qí sù dù zhī xùn jí ， nán yǐ yán yù 。
其速度之迅疾，难以言喻。
His speed was so swift that it defied description.
qián yī kè hái zài tiān biān ， shùn xī zhī hòu ， jiù yǐ lái dào shēn qián shù bǎi zhàng yuǎn 。
前一刻还在天边，瞬息之后，就已来到身前数百丈远。
In one moment, he was still at the horizon. In an instant after, he had already arrived several hundred feet in front of him.
bù xū yào jiāng shén shí fàng chū ， yě bù xū yào shī zhǎn tiān fèng shén mù ， qī míng lǎo guài wù de shēn yǐng ， yǐ néng kàn gè qīng chǔ qīng chǔ 。
不需要将神识放出，也不需要施展天凤神目，七名老怪物的身影，已能看个清楚清楚。
No need to release his divine consciousness or use Heavenly Phoenix Divine Eyes; the seven old monsters' figures were now clear to see.
měi yí gè dōu xiān fēng dào gǔ 。
每一个都仙风道骨。
Each one exuded a Taoist demeanor with flowing white beards and an ethereal aura emanating from their bodies.
bái xū piāo piāo ， yǒu chū chén de qì xī yóu tā men de shēn shàng sàn fà ér chū 。
白须飘飘，有出尘的气息由他们的身上散发而出。
The spiritual pressure was faint, but Lin Xuan could be one hundred percent certain that they were late-stage Golden Transformation cultivators.
líng yā ruò yǒu ruò wú ， zhè me jìn de jù lí ， lín xuān kě yǐ bǎi fēn zhī bǎi kěn dìng ， tā men jiù shì dù jié hòu qī de xiū xiān zhě 。
灵压若有若无，这么近的距离，林轩可以百分之百肯定，他们就是渡劫后期的修仙者。
Was it True Refinement Seven Cultivators? They came from the same school of cultivation and excelled in joint operations. This indeed made them difficult to deal with.
tài zhēn qī xiū me ， yì chū tóng mén ， hái shàn cháng lián shǒu zhī shù 。
太真七修么，艺出同门，还擅长联手之术。
But saying he was afraid would be an exaggeration.
zhè yì diǎn ， què shí yǒu xiē nán yǐ duì fù 。
这一点，确实有些难以对付。
Lin Xuan wasn't just any ordinary cultivator; a few peers wouldn't be able to make him surrender. But the situation before him wasn't simply about defeating True Refinement Seven Cultivators.
dàn yào shuō hài pà ， què yě yán zhī tài guò 。
但要说害怕，却也言之太过。
Their strength in Rain Mist Commercial Alliance was formidable, but they weren't the top-tier figures either. Even if he defeated them, new experts would still emerge.
lín xuān kě bú shì shén me pǔ tōng de xiū xiān zhě 。
林轩可不是什么普通的修仙者。
Endless enmity—this was what made it most vexing.
qū qū jǐ míng tóng jiē cún zài xiǎng ràng tā shù shǒu shì bù kě néng de 。
区区几名同阶存在想让他束手是不可能的。
Moreover, Lin Xuan wasn't good at killing.
dàn yǎn qián de jú miàn bìng bú shì zhàn shèng tài zhēn qī xiū jiù wán le 。
但眼前的局面并不是战胜太真七修就完了。
He had only disrupted Rain Mist Commercial Alliance's rules; there hadn't been any major grudges between the two sides.
tā men zài yǔ lán shāng méng de shí lì fēi tóng xiǎo kě ， dàn yě jué shuō bù shàng zuì dǐng jí de rén wù 。
他们在雨岚商盟的实力非同小可，但也绝说不上最顶级的人物。
But if he killed True Refinement Seven Cultivators, their enmity would truly deepen.
jí biàn jiāng tā men dǎ bài le ， yī yàng huì yǒu xīn de gāo shǒu 。
即便将他们打败了，一样会有新的高手。
At that point, not only would there be no chance of reconciliation, but facing such a crisis would be even more daunting than now.
bù sǐ bù xiū ， zhè cái zuì lìng rén tóu téng 。
不死不休，这才最令人头疼。
Lin Xuan didn't want to become an enemy with Rain Mist Commercial Alliance.
ér qiě lín xuān hái bù tài hǎo xià shā shǒu 。
而且林轩还不太好下杀手。
Although he was arrogant, he lacked the confidence to deal with ancient legacies like this.
tā rú jīn zhǐ shì pò huài le yǔ lán shāng méng de guī jǔ ， shuāng fāng hái tán bù shàng yǒu dà hèn shēn chóu 。
他如今只是破坏了雨岚商盟的规矩，双方还谈不上有大恨深仇。
The key was unworthy!
kě ruò shì miè shā le tài zhēn qī xiū ， bǐ cǐ zhī jiān jiù zhēn jié xià le dà chóu 。
可若是灭杀了太真七修，彼此之间就真结下了大仇。
So what needed to be done now was to turn danger into safety and think of how to resolve the crisis with Rain Mist Commercial Alliance.
dào shí hòu ， bù shuō sī háo méi yǒu huà jiě de yú dì ， dàn zhì shǎo miàn duì de wēi jī ， huì bǐ xiàn zài gèng jiā de jí shǒu bù yǐ 。
到时候，不说丝毫没有化解的余地，但至少面对的危机，会比现在更加的棘手不已。
But while it seemed easy to say, doing so proved incredibly difficult.
lín xuān bìng bù xiǎng zhēn de tóng yǔ lán shāng méng wèi dí 。
林轩并不想真的同雨岚商盟为敌。
Rain Mist Commercial Alliance had once risked conflict with late-stage Golden Transformation cultivators to uphold their rules. Lin Xuan had to make them hesitate; he needed to show enough strength for them to retreat.
tā suī rán shì zì shì shèn gāo de xiū xiān zhě ， dàn yě méi yǒu bǎ wò ， duì fù zhè zhǒng chuán chéng zì shàng gǔ de páng rán dà wù 。
他虽然是自视甚高的修仙者，但也没有把握，对付这种传承自上古的庞然大物。
The strength that could deter Rain Mist Commercial Alliance from pursuing him.
guān jiàn shì bù zhí dé ！
关键是不值得！
And during this process, he couldn't eliminate True Refinement Seven Cultivators. The delicate balance of power was not something an ordinary person could grasp.
suǒ yǐ xiàn zài yào zuò de ， shì huà xiǎn wéi yí ， sī kǎo rú hé huà jiě tóng yǔ lán shāng méng zhī jiān de zhè duàn wēi jī 。
所以现在要做的，是化险为夷，思考如何化解同雨岚商盟之间的这段危机。
Even Lin Xuan found it vexing, but he had no choice. He didn't want to live in endless pursuit after breaking free from the constraints of his lifespan.
kě shuō shuō gù rán róng yì ， zhēn yào zuò què shì qiān nán wàn nán dì 。
可说说固然容易，真要做却是千难万难地。
Besides, Lin Xuan wasn't going to let this Peach Blossom Banquet pass either.
yǔ lán shāng méng wèi le wéi hù suǒ dìng lì xià lái de guī jǔ ， céng bù xī yǔ dù jié hòu qī de qiáng zhě wèi dí ， zì jǐ xiǎng yào ràng tā men tóu shǔ jì qì 。 bì xū xiǎn lù chū zú gòu qiáng dà de shí lì 。
雨岚商盟为了维护所订立下来的规矩，曾不惜与渡劫后期的强者为敌，自己想要让他们投鼠忌器。必须显露出足够强大的实力。
To achieve that, he needed Rain Mist Commercial Alliance to hesitate and forgive him for inadvertently disrupting their rules.
néng gòu ràng yǔ lán shāng méng zhī nán ér tuì de shí lì 。
能够让雨岚商盟知难而退的实力。
With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Lin Xuan remained composed. The True Refinement Seven Cultivators finally arrived before him.
ér qiě zài zhè guò chéng zhōng hái bù néng jiāng yǎn qián de tài zhēn qī xiū miè chú ， zhè zhōng jiān fēn cùn de ná niē kě jiù bú shì yì bān rén néng gòu zhǎng wò 。
而且在这过程中还不能将眼前的太真七修灭除，这中间分寸的拿捏可就不是一般人能够掌握。
They stood about thirty feet away, forming a half-circle around him, as if preventing him from escaping.
jí biàn lín xuān ， yì jué de tóu téng ， dàn tā méi yǒu xuǎn zé ， hǎo bù róng yì zhèng tuō le shòu yuán de shù fù ， tā kě bù xiǎng jiē xià lái ， zài wú jìn de zhuī shā zhōng shēng huó 。
即便林轩，亦觉得头疼，但他没有选择，好不容易挣脱了寿元的束缚，他可不想接下来，在无尽的追杀中生活。
It seemed they were guarding against his attempt to flee.
hé kuàng yǎn qián de pán táo huì ， lín xuān yì bù dǎ suàn fàng guò 。
何况眼前的蟠桃会，林轩亦不打算放过。
But in Lin Xuan's eyes, this was merely unnecessary.
xiǎng yào zuò dào zhè yì diǎn ， jiù bì xū ràng yǔ lán shāng méng tóu shǔ jì qì ， yuán liàng zì jǐ zài wú yì zhōng 。 pò huài le tā men de guī jǔ 。
想要做到这一点，就必须让雨岚商盟投鼠忌器，原谅自己在无意中。破坏了他们的规矩。
If he wanted to escape, he would have long since done so. He stayed put because he intended to resolve the issue.
nǎo hǎi zhōng niàn tou zhuǎn guò ， lín xuān xīn zhōng shì gè zhǒng sī suǒ ， ér zhè shí hòu ， tài zhēn qī xiū yě zhōng yú lái dào yǎn qián le 。
脑海中念头转过，林轩心中是各种思索，而这时候，太真七修也终于来到眼前了。
"Are you Lin Xuan, Fellow Daoist?"
xiāng gé shù shí zhàng yú ， chéng yí gè bàn yuán de hú dù jiāng tā tuán tuán bāo guǒ 。
相隔数十丈余，呈一个半圆的弧度将他团团包裹。
From their positions, Lin Xuan could tell that they weren't all of equal status.
kàn qǐ lái ， shì fáng zhǐ zì jǐ táo pǎo le 。
看起来，是防止自己逃跑了。
The leader was an elderly man with a long beard and a benevolent expression. His words were devoid of any worldly pretense. The grace and bearing he exuded were almost as if he had descended from the heavens.
rán ér zài lín xuān kàn lái ， tā men chún shǔ duō cǐ yī jǔ 。
然而在林轩看来，他们纯属多此一举。
Lin Xuan wasn't swayed by this; in fact, his face turned even more displeased at what followed.
yào táo zǒu ， zì jǐ zǎo jiù táo le 。
要逃走，自己早就逃了。
Rain Mist Commercial Alliance's power was indeed formidable. They managed to uncover his identity so quickly.
zhī suǒ yǐ liú zài yuán dì ， jiù shì xiǎng yào jiě jué wèn tí 。
之所以留在原地，就是想要解决问题。
He had thought that revealing his true self accidentally would keep them unaware of his origins.
“ gé xià kě shì lín xuān lín dào yǒu ？”
“阁下可是林轩林道友？”
Now it seemed he had been too naive.
cóng qī rén zhàn lì de fāng wèi 。 lín xuān kě yǐ kàn chū ， tā men bǐ cǐ de shēn fèn ， hái shì yǒu suǒ bù tóng 。
从七人站立的方位。林轩可以看出，他们彼此的身份，还是有所不同。
No wonder they were an ancient legacy; their depth and底蕴 far exceeded his expectations.
wéi shǒu de shì yī zhǎng méi lǎo zhě ， xiān fēng dào gǔ 。 cí méi shàn mù ， shuō huà yì bù dài fēn háo de yān huǒ ， nà fēng cǎi ， nà qì dù 。 jiù yǔ jiàng lín de zhēn xiān chà bu duō 。
为首的是一长眉老者，仙风道骨。慈眉善目，说话亦不带分毫的烟火，那风采，那气度。就与降临的真仙差不多。
This meant the trouble ahead was even more severe, requiring him to be extra cautious.
dāng rán ， lín xuān shì bù kě néng wèi tā suǒ zhé fú ， ér qí shuō huà de nèi róng 。 gèng ràng lín xuān de liǎn sè nán kàn dào le jí chù 。
当然，林轩是不可能为他所折服，而其说话的内容。更让林轩的脸色难看到了极处。
Lin Xuan's thoughts raced, but his face showed no signs of weakness. At such a moment, one must never show any sign of submission.
yǔ lán shāng méng de néng liàng hái zhēn shì fēi tóng xiǎo kě ， zhè me kuài ， jiù jiāng zì jǐ de lái lì ， gěi chá qīng chǔ 。
雨岚商盟的能量还真是非同小可，这么快，就将自己的来历，给查清楚。
"Indeed, it is me."
yào zhī dào zì jǐ dāng chū zhī suǒ yǐ dé dào qǐng jiǎn ， yě shì wú yì jiān jiāng shí lì xiǎn lù ， yuán běn yǐ wéi tā men bìng bù zhī dào zì jǐ de shēn fèn lái lì de 。
要知道自己当初之所以得到请柬，也是无意间将实力显露，原本以为他们并不知道自己的身份来历的。
Lin Xuan spoke calmly and evenly.
rú jīn kàn lái ， zhè zhǒng xiǎng fǎ tài tiān zhēn le 。
如今看来，这种想法太天真了。
"Fellow Daoist, you are our guest from afar, and we were more than welcome to have you join the Peach Blossom Banquet. But why do you destroy the rules set by this alliance? Do you know how difficult that makes things for us?"
bù kuì shì chuán chéng zì shàng gǔ de páng rán dà wù ， qí dǐ yùn ， bǐ zì jǐ yuán xiān xiǎng xiàng de ， hái yào shēn hòu xǔ duō 。
不愧是传承自上古的庞然大物，其底蕴，比自己原先想象的，还要深厚许多。
The elderly man sighed: "Without trust, one cannot stand. The same applies to sects and families. Although our Rain Mist Commercial Alliance is a loose organization, its rules cannot be casually broken. Now I give you two choices: either surrender and let the elders decide your fate, or fight like a cornered beast, which will increase your guilt."
zhè yě jiù yì wèi zhe ， zì jǐ miàn lín de má fán gèng jiā de fēi tóng xiǎo kě ， jiē xià lái ， kě yào bǎi bèi de xiǎo xīn zài yì le 。
这也就意味着，自己面临的麻烦更加的非同小可，接下来，可要百倍的小心在意了。
The elderly man's expression was full of compassion, but Lin Xuan felt particularly irked.
lín xuān nǎo hǎi zhōng niàn tou zhuǎn guò ， liǎn shàng què fēn háo yì sè yě wú ， zhè zhǒng shí hòu ， wú lùn rú hé ， yě bù kě yǐ shì ruò 。
林轩脑海中念头转过，脸上却分毫异色也无，这种时候，无论如何，也不可以示弱。
What did it mean to submit to the elders' decision?
“ bù cuò ， shì wǒ 。”
“不错，是我。”
Surrendering and submitting?
lín xuān bù kàng bù bēi de shuō 。
林轩不亢不卑的说。
That was sheer nonsense.
“ gé xià yuǎn lái shì kè ， lái cān jiā pán táo huì yuán běn wǒ men shì wàn fēn huān yíng de ， kě gé xià hé kǔ yào pò huài běn méng lì xià de guī jǔ ， nǐ kě zhī dào zhè me zuò ， huì ràng wǒ men wéi nán wú bǐ 。”
“阁下远来是客，来参加蟠桃会原本我们是万分欢迎的，可阁下何苦要破坏本盟立下的规矩，你可知道这么做，会让我们为难无比。”
Since he embarked on his path as a cultivator, Lin Xuan had always believed in making his own destiny. While he could bow down if necessary, he would never let others decide his fate.
nà wéi shǒu de lǎo zhě tàn le kǒu qì ：“ rén wú xìn ér bù lì ， duì yú zōng mén jiā zú yě shì yī yàng de dào lǐ ， wǒ yǔ lán shāng méng suī zhǐ shì yī sōng sǎn de zǔ zhī ， suǒ dìng xià de guī jǔ què yě bù néng rèn rén suí biàn pò huài dì ， xiàn zài wǒ gěi nǐ liǎng gè xuǎn zé ， yào me shù shǒu jiù fù ， dào shí hòu zhǎng lǎo men huì duì nǐ de xíng wéi zuò chū jué zé ， yào me jiù zuò kùn shòu yóu dòu ， nà yàng nǐ de zuì zé huì gèng duō 。”
那为首的老者叹了口气：“人无信而不立，对于宗门家族也是一样的道理，我雨岚商盟虽只是一松散的组织，所定下的规矩却也不能任人随便破坏地，现在我给你两个选择，要么束手就缚，到时候长老们会对你的行为作出抉择，要么就做困兽犹斗，那样你的罪责会更多。”
So, he had no choice but to make the second choice. However, Lin Xuan didn't see it as fighting like a cornered beast.
duì fāng yī liǎn de bēi tiān mǐn rén zhī sè ， rán ér lín xuān de biǎo qíng què fèn wài bù shuǎng le 。
对方一脸的悲天悯人之色，然而林轩的表情却分外不爽了。
Indeed, Rain Mist Commercial Alliance was formidable. But that didn't mean all of Lin Xuan's feelings were fear; rather, he found it troublesome.
shén me jiào zuò tīng cóng zhǎng lǎo men de jué zé ？
什么叫做听从长老们的抉择？
Lin Xuan wasn't one to shy away from trouble.
shù shǒu jiù fù ？
束手就缚？
Back then, even at the stage of Spirit Cultivation, he had dared to offend the Precious Snake Ice Soul. Now with the passage of time and changes in circumstances, he had advanced to late-stage Golden Transformation. What did Rain Mist Commercial Alliance have that was so impressive?
bié kāi wán xiào le 。
别开玩笑了。
If they truly broke their faces, it wasn't certain they could defeat him; a mutual destruction outcome was more likely.
zì cóng tà shàng xiū xiān zhī lù ， lín xuān jiù xìn fèng wǒ de mìng yùn wǒ zuò zhǔ 。
自从踏上修仙之路，林轩就信奉我的命运我做主。
"You speak as if Lin Xuan were an easy target. Destroying your alliance's rules, I admit my mistake, but the choices you offer are too harsh. I cannot comply," Lin Xuan said coldly.
yào tā dī tóu yě bú shì bù kě ， dàn tīng yóu duì fāng fā luò ， zhè yàng de chǔn shì ， lín xuān què bú huì qù zuò 。
要他低头也不是不可，但听由对方发落，这样的蠢事，林轩却不会去做。
"Cannot comply? Do you think things will go your way now?"
nà me zì jǐ zhǐ néng zuò xià dì èr gè jué zé ， dàn lín xuān què yì diǎn dōu bù rèn wéi shì zài kùn shòu yóu dòu shén me 。
那么自己只能做下第二个抉择，但林轩却一点都不认为是在困兽犹斗什么。
The elderly man's expression grew more somber.
méi cuò ， yǔ lán shāng méng zì jǐ què rán zhāo rě bù qǐ 。
没错，雨岚商盟自己确然招惹不起。
He was merely using courtesy before force, to avoid giving him an excuse.
dàn nà bìng bù dài biǎo lín xuān suǒ gǎn jué dào de quán shì wèi jù ， qià qià xiāng fǎn ， tā shì jué de tài má fán le ér yǐ 。
但那并不代表林轩所感觉到的全是畏惧，恰恰相反，他是觉得太麻烦了而已。
This kid really thought he could stand on equal footing and negotiate with him. How naive.
lín xuān cóng lái jiù bú shì pà shì de xiū xiān zhě 。
林轩从来就不是怕事的修仙者。
It wasn't even too far off to say that he didn't know the difference between heaven and earth.
xī rì jǐn jǐn fēn shén qī ， jiù gǎn dé zuì bǎo shé bīng pò ， rú jīn shì yì shí yí ， tā yǐ jīng mài rù le dù jié hòu qī ， yǔ lán shāng méng yòu yǒu shén me liǎo bù qǐ 。
昔日仅仅分神期，就敢得罪宝蛇冰魄，如今事易时移，他已经迈入了渡劫后期，雨岚商盟又有什么了不起。
Late-stage Golden Transformation cultivators were indeed respected elsewhere, but what did they matter at a Peach Blossom Banquet?
dàng zhēn sī pò liǎn pí ， duì fāng yě bù yí dìng néng gòu ná xià zì jǐ ， zuì hòu duō bàn huì shì yí gè liǎng bài jù shāng de jié jú 。
当真撕破脸皮，对方也不一定能够拿下自己，最后多半会是一个两败俱伤的结局。
Here, there were countless experts and powerful figures. Did this kid think he had mastered a domain?
“ dào yǒu hǎo dà de kǒu qì ， zhēn dāng lín mǒu shì rèn rén róu niē de ruǎn shì zi ， pò huài guì méng de guī jǔ ， lín mǒu què rán yǒu cuò ， dàn gé xià suǒ gěi chū de liǎng gè xuǎn zé ， wèi miǎn yě qī rén tài shèn le ， qǐng shù lín mǒu ， jiē bù néng cóng mìng de 。” lín xuān lěng lěng de shuō 。
“道友好大的口气，真当林某是任人揉捏的软柿子，破坏贵盟的规矩，林某确然有错，但阁下所给出的两个选择，未免也欺人太甚了，请恕林某，皆不能从命的。”林轩冷冷的说。
Even if he was a domain master, he couldn't disregard Rain Mist Commercial Alliance's rules.
“ jiē bù néng cóng mìng ， nǐ yǐ wéi shì dào rú jīn ， hái yóu de le nǐ zì jǐ ？”
“皆不能从命，你以为事到如今，还由得了你自己？”
Wanting to cause trouble here, his strength was still insufficient.
nà zhǎng méi lǎo zhě de biǎo qíng ， yě biàn dé yǒu xiē yīn yù 。
那长眉老者的表情，也变得有些阴郁。
With these thoughts in mind, the elderly man's expression grew increasingly grim: "Give you one last chance—surrender and be bound. Otherwise, I guarantee you will regret coming into this world."
His speed was so swift that it defied description.
In one moment, he was still at the horizon. In an instant after, he had already arrived several hundred feet in front of him.
No need to release his divine consciousness or use Heavenly Phoenix Divine Eyes; the seven old monsters' figures were now clear to see.
Each one exuded a Taoist demeanor with flowing white beards and an ethereal aura emanating from their bodies.
The spiritual pressure was faint, but Lin Xuan could be one hundred percent certain that they were late-stage Golden Transformation cultivators.
Was it True Refinement Seven Cultivators? They came from the same school of cultivation and excelled in joint operations. This indeed made them difficult to deal with.
But saying he was afraid would be an exaggeration.
Lin Xuan wasn't just any ordinary cultivator; a few peers wouldn't be able to make him surrender. But the situation before him wasn't simply about defeating True Refinement Seven Cultivators.
Their strength in Rain Mist Commercial Alliance was formidable, but they weren't the top-tier figures either. Even if he defeated them, new experts would still emerge.
Endless enmity—this was what made it most vexing.
Moreover, Lin Xuan wasn't good at killing.
He had only disrupted Rain Mist Commercial Alliance's rules; there hadn't been any major grudges between the two sides.
But if he killed True Refinement Seven Cultivators, their enmity would truly deepen.
At that point, not only would there be no chance of reconciliation, but facing such a crisis would be even more daunting than now.
Lin Xuan didn't want to become an enemy with Rain Mist Commercial Alliance.
Although he was arrogant, he lacked the confidence to deal with ancient legacies like this.
The key was unworthy!
So what needed to be done now was to turn danger into safety and think of how to resolve the crisis with Rain Mist Commercial Alliance.
But while it seemed easy to say, doing so proved incredibly difficult.
Rain Mist Commercial Alliance had once risked conflict with late-stage Golden Transformation cultivators to uphold their rules. Lin Xuan had to make them hesitate; he needed to show enough strength for them to retreat.
The strength that could deter Rain Mist Commercial Alliance from pursuing him.
And during this process, he couldn't eliminate True Refinement Seven Cultivators. The delicate balance of power was not something an ordinary person could grasp.
Even Lin Xuan found it vexing, but he had no choice. He didn't want to live in endless pursuit after breaking free from the constraints of his lifespan.
Besides, Lin Xuan wasn't going to let this Peach Blossom Banquet pass either.
To achieve that, he needed Rain Mist Commercial Alliance to hesitate and forgive him for inadvertently disrupting their rules.
With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Lin Xuan remained composed. The True Refinement Seven Cultivators finally arrived before him.
They stood about thirty feet away, forming a half-circle around him, as if preventing him from escaping.
It seemed they were guarding against his attempt to flee.
But in Lin Xuan's eyes, this was merely unnecessary.
If he wanted to escape, he would have long since done so. He stayed put because he intended to resolve the issue.
"Are you Lin Xuan, Fellow Daoist?"
From their positions, Lin Xuan could tell that they weren't all of equal status.
The leader was an elderly man with a long beard and a benevolent expression. His words were devoid of any worldly pretense. The grace and bearing he exuded were almost as if he had descended from the heavens.
Lin Xuan wasn't swayed by this; in fact, his face turned even more displeased at what followed.
Rain Mist Commercial Alliance's power was indeed formidable. They managed to uncover his identity so quickly.
He had thought that revealing his true self accidentally would keep them unaware of his origins.
Now it seemed he had been too naive.
No wonder they were an ancient legacy; their depth and底蕴 far exceeded his expectations.
This meant the trouble ahead was even more severe, requiring him to be extra cautious.
Lin Xuan's thoughts raced, but his face showed no signs of weakness. At such a moment, one must never show any sign of submission.
"Indeed, it is me."
Lin Xuan spoke calmly and evenly.
"Fellow Daoist, you are our guest from afar, and we were more than welcome to have you join the Peach Blossom Banquet. But why do you destroy the rules set by this alliance? Do you know how difficult that makes things for us?"
The elderly man sighed: "Without trust, one cannot stand. The same applies to sects and families. Although our Rain Mist Commercial Alliance is a loose organization, its rules cannot be casually broken. Now I give you two choices: either surrender and let the elders decide your fate, or fight like a cornered beast, which will increase your guilt."
The elderly man's expression was full of compassion, but Lin Xuan felt particularly irked.
What did it mean to submit to the elders' decision?
Surrendering and submitting?
That was sheer nonsense.
Since he embarked on his path as a cultivator, Lin Xuan had always believed in making his own destiny. While he could bow down if necessary, he would never let others decide his fate.
So, he had no choice but to make the second choice. However, Lin Xuan didn't see it as fighting like a cornered beast.
Indeed, Rain Mist Commercial Alliance was formidable. But that didn't mean all of Lin Xuan's feelings were fear; rather, he found it troublesome.
Lin Xuan wasn't one to shy away from trouble.
Back then, even at the stage of Spirit Cultivation, he had dared to offend the Precious Snake Ice Soul. Now with the passage of time and changes in circumstances, he had advanced to late-stage Golden Transformation. What did Rain Mist Commercial Alliance have that was so impressive?
If they truly broke their faces, it wasn't certain they could defeat him; a mutual destruction outcome was more likely.
"You speak as if Lin Xuan were an easy target. Destroying your alliance's rules, I admit my mistake, but the choices you offer are too harsh. I cannot comply," Lin Xuan said coldly.
"Cannot comply? Do you think things will go your way now?"
The elderly man's expression grew more somber.
He was merely using courtesy before force, to avoid giving him an excuse.
This kid really thought he could stand on equal footing and negotiate with him. How naive.
It wasn't even too far off to say that he didn't know the difference between heaven and earth.
Late-stage Golden Transformation cultivators were indeed respected elsewhere, but what did they matter at a Peach Blossom Banquet?
Here, there were countless experts and powerful figures. Did this kid think he had mastered a domain?
Even if he was a domain master, he couldn't disregard Rain Mist Commercial Alliance's rules.
Wanting to cause trouble here, his strength was still insufficient.
With these thoughts in mind, the elderly man's expression grew increasingly grim: "Give you one last chance—surrender and be bound. Otherwise, I guarantee you will regret coming into this world."