lín xuān liǎn shàng qīng qì yī xiǎn ， bì huàn yōu huǒ biàn dé yuè fā de xiōng yǒng qǐ lái ， hù zhào biǎo miàn de mó qì zé xùn sù xiāo sàn 。
林轩脸上青气一显，碧幻幽火变得越发的汹涌起来，护罩表面的魔气则迅速消散。
Lin Xuan's face turned a pale green, and the碧幻幽火 became even more turbulent. The magical aura on the surface of his protective shield quickly dissipated.
duǎn duǎn de shù miǎo yǐ hòu ， bō de yī shēng qīng xiǎng chuán lái ， hù zhào yǐ bèi chè dǐ jī sàn ！
短短的数秒以后，啵的一声轻响传来，护罩已被彻底击散！
In just a few seconds, a light pop was heard, and the protective shield was completely shattered!
níng wàn shān sǒng rán dòng róng ， cǐ jìn zhì de xuán miào tā zài qīng chǔ bù guò ， jū rán rú cǐ qīng yì jiù bèi pò qù le ， zì jǐ zhè wèi
宁万山耸然动容，此禁制的玄妙他再清楚不过，居然如此轻易就被破去了，自己这位
Ning Wanshan was struck with awe. He knew all too well the intricacies of this禁制. It had been so easily broken, suggesting that his master's abilities were far beyond those of an ordinary元婴初期 cultivator.
zhǔ rén de shén tōng ， kǒng pà hái yuǎn zài yì bān de yuán yīng chū qī xiū shì zhī shàng 。
主人的神通，恐怕还远在一般的元婴初期修士之上。
No wonder he could destroy a Corpse Demon. In the cultivation world, respect for strength is paramount. His gaze towards Lin Xuan was filled with even more reverence.
guài bù dé tā néng miè le shī mó ， xiū xiān jiè zuì zūn jìng qiáng zhě ， tā wàng xiàng lín xuān de mù guāng zhōng ， nà jìng wèi zhī sè yuè fā nóng
怪不得他能灭了尸魔，修仙界最尊敬强者，他望向林轩的目光中，那敬畏之色越发浓
"Why are you confined here? What happened to your family?" Lin Xuan remained calm and asked in a soft voice.
zhòng 。
重。
He wasn't seeking any information; he just wanted to hear what this man had to say.
“ nǐ wèi hé huì bèi jū jìn yú cǐ ， níng jiā zhī shì jiū jìng rú hé ？” lín xuān què bù dòng shēng sè ， dàn dàn de kāi kǒu le 。
“你为何会被拘禁于此，宁家之事究竟如何？”林轩却不动声色，淡淡的开口了。
"Noblesse oblige, no man is without his faults. Since the master has agreed, I will boldly speak my mind."
tā zhè me wèn dào bú shì cún le shì tàn zhī yì 。 nà sōu hún de dì zǐ xiū wèi tài dī ， suǒ zhī dào de bù guò biǎo miàn de pí máo ér
他这么问倒不是存了试探之意。那搜魂的弟子修为太低，所知道的不过表面的皮毛而
"Speak!"
yǐ ， lín xuān xiǎng yào liǎo jiě de gèng jiā xiáng xì 。
已，林轩想要了解的更加详细。
"It's simple. In the cultivation world, strength rules. The position of family head depends on which lineage is stronger. I dare to suggest that you use your power to eliminate the leaders of the Second and Third Lineages. This way, who would dare challenge Old Servant?" Ning Wanshan's eyes flashed with a cruel look as he spoke.
sú huà shuō zhī jǐ zhī bǐ ， bǎi zhàn bù dài 。
俗话说知己知彼，百战不殆。
"Such an approach wouldn't work," Lin Xuan shook his head. "If their leaders are eliminated, they'll surely suspect something. They won't hand over the family head position to you."
zhǐ yǒu nòng qīng chǔ duì shǒu ， cái hǎo duì zhèng xià yào 。
只有弄清楚对手，才好对症下药。
"Hmph, if they don't submit, I will kill them all. Under the blade of the executioner, they have no choice but to bow and surrender."
“ shì 。” níng wàn shān zì rán bù gǎn yǒu sī háo yǐn mán ， huǎn huǎn de jiāng shì qíng dào lái 。
“是。”宁万山自然不敢有丝毫隐瞒，缓缓的将事情道来。
Indeed, Ning Wanshan was a formidable figure, ruthless and cunning. However, his thinking was too simplistic—only resorting to violence would limit his achievements. Conversely, such people were easier to control.
níng jiā kāi pài yǐ lì qiān zài ， zǐ sūn lián mián ， xiāng huǒ jí qí wàng shèng ， yuán běn duì xiū xiān jiā zú ér yán ， zì rán shì hǎo shì ，
宁家开派已历千载，子孙连绵，香火极其旺盛，原本对修仙家族而言，自然是好事，
"That won't work. If you do that, the family will be severely weakened. It wouldn't benefit me."
rán ér zài bù zhī bù jué zhōng ， yě mái xià le yǐn huàn 。
然而在不知不觉中，也埋下了隐患。
Lin Xuan's expression remained unchanged.
dāng nián nà wèi níng jiā xiān zǔ ， fēng liú tì tǎng ， suī shì xiān dào zhōng rén ， què fēi cháng de tān huā hào sè ， guāng shì lǎo pó ， jiù yī
当年那位宁家先祖，风流倜傥，虽是仙道中人，却非常的贪花好色，光是老婆，就一
"Then what does my master plan?"
kǒu qì qǔ le qī gè 。
口气娶了七个。
Seeing Lin Xuan disagree with his idea, Ning Wanshan grew anxious but dared not show any defiance. He stood respectfully and listened to instructions.
ér zhè jǐ wèi nǚ zǐ ， yòu dōu gěi tā liú xià le zi sì 。
而这几位女子，又都给他留下了子嗣。
"It's simple. I still need the Ning family to do things for me. Therefore, I don't want too many of your disciples to be wasted, especially the leaders of the Second and Third Lineages. They are advanced-stage Condensation Core cultivators—rare talents. Killing them would be a waste."
zhè me duō nián chuán chéng xià lái ， níng jiā biǎo miàn shàng suī zì chéng yī pài ， rán ér nèi lǐ què fēn wéi qī zhī 。
这么多年传承下来，宁家表面上虽自成一派，然而内里却分为七支。
"But… how can Old Servant become the head without killing them?" Ning Wanshan asked in confusion.
ér qī zhī lǐ ， yòu yǐ zhǎng fáng tóng èr fáng ， sān fáng de shí lì zuì wèi qiáng shèng ， shù bǎi nián lái ， jiā zhǔ zhī wèi jiù zài zhè sān mài
而七支里，又以长房同二房，三房的实力最为强盛，数百年来，家主之位就在这三脉
"Hmph, what do you fear? I have a plan to ensure your success. Not only will I help you become the family head, but I'll also unite the entire Ning family under your command," Lin Xuan said with confidence.
zhōng chǎn shēng ， zhì yú qí tā jǐ zhī ， suī rán yǎn rè ， dàn shí lì bù jì ， yě zhǐ néng dāng péi chèn le 。
中产生，至于其他几支，虽然眼热，但实力不济，也只能当陪衬了。
"Ah?"
tài guò jiǔ yuǎn de wǎng shì zàn qiě bù tán ， jiù shuō zuì jìn shù bǎi zài ， zhǎng fáng hǎo shēng xīng wàng ， yī lián yǒng xiàn le liǎng dài jiā zhǔ ，
太过久远的往事暂且不谈，就说最近数百载，长房好生兴旺，一连涌现了两代家主，
Ning Wanshan was stunned. If this wasn't coming from his master's mouth, he would surely have refuted it. How could anyone make the entire Ning family obey him? It seemed impossible even for a master of such power and an元婴 cultivator to gain their respect.
dāng rán ， zhè qí zhōng bāo kuò nà shī mó 。
当然，这其中包括那尸魔。
Lin Xuan saw the disbelief on Ning Wanshan's face but didn't mind. If they didn't know his plan, this suggestion was indeed bizarre.
yuán běn shí lì bǎi zài nà lǐ ， èr fáng sān fáng yě wú huà kě shuō ， rán ér tiān yǒu bù cè fēng yún ， rén yǒu dàn xī huò fú ， yě bù
原本实力摆在那里，二房三房也无话可说，然而天有不测风云，人有旦夕祸福，也不
"When will you choose a new head?"
zhī dào shì bú shì zhǎng fáng de xīng wàng zhāo lái le tiān dù ， xiān shì nèi dìng de shǎo zhǔ mò míng qí miào de shī zōng ， jiē zhe xiàn rèn dà zhǎng
知道是不是长房的兴旺招来了天妒，先是内定的少主莫名其妙的失踪，接着现任大长
"In three days," Ning Wanshan replied dazedly. He hadn't recovered from the shock and seemed somewhat dazed.
lǎo yě zǒu huǒ yǔn luò 。
老也走火陨落。
"Very well, stay here for a few more days. I'll rescue you when we select a new head." After saying this, Lin Xuan flicked his fingers, sending out a black mist that formed a protective shield around him again.
rú cǐ yī lái ， shí lì zì shì dà sǔn ， èr fáng sān fáng dāng rán jiù dīng jǐn nà kōng xuán de jiā zhǔ zhī wèi le 。
如此一来，实力自是大损，二房三房当然就盯紧那空悬的家主之位了。
This wasn't like the previous禁制; it was hard to detect unless one was an advanced-stage Condensation Core cultivator.
……
……
With a flash of green light, Lin Xuan disappeared from sight.
lín xuān diǎn le diǎn tóu ：“ rú cǐ shuō lái ， dà zhǎng lǎo yǔn luò yǐ hòu ， nǐ jiù shì zhǎng fáng de zhǔ shì rén ？”
林轩点了点头：“如此说来，大长老陨落以后，你就是长房的主事人？”
"Master…"
“ shì de 。” níng wàn shān liǎn shàng mǎn shì gōng jǐn zhī sè ，“ jiù zhěng tǐ shí lì lái shuō ， wǒ men zhǎng fáng hái shì bù kě qīng rǔ ，
“是的。”宁万山脸上满是恭谨之色，“就整体实力来说，我们长房还是不可轻辱，
Ning Wanshan opened his mouth but was too late. He continued to stand in confusion within the small cell.
rán ér huò quē gāo shǒu ， shǔ xià zhǐ shì níng dān zhōng qī ， fǎn guān èr fáng ， sān fáng ， tā men de shǒu nǎo dōu shì hòu qī gāo shǒu ， ér
然而或缺高手，属下只是凝丹中期，反观二房，三房，他们的首脑都是后期高手，而
Half an hour later, Lin Xuan had left Lei Yin Mountain and landed at a remote location. He released his divine sense; there were no high-ranking cultivators within a hundred miles. A satisfied smile appeared on his face as he flicked his fingers, revealing several sword lights that formed a crude cave dwelling.
qiě tā men zhī jiān suī yě míng zhēng àn dòu ， dàn zài duì wǒ men zhǎng fáng de tài dù shàng ， què yǐn yǐn lián shǒu ……”
且他们之间虽也明争暗斗，但在对我们长房的态度上，却隐隐联手……”
"Master, what are you doing?" Mo'er's voice was filled with confusion.
“ ó 。” lín xuān yǐ shǒu fǔ é ， lù chū yī lǚ chén yín zhī sè 。
“哦。”林轩以手抚额，露出一缕沉吟之色。
"Naturally, I'm resting."
níng wàn shān bù gǎn dǎ rǎo ， gōng gōng jìng jìng de sù lì yú yī páng 。
宁万山不敢打扰，恭恭敬敬的肃立于一旁。
"You're helping that guy become the Ning family head; why not do something?" Mo'er combed her hair and looked incredulous.
liáng jiǔ ， lín xuān cái dàn dàn kāi kǒu ：“ nà nǐ yòu yǒu shén me dǎ suàn ， xiǎng yào chéng wéi jiā zhǔ ， yòu xū yào wǒ wèi nǐ zuò shén me ？”
良久，林轩才淡淡开口：“那你又有什么打算，想要成为家主，又需要我为你做什么？”
"What can I do? In three days, everything will fall into place," Lin Xuan said confidently. However, how could this sound so absurd?
“ liàng xiǎo fēi jūn zǐ ， wú dú bù zhàng fū ， zhǔ rén jì rán yǔn nuò ， nà shǔ xià jiù dà dǎn de kāi kǒu le 。”
“量小非君子，无毒不丈夫，主人既然允诺，那属下就大胆的开口了。”
Mo'er was speechless. She had grown more perceptive over the years but still couldn't follow her master's thoughts.
“ shuō ！”
“说！”
She glared at him resentfully: "Master, stop teasing and tell me your plan."
“ hěn jiǎn dān ， xiū xiān jiè qiáng zhě wèi zūn ， jiā zhǔ huā luò shuí jiā ， guān jiàn hái zài yú nǎ yī mài de shí lì gèng jiā qiáng shèng ， shǔ
“很简单，修仙界强者为尊，家主花落谁家，关键还在于哪一脉的实力更加强盛，属
"Haha." A cunning smile appeared on Lin Xuan's lips as he explained his scheme to Mo'er.
xià dǒu dǎn jìn yán ， qǐng zhǔ rén shī zhǎn shén tōng ， zhí jiē jiāng èr fáng sān fáng de shǒu nǎo gěi miè le ， zhè yàng yī lái ， shuí hái gǎn yǔ
下斗胆进言，请主人施展神通，直接将二房三房的首脑给灭了，这样一来，谁还敢与
"I don't need to explain; just look," Lin Xuan said while extending his hand. With a fierce wind, a black light emerged from the灵鬼袋.
lǎo nú xiāng zhēng 。” níng wàn shān de yǎn zhōng shǎn guò yī sī hěn lì zhī sè ， yīn yīn de kāi kǒu 。
老奴相争。”宁万山的眼中闪过一丝狠厉之色，阴阴的开口。
It was none other than the Corpse King at the元婴 stage.
“ zhè yàng bù tuǒ 。” lín xuān què yáo le yáo tóu ，“ zhào nǐ suǒ shuō ， èr fáng sān fáng yǐ jīng lián shǒu 。 rú guǒ shǒu nǎo chū shì ，
“这样不妥。”林轩却摇了摇头，“照你所说，二房三房已经联手。如果首脑出事，
Lin Xuan quickly changed his appearance with hand gestures. His figure suddenly shrank by several inches, and he looked thinner. The zombie remained unchanged but was vastly different from before.
kěn dìng huì xīn shēng yí lǜ ， gèng bú huì gǒng shǒu jiāng jiā zhǔ zhī wèi ràng yǔ nǐ jì chéng le 。”
肯定会心生疑虑，更不会拱手将家主之位让予你继承了。”
"Ah, isn't this the Corpse Demon you destroyed?" Mo'er's face showed a thoughtful expression: "I understand. You want to use a substitute—let this guy impersonate the Ning family head."
“ hēng ， tā men ruò shì bù fú ， nà jiù shā ， tú dāo zhī xià ， yóu bù dé tā men bù diǎn tóu rèn shū 。”
“哼，他们若是不服，那就杀，屠刀之下，由不得他们不点头认输。”
"Exactly. With an advanced-stage Corpse King as a guardian, who would dare defy him?" Lin Xuan smiled cunningly.
hái bié shuō ， zhè níng wàn shān yě suàn yí dài xiāo xióng ， xīn hěn shǒu là ， kě xī xiǎng shì qíng tài guò jiǎn dān le ， zhǐ huì huī wǔ tú dāo
还别说，这宁万山也算一代枭雄，心狠手辣，可惜想事情太过简单了，只会挥舞屠刀
"My master is truly brilliant," Mo'er admired him wholeheartedly. However, she then showed some hesitation: "But he's fake; could someone see through it?"
zhě ， chéng jiù bì dìng yǒu xiàn ， bù guò fǎn guò lái ， zhè yàng de rén ， cái gèng jiā róng yì zhǎng kòng 。
者，成就必定有限，不过反过来，这样的人，才更加容易掌控。
"Haha, you're overthinking this." Lin Xuan had already considered this issue and explained confidently: "First, advanced-stage Corpse Kings are extremely rare, so they won't think of that. Moreover, a few years ago, I made him practice《天尸化身诀》, even though only the basics, but in terms of cultivation techniques, he's now part of the Ning family lineage, leaving no room for suspicion."
“ bù xíng ， zhè yàng zuò ， nǐ jí shǐ dāng shàng jiā zhǔ ， níng jiā yě bì dìng yuán qì dà shāng ， duì wǒ kě méi yǒu shén me hǎo chù 。”
“不行，这样做，你即使当上家主，宁家也必定元气大伤，对我可没有什么好处。”
Mo'er relaxed and smiled happily.
lín xuān miàn wú biǎo qíng 。
林轩面无表情。
The master and servant then began cultivating in this crude cave. With nothing to do over these three days, they needed to make every moment count.
“ nà zhǔ rén zěn me dǎ suàn ？”
“那主人怎么打算？”
Lin Xuan had achieved his success through hard work and cunning, not luck. He was just as diligent as others, and the world didn't give away rewards without effort.
jiàn lín xuān bù tóng yì zì jǐ de xiǎng fǎ ， níng wàn shān xīn zhōng dà jí ， rán ér què bù gǎn yǒu bàn diǎn wǔ nì de xīn lǐ ， zhǐ néng chuí
见林轩不同意自己的想法，宁万山心中大急，然而却不敢有半点忤逆的心理，只能垂
Three days passed quickly.
shǒu zhàn lì ， líng tīng xùn shì 。
手站立，聆听训示。
The sun rose, and the sky was clear. It was a perfect day for selecting a new family head. The official meeting would start in a few hours, but it wasn't too early; the atmosphere of Lei Yin Mountain seemed tense.
“ hěn jiǎn dān ， yǐ hòu wǒ hái xū yào níng jiā wèi wǒ zuò shì ， zì rán bù xiǎng ràng nǐ men nèi bù hào sǔn tài duō de dì zǐ ， yóu qí
“很简单，以后我还需要宁家为我做事，自然不想让你们内部耗损太多的弟子，尤其
Not just Lei Yin Mountain, but within a hundred miles, thousands of cultivators suddenly appeared. The阴灵之地 was already sparsely populated, and such a gathering was rare in a century.
shì nǐ shuō de èr fáng sān fáng de shǒu nǎo ， jì shì níng dān hòu qī xiū shì ， yě suàn nán dé de gāo shǒu le ， jiāng qí miè shā ， qǐ bù
是你说的二房三房的首脑，既是凝丹后期修士，也算难得的高手了，将其灭杀，岂不
Most were from nearby sects with grudges against the Ning family or coveting their阴脉 for centuries. Many wandering cultivators also wanted to take advantage of the chaos if the Ning family fell. Riches lie in danger.
Lin Xuan's face turned a pale green, and the碧幻幽火 became even more turbulent. The magical aura on the surface of his protective shield quickly dissipated.
In just a few seconds, a light pop was heard, and the protective shield was completely shattered!
Ning Wanshan was struck with awe. He knew all too well the intricacies of this禁制. It had been so easily broken, suggesting that his master's abilities were far beyond those of an ordinary元婴初期 cultivator.
No wonder he could destroy a Corpse Demon. In the cultivation world, respect for strength is paramount. His gaze towards Lin Xuan was filled with even more reverence.
"Why are you confined here? What happened to your family?" Lin Xuan remained calm and asked in a soft voice.
He wasn't seeking any information; he just wanted to hear what this man had to say.
"Noblesse oblige, no man is without his faults. Since the master has agreed, I will boldly speak my mind."
"Speak!"
"It's simple. In the cultivation world, strength rules. The position of family head depends on which lineage is stronger. I dare to suggest that you use your power to eliminate the leaders of the Second and Third Lineages. This way, who would dare challenge Old Servant?" Ning Wanshan's eyes flashed with a cruel look as he spoke.
"Such an approach wouldn't work," Lin Xuan shook his head. "If their leaders are eliminated, they'll surely suspect something. They won't hand over the family head position to you."
"Hmph, if they don't submit, I will kill them all. Under the blade of the executioner, they have no choice but to bow and surrender."
Indeed, Ning Wanshan was a formidable figure, ruthless and cunning. However, his thinking was too simplistic—only resorting to violence would limit his achievements. Conversely, such people were easier to control.
"That won't work. If you do that, the family will be severely weakened. It wouldn't benefit me."
Lin Xuan's expression remained unchanged.
"Then what does my master plan?"
Seeing Lin Xuan disagree with his idea, Ning Wanshan grew anxious but dared not show any defiance. He stood respectfully and listened to instructions.
"It's simple. I still need the Ning family to do things for me. Therefore, I don't want too many of your disciples to be wasted, especially the leaders of the Second and Third Lineages. They are advanced-stage Condensation Core cultivators—rare talents. Killing them would be a waste."
"But… how can Old Servant become the head without killing them?" Ning Wanshan asked in confusion.
"Hmph, what do you fear? I have a plan to ensure your success. Not only will I help you become the family head, but I'll also unite the entire Ning family under your command," Lin Xuan said with confidence.
"Ah?"
Ning Wanshan was stunned. If this wasn't coming from his master's mouth, he would surely have refuted it. How could anyone make the entire Ning family obey him? It seemed impossible even for a master of such power and an元婴 cultivator to gain their respect.
Lin Xuan saw the disbelief on Ning Wanshan's face but didn't mind. If they didn't know his plan, this suggestion was indeed bizarre.
"When will you choose a new head?"
"In three days," Ning Wanshan replied dazedly. He hadn't recovered from the shock and seemed somewhat dazed.
"Very well, stay here for a few more days. I'll rescue you when we select a new head." After saying this, Lin Xuan flicked his fingers, sending out a black mist that formed a protective shield around him again.
This wasn't like the previous禁制; it was hard to detect unless one was an advanced-stage Condensation Core cultivator.
With a flash of green light, Lin Xuan disappeared from sight.
"Master…"
Ning Wanshan opened his mouth but was too late. He continued to stand in confusion within the small cell.
Half an hour later, Lin Xuan had left Lei Yin Mountain and landed at a remote location. He released his divine sense; there were no high-ranking cultivators within a hundred miles. A satisfied smile appeared on his face as he flicked his fingers, revealing several sword lights that formed a crude cave dwelling.
"Master, what are you doing?" Mo'er's voice was filled with confusion.
"Naturally, I'm resting."
"You're helping that guy become the Ning family head; why not do something?" Mo'er combed her hair and looked incredulous.
"What can I do? In three days, everything will fall into place," Lin Xuan said confidently. However, how could this sound so absurd?
Mo'er was speechless. She had grown more perceptive over the years but still couldn't follow her master's thoughts.
She glared at him resentfully: "Master, stop teasing and tell me your plan."
"Haha." A cunning smile appeared on Lin Xuan's lips as he explained his scheme to Mo'er.
"I don't need to explain; just look," Lin Xuan said while extending his hand. With a fierce wind, a black light emerged from the灵鬼袋.
It was none other than the Corpse King at the元婴 stage.
Lin Xuan quickly changed his appearance with hand gestures. His figure suddenly shrank by several inches, and he looked thinner. The zombie remained unchanged but was vastly different from before.
"Ah, isn't this the Corpse Demon you destroyed?" Mo'er's face showed a thoughtful expression: "I understand. You want to use a substitute—let this guy impersonate the Ning family head."
"Exactly. With an advanced-stage Corpse King as a guardian, who would dare defy him?" Lin Xuan smiled cunningly.
"My master is truly brilliant," Mo'er admired him wholeheartedly. However, she then showed some hesitation: "But he's fake; could someone see through it?"
"Haha, you're overthinking this." Lin Xuan had already considered this issue and explained confidently: "First, advanced-stage Corpse Kings are extremely rare, so they won't think of that. Moreover, a few years ago, I made him practice《天尸化身诀》, even though only the basics, but in terms of cultivation techniques, he's now part of the Ning family lineage, leaving no room for suspicion."
Mo'er relaxed and smiled happily.
The master and servant then began cultivating in this crude cave. With nothing to do over these three days, they needed to make every moment count.
Lin Xuan had achieved his success through hard work and cunning, not luck. He was just as diligent as others, and the world didn't give away rewards without effort.
Three days passed quickly.
The sun rose, and the sky was clear. It was a perfect day for selecting a new family head. The official meeting would start in a few hours, but it wasn't too early; the atmosphere of Lei Yin Mountain seemed tense.
Not just Lei Yin Mountain, but within a hundred miles, thousands of cultivators suddenly appeared. The阴灵之地 was already sparsely populated, and such a gathering was rare in a century.
Most were from nearby sects with grudges against the Ning family or coveting their阴脉 for centuries. Many wandering cultivators also wanted to take advantage of the chaos if the Ning family fell. Riches lie in danger.