The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 114

Chapter 2 Cooperation

Li Xun found himself with only one word left to say.

“Why?”

“Because… some of my earlier plots are about to be discovered by her. She could return from the Realm of No Return at any moment, and I can only wait to die. That’s it.”

Li Xun laughed. Gu Yin had said nothing, so how could he believe her?

Gu Yin knew what he was thinking, but she remained calm. “There are some things you don’t need to know yet. But there is one thing I think you should understand. Over the past sixty years, Qixia has considered killing you at least ten times, and I’ve suppressed them every time. If I die, I’m afraid your life won’t last long either.”

“Is that a threat?”

“Of course. But I can also tell you that if you tell Qixia what I just said, she’ll return immediately. Aside from the time it takes, the outcome won’t change.”

Li Xun felt a pang of frustration. He had witnessed Gu Yin’s blatant rogue attitude over sixty years ago.

But now, the feeling of being in his own situation was completely different from when he was just watching the fun.

But he quickly caught Gu Yin’s grammatical error and sneered, “You just said that the Loose Cultivators Alliance can’t stand being divided, but now you’re talking about falling out with Yao Feng and Qing Luan, and even dragging me into it! How can I believe you when you’re so contradictory?”

“When have I ever thought about falling out with them? Taking you as an aid doesn’t mean I want to go to war with them, right? Yes, you may be the cultivator with the fastest progress in cultivation since Zhong Yin. In another one or two hundred years, maybe you will be the next Zhong Yin. It’s just that now, using you to resist Qixia and the others… Oh, sorry, I don’t want to laugh.”

Li Xun took a deep breath, barely suppressing the anger in his heart, and then stared into Gu Yin’s eyes, trying to understand why this dignified sect leader is actually more despicable and shameless than the hooligans in the lower world!

However, as he looked at him, his gaze began to shift.

In the dim light of the room, Gu Yin leaned against a cushion, her clothing simple. Her snow-white skin, shimmering with pearls, revealed her neck and wrists. Though lacking in allure, it was a striking sight.

Moreover, her graceful, composed demeanor, as if everything were under control, was even more captivating than she herself.

Li Xun had certainly not forgotten the “story” he’d heard about Gu Yin from the palace attendant just before going upstairs.

Nor had he forgotten the fragments he’d “seen” from Tian Zhi’s memories, just a month earlier, beneath the ice somewhere in the Arctic Yama sky…

He swallowed completely unconsciously.

Gu Yin’s gaze flicked across his swollen Adam’s apple, and she sighed.

“It seems neither of us has quite adjusted to the change in roles. I’m sorry, we really don’t have time to adjust. All I need is one question from you: Can we ‘work together’?”

Before he finished speaking, Li Xun could sense a murderous intent fixed on him from somewhere downstairs.

This feeling was all too familiar to him. Apart from that disgusting thing called Moruohou, there was no other such thing in the world!

An old trick… but it had to be said, it was very effective!

Even if Li Xun’s skills had greatly improved, he didn’t have the confidence to hold out against Moruohou’s terrifying explosive attacks until Yin Sanren came to his rescue. Of course, he could choose to perish with Gu Yin, but he was convinced that this was a losing proposition.

“Living with this guy all the time, how much incense would it take every day!”

Li Xun said indifferently, which was obviously within Gu Yin’s tolerance range. Seeing Gu Yin’s indifference, he could only shift the subject to the real situation: “Okay, what do you want me to do?”

“No, you don’t have to do anything!”

Gu Yin looked at Li Xun with a relaxed expression.

“Go to Xinghe and do your business. Compared to here, it’s nothing over there. I’ll have the palace servants help you. Here, I just hope you can adapt to the change in your position. When things really come to a head, don’t be hesitant. Remember, we’re all on the same page now… for our lives.”

Li Xun smiled coldly, noncommittal. Now, he no longer needed to conceal certain emotions. Or was this considered progress?

He admitted that he had begun to believe that Gu Yin needed his help.

Of course, he also believed that after his usefulness was exhausted, Gu Yin would not hesitate to get rid of him.

“By the way, it’s not like I have nothing to do. There is something I do need your help with.”

Gu Yin seemed to have just remembered, and lightly clapped his hands. “It’s about your old enemy, Baigui Daoren. Do you have time in April?”

“Yes, I do. What is it?”

“If you can spare the time, all the better. On the second day of April, you can go to Razor Peak in Beiqi Mountain. There’s a very important appointment there. One party is us, the other is your old enemy!”

Beiqi Mountain! Razor Peak!

Those two familiar place names were like two hammer blows, making Li Xun’s head buzz. Even though he was an expert in cultivating his Qi, he couldn’t keep his composure and was stunned for a moment.

Of course, his reaction could not be hidden from Gu Yin. The woman raised her eyebrows and

said, “Why, are you surprised?” Li Xun knew that something was wrong, but it was impossible to hide it at this time. He had to make the best of it and said with gritted teeth, “Hundred Ghosts? When did you get in touch with him?”

Gu Yin looked at him meaningfully and smiled, “You and he have a deep hatred. It doesn’t matter. This is an opportunity. If you don’t like him, you can kill him together with your companions. But be careful. The Hundred Ghosts are very powerful recently. If you are not absolutely sure, don’t reveal your whereabouts!”

“…”

Li Xun didn’t know what to say anymore. His mind was full of thoughts, but when they came together, there were only a few words –

“Hello, Madam Yan!”

He took a breath, stood up, bowed to Gu Yin, turned around and left. But when he reached the stairs, Gu Yin called him again from behind.

“During this time, you can consider what price I’ll have to pay before we can establish a basic level of trust. In other words, I hope you can be honest with me about our mutual interests… I’m not going to lie, but it’s not easy to see through your thoughts!”

Li Xun paused, pondering for a moment, then suddenly turned back and asked, “Including yourself?”

This didn’t surprise Gu Yin too much, only a bright smile playing on her lips. “Actually, I don’t mind at all. It’s just a pity… you’ll all get tired of it eventually! More importantly, I have no idea… when the deadline is!”

You?

Li Xun chewed on this delicate word and slowly made his way downstairs. For some reason, his anger gradually dissipated as he did so.

It was just past midnight, and the moon had already sunk below the horizon. The waters where Li Xun stood grew darker, but thanks to his wide field of vision, and the tiny starlight, he could see every subtle change for miles around him.

Beside him, the palace attendant tilted his head slightly, gazing at the dark, boundless starry sky. He hadn’t spoken in nearly half an hour, yet Li Xun showed no sign of being annoyed.

In fact, during that time, Li Xun had been absorbed in digesting the newly acquired information, oblivious to the passage of time.

Just as he began to develop interest in other matters, a surge of vital energy appeared in the distance, and the person they had been waiting for arrived at that very moment.

They both simultaneously cast their gazes towards the night sky several miles away, where a figure, hovering close to the surface of the water, flew towards them.

Their gazes met, and Li Xun could clearly see the uncontrollable astonishment in the man’s eyes.

Thinking back to a moment ago, when his own reaction had been even stronger than the other’s, Li Xun felt a strong empathy. Despite this, his expression remained unaffected. He simply glanced at the palace attendant, and soon, he received a positive response.

Li Xun flicked his thumb, and a bright pearl flew diagonally ten feet into the air, plummeting towards them.

In the night* (**please delete), the pearl shimmered, quite eye-catching. The visitor reached out and grasped the pearl, then stopped a few feet in front of Li Xun and the others. He examined it for a long moment before nodding and saying, “The token is correct. Madam Gong, long time no see. Is this… Ming Xinling Zhu?”

Li Xun’s eyes met the visitor’s, a perfectly balanced wry smile playing on his face. He bowed and said, “Mr. Bi Su.”

The visitor was dressed in a dark blue robe and was slightly stout. He slung a sword across his back, its hilt embedded with a striking purple round bead. His face was pale and beardless, and his eyes flickered, revealing a certain sophistication.

Li Xun had seen this man before: none other than Bi Su, the “Wheel-Turning Star,” one of Tianyuan Weng’s four direct disciples.

In truth, until now, Li Xun had never imagined that Gu Yin had planted such a high-ranking hidden pawn within the Xingji Sword Sect.

Unfortunately, this chess piece has recently lost its sense of purpose…

I still remember the last time they met. Li Xun was a promising rising star in the Mingxin Sword Sect, while Bi Su was one of the most qualified candidates to inherit the throne of the Xingji Sword Sect. No one could have imagined they would meet again in this way.

An awkward atmosphere settled between the two. Fortunately, Bi Su wasn’t foolish enough to say, “Why are you here?”

This gave both sides some room to maneuver.

The palace attendant, understanding their current mood, interjected, “You’re late!”

Bi Su seemed quite in awe of the palace attendant and quickly apologized, “I ran into a minor issue while on duty tonight, so I’m a little late. Don’t blame me.”

Li Xun was perceptive enough to detect that the palace attendant wasn’t exactly polite to Bi Su. This was especially evident when compared to his attitude towards himself.

During their previous contact, Bisu already knew what to do, so the palace attendant didn’t need to elaborate. He simply briefly explained the stakes involved and then asked, “What time can we enter the galaxy?”

Bisu replied, “It’s three quarters past the hour of the Chou. In another hour and a half, around the end of the hour of the Yin, the galaxy will be nearby. Since it’s my shift, entry will be a breeze.”

“The end of the hour of the Yin…”

Li Xun paused. This precise time, combined with the information he had gathered that day, deepened his understanding of the galaxy’s movements.

The more he delved into it, the more he realized that the galaxy’s status as one of the six forbidden areas was well-deserved. Its infinite possibilities, born from the shifting celestial forces, were far beyond Li Xun’s ability to decipher in a short time.

Therefore, he couldn’t act rashly against Bisu.

Thinking this way, Bi Su hesitated for a moment before speaking again, “As for that matter…”

He was clearly addressing the palace attendant, but his eyes were fixed on Li Xun, his voice hesitant. Li Xun sneered inwardly, remained silent, and simply cast his gaze upwards, leaving the matter to the palace attendant.

Seeing Li Xun’s behavior, Bi Su felt a sense of relief. Then, looking at the palace attendant, the beautiful woman spoke calmly, “Master Gu’s point is, ‘Less is better than more.'”

At these words, Bi Su’s face changed drastically. Though he quickly suppressed it, Li Xun could clearly see a hint of anxiety, even indignation, in his eyes.

The palace attendant’s beautiful eyes shifted to Li Xun, and a smile appeared on her usually expressionless face.

“Today, you and Ling Zhu are working together, so naturally, it’s your turn to discuss this. The most important thing is to act within your capabilities.”

Bi Su naturally saw her push, but he could only go along with it.

He also cast his gaze on Li Xun’s face. Although he was a generation older than Li Xun, his eyes were filled with pleading.

Li Xun had received the news from the palace servant a long time ago. He was very clear-headed, but his face showed just the right amount of doubt. He pretended to whisper in the palace servant’s ear before pretending to understand.

He glanced around and took in Bi Su’s nervous expression. He sighed in his heart, but after a moment of thought, he smiled.

“So that’s how it is. Immortal Master Bi Su probably didn’t understand what Sect Master Gu meant. Tonight, Sect Master ordered me to sneak into the galaxy, not to go back and forth without anyone noticing, but to deliberately create trouble.

“So, whether it’s entering the galaxy, saving Ming Ji, or the matter of Immortal Master Bi Su, we have to focus on this “incident”… This is the case of less trouble is better than more!” “

Bi Su was also a smart man. Upon hearing this, his expression immediately brightened. He clapped his hands and praised, “Great. No matter how many accidents there are, they are always one “incident”. If everything is combined into one, a lot of trouble can be avoided and safety will be greatly increased. Well, I wonder if you have any specific plans?” “

Li Xun glanced at the palace servant, and the corners of his lips curled slightly: “The overall situation tonight will naturally be coordinated by Madam Gong.

As for the specific actions in the galaxy, only someone like the Immortal Master who is familiar with the affairs of the sect can carry out them. As for me, I can only follow in his footsteps and try my best to help.”

He said it modestly, but Bi Su had lived for hundreds of years, so how could he not hear the twists and turns in it? He smiled and said, “I don’t deserve the title of Immortal Master. Fellow Daoist has made a great reputation over the years, and he is also a capable general under the command of the ancient sect master. We can just call each other equals.

“In this way, Madam Gong and Fellow Daoist must have some understanding of the situation in our sect. During this time, I will give you a brief account of the general situation and then discuss it with you two, okay?”

“That’s great.” Madam Gong took over the conversation naturally and nodded, “Ling Zhu just came from afar and doesn’t know much about the situation. You might as well start from the beginning and string things together.”

Bi Su responded with a smile. He was a smooth and articulate person, and he quickly explained the whole story.

The first half was similar to what Li Xun knew. That is, Mingji’s cousin had a dispute with a fellow student, and during the fight, he was murdered by the other party, which led to Mingji coming to question him.

Mingji was really amazing. He actually cut the murderer in two with a sword under the eyes of Tianyuan Weng, and also destroyed his body and soul.

As a result, Tianyuan Weng, who always protected his shortcomings, was embarrassed, but he was a little worried about the Mingxin Sword Sect and couldn’t kill him. He simply used his supreme cultivation and the power of the galaxy to suppress Mingji on the “Gathering Star Platform”, and declared that he would imprison him for a thousand years and let him suffer the pain of the star power.

“The relationship between them is nothing more than the difference between close and distant, which is a common thing in the sect, but I don’t want to mess with Mingji!”

As one of Tianyuan Weng’s four direct disciples, Bi Su, despite having already pledged his allegiance to Gu Yin, still sided with the Xingji Sword Sect. Speaking of Mingji, while respectful of Li Xun’s status, his tone was still somewhat teasing.

“Mingji is unlucky indeed. Before she arrived, a ‘fixing star’ had just been lost from the ‘Gathering Star Platform,’ causing an imbalance in the vital energy within the ‘Galaxy.’ The Sect Master simply locked her in the ‘fixing star’ position, taking her place to channel the star power. She’s been in a very difficult situation these days.” “

Li Xun frowned slightly: “Fixing Star?”

“Exactly. This fixing star is the key to receiving the Zhoutian star power. There are a total of 366 of them on the star-gathering platform, which generate 3,000 scattered star formations, absorb and release star power, and maintain the operation of the galaxy.

“But a few months ago, a fat man named Ji came to the Sikong Thousand Treasures Pavilion. He said he was doing some routine business with the sect, but he took the opportunity to steal one of the fixing stars… Hey, it is said that this guy has recently ascended to the position of the master of the Thousand Treasures Pavilion. It’s really inexplicable!”

Li Xun’s expression at the moment was as weird as it could be.

The palace attendant glanced at him strangely, but did not want to cause trouble, frowned and asked: “Mingji is locked in the fixing star position, what impact will it have on our plan?”

Bi Su also frowned: “If you say it has an impact, it is impossible to move Mingji away silently, because if one part moves, the whole body will be affected. As long as the fixing star position moves, the operation of the entire galaxy will be affected. This can never be concealed from others.”

“How did Ji Bu Kou do it?”

Li Xun’s question hit the nail on the head. Bi Su nodded at him and said, “At that time, Ji Bu Kou found an extremely pure obsidian crystal and used the method of grafting to replace the Dingxing. This obsidian crystal is the main material for making Dingxing and has the ability to absorb star power. Therefore, in just half an hour, there was no abnormality. It was not until he escaped far away that we realized something was wrong.”

Finally, he added, “In fact, Ji Bu Kou used the Dingxing as a trial item to inherit the position of Pavilion Master. The obsidian crystal used as a replacement is not much less valuable than a Dingxing. It can be used to make another Dingxing. It is precisely because of this that the sect did not investigate further…”

Li Xun nodded slightly, finally understanding the meaning of Yunxing’s words that day. Fatty Ji was a cunning person, which was evident from this.

As he pondered this, he suddenly felt something strange around him. Looking up, he saw the palace attendant and Bi Su were both looking at him. He was stunned for a moment, then, anticipating their current thoughts, he said with a smile, “That person is using the same old tricks. We must not use them a second time.

” “Besides, with my level of cultivation, being able to infiltrate the perimeter of the galaxy, gather some information, and escape safely is already a remarkable feat. If I were to do something like escaping to Ming Ji again, it would be a disgrace. Besides, Immortal Bi Su… is on duty tonight. If things get out of hand, he’ll probably bear the responsibility.”

Bi Su immediately relaxed. Regardless of his inner thoughts, he nodded gratefully to Li Xun.

The palace attendant took in the exchange of glances between the two, sneering inwardly while also trying to persuade them, “So, according to Fellow Daoist Ling Zhu, you’re just going to cruise around the perimeter…”

“No, that won’t work either,”

Li Xun said, smiling and shaking his head, echoing the palace attendant.

“If that’s the case, it won’t attract enough attention from both sides. Furthermore, it’ll be difficult to bring Mr. Bi Su’s matter into this. As I understand it, if we want everything to be complete and seamless, there are a few things we must do right.”

The palace attendant remained silent, but Bi Su’s expression was greatly moved. He said politely, “Fellow Daoist Lingzhu must have a plan in mind. I’d like to hear the details!”

Li Xun smiled faintly and didn’t refuse. He said, “Well, I’ll tell you, and Madam Gong and Mr. Gong will discuss it.

“First, when I enter the galaxy, the place where I’m exposed shouldn’t be too shallow or too deep. It needs to be painful but not hurtful. It needs to attract enough attention, but it also needs to avoid igniting the wrath of your clan, lest I be reduced to dust without even a chance to fight back.”

Bi Su nodded repeatedly, “No, no. I already have a few locations in mind that fit this perfectly.”

“Secondly, since we want to unite all things, we must provoke all targets. This momentum must alarm my sect, at least stir up a disturbance, and cause friction between the two sides. At the same time, the person that Mr. Bi Su is plotting against must also be involved, so that we can fish in troubled waters.

“In this case, the key lies in the retreat route after my whereabouts are exposed. This line will connect all parties together, and this will require Mr. Bi Su to plan carefully.”

This point is reasonable, and Bi Su naturally had no choice but to nod.

Li Xun went on, “The last point is also the most crucial. You must know that when it comes to taking action, Mr. Bi Su will be limited by his status, and I am still shallow in cultivation and unable to do it. If I want to accomplish the task completely, I am afraid I will need Madam Gong’s secret help. Unfortunately, the movement of the galaxy is complex and changeable, and internal and external communication is a big problem. On this point, Mr. Bi Su…”

Bi Su smiled when he heard this, and said with emotion, “This is not a problem. Although the movement of the galaxy is complex, the changes in its position correspond to the rotation of the celestial constellations, and there are customary systems to follow. Madam Gong can completely grasp the position of the galaxy according to the changes in the time, and as for the exact location, as long as we determine a method of communication, there will be no problem.”

Li Xun said “Oh” lightly, and then smiled and said, “That’s great!”

Then, he and Madam Gong made eye contact, and they both knew that Bi Su had almost run into the gates of hell.