huàn yáng shān wèi yú mán shí chéng yǐ xī ， liǎng zhě xiāng jù yuē yǒu jìn bǎi wàn lǐ ， nǎi shì chū míng de huǒ mài zhī yī 。
幻阳山位于瞒石城以西，两者相距约有近百万里，乃是出名的火脉之一。
Phantom Sun Mountain was located west of Mantis Stone City, about a million miles away. It was one of the famous Fire Veins.
líng yào shān de xīn zǒng tán jiù wèi yú zhè lǐ 。
灵药山的新总坛就位于这里。
The new main hall of Spirit Medicine Mountain was situated here.
cǐ chù bù jǐn dì huǒ zī yuán fēng fù ， líng qì yě shì pǒ wèi bù cuò ， yuán běn wèi yī xiū xiān jiā zú suǒ yǒu ， què bèi wài lái de líng yào shān kàn zhòng 。
此处不仅地火资源丰富，灵气也是颇为不错，原本为一修仙家族所有，却被外来的灵药山看中。
Not only did the place have abundant underground fire resources, but it also had quite decent spiritual energy. Originally belonging to a cultivation family, it had been coveted by Spirit Medicine Mountain.
yú shì yǒu le yī fān zhēng duó ， zhè yě méi shén me hào qí guài de ， xiū xiān jiè fèng xíng de nǎi shì cóng lín fǎ zé ， shā rén qiǎng bǎo ， huò shì zhēng duó líng mài kuàng shān ， jī hū tiān tiān dōu zài shàng yǎn 。
于是有了一番争夺，这也没什么好奇怪的，修仙界奉行的乃是丛林法则，杀人抢宝，或是争夺灵脉矿山，几乎天天都在上演。
Thus, there was some competition, which wasn't surprising in the world of cultivators where survival of the fittest reigned supreme—killing and robbing, or competing over veins and mines, were common occurrences.
yún zhōu suī shì xiū liàn shèng dì ， zhěng tǐ shuǐ píng bǐ yōu zhōu gāo shàng shù chóu yǒu yú ， dàn chú le nà xiē lìng rén wèi jù de dà shì lì ， xiǎo mén xiǎo pài gèng jiā shǔ bù shèng shǔ ， bǐ yǔ hòu chūn sǔn hái duō 。
云州虽是修炼圣地，整体水平比幽州高上数筹有余，但除了那些令人畏惧的大势力，小门小派更加数不胜数，比雨后春笋还多。
Although Yunzhou was a holy land for cultivation with overall higher levels than Youzhou, it was rife with small sects and families, more numerous than mushrooms after rain.
zhàn jù huàn yáng shān de yuán běn yě jiù shì yī zhōng děng guī mó de xiū xiān jiā zú ， suī rán yě yǒu jǐ míng níng dān qī dǐng fēng de xiū xiān zhě ， dàn yǔ líng yào shān de liǎng wèi yuán yīng lǎo guài xiàng bǐ ， chā jù hái shì fēi cháng míng xiǎn dì 。
占据幻阳山的原本也就是一中等规模的修仙家族，虽然也有几名凝丹期顶峰的修仙者，但与灵药山的两位元婴老怪相比，差距还是非常明显地。
The family that had occupied Phantom Sun Mountain was merely an average-sized cultivation clan. Although they had several peak Core Formation cultivators, their strength paled in comparison to the two Senior Immortals of Spirit Medicine Mountain.
gāi jiā zú zhī dào zì jǐ shí lì bù jì ， kě yě shě bù dé fàng qì chuán chéng le mǐn shí dài de líng dì ， jiā zú zhǎng lǎo jīng guò yī fān jì yì ， jù jué le líng yào shān ràng tā men lí kāi de jiàn yì 。
该家族知道自己实力不济，可也舍不得放弃传承了敏十代的灵地，家族长老经过一番计议，拒绝了灵药山让他们离开的建议。
Knowing their power was inadequate, yet unwilling to give up a land passed down for ten generations, the family elders rejected Spirit Medicine Mountain's suggestion to leave.
zhī suǒ yǐ rú cǐ dà dǎn ， yě shì yǒu xiē xǔ píng yǐ ， yī lái ， tā men zài zhè lǐ jīng yíng le shù wàn nián ， gēn shēn dì gù ， hù pài dà zhèn fēi tóng xiǎo kě 。
之所以如此大胆，也是有些许凭倚，一来，他们在这里经营了数万年，根深蒂固，护派大阵非同小可。
Their boldness stemmed from some advantages. First, they had operated here for countless millennia, deeply rooted and with formidable protective arrays. Second, although Spirit Medicine Mountain had Senior Immortals, they were outsiders, while this clan had some local connections.
èr lái ， líng yào shān suī yǒu yuán yīng lǎo guài ， bì jìng shì wài lái zhě ， ér běn jiā zú zài zhè lǐ ， duō shǎo yǒu yī xiē rén mài 。
二来，灵药山虽有元婴老怪，毕竟是外来者，而本家族在这里，多少有一些人脉。
In short, they had the advantage of timing, location, and support. Thus, they decided to take a gamble.
jiǎn dān de shuō ， jiù shì zhàn jù le tiān shí dì lì rén hé ， yú shì tā men jué dìng fàng shǒu yī bó 。
简单的说，就是占据了天时地利人和，于是他们决定放手一搏。
But Master Xu Yingsheng was a cunning character. Once he realized Phantom Sun Mountain's importance, he knew he must seize it. He had anticipated every possible scenario.
kě tōng yǔ zhēn rén shì hé děng xīn jī shēn chén de rén wù ， jì shè shěng huàn yáng shān kàn zhòng ， kěn dìng zhì zài bì děi ， gè zhǒng qíng xíng dōu shè xiǎng guò 。
可通羽真人是何等心机深沉的人物，既赦省幻阳山看中，肯定志在必得，各种情形都设想过。
The outcome of their struggle was predictable: while the protective arrays did provide some defense, expected reinforcements never arrived. They had been bought off by Spirit Medicine Mountain with medicinal pills. Consequently, the family that once controlled Phantom Sun Mountain was now under threat from both sides.
yú shì zhēng dòu de jié guǒ yě jiù méi yǒu xuán niàn le ， hù pài dà zhèn shì qǐ le yī xiē zuò yòng kě yù jì de yuán bīng què zōng yǐng quán wú ， zǎo bèi líng yào shān yòng dān yào shōu mǎi le ， wài lái mén pài yòu rú hé ， xiū xiān zhě dōu shì guǎ qíng báo yì de ， suī rán yǔ gāi jiā zú yǒu xiē jiāo qíng ， kě miàn duì líng dān miào yào de yòu huò ， zì rán shì háo bù yóu yù de jiāng péng yǒu gěi pāo qì le 。
于是争斗的结果也就没有悬念了，护派大阵是起了一些作用可预计的援兵却踪影全无，早被灵药山用丹药收买了，外来门派又如何，修仙者都是寡情薄意的，虽然与该家族有些交情，可面对灵丹妙药的诱惑，自然是毫不犹豫的将朋友给抛弃了。
"What a tricky situation, Brother," Xu Yingsheng said. "Although it's clear someone is framing you, our sect has long been at odds with Spirit Medicine Palace. They might exploit this to their advantage."
jié guǒ yǐ líng yào shān dà shèng gào zhōng ， gāi jiā zú bèi tú chuō yī kōng ， bú yào guài líng yào shān zhī rén xīn hěn ， yuān chóu yǐ jīng jié xià ， bù zhǎn cǎo chú gēn ， nán dào hái yào gěi duì fāng jī huì bào fù ？
结果以灵药山大胜告终，该家族被屠戳一空，不要怪灵药山之人心狠，冤仇已经结下，不斩草除根，难道还要给对方机会报复？
"Indeed, Old Devil Jia has coveted us for a long time. He won't miss such an opportunity. Moreover…" Master Xu Yingsheng smiled bitterly as he continued: "I happened to be in the rubble field and even fought against the two elders of Mantis Stone City. This makes it harder to clear my name."
yào me bù zuò ， yào me jiù zhǎn jìn shā jué ！ yǒu le zǒng tán ， líng yào shān zhǎn hěn kuài ， kào zhe jīng zhàn de liàn dān jì yì ， hěn kuài jiù zài yún zhōu zhā xià le gēn lái ， jí shǐ yǔ lí yào gōng bù hé ， què yě méi yǒu yù jiàn dà de fēng bō 。
要么不做，要么就斩尽杀绝！有了总坛，灵药山展很快，靠着精湛的炼丹技艺，很快就在云州扎下了根来，即使与离药宫不合，却也没有遇见大的风波。
"Still, we can't blame you; it's just a coincidence," Xu Yingsheng sighed, trying to comfort his comrade.
rán ér zhè yī huí shēng zài mán shí chéng de shā rén qiǎng bǎo ， què jiāng líng yào shān tuī dào le fēng kǒu làng jiān yí gè chǔ lǐ bù hǎo ， jiù yǒu kě néng wàn jié bù fù 。
然而这一回生在瞒石城的杀人抢宝，却将灵药山推到了风口浪尖一个处理不好，就有可能万劫不复。
"But others won't see it that way. Although Mantis Stone City and Spirit Medicine Palace haven't acted yet, they definitely won't let us off the hook."
cǐ shí zài zǒng xiào shēn chù ， yī líng qì nóng yù de dòng fǔ 。
此时在总校深处，一灵气浓郁的洞府。
"What do you suggest, Brother?" While Xu Yingsheng was the top cultivator of Spirit Medicine Mountain in terms of cultivation level, his intelligence couldn't match Master Xu Yingsheng's.
liǎng míng lǎo zhě pán xī ér zuò ， yī wèi xiān fēng dào gǔ ， lìng wài yī wèi zé róng mào pǔ tōng ， rě rén zhù yì de shì tā jǐn yǒu yī zhī dú ao bú yòng shuō ， zhèng shì tōng yǔ zhēn rén yǔ běn pài lìng wài yī wèi yuán yīng qī zhǎng lǎo le 。
两名老者盘膝而坐，一位仙风道骨，另外一位则容貌普通，惹人注意的是他仅有一只独ao不用说，正是通羽真人与本派另外一位元婴期长老了。
"Things have reached this point. Explanation is futile…" Master Xu Yingsheng looked contemplative and spoke slowly: "Let's ask for aid from the Spirit Control Sect."
bèi lín xuān jiù xià yǐ hòu ， tōng yǔ zhēn rén bù gǎn dān gē ， yī kè bù tíng de huí dào zǒng duò ， rán hòu pài chū dì zǐ ， sì chù dǎ tàn xiāo xī ， rú jīn tā yǐ zhī dào mán shí chéng zhōng shēng le shén me 。
被林轩救下以后，通羽真人不敢耽搁，一刻不停的回到总舵，然后派出弟子，四处打探消息，如今他已知道瞒石城中生了什么。
"But Brother," Master Xu Yingsheng frowned, "Spirit Medicine Palace wants to eliminate our sect. The Spirit Control Sect isn't any better; although we have a good relationship with them, it's merely mutual exploitation. They're just as bad as Spirit Medicine Palace. Seeking their help now would be like inviting wolves into the fold."
“ shī dì ， cǐ shì hái zhēn yǒu xiē jí shǒu ， suī rán míng yǎn rén dōu néng kàn chū shì yǒu rén duì nǐ zāi zāng jià huò ， kě běn mén yǔ lí yào gōng xiàng lái bù hé ， nán bǎo tā men bú huì jiè cǐ dà zuò wén zhāng de 。”
“师弟，此事还真有些棘手，虽然明眼人都能看出是有人对你栽赃嫁祸，可本门与离药宫向来不和，难保他们不会借此大做文章的。”
"What do you suggest then?"
“ bù cuò ， jiǎ lǎo mó xiǎng yào tūn bìng wǒ men yǐ jīng hěn jiǔ le ， zhè me hǎo de jī huì tā jué bú huì cuò guò ， hé kuàng ……” shuō dào zhè lǐ ， tōng yǔ zhēn rén de zuǐ jiǎo biān liú lù chū yī sī kǔ sè de xiào yì ：“ wǒ qià qiǎo chū xiàn zài suì shí huāng dì ， hái yǔ mán shí chéng de liǎng wèi zhǎng lǎo jiāo guò shǒu ， zhè xià xián yí jiù gèng bù róng yì xǐ tuō 。”
“不错，贾老魔想要吞并我们已经很久了，这么好的机会他绝不会错过，何况……”说到这里，通羽真人的嘴角边流露出一丝苦涩的笑意：“我恰巧出现在碎石荒地，还与瞒石城的两位长老交过手，这下嫌疑就更不容易洗脱。”
"Let me think…" Master Xu Yingsheng tapped his knee with his finger for a long time before his eyes hardened: "We must take a risk and stir up trouble…." He lowered his voice, using secret transmission.
“ nà yě bù néng guài nǐ ， zhǐ shì shì yǒu còu qiǎo ér yǐ 。” xú jǐn qīng tàn le kǒu qì ， suǒ sǎn shuō chū ān wèi de yán yǔ 。
“那也不能怪你，只是事有凑巧而已。”徐锦青叹了口气，唢伞说出安慰的言语。
"What? Brother, this is too bold. If we're discovered, our sect will be the target of everyone's anger!" Xu Yingsheng was shocked, rarely losing composure as an Intermediate Stage Senior Immortal.
“ huà suī rú cǐ ， dàn bié rén kě bù huì zhè me xiǎng de ， rú jīn mán shí chéng yǔ lí yào gōng suī méi yǒu dòng zuò ， dàn jué bù kě néng jiāng běn mén fàng guò 。”
“话虽如此，但别人可不会这么想的，如今瞒石城与离药宫虽没有动作，但绝不可能将本门放过。”
"Hmph, if not now, when? As they say, fortune and misfortune come from danger! To resolve crises, sometimes one must take risks," Master Xu Yingsheng's face contorted into a sinister grin.
“ nà shī dì yǒu shén me dǎ suàn ne ？” lùn xiū wèi ， xú jǐn qīng shì líng yào shān dì yī gāo shǒu ， dàn jiǎng dào zú zhì duō móu ， tā què pāi mǎ yě jí bù shàng tōng yǔ zhēn rén de 。
“那师弟有什么打算呢？”论修为，徐锦青是灵药山第一高手，但讲到足智多谋，他却拍马也及不上通羽真人的。
"Alright, but we must carefully select the disciples for this task. There can be no room for error." Xu Yingsheng's expression was grim as he finally sighed in agreement with his comrade.
“ shì qíng dào le zhè zhòng dì bù ， jiě shì yě méi yǒu sī háo yòng tú ……” tōng yǔ zhēn rén liǎn shàng lù chū xiē xǔ chén yín zhī sè ， huǎn huǎn de kāi kǒu le 。
“事情到了这种地步，解释也没有丝毫用途……”通羽真人脸上露出些许沉吟之色，缓缓的开口了。
Although it was a risky move, if executed well, it might indeed help resolve their crisis.
“ yào bù wǒ men xiàng yù líng zōng qiú yuán hǎo le 。
“要不我们像御灵宗求援好了。
"This is natural; I'll personally choose them."
“ yù líng zōng ？” tōng yǔ zhēn rén méi tou yí zhòu ：“ shī xiōng ， lí yào gōng xiǎng yào tūn bìng mǐn miè diào wǒ men de dào tǒng ， yù líng zōng yòu hé cháng shì shén me hǎo dōng xī le ， suī rán wǒ men yǔ gāi pài guān xì yí xiàng bù cuò ， dàn yě bù guò shì xū yǔ wēi yí ， hù xiāng lì yòng bà le ， shuō bái le ， tā men yǔ lí yào gōng yě shì yī qiū zhī hé ， zhè shí hòu qiú yuán ， jiù suàn néng gòu huò dé bāng zhù ， yě bù guò shì qián mén qū hǔ ， hòu mén yíng láng bà le 。”
“御灵宗？”通羽真人眉头一皱：“师兄，离药宫想要吞并泯灭掉我们的道统，御灵宗又何尝是什么好东西了，虽然我们与该派关系一向不错，但也不过是虚与委蛇，互相利用罢了，说白了，他们与离药宫也是一丘之貉，这时候求援，就算能够获得帮助，也不过是前门驱虎，后门迎狼罢了。”
In the following months, southern Yunzhou, centered around Mantis Stone City, became unstable. A series of major events unfolded.
“ nà yǐ shī dì zhī yì ， yīng gāi rú hé ？”
“那以师弟之意，应该如何？”
Master Xu Yingsheng's robbery of shops in Mantis Stone City, though efforts were made to suppress the news, still spread, causing a stir.
“ zhè ge ……” tōng yǔ zhēn rén shēn chū shǒu lái ， yòng zhǐ tou qīng qīng de qiāo zhe xī gài ， liáng jiǔ ， yǎn zhōng lù chū le jǐ fēn hěn lì de biǎo qíng lái ：“ shì dào rú jīn ， wǒ men yě zhǐ yǒu fàng shǒu yī bó ， xiǎng bàn fǎ jiāng shuǐ jiǎo hún le ……” suí hòu tā shēng yīn yī dī ， jìng rán shǐ yòng qǐ le chuán yīn rù mì 。
“这个……”通羽真人伸出手来，用指头轻轻的敲着膝盖，良久，眼中露出了几分狠厉的表情来：“事到如今，我们也只有放手一搏，想办法将水搅浑了……”随后他声音一低，竟然使用起了传音入秘。
The shop was operated by Spirit Medicine Palace; Master Xu Yingsheng had such nerve! However, some dismissed it as absurd and suspected someone was framing him.
“ shén me ， shī dì ， zhè yàng yě tài dà dǎn le xiē ， rú guǒ bèi xiàn le ， běn mén jiàng chéng wéi zhòng shǐ zhī dì ！” xú jǐn qīng dà jīng shī sè ， zuò wèi yuán yīng zhōng qī de lǎo guài wù ， néng gòu ràng tā shī tài de shì qíng kě shì bù duō 。
“什么，师弟，这样也太大胆了些，如果被现了，本门将成为众矢之的！”徐锦青大惊失色，做为元婴中期的老怪物，能够让他失态的事情可是不多。
But their debate didn't last long. More shocking events followed.
“ hēng ， bù zhè me zuò ， shī xiōng yǐ wéi běn mén jiù bù wēi xiǎn le ， sú huà shuō ， fù guì xiǎn zhōng qiú ！， xiǎng yào huà jiě wēi jī ， yǒu shí hòu tóng yàng xū yào zǒu jǐ bù xiǎn qí 。” xún diāo rén wǔ guān niǔ qū ， miàn róng zhēng níng wú bǐ 。
“哼，不这么做，师兄以为本门就不危险了，俗话说，富贵险中求！，想要化解危机，有时候同样需要走几步险棋。”巡鲷人五官扭曲，面容狰狞无比。
First, several properties of the Spirit Control Sect were attacked, resulting in dozens of low-level disciples' deaths. Survivors reported that attackers wore clothes with Spirit Medicine Palace's insignia.
“ hǎo ba ， bù guò zhí xíng rèn wù de dì zǐ ， yí dìng yào jīng xīn tiāo xuǎn ， jué bù kě yǐ yǒu rèn hé mǎ hǔ 。” xú jǐn qīng liǎn sè yīn mái wú bǐ ， liáng jiǔ ， zhōng yú tàn le kǒu qì ， tóng yì le tōng yǔ zhēn rén de jiàn yì 。
“好吧，不过执行任务的弟子，一定要精心挑选，绝不可以有任何马虎。”徐锦青脸色阴霾无比，良久，终于叹了口气，同意了通羽真人的建议。
Spirit Medicine Palace denied it; they hadn't done anything. Even if there was a dispute between the two sects, attacking dozens of灵动期 disciples wouldn't make sense.
jǐn guǎn zhè shì yī bù xiǎn qí ， dàn yòng dé hǎo ， shuō bù dìng zhēn yǒu kě néng huà jiě běn mén de wēi jī 。
尽管这是一步险棋，但用得好，说不定真有可能化解本门的危机。
Nonetheless, relations between the two major sects became tense.
“ zhè shì zì rán de ， yú dì huì qīn zì tiāo xuǎn 。”
“这是自然的，愚弟会亲自挑选。”
That afternoon, another small family allied with Phantom Soul Valley was also wiped out. Although this family had only a dozen members, they were still protected by Phantom Soul Valley. As the saying went, "Even a dog's owner matters."
jiē xià lái de shù yuè ， yǐ mán shí chéng wèi zhōng xīn de yún zhōu nán bù ， dòng dàng bù ān ， shēng le yī lián chuàn de dà shì jiàn 。
接下来的数月，以瞒石城为中心的云州南部，动荡不安，生了一连串的大事件。
This act didn't harm Phantom Soul Valley's strength but was like slapping them in the face.
yǐ tōng yǔ zhēn rén qiǎng jié mán shí chéng zhōng de diàn pù wèi ， suī rán xiāo xī yǐ jǐn liàng fēng xiān ， dàn hái shì mò míng qí miào de chuán chū ， yǐn dé yī piàn huá rán 。
以通羽真人抢劫瞒石城中的店铺为，虽然消息已尽量封锨，但还是莫名其妙的传出，引得一片哗然。
The bodies were destroyed by fire bombs, leaving no clues at the scene. However, someone claimed that Spirit Control Sect cultivators had been seen nearby before the incident.
nà diàn pù kě shì lí yào gōng suǒ kāi ， tōng yǔ zhēn rén hǎo dà de dǎn ！ dāng rán ， yě yǒu rén bù yǐ wéi rán ， rèn wéi tài guò huāng dàn ， shí yǒu ** shì yǒu rén jià huò gěi líng yào shān 。
那店铺可是离药宫所开，通羽真人好大的胆！当然，也有人不以为然，认为太过荒诞，十有**是有人嫁祸给灵药山。
Considering the three major sects' animosity and lack of unity, everyone began to speculate.
rán ér shuāng fāng de zhēng lùn hái méi yǒu jié shù ， jiē xià lái shēng de yī lián chuàn shì jiàn què ràng rén chēng mù jié shé 。
然而双方的争论还没有结束，接下来生的一连串事件却让人瞠目结舌。
And this was just the beginning.
xiān shì yù líng zōng de jǐ chù chǎn yè bèi xí jī ， shāng wáng le shù shí míng dī jiē dì zǐ ， jù xìng cún zhě miáo shù ， nà xiē rén chuān zhe yìn yǒu lí yào gōng biāo shí de yī fú 。
先是御灵宗的几处产业被袭击，伤亡了数十名低阶弟子，据幸存者描述，那些人穿着印有离药宫标识的衣服。
Over the next few days, attacks on personnel or properties of Spirit Medicine Palace and Mantis Stone City occurred frequently.
lí yào gōng lì kè fǒu rèn le ， tā men méi yǒu zuò guò ， hé kuàng jiù suàn liǎng pài yǒu zhēng zhí ， yě bú huì wú liáo dào qù xí shā jǐ shí míng líng dòng qī de dī jiē dì zǐ 。
离药宫立刻否认了，他们没有做过，何况就算两派有争执，也不会无聊到去袭杀几十名灵动期的低阶弟子。
Not only did these events affect them; several other sects within a million miles radius were also targeted. The identities of the attackers remained unclear.
dàn bù guǎn rú hé ， liǎng dà pài de guān xì què yī xià zi jǐn zhāng qǐ lái 。
但不管如何，两大派的关系却一下子紧张起来。
Phantom Sun Mountain, Phantom Soul Valley, Spirit Medicine Palace, and Mantis Stone City seemed to be the culprits, as if they were retaliating against each other, leading to chaos. However, closer analysis revealed that all attacks shared a common trait: their targets were low-level cultivators. So far, no peak Core Formation cultivator had been injured, explaining why these attacks succeeded.
ér jiù zài zhè jiàn shì shēng dí dàng tiān xià wǔ ， yī fù yú lì hún gǔ de mǒu gè xiǎo jiā zú què yě bèi miè mén le ， suī rán zhè ge jiā zú xiǎo dé lí pǔ ， jǐn yǒu shí jǐ rén ér yǐ ， dàn bù guǎn rú hé ， zǒng shì shòu lì hún gǔ bì hù ， sú huà shuō ， dǎ gǒu hái yào kàn zhǔ rén 。
而就在这件事生的当天下午，依附于厉魂谷的某个小家族却也被灭门了，虽然这个家族小得离谱，仅有十几人而已，但不管如何，总是受厉魂谷庇护，俗话说，打狗还要看主人。
The situation was complex, but every sect in southern Yunzhou felt threatened. Suspicion and distrust spread everywhere.
zhè zhǒng xíng wéi ， yú lì hún gǔ de shí lì méi yǒu sǔn luò ， dàn què xiāng dāng yú zài tā miàn zi shàng shàn le yí gè dà dà de ěr guāng 。
这种行为，于厉魂谷的实力没有损络，但却相当于在他面子上扇了一个大大的耳光。
With these events as background, Master Xu Yingsheng's shop robbery didn't seem so significant anymore. Most people began to believe he was indeed framed.
shī tǐ dōu bèi huǒ dàn huǐ qù ， xiàn chǎng méi yǒu liú xià rèn hé xiàn suǒ ， dàn yǒu rén shuō ， jiù zài cǎn àn shēng qián bù jiǔ ， zhè fù jìn céng chū xiàn guò yù líng zōng xiū shì de xíng zōng 。
尸体都被火弹毁去，现场没有留下任何线索，但有人说，就在惨案生前不久，这附近曾出现过御灵宗修士的行踪。
Spirit Medicine Mountain breathed a sigh of relief.
lián xiǎng sān dà pài zōng mén miàn hé xīn bù hé ， zhòng rén bù yóu de fú xiǎng lián piān le 。
联想三大派宗门面和心不合，众人不由得浮想联翩了。
Lin Xuan heard the news and marveled at it.
ér yuǎn hái jǐn jǐn shì kāi shǐ 。
而远还仅仅是开始。
Unlike other sects, although Lin Xuan wasn't entirely sure, he was about 70% certain that this was his mentor's doing—using poison to counter poison, employing risky strategies to resolve crises. Lin Xuan felt pleased.
jiē xià lái de shù rì ， lí yào gōng ， mán shí chéng dōu yǒu rén yuán huò chǎn yè shòu dào xí jī 。
接下来的数日，离药宫，瞒石城都有人员或产业受到袭击。
Although he didn't have much attachment to Spirit Medicine Mountain, as it was where he once trained, he still wanted to help the sect out of its crisis without needing to take any action himself. He found this development quite convenient; originally, he had returned to Mantis Stone City to aid Spirit Medicine Mountain, but now, staying here seemed like a good idea.
hái bù zhǐ shì tā men ， chú le sì dà jù tóu ， zhè fāng yuán bǎi wàn lǐ nèi ， hái yǒu shù gè zōng mén yě dōu shòu dào le bō jí 。
还不止是他们，除了四大巨头，这方圆百万里内，还有数个宗门也都受到了波及。
Apart from the good spiritual vein, the city was bustling with cultivators, offering various valuable items. Although Lin Xuan had only been in Yunzhou for a few days, he felt lost and decided to stay put, waiting for opportunities.
ér xí jī zhě de shēn fèn yě pū shuò mí lí 。
而袭击者的身份也扑朔迷离。
Of course, Lin Xuan wasn't idle; his first task was to try condensing a demon core again. Success would increase his strength slightly, allowing him to continue practicing Phoenix Dance Nine Heavens Technique.
lì hún gǔ ， yù líng zōng ， lí yào gōng ， mán shí chéng sì hū dōu shì xiōng shǒu ， jiù xiàng shì bǐ cǐ bào fù ， shēng le hùn zhàn ， dàn zǐ xì fēn xī ， què yòu bú duì ， zhè xiē xí jī ， yǒu yí gè gòng tóng tè diǎn 。
厉魂谷，御灵宗，离药宫，瞒石城似乎都是凶手，就像是彼此报复，生了混战，但仔细分析，却又不对，这些袭击，有一个共同特点。
However, before that, Lin Xuan planned to do one more thing: eliminate the Fang cultivator.
jiù shì shòu hài zhě de xiū wèi dōu hěn dī ， gè pài dào mù qián wéi zhǐ ， hái méi yǒu sǔn shāng yī míng níng dān xiū shì ， zhè yě shì wèi shén me ， duì fāng néng gòu lǚ lǚ dé shǒu 。
就是受害者的修为都很低，各派到目前为止，还没有损伤一名凝丹修士，这也是为什么，对方能够屡屡得手。
During his time at Spirit Soul Pavilion, he had felt an extremely dangerous presence from this person. Moreover, they had chosen a cave near his own, clearly harboring ill intentions.
yí diǎn chóng chóng ， dàn zhěng gè yún zhōu nán bù de mén pài ， què rén rén zì wēi le qǐ lái 。
疑点重重，但整个云州南部的门派，却人人自危了起来。
Although there hadn't been any suspicious actions recently, Lin Xuan still felt uneasy. As the saying went, "A bed is not safe when someone else sleeps in it." He needed to remove this threat to focus on cultivation.
Phantom Sun Mountain was located west of Mantis Stone City, about a million miles away. It was one of the famous Fire Veins.
The new main hall of Spirit Medicine Mountain was situated here.
Not only did the place have abundant underground fire resources, but it also had quite decent spiritual energy. Originally belonging to a cultivation family, it had been coveted by Spirit Medicine Mountain.
Thus, there was some competition, which wasn't surprising in the world of cultivators where survival of the fittest reigned supreme—killing and robbing, or competing over veins and mines, were common occurrences.
Although Yunzhou was a holy land for cultivation with overall higher levels than Youzhou, it was rife with small sects and families, more numerous than mushrooms after rain.
The family that had occupied Phantom Sun Mountain was merely an average-sized cultivation clan. Although they had several peak Core Formation cultivators, their strength paled in comparison to the two Senior Immortals of Spirit Medicine Mountain.
Knowing their power was inadequate, yet unwilling to give up a land passed down for ten generations, the family elders rejected Spirit Medicine Mountain's suggestion to leave.
Their boldness stemmed from some advantages. First, they had operated here for countless millennia, deeply rooted and with formidable protective arrays. Second, although Spirit Medicine Mountain had Senior Immortals, they were outsiders, while this clan had some local connections.
In short, they had the advantage of timing, location, and support. Thus, they decided to take a gamble.
But Master Xu Yingsheng was a cunning character. Once he realized Phantom Sun Mountain's importance, he knew he must seize it. He had anticipated every possible scenario.
The outcome of their struggle was predictable: while the protective arrays did provide some defense, expected reinforcements never arrived. They had been bought off by Spirit Medicine Mountain with medicinal pills. Consequently, the family that once controlled Phantom Sun Mountain was now under threat from both sides.
"What a tricky situation, Brother," Xu Yingsheng said. "Although it's clear someone is framing you, our sect has long been at odds with Spirit Medicine Palace. They might exploit this to their advantage."
"Indeed, Old Devil Jia has coveted us for a long time. He won't miss such an opportunity. Moreover…" Master Xu Yingsheng smiled bitterly as he continued: "I happened to be in the rubble field and even fought against the two elders of Mantis Stone City. This makes it harder to clear my name."
"Still, we can't blame you; it's just a coincidence," Xu Yingsheng sighed, trying to comfort his comrade.
"But others won't see it that way. Although Mantis Stone City and Spirit Medicine Palace haven't acted yet, they definitely won't let us off the hook."
"What do you suggest, Brother?" While Xu Yingsheng was the top cultivator of Spirit Medicine Mountain in terms of cultivation level, his intelligence couldn't match Master Xu Yingsheng's.
"Things have reached this point. Explanation is futile…" Master Xu Yingsheng looked contemplative and spoke slowly: "Let's ask for aid from the Spirit Control Sect."
"But Brother," Master Xu Yingsheng frowned, "Spirit Medicine Palace wants to eliminate our sect. The Spirit Control Sect isn't any better; although we have a good relationship with them, it's merely mutual exploitation. They're just as bad as Spirit Medicine Palace. Seeking their help now would be like inviting wolves into the fold."
"What do you suggest then?"
"Let me think…" Master Xu Yingsheng tapped his knee with his finger for a long time before his eyes hardened: "We must take a risk and stir up trouble…." He lowered his voice, using secret transmission.
"What? Brother, this is too bold. If we're discovered, our sect will be the target of everyone's anger!" Xu Yingsheng was shocked, rarely losing composure as an Intermediate Stage Senior Immortal.
"Hmph, if not now, when? As they say, fortune and misfortune come from danger! To resolve crises, sometimes one must take risks," Master Xu Yingsheng's face contorted into a sinister grin.
"Alright, but we must carefully select the disciples for this task. There can be no room for error." Xu Yingsheng's expression was grim as he finally sighed in agreement with his comrade.
Although it was a risky move, if executed well, it might indeed help resolve their crisis.
"This is natural; I'll personally choose them."
In the following months, southern Yunzhou, centered around Mantis Stone City, became unstable. A series of major events unfolded.
Master Xu Yingsheng's robbery of shops in Mantis Stone City, though efforts were made to suppress the news, still spread, causing a stir.
The shop was operated by Spirit Medicine Palace; Master Xu Yingsheng had such nerve! However, some dismissed it as absurd and suspected someone was framing him.
But their debate didn't last long. More shocking events followed.
First, several properties of the Spirit Control Sect were attacked, resulting in dozens of low-level disciples' deaths. Survivors reported that attackers wore clothes with Spirit Medicine Palace's insignia.
Spirit Medicine Palace denied it; they hadn't done anything. Even if there was a dispute between the two sects, attacking dozens of灵动期 disciples wouldn't make sense.
Nonetheless, relations between the two major sects became tense.
That afternoon, another small family allied with Phantom Soul Valley was also wiped out. Although this family had only a dozen members, they were still protected by Phantom Soul Valley. As the saying went, "Even a dog's owner matters."
This act didn't harm Phantom Soul Valley's strength but was like slapping them in the face.
The bodies were destroyed by fire bombs, leaving no clues at the scene. However, someone claimed that Spirit Control Sect cultivators had been seen nearby before the incident.
Considering the three major sects' animosity and lack of unity, everyone began to speculate.
And this was just the beginning.
Over the next few days, attacks on personnel or properties of Spirit Medicine Palace and Mantis Stone City occurred frequently.
Not only did these events affect them; several other sects within a million miles radius were also targeted. The identities of the attackers remained unclear.
Phantom Sun Mountain, Phantom Soul Valley, Spirit Medicine Palace, and Mantis Stone City seemed to be the culprits, as if they were retaliating against each other, leading to chaos. However, closer analysis revealed that all attacks shared a common trait: their targets were low-level cultivators. So far, no peak Core Formation cultivator had been injured, explaining why these attacks succeeded.
The situation was complex, but every sect in southern Yunzhou felt threatened. Suspicion and distrust spread everywhere.
With these events as background, Master Xu Yingsheng's shop robbery didn't seem so significant anymore. Most people began to believe he was indeed framed.
Spirit Medicine Mountain breathed a sigh of relief.
Lin Xuan heard the news and marveled at it.
Unlike other sects, although Lin Xuan wasn't entirely sure, he was about 70% certain that this was his mentor's doing—using poison to counter poison, employing risky strategies to resolve crises. Lin Xuan felt pleased.
Although he didn't have much attachment to Spirit Medicine Mountain, as it was where he once trained, he still wanted to help the sect out of its crisis without needing to take any action himself. He found this development quite convenient; originally, he had returned to Mantis Stone City to aid Spirit Medicine Mountain, but now, staying here seemed like a good idea.
Apart from the good spiritual vein, the city was bustling with cultivators, offering various valuable items. Although Lin Xuan had only been in Yunzhou for a few days, he felt lost and decided to stay put, waiting for opportunities.
Of course, Lin Xuan wasn't idle; his first task was to try condensing a demon core again. Success would increase his strength slightly, allowing him to continue practicing Phoenix Dance Nine Heavens Technique.
However, before that, Lin Xuan planned to do one more thing: eliminate the Fang cultivator.
During his time at Spirit Soul Pavilion, he had felt an extremely dangerous presence from this person. Moreover, they had chosen a cave near his own, clearly harboring ill intentions.
Although there hadn't been any suspicious actions recently, Lin Xuan still felt uneasy. As the saying went, "A bed is not safe when someone else sleeps in it." He needed to remove this threat to focus on cultivation.