yì wài jìn jiē chéng gōng ， rán ér jiē xià lái de má fán ， què ràng lín xuān méi tóu jǐn suǒ ， bù guò zài sī liáng piàn kè zhī hòu ， què yòu chóng xīn shū zhǎn kāi le 。
意外进阶成功，然而接下来的麻烦，却让林轩眉头紧锁，不过在思量片刻之后，却又重新舒展开了。
Unexpected advancement was successful, but the troubles that followed had Lin Xuan frowning. After a moment's thought, however, his expression relaxed.
shì fú bú shì huò ， shì huò duǒ bù guò ！
是福不是祸，是祸躲不过！
"Good fortune or misfortune, it can't be avoided!"
zì jǐ zài zhè lǐ kōng zì fán nǎo yě méi yǒu yòng tú ， bù rú chū qù jiàn jī xíng shì kàn yǒu méi yǒu yòng chǔ 。
自己在这里空自烦恼也没有用途，不如出去见机行事看有没有用处。
Worrying here would serve no purpose; better to go out and see what could be done.
wàn shì hé wèi guì ， néng bù dòng shǒu shì zuì hǎo de ， dāng rán ” duì fāng ruò shì bī pò tài shèng ， lín xuān yě bú shì shén me pà shì zhī rén 。
万事和为贵，能不动手是最好的，当然”对方若是逼迫太盛，林轩也不是什么怕事之人。
Harmony is always best; the least we should do is avoid conflict if possible. Of course, Lin Xuan wasn't a coward; he wouldn't shy away from action if forced.
xīn zhōng rú cǐ xiǎng zhe ， lín xuān xī \\1 kǒu qì ， zhèn yī ér qǐ 。
心中如此想着，林轩吸\\1口气，振衣而起。
With this in mind, Lin Xuan took a deep breath and rose to his feet.
cái gāng gāng jìn jí ， lián jìng jiè dōu lái bù jí wěn gù ， bù guò cǐ shí cǐ kè ， yě gù bù dé ” lín xuān xīn lǐ yǒu shù ， ruò zài bù xiàn shēn de huà ” duì fāng jiù yào dǎ jìn lái le 。
才刚刚晋级，连境界都来不及稳固，不过此时此刻，也顾不得”林轩心里有数，若再不现身的话”对方就要打进来了。
Having just advanced, he hadn’t even stabilized his realm yet. But now was not the time for such considerations. Lin Xuan knew that if he didn't make an appearance soon, they would come barging in.
yí dàn dòng shǒu ， shì qíng kě jiù yào fù zá xǔ duō 。
一旦动手，事情可就要复杂许多。
Once action is taken, things will become much more complicated.
wài miàn ， yún yǐn zōng de jǐ míng dòng xuán qī xiū xiān zhě suī méi yǒu jì chū bǎo wù ， dàn mǎn liǎn de jiè bèi zhī yì què shì qīng qīng chǔ chǔ 。
外面，云隐宗的几名洞玄期修仙者虽没有祭出宝物，但满脸的戒备之意却是清清楚楚。
Outside, several Core Formation Stage cultivators from Cloud Concealment Sect did not deploy any treasures but their wary expressions were clear to see. They had all witnessed the astonishing celestial phenomena just now and didn't underestimate the cultivator who advanced. The few old monsters looked like they were in a state of war readiness.
gāng cái nà jīng rén de tiān xiàng tā men dōu yǒu qīn yǎn mù dǔ ， xīn zhōng duì nà jìn jiē de xiū shì jué méi yǒu fēn háo xiǎo shì ， jǐ rén rú lín dà dí 。
刚才那惊人的天象他们都有亲眼目睹，心中对那进阶的修士绝没有分毫小视，几人如临大敌。
"Senior Brother Wu, should we charge in?"
“ wú shī xiōng ， wǒ men yào bù yào chōng jìn qù ？”
“吴师兄，我们要不要冲进去？”
The woman with an official-style attire combed her hair; her temperament was indeed as fiery as her appearance suggested.
nà gōng zhuāng měi fù lǐ le lǐ fà sī ， cǐ nǚ de xìng gé ， què shí shì jí rú liè huǒ 。
那宫装美fù理了理发丝，此女的xìng格，确实是急如烈火。
"Not to worry, Sister Lin," said the elderly man dressed in Daoist robes. "A duck that's cooked won't fly away."
“ liǔ shī mèi ， nǐ bù yòng zháo jí ， zhǔ shú de yā zi shì fēi bù diào dì 。” nà dào zhuāng lǎo zhě què tàn \\1 kǒu qì ， yī fù lǎo móu shēn suàn de yàng zi 。
“柳师妹，你不用着急，煮熟的鸭子是飞不掉地。”那道装老者却叹\\1口气，一副老谋深算的样子。
Before he could finish speaking, a faint green light flickered and a figure appeared in the扭曲 of the Spirit Clearing Mist Sea above.
huà yīn wèi luò ， què jiàn qīng guāng shǎn shuò ” líng qīng wù hǎi de shàng kōng ， yī zhèn niǔ qū ， yí gè rén yǐng chū xiàn zài le shì xiàn lǐ 。
话音未落，却见青光闪烁”灵清雾海的上空，一阵扭曲，一个人影出现在了视线里。
The figure looked no more than twenty years old with an extremely ordinary appearance.
kàn shàng qù bù guò èr shí yú suì nián jì ” róng mào píng fán yǐ jí 。
看上去不过二十余岁年纪”容貌平凡以极。
His gaze swept over Lin Xuan’s face; the Core Formation Stage old monsters widened their eyes. Although one can't judge a book by its cover, these old monsters were still disappointed that this person's appearance was far from what they expected. They had imagined someone much more domineering and powerful, but here he stood, utterly ordinary.
mù guāng zài lín xuān de miàn róng shàng sǎo guò ， jǐ míng dòng xuán qī lǎo guài wù dōu dèng dà le yǎn zhū ， suī shuō rén bù kě mào xiàng ， hǎi shuǐ bù kě dǒu liáng ” dàn lín xuān róng mào yǔ tā men de yù qī ， hái shì chà tài yuǎn le xiē ” néng yǐn lái rú cǐ jīng rén tiān xiàng de rén wù yuán běn yǐ wéi huì duō me bà qì wēi wǔ ， nǎ xiǎo de què píng fán dào jí chù 。
目光在林轩的面容上扫过，几名洞玄期老怪物都瞪大了眼珠，虽说人不可貌相，海水不可斗量”但林轩容貌与他们的预期，还是差太远了些”能引来如此惊人天象的人物原本以为会多么霸气威武，哪晓得却平凡到极处。
If not for his aura, Lin Xuan would indeed be a Core Formation中期 cultivator; the others almost thought they had made a mistake in identification.
rú guǒ bú shì shén shí zài tā shēn shàng káng guò ， zhè què shí shì yī míng dòng xuán zhōng qī de xiū xiān zhě ” jǐ rén dōu yào yǐ wéi rèn cuò 。
如果不是神识在他身上扛过，这确实是一名洞玄中期的修仙者”几人都要以为认错。
The reaction of the other party caught Lin Xuan’s attention, causing him to frown. But soon after, his expression relaxed and regained its composure.
duì fāng de fǎn yìng luò rù lín xuān de yǎn zhōng ， tā bù yóu de méi tou yí zhòu ， dàn hěn kuài yòu shū zhǎn kāi huī fù le cóng róng 。
对方的反应落入林轩的眼中，他不由得眉头一皱，但很快又舒展开恢复了从容。
With a flicker of green light, Lin Xuan flew over.
shēn shàng qīng guāng yì qǐ ， lín xuān fēi le guò qù 。
身上青光一起，林轩飞了过去。
The Core Formation Stage cultivators from Cloud Concealment Sect did not want to be outdone; they formed a line to meet him.
yún yǐn zōng de jǐ míng dòng xuán qī xiū shì yě bù yuàn yì shì ruò ” jié duì yíng shàng lái le 。
云隐宗的几名洞玄期修士也不愿意示弱”结队迎上来了。
They stopped about thirty feet apart.
shuāng fāng xiāng gé shù shí zhàng yuǎn ” tíng le xià lái 。
双方相隔数十丈远”停了下来。
"Xianjun Lin, I've come to greet you. I borrowed your sect's spiritual land for cultivation and failed to inform you beforehand. If there are any offenses, please bear with me," Lin Xuan said with a smile as he bowed slightly.
“ zài xià lín xuān ， jiàn guò jǐ wèi dào yǒu ， lín mǒu cǐ cì jiè guì zōng líng dì xiū liàn ， wèi céng tōng chuán ， ruò yǒu shī lǐ zhī chù hái qǐng gè wèi dào yǒu duō duō dān dài yī èr de 。” lín xuān wēi xiào zhe bào le bào quán 。
“在下林轩，见过几位道友，林某此次借贵宗灵地修炼，未曾通传，若有失礼之处还请各位道友多多担待一二的。”林轩微笑着抱了抱拳。
This matter was indeed his fault; hence, he lowered his stance, adhering to the principle that one should not strike a smiling face.
zhè cì de shì qíng ， què shí shì zì jǐ lǐ kuī zài xiān ， gù ér tā jiāng zī tài fàng dé jiào dī ， shēn shǒu bù dǎ xiào liǎn rén jiù shì zhè ge dào lǐ 。
这次的事情，确实是自己理亏在先，故而他将姿态放得较低，伸手不打笑脸人就是这个道理。
The other party had come to seek retribution, and Lin Xuan's actions were unexpected. The Cloud Concealment Sect cultivators exchanged glances but soon heard an astonished voice.
duì fāng běn shì xīng shī wèn zuì ér lái ， lín xuān rú cǐ jǔ cuò ” què shí dà chū jǐ míng yún yǐn zōng xiū shì yù liào zhī wài ， yī shí jiān miàn miàn xiāng qù ” dàn hěn kuài yī jīng yà de shēng yīn jiù chuán rù le ěr duǒ lǐ 。
对方本是兴师问罪而来，林轩如此举措”确实大出几名云隐宗修士预料之外，一时间面面相觑”但很快一惊讶的声音就传入了耳朵里。
"Hey, it’s you?"
“ yí ， shì nǐ ？”
“咦，是你？”
"How could it be, Junior Disciple Jiang, do you know this person?" the Daoist-robed elder turned his head, his eyes flashing with curiosity as he spoke.
“ zěn me ， jiāng shī zhí ， nǐ rèn shí cǐ rén me ？” dào zhuāng lǎo zhě zhuǎn guò tóu lú ， yǎn zhōng yì máng shǎn dòng de kāi kǒu 。
“怎么，姜师侄，你认识此人么？”道装老者转过头颅，眼中异芒闪动的开口。
"I report to Senior Uncle that I have indeed met him. Three hundred years ago, there was an incident in the Waste Pill Room. I was ordered to manage and investigate the disciples there at the time; he was only a late-stage Foundation Establishment then. How..."
“ huí bǐng shī shū ， cǐ rén shī zhí què shí jiàn guò ， sān bǎi nián qián fèi dān fáng chū shì ， shī zhí fèng mìng qīng chá guǎn lǐ fèi dān fáng de dì zǐ ， nà shí hòu tā cái jǐn jǐn zhù jī hòu qī ， zěn me ……”
“回禀师叔，此人师侄确实见过，三百年前废丹房出事，师侄奉命清查管理废丹房的弟子，那时候他才仅仅筑基后期，怎么……”
The speaker was a Separation-Union Stage cultivator from Golden Core Peak, his face pale with shock. It was hard to imagine that such a lowly disciple had now become someone worthy of respect.
shuō huà de shì jīn dān fēng de yī míng lí hé qī xiū xiān zhě ， mǎn liǎn de là huáng zhī sè cǐ shí chú le jīng yà hái shì jīng yà le ， hěn nán xiǎng xiàng ， xī rì yī míng rú lóu yǐ bān de dì zǐ rú jīn què biàn chéng xū yào yǎng shì de qián bèi le 。
说话的是金丹峰的一名离合期修仙者，满脸的蜡黄之sè此时除了惊讶还是惊讶了，很难想象，昔日一名如蝼蚁般的弟子如今却变成需要仰视的前辈了。
"Three hundred years? It's impossible for one to advance from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation."
“ sān bǎi nián ， cóng zhù jī dào dòng xuán jué wú kě néng 。”
“三百年，从筑基到洞玄绝无可能。”
After hearing the words of the Jiang cultivator, the old monsters took a deep breath and immediately expressed their doubt. No matter how one advanced, it was impossible to do so at such an incredible speed; it was too absurd.
tīng le jiāng xìng xiū shì de yán yǔ ， jǐ míng dòng xuán qī lǎo guài wù xiān shì xī le yī kǒu liáng qì ， suí jí què zhǎn dīng jié tiě de biǎo shì le huái yí ， bù guǎn zěn me jìn jí ， dōu bù kě néng yǒu nà yàng de sù dù ” tài lí pǔ 。
听了姜姓修士的言语，几名洞玄期老怪物先是吸了一口凉气，随即却斩钉截铁的表示了怀疑，不管怎么晋级，都不可能有那样的速度”太离谱。
There must be a limit to everything; even if one treated pills like candy, it would never happen.
fán shì zǒng yǒu yí gè dù ， jiù suàn jiāng dān yào dāng táng wán yě jué bù kě néng de 。
凡事总有一个度，就算将丹药当糖丸也绝不可能的。
"Senior Brother Wu, what do you think?"
“ wú shī xiōng ” nǐ zěn me kàn ？”
“吴师兄”你怎么看？”
"He has been lurking in our sect with malicious intent. He deserves punishment."
“ duì fāng chǔ xīn jī lǜ zài wǒ pài qián fú ， qí xīn kě zhū 。”
“对方处心积虑在我派潜伏，其心可诛。”
"Agreed, we cannot let this person off the hook. We need to apprehend him and extract his soul for interrogation," said the old monsters, their faces turning grave as they reached a consensus.
“ bù cuò ， yí dìng bù néng jiāng cǐ rén fàng guò ， jiāng qí ná xià ， chōu hún liàn pò ， hǎo hǎo kǎo wèn yī fān cái kě 。”
“不错，一定不能将此人放过，将其拿下，抽hún炼魄，好好拷问一番才可。”
Lin Xuan inwardly groaned; although he was clever and adaptable, he hadn’t anticipated things would escalate so much. With the other party’s aggressive stance surrounding him, what should he do?
jǐ míng dòng xuán qī lǎo guài wù bó rán biàn sè， yì jiàn hěn kuài jiù dá chéng yí zhì le 。
几名洞玄期老怪物勃然变sè，意见很快就达成一致了。
"I have only been borrowing your land for cultivation over these hundreds of years. I've never done anything detrimental to Cloud Concealment Sect."
lín xuān què àn àn jiào kǔ ， tā suī rán cōng míng jī biàn ， què yě méi liào dào shì qíng de zǒu xiàng ， huì fā zhǎn dào zhè yī bù ， yǎn kàn duì fāng shā qì téng téng de jiāng zì jǐ wéi zhù ， gāi zěn me bàn ne ？
林轩却暗暗叫苦，他虽然聪明机变，却也没料到事情的走向，会发展到这一步，眼看对方杀气腾腾的将自己围住，该怎么办呢？
"Flattery won't work; we don't believe you," said a voice.
“ lín mǒu shuō guò ， wǒ zhǐ shì jiè guì dì qián xiū ， jǐ bǎi nián lái ， jué wú duì yún yǐn zōng bù lì de jǔ dòng 。”
“林某说过，我只是借贵地潜修，几百年来，绝无对云隐宗不利的举动。”
"How about it, Fellow Daoists? What do you think?"
“。 luó ” qiǎo yán lìng sè， nǐ yǐ wéi wǒ men huì xiāng xìn me ？”
“。萝”巧言令sè，你以为我们会相信么？”
Lin Xuan's expression turned cold. He didn’t want to fight but wouldn't be a sitting duck either.
“ nà jǐ wèi dào yǒu yì yù rú hé ？”
“那几位道友意yù如何？”
"If you wish to engage in combat with me, so be it." A threatening voice echoed as the official-style woman raised a colorful ball.
lín xuān de biǎo qíng yě lěng xià qù le ， tā shì bù xiǎng dòng shǒu ” dàn yě bù yì wèi zhe ， huì rèn rén zǎi gē 。
林轩的表情也冷下去了，他是不想动手”但也不意味着，会任人宰割。
Lin Xuan smiled; indeed, good intentions are often taken for weakness. His polite approach had been misinterpreted as cowardice.
“ rú hé ， dào yǒu shí xiàng de huà ， jiù shù shǒu jiù fù ， fǒu zé kǔ tóu yǒu nǐ chī de 。” bǎo hán wēi xié de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， huà yīn wèi luò ， nà gōng zhuāng měi fù yǐ jì qǐ le yí gè cǎi qiú 。
“如何，道友识相的话，就束手就缚，否则苦头有你吃的。”饱含威胁的声音传入耳朵，话音未落，那宫装美fù已祭起了一个彩球。
If that was how they wanted it, he would leave Cloud Concealment Sect. There were many suitable spiritual lands in the cultivation world, and Lin Xuan didn't want to endure such humiliation.
lín xuān xiào le ” zhēn shì rén shàn bèi rén qī ， mǎ shàn bèi rén qí ， zì jǐ hǎo yán hǎo yǔ de bù xiǎng yǔ duì fāng chōng tū ， què bèi dàng chéng ruǎn ruò kě qī 。
林轩笑了”真是人善被人欺，马善被人骑，自己好言好语的不想与对方冲突，却被当成软弱可欺。
After all, power mattered most in the cultivation realm.
jì rú cǐ ， dà bù liǎo lí kāi yún yǐn zōng jiù shì ， tiān xià shì hé xiū liàn de líng dì duō le ， lín xuān kě bù xiǎng shòu zhè wō nāng qì 。
既如此，大不了离开云隐宗就是，天下适合修炼的灵地多了，林轩可不想受这窝囊气。
He needed to show some prowess to intimidate these fellows; otherwise, he wouldn’t be leaving this place today.
xiū xiān jiè jiǎng jiū de bì jìng hái shì shí lì 。
修仙界讲究的毕竟还是实力。
With this thought, Lin Xuan's expression grew serious. The Cloud Concealment Sect old monsters did not stop the official-style woman from her actions.
bù ná chū yī xiē shén tōng ， jiāng zhè jǐ gè jiā huo zhèn shè zhù ” jīn tiān kǒng pà bié xiǎng lí kāi zhè lǐ le 。
不拿出一些神通，将这几个家伙震慑住”今天恐怕别想离开这里了。
Letting her test his limits was fine; knowing one’s enemy is key to victory. Although she didn't look like an ordinary cultivator, she had just advanced and hadn’t stabilized her realm yet. How formidable could she be?
xīn zhōng rú cǐ xiǎng zhe ， lín xuān de biǎo qíng yě chén jìng xià qù le 。
心中如此想着，林轩的表情也沉静下去了。
"Do you wish to engage in combat with me?" Lin Xuan said coldly.
duì yú gōng zhuāng měi fù mào shī de jǔ dòng ” yún yǐn zōng de jǐ míng lǎo guài wù ， bìng méi yǒu zǔ zhǐ 。
对于宫装美fù冒失的举动”云隐宗的几名老怪物，并没有阻止。
The official-style woman did not speak further but waved her hands like butterflies, casting spell after spell. The colorful ball before her spun, its light swirling as the scene around them changed dramatically.
ràng liǔ shī mèi shì tàn yī xià tā de shēn qiǎn yě hǎo ， zhī jǐ zhī bǐ bǎi zhàn bǎi shèng ， duì fāng suī rán yī kàn jiù bù xiàng pǔ tōng de xiū xiān zhě ， dàn bì jìng cái gāng jìn jí ， lián jìng jiè dōu méi yǒu wěn gù ， yòu néng lì hài dào shén me dì bù ne ？
让柳师妹试探一下他的深浅也好，知己知彼百战百胜，对方虽然一看就不像普通的修仙者，但毕竟才刚晋级，连境界都没有稳固，又能厉害到什么地步呢？
Green trees and mountains vanished; instead, a barren plain appeared, and the surrounding elemental energy became extremely thin.
“ chēng xiǎng yǔ lín mǒu dòng shǒu ？” lín xuān lěng lěng de kāi kǒu 。
“称想与林某动手？”林轩冷冷的开口。
Lin Xuan’s pupils constricted: "Illusion!"
gōng zhuāng měi fù què bù duō shuō ， shuāng shǒu rú chuān huā hú dié yì bān de huī wǔ ， yī dào fǎ jué jiē yī dào fǎ jué de dǎ chū ， nà xuán fú zài tā shēn qián de cǎi qiú dī liū liū yī zhuǎn ， guāng yùn liú zhuǎn ， yǎn qián de jǐng wù zhòu rán gǎi biàn 。
宫装美fù却不多说，双手如穿huā蝴蝶一般的挥舞，一道法诀接一道法诀的打出，那悬浮在她身前的彩球滴溜溜一转，光晕流转，眼前的景物骤然改变。
Not just an ordinary illusion but likely some form of array. But no other array disks or flags were deployed; could it be the ball's effect?
qīng shān lǜ shù xiāo shī le ， qǔ ér dài zhī de shì yī huāng wú de píng yuán ， sì zhōu de tiān dì yuán qì ， gèng biàn dé fēi cháng de xī bó 。
青山绿树消失了，取而代之的是一荒芜的平原，四周的天地元气，更变得非常的稀薄。
Lin Xuan was taken aback.
lín xuān tóng kǒng wēi suō ：“ huàn shù ！”
林轩瞳孔微缩：“幻术！”
He had spent centuries in Cloud Concealment Sect, not oblivious to what was happening outside.
bú duì ， bìng fēi pǔ tōng de huàn shù ， yīng gāi shì zhèn fǎ de yī zhǒng ， kě duì fāng bìng méi yǒu jì chū páng de zhèn pán zhèn qí ， nán dào shì nà cǎi qiú de zuò yòng 。
不对，并非普通的幻术，应该是阵法的一种，可对方并没有祭出旁的阵盘阵旗，难道是那彩球的作用。
She was a senior from Array Peak, and as its name suggested, they excelled in array techniques. Some great cultivators of this lineage were said to have combined arrays with treasures, enhancing their effects synergistically.
lín xuān xīn zhōng yǒu xiē hài rán le 。
林轩心中有些骇然了。
He had only heard rumors before but now witnessed it firsthand; he needed to be cautious. Moreover, the Nine Palace Momentary Sword Array he was crafting involved combining arrays and treasures. He couldn’t afford to miss this opportunity.
tā zài yún yǐn zōng dài le shù bǎi nián zhī jiǔ ， dāng rán bú shì liǎng ěr bù wén chuāng wài shì de 。
他在云隐宗待了数百年之久，当然不是两耳不闻窗外事的。
Though temporarily trapped, Lin Xuan’s combat experience was vast. He didn't rush but extended his divine sense, aiming for no harm but ensuring nothing went wrong.
Unexpected advancement was successful, but the troubles that followed had Lin Xuan frowning. After a moment's thought, however, his expression relaxed.
"Good fortune or misfortune, it can't be avoided!"
Worrying here would serve no purpose; better to go out and see what could be done.
Harmony is always best; the least we should do is avoid conflict if possible. Of course, Lin Xuan wasn't a coward; he wouldn't shy away from action if forced.
With this in mind, Lin Xuan took a deep breath and rose to his feet.
Having just advanced, he hadn’t even stabilized his realm yet. But now was not the time for such considerations. Lin Xuan knew that if he didn't make an appearance soon, they would come barging in.
Once action is taken, things will become much more complicated.
Outside, several Core Formation Stage cultivators from Cloud Concealment Sect did not deploy any treasures but their wary expressions were clear to see. They had all witnessed the astonishing celestial phenomena just now and didn't underestimate the cultivator who advanced. The few old monsters looked like they were in a state of war readiness.
"Senior Brother Wu, should we charge in?"
The woman with an official-style attire combed her hair; her temperament was indeed as fiery as her appearance suggested.
"Not to worry, Sister Lin," said the elderly man dressed in Daoist robes. "A duck that's cooked won't fly away."
Before he could finish speaking, a faint green light flickered and a figure appeared in the扭曲 of the Spirit Clearing Mist Sea above.
The figure looked no more than twenty years old with an extremely ordinary appearance.
His gaze swept over Lin Xuan’s face; the Core Formation Stage old monsters widened their eyes. Although one can't judge a book by its cover, these old monsters were still disappointed that this person's appearance was far from what they expected. They had imagined someone much more domineering and powerful, but here he stood, utterly ordinary.
If not for his aura, Lin Xuan would indeed be a Core Formation中期 cultivator; the others almost thought they had made a mistake in identification.
The reaction of the other party caught Lin Xuan’s attention, causing him to frown. But soon after, his expression relaxed and regained its composure.
With a flicker of green light, Lin Xuan flew over.
The Core Formation Stage cultivators from Cloud Concealment Sect did not want to be outdone; they formed a line to meet him.
They stopped about thirty feet apart.
"Xianjun Lin, I've come to greet you. I borrowed your sect's spiritual land for cultivation and failed to inform you beforehand. If there are any offenses, please bear with me," Lin Xuan said with a smile as he bowed slightly.
This matter was indeed his fault; hence, he lowered his stance, adhering to the principle that one should not strike a smiling face.
The other party had come to seek retribution, and Lin Xuan's actions were unexpected. The Cloud Concealment Sect cultivators exchanged glances but soon heard an astonished voice.
"Hey, it’s you?"
"How could it be, Junior Disciple Jiang, do you know this person?" the Daoist-robed elder turned his head, his eyes flashing with curiosity as he spoke.
"I report to Senior Uncle that I have indeed met him. Three hundred years ago, there was an incident in the Waste Pill Room. I was ordered to manage and investigate the disciples there at the time; he was only a late-stage Foundation Establishment then. How..."
The speaker was a Separation-Union Stage cultivator from Golden Core Peak, his face pale with shock. It was hard to imagine that such a lowly disciple had now become someone worthy of respect.
"Three hundred years? It's impossible for one to advance from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation."
After hearing the words of the Jiang cultivator, the old monsters took a deep breath and immediately expressed their doubt. No matter how one advanced, it was impossible to do so at such an incredible speed; it was too absurd.
There must be a limit to everything; even if one treated pills like candy, it would never happen.
"Senior Brother Wu, what do you think?"
"He has been lurking in our sect with malicious intent. He deserves punishment."
"Agreed, we cannot let this person off the hook. We need to apprehend him and extract his soul for interrogation," said the old monsters, their faces turning grave as they reached a consensus.
Lin Xuan inwardly groaned; although he was clever and adaptable, he hadn’t anticipated things would escalate so much. With the other party’s aggressive stance surrounding him, what should he do?
"I have only been borrowing your land for cultivation over these hundreds of years. I've never done anything detrimental to Cloud Concealment Sect."
"Flattery won't work; we don't believe you," said a voice.
"How about it, Fellow Daoists? What do you think?"
Lin Xuan's expression turned cold. He didn’t want to fight but wouldn't be a sitting duck either.
"If you wish to engage in combat with me, so be it." A threatening voice echoed as the official-style woman raised a colorful ball.
Lin Xuan smiled; indeed, good intentions are often taken for weakness. His polite approach had been misinterpreted as cowardice.
If that was how they wanted it, he would leave Cloud Concealment Sect. There were many suitable spiritual lands in the cultivation world, and Lin Xuan didn't want to endure such humiliation.
After all, power mattered most in the cultivation realm.
He needed to show some prowess to intimidate these fellows; otherwise, he wouldn’t be leaving this place today.
With this thought, Lin Xuan's expression grew serious. The Cloud Concealment Sect old monsters did not stop the official-style woman from her actions.
Letting her test his limits was fine; knowing one’s enemy is key to victory. Although she didn't look like an ordinary cultivator, she had just advanced and hadn’t stabilized her realm yet. How formidable could she be?
"Do you wish to engage in combat with me?" Lin Xuan said coldly.
The official-style woman did not speak further but waved her hands like butterflies, casting spell after spell. The colorful ball before her spun, its light swirling as the scene around them changed dramatically.
Green trees and mountains vanished; instead, a barren plain appeared, and the surrounding elemental energy became extremely thin.
Lin Xuan’s pupils constricted: "Illusion!"
Not just an ordinary illusion but likely some form of array. But no other array disks or flags were deployed; could it be the ball's effect?
Lin Xuan was taken aback.
He had spent centuries in Cloud Concealment Sect, not oblivious to what was happening outside.
She was a senior from Array Peak, and as its name suggested, they excelled in array techniques. Some great cultivators of this lineage were said to have combined arrays with treasures, enhancing their effects synergistically.
He had only heard rumors before but now witnessed it firsthand; he needed to be cautious. Moreover, the Nine Palace Momentary Sword Array he was crafting involved combining arrays and treasures. He couldn’t afford to miss this opportunity.
Though temporarily trapped, Lin Xuan’s combat experience was vast. He didn't rush but extended his divine sense, aiming for no harm but ensuring nothing went wrong.