yǐ shǒu zhī é ， lín xuān sì hū zài sī liáng shén me 。
以手支额，林轩似乎在思量什么。
Lin Xuan rested his hand on his forehead, seemingly pondering something.
wǔ yún ér dà qì yě bù gǎn chū 。
武云儿大气也不敢出。
Wu Yun'er held her breath. After a full cup of tea's worth of time, Lin Xuan's entire body was enveloped in a blue glow, wrapping the girl inside.
guò le zú zú yī zhǎn chá de gōng fu ， lín xuān hún shēn qīng máng dà qǐ ， jiāng cǐ nǚ guǒ le jìn qù 。
过了足足一盏茶的功夫，林轩浑身青芒大起，将此女裹了进去。
"Senior Uncle," Wu Yun'er was taken aback and then blushed slightly.
“ shī bó 。” wǔ yún ér yī dāi ， suí hòu qiào liǎn hóng le qǐ lái 。
“师伯。”武云儿一呆，随后俏脸红了起来。
"The path ahead is too perilous. Even if you follow closely by my side, I might not be able to handle all of it." Lin Xuan's expression remained calm as he spoke lightly.
“ qián miàn yī duàn lù tài wēi xiǎn ， nǐ jí shǐ jǐn gēn zài shēn biān ， wǒ yě pà zhāo hū bù guò lái 。” lín xuān shén sè rú cháng ， dàn rán de kāi kǒu dào 。
“前面一段路太危险，你即使紧跟在身边，我也怕招呼不过来。”林轩神色如常，淡然的开口道。
In truth, he had considered leaving Wu Yun'er behind, but this independent space was too mysterious. Although it appeared peaceful now, there could still be dangers lurking around the corner.
qí shí tā yě xiǎng guò jiāng wǔ yún ér liú zài yuán dì ， kě zhè dú lì kōng jiān tài guǐ yì ， rú jīn zhè dì fāng kàn qǐ lái píng jīn wú bō ， kě yī huì er nán bǎo bú huì yǒu shén me wēi xiǎn chū xiàn de 。
其实他也想过将武云儿留在原地，可这独立空间太诡异，如今这地方看起来平津无波，可一会儿难保不会有什么危险出现的。
After all, she was a disciple of Qinxin, and Lin Xuan naturally couldn't just leave her to fend for herself.
zěn me shuō cǐ nǚ yě shì qín xīn de ài tú ， lín xuān zì rán bù kě néng duì qí fàng rèn bù guǎn 。
怎么说此女也是琴心的爱徒，林轩自然不可能对其放任不管。
"Thank you, Senior Uncle!"
“ xiè xiè shī bó ！”
“谢谢师伯！”
Wu Yun'er expressed great gratitude, secretly guessing that this senior uncle had an unusually close relationship with his master. Otherwise, why would he take such good care of her?
wǔ yún ér dà wèi gǎn jī ， xīn zhōng yě zài àn àn cāi cè ， zhè wèi shī bó yǔ shī zūn guān xì kǒng pà zhēn de dà bù xún cháng ， fǒu zé hé yǐ rú cǐ zhào hù zì jǐ ne ？
武云儿大为感激，心中也在暗暗猜测，这位师伯与师尊关系恐怕真的大不寻常，否则何以如此照护自己呢？
Lin Xuan transformed into a streak of blue light, but he flew slowly. From here, the distant horizon was covered by a range of undulating mountains stretching in all directions.
lín xuān huà wèi yī dào qīng hóng ， rán ér què fēi dé hěn màn ， cóng zhè lǐ wàng guò qù ， jí mù suǒ dào zhī chù ， dōu shì lián mián qǐ fú de qún shān ， xiàng zhe sì miàn bā fāng yán zhǎn 。
林轩化为一道青虹，然而却飞得很慢，从这里望过去，极目所到之处，都是连绵起伏的群山，向着四面八方延展。
These mountains were not lush and green; most were grayish-black rock formations. Although there wasn't complete barrenness, only some low shrubs dotted the landscape.
ér qiě zhè xiē shān ， bìng fēi yù yù cōng cōng de nà zhǒng ， dà bù fèn dōu shì huī hēi sè de yán shí jié gòu 。 suī fēi cùn cǎo bù shēng ， què zhǐ yǒu yī xiē dī ǎi de guàn mù cóng 。
而且这些山，并非郁郁葱葱的那种，大部分都是灰黑色的岩石结构。虽非寸草不生，却只有一些低矮的灌木丛。
"Master, how can such an inhospitable environment be chosen for a senior like Gu Xiuxiu to undergo tribulation?" Mo'er's voice entered his ears, filled with curiosity.
“ shào yé ， cǐ chù huán jìng rú cǐ è liè ， nà wèi gù xiù qián bèi wèi hé xuǎn zài zhè lǐ dù jié ？” yuè ér de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， lǐ miàn chōng mǎn le hào qí zhī sè 。
“少爷，此处环境如此恶劣，那位顾绣前辈为何选在这里渡劫？”月儿的声音传入耳朵，里面充满了好奇之色。
"I have no idea," Lin Xuan shook his head and revealed a look of helplessness. Even he wasn't feeling particularly cheerful in the presence of this situation.
“ wǒ nǎ lǐ qīng chǔ 。” lín xuān yáo le yáo tóu ， liǎn shàng lù chū yī sī wú nài zhī sè ：“ hé kuàng xiàn zài kàn qǐ lái huāng liáng ， dàn zài shàng gǔ shí qī ， kě bù yí dìng shì zhè yàng 。”
“我哪里清楚。”林轩摇了摇头，脸上露出一丝无奈之色：“何况现在看起来荒凉，但在上古时期，可不一定是这样。”
What alarmed him most was that he had just used his divine sense to scan over the area, yet such a large creature hadn't registered any trace at all.
“ zhè dào yě shì 。”
“这倒也是。”
Lin Xuan felt a chill run down his spine. He vaguely sensed that this terrifying beast might be even more troublesome than the human-faced scorpion.
yuè ér shuō le zhè huà yǐ hòu ， jiù cōng míng de bì kǒu ， zhè lǐ wēi xiǎn chóng chóng ， tā yě bù gǎn ràng shào yé fēn xīn le 。
月儿说了这话以后，就聪明的闭口，这里危险重重，她也不敢让少爷分心了。
Treasured items were indeed not easy to obtain; obtaining an item for a Separation Stage cultivator was like navigating through a thorny path.
xiàn zài tā men zhèng fēi guò yī chù hú pō 。
现在他们正飞过一处湖泊。
Lin Xuan sighed but didn't let go of such a great opportunity. "This isn't a demon creature, but an ancient beast."
shuō shì hú ， rán ér nà hú shuǐ què ràng rén xīn jīng ròu tiào ， jū rán shì rè qì téng téng de yán jiāng ， hái gū gū de wǎng shàng mào zhe qì pào 。
说是湖，然而那湖水却让人心惊肉跳，居然是热气腾腾的岩浆，还咕咕的网上冒着气泡。
"An ancient beast?" The girl's eyebrows raised in surprise; she hadn't heard of it before.
lín xuān méi tóu yī tiāo ， zhè fù jìn yǒu méi yǒu huǒ shān ， shí zài nòng bù dǒng zhè yán jiāng hú cóng nǎ lái 。
林轩眉头一挑，这附近有没有火山，实在弄不懂这岩浆湖从哪来。
"Hmph, in any case, it's much more troublesome than the demon race. Yun'er (calling you so close...), run far away when we encounter this battle. Don't get involved." Lin Xuan's face was grave but his tone returned to calm. No matter what, he had to obtain that Separation Stage cultivator’s treasure.
dāng rán ， tā yě bù guān xīn zhè ge ， jǐn kuài jiāng yí bǎo zhǎo dào cái shì zuì zhòng yào de 。
当然，他也不关心这个，尽快将遗宝找到才是最重要的。
"Yes," the girl nodded obediently: "Senior Uncle, don’t worry. Although I can't help much, I won’t drag you down."
lín xuān jiāng shén shí fàng chū ， zhè fù jìn bìng méi yǒu gǎn yìng dào bié de yì cháng ， zhèng xiǎng yào jiā ， kuài diǎn fēi guò yán jiāng hú 。
林轩将神识放出，这附近并没有感应到别的异常，正想要加，快点飞过岩浆湖。
Lin Xuan showed satisfaction on his face and didn't say more. Just as he was about to summon a magical artifact, Mo'er's voice entered his ears: "Master, wait a moment."
tū rán ， cī lā yī shēng chuán rù ěr duǒ 。
突然，刺啦一声传入耳朵。
"Why?" Lin Xuan was taken aback but stopped moving.
lín xuān méi tóu yī tiāo ， dùn guāng zhòu rán tíng le xià lái ， suí hòu shēn shǒu zài yāo jiān yī pāi ， yí miàn bā zhǎng dà xiǎo de dùn pái fēi lüè chū qù ， wū guāng shǎn shuò ， dùn pái de biǎo miàn ， yǒu zhe wú shù gǔ guài de tú àn 。 fàng yǎn wàng qù ， jiù xiàng shì lóng lín yì bān 。
林轩眉头一挑，遁光骤然停了下来，随后伸手在腰间一拍，一面巴掌大小的盾牌飞掠出去，乌光闪烁，盾牌的表面，有着无数古怪的图案。放眼望去，就像是龙鳞一般。
"Although this creature is terrifying, it might not be our enemy," she continued.
wū jīn lóng jiǎ dùn ！
乌金龙甲盾！
"You mean..." Lin Xuan’s face showed signs of contemplation.
cǐ bǎo guāng máng yī shǎn ， fàng chū yī céng hù zhào ， jiāng liǎng rén hù zài qí jiān ， lín xuān zhè cái xīn zhōng yī sōng ， tái qǐ tóu lú ， wàng xiàng chū shēng yīn de hú miàn zhī chù 。
此宝光芒一闪，放出一层护罩，将两人护在其间，林轩这才心中一松，抬起头颅，望向出声音的湖面之处。
He closed his eyes and focused on sensing the surroundings. After a brief moment, he opened them again: "Correct. This creature indeed doesn’t have any hostile intent."
zhǐ jiàn nà chì hóng sè de shuǐ miàn yǐ jīng fēn kāi le 。
只见那赤红色的水面已经分开了。
"Indeed, Master, perhaps we can avoid conflict and quietly pass through," Mo'er suggested from her heart.
yī jù dà de shēn yǐng fú xiàn chū lái 。
一巨大的身影浮现出来。
Since she hadn't managed to form an infant spirit core successfully, facing this opponent was beyond her help. However, Mo'er didn't want to idle around; instead, she read more books and thought harder, hoping to play the role of Lin Xuan's strategist.
shì yī tiáo dà shé …… bù ， bú duì ， nà jǐn jǐn shì tā de tóu bù ， zhè jū rán shì yī tóu lín xuān cóng wèi jiàn guò de guài wù 。
是一条大蛇……不，不对，那仅仅是它的头部，这居然是一头林轩从未见过的怪物。
Whether it worked or not, Lin Xuan felt warm knowing her intentions.
zěn me shuō ne ， jiù xiǎng bǎ hé mǎ yǔ shé róu hé zài yì qǐ de shēng wù ， bù guò guāng shì nà shé jǐng ， jiù yǒu qī bā zhàng zhǎng ， nà hé mǎ de shēn tǐ ， gèng shì jù dà de rú tóng yī zuò xiǎo shān yī yàng 。
怎么说呢，就想把河马与蛇糅合在一起的生物，不过光是那蛇颈，就有七八丈长，那河马的身体，更是巨大的如同一座小山一样。
To be honest, Mo'er’s suggestion had a significant allure this time.
ér qiě tā dài zài zhè jù dà de yán jiāng hú lǐ ， bìng méi yǒu gǎn dào rèn hé bù shì ， fǎn ér yī fù shí fēn shū fú de yàng zi 。
而且他待在这巨大的岩浆湖里，并没有感到任何不适，反而一副十分舒服的样子。
Lin Xuan had encountered ancient beasts before. On the demon spirit island at the main hall of Xuanfeng Sect, he faced an ancient beast octopus in that lake water and was engaged in a tough battle.
“ lín shī bó ， zhè shì yāo zú me ？” wǔ yún ér de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， cǐ nǚ hǎo dǎi yě shì níng dān qī xiū xiān zhě ， rán ér cǐ kè ， jiāo qū què zài sè sè dǒu 。
“林师伯，这是妖族么？”武云儿的声音传入耳朵，此女好歹也是凝丹期修仙者，然而此刻，娇躯却在瑟瑟抖。
Although his current abilities were far superior to what they used to be, having advanced to mid-stage, this creature was still much more terrifying than the octopus. Lin Xuan wasn't sure if he had a chance of victory.
bù guài tā dǎn xiǎo 。
不怪她胆小。
Instead of confronting head-on, it clearly wasn’t a wise choice for a strategist.
yán jiāng hú ， hái yǒu zhè kě pà de guài wù ， jiù suàn shì lín xuān ， liǎn sè yě hǎo kàn bú dào nǎ lǐ qù de 。
岩浆湖，还有这可怕的怪物，就算是林轩，脸色也好看不到哪里去的。
Could they find a way around? Lin Xuan looked around and shook his head. The terrain here was peculiar; there were numerous spatial vortexes on both sides that moved rapidly.
zuì ràng tā hài rán de shì ， zì jǐ gāng gāng míng míng yòng shén shí sǎo guò ， zhè guài wù rú cǐ dà de shēn qū ， wèi hé huì méi yǒu gǎn yìng dào ？
最让他骇然的是，自己刚刚明明用神识扫过，这怪物如此大的身躯，为何会没有感应到？
Spatial vortices were far more terrifying than spatial rifts. Even if the rift was large, one might not necessarily die upon entering it.
lín xuān xīn zhōng yǒu xiē hán 。
林轩心中有些寒。
But with a spatial vortex, once inside, one would face chaotic space currents. It wasn’t just him; even an ancient beast of late Separation Stage had only a 10% chance of survival.
yǐn yǐn jué de zhè kě pà de shēng wù kǒng pà huì bǐ nà rén miàn wú gōng gèng jiā nán chán 。
隐隐觉得这可怕的生物恐怕会比那人面蜈蚣更加难缠。
In other words, they could only cross over the lake surface. But this creature was in the water, and trying to pass by without being attacked seemed impossible.
bǎo wù guǒ rán bú shì nà me róng yì qǔ dé ， xiǎng yào lí hé qī xiū shì de dōng xī ， jiǎn zhí shì bù bù jīng jí 。
宝物果然不是那么容易取得，想要离合期修士的东西，简直是步步荆棘。
Lin Xuan frowned deeply as he pondered. After a full meal's worth of time, he gritted his teeth with determination.
lín xuān tàn le kǒu qì ， dàn hǎo dà jī yuán yě zǒng méi yǒu fàng shǒu de dào lǐ 。
林轩叹了口气，但好大机缘也总没有放手的道理。
Well then, fortune favors those who dare to take risks. To obtain such treasure, it’s worth taking this chance. I’ll just have to take that risk.
“ zhè bú shì yāo shòu ， ér shì gǔ shòu 。”
“这不是妖兽，而是古兽。”
On the side, Wu Yun'er showed surprise on her face. Why had Senior Uncle been talking to himself earlier as if consulting someone? But there were no other cultivators around besides herself.
“ gǔ shòu ？” shào nǚ méi tóu yī tiāo ， bìng méi yǒu tīng shuō guò 。
“古兽？”少女眉头一挑，并没有听说过。
She was curious but didn’t dare ask more in such a tense moment.
“ hēng ， zǒng zhī tā bǐ yāo zú hái yào nán chán dé duō ， yún ér （ jiào zhè qīn mì ……）， yī huì er nǐ zì jǐ pǎo yuǎn yì diǎn 。 zhè shì yī cháng è zhàn ， qiān wàn bú yào bèi juǎn jìn lái 。” lín xuān liǎn sè suī rán yīn chén ， dàn yǔ qì yǐ huī fù le píng jìng ， wú lùn rú hé ， zì jǐ yě yào jiāng nà lí hé qī xiū shì de bǎo wù nòng dào shǒu 。
“哼，总之它比妖族还要难缠得多，云儿（叫这亲密……），一会儿你自己跑远一点。这是一场恶战，千万不要被卷进来。”林轩脸色虽然阴沉，但语气已恢复了平静，无论如何，自己也要将那离合期修士的宝物弄到手。
At the same time, she sighed inwardly. Since forming an infant spirit core, she had become somewhat arrogant and overconfident. If it weren't for Senior Uncle Lin, she might have already perished during this quest. She vowed to be much more cautious from now on and never take such reckless actions again.
“ shì 。” shào nǚ guāi qiǎo de diǎn le diǎn tóu ：“ shī bó fàng xīn ， yún ér suī rán bāng bù shàng máng ， dàn bú huì tuō nín de hòu tuǐ de 。”
“是。”少女乖巧的点了点头：“师伯放心，云儿虽然帮不上忙，但不会托您的后腿的。”
"Yun'er," Lin Xuan's voice entered her ears.
lín xuān liǎn shàng lù chū mǎn yì zhī sè ， bù zài duō shuō ， zhèng yào jiāng fǎ bǎo jì chū ， yuè ér de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ：“ shào yé ， děng yī děng 。”
林轩脸上露出满意之色，不再多说，正要将法宝祭出，月儿的声音传入耳朵：“少爷，等一等。”
"Senior Uncle," Wu Yun'er quickly adopted a solemn and respectful expression: "Please instruct."
“ zěn me ?” lín xuān yī dāi ， dàn shǒu shàng de dòng zuò yě tíng le xià lái 。
“怎么?”林轩一呆，但手上的动作也停了下来。
"I will give you two choices now."
“ zhè guài wù suī rán kě pà ， dàn wèi bì shì wǒ men de dí rén a 。”
“这怪物虽然可怕，但未必是我们的敌人啊。”
"Choices?" The girl was taken aback, showing surprise on her face.
“ nǐ shì shuō ……” lín xuān liǎn shàng lù chū ruò yǒu suǒ sī zhī sè 。
“你是说……”林轩脸上露出若有所思之色。
"Indeed. This journey to find the treasure is fraught with danger. I want to quietly pass through this ancient beast's side. If discovered, it could lead to great peril. In other words, I might not be able to protect you properly, so here are your two options: one, continue staying by my side and searching for the treasure together, but there’s no guarantee of safety; or two, return along the same path to where we encountered the tribulation clouds earlier, waiting for me. If I find the treasure, I will naturally come back for you, but it's important to understand that while that place is currently safe, whether dangers might arise later, I can't make any guarantees," Lin Xuan spoke slowly.
suí hòu bì shàng yǎn móu ， yòng xīn qù gǎn shòu ， piàn kè zhī hòu zhēng kāi le ：“ bù cuò ， zhè guài wù shēn shàng què shí méi yǒu dí yì 。”
随后闭上眼眸，用心去感受，片刻之后睁开了：“不错，这怪物身上确实没有敌意。”
"Yun'er follows Senior Uncle," the girl said without hesitation.
“ shì a ， shào yé ， huò xǔ wǒ men kě yǐ bù yòng dǎ ， qiāo qiāo de jiè dào guò qù 。” yuè ér tí chū le xīn zhōng de jiàn yì 。
“是啊，少爷，或许我们可以不用打，悄悄的借道过去。”月儿提出了心中的建议。
"Really? You should consider carefully. Although both choices are dangerous, returning seems slightly safer for you," Lin Xuan showed surprise on his face and continued speaking.
yóu yú méi yǒu níng jié yuán yīng chéng gōng ， miàn duì shào yé xiàn zài suǒ yù jiàn de duì shǒu ， zì jǐ yǐ nán dé bāng dé shàng máng ， dàn yuè ér yě bù yuàn bèn bèn de xián zhe （a_a）。 suǒ yǐ duō kàn shū ， duō dòng nǎo ， xiǎng yào chéng dān qǐ lín xuān jūn shī de jué sè 。
由于没有凝结元婴成功，面对少爷现在所遇见的对手，自己以难得帮得上忙，但月儿也不愿笨笨的闲着（a_a）。所以多看书，多动脑，想要承担起林轩军师的角色。
"Yun'er has decided to follow Senior Uncle; there's no need to think about it."
yǒu méi yǒu yòng zàn qiě bù shuō ， bù guò gǎn shòu dào tā de zhè fān xīn yì ， lín xuān xīn zhōng yě shì nuǎn nuǎn （ liáng jìng rú ~~~） de 。
有没有用暂且不说，不过感受到她的这番心意，林轩心中也是暖暖（梁静茹~~~）的。
The girl was very certain. Throughout the journey, she had seen Lin Xuan’s prowess multiple times. Even as a mid-stage infant spirit core cultivator, he relied on extraordinary abilities and treasures, making his true combat power comparable to that of a Great Cultivator. If such a master still couldn’t protect her, it meant fate was against them. Wu Yun'er had no objections.
píng xīn lái shuō ， yuè ér zhè cì de jiàn yì yǒu hěn dà de yòu huò 。
平心来说，月儿这次的建议有很大的诱惑。
The second option seemed safer but the independent space was too mysterious; any unexpected danger could easily crush a Condensation Stage cultivator like herself into insignificance.
gǔ shòu lín xuān céng jīng yù dào guò ， zài yāo líng dǎo de xuán fēng mén zǒng tán ， yě shì nà hú shuǐ lǐ miàn ， lín xuān céng jīng miàn duì yī gǔ shòu zhāng yú ， xiàn rù le kǔ zhàn 。
古兽林轩曾经遇到过，在妖灵岛的玄风门总坛，也是那湖水里面，林轩曾经面对一古兽章鱼，陷入了苦战。
Therefore, she felt following Lin Xuan would be much safer.
suī rán tā rú jīn shén tōng jīn fēi xī bǐ ， yǐ jìn jiē dào le zhōng qī ， dàn yǎn qián zhè zhǐ guài wù ， tóng yàng bǐ nà zhāng yú kě pà dé duō ， shèn zhì ， lín xuān jué de zì jǐ bù yí dìng yǒu duō dà shèng suàn de 。
虽然他如今神通今非昔比，已进阶到了中期，但眼前这只怪物，同样比那章鱼可怕得多，甚至，林轩觉得自己不一定有多大胜算的。
"Alright!"
yǔ qí yìng pèng ， míng xiǎn bú shì zhì zhě de xuǎn zé 。
与其硬碰，明显不是智者的选择。
Lin Xuan remained silent for a moment. Since the girl had made her choice, he didn't have much to say. He extended his hand and tapped his storage bag, taking out an jade bottle. After uncorking it, he poured out a snow-white spirit pill inside.
kě néng gòu rào dào guò qù me ， lín xuān dǎ liàng le yī xià zhōu wéi ， yáo le yáo tóu ， zhè lǐ de dì xíng shí fēn qí tè ， zuǒ yòu liǎng biān ， dōu yǒu bù shǎo kōng jiān xuán wō ， ér qiě zài kuài yí dòng 。
可能够绕到过去么，林轩打量了一下周围，摇了摇头，这里的地形十分奇特，左右两边，都有不少空间漩涡，而且在快移动。
"This is a Conceal Spirit Pill; it can suppress your spiritual energy. I will teach you a set of incantations; remember them well."
yào zhī dào kōng jiān xuán wō kě shì yào bǐ kōng jiān liè fèng gèng wéi kě pà de cún zài ， liè fèng zhǐ yào gòu dà ， jìn qù hái bù yí dìng huì guà （+_+)。
要知道空间漩涡可是要比空间裂缝更为可怕的存在，裂缝只要够大，进去还不一定会挂（+_+)。
Lin Xuan finished speaking as he mouthed the words to transmit the Nine Heavens Profound Technique's敛气术 (Lian Qi术) to her.
kě kōng jiān xuán wō ， jìn qù yǐ hòu yíng jiē nǐ de jiù shì kōng jiān luàn liú ， bié shuō zì jǐ ， jiù shì lí hé hòu qī de lǎo guài wù ， yě shì jiǔ sǐ yì shēng de jié jú 。
可空间漩涡，进去以后迎接你的就是空间乱流，别说自己，就是离合后期的老怪物，也是九死一生的结局。
Firstly, this technique would be useful when passing through the ancient beast’s side. Secondly, while the secret technique of suppressing qi was effective, it wasn’t a particularly significant secret; as Qinxin’s disciple, she could learn it without much difficulty.
huàn jù huà shuō ， zhǐ yǒu cóng hú miàn guò qù 。 kě zhè guài wù ， jiù zài hú shuǐ lǐ ， xiǎng yào cóng tā shēn biān jiè dào ， bù bèi gōng jī ， zhè kě néng ma ？
换句话说，只有从湖面过去。可这怪物，就在湖水里，想要从他身边借道，不被攻击，这可能吗？
"Thank you, Senior Uncle!"
lín xuān méi tóu jǐn suǒ ， xiàn rù le sī suǒ 。 zú zú guò le yī dùn fàn de gōng fu ， cái yǎo le yǎo yá ， yǎn zhōng shǎn guò yī sī jué rán zhī sè 。
林轩眉头紧锁，陷入了思索。足足过了一顿饭的功夫，才咬了咬牙，眼中闪过一丝决然之色。
Wu Yun'er quickly memorized the incantations. As a Condensation Stage cultivator, this set of techniques were even within reach for a灵动期 (Dong Ling Qi) disciple. She didn’t need Lin Xuan to explain; she soon mastered it and swallowed the Conceal Spirit Pill, suppressing her aura to an almost imperceptible level.
bà le ， fù guì xiǎn zhōng qiú ， wèi le bǎo wù ， mào yī mào xiǎn yě zhí de ， zì jǐ jiù dǔ yī dǔ 。
罢了，富贵险中求，为了宝物，冒一冒险也值得，自己就赌一赌。
Lin Xuan nodded with satisfaction on his face. He then looked at the distant ancient beast, knowing that safely passing through would be a significant test.
Lin Xuan rested his hand on his forehead, seemingly pondering something.
Wu Yun'er held her breath. After a full cup of tea's worth of time, Lin Xuan's entire body was enveloped in a blue glow, wrapping the girl inside.
"Senior Uncle," Wu Yun'er was taken aback and then blushed slightly.
"The path ahead is too perilous. Even if you follow closely by my side, I might not be able to handle all of it." Lin Xuan's expression remained calm as he spoke lightly.
In truth, he had considered leaving Wu Yun'er behind, but this independent space was too mysterious. Although it appeared peaceful now, there could still be dangers lurking around the corner.
After all, she was a disciple of Qinxin, and Lin Xuan naturally couldn't just leave her to fend for herself.
"Thank you, Senior Uncle!"
Wu Yun'er expressed great gratitude, secretly guessing that this senior uncle had an unusually close relationship with his master. Otherwise, why would he take such good care of her?
Lin Xuan transformed into a streak of blue light, but he flew slowly. From here, the distant horizon was covered by a range of undulating mountains stretching in all directions.
These mountains were not lush and green; most were grayish-black rock formations. Although there wasn't complete barrenness, only some low shrubs dotted the landscape.
"Master, how can such an inhospitable environment be chosen for a senior like Gu Xiuxiu to undergo tribulation?" Mo'er's voice entered his ears, filled with curiosity.
"I have no idea," Lin Xuan shook his head and revealed a look of helplessness. Even he wasn't feeling particularly cheerful in the presence of this situation.
What alarmed him most was that he had just used his divine sense to scan over the area, yet such a large creature hadn't registered any trace at all.
Lin Xuan felt a chill run down his spine. He vaguely sensed that this terrifying beast might be even more troublesome than the human-faced scorpion.
Treasured items were indeed not easy to obtain; obtaining an item for a Separation Stage cultivator was like navigating through a thorny path.
Lin Xuan sighed but didn't let go of such a great opportunity. "This isn't a demon creature, but an ancient beast."
"An ancient beast?" The girl's eyebrows raised in surprise; she hadn't heard of it before.
"Hmph, in any case, it's much more troublesome than the demon race. Yun'er (calling you so close...), run far away when we encounter this battle. Don't get involved." Lin Xuan's face was grave but his tone returned to calm. No matter what, he had to obtain that Separation Stage cultivator’s treasure.
"Yes," the girl nodded obediently: "Senior Uncle, don’t worry. Although I can't help much, I won’t drag you down."
Lin Xuan showed satisfaction on his face and didn't say more. Just as he was about to summon a magical artifact, Mo'er's voice entered his ears: "Master, wait a moment."
"Why?" Lin Xuan was taken aback but stopped moving.
"Although this creature is terrifying, it might not be our enemy," she continued.
"You mean..." Lin Xuan’s face showed signs of contemplation.
He closed his eyes and focused on sensing the surroundings. After a brief moment, he opened them again: "Correct. This creature indeed doesn’t have any hostile intent."
"Indeed, Master, perhaps we can avoid conflict and quietly pass through," Mo'er suggested from her heart.
Since she hadn't managed to form an infant spirit core successfully, facing this opponent was beyond her help. However, Mo'er didn't want to idle around; instead, she read more books and thought harder, hoping to play the role of Lin Xuan's strategist.
Whether it worked or not, Lin Xuan felt warm knowing her intentions.
To be honest, Mo'er’s suggestion had a significant allure this time.
Lin Xuan had encountered ancient beasts before. On the demon spirit island at the main hall of Xuanfeng Sect, he faced an ancient beast octopus in that lake water and was engaged in a tough battle.
Although his current abilities were far superior to what they used to be, having advanced to mid-stage, this creature was still much more terrifying than the octopus. Lin Xuan wasn't sure if he had a chance of victory.
Instead of confronting head-on, it clearly wasn’t a wise choice for a strategist.
Could they find a way around? Lin Xuan looked around and shook his head. The terrain here was peculiar; there were numerous spatial vortexes on both sides that moved rapidly.
Spatial vortices were far more terrifying than spatial rifts. Even if the rift was large, one might not necessarily die upon entering it.
But with a spatial vortex, once inside, one would face chaotic space currents. It wasn’t just him; even an ancient beast of late Separation Stage had only a 10% chance of survival.
In other words, they could only cross over the lake surface. But this creature was in the water, and trying to pass by without being attacked seemed impossible.
Lin Xuan frowned deeply as he pondered. After a full meal's worth of time, he gritted his teeth with determination.
Well then, fortune favors those who dare to take risks. To obtain such treasure, it’s worth taking this chance. I’ll just have to take that risk.
On the side, Wu Yun'er showed surprise on her face. Why had Senior Uncle been talking to himself earlier as if consulting someone? But there were no other cultivators around besides herself.
She was curious but didn’t dare ask more in such a tense moment.
At the same time, she sighed inwardly. Since forming an infant spirit core, she had become somewhat arrogant and overconfident. If it weren't for Senior Uncle Lin, she might have already perished during this quest. She vowed to be much more cautious from now on and never take such reckless actions again.
"Yun'er," Lin Xuan's voice entered her ears.
"Senior Uncle," Wu Yun'er quickly adopted a solemn and respectful expression: "Please instruct."
"I will give you two choices now."
"Choices?" The girl was taken aback, showing surprise on her face.
"Indeed. This journey to find the treasure is fraught with danger. I want to quietly pass through this ancient beast's side. If discovered, it could lead to great peril. In other words, I might not be able to protect you properly, so here are your two options: one, continue staying by my side and searching for the treasure together, but there’s no guarantee of safety; or two, return along the same path to where we encountered the tribulation clouds earlier, waiting for me. If I find the treasure, I will naturally come back for you, but it's important to understand that while that place is currently safe, whether dangers might arise later, I can't make any guarantees," Lin Xuan spoke slowly.
"Yun'er follows Senior Uncle," the girl said without hesitation.
"Really? You should consider carefully. Although both choices are dangerous, returning seems slightly safer for you," Lin Xuan showed surprise on his face and continued speaking.
"Yun'er has decided to follow Senior Uncle; there's no need to think about it."
The girl was very certain. Throughout the journey, she had seen Lin Xuan’s prowess multiple times. Even as a mid-stage infant spirit core cultivator, he relied on extraordinary abilities and treasures, making his true combat power comparable to that of a Great Cultivator. If such a master still couldn’t protect her, it meant fate was against them. Wu Yun'er had no objections.
The second option seemed safer but the independent space was too mysterious; any unexpected danger could easily crush a Condensation Stage cultivator like herself into insignificance.
Therefore, she felt following Lin Xuan would be much safer.
"Alright!"
Lin Xuan remained silent for a moment. Since the girl had made her choice, he didn't have much to say. He extended his hand and tapped his storage bag, taking out an jade bottle. After uncorking it, he poured out a snow-white spirit pill inside.
"This is a Conceal Spirit Pill; it can suppress your spiritual energy. I will teach you a set of incantations; remember them well."
Lin Xuan finished speaking as he mouthed the words to transmit the Nine Heavens Profound Technique's敛气术 (Lian Qi术) to her.
Firstly, this technique would be useful when passing through the ancient beast’s side. Secondly, while the secret technique of suppressing qi was effective, it wasn’t a particularly significant secret; as Qinxin’s disciple, she could learn it without much difficulty.
"Thank you, Senior Uncle!"
Wu Yun'er quickly memorized the incantations. As a Condensation Stage cultivator, this set of techniques were even within reach for a灵动期 (Dong Ling Qi) disciple. She didn’t need Lin Xuan to explain; she soon mastered it and swallowed the Conceal Spirit Pill, suppressing her aura to an almost imperceptible level.
Lin Xuan nodded with satisfaction on his face. He then looked at the distant ancient beast, knowing that safely passing through would be a significant test.