“ shū ” zì huà yīn wèi luò ， tā tū rán dèng dà le yǎn zhū ， zhǐ jué xiōng kǒu yī rè ， yī hēi sè de lì máng yǐ jiāng tā zhěng gè guàn chuān diào le 。
“输”字话音未落，他突然瞪大了眼珠，只觉胸口一热，一黑色的厉芒已将他整个贯穿掉了。
"Submit," the word barely left his lips when he suddenly widened his eyes. A black, ominous light pierced through him.
yuán yīng bù kě sī yì de dī xià le tóu lú ， sì hū hái bù xiāng xìn suǒ fā shēng de yí mù 。
元婴不可思议的低下了头颅，似乎还不相信所发生的一幕。
The Soul Core of Yuan婴 lowered its head in disbelief, unable to accept what had just happened.
zì jǐ ， táng táng de tiān jiàn fēng zhǔ ， zòng héng xiū xiān jiè shù wàn nián de rén wù ， jū rán jiù zhè yàng ， bù míng bù bái de yǔn luò diào le 。
自己，堂堂的天剑峰主，纵横修仙界数万年的人物，居然就这样，不明不白的陨落掉了。
He, the Master of Sword Peak, a figure who had dominated the cultivation world for countless millennia, had fallen like this—without reason or cause.
yī shí jiān ， huǐ hèn 、 kǒng jù 、 yuàn dú ， zhū bān niàn tou zài nǎo hǎi zhōng shǎn guò ， kě nà yòu rú hé ， zhè dōu gǎi biàn bù liǎo tā hún fēi pò sàn de jié guǒ 。
一时间，悔恨、恐惧、怨毒，诸般念头在脑海中闪过，可那又如何，这都改变不了他魂飞魄散的结果。
Regret, fear, and hatred flashed through his mind. But it mattered not; he was already doomed to disintegrate into nothingness.
yì shí zhú jiàn mó hú ， yī zhèn fēng chuī guò ， yuán yīng xùn sù bīng fēng wǎ jiě de bēng kuì diào le 。
意识逐渐模糊，一阵风吹过，元婴迅速冰封瓦解的崩溃掉了。
His consciousness began to fade as a gust of wind swept by, causing the Soul Core to rapidly crumble and freeze.
zhōu wéi de xiū shì ， dào xī le yī kǒu liáng qì 。
周围的修士，倒吸了一口凉气。
The surrounding cultivators gasped in shock.
tā men dāng rán bù xiāng xìn lín xuān huì shì shōu shǒu bù jí ， zhè gēn běn jiù shì míng mù zhāng dǎn de miè kǒu ér yǐ 。
他们当然不相信林轩会是收手不及，这根本就是明目张胆的灭口而已。
They certainly didn't believe Lin Xuan had been too slow. This was an open act of extermination.
lín xuān zhè me zuò ， kě yǐ shuō ， gēn běn jiù méi yǒu jiàng mén guī fàng zài yǎn lǐ 。
林轩这么做，可以说，根本就没有将门规放在眼里。
Lin Xuan showed no regard for the sect's rules; he was a madman!
fēng zi ， zhè liǎng gè jiā huo dōu shì fēng zi ！
疯子，这两个家伙都是疯子！
Just like the Sword Sovereign of Heavenly璇, who had perished due to his执念, Lin Xuan seemed unconcerned about the consequences of his actions. The two Senior Elders' warnings were mere clouds to him.
tiān xuán jiàn zūn yīn wèi zhí niàn yǔn luò ， zhè lín xuān yě sī háo bù qù kǎo lǜ rú cǐ zuò de hòu guǒ ， sì hū liǎng wèi tài shàng zhǎng lǎo de wēi shè ， duì tā yě bù guò shì fú yún bà le 。
天璇剑尊因为执念陨落，这林轩也丝毫不去考虑如此做的后果，似乎两位太上长老的威慑，对他也不过是浮云罢了。
Lin Xuan didn't care much either.
lín xuān dāng rán bú huì xiǎng nà me duō 。
林轩当然不会想那么多。
This encounter had sealed an unbreakable enmity between them. Moreover, that old man was indeed formidable; while he couldn't defeat Lin Xuan in open combat, what if he tried a sneaky ambush?
jīng cǐ yí mù ， zì jǐ yǔ tiān xuán jiàn zūn yǐ jié xià le bù kě jiě de shēn chóu 。
经此一幕，自己与天璇剑尊已结下了不可解的深仇。
Lin Xuan wasn't interested in constant vigilance. Killing the opponent was the most straightforward choice.
ér qiě lǎo jiā huǒ de shí lì què shí bù cuò ， suī rán zhèng miàn dǎ zì jǐ bù guò ， dàn wàn yī tā qǔ qiǎo tōu xí ne ？
而且老家伙的实力确实不错，虽然正面打自己不过，但万一他取巧偷袭呢？
As for the consequences...
lín xuān kě méi yǒu xìng qù shí shí fáng zhe 。
林轩可没有兴趣时时防着。
Even if the Sword Sovereign of Heavenly璇 had been at fault, and regardless of who was right or wrong, that old monster was dead. What could two Senior Elders do about it? Would they make him pay with his life?
jiāng duì fāng miè shā shì zuì shěng shì de xuǎn zé 。
将对方灭杀是最省事的选择。
That would be a foolish move.
zhì yú hòu guǒ ……
至于后果……
Instead, because the Sword Sovereign of Heavenly璇 was gone, Lin Xuan's position would only grow more significant.
qiě bù shuō cǐ shì ， shì tiān xuán jiàn zūn yǒu cuò ， jiù suàn shú shì shú fēi zàn qiě bù shuō ， nà lǎo guài wù yǐ rán yǔn luò ， liǎng wèi tài shàng zhǎng lǎo yòu néng rú hé ？
且不说此事，是天璇剑尊有错，就算孰是孰非暂且不说，那老怪物已然陨落，两位太上长老又能如何？
Thus, he felt secure.
ràng zì jǐ qù gěi tiān xuán jiàn zūn dǐ mìng me ？
让自己去给天璇剑尊抵命么？
As he turned around, the expressions of the surrounding cultivators were reduced to fear and admiration. The cultivation world was one where strength reigned supreme.
chú fēi tā men nǎo dài ràng lǘ tī le 。
除非他们脑袋让驴踢了。
The dozens of Core Formation period cultivators from Sword Peak lowered their heads, avoiding eye contact with Lin Xuan.
nà yàng zuò míng xiǎn shì dé bù cháng shī de 。
那样做明显是得不偿失的。
Perhaps some harbored resentment, but after this battle, who would dare provoke him?
qià qià xiāng fǎn ， yīn wèi tiān xuán jiàn zūn yǐ sǐ ， zì jǐ de fǎn ér huì yuè shòu zhòng shì 。
恰恰相反，因为天璇剑尊已死，自己的反而会越受重视。
Unless they wanted to die!
suǒ yǐ lín xuān yǒu shì wú kǒng 。
所以林轩有恃无恐。
Such fools didn't exist.
dāng tā zhuǎn guò tóu lú ， sì zhōu zhòng xiū shì de biǎo qíng dōu zhǐ shèng xià le wèi jù yǔ jìng mù 。
当他转过头颅，四周众修士的表情都只剩下了畏惧与敬慕。
"Is it not so? I believe that in such a scenario, I should be considered the victor."
xiū xiān jiè běn jiù shì qiáng zhě wèi zūn de 。
修仙界本就是强者为尊的。
A faint voice entered his ears. The cultivators below nearly tripped over their feet; their faces were filled with bitter smiles. With the Sword Sovereign of Heavenly璇's Soul Core scattered to pieces, was Lin Xuan jesting?
tiān jiàn fēng de jǐ shí míng dòng xuán qī xiū shì gèng shì fēn fēn dī chuí xià tou ， bù gǎn yǔ lín xuān de mù guāng xiāng chù 。
天剑峰的几十名洞玄期修士更是纷纷低垂下头，不敢与林轩的目光相触。
"Haha, Brother Disciple, you are joking," the bald elder nodded and bowed. "With so many witnesses, naturally, you will be the ultimate victor."
tā men zhōng huò xǔ yǒu yuàn hèn zhě ， dàn cǐ zhàn guò hòu ， shuí hái gǎn qù lǚ lín xuān de hǔ xū ne ？
他们中或许有怨恨者，但此战过后，谁还敢去捋林轩的虎须呢？
"May I use the Purple Heart Earth Fire?"
chú fēi bù xiǎng huó ！
除非不想活！
"Certainly, after this incident, no one would dare compete with you for it."
ér zhè yàng de shǎ guā xiǎn rán shì bù cún zài de 。
而这样的傻瓜显然是不存在的。
"Indeed, Brother Disciple's powers are unparalleled in our sect. Aside from the two Senior Elders, there is no cultivator who can match you."
“ rú hé ， lín mǒu cāi cè ， zhè yàng de huà ， wǒ yīng gāi suàn shì huò shèng le 。”
“如何，林某猜测，这样的话，我应该算是获胜了。”
"The Golden Core Peak is fortunate to have Brother Disciple as its Master; I believe the prosperity of this lineage will be imminent."
dàn dàn de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， xià miàn de zhòng xiū shì què chà diǎn zāi le yí gè gēn tou ， liǎn shàng jiē dài zhe kǔ xiào zhī sè ， tiān xuán jiàn zūn dōu yǐ jīng hún fēi pò sàn diào le ， lín shī dì zhè shì zài tiáo kǎn rén me ？
淡淡的声音传入耳朵，下面的众修士却差点栽了一个跟头，脸上皆带着苦笑之色，天璇剑尊都已经魂飞魄散掉了，林师弟这是在调侃人么？
...
“ hē hē ， shī dì shuō xiào le ， zhè me duō rén kàn zhe ， nǐ zì rán shì zuì hòu de shèng lì zhě 。” mǎ liǎn lǎo zhě diǎn tóu hā yāo de shuō 。
“呵呵，师弟说笑了，这么多人看着，你自然是最后的胜利者。”马脸老者点头哈腰的说。
Various voices echoed around him, praising and flattering Lin Xuan.
“ nà …… wǒ shì fǒu kě yǐ shǐ yòng zǐ xīn dì huǒ ？”
“那……我是否可以使用紫心地火？”
This battle not only allowed Lin Xuan to obtain Purple Heart Earth Fire but also established his authority in Cloud Concealment Sect.
“ dāng rán kě yǐ ， wǒ xiǎng ， jīng cǐ yí mù ， yīng gāi yě méi yǒu rén ， gǎn yǔ shī dì nǐ zhēng duó 。”
“当然可以，我想，经此一幕，应该也没有人，敢与师弟你争夺。”
...
“ bù cuò ， lín shī dì shén tōng gài shì ， chú le liǎng wèi shī shū ， fàng yǎn bì pài ， zài yě méi yǒu yí gè néng yǔ nǐ pì měi de xiū xiān zhě 。”
“不错，林师弟神通盖世，除了两位师叔，放眼敝派，再也没有一个能与你媲美的修仙者。”
Three days later.
“ jīn dān fēng néng dé lín shī dì wèi fēng zhǔ ， zhēn shì yǒu fú ， wǒ xiǎng ， gāi mài de zhuàng dà ， yīng gāi shì zhǐ rì kě dài le 。”
“金丹峰能得林师弟为峰主，真是有福，我想，该脉的壮大，应该是指日可待了。”
"Uncle Disciple Lin, please follow me. Just walk another thousand feet down this passage, and you will reach the thirteenth layer's Earth Fire room. The purple heart earth fire is emitted from there. According to tradition, I can only bring you here; the rest of the way, you must continue along this tunnel."
……
……
An elder dressed in the attire of the Divine Artifact Peak bowed respectfully as he spoke.
gè zhǒng gè yàng de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， què shì duì lín xuān liū xū pāi mǎ qǐ lái le 。
各种各样的声音传入耳朵，却是对林轩溜须拍马起来了。
Droplets of sweat could be seen on his forehead. Lin Xuan's reputation had soared after that battle. The Sword Sovereign of Heavenly璇's name was now a stepping stone for him, and the Golden Core Peak felt vindicated. Cultivators from any lineage in Cloud Concealment Sect showed extreme respect to Lin Xuan.
zhè yī zhàn ， bù zhǐ ràng lín xuān huò dé le zǐ xīn dì huǒ ， tóng shí ， yě ràng tā zài yún yǐn zōng zhēn zhèng de lì wēi qǐ lái le 。
这一战，不止让林轩获得了紫心地火，同时，也让他在云隐宗真正的立威起来了。
This led the Divine Artifact Peak disciple guiding him to be visibly nervous, sweating profusely.
……
……
Though he was a Separation Stage cultivator, his strength had long protected him from the elements. Yet, he was still trembling with fear and tension, as if he were a commoner while Lin Xuan was a tiger.
sān rì yǐ hòu 。
三日以后。
Lin Xuan understood what he feared but showed no reaction: "Alright, you may go."
“ lín shī shū ， zhè biān qǐng ， zài wǎng xià zǒu qiān zhàng yú ， jiù kě yǐ dào dá shí sān céng de dì huǒ zhī wū ， lǐ miàn suǒ pēn bó chū lái de ， jiù shì zǐ xīn dì huǒ ， àn zhào guī jǔ ， dì zǐ zhǐ néng jiāng nín sòng dào zhè lǐ ， hòu miàn de lù ， nín yán zhe zhè tiáo tōng dào yì zhí wǎng xià jiù xíng le 。”
“林师叔，这边请，再往下走千丈余，就可以到达十三层的地火之屋，里面所喷勃出来的，就是紫心地火，按照规矩，弟子只能将您送到这里，后面的路，您沿着这条通道一直往下就行了。”
"Thank you, Uncle Disciple."
yī míng chuān zhe shén qì fēng fú shì de lǎo zhě ， wēi wēi wān zhe shēn qū ， bì gōng bì jìng de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ lǐ 。
一名穿着神器峰服饰的老者，微微弯着身躯，毕恭毕敬的声音传入耳朵里。
The elder bowed to Lin Xuan before retreating, visibly relieved. This small incident didn't bother Lin Xuan as he looked around the surroundings.
cóng tā de é tóu shàng ， kě yǐ kàn jiàn dòu dà de hàn dī ， lín xuān nà yī zhàn ， kě yǐ shuō shì shēng míng què qǐ 。
从他的额头上，可以看见豆大的汗滴，林轩那一战，可以说是声名鹊起。
They were deep underground now; even the rocks had turned dark gray.
tiān xuán jiàn zūn hǎo dà de míng qì ， rú jīn què zuò le tā de diàn jiǎo shí ， zhěng gè jīn dān fēng kě yǐ shuō shì yáng méi tǔ qì ， yún yǐn zōng bù lùn nǎ yī mài de xiū xiān zhě ， yù jiàn lín xuān dōu gōng jìng yǐ jí 。
天璇剑尊好大的名气，如今却做了他的垫脚石，整个金丹峰可以说是扬眉吐气，云隐宗不论哪一脉的修仙者，遇见林轩都恭敬以极。
A few dozen feet ahead was a large cave entrance.
yǐ zhì yú zhè wèi wèi tā yǐn lù de shén qì fēng dì zǐ ， jìng rán huì jǐn zhāng dé dà hán lín lí 。
以至于这位为他引路的神器峰弟子，竟然会紧张得大汗淋漓。
It was pitch black inside with hot air blowing out and a small stone staircase leading down into the depths.
yào xiǎo de ， cǐ rén yě shì yī wèi lí hé qī xiū xiān zhě ， suī rán jiù shí lì lái shuō ， yǔ lín xuān wán quán bú shì yí gè shù liàng jí ， dàn yě zǎo dào le hán shǔ bù qīn de jìng dì 。
要晓得，此人也是一位离合期修仙者，虽然就实力来说，与林轩完全不是一个数量级，但也早到了寒暑不侵的境地。
There was nothing else.
cǐ shí cǐ kè ， huì hàn rú yǔ xià ， dāng rán shì jǐn zhāng yǔ hài pà le 。
此时此刻，会汗如雨下，当然是紧张与害怕了。
Lin Xuan hesitated briefly before stepping down. As his guide had said, this tunnel stretched over a thousand feet; the temperature increased as he went deeper. Even ordinary people couldn't withstand it, let alone possibly disintegrate to ashes.
fǎng fú tā shì fán rén yí gè ， ér zì jǐ què shì chī rén de lǎo hǔ 。
仿佛他是凡人一个，而自己却是吃人的老虎。
Even cultivators would likely activate their protective barriers. Lin Xuan paid no mind; his body's strength far surpassed that of his peers.
lín xuān dāng rán míng bái tā zài pà shén me ， biǎo miàn shàng què fēn háo yì sè bù lù ：“ hǎo ， nǐ kě yǐ zǒu le 。”
林轩当然明白他在怕什么，表面上却分毫异色不露：“好，你可以走了。”
After walking for some time, a stone house finally came into view.
“ duō xiè shī shū 。”
“多谢师叔。”
It was more fitting to call it an ancient temple than a simple stone house.
lǎo zhě chōng lín xuān xíng le yī lǐ ， suī rán jǐn liàng yǎn shì ， dàn biǎo qíng hái shì míng xiǎn sōng le kǒu qì ， suí hòu bì gōng bì jìng de tuì le chū qù 。
老者冲林轩行了一礼，虽然尽量掩饰，但表情还是明显松了口气，随后毕恭毕敬的退了出去。
Lin Xuan stopped and examined the structure before him.
zhè xiǎo xiǎo de chā qǔ ， lín xuān zì rán bú huì zài yì 。
这小小的插曲，林轩自然不会在意。
The style was clearly different from other buildings in Cloud Concealment Sect. It seemed heavy, ancient, and somewhat dilapidated.
tā tái qǐ tóu lú ， dǎ liàng qǐ yǎn qián de jǐng wù 。
他抬起头颅，打量起眼前的景物。
It was as if it were a significant building from ancient times but had long fallen into disuse.
cǐ shí yǐ jīng zài dì dǐ shēn chù ， shí tou dōu biàn chéng le shēn huī sè 。
此时已经在地底深处，石头都变成了深灰色。
"Is this the thirteenth layer's Earth Fire room?"
ér zài qián fāng shù zhàng yuǎn chù ， yǒu yí gè dà dòng 。
而在前方数丈远处，有一个大洞。
Lin Xuan's face showed surprise. For some reason, he felt an odd sensation when seeing the structure before him—both familiarity and repulsion, a contradiction that Lin Xuan couldn't explain.
cǐ dòng hēi hū hū de ， yǐn yǒu rè fēng chuī chū ， bìng yǒu yí gè bù dà de qīng shí tái jiē zhí tōng rù dì dǐ shēn chù 。
此洞黑乎乎的，隐有热风吹出，并有一个不大的青石台阶直通入地底深处。
His gaze lingered on it for what seemed like a long time until finally snapping back to reality.
chú cǐ yǐ wài ， jiù bié wú tā wù 。
除此以外，就别无他物。
What was he doing here?
lín xuān lüè yī chí yí ， rán hòu jiù mài bù zǒu le xià qù 。
林轩略一迟疑，然后就迈步走了下去。
Perhaps this temple had its own history, but who cared now? He was here to refine his命宝. Staring blankly at the structure didn't make sense.
zhào gāng cái nà yǐn lù dì zǐ suǒ yán ， cǐ dòng zhǎng qiān zhàng yǒu yú ， yuè wǎng lǐ zǒu ， wēn dù yě suí zhī yuè lái yuè gāo le ， ruò shì fán rén ， gēn běn chéng shòu bú zhù ， shèn zhì yǒu kě néng ， yǐ jīng huī fēi yān miè diào le 。
照刚才那引路弟子所言，此洞长千丈有余，越往里走，温度也随之越来越高了，若是凡人，根本承受不住，甚至有可能，已经灰飞烟灭掉了。
A self-deprecating smile played on Lin Xuan's face as he put aside his doubts and walked into the stone temple.
jiù shì xiū xiān zhě ， yě bì rán jiāng hù zhào jì chū ， lín xuān què bù zài hū ， tā shēn tǐ de qiáng dù ， qǐ shì tóng jiē xiū shì kě yǐ bǐ nǐ de 。
就是修仙者，也必然将护罩祭出，林轩却不在乎，他身体的强度，岂是同阶修士可以比拟的。
Inside, it was far more spacious than expected, yet empty. However, there were numerous carvings on the walls, mostly of a strange beast: a dragon's head, deer's body, ox's tail, with a single horn atop its head, covered in scales from head to toe.
yòu zǒu piàn kè ， qián fāng zhōng yú chū xiàn le yī zuò shí wū 。
又走片刻，前方终于出现了一座石屋。
Was this not a qilin?
shuō shì shí wū ， jiǎng chéng yī huāng gǔ de dà diàn gèng jiā shì hé 。
说是石屋，讲成一荒古的大殿更加适合。
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"Submit," the word barely left his lips when he suddenly widened his eyes. A black, ominous light pierced through him.
"You..."
The Soul Core of Yuan婴 lowered its head in disbelief, unable to accept what had just happened.
He, the Master of Sword Peak, a figure who had dominated the cultivation world for countless millennia, had fallen like this—without reason or cause.
Regret, fear, and hatred flashed through his mind. But it mattered not; he was already doomed to disintegrate into nothingness.
His consciousness began to fade as a gust of wind swept by, causing the Soul Core to rapidly crumble and freeze.
Sss...
The surrounding cultivators gasped in shock.
They certainly didn't believe Lin Xuan had been too slow. This was an open act of extermination.
Lin Xuan showed no regard for the sect's rules; he was a madman!
Just like the Sword Sovereign of Heavenly璇, who had perished due to his执念, Lin Xuan seemed unconcerned about the consequences of his actions. The two Senior Elders' warnings were mere clouds to him.
Lin Xuan didn't care much either.
This encounter had sealed an unbreakable enmity between them. Moreover, that old man was indeed formidable; while he couldn't defeat Lin Xuan in open combat, what if he tried a sneaky ambush?
Lin Xuan wasn't interested in constant vigilance. Killing the opponent was the most straightforward choice.
As for the consequences...
Even if the Sword Sovereign of Heavenly璇 had been at fault, and regardless of who was right or wrong, that old monster was dead. What could two Senior Elders do about it? Would they make him pay with his life?
That would be a foolish move.
Instead, because the Sword Sovereign of Heavenly璇 was gone, Lin Xuan's position would only grow more significant.
Thus, he felt secure.
As he turned around, the expressions of the surrounding cultivators were reduced to fear and admiration. The cultivation world was one where strength reigned supreme.
The dozens of Core Formation period cultivators from Sword Peak lowered their heads, avoiding eye contact with Lin Xuan.
Perhaps some harbored resentment, but after this battle, who would dare provoke him?
Unless they wanted to die!
Such fools didn't exist.
"Is it not so? I believe that in such a scenario, I should be considered the victor."
A faint voice entered his ears. The cultivators below nearly tripped over their feet; their faces were filled with bitter smiles. With the Sword Sovereign of Heavenly璇's Soul Core scattered to pieces, was Lin Xuan jesting?
"Haha, Brother Disciple, you are joking," the bald elder nodded and bowed. "With so many witnesses, naturally, you will be the ultimate victor."
"May I use the Purple Heart Earth Fire?"
"Certainly, after this incident, no one would dare compete with you for it."
"Indeed, Brother Disciple's powers are unparalleled in our sect. Aside from the two Senior Elders, there is no cultivator who can match you."
"The Golden Core Peak is fortunate to have Brother Disciple as its Master; I believe the prosperity of this lineage will be imminent."
...
Various voices echoed around him, praising and flattering Lin Xuan.
This battle not only allowed Lin Xuan to obtain Purple Heart Earth Fire but also established his authority in Cloud Concealment Sect.
...
Three days later.
"Uncle Disciple Lin, please follow me. Just walk another thousand feet down this passage, and you will reach the thirteenth layer's Earth Fire room. The purple heart earth fire is emitted from there. According to tradition, I can only bring you here; the rest of the way, you must continue along this tunnel."
An elder dressed in the attire of the Divine Artifact Peak bowed respectfully as he spoke.
Droplets of sweat could be seen on his forehead. Lin Xuan's reputation had soared after that battle. The Sword Sovereign of Heavenly璇's name was now a stepping stone for him, and the Golden Core Peak felt vindicated. Cultivators from any lineage in Cloud Concealment Sect showed extreme respect to Lin Xuan.
This led the Divine Artifact Peak disciple guiding him to be visibly nervous, sweating profusely.
Though he was a Separation Stage cultivator, his strength had long protected him from the elements. Yet, he was still trembling with fear and tension, as if he were a commoner while Lin Xuan was a tiger.
Lin Xuan understood what he feared but showed no reaction: "Alright, you may go."
"Thank you, Uncle Disciple."
The elder bowed to Lin Xuan before retreating, visibly relieved. This small incident didn't bother Lin Xuan as he looked around the surroundings.
They were deep underground now; even the rocks had turned dark gray.
A few dozen feet ahead was a large cave entrance.
It was pitch black inside with hot air blowing out and a small stone staircase leading down into the depths.
There was nothing else.
Lin Xuan hesitated briefly before stepping down. As his guide had said, this tunnel stretched over a thousand feet; the temperature increased as he went deeper. Even ordinary people couldn't withstand it, let alone possibly disintegrate to ashes.
Even cultivators would likely activate their protective barriers. Lin Xuan paid no mind; his body's strength far surpassed that of his peers.
After walking for some time, a stone house finally came into view.
It was more fitting to call it an ancient temple than a simple stone house.
Lin Xuan stopped and examined the structure before him.
The style was clearly different from other buildings in Cloud Concealment Sect. It seemed heavy, ancient, and somewhat dilapidated.
It was as if it were a significant building from ancient times but had long fallen into disuse.
"Is this the thirteenth layer's Earth Fire room?"
Lin Xuan's face showed surprise. For some reason, he felt an odd sensation when seeing the structure before him—both familiarity and repulsion, a contradiction that Lin Xuan couldn't explain.
His gaze lingered on it for what seemed like a long time until finally snapping back to reality.
What was he doing here?
Perhaps this temple had its own history, but who cared now? He was here to refine his命宝. Staring blankly at the structure didn't make sense.
A self-deprecating smile played on Lin Xuan's face as he put aside his doubts and walked into the stone temple.
Inside, it was far more spacious than expected, yet empty. However, there were numerous carvings on the walls, mostly of a strange beast: a dragon's head, deer's body, ox's tail, with a single horn atop its head, covered in scales from head to toe.
Was this not a qilin?
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