zhèng lí jiǎo mǎng shān yǐ xī yuē èr shí yú lǐ ， dào yǒu zuò bù xiǎo de jǐ rén chéng shì pāng bā jiù chóu mì ， yuē yǒu liù qī shí wàn de yàng zi 。
证离角蟒山以西约二十余里，倒有座不小的几人城市乓八旧稠密，约有六七十万的样子。
About twenty miles west of Angle Python Mountain, there stood a small but bustling city. The place was densely populated with numerous inns and taverns, particularly one named Drunken Immortal Pavilion on the western side.
chéng zhōng jiǔ guǎn lín lì 。 yóu qí yǐ chéng xī yī jiā míng jiào zuì xiān lóu de kè zhàn jū 。
城中酒馆林立。尤其以城西一家名叫醉仙楼的客栈居。
The inn was famous for its self-brewed aged wine, rare delicacies, and even rumors suggested that some celestial immortals had once visited to enjoy the local wines. While such claims were considered too absurd by most people, they still drew a steady stream of guests willing to pay a premium price for the exquisite food.
lǐ miàn yǒu zì niàng de chén nián lǎo jiǔ ， qí yú de cài yáo yě shì nán dé yī jiàn de měi wèi zhēn nuǎn ， shèn zhì yǒu chuán yán shuō ， yóu yú xǐ huān zhè lǐ de měi jiǔ ， nà xiē yǒu zhe 6 dì shén xiān zhī néng de xiū xiān zhě yě céng jīng lái zhè lǐ zuò kè 。
里面有自酿的陈年老酒，其余的菜肴也是难得一见的美味珍暖，甚至有传言说，由于喜欢这里的美酒，那些有着6地神仙之能的修仙者也曾经来这里做客。
Li Si, who had worked as an innkeeper here for seven or eight years, had grown into a sturdy young man from a boy. Though he was just an ordinary servant, his good looks and frugal lifestyle had earned him some savings. With the New Year approaching in a few days, he was planning to ask a matchmaker in Dong Village to help him find a wife.
dāng rán ， zhè zhǒng shuō fǎ tài guò huāng dàn lí qí ， dà bù fèn rén hái shì jiāng xìn jiāng yí 。
当然，这种说法太过荒诞离奇，大部分人还是将信将疑。
As the saying goes, "A man should marry when he's grown, and a woman should get married too." He was at an age where he couldn't resist the idea of having a warm-hearted wife who understood his feelings. Lately, he had been caught staring at young beautiful female guests more than usual.
dàn bù guǎn xiān shī yǒu méi yǒu lái guò ， zhè lǐ de měi wèi què shí bú yòng shuō ， jǐn guǎn cài de jià gé míng xiǎn bǐ bié de jiǔ lóu gāo shàng yī xiē ， dàn kè rén yī jiù luò yì bù jué 。
但不管仙师有没有来过，这里的美味确实不用说，尽管菜的价格明显比别的酒楼高上一些，但客人依旧络绎不绝。
The day was still early, with few customers upstairs. Suddenly, three figures entered Li Si's line of sight: one man and two women. They didn't seem to be over twenty years old. The man seemed indifferent as the two women stood respectfully beside him.
lǐ sì zài zhè lǐ zuò xiǎo èr yǐ yǒu qī bā nián le ， cóng yī rǔ xiù wèi gān de xiǎo hái chéng zhǎng le zhuàng shuò shào nián ， suī rán jǐn jǐn shì yī pǔ tōng huǒ jì ， què shēng dé xiàng mào bù fán 。
李四在这里做小二已有七八年了，从一乳臭未干的小孩成长了壮硕少年，虽然仅仅是一普通伙计，却生得相貌不凡。
"Sit down, why are you standing?" Lin Xuan glanced at the two women.
zhè xiē nián shěng chī jiǎn yòng yě jī xià le jǐ shí liǎng yín zi ， yǎn kàn zài guò jǐ tiān jiù zǒu guò nián ， zhèng sī liáng zhe huí jiā yǐ hòu 。 qǐng zhù zài dōng cūn de méi pó wèi zì jǐ zhāng luó yī mén qīn shì 。
这些年省吃俭用也积下了几十两银子，眼看再过几天就走过年，正思量着回家以后。请住在东村的媒婆为自己张罗一门亲事。
"We dare not sit," they replied humbly. "We will serve Master."
sú huà shuō ， nán dà dāng hūn nǚ dà dāng jià ， tā zhèng shì xuè qì fāng wǎng de nián jì ， rú hé bù xiǎng yǒu yī wèi zhī lěng zhī rè de niáng zǐ 。
俗话说，男大当婚女大当嫁，他正是血气方网的年纪，如何不想有一位知冷知热的娘子。
"Just because I'm your master doesn't mean we need to be overly formal. Sit if you want." Lin Xuan said coolly.
shào nián ài mù ， zhè xiē tiān jiàn dào nián qīng piào liàng de nǚ kè dōu rěn bú zhù duō chǒu jǐ yǎn le 。
少年爱慕，这些天见到年轻漂亮的女客都忍不住多瞅几眼了。
The two women, understanding his tone, bowed and took their seats beside him.
rú jīn tiān sè shàng zǎo 。 lóu shàng de kè rén dào shì bù duō ， tū rán sān gè rén yǐng jìn rù lǐ sì de yǎn 。
如今天色尚早。楼上的客人到是不多，突然三个人影进入李四的眼。
Lin Xuan, despite being a cultivator who could survive without food or drink, did not refuse the pleasure of good food and wine. The taste was indeed delightful, and he smiled contentedly after several bites.
yī nán liǎng nǚ 。
一男两女。
However, the two women seemed less enthusiastic than Lin Xuan. They watched him eat heartily while Rong Xin and Yu Ying'er hesitated to speak.
kàn shàng qù dōu bù guò èr shí yú suì nián jì ， nà zǒu zài qián fāng de nán zi dào yě bà le ， róng mào píng píng wú qí ， diū zài rén duī lǐ jiù bú huì rèn shí ， lǐ sì zì rèn wéi hái yào gèng shuài yī xiē 。
看上去都不过二十余岁年纪，那走在前方的男子到也罢了，容貌平平无奇，丢在人堆里就不会认识，李四自认为还要更帅一些。
"Why aren't you eating?"
kě hòu miàn liǎng gè nǚ zǐ 。 yí gè shēn cái gāo tiǎo ， yí gè kě ài tǎo xǐ ， suī shuō bù shàng yǒu qīng guó qīng chéng zhī sè ， dàn yě jué duì zǒu chū sè de měi nǚ ， yóu qí shì tā men shēn shàng ， gèng yǒu yī zhǒng shuō bù chū lái de qì zhì 。
可后面两个女子。一个身材高挑，一个可爱讨喜，虽说不上有倾国倾城之色，但也绝对走出色的美女，尤其是她们身上，更有一种说不出来的气质。
"We came here to deal with the threat from Heaven Destiny Boat. An Inner Party Agent has informed us that an Incarnation Stage elder from Li Yehuang Palace has been appointed as the leader of this branch in Youzhou, currently based in Angle Python Mountain. Why are you so relaxed about it?" Rong Xin held her wine cup but couldn't bring herself to drink, wondering why their master was not worried despite the imminent danger.
lǐ sì suī shì yī xiǎo xiǎo de huǒ jì ， dàn zài zhè zuì xiān lóu lǐ ， què yě pǒ yǒu jiàn shí ， tā jiàn guò běn chéng fù de qiān jīn ， róng mào zàn qiě bù tí ， jiù shuō zhè yōng róng qì zhì ， yǔ yǎn qián de liǎng nǚ xiàng bǐ ， jiù yuǎn yuǎn bù jí 。
李四虽是一小小的伙计，但在这醉仙楼里，却也颇有见识，他见过本城富的千金，容貌暂且不提，就说这雍容气质，与眼前的两女相比，就远远不及。
"I don't need to worry; I can handle it," Lin Xuan smiled. "Relax, I have my own plans for this city."
tā men jiū jìng shén me lái lì ？
她们究竟什么来历？
"But…" Rong Xin wanted to say more when Yu Ying'er stopped her: "Sister, let's just follow Master's lead. If he is so confident, we should trust him."
yóu qí ràng lǐ sì jīng yà de shì ， zhè liǎng wèi tiān xiān bān de měi nǚ ， duì nà píng píng wú qí de nán zi ， piān piān zūn jìng wú bǐ 。 shèn zhì bù gǎn yǔ tā tóng háng ， wēi wēi luò hòu liǎng bù ， dī méi shùn mù dì zài hòu miàn guāi guāi gēn zhe 。
尤其让李四惊讶的是，这两位天仙般的美女，对那平平无奇的男子，偏偏尊敬无比。甚至不敢与他同行，微微落后两步，低眉顺目的在后面乖乖跟着。
Yu Ying'er then stood up and filled Lin Xuan's cup with a smile. "Master, I toast to you."
lǐ sì yǎn dōu zhí le 。 nán dào liǎng nǚ jìng shì zhè nán zi de xiǎo qiè me ” bù ， bú duì ， kàn yàng zi ， gèng xiàng shì shì nǚ 。
李四眼都直了。难道两女竟是这男子的小妾么”不，不对，看样子，更像是侍女。
She raised the cup and drank it in one go.
xīn zhōng xiàn mù wú bǐ ， tóng shí hái yǒu yī zhǒng mò míng de dù jì ， dàn tā yě xiǎo de ， zhè shào nián de shēn fèn kǒng pà fēi tóng xiǎo kě ， wàn wàn bú shì zì jǐ kě yǐ zhāo rě de 。 zhǐ hǎo duī qǐ xiào róng ， jiāng tā men qǐng dào le lóu shàng de yǎ jiān zhī zhōng 。
心中羡慕无比，同时还有一种莫名的妒忌，但他也晓得，这少年的身份恐怕非同小可，万万不是自己可以招惹的。只好堆起笑容，将他们请到了楼上的雅间之中。
Lin Xuan appreciated her composure and turned to Rong Xin: "Little girl, learn from Sister Yu. A great leader must first keep his emotions under control."
lín xuān tiāo le kào chuāng de wèi zhì ， yòu suí kǒu diǎn le shí jǐ yàng cài yáo ， yǐ jí yī hú měi jiǔ ， biàn huī shǒu ràng lǐ sì xià qù 。
林轩挑了靠窗的位置，又随口点了十几样菜肴，以及一壶美酒，便挥手让李四下去。
"Ah!" Rong Xin, who had been a Second Pavilion Leader for many years, nodded thoughtfully and began serving Lin Xuan as well.
“ zuò ya ， dōu zhàn zhe gàn má ？。 lín xuān kàn le liǎng nǚ yī yǎn 。
“坐呀，都站着干嘛？。林轩看了两女一眼。
Delicious wine and beautiful women, after so much bloodshed in the cultivation world, this was a rare chance to relax. After enjoying his meal, he took the two women on a tour of the city and stayed at Drunken Immortal Pavilion for the night.
“ xiǎo bì bù gǎn 。 wǒ men jiù zài zhè lǐ cì hòu shào yé
“小婢不敢。我们就在这里伺候少爷
The next day, they repeated their activities. For several days, Lin Xuan indulged himself in the pleasures of the city.
“ mí men zhǐ yào zhōng xīn yú wǒ ， zhè xiē xū lǐ jiǎng le yòu yǒu shén me yòng tú ， ràng mí men zuò jiù zuò 。” lín xuān dàn dàn de shuō 。
“弥们只要忠心于我，这些虚礼讲了又有什么用途，让弥们坐就坐。”林轩淡淡的说。
On the seventh day, while Yu Ying'er remained calm, Rong Xin's face was full of worry but she didn't dare to ask questions. Lin Xuan did not explain his reasons.
lín xuān jì rán huà le 。 liǎng nǚ zì rán bù gǎn wéi ào ， bài xiè yǐ hòu ， biàn āi zhe tā zuò xià lái 。
林轩既然话了。两女自然不敢违拗，拜谢以后，便挨着他坐下来。
In fact, he wasn't just enjoying himself; there were two main reasons for this behavior.
xiū xiān zhě suī kě bì gǔ ， dàn duì yú zhè kǒu fù zhī yù lín xuān xiàng lái bú huì jù jué ， zhè lǐ cài yáo měi jiǔ wèi dào què shí bù cuò ， lín xuān chī le jǐ kǒu hòu liǎn shàng jiù lù chū mǎn yì de xiào róng 。
修仙者虽可辟谷，但对于这口腹之欲林轩向来不会拒绝，这里菜肴美酒味道确实不错，林轩吃了几口后脸上就露出满意的笑容。
Firstly, he wanted to gather intelligence. As the saying goes, "Know your enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster." With only him alone, he didn't need to worry about Li Yehuang Palace, but with three powerful cultivators, even if he couldn't defeat them, escaping was still possible. Even if he could wipe out the Heaven Destiny Boat, what could they do? They would just watch helplessly.
rán ér yǔ zhǔ rén xiāng bǐ 。 páng biān liǎng nǚ què xiǎn rán méi yǒu nà me hǎo de xìng zhì ， kàn zhe lín xuān dà kuài duǒ yí ， liú xīn yǔ 6 yíng ér jiē shì yù yán yòu zhǐ 。
然而与主人相比。旁边两女却显然没有那么好的兴致，看着林轩大快朵颐，刘芯与6盈儿皆是欲言又止。
However, now things were different. Lin Xuan didn't want to destroy Baxuan Pavilion. With twelve states in the sky and cloud region, he needed a force that would completely obey him.
“ zěn me le ， chēng men bù chī ？”
“怎么了，称们不吃？”
Expanding against the Heaven Destiny Boat was also about making it stronger; he couldn't risk a direct confrontation with Li Yehuang Palace.
“ shào yé ， wǒ men lái dào zhè lǐ ， shì yào jiě jué tiān yuán sōu de wēi xié 。 nèi yìng yǐ chuán lái xiāo xī ， shuō lí yào gōng yǐ pài lái yuán yīng qī zhǎng lǎo ， jiù rèn zhè yōu zhōu fēn duò de tuó zhǔ zhī zhí ， rú jīn jiù zài zhè jiǎo mǎng shān lǐ ， nǐ zěn me yì diǎn yě bù jí ？” liú xīn yòng shǒu duān zhe jiǔ bēi ， què gēn běn jiù hē bù xià qù ， bù míng bái dà dí dāng qián ， miàn duì zhè fù zá de xíng shì 。 shào yé nǎ nà me hǎo de xìng zhì 。
“少爷，我们来到这里，是要解决天缘艘的威胁。内应已传来消息，说离药宫已派来元婴期长老，就任这幽州分舵的鸵主之职，如今就在这角蟒山里，你怎么一点也不急？”刘芯用手端着酒杯，却根本就喝不下去，不明白大敌当前，面对这复杂的形势。少爷哪那么好的兴致。
The arrival of an Incarnation Stage elder from Li Yehuang Palace was unexpected. Did they really want to establish a branch in Youzhou?
“ wǒ gàn má yào jí 。 yòu jiě jué bù liǎo wèn tí 。” lín xuān zuǐ jiǎo biān lù chū yī sī xiào yì ：“ fàng xīn ， wǒ lái dào cǐ chéng ， zì yǒu yòng yì 。”
“我干嘛要急。又解决不了问题。”林轩嘴角边露出一丝笑意：“放心，我来到此城，自有用意。”
Lin Xuan wasn't sure, so he needed more information. The best way was to capture one of their disciples and use soul probing techniques. Going directly to the main hall would be too risky.
“ kě ” liú xīn hái yù zài shuō ， què bèi 6 yíng ér gěi lán zhù ：“ shī mèi ， bié quàn le ， shào yé jì rán zhè me yǒu bǎ wò ， wǒ men tīng cóng jiù hǎo le 。”
“可”刘芯还欲再说，却被6盈儿给拦住：“师妹，别劝了，少爷既然这么有把握，我们听从就好了。”
He had heard from Drunken Immortal Pavilion that others might doubt it, but Lin Xuan knew for certain that this was true. While cultivators could survive without food or drink, many still craved worldly pleasures.
shuō wán cǐ nǚ qǐ shēn 。 xiào yǔ yíng yíng de wèi lín xuān zhēn mǎn jiǔ ：“ shào yé ， wǒ jìng nǐ 。”
说完此女起身。笑语盈盈的为林轩斟满酒：“少爷，我敬你。”
Even if it turned out to be false, here was the only place where ordinary people lived near Angle Python Mountain. The Heaven Destiny Boat's cultivators would surely come to buy supplies regularly. He just needed to wait for them like a rabbit waiting by a tree stump.
shuō wán yī yǎng zhēn 。 yǐ xiān gàn wèi jìng le 。
说完一仰臻。已先干为敬了。
But there were other reasons too.
lín xuān yǎn zhōng lù chū yī lǚ xīn shǎng zhī sè ， zhuǎn guò tóu ， duì liú xīn kāi kǒu ：“ xiǎo yā tou ， kàn jiàn le me ， duō xué xué mí shī jiě ， zuò dà shì zhě ， xiān yào jiāng qì chén zhù 。”
林轩眼中露出一缕欣赏之色，转过头，对刘芯开口：“小丫头，看见了么，多学学弥师姐，做大事者，先要将气沉住。”
Lin Xuan had already reached the middle stage of condensation, thanks to the magic fruit Heart Eater Peach. It took him only three years from initial to middle stage, which was unprecedented and unmatched.
“ ó ！” liú xīn bì jìng yě dāng le zhè me duō nián de èr gé zhǔ ， liǎn shàng shǎn guò ruò yǒu suǒ sī zhī sè ， yě qǐ shēn ， shì fèng qǐ lín xuān hē jiǔ chī cài qǐ lái le 。
“哦！”刘芯毕竟也当了这么多年的二阁主，脸上闪过若有所思之色，也起身，侍奉起林轩喝酒吃菜起来了。
While rapid advancement was good, it also brought its own risks. Everything has a downside; his foundation might not be as solid, and his mindset had started to lag behind.
jiā niàng zhēn lóu 。 měi rén quàn jiǔ ， tà rù xiū xiān jiè yǐ lái ， lín xuān dào nán dé zhè me fàng sōng ， měi rì lǐ xīng fēng xuè yǔ 。 de dào zhè ge jī huì zì rán shì yào hǎo hǎo xiāo yáo yī fān le 。
佳酿珍偻。美人劝酒，踏入修仙界以来，林轩倒难得这么放松，每日里腥风血雨。的到这个机会自然是要好好逍遥一番了。
The immediate effects were not yet visible, but if left unchecked, they could become significant problems in the future.
yòng wán měi cān ， tā dài zhe liǎng nǚ qù chéng zhōng sì chù yóu lǎn ， dàng wǎn biàn xiē zài zuì xiān lóu ， chú le jiǔ guǎn ， xī hái dài yǒu yī jiā kè zhàn 。
用完美餐，他带着两女去城中四处游览，当晚便歇在醉仙楼，除了酒馆，牺还带有一家客栈。
In other words, Lin Xuan needed to strengthen his mind.
dì èr tiān réng rán rú cǐ ， jiù zhè yàng ， lín xuān zài cǐ chéng chī hē wán lè le shù rì 。
第二天仍然如此，就这样，林轩在此城吃喝玩乐了数日。
But this "strengthening" was different from when he first entered the realm of immortals. For someone with such a powerful consciousness, it wouldn't be as effective.
dào le dì qī tiān shàng 。6 yíng ér hái chén dé zhù qì ， liú xīn yǐ shì mǎn liǎn què yòu bù gǎn kāi kǒu zhì wèn shào yé 。 lín xuān yě bìng bù jiě shì 。
到了第七天上。6盈儿还沉得住气，刘芯已是满脸却又不敢开口质问少爷。林轩也并不解释。
After much consideration, Lin Xuan finally decided on a path: indulgence in the world.
qí shí tā zhè me zuò dāng rán bú shì tān tú xiǎng lè ， ér shì yǒu liǎng gè lǐ yóu 。
其实他这么做当然不是贪图享乐，而是有两个理由。
It sounded absurd, but worldly pleasures were the easiest way to weaken one's willpower. He would first immerse himself in the secular world, accepting all temptations before retreating into seclusion for rigorous cultivation. The stark contrast between the two could test even the strongest wills, like someone who had grown accustomed to fine food suddenly forced to eat only plain vegetables.
yī lái me ， shì dǎ tàn xiāo xī ， sú huà shuō dé hǎo ， zhī jǐ zhī bǐ ， bǎi zhàn bù dài ， jiǎ ruò jǐn shì lín xuān yī rén ér yǐ ， duì yú lí yào gōng zì rán bù xū yǒu suǒ gù jì ， liǎng sān gè dà xiū shì yòu rú hé ， zì jǐ shì dǎ bù guò 。 dàn táo què yǒu shí fēn bǎ wò ， jiù suàn jiāng tiān yuán sōu xuè xǐ le ， duì fāng yòu néng rú hé ， hái bú shì zhǐ yǒu gàn kàn zhe 。
一来么，是打探消息，俗话说得好，知己知彼，百战不殆，假若仅是林轩一人而已，对于离药宫自然不需有所顾忌，两三个大修士又如何，自己是打不过。但逃却有十分把握，就算将天缘艘血洗了，对方又能如何，还不是只有干看着。
Lin Xuan was willing to endure this hardship; as long as he persisted, his mind would surely improve.
rán ér xiàn zài bù tóng 。 lín xuān kě bù xiǎng huǐ le bài xuān gé ， rú jīn de tiān yún shí èr zhōu mén pài lín lì ， lín xuān xū yào yí gè wán quán tīng mìng yú zì jǐ de shì lì 。
然而现在不同。林轩可不想毁了拜轩阁，如今的天云十二州门派林立，林轩需要一个完全听命于自己的势力。
This was also part of the difficulties in cultivating immortality.
duì fù tiān yuán sōu yě shì xiǎng yào jiāng xī zhǎn zhuàng dà ， dāng rán bù néng nòng qiǎo chéng zhuō ， yǔ lí yào gōng yìng pèng 。
对付天缘艘也是想要将牺展壮大，当然不能弄巧成拙，与离药宫硬碰。
Of course, seven days were not enough. On this day, Lin Xuan realized that his target had appeared.
duì fāng jū rán pài lái le yuán yīng qī lǎo guài ， zhè kě yǔ zì jǐ yuán xiān de shè xiǎng bù tóng ， mò fēi lí yào gōng zhēn xiǎng zài yōu zhōu shè lì fēn duò 。
对方居然派来了元婴期老怪，这可与自己原先的设想不同，莫非离药宫真想在幽州设立分舵。
Despite indulging himself for several days, he had subtly extended his divine sense throughout the city. With his formidable cultivation, every move and action of everyone in the city was under his control.
lín xuān yě yǒu xiē chī bù zhǔn le ， tā xū yào gèng duō de xìn xī ， ér dé dào zuì hǎo de fāng fǎ jiù shì zhuā yī míng duì fāng de dì zǐ 。 shī yǐ bō hún zhī shù ， qù zǒng tán kěn dìng shì bù xíng de ， nà yàng róng yì dǎ cǎo jīng shé 。
林轩也有些吃不准了，他需要更多的信息，而得到最好的方法就是抓一名对方的弟子。施以拨魂之术，去总坛肯定是不行的，那样容易打草惊蛇。
He sensed a few cultivators entering the city, none weak. One was at the middle stage of foundation establishment, while the other two were low-grade灵动期disciples. It seemed they weren't just there for pleasure; they had ulterior motives.
ér lín xuān wú yì jiān tīng le zuì xiān lóu de chuán shuō ， bié rén huò xǔ jiāng xìn jiāng yí ， dàn lín xuān què kě yǐ kěn dìng zhè shì zhēn de 。 xiū xiān zhě suī rán kě yǐ bì gǔ ， dàn tān tú kǒu fù zhī yù de yě hěn duō 。
而林轩无意间听了醉仙楼的传说，别人或许将信将疑，但林轩却可以肯定这是真的。修仙者虽然可以辟谷，但贪图口腹之欲的也很多。
"Uncle Fang, this is Zhuangyang City. Although it's inhabited by ordinary people, Drunken Immortal Pavilion truly offers exquisite delicacies. Try some and you'll be satisfied."
hé kuàng jiù suàn jiǎ de yě wú fáng ， zhè lǐ shì jiǎo mǎng shān fù jìn wéi yī de fán rén jù jū zhī chù ， tiān yuán háng de xiū shì dìng qī kěn dìng huì lái cǎi mǎi yī xiē dōng xī de ， zì jǐ zhǐ xū shuǎ shǒu zhū dài tù ， jiù bì dìng néng gòu dé dào xiǎng yào de xiāo xī le 。
何况就算假的也无妨，这里是角蟒山附近唯一的凡人聚居之处，天缘航的修士定期肯定会来采买一些东西的，自己只需耍守株待兔，就必定能够得到想要的消息了。
The three cultivators were now in civilian attire. The middle-aged man was thin and dark-skinned, while the two on either side were much taller and more muscular, but their faces showed servile expressions. It was the thinner man who carefully spoke.
ér chú le zhè ge ” lín xuān xiàng wán kù zǐ dì bān chī hē wán lè ， hái yǒu bié de lǐ yóu 。
而除了这个”林轩像纨绔子弟般吃喝玩乐，还有别的理由。
"Hmph, as cultivators, we should strive for hard work rather than indulge in pleasure."
rú jīn tā yǐ shì níng dān zhōng qī de xiū xiān zhě ， tè bié shì jié yīng yǐ hòu ， cóng chū qī dào zhōng qī ， yī kào shí xīn mó táo de yào lì ， jǐn jǐn huā le sān nián ér yǐ ， zhè ge dù ， bù shuō hòu wú lái zhě ， kěn dìng shì qián wú gǔ rén le 。
如今他已是凝丹中期的修仙者，特别是结婴以后，从初期到中期，依靠蚀心魔桃的药力，仅仅花了三年而已，这个度，不说后无来者，肯定是前无古人了。
The thin man dismissed this with a wave of his hand, though his eyes kept darting around, not just at the restaurants but also at the women nearby.
rán ér shēng jí tài kuài suī shì xǐ shì ， dàn yě bìng fēi jiù méi yǒu yǐn huàn dì ， fán shì yǒu lì jiù yǒu bì ， zhè me kuài jìn jiē zhōng qī ， gēn jī bù zhā shí dào shì xiǎo shì ， guān jiàn shì lín xuān de xīn jìng yǒu xiē gēn bù shàng le 。
然而升级太快虽是喜事，但也并非就没有隐患地，凡事有利就有弊，这么快进阶中期，根基不扎实到是小事，关键是林轩的心境有些跟不上了。
"Yes, yes," said the other cultivator, eager to please. The identity of this Fang cultivator was significant; he was at the foundation establishment stage and had blood ties to the newly arrived elder from Li Yehuang Palace, though many generations separated them. He was still a respected descendant in the secular world, and even the various condensation-stage elders treated him kindly. These low-ranking disciples naturally tried their best to curry favor.
xiàn zài huài chù hái méi yǒu xiǎn lù ， dàn rú guǒ fàng rèn bù guǎn de huà ， chí zǎo huì biàn chéng dà yǐn huàn de 。
现在坏处还没有显露，但如果放任不管的话，迟早会变成大隐患的。
It was fortunate that this Fang cultivator had high cultivation but was also frivolous and greedy for food and women. The two灵动期disciples were former wealthy young men before entering the realm of immortals, so they catered to his preferences. PS: Today's extra update, three chapters totaling 2000 words.
About twenty miles west of Angle Python Mountain, there stood a small but bustling city. The place was densely populated with numerous inns and taverns, particularly one named Drunken Immortal Pavilion on the western side.
The inn was famous for its self-brewed aged wine, rare delicacies, and even rumors suggested that some celestial immortals had once visited to enjoy the local wines. While such claims were considered too absurd by most people, they still drew a steady stream of guests willing to pay a premium price for the exquisite food.
Li Si, who had worked as an innkeeper here for seven or eight years, had grown into a sturdy young man from a boy. Though he was just an ordinary servant, his good looks and frugal lifestyle had earned him some savings. With the New Year approaching in a few days, he was planning to ask a matchmaker in Dong Village to help him find a wife.
As the saying goes, "A man should marry when he's grown, and a woman should get married too." He was at an age where he couldn't resist the idea of having a warm-hearted wife who understood his feelings. Lately, he had been caught staring at young beautiful female guests more than usual.
The day was still early, with few customers upstairs. Suddenly, three figures entered Li Si's line of sight: one man and two women. They didn't seem to be over twenty years old. The man seemed indifferent as the two women stood respectfully beside him.
"Sit down, why are you standing?" Lin Xuan glanced at the two women.
"We dare not sit," they replied humbly. "We will serve Master."
"Just because I'm your master doesn't mean we need to be overly formal. Sit if you want." Lin Xuan said coolly.
The two women, understanding his tone, bowed and took their seats beside him.
Lin Xuan, despite being a cultivator who could survive without food or drink, did not refuse the pleasure of good food and wine. The taste was indeed delightful, and he smiled contentedly after several bites.
However, the two women seemed less enthusiastic than Lin Xuan. They watched him eat heartily while Rong Xin and Yu Ying'er hesitated to speak.
"Why aren't you eating?"
"We came here to deal with the threat from Heaven Destiny Boat. An Inner Party Agent has informed us that an Incarnation Stage elder from Li Yehuang Palace has been appointed as the leader of this branch in Youzhou, currently based in Angle Python Mountain. Why are you so relaxed about it?" Rong Xin held her wine cup but couldn't bring herself to drink, wondering why their master was not worried despite the imminent danger.
"I don't need to worry; I can handle it," Lin Xuan smiled. "Relax, I have my own plans for this city."
"But…" Rong Xin wanted to say more when Yu Ying'er stopped her: "Sister, let's just follow Master's lead. If he is so confident, we should trust him."
Yu Ying'er then stood up and filled Lin Xuan's cup with a smile. "Master, I toast to you."
She raised the cup and drank it in one go.
Lin Xuan appreciated her composure and turned to Rong Xin: "Little girl, learn from Sister Yu. A great leader must first keep his emotions under control."
"Ah!" Rong Xin, who had been a Second Pavilion Leader for many years, nodded thoughtfully and began serving Lin Xuan as well.
Delicious wine and beautiful women, after so much bloodshed in the cultivation world, this was a rare chance to relax. After enjoying his meal, he took the two women on a tour of the city and stayed at Drunken Immortal Pavilion for the night.
The next day, they repeated their activities. For several days, Lin Xuan indulged himself in the pleasures of the city.
On the seventh day, while Yu Ying'er remained calm, Rong Xin's face was full of worry but she didn't dare to ask questions. Lin Xuan did not explain his reasons.
In fact, he wasn't just enjoying himself; there were two main reasons for this behavior.
Firstly, he wanted to gather intelligence. As the saying goes, "Know your enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster." With only him alone, he didn't need to worry about Li Yehuang Palace, but with three powerful cultivators, even if he couldn't defeat them, escaping was still possible. Even if he could wipe out the Heaven Destiny Boat, what could they do? They would just watch helplessly.
However, now things were different. Lin Xuan didn't want to destroy Baxuan Pavilion. With twelve states in the sky and cloud region, he needed a force that would completely obey him.
Expanding against the Heaven Destiny Boat was also about making it stronger; he couldn't risk a direct confrontation with Li Yehuang Palace.
The arrival of an Incarnation Stage elder from Li Yehuang Palace was unexpected. Did they really want to establish a branch in Youzhou?
Lin Xuan wasn't sure, so he needed more information. The best way was to capture one of their disciples and use soul probing techniques. Going directly to the main hall would be too risky.
He had heard from Drunken Immortal Pavilion that others might doubt it, but Lin Xuan knew for certain that this was true. While cultivators could survive without food or drink, many still craved worldly pleasures.
Even if it turned out to be false, here was the only place where ordinary people lived near Angle Python Mountain. The Heaven Destiny Boat's cultivators would surely come to buy supplies regularly. He just needed to wait for them like a rabbit waiting by a tree stump.
But there were other reasons too.
Lin Xuan had already reached the middle stage of condensation, thanks to the magic fruit Heart Eater Peach. It took him only three years from initial to middle stage, which was unprecedented and unmatched.
While rapid advancement was good, it also brought its own risks. Everything has a downside; his foundation might not be as solid, and his mindset had started to lag behind.
The immediate effects were not yet visible, but if left unchecked, they could become significant problems in the future.
In other words, Lin Xuan needed to strengthen his mind.
But this "strengthening" was different from when he first entered the realm of immortals. For someone with such a powerful consciousness, it wouldn't be as effective.
After much consideration, Lin Xuan finally decided on a path: indulgence in the world.
It sounded absurd, but worldly pleasures were the easiest way to weaken one's willpower. He would first immerse himself in the secular world, accepting all temptations before retreating into seclusion for rigorous cultivation. The stark contrast between the two could test even the strongest wills, like someone who had grown accustomed to fine food suddenly forced to eat only plain vegetables.
Lin Xuan was willing to endure this hardship; as long as he persisted, his mind would surely improve.
This was also part of the difficulties in cultivating immortality.
Of course, seven days were not enough. On this day, Lin Xuan realized that his target had appeared.
Despite indulging himself for several days, he had subtly extended his divine sense throughout the city. With his formidable cultivation, every move and action of everyone in the city was under his control.
He sensed a few cultivators entering the city, none weak. One was at the middle stage of foundation establishment, while the other two were low-grade灵动期disciples. It seemed they weren't just there for pleasure; they had ulterior motives.
"Uncle Fang, this is Zhuangyang City. Although it's inhabited by ordinary people, Drunken Immortal Pavilion truly offers exquisite delicacies. Try some and you'll be satisfied."
The three cultivators were now in civilian attire. The middle-aged man was thin and dark-skinned, while the two on either side were much taller and more muscular, but their faces showed servile expressions. It was the thinner man who carefully spoke.
"Hmph, as cultivators, we should strive for hard work rather than indulge in pleasure."
The thin man dismissed this with a wave of his hand, though his eyes kept darting around, not just at the restaurants but also at the women nearby.
"Yes, yes," said the other cultivator, eager to please. The identity of this Fang cultivator was significant; he was at the foundation establishment stage and had blood ties to the newly arrived elder from Li Yehuang Palace, though many generations separated them. He was still a respected descendant in the secular world, and even the various condensation-stage elders treated him kindly. These low-ranking disciples naturally tried their best to curry favor.
It was fortunate that this Fang cultivator had high cultivation but was also frivolous and greedy for food and women. The two灵动期disciples were former wealthy young men before entering the realm of immortals, so they catered to his preferences. PS: Today's extra update, three chapters totaling 2000 words.