“ chū shòu bǎo zàng xiāo xī ， nán dào mǎi de rén jiù bù pà duì fāng shì huǎng yán xiāng qī ? lín xuān zhǎ le zhǎ yǎn ， liǎn shàng lù chū yī sī yí huò de biǎo qíng 。
“出售宝藏消息，难道买的人就不怕对方是谎言相欺?林轩眨了眨眼，脸上露出一丝疑惑的表情。
Lin Xuan blinked, a hint of doubt appearing on his face.
“ zhè dāng rán yě kě néng ， dàn yì bān bú huì 。 dào yǒu yě qīng chǔ ， xiū xiān jiè suī ruò ròu qiáng shí ， shā rén qiǎng bǎo bìng bù suàn rú hé xī qí de shì ， dàn fāng shì jiāo yì ， què yòu bù tóng ， máng shān dà huì rú cǐ shèng jǔ ， zì rán bú huì ràng mǒu gè xiāo xiǎo zhī bèi tú yī jǐ sī lì ， ér zá le pái zi ， rú guǒ shuí gǎn chū shòu jiǎ xiāo xī ， nà jiāng chéng wéi zhè ge yāo líng dǎo xiū xiān jiè de gōng dí 。”
“这当然也可能，但一般不会。道友也清楚，修仙界虽弱肉强食，杀人抢宝并不算如何稀奇的事，但坊市交易，却又不同，邙山大会如此盛举，自然不会让某个宵小之辈图一己私利，而砸了牌子，如果谁敢出售假消息，那将成为这个妖灵岛修仙界的公敌。”
"Of course, that's possible," he said, "but it rarely happens. Fellow Daoist, you know well enough that in the cultivation world, survival of the fittest is common practice, and killing for treasure isn't considered rare. But when it comes to market transactions, things are different. The Great Mangshan Conference is such a grand event; naturally, no one would dare sell fake news and ruin their reputation."
“ yuán lái rú cǐ 。” lín xuān diǎn le diǎn tóu ：“ bù zhī dào cān jiā máng shān dà huì kě yǒu xiàn zhì ？”
“原来如此。”林轩点了点头：“不知道参加邙山大会可有限制？”
"Ah, I see," Lin Xuan nodded. "Do you know if there are any restrictions on participating in the Great Mangshan Conference?"
“ yǒu de ， bù guò nà shì zhēn duì dī jiē xiū shì ， bì xū chí yǒu qǐng jiǎn huò zhě tè shū de lìng fú ， suí hòu cái kě yǐ jìn rù ， ér wǒ men níng dān qī yǐ shàng de xiū xiān zhě ， dà huì zé shì chǎng kāi le mén huān yíng de 。” dà hàn shuō dào zhè lǐ ， tái tóu kàn le yī yǎn lín xuān ：“ zěn me yàng ， shèng jǔ nán dào ， dào yǒu kě yǒu xìng qù yǔ zài xià yì qǐ qù jiàn shí jiàn shí me ？”
“有的，不过那是针对低阶修士，必须持有请柬或者特殊的令符，随后才可以进入，而我们凝丹期以上的修仙者，大会则是敞开了门欢迎的。”大汉说到这里，抬头看了一眼林轩：“怎么样，盛举难道，道友可有兴趣与在下一起去见识见识么？”
"There are some, but they're mainly for low-ranking cultivators who must hold an invitation or a special token to enter. For cultivators like us at the Condensation Core stage and above, the conference is open and welcoming," the big man said, looking up at Lin Xuan. "So, Fellow Daoist, would you be interested in joining me to experience it?"
“ rú cǐ yǒu láo le 。” lín xuān zuǐ jiǎo biān lù chū yī sī xiào róng ：“ bù guò dào yǒu rú cǐ rè qíng 。 shì fǒu hái yǒu bié de yuán yīn ？”
“如此有劳了。”林轩嘴角边露出一丝笑容：“不过道友如此热情。是否还有别的原因？”
"Thank you for your offer," Lin Xuan smiled. "But why such enthusiasm? Is there another reason?"
“ hē hē ， dào yǒu duō xīn le ， zhāng mǒu kě jué méi yǒu shén me tú móu ， bù mán nǐ shuō ， cóng zhè lǐ dào máng shān hái xū yào zǒu shù rì zhī jiǔ ， ér qiě yī lù yě bù tài píng ， zhǐ bù dìng shén me shí hòu jiù huì yù jiàn lì hài yāo shòu ， zhāng mǒu yāo yuē dào yǒu ， shì yīn wèi liǎng rén jié bàn ， xiāng duì ér yán ， yào gèng jiā ān quán 。”
“呵呵，道友多心了，张某可绝没有什么图谋，不瞒你说，从这里到邙山还需要走数日之久，而且一路也不太平，指不定什么时候就会遇见厉害妖兽，张某邀约道友，是因为两人结伴，相对而言，要更加安全。”
"Haha, don't worry about it, Brother Zhang has no ulterior motives. I just think we should travel together; it's safer with a companion."
“ hǎo ba ， jì rán rú cǐ ， zài xià jiù jiāo le zhāng xiōng zhè wèi péng yǒu 。” lín xuān zuǐ jiǎo biān lù chū dàn yǎ de xiào róng ， shén sè yě xiǎn de shí fēn qīng sōng 。
“好吧，既然如此，在下就交了张兄这位朋友。”林轩嘴角边露出淡雅的笑容，神色也显得十分轻松。
"Very well, then let me befriend Brother Zhang." Lin Xuan's lips curled into a gentle smile, his expression relaxed.
“ hē hē ， lín xiōng kè qì le ， nǐ nǎi zhōng qī xiū shì ， zhè yī lù shàng ， zhāng mǒu hái dé duō duō yǎng zhàng xiōng tái de lì cái shì 。”
“呵呵，林兄客气了，你乃中期修士，这一路上，张某还得多多仰仗兄台的力才是。”
"Haha, Brother Lin is too polite. You're an intermediate cultivator; I'll need your help on this journey."
liǎng rén kè qì le jǐ jù ， suí hòu jiù gè zì huà wèi yī dào jīng hóng ， xiāo shī zài le yuǎn chù de tiān kōng 。
两人客气了几句，随后就各自化为一道惊虹，消失在了远处的天空。
The two exchanged pleasantries before transforming into streaks of light and vanishing into the distance.
jiē xià lái de bàn gè yuè le lǐ ， liǎng rén mēn tóu gǎn lù 。 dāng rán ， yě bú shì yì zhí shǎ shǎ de fēi zhe ， qí jiān jiāo huàn le yī xià xiū liàn xīn dé 。
接下来的半个月了里，两人闷头赶路。当然，也不是一直傻傻的飞着，其间交换了一下修炼心得。
For the next half month, they traveled in silence, exchanging cultivation insights occasionally. Although condensation core cultivators were no longer a challenge for Lin Xuan, he found it beneficial to learn more about their techniques, as it would help him when handling the "Nine Heavens Dance Art" later on.
suī shuō níng dān qī xiū shì duì lín xuān yǐ bù suàn shén me ， dàn xiū yāo zhè zhǒng liú pài ， tā yǐ qián bì jìng méi yǒu jīng lì guò ， duō liǎo jiě yī xià tā men xiū liàn de tè diǎn yě shì hǎo de ， děng rì hòu ná dào “ fèng wǔ jiǔ tiān jué ” yě bù zhì yú máng wú tóu xù le 。
虽说凝丹期修士对林轩已不算什么，但修妖这种流派，他以前毕竟没有经历过，多了解一下他们修炼的特点也是好的，等日后拿到“凤舞九天诀”也不至于茫无头绪了。
Additionally, Lin Xuan asked Zhang Song about the current state of theDemon Spirit Island cultivation world. Since his lie was that he had just left the mountains, he could easily explain his lack of knowledge.
chú cǐ zhī wài ， lín xuān yě xiàng duì fāng dǎ tīng le yī xià yāo líng dǎo xiū xiān jiè de jìn kuàng 。
除此之外，林轩也向对方打听了一下妖灵岛修仙界的近况。
Zhang Song, despite appearing rough, was actually quite eloquent. With no conflicts of interest, he told everything truthfully.
fǎn zhèng lín xuān biān de huǎng yán shì gāng gāng chū shān ， bù liǎo jiě zhè xiē yě jiù qíng yǒu kě yuán 。
反正林轩编的谎言是刚刚出山，不了解这些也就情有可原。
The Xuanfeng Sect's power was indeed formidable; it ranked at the top among all sects and families onDemon Spirit Island.
ér zhāng sōng mào sì cū lǔ ， qí shí kǒu cái què pǒ wèi le dé ， hé kuàng shuāng fāng méi yǒu lì yì chōng tū ， tā zì rán shì yì wǔ yì shí de rú shí xiàng gào le 。
而张松貌似粗鲁，其实口才却颇为了得，何况双方没有利益冲突，他自然是一五一十的如实相告了。
Other sects and clans were clearly weaker. For instance, the second-ranked Black Dragon Gang had only three or four Core Formation Elders.
xuán fèng mén shí lì guǒ rán bù sú ， zài yāo líng dǎo wèi jū gè gè mén pài zhī shǒu 。
玄凤门实力果然不俗，在妖灵岛位居各个门派之首。
Their strength couldn't be compared; in fact, they belonged to entirely different levels!
ér qí tā de zōng mén jiā zú ， shí lì míng xiǎn dōu yǒu lüè xùn yī chóu ， bǐ rú shuō pái míng dì èr de wū lóng bāng ， mǎn dǎ mǎn suàn ， yě jiù zhǐ yǒu sān sì wèi yuán yīng qī zhǎng lǎo 。
而其他的宗门家族，实力明显都有略逊一筹，比如说排名第二的乌龙帮，满打满算，也就只有三四位元婴期长老。
Unlike the mortal world, conflicts between sects and clans onDemon Spirit Islandwere few. Their main enemies were various monsters, with cultivators being a minority. Many nearby sects formed alliances for mutual defense against monster attacks.
shí lì wán quán méi yǒu bàn xiāng bǐ ， zhèng què de shuō ， gēn běn jiù bú shì yí gè shù liàng jí ！
实力完全没有办相比，正确的说，根本就不是一个数量级！
Monster attacks?
bù guò yǔ rén jiè bù tóng ， yāo líng dǎo gè zōng mén jiā zú jiān de fēn zhēng bìng bù duō ， tā men de zhǔ yào dí rén ， shì nà xiē xíng tài gè yì de guài wù ， xiū xiān zhě zài zhè lǐ shǔ yú ruò shì qún tǐ ， bù shǎo lí dé jìn de zōng mén dū huì jié wèi lián méng ， yǐ biàn zài yāo shòu lái xí de shí hòu néng gòu shǒu wàng xiāng zhù 。
不过与人界不同，妖灵岛各宗门家族间的纷争并不多，他们的主要敌人，是那些形态各异的怪物，修仙者在这里属于弱势群体，不少离得近的宗门都会结为联盟，以便在妖兽来袭的时候能够守望相助。
Lin Xuan's mind raced as he asked, "Do these monsters frequently attack the headquarters of major sects?"
yāo shòu lái xí ？
妖兽来袭？
The scene at Wuzhifeng, where the Xuanfeng Sect's protective array was constantly active, came to his mind.
lín xuān xīn zhōng yī dòng ， rěn bú zhù kāi kǒu ：“ nán dào zhè lǐ de yāo shòu jīng cháng xí jī gè dà zōng mén de zǒng tán ma ？”
林轩心中一动，忍不住开口：“难道这里的妖兽经常袭击各大宗门的总坛吗？”
"Indeed," Zhang Song sighed. "There is no pattern to it. Sometimes they might be attacked after three or five years, while other times a century may pass without an attack. The scale varies greatly—ranging from dozens of monsters to thousands."
zài wǔ zhǐ fēng ， xuán fèng mén hù pài dà zhèn cháng nián kāi qǐ de jǐng xiàng kě shì lìng tā yìn xiàng shēn kè 。
在五指峰，玄凤门护派大阵常年开启的景象可是令他印象深刻。
Many sects and clans had been destroyed by such attacks, even the Ye family was not spared. Poor White Crane Senior Daoist, who was once a great talent, ended up with his lineage cut off...
“ bù cuò ， ér qiě yì diǎn guī lǜ dōu méi yǒu 。 yǒu de shí hòu sān wǔ nián yù jiàn yī cì ， yǒu de shí hòu bǎi nián yě bù yí dìng huì shòu dào xí jī ， guī mó yě shì jiǒng yì ， cóng jǐ shí zhǐ yāo shòu dào chéng qiān shàng wàn tóu de dōu yǒu 。” zhāng sōng tàn le kǒu qì 。 liǎn shàng de biǎo qíng yǐn yǐn tòu zhe kǒng jù ：“ bù shǎo zōng mén jiā zú ， dōu shì zhè yàng bèi miè mén le ， shèn zhì lián yè jiā yě bù néng xìng miǎn ， kě lián bái hè shàng rén yí dài rén jié ， zuì hòu què là le gè xuè mài duàn jué ……”
“不错，而且一点规律都没有。有的时候三五年遇见一次，有的时候百年也不一定会受到袭击，规模也是迥异，从几十只妖兽到成千上万头的都有。”张松叹了口气。脸上的表情隐隐透着恐惧：“不少宗门家族，都是这样被灭门了，甚至连叶家也不能幸免，可怜白鹤上人一代人杰，最后却落了个血脉断绝……”
Zhang Song sighed deeply as he spoke, while Lin Xuan listened in confusion: "What about the Ye family? Who is this White Crane Senior Daoist?"
zhāng sōng shuō dào zhè lǐ ， xī xū bù yǐ ， lín xuān què tīng dé yún lǐ wù lǐ ：“ shén me yè jiā ， nà bái hè shàng rén ， yòu shì hé fāng shén shèng ？”
张松说道这里，唏嘘不已，林轩却听得云里雾里：“什么叶家，那白鹤上人，又是何方神圣？”
"Come on, Brother, even though you've been secluded for so long, you should know basic facts. Did your master never mention such common knowledge when you left?" Zhang Song's eyes were filled with suspicion.
“ bú huì ba ， suī shuō xiōng tái yì zhí zài shēn shān zhōng bì guān ， dàn hǎo dǎi yě shì níng dān qī xiū shì ， nán dào chū lái zhī shí ， lìng shī lián zhè xiē cháng shí dōu cóng wèi duì nǐ tí qǐ ？” zhāng sōng de yǎn zhōng mǎn shì hú yí 。
“不会吧，虽说兄台一直在深山中闭关，但好歹也是凝丹期修士，难道出来之时，令师连这些常识都从未对你提起？”张松的眼中满是狐疑。
"Haha, my teacher was naturally reclusive and didn't like to talk much. He only guided me in cultivation; sometimes he wouldn't even speak a single word all year," Lin Xuan scratched his head, feeling embarrassed as he spoke.
“ hē hē ， jiā shī shēng xìng gū pì ， bù xǐ duō yǔ ， chú le zhǐ diǎn lín mǒu xiū xíng ， yī nián sì jì lián huà yě kě yǐ bù duō shuō yī jù 。” lín xuān náo le náo tóu ， lüè gǎn gān gà de kāi kǒu 。
“呵呵，家师生性孤僻，不喜多语，除了指点林某修行，一年四季连话也可以不多说一句。”林轩挠了挠头，略感尴尬的开口。
"Ah, I see." Zhang Song's eyes flashed with curiosity but dared not ask further. After all, teaching such a skilled cultivator meant that his master was undoubtedly an ancient Core Formation expert—someone whose words should be respected.
“ yuán lái rú cǐ 。” zhāng sōng yǎn zhōng shǎn guò yī lǚ yì sè ， què bù gǎn kāi kǒu zhuī wèn shén me 。 bì jìng ， néng gòu jiào dǎo chū lín xuān zhè yàng de gāo shǒu ， tā de shī fù ， bú yòng shuō ， kěn dìng shì mǒu wèi yuán yīng qī lǎo guài wù ， zhè zhǒng rén ， nǎ shì zì jǐ kě yǐ yì lùn ， sú huà shuō ， huò cóng kǒu chū ， tā kě bù xiǎng sǐ dé xī lǐ hú tú 。
“原来如此。”张松眼中闪过一缕异色，却不敢开口追问什么。毕竟，能够教导出林轩这样的高手，他的师傅，不用说，肯定是某位元婴期老怪物，这种人，哪是自己可以议论，俗话说，祸从口出，他可不想死得稀里糊涂。
Speaking of the Ye family, although it was just a minor clan, its fame was widespread in the cultivation world. Tracing back to history, it could rival the Xuanfeng Sect!
“ shuō qǐ yè jiā ， suī rán zhǐ shì sì wǔ liú de xiǎo jiā zú ， dàn míng qì zhī dà ， zhè ge xiū xiān jiè ， què jī hū wú rén bù zhī ， zhuī sù lì shǐ ， gèng kě yǐ yǔ xuán fèng mén bìng jià qí qū ！”
“说起叶家，虽然只是四五流的小家族，但名气之大，这个修仙界，却几乎无人不知，追溯历史，更可以与玄凤门并驾齐驱！”
"Ah?" Lin Xuan's face showed a hint of surprise. A minor clan with such influence must have something to do with that so-called White Crane Senior Daoist.
“ ó ？” lín xuān liǎn shàng lù chū yī sī gǔ guài zhī sè ， sì wǔ liú de xiǎo jiā zú ， huì yǒu zhè děng shēng shì ， zhe shí ràng rén gǎn jué jīng qí ， nán dào yǔ nà suǒ wèi de bái hè shàng rén yǒu shén me guān xì ？
“哦？”林轩脸上露出一丝古怪之色，四五流的小家族，会有这等声势，着实让人感觉惊奇，难道与那所谓的白鹤上人有什么关系？
Lin Xuan remained silent, waiting for Zhang Song to continue.
lín xuān yě méi yǒu kāi kǒu ， jìng jìng de děng duì fāng wǎng xià shuō 。
林轩也没有开口，静静的等对方往下说。
"Do you know about the Five Great Demonic Cultivators?" Zhang Song's voice was deep and weighty.
“ bù zhī dào lín xiōng kě tīng shuō guò wǔ dà yāo xiū me ？” zhāng sōng de shēng yīn dī chén ér hòu zhòng 。
“不知道林兄可听说过五大妖修么？”张松的声音低沉而厚重。
"You speak of the Xuanfeng Fairy and the other four sages. Though I'm new, I've heard their stories," Lin Xuan said calmly, showing respect for legendary Separation Stage experts. "Could White Crane Senior Daoist... be related to them?"
“ dào yǒu shì shuō xuán fèng xiān zi děng wǔ wèi gāo rén ， zài xià suī chū chū máo lú ， dàn wǔ wèi qián bèi de shì jì què yě tīng guò 。” lín xuān dàn dàn de kāi kǒu ， duì yú chuán shuō zhōng de lí hé qī gāo shǒu ， tā hái shì shí fēn jìng zhòng ， jiǎng dào zhè lǐ ， xīn zhōng yī dòng ：“ nán dào bái hè shàng rén ……”
“道友是说玄凤仙子等五位高人，在下虽初出茅庐，但五位前辈的事迹却也听过。”林轩淡淡的开口，对于传说中的离合期高手，他还是十分敬重，讲到这里，心中一动：“难道白鹤上人……”
"Brother Lin is correct. The ancestor of the Ye family was indeed White Crane Senior Daoist. Among the Five Great Demonic Cultivators, only he and the Xuanfeng Fairy passed down their traditions. However, their fates were different. While the Xuanfeng Sect has produced many talents, it never again saw a figure like the Fairy, but it hasn't declined either; it remains the top sect onDemon Spirit Island."
“ lín xiōng suǒ liào méi cuò ， nà wèi yè jiā xiān zǔ ， jiù shì bái hè shàng rén ， dāng nián de wǔ dà yāo xiū ， zhǐ yǒu tā yǔ xuán fèng xiān zi chuán xià dào tǒng ， rán ér liǎng pài de mìng yùn ， què jié rán bù tóng ， xuán fèng mén rén cái bèi chū ， suī rán zài yě méi yǒu chū guò xiàng xiān zi nà yàng jīng cái jué yàn de rén wù ， dàn yě bù céng shuāi luò ， shǐ zhōng bǎo chí zhe yāo líng dǎo dì yī zōng mén de míng tóu 。”
“林兄所料没错，那位叶家先祖，就是白鹤上人，当年的五大妖修，只有他与玄凤仙子传下道统，然而两派的命运，却截然不同，玄凤门人才辈出，虽然再也没有出过像仙子那样惊才绝艳的人物，但也不曾衰落，始终保持着妖灵岛第一宗门的名头。”
"The Ye family, however, is the lineage of White Crane Senior Daoist. It's said they once rivaled the Xuanfeng Sect for thousands of years. But over time, their power waned, and a few years ago, during an attack by monsters, the entire clan was wiped out, leaving only one survivor."
“ ér yè jiā ， zé shì bái hè shàng rén chuán chéng xià lái de xuè mài ， jù shuō zuì chū jǐ wàn nián ， yǔ xuán fèng mén bìng jià qí qū ， rán ér suí zhe shí guāng de tuī yí ， què zhú jiàn mò luò le xià qù ， gèng zài shù zài yǐ qián ， yù jiàn yāo shòu lái xí ， mǎn mén jiē bèi tú lù ， mìng yùn liú xià yí gè huó kǒu 。” shuō dào zhè lǐ ， zhāng sōng tàn le kǒu qì ：“ shuō qǐ cǐ shì ， zhēn de lìng rén è wàn bù yǐ ， yè jiā yǐ jīng yōng yōng lù lù le nà me duō nián ， hǎo róng yì chū xiàn le yī wèi yōng yǒu yì líng gēn de nǚ dì zi ， ér qiě hái shì jiā zhǔ zhī nǚ ， ruò shì hǎo hǎo péi yǎng ， yè jiā shuō bù dìng zhōng xīng yǒu wàng ， nǎ zhī dào ……“
“而叶家，则是白鹤上人传承下来的血脉，据说最初几万年，与玄凤门并驾齐驱，然而随着时光的推移，却逐渐没落了下去，更在数载以前，遇见妖兽来袭，满门皆被屠戮，命运留下一个活口。”说道这里，张松叹了口气：“说起此事，真的令人扼腕不已，叶家已经庸庸碌碌了那么多年，好容易出现了一位拥有异灵根的女弟子，而且还是家主之女，若是好好培养，叶家说不定中兴有望，哪知道……“
Zhang Song sighed as he continued: "Speaking of this, it's truly heartbreaking. The Ye family had been struggling for so long that they finally produced a disciple with an extraordinary spiritual root, and she was even the daughter of the patriarch. With proper cultivation, the Ye family might have seen a revival, but..."
lín xuān yáo le yáo tóu ， mìng yùn jiē kǒu ， cāng hǎi sāng tián ， mén pài xīng shuāi qǐ luò ， zhè xiē dōu shì zài zhèng cháng bù guò ， méi shén me hào qí guài de 。
林轩摇了摇头，命运接口，沧海桑田，门派兴衰起落，这些都是再正常不过，没什么好奇怪的。
Lin Xuan shook his head. The rise and fall of sects were natural; there was nothing strange about it.
bù guò jù zhāng sōng suǒ shuō ， chú le gè dà zōng mén jiā zú ， yāo líng dǎo sàn xiū de shì lì yě shì bù xiǎo 。 qí zhōng bù fá yuán yīng qī de lǎo guài wù ， bǐ rú shuō kūn nán lǎo zǔ 。
不过据张松所说，除了各大宗门家族，妖灵岛散修的势力也是不小。其中不乏元婴期的老怪物，比如说昆楠老祖。
According to Zhang Song, the power of independent cultivators onDemon Spirit Islandwas also significant, with many Core Formation experts like Kun Nan Senior Patriarch among them.
Lin Xuan blinked, a hint of doubt appearing on his face.
"Of course, that's possible," he said, "but it rarely happens. Fellow Daoist, you know well enough that in the cultivation world, survival of the fittest is common practice, and killing for treasure isn't considered rare. But when it comes to market transactions, things are different. The Great Mangshan Conference is such a grand event; naturally, no one would dare sell fake news and ruin their reputation."
"Ah, I see," Lin Xuan nodded. "Do you know if there are any restrictions on participating in the Great Mangshan Conference?"
"There are some, but they're mainly for low-ranking cultivators who must hold an invitation or a special token to enter. For cultivators like us at the Condensation Core stage and above, the conference is open and welcoming," the big man said, looking up at Lin Xuan. "So, Fellow Daoist, would you be interested in joining me to experience it?"
"Thank you for your offer," Lin Xuan smiled. "But why such enthusiasm? Is there another reason?"
"Haha, don't worry about it, Brother Zhang has no ulterior motives. I just think we should travel together; it's safer with a companion."
"Very well, then let me befriend Brother Zhang." Lin Xuan's lips curled into a gentle smile, his expression relaxed.
"Haha, Brother Lin is too polite. You're an intermediate cultivator; I'll need your help on this journey."
The two exchanged pleasantries before transforming into streaks of light and vanishing into the distance.
For the next half month, they traveled in silence, exchanging cultivation insights occasionally. Although condensation core cultivators were no longer a challenge for Lin Xuan, he found it beneficial to learn more about their techniques, as it would help him when handling the "Nine Heavens Dance Art" later on.
Additionally, Lin Xuan asked Zhang Song about the current state of theDemon Spirit Island cultivation world. Since his lie was that he had just left the mountains, he could easily explain his lack of knowledge.
Zhang Song, despite appearing rough, was actually quite eloquent. With no conflicts of interest, he told everything truthfully.
The Xuanfeng Sect's power was indeed formidable; it ranked at the top among all sects and families onDemon Spirit Island.
Other sects and clans were clearly weaker. For instance, the second-ranked Black Dragon Gang had only three or four Core Formation Elders.
Their strength couldn't be compared; in fact, they belonged to entirely different levels!
Unlike the mortal world, conflicts between sects and clans onDemon Spirit Islandwere few. Their main enemies were various monsters, with cultivators being a minority. Many nearby sects formed alliances for mutual defense against monster attacks.
Monster attacks?
Lin Xuan's mind raced as he asked, "Do these monsters frequently attack the headquarters of major sects?"
The scene at Wuzhifeng, where the Xuanfeng Sect's protective array was constantly active, came to his mind.
"Indeed," Zhang Song sighed. "There is no pattern to it. Sometimes they might be attacked after three or five years, while other times a century may pass without an attack. The scale varies greatly—ranging from dozens of monsters to thousands."
Many sects and clans had been destroyed by such attacks, even the Ye family was not spared. Poor White Crane Senior Daoist, who was once a great talent, ended up with his lineage cut off...
Zhang Song sighed deeply as he spoke, while Lin Xuan listened in confusion: "What about the Ye family? Who is this White Crane Senior Daoist?"
"Come on, Brother, even though you've been secluded for so long, you should know basic facts. Did your master never mention such common knowledge when you left?" Zhang Song's eyes were filled with suspicion.
"Haha, my teacher was naturally reclusive and didn't like to talk much. He only guided me in cultivation; sometimes he wouldn't even speak a single word all year," Lin Xuan scratched his head, feeling embarrassed as he spoke.
"Ah, I see." Zhang Song's eyes flashed with curiosity but dared not ask further. After all, teaching such a skilled cultivator meant that his master was undoubtedly an ancient Core Formation expert—someone whose words should be respected.
Speaking of the Ye family, although it was just a minor clan, its fame was widespread in the cultivation world. Tracing back to history, it could rival the Xuanfeng Sect!
"Ah?" Lin Xuan's face showed a hint of surprise. A minor clan with such influence must have something to do with that so-called White Crane Senior Daoist.
Lin Xuan remained silent, waiting for Zhang Song to continue.
"Do you know about the Five Great Demonic Cultivators?" Zhang Song's voice was deep and weighty.
"You speak of the Xuanfeng Fairy and the other four sages. Though I'm new, I've heard their stories," Lin Xuan said calmly, showing respect for legendary Separation Stage experts. "Could White Crane Senior Daoist... be related to them?"
"Brother Lin is correct. The ancestor of the Ye family was indeed White Crane Senior Daoist. Among the Five Great Demonic Cultivators, only he and the Xuanfeng Fairy passed down their traditions. However, their fates were different. While the Xuanfeng Sect has produced many talents, it never again saw a figure like the Fairy, but it hasn't declined either; it remains the top sect onDemon Spirit Island."
"The Ye family, however, is the lineage of White Crane Senior Daoist. It's said they once rivaled the Xuanfeng Sect for thousands of years. But over time, their power waned, and a few years ago, during an attack by monsters, the entire clan was wiped out, leaving only one survivor."
Zhang Song sighed as he continued: "Speaking of this, it's truly heartbreaking. The Ye family had been struggling for so long that they finally produced a disciple with an extraordinary spiritual root, and she was even the daughter of the patriarch. With proper cultivation, the Ye family might have seen a revival, but..."
Lin Xuan shook his head. The rise and fall of sects were natural; there was nothing strange about it.
According to Zhang Song, the power of independent cultivators onDemon Spirit Islandwas also significant, with many Core Formation experts like Kun Nan Senior Patriarch among them.