shēn bù kě cè ！
深不可测！
Infinite depth!
zhè jiǎn dān de sì gè zì jiāng dōng yù xiān huáng de jì dàn miáo xiě dào le lín lí jìn zhì de dì bù 。
这简单的四个字将东裕仙皇的忌惮描写到了淋漓尽致的地步。
These four simple words depicted the utmost dread of Emperor Dong Yu's caution.
wèi zhī yuán běn jiù shì zuì kě pà de shì wù 。
未知原本就是最可怕的事物。
The unknown is the most terrifying thing.
tā yǔ lín xuān ， míng míng yǒu le jiē chù ， què piān piān rú wù lǐ kàn huā ， bù zhī dào tā de xiū wèi jiū jìng rú hé 。
他与林轩，明明有了接触，却偏偏如雾里看花，不知道他的修为究竟如何。
Though he had interacted with Lin Xuan, it was as if he were looking at flowers through a mist; he didn't know what kind of cultivation realm the other possessed.
shì tàn méi yǒu yòng chǔ ！
试探没有用处！
Probing would be useless!
táng táng zhèng zhèng de yáng móu yì bèi tā qīng ér yì jǔ jiù jiē xià lái le 。
堂堂正正的阳谋亦被他轻而易举就接下来了。
His straightforward阳谋 (Yang Miao) strategy was easily accepted by him.
dōu shuō bǎi wén bù rú yī jiàn 。
都说百闻不如一见。
They say that seeing is believing.
zhè lín xiǎo zi de míng qì ， yǐ jīng dà dé lí pǔ 。
这林小子的名气，已经大得离谱。
This young man's reputation had grown to an absurd degree.
méi xiǎng dào zhēn rén dài gěi zì jǐ de zhèn hàn hái yào yuǎn shèng chuán wén xǔ duō 。
没想到真人带给自己的震撼还要远胜传闻许多。
He hadn’t expected the real person to shock him more than the rumors.
dōng yù xiān huáng jué fēi ruò zhě 。
东裕仙皇绝非弱者。
Emperor Dong Yu was no weakling.
tā zài shàng gǔ de shí qī céng míng mǎn tiān xià 。
他在上古的时期曾名满天下。
In ancient times, he was renowned across the land.
zhǐ bù guò hòu lái shēn jū qiǎn chū ， míng qì cái jiàn jiàn biàn dé dàn mò 。
只不过后来深居浅出，名气才渐渐变得淡漠。
Only later did his fame gradually fade as he withdrew from public life.
fǒu zé xī rì de jiàn hú gōng yòu nǎ lǐ suàn dé shàng nài lóng jiè dì yī zōng mén ne ？
否则昔日的剑湖宫又哪里算得上鼐龙界第一宗门呢？
Otherwise, how could Jianhu Palace have been considered one of the top sects in Naelong?
wàn xiǎo xiān gōng de pái háng bǎng ？
万晓仙宫的排行榜？
The ranking list at Wanshao Immortal Palace?
xiào huà ， nà bù guò shì chá yú fàn hòu de tán zī ér yǐ 。
笑话，那不过是茶余饭后的谈资而已。
A joke; it was merely idle talk for after meals.
zhēn zhèng de dǐng jí zōng mén dōu yī xiào zhì zhī 。
真正的顶级宗门都一笑置之。
True top-tier sects would not pay attention.
bì jìng nà xiē gǔ lǎo shì lì dǐ yùn rú hé ， cóng lái dōu zhǐ yǒu tā men de tài shàng zhǎng lǎo xīn zhōng qīng chǔ ， biàn shì gāi mén pài de qí tā zhòng yào rén wù ， duō bàn yě shì xī lǐ hú tú 。
毕竟那些古老势力底蕴如何，从来都只有他们的太上长老心中清楚，便是该门派的其他重要人物，多半也是稀里糊涂。
After all, only their senior elders knew the true strength and background of those ancient forces. Most other important figures within a sect were often clueless.
zhì yú wàn xiǎo xiān gōng ？
至于万晓仙宫？
As for Wanshao Immortal Palace?
hēng ， tā men yòu dǎ tàn dé dào shén me zhǔn què de xiàn suǒ ， bù guò shì xiǎng dāng rán bà le 。
哼，他们又打探得到什么准确的线索，不过是想当然罢了。
Hmph, they had no accurate clues to probe; it was just wishful thinking.
suǒ wèi de pái háng bǎng gēn běn jiù shì yí xiào dà fāng ， zhǐ bù guò dǐng jí shì lì bù zài yì 。
所谓的排行榜根本就是贻笑大方，只不过顶级势力不在意。
The so-called ranking list was merely embarrassing, but top-tier powers didn't care.
ér dōng yù xiān huáng biàn shì zhè yàng de shén mì dà néng zhī yī 。
而东裕仙皇便是这样的神秘大能之一。
Emperor Dong Yu was such a mysterious great power among them.
yuán běn tā jiù tīng shuō guò lín xuān de míng qì 。
原本他就听说过林轩的名气。
Originally, he had heard of Lin Xuan's reputation.
dàn bìng bù rèn wéi tā jiù tiān xià wú dí ， chōng qí liàng bù guò shì nà xiē pǔ tōng xiū shì jiàn wén bù duō ， zhè lín xiǎo zi yǒu sān fēn guò rén zhī chù ， biàn tì tā chuī xū dé shí zú 。
但并不认为他就天下无敌，充其量不过是那些普通修士见闻不多，这林小子有三分过人之处，便替他吹嘘得十足。
But he did not believe that the young man was invincible. At most, his ordinary fellow cultivators exaggerated his abilities, making him seem three parts superior to others.
yǔ nài lóng zhēn rén yì jié jīn lán ？
与鼐龙真人义结金兰？
Their supposed brotherhood with Sovereign Naelong?
qiě bù lùn cǐ shì shì zhēn shì jiǎ 。
且不论此事是真是假。
Whether it was true or false didn't matter.
jiù suàn yán zhī záo záo ， nà yòu rú hé ？
就算言之凿凿，那又如何？
Even if it were confirmed, what difference would it make?
nài lóng zhēn rén yuán běn jiù bú shì xǐ huān àn zhào cháng lǐ chū pái de rén wù 。
鼐龙真人原本就不是喜欢按照常理出牌的人物。
Sovereign Naelong wasn’t one who followed the conventional path.
xiān qián bú shì yǒu gè jiào zuò wàng tíng lóu de xiǎo jiā huo ， shí lì méi yǒu rèn hé kě quān kě diǎn zhī chù ， yì bèi tā yǐ xiōng dì zhī lǐ dài zhī me ？
先前不是有个叫做望亭楼的小家伙，实力没有任何可圈可点之处，亦被他以兄弟之礼待之么？
Didn’t he treat a little fellow named Wangtinglou with brotherly respect despite his lack of impressive power?
suǒ yǐ guāng píng zhè yì diǎn ， gēn běn jiù shuō míng bù liǎo shén me 。
所以光凭这一点，根本就说明不了什么。
So this single point couldn’t prove anything.
guī gēn jié dǐ ， xiū xiān méi yǒu jié jìng 。 suì yuè dǐ yùn de mó lì ， cái néng zào jiù zhēn zhèng de qiáng zhě 。
归根结底，修仙没有捷径。岁月底蕴的磨砺，才能造就真正的强者。
In essence, cultivation had no shortcuts. Only through years of refinement could true strength be achieved.
nà lín xiǎo zi jué qǐ tài guò xùn sù 。
那林小子崛起太过迅速。
Lin Xuan's rise was too swift.
jiù suàn yǒu yī xiē qí yù yòu rú hé ， nán dào hái zhēn néng yǔ zì jǐ shàng bǎi wàn nián de kǔ xiū xiāng bǐ me ？
就算有一些奇遇又如何，难道还真能与自己上百万年的苦修相比么？
Even if there were some extraordinary opportunities, how could that compare to a million years of hard work?
dá àn xiǎn rán shì bù kě néng de 。
答案显然是不可能的。
The answer was clearly impossible.
suǒ yǐ cái yǒu le nà yī zhǎng de shì tàn zhī jǔ 。
所以才有了那一掌的试探之举。
That’s why he tested with his palm.
ruò shì nà yī zhǎng néng gòu shì tàn chū lín xuān shì tú yǒu xū míng de rén wù ， tā yě gēn běn bú huì dòng yòng shén me jiǔ shèng líng jiǔ le 。
若是那一掌能够试探出林轩是徒有虚名的人物，他也根本不会动用什么九圣灵酒了。
If the test revealed Lin Xuan as merely a pretender, he wouldn’t have used Nine Holy Spirit Wine at all.
bì jìng cǐ wù suī yǒu jù dú ， dàn yì shì zhēn guì de shén wù ， lùn bǎo bèi chéng dù ， yì diǎn dōu bù bǐ xiū xiān jiè sān dà líng guǒ xùn sè 。
毕竟此物虽有剧毒，但亦是珍贵的神物，论宝贝程度，一点都不比修仙界三大灵果逊色。
After all, though it had剧毒 (toxic), it was also a precious divine treasure. In terms of rarity, it didn't fall short of the three top spiritual fruits in cultivation circles.
suī bù néng cān wù lǐng yù ， dàn zài qí tā yī xiē fāng miàn de xiào guǒ ， hái yóu yǒu shèng guò 。
虽不能参悟领域，但在其他一些方面的效果，还犹有胜过。
Though one couldn't understand its domain, it still had advantages in other areas.
lín xuān ruò zhǐ shì làng dé xū míng ， gěi tā hē zhè dōng xī jiù shì bào tiǎn tiān wù 。
林轩若只是浪得虚名，给他喝这东西就是暴殄天物。
If Lin Xuan were just a pretender, giving him this would be a waste.
suǒ yǐ dōng yù xiān huáng cái xiān shì tàn yī zhǎng zài shuō 。
所以东裕仙皇才先试探一掌再说。
That’s why Emperor Dong Yu tested with his palm first.
tā de jì cè 。 yuán běn jiù shì huán huán xiāng kòu 。
他的计策。原本就是环环相扣。
His strategy was intricately planned.
kàn shì suí xīn suǒ yù ， qí shí měi yī bù dōu shì jīng guò jīng xīn cè huà yǔ suàn jì 。
看似随心所欲，其实每一步都是经过精心策划与算计。
It seemed casual but each step was meticulously calculated—either through cunning or deceit, leading Lin Xuan into the trap.
huò yīn móu ， huò guǐ jì ， yí bù yí bù ， jiāng lín xuān yǐn rù dào xiàn jǐng lǐ 。
或阴谋，或诡计，一步一步，将林轩引入到陷阱里。
He aimed to secure the position of Grandmaster of Immortal Alliance and removing an enemy here would be ideal.
xiān dào méng zhī zhǔ tā zhì zài bì děi ， néng zài zhè lǐ chú qù yí gè qiáng dí zì rán shì zài hǎo bù guò 。
仙道盟之主他志在必得，能在这里除去一个强敌自然是再好不过。
But who knew that in the end, things turned out this way. Lin Xuan had clearly fallen into his trap but easily broke all dangers.
nǎ ér xiǎo de zuì hòu ， què shì zhè bān jié guǒ ， lín xuān míng míng yǐ jīng rù wèng ， què yòu qīng yì jiāng suǒ yǒu de wēi xiǎn pò chú 。
哪儿晓得最后，却是这般结果，林轩明明已经入瓮，却又轻易将所有的危险破除。
A single palm couldn't gauge his depth.
yī zhǎng shì bù chū tā de shēn qiǎn 。
一掌试不出他的深浅。
Nine Holy Spirit Wine was useless now.
jiǔ shèng líng jiǔ yì méi yǒu le yòng chǔ 。
九圣灵酒亦没有了用处。
Emperor Dong Yu's frustration was indescribable.
dōng yù xiān huáng xīn zhōng de cuò bài gǎn nán yǐ yòng yán yǔ shuō dé qīng chǔ 。
东裕仙皇心中的挫败感难以用言语说得清楚。
From confident to completely uncertain.
cóng yuán běn de xìn xīn shí zú 。 biàn dé méi yǒu le yì diǎn bǎ wò 。
从原本的信心十足。变得没有了一点把握。
Was that still the young man he didn’t pay much attention to?
nà hái shì zì jǐ bìng bù zěn me zài yì de lín xiǎo zi me ？
那还是自己并不怎么在意的林小子么？
Now, it felt like looking at flowers through a mist; he had no idea what Lin Xuan’s true strength was.
rú jīn què fǎng fú wù lǐ kàn huā ， bù zhī dào tā de shēn qiǎn jiū jìng rú hé 。
如今却仿佛雾里看花，不知道他的深浅究竟如何。
That’s why Emperor Dong Yu felt such dread.
yě jiù nán guài dōng yù xiān huáng xīn zhōng huì dà gǎn jì dàn le 。
也就难怪东裕仙皇心中会大感忌惮了。
His face turned ashen with an overwhelming gloom.
yī shí jiān ， tā liǎn sè rú tǔ ， yīn yù dào wú yǐ fù jiā de dì bù 。
一时间，他脸色如土，阴郁到无以复加的地步。
"Your Majesty."
“ bì xià 。”
“陛下。”
The expression of that lady in court attire wasn't any better: "What should we do next? Should we still go to this Moonlit City?"
nà wèi gōng zhuāng měi rén de biǎo qíng yì hǎo bù le xǔ duō ：“ jiē xià lái wǒ men yīng gāi rú hé 。 zhè nóng yuè chéng hái qù me ？”
那位宫装美人的表情亦好不了许多：“接下来我们应该如何。这濃月城还去么？”
"We must. Why not?"
“ qù ， wèi shén me bù qù ？”
“去，为什么不去？”
Although his expression was still grim, it had recovered somewhat from before.
dōng yù xiān huáng de liǎn sè suī rán yī jiù nán kàn wú bǐ ， dàn yǔ gāng gāng xiāng bǐ ， què yě míng xiǎn huī fù le jǐ fēn shēng qì 。
东裕仙皇的脸色虽然依旧难看无比，但与刚刚相比，却也明显恢复了几分生气。
"Do not blame me for speaking out of turn. This young man's strength is so extraordinary that even Nine Holy Spirit Wine couldn't hold him back. What meaning would there be in us attending the Immortal Alliance Conference? We can’t possibly get this position." The lady in court attire said with worry.
“ bì xià bú yào guài qiè shēn hú yán luàn yǔ 。 zhè lín xiǎo zi de shí lì jì rán rú cǐ lí pǔ ， lián jiǔ shèng líng jiǔ dōu zhì tā bú zhù ， wǒ men qù cān jiā xiān méng dà huì yòu yǒu shén me yì yì ne 。 zhōng guī shì ná bú dào zhè ge méng zhǔ 。” nà gōng zhuāng měi fù yōu xīn chōng chōng de shuō 。
“陛下不要怪妾身胡言乱语。这林小子的实力既然如此离谱，连九圣灵酒都制他不住，我们去参加仙盟大会又有什么意义呢。终归是拿不到这个盟主。”那宫装美妇忧心忡忡的说。
"Then, according to your words, what should we do? Should we just retreat humbly?"
“ nà zhào nǐ suǒ yán ， yīng gāi rú hé ， jiù zhè me huī liū liū de huí qù me ？”
“那照你所言，应该如何，就这么灰溜溜的回去么？”
Emperor Dong Yu said bitterly.
dōng yù xiān huáng hèn hèn de shuō 。
东裕仙皇恨恨的说。
"But..."
“ kě ……”
“可……”
"Do not advise me. This is a great opportunity; I will not easily miss it. Lin Xuan’s strength is infinite depth, but because his true strength remains unknown, giving up now would be too precious to waste. I have my own plans. In short, we must attend the Immortal Alliance Conference as spectators. Whether or not we intervene in the struggle for the position depends on how things unfold."
“ huáng hòu jiù bú yào quàn wǒ ， zhè me hǎo de jī huì ， běn huáng jué bú huì qīng yì cuò guò ， nà lín xiǎo zi shì shēn bù kě cè ， dàn zhèng yīn wèi méi yǒu shì tàn chū tā shēn qiǎn rú hé ， zhè me fàng qì ， shí zài shì tài kě xī ， běn huáng zì yǒu zhǔ yì ， zǒng ér yán zhī ， zhè xiān méng dà huì wǒ men yào qù guān lǐ ， zhì yú chū bù chū shǒu zhēng duó méng zhǔ ， dào shí hòu guǎ rén kàn qíng kuàng zài zuò dìng duó 。”
“皇后就不要劝我，这么好的机会，本皇绝不会轻易错过，那林小子是深不可测，但正因为没有试探出他深浅如何，这么放弃，实在是太可惜，本皇自有主意，总而言之，这仙盟大会我们要去观礼，至于出不出手争夺盟主，到时候寡人看情况再做定夺。”
Emperor Dong Yu said with a resolute expression, clearly having made up his mind.
dōng yù xiān huáng rú cǐ zhè bān de shuō ， biǎo qíng què shì gāng yì dào jí chù ， xiǎn rán xīn zhōng yǐ jīng ná dìng zhǔ yì le 。
东裕仙皇如此这般的说，表情却是刚毅到极处，显然心中已经拿定主意了。
"Agreed."
“ yě hǎo 。”
“也好。”
This strategy was old and reliable. Going back would be too cowardly. So the empress didn’t say anything more.
zhè jì cè ， yě suàn shì lǎo chéng wěn tuǒ ， zhè me huí qù ， què shí yǒu xiē dǎn xiǎo tài guò ， yú shì huáng hòu yě jiù bù zài shuō shén me 。
这计策，也算是老成稳妥，这么回去，确实有些胆小太过，于是皇后也就不再说什么。
They returned to their imperial carriage but were no longer interested in playing chess, deep in thought as they pondered their next move.
liǎng rén chóng xīn zuò huí yù niǎn ， rán ér què wú xīn duì yì ， biǎo qíng jiē zài sī suǒ ， yě bù zhī dào shì bú shì zài chóu móu jiē xià lái de duì cè 。
两人重新坐回御辇，然而却无心对弈，表情皆在思索，也不知道是不是在筹谋接下来的对策。
The风云际会 (meeting of winds and clouds) had gathered many powerful figures in this small Moonlit City. More than one was eyeing the position of Grandmaster with fierce intent.
fēng yún jì huì ， xiǎo xiǎo de nóng yuè chéng yǐ jīng huì jí le tài duō de qiáng zhě ， duì yú méng zhǔ zhī wèi hǔ shì dān dān de gèng bú shì yí gè ， liǎng gè 。
风云际会，小小的濃月城已经汇集了太多的强者，对于盟主之位虎视眈眈的更不是一个，两个。
What would be the outcome of this chaos? Who would ultimately rise to the throne?
zhè luàn jú huì shì zěn yàng yí gè jié guǒ ， dào zuì hòu ， yòu shì shuí ， yǒu jī huì wèn dǐng bǎo zuò ？
这乱局会是怎样一个结果，到最后，又是谁，有机会问鼎宝座？
No one knew; everything could only be determined after three days, when the Immortal Alliance Conference began and its final result revealed itself.
méi yǒu rén xiǎo de ， yī qiè dōu zhǐ yǒu děng sān tiān zhī hòu ， xiān méng dà huì kāi mù ， zuì zhōng ， cái néng jiàn fēn xiǎo de 。
没有人晓得，一切都只有等三天之后，仙盟大会开幕，最终，才能见分晓的。
Now, everything was uncertain.
xiàn zài ， yī qiè dōu shì wèi zhī shù 。
现在，一切都是未知数。
...
……
……
At the same time, Lin Xuan had already entered Moonlit City.
tóng yī shí jiān ， lín xuān yǐ jīng jìn rù le nóng yuè chéng lǐ miàn 。
同一时间，林轩已经进入了濃月城里面。
Choosing it as the venue for the Immortal Alliance Conference wasn't just because of its relative safety from域外天魔 (outer world demons), but also due to its vast area that could accommodate millions without overcrowding.
tiāo xuǎn zhè lǐ zuò wéi xiān méng dà huì de jǔ bàn dì ， bù jǐn jǐn shì yīn wèi zhè lǐ shǎo yǒu yù wài tiān mó ， hái yīn wèi cǐ chéng miàn jī guǎng kuò ， zú yǐ róng nà shù bǎi wàn xiū shì yě bú jiàn yōng jǐ de 。
挑选这里作为仙盟大会的举办地，不仅仅是因为这里少有域外天魔，还因为此城面积广阔，足以容纳数百万修士也不见拥挤的。
Despite these considerations, the number of arriving cultivators far exceeded expectations.
kǎo lǜ yuán běn yǐ jīng hěn chōng fèn le ， rán ér cóng sì miàn bā fāng gǎn lái de xiū shì hái shì yuǎn yuǎn chāo guò le yù jì 。
考虑原本已经很充分了，然而从四面八方赶来的修士还是远远超过了预计。
The scene Lin Xuan saw upon entering was extremely lively. While "shoulder-to-shoulder" might be an exaggeration, the sheer number of cultivators was extraordinary.
lín xuān jìn rù chéng zhōng kàn jiàn de qíng jǐng biàn shì rè nào yǐ jí 。
林轩进入城中看见的情景便是热闹以极。
The inns and caves for rent were already full, let alone those that could be rented out to outsiders.
shuō mó jiān jiē zhǒng yǒu xiē tài guò ， dàn xiū shì de shù liàng què rán yǒu xiē lí pǔ 。
说摩肩接踵有些太过，但修士的数量确然有些离谱。
Most cultivators had to settle for eating outdoors or sleeping under the stars.
chéng zhōng de kè diàn zǎo yǐ shì zhù mǎn le ， gèng bié tán nà zhǒng kě yǐ duì wài chū zū de dòng fǔ 。
城中的客店早已是住满了，更别谈那种可以对外出租的洞府。
Yet no one was unhappy; they found joy in it.
jué dà bù fèn xiū shì ， dōu zhǐ néng gòu fēng cān lù sù 。
绝大部分修士，都只能够风餐露宿。
With the three realms facing a great crisis, such a grand event was rare. There was no reason not to attend.
rán ér què méi yǒu rén bù mǎn ， fǎn ér zì dé qí lè zài lǐ miàn 。
然而却没有人不满，反而自得其乐在里面。
Just participating in the exchange and mutual benefit alone would be worth all the effort.
rú jīn sān jiè miàn lín jù dà de wēi jī ， zhè zhǒng rè nào de shèng shì gèng shì nán dé yǐ jí ， zì rán méi yǒu cuò guò de dào lǐ 。
如今三界面临巨大的危机，这种热闹的盛事更是难得以极，自然没有错过的道理。
But Lin Xuan had nothing to worry about. As a major force of Cloud Concealing Sect, they had already chosen their accommodations well before the conference began.
bié de bù tí ， guāng shì cān jiā jiāo huàn huì hù tōng yǒu wú ， jiù bù wǎng zhè yī fān xīn kǔ 。
别的不提，光是参加交换会互通有无，就不枉这一番辛苦。
To the west of Moonlit City stood a magnificent palace complex specifically for VIPs.
dàn lín xuān zì rán shì bù yòng fā chóu ， zěn me shuō ， yún yǐn zōng yě shì xiān dào méng de sì dà shì lì zhī yī ， zài chóu móu shèng shì de shí hòu zǎo yǐ jīng xuǎn hǎo le luò jiǎo zhī chù 。
但林轩自然是不用发愁，怎么说，云隐宗也是仙道盟的四大势力之一，在筹谋盛事的时候早已经选好了落脚之处。
Brother Dragon must have arranged everything; he only needed to meet up with him there.
zài nóng yuè chéng yǐ xī ， yǒu yī piàn gōng diàn jīng qiǎo zhuàng lì ， biàn shì zhuān mén wèi guì bīn zhǔn bèi dì 。
在濃月城以西，有一片宫殿精巧壮丽，便是专门为贵宾准备地。
Lin Xuan thought as his light speed increased. Soon, he arrived in front of the palace. (To be continued...)
Infinite depth!
These four simple words depicted the utmost dread of Emperor Dong Yu's caution.
The unknown is the most terrifying thing.
Though he had interacted with Lin Xuan, it was as if he were looking at flowers through a mist; he didn't know what kind of cultivation realm the other possessed.
Probing would be useless!
His straightforward阳谋 (Yang Miao) strategy was easily accepted by him.
They say that seeing is believing.
This young man's reputation had grown to an absurd degree.
He hadn’t expected the real person to shock him more than the rumors.
Emperor Dong Yu was no weakling.
In ancient times, he was renowned across the land.
Only later did his fame gradually fade as he withdrew from public life.
Otherwise, how could Jianhu Palace have been considered one of the top sects in Naelong?
The ranking list at Wanshao Immortal Palace?
A joke; it was merely idle talk for after meals.
True top-tier sects would not pay attention.
After all, only their senior elders knew the true strength and background of those ancient forces. Most other important figures within a sect were often clueless.
As for Wanshao Immortal Palace?
Hmph, they had no accurate clues to probe; it was just wishful thinking.
The so-called ranking list was merely embarrassing, but top-tier powers didn't care.
Emperor Dong Yu was such a mysterious great power among them.
Originally, he had heard of Lin Xuan's reputation.
But he did not believe that the young man was invincible. At most, his ordinary fellow cultivators exaggerated his abilities, making him seem three parts superior to others.
Their supposed brotherhood with Sovereign Naelong?
Whether it was true or false didn't matter.
Even if it were confirmed, what difference would it make?
Sovereign Naelong wasn’t one who followed the conventional path.
Didn’t he treat a little fellow named Wangtinglou with brotherly respect despite his lack of impressive power?
So this single point couldn’t prove anything.
In essence, cultivation had no shortcuts. Only through years of refinement could true strength be achieved.
Lin Xuan's rise was too swift.
Even if there were some extraordinary opportunities, how could that compare to a million years of hard work?
The answer was clearly impossible.
That’s why he tested with his palm.
If the test revealed Lin Xuan as merely a pretender, he wouldn’t have used Nine Holy Spirit Wine at all.
After all, though it had剧毒 (toxic), it was also a precious divine treasure. In terms of rarity, it didn't fall short of the three top spiritual fruits in cultivation circles.
Though one couldn't understand its domain, it still had advantages in other areas.
If Lin Xuan were just a pretender, giving him this would be a waste.
That’s why Emperor Dong Yu tested with his palm first.
His strategy was intricately planned.
It seemed casual but each step was meticulously calculated—either through cunning or deceit, leading Lin Xuan into the trap.
He aimed to secure the position of Grandmaster of Immortal Alliance and removing an enemy here would be ideal.
But who knew that in the end, things turned out this way. Lin Xuan had clearly fallen into his trap but easily broke all dangers.
A single palm couldn't gauge his depth.
Nine Holy Spirit Wine was useless now.
Emperor Dong Yu's frustration was indescribable.
From confident to completely uncertain.
Was that still the young man he didn’t pay much attention to?
Now, it felt like looking at flowers through a mist; he had no idea what Lin Xuan’s true strength was.
That’s why Emperor Dong Yu felt such dread.
His face turned ashen with an overwhelming gloom.
"Your Majesty."
The expression of that lady in court attire wasn't any better: "What should we do next? Should we still go to this Moonlit City?"
"We must. Why not?"
Although his expression was still grim, it had recovered somewhat from before.
"Do not blame me for speaking out of turn. This young man's strength is so extraordinary that even Nine Holy Spirit Wine couldn't hold him back. What meaning would there be in us attending the Immortal Alliance Conference? We can’t possibly get this position." The lady in court attire said with worry.
"Then, according to your words, what should we do? Should we just retreat humbly?"
Emperor Dong Yu said bitterly.
"But..."
"Do not advise me. This is a great opportunity; I will not easily miss it. Lin Xuan’s strength is infinite depth, but because his true strength remains unknown, giving up now would be too precious to waste. I have my own plans. In short, we must attend the Immortal Alliance Conference as spectators. Whether or not we intervene in the struggle for the position depends on how things unfold."
Emperor Dong Yu said with a resolute expression, clearly having made up his mind.
"Agreed."
This strategy was old and reliable. Going back would be too cowardly. So the empress didn’t say anything more.
They returned to their imperial carriage but were no longer interested in playing chess, deep in thought as they pondered their next move.
The风云际会 (meeting of winds and clouds) had gathered many powerful figures in this small Moonlit City. More than one was eyeing the position of Grandmaster with fierce intent.
What would be the outcome of this chaos? Who would ultimately rise to the throne?
No one knew; everything could only be determined after three days, when the Immortal Alliance Conference began and its final result revealed itself.
Now, everything was uncertain.
...
At the same time, Lin Xuan had already entered Moonlit City.
Choosing it as the venue for the Immortal Alliance Conference wasn't just because of its relative safety from域外天魔 (outer world demons), but also due to its vast area that could accommodate millions without overcrowding.
Despite these considerations, the number of arriving cultivators far exceeded expectations.
The scene Lin Xuan saw upon entering was extremely lively. While "shoulder-to-shoulder" might be an exaggeration, the sheer number of cultivators was extraordinary.
The inns and caves for rent were already full, let alone those that could be rented out to outsiders.
Most cultivators had to settle for eating outdoors or sleeping under the stars.
Yet no one was unhappy; they found joy in it.
With the three realms facing a great crisis, such a grand event was rare. There was no reason not to attend.
Just participating in the exchange and mutual benefit alone would be worth all the effort.
But Lin Xuan had nothing to worry about. As a major force of Cloud Concealing Sect, they had already chosen their accommodations well before the conference began.
To the west of Moonlit City stood a magnificent palace complex specifically for VIPs.
Brother Dragon must have arranged everything; he only needed to meet up with him there.
Lin Xuan thought as his light speed increased. Soon, he arrived in front of the palace. (To be continued...)