. yòu shī shū méng
.幼狮书盟
. Little Lion Book Alliance
qīng luán de shí lì suī rán wú fǎ yǔ zhēn zhèng de fèng huáng xiāng bǐ ， dàn yě bù róng qīng wǔ ， yí dàn fù sū ， zì jǐ sān rén ， fēi xiàn rù jù dà de má fán bù kě ， zhè yàng de chǔn shì lín xuān dāng rán bú huì qù zuò ， yuè ér yǔ líng zú shèng nǚ yě dōu yī liǎn de xīn yǒu yú jì zhī sè。
青鸾的实力虽然无法与真正的凤凰相比，但也不容轻侮，一旦复苏，自己三人，非陷入巨大的麻烦不可，这样的蠢事林轩当然不会去做，月儿与灵族圣女也都一脸的心有余悸之sè。
The strength of the Azure Phoenix, though inferior to a true phoenix, was still formidable and not to be underestimated. Once it awakened, they would surely face significant trouble. Lin Xuan naturally wouldn't do such foolish things; Moon and the Spirit Clan Saint Maiden both looked with lingering fear.
“ shào yé ……”
“少爷……”
"Master..."
“ xū ， qīng diǎn ， wǒ men jì xù xún zhǎo bǎo wù 。” lín xuān máng chuán yīn ràng yuè ér bú yào duō shuō 。
“嘘，轻点，我们继续寻找宝物。”林轩忙传音让月儿不要多说。
"Hush, be quiet," Lin Xuan hurriedly transmitted his voice to Moon to stop her from speaking further.
sān rén jì xù xiàng qián sōu suǒ 。
三人继续向前搜索。
The three continued their search forward.
yīn wèi shén shí shī qù le yòng tú ， suǒ yǐ sù dù bǐ píng shí màn shàng le xǔ duō 。
因为神识失去了用途，所以速度比平时慢上了许多。
With their divine sense no longer useful, they moved much slower than usual.
dàn sān rén dōu méi yǒu yīn cǐ ér lù chū bù nài zhī sè， zhè zhǒng shí kè jí bù dé ， ān quán cái shì dì yī wèi de 。
但三人都没有因此而露出不耐之sè，这种时刻急不得，安全才是第一位的。
But none of them showed any signs of impatience. Safety was the top priority at such a moment.
jiù zhè yàng ， xiǎo bàn gè shí chén hěn kuài jiù guò qù le 。
就这样，小半个时辰很快就过去了。
Half an hour passed quickly.
zhè diǎn shí jiān ， shuō zhǎng bù zhǎng ， shuō duǎn bù duǎn 。
这点时间，说长不长，说短不短。
Though not long, it wasn't short either. Yet, there were over a dozen crystal formations they encountered. Each one floated in mid-air and contained the bodies of ancient true spirits. Some were relatively intact while others had only skeletons left.
kě sān rén jiàn dào de shuǐ jīng ， què yǒu shù shí zhī duō 。
可三人见到的水晶，却有数十之多。
Despite his extensive knowledge, Lin Xuan could only marvel at this sight; however, he was more fearful than excited. The rumors proved true—numerous true spirits were buried here. If they all revived, even Arrogant Deva would have a headache.
yán sè gè yì ， dōu piāo fú zài bàn kōng lǐ 。
颜sè各异，都漂浮在半空里。
Lin Xuan, a resolute cultivator, wasn't easily scared. However, his heart pounded with anxiety. Moon and the Spirit Clan Saint Maiden were no less nervous, barely daring to breathe.
měi yí gè shuǐ jīng zhuàng zhī wù ， lǐ miàn dōu fēng yìn yǒu shàng gǔ zhēn líng de shī tǐ 。
每一个水晶状之物，里面都封印有上古真灵的尸体。
Fortunately, despite their fear, this journey was remarkably peaceful. It seemed fate favored them as they encountered no danger along the way.
yǒu de shì bǐ jiào wán zhěng dì ， yǒu de zé zhǐ shèng xià le yī fù gǔ jià ér yǐ 。
有的是比较完整地，有的则只剩下了一副骨架而已。
Lin Xuan's face remained gloomy, however.
zhè me duō zhēn líng ， jí biàn lín xuān jiàn shí guǎng bó ， yǐ qián yě zhǐ yǒu jī huì zài gǔ shū shàng jiàn guò ， zhè yī cì ， hái zhēn shì dà kāi yǎn jiè le 。
这么多真灵，即便林轩见识广博，以前也只有机会在古书上见过，这一次，还真是大开眼界了。
After flying for a while, Lin Xuan suddenly narrowed his eyes, seemingly excited by something he discovered. His body’s light sped up as he flew towards it.
dàn lín xuān xīn zhōng kě yì diǎn dōu bù wèi zhī jīng xǐ ， yǒu de ， fǎn ér shì hài pà yǔ wèi jù 。
但林轩心中可一点都不为之惊喜，有的，反而是害怕与畏惧。
Though the Spirit Clan Saint Maiden had excellent vision, she was still slightly inferior to Lin Xuan and didn't notice anything amiss.
chuán yán guǒ rán bù xū ， dà liàng de zhēn líng jiē mái gǔ yú zhè lǐ ， jiǎ rú tā men quán bù fù sū ， bié shuō zì jǐ le ， jiù suàn shì ā xiū luó ， yě fēi dà gǎn tóu téng bù kě 。
传言果然不虚，大量的真灵皆埋骨于这里，假如它们全部复苏，别说自己了，就算是阿修罗，也非大感头疼不可。
However, she had already gotten to know Lin Xuan's temperament well enough to suspect that his sudden urgency likely meant he found something significant.
lín xuān shì xìng gé jiān yì de xiū xiān zhě ， yǒng qì yě bú yòng shuō , rán ér cǐ shí cǐ kè ， xīn zhōng yě zhí dǎ gǔ ， zhì yú yuè ér yǔ líng zú shèng nǚ ， nà gèng bù yòng tí ， liǎng gè yā tou dà qì dōu bù gǎn duō chuǎn le qù 。
林轩是xìng格坚毅的修仙者，勇气也不用说,然而此时此刻，心中也直打鼓，至于月儿与灵族圣女，那更不用提，两个丫头大气都不敢多喘了去。
With this thought, she hurriedly followed after him, her jade foot stomping faster as the speed of her light increased.
hǎo zài wèi jù guī wèi jù ， zhè yī lù què shì píng jìng wú bǐ ， jiù fǎng fú shàng tiān chuí lián ， tā men jū rán zǒu gǒu shǐ yùn bān de méi yǒu yù jiàn rèn hé wēi xiǎn 。
好在畏惧归畏惧，这一路却是平静无比，就仿佛上天垂怜，他们居然走狗屎运般的没有遇见任何危险。
...
zhè bù néng bù shuō ， yōng yǒu fēi fán de yùn qì 。
这不能不说，拥有非凡的运气。
Soon, they came upon a small lake surrounded by green trees. Wildflowers dotted the grassy shore.
rán ér lín xuān de liǎn sè què yīn mái wú bǐ 。
然而林轩的脸sè却yīn霾无比。
Such scenery would have been unremarkable elsewhere. However, in this strange space where true spirits were buried, it felt eerie and heavy with death.
yòu fēi piàn kè ， lín xuān tū rán tóng kǒng wēi suō ， xiàng shì fā xiàn le shén me lìng qí xīng fèn de shì wù ， hún shēn dùn guāng yì qǐ ， jiā kuài sù dù xiàng qián fēi qù 。
又飞片刻，林轩突然瞳孔微缩，像是发现了什么令其兴奋的事物，浑身遁光一起，加快速度像前飞去。
Lin Xuan and the two girls exchanged glances, their vigilance heightened. Lin Xuan hesitated briefly before flying towards the lake.
líng zú shèng nǚ de mù lì suī rán yě fēi tóng xiǎo kě ， dàn yǔ lín xuān xiāng bǐ ， dào dǐ yào xùn sè xǔ duō ， bìng wèi fā xiàn bù tuǒ 。
灵族圣女的目力虽然也非同小可，但与林轩相比，到底要逊sè许多，并未发现不妥。
"Master, be careful."
dàn zhè yī lù xíng lái ， tā duō shǎo yǐ liǎo jiě lín xuān de xìng gé 。
但这一路行来，她多少已了解林轩的xìng格。
Moon hesitated, her face filled with worry.
jué fēi yī jīng yī zhà de xiū xiān zhě 。
绝非一惊一乍的修仙者。
"I understand," Lin Xuan replied.
tā tū rán zhè me zhe jí ， shí yǒu bā jiǔ shì fā xiàn le shén me mì mì 。
他突然这么着急，十有仈jiǔ是发现了什么秘密。
He didn't approach the lake closely but landed his light about ten feet away.
niàn jí zhì cǐ ， cǐ nǚ zì rán fēn háo yě bù gǎn yǒu xiè dài zhī yì ， yī duò yù zú ， dùn guāng de sù dù yě biàn kuài le xǔ duō ， suí hòu gēn shàng qù le 。
念及至此，此女自然分毫也不敢有懈怠之意，一跺玉足，遁光的速度也变快了许多，随后跟上去了。
As he stepped onto the grassy ground, nothing unusual happened, which relieved him. He found that here, his divine sense could extend a bit more, though not as freely as before. This pleased him greatly.
……
……
Without further thought, Lin Xuan focused his divine sense into a single beam and sent it towards the lake.
hěn kuài ， qián miàn chū xiàn le yī tán xiǎo hú ， hú shuǐ tòu míng qīng chè ， ér qiě bèi lǜ shù huán rào zhe 。
很快，前面出现了一潭小湖，湖水透明清澈，而且被绿树环绕着。
The lake wasn't large, and the water was shallow. Soon, he found what he sought—a skeleton scattered in the water. Larger than human bones but far less imposing than true spirits, its height could be no more than several dozen feet.
hú biān yī kuài lǜ dì ， yě huā diǎn zhuì qí zhōng 。
湖边一块绿地，野花点缀其中。
Nine heads and eighteen arms, the bones were grotesque. Though dead for ages, they exuded a sense of沧桑 (sorrow).
zhè yàng de jǐng zhì ， ruò shì fàng dào bié chù ， méi yǒu rèn hé bù tuǒ 。
这样的景致，若是放到别处，没有任何不妥。
Wait, nine heads and eighteen arms?
rán ér zhè qí yì de kōng jiān nǎi shì zhēn líng mái gǔ zhī suǒ ， suī tán bù shàng yīn sēn kǒng bù ， què yě bèi nóng zhòng de sǐ qì chōng chì zhe 。
然而这奇异的空间乃是真灵埋骨之所，虽谈不上yīn森恐怖，却也被浓重的死气充斥着。
Wasn't this similar to the minor heaven technique he practiced... No, it was extremely similar to the Nine Heavens Divine Net Technique?
yī lù xíng lái ， chú le zhēn líng de shī hái ， lín xuān méi yǒu kàn jiàn rèn hé zhí wù ， zhè tū rán chū xiàn de xiǎo hú ， jiù zhe shí ràng rén gǎn jué yǒu xiē guài yì yǔ tū wù 。
一路行来，除了真灵的尸骸，林轩没有看见任何植物，这突然出现的小湖，就着实让人感觉有些怪异与突兀。
Was this just coincidence or something hidden behind the scenes?
lín xuān yǔ liǎng nǚ miàn miàn xiāng qù ， bù yuē ér tóng dōu tí gāo le jǐng tì 。
林轩与两女面面相觑，不约而同都提高了jǐng惕。
Lin Xuan was surprised.
suí hòu lín xuān lüè yī chí yí ， xiàng nà xiǎo hú fēi le guò qù 。
随后林轩略一迟疑，像那小湖飞了过去。
But there wasn’t time for further thought. His attention was immediately drawn to a black storage bag hanging from the giant skeleton's waist.
“ shào yé ， xiǎo xīn 。”
“少爷，小心。”
True spirits wouldn't use such items.
yuè ér yù yán yòu zhǐ ， mǎn liǎn dān xīn tǎn tè zhī yì 。” wǒ lǐ huì dé 。”
月儿yù言又止，满脸担心忐忑之意。”我理会得。”
The identity of its owner was clear—Heavenly Demon Overlord!
lín xuān bìng méi yǒu tài kào jìn xiǎo hú ， zài jù lí hái yǒu shí yú zhàng de shí hòu jiù jiāng dùn guāng jiàng luò 。
林轩并没有太靠近小湖，在距离还有十余丈的时候就将遁光降落。
He didn’t expect to find his treasure so easily.
jiǎo yī tà zú lǜ dì ， què bìng méi yǒu shén me yì biàn tū qǐ ， zhè ràng lín xuān sōng le kǒu qì 。
脚一踏足绿地，却并没有什么异变突起，这让林轩松了口气。
Lin Xuan was overjoyed, as taking this storage bag would complete his mission. Although it seemed too easy, he couldn’t let such a good opportunity slip away.
suí hòu tā fā xiàn zài zhè lǐ ， shén shí tū rán kě yǐ fàng chū yī xiē ， suī rán méi yǒu bàn fǎ yǔ bù shòu shù fù xiāng bǐ ， dàn yǐ ràng qí dà xǐ 。
随后他发现在这里，神识突然可以放出一些，虽然没有办法与不受束缚相比，但已让其大喜。
Indeed, though his divine sense had weakened, he could still use it to take the object.
lín xuān xīn rán zhī xià ， yǐ gù bù dé duō zuò sī suǒ ， jiāng shén shí níng chéng yī gǔ cháo zhe hú zhōng fàng chū 。
林轩欣然之下，已顾不得多做思索，将神识拧成一股朝着湖中放出。
Taking a deep breath, Lin Xuan sent out a mental projection.
cǐ hú bìng bù guǎng kuò ， shuǐ yě bù shēn ， lín xuān hěn kuài jiù yǒu le shōu huò 。
此湖并不广阔，水也不深，林轩很快就有了收获。
His divine light in the water transformed into a green hand that lunged at the storage bag.
zài hú shuǐ zhōng jū rán sàn luò zhe yī jù hái gǔ 。
在湖水中居然散落着一具骸骨。
Lin Xuan’s face showed signs of joy.
bǐ pǔ tōng rén de gǔ gé yào dà shàng xǔ duō ， dàn què yuǎn méi yǒu bàn fǎ yǔ zhēn líng xiāng bǐ ， gū jì tā shēn qián gāo yě bù guò shù zhàng ér yǐ 。
比普通人的骨骼要大上许多，但却远没有办法与真灵相比，估计他身前高也不过数丈而已。
After all his efforts, the treasure was finally within reach.
jiǔ tóu shí bā bì ， gǔ gé yì shì zhēng níng yǐ jí ， suī zǎo yǐ sǐ qù ， què chōng mǎn le yī gǔ cāng sāng de qì xī 。
九头十八臂，骨骼亦是狰狞以极，虽早已死去，却充满了一股沧桑的气息。
But just as he reached for it,
děng děng ， jiǔ tóu shí bā bì ？
等等，九头十八臂？
"Qua!"
zhè qǐ bù shì yǔ zì jǐ xiū liàn de xiǎo luó tiān fǎ xiàng …… bù ， shì jiǔ tiān shén luó xiāng xiāng sì yǐ jí ？
这岂不是与自己修炼的小罗天法相……不，是九天神罗相相似以极？
A voice amplified to an unimaginable volume echoed through his ears. Suddenly, the air in front of him darkened. A long, rope-like object slashed across the sky and lunged at him.
zhè zhōng jiān ， jiū jìng shì qiǎo hé ， hái shì yǒu zhe shén me bù wéi rén zhī de yǐn mì 。
这中间，究竟是巧合，还是有着什么不为人知的隐秘。
Lin Xuan’s eyes widened. He recognized this scene well; what was coming wasn’t a rope but a giant tongue from a toad.
lín xuān dà gǎn chà yì 。
林轩大感诧异。
Could it be...
dàn zhè shí hòu xiǎn rán lái bù jí duō zuò sī suǒ 。
但这时候显然来不及多做思索。
Lin Xuan's face showed both surprise and gravity as he dodged the attack effortlessly.
hěn kuài ， tā de zhù yì lì jiù bèi nà jù dà gǔ gé yāo jiān suǒ xì zhe de yī hēi sè de chǔ wù dài xī yǐn guò qù le 。
很快，他的注意力就被那巨大骨骼腰间所系着的一黑sè的储物袋吸引过去了。
He grabbed the object, his nails sharpening with divine light, resembling phoenix claws.
zhēn líng jué bú huì shǐ yòng cǐ wù 。
真灵绝不会使用此物。
Lin Xuan, already skilled in physical cultivation, had gained more than just the true spirit sword technique after absorbing its blood. Unfortunately, it was too fast, retreating just as quickly and retracting into itself.
nà zhè jiā huo zhǔ rén de shēn fèn yǐ shì hū zhī yù chū 。
那这家伙主人的身份已是呼之yù出。
Before him appeared a massive creature.
fēi tiān mó zhǔ ！
飞天魔主！
Sure enough, it was a toad!
méi xiǎng dào rú cǐ qīng yì jiù zhǎo dào le tā de bǎo wù 。
没想到如此轻易就找到了他的宝物。
Was this the Golden Jade True Toad that fell here?
lín xuān xīn zhōng dà xǐ ， zhǐ yào qǔ zǒu zhè chǔ wù dài jiù dà gōng gào chéng le 。
林轩心中大喜，只要取走这储物袋就大功告成了。
This was Lin Xuan's first encounter with a true spirit in person.
suī rán rú cǐ jié jú ， wèi miǎn tài guò qīng yì ， dàn zhè me hǎo de jī huì a ， lín xuān nǎ huì fàng qì 。
虽然如此结局，未免太过轻易，但这么好的机会啊，林轩哪会放弃。
Compared to his memory of the Golden Jade True Toad, this one looked much uglier. It resembled a desiccated corpse, its skin long gone.
méi cuò ， shén shí shì xuē ruò le xǔ duō ， dàn jǐn jǐn huà xíng qǔ wù hái shì bàn dé dào de 。
没错，神识是削弱了许多，但仅仅化形取物还是办得到的。
Its body had lost its golden hue, becoming dark and gloomy. Instead of chaotic demon energy, it emitted a heavy death aura.
shēn shēn hū xī ， lín xuān yī dào shén niàn fā le chū qù 。
深深呼吸，林轩一道神念发了出去。
Lin Xuan had been to the Underworld, and Moon was more familiar with spirits. However, this giant toad gave them an entirely different feeling compared to other monsters and ghosts.
suí hòu nà shēn rù hú shuǐ de shén shí guāng yùn liú zhuǎn ， jū rán biàn huà chū le yī qīng méng méng dà shǒu lái 。
随后那深入湖水的神识光晕流转，居然变化出了一青蒙蒙大手来。
True spirits truly were formidable; even in death, they remained powerful.
. Little Lion Book Alliance
The strength of the Azure Phoenix, though inferior to a true phoenix, was still formidable and not to be underestimated. Once it awakened, they would surely face significant trouble. Lin Xuan naturally wouldn't do such foolish things; Moon and the Spirit Clan Saint Maiden both looked with lingering fear.
"Master..."
"Hush, be quiet," Lin Xuan hurriedly transmitted his voice to Moon to stop her from speaking further.
The three continued their search forward.
With their divine sense no longer useful, they moved much slower than usual.
But none of them showed any signs of impatience. Safety was the top priority at such a moment.
...
Half an hour passed quickly.
Though not long, it wasn't short either. Yet, there were over a dozen crystal formations they encountered. Each one floated in mid-air and contained the bodies of ancient true spirits. Some were relatively intact while others had only skeletons left.
Despite his extensive knowledge, Lin Xuan could only marvel at this sight; however, he was more fearful than excited. The rumors proved true—numerous true spirits were buried here. If they all revived, even Arrogant Deva would have a headache.
Lin Xuan, a resolute cultivator, wasn't easily scared. However, his heart pounded with anxiety. Moon and the Spirit Clan Saint Maiden were no less nervous, barely daring to breathe.
Fortunately, despite their fear, this journey was remarkably peaceful. It seemed fate favored them as they encountered no danger along the way.
Lin Xuan's face remained gloomy, however.
After flying for a while, Lin Xuan suddenly narrowed his eyes, seemingly excited by something he discovered. His body’s light sped up as he flew towards it.
Though the Spirit Clan Saint Maiden had excellent vision, she was still slightly inferior to Lin Xuan and didn't notice anything amiss.
However, she had already gotten to know Lin Xuan's temperament well enough to suspect that his sudden urgency likely meant he found something significant.
With this thought, she hurriedly followed after him, her jade foot stomping faster as the speed of her light increased.
...
Soon, they came upon a small lake surrounded by green trees. Wildflowers dotted the grassy shore.
Such scenery would have been unremarkable elsewhere. However, in this strange space where true spirits were buried, it felt eerie and heavy with death.
Lin Xuan and the two girls exchanged glances, their vigilance heightened. Lin Xuan hesitated briefly before flying towards the lake.
"Master, be careful."
Moon hesitated, her face filled with worry.
"I understand," Lin Xuan replied.
He didn't approach the lake closely but landed his light about ten feet away.
As he stepped onto the grassy ground, nothing unusual happened, which relieved him. He found that here, his divine sense could extend a bit more, though not as freely as before. This pleased him greatly.
Without further thought, Lin Xuan focused his divine sense into a single beam and sent it towards the lake.
The lake wasn't large, and the water was shallow. Soon, he found what he sought—a skeleton scattered in the water. Larger than human bones but far less imposing than true spirits, its height could be no more than several dozen feet.
Nine heads and eighteen arms, the bones were grotesque. Though dead for ages, they exuded a sense of沧桑 (sorrow).
Wait, nine heads and eighteen arms?
Wasn't this similar to the minor heaven technique he practiced... No, it was extremely similar to the Nine Heavens Divine Net Technique?
Was this just coincidence or something hidden behind the scenes?
Lin Xuan was surprised.
But there wasn’t time for further thought. His attention was immediately drawn to a black storage bag hanging from the giant skeleton's waist.
True spirits wouldn't use such items.
The identity of its owner was clear—Heavenly Demon Overlord!
He didn’t expect to find his treasure so easily.
Lin Xuan was overjoyed, as taking this storage bag would complete his mission. Although it seemed too easy, he couldn’t let such a good opportunity slip away.
Indeed, though his divine sense had weakened, he could still use it to take the object.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Xuan sent out a mental projection.
His divine light in the water transformed into a green hand that lunged at the storage bag.
Lin Xuan’s face showed signs of joy.
After all his efforts, the treasure was finally within reach.
But just as he reached for it,
"Qua!"
A voice amplified to an unimaginable volume echoed through his ears. Suddenly, the air in front of him darkened. A long, rope-like object slashed across the sky and lunged at him.
Lin Xuan’s eyes widened. He recognized this scene well; what was coming wasn’t a rope but a giant tongue from a toad.
Could it be...
Lin Xuan's face showed both surprise and gravity as he dodged the attack effortlessly.
He grabbed the object, his nails sharpening with divine light, resembling phoenix claws.
Lin Xuan, already skilled in physical cultivation, had gained more than just the true spirit sword technique after absorbing its blood. Unfortunately, it was too fast, retreating just as quickly and retracting into itself.
Before him appeared a massive creature.
Sure enough, it was a toad!
Was this the Golden Jade True Toad that fell here?
This was Lin Xuan's first encounter with a true spirit in person.
Compared to his memory of the Golden Jade True Toad, this one looked much uglier. It resembled a desiccated corpse, its skin long gone.
Its body had lost its golden hue, becoming dark and gloomy. Instead of chaotic demon energy, it emitted a heavy death aura.
Lin Xuan had been to the Underworld, and Moon was more familiar with spirits. However, this giant toad gave them an entirely different feeling compared to other monsters and ghosts.
True spirits truly were formidable; even in death, they remained powerful.