suī rán tiān chén zhēn rén duó qǔ shān zhōng zhī shān de chū zhōng yǐ jīng bù qīng chǔ ， dàn líng yào shān de kāi shān zǔ shī jì rán shì zhè wèi jīng cái jué yàn de rén wù ， dāng rán bù kě néng zhǐ yǒu biǎo miàn shàng de zhè yì diǎn shí lì le 。
虽然天尘真人夺取山中之山的初衷已经不清楚，但灵药山的开山祖师既然是这位惊才绝艳的人物，当然不可能只有表面上的这一点实力了。
Although the original intention of Tianchen Senior Immortal in seizing the mountain within the mountain was unclear, as the founding ancestor of Spirit Medicine Mountain was such a prodigy, he certainly couldn't just have this level of power on the surface.
“ suī rán běn pài chuán chéng zhì jīn ， zài yě méi yǒu le yuán yīng qī de gāo shǒu ， dàn níng dān qī de shī zǔ ， hái shì yǒu shí jǐ wèi zhī duō ， zhǐ bù guò tā men yì zhí zài zhè ér qián xiū ， wài jiè bìng bù zhī dào bà le 。” yáng xiū yǎng le yǎng tóu ， shén sè pǒ wèi zì ào ：“ lùn shí lì ， wǒ men gù rán wú fǎ hé bì yún shān ， yī xiàn xiá ， léi yún shān zhuāng xiāng bǐ ， dàn zài yōu zhōu ， yě jué fēi sān sì liú de mén pài ， jǐn jǐn shì shāo xùn yú sān jù tóu 。”
“虽然本派传承至今，再也没有了元婴期的高手，但凝丹期的师祖，还是有十几位之多，只不过他们一直在这儿潜修，外界并不知道罢了。”杨修仰了仰头，神色颇为自傲：“论实力，我们固然无法和碧云山，一线峡，雷云山庄相比，但在幽州，也绝非三四流的门派，仅仅是稍逊于三巨头。”
"Although our sect no longer has any experts at the Core Formation stage, there are still more than ten ancestors at the Condensation Core stage. They've been潜修 here all along; it's just that outsiders don't know about them," Yang Shou raised his head with a proud expression: "In terms of strength, we may not be able to compare to Cloudy Mountain, One-Line Canyon, or Thunder Cloud Manor, but in Youzhou, we are far from being third-rate sects. We're merely slightly inferior to the three major powers."
sà rán zhī jiān tīng le zhè me duō yǐn mì ， yǐ lín xuān de chéng fǔ ， yě xū yào yí dìng de shí jiān lái xiāo huà 。
飒然之间听了这么多隐秘，以林轩的城府，也需要一定的时间来消化。
After hearing so many secrets, even Lin Xuan's composure would need some time to digest.
tā de xīn zhōng bù yóu fú xiàn chū hěn duō yí wèn ， líng yào shān yǐ dì yì liú de shí lì ， què rú cǐ dī diào ， jiū jìng shì zǔ xùn rú cǐ ， hái shì bié yǒu suǒ tú ， tiān chén zhēn rén móu qǔ zhè shān zhōng zhī shān de zhēn zhèng mù dì yòu shì shén me ？
他的心中不由浮现出很多疑问，灵药山以第一流的实力，却如此低调，究竟是祖训如此，还是别有所图，天尘真人谋取这山中之山的真正目的又是什么？
Many questions arose in his mind: Why was Spirit Medicine Mountain so discreet despite its first-rate strength? Was it due to ancestral teachings or for other reasons? What was Tianchen Senior Immortal's true intention in seizing the mountain within the mountain?
rú guǒ líng yào shān zhēn de rú cǐ liǎo bù qǐ ， tōng yǔ zhēn rén lì zì jǐ wèi zhǎng mén jiù xiǎn de tài guò qīng shuài le yī xiē ， tā jiū jìng yòu yǒu zhe zěn yàng de kǎo lǜ ？
如果灵药山真的如此了不起，通羽真人立自己为掌门就显得太过轻率了一些，他究竟又有着怎样的考虑？
If Spirit Medicine Mountain truly had such great power, making Tongyu Senior Immortal appoint him as sect leader seemed a bit too hasty. What were his considerations?
yí dòu cóng shēng ， dàn biǎo miàn shàng ， lín xuān què méi yǒu liú lù chū sī háo yì yàng ， zhǐ shì duì zhe yáng xiū páng qiāo cè jī ， duì fāng dào yě shì zhī wú bù yán ， zhǐ bù guò tā liǎo jiě de xìn xī sì hū yě yǒu xiàn 。
疑窦丛生，但表面上，林轩却没有流露出丝毫异样，只是对着杨修旁敲侧击，对方倒也是知无不言，只不过他了解的信息似乎也有限。
Despite these doubts, Lin Xuan didn't show any unusual reactions on the surface. He merely probed Yang Shou from the side, and the other party spoke without reservation, though he appeared to have limited information.
shuō huà jiān ， liǎng rén yǐ lái dào le yī chù shān bì de miàn qián 。
说话间，两人已来到了一处山壁的面前。
Arriving at a mountain wall, they stopped in front of it. There was no path ahead, but Yang Shou hesitated not for a moment before stopping there.
qián fāng yǐ jīng méi yǒu lù ， yáng xiū què háo bù yóu yù de zài zhè lǐ tíng xià lái le 。
前方已经没有路，杨修却毫不犹豫的在这里停下来了。
Lin Xuan also descended his light travel and looked curiously at the mountain wall. Could this be where the treasure vault was located?
lín xuān yě là xià dùn guāng ， yǒu diǎn chī jīng de dǎ liàng le yī xià yǎn qián shān bì ， nán dào zhè lǐ jiù shì bǎo kù de suǒ zài dì 。
林轩也落下遁光，有点吃惊的打量了一下眼前山壁，难道这里就是宝库的所在地。
Yang Shou took out a token from his pocket and muttered something under his breath. With the power of essence energy, he shot a beam of white light from the token to the mountain wall.
yáng xiū cóng huái lǐ qǔ chū yī méi lìng pái 。 kǒu zhōng niàn niàn yǒu cí ， zài líng lì dì qū shǐ xià ， cóng nà lìng pái lǐ shè chū yī dào bái guāng ， fēi dào le shān bì zhī shàng 。
杨修从怀里取出一枚令牌。口中念念有词，在灵力地驱使下，从那令牌里射出一道白光，飞到了山壁之上。
Suddenly, a wondrous thing happened. It was like throwing a stone into a pond; ripples spread, and the scenery before them began to change. The mountain wall vanished, replaced by an elegant pavilion.
dùn shí 。 qí miào de shì qíng fā shēng le ， rú tóng shuǐ táng lǐ bèi tóu xià le yī méi shí zǐ ， bō wén dàng yàng ， yǎn qián de jǐng wù kāi shǐ biàn huà ， shān bì xiāo shī le 。 qǔ ér dài zhī de shì yī dòng jīng měi dì lóu gé 。
顿时。奇妙的事情发生了，如同水塘里被投下了一枚石子，波纹荡漾，眼前的景物开始变化，山壁消失了。取而代之的是一栋精美地楼阁。
Illusion?
huàn shù ？
幻术？
Lin Xuan's mind was shocked. He had already reached the Foundation Establishment stage, and his divine sense was far stronger than that of his peers, yet he couldn't see through this illusionary array at all. This could be imagined as to how powerful such a restriction was.
lín xuān xīn zhōng hài rán ， rú jīn tā yǐ shì zhù jī qī de xiū wèi ， ér qiě shén shí yuǎn bǐ tóng jiē de xiū shì qiáng dà ， kě què sī háo méi yǒu kàn chū yǎn qián de mí huàn zhèn fǎ 。 yóu cǐ kě yǐ xiǎng xiàng zhè zhǒng jìn zhì de lì hài chéng dù 。
林轩心中骇然，如今他已是筑基期的修为，而且神识远比同阶的修士强大，可却丝毫没有看出眼前的迷幻阵法。由此可以想象这种禁制的厉害程度。
"Alright, Lin Junior Disciple, please."
“ hǎo le ， lín shī dì ， qǐng ba ！”
“好了，林师弟，请吧！”
Yang Shou chuckled and led the way. After some hesitation, Lin Xuan followed him into the pavilion.
yáng xiū xī xī yī xiào ， zài qián miàn yǐn lù ， lín xuān lüè yī yóu yù ， jiù gēn zhe tā jìn rù le yǎn qián dì gé lóu 。
杨修嘻嘻一笑，在前面引路，林轩略一犹豫，就跟着他进入了眼前地阁楼。
"This isn't just an illusion; our sect's treasure vault is heavily guarded. The Misty Immortal Array not only reverses yin and yang but also contains attacks of the five elements. Even at the Condensation Core stage, stepping in here means certain death as you'll be unable to escape. This is one of the fastest ways to enhance your strength."
“ zhè kě bù jǐn jǐn shì huàn shù ， běn mén de cáng bǎo zhòng dì ， jìn zhì lì hài wú bǐ ， zhè mí xiān zhèn bù jǐn diān dǎo le yīn yáng 。 ér qiě hái àn hán wǔ xíng shǔ xìng de gōng jī 。 jí biàn shì níng dān qī de xiū shì ， tà rù zhè lǐ ， yě bié xiǎng chū qù ， zhǐ néng luò gè dān suì rén wáng dì xià chǎng ， suǒ yǐ shī dì qiān wàn gēn jǐn yì diǎn ， bú yào zǒu diū le a ！”
“这可不仅仅是幻术，本门的藏宝重地，禁制厉害无比，这迷仙阵不仅颠倒了阴阳。而且还暗含五行属性的攻击。即便是凝丹期的修士，踏入这里，也别想出去，只能落个丹碎人亡地下场，所以师弟千万跟紧一点，不要走丢了啊！”
After breaking through another restriction, Yang Shou led Lin Xuan into a room: "Alright, Junior Disciple, according to the sect leader's instructions, you can choose any three items from this place. The room isn't large—only about 200 square meters—but it is neatly arranged with all kinds of treasures in the cultivation world.
“ ń ， ń 。” lín xuān tīng le mí xiān zhèn de lì hài ， nǎ lǐ hái gǎn dài màn 。 shǐ zhōng jù lí yáng xiū bù guò sān bù yuǎn 。
“嗯，嗯。”林轩听了迷仙阵的厉害，哪里还敢怠慢。始终距离杨修不过三步远。
Spirit artifacts, elixirs, and talismans are all available."
yòu pò chú le yī dào jìn zhì 。 yáng xiū jiāng lín xuān dài rù le yí gè fáng jiān ：“ hǎo le ， shī dì 。 àn zhào zhǎng mén de shǒu yù ， zhè lǐ miàn de dōng xī ， nǐ kě yǐ rèn yì tiāo xuǎn sān jiàn 。 fáng jiān bù dà ， jǐn yǒu liǎng bǎi píng fāng mǐ zuǒ yòu ， rán ér què jǐng rán yǒu xù de bǎi mǎn le xiū zhēn jiè gè zhǒng gè yàng de bǎo wù 。
又破除了一道禁制。杨修将林轩带入了一个房间：“好了，师弟。按照掌门的手谕，这里面的东西，你可以任意挑选三件。房间不大，仅有两百平方米左右，然而却井然有序的摆满了修真界各种各样的宝物。
After half an hour, Lin Xuan emerged from the treasure vault.
líng qì ， dān yào ， fú yīng yǒu jìn yǒu 。
灵器，丹药，符应有尽有。
Recalling his earlier selection, Lin Xuan's face showed a touch of helplessness. Spirit Medicine Mountain's strength far exceeded expectations, with too many options to choose from, making it hard for him to decide.
bàn gè shí chén yǐ hòu ， lín xuān cóng bǎo kù lǐ miàn chū lái le 。
半个时辰以后，林轩从宝库里面出来了。
Among the same-rank cultivators, Lin Xuan was already considered well-traveled. Other Foundation Establishment stage beginners would be happy just to have one spirit artifact.
xiǎng xiàng zhe gāng cái tiāo xuǎn bǎo wù de qíng jǐng ， lín xuān liǎn shàng lù chū yī sī wú nài de shén sè ， yīn wèi líng yào shān de shí lì yuǎn yuǎn chāo guò xiǎng xiàng ， kě gōng tiāo xuǎn dì dōng xī tài duō ， fǎn ér ràng lín xuān yǒu yī zhǒng wú cóng xià shǒu dì gǎn jué 。
想象着刚才挑选宝物的情景，林轩脸上露出一丝无奈的神色，因为灵药山的实力远远超过想象，可供挑选地东西太多，反而让林轩有一种无从下手地感觉。
But Lin Xuan had several, including some top-tier treasures. Still, arriving here left him dazzled, wishing he could stuff everything in his storage bracelet.
zài tóng jiē xiū shì zhōng ， lín xuān yǐ jīng suàn shì jiàn duō shí guǎng de rén wù ， bié de zhù jī chū qī de xiū zhēn zhě ， yǒu yī jiàn líng qì jiù yǐ jīng hěn bú cuò 。
在同阶修士中，林轩已经算是见多识广的人物，别的筑基初期的修真者，有一件灵器就已经很不错。
Of course, this wasn't possible!
dàn lín xuān què yǒu shù jiàn zhī duō ， qí zhōng shèn zhì bù fá jí pǐn de bǎo wù ， kě lái dào zhè lǐ ， hái shì ràng lín xuān yǒu yǎn huā liáo luàn de gǎn jué ， hèn bù dé jiāng fáng jiān lǐ de dōng xī yī gǔ nǎo zhuāng rù chǔ wù shǒu zhuó 。
但林轩却有数件之多，其中甚至不乏极品的宝物，可来到这里，还是让林轩有眼花缭乱的感觉，恨不得将房间里的东西一股脑装入储物手镯。
Lin Xuan took a deep breath and finally calmed down. Then, he began selecting the most necessary items.
dāng rán ， zhè shì bù kě néng de ！
当然，这是不可能的！
First, he chose a small round shield that was only as big as a palm. Although unremarkable, it was a top-tier spirit artifact with defensive properties.
lín xuān shēn shēn hū xī ， hǎo bù róng yì cái jiāng jī dòng dì xīn qíng píng fù xià qù 。
林轩深深呼吸，好不容易才将激动地心情平复下去。
Since Lin Xuan lacked offensive means, his only defense was a piece of cloth, which he had obtained from the destruction of an ill-intentioned cultivator during the refining of top-tier elixirs for washing away essence energy. This "Xuanjin Shield" was naturally something he didn't want to miss.
rán hòu ， kāi shǐ tiāo xuǎn zì jǐ zuì xū yào dì dōng xī 。
然后，开始挑选自己最需要地东西。
Second, Lin Xuan chose a beast talisman.
shǒu xiān ， lín xuān xuǎn zhōng le yí miàn yuán xíng de ， jǐn yǒu bā zhǎng dà dì xiǎo dùn ， bié kàn tā bù qǐ yǎn ， cǐ wù kě shì jí pǐn líng qì ， ér qiě shì fáng yù shǔ xìng de 。
首先，林轩选中了一面圆形的，仅有巴掌大地小盾，别看它不起眼，此物可是极品灵器，而且是防御属性的。
These talismans containing the soul of a demon beast were already familiar to him. Although he had a Sky翔 Bird talisman, it was only a first-grade demon beast and quite useful in conflicts among灵动期 cultivators but somewhat redundant for his own level.
lín xuān bìng bù quē gōng jī de shǒu duàn ， dàn fáng yù líng qì què jǐn yǒu huā bù yī kuài ， nà shì liàn zhì jí pǐn xǐ suǐ dān shí miè diào nà bù huái hào yì de xiū shì suǒ de ， què jǐn jǐn shì zhōng pǐn de ， yǎn qián zhè “ xuán jīn dùn ” lín xuān zì rán bù yuàn yì fàng guò 。
林轩并不缺攻击的手段，但防御灵器却仅有花布一块，那是炼制极品洗髓丹时灭掉那不怀好意的修士所得，却仅仅是中品的，眼前这“玄金盾”林轩自然不愿意放过。
Thus, when he saw a second-grade demon beast "Flame Rhinoceros" talisman, he didn't hesitate to put it away.
dì èr jiàn bǎo wù lín xuān tiāo xuǎn de shì yī zhāng shòu fú 。
第二件宝物林轩挑选的是一张兽符。
Knowing that beast talismans had energy limitations, having one was equivalent to gaining an ally of similar strength.
zhè zhǒng fēng yìn yǒu yāo shòu hún pò de fú ， lín xuān shǐ yòng dé yǐ jīng dé xīn yìng shǒu ， suī rán tā hái yǒu yī zhāng tiān xiáng niǎo fú ， dàn nà bì jìng shì yī jí yāo shòu ， zài líng dòng qī xiū shì jiān de zhēng dòu zhōng shí fēn guǎn yòng ， dàn duì tà rù zhù jī qī de lín xuān lái shuō ， jiù yǒu yì diǎn jī lèi le 。
这种封印有妖兽魂魄的符，林轩使用得已经得心应手，虽然他还有一张天翔鸟符，但那毕竟是一级妖兽，在灵动期修士间的争斗中十分管用，但对踏入筑基期的林轩来说，就有一点鸡肋了。
Two against one—whether facing peers or even Foundation Establishment中期 cultivators, this could be a decisive factor. This was one of the fastest ways to enhance his strength.
suǒ yǐ dāng lín xuān kàn jiàn nà fēng yìn yǒu èr jí yāo shòu “ huǒ yàn xī niú ” de fú yǐ hòu ， jiù háo bù yóu yù de shōu rù le huái zhōng 。
所以当林轩看见那封印有二级妖兽“火焰犀牛”的符以后，就毫不犹豫的收入了怀中。
The third item Lin Xuan chose was a "Spirit Restoring Elixir," a divine herb.
xū zhī ， shòu fú suī rán yǒu zhe néng liàng xiàn zhì ， dàn yǒu le tā ， jiù xiāng dāng yú duō le yī wèi yǔ zì jǐ shí lì xiāng jìn de bāng shǒu 。
须知，兽符虽然有着能量限制，但有了它，就相当于多了一位与自己实力相近的帮手。
As its name suggested, it quickly replenished the essence energy lost by cultivators.
èr dǎ yī ， bié shuō tóng jiē de xiū shì ， jiù suàn shì pèng shàng zhù jī zhōng qī de xiū shì ， yě wèi miǎn méi yǒu yī bó zhī lì ， cǐ nǎi tí gāo shí lì de zuì kuài tú jìng zhī yī 。
二打一，别说同阶的修士，就算是碰上筑基中期的修士，也未免没有一搏之力，此乃提高实力的最快途径之一。
Generally, after using up essence energy, there were two methods for recovery: sitting in meditation or drawing from crystal stones. The former was suitable only for cultivation; during combat, most cultivators would use the latter method.
zhì yú dì sān jiàn bǎo wù ， lín xuān xuǎn de zé shì yī zhǒng míng jiào “ bǔ líng dān ” de xiān yào 。
至于第三件宝物，林轩选的则是一种名叫“补灵丹”的仙药。
However, drawing from a crystal stone, while faster than sitting in meditation, was still insufficient compared to the amount of essence energy consumed during combat. Cultivators were unsatisfied with this and merely did it out of necessity. But taking this Spirit Restoring Elixir was different; although it couldn't instantly fill his essence energy, its replenishment speed was ten times that of a crystal stone.
bǔ líng dān ， gù míng sī yì ， kě yǐ xùn sù bǔ chōng xiū shì suǒ sǔn hào de líng lì 。
补灵丹，顾名思义，可以迅速补充修士所损耗的灵力。
In other words, facing an opponent of similar strength in a prolonged battle, having this Spirit Restoring Elixir meant he could stand invincible.
yì bān líng lì xiāo hào yǐ hòu ， xiǎng yào huī fù ， yǒu liǎng zhǒng fāng shì ， yī shì dǎ zuò xiū xī ， èr shì cóng jīng shí zhōng jí qǔ 。
一般灵力消耗以后，想要恢复，有两种方式，一是打坐休息，二是从晶石中汲取。
Unfortunately, there were only ten elixirs in the bottle.
qián yī zhǒng jǐn shì hé yú xiū liàn ， rú guǒ dòu fǎ de huà ， xiū zhēn zhě men dū huì cǎi yòng dì èr zhǒng fāng shì 。
前一种仅适合于修炼，如果斗法的话，修真者们都会采用第二种方式。
But one must be content; with these three treasures, Lin Xuan's strength had soared significantly.
dàn cóng jīng shí zhōng jí qǔ ， suī rán huī fù sù dù bǐ dǎ zuò kuài le xǔ duō ， dàn xiāng duì yú dòu fǎ xiāo hào de líng lì ér yán ， tóng yàng shì bēi shuǐ chē xīn ， xiū shì men bìng bù mǎn yì ， jǐn jǐn shì bào zhe liáo shèng yú wú de xīn lǐ ， ér zhè bǔ líng dān jiù bù yí yàng le ， suī rán tā yě méi yǒu bàn fǎ jiāng fǎ lì shùn jiān bù mǎn ， nà zhǐ yǒu chuán shuō zhōng de xiān yào cái néng zuò dào ， dàn fú yòng cǐ dān hòu ， qí fǎ lì bǔ chōng de sù dù yě shì jīng shí de shí bèi 。
但从晶石中汲取，虽然恢复速度比打坐快了许多，但相对于斗法消耗的灵力而言，同样是杯水车薪，修士们并不满意，仅仅是抱着聊胜于无的心里，而这补灵丹就不一样了，虽然它也没有办法将法力瞬间布满，那只有传说中的仙药才能做到，但服用此丹后，其法力补充的速度也是晶石的十倍。
Adding his cultivation of the Nine Heavens Profound Technique and spirit artifacts like the Green Snow Ring and Wu Gou, Lin Xuan far surpassed other cultivators at the same level.
huàn jù huà shuō ， rú guǒ yù shàng yǔ zì jǐ shí lì chà bu duō de duì shǒu ， dǎ chí jiǔ zhàn de huà ， yǒu le zhè bǔ líng dān ， zì jǐ kě yǐ shuō wěn lì yú bù bài zhī dì 。^^ shǒu fā ? jūn ? zi ?? táng ?^^
换句话说，如果遇上与自己实力差不多的对手，打持久战的话，有了这补灵丹，自己可以说稳立于不败之地。^^首发?君?子??堂?^^
Looking at the vast mountains shrouded in mist, the unremarkable-looking youth couldn't help but exclaim: "What a rich source of essence energy."
wéi yī yí hàn de shì ， zhè bǔ líng dān de shù liàng shǎo le yì diǎn ， yī píng zhī zhōng ， jǐn yǒu shí lì 。
唯一遗憾的是，这补灵丹的数量少了一点，一瓶之中，仅有十粒。
Cloudy Mountain stretched from west to east for eight hundred miles. From above, it resembled a giant dragon lying down. Its main peak was five thousand meters high and perpetually covered in green mist, giving rise to its name.
dàn rén yào zhī zú ， yǒu le zhè sān jiàn bǎo wù ， lín xuān de shí lì kě shì fēi zhǎng le xǔ duō 。
但人要知足，有了这三件宝物，林轩的实力可是飞涨了许多。
Most mountains had white fog, but this green mist was a marvel that left people amazed.
jiā shàng suǒ xiū liàn de 《 jiǔ tiān xuán gōng 》， yǐ jí bì xuě huán ， wú gōu děng líng qì ， lín xuān shí lì yuǎn yuǎn shèng guò le tóng jiē de xiū zhēn zhě 。
加上所修炼的《九天玄功》，以及碧雪环，吴钩等灵器，林轩实力远远胜过了同阶的修真者。
However, cultivators knew it wasn't fog; it was the gathering of dense heavenly essence energy. This place was one of the best essence energy sources in Youzhou and thus occupied by Cloudy Mountain.
wàng zhuó yǎn qián cāng máng de dà shān ， lǒng zhào zài yīn yūn de wù qì zhī zhōng ， cóng dùn guāng zhī zhōng xiàn shēn de nà xiàng mào píng fán de shào nián bù yóu fā chū yī shēng gǎn tàn ：“ hǎo yī chù líng mài 。”
望着眼前苍茫的大山，笼罩在氤氲的雾气之中，从遁光之中现身的那相貌平凡的少年不由发出一声感叹：“好一处灵脉。”
Cultivating here offered significant benefits to ordinary cultivators.
bì yún shān ， yóu xī zhì dōng ， mián yán bā bǎi lǐ ， cóng tiān kōng zhōng yáo wàng ， hǎo sì yī tóu pú fú de jù lóng ， qí zhǔ fēng gāo wǔ qiān mǐ ， zhōng nián lǒng zhào zhe qīng sè de wù qì ， bì yún shān zhī míng ， yóu cǐ ér lái 。
碧云山，由西至东，绵延八百里，从天空中遥望，好似一头匍匐的巨龙，其主峰高五千米，终年笼罩着青色的雾气，碧云山之名，由此而来。
Lin Xuan's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise but didn't show any envy. For him, who relied on ingesting elixirs for cultivation, the density of the local essence energy made no difference.
yì bān de shān fēng ， wù qì jiē wèi bái sè ， zhè qīng sè de wù qì ， ràng shì rén zé zé chēng qí 。
一般的山峰，雾气皆为白色，这青色的雾气，让世人啧啧称奇。
Surveying his surroundings, Lin Xuan took out a letter of introduction from his pocket and activated it with essence energy. A beam of red light shot out and entered the mountain peak.
rán ér xiū zhēn zhě què zhī dào ， zhè gēn běn jiù bú shì wù ， ér shì yóu nóng hòu de tiān dì líng qì huì jí ér chéng de ， cǐ chù nǎi shì yōu zhōu zuì hǎo de líng mài zhī yī ， gù ér bèi sān pài zhōng de bì yún shān suǒ zhàn jù 。
然而修真者却知道，这根本就不是雾，而是由浓厚的天地灵气汇集而成的，此处乃是幽州最好的灵脉之一，故而被三派中的碧云山所占据。
Soon, a light travel emerged from Cloudy Mountain. It was a young disciple in their late teens or early twenties, wearing the sect's attire, stepping on a spirit artifact sword.
zài zhè lǐ xiū liàn ， duì pǔ tōng xiū shì ér yán ， néng gòu shì bàn gōng bèi 。
在这里修炼，对普通修士而言，能够事半功倍。
Using divine sense to scan him, Lin Xuan found he had the Fifth Layer of the Fifth Stage of the Profound Technique.
lín xuān yǎn zhōng shǎn guò yī sī yì sè ， bù guò què bìng bù xiàn mù ， duì yú * fú shí dān yào xiū liàn de tā ér yán ， suǒ dài de dì fāng líng qì shì fǒu nóng hòu ， gēn běn jiù méi yǒu shén me guān xì 。
林轩眼中闪过一丝异色，不过却并不羡慕，对于*服食丹药修炼的他而言，所待的地方灵气是否浓厚，根本就没有什么关系。
The youth quickly approached and, upon seeing Lin Xuan, showed surprise. He bowed slightly and hesitated: "Mister Fellow Cultivator, was that message you sent just now?"
dǎ liàng le yī xià zhōu wéi de huán jìng ， lín xuān cóng huái zhōng tāo chū yī zhāng bài tiē ， líng lì yùn zhuàn ， yī shù hóng guāng cóng bài tiē zhōng jī shè ér chū ， mò rù le shān fēng zhī zhōng 。
打量了一下周围的环境，林轩从怀中掏出一张拜贴，灵力运转，一束红光从拜贴中激射而出，没入了山峰之中。
"Yes."
shǎo qǐng ， yī dào dùn guāng cóng bì yún fēng fēi lüè guò lái ， shì yí gè shēn chuān gāi pài fú shì de dì zǐ ， dà yuē shí qī bā suì nián jì 。
少顷，一道遁光从碧云峰飞掠过来，是一个身穿该派服饰的弟子，大约十七八岁年纪。
"Are you the sect leader of Spirit Medicine Mountain?"
tā de jiǎo xià ， tà zhe yī fēi jiàn líng qì ， lín xuān yòng shén shí sǎo miáo le yī xià ， líng dòng qī dì wǔ céng gōng fǎ 。
他的脚下，踏着一飞剑灵器，林轩用神识扫描了一下，灵动期第五层功法。
The disciple's face was full of confusion. While Tongyu Senior Immortal wasn't particularly powerful, his alchemy skills were renowned in Youzhou, making him a revered figure. This person...
nà shào nián hěn kuài jiù lái dào le gēn qián ， kàn jiàn lín xuān ， liǎn shàng lù chū jīng yà zhī sè ， gǒng le gǒng shǒu ， yóu yù zhe dào ：“ zhè wèi dào yǒu ， gāng cái nà shēng xùn shì nǐ fā chū lái de ？”
那少年很快就来到了跟前，看见林轩，脸上露出惊讶之色，拱了拱手，犹豫着道：“这位道友，刚才那声讯是你发出来的？”
Using the Essence Eye Technique to look at him, the disciple's expression immediately became respectful. The fellow cultivator who seemed only slightly older than himself was actually a Foundation Establishment stage expert.
“ bù cuò 。”
“不错。”
Lin Xuan smiled: "Tongyu Senior Immortal is my teacher. I am the sect leader of Spirit Medicine Mountain. My teacher is busy and can't attend the gathering at Cloudy Mountain, so he sent me to replace him."
“ gé xià shì líng yào shān zhǎng mén ？”
“阁下是灵药山掌门？”
As Lin Xuan spoke, he handed over his identity token.
nà dì zǐ liǎn shàng mǎn shì yí huò zhī sè ， tōng yǔ zhēn rén shí lì bù suàn shén me ， dàn píng qí liàn dān shù ， zài yōu zhōu yě shì dà míng dǐng dǐng de rén wù ， tīng shuō shì yī wèi xiān fēng dào gǔ de lǎo zhě ， yǎn qián zhè wèi ……
那弟子脸上满是疑惑之色，通羽真人实力不算什么，但凭其炼丹术，在幽州也是大名鼎鼎的人物，听说是一位仙风道骨的老者，眼前这位……
The disciple's expression relaxed as he took the token and looked it over with even more respect: "I apologize for my rudeness. You are the next sect leader of Spirit Medicine Mountain. I am Mu Yan, a disciple of Cloudy Mountain. Following the sect leader's instructions, I'm here to welcome all fellow cultivators. Please follow me."
Although the original intention of Tianchen Senior Immortal in seizing the mountain within the mountain was unclear, as the founding ancestor of Spirit Medicine Mountain was such a prodigy, he certainly couldn't just have this level of power on the surface.
"Although our sect no longer has any experts at the Core Formation stage, there are still more than ten ancestors at the Condensation Core stage. They've been潜修 here all along; it's just that outsiders don't know about them," Yang Shou raised his head with a proud expression: "In terms of strength, we may not be able to compare to Cloudy Mountain, One-Line Canyon, or Thunder Cloud Manor, but in Youzhou, we are far from being third-rate sects. We're merely slightly inferior to the three major powers."
After hearing so many secrets, even Lin Xuan's composure would need some time to digest.
Many questions arose in his mind: Why was Spirit Medicine Mountain so discreet despite its first-rate strength? Was it due to ancestral teachings or for other reasons? What was Tianchen Senior Immortal's true intention in seizing the mountain within the mountain?
If Spirit Medicine Mountain truly had such great power, making Tongyu Senior Immortal appoint him as sect leader seemed a bit too hasty. What were his considerations?
Despite these doubts, Lin Xuan didn't show any unusual reactions on the surface. He merely probed Yang Shou from the side, and the other party spoke without reservation, though he appeared to have limited information.
Arriving at a mountain wall, they stopped in front of it. There was no path ahead, but Yang Shou hesitated not for a moment before stopping there.
Lin Xuan also descended his light travel and looked curiously at the mountain wall. Could this be where the treasure vault was located?
Yang Shou took out a token from his pocket and muttered something under his breath. With the power of essence energy, he shot a beam of white light from the token to the mountain wall.
Suddenly, a wondrous thing happened. It was like throwing a stone into a pond; ripples spread, and the scenery before them began to change. The mountain wall vanished, replaced by an elegant pavilion.
Illusion?
Lin Xuan's mind was shocked. He had already reached the Foundation Establishment stage, and his divine sense was far stronger than that of his peers, yet he couldn't see through this illusionary array at all. This could be imagined as to how powerful such a restriction was.
"Alright, Lin Junior Disciple, please."
Yang Shou chuckled and led the way. After some hesitation, Lin Xuan followed him into the pavilion.
"This isn't just an illusion; our sect's treasure vault is heavily guarded. The Misty Immortal Array not only reverses yin and yang but also contains attacks of the five elements. Even at the Condensation Core stage, stepping in here means certain death as you'll be unable to escape. This is one of the fastest ways to enhance your strength."
After breaking through another restriction, Yang Shou led Lin Xuan into a room: "Alright, Junior Disciple, according to the sect leader's instructions, you can choose any three items from this place. The room isn't large—only about 200 square meters—but it is neatly arranged with all kinds of treasures in the cultivation world.
Spirit artifacts, elixirs, and talismans are all available."
After half an hour, Lin Xuan emerged from the treasure vault.
Recalling his earlier selection, Lin Xuan's face showed a touch of helplessness. Spirit Medicine Mountain's strength far exceeded expectations, with too many options to choose from, making it hard for him to decide.
Among the same-rank cultivators, Lin Xuan was already considered well-traveled. Other Foundation Establishment stage beginners would be happy just to have one spirit artifact.
But Lin Xuan had several, including some top-tier treasures. Still, arriving here left him dazzled, wishing he could stuff everything in his storage bracelet.
Of course, this wasn't possible!
Lin Xuan took a deep breath and finally calmed down. Then, he began selecting the most necessary items.
First, he chose a small round shield that was only as big as a palm. Although unremarkable, it was a top-tier spirit artifact with defensive properties.
Since Lin Xuan lacked offensive means, his only defense was a piece of cloth, which he had obtained from the destruction of an ill-intentioned cultivator during the refining of top-tier elixirs for washing away essence energy. This "Xuanjin Shield" was naturally something he didn't want to miss.
Second, Lin Xuan chose a beast talisman.
These talismans containing the soul of a demon beast were already familiar to him. Although he had a Sky翔 Bird talisman, it was only a first-grade demon beast and quite useful in conflicts among灵动期 cultivators but somewhat redundant for his own level.
Thus, when he saw a second-grade demon beast "Flame Rhinoceros" talisman, he didn't hesitate to put it away.
Knowing that beast talismans had energy limitations, having one was equivalent to gaining an ally of similar strength.
Two against one—whether facing peers or even Foundation Establishment中期 cultivators, this could be a decisive factor. This was one of the fastest ways to enhance his strength.
The third item Lin Xuan chose was a "Spirit Restoring Elixir," a divine herb.
As its name suggested, it quickly replenished the essence energy lost by cultivators.
Generally, after using up essence energy, there were two methods for recovery: sitting in meditation or drawing from crystal stones. The former was suitable only for cultivation; during combat, most cultivators would use the latter method.
However, drawing from a crystal stone, while faster than sitting in meditation, was still insufficient compared to the amount of essence energy consumed during combat. Cultivators were unsatisfied with this and merely did it out of necessity. But taking this Spirit Restoring Elixir was different; although it couldn't instantly fill his essence energy, its replenishment speed was ten times that of a crystal stone.
In other words, facing an opponent of similar strength in a prolonged battle, having this Spirit Restoring Elixir meant he could stand invincible.
Unfortunately, there were only ten elixirs in the bottle.
But one must be content; with these three treasures, Lin Xuan's strength had soared significantly.
Adding his cultivation of the Nine Heavens Profound Technique and spirit artifacts like the Green Snow Ring and Wu Gou, Lin Xuan far surpassed other cultivators at the same level.
Looking at the vast mountains shrouded in mist, the unremarkable-looking youth couldn't help but exclaim: "What a rich source of essence energy."
Cloudy Mountain stretched from west to east for eight hundred miles. From above, it resembled a giant dragon lying down. Its main peak was five thousand meters high and perpetually covered in green mist, giving rise to its name.
Most mountains had white fog, but this green mist was a marvel that left people amazed.
However, cultivators knew it wasn't fog; it was the gathering of dense heavenly essence energy. This place was one of the best essence energy sources in Youzhou and thus occupied by Cloudy Mountain.
Cultivating here offered significant benefits to ordinary cultivators.
Lin Xuan's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise but didn't show any envy. For him, who relied on ingesting elixirs for cultivation, the density of the local essence energy made no difference.
Surveying his surroundings, Lin Xuan took out a letter of introduction from his pocket and activated it with essence energy. A beam of red light shot out and entered the mountain peak.
Soon, a light travel emerged from Cloudy Mountain. It was a young disciple in their late teens or early twenties, wearing the sect's attire, stepping on a spirit artifact sword.
Using divine sense to scan him, Lin Xuan found he had the Fifth Layer of the Fifth Stage of the Profound Technique.
The youth quickly approached and, upon seeing Lin Xuan, showed surprise. He bowed slightly and hesitated: "Mister Fellow Cultivator, was that message you sent just now?"
"Yes."
"Are you the sect leader of Spirit Medicine Mountain?"
The disciple's face was full of confusion. While Tongyu Senior Immortal wasn't particularly powerful, his alchemy skills were renowned in Youzhou, making him a revered figure. This person...
Using the Essence Eye Technique to look at him, the disciple's expression immediately became respectful. The fellow cultivator who seemed only slightly older than himself was actually a Foundation Establishment stage expert.
Lin Xuan smiled: "Tongyu Senior Immortal is my teacher. I am the sect leader of Spirit Medicine Mountain. My teacher is busy and can't attend the gathering at Cloudy Mountain, so he sent me to replace him."
As Lin Xuan spoke, he handed over his identity token.
The disciple's expression relaxed as he took the token and looked it over with even more respect: "I apologize for my rudeness. You are the next sect leader of Spirit Medicine Mountain. I am Mu Yan, a disciple of Cloudy Mountain. Following the sect leader's instructions, I'm here to welcome all fellow cultivators. Please follow me."