jiāng shí wū nèi de xiū shì yī yī dǎ liàng zhī hòu ， lín xuān shuāng yǎn yī bì ， kāi shǐ yǎng qǐ le shén lái ， rán ér xīn zhōng què pǒ wèi yà rán 。
将石屋内的修士一一打量之后，林轩双眼一闭，开始养起了神来，然而心中却颇为讶然。
After carefully surveying the cultivators in the stone house, Lin Xuan closed his eyes and began to cultivate his spirit. However, he was somewhat surprised.
nà ge tián xiǎo jiàn jū rán bù zài ！
那个田小剑居然不在！
That Tiao Xiaojian wasn't here!
suī rán bù qīng chǔ zhè xiǎo zi jiū jìng shì hé lái lì ， dàn lín xuān kě yǐ kěn dìng yì diǎn ， zhè xiǎo zi jué bú shì pǔ tōng de shì jiā zǐ dì 。
虽然不清楚这小子究竟是何来历，但林轩可以肯定一点，这小子绝不是普通的世家子弟。
Although Lin Xuan didn’t know precisely where this young man came from, he could be certain that he was no ordinary family’s offspring. His cultivation level made even Lin Xuan feel some apprehension. It was unreasonable for him to not return. What had gone wrong?
tā de yī shēn xiū wèi ， lián zì jǐ yě pǒ yǒu jǐ fēn jì dàn ， àn lǐ shuō ， bù kě néng huí bù lái ， jiū jìng shì nǎ lǐ chū le gǔ guài ？
他的一身修为，连自己也颇有几分忌惮，按理说，不可能回不来，究竟是哪里出了古怪？
Just as Lin Xuan pondered silently, Zhou Hai's voice rang out: "Good, three hours have passed. Other fellow daoists haven’t returned yet. Looks like they perished while searching for the Wood Spirit Fruit. I am deeply saddened..."
zhèng dāng lín xuān àn àn sī liáng de shí hòu ， zhōu hǎi de shēng yīn xiǎng le qǐ lái ：“ hǎo ， sān gè shí chén yǐ dào ， qí tā dào yǒu shàng wèi huí zhuǎn ， kàn lái shì zài xún zhǎo mù líng guǒ de tú zhōng yǔn luò le ， běn rén bù shèng bēi āi ……”
正当林轩暗暗思量的时候，周海的声音响了起来：“好，三个时辰已到，其他道友尚未回转，看来是在寻找木灵果的途中陨落了，本人不胜悲哀……”
As Zhou Hai spoke, he faked a few tears, which made the cultivators below frown. The proposal to make everyone kill each other was initiated by the Tianmu Sect, but now it seemed like Zhou Hai was crying over spilled milk. However, before his words were finished, another teleportation array lit up.
zhōu hǎi yī biān shuō ， yī biān zhēn jiǎ rén jiǎ yì de jǐ chū le jǐ dī yǎn lèi lái ， zhè ràng xià miàn de xiū shì àn àn zhòu méi ， ràng zhòng rén zì xiāng cán shā de tí yì běn lái jiù shì tiān mù pài chū lái ， xiàn zài què zài zhè lǐ māo kū hào zi ， rán ér zhōu hǎi de huà shàng wèi shuō wán ， páng biān de chuán sòng zhèn yòu liàng le qǐ lái 。
周海一边说，一边真假仁假义的挤出了几滴眼泪来，这让下面的修士暗暗皱眉，让众人自相残杀的提议本来就是天目派出来，现在却在这里猫哭耗子，然而周海的话尚未说完，旁边的传送阵又亮了起来。
A dazzling white light appeared, and an image gradually became clear. Handsome and tall, this must be Tiao Xiaojian!
yī zhèn bái guāng yào yǎn guò hòu ， yí gè rén yǐng zhú jiàn qīng xī qǐ lái ， yīng jùn tǐng bá ， zhǎng shēn yù lì ， bù zhèng shì tián xiǎo jiàn shì shuí ？
一阵白光耀眼过后，一个人影逐渐清晰起来，英俊挺拔，长身玉立，不正是田小剑是谁？
Although he looked rather disheveled at the moment, he still wore a cheerful expression, waving to everyone: "Sorry, sorry! Brother has some matters to attend to; I was slightly late."
suī rán cǐ shí de tā xíng róng pǒ wèi láng bèi ， dàn yī rán shì yī fù xiào xī xī ， háo bù zài yì de biǎo qíng ， chōng sì zhōu bào le bào quán ：“ bào qiàn ， bào qiàn ， xiǎo dì yǒu shì dān gē ， shāo wēi huí lái wǎn le 。”
虽然此时的他形容颇为狼狈，但依然是一副笑嘻嘻，毫不在意的表情，冲四周抱了抱拳：“抱歉，抱歉，小弟有事耽搁，稍微回来晚了。”
Tiao Xiaojian's oily demeanor made Zhou Hai pause. However, he quickly recovered and smiled, saying, "Friend Tiao is safe and sound—what a pity!"
tā zhè fù yóu qiāng huá diào de biǎo qíng ràng zhōu hǎi yī zhì ， bù guò suí jí jiù huī fù rú cháng ， fǔ xū xiào dào ：“ tián dào yǒu píng ān wú shì ， kě xī kě hè 。”
他这副油腔滑调的表情让周海一窒，不过随即就恢复如常，抚须笑道：“田道友平安无事，可惜可贺。”
"Lin Big Brother!"
“ lín dà gē ！”
“林大哥！”
Tiao Xiaojian looked up and immediately noticed Lin Xuan, walking over with a smile.
tián xiǎo jiàn tái tóu lüè yī dǎ liàng ， lì kè jiù fā xiàn le lín xuān ， mǎn miàn xiào róng de zǒu le guò lái 。
田小剑抬头略一打量，立刻就发现了林轩，满面笑容的走了过来。
His actions drew the attention of other cultivators in the house. Several even widened their eyes. These two were not only too young but also had just successfully established their foundation. However, it seemed that they remembered something, turning their heads with contempt.
tā dì zhè fān jǔ dòng 。 yǐn dé wū nèi dì xiū shì yī zhèn cè mù 。\\\\ gèng yǒu jǐ rén dèng dà le yǎn zhū 。 zhè liǎng gè rén 。 bù jǐn nián qīng dé guò fèn 。 ér qiě yī shēn líng lì xiū wèi 。 fēn míng cái gāng gāng zhù jī chéng gōng 。 bù guò suí jí fǎng fú yòu xiǎng qǐ shén me 。 liǎn dài qīng shì dì zhuǎn guò tóu 。
他地这番举动。引得屋内地修士一阵侧目。\\\\更有几人瞪大了眼珠。这两个人。不仅年轻得过分。而且一身灵力修为。分明才刚刚筑基成功。不过随即仿佛又想起什么。脸带轻视地转过头。
These two probably lacked courage and regretted entering the teleportation array. They didn't participate in the competition for the Wood Spirit Fruit; instead, they hid on the side, waiting until the time was up to sneak back.
zhè liǎng gè rén duō bàn dǎn xiǎo rú shǔ 。 chuán sòng jìn qù jiù hòu huǐ le 。 méi yǒu cān jiā mù líng guǒ dì qiǎng duó 。 ér shì duǒ zài yī biān 。 děng dào le shí jiān zài tōu tōu dì chuán sòng huí lái 。
这两个人多半胆小如鼠。传送进去就后悔了。没有参加木灵果地抢夺。而是躲在一边。等到了时间再偷偷地传送回来。
Facing everyone's disdainful gazes, Tiao Xiaojian still wore a cheerful expression. Lin Xuan remained calm, smiling faintly and chatting idly with Tiao Xiaojian.
miàn duì zhòng rén miè shì dì mù guāng 。 tián xiǎo jiàn yī rán shì yī fù xiào xī xī dì mú yàng 。 ér lín xuān zé shén sè rú cháng 。 dàn rán yī xiào zhī hòu 。 jiù yǔ tián xiǎo jiàn xū yǔ wēi yí dì liáo qǐ le tiān lái 。
面对众人蔑视地目光。田小剑依然是一副笑嘻嘻地模样。而林轩则神色如常。淡然一笑之后。就与田小剑虚与委蛇地聊起了天来。
Originally, Lin Xuan had wanted to ask about why cultivators were willing to fight to the death for such a trivial matter as a spot at the transaction meeting. Even with his deep thoughts, he was very curious about the reason behind it. However, before he could speak, one of the Tianmu Sect's cultivators coughed and walked up to a table.
yuán běn hái xiǎng dǎ tīng yī xià 。 wèi le qū qū yí gè cān jiā jiāo yì huì dì míng é 。 xiū shì men wèi hé nòng dé yǐ mìng xiàng bó 。 jí biàn yǐ lín xuān dì chéng fǔ 。 yě duì zhè qí zhōng dì yuán yīn shí fēn hào qí 。 rán ér shàng wèi kāi kǒu 。 nà tiān mù pài dì xiū shì què xiān ké sòu le yī shēng 。 mài bù zǒu dào le yī zhāng zhuō zi dì qián miàn 。
原本还想打听一下。为了区区一个参加交易会地名额。修士们为何弄得以命相搏。即便以林轩地城府。也对这其中地原因十分好奇。然而尚未开口。那天目派地修士却先咳嗽了一声。迈步走到了一张桌子地前面。
"Safe return, fellow daoists! I am delighted. Now, please hand over your Wood Spirit Fruits according to the rules we agreed upon earlier. The top three can participate in the transaction meeting hosted by the senior condensation core cultivators."
“ zhū wèi dào yǒu píng ān guī lái 。 zài xià shí fēn xīn xǐ 。 xiàn zài dà jiā jiāng shǒu lǐ suǒ huò dì mù líng guǒ jiāo shàng lái 。 àn zhào xiān qián suǒ dìng dì guī jǔ 。 zuì duō dì sān wèi dào yǒu kě yǐ huò dé cān jiā níng dān qī qián bèi men jiāo yì huì dì zī gé 。”
“诸位道友平安归来。在下十分欣喜。现在大家将手里所获地木灵果交上来。按照先前所定地规矩。最多地三位道友可以获得参加凝丹期前辈们交易会地资格。”
Before he finished speaking, the large man wearing a crimson robe walked up and took out a storage bag from his waist. He opened it, and a small pile of Wood Spirit Fruits tumbled out. There weren’t many—only about ten. However, the other cultivators all showed envious and jealous expressions.
huà yīn wèi luò 。 nà shēn chuān chì hóng sè cháng páo dì dà hàn jiù zǒu le shàng lái 。 cóng yāo jiān qǔ xià yī zhī chǔ wù dài 。 dài kǒu dǎ kāi 。 huā lā lā 。 dào chū le yī xiǎo duī mù líng guǒ chū lái 。 shù liàng yě bù suàn tài duō 。 yě jiù shí jǐ gè 。 dàn xià miàn dì zhòng xiū shì 。 wú bù lù chū yòu xiàn yòu dù dì shén sè 。
话音未落。那身穿赤红色长袍地大汉就走了上来。从腰间取下一只储物袋。袋口打开。哗啦啦。倒出了一小堆木灵果出来。数量也不算太多。也就十几个。但下面地众修士。无不露出又羡又妒地神色。
Using his divine sense to scan them, Zhou Hai then said in a congratulatory tone, "Friend Xu Han, you collected twelve Wood Spirit Fruits. If there are no surprises, you should get one spot. Fellow daoists, please hand over your harvests as well."
zhōu hǎi yòng shén shí yī sǎo ， rán hòu jiù yòng gōng xǐ de yǔ qì dào ：“ zhè wèi xǔ hàn xǔ dào yǒu ， yī gòng zhāi qǔ le shí èr méi mù líng guǒ ， rú guǒ bù chū yì wài de huà ， yīng gāi kě yǐ huò dé yí gè míng é ， qí tā dào yǒu ， yě kě yǐ jiǎng nǐ men de shǒu lǐ dì shōu huò ， jiāo shàng lái le 。”
周海用神识一扫，然后就用恭喜的语气道：“这位许翰许道友，一共摘取了十二枚木灵果，如果不出意外的话，应该可以获得一个名额，其他道友，也可以讲你们的手里地收获，交上来了。”
The remaining cultivators seemed less confident and waited for a long time before a thin, balding man stepped forward. His storage bag opened to reveal only two fruits.
shèng xià de xiū shì 。 xìn xīn míng xiǎn bù zú ， děng le liáng jiǔ ， cái yǒu yī míng shēn cái shòu xiǎo ， tóu fà huā bái de xiū shì zǒu shàng qián lái ， chǔ wù dài dǎ kāi ， lǐ miàn què zhǐ yǒu liǎng méi guǒ zi ér yǐ 。
剩下的修士。信心明显不足，等了良久，才有一名身材瘦小，头发花白的修士走上前来，储物袋打开，里面却只有两枚果子而已。
The rest either had one or none. The most amusing were the two who stood there with cold glares on their faces, covered in wounds. They approached each other like roosters, but one held half a fruit. It seemed they had fought over it and ended up splitting it, both returning together without resolving the dispute.
shèng xià dì huò yī méi ， huò zhě méi yǒu ， zuì kě xiào de shì yǒu liǎng gè xiū shì ， yì zhí héng méi lěng duì 。 shēn shàng shāng hén lěi lěi 。 liǎng rén rú dòu jī bān de zǒu shàng qián ， què yī rén de shǒu lǐ 。 niē zhe bàn méi guǒ zi ， kàn lái liǎng rén kěn dìng wèi zhēng duó cǐ wù ， céng jīng dà dǎ chū shǒu ， zuì hòu de jié guǒ ， què shì bàn jīn bā liǎng ， shàng wèi fēn chū shèng fù ， jiù gè zì qiǎng le yí bàn ， yì qǐ chuán sòng huí lái 。
剩下地或一枚，或者没有，最可笑的是有两个修士，一直横眉冷对。身上伤痕累累。两人如斗鸡般的走上前，却一人的手里。捏着半枚果子，看来两人肯定为争夺此物，曾经大打出手，最后的结果，却是半斤八两，尚未分出胜负，就各自抢了一半，一起传送回来。
Zhou Hai was also taken aback, offering some consolation to them, though they were clearly out of the running.
nà zhōu hǎi yě yǒu xiē è rán ， ān wèi le tā men jǐ jù ， bù guò liǎng rén xiǎn rán huì bèi táo tài chū jú 。
那周海也有些愕然，安慰了他们几句，不过两人显然会被淘汰出局。
Looking at the Wood Spirit Fruits in front of him, Zhou Hai frowned. There were fewer than expected. However, he didn’t doubt anything; perhaps some cultivators had perished together, leaving the fruits behind.
kàn zhe shēn qián de mù líng guǒ ， zhōu hǎi zhòu le zhòu méi ， bǐ yù xiǎng de yào shǎo dé duō ， dàn tā yě méi yǒu huái yí ， huò xǔ yǒu de xiū shì tóng guī yú jìn ， guǒ zi què zuì zhōng liú zài nà lǐ ， méi yǒu dài huí lái 。
看着身前的木灵果，周海皱了皱眉，比预想的要少得多，但他也没有怀疑，或许有的修士同归于尽，果子却最终留在那里，没有带回来。
"Looks like only Friend Xu Han has any harvests. Now I will announce who got the three spots..."
“ kàn lái chú le xǔ hàn dào yǒu ， qí tā tóng dào dōu méi yǒu shén me shōu huò ， xiàn zài wǒ lái xuān bù shì nǎ sān rén huò qǔ le cān jiā de míng é ……”
“看来除了许翰道友，其他同道都没有什么收获，现在我来宣布是哪三人获取了参加的名额……”
The thin man was both surprised and delighted. He originally thought two fruits wouldn’t be enough but was pleasantly surprised by others' even more meager results.
nà shēn cái shòu xiǎo dì xiū shì yòu jīng yòu xǐ ， yuán běn yǐ wéi liǎng méi guǒ zi kěn dìng méi xì ， méi xiǎng dào bié rén de shōu huò gèng jiā kě lián 。
那身材瘦小地修士又惊又喜，原本以为两枚果子肯定没戏，没想到别人的收获更加可怜。
As for the other three who each handed over one fruit, they were filled with hostility towards each other. Apart from Xu Han and the thin old man, there was still a spot left. The three of them had tied, whether or not to have another round, but they all aimed to secure that transaction meeting spot.
zhì yú lìng wài sān gè dōu zhǐ jiāo shàng yī méi mù líng guǒ zhī rén ， zé xiāng hù zhī jiān chōng mǎn le dí yì ， chú le xǔ hàn yǔ shòu xiǎo lǎo zhě ， zuì hòu hái shèng yí gè míng é ， sān rén què shì píng shǒu ， shì bú shì hái yào zài dǎ yī jú ， zǒng zhī nà jiāo yì huì de míng é tā men zhì zài bì děi 。
至于另外三个都只交上一枚木灵果之人，则相互之间充满了敌意，除了许翰与瘦小老者，最后还剩一个名额，三人却是平手，是不是还要再打一局，总之那交易会的名额他们志在必得。
They didn’t know if坊市间的 rumors were true, but the news was too tempting. Even with just a one percent chance, they couldn’t afford to miss it...
sān rén bù zhī dào fāng shì jiān de chuán yán shì bú shì zhēn de ， dàn nà xiāo xī tài yòu rén le ， nǎ pà yǒu bǎi fēn zhī yī de xī wàng ， yě jué bù néng cuò guò ……
三人不知道坊市间的传言是不是真的，但那消息太诱人了，哪怕有百分之一的希望，也绝不能错过……
The three eagerly waited for Zhou Hai to finish speaking. However, before he could do so, a lazy voice rang out: "Wait! Lin Big Brother and I haven't handed over our Wood Spirit Fruits yet. Why are you in such a hurry?"
sān rén yǎn bā bā de děng zhe zhōu hǎi shuō wán ， rán ér huà yīn wèi luò ， yí gè lǎn yáng yáng de shēng yīn xiǎng qǐ lái le ：“ děng děng ， wǒ hé lín dà gē hái méi yǒu shàng jiāo mù líng guǒ ， nǐ men huāng shén me 。”
三人眼巴巴的等着周海说完，然而话音未落，一个懒洋洋的声音响起来了：“等等，我和林大哥还没有上交木灵果，你们慌什么。”
"Us?"
“ nǐ men ？”
“你们？”
Other cultivators looked at them with hostility, but more with suspicion. Not only Zhou Hai was surprised; Tiao Xiaojian and Lin Xuan were merely at the initial stage of foundation establishment. Could they have also collected fruits? At first, he too thought that the two were cowardly and had hidden.
qí tā xiū shì de mù guāng chōng mǎn le dí yì ， rán ér gèng duō dì què shì huái yí ， bù shuō tā men ， zhōu hǎi yī yàng yǒu xiē cuò è ， tián xiǎo jiàn yǔ lín xuān bù guò qū qū zhù jī chū qī de xiū wèi ér yǐ ， nán dào yě néng cǎi dào guǒ shí ， yī kāi shǐ ， biàn shì tā yě yǐ wéi liǎng rén tān shēng pà sǐ ， duǒ le qǐ lái ， cái méi yǒu yǔn luò 。
其他修士的目光充满了敌意，然而更多地却是怀疑，不说他们，周海一样有些错愕，田小剑与林轩不过区区筑基初期的修为而已，难道也能采到果实，一开始，便是他也以为两人贪生怕死，躲了起来，才没有陨落。
"Lin Big Brother, you go first!"
“ lín dà gē ， nǐ xiān qǐng ba ！”
“林大哥，你先请吧！”
"Haha, since brother speaks up first, naturally you should go first," Lin Xuan said with a calm expression.
“ hē hē ， xiōng dì xiān chū shēng ， zì rán nǐ xiān 。” lín xuān yī fù dàn rán de biǎo qíng 。
“呵呵，兄弟先出声，自然你先。”林轩一副淡然的表情。
"Alright, then I won't be impolite!"
“ hǎo ba ， nà xiǎo dì jiù bú kè qì le ！”
“好吧，那小弟就不客气了！”
Tiao Xiaojian stopped hesitating and walked forward under the complex gazes of everyone. He patted his storage bag, and several Wood Spirit Fruits fell down. Zhou Hai counted them—fifteen.
tián xiǎo jiàn bù zài tuī cí ， zài zhòng rén fù zá de mù guāng zhōng zǒu le shàng qù ， yī pāi chǔ wù dài ， pēng pēng pēng ， shù gè mù líng guǒ zá le xià lái ， zhōu hǎi yī shù ， shí wǔ gè 。
田小剑不再推辞，在众人复杂的目光中走了上去，一拍储物袋，嘭嘭嘭，数个木灵果砸了下来，周海一数，十五个。
Compared to Xu Han, there were even more! The expressions on others' faces were filled with disbelief.
yǔ nà xǔ hàn xiāng bǐ ， jū rán hái yào gèng duō yī xiē ， zhòng rén de liǎn shàng mǎn shì bù kě sī yì 。
与那许翰相比，居然还要更多一些，众人的脸上满是不可思议。
"Lin Big Brother, it's your turn."
“ lín dà gē ， gāi nǐ le 。”
“林大哥，该你了。”
"Alright!"
“ hǎo ！”
“好！”
Lin Xuan stood up tall. With the lesson from before, everyone was now wary.
lín xuān zhǎng shēn ér qǐ ， yǒu le qián chē zhī jiàn ， zhè yī huí ， zhòng rén yǐ bù gǎn qīng shì 。
林轩长身而起，有了前车之鉴，这一回，众人已不敢轻视。
Lin Xuan took out his own harvests but still needed one more.
lín xuān qǔ chū le zì jǐ de shōu huò ， hái yào děng duō yí gè 。
林轩取出了自己的收获，还要等多一个。
"Ten... eighteen, this..." Zhou Hai’s mouth opened wide in surprise. Others might not know, but he managed the three groups of people and knew that each group had only eighteen Wood Spirit Fruits. This kid had gotten them all! What did that mean...
“ shí …… shí bā gè ， zhè ……” lián zhōu hǎi de zuǐ bā ， yě zhǎng dé dà dà de ， bié rén bù qīng chǔ ， tā kě shì tiān mù shān guǎn shì ， sān zǔ rén chuán sòng jìn qù de dì diǎn ， fēn bié dōu zhǐ yǒu shí bā gè mù líng guǒ ， zhè xiǎo zi jū rán quán bù huò dé ， zhè yì wèi zhe shén me ……
“十……十八个，这……”连周海的嘴巴，也长得大大的，别人不清楚，他可是天目山管事，三组人传送进去的地点，分别都只有十八个木灵果，这小子居然全部获得，这意味着什么……
"Noone from his group came out."
“ yǔ zhè xiǎo zi tóng zǔ dì rén ， yí gè rén yě méi yǒu chū lái 。”
“与这小子同组地人，一个人也没有出来。”
"Could they have all perished?"
“ nán dào quán dōu yǔn luò le ？”
“难道全都陨落了？”
At this moment, everyone noticed a discrepancy in their expressions turned to one of reverence as they looked at Lin Xuan.
After carefully surveying the cultivators in the stone house, Lin Xuan closed his eyes and began to cultivate his spirit. However, he was somewhat surprised.
That Tiao Xiaojian wasn't here!
Although Lin Xuan didn’t know precisely where this young man came from, he could be certain that he was no ordinary family’s offspring. His cultivation level made even Lin Xuan feel some apprehension. It was unreasonable for him to not return. What had gone wrong?
Just as Lin Xuan pondered silently, Zhou Hai's voice rang out: "Good, three hours have passed. Other fellow daoists haven’t returned yet. Looks like they perished while searching for the Wood Spirit Fruit. I am deeply saddened..."
As Zhou Hai spoke, he faked a few tears, which made the cultivators below frown. The proposal to make everyone kill each other was initiated by the Tianmu Sect, but now it seemed like Zhou Hai was crying over spilled milk. However, before his words were finished, another teleportation array lit up.
A dazzling white light appeared, and an image gradually became clear. Handsome and tall, this must be Tiao Xiaojian!
Although he looked rather disheveled at the moment, he still wore a cheerful expression, waving to everyone: "Sorry, sorry! Brother has some matters to attend to; I was slightly late."
Tiao Xiaojian's oily demeanor made Zhou Hai pause. However, he quickly recovered and smiled, saying, "Friend Tiao is safe and sound—what a pity!"
"Lin Big Brother!"
Tiao Xiaojian looked up and immediately noticed Lin Xuan, walking over with a smile.
His actions drew the attention of other cultivators in the house. Several even widened their eyes. These two were not only too young but also had just successfully established their foundation. However, it seemed that they remembered something, turning their heads with contempt.
These two probably lacked courage and regretted entering the teleportation array. They didn't participate in the competition for the Wood Spirit Fruit; instead, they hid on the side, waiting until the time was up to sneak back.
Facing everyone's disdainful gazes, Tiao Xiaojian still wore a cheerful expression. Lin Xuan remained calm, smiling faintly and chatting idly with Tiao Xiaojian.
Originally, Lin Xuan had wanted to ask about why cultivators were willing to fight to the death for such a trivial matter as a spot at the transaction meeting. Even with his deep thoughts, he was very curious about the reason behind it. However, before he could speak, one of the Tianmu Sect's cultivators coughed and walked up to a table.
"Safe return, fellow daoists! I am delighted. Now, please hand over your Wood Spirit Fruits according to the rules we agreed upon earlier. The top three can participate in the transaction meeting hosted by the senior condensation core cultivators."
Before he finished speaking, the large man wearing a crimson robe walked up and took out a storage bag from his waist. He opened it, and a small pile of Wood Spirit Fruits tumbled out. There weren’t many—only about ten. However, the other cultivators all showed envious and jealous expressions.
Using his divine sense to scan them, Zhou Hai then said in a congratulatory tone, "Friend Xu Han, you collected twelve Wood Spirit Fruits. If there are no surprises, you should get one spot. Fellow daoists, please hand over your harvests as well."
The remaining cultivators seemed less confident and waited for a long time before a thin, balding man stepped forward. His storage bag opened to reveal only two fruits.
The rest either had one or none. The most amusing were the two who stood there with cold glares on their faces, covered in wounds. They approached each other like roosters, but one held half a fruit. It seemed they had fought over it and ended up splitting it, both returning together without resolving the dispute.
Zhou Hai was also taken aback, offering some consolation to them, though they were clearly out of the running.
Looking at the Wood Spirit Fruits in front of him, Zhou Hai frowned. There were fewer than expected. However, he didn’t doubt anything; perhaps some cultivators had perished together, leaving the fruits behind.
"Looks like only Friend Xu Han has any harvests. Now I will announce who got the three spots..."
The thin man was both surprised and delighted. He originally thought two fruits wouldn’t be enough but was pleasantly surprised by others' even more meager results.
As for the other three who each handed over one fruit, they were filled with hostility towards each other. Apart from Xu Han and the thin old man, there was still a spot left. The three of them had tied, whether or not to have another round, but they all aimed to secure that transaction meeting spot.
They didn’t know if坊市间的 rumors were true, but the news was too tempting. Even with just a one percent chance, they couldn’t afford to miss it...
The three eagerly waited for Zhou Hai to finish speaking. However, before he could do so, a lazy voice rang out: "Wait! Lin Big Brother and I haven't handed over our Wood Spirit Fruits yet. Why are you in such a hurry?"
"Us?"
Other cultivators looked at them with hostility, but more with suspicion. Not only Zhou Hai was surprised; Tiao Xiaojian and Lin Xuan were merely at the initial stage of foundation establishment. Could they have also collected fruits? At first, he too thought that the two were cowardly and had hidden.
"Lin Big Brother, you go first!"
"Haha, since brother speaks up first, naturally you should go first," Lin Xuan said with a calm expression.
"Alright, then I won't be impolite!"
Tiao Xiaojian stopped hesitating and walked forward under the complex gazes of everyone. He patted his storage bag, and several Wood Spirit Fruits fell down. Zhou Hai counted them—fifteen.
Compared to Xu Han, there were even more! The expressions on others' faces were filled with disbelief.
"Lin Big Brother, it's your turn."
"Alright!"
Lin Xuan stood up tall. With the lesson from before, everyone was now wary.
Lin Xuan took out his own harvests but still needed one more.
"Ten... eighteen, this..." Zhou Hai’s mouth opened wide in surprise. Others might not know, but he managed the three groups of people and knew that each group had only eighteen Wood Spirit Fruits. This kid had gotten them all! What did that mean...
"Noone from his group came out."
"Could they have all perished?"
At this moment, everyone noticed a discrepancy in their expressions turned to one of reverence as they looked at Lin Xuan.