shǎo mén zhǔ ， lǎo fū lìng yǒu yào shì ， zàn qiě gào cí 。” tài xū zhēn rén liǎn ]T hòu ， zhōng yú huǎn huǎn de kāi kǒu 。
少门主，老夫另有要事，暂且告辞。”太虚真人脸]T后，终于缓缓的开口。
Junior Sect Leader, Old Sage has other matters to attend to and will take his leave for now," said the Great Void True Man with a face full of sincerity.
“ qián bèi qǐng biàn jiù shì 。”
“前辈请便就是。”
"Senior, please be at ease."
lín xuān zhèng zhòng xià huái ， tā yě bù xiǎng yǔ yǎn qián de lǎo guài wù yǒu guò duō qiān chě ， dāng xià hán xiào xiāng sòng 。
林轩正中下怀，他也不想与眼前的老怪物有过多牵扯，当下含笑相送。
Lin Xuan was quite pleased. He didn't want any further entanglements with this old monster, so he smiled and bid him farewell.
tài xū zhēn rén diǎn le diǎn tóu ， zhuǎn shēn huà wèi yī dào qīng fēng ， xiāo shī dé wú yǐng wú zōng ， qí dùn shù zhī miào ， ràng rén tàn wéi guān zhǐ ， bù kuì shì yuán yīng qī de xiū shì 。
太虚真人点了点头，转身化为一道轻风，消失得无影无踪，其遁术之妙，让人叹为观止，不愧是元婴期的修士。
The Great Void True Man nodded and turned into a light breeze, vanishing without a trace. His遁术 was truly remarkable, worthy of an婴灵 stage cultivator.
“ xiān zi ， cǐ shì yǐ jīng gào yí duàn luò ， zài xià yě yào zǒu le 。”
“仙子，此事已经告一段落，在下也要走了。”
"Fair Lady, this matter is now concluded. I must also leave."
“ hǎo ba ， zhè cì duō chéng lín xiōng yuán shǒu ， bì mén shàng xià ， qí gǎn dà dé 。” ōu yáng qín xīn liǎn yī lǐ ， zài cì biǎo shì xiè yì 。
“好吧，这次多承林兄援手，敝门上下，齐感大德。”欧阳琴心敛一礼，再次表示谢意。
"Very well. Brother Lin's assistance has greatly benefited our sect," said Ouyang Qinxin with a bow, once again expressing her gratitude.
“ xiān zi tài kè qì le 。”
“仙子太客气了。”
"Not at all, my dear lady."
lín xuān wēi wēi yī xiào ， yòu yǔ duì fāng hán xuān le jǐ jù ， rán hòu hún shēn qīng máng dà qǐ ， huà wèi yī dào jīng hóng ， fēi xiàng le tiān kōng 。
林轩微微一笑，又与对方寒暄了几句，然后浑身青芒大起，化为一道惊虹，飞向了天空。
Lin Xuan smiled and chatted for a few more moments before his body was enveloped in green light, transforming into a streak of lightning that soared towards the sky.
wàng zhe tā de bèi yǐng ， ōu yáng qín xīn liǎn shàng lù chū yī sī fù zá de biǎo qíng 。
望着他的背影，欧阳琴心脸上露出一丝复杂的表情。
Looking at his back, Ouyang Qinxin's face showed a complex expression.
yǔ cǐ tóng shí ， tài xū zhēn rén yǐ jīng huí dào le shān dǐng ， ér nà féng xìng xiū shì ， zhèng gōng jìng de lì zài bǎo tǎ mén qián 。
与此同时，太虚真人已经回到了山顶，而那冯姓修士，正恭敬的立在宝塔门前。
At this moment, the Great Void True Man had returned to the peak. The Feng姓 cultivator stood respectfully in front of the tower entrance.
“ zhēn shì nà lǎo jiā huǒ ？” tài xū zhēn rén là xià dùn guāng ， jiù pò bù jí dài de kāi kǒu
“真是那老家伙？”太虚真人落下遁光，就迫不及待的开口
"Is it really that old guy?" the Great Void True Man impatiently asked as he landed.
“ shì 。 shī shū 。 duì fāng zhǐ míng yào jiàn nǐ 。 hé kuàng zhè yàng dì shì 。 xiǎo zhí yě zuò bù liǎo zhǔ 。 suǒ yǐ zhǐ hǎo dǎ rǎo nǐ lǎo rén jiā ……” féng xìng xiū shì lüè yī yóu yù 。 rú cǐ zhè bān dì jiě shì 。
“是。师叔。对方指名要见你。何况这样地事。小侄也做不了主。所以只好打扰你老人家……”冯姓修士略一犹豫。如此这般地解释。
"Yes, Uncle. He specifically requested to see you. Besides, I couldn't make a decision on my own, so I had no choice but to trouble you…" the Feng姓 cultivator hesitated and explained.
“ xíng le 。 fèi huà bù yòng duō shuō 。 yǔ lā lǒng lín xuān xiāng bǐ 。 dāng rán shì zhè jiàn shì qíng gèng zhòng yào yī xiē 。 wǒ zěn huì guài nǐ 。”
“行了。废话不用多说。与拉拢林轩相比。当然是这件事情更重要一些。我怎会怪你。”
"No need for further words. We should focus on cultivating Lin Xuan over such trivial matters. I won't blame you," said the Great Void True Man with a wave of his hand as he stepped into the tower entrance, using the teleportation array to reach the top.
tài xū zhēn rén bǎi le bǎi shǒu 。 mài bù zǒu rù le tǎ mén 。 lì yòng chuán sòng zhèn 。 lái dào tǎ dǐng 。
太虚真人摆了摆手。迈步走入了塔门。利用传送阵。来到塔顶。
The scenery remained unchanged, but there was now an odd little figure on the cold jade bed—about half a foot tall, radiating red light, and resembling a newborn infant.
jǐng wù yī jiù 。 rán ér zài hán yù chuáng shàng 。 què duō le yí gè guǐ yì dì xiǎo rén 。 gāo yuē bàn chǐ 。 hún shēn hóng guāng 。 xíng mào jiù xiàng gāng gāng chū shēn dì yīng ér yī yàng 。
景物依旧。然而在寒玉床上。却多了一个诡异地小人。高约半尺。浑身红光。形貌就像刚刚出身地婴儿一样。
It sat cross-legged, each hand holding a strange talisman, as if in meditation.
zhèng pán xī ér zuò 。 shuāng shǒu gè niē le yí gè gǔ guài fǎ jué 。 fǎng fú zài xiū liàn yī yàng 。
正盘膝而坐。双手各捏了一个古怪法诀。仿佛在修炼一样。
Hearing the noise, the little figure slowly opened its eyes.
tīng jiàn xiǎng dòng 。 xiǎo rén huǎn huǎn zhēng kāi le shuāng yǎn 。
听见响动。小人缓缓睁开了双眼。
"Red-haired friend, it's been ages. I heard you were attacked by three ghost emperors together. It's truly good news that you managed to escape."
“ hóng fā dào yǒu ， hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn ， lǎo fū tīng wén dào yǒu céng bèi sān dà guǐ dì lián shǒu wéi gōng ， rú jīn néng gòu ān rán tuō xiǎn ， zhēn shì dà xǐ zhī shì 。”
“红发道友，好久不见，老夫听闻道友曾被三大鬼帝联手围攻，如今能够安然脱险，真是大喜之事。”
"Managed to escape?" The little figure's lips twitched with malice as a hint of resentment flashed in his eyes. "Old Sage, are you mocking me? Look at my condition—my physical body is gone, and how can I be unharmed?"
“ ān rán tuō xiǎn ？” xiǎo rén zuǐ jiǎo chōu chù ， yǎn zhōng shǎn guò yī sī yuàn dú ：“ zhēn rén zhè shì zài cháo xiào wǒ le ， nǐ kàn kàn wǒ zhè ge yàng zi ， ròu shēn yǐ wú ， nǎ diǎn xiàng shì ān rán wú yàng le ？”
“安然脱险？”小人嘴角抽搐，眼中闪过一丝怨毒：“真人这是在嘲笑我了，你看看我这个样子，肉身已无，哪点像是安然无恙了？”
The Great Void True Man was taken aback, his face turning slightly red. He hadn't expected such a response to his compliments. However, he didn't dwell on it; the matter at hand was more important. With a smile, he continued: "Don’t worry about it. Old Sage has no malicious intentions. You managed to escape with your life under those circumstances, which is already quite remarkable. But why haven't you sought another body after so much time?"
tài xū zhēn rén yī zhì ， lǎo liǎn wēi hóng ， méi xiǎng dào zì jǐ yī fān gōng wéi ， fǎn dào bèi duì fāng dàng zuò le cháo fěng ， bù guò tā yě méi yǒu jì jiào ， dà shì wèi zhòng ， jì xù wēi xiào zhe dào ：“ dào yǒu bú yào duō xīn ， lǎo fū jué duì méi yǒu xìng zāi lè huò zhī yì ， dāng shí nà zhǒng qíng xíng ， dào yǒu néng gòu táo tuō yī tiáo xìng mìng ， yǐ shì shén tōng guǎng dà ， bù guò huà shuō huí lái ， yǐ jīng guò qù le zhè me jiǔ ， dào yǒu wèi hé bù lìng mì qū tǐ ne ？”
太虚真人一滞，老脸微红，没想到自己一番恭维，反倒被对方当作了嘲讽，不过他也没有计较，大事为重，继续微笑着道：“道友不要多心，老夫绝对没有幸灾乐祸之意，当时那种情形，道友能够逃脱一条性命，已是神通广大，不过话说回来，已经过去了这么久，道友为何不另覓躯体呢？”
This odd little figure on the cold jade bed was none other than Red-haired Ancestor's元婴.
zhè hán yù chuáng shàng de gǔ guài xiǎo rén ， zhèng shì hóng fā lǎo zǔ de yuán yīng 。
这寒玉床上的古怪小人，正是红发老祖的元婴。
As one of the few old monsters among independent cultivators, he held a position as an elder in Ghostnet City for his own purposes—enjoying abundant materials and crystal stones without any restrictions. However, fate had other plans.
zuò wèi sàn xiū zhōng wéi yī yī wèi lǎo guài ， cǐ rén suī wú mén wú pài ， què zài guǐ luó chéng dān rèn zhǎng lǎo zhī zhí ， dāng rán ， tā zhè me zuò yě yǒu zì jǐ de mù dì ， měi nián kě yǐ xiǎng yòng shù liàng bù fēi de cái liào yǔ jīng shí ， ér qiě wú jū wú shù ， kě wèi yī jǔ liǎng dé 。
做为散修中唯一一位老怪，此人虽无门无派，却在鬼罗城担任长老之职，当然，他这么做也有自己的目的，每年可以享用数量不菲的材料与晶石，而且无拘无束，可谓一举两得。
For nearly ten thousand years, humans and ghosts coexisted peacefully, but during his tenure as an elder...
nǎ zhī dào rén suàn bù rú tiān suàn ， guò qù de jìn wàn nián ， rén lèi yǔ yīn hún dōu xiāng ān wú shì ， piān piān zài tā dān rèn zhǎng lǎo zhī shí ……
哪知道人算不如天算，过去的近万年，人类与阴魂都相安无事，偏偏在他担任长老之时……
As the only婴灵 stage cultivator in the city, he was naturally a target for elimination by the ghosts. Except for昊天 who didn't participate in the battle, the three ghost emperors surrounded him.
zuò wèi chéng zhōng wéi yī yī wèi yuán yīng qī xiū shì ， tā zì rán shì yīn hún yù chú zhī ér hòu kuài de rén wù ， chú le hào tiān méi yǒu cān jiā zhàn dòu ， shèng xià de sān dà guǐ dì jiāng tā tuán tuán wéi zhù 。
做为城中唯一一位元婴期修士，他自然是阴魂欲除之而后快的人物，除了昊天没有参加战斗，剩下的三大鬼帝将他团团围住。
The battle was intense; Red-haired Ancestor fought against overwhelming odds, using all his abilities but still ended up with his physical body collapsing. His元婴 barely managed to escape.
zhàn dòu de jī liè shì kě xiǎng ér zhī de ， hóng fā lǎo zǔ yǐ guǎ dí zhòng ， shǐ jǐn hún shēn xiè shù ， zuì hòu hái shì bèi dǎ dé ròu shēn bēng kuì ， yuán yīng hǎo bù róng yì cái jiǎo xìng táo tuō chū lái 。
战斗的激烈是可想而知的，红发老祖以寡敌众，使尽浑身解数，最后还是被打得肉身崩溃，元婴好不容易才侥幸逃脱出来。
However, they weren't done with him. As the saying goes, "Wildfires can be extinguished, but spring breezes bring new life." The ghost emperors understood that eliminating enemies completely was necessary.
ér duì fāng bìng méi yǒu jiù cǐ fàng guò tā ， sú huà shuō ， yě huǒ shāo bù jìn ， chūn fēng chuī yòu shēng ， yīn hún yě míng bái duì dài dí rén ， jiù yào zhǎn cǎo chú gēn 。
而对方并没有就此放过他，俗话说，野火烧不尽，春风吹又生，阴魂也明白对待敌人，就要斩草除根。
The Dark Heaven Ghost Emperor personally led a group of high-ranking ghosts to target him relentlessly.
xuán tiān guǐ dì qīn zì dài lǐng yī pī gāo jiē yīn hún ， duì tā céng céng jū shā 。
玄天鬼帝亲自带领一批高阶阴魂，对他层层狙杀。
Red-haired Ancestor fled in all directions like a dog without a home. There was no time for possession.
hóng fā lǎo zǔ dōng duǒ **， yóu rú sàng jiā zhī quǎn ， nǎ lǐ hái yǒu duó shě de shí jiān 。
红发老祖东躲**，犹如丧家之犬，哪里还有夺舍的时间。
Of course, he didn't elaborate on these embarrassing experiences but only mentioned them briefly.
dāng rán ， zhè xiē diū liǎn de jīng lì ， tā zì rán bú huì xiáng tán ， yī bǐ dài guò ér yǐ 。
当然，这些丢脸的经历，他自然不会详谈，一笔带过而已。
However, the Great Void True Man was also an experienced old fox and quickly deduced the situation with his keen insight. He smiled reassuringly and said: "Regardless of what happened, it's good that you're safe. My nephew informed me that you wish to join our Green Cloud Mountain?"
bù guò tài xū zhēn rén tóng yàng shì lǎo hú lí ， jǔ yī fǎn sān ( quán wén zì shǒu jī xiǎo shuō yuè dú ， jǐn zài wén . xué wǎng )， tóng yàng cāi le gè ** bù lí shí ， liǎn shàng liú lù chū yī sī wēn hé de xiào yì ， ān wèi dào ：“ bù guǎn rú hé ， dào yǒu píng ān huí lái jiù hǎo ， wǒ tīng shī zhí chuán xùn ， shuō dào yǒu yǒu yì jiā rù wǒ bì yún shān ？”
不过太虚真人同样是老狐狸，举一反三(全文字手机小说阅读，尽在文.学网)，同样猜了个**不离十，脸上流露出一丝温和的笑意，安慰道：“不管如何，道友平安回来就好，我听师侄传讯，说道友有意加入我碧云山？”
"Indeed. With Ghostnet City in ruins and unrest spreading across Youzhou, a wandering independent cultivator like myself can no longer hope for freedom. So I have come here with the hope of joining your sect," said Red-haired Ancestor's元婴.
“ bù cuò ， rú jīn guǐ luó chéng yǐ huī fēi yān miè ， yōu zhōu fēng yān sì qǐ ， rén zài jiāng hú ， shēn bù yóu jǐ ， lǎo fū xiǎng yào zuò yī xiāo yáo de sàn xiū ， kǒng pà yǐ shì shē wàng ér yǐ ， suǒ yǐ zhǐ hǎo hòu yán ……”
“不错，如今鬼罗城已灰飞烟灭，幽州烽烟四起，人在江湖，身不由己，老夫想要做一逍遥的散修，恐怕已是奢望而已，所以只好厚颜……”
"Haha, Brother Red Hair is too polite. Your interest in our sect is a blessing to Green Cloud Mountain. Rest assured, even though you joined late, we won't treat you as an outsider. With Green Cloud Mountain backing you up, I'm sure you'll advance further on your cultivation path."
“ hē hē ， hóng fā shī dì tài kè qì le ， nǐ néng kàn qǐ běn mén ， nǎi shì wǒ bì yún shān de fú fēn ， fàng xīn ， nǐ suī rán shì bàn lù rù mén ， dàn wǒ men jué bú huì ná nǐ dāng wài rén ， yǒu wǒ bì yún shān zuò hòu dùn ， xiāng xìn shī dì rì hòu zài xiū xiān lù shàng ， hái huì gèng jìn yī céng 。”
“呵呵，红发师弟太客气了，你能看起本门，乃是我碧云山的福分，放心，你虽然是半路入门，但我们绝不会拿你当外人，有我碧云山做后盾，相信师弟日后在修仙路上，还会更进一层。”
The Great Void True Man was delighted at the prospect of gaining another婴灵 stage cultivator. The status of Green Cloud Mountain in Youzhou would be unshakable with such a powerful ally.
tài xū zhēn rén wén yán dà xǐ ， ruò shì néng gòu zài zēng jiā yī míng yuán yīng qī xiū shì ， bì yún shān zài yōu zhōu de dì wèi ， jiāng yǒu ruò pán shí ， dāng jí pāi zhe xiōng pú ， xiàng duì fāng xǔ yǐ zhǒng zhǒng hǎo chù ， shèn zhì lián chēng hū dōu gǎi le 。
太虚真人闻言大喜，若是能够再增加一名元婴期修士，碧云山在幽州的地位，将有若磐石，当即拍着胸脯，像对方许以种种好处，甚至连称呼都改了。
He promised various benefits and even changed his address to "elder brother" as he spoke.
“ hē hē ， nà rì hòu hái yào má fán shī xiōng duō duō zhào gù 。” hóng fā lǎo zǔ de yuán yīng guǐ yì yī xiào ， yě mǎn liǎn huān róng de dào 。
“呵呵，那日后还要麻烦师兄多多照顾。”红发老祖的元婴诡异一笑，也满脸欢容的道。
"Haha, then I will rely on you for your care," said Red-haired Ancestor's元婴 with a strange smile and a cheerful expression.
“ nǎ lǐ ， hù xiāng fú chí 。”
“哪里，互相扶持。”
"No need for formalities. We should support each other."
“ xiǎo dì hái xū yào yī jù xīn de **， shī xiōng nǐ yě zhī dào ， wǒ men zhè zhǒng děng jí de cún zài ， suī rán yuán yīng yě shén tōng fēi xiǎo ， yuǎn zài yì bān de níng dān qī xiū shì zhī shàng ， dàn yǒu bù shǎo mì shù ， hái shì xū yào ** cái néng shī zhǎn ……”
“小弟还需要一具新的**，师兄你也知道，我们这种等级的存在，虽然元婴也神通非小，远在一般的凝丹期修士之上，但有不少秘术，还是需要**才能施展……”
"I still need a new body, elder brother. You know, our kind often use physical bodies to cast certain secret techniques that are beyond the capabilities of an元婴 alone..."
“ xiǎo shì yī zhuāng ， shī dì jì rán rù le wǒ bì yún shān ， zhè jiàn shì qíng jiù jiāo yǔ wèi xiōng lái bàn ， bù chū bàn yuè ， bì dìng gěi nǐ zhǎo lái yī jù mǎn yì de qū tǐ 。”
“小事一桩，师弟既然入了我碧云山，这件事情就交予为兄来办，不出半月，必定给你找来一具满意的躯体。”
"An easy matter. Since you've joined Green Cloud Mountain, I'll handle this for you. Within half a month, I promise to find you a suitable body."
“ nà jiù yǒu láo shī xiōng le 。”
“那就有劳师兄了。”
"I thank you, elder brother."
“ tóng mén xiōng dì ， hé bì zhè me kè qì 。”
“同门兄弟，何必这么客气。”
"We are brothers in cultivation; no need for such formalities."
liǎng míng lǎo guài wù dá chéng xié yì de shí hòu ， lín xuān yǐ jīng yuǎn yuǎn fēi lí le wǔ zhǐ shān ， sī háo méi yǒu tíng xiē ， lín xuān yì kǒu qì dùn chū shàng bǎi lǐ ， suàn suàn yǐ jīng yuǎn lí le duì fāng de shén shí gǎn yìng ， zhè cái là xià dùn guāng ， shāo shāo huī fù tǐ lì 。
两名老怪物达成协议的时候，林轩已经远远飞离了五指山，丝毫没有停歇，林轩一口气遁出上百里，算算已经远离了对方的神识感应，这才落下遁光，稍稍恢复体力。
While these two old monsters were making their agreement, Lin Xuan had already flown far away from the Five Fingers Mountain without stopping. He continued his flight, covering over a hundred miles before landing and slightly restoring his energy.
zhī suǒ yǐ zhè me xiǎo xīn ， shì cún le yǐ fáng wàn yī de xīn lǐ ， ōu yáng qín xīn gù rán bú huì hài zì jǐ ， kě tài xū nà lǎo guài wù jiù hěn nán shuō ， bié kàn tā duì zì jǐ yī fù cí xiáng zhǎng zhě de mú yàng ， yǐn yǐn hái cún le lā lǒng zhī yì ， kě zhè xiē lǎo guài wù ， fān liǎn jiù gēn fān shū yī yàng ， xǐ nù wú cháng ， zǒng ér yán zhī ， zài jìn jiē yuán yīng qī yǐ qián ， zhè xiē lǎo guài wù hái shì shǎo rě wèi miào 。
之所以这么小心，是存了以防万一的心理，欧阳琴心固然不会害自己，可太虚那老怪物就很难说，别看他对自己一副慈祥长者的模样，隐隐还存了拉拢之意，可这些老怪物，翻脸就跟翻书一样，喜怒无常，总而言之，在晋阶元婴期以前，这些老怪物还是少惹为妙。
He was cautious due to the possibility of unforeseen circumstances. While Ouyang Qinxin wouldn't harm him, the Great Void True Man's intentions were hard to predict. Despite his seemingly kind demeanor, he might still try to lure Lin Xuan in. These old monsters were fickle and unpredictable; it would be wise to avoid them until reaching the婴灵 stage.
rán hòu lín xuān cái fàng chū shén shí ， dǎ liàng zhōu wéi de huán jìng 。
然后林轩才放出神识，打量周围的环境。
After settling down under a tree, Lin Xuan took out an jade tube from his pocket. It contained a map of the occupied areas.
zhè ér shì yī piàn shù lín ， bù guò què méi yǒu duō shǎo shēng jī ， rú jīn lún xiàn qū bǎi fēn zhī qī shí yǐ shàng de dì fāng ， dōu mí màn zhe sǐ qì 。
这儿是一片树林，不过却没有多少生机，如今沦陷区百分之七十以上的地方，都弥漫着死气。
From Ouyang Qinxin's words, Lin Xuan learned that many factions in Youzhou had dispatched disciples to establish branches here, collecting scattered spirit stones and treasures.
suí biàn zhǎo le yī zhū dà shù ， zài xià miàn shāo shì dǎ zuò ， rán hòu lín xuān cóng huái zhōng qǔ chū yù tǒng ， lǐ miàn kè yìn yǒu lún xiàn qū de dì tú 。
随便找了一株大树，在下面稍事打坐，然后林轩从怀中取出玉筒，里面刻印有沦陷区的地图。
Originally, Lin Xuan intended to participate in Qingxiang Sect's secret market, but after such a long delay, most of the valuable items were likely already sold out.
Junior Sect Leader, Old Sage has other matters to attend to and will take his leave for now," said the Great Void True Man with a face full of sincerity.
"Senior, please be at ease."
Lin Xuan was quite pleased. He didn't want any further entanglements with this old monster, so he smiled and bid him farewell.
The Great Void True Man nodded and turned into a light breeze, vanishing without a trace. His遁术 was truly remarkable, worthy of an婴灵 stage cultivator.
"Fair Lady, this matter is now concluded. I must also leave."
"Very well. Brother Lin's assistance has greatly benefited our sect," said Ouyang Qinxin with a bow, once again expressing her gratitude.
"Not at all, my dear lady."
Lin Xuan smiled and chatted for a few more moments before his body was enveloped in green light, transforming into a streak of lightning that soared towards the sky.
Looking at his back, Ouyang Qinxin's face showed a complex expression.
At this moment, the Great Void True Man had returned to the peak. The Feng姓 cultivator stood respectfully in front of the tower entrance.
"Is it really that old guy?" the Great Void True Man impatiently asked as he landed.
"Yes, Uncle. He specifically requested to see you. Besides, I couldn't make a decision on my own, so I had no choice but to trouble you…" the Feng姓 cultivator hesitated and explained.
"No need for further words. We should focus on cultivating Lin Xuan over such trivial matters. I won't blame you," said the Great Void True Man with a wave of his hand as he stepped into the tower entrance, using the teleportation array to reach the top.
The scenery remained unchanged, but there was now an odd little figure on the cold jade bed—about half a foot tall, radiating red light, and resembling a newborn infant.
It sat cross-legged, each hand holding a strange talisman, as if in meditation.
Hearing the noise, the little figure slowly opened its eyes.
"Red-haired friend, it's been ages. I heard you were attacked by three ghost emperors together. It's truly good news that you managed to escape."
"Managed to escape?" The little figure's lips twitched with malice as a hint of resentment flashed in his eyes. "Old Sage, are you mocking me? Look at my condition—my physical body is gone, and how can I be unharmed?"
The Great Void True Man was taken aback, his face turning slightly red. He hadn't expected such a response to his compliments. However, he didn't dwell on it; the matter at hand was more important. With a smile, he continued: "Don’t worry about it. Old Sage has no malicious intentions. You managed to escape with your life under those circumstances, which is already quite remarkable. But why haven't you sought another body after so much time?"
This odd little figure on the cold jade bed was none other than Red-haired Ancestor's元婴.
As one of the few old monsters among independent cultivators, he held a position as an elder in Ghostnet City for his own purposes—enjoying abundant materials and crystal stones without any restrictions. However, fate had other plans.
For nearly ten thousand years, humans and ghosts coexisted peacefully, but during his tenure as an elder...
As the only婴灵 stage cultivator in the city, he was naturally a target for elimination by the ghosts. Except for昊天 who didn't participate in the battle, the three ghost emperors surrounded him.
The battle was intense; Red-haired Ancestor fought against overwhelming odds, using all his abilities but still ended up with his physical body collapsing. His元婴 barely managed to escape.
However, they weren't done with him. As the saying goes, "Wildfires can be extinguished, but spring breezes bring new life." The ghost emperors understood that eliminating enemies completely was necessary.
The Dark Heaven Ghost Emperor personally led a group of high-ranking ghosts to target him relentlessly.
Red-haired Ancestor fled in all directions like a dog without a home. There was no time for possession.
Of course, he didn't elaborate on these embarrassing experiences but only mentioned them briefly.
However, the Great Void True Man was also an experienced old fox and quickly deduced the situation with his keen insight. He smiled reassuringly and said: "Regardless of what happened, it's good that you're safe. My nephew informed me that you wish to join our Green Cloud Mountain?"
"Indeed. With Ghostnet City in ruins and unrest spreading across Youzhou, a wandering independent cultivator like myself can no longer hope for freedom. So I have come here with the hope of joining your sect," said Red-haired Ancestor's元婴.
"Haha, Brother Red Hair is too polite. Your interest in our sect is a blessing to Green Cloud Mountain. Rest assured, even though you joined late, we won't treat you as an outsider. With Green Cloud Mountain backing you up, I'm sure you'll advance further on your cultivation path."
The Great Void True Man was delighted at the prospect of gaining another婴灵 stage cultivator. The status of Green Cloud Mountain in Youzhou would be unshakable with such a powerful ally.
He promised various benefits and even changed his address to "elder brother" as he spoke.
"Haha, then I will rely on you for your care," said Red-haired Ancestor's元婴 with a strange smile and a cheerful expression.
"No need for formalities. We should support each other."
"I still need a new body, elder brother. You know, our kind often use physical bodies to cast certain secret techniques that are beyond the capabilities of an元婴 alone..."
"An easy matter. Since you've joined Green Cloud Mountain, I'll handle this for you. Within half a month, I promise to find you a suitable body."
"I thank you, elder brother."
"We are brothers in cultivation; no need for such formalities."
...
While these two old monsters were making their agreement, Lin Xuan had already flown far away from the Five Fingers Mountain without stopping. He continued his flight, covering over a hundred miles before landing and slightly restoring his energy.
He was cautious due to the possibility of unforeseen circumstances. While Ouyang Qinxin wouldn't harm him, the Great Void True Man's intentions were hard to predict. Despite his seemingly kind demeanor, he might still try to lure Lin Xuan in. These old monsters were fickle and unpredictable; it would be wise to avoid them until reaching the婴灵 stage.
After settling down under a tree, Lin Xuan took out an jade tube from his pocket. It contained a map of the occupied areas.
From Ouyang Qinxin's words, Lin Xuan learned that many factions in Youzhou had dispatched disciples to establish branches here, collecting scattered spirit stones and treasures.
Originally, Lin Xuan intended to participate in Qingxiang Sect's secret market, but after such a long delay, most of the valuable items were likely already sold out.