The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 122

Chapter 2: Death

Skills can be concealed, but what about realm?

Li Xun has been troubled by this problem in recent days. (

The bone meridians to open the heart technique combined with the jade to ward off evil spirits diligently concealed the bloody smell on his body, and also reduced his cultivation by 40%.

However, as his realm rose, Li Xun found that the way he observed the world seemed different from before. What’s more, he still hasn’t figured out

where the “difference” between the two realms lies.

Therefore, during the competition with Mingji, he clearly felt that his understanding of the Qingyan Zhuying Sword Technique had reached a higher level, but because of the constraints, he felt extremely awkward, which made Mingji extremely upset. Satisfied, his men were even more ruthless, and with the sword energy running wild, they beat him so badly that he couldn’t breathe at all.

Because of this, Li Xun’s life in the following days was very “fulfilling”.

On the one hand, he had to spend a lot of energy to write that epic masterpiece, and on the other hand, he couldn’t use this to get rid of Mingji’s punitive “entanglement”. All the remaining time was spent under Mingji’s guidance to consolidate his cultivation and become familiar with the sword nature, which was more painful than asking him to write ten classics.

This was the only simple time that Li Xun had seen in recent years. He got up early every day and climbed the mountain. He practiced swordplay in the afternoon, wrote books in the afternoon, and then practiced meditation in the evening. It was so simple that it was almost boring.

However, it was such a day that allowed Li Xun’s impetuous mind to settle down, and all the troubles were put aside. Gradually, they became blurred, as if it was a story from another world.

After more than ten days, Li Xun himself was not tired of this kind of life, but he had some troubles. Especially when he was meditating alone in the middle of the night, when his mind was clear and spiritual, he was clearly getting better, but many images that seemed real and unreal came up, and he did all kinds of things. Demonic tribulations.

Because this was a common occurrence during cultivation, Li Xun had initially dismissed them, using his tribulation-transcending techniques to ward them off one by one. However, over the past two days, the demonic tribulations intensified, swaying the Qi and blood throughout his body, connecting to his heart and soul, causing his “unmovable evil mind” to vibrate fiercely, disrupting the flow of his true Qi and making all his efforts go to waste.

Li Xun opened his eyes, released his true Qi, and everything immediately returned to normal. However, after only a moment’s peace, his heart felt numb and tingling, as if countless tiny insects were scurrying. The sensation was so subtle that he almost thought it was an illusion.

“What’s going on?”

This didn’t feel like the anxiety of the past few days, but rather a kind of indescribable touch. Li Xun, clutching his chest, walked to the window, looking at the moonlit snowy scene outside, his brows knitted together: “Hey, is there something wrong with my practice?”

It seemed like he was talking to the air, but the air actually responded with Yin Sanren’s magnetic and pleasant whisper: “Since you have never practiced the three sects together before, and have lived to your age, I can’t give you an answer. However, if it’s just a guess, I think this has a bit of the flavor of Buddhist magic.”

“Buddhist magic?”

“Because of some kind of opportunity, I sensed the operation of the Heavenly Dao, and was touched by the eight wastelands, the past, and the future. According to the Mingxin Sword Sect, this is considered the ‘Heavenly Heart of the Upper Body’. Wasn’t your dead master known as the ‘Heavenly Heart Sword’?”

The last sentence sounded quite sarcastic, but Li Xun ignored it and only grasped the main points: “Even if it is the ‘Heavenly Heart of the Upper Body’, what does that mean? My cultivation has improved? And what touched me?”

“Improved cultivation? You’re dreaming!” Although Yin Sanren had not yet taken shape, his words were rich and meaningful, and it felt as if he was right in front of him.

“Aren’t you surprised that your jade evil-repelling sword is called the most precious treasure for cultivation? The biggest reason is that it can ward off evil and poisonous demons, and with its dense spiritual energy, it provides supreme protection.

“But these past two days, you’ve been plagued by constant demonic tribulations, treating the Jade Repellent as if it were nothing. This is a classic case of being attacked from both inside and outside. The source isn’t in your heart, but in your physical body!”

Li Xun hummed, then pondered, “Body, you mean the Blood Shadow Demon Body?”

“I’m afraid so. Taoism has always been about opening rather than blocking. You’ve used the Bone Meridian Heart-Opening Technique and the Jade Repellent to forcibly lock this supreme demonic power within your mind. While it won’t reveal its true identity, the demonic transformation within your mind won’t stop; it will only intensify. Your recent constant demonic tribulations are likely related to this.

“Plus, ‘Blood God Son’ is, after all, a supreme celestial demonic secret technique, with its own mysteries. These are often discovered by chance, inexplicable, and impossible to discern by force.

“Instead, your heart has been touched, and there must be an opportunity. Think about what you’ve forgotten to do recently, and what the consequences will be… That’s it.”

“Things I forgot?” Li Xun thought about it, his mind was still blank, but his heart was beating fast, and the excitement was getting stronger and stronger.

Li Xun knocked his forehead, and when he was distressed, he saw a flash of light in the corner of his eyes, and he turned his head reflexively. Through the open window, he saw a sword light soaring into the sky, as if heading towards Zuowang Peak.

It was late at night, and on the Zhiguan Peak where many masters of the sect gathered, this undisguised sword light alarmed at least more than ten great masters. There was some commotion at the top of the peak for a while, but it soon subsided.

Li Xun was very familiar with this sword light, and that was why he was surprised: “Qi Bi?

What happened to her?”

From the sword light Judging from the trajectory and the breath that burst out, Qi Bi’s mood is probably not very good. At this time… could it be that he had a quarrel with Wen Hai?

He walked to the window unconsciously, and the sword light of Qi Bi in the direction of Zuowang Peak had become a faint light point. After a few flashes, it disappeared from the sight.

Looking at the vast and boundless dark curtain, Li Xun remembered the look of Qi Bi who was hurting himself that day. He sighed secretly, and when he turned around, his eyes met with another pair of eyes. Both of them were stunned.

Although the reasons were different, they could not escape the embarrassment. At this time, the best solution is to just pretend that nothing happened and go back to sleep, but, Two extremely smart people, but they did a stupid thing at the same time.

“Senior Brother Wen (Junior Brother Xun)?”

The simultaneous greetings made the awkward atmosphere even more tense. Although it was night, Li Xun also saw the embarrassed expression on Wen Hai’s face that could not be concealed. He wanted to step back, but was afraid that he would be too focused and make Wen Hai think too much.

After thinking about it quickly, Li Xun simply jumped out of the window and greeted him. He asked directly: “Senior Brother Wen, what happened just now?”

He did not ask “What happened to Senior Sister Qi”, but made the question broader, which gave Wen Hai a chance to breathe. Wen Hai is also a smart man, and a helpless smile appeared on his face: “I had an argument with your Senior Sister Qi, and she was so angry that she…”

Li Xun He considerately avoided the specific incident and shook his head, saying, “Brother Wen, I’m not criticizing you, but you’ve been companions for decades. If you take a step back when faced with difficulties, the world will naturally be more open…”

He finished with these clichés, then added a concerned question: “How about you, Brother, if you catch up with Senior Sister and climb the mountain alone and can’t find a place to stay, do you still have to sleep in the wild?”

Wen Hai finally recovered and spoke more fluently: “That’s not a problem. She has a place to stay on Zuowang Peak. Near Sanjue Pass, there’s a villa owned by Immortal Master Qingyin, which was later given to your Senior Sister. It’s very quiet and peaceful. When she’s feeling down, she often stays there for a few days to calm down, and then she’ll naturally feel better.”

Li Xun was stunned, having never imagined that Qing Yin would be implicated in this matter. Fortunately, he quickly recovered and said, “That’s good.” As he was trying to come up with a way to get out of this situation, he suddenly felt something and looked up, only to meet Wen Hai’s eyes.

Unable to decipher the meaning, he raised an eyebrow and asked, “Senior Brother Wen?”

“Ah… what?”

Wen Hai was clearly distracted. Fortunately, Li Xun didn’t ask further, pretending not to notice, and continued, “Speaking of the Three Absolute Passes? Could it be…”

“Yes, that’s where you served your sentence and opened up the Nine-Layered Stone Mine.”

Wen Hai let out a long sigh and took the opportunity to continue, naturally changing the topic. After a few more small talk about “back then,” the awkward atmosphere had mostly dissipated. With neither side feeling so tense, Li Xun had a chance to do other things, like studying Wen Hai.

In reality, after a considerable period of cultivation, the age distinctions between cultivators become blurred, with the distinctions now limited to criteria like cultivation and responsibility.

Cultivation is easy to explain, while responsibility is more abstract. But looking at Wen Hai at this moment, Li Xun easily felt the sentiment, “Heaven has bestowed upon this man a great responsibility.” His demeanor and bearing were profoundly different from those of his fellow disciples.

He still remembered their first encounter as a young boy. Although Wen Hai was a third-generation disciple, he still retained his carefree and carefree demeanor, and he and Qi Bi were incredibly close. Every few years after that, his demeanor had become more reserved.

Even now, at first glance, he lacked the radiant brilliance of his youth. His face was slightly thinner, and he remained expressionless most of the time. The occasional flicker in his eyes was difficult to read. If he were placed among second-generation immortal masters, an unfamiliar observer might not be able to tell the difference.

Li Xun didn’t care what Wen Hai would eventually become. He simply lamented that compared to seventy years ago, Wen Hai had changed drastically. In contrast, Qi Bi remained captivated by memories of the past. How could such a couple not have problems?

At this point, Li Xun’s understanding of their marital problems deepened, but it seemed to be of little use.

The two chatted for about a quarter of an hour, and Li Xun seized the opportunity to bid farewell to Wen Hai, saying he was going to attend evening classes.

Wen Hai naturally didn’t try to keep him, and the conversation ended amicably. Li Xun returned to his room. As for Wen Hai’s restless night, that was not his concern. After

this incident, Li Xun stopped dwelling on “supernatural powers.”

Unable to meditate, he simply wrote until dawn, then took his sword and headed to Zuowang Peak for training.

Today, Mingji was testing him on a task called “Sword Controlled Combat.” While it might seem menacing, it was actually about how he would engage, pursue, and escape his foes while trapped in the void, surrounded by obstacles.

Even before reaching the True Person Realm, Li Xun possessed the ability to soar through the air without relying on external forces, and now, even at the cost of 40% of his strength, his sword remained incredibly agile.

Mingji attacked him with his sword, adapting his temperament to his own strength. Seeing him handle the situation with ease, he felt a surge of excitement. He immediately unleashed his full might, and the surging sword energy instantly soared several levels, becoming so ferocious and sharp that it could cleave the very air, leaving those in its wake in despair.

Li Xun managed to block a dozen or so strikes, and he realized that Mingji’s sword moves, while seemingly sharp and savage, were actually seamlessly integrated. Within the astonishingly dense celestial energy of Zuowang Peak, his swordsmen ripped, pulled, and exploded, each strike syncing with the ebb and flow of that energy.

After more than a dozen strikes, the vital energy of heaven and earth flowed and circulated with the sword’s force, integrating seamlessly. It was like throwing a small piece of Zuowang Peak at his head. With his current level of cultivation, how could he resist?

Helplessly, Li Xun applied the key points taught in his lessons. Using a close-quarters sword technique, his body and sword became one, and he rushed out from Mingji’s sword force, constantly raising his body and fleeing.

Mingji watched him flee, smiled happily, and chased after him with his Qi. The two fought and fled. Although Li Xun was completely powerless to fight back, his sword’s swift and subtle movements were as mysterious and subtle as a fleeting moment. Every time he was on the verge of a desperate situation,

he would escape from the impossible. This happened again and again, almost the entire morning, and Mingji was helpless.

Finally, Mingji withdrew his hand first, nodded and said with a smile: “Apart from anything else, your ability of flying with a sword is also top-notch in the sect.”

Li Xun responded with a smile: “No matter how top-notch I am, I will still be chased and beaten by Fourth Uncle. What’s more, Uncle hasn’t even tried his best. I’m sweating profusely. It’s winter, and I can really get sick from the wind!”

Mingji blamed him for his smooth talk and patted his shoulder with the scabbard. Suddenly realizing something, he changed the subject and asked, “Were you and Wen Hai talking outside last night?”

Knowing he couldn’t hide it from the many eyes and ears on the peak, Li Xun agreed frankly, then added a smile, “I was just trying to persuade them…”

“It’s their family matter, what can you do to persuade them?”

Mingji grumbled, then sighed softly, “Actually, it’s a good idea for you to try. Especially with Ah Bi. Apart from you, there’s really no

one else among her disciples who’s friendly with her who’s good at speaking…” “Your uncle Mingru and I don’t ask for anything else. We just hope she can cheer up a little and clear that mental barrier. Otherwise, not only will she have to practice, but how will she survive the long years ahead?”

Li Xun guessed that this was Mingru’s plea. Mingji wasn’t the type to be so petty. However, placing her trust in him, a disciple, he wondered if she truly trusted him or was simply desperate.

Thinking this in his heart, he also agreed verbally. It was almost noon, and Mingji had to go back to discuss something, so he left first. Li Xun had also been thinking about returning to his manuscript, but Mingji’s words suddenly made him want to go out and see Qi Bi.

After a whole morning of pursuit, they were now very close to Sanjue Pass, which was just on their way.

The Jiuchong Stone Mine at Sanjue Pass had been soaked with months of Li Xun’s sweat. Now, decades later, the original mining area was now obscured by new weeds and trees, but if you looked closely, you could still detect the sword marks of the holes dug in the towering rock faces.

Trying to put aside his regrets about how things had changed, Li Xun circled the Jiuchong Stone Mine from a distance. After about half an hour, he found his target.

It was about a hundred miles above the Jiuchong Stone Mine, in a dense jungle.

An elegant bamboo building stood in a small clearing deep in the dense forest, surrounded by evergreen trees and a high rocky cliff in the distance.

A thin mountain stream flows from above, and after a drop of more than ten feet, it forms a small waterfall, falling into the small pool below. Through the trees, the sound of water is faint, clear and not disturbing. It is really a good place to cultivate one’s body and mind.

Li Xun was lucky to find this place. If it were not for the clear weather today and the waterfall reflecting the midday sun, attracting his attention, he would never have found the small building hidden so deeply. He was standing on a high cliff at this moment, looking down at the inside and outside of the bamboo building.

Unexpectedly, from this direction, through the small window on the upper floor of the bamboo building, he could clearly see the situation inside, including Qi Bi.

At this moment, she was sitting in front of the window in a daze, looking at the white snow on the grass and trees outside the building. Her face was gloomy and her aura was so similar to that of this small building in the deep forest. Li Xun looked at it from a distance and suddenly felt that this scene was worthy of being painted. It was a pity that he did not have the painting skills of Zhong Yin!

Thinking of Zhong Yin naturally brought him to Qing Yin, and also to Wen Hai’s words last night about how this was once Qing Yin’s villa. A rather malicious thought arose in his mind: Had Zhong Yin once stood where he was now, where was the beautiful woman in the ** building? Ha!

After a couple of chuckles, he suddenly felt completely bored. Looking back at the small building, he saw the sorrow thickening between Qi Bi’s brows. His mood suddenly soured, and he no longer felt the urge to visit. He turned and left.

Two more days passed, and Li Xun maintained his boring yet fulfilling lifestyle, only cutting back on his evening classes to mitigate the backlash from “Blood Shadow.”

Consequently, he had more time to write, and his thoughts gradually returned to normal. So far, he had written nearly 50,000 words, lavishly illustrated with both insightful commentary and intuitive illustrations, earning praise from Yin Sanren, his only reader.

That night, Li Xun felt his inspiration pouring out, his pen seemingly unstoppable. Thousands of words emerged from a common example of a compound forbidden pattern, each one conveying profound meaning in a subtle way, a message that impressed Yin Sanren. Li Xun, feeling quite proud of himself, decided to continue writing until dawn.

But just as the idea struck him, as he began to write, he felt a sharp pain in his heart. His hand trembled slightly, and large drops of ink fell onto the paper, spreading it across the surface. His manuscript, a perfect piece, was ruined.

Li Xun looked up in horror, his heart pounding with fear, unable to contain himself. Yin Sanren frowned, feeling his pulse, then shook his head gently, indicating that he was fine. But the feeling was too strong, and Li Xun could no longer concentrate on writing. He stood up and paced around the room.

Remembering Yin Sanren’s previous mention of his supernatural powers, Li Xun couldn’t help but feel pessimistic, fearing that disaster was imminent. But soon, he put this meaningless thought behind his mind, and tried his best to gather his mind, trying to find the key opportunity.

Yin Sanren next to him was also thinking. She was much more experienced than Li Xun. She did not think too much, but sorted out a few names nearby.

“Who have you met in the mountains recently? Mingji, Qibi, Wenhai, Lingji, Shanzhi…”

“Shanzhi!”

For no reason, when Li Xun heard this name, his heart was pounding. The feeling of finding the right direction in confusion was so strong.

He didn’t even think about the reason. He clapped his hands suddenly, and in his haste, he didn’t even go out the main door, but jumped out the window. Fortunately, when he was flying the sword, he didn’t forget to hide the sword light and suppress his breath, so he didn’t cause any trouble on Zhiguan Peak where many masters gathered.

Yin Sanren thought about it, disappeared, and chased after him.

Li Xun’s target was the valley where Shan Zhi was “retreating”. If everything was normal, Shan Zhi should still be in there, complaining to himself and crying. But when Li Xun kicked open the half-closed door and rushed into the house, he only saw the cabinets that had been turned into a mess, and more than a dozen medicine bottles turned over on the floor.

“Something really happened!”

Li Xun’s mind became clearer. He rushed to the cabinet in a few steps, ignoring everything else and looking for the third drawer on the second layer.

He didn’t need to do anything, because the drawer had been pulled down, and the jade bottles containing medicine inside were tilted and some were broken. Li Xun’s face was tense, and he checked the bottles on the ground again, but the result was… he didn’t find what he wanted to find!

Li Xun cursed and crushed the bottle at his feet. In the void, Yin Sanren asked curiously, “What’s wrong?”

“That kid’s crazy! He must be going to find Qi Bi. God knows what he’ll do… No, it should be said that apart from that, he can’t do anything else!”

It was rare for Yin Sanren to be so confused. Fortunately, she quickly grasped the key point: “What were you looking for?”

Li Xun’s lips curled up, but there was no smile in his eyes. He just said with a chuckle, “Fei Mengyan.”

Yin Sanren said softly, “That’s a treasure of the Bliss Sect. In terms of efficacy, it’s no less effective than rosemary… Yes, you mean, he used this drug to plot against Qi Bi. Ha, the Mingxin Sword Sect has disciples like you. It’s really interesting!”

After a pause, she continued, “Why do you care about him? Whether he gets what he wants or not, it’s his doing. What does it have to do with you?”

“Yes, he did it,” Li Xun said with a grim smile, revealing his full set of white teeth. “But I gave you that Fei Mengyan! No matter what, I can’t escape responsibility!”

His tone was icy, yet his feelings were far more complicated. This Fei Mengyan was a trophy from his battle with the Tun Yang Jie Nu. Later, when he returned to the mountains, he saw Shan Zhi “tormented by love” and, almost as a joke, gave him the aphrodisiac incense.

Shan Zhi, always lusty but not courageous, was deeply tempted by this forbidden item, but he kept it hidden. Li Xun took pleasure in witnessing his petty thoughts, and at most, he had the idea of playing a trick on him. Who could have known that what started that day would lead to what happened today?

“Good! So this is where the fear comes from!” He cursed, but dared not waste any more time.

For the past two days, word of Qi Bi’s solitary residence on Zuowang Peak had spread. If Shan Zhi was determined, he could surely obtain this information. His current whereabouts were readily apparent.

Li Xun gritted his teeth and, without pausing for a moment, infiltrated the peak. Once he had gained distance, he immediately soared at full speed. Even without his Blood Shadow Demon Body, his speed was already top-notch. He flew all the way from the base of the peak to the Three Absolute Pass in less than an hour.

Such prowess was enough to rival anyone in this world.

Unfortunately, he didn’t have the time for such thoughts. After briefly positioning himself with the Nine-Layered Stone Mine, he continued his ascent. The boundless night enveloped him, and the shadows of withered branches danced below, creating a truly eerie scene.

Li Xun’s long flight had calmed his mind considerably. He reflected that the distance from the base of the peak to the Three Absolute Pass was 70,000 to 80,000 miles. With Shan Zhi’s abilities, it would take him roughly a day and a night.

Even if he had set out yesterday, he might not have reached the destination by now. Of course, if it was earlier, what would be the point of him going now?

He chuckled, murderous intent surging in his chest. Shan Zhi is almost crazy now. If he stays, he will definitely be a disaster. Regardless of whether this is true or not, he must think of a foolproof plan to eradicate this disaster.

The dense forest where the small building is hidden is right in front of him. Li Xun was about to fly in, but a figure moved into the woods. The man who crashed into the woods was not fast and was sneaky. Could it be Shan Zhi? Li Xun narrowed his eyes and waited until the strange shadow in the woods swallowed up the man without a trace before he started.

It happened that a mountain wind blew, and the shadows of the trees swayed more quickly. The snow powder that had accumulated for several days fell down. The dark forest in front of him was like a monster that had just yawned, showing its sharp fangs to the outsiders who were about to enter the forest.

“I seem to have seen this scene somewhere before…”

Li Xun had an inexplicable thought in his mind, and quickly forgot it. He circled in mid-air for a moment, then landed right above the waterfall where he had stood that day.

From this direction, he could see the faint light of the small building that had just lit up.

“What a coincidence!”

Li Xun exclaimed, and thought of his own mysterious perception, and there was nothing more to say. The difference in light inside and outside allowed him to clearly see the entire process of Qi Bi getting up, putting on his clothes, going downstairs, and opening the door. Then, Qi Bi never came up again.

Li Xun was startled: “That guy didn’t come up and attack me, did he?”

He was about to pounce, but he saw a faint pearl light lighting up outside the small building, shining through the dense branches of the trees, reflecting the thick snow, and forcing the darkness to move back slightly.

Li Xun saw two figures that were still keeping a reasonable distance from each other under the shade of dead branches, but at the same time, he also saw a hidden figure on the side of the small building when the pearl light came on.

“Lingji?” Li Xun finally understood who the figure he saw before entering the forest was, but how Lingji was sneaking behind Shan Zhi was beyond his comprehension.

Now that he had discovered the clue, the movements of the three people in the forest could no longer be hidden from him. Li Xun stood at a high point and watched the three people, two bright and one dark, heading towards the waterfall.

Qi Bi, holding the pearl, was the first to pass through the barrier of trees and walked slowly. Under the pearl light, her face was pale but surprisingly calm. Beside her, Shan Zhi’s body was stiff and still shaking, and there were even traces of tears on his face. It seemed that it was because of this look that Qi Bi agreed to talk to him.

Li Xun did not hide himself deliberately, nor did he intend to jump out. His sharp eyes fixed on Shan Zhi’s left hand, tucked into his sleeve. His stiff wrist bent unconsciously, pushing up the cuff, a look that looked awkward no matter how he looked at it.

The two of them walked to the pool beneath the waterfall, where the water slammed against the surface, creating a continuous, clear sound. The splashing mist reflected a pearly glint, like fragments of jade, washing away the gloom of the surrounding dense forest.

In this setting, Qi Bi’s tone was calm and peaceful: “This place is called the Cleansing Heart Pond. When I feel uneasy, I come here to wash away my worries and return to the world. Junior Brother Shan, I invited you to talk here, but I also want you to cleanse your mind before the Cleansing Heart Pond…”

Shan Zhi’s face flushed crimson. He still tried to keep his voice down, but what burst out of his throat was still a hoarse roar: “You don’t have to say it, I know! Senior Sister Qi, I know everything!”

Qi Bi watched quietly, without saying a word. Li Xun was far away, and he didn’t know what light shone in her eyes.

Shan Zhi’s reaction grew more intense. He stretched out his hand, pointed at the pool before him, and rasped, “This is Xixin Pond, and behind it is Youduju. You only come here when you’re particularly angry. Further up, there’s a pine forest. When you’re sad, you go there to play the flute, right? I know all this!”

Qi Bi could no longer maintain her composure. Her body trembled slightly, and she couldn’t help but take a step back. She could only say “you” before Shan Zhi interrupted her again. He took a step forward, his voice hoarse.

“And, I know all about the area below Zuowang Peak too! When you’re in a good mood, you often go to Feiyunzhan to pick tea, and occasionally to Guanxia Peak to practice swordsmanship. When you’re tired, you go to the hot springs behind Yingtan… I know all this too!”

The last few words were completely broken, as he could no longer hold back a sob, a choking sound choking in his throat. Under the pearly light, his face was contorted, tears streaming, and he looked completely different. Reaching out, trying to grasp something, Qi Bi took another step back, her face pale and speechless.

Shan Zhi, unable to grasp her, looked utterly strange. He took another step closer: “Senior Sister, Senior Sister, look, I really know everything. Why won’t you agree to my request?

” “Does Wen Hai know me as well as I do? Does he care about you as much as I do? He doesn’t. He has nothing. He has… nothing… at all!”

He leaped to his feet, howling at the top of his lungs. The scene was supposed to be comical, but no one, above or below the waterfall, could laugh.

Shan Zhi before him was like a caged animal. Even if he jumped, he would only slam into the cold shackles, breaking his head and bleeding.

Qi Bi’s breathing became irregular. She seemed to want to move forward to dissuade him, but instinctive fear seized her, leaving her powerless to move forward. Until Shan Zhi, panting heavily, met her eyes.

“Senior sister, what are you looking at me with? What’s that look in your eyes? Do you hate me? Do you pity me? Is that right?” Shan Zhi said, and wanted to move forward, but he tripped and lost his balance.

Stumbling, he stretched out his hand, wanting Qi Bi to hold him up. But in the end, he only grasped the air, fell heavily to the ground, shaking all over, as if he had lost the courage to get up.

Muffled sobs sounded, and he knelt on the ground, crying bitterly: “I beg you, senior sister, I don’t want those, I just want you to say one word, just one word! Senior sister, you said you like me, just this one word!”

Looking at the man in front of her huddled up like a mangy dog, Qi Bi’s pale face was also a little confused. She seemed to want to speak, but in the end she pursed her lips, shook her head, and stepped back again.

Her footsteps startled Shan Zhi. He looked up, stunned, as Qi Bi retreated. His face, stained with tears, had frozen. The rumbling sound of the water around him seemed to suddenly grow louder, effortlessly silencing all his efforts!

Therefore, no one, including Shan Zhi, heard the crack of the jade bottle shattering. Only a thin puff of mist, like water smoke, merged with the surrounding splashing mist and instantly dissipated.

Atop the waterfall, Li Xun sighed. The jade ward off evil spirits on his body was functioning naturally, and a mere mist was no match for him. He glanced toward the trees below the cliff; it was out of range of “Flying Dream Smoke” and should be safe.

Just as he was about to react, Qi Bi, who was retreating from the edge of the pool, suddenly staggered. All her strength drained from her, and she lost her balance. With a low groan, she slowly collapsed.

Shan Zhi, who was in front of him, reacted quickly and scrambled over, reaching out to help her, but he miscalculated and was knocked over the moment he touched her.

The pearl slipped from Qi Bi’s hand, hitting the hard rock at the edge of the pool and instantly shattering. The dense forest pool was instantly enveloped by the swirling darkness.

Li Xun’s pupils dilated, and as he adjusted, he could clearly see the scene around the pool—only slightly darker than before. His gaze swept over, and he saw Shan Zhi’s hands tightly clasped around Qi Bi’s shoulders, his body unnaturally straight, holding her rigidly to the ground.

Fei Mengyan had completely melted into the air, no longer a threat. Shan Zhi had taken the antidote beforehand, and Li Xun had been prepared. He was further away, beyond the drug’s range. Thus, Qi Bi was the only one affected by the attack, her whole body limp, unable to lift a finger.

She finally understood what was happening and tried to shout, but the strength fizzled out between her lips and teeth. Her voice was weak: “Let me go!”

Shan Zhi gasped for air, and obediently let go. Qi Bi felt relieved when she saw that there was hope. She wanted to continue asking him to stop, but she was afraid that she would say it wrongly and offend him. For a moment, she didn’t know how to start.

The pond fell into a brief silence, with only Shan Zhi’s heavy breathing.

Li Xun unconsciously pursed his lips. A strange feeling expanded and contracted in his heart. He suddenly laughed and had no intention of going down. However, in the woods below, the idea had not yet come to him, which surprised him. Could it be that the boy was stupid?

Qi Bi’s weak cry from the bottom of the cliff was carried by the wind: “Take it away! Take it away!”

There was a cry in her voice. Shan Zhi reached out and touched her face. The action was quite gentle, but Qi Bi wished she could die immediately. She could already imagine what kind of fate was waiting for her next.

Shan Zhi suddenly laughed: “Senior sister, you are so beautiful…”

It was very rude, but the ending tone was trembling. Then, he suddenly withdrew his hand, just knelt down beside Qi Bi, and spoke slowly: “I know, senior sister, you must think that I want to do something bad to you, right? Hehe, senior sister, you can’t look down on me like this, your idea is wrong, not right at all!

“I like you and want you, but why should I force you? You think I’m mean? No, not at all! I just want to look at you like this, without doing anything. Until someone comes to disturb us, then…”

The voice gradually faded away, but the next moment, with a buzzing sound, the sword was unsheathed. The cold blade emitted a pale golden light in the darkness. Shan Zhi placed the sword across his knees and laughed coldly.

“By then, this sword will first pierce my heart, and then through your heart, and we will be connected together, body to body, blood to blood, and no one can separate us!

“In heaven, I will come to love you and care for you again. By then, you won’t be like this now…

right? What do you think of this idea? Senior sister, say something!”

Qi Bi did not answer. She just stared at the deep and endless night sky in a daze, tears overflowing from the corners of her eyes and seeping into her temples.

Shan Zhi frantically reached out to wipe the tears, but just as his hand left the hilt, someone behind him roared, “Brother Shan Zhi!”

Lingji, following the voice, rushed over from the dense forest, moving so fast that he reached out mid-flight, ready to restrain his maddened brother. Shan Zhi was stunned at first, but as Lingji was about to charge, he instinctively retracted his hand and grabbed the hilt.

Clearly, time was running out before he could connect his heart with Qi Bi’s, so he roared and swung his sword backhand, clearly intending to cut Lingji in half.

Lingji narrowly dodged the deadly sword energy and drew his sword. Shan Zhi had already leaped to his feet, charging forward like a mad tiger.

Lingji’s cultivation now far surpassed Shan Zhi’s. With a single strike of his sword, he sealed Shan Zhi’s fate, shouting, “Brother Shan Zhi, are you still stubborn?”

Shan Zhi, his head bowed, raised his sword again to meet him. This time, Lingji refused to let him get close. A sharp whirring of sword energy pierced Shan Zhi’s jaws, and with a clear ringing sound, Shan Zhi’s sword flew out of his hand, leaving him stranded.

Lingji shook his head, sheathed his sword, and stepped forward, his tone as gentle as possible.

“Brother Shan, I know you were just confused for a moment. It hasn’t been a serious mistake, and it’s completely redeemable! And Sister Qi, she’ll definitely forgive you. As long as you apologize to her, we can pretend nothing happened…right, Sister Qi?”

Lingji turned to see Qi Bi’s reaction, but Qi Bi had lost the strength to even speak, and there was no sound.

Lingzhu was about to say more when the wind outside his body tightened, a powerful punch from Shan Zhi. He instinctively dodged, only to see Shan Zhi leap back, lunging at Qi Bi once more. His voice cracked, “Senior Sister, let’s die together!”

Lingji, horrified, instinctively activated the sword on his back.

With a single thought, it transformed into a cold, sharp blade, thrusting forward. However, Shan Zhi’s suddenness, and his complete disregard for the blade behind him, forced his sword a fraction too slow. Shan Zhi’s powerful punch only struck Qi Bi’s shoulder with a final impact, deflecting her slightly. The majority of the punch still struck Qi Bi’s shoulder, shattering it with a crack.

Qi Bi’s body trembled, a trembling groan escaped her lips, already severely injured. A sudden, deafening thud followed, and Shan Zhi was flung back by the sword’s energy, tumbling sprawling into the pool, a disastrous scene. Lingji quickly caught up, shielding Qi Bi, unable to contain himself, and burst into a chorus of curses: “Shan Zhi, you bastard!”

Shan Zhi barely managed to free himself from the pool, a strange smile plastered on his face. But all of this melted away like hot water pouring over snow as he met Qi Bi’s dim gaze, which he managed to shift towards him.

“Not dead? Then I, no, I can’t die either, I can’t die…”

The icy water seemed to wash away all his courage. He muttered something incomprehensible, tilting his head as hard as he could, avoiding Qi Bi’s gaze and retreating.

Qi Bi finally couldn’t hold it in anymore, coughing up blood, instantly staining half his cheeks red. The irritating color, in Shan Zhi’s eyes, was like a red-hot needle piercing his skull.

He screamed and ran backwards. After two steps, he kicked the sword he had dropped from his hand. He frantically picked it up and flew up, aiming to fly over the waterfall and the cliffs. How far, how far!

Lingji gritted his teeth and stood still, his sword radiating like a rainbow as he pursued. He had made up his mind: no matter what, he would capture Shan Zhi and bring him the punishment he deserved!

Shan Zhi, wielding his sword, reached the edge of the cliff in a flash. However, the sight he saw stunned him. A figure stood atop the cliff, hands behind his back, gazing at him coldly. The mountain breeze rustled his robes, as if he were riding the wind home.

“Xun… Xun, Junior Brother?”

Li Xun looked at Shan Zhi, but his gaze passed through the face before him, dispersing into the endless void. Even a hundred Shan Zhis couldn’t understand the meaning behind this.

But this was no time for reflection. Lingji’s sword had already soared upwards. In his eagerness, Shan Zhi’s body only paused for a moment before soaring upward with a scream. By this point, he no longer cared about anything else. He

lifted his fingers slightly, then froze for a moment before lowering them again. Simultaneously, Li Xun closed his eyes.

The mountain wind suddenly grew fierce, and tiny whirlpools in the air suddenly merged and parted. Shan Zhi felt his body stiffen and freeze as the wind blew. The true energy that had been connected to the sword suddenly lost control, and he couldn’t adjust in time, causing the sword’s light to scatter and his soaring body to veer to one side.

At this moment, Ling Ji’s flying sword came straight at him. The sword light that was originally intended to injure his waist and hips was unable to dodge, and with a buzzing sound, it pierced his chest. He screamed miserably and struggled violently. The sword energy instinctively burst out, shredding his heart and veins, erasing every inch of life in his body.

The body with the sword froze in the air, spun, and plummeted down. Half a breath later, there was a thud of water, and then there was silence.