cǐ shān suī dǒu qiào xiǎn jùn ， gāo sǒng rù yún ， dàn yě bù guò bàn zhǎn chá de gōng fu ， liǎng rén jiù jiē jìn le shān dǐng 。【 bǐ qù gé gāo pǐn zhì gēng xīn 】
此山虽陡峭险峻，高耸入云，但也不过半盏茶的功夫，两人就接近了山顶。【笔趣阁高品质更新】
The mountain was steep and险峻, towering into the clouds. Yet it took only a short while for Lin Xuan and Lin Yu娇 to reach the peak. [High-quality update from Pen趣阁]
yún wù zài jiǎo xià piāo dàng ， fàng yǎn wàng qù ， bái yún duǒ duǒ ， yǎn yìng zhe qióng lóu yù yǔ bān de jiàn zhù 。
云雾在脚下飘荡，放眼望去，白云朵朵，掩映着琼楼玉宇般的建筑。
The mist swirled beneath their feet as they looked out over clouds like cotton balls, concealing magnificent buildings that resembled琼楼玉宇.
líng qì nóng yù ， lìng rén xīn kuàng shén yí ， hǎo yī pài shén xiān fú dì 。
灵气浓郁，令人心旷神怡，好一派神仙福地。
The air was thick with spiritual energy, making one feel refreshed and content—truly a paradise for immortals.
bù kuì shì fēn shén qī xiū shì de jū suǒ ， guǒ rán lìng rén xiàn mù 。
不愧是分神期修士的居所，果然令人羡慕。
No wonder this place belonged to a Spirit Cultivator of the Scatter Mind Stage. It was indeed enviable.
lín yù jiāo fǎng fú duì zhè ér hěn shú ， yóu qí yǐn lù ， hěn kuài ， liǎng rén jiù lái dào le yī qīng jìng zhī suǒ 。
林玉娇仿佛对这儿很熟，由其引路，很快，两人就来到了一清净之所。
Lin Yu娇 seemed familiar with these surroundings, leading them quickly to a secluded spot.
nà shì yī tán xiǎo hú ， wēi fēng fú guò ， hú shuǐ fàn qǐ bì bō ， yī páng de zhú lín yě yǒu shā shā de shēng yīn xiǎng guò ， xiāng yìng wēi qù ， yuè fā de xiǎn de yōu jìng yǐ jí 。
那是一潭小湖，微风拂过，湖水泛起碧波，一旁的竹林也有沙沙的声音响过，相映威趣，越发的显得幽静以极。
It was a small lake where ripples danced on the surface as a gentle breeze blew by. Nearby bamboo groves rustled softly, adding to the serene atmosphere.
liǎng gè rén yǐng zài hú biān chù lì 。
两个人影在湖边矗立。
Two figures stood by the lake.
yuǎn yuǎn wàng qù ， kě jiàn shì yī nán yī nǚ 。
远远望去，可见是一男一女。
From afar, one could see a man and a woman.
tā men jiù jìng jìng de zhàn zài nà lǐ ， shēn shàng bù dài fēn háo de líng lì ， rán ér lín xuān què tóng kǒng wēi suō ， fēn shén qī xiū tǔ de wēi yā ， tā yǐ zì rán ér rán de gǎn shòu dào le 。
他们就静静的站在那里，身上不带分毫的灵力，然而林轩却瞳孔微缩，分神期修土的威压，他已自然而然的感受到了。
They stood quietly, their bodies emitting no spiritual energy. Yet Lin Xuan's pupils constricted—this was the pressure of a Spirit Cultivator of the Scatter Mind Stage, which he naturally felt.
běn mén de liǎng wèi tài shàng zhǎng lǎo me ？
本门的两位太上长老么？
The two Senior Disciples of this sect?
lóng xìng shào nián lín xuān yǐ jīng jiàn guò 。
龙姓少年林轩已经见过。
After a moment, the woman with silver eyes smiled. "Overpraise."
ér páng biān de nǚ zǐ zé yào shén mì dé duō ， lín xuān jiā rù gāi pài suī rán bù jiǔ ， dàn yě liú yì guò ， rán ér suǒ jiē chù de xiū xiān zhě ， què lián cǐ nǚ de míng hào dōu bù xiǎo de 。
而旁边的女子则要神秘得多，林轩加入该派虽然不久，但也留意过，然而所接触的修仙者，却连此女的名号都不晓得。
"Senior, it is an honor," Lin Xuan replied, his tone more respectful than before.
cǐ shí fàng yǎn wàng qù ， cǐ nǚ bù guò èr shí chū tóu ， miàn róng juàn xiù ， qīng lì tuō sú ， yǔ lóng xìng shào nián yī yàng ， tā de ěr duǒ yě shì jiān jiān de ， tóng kǒng gèng shì cuǐ càn de yín sè 。
此时放眼望去，此女不过二十出头，面容隽秀，清丽脱俗，与龙姓少年一样，她的耳朵也是尖尖的，瞳孔更是璀璨的银色。
The woman's smile deepened as she said, "You killed the Sky Sword Peak headmaster in Tianfeng City, right? You harmed our fellow cultivators—don't you fear retribution?"
zhì yú xiū wèi ， hái yào gèng shèng yī chóu ， jū rán shì yī míng fèn shén zhōng qī de xiū xiān zhě 。
至于修为，还要更胜一筹，居然是一名分神中期的修仙者。
"If Senior wishes to punish me, why meet with me here?" Lin Xuan replied calmly. "I have already settled my score with Shi Brother."
lín xuān de yǎn zhōng shǎn guò yī sī yà sè ， yún yǐn zōng de liǎng míng tài shàng zhǎng lǎo ， jiù róng mào lái shuō ， shēn shàng jù yǒu de jū rán dōu bú shì chún cuì de rén lèi xuè tǒng ， zhè zhōng jiān ， jiū jìng yǐn cáng zhe zěn yàng de mì mì ne ？
林轩的眼中闪过一丝讶色，云隐宗的两名太上长老，就容貌来说，身上据有的居然都不是纯粹的人类血统，这中间，究竟隐藏着怎样的秘密呢？
The woman's expression changed as she pondered for a moment. "You're correct. But his body was destroyed, and he admitted defeat. Why did you still pursue him? He was the Sky Sword Peak headmaster—among our top cultivators at the Scatter Mind Stage. His destruction is a significant loss to us."
bù guò zhè ge niàn tou yě jǐn jǐn shì zài nǎo hǎi zhōng zhuǎn guò ， biǎo miàn shàng ， lín xuān shì bú huì xiǎn lù chū fēn háo lái de 。
不过这个念头也仅仅是在脑海中转过，表面上，林轩是不会显露出分毫来的。
"Senior's words are true," Lin Xuan agreed. "If it were me, would I have spared him?"
“ jiàn guò liǎng wèi shī shū 。”
“见过两位师叔。”
The silver-eyed woman fell silent for a moment before smiling. "Indeed, if I were you, I'd also want to eliminate the threat completely. After all, there's no room for compromise once an enemy is made."
lín xuān gōng shēn xíng le yī lǐ ， rán ér què zì yǒu yī gǔ bù kàng bù bēi de qì dù 。
林轩躬身行了一礼，然而却自有一股不亢不卑的气度。
Hearing this, Lin Xuan felt relieved internally despite his outward calm.
ér lín yù jiāo yǐ zhàn zài yī páng ， shēn fèn shì shén me ， lín xuān xiàn zài dōu méi yǒu zěn me nòng qīng chǔ 。
而林玉娇已站在一旁，身份是什么，林轩现在都没有怎么弄清楚。
With his current strength, he could probably escape from a Spirit Cultivator of the Scatter Mind Stage, but he didn't wish to antagonize such beings. Besides, he was living comfortably in Cloud Concealment Sect and had no reason to offend the Senior Disciples.
bù guò zhè yǐ jīng bú zhòng yào le 。
不过这已经不重要了。
"Senior, you need not worry about me. You were merely testing my resolve," Lin Xuan said with a bow.
nà yín tóng shào nǚ de mù guāng zài lín xuān shēn shàng sǎo guò ：“ nǐ jiù shì lín xuān me ？”
那银瞳少女的目光在林轩身上扫过：“你就是林轩么？”
The woman smiled. "Thank you for your honesty! Now, I have something important to ask of you."
“ bù cuò ， shì wǒ 。”
“不错，是我。”
Lin Xuan bowed again, his demeanor more respectful than before.
lín xuān bù kàng bù bēi de shēng yīn chuán rén ěr duǒ ， sī háo méi yǒu yì bān dòng xuán qī xiū shì gòu jiàn de huáng kǒng 。【 bǐ qù gé gāo pǐn zhì gēng xīn 】
林轩不亢不卑的声音传人耳朵，丝毫没有一般洞玄期修士觏见的惶恐。【笔趣阁高品质更新】
"The ancient demon of the Sky Corpse Sect was truly killed by you?"
bì jìng tiān shī mén de gǔ lǎo mó dōu sǐ zài tā de shǒu zhōng ， zhè zhǒng cún zài ， suī rán yī 1 rì ràng lín xuān cè mù ， dàn wēi xié què yě bìng bú shì nà me dà de 。
毕竟天尸门的古老魔都死在他的手中，这种存在，虽然依1日让林轩侧目，但威胁却也并不是那么大的。
"Indeed." Lin Xuan nodded. He couldn't afford to lie now that things had reached this stage.
shuō zhí bái yì diǎn ， zì jǐ rú guǒ zhēn jiāng suǒ yǒu de shí lì xiǎn lù ， yǔ tā men píng bèi lùn jiāo ， nà yě wèi bì shì bù kě néng de 。
说直白一点，自己如果真将所有的实力显露，与他们平辈论交，那也未必是不可能的。
The woman nodded in approval. "I believe your word. His life force and main treasure wouldn't have fallen into your hands otherwise. But your strength is commendable, yet a lone effort can't defeat a Spirit Cultivator of the Scatter Mind Stage. What happened in Tianfeng City? Please share all details."
“ nǐ hěn yǒu dǎn sè 。”
“你很有胆色。”
Lin Xuan took a deep breath before recounting the events. The two Senior Disciples listened intently as he exaggerated the power of the Seventh Elder of the Sky Sword Sect.
yín tóng shào nǚ de shēng yīn chuán rén ěr duǒ ， lǐ miàn sī háo gǎn qíng yě wú ， tīng bù chū xǐ nù 。
银瞳少女的声音传人耳朵，里面丝毫感情也无，听不出喜怒。
He claimed that the ancient demon was injured, making his own strength seem less impressive and more unremarkable in comparison.
“ shī shū guò yù le 。”
“师叔过誉了。”
"Wood that stands out will be felled," Lin Xuan thought. He didn't want to arouse suspicion from these two Senior Disciples by appearing too strong.
“ zěn me ， nǐ hái zhēn dàng chéng shì chēng zàn le ， xiǎo jiā huo ， tiān jiàn fēng zhǔ kě shì nǐ shā de ， cán hài tóng mén ， nán dào nǐ jiù bù pà běn gōng zhì nǐ de zuì me ？”
“怎么，你还真当成是称赞了，小家伙，天剑峰主可是你杀的，残害同门，难道你就不怕本宫治你的罪么？”
After he finished speaking, the woman's expression changed to one of approval. She waved her hand, and a light flew toward Lin Xuan, who caught it—it was a half-inch-long command token.
“ shī shū rú guǒ zhēn dǎ suàn nà me zuò ， yòu qǐ huì zài zhè lǐ jiàn wǒ ， hé kuàng wǒ yǔ shí shī xiōng de ēn yuàn rú hé ， qián yīn hòu guǒ ， xiǎng bì liǎng wèi dōu yǐ qīng qīng chǔ chǔ ， cuò ， bìng bù zài wǒ 。” lín xuān wēi wēi yī xiào de shuō ， sī háo bù dài jǐn zhāng zhī sè 。
“师叔如果真打算那么做，又岂会在这里见我，何况我与石师兄的恩怨如何，前因后果，想必两位都已清清楚楚，错，并不在我。”林轩微微一笑的说，丝毫不带紧张之色。
It was a pale silver color, and its material was unknown to Lin Xuan. The front had an intricate pattern while the back bore some inscriptions.
lín xuān de fǎn yìng ， ràng yín tóng shào nǚ de liǎn shàng yě lù chū jǐ fēn yì wài le ， chén yín piàn kè ：“ huà shì zhè me shuō méi cuò ， kě tiān xuán ròu shēn yǐ rán huǐ qù ， tā yě rèn shū ， nǐ wèi hé hái gǎn jìn shā jué ne ， yào xiǎo de ， tā kě shì tiān jiàn fēng zhǔ ， běn mén dòng xuán qī xiū shì zhōng ， dǐng ér jiān ér de rén wù ， nǐ jiāng tā miè chú ， duì yú běn mén lái shuō ， kě shì yī dà sǔn shī de 。”
林轩的反应，让银瞳少女的脸上也露出几分意外了，沉吟片刻：“话是这么说没错，可天璇肉身已然毁去，他也认输，你为何还赶尽杀绝呢，要晓得，他可是天剑峰主，本门洞玄期修士中，顶儿尖儿的人物，你将他灭除，对于本门来说，可是一大损失的。”
"Cloud Concealment Sect!"
“ shī shū suǒ yán bù cuò ， kě lín mǒu yě xiǎng qǐng wèn yī jù ， jiǎ ruò huàn zuò shì nǐ ， yǔ lín mǒu yì dì ér chǔ ， nà yòu rú hé ， shì fǒu huì jiāng tiān xuán fàng guò ？”
“师叔所言不错，可林某也想请问一句，假若换做是你，与林某易地而处，那又如何，是否会将天璇放过？”
The woman read out the inscription in a low voice.
lín xuān cǐ huà yī chū ， nà lóng xìng shào nián bó rán biàn sè …… zhè xiǎo zi dǎn ér gòu féi de ， huàn zuò zì jǐ ， yě bù gǎn rú cǐ yǔ shī jiě shuō huà de 。
林轩此话一出，那龙姓少年勃然变色……这小子胆儿够肥的，换做自己，也不敢如此与师姐说话的。
"What is this, Senior?" Lin Xuan asked.
rán ér nà yín tóng shào nǚ mò rán piàn kè ， què xiào le ：“ bù cuò ， huàn zuò shì wǒ ， yě yào zhǎn cǎo chú gēn ， jì rán rén yǐ jīng dé zuì ， sī háo huí xuán de yú dì yě wú ， nà dāng rán yào bù liú hòu huàn le 。”
然而那银瞳少女默然片刻，却笑了：“不错，换做是我，也要斩草除根，既然人已经得罪，丝毫回旋的余地也无，那当然要不留后患了。”
"It's the Cloud Concealment Token," she replied. "You've joined our sect recently, but you should know about it."
tīng cǐ nǚ zhè me yī shuō ， lín xuān biǎo miàn shàng suī fēn háo yì sè bù lù ， nèi xīn shēn chù ， què yě shì dà sōng le yì kǒu qì 。
听此女这么一说，林轩表面上虽分毫异色不露，内心深处，却也是大松了一口气。
Lin Xuan was stunned. "Cloud Concealment Token? I've heard of it. The Sky璇 Sword Venerable wanted one but couldn't get his hands on it."
suī rán yǐ zì jǐ rú jīn de shí lì ， duì shàng fēn shén qī xiū xiān zhě ， zhì bù jì yě yǒu bǎ wò táo tuō ， dàn lín xuān bì jìng bù xiǎng yǔ zhè zhǒng děng jí de cún zài jiāo wù ， hé kuàng tā zài yún yǐn zōng guò dé bù cuò ， jiù gèng méi yǒu bì yào kāi zuì tài shàng zhǎng lǎo le 。
虽然以自己如今的实力，对上分神期修仙者，至不济也有把握逃脱，但林轩毕竟不想与这种等级的存在交恶，何况他在云隐宗过得不错，就更没有必要开罪太上长老了。
The token was only given to top cultivators at the Scatter Mind Stage who had made significant contributions. Holding such a token elevated one's status within the sect, surpassing even the Five Great Sects' heads and second only to Senior Disciples.
“ hǎo le ， lín shī zhí ， nǐ yě bù yòng tài guò zài yì ， běn gōng gāng cái bù guò shì shì shì nǐ de dǎn shí xīn xìng ér yǐ ， nǐ hěn hǎo ， hěn bú cuò 。” yín tóng shào nǚ tū rán zhǎn yán yī xiào de kāi kǒu le 。
“好了，林师侄，你也不用太过在意，本宫刚才不过是试试你的胆识心性而已，你很好，很不错。”银瞳少女突然展颜一笑的开口了。
In other words, Lin Xuan was now among the elite of the sect.
“ duō xiè shī shū ！”
“多谢师叔！”
"Senior, what is your intention?"
lín xuān wān yāo xíng lǐ ， rú jīn de shén tài fǎn ér bǐ xiān qián gōng jìng yī xiē 。
林轩弯腰行礼，如今的神态反而比先前恭敬一些。
Lin Xuan's excitement quickly faded as he remained calm. The woman noticed his composure and nodded inwardly—his ability to maintain his cool was impressive.
yín tóng shào nǚ de liǎn shàng lù chū jǐ fēn xiào yì ：“ lín shī zhí ， wǒ zhè cì chuán zhào ， shì yǒu yī xiē shì qíng ， xiǎng yào wèn nǐ ， hái wàng shī zhí tǎn chéng xiāng gào cái shì 。”” shī shū kè qì le ， nín yǒu shén me huà ， jǐn guǎn shuō ， shī zhí wǒ yí dìng shì zhī wú bù yán ， yán wú bù jìn de 。”
银瞳少女的脸上露出几分笑意：“林师侄，我这次传召，是有一些事情，想要问你，还望师侄坦诚相告才是。””师叔客气了，您有什么话，尽管说，师侄我一定是知无不言，言无不尽的。”
"You asked about the contribution points for killing an ancient demon during the exchange ceremony. Master Lin couldn't answer because it was unprecedented. But I can, this achievement is too significant to be rewarded with mere contribution points."
“ hǎo ， yǒu shī zhí zhè jù huà jiù xíng le ， wǒ lái wèn nǐ ， tiān shī mén de gǔ lǎo mó ， zhēn de shì sǐ zài nǐ de shǒu zhōng ？”
“好，有师侄这句话就行了，我来问你，天尸门的古老魔，真的是死在你的手中？”
"Thank you, Senior," Lin Xuan said humbly. "But killing that ancient demon was just luck—"
“ bù cuò 。” lín xuān diǎn le diǎn tóu ， dī diào suī rán shì tā de yuán zé ， rán ér shì qíng dào le zhè yī bù ， yǐ jīng róng bù dé tā gǎi kǒu le 。
“不错。”林轩点了点头，低调虽然是他的原则，然而事情到了这一步，已经容不得他改口了。
The woman smiled. "You're modest, but I'm clear about rewards and punishments. However, the rarity of the Cloud Concealment Token isn't just for killing an ancient demon—it requires more."
“ ń ， wǒ xiǎng shī zhí yě bú huì sā huǎng ， ruò bú shì miè chú lǎo mó ， tā de běn mìng fǎ bǎo ， yě bù kě néng luò zài nǐ de shǒu zhōng ， bù guò lín shī zhí ， nǐ de shí lì suī rán bù cuò ， dàn dān qiāng pǐ mǎ de ， kěn dìng bù néng jī shā fēn shén qī xiū xiān zhě ， zài tiān fēng chéng ， nǐ men jiū jìng yù jiàn le shén me ， kě fǒu xiàng wǒ xiáng xì dào lái me ？”
“嗯，我想师侄也不会撒谎，若不是灭除老魔，他的本命法宝，也不可能落在你的手中，不过林师侄，你的实力虽然不错，但单枪匹马的，肯定不能击杀分神期修仙者，在天风城，你们究竟遇见了什么，可否像我详细道来么？”
"What else?" Lin Xuan asked curiously.
lín xuān mò rán piàn kè ， zhōng yú tàn le yì kǒu qì de kāi kǒu le ：“ shī shū jì rán xiǎng yào xiǎo de ， shī zhí yòu zěn gǎn bù shuō ， shì qíng shì zhè yàng de …．． yí gè shí chén yǐ hòu ， liǎng wèi tài shàng zhǎng lǎo jiē diǎn le diǎn tóu ， lín xuān de jiǎng shù fēi cháng xiáng xì ， dāng rán ， tā kè yì kuā dà le tiān fēng chéng qī zhǎng lǎo de shí lì 。
林轩默然片刻，终于叹了一口气的开口了：“师叔既然想要晓得，师侄又怎敢不说，事情是这样的…．．一个时辰以后，两位太上长老皆点了点头，林轩的讲述非常详细，当然，他刻意夸大了天风城七长老的实力。
"If my guess is correct, that ancient demon didn't stay in the Sky Corpse Sect's main hall; he went to Tianfeng City and caused chaos. This is unusual—there must be a connection with you," she said with a smile. "I heard you snatched a cauldron from him during the Ten Thousand Treasures Conference."
bìng qiě huǎng chēng lǎo guài wù shēn shàng běn lái jiù yǒu shāng ， rú cǐ yī lái ， cǐ xiāo bǐ zhǎng ， zài tā de xù shù lǐ ， zì jǐ de shí lì jiù bèi xuē ruò le xǔ duō ， bù nà me yǐn rén zhù yì le 。
并且谎称老怪物身上本来就有伤，如此一来，此消彼长，在他的叙述里，自己的实力就被削弱了许多，不那么引人注意了。
Lin Xuan's eyes widened slightly, impressed by how well-informed his opponents were.
mù xiù yú lín ， fēng bì cuī zhī ， lín xuān kě bù xiǎng yún yǐn zōng de liǎng míng lǎo guài wù ， duì zì jǐ qǐ shén me fáng fàn de xīn lǐ ， jiāng zì jǐ shuō dé ruò yī xiē ， guǒ rán dǎ xiāo le tā men de yí lǜ 。
木秀于林，风必摧之，林轩可不想云隐宗的两名老怪物，对自己起什么防范的心理，将自己说得弱一些，果然打消了他们的疑虑。
"Merely good fortune," he replied.
tīng lín xuān xù shù wán bì ， yín tóng shào nǚ de liǎn shàng lù chū jǐ fēn zàn xǔ ， tū rán yù shǒu yī fú ， yī dào guāng huá fēi lüè ér chū ， lín xuān shēn shǒu jiē zhù ， què shì yí bàn gè bā zhǎng dà xiǎo de lìng fú 。
听林轩叙述完毕，银瞳少女的脸上露出几分赞许，突然玉手一拂，一道光华飞掠而出，林轩伸手接住，却是一半个巴掌大小的令符。
"You're modest, but I know better. Didn't you intentionally lead him to Tianfeng City?" she asked with a smile. Lin Xuan cursed inwardly—these old fellows were too sharp.
chéng dàn yín sè ， lín xuān yě kàn bù chū shì shén me cái liào liàn zhì ér wēi le ， zhèng miàn de huā wén fēi cháng qí tè ， bèi miàn què yǒu jǐ gè zhuàn wén diāo zhuó 。
呈淡银色，林轩也看不出是什么材料炼制而威了，正面的花纹非常奇特，背面却有几个篆文雕琢。
The woman continued, "Killing an ancient demon alone isn't enough for such a reward. But by making the transformed beings enemies of the Sky Corpse Sect and causing their downfall, you've done more than just that. Even if these transformed beings aren't significant in the grand scheme, dealing with one sect is still challenging. And now, with another Senior Disciple's death, they're already struggling—our actions will ensure their removal from the Five Great Sects of Tianxiang Prefecture."
“ yún yǐn zōng ！”
“云隐宗！”
"Indeed," Lin Xuan nodded.
nà jǐ gè zhuàn wén lín xuān zì rán shí dé ， xiǎo shēng de niàn chū 。
那几个篆文林轩自然识得，小声的念出。
The Sky Corpse Sect's downfall was inevitable, as he had anticipated. [To be continued]
The mountain was steep and险峻, towering into the clouds. Yet it took only a short while for Lin Xuan and Lin Yu娇 to reach the peak. [High-quality update from Pen趣阁]
The mist swirled beneath their feet as they looked out over clouds like cotton balls, concealing magnificent buildings that resembled琼楼玉宇.
The air was thick with spiritual energy, making one feel refreshed and content—truly a paradise for immortals.
No wonder this place belonged to a Spirit Cultivator of the Scatter Mind Stage. It was indeed enviable.
Lin Yu娇 seemed familiar with these surroundings, leading them quickly to a secluded spot.
It was a small lake where ripples danced on the surface as a gentle breeze blew by. Nearby bamboo groves rustled softly, adding to the serene atmosphere.
Two figures stood by the lake.
From afar, one could see a man and a woman.
They stood quietly, their bodies emitting no spiritual energy. Yet Lin Xuan's pupils constricted—this was the pressure of a Spirit Cultivator of the Scatter Mind Stage, which he naturally felt.
The two Senior Disciples of this sect?
After a moment, the woman with silver eyes smiled. "Overpraise."
"Senior, it is an honor," Lin Xuan replied, his tone more respectful than before.
The woman's smile deepened as she said, "You killed the Sky Sword Peak headmaster in Tianfeng City, right? You harmed our fellow cultivators—don't you fear retribution?"
"If Senior wishes to punish me, why meet with me here?" Lin Xuan replied calmly. "I have already settled my score with Shi Brother."
The woman's expression changed as she pondered for a moment. "You're correct. But his body was destroyed, and he admitted defeat. Why did you still pursue him? He was the Sky Sword Peak headmaster—among our top cultivators at the Scatter Mind Stage. His destruction is a significant loss to us."
"Senior's words are true," Lin Xuan agreed. "If it were me, would I have spared him?"
The silver-eyed woman fell silent for a moment before smiling. "Indeed, if I were you, I'd also want to eliminate the threat completely. After all, there's no room for compromise once an enemy is made."
Hearing this, Lin Xuan felt relieved internally despite his outward calm.
With his current strength, he could probably escape from a Spirit Cultivator of the Scatter Mind Stage, but he didn't wish to antagonize such beings. Besides, he was living comfortably in Cloud Concealment Sect and had no reason to offend the Senior Disciples.
"Senior, you need not worry about me. You were merely testing my resolve," Lin Xuan said with a bow.
The woman smiled. "Thank you for your honesty! Now, I have something important to ask of you."
Lin Xuan bowed again, his demeanor more respectful than before.
"The ancient demon of the Sky Corpse Sect was truly killed by you?"
"Indeed." Lin Xuan nodded. He couldn't afford to lie now that things had reached this stage.
The woman nodded in approval. "I believe your word. His life force and main treasure wouldn't have fallen into your hands otherwise. But your strength is commendable, yet a lone effort can't defeat a Spirit Cultivator of the Scatter Mind Stage. What happened in Tianfeng City? Please share all details."
Lin Xuan took a deep breath before recounting the events. The two Senior Disciples listened intently as he exaggerated the power of the Seventh Elder of the Sky Sword Sect.
He claimed that the ancient demon was injured, making his own strength seem less impressive and more unremarkable in comparison.
"Wood that stands out will be felled," Lin Xuan thought. He didn't want to arouse suspicion from these two Senior Disciples by appearing too strong.
After he finished speaking, the woman's expression changed to one of approval. She waved her hand, and a light flew toward Lin Xuan, who caught it—it was a half-inch-long command token.
It was a pale silver color, and its material was unknown to Lin Xuan. The front had an intricate pattern while the back bore some inscriptions.
"Cloud Concealment Sect!"
The woman read out the inscription in a low voice.
"What is this, Senior?" Lin Xuan asked.
"It's the Cloud Concealment Token," she replied. "You've joined our sect recently, but you should know about it."
Lin Xuan was stunned. "Cloud Concealment Token? I've heard of it. The Sky璇 Sword Venerable wanted one but couldn't get his hands on it."
The token was only given to top cultivators at the Scatter Mind Stage who had made significant contributions. Holding such a token elevated one's status within the sect, surpassing even the Five Great Sects' heads and second only to Senior Disciples.
In other words, Lin Xuan was now among the elite of the sect.
"Senior, what is your intention?"
Lin Xuan's excitement quickly faded as he remained calm. The woman noticed his composure and nodded inwardly—his ability to maintain his cool was impressive.
"You asked about the contribution points for killing an ancient demon during the exchange ceremony. Master Lin couldn't answer because it was unprecedented. But I can, this achievement is too significant to be rewarded with mere contribution points."
"Thank you, Senior," Lin Xuan said humbly. "But killing that ancient demon was just luck—"
The woman smiled. "You're modest, but I'm clear about rewards and punishments. However, the rarity of the Cloud Concealment Token isn't just for killing an ancient demon—it requires more."
"What else?" Lin Xuan asked curiously.
"If my guess is correct, that ancient demon didn't stay in the Sky Corpse Sect's main hall; he went to Tianfeng City and caused chaos. This is unusual—there must be a connection with you," she said with a smile. "I heard you snatched a cauldron from him during the Ten Thousand Treasures Conference."
Lin Xuan's eyes widened slightly, impressed by how well-informed his opponents were.
"Merely good fortune," he replied.
"You're modest, but I know better. Didn't you intentionally lead him to Tianfeng City?" she asked with a smile. Lin Xuan cursed inwardly—these old fellows were too sharp.
The woman continued, "Killing an ancient demon alone isn't enough for such a reward. But by making the transformed beings enemies of the Sky Corpse Sect and causing their downfall, you've done more than just that. Even if these transformed beings aren't significant in the grand scheme, dealing with one sect is still challenging. And now, with another Senior Disciple's death, they're already struggling—our actions will ensure their removal from the Five Great Sects of Tianxiang Prefecture."
"Indeed," Lin Xuan nodded.
The Sky Corpse Sect's downfall was inevitable, as he had anticipated. [To be continued]