bsp; suǒ yǐ lín xuān yì diǎn yě bù dān xīn duì fāng zuò nà shí yán ér féi de shǎ shì 。
bsp; 所以林轩一点也不担心对方做那食言而肥的傻事。
So Lin Xuan was not at all worried about the other party doing something foolish like making a profit from breaking a promise.
yīn wèi nà me zuò ， chún shǔ zì tǎo kǔ chī 。
因为那么做，纯属自讨苦吃。
After all, such an action would be purely self-inflicted suffering. While he couldn't speak for the other Conclave Elders, the Sword Lake Palace's Grandmaster had both cunning and demeanor that were anything but trivial. Lin Xuan was one hundred percent certain that the other party wouldn't be toying with him.
qí tā fēn shén qī zhǎng lǎo bù gǎn shuō ， dàn nà wèi jiàn hú gōng zhǎng mén ， xīn jī qì dù ， kě dōu shì fēi tóng xiǎo kě ， lín xuān yǒu bǎi fēn zhī bǎi de bǎ wò ， duì fāng bú huì shì xì shuǎ zì jǐ de 。
其他分神期长老不敢说，但那位剑湖宫掌门，心机气度，可都是非同小可，林轩有百分之百的把握，对方不会是戏耍自己的。
He believed that a satisfactory result would come tomorrow.
xiāng xìn míng tiān jiù huì yǒu yí gè lìng rén mǎn yì de jié guǒ 。
相信明天就会有一个令人满意的结果。
Lin Xuan didn't travel too far; he landed his遁光 in an uninhabited mountain about several hundred miles from Sword Lake Palace and did not establish any cave dwelling. He simply found a clean piece of ground to meditate, as one day wouldn't take long to pass.
lín xuān yě méi yǒu zǒu tài yuǎn ， zài jù lí jiàn hú gōng yuē shù bǎi lǐ de yī chù huāng shān jiāng dùn guāng jiàng luò ， yě bù kāi pì dòng fǔ ， suí biàn zhǎo le yī chù gān jìng de kòng dì dǎ zuò ， fǎn zhèng yī tiān de shí jiān ， hěn kuài jiù huì guò qù le
林轩也没有走太远，在距离剑湖宫约数百里的一处荒山将遁光降落，也不开辟洞府，随便找了一处干净的空地打坐，反正一天的时间，很快就会过去了
...
……
……
Lin Xuan's reaction was set aside for now, but after he left, the Sword Lake Palace Elders exchanged glances, both fearful and elated, wondering how this matter would be resolved.
lín xuān de fǎn yìng zàn qiě bù tí ， què shuō tā zǒu hòu jiàn hú gōng zhǎng lǎo men miàn miàn xiāng qù ， jì huáng kǒng ， yòu huān xǐ ， cǐ shì jiū jìng huì zuò zěn yàng yí gè liǎo jú 。
林轩的反应暂且不提，却说他走后剑湖宫长老们面面相觑，既惶恐，又欢喜，此事究竟会做怎样一个了局。
Gradually, everyone's gaze fell on the Grandmaster.
jiàn jiàn de ， dà jiā de mù guāng dōu luò zài le zhǎng mén shēn shàng 。
渐渐的，大家的目光都落在了掌门身上。
It seemed they were waiting for his decision or perhaps an explanation. The implications of their gazes were incredibly complex.
sì hū yào děng tā jué zé ， yòu sì hū shì zài děng tā jiě shì ， zǒng zhī nà mù guāng suǒ yùn hán de hán yì fù zá yǐ jí 。
似乎要等他抉择，又似乎是在等他解释，总之那目光所蕴含的含义复杂以极。
With two Senior Elders having fallen, and Master Venerable Ten Thousand Swords gone missing, Sword Lake Palace was now in its gravest crisis since its founding. With no clear leader, everyone waited for the Grandmaster's decision.
liǎng wèi tài shàng zhǎng lǎo yǔn luò ， wàn jiàn zūn zhě yòu zōng jì quán wú ， jiàn hú gōng rú jīn yǐ yī bài tú dì ， miàn lín zhe chuàng pài yǐ lái zuì dà de wēi jī ， dà jiā méi le zhǔ xīn gǔ ， wéi yǒu děng zhǎng mén shī xiōng jué zé 。
两位太上长老陨落，万剑尊者又踪迹全无，剑湖宫如今已一败涂地，面临着创派以来最大的危机，大家没了主心骨，唯有等掌门师兄抉择。
They believed that what had just been said was merely a delaying tactic; the Grandmaster must have other plans.
tā men xiāng xìn ， gāng gāng nà huà ， bù guò shì huǎn bīng zhī jì ， zhǎng mén shī xiōng yí dìng yǒu bié de dǎ suàn yǔ zhǔ yì
他们相信，刚刚那话，不过是缓兵之计，掌门师兄一定有别的打算与主意
"Let's discuss this when we return."
“ huí qù zài shuō 。”
“回去再说。”
The elderly man with an air of immortality on his face remained unchanged as he spoke in a calm voice. Without waiting for anyone else to speak, he emitted a burst of spiritual light and flew forward.
bèi zhòng rén zhǔ mù ， nà xiān fēng dào gǔ de lǎo zhě liǎn shàng yī jiù fēn háo biàn huà yě wú ， gǔ jǐng wú bō de kāi kǒu le 。
被众人瞩目，那仙风道骨的老者脸上依旧分毫变化也无，古井无波的开口了。
Although the Spirit Eye Lake was dry, Sword Lake Palace had ample space elsewhere for meetings.
suí hòu yě bù děng duì fāng zài shuō ， hún shēn líng máng yì qǐ ， xiàng qián fāng fēi le guò qù 。
随后也不等对方再说，浑身灵芒一起，像前方飞了过去。
Other Conclave Elders reacted differently but eventually followed silently behind.
líng yǎn zhī hú yǐ jīng gān hé ， rán ér jiàn hú gōng zǒng duò miàn jī guǎng bó ， zì rán yǒu qí tā de yì shì zhī suǒ 。
灵眼之湖已经干涸，然而剑湖宫总舵面积广博，自然有其他的议事之所。
Of course, their hearts were filled with anxiety and a hint of urgency—whether or not the Grandmaster had any confidence in resolving this crisis.
qí tā fēn shén qī zhǎng lǎo jiàn le ， biǎo qíng gè yì ， dàn zuì hòu de jǔ dòng què shì mò mò de gēn le shàng qù 。
其他分神期长老见了，表情各异，但最后的举动却是默默的跟了上去。
Soon they arrived at a large building made of gray-black stones. Armed disciples patrolled nearby, their faces filled with worry.
dāng rán ， xīn zhōng de gǎn shòu nà shì tǎn tè yǐ jí ， hái dài zhe jǐ fēn jí qiè zhī yì ， shī xiōng jiū jìng yǒu méi yǒu bǎ wò huà jiě wēi jī 。
当然，心中的感受那是忐忑以极，还带着几分急切之意，师兄究竟有没有把握化解危机。
Seeing the Grandmaster and other Elders arrive, the disciples visibly relaxed and hurriedly bowed.
hěn kuài lái dào yī jù dà de jiàn zhù ， nà shì yóu huī hēi sè de jù shí duī qì ér chéng de 。
很快来到一巨大的建筑，那是由灰黑sè的巨石堆砌而成的。
But the cultivators paid no attention to these low-ranking disciples; they entered silently, leaving the guards both surprised and with an ominous feeling spreading in their hearts.
quán fù wǔ zhuāng de dì zǐ zài fù jìn xún luó ， rán ér liǎn shàng de biǎo qíng què chōng mǎn le tǎn tè 。
全副武装的弟子在附近巡逻，然而脸上的表情却充满了忐忑。
Although this stone building was crude, its interior was vast, with stone tables and chairs arranged.
jiàn dào zhǎng mén yǔ zhòng wèi zhǎng lǎo jià lín yú cǐ 。 tā men míng xiǎn sōng le kǒu qì 。 máng gōng shēn xíng lǐ 。
见到掌门与众位长老驾临于此。他们明显松了口气。忙躬身行礼。
The cultivators naturally had no time for politeness. They sat down wherever there was space nearby.
rán ér zhòng xiū shì nǎ ér yǒu xīn qíng lǐ huì zhè xiē dī jiē dì zǐ ， yī yán bù fā ， yú guàn fēi le jìn qù ， ràng zhòng jiǎ shì jīng yà zhī yú ， bù hǎo de yù gǎn yě zài xīn zhōng mí sàn ér qǐ 。
然而众修士哪儿有心情理会这些低阶弟子，一言不发，鱼贯飞了进去，让众甲士惊讶之余，不好的预感也在心中弥散而起。
Apart from a few unfortunate souls who had died at Lin Xuan's hands, the remaining Conclave Elders numbered nearly a hundred.
zhè jù shí duī qì de jiàn zhù suī rán cū lòu de xiē ， rán ér nèi lǐ de miàn jī què shì guǎng kuò wú bǐ ， ér qiě bǎi yǒu shí zhuō shí yǐ 。
这巨石堆砌的建筑虽然粗陋的些，然而内里的面积却是广阔无比，而且摆有石桌石椅。
If not for encountering this monster, so many Conclave Elders could have put up a fight with the sect's sword formations and even a Transcendence Period ancestor.
zhòng xiū shì zhè shí hòu zì rán yě méi yǒu shén me xīn qíng kè qì 。 zhǎo jù lí jiào jìn de fēn fēn zuò le xià qù 。
众修士这时候自然也没有什么心情客气。找距离较近的纷纷坐了下去。
But now, no one dared to make such plans; they were too frightened by Lin Xuan.
chú le jǐ gè sǐ zài lín xuān shǒu zhōng de dǎo méi guǐ ， jiàn hú gōng de fēn shén qī xiū shì dǎ bù fèn dào méi yǒu yǔn luò ， cū lüè yī shù ， hái shì jiāng jìn bǎi rén zhī duō 。
除了几个死在林轩手中的倒霉鬼，剑湖宫的分神期修士打部分倒没有陨落，粗略一数，还是将近百人之多。
"Brother, your delaying tactic was good. What should we do now? Should we quickly pack our belongings and leave?" A short and plump Elder spoke as soon as he sat down. There was no time for delay; there wasn't any extra time to waste.
ruò bú shì yù jiàn lín xuān zhè ge guài wù ， rú cǐ duō de fēn shén qī cún zài ， pèi hé gāi pài suǒ chuán xià lái de jiàn zhèn 。 yǔ dù jié qī lǎo zǔ ， yě zú kān yī zhàn le 。
若不是遇见林轩这个怪物，如此多的分神期存在，配合该派所传下来的剑阵。与渡劫期老祖，也足堪一战了。
"That's a delaying tactic. Who said I used a delaying tactic?"
rán ér xiàn zài què méi yǒu rén zuò zhè yàng de dǎ suàn ， shí zài shì bèi lín xuān xià pò le dǎn 。
然而现在却没有人做这样的打算，实在是被林轩吓破了胆。
The elderly man with an air of immortality didn't hesitate to speak, startling the other Elders. They began to blame him.
“ shī xiōng ， nǐ de huǎn bīng zhī jì què shì bù cuò ， wǒ men xiàn zài zěn me bàn ， gǎn kuài shōu shí xíng zhuāng ， lí kāi zhè lǐ me ？” gāng gāng luò zuò ， jiù yǒu yī shēn cái ǎi pàng de zhǎng lǎo kāi kǒu le 。 shì bù yí chí 。 rú jīn shí zài méi yǒu duō yú de shí jiān gěi tā men dān gē xià qù 。
“师兄，你的缓兵之计却是不错，我们现在怎么办，赶快收拾行装，离开这里么？”刚刚落座，就有一身材矮胖的长老开口了。事不宜迟。如今实在没有多余的时间给他们耽搁下去。
"What? It's not a delaying tactic. Brother, do you really want our sect to submit like Cloud Concealment Sect did?"
“ huǎn bīng zhī jì ， shuí shuō wǒ yòng de shì huǎn bīng zhī jì ？”
“缓兵之计，谁说我用的是缓兵之计？”
"Are you serious? The tiny Cloud Concealment Sect was just a third-rate sect a hundred years ago..."
nà xiān fēng dào gǔ de lǎo zhě háo bú kè qì de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ 。 ràng zài zuò de zhǎng lǎo dà jīng shī sè， yī shí jiān ， yòu rěn bú zhù kāi shǐ le zhǐ zé 。
那仙风道骨的老者毫不客气的声音传入耳朵。让在座的长老大惊失sè，一时间，又忍不住开始了指责。
"Brother, what are you thinking? A man of honor would rather die than surrender. Even if we can't defeat that Lin kid, we mustn't disgrace our sect."
“ shén me ， bú shì huǎn bīng zhī jì ， shī xiōng ， nán dào nǐ zhēn yào ràng běn mén xiàng yún yǐn zōng guī fù 。”
“什么，不是缓兵之计，师兄，难道你真要让本门像云隐宗归附。”
...
“ yǒu méi yǒu gǎo cuò ， xiǎo xiǎo de yún yǐn zōng ， zài bǎi nián zhī qián ， hái zhǐ shì yí gè sān liú zōng pài ……”
“有没有搞错，小小的云隐宗，在百年之前，还只是一个三流宗派……”
"Enough."
“ shī xiōng ， nǐ jiū jìng zài xiǎng shén me ， dà zhàng fū níng sǐ wù rǔ ， wǒ men jiù suàn dǎ bù guò nà xìng lín de xiǎo jiā huo ， yě jué bù néng zhuì le běn mén wēi fēng de 。”
“师兄，你究竟在想什么，大丈夫宁死勿辱，我们就算打不过那姓林的小家伙，也绝不能坠了本门威风的。”
Facing everyone's accusations, the elderly man remained calm and stern. After the noise gradually subsided, he spoke slowly: "All this nonsense—trying to fight a rock with an egg. Come, let me ask you, can we get away?"
……
……
"Even without considering how powerful that Transcendence Period monster's consciousness is, running away from the temple but not the monk. Do you think we can escape if everyone flees in panic and hides somewhere? That Lin kid might not be able to do anything to us. But with over a hundred thousand disciples, how will these young ones escape once they anger him and he starts a massacre? Our sect would truly be destroyed by your hands..."
“ hǎo le 。”
“好了。”
The elderly man's stern voice echoed through the room. While this logic wasn't unknown to many, their minds weren't as intricate as his, so it hadn't occurred to them.
miàn duì zhòng rén de zhǐ zé ， lǎo zhě de biǎo qíng yī jiù shì gǔ jǐng wú bō ， yī shēng dà hē ， dài zhòng rén de shēng yīn jiàn jiàn píng jìng xià lái ， cái huǎn huǎn de kāi kǒu le ：“ dōu hú shuō bā dào shén me ， xiǎng yòng jī dàn pèng shí tou shén me ， zǒu ， wǒ lái wèn wèn nǐ men ， zǒu de le me ？”
面对众人的指责，老者的表情依旧是古井无波，一声大喝，待众人的声音渐渐平静下来，才缓缓的开口了：“都胡说八道什么，想用鸡蛋碰石头什么，走，我来问问你们，走的了么？”
Hearing the analysis, everyone's expressions grew dimmer; they had to admit that the Grandmaster was right—running would only bring about irreparable destruction for the sect.
“ xiān bù shuō dù jié qī lǎo guài de shén shí yǒu duō qiáng dà ， pǎo dé le hé shàng ， pǎo bù liǎo miào de dào lǐ nán dào dà jiā méi yǒu tīng shuō ， ruò guāng shì wǒ men jǐ gè ， yī hòng ér sàn ， suí biàn zhǎo gè dì fāng yī duǒ ， nà lín xiǎo zi yě wèi bì néng ná wǒ men rú hé ， rán ér běn mén dì zǐ ， yǒu shù shí wàn zhī duō ， nǐ ràng zhè xiē xiǎo bèi zěn me zǒu ， yí dàn jiāng lín xiǎo zi rě nù ， dà kāi shā jiè běn zōng cái zhēn shì huǐ zài le nǐ men de shǒu zhōng ……”
“先不说渡劫期老怪的神识有多强大，跑得了和尚，跑不了庙的道理难道大家没有听说，若光是我们几个，一哄而散，随便找个地方一躲，那林小子也未必能拿我们如何，然而本门弟子，有数十万之多，你让这些小辈怎么走，一旦将林小子惹怒，大开杀戒本宗才真是毁在了你们的手中……”
...
lǎo zhě shēng sè jù lì de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， zhè dào lǐ qí shí méi yǒu jǐ rén bù dǒng ， zhǐ bù guò tā men xīn sī yuǎn bù rú lǎo zhě zhěn mì ， gù ér yī shí piàn kè ， méi yǒu xiǎng dào bà le 。
老者声sè俱厉的声音传入耳朵，这道理其实没有几人不懂，只不过他们心思远不如老者缜密，故而一时片刻，没有想到罢了。
Silence filled the stone hall. After a moment, someone finally spoke, but with weakened resolve, no longer as confident:
cǐ shí yī tīng lǎo zhě fēn xī ， suǒ yǒu rén de biǎo qíng dōu àn dàn le xià qù ， bù dé bù chéng rèn zhǎng mén shuō dé yǒu lǐ ， pǎo ， zhǐ huì jiāng běn mén xiàn rù wàn jié bù fù de jìng dì 。
此时一听老者分析，所有人的表情都黯淡了下去，不得不承认掌门说得有理，跑，只会将本门陷入万劫不复的境地。
"Brother is correct, but even so, there's no need to submit to Cloud Concealment Sect. Our sect has indeed been utterly defeated, but the tiny Cloud Concealment Sect can't swallow us whole. We could just give them more crystals and treasures; why make them our subordinates?"
yī shí jiān ， ruò dà de shí diàn ， chén mò le xià lái 。
一时间，偌大的石殿，沉默了下来。
...
guò le piàn kè ， cái zhōng yú yǒu rén chóng xīn kāi kǒu le ， rán ér shēng yīn yǐ yǒu jǐ fēn chán ruò ， zhì shǎo bù fù gāng cái de lǐ zhí qì zhuàng le ：
过了片刻，才终于有人重新开口了，然而声音已有几分孱弱，至少不复刚才的理直气壮了：
This statement met with approval from many.
“ shī xiōng suǒ yán méi cuò ， dàn jí biàn rú cǐ ， yě méi yǒu bì yào xuǎn zé yī fù yú yún yǐn zōng de ， běn mén què rán shì yī bài tú dì le ， rán ér xiǎo xiǎo de yún yǐn zōng ， yě bù kě néng jiāng wǒ men yī kǒu chī xià ， dà bù liǎo duō péi tā men yī xiē jīng shí bǎo wù ， hé bì qù zuò tā men de xià shǔ 。”
“师兄所言没错，但即便如此，也没有必要选择依附于云隐宗的，本门确然是一败涂地了，然而小小的云隐宗，也不可能将我们一口吃下，大不了多陪他们一些晶石宝物，何必去做他们的下属。”
Cloud Concealment Sect, now ranked twelfth among all sects in the Ten Thousand Dao Palace, had risen to prominence only in this millennium. Sword Lake Palace was one of the largest sects a million years ago. The sect's cultivators naturally looked down on Cloud Concealment Sect.
……
……
While bowing and submitting might be acceptable, they couldn't bear to become subordinate to Cloud Concealment Sect.
cǐ huà yī chū ， zàn chéng shēng cǐ qǐ bǐ fú 。
此话一出，赞成声此起彼伏。
"Idiots, do you not understand that a man can bend or stretch? Moreover, even if that Lin kid is willing to let us go, I would never proactively propose becoming their subordinates," the elderly man said solemnly.
yún yǐn zōng xiàn zài ， suī rán yǐ shì wàn xiǎo xiān gōng shàng pái míng dì shí èr míng de páng rán dà wù ， rán ér jué qǐ yě bù guò shì zhè qiān nián de gōng fu ， ér jiàn hú gōng zǎo zài bǎi wàn nián qián ， jiù shì nài lóng jiè zuì dà de zōng pài ， gāi pài de xiū xiān zhě ， cóng xīn lǐ ， zì rán shì kàn bù qǐ yún yǐn zōng de 。
云隐宗现在，虽然已是万晓仙宫上排名第十二名的庞然大物，然而崛起也不过是这千年的功夫，而剑湖宫早在百万年前，就是鼐龙界最大的宗派，该派的修仙者，从心里，自然是看不起云隐宗的。
"Why?"
dī tóu fú ruǎn jiē kě ， rán ér yào zuò yún yǐn zōng de fù shǔ zōng mén ， tā men shí zài shì fàng bù xià zhè ge liǎn 。
低头服软皆可，然而要做云隐宗的附属宗门，他们实在是放不下这个脸。
This unexpected response calmed the other Elders. The Grandmaster must have some plan; what could it be?
“ chǔn huò ， dà zhàng fū néng qū néng shēn de dào lǐ yě bù dǒng me ， hé kuàng xiàn zài de qíng kuàng ， jiù suàn nà lín xiǎo zi yuàn yì jiāng wǒ men fàng guò ， wǒ yào yào zhǔ dòng tí chū ， zuò yún yǐn zōng fù shǔ zōng mén de 。” nà lǎo zhě biǎo qíng yán sù de kāi kǒu le 。
“蠢货，大丈夫能屈能伸的道理也不懂么，何况现在的情况，就算那林小子愿意将我们放过，我要要主动提出，做云隐宗附属宗门的。”那老者表情严肃的开口了。
Everyone was at a loss for a moment, waiting for the answer from the Grandmaster.
“ wèi shén me ？”
“为什么？”
The elderly man with an air of immortality had no intention of keeping them in suspense: "I'll ask you: how is our current situation?"
zhè chū rén yì liào de huí dá ， fǎn ér ràng zhòng zhǎng lǎo lěng jìng le xià lái ， zhǎng mén shī xiōng zhè yàng shuō ， nà kěn dìng shì yǒu suǒ tú ， jiū jìng shì shén me yuán yīn ne ？
这出人意料的回答，反而让众长老冷静了下来，掌门师兄这样说，那肯定是有所图，究竟是什么原因呢？
"Of course, things are dire."
yī shí piàn kè ， dà jiā yě xiǎng bù qīng chǔ ， wéi yǒu děng zhe shī xiōng jiē xiǎo dá àn le 。
一时片刻，大家也想不清楚，唯有等着师兄揭晓答案了。
They all spoke in unison.
xiān fēng dào gǔ de lǎo zhě zì rán yě méi yǒu mài guān zi de yì tú ：“ wǒ lái wèn nǐ men ， běn mén xiàn zài xíng shì rú hé ？”
仙风道骨的老者自然也没有卖关子的意图：“我来问你们，本门现在形势如何？”
"Correct. The Ten Thousand Swords Diagram was taken by that Lin kid, the Spirit Eye Lake is dry, Senior Elder has disappeared, and two Senior Aunts have fallen. Our sect can be said to have declined to an irreparable extent. If it were just a common sect, I could still provide some protection for my disciples with these old fellows, but our reputation and status are too high; in such circumstances, what kind of crisis will we face? Have you all thought about this?"
“ zì rán shì bù hǎo dào jí chù 。”
“自然是不好到极处。”
Postscript: Early birds catch the worms, early risers get more recommendations. Bai Lian wants your support—please vote for recommendations!
So Lin Xuan was not at all worried about the other party doing something foolish like making a profit from breaking a promise.
After all, such an action would be purely self-inflicted suffering. While he couldn't speak for the other Conclave Elders, the Sword Lake Palace's Grandmaster had both cunning and demeanor that were anything but trivial. Lin Xuan was one hundred percent certain that the other party wouldn't be toying with him.
He believed that a satisfactory result would come tomorrow.
Lin Xuan didn't travel too far; he landed his遁光 in an uninhabited mountain about several hundred miles from Sword Lake Palace and did not establish any cave dwelling. He simply found a clean piece of ground to meditate, as one day wouldn't take long to pass.
...
Lin Xuan's reaction was set aside for now, but after he left, the Sword Lake Palace Elders exchanged glances, both fearful and elated, wondering how this matter would be resolved.
Gradually, everyone's gaze fell on the Grandmaster.
It seemed they were waiting for his decision or perhaps an explanation. The implications of their gazes were incredibly complex.
With two Senior Elders having fallen, and Master Venerable Ten Thousand Swords gone missing, Sword Lake Palace was now in its gravest crisis since its founding. With no clear leader, everyone waited for the Grandmaster's decision.
They believed that what had just been said was merely a delaying tactic; the Grandmaster must have other plans.
"Let's discuss this when we return."
The elderly man with an air of immortality on his face remained unchanged as he spoke in a calm voice. Without waiting for anyone else to speak, he emitted a burst of spiritual light and flew forward.
Although the Spirit Eye Lake was dry, Sword Lake Palace had ample space elsewhere for meetings.
Other Conclave Elders reacted differently but eventually followed silently behind.
Of course, their hearts were filled with anxiety and a hint of urgency—whether or not the Grandmaster had any confidence in resolving this crisis.
Soon they arrived at a large building made of gray-black stones. Armed disciples patrolled nearby, their faces filled with worry.
Seeing the Grandmaster and other Elders arrive, the disciples visibly relaxed and hurriedly bowed.
But the cultivators paid no attention to these low-ranking disciples; they entered silently, leaving the guards both surprised and with an ominous feeling spreading in their hearts.
Although this stone building was crude, its interior was vast, with stone tables and chairs arranged.
The cultivators naturally had no time for politeness. They sat down wherever there was space nearby.
Apart from a few unfortunate souls who had died at Lin Xuan's hands, the remaining Conclave Elders numbered nearly a hundred.
If not for encountering this monster, so many Conclave Elders could have put up a fight with the sect's sword formations and even a Transcendence Period ancestor.
But now, no one dared to make such plans; they were too frightened by Lin Xuan.
"Brother, your delaying tactic was good. What should we do now? Should we quickly pack our belongings and leave?" A short and plump Elder spoke as soon as he sat down. There was no time for delay; there wasn't any extra time to waste.
"That's a delaying tactic. Who said I used a delaying tactic?"
The elderly man with an air of immortality didn't hesitate to speak, startling the other Elders. They began to blame him.
"What? It's not a delaying tactic. Brother, do you really want our sect to submit like Cloud Concealment Sect did?"
"Are you serious? The tiny Cloud Concealment Sect was just a third-rate sect a hundred years ago..."
"Brother, what are you thinking? A man of honor would rather die than surrender. Even if we can't defeat that Lin kid, we mustn't disgrace our sect."
...
"Enough."
Facing everyone's accusations, the elderly man remained calm and stern. After the noise gradually subsided, he spoke slowly: "All this nonsense—trying to fight a rock with an egg. Come, let me ask you, can we get away?"
"Even without considering how powerful that Transcendence Period monster's consciousness is, running away from the temple but not the monk. Do you think we can escape if everyone flees in panic and hides somewhere? That Lin kid might not be able to do anything to us. But with over a hundred thousand disciples, how will these young ones escape once they anger him and he starts a massacre? Our sect would truly be destroyed by your hands..."
The elderly man's stern voice echoed through the room. While this logic wasn't unknown to many, their minds weren't as intricate as his, so it hadn't occurred to them.
Hearing the analysis, everyone's expressions grew dimmer; they had to admit that the Grandmaster was right—running would only bring about irreparable destruction for the sect.
...
Silence filled the stone hall. After a moment, someone finally spoke, but with weakened resolve, no longer as confident:
"Brother is correct, but even so, there's no need to submit to Cloud Concealment Sect. Our sect has indeed been utterly defeated, but the tiny Cloud Concealment Sect can't swallow us whole. We could just give them more crystals and treasures; why make them our subordinates?"
...
This statement met with approval from many.
Cloud Concealment Sect, now ranked twelfth among all sects in the Ten Thousand Dao Palace, had risen to prominence only in this millennium. Sword Lake Palace was one of the largest sects a million years ago. The sect's cultivators naturally looked down on Cloud Concealment Sect.
While bowing and submitting might be acceptable, they couldn't bear to become subordinate to Cloud Concealment Sect.
"Idiots, do you not understand that a man can bend or stretch? Moreover, even if that Lin kid is willing to let us go, I would never proactively propose becoming their subordinates," the elderly man said solemnly.
"Why?"
This unexpected response calmed the other Elders. The Grandmaster must have some plan; what could it be?
Everyone was at a loss for a moment, waiting for the answer from the Grandmaster.
The elderly man with an air of immortality had no intention of keeping them in suspense: "I'll ask you: how is our current situation?"
"Of course, things are dire."
They all spoke in unison.
"Correct. The Ten Thousand Swords Diagram was taken by that Lin kid, the Spirit Eye Lake is dry, Senior Elder has disappeared, and two Senior Aunts have fallen. Our sect can be said to have declined to an irreparable extent. If it were just a common sect, I could still provide some protection for my disciples with these old fellows, but our reputation and status are too high; in such circumstances, what kind of crisis will we face? Have you all thought about this?"
Postscript: Early birds catch the worms, early risers get more recommendations. Bai Lian wants your support—please vote for recommendations!