Chapter 1707: Mountain and Sea Evolution

Not only the Sages immersed in their memories, but even the Mountains and Seas themselves, were profoundly shocked and trembled ceaselessly by this discovery.

The Infinite Sea instantly rippled with countless waves. The number of possibilities emerging in that instant, one after another, exceeded the sum of all possibilities that had appeared over the past hundreds of millions of years.

The towering Upper Mountain also seemed to be hit by an invisible impact, trembling ceaselessly.

After the Mountains and Seas devoured the deities, it was originally believed that everything in the world would return to them. Harmoniously coexisting, an eternal world could be shaped. However, the discovery at this moment mercilessly shattered the long-held expectations of the Mountains and Seas. Thus, change arose spontaneously.

"Where exactly does that gaze from beyond the Mountains and Seas come from? Could that be the so-called 'star'?"

"If not for this gaze, perhaps the Mountains and Seas could truly maintain this so-called eternity. Possibilities would emerge and vanish, but without affecting the Mountains and Seas themselves. Time would be meaningful for the irregularly emerging possibilities within the Infinite Sea, but meaningless for the Mountains and Seas themselves. But with this gaze from beyond the Mountains and Seas, everything has changed!"

"The Mountains and Seas have also transformed from eternal creators and sustainers into observed entities. They are no longer transcendent or eternally unchanging."

"This inexplicable gaze is likely the culprit for the Mountains and Seas' current predicament. What exactly..."

After the initial fear, numerous questions arose in the hearts of the observing Sages. But even the Mountains and Seas themselves found it difficult to know the answer to this question, let alone the Sages present. They could only continue watching, filled with bewilderment.

In the past, unaware of the gaze upon them, the Mountains and Seas might have maintained their own balance. But ever since they felt that gaze from beyond the Mountains and Seas, the Mountains and Seas could no longer maintain their former state of tranquility. As more and more ripples appeared simultaneously in the Infinite Sea, a single pool of water could no longer be sustained. It was as if a strong wind was constantly blowing, carrying the water out of the pool. This led to the fusion of the Mountains and Seas, breaking their stillness. Time began to flow subtly over the Mountains and Seas.

After devouring the deities, the state where the Mountains and Seas strived to condense their essence into a single point did not last long before it was shattered. Perhaps this signified a certain inevitability. For the Mountains and Seas, their fusion was destined to be a catastrophe. But for the beings within the possibilities of the Mountains and Seas, it was undoubtedly a great fortune.

Some beings, amidst the turmoil of the Mountains and Seas, caught a glimpse of the towering Upper Mountain within the Infinite Sea. Thus, they began attempts to ascend it. Though most attempts ended in failure, they pressed on relentlessly, one after another, not knowing what it meant to give up. It was as if some inexplicable force was urging them onward. Although beings were born from the Mountains and Seas, the ambition to connect mountains and cross seas was their innate instinct!

Time, like a carving knife, altered the original form of the Mountains and Seas. The water in the pond slowly flowed outwards. From trickling streams, it became thousands of converging rivers. Wind split and water eroded, causing the Upper Mountain, which originally stood by the pond, to also suffer erosion. Slowly, it merged into the great rivers.

As time passed for the Mountains and Seas, the process of their fusion was accelerated. Perhaps it was an irresistible fate for the Mountains and Seas, or perhaps it was a certain attempt by the Mountains and Seas themselves. From the ancient Mountains and Seas, where they stood side by side maintaining an eternal state, they transformed into their current form. This process spanned a long period of 15 billion years.

Possibilities no longer merely appeared and vanished; instead, they flowed endlessly forward with time, accompanying the Mountains and Seas. Like great waves sifting sand. As life cycles were continuously extended, the upper limit of strength for newly born beings within the Mountains and Seas was also continuously raised.

Finally, one day, a being leaped from the Infinite Sea and touched the boundary of the Upper Mountain. Though it did not survive long and perished on its own, the impact it brought to the Mountains and Seas was undoubtedly immense. It was like a giant stone falling into the Infinite Sea, stirring up countless waves. More and more beings began to emulate this feat and repeat the attempts to ascend. It seemed illogical, yet also perfectly logical. Because the Upper Mountain was simply there.

Another ten billion years passed. The limits that beings within the Mountains and Seas could reach grew increasingly higher. Even with the title of "Infinite," the Upper Mountain was destined to be conquered one day.

Over these years, Saint Lianshan witnessed countless attempts at ascension and was deeply moved. He also followed the endless stream of people, embarking on the journey. Finally, one day, he left everyone else behind and ascended to the summit of the Upper Mountain.

The Sages' vision, accompanying Saint Lianshan's memories, suddenly shifted. Originally, the experiences of the three Sages were progressing in parallel, but now, the scenes originating from Saint Lianshan forcibly suppressed those of the other two Sages.

Standing at the pinnacle of the Mountains and Seas, Saint Lianshan did not survey the entirety of them. Instead, instinctively, he recalled the gaze from beyond the Mountains and Seas that he had felt many years ago. Thus, he couldn't help but raise his head, attempting to look outwards.

Just an instant later, Saint Lianshan felt the presence of that gaze! Even though he was already the strongest being apart from the Mountains and Seas themselves, he couldn't endure it in that instant, and both his body and soul shattered.

However, Saint Lianshan was not without gain. In that instant, he distinctly felt that, after ten billion years, the gaze from beyond the Mountains and Seas seemed to have drawn even closer! With a feeling of having grasped the truth in the morning, content to die by evening, Saint Lianshan did not regret dying from his momentary impulse. Even as he was about to perish, he remained immersed in the shock that gaze had brought him.

However, as the first being to ascend to the pinnacle of the Mountains and Seas, Saint Lianshan was destined not to simply perish. As he was on the verge of fading away, scenes he had witnessed in the past—countless beings within the Mountains and Seas, their efforts igniting like sparks, fearlessly exploring and attempting to ascend the Upper Mountain—reappeared in his mind.

"The Mountains and Seas are magnificent, and the beings within them are no less so."

"The Mountains and Seas are infinite, yet with the limited steps of the beings within them, they can still be measured."

Various enlightenments flashed through Saint Lianshan's mind in a split second. In the final moments before his impending demise, Saint Lianshan once again attained enlightenment. Using his own body as a bridge, he paved a smooth path for all beings to ascend to the mountain's summit.

"My past self should not have possessed such insight, capable of achieving such enlightenment at the moment of death."

"It is because..."

"Of that gaze."

Saint Lianshan descended upon the world. The Mountains and Seas immediately changed again. The Mountains and Seas were originally independent entities. The so-called beings, so-called civilizations, and so-called great DAOs within them were all unrelated to the Mountains and Seas themselves.

However, ever since the appearance of Saint Lianshan, the Mountains and Seas themselves became intricately linked with everything within them. Subsequently, Saint Guihai and Saint Taiyi were also born. The three Sages acted like catalysts, causing more and more beings capable of rivaling the Mountains and Seas to emerge. Just like a hundred flowers blooming and all trees vying for spring.

The Mountains and Seas experienced unprecedented liveliness and prosperity, as if their fusion was a beneficial event without any drawbacks. The prosperity of the Mountains and Seas lasted for over thirty billion years. During this period, countless possibilities fully evolved. But with the subtle guidance of the three Sages, all paths eventually pointed towards connecting mountains and crossing seas, and utilizing the power of the Mountains and Seas. The three Sages were creations of the Mountains and Seas' civilization, and in turn, they influenced the beings within the Mountains and Seas.