lín xuān ruò shì xiǎng yào qiǎo rán qián rù ， yǐ tā de shén miào dùn sù ， zì rán shì fēn háo wèn tí yě wú ， rán ér lín xuān yǔ xiāng ér guān xì bù cuò ， zì rán méi bì yào tōu tōu mō mō 。
林轩若是想要悄然潜入，以他的神妙遁速，自然是分毫问题也无，然而林轩与香儿关系不错，自然没必要偷偷摸摸。
Lin Xuan didn't need to sneak in if he wanted to. With his miraculous speed, it would be a breeze. However, since Lin Xuan and Fragrant had a good relationship, there was no need for him to act secretly.
suǒ yǐ tā shì dà yáo dà bǎi jìn rù hán pò bīng yuán de 。
所以他是大摇大摆进入寒魄冰原的。
Thus, he walked into the Frost Soul Ice Plain with great strides.
ér zì cóng xiāng ér zuò le bīng yuán zhī zhǔ ， suī rán yǔ rén zú de guān xì dà wèi gǎi shàn ， shèn zhì kāi shè fāng shì ， hù tōng yǒu wú ， dǎ dòu sī shā shǎo le xǔ duō ， rán ér rén yāo bì jìng shū tú ， zhè qiān nián de chóu yuàn ， yě bú shì shuō gǎi biàn ， jiù néng gòu qīng sōng xiāo nì yú wú xíng 。
而自从香儿做了冰原之主，虽然与人族的关系大为改善，甚至开设坊市，互通有无，打斗厮杀少了许多，然而人妖毕竟殊途，这千年的仇怨，也不是说改变，就能够轻松消匿于无形。
Since Fragrant became the Ice Plain's ruler, although relations between her people and humans improved significantly—leading to the establishment of markets where goods could be exchanged—the fighting and conflicts were reduced. However, humans and demons remained fundamentally different. The thousand-year-old grudge couldn't just vanish by changing their relationship.
zhè xū yào yí gè guò chéng 。
这需要一个过程。
This required a process.
suǒ yǐ ， hán pò bīng yuán shēn chù ， yāo zú fù dì ， yī jiù shì rén lèi xiū shì bù néng shè zú ， fǒu zé shā wú shè 。
所以，寒魄冰原深处，妖族腹地，依旧是人类修士不能涉足，否则杀无赦。
Therefore, deep within the Frost Soul Ice Plain, in the heart of the demon realm, humans still couldn't enter; otherwise, they would be killed without mercy.
hǎo zài lín xuān bǎi nián qián lí kāi zhè lǐ ， xiāng ér céng jǐ yǔ tā xìn wù ， fǒu zé ， suī rán méi yǒu yī míng yāo zú néng gòu jiāng tā dǎng zhù ， dàn yī lù shā dào xuě hú zú de lǐng dì ， wèi miǎn yě tài gǎo xiào le 。
好在林轩百年前离开这里，香儿曾给予他信物，否则，虽然没有一名妖族能够将他挡住，但一路杀到雪狐族的领地，未免也太搞笑了。
Fortunately for Lin Xuan, he left this place a hundred years ago and had received a token from Fragrant. Otherwise, even though no demon could stop him, it might have been too amusing to kill his way into the Snow Fox Clan's territory.
xiāng ér rú jīn wēi míng yuǎn bō ， yǒu le tā de xìn wù ， lín xuān yī lù ， dào yě méi yǒu shòu dào diāo nàn dān gē ， yǎn kàn yǐ lái dào xuě hú zú de lǐng dì ， yǎn qián jù dà de bīng qiáng yìng rù le shì xiàn lǐ 。
香儿如今威名远播，有了她的信物，林轩一路，倒也没有受到刁难耽搁，眼看已来到雪狐族的领地，眼前巨大的冰墙映入了视线里。
Fragrant's fame was widespread now, and with her token, Lin Xuan wasn't troubled or delayed on his journey. As he approached the Snow Fox Clan's territory, a massive ice wall came into view.
dōu dào le zhè yī bù ， yǔ xiǎo yā tou ， shuō bù shàng jìn zài zhǐ chǐ ， dàn bǐ cǐ jiān de jù lí ， kěn dìng yě yǒu xiàn ， lín xuān hái xiǎng zhe ， hěn kuài jiù kě yǐ jiàn miàn ， méi xiǎng dào ， què piān piān yù jiàn le má fán 。
都到了这一步，与小丫头，说不上近在咫尺，但彼此间的距离，肯定也有限，林轩还想着，很快就可以见面，没想到，却偏偏遇见了麻烦。
Though not close, they were within reach. Lin Xuan thought about meeting Fragrant soon but found himself facing trouble instead. Several Transformed Period demon cultivators stopped him.
jǐ míng huà xíng qī de yāo xiū jiāng tā lán le xià lái 。
几名化形期的妖修将他拦了下来。
Lin Xuan showed them his token, but it was of no use. These little fellows didn't believe in it; in their minds, Princess Fragrant, like a celestial princess, wouldn't give such an intimate token to a mere human cultivator.
lín xuān ná chū xìn wù ， yě méi yǒu yòng tú ， zhè jǐ gè xiǎo jiā huo ， gēn běn bù xiāng xìn ， zài tā men xīn mù zhōng ， yǒu rú jiǔ tiān xiān zi bān de xiāng ér gōng zhǔ ， huì jiāng zì jǐ de tiē shēn xìn wù ， zèng sòng gěi qū qū yī rén lèi xiū xiān zhě 。
林轩拿出信物，也没有用途，这几个小家伙，根本不相信，在他们心目中，有如九天仙子般的香儿公主，会将自己的贴身信物，赠送给区区一人类修仙者。
It must have been stolen!
yí dìng shì tōu de ！
一定是偷的！
Lin Xuan was speechless. He wasn’t someone who took kindly to such things. If not for Yuanke and Fragrant's sake, he would have extracted their souls and refined them into essence.
lín xuān yǒu xiē wú yǔ 。
林轩有些无语。
A Transformed Period demon dared to look down on him as a high-ranking cultivator; it seemed the Snow Fox Clan had indeed prospered, even making some little demons with nascent spirits arrogant.
tā kě bú shì shén me hǎo pí qì de rén wù ， rú guǒ bú shì kàn zài yuàn kē yǔ xiāng ér de miàn zi shàng ， kěn dìng jiāng zhè jǐ gè bù shí hǎo dǎi de xiǎo jiā huo chōu hún liàn pò 。
他可不是什么好脾气的人物，如果不是看在媛珂与香儿的面子上，肯定将这几个不识好歹的小家伙抽魂炼魄。
Fortunately, though they didn't believe in his strength, they could see that Lin Xuan was far superior. In the world of cultivation, might is right, so they dared not be disrespectful.
qū qū huà xíng qī jiù gǎn bù jiāng zì jǐ zhè gāo jiē xiū shì fàng zài yǎn lǐ ， kàn lái xuě hú zú de rì zi ， què rán guò dé shì bù cuò ， lián jǐ gè cái kāi qǐ líng zhì de xiǎo jiā huo ， dōu yǎn gāo yú dǐng le 。
区区化形期就敢不将自己这高阶修士放在眼里，看来雪狐族的日子，确然过得是不错，连几个才开启灵智的小家伙，都眼高于顶了。
They refused to let him enter while flattering and bowing. Then they sent out a transmission talisman; they had no authority to handle this matter, so they could only disturb Princess Fragrant.
hǎo zài tā men bù xìn guī bù xìn ， dàn yě kàn chū ， lín xuān de shí lì ， shí zài shì yuǎn yuǎn shèng guò zì jǐ ， xiū xiān jiè shì yǐ qiáng zhě wèi zūn dì ， suǒ yǐ yě bù gǎn yǒu fēn háo de wú lǐ 。
好在他们不信归不信，但也看出，林轩的实力，实在是远远胜过自己，修仙界是以强者为尊地，所以也不敢有分毫的无礼。
Not long after, within just a few breaths, a flash of light appeared from afar, quickly approaching them.
yī biān sǐ huó bù fàng lín xuān jìn qù ， yī biān què yòu hǎo yán hǎo yǔ de dǎ gōng zuō yī 。
一边死活不放林轩进去，一边却又好言好语的打躬作揖。
Fragrant was there too.
suí hòu fā chū chuán yīn fú ， zhè jiàn shì qíng tā men méi yǒu zī gé chǔ lǐ ， suǒ yǐ zhǐ néng dǎ rǎo xiāng ér gōng zhǔ 。
随后发出传音符，这件事情他们没有资格处理，所以只能打扰香儿公主。
The light faded, revealing her radiant and excited face.
bìng méi yǒu děng duō jiǔ 。
并没有等多久。
"Your Highness," Lin Xuan greeted.
qián hòu bù guò jǐ shí xī de gōng fu ， jiù kàn jiàn líng guāng shǎn shuò ， kāi shǐ shàng yuǎn ， hěn kuài jiù fēng chí diàn chè de lái dào le yǎn qián 。
前后不过几十息的功夫，就看见灵光闪烁，开始尚远，很快就风驰电掣的来到了眼前。
Several proud Snow Fox demon cultivators were shocked; they bowed respectfully. They hadn't expected their beloved princess to be here. Could this man really not be a fraud? His words might be true.
xiāng fēng yì rán 。
香风亦然。
Meanwhile, the demons were extremely excited. Fragrant was indeed their idol, but as lowly creatures, they rarely got close enough to see her. Even just glimpsing her from afar was considered fortunate.
guāng máng shōu liǎn ， lù chū yī mǎn liǎn jīng xǐ de jué sè róng yán 。
光芒收敛，露出一满脸惊喜的绝色容颜。
Today's chance encounter seemed to bring them good fortune through this mysterious cultivator.
“ cān jiàn gōng zhǔ 。”
“参见公主。”
Before their thoughts could fully process what happened next, the scene left them speechless and almost doubting their eyes.
yī páng ， jǐ míng jiāo ào de xuě hú zú yāo xiū dà jīng shī sè ， gōng gōng jìng jìng de guì xià qù le ， tā men méi xiǎng dào shì ruò tiān rén de xiǎo gōng zhǔ huì zhēn dào cǐ chù ， nán dào yǎn qián zhè jiā huo bìng fēi zhāo yáo zhuàng piàn zhī tú ， suǒ shuō quán shì zhēn de 。
一旁，几名骄傲的雪狐族妖修大惊失色，恭恭敬敬的跪下去了，他们没想到视若天人的小公主会真到此处，难道眼前这家伙并非招摇撞骗之徒，所说全是真的。
Even Lin Xuan himself was startled.
tóng shí jǐ yāo yě xīng fèn dào jí chù ， xiāng ér shì tā men de ǒu xiàng méi cuò ， rán ér yǐ tā men de shēn fèn ， píng shí yě gēn běn méi yǒu zī gé jiē jìn gōng zhǔ ， néng yuǎn yuǎn de kàn shàng yī yǎn ， jiù suàn yǒu fú 。
同时几妖也兴奋到极处，香儿是他们的偶像没错，然而以他们的身份，平时也根本没有资格接近公主，能远远的看上一眼，就算有福。
"Big Brother Lin, it really is you."
méi xiǎng dào jīn tiān ， jī yuán qiǎo hé ， què zhān zhè shén mì xiū shì de guāng le 。
没想到今天，机缘巧合，却沾这神秘修士的光了。
The excited voice of the little girl entered his ears. She leaped into his arms, as if she were hugging him.
nǎo hǎi zhōng niàn tou shàng wèi zhuǎn guò ， jiē xià lái de yí mù ， què ràng jǐ yāo mù dèng kǒu dāi ， jī hū huái yí qǐ zì jǐ de yǎn jīng lái 。
脑海中念头尚未转过，接下来的一幕，却让几妖目瞪口呆，几乎怀疑起自己的眼睛来。
Lin Xuan held her close, unsure where to place his hands.
qí shí bié shuō jǐ míng xiǎo xiǎo de yāo zú ， jiù suàn shì lín xuān ， yě bèi xià le yī tiào de 。
其实别说几名小小的妖族，就算是林轩，也被吓了一跳的。
It wasn't that Princess Fragrant was too forward; she was genuinely emotional.
“ lín dà gē ， zhēn de shì nǐ 。”
“林大哥，真的是你。”
Though Fragrant appeared to be thriving on the surface, behind the scenes, many worried about Lin Xuan's disappearance. Though she hadn't cried, midnight thoughts often brought back memories of the big bad guy.
xiǎo yā tou jī dòng de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， suí hòu jū rán zòng tǐ rù huái ， xiàng zì jǐ pū le guò lái 。
小丫头激动的声音传入耳朵，随后居然纵体入怀，像自己扑了过来。
Seeing him safely return filled her with joy, but this sudden happiness made her act out of character.
lín xuān wēn xiāng ruǎn yù bào le gè mǎn huái ， yī shí jiān ， shǒu dōu bù zhī dào gāi fàng nǎ ér 。
林轩温香软玉抱了个满怀，一时间，手都不知道该放哪儿。
However, this action frightened several demons.
yě bù néng guài xiǎo gōng zhǔ tài qīng fú ， tā shì zhēn qíng liú lù 。
也不能怪小公主太轻浮，她是真情流露。
Princess Fragrant...
guò qù de bǎi nián ， xiāng ér biǎo miàn shàng fēng guāng wú xiàn ， rán ér àn dì lǐ ， yīn wèi lín xuān yīn xùn quán wú ， dān xīn què jué bù zài shǎo shù 。
过去的百年，香儿表面上风光无限，然而暗地里，因为林轩音讯全无，担心却绝不在少数。
Who was this person?
suī rán méi yǒu kū guò ， rán ér wǔ yè mèng huí ， què cháng cháng xiǎng dào nà dà huài dàn de 。
虽然没有哭过，然而午夜梦回，却常常想到那大坏蛋的。
Various speculations arose as they recalled a legend from their clan... Could it be?
jǐn guǎn zì jǐ xīn zhōng de nà yī lǚ qíng sù ， xiǎo yā tou xī lǐ hú tú ， zì jǐ dōu wèi bì qīng chǔ ， rán ér cǐ shí kàn jiàn lín xuān píng ān fǎn huí ， tā xīn zhōng de gāo xìng ， què shì kě xiǎng ér zhī 。
尽管自己心中的那一缕情愫，小丫头稀里糊涂，自己都未必清楚，然而此时看见林轩平安返回，她心中的高兴，却是可想而知。
A hundred years ago, Lin Xuan had turned the tide. If not for him, the Snow Fox Clan would have faced immense peril; perhaps even been erased from the Frost Soul Ice Plain.
zhèng yīn wèi xìng fú lái de tài tū rán ， suǒ yǐ tā cái huì shī tài 。
正因为幸福来得太突然，所以她才会失态。
All of this could be attributed to his efforts, but given Lin Xuan's nature, he didn't like spreading such matters widely.
rán ér zhè ge dòng zuò ， què jiāng jǐ míng xiǎo yāo xià dé bù qiǎn 。
然而这个动作，却将几名小妖吓得不浅。
Lin Xuan had instructed Fragrant to minimize her influence. Only a few elders in the Snow Fox Clan knew about his deeds.
xiāng ér gōng zhǔ jū rán ……
香儿公主居然……
But walls have ears. Despite following Lin Xuan’s advice, rumors and speculations still spread within the clan over the years.
zhè rén jiū jìng shì hé fāng shén shèng ？
这人究竟是何方神圣？
Could this human cultivator be the one with profound power who did great favors for their clan?
gè zhǒng gè yàng de chuǎi mó ， jiē zhe jǐ yāo xiǎng qǐ zú zhōng de yí gè chuán shuō …… nán dào shuō ？
各种各样的揣摩，接着几妖想起族中的一个传说……难道说？
Princess Fragrant...
bǎi nián qián ， lín xuān lì wǎn kuáng lán ， rú fēi tā ， xuě hú zú yǐ xiàn rù mò dà de wēi jī ， shuō bù dìng yǐ bèi rén cóng hán pò bīng yuán mǒ qù ， gèng bú yào shuō ， yǒu jīn rì de shí lì yǔ dì wèi 。
百年前，林轩力挽狂澜，如非他，雪狐族已陷入莫大的危机，说不定已被人从寒魄冰原抹去，更不要说，有今日的实力与地位。
The demons froze, lowering their heads, unable to speak.
zhè yī qiè ， shuō chéng shì lín xuān de gōng láo yě bù wèi guò ， rán ér yǐ lín xuān de xìng gé ， zì rán bù xǐ huān jiāng cǐ shì xuān yáng dé rén jǐn jiē zhī de 。
这一切，说成是林轩的功劳也不为过，然而以林轩的性格，自然不喜欢将此事宣扬得人尽皆知的。
After a dozen breaths, Fragrant herself realized her actions were too intimate. She stepped back, blushing and becoming even more charming.
lín xuān yǐ dīng zhǔ xiāng ér ， jǐn liàng xiāo chú zì jǐ de yǐng xiǎng ， suǒ yǐ zhěng gè xuě hú zú ， zhī dào lín xuān shì jì de ， bù guò liáo liáo jǐ míng zhǎng lǎo bà le 。
林轩已叮嘱香儿，尽量消除自己的影响，所以整个雪狐族，知道林轩事迹的，不过寥寥几名长老罢了。
"Big Brother Lin, why have you been delayed so long before returning."
rán ér tiān xià wú bù tòu fēng de qiáng ， xiāng ér suī rán tīng cóng le lín xuān de dīng zhǔ ， kě zhè me xiē nián lái ， zú zhōng duō shǎo hái shì liú chuán chū yī xiē bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng de chuán shuō 。
然而天下无不透风的墙，香儿虽然听从了林轩的叮嘱，可这么些年来，族中多少还是流传出一些捕风捉影的传说。
"Eh..."
nán dào yǎn qián de rén zú xiū shì ， jiù shì chuán yán zhōng ， xiū wèi shēn bù kě cè ， qiě duì běn zú yǒu dà ēn de nà ge rén me ？
难道眼前的人族修士，就是传言中，修为深不可测，且对本族有大恩的那个人么？
Lin Xuan was taken aback; this question wasn't easy to answer. His time at the Ethereal Immortal Palace hadn’t actually taken much time, but he had spent a century because he took the Peaches of Immortality to advance his cultivation. He thought success or failure would be clear soon.
gōng zhǔ duì tā ……
公主对他……
Who knew it would take so long.
jǐ míng yāo xiū shí huà 。
几名妖修石化。
However, Lin Xuan didn't plan on revealing this truth. Fragrant's nature might have driven her crazy; there was no need for him to create unnecessary discomfort.
dī xià tou lú ， shén me yě bù gǎn shuō 。
低下头颅，什么也不敢说。
But in a moment, he couldn’t think of a perfect lie either.
guò le zú zú shí jǐ xī de gōng fu ， xiāng ér zì jǐ cái fǎn yìng guò lái ， zì jǐ zhè dòng zuò ， sì hū tài ài mèi le diǎn 。
过了足足十几息的功夫，香儿自己才反应过来，自己这动作，似乎太暧昧了点。
Before his thoughts could fully form, someone suddenly exclaimed, "Big Brother Lin, when did you advance to the Intermediate Spirit Formation stage?"
tā máng hòu tuì liǎng bù ， qiào liǎn hóng hóng de ， shēng téng qǐ yī céng lì sè ， yuè fā de jiāo měi kě ài 。
她忙后退两步，俏脸红红的，升腾起一层丽色，越发的娇美可爱。
Fragrant was stunned. She hadn't noticed this during their first meeting due to excitement but now her expression changed dramatically.
“ lín dà gē ， nǐ zěn me dān gē le zhè me jiǔ ， cái huí lái 。”
“林大哥，你怎么耽搁了这么久，才回来。”
She considered herself a super genius in cultivation and had access to suitable treasures within the Snow Fox Clan. Yet, even with these advantages, her current progress remained difficult.
“ è ……”
“呃……”
After all, reaching the Spirit Formation stage made everything more challenging, no matter how talented you were.
lín xuān yī dāi ， zhè ge wèn tí kě bù tài hǎo huí dá ， zì jǐ qù piāo miǎo xiān gōng dào bǎo ， qí shí qián hòu bìng méi yǒu huā fèi duō jiǔ de shí jiān ， zhī suǒ yǐ huì dān gē bǎi nián ， shì yīn wèi zì jǐ fú yòng pán táo jìn jí ， yuán běn yǐ wéi bù lùn chéng gōng hái shì shī bài ， hěn kuài jiù kě yǐ jiàn fēn xiǎo de 。
林轩一呆，这个问题可不太好回答，自己去缥缈仙宫盗宝，其实前后并没有花费多久的时间，之所以会耽搁百年，是因为自己服用蟠桃晋级，原本以为不论成功还是失败，很快就可以见分晓的。
The little girl estimated that advancing from Intermediate Spirit Formation to Advanced Spirit Formation would take at least seven or eight thousand years, if everything went smoothly—thanks to his extraordinary talent.
tiān zhī dào huì huā fèi zhè me jiǔ de shí jiān 。
天知道会花费这么久的时间。
For a cultivator, achieving this within ten millennia was already impressive.
bù guò zhè lǐ yóu ， lín xuān bìng bù dǎ suàn shí shuō ， fǒu zé yǐ xiāng ér de xìng gé ， bù zhuā kuáng cái guài ， zì jǐ méi yǒu bì yào ， wú duān de gěi zì jǐ zhǎo bù zì zài 。
不过这理由，林轩并不打算实说，否则以香儿的性格，不抓狂才怪，自己没有必要，无端的给自己找不自在。
But Big Brother Lin?
rán ér yī shí piàn kè ， yòu nǎ lǐ xiǎng de dào shén me tiān yī wú fèng de huǎng yán 。
然而一时片刻，又哪里想得到什么天衣无缝的谎言。
Only one hundred years?
nǎo hǎi zhōng niàn tou shàng wèi zhuǎn guò ， ěr biān tū rán chuán lái yī shēng jīng hū ：“ lín dà gē ， nǐ shén me shí hòu jìn jí dào fēn shén zhōng qī le ？”
脑海中念头尚未转过，耳边突然传来一声惊呼：“林大哥，你什么时候晋级到分神中期了？”
One hundred years ago, he was still in the Intermediate stage; now he had advanced to Advanced. Even seeing it with his own eyes, the little girl found such rapid advancement too unbelievable?
Lin Xuan didn't need to sneak in if he wanted to. With his miraculous speed, it would be a breeze. However, since Lin Xuan and Fragrant had a good relationship, there was no need for him to act secretly.
Thus, he walked into the Frost Soul Ice Plain with great strides.
Since Fragrant became the Ice Plain's ruler, although relations between her people and humans improved significantly—leading to the establishment of markets where goods could be exchanged—the fighting and conflicts were reduced. However, humans and demons remained fundamentally different. The thousand-year-old grudge couldn't just vanish by changing their relationship.
This required a process.
Therefore, deep within the Frost Soul Ice Plain, in the heart of the demon realm, humans still couldn't enter; otherwise, they would be killed without mercy.
Fortunately for Lin Xuan, he left this place a hundred years ago and had received a token from Fragrant. Otherwise, even though no demon could stop him, it might have been too amusing to kill his way into the Snow Fox Clan's territory.
Fragrant's fame was widespread now, and with her token, Lin Xuan wasn't troubled or delayed on his journey. As he approached the Snow Fox Clan's territory, a massive ice wall came into view.
Though not close, they were within reach. Lin Xuan thought about meeting Fragrant soon but found himself facing trouble instead. Several Transformed Period demon cultivators stopped him.
Lin Xuan showed them his token, but it was of no use. These little fellows didn't believe in it; in their minds, Princess Fragrant, like a celestial princess, wouldn't give such an intimate token to a mere human cultivator.
It must have been stolen!
Lin Xuan was speechless. He wasn’t someone who took kindly to such things. If not for Yuanke and Fragrant's sake, he would have extracted their souls and refined them into essence.
A Transformed Period demon dared to look down on him as a high-ranking cultivator; it seemed the Snow Fox Clan had indeed prospered, even making some little demons with nascent spirits arrogant.
Fortunately, though they didn't believe in his strength, they could see that Lin Xuan was far superior. In the world of cultivation, might is right, so they dared not be disrespectful.
They refused to let him enter while flattering and bowing. Then they sent out a transmission talisman; they had no authority to handle this matter, so they could only disturb Princess Fragrant.
Not long after, within just a few breaths, a flash of light appeared from afar, quickly approaching them.
Fragrant was there too.
The light faded, revealing her radiant and excited face.
"Your Highness," Lin Xuan greeted.
Several proud Snow Fox demon cultivators were shocked; they bowed respectfully. They hadn't expected their beloved princess to be here. Could this man really not be a fraud? His words might be true.
Meanwhile, the demons were extremely excited. Fragrant was indeed their idol, but as lowly creatures, they rarely got close enough to see her. Even just glimpsing her from afar was considered fortunate.
Today's chance encounter seemed to bring them good fortune through this mysterious cultivator.
Before their thoughts could fully process what happened next, the scene left them speechless and almost doubting their eyes.
Even Lin Xuan himself was startled.
"Big Brother Lin, it really is you."
The excited voice of the little girl entered his ears. She leaped into his arms, as if she were hugging him.
Lin Xuan held her close, unsure where to place his hands.
It wasn't that Princess Fragrant was too forward; she was genuinely emotional.
Though Fragrant appeared to be thriving on the surface, behind the scenes, many worried about Lin Xuan's disappearance. Though she hadn't cried, midnight thoughts often brought back memories of the big bad guy.
Seeing him safely return filled her with joy, but this sudden happiness made her act out of character.
However, this action frightened several demons.
Princess Fragrant...
Who was this person?
Various speculations arose as they recalled a legend from their clan... Could it be?
A hundred years ago, Lin Xuan had turned the tide. If not for him, the Snow Fox Clan would have faced immense peril; perhaps even been erased from the Frost Soul Ice Plain.
All of this could be attributed to his efforts, but given Lin Xuan's nature, he didn't like spreading such matters widely.
Lin Xuan had instructed Fragrant to minimize her influence. Only a few elders in the Snow Fox Clan knew about his deeds.
But walls have ears. Despite following Lin Xuan’s advice, rumors and speculations still spread within the clan over the years.
Could this human cultivator be the one with profound power who did great favors for their clan?
Princess Fragrant...
The demons froze, lowering their heads, unable to speak.
After a dozen breaths, Fragrant herself realized her actions were too intimate. She stepped back, blushing and becoming even more charming.
"Big Brother Lin, why have you been delayed so long before returning."
"Eh..."
Lin Xuan was taken aback; this question wasn't easy to answer. His time at the Ethereal Immortal Palace hadn’t actually taken much time, but he had spent a century because he took the Peaches of Immortality to advance his cultivation. He thought success or failure would be clear soon.
Who knew it would take so long.
However, Lin Xuan didn't plan on revealing this truth. Fragrant's nature might have driven her crazy; there was no need for him to create unnecessary discomfort.
But in a moment, he couldn’t think of a perfect lie either.
Before his thoughts could fully form, someone suddenly exclaimed, "Big Brother Lin, when did you advance to the Intermediate Spirit Formation stage?"
Fragrant was stunned. She hadn't noticed this during their first meeting due to excitement but now her expression changed dramatically.
She considered herself a super genius in cultivation and had access to suitable treasures within the Snow Fox Clan. Yet, even with these advantages, her current progress remained difficult.
After all, reaching the Spirit Formation stage made everything more challenging, no matter how talented you were.
The little girl estimated that advancing from Intermediate Spirit Formation to Advanced Spirit Formation would take at least seven or eight thousand years, if everything went smoothly—thanks to his extraordinary talent.
For a cultivator, achieving this within ten millennia was already impressive.
But Big Brother Lin?
Only one hundred years?
One hundred years ago, he was still in the Intermediate stage; now he had advanced to Advanced. Even seeing it with his own eyes, the little girl found such rapid advancement too unbelievable?