The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 113

Chapter 1 Past Events

A sudden, creaking sound echoed, and the dark blue light that filled the room seemed startled, suddenly retreating behind the ice wall. The pent-up cold surge roared out from the newly opened cracks, emitting another wave of piercing sound.

Light shone from behind Li Xun, but was blocked by his body, casting a long, dark shadow over Qing Yin.

Someone spoke outside the door, but it wasn’t Gu Yin. If Li Xun remembered correctly, it was the eldest of the five maids of Miaohua, the palace maid.

“Master Li, in a quarter of an hour, the water level in the ice prison will rise. It’s not advisable to stay here any longer. Please come out.”

Li Xun ignored her, quietly listening to Qing Yin’s subtle breathing. It wasn’t until the palace attendant repeated the same question a second time that he turned and whispered, “Lake water?”

“The ice prison is located above the North Sea’s eye. Water always floods in during the ebb and flow of the tide. Of course, after being filtered through the ice prison’s base, the water here is very clean, capable of washing anything clean.”

As the palace attendant spoke, he leaned over and extended his hand.

If Li Xun’s intuition was correct, the palace attendant’s tone was directed at Qing Yin, and the

subtle implication was incredibly clear. Qing Yin’s curtain, obscuring her face, showed no reaction.

His fingers flicked the black satin curtain, seemingly carelessly, lifting a few strands. Then, Li Xun turned and strode out of the ice room without another word.

The iron gate behind him slammed shut, separating the inner and outer worlds. Li Xun walked forward without looking back.

The palace attendant leaned slightly to the side, extending his hand as if to lead the way—the mannerisms of a servant.

While the title of the Five Maids of Miaohua contained the word “Miss,” Li Xun had never seen them behave this way in decades.

At that moment, Li Xun understood that his status within the Heart Garden had invisibly risen.

The moment he emerged from the underwater passage, Li Xun took a deep breath of the Heart Garden’s *night* (**please delete) air. The night air, shimmering with moisture and the fragrance of flowers and trees, mingled delicately with his heart.

“Wine doesn’t intoxicate, people intoxicate themselves; beauty doesn’t allure people, people bewitch themselves…”

These clichés uttered softly, yet Li Xun felt a deeper realization. And precisely because of this, as soon as he uttered these words, all his strength seemed to drain away with them.

The huge body seemed like a hollow shell, slumped down against the railing, then raised his head to gaze at the twinkling stars in the sky.

The palace attendant said nothing, simply standing quietly behind him.

In the quiet *night* (**please delete), Li Xun could clearly hear the thumping of his heart. It was like the intoxicating pleasure of drinking fine wine, or more frankly, more like the weakening pleasure of falling from the peak after the ultimate carnal pleasure.

But it was only “like”.

Li Xun could not discern any more information. His mind was already flowing freely under the overflowing pleasure, drifting into the infinite void, as if he could dance with the stars. What was that feeling? He thought for a long time before finding the perfect description –

the river rushed down, roaring and crashing against the dam that had locked it for a century, breaking it into pieces, and then flooding the entire earth. How many houses, fields, and cities were washed away, how many lives were lost…

The river knew nothing of that. It knew only that everything that bounded it had vanished. Dams and river channels no longer held any meaning to it.

It simply rushed recklessly, crushing everything, expanding endlessly, turning every place it passed into a flooded land, until it grew tired, exhausted, its thinning water seeping into the ground and evaporating into the sky. That was it.

Li Xun’s mind was the river itself, dancing wildly in the boundless void. When stretched to a certain limit, it too would tire, become thin, and eventually dissipate.

However, just as a river never dries up due to a breached dam, a mind scattered into the void would, in some mysterious way, reunite, like the convergence of underground undercurrents and the movement of rising clouds into rain, completing a perfect cycle between heaven and earth.

In this state, Li Xun only cared about the extent of his mind’s expansion, delving into the unnameable mysteries of this void that belonged to him.

Everything else was irrelevant to him.

Li Xun hesitated to say if this was truly “letting go,” but his throbbing heart was breaking free with unprecedented force, like a wild beast galloping across the plains, letting out a long howl, filling the entire universe with its own energy.

This was a true breakthrough. Li Xun knew perfectly well that just now, the shackles that had held him captive for nearly a decade had been shattered.

From this moment on, Li Xun became one of the most elite cultivators in this world, possessing the power that befitted his status.

Now, at least for now, he was fearless!

He closed his eyes, his mind, strained by his reckless abandon into the void, slowly recovering. A gentle breeze from the lake caressed his face, bringing a soothing sensation. Soon, the gentle melody of a flute drifted into his ears, drawing his eyes back to a distant point.

“Is that Yu San Ren?”

“Yes, Master Yu.”

The palace attendant standing quietly behind him continued to address Yu San Ren with respect, which made Li Xun look at him in surprise.

This beauty, one of the Five Maids of Miao Hua, was exceptionally beautiful, and her bright yellow dress with phoenix patterns exuded a sense of grandeur and nobility, without the slightest air of a concubine or maid, making it even more difficult to disrespect her.

Li Xun could sense that the palace attendant seemed to be aware of his recent breakthrough, but when they looked at each other, they showed no surprise, as if it was all natural. This feeling made Li Xun a little disappointed, but also more comfortable. He suddenly wanted to chat with this beauty.

“Madam Gong…” Using this rather unseemly and unsuitable address, Li Xun began, “There’s something I’ve been unable to understand. Could you, Madam, clarify it for me?”

The palace attendant’s eyes flickered, then dropped, and she said calmly, “Master Li, what is it?”

Li Xun, unfazed by Madam Gong’s politeness, remained humble and spoke softly.

“I’ve now stepped foot into Xinyuan, and I believe Sect Master Gu has something to answer to. However, I’m still confused about the changing situation here, which is quite detrimental to my future. I’d like to ask Madam, Madam, to clarify the current situation in Xinyuan, for future planning.”

He clearly acted out of self-interest, yet appeared frank.

The palace attendant paused for a moment before adding, “There’s no such thing as right or wrong in Xinyuan. I think what Master Li truly wants to know is the story between the Sect Master, Jade Master, and Madam Qixia.”

Despite her revelation, Li Xun felt no embarrassment. He was experiencing a breakthrough, his mind unfettered. Upon hearing this, he simply smiled and bowed, saying, “Please advise.”

The palace attendant remained indifferent to this seemingly insolent behavior. She calmly stated, “It’s not for us maids to comment on matters between the master and the mistress. However, before we came here, the sect leader said that if Master Li was interested in this matter, we wouldn’t have to hide it…”

Li Xun was somewhat surprised to hear Gu Yin’s generosity, and couldn’t help but wonder about the tactics behind it. He could still hear the palace attendant’s words: “It’s just that the Sect Master has arranged to meet Master Li at the end of the evening hour at Yanfan Pavilion. It’s already late, Master Li, so please move on. If you don’t mind, how about I talk to you while we walk?”

Hearing her address herself as “maid,” Li Xun quickly said, “I don’t deserve it,” and stood up.

The palace attendant clapped his hands gently, and outside the pavilion on the shore, a pair of beautiful maids, holding lanterns, stood by the road, lighting the way.

In the Tongxuan Realm, Li Xun had never seen such a wealthy family before, and for a moment he was amazed.

The palace attendant observed his expression and led him out of the water platform before saying, “Although the Miaohua Sect is a sect of cultivation, ever since the time of Master Yu, the sect’s beautiful disciples have become like his singing girls and concubines. Their daily behavior lacks the aura of spiritual cultivation. Even after the Sect Master took over, this hasn’t changed.”

Regardless of his feelings towards Yu Sanren, Li Xun couldn’t help but feel a little envious upon hearing this. But he couldn’t help but wonder if this was Yu Sanren’s way to death.

Led by the palace attendant, he walked down a small path. A maid in front of him held a lantern, and the light and shadows revealed her graceful figure, which was extremely pleasing to the eye. Li Xun glanced at her for a few moments before looking away, waiting for the palace attendant to speak and reveal the secrets that had been locked away for nearly two hundred years.

The palace attendant lowered his eyelids slightly, as if he was fabricating words. After a while, he said, “I know that Master Li is not like those fake Taoists, but I wonder what he thinks about this act of infidelity and patricide?”

“This…” Li Xun pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, “Although this world also has moral principles and ethics, the cultivators have been practicing for thousands of years. These moral principles are not like the Three Bonds and Five Relationships in the lower world. Only the two things of cultivation and inheritance can be a teacher for all ages. The rest are mediocre and not worthy of being a model.”

He brought out the argument of Netherfire Yama, which surprised the palace attendant.

The beauty’s demeanor immediately changed, and she sized him up. After a long pause, she said, “This is a brilliant theory. A true master has cultivated for only a hundred years, yet he’s already reached such a realization. No wonder the Sect Master has such a special regard for him. However, words are one thing, actions are another. That’s where their disagreement stems from.”

“Disagreement? Does anyone have a different opinion?”

“No, this is still their consensus. It’s just that Master Yu practices what he preaches, and has truly mastered it, while the Sect Master only talks about it.”

Li Xun felt a little guilty after hearing this, for he, too, was one of those “talking about it.” But why did they include Gu Yin in this discussion?

“No one is born with knowledge, so it’s inevitable that there’s a process of improvement. Back then, the Sect Master was just starting to make a name for himself in this world, and his cultivation was far from perfect, so naturally, it wasn’t as good as it is now.”

The palace attendant lowered her eyelids and spoke calmly.

“At that time, Master Yu was already famous throughout the world, and was known for his unscrupulous behavior. He openly declared that he would use the beauty of this world to refine his mind and made countless powerful enemies. The Yama Heaven was harassed almost every day. Master Yu knew that the inheritance of the sect was a big deal, so he made a quick decision to sever ties with the sect and went to live in the No Return Realm.

“During this period, although the Sect Master was annoyed by Master Yu’s absurd behavior, the relationship between uncle and niece was still good. After all, she was raised by Master Yu since she was a child. Even after Master Yu set up her own sect, she often secretly returned to the Heart Garden to live and guide the Sect Master in her cultivation. The Sect Master also regarded Master Yu as an elder and respected him very much…

“And all these scenes disappeared overnight!”

The palace servant said this, and suddenly stared at Li Xun’s face. The emotions in it were really complicated and difficult to understand.

Li Xun was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, “The sword breaks through the realm of no return…”

“Exactly!”

The palace attendant averted her gaze, gazing into the deep night sky. Her tone became cold and ethereal. At this moment, she was completely lost in her memories.

“I didn’t witness Zhong Yin’s breakthrough of the realm of no return, but the scene of Master Yu, dying, crashing into the Heart Garden, seems to be still before my eyes…

” “Only half a day later, Zhong Yin attacked. The Yama Heaven Barrier was fully opened, and with the advantage of the Thousand Fold Pass, they barely managed to stop Zhong Yin’s advance. But in just two days, fifteen of the sect’s elders who presided over the forbidden techniques were either dead or injured. It seemed that the sect was on the verge of being defeated by Zhong Yin alone, and the lineage would be cut off.”

Li Xun listened intently. The palace attendant’s words were plain and unpretentious, but even so, one could sense the irresistible and awe-inspiring power of Zhong Yin back then. However, as a disciple of the Mingxin Sword Sect, he did not show the slightest sign of admiration.

If there was any, it was only a slight chill in his heart.

“Seeing the dire situation, the Sect Master, with all his dignity intact, sent letters to the various sects via flying sword. Capitalizing on their fear of Zhong Yin’s strength, they joined forces to put pressure on the Mingxin Sword Sect, forcing Zhong Yin to return. However, the sect itself was left in ruins.”

At this point, the palace attendant’s tone took a subtle turn.

“I still don’t understand what Master Yu felt at that time. Such an arrogant and conceited person was chased back like a dog, and in the end he only escaped with the help of outsiders. Such a great humiliation, and there was not even the possibility of revenge…

“From that day on, the sect’s power declined greatly, and the elites were almost gone. The sect leader worked hard every day to take charge of the sect’s affairs, but Master Yu continued to indulge in sensual pleasures and did not care. The relationship between them began to cool down from then on.

“Then, Master Yu tried every means to recover from his injuries within a hundred years. But for nearly two hundred years after that, his cultivation had not improved at all. Only then did he realize that Zhong Yin’s sword through his chest had actually destroyed his path…”

Li Xun sneered in his heart. He had learned more about Zhong Yin’s methods.

The palace attendant continued, “Master Jade has repeatedly failed to break through the barriers, only to be possessed by demons several times, his cultivation declining instead of improving. Meanwhile, the Sect Master has steadily entered the True Person Realm, and this, in Master Jade’s eyes, sparked an idea.”

Here, the palace attendant hesitated again, her gaze shifting to Li Xun’s face. Li Xun gave her a respectful glance, his gaze filled with pure inquiry.

Under this gaze, the palace attendant finally decided to reveal the key point.

“Actually, this method is recorded in many of the evil sects’ texts. It’s called the ‘Xuanying Tribulation Expedition.’ Of course, different texts have different names, but the meaning is the same.

‘Xuanying Tribulation Expedition’ involves using a unique secret method to give birth to a child, preferably one that is blood-related to the host. Numerous methods are then used to cultivate and refine the child, creating a superb ‘Original Tai Dao Body’ like you, forming the ‘Tai Ding’. Finally, the child abandons its original Dharma body and is reborn in another body!” Li

Xun swallowed dryly, feeling a chill run down his back and his hair stand on end.

He wasn’t frightened by this “Xuanying Tribulation Survival” technique; in fact, it was recorded in the “Records of the Netherworld.” While complex and difficult, and contrary to moral principles, it wasn’t considered earth-shattering.

But after hearing the palace attendant’s words, “As you do, sir,” Li Xun’s mind raced, a myriad of thoughts flooding his mind.

He almost rushed to ask, “Did it succeed?”

The palace attendant gave him a slightly puzzled look, seemingly understanding but still shaking her head. “You haven’t even given birth to a baby, how can you talk about success?”

Li Xun’s heart thumped, a huge stone falling to the ground, and an indescribable sense of relief washed over him. But soon, he became confused: “Is this Xuanying method difficult?”

“Although it’s difficult, it’s not difficult for Master Jade.” The palace attendant’s beautiful eyes dimmed slightly, and her tone remained deliberately calm.

“But Master Yu understood that although the Xuanying method could help him break the blockade of Zhong Yin, firstly, it would be like starting over from scratch. Everything in the past would become nothingness. It would take an unknown amount of time to recover his original cultivation level.

“Secondly, even if the Xuanying survived the catastrophe, so what? Zhong Yin is extremely talented and far superior to anyone in the world. If he simply started from scratch, I’m afraid Zhong Yin wouldn’t be able to wait! So…”

Li Xun raised his eyebrows and leaned forward slightly involuntarily: “So?”

“So at the starting point, you have to do your best. Ordinary Xuanying are not enough to meet this standard. Therefore, Master Yu took a different approach and used the “blood fusion” technique to take Xuanying’s physique to a higher level. And this blood fusion technique, to put it bluntly, is the combination of the bones and blood of close relatives!”

The last few words were as eerie as a cold wind, blowing straight into Li Xun’s heart.

Li Xun felt a sharp pain in his teeth, and couldn’t help but gasp, “How could that be? Children born from incest are often disabled!”

“The blood fusion technique does the exact opposite, accumulating a natural evil energy to cultivate the Dao. Although faced with numerous tribulations, it ultimately leads to rapid progress in cultivation. This is what Master Jade values, and so…”

If Li Xun still didn’t understand at this point, then he’d truly lived in vain. Without a doubt, the Jade Wanderer had set his sights on his niece!

That was perfectly in keeping with his style.

As the palace attendant narrated her bland tale, Li Xun couldn’t discern the emotions within him. Perhaps there was a sense of discomfiture at this incestuous affair, but more evident was a tinge of indescribable excitement, and the resulting sense of wantonness and shame.

This complex mixture of feelings, woven with the slightly erratic rhythm of his heart’s rise and fall, spread throughout his body.

Li Xun tried to maintain a calm demeanor, but the words that escaped his lips betrayed his inner anxiety.

“What happened next?”

The palace attendant, aware of Li Xun’s current state, furrowed her brows as she began to seriously consider whether to continue.

The more she hesitated, the more eager Li Xun became. His curiosity and desire to explore the secrets had long since transcended the principle of “knowing yourself and knowing your enemy.”

Just as he was about to urge her again, the lights ahead suddenly stopped.

They had arrived at Yanfan Pavilion.

The palace attendant breathed a sigh of relief, then changed the subject, almost relieved: “The Sect Master is waiting inside the pavilion. I’ll go and inform you!”

With that, ignoring Li Xun’s disappointed look, she hurried forward and disappeared through the pavilion door in the blink of an eye.

After a while, she emerged, knelt down and saluted, saying: “The Sect Master invites Master Li to come in and speak.”

Li Xun felt a pang of frustration at being treated so courteously by a beautiful woman, but he couldn’t do anything about it.

He thought for a moment, shook his head again, and walked towards the pavilion. When he reached the palace attendant, he suddenly stopped.

The palace attendant was slightly surprised and looked up unconsciously. Li Xun’s fingers gently stroked her cheek at this moment, seemingly with intentional flirtation, but also as if it was just a normal arm swing.

Their eyes met, and a cold light flashed in the palace attendant’s eyes.

From this, Li Xun immediately found his position. He slightly bowed and said with a smile: “If there is a chance, please continue the story, Madam Gong. Thank you in advance.”

After that, without paying attention to the palace attendant’s expression, he strode into the room.

A maid had come from the inner room and replaced the palace attendant to lead the way for Li Xun. They stepped on the cork stairs, and with a rhythmic creaking sound, they ascended to the second floor.

Li Xun saw Gu Yin at a glance. She was leaning on the vanilla woven cushion, flipping through the book lazily in the light of the pearl lamp on the wall behind her. On the low table in front of her was a bowl of steaming medicinal juice, reminding Li Xun that she was a patient.

Having just listened to the palace attendant’s storytelling, Li Xun was suddenly dazed by this scene.

Who would believe this woman, so scholarly and calm, who was the culprit behind the chaos unseen in this world for a thousand years?

However, he quickly regained consciousness. Seeing that Gu Yin still hadn’t looked up, he coughed softly and whispered, “How is Sect Master Gu?”

Gu Yin looked up, and upon seeing him enter, she put down her scroll but didn’t stand. She simply smiled and said, “A little late-night snobbery, is that okay?”

Li Xun was startled. These teasing words now sounded rather i*imate, and despite his caution, a slight wave of emotion crept in.

Fortunately, he quickly recovered his composure, moving forward to sit across from her on the low table. He smiled and shook his head, saying, “Only when forced intoxication does one realize how tasteless

it is…” Before he could finish his words, he sensed that Gu Yin seemed distracted, though only for a fleeting moment.

Gu Yin quickly sighed and chuckled, “You men…”

It was perfectly true, but given their current relationship, it felt too familiar.

Li Xun pondered this, his smile becoming less polite and more casual.

This shift in attitude was subtle, but both were highly sensitive people, and Li Xun felt that this “reciprocate” atmosphere was far more effective than words.

However, Gu Yin’s reaction far exceeded his expectations. A hint of sarcasm gathered at his smile, “Are you satisfied?”

“Huh?”

The light in Gu Yin’s eyes wasn’t intense, but it seemed to reach deep into Li Xun’s heart, yet her tone remained casual.

“Can Qing Yin alone satisfy you? I assumed that, in your heart, Qing Yin was certainly hateful, but Qixia, Qingluan, and even me—these accomplices and masterminds—aren’t they much better, right?”

Li Xun’s smile froze.

Gu Yin continued to press him: “I anticipated that I’d have to pay at least ten times the price to ensure you’d be on my side for a short period, without resorting to covert sabotage…

But with a face like yours, how can I trust you?”

At this point, Li Xun finally understood that Gu Yin had stripped away the last veil, laying bare his interests.

At this moment, there were only upper and lower limits, only a yes or no decision, nothing more.

His reaction was still a step too late, putting him at a disadvantage. However, Li Xun wouldn’t sit still and wait for death. He quickly found a way out, thrusting his upper body forward, and fought back with almost unyielding force.

“Master Gu, you should understand what I was like in your eyes before today. Did I ever have the opportunity to bargain?”

Gu Yin smiled. “Have you ever spoken to me like this before today?”

Li Xun was stunned, then burst into laughter.

The change in his status had happened naturally. Of course, there was some manipulation from Gu Yin, but he now possessed the mentality and strength to cope with it.

However, he thought he had concealed it well. How had Gu Yin seen through the clues and treated him differently?

Li Xun was puzzled, but Gu Yin raised the medicine bowl and drank the slightly cooled medicine. Silence fell in the room for a moment, until Gu Yin’s choking cough broke the atmosphere.

“You can already see that my physical condition is very poor. However, I can tell you more frankly that the situation I am facing is even worse.”

Gu Yin’s words were earth-shattering: “Can’t you see? I… am asking for your help!”

Li Xun’s eyes widened. Without a doubt, this was the most absurd, yet least funny, joke he had ever heard in his life!

Gu Yin took in his expression, but only smiled slightly: “Isn’t it? Since you were able to talk about the principles of “cultivation” and “inheritance” before, you should understand that what the Loose Cultivator Alliance did was almost completely contrary to these two.

“Ten or twenty years, those old fogies could still hold back, but now, sixty or seventy years have passed, and their patience should have worn out.”

“Perhaps. However, with the strength of the Loose Cultivator Alliance, even after a split, it still has the strength to fight against the entire world!”

Li Xun responded calmly, without a trace of falsehood.

“Ten of the twelve councilors of the Loose Cultivator Alliance are still there, and they are all top-notch experts. Among the four directions, tens of thousands of loose cultivators have been fighting and tempered for decades, and their strength is formidable. It can be said that there is no rival in this world. Even if all the sects jointly attack, no one is willing to bear such losses.

“If Sect Master Gu can pursue a strategy of keeping a low profile and operate in a low profile, then for at least a hundred years, the other sects will still not be able to shake the foundation of your alliance. Sect Master Gu should know this better than I do.”

Gu Yin listened to him quietly, without saying a word, and only smiled and nodded when he finished.

“I can see that you’ve put a lot of effort into the Loose Cultivators’ Alliance over the years. However, there’s one thing you’ve forgotten—if the Loose Cultivators’ Alliance was able to split once, why can’t it split a second and a third time?”

“Split?”

Li Xun shook his head and sneered.

“The previous example of Kunpeng has shown everyone the ruthless methods of the ancient sect leader. Without Kunpeng’s cultivation and luck, who dares to act rashly in the near future?”

“Of course there are, such as Qixia and Qingluan, right?”

Seeing Li Xun’s stunned expression, Gu Yin said calmly, as if saying “What a nice day!” “I’m not kidding. Qixia and I are about to fall out!”