tā yǔ shī jiě cóng xiǎo yì qǐ zhǎng dà ， zì rán shú zhī tā de xìng gé ， suī rán bù gǎn shuō shì tài shān bēng yú qián ér bù biàn sè， dàn yě wěn zhòng chéng shú ， shàng cì luò rù sān pài lián méng de xiàn jǐng lǐ ， bèi tuán tuán wéi zhù ， yě bú jiàn tā zhè me zhā hū ， lín shī dì bù guò ná chū le yí gè yù tóng ， yǐ shī jiě de chéng fǔ ， zěn me huì shī tài dào rú cǐ dì bù 。
他与师姐从小一起长大，自然熟知她的xìng格，虽然不敢说是泰山崩于前而不变sè，但也稳重成熟，上次落入三派联盟的陷阱里，被团团围住，也不见她这么咋呼，林师弟不过拿出了一个玉瞳，以师姐的城府，怎么会失态到如此地步。
He and his senior sister grew up together since childhood, naturally knowing her temperament. Although he didn't dare to say that she was completely unaffected by a mountain collapsing in front of her, she was still steady and mature. During the last time they fell into the trap set by the Tri-Clan Alliance, surrounded on all sides, she hadn't shown such an agitated reaction either. Lin Xian only took out an jade pupil, so how could his senior sister lose control to this extent?
lóng xìng shào nián zài hào qí de tóng shí ， xīn zhōng yě shēng chū jǐ fēn qī xǔ ， bì jìng ， lín shī dì shuō dé qīng chǔ ， zhè xiè lǐ shì sòng yǔ tā men èr rén dì 。
龙姓少年在好奇的同时，心中也生出几分期许，毕竟，林师弟说得清楚，这谢礼是送予他们二人地。
The young man with the dragon surname felt curious while also harboring some hope. After all, Lin Xian had clearly stated that this gift was for both of them.
huàn jù huà shuō ， ruò zhēn shì shén me liǎo bù dé de bǎo wù ， zhè hǎo chù ， zì jǐ yě shì jiàn zhě yǒu fèn de ， rú cǐ yī lái ， tā zěn me néng bù huān xīn gǔ wǔ ？
换句话说，若真是什么了不得的宝物，这好处，自己也是见者有份的，如此一来，他怎么能不欢欣鼓舞？
In other words, if it were a significant treasure, he would benefit as well. How could he not be elated?
ér yín tóng shào nǚ de xīn shén ， hái zài yù tóng lǐ ， tā yǐ zhěng gè bèi xī yǐn zhù ， zhè xiǎo dù jié qī de xiū liàn zhī lù ， duì tā lái shuō ， jiù yǔ kāi pì le yí gè xīn tiān dì xiāng chà fǎng fú 。
而银瞳少女的心神，还在玉瞳里，她已整个被吸引住，这小渡劫期的修炼之路，对她来说，就与开辟了一个新天地相差仿佛。
Meanwhile, the silver-eyed girl's mind was still in the jade pupil. She was completely captivated by it; this small tribulation stage Heart Refinement Path felt like opening up an entirely new world to her.
duō nián bèi kùn yú píng jǐng ， bù néng cùn jìn yí bù ， cǐ shí cǐ kè ， què yǒu lìng yī tiáo míng lù zhǎn xiàn yú yǎn qián ， jiù fǎng fú shí xiàn le cháng jiǔ yǐ lái de sù yuàn ， tā zěn néng bù xì xì chuǎi mó yī fān 。
多年被困于瓶颈，不能寸进一步，此时此刻，却有另一条明路展现于眼前，就仿佛实现了长久以来的夙愿，她怎能不细细揣摩一番。
After being stuck at a bottleneck for so many years, unable to make any progress, she now saw another clear path before her, as if finally realizing a long-held wish. How could she not carefully ponder over it?
zhè yī kàn ， jiù shì dà bàn tiān de shí jiān 。
这一看，就是大半天的时间。
She spent the better part of a day just looking at it.
lín xuān dào bù jué de nán guò ， duì yú tā zhè zhǒng děng jiē de xiū xiān zhě ， jiù suàn bì guān gè jǐ qiān nián yě shì xún cháng dé hěn de ， děng shàng bàn tiān yòu suàn dé le shén me ？
林轩倒不觉得难过，对于他这种等阶的修仙者，就算闭关个几千年也是寻常得很的，等上半天又算得了什么？
Lin Xuan didn't feel sad about it. For him, an immortal cultivator of his rank, even closing himself in for thousands of years was common. What did waiting for half a day matter?
lín xuān gān cuì huàn guò yī míng shì nǚ ， ràng chú fáng chǎo shàng jǐ gè xiǎo cài ， zài lái shàng liǎng hú jiǔ líng ， yǔ lóng xìng shào nián yī biān duì yì ， yī biān dà chī dà hē 。
林轩干脆唤过一名侍女，让厨房炒上几个小菜，再来上两壶酒灵，与龙姓少年一边对弈，一边大吃大喝。
He simply called over a maidservant and had some small dishes prepared by the kitchen while drinking two cups of spirit wine. They played chess together as he feasted.
yǒu jiǔ yǒu cài ， zài pèi shàng xiān měi de guā guǒ ， lín xuān dǎo shì chī dé shì hān chàng lín lí ， kě lián lóng xìng shào nián què nǎ ér yǒu xīn sī péi tā zài nà lǐ hē jiǔ xià qí 。
有酒有菜，再配上鲜美的瓜果，林轩倒是吃得是酣畅淋漓，可怜龙姓少年却哪儿有心思陪他在那里喝酒下棋。
With food and drink, along with fresh fruit, Lin Xuan enjoyed himself thoroughly. Poor dragon surname youth couldn't focus on playing chess or eating.
bù shí tōu kàn shī jiě de liǎn sè， nà huàn dé huàn shī de biǎo qíng ràng tā yuè fā de xīn yǎng nán náo le 。
不时偷看师姐的脸sè，那患得患失的表情让他越发的心痒难挠了。
He kept glancing at his senior sister's expression, her anxious look making him even more restless.
jiū jìng shì shén me dōng xī ？
究竟是什么东西？
What could it be?
tā xīn sī bù shǔ ， zhè xià qí zì rán shì shū le gè yī tā hú tú ， bèi lín xuān shā dé shì diū kuī xiè jiǎ ， yǐn jiǔ chī cài yě shì quán wú zī wèi ér a ！
他心思不属，这下棋自然是输了个一塌糊涂，被林轩杀得是丢盔卸甲，饮酒吃菜也是全无滋味儿啊！
His mind elsewhere, he lost the game miserably to Lin Xuan and found no joy in drinking or eating either!
yòu shì yī tiān guò qù le 。
又是一天过去了。
Another day passed.
lóng xìng shào nián shí zài zuò bú zhù ， bú shì tā de yǎng qì gōng fu bù zú 。 ér shì nà rú zuò zhēn zhān de zī wèi ér shí zài tài nán guò 。 shuō chéng shì jiān áo yě jué wú kuā dà zhī chù 。
龙姓少年实在坐不住，不是他的养气功夫不足。而是那如坐针毡的滋味儿实在太难过。说成是煎熬也绝无夸大之处。
The dragon surname youth couldn't sit still. It wasn't that his qi cultivation was insufficient; rather, the unbearable feeling of sitting on pins and needles was too much to bear. To call it a torment would be an understatement.
“ lín shī dì ， nǐ nà yù tóng jiǎn lǐ ， zhuāng de jiū jìng shì shén me dōng xī ？”
“林师弟，你那玉瞳简里，装的究竟是什么东西？”
"Junior Brother Lin, what is inside your jade pupil?"
“ hēi hēi 。 shī xiōng bù yòng zháo jí ， děng shī jiě kàn wán le ， nǐ bù jiù qīng chǔ 。 jiù róng xiǎo dì xiān mài yí gè guān zi hǎo le 。” lín xuān hào zhěng yǐ xiá de shuō ：“ shī xiōng nǐ cháng cháng ， zhè yú xiāng ròu sī de wèi dào shí zài bù sú 。”
“嘿嘿。师兄不用着急，等师姐看完了，你不就清楚。就容小弟先卖一个关子好了。”林轩好整以暇的说：“师兄你尝尝，这鱼香肉丝的味道实在不俗。”
"Haha, Senior Brother need not worry. Wait until Senior Sister finishes reading, then you'll know. Let this junior brother keep his little secret for now," Lin Xuan said leisurely as he offered him some fish and meat stir-fry.
lín xuān yī biān shuō ， yī biān gěi duì fāng niān le yī kuài zi 。
林轩一边说，一边给对方拈了一筷子。
Seeing Lin Xuan change the subject, the dragon surname youth was at a loss. He had no appetite to eat anything right now.
jiàn lín xuān gù zuǒ yòu ér yán tā ， lóng xìng shào nián kū xiào bù dé ， cǐ shí cǐ kè ， tā nǎ ér yǒu shén me xīn qíng qù chī shén me yú xiāng ròu sī le 。
见林轩顾左右而言他，龙姓少年哭笑不得，此时此刻，他哪儿有什么心情去吃什么鱼香肉丝了。
"Senior Brother doesn't like it? Then try this braised pork trotters. The taste is top-notch."
“ zěn me ， shī xiōng bù xǐ huān ， nà zài cháng cháng zhè dào hóng shāo zhū tí ， nà wèi dào yě shì yī děng yī 。”
“怎么，师兄不喜欢，那再尝尝这道红烧猪蹄，那味道也是一等一。”
Lin Xuan's laughter echoed in his ears.
lín xuān xī xiào de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ lǐ 。
林轩嬉笑的声音传入耳朵里。
The dragon surname youth almost cried. This truly was karma coming full circle, and he got what he deserved for deceiving Junior Brother Lin by saying that the Heavenly Extinction Sect hadn't collected much treasure, hiding the fact that their disciples were also helping him find them to pique his interest. He didn't expect it to come back to bite him so quickly.
lóng xìng shào nián yào kū le 。 zhè hái zhēn shì tiān dào xún huán ， bào yìng bù shuǎng ， zì jǐ gāng gāng piàn lín shī dì 。 shuō tiān jué mén méi yǒu shōu jí dào duō shǎo bǎo wù 。 gù yì jiāng běn mén dì zǐ yě zài nǔ lì bāng tā xún bǎo de qíng kuàng yǐn mán bù shuō ， xiǎng diào yī diào lín shī dì de wèi kǒu 。 méi xiǎng dào zhè me kuài ， jiù bào yìng dào zì jǐ shēn shàng lái 。
龙姓少年要哭了。这还真是天道循环，报应不爽，自己刚刚骗林师弟。说天绝门没有收集到多少宝物。故意将本门弟子也在努力帮他寻宝的情况隐瞒不说，想吊一吊林师弟的胃口。没想到这么快，就报应到自己身上来。
"Alas!"
“ āi ！”
“唉！”
The dragon surname youth was at his wits' end but knew he couldn't lash out since this was just Junior Brother Lin joking around with him. He could only endure the torment of curiosity.
lóng xìng shào nián yù mèn dào jí diǎn ， dàn cǐ shì shuō chuān le ， zhǐ shì lín shī dì zài yǔ tā kāi wán xiào ér yǐ ， tā zì rán shì bù hǎo fā zuò ， zhǐ néng jì xù rěn shòu hào qí xīn de zhé mó 。
龙姓少年郁闷到极点，但此事说穿了，只是林师弟在与他开玩笑而已，他自然是不好发作，只能继续忍受好奇心的折磨。
Only now did he realize how agonizing waiting could be. As the ancients said, curiosity killed the cat—there was a lot of truth to that.
rú jīn tā cái zhī dào děng dài de zī wèi ér yǒu duō me nán guò ， gǔ rén yún ， hào qí xīn huì hài sǐ māo ， zhè jù huà guǒ rán shì dà yǒu dào lǐ de 。
如今他才知道等待的滋味儿有多么难过，古人云，好奇心会害死猫，这句话果然是大有道理的。
He even blamed his senior sister for reading it so slowly. A mere jade pupil took this long?
tā shèn zhì yǒu xiē yuàn guài shī jiě ， kàn dé yě tài màn le ， qū qū yí gè yù tóng jiǎn ， zhì yú huā zhè me jiǔ de shí jiān ？
他甚至有些怨怪师姐，看得也太慢了，区区一个玉瞳简，至于花这么久的时间？
Despite all these thoughts, he couldn't disturb her either.
rán ér xīn zhōng suī fù fěi bù yǐ ， dàn shí jì shàng ， tā yě bù hǎo qù dǎ rǎo shī jiě dì 。
然而心中虽腹诽不已，但实际上，他也不好去打扰师姐地。
Time passed like a flash for the dragon surname youth.
shí guāng rú bái jū guò xì ， duì yú lóng xìng shào nián lái shuō ， què shì nán áo yǐ jí 。
时光如白驹过隙，对于龙姓少年来说，却是难熬以极。
Three days finally went by.
jiù zhè yàng ， sān tiān de shí jiān ， zhōng yú yì diǎn yì diǎn de guò qù 。
就这样，三天的时间，终于一点一点的过去。
"Phew!"
“ hū ！”
“呼！”
A sigh entered his ears as the silver-eyed girl exhaled deeply and finally raised her head. Her beautiful face was filled with surprise.
chuǎn qì shēng chuán rù ěr duǒ ， yín tóng shào nǚ chū le yī kǒu zhǎng qì ， zhōng yú jiāng zhēn shǒu tái qǐ ， měi lì de miàn róng shàng mǎn shì jīng xǐ 。
喘气声传入耳朵，银瞳少女出了一口长气，终于将臻首抬起，美丽的面容上满是惊喜。
She then knelt down on both knees and paid a grand bow to Lin Xuan.
suí hòu jū rán qū xià shuāng xī ， xiàng zhe lín xuān dà lǐ guì bài le xià qù 。
随后居然屈下双膝，向着林轩大礼跪拜了下去。
"Senior Sister, no need for such courtesy."
“ shī jiě ， shǐ bù dé 。”
“师姐，使不得。”
Lin Xuan was shocked and quickly reached out to support her. Although his strength far exceeded hers, they were always equals in rank, so he couldn't accept such a grand gesture from her.
lín xuān dà jīng shī sè， máng shēn shǒu xiàng fú ， suī rán zì jǐ de shí lì ， bǐ duì fāng gāo le xǔ duō ， dàn sān rén xiàng lái shì píng bèi lùn jiāo de ， zěn me néng shòu tā rú cǐ dà lǐ ne 。
林轩大惊失sè，忙伸手相扶，虽然自己的实力，比对方高了许多，但三人向来是平辈论交的，怎么能受她如此大礼呢。
Beside him, the dragon surname youth was equally stunned. Even if what Junior Brother Lin brought out was outrageous, Senior Sister's grand bow seemed excessive.
yī páng ， lóng xìng shào nián yě jīng dāi le ， jiù suàn lín shī dì ná chū lái de dōng xī zài lí pǔ ， shī jiě zhè yàng dà lǐ cān bài ， yě yǒu xiē shuō bù guò ， shì bú shì tài kuā zhāng le ？
一旁，龙姓少年也惊呆了，就算林师弟拿出来的东西再离谱，师姐这样大礼参拜，也有些说不过，是不是太夸张了？
Moreover, she looked genuinely grateful and admiring. Back then, when Junior Brother Lin had offered a treasure to save her from poison, she hadn't reacted so strongly either.
ér qiě ， shī jiě nà biǎo qíng ， kě bú shì zuò zuò ， gǎn jī pèi fú ， dāng nián ， lín shī dì ná chū bǎo wù ， wèi shī jiě jiě dú ， duì tā yǒu jiù mìng zhī ēn de shí hòu ， yě bú jiàn shī jiě rú cǐ jī dòng 。
而且，师姐那表情，可不是做作，感激佩服，当年，林师弟拿出宝物，为师姐解毒，对她有救命之恩的时候，也不见师姐如此激动。
What could it be?
jiū jìng shì shén me ？
究竟是什么？
The dragon surname youth became even more curious, wanting to snatch the jade pupil right away.
lóng xìng shào nián yuè fā hào qí ， hèn bù dé yī bǎ jiāng yù tóng jiǎn qiǎng guò 。
龙姓少年越发好奇，恨不得一把将玉瞳简抢过。
Of course, this thought was fleeting; he was still in the Spirit Cultivation Stage and couldn't lose control like that.
dāng rán ， zhè ge niàn tou yě jǐn jǐn shì yī shǎn ér guò ， dào dǐ shì fēn shén qī xiū xiān zhě ， nǎ pà xīn yǎng nán náo dào jí dù nán guò ， yě bù kě néng zhēn nà yàng shī tài de 。
当然，这个念头也仅仅是一闪而过，到底是分神期修仙者，哪怕心痒难挠到极度难过，也不可能真那样失态的。
Their conversation continued.
ér liǎng rén de duì huà ， hái bù tíng chuán rù ěr duǒ 。
而两人的对话，还不停传入耳朵。
"Senior Sister, what are you doing? Are you trying to kill your junior brother?"
“ shī jiě ， nǐ zhè shì gàn má ， mò fēi shì xiǎng yào zhé shā xiǎo dì ma ？”
“师姐，妳这是干嘛，莫非是想要折杀小弟吗？”
Silver-eyed girl replied sincerely, "Junior Brother Lin, where do you get such an idea? The item you brought out is too precious for me to repay. I can only offer this grand bow."
“ lín shī dì hé chù cǐ yǔ ， shì nǐ ná chū lái de dōng xī ， tài guò bǎo guì le xiē ， yú jiě wú yǐ huí bào ， zhǐ néng xíng cǐ dà lǐ 。” yín tóng shào nǚ de biǎo qíng zhēn chéng yǐ jí 。
“林师弟何处此语，是你拿出来的东西，太过宝贵了些，愚姐无以回报，只能行此大礼。”银瞳少女的表情真诚以极。
The dragon surname youth could no longer bear it and was on the verge of losing his mind from curiosity: "Senior Sister and Junior Brother, why don't you two stop playing this guessing game and tell us what it is."
tīng dào zhè lǐ ， lóng xìng shào nián shí zài chēng bú zhù ， kuài bèi hào qí xīn bī fēng diào le ：“ shī jiě shī dì ， nǐ men liǎng gè néng bù néng bù yào zài zhè lǐ dǎ yǎ mí ， shuō de jiū jìng shì shén me dōng xī 。”
听到这里，龙姓少年实在撑不住，快被好奇心逼疯掉了：“师姐师弟，你们两个能不能不要在这里打哑谜，说的究竟是什么东西。”
"Really? Dragon Junior Brother doesn't know?" the silver-eyed girl asked curiously.
“ zěn me ， lóng shī dì hái bù xiǎo de ？” yín tóng shào nǚ hào qí de shuō 。
“怎么，龙师弟还不晓得？”银瞳少女好奇的说。
"I have no idea," the dragon surname youth retorted unhappily. "The jade pupil is just one, always in your hands for three days. I asked Junior Brother Lin, but he was evasive and kept teasing me. I… I have no idea."
“ wǒ xiǎo de shén me ？”
“我晓得什么？”
He looked aggrieved, a great cultivator of the Spirit Cultivation Stage acting like a petulant wife.
lóng xìng shào nián méi hǎo qì de kāi kǒu le ：“ yù tóng jiǎn zhǐ yǒu yí gè ， yì zhí bèi nǐ ná zhe ， yī kàn jiù shì sān tiān ， wǒ wèn lín shī dì ， tā yòu zhī zhī wú wú ， piān yào diào wǒ wèi kǒu ， wǒ …… wǒ xiǎo de shén me ？”
龙姓少年没好气的开口了：“玉瞳简只有一个，一直被妳拿着，一看就是三天，我问林师弟，他又支支吾吾，偏要吊我胃口，我……我晓得什么？”
The silver-eyed girl stared blankly before bursting into laughter. This sounded like two children arguing over a toy.
lóng xìng shào nián shuō dào zhè lǐ ， yī liǎn de bēi fèn zhī sè， táng táng fēn shén qī de dà néng xiū xiān zhě ， què xiàng yī fán sú xiǎo shòu le qì de xiǎo xí fù 。
龙姓少年说到这里，一脸的悲愤之sè，堂堂分神期的大能修仙者，却像一凡俗小受了气的小媳妇。
It must be tough for Junior Brother Lin to endure this for three days, as agonizing as going through tribulation.
yín tóng shào nǚ chēng mù jié shé ， rěn bú zhù pū chī yī shēng xiào chū lái le ， zhè huà tīng zhe ， zěn me yǔ liǎng xiǎo hái zài dòu qì chà bu duō 。
银瞳少女瞠目结舌，忍不住扑哧一声笑出来了，这话听着，怎么与两小孩在斗气差不多。
However, she wasn't deliberately spending so much time on it; the long-standing doubts finally had an answer, and her mind was completely drawn into the cultivation techniques within the jade pupil.
yě nán wéi lóng shī dì le ， xiǎng bì zhè sān tiān ， jiù yǔ dù jié yì bān nán guò 。
也难为龙师弟了，想必这三天，就与渡劫一般难过。
Thus, she kept reading without realizing it.
bù guò ， tā dào bú shì gù yì yào kàn nà me jiǔ de ， ér shì cháng jiǔ yǐ lái de yí huò ， zhōng yú yǒu le yí gè jié guǒ ， xīn shén quán bù bèi nà yù tóng jiǎn zhōng de gōng fǎ xī yǐn zhù 。
不过，她倒不是故意要看那么久的，而是长久以来的疑惑，终于有了一个结果，心神全部被那玉瞳简中的功法吸引住。
Was three days a long time?
yú shì hū ， jiù zhè me bù zhī bù jué de yī lù kàn xià qù le 。
于是乎，就这么不知不觉的一路看下去了。
The silver-eyed girl asked herself. She barely read through the entire text in detail or meditated on its meaning due to lack of time; she only skimmed over it. Yet even this brief glance left her enlightened and deeply impressed by the ancient predecessor who created these techniques.
sān tiān de shí jiān hěn zhǎng me ？
三天的时间很长么？
This wasn't an exaggeration. There were originally eight stages in cultivation, a fact known even to greenhorns just starting out.
yín tóng shào nǚ zì wèn ， zhěng piān gōng fǎ ， tā gēn běn jiù méi yǒu xì xì yán dú ， gèng shuō bù shàng cān wù ， yīn wèi méi yǒu shí jiān nà me zuò ， tā jǐn jǐn shì dà lüè liú lǎn le nà me yī biàn bà le ， rán ér jí biàn rú cǐ ， yě ràng tā tí hú guàn dǐng ， duì nà wèi chuàng lì cǐ gōng fǎ de shàng gǔ qián bèi ， wú bǐ pèi fú 。
银瞳少女自问，整篇功法，她根本就没有细细研读，更说不上参悟，因为没有时间那么做，她仅仅是大略浏览了那么一遍罢了，然而即便如此，也让她醍醐灌顶，对那位创立此功法的上古前辈，无比佩服。
But was it meaningful? While there were eight stages, the later ones became increasingly difficult and obscure, especially when trying to advance to tribulation. The difficulty was indescribable compared to earlier stages. Many prodigies fell at this hurdle.
zhè huà méi yǒu fēn háo kuā zhāng zhī chù ， xiū xiān yuán běn shì yōng yǒu bā gè jìng jiè de ， zhè cháng shí ， lián gāng tà rù xiū xiān jiè de cài niǎo dōu xiǎo de 。
这话没有分毫夸张之处，修仙原本是拥有八个境界的，这常识，连刚踏入修仙界的菜鸟都晓得。
PS: Hehe, does this chapter sound powerful and majestic? Did it startle any of my fellow daoists?
kě yǒu yì yì me ， shuō shì bā gè jìng jiè ， kě yuè dào hòu miàn ， yuè shì jiān nán shēng sè ， tè bié shì xiǎng yào jìn jiē dào dù jié ， nà nán dù ， jiǎn zhí wú fǎ yán shù 。
可有意义么，说是八个境界，可越到后面，越是艰难生涩，特别是想要进阶到渡劫，那难度，简直无法言述。
The first update is here; I'll have two more later tonight. Please support me with monthly passes, as I desperately need them.
yǔ qián miàn de jìn jí ， wán quán bù kě tóng rì ér yǔ ， bù zhī dào duō shǎo ào shì qún lún de tiān cái ， què zài zhè yī dào guān kǒu zhé yì 。
与前面的晋级，完全不可同rì而语，不知道多少傲视群伦的天才，却在这一道关口折翼。
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He and his senior sister grew up together since childhood, naturally knowing her temperament. Although he didn't dare to say that she was completely unaffected by a mountain collapsing in front of her, she was still steady and mature. During the last time they fell into the trap set by the Tri-Clan Alliance, surrounded on all sides, she hadn't shown such an agitated reaction either. Lin Xian only took out an jade pupil, so how could his senior sister lose control to this extent?
The young man with the dragon surname felt curious while also harboring some hope. After all, Lin Xian had clearly stated that this gift was for both of them.
In other words, if it were a significant treasure, he would benefit as well. How could he not be elated?
Meanwhile, the silver-eyed girl's mind was still in the jade pupil. She was completely captivated by it; this small tribulation stage Heart Refinement Path felt like opening up an entirely new world to her.
After being stuck at a bottleneck for so many years, unable to make any progress, she now saw another clear path before her, as if finally realizing a long-held wish. How could she not carefully ponder over it?
She spent the better part of a day just looking at it.
Lin Xuan didn't feel sad about it. For him, an immortal cultivator of his rank, even closing himself in for thousands of years was common. What did waiting for half a day matter?
He simply called over a maidservant and had some small dishes prepared by the kitchen while drinking two cups of spirit wine. They played chess together as he feasted.
With food and drink, along with fresh fruit, Lin Xuan enjoyed himself thoroughly. Poor dragon surname youth couldn't focus on playing chess or eating.
He kept glancing at his senior sister's expression, her anxious look making him even more restless.
What could it be?
His mind elsewhere, he lost the game miserably to Lin Xuan and found no joy in drinking or eating either!
Another day passed.
The dragon surname youth couldn't sit still. It wasn't that his qi cultivation was insufficient; rather, the unbearable feeling of sitting on pins and needles was too much to bear. To call it a torment would be an understatement.
"Junior Brother Lin, what is inside your jade pupil?"
"Haha, Senior Brother need not worry. Wait until Senior Sister finishes reading, then you'll know. Let this junior brother keep his little secret for now," Lin Xuan said leisurely as he offered him some fish and meat stir-fry.
Seeing Lin Xuan change the subject, the dragon surname youth was at a loss. He had no appetite to eat anything right now.
"Senior Brother doesn't like it? Then try this braised pork trotters. The taste is top-notch."
Lin Xuan's laughter echoed in his ears.
The dragon surname youth almost cried. This truly was karma coming full circle, and he got what he deserved for deceiving Junior Brother Lin by saying that the Heavenly Extinction Sect hadn't collected much treasure, hiding the fact that their disciples were also helping him find them to pique his interest. He didn't expect it to come back to bite him so quickly.
"Alas!"
The dragon surname youth was at his wits' end but knew he couldn't lash out since this was just Junior Brother Lin joking around with him. He could only endure the torment of curiosity.
Only now did he realize how agonizing waiting could be. As the ancients said, curiosity killed the cat—there was a lot of truth to that.
He even blamed his senior sister for reading it so slowly. A mere jade pupil took this long?
Despite all these thoughts, he couldn't disturb her either.
Time passed like a flash for the dragon surname youth.
Three days finally went by.
"Phew!"
A sigh entered his ears as the silver-eyed girl exhaled deeply and finally raised her head. Her beautiful face was filled with surprise.
She then knelt down on both knees and paid a grand bow to Lin Xuan.
"Senior Sister, no need for such courtesy."
Lin Xuan was shocked and quickly reached out to support her. Although his strength far exceeded hers, they were always equals in rank, so he couldn't accept such a grand gesture from her.
Beside him, the dragon surname youth was equally stunned. Even if what Junior Brother Lin brought out was outrageous, Senior Sister's grand bow seemed excessive.
Moreover, she looked genuinely grateful and admiring. Back then, when Junior Brother Lin had offered a treasure to save her from poison, she hadn't reacted so strongly either.
What could it be?
The dragon surname youth became even more curious, wanting to snatch the jade pupil right away.
Of course, this thought was fleeting; he was still in the Spirit Cultivation Stage and couldn't lose control like that.
Their conversation continued.
"Senior Sister, what are you doing? Are you trying to kill your junior brother?"
Silver-eyed girl replied sincerely, "Junior Brother Lin, where do you get such an idea? The item you brought out is too precious for me to repay. I can only offer this grand bow."
The dragon surname youth could no longer bear it and was on the verge of losing his mind from curiosity: "Senior Sister and Junior Brother, why don't you two stop playing this guessing game and tell us what it is."
"Really? Dragon Junior Brother doesn't know?" the silver-eyed girl asked curiously.
"I have no idea," the dragon surname youth retorted unhappily. "The jade pupil is just one, always in your hands for three days. I asked Junior Brother Lin, but he was evasive and kept teasing me. I… I have no idea."
He looked aggrieved, a great cultivator of the Spirit Cultivation Stage acting like a petulant wife.
The silver-eyed girl stared blankly before bursting into laughter. This sounded like two children arguing over a toy.
It must be tough for Junior Brother Lin to endure this for three days, as agonizing as going through tribulation.
However, she wasn't deliberately spending so much time on it; the long-standing doubts finally had an answer, and her mind was completely drawn into the cultivation techniques within the jade pupil.
Thus, she kept reading without realizing it.
Was three days a long time?
The silver-eyed girl asked herself. She barely read through the entire text in detail or meditated on its meaning due to lack of time; she only skimmed over it. Yet even this brief glance left her enlightened and deeply impressed by the ancient predecessor who created these techniques.
This wasn't an exaggeration. There were originally eight stages in cultivation, a fact known even to greenhorns just starting out.
But was it meaningful? While there were eight stages, the later ones became increasingly difficult and obscure, especially when trying to advance to tribulation. The difficulty was indescribable compared to earlier stages. Many prodigies fell at this hurdle.
PS: Hehe, does this chapter sound powerful and majestic? Did it startle any of my fellow daoists?
The first update is here; I'll have two more later tonight. Please support me with monthly passes, as I desperately need them.
Please support me with monthly passes!