yuè ér zhī yǔ dào yě bù suàn wú dì fàng shǐ ， suǒ wèi yī gǔ zuò qì ， zhè wǔ nián lái ， lín xuān suī rán chéng jiù fēi fán ， què bìng méi yǒu jiù cǐ chū guān ， ér shì zài dòng fǔ nèi shāo shì xiē xī le liǎng tiān ， jiù jì xù xiū liàn 。
月儿之语倒也不算无的放矢，所谓一鼓作气，这五年来，林轩虽然成就非凡，却并没有就此出关，而是在洞府内稍事歇息了两天，就继续修炼。
Moon's words weren't entirely unfounded. The saying "one push of the drum" meant that in these five years, although Lin Xuan had achieved remarkable accomplishments, he hadn't left his cave to rest. Instead, after a brief two-day break, he continued his cultivation.
dōng qù chūn lái ， yī huǎng yǎn ， yòu shì liǎng zài 。
冬去春来，一晃眼，又是两载。
Spring followed winter, and before long, another two years passed.
zhè tiān ， lín xuān jǐn bì le qī gè hán shǔ de dòng fǔ zhī mén zhōng yú hōng rán dǎ kāi 。
这天，林轩紧闭了七个寒暑的洞府之门终于轰然打开。
On this day, the door of Lin Xuan's secluded cave, closed for seven months, suddenly burst open with a loud bang.
shào nián hái shì nà ge shào nián 。
少年还是那个少年。
The youth was still the same youth.
jiǔ tiān xuán gōng bù jǐn wēi lì fēi fán ， ér qiě hái yǒu zhe shén qí de zhù yán gōng xiào ， jǐn guǎn guò le qī nián ， kě lín xuān de róng yán yǔ bì guān qián jī hū méi yǒu shén me gǎi biàn 。
九天玄功不仅威力非凡，而且还有着神奇的驻颜功效，尽管过了七年，可林轩的容颜与闭关前几乎没有什么改变。
Although Nine Heavens Profound Technique had extraordinary power, it also possessed magical anti-aging effects. Despite having spent seven years in seclusion, Lin Xuan’s appearance hadn't changed much from before his seclusion.
dāng rán ， zhěng gè rén de qì zhì què wán quán bù yī bān ， rú jīn ， tā de gōng lì zhōng yú dá dào le zhù jī qī dà yuán mǎn de dǐng diǎn ， jiǎ dān ！
当然，整个人的气质却完全不一般，如今，他的功力终于达到了筑基期大圆满的顶点，假丹！
Of course, his overall demeanor was entirely different now. His cultivation had finally reached the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment stage—Pseudo-Dan!
qí shí bàn nián qián ， tā jiù yǐ jīng dá dào le cǐ jìng jiè ， zhǐ bù guò wèi le ràng níng dān gèng jiā shùn lì ， suǒ yǐ huā le liù gè yuè de shí jiān ràng fǎ lì gèng jiā jīng chún yī xiē 。
其实半年前，他就已经达到了此境界，只不过为了让凝丹更加顺利，所以花了六个月的时间让法力更加精纯一些。
In fact, he had already reached this realm half a year ago. However, to ensure the condensation process went smoothly, he spent six months refining his essence energy further.
rú jīn ， gāi wèi níng jié jīn dān zuò zuì hòu de dǎ suàn yǔ kǎo lǜ 。
如今，该为凝结金丹做最后的打算与考虑。
Now, it was time for him to make final preparations for condensing the Golden Core.
lín xuān chū le dòng fǔ ， hái yǒu shǎo shù cái liào xū yào zhì bèi qí 。
林轩出了洞府，还有少数材料需要制备齐。
After leaving his cave, Lin Xuan still needed some materials prepared.
tā xiān qù yī tàng fù jìn de fāng shì ， gòu mǎi le yī xiē tè bié de jìn zhì ， zhè zhǒng jìn zhì yǔ zhèn fǎ bù tóng ， bìng fēi ná lái yù dí zhī yòng ， ér shì kě yǐ jiāng fāng yuán bǎi zhàng nèi de líng qì yì cháng zhē dǎng 。
他先去一趟附近的坊市，购买了一些特别的禁制，这种禁制与阵法不同，并非拿来御敌之用，而是可以将方圆百丈内的灵气异常遮挡。
He first visited a nearby market and bought several special prohibitions. These weren't used for defense; instead, they could conceal the abnormal fluctuations of essence energy within a hundred feet radius.
lín xuān jīng guò zǐ xì sī liáng ， hái shì zuò xià jué dìng bù zài líng yào shān jié dān ， suī rán tōng yǔ zhēn rén yīng gāi duì zì jǐ méi yǒu è yì ， dàn bào zhe xiǎo xīn wú dà cuò de xīn lǐ ， lín xuān kě shì yì diǎn dōu bù yuàn yì mào xiǎn 。
林轩经过仔细思量，还是做下决定不在灵药山结丹，虽然通羽真人应该对自己没有恶意，但抱着小心无大错的心理，林轩可是一点都不愿意冒险。
After careful consideration, Lin Xuan decided not to condense in Spirit Herb Mountain. Although Senior Truefeather should have no ill intentions towards him, he didn’t want to take any risks. The distance was only a short hundred miles, and before long, Lin Xuan arrived at the market near his sect.
duǎn duǎn bǎi lǐ dì jù lí 。 zhuǎn shùn jí zhì 。 lín xuān hěn kuài jiù lái dào le běn mén fù jìn dì fāng shì 。
短短百里地距离。转瞬即至。林轩很快就来到了本门附近地坊市。
He descended from the light-speed travel and changed his appearance before entering the market.
rán hòu là xià dùn guāng 。 jiāng róng yán yī gǎi zhī hòu jiù zǒu le jìn qù 。
然后落下遁光。将容颜一改之后就走了进去。
This time, besides purchasing items essential for condensation, Lin Xuan had another goal: gathering information about recent happenings in the cultivation world of Youzhou.
zhè yī cì 。 chú le gòu mǎi yī xiē jié dān suǒ bì bèi dì wù pǐn 。 lín xuān hái yǒu yí gè mù dì 。 jiù shì dǎ tàn rú jīn yōu zhōu xiū zhēn jiè dì xiāo xī 。
这一次。除了购买一些结丹所必备地物品。林轩还有一个目地。就是打探如今幽州修真界地消息。
Seven years of seclusion; he didn’t know if the conflict between the Daoists and Devils had begun.
bì guān le qī nián 。 yě bù zhī dào zhèng mó yǒu méi yǒu kāi shǐ dà zhàn 。
闭关了七年。也不知道正魔有没有开始大战。
Several hours later, Lin Xuan emerged from the market with a satisfied look on his face.
shù gè shí chén yǐ hòu 。 lín xuān yī liǎn mǎn yì dì cóng fāng shì lǐ chū lái 。
数个时辰以后。林轩一脸满意地从坊市里出来。
Prohibitions to conceal essence energy weren't rare items. Some cultivation techniques contained such abilities, so naturally, some cultivators sold them as talismans. Lin Xuan casually visited one shop and easily bought them for nearly a hundred crystal stones.
zhē dǎng líng qì dì jìn zhì 。 bìng bù suàn shén me xī hǎn dì wù pǐn 。 mǒu xiē gōng fǎ zhōng jiù fù dài yǒu zhè zhǒng shén tōng 。 zì rán yǒu xiū shì jiāng qí zuò chéng fú chū shòu 。 lín xuān suí yì qù le yī jiā diàn pù 。 huā le jìn bǎi kuài jīng shí 。 jiù qīng yì gòu dé 。
遮挡灵气地禁制。并不算什么稀罕地物品。某些功法中就附带有这种神通。自然有修士将其做成符出售。林轩随意去了一家店铺。花了近百块晶石。就轻易购得。
As for news, he didn’t have to exert much effort. After preparing his supplies, he went to a teahouse and found a talkative cultivator. During casual conversation, he learned the information he wanted.
zhì yú xiāo xī ， yě méi huā fèi shén me lì qì ， jiāng dōng xī zhì bèi qí quán yǐ hòu ， lín xuān qù le yī jiān chá lóu 。 rán hòu zhǎo le yí gè duō zuǐ de xiū shì ， xián liáo zhōng ， yě jiù hěn qīng yì de zhī dào le zì jǐ xiǎng yào liǎo jiě dì xìn xī 。
至于消息，也没花费什么力气，将东西置备齐全以后，林轩去了一间茶楼。然后找了一个多嘴的修士，闲聊中，也就很轻易的知道了自己想要了解地信息。
Indeed, the changes in Youzhou’s cultivation world over these years were quite unexpected.
shuō qǐ lái ， yōu zhōu xiū zhēn jiè zhè jǐ nián de biàn qiān ， hái zhēn yǒu xiē chū hū zì jǐ de yì wài 。
说起来，幽州修真界这几年的变迁，还真有些出乎自己的意外。
Firstly, regarding the battle at Mount Tianmu, as predicted by Senior Drywood, after the initial sharpness wore off, the sects led by Snow Shadow Sect indeed began to vie for dominance. The balance shifted with Mount Tianmu enduring its toughest times, seeing their enemies like a scattered army. The shrewd and cunning Senior Drywood naturally wouldn’t miss this opportunity.
xiān tán tiān mù shān de nà chǎng dà zhàn ， què shí yǒu rú kū mù zhēn rén suǒ yù liào de yì bān ， yǐ xuě yǐng mén wéi shǒu de shí jǐ gè zōng mén ， zài zuì chū dì ruì qì bèi mó guāng yǐ hòu ， guǒ rán gè huái guǐ tāi 。 hù xiāng qīng yà le qǐ lái 。
先谈天目山的那场大战，确实有如枯木真人所预料的一般，以雪影门为首的十几个宗门，在最初地锐气被磨光以后，果然各怀鬼胎。互相倾轧了起来。
He intended to gather strength and strike at the right moment, as a warning to those with ill intentions around them.
cǐ xiāo bǐ zhǎng ， tiān mù shān chēng guò le zuì jiān nán de shí guāng ， jiàn dí rén yǒu rú yī pán sǎn shā 。 lǎo móu shēn suàn de kū mù zhēn rén zì rán bú huì cuò guò 。
此消彼长，天目山撑过了最艰难的时光，见敌人有如一盘散沙。老谋深算的枯木真人自然不会错过。
However, just when he was about to act, devils poured in from all directions. Even Sovereign Extreme Devil personally intervened. In the face of overwhelming demonic power, Mount Tianmu didn’t choose to resist stubbornly. After some negotiations, it became one of the branches of Extreme Devil Cave.
zhèng xiǎng jù jí lì liàng ， gěi duì fāng léi tíng yī jī ， yě suàn shì shā jī jǐng hóu ， zhèn shè páng biān xīn huái bù guǐ de xiāo xiǎo 。
正想聚集力量，给对方雷霆一击，也算是杀鸡儆猴，震慑旁边心怀不轨的宵小。
Speaking of Extreme Devil Cave, the situation within the Daoist sect had changed significantly since seven years ago.
rán ér jiù zài zhè shí ， xiū mó zhě dà jǔ shā dào ， jí è mó zūn shèn zhì qīn zì chū shǒu ， zài mó dào yā dǎo xìng de lì liàng miàn qián ， tiān mù shān méi yǒu xuǎn zé fù yú wán kàng ， jīng guò yī fān chún qiāng shé jiàn de tǎo jià huán jià zhī hòu 。 zhè lǐ biàn chéng le jí mó dòng de yī chǔ fèn tán 。
然而就在这时，修魔者大举杀到，极恶魔尊甚至亲自出手，在魔道压倒性的力量面前，天目山没有选择负隅顽抗，经过一番唇枪舌剑的讨价还价之后。这里变成了极魔洞的一处分坛。
Originally, the three sages of the Daoist sect—Heavenly Demon City, Li Hai’s Ghost Gang, and Yin Sha Sect—jointly managed it. Although Extreme Devil Cave was the strongest, the other two factions could still stand on equal footing with it.
shuō qǐ jí mó dòng ， rú jīn mó dào de xíng shì yǔ qī nián qián yǐ jīng dà bù xiāng tóng 。
说起极魔洞，如今魔道的形势与七年前已经大不相同。
However, no one knew what agreements were made behind closed doors or if Extreme Devil used some cunning tactics. Half a year ago, the three Daoist sects suddenly merged.
yuán běn mó dào sān shèng ， tiān mó chéng shì yóu jí mó dòng ， lì guǐ bāng ， hái yǒu yīn shā jiào suǒ gòng guǎn ， suī rán jí mó dòng zuì qiáng ， dàn lìng wài liǎng pài lián hé qǐ lái ， yǐn yǐn yě néng yǔ fēn tíng kàng lǐ 。
原本魔道三圣，天魔城是由极魔洞，厉鬼帮，还有阴煞教所共管，虽然极魔洞最强，但另外两派联合起来，隐隐也能与分庭抗礼。
Of course, this was a polite way of saying that Extreme Devil Cave had swallowed Ghost Gang and Yin Sha Sect without any bloodshed!
rán ér yě bù zhī dào jiū jìng shì bèi hòu dá chéng le shén me xié yì ， hái shì jí è mó zūn shǐ yòng le shén me yīn móu guǐ jì 。 jiù zài bàn nián qián ， mó dào sān pài tū rán hé bìng 。
然而也不知道究竟是背后达成了什么协议，还是极恶魔尊使用了什么阴谋诡计。就在半年前，魔道三派突然合并。
The outside world was naturally stunned by this news.
dāng rán ， zhè shì hǎo tīng de shuō fǎ ， zài wài rén kàn lái ， dào gèng xiàng shì jí mó dòng jiāng lì guǐ bāng yǔ yīn shā jiào tūn bìng 。
当然，这是好听的说法，在外人看来，倒更像是极魔洞将厉鬼帮与阴煞教吞并。
Undeniably, after unification, although the number of top cultivators remained the same, unified command significantly boosted the strength of the Daoist sect.
qiě bīng bù xuè rèn ！
且兵不血刃！
Clearly, Sovereign Devil was consolidating his forces. Although the great battle hadn’t begun yet, everyone could smell the blood in the air.
wài jiè zì rán shì yī piàn zhèn jīng 。
外界自然是一片震惊。
The three major leaders naturally wouldn't sit idle. While Extreme Devil Cave plotted against Mount Tianmu, another large sect in Youzhou, Heavenly Mountain Sect, officially joined their ranks.
wú kě fǒu rèn dì shì sān pài guī yī zhī hòu ， suī rán gāo shǒu de shù liàng yī rán shì nà me duō ， dàn yǒu le tǒng yī de zhǐ huī ， mó dào dì shí lì kěn dìng shì kuáng zhǎng le yī dà jié 。
无可否认地是三派归一之后，虽然高手的数量依然是那么多，但有了统一的指挥，魔道地实力肯定是狂涨了一大截。
Simultaneously, after some negotiations among the top elders of the three factions, a supreme decision-making body was formed to coordinate the training and management of their disciples as well as affiliated sects and families.
xiǎn rán ， mó zūn zài zhěng hé lì liàng 。 suī rán dà zhàn hái méi yǒu kāi shǐ 。 dàn rén rén dōu yǐ jīng xiù dào le xuè xīng 。
显然，魔尊在整合力量。虽然大战还没有开始。但人人都已经嗅到了血腥。
This clearly indicated they were preparing for the final battle!
sān jù tóu zì rán bú huì méi yǒu dòng zuò ， jiù zài jí mó dòng tú móu tiān mù shān de shí hòu 。 tiān shān pài ， yōu zhōu lìng yí gè jiào dà guī mó de zōng mén ， yě zhèng shì xuān bù jiā rù tā men de zhèn yíng 。
三巨头自然不会没有动作，就在极魔洞图谋天目山的时候。天山派，幽州另一个较大规模的宗门，也正式宣布加入他们的阵营。
The storm clouds are gathering. The tranquility in Youzhou’s cultivation world wouldn’t last much longer.
tóng shí sān jù tóu de jǐ wèi tài shàng zhǎng lǎo ， jīng guò yī fān xié shāng zhī hòu ， zǔ chéng le zuì gāo jué cè jī gòu ， duì sān pài de dì zǐ ， yǐ jí yī fù yú tā men de zōng mén yǔ jiā zú ， shí xíng tǒng yī diào dù 。
同时三巨头的几位太上长老，经过一番协商之后，组成了最高决策机构，对三派的弟子，以及依附于他们的宗门与家族，实行统一调度。
After processing the information from the teahouse, Lin Xuan sneered. Whether it was the Daoist or Devil factions, they were all just a bunch of hypocrites. With the great battle on the horizon, he couldn't expect to stay out of it. He needed to condense his core as soon as possible.
zhè xiǎn rán yě shì zài wèi zuì hòu de dà zhàn zuò zhǔn bèi le ！
这显然也是在为最后的大战做准备了！
A blue light flashed around him, and he transformed into a streak of lightning, breaking through the air.
shān yǔ yù lái fēng mǎn lóu a ！
山雨欲来风满楼啊！
He returned to his cave in no time. Lin Xuan tapped his waist pouch, took out an array disk, and injected essence energy. Several differently colored array flags flew back.
yōu zhōu xiū zhēn jiè de píng jìng yǐ jīng chí xù bù liǎo duō jiǔ 。
幽州修真界的平静已经持续不了多久。
Carefully storing them away, even if the condensation was successful, this "Extreme Yin Evil Spirit Array" would still be useful for him.
jiāng cóng chá lóu dé lái dì xiāo xī zài nǎo hǎi lǐ zhuǎn le yī quān zhī hòu ， lín xuān zuǐ jiǎo lù chū yī sī jī cháo ， zhèng dào yě hǎo ， mó dào yě bà ， bù guò shì yī qiū zhī hé bà le ， yǎn kàn dà zhàn jiāng lín ， kǒng pà jiù suàn shì zì jǐ ， yě hěn nán zhì shēn shì wài ， zhuā jǐn shí jiān jié dān 。
将从茶楼得来地消息在脑海里转了一圈之后，林轩嘴角露出一丝讥嘲，正道也好，魔道也罢，不过是一丘之貉罢了，眼看大战将临，恐怕就算是自己，也很难置身事外，抓紧时间结丹。
After taking everything he needed, although he planned to return after condensing his core, without the protection of the array, someone might sneak in during this period. Lin Xuan didn’t want his belongings to fall into the wrong hands.
lán guāng yī shǎn ， bāo guǒ zhù lín xuān de shēn tǐ ， tā huà wèi yī dào jīng hóng ， pò kōng ér qù 。
蓝光一闪，包裹住林轩的身体，他化为一道惊虹，破空而去。
After a moment’s hesitation, Lin Xuan went to the smallest stone room. Looking at the white spherical object before him, Lin Xuan couldn't hide his disappointment. He sighed and turned away; another seven years had passed, but this unknown beast egg still showed no signs of life.
hěn kuài huí dào le dòng fǔ ， lín xuān zài yāo jiān de chǔ wù dài shàng yī pāi ， qǔ chū zhèn pán ， fǎ lì zhù rù ， sōu sōu sōu ， jǐ gān yán sè gè yì de zhèn qí fēi le huí lái 。
很快回到了洞府，林轩在腰间的储物袋上一拍，取出阵盘，法力注入，嗖嗖嗖，几杆颜色各异的阵旗飞了回来。
A hint of indecision flashed in his eyes as he waved his sleeves and placed it back into a spirit beast pouch. After all, Supreme Demon Tyrant wouldn’t raise a waste.
xiǎo xīn yì yì de shōu hǎo ， jí biàn níng dān chéng gōng yǐ hòu ， zhè “ jí yīn è líng zhèn ” duì zì jǐ yě yǒu dà yòng 。
小心翼翼的收好，即便凝丹成功以后，这“极阴恶灵阵”对自己也有大用。
Then Lin Xuan left the cave, set up two small prohibitions after closing the stone door, transformed into a streak of lightning, and headed towards the horizon.
jiāng gāi dài zǒu de dōng xī quán dōu dài zǒu ， suī rán níng dān chéng gōng yǐ hòu ， zì jǐ hái huì huí lái ， dàn méi le zhèn fǎ de bǎo hù ， zhè duàn shí jiān ， nán bǎo bú huì yǒu rén qiāo qiāo chuǎng rù ， lín xuān kě bù xī wàng zì jǐ de dōng xī bèi bié rén shùn shǒu qiān yáng 。
将该带走的东西全都带走，虽然凝丹成功以后，自己还会回来，但没了阵法的保护，这段时间，难保不会有人悄悄闯入，林轩可不希望自己的东西被别人顺手牵羊。
Leaving Spirit Herb Mountain, Lin Xuan identified his direction and headed towards a vast desert. This was one of the most barren regions in Youzhou, with sparse human habitation and few animals.
lüè lüè chén yín le yī xià ， lín xuān yòu lái dào nà jiān zuì xiǎo de shí shì zhōng ， kàn zhuó yǎn qián bái sè dì yuán qiú ， yǐ lín xuān de chéng fǔ ， yě nán yǎn shī wàng zhī sè ， tàn le kǒu qì ， zhuǎn yǎn ， yòu guò le qī gè chūn qiū ， kě zhè bù zhī míng de shòu luǎn ， yī rán hái shì yì diǎn dòng jìng yě méi yǒu 。
略略沉吟了一下，林轩又来到那间最小的石室中，看着眼前白色地圆球，以林轩的城府，也难掩失望之色，叹了口气，转眼，又过了七个春秋，可这不知名的兽卵，依然还是一点动静也没有。
Cultivators seldom ventured here because there was almost no essence energy to be found, let alone any beneficial treasures for cultivation.
yǎn zhōng shǎn guò yī sī yóu yù zhī sè ， lín xuān xiù páo yī fú ， hái shì jiāng zhuāng rù le líng shòu dài ， bù guǎn zěn me shuō ， tiān shā mó jūn bù kě néng yǎng fèi wù 。
眼中闪过一丝犹豫之色，林轩袖袍一拂，还是将装入了灵兽袋，不管怎么说，天煞魔君不可能养废物。
But it didn’t matter to Lin Xuan; he relied on pills to break through his bottleneck. The abundance of essence energy had little impact on him!
rán hòu lín xuān chū le dòng fǔ ， guān shàng shí mén yǐ hòu ， suí biàn shè le liǎng gè xiǎo jìn zhì ， jiù huà wèi yī dào jīng hóng ， xiàng tiān biān ér qù le 。
然后林轩出了洞府，关上石门以后，随便设了两个小禁制，就化为一道惊虹，像天边而去了。
Flying non-stop, Lin Xuan spent two days crossing the vast desert and finally arrived at a barren mountain about a kilometer high.
lí kāi líng yào shān ， lín xuān biàn shí le yī xià fāng xiàng ， zuì hòu xiàng zhe yī piàn huāng mò ér qù le ， nà lǐ shì zhěng gè yōu zhōu zuì pín jí zhī dì ， bù jǐn rén yān xī shǎo ， shèn zhì lián dòng wù dōu hěn shǎo jiàn dào 。
离开灵药山，林轩辨识了一下方向，最后向着一片荒漠而去了，那里是整个幽州最贫瘠之地，不仅人烟稀少，甚至连动物都很少见到。
This was still an arid wasteland with no vegetation. After using his divine sense to search, there were no abnormalities, making it an ideal location for condensation.
Moon's words weren't entirely unfounded. The saying "one push of the drum" meant that in these five years, although Lin Xuan had achieved remarkable accomplishments, he hadn't left his cave to rest. Instead, after a brief two-day break, he continued his cultivation.
Spring followed winter, and before long, another two years passed.
On this day, the door of Lin Xuan's secluded cave, closed for seven months, suddenly burst open with a loud bang.
The youth was still the same youth.
Although Nine Heavens Profound Technique had extraordinary power, it also possessed magical anti-aging effects. Despite having spent seven years in seclusion, Lin Xuan’s appearance hadn't changed much from before his seclusion.
Of course, his overall demeanor was entirely different now. His cultivation had finally reached the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment stage—Pseudo-Dan!
In fact, he had already reached this realm half a year ago. However, to ensure the condensation process went smoothly, he spent six months refining his essence energy further.
Now, it was time for him to make final preparations for condensing the Golden Core.
After leaving his cave, Lin Xuan still needed some materials prepared.
He first visited a nearby market and bought several special prohibitions. These weren't used for defense; instead, they could conceal the abnormal fluctuations of essence energy within a hundred feet radius.
After careful consideration, Lin Xuan decided not to condense in Spirit Herb Mountain. Although Senior Truefeather should have no ill intentions towards him, he didn’t want to take any risks. The distance was only a short hundred miles, and before long, Lin Xuan arrived at the market near his sect.
He descended from the light-speed travel and changed his appearance before entering the market.
This time, besides purchasing items essential for condensation, Lin Xuan had another goal: gathering information about recent happenings in the cultivation world of Youzhou.
Seven years of seclusion; he didn’t know if the conflict between the Daoists and Devils had begun.
Several hours later, Lin Xuan emerged from the market with a satisfied look on his face.
Prohibitions to conceal essence energy weren't rare items. Some cultivation techniques contained such abilities, so naturally, some cultivators sold them as talismans. Lin Xuan casually visited one shop and easily bought them for nearly a hundred crystal stones.
As for news, he didn’t have to exert much effort. After preparing his supplies, he went to a teahouse and found a talkative cultivator. During casual conversation, he learned the information he wanted.
Indeed, the changes in Youzhou’s cultivation world over these years were quite unexpected.
Firstly, regarding the battle at Mount Tianmu, as predicted by Senior Drywood, after the initial sharpness wore off, the sects led by Snow Shadow Sect indeed began to vie for dominance. The balance shifted with Mount Tianmu enduring its toughest times, seeing their enemies like a scattered army. The shrewd and cunning Senior Drywood naturally wouldn’t miss this opportunity.
He intended to gather strength and strike at the right moment, as a warning to those with ill intentions around them.
However, just when he was about to act, devils poured in from all directions. Even Sovereign Extreme Devil personally intervened. In the face of overwhelming demonic power, Mount Tianmu didn’t choose to resist stubbornly. After some negotiations, it became one of the branches of Extreme Devil Cave.
Speaking of Extreme Devil Cave, the situation within the Daoist sect had changed significantly since seven years ago.
Originally, the three sages of the Daoist sect—Heavenly Demon City, Li Hai’s Ghost Gang, and Yin Sha Sect—jointly managed it. Although Extreme Devil Cave was the strongest, the other two factions could still stand on equal footing with it.
However, no one knew what agreements were made behind closed doors or if Extreme Devil used some cunning tactics. Half a year ago, the three Daoist sects suddenly merged.
Of course, this was a polite way of saying that Extreme Devil Cave had swallowed Ghost Gang and Yin Sha Sect without any bloodshed!
The outside world was naturally stunned by this news.
Undeniably, after unification, although the number of top cultivators remained the same, unified command significantly boosted the strength of the Daoist sect.
Clearly, Sovereign Devil was consolidating his forces. Although the great battle hadn’t begun yet, everyone could smell the blood in the air.
The three major leaders naturally wouldn't sit idle. While Extreme Devil Cave plotted against Mount Tianmu, another large sect in Youzhou, Heavenly Mountain Sect, officially joined their ranks.
Simultaneously, after some negotiations among the top elders of the three factions, a supreme decision-making body was formed to coordinate the training and management of their disciples as well as affiliated sects and families.
This clearly indicated they were preparing for the final battle!
The storm clouds are gathering. The tranquility in Youzhou’s cultivation world wouldn’t last much longer.
After processing the information from the teahouse, Lin Xuan sneered. Whether it was the Daoist or Devil factions, they were all just a bunch of hypocrites. With the great battle on the horizon, he couldn't expect to stay out of it. He needed to condense his core as soon as possible.
A blue light flashed around him, and he transformed into a streak of lightning, breaking through the air.
He returned to his cave in no time. Lin Xuan tapped his waist pouch, took out an array disk, and injected essence energy. Several differently colored array flags flew back.
Carefully storing them away, even if the condensation was successful, this "Extreme Yin Evil Spirit Array" would still be useful for him.
After taking everything he needed, although he planned to return after condensing his core, without the protection of the array, someone might sneak in during this period. Lin Xuan didn’t want his belongings to fall into the wrong hands.
After a moment’s hesitation, Lin Xuan went to the smallest stone room. Looking at the white spherical object before him, Lin Xuan couldn't hide his disappointment. He sighed and turned away; another seven years had passed, but this unknown beast egg still showed no signs of life.
A hint of indecision flashed in his eyes as he waved his sleeves and placed it back into a spirit beast pouch. After all, Supreme Demon Tyrant wouldn’t raise a waste.
Then Lin Xuan left the cave, set up two small prohibitions after closing the stone door, transformed into a streak of lightning, and headed towards the horizon.
Leaving Spirit Herb Mountain, Lin Xuan identified his direction and headed towards a vast desert. This was one of the most barren regions in Youzhou, with sparse human habitation and few animals.
Cultivators seldom ventured here because there was almost no essence energy to be found, let alone any beneficial treasures for cultivation.
But it didn’t matter to Lin Xuan; he relied on pills to break through his bottleneck. The abundance of essence energy had little impact on him!
Flying non-stop, Lin Xuan spent two days crossing the vast desert and finally arrived at a barren mountain about a kilometer high.
This was still an arid wasteland with no vegetation. After using his divine sense to search, there were no abnormalities, making it an ideal location for condensation.