lín xián dì nǐ kàn ， qián miàn jiù shì huǒ yún fēng ”
林贤弟你看，前面就是火云峰”
Lin Xian弟, look, the Fire Cloud Peak is just ahead."
píng zhěng de qīng shí tái jiē wān yán qū zhé ， liǎng míng xiū shì dǎ bàn de nán zi zhèng zài shàng miàn màn màn zǒu zhe ， yī míng róng mào píng fán ，
平整的青石台阶蜿蜒曲折，两名修士打扮的男子正在上面慢慢走着，一名容貌平凡，
The smooth steps made of green stone snaked and curved. Two men dressed in cultivator attire were slowly walking on them. One had an ordinary appearance; he was Lin Xuan, while the burly man by his side was named Murong Bo.
zhèng shì lín xuān ， ér páng biān nà wèi zhuàng hàn ， zé jiào mù róng bó 。
正是林轩，而旁边那位壮汉，则叫幕容博。
It had been several hours since they left the market district. Lin Xuan had proposed a story to Murong Bo. Lying was his forte; he could spin a tale so seamlessly that it would seem like truth. He claimed to be an independent cultivator who admired the Radiant Sun Sect and wanted to join, but something had delayed him, causing him to miss the welcoming ceremony.
cǐ kè jù lí tā liǎ lí kāi fāng shì yǐ yǒu shù gè shí chén zhī jiǔ 。
此刻距离他俩离开坊市已有数个时辰之久。
This explanation was almost identical to what the Ma sect member had said. Murong Bo's expression turned concerned as he suddenly turned back. "Young brother, I can only recommend you. Whether or not you are accepted into the sect is up to you."
lín xuān xiàng duì fāng tí chū le zì jǐ de yāo qiú ， sā huǎng tā zuì ná shǒu ， suí biàn biān yí gè gù shì yě tiān yī wú fèng ， shuō zì jǐ
林轩向对方提出了自己的要求，撒谎他最拿手，随便编一个故事也天衣无缝，说自己
"Haha, Brother Murong, don't worry about it. No matter if you pass or fail, I will still pay you with these crystals," Lin Xuan said without hesitation as he took out a wooden box from his storage space and handed it over. He was not bothered by the mere two thousand crystals; he would never be so foolish to default on payment.
nǎi shì sàn xiū ， yīn wèi yǎng mù liè yáng mén xiǎng yào jiā rù ， nǎ zhī dào què yǒu shì dān gē jiāng zhāo dài dà huì de shí jiān cuò guò 。
乃是散修，因为仰慕烈阳门想要加入，哪知道却有事耽搁将招待大会的时间错过。
"Haha, Brother is too considerate. I have no doubt about your sincerity." Murong Bo accepted the crystals without any reluctance. After scanning them with his divine sense, a genuine smile appeared on his face. He then sent out an audio transmission talisman and after a short while, a red-robed woman flew down from the peak riding a flying sword.
zhè fān shuō cí jī hū yǔ nà mǎ xìng xiū shì bié wú èr zhì ， mù róng bó tīng dé yī zhèn wú yǔ ， bù guò lín xuān chū shǒu dà fāng yǐ jí
这番说辞几乎与那马姓修士别无二致，幕容博听得一阵无语，不过林轩出手大方以极
Seeing this woman, Murong Bo was taken aback before he smiled happily. "Dragon Sister, are you on duty today?"
， biǎo shì duì fāng zhǐ yào yuàn yì yǐn jiàn ， bù lùn chéng gōng yǔ fǒu dū huì fù gěi tā liǎng qiān jīng shí 。
，表示对方只要愿意引荐，不论成功与否都会付给他两千晶石。
"Yes, Brother is a rare guest. What brings you to our Fire Cloud Peak? Oh, this friend of yours…" The woman's eyes showed some suspicion when she noticed Lin Xuan, but from their conversation, it seemed they had a good relationship.
zhè me hǎo de tiáo jiàn yóu bù dé duì fāng bù xīn dòng 。
这么好的条件由不得对方不心动。
"Nothing, this Lin Young Brother is my dear friend. He admires the Radiant Sun Sect and wants to join, but due to certain matters, he missed the welcoming ceremony. Luckily, he excels in alchemy," Murong Bo introduced the situation directly.
yú shì liǎng rén yī pāi jí hé ， yóu tā yǐn lù xiàng huǒ yún fēng zǒu lái le 。
于是两人一拍即合，由他引路向火云峰走来了。
"Oh, Brother's dear friend, his identity should be fine. But whether or not you can enter the sect is up to the elders' decision." The red-robed woman looked at Lin Xuan and said noncommittally.
liè yáng shān mài mián yán bǎi lǐ ， zhè huǒ yún fēng jǐn jǐn shì qí zhōng yī zuò ér yǐ 。
烈阳山脉绵延百里，这火云峰仅仅是其中一座而已。
"Haha, I understand the rules. I just want Sister to recommend him," Murong Bo replied with a smile.
jù mù róng bó suǒ shuō ， cǐ chù de xiū shì chú le běn shēn de gōng kè ， rén rén hái bì xū zuān yán liàn dān shù 。
据幕容博所说，此处的修士除了本身的功课，人人还必须钻研炼丹术。
"Sure thing, it's no trouble at all." The red-robed woman nodded without hesitation. "Brother Murong, why don't you come in for a chat? It's been a while since your last visit. Senior Sister Yan mentioned you the other day."
yún hǎi de xiū xiān jiè kě yuǎn bǐ yōu zhōu fán róng ， jiǔ dà shì lì chú le shù zhī bù jìn de gāo shǒu ， duì yú xiū xiān bǎi yì zhōng de zá
云海的修仙界可远比幽州繁荣，九大势力除了数之不尽的高手，对于修仙百艺中的杂
Her face showed some amusement as she spoke about the senior sister.
xué ， dà duō yě dōu yǒu shè liè 。
学，大多也都有涉猎。
"Ah, I have something to attend to. I'll come back another time," Murong Bo said with a smile but his expression turned pale and his lips turned blue. Lin Xuan found this amusing.
lín xuān bù dé bù gǎn tàn zhè xiē mén pài cái dà qì cū ， bù guò ， yě méi shén me hào qí guài ， jiǔ dà shì lì suí biàn lā yí gè guò
林轩不得不感叹这些门派财大气粗，不过，也没什么好奇怪，九大势力随便拉一个过
After a few more words, they bid each other farewell.
lái ， jiù yōng yǒu shù shí wèi yuán yīng qī lǎo guài 。
来，就拥有数十位元婴期老怪。
The red-robed woman's expression quickly changed as she looked at Lin Xuan. "Follow me."
cóng duì fāng kǒu zhōng zhèng shí le zhè yì diǎn ， lín xuān biàn dé yuè fā de xiǎo xīn qǐ lái ， suī rán tā zì xìn ， píng zhe mù qián de shén tōng
从对方口中证实了这一点，林轩变得越发的小心起来，虽然他自信，凭着目前的神通
Her tone was cold and distant, but Lin Xuan didn't care. He scratched his nose and followed her into the Fire Cloud Peak.
xiū wèi ， zài pèi hé jiǔ tiān xuán gōng zhōng de liǎn qì mì shù ， jiù suàn shì hòu qī de dà xiū shì ， yě bù yí dìng néng gòu kàn chū bù tuǒ
修为，再配合九天玄功中的敛气秘术，就算是后期的大修士，也不一定能够看出不妥
It seemed strange that while outside there were many minor restrictions, once they entered the sect's core area, none of them came into play. Lin Xuan pondered this but didn't dare to ask out loud; such a question would only raise suspicion.
， dàn xīn zhōng duō shǎo hái shì yǒu yì diǎn tǎn tè 。
，但心中多少还是有一点忐忑。
After flying for some time, they finally arrived at a pavilion. It was actually quite large, and Lin Xuan noticed that all the pavilions were connected in one seamless structure, a marvel of craftsmanship.
zǒng zhī ， bù néng diào yǐ qīng xīn jiù shì le 。
总之，不能掉以轻心就是了。
"This is where our senior brothers cultivate. Just answer their questions truthfully; don't make any noise or move around," the woman said as she turned to Lin Xuan.
hǎo zài tā shì yǐ shàn cháng liàn dān shù de míng yì xiǎng yào jiā rù jìn qù 。
好在他是以擅长炼丹术的名义想要加入进去。
"Miss, I understand the importance," Lin Xuan smiled and bowed.
ér jīng yán liàn dān shù ， xū yào huā fèi tài duō de jīng lì ， gù ér huǒ yún fēng shàng de dì zǐ ， xiū wèi pǔ biàn yào bǐ tóng mén dī shàng
而精研炼丹术，需要花费太多的精力，故而火云峰上的弟子，修为普遍要比同门低上
"Hmm." The woman's face showed satisfaction as she cast a divine sense and led him into the left pavilion.
yī xiē 。
一些。
The corridor was long, and they encountered many cultivators. Most were at the foundation stage, but there were also some children in their灵动期 (nimble spirit period). Everyone had serious expressions.
jǐn jǐn yōng yǒu yī wèi yuán yīng qī lǎo guài ， ér qiě yǐ bì guān duō nián 。
仅仅拥有一位元婴期老怪，而且已闭关多年。
After walking for a while, they met a white-robed female cultivator.
píng rì lǐ de shì wù ， dōu shì yóu jǐ wèi níng dān qī xiū shì zhǔ chí 。
平日里的事物，都是由几位凝丹期修士主持。
"Senior Ning, is Senior Leng free?" The red-robed woman stepped forward and asked cautiously.
lín xuān zì rán bù hài pà bèi tā men kàn pò 。
林轩自然不害怕被他们看破。
"You shouldn't be here, Dragon Sister. What brings you to the Fire Cloud Peak?" The white-robed female's face showed surprise.
yòu zǒu le yuē yī dùn fàn de gōng fu ， qīng shí tái jiē zhōng yú dào le jìn tóu ， qián miàn yún wù liáo rào ， xiǎn rán shì bù zhì dé yǒu jìn
又走了约一顿饭的功夫，青石台阶终于到了尽头，前面云雾缭绕，显然是布置得有禁
"Sister, you must have misunderstood. I'm on duty today and met Brother Murong…" the red-robed woman explained slowly.
zhì zài lǐ tou 。
制在里头。
"Oh, that makes sense." The white-robed female sighed in relief as she sized up Lin Xuan: "This friend has a strong cultivation base; he successfully reached the foundation stage at such a young age. Are you really skilled in alchemy?"
liǎng rén tíng xià jiǎo bù ， mù róng bó cóng huái zhōng tāo chū yī zhāng fú ， niàn niàn yǒu cí ， suí hòu jiāng qí yáng shǒu jì chū 。
两人停下脚步，幕容博从怀中掏出一张符，念念有词，随后将其扬手祭出。
She was still skeptical because independent cultivators rarely dabbled in various fields.
yī zhèn guāng huá lián shǎn ， wù qì sàn kāi ， lǐ miàn jǐng wù yǐng yǐng chuò chuò ， guǒ rán bié yǒu dòng tiān 。
一阵光华连闪，雾气散开，里面景物影影绰绰，果然别有洞天。
"I admit, I've had some fortunate opportunities and learned a bit," Lin Xuan said calmly.
“ zǒu ！”
“走！”
"Hmm." The white-robed female nodded. She wasn't as cold towards him as the red-robed woman; this friend's ordinary appearance lacked any pretentiousness, making him seem like an honest and trustworthy cultivator. "Friend Lin, you came at a bad time. Senior Leng is currently in seclusion refining elixirs, so he can't examine you. As foundation-stage cultivators, we don't have the authority to decide."
mù róng bó zài chǔ wù dài shàng yī pāi ， jiāng yī jiàn fēi xíng líng qì jì le qǐ lái ， huí tóu xiào dào ：“ yī lù shàng yǒu bù shǎo jìn zhì
幕容博在储物袋上一拍，将一件飞行灵器祭了起来，回头笑道：“一路上有不少禁制
"Ah?" Lin Xuan was taken aback. He thought his luck had been good but now it seemed he had run into a problem.
xiàn jǐng ， lín xiōng zuì hǎo bù yào dùn guāng ， jiù yóu wǒ dài nǐ yī chéng ba ！”
陷阱，林兄最好不要遁光，就由我带你一程吧！”
Refining elixirs? As the head of Spirit Medicine Mountain, Lin Xuan knew that some elixirs could be refined in just three or five days, while others might take months or even years.
“ hǎo ， nà jiù yǒu láo 。”
“好，那就有劳。”
The two women felt at a loss. They couldn't abandon their duty but also couldn't leave such an unknown cultivator alone in the sect's core area.
lín xuān háo bù yóu yù de zhàn le shàng qù ， mù róng bó yī dào fǎ jué dǎ chū ， liǎng rén huà wèi yī dào jīng hóng ， huàng huàng yōu yōu de fēi
林轩毫不犹豫的站了上去，幕容博一道法诀打出，两人化为一道惊虹，晃晃悠悠的飞
Just as they were pondering this, a loud explosion echoed through the air, like something had exploded.
rù jìn le wù qì zhī zhōng 。
入进了雾气之中。
"What happened?" The red-robed woman was startled.
lín xuān qiāo qiāo jiāng shén shí fàng chū ， duì fāng guǒ rán méi yǒu shuō cuò ， yī lù shàng de jìn zhì xiàn jǐng céng chū bù qióng 。 dāng rán ， dōu bù
林轩悄悄将神识放出，对方果然没有说错，一路上的禁制陷阱层出不穷。当然，都不
"It must be Senior Leng's refinement room," the white-robed female reacted quickly and disappeared with a flash of light.
shì shí fēn lì hài de nà zhǒng ， bì jìng ， xiàn zài lián huǒ yún fēng de shān jiǎo dōu méi yǒu dào ， chōng qí liàng zhǐ néng suàn shì wài wéi ér yǐ
是十分厉害的那种，毕竟，现在连火云峰的山脚都没有到，充其量只能算是外围而已
The red-robed woman hesitated for a moment before following.
， yóu cǐ kě jiàn ， liè yáng mén de fáng bèi shì duō me yán mì 。
，由此可见，烈阳门的防备是多么严密。
Lin Xuan's expression turned thoughtful but then returned to normal. He followed behind them calmly.
mù róng yī zú ， běn jiù shì gāi pài de fēn zhī ， gù ér mù róng bó cái néng chàng xíng wú zǔ de lái dào cǐ chù 。
幕容一族，本就是该派的分支，故而幕容博才能畅行无阻的来到此处。
A cave dwelling embedded in the pavilion appeared before their eyes. It felt strange, but Lin Xuan didn't show much interest; there were many peculiar people in the cultivation world, and his broad experience made him unimpressed by such things.
bù guò ， tā yě jiù jǐn néng dào shān jiǎo bà le 。
不过，他也就仅能到山脚罢了。
The door of the cave was open, revealing an old man with white hair and a gloomy expression. Beside him lay a broken cauldron, while beneath it burned the fiery veins of the earth.
“ xián dì ， wèi xiōng néng zuò de ， zhǐ shì yǐn jiàn ér yǐ ， néng fǒu bèi shōu rù mén qù ， kě hái yào kàn nǐ zì jǐ 。” là xià dùn
“贤弟，为兄能做的，只是引荐而已，能否被收入门去，可还要看你自己。”落下遁
Lin Xuan's divine sense swept over the scene but he kept his composure on the surface. He was delighted; the purity of this fire far exceeded that of Spirit Medicine Mountain in the past.
guāng yǐ hòu ， mù róng bó tū rán huí guò tóu ， shí fēn guān xīn de kāi kǒu 。
光以后，幕容博突然回过头，十分关心的开口。
"Senior Leng, what happened?" The red-robed woman couldn't help asking.
“ hē hē ， mù róng xiōng fàng xīn hǎo le ， bù guǎn néng fǒu kǎo zhōng ， jīng shí wǒ dū huì fù yǔ nǐ 。” lín xuān nǎ bù míng bái duì fāng
“呵呵，幕容兄放心好了，不管能否考中，晶石我都会付予你。”林轩哪不明白对方
But the old man wasn't pleased and gave her a withering look. Seeing this, both women fell silent.
huà zhōng zhī yì ， cóng chǔ wù dài zhōng qǔ chū yí gè mù hé ， dì le guò qù ， qū qū liǎng qiān jīng shí ， tā hái bù fàng zài yǎn lǐ zài
话中之意，从储物袋中取出一个木盒，递了过去，区区两千晶石，他还不放在眼里在
"Strange, where did things go wrong with the Three Yang Soul Refining Elixir? Was it because too much essence was added or not enough of the Reviving Grass?" The old man stroked his beard as he pondered.
Lin Xian弟, look, the Fire Cloud Peak is just ahead."
The smooth steps made of green stone snaked and curved. Two men dressed in cultivator attire were slowly walking on them. One had an ordinary appearance; he was Lin Xuan, while the burly man by his side was named Murong Bo.
It had been several hours since they left the market district. Lin Xuan had proposed a story to Murong Bo. Lying was his forte; he could spin a tale so seamlessly that it would seem like truth. He claimed to be an independent cultivator who admired the Radiant Sun Sect and wanted to join, but something had delayed him, causing him to miss the welcoming ceremony.
This explanation was almost identical to what the Ma sect member had said. Murong Bo's expression turned concerned as he suddenly turned back. "Young brother, I can only recommend you. Whether or not you are accepted into the sect is up to you."
"Haha, Brother Murong, don't worry about it. No matter if you pass or fail, I will still pay you with these crystals," Lin Xuan said without hesitation as he took out a wooden box from his storage space and handed it over. He was not bothered by the mere two thousand crystals; he would never be so foolish to default on payment.
"Haha, Brother is too considerate. I have no doubt about your sincerity." Murong Bo accepted the crystals without any reluctance. After scanning them with his divine sense, a genuine smile appeared on his face. He then sent out an audio transmission talisman and after a short while, a red-robed woman flew down from the peak riding a flying sword.
Seeing this woman, Murong Bo was taken aback before he smiled happily. "Dragon Sister, are you on duty today?"
"Yes, Brother is a rare guest. What brings you to our Fire Cloud Peak? Oh, this friend of yours…" The woman's eyes showed some suspicion when she noticed Lin Xuan, but from their conversation, it seemed they had a good relationship.
"Nothing, this Lin Young Brother is my dear friend. He admires the Radiant Sun Sect and wants to join, but due to certain matters, he missed the welcoming ceremony. Luckily, he excels in alchemy," Murong Bo introduced the situation directly.
"Oh, Brother's dear friend, his identity should be fine. But whether or not you can enter the sect is up to the elders' decision." The red-robed woman looked at Lin Xuan and said noncommittally.
"Haha, I understand the rules. I just want Sister to recommend him," Murong Bo replied with a smile.
"Sure thing, it's no trouble at all." The red-robed woman nodded without hesitation. "Brother Murong, why don't you come in for a chat? It's been a while since your last visit. Senior Sister Yan mentioned you the other day."
Her face showed some amusement as she spoke about the senior sister.
"Ah, I have something to attend to. I'll come back another time," Murong Bo said with a smile but his expression turned pale and his lips turned blue. Lin Xuan found this amusing.
After a few more words, they bid each other farewell.
The red-robed woman's expression quickly changed as she looked at Lin Xuan. "Follow me."
Her tone was cold and distant, but Lin Xuan didn't care. He scratched his nose and followed her into the Fire Cloud Peak.
It seemed strange that while outside there were many minor restrictions, once they entered the sect's core area, none of them came into play. Lin Xuan pondered this but didn't dare to ask out loud; such a question would only raise suspicion.
After flying for some time, they finally arrived at a pavilion. It was actually quite large, and Lin Xuan noticed that all the pavilions were connected in one seamless structure, a marvel of craftsmanship.
"This is where our senior brothers cultivate. Just answer their questions truthfully; don't make any noise or move around," the woman said as she turned to Lin Xuan.
"Miss, I understand the importance," Lin Xuan smiled and bowed.
"Hmm." The woman's face showed satisfaction as she cast a divine sense and led him into the left pavilion.
The corridor was long, and they encountered many cultivators. Most were at the foundation stage, but there were also some children in their灵动期 (nimble spirit period). Everyone had serious expressions.
After walking for a while, they met a white-robed female cultivator.
"Senior Ning, is Senior Leng free?" The red-robed woman stepped forward and asked cautiously.
"You shouldn't be here, Dragon Sister. What brings you to the Fire Cloud Peak?" The white-robed female's face showed surprise.
"Sister, you must have misunderstood. I'm on duty today and met Brother Murong…" the red-robed woman explained slowly.
"Oh, that makes sense." The white-robed female sighed in relief as she sized up Lin Xuan: "This friend has a strong cultivation base; he successfully reached the foundation stage at such a young age. Are you really skilled in alchemy?"
She was still skeptical because independent cultivators rarely dabbled in various fields.
"I admit, I've had some fortunate opportunities and learned a bit," Lin Xuan said calmly.
"Hmm." The white-robed female nodded. She wasn't as cold towards him as the red-robed woman; this friend's ordinary appearance lacked any pretentiousness, making him seem like an honest and trustworthy cultivator. "Friend Lin, you came at a bad time. Senior Leng is currently in seclusion refining elixirs, so he can't examine you. As foundation-stage cultivators, we don't have the authority to decide."
"Ah?" Lin Xuan was taken aback. He thought his luck had been good but now it seemed he had run into a problem.
Refining elixirs? As the head of Spirit Medicine Mountain, Lin Xuan knew that some elixirs could be refined in just three or five days, while others might take months or even years.
The two women felt at a loss. They couldn't abandon their duty but also couldn't leave such an unknown cultivator alone in the sect's core area.
Just as they were pondering this, a loud explosion echoed through the air, like something had exploded.
"What happened?" The red-robed woman was startled.
"It must be Senior Leng's refinement room," the white-robed female reacted quickly and disappeared with a flash of light.
The red-robed woman hesitated for a moment before following.
Lin Xuan's expression turned thoughtful but then returned to normal. He followed behind them calmly.
A cave dwelling embedded in the pavilion appeared before their eyes. It felt strange, but Lin Xuan didn't show much interest; there were many peculiar people in the cultivation world, and his broad experience made him unimpressed by such things.
The door of the cave was open, revealing an old man with white hair and a gloomy expression. Beside him lay a broken cauldron, while beneath it burned the fiery veins of the earth.
Lin Xuan's divine sense swept over the scene but he kept his composure on the surface. He was delighted; the purity of this fire far exceeded that of Spirit Medicine Mountain in the past.
"Senior Leng, what happened?" The red-robed woman couldn't help asking.
But the old man wasn't pleased and gave her a withering look. Seeing this, both women fell silent.
"Strange, where did things go wrong with the Three Yang Soul Refining Elixir? Was it because too much essence was added or not enough of the Reviving Grass?" The old man stroked his beard as he pondered.