lín xuān zhè fān huà mó léng liǎng kě ， jì méi yǒu mǎ shàng dā yìng ， què yě wèi yán cí jù jué ， hè fā lǎo zhě xīn zhōng suī lüè gǎn bù mǎn
林轩这番话模棱两可，既没有马上答应，却也未严词拒绝，鹤发老者心中虽略感不满
Lin Xuan's words were ambiguous, neither immediately agreeing nor firmly rejecting. The elderly man with white hair felt a slight dissatisfaction but didn't press the matter further.
， què yě bù hǎo duō zuò liú nàn 。
，却也不好多做留难。
"Haha, Fellow Daoist wishes to think it over carefully. I fully understand," said the elderly man with a chuckle. "However, Yajing Island is different from the mortal world. It's very difficult for solitary practitioners to survive here. How about this: if you don't want to join our sect right away, you can choose to become an honorary elder of our sect. This way, you won't be bound by rules and can seek protection from our sect when in danger. It’s a win-win situation, what do you think?"
“ hē hē ， dào yǒu xiǎng yào shēn sī shú lǜ 。 lǎo fū wán quán lǐ jiě ， rán ér yāo líng dǎo bù bǐ rén jiè 。 zhè lǐ sàn xiū kě shì hěn
“呵呵，道友想要深思熟虑。老夫完全理解，然而妖灵岛不比人界。这里散修可是很
The elderly man rolled his eyes and smiled as he said this.
nán shēng cún xià qù de 。 zhè yàng ba ， dào yǒu ruò shì bù xiǎng mǎ shàng jiā rù bì pài ， kě yǐ xuǎn zé chéng wéi běn mén de kè qīng zhǎng lǎo
难生存下去的。这样吧，道友若是不想马上加入敝派，可以选择成为本门的客卿长老
"Thank you for your kindness, Fellow Daoist. What obligations must I undertake if I become an honorary elder of your sect?" Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow and replied seriously. As the saying goes, there's no such thing as a free lunch, so he wouldn't easily fall into someone else’s trap.
， zhè yàng ， jì bù yòng shòu yuē shù ， ér qiě zài yù jiàn wēi xiǎn de shí hòu ， yòu kě yǐ xún qiú běn mén bì hù ， yī jǔ liǎng dé ，
，这样，既不用受约束，而且在遇见危险的时候，又可以寻求本门庇护，一举两得，
"Don’t worry about that. As an honorary elder, you can enjoy great freedom in daily life. You only need to return when our sect is under attack by beasts, and other than that, you are completely free. You can also use some of our resources like the library and the furnace room. However, I must be frank: honorary elders aren’t true members of our sect, so these resources can only be used at the lowest level, which won't be much help to a Core Formation stage cultivator like yourself."
dào yǒu yǐ wéi rú hé ？” hè fā lǎo zhě yǎn zhū yī zhuǎn ， wēi xiào zhe shuō 。
道友以为如何？”鹤发老者眼珠一转，微笑着说。
"Haha, Fellow Daoist, there’s no need for you to persuade me further. I said before that I need time to consider whether to join Xuanfeng Sect," Lin Xuan waved his hand to stop him from continuing.
“ duō xiè dào yǒu hǎo yì le ， nà chéng wéi guì pài kè qīng zhǎng lǎo ， yòu xū chéng dān shén me yì wù ？” lín xuān méi tóu yī tiāo ， zhèng
“多谢道友好意了，那成为贵派客卿长老，又须承担什么义务？”林轩眉头一挑，郑
"Then are you willing to become an honorary elder of our sect?"
zhòng de dào ， sú huà shuō de hǎo ， tiān xià méi yǒu miǎn fèi de wǔ cān ， tā zì rán bú huì qīng yì luò rù bié rén de quān tào 。
重的道，俗话说的好，天下没有免费的午餐，他自然不会轻易落入别人的圈套。
"This is natural; your good intentions leave me with no reason to refuse." Lin Xuan's lips curled into a smile.
“ zhè ge dào yǒu bù yòng dān xīn ， jì shì kè qīng ， píng rì lǐ zì rán fēi cháng xiāo yáo ， chú le zài yāo shòu jìn gōng bì pài zǒng tán de
“这个道友不用担心，既是客卿，平日里自然非常逍遥，除了在妖兽进攻敝派总坛的
The elderly man’s face lit up, and he extended his hand. A flash of light appeared as he tapped his storage pouch, revealing a black token in his palm.
shí hòu ， bì xū huí lái jǐn yī fèn lì ， píng shí wán quán suí yì ， ér qiě hái kě yǐ shǐ yòng běn pài de yī xiē zī yuán ， bǐ rú shuō
时候，必须回来尽一份力，平时完全随意，而且还可以使用本派的一些资源，比如说
This token was about the size of a child’s palm, carved from an unknown type of wood, emitting a faint fragrance that refreshed the mind.
cáng shū gé ， dì huǒ wū ， dāng rán ， lǎo xiǔ chǒu huà yě yào shuō zài qián tou ， kè qīng bù suàn shì zhēn zhèng de běn mén dì zǐ ， suǒ yǐ
藏书阁，地火屋，当然，老朽丑话也要说在前头，客卿不算是真正的本门弟子，所以
"This is Xuanfeng Sect's honorary elder token. Please keep it."
zhè xiē zī yuán zhǐ néng shǐ yòng zuì dī děng de ， duì dào yǒu zhè yàng de níng dān qī xiū shì ， bìng wú duō dà yòng chǔ ， suǒ yǐ ……”
这些资源只能使用最低等的，对道友这样的凝丹期修士，并无多大用处，所以……”
"Thank you." Lin Xuan accepted without hesitation and chatted idly for a few more minutes before taking his leave.
“ hē hē ， dào yǒu wú xū zài quàn le ， lín mǒu shuō guò ， shì fǒu jiā rù xuán fèng mén ， zài xià xū yào hǎo hǎo kǎo lǜ kǎo lǜ 。”
“呵呵，道友无需再劝了，林某说过，是否加入玄凤门，在下需要好好考虑考虑。”
After leaving the elderly man’s residence, Lin Xuan’s expression turned serious as he thought about the repeated invitations to join the sect. The old man seemed overly enthusiastic, which made him wonder if there was some hidden agenda.
lín xuān yī bǎi shǒu ， zǔ zhǐ duì fāng wǎng xià shuō ， zhè hè fā lǎo zhě ， kě bú shì yì bān de luō suo 。
林轩一摆手，阻止对方往下说，这鹤发老者，可不是一般的啰嗦。
Lin Xuan took out the honorary elder token and scanned it with his mental senses, finding nothing amiss.
“ nà dào yǒu yuàn yì chéng wéi běn mén de kè qīng me ？”
“那道友愿意成为本门的客卿么？”
"Let it be. I’m just a Core Formation stage cultivator; there’s no need to worry about me. If he really tries anything, he’ll only regret it," Lin Xuan shook his head and decided to put this matter aside for now. The immediate task was to find a way out of the island.
“ zhè shì zì rán ， dào yǒu yī fān hǎo yì ， zài xià yòu qǐ yǒu tuī tuō zhī lǐ 。” lín xuān de zuǐ jiǎo biān liú lù chū yī sī xiào yì 。
“这是自然，道友一番好意，在下又岂有推脱之理。”林轩的嘴角边流露出一丝笑意。
Entering the Separation Stage wasn’t an option as it seemed far beyond reach. He had just transformed into a demonic embryo; he still needed more time before becoming a true Core Formation cultivator.
hè fā lǎo zhě tīng le ， méi kāi yǎn xiào ， shēn chū shǒu lái ， zài chǔ wù dài shàng yī pāi ， guāng huá yī shǎn ， tā de zhǎng xīn zhī zhōng yǐ
鹤发老者听了，眉开眼笑，伸出手来，在储物袋上一拍，光华一闪，他的掌心之中已
The only feasible method left was to use the teleportation array.
duō chū le yī yǒu hēi de lìng pái 。
多出了一黝黑的令牌。
His feline body wasn't a hindrance, but learning the Nine Heavens Dance would be difficult. Even if he joined Xuanfeng Sect, they wouldn’t hand over top-grade cultivation techniques. If he showed exceptional talent, it could lead to unforeseen consequences or even his demise.
cǐ lìng pái yuē yǒu hái tóng de bā zhǎng dà ， nǎi shì yòng yī zhǒng bù zhī míng de mù tou diāo kè ér chéng ， sàn fà zhe dàn dàn de yōu xiāng ，
此令牌约有孩童的巴掌大，乃是用一种不知名的木头雕刻而成，散发着淡淡的幽香，
Lin Xuan was well aware of the harshness of the cultivation world. Such treasures were not given away lightly, even if they weren't useful to their current owners.
ràng rén shén qīng qì shuǎng 。
让人神清气爽。
The only way was... theft.
“ cǐ nǎi wǒ xuán fèng mén de kè qīng lìng fú ， dào yǒu shōu hǎo le 。”
“此乃我玄凤门的客卿令符，道友收好了。”
Of course, this couldn’t be rushed; otherwise, he might end up making a fool of himself.
“ duō xiè 。” lín xuān háo bù chí yí de jiē guò ， yòu yǔ duì fāng xián liáo le jǐ jù ， rán hòu gào cí 。
“多谢。”林轩毫不迟疑的接过，又与对方闲聊了几句，然后告辞。
Moreover, he still needed top-grade crystal stones, and although he had an idea in mind, the success rate was uncertain.
lí kāi duì fāng de jū suǒ yǐ hòu ， lín xuān liǎn shàng xiào róng yī shōu ， biǎo qíng sà rán yīn chén le xià qù ， zhè hè fā lǎo zhě sān fān wǔ
离开对方的居所以后，林轩脸上笑容一收，表情飒然阴沉了下去，这鹤发老者三番五
Sighing, Lin Xuan mentally discussed with Moon for a few moments before transforming into a streak of light to fly towards another pavilion several miles away.
cì yāo qǐng zì jǐ rù mén ， tài dù rè qíng de yǒu xiē guò huǒ ， nán dào zhōng jiān yǒu shén me yīn móu ？
次邀请自己入门，态度热情的有些过火，难道中间有什么阴谋？
This building was also made of wood but was much simpler than the previous one. All those entering and leaving were low-rank cultivators.
lín xuān xīn zhōng yī dòng ， zài cì jiāng nà kè qīng lìng fú qǔ chū ， shén niàn zài shàng miàn xì xì sǎo guò ， bìng wú bù tuǒ 。
林轩心中一动，再次将那客卿令符取出，神念在上面细细扫过，并无不妥。
This place was where low-rank disciples received their rewards and lower-grade spiritual artifacts after completing miscellaneous tasks, so Lin Xuan’s arrival naturally drew attention.
“ suàn le ， xiǎo xiǎo yī níng dān qī xiū shì ér yǐ ， bù zú wèi lǜ ， rú guǒ tā zhēn gǎn dǎ zì jǐ de zhǔ yì ， jié guǒ zhǐ néng shì
“算了，小小一凝丹期修士而已，不足为虑，如果他真敢打自己的主意，结果只能是
But he ignored others' surprised glances and walked in confidently.
ràng tā zhuī huǐ mò jí 。” lín xuān yáo le yáo tóu ， jué dìng zàn shí jiāng zhè jiàn shì pāo zhū nǎo hòu ， dāng wù zhī jí ， shì xiǎng bàn fǎ
让他追悔莫及。”林轩摇了摇头，决定暂时将这件事抛诸脑后，当务之急，是想办法
Soon, a steward came out to greet him. He was an elderly man around sixty years old with a hunched back but vibrant energy.
lí kāi zhè lǐ ， lín xuān kě méi yǒu xìng qù ， zài yāo líng dǎo yì zhí dài xià qù 。
离开这里，林轩可没有兴趣，在妖灵岛一直待下去。
"Senior, you've visited the Inducing Phoenix Pavilion; what can I do for you?" the elder asked cautiously. Lin Xuan’s cultivation level was beyond comprehension, and his unusual attire made him seem strange, leaving the elder unsure of how to handle him.
duì fāng suǒ shuō de liǎng gè fāng fǎ ， tà rù lí hé qī shì bù yòng kǎo lǜ ， nà gēn běn jiù yáo bù kě jí 。 zì jǐ rú jīn ， cái bù
对方所说的两个方法，踏入离合期是不用考虑，那根本就遥不可及。自己如今，才不
"I don’t need to be alarmed; I’m a new honorary elder," said Lin Xuan as he showed the newly acquired token.
guò mó yīng huà chéng ér yǐ ， jù lí zhēn zhèng de yuán yīng xiū shì ， dōu hái yào shāo chà yī xiē 。
过魔婴化成而已，距离真正的元婴修士，都还要稍差一些。
The elder's expression softened significantly but became even more respectful. After all, an honorary elder was a position for Core Formation stage cultivators.
nà me shèng xià de ， jiù zhǐ yǒu cóng chuán sòng zhèn zhuó shǒu 。
那么剩下的，就只有从传送阵着手。
"Then it’s Elder Lin, junior has a gift for you." The elder bowed deeply and flatteringly.
fèng mài zhī tǐ bú shì zhàng ài ， bù guò xiǎng yào xué xí fèng wǔ jiǔ tiān jué què hěn nán ， zì jǐ jiù suàn jiā rù xuán fèng mén ， duì fāng yě
凤脉之体不是障碍，不过想要学习凤舞九天诀却很难，自己就算加入玄凤门，对方也
He had only reached the Late Spirit Formation stage, so he rarely had the chance to meet such high-ranking experts. If he could gain favor from this esteemed Lin senior, his life would be greatly enriched.
bù kě néng jiāng jí pǐn gōng fǎ ná chū ， yí dàn biǎo xiàn chū guò rén tiān tiān fù ， fǎn ér yǒu kě néng zhāo zhì bù kě yù liào de hòu guǒ ，
不可能将极品功法拿出，一旦表现出过人天天赋，反而有可能招致不可预料的后果，
Lin Xuan was astute enough to see through the other’s intentions but maintained a calm expression.
shèn zhì shì shā shēn zhī huò 。
甚至是杀身之祸。
"Elder, what do you need? Just say it. As long as junior can do it, I’ll go to any lengths."
duì yú xiū xiān jiè de cán kù ， lín xuān kě shì yì qīng èr chǔ ， zhè yàng de zhèn pài zhī bǎo ， duì fāng jiù suàn ná zhe méi yòng ， yě jué
对于修仙界的残酷，林轩可是一清二楚，这样的镇派之宝，对方就算拿着没用，也绝
"That's too much," the elder blushed, his act a bit overdone. But he quickly regained composure: "Please speak your mind."
bú huì jiāo dào zì jǐ shǒu zhōng 。
不会交到自己手中。
"Alright, first, I need some clothes—simple and not fancy." The attire on Yajing Island was different from that of Cloud Sea. Lin Xuan didn’t want to be the center of attention everywhere; this wasn't in line with his usual low-key approach.
xiǎng yào dào shǒu ， wéi yǒu …… tōu ！
想要到手，唯有……偷！
"This is easy. Please rest assured; I’ll send someone to find you a plain green robe. What do you think?"
dāng rán ， cǐ shì jí bù dé ， fǒu zé fǎn ér kě néng nòng qiǎo chéng zhuō 。
当然，此事急不得，否则反而可能弄巧成拙。
"Very good," Lin Xuan nodded, pleased. "And another request: as a new honorary elder, I need an epigraphic tube containing detailed information about your sect."
hé kuàng jí pǐn jīng shí yě méi yǒu zhuó luò ， suī rán lín xuān xīn zhōng yǐn yuē yě yǒu gè jì huà le ， dàn néng fǒu chéng gōng ， kě shì yì diǎn
何况极品晶石也没有着落，虽然林轩心中隐约也有个计划了，但能否成功，可是一点
"That can be arranged, but it will take some time. Please wait here; I’ll bring the items to you soon. Xiao Hong, please escort the senior to the VIP lounge and serve him with high-quality tea and pastries," the elderly man instructed a young female cultivator standing beside him.
bǎ wò yě méi yǒu 。
把握也没有。
She was around seventeen or eighteen years old, her aura so thin it seemed she had just entered the sect. She bowed respectfully and led Lin Xuan away.
Lin Xuan's words were ambiguous, neither immediately agreeing nor firmly rejecting. The elderly man with white hair felt a slight dissatisfaction but didn't press the matter further.
"Haha, Fellow Daoist wishes to think it over carefully. I fully understand," said the elderly man with a chuckle. "However, Yajing Island is different from the mortal world. It's very difficult for solitary practitioners to survive here. How about this: if you don't want to join our sect right away, you can choose to become an honorary elder of our sect. This way, you won't be bound by rules and can seek protection from our sect when in danger. It’s a win-win situation, what do you think?"
The elderly man rolled his eyes and smiled as he said this.
"Thank you for your kindness, Fellow Daoist. What obligations must I undertake if I become an honorary elder of your sect?" Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow and replied seriously. As the saying goes, there's no such thing as a free lunch, so he wouldn't easily fall into someone else’s trap.
"Don’t worry about that. As an honorary elder, you can enjoy great freedom in daily life. You only need to return when our sect is under attack by beasts, and other than that, you are completely free. You can also use some of our resources like the library and the furnace room. However, I must be frank: honorary elders aren’t true members of our sect, so these resources can only be used at the lowest level, which won't be much help to a Core Formation stage cultivator like yourself."
"Haha, Fellow Daoist, there’s no need for you to persuade me further. I said before that I need time to consider whether to join Xuanfeng Sect," Lin Xuan waved his hand to stop him from continuing.
"Then are you willing to become an honorary elder of our sect?"
"This is natural; your good intentions leave me with no reason to refuse." Lin Xuan's lips curled into a smile.
The elderly man’s face lit up, and he extended his hand. A flash of light appeared as he tapped his storage pouch, revealing a black token in his palm.
This token was about the size of a child’s palm, carved from an unknown type of wood, emitting a faint fragrance that refreshed the mind.
"This is Xuanfeng Sect's honorary elder token. Please keep it."
"Thank you." Lin Xuan accepted without hesitation and chatted idly for a few more minutes before taking his leave.
After leaving the elderly man’s residence, Lin Xuan’s expression turned serious as he thought about the repeated invitations to join the sect. The old man seemed overly enthusiastic, which made him wonder if there was some hidden agenda.
Lin Xuan took out the honorary elder token and scanned it with his mental senses, finding nothing amiss.
"Let it be. I’m just a Core Formation stage cultivator; there’s no need to worry about me. If he really tries anything, he’ll only regret it," Lin Xuan shook his head and decided to put this matter aside for now. The immediate task was to find a way out of the island.
Entering the Separation Stage wasn’t an option as it seemed far beyond reach. He had just transformed into a demonic embryo; he still needed more time before becoming a true Core Formation cultivator.
The only feasible method left was to use the teleportation array.
His feline body wasn't a hindrance, but learning the Nine Heavens Dance would be difficult. Even if he joined Xuanfeng Sect, they wouldn’t hand over top-grade cultivation techniques. If he showed exceptional talent, it could lead to unforeseen consequences or even his demise.
Lin Xuan was well aware of the harshness of the cultivation world. Such treasures were not given away lightly, even if they weren't useful to their current owners.
The only way was... theft.
Of course, this couldn’t be rushed; otherwise, he might end up making a fool of himself.
Moreover, he still needed top-grade crystal stones, and although he had an idea in mind, the success rate was uncertain.
Sighing, Lin Xuan mentally discussed with Moon for a few moments before transforming into a streak of light to fly towards another pavilion several miles away.
This building was also made of wood but was much simpler than the previous one. All those entering and leaving were low-rank cultivators.
This place was where low-rank disciples received their rewards and lower-grade spiritual artifacts after completing miscellaneous tasks, so Lin Xuan’s arrival naturally drew attention.
But he ignored others' surprised glances and walked in confidently.
Soon, a steward came out to greet him. He was an elderly man around sixty years old with a hunched back but vibrant energy.
"Senior, you've visited the Inducing Phoenix Pavilion; what can I do for you?" the elder asked cautiously. Lin Xuan’s cultivation level was beyond comprehension, and his unusual attire made him seem strange, leaving the elder unsure of how to handle him.
"I don’t need to be alarmed; I’m a new honorary elder," said Lin Xuan as he showed the newly acquired token.
The elder's expression softened significantly but became even more respectful. After all, an honorary elder was a position for Core Formation stage cultivators.
"Then it’s Elder Lin, junior has a gift for you." The elder bowed deeply and flatteringly.
He had only reached the Late Spirit Formation stage, so he rarely had the chance to meet such high-ranking experts. If he could gain favor from this esteemed Lin senior, his life would be greatly enriched.
Lin Xuan was astute enough to see through the other’s intentions but maintained a calm expression.
"Elder, what do you need? Just say it. As long as junior can do it, I’ll go to any lengths."
"That's too much," the elder blushed, his act a bit overdone. But he quickly regained composure: "Please speak your mind."
"Alright, first, I need some clothes—simple and not fancy." The attire on Yajing Island was different from that of Cloud Sea. Lin Xuan didn’t want to be the center of attention everywhere; this wasn't in line with his usual low-key approach.
"This is easy. Please rest assured; I’ll send someone to find you a plain green robe. What do you think?"
"Very good," Lin Xuan nodded, pleased. "And another request: as a new honorary elder, I need an epigraphic tube containing detailed information about your sect."
"That can be arranged, but it will take some time. Please wait here; I’ll bring the items to you soon. Xiao Hong, please escort the senior to the VIP lounge and serve him with high-quality tea and pastries," the elderly man instructed a young female cultivator standing beside him.
She was around seventeen or eighteen years old, her aura so thin it seemed she had just entered the sect. She bowed respectfully and led Lin Xuan away.