..Co
..Co
Lin Xuan smiled slightly and chose a quiet courtyard for himself.
lín xuān wēi wēi yī xiào ， yě tiāo xuǎn le yī zuò qīng jìng de yuàn luò 。
林轩微微一笑，也挑选了一座清净的院落。
Time passed like water, and moments seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye. In just a short month, it was but a fleeting moment.
shí guāng rú shuǐ ， guāng yīn sì jiàn 。
时光如水，光阴似箭。
One morning, Lin Xuan sat cross-legged on a mat in his room, meditating. Suddenly, a burst of firelight flew into the room without any warning.
duǎn duǎn de yí yuè ， bù guò dàn zhǐ yī huī jiān 。
短短的一月，不过弹指一挥间。
"Senior, the Peach Blossom Banquet is about to begin. We have been sent here to welcome you."
zhè tiān shàng wǔ ， lín xuān zhèng zài fáng jiān zhōng de pú tuán shàng dǎ zuò 。
这天上午，林轩正在房间中的蒲团上打坐。
A pleasant voice entered his ears as the firelight vanished with a snap.
sī háo zhēng zhào yě wú ， yī dào huǒ guāng tū rán fēi jìn lái le 。
丝毫征兆也无，一道火光突然飞进来了。
It was an audio transmission talisman!
“ qián bèi ， pán táo huì jiù yào kāi mù ， wǎn bèi děng fèng mìng qián lái yíng jiē nǐ le 。”
“前辈，蟠桃会就要开幕，晚辈等奉命前来迎接你了。”
Lin Xuan did not show any surprise on his face and replied calmly, "I know."
yī yuè ěr de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， huà yīn gāng luò ， nà huǒ guāng yě “ pā ” de yī shēng xiāo sàn yú wú xíng le 。
一悦耳的声音传入耳朵，话音刚落，那火光也“啪”的一声消散于无形了。
He then stood up, calling for Moon Butterfly to return to the Momentary Heavenly Realm Scroll.
chuán yīn fú ！
传音符！
Exiting the light screen, he saw a huge houseboat appear before him. Unlike the spirit boat that had brought him here earlier, this houseboat was clearly not of ordinary quality.
lín xuān liǎn shàng bìng wèi lù chū yì wài zhī sè ， dàn dàn de dào ：“ zhī dào le 。”
林轩脸上并未露出意外之色，淡淡的道：“知道了。”
It was over a hundred feet long and built from extremely precious materials. Carvings adorned its exterior with intricate and ancient inscriptions.
suí hòu tā zhèn yī ér qǐ ， zhāo hū yuè ér xiǎo dié huí dào xū yú dòng tiān tú 。
随后他振衣而起，招呼月儿小蝶回到须臾洞天图。
A symphony of celestial music emanated from within the houseboat. A hundred or so armored soldiers stood guard on top of it. They were well-armed and formidable, all cultivators at the Profound Void stage.
suí hòu zǒu chū guāng mù ， yī jù dà de huà fǎng zài yǎn lián zhōng fú xiàn ér chū 。
随后走出光幕，一巨大的画舫在眼帘中浮现而出。
"This must be Senior Lin, right? I am Xiao Qing, sent here to welcome you," a young woman with an enchanting voice said as she stepped out from the houseboat, bowing gracefully before Lin Xuan.
yǔ lái shí jiē zì jǐ de líng zhōu bù tóng ， zhè huà fǎng yī kàn jiù bú shì fán wù 。
与来时接自己的灵舟不同，这画舫一看就不是凡物。
"Please don't be so formal. Thank you for your trouble."
zhǎng bǎi zhàng yǒu yú ， nǎi shì yòng jí wéi míng guì de cái liào dā jiàn ér chéng dì ， shàng miàn diāo liáng huà dòng ， suǒ lòu kè de fú wén ， yě dōu huì sè gǔ piáo 。
长百丈有余，乃是用极为名贵的材料搭建而成地，上面雕梁画栋，所镂刻的符文，也都晦涩古朴。
Although Lin Xuan had advanced to the late Tribulation Transcendence stage, his demeanor remained calm and composed. Even when facing cultivators far weaker than himself, he wore a pleasant smile.
zhèn zhèn xiān lè ， yóu huà fǎng zhōng yī chuán ér chū 。
阵阵仙乐，由画舫中一传而出。
Following Xiao Qing's lead, they entered the houseboat cabin.
ér zài huà fǎng zhī shàng ， hái yǒu bǎi yú míng jiǎ shì chù lì zhe 。
而在画舫之上，还有百余名甲士矗立着。
To his surprise, there was already someone inside—two people, one man and one woman.
pī jiān zhí ruì ， shí lì pǒ wèi bù sú ， dōu shì dòng xuán jí bié de xiū xiān zhě 。
披坚执锐，实力颇为不俗，都是洞玄级别的修仙者。
The man appeared to be in his fifties, emaciated with a sickly appearance. His aura was faint and almost non-existent, giving off an impression that he could die at any moment.
“ zhè wèi shì lín qián bèi ba ， wǎn bèi xiǎo qīng ， shì fèng mìng qián lái yíng jiē nǐ de 。”
“这位是林前辈吧，晚辈小青，是奉命前来迎接你的。”
He emitted no spiritual pressure, yet it didn't seem like he had used a收敛之术 (敛气 technique).
dòng tīng de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， cóng huà fǎng lǐ zǒu xià lái yī wèi nián qīng de nǚ zǐ ， chōng zhe lín xuān yíng yíng yī fú ， liǎn shàng mǎn shì gōng jìng zhī sè 。
动听的声音传入耳朵，从画舫里走下来一位年轻的女子，冲着林轩盈盈一拂，脸上满是恭敬之色。
Lin Xuan's pupils constricted as he recalled a legendary figure.
“ bù yòng duō lǐ ， yǒu láo xiān zi le 。”
“不用多礼，有劳仙子了。”
"Esteemed friend, may I ask if you are the renowned 'Immortal Void居士'?"
lín xuān suī rán yǐ jīng mài rù le dù jié hòu qī ， dàn xīn tài què fēi cháng píng hé ， jí biàn miàn duì shí lì yuǎn xùn yú zì jǐ de xiū xiān zhě ， yě shì yī liǎn de hé yán yuè sè 。
林轩虽然已经迈入了渡劫后期，但心态却非常平和，即便面对实力远逊于自己的修仙者，也是一脸的和颜悦色。
"Oh, do you recognize me?" The man's face showed surprise.
suí hòu yóu zhe cǐ nǚ yǐn lù ， lái dào huà fǎng shàng miàn le 。
随后由着此女引路，来到画舫上面了。
"You look unfamiliar. Typically, those eligible for the Peach Blossom Banquet should be powerful figures in their own right. However, I have no recollection of your appearance; could you be a recently emerged cultivator who has undergone rigorous training?"
jìn jù lí kàn ， zhè huà fǎng yuè fā de fù lì táng huáng dào le jí diǎn ， dāng rán ， shí lì dào le lín xuān zhè ge děng jí ， duì yú zhè xiē dōng xī gēn běn jiù bú huì zài yì ， gēn zhe xiǎo qīng lái dào le huà fǎng de chuán cāng lǐ 。
近距离看，这画舫越发的富丽堂皇到了极点，当然，实力到了林轩这个等级，对于这些东西根本就不会在意，跟着小青来到了画舫的船舱里。
"Rigorous training, heh, that fits me."
chū hū yù liào de ， chuán cāng zhōng jū rán yǐ jīng yǒu rén le 。
出乎预料的，船舱中居然已经有人了。
Seeing his mistake was acknowledged, Lin Xuan did not deny it. Humility was one of his principles.
yī nán yī nǚ 。
一男一女。
"I am Lin Xuan," he said politely.
nà nán zi dà yuē wǔ shí duō suì nián jì ， shēn cái kū gǎo ， liǎn yǒu bìng róng ， hún shēn shàng xià de qì xī gèng shì ruò yǒu ruò wú ， gěi rén de gǎn jué jiù xiàng suí shí dōu yào duàn qì shì de 。
那男子大约五十多岁年纪，身材枯槁，脸有病容，浑身上下的气息更是若有若无，给人的感觉就像随时都要断气似的。
Indeed, Immortal Void居士 was an impressive figure.
tā hún shēn shàng xià méi yǒu rèn hé yì diǎn líng yā shì fàng chū ， dàn gěi rén de gǎn jué ， què yòu bù xiàng shī zhǎn le liǎn qì zhī shù 。
他浑身上下没有任何一点灵压释放出，但给人的感觉，却又不像施展了敛气之术。
While his cultivation stage was slightly lower than Lin Xuan's, he had a unique and commendable technique: the Void Profound Art.
lín xuān bù yóu de tóng kǒng wēi suō ， sà rán xiǎng qǐ le yī wèi chuán shuō zhōng de rén wù 。
林轩不由得瞳孔微缩，飒然想起了一位传说中的人物。
This art was well-known in the Spirit Realm. Cultivators who practiced it appeared weak most of the time, as if plagued by serious illnesses.
“ zhè wèi dào yǒu qǐng le ， gǎn wèn dào yǒu kě shì dà míng dǐng dǐng de ‘ tiān xū jū shì ’ me ？”
“这位道友请了，敢问道友可是大名鼎鼎的‘天虚居士’么？”
However, this wasn't true weakness; they simply stored their essence, qi, and spirit within their dantian. Once engaged in battle, they could unleash all that had been accumulated, boosting their strength to rival late Tribulation Transcendence cultivators in a short period.
“ ó ， dào yǒu rèn de lǎo fū ？”
“哦，道友认得老夫？”
This was undoubtedly impressive, but it also had significant drawbacks—limited duration. If unable to defeat an opponent quickly, the technique would eventually fail.
nà nán zi de liǎn shàng liú lù chū yī sī chà rán zhī sè ：“ dào yǒu dǎo shì miàn shēng dé jǐn ， àn lǐ shuō ， yǒu zī gé cān jiā pán táo huì de ， dōu yīng gāi shì xióng bà yī fāng de rén wù ， rán ér dào yǒu de miàn róng ， zài xià què sī háo jì yì yě wú ， nán dào shì gāng gāng chū guān de kǔ xiū zhī shì me ？”
那男子的脸上流露出一丝诧然之色：“道友倒是面生得紧，按理说，有资格参加蟠桃会的，都应该是雄霸一方的人物，然而道友的面容，在下却丝毫记忆也无，难道是刚刚出关的苦修之士么？”
While this wasn't particularly remarkable, Lin Xuan was not afraid of such a technique.
“ kǔ xiū zhī shì ， hēi hēi ， suàn shì ba ！”
“苦修之士，嘿嘿，算是吧！”
However, Immortal Void居士 did have qualities worth admiring. He had created his own cultivation art, which required both creativity and practicality.
jiàn duì fāng rèn cuò ， lín xuān bìng méi yǒu kāi kǒu fǒu rèn shén me ， dī diào yuán běn jiù shì tā de yuán zé ：“ zài xià lín xuān ， jiàn guò dào yǒu 。”
见对方认错，林轩并没有开口否认什么，低调原本就是他的原则：“在下林轩，见过道友。”
This was something Lin Xuan could not help but respect. At their level, creating a cultivation art was easy, but making it stand out and be worthy of praise was far more challenging.
zhè wèi tiān xū jū shì ， què rán shì yī wèi liǎo bù qǐ de rén wù 。
这位天虚居士，确然是一位了不起的人物。
Moreover, Immortal Void居士 had even defeated late Tribulation Transcendence cultivators, regardless of whether it was by chance or luck. Regardless of the circumstances, his victory was undeniable.
qí shí yào cóng jìng jiè lái shuō ， tā bǐ qǐ lín xuān ， hái yào shāo xùn nà me yī chóu 。
其实要从境界来说，他比起林轩，还要稍逊那么一筹。
From this perspective, he could indeed be considered a master.
bù guò shì dù jié zhōng qī de xiū xiān zhě 。
不过是渡劫中期的修仙者。
Such individuals might not match top-tier cultivators in strength, but their experiences and wisdom were invaluable. Exchanging cultivation insights with them would likely yield significant benefits.
rán ér qí suǒ xiū liàn de shén tōng ， què zhe shí yǒu lìng rén chēng dào zhī chù 。
然而其所修炼的神通，却着实有令人称道之处。
This was why Lin Xuan treated him with such respect.
tiān xū xuán gōng ， zài líng jiè yě suàn shì yǒu ruò dà de míng tóu 。
天虚玄功，在灵界也算是有偌大的名头。
Seeing Lin Xuan's courteous demeanor, Immortal Void居士 did not want to appear too humble either. After all, those invited by the Rain Mist Business Alliance were no weaklings. Moreover, his spiritual sense could not discern Lin Xuan's exact cultivation stage.
jù shuō xiū liàn le cǐ shén tōng de xiū xiān zhě ， píng shí kàn shàng qù ， dōu hěn xū ruò ， jiù gēn zhòng bìng chán shēn shì de 。
据说修炼了此神通的修仙者，平时看上去，都很虚弱，就跟重病缠身似的。
Although he doubted that a young cultivator would be a late Tribulation Transcendence powerhouse, he could not afford to be overly dismissive out of respect and reason.
rán ér nà bú shì zhēn de xū ruò ， ér shì jiāng jīng qì shén quán dōu nèi liǎn ， shōu yú dān tián lǐ miàn 。
然而那不是真的虚弱，而是将精气神全都内敛，收于丹田里面。
He returned the bow: "You needn't be so formal. May I ask your esteemed name?"
yí dàn dòng shǒu ， jiāng píng shí yì diǎn yī dī jī zǎn qǐ lái de jīng qì shén fàng chū ， shí lì zài duǎn shí jiān nèi ， kě yǐ bào zhǎng dào lì yā dù jié hòu qī de chéng dù 。
一旦动手，将平时一点一滴积攒起来的精气神放出，实力在短时间内，可以暴涨到力压渡劫后期的程度。
"I am Lin Xuan."
zhè huà jué duì sī háo kuā zhāng zhī chù yě wú 。
这话绝对丝毫夸张之处也无。
"Lin Xuan..."
dàn jǐn jǐn zhè yàng ， hái bù zú yǐ ràng lín xuān pèi fú ， bì jìng xiū xiān jiè gè zhǒng qí miào de gōng fǎ shǔ bù shèng shǔ ， tiān xū xuán gōng de bào fā lì què shí lìng rén yǎn rè ， dàn quē xiàn yě shì hěn míng xiǎn de 。
但仅仅这样，还不足以让林轩佩服，毕竟修仙界各种奇妙的功法数不胜数，天虚玄功的爆发力确实令人眼热，但缺陷也是很明显的。
Immortal Void居士 repeated his name several times but still had no recollection.
jiǎn dān de shuō ， jiù shì sān bǎn fǔ ， ruò shì duǎn shí jiān nèi ， bù néng zhàn shèng qiáng dí ， suí zhe shí jiān de tuī yí ， jiù zhǐ yǒu luò bài de jié jú 。
简单的说，就是三板斧，若是短时间内，不能战胜强敌，随着时间的推移，就只有落败的结局。
This was not uncommon; although Lin Xuan had defeated many powerful opponents, the Spirit Realm's vastness made it nearly impossible for him to gain widespread fame in just a few thousand years.
cóng zhè yì diǎn lái shuō ， yě bù suàn rú hé de liǎo de ， zhì shǎo lín xuān shì kěn dìng bù pà de 。
从这一点来说，也不算如何的了得，至少林轩是肯定不怕的。
References to such figures were unlikely to appear in ancient texts. Only those who lived for tens of thousands of years could have their names spread across various small realms.
dàn yǎn qián zhè wèi tiān xū jū shì ， yě què shí yǒu dì fāng zhí de tā pèi fú 。
但眼前这位天虚居士，也确实有地方值得他佩服。
But regardless, being invited to the Peach Blossom Banquet indicated he was not an ordinary figure.
jiù shì tā suǒ xiū liàn de gōng fǎ ， shì zì jǐ chuàng lì de 。
就是他所修炼的功法，是自己创立的。
This simple truth was clear to Immortal Void居士, and they conversed amiably as equals.
zhè yì diǎn ， lín xuān bù dé bù fú 。
这一点，林轩不得不服。
The entire exchange took only a short while—less than half a cup of tea. Lin Xuan then turned his head towards the woman beside him.
yào zhī dào ， shí lì dào le tā zhè ge děng jí ， chuàng lì yī gōng fǎ róng yì ， dàn yào zhè gōng fǎ yǒu tè diǎn ， yǒu zhí de rén chēng dào zhī chù ， jiù bú shì nà me jiǎn dān le 。
要知道，实力到了他这个等级，创立一功法容易，但要这功法有特点，有值得人称道之处，就不是那么简单了。
She wore white robes and appeared in her thirties, with a robust yet graceful figure. Her cultivation stage was also at late Tribulation Transcendence.
gèng bú yào shuō yǎn qián zhè wèi tiān xū jū shì ， què shì zhàn shèng guò dù jié hòu qī de xiū xiān zhě 。
更不要说眼前这位天虚居士，却是战胜过渡劫后期的修仙者。
"I apologize for my earlier rudeness; I have not had the pleasure of knowing your name."
suī rán yǒu rén shuō shì jī yuán qiǎo hé ， yǒu rén shuō zài lái yī cì tā duō bàn huì shēn sǐ yǔn luò ， dàn xiū xiān jiè méi yǒu jiǎ shè ， bù guǎn rú hé ， yíng le jiù shì yíng le 。
虽然有人说是机缘巧合，有人说再来一次他多半会身死陨落，但修仙界没有假设，不管如何，赢了就是赢了。
Lin Xuan turned to smile gently.
cóng zhè ge jiǎo dù ， shuō tā shì yí dài zōng shī yě bù wèi guò 。
从这个角度，说他是一代宗师也不为过。
"Senior Lin needn't be so formal. I am Bai Cao," the woman said with a gentle smile.
zhè zhǒng rén de shí lì huò xǔ bù jí dǐng jiān xiū xiān zhě ， dàn jiàn shí yí dìng hěn fēng fù ， tóu nǎo yě cōng míng líng huó ， yǔ qí jiāo huàn xiū liàn xīn dé ， duō bàn huì huò yì liáng duō 。
这种人的实力或许不及顶尖修仙者，但见识一定很丰富，头脑也聪明灵活，与其交换修炼心得，多半会获益良多。
"Bai Cao, you are the Fairy Bai Cao?"
zhè yě shì wèi shén me ， lín xuān rú cǐ lǐ yù duì fāng le 。
这也是为什么，林轩如此礼遇对方了。
Lin Xuan was taken aback. He had felt some familiarity but could not recall her name until now.
Lin Xuan smiled slightly and chose a quiet courtyard for himself.
Time passed like water, and moments seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye. In just a short month, it was but a fleeting moment.
One morning, Lin Xuan sat cross-legged on a mat in his room, meditating. Suddenly, a burst of firelight flew into the room without any warning.
"Senior, the Peach Blossom Banquet is about to begin. We have been sent here to welcome you."
A pleasant voice entered his ears as the firelight vanished with a snap.
It was an audio transmission talisman!
Lin Xuan did not show any surprise on his face and replied calmly, "I know."
He then stood up, calling for Moon Butterfly to return to the Momentary Heavenly Realm Scroll.
Exiting the light screen, he saw a huge houseboat appear before him. Unlike the spirit boat that had brought him here earlier, this houseboat was clearly not of ordinary quality.
It was over a hundred feet long and built from extremely precious materials. Carvings adorned its exterior with intricate and ancient inscriptions.
A symphony of celestial music emanated from within the houseboat. A hundred or so armored soldiers stood guard on top of it. They were well-armed and formidable, all cultivators at the Profound Void stage.
"This must be Senior Lin, right? I am Xiao Qing, sent here to welcome you," a young woman with an enchanting voice said as she stepped out from the houseboat, bowing gracefully before Lin Xuan.
"Please don't be so formal. Thank you for your trouble."
Although Lin Xuan had advanced to the late Tribulation Transcendence stage, his demeanor remained calm and composed. Even when facing cultivators far weaker than himself, he wore a pleasant smile.
Following Xiao Qing's lead, they entered the houseboat cabin.
To his surprise, there was already someone inside—two people, one man and one woman.
The man appeared to be in his fifties, emaciated with a sickly appearance. His aura was faint and almost non-existent, giving off an impression that he could die at any moment.
He emitted no spiritual pressure, yet it didn't seem like he had used a收敛之术 (敛气 technique).
Lin Xuan's pupils constricted as he recalled a legendary figure.
"Esteemed friend, may I ask if you are the renowned 'Immortal Void居士'?"
"Oh, do you recognize me?" The man's face showed surprise.
"You look unfamiliar. Typically, those eligible for the Peach Blossom Banquet should be powerful figures in their own right. However, I have no recollection of your appearance; could you be a recently emerged cultivator who has undergone rigorous training?"
"Rigorous training, heh, that fits me."
Seeing his mistake was acknowledged, Lin Xuan did not deny it. Humility was one of his principles.
"I am Lin Xuan," he said politely.
Indeed, Immortal Void居士 was an impressive figure.
While his cultivation stage was slightly lower than Lin Xuan's, he had a unique and commendable technique: the Void Profound Art.
This art was well-known in the Spirit Realm. Cultivators who practiced it appeared weak most of the time, as if plagued by serious illnesses.
However, this wasn't true weakness; they simply stored their essence, qi, and spirit within their dantian. Once engaged in battle, they could unleash all that had been accumulated, boosting their strength to rival late Tribulation Transcendence cultivators in a short period.
This was undoubtedly impressive, but it also had significant drawbacks—limited duration. If unable to defeat an opponent quickly, the technique would eventually fail.
While this wasn't particularly remarkable, Lin Xuan was not afraid of such a technique.
However, Immortal Void居士 did have qualities worth admiring. He had created his own cultivation art, which required both creativity and practicality.
This was something Lin Xuan could not help but respect. At their level, creating a cultivation art was easy, but making it stand out and be worthy of praise was far more challenging.
Moreover, Immortal Void居士 had even defeated late Tribulation Transcendence cultivators, regardless of whether it was by chance or luck. Regardless of the circumstances, his victory was undeniable.
From this perspective, he could indeed be considered a master.
Such individuals might not match top-tier cultivators in strength, but their experiences and wisdom were invaluable. Exchanging cultivation insights with them would likely yield significant benefits.
This was why Lin Xuan treated him with such respect.
Seeing Lin Xuan's courteous demeanor, Immortal Void居士 did not want to appear too humble either. After all, those invited by the Rain Mist Business Alliance were no weaklings. Moreover, his spiritual sense could not discern Lin Xuan's exact cultivation stage.
Although he doubted that a young cultivator would be a late Tribulation Transcendence powerhouse, he could not afford to be overly dismissive out of respect and reason.
He returned the bow: "You needn't be so formal. May I ask your esteemed name?"
"I am Lin Xuan."
"Lin Xuan..."
Immortal Void居士 repeated his name several times but still had no recollection.
This was not uncommon; although Lin Xuan had defeated many powerful opponents, the Spirit Realm's vastness made it nearly impossible for him to gain widespread fame in just a few thousand years.
References to such figures were unlikely to appear in ancient texts. Only those who lived for tens of thousands of years could have their names spread across various small realms.
But regardless, being invited to the Peach Blossom Banquet indicated he was not an ordinary figure.
This simple truth was clear to Immortal Void居士, and they conversed amiably as equals.
The entire exchange took only a short while—less than half a cup of tea. Lin Xuan then turned his head towards the woman beside him.
She wore white robes and appeared in her thirties, with a robust yet graceful figure. Her cultivation stage was also at late Tribulation Transcendence.
"I apologize for my earlier rudeness; I have not had the pleasure of knowing your name."
Lin Xuan turned to smile gently.
"Senior Lin needn't be so formal. I am Bai Cao," the woman said with a gentle smile.
"Bai Cao, you are the Fairy Bai Cao?"
Lin Xuan was taken aback. He had felt some familiarity but could not recall her name until now.