第两千七百二十三章 一问三不知

“ xuán qīng zhī tǐ ？”

“玄清之体？”

"Xuanqing Body?"

lín xuān xiān shì yī è ， suí hòu jiù lù chū liǎo rán de shén qíng lái le 。

林轩先是一愕，随后就露出了然的神情来了。

Lin Xuan was initially surprised, but then his expression turned to understanding. With his extensive knowledge and experience, he had certainly heard of the Xuanqing Body before, but it held no real significance.

yǐ tā jiàn wén guǎng bó ， zhè xuán qīng zhī tǐ shén me de ， zì rán shì céng jīng tīng guò ， rán ér què gēn běn méi yǒu shén me liǎo de 。

以他见闻广博，这玄清之体什么的，自然是曾经听过，然而却根本没有什么了得。

Cultivators relied on their innate talents and opportunities. Opportunities were intangible and unpredictable, whereas one's talent could be easily assessed. Lin Xuan himself was a prime example; his talent was so lacking that even his spirit root had failed to develop properly. Had he not been fortunate enough to obtain the Blue Star Sea, or if he hadn't been diligent and resilient, he would have long since become nothing more than a forgotten corpse.

xiū xiān xiū xiān ， kào de jiù shì tiān zī yǔ jī yuán 。

修仙修仙，靠的就是天资与机缘。

From a talent perspective, Lin Xuan was undoubtedly at the bottom of the barrel.

zhè jī yuán yī shuō ， nǎi shì xū wú piāo miǎo zhī wù ， gēn běn jiù bù kě zhuō mō 。

这机缘一说，乃是虚无缥缈之物，根本就不可捉摸。

However, as his cultivation grew, so did his knowledge. While innate talents were crucial, some cultivators with special physiques could achieve results that were disproportionate to their efforts. For instance, those with Fire Spirit Body or Nine Spirit Sword Body could see significant benefits from their practices.

rán ér tiān fèn rú hé ， què shì yī yǎn jiù kě yǐ tàn chá qīng chǔ 。

然而天份如何，却是一眼就可以探查清楚。

The Xuanqing Body was one such special saintly body, but it was considered the worst of them all. It offered no aid whatsoever in cultivation; its sole purpose was to render any concealment techniques ineffective for anyone possessing this body.

ná lín xuān lái shuō ， tiān fèn jiù chà dào wú yǐ fù jiā de dì bù ， lián líng gēn yě wú ， ruò bú shì jī yuán bù cuò ， qiǎo dé lán sè xīng hǎi ， běn shēn yòu kěn nǔ lì ， xīn zhì yě jiān rèn wú bǐ ， wú lùn rú hé ， yě bú huì yǒu jīn rì zhī chéng jiù ， fǎn ér duō bàn zǎo jiù huà wèi le mù zhōng kū gǔ 。

拿林轩来说，天份就差到无以复加的地步，连灵根也无，若不是机缘不错，巧得蓝色星海，本身又肯努力，心智也坚韧无比，无论如何，也不会有今日之成就，反而多半早就化为了墓中枯骨。

What a waste!

cóng tiān zī lái shuō ， tā zì rán shì jí chà de 。

从天资来说，他自然是极差的。

If he could discern others' concealment techniques, that would be impressive, but merely uncovering hidden cultivation levels through breathing control was hardly worth mentioning.

rán ér suí zhe xiū wèi de zēng zhǎng ， lín xuān de jiàn wén ， yě zài bù duàn zēng qiáng 。

然而随着修为的增长，林轩的见闻，也在不断增强。

"Ah, I see."

xiū shì de tiān zī rú hé ， líng gēn gù rán shì jué dìng yīn sù ， rán ér yī xiē yōng yǒu tè shū tǐ zhì de xiū xiān zhě ， xiū liàn qǐ lái ， tóng yàng shì shì bèi ér gōng bàn de 。

修士的天资如何，灵根固然是决定因素，然而一些拥有特殊体质的修仙者，修炼起来，同样是事倍而功半的。

Lin Xuan slowly stood up. With the air of concealment technique already exposed, there was no point in hiding anything further. He took a deep breath and subtly activated his inner refinement method. A terrifying aura emanated from him.

bǐ rú shuō huǒ líng zhī tǐ ， jiǔ líng jiàn tǐ ， ruì jīn shèng tǐ ， xiū liàn xiāng yìn de shǔ xìng de gōng fǎ mì shù ， nà dōu shì shì bàn ér gōng bèi de 。

比如说火灵之体，九灵剑体，锐金圣体，修炼相印的属性的功法秘术，那都是事半而功倍的。

"Sure enough, an old monster of the Spirit Splitting Realm."

zhè xuán qīng zhī tǐ shuō qǐ lái ， yě shì lèi sì de tè shū shèng tǐ zhī yī ， rán ér què bèi chēng zhī wèi zuì lā jī de shèng tǐ 。

这玄清之体说起来，也是类似的特殊圣体之一，然而却被称之为最垃圾的圣体。

The shopkeeper's face turned pale. Thankfully, Lin Xuan hadn't released his spiritual pressure; still, he was struggling to bear it. He stepped back hurriedly, even having trouble breathing. He hastily summoned a protective spiritual light and finally stood firm, but his expression became increasingly reverent.

wú tā ， xuán qīng zhī tǐ duì yú xiū liàn lái shuō ， gēn běn jiù méi yǒu fēn háo de bāng zhù ， wéi yī de yòng tú ， jiù shì rèn hé yǐn cáng xiū wèi de liǎn qì zhī shù duì tā lái shuō dōu méi yǒu yòng tú 。

无他，玄清之体对于修炼来说，根本就没有分毫的帮助，唯一的用途，就是任何隐藏修为的敛气之术对他来说都没有用途。

"Senior, your presence is greatly honored. Please tell me what you need. I will do my utmost to fulfill your request."

zhè bú shì lā jī shì shén me ？

这不是垃圾是什么？

It wasn't surprising that he was terrified; the Spirit Splitting Realm was already considered a realm of great power. Normally, such beings were beyond his reach. Despite the old monster's unremarkable appearance, one gesture could easily erase Qingmu City or crush him like an ant.

ruò shì néng kàn pò xiū shì de yǐn nì shù ， nà yě hái suàn wēi lì bù sú ， dàn jǐn jǐn kàn pò yǐn cáng xiū wèi de liǎn xī ， nà gēn běn jiù shì jī lèi bà le 。

若是能看破修士的隐匿术，那也还算威力不俗，但仅仅看破隐藏修为的敛息，那根本就是鸡肋罢了。

The shopkeeper's respectful attitude pleased Lin Xuan, who then swept his sleeve and emitted a flickering spiritual light from it, revealing a pearl as large as a dragon eye.

“ yuán lái rú cǐ 。”

“原来如此。”

"This item was sold by your store. Can you recognize it?"

lín xuān huǎn huǎn zhàn qǐ ， jì rán liǎn qì shù yǐ bèi kàn pò ， nà yǐn nì xiū wèi shén me de yě jiù méi yǒu le yòng tú ， lín xuān shēn shēn hū xī 。 tǐ mǎo nèi fǎ jué lüè yī yùn zhuàn 。 yī gǔ kě bù zhī jí de qì xī jiù yóu tā sàn fà chū lái 。

林轩缓缓站起，既然敛气术已被看破，那隐匿修为什么的也就没有了用途，林轩深深呼吸。体冇内法诀略一运转。一股可怖之极的气息就由他散发出来。

"Senior, may I take a closer look?" the shopkeeper asked, rubbing his eyes.

“ guǒ rán shì fēn shén qī lǎo guài wù 。”

“果然是分神期老怪物。”

"Certainly."

nà zhǎng guì liǎn dōu bái le ， hái hǎo lín xuān méi yǒu jiāng líng yā fàng chū ， dàn jí biàn shì zhè yàng tā yě yǒu xiē chéng shòu bú zhù 。 dēng dēng dēng de lián tuì sàn bù ， lián hū xī dōu yǒu xiē bù chàng 。

那掌柜脸都白了，还好林轩没有将灵压放出，但即便是这样他也有些承受不住。蹬蹬蹬的连退散步，连呼吸都有些不畅。

With Lin Xuan's permission, the shopkeeper stepped forward and delicately picked up the pearl with his thumb and forefinger.

máng jiāng hù tǐ líng guāng fàng chū ， zhè cái wěn wěn zhàn zhù 。 dàn liǎn shàng de biǎo qíng ， què yuè fā de jìng wèi ér gōng jìng le 。

忙将护体灵光放出，这才稳稳站住。但脸上的表情，却越发的敬畏而恭敬了。

After a careful examination: "An Image Pearl?"

“ qián bèi dà jià guāng lín ， bù zhī dào yǒu shén me fēn fù ， hái qǐng míng shuō ， zhǐ yào bàn dé dào de ， wǎn bèi yí dìng nǔ lì qù zuò 。”

“前辈大驾光临，不知道有什么吩咐，还请明说，只要办得到的，晚辈一定努力去做。”

"Do you know what it is?"

yě nán guài de tā xīn zhōng huáng kǒng ， fēn shén qī a ， nà yǐ jīng shì kě yǐ chēng zhī wèi dà néng de cún zài le ， píng cháng 。 nǎ shì zì jǐ yǒu yuán dé jiàn de ， bié kàn zhè lǎo mó róng mào méi yǒu shén me qǐ yǎn zhī chù ， dàn yī zhī shǒu shēn chū 。 kǒng pà jiù néng jiāng zhè qīng mù chéng mǒ chú 。 niē sǐ zì jǐ ， jiù yǔ niē sǐ yī zhī mǎ yǐ xiāng chà fǎng fú 。

也难怪的他心中惶恐，分神期啊，那已经是可以称之为大能的存在了，平常。哪是自己有缘得见的，别看这老魔容貌没有什么起眼之处，但一只手伸出。恐怕就能将这青木城抹除。捏死自己，就与捏死一只蚂蚁相差仿佛。

Lin Xuan was initially taken aback but quickly understood. Although the shopkeeper's cultivation level was negligible—only at theinfant spirits stage—he had extensive knowledge of various treasures as the head of the Hundred Treasures Hall. Recognizing an Image Pearl wasn't particularly remarkable.

duì fāng gōng jìng de tài dù 。 ràng lín xuān liǎn shàng lù chū yī sī mǎn yì zhī sè ， suí hòu xiù páo yī fú ， líng guāng shǎn shuò ， jiù yóu yī xiù zhōng fēi chū le yī kē lóng yǎn dà xiǎo de zhēn zhū 。

对方恭敬的态度。让林轩脸上露出一丝满意之色，随后袖袍一拂，灵光闪烁，就由衣袖中飞出了一颗龙眼大小的珍珠。

"The junior recognizes this. The Image Pearl indeed came from your store," the shopkeeper replied honestly.

“ cǐ wù shì yóu guì diàn shòu mài chū qù de ， nǐ kě rèn de ？”

“此物是由贵店售卖出去的，你可认得？”

"Oh?"

“ qián bèi ， wǒ kě yǐ ná lái zǐ xì kàn kàn me ？” zhǎng guì róu le róu yǎn jīng de shuō 。

“前辈，我可以拿来仔细看看么？”掌柜揉了揉眼睛的说。

Lin Xuan's eyes gleamed with excitement: "If you remember, that makes it easier. Does your store have any more of these Image Pearls? I am willing to pay a high price for them."

“ dāng rán kě yǐ 。”

“当然可以。”

"Senior, there is only one such Image Pearl."

dé dào lín xuān de xǔ kě 。

得到林轩的许可。

"One?" Lin Xuan was surprised and his expression turned grim: "Are you trying to fool me?"

nà zhǎng guì zǒu jìn jǐ bù ， shēn chù pàng hū hū de yòu shǒu ， yǐ shí zhǐ mǔ zhǐ ， niān qǐ le nà nà kē zhēn zhū 。

那掌柜走进几步，深处胖乎乎的右手，以食指拇指，拈起了那那颗珍珠。

The shopkeeper quickly defended himself: "Senior, don't joke. The junior wouldn't dare. If we had more, selling it would risk offending you. Besides, the Image Pearl is an ancient relic but not a significant item. Its function is similar to Jade Pupil, just more effective. Moreover, after acquiring this one, we consulted many experts who couldn’t open it for certain reasons."

zǐ xì duān xiáng 。

仔细端详。

Seeing Lin Xuan's displeased expression, the shopkeeper quickly explained everything.

“ yìng xiàng zhū ？”

“映象珠？”

Lin Xuan observed carefully and didn't seem to be lying. The explanation was logically sound with no apparent flaws.

“ nǐ rèn de ？”

“你认得？”

But what did that matter?

lín xuān xiān shì yī è ， dàn lüè yī sī suǒ ， yě jiù wèi zhī shì rán 。

林轩先是一愕，但略一思索，也就为之释然。

Lin Xuan desperately wanted to know what had happened in ancient times. He had finally found a lead but was unwilling to let it end here.

duì fāng de xiū wèi mǎo suī rán bù zhí yī tí ， cái yuán yīng qī ， rán ér jì rán shì bǎi bǎo zhāi dāng jiā de ， yú gè zhǒng bǎo wù de jiàn shí ， zì rán shì fēi tóng xiǎo kě ， néng gòu jiāng yìng xiàng zhū rèn chū ， yě jiù méi yǒu shén me chū qí 。

对方的修为冇虽然不值一提，才元婴期，然而既然是百宝斋当家的，于各种宝物的见识，自然是非同小可，能够将映象珠认出，也就没有什么出奇。

Disappointment filled him, but what could he do? If the shopkeeper was telling the truth, even if he extracted his soul and refined his essence, it would be useless.

“ wǎn bèi rèn de ， cǐ yìng xiàng zhū ， què rán shì cóng běn diàn shòu mài chū qù de 。” zhǎng guì lǎo shí de shuō 。

“晚辈认得，此映象珠，确然是从本店售卖出去的。”掌柜老实的说。

Lin Xuan wasn't unreasonable, but his expression remained grim. The matter was too significant for him; many of his doubts needed answers from this lead.

“ ó ？”

“哦？”

Silent, Lin Xuan's mood was increasingly anxious. He dared not breathe, fearing Lin Xuan's wrath.

lín xuān tīng le ， yǎn zhōng jīng máng bào shè ， bù yóu de liú lù chū yī sī kuáng xǐ zhī sè ：“ nǐ jì de ， nà jiù hǎo bàn le ， guì diàn kě hái yǒu xiāng tóng de yìng xiàng zhū ， quán bù ná chū lái ， lín mǒu yuàn yì gāo jià gòu mǎi 。”” duì bù qǐ ， qián bèi ， zhè yìng xiàng zhū zhǐ yǒu yī kē 。”

林轩听了，眼中精芒爆射，不由得流露出一丝狂喜之色：“你记得，那就好办了，贵店可还有相同的映象珠，全部拿出来，林某愿意高价购买。””对不起，前辈，这映象珠只有一颗。”

The wait seemed endless until finally, after a cup of tea had passed, Lin Xuan asked: "If there are no similar Image Pearls, where did you acquire this one?"

“ zhǐ yǒu yī kē ？”

“只有一颗？”

Lin Xuan's question was out of desperation; he would follow any leads to the end.

lín xuān yī è ， biǎo qíng bù yóu de yīn chén xià lái le ：“ nǐ bú shì zài hǔ wǒ ？”

林轩一愕，表情不由得阴沉下来了：“你不是在唬我？”

"Um..."

“ qián bèi shuō xiào le ， wǎn bèi nǎ yǒu zhè me dà dǎn zi ， běn diàn jì rán dōu yǐ jīng shòu chū zhè yī kē ， rú guǒ hái yǒu duō de ， yòu zěn me gǎn mào zhe dé zuì qián bèi de fēng xiǎn bù mài ne ， zài shuō ， zhè yìng xiàng zhū suī rán shì chuán chéng zì shàng gǔ ， dàn běn shēn yòu fēi shén me liǎo bù qǐ de shì wù ， zuò yòng bù guò lèi sì yú yù tóng ， zhǐ bù guò gèng jiā hǎo yòng ， gèng hé kuàng qián bèi shǒu zhōng zhè kē ， shōu lái zhī hòu běn diàn jiù qǐng bù shǎo gāo rén chá tàn guò ， rán ér yě bù zhī dào ， jiū jìng shì sǔn huài le ， hái shì bié yǒu shén me yuán gù ， gēn běn jiù dǎ bù kāi 。”

“前辈说笑了，晚辈哪有这么大胆子，本店既然都已经售出这一颗，如果还有多的，又怎么敢冒着得罪前辈的风险不卖呢，再说，这映象珠虽然是传承自上古，但本身又非什么了不起的事物，作用不过类似于玉瞳，只不过更加好用，更何况前辈手中这颗，收来之后本店就请不少高人查探过，然而也不知道，究竟是损坏了，还是别有什么缘故，根本就打不开。”

The shopkeeper was also in a dilemma. He remembered clearly how he had acquired the Image Pearl twenty years ago for only twenty middle-grade crystal stones from an impoverished base practitioner.

nà zhǎng guì jiàn lín xuān liǎn sè bù shàn ， lì kè mǎn liǎn tǔ sè de hǎn qǐ le yuān lái ， dào yě méi yǒu shén me yǐn mán zhī chù ， zhú tǒng dǎo dòu zi yì bān de jiāng shì qíng de yuán wěi jiě shì qīng chǔ 。

那掌柜见林轩脸色不善，立刻满脸土色的喊起了冤来，倒也没有什么隐瞒之处，竹筒倒豆子一般的将事情的原委解释清楚。

At the time, he had been delighted, but now it brought him trouble. If he knew then what he knew now, he wouldn't have taken such a risk.

lín xuān chá yán guān sè ， bìng bù xiàng zài shuō huǎng ， ér qiě zhè fān huà cóng cháng lǐ fēn xī ， nà yě shì fēn háo pò zhàn yě wú ， kě yǐ shuō shì rù qíng rù lǐ de 。

林轩察言观色，并不像再说谎，而且这番话从常理分析，那也是分毫破绽也无，可以说是入情入理的。

Though he handled the transaction, he knew nothing about the base practitioner's identity. Pawnshops dealt only in treasures and not their owners' backgrounds.

kě nà yòu rú hé ？

可那又如何？

With twenty years having passed, that base practitioner was long gone; dead or alive, it mattered little to Lin Xuan. The shopkeeper naturally had no idea where it came from.

lín xuān xiàn zài shì pò qiè de xiǎng yào zhī dào shàng gǔ zhī shí ， jiū jìng fā shēng le shén me ， hǎo bù róng yì dé dào yì diǎn xiàn suǒ ， zhuī chá dào cǐ chù ， nán dào jiù rèn yóu tā duàn diào le 。

林轩现在是迫切的想要知道上古之时，究竟发生了什么，好不容易得到一点线索，追查到此处，难道就任由它断掉了。

"Um..."

bù gān xīn 。

不甘心。

The result left Lin Xuan cold, but he couldn't vent his frustration. As before, if the shopkeeper didn't know something, there was nothing he could do even if he extracted his soul and refined his essence.