zhè bú shì tā bù nǔ lì ， ér shì tiān fèn yǔ jī yuán zài nà lǐ 。
这不是她不努力，而是天分与机缘在那里。
This wasn't due to her lack of effort, but rather the disparity in talent and opportunity.
jiù suàn fàng yǎn sān jiè ， dù jié qī dà néng yòu cái duō shǎo gè ， nǎ yí gè bú shì jīng cái jué yàn zhī shì ， nǎ yí gè ， yòu bú shì fú yuán shēn hòu de xiū xiān zhě 。
就算放眼三界，渡劫期大能又才多少个，哪一个不是惊才绝艳之士，哪一个，又不是福缘深厚的修仙者。
Even within the Three Realms, how many Great Adepts were there who had successfully crossed the tribulation? Each one was a prodigy, each one a cultivator blessed with deep good fortune.
yǔ tā men xiāng bǐ ， zì jǐ dào dǐ chà le yī xiē ， xiǎng dào zhè lǐ ， yín tóng shào nǚ àn àn tàn qì ， liǎn shàng mǎn shì luò jì 。
与他们相比，自己到底差了一些，想到这里，银瞳少女暗暗叹气，脸上满是落寂。
Compared to them, she felt somewhat lacking. The silver-eyed girl sighed inwardly, her face showing a sense of desolation.
“ shī jiě ， nǐ zěn me le ？”
“师姐，你怎么了？”
"Senior Sister, what's wrong?"
lín xuān yǒu xiē chà yì de zhuǎn guò tóu lú 。
林轩有些诧异的转过头颅。
Lin Xuan turned his head in surprise. "Nothing."
“ méi shì 。”
“没事。”
The silver-eyed girl勉强 squeeze out a smile. Although she was feeling sorrowful, for cultivation matters, others could not really help much.
yín tóng shào nǚ miǎn qiǎng jǐ chū yī sī xiào róng ， tā suī rán xīn zhōng bēi kǔ ， dàn xiū liàn zhè zhǒng shì qíng ， bié rén běn yě shì bāng bù shàng máng de 。
银瞳少女勉强挤出一丝笑容，她虽然心中悲苦，但修炼这种事情，别人本也是帮不上忙的。
Speaking about it would be useless; why go to the trouble? Besides, Lin Senior Brother had just advanced, and for their sect, this was a great joy. Now wasn't the time to bring up these matters.
shuō chū lái yě méi yǒu yòng tú ， hé bì duō cǐ yī jǔ ne ？
说出来也没有用途，何必多此一举呢？
Setting aside her current cultivation level, as the chief elder of the sect, she handled countless affairs daily. Compared to Lin Xuan, in terms of dealing with people and worldly matters, he was far inferior.
hé kuàng lín shī dì gāng gāng jìn jí ， duì yú běn mén lái shuō ， zhèng shì dà xǐ ， zì jǐ zhè shí hòu shuō zhè xiē ， yě wèi miǎn tài shā fēng jǐng le xiē 。
何况林师弟刚刚晋级，对于本门来说，正是大喜，自己这时候说这些，也未免太煞风景了些。
Thus, she quickly adjusted her mood. However, that sense of desolation lingered deep within her eyes.
yín tóng shào nǚ de xiū wèi zàn qiě bù tí ， zuò wèi běn mén de shǒu xí zhǎng lǎo ， měi rì xū yào chǔ lǐ de shì wù ， nà shì shǔ bù shèng shǔ ， yú dài rén jiē wù ， rén qíng shì gù fāng miàn ， biàn shì lín xuān yǔ qí xiāng bǐ ， nà yě shì yuǎn yuǎn bù jí 。
银瞳少女的修为暂且不提，做为本门的首席长老，每日需要处理的事物，那是数不胜数，于待人接物，人情世故方面，便是林轩与其相比，那也是远远不及。
Lin Xuan's heart stirred. He wasn't a novice cultivator; how could he not notice the hint of regret in his senior sister's heart?
gù ér tā hěn kuài jiù tiáo zhěng hǎo le qíng xù 。
故而她很快就调整好了情绪。
He had some inkling but couldn’t be certain yet. He would need to probe this girl’s thoughts before making any decisions.
rán ér nà yī sī luò jì ， yú móu dǐ shēn chù ， què shì zěn me yě huī zhī bù qù 。
然而那一丝落寂，于眸底深处，却是怎么也挥之不去。
If she truly shared his concerns, perhaps he could indeed help her in cultivation matters.
lín xuān xīn zhōng yī dòng 。
林轩心中一动。
While thinking this, Lin Xuan acted as if nothing was amiss. The three of them chatted merrily and flew towards the depths of the mountain range. After a hundred miles or so, they encountered a patrol team of cultivators.
tā yě bú shì chū chū máo lú de xiū xiān zhě ， shī jiě xīn zhōng nà yī sī yí hàn zěn me huì kàn bù chū lái ne ？
他也不是初出茅庐的修仙者，师姐心中那一丝遗憾怎么会看不出来呢？
Of course, these were sect members. Upon seeing the three senior elders together, the cultivators were astonished, their mouths agape. After a while, they realized what was happening and hurriedly bowed in joy before sending out a transmission talisman to inform the inner sect.
xīn zhōng yǐn yǐn yǒu le yī xiē chuǎi mó ， bù guò shì bú shì ， xiàn zài hái bù tài hǎo shuō ， yī huì er yào tàn tàn cǐ nǚ de kǒu fēng zài zuò dìng duó 。
心中隐隐有了一些揣摩，不过是不是，现在还不太好说，一会儿要探探此女的口风再做定夺。
Lin Xuan wanted to stop them but saw that his companions didn't intervene. He remained silent, though he couldn’t help but bitterly complain: "Senior Brother and Senior Sister, why such a grand welcome? Lin here is just returning to the sect; it's not like I'm an outsider. These formalities can be skipped."
ruò zhēn shì yǔ zì jǐ sī lǜ de xiāng tóng ， yú zhè xiū liàn yī dào ， zì jǐ huò xǔ hái zhēn bāng dé shàng tā jǐ fēn máng de 。
若真是与自己思虑的相同，于这修炼一道，自己或许还真帮得上她几分忙的。
He knew well that they allowed their disciples to send out transmission talismans precisely to welcome him.
xīn zhōng rú cǐ xiǎng zhe ， biǎo miàn shàng ， lín xuān què fēn háo yě bù dòng shēng sè 。
心中如此想着，表面上，林轩却分毫也不动声色。
"Junior Brother, you are mistaken," said the dragon-named youth. "You may not be an outsider, but you are a great hero for our sect. The glory of Cloud Concealment Sect is all thanks to your efforts."
cǐ shì jí bù dé ， chà kāi huà tí yǔ shī xiōng shī jiě yòu liáo le yī xiē bié de 。
此事急不得，岔开话题与师兄师姐又聊了一些别的。
Without waiting for Lin Xuan’s response, he continued: "Moreover, Junior Brother has been diligently cultivating for two thousand years without returning to the sect. Now that you've advanced and returned to the main sect, a grand celebration is in order."
jiù zhè yàng ， xiǎo bàn tiān de shí jiān ， hěn kuài jiù guò qù le 。
就这样，小半天的时间，很快就过去了。
"Indeed, we have recently taken on many promising new disciples, all of whom look up to Senior Brother as a legendary elder. It’s rare for him to return; shouldn't he meet with them?"
sān rén suī bù xīn jí gǎn lù ， dàn yǐ tā men de xiū wèi lái shuō ， shí yú wàn lǐ ， běn lái jiù bù zhí yī tí 。
三人虽不心急赶路，但以他们的修为来说，十余万里，本来就不值一提。
The silver-eyed girl interjected playfully: "This...!"
wáng piàn yǐng yǐng chuò chuò de shān mài chū xiàn zài shì xiàn lǐ 。
亡片影影绰绰的山脉出现在视线里。
Lin Xuan was speechless, these arguments were compelling. He could only shrug and say, "Well, you two do what you must."
zài nà dà shān de shēn chù ， biàn shì yún yǐn zōng de zǒng duò 。
在那大山的深处，便是云隐宗的总舵。
Seeing the legendary Lin Senior Elder's resigned expression, the disciples nearby found it amusing but dared not be disrespectful. They struggled to suppress their laughter.
suī rán běn mén shí lì jīn fēi xī bǐ suí zhe shì lì de kuò zhǎn ， fēn tán yě xīn jiàn le shù chù ， rán ér zǒng duò què yì zhí méi yǒu bān qiān de yì tú 。
虽然本门实力今非昔比随着势力的扩展，分坛也新建了数处，然而总舵却一直没有搬迁的意图。
Approaching Cloud Concealment Sect’s main sect, they weren’t far from its entrance. After about a cup of tea, intense light appeared ahead. Lin Xuan looked up and saw countless streaks of light filling the sky.
yī lái ， yě suàn shì niàn jiù de yuán gù ， yún yǐn zōng bì jìng shì yóu zhè lǐ xīng qǐ de 。
一来，也算是念旧的缘故，云隐宗毕竟是由这里兴起的。
The sheer number was astonishing; he exclaimed: "Why so many?"
chuán chéng zì shàng gǔ ， bǎi wàn nián lái yì zhí ān jū luò hù zài cǐ chù ， fán yǎn shēng xī ， ruò shuō méi yǒu gǎn qíng nà jué duì shì piàn rén de 。
传承自上古，百万年来一直安居落户在此处，繁衍生息，若说没有感情那绝对是骗人的。
"Indeed..."
èr lái yún yǐn zōng suī rán fā zhǎn hěn kuài ， dàn yún yǐn shān mài miàn jī yě gòu guǎng bó ， píng xīn lái shuō ， líng mài yě suàn bù cuò ， gù ér dì zǐ suī rán zēng jiā le hěn duō ， dàn què yì zhí méi yǒu lìng xuǎn zǒng duò de yì tú 。
二来云隐宗虽然发展很快，但云隐山脉面积也够广博，平心来说，灵脉也算不错，故而弟子虽然增加了很多，但却一直没有另选总舵的意图。
The dragon-named youth and silver-eyed girl exchanged glances, equally surprised by the large number of disciples. The visible ones were mostly high-ranking cultivators from their sect.
zhì yú dì sān diǎn ， biàn shì běn mén dì zǐ zhī dào de yě bù duō ， nǎi shì yín tóng shào nǚ qīn zì zuò chū de jué zé ， ná tā de huà lái shuō ， zhè jǐ qiān nián běn mén fā zhǎn zhuàng dà de sù dù ， yǐ jīng yǒu xiē tài kuài le 。
至于第三点，便是本门弟子知道的也不多，乃是银瞳少女亲自做出的抉择，拿她的话来说，这几千年本门发展壮大的速度，已经有些太快了。
From far away, these streaks looked like tiny points but collectively covered the sky, akin to a swarm of locusts.
biǎo miàn shàng shì xīn xīn xiàng róng ， rán ér àn dì lǐ ， yě le qǐ le yī xiē zōng mén jiā zú de jí dù ， shuō àn cháo xiōng yǒng yǒu xiē tài guò ， dàn xī wàng běn mén zāi gēn tou de dà xiǎo shì lì shù liàng yě shì jué rán bù shǎo de 。
表面上是欣欣向荣，然而暗地里，也了起了一些宗门家族的嫉妒，说暗潮汹涌有些太过，但希望本门栽跟头的大小势力数量也是决然不少的。
These were just those that could be seen; beyond them, even with divine sense, one could see countless more.
shuō chuān le ， jiù shì gēn jī qiǎn bó， zhè xiē nián ， kào zhe lín shī dì de wēi míng ， yǔ zì jǐ de xiǎo xīn ， zǒng suàn méi yǒu fàn shén me dà cuò ， dàn yě wēi jī sì fú ， zhè shí hòu rú guǒ bān qiān zǒng duò biǎo miàn shàng kàn ， zhǐ shì běn mén de nèi wù ， shí jì shàng ， què shì qiān yī fà ér dòng quán shēn de 。
说穿了，就是根基浅bó，这些年，靠着林师弟的威名，与自己的小心，总算没有犯什么大错，但也危机四伏，这时候如果搬迁总舵表面上看，只是本门的内务，实际上，却是牵一发而动全身的。
Using his divine sense, Lin Xuan roughly scanned. The further back, the more varied their cultivation levels. He estimated there were over two hundred thousand cultivators.
zài wàn xiǎo xiān gōng de bǎng dān pái míng shàng ， běn mén yǐ gāo jū dì shí èr le ruò zhēn xuǎn dìng xīn zǒng duò ， qí tā shí lì duō bàn huì xiǎng yún yǐn zōng zhè shì nài bú zhù jì mò ， xiǎng yào jìn yí bù kuò chōng shì lì le 。
在万晓仙宫的榜单排名上，本门已高居第十二了若真选定新总舵，其他实力多半会想云隐宗这是耐不住寂寞，想要进一步扩充势力了。
"Indeed..."
yǔ qí tā dà zōng mén bù tóng ， běn mén gēn jī bì jìng qiǎn bó， nǎi shì kào zhe lín shī dì de wēi míng ， fēi sù cuān shēng shàng lái de ， dào shí hòu chéng wéi zhòng shǐ zhī dì ， zài bèi yī xiē chóu dí míng lǐ àn lǐ de xià bàn zi ， běn mén néng fǒu jiāng nà yàng de wēi jī áo guò ， yě shì liǎng shuō 。
与其他大宗门不同，本门根基毕竟浅bó，乃是靠着林师弟的威名，飞速蹿升上来的，到时候成为众矢之的，再被一些仇敌明里暗里的下绊子，本门能否将那样的危机熬过，也是两说。
Lin Xuan was speechless. While he had contributed greatly to the sect, this number of disciples welcoming him seemed excessive.
tīng lóng xìng shào nián wěi wěi xù shù ， lín xuān duì yín tóng shào nǚ yě dà gǎn pèi fú ， zhè fān kǎo liáng ， zài yī xiē rén kàn lái ， huò xǔ tài guò dǎn xiǎo qiè ruò ， dàn zài lín xuān kàn lái ， què dàng zhēn shì lǎo chéng chí zhòng ， suǒ lǜ yǒu lǐ de 。
听龙姓少年娓娓叙述，林轩对银瞳少女也大感佩服，这番考量，在一些人看来，或许太过胆小怯弱，但在林轩看来，却当真是老成持重，所虑有理的。
"This is too much."
rén wú yuǎn lǜ bì yǒu jìn yōu ， xiū xiān jiè duō xīng fēng xuè yǔ ， yún yǐn zōng xiǎng yào fā zhǎn zhuàng dà ， chú le kào shí lì ， hái yǒu suàn jì ， ér yín tóng shào nǚ zuò de ， bǐ zì jǐ yuán xiān xiǎng xiàng de ， hái yào hǎo yī xiē 。
人无远虑必有近忧，修仙界多腥风血雨，云隐宗想要发展壮大，除了靠实力，还有算计，而银瞳少女做的，比自己原先想象的，还要好一些。
He didn’t know how to respond. The silver-eyed girl and dragon-named youth shared similar expressions; no one expected such a result.
yǒu tā wèi yún yǐn zōng zhǎng duò ， zì jǐ dào zhēn shì dà kě fàng xīn le 。
有她为云隐宗掌舵，自己倒真是大可放心了。
They had planned for some disciples to greet Lin Xuan but hadn't anticipated so many showing up.
sān rén liáo dé tóu jī ， tóng shí xiàng shān mài shēn chù fēi qù ， bù chū bǎi lǐ ， biàn yù shàng le yī duì xún luó de xiū shì 。
三人聊得投机，同时像山脉深处飞去，不出百里，便遇上了一队巡逻的修士。
In truth, this was purely coincidental. The person who received the transmission talisman was known as a gossipmonger. He informed several senior elders and spread the news around without hesitation.
dāng rán ， shì běn mén dì zǐ 。
当然，是本门弟子。
Thus, word quickly spread throughout the sect.
zhè xiē xiū shì yī jiàn sān dà tài shàng zhǎng lǎo lián mèi ér zhì ， jīng yà dé zhāng kǒu jié shé ， lián zuǐ dōu hé bù lǒng ， guò le bàn xiǎng ， cái fǎn yìng guò lái ， máng yī biān dà xǐ cān bài ， yī biān jiāng xiàng zōng nèi bào xìn de chuán yīn fú fàng le chū lái 。
这些修士一见三大太上长老联袂而至，惊讶得张口结舌，连嘴都合不拢，过了半响，才反应过来，忙一边大喜参拜，一边将像宗内报信的传音符放了出来。
As the silver-eyed girl said, Lin Xuan’s reputation in Cloud Concealment Sect had reached unprecedented heights. Even the old-timers were impressed, especially new disciples who saw him as a legendary hero.
lín xuān yuán běn xiǎng yào hè zhǐ ， jiàn páng biān liǎng rén jiē tīng zhī rèn zhī ， yī è zhī xià ， yě zhǐ hǎo bì shàng le zuǐ bā 。
林轩原本想要喝止，见旁边两人皆听之任之，一愕之下，也只好闭上了嘴巴。
Many more cultivators, beyond those originally sent to greet him, spontaneously wanted to see his true form. From ordinary elders to newly initiated novices, everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of Lin Xuan.
rán ér què rěn bú zhù mǎn liǎn kǔ xiào de bào yuàn qǐ lái ：“ shī xiōng shī jiě zhè shì gàn má ， lín mǒu huí zōng ， nán dào hái yào gǎo dé dà zhāng qí gǔ ， xiǎo dì yòu bú shì wài rén ， zhè xiē fán wén rù jié ， hái shì néng miǎn zé miǎn le 。”
然而却忍不住满脸苦笑的抱怨起来：“师兄师姐这是干嘛，林某回宗，难道还要搞得大张旗鼓，小弟又不是外人，这些繁文缛节，还是能免则免了。”
Almost all cultivators in the main sect came out; at least ninety-nine out of one hundred did so.
lín xuān nǎ lǐ bù qīng chǔ ， liǎng rén fàng rèn dì zǐ fā chū chuán yīn fú ， mù dì jiù shì wèi le huān yíng tā de 。
林轩哪里不清楚，两人放任弟子发出传音符，目的就是为了欢迎他的。
Word-of-mouth spread quickly. Even some who hadn’t been interested joined in, following others' lead.
“ shī dì cǐ yán chà yǐ ， nǐ suī bú shì wài rén ， dàn què shì běn mén de dà gōng chén ， yún yǐn zōng néng yǒu jīn rì shēng shì ， quán bài xián dì suǒ cì 。”
“师弟此言差矣，你虽不是外人，但却是本门的大功臣，云隐宗能有今日声势，全拜贤弟所赐。”
Thus, this grand scene unfolded.
lóng xìng shào nián shuō dào cǐ chù ， bù děng lín xuān fǎn bó ， jiù yī bǎi shǒu ， jiē zhe wǎng xià shuō ：“ zài shuō ， shī dì yī xīn kǔ xiū ， yǐ jīng yǒu zhěng zhěng liǎng qiān nián méi yǒu huí zōng pài ， rú jīn chéng gōng jìn jí ， huí guī zǒng duò ， nán dào hái bù gāi dà sì qìng zhù yī fān 。”
龙姓少年说到此处，不等林轩反驳，就一摆手，接着往下说：“再说，师弟一心苦修，已经有整整两千年没有回宗派，如今成功晋级，回归总舵，难道还不该大肆庆祝一番。”
Lin Xuan didn't know why but felt a bit pleased despite finding it somewhat exaggerated. Still, seeing his disciples’ adoration was heartening.
“ bù cuò ， zhè xiē nián ， běn mén kě shì xīn shōu le bù shǎo hǎo miáo zi ， ér zhè xiē xīn jìn rù mén de dì zǐ ， duì yú shī dì zhè wèi chuán shuō zhōng de tài shàng zhǎng lǎo ， wú bù pèi fú ， píng rì lǐ dōu jiāng nǐ shì zuò gù shì chuán shuō zhōng de yīng xióng rén wù ， shī dì nán dé huí lái yī cì ， nán dào bù yǔ tā men xiāng jiàn me 。” yín tóng shào nǚ zài yī páng xī xiào zhe chā zuǐ le 。
“不错，这些年，本门可是新收了不少好苗子，而这些新晋入门的弟子，对于师弟这位传说中的太上长老，无不佩服，平日里都将你视作故事传说中的英雄人物，师弟难得回来一次，难道不与他们相见么。”银瞳少女在一旁嬉笑着插嘴了。
After all, this was good news!
“ zhè ……。”
“这……。”
He had done the right thing by supporting Cloud Concealment Sect, Lin Xuan thought happily.
lín xuān zhāng kǒu jié shé ， zhè yī tiáo tiáo de ， shuō dé shì rù qíng rù lǐ ， nǐ ràng tā zěn me fǎn bó ， fā dāi le piàn kè ， lín xuān yě zhǐ néng wú nài de mō le mō bí zi ：“ āi ， suí nǐ men liǎng gè 。”
林轩张口结舌，这一条条的，说得是入情入理，你让他怎么反驳，发呆了片刻，林轩也只能无奈的摸了摸鼻子：“唉，随你们两个。”
The leading cultivators were now just over a hundred feet away. Without warning, they stopped and bowed with their light converging.
jiàn zhè wèi chuán shuō zhōng de lín dà zhǎng lǎo yī liǎn wú nài zhī sè ， páng biān nà duì xún luó de dì zǐ yě kàn dé hǎo xiào ， rán ér zūn bēi yǒu xù ， tā qǐ gǎn fàng sì ， zhǐ néng pīn mìng rěn zhù ， rěn xiào nà shì rěn dé shí fēn xīn kǔ 。
见这位传说中的林大长老一脸无奈之色，旁边那队巡逻的弟子也看得好笑，然而尊卑有序，他岂敢放肆，只能拼命忍住，忍笑那是忍得十分辛苦。
"Cloud Concealment Sect disciples, congratulations on Senior Brother Lin's advancement; you are unmatched in this world."
This wasn't due to her lack of effort, but rather the disparity in talent and opportunity.
Even within the Three Realms, how many Great Adepts were there who had successfully crossed the tribulation? Each one was a prodigy, each one a cultivator blessed with deep good fortune.
Compared to them, she felt somewhat lacking. The silver-eyed girl sighed inwardly, her face showing a sense of desolation.
"Senior Sister, what's wrong?"
Lin Xuan turned his head in surprise. "Nothing."
The silver-eyed girl勉强 squeeze out a smile. Although she was feeling sorrowful, for cultivation matters, others could not really help much.
Speaking about it would be useless; why go to the trouble? Besides, Lin Senior Brother had just advanced, and for their sect, this was a great joy. Now wasn't the time to bring up these matters.
Setting aside her current cultivation level, as the chief elder of the sect, she handled countless affairs daily. Compared to Lin Xuan, in terms of dealing with people and worldly matters, he was far inferior.
Thus, she quickly adjusted her mood. However, that sense of desolation lingered deep within her eyes.
Lin Xuan's heart stirred. He wasn't a novice cultivator; how could he not notice the hint of regret in his senior sister's heart?
He had some inkling but couldn’t be certain yet. He would need to probe this girl’s thoughts before making any decisions.
If she truly shared his concerns, perhaps he could indeed help her in cultivation matters.
While thinking this, Lin Xuan acted as if nothing was amiss. The three of them chatted merrily and flew towards the depths of the mountain range. After a hundred miles or so, they encountered a patrol team of cultivators.
Of course, these were sect members. Upon seeing the three senior elders together, the cultivators were astonished, their mouths agape. After a while, they realized what was happening and hurriedly bowed in joy before sending out a transmission talisman to inform the inner sect.
Lin Xuan wanted to stop them but saw that his companions didn't intervene. He remained silent, though he couldn’t help but bitterly complain: "Senior Brother and Senior Sister, why such a grand welcome? Lin here is just returning to the sect; it's not like I'm an outsider. These formalities can be skipped."
He knew well that they allowed their disciples to send out transmission talismans precisely to welcome him.
"Junior Brother, you are mistaken," said the dragon-named youth. "You may not be an outsider, but you are a great hero for our sect. The glory of Cloud Concealment Sect is all thanks to your efforts."
Without waiting for Lin Xuan’s response, he continued: "Moreover, Junior Brother has been diligently cultivating for two thousand years without returning to the sect. Now that you've advanced and returned to the main sect, a grand celebration is in order."
"Indeed, we have recently taken on many promising new disciples, all of whom look up to Senior Brother as a legendary elder. It’s rare for him to return; shouldn't he meet with them?"
The silver-eyed girl interjected playfully: "This...!"
Lin Xuan was speechless, these arguments were compelling. He could only shrug and say, "Well, you two do what you must."
Seeing the legendary Lin Senior Elder's resigned expression, the disciples nearby found it amusing but dared not be disrespectful. They struggled to suppress their laughter.
Approaching Cloud Concealment Sect’s main sect, they weren’t far from its entrance. After about a cup of tea, intense light appeared ahead. Lin Xuan looked up and saw countless streaks of light filling the sky.
The sheer number was astonishing; he exclaimed: "Why so many?"
"Indeed..."
The dragon-named youth and silver-eyed girl exchanged glances, equally surprised by the large number of disciples. The visible ones were mostly high-ranking cultivators from their sect.
From far away, these streaks looked like tiny points but collectively covered the sky, akin to a swarm of locusts.
These were just those that could be seen; beyond them, even with divine sense, one could see countless more.
Using his divine sense, Lin Xuan roughly scanned. The further back, the more varied their cultivation levels. He estimated there were over two hundred thousand cultivators.
"Indeed..."
Lin Xuan was speechless. While he had contributed greatly to the sect, this number of disciples welcoming him seemed excessive.
"This is too much."
He didn’t know how to respond. The silver-eyed girl and dragon-named youth shared similar expressions; no one expected such a result.
They had planned for some disciples to greet Lin Xuan but hadn't anticipated so many showing up.
In truth, this was purely coincidental. The person who received the transmission talisman was known as a gossipmonger. He informed several senior elders and spread the news around without hesitation.
Thus, word quickly spread throughout the sect.
As the silver-eyed girl said, Lin Xuan’s reputation in Cloud Concealment Sect had reached unprecedented heights. Even the old-timers were impressed, especially new disciples who saw him as a legendary hero.
Many more cultivators, beyond those originally sent to greet him, spontaneously wanted to see his true form. From ordinary elders to newly initiated novices, everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of Lin Xuan.
Almost all cultivators in the main sect came out; at least ninety-nine out of one hundred did so.
Word-of-mouth spread quickly. Even some who hadn’t been interested joined in, following others' lead.
Thus, this grand scene unfolded.
Lin Xuan didn't know why but felt a bit pleased despite finding it somewhat exaggerated. Still, seeing his disciples’ adoration was heartening.
After all, this was good news!
He had done the right thing by supporting Cloud Concealment Sect, Lin Xuan thought happily.
The leading cultivators were now just over a hundred feet away. Without warning, they stopped and bowed with their light converging.
"Cloud Concealment Sect disciples, congratulations on Senior Brother Lin's advancement; you are unmatched in this world."