zuò wèi tiān dì líng qín ， lín xuān dào bù dān xīn cǐ nǚ ， zhǐ shì bù zhī dào ài qī de xiū wèi jìn zhǎn dào le hé zhǒng jìng dì ， dǎo shì bài xuān gé ràng tā guà xīn yī xiē 。
做为天地灵禽，林轩倒不担心此女，只是不知道爱妻的修为进展到了何种境地，倒是拜轩阁让他挂心一些。
As a celestial spirit bird, Lin Xuan was not worried about this woman. However, he wondered how far his wife's cultivation had progressed and was more concerned about the Elder Bay Pavilion.
lù yíng ér ， liú xīn yīng gāi dōu yǒu qiān suì zuǒ yòu de nián jì ， yǐ tā men de zī zhì ， jìn jiē lí hé de kě néng xìng shì wēi hū qí wēi dì ， dàn zhǐ yào hǎo hǎo bǎo yǎng , yīng gāi hái zài rén shì 。
陆盈儿，刘芯应该都有千岁左右的年纪，以她们的资质，进阶离合的可能性是微乎其微地，但只要好好保养,应该还在人世。
Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin should both be around a thousand years old. With their talents, it was almost impossible for them to advance to the Separation Realm, but as long as they were properly cared for, they should still be alive in this world.
lín xuān yǐ shǒu fǔ é ， xiǎng zhe zì jǐ de xīn shì ， nà shí yú míng xiǎo xiǎo de xiū xiān zhě ， zé lián dà qì dōu bù gǎn chū ， shēng pà jīng rǎo le zhè wèi lái lì shén mì de qián bèi xiū xiān zhě 。
林轩以手抚额，想着自己的心事，那十余名小小的修仙者，则连大气都不敢出，生怕惊扰了这位来历神秘的前辈修仙者。
Lin Xuan rubbed his forehead, lost in thought. The dozen or so young cultivators crouched there, not daring to breathe a sound, fearing that they might disturb this mysterious senior cultivator.
liáng jiǔ ， lín xuān cái chóng xīn tái qǐ tóu lú ， mù guāng zài tā men liǎn shàng yī yī sǎo guò ， fǎng fú zhēn è cì yì bān de gǎn jué ：“ yún zhōu shì bú shì fā shēng le shén me biàn gù ， nǐ men shì nǎ yī mén pài de xiū xiān zhě ， zěn me huì zāo yù gǔ mó ？”
良久，林轩才重新抬起头颅，目光在他们脸上一一扫过，仿佛针垩刺一般的感觉：“云州是不是发生了什么变故，你们是哪一门派的修仙者，怎么会遭遇古魔？”
After a while, Lin Xuan raised his head again and scanned their faces with his gaze, as if pricking them like needles: "Did something happen in Cloud Province? Which sect are you from? How did you encounter ancient demons?"
lín xuān xīn zhōng què shí yǒu xiē hào qí ， àn lǐ shuō ， rén jiè yǔ gǔ mó jiè shì méi yǒu jiāo jí de ， jiù suàn ǒu yǒu yì jiè yāo mó chū xiàn ， yě shì shàng gǔ shí qī cán cún xià lái 。
林轩心中确实有些好奇，按理说，人界与古魔界是没有交集的，就算偶有异界妖魔出现，也是上古时期残存下来。
Lin Xuan was genuinely curious. According to reason, the human world and the ancient demon realm had no connection; even if there were occasional appearances of otherworldly monsters, they would be remnants left over from the ancient times.
yīn wèi gè zhǒng gè yàng de yuán gù ， dàn nà xiē gǔ mó ， wú yī lì wài xiū wèi yīng gāi bù ruò ， zhù jī qī ， zǎo jiù huà wèi le xū wú ， nǎ yǒu kě néng hái zài zhè lǐ chěng xiōng 。
因为各种各样的缘故，但那些古魔，无一例外修为应该不弱，筑基期，早就化为了虚无，哪有可能还在这里逞凶。
Due to various reasons, those ancient demons should not have weak cultivation levels. By now, even a Foundation Establishment stage demon long ago faded into nothingness; it was impossible for them to still be causing trouble here.
“ qǐ bǐng qián bèi ， wǒ děng shì hǎi fēng pài dì zǐ ， fèng mén zhǔ zhī mìng ， wài chū bàn shì ， méi xiǎng dào huì yǔ gǔ mó xiá lù xiāng féng ， ruò bú shì qián bèi xiāng jiù ， wǒ děng bì nán táo dú shǒu ， dà ēn dà dé ， wú yǐ wéi bào ， xiǎo lǎo ér gěi nín kē tóu 。
“启禀前辈，我等是海峰派弟子，奉门主之命，外出办事，没想到会与古魔狭路相逢，若不是前辈相救，我等必难逃毒手，大恩大德，无以为报，小老儿给您磕头。
"Senior, we are disciples of Sea Peak Sect. We were sent by our sect leader on an errand and unexpectedly met with an ancient demon. If not for your rescue, we would have been killed. Your great kindness is beyond words, old man, I prostrate myself before you."
nà zhù jī hòu qī miàn xiū shì yī biān shuō ， yī biān guì xià , gōng gōng jìng jìng de gěi lín xuān kē qǐ le xiǎng tóu 。
那筑基后期面修士一边说，一边跪下,恭恭敬敬的给林轩磕起了响头。
The Foundation Establishment后期 cultivator knelt down and respectfully bowed to Lin Xuan.
“ nǎ yǒu nà me shēng suo , wǒ de wèn tí ， jiǎn yào huí dá jiù xíng le ， wǒ wèn nǐ ， tiān yún shí èr zhōu ， shì bú shì fā shēng le shén me biàn gù ， fǒu zé qū qū yī zhù jī qī de gǔ mó ， yě gǎn mǎn dà jiē de zhuī shā nǐ men me ？”
“哪有那么甥嗦,我的问题，简要回答就行了，我问你，天云十二州，是不是发生了什么变故，否则区区一筑基期的古魔，也敢满大街的追杀你们么？”
"Enough of the formalities! Just answer my questions briefly. Tell me, has something happened in the Twelve Provinces of Heaven Cloud? How could a mere Foundation Establishment stage ancient demon dare chase after us all over town?"
“ qián bèi bù xiǎo de ， mò fēi nín bú shì zhè yī jiè de xiū xiān zhě ， zhēn shì cóng shàng chuán wèi jiè miàn lái de ？” jǐn guǎn xīn zhōng yǐ yǒu suǒ cāi cè ， dàn lǎo zhě de liǎn shàng hái shì liú lù chū chī jīng yǐ jí de shén sè ， bì jìng duì yú tā men zhè yàng de dī jiē xiū shì lái shuō ， líng jiè zhè ge zì yǎn ， hái tài yáo yuǎn 。
“前辈不晓得，莫非您不是这一界的修仙者，真是从上圌位界面来的？”尽管心中已有所猜测，但老者的脸上还是流露出吃惊以极的神色，毕竟对于他们这样的低阶修士来说，灵界这个字眼，还太遥远。
"The senior doesn't know? Are you not from this world? Are you really from the Upper Realm?" Despite his suspicions, the old man's face showed extreme surprise. For low-ranking cultivators like them, the term 'spiritual realm' was still too distant.
“ dōu gěi nǐ jiǎng guò , fèi huà bú yào nà me duō ， lín mǒu lái lì rú hé , yě shì nǐ gāi wèn de ？” lín xuān lěng lěng de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， lǎo zhě zhǐ jué qì xuè yī zhèn fān yǒng , dà jīng shī sè ， máng dī tóu rèn zuì le ：“ qián bèi xī nù ， shì xiǎo de duō kǒu ， bù cuò , tiān yún shí èr zhōu rú jīn zhèng chǔ yú mó jié zhī zhōng ， kě yòng fēng yǔ piāo yáo lái xíng róng 。”
“都给你讲过,废话不要那么多，林某来历如何,也是你该问的？”林轩冷冷的声音传入耳朵，老者只觉气血一阵翻涌,大惊失色，忙低头认罪了：“前辈息怒，是小的多口，不错,天云十二州如今正处于魔劫之中，可用风雨飘摇来形容。”
"Enough of the chatter! I've already told you what my background is; it's your turn to ask," Lin Xuan's cold voice echoed in their ears. The old man felt his blood pressure surge and trembled with fear as he quickly admitted his mistake: "Senior, please forgive me for speaking out of turn. Yes, the Twelve Provinces of Heaven Cloud are currently undergoing a demon calamity, like a house on fire."
“ mó jié ， nà shì shén me ， hé gǔ mó yǒu guān me ？” lín xuān liǎn shàng liú lù chū yī sī yà sè ， nán dào gǔ mó jiè nà xiē jiā huo , bù gǎn yǔ líng jiè zhèng miàn chōng tū ， què wán yū huí zhàn shù ， xiān dǎ qǐ xià miàn rén jiè de zhǔ yì lái le ？
“魔劫，那是什么，和古魔有关么？”林轩脸上流露出一丝讶色，难道古魔界那些家伙,不敢与灵界正面冲突，却玩迂回战术，先打起下面人界的主意来了？
"What is this demon calamity? Is it related to ancient demons?" Lin Xuan's face showed surprise. Could those guys in the ancient demon realm dare not confront the spiritual realm head-on and instead use a roundabout strategy, targeting their lower world first?
lín xuān xīn zhōng rú cǐ xiǎng zhe , ér lǎo zhě de shēng yīn ， jì xù wěi wěi de chuán rù ěr duǒ ：“ qǐ bǐng qián bèi ， mó jié shì wǔ shí duō nián qián de shì le ， wǎn bèi jì de qīng qīng chǔ chǔ ， nà yī tiān shì wǔ yuè chū wǔ ， dà yuē zhōng wǔ shí kè ， tiān kōng tū rán mò míng qí miào de hūn àn qǐ lái le ， fēi shā zǒu shí ， tiān dì wèi zhī biàn sè ， wǒ hǎi fēng pài suǒ yǒu de xiū xiān zhě ， quán dōu bèi jīng dòng le , rén rén miàn miàn xiāng qù ， zhǎng mén shī xiōng mìng lìng jiāng hù pài dà zhèn kāi qǐ ……”
林轩心中如此想着,而老者的声音，继续娓娓的传入耳朵：“启禀前辈，魔劫是五十多年前的事了，晚辈记得清清楚楚，那一天是五月初五，大约中午时刻，天空突然莫名其妙的昏暗起来了，飞沙走石，天地为之变色，我海峰派所有的修仙者，全都被惊动了,人人面面相觑，掌门师兄命令将护派大阵开启……”
Lin Xuan thought to himself while the old man continued: "Senior, this happened fifty years ago. I remember clearly; it was the fifth day of the fifth month, around noon. The sky suddenly turned dark for no reason, with sandstorms and rocks flying everywhere. All cultivators in our Sea Peak Sect were awakened, everyone looking at each other in shock. Our sect leader ordered us to activate the protective array..."
“ wǒ men bìng bù xiǎo de ， jiū jìng fā shēng le shén me ， hái yǐ wéi shì yì bǎo chū shì ， huò zhě mǒu wèi gāo jiē xiū xiān zhě zài fù jìn xiū liàn mì shù , wǒ hǎi fēng pài kě bù gǎn zhāo rě ， běn mén zhǐ shì mò liú xiǎo pài ， yě méi yǒu bié de yě xīn shén me ， zhǐ xī wàng rì zi néng gòu píng ān dù guò ， yí dài yí dài de chuán chéng dào tǒng 。”
“我们并不晓得，究竟发生了什么，还以为是异宝出世，或者某位高阶修仙者在附近修炼秘术,我海峰派可不敢招惹，本门只是末流小派，也没有别的野心什么，只希望日子能够平安度过，一代一代的传承道统。”
"We didn't know what happened; we thought it might be a precious artifact or some high-ranking cultivator practicing secret techniques nearby. We couldn't afford to provoke them; our sect is just a small one with no ambitions. All we hoped for was peace and the continuation of our daoist lineage."
lín xuān diǎn le diǎn tóu , tā dāng rán xiǎo de ， xiū xiān jiè nà xiē mò liú xiǎo pài de nán chǔ ， dāng rì de piāo yún gǔ bù jiù shì zhè yàng me ， ér yún zhōu yuǎn bǐ chōng zhōu fán róng ， xiāng duì lái shuō ， xiǎo mén pài de shēng cún ， hái yào gèng jiā jiān nán yī xiē de ， zhàn zhàn jīng jīng ， rú lǚ bó bīng ， suí biàn yī míng gāo jiē xiū xiān zhě ， dōu yǒu kě néng ràng tā men zhěng pài fù miè diào le 。
林轩点了点头,他当然晓得，修仙界那些末流小派的难处，当日的飘云谷不就是这样么，而云州远比充州繁荣，相对来说，小门派的生存，还要更加艰难一些的，战战兢兢，如履薄冰，随便一名高阶修仙者，都有可能让他们整派覆灭掉了。
Lin Xuan nodded, knowing full well the difficulties faced by minor sects in the cultivation world. The Drifting Cloud Valley had been like that too. Cloud Province was far more prosperous than Chongzhou, making it even harder for small sects to survive, walking on eggshells every day, fearing any high-ranking cultivator could wipe out their entire sect.
zhè zhǒng qíng kuàng xià ， jí biàn yǒu zhuàng shàng shén me hǎo yùn huò zhě yì bǎo chū shì ， yě bù gǎn chū shǒu zhēng duó ， fǒu zé pà yǒu mìng dé bǎo ， méi mìng xiǎng yòng 。
这种情况下，即便有撞上什么好运或者异宝出世，也不敢出手争夺，否则怕有命得宝，没命享用。
In such a situation, even if they stumbled upon good fortune or a precious artifact, they wouldn't dare seize it. Otherwise, they might have the misfortune of dying without enjoying what they had gained.
sú huà shuō ， pǐ fū wú zuì ， huái bì qí zuì ， zhè jù huà zài xiū xiān jiè ， bù jǐn shì yòng ， ér qiě tǐ xiàn dào le lín lí jìn zhì de dì bù 。
俗话说，匹夫无罪，怀璧其罪，这句话在修仙界，不仅适用，而且体现到了淋漓尽致的地步。
The saying goes that an ordinary person is innocent until proven guilty, but possessing something valuable brings its own troubles. This was especially true in the cultivation world.
ér duì fāng shuō dào zhè lǐ ， mǒ le mǒ é tóu shàng de hàn dī ， rán hòu jiē zhe jiǎng xià qù ：“ rán ér wǒ men dōu cuò le ， nà shì shén me yì bǎo ， huò zhě gāo jiē xiū xiān zhě ， ér shì pō tiān dà huò ， chǎn shēng yì xiàng de bìng bú shì běn mén zǒng duò ， ér shì zhěng jīn tiān yún shí èr zhōu ， quán dōu kě yǐ kàn jiàn de 。”
而对方说到这里，抹了抹额头上的汗滴，然后接着讲下去：“然而我们都错了，那是什么异宝，或者高阶修仙者，而是泼天大祸，产生异象的并不是本门总舵，而是整今天云十二州，全都可以看见的。”
As the old man wiped his forehead with sweat and continued: "But we were wrong. What precious artifact or high-ranking cultivator it was, instead, it was a great calamity. The anomaly didn't occur at our main sect headquarters but throughout all Twelve Provinces of Heaven Cloud, visible to everyone."
“ wū yún yā dǐng ， mó qì tāo tiān ， zhěng jīn tiān kōng ， fǎng fú bèi yī qíng tiān jù zhǎo sī liè le yì bān ， hōng lōng lóng de jù xiǎng shēng bù tíng chuán rù ěr duǒ ， dà dì bù tíng de chàn dǒu ， suí hòu tiān kōng zhōng chuán chū xiàn le yí gè xuán wō ， bú duì ， bú shì xuán wō ， nà dōng xī shēn bú jiàn dǐ ， zhí jìng zú yǒu shù wàn lǐ ， kàn shàng qù ， jiù fǎng fú lián tóng jiè miàn de chóng dòng yī jiào ……”
“乌云压顶，魔气滔天，整今天空，仿佛被一擎天巨爪撕裂了一般，轰隆隆的巨响声不停传入耳朵，大地不停的颤抖，随后天空中圌出现了一个漩涡，不对，不是漩涡，那东西深不见底，直径足有数万里，看上去，就仿佛连同界面的虫恫一教……”
"Dark clouds loomed overhead, ancient demon energy surging like a flood. The entire sky seemed torn apart by an enormous claw, rumbling sounds echoing in the ears as the ground trembled. Then, a vortex appeared in the sky, not a vortex but something bottomless with a diameter of several ten thousand li, resembling a breach through the very interface..."
lǎo zhě shuō dào zhè lǐ , shēng yīn dài zhe jǐ fēn jīng jù ， fǎng fú zhè me duō nián guò qù ， tā yī rán wú fǎ cóng nà tiān de è mèng zhōng qīng xǐng 。
老者说到这里,声音带着几分惊惧，仿佛这么多年过去，他依然无法从那天的噩梦中清醒。
The old man's voice carried a hint of fear, as if he still couldn't shake off that nightmare from so many years ago.
lín xuān méi tou yí zhòu ， liǎn shàng de biǎo qíng yě yǒu xiē jīng yà le ：“ chóng dòng ， nǐ shì shuō , gǔ mó jiè yǔ rén jiè jiān de jiè miàn tōng dào dǎ kāi ， suǒ yǐ nà xiē yì jiè yāo mó rù qīn le zhè ge jiè miàn 。”
林轩眉头一皱，脸上的表情也有些惊讶了：“虫洞，你是说,古魔界与人界间的界面通道打开，所以那些异界妖魔入侵了这个界面。”
Lin Xuan frowned and looked surprised: "A wormhole. You mean ancient demons opened a portal between their realm and this world, allowing otherworldly monsters to invade."
“ bù cuò 。” lǎo zhě diǎn le diǎn tóu ， liǎn shàng dài zhe bēi qiāng zhī sè ：“ nà xiē yì jiè yāo mó ， hào zhàn ér xiōng è ， tú dú shēng líng ， bù lùn fán rén hái shì xiū xiān zhě ， yí gè yě bù fàng guò ， zhuǎn yǎn wǔ shí nián guò qù le ， wǒ yún zhōu dà lù ， āi hóng biàn yě ， guāng shì xiū xiān zhě ， jiù yǔn luò le shàng bǎi wàn zhī duō ， fán rén jiù gèng bù yòng tí le ， yún zhōu wǔ dà shì lì ， xǔ duō dōu fēn bēng lí xī ， rú jīn zhǐ shèng xià sōng fēng shū yuàn yǔ tiān yá hǎi gé hái zài kǔ kǔ zhī chēng ér yǐ ……”
“不错。”老者点了点头，脸上带着悲呛之色：“那些异界妖魔，好战而凶恶，荼毒生灵，不论凡人还是修仙者，一个也不放过，转眼五十年过去了，我云州大陆，哀鸿遍野，光是修仙者，就陨落了上百万之多，凡人就更不用提了，云州五大势力，许多都分崩离析，如今只剩下松风书院与天涯海阁还在苦苦支撑而已……”
"Exactly," the old man nodded with a mournful expression. "Those otherworldly monsters are warlike and ferocious, poisoning living beings without discrimination. They didn't spare either ordinary people or cultivators. Fifty years have passed, and my Cloud Province is in ruins. Over a million cultivators have fallen, not to mention the countless commoners. The five major forces of Cloud Province have disintegrated; only the Pine Wind Academy and Bay Heaven Pavilion are still struggling."
“ shén me ， nǐ shì shuō lián tiān qiǎo mén ， yù líng zōng ， hái yǒu lí yào gōng zhè xiē chuán chéng zì shàng gǔ de mén pài yě fù miè diào le ？” lín xuān yǒu xiē chī jīng de shuō 。
“什么，你是说连天巧门，御灵宗，还有离药宫这些传承自上古的门派也覆灭掉了？”林轩有些吃惊的说。
"What? You mean even the ancient sects like Heavenly Skill Gate, Spirit Manipulation Sect, and Departed Medicine Palace have perished?" Lin Xuan was surprised.
mó zāi tā suī rán méi yǒu jīng lì guò ， dàn zuò wèi dào líng jiè dōu qù guàng le yī dà quān de rén wù ， yī xiē jī běn cháng shí tā yòu qǐ néng bù xiǎo de ， yóu yú tiān dì fǎ zé ， shàng chuán wèi jiè miàn jí shǐ yóu dà néng cún zài yòng mì shù jiāng tōng wǎng xià wèi jiè miàn de chóng dòng dǎ kāi ， xiǎng yào tōng guò ， yě shì huì shòu dào zhǒng zhǒng xiàn zhì de ， gāo jiē gǔ mó gēn běn guò bù lái ， fǒu zé tiān yún shí èr zhōu nǎ lǐ dǐ dǎng dé zhù ， wǔ shí nián ， bié kāi wán xiào le , lái yī wèi zhēn mó shǐ zǔ ， zhǐ xū yào sān tiān , jiù kě yǐ jiāng cǐ jiè shā gè xuè liú chéng hé ， jiāng tiān yún shí èr zhōu biàn chéng gǔ mó de lǐng dì le 。
魔灾他虽然没有经历过，但做为到灵界都去逛了一大圈的人物，一些基本常识他又岂能不晓得，由于天地法则，上圌位界面即使由大能存在用秘术将通往下位界面的虫恫打开，想要通过，也是会受到种种限制的，高阶古魔根本过不来，否则天云十二州哪里抵挡得住，五十年，别开玩笑了,来一位真魔始祖，只需要三天,就可以将此界杀个血流成河，将天云十二州变成古魔的领地了。
Although he hadn't experienced this demon calamity personally, as someone who had toured the spiritual realm, he knew enough basic knowledge. Due to the laws of the universe, even if a powerful existence opened a wormhole using secret techniques to connect with the lower realms, it would be restricted in various ways. High-ranking ancient demons couldn't easily cross over; otherwise, the Twelve Provinces of Heaven Cloud wouldn't have lasted for fifty years. A true demon progenitor could turn this world into their domain within three days.
huàn jù huà shuō ， lái de zhǐ shì yī xiē xià wèi yāo mó ， kě zhè jiù yǒu xiē qí guài le ， jiù rén jiè lái shuō ， tiān yún shí èr zhōu de shí lì hái shì hěn qiáng de ， zěn me huì dǐ dǎng bú zhù ， rèn yóu gǔ mó men sì nüè ne ？
换句话说，来的只是一些下位妖魔，可这就有些奇怪了，就人界来说，天云十二州的实力还是很强的，怎么会抵挡不住，任由古魔们肆虐呢？
In other words, what came through were only low-ranking monsters. This was strange. The Twelve Provinces of Heaven Cloud had formidable strength; how could they not resist and let ancient demons run rampant?
shèn zhì lián tiān qiǎo mén ， yù líng zōng ， hái yǒu lí yào gōng zhè xiē dǐ yùn shēn hòu de mén pài dōu fù miè diào le 。
甚至连天巧门，御灵宗，还有离药宫这些底蕴深厚的门派都覆灭掉了。
Even the Heavenly Skill Gate, Spirit Manipulation Sect, and Departed Medicine Palace, with their deep foundations, had perished.
lín xuān wèn chū xīn zhōng de yí huò ， lǎo zhě liǎn shàng de biǎo qíng què gèng jiā chén tòng le ：“ qián bèi yǒu suǒ bù zhī ， rú guǒ mó jié zǎo bào fā gè wǔ 、 liù bǎi nián ， wǒ tiān yún shí èr zhōu jiù suàn bù dí ， yě jué bú huì xiàng xiàn zài zhè yàng méi yǒu huán shǒu zhī lì ， zhè dōu shì tiān yì 。”
林轩问出心中的疑惑，老者脸上的表情却更加沉痛了：“前辈有所不知，如果魔劫早爆发个五、六百年，我天云十二州就算不敌，也绝不会像现在这样没有还手之力，这都是天意。”
Lin Xuan asked about his doubts, but the old man's expression grew even more somber: "Senior, you don't know. If this demon calamity had happened five or six hundred years ago, we would have fought back despite our inferior strength. This is all fate."
“ tiān yì ？” lín xuān tīng dé yī zhèn mí hū ， nán dào zhè xiē nián tiān yún shí èr zhōu yòu fā shēng le shén me biàn gù 。！~！
“天意？”林轩听得一阵迷糊，难道这些年天云十二州又发生了什么变故。！~！
"Fate?" Lin Xuan was confused. Could something else have happened in the Twelve Provinces of Heaven Cloud over these years?
As a celestial spirit bird, Lin Xuan was not worried about this woman. However, he wondered how far his wife's cultivation had progressed and was more concerned about the Elder Bay Pavilion.
Lu Ying'er and Liu Xin should both be around a thousand years old. With their talents, it was almost impossible for them to advance to the Separation Realm, but as long as they were properly cared for, they should still be alive in this world.
Lin Xuan rubbed his forehead, lost in thought. The dozen or so young cultivators crouched there, not daring to breathe a sound, fearing that they might disturb this mysterious senior cultivator.
After a while, Lin Xuan raised his head again and scanned their faces with his gaze, as if pricking them like needles: "Did something happen in Cloud Province? Which sect are you from? How did you encounter ancient demons?"
Lin Xuan was genuinely curious. According to reason, the human world and the ancient demon realm had no connection; even if there were occasional appearances of otherworldly monsters, they would be remnants left over from the ancient times.
Due to various reasons, those ancient demons should not have weak cultivation levels. By now, even a Foundation Establishment stage demon long ago faded into nothingness; it was impossible for them to still be causing trouble here.
"Senior, we are disciples of Sea Peak Sect. We were sent by our sect leader on an errand and unexpectedly met with an ancient demon. If not for your rescue, we would have been killed. Your great kindness is beyond words, old man, I prostrate myself before you."
The Foundation Establishment后期 cultivator knelt down and respectfully bowed to Lin Xuan.
"Enough of the formalities! Just answer my questions briefly. Tell me, has something happened in the Twelve Provinces of Heaven Cloud? How could a mere Foundation Establishment stage ancient demon dare chase after us all over town?"
"The senior doesn't know? Are you not from this world? Are you really from the Upper Realm?" Despite his suspicions, the old man's face showed extreme surprise. For low-ranking cultivators like them, the term 'spiritual realm' was still too distant.
"Enough of the chatter! I've already told you what my background is; it's your turn to ask," Lin Xuan's cold voice echoed in their ears. The old man felt his blood pressure surge and trembled with fear as he quickly admitted his mistake: "Senior, please forgive me for speaking out of turn. Yes, the Twelve Provinces of Heaven Cloud are currently undergoing a demon calamity, like a house on fire."
"What is this demon calamity? Is it related to ancient demons?" Lin Xuan's face showed surprise. Could those guys in the ancient demon realm dare not confront the spiritual realm head-on and instead use a roundabout strategy, targeting their lower world first?
Lin Xuan thought to himself while the old man continued: "Senior, this happened fifty years ago. I remember clearly; it was the fifth day of the fifth month, around noon. The sky suddenly turned dark for no reason, with sandstorms and rocks flying everywhere. All cultivators in our Sea Peak Sect were awakened, everyone looking at each other in shock. Our sect leader ordered us to activate the protective array..."
"We didn't know what happened; we thought it might be a precious artifact or some high-ranking cultivator practicing secret techniques nearby. We couldn't afford to provoke them; our sect is just a small one with no ambitions. All we hoped for was peace and the continuation of our daoist lineage."
Lin Xuan nodded, knowing full well the difficulties faced by minor sects in the cultivation world. The Drifting Cloud Valley had been like that too. Cloud Province was far more prosperous than Chongzhou, making it even harder for small sects to survive, walking on eggshells every day, fearing any high-ranking cultivator could wipe out their entire sect.
In such a situation, even if they stumbled upon good fortune or a precious artifact, they wouldn't dare seize it. Otherwise, they might have the misfortune of dying without enjoying what they had gained.
The saying goes that an ordinary person is innocent until proven guilty, but possessing something valuable brings its own troubles. This was especially true in the cultivation world.
As the old man wiped his forehead with sweat and continued: "But we were wrong. What precious artifact or high-ranking cultivator it was, instead, it was a great calamity. The anomaly didn't occur at our main sect headquarters but throughout all Twelve Provinces of Heaven Cloud, visible to everyone."
"Dark clouds loomed overhead, ancient demon energy surging like a flood. The entire sky seemed torn apart by an enormous claw, rumbling sounds echoing in the ears as the ground trembled. Then, a vortex appeared in the sky, not a vortex but something bottomless with a diameter of several ten thousand li, resembling a breach through the very interface..."
The old man's voice carried a hint of fear, as if he still couldn't shake off that nightmare from so many years ago.
Lin Xuan frowned and looked surprised: "A wormhole. You mean ancient demons opened a portal between their realm and this world, allowing otherworldly monsters to invade."
"Exactly," the old man nodded with a mournful expression. "Those otherworldly monsters are warlike and ferocious, poisoning living beings without discrimination. They didn't spare either ordinary people or cultivators. Fifty years have passed, and my Cloud Province is in ruins. Over a million cultivators have fallen, not to mention the countless commoners. The five major forces of Cloud Province have disintegrated; only the Pine Wind Academy and Bay Heaven Pavilion are still struggling."
"What? You mean even the ancient sects like Heavenly Skill Gate, Spirit Manipulation Sect, and Departed Medicine Palace have perished?" Lin Xuan was surprised.
Although he hadn't experienced this demon calamity personally, as someone who had toured the spiritual realm, he knew enough basic knowledge. Due to the laws of the universe, even if a powerful existence opened a wormhole using secret techniques to connect with the lower realms, it would be restricted in various ways. High-ranking ancient demons couldn't easily cross over; otherwise, the Twelve Provinces of Heaven Cloud wouldn't have lasted for fifty years. A true demon progenitor could turn this world into their domain within three days.
In other words, what came through were only low-ranking monsters. This was strange. The Twelve Provinces of Heaven Cloud had formidable strength; how could they not resist and let ancient demons run rampant?
Even the Heavenly Skill Gate, Spirit Manipulation Sect, and Departed Medicine Palace, with their deep foundations, had perished.
Lin Xuan asked about his doubts, but the old man's expression grew even more somber: "Senior, you don't know. If this demon calamity had happened five or six hundred years ago, we would have fought back despite our inferior strength. This is all fate."
"Fate?" Lin Xuan was confused. Could something else have happened in the Twelve Provinces of Heaven Cloud over these years?