lín xuān liǎn shàng bù dòng shēng sè ， xīn zhōng què zhe shí huān xǐ ， zhè yī cì xī yuè jiàn zhī xíng ， dé dào le tài duō yì liào zhī wài de shōu huò 。
林轩脸上不动声色，心中却着实欢喜，这一次溪跃涧之行，得到了太多意料之外的收获。
Lin Xuan's face remained calm, but his heart was filled with joy. This trip to Stream Leap Ravine had yielded more than he could have anticipated.
yǒu le zhè xiē bǎo bèi ， xiāng xìn bù jiǔ yǐ hòu ， zì jǐ de xiū wèi yǔ shí lì ， dū huì zài tí shēng jǐ gè děng jí 。
有了这些宝贝，相信不久以后，自己的修为与实力，都会再提升几个等级。
With these treasures, Lin Xuan believed that his cultivation and strength would soon rise several levels.
wéi yī měi zhōng bù zú de shì ， yǒu rén fā xiàn le zì jǐ de mì mì ， lín xuān tái yǎn kàn xiàng yún zhōng xiān zi ， liǎn shàng shǎn guò yī lǚ yīn mái ， chén yín bù yǔ 。
唯一美中不足的是，有人发现了自己的秘密，林轩抬眼看向云中仙子，脸上闪过一缕阴霾，沉吟不语。
The only downside was that someone had discovered his secret. He looked at the Cloud Fairy, a hint of gloom crossing his face as he remained silent.
àn lǐ ， yǔ cǐ nǚ yì chū tóng mén ， yòu céng lián shǒu kàng dí ， gòng huàn nàn ， shì yǒu fēi dí ， kě tā zhī dào le tài duō bù yīng gāi zhī dào de mì mì 。
按理，与此女艺出同门，又曾联手抗敌，共患难，是友非敌，可她知道了太多不应该知道的秘密。
According to reason, this woman was from the same sect as him and they had once fought side by side against enemies. They were friends, not foes. But she knew too many secrets that shouldn't be known.
miè kǒu ma ？
灭口吗？
Should he silence her?
lín xuān yóu yù le yī xià ， tā zì rèn bú shì shén me shàn liáng zhī bèi ， kě yào zhòu rán xiàng qián yī kè hái shì méng yǒu de rén fān liǎn ， zǒng jué de yǒu diǎn ……
林轩犹豫了一下，他自认不是什么善良之辈，可要骤然像前一刻还是盟友的人翻脸，总觉得有点……
Lin Xuan hesitated for a moment. He wasn’t a particularly virtuous person, but to suddenly turn on someone who was his ally just now felt... wrong.
hé kuàng jiù suàn néng hěn xià xīn lái ， yǔ qīng líng zhēn rén yī zhàn ， zì jǐ de fú yǐ xiāo hào le qī qī bā bā ， píng jiè zhe shèng xià de shǒu duàn ， shì fǒu néng gòu wěn shèng zhè wèi shī jiě ， lín xuān xīn zhōng zhe shí méi yǒu tài dà bǎ wò 。
何况就算能狠下心来，与清灵真人一战，自己的符已消耗了七七八八，凭借着剩下的手段，是否能够稳胜这位师姐，林轩心中着实没有太大把握。
Moreover, even if he could muster the heart to do so, in a fight against Clear Spirit Master, Lin Xuan had little confidence that his remaining talismans and techniques would ensure victory over his senior sister.
“ nǐ xiǎng shā wǒ ？”
“你想杀我？”
"Want to kill me?"
dāng lín xuān chén mò de shí hòu ， qín yán què kāi kǒu le ， shēng yīn yuè ěr dòng tīng ， huà de nèi róng què ràng lín xuān chī le yī jīng ， tái yǎn wàng qù ， què fā xiàn zhè zhǒng shí hòu ， yǎn qián měi lì shào nǚ de liǎn shàng ， jū rán bìng méi yǒu dí yì
当林轩沉默的时候，秦妍却开口了，声音悦耳动听，话的内容却让林轩吃了一惊，抬眼望去，却发现这种时候，眼前美丽少女的脸上，居然并没有敌意
When Lin Xuan remained silent, Qin Yan spoke up. Her voice was sweet and pleasant, but her words surprised him. She looked at him with no trace of hostility on her face.
“ shī jiě shuō xiào le ， xiǎo dì wèi hé yào duì nǐ bù lì ？”
“师姐说笑了，小弟为何要对你不利？”
"Sister, you jest. Why should I harm you?"
lín xuān yǎn zhōng de lì sè yī shǎn ér guò ， bù guò hěn kuài jiù bèi tā hěn hǎo de yǐn cáng le qǐ lái ， rú guǒ shuō gāng cái dòng shǒu hái yǒu yī xiàn xī wàng ， nà me xiàn zài qín yán yǒu le fáng bèi ， jiù suàn zì jǐ xiǎng yào miè kǒu ， yǐ yún zhōng xiān zi de shí lì ， jí shǐ dǎ bù guò ， táo pǎo què bú huì yǒu sī háo de wèn tí 。
林轩眼中的厉色一闪而过，不过很快就被他很好的隐藏了起来，如果说刚才动手还有一线希望，那么现在秦妍有了防备，就算自己想要灭口，以云中仙子的实力，即使打不过，逃跑却不会有丝毫的问题。
A flash of severity flashed in Lin Xuan's eyes before he quickly hid it. If she had just attacked, there might have been a chance. But now that Qin Yan was on guard, even if Lin Xuan wanted to silence her, the Cloud Fairy’s strength meant she could easily escape.
qín yán zhàn le qǐ lái ， shàng shàng xià xià de dǎ liàng le lín xuān yī quān ， xiào róng tū rán rú chūn huā chū zhàn ， yī fēn yī fēn de cóng tā liǎn shàng shì fàng chū lái 。
秦妍站了起来，上上下下的打量了林轩一圈，笑容突然如春花初绽，一分一分的从她脸上释放出来。
Qin Yan stood up and sized Lin Xuan from head to toe with a smile blooming like spring flowers. The once cold and elegant Cloud Fairy now exuded an alluring charm. But Lin Xuan's eyes remained clear. He was worried about his secret being exposed, so he didn't have the heart to look at her beauty.
yuán běn zài piāo yún gǔ yǐ lěng yàn zhù chēng de yún zhōng xiān zi 。 zhè me yī xiào ， gèng yǒu yī gǔ gōu hún dàng pò dì wèi dào ， rán ér lín xuān de yǎn jīng ， yī rán qīng chè wú bǐ ， xiàn zài tā suǒ yōu lǜ de shì zì jǐ de mì mì huì bú huì bào lù ， zhèng zài xīn zhōng kǔ sī duì cè ， kě méi yǒu xīn qíng kàn měi nǚ 。
原本在飘云谷以冷艳著称的云中仙子。这么一笑，更有一股勾魂荡魄地味道，然而林轩的眼睛，依然清澈无比，现在他所忧虑的是自己的秘密会不会暴露，正在心中苦思对策，可没有心情看美女。
"Brother, don’t worry," Qin Yan said. "I know you, a person without a spirit root, managed to cultivate such powerful strength. You must have your own secrets. Everyone wants their own secrets. I won’t pry and won’t tell anyone else."
“ shī dì fàng xīn 。” qín yán kāi kǒu dào ：“ wǒ zhī dào nǐ yǐ yí gè méi yǒu líng gēn de pǔ tōng rén de zī zhì ， néng xiū liàn dào jīn tiān de qiáng dà shí lì ， kěn dìng yǒu zì jǐ de mì mì 。 měi yí gè rén dōu xiǎng yǒu zì jǐ de **， wǒ bù xiǎng zhī dào 。 wǒ yě bú huì duì dì sān gè rén shuō qǐ 。”
“师弟放心。”秦妍开口道：“我知道你以一个没有灵根的普通人的资质，能修炼到今天的强大实力，肯定有自己的秘密。每一个人都想有自己的**，我不想知道。我也不会对第三个人说起。”
"Oh?"
“ ó ？”
“哦？”
Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow, his face showing determination. Since she had made her intentions clear, he no longer needed to hide anything.
lín xuān méi máo yī tiāo ， liǎn shàng shǎn guò yī sī jué rán ， jì rán duì fāng yǐ jīng jiāng huà tiǎo míng ， nà zì jǐ yě jiù bù yòng zài zhē zhē yǎn yǎn ， tā fàng dī le shēng yīn ， yī zì yī dùn ：“ wǒ yuàn yì xiāng xìn shī jiě ， dàn wǒ gèng bù xǐ huān jiāng mìng yùn fàng zài bié rén dì shǒu lǐ 。”
林轩眉毛一挑，脸上闪过一丝决然，既然对方已经将话挑明，那自己也就不用再遮遮掩掩，他放低了声音，一字一顿：“我愿意相信师姐，但我更不喜欢将命运放在别人地手里。”
"Brother, I trust you. But I don't like putting my fate in someone else's hands," Lin Xuan said, lowering his voice and speaking clearly.
“ nǐ bù xiāng xìn wǒ de chéng nuò ， hái shì rèn wéi zhǐ yǒu sǐ rén cái néng bǎo shǒu mì mì ？”
“你不相信我的承诺，还是认为只有死人才能保守秘密？”
Cultivation was defying the heavens. Every cultivator had their own inner demons. For those pursuing immortality, breaking a vow to one’s inner demon meant facing insurmountable obstacles in cultivation and an increased risk of going mad during meditation.
“ bù yòng ， wǒ zhǐ xū yào shī jiě duì zhe zì jǐ dì xīn mó fā shì jiù kě yǐ le 。”
“不用，我只需要师姐对着自己地心魔发誓就可以了。”
No cultivator in tens of thousands of years dared break such a vow.
xiū zhēn nǎi shì nì tiān ér xíng ， měi yí gè xiū xiān zhě dū huì yǒu zì jǐ de xīn mó 。 duì yú zhuī qiú xiān dào de rén lái shuō ， duì zhe xīn mó suǒ fā xià de shì yán ， shì jué bù kě yǐ wéi bèi de ， fǒu zé ， yí dàn pò shì ， bù dàn xiū xíng huì yù shàng nán yǐ tū pò de píng jǐng ， cóng cǐ bù zài yǒu cùn jìn ， ér qiě zài xiǎng yào dǎ zuò xī shōu líng qì ， yě huì biàn dé fēi cháng róng yì zǒu huǒ rù mó 。
修真乃是逆天而行，每一个修仙者都会有自己的心魔。对于追求仙道的人来说，对着心魔所发下的誓言，是绝不可以违背的，否则，一旦破誓，不但修行会遇上难以突破的瓶颈，从此不再有寸进，而且再想要打坐吸收灵气，也会变得非常容易走火入魔。
"Two choices, Sister. Either you swear to your inner demon that today's events will not be revealed, or only one of us can leave this place alive."
shù wàn nián lái 。 cóng lái méi yǒu yí gè xiū zhēn zhě ， gǎn yú wéi bèi duì zì jǐ xīn mó fā xià de shì yán 。
数万年来。从来没有一个修真者，敢于违背对自己心魔发下的誓言。
Lin Xuan’s eyes were resolute as a wave of spiritual pressure emanated from him. He watched the young woman before waiting for her choice.
“ liǎng gè xuǎn zé ， shī jiě yào me duì xīn mó fā shì ， jīn tiān de shì qíng jué bù wài xiè ， yào me wǒ men liǎng rén zhǐ yǒu yí gè néng gòu huó zhe zǒu chū zhè lǐ 。”
“两个选择，师姐要么对心魔发誓，今天的事情绝不外泄，要么我们两人只有一个能够活着走出这里。”
---
lín xuān de yǎn shén mǎn shì jué rán ， yī gǔ líng lì de wēi yā zì tā shēn shàng yì sàn chū lái ， jiù zhè me kàn zhuó yǎn qián dì shào nǚ 。 děng dài yún zhōng xiān zi de xuǎn zé 。
林轩的眼神满是决然，一股灵力的威压自他身上逸散出来，就这么看着眼前地少女。等待云中仙子的选择。
Half an hour later.
bàn gè shí chén hòu 。
半个时辰后。
Lin Xuan had already flown hundreds of miles using his flying technique, now outside Fire Spirit Sect's territory and truly safe.
lín xuān yǐ jīng yù qì fēi chū le shù bǎi lǐ ， zhè lǐ bù zài shì huǒ líng mén de shì lì fàn wéi ， zì jǐ rú jīn cái shì zhēn zhèng de ān quán 。
林轩已经御器飞出了数百里，这里不再是火灵门的势力范围，自己如今才是真正的安全。
He stopped his flight and hovered in the sky, contemplating. This was a fork in the road; going south would lead back to Stream Leap Ravine, while heading west for several thousand miles would take him out of Yanzhou’s borders.
tā tíng xià dùn guāng ， piāo fú zài tiān kōng zhī shàng ， chén yín le yī xià ， lín xuān zhuǎn tóu dǎ liàng le yī xià sì zhōu ， zhè lǐ shì dào lù de fēn chà kǒu 。 wǎng nán kě yǐ huí piāo yún gǔ 。 ér qǔ dào xiàng xī ， dà yuē shù qiān lǐ zhī hòu 。 jiù kě yǐ chū le yǎn zhōu de dì jiè 。
他停下遁光，漂浮在天空之上，沉吟了一下，林轩转头打量了一下四周，这里是道路的分岔口。往南可以回飘云谷。而取道向西，大约数千里之后。就可以出了兖州的地界。
Lin Xuan turned around and flew towards the west.
lín xuān lüè yī yóu yù ， jiù zhuǎn guò shēn ， xiàng zhe xī biān fēi qù 。
林轩略一犹豫，就转过身，向着西边飞去。
The events from half an hour ago were still vivid in his mind. Since they had made their intentions clear, Lin Xuan was now bold enough to force Qin Yan's decision. He didn’t want his fate controlled by others.
bàn gè shí chén qián fā shēng de shì ， hái lì lì zài mù ， jì rán shuāng fāng yǐ jīng bǎ huà tiǎo míng le ， lín xuān yě jiù jī qǐ le xīn zhōng de yǒng lì ， tā bù xī wàng mìng yùn zhǎng wò zài bié rén de shǒu lǐ ， zhí jiē bī qín yán zuò chū xuǎn zé 。
半个时辰前发生的事，还历历在目，既然双方已经把话挑明了，林轩也就激起了心中的勇厉，他不希望命运掌握在别人的手里，直接逼秦妍做出选择。
According to Lin Xuan’s guess, Cloud Fairy would likely refuse such a demand due to her proud nature. He had prepared for a confrontation but things turned out better than expected.
yuán běn ， àn zhào lín xuān dì cāi xiǎng ， yǐ yún zhōng xiān zi gū ào de xìng gé ， duō bàn shì bú huì shòu zì jǐ yāo xié ， tā yǐ jīng zuò hǎo le fān liǎn dòng shǒu de dǎ suàn ， rán ér shì qíng què bǐ xiǎng xiàng de hǎo 。
原本，按照林轩地猜想，以云中仙子孤傲的性格，多半是不会受自己要挟，他已经做好了翻脸动手的打算，然而事情却比想象的好。
Qin Yan frowned slightly and after some thought, she really did swear an oath to her inner demon that the events of today wouldn’t be revealed.
qín yán xiù méi wēi zhòu ， zài lüè wēi chén yín le yī huì er zhī hòu ， jū rán zhēn de xuǎn zé le duì zhe zì jǐ de xīn mó fā xià le yí gè shì yuē 。
秦妍秀眉微皱，在略微沉吟了一会儿之后，居然真的选择了对着自己的心魔发下了一个誓约。
Lin Xuan heaved a sigh of relief; his secret was safe now. No one in tens of thousands of years had dared break such a vow.
lín xuān sōng le kǒu qì ， zhè xià zì jǐ bù yòng dān xīn mì mì bào guāng ， shù wàn nián lái ， cóng lái méi yǒu rén gǎn wéi bèi xīn mó zhī shì 。
林轩松了口气，这下自己不用担心秘密曝光，数万年来，从来没有人敢违背心魔之誓。
After parting ways with Qin Yan, both flew away using their own flight techniques. However, after some thought, Lin Xuan decided not to return to Stream Leap Ravine.
hé qín yán fēn bié yǐ hòu ， liǎng rén gè zì dùn guāng fēi zǒu ， bù guò zài jīng guò yī fān sī suǒ zhī hòu ， lín xuān jué dìng hái shì bù zài huí piāo yún gǔ le 。
和秦妍分别以后，两人各自遁光飞走，不过在经过一番思索之后，林轩决定还是不再回飘云谷了。
Not because of Qin Yan but because he felt that even if he returned to the sect, it wouldn’t help him much. It was better to be a free and independent cultivator than to be bound by the sect’s rules.
bú shì yóu yú qín yán ， ér shì lín xuān jué de rú jīn de zì jǐ ， jí biàn zài huí dào mén pài lǐ ， yě méi yǒu shén me bāng zhù 。
不是由于秦妍，而是林轩觉得如今的自己，即便再回到门派里，也没有什么帮助。
Before coming to Stream Leap Ravine, all his treasures were with him. He had gathered tens of thousands of waste pills into a storage bracelet, enough to support his cultivation until he reached the foundation stage.
yǔ qí zài mén pài lǐ shòu shù fù ， fán shì dōu yào xiǎo xīn yì yì ， hái bù rú dāng yí gè zì yóu zì zài dì xiū zhēn zhě 。
与其在门派里受束缚，凡事都要小心翼翼，还不如当一个自由自在地修真者。
The world outside was vast; Yanzhou was just one corner of Zhao State and its cultivation level lagged behind. Although Lin Xuan hadn’t traveled much in recent years, he heard from senior elders that there were more powerful cultivators and stronger magical treasures beyond these borders.
fǎn zhèng zài lái xī yuè jiàn zhī qián ， zì jǐ suǒ yǒu de fǎ bǎo zhuāng bèi ， dōu suí shēn xié dài ， jí biàn shì fèi dān ， yě shōu guā le shù wàn kē zhī duō ， zhuāng rù le chǔ wù shǒu zhuó ， zhè xiē dān yào ， zú gòu zhī chēng dào zì jǐ zhù jī chéng gōng 。
反正在来溪跃涧之前，自己所有的法宝装备，都随身携带，即便是废丹，也收刮了数万颗之多，装入了储物手镯，这些丹药，足够支撑到自己筑基成功。
He wanted to explore this new world.
wài miàn tiān dà dì dà ， yǎn zhōu bù guò shì piān jū zhào guó yī ǒu ， ér qiě xiū zhēn shuǐ píng yě bǐ jiào luò hòu ， suī rán zhè jǐ nián lái ， lín xuān chū mén bù duō ， dàn tīng shī xiōng zhǎng lǎo ， tán guò wài miàn de shì jiè 。
外面天大地大，兖州不过是偏居赵国一偶，而且修真水平也比较落后，虽然这几年来，林轩出门不多，但听师兄长老，谈过外面的世界。
With a plan in mind, Lin Xuan no longer hesitated. His flight technique turned into a streak of light as he flew westward.
gèng duō gèng lì hài de xiū shì ， gèng qiáng gèng shén qí de fǎ bǎo ， rú jīn tā xiǎng yào qù wài miàn jiàn shí yī fān le 。
更多更厉害的修士，更强更神奇的法宝，如今他想要去外面见识一番了。
After flying for a while, a flame flickered behind him, catching up quickly. Lin Xuan frowned and with a gentle wave of his hand, the flame was snatched by his palm—a voice transmission talisman.
xīn zhōng yǒu le jì huà ， lín xuān bù zài chí yí ， dùn guāng huà wèi le yī dào jīng hóng ， xiàng zhe xī biān ér qù 。
心中有了计划，林轩不再迟疑，遁光化为了一道惊鸿，向着西边而去。
Lin Xuan injected spiritual energy, and Cloud Fairy’s sweet voice echoed in his mind:
fēi le piàn kè ， yī dào huǒ guāng cóng shēn hòu zhuī le shàng lái ， lín xuān méi tóu wēi zhòu ， shǒu qīng qīng yī zhāo ， jiù jiāng nà huǒ guāng wò zài le shǒu lǐ ， shì yī dào chuán yīn fú 。
飞了片刻，一道火光从身后追了上来，林轩眉头微皱，手轻轻一招，就将那火光握在了手里，是一道传音符。
"If you don’t wish to return to Stream Leap Ravine, I won't ask for your return. I will keep my purity. If we can both form an embryo after a hundred years, I will serve by your side, practicing together to explore the Dao."
líng lì zhù rù ， yún zhōng xiān zi yuè ěr dòng tīng de shēng yīn chuán le guò lái ：
灵力注入，云中仙子悦耳动听的声音传了过来：
The voice transmission talisman turned into dust and drifted away, but Lin Xuan stood still, speechless. He hadn’t expected Cloud Fairy to have feelings for him.
“ jūn bù yuàn huí piāo yún gǔ ， qiè yě bù xiāng qiú ， qiè dāng shǒu qīng bái zhī qū ， ruò bǎi nián zhī hòu ， jūn yǔ qiè néng níng chéng yuán yīng ， qiè yuàn yǐ shēn shì jūn ， shuāng xiū gòng tàn tiān dào 。”
“君不愿回飘云谷，妾也不相求，妾当守清白之躯，若百年之后，君与妾能凝成元婴，妾愿以身侍君，双修共探天道。”
If they could both form embryos, would they become partners in cultivation?
chuán yīn fú huà wèi le huī chén ， suí fēng piāo qù ， lín xuān què zhēng zài yuán dì ， mò mò bù yǔ ， méi xiǎng dào yún zhōng xiān zi ， jū rán duì zì jǐ yǒu le qíng yì 。
传音符化为了灰尘，随风飘去，林轩却怔在原地，默默不语，没想到云中仙子，居然对自己有了情意。
Embryonic stage?
ruò liǎng rén néng gòu níng chéng yuán yīng ， biàn jié wèi shuāng xiū zhī hǎo ？
若两人能够凝成元婴，便结为双修之好？
That was an incredibly powerful realm. Stream Leap Ravine had never produced such a formidable cultivator over the past millennium. Qin Yan’s ambition was impressive; even though the sect elders believed she would definitely reach the Dan Stage, Qin Yan thought she could become an Embryo Stage cultivator?
yuán yīng qī ？
元婴期？
And she believed that a mere mortal without a spirit root could achieve the same?
nà shì hé děng qiáng hèng de suǒ zài ， piāo yún gǔ qiān nián lái ， hái cóng lái méi yǒu chū guò zhè me lì hài dì xiū zhēn zhě ， qín yán hǎo dà dì kǒu qì ， suī rán mén zhōng de zhǎng lǎo rèn wéi tā jié dān kěn dìng méi yǒu wèn tí ， dàn qín yán jū rán jué de zì jǐ kě yǐ chéng wéi yuán yīng qī dì xiū zhēn zhě ？
那是何等强横的所在，飘云谷千年来，还从来没有出过这么厉害地修真者，秦妍好大地口气，虽然门中的长老认为她结丹肯定没有问题，但秦妍居然觉得自己可以成为元婴期地修真者？
Forming embryos and practicing together?
ér qiě hái rèn wéi zì jǐ yí gè méi yǒu líng gēn de fán rén yě néng yǒu tóng yàng de chéng jiù ？
而且还认为自己一个没有灵根的凡人也能有同样的成就？
Thinking of Qin Yan's beautiful face and perfect figure, Lin Xuan felt his heart race. But he shook his head; he was only just gaining confidence in reaching the foundation stage, far from the Embryo Stage. For now, his priority was to refine the top-grade Waste Pill.
níng chéng yuán yīng hòu shuāng xiū ？
凝成元婴后双修？
Lin Xuan continued flying towards the distance.
xiǎng dào qín yán jiāo hǎo de miàn róng ， wán měi de shēn cái ， lín xuān xīn zhōng yě yǒu xiē huǒ rè ， dàn suí jí yáo le yáo tóu ， zì jǐ xiàn zài bù guò gāng gāng yǒu le zhù jī de bǎ wò ér yǐ ， jù lí yuán yīng qī ， hái yáo bù kě jí ， xiān bù xiǎng zhè xiē ， dāng wù zhī jí shì níng liàn chū jí pǐn xǐ suǐ dān 。
想到秦妍姣好的面容，完美的身材，林轩心中也有些火热，但随即摇了摇头，自己现在不过刚刚有了筑基的把握而已，距离元婴期，还遥不可及，先不想这些，当务之急是凝炼出极品洗髓丹。
Two days later, Lin Xuan stopped at a desolate mountain outside Yanzhou’s borders and entered Youzhou’s territory.
lín xuān jì xù dùn guāng fēi xiàng yuǎn chù 。
林轩继续遁光飞向远处。
Although both were part of Zhao State, Youzhou was much larger in area and population compared to impoverished Yanzhou. The cultivation level here far surpassed that of Yanzhou. Stream Leap Ravine and Fire Spirit Sect were top-notch in Yanzhou but only second-rate sects in Youzhou with dozens of others.
liǎng rì hòu ， lín xuān zài yī zuò huāng shān tíng le xià lái ， zhè lǐ yǐ jīng fēi chū le yǎn zhōu de dì jiè ， ér jìn rù le yōu zhōu de fàn wéi 。
两日后，林轩在一座荒山停了下来，这里已经飞出了兖州的地界，而进入了幽州的范围。
The largest sect in Youzhou was the Azure Cloud Mountain, One Line Canyon, and Thunder Cloud Manor.
suī rán tóng wèi zhào guó de yí gè zhōu ， dàn yǔ shǔ yú biān chuí zhī dì de yǎn zhōu bù tóng ， zhè yōu zhōu guāng shì miàn jī ， jiù dà le shí bèi ， rén kǒu yě duō le shí bèi ， fán jiān xiān bù shuō ， guāng lùn zhè xiū zhēn jiè de shí lì ， jiù yuǎn yuǎn bú shì mán huāng de yǎn zhōu kě yǐ xiāng bǐ 。 piāo yún gǔ ， huǒ líng mén de shí lì zài yǎn zhōu yǐ jīng shì shǒu qū yī zhǐ ， kě fàng dào yōu zhōu ， zuì duō shǔ yú èr liú mén pài ， ér qiě yǒu shù shí gè zhī duō 。
虽然同为赵国的一个州，但与属于边陲之地的兖州不同，这幽州光是面积，就大了十倍，人口也多了十倍，凡间先不说，光论这修真界的实力，就远远不是蛮荒的兖州可以相比。飘云谷，火灵门的实力在兖州已经是首屈一指，可放到幽州，最多属于二流门派，而且有数十个之多。
It was said these three sects had thousands of official disciples, mostly at the spirit agility stage. But their vast foundations hinted at the formidable power of the top three sects in Youzhou.
yōu zhōu zuì dà de xiū zhēn zōng mén shì bì yún shān ， yī xiàn xiá ， hé léi yún shān zhuāng 。
幽州最大的修真宗门是碧云山，一线峡，和雷云山庄。
Moreover, there were many wandering cultivators and cultivation families here. The cultivation level here was a whole tier higher than Yanzhou.
jù shuō zhè sān gè xiū zhēn mén pài ， guāng shì zhèng shì dì zǐ jiù yǒu shàng wàn zhī duō ， dāng rán ， dà bù fèn dōu shì líng dòng qī ， dàn yóu páng dà de jī chǔ ， yě kě yǐ xiǎng xiàng yōu zhōu sān dà mén pài de kě pà shí lì 。
据说这三个修真门派，光是正式弟子就有上万之多，当然，大部分都是灵动期，但由庞大的基础，也可以想象幽州三大门派的可怕实力。
Even the beasts here were more numerous.
chú cǐ yǐ wài ， sàn xiū ， xiū zhēn jiā zú yě dōu yǒu bù shǎo ， kě yǐ shuō ， zhè lǐ de xiū xiān shuǐ píng ， bǐ yǎn zhōu zhěng zhěng gāo le yí gè céng cì 。
除此以外，散修，修真家族也都有不少，可以说，这里的修仙水平，比兖州整整高了一个层次。
Yanzhou’s poverty meant that crystal stones and cultivation materials were scarce, offering little profit. Otherwise, Fire Spirit Sect and Stream Leap Ravine wouldn’t have dominated; they would long ago have been swept away by Youzhou’s sects.
shèn zhì chú le xiū shì ， zhè lǐ de yāo shòu dōu yào gèng duō yī xiē 。
甚至除了修士，这里的妖兽都要更多一些。
After reviewing his notes on Youzhou in his mind, Lin Xuan found a hidden cave inside the mountain.
yě shì yǎn zhōu tài guò pín jí ， jīng shí ， xiū zhēn cái liào dōu hěn xī shǎo ， méi yǒu shén me yóu shuǐ ， fǒu zé nǎ lún dé dào piāo yún gǔ hé huǒ líng mén zài nà ér chēng xióng ， zǎo jiù bèi yōu zhōu de xiū zhēn mén pài yī sǎo ér guāng 。
也是兖州太过贫瘠，晶石，修真材料都很稀少，没有什么油水，否则哪轮得到飘云谷和火灵门在那儿称雄，早就被幽州的修真门派一扫而光。
First, he restored his cultivation energy while organizing his equipment.
zài xīn zhōng mò xiǎng le yī biàn yōu zhōu de zī liào yǐ hòu ， lín xuān zài huāng shān de shān fù zhōng zhǎo dào le yí gè yǐn mì de shān dòng 。
在心中默想了一遍幽州的资料以后，林轩在荒山的山腹中找到了一个隐秘的山洞。
This trip to Stream Leap Ravine had yielded much, but it was time to sort through everything.
xiān huī fù fǎ lì ， tóng shí zhěng lǐ le yī xià zhuāng bèi 。
先恢复法力，同时整理了一下装备。
Lin Xuan placed the Silver Moon Flower and Flowing Fireweed in a special wooden box made from a unique material that could preserve the spirit energy of the herbs for up to a month.
cǐ cì xī yuè jiàn zhī xíng ， shōu huò zhe shí bù shǎo ， dàn dōu hái méi yǒu lái de jí qīng lǐ yī xià 。
此次溪跃涧之行，收获着实不少，但都还没有来得及清理一下。
Next, he took out Clear Spirit Master’s storage bag and emptied its contents.
shǒu xiān ， lín xuān jiāng yín yuè huā hé liú yíng cǎo zhuāng zài le yí gè tè zhì dì mù hé lǐ ， cǐ hé shì yòng yī zhǒng tè shū de cái liào zhì chéng de ， jiāng cǎi zhāi xià lái de líng yào fàng rù ， yí yuè zhī nèi ， kě yǐ bǎo zhèng líng qì bù shī ， ná chū lái ， jiù xiàng gāng chū tǔ de yī yàng 。
首先，林轩将银月花和流萤草装在了一个特质的木盒里，此盒是用一种特殊的材料制成的，将采摘下来的灵药放入，一月之内，可以保证灵气不失，拿出来，就像刚出土的一样。
A clatter of objects followed as it was indeed rich; fifty-six crystal stones were all mid-grade. There were also many bottles and jars, along with several magical treasures.
rán hòu ， lín xuān yòu cóng huái lǐ qǔ chū qīng líng zhēn rén de chǔ wù dài ， jiāng lǐ miàn de dōng xī quán bù dào le chū lái 。
然后，林轩又从怀里取出清灵真人的储物袋，将里面的东西全部倒了出来。
Lin Xuan's gaze immediately fell on one particular magical treasure...
Lin Xuan's face remained calm, but his heart was filled with joy. This trip to Stream Leap Ravine had yielded more than he could have anticipated.
With these treasures, Lin Xuan believed that his cultivation and strength would soon rise several levels.
The only downside was that someone had discovered his secret. He looked at the Cloud Fairy, a hint of gloom crossing his face as he remained silent.
According to reason, this woman was from the same sect as him and they had once fought side by side against enemies. They were friends, not foes. But she knew too many secrets that shouldn't be known.
Should he silence her?
Lin Xuan hesitated for a moment. He wasn’t a particularly virtuous person, but to suddenly turn on someone who was his ally just now felt... wrong.
Moreover, even if he could muster the heart to do so, in a fight against Clear Spirit Master, Lin Xuan had little confidence that his remaining talismans and techniques would ensure victory over his senior sister.
"Want to kill me?"
When Lin Xuan remained silent, Qin Yan spoke up. Her voice was sweet and pleasant, but her words surprised him. She looked at him with no trace of hostility on her face.
"Sister, you jest. Why should I harm you?"
A flash of severity flashed in Lin Xuan's eyes before he quickly hid it. If she had just attacked, there might have been a chance. But now that Qin Yan was on guard, even if Lin Xuan wanted to silence her, the Cloud Fairy’s strength meant she could easily escape.
Qin Yan stood up and sized Lin Xuan from head to toe with a smile blooming like spring flowers. The once cold and elegant Cloud Fairy now exuded an alluring charm. But Lin Xuan's eyes remained clear. He was worried about his secret being exposed, so he didn't have the heart to look at her beauty.
"Brother, don’t worry," Qin Yan said. "I know you, a person without a spirit root, managed to cultivate such powerful strength. You must have your own secrets. Everyone wants their own secrets. I won’t pry and won’t tell anyone else."
"Oh?"
Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow, his face showing determination. Since she had made her intentions clear, he no longer needed to hide anything.
"Brother, I trust you. But I don't like putting my fate in someone else's hands," Lin Xuan said, lowering his voice and speaking clearly.
Cultivation was defying the heavens. Every cultivator had their own inner demons. For those pursuing immortality, breaking a vow to one’s inner demon meant facing insurmountable obstacles in cultivation and an increased risk of going mad during meditation.
No cultivator in tens of thousands of years dared break such a vow.
"Two choices, Sister. Either you swear to your inner demon that today's events will not be revealed, or only one of us can leave this place alive."
Lin Xuan’s eyes were resolute as a wave of spiritual pressure emanated from him. He watched the young woman before waiting for her choice.
---
Half an hour later.
Lin Xuan had already flown hundreds of miles using his flying technique, now outside Fire Spirit Sect's territory and truly safe.
He stopped his flight and hovered in the sky, contemplating. This was a fork in the road; going south would lead back to Stream Leap Ravine, while heading west for several thousand miles would take him out of Yanzhou’s borders.
Lin Xuan turned around and flew towards the west.
The events from half an hour ago were still vivid in his mind. Since they had made their intentions clear, Lin Xuan was now bold enough to force Qin Yan's decision. He didn’t want his fate controlled by others.
According to Lin Xuan’s guess, Cloud Fairy would likely refuse such a demand due to her proud nature. He had prepared for a confrontation but things turned out better than expected.
Qin Yan frowned slightly and after some thought, she really did swear an oath to her inner demon that the events of today wouldn’t be revealed.
Lin Xuan heaved a sigh of relief; his secret was safe now. No one in tens of thousands of years had dared break such a vow.
After parting ways with Qin Yan, both flew away using their own flight techniques. However, after some thought, Lin Xuan decided not to return to Stream Leap Ravine.
Not because of Qin Yan but because he felt that even if he returned to the sect, it wouldn’t help him much. It was better to be a free and independent cultivator than to be bound by the sect’s rules.
Before coming to Stream Leap Ravine, all his treasures were with him. He had gathered tens of thousands of waste pills into a storage bracelet, enough to support his cultivation until he reached the foundation stage.
The world outside was vast; Yanzhou was just one corner of Zhao State and its cultivation level lagged behind. Although Lin Xuan hadn’t traveled much in recent years, he heard from senior elders that there were more powerful cultivators and stronger magical treasures beyond these borders.
He wanted to explore this new world.
With a plan in mind, Lin Xuan no longer hesitated. His flight technique turned into a streak of light as he flew westward.
After flying for a while, a flame flickered behind him, catching up quickly. Lin Xuan frowned and with a gentle wave of his hand, the flame was snatched by his palm—a voice transmission talisman.
Lin Xuan injected spiritual energy, and Cloud Fairy’s sweet voice echoed in his mind:
"If you don’t wish to return to Stream Leap Ravine, I won't ask for your return. I will keep my purity. If we can both form an embryo after a hundred years, I will serve by your side, practicing together to explore the Dao."
The voice transmission talisman turned into dust and drifted away, but Lin Xuan stood still, speechless. He hadn’t expected Cloud Fairy to have feelings for him.
If they could both form embryos, would they become partners in cultivation?
Embryonic stage?
That was an incredibly powerful realm. Stream Leap Ravine had never produced such a formidable cultivator over the past millennium. Qin Yan’s ambition was impressive; even though the sect elders believed she would definitely reach the Dan Stage, Qin Yan thought she could become an Embryo Stage cultivator?
And she believed that a mere mortal without a spirit root could achieve the same?
Forming embryos and practicing together?
Thinking of Qin Yan's beautiful face and perfect figure, Lin Xuan felt his heart race. But he shook his head; he was only just gaining confidence in reaching the foundation stage, far from the Embryo Stage. For now, his priority was to refine the top-grade Waste Pill.
Lin Xuan continued flying towards the distance.
Two days later, Lin Xuan stopped at a desolate mountain outside Yanzhou’s borders and entered Youzhou’s territory.
Although both were part of Zhao State, Youzhou was much larger in area and population compared to impoverished Yanzhou. The cultivation level here far surpassed that of Yanzhou. Stream Leap Ravine and Fire Spirit Sect were top-notch in Yanzhou but only second-rate sects in Youzhou with dozens of others.
The largest sect in Youzhou was the Azure Cloud Mountain, One Line Canyon, and Thunder Cloud Manor.
It was said these three sects had thousands of official disciples, mostly at the spirit agility stage. But their vast foundations hinted at the formidable power of the top three sects in Youzhou.
Moreover, there were many wandering cultivators and cultivation families here. The cultivation level here was a whole tier higher than Yanzhou.
Even the beasts here were more numerous.
Yanzhou’s poverty meant that crystal stones and cultivation materials were scarce, offering little profit. Otherwise, Fire Spirit Sect and Stream Leap Ravine wouldn’t have dominated; they would long ago have been swept away by Youzhou’s sects.
After reviewing his notes on Youzhou in his mind, Lin Xuan found a hidden cave inside the mountain.
First, he restored his cultivation energy while organizing his equipment.
This trip to Stream Leap Ravine had yielded much, but it was time to sort through everything.
Lin Xuan placed the Silver Moon Flower and Flowing Fireweed in a special wooden box made from a unique material that could preserve the spirit energy of the herbs for up to a month.
Next, he took out Clear Spirit Master’s storage bag and emptied its contents.
A clatter of objects followed as it was indeed rich; fifty-six crystal stones were all mid-grade. There were also many bottles and jars, along with several magical treasures.
Lin Xuan's gaze immediately fell on one particular magical treasure...