qí tā rén tīng le lǎo zhě de yán yǔ ， biǎo qíng yě suí zhī yīn chén le xià qù 。 suí
其他人听了老者的言语，表情也随之阴沉了下去。随
The others' expressions darkened as they listened to the elder's words.
lín xuān suǒ yǐn qǐ de hùn luàn ， rú jīn yǐ jiàn jiàn píng xī ， kě cháng shēng dān zuì zhōng bìng méi yǒu luò zài dú jiāo wáng de shǒu lǐ ， bái bái sǔn shī le yī méi jí pǐn jīng shí ， zhè lǎo guài wù xīn zhōng de yù mèn kě xiǎng ér zhī 。
林轩所引起的混乱，如今已渐渐平息，可长生丹最终并没有落在毒蛟王的手里，白白损失了一枚极品晶石，这老怪物心中的郁闷可想而知。
With the chaos caused by Lin Xuan gradually subsiding, it was clear that the Longevity Pill had not ended up in the hands of the Poison Serpent King. The loss of a top-grade crystal stone was undoubtedly frustrating for this old monster.
suī rán tā zài yī lián miè shā le liǎng míng yuán yīng lǎo guài yǐ hòu ， yǐ fù qì lí kāi ， dàn cǐ shì xiǎn rán bìng méi yǒu wán 。
虽然他在一连灭杀了两名元婴老怪以后，已负气离开，但此事显然并没有完。
Although he left after killing two Core Formation Elders in a fit of pique, this matter was far from over. A bad feeling gripped everyone's hearts.
rén rén xīn zhōng jiē yǒu bù hǎo de yù gǎn ！
人人心中皆有不好的预感！
Of course, none of this concerned Lin Xuan. He was already several thousand miles away by now.
dāng rán ， zhè xiē yǔ lín xuān wú guān 。
当然，这些与林轩无关。
Despite the perils of this Mount Mang Gathering, it had yielded many benefits. The top-grade crystal stone had a place to go, and leaving the Spirit Beast Island no longer seemed like an unattainable mirage...
cǐ shí ， tā yǐ jīng yuǎn zài qiān lǐ zhī wài 。
此时，他已经远在千里之外。
Lin Xuan was determined to obtain the Nine Heavens Dance Phoenix Art, but with his current cultivation level, attempting to steal treasures from the Mystical Phoenix Sect would be sheer folly.
zhè cì máng shān dà huì suī lì jīng jiān xiǎn ， dàn dé dào de hǎo chù yě jí duō ， jí pǐn jīng shí yǒu le zhuó luò ， xiǎng yào lí kāi yāo líng dǎo yě jiù bù zài shì jìng zhōng huā ， shuǐ zhōng yuè le ……
这次邙山大会虽历经艰险，但得到的好处也极多，极品晶石有了着落，想要离开妖灵岛也就不再是镜中花，水中月了……
The pressing need was to boost his cultivation and form a true Core Formation.
fèng wǔ jiǔ tiān jué lín xuān zhì zài bì děi ， bù guò yǐ tā rú jīn de xiū wèi ， xiǎng yào qù xuán fèng mén dào qǔ bǎo wù xiǎn rán tài guò zì bù liàng lì le 。
凤舞九天诀林轩志在必得，不过以他如今的修为，想要去玄凤门盗取宝物显然太过自不量力了。
Smiling as he recalled what the Black Python Lady had said, Lin Xuan thought that she clearly harbored ill intentions. But he wasn't as weak as she imagined; who was the hunter and who was the prey could only be determined at the end.
dāng wù zhī jí ， shì yào jiāng xiū wèi tí shēng shàng qù ， níng jié zhēn zhèng de yuán yīng cái kě yǐ 。
当务之急，是要将修为提升上去，凝结真正的元婴才可以。
...
lín xuān xiǎng dào le hēi mǎng fū rén duì zì jǐ tòu lù de yán yǔ ， zuǐ jiǎo biān liú lù chū yī mǒ xiào yì 。
林轩想到了黑蟒夫人对自己透露的言语，嘴角边流露出一抹笑意。
In the Drifting Cloud Valley on the west side of Mount Mang, a small valley covering several hundred acres, unremarkable in size but with an extraordinaryyao pulse that perpetually shrouded itself in light purple mist.
duì fāng xiǎn rán wèi ān hǎo yì ， kě zì jǐ yě bú shì tā xiǎng xiàng de ruǎn shì zi ， shuí shì liè rén ， shuí shì liè wù ， zhǐ yǒu dào le zuì hòu yí kè ， réng rán xiào de cái shì shèng lì zhě 。
对方显然未安好意，可自己也不是她想象的软柿子，谁是猎人，谁是猎物，只有到了最后一刻，仍然笑的才是胜利者。
The owner of this valley was notorious on Spirit Beast Island: a lecherous female demon known for her prowess in cultivation enhancement techniques. Though she appeared as a woman, she excelled at such practices and had claimed countless young men's lives.
……
……
Despite her wickedness, the lady knew when to hold back and never targeted prominent sects or individuals with backgrounds. Her own Core Formation level was formidable enough that no Core Formation Elders would foolishly try to stop her.
lì mǎng gǔ ， yāo líng dǎo xī cè yī zuò zhàn dì yuē shù bǎi mǔ de xiǎo shān gǔ ， cóng miàn jī lái shuō ， zì rán shì sī háo bù yǐn rén zhǔ mù ， rán ér cǐ chù de yāo mài què fēi tóng xiǎo kě ， qiě zhōng nián lǒng zhào zhe dàn zǐ sè de yāo wù 。
厉蟒谷，妖灵岛西侧一座占地约数百亩的小山谷，从面积来说，自然是丝毫不引人瞩目，然而此处的妖脉却非同小可，且终年笼罩着淡紫色的妖雾。
She continued to live in luxury, becoming a nightmare for low-ranking cultivators.
cǐ gǔ de zhǔ rén ， zài yāo líng dǎo dà dà yǒu míng ， nǎi shì lìng rén wén fēng sàng dǎn de hào sè yāo fù ， suī shì nǚ zǐ zhī shēn ， què shàn cháng cǎi bǔ ， sǐ zài tā shǒu zhōng de qīng nián cái jùn bù jì qí shù 。
此谷的主人，在妖灵岛大大有名，乃是令人闻风丧胆的好色妖妇，虽是女子之身，却擅长采补，死在她手中的青年才俊不计其数。
On a normal day, the area around the valley was desolate, and cultivators avoided it at all costs, knowing it was the Black Python Lady's domain.
rán ér cǐ nǚ suī xié è dǎi dú ， zuò shì qíng què hěn dǒng de fēn cùn qīng zhòng ， cóng bù duì nà xiē míng mén dà pài huò zhě yǒu bèi jǐng shēn fèn zhī rén xià shǒu 。
然而此女虽邪恶歹毒，做事情却很懂得分寸轻重，从不对那些名门大派或者有背景身份之人下手。
However, that evening, a streak of light appeared on the horizon of the Drifting Cloud Valley.
jiā shàng tā zì jǐ yě xiū wèi bù ruò ， gù ér nà xiē yuán yīng lǎo guài zì rán bú huì shǎ hū hū pǎo qù tì tiān xíng dào shén me 。
加上她自己也修为不弱，故而那些元婴老怪自然不会傻乎乎跑去替天行道什么。
The light faded to reveal Lin Xuan, a plain-looking youth.
cǐ nǚ yě jì xù xiāo yáo ， chéng wéi dī jiē xiū shì tán zhī sè biàn de è mèng 。
此女也继续逍遥，成为低阶修士谈之色变的噩梦。
"Sure enough, it's Lin Xuan," he said with a smile as he looked at the valley shrouded in purple mist.
píng rì lǐ ， lì mǎng gǔ fāng yuán bǎi lǐ zhī nèi dōu shí fēn huāng wú ， xiū xiān zhě men zhī dào zhè lǐ shì hēi mǎng fū rén de jū suǒ ， jí shǐ yǒu shì jīng guò ， yě qíng yuàn dà fèi lì qì rào yuǎn lù ， miǎn de yí bù xiǎo xīn jiù rě huò shàng shēn le 。
平日里，厉蟒谷方圆百里之内都十分荒芜，修仙者们知道这里是黑蟒夫人的居所，即使有事经过，也情愿大费力气绕远路，免得一不小心就惹祸上身了。
He had finally arrived. The Black Python Lady had promised to discuss things after the Mount Mang Gathering but had then caused chaos, forcing him to leave early. After waiting for the commotion to subside, he came here, a forbidden place feared by low-ranking cultivators.
rán ér zhè tiān bàng wǎn ， yī dào jīng hóng què chū xiàn zài le lì mǎng gǔ de tiān biān 。
然而这天傍晚，一道惊虹却出现在了厉蟒谷的天边。
Though Lin Xuan despised this woman, he needed to obtain her Phoenix Fire Vein.
guāng huá shōu liǎn ， xiàn chū le yí miàn mào pǔ tōng de shào nián 。
光华收敛，现出了一面貌普通的少年。
Looking down at the valley, the purple mist was clearly toxic. Although Lin Xuan wasn't bothered, rushing in would be unwise.
bú yòng shuō ， zhèng shì lín xuān 。
不用说，正是林轩。
After a moment's hesitation, he took out a talisman from his storage bracelet and injected his spirit into it. He then tossed it, and the sound transmission talisman transformed into a red light that vanished into the mist.
kàn zhe bèi zǐ wù huán rào de shān gǔ ， lín xuān zuǐ jiǎo biān lù chū yī sī xiào róng ， zhōng yú dào le 。
看着被紫雾环绕的山谷，林轩嘴角边露出一丝笑容，终于到了。
Less than half an hour later, the mist began to churn violently, revealing a clear path.
yuán běn hēi mǎng fū rén shuō máng shān dà huì jié shù yǐ hòu ， huì yǔ zì jǐ xiáng tán ， rán hòu hòu miàn què fā shēng le dà hùn luàn ， lín xuān xiān lí kāi le máng shān 。
原本黑蟒夫人说邙山大会结束以后，会与自己详谈，然后后面却发生了大混乱，林轩先离开了邙山。
Lin Xuan's expression changed as he turned away but kept a calm demeanor.
tā zài yī huāng pì zhī suǒ dài le shù rì ， suàn suàn fēng shēng yīng gāi píng xī ， yú shì cái lái dào zhè lìng dī jiē xiū shì tán zhī sè biàn de jìn dì 。
他在一荒僻之所待了数日，算算风声应该平息，于是才来到这令低阶修士谈之色变的禁地。
Three beams of light emerged from the path, coalescing into two men and one woman.
duì zhè yāo fù ， lín xuān suī shí fēn yàn wù ， dàn qí lín huǒ mài shì yí dìng yào dào shǒu de 。
对这妖妇，林轩虽十分厌恶，但麒麟火脉是一定要到手的。
The two men were in their twenties, handsome with pale faces that seemed sickly. One was at the initial stage of Core Formation, while the other was mid-stage; both were unremarkable.
kàn le yī yǎn xià miàn de shān gǔ ， nà zǐ wù míng xiǎn hán yǒu jù dú ， lín xuān suī bù zài hū ， dàn yìng chuǎng xiǎn rán bú shì hé 。
看了一眼下面的山谷，那紫雾明显含有剧毒，林轩虽不在乎，但硬闯显然不适合。
The woman was a bit older, around thirty, with an ordinary appearance but clearly skilled in charm techniques, being a Condensation Core cultivator.
lüè yī chí yí ， tā cóng chǔ wù dài zhōng qǔ chū yī zhāng fú lù ， shén shí zhù rù ， suí hòu zài yī yáng shǒu ， nà chuán yīn fú jiù huà wèi yī xiàn hóng guāng xiāo shī zài le wù qì zhōng 。
略一迟疑，他从储物袋中取出一张符箓，神识注入，随后再一扬手，那传音符就化为一线红光消失在了雾气中。
Upon appearing, she released her spirit and scanned Lin Xuan. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw his cultivation level surpassing hers.
guò le bú dào bàn zhǎn chá de gōng fu ， nà wù qì kāi shǐ jù liè fān yǒng ， suí hòu yī tiáo qīng xī de tōng dào chū xiàn zài le shì xiàn zhōng 。
过了不到半盏茶的功夫，那雾气开始剧烈翻涌，随后一条清晰的通道出现在了视线中。
"Was it you who sent the sound transmission talisman just now?" The woman's delicate hand waved as she moved gracefully, making her ordinary appearance suddenly more captivating due to her advanced charm techniques.
lín xuān shén sè yī dòng ， zì rán jiāng tóu zhuǎn guò qù le ， dàn biǎo qíng shí fēn píng hé 。
林轩神色一动，自然将头转过去了，但表情十分平和。
Unfortunately, they didn't work on him.
suí hòu sān dào guāng huá yóu tōng dào zhōng fēi chū ， yī liǎn zhī hòu ， jiù xiǎn chū liǎng nán yī nǚ lái le 。
随后三道光华由通道中飞出，一敛之后，就显出两男一女来了。
"Yes, I am Lin Xuan. I have an old acquaintance with the Black Python Lady and came here to visit," Lin Xuan said, slightly annoyed.
liǎng míng nán zi jiē èr shí yú suì nián jì ， méi qīng mù xiù ， jùn měi dé shí fēn yīn róu ， yóu qí liǎn kǒng háo wú xuè sè ， kàn shàng qù jiù xiàng yǒu bìng zài shēn shì de ， yī míng zhù jī chū qī ， lìng wài yī míng zé shì zhù jī zhōng qī ， zǒng ér yán zhī ， dōu bù zhí yī tí 。
两名男子皆二十余岁年纪，眉清目秀，俊美得十分阴柔，尤其脸孔毫无血色，看上去就像有病在身似的，一名筑基初期，另外一名则是筑基中期，总而言之，都不值一提。
"What?" The woman's face showed surprise at his boldness and disregard for her charm. "Do you really know my teacher?"
ér nà míng nǚ zǐ zé yào shāo dà yī xiē ， yuē sān shí chū tóu de yàng zi ， zī róng pǔ tōng ， kě míng xiǎn xiū yǒu mèi gōng ， shì yī míng níng dān chū qī de xiū yāo zhě 。
而那名女子则要稍大一些，约三十出头的样子，姿容普通，可明显修有媚功，是一名凝丹初期的修妖者。
"Of course. If you doubt me, just imprint my image on this jade cylinder and ask the lady. It will reveal the truth," Lin Xuan said nonchalantly.
nà nǚ zǐ xiàn shēn yǐ hòu ， xiān fàng chū shén shí ， zài lín xuān shēn shàng yī sǎo ， suí hòu jiù lù chū le jīng róng 。
那女子现身以后，先放出神识，在林轩身上一扫，随后就露出了惊容。
Seeing no deception in him, the woman's expression turned serious as she took out an empty jade cylinder and injected her spirit into it. After a moment, she sent the message with a thousand-mile transmission technique. The jade cylinder was enveloped by light and flew into the mist.
cǐ rén nián jì qīng qīng ， xiū wèi jū rán bǐ zì jǐ hái shèng shàng yī chóu ， yào zhī dào ， shì hé nán xiū zhù yán de gōng fǎ kě bù duō 。
此人年纪轻轻，修为居然比自己还胜上一筹，要知道，适合男修驻颜的功法可不多。
Lin Xuan didn't have to wait long before he heard a light chuckle: "Haha, Lin Daoist has come. I've been worried about where to look for you since our parting on Mount Mang. I'm glad you came to my humble abode. I am meditating and can't greet you properly. Please follow Xiao Ling to the Blood Python Pavilion."
kàn lái cǐ rén yīng gāi shì yǒu jǐ fēn lái lì le 。
看来此人应该是有几分来历了。
"Respectfully obeying your command," the woman, having put aside her charm techniques, bowed respectfully toward the valley before turning back to Lin Xuan with a servile expression in her eyes.
“ gāng gāng kě shì dào yǒu fā chū de chuán yīn fú ？” nǚ zǐ yù shǒu yī fú ， liǔ yāo bǎi dòng ， míng míng shì hěn pǔ tōng de zī sè ， què tū rán xiǎn de fēi cháng xī yǐn yǎn qiú ， kàn lái qí suǒ xiū liàn de mèi gōng ， hái shì shí fēn gāo jí de nà zhǒng 。
“刚刚可是道友发出的传音符？”女子玉手一拂，柳腰摆动，明明是很普通的姿色，却突然显得非常吸引眼球，看来其所修炼的媚功，还是十分高级的那种。
She was astonished by this treatment from an Apprentice Formation cultivator by an Elder Formation master. Could it be that this Lin cultivator had significant background?
kě xī duì zì jǐ méi yòng 。
可惜对自己没用。
Though surprised, she understood the wisdom of not asking too many questions and decided to treat him as if he were an Elder Formation cultivator.
“ bù cuò ， zài xià lín xuān ， yǔ hēi mǎng fū rén yǒu jiù ， lái dào cǐ chù ， zì rán shì xiǎng yào bài fǎng gù rén le 。” lín xuān méi tóu yī tiāo ， lüè yǒu xiē bú yuè de dào 。
“不错，在下林轩，与黑蟒夫人有旧，来到此处，自然是想要拜访故人了。”林轩眉头一挑，略有些不悦的道。
She had already taken on a junior'setiquette.
“ shén me ？” lín xuān kǒu qì dà dé lí pǔ ， ér qiě wán quán wú shì zì jǐ de mèi gōng ， nà nǚ zǐ de liǎn shàng ， yě bù yóu de lù chū le jǐ fēn jīng róng ：“ dào yǒu zhēn de rèn shí ēn shī me ？”
“什么？”林轩口气大得离谱，而且完全无视自己的媚功，那女子的脸上，也不由得露出了几分惊容：“道友真的认识恩师么？”
"Master, did the Black Python Lady discover something?" Mo'er asked in puzzlement from within his mind.
“ bù cuò ， dào yǒu ruò shì bù xìn ， kě yǐ jiāng wǒ de miàn róng kè yìn jìn yù tǒng ， xún wèn yī xià fū rén ， bù jiù kě biàn zhēn jiǎ le 。” lín xuān háo bù zài yì de kāi kǒu 。
“不错，道友若是不信，可以将我的面容刻印进玉筒，询问一下夫人，不就可辨真假了。”林轩毫不在意的开口。
Lin Xuan was equally puzzled by her overly polite behavior. Even an infamous demoness wouldn't treat a Condensation Core cultivator so kindly, let alone a respected Elder Formation one.
kàn tā bù xiàng sā huǎng ， nà nǚ zǐ de biǎo qíng yě bù yóu de zhèng zhòng qǐ lái ， qǔ chū yī méi kòng bái de yù tǒng jiǎn ， jiāng shén shí zhù rù lǐ miàn ， piàn kè hòu tā yī yáng shǒu ， shǐ chū qiān lǐ chuán wù zhī shù ， nà yù tǒng bèi yī piàn guāng xiá bāo guǒ ， fēi rù jìn le wù qì zhī zhōng 。
看他不像撒谎，那女子的表情也不由得郑重起来，取出一枚空白的玉筒简，将神识注入里面，片刻后她一扬手，使出千里传物之术，那玉筒被一片光霞包裹，飞入进了雾气之中。
He shook his head at Mo'er's guess; even a late-stage cultivator couldn't see through hiscollection qi technique, how could the early-stage Black Python Lady?
lín xuān bìng méi yǒu děng duō jiǔ ， hěn kuài yī qīng xiào de shēng yīn jiù chuán rù le ěr duǒ ：“ hē hē ， yuán lái shì lín dào yǒu lái le ， běn fū rén zhè liǎng tiān hái zhèng zài fā chóu ， zì máng shān yī bié ， dào yǒu liǎo wú xiān zōng ， bù zhī dào yīng qù hé chù xún fǎng ， méi xiǎng dào lín xiōng què zì jǐ jià lín hán shè ， běn fū rén zhèng zài dǎ zuò ， bù néng yuǎn yíng ， shī lǐ le ， xiǎo líng ， nǐ jiāng lín dào yǒu yǐn dào xuè mǎng gé ， hǎo shēng cì hòu 。”
林轩并没有等多久，很快一轻笑的声音就传入了耳朵：“呵呵，原来是林道友来了，本夫人这两天还正在发愁，自邙山一别，道友了无仙踪，不知道应去何处寻访，没想到林兄却自己驾临寒舍，本夫人正在打坐，不能远迎，失礼了，晓玲，妳将林道友引到血蟒阁，好生伺候。”
The woman's excessive politeness must have other motives.
“ jǐn zūn fǎ yù 。” nà nǚ zǐ yǐ jiāng mèi gōng shōu qǐ ， duì zhe shān gǔ yáo yáo xíng le yī lǐ ， zài zhuǎn guò tóu shí ， wàng xiàng lín xuān de mù guāng yǐ chōng mǎn le xiàn mèi tǎo hǎo zhī yì ， qí xīn zhōng jīng yà wú bǐ ， xiū xiān jiè jiǎng de shì shí lì ， děng jí sēn yán shì wài rén nán yǐ xiǎng xiàng dì ， shī zūn shēn wèi yuán yīng xiū shì ， què duì yī xiǎo xiǎo de níng dān qī xiū shì rú cǐ lǐ yù ， jiǎn zhí lìng rén chà yì wú bǐ 。
“谨尊法谕。”那女子已将媚功收起，对着山谷遥遥行了一礼，再转过头时，望向林轩的目光已充满了献媚讨好之意，其心中惊讶无比，修仙界讲的是实力，等级森严是外人难以想象地，师尊身为元婴修士，却对一小小的凝丹期修士如此礼遇，简直令人诧异无比。
As the saying goes, "To catch a tiger you must enter its den." Despite the Black Python Lady's strange behavior, Lin Xuan would risk it to obtain the Phoenix Fire Vein for his Heaven Dust Pill.
tā gǎn dào bù kě sī yì ， nán dào zhè jiào lín xuān de xiū shì dà yǒu lái lì ？
她感到不可思议，难道这叫林轩的修士大有来历？
PS: Sorry, I was sick today and managed to write this only after enduring all day. I'll rest today and work harder tomorrow.
The others' expressions darkened as they listened to the elder's words.
With the chaos caused by Lin Xuan gradually subsiding, it was clear that the Longevity Pill had not ended up in the hands of the Poison Serpent King. The loss of a top-grade crystal stone was undoubtedly frustrating for this old monster.
Although he left after killing two Core Formation Elders in a fit of pique, this matter was far from over. A bad feeling gripped everyone's hearts.
Of course, none of this concerned Lin Xuan. He was already several thousand miles away by now.
Despite the perils of this Mount Mang Gathering, it had yielded many benefits. The top-grade crystal stone had a place to go, and leaving the Spirit Beast Island no longer seemed like an unattainable mirage...
Lin Xuan was determined to obtain the Nine Heavens Dance Phoenix Art, but with his current cultivation level, attempting to steal treasures from the Mystical Phoenix Sect would be sheer folly.
The pressing need was to boost his cultivation and form a true Core Formation.
Smiling as he recalled what the Black Python Lady had said, Lin Xuan thought that she clearly harbored ill intentions. But he wasn't as weak as she imagined; who was the hunter and who was the prey could only be determined at the end.
...
In the Drifting Cloud Valley on the west side of Mount Mang, a small valley covering several hundred acres, unremarkable in size but with an extraordinaryyao pulse that perpetually shrouded itself in light purple mist.
The owner of this valley was notorious on Spirit Beast Island: a lecherous female demon known for her prowess in cultivation enhancement techniques. Though she appeared as a woman, she excelled at such practices and had claimed countless young men's lives.
Despite her wickedness, the lady knew when to hold back and never targeted prominent sects or individuals with backgrounds. Her own Core Formation level was formidable enough that no Core Formation Elders would foolishly try to stop her.
She continued to live in luxury, becoming a nightmare for low-ranking cultivators.
On a normal day, the area around the valley was desolate, and cultivators avoided it at all costs, knowing it was the Black Python Lady's domain.
However, that evening, a streak of light appeared on the horizon of the Drifting Cloud Valley.
The light faded to reveal Lin Xuan, a plain-looking youth.
"Sure enough, it's Lin Xuan," he said with a smile as he looked at the valley shrouded in purple mist.
He had finally arrived. The Black Python Lady had promised to discuss things after the Mount Mang Gathering but had then caused chaos, forcing him to leave early. After waiting for the commotion to subside, he came here, a forbidden place feared by low-ranking cultivators.
Though Lin Xuan despised this woman, he needed to obtain her Phoenix Fire Vein.
Looking down at the valley, the purple mist was clearly toxic. Although Lin Xuan wasn't bothered, rushing in would be unwise.
After a moment's hesitation, he took out a talisman from his storage bracelet and injected his spirit into it. He then tossed it, and the sound transmission talisman transformed into a red light that vanished into the mist.
Less than half an hour later, the mist began to churn violently, revealing a clear path.
Lin Xuan's expression changed as he turned away but kept a calm demeanor.
Three beams of light emerged from the path, coalescing into two men and one woman.
The two men were in their twenties, handsome with pale faces that seemed sickly. One was at the initial stage of Core Formation, while the other was mid-stage; both were unremarkable.
The woman was a bit older, around thirty, with an ordinary appearance but clearly skilled in charm techniques, being a Condensation Core cultivator.
Upon appearing, she released her spirit and scanned Lin Xuan. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw his cultivation level surpassing hers.
"Was it you who sent the sound transmission talisman just now?" The woman's delicate hand waved as she moved gracefully, making her ordinary appearance suddenly more captivating due to her advanced charm techniques.
Unfortunately, they didn't work on him.
"Yes, I am Lin Xuan. I have an old acquaintance with the Black Python Lady and came here to visit," Lin Xuan said, slightly annoyed.
"What?" The woman's face showed surprise at his boldness and disregard for her charm. "Do you really know my teacher?"
"Of course. If you doubt me, just imprint my image on this jade cylinder and ask the lady. It will reveal the truth," Lin Xuan said nonchalantly.
Seeing no deception in him, the woman's expression turned serious as she took out an empty jade cylinder and injected her spirit into it. After a moment, she sent the message with a thousand-mile transmission technique. The jade cylinder was enveloped by light and flew into the mist.
Lin Xuan didn't have to wait long before he heard a light chuckle: "Haha, Lin Daoist has come. I've been worried about where to look for you since our parting on Mount Mang. I'm glad you came to my humble abode. I am meditating and can't greet you properly. Please follow Xiao Ling to the Blood Python Pavilion."
"Respectfully obeying your command," the woman, having put aside her charm techniques, bowed respectfully toward the valley before turning back to Lin Xuan with a servile expression in her eyes.
She was astonished by this treatment from an Apprentice Formation cultivator by an Elder Formation master. Could it be that this Lin cultivator had significant background?
Though surprised, she understood the wisdom of not asking too many questions and decided to treat him as if he were an Elder Formation cultivator.
She had already taken on a junior'setiquette.
"Master, did the Black Python Lady discover something?" Mo'er asked in puzzlement from within his mind.
Lin Xuan was equally puzzled by her overly polite behavior. Even an infamous demoness wouldn't treat a Condensation Core cultivator so kindly, let alone a respected Elder Formation one.
He shook his head at Mo'er's guess; even a late-stage cultivator couldn't see through hiscollection qi technique, how could the early-stage Black Python Lady?
The woman's excessive politeness must have other motives.
As the saying goes, "To catch a tiger you must enter its den." Despite the Black Python Lady's strange behavior, Lin Xuan would risk it to obtain the Phoenix Fire Vein for his Heaven Dust Pill.
PS: Sorry, I was sick today and managed to write this only after enduring all day. I'll rest today and work harder tomorrow.