rán ér yī jiù yī sī dòng jìng yě wú ， hēi yī lǎo zhě de liǎn shàng lù chū yī sī bù nài fán yǔ yàn wù ， dàn lüè yī chóu chú ， yī jiù shén me yě méi zuò ， jìng jìng de zài yuán dì děng zhe 。
然而依旧一丝动静也无，黑衣老者的脸上露出一丝不耐烦与厌恶，但略一踌躇，依旧什么也没做，静静的在原地等着。
However, there was still no sign of movement. The old man in black showed a trace of impatience and disgust on his face, but after hesitating for a moment, he did nothing and waited silently where he stood.
jiù zhè yàng guò le yī zhǎn chá de gōng fu 。
就这样过了一盏茶的功夫。
After a while, about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a faint black mist emerged from the copper coffin. It coalesced into a face with striking features, though somewhat blurry as if seen through dense fog.
wū ……
呜……
"Finally decided to come out?"
cóng nà tóng guān zhōng ， mào chū yī tuán hēi qì ， suí hòu níng jù zài yì qǐ ， huàn huà chū le yī zhāng liǎn kǒng ， róng mào wǔ guān dōu pǒ wèi chū zhòng ， rán ér què yǒu yī xiē mó hú ， fǎng fú gé zhe yī céng nóng nóng de mí wù 。
从那铜棺中，冒出一团黑气，随后凝聚在一起，幻化出了一张脸孔，容貌五官都颇为出众，然而却有一些模糊，仿佛隔着一层浓浓的迷雾。
"Hmph, just a bit more time, what's the big fuss? If not for me, do you think you'd have any chance of becoming the Great Elder?"
“ nǐ zhōng yú shě de chū lái le ？”
“你终于舍得出来了？”
"The Great Elder, your scheme is nothing but making me your puppet," the old man in black said viciously, his eyes filled with malice.
“ hēng ， bù guò shì duō děng le yì diǎn shí jiān ér yǐ ， nǐ yòu hé bì zhè me dà de yuàn qì ， ruò bú shì wǒ ， nǐ yǐ wéi zì jǐ yǒu jī huì wèn dǐng dà zhǎng lǎo zhī wèi me ？”
“哼，不过是多等了一点时间而已，你又何必这么大的怨气，若不是我，你以为自己有机会问鼎大长老之位么？”
Clearly, their cooperation was far from pleasant. He had no choice but to stay on this ship and couldn't get off.
“ dà zhǎng lǎo ， lǐ dài táo jiāng zhī cè ， bù guò shì zuò nǐ de kuǐ lěi bà le 。” nà hēi yī lǎo zhě què è hěn hěn de shuō ， yǎn zhōng yǐn yǒu yuàn dú 。
“大长老，李代桃僵之策，不过是做你的傀儡罢了。”那黑衣老者却恶狠狠的说，眼中隐有怨毒。
"You don’t need to complain. If not for my help back then, you would have been destroyed long ago. Now that you're the Great Elder, what’s there to complain about? Do you want that old guy resurrected? Your fate will be...," the figure in the mist spoke with a hint of menace.
xiǎn rán ， tā yǔ duì fāng de hé zuò ， bìng bù yú kuài ， rú jīn bù guò shì shàng le zéi chuán ， méi yǒu bàn fǎ xià lái 。
显然，他与对方的合作，并不愉快，如今不过是上了贼船，没有办法下来。
"What do you want?"
“ nǐ bù yòng bào yuàn ， dāng nián ruò bú shì wǒ chū shǒu xiàng zhù ， nǐ zǎo jiù wàn jié bù fù ， rú jīn dāng shàng dà zhǎng lǎo ， yòu yǒu shén me kě bào yuàn de ， nán dào nǐ xiǎng ràng nà lǎo jiā huǒ fù huó ， dào shí hòu nǐ de xià chǎng kě jiù ……” nà wù qì zhōng de rén yǐng ， yǔ qì dài shàng le jǐ fēn wēi xié zhī sè 。
“你不用抱怨，当年若不是我出手相助，你早就万劫不复，如今当上大长老，又有什么可抱怨的，难道你想让那老家伙复活，到时候你的下场可就……”那雾气中的人影，语气带上了几分威胁之色。
The old man in black gritted his teeth, but his tone was clearly more dejected now.
“ nǐ jiū jìng xiǎng yào rú hé ？”
“你究竟想要如何？”
"Hmph. First tell me how things are going with what I asked you to do. Since you came here proactively, there should be some progress!"
hēi yī lǎo zhě yǎo yá qiè chǐ de shuō ， rán ér yǔ qì què míng xiǎn yǒu jǐ fēn tuí rán le 。
黑衣老者咬牙切齿的说，然而语气却明显有几分颓然了。
The figure in the mist spoke coldly.
“ hēng ， nǐ xiān shuō ， wǒ fēn fù nǐ bàn de shì qíng ， jìn xíng dé rú hé ， nǐ jì rán zhǔ dòng lái dào cǐ chù ， wǒ xiǎng duō shǎo zǒng yīng gāi yǒu yī xiē jìn zhǎn ba ！”
“哼，你先说，我吩咐你办的事情，进行得如何，你既然主动来到此处，我想多少总应该有一些进展吧！”
"Exactly as you said, that Lin boy is already trapped. I’ll bring him to your lair tomorrow."
nà wù qì zhōng de rén yǐng lěng lěng de kāi kǒu le 。
那雾气中的人影冷冷的开口了。
"Really?" The figure inside the mist showed signs of great joy.
“ rú nǐ suǒ yán ， nà lín xiǎo zi yǐ jīng rù wèng ， wǒ míng tiān jiù huì jiāng tā yǐn dào nǐ de dòng fǔ 。”
“如你所言，那林小子已经入瓮，我明天就会将他引到你的洞府。”
"Hmph, such a big matter, do you think I would dare lie to you?" the plump old man’s tone was tinged with mockery.
“ zhēn de ？” wù qì yī zhèn fān yǒng ， lǐ miàn de rén yǐng lù chū dà xǐ guò wàng zhī sè 。
“真的？”雾气一阵翻涌，里面的人影露出大喜过望之色。
But his counterpart paid no heed and found the slight taunt unimportant compared to the good news: "Can you really bring that Lin boy over?"
“ hēng ， zhè yàng de dà shì ， nǐ rèn wéi wǒ gǎn piàn nǐ me ？” ǎi pàng lǎo zhě de yǔ qì què bù wú cháo fěng 。
“哼，这样的大事，你认为我敢骗你么？”矮胖老者的语气却不无嘲讽。
"Absolutely."
rán ér duì fāng tīng le ， què háo bù zài yì ， yǔ tīng jiàn de hǎo xiāo xī xiāng bǐ 。 zhè diǎn jī fěng bù zhí yī tí ：“ nǐ zhēn néng jiāng nà lín xiǎo zi piàn guò lái ma ？”
然而对方听了，却毫不在意，与听见的好消息相比。这点讥讽不值一提：“你真能将那林小子骗过来吗？”
"Good. If you complete this task, our grudges will be settled. I can give you some benefits too."
“ rú jiǎ bāo huàn 。”
“如假包换。”
"You’re serious?"
“ hǎo ， zhè jiàn shì qíng nǐ ruò shì bàn tuǒ ， wǒ men zhī jiān de ēn yuàn yī bǐ gōu xiāo ， lǎo fū lìng wài hái kě yǐ gěi nǐ yī xiē hǎo chù 。”
“好，这件事情你若是办妥，我们之间的恩怨一笔勾销，老夫另外还可以给你一些好处。”
The old man in black was delighted; though his character was despicable, he kept his word.
“ nǐ shuō zhēn de ？”
“你说真的？”
"This immortal wouldn’t lie to you..."
hēi yī lǎo zhě dà xǐ ， duì fāng suī rán wú chǐ bēi bǐ ， rán ér què hái shì pǒ wèi xìn shǒu chéng nuò dì 。
黑衣老者大喜，对方虽然无耻卑鄙，然而却还是颇为信守承诺地。
...
“ běn xiān qǐ huì piàn nǐ ……”
“本仙岂会骗你……”
"This immortal, do you really think...?"
“ běn xiān ， nǐ hái zhēn dāng zì jǐ ……”
“本仙，你还真当自己……”
The old man in black muttered to himself but saw the other’s unsavory expression and swallowed his words. He changed his tone: "Deal is done. But that Lin boy has formidable strength; be careful not to meet your end."
hēi yī lǎo zhě xīn zhōng dí gū ， rán ér kàn jiàn duì fāng bù shàn de liǎn sè ， què jiāng hòu miàn de huà yàn xià qù le ， gǎi kǒu dào ：“ yī yán wéi dìng 。 bù guò nà lín xiǎo zi shí lì bù sú ， nǐ xiǎo xīn bié zài yīn gōu lǐ fān chuán le 。”
黑衣老者心中嘀咕，然而看见对方不善的脸色，却将后面的话咽下去了，改口道：“一言为定。不过那林小子实力不俗，你小心别在阴沟里翻船了。”
"Hmph, formidable strength? At most, he's just a spirit realm existence. Once we reach my lair, do you think he still has any chance of leaving alive?"
“ hēng ， shí lì bù sú ， chōng qí liàng yě bù guò shì yī líng jiè de cún zài bà le ， zhēn dào le běn xiān de dòng fǔ ， nǐ yǐ wéi tā hái yǒu jī huì huó zhe zǒu chū qù me ？”
“哼，实力不俗，充其量也不过是一灵界的存在罢了，真到了本仙的洞府，你以为他还有机会活着走出去么？”
Seeing the other’s arrogant expression, the plump old man left without saying more and walked out with a cold snort.
kàn jiàn duì fāng xiāo zhāng de liǎn sè ， ǎi pàng lǎo zhě yě bù duō shuō ， lěng hēng yī shēng zhī hòu zǒu chū qù le 。
看见对方嚣张的脸色，矮胖老者也不多说，冷哼一声之后走出去了。
...
……
……
Meanwhile, in some part of the Little Immortal Realm, a mysterious stone chamber.
yǔ cǐ tóng shí ， zài xiǎo xiān yù de mǒu chù 。 yī shén mì de shí shì zhōng 。
与此同时，在小仙域的某处。一神秘的石室中。
This stone chamber was vast, enough to shock anyone. It covered several thousand acres, almost as large as a square. The floor was scattered with rubble, and there were some disordered stone pillars.
zhè jiān shí shì miàn jī kuān guǎng ， lìng rén zé shé ， zú yǒu shù qiān mǔ ， yī yǎn wàng qù 。 jiù yǔ guǎng chǎng chà bu duō ， shí shì zhōng suì shí biàn bù ， hái yǒu yī xiē shí zhù sǎn luàn de fēn bù yú nà lǐ 。
这间石室面积宽广，令人咋舌，足有数千亩，一眼望去。就与广场差不多，石室中碎石遍布，还有一些石柱散乱的分布于那里。
A rough count showed that there were one hundred and eight pillars, each needing several people to encircle. Carved runes covered them, faintly emitting the light of禁制, interweaving and reflecting off each other.
cū lüè yī shù ， zú yǒu yì bǎi líng bā gēn 。 měi yī gēn shí zhù ， dōu xū yào shù rén cái néng huán bào ， shàng miàn fú wén biàn bù 。 yǐn yǐn yǒu jìn zhì de guāng máng shǎn sù bù yǐ ， qiě jiāo xiāng huī yìng 。
粗略一数，足有一百零八根。每一根石柱，都需要数人才能环抱，上面符文遍布。隐隐有禁制的光芒闪速不已，且交相辉映。
If someone looked up, they would see how high this chamber was, seemingly endless. About a hundred feet above, a huge black shadow fell down. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a black cocoon.
ruò shì yǒu rén tái qǐ tóu lú ， kě yǐ kàn jiàn zhè jiān shí shì gāo dé lí pǔ ， yī yǎn jìng wàng bú dào jìn tóu ， ér zài dà yuē shù bǎi zhàng de gāo kōng ， yī piàn jù dà de hēi yǐng tóu shè xià lái ， zǐ xì yī kàn ， yuán lái shì yī hēi sè de cán jiǎn 。
若是有人抬起头颅，可以看见这间石室高得离谱，一眼竟望不到尽头，而在大约数百丈的高空，一片巨大的黑影投射下来，仔细一看，原来是一黑色的蚕茧。
Ten feet in diameter, it emitted an eerie aura. On the surface of the cocoon were thick black iron chains that tightly bound it, with hundreds of禁制 talismans attached. Terrifying magical arrays enveloped it layer by layer, but this was not the most shocking part.
zú yǒu shí zhàng fāng yuán ， sàn fà chū guǐ yì de qì xī ， ér zài cán jiǎn de biǎo miàn ， shì yī dào dào wǎn kǒu cū de hēi sè tiě liàn ， jiāng tā chán le gè jiē shí ， tóng shí hái tiē yǒu shù yǐ bǎi jì de jìn zhì fú lù ， kě pà de fǎ zhèn zhī lì ， jiāng tā céng céng bāo guǒ ， ér zhe hái bú shì zuì lìng rén zé shé 。
足有十丈方圆，散发出诡异的气息，而在蚕茧的表面，是一道道碗口粗的黑色铁链，将它缠了个结实，同时还贴有数以百计的禁制符箓，可怕的法阵之力，将它层层包裹，而着还不是最令人咋舌。
Around the black cocoon, five treasures floated in mid-air: an ancient tripod, a purple mirror, a copper furnace, an jade staff, and a silver bell.
zài hēi sè cán jiǎn de sì zhōu ， hái píng kōng xuán fú zhe wǔ jiàn bǎo wù ， fēn bié shuō gǔ dǐng ， zǐ jìng ， tóng lú ， yù rú yì hé yín zhōng 。
在黑色蚕茧的四周，还凭空悬浮着五件宝物，分别说古鼎，紫镜，铜炉，玉如意和银钟。
Each emitted either ethereal energy or spiritual light, with countless golden runes swirling around them. Any cultivator here would have to widen their eyes; all five were先天灵宝.
měi yī jiàn huò xiān qì yīn yūn ， huò líng guāng tūn tǔ ， shèn zhì hái yǒu wú shù jīn sè de fú wén tuán tuán huán rào zhe 。
每一件或仙气氤氲，或灵光吞吐，甚至还有无数金色的符文团团环绕着。
Indeed, any one of these could cause chaos in the spirit realm if casually taken out. But there were five right before his eyes.
ruò shì yǒu xiū shì zài cǐ chù ， fēi dèng dà yǎn zhū ， yīn wèi zhè wǔ jiàn bǎo wù ， wú yī lì wài ， dōu shì xiān tiān líng bǎo 。
若是有修士在此处，非瞪大眼珠，因为这五件宝物，无一例外，都是先天灵宝。
And they were clearly meant to seal this black cocoon. So what kind of monster was inside?
méi cuò ， xiān tiān zhī wù ， suí biàn ná chū yī jiàn jiù zú yǐ zài líng jiè yǐn qǐ xīng fēng xuè yǔ ， rán ér yǎn qián ， què yǒu wǔ jiàn zhī duō 。
没错，先天之物，随便拿出一件就足以在灵界引起腥风血雨，然而眼前，却有五件之多。
...
ér qiě ， xiǎn rán shì wèi le fēng yìn yǎn qián hēi sè jù jiǎn de ， nà me zhè lǐ miàn ， jiū jìng cáng yǒu shén me guài wù ？
而且，显然是为了封印眼前黑色巨茧的，那么这里面，究竟藏有什么怪物？
All of this was unknown to Lin Xuan.
……
……
Nothing happened overnight.
zhè yī qiè ， lín xuān zì rán bìng bù xiǎo de 。
这一切，林轩自然并不晓得。
The next morning, just as Lin Xuan woke up, a streak of fiery light shot in from outside. A respectful voice then entered his ears: "Senior Lin, everything is ready. May I ask if we can set off now?"
yī yè wú shì 。
一夜无事。
Lin Xuan’s brows twitched, and he showed satisfaction on his face. After tidying himself up, he went out.
dì èr tiān yī zǎo ， lín xuān cái gāng gāng qǐ shēn ，“ sōu ” de yī dào huǒ guāng cóng wài miàn fēi shè ér rù ， suí hòu jiù yǒu gōng jìng de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ：“ lín qián bèi ， yī qiè yǐ zhǔn bèi wěn tuǒ ， bù zhī dào shì fǒu kě yǐ chū fā le ？”
第二天一早，林轩才刚刚起身，“嗖”的一道火光从外面飞射而入，随后就有恭敬的声音传入耳朵：“林前辈，一切已准备稳妥，不知道是否可以出发了？”
"Senior Lin!"
lín xuān méi shāo yī dòng ， liǎn shàng lù chū mǎn yì zhī sè ， shāo shāo shū xǐ yī fān ， jiù lái dào le wài miàn 。
林轩眉梢一动，脸上露出满意之色，稍稍梳洗一番，就来到了外面。
A man and a woman stood outside. They bowed as they saw him come out.
“ lín qián bèi ！”
“林前辈！”
The man was naturally the plump old man. As for the woman, Lin Xuan recognized her; she was Mu Qing, whom he had saved on his way here.
wài miàn zhàn yǒu yī nán yī nǚ ， jiàn lín xuān chū lái gōng shēn xíng lǐ 。
外面站有一男一女，见林轩出来躬身行礼。
"Did you rest well last night, Senior Lin?"
nán de bú yòng shuō ， zì rán shì nà ǎi pàng lǎo zhě ， zhì yú nǚ zǐ ， lín xuān yě rèn shí ， zhèng shì tā lái de lù shàng ， jiù de nà míng jiào mù qīng de nǚ zǐ 。
男的不用说，自然是那矮胖老者，至于女子，林轩也认识，正是他来的路上，救的那名叫穆青的女子。
"Hmm," Lin Xuan nodded.
“ lín qián bèi ， zuó wǎn xiū xī dé hái hǎo ba 。”
“林前辈，昨晚休息得还好吧。”
"The path to Truefeather’s lair is long and treacherous. By rights, I should lead the way, but as a Great Elder, I can’t leave. So Qing’er will guide us. She knows how to get there."
“ ń 。” lín xuān diǎn le diǎn tóu 。
“嗯。”林轩点了点头。
"It doesn’t matter."
“ cǐ qù huà yǔ zhēn rén de dòng fǔ ， lù tú pǒ wèi yáo yuǎn ， ér qiě fēi cháng de nán zǒu gǔ guài ， àn lǐ shuō ， wǎn bèi yīng gāi qīn zì dài lù ， zhǐ shì wǒ shēn wèi dà zhǎng lǎo ， shí zài bù yí lí kāi ， suǒ yǐ yóu qīng ér wèi nǐ dài lù ， cǐ qù huà yǔ zhēn rén dòng fǔ ， yīng gāi zěn me zǒu ， tā yě shì zhī dào de 。”
“此去化羽真人的洞府，路途颇为遥远，而且非常的难走古怪，按理说，晚辈应该亲自带路，只是我身为大长老，实在不宜离开，所以由青儿为你带路，此去化羽真人洞府，应该怎么走，她也是知道的。”
Lin Xuan didn’t mind; as long as he could find Yue’er smoothly, who guided him was just a minor detail.
“ méi guān xì 。”
“没关系。”
"Goodbye."
lín xuān zì rán bù jiè yì ， zhǐ yào néng shùn lì zhǎo dào yuè ér jiù kě yǐ ， yóu shuí dài lù ， bù guò shì xì zhī mò jié de dōng xī 。
林轩自然不介意，只要能顺利找到月儿就可以，由谁带路，不过是细枝末节的东西。
Lin Xuan gave the other a bow and turned his head: "Qing’er, let’s go!"
lín xuān chōng duì fāng bào quán xíng le yī lǐ ， suí hòu zhuǎn guò tóu lú ：“ qīng ér gū niáng ， wǒ men chū fā ba ！”
林轩冲对方抱拳行了一礼，随后转过头颅：“青儿姑娘，我们出发吧！”
Though Mu Qing knew Lin Xuan wasn’t truly an immortal, she still bowed humbly. She didn’t object to anything.
“ shì ！”
“是！”
Then Lin Xuan waved his sleeves, and a green mist scroll emerged, spreading spiritual light. A spirit boat appeared before their eyes.
mù qīng suī rán yǐ jīng zhī dào lín xuān bìng fēi zhēn zhèng de xiān rén ， dàn yī jiù yī liǎn de dī méi shùn mù ， zì rán bú huì tí chū yì yì shén me 。
穆青虽然已经知道林轩并非真正的仙人，但依旧一脸的低眉顺目，自然不会提出异议什么。
"Let's go!"
suí hòu lín xuān xiù páo yī fú ， yī dào qīng xiá fèi juǎn ér chū ， líng guāng sàn kāi ， yī sōu líng zhōu yìng rù yǎn lián 。
随后林轩袖袍一拂，一道青霞废卷而出，灵光散开，一艘灵舟映入眼帘。
Lin Xuan and Mu Qing boarded the spirit boat. With a flick of his wrist, he cast a spell, enveloping the flying boat in dazzling spiritual light. It sped off like an arrow, vanishing into the horizon.
“ zǒu ba ！”
“走吧！”
Since they had known each other for a long time, Mu Qing probably understood Lin Xuan’s character; he was not a rigid or arrogant person. So during their journey, they chatted happily.
lín xuān yǔ mù qīng dēng shàng le líng zhōu ， lín xuān shǒu yī dǒu ， yī dào fǎ jué dǎ chū ， fēi zhōu bèi yào mù de líng guāng bāo guǒ ， fēng chí diàn chè ， hěn kuài jiù xiāo shī yú tiān biān le 。
林轩与穆青登上了灵舟，林轩手一抖，一道法诀打出，飞舟被耀目的灵光包裹，风驰电掣，很快就消失于天边了。
He spoke freely and openly, but her low cultivation made it impossible for her to know many secrets.
yīn wèi liǎng rén lǎo zǎo jiù xiāng shí ， mù qīng dà yuē yě zhī dào lín xuān de xìng gé ， bìng bú shì shén me gǔ bǎn jù ào de rén wù ， suǒ yǐ yī lù shàng ， liǎng rén dào yě shì yán tán shèn huān de 。
因为两人老早就相识，穆青大约也知道林轩的性格，并不是什么古板倨傲的人物，所以一路上，两人倒也是言谈甚欢的。
Still, from her mouth, Lin Xuan learned some information: Truefeather had long disappeared, the lair of true immortals was a forbidden place for servants, no one dared to enter. As the plump old man said, the path was very winding and confusing; without someone leading the way, it would be hard to describe.
duì fāng zhī wú bù yán yán wú bù jìn ， kě xī tā xiū wèi tài dī ， yě bù kě néng zhēn zhī xiǎo tài duō de mì mì 。
对方知无不言言无不尽，可惜她修为太低，也不可能真知晓太多的秘密。
Fortunately, their journey went smoothly with few dangers. After a day and night, they finally arrived at their destination. (To be continued...)
However, there was still no sign of movement. The old man in black showed a trace of impatience and disgust on his face, but after hesitating for a moment, he did nothing and waited silently where he stood.
After a while, about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a faint black mist emerged from the copper coffin. It coalesced into a face with striking features, though somewhat blurry as if seen through dense fog.
"Finally decided to come out?"
"Hmph, just a bit more time, what's the big fuss? If not for me, do you think you'd have any chance of becoming the Great Elder?"
"The Great Elder, your scheme is nothing but making me your puppet," the old man in black said viciously, his eyes filled with malice.
Clearly, their cooperation was far from pleasant. He had no choice but to stay on this ship and couldn't get off.
"You don’t need to complain. If not for my help back then, you would have been destroyed long ago. Now that you're the Great Elder, what’s there to complain about? Do you want that old guy resurrected? Your fate will be...," the figure in the mist spoke with a hint of menace.
"What do you want?"
The old man in black gritted his teeth, but his tone was clearly more dejected now.
"Hmph. First tell me how things are going with what I asked you to do. Since you came here proactively, there should be some progress!"
The figure in the mist spoke coldly.
"Exactly as you said, that Lin boy is already trapped. I’ll bring him to your lair tomorrow."
"Really?" The figure inside the mist showed signs of great joy.
"Hmph, such a big matter, do you think I would dare lie to you?" the plump old man’s tone was tinged with mockery.
But his counterpart paid no heed and found the slight taunt unimportant compared to the good news: "Can you really bring that Lin boy over?"
"Absolutely."
"Good. If you complete this task, our grudges will be settled. I can give you some benefits too."
"You’re serious?"
The old man in black was delighted; though his character was despicable, he kept his word.
"This immortal wouldn’t lie to you..."
...
"This immortal, do you really think...?"
The old man in black muttered to himself but saw the other’s unsavory expression and swallowed his words. He changed his tone: "Deal is done. But that Lin boy has formidable strength; be careful not to meet your end."
"Hmph, formidable strength? At most, he's just a spirit realm existence. Once we reach my lair, do you think he still has any chance of leaving alive?"
Seeing the other’s arrogant expression, the plump old man left without saying more and walked out with a cold snort.
...
Meanwhile, in some part of the Little Immortal Realm, a mysterious stone chamber.
This stone chamber was vast, enough to shock anyone. It covered several thousand acres, almost as large as a square. The floor was scattered with rubble, and there were some disordered stone pillars.
A rough count showed that there were one hundred and eight pillars, each needing several people to encircle. Carved runes covered them, faintly emitting the light of禁制, interweaving and reflecting off each other.
If someone looked up, they would see how high this chamber was, seemingly endless. About a hundred feet above, a huge black shadow fell down. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a black cocoon.
Ten feet in diameter, it emitted an eerie aura. On the surface of the cocoon were thick black iron chains that tightly bound it, with hundreds of禁制 talismans attached. Terrifying magical arrays enveloped it layer by layer, but this was not the most shocking part.
Around the black cocoon, five treasures floated in mid-air: an ancient tripod, a purple mirror, a copper furnace, an jade staff, and a silver bell.
Each emitted either ethereal energy or spiritual light, with countless golden runes swirling around them. Any cultivator here would have to widen their eyes; all five were先天灵宝.
Indeed, any one of these could cause chaos in the spirit realm if casually taken out. But there were five right before his eyes.
And they were clearly meant to seal this black cocoon. So what kind of monster was inside?
...
All of this was unknown to Lin Xuan.
Nothing happened overnight.
The next morning, just as Lin Xuan woke up, a streak of fiery light shot in from outside. A respectful voice then entered his ears: "Senior Lin, everything is ready. May I ask if we can set off now?"
Lin Xuan’s brows twitched, and he showed satisfaction on his face. After tidying himself up, he went out.
"Senior Lin!"
A man and a woman stood outside. They bowed as they saw him come out.
The man was naturally the plump old man. As for the woman, Lin Xuan recognized her; she was Mu Qing, whom he had saved on his way here.
"Did you rest well last night, Senior Lin?"
"Hmm," Lin Xuan nodded.
"The path to Truefeather’s lair is long and treacherous. By rights, I should lead the way, but as a Great Elder, I can’t leave. So Qing’er will guide us. She knows how to get there."
"It doesn’t matter."
Lin Xuan didn’t mind; as long as he could find Yue’er smoothly, who guided him was just a minor detail.
"Goodbye."
Lin Xuan gave the other a bow and turned his head: "Qing’er, let’s go!"
"Yes!"
Though Mu Qing knew Lin Xuan wasn’t truly an immortal, she still bowed humbly. She didn’t object to anything.
Then Lin Xuan waved his sleeves, and a green mist scroll emerged, spreading spiritual light. A spirit boat appeared before their eyes.
"Let's go!"
Lin Xuan and Mu Qing boarded the spirit boat. With a flick of his wrist, he cast a spell, enveloping the flying boat in dazzling spiritual light. It sped off like an arrow, vanishing into the horizon.
Since they had known each other for a long time, Mu Qing probably understood Lin Xuan’s character; he was not a rigid or arrogant person. So during their journey, they chatted happily.
He spoke freely and openly, but her low cultivation made it impossible for her to know many secrets.
Still, from her mouth, Lin Xuan learned some information: Truefeather had long disappeared, the lair of true immortals was a forbidden place for servants, no one dared to enter. As the plump old man said, the path was very winding and confusing; without someone leading the way, it would be hard to describe.
Fortunately, their journey went smoothly with few dangers. After a day and night, they finally arrived at their destination. (To be continued...)