lǎo zhě liǎn shàng yī hóng ， niè rú zhe dào ：“ ràng qián bèi jiàn xiào le ， xiǎo lǎo ér què shí cún zhe zhè ge xīn sī 。”， suí jí tā tàn le kǒu qì ：“ qí shí bù zhǐ shì wǒ ， zhèng mó liǎng dào de zhù jī qī xiū shì lái zhè lǐ qǐ mǎ yǒu shàng qiān zhī duō 。”
老者脸上一红，嗫嚅着道：“让前辈见笑了，小老儿确实存着这个心思。”，随即他叹了口气：“其实不止是我，正魔两道的筑基期修士来这里起码有上千之多。”
The old man's face flushed, and he stammered, "Let the senior laugh at me. Indeed, I harbored this thought." He then sighed, "Actually, not just me; there are thousands of Foundation Establishment stage cultivators from both the Daoist and Demonic sects who have come here."
“ ó ， nǐ men rèn wéi zì jǐ yǒu jī huì me ？”
“哦，你们认为自己有机会么？”
"Oh, do you think you stand a chance?"
“ nín de yì si xiǎo lǎo ér qīng chǔ ， zhè me duō níng dān qī qián bèi wén fēng ér dòng ， yǐ zài xià zhè diǎn xiū wèi shì yǒu diǎn zì bù liàng lì le ， kě rén zǒng yǒu jiǎo xìng xīn lǐ 。”
“您的意思小老儿清楚，这么多凝丹期前辈闻风而动，以在下这点修为是有点自不量力了，可人总有侥幸心理。”
"I understand your meaning," the old man replied. "With so many Core Formation stage seniors responding to this news, my cultivation level is indeed too low for me to be overly confident. But people always have a侥幸 mentality."
méi xiǎng dào zhè xiū mó zhě shuō huà dào yě fēng qù ， bù guò shì shí què shí rú cǐ ， tiān shàng suī rán bú huì diào xiàn bǐng ， dàn yǒu rén zǒng néng cǎi dào gǒu shǐ yùn ， yù bàng xiāng zhēng yú wēng dé lì de qíng xíng bù lùn shì sú hái shì xiū zhēn jiè dōu céng chū xiàn ， hé kuàng dà jiā zhǐ zhī dào tiān shā zhēn jūn de yuán shén táo rù le kuí yīn shān mài ， jù tǐ fāng wèi què bìng bù qīng chǔ ， shuō bù dìng zì jǐ jiù néng xiān zhǎo dào le 。
没想到这修魔者说话倒也风趣，不过事实确实如此，天上虽然不会掉馅饼，但有人总能踩到狗屎运，鹬蚌相争渔翁得利的情形不论世俗还是修真界都曾出现，何况大家只知道天煞真君的元神逃入了奎阴山脉，具体方位却并不清楚，说不定自己就能先找到了。
He didn't expect that this cultivator of magic would speak with such wit, but it was true—though fate doesn't drop golden opportunities from the sky, someone always manages to step in dog manure. The scenario where both parties fight and the opportunist reaps the benefits has occurred in both secular society and the cultivation world. Besides, everyone only knew that True Monarch Heavenly Defiler's soul had fled into the Quine Yin Mountains, but its exact location was unclear. It might just be him who found it first.
yě nán guài la ， tiān chén dān gōng xiào nì tiān ， zhè yòu huò yě tài dà le diǎn 。
也难怪啦，天尘丹功效逆天，这诱惑也太大了点。
It wasn't surprising; the Heavenly Dust Pill's effects were divine, making this temptation too great to resist.
zhì yú yuán yīng qī de lǎo guài fǎn ér méi lái ， yīn sù kě jiù shì duō fāng miàn ， yī lái kě néng shì yīn wèi tiān chén dān duì tā men wú xiào ， suǒ yǐ xìng zhì huì shāo jiǎn ， èr lái zé kě néng shì xiāng hù jiān dá chéng le shén me xié yì ， bì jìng jìn rù yuán yīng qī hòu ， jǔ shǒu tóu zú jiù néng qīng yì fān jiāng dǎo hǎi ， shén tōng wēi lì tài dà ， wèi le bù yǐn qǐ xiū zhēn jiè de quán miàn chōng tū ， yì bān qíng kuàng xià ， tā men shì hěn shǎo chū shǒu a ！
至于元婴期的老怪反而没来，因素可就是多方面，一来可能是因为天尘丹对他们无效，所以兴致会稍减，二来则可能是相互间达成了什么协议，毕竟进入元婴期后，举手投足就能轻易翻江倒海，神通威力太大，为了不引起修真界的全面冲突，一般情况下，他们是很少出手啊！
As for the old monsters at the Core Formation stage, they hadn't come either. The reasons were manifold—perhaps because the Heavenly Dust Pill was ineffective on them, reducing their interest slightly. Alternatively, they might have reached some agreement among themselves. After all, once in the Core Formation stage, a single gesture could stir up chaos, and their powers were too formidable to risk a full-scale conflict with the cultivation world.
lín xuān kàn le yī yǎn qián miàn bì gōng bì jìng de lǎo zhě ， kāi kǒu xiào le ：“ jiǎo xìng shì bù cuò ， dàn pǐ fū wú zuì huái bì qí zuì de dào lǐ nǐ yīng gāi dǒng ， jiù suàn zǒu le nì tiān de hǎo yùn ràng nǐ dé dào le tiān chén dān ， kě nǐ rèn wéi zì jǐ yǒu mìng xiǎng yòng ma ， biàn shì tiān shā mó jūn yě luò de gè fǎ shēn bèi huǐ de xià chǎng ， nǐ rèn wéi zì jǐ bǐ tā rú hé ？”
林轩看了一眼前面毕恭毕敬的老者，开口笑了：“侥幸是不错，但匹夫无罪怀璧其罪的道理你应该懂，就算走了逆天的好运让你得到了天尘丹，可你认为自己有命享用吗，便是天煞魔君也落得个法身被毁的下场，你认为自己比他如何？”
Lin Xuan looked at the respectfully old man before him and smiled. "A侥幸 mentality is good, but you should understand that even those who have the audacity to seek fortune run the risk of retribution. Even if fate favors you and you obtain the Heavenly Dust Pill, do you think you will survive long enough to enjoy it? Even True Monarch Heavenly Defiler met his end with his Dharmic body destroyed."
yī yǔ jīng xǐng mèng zhōng rén 。
一语惊醒梦中人。
A single word jolted him awake.
lǎo zhě tīng le ， hún shēn lěng hàn zhí mào ， shì a ， jiù suàn zì jǐ dé dào le tiān chén dān ， zuì zhōng yě huì luò gè bèi zhèng xié liǎng pài zhuī shā ， ér hòu yǔn luò de xià chǎng 。
老者听了，浑身冷汗直冒，是啊，就算自己得到了天尘丹，最终也会落个被正邪两派追杀，而后陨落的下场。
The old man's face was drenched in cold sweat as he realized. Yes, even if he obtained the Heavenly Dust Pill, he would still be pursued and eventually fall to the mercy of both sides.
tā dāng jí bào quán ， chéng kěn de dào ：“ xiè xiè qián bèi tí xǐng ， shì xiǎo lǎo ér chī xīn wàng xiǎng le 。 wǒ zhè jiù huí qù 。”
他当即抱拳，诚恳的道：“谢谢前辈提醒，是小老儿痴心妄想了。我这就回去。”
He immediately bowed respectfully and said sincerely, "Thank you for your reminder; I have been foolish. I will return now."
shuō wán yòu gōng gōng jìng jìng de shī le yī lǐ ， rán hòu huà wèi yī dào dùn guāng 。 cóng lái lù fēi le huí qù 。
说完又恭恭敬敬的施了一礼，然后化为一道遁光。从来路飞了回去。
Afterward, he performed another respectful bow before vanishing as a streak of light along his original path.
lǎo zhě lí kāi yǐ hòu ， lín xuān chén mò bù yǔ 。
老者离开以后，林轩沉默不语。
After the old man left, Lin Xuan remained silent.
cǐ rén xiū wèi suī rán xī sōng píng cháng ， dàn què shì yí gè néng gòu fàng dé xià zhí niàn 。 dǐ yù zhù yòu huò de rén wù ， zhè zhǒng xìng gé ， suī rán zhù dìng bú huì yǒu shén me dà chéng jiù ， dàn píng píng ān ān ， shòu zhōng zhèng qǐn yīng gāi shì méi yǒu shén me wèn tí le 。
此人修为虽然稀松平常，但却是一个能够放得下执念。抵御住诱惑的人物，这种性格，虽然注定不会有什么大成就，但平平安安，寿终正寝应该是没有什么问题了。
Though this old man's cultivation was mediocre, he was someone who could let go of attachments and resist temptation. Such a personality might not achieve great things, but living a peaceful life until natural death should be no problem.
nà zì jǐ ne ？
那自己呢？
What about me?
lín xuān lüè yī chóu chú ， suí jí liǎn shàng jiù shǎn guò jiān yì zhī sè 。
林轩略一踌躇，随即脸上就闪过坚毅之色。
Lin Xuan hesitated for a moment before his face hardened.
suī rán zì jǐ quàn lǎo zhě lí kāi ， dà dào lǐ jiǎng dé céng cì qīng chǔ 。 dàn lún dào zì jǐ shí 。 zhè xiē què bù dǐng yòng 。
虽然自己劝老者离开，大道理讲得层次清楚。但轮到自己时。这些却不顶用。
Even though he had advised the old man to leave, explaining the logic clearly, when it came to himself, these words didn't apply.
tiān chén dān ， lín xuān pēng rán xīn dòng ， xū zhī níng dān yǔ zhù jī bù tóng ， nán dù gèng yào dà shàng bǎi bèi zhī duō ， jiù suàn zì jǐ tí chún chū jí pǐn zhù jī dān lái ， yě zuì duō ràng gōng lì zài zhù jī qī fēi sù zēng zhǎng ， duì yú néng fǒu níng chéng jīn dān ， kě shì méi yǒu yī dīng diǎn de bāng zhù 。
天尘丹，林轩怦然心动，须知凝丹与筑基不同，难度更要大上百倍之多，就算自己提纯出极品筑基丹来，也最多让功力在筑基期飞速增长，对于能否凝成金丹，可是没有一丁点的帮助。
The Heavenly Dust Pill stirred Lin Xuan's heart. After all, condensing a Core Formation was much more difficult than building a Foundation Establishment stage; even if he refined an upper-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, it would only accelerate his cultivation at that stage but offer no help in forming a Golden Core.
hé kuàng dāng chū wèi le jí pǐn xǐ suǐ dān dōu lì jīng bō zhé 。 jí pǐn zhù jī dān lín xuān shí zài shì méi yǒu shén me bǎ wò ， suǒ yǐ yǎn qián zhè me hǎo de dōng xī ， lín xuān wú lùn rú hé yě bú huì cuò guò 。
何况当初为了极品洗髓丹都历经波折。极品筑基丹林轩实在是没有什么把握，所以眼前这么好的东西，林轩无论如何也不会错过。
Moreover, obtaining the top-grade Essence Cleansing Pills had been a struggle. Lin Xuan wasn't confident about refining an upper-grade Foundation Establishment Pill. Therefore, this excellent opportunity was one he couldn't afford to miss.
bù rù hǔ xué yān dé hǔ zi ， lín xuān de xiū zhēn zhī xīn wú bǐ jiān dìng ， rú guǒ bù néng níng chéng jīn dān ， jǐn jǐn tíng liú zài zhù jī qī ， jiù suàn gǒu huó yī shì ， yòu yǒu shén me yì yì ？
不入虎穴焉得虎子，林轩的修真之心无比坚定，如果不能凝成金丹，仅仅停留在筑基期，就算苟活一世，又有什么意义？
One must enter the tiger's den to catch its cub. Lin Xuan's resolve in cultivation was unwavering. If he could not form a Golden Core and merely remain at the Foundation Establishment stage, what would be the point of living?
niàn jí zhì cǐ 。 lín xuān huà wèi yī dào jīng hóng 。 cóng yuán dì xiāo shī dé wú yǐng wú zōng 。
念及至此。林轩化为一道惊虹。从原地消失得无影无踪。
With these thoughts, Lin Xuan transformed into a streak of lightning and vanished without a trace.
gēn jù nà xiǎo lǎo ér suǒ yán ， tiān shā mó jūn de yuán shén táo jìn le kuí yīn shān mài 。 bù jiǔ qián ， yòu yǒu rén gǎn yìng dào tā chū xiàn zài shān mài yǐ nán ， gù ér cái yǐn dé zhè me duō zhèng xié liǎng dào dì xiū shì zhuī zōng ér lái 。
根据那小老儿所言，天煞魔君的元神逃进了奎阴山脉。不久前，又有人感应到他出现在山脉以南，故而才引得这么多正邪两道地修士追踪而来。
As per the old man's words, True Monarch Heavenly Defiler's soul had fled to the Quine Yin Mountains. Recently, someone had sensed his presence in the southern part of the mountain range, which was why so many Daoist and Demonic sect cultivators were chasing after him.
lín xuān fú xià le yī kē yǐn líng dān ， jiāng zì jǐ de xiū wèi jiàng zhì líng dòng hòu qī ， zhè yàng kě yǐ mán tiān guò hǎi ， wú lùn zhèng dào hái shì mó dào ， dōu bú huì jiāng yí gè líng dòng qī xiǎo xiū shì fàng zài xīn shàng 。
林轩服下了一颗隐灵丹，将自己的修为降至灵动后期，这样可以瞒天过海，无论正道还是魔道，都不会将一个灵动期小修士放在心上。
Lin Xuan took a Hidden Spirit Pill to lower his cultivation level to the late Flexible Spirit stage, allowing him to remain hidden from both sides. The inferior flying sword he used for this purpose was a low-grade spiritual artifact, making it even less suspicious.
lín xuān dùn guāng suǒ yòng zhī wù ， yě bù guò shì yī bǐng liè zhì dì fēi jiàn ér yǐ ， xià pǐn líng qì ， zhè jiù gèng jiā de bù yǐn rén huái yí 。
林轩遁光所用之物，也不过是一柄劣质地飞剑而已，下品灵器，这就更加的不引人怀疑。
Although this slowed him down slightly, it didn't matter. True Monarch Heavenly Defiler was an outstanding talent, and those cultivators were wary of each other, checking on one another.
suī rán zhè yàng sù dù huì shāo màn yī xiē ， dàn méi yǒu guān xì ， tiān shā mó jūn ， yí dài rén jié ， ér qiě nà xiē xiū shì yě shì gè huái yí xīn ， hù xiāng qiān zhì 。
虽然这样速度会稍慢一些，但没有关系，天煞魔君，一代人杰，而且那些修士也是各怀疑心，互相牵制。
Patience was beneficial; the slower pace could be advantageous.
bù jí ， màn yī xiē fǎn ér yǒu lì 。
不急，慢一些反而有利。
Flying for half a day, several beams of light suddenly appeared in front, followed by thunderous explosions.
fēi le bàn rì ， tū rán shù dào guāng huá zài qián miàn shǎn xiàn ， jiē zhe biàn shì rú tóng jīng léi yì bān de bào zhà shēng chuán lái 。
飞了半日，突然数道光华在前面闪现，接着便是如同惊雷一般的爆炸声传来。
Lin Xuan's expression changed as he stopped his flight and carefully released his divine sense.
lín xuān liǎn sè yī biàn ， tíng xià dùn guāng ， xiǎo xīn dì fàng chū shén shí 。
林轩脸色一变，停下遁光，小心地放出神识。
After a moment, he retracted his divine sense with a look of understanding on his face.
piàn kè hòu ， tā jiāng shén shí shōu le huí lái ， liǎn shàng lù chū liǎo rán zhī sè 。
片刻后，他将神识收了回来，脸上露出了然之色。
About seven or eight miles ahead, two groups of cultivators were engaged in battle. One group had seven members, the other eight—about equal numbers.
zài qián fāng dà yuē qī bā lǐ yuǎn ， yǒu liǎng qún xiū shì zhèng zài dòu fǎ ， yī biān qī rén ， yī biān bā gè ， rén shù shàng dǎo shì chà bu duō 。
在前方大约七八里远，有两群修士正在斗法，一边七人，一边八个，人数上倒是差不多。
One side was Daoist cultivators, and the other was Demonic cultivators, likely from different sects based on their attire.
yī biān shì xiū zhēn zhě ， yī biān shì xiū mó zhě ， ér qiě cóng fú zhuāng shàng kàn ， duō bàn lái zì liǎng gè mén pài 。
一边是修真者，一边是修魔者，而且从服装上看，多半来自两个门派。
This wasn't strange; though the Daoist and Demonic sects weren't at each other's throats, they didn't get along well. A fight broke out over a single word.
zhè jiù méi shén me hào qí guài ， suī rán zhèng dào yǔ mó dào bìng fēi shì bù liǎng lì ， dàn xiāng hù jiān yě kàn bù shùn yǎn ， yī yán bù hé dǎ qǐ lái zài zhèng cháng bù guò 。
这就没什么好奇怪，虽然正道与魔道并非势不两立，但相互间也看不顺眼，一言不合打起来再正常不过。
Lin Xuan pondered briefly but chose not to detour. Instead, he flew directly below them.
lín xuān shāo yī chén yín ， méi yǒu xuǎn zé rào lù ， ér shì zhí jiē cóng tā men de xià fāng fēi le guò qù 。
林轩稍一沉吟，没有选择绕路，而是直接从他们的下方飞了过去。
He took this risk because both sides' strength was weak; apart from their leaders being Foundation Establishment First Stage cultivators, the rest were all Flexible Spirit stage disciples.
zhī suǒ yǐ zhè me tuō dà ， shì yīn wèi shuāng fāng de shí lì shí zài bù zěn me yàng a ， chú le gè zì de dài duì zhī rén shì zhù jī chū qī ， qí tā jū rán dōu shì líng dòng qī de dì zǐ 。
之所以这么托大，是因为双方的实力实在不怎么样啊，除了各自的带队之人是筑基初期，其他居然都是灵动期的弟子。
These people naturally didn't have Hidden Spirit Pills to hide their true power.
zhè xiē rén zì rán bú huì yǒu yǐn líng dān lái yǐn cáng shí lì 。
这些人自然不会有隐灵丹来隐藏实力。
Indeed, as the saying goes, people die for money and birds perish for food. Such weak abilities dared to covet the Heavenly Dust Pill.
guǒ rán shì rén wéi cái sǐ ， niǎo wèi shí wáng ， zhè me lā jī de shí lì yě gǎn duì tiān chén dān xīn huái jì yú 。
果然是人为财死，鸟为食亡，这么垃圾的实力也敢对天尘丹心怀觊觎。
Both groups noticed Lin Xuan but only glanced at him before returning to their heated battle.
liǎng huǒ rén yě fā xiàn le lín xuān ， bù guò jǐn jǐn shì piǎo le tā yī yǎn jiù shōu huí zhù yì ， jì xù dǎ dé rè huǒ cháo tiān 。
两伙人也发现了林轩，不过仅仅是瞟了他一眼就收回注意，继续打得热火朝天。
Over the next day, Lin Xuan encountered numerous battles—dozens in total. The more he ventured inward, the more frequent and intense they became. One of the most dramatic instances involved two groups of cultivators numbering over a hundred, mostly Foundation Establishment stage members, clashing fiercely.
zài suí hòu de yī rì lǐ ， lín xuān zhuàng shàng dì dà dà xiǎo xiǎo dì zhàn dòu jū rán yǒu shù shí cì zhī duō ， ér qiě yuè wǎng lǐ zǒu ， yuè shì pín fán jī liè ， zuì kuā zhāng de yī cì ， shèn zhì mù dǔ le liǎng huǒ xiū zhēn zhě gāo dá shù bǎi rén de huǒ bìng ， ér qiě qí zhōng ， hái yǐ zhù jī qī de xiū shì jū duō 。
在随后的一日里，林轩撞上地大大小小地战斗居然有数十次之多，而且越往里走，越是频繁激烈，最夸张的一次，甚至目睹了两伙修真者高达数百人的火并，而且其中，还以筑基期的修士居多。
This scale was already comparable to sect wars.
zhè zhǒng guī mó ， yǐ jīng yǔ mén pài zhàn méi yǒu shén me qū bié le 。
这种规模，已经与门派战没有什么区别了。
Light beams pierced through the air as spiritual artifacts flew around; it was hard to describe how spectacular this scene was!
zhǐ jiàn guāng shù chuān kōng ， líng qì fēi wǔ ， nà chǎng miàn ， qǐ shì yí gè zhuàng guān néng xíng róng ！
只见光束穿空，灵器飞舞，那场面，岂是一个壮观能形容！
Lin Xuan sighed as he sensed massive fluctuations in divine energy ahead. Clearly, another cultivator was engaged in battle there.
lín xuān tàn le kǒu qì ， qián fāng yǐn yǐn chuán lái jù dà de líng lì bō dòng ， kàn lái yòu yǒu xiū shì zài dòu fǎ le 。
林轩叹了口气，前方隐隐传来巨大的灵力波动，看来又有修士在斗法了。
Scanning with his divine sense, both were Demonic cultivators.
yòng shén shí sǎo miáo le yī xià ， liǎng gè dōu shì xiū mó zhě 。
用神识扫描了一下，两个都是修魔者。
A sneer curled Lin Xuan's lips. This journey had broadened his horizons; the initial battles he encountered mostly involved conflicts between Daoist and Demonic sects. However, as time passed, more and more fights broke out among cultivators of similar backgrounds—Daoists against Daoists, Demons against Demons—and these duels became increasingly vicious.
lín xuān zuǐ jiǎo liú lù chū yī sī jī cháo ， zhè yī lù zǒu lái ， tā kě suàn shì dà kāi yǎn jiè ， zuì chū suǒ yù jiàn de zhàn dòu ， dà duō shì zhèng mó shuāng fāng zhī jiān de chōng tū ， kě jiàn jiàn de ， xiū zhēn zhě duì xiū zhēn zhě ， xiū mó zhě duì xiū mó zhě ， zhè yàng dì dòu fǎ yě yuè fā de duō le qǐ lái 。
林轩嘴角流露出一丝讥嘲，这一路走来，他可算是大开眼界，最初所遇见的战斗，大多是正魔双方之间的冲突，可渐渐的，修真者对修真者，修魔者对修魔者，这样地斗法也越发的多了起来。
They were like sworn enemies, fighting to the death without respite.
The old man's face flushed, and he stammered, "Let the senior laugh at me. Indeed, I harbored this thought." He then sighed, "Actually, not just me; there are thousands of Foundation Establishment stage cultivators from both the Daoist and Demonic sects who have come here."
"Oh, do you think you stand a chance?"
"I understand your meaning," the old man replied. "With so many Core Formation stage seniors responding to this news, my cultivation level is indeed too low for me to be overly confident. But people always have a侥幸 mentality."
He didn't expect that this cultivator of magic would speak with such wit, but it was true—though fate doesn't drop golden opportunities from the sky, someone always manages to step in dog manure. The scenario where both parties fight and the opportunist reaps the benefits has occurred in both secular society and the cultivation world. Besides, everyone only knew that True Monarch Heavenly Defiler's soul had fled into the Quine Yin Mountains, but its exact location was unclear. It might just be him who found it first.
It wasn't surprising; the Heavenly Dust Pill's effects were divine, making this temptation too great to resist.
As for the old monsters at the Core Formation stage, they hadn't come either. The reasons were manifold—perhaps because the Heavenly Dust Pill was ineffective on them, reducing their interest slightly. Alternatively, they might have reached some agreement among themselves. After all, once in the Core Formation stage, a single gesture could stir up chaos, and their powers were too formidable to risk a full-scale conflict with the cultivation world.
Lin Xuan looked at the respectfully old man before him and smiled. "A侥幸 mentality is good, but you should understand that even those who have the audacity to seek fortune run the risk of retribution. Even if fate favors you and you obtain the Heavenly Dust Pill, do you think you will survive long enough to enjoy it? Even True Monarch Heavenly Defiler met his end with his Dharmic body destroyed."
A single word jolted him awake.
The old man's face was drenched in cold sweat as he realized. Yes, even if he obtained the Heavenly Dust Pill, he would still be pursued and eventually fall to the mercy of both sides.
He immediately bowed respectfully and said sincerely, "Thank you for your reminder; I have been foolish. I will return now."
Afterward, he performed another respectful bow before vanishing as a streak of light along his original path.
After the old man left, Lin Xuan remained silent.
Though this old man's cultivation was mediocre, he was someone who could let go of attachments and resist temptation. Such a personality might not achieve great things, but living a peaceful life until natural death should be no problem.
What about me?
Lin Xuan hesitated for a moment before his face hardened.
Even though he had advised the old man to leave, explaining the logic clearly, when it came to himself, these words didn't apply.
The Heavenly Dust Pill stirred Lin Xuan's heart. After all, condensing a Core Formation was much more difficult than building a Foundation Establishment stage; even if he refined an upper-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, it would only accelerate his cultivation at that stage but offer no help in forming a Golden Core.
Moreover, obtaining the top-grade Essence Cleansing Pills had been a struggle. Lin Xuan wasn't confident about refining an upper-grade Foundation Establishment Pill. Therefore, this excellent opportunity was one he couldn't afford to miss.
One must enter the tiger's den to catch its cub. Lin Xuan's resolve in cultivation was unwavering. If he could not form a Golden Core and merely remain at the Foundation Establishment stage, what would be the point of living?
With these thoughts, Lin Xuan transformed into a streak of lightning and vanished without a trace.
As per the old man's words, True Monarch Heavenly Defiler's soul had fled to the Quine Yin Mountains. Recently, someone had sensed his presence in the southern part of the mountain range, which was why so many Daoist and Demonic sect cultivators were chasing after him.
Lin Xuan took a Hidden Spirit Pill to lower his cultivation level to the late Flexible Spirit stage, allowing him to remain hidden from both sides. The inferior flying sword he used for this purpose was a low-grade spiritual artifact, making it even less suspicious.
Although this slowed him down slightly, it didn't matter. True Monarch Heavenly Defiler was an outstanding talent, and those cultivators were wary of each other, checking on one another.
Patience was beneficial; the slower pace could be advantageous.
Flying for half a day, several beams of light suddenly appeared in front, followed by thunderous explosions.
Lin Xuan's expression changed as he stopped his flight and carefully released his divine sense.
After a moment, he retracted his divine sense with a look of understanding on his face.
About seven or eight miles ahead, two groups of cultivators were engaged in battle. One group had seven members, the other eight—about equal numbers.
One side was Daoist cultivators, and the other was Demonic cultivators, likely from different sects based on their attire.
This wasn't strange; though the Daoist and Demonic sects weren't at each other's throats, they didn't get along well. A fight broke out over a single word.
Lin Xuan pondered briefly but chose not to detour. Instead, he flew directly below them.
He took this risk because both sides' strength was weak; apart from their leaders being Foundation Establishment First Stage cultivators, the rest were all Flexible Spirit stage disciples.
These people naturally didn't have Hidden Spirit Pills to hide their true power.
Indeed, as the saying goes, people die for money and birds perish for food. Such weak abilities dared to covet the Heavenly Dust Pill.
Both groups noticed Lin Xuan but only glanced at him before returning to their heated battle.
Over the next day, Lin Xuan encountered numerous battles—dozens in total. The more he ventured inward, the more frequent and intense they became. One of the most dramatic instances involved two groups of cultivators numbering over a hundred, mostly Foundation Establishment stage members, clashing fiercely.
This scale was already comparable to sect wars.
Light beams pierced through the air as spiritual artifacts flew around; it was hard to describe how spectacular this scene was!
Lin Xuan sighed as he sensed massive fluctuations in divine energy ahead. Clearly, another cultivator was engaged in battle there.
Scanning with his divine sense, both were Demonic cultivators.
A sneer curled Lin Xuan's lips. This journey had broadened his horizons; the initial battles he encountered mostly involved conflicts between Daoist and Demonic sects. However, as time passed, more and more fights broke out among cultivators of similar backgrounds—Daoists against Daoists, Demons against Demons—and these duels became increasingly vicious.
They were like sworn enemies, fighting to the death without respite.