fǒu zé ， jù jí zài yún yǐn zōng de zōng mén jiā zú ， jiù huì chéng wéi yī pán sǎn shā ， nà yàng de huà ， ná shì lái dǐ dǎng yù wài tiān mó de jìn gōng a 。?
否则，聚集在云隐宗的宗门家族，就会成为一盘散沙，那样的话，拿是来抵挡域外天魔的进攻啊。?
Otherwise, the clans gathered at Cloud Concealment Sect would turn into scattered sand. How could such a group withstand the attack of the域外天魔?
ér zhè méng zhǔ ， yě bú shì rén rén zuò dé ， xiǎng yào yùn chóu wéi wò ， hào lìng nà me duō xiū xiān zhě yǔ yāo zú ， shí lì kěn dìng bù néng tài ruò 。
而这盟主，也不是人人做得，想要运筹帷幄，号令那么多修仙者与妖族，实力肯定不能太弱。
And this alliance leader wasn't something anyone could easily take on. To strategize and command so many cultivators and beast tribes required considerable strength.
dù jié qī shì zuì jī běn de 。
渡劫期是最基本的。
The Transcendence Stage was the bare minimum.
rú cǐ yī lái ， rén xuǎn jiù zhǐ néng zài zhè wū zi zhōng de zhòng rén rén zhōng dàn shēng le 。
如此一来，人选就只能在这屋子中的众人人中诞生了。
Thus, the candidates were limited to those present in the room.
nà me shuí lái zuò ne ？
那么谁来做呢？
Who would step up then?
jié guǒ shì shuí yě bù xiǎng xī yǐn yù wài tiān mó de guān zhù 。
结果是谁也不想吸引域外天魔的关注。
No one wanted to draw the attention of the域外天魔.
méi kàn jiàn lín xuān dōu chéng zhòng shǐ zhī dì le ， míng míng shāng shì wèi fù ， hái yào qù duì kàng nà dì yī mó zūn me ？
没看见林轩都成众矢之的了，明明伤势未复，还要去对抗那第一魔尊么？
Didn't they see how Lin Xuan had become a target? Despite his injuries not fully healed, he still went against the First Demon Sovereign. That battle left him severely injured and nearly perished.
nà yī zhàn ， lín xuān kě bèi dǎ dé hěn cǎn ， chà diǎn yǔn luò 。
那一战，林轩可被打得很惨，差点陨落。
With such a lesson in mind, who would willingly take on this thankless task?
qián chē zhī jiàn ， shuí yuàn yì qù gàn zhè fèi lì bù tǎo hǎo de chāi shì ne ？
前车之鉴，谁愿意去干这费力不讨好的差事呢？
But there was one person willing to step up.
děng děng ， hái shì yǒu rén yuàn yì de 。
等等，还是有人愿意的。
The Empress Consort before them didn't care about it.
yǎn qián zhè wèi huáng hòu niáng niáng jiù bù zài hū 。
眼前这位皇后娘娘就不在乎。
However, while her strength might suffice, she lacked the other qualifications needed.
wèn tí shì ， tā dāng méng zhǔ ， shí lì shì gòu le ， qí tā fāng miàn ， què shì yì diǎn dōu bù gòu gé 。
问题是，她当盟主，实力是够了，其他方面，却是一点都不够格。
At that moment, she no longer resembled an Advanced Transcendence cultivator; her eyes were clouded by hatred. If she became the alliance leader, she would surely make irrational decisions.
bié de bù shuō 。
别的不说。
Women are not naturally rational beings. Driven by revenge, she could do anything. In such a scenario, not only would they fail to defend Cloud Concealment Sect, but many of them might follow in Emperor Xiyu's footsteps, their souls scattered.
cǐ shí cǐ kè ， tā nǎ lǐ hái xiàng yī dù jié hòu qī de xiū xiān zhě ， zǎo yǐ bèi chóu hèn méng bì diào shuāng yǎn le ， ruò yóu tā dāng méng zhǔ ， nà hǎo ba ， bǎi fēn zhī bǎi bù néng lǐ zhì jué zé 。
此时此刻，她哪里还像一渡劫后期的修仙者，早已被仇恨蒙蔽掉双眼了，若由她当盟主，那好吧，百分之百不能理智抉择。
This was too closely tied to her personal interests, so the old monsters unanimously opposed her candidacy. Yet, with no other options, they reluctantly decided to keep Lin Xuan as the leader.
nǚ rén yuán běn jiù bú shì lǐ zhì de dòng wù ， wèi le bào chóu ， tā duō bàn shén me dōu zuò dé chū ， dào shí hòu bié shuō jiāng yún yǐn zōng shǒu zhù ， zì jǐ zhè xiē rén ， duō bàn dū huì bù dōng yù xiān huáng de hòu chén ， hún fēi pò sàn diào de 。
女人原本就不是理智的动物，为了报仇，她多半什么都做得出，到时候别说将云隐宗守住，自己这些人，多半都会步东裕仙皇的后尘，魂飞魄散掉的。
Lin Xuan understood this logic and felt no gratitude for it. He didn't believe he could exude a regal aura that would convince the old monsters of his worth; there were too many calculations involved.
zhè yì diǎn ， kě shì yǔ zì jǐ de qiè shēn lì yì xiāng guān ， suǒ yǐ zài chǎng de lǎo guài wù ， bù yuē ér tóng de fǎn duì tā dāng méng zhǔ 。
这一点，可是与自己的切身利益相关，所以在场的老怪物，不约而同的反对她当盟主。
---
piān piān chú le cǐ rén wài ， yòu méi yǒu bié de xuǎn zé ， suǒ yǐ zhǐ yǒu miǎn wéi qí nán ， bù ràng lín xuān xiè rèn le 。
偏偏除了此人外，又没有别的选择，所以只有勉为其难，不让林轩卸任了。
Nonetheless, Lin Xuan did not refuse outright. After all, someone had to take on the role of alliance leader. Otherwise, they would be as the outer garment wished—disunited and weak.
zhè dào lǐ ， lín xuān xīn zhōng yǒu shù 。
这道理，林轩心中有数。
Lin Xuan was no self-sacrificing cultivator but also wasn't selfish. With so many clans and sects seeking his protection, he couldn't abandon them. Even if he didn't care about the fate of the Immortal Dao Alliance, Cloud Concealment Sect's legacy could not be lost; otherwise, he would betray his seniors' years of affection.
suǒ yǐ tā bìng bú huì yīn cǐ gǎn jī shén me 。
所以他并不会因此感激什么。
Thus, Lin Xuan would hold on as long as possible, even with a slim chance.
yě bù jué dé zì jǐ néng gòu hǔ qū yī zhèn ， sàn fà chū wáng zhě zhī qì ， ràng zhòng lǎo guài zhé fú 。
也不觉得自己能够虎躯一震，散发出王者之气，让众老怪折服。
---
zhè qí zhōng yǒu tài duō de suàn jì yǔ kǎo lǜ ， zì jǐ bù guò shì bèi tā men gǎn yā zi shàng jià ér yǐ 。
这其中有太多的算计与考虑，自己不过是被他们赶鸭子上架而已。
"Thank you for your support. It seems I must continue to serve as the alliance leader."
bù zú wèi xǐ 。
不足为喜。
The current situation was dire, and Lin Xuan didn't play up any melodramatic theatrics; he reclaimed his command token directly.
dàn lín xuān yě méi yǒu tuī tuō xià qù 。
但林轩也没有推脱下去。
"You..."
bù guǎn rú hé 。 zhè méng zhǔ zǒng xū yào yǒu rén zuò 。
不管如何。这盟主总需要有人做。
The woman in court attire was both shocked and angry. However, with all the Transcendence cultivators supporting Lin Xuan, what could she do?
fǒu zé yī pán sǎn shā ， kě jiù zhèng chēng le yī wài tào me de xīn yì 。
否则一盘散沙，可就正称了衣外套么的心意。
"Fine, fine, you these unreasonable fellows. When our ways differ, we part ways. Since this place cannot accommodate me, I will leave Cloud Concealment Mountain."
lín xuān bú shì shě jǐ wèi rén de xiū xiān zhě ， dàn yě jué bú shì zì sī zì lì de rén wù 。
林轩不是舍己为人的修仙者，但也绝不是自私自利的人物。
She tore off a piece of her sleeve and declared her severance from the others.
zhè me duō zōng mén jiā zú lái tóu bèn zì jǐ ， zǒng bù néng zhēn de jiāng tā men zhì zhī bù gù 。
这么多宗门家族来投奔自己，总不能真的将他们置之不顾。
The others sighed but showed no signs of trying to retain her.
jiù suàn zì jǐ bù guǎn xiān dào méng de sǐ huó ， yún yǐn zōng de chuán chéng kě bù néng duàn jué yú cǐ chù ， fǒu zé ， zì jǐ jiù duì bù qǐ shī xiōng shī jiě zhè me duō nián lái duì zì jǐ qíng yì le 。
就算自己不管仙道盟的死活，云隐宗的传承可不能断绝于此处，否则，自己就对不起师兄师姐这么多年来对自己情意了。
Her obsession with revenge had reached a mad state, and she hated Lin Xuan deeply. Keeping her here would bring more harm than good.
gù ér ， dàn fán yǒu yī sī kě néng ， lín xuān dū huì sǐ shǒu yú cǐ chù 。
故而，但凡有一丝可能，林轩都会死守于此处。
Lin Xuan did not try to persuade her; people had their own aspirations. After repeatedly offending him, he had already shown great kindness by sympathizing with her loss. Now that she wished to leave, there was no need for further entreaties.
dāng rán ， lín xuān zhī suǒ yǐ zuò cǐ jué zé 。 yě shì yīn wèi xiāng xìn běn tǐ huí lái ， jú miàn zǒng huì gǎi guān ， tiān xià méi yǒu guò bù qù de kǎn ér 。
当然，林轩之所以做此抉择。也是因为相信本体回来，局面总会改观，天下没有过不去的坎儿。
---
“ duō xiè gè wèi dào yǒu tái ài ， kàn lái zhè méng zhǔ ， lín mǒu hái zhǐ yǒu jì xù zuò xià qù le 。”
“多谢各位道友抬爱，看来这盟主，林某还只有继续做下去了。”
"Will this woman's departure reveal our situation?" A middle-aged man with a few stubble on his lips suddenly frowned, showing concern.
rú jīn qíng shì wēi jí ， lín xuān yě méi yǒu wán jiǎo qíng de bǎ xì ， zhí jiē dòng shǒu shōu huí le lìng fú 。
如今情势危急，林轩也没有玩矫情的把戏，直接动手收回了令符。
"Not at all, Fellow Daoist Ning. Although Miss Feng hates me as well, her primary target is the域外天魔; she would never betray us," Lin Xuan's dismissive voice entered everyone's ears. He had some insight into people.
“ nǐ ……”
“你……”
"But I fear that she might fall into the hands of those demons."
nà gōng zhuāng nǚ zǐ zì rán shì yòu jīng yòu nù ， rán ér cǐ kè ， mǎn wū zi de dù jié qī xiū xiān zhě 。 dōu shì zhàn zài lín xuān yī biān de ， tā yòu néng rú hé ？
那宫装女子自然是又惊又怒，然而此刻，满屋子的渡劫期修仙者。都是站在林轩一边的，她又能如何？
"You're overthinking it. This woman may be unreasonable but is an Advanced Transcendence cultivator. Capturing her alive isn't easy; we know their soul-searching technique failed. Thus, no matter what happens, she won't reveal our secrets," Wanshao Immortal smiled and spoke with confidence.
“ hǎo ， hǎo ， nǐ men zhè xiē bù zhī suǒ wèi de jiā huo 。 dào bù tóng bù xiāng wéi móu ， cǐ dì jì rán róng bù xià wǒ ， nà běn xiān zi yě bú yào liú zài zhè yún yǐn shān zhōng 。”
“好，好，你们这些不知所谓的家伙。道不同不相为谋，此地既然容不下我，那本仙子也不要留在这云隐山中。”
"Ah, I see. It seems I was overly cautious."
cǐ nǚ shuō dào zhè lǐ ，“ cī lā ” yī shēng 。 jiāng yī xiù chě xià yī fú ， xiǎn rán tā shì yǔ zài zuò de xiū shì gē páo duàn yì le 。
此女说到这里，“刺啦”一声。将衣袖扯下一幅，显然她是与在座的修士割袍断义了。
The lazy cultivator exhaled in relief, and several others did the same.
zài zuò zhī rén tàn xī ， què méi yǒu shuí liú lù chū wǎn liú zhī yì 。
在座之人叹息，却没有谁流露出挽留之意。
"Alright, let's put this behind us. We've wasted too much time already. The question from earlier still needs answers; we must work together to face the域外天魔," Lin Xuan spoke with a sense of urgency.
duì fāng duì chóu hèn zhī zhí zhuó 。 yǐ jīng dào le fēng mó de dì bù ， qiě duì lín xuān hèn zhī rù gǔ ， ruò shì jiāng tā liú zài de cǐ chù ， suǒ dài lái de huò huàn yuǎn dà yú hǎo chù 。
对方对仇恨之执着。已经到了疯魔的地步，且对林轩恨之入骨，若是将她留在的此处，所带来的祸患远大于好处。
"The alliance leader is right. After the last battle, our losses were severe. Over ten important array formations are in a state of partial destruction, including some crucial protective arrays that need repair. Otherwise, facing another attack from the域外天魔, we won't survive," said a woman wearing a light green dress with deep concern.
lín xuān yě méi yǒu quàn shuō ， rén gè yǒu zhì 。
林轩也没有劝说，人各有志。
She was an Advanced Transcendence cultivator who appeared much younger than her age, thanks to excellent anti-aging techniques.
duì fāng yī zài duì zì jǐ wú lǐ ， zì jǐ lián tā sàng fū ， yǐ jīng zuò dào rén zhì yì jìn de dì bù ， rú jīn tā yào zǒu ， dāng rán méi yǒu bì yào qù wǎn liú qiān jiù 。
对方一再对自己无礼，自己怜她丧夫，已经做到仁至义尽的地步，如今她要走，当然没有必要去挽留迁就。
"Miss Qingling is correct; replenishing resources is our priority. We must activate the secret teleportation array," Lin Xuan sighed.
……
……
"We have no objection to using the secret teleportation array, but who will gather the supplies?" Wanshao Immortal sat upright.
“ cǐ nǚ wài chū ， huì bú huì duì wǒ men zhè ér de qíng kuàng yǒu suǒ xiè lòu ？” yī wèi kàn qǐ lái lǎn sǎn mú yàng de ， zuǐ chún zhī shàng liú yǒu liǎng piē xiǎo hú zi de zhōng nián rén ， què tū rán méi tóu yī tiāo ， lù chū le yōu sè 。
“此女外出，会不会对我们这儿的情况有所泄露？”一位看起来懒散模样的，嘴唇之上留有两撇小胡子的中年人，却突然眉头一挑，露出了忧色。
"They don't need gathering; I've already reserved some cultivators outside. This situation was foreseeable, so they have collected the necessary resources and are waiting for us," Lin Xuan smiled easily, showing his strategic acumen.
“ níng dào yǒu duō xīn le ， zhè wèi féng xiān zi suī shuō xìng gé piān jī ， jiāng lín mǒu yě hèn le jìn qù ， dàn tā zuì hèn de ， bì jìng hái shì yù wài tiān mó ， zěn me kě néng xiè lòu wǒ men de mì mì 。” lín xuān bù yǐ wéi rán de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ lǐ ， zhè diǎn shí rén zhǐ míng tā hái shì yǒu dì 。
“宁道友多心了，这位冯仙子虽说性格偏激，将林某也恨了进去，但她最恨的，毕竟还是域外天魔，怎么可能泄露我们的秘密。”林轩不以为然的声音传入耳朵里，这点识人指明他还是有地。
"The alliance leader is indeed wise."
“ kě wǒ dān xīn ， tā luò zài nà xiē mó tóu de shǒu lǐ 。”
“可我担心，她落在那些魔头的手里。”
"Just look at that woman who said you weren't worthy of being an alliance leader. She couldn't have planned this far in advance."
“ zhè nǐ yě shì duō lǜ ， cǐ nǚ suī rán bù kě lǐ yù ， dàn què shì shí dǎ shí de dù jié hòu qī ， xiǎng yào shēng qín huó zhuō nǎ ér yǒu nà me róng yì ， jù wǒ suǒ zhī ， tā men fū qī suǒ xiū liàn de yī zhǒng mì shù ， biàn shì xiǎng yào sōu hún ， yì méi yǒu xiào guǒ ， suǒ yǐ wú lùn rú hé ， tā lí kāi shì bú huì xiè lòu wǒ men zhè ér xiāo xī de 。” wàn xiǎo xiān jūn wēi xiào zhe kāi kǒu le ， ruò méi yǒu bǎ wò ， tā yòu zěn me kě néng qīng yì fàng cǐ nǚ lí kāi ne 。
“这你也是多虑，此女虽然不可理喻，但却是实打实的渡劫后期，想要生擒活捉哪儿有那么容易，据我所知，他们夫妻所修炼的一种秘术，便是想要搜魂，亦没有效果，所以无论如何，她离开是不会泄露我们这儿消息的。”万晓仙君微笑着开口了，若没有把握，他又怎么可能轻易放此女离开呢。
"Indeed, with the alliance leader here, we can surely defend and defeat the域外天魔," the old monsters' faces lit up with hope.
“ yuán lái rú cǐ ， kàn lái shì xiǎo dì duō lǜ 。”
“原来如此，看来是小弟多虑。”
Lin Xuan sighed: "The question is, who should go retrieve them?"
Otherwise, the clans gathered at Cloud Concealment Sect would turn into scattered sand. How could such a group withstand the attack of the域外天魔?
And this alliance leader wasn't something anyone could easily take on. To strategize and command so many cultivators and beast tribes required considerable strength.
The Transcendence Stage was the bare minimum.
Thus, the candidates were limited to those present in the room.
Who would step up then?
No one wanted to draw the attention of the域外天魔.
Didn't they see how Lin Xuan had become a target? Despite his injuries not fully healed, he still went against the First Demon Sovereign. That battle left him severely injured and nearly perished.
With such a lesson in mind, who would willingly take on this thankless task?
But there was one person willing to step up.
The Empress Consort before them didn't care about it.
However, while her strength might suffice, she lacked the other qualifications needed.
At that moment, she no longer resembled an Advanced Transcendence cultivator; her eyes were clouded by hatred. If she became the alliance leader, she would surely make irrational decisions.
Women are not naturally rational beings. Driven by revenge, she could do anything. In such a scenario, not only would they fail to defend Cloud Concealment Sect, but many of them might follow in Emperor Xiyu's footsteps, their souls scattered.
This was too closely tied to her personal interests, so the old monsters unanimously opposed her candidacy. Yet, with no other options, they reluctantly decided to keep Lin Xuan as the leader.
Lin Xuan understood this logic and felt no gratitude for it. He didn't believe he could exude a regal aura that would convince the old monsters of his worth; there were too many calculations involved.
---
Nonetheless, Lin Xuan did not refuse outright. After all, someone had to take on the role of alliance leader. Otherwise, they would be as the outer garment wished—disunited and weak.
Lin Xuan was no self-sacrificing cultivator but also wasn't selfish. With so many clans and sects seeking his protection, he couldn't abandon them. Even if he didn't care about the fate of the Immortal Dao Alliance, Cloud Concealment Sect's legacy could not be lost; otherwise, he would betray his seniors' years of affection.
Thus, Lin Xuan would hold on as long as possible, even with a slim chance.
---
"Thank you for your support. It seems I must continue to serve as the alliance leader."
The current situation was dire, and Lin Xuan didn't play up any melodramatic theatrics; he reclaimed his command token directly.
"You..."
The woman in court attire was both shocked and angry. However, with all the Transcendence cultivators supporting Lin Xuan, what could she do?
"Fine, fine, you these unreasonable fellows. When our ways differ, we part ways. Since this place cannot accommodate me, I will leave Cloud Concealment Mountain."
She tore off a piece of her sleeve and declared her severance from the others.
The others sighed but showed no signs of trying to retain her.
Her obsession with revenge had reached a mad state, and she hated Lin Xuan deeply. Keeping her here would bring more harm than good.
Lin Xuan did not try to persuade her; people had their own aspirations. After repeatedly offending him, he had already shown great kindness by sympathizing with her loss. Now that she wished to leave, there was no need for further entreaties.
---
"Will this woman's departure reveal our situation?" A middle-aged man with a few stubble on his lips suddenly frowned, showing concern.
"Not at all, Fellow Daoist Ning. Although Miss Feng hates me as well, her primary target is the域外天魔; she would never betray us," Lin Xuan's dismissive voice entered everyone's ears. He had some insight into people.
"But I fear that she might fall into the hands of those demons."
"You're overthinking it. This woman may be unreasonable but is an Advanced Transcendence cultivator. Capturing her alive isn't easy; we know their soul-searching technique failed. Thus, no matter what happens, she won't reveal our secrets," Wanshao Immortal smiled and spoke with confidence.
"Ah, I see. It seems I was overly cautious."
The lazy cultivator exhaled in relief, and several others did the same.
"Alright, let's put this behind us. We've wasted too much time already. The question from earlier still needs answers; we must work together to face the域外天魔," Lin Xuan spoke with a sense of urgency.
"The alliance leader is right. After the last battle, our losses were severe. Over ten important array formations are in a state of partial destruction, including some crucial protective arrays that need repair. Otherwise, facing another attack from the域外天魔, we won't survive," said a woman wearing a light green dress with deep concern.
She was an Advanced Transcendence cultivator who appeared much younger than her age, thanks to excellent anti-aging techniques.
"Miss Qingling is correct; replenishing resources is our priority. We must activate the secret teleportation array," Lin Xuan sighed.
"We have no objection to using the secret teleportation array, but who will gather the supplies?" Wanshao Immortal sat upright.
"They don't need gathering; I've already reserved some cultivators outside. This situation was foreseeable, so they have collected the necessary resources and are waiting for us," Lin Xuan smiled easily, showing his strategic acumen.
"The alliance leader is indeed wise."
"Just look at that woman who said you weren't worthy of being an alliance leader. She couldn't have planned this far in advance."
"Indeed, with the alliance leader here, we can surely defend and defeat the域外天魔," the old monsters' faces lit up with hope.
Lin Xuan sighed: "The question is, who should go retrieve them?"