tīng wén lín líng de miáo shù ， lǐ fán xīn zhōng duì tā de jiè bèi fàng xià le dà bàn 。
听闻林灵的描述，李凡心中对她的戒备放下了大半。
Hearing Lin Ling's description, Li Fan put down most of his guard against her.
zhè zhǒng fěi yí suǒ sī de shì qíng ……
这种匪夷所思的事情……
This unbelievable thing...
bù xiàng shì tā néng biān chū lái de 。
不像是她能编出来的。
Didn't seem like something she could make up.
nǎo hǎi zhōng xiǎng xiàng shí bǎn qián bèi bèi “ diào ” zǒu de huà miàn ， yǐ rú jīn lǐ fán de xīn xìng ， yě bù yóu gǎn dào yī zhèn máo gǔ sǒng rán 。
脑海中想象石板前辈被“钓”走的画面，以如今李凡的心性，也不由感到一阵毛骨悚然。
Imagining the scene where Senior Stone Plate was "reeled in," even with Li Fan's current temperament, he couldn't help feeling a shiver run down his spine.
dāng nǐ níng shì shēn yuān de shí hòu ， shēn yuān yě zài níng shì zhe nǐ 。
当你凝视深渊的时候，深渊也在凝视着你。
When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you.
dāng nǐ zhèng zài diào yú de shí hòu ， yān zhī zì jǐ huì bú huì shì nà ge bèi diào de duì xiàng ？
当你正在钓鱼的时候，焉知自己会不会是那个被钓的对象？
When you're fishing, who knows if you might be the one being reeled in?
“ néng gòu lián tōng gāo qiáng nèi wài ， zhè zhì bǎo diào yú chí de shuǐ ， wèi miǎn yě yǒu xiē tài shēn le 。”
“能够联通高墙内外，这至宝钓鱼池的水，未免也有些太深了。”
"Water from this Fishing Pool can connect inside and outside the walls. It’s too deep."
lǐ fán chén yín piàn kè ， jué dìng hái shì bù néng zhǐ tīng lín líng de yí miàn zhī cí 。 yào qīn zì qù xiàn chǎng kàn kàn cái xíng 。
李凡沉吟片刻，决定还是不能只听林灵的一面之词。要亲自去现场看看才行。
Li Fan pondered for a moment before deciding he couldn't just take Lin Ling's word for it. He needed to go see for himself.
zhè me xiǎng zhe ， lǐ fán yǐn nì le xíng zōng ， huǒ sù cháo zhe yōng yùn zhōu gǎn qù 。
这么想着，李凡隐匿了行踪，火速朝着雍韵州赶去。
With that thought, Li Fan concealed his whereabouts and rushed towards Yongyun State.
dāng dào dá xiǎo miào zhī hòu ， wú lùn shì zhōng shén tōng 、 liú lí ， hái shì lín líng ， xiǎn rán dōu hái méi yǒu cóng shí bǎn qián bèi zhòu rán xiāo shī de dà kǒng bù zhōng huǎn guò lái 。
当到达小庙之后，无论是钟神通、琉璃，还是林灵，显然都还没有从石板前辈骤然消失的大恐怖中缓过来。
Upon arriving at the small temple, both Zhong Shen Tong and Luli, as well as Lin Ling, had yet to recover from the sudden disappearance of Senior Stone Plate. Their faces were pale with worry, and they fidgeted nervously.
miàn sè cāng huáng ， zuò lì bù ān 。
面色仓皇，坐立不安。
"Master, you're here," Lin Ling greeted Li Fan as if he was her main support, rushing forward.
“ zhǔ rén ， nǐ lái le 。” jiàn dào lǐ fán lái lín ， lín líng hǎo sì zhǎo dào le zhǔ xīn gǔ yì bān ， lián máng shàng qián yíng jiē 。
“主人，你来了。”见到李凡来临，林灵好似找到了主心骨一般，连忙上前迎接。
Zhong Shen Tong also slightly roused himself and bowed.
zhōng shén tōng yě shì wēi wēi zhèn shén ， xíng le yī lǐ 。
钟神通也是微微震神，行了一礼。
Li Fan merely nodded slightly before stepping into the area where the Fishing Pool used to be. The once calm pool now only left behind an utter void.
lǐ fán zhǐ shì wēi wēi diǎn le diǎn tóu ， ér hòu kuò bù lái dào le yuán běn diào yú chí suǒ zài 。
李凡只是微微点了点头，而后阔步来到了原本钓鱼池所在。
Like the Cunyun Sea after being destroyed by Inky Ink, it was pitch black, with no space existing at all.
yuán lái píng jìng de yī wāng chí shuǐ ， xiàn zài yǐ jīng zhǐ shèng xià le chè dǐ de xū wú 。
原来平静的一汪池水，现在已经只剩下了彻底的虚无。
The dangerous aura made Li Fan frown and step back quietly.
jiù xiàng bèi mò shā huǐ miè hòu de cóng yún hǎi yī yàng ， yī piàn qī hēi 。
就像被墨杀毁灭后的丛云海一样，一片漆黑。
"The Fishing Pool is indeed domineering, self-contained. After occupying a region of Xuanhuang Realm, it expelled or directly suppressed every other rule in the area."
lián kōng jiān běn shēn dōu bù cún zài 。
连空间本身都不存在。
"As the Fishing Pool disappears, the occupied area becomes visible. It might take decades for the Xuanhuang Realm to heal and return to normal."
suǒ liú lù chū de wēi xiǎn qì xī ， bù jīn ràng lǐ fán wēi wēi zhòu méi 、 qiǎo rán tuì hòu yī bù 。
所流露出的危险气息，不禁让李凡微微皱眉、悄然退后一步。
Li Fan pondered while identifying any residual aura.
“ diào yú chí guǒ rán bà dào ， zì chéng yī tǐ 。 zhàn jù le xuán huáng jiè de yī piàn qū yù hòu ， jiù jiāng cǐ chù de suǒ yǒu qí tā fǎ zé jìn shù qū zhú ， yì huò zhě shuō 、 zhí jiē jǐ yā yān miè diào 。”
“钓鱼池果然霸道，自成一体。占据了玄黄界的一片区域后，就将此处的所有其他法则尽数驱逐，亦或者说、直接挤压湮灭掉。”
Originally, he didn't hold much hope, but unexpectedly, he did find something.
“ ér suí zhe diào yú chí de xiāo shī ， bèi zhàn jù de qū yù jiù xiǎn lù chū lái 。 kě néng yào xuán huáng jiè tiān dì shù shí nián de xiū fù ， cái néng huī fù zhèng cháng 。”
“而随着钓鱼池的消失，被占据的区域就显露出来。可能要玄黄界天地数十年的修复，才能恢复正常。”
"This is..."
lǐ fán yī biàn sī suǒ zhe ， yī biàn biàn bié zhe cǐ chù kě néng de cán liú qì xī 。
李凡一遍思索着，一遍辨别着此处可能的残留气息。
Li Fan's eyes flickered as he feigned disappointment on the surface.
yuán běn lǐ fán bìng bù bào shén me zhǐ wàng ， dàn ràng tā méi xiǎng dào de shì ， jū rán hái zhēn de ràng tā fā xiàn le shén me 。
原本李凡并不报什么指望，但让他没想到的是，居然还真的让他发现了什么。
Using the danger of this place as an excuse, he brought Lin Ling and others back to Spirit Tree Realm.
“ zhè shì ……“
“这是……“
After settling them down, Li Fan returned alone.
lǐ fán mù guāng shǎn dòng ， biǎo miàn zuò chū yī wú suǒ huò de shī wàng shén qíng 。
李凡目光闪动，表面做出一无所获的失望神情。
Closing his eyes in concentration, recalling the feeling when merging with the Pearl of the Vast Sea, it was also a state of cosmic perspective under the Unformed Killing Mechanism.
suí hòu yǐ cǐ dì wēi xiǎn wèi yóu ， jiāng lín líng jǐ rén quán dōu dài huí le líng mù jiè 。
随后以此地危险为由，将林灵几人全都带回了灵木界。
Stars and specks appeared in the darkness.
bǎ tā men ān dùn tuǒ dàng zhī hòu ， lǐ fán yòu zì jǐ gū shēn yī rén qiǎo rán fǎn huí 。
把他们安顿妥当之后，李凡又自己孤身一人悄然返回。
A colorful scene unfolded before Li Fan's vision.
bì mù níng shén ， huí xiǎng qǐ zhī qián yǔ cāng hǎi zhū hé yī shí de gǎn shòu ， yě tóng yàng shì wú xiāng shā jī xià de tiān dì shì jiǎo zhuàng tài 。
闭目凝神，回想起之前与沧海珠合一时的感受，也同样是无相杀机下的天地视角状态。
Beyond the void left by the Fishing Pool, countless fine threads crisscrossed densely, invisible to the naked eye.
xīng xīng diǎn diǎn ， xiàn yú hēi àn zhī zhōng 。
星星点点，现于黑暗之中。
The number of these threads increased perceptibly over time, like anintangible textile machine weaving something in the void.
bān lán zhī jǐng ， chéng xiàn zài lǐ fán de shì yě lǐ 。
斑斓之景，呈现在李凡的视野里。
This scene was reminiscent of what Li Fan had seen when the Five Elements Caverns were created in the Roots of the World.
nà diào yú chí suǒ liú de xū wú yuān xì zhī wài ， mì bù zhe wú shù dào zòng héng jiāo zhī 、 wēi bù kě jué de xì xiàn 。
那钓鱼池所留的虚无渊隙之外，密布着无数道纵横交织、微不可觉的细线。
It was as if the world was creating something on its own.
xì xiàn de shù liàng yǐ kě yǐ chá jué de chéng dù ， shí kè dōu zài dì zēng 。
细线的数量以可以察觉的程度，时刻都在递增。
What it created...
jiù xiàng shì yǒu yī tái wú xíng de fǎng zhī jī ， zài xū wú zhōng biān zhī zhe shén me 。
就像是有一台无形的纺织机，在虚无中编织着什么。
"Creation Stone Plate." Li Fan suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with surprise.
zhè yí mù chǎng jǐng ， xiàng jí le lǐ fán céng jīng zài 【 tiān dì zhī gēn 】 zhōng ， céng jīng jiàn dào guò de 、 wǔ xíng dòng tiān bèi chuàng shēng shí de huà miàn 。
这一幕场景，像极了李凡曾经在【天地之根】中，曾经见到过的、五行洞天被创生时的画面。
This partially formed object clearly resembled the Creation Stone Plate that Senior Stone Plate had been carrying and supposedly recorded everything since the creation of Xuanhuang Realm!
zhè shì tiān dì zài yǐ zì jǐ de fāng shì zào wù 。
这是天地在以自己的方式造物。
Amidst his shock, Li Fan's thoughts raced. He immediately deduced why the Creation Stone Plate reappeared here.
ér cǐ kè suǒ zào zhī wù ……
而此刻所造之物……
The Creation Stone Plate was a manifestation of the rules of Xuanhuang Realm, essentially being Xuanhuang Realm itself.
“ chuàng shì shí bǎn 。” lǐ fán mò rán zhēng kāi shuāng yǎn ， mù lù yì sè 。
“创世石板。”李凡蓦然睁开双眼，目露异色。
Since the world couldn't be fished out by the unknown entity in the depths of the Fishing Pool, even though Senior Stone Plate had disappeared, the Creation Stone Plate remained due to the inertia of the world.
zhè yǐ jīng xiǎn chū jǐ fēn chú xíng zhī wù ， fēn míng gēn shí bǎn qián bèi bèi hòu bèi zhe de 、 jù shuō jì zǎi zhe xuán huáng jiè zì kāi tiān pì dì yǐ lái yī qiè shì wù de chuàng shì shí bǎn ， bié wú èr zhì ！
这已经显出几分雏形之物，分明跟石板前辈背后背着的、据说记载着玄黄界自开天辟地以来一切事物的创世石板，别无二致！
"Senior finally gets his wish for freedom."
xīn zhōng zhèn dòng zhī yú ， lǐ fán sī niàn jí zhuǎn ， dùn shí tuī lǐ chū le chuàng shì shí bǎn yòu chū xiàn zài zhè lǐ de yuán yīn 。
心中震动之余，李凡思念急转，顿时推理出了创世石板又出现在这里的原因。
"But I wonder what lies on the other side of the Fishing Pool."
chuàng shì shí bǎn nǎi shì xuán huáng jiè fǎ zé de jù xiàn ， kě yǐ shuō shì xuán huáng jiè de běn shēn 。
创世石板乃是玄黄界法则的具现，可以说是玄黄界的本身。
Thinking about the possible scenery beyond the high walls, Li Fan was momentarily stunned.
shì jiè běn shēn ， zì rán wú fǎ bèi diào yú chí shēn chù de wèi zhī cún zài diào zǒu 。
世界本身，自然无法被钓鱼池深处的未知存在钓走。
But he shook his head and focused on the increasingly evident Creation Stone Plate.
suǒ yǐ shí bǎn qián bèi suī rán xiāo shī le ， dàn shì tā suǒ bēi fù de chuàng shì shí bǎn què shì yīn wèi shì jiè de guàn xìng ér bǎo liú le xià lái 。
所以石板前辈虽然消失了，但是他所背负的创世石板却是因为世界的惯性而保留了下来。
This stone plate undoubtedly was a treasure of Xuanhuang Realm.
“ kàn lái qián bèi tā zhōng yú dé cháng suǒ yuàn ， huī fù zì yóu le 。”
“看来前辈他终于得偿所愿，恢复自由了。”
By refining it, countless secrets hidden in Xuanhuang Realm would be revealed to him.
“ zhǐ shì bù zhī dào ， diào yú chí de duì miàn ， yòu jiū jìng shì zěn yàng yī fù guāng jǐng 。”
“只是不知道，钓鱼池的对面，又究竟是怎样一副光景。”
Perhaps even achieving immortality at once.
yáo xiǎng gāo qiáng zhī wài de kě néng jǐng xiàng ， lǐ fán wēi wēi lèng shén 。
遥想高墙之外的可能景象，李凡微微愣神。
But it was deeply bound with Xuanhuang Realm's longevity.
zuì zhōng hái shì yáo le yáo tóu ， jiāng zhù yì lì jí zhōng zài le yuè lái yuè míng xiǎn de chuàng shì shí bǎn shàng 。
最终还是摇了摇头，将注意力集中在了越来越明显的创世石板上。
Moreover, Li Fan had seen the pain Senior Stone Plate endured and how death seemed like a relief...
zhè shí bǎn wú yí shì xuán huáng jiè zhì bǎo 。
这石板无疑是玄黄界至宝。
More importantly, he feared that this item might have effects on his mind similar to those of Ruo Mu and Mr. Tian Dao Bai.
zhǐ yào jiāng qí liàn huà ， xuán huáng jiè céng jīng yǐn cáng de wú shù mì mì ， dōu jiāng zài lǐ fán miàn qián yī lǎn wú yú 。
只要将其炼化，玄黄界曾经隐藏的无数秘密，都将在李凡面前一览无余。
Another "Truly Real Yet Unwilling" experience...
shèn zhì shuō bù dìng néng yī bù dēng tiān 、 zhí dé cháng shēng 。
甚至说不定能一步登天、直得长生。
Forever bearing the stone plate...
dàn què shì yǔ xuán huáng jiè shēn dù bǎng dìng de cháng shēng 。
但确是与玄黄界深度绑定的长生。
"Based on my experience with Mr. Tian Dao Bai, even one's avatar is affected by such mental influence."
kuàng qiě ， shí bǎn qián bèi suǒ shòu de tòng chǔ lǐ fán kě shì qīng chǔ de kàn zài yǎn lǐ ， jiù lián sǐ xiāng jiào ér yán dōu shì yī zhǒng jiě tuō ……
况且，石板前辈所受的痛楚李凡可是清楚的看在眼里，就连死相较而言都是一种解脱……
"It seems I need to find a suitable successor for this Creation Stone Plate."
gèng guān jiàn de shì ， lǐ fán dān xīn zhè wán yì gēn ruò mù 、 tiān dào bái xiān shēng yī yàng ， huì yǒu yǐng xiǎng xīn shén de xiào guǒ 。
更关键的是，李凡担心这玩意跟若木、天道白先生一样，会有影响心神的效果。
"Not only should they have a strong mind that won't turn them into madmen, but they must be usable to me..."
dào shí hòu zài lái yī cì “ hái zhēn què bù yuàn ”。
到时候再来一次“还真却不愿”。
Images of various cultivators flashed through Li Fan’s mind.
zuì hòu yǒng shēng yǒng shì bēi fù zhe shí bǎn ……
最后永生永世背负着石板……
Li Fan knew he didn’t have much time left.
“ cóng gēn tiān dào bái xiān shēng duì kàng de jīng yàn lái kàn ， xīn shén de yǐng xiǎng ， jiù lián fēn shēn dōu wú fǎ miǎn chú 。”
“从跟天道白先生对抗的经验来看，心神的影响，就连分身都无法免除。”
The world was recreating the Creation Stone Plate like a tree bearing fruit.
“ kàn lái xū yào xún zhǎo hé shì de rén xuǎn ， lái jì chéng zhè chuàng shì shí bǎn 。”
“看来需要寻找合适的人选，来继承这创世石板。”
When the stone plate fully formed, it would fall from the tree and return to Xuanhuang Realm, making it hard to find again.
“ jì yào jīng shén zú gòu qiáng dà ， bù zhì yú dāng chǎng biàn chéng fēng zi 。 yòu yào zuì qǐ mǎ néng wèi wǒ suǒ yòng ……”
“既要精神足够强大，不至于当场变成疯子。又要最起码能为我所用……”
"It's him."
yí gè gè xiū shì de shēn yǐng zài lǐ fán nǎo hǎi zhōng fēi sù biàn huàn 。
一个个修士的身影在李凡脑海中飞速变幻。
Li Fan decided on his target. Surrounding himself with seven-color divine light, he transformed into a rainbow and rushed towards the Cunyun Sea.
lǐ fán zhī dào liú gěi tā de shí jiān bù duō le 。
李凡知道留给他的时间不多了。
Not long after, he found the intended cultivator—Simas Changkong, who recorded Xuanhuang Realm’s history through his family lineage!
tiān dì chóng xīn biān zhī chuàng shì shí bǎn ， jiù xiàng shù shàng jié chū guǒ shí 。
天地重新编织创世石板，就像树上结出果实。
This Simas Changkong from this life had no connection with Li Fan. Thus, he was somewhat surprised by Li Fan's sudden visit.
dāng chuàng shì shí bǎn chè dǐ chéng xíng de chà nà ， jiù shì guǒ shí luò dì de shùn jiān 。
当创世石板彻底成型的刹那，就是果实落地的瞬间。
But Li Fan wasn't there to seek his opinion.
kǒng pà huì huí guī xuán huáng jiè mǒu chù ， zài nán xún mì 。
恐怕会回归玄黄界某处，再难寻觅。
Without hesitation, he instantly restrained Simas Changkong and brought him back to the small temple in Yongyun State.
“ jiù shì tā le 。”
“就是他了。”
On the way, Li Fan explained everything.
lǐ fán zuì zhōng jué dìng le mù biāo rén xuǎn ， ér hòu qī cǎi shén guāng hù tǐ ， huà zuò yī dào zhǎng hóng zhí bēn cóng yún hǎi ér qù 。
李凡最终决定了目标人选，而后七彩神光护体，化作一道长虹直奔丛云海而去。
"Now, you have a chance to see Xuanhuang Realm’s past. Are you willing to accept it?"
bù duō shí ， jiù yǐ jīng zhǎo dào le mù biāo xiū shì 。
不多时，就已经找到了目标修士。
Li Fan asked solemnly.
zhèng shì yǐ zì shēn jiā zú xuè mài 、 jì lù xuán huáng jiè lì shǐ de sī mǎ cháng kōng ！
正是以自身家族血脉、记录玄黄界历史的司马长空！
Clearly, Simas Changkong, who had recorded Xuanhuang's history for generations, had no reason to refuse this offer.
zhè yī shì de sī mǎ cháng kōng gēn lǐ fán bìng wú jiāo jí ， suǒ yǐ duì lǐ fán de tū rán dào fǎng ， yǒu xiē cuò è 。
这一世的司马长空跟李凡并无交集，所以对李凡的突然到访，有些错愕。
Xuanhuang Realm's ongoing events would forever play in his mind...
bù guò lǐ fán yě bú shì lái zhēng qiú tā de yì jiàn de 。
不过李凡也不是来征求他的意见的。
This wasn't a torment for Simas Changkong; it was almost exhilarating and the perfect ability that his family had long desired!
bù yóu fēn shuō ， shùn jiān zhì zhù sī mǎ cháng kōng 。 ér hòu dài zhe tā jí sù fǎn huí le yōng yùn zhōu xiǎo miào 。
不由分说，瞬间制住司马长空。而后带着他急速返回了雍韵州小庙。
At least, before truly absorbing the stone plate, Simas Changkong thought so.
zài lù shàng ， fàng zài bǎ shì qíng de yuán wěi jiǎng shù le yī biàn 。
在路上，放在把事情的原委讲述了一遍。
"Writing Xuanhuang’s history is my duty!"
“ xiàn zài ， yǒu gè néng jǐn lǎn xuán huáng jiè guò wǎng de jī huì bǎi zài nǐ de miàn qián 。 nǐ kě yuàn yì jiē shòu ？”
“现在，有个能尽览玄黄界过往的机会摆在你的面前。你可愿意接受？”
"I hope you can help me achieve this!"
lǐ fán chén shēng wèn dào 。
李凡沉声问道。
Simas Changkong took a deep breath and respectfully bowed to Li Fan.
hěn xiǎn rán ， shì dài yǐ jì lù xuán huáng lì shǐ wèi jǐ rèn de sī mǎ cháng kōng ， gēn běn méi yǒu rèn hé lǐ yóu huì jù jué cǐ shì 。
很显然，世代以记录玄黄历史为己任的司马长空，根本没有任何理由会拒绝此事。
Even if he didn’t know how Li Fan knew his identity, if what he said was true...
xuán huáng jiè suǒ yǒu zhèng zài fā shēng de yī qiè yǒng yuǎn huì bù tíng zài nǎo hǎi zhōng chū xiàn ……
玄黄界所有正在发生的一切永远会不停在脑海中出现……
Simas Changkong would be willing to give everything for it!
zhè duì sī mǎ cháng kōng ér yán ， gēn běn bú shì shén me tòng kǔ ！
这对司马长空而言，根本不是什么痛苦！
"Good!"
ér shì jī hū lìng rén jī dòng dào fā chàn 、 sī mǎ jiā rén mèng mèi yǐ qiú de wán měi néng lì ！
而是几乎令人激动到发颤、司马家人梦寐以求的完美能力！
Li Fan agreed solemnly.
zuì shǎo ， zài méi yǒu zhēn zhèng xī shōu shí bǎn zhī qián ， sī mǎ cháng kōng shì zhè yàng xiǎng de 。
最少，在没有真正吸收石板之前，司马长空是这样想的。
"Wait for the right moment."
“ pǔ xiě xuán huáng shǐ shū ， shě wǒ qí shuí ！”
“谱写玄黄史书，舍我其谁！”
Seven days later, just before the Creation Stone Plate fully formed, Li Fan silently cast the [Strain Threads] divine technique on Simas Changkong.
“ hái wàng dào yǒu chéng quán ！”
“还望道友成全！”
Simas Changkong's body began to crack and disintegrate, transforming into fine threads that drifted in the air.
sī mǎ cháng kōng shēn xī yì kǒu qì ， duì lǐ fán gōng jìng xíng le yī lǐ 。
司马长空深吸一口气，对李凡恭敬行了一礼。
(End of Chapter)
Hearing Lin Ling's description, Li Fan put down most of his guard against her.
This unbelievable thing...
Didn't seem like something she could make up.
Imagining the scene where Senior Stone Plate was "reeled in," even with Li Fan's current temperament, he couldn't help feeling a shiver run down his spine.
When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you.
When you're fishing, who knows if you might be the one being reeled in?
"Water from this Fishing Pool can connect inside and outside the walls. It’s too deep."
Li Fan pondered for a moment before deciding he couldn't just take Lin Ling's word for it. He needed to go see for himself.
With that thought, Li Fan concealed his whereabouts and rushed towards Yongyun State.
Upon arriving at the small temple, both Zhong Shen Tong and Luli, as well as Lin Ling, had yet to recover from the sudden disappearance of Senior Stone Plate. Their faces were pale with worry, and they fidgeted nervously.
"Master, you're here," Lin Ling greeted Li Fan as if he was her main support, rushing forward.
Zhong Shen Tong also slightly roused himself and bowed.
Li Fan merely nodded slightly before stepping into the area where the Fishing Pool used to be. The once calm pool now only left behind an utter void.
Like the Cunyun Sea after being destroyed by Inky Ink, it was pitch black, with no space existing at all.
The dangerous aura made Li Fan frown and step back quietly.
"The Fishing Pool is indeed domineering, self-contained. After occupying a region of Xuanhuang Realm, it expelled or directly suppressed every other rule in the area."
"As the Fishing Pool disappears, the occupied area becomes visible. It might take decades for the Xuanhuang Realm to heal and return to normal."
Li Fan pondered while identifying any residual aura.
Originally, he didn't hold much hope, but unexpectedly, he did find something.
"This is..."
Li Fan's eyes flickered as he feigned disappointment on the surface.
Using the danger of this place as an excuse, he brought Lin Ling and others back to Spirit Tree Realm.
After settling them down, Li Fan returned alone.
Closing his eyes in concentration, recalling the feeling when merging with the Pearl of the Vast Sea, it was also a state of cosmic perspective under the Unformed Killing Mechanism.
Stars and specks appeared in the darkness.
A colorful scene unfolded before Li Fan's vision.
Beyond the void left by the Fishing Pool, countless fine threads crisscrossed densely, invisible to the naked eye.
The number of these threads increased perceptibly over time, like anintangible textile machine weaving something in the void.
This scene was reminiscent of what Li Fan had seen when the Five Elements Caverns were created in the Roots of the World.
It was as if the world was creating something on its own.
What it created...
"Creation Stone Plate." Li Fan suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with surprise.
This partially formed object clearly resembled the Creation Stone Plate that Senior Stone Plate had been carrying and supposedly recorded everything since the creation of Xuanhuang Realm!
Amidst his shock, Li Fan's thoughts raced. He immediately deduced why the Creation Stone Plate reappeared here.
The Creation Stone Plate was a manifestation of the rules of Xuanhuang Realm, essentially being Xuanhuang Realm itself.
Since the world couldn't be fished out by the unknown entity in the depths of the Fishing Pool, even though Senior Stone Plate had disappeared, the Creation Stone Plate remained due to the inertia of the world.
"Senior finally gets his wish for freedom."
"But I wonder what lies on the other side of the Fishing Pool."
Thinking about the possible scenery beyond the high walls, Li Fan was momentarily stunned.
But he shook his head and focused on the increasingly evident Creation Stone Plate.
This stone plate undoubtedly was a treasure of Xuanhuang Realm.
By refining it, countless secrets hidden in Xuanhuang Realm would be revealed to him.
Perhaps even achieving immortality at once.
But it was deeply bound with Xuanhuang Realm's longevity.
Moreover, Li Fan had seen the pain Senior Stone Plate endured and how death seemed like a relief...
More importantly, he feared that this item might have effects on his mind similar to those of Ruo Mu and Mr. Tian Dao Bai.
Another "Truly Real Yet Unwilling" experience...
Forever bearing the stone plate...
"Based on my experience with Mr. Tian Dao Bai, even one's avatar is affected by such mental influence."
"It seems I need to find a suitable successor for this Creation Stone Plate."
"Not only should they have a strong mind that won't turn them into madmen, but they must be usable to me..."
Images of various cultivators flashed through Li Fan’s mind.
Li Fan knew he didn’t have much time left.
The world was recreating the Creation Stone Plate like a tree bearing fruit.
When the stone plate fully formed, it would fall from the tree and return to Xuanhuang Realm, making it hard to find again.
"It's him."
Li Fan decided on his target. Surrounding himself with seven-color divine light, he transformed into a rainbow and rushed towards the Cunyun Sea.
Not long after, he found the intended cultivator—Simas Changkong, who recorded Xuanhuang Realm’s history through his family lineage!
This Simas Changkong from this life had no connection with Li Fan. Thus, he was somewhat surprised by Li Fan's sudden visit.
But Li Fan wasn't there to seek his opinion.
Without hesitation, he instantly restrained Simas Changkong and brought him back to the small temple in Yongyun State.
On the way, Li Fan explained everything.
"Now, you have a chance to see Xuanhuang Realm’s past. Are you willing to accept it?"
Li Fan asked solemnly.
Clearly, Simas Changkong, who had recorded Xuanhuang's history for generations, had no reason to refuse this offer.
Xuanhuang Realm's ongoing events would forever play in his mind...
This wasn't a torment for Simas Changkong; it was almost exhilarating and the perfect ability that his family had long desired!
At least, before truly absorbing the stone plate, Simas Changkong thought so.
"Writing Xuanhuang’s history is my duty!"
"I hope you can help me achieve this!"
Simas Changkong took a deep breath and respectfully bowed to Li Fan.
Even if he didn’t know how Li Fan knew his identity, if what he said was true...
Simas Changkong would be willing to give everything for it!
"Good!"
Li Fan agreed solemnly.
"Wait for the right moment."
Seven days later, just before the Creation Stone Plate fully formed, Li Fan silently cast the [Strain Threads] divine technique on Simas Changkong.
Simas Changkong's body began to crack and disintegrate, transforming into fine threads that drifted in the air.
(End of Chapter)