ér tóng yàng de yí mù ， hái zài cǐ jiè miàn de gè chù shàng yǎn 。☆→☆→，
而同样的一幕，还在此界面的各处上演。☆→☆→，
Meanwhile, the same scene was unfolding in various parts of this interface.
zhè ér shì yī chù huāng shān ， piān piān líng qì què chōng yù dào le jí diǎn 。
这儿是一处荒山，偏偏灵气却充裕到了极点。
This was a desolate mountain where the aura of spiritual energy was exceptionally abundant. An alien with wings sprouted from its back had just found a treasure here when a streak of light descended from the horizon.
yī bèi shēng shuāng chì de yì zú ， gāng gāng zài zhè ér zhǎo dào le yī jiàn bǎo wù ， suí hòu biàn kàn jiàn cóng tiān biān fēi lái de liú guāng le 。
一背生双翅的异族，刚刚在这儿找到了一件宝物，随后便看见从天边飞来的流光了。
Despite feeling puzzled, it still took the item without hesitation.
xīn zhōng suī gǎn chà yì ， dàn hái shì háo bù yóu yù de jiāng qí qǔ dào le shǒu lǐ 。
心中虽感诧异，但还是毫不犹豫的将其取到了手里。
"Treasure map?"
“ cáng bǎo tú ？”
“藏宝图？”
The map even indicated the location of Nine Heavens Respiration Soil in detail.
shàng miàn jū rán hái biāo zhù hǎo le jiǔ tiān xī rǎng cáng yú hé chù 。
上面居然还标注好了九天息壤藏于何处。
Wasn't this like finding gold in a field?
zhè qǐ bù shì yǔ tiān shàng diào xiàn bǐng xiāng chà fǎng fú ？
这岂不是与天上掉馅饼相差仿佛？
The face of that powerful alien showed hesitance. After lingering for a moment, it transformed into a faint green glow and flew towards the location marked on the map.
nà yì zú dà néng de liǎn shàng lù chū yóu yí zhī sè ， mǎn miàn chóu chú ， dàn zài yuán dì zhuàn yōu le piàn kè ， hái shì hún shēn qīng máng dà zuò ， xiàng zhe cáng bǎo tú biāo shì de dì diǎn fēi qù le 。
那异族大能的脸上露出犹疑之色，满面踌躇，但在原地转悠了片刻，还是浑身青芒大做，像着藏宝图标示的地点飞去了。
Better to risk making a mistake than miss an opportunity!
níng shā cuò ， wù fàng guò ！
宁杀错，勿放过！
Lin Xuan was well aware how humans would act—full of greed and recklessness.
jiù zhī dào míng zhī dào yǒu wēi xiǎn yě yào fēi é pū huǒ 。
就知道明知道有危险也要飞蛾扑火。
...
lín xuān duì yú rén xīn de bǎ wò ， nà kě shì fēi cháng chōng zú dào wèi de ！
林轩对于人心的把握，那可是非常充足到位的！
A small river, no more than several dozen feet wide. Yet, two groups of cultivators were facing each other across it. From their attire, they seemed to be from the same interface. However, instead of cooperating like in the Spirit Realm, they immediately started fighting upon meeting.
……
……
Even if there was enmity between different interfaces, within a single one, there were too many hidden agendas. It would be sheer folly to think that cooperation was possible.
yī tiáo xiǎo hé 。
一条小河。
Both sides had already revealed their treasures. Under the influence of their life force, the spiritual energy from heaven and earth transformed into fierce gales!
kuān bù guò shù zhàng bà le 。
宽不过数丈罢了。
The battle was about to erupt at any moment. Just then, a treasure map fell from above.
dàn hé miàn zhī shàng ， què yǒu liǎng huǒ xiū shì yáo yáo duì zhì 。
但河面之上，却有两伙修士遥遥对峙。
News spread like wildfire: Nine Heavens Respiration Soil could be found in the Illusory Sea Desert.
cóng tā men de fú shì ， yī xī kě yǐ biàn rèn chū shì lái zì tóng yī jiè miàn de xiū shì 。
从他们的服饰，依稀可以辨认出是来自同一界面的修士。
All for profit!
dàn bù zhī wèi hé ， bù jǐn méi yǒu xiàng líng jiè dà néng nà yàng shǒu wàng xiāng zhù ， fǎn ér yī jiàn miàn jiù huǒ bìng qǐ lái le 。
但不知为何，不仅没有像灵界大能那样守望相助，反而一见面就火并起来了。
Even these top-tier cultivators couldn't resist.
bié shuō gè dà jiè miàn ēn yuàn jiū gé ， jiù suàn tóng yī jiè miàn zhī zhōng ， yě yǒu tài duō de wò chuò ， xiǎng yào lián shǒu ， hé yì yú chī rén shuō mèng ？
别说各大界面恩怨纠葛，就算同一界面之中，也有太多的龌龊，想要联手，何亦于痴人说梦？
With this ambiguous treasure map, both sides became awkward.
shuāng fāng yǐ jì chū bǎo wù 。
双方已祭出宝物。
"Old Devil Jia, do we still need to decide who's better here?"
zài tā men qì jī de qiān yǐn xià ， tiān dì líng qì ， jiē huà zuò le gāng fēng ！
在他们气机的牵引下，天地灵气，皆化作了罡风！
"How about that Old Devil Li? You're planning to go to the Illusory Sea Desert. Haha, such a low-level trick, are you going to fall for it too?" said a cultivator with a sinister expression.
dà zhàn yǐ dào yī chù jí fā de dì bù 。
大战已到一触即发的地步。
"Hmph, what choice I make has nothing to do with you. Even if I want to jump into a trap, don't you dare comment on me," retorted an old man in red robes. His hair and beard were also red, making him look like a blazing fire. This nickname was fitting indeed.
ér piān piān zhè shí ， què cóng tóu dǐng shàng là xià le cáng bǎo tú 。
而偏偏这时，却从头顶上落下了藏宝图。
"You..."
jiǔ tiān xī rǎng wèi yú huàn hǎi shā mò ， zhè ge xiāo xī rú tóng jīng léi yì bān de chuán kāi le 。
九天息壤位于幻海沙漠，这个消息如同惊雷一般的传开了。
Jia Old Devil was enraged but hesitated before calling his companions: "Let's go. We shouldn't waste time with this madman."
tiān xià xī xī ， jiē wèi lì wǎng ！
天下熙熙，皆为利往！
...
zhè xiē dǐng jí dà néng yì bù néng miǎn sú 。
这些顶级大能亦不能免俗。
Whether the treasure map was real or fake, the battle had been effectively defused.
kàn zhe zhè zhēn jiǎ nán biàn de cáng bǎo tú ， shuāng fāng de qì fēn ， biàn dé gǔ guài qǐ lái le 。
看着这真假难辨的藏宝图，双方的气氛，变得古怪起来了。
The outcome for both sides was clear.
“ jiǎ lǎo mó ， wǒ men shì fǒu hái yào zài zhè lǐ yī jué shèng fù ？”
“贾老魔，我们是否还要在这里一决胜负？”
...
“ zěn me ， liè huǒ lǎo guài ， nǐ shì dǎ suàn qù huàn hǎi shā mò xún bǎo le 。 hēi ， zhè me dī liè de piàn shù ， nǐ yě yào shàng dàng shòu piàn me ？” yí miàn róng yīn hěn de xiū shì bù yǐ wéi rán de shuō 。
“怎么，烈火老怪，你是打算去幻海沙漠寻宝了。嘿，这么低劣的骗术，你也要上当受骗么？”一面容阴狠的修士不以为然的说。
Would everyone fall for it?
“ hēng ， běn lǎo zǔ zěn me xuǎn zé ， yǔ nǐ yǒu shén me guān xì ， wǒ jiù suàn yuàn yì tiào xiàn jǐng ， yě lún bú dào nǐ yí gè wài rén lái zhì píng shén me 。”
“哼，本老祖怎么选择，与你有什么关系，我就算愿意跳陷阱，也轮不到你一个外人来置评什么。”
The answer was no. Out of a thousand people, there were many different types. Most couldn't resist the temptation to become immortal.
shuō huà de shì yī hóng páo lǎo zhě ， tóu fà hú xū yě shì hóng sè ， kàn shàng qù jiù xiàng yī tuán rán shāo de liè huǒ ， tā zhè wài hào dào zhēn de shì tiē qiè dào le jí chù 。
说话的是一红袍老者，头发胡须也是红色，看上去就像一团燃烧的烈火，他这外号倒真的是贴切到了极处。
Despite the low-level trap, they still needed to check out what was offered.
“ nǐ ……”
“你……”
But among the thousands of world's top-tier cultivators, more than ten thousand had arrived here, and some didn't take the treasure map seriously at all.
bèi yī zhèn qiǎng bái 。 jiǎ lǎo mó bó rán dà nù ， dàn lüè yī chí yí ， jū rán méi yǒu shàng qián yǔ duì fāng lǐ lùn shén me ， yī zhāo shǒu ， jiāng jǐ gè tóng bàn huàn zhù ：“ wǒ men zǒu ， bù yǔ zhè fēng zi yī bān jiàn shí jì jiào shén me ？”
被一阵抢白。贾老魔勃然大怒，但略一迟疑，居然没有上前与对方理论什么，一招手，将几个同伴唤住：“我们走，不与这疯子一般见识计较什么？”
They ignored it!
qiě bù shuō cáng bǎo tú shì zhēn shì jiǎ ， dàn yī cháng dà zhàn què shí bèi xiāo nì chéng liǎo wú xíng a ！
且不说藏宝图是真是假，但一场大战确实被消匿成了无形啊！
Or after careful consideration, they made a wise choice. Strictly speaking, such people were quite numerous.
zhì yú jiē xià lái shuāng fāng huì zěn me xuǎn zé ， dá àn qí shí yǐ jīng hěn míng xiǎn le 。
至于接下来双方会怎么选择，答案其实已经很明显了。
It mattered not to Lin Xuan. He never expected to manipulate every single person. He just hoped that some would act as scouts for him, and his goal was achieved.
……
……
Lin Xuan felt satisfied.
nà shì bú shì měi yí gè rén dū huì shàng dàng shòu piàn ne ？
那是不是每一个人都会上当受骗呢？
What Lin Xuan didn't know was that he had inadvertently helped others in the process.
jié guǒ zì rán shì bù jìn rán de 。
结果自然是不尽然的。
For instance, Xiao Jian.
rén shàng yì bǎi ， xíng xíng sè sè 。 jué dà duō shù rén ， gù rán shì rěn bú zhù chéng xiān de yòu huò 。
人上一百，形形色色。绝大多数人，固然是忍不住成仙的诱惑。
Another True Immortal had fallen at his hands.
jǐn guǎn zhè ge xiàn jǐng hěn dī liè ， dàn bù kàn yī kàn ， yě shì xīn yǒu bù gān de 。
尽管这个陷阱很低劣，但不看一看，也是心有不甘的。
Tian Xiao Jian's current strength was truly impressive. He acted ruthlessly, not only destroying the opponent's body but also their soul and essence.
dàn sān qiān shì jiè de dà néng 。 lái dào zhè lǐ de hé zhǐ wàn yú zhī shù ， zǒng yě yǒu nà me yī xiē ， duì luò dào miàn qián de cáng bǎo tú bù yǐ wéi rán de 。
但三千世界的大能。来到这里的何止万余之数，总也有那么一些，对落到面前的藏宝图不以为然的。
After drawing out the soul and refining it, he found the treasure map right above him, lying on the ground by his feet.
shì ruò bú jiàn ！
视若不见！
He picked it up and released his divine sense. A smile appeared on his handsome face: "Diverting the flood eastward or throwing a stone to ask the way—regardless of the other person's intentions, this has endless benefits for me."
huò zhě quán héng sī suǒ ， zuì zhōng hái shì zuò chū le míng zhì de xuǎn zé 。
或者权衡思索，最终还是做出了明智的选择。
Xiao Jian instantly understood Lin Xuan's purpose.
yán gé lái shuō 。 zhè bù fèn rén ， rén shù yě shì bù shǎo de 。
严格来说。这部分人，人数也是不少的。
With a surge of demonic energy, he flew towards the Illusory Sea Desert as well.
dàn méi yǒu guān xì 。
但没有关系。
Meanwhile, Fairy Rain桐, Bingpo, Neilong True Man, and King Whale also found the jade eye.
jiāng tài gōng diào yú ， yuàn zhě shàng gōu 。 lín xuān yuán běn yě bù céng shē wàng ， jiāng měi yí gè rén dōu wán nòng yú gǔ zhǎng 。
姜太公钓鱼，愿者上钩。林轩原本也不曾奢望，将每一个人都玩弄于鼓掌。
...
tā zhǐ shì xī wàng yǒu yī bù fèn rén ， néng wèi zì jǐ tàn lù ， ér xiàn zài zhè ge mù dì ， yǐ jīng dá dào le 。
他只是希望有一部分人，能为自己探路，而现在这个目的，已经达到了。
The situation was tense. Many top-tier cultivators gathered in the Illusory Sea Desert, including some True Immortals' schemes.
lín xuān hěn zhī zú 。
林轩很知足。
Who would end up with Nine Heavens Respiration Soil?
ér lín xuān bìng bù zhī dào de shì ， tā zhè me zuò ， wú xíng jiān ， hái wèi qí tā yī xiē rén zuò jià yī le 。
而林轩并不知道的是，他这么做，无形间，还为其他一些人做嫁衣了。
Lin Xuan, as the instigator, should have been the first to reach the destination.
bǐ rú shuō xiǎo jiàn zhè jiā huo 。
比如说小剑这家伙。
But he deliberately slowed down his pace.
gāng gāng yòu yǒu yī míng zhēn xiān ， zài tā de shǒu lǐ yǔn luò 。
刚刚又有一名真仙，在他的手里陨落。
...
tián xiǎo jiàn rú jīn de shí lì ， kě zhēn shì lìng rén guā mù xiāng kàn le 。
田小剑如今的实力，可真是令人刮目相看了。
It took Lin Xuan three days to arrive at the location marked on the map. There was a vast plain or rather a basin, its surface sunken inwards.
ér tā chū shǒu yě shì xīn hěn shǒu là de 。
而他出手也是心狠手辣的。
"Is this it?"
bù jǐn jiāng duì fāng ròu shēn miè chú ， yuán yīng hún pò yě bù fàng guò 。
不仅将对方肉身灭除，元婴魂魄也不放过。
Lin Xuan's expression turned uncertain but quickly cleared as he exhaled and silver light shone from his pupils.
ér gāng gāng chōu hún liàn pò ， jiù kàn jiàn le cáng bǎo tú 。
而刚刚抽魂炼魄，就看见了藏宝图。
He activated Heavenly Phoenix Divine Vision. Under this power, something unusual could indeed be seen.
zhí jiē cóng tóu dǐng diào luò ， píng tǎng dào tā de jiǎo biān le 。
直接从头顶掉落，平躺到他的脚边了。
With a wave of his sleeves, Illusory Heaven Fire appeared, rapidly growing in size until it resembled the size of a pavilion.
tián xiǎo jiàn shí qǐ ， jiāng shén shí fàng chū ， hěn kuài ， tā yīng jùn de miàn róng shàng jiù lù chū le yī sī xiào róng ：“ huò shuǐ dōng yǐn ， hái shì tóu shí wèn lù ， bù guǎn nà rén de mù dì shì shén me ， duì wǒ ér yán ， yě yǒu wú jǐn de hǎo chù 。”
田小剑拾起，将神识放出，很快，他英俊的面容上就露出了一丝笑容：“祸水东引，还是投石问路，不管那人的目的是什么，对我而言，也有无尽的好处。”
Lin Xuan's expression remained unchanged as he gently shook his hand. The Illusory Heaven Fire, trailing long flames, fell like a meteor and crashed into the basin.
zhè jiā huo ， jū rán yī yǎn jiù jiāng lín xuān de mù dì kàn chuān diào le 。
这家伙，居然一眼就将林轩的目的看穿掉了。
A loud explosion echoed. The scene before him blurred.
suí hòu hún shēn mó máng dà qǐ ， tóng yàng xiàng huàn hǎi shā mò fēi le guò qù 。
随后浑身魔芒大起，同样像幻海沙漠飞了过去。
The basin vanished, replaced by a vast oasis. A fragrant aura of immortal energy greeted him, making one feel refreshed just from breathing it in.
yǔ cǐ tóng shí ， yǔ tóng xiān zi ， bīng pò ， nài lóng zhēn rén ， jù jīng wáng děng rén yě tóng yàng jiǎn dào le yù tóng 。
与此同时，雨桐仙子，冰魄，鼐龙真人，巨鲸王等人也同样捡到了玉瞳。
Lin Xuan took deep breaths as his body shone with brilliance and flew inside.
……
……
However, an unbelievable scene unfolded: within seconds, the view became hazy again. The oasis disappeared, replaced by the sunken basin. It seemed nothing had happened.
yī shí jiān ， shān yǔ yù lái fēng mǎn lóu ， zhòng dà néng qí jù huàn hǎi shā mò ， zhè lǐ miàn hái yǒu zhēn xiān de yīn móu 。
一时间，山雨欲来风满楼，众大能齐聚幻海沙漠，这里面还有真仙的阴谋。
This didn't matter to Lin Xuan as he was already inside. Soon, a rumbling sound reached his ears.
jiǔ tiān xī rǎng ， jiū jìng huì huā luò shuí jiā ne ？
九天息壤，究竟会花落谁家呢？
The primordial energy of heaven and earth became chaotic.
lín xuān zuò wèi shǐ zuò yǒng zhě ， yuán běn yīng gāi zuì yǒu tiáo jiàn qiǎng xiān dào dá mù dì dì de 。
林轩做为始作俑者，原本应该最有条件抢先到达目的地的。
Lin Xuan's expression turned surprised. He had scattered the treasure map to lure others into making mistakes for him. But he hadn't expected such an incident so soon after entering.
dàn tā què gù yì jiǎn màn le sù dù 。
但他却故意减慢了速度。
Regardless, this couldn't be missed.
jiù zhè yàng ， zú zú huā le sān tiān de shí jiān lín xuān cái lái dào le dì tú biāo shì de zhōng diǎn 。
就这样，足足花了三天的时间林轩才来到了地图标示的终点。
Silently, Lin Xuan flew past.
nà lǐ shì yī piàn huāng yuán 。
那里是一片荒原。
Soon, he arrived at another basin.
bù ， shuō chéng pén dì gèng jiā shì hé ， dì biǎo shì xiàng xià āo xiàn de 。
不，说成盆地更加适合，地表是向下凹陷的。
However, what met his eyes left Lin Xuan shocked. He had found himself in a real basin again, not just an illusion.
“ jiù shì zhè lǐ me ？”
“就是这里么？”
What truly surprised him was the scene unfolding on the ground of this basin.
lín xuān liǎn shàng lù chū yī sī yí huò ， dàn hěn kuài ， bù què dìng de biǎo qíng jiù xiāo shī le 。
林轩脸上露出一丝疑惑，但很快，不确定的表情就消失了。
PS: Dad's condition has worsened recently, and it might even be deteriorating. Huan Yu is quite busy, so updates have been slow. I'll try to write more tomorrow. Please bear with me. (To be continued...)
Meanwhile, the same scene was unfolding in various parts of this interface.
This was a desolate mountain where the aura of spiritual energy was exceptionally abundant. An alien with wings sprouted from its back had just found a treasure here when a streak of light descended from the horizon.
Despite feeling puzzled, it still took the item without hesitation.
"Treasure map?"
The map even indicated the location of Nine Heavens Respiration Soil in detail.
Wasn't this like finding gold in a field?
The face of that powerful alien showed hesitance. After lingering for a moment, it transformed into a faint green glow and flew towards the location marked on the map.
Better to risk making a mistake than miss an opportunity!
Lin Xuan was well aware how humans would act—full of greed and recklessness.
...
A small river, no more than several dozen feet wide. Yet, two groups of cultivators were facing each other across it. From their attire, they seemed to be from the same interface. However, instead of cooperating like in the Spirit Realm, they immediately started fighting upon meeting.
Even if there was enmity between different interfaces, within a single one, there were too many hidden agendas. It would be sheer folly to think that cooperation was possible.
Both sides had already revealed their treasures. Under the influence of their life force, the spiritual energy from heaven and earth transformed into fierce gales!
The battle was about to erupt at any moment. Just then, a treasure map fell from above.
News spread like wildfire: Nine Heavens Respiration Soil could be found in the Illusory Sea Desert.
All for profit!
Even these top-tier cultivators couldn't resist.
With this ambiguous treasure map, both sides became awkward.
"Old Devil Jia, do we still need to decide who's better here?"
"How about that Old Devil Li? You're planning to go to the Illusory Sea Desert. Haha, such a low-level trick, are you going to fall for it too?" said a cultivator with a sinister expression.
"Hmph, what choice I make has nothing to do with you. Even if I want to jump into a trap, don't you dare comment on me," retorted an old man in red robes. His hair and beard were also red, making him look like a blazing fire. This nickname was fitting indeed.
"You..."
Jia Old Devil was enraged but hesitated before calling his companions: "Let's go. We shouldn't waste time with this madman."
...
Whether the treasure map was real or fake, the battle had been effectively defused.
The outcome for both sides was clear.
...
Would everyone fall for it?
The answer was no. Out of a thousand people, there were many different types. Most couldn't resist the temptation to become immortal.
Despite the low-level trap, they still needed to check out what was offered.
But among the thousands of world's top-tier cultivators, more than ten thousand had arrived here, and some didn't take the treasure map seriously at all.
They ignored it!
Or after careful consideration, they made a wise choice. Strictly speaking, such people were quite numerous.
It mattered not to Lin Xuan. He never expected to manipulate every single person. He just hoped that some would act as scouts for him, and his goal was achieved.
Lin Xuan felt satisfied.
What Lin Xuan didn't know was that he had inadvertently helped others in the process.
For instance, Xiao Jian.
Another True Immortal had fallen at his hands.
Tian Xiao Jian's current strength was truly impressive. He acted ruthlessly, not only destroying the opponent's body but also their soul and essence.
After drawing out the soul and refining it, he found the treasure map right above him, lying on the ground by his feet.
He picked it up and released his divine sense. A smile appeared on his handsome face: "Diverting the flood eastward or throwing a stone to ask the way—regardless of the other person's intentions, this has endless benefits for me."
Xiao Jian instantly understood Lin Xuan's purpose.
With a surge of demonic energy, he flew towards the Illusory Sea Desert as well.
Meanwhile, Fairy Rain桐, Bingpo, Neilong True Man, and King Whale also found the jade eye.
...
The situation was tense. Many top-tier cultivators gathered in the Illusory Sea Desert, including some True Immortals' schemes.
Who would end up with Nine Heavens Respiration Soil?
Lin Xuan, as the instigator, should have been the first to reach the destination.
But he deliberately slowed down his pace.
...
It took Lin Xuan three days to arrive at the location marked on the map. There was a vast plain or rather a basin, its surface sunken inwards.
"Is this it?"
Lin Xuan's expression turned uncertain but quickly cleared as he exhaled and silver light shone from his pupils.
He activated Heavenly Phoenix Divine Vision. Under this power, something unusual could indeed be seen.
With a wave of his sleeves, Illusory Heaven Fire appeared, rapidly growing in size until it resembled the size of a pavilion.
Lin Xuan's expression remained unchanged as he gently shook his hand. The Illusory Heaven Fire, trailing long flames, fell like a meteor and crashed into the basin.
A loud explosion echoed. The scene before him blurred.
The basin vanished, replaced by a vast oasis. A fragrant aura of immortal energy greeted him, making one feel refreshed just from breathing it in.
Lin Xuan took deep breaths as his body shone with brilliance and flew inside.
However, an unbelievable scene unfolded: within seconds, the view became hazy again. The oasis disappeared, replaced by the sunken basin. It seemed nothing had happened.
This didn't matter to Lin Xuan as he was already inside. Soon, a rumbling sound reached his ears.
The primordial energy of heaven and earth became chaotic.
Lin Xuan's expression turned surprised. He had scattered the treasure map to lure others into making mistakes for him. But he hadn't expected such an incident so soon after entering.
Regardless, this couldn't be missed.
Silently, Lin Xuan flew past.
Soon, he arrived at another basin.
However, what met his eyes left Lin Xuan shocked. He had found himself in a real basin again, not just an illusion.
What truly surprised him was the scene unfolding on the ground of this basin.
PS: Dad's condition has worsened recently, and it might even be deteriorating. Huan Yu is quite busy, so updates have been slow. I'll try to write more tomorrow. Please bear with me. (To be continued...)