qí cì ， gāi jìng jiè shì lìng pì xī jìng de jìn jí ， bú shì zhèng tú ， yí dàn xuǎn zé le zhè tiáo lù ， jiù jiāng hòu miàn de xiū xíng zhī lù ， chè dǐ dǔ sǐ ， xiū xiǎng zài cùn jìn yí bù ， bié shuō chéng xiān ， jiù suàn shì jìn jí dào zhēn zhèng de dù jié qī ， yě shì jué wú kě néng dì 。
其次，该境界是另辟蹊径的晋级，不是正途，一旦选择了这条路，就将后面的修行之路，彻底堵死，休想再寸进一步，别说成仙，就算是晋级到真正的渡劫期，也是绝无可能地。
Next, this realm was an unconventional path for advancement. It wasn't the orthodox way; once one chose it, all future cultivation paths were effectively sealed off. There would be no chance of making further progress, let alone achieving immortality or even advancing to the true Tribulation Transcending stage.
suǒ yǐ ， bú dào wàn bù dé yǐ ， nà xiē tiān cái yě bú huì xuǎn zé zhè tiáo lù ， jiā shàng bì zhǒu zì zhēn de yuán gù ， zhī dào rú hé jìn jí dào xiǎo dù jié qī fāng fǎ de xiū shì qū zhǐ kě shǔ 。
所以，不到万不得已，那些天才也不会选择这条路，加上敝帚自珍的缘故，知道如何晋级到小渡劫期方法的修士屈指可数。
Thus, unless absolutely necessary, few geniuses would choose this path. Coupled with the fact that most cultivators cherished their own methods, only a handful knew how to advance to the Lesser Tribulation Transcending stage.
gāi jìng jiè liú chuán bù guǎng ， yě bú shì zhèng tú ， suǒ yǐ bù suàn zài xiū xiān bā gè jìng jiè zhī zhōng 。
该境界流传不广，也不是正途，所以不算在修仙八个境界之中。
This realm was not widely known and wasn't considered part of the eight cultivation stages, so it didn’t count in the orthodox path.
zhōng lǎo yě shì jī yuán qiǎo hé ， wàn yú nián qián zài yí gè gǔ xiū shì dòng fǔ zhōng fā xiàn le zhè kān chēng nì tiān jí bié de xiū xíng zhī lù 。
钟老也是机缘巧合，万余年前在一个古修士洞府中发现了这堪称逆天级别的修行之路。
Old Master Zhong had stumbled upon this extraordinary path by chance over ten thousand years ago when he discovered an ancient cultivator’s den.
rú huò zhì bǎo 。
如获至宝。
He felt like he had received a precious gift.
duì yú tā lái shuō ， zhè kě yǔ xuě zhōng sòng tàn xiāng chà fǎng fú 。
对于他来说，这可与雪中送炭相差仿佛。
For him, this was akin to receiving charcoal on a snowy day.
bù cuò ， tā shì tiān cái ， guān jué gāi pài ， ràng běn mén de tóng jiē cún zài yǎng shì ， rán ér tiān cái yòu rú hé ， zì gǔ yǐ lái kǎ zài dù jié qī píng jǐng de tiān cái shǔ bù shèng shǔ ， yòu yǒu jǐ rén néng jī yuán qiǎo hé de tū pò 。
不错，他是天才，冠绝该派，让本门的同阶存在仰视，然而天才又如何，自古以来卡在渡劫期瓶颈的天才数不胜数，又有几人能机缘巧合的突破。
Indeed, he was a genius, unmatched in his sect and revered by his peers. However, how many geniuses managed to break through the Tribulation Transcending bottleneck despite their talent? After ten thousand years of attempts, Old Master Zhong had given up long ago.
zài cháng shì le wàn yú nián hòu ， zhōng lǎo yě zǎo fàng qì le 。
在尝试了万余年后，钟老也早放弃了。
But then, there was still this path.
méi xiǎng dào hái yǒu zhè yàng yī tiáo lù 。
没想到还有这样一条路。
The Lesser Tribulation Transcending stage was a tempting prospect for him.
xiǎo dù jié qī ， duì tā lái shuō shì yòu huò wú bǐ 。
小渡劫期，对他来说是诱惑无比。
Even if he couldn’t advance further, his current situation was clear. He had no hope of reaching the true Tribulation Transcending stage anyway.
cóng cǐ yǐ hòu ， bù néng jìn jí yòu rú hé ， zì jǐ de qíng kuàng zì jǐ qīng chǔ ， tā běn jiù méi yǒu xī wàng jìn jí dào dù jié qī de 。
从此以后，不能晋级又如何，自己的情况自己清楚，他本就没有希望晋级到渡劫期的。
Advancing to the Lesser Tribulation Transcending stage would be beneficial; it could increase both his strength and lifespan significantly.
rú jīn néng jìn jí dào xiǎo dù jié qī yě bù cuò ， shí lì shòu yuán dōu yǒu wàng fēi shēng xǔ duō 。
如今能晋级到小渡劫期也不错，实力寿元都有望飞升许多。
What more could one desire? As they say, contentment is a virtue.
hái yǒu shén me bù mǎn yì de ， sú huà shuō ， rén guì zài zhī zú 。
还有什么不满意的，俗话说，人贵在知足。
However, even though advancing to the Lesser Tribulation Transcending stage was easier than reaching true Tribulation Transcending, it still posed significant challenges for ordinary cultivators. Thus, after obtaining this secret technique, he didn’t delay and began his seclusion in the Profound Yin Cold Spring.
rán ér xiǎo dù jié qī ， suī bǐ jìn jí dào zhēn zhèng de dù jié róng yì ， yě shì xiāng duì lái shuō dì ， qí nán dù ， yī jiù shì ràng yì bān de xiū xiān zhě wàng ér què bù ， yú shì ， tā dé dào cǐ mì fǎ hòu ， yě bù gǎn dài màn ， jiù zài xuán yīn hán tán kāi shǐ le bì guān 。
然而小渡劫期，虽比晋级到真正的渡劫容易，也是相对来说地，其难度，依旧是让一般的修仙者望而却步，于是，他得到此秘法后，也不敢怠慢，就在玄阴寒潭开始了闭关。
He remained secluded for ten thousand years before finally achieving his goal. In the following two millennia, he continued to consolidate his realm and practiced various secret treasures and artifacts. With his new realm, some of the techniques that had previously seemed unattainable now became possible.
ér zhè yī bì jiù shì shàng wàn nián ， zhōng yú jìn jí ， dé cháng píng shēng suǒ yuàn 。
而这一闭就是上万年，终于晋级，得偿平生所愿。
Originally, according to his plan, it would take at least five or six hundred years for him to emerge from seclusion.
suí hòu de liǎng qiān nián ， tā yě méi yǒu xián zhe ， gǒng gù jìng jiè ， yǐ jí xiū liàn gè zhǒng mì fǎ bǎo wù ， zhè jìng jiè jì rán tí shēng le ， yǐ qián kàn zhuó yǎn chán de yī xiē shén tōng ， zì rán yě jiù yǒu le xī wàng xiū liàn 。
随后的两千年，他也没有闲着，巩固境界，以及修炼各种秘法宝物，这境界既然提升了，以前看着眼馋的一些神通，自然也就有了希望修炼。
But a few days ago, he received a transmission talisman revealing that his sect was facing a major crisis. A small Cloud Concealment Sect had forced them into a precarious situation, and even his own son and daughter-in-law were killed by a boy named Lin Xuan.
yuán běn àn zhào tā de jì huà ， zuì zǎo yě hái xū yào wǔ liù bǎi nián cái néng chū guān 。
原本按照他的计划，最早也还需要五六百年才能出关。
This was intolerable; as the Supreme Elder, how could he ignore such a change?
bù liào ， shù rì qián shōu dào chuán yīn fú ， běn mén jū rán zāo féng dà nàn ， bèi yī xiǎo xiǎo de yún yǐn zōng ， bī pò dào yào fēn bēng lí xī de dì bù 。
不料，数日前收到传音符，本门居然遭逢大难，被一小小的云隐宗，逼迫到要分崩离析的地步。
After delaying for several days to perfect one of his techniques, Old Master Zhong emerged from seclusion. Revenge is sweet.
lián tā de qīn shēn ài zi yǔ ér xí fù ， yě bèi yī jiào lín xuān de xiǎo zi gěi miè shā diào le 。
连他的亲身爱子与儿媳妇，也被一叫林轩的小子给灭杀掉了。
Lin Xuan had committed such an atrocity; how could he not extract his soul and refine his essence to satisfy his inner hatred?
shì kě rěn ， shú bù kě rěn ， běn mén fā shēng zhè yàng de biàn gù ， tā shēn wèi tài shàng zhǎng lǎo ， zěn me kě néng dàng zuò shén me yě méi yǒu fā shēng ne ？
是可忍，孰不可忍，本门发生这样的变故，他身为太上长老，怎么可能当作什么也没有发生呢？
The description in the transmission talisman about Lin Xuan's formidable abilities—far surpassing those of his peers and possessing ghostly techniques—did not faze him. How strong was that, after all? He was merely a waste at the Shen Division stage; what right did he have to challenge him?
yú shì ， zài tuō yán shù rì ， jiāng zuì hòu yī xiàng shén tōng xiū liàn chún shú ， cǐ lǎo guài wù jiù chū guān le 。
于是，在拖延数日，将最后一项神通修炼纯熟，此老怪物就出关了。
Challenging across levels was absurd.
xuè zhài xuè cháng 。
血债血偿。
Although the Lesser Tribulation Transcending stage wasn’t orthodox and didn’t count as one of the eight cultivation stages, it still had true Tribulation Transcending strength. It wouldn’t be easy for mere Shen Division cultivators to match him.
zhè lín xiǎo zi rú cǐ kě wù ， bù jiāng tā jù hún liàn pò ， rú hé néng xiāo zì jǐ de xīn tóu zhī hèn ne ？
这林小子如此可恶，不将他拒魂炼魄，如何能消自己的心头之恨呢？
Old Master Zhong was confident in his abilities, regardless of how much his fellow sect members praised Lin Xuan. He saw those at the Shen Division stage as fish on a chopping block.
zhì yú chuán yīn fú zhōng ， duì lín xuān de shén tōng dà jiā xuàn rǎn miáo shù ， shén me yuǎn shèng tóng jiē xiū xiān zhě ， yǒu guǐ shén mò cè zhī fǎ shù ， tā què shì sī háo méi yǒu fàng zài xīn zhōng 。
至于传音符中，对林轩的神通大加渲染描述，什么远胜同阶修仙者，有鬼神莫测之法术，他却是丝毫没有放在心中。
With his pride, he didn't feel like explaining further but did so briefly to reassure everyone.
zài qiáng yòu rú hé ， guī gēn jié dǐ yě zhǐ shì yī fēn shén jí bié de fèi wù ， yǒu shén me zī gé yǔ zì jǐ fàng duì ne ？
再强又如何，归根结底也只是一分神级别的废物，有什么资格与自己放对呢？
Lesser Tribulation Transcending?
yuè jí tiǎo zhàn ， bié kāi wán xiào le 。
越级挑战，别开玩笑了。
The other Spirit Ghost Sect elders were astonished; this was entirely new territory for them. However, with their current cultivation levels, they could easily discern the truth from Old Master Zhong's words.
suī rán xiǎo dù jié qī ， bú shì zhèng tú ， yě suàn bù jìn xiū xiān de bā gè jìng jiè zhī yī ， dàn yě yǒu zhēn zhèng dù jié sān fēn zhī yī de shí lì ， jué bú shì qū qū fēn shén qī xiū shì néng gòu wàng qí bèi xiàng dì 。
虽然小渡劫期，不是正途，也算不进修仙的八个境界之一，但也有真正渡劫三分之一的实力，绝不是区区分神期修士能够望其背项地。
Though his claims seemed exaggerated, he wasn’t exaggerating.
zhōng lǎo duì zì jǐ xìn xīn shí zú ， bù guǎn tóng mén de xiū shì rú hé tì kě xī chuī xū ， tā dōu méi yǒu jiāng nà lín xiǎo zi fàng zài yǎn lǐ 。
钟老对自己信心十足，不管同门的修士如何替可惜吹嘘，他都没有将那林小子放在眼里。
With true Tribulation Transcending strength, killing Lin Xuan would be no problem.
zài tā kàn lái ， fēn shén qī xiū shì ， dōu zhǐ shì zhēn bǎn shàng de yú 。
在他看来，分神期修士，都只是砧板上的鱼。
"Thus, Uncle Senior has advanced to the Lesser Tribulation Transcending stage and possesses unparalleled techniques."
ér yǐ tā de gāo ào ， yě méi yǒu xīn qíng xiáng xì jiě shì ， bù guò wèi le ān dìng rén xīn ， hái shì jiǎn lüè shuō shàng le shù yǔ 。
而以他的高傲，也没有心情详细解释，不过为了安定人心，还是简略说上了数语。
A sly fellow spoke up, showering him with flattery. Though he hadn't become a true powerhouse, his status was now different from theirs; they needed to praise him generously.
xiǎo dù jié qī ？
小渡劫期？
The other Shen Division cultivators around listened in disdain but didn’t want to fall behind. They also called him Uncle Senior and praised him lavishly.
zài chǎng de líng guǐ zōng zhǎng lǎo men chēng mù jié shé ， zhè duì tā men ér yán ， wán hé shì yī piàn xīn de tiān dì ， bù guò zài chǎng de xiū xiān zhě ， xiū wèi zuì chà de yě shì fēn shén ， jiàn shí zì rán bù ruò ， shì zhēn shì jiǎ yī yǎn jí kě fēn biàn chū 。
在场的灵鬼宗长老们瞠目结舌，这对他们而言，完合是一片新的天地，不过在场的修仙者，修为最差的也是分神，见识自然不弱，是真是假一眼即可分辨出。
As the saying goes, flattery never wears thin. Old Master Zhong felt content with their praise and no longer refused it, adopting a senior stance as if he had truly advanced to Tribulation Transcending.
zhōng lǎo kǒu zhōng suǒ shuō ， suī rán yǒu xiē lí pǔ ， dàn jué rán bú shì xìn kǒu kāi hé 。
钟老口中所说，虽然有些离谱，但决然不是信口开河。
Lin Xuan was unaware of this.
dù jié qī sān fēn zhī yī de shí lì ， nà miè shā lín xiǎo zi kěn dìng yě shì méi yǒu wèn tí 。
渡劫期三分之一的实力，那灭杀林小子肯定也是没有问题。
He and the Dragon-named youth were already on their way. As for the silver-eyed girl, although she had been cured of her severe poison by the Ethereal Nine Immortals Pill, her injuries hadn’t fully healed. She remained at the main base to recuperate. There was another reason: the main base needed a Supreme Elder to guard it.
“ yuán lái rú cǐ ， shī shū jìn jiē xiǎo dù jié qī ， tóng yàng shì shén tōng gài shì 。”
“原来如此，师叔进阶小渡劫期，同样是神通盖世。”
Lin Xuan didn't want his enemies to take advantage while he was out fighting. With his character, he sought safety in numbers. Against the Spirit Ghost Sect, a large number of people wasn’t necessary; as they said, shoot the horse before the rider and capture the king first. By infiltrating the main base and eliminating any remaining Supreme Elders, wouldn't the rest of them be too scared to resist?
yī zéi méi shǔ yǎn de jiā huo kāi kǒu le ， yú cí cháo sòng ， duì fāng suī méi yǒu jìn jiē chéng wéi zhēn zhèng de dà néng ， dàn bù guǎn rú hé ， yǔ tā men yǐ shì wán quán bù tóng ， dāng rán yào hěn hěn duō pāi yī xià qí mǎ pì de 。
一贼眉鼠眼的家伙开口了，谀词潮送，对方虽没有进阶成为真正的大能，但不管如何，与他们已是完全不同，当然要狠狠多拍一下其马屁的。
Answer Zhi was impossible.
zhōu wéi qí tā de fēn shén qī xiū shì tīng zài ěr lǐ ， suī rán xīn zhōng bǐ yí ， dàn què yòu bù yuàn luò yú rén hòu ， tóng yàng shì kǒu chēng shī shū ， shuō le hěn duō fèng chéng zhī yǔ 。
周围其他的分神期修士听在耳里，虽然心中鄙夷，但却又不愿落于人后，同样是口称师叔，说了很多奉承之语。
Without the protection of a Supreme Elder, his sect would surely disintegrate, so he didn’t need to spend much time or effort on it.
sú huà shuō ， qiān chuān wàn chuān ， mǎ pì bù chuān ， zhōng lǎo tīng dé hún shēn shū tài ， zài yě méi yǒu tuī jù ， gān cuì jiù yǐ zhǎng bèi zì jū ， fǎng fú tā zhēn de jìn jiē dào le dù jié qī 。
俗话说，千穿万穿，马屁不穿，钟老听得浑身舒泰，再也没有推拒，干脆就以长辈自居，仿佛他真的进阶到了渡劫期。
Thus, Lin Xuan’s plan was a surprise attack with only about one hundred people. Besides him and the Dragon-named youth, there were just over a hundred elite members.
ér zhè yī qiè ， lín xuān bìng bù xiǎo de 。
而这一切，林轩并不晓得。
One hundred people might not seem like much for Cloud Concealment Sect, but they couldn’t be careless. They had carefully selected them.
cǐ shí tā yǔ lóng xìng shào nián yǐ jīng shàng lù 。
此时他与龙姓少年已经上路。
Half of them were at the Profound Abyss stage, while the rest were core disciples at the Separation stage.
zhì yú yín tóng shào nǚ ， suī rán yǐ yòng piāo miǎo jiǔ xiān dān qū chú le tǐ nèi de jù dú ， dàn shāng shì què méi yǒu wán quán píng fù ， biàn liú zài zǒng duò xiū yǎng shēng xī ， dāng rán ， zhè yàng zuò hái yǒu yí gè yuán yóu ， zǒng duò què rán xū yào yī wèi tài shàng zhǎng lǎo zuò zhèn shǒu hù 。
至于银瞳少女，虽然已用飘渺九仙丹祛除了体内的剧毒，但伤势却没有完全平复，便留在总舵修养生息，当然，这样做还有一个缘由，总舵确然需要一位太上长老坐镇守护。
Though he had fewer people, it was better to use a teleportation array to travel quickly. Otherwise, with their different jurisdictions, news might leak out if they used their light travel techniques, and the surprise attack wouldn’t work.
lín xuān kě bù xī wàng qián jiǎo zì jǐ chū qù yù dí ， hòu jiǎo què bèi duì fāng chèn jī tōu xí 。
林轩可不希望前脚自己出去御敌，后脚却被对方趁机偷袭。
If too many people went, Cloud Concealment Sect couldn’t afford the cost of transportation.
yǐ tā de xìng gé ， zì rán shì lì qiú wěn tuǒ ， hé kuàng duì fù líng guǐ zōng ， rén shù qí shí yě bù xū yào tài duō ， sú huà shuō ， shè rén xiān shè mǎ ， qín zéi xiān qín wáng ， zhǐ yào zì jǐ qián rù zǒng duò ， jiāng qí cán yú de tài shàng zhǎng lǎo miè chú ， shèng xià de yī xiē xiǎo xiā mǐ nán dào hái gǎn jì xù wán kàng me ？
以他的性格，自然是力求稳妥，何况对付灵鬼宗，人数其实也不需要太多，俗话说，射人先射马，擒贼先擒王，只要自己潜入总舵，将其残余的太上长老灭除，剩下的一些小虾米难道还敢继续顽抗么？
Selecting these hundred people was part of Lin Xuan’s strategy.
dá zǐ dāng rán shì bù kě néng de 。
答紫当然是不可能的。
Teleportation was expensive but efficient. Sometimes, they needed to use light travel techniques. In this way, crossing thousands of miles took only a few days.
shī qù tài shàng zhǎng lǎo de bì hù ， gāi pài kěn dìng huì fēn bēng lí xī ， bú huì huā fèi zì jǐ tài duō de shí jiān yǔ jīng lì 。
失去太上长老的庇护，该派肯定会分崩离析，不会花费自己太多的时间与精力。
On that midday, after completing their last teleportation, they flew for another hour and were now close to the Spirit Ghost Sect's main base.
suǒ yǐ ， lín xuān zhì dìng de jì huà shì tū xí ， dài de rén shǒu yě bù tài duō ， chú le tā yǔ lóng xìng shào nián liǎng gè ， shèng xià de ， bù guò shì yì bǎi yú rén de jīng ruì bà le 。
所以，林轩制定的计划是突袭，带的人手也不太多，除了他与龙姓少年两个，剩下的，不过是一百余人的精锐罢了。
About five million li ahead lay the Ten Thousand Mountains region.
yì bǎi yú rén ， duì yú yún yǐn zōng zì rán suàn bù liǎo shén me ， dàn zhè yì bǎi rén ， què sī háo mǎ hǔ bù dé ， quán shì jīng tiāo xì xuǎn chū lái de 。
一百余人，对于云隐宗自然算不了什么，但这一百人，却丝毫马虎不得，全是精挑细选出来的。
Following their plan, the Dragon-named youth would remain here with his people while Lin Xuan went alone to the Spirit Ghost Sect. He would stir up chaos there before sending a transmission talisman for the Dragon-named youth and his people to clean up afterward.
Next, this realm was an unconventional path for advancement. It wasn't the orthodox way; once one chose it, all future cultivation paths were effectively sealed off. There would be no chance of making further progress, let alone achieving immortality or even advancing to the true Tribulation Transcending stage.
Thus, unless absolutely necessary, few geniuses would choose this path. Coupled with the fact that most cultivators cherished their own methods, only a handful knew how to advance to the Lesser Tribulation Transcending stage.
This realm was not widely known and wasn't considered part of the eight cultivation stages, so it didn’t count in the orthodox path.
Old Master Zhong had stumbled upon this extraordinary path by chance over ten thousand years ago when he discovered an ancient cultivator’s den.
He felt like he had received a precious gift.
For him, this was akin to receiving charcoal on a snowy day.
Indeed, he was a genius, unmatched in his sect and revered by his peers. However, how many geniuses managed to break through the Tribulation Transcending bottleneck despite their talent? After ten thousand years of attempts, Old Master Zhong had given up long ago.
But then, there was still this path.
The Lesser Tribulation Transcending stage was a tempting prospect for him.
Even if he couldn’t advance further, his current situation was clear. He had no hope of reaching the true Tribulation Transcending stage anyway.
Advancing to the Lesser Tribulation Transcending stage would be beneficial; it could increase both his strength and lifespan significantly.
What more could one desire? As they say, contentment is a virtue.
However, even though advancing to the Lesser Tribulation Transcending stage was easier than reaching true Tribulation Transcending, it still posed significant challenges for ordinary cultivators. Thus, after obtaining this secret technique, he didn’t delay and began his seclusion in the Profound Yin Cold Spring.
He remained secluded for ten thousand years before finally achieving his goal. In the following two millennia, he continued to consolidate his realm and practiced various secret treasures and artifacts. With his new realm, some of the techniques that had previously seemed unattainable now became possible.
Originally, according to his plan, it would take at least five or six hundred years for him to emerge from seclusion.
But a few days ago, he received a transmission talisman revealing that his sect was facing a major crisis. A small Cloud Concealment Sect had forced them into a precarious situation, and even his own son and daughter-in-law were killed by a boy named Lin Xuan.
This was intolerable; as the Supreme Elder, how could he ignore such a change?
After delaying for several days to perfect one of his techniques, Old Master Zhong emerged from seclusion. Revenge is sweet.
Lin Xuan had committed such an atrocity; how could he not extract his soul and refine his essence to satisfy his inner hatred?
The description in the transmission talisman about Lin Xuan's formidable abilities—far surpassing those of his peers and possessing ghostly techniques—did not faze him. How strong was that, after all? He was merely a waste at the Shen Division stage; what right did he have to challenge him?
Challenging across levels was absurd.
Although the Lesser Tribulation Transcending stage wasn’t orthodox and didn’t count as one of the eight cultivation stages, it still had true Tribulation Transcending strength. It wouldn’t be easy for mere Shen Division cultivators to match him.
Old Master Zhong was confident in his abilities, regardless of how much his fellow sect members praised Lin Xuan. He saw those at the Shen Division stage as fish on a chopping block.
With his pride, he didn't feel like explaining further but did so briefly to reassure everyone.
Lesser Tribulation Transcending?
The other Spirit Ghost Sect elders were astonished; this was entirely new territory for them. However, with their current cultivation levels, they could easily discern the truth from Old Master Zhong's words.
Though his claims seemed exaggerated, he wasn’t exaggerating.
With true Tribulation Transcending strength, killing Lin Xuan would be no problem.
"Thus, Uncle Senior has advanced to the Lesser Tribulation Transcending stage and possesses unparalleled techniques."
A sly fellow spoke up, showering him with flattery. Though he hadn't become a true powerhouse, his status was now different from theirs; they needed to praise him generously.
The other Shen Division cultivators around listened in disdain but didn’t want to fall behind. They also called him Uncle Senior and praised him lavishly.
As the saying goes, flattery never wears thin. Old Master Zhong felt content with their praise and no longer refused it, adopting a senior stance as if he had truly advanced to Tribulation Transcending.
Lin Xuan was unaware of this.
He and the Dragon-named youth were already on their way. As for the silver-eyed girl, although she had been cured of her severe poison by the Ethereal Nine Immortals Pill, her injuries hadn’t fully healed. She remained at the main base to recuperate. There was another reason: the main base needed a Supreme Elder to guard it.
Lin Xuan didn't want his enemies to take advantage while he was out fighting. With his character, he sought safety in numbers. Against the Spirit Ghost Sect, a large number of people wasn’t necessary; as they said, shoot the horse before the rider and capture the king first. By infiltrating the main base and eliminating any remaining Supreme Elders, wouldn't the rest of them be too scared to resist?
Answer Zhi was impossible.
Without the protection of a Supreme Elder, his sect would surely disintegrate, so he didn’t need to spend much time or effort on it.
Thus, Lin Xuan’s plan was a surprise attack with only about one hundred people. Besides him and the Dragon-named youth, there were just over a hundred elite members.
One hundred people might not seem like much for Cloud Concealment Sect, but they couldn’t be careless. They had carefully selected them.
Half of them were at the Profound Abyss stage, while the rest were core disciples at the Separation stage.
Though he had fewer people, it was better to use a teleportation array to travel quickly. Otherwise, with their different jurisdictions, news might leak out if they used their light travel techniques, and the surprise attack wouldn’t work.
If too many people went, Cloud Concealment Sect couldn’t afford the cost of transportation.
Selecting these hundred people was part of Lin Xuan’s strategy.
Teleportation was expensive but efficient. Sometimes, they needed to use light travel techniques. In this way, crossing thousands of miles took only a few days.
On that midday, after completing their last teleportation, they flew for another hour and were now close to the Spirit Ghost Sect's main base.
About five million li ahead lay the Ten Thousand Mountains region.
Following their plan, the Dragon-named youth would remain here with his people while Lin Xuan went alone to the Spirit Ghost Sect. He would stir up chaos there before sending a transmission talisman for the Dragon-named youth and his people to clean up afterward.