lín xuān fù shǒu ér lì ， diàn zi shū （）
林轩负手而立，电子書（）
Lin Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, lost in thought.
yuè ér zé jǐn bì shuāng móu ， gǎn yìng zhe guǐ hún de yī jǔ yī dòng 。
月儿则紧闭双眸，感应着鬼魂的一举一动。
Moon儿's eyes were tightly closed as she sensed the ghost's every move.
jǐn jǐn jǐ xī de gōng fu ， yuè ér tū rán liǎn sè dà biàn ， jiāo qū dōu yǒu diǎn fā dǒu 。
仅仅几息的功夫，月儿突然脸色大变，娇躯都有点发抖。
In just a few breaths, Moon儿's face suddenly changed dramatically, her petite body trembling slightly.
hōng lōng lóng de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， xiǎn rán zhè lì guǐ yǐ jīng luò rù le xiàn jǐng zhī zhōng 。
轰隆隆的声音传入耳朵，显然这厉鬼已经落入了陷阱之中。
The thunderous sound entered Lin Xuan's ears. Clearly, this wretched ghost had fallen into the trap.
“ kuài qiā duàn shén shí lián xì ！”
“快掐断神识联系！”
"Quickly cut off the spiritual link!"
lín xuān méi tou yí zhòu ， shēng sè jù lì de kāi kǒu ， yǔ qì suī rán yán lì ， dàn lǐ miàn què bāo hán guān xīn zhī yì 。
林轩眉头一皱，声色俱厉的开口，语气虽然严厉，但里面却包含关心之意。
Lin Xuan frowned and spoke with urgency. Although his tone was stern, it contained a hint of concern.
“ bù ， shào yé ， lǐ miàn hǎo xiàng yǒu dōng xī ……”
“不，少爷，里面好像有东西……”
"No, Master, there seems to be something inside..."
yuè ér què yáo le yáo tóu ， xiāng fēng lüè guò ， jìng rán yě xiàng nà gǔ dòng zhōng fēi jìn qù le 。
月儿却摇了摇头，香风掠过，竟然也像那古洞中飞进去了。
Moon儿 shook her head. A fragrant breeze swept past as she flew into the ancient cave like it had been an invitation.
lín xuān kū xiào bù dé ， zhè yā tou píng shí hěn tīng huà de ， jīn tiān zhè shì zěn me le ？
林轩哭笑不得，这丫头平时很听话的，今天这是怎么了？
Lin Xuan couldn't help but laugh and frown. She usually obeyed him well, so what was wrong today?
xīn zhōng yí huò ， dàn bù guǎn rú hé ， zì jǐ zěn me néng kàn zhe yuè ér yí gè rén mào xiǎn ne ？
心中疑惑，但不管如何，自己怎么能看着月儿一个人冒险呢？
Despite his confusion, he couldn't just watch Moon儿 risk herself alone.
liǎn shàng méi yǒu sī háo chí yí ， lín xuān hún shēn qīng máng dà qǐ ， yě fēi le jìn qù 。
脸上没有丝毫迟疑，林轩浑身青芒大起，也飞了进去。
Without hesitation, Lin Xuan's body glowed with a green aura as he flew into the cave.
yuán běn gǔ dòng yōu shēn yǐ jí ， kě yǎn qián yī huā zhī hòu ， sì zhōu de jǐng wù jìng biàn dé fān tiān fù dì 。
原本古洞幽深以极，可眼前一huā之后，四周的景物竟变得翻天覆地。
Just as he intended to draw out the ghost's soul for purification, he was shocked to find that his spiritual energy had vanished.
zhōu wéi bù zài shì tāo hēi de shān bì ， zì jǐ jìng chū xiàn zài yī xū wú de kōng jiān lǐ 。
周围不再是涛黑的山壁，自己竟出现在一虚无的空间里。
Not completely—there was some, but it was extremely thin. He had fallen from the Separation Realm back to the Spirit Realm.
kōng kōng dàng dàng de ， jìng méi yǒu yī wù 。
空空荡荡的，竟没有一物。
It felt like a hundred years ago when they first met in the secluded valley. In the bloodbath, Moon儿 had taken his head... It hurt.
shèn zhì lián yuè ér yǔ xiān qián jìn lái de guǐ hún yě bú jiàn le 。
甚至连月儿与先前进来的鬼魂也不见了。
Was he dead?
“ zhè shì shén me ？”
“这是什么？”
His soul floated out of his body and encountered a group of familiar ghosts. They were all those who had died at his hands over the past three centuries. Their faces were filled with malice as they mocked him, cursed, and tore at his soul.
lín xuān bù yóu de yǎn jīng wēi mī ， xīn zhōng dà gǎn chà yì ， bù guò liǎn shàng de biǎo qíng yī jiù zhèn dìng yǐ jí ， huāng luàn méi yǒu yòng chǔ ， kàn yàng zi zì jǐ shì bèi jìn zhì kùn zhù le 。
林轩不由得眼睛微眯，心中大感诧异，不过脸上的表情依旧镇定以极，慌乱没有用处，看样子自己是被禁制困住了。
Lin Xuan had never been afraid on his path to cultivation, but now he felt weak and helpless.
ér qiě shì huàn shù yī lèi de dōng xī 。
而且是幻术一类的东西。
A demon!
xīn zhōng zhèng rú cǐ xiǎng zhe ， yǎn qián de yí mù yòu fā shēng biàn huà le 。
心中正如此想着，眼前的一幕又发生变化了。
For cultivators, this was even more terrifying than a heavenly tribulation. Lin Xuan's luck seemed to run out in the Well Luo Gate, where countless traps awaited him. He triggered the most dangerous one—without physical attacks, it could plunge him into an endless abyss.
yī zuò qīng shān yìng rù yǎn lián 。
一座青山映入眼帘。
Lin Xuan's willpower was unbreakable, but he had his weaknesses. And right now, he was only at the Separation Realm...
hěn yǎn shú ， tè bié shì shān jiǎo de nà zuò máo wū 。
很眼熟，特别是山脚的那座茅屋。
A fragrant breeze blew past.
ké sòu de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ 。
咳嗽的声音传入耳朵。
The ghosts suddenly stopped tearing and trembled as they fell to their knees.
suí hòu lín xuān kàn jiàn le máo wū zhōng de jǐng wù 。
随后林轩看见了茅屋中的景物。
Lin Xuan raised his head in shock, seeing a breathtakingly beautiful face before him.
jí biàn shì bǎi nián de dào héng ， jí biàn yǐ yōng yǒu tài shān bēng yú qián ér bù biàn sè de chéng fǔ ” lín xuān liǎn sè yě kuáng biàn le 。
即便是百年的道行，即便已拥有泰山崩于前而不变色的城府”林轩脸色也狂变了。
"Moony!"
yī róng yán xiù lì de fù rén wò zài chuáng shàng ， bù tíng de ké 。
一容颜秀丽的妇人卧在床上，不停的咳。
But this Moony was different from before. She still looked like herself, but her demeanor exuded an air of regal nobility. A king's presence radiated from her.
“ niáng ， chī yào 。”
“娘，吃药。”
Arhura!
yī hái tóng duān zhe pò wǎn ， bù lǚ chú shān 。
一孩童端着破碗，步履躇跚。
No wonder she could intimidate ghosts—whether they were those who died unjustly or naturally, none dared to defy the King of Hell.
suí hòu quǎn fèi shēng chuán rù ěr duǒ ， què shì yī qún è rén dài zhe měng quǎn chuǎng le jìn lái 。
随后犬吠声传入耳朵，却是一群恶人带着猛犬闯了进来。
Was this Moony, who had fallen on hard times, now restored to her former power?
mǔ qīn zhòng bìng ， jiā lǐ yǐ jiē bù kāi guō ， kě duì fāng hái bù kěn miǎn le tián zū 。
母亲重病，家里已揭不开锅，可对方还不肯免了田租。
Lin Xuan felt a sense of shame. After struggling for a moment, he approached her. Three hundred years of hardship had taught him that Moony's feelings toward him were unchangeable by their changing statuses.
tóng nián de kǔ nàn ， yí mù mù liú cháng guò nǎo hǎi ， bù zhī bù jué jiān ， lín xuān yǐ lèi liú mǎn miàn 。
童年的苦难，一幕幕流徜过脑海，不知不觉间，林轩已泪流满面。
"She won't reject me."
rán ér shì qíng bìng méi yǒu wán 。
然而事情并没有完。
Lin Xuan was confident about this. But what happened next was beyond his wildest dreams.
suí hòu chǎng jǐng zài dù zhuǎn huàn ， piāo yún gǔ xué yì de jīng lì yòu chū xiàn yú yǎn qián 。
随后场景再度转换，飘云谷学艺的经历又出现于眼前。
Upon meeting, Moon儿 showed no joy or intention to take him in. Her eyes first showed shock, then deep hatred.
kǔ xué sān nián ， yī jiù méi yǒu jìn zhǎn ， tóng mén de xī xiào cháo fěng ， bù tíng de chuán rù ěr biān 。
苦学三年，依旧没有进展，同门的嬉笑嘲讽，不停的传入耳边。
That look sent shivers down Lin Xuan's spine, but it wasn't fear—it was pain, as if she was about to lose something important.
yī yǎn jīng dà dà de nǚ zǐ chū xiàn zài yǎn qián ， zhōu yàn 。
一眼睛大大的女子出现在眼前，周燕。
"Moony, what happened? Is it me..."
rán ér zhè yī cì ， tā méi yǒu sǐ zài zì jǐ de xiàn jǐng lǐ ， ér shì cāo zòng xiān jiàn xiàng zhe zì jǐ pī qù 。
然而这一次，她没有死在自己的陷阱里，而是操纵仙剑向着自己劈去。
Lin Xuan stammered, his voice filled with unease.
lín xuān zuǐ jiǎo biān shǎn guò yī sī jī fěng zhī sè ， qū qū líng dòng qī xiū xiān zhě yě gǎn zài zì jǐ miàn qián fàng sì ？
林轩嘴角边闪过一丝讥讽之色，区区灵动期修仙者也敢在自己面前放肆？
"I know it's you. You liar! You hurt me in the past life and still want to纠缠 me now?"
tā tái qǐ shǒu lái 。
他抬起手来。
Moon儿's face showed no gentleness; only boundless hatred. With a flick of her hand, countless dark flames surrounded Lin Xuan.
zhèng xiǎng jiāng duì fāng chōu hún liàn pò ， què jīng è de fā xiàn zì jǐ hún shēn yì diǎn líng lì yě wú 。
正想将对方抽魂炼魄，却惊愕的发现自己浑身一点灵力也无。
"Disgraced before my king, do you think you'll have a good ending? You wanted to get close to me—fine, we'll be together forever in this holy fire of the Netherworld. You will live as long as heaven and earth but suffer eternal torment from the flames..."
bù ， yǒu yì diǎn ， dàn fēi cháng xī bó 。
不，有一点，但非常稀薄。
"Compared to soul extraction, this is nothing."
zì jǐ jū rán cóng lí hé qī diē luò dào líng dòng qī yī céng le 。
自己居然从离合期跌落到灵动期一层了。
Moon儿's voice pierced Lin Xuan like a knife. He was indeed suffering, not because of the flames, but because something important had been shattered.
jiù fǎng fú sān bǎi nián qián ， liǎng rén zài yōu gǔ zhōng xiāng yù shí de shēn fèn 。
就仿佛三百年前，两人在幽谷中相遇时的身份。
For cultivators, immortality was paramount, but for Lin Xuan, there was something even more crucial.
xuè huā zhī zhōng ， zì jǐ bèi duì fāng qǔ xià le tóu lú ” hǎo tòng 。
血huā之中，自己被对方取下了头颅”好痛。
Immortality meant nothing compared to her. Without Moony, living forever held no meaning in these long years.
zì jǐ sǐ le me ？
自己死了么？
He would face all gods and buddhas if it meant staying with Moony.
hún pò piāo lí chū shēn tǐ ， suí hòu què yǔ yī qún è guǐ xiāng yù ， tā men de miàn róng fēi cháng shú xī ， yǒu nán yǒu nǚ ， chú le rén lèi xiū xiān zhě ， yāo zú yě bù jì qí shù ， quán dōu zǒu guò qù zhè sān bǎi nián jiān ， sǐ zài zì jǐ shǒu lǐ de 。
魂魄飘离出身体，随后却与一群恶鬼相遇，他们的面容非常熟悉，有男有女，除了人类修仙者，妖族也不计其数，全都走过去这三百年间，死在自己手里的。
But one day, she turned against him and fought him with a sword.
yí gè gè miàn sè xiōng è 。
一个个面色凶恶。
The pain was unimaginable for those who hadn't experienced it.
cháo fěng zhe ， zhòu mà zhe ， suí hòu chōng shàng qián ， hěn hěn sī chě zì jǐ de hún pò 。
嘲讽着，咒骂着，随后冲上前，狠狠撕扯自己的魂魄。
Lin Xuan felt his heart turn to ice. He was on the brink of despair—win or lose, he might as well die or be soul extracted.
zì cóng tà shàng xiū xiān zhī lù ， lín xuān cóng lái méi yǒu pà guò shén me ， rán ér cǐ shí cǐ kè ， què jué de zì jǐ hǎo ruǎn ruò ， hǎo wú zhù 。
自从踏上修仙之路，林轩从来没有怕过什么，然而此时此刻，却觉得自己好软弱，好无助。
Despair!
xīn mó ！
心魔！
Despite his unbreakable willpower, humans had weaknesses. And Moony was Lin Xuan's greatest weakness and his most cherished thing.
duì xiū shì lái shuō ， zhè shì bǐ tiān jié gèng kě pà de dōng xī ” lín xuān yě suàn shì dǎo méi dào le jí zhì ， zhè jǐng luó zhī mén zhōng ” lèi sì de xiàn jǐng bù jì qí shù ， tā què piān piān chù fā le zuì lì hài de yí gè 。
对修士来说，这是比天劫更可怕的东西”林轩也算是倒霉到了极致，这井罗之门中”类似的陷阱不计其数，他却偏偏触发了最厉害的一个。
His resolve shattered like a dam breaking...
méi yǒu ** gōng jī ， kě nà xīn mó zhī jié què néng ràng xiū shì xiàn rù wàn jié bù fù lǐ 。
没有**攻击，可那心魔之劫却能让修士陷入万劫不复里。
This was all an illusion.
lín xuān de xīn zhì jiān rèn wú bǐ ， kě bì jìng shì yǒu ruò diǎn de ， ér qiě tā zhǐ bù guò shì lí ne “……
林轩的心智坚韧无比，可毕竟是有弱点的，而且他只不过是离呢“……
But in this world of truth and falsehood, the momentary illusion revealed that Lin Xuan's heart had been completely broken. He couldn't fight off the demon now.
yī zhèn xiāng fēng piāo guò lái le 。
一阵香风飘过来了。
In just a few breaths, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. If he continued, he would surely fall into madness.
nà xiē è guǐ tū rán tíng zhǐ le sī chě ， zhàn lì zhe pú fú 。
那些恶鬼突然停止了撕扯，颤栗着匍匐。
Then, a cool sensation emerged from his waist.
lín xuān jīng è de tái qǐ tóu ， yī qīng guó qīng chéng de róng yán yìng rù le yǎn lián zhōng 。
林轩惊愕的抬起头，一倾国倾城的容颜映入了眼帘中。
A green light flashed as two jade pendants flew out of his storage bag.
“ yuè ér ！”
“月儿！”
One side depicted birds, beasts, and insects, while the other bore ancient inscriptions that Lin Xuan couldn't read. These were treasures— one he had found in Stream Leap Canyon, and the other was an order token from the Jade Black Sect.
rán ér cǐ shí de tā què yǔ yǐ qián dà bù xiāng tóng ， rén hái shì nà ge rén ， kě qì zhì què piāo rán gāo guì dào le jí chù ， yī wáng zhě fēng fàn pèi rán ér chū 。
然而此时的她却与以前大不相同，人还是那个人，可气质却飘然高贵到了极处，一王者风范沛然而出。
Though Lin Xuan didn't know their exact functions, Red Silk Fairy had given him some clues.
ā xiū luó ！
阿修罗！
These were heavenly artifacts once coveted by many powerful cultivators.
guài bù dé néng gòu zhèn shè guǐ wù ， bù guǎn shì wǎng sǐ de ， yuān sǐ de ， hái shì zhèng cháng sǐ wáng de ， zhǐ yào shǔ yú yīn sī zhī guó ， shuí yòu gǎn wéi nì ā xiū luó wáng ne ？
怪不得能够震慑鬼物，不管是枉死的，冤死的，还是正常死亡的，只要属于阴司之国，谁又敢违逆阿修罗王呢？
The jade pendants now emitted a faint green glow, enveloping Lin Xuan.
zì jǐ rú cǐ luò pò ” tā què huī fù qián shì de shén tōng le me ？
自己如此落魄”她却恢复前世的神通了么？
His heart had been lost in the illusion, but this terrifying force pulled him back.
yī shí jiān ， lín xuān jìng yǒu zhǒng zì cán xíng huì de gǎn jué ， jǐ jīng zhēng zhá zhī hòu ， hái shì yíng le shàng qù ， bì jìng sān bǎi nián de fēng fēng yǔ yǔ ， tā xiāng xìn yuè ér duì zì jǐ de qíng yì ， jué bú shì liǎng rén dì wèi biàn qiān kě yǐ gǎi biàn dì 。
一时间，林轩竟有种自惭形秽的感觉，几经挣扎之后，还是迎了上去，毕竟三百年的风风雨雨，他相信月儿对自己的情谊，绝不是两人地位变迁可以改变地。
Lin Xuan's cold sweat dripped down his face. His body was filled with abundant spiritual energy, though he felt weary, he avoided falling into madness.
“ tā bú huì xián qì zì jǐ 。”
“她不会嫌弃自己。”
The demon was driven away by this mysterious power.
duì zhè yì diǎn lín xuān xìn xīn shí zú ， rán ér jiē xià lái fā shēng de yí mù ， què shì tā zuò mèng yě méi yǒu xiǎng dào de 。
对这一点林轩信心十足，然而接下来发生的一幕，却是他做梦也没有想到的。
Lin Xuan opened his eyes as the illusion vanished. He found himself in a deep ancient cave, surrounded only by a stone table and some stone chairs.
liǎng rén xiāng yù ， yuè ér méi yǒu sī háo de xīn xǐ ， yào méi yǒu shōu liú tā zhè gū hún yě guǐ zhī yì 。
两人相遇，月儿没有丝毫的欣喜，要没有收留他这孤魂野鬼之意。
Wait, there was an old yellowish jade tube on the table—a relic from long ago.
měi lì de yǎn móu zhōng xiān shì jīng è ， suí hòu què tòu chū shēn qiè de hèn yì lái le 。
美丽的眼眸中先是惊愕，随后却透出深切的恨意来了。
Lin Xuan hesitated before picking it up.
nà yǎn shén ràng lín xuān bù hán ér lì ， dàn bú shì hài pà ， ér shì shāng xīn ， fǎng fú yào shī qù shén me zhòng yào de dōng xī 。
那眼神让林轩不寒而栗，但不是害怕，而是伤心，仿佛要失去什么重要的东西。
Where is Moony?
“ yuè ér ， mí zěn me le ， shì wǒ ……”
“月儿，弥怎么了，是我……”
The terrifying scenes of the illusion were still vivid.
lín xuān niè rú zhe kāi kǒu le ， dàn yǔ qì zhōng ， què chōng mǎn le bù ān zhī sè 。
林轩嗫嚅着开口了，但语气中，却充满了不安之色。
Including Moon儿's cruel act of trapping his soul in dark flames.
“ wǒ zhī dào shì nǐ ， nǐ zhè ge piàn zi ， shàng yī shì hài le wǒ ， zhè yī shì hái xiǎng yào yǔ wǒ jiū chán bù xiū me ？”，
“我知道是你，你这个骗子，上一世害了我，这一世还想要与我纠缠不休么？”，
But now that he had overcome the demon, Lin Xuan didn't care. What he saw in the illusion was just a creation of the demon to invade his mind.
yuè ér liǎn shàng ， què nǎ yǒu píng rì lǐ de wēn róu ， zhǐ yǒu wú qióng de hèn yì xiǎn lù ， yù shǒu yī fú ， jiù shì nà màn tiān de míng huǒ ， jiāng lín xuān de hún pò bāo guǒ 。
月儿脸上，却哪有平日里的温柔，只有无穷的恨意显露，玉手一拂，就是那漫天的冥火，将林轩的魂魄包裹。
Returning to reality, Lin Xuan no longer cared about the illusion.
“ dé zuì le běn wáng ， nǐ yǐ wéi huì yǒu hǎo xià chǎng ， nǐ bú shì xiǎng jiē jìn wǒ ， hǎo ， wǒ jiù yǔ nǐ yǒng bù fēn lí ， zài zhè xiū luó shèng huǒ zhōng nǐ shì bú huì sǐ de ， nǐ jiāng yǔ tiān dì tóng shòu ， dàn yě huì yǒng yuǎn chéng shòu zhè shèng huǒ liàn hún de tòng kǔ ……”
“得罪了本王，你以为会有好下场，你不是想接近我，好，我就与你永不分离，在这修罗圣火中你是不会死的，你将与天地同寿，但也会永远承受这圣火炼魂的痛苦……”
His spiritual sense revealed Moony's gentle smile as she appeared before him.
“ yǔ xī xiāng bǐ ， chōu hún liàn pò gēn běn jiù bù zhí yī tí ……”
“与牺相比，抽魂炼魄根本就不值一提……”
"Moony, you're safe..."
yuè ér de shēng yīn ， rú dāo cì yì bān de chuán rù ěr lǐ ” lín xuān què shí fēi cháng tòng kǔ ， dàn què bú shì bèi shèng huǒ fén shāo de yuán gù ， ér shì yǒu mǒu zhǒng jí wéi zhòng yào de dōng xī bèi dǎ pò 。
月儿的声音，如刀刺一般的传入耳里”林轩确实非常痛苦，但却不是被圣火焚烧的缘故，而是有某种极为重要的东西被打破。
Recalling the terror from the illusion, Lin Xuan still felt shaken. If not for those jade pendants saving him...
duì xiū xiān kàn lái shuō ， cháng shēng shì zuì zhòng yào de ， dàn lín xuān ， què hái yǒu gèng zhòng yào zhī wù 。
对修仙看来说，长生是最重要的，但林轩，却还有更重要之物。
"Little servant is fine; I just couldn't find Master," Moon儿 said, visibly relieved upon seeing Lin Xuan.
yǔ tā xiāng bǐ ” cháng shēng yě bù zhí yī tí ， zhè màn cháng de suì yuè zhōng ruò méi yǒu mí ， yǔ tiān dì tóng shòu yòu yǒu shén me yì yì 。
与她相比”长生也不值一提，这漫长的岁月中若没有弥，与天地同寿又有什么意义。
She didn't seem to have encountered anything frightening.
zhǐ yào néng yǔ mí xiāng shǒu ， lín xuān bù jiè yì yǔ mǎn tiān shén fó wèi dí 。
只要能与弥相守，林轩不介意与满天神佛为敌。
"Moony, did you get trapped by any restrictions..." Lin Xuan was curious.
kě piān piān shì zhè zuì zhòng yào de chēng ， yǒu yī tiān què yǔ wǒ bá jiàn wèi dí 。
可偏偏是这最重要的称，有一天却与我拔剑为敌。
"What restriction? The ancient cave was empty. But after coming out, I couldn't see Master..."
nà zhǒng tòng kǔ ， méi yǒu jīng lì de rén shì hěn nán xiǎng xiàng de 。
那种痛苦，没有经历的人是很难想象的。
Moon儿 wouldn't lie. This meant the illusion had no effect on her and that little girl wasn't trapped inside.
yī shí jiān ， lín xuān yǒu wàn niàn jù huī de gǎn jué 。
一时间，林轩有万念俱灰的感觉。
Why?
yíng yě hǎo ， shū yě bà ， jiù zhè yàng sǐ le ， hái shì bèi chōu hún liàn pò dōu méi yǒu guān xì 。
赢也好，输也罢，就这样死了，还是被抽魂炼魄都没有关系。
Lin Xuan wondered but didn't delve deeper. He flipped his left hand, revealing a jade tube—a unique find from this journey.
zì bào zì qì ！
自暴自弃！
What was inside?
Lin Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, lost in thought.
Moon儿's eyes were tightly closed as she sensed the ghost's every move.
In just a few breaths, Moon儿's face suddenly changed dramatically, her petite body trembling slightly.
The thunderous sound entered Lin Xuan's ears. Clearly, this wretched ghost had fallen into the trap.
"Quickly cut off the spiritual link!"
Lin Xuan frowned and spoke with urgency. Although his tone was stern, it contained a hint of concern.
"No, Master, there seems to be something inside..."
Moon儿 shook her head. A fragrant breeze swept past as she flew into the ancient cave like it had been an invitation.
Lin Xuan couldn't help but laugh and frown. She usually obeyed him well, so what was wrong today?
Despite his confusion, he couldn't just watch Moon儿 risk herself alone.
Without hesitation, Lin Xuan's body glowed with a green aura as he flew into the cave.
Just as he intended to draw out the ghost's soul for purification, he was shocked to find that his spiritual energy had vanished.
Not completely—there was some, but it was extremely thin. He had fallen from the Separation Realm back to the Spirit Realm.
It felt like a hundred years ago when they first met in the secluded valley. In the bloodbath, Moon儿 had taken his head... It hurt.
Was he dead?
His soul floated out of his body and encountered a group of familiar ghosts. They were all those who had died at his hands over the past three centuries. Their faces were filled with malice as they mocked him, cursed, and tore at his soul.
Lin Xuan had never been afraid on his path to cultivation, but now he felt weak and helpless.
A demon!
For cultivators, this was even more terrifying than a heavenly tribulation. Lin Xuan's luck seemed to run out in the Well Luo Gate, where countless traps awaited him. He triggered the most dangerous one—without physical attacks, it could plunge him into an endless abyss.
Lin Xuan's willpower was unbreakable, but he had his weaknesses. And right now, he was only at the Separation Realm...
A fragrant breeze blew past.
The ghosts suddenly stopped tearing and trembled as they fell to their knees.
Lin Xuan raised his head in shock, seeing a breathtakingly beautiful face before him.
"Moony!"
But this Moony was different from before. She still looked like herself, but her demeanor exuded an air of regal nobility. A king's presence radiated from her.
Arhura!
No wonder she could intimidate ghosts—whether they were those who died unjustly or naturally, none dared to defy the King of Hell.
Was this Moony, who had fallen on hard times, now restored to her former power?
Lin Xuan felt a sense of shame. After struggling for a moment, he approached her. Three hundred years of hardship had taught him that Moony's feelings toward him were unchangeable by their changing statuses.
"She won't reject me."
Lin Xuan was confident about this. But what happened next was beyond his wildest dreams.
Upon meeting, Moon儿 showed no joy or intention to take him in. Her eyes first showed shock, then deep hatred.
That look sent shivers down Lin Xuan's spine, but it wasn't fear—it was pain, as if she was about to lose something important.
"Moony, what happened? Is it me..."
Lin Xuan stammered, his voice filled with unease.
"I know it's you. You liar! You hurt me in the past life and still want to纠缠 me now?"
Moon儿's face showed no gentleness; only boundless hatred. With a flick of her hand, countless dark flames surrounded Lin Xuan.
"Disgraced before my king, do you think you'll have a good ending? You wanted to get close to me—fine, we'll be together forever in this holy fire of the Netherworld. You will live as long as heaven and earth but suffer eternal torment from the flames..."
"Compared to soul extraction, this is nothing."
Moon儿's voice pierced Lin Xuan like a knife. He was indeed suffering, not because of the flames, but because something important had been shattered.
For cultivators, immortality was paramount, but for Lin Xuan, there was something even more crucial.
Immortality meant nothing compared to her. Without Moony, living forever held no meaning in these long years.
He would face all gods and buddhas if it meant staying with Moony.
But one day, she turned against him and fought him with a sword.
The pain was unimaginable for those who hadn't experienced it.
Lin Xuan felt his heart turn to ice. He was on the brink of despair—win or lose, he might as well die or be soul extracted.
Despair!
Despite his unbreakable willpower, humans had weaknesses. And Moony was Lin Xuan's greatest weakness and his most cherished thing.
His resolve shattered like a dam breaking...
This was all an illusion.
But in this world of truth and falsehood, the momentary illusion revealed that Lin Xuan's heart had been completely broken. He couldn't fight off the demon now.
In just a few breaths, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. If he continued, he would surely fall into madness.
Then, a cool sensation emerged from his waist.
A green light flashed as two jade pendants flew out of his storage bag.
One side depicted birds, beasts, and insects, while the other bore ancient inscriptions that Lin Xuan couldn't read. These were treasures— one he had found in Stream Leap Canyon, and the other was an order token from the Jade Black Sect.
Though Lin Xuan didn't know their exact functions, Red Silk Fairy had given him some clues.
These were heavenly artifacts once coveted by many powerful cultivators.
The jade pendants now emitted a faint green glow, enveloping Lin Xuan.
His heart had been lost in the illusion, but this terrifying force pulled him back.
Lin Xuan's cold sweat dripped down his face. His body was filled with abundant spiritual energy, though he felt weary, he avoided falling into madness.
The demon was driven away by this mysterious power.
Lin Xuan opened his eyes as the illusion vanished. He found himself in a deep ancient cave, surrounded only by a stone table and some stone chairs.
Wait, there was an old yellowish jade tube on the table—a relic from long ago.
Lin Xuan hesitated before picking it up.
Where is Moony?
The terrifying scenes of the illusion were still vivid.
Including Moon儿's cruel act of trapping his soul in dark flames.
But now that he had overcome the demon, Lin Xuan didn't care. What he saw in the illusion was just a creation of the demon to invade his mind.
Returning to reality, Lin Xuan no longer cared about the illusion.
His spiritual sense revealed Moony's gentle smile as she appeared before him.
"Moony, you're safe..."
Recalling the terror from the illusion, Lin Xuan still felt shaken. If not for those jade pendants saving him...
"Little servant is fine; I just couldn't find Master," Moon儿 said, visibly relieved upon seeing Lin Xuan.
She didn't seem to have encountered anything frightening.
"Moony, did you get trapped by any restrictions..." Lin Xuan was curious.
"What restriction? The ancient cave was empty. But after coming out, I couldn't see Master..."
Moon儿 wouldn't lie. This meant the illusion had no effect on her and that little girl wasn't trapped inside.
Why?
Lin Xuan wondered but didn't delve deeper. He flipped his left hand, revealing a jade tube—a unique find from this journey.
What was inside?