fú xī huò suǒ yī ， huò xī fú suǒ fú ， cǐ shí cǐ kè ， líng guǐ zōng zhòng zhǎng lǎo de xīn xù ， fǎng fú yóu dì yù ， yī xià zi shēng huá dào tiān táng le 。
福兮祸所依，祸兮福所伏，此时此刻，灵鬼宗众长老的心绪，仿佛由地狱，一下子升华到天堂了。
Fortune and misfortune are interdependent, as the saying goes. At this moment, the minds of the elders of Linggui Sect were elevated from hell to heaven.
tiān yǎn shān kuàng mài yī yì ， lín xuān dà zhǎn shén wēi ， yǐ bù kě sī yì zhī shén tōng ， jiāng tā men de zhǒng zhǒng yīn móu yǔ bù zhì ， yī yī jī kuì 。
天衍山矿脉一役，林轩大展神威，以不可思议之神通，将他们的种种阴谋与布置，一一击溃。
In the battle at Tianyan Mountain's ore vein, Lin Xuan displayed his formidable power, using incredible divine techniques to dismantle their various plots and schemes one by one.
sān pài sǔn bīng zhé jiàng ， fēn shén qī zhǎng lǎo ， gèng shì zhé sǔn le yí bàn hái duō ， duì lín xuān zì rán shì wèi jù dào jí chù ， shuō wén fēng sàng dǎn ， nà shì bù dài fēn háo kuā zhāng de 。
三派损兵折将，分神期长老，更是折损了一半还多，对林轩自然是畏惧到极处，说闻风丧胆，那是不带分毫夸张的。
The three sects suffered heavy losses; even the senior Immortal Spirit Elders lost more than half of them. Their fear towards Lin Xuan was so intense that it bordered on terror—so much so that they were truly trembling in fear at his name.
jí biàn zhōng lǎo zài pài nèi wēi xìn sù zhù ， duì shàng lín xuān tā men yě méi yǒu tài dà bǎ wò ， shuō jù nán tīng de ， néng gòu yǒu wǔ chéng de jī lǜ qǔ shèng ， tā men jiù yǐ shì shāo gāo xiāng le 。
即便钟老在派内威信素著，对上林轩他们也没有太大把握，说句难听的，能够有五成的几率取胜，他们就已是烧高香了。
Even though Old Master Zhong had a high reputation within the sect, he still lacked confidence against Lin Xuan and his companions. To be honest, if there was even a 50% chance of winning, they would consider it a stroke of luck.
shuō jìn rén shì ér tīng tiān mìng yě bù wèi guò 。
说尽人事而听天命也不为过。
It could be said that one must do their best and leave the rest to fate.
rán ér xiàn zài bù tóng ， zhōng lǎo jìn jiē dào dù jié qī ， nà lín xiǎo zi jiù bù zú jù ， bù jǐn rú cǐ ， běn mén de guāng dà yě biàn chéng le zhǐ rì kě dài a ！
然而现在不同，钟老进阶到渡劫期，那林小子就不足惧，不仅如此，本门的光大也变成了指日可待啊！
However, now things had changed. With Old Master Zhong advancing to the Tribulation Transcending Stage, Lin Xuan's threat diminished considerably. Not only did this make the sect's glory imminent, but it also brought about a sense of hope among the elders.
nǐ ràng zhū zhǎng lǎo rú hé bù jīng xǐ 。
你让诸长老如何不惊喜。
Their expressions were extremely respectful and sincere.
yí gè gè de biǎo qíng gōng shùn yǐ jí ， ér qiě shì fā zì nèi zàng dì 。
一个个的表情恭顺以极，而且是发自内脏地。
But before they could fully bask in their joy, an unusually calm voice interrupted: "Elders, there is no need for such reverence. I, Old Master Zhong, have not advanced to the Tribulation Transcending Stage."
rán ér huà yīn wèi luò ， yī píng jìng yì cháng de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ：“ zhū wèi tóng mén bù bì rú cǐ ， zhōng mǒu bìng méi yǒu néng gòu jìn jiē dào dù jié qī 。”
然而话音未落，一平静异常的声音传入耳朵：“诸位同门不必如此，钟某并没有能够进阶到渡劫期。”
This statement was shocking!
yǔ jīng sì zuò ！
语惊四座！
It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over everyone's heads.
shuō yī pén lěng shuǐ dāng tóu pō xià lái yě bù wèi guò 。
说一盆冷水当头泼下来也不为过。
The presence of several senior Immortal Spirits were left speechless and gaped at each other like wooden chickens, their expressions utterly blank.
zài chǎng de fēn shén qī cún zài dōu jīng dé shì mù dèng kǒu dāi ， miàn miàn xiāng qù xià yǒu ruò mù jī ， yí gè gè de biǎo qíng nà shì dāi zhì yǐ jí 。
在场的分神期存在都惊得是目瞪口呆，面面相觑下有若木鸡，一个个的表情那是呆滞以极。
Wu... Wu...
wū ……，
呜……，
A cold wind blew past, making the nearby cultivators feel icy-cold. Knowing that they were all high-ranking existences in the Immortal Spirit realm, their bodies had been repeatedly refined by essence energy countless times to the point where they could withstand extreme temperatures. The feeling of chilliness was a clear indication of how terrible and disappointed everyone felt.
hán fēng chuī guò 。
寒风吹过。
There was no one who spoke up for a full half an hour as the room fell silent.
hán tán fù jìn de xiū shì wú bù jué de hún shēn liáng sōu sōu de ， yào zhī dào ， tā men wú yī lì wài ， kě dōu shì fēn shén jí bié de dà néng cún zài ， ròu quán shēn jīng guò líng lì wú shù cì de cuì liàn ， zǎo yǐ dào hán shǔ bù qīn de dì bù ， huì yǒu zhè zhǒng fā liáng de gǎn chù ， kě xiǎng ér zhī ， cǐ kè tā men de xīn qíng ， shì hé děng de zāo gāo yǔ shī wàng le 。
寒潭附近的修士无不觉得浑身凉飕飕的，要知道，他们无一例外，可都是分神级别的大能存在，肉齤身经过灵力无数次的淬炼，早已到寒暑不侵的地步，会有这种发凉的感触，可想而知，此刻他们的心情，是何等的糟糕与失望了。
Only then did the silver-haired elder stammer, "Old Master Zhong... what did you say? You didn't advance to the Tribulation Transcending Stage? Are you joking?"
yī shí jiān ， méi yǒu rén jiē kǒu ， zú zú lěng chǎng le bàn zhǎn chá de gōng fu 。
一时间，没有人接口，足足冷场了半盏茶的功夫。
"Yes, Old Master Zhong. Don't scare me. We know how dire our situation is in the sect now; we can't afford to be scared."
nà yín fā lǎo zhě cái niè rú zhe shuō huà le ：
那银发老者才嗫嚅着说话了：
"Hmph, as a late-stage Senior Immortal Spirit, I couldn't even discern your realm. You say that you didn't advance to Tribulation Transcending? That's quite amusing, isn't it?"
“ zhōng …… zhōng lǎo ， nín shuō shén me ， nǐ méi yǒu jìn jiē dào dù jié qī me ， bú huì shì kāi wán xiào ？”
“钟……钟老，您说什么，你没有进阶到渡劫期么，不会是开玩笑？”
A cultivator with a long beard spoke up, his face still showing dissatisfaction. "Old man, you failed to advance to the Tribulation Transcending Stage; there's no need for such boasting. Why would you lie to us?"
“ shì a ， zhōng lǎo ， nǐ bú yào xià wǒ ， běn mén rú jīn de qíng kuàng nín yě xiǎo de ， wǒ men kě shì jīng bú zhù nǐ xià de 。”
“是啊，钟老，你不要吓我，本门如今的情况您也晓得，我们可是经不住你吓的。”
"Old man, failing to advance to the Tribulation Transcending Stage is not something worth boasting about. Why would I deceive you?" said the elderly figure with a refined demeanor.
“ hēng ， wáng mǒu tiǎn wèi fēn shén hòu qī de xiū xiān zhě ， dōu wú fǎ kàn chū nín de jìng jiè rú hé ， zhōng lǎo què shuō méi néng jìn jiē dào dù jié ， zhè bù hǔ rén me ？”
“哼，王某忝为分神后期的修仙者，都无法看出您的境界如何，钟老却说没能进阶到渡劫，这不唬人么？”
This was a reasonable point, and the onlookers could not help but show shock on their faces. They whispered among themselves, clearly agitated.
yī luò sāi hú zi de xiū xiān zhě ， liǎn shàng yóu dài bù mǎn zhī sè ， huǎn huǎn de shuō 。
一络腮胡子的修仙者，脸上犹带不满之色，缓缓的说。
"Hmph, don't be so nervous; you're just a bunch of useless things. Even though Old Man failed to advance successfully, dealing with that Lin Xuan kid is still as easy as turning over your palm."
“ lǎo fū wèi néng jìn jiē dào dù jié qī ， yòu bú shì shén me zhí de xuàn yào de guāng cǎi shì ， piàn nǐ men wèi hé ？”
“老夫未能进阶到渡劫期，又不是什么值得炫耀的光彩事，骗你们为何？”
Seeing his fellow cultivators acting like mice, Old Master Zhong was angry but spoke without reservation, subtly asserting his seniority.
nà xiān fēng dào gǔ de lǎo zhě dàn dàn de shuō 。
那仙风道骨的老者淡淡的说。
The others were verbally abused but did not dare to show anger. After all, compared to their lives and futures, a little face was nothing.
cǐ huà dà wèi yǒu lǐ ， páng guān zhòng rén tīng le ， liǎn shàng bù yóu de xiàn chū jīng hài zhī yì ， yī shí jiān ， jiāo tóu jiē ěr de qiè qiè sī yǔ ， míng xiǎn rén xīn yǐ shì fú dòng yǐ jí 。
此话大为有理，旁观众人听了，脸上不由得现出惊骇之意，一时间，交头接耳的窃窃私语，明显人心已是浮动以极。
However, many people found Old Master Zhong's arrogance and domineering attitude hard to accept. Lin Xuan's strength had been witnessed by everyone present, so how could he possibly match the incredible abilities of that guy?
“ hēng ， dōu huāng shén me ， yī qún méi yòng de dōng xī ， lǎo fū suī shuō méi néng chéng gōng jìn jí ， dàn duì fù nà jiào lín xuān de xiǎo zi yī jiù shì yì rú fǎn zhǎng dì 。”
“哼，都慌什么，一群没用的东西，老夫虽说没能成功晋级，但对付那叫林轩的小子依旧是易如反掌地。”
Words alone were not enough; showing real power would be necessary to gain their trust.
jiàn yī gān tóng mén zhè yàng dǎn xiǎo rú shǔ ， zhōng lǎo huì nù zhī yú ， shuō huà bù liú bàn diǎn yú dì ， yǐn yǐn yǐ zhǎng bèi zì jū 。
见一干同门这样胆小如鼠，钟老恚怒之余，说话不留半点余地，隐隐以长辈自居。
After all, this was no game; it concerned their lives and futures. No one dared to slack off or neglect anything.
zhòng rén bèi mà le gè gǒu xuè lín tóu ， rán ér cǐ shí cǐ kè ， què gù bù shàng shēng qì ， bì jìng yǔ xiǎo mìng xiàng bǐ ， xiē xǔ miàn zi ， yòu suàn dé shàng shén me dōng xī 。
众人被骂了个狗血淋头，然而此时此刻，却顾不上生气，毕竟与小命相比，些许面子，又算得上什么东西。
"Old Master Zhong, don't underestimate him. That Lin Xuan kid's strength far surpasses that of his peers. Despite the twenty senior Immortal Spirits from our three sects setting numerous traps and barriers, they were all useless. Even the Linggui Five Elements Great Array was easily broken by him..."
shú qīng shú zhòng ， dà jiā hái shì fēn de qīng dì 。
孰轻孰重，大家还是分得清地。
The voice of the silver-haired elder echoed in everyone's ears; he was the one most concerned about the fate of the sect.
rán ér duì yú zhōng lǎo de xiāo zhāng bá hù ， què shì bù yǐ wéi rán de rén jū duō ， bì jìng lín xuān de shí lì ， zài chǎng zhī rén dōu céng qīn yǎn mù dǔ ， zhōng lǎo de shén tōng zài yǒu fēi fán zhī chù ， zhēn néng yǔ nà bù kě sī yì de jiā huo xiāng pì měi me ？
然而对于钟老的嚣张跋扈，却是不以为然的人居多，毕竟林轩的实力，在场之人都曾亲眼目睹，钟老的神通再有非凡之处，真能与那不可思议的家伙相媲美么？
"You don't need to remind me. The details are clearly stated in the transmission talisman. Twenty senior Immortal Spirits, plus the Linggui Five Elements Great Array—what difference does that make? That Lin Xuan kid can only be bold before you, but if he faces a cultivator one realm higher, he's just a fish on a chopping board for Old Man to cut up..."
kǒu shuō wú píng ， bù ná chū diǎn zhēn gōng fu ， yòu zěn me néng gòu fú zhòng 。
口说无凭，不拿出点真功夫，又怎么能够服众。
These words left the elders confused.
bì jìng cǐ shì bú shì wán lè ， shì guān dà jiā de xiǎo mìng yǔ qián tú ， shuí yě bù gǎn xiè dài shū hū 。
毕竟此事不是玩乐，事关大家的小命与前途，谁也不敢懈怠疏忽。
Was Old Master Zhong really so deranged after his seclusion and meditation?
“ zhōng lǎo ， bù kě qīng dí ， nà lín xiǎo zi de shí lì ， yuǎn fēi tóng jiē cún zài kě yǐ bǐ nǐ ， wǒ men sān pài lián méng èr shí duō wèi fēn shén qī xiū xiān zhě ， yòu bù xià chóng chóng xiàn jǐng jìn zhì ， rán ér dōu méi yǒu fēn háo yòng chǔ ， lián líng guǐ wǔ xíng dà zhèn yě qīng yì bèi qí pò chú “…”
“钟老，不可轻敌，那林小子的实力，远非同阶存在可以比拟，我们三派联盟二十多位分神期修仙者，又布下重重陷阱禁制，然而都没有分毫用处，连灵鬼五行大阵也轻易被其破除“…”
"Ahem, ahem. Old Master Zhong, didn't you say that you failed to advance to the Tribulation Transcending Stage?" The silver-haired elder's hesitant voice echoed in everyone's ears, filled with confusion. Other cultivators had similar expressions; who wouldn't be confused in such a situation?
nà yín fā lǎo zhě de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， tā shì duì zōng mén qián tú zuì zhe jǐn de yí gè 。
那银发老者的声音传入耳朵，他是对宗门前途最着紧的一个。
"Indeed, I did say that I couldn't advance to the Tribulation Transcending Realm. But who said I'm at your same level? Senior Immortal Spirit... heh, Old Man... I am no longer."
“ nǐ bù yòng tí diǎn lǎo fū ， shì qíng de jīng guò ， chuán yīn fú lǐ bù dōu shuō qīng chǔ ” hēng ， èr shí yú míng fèn shén qī xiū xiān zhě ， jiā shàng líng guǐ wǔ xíng dà zhèn nà yòu suàn dé le shén me ， nà lín xiǎo zi yě bù guò néng zài nǐ men miàn qián chāng kuáng bà le ， dàn ruò shì miàn duì gāo tā yí gè jìng jiè de xiū xiān zhě ， hái bú shì zhēn bǎn shàng de yú ， rèn yóu lǎo fū zǎi gē ……。”
“你不用提点老夫，事情的经过，传音符里不都说清楚”亨，二十余名分神期修仙者，加上灵鬼五行大阵那又算得了什么，那林小子也不过能在你们面前猖狂罢了，但若是面对高他一个境界的修仙者，还不是砧板上的鱼，任由老夫宰割……。”
The crowd was shocked. Was Old Master Zhong's mind truly broken?
zhè fān huà yī chū ， jiāng yī zhòng zhǎng lǎo men tīng le gè xī lǐ hú tú 。
这番话一出，将一众长老们听了个稀里糊涂。
It was common knowledge that cultivation had eight realms; anything beyond Senior Immortal Spirit was Tribulation Transcending.
wán xiào yě bù dài zhè me kāi de ， nán dào zhōng lǎo bì guān zǒu huǒ rù mó ， yǐ jiāng nǎo dài gěi liàn huài le me ？
玩笑也不带这么开的，难道钟老闭关走火入魔，已将脑袋给练坏了么？
Millions of years of history confirmed this. What was Old Master Zhong saying now?
“ ké ， ké ， zhōng lǎo ， nǐ bú shì shuō ， zì jǐ méi yǒu chéng gōng jìn jiē dào dù jié qī me ？” nà yín fā lǎo zhě chī chī de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， mǎn miàn mí huò ， qí tā xiū shì de biǎo qíng ， nà yě shì xiāng chà bù duō ， yù jiàn zhè zhǒng qíng kuàng ， shuí bú shì tīng dé yún lǐ wù lǐ ne ？
“咳，咳，钟老，你不是说，自己没有成功进阶到渡劫期么？”那银发老者吃吃的声音传入耳朵，满面迷惑，其他修士的表情，那也是相差不多，遇见这种情况，谁不是听得云里雾里呢？
Facing the bewildered gazes, Old Master Zhong remained calm as ever.
“ lǎo fū què rán shuō guò ， méi néng chéng gōng jìn jí wèi dù jié qī de dà néng xiū xiān zhě ， dàn shuí shuō ， wǒ jiù shì nǐ men de tóng jiē xiū shì le ， fēn shén qī ， hēi hēi ， lǎo fū …， zǎo yǐ bú shì le 。”
“老夫确然说过，没能成功晋级为渡劫期的大能修仙者，但谁说，我就是你们的同阶修士了，分神期，嘿嘿，老夫…，早已不是了。”
How could a sparrow understand the aspirations of a swan? How could a frog in a well comprehend the vastness of the world?
zhòng rén dà huā ， zhè zhōng lǎo de nǎo dài ， shì zhēn huài diào le ba ！
众人大哗，这钟老的脑袋，是真坏掉了吧！
Indeed, there were eight realms for cultivation, but advancing to Tribulation Transcending was extremely difficult. The bottleneck was so formidable that countless geniuses had failed at this stage.
zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī ， xiū xiān fēn wéi bā gè jìng jiè ， fēn shén yǐ shàng bù jiù shì dù jié ？
众所周知，修仙分为八个境界，分神以上不就是渡劫？
With no hope of advancing beyond Senior Immortal Spirit, these cultivators did not want to waste their time and energy indefinitely. In their constant attempts to break through the Tribulation Transcending barrier, they also sought new paths of cultivation.
qiān bǎi wàn nián lái ， xiàng shì rú cǐ ， zhè zhōng lǎo ， zài hú shuō bā dào shén me a ！
千百万年来，向是如此，这钟老，在胡说八道什么啊！
The difficulty and hardships were not something that could be easily explained to outsiders.
wàng zhe zhòng rén chà yì de yǎn shén ， zhōng lǎo de biǎo qíng ， yī jiù shì yún dàn fēng qīng 。
望着众人诧异的眼神，钟老的表情，依旧是云淡风轻。
However, after countless failures over millions of years, a genius finally discovered this path.
yàn què ān zhī hóng què zhī zhì ， jǐng dǐ zhī wā ， yòu zěn me zhī dào tiān dì de guǎng dà 。
燕雀安知鸿鹊之志，井底之蛙，又怎么知道天地的广大。
By advancing from Senior Immortal Spirit to another realm without reaching Tribulation Transcending. This advancement was relatively easier but did not bring the same level of strength as true Tribulation Transcending.
bù cuò ， xiū xiān yuán běn shì bā gè jìng jiè méi cuò ， rán ér xiǎng yào jìn jiē dào dù jié ， què tài nán le ， nà píng jǐng de nán dù ， yī qián miàn de jìn jí ， wán quán bù kě tóng rì ér yǔ ， bù zhī dào duō shǎo ào shì qún lún de tiān cái ， què zài zhè yī dào guān kǒu zhé yì 。
不错，修仙原本是八个境界没错，然而想要进阶到渡劫，却太难了，那瓶颈的难度，一前面的晋级，完全不可同日而语，不知道多少傲视群伦的天才，却在这一道关口折翼。
The genius calculated that it would only be about one-third of the power of a true Tribulation Transcending cultivator.
jìn jiē dù jié xī wàng quán wú ， dàn zhè xiē rén yòu bù gān xīn tíng liú zài fēn shén hòu qī bù néng cùn jìn yí bù ， bái bái jiāng shí guāng yǔ jīng lì xiāo mó ， tā men zài bù duàn chōng jī dù jié qī píng jǐng de shí hòu ， yě zài xún mì zhe xīn de xiū xiān zhī lù 。
进阶渡劫希望全无，但这些人又不甘心停留在分神后期不能寸进一步，白白将时光与精力消磨，他们在不断冲击渡劫期瓶颈的时候，也在寻觅着新的修仙之路。
But do not underestimate this third; even an incomplete advancement brought far more strength than a Senior Immortal Spirit.
qí zhōng de nán dù yǔ jiān xīn shì bù zú yǐ xiàng wài rén dào de 。
其中的难度与艰辛是不足以像外人道的。
Tribulation Transcending and Senior Immortal Spirit were worlds apart. With just one-third of the power, it could easily sweep through the realm of Senior Immortal Spirits.
dàn qiān bǎi wàn nián lái ， zài jīng lì guò wú shù cì shī bài yǐ hòu ， hái zhēn bèi qí zhōng de yī wèi tiān cái gěi zhǎo dào le 。
但千百万年来，在经历过无数次失败以后，还真被其中的一位天才给找到了。
Ancient cultivators named this newly created realm "Minor Tribulation Transcending." It was aptly named but came with significant risks.
yóu fēn shén zài jìn yí bù ， tà rù lìng yí gè jìng jiè ， rán ér bìng bú shì dù jié 。
由分神再进一步，踏入另一个境界，然而并不是渡劫。
This realm had only one level; there was no distinction between early, middle, or late stages. Minor Tribulation Transcending was simply Minor Tribulation Transcending.
Fortune and misfortune are interdependent, as the saying goes. At this moment, the minds of the elders of Linggui Sect were elevated from hell to heaven.
In the battle at Tianyan Mountain's ore vein, Lin Xuan displayed his formidable power, using incredible divine techniques to dismantle their various plots and schemes one by one.
The three sects suffered heavy losses; even the senior Immortal Spirit Elders lost more than half of them. Their fear towards Lin Xuan was so intense that it bordered on terror—so much so that they were truly trembling in fear at his name.
Even though Old Master Zhong had a high reputation within the sect, he still lacked confidence against Lin Xuan and his companions. To be honest, if there was even a 50% chance of winning, they would consider it a stroke of luck.
It could be said that one must do their best and leave the rest to fate.
However, now things had changed. With Old Master Zhong advancing to the Tribulation Transcending Stage, Lin Xuan's threat diminished considerably. Not only did this make the sect's glory imminent, but it also brought about a sense of hope among the elders.
Their expressions were extremely respectful and sincere.
But before they could fully bask in their joy, an unusually calm voice interrupted: "Elders, there is no need for such reverence. I, Old Master Zhong, have not advanced to the Tribulation Transcending Stage."
This statement was shocking!
It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over everyone's heads.
The presence of several senior Immortal Spirits were left speechless and gaped at each other like wooden chickens, their expressions utterly blank.
Wu... Wu...
A cold wind blew past, making the nearby cultivators feel icy-cold. Knowing that they were all high-ranking existences in the Immortal Spirit realm, their bodies had been repeatedly refined by essence energy countless times to the point where they could withstand extreme temperatures. The feeling of chilliness was a clear indication of how terrible and disappointed everyone felt.
There was no one who spoke up for a full half an hour as the room fell silent.
Only then did the silver-haired elder stammer, "Old Master Zhong... what did you say? You didn't advance to the Tribulation Transcending Stage? Are you joking?"
"Yes, Old Master Zhong. Don't scare me. We know how dire our situation is in the sect now; we can't afford to be scared."
"Hmph, as a late-stage Senior Immortal Spirit, I couldn't even discern your realm. You say that you didn't advance to Tribulation Transcending? That's quite amusing, isn't it?"
A cultivator with a long beard spoke up, his face still showing dissatisfaction. "Old man, you failed to advance to the Tribulation Transcending Stage; there's no need for such boasting. Why would you lie to us?"
"Old man, failing to advance to the Tribulation Transcending Stage is not something worth boasting about. Why would I deceive you?" said the elderly figure with a refined demeanor.
This was a reasonable point, and the onlookers could not help but show shock on their faces. They whispered among themselves, clearly agitated.
"Hmph, don't be so nervous; you're just a bunch of useless things. Even though Old Man failed to advance successfully, dealing with that Lin Xuan kid is still as easy as turning over your palm."
Seeing his fellow cultivators acting like mice, Old Master Zhong was angry but spoke without reservation, subtly asserting his seniority.
The others were verbally abused but did not dare to show anger. After all, compared to their lives and futures, a little face was nothing.
However, many people found Old Master Zhong's arrogance and domineering attitude hard to accept. Lin Xuan's strength had been witnessed by everyone present, so how could he possibly match the incredible abilities of that guy?
Words alone were not enough; showing real power would be necessary to gain their trust.
After all, this was no game; it concerned their lives and futures. No one dared to slack off or neglect anything.
"Old Master Zhong, don't underestimate him. That Lin Xuan kid's strength far surpasses that of his peers. Despite the twenty senior Immortal Spirits from our three sects setting numerous traps and barriers, they were all useless. Even the Linggui Five Elements Great Array was easily broken by him..."
The voice of the silver-haired elder echoed in everyone's ears; he was the one most concerned about the fate of the sect.
"You don't need to remind me. The details are clearly stated in the transmission talisman. Twenty senior Immortal Spirits, plus the Linggui Five Elements Great Array—what difference does that make? That Lin Xuan kid can only be bold before you, but if he faces a cultivator one realm higher, he's just a fish on a chopping board for Old Man to cut up..."
These words left the elders confused.
Was Old Master Zhong really so deranged after his seclusion and meditation?
"Ahem, ahem. Old Master Zhong, didn't you say that you failed to advance to the Tribulation Transcending Stage?" The silver-haired elder's hesitant voice echoed in everyone's ears, filled with confusion. Other cultivators had similar expressions; who wouldn't be confused in such a situation?
"Indeed, I did say that I couldn't advance to the Tribulation Transcending Realm. But who said I'm at your same level? Senior Immortal Spirit... heh, Old Man... I am no longer."
The crowd was shocked. Was Old Master Zhong's mind truly broken?
It was common knowledge that cultivation had eight realms; anything beyond Senior Immortal Spirit was Tribulation Transcending.
Millions of years of history confirmed this. What was Old Master Zhong saying now?
Facing the bewildered gazes, Old Master Zhong remained calm as ever.
How could a sparrow understand the aspirations of a swan? How could a frog in a well comprehend the vastness of the world?
Indeed, there were eight realms for cultivation, but advancing to Tribulation Transcending was extremely difficult. The bottleneck was so formidable that countless geniuses had failed at this stage.
With no hope of advancing beyond Senior Immortal Spirit, these cultivators did not want to waste their time and energy indefinitely. In their constant attempts to break through the Tribulation Transcending barrier, they also sought new paths of cultivation.
The difficulty and hardships were not something that could be easily explained to outsiders.
However, after countless failures over millions of years, a genius finally discovered this path.
By advancing from Senior Immortal Spirit to another realm without reaching Tribulation Transcending. This advancement was relatively easier but did not bring the same level of strength as true Tribulation Transcending.
The genius calculated that it would only be about one-third of the power of a true Tribulation Transcending cultivator.
But do not underestimate this third; even an incomplete advancement brought far more strength than a Senior Immortal Spirit.
Tribulation Transcending and Senior Immortal Spirit were worlds apart. With just one-third of the power, it could easily sweep through the realm of Senior Immortal Spirits.
Ancient cultivators named this newly created realm "Minor Tribulation Transcending." It was aptly named but came with significant risks.
This realm had only one level; there was no distinction between early, middle, or late stages. Minor Tribulation Transcending was simply Minor Tribulation Transcending.