dì yī qiān bā bǎi wǔ shí èr zhāng lín xuān de fēn xī
第一千八百五十二章林轩的分析
Chapter 1852 - Lin Xuan's Analysis
“ duō xiè dào yǒu 。”
“多谢道友。”
"Thank you, Daoist friend."
lín xuān zì rán méi yǒu jù jué de lǐ yóu ， qǐ shēn jiē guò ， zhǐ jiàn nà jiǔ chéng hǔ pò sè， yī gǔ chún hòu de xiāng wèi ér mí sàn ér chū ， què shí bìng fēi pǔ tōng zhī wù 。
林轩自然没有拒绝的理由，起身接过，只见那酒呈琥珀sè，一股淳厚的香味儿弥散而出，确实并非普通之物。
Lin Xuan had no reason to refuse. He stood up and accepted the offering. The wine was amber-colored, emitting a rich aroma that was unmistakably not ordinary.
lín xuān suī bú shì hǎo jiǔ zhī tú ， yě bù yóu de shí zhǐ dà dòng ， zhèng zhǔn bèi yī yǐn ér jǐn ， zhī zhī de shēng yīn què chuán rù ěr duǒ 。
林轩虽不是好酒之徒，也不由得食指大动，正准备一饮而尽，吱吱的声音却传入耳朵。
Although Lin Xuan wasn't much of a drinker, his fingers twitched involuntarily as he prepared to down it in one go. However, a squeaking sound caught his ear.
lín xuān shén sè yī dòng 。
林轩神sè一动。
Lin Xuan's expression changed.
shēn shǒu zài yāo jiān yī pāi ， yí gè líng shòu dài jiù fēi lüè chū lái ， dài kǒu zhāng kāi ， yí gè xíng mào qí tè de chǒng wù yìng rù yǎn lián 。
伸手在腰间一拍，一个灵兽袋就飞掠出来，袋口张开，一个形貌奇特的宠物映入眼帘。
He reached into his belt and pulled out a spirit beast bag. The bag opened up, revealing an unusual-looking pet.
kàn shàng qù zhǐ bǐ pí qiú dà yī diǎn ， hún shēn shàng xià ， shēng mǎn bái sè de róng máo， sì zhī yòu xì yòu duǎn ， liǎng zhǐ wū liū liū de dà yǎn ， kàn shàng qù shí fēn de huá jī kě ài 。
看上去只比皮球大一点，浑身上下，生满白sè的绒máo，四肢又细又短，两只乌溜溜的大眼，看上去十分的滑稽可爱。
It was about the size of a basketball, covered with white fur, with slender and short limbs. Its large black eyes gave it a comical yet adorable appearance.
yān shān sì yǒu dōu biǎo qíng yí huò， shēn wèi yuán yīng qī xiū xiān zhě suī bù gǎn shuō jiàn shí hé děng de guǎng bó ， dàn hǎo dǎi yě dōu shì huó le jǐ bǎi suì de rén wù 。
燕山四友都表情疑huò，身为元婴期修仙者虽不敢说见识何等的广博，但好歹也都是活了几百岁的人物。
The Four Friends of Yanshan were puzzled by this unfamiliar spirit pet. As advanced cultivators who had lived for hundreds of years, they hadn't seen such a creature before. The faint aura of spiritual energy around the pet was undetectable, and its level seemed lower than that of even a novice in the Flexible Spirit Period.
zhè yàng de líng chǒng hái cóng méi yǒu jiàn guò 。
这样的灵宠还从没有见过。
Apart from being cute, there didn’t seem to be anything commendable about this spirit pet. Was it truly just a pet?
shēn shàng de líng lì bō dòng ruò yǒu ruò wú ， jìng jiè wán quán kàn bù chū ， dàn gěi rén de gǎn jué bǐ líng dòng qī de cài niǎo hái ruò ， yǎng lái gàn shén me ？
身上的灵力bō动若有若无，境界完全看不出，但给人的感觉比灵动期的菜鸟还弱，养来干什么？
The little creature ignored everyone's gazes and dashed into mid-air, rolling around before landing on the coffee table with a thud. It stared longingly at the wine glass, its face filled with yearning.
chú le kě ài yǐ wài ， zhěng gè líng chǒng ， kě yǐ shuō wú yī shì chù ， nán dào zhēn shì chún cuì de chǒng wù ？
除了可爱以外，整个灵宠，可以说无一是处，难道真是纯粹的宠物？
"Do you want to drink from that?" Lin Xuan was surprised.
xiǎo jiā huo què bù guǎn zhòng rén de zhǔ mù ， shēn xíng yī shǎn ， zài bàn kōng zhōng gū lū lū de fān le yí gè quān ， rán hòu pā dā yī shēng luò zài le chá jī shàng miàn 。
xiǎo家伙却不管众人的瞩目，身形一闪，在半空中咕噜噜的翻了一个圈，然后啪嗒一声落在了茶几上面。
The little creature nodded vigorously.
yǎn bā bā de wàng zhe jiǔ bēi ， liǎn shàng mǎn shì kě wàng zhī sè。
眼巴巴的望着酒杯，脸上满是渴望之sè。
"Alright, you can have some wine, but listen to me in future," Lin Xuan, who never let others take advantage of him, made it clear that this pet would be subject to his commands. He had already signed a master-pet contract with the creature, and now that it was seeking his help, he decided to make use of its gratitude.
“ nǐ xiǎng hē zhè ge ？” lín xuān yǒu xiē yì wài le 。
“你想喝这个？”林轩有些意外了。
"Squeak." The little creature's displeased voice echoed in Lin Xuan’s ears. This owner was too cunning. But Lin Xuan remained stern; once he made up his mind about something, he wouldn't yield easily.
xiǎo jiā huo pīn mìng de diǎn tóu 。
xiǎo家伙拼命的点头。
In the end, the little creature hung its head low and couldn’t resist the temptation of the fine wine. It wept and agreed with tears in its eyes.
“ hǎo ， jiǔ kě yǐ gěi nǐ hē ， dàn yǐ hòu ， yí dìng yào tīng wǒ huà cái kě 。” lín xuān shì zhǐ zhàn pián yí bù chī kuī de zhǔ ér ， duì líng chǒng yě shì yī yàng de ， suī shuō yǔ xiǎo jiā huo qiān dìng le zhǔ pú qì yuē ， dàn duì fāng míng xiǎn shì bù qíng bù yuàn dì ， rú jīn tā yǒu qiú yú zì jǐ ， dāng rán yào chèn jī tí tiáo jiàn le 。
“好，酒可以给你喝，但以后，一定要听我话才可。”林轩是只占便宜不吃亏的主儿，对灵宠也是一样的，虽说与xiǎo家伙签订了主仆契约，但对方明显是不情不愿地，如今牠有求于自己，当然要趁机提条件了。
"Alright, go over there and drink."
“ zhī zhī 。”xiǎo jiā huo bù mǎn de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， zhè zhǔ rén yě tài jiān zhà le ， rán ér lín xuān yī liǎn yán sù ， zhǐ yào tā rèn dìng le de shì qíng ， jiù bú huì xuǎn zé qū fú 。
“吱吱。”xiǎo家伙不满的声音传入耳朵，这主人也太jiān诈了，然而林轩一脸严肃，只要他认定了的事情，就不会选择屈服。
Lin Xuan passed the wine glass to it. The little thing quickly grabbed it with its small paws, sniffing the aroma as a look of contentment spread across its face. It scampered off to one side.
zuì hòu hái shì xiǎo jiā huo dā lā zhe ěr duǒ ， shí zài dǐ dǎng bú zhù měi jiǔ de yòuhuò， yǎn lèi wāng wāng de dā yìng le 。
最后还是xiǎo家伙耷拉着耳朵，实在抵挡不住美酒的yòuhuò，眼泪汪汪的答应了。
"Haha, Lin Brother's spirit pet is truly unique," Huang Tingzong chuckled. He was equally stunned by what he had just witnessed.
“ hǎo ， nǐ qù nà biān hē 。”
“好，你去那边喝。”
"Indeed, this little fellow is incredibly cute." The scholar with the paintbrush nodded and said, "Why don't you let Little Brother draw a picture of it drinking?"
lín xuān jiāng jiǔ bēi dì le guò qù ，xiǎo dōng xī lián máng yòng liǎng zhǐ xì xiǎo de zhuǎ zi bào zhù ， wén zhe jiǔ xiāng ， liǎn shàng lù chū táo zuì zhī sè， pì diān pì diān de pǎo dào yī biān qù le 。
林轩将酒杯递了过去，xiǎo东西连忙用两只细xiǎo的爪子抱住，闻着酒香，脸上lù出陶醉之sè，屁颠屁颠的跑到一边去了。
"A picture of it drinking?" Lin Xuan couldn’t help but laugh. It seemed that this man was indeed an artist at heart, speaking without considering the situation.
“ hē hē ， lín xiōng suǒ huàn yǎng de líng chǒng ， hái zhēn shì yǔ zhòng bù tóng 。” huáng tíng zōng gān xiào de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， gāng gāng nà yí mù ， jiāng tā yě kàn dé chēng mù jié shé 。
“呵呵，林兄所豢养的灵宠，还真是与众不同。”黄庭宗干笑的声音传入耳朵，刚刚那一幕，将他也看得瞠目结舌。
Fortunately, Zhuge Tianyuan stepped in: "Fourth Brother, we invited Lin Brother to drink with us. You can paint and write poems at another time. Now, wouldn't it be disrespectful to our guest?"
“ bù cuò bù cuò ，xiǎo jiā huo jiǎn zhí tài kě ài le 。” nà shǒu chí huà bǐ de shū shēng yáo tóu huàng nǎo de shuō ：“ bù rú ràng xiǎo dì wèi tā huà yī fú yǐn jiǔ tú rú hé ？”
“不错不错，xiǎo家伙简直太可爱了。”那手持画笔的书生摇头晃脑的说：“不如让xiǎo弟为牠画一幅饮酒图如何？”
"Fourth Brother's consideration is lacking; please don’t blame me, Daoist Lin."
“ yǐn jiǔ tú ？”
“饮酒图？”
The scholar’s face flushed as he drank three cups of wine in a row, making amends.
lín xuān kū xiào bù dé ， kàn lái zhè wèi hái zhēn shì huà chī yí gè ， shuō huà zuò shì yě bù kàn yī kàn chǎng hé ， hái hǎo nà zhū gě tiān yuán wèi tā jiě wéi le ：“ sì dì ， wǒ men qǐng lín xiōng yǐn jiǔ ， nǐ yào yín shī zuò huà kě yǐ lìng xuǎn shí hòu ， xiàn zài ， qǐ bù shì yǒu dài màn guì kè zhī xián ma ？”
林轩哭笑不得，看来这位还真是画痴一个，说话做事也不看一看场合，还好那诸葛天元为他解围了：“四弟，我们请林兄饮酒，你要yín诗作画可以另选时候，现在，岂不是有怠慢贵客之嫌吗？”
Lin Xuan politely declined but his eyes sparkled with insight. He knew that the Four Friends of Yanshan were no ordinary characters. Their true natures shone through their broad chests and genuine personalities. If he hadn’t been mistaken, these four would have much more to offer on their path to immortality than what was currently apparent.
“ shì xiǎo dì kǎo lǜ bù zhōu ， hái qǐng lín dào yǒu bú yào guài wǒ 。”
“是xiǎo弟考虑不周，还请林道友不要怪我。”
This was why Lin Xuan had agreed to lower himself to make friends with them. He wouldn’t have cared about even the Separation and Union realm cultivators if it weren't for this opportunity.
nà shū shēng liǎn shàng yī hóng ， dāng jí zì zhēn zì yǐn le sān bēi ， yǐ zuò péi zuì 。
那书生脸上一红，当即自斟自饮了三杯，以做赔罪。
Though the Four Friends were curious about the little creature, they didn’t delve too deeply into it. Talking of one’s secrets could be dangerous, especially when dealing with centuries-old cultivators who knew how to handle such matters delicately.
lín xuān lián chēng bù gǎn ， yǎn zhōng què yǒu qí guāng shǎn guò ， shí rén zhǐ míng tā zì wèn hái shì yǒu de ， zhè yān shān sì yǒu ， biǎo miàn shàng kàn ， xiū wèi bù zhí yī tí ， jǐn shì yuán yīng qī ， rán ér què yǔ píng shí suǒ jiàn de xiū xiān zhě dà bù xiāng tóng ， yí gè gè xiōng huái guǎng kuò ， dōu shì zhēn xìng qíng de jiā huo 。
林轩连称不敢，眼中却有奇光闪过，识人指明他自问还是有的，这燕山四友，表面上看，修为不值一提，仅是元婴期，然而却与平时所见的修仙者大不相同，一个个xiōng怀广阔，都是真xìng情的家伙。
"Why not ask them more questions?" Lin Xuan thought as he nodded in approval of their restraint during their first meeting.
rú guǒ zì jǐ méi yǒu kàn zǒu yǎn de huà ， tā men sì rén de xiān dào zhī lù ， kǒng pà yuǎn bù jǐn zhǐ yú cǐ de 。
如果自己没有看走眼的话，他们四人的仙道之路，恐怕远不仅止于此的。
Returning the conversation to Red Leaf Island, he said, "Brother Huang, you mentioned that Old Patriarch Poison Dragon no longer serves as the island's leader. It seems the Holy City has taken over. Is this true?"
zhè yě shì lín xuān wèi hé yuàn yì zhé jié xià jiāo de yuán gù ， fǒu zé bié shuō qū qū yuán yīng xiū shì le ， jiù suàn lí hé ， lín xuān yě tóng yàng bú huì zài hū 。
这也是林轩为何愿意折节下jiāo的缘故，否则别说区区元婴修士了，就算离合，林轩也同样不会在乎。
"Indeed," Huang Tingzong’s steady voice replied. "A hundred years ago, the Holy City dispatched many cultivators to settle here. With just Old Patriarch Poison Dragon and that Bone Elder, how could they have held out against the whale tribe? They were eventually taken by the giant whales."
sì rén suī duì xiǎo jiā huo pǒ gǎn hào qí ， dàn dào dǐ shì méi yǒu shēn jiū xià qù ，jiāo qiǎn yán shēn nǎi shì dà jì ， tā men dào dǐ shì huó le jǐ bǎi suì de xiū xiān zhě ， zì rán bú huì bù xiǎo de zhè qí zhōng fēn cùn gāi rú hé bǎ wò 。
四人虽对xiǎo家伙颇感好奇，但到底是没有深究下去，jiāo浅言深乃是大忌，他们到底是活了几百岁的修仙者，自然不会不晓得这其中分寸该如何把握。
"Oh?" Lin Xuan touched his forehead in thought as he listened. Though only a few words, they contained much information.
dì yī cì jiàn miàn zěn me néng hú luàn dǎ tīng bié rén de mì mì ne ？
第一次见面怎么能胡luàn打听别人的秘密呢？
Firstly, Old Patriarch Poison Dragon was no longer just an independent cultivator; he had joined the Holy City and was now working for it. Additionally, there were likely more Core Formation period cultivators on the island than just that old monster. The Bone Elder might be one of them, but Lin Xuan suspected he was also at the Core Formation stage.
jiàn sì rén bù wèn ， lín xuān yě àn àn diǎn tóu ， tán xiào jiān ， yòu jiāng huà tí dài huí dào hóng yè dǎo shàng miàn ：“ huáng xiōng ， nǐ shuō dú lóng lǎo zǔ yǐ bù zài dān rèn dǎo zhǔ yī zhí ， rú jīn cǐ chù sì hū yǐ jīng bèi shèng chéng jiē guǎn le ， shì zhè yàng me ？”
见四人不问，林轩也暗暗点头，谈笑间，又将话题带回到红叶岛上面：“黄兄，你说毒龙老祖已不再担任岛主一职，如今此处似乎已经被圣城接管了，是这样么？”
Moreover, the Holy City probably sent high-level cultivators as well. In other words, even the most conservative estimate suggested there were at least three Core Formation period existences on Red Leaf Island, possibly more.
“ bù cuò ， yì bǎi nián qián ， shèng chéng jiù pài le dà liàng xiū shì jìn zhù ， fǒu zé jǐn kào qū qū dú lóng lǎo zǔ ， hái yǒu yī bái gǔ lǎo mó ， zhè hóng yè dǎo ， zěn me kě néng shǒu dé zhù ， zǎo jiù bèi hǎi zú zhī jù jīng yī mài gěi duó qù le 。” huáng tíng zōng chén wěn de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ 。
“不错，一百年前，圣城就派了大量修士进驻，否则仅靠区区毒龙老祖，还有一白骨老魔，这红叶岛，怎么可能守得住，早就被海族之巨鲸一脉给夺去了。”黄庭宗沉稳的声音传入耳朵。
This mission couldn’t be taken lightly; otherwise, he might end up losing instead of gaining revenge against the old monster.
“ ó ？” lín xuān tīng le cǐ yǔ ， yǐ shǒu fǔ é ， liǎn shàng lù chū ruò yǒu suǒ sī de shén sè， suī rán jǐn yǒu liáo liáo jǐ yǔ ， dàn lǐ miàn què bāo hán zhe dà liàng de xìn xī 。
“哦？”林轩听了此语，以手抚额，脸上lù出若有所思的神sè，虽然仅有寥寥几语，但里面却包含着大量的信息。
Furthermore, Huang Tingzong’s words revealed that the whale king was determined to take over. Even though a war had begun and the whale king attacking here wasn't strange, his tone suggested that this wasn't just a casual raid but an all-out effort with no regard for cost.
shǒu xiān ， dú lóng lǎo zǔ sì hū yǐ jīng bù zài shì sàn xiū yí gè ， ér shì tóu dào shèng chéng huī xià wèi qí xiào lì le ， ér qiě ， rú jīn dǎo shàng de dòng xuán qī xiū xiān zhě ， yě bú shì nà lǎo guài wù yí gè ， shén me bái gǔ lǎo mó ， lín xuān suī rán méi yǒu tīng shuō ， dàn duō bàn yě shì dòng xuán jí bié de 。
首先，毒龙老祖似乎已经不在是散修一个，而是投到圣城麾下为其效力了，而且，如今岛上的dòng玄期修仙者，也不是那老怪物一个，什么白骨老魔，林轩虽然没有听说，但多半也是dòng玄级别的。
This behavior was peculiar because Red Leaf Island was in a remote location, making it difficult to understand why they would waste resources on such a place. If they could easily take it by chance, there wouldn’t be any need for such efforts.
chú cǐ yǐ wài ， shèng chéng duō bàn hái pài yǒu gāo jiē xiū xiān zhě ， huàn jù huà shuō ， cǐ shí cǐ kè ， hóng yè dǎo shàng de dòng xuán jí bié cún zài ， nǎ pà zuì bǎo shǒu gū jì ， zhì shǎo yě yǒu sān gè ， shèn zhì huì gèng duō 。
除此以外，圣城多半还派有高阶修仙者，换句话说，此时此刻，红叶岛上的dòng玄级别存在，哪怕最保守估计，至少也有三个，甚至会更多。
The whale king was brave, but not foolish. He must have seen enough value in the island to justify his actions.
zì jǐ cǐ xíng ， shí zài dà yì bù dé ， fǒu zé tōu jī bù chéng shí bǎ mǐ ， bù jǐn méi yǒu néng gòu bào fù lǎo mó ， shuō bù dìng fǎn ér jiāng zì jǐ xiàn zài lǐ miàn le 。
自己此行，实在大意不得，否则偷jī不成蚀把米，不仅没有能够报复老魔，说不定反而将自己陷在里面了。
Old Patriarch Poison Dragon wasn't foolish either. After failing to resist, he chose to use the Holy City’s power against the whale tribe's invasion, proving that whatever secrets were hidden here were worth fighting for.
qí cì ， huáng tíng zōng zhè fān huà ， hái tòu lù chū lái yí gè xiāo xī ， jiù shì jù jīng wáng yǐ jīng sī pò liǎn pí ， yuán běn ， liǎng zú dà zhàn kāi qǐ ， jù jīng wáng jìn gōng zhè lǐ yě méi shén me hào qí guài de 。
其次，黄庭宗这番话，还透lù出来一个消息，就是巨鲸王已经撕破脸皮，原本，两族大战开启，巨鲸王进攻这里也没什么好奇怪的。
Lin Xuan was a genius who deduced much from these few words. He felt both alarmed and excited. The secrets hidden in this place might be far greater than his expectations. Unveiling them could bring unimaginable benefits!
kě tīng duì fāng de kǒu qì ， jù jīng yī xì ， xiǎn rán bú shì suí biàn dǎ dǎ zhè lǐ jiù suàn le ， ér shì zhì zài bì děi ， shèn zhì kě yǐ shuō ， bù xī dài jià yě yào ná xià cǐ chù 。
可听对方的口气，巨鲸一系，显然不是随便打打这里就算了，而是志在必得，甚至可以说，不惜代价也要拿下此处。
However, Lin Xuan maintained his composure as he asked, "So, the Holy City and the whale tribe are both determined to take over Red Leaf Island. But it's not rich in resources. Is there something unknown here that we haven’t discovered?"
ér zhè zhǒng zuò fǎ ， kě shì fēi cháng qí guài de 。
而这种做法，可是非常奇怪的。
P.S.: The following text is free and very important; please read carefully.
bì jìng hóng yè dǎo dì chǔ huāng pì ， àn lǐ shuō ， gēn běn jiù méi yǒu shén me gōng qǔ de jià zhí ， rú guǒ jǐn jǐn shì suí biàn dǎ yī dǎ jiù néng gòu ná xià dào yě bà le ， kě zhè lǐ ， míng míng yǒu dòng xuán qī lǎo guài wù zuò zhèn cǐ chù ， àn lǐ shuō ， dǎ bù xià ， tā men yě méi yǒu bì yào zài zhè lǐ làng fèi bīng lì de 。
毕竟红叶岛地处荒僻，按理说，根本就没有什么攻取的价值，如果仅仅是随便打一打就能够拿下倒也罢了，可这里，明明有dòng玄期老怪物坐镇此处，按理说，打不下，他们也没有必要在这里làng费兵力的。
Firstly, some readers have complained about recent chapters being too watered-down with too much focus on minor characters. Rain of Illusions explains: the importance of this spirit pet must be clear to everyone. Otherwise, its later appearance would feel unnatural. There's no way around introducing these details. As for the Four Friends of Yanshan, Rain of Illusions detailed their personalities because they are not just minor characters; they play significant roles and will likely appear in future chapters with important plot developments. As an author, Rain of Illusions must consider the overall story.
bì jìng gōng qǔ yī dì ， shōu yì zǒng yào dà yú sǔn shī bié rén cái huì yǒu xìng qù ， rú guǒ liǎng zhě diào yí gè gè ， chú fēi chī bǎo le chēng de ， shuí huì gàn zhè yàng de shǎ shì ne ？
毕竟攻取一地，收益总要大于损失别人才会有兴趣，如果两者调一个个，除非吃饱了撑的，谁会干这样的傻事呢？
Secondly, in response to Purple Moonlight's call, Rain of Illusions invites readers of "Celestial Road," "Solo Reincarnation," "A Hundred Refinements to Immortality," and "Obi Island" to unite their support. This means combining the reader base for these four books to increase views and subscriptions.
jù jīng wáng yǒng měng ， dàn jué bú shì shǎ guā ， tā zhè yàng zuò ， kěn dìng shì yīn wèi hóng yè dǎo yǒu zú gòu de jià zhí zhí de 。
巨鲸王勇猛，但绝不是傻瓜，他这样做，肯定是因为红叶岛有足够的价值值得。
Lastly, this month is still in its second week, but the votes are not as encouraging as expected. Rain of Illusions feels anxious seeing other books gaining ground rapidly. During the double-vote period, he wants to write more exciting content with a fiery spirit, but he must dig holes for future plot developments to avoid making things feel forced and uninteresting. He’s frustrated by the lack of support from votes. Please understand Rain of Illusions and use your votes to support him; thank you!
ér dú lóng lǎo zǔ yě bù gèng * xīn ＡＰＯ shǎ ， zài pīn mìng dǐ kàng wú guǒ zhī hòu ， jū rán xuǎn zé fàng qì sàn xiū xiāo yáo zì zài de shēng huó ， jiè yòng shèng chéng de lì liàng lái dǐ kàng jù jīng yī mài de jìn gōng 。
而毒龙老祖也不更*新ＡＰＯ傻，在拼命抵抗无果之后，居然选择放弃散修逍遥自在的生活，借用圣城的力量来抵抗巨鲸一脉的进攻。
Please rest assured that this additional text is free.
Chapter 1852 - Lin Xuan's Analysis
"Thank you, Daoist friend."
Lin Xuan had no reason to refuse. He stood up and accepted the offering. The wine was amber-colored, emitting a rich aroma that was unmistakably not ordinary.
Although Lin Xuan wasn't much of a drinker, his fingers twitched involuntarily as he prepared to down it in one go. However, a squeaking sound caught his ear.
Lin Xuan's expression changed.
He reached into his belt and pulled out a spirit beast bag. The bag opened up, revealing an unusual-looking pet.
It was about the size of a basketball, covered with white fur, with slender and short limbs. Its large black eyes gave it a comical yet adorable appearance.
The Four Friends of Yanshan were puzzled by this unfamiliar spirit pet. As advanced cultivators who had lived for hundreds of years, they hadn't seen such a creature before. The faint aura of spiritual energy around the pet was undetectable, and its level seemed lower than that of even a novice in the Flexible Spirit Period.
Apart from being cute, there didn’t seem to be anything commendable about this spirit pet. Was it truly just a pet?
The little creature ignored everyone's gazes and dashed into mid-air, rolling around before landing on the coffee table with a thud. It stared longingly at the wine glass, its face filled with yearning.
"Do you want to drink from that?" Lin Xuan was surprised.
The little creature nodded vigorously.
"Alright, you can have some wine, but listen to me in future," Lin Xuan, who never let others take advantage of him, made it clear that this pet would be subject to his commands. He had already signed a master-pet contract with the creature, and now that it was seeking his help, he decided to make use of its gratitude.
"Squeak." The little creature's displeased voice echoed in Lin Xuan’s ears. This owner was too cunning. But Lin Xuan remained stern; once he made up his mind about something, he wouldn't yield easily.
In the end, the little creature hung its head low and couldn’t resist the temptation of the fine wine. It wept and agreed with tears in its eyes.
"Alright, go over there and drink."
Lin Xuan passed the wine glass to it. The little thing quickly grabbed it with its small paws, sniffing the aroma as a look of contentment spread across its face. It scampered off to one side.
"Haha, Lin Brother's spirit pet is truly unique," Huang Tingzong chuckled. He was equally stunned by what he had just witnessed.
"Indeed, this little fellow is incredibly cute." The scholar with the paintbrush nodded and said, "Why don't you let Little Brother draw a picture of it drinking?"
"A picture of it drinking?" Lin Xuan couldn’t help but laugh. It seemed that this man was indeed an artist at heart, speaking without considering the situation.
Fortunately, Zhuge Tianyuan stepped in: "Fourth Brother, we invited Lin Brother to drink with us. You can paint and write poems at another time. Now, wouldn't it be disrespectful to our guest?"
"Fourth Brother's consideration is lacking; please don’t blame me, Daoist Lin."
The scholar’s face flushed as he drank three cups of wine in a row, making amends.
Lin Xuan politely declined but his eyes sparkled with insight. He knew that the Four Friends of Yanshan were no ordinary characters. Their true natures shone through their broad chests and genuine personalities. If he hadn’t been mistaken, these four would have much more to offer on their path to immortality than what was currently apparent.
This was why Lin Xuan had agreed to lower himself to make friends with them. He wouldn’t have cared about even the Separation and Union realm cultivators if it weren't for this opportunity.
Though the Four Friends were curious about the little creature, they didn’t delve too deeply into it. Talking of one’s secrets could be dangerous, especially when dealing with centuries-old cultivators who knew how to handle such matters delicately.
"Why not ask them more questions?" Lin Xuan thought as he nodded in approval of their restraint during their first meeting.
Returning the conversation to Red Leaf Island, he said, "Brother Huang, you mentioned that Old Patriarch Poison Dragon no longer serves as the island's leader. It seems the Holy City has taken over. Is this true?"
"Indeed," Huang Tingzong’s steady voice replied. "A hundred years ago, the Holy City dispatched many cultivators to settle here. With just Old Patriarch Poison Dragon and that Bone Elder, how could they have held out against the whale tribe? They were eventually taken by the giant whales."
"Oh?" Lin Xuan touched his forehead in thought as he listened. Though only a few words, they contained much information.
Firstly, Old Patriarch Poison Dragon was no longer just an independent cultivator; he had joined the Holy City and was now working for it. Additionally, there were likely more Core Formation period cultivators on the island than just that old monster. The Bone Elder might be one of them, but Lin Xuan suspected he was also at the Core Formation stage.
Moreover, the Holy City probably sent high-level cultivators as well. In other words, even the most conservative estimate suggested there were at least three Core Formation period existences on Red Leaf Island, possibly more.
This mission couldn’t be taken lightly; otherwise, he might end up losing instead of gaining revenge against the old monster.
Furthermore, Huang Tingzong’s words revealed that the whale king was determined to take over. Even though a war had begun and the whale king attacking here wasn't strange, his tone suggested that this wasn't just a casual raid but an all-out effort with no regard for cost.
This behavior was peculiar because Red Leaf Island was in a remote location, making it difficult to understand why they would waste resources on such a place. If they could easily take it by chance, there wouldn’t be any need for such efforts.
The whale king was brave, but not foolish. He must have seen enough value in the island to justify his actions.
Old Patriarch Poison Dragon wasn't foolish either. After failing to resist, he chose to use the Holy City’s power against the whale tribe's invasion, proving that whatever secrets were hidden here were worth fighting for.
Lin Xuan was a genius who deduced much from these few words. He felt both alarmed and excited. The secrets hidden in this place might be far greater than his expectations. Unveiling them could bring unimaginable benefits!
However, Lin Xuan maintained his composure as he asked, "So, the Holy City and the whale tribe are both determined to take over Red Leaf Island. But it's not rich in resources. Is there something unknown here that we haven’t discovered?"
P.S.: The following text is free and very important; please read carefully.
Firstly, some readers have complained about recent chapters being too watered-down with too much focus on minor characters. Rain of Illusions explains: the importance of this spirit pet must be clear to everyone. Otherwise, its later appearance would feel unnatural. There's no way around introducing these details. As for the Four Friends of Yanshan, Rain of Illusions detailed their personalities because they are not just minor characters; they play significant roles and will likely appear in future chapters with important plot developments. As an author, Rain of Illusions must consider the overall story.
Secondly, in response to Purple Moonlight's call, Rain of Illusions invites readers of "Celestial Road," "Solo Reincarnation," "A Hundred Refinements to Immortality," and "Obi Island" to unite their support. This means combining the reader base for these four books to increase views and subscriptions.
Lastly, this month is still in its second week, but the votes are not as encouraging as expected. Rain of Illusions feels anxious seeing other books gaining ground rapidly. During the double-vote period, he wants to write more exciting content with a fiery spirit, but he must dig holes for future plot developments to avoid making things feel forced and uninteresting. He’s frustrated by the lack of support from votes. Please understand Rain of Illusions and use your votes to support him; thank you!
Please rest assured that this additional text is free.