yī lái biàn qǐ cāng cù ， duì fāng jīng è zhī yú ， yě xǔ fǎn yìng jiù yào màn yī bù 。
一来变起仓促，对方惊愕之余，也许反应就要慢一步。
One, the situation arose suddenly, and perhaps the opponent might be slower to react due to their shock.
èr lái zì jǐ de shí lì zì jǐ qīng chǔ ， bié de shén tōng zàn qiě bù shuō ， dùn sù tā hái shì yǒu jǐ fēn xīn dé 。
二来自己的实力自己清楚，别的神通暂且不说，遁速他还是有几分心得。
Two, he was well aware of his own strength. While other techniques were not discussed, he had some understanding of his evasion speed.
suī rán bù gǎn shuō yǒu bǎi fēn zhī bǎi de bǎ wò ， dàn yǔ qí bèi duì fāng qū cè ， bù rú pīn shàng shēn jiā xìng mìng lái dǔ yī dǔ 。
虽然不敢说有百分之百的把握，但与其被对方驱策，不如拼上身家性命来赌一赌。
Though he didn't dare say it with 100% certainty, he preferred to risk everything rather than be driven by someone else.
ruò shì yíng le ， cóng cǐ tiān gāo hǎi kuò ， rèn qí xiāo yáo kuài huó ， zěn me yě bǐ jì xù dài zài líng guǐ zōng hǎo shàng xǔ duō ， ruò shì shū le ， yě bù guò yǔn luò ， měi gè rén yǒu měi gè rén de xuǎn zé ， zǒng zhī tā wú lùn rú hé ， yě bù yuàn jiāo chū zì jǐ de hún pò 。
若是赢了，从此天高海阔，任其逍遥快活，怎么也比继续待在灵鬼宗好上许多，若是输了，也不过陨落，每个人有每个人的选择，总之他无论如何，也不愿交出自己的魂魄。
If he won, the future would be bright and free; this was much better than staying in the Spirit Ghost Sect. If he lost, he would merely fall, as everyone had their own choices, but he refused to give up his soul no matter what.
lín xuān jiàn le ， móu dǐ shēn chù yǒu jīng máng shǎn guò ， qīng qīng tàn le kǒu qì ， yě bú jiàn qí duō yú de dòng zuò ， jǐn jǐn shì xiù páo yī fú 。
林轩见了，眸底深处有精芒闪过，轻轻叹了口气，也不见其多余的动作，仅仅是袖袍一拂。
Seeing Lin Xuan's eyes flash with sharpness, he sighed softly without any further action, just flicking his sleeves.
wú shēng wú xī ， què jiàn nà wǔ sè líng guāng zhòu qǐ 。
无声无息，却见那五色灵光骤起。
Silently and swiftly, a burst of multicolored spiritual light emerged.
huàn líng tiān huǒ ！
幻灵天火！
Phantom Spirit Heavenly Fire!
huà wèi yī dào huǒ xiàn ， yǐ jí kuài de sù dù zhuī shàng qù le 。
化为一道火线，以极快的速度追上去了。
It transformed into a fiery line, chasing after the target at an incredible speed.
cóng xīn dǐ lái shuō ， lín xuān lǐ jiě duì fāng de xuǎn zé ， dàn zhè ge wēi ， què fēi lì bù kě ， fǒu zé zhòng xiū shì bì rán xiào fǎ ， zhěng gè líng guǐ zōng ， jiù shù dào hú bēi sàn le 。
从心底来说，林轩理解对方的选择，但这个威，却非立不可，否则众修士必然效法，整个灵鬼宗，就树倒糊杯散了。
Inwardly, Lin Xuan understood the opponent's choice, but this authority had to be established. Otherwise, other cultivators might follow suit, and the entire Spirit Ghost Sect would collapse like a fallen tree.
zhè ， jué rán shì lín xuān bù yuàn yì kàn dào de 。
这，决然是林轩不愿意看到的。
This was something Lin Xuan did not want to see.
xiān dào jiān sè ， lín xuān suī bú shì cán rěn shì shā zhī rén ， dàn yě míng bái ， gāi xīn hěn de shí hòu yí dìng yào xīn hěn 。
仙道艰涩，林轩虽不是残忍嗜杀之人，但也明白，该心狠的时候一定要心狠。
The path of immortals was arduous. Although he wasn't cruel or fond of killing, he knew that sometimes one had to be ruthless when necessary.
yōu róu guǎ duàn ， jiù bié xiǎng zài xiū xiān jiè lì zú ， zhì yú fù rén zhī rén ， zé gèng shì yú chǔn dào wú yǐ fù jiā de dì bù 。
优柔寡断，就别想在修仙界立足，至于妇人之仁，则更是愚蠢到无以复加的地步。
Indecision wouldn't allow him to stand in the cultivation world, and being overly merciful was foolish beyond measure.
zhè yàng de cuò wù ， lín xuān zì rán shì bú huì fàn de 。
这样的错误，林轩自然是不会犯的。
Such errors were ones Lin Xuan would not make.
zhì yú yī chū shǒu jiù shǐ yòng huàn líng tiān huǒ ， lín xuān zì rán yě shì yǒu yī fān kǎo liáng de 。
至于一出手就使用幻灵天火，林轩自然也是有一番考量的。
As for using Phantom Spirit Heavenly Fire on his first move, it was due to careful consideration. Indeed, his strength far surpassed that of other cultivators at his level, but outright killing wasn't easy. Moreover, the opponent was currently fully on guard.
chéng rán ， tā de shí lì zǎo yǐ yuǎn shèng tóng jiē xiū xiān zhě ， dàn píng xīn lái shuō ， xiǎng yào miǎo shā yě bú shì nà me róng yì de ， gèng hé kuàng cǐ kè ， duì fāng hái shì quán lì dī fáng zhe 。
诚然，他的实力早已远胜同阶修仙者，但平心来说，想要秒杀也不是那么容易的，更何况此刻，对方还是全力提防着。
Only a few techniques could guarantee a one-hit kill, and without any treasure items, Phantom Spirit Heavenly Fire was the only option.
néng gòu yī jī bì shā de shǒu duàn yě bù duō ， shù lái shù qù ， zài bù shǐ yòng rèn hé bǎo wù de qíng kuàng xià ， yě jiù huàn líng tiān huǒ 。
能够一击必杀的手段也不多，数来数去，在不使用任何宝物的情况下，也就幻灵天火。
Thus, Lin Xuan used it without hesitation.
yú shì lín xuān háo bù yóu yù de yòng le 。
于是林轩毫不犹豫的用了。
Now, his goal extended beyond just establishing authority; he wanted to intimidate everyone. He believed that many others like the robed cultivator were looking for opportunities to exploit the situation. By making them submit to his Soul Suppressing Technique, he could preserve the strength of the Spirit Ghost Sect as much as possible.
yīn wèi rú jīn ， tā de mù dì bù jǐn jǐn shì lì wēi ， hái yǒu zhèn shè ’ xiāng xìn xiàng bái páo xiū shì yī yàng ， xiǎng yào hún shuǐ mō yú de jué bù zài shǎo shù ， lín xuān rú jīn ， jiù yào tā men duàn le zhè ge niàn xiǎng ， jiē shòu zì jǐ de jìn hún shù ， zhǐ yǒu zhè me zuò ， cái néng ràng líng guǐ zōng de shí lì ， jǐn liàng bǎo cún wán hǎo de 。
因为如今，他的目的不仅仅是立威，还有震慑’相信像白袍修士一样，想要浑水摸鱼的绝不在少数，林轩如今，就要他们断了这个念想，接受自己的禁魂术，只有这么做，才能让灵鬼宗的实力，尽量保存完好的。
In other words, he needed to scare some sense into them.
huàn jù huà shuō ， tā xū yào shā jī jǐng hóu 。
换句话说，他需要杀鸡儆猴。
And Phantom Spirit Heavenly Fire, being Lin Xuan's trump card, did not disappoint. The robed cultivator’s screams filled the air as he tried to flee while using his defensive treasure item.
ér huàn líng tiān huǒ zuò wéi lín xuān yā xiāng dǐ de jué jì yī ， zhōu rán yě bú huì ràng tā shī wàng ， cǎn jiào shēng chuán rù ěr duǒ ， nà bái páo xiū shì zài quán lì táo pǎo de tóng shí ， yě jiāng fáng yù de fǎ bǎo jì chū 。
而幻灵天火作为林轩压箱底的绝技一，舟然也不会让他失望，惨叫声传入耳朵，那白袍修士在全力逃跑的同时，也将防御的法宝祭出。
However, it was useless. If this had happened a hundred years ago, perhaps it could have slowed Phantom Spirit Heavenly Fire down, but now, with a thread of primordial Yin energy infused into it, its power had increased significantly. The defensive treasure item was rendered worthless and instantly reduced to mere iron. The robed cultivator fared no better; his protective spiritual light was ignited, and he rolled around in flames, crying out in agony until both his body and spirit were reduced to ash.
rán ér méi yǒu yòng chǔ ， ruò shì huàn chéng bǎi nián qián ， huò xǔ néng jiāng huàn líng tiān huǒ zǔ shàng yī zǔ ， rán ér rú jīn ， róng rù le yī lǚ hùn dùn tài yīn zhī qì de huàn líng tiān huǒ ， wēi néng kě shì bèi zēng le xǔ duō ， nà fáng yù bǎo wù bèi shì zhī wèi wú wù ， qǐng kè jiān jiù bèi liàn huà chéng yī jiàn fán tiě ， shǐ yòng tā de bái páo xiū shì xià chǎng yě hǎo bù liǎo xǔ duō ， hù tǐ líng guāng bèi diǎn rán ， dài zài hún shēn de huǒ yàn ， dǎ gǔn 、 āi háo ， zuì hòu què lián ròu shēn dài yuán yīng ， quán dōu huà wèi le huī yān 。
然而没有用处，若是换成百年前，或许能将幻灵天火阻上一阻，然而如今，融入了一缕混沌太阴之气的幻灵天火，威能可是倍增了许多，那防御宝物被视之为无物，顷刻间就被炼化成一件凡铁，使用它的白袍修士下场也好不了许多，护体灵光被点燃，待在浑身的火焰，打滚、哀嚎，最后却连肉身带元婴，全都化为了灰烟。
Sss...
sī ……，
嘶……，
The process might seem complex, but it took only a moment.
zhè guò chéng shuō qǐ lái fán fù ， qí shí qián hòu bù guò xū yú de gōng fu 。
这过程说起来繁复，其实前后不过须臾的功夫。
The Spirit Ghost Sect cultivators witnessed this with wide eyes and gulped. They felt immense relief.
mù dǔ zhè yī qiè de líng guǐ zōng xiū xiān zhě ， wú bù zī zhe yá dào xī yī kǒu liáng qì ， xīn zhōng qìng xìng bù yǐ 。
目睹这一切的灵鬼宗修仙者，无不龇着牙倒吸一口凉气，心中庆幸不已。
The robed old man had no other choice; among the more than a hundred people, most shared the same strategy as the fallen one: first feigning compliance with Lin Xuan, then finding a hidden place to escape later.
chú le nà zào páo xiū xiān zhě bié wú tuì lù ， zhè yì bǎi duō rén zhōng ， qí shí jué dà duō shù ， dào yǔ gāng gāng nà yǔn luò de jiā huo ， suǒ dǎ zhù yì shì yī yàng de ， xiān yǔ lín xuān xū yǔ wēi yí ， suí hòu zài xún gè kòng xì zhǎo yǐn mì de dì fāng yī duǒ 。
除了那皂袍修仙者别无退路，这一百多人中，其实绝大多数，倒与刚刚那陨落的家伙，所打注意是一样的，先与林轩虚与委蛇，随后再寻个空隙找隐秘的地方一躲。
When Lin Xuan took out his Soul Suppressing Token, many cultivators began to lose heart and looked around to flee. However, either they were too slow or their resolve was not strong enough, leaving them in doubt about what to do next.
dài dào lín xuān jiāng jìn hún pái qǔ chū ， hěn duō xiū shì xīn zhōng yě dōu dǎ qǐ le tuì táng gǔ ， dōng chǒu xī wàng de xiǎng yào táo le ， zhǐ bù guò tā men yào me màn le yī bù ， yào me xīn yì méi yǒu nà me jiān jué ， gāi zěn me xuǎn zé ， hái zài chí yí zhī zhōng 。
待到林轩将禁魂牌取出，很多修士心中也都打起了退堂鼓，东瞅西望的想要逃了，只不过他们要么慢了一步，要么心意没有那么坚决，该怎么选择，还在迟疑之中。
Inaction in critical moments often led to chaos, but this time, the opposite occurred.
dāng duàn bù duàn ， fǎn shòu qí luàn ， rán ér zhè yī cì ， jié guǒ què zhèng hǎo xiāng fǎn 。
当断不断，反受其乱，然而这一次，结果却正好相反。
The most decisive robed cultivator had already perished, while those who moved just a step ahead of him still lived.
zuì wèi guǒ jué de bái páo xiū xiān zhě ， rú jīn yǐ hún fēi pò sàn diào le ， ér dòng zuò mǎn shàng yī bù de tā men ， què yī jiù huó zhe 。
最为果决的白袍修仙者，如今已魂飞魄散掉了，而动作满上一步的他们，却依旧活着。
Many hearts were filled with relief and cold sweat. Regardless, Lin Xuan's terrifying presence was etched deeply into their minds, leaving no room for resistance.
cǐ shí bù zhī yǒu duō shǎo rén xīn zhōng qìng xìng bù yǐ ， bèi hòu yǐ lěng hàn lín lí ， dàn bù guǎn rú hé ， lín xuān de kě pà ’ yǐ shēn shēn lào yìn zài tā bēng de xīn dǐ ， wú lùn rú hé ， yě zài shēng bù chū bàn fēn de fǎn kàng zhī yì 。
此时不知有多少人心中庆幸不已，背后已冷汗淋漓，但不管如何，林轩的可怕’已深深烙印在他绷的心底，无论如何，也再生不出半分的反抗之意。
At this moment, Lin Xuan’s voice echoed: "How is it that you all want to submit to me but only talk the talk? Once you need to hand over your souls, you try to delay and dodge. Are you playing with me?"
ér zhè shí hòu ， lín xuān de shēng yīn ， yòu lěng lěng de chuán rù le ěr lǐ ：“ zěn me ， gè wèi yào guī fù lín mǒu ， zhǐ shì zuǐ bā shàng shuō dé rè nào me ， yí dàn yào jiāo chū hún pò ， jiù zài zhè lǐ tuī sān zǔ sì de ， mò fēi shì xì shuǎ yú wǒ 。”
而这时候，林轩的声音，又冷冷的传入了耳里：“怎么，各位要归附林某，只是嘴巴上说得热闹么，一旦要交出魂魄，就在这里推三阻四的，莫非是戏耍于我。”
Lin Xuan's tone was filled with anger, as if he intended to act at any moment.
lín xuān de shēng yīn ， yǐ chōng mǎn le fèn nù ， fǎng fú yí gè bù hé ， tā jiù dǎ suàn mǎ shàng dòng shǒu le 。
林轩的声音，已充满了愤怒，仿佛一个不合，他就打算马上动手了。
The cultivators exchanged glances, seeing fear in each other’s eyes. Lin Xuan had already made a good example; no one dared to run now.
zhòng xiū shì miàn miàn xiāng qù ， bǐ cǐ dōu zài gè zì de liǎn shàng kàn dào le kǒng jù ， lín xuān gāng gāng shā jī jǐng hóu ， qǐ dào le hěn hǎo de xiào guǒ ， rú jīn zài yě méi yǒu rén gǎn dāng zhe tā de miàn ， qù mào xiǎn táo pǎo le 。
众修士面面相觑，彼此都在各自的脸上看到了恐惧，林轩刚刚杀鸡儆猴，起到了很好的效果，如今再也没有人敢当着他的面，去冒险逃跑了。
But handing over their souls...
dàn yào jiāo chū hún pò ， zhè ……
但要交出魂魄，这……
Lin Xuan observed their reactions and his expression darkened. He would need to employ some tactics to get them to comply.
zhòng rén de fǎn yìng ， lín xuān yī yī kàn zài yǎn lǐ ， liǎn sè yīn mái yǐ jí ， kàn lái xiǎng yào tā men jiù fàn ， hái xū yào zài shī zhǎn yī xiē shǒu wàn 。
众人的反应，林轩一一看在眼里，脸色阴霾以极，看来想要他们就范，还需要再施展一些手腕。
With his mind made up, Lin Xuan was about to act when a familiar voice interrupted: "Senior, you're overthinking this. Besides a few reckless individuals, how could we dare deceive you? What I said comes from the bottom of my heart; here is my soul."
nǎo hǎi zhōng niàn tou zhuǎn guò ， lín xuān yǐ zhǔn bèi dòng shǒu le ， rán ér jiù zài zhè shí ， yí gè shú xī de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ：“ qián bèi duō lǜ le ， chú le shǎo shù bù zhī sǐ huó de jiā huo ， wǎn bèi men zěn gǎn hū yōu nǐ ne ， wǎn bèi suǒ shuō ， zì zì fā zì fèi fǔ ， wǒ zhè jiù jiāo chū hún pò 。”
脑海中念头转过，林轩已准备动手了，然而就在这时，一个熟悉的声音传入耳朵：“前辈多虑了，除了少数不知死活的家伙，晚辈们怎敢忽悠你呢，晚辈所说，字字发自肺腑，我这就交出魂魄。”
Lin Xuan turned to see the robed elder, who wore a servile expression. Before he finished speaking, he actually spat out two light points.
lín xuān zhuǎn guò tóu lú ， què shì nà zào páo lǎo zhě ， yī liǎn de xiàn mèi zhī sè ， huà yīn wèi luò ， zhè wèi yī zhāng kǒu ， jū rán zhēn de jiāng yī dà yī xiǎo liǎng gè guāng diǎn tǔ chū 。
林轩转过头颅，却是那皂袍老者，一脸的献媚之色，话音未落，这位一张口，居然真的将一大一小两个光点吐出。
They were indeed souls, which were then absorbed by the Soul Suppressing Token.
zhèng shì hún pò ， rán hòu bèi jìn hún pái xī jìn qù le 。
正是魂魄，然后被禁魂牌吸进去了。
Satisfied with this, Lin Xuan said, "Good. You will succeed me as the Grand Elder of the Spirit Ghost Sect."
lín xuān liǎn shàng lù chū mǎn yì zhī sè ， zhè jiā huo bǐ xiǎng xiàng de hái yào shàng dào xǔ duō 。
林轩脸上露出满意之色，这家伙比想象的还要上道许多。
"Thank you, senior. I will risk my life to repay your kindness," the robed elder exclaimed in joy.
“ hǎo ， yǐ hòu jiù yóu nǐ jì rèn líng guǐ zōng dà zhǎng lǎo yī zhí le 。”
“好，以后就由你继任灵鬼宗大长老一职了。”
The robed elder was taken aback but then showed great delight. Such benefits were unexpected for him; although he would have to follow Lin Xuan's every command, being the Grand Elder of the Spirit Ghost Sect might make his life better than before.
“ duō xiè qián bèi ， lǎo nú yí dìng fù tāng dǎo huǒ ， yǐ bào xiào qián bèi zhī yù zhī ēn de 。”
“多谢前辈，老奴一定赴汤蹈火，以报效前辈知遇之恩的。”
Lin Xuan’s eyes flashed with barely noticeable disgust.
zào páo lǎo zhě yī dāi ， suí hòu lù chū dà xǐ guò wàng de biǎo qíng lái ， rú cǐ hǎo chù ， què shì tā yě méi yǒu xiǎng dào de ， suī rán yǐ hòu yào wéi lín xuān zhī mìng shì cóng ， dàn zuò le líng guǐ zōng dà zhǎng lǎo ， rì zi huò xǔ bǐ yǐ qián hái yào hǎo guò dé duō 。
皂袍老者一呆，随后露出大喜过望的表情来，如此好处，却是他也没有想到的，虽然以后要惟林轩之命是从，但做了灵鬼宗大长老，日子或许比以前还要好过得多。
He despised this man's character, but at this moment, such a person was useful. With the Soul Suppressing Technique, he didn't fear any betrayal or schemes against himself.
lín xuān yǎn zhōng shǎn guò yī mǒ bù yì chá jué de yàn wù zhī sè 。
林轩眼中闪过一抹不易察觉的厌恶之色。
With someone leading and reaping great benefits, the Spirit Ghost Sect cultivators, though still resistant, no longer wanted to fall behind.
zhè jiā huo de rén pǐn tā shì bù chǐ yǐ jí ， bù guò cǐ shí cǐ kè ， zhè xiǎo rén dào yě yòng dé zhe ， yǒu jìn hún shù ， dào yě bù pà tā chū ěr fǎn ěr ， suàn jì zì jǐ de 。
这家伙的人品他是不齿以极，不过此时此刻，这小人倒也用得着，有禁魂术，倒也不怕他出尔反尔，算计自己的。
Wasn’t it true?
yǒu rén dài tóu ， qiě huò dé le mò dà de hǎo chù ， líng guǐ zōng xiū shì ， suī rán xīn zhōng yī jiù yǒu dǐ chù ， dàn yě bù yuàn yì zài luò rén hòu le 。
有人带头，且获得了莫大的好处，灵鬼宗修士，虽然心中依旧有抵触，但也不愿意再落人后了。
The path of deceit and escape had failed.
bú shì me ？
不是么？
Resistance led only to death.
xiān hū yōu ， zài xún jī táo zǒu zhè tiáo lù shì zǒu bù tōng 。
先忽悠，再寻机逃走这条路是走不通。
After so much effort, they had reached this point in their cultivation journey. Who would willingly return to the underworld? There was a saying: better to live poorly than die well. Even if being driven by others was not ideal, it was their only choice.
fǎn kàng yě méi yǒu huó lù 。
反抗也没有活路。
Acting quickly might bring benefits.
lì jīng xīn kǔ ， hǎo bù róng yì cái jiāng xiū xiān zhī lù zǒu dào zhè yī bù ， shuí yòu yuàn yì hún guī dì fǔ ， bú shì yǒu nà me yī jù huà ， hǎo sǐ bù rú lài huó zhe ， rèn qí qū cè suī rán xīn yǒu bù gān zhī chù ， dàn què shì tā men wéi yī de xuǎn zé 。
历经辛苦，好不容易才将修仙之路走到这一步，谁又愿意魂归地府，不是有那么一句话，好死不如赖活着，任其驱策虽然心有不甘之处，但却是他们唯一的选择。
Understanding this, the cultivators no longer hesitated. As they said, true men could bend and stretch; though the Soul Suppressing Technique was terrifying, there were countless wonders in the cultivation world. They might still have a chance to be freed from it.
qiǎng xiān yī bù huò xǔ hái yǒu hǎo chù 。
抢先一步或许还有好处。
Though such thoughts were mostly self-consolation, the cultivators eagerly handed over their souls. The deadlock that had troubled Lin Xuan earlier was now easily resolved.
One, the situation arose suddenly, and perhaps the opponent might be slower to react due to their shock.
Two, he was well aware of his own strength. While other techniques were not discussed, he had some understanding of his evasion speed.
Though he didn't dare say it with 100% certainty, he preferred to risk everything rather than be driven by someone else.
If he won, the future would be bright and free; this was much better than staying in the Spirit Ghost Sect. If he lost, he would merely fall, as everyone had their own choices, but he refused to give up his soul no matter what.
Seeing Lin Xuan's eyes flash with sharpness, he sighed softly without any further action, just flicking his sleeves.
Silently and swiftly, a burst of multicolored spiritual light emerged.
Phantom Spirit Heavenly Fire!
It transformed into a fiery line, chasing after the target at an incredible speed.
Inwardly, Lin Xuan understood the opponent's choice, but this authority had to be established. Otherwise, other cultivators might follow suit, and the entire Spirit Ghost Sect would collapse like a fallen tree.
This was something Lin Xuan did not want to see.
The path of immortals was arduous. Although he wasn't cruel or fond of killing, he knew that sometimes one had to be ruthless when necessary.
Indecision wouldn't allow him to stand in the cultivation world, and being overly merciful was foolish beyond measure.
Such errors were ones Lin Xuan would not make.
As for using Phantom Spirit Heavenly Fire on his first move, it was due to careful consideration. Indeed, his strength far surpassed that of other cultivators at his level, but outright killing wasn't easy. Moreover, the opponent was currently fully on guard.
Only a few techniques could guarantee a one-hit kill, and without any treasure items, Phantom Spirit Heavenly Fire was the only option.
Thus, Lin Xuan used it without hesitation.
Now, his goal extended beyond just establishing authority; he wanted to intimidate everyone. He believed that many others like the robed cultivator were looking for opportunities to exploit the situation. By making them submit to his Soul Suppressing Technique, he could preserve the strength of the Spirit Ghost Sect as much as possible.
In other words, he needed to scare some sense into them.
And Phantom Spirit Heavenly Fire, being Lin Xuan's trump card, did not disappoint. The robed cultivator’s screams filled the air as he tried to flee while using his defensive treasure item.
However, it was useless. If this had happened a hundred years ago, perhaps it could have slowed Phantom Spirit Heavenly Fire down, but now, with a thread of primordial Yin energy infused into it, its power had increased significantly. The defensive treasure item was rendered worthless and instantly reduced to mere iron. The robed cultivator fared no better; his protective spiritual light was ignited, and he rolled around in flames, crying out in agony until both his body and spirit were reduced to ash.
Sss...
The process might seem complex, but it took only a moment.
The Spirit Ghost Sect cultivators witnessed this with wide eyes and gulped. They felt immense relief.
The robed old man had no other choice; among the more than a hundred people, most shared the same strategy as the fallen one: first feigning compliance with Lin Xuan, then finding a hidden place to escape later.
When Lin Xuan took out his Soul Suppressing Token, many cultivators began to lose heart and looked around to flee. However, either they were too slow or their resolve was not strong enough, leaving them in doubt about what to do next.
Inaction in critical moments often led to chaos, but this time, the opposite occurred.
The most decisive robed cultivator had already perished, while those who moved just a step ahead of him still lived.
Many hearts were filled with relief and cold sweat. Regardless, Lin Xuan's terrifying presence was etched deeply into their minds, leaving no room for resistance.
At this moment, Lin Xuan’s voice echoed: "How is it that you all want to submit to me but only talk the talk? Once you need to hand over your souls, you try to delay and dodge. Are you playing with me?"
Lin Xuan's tone was filled with anger, as if he intended to act at any moment.
The cultivators exchanged glances, seeing fear in each other’s eyes. Lin Xuan had already made a good example; no one dared to run now.
But handing over their souls...
Lin Xuan observed their reactions and his expression darkened. He would need to employ some tactics to get them to comply.
With his mind made up, Lin Xuan was about to act when a familiar voice interrupted: "Senior, you're overthinking this. Besides a few reckless individuals, how could we dare deceive you? What I said comes from the bottom of my heart; here is my soul."
Lin Xuan turned to see the robed elder, who wore a servile expression. Before he finished speaking, he actually spat out two light points.
They were indeed souls, which were then absorbed by the Soul Suppressing Token.
Satisfied with this, Lin Xuan said, "Good. You will succeed me as the Grand Elder of the Spirit Ghost Sect."
"Thank you, senior. I will risk my life to repay your kindness," the robed elder exclaimed in joy.
The robed elder was taken aback but then showed great delight. Such benefits were unexpected for him; although he would have to follow Lin Xuan's every command, being the Grand Elder of the Spirit Ghost Sect might make his life better than before.
Lin Xuan’s eyes flashed with barely noticeable disgust.
He despised this man's character, but at this moment, such a person was useful. With the Soul Suppressing Technique, he didn't fear any betrayal or schemes against himself.
With someone leading and reaping great benefits, the Spirit Ghost Sect cultivators, though still resistant, no longer wanted to fall behind.
Wasn’t it true?
The path of deceit and escape had failed.
Resistance led only to death.
After so much effort, they had reached this point in their cultivation journey. Who would willingly return to the underworld? There was a saying: better to live poorly than die well. Even if being driven by others was not ideal, it was their only choice.
Acting quickly might bring benefits.
Understanding this, the cultivators no longer hesitated. As they said, true men could bend and stretch; though the Soul Suppressing Technique was terrifying, there were countless wonders in the cultivation world. They might still have a chance to be freed from it.
Though such thoughts were mostly self-consolation, the cultivators eagerly handed over their souls. The deadlock that had troubled Lin Xuan earlier was now easily resolved.