mused: "Fate is truly wondrous!"
Watching two individuals who were only at the foundation stage in their original timeline now at the early Golden Core stage, he made up his mind.
(End of Chapter)