liǎng rén xīn zhōng shī wàng yǐ jí ， dāng rán ， què bù gǎn yǒu fēn háo de yuàn yóu zhī yì 。
两人心中失望以极，当然，却不敢有分毫的怨尤之意。
The two men felt extremely disappointed, but they dared not show any resentment.
yī biān gōng jìng ér lì ， yī biān qiāo qiāo tái qǐ tóu lú ， yǐ yǎn jiǎo de yú guāng tōu kàn shī mèi de liǎn sè ， zhǐ jiàn nà qīng xiù shào nǚ dài méi wēi wēi zhòu qǐ ， rán ér suí zhe lín xuān de chuán yīn rù mì ， liǎn shàng de mí máng què jiàn jiàn yǎn qù ， qǔ ér dài zhī de shì huǎng rán dà wù de jīng xǐ 。
一边恭敬而立，一边悄悄抬起头颅，以眼角的余光偷看师妹的脸色，只见那清秀少女黛眉微微皱起，然而随着林轩的传音入密，脸上的迷茫却渐渐掩去，取而代之的是恍然大悟的惊喜。
One stood respectfully while the other discreetly raised his head to look at his junior’s face with the corner of his eye. The clear-eyed maiden frowned slightly, but as Lin Xuan whispered into her ear, the confusion on her face gradually faded, replaced by a dawning sense of enlightenment and joy.
xiǎn rán ， tā cóng shī shū nà lǐ huò dé le xiǎng yào de jiě huò ， qiě huò yì liáng duō 。
显然，她从师叔那里获得了想要的解惑，且获益良多。
Clearly, she had received the answers she sought from her senior uncle and benefited greatly.
liǎng rén suī rán méi yǒu tīng jiàn lín xuān jù tǐ chuán yīn le xiē shén me ， dàn yě gǎn tóng shēn shòu ， xīn zhōng jí shì huān xǐ ， yuè fā yòng xīn yùn niàng qǐ xīn zhōng de wèn tí ， kàn shì fǒu shì zì jǐ rú jīn zuì xū yào dì 。
两人虽然没有听见林轩具体传音了些什么，但也感同身受，心中极是欢喜，越发用心酝酿起心中的问题，看是否是自己如今最需要地。
Though they did not hear exactly what Lin Xuan said, their hearts were filled with joy. They focused more intently on the questions in their minds to see if they were indeed the most pressing issues for them now.
mó quán cā zhǎng ， zhǐ dài jiāng kùn rǎo zì jǐ duō nián de xiū liàn yí nán jiě qù 。
摩拳擦掌，只待将困扰自己多年的修炼疑难解去。
They rubbed their hands eagerly, ready to solve the long-standing puzzles that plagued their cultivation.
zhōng yú ， lín xuān jiě dá wán le qīng xiù shào nǚ de dì yí gè wèn tí ， huī huī shǒu shì yì tā tuì xià qù ， suí hòu zhuǎn guò tóu lú ， shì yì lìng liǎng rén kě yǐ wèn chū zì jǐ de wèn tí 。
终于，林轩解答完了清秀少女的第一个问题，挥挥手示意她退下去，随后转过头颅，示意另两人可以问出自己的问题。
Finally, Lin Xuan answered the maiden’s first question and waved her away. He then turned his head to indicate that the other two could ask their questions.
“ duō xiè shī shū 。”
“多谢师叔。”
"Thank you, senior uncle."
nà rú yǎ nán zi tà qián yī bù ， tóng yàng shì gǒng shǒu wèi lǐ zhī hòu ， suí hòu zuǐ chún wēi qǐ ， pò bù jí dài de wèn chū le zì jǐ de wèn tí 。
那儒雅男子踏前一步，同样是拱手为礼之后，随后嘴唇微启，迫不及待的问出了自己的问题。
The refined man stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and impatiently asked his question.
jiē xià lái de guò chéng bù yòng duō shuō ， jiù zhè yàng yí gè jiē yí gè ， qián hòu dà gài huā fèi le yí gè shí chén zuǒ yòu de gōng fu ， sān rén de tí wèn dōu yǐ jié shù 。
接下来的过程不用多说，就这样一个接一个，前后大概花费了一个时辰左右的功夫，三人的提问都已结束。
The process continued without much ado. It took about an hour for all three of them to finish asking their questions. Their faces showed both joy and a lingering sense of incompleteness.
liǎn shàng de biǎo qíng shì jì huān xǐ ， yòu yì yóu wèi jǐn 。
脸上的表情是既欢喜，又意犹未尽。
They were overjoyed at the long-standing doubts finally being resolved. How could they not be elated, scratching their heads in delight? As for the lingering sense of incompleteness, it was even more understandable—only three questions had been asked, which was far from enough. If there could have been more...
huān xǐ bú yòng shuō ， duō nián de kùn rǎo dé yǐ yī zhāo jiě huò ， zěn me néng bù xǐ dé zhuā ěr náo sāi ne ， zhì yú yì yóu wèi jǐn jiù gèng hǎo chuǎi mó ， wèn de wèn tí zhǐ yǒu sān gè ， shí zài shì yuǎn yuǎn bù zú ， jiǎ rú néng gòu duō shàng ……
欢喜不用说，多年的困扰得以一朝解惑，怎么能不喜得抓耳挠腮呢，至于意犹未尽就更好揣摩，问的问题只有三个，实在是远远不足，假如能够多上……
The three wished to become Lin Xuan’s disciples, but only in thought; they were too cautious to act rashly. After all, their own situations were clear—they were not worthy of such a master-disciple relationship.
sān rén hèn bù dé bài lín xuān wèi shī ， dāng rán ， zhǐ shì xiǎng xiǎng ， bù kě néng nà me mǎng zhuàng ， bì jìng zì jǐ de qíng kuàng zì jǐ qīng chǔ ， jiù píng tā men shì bù pèi yǔ lín xuān yǒu shī tú zhī yuán de 。
三人恨不得拜林轩为师，当然，只是想想，不可能那么莽撞，毕竟自己的情况自己清楚，就凭他们是不配与林轩有师徒之缘的。
However, if given the chance again with tasks related to Senior Uncle Lin, they would risk everything to secure them.
bù guò ， xià cì ruò shì zài yǒu yǔ lín shī shū yǒu guān de rèn wù ， tā men yí dìng fù tāng dǎo huǒ ， jiù suàn qiǎng pò tóu yě yào ná dào shǒu 。
不过，下次若是再有与林师叔有关的任务，他们一定赴汤蹈火，就算抢破头也要拿到手。
After all, the rewards were too generous.
bì jìng nà jiǎng lì tài fēng hòu 。
毕竟那奖励太丰厚。
"Alright, junior disciples," Lin Xuan said coolly. "Since your questions have been answered, you may go now."
“ hǎo le ， sān wèi shī zhí 。 tí wèn jì yǐ jié shù ， nǐ men sān gè ， yě kě yǐ gè zì qǐng biàn le 。”
“好了，三位师侄。提问既已结束，你们三个，也可以各自请便了。”
The three bowed and retreated respectfully.
lín xuān dàn dàn de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， suàn shì bì mén sòng kè 。
林轩淡淡的声音传入耳朵，算是闭门送客。
However, their actions differed. The maiden with clear features hesitated visibly on her face.
“ shì ， duō xiè shī shū wèi dì zǐ zhǐ diǎn mí jīn ， shī zhí men gǎn jī bù jìn 。”
“是，多谢师叔为弟子指点迷津，师侄们感激不尽。”
The other two had already gathered spiritual energy and were about to take off when the maiden suddenly turned around and knelt before Lin Xuan: "Senior uncle, I have one more request. Please grant me permission to ask three more questions."
sān rén qí qí xíng lǐ ， suí hòu gōng jìng de xiàng hòu tuì qù 。
三人齐齐行礼，随后恭敬的向后退去。
This caught everyone by surprise—Lin Xuan, the refined man, and the long-robed elder.
rán ér dòng zuò què bìng bù xiāng tóng ， nà qīng xiù nǚ zǐ de liǎn shàng 。 míng xiǎn dài zhe jǐ fēn chí yí 。
然而动作却并不相同，那清秀女子的脸上。明显带着几分迟疑。
"Junior sister Ge, you..."
lìng liǎng rén yǐ shì líng máng dà qǐ 。 jiāng yào pò kōng fēi qù ， cǐ nǚ què tū rán zhuǎn guò tóu lú ， fǎn shēn chōng zhe lín xuān bài le xià qù ：“ shī shū 。 dì zǐ hái yǒu yī bù qíng zhī qíng ， qǐng shī shū ēn zhǔn ， zài ràng shī zhí wèn sān gè wèn tí 。”
另两人已是灵芒大起。将要破空飞去，此女却突然转过头颅，返身冲着林轩拜了下去：“师叔。弟子还有一不情之情，请师叔恩准，再让师侄问三个问题。”
It was understandable why they were surprised; in their minds, junior sister Ge was not someone who lacked tact. Indeed, they had waited for decades to present treasures to Senior Lin. But he hadn’t just taken them without compensation—instead, he offered each of them three questions as a reward. Such a generous offer was too much, bordering on extravagance.
cǐ huà yī chū 。 bù zhǐ lín xuān liǎn dài yì wài zhī sè ， lìng wài liǎng rén ， nà rú yǎ nán zi yǔ cháng páo lǎo zhě yě jīng dāi le 。
此话一出。不止林轩脸带意外之色，另外两人，那儒雅男子与长袍老者也惊呆了。
For the two men, although they were still unsatisfied, they wouldn’t dare ask more out of respect. What could junior sister Ge be thinking?
“ gé shī mèi ， nǐ ……”
“葛师妹，你……”
Junior sister Ge had dared to make such an impulsive suggestion—didn’t she fear Senior Lin’s wrath? As a mere Core Formation Stage cultivator, how could she withstand his thunderous anger?
yě nán guài liǎng rén jīng è ， zài tā men xīn mù zhōng ， gé shī mèi bú shì nà me bù zhī jìn tuì de rén wù ， bù cuò ， tā men shì wèi le xiàng lín shī shū dì jiāo bǎo wù ， zài zhè lǐ děng le shù shí nián zhī jiǔ 。 dàn lín shī shū yě méi yǒu bái ná jiù suàn le ， ér shì xǔ yǐ měi rén sān gè wèn tí ， zhè yàng de jiǎng lì bú shì tài qīng ， ér shì tài zhòng ， kě yǐ shuō dà fāng yǐ jí ， dào le rén zhì yì jìn de jìng dì 。
也难怪两人惊愕，在他们心目中，葛师妹不是那么不知进退的人物，不错，他们是为了像林师叔递交宝物，在这里等了数十年之久。但林师叔也没有白拿就算了，而是许以每人三个问题，这样的奖励不是太轻，而是太重，可以说大方以极，到了仁至义尽的境地。
It was unwise for someone to be so bold.
jiù ná tā men liǎng rén lái shuō ， suī rán yì yóu wèi zú 。 dàn yě bù gǎn bù zhī jìn tuì de zài yāo qiú shén me ， shī mèi zhè shì zěn me le 。
就拿他们两人来说，虽然意犹未足。但也不敢不知进退的再要求什么，师妹这是怎么了。
However, their astonishment was quickly replaced by curiosity. They knew junior sister Ge well; she was more composed than they in most situations. There was no way she would act so tactlessly. Could there be some hidden reason behind this?
shī mèi zhè shì zěn me le ， jū rán gǎn wú duān tí chū zhè yàng de jiàn yì ， nán dào jiù bù pà lín shī shū bó rán dà nù ， tā yī xiǎo xiǎo de dòng xuán qī xiū xiān zhě 。 zěn me chéng shòu dé le shī shū de léi tíng zhī huǒ 。
师妹这是怎么了，居然敢无端提出这样的建议，难道就不怕林师叔勃然大怒，她一小小的洞玄期修仙者。怎么承受得了师叔的雷霆之火。
Curiosity abounded, but the two men remained silent, fearing the wrath of Senior Lin if they spoke.
rén guì zì zú ， shī mèi cǐ jǔ 。 shí zài tài mǎng zhuàng le 。
人贵自足，师妹此举。实在太莽撞了。
At that moment, Lin Xuan slightly lowered his head and fixed his gaze on the maiden who had spoken out. He wore a faintly amused expression but his face was cold: "You have waited for me here for decades—quite an effort indeed. But I believe I’ve already compensated you adequately. Do you think three questions are not enough? Remember, greed is never good."
bù guò liǎng rén jīng yà zhī yú ， xīn zhōng gèng duō de shì yí huò ， tā men yǔ gé shī mèi xiāng jiāo ， yě yǒu wàn nián le ， yú tā de pí xìng hěn qīng chǔ ， yù shì bǐ zì jǐ hái yào lěng jìng xǔ duō ， bù lùn zěn me kàn ， dōu bú huì xiàng rú cǐ bù zhī jìn tuì de rén wù ， nán dào shuō zhè qí zhōng ， hái yǒu shén me nèi qíng bù chéng me ？
不过两人惊讶之余，心中更多的是疑惑，他们与葛师妹相交，也有万年了，于她的脾性很清楚，遇事比自己还要冷静许多，不论怎么看，都不会像如此不知进退的人物，难道说这其中，还有什么内情不成么？
Lin Xuan did not immediately lose his temper, but his words clearly contained a hint of enlightenment.
chú le yí huò hái shì yí huò ， dāng rán ， liǎng rén xiàn zài ， shì yī jù zuǐ yě bù gǎn kāi de ， huò cóng kǒu chū ， tā men kě bù xiǎng yǔ cǐ nǚ yì qǐ ， chéng shòu lín shī shū de léi tíng zhī nù 。
除了疑惑还是疑惑，当然，两人现在，是一句嘴也不敢开的，祸从口出，他们可不想与此女一起，承受林师叔的雷霆之怒。
"Thank you for your teaching. However, you have misunderstood. Although I am foolish, I know when to be content. I wish to ask more because there are some puzzles in my cultivation that need resolving. Within our sect, only you can offer guidance. But without merit, I cannot accept unearned rewards. My intention is to make a deal with you."
ér cǐ kè ， lín xuān yǐ wēi wēi dī xià tou lú ， jiāng mù guāng luò zài nà mào rán kāi kǒu de nǚ zǐ shēn shàng le ， dài zhe jǐ fēn ráo yǒu qù wèi ér zhī sè ， rán ér biǎo qíng què shì lěng lěng de ：“ nǐ men zài zhè lǐ děng hòu lín mǒu shù shí nián zhī jiǔ ， yě suàn láo kǔ ， dàn lín mǒu zì wèn bǔ cháng yě yǐ jīng gěi zú ， zěn me ， nǐ shì xián sān gè wèn tí hái bù gòu me ， qiè jì ， rén bù kě tài tān xīn le 。”
而此刻，林轩已微微低下头颅，将目光落在那冒然开口的女子身上了，带着几分饶有趣味儿之色，然而表情却是冷冷的：“你们在这里等候林某数十年之久，也算劳苦，但林某自问补偿也已经给足，怎么，你是嫌三个问题还不够么，切忌，人不可太贪心了。”
"A deal with me? That’s interesting. Please go ahead and explain your terms; let me decide whether I am interested," Lin Xuan said, rubbing his forehead in surprise.
lín xuān méi yǒu lì kè fā huǒ ， dàn zhè fān huà ， xiǎn rán yǐ hán yǒu jǐ fēn diǎn xǐng zhī yì zài lǐ tou 。
林轩没有立刻发火，但这番话，显然已含有几分点醒之意在里头。
"Senior uncle, rest assured. Since I dared to do this, I have some confidence in what I can offer. I would not dare to play tricks on you."
“ xiè shī shū de jiào huì ， bù guò nín wù huì le ， dì zǐ suī rán yú dùn ， yòu zěn me huì bù zhī zú ， wǒ hái xiǎng tí sān gè wèn tí ， shì yīn wèi dì zǐ xiū liàn yǒu yī xiē yí nán shàng wèi jiě huò ， fàng yǎn běn mén ， kǒng pà yě zhǐ yǒu nín ， néng gòu tí diǎn yú wǒ ， bù guò wú gōng bù shòu lù ， dì zǐ yě bù gǎn wú duān ràng shī shū bái máng huó ， wǒ zhè me shuō ， shì dǎ suàn yǔ shī shū zuò yī jiàn jiāo yì 。”
“谢师叔的教诲，不过您误会了，弟子虽然愚钝，又怎么会不知足，我还想提三个问题，是因为弟子修炼有一些疑难尚未解惑，放眼本门，恐怕也只有您，能够提点于我，不过无功不受禄，弟子也不敢无端让师叔白忙活，我这么说，是打算与师叔做一件交易。”
Seeing that Lin Xuan did not lose his temper, the maiden was overjoyed.
“ yǔ wǒ zuò jiāo yì ， zhè kě yǒu xiē yì si le ， nǐ què bù fáng xiān shuō shuō ， kàn lín mǒu shì fǒu gǎn xìng qù zài dìng duó ， nǐ yào xiǎo de ， néng ràng běn zuò kàn zhòng de bǎo wù bìng bù duō 。” lín xuān yǐ shǒu fǔ é ， lüè lù chū jǐ fēn yì wài de shuō 。
“与我做交易，这可有些意思了，你却不妨先说说，看林某是否感兴趣再定夺，你要晓得，能让本座看中的宝物并不多。”林轩以手抚额，略露出几分意外的说。
She flicked her sleeves and a flash of spiritual light appeared before them—a pearl as big as a dragon’s eye.
“ shī shū fàng xīn ， dì zǐ jì rán gǎn mào mèi zhè me zuò ， duì yú zì jǐ néng gòu ná chū lái de chóu mǎ ， zì rán yě shì yǒu nà me jǐ fēn bǎ wò ， jué bù gǎn wú zhōng shēng yǒu de xì nòng shī shū 。”
“师叔放心，弟子既然敢冒昧这么做，对于自己能够拿出来的筹码，自然也是有那么几分把握，绝不敢无中生有的戏弄师叔。”
"What is this?"
jiàn lín xuān méi yǒu fā huǒ ， cǐ nǚ dà xǐ 。
见林轩没有发火，此女大喜。
Lin Xuan was momentarily stunned but then narrowed his eyes slightly.
xiù páo yī fú ， líng guāng shǎn guò ， yǎn qián què shì chū xiàn le yī kē lóng yǎn dà xiǎo de zhēn zhū 。
袖袍一拂，灵光闪过，眼前却是出现了一颗龙眼大小的珍珠。
With his extensive knowledge, he knew that it wasn’t just a pearl; it was an Image Recording Pearl, a magical tool from ancient times used to record images and texts. Its function resembled Jade Pupil, but even more mysterious. It almost resembled a momentary treasure, though the method of its creation had long been lost. Such items were rare, almost nonexistent.
“ zhè shì ……”
“这是……”
Lin Xuan had only seen descriptions in ancient texts; he never expected such an item from a Core Formation Stage cultivator. So her claim was not baseless.
lín xuān xiān shì yī dāi ， suí hòu yǎn jīng què shì wēi mī le qǐ lái 。
林轩先是一呆，随后眼睛却是微眯了起来。
"Image Recording Pearl. I didn’t expect a mere Core Formation Stage cultivator to have such a treasure. If it is indeed the Image Recording Pearl, you do have the right to make a deal with me. However, whether it’s worth three questions remains to be seen."
yǐ tā jiàn shí guǎng bó ， dāng rán bú huì zhēn jiāng cǐ wù cuò rèn chéng zhēn zhū ， zhè jiào yìng xiàng zhū ， nǎi shì jí shàng gǔ de shí hòu ， xiū shì yòng lái jì lù yǐng xiàng wén zì de yī zhǒng fǎ qì ， zuò yòng yǒu diǎn lèi sì yú yù tóng ， rán ér què hái yào shén miào dé duō ， shèn zhì yǒu jǐ fēn lèi sì xū yú bǎo wù ， rán ér liàn zhì zhī fǎ zǎo jiù shī chuán le ， xiàn zài néng gòu jiàn dào cǐ wù de jī huì kě bìng bù duō ， shèn zhì kě yǐ shuō liáo liáo kě shǔ 。
以他见识广博，当然不会真将此物错认成珍珠，这叫映象珠，乃是极上古的时候，修士用来记录影像文字的一种法器，作用有点类似于玉瞳，然而却还要神妙得多，甚至有几分类似须臾宝物，然而炼制之法早就失传了，现在能够见到此物的机会可并不多，甚至可以说寥寥可数。
"It should be appropriate," the maiden said.
lín xuān yǐ qián yě jǐn jǐn shì zài diǎn jí zhōng kàn jiàn guò miáo shù ， méi xiǎng dào cǐ nǚ néng gòu ná chū cǐ wù ， nà me tā suǒ shuō de jiāo yì ， hái zhēn bú shì wú dì fàng shǐ 。
林轩以前也仅仅是在典籍中看见过描述，没想到此女能够拿出此物，那么她所说的交易，还真不是无的放矢。
She respectfully handed over the Image Recording Pearl.
“ yìng xiàng zhū ， méi xiǎng dào qū qū yī míng dòng xuán qī xiū shì ， hái yōng yǒu zhè yàng de bǎo bèi ， ruò shì yìng xiàng zhū de huà ， què yǒu yǔ běn zuò jiāo yì de zī gé ， bù guò zhí bù zhí lín mǒu sān gè wèn tí ， hái yào kàn guò zài shuō 。”
“映象珠，没想到区区一名洞玄期修士，还拥有这样的宝贝，若是映象珠的话，确有与本座交易的资格，不过值不值林某三个问题，还要看过再说。”
Lin Xuan’s sleeve curled gently and he took it into his palm. He pinched it between his thumb and forefinger and lowered his head slightly, sinking his divine sense...
“ zhè shì yīng gāi de 。”
“这是应该的。”
BANG!
cǐ nǚ dāng rán sī háo yì yì yě wú ， bì gōng bì jìng de jiāng nà yìng xiàng zhū dì guò lái le 。
此女当然丝毫意义也无，毕恭毕敬的将那映象珠递过来了。
A dazzling white light flashed, and Lin Xuan suddenly raised his head as his divine sense was bounced back.
lín xuān yī xiù qīng qīng yī juàn ， yǐ jiāng tā qǔ dào le zhǐ zhǎng zhī jiān ， suí hòu yòng shí zhǐ mǔ zhǐ niē zhe ， wēi wēi dī xià tou lú ， jiāng shén shí chén rù ……
林轩衣袖轻轻一卷，已将它取到了指掌之间，随后用食指拇指捏着，微微低下头颅，将神识沉入……
"What...?"
hōng ！
轰！
"Senior uncle, this item seems to have some restrictions; I’ve studied it many times but couldn’t figure out the solution," the maiden’s anxious voice reached Lin Xuan. She had been too quick in her actions and failed to warn him, now pale with fear of his misunderstanding.
The two men felt extremely disappointed, but they dared not show any resentment.
One stood respectfully while the other discreetly raised his head to look at his junior’s face with the corner of his eye. The clear-eyed maiden frowned slightly, but as Lin Xuan whispered into her ear, the confusion on her face gradually faded, replaced by a dawning sense of enlightenment and joy.
Clearly, she had received the answers she sought from her senior uncle and benefited greatly.
Though they did not hear exactly what Lin Xuan said, their hearts were filled with joy. They focused more intently on the questions in their minds to see if they were indeed the most pressing issues for them now.
They rubbed their hands eagerly, ready to solve the long-standing puzzles that plagued their cultivation.
Finally, Lin Xuan answered the maiden’s first question and waved her away. He then turned his head to indicate that the other two could ask their questions.
"Thank you, senior uncle."
The refined man stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and impatiently asked his question.
...
The process continued without much ado. It took about an hour for all three of them to finish asking their questions. Their faces showed both joy and a lingering sense of incompleteness.
They were overjoyed at the long-standing doubts finally being resolved. How could they not be elated, scratching their heads in delight? As for the lingering sense of incompleteness, it was even more understandable—only three questions had been asked, which was far from enough. If there could have been more...
The three wished to become Lin Xuan’s disciples, but only in thought; they were too cautious to act rashly. After all, their own situations were clear—they were not worthy of such a master-disciple relationship.
However, if given the chance again with tasks related to Senior Uncle Lin, they would risk everything to secure them.
After all, the rewards were too generous.
"Alright, junior disciples," Lin Xuan said coolly. "Since your questions have been answered, you may go now."
The three bowed and retreated respectfully.
However, their actions differed. The maiden with clear features hesitated visibly on her face.
The other two had already gathered spiritual energy and were about to take off when the maiden suddenly turned around and knelt before Lin Xuan: "Senior uncle, I have one more request. Please grant me permission to ask three more questions."
This caught everyone by surprise—Lin Xuan, the refined man, and the long-robed elder.
"Junior sister Ge, you..."
It was understandable why they were surprised; in their minds, junior sister Ge was not someone who lacked tact. Indeed, they had waited for decades to present treasures to Senior Lin. But he hadn’t just taken them without compensation—instead, he offered each of them three questions as a reward. Such a generous offer was too much, bordering on extravagance.
For the two men, although they were still unsatisfied, they wouldn’t dare ask more out of respect. What could junior sister Ge be thinking?
Junior sister Ge had dared to make such an impulsive suggestion—didn’t she fear Senior Lin’s wrath? As a mere Core Formation Stage cultivator, how could she withstand his thunderous anger?
It was unwise for someone to be so bold.
However, their astonishment was quickly replaced by curiosity. They knew junior sister Ge well; she was more composed than they in most situations. There was no way she would act so tactlessly. Could there be some hidden reason behind this?
Curiosity abounded, but the two men remained silent, fearing the wrath of Senior Lin if they spoke.
At that moment, Lin Xuan slightly lowered his head and fixed his gaze on the maiden who had spoken out. He wore a faintly amused expression but his face was cold: "You have waited for me here for decades—quite an effort indeed. But I believe I’ve already compensated you adequately. Do you think three questions are not enough? Remember, greed is never good."
Lin Xuan did not immediately lose his temper, but his words clearly contained a hint of enlightenment.
"Thank you for your teaching. However, you have misunderstood. Although I am foolish, I know when to be content. I wish to ask more because there are some puzzles in my cultivation that need resolving. Within our sect, only you can offer guidance. But without merit, I cannot accept unearned rewards. My intention is to make a deal with you."
"A deal with me? That’s interesting. Please go ahead and explain your terms; let me decide whether I am interested," Lin Xuan said, rubbing his forehead in surprise.
"Senior uncle, rest assured. Since I dared to do this, I have some confidence in what I can offer. I would not dare to play tricks on you."
Seeing that Lin Xuan did not lose his temper, the maiden was overjoyed.
She flicked her sleeves and a flash of spiritual light appeared before them—a pearl as big as a dragon’s eye.
"What is this?"
Lin Xuan was momentarily stunned but then narrowed his eyes slightly.
With his extensive knowledge, he knew that it wasn’t just a pearl; it was an Image Recording Pearl, a magical tool from ancient times used to record images and texts. Its function resembled Jade Pupil, but even more mysterious. It almost resembled a momentary treasure, though the method of its creation had long been lost. Such items were rare, almost nonexistent.
Lin Xuan had only seen descriptions in ancient texts; he never expected such an item from a Core Formation Stage cultivator. So her claim was not baseless.
"Image Recording Pearl. I didn’t expect a mere Core Formation Stage cultivator to have such a treasure. If it is indeed the Image Recording Pearl, you do have the right to make a deal with me. However, whether it’s worth three questions remains to be seen."
"It should be appropriate," the maiden said.
She respectfully handed over the Image Recording Pearl.
Lin Xuan’s sleeve curled gently and he took it into his palm. He pinched it between his thumb and forefinger and lowered his head slightly, sinking his divine sense...
BANG!
A dazzling white light flashed, and Lin Xuan suddenly raised his head as his divine sense was bounced back.
"What...?"
"Senior uncle, this item seems to have some restrictions; I’ve studied it many times but couldn’t figure out the solution," the maiden’s anxious voice reached Lin Xuan. She had been too quick in her actions and failed to warn him, now pale with fear of his misunderstanding.