“ mǎ shī dì ， nǐ zuò shén me ？”
“马师弟，你做什么？”
"Master Ma, what are you doing?"
yín fā lǎo zhě zhuǎn guò tóu lú ， xū fà jiē zhāng ， biǎo qíng nà jiào yí gè kě bù ， yòng mù chì yù liè lái xíng róng ， nà shì yì diǎn yě bù wèi guò 。
银发老者转过头颅，须发皆张，表情那叫一个可怖，用目赤欲裂来形容，那是一点也不为过。
The silver-haired elder turned his head, his beard and hair standing out in disarray. His expression was terrifying to behold; the redness of his eyes could barely describe it.
dī dā ， dī dā ， xiān xuè shùn zhe tā de yī jīn liú xià 。
滴答，滴答，鲜血顺着他的衣襟流下。
Drip, drip—his blood flowed down his robe.
tā de zuǒ xiōng zhī chù ， chā zhe yī bǐng bǐ shǒu ， zhí méi zhì bǐng ， xīn zàng yǐ bèi cì chuān diào le ， rán ér tā què fǎng fú gǎn jué bú dào téng tòng ， dèng dà yǎn jīng ， kàn zhe qián fāng de zào páo lǎo zhě ， mǎn liǎn jīng nù ， kě zài nà jīng nù zhī xià ， bù kě sī yì gèng duō 。
他的左胸之处，插着一柄匕首，直没至柄，心脏已被刺穿掉了，然而他却仿佛感觉不到疼痛，瞪大眼睛，看着前方的皂袍老者，满脸惊怒，可在那惊怒之下，不可思议更多。
A dagger had pierced through his left chest, stabbing right into his heart, but he seemed not to feel any pain at all. He stared intently at the old man in black robes before him, showing both fear and anger on his face. Yet beneath that fear and anger was something even more unbelievable.
líng guǐ zōng tài shàng zhǎng lǎo suī duō ， rán ér tā què yǔ zhè mǎ shī dì jiāo qíng zuì hòu ， rán ér cǐ shí cǐ kè ， què shì tā zài zì jǐ bèi hòu tǒng dāo zi me ？
灵鬼宗太上长老虽多，然而他却与这马师弟交情最厚，然而此时此刻，却是他在自己背后捅刀子么？
Though there were many senior elders of the Spirit Ghost Sect, this particular junior disciple had been his closest friend. But now, could it be that he was stabbing a dagger into his back?
“ wèi shén me ， nǐ wèi hé zhè yàng zuò ？”
“为什么，你为何这样做？”
"Why? Why are you doing this to me?"
rú dù juān qì xuè yì bān de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， xīn zàng bèi zhè me hěn hěn de zhā shàng yī dāo ， ròu shēn kěn dìng yǔn luò ， rán ér rú jīn ， tā què shén me yě gù bù dé ， yǎn jīng wài tū ， bù gù shāng kǒu xiān xuè quán yǒng ， zhǐ xiǎng yào wèn qīng chǔ ， duì fāng zhè me zuò ， jiū jìng shì wèi hé 。
如杜鹃泣血一般的声音传入耳朵，心脏被这么狠狠的扎上一刀，肉身肯定陨落，然而如今，他却什么也顾不得，眼睛外凸，不顾伤口鲜血泉涌，只想要问清楚，对方这么做，究竟是为何。
A voice like a cuckoo's lament echoed in his ears as if his heart had been stabbed with a sharp blade, surely leading to his death. Yet right now, he couldn't afford to think about anything else; his eyes bulged out, ignoring the gushing blood from his wounds, just wanting to know why this person was doing such a thing.
fǒu zé ， tā sǐ bù míng mù 。
否则，他死不瞑目。
Otherwise, he would die with unresolved questions.
ér nà mǎ xìng xiū shì zài tōu xí cì le tóng mén yī dāo zhī hòu ， lì kè tuì hòu bǎi yú zhàng yuǎn ， tóng shí jiāng zì jǐ de běn mìng fǎ bǎo jì le qǐ lái ， mǎn liǎn jǐng tì ， shēng pà yín fā lǎo zhě bào qǐ tū xí 。
而那马姓修士在偷袭刺了同门一刀之后，立刻退后百余丈远，同时将自己的本命法宝祭了起来，满脸警惕，生怕银发老者暴起突袭。
After stabbing his fellow sect member and retreating over a hundred feet away, Master Ma immediately raised his own innate treasure, showing extreme caution as if fearing an ambush by the silver-haired elder. After all, he had been caught off guard.
bì jìng ， tā zuò zéi xīn xū 。
毕竟，他做贼心虚。
But things didn't go according to his expectations. The other party was severely injured but did not rush to retaliate like an enemy; instead, they asked for a reason behind their actions.
méi xiǎng dào shì qíng de fā zhǎn ， què yǔ tā de xiǎng xiàng bù rán ， duì fāng shòu le zhòng chuāng ， jū rán méi yǒu jí zhe xiàng chóu rén bào fù ， ér shì xún wèn zì jǐ zhè me zuò de yuán yóu 。
没想到事情的发展，却与他的想象不然，对方受了重创，居然没有急着像仇人报复，而是询问自己这么做的缘由。
What a fool!
zhēn shì lǎo hú tú ！
真是老糊涂！
Master Ma's expression turned smug as he said with a sneer: "Senior Brother, why ask something you already know? I only wanted to prevent our sect from falling into your hands."
mǎ xìng xiū shì xīn zhōng dà dìng ， zuǐ jiǎo biān shǎn guò yī sī jī fěng ：“ shī xiōng ， nǐ hé bì míng zhī gù wèn ne ， shī dì wǒ zhè me zuò ， zhǐ shì bù xiǎng kàn zhe běn mén dà hǎo jī yè ， quán bù huài yú nǐ shǒu 。”
马姓修士心中大定，嘴角边闪过一丝讥讽：“师兄，你何必明知故问呢，师弟我这么做，只是不想看着本门大好基业，全部坏于你手。”
"Falling into my hands?"
“ huài yú wǒ shǒu ？”
“坏于我手？”
The silver-haired elder was both angry and frustrated. He had devoted himself entirely to the Spirit Ghost Sect, even risking his life for it, but now he was unjustly accused, almost to the point of losing his breath.
yín fā lǎo zhě yòu jí yòu nù ， zì jǐ yī xīn wèi líng guǐ zōng chóu móu ， shèn zhì zhì shēn jiā xìng mìng yú bù gù ， rú jīn què bèi wú duān zhǐ zé ， jiǎn zhí lián fèi dōu yào qì zhà le 。
银发老者又急又怒，自己一心为灵鬼宗筹谋，甚至置身家性命于不顾，如今却被无端指责，简直连肺都要气炸了。
But this other party showed no shame; instead, they wore a righteous expression:
rán ér duì fāng què sī háo lián chǐ yě wú ， fǎn ér lù chū yī fù dà yì lǐn rán zhī sè ：
然而对方却丝毫廉耻也无，反而露出一副大义凛然之色：
"Correct. I am willing to bear the blame for harming my fellow sect members, all in the name of our sect's survival. Senior Lin's abilities are well known to you, senior brother. Old Monster Zhong is already dead, and if we don't change our ways, our sect will surely fall into ruin. What else would be a greater sin than that?"
“ bù cuò ， shī dì zhè me zuò ， gān yuàn dān shàng móu hài tóng mén de mà míng ， què dōu shì yī xīn wèi le běn zōng ， lín qián bèi shén tōng rú hé ， shī xiōng zǎo gāi xīn zhōng yǒu shù ， zhōng lǎo guài bù zhī sǐ huó ， yè yǐ fú zhū ， wǒ men rú guǒ hái bù shí shí wù ， bì jiāng ràng běn mén xiàn yú wàn jié bù fù ， nà bú shì běn mén de zuì rén shì shén me ？”
“不错，师弟这么做，甘愿担上谋害同门的骂名，却都是一心为了本宗，林前辈神通如何，师兄早该心中有数，钟老怪不知死活，业已伏诛，我们如果还不识时务，必将让本门陷于万劫不复，那不是本门的罪人是什么？”
"Humph! If it were like this, then I am the one who doesn't understand the situation, always dragging down the sect?"
“ hēi ， zhào nǐ zhè me jiù ， fǎn ér shì lǎo fū bù shí shí wù ， yì zhí tuō lěi běn yǔ ？”
“嘿，照你这么就，反而是老夫不识时务，一直拖累本宇？”
Seeing such shamelessness, the silver-haired elder was filled with anger and resentment in his eyes. But the man in black robes ignored him: "I didn't say anything of the sort. As they say, there's no escape from a deep-sea abyss; if senior brother can now see the light, it's not too late."
jiàn duì fāng rú cǐ hòu yán wú chǐ ， yín fā lǎo zhě xīn zhōng huì nù ， yǎn shén zhōng mǎn shì yuàn dú ， rán ér zào páo xiū shì què shì ruò wú dǔ ：“ xiǎo dì kě méi yǒu zhè yàng guī ， cháng yán dào kǔ hǎi wú biān huí tóu shì àn ， shī xiōng ruò shì xiàn zài jiù fān rán xǐng wù ， wéi shí hái bù wǎn de 。”
见对方如此厚颜无耻，银发老者心中恚怒，眼神中满是怨毒，然而皂袍修士却视若无睹：“小弟可没有这样规，常言道苦海无边回头是岸，师兄若是现在就幡然醒悟，为时还不晚的。”
"See the light? How do you want me to see the light? According to your wishes, where should our sect go?"
“ xǐng wù ， nǐ yào lǎo fū zěn yàng xǐng wù ， yī nǐ zhī yì ， běn zōng yòu gāi hé qù hé cóng ？”
“醒悟，你要老夫怎样醒悟，依你之意，本宗又该何去何从？”
"What path should we take? It is clear which way to go."
“ hé qù hé cóng ， zhè bú shì míng bǎi zhe 。”
“何去何从，这不是明摆着。”
The voice of the man in black robes sounded like a smile. But then his expression turned fawning as he knelt and bowed before Lin Xuan with utmost respect: "Senior Lin's divine techniques are unparalleled; your might shakes the spirit realm. We were foolish not to recognize your greatness, opposing you. Our sins are unforgivable. Please accept our submission; we will make amends in the future. The Spirit Ghost Sect is willing to submit and become a subordinate force under your sect, always ready to follow your commands without hesitation."
zào páo xiū shì wēi xiào de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， suí hòu què yòu biàn chéng le xiàn mèi zhī sè ， wān xià yāo qù ， chōng zhe lín xuān jū gōng xíng lǐ ， shēng yīn gèng shì rè qiè ér gōng jìng yǐ jí ：“ lín qián bèi shén gōng wú dí ， wēi zhèn líng jiè ， wǒ men bù shí hǎo dǎi ， jìng yǔ qián bèi wèi dí ， zuì wú kě shù ， hái qǐng qián bèi dà rén dà liàng ， ráo guò wǒ děng de zuì zé ， líng guǐ zōng yuàn yì jǔ pài guī fù ， chéng wéi qián bèi mén pài de fù shǔ shí lì ， cóng cǐ yuàn yì rèn yóu qián bèi qū cè ， fù tāng dǎo huǒ ， jué bù zhòu bàn xià méi tóu de 。”
皂袍修士微笑的声音传入耳朵，随后却又变成了献媚之色，弯下腰去，冲着林轩鞠躬行礼，声音更是热切而恭敬以极：“林前辈神功无敌，威震灵界，我们不识好歹，竟与前辈为敌，罪无可恕，还请前辈大人大量，饶过我等的罪责，灵鬼宗愿意举派归附，成为前辈门派的附属实力，从此愿意任由前辈驱策，赴汤蹈火，绝不皱半下眉头的。”
"Oh?"
“ ó ？”
“哦？”
Lin Xuan was surprised by such an offer. As they say, killing one thousand enemies could cost eight hundred lives. In terms of strength, even if he didn't count himself, the Spirit Ghost Sect's power far exceeded that of Cloud Concealment Sect. Even though their morale had been shattered, there were still some loyal cultivators who remained true to the sect. Though not many, they would surely cause trouble if forced into a corner.
zhè yàng de biǎo tài ， ràng lín xuān yě dà gǎn yì wài ， sú huà jiù ， shā dí yī qiān ， zì sǔn bā bǎi ， jiù shí lì lái jiù ， rú guǒ bù suàn zì jǐ ， líng guǐ zōng de shí lì ， qí shí yuǎn fēi yún yǐn zōng kě bǐ ， jiù suàn rú jīn ， bèi zì jǐ xià dé shì qì quán wú ， dàn yī jiù bù fá yī xiē duì gāi pài zhōng xīn gěng gěng de xiū xiān zhě ， zhè xiē rén jí biàn bú shì tài duō ， dàn ruò shì fù yú wán kàng de huà ， yě jué duì lìng rén dà gǎn tóu téng 「 bǎi dù tiē ba qǐ háng wén zì 」。
这样的表态，让林轩也大感意外，俗话就，杀敌一千，自损八百，就实力来就，如果不算自己，灵鬼宗的实力，其实远非云隐宗可比，就算如今，被自己吓得士气全无，但依旧不乏一些对该派忠心耿耿的修仙者，这些人即便不是太多，但若是负隅顽抗的话，也绝对令人大感头疼「百度贴吧启航文字」。
Moreover, even if his side won with overwhelming force, what benefit could he gain from the disintegration of the Spirit Ghost Sect? It was pointless to harm others without personal gain.
hé kuàng jiù suàn zì jǐ zhè biān yòng léi tíng shǒu duàn qǔ shèng ， nà yòu rú hé ， líng guǐ zōng shù dào hú chēng sàn ， duì zì jǐ zhè biān lái jiù ， chú le shǎo què yí gè dí rén ， gēn běn jiù dé bú dào shén me hǎo chù 。
何况就算自己这边用雷霆手段取胜，那又如何，灵鬼宗树倒糊称散，对自己这边来就，除了少却一个敌人，根本就得不到什么好处。
But if they were willing to submit, that was different. His sect gained an unexpected ally, and their strength would increase exponentially. Although Lin Xuan had declined the position of Grand Elder, his reputation and power meant that both the young man with the dragon name and the girl with the silver eyes looked up to him.
sǔn rén bù lì jǐ de shì qíng ， yǐ lín xuān de xìng gé ， zì rán shì méi yǒu xìng qù qù zuò 。
损人不利己的事情，以林轩的性格，自然是没有兴趣去做。
The Cloud Concealment Sect's power was a boon for Lin Xuan. He wouldn't reject such an offer.
dàn tā men ruò yuàn guī fù ， nà yòu bù tóng ， běn mén píng kōng dé dào yī dà zhù lì ， shí lì bào zēng hé zhǐ bèi xǔ ， ér lín xuān rú jīn ， suī tuī cí bù yuàn rèn běn zōng dà zhǎng lǎo ， rán ér yǐ tā de shēng wàng shí lì ， lóng xìng shào nián yǔ yín tóng shào nǚ què dōu shì wéi tā mǎ shǒu shì zhān dì 。
但他们若愿归附，那又不同，本门凭空得到一大助力，实力暴增何止倍许，而林轩如今，虽推辞不愿任本宗大长老，然而以他的声望实力，龙姓少年与银瞳少女却都是唯他马首是瞻地。
But on the surface, he still maintained a composed expression: "You want to submit?"
yún yǐn zōng qiáng dà ， duì lín xuān lái shuō ， zì rán yě yǒu mò dà hǎo chù ， zhè yàng de shì qíng ， lín xuān yòu zěn me huì wǎng wài tuī jù ne ？
云隐宗强大，对林轩来说，自然也有莫大好处，这样的事情，林轩又怎么会往外推拒呢？
"Yes, we were at fault earlier. We failed to recognize your greatness and dared to provoke you. Please accept our submission; in the future, we can make amends."
dāng rán ， xīn zhōng suī rú cǐ xiǎng zhe ， dàn liǎn shàng ， què yī jiù bú huì lù chū bàn fēn shēng sè ， jiù lín xuān de chéng fǔ ， yòu zěn me kě néng ràng rén kàn chū zì jǐ de xǐ nù ：“ nǐ men xiǎng yào guī fù ？”
当然，心中虽如此想着，但脸上，却依旧不会露出半分声色，就林轩的城府，又怎么可能让人看出自己的喜怒：“你们想要归附？”
The man in black robes spoke cautiously, constantly checking Lin Xuan's reaction.
“ shì ， xiān qián dōu guài wǒ děng ， yǒu yǎn bù shí tài shān ， jū rán dào tài suì tóu shàng lái dòng tǔ ， wěi shí zuì wú kě shù ， hái qǐng qián bèi dà liàng ， jiē shòu wǒ děng de yī fù ， yǐ hòu yě hǎo jiāng gōng bǔ guò 。”
“是，先前都怪我等，有眼不识泰山，居然到太岁头上来动土，委实罪无可恕，还请前辈大量，接受我等的依附，以后也好将功补过。”
He had been so intimidated by Lin Xuan that he lacked the courage to run away, leading him to resort to such a desperate plan. Although this was shameless and his sect would have a harder time after submitting to Cloud Concealment Sect, it was worth everything as long as they could survive.
nà zào páo xiū shì xiǎo xīn yì yì de jiù ， yī biān jiǎng ， hái yī biān tōu kàn lín xuān de liǎn sè 。
那皂袍修士小心翼翼的就，一边讲，还一边偷看林轩的脸色。
Lin Xuan heard this with great joy on the inside but maintained an expression of contemplation.
tā shí zài shì bèi lín xuān huā pò dǎn le ， lián táo pǎo de yǒng qì yě wú ， suǒ yǐ cái huì chū cǐ xià cè ， jǐn guǎn zhè me zuò yǒu xiē wú chǐ ， běn mén yī fù yún yǐn zōng hòu rì zi yě bú huì rú yǐ qián yì bān hǎo guò ， dàn nà yòu suàn dé le shén me ， zhǐ yào néng gòu huó zhe ， yī qiè dài jià dōu zhí de 。
他实在是被林轩哗破胆了，连逃跑的勇气也无，所以才会出此下策，尽管这么做有些无耻，本门依附云隐宗后日子也不会如以前一般好过，但那又算得了什么，只要能够活着，一切代价都值得。
The silver-haired elder watched from the side, nearly choking in frustration. Such shamelessness and betrayal! If he followed what the man in black robes said, the Spirit Ghost Sect's millions of years of legacy would end here. How could they face their ancestors in the Netherworld?
lín xuān tīng le ， xīn zhōng dà xǐ ， biǎo miàn shàng què zhuāng mú zuò yàng de lù chū jǐ fēn chén yín zhī sè 。
林轩听了，心中大喜，表面上却装模作样的露出几分沉吟之色。
"Utter shamelessness; I will fight you to the death."
ér yī páng ， nà yín fā lǎo zhě lěng yǎn páng guān ， què chà diǎn jiāng fèi dōu qì zhà diào le ， hòu yán wú chǐ ， rèn zéi zuò fù ， ruò zhēn àn zhào zào páo xiū shì suǒ yán ， líng guǐ zōng shàng bǎi wàn nián de chuán chéng ， jiù jiāng zhǐ yú cǐ chù ， yǐ hòu qù le jiǔ yōu dì fǔ ， yòu hé miàn mù qù jiàn lì dài zǔ shī ne ？
而一旁，那银发老者冷眼旁观，却差点将肺都气炸掉了，厚颜无耻，认贼作父，若真按照皂袍修士所言，灵鬼宗上百万年的传承，就将止于此处，以后去了九幽地府，又何面目去见历代祖师呢？
The silver-haired elder roared with anger. He was already severely injured, and his heart had been pierced through. If he were a mere mortal, he would have died instantly. As an immortal, he could only delay his demise for a short while. But now, driven by desperation, he revealed the truth.
“ wú chǐ zhī yóu ， wǒ yǔ nǐ pīn le 。”
“无耻之尤，我与你拼了。”
With a loud shout, his fingers curled like claws as he lunged at the man in black robes.
yín fā lǎo zhě yī shēng nù hǒu ， tā yuán běn jiù shòu shāng shèn zhòng ， xīn zàng bèi guàn chuān ， rú guǒ huàn chéng yī míng fán rén ， dāng shí jiù yí mìng wū hū ， tā suī rán shì xiū xiān zhě ， dàn yě bù guò jiāng ròu shēn bào fèi de shí jiān tuō yán shàng yī shí piàn kè ， ér rú jīn qiáng chēng zhe huò xī le lái lóng qù mài ， tā zì jǐ ， yě dào le jí xiàn 。
银发老者一声怒吼，他原本就受伤甚重，心脏被贯穿，如果换成一名凡人，当时就一命呜呼，他虽然是修仙者，但也不过将肉身报废的时间拖延上一时片刻，而如今强撑着获悉了来龙去脉，他自己，也到了极限。
Normally, if another Spirit Realm cultivator were to face him, they would have withdrawn their essence soul, but he didn't make that choice. He was determined to die with that despicable person, no matter what.
yī shēng dà hē ， shí zhǐ rú gōu ， hěn hěn de xiàng zhe nà zào páo xiū shì pū le guò qù 。
一声大喝，十指如勾，狠狠的向着那皂袍修士扑了过去。
Though severely injured, his actions were swift and deadly, faster than a bolt of lightning. The man in black robes had always been on guard but never expected such speed from the other party. By the time he realized the danger, it was too late. He saw Lin Xuan's head ramming towards him with force.
àn lǐ ， rú guǒ huàn yī míng fèn shén qī xiū shì yǔ tā yì dì ér chǔ ， rú jīn yīng gāi jiāng yuán yīng dùn chū ， rán ér tā què méi yǒu zuò cǐ xuǎn zé ， wú tā ， zhè lǎo jiā huǒ yǐ xīn huái sǐ zhì ， jiù suàn zì jǐ bù huó ， yě yào tuō zhe nà bēi bǐ de jiā huo yì qǐ xià yīn cáo dì fǔ 。
按理，如果换一名分神期修士与他易地而处，如今应该将元婴遁出，然而他却没有做此选择，无他，这老家伙已心怀死志，就算自己不活，也要拖着那卑鄙的家伙一起下阴曹地府。
If hit, both their heads would surely shatter like ripe melons. But there was nowhere for him to escape.
tā zhòng shāng shì méi cuò ， dàn zhè xià pīn mìng bào qǐ ， dòng zuò tù qǐ hú luò ， jiǎn zhí bǐ bēn léi shǎn diàn hái yào kuài shàng xǔ duō ， nà zào páo xiū shì suī rán yì zhí xīn zhōng dī fáng ， dàn yě wàn wàn bù céng xiǎng ， duì fāng dòng zuò huì rú cǐ xùn sù ， dà jīng zhī xià duǒ bì yǐ shì bù jí ， yǎn kàn duì fāng yí gè tóu chuí hěn hěn xiàng zì jǐ nǎo dài zá qù ， zhè yī xià ruò shì jī zhòng le ， liǎng kē nǎo dài fēi biàn chéng pò liè de xī guā bù kě ， wēi xiǎn nà shì bù yòng jiù ， rán ér piān piān ， tā què wú chǔ kě duǒ 。
他重伤是没错，但这下拼命暴起，动作兔起鹘落，简直比奔雷闪电还要快上许多，那皂袍修士虽然一直心中提防，但也万万不曾想，对方动作会如此迅速，大惊之下躲避已是不及，眼看对方一个头槌狠狠像自己脑袋砸去，这一下若是击中了，两颗脑袋非变成破裂的西瓜不可，危险那是不用就，然而偏偏，他却无处可躲。
"My life is over."
“ wǒ mìng xiū yǐ 。”
“我命休矣。”
The man in black robes showed fear in his eyes; now he had no place to hide and could only close his eyes and await death.
"Master Ma, what are you doing?"
The silver-haired elder turned his head, his beard and hair standing out in disarray. His expression was terrifying to behold; the redness of his eyes could barely describe it.
Drip, drip—his blood flowed down his robe.
A dagger had pierced through his left chest, stabbing right into his heart, but he seemed not to feel any pain at all. He stared intently at the old man in black robes before him, showing both fear and anger on his face. Yet beneath that fear and anger was something even more unbelievable.
Though there were many senior elders of the Spirit Ghost Sect, this particular junior disciple had been his closest friend. But now, could it be that he was stabbing a dagger into his back?
"Why? Why are you doing this to me?"
A voice like a cuckoo's lament echoed in his ears as if his heart had been stabbed with a sharp blade, surely leading to his death. Yet right now, he couldn't afford to think about anything else; his eyes bulged out, ignoring the gushing blood from his wounds, just wanting to know why this person was doing such a thing.
Otherwise, he would die with unresolved questions.
After stabbing his fellow sect member and retreating over a hundred feet away, Master Ma immediately raised his own innate treasure, showing extreme caution as if fearing an ambush by the silver-haired elder. After all, he had been caught off guard.
But things didn't go according to his expectations. The other party was severely injured but did not rush to retaliate like an enemy; instead, they asked for a reason behind their actions.
What a fool!
Master Ma's expression turned smug as he said with a sneer: "Senior Brother, why ask something you already know? I only wanted to prevent our sect from falling into your hands."
"Falling into my hands?"
The silver-haired elder was both angry and frustrated. He had devoted himself entirely to the Spirit Ghost Sect, even risking his life for it, but now he was unjustly accused, almost to the point of losing his breath.
But this other party showed no shame; instead, they wore a righteous expression:
"Correct. I am willing to bear the blame for harming my fellow sect members, all in the name of our sect's survival. Senior Lin's abilities are well known to you, senior brother. Old Monster Zhong is already dead, and if we don't change our ways, our sect will surely fall into ruin. What else would be a greater sin than that?"
"Humph! If it were like this, then I am the one who doesn't understand the situation, always dragging down the sect?"
Seeing such shamelessness, the silver-haired elder was filled with anger and resentment in his eyes. But the man in black robes ignored him: "I didn't say anything of the sort. As they say, there's no escape from a deep-sea abyss; if senior brother can now see the light, it's not too late."
"See the light? How do you want me to see the light? According to your wishes, where should our sect go?"
"What path should we take? It is clear which way to go."
The voice of the man in black robes sounded like a smile. But then his expression turned fawning as he knelt and bowed before Lin Xuan with utmost respect: "Senior Lin's divine techniques are unparalleled; your might shakes the spirit realm. We were foolish not to recognize your greatness, opposing you. Our sins are unforgivable. Please accept our submission; we will make amends in the future. The Spirit Ghost Sect is willing to submit and become a subordinate force under your sect, always ready to follow your commands without hesitation."
"Oh?"
Lin Xuan was surprised by such an offer. As they say, killing one thousand enemies could cost eight hundred lives. In terms of strength, even if he didn't count himself, the Spirit Ghost Sect's power far exceeded that of Cloud Concealment Sect. Even though their morale had been shattered, there were still some loyal cultivators who remained true to the sect. Though not many, they would surely cause trouble if forced into a corner.
Moreover, even if his side won with overwhelming force, what benefit could he gain from the disintegration of the Spirit Ghost Sect? It was pointless to harm others without personal gain.
But if they were willing to submit, that was different. His sect gained an unexpected ally, and their strength would increase exponentially. Although Lin Xuan had declined the position of Grand Elder, his reputation and power meant that both the young man with the dragon name and the girl with the silver eyes looked up to him.
The Cloud Concealment Sect's power was a boon for Lin Xuan. He wouldn't reject such an offer.
But on the surface, he still maintained a composed expression: "You want to submit?"
"Yes, we were at fault earlier. We failed to recognize your greatness and dared to provoke you. Please accept our submission; in the future, we can make amends."
The man in black robes spoke cautiously, constantly checking Lin Xuan's reaction.
He had been so intimidated by Lin Xuan that he lacked the courage to run away, leading him to resort to such a desperate plan. Although this was shameless and his sect would have a harder time after submitting to Cloud Concealment Sect, it was worth everything as long as they could survive.
Lin Xuan heard this with great joy on the inside but maintained an expression of contemplation.
The silver-haired elder watched from the side, nearly choking in frustration. Such shamelessness and betrayal! If he followed what the man in black robes said, the Spirit Ghost Sect's millions of years of legacy would end here. How could they face their ancestors in the Netherworld?
"Utter shamelessness; I will fight you to the death."
The silver-haired elder roared with anger. He was already severely injured, and his heart had been pierced through. If he were a mere mortal, he would have died instantly. As an immortal, he could only delay his demise for a short while. But now, driven by desperation, he revealed the truth.
With a loud shout, his fingers curled like claws as he lunged at the man in black robes.
Normally, if another Spirit Realm cultivator were to face him, they would have withdrawn their essence soul, but he didn't make that choice. He was determined to die with that despicable person, no matter what.
Though severely injured, his actions were swift and deadly, faster than a bolt of lightning. The man in black robes had always been on guard but never expected such speed from the other party. By the time he realized the danger, it was too late. He saw Lin Xuan's head ramming towards him with force.
If hit, both their heads would surely shatter like ripe melons. But there was nowhere for him to escape.
"My life is over."
The man in black robes showed fear in his eyes; now he had no place to hide and could only close his eyes and await death.