bǎi liàn chéng xiān
百炼成仙
### The Refinement into Immortality
dì sān juǎn yōu zhōu luàn dì wǔ bǎi sì shí sì zhāng wàn guǐ suǒ hún dà zhèn
第三卷幽州乱第五百四十四章万鬼锁魂大阵
#### Chapter 544: Great Array to Seal the Souls of Ten Thousand Ghosts in Youzhou
shí chéng fā shēng de yī qiè ， yě zài qí tā jǐ zuò jìn zhì zhī dì fǎn fù shàng yǎn ， fú nián xǔ yǐ hòu ， yòu chóng xīn duì gè zōng mén jiā zú fā qǐ le xīn yī lún jìn gōng 。
石城发生的一切，也在其他几座禁制之地反复上演，伏年许以后，又重新对各宗门家族发起了新一轮进攻。
Everything that happened at Stone City was replayed across the other several restricted territories. After a few months, they renewed their attacks on various sects and families.
jiǔ lóng pài ， tiān yún fēng 。
九龙派，天云峰。
In the Nine Dragons Sect, Tianyun Peak.
dǒu qiào de shān shì zhí chā yún xiāo ， qì shì huī hóng 。
陡峭的山势直插云霄，气势恢宏。
The steep mountain sides pierced through the clouds, majestic and imposing.
shān dǐng zhī diān ， jǐ míng xiū shì sù rán ér lì ， rén rén biǎo qíng níng zhòng 。
山顶之巅，几名修士肃然而立，人人表情凝重。
At the summit of the peak, several cultivators stood solemnly, each with a serious expression.
jí è mó zūn ， tài xū zhēn rén ， líng yào shān zhǎng mén ， hái yǒu yī xiàn xiá yǐ jí léi yún shān zhuāng de liǎng wèi tài shàng zhǎng lǎo ， hè rán dōu zài qí zhōng 。
极恶魔尊，太虚真人，灵药山掌门，还有一线峡以及雷云山庄的两位太上长老，赫然都在其中。
The Sovereign Demon Extreme Evil, Tai Xu True Man, the Sect Master of Spirit Medicine Mountain, as well as two Supreme Elders from One Line Canyon and Thundercloud Manor were all present.
píng shí yī wèi yuán yīng qī lǎo guài dōu nán yǐ jiàn dào ， rán ér cǐ kè wǔ rén què jù jí yī táng ， bù guò měi yí gè liǎn sè dōu bù tài hǎo 。
平时一位元婴期老怪都难以见到，然而此刻五人却聚集一堂，不过每一个脸色都不太好。
Normally, it was difficult to see even an old monster at the Dantian stage, but now these five individuals had gathered together. However, each one's expression did not look good.
tiān yún fēng zuò wèi jiǔ lóng pài de shān mén suǒ zài ， yuán běn yě yōng yǒu yī chù pǒ wèi bù cuò de líng mài ， kě xiàn zài zhěng zuò shān ， què lǒng zhào zài yī céng guǐ yì de zǐ wù lǐ miàn ， bù jǐn líng qì quán bèi zhē dǎng ， ér qiě xiǎn de guǐ qì sēn sēn ， yīn qì zòng héng 。
天云峰做为九龙派的山门所在，原本也拥有一处颇为不错的灵脉，可现在整座山，却笼罩在一层诡异的紫雾里面，不仅灵气全被遮挡，而且显得鬼气森森，阴气纵横。
Tianyun Peak served as the main entrance of the Nine Dragons Sect and originally possessed a decent spirit vein. Now, the entire mountain was shrouded in a mysterious purple mist, with the aura of ghosts and demons permeating everywhere, blocking all the essence energy and making it seem ominous and sinister.
“ jí è dào yǒu ， xiàn zài zhè zhǒng qíng xíng ， nǐ kàn xiàng bù xiàng chuán shuō zhōng de wàn guǐ suǒ hún dà zhèn ？” tài xū zhēn rén kàn zhuó yǎn qián de zǐ wù ， liǎn shàng shǎn guò yī sī jiāo lǜ ， huí tóu xiàng hēi guāng zhōng de yī rén yǐng wèn dào 。
“极恶道友，现在这种情形，你看像不像传说中的万鬼锁魂大阵？”太虚真人看着眼前的紫雾，脸上闪过一丝焦虑，回头像黑光中的一人影问道。
"Extreme Evil Comrade, does this situation resemble the legendary Great Array to Seal the Souls of Ten Thousand Ghosts?" Tai Xu True Man looked at the purple mist before him, a trace of anxiety appearing on his face as he turned to ask someone in the dark light.
“ què shí yǒu xiē guǐ yì ， dàn shì fǒu shì wàn guǐ suǒ hún dà zhèn ， wǒ yě bù gǎn kěn dìng ， zhè yào děng nà jǐ gè tàn chá de dì zǐ ， huí lái yǐ hòu ， cái néng xià jié lùn 。” jí è mó zūn de shēng yīn dī chén hòu zhòng ， tā yǔ tài xū ， yě suàn shì lǎo duì tóu ， bù guò xiàn zài ， sì hū xū yào tóng zhōu gòng jì le 。
“确实有些诡异，但是否是万鬼锁魂大阵，我也不敢肯定，这要等那几个探查的弟子，回来以后，才能下结论。”极恶魔尊的声音低沉厚重，他与太虚，也算是老对头，不过现在，似乎需要同舟共济了。
"It is indeed somewhat strange, but I cannot be certain if it's the Great Array to Seal the Souls of Ten Thousand Ghosts. We need to wait for those investigating disciples to return and then we can make a conclusion," the voice of Extreme Evil Sovereign was deep and weighty; he had been an old rival with Tai Xu, but now seemed willing to cooperate.
zhì yú tōng yǔ zhēn rén děng lìng wài sān gè yuán yīng qī lǎo guài 。 suī yī yán bù fā 。 dàn yǎn zhōng jīng máng shǎn shuò 。 sì hū yě zài chóu sī móu huà zhe shén me 。
至于通羽真人等另外三个元婴期老怪。虽一言不发。但眼中精芒闪烁。似乎也在筹思谋划着什么。
As for the other three Dantian stage monsters—Commotion Feathers True Man, they remained silent, but their eyes flickered with sharp glints as if they were also plotting something.
yòu guò piàn kè 。 jǐ dào guāng máng shǎn le jǐ shǎn 。 suí jí biàn dé qīng xī qǐ lái 。
又过片刻。几道光芒闪了几闪。随即变得清晰起来。
After a while, several beams of light flashed and became clearer.
“ zhōng yú huí lái le 。 yí 。 sì hū rén shù shǎo le yì diǎn 。” tài xū zhēn rén nán nán zì yǔ 。 dàn liǎn sè dàn mò 。 sī háo méi yǒu zài yì nà xiē jiǔ lóng pài dì zǐ dì shēng sǐ 。
“终于回来了。咦。似乎人数少了一点。”太虚真人喃喃自语。但脸色淡漠。丝毫没有在意那些九龙派弟子地生死。
"Finally back. Hmm, it seems like one person is missing," Tai Xu True Man muttered to himself, his expression indifferent, showing no concern for the lives of the Nine Dragons Sect disciples.
dà xiù yī shuǎi 。 rén yǐ yíng le shàng qù 。
大袖一甩。人已迎了上去。
With a wave of his large sleeves, he approached them.
yī gòng shì wǔ míng xiū shì 。 dōu yǒu zhù jī zhōng qī yǐ shàng dì xiū wèi 。 jǐn jǐn zuò wéi tàn chá qíng bào shǐ yòng 。 děng jí suàn shì bù dī 。
一共是五名修士。都有筑基中期以上地修为。仅仅作为探查情报使用。等级算是不低。
There were five cultivators in total, all with mid-Base Foundation stage and above cultivation. They were merely used as scouts, so their rank was not low.
wéi shǒu dì shì yī féi tóu dà ěr dì pàng zi 。 qí tā sì gè yě dōu biǎo qíng jīng huāng 。 liǎn shàng dài shāng 。
为首地是一肥头大耳地胖子。其他四个也都表情惊慌。脸上带伤。
The leader was an obese man with a round face and big ears. The other four had expressions of panic on their faces, with visible injuries.
“ zěn me ， yù jiàn le wēi xiǎn ， kě yǒu shén me fā xiàn ？” tài xū zhēn rén piǎo le jǐ rén yī yǎn ， dàn rán de kāi kǒu le 。
“怎么，遇见了危险，可有什么发现？”太虚真人瞟了几人一眼，淡然的开口了。
"How is it? Did you encounter any danger and what did you discover?" Tai Xu True Man glanced at them, speaking in a calm tone.
“ shì ， qǐ bǐng qián bèi ， wǒ jǐ rén zūn cóng fǎ yù ， zài fù jìn xún shì le yī quān ， fā xiàn fāng yuán bǎi lǐ yǐ nèi ， dōu mí màn zhe zhè zhǒng guǐ yì de wù qì ， ér qiě yuè wǎng wài zǒu ， wù qì yuè nóng ， wǒ men hái shòu dào le bù míng guǐ wù de jìn gōng ， dà bù fèn tóng mén dōu yǔn luò le ， zhǐ yǒu wǒ men jǐ gè jiǎo xìng táo tuō 。” nà pàng zi tūn le yī kǒu tuò mò ， liǎn shàng yóu dài zhe xīn yǒu yú jì zhī sè ， yǒu xiē hòu pà de shuō 。
“是，启禀前辈，我几人遵从法谕，在附近巡视了一圈，发现方圆百里以内，都弥漫着这种诡异的雾气，而且越往外走，雾气越浓，我们还受到了不明鬼物的进攻，大部分同门都陨落了，只有我们几个侥幸逃脱。”那胖子吞了一口唾沫，脸上犹带着心有余悸之色，有些后怕的说。
"Yes, Senior, we followed the command to patrol around this area. We found that within a hundred miles, there was an eerie mist everywhere. The further out we went, the denser the mist became. We were attacked by unknown ghostly creatures; most of our fellow disciples perished, while only a few of us managed to escape," the obese man swallowed and spoke with lingering fear.
“ fāng yuán bǎi lǐ ， néng gòu lǒng zhào zhè me guǎng de fàn wéi ， kàn lái chú le yīn hún yòng chuán chéng mì bǎo bù xià de wàn guǐ suǒ hún zhèn ， bú huì yǒu qí tā dōng xī le 。” tài xū zhēn rén shàng wèi kāi kǒu ， jí è mó zūn yǐ nán nán dì fēn xī dào 。
“方圆百里，能够笼罩这么广的范围，看来除了阴魂用传承秘宝布下的万鬼锁魂阵，不会有其他东西了。”太虚真人尚未开口，极恶魔尊已喃喃地分析道。
"A hundred-mile radius can cover such a wide area. It seems that apart from the ghosts using their inherited secret treasures to set up this Great Array to Seal the Souls of Ten Thousand Ghosts, there is nothing else," Tai Xu True Man did not say anything but analyzed aloud.
“ zhè huà dào yě yǒu lǐ ， bù guò jù wǒ suǒ zhī ， jiù suàn zhè xiē jiā huo dòng yòng le cóng yīn sī jiè dài lái de mì bǎo ， xiǎng yào bù zhì rú cǐ kuān guǎng de zhèn fǎ ， yě xū yào sān gè guǐ dì jí bié dì guài wù zhǔ chí 。” tài xū zhēn rén mō le mō hú xū ， yǒu xiē jīng yí de fēn xī 。
“这话倒也有理，不过据我所知，就算这些家伙动用了从阴司界带来的密宝，想要布置如此宽广的阵法，也需要三个鬼帝级别地怪物主持。”太虚真人摸了摸胡须，有些惊疑的分析。
"That makes sense, but according to what I know, even if these fellows brought their secret treasures from the Netherworld Realm, setting up such a vast array would require three ghost emperors to manage it," Tai Xu True Man stroked his beard and pondered.
“ zhè yě bú shì bù kě néng zhī shì ， wǒ men zài biān jìng bù xià de zhèn fǎ ， suī néng gòu zǔ dǎng dà duì yīn hún de jiǎo bù ， dàn ruò shì guǐ dì zhè zhǒng jí bié de guài wù ， xiǎng yào shèn tòu jìn lái ， què yě shì qīng ér yì jǔ de 。” jí è mó zūn de yǔ qì xiǎn de yǒu xiē níng zhòng le 。
“这也不是不可能之事，我们在边境布下的阵法，虽能够阻挡大队阴魂的脚步，但若是鬼帝这种级别的怪物，想要渗透进来，却也是轻而易举的。”极恶魔尊的语气显得有些凝重了。
"It is not impossible. The arrays we set up at the border can block large groups of ghosts, but if a ghost emperor wants to penetrate them, it's easy enough," Extreme Evil Sovereign's tone sounded more serious now.
“ kě tā men lái zhè lǐ gàn shén me ， jiù suàn shì sān dà guǐ dì lián shǒu ， zài jiā shàng wàn guǐ suǒ hún dà zhèn dì fǔ zhù ， nán dào jiù xiàng miè shā wǒ men zhè xiē rén ma ， nà yě tài yì xiǎng tiān kāi le 。” tài xū zhēn rén hēng le yī shēng ， lù chū bù yǐ wéi rán de biǎo qíng 。
“可他们来这里干什么，就算是三大鬼帝联手，再加上万鬼锁魂大阵地辅助，难道就像灭杀我们这些人吗，那也太异想天开了。”太虚真人哼了一声，露出不以为然的表情。
"However, why would they come here? Even with the Great Array to Seal the Souls of Ten Thousand Ghosts as an aid, even three ghost emperors together wouldn't be able to kill us all. That sounds too far-fetched," Tai Xu True Man snorted and showed a disbelieving expression.
“ huà shì rú cǐ ， dàn guǐ dì yě bú huì gàn zhè zhǒng chǔn shì ， miè shā wǒ děng gù rán lì yǒu bù dài ， dàn yǒu wàn guǐ suǒ hún dà zhèn zuò wèi fǔ zhù ， jiāng wǒ děng kùn zài zhè lǐ yī duàn shí jiān ， què shì qīng ér yì jǔ de 。” yī qīng liàng de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， què shì yì zhí bǎo chí chén mò de tōng yǔ zhēn rén tū rán kāi kǒu le 。
“话是如此，但鬼帝也不会干这种蠢事，灭杀我等固然力有不殆，但有万鬼锁魂大阵做为辅助，将我等困在这里一段时间，却是轻而易举的。”一清亮的声音传入耳朵，却是一直保持沉默的通羽真人突然开口了。
"But that's not impossible either. The arrays we set up at the border can block large groups of ghosts, but if a ghost emperor wants to penetrate them, it would be easy enough," a clear voice entered their ears as Commotion Feathers True Man suddenly spoke up after his silence.
“ wú ， dào yǒu shì shuō ……”
“唔，道友是说……”
"Ah, Comrade, do you have any insights?"
“ nán dào yīn hún men lìng yǒu yīn móu ？”
“难道阴魂们另有阴谋？”
"Insights? Could the ghosts have some other plot?"
jǐ gè yuán yīng lǎo guài miàn miàn xiāng qù ， zài tā men lǐ miàn ， tōng yǔ zhēn rén suī rán jìn jí zuì wǎn ， dàn xiàng lái zú zhì duō móu ， zhè fān fēn xī tīng lái dà yǒu dào lǐ 。
几个元婴老怪面面相觑，在他们里面，通羽真人虽然晋级最晚，但向来足智多谋，这番分析听来大有道理。
The Dantian stage monsters exchanged glances. Although Commotion Feathers True Man had joined the sect last, he was always shrewd and clever. His analysis seemed to hold weight.
“ tōng yǔ dào yǒu ruò yǒu shén me gāo jiàn ， hái qǐng kuài kuài shuō lái 。”
“通羽道友若有什么高见，还请快快说来。”
"If Comrade Commotion Feathers has any high insight, please share it."
“ gāo jiàn méi yǒu ， bǐ rén yě jǐn jǐn shì cāi cè bà le ， dàn guǐ dì xià rú cǐ dà lì qì jiāng wǒ men kùn zài zhè lǐ ， kěn dìng shì lìng yǒu yòng yì ， yīn hún shuō bù dìng yǐ jīng kāi shǐ xíng dòng ， wǒ men bì xū kuài diǎn cóng zhè lǐ chū qù 。”
“高见没有，鄙人也仅仅是猜测罢了，但鬼帝下如此大力气将我们困在这里，肯定是另有用意，阴魂说不定已经开始行动，我们必须快点从这里出去。”
"There are no high insights; I'm merely guessing. But ghost emperors exerting such great effort to confine us here must have some other purpose. The ghosts might already be taking action, and we need to leave this place quickly,"
tōng yǔ zhēn rén de zhè fān cāi cè ** bù lí shí ， xiū shì yǔ yīn hún dǎ dé bù yì lè hū 。
通羽真人的这番猜测**不离十，修士与阴魂打得不亦乐乎。
Commotion Feathers True Man's analysis was quite accurate. The cultivators were engaged in a fierce battle with the ghosts.
bù guò zhè yī qiè yǔ lín xuān bìng méi yǒu duō dà guān xì ， cǐ shí tā zhèng àn zhào nà yù tǒng jiǎn de zhǐ shì ， kuài sù de xiàng yōu zhōu nán bù fēi qù 。
不过这一切与林轩并没有多大关系，此时他正按照那玉筒简的指示，快速的像幽州南部飞去。
However, this had little to do with Lin Xuan. At that moment, he was following the instructions from the clear bamboo slip, flying rapidly towards southern Youzhou.
zhè yī gǎn lù ， jiù shì shù rì zhī jiǔ 。
这一赶路，就是数日之久。
...
lù guò fāng shì dì shí hòu ， lín xuān yě céng jìn qù dǎ tàn xiāo xī ， tā de běn yì shì xiǎng zhī dào líng yào shān rú jīn de qíng xíng rú hé ， yě bù zhī dào xú lǎo guài yǒu méi yǒu běn shì lì wǎn kuáng lán ， wǎn jiù běn mén yú shuǐ huǒ zhī jiān 。
路过坊市地时候，林轩也曾进去打探消息，他的本意是想知道灵药山如今的情形如何，也不知道徐老怪有没有本事力挽狂澜，挽救本门于水火之间。
This journey took several days.
nǎ zhī dào wú xīn chā liǔ ， líng yào shān bìng méi yǒu tīng dào shén me tè bié de xiāo xī ， zhè ràng lín xuān xīn zhōng yī xǐ ， yǐ běn mén rú jīn de shēng shì ， rú guǒ zhēn shì gēn jī bèi huǐ ， nà me yòng bù liǎo jǐ rì ， zhěng gè yōu zhōu dì xiū xiān jiè ， bì rán wú rén bù zhī 。
哪知道无心插柳，灵药山并没有听到什么特别的消息，这让林轩心中一喜，以本门如今的声势，如果真是根基被毁，那么用不了几日，整个幽州地修仙界，必然无人不知。
Passing through market towns, Lin Xuan also went inside to gather information. His intention was to find out how Spirit Medicine Mountain fared and whether Old Devil Duster had the ability to save his sect from peril.
jì rán méi yǒu chuán wén ， nà me xiǎng bì wēi nàn yǐ jiě ， lín xuān zì shì dà dà de sōng le kǒu qì ， tā suī rán wú lì bù zǎo qǐ ， dàn yě bìng fēi lěng xuè dì rén wù ， duì yú tiān chén zhēn rén yě yǒu nà me jǐ fēn pèi fú ， zì rán bù xī wàng běn mén de chuán chéng jiù cǐ duàn jué le 。
既然没有传闻，那么想必危难已解，林轩自是大大的松了口气，他虽然无利不早起，但也并非冷血地人物，对于天尘真人也有那么几分佩服，自然不希望本门的传承就此断绝了。
Unexpectedly, he found no special news about it. This made him feel relieved; if the foundation of their sect were destroyed, it would not take long for the entire Youzhou cultivation world to know.
rán ér zhè ge xiāo xī gù rán kě xǐ ， lìng wài yí gè tīng lái dì qíng bào zé ràng lín xuān dà chī yī jīng 。
然而这个消息固然可喜，另外一个听来地情报则让林轩大吃一惊。
Since there was no news, Lin Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. Although he did not rise early without an incentive, he was not a cold-blooded person and admired Tianchen True Man. He naturally did not want their sect's legacy to end here.
yǔ lún xiàn qū jiāo jiè de jǐ zuò jìn zhì ， yǐ bèi yīn hún gōng pò 。
与沦陷区交界的几座禁制，已被阴魂攻破。
However, this good news was overshadowed by another piece of information that shocked him.
jì de zài chá lóu tīng yí gè běi dì táo lái dì xiū shì sù shuō zhī shí ， qí tā rén qǐ chū dōu hái shì bù tài xiāng xìn de ， bì jìng nà jǐ zuò jìn zhì yóu zhèng mó hái yǒu líng yào shān lián shǒu shè xià ， yǐ qián yě yǔ yīn hún zhū duō jiāo shǒu ， yì zhí shì wěn rú pán shí ， nǎ yǒu nà me róng yì jiù pò le 。
记得在茶楼听一个北地逃来地修士诉说之时，其他人起初都还是不太相信的，毕竟那几座禁制由正魔还有灵药山联手设下，以前也与阴魂诸多交手，一直是稳如磐石，哪有那么容易就破了。
Several restricted territories at the border with the occupied areas had already been breached by ghosts.
kě nà rén yán zhī záo záo ， shuō zì jǐ shì qīn yǎn suǒ jiàn ， shén me yǒu yīn hún chū xiàn zài jìn zhì hòu fāng ， fā qǐ tū xí děng děng ， huì shēng huì sè ， zhòng rén què fǎn ér gèng jiā bù xìn le 。
可那人言之凿凿，说自己是亲眼所见，什么有阴魂出现在禁制后方，发起突袭等等，绘声绘色，众人却反而更加不信了。
Recalling when he heard from a northern cultivator in a tea house, others were initially skeptical. After all, those restricted territories were jointly set up by the righteous and evil forces as well as Spirit Medicine Mountain, and they had always held firm against ghost attacks. How could such a stronghold be broken so easily?
yīn hún zěn me kě néng chū xiàn zài dà zhèn de hòu fāng ， zhè yě tài lí pǔ 。
阴魂怎么可能出现在大阵的后方，这也太离谱。
But this person was insistent that he saw it with his own eyes, describing how ghosts appeared behind the restrictions and launched an ambush. His vivid description made everyone even more skeptical.
lín xuān yě shì bàn xìn bàn yí ， bù guò zhè yàng de xiāo xī tā kě bù gǎn děng xián ér shì ， yú shì děng nà běi dì xiū shì lí kāi yǐ hòu ， qiāo qiāo wěi suí ， zài yī huāng pì de dì fāng ， xiàn shēn chū lái ， jiāng qí zhì fú ， shī zhǎn sōu hún zhī shù 。
林轩也是半信半疑，不过这样的消息他可不敢等闲而视，于是等那北地修士离开以后，悄悄尾随，在一荒僻的地方，现身出来，将其制服，施展搜魂之术。
How could ghosts appear behind the main array? That seemed too far-fetched.
duì fāng gù rán yǒu kě néng chuī niú shuō huǎng ， shèn zhì shì yīn hún pài guò lái rǎo luàn rén xīn de pàn tú ， dàn zài sōu hún ** miàn qián ， yī qiè mì mì dū huì xiǎn xíng ， pèng jiàn lín xuān ， zhǐ néng suàn tā bèi yùn 。
对方固然有可能吹牛说谎，甚至是阴魂派过来扰乱人心的叛徒，但在搜魂**面前，一切秘密都会显形，碰见林轩，只能算他背运。
Lin Xuan was also half-believing and half-doubting but did not dare to take this news lightly. After that northern cultivator left, he secretly followed him to a remote area where he revealed himself, subdued him, and used soul-searching techniques.
yī zhǎn chá yǐ hòu ， lín xuān fàng chū yī kē huǒ qiú ， jiāng zhè dǎo méi de jiā huo huà wéi huī jìn ， biǎo qíng què biàn dé yīn chén wú bǐ ， duì fāng jū rán méi yǒu shuō huǎng ， yīn hún zhēn de yǐ jiāng dà zhèn gōng pò ， cháng qū zhí rù ……
一盏茶以后，林轩放出一颗火球，将这倒霉的家伙化为灰烬，表情却变得阴沉无比，对方居然没有说谎，阴魂真的已将大阵攻破，长驱直入……
The other person might have been lying or even a traitor sent by the ghosts to sow discord, but before his soul-searching technique, all secrets would be revealed. Meeting Lin Xuan was just bad luck for this unfortunate individual.
kàn lái zhèng rú zì jǐ de yù liào yī yàng ， zhěng gè yōu zhōu dōu bù miǎn juǎn rù hào jié zhī zhōng ， méi yǒu jìng tǔ 。
看来正如自己的预料一样，整个幽州都不免卷入浩劫之中，没有净土。
After a cup of tea, Lin Xuan released a fireball that turned the unlucky fellow into ashes. His expression became extremely grim; he had not lied, and the ghosts really had breached the main array...
It seemed as if his prediction was correct; the entire Youzhou would be swept up in this disaster, with no place left untouched.
### The Refinement into Immortality
#### Chapter 544: Great Array to Seal the Souls of Ten Thousand Ghosts in Youzhou
Everything that happened at Stone City was replayed across the other several restricted territories. After a few months, they renewed their attacks on various sects and families.
...
In the Nine Dragons Sect, Tianyun Peak.
The steep mountain sides pierced through the clouds, majestic and imposing.
At the summit of the peak, several cultivators stood solemnly, each with a serious expression.
The Sovereign Demon Extreme Evil, Tai Xu True Man, the Sect Master of Spirit Medicine Mountain, as well as two Supreme Elders from One Line Canyon and Thundercloud Manor were all present.
Normally, it was difficult to see even an old monster at the Dantian stage, but now these five individuals had gathered together. However, each one's expression did not look good.
Tianyun Peak served as the main entrance of the Nine Dragons Sect and originally possessed a decent spirit vein. Now, the entire mountain was shrouded in a mysterious purple mist, with the aura of ghosts and demons permeating everywhere, blocking all the essence energy and making it seem ominous and sinister.
"Extreme Evil Comrade, does this situation resemble the legendary Great Array to Seal the Souls of Ten Thousand Ghosts?" Tai Xu True Man looked at the purple mist before him, a trace of anxiety appearing on his face as he turned to ask someone in the dark light.
"It is indeed somewhat strange, but I cannot be certain if it's the Great Array to Seal the Souls of Ten Thousand Ghosts. We need to wait for those investigating disciples to return and then we can make a conclusion," the voice of Extreme Evil Sovereign was deep and weighty; he had been an old rival with Tai Xu, but now seemed willing to cooperate.
As for the other three Dantian stage monsters—Commotion Feathers True Man, they remained silent, but their eyes flickered with sharp glints as if they were also plotting something.
After a while, several beams of light flashed and became clearer.
"Finally back. Hmm, it seems like one person is missing," Tai Xu True Man muttered to himself, his expression indifferent, showing no concern for the lives of the Nine Dragons Sect disciples.
With a wave of his large sleeves, he approached them.
There were five cultivators in total, all with mid-Base Foundation stage and above cultivation. They were merely used as scouts, so their rank was not low.
The leader was an obese man with a round face and big ears. The other four had expressions of panic on their faces, with visible injuries.
"How is it? Did you encounter any danger and what did you discover?" Tai Xu True Man glanced at them, speaking in a calm tone.
"Yes, Senior, we followed the command to patrol around this area. We found that within a hundred miles, there was an eerie mist everywhere. The further out we went, the denser the mist became. We were attacked by unknown ghostly creatures; most of our fellow disciples perished, while only a few of us managed to escape," the obese man swallowed and spoke with lingering fear.
"A hundred-mile radius can cover such a wide area. It seems that apart from the ghosts using their inherited secret treasures to set up this Great Array to Seal the Souls of Ten Thousand Ghosts, there is nothing else," Tai Xu True Man did not say anything but analyzed aloud.
"That makes sense, but according to what I know, even if these fellows brought their secret treasures from the Netherworld Realm, setting up such a vast array would require three ghost emperors to manage it," Tai Xu True Man stroked his beard and pondered.
"It is not impossible. The arrays we set up at the border can block large groups of ghosts, but if a ghost emperor wants to penetrate them, it's easy enough," Extreme Evil Sovereign's tone sounded more serious now.
"However, why would they come here? Even with the Great Array to Seal the Souls of Ten Thousand Ghosts as an aid, even three ghost emperors together wouldn't be able to kill us all. That sounds too far-fetched," Tai Xu True Man snorted and showed a disbelieving expression.
"But that's not impossible either. The arrays we set up at the border can block large groups of ghosts, but if a ghost emperor wants to penetrate them, it would be easy enough," a clear voice entered their ears as Commotion Feathers True Man suddenly spoke up after his silence.
"Ah, Comrade, do you have any insights?"
"Insights? Could the ghosts have some other plot?"
...
The Dantian stage monsters exchanged glances. Although Commotion Feathers True Man had joined the sect last, he was always shrewd and clever. His analysis seemed to hold weight.
"If Comrade Commotion Feathers has any high insight, please share it."
"There are no high insights; I'm merely guessing. But ghost emperors exerting such great effort to confine us here must have some other purpose. The ghosts might already be taking action, and we need to leave this place quickly,"
...
Commotion Feathers True Man's analysis was quite accurate. The cultivators were engaged in a fierce battle with the ghosts.
However, this had little to do with Lin Xuan. At that moment, he was following the instructions from the clear bamboo slip, flying rapidly towards southern Youzhou.
...
This journey took several days.
Passing through market towns, Lin Xuan also went inside to gather information. His intention was to find out how Spirit Medicine Mountain fared and whether Old Devil Duster had the ability to save his sect from peril.
Unexpectedly, he found no special news about it. This made him feel relieved; if the foundation of their sect were destroyed, it would not take long for the entire Youzhou cultivation world to know.
Since there was no news, Lin Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. Although he did not rise early without an incentive, he was not a cold-blooded person and admired Tianchen True Man. He naturally did not want their sect's legacy to end here.
However, this good news was overshadowed by another piece of information that shocked him.
Several restricted territories at the border with the occupied areas had already been breached by ghosts.
Recalling when he heard from a northern cultivator in a tea house, others were initially skeptical. After all, those restricted territories were jointly set up by the righteous and evil forces as well as Spirit Medicine Mountain, and they had always held firm against ghost attacks. How could such a stronghold be broken so easily?
But this person was insistent that he saw it with his own eyes, describing how ghosts appeared behind the restrictions and launched an ambush. His vivid description made everyone even more skeptical.
How could ghosts appear behind the main array? That seemed too far-fetched.
Lin Xuan was also half-believing and half-doubting but did not dare to take this news lightly. After that northern cultivator left, he secretly followed him to a remote area where he revealed himself, subdued him, and used soul-searching techniques.
The other person might have been lying or even a traitor sent by the ghosts to sow discord, but before his soul-searching technique, all secrets would be revealed. Meeting Lin Xuan was just bad luck for this unfortunate individual.
After a cup of tea, Lin Xuan released a fireball that turned the unlucky fellow into ashes. His expression became extremely grim; he had not lied, and the ghosts really had breached the main array...
It seemed as if his prediction was correct; the entire Youzhou would be swept up in this disaster, with no place left untouched.