nài lóng zhēn rén bù yǐ wéi rán de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ：“ xiǎo hú lí ， nán dào nǐ méi yǒu tīng shuō guò bǎi dú bù qīn me ？”
鼐龙真人不以为然的声音传入耳朵：“小狐狸，难道你没有听说过百毒不侵么？”
Nailong True Man's voice sounded disbelieving: "Little fox, have you never heard of the Immortal Body Unassailable by Toxins?"
“ kě …… kě zhè shì xiān jiè de líng jiǔ 。”
“可……可这是仙界的灵酒。”
"But... but this is a divine alcohol from the Immortal Realm."
“ nà yǒu rú hé ， xiān rén hěn liǎo bù qǐ me ， wǒ kàn yě bú jiàn de ， dāng nián de nà jǐ wèi zhēn xiān wǒ yě bú shì méi yǒu jiàn guò ， hēng hēng ， yě bù wài rú shì bà le 。”
“那有如何，仙人很了不起么，我看也不见得，当年的那几位真仙我也不是没有见过，哼哼，也不外如是罢了。”
"Then what? Are Immortals so formidable that I can't see them? In my opinion, they're not much different from those True Immortals I've seen before. Hmph, just like that."
nài lóng zhēn rén de kǒu qì dà dé lí pǔ ， rán ér yě bù zhī dào shì zhēn yǒu dǐ qì ， hái shì xí guàn le zài měi nǚ miàn qián hú yán luàn yǔ ， zhēn zhēn jiǎ jiǎ de ràng rén wú fǎ fēn biàn qīng chǔ 。
鼐龙真人的口气大得离谱，然而也不知道是真有底气，还是习惯了在美女面前胡言乱语，真真假假的让人无法分辨清楚。
Nailong True Man's tone was outrageously arrogant. Whether he truly had the confidence or merely habitually spouted nonsense in front of beautiful women, it left people confused.
duì fāng yě méi yǒu xīn qíng fēn biàn le 。
对方也没有心情分辨了。
The other party didn't bother to discern further.
yuán běn de shā jú ， biàn chéng le zì jǐ de wēi jī ， tā de liǎn shàng shǎn guò yī sī jù yì ， dàn dāng rán bú huì zuò yǐ dài bì 。
原本的杀局，变成了自己的危机，她的脸上闪过一丝惧意，但当然不会坐以待毙。
What used to be a deadly trap now became her own peril. A trace of fear flashed across her face but she wouldn't sit idly by.
hún shēn líng guāng yī shǎn ， jū rán chū xiàn zài le lóu gé zhī wài ， rán ér nài lóng zhēn rén de shǒu lǐ ， míng míng hái qín zhe tā de yù wǎn 。
浑身灵光一闪，居然出现在了楼阁之外，然而鼐龙真人的手里，明明还擒着她的玉碗。
Her body shimmered with spiritual light and she appeared outside the pavilion, yet Nailong True Man still held onto her jade bowl in his hand.
“ hēng ， tì shēn zhī shù ， shī zhǎn dé dǎo shì tǐng lì suǒ ， bù guò jǐn píng zhè diǎn běn lǐng ， yǐ wéi jiù néng cóng běn shuài gē de shǒu lǐ táo chū shēng tiān le ？”
“哼，替身之术，施展得倒是挺利索，不过仅凭这点本领，以为就能从本帅哥的手里逃出生天了？”
"Hmph, the Substitute Technique, you managed to use it well. But do you really think that can get you out of my handsome hands?"
nài lóng zhēn rén shǒu yī dǒu ， hái bèi tā zhuā zhe de shì nǚ biàn chéng le yī kuài yù fú 。
鼐龙真人手一抖，还被他抓着的侍女变成了一块玉符。
Nailong True Man's hand twitched, turning the maidservant into an epigraphic talisman.
bú yòng shuō ， zhè jiù shì duì fāng shī zhǎn tì shēn zhī shù de fǎ qì le 。
不用说，这就是对方施展替身之术的法器了。
It was clear this was the other party's substitute technique item.
bèi chēng wéi xiǎo hú lí de nǚ zǐ liǎn sè yī biàn ， shēn xíng yī dǒu ， shù shí dào cán yǐng cóng tā shēn tǐ biǎo miàn jī shè ér chū ， měi yī dào dōu yǔ zhēn rén xiāng chà fǎng fú ， cháo zhe bù tóng de fāng xiàng jī shè ér qù le 。
被称为小狐狸的女子脸色一变，身形一抖，数十道残影从她身体表面激射而出，每一道都与真人相差仿佛，朝着不同的方向激射而去了。
The woman known as Little Fox's face changed. Her figure trembled and dozens of shadowy images shot out from her body in different directions, each resembling a True Man.
“ tiān hú huà yǐng **， zhè me shuō ， hái zhēn shì dāng nián nà ge nǚ zǐ ， zhǐ shì ， tā zěn me huì zài zhēn xiān de dòng fǔ lǐ ， hēng ， cǐ jiān shì le zhī hòu ， kàn lái yǒu bì yào qù yī tàng qīng qiū zhī guó ……”
“天狐化影**，这么说，还真是当年那个女子，只是，她怎么会在真仙的洞府里，哼，此间事了之后，看来有必要去一趟青丘之国……”
"Fox Heaven Illusion Technique, so it is really that woman from long ago. But how did she end up in the den of a True Immortal? Hmph, after this matter, I must visit the Country of Azure Fox..."
nài lóng zhēn rén wàng zhe duì fāng de bèi yǐng yuǎn qù ， què bìng méi yǒu zhuī gǎn de yì tú ， liǎn shàng fǎn ér lù chū ruò yǒu suǒ sī zhī sè 。
鼐龙真人望着对方的背影远去，却并没有追赶的意图，脸上反而露出若有所思之色。
Nailong True Man watched as the other party's figure disappeared but didn't chase after her. Instead, he looked thoughtful.
lìng yī biān ， lín xuān jiù méi yǒu tā zhè me qīng sōng le 。
另一边，林轩就没有他这么轻松了。
Lin Xuan was not so relaxed on the other side.
yīn wèi nà gǔ guài jìn zhì de yuán gù ， tā wú fǎ fēi xíng ， yě méi yǒu bàn fǎ qū cè bǎo wù ， yī shēn shén tōng ， biàn dé suǒ shèng wú jǐ 。
因为那古怪禁制的缘故，他无法飞行，也没有办法驱策宝物，一身神通，变得所剩无几。
Due to that strange restriction, he couldn't fly or command his treasures. His powers were reduced significantly.
xìng hǎo lín xuān shè liè jí wéi guǎng bó 。 ròu shēn qiáng dù ， jī hū yǐ dào le kān bǐ zhēn líng de dì bù ， fǒu zé huàn yī míng tóng jiē xiū xiān zhě ， miàn duì nà xiē pí cāo ròu hòu de kuǐ lěi ， bù shuō fēn háo huán shǒu zhī lì yě wú ， kěn dìng jiān chí bù liǎo duō jiǔ de 。
幸好林轩涉猎极为广博。肉身强度，几乎已到了堪比真灵的地步，否则换一名同阶修仙者，面对那些皮糙肉厚的傀儡，不说分毫还手之力也无，肯定坚持不了多久的。
Fortunately, Lin Xuan had a broad knowledge base. His physical strength almost rivaled that of a true spirit, otherwise, against those thick-skinned puppets, even a flicker of resistance would be hard for an equal-level cultivator to maintain.
lín xuān yī quán hōng chū ， líng guāng bào shè ， yī shēn xíng bǐ tā páng dà shù bèi de kuǐ lěi ， bèi yī quán dǎ fēi 。
林轩一拳轰出，灵光爆射，一身形比他庞大数倍的傀儡，被一拳打飞。
Lin Xuan punched out, and the spiritual light exploded. A puppet twice his size was sent flying, crashing into the side of the mountain with a punch mark on its chest. The puppet's body then split open, revealing a hole the size of a bowl.
hěn hěn de zhuàng xiàng yī cè de shān bì ， xiōng kǒu quán yìn wǎn rán 。 suí hòu liè kāi ， yī wǎn kǒu dà xiǎo de dòng ， fú xiàn zài nà kuǐ lěi de shēn tǐ shàng miàn 。
狠狠的撞像一侧的山壁，胸口拳印宛然。随后裂开，一碗口大小的洞，浮现在那傀儡的身体上面。
The spiritual light in its eyes dimmed.
qí yǎn zhōng de líng guāng àn dàn xià lái 。
其眼中的灵光黯淡下来。
Lin Xuan heaved a sigh of relief as fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Looking around, all he saw were broken limbs and severed arms from the puppets.
lín xuān sōng le kǒu qì ， é tóu shàng yì fú xiàn chū le xì mì de hàn dī ， fàng yǎn wàng qù ， sì zhōu jìn shì kuǐ lěi de cán zhī duàn bì 。
林轩松了口气，额头上亦浮现出了细密的汗滴，放眼望去，四周尽是傀儡的残肢断臂。
That battle had been no easy feat for him either.
gāng cái de yī cháng dà zhàn duì tā ér yán ， yì shì jí bù qīng sōng dì 。
刚才的一场大战对他而言，亦是极不轻松地。
---
hǎo zài huà xiǎn wéi yí ， lín xuān yǐ sǎo qīng le qián jìn de zhàng ài ， tái shǒu wàng qù 。 nà shí jiē yì zhí yán zhǎn dào le yún lǐ ， dàn cǐ shí cǐ kè ， yǐ yǐn yǐn kàn dào qí jìn tóu zài hé chù ， yī xiē cán yuán duàn bì 。 ruò yǐn ruò xiàn de yìng rù dào le yǎn lián lǐ 。
好在化险为夷，林轩已扫清了前进的障碍，抬手望去。那石阶一直延展到了云里，但此时此刻，已隐隐看到其尽头在何处，一些残垣断壁。若隐若现的映入到了眼帘里。
Fortunately, he had managed to clear the obstacle. He raised his hand and continued climbing up the stone steps that extended into the clouds. At this moment, he could vaguely see where they ended—ruins of a broken palace.
lín xuān xīn zhōng dà xǐ ， jiā kuài jiǎo bù xiàng shàng pān dēng ér qù 。
林轩心中大喜，加快脚步向上攀登而去。
Lin Xuan was overjoyed and sped up as he ascended.
zài shuō lìng yī biān 。
再说另一边。
On another side,
líng guāng yī shǎn ， yī zhī xuě bái de hú lí cóng wù qì zhōng xiǎn lù chū le róng yán ， liǎn shàng yǐn yǐn lù chū xīn yǒu yú jì zhī sè 。 yòng qián zhǎo pāi le pāi xiōng kǒu ：“ hǎo xiǎn ， méi xiǎng dào lián shí gǔ xiān jiǔ duì tā dōu méi yǒu yòng tú ， hái hǎo wǒ táo dé xùn sù 。 fǒu zé ， hòu guǒ zhēn bù kān shè xiǎng le 。”
灵光一闪，一只雪白的狐狸从雾气中显露出了容颜，脸上隐隐露出心有余悸之色。用前爪拍了拍胸口：“好险，没想到连蚀骨仙酒对他都没有用途，还好我逃得迅速。否则，后果真不堪设想了。”
A white fox emerged from the mist with an expression of lingering fear. It patted its chest: "What a close call! I didn't think even the Bone Corroding Immortal Alcohol could harm him. Fortunately, I escaped quickly. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable."
“ yī xià jiè dà néng ， shí lì yì rú cǐ lí pǔ ， rú jīn bié wú xuǎn zé ， kàn lái zhǐ yǒu yǔ nà kě wù de jiā huo hé zuò 。”
“一下界大能，实力亦如此离谱，如今别无选择，看来只有与那可恶的家伙合作。”
"A first-rate cultivator from another realm, his power is so outrageous. There's no choice now; I must cooperate with that hateful fellow."
yāo hú tàn xī de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， suí hòu bèi hòu bā tiáo wěi ba yī bǎi ， yòu xiāo shī zài le yīn yūn de wù qì lǐ miàn 。
妖狐叹息的声音传入耳朵，随后背后八条尾巴一摆，又消失在了氤氲的雾气里面。
The fox's sigh echoed in Lin Xuan's ears as it swished its eight tails and vanished into the mist.
xiǎo xiān yù mǒu chù 。
小仙域某处。
In a certain part of the Little Immortal Realm,
zhè ér shì yī piàn měi lì de shān gǔ 。
这儿是一片美丽的山谷。
This was a beautiful valley where flowers bloomed, birds sang, and fragrances filled the air.
bǎi huā zhàn fàng ， niǎo yǔ huā xiāng 。
百花绽放，鸟语花香。
At the peak of one side, an exquisite young woman faced a cliff. Just three feet in front of her lay a thousand-foot-deep abyss shrouded in mist.
shān gǔ de yī cè ， jué dǐng zhī shàng 。
山谷的一侧，绝顶之上。
This girl's beauty was breathtaking—like the moon that made the flowers pale by comparison. Her entire demeanor exuded grace, like the most beautiful flower in the heavens.
yī měi mào shào nǚ miàn cháo xuán yá ， shēn qián bù zú sān chǐ ， biàn shì wàn zhàng shēn gǔ ， yīn yūn de wù qì zhōng kàn bú dào jìn tóu zhī chù 。
一美貌少女面朝悬崖，身前不足三尺，便是万丈深谷，氤氲的雾气中看不到尽头之处。
Her eyebrows resembled distant mountains; every frown and smile painted a picture of perfection, yet a faint trace of sorrow lingered in her gaze, making one feel pity for her.
cǐ shào nǚ róng mào jué měi ， bì yuè xiū huā ， chén yú luò yàn yòng zài tā shēn shān dōu xián tài sú 。
此少女容貌绝美，闭月羞花，沉鱼落雁用在她深山都嫌太俗。
"Something troubling you, Moon? Thinking about your Lin brother again?"
hún shēn de qì zhì gèng xiǎn gāo yǎ ， jiù rú tóng jiǔ tiān zhī shàng ， nà zuì měi de yī zhū xiān huā 。
浑身的气质更显高雅，就如同九天之上，那最美的一株鲜花。
A silver bell-like voice sounded as another beautiful young woman appeared on the cliff. Her lips were like jade and her skin was smooth as water; she was undoubtedly an outstanding beauty.
méi rú yuǎn shān ， yī pín yī xiào jiān dōu shì yī fù jué měi de tú huà ， piān piān méi yǔ jiān què yùn yǒu yī lǚ dàn dàn de yōu chóu ， dàng zhēn shì wǒ jiàn yóu lián ， lìng rén yī jiàn ， biàn wèi zhī tòng xī 。
眉如远山，一颦一笑间都是一副绝美的图画，偏偏眉宇间却蕴有一缕淡淡的忧愁，当真是我见犹怜，令人一见，便为之痛惜。
"Little Butterfly, you're at it again," said Moon, turning to face her: "We've been trapped here for years without finding a way out. Don't you want to go?"
“ zěn me le ， yuè ér ， yòu zài xiǎng nǐ de lín gē gē ？”
“怎么了，月儿，又在想你的林哥哥？”
"No."
yín líng bān de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， jué bì zhī shàng rén yǐng yī shǎn ， yòu yī wèi měi mào shào nǚ lái dào le shēn biān 。
银铃般的声音传入耳朵，绝壁之上人影一闪，又一位美貌少女来到了身边。
Moon's response surprised Little Butterfly.
zhū yù wèi chún ， shuǐ zuò fū ， cǐ nǚ měi dé suī bù xiàng qián yī wèi bān de jīng xīn dòng pò ， dàn yě shì yī wèi jué sè jiā rén méi cuò 。
朱玉为唇，水做肤，此女美得虽不像前一位般的惊心动魄，但也是一位绝色佳人没错。
Seeing the astonishment on her face, Little Butterfly smiled: "You're too impatient, Moon. We've only been here for a few years. For mortals, that might seem long, but for us, it's just a blink of an eye."
“ xiǎo dié ， nǐ yòu lái xiào huà wǒ 。” yuè ér huí guò tóu lú ：“ wǒ men bèi kùn zài zhè lǐ ， dōu yǐ jīng yǒu shù zài le ， yì zhí zhǎo bú dào chū kǒu zài hé chù ， nán dào nǐ jiù bù xiǎng chū qù me ？”
“小蝶，你又来笑话我。”月儿回过头颅：“我们被困在这里，都已经有数载了，一直找不到出口在何处，难道你就不想出去么？”
"Besides, aside from being unable to leave, there's nothing bad about this place. The spiritual energy is abundant and safe. In the outside world, such divine energy is unimaginable. Here, we can achieve twice as much with half the effort. That's why you've advanced so smoothly to the middle stage of Tribulation Transcendence."
“ bù xiǎng 。”
“不想。”
"But..."
xiǎo dié de huí dá ràng yuè ér cuò è 。
小蝶的回答让月儿错愕。
"I know what you're thinking," Little Butterfly said, placing her hand over Moon's mouth: "You miss Lin Xuan, but think about it—wouldn't we be better off if he were here? Although Lin Brother is formidable, that old monster is even more terrifying. If not for my accidental escape, I might have already fallen victim to his machinations."
jiàn dào duì fāng jīng qí de biǎo qíng ， xiǎo dié xiào qǐ lái le ：“ wǒ shuō nǐ ya ， jiù shì tài xīn jí ， wǒ men bèi kùn zài zhè lǐ ， qián hòu yě bù guò shù zài ér yǐ ， duì fán rén ér yán ， bù suàn tài duǎn ， dàn yú wǒ men ， bù guò shì dàn zhǐ yī huī jiān 。”
见到对方惊奇的表情，小蝶笑起来了：“我说你呀，就是太心急，我们被困在这里，前后也不过数载而已，对凡人而言，不算太短，但于我们，不过是弹指一挥间。”
"So this place, which confines us, actually protects us the best."
“ hé kuàng zhè lǐ chú le bù néng chū qù yǐ wài ， yě méi yǒu shén me bù hǎo ， líng qì chōng yù ， méi yǒu wēi xiǎn ， xiān líng qì ， zài wài miàn ， nà kě shì xiǎng yě bù gǎn xiǎng dì ， zài zhè lǐ xiū liàn ， qǐ zhǐ shì yǒu shì bàn gōng bèi de xiào guǒ ， fǒu zé yuè ér nǐ ， yě bú huì zhè me shùn lì ， jiù jìn jiē dào dù jié zhōng qī 。”
“何况这里除了不能出去以外，也没有什么不好，灵气充裕，没有危险，仙灵气，在外面，那可是想也不敢想地，在这里修炼，岂止是有事半功倍的效果，否则月儿你，也不会这么顺利，就进阶到渡劫中期。”
"But..."
“ kě ……”
“可……”
Moon wanted to say more but was stopped by Little Butterfly's gentle voice: "Silly girl, stop daydreaming. Unless we defeat them, even if we find a way out, I'm not willing to take that risk."
“ wǒ zhī dào nǐ xiǎng shuō shén me 。” xiǎo dié shēn shǒu jiāng yuè ér de zuǐ bā dǔ zhù ：“ wú wài hū shì jiàn bú dào nǐ de lín xuān gē gē ， kě nǐ mén xīn zì wèn de xiǎng xiǎng ， zhēn de xī wàng tā rú jīn chū xiàn zài zhè lǐ me ， lín dà gē shí lì suī rán bù sú ， rán ér nà lǎo guài wù què gèng jiā ài kě bù ， ruò bú shì wǒ me wù dǎ wù zhuàng de táo rù zhè lǐ ， kǒng pà yǐ jīng zāo le tā de dú shǒu 。”
“我知道你想说什么。”小蝶伸手将月儿的嘴巴堵住：“无外乎是见不到你的林轩哥哥，可你扪心自问的想想，真的希望他如今出现在这里么，林大哥实力虽然不俗，然而那老怪物却更加爱可怖，若不是我么误打误撞的逃入这里，恐怕已经遭了他的毒手。”
---
“ suǒ yǐ zhè ge dì fāng suī rán jiāng wǒ men kùn zhù ， dàn yě qià qià shì nǐ wǒ zuì hǎo de bǎo hù 。”
“所以这个地方虽然将我们困住，但也恰恰是你我最好的保护。”
Lin Xuan didn't know any of this.
” kě ……”
”可……”
At this moment, he finally reached the end of the stone steps.
yuè ér hái xiǎng zài shuō ， què zài yí cì bèi xiǎo dié zhǐ zhù ， wēn róu de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ：““ shǎ yā tou ， bú yào qù dōng xiǎng xī xiǎng le ， chú fēi wǒ men néng gòu jiāng duì fāng dǎ bài ， fǒu zé jí biàn zhǎo dào chū kǒu ， wǒ yě bù yuàn yì mào xiǎn 。”
月儿还想再说，却再一次被小蝶止住，温柔的声音传入耳朵：““傻丫头，不要去东想西想了，除非我们能够将对方打败，否则即便找到出口，我也不愿意冒险。”
Before him was a bright view, but what met his eyes was a dilapidated palace. Ruins and ancient atmosphere filled everywhere.
……
……
Thud, thud, thud—heavy footsteps echoed in his ears as Lin Xuan looked up to see a giant ape towering before him.
zhè yī qiè ， lín xuān zì rán bìng bù xiǎo de 。
这一切，林轩自然并不晓得。
Actually, it was a puppet of the giant ape.
cǐ shí cǐ kè ， tā zhōng yú pān dēng dào nà shí jiē de jìn tóu le 。
此时此刻，他终于攀登到那石阶的尽头了。
No spiritual pressure emanated from its body, but it felt incredibly powerful. In some ways... like facing a true spirit, the Mountain Giant Ape.
yǎn qián huò rán kāi liàng ， rán ér rù mù suǒ jí ， què shì yī zuò cán pò de gōng diàn 。
眼前豁然开亮，然而入目所及，却是一座残破的宫殿。
How could this be? It's just a puppet.
cán yuán duàn bì ， dào chù dōu chōng mǎn le gǔ piáo de qì xī 。
残垣断壁，到处都充满了古朴的气息。
Lin Xuan frowned with suspicion on his face as he prepared for danger.
dōng dōng dōng ， yī zhèn chén zhòng de jiǎo bù shēng chuán rù ěr lǐ ， lín xuān tái qǐ tóu lú ， yī shù zhàng gāo de jù yuán zài yǎn qián fú xiàn ér chū 。
咚咚咚，一阵沉重的脚步声传入耳里，林轩抬起头颅，一数丈高的巨猿在眼前浮现而出。
In an instant, the giant ape approached him and looked at Lin Xuan.
zhèng què de shuō shì jù yuán kuǐ lěi 。
正确的说是巨猿傀儡。
With one hand raised, it shot out a beam of golden light that drew a line ten feet in front of Lin Xuan. (To be continued...)
Nailong True Man's voice sounded disbelieving: "Little fox, have you never heard of the Immortal Body Unassailable by Toxins?"
"But... but this is a divine alcohol from the Immortal Realm."
"Then what? Are Immortals so formidable that I can't see them? In my opinion, they're not much different from those True Immortals I've seen before. Hmph, just like that."
Nailong True Man's tone was outrageously arrogant. Whether he truly had the confidence or merely habitually spouted nonsense in front of beautiful women, it left people confused.
The other party didn't bother to discern further.
What used to be a deadly trap now became her own peril. A trace of fear flashed across her face but she wouldn't sit idly by.
Her body shimmered with spiritual light and she appeared outside the pavilion, yet Nailong True Man still held onto her jade bowl in his hand.
"Hmph, the Substitute Technique, you managed to use it well. But do you really think that can get you out of my handsome hands?"
Nailong True Man's hand twitched, turning the maidservant into an epigraphic talisman.
It was clear this was the other party's substitute technique item.
The woman known as Little Fox's face changed. Her figure trembled and dozens of shadowy images shot out from her body in different directions, each resembling a True Man.
"Fox Heaven Illusion Technique, so it is really that woman from long ago. But how did she end up in the den of a True Immortal? Hmph, after this matter, I must visit the Country of Azure Fox..."
Nailong True Man watched as the other party's figure disappeared but didn't chase after her. Instead, he looked thoughtful.
---
Lin Xuan was not so relaxed on the other side.
Due to that strange restriction, he couldn't fly or command his treasures. His powers were reduced significantly.
Fortunately, Lin Xuan had a broad knowledge base. His physical strength almost rivaled that of a true spirit, otherwise, against those thick-skinned puppets, even a flicker of resistance would be hard for an equal-level cultivator to maintain.
Boom!
Lin Xuan punched out, and the spiritual light exploded. A puppet twice his size was sent flying, crashing into the side of the mountain with a punch mark on its chest. The puppet's body then split open, revealing a hole the size of a bowl.
The spiritual light in its eyes dimmed.
Lin Xuan heaved a sigh of relief as fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Looking around, all he saw were broken limbs and severed arms from the puppets.
That battle had been no easy feat for him either.
---
Fortunately, he had managed to clear the obstacle. He raised his hand and continued climbing up the stone steps that extended into the clouds. At this moment, he could vaguely see where they ended—ruins of a broken palace.
Lin Xuan was overjoyed and sped up as he ascended.
---
On another side,
A white fox emerged from the mist with an expression of lingering fear. It patted its chest: "What a close call! I didn't think even the Bone Corroding Immortal Alcohol could harm him. Fortunately, I escaped quickly. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable."
"A first-rate cultivator from another realm, his power is so outrageous. There's no choice now; I must cooperate with that hateful fellow."
The fox's sigh echoed in Lin Xuan's ears as it swished its eight tails and vanished into the mist.
---
In a certain part of the Little Immortal Realm,
This was a beautiful valley where flowers bloomed, birds sang, and fragrances filled the air.
At the peak of one side, an exquisite young woman faced a cliff. Just three feet in front of her lay a thousand-foot-deep abyss shrouded in mist.
This girl's beauty was breathtaking—like the moon that made the flowers pale by comparison. Her entire demeanor exuded grace, like the most beautiful flower in the heavens.
Her eyebrows resembled distant mountains; every frown and smile painted a picture of perfection, yet a faint trace of sorrow lingered in her gaze, making one feel pity for her.
"Something troubling you, Moon? Thinking about your Lin brother again?"
A silver bell-like voice sounded as another beautiful young woman appeared on the cliff. Her lips were like jade and her skin was smooth as water; she was undoubtedly an outstanding beauty.
"Little Butterfly, you're at it again," said Moon, turning to face her: "We've been trapped here for years without finding a way out. Don't you want to go?"
"No."
Moon's response surprised Little Butterfly.
Seeing the astonishment on her face, Little Butterfly smiled: "You're too impatient, Moon. We've only been here for a few years. For mortals, that might seem long, but for us, it's just a blink of an eye."
"Besides, aside from being unable to leave, there's nothing bad about this place. The spiritual energy is abundant and safe. In the outside world, such divine energy is unimaginable. Here, we can achieve twice as much with half the effort. That's why you've advanced so smoothly to the middle stage of Tribulation Transcendence."
"But..."
"I know what you're thinking," Little Butterfly said, placing her hand over Moon's mouth: "You miss Lin Xuan, but think about it—wouldn't we be better off if he were here? Although Lin Brother is formidable, that old monster is even more terrifying. If not for my accidental escape, I might have already fallen victim to his machinations."
"So this place, which confines us, actually protects us the best."
"But..."
Moon wanted to say more but was stopped by Little Butterfly's gentle voice: "Silly girl, stop daydreaming. Unless we defeat them, even if we find a way out, I'm not willing to take that risk."
---
Lin Xuan didn't know any of this.
At this moment, he finally reached the end of the stone steps.
Before him was a bright view, but what met his eyes was a dilapidated palace. Ruins and ancient atmosphere filled everywhere.
Thud, thud, thud—heavy footsteps echoed in his ears as Lin Xuan looked up to see a giant ape towering before him.
Actually, it was a puppet of the giant ape.
No spiritual pressure emanated from its body, but it felt incredibly powerful. In some ways... like facing a true spirit, the Mountain Giant Ape.
How could this be? It's just a puppet.
Lin Xuan frowned with suspicion on his face as he prepared for danger.
In an instant, the giant ape approached him and looked at Lin Xuan.
With one hand raised, it shot out a beam of golden light that drew a line ten feet in front of Lin Xuan. (To be continued...)