lín xuān suī rán gǎn dǎ dǔ ， zhè dōng xī de jiān yìng ， huán yào shèng guò tōng tiān líng bǎo ， dàn jīng lì le shàng cì de yí mù ， lín xuān yǐn yǐn jué de ， zhè wǔ lóng xǐ bù néng qīng yì shǐ yòng ， gèng bú yào shuō ， jiāng xī dàng zuò dùn pái ， yòng zài dòu zhī zhōng 。
林轩虽然敢打赌，这东西的坚硬，环要胜过通天灵宝，但经历了上次的一幕，林轩隐隐觉得，这五龙玺不能轻易使用，更不要说，将牺当作盾牌，用在斗之中。
Lin Xuan was bold enough to bet that this shield would be harder than the Heavenly Pillar Treasure. However, after experiencing the previous incident, Lin Xuan felt vaguely that he shouldn't use this Five-Claw Seal casually, let alone using it as a shield in battle.
ér zhè dùn pái ， kě wèi xuě zhōng sòng tàn ， bù guò jù tǐ wēi lì rú hé ， gòu bù gòu gé ràng zì jǐ lái shǐ yòng ， hái shì yào shì yī shì cái qīng chǔ 。
而这盾牌，可谓雪中送炭，不过具体威力如何，够不够格让自己来使用，还是要试一试才清楚。
This shield was like a timely gift, but its true power had yet to be determined. He needed to test it first before making any conclusions.
nǎo hǎi zhōng niàn tou zhuǎn guò ， lín xuān bù zài chí yí ， jiāng lì wǎng shǒu zhōng de yí gè dùn pái zhù rù jìn qù ……
脑海中念头转过，林轩不再迟疑，将力往手中的一个盾牌注入进去……
With his mind made up, Lin Xuan injected force into the shield in his hand...
méi yǒu xiào guǒ 。
没有效果。
No effect.
lín xuān què bìng bù jí ， yì bān zhè zhǒng chéng tào qì ， dōu yǒu yí gè wéi zhǔ ， qí yú wèi fǔ ， yǐ nà ge zhǔ qì ， lái cāo zòng qí tā bǎo wù ， yǎn qián zhè ge bǎo wù yīng gāi yě bú huì miǎn sú ， zì jǐ xiān qián shì yǒu xiē tài xīn jí le 。
林轩却并不急，一般这种成套器，都有一个为主，其余为辅，以那个主器，来操纵其他宝物，眼前这个宝物应该也不会免俗，自己先前是有些太心急了。
But Lin Xuan wasn't anxious. Most sets of artifacts have one main item that controls the others. The main artifact should be used to command the rest. This artifact likely wouldn't be an exception; he had been too eager earlier.
lín xuān mù guāng sǎo guò ， zài miàn qī dùn pái shàng liú zhuǎn ， hěn kuài fā xiàn qí zhōng yí gè ， yǔ lìng wài liù miàn lüè yǒu bù tóng ， lín xuān jiāng qí ná zài le shǒu zhōng 。
林轩目光扫过，在面七盾牌上流转，很快发现其中一个，与另外六面略有不同，林轩将其拿在了手中。
Lin Xuan swept his gaze over the seven shields, quickly identifying one that was slightly different from the others. He picked it up and injected force into it...
rán hòu zhù rù lì ， zhè cì yǒu wēng míng shēng chuán rù ěr lǐ ， lín xuān jiāng qí jì dào bàn kōng zhī zhōng ， qí yú liù miàn dùn pái ， yě chéng shàn xíng pái liè ， lín xuān yī dào jué fā chū , shàng miàn gè zì yǒu líng guāng bó è fā ér chū ， lián chéng yī piàn qīng sè de guāng mù ， yí gè tài jí tú àn zài shàng miàn liú zhuǎn ， xiǎn de shén mì yǐ jí 。
然后注入力，这次有嗡鸣声传入耳里，林轩将其祭到半空之中，其余六面盾牌，也呈扇形排列，林轩一道诀发出,上面各自有灵光勃垩发而出，连成一片青色的光幕，一个太极图案在上面流转，显得神秘以极。
A buzzing sound filled his ears as Lin Xuan raised the shield to mid-air. The other six shields formed a fan-like arrangement. A诀 (technique) emitted light, forming a green light curtain with a Taiji pattern swirling on top of it, looking extremely mysterious.
gǎn shòu zhe cǐ bǎo suǒ sàn fà chū lái de wēi yā yǔ lì ， lín xuān dà xǐ ， zhè zhǒng gǎn jué ， nán dào shì fǎng zhì líng bǎo ？
感受着此宝所散发出来的威压与力，林轩大喜，这种感觉，难道是仿制灵宝？
Feeling the pressure and force emanating from this artifact, Lin Xuan was delighted. Could this be a replica of a Heavenly Treasure?
rú guǒ suǒ liào méi cuò ， cǐ bǎo de fáng yù lì ， yīng gāi yuǎn yuǎn zài wū jīn zhuó lóng jiǎ dùn zhī shàng 。
如果所料没错，此宝的防御力，应该远远在乌金丵龙甲盾之上。
If his guess was correct, the defensive power of this artifact should far exceed that of the Black Fire Ants.
dāng rán shì yǔ bú shì ， hái yào zài shì yī shì 。
当然是与不是，还要再试一试。
Satisfied with the result, Lin Xuan carefully stored it away. He then returned to his cave and began counting other artifacts. Each ancient treasure had immense power, but they were not suitable for him. Lin Xuan's standards were too high.
lín xuān tái qǐ shǒu lái ， jǐ dào jiàn qì fēi shè chū qù ， méi yǒu bàn fēn xiào guǒ ， suí hòu lín xuān yòu qǔ chū dé zì xuě hú wáng de zhǎng gē ……
林轩抬起手来，几道剑气飞射出去，没有半分效果，随后林轩又取出得自雪狐王的长戈……
However, after a moment’s hesitation, he selected eighteen weapons: saber, spear, sword, halberd, axe, hook, fork, whip, copper mace, hammer, claw, ring, staff, pike, club, cane, and shield.
lì zhù rù ， yī dào yuè yá xíng de guāng bō hěn hěn de fēi lüè ér chū 。
力注入，一道月牙形的光波狠狠的飞掠而出。
These artifacts, while each had its unique qualities, were not meant for daily use. Lin Xuan's Little Heavenly World possessed nine heads and eighteen arms, with each arm capable of wielding a different weapon.
hōng ！
轰！
Although these weapons individually weren't perfect, their combined power was formidable. Moreover, the imperfections stemmed from his high standards; the treasures collected by the Poison Dragon Ancestor were not inferior. Selling them at the market would fetch astonishingly high prices.
tóng yàng méi yǒu fēn háo xiào guǒ 。
同样没有分毫效果。
The remaining unused ancient treasures were carefully stored and could be traded with fellow cultivators or sold for crystals in the future.
lín xuān yǒu xiē dòng róng ， bù guò gāo xìng de chéng fèn gèng duō 。
林轩有些动容，不过高兴的成分更多。
Lin Xuan opened another storage bag...
dòng fǔ zhōng tài xiá xiǎo le yì diǎn ， lín xuān gān cuì lái dào wài miàn 。
洞府中太狭小了一点，林轩干脆来到外面。
Two days later, Lin Xuan left his training room, his face filled with satisfaction. This time's收获 was indeed rich.
dāng dùn pái lián chéng guāng mù ， tā yáng shǒu jiāng shān shuǐ shàn jì chū ……
当盾牌连成光幕，他扬手将山水扇祭出……
The Poison Dragon Ancestor, a Cave Profound cultivator, had accumulated vast wealth over thousands of years through cunning and force. The treasures in the storage bags included various types of medicinal materials, crystals, and talismans, all of which were beyond imagination for outsiders.
bàn gè shí chén hòu ， lín xuān huí dào le dòng fǔ ， xǐ dòng yán sè ， jīng guò yī fān shì yàn yǐ hòu ， tā zhōng yú què dìng le ， zhè shì líng bǎo de fǎng zhì zhī wù ， ér qiě hái shì chéng tào de 。
半个时辰后，林轩回到了洞府，喜动颜色，经过一番试验以后，他终于确定了，这是灵宝的仿制之物，而且还是成套的。
In terms of value, this far surpassed his previous plundering of the Beast Island. Lin Xuan couldn't estimate its worth, but he was sure it was a fortune.
xiāng xìn qí fǎng zhì de líng bǎo , zài tōng tiān líng bǎo zhōng yě kě yǐ pái míng qián liè ， ér chéng tào de dié jiā xiào guǒ ， lín xuān xiāng xìn qí fáng yù lì ， bù bǐ yuè ér shǒu zhōng de qiān huàn jiāo wén dùn shǎo shàng shén me 。
相信其仿制的灵宝,在通天灵宝中也可以排名前列，而成套的叠加效果，林轩相信其防御力，不比月儿手中的千幻蛟纹盾少上什么。
To sum up, he had become incredibly wealthy, surpassing peers in his cultivation level. For quite some time, he wouldn't have to worry about cultivating crystals and medicinal materials. He also gained many talismans for future battles. The saying "fortune comes from danger" held true.
jī hū kě yǐ dàng chéng shì jiào chà de fáng yù xíng tōng tiān líng bǎo 。
几乎可以当成是较差的防御型通天灵宝。
Counting the treasures was a tedious task, but there were still many things to do. In that uninhabited island where humans lived, he had unexpectedly obtained a Heavenly Treasure.
qí guài ， nà lǎo guài wù wèi měi méi jiāng cǐ bǎo suí shēn dài zhe 。
奇怪，那老怪物为每没将此宝随身带着。
The Wraith Tower and the Hundred Birds Bell were auxiliary artifacts, more precious than offensive or defensive ones.
lín xuān yáo le yáo tóu ， bǎi sī bù dé qí jiě ， bù guò nà yòu yǒu shén me guān xì ， xiǎng bù tōng jiù bié xiǎng 。
林轩摇了摇头，百思不得其解，不过那又有什么关系，想不通就别想。
Bloodfire Ants, those savage creatures, might seem insignificant individually, but in large numbers, even high-ranking cultivators would flee upon hearing their name. The Silver Fish Bird was an example of this, and Bloodfire Ants were far more terrifying.
zhì yú dùn pái de míng zì ， lín xuān dǎo shì yǒu le ， qí dùn pái huàn huà chū de guāng mù shì qīng sè ， biǎo miàn yòu yǒu tài jí tú àn ， hái shì chéng tào ， nà gān cuì jiào xuán qīng zi mǔ dùn zuì hǎo 。
至于盾牌的名字，林轩倒是有了，其盾牌幻化出的光幕是青色，表面又有太极图案，还是成套，那干脆叫玄青子母盾最好。
The Jade Luo Bee couldn't be cultivated quickly, so he needed to let the Bloodfire Ants multiply, turning them into his deadly weapons.
xǐ zī zī de jiāng cǐ bǎo shōu hǎo ， suí hòu lín xuān huí dào le dòng fǔ zhōng ， kāi shǐ qīng diǎn bié de bǎo wù ， měi yī jiàn gǔ bǎo wēi lì jī hū dōu fēi tóng xiǎo kě ， bù guò zì jǐ yòng de huà hái shì yǒu diǎn bú shì hé 。
喜滋滋的将此宝收好，随后林轩回到了洞府中，开始清点别的宝物，每一件古宝威力几乎都非同小可，不过自己用的话还是有点不适合。
However, this wasn't something that could be achieved overnight. He decided to go for a walk first.
lín xuān de yǎn guāng tài gāo le 。
林轩的眼光太高了。
A rumbling sound entered his ears as the stone door opened, and Lin Xuan stepped out of his cave.
dàn lüè yī chí yí ， tā hái shì cóng zhōng tiāo chū le dāo 、 qiāng 、 jiàn zhǔ jǐ zhǔ fǔ zhǔ qián zhǔ gōu 、 chā 、 biān 、 tóng 、 chuí 、 zhǎo 、 huán 、 gùn 、 shuò zhǔ bàng zhǔ guǎi 、 pái ， gòng shí bā bān bīng qì 。
但略一迟疑，他还是从中挑出了刀、枪、剑丶戟丶斧丶钱丶钩、叉、鞭、铜、锤、爪、环、棍、槊丶棒丶拐、牌，共十八般兵器。
The chirping of birds was clear. There were still many small animals in the vicinity. The Forget-Worries Valley had beautiful scenery, and the air carried an unusual fragrance due to the nearby spring that fed a medicinal garden.
dāng rán , zhè xiē bǎo wù ， suī rán gè yǒu qiān qiū ， dàn lín xuān yě bú shì zhǔn bèi píng cháng ná chū lái yòng , ér shì zì jǐ de xiǎo luó tiān xiāng ， gòng yǒu jiǔ tóu shí bā bì ， měi yī tiáo shǒu bì ， dōu kě yǐ qū shǐ yī jiàn bù tóng de bīng qì 。
当然,这些宝物，虽然各有千秋，但林轩也不是准备平常拿出来用,而是自己的小罗天相，共有九头十八臂，每一条手臂，都可以驱使一件不同的兵器。
A slender figure caught his eye as he walked over. Lin Xuan didn't hide his presence; the girl working on the garden naturally noticed him.
zhè xiē bǎo wù suī rán dān gè lái shuō ， bìng bú shì nà me jìn rú rén yì ， dàn shí bā jiàn hé zài yì qǐ ， hái shì lìng rén wèi jù yǐ jí 。
这些宝物虽然单个来说，并不是那么尽如人意，但十八件合在一起，还是令人畏惧以极。
"Senior." Shangguan Yan bowed gracefully, her face lit up with surprise. She never imagined seeing Lin Xuan again so soon.
hé kuàng dān gè bù jìn rú rén yì ， hái shì yīn wèi yǎn jiè tài gāo de yuán gù ， dú lóng lǎo zǔ shōu jí de bǎo wù ， yòu qǐ huì chà le ， ná dào fāng shì de pāi mài huì lǐ ， měi yī jiàn ， dōu kě yǐ mài chū lìng rén dèng mù jié shé de gāo jià 。
何况单个不尽如人意，还是因为眼界太高的缘故，毒龙老祖收集的宝物，又岂会差了，拿到坊市的拍卖会里，每一件，都可以卖出令人瞪目结舌的高价。
"You don't need to be so formal," Lin Xuan said softly. He was surprised because although Shangguan Yan was only a Spirit Flow cultivator, she was the daughter of the sect's leader, and it was unusual for her to do such menial tasks.
zhì yú shèng xià yòng bù shàng de gǔ bǎo ， zé jiāng xī men fēn mén bié lèi de zhuāng hǎo ， yǐ hòu yǒu jī huì de shí hòu ， kě yǐ yǔ tóng dào yǐ huò yì huò ， huò zhě ná dào fāng shì pāi mài huì shàng huàn qǔ jīng shí de 。
至于剩下用不上的古宝，则将牺们分门别类的装好，以后有机会的时候，可以与同道以货易货，或者拿到坊市拍卖会上换取晶石的。
"Senior, you are unaware that our ancestor, the Immortal Lady of Herbs, was once a prodigy. However, subsequent generations have been unworthy, leading to our decline. Currently, only my mother is a凝聚丹期 cultivator, confined here on the Turtle Island. We had a small crystal mine several hundred years ago, but it has long since been exhausted. Our sect now depends solely on this medicinal garden to meet cultivation needs," Shangguan Yan said with a look of desolation.
lín xuān yòu jiāng xià yí gè chǔ wù dài dǎ kāi ……
林轩又将下一个储物袋打开……
"Depend solely on this garden for cultivation materials?" Lin Xuan was surprised. He knew the Hundred Grass Sect had declined, but he didn't expect it to be so dire. If she hadn't lied, they might not even match some wandering cultivators: "Your sect still has around three hundred people. How can a small medicinal garden suffice?"
liǎng tiān yǐ hòu ， lín xuān chū le liàn fáng ， tā de liǎn shàng quán shì mǎn yì zhī sè ， zhè huí de shōu huò ， hái zhēn shì fēng fù 。
两天以后，林轩出了练房，他的脸上全是满意之色，这回的收获，还真是丰富。
"It's impossible. The Great Vast Sea is remote and resource-poor compared to the Eastern Sea. With many cultivators here, resources are scarce, and they're often divided among them. Small crystal mines and rare medicinal plants lead to frequent conflicts."
dú lóng lǎo zǔ bù kuì shì dòng xuán qī xiū xiān zhě ， shù wàn nián qiǎo qǔ háo duó ， shēn jiā zhī fēng fù ， wài rén shì hěn nán xiǎng xiàng de ， nà jǐ gè chǔ wù dài zhōng de cái huò ， cóng dān yào bǎo ， dào jīng shí cái liào ， hái yǒu gè zhǒng bù tóng lèi xíng de fú zhuàn ， jī hū shì bāo luó wàn xiàng 。
毒龙老祖不愧是洞玄期修仙者，数万年巧取豪夺，身家之丰富，外人是很难想象的，那几个储物袋中的财货，从丹药宝，到晶石材料，还有各种不同类型的符篆，几乎是包罗万象。
Lin Xuan nodded. He knew the struggles of low-ranking cultivators well; their competition for resources was even more brutal than that of high-ranking cultivators.
jiù jià zhí lái shuō ， yuǎn yuǎn shèng guò le shàng cì jié lüè wàn shòu dǎo ， jiū jìng zhí duō shǎo jīng shí ， lín xuān yě nán yǐ gū liáng 。
就价值来说，远远胜过了上次劫掠万兽岛，究竟值多少晶石，林轩也难以估量。
This wasn't an exaggeration; high-ranking cultivators generally had abundant resources, fighting only when truly necessary or for extraordinary treasures.
zǒng zhī yī jù huà ， zhè cì jué duì shì fā cái le a ！
总之一句话，这次绝对是发财了啊！
Low-ranking cultivators, with limited resources, would fight over a crystal or a lower-grade treasure.
lín xuān de shēn jiā ， zài yí cì yuǎn yuǎn shèng guò tóng jiē xiū xiān zhě ， xiàn zài kě yǐ shuō ， shì fù dé liú yóu 。
林轩的身家，再一次远远胜过同阶修仙者，现在可以说，是富得流油。
"Even in the Great Vast Sea, there should be sea monsters. Why not..." Lin Xuan pondered aloud.
zhì shǎo wèi lái hěn zhǎng de yī duàn shí jiān ， tā dōu kě yǐ bù yòng wèi xiū liàn de jīng shí dān yào fā chóu ， duì dí zhī shí ， yòu yǒu le hěn duō fú zhuàn , shàng cì lì jīng xīn kǔ ， dàn shōu huò què jué duì fēng fù ， fù guì xiǎn zhōng qiú ， zhè jù huà guǒ rán méi cuò 。
至少未来很长的一段时间，他都可以不用为修炼的晶石丹药发愁，对敌之时，又有了很多符篆,上次历经辛苦，但收获却绝对丰富，富贵险中求，这句话果然没错。
"The senior knows well that monster hides and bones can be used as cultivation materials. This is also the main source of wealth for cultivators here. However, hunting beasts is dangerous; tens of thousands die each year from the claws and teeth of sea monsters. Our sect has tried but failed due to our low cultivation levels. Even if we managed to hunt a beast, it wouldn't fetch many crystals," Shangguan Yan said softly, her gaze filled with gratitude.
qīng diǎn bǎo wù yě mán xīn kǔ ， jiē xià lái hái yǒu xǔ duō shì qíng yào zuò ， zài nà fán rén jū zhù de huāng dǎo ， zì jǐ jī yuán qiǎo hé ， hái dé dào le yī jiàn tōng tiān líng bǎo 。
清点宝物也蛮辛苦，接下来还有许多事情要做，在那凡人居住的荒岛，自己机缘巧合，还得到了一件通天灵宝。
"Hmm, your cultivation resources have always been insufficient. Miss Shangguan, how long have you been on the path of cultivation?" Lin Xuan changed the subject, asking about something that interested him.
wàn hún tǎ yǔ bǎi líng zhōng yī yàng ， suī shì fǔ zhù xíng líng bǎo ， dàn bǐ gōng jī yǔ fáng yù de ， hái yào gèng jiā zhēn guì yī xiē 。
万魂塔与百灵钟一样，虽是辅助型灵宝，但比攻击与防御的，还要更加珍贵一些。
"Twelve years. I started learning my mother's knowledge at seven and just turned nineteen a month ago, making it twelve years in total," she replied honestly.
zhì yú xuè huǒ yǐ zhè zhǒng mán huāng qí chóng ， dān gè suī rán bù suàn shén me ， dàn shù liàng yī duō ， gāo jiē xiū shì yě yào wén fēng ér táo ， dāng chū de yín yú niǎo jiù shì bǎng yàng ， ér xuè huǒ yǐ de kě pà chéng dù ， hái yào yuǎn shèng yín yú niǎo 。
至于血火蚁这种蛮荒奇虫，单个虽然不算什么，但数量一多，高阶修士也要闻风而逃，当初的银鱼鸟就是榜样，而血火蚁的可怕程度，还要远胜银鱼鸟。
Twelve years of rigorous training to reach the peak of Spirit Flow was commendable, though not particularly fast. In a situation where medicinal materials and crystals were scarce, this speed was remarkable.
yù luó fēng yī shí piàn kè hái bù néng cuī shú ， xuè huǒ yǐ jiù yào hǎo hǎo fán yǎn yī fān ， ràng xī chéng wéi zì jǐ de shā shǒu tóng 。
玉罗蜂一时片刻还不能催熟，血火蚁就要好好繁衍一番，让牺成为自己的杀手铜。
Her talent seemed genuine based on her background.
dāng rán , zhè yě bú shì kě yǐ yí cù ér jiù de shì qíng ， suǒ wèi xīn jí chī bù liǎo rè dòu fǔ ， lái rì fāng cháng ， lín xuān jué dìng xiān chū qù guàng guàng 。
当然,这也不是可以一蹴而就的事情，所谓心急吃不了热豆腐，来日方长，林轩决定先出去逛逛。
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Lin Xuan was bold enough to bet that this shield would be harder than the Heavenly Pillar Treasure. However, after experiencing the previous incident, Lin Xuan felt vaguely that he shouldn't use this Five-Claw Seal casually, let alone using it as a shield in battle.
This shield was like a timely gift, but its true power had yet to be determined. He needed to test it first before making any conclusions.
With his mind made up, Lin Xuan injected force into the shield in his hand...
No effect.
But Lin Xuan wasn't anxious. Most sets of artifacts have one main item that controls the others. The main artifact should be used to command the rest. This artifact likely wouldn't be an exception; he had been too eager earlier.
Lin Xuan swept his gaze over the seven shields, quickly identifying one that was slightly different from the others. He picked it up and injected force into it...
A buzzing sound filled his ears as Lin Xuan raised the shield to mid-air. The other six shields formed a fan-like arrangement. A诀 (technique) emitted light, forming a green light curtain with a Taiji pattern swirling on top of it, looking extremely mysterious.
Feeling the pressure and force emanating from this artifact, Lin Xuan was delighted. Could this be a replica of a Heavenly Treasure?
If his guess was correct, the defensive power of this artifact should far exceed that of the Black Fire Ants.
Satisfied with the result, Lin Xuan carefully stored it away. He then returned to his cave and began counting other artifacts. Each ancient treasure had immense power, but they were not suitable for him. Lin Xuan's standards were too high.
However, after a moment’s hesitation, he selected eighteen weapons: saber, spear, sword, halberd, axe, hook, fork, whip, copper mace, hammer, claw, ring, staff, pike, club, cane, and shield.
These artifacts, while each had its unique qualities, were not meant for daily use. Lin Xuan's Little Heavenly World possessed nine heads and eighteen arms, with each arm capable of wielding a different weapon.
Although these weapons individually weren't perfect, their combined power was formidable. Moreover, the imperfections stemmed from his high standards; the treasures collected by the Poison Dragon Ancestor were not inferior. Selling them at the market would fetch astonishingly high prices.
The remaining unused ancient treasures were carefully stored and could be traded with fellow cultivators or sold for crystals in the future.
Lin Xuan opened another storage bag...
Two days later, Lin Xuan left his training room, his face filled with satisfaction. This time's收获 was indeed rich.
The Poison Dragon Ancestor, a Cave Profound cultivator, had accumulated vast wealth over thousands of years through cunning and force. The treasures in the storage bags included various types of medicinal materials, crystals, and talismans, all of which were beyond imagination for outsiders.
In terms of value, this far surpassed his previous plundering of the Beast Island. Lin Xuan couldn't estimate its worth, but he was sure it was a fortune.
To sum up, he had become incredibly wealthy, surpassing peers in his cultivation level. For quite some time, he wouldn't have to worry about cultivating crystals and medicinal materials. He also gained many talismans for future battles. The saying "fortune comes from danger" held true.
Counting the treasures was a tedious task, but there were still many things to do. In that uninhabited island where humans lived, he had unexpectedly obtained a Heavenly Treasure.
The Wraith Tower and the Hundred Birds Bell were auxiliary artifacts, more precious than offensive or defensive ones.
Bloodfire Ants, those savage creatures, might seem insignificant individually, but in large numbers, even high-ranking cultivators would flee upon hearing their name. The Silver Fish Bird was an example of this, and Bloodfire Ants were far more terrifying.
The Jade Luo Bee couldn't be cultivated quickly, so he needed to let the Bloodfire Ants multiply, turning them into his deadly weapons.
However, this wasn't something that could be achieved overnight. He decided to go for a walk first.
A rumbling sound entered his ears as the stone door opened, and Lin Xuan stepped out of his cave.
The chirping of birds was clear. There were still many small animals in the vicinity. The Forget-Worries Valley had beautiful scenery, and the air carried an unusual fragrance due to the nearby spring that fed a medicinal garden.
A slender figure caught his eye as he walked over. Lin Xuan didn't hide his presence; the girl working on the garden naturally noticed him.
"Senior." Shangguan Yan bowed gracefully, her face lit up with surprise. She never imagined seeing Lin Xuan again so soon.
"You don't need to be so formal," Lin Xuan said softly. He was surprised because although Shangguan Yan was only a Spirit Flow cultivator, she was the daughter of the sect's leader, and it was unusual for her to do such menial tasks.
"Senior, you are unaware that our ancestor, the Immortal Lady of Herbs, was once a prodigy. However, subsequent generations have been unworthy, leading to our decline. Currently, only my mother is a凝聚丹期 cultivator, confined here on the Turtle Island. We had a small crystal mine several hundred years ago, but it has long since been exhausted. Our sect now depends solely on this medicinal garden to meet cultivation needs," Shangguan Yan said with a look of desolation.
"Depend solely on this garden for cultivation materials?" Lin Xuan was surprised. He knew the Hundred Grass Sect had declined, but he didn't expect it to be so dire. If she hadn't lied, they might not even match some wandering cultivators: "Your sect still has around three hundred people. How can a small medicinal garden suffice?"
"It's impossible. The Great Vast Sea is remote and resource-poor compared to the Eastern Sea. With many cultivators here, resources are scarce, and they're often divided among them. Small crystal mines and rare medicinal plants lead to frequent conflicts."
Lin Xuan nodded. He knew the struggles of low-ranking cultivators well; their competition for resources was even more brutal than that of high-ranking cultivators.
This wasn't an exaggeration; high-ranking cultivators generally had abundant resources, fighting only when truly necessary or for extraordinary treasures.
Low-ranking cultivators, with limited resources, would fight over a crystal or a lower-grade treasure.
"Even in the Great Vast Sea, there should be sea monsters. Why not..." Lin Xuan pondered aloud.
"The senior knows well that monster hides and bones can be used as cultivation materials. This is also the main source of wealth for cultivators here. However, hunting beasts is dangerous; tens of thousands die each year from the claws and teeth of sea monsters. Our sect has tried but failed due to our low cultivation levels. Even if we managed to hunt a beast, it wouldn't fetch many crystals," Shangguan Yan said softly, her gaze filled with gratitude.
"Hmm, your cultivation resources have always been insufficient. Miss Shangguan, how long have you been on the path of cultivation?" Lin Xuan changed the subject, asking about something that interested him.
"Twelve years. I started learning my mother's knowledge at seven and just turned nineteen a month ago, making it twelve years in total," she replied honestly.
Twelve years of rigorous training to reach the peak of Spirit Flow was commendable, though not particularly fast. In a situation where medicinal materials and crystals were scarce, this speed was remarkable.
Her talent seemed genuine based on her background.
PS: Monday is very much in need of recommendation votes. If any fellow cultivators still have some, please support me!