The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 123

Chapter 3: Pros and Cons

“I’ve done so much, so much. This is what I deserve!”

The paper, covered in such scraggly handwriting, was blindingly written. It had been found on the desk while cleaning Shan Zhi’s residence. Li Xun had casually put it away, and now, with a flick of his wrist, the paper, representing Shan Zhi’s last trace in the world, burst into flames, reducing it to ashes.

Shan Zhi’s case had been resolved, but the aftermath lingered. Qi Bi, still recovering from her severe injuries, seemed to have been re-wounded, spending her days in a daze, unaware of the present moment. Ling Ji, having murdered his best friend, hadn’t smiled even once.

Even Shan Zhi’s master, Ming Song, felt responsible for Shan Zhi’s misfortune due to his inadequate discipline and had requested a period of self-reflection.

As for Li Xun, thanks to the sect’s careful management, he had escaped any repercussions. He had simply spent two days sorting through Shan Zhi’s belongings with his fellow disciples, until just now.

Li Xun stared at the desk in a daze, his mind filled with that sentence. He didn’t want to think too much about it, but the emotional depression caused by it made him feel listless.

At this moment, there was a knock on the door. Li Xun was a little surprised. At this time, there were few people visiting the mountain. It was not until his mind swept through the door that he realized it.

His thoughts moved slightly, and with a creak, the outer door opened. Yingning, who was waiting, opened his eyes wide, patted the door curiously, and said, “Master, I’m coming in.” Then he walked in and closed the door.

Li Xun secretly praised him for being “well-educated” and called out, “Come here, I’m in the study.”

Yingning responded and walked in silently and lightly like a civet cat. Li Xun straightened his back and smiled at the girl, saying, “I’ve been busy these past few days, so I haven’t been able to visit you. Are you okay?”

The girl nodded obediently, “Master Mingru takes good care of me. Senior Sisters Lingqi and Lingyan often help me with my studies, but it’s only Senior Sister Qi…”

Yingning’s eyes flushed slightly at this point; it seemed she still had the strongest feelings for Qi Bi.

Li Xun also thought of Qi Bi’s devotion to her, and then thought of Shan Zhi. He sighed, then pulled himself together and smiled, “It’s good that you care about Senior Sister Qi more often; maybe that will make her feel better.

By the way, what brought you here today?”

Yingning nodded slightly, her face brightening slightly. “Senior Sister Lingqi and the others said I could practice some practical techniques now, and that Master would be the best teacher of them. They also said that Master’s forbidden techniques are among the best in the Tongxuan Realm, so…”

Li Xun suddenly realized, but it also reminded him of something else. He frowned, then looked at Yingning’s innocent face. Somehow, the scene of the little girl moaning and tossing in the cave, with a seductive look, emerged in his mind. His heart warmed slightly, then calmed down again.

He thought about it, and simply took out the top three articles from the manuscripts he had already written and handed them to Yingning.

“These three manuscripts are the basis of the forbidden method I just compiled. There is only one copy. You can return them to me as soon as possible. It is best to ask a few senior brothers to help copy them down. When you read them, don’t memorize them by rote, but try to understand them. I want you to come up with some insights within three days. Okay?”

Yingning naturally applauded, carefully rolled up the three manuscripts, her little face flushed, and she bowed to Li Xun again.

Li Xun patted her little head, said a few words of encouragement, and let her go. Seeing the little girl fly away happily like a bird, Li Xun’s face gradually became gloomy.

“Three days… If her answers don’t satisfy me after three days, I’ll take her away after I leave the mountain.”

Li Xun’s decision was a difficult one. Yin Sanren’s judgment, whether intentional or not, remained like a thorn in his heart. Therefore, he was using these three manuscripts to once again test Yingning’s aptitude for forbidden techniques. If she failed to meet his expectations, then this girl’s fate would be changed once again!

The void beside him vibrated, and Yin Sanren emerged, standing beside the desk, smiling silently. Li Xun glanced at her, thinking that if he wanted to take the girl away, Yin Sanren would have to be separated from him for a period of time. During this time, the distance between them could easily be tens of thousands of miles, which was undoubtedly a risk.

But then he thought about the strict control he had over Yin Sanren, making it virtually foolproof. If he felt something was wrong, he could force his form to disintegrate and take her back. He considered it just an experiment; otherwise, if he encountered a similar situation in the future, it would be truly embarrassing to have to cram at the last minute.

He made up his mind and added, “If all goes well, send her to Wuyinxuan. There, Shui Dielan will be watching over her, and I’ll be at ease.”

Seeing Yin Sanren’s agreement, Li Xun breathed a sigh of relief, but his mind drifted to Qi Bi, still bedridden. He felt a pang of sadness, unwilling to speak any further. He simply closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. Yin Sanren understood and moved behind him, kneading his head and shoulders with his fingers, applying gentle pressure and pacing to his liking.

Li Xun felt a sense of comfort under Yin Sanren’s masterful care, moaning involuntarily.

When the pleasure subsided, he spoke again, “Thank you so much for your help that night…”

He was referring to the mountain breeze that had blown Shan Zhi away before his death. That was Yin Sanren’s handiwork, truly unnoticed and masterful.

Yin Sanren didn’t care for the small gesture of gratitude. His hands kept moving, and he simply smiled, “I didn’t expect you could be soft-hearted. But what’s the reason? He’s a lot like you?”

Li Xun tilted his head back slightly, his gaze like a knife, slicing through Yin Sanren. Suddenly, he remembered how he’d been angry with Shan Zhi a few days ago and resolved to write a book on forbidden techniques. A smile actually played on his face, though it wasn’t clear whether it was a mixture of emotion and self-mockery.

Yin Sanren’s eyes shifted, taking in his expression. Suddenly, he changed the subject and asked, “If you were to divide all the cultivators in this world into two categories, how would they be divided?”

“Male and female cultivators, I guess.” Li Xun was clearly uninterested, and his words were lazily spoken.

Yin Sanren smiled brightly and said, “Wrong. If we divide people into two categories, they are either clear-headed or confused. Those who are clear-headed know what they can and should do; there’s no need to talk about the confused. Do you think you are clear-headed, or confused?”

His interest piqued slightly, but he was still dissatisfied with Yin Sanren’s mystification. Li Xun hummed, “In your eyes, am I clear-headed or confused?”

“It’s the simplest thing to figure out.” Yin Sanren smiled faintly, freeing his hand. His jade-like finger turned and pointed at a tall tree outside the window. Several bird nests nestled in its branches, their dark, dark nests conspicuous against the winter snow. “How about you break into those nests?”

Li Xun glanced over and saw a few chicks still nestling in them. He frowned and asked, “What’s the point?”

Yin Sanren laughed at that. “When winter passes and spring arrives, those birds will grow up and chirp away, won’t they?”

Li Xun rolled his eyes, infuriated. “How boring! I don’t care if they make noise when I have nothing to do!”

“Oh? That’s true today, but if you were in a bad mood and a crow cawing overhead, would you not care?”

Li Xun raised an eyebrow. There was no telling what the outcome would be. But then, it didn’t matter to those chicks whose survival was uncertain. He instinctively thought about it a few more times, and the more he felt that there was a lot of mystery in it, he couldn’t help but think about it seriously.

“Is she saying that I’m short-sighted and don’t know how to plan? Or that my inner demons haven’t been eliminated and I lack decisiveness?

Or that my realm is still low and I can’t see the mystery?”

Each of these thoughts seemed to make some sense, but none of them could fully explain their meaning. After a circle, his thoughts returned to the question of “understanding and confusion”: “If I really destroyed those bird nests, would I be confused or clear? It must be confused, but there doesn’t seem to be any harm in doing it… Harm?”

A ray of inspiration suddenly lit up in his mind: “It may not be bad, but there is no benefit either. Most things in the world are still this kind of confusing account that is neither good nor bad. Once you think about it and do it, even if you understand it, you will become confused.

But these things can be seen everywhere and cannot be avoided. So how should I act to benefit myself?”

This line of thought is probably a hundred times more complicated than the previous article. Li Xun thought more, but he felt more and more confused. In a trance, he felt that this seemed to be the legendary magical method of deducing the secrets of heaven, but what he realized now was probably not even the tip of the iceberg. Naturally, the more he thought about it, the more confused he became, and finally he was at a loss.

Yin Sanren’s grip gained a little more force, but his tone grew calmer. “You and I both often harm others to benefit ourselves, but this statement still requires a clear distinction. Nothing in the world is ever black and white, and naturally, it can’t be simply divided into “benefits” and “disadvantages.

” “You insist on clarifying things that are already unclear. You think you’ve figured it out, but in fact, you’re only getting more confused, until you’re hopeless.”

Li Xun pondered for a moment, then smiled. “According to you, the Shuijing Sect’s methods of prying into the secrets of heaven, seeking profit and avoiding danger, have made them all a bunch of fools?”

“Otherwise, look at the Shuijing Sect, how many times have they planned for themselves? Most of the world’s affairs are still confused by those involved, while those who are on the sidelines can see things clearly. The same thing, if viewed from a different angle, will be very different. Speaking of which, this is also the way to save your life!”

Other things are fine, but when the phrase “save your life with your whole body” came out, Li Xun couldn’t help laughing: “Others say it’s okay, but you say this word It’s ridiculous. Hey, saving your life with your whole body is not just talk!”

Yin Sanren didn’t take Li Xun’s tone as an offense, and his smile remained unchanged: “If you only think about saving your life, how can you talk about breakthroughs and ascension? In fact, as long as you stay in Wuyinxuan and hide for a thousand or eight years, I guarantee that no one can do anything to you. That is the most brilliant way to protect yourself, but are you willing?

“So, what we are talking about now is by no means a way to save your life, but the principle of facing difficulties head-on and changing your destiny.”

It’s rare to hear such a tone! At this moment, Yin Sanren is no longer a puppet at the mercy of others. Even though Li Xun could have reduced her to ashes with a single thought, her words and demeanor at that moment captivated him, causing him to forget the delicate and awkward relationship between them.

“Those who understand may not necessarily ascend, but those who ascend are always those who understand. A fool, even if he possesses the cultivation of Zhong Yin, will sooner or later perish under the catastrophe of heaven and earth.”

A hint of sarcasm rose in Yin Sanren’s lips, his gaze fixed on Li Xun’s face before he smiled again. “So, where is the line between understanding and foolishness? Do you know?”

At first glance, it was a question, but she had just made it clear. If Li Xun couldn’t answer, he could draw his sword and commit suicide: “It’s not about ‘advantage’ or ‘disadvantage’, nor is it about ‘distinguishing’ or ‘not distinguishing’.” The key is knowing when to distinguish clearly and when not to…”

This tongue-twister-like realization made Li Xun want to laugh, but Yin Sanren nodded slightly and said seriously, “There’s another point here. The universe is infinitely vast, but the human body is limited. Ultimately, the “benefits” of all things in the world are rarely distinguished, and many are unclear. This leads to two further questions: once you have made the distinction, what do you do? If you can’t make the distinction, what then? “

Li Xun waved his hand to interrupt her, with a smile on his face: “I understand, you are saying that I treated Shan Zhi without being cautious when I should be, and without being ruthless when I should be, and I was caught between two sides and humiliated myself, right?”

Yin Sanren smiled lightly, and his ten fingers moved to the back of his shoulders like a snake, kneading them gently, through several rays of warmth, activating the meridians, and then he said: “These are trivial matters after all. It’s rare that you can connect them. But things in the world are not always so simple. Let’s take a step back and say that even if they are all these clear little things, can you guarantee that out of a hundred, you can distinguish them clearly and do them well?

“As long as one of them is done poorly, the interests will be reversed immediately. How many changes will be involved? Not to mention the majority of the interests that cannot be distinguished, what should you do?”

Li Xun pondered for a long time, but could not find a solution that could stand up to scrutiny, so he could only ask for advice humbly.

Yin Sanren’s smile held a hint of cunning. “It’s simple, just stay out of the way, that’s all.”

“Stop getting involved?”

Li Xun wanted to laugh, but it held back. At his current level, he could already vaguely sense the unspoken pressure behind those three words, bubbling endlessly.

“To put it more bluntly, ‘stay out of the way’ means doing things you’re confident of, and avoiding things you’re unsure of!

Understanding priorities and urgency, and knowing the limits of one’s own strength, is wisdom.”

At this point, Li Xun’s lips parted slightly, as if about to retort. She continued, “Of course, there are some things in this world that can’t be avoided, and it’s hard to discern the pros and cons. In those cases, just go for it. Isn’t the greatest price to pay the price of taking responsibility for your actions? If you’re capable, you’ll get through it. If you’re not, it’s up to fate!”

Li Xun’s eyes widened, unsure whether to applaud this “absurdity.”

Yin Sanren continued to smile and said, “Of course, when you encounter this kind of unclear trouble, you still have to have this kind of awareness: the fewer parties involved, the better; the shorter the time to solve, the better; the cleaner the matter is done, the better!

“To put it simply, just one sentence: eliminate variables as much as possible and control the development of events in your own hands.

“If you can continue this method for hundreds or thousands of years without changing, until you reach the extreme, you will feel that the world you face is extremely pure, and from the outside to the inside, it becomes a perfect and free place. The whole body and the outside are pure and clear, without any contamination from the worldly dust, and this is also the ultimate way to ascend!”

Hearing her talk about ascension, and the so-called pure and clear “ultimate way” without any contamination, Li Xun was also enlightened. But why is the taste of this method so strange?

Li Xun thought about it carefully, and suddenly sneered: “Most of these are just your conjectures, otherwise, you wouldn’t have ended up like this!”

Yin Sanren didn’t seem to care at all, and the strength of his fingers didn’t change at all. He just said calmly: “Everything is difficult at the beginning. Not everyone can reach the sky in one step, nor does everyone know these principles since the womb.

“If you want to stand out from millions of cultivators, you must not only practice the “Three Transformations and Two Truths”, but also roll around in the world to hone yourself. And when you are strong enough and understand the principles clearly, you have been stained by millions of dust threads. How can you break them easily?

“My sister led me to Yu Sanren, who led me to betray my clan, who led me to Zhong Yin, who led me to you. It’s all linked together, with endless twists and turns, yet you can’t say I’ve fallen to this point simply because of you.”

She paused, then suddenly smiled brightly, “Of course, I admit, I was self-righteous when I met you. I saw the pros and cons of a situation I couldn’t quite fathom, even though it was clearly a difficult one. In the end, I didn’t clean up the mess, and ending up like this isn’t unfair!”

Li Xun knew she was flattering him, but he was still overjoyed. He laughed heartily, reached out to wrap his arms around her neck, and pressed down hard as she moaned. As their lips and tongues intertwined, Li Xun’s mind remained clear.

“Profits, uncertainties… How many of the things I’ve done over the past seventy years can truly meet these standards?”

That was a truly depressing answer.

The intermittent snowfall of several days finally stopped, and a clear, sunny sky appeared. The sky was remarkably clear, without even a trace of cloud, and the blue was dazzling. Under such a sky, Li Xun and his companions flew quietly away from Lianxia Mountain. Mingsong

had been confined to his own house due to the Shanzhi incident, which had caught the sect off guard. Luo Nanchuan, who had originally led the team, had to stay behind to handle sect affairs to prevent the remaining strength of the sect from being weakened. Therefore, Mingji was the first among the cultivators heading to the Water Mirror Conference.

Thus, in addition to Mingji, the second-generation direct descendant Immortal Master, the collateral Immortal Master Minghuo was also present, along with four third-generation disciples: Li Xun, Wu Lingquan, Ling@, and Lingji. The group was much smaller than any previous trip.

However, leaving aside Mingji and Li Xun, Wu Lingquan and Ling@ are considered among the “Three Spirits of the Ming Heart,” the most accomplished disciples of the three generations.

Even Minghuo, who maintains a relatively low profile within the sect, is second only to Lingji in cultivation among the collateral disciples. His master, Mingji, had already reached the True Person realm half a century ago, becoming one of the sect’s most accomplished masters.

This Immortal Master Minghuo and Li Xun share a connection. It was this master who, unable to resist Li Xun’s grandfather’s aspirations for the Dao, took Li Xun up the mountain, transforming his fate. Looking back now, it seems the blood-soaked man must have been the source of all this trouble.

Because of this connection, Li Xun felt a connection with him. Furthermore, the Immortal Master had proven himself to be mild-mannered on the mountain, and their conversation along the way warmed up their somewhat distant relationship.

However, for the most part, Shan Zhi’s shadow still loomed over everyone’s minds, making it difficult to speak. As time went on, the atmosphere only grew heavier. Even Ming Ji, the most carefree, had been lost in thought these past few days, far more silent than usual.

In such an atmosphere, even if Li Xun had been perfectly happy, he couldn’t maintain his composure.

The first two days had been fine; he’d occasionally chatted with Ming Huo and Ling @, and consoled Ling Ji, and nothing had bothered him.

But as time went on, he felt his restlessness grow, as if a fire had been ignited in his chest, and his breath was filled with scorching heat.

This was the aftereffect of cultivating the Blood God Son. He had already achieved some success in his inner demon cultivation technique, and naturally possessed a lot of anger. Unable to channel it promptly, he could only meditate on calming techniques, trying to suppress it.

Over time, the accumulated anger became so intense that his meditation techniques proved to be of limited effectiveness.

Faced with this situation, Li Xun had to consider whether it would be best to escape during the Water Mirror Conference and vent his anger outside…

The Mingxin Sword Sect really wasn’t a place to stay for long!

As this thought flashed through his mind, Li Xun suddenly remembered someone else. How had Venerable Tianzhi managed to survive the same Heart Demon Refining Method? Of course, one could say Tianzhi’s previous practice was inferior, but how was she doing now?

This intrigued Li Xun!

The closer he got to the Water Mirror Sect, the more cultivators he encountered along the way. However, most of them were casual cultivators just joining in the fun. The occasional sect he encountered was the “Wulian Tianzong” resident on the Infinite Sea.

While these powerful people were close neighbors and generally behaved respectably, for thousands of years, they had been entangled with the Mingxin Sword Sect over the boundary between the East China Sea and the Infinite Sea.

When the two factions met, the leading immortal masters exchanged a brief greeting before each led their disciples to separate, facing each other from a distance, their speed remaining consistent, a rather tit-for-tat atmosphere.

The two groups, each wielding a sword, stood no more than ten miles apart. Under the clear sky, everyone could see the other’s every move.

Compared to their smaller group of six, the other side, led by four immortal masters and with over twenty disciples arranged in a formation, advanced in a vastly more imposing manner.

Strangely enough, with this rival to contend with, the atmosphere within the Mingxin Sword Sect brightened.

Ling＠, who had been brooding for a long time, came over and chuckled, “It looks like these guys are determined to follow us all the way. Junior Brother Xun, have you come up with any tricks? Let’s teach them a lesson.”

Ling＠ was the prized disciple of Li Minghe, the “Sad Wind Sword,” but his temperament was a stark contrast to his master’s magnanimous and tragic spirit. He was a man of deep evil, intent on unleashing chaos.

However, he was incredibly open-minded. Over the years, the reputation of the “Three Spirits of the Enlightenment” had been suppressed by Li Xun, but he didn’t take it to heart at all. He continued to laugh and joke with Li Xun, which Li Xun admired very much.

When someone started talking to him, Li Xun’s anxiety eased a little. She elbowed him back and said with a smile, “Don’t worry about it. What if you make them run away and the Water Mirror Conference is short of a sect again? Our sect will become a target of public criticism. Who will bear the brunt of the burden then, you or me?”

Ren Ling＠, too bold to joke about this matter, immediately shook his head repeatedly before finally sighing, “I’ve been incredibly depressed. Look at me all this time. I can’t cry, can’t laugh, can’t laugh. It’s awful.

” “You haven’t seen Senior Brother Wu, so you don’t know how to greet Lingji… I think he should be grateful! Otherwise, Third Master’s reputation would be ruined by Shan Zhi!”

Ling＠’s words were clearly pointed, and everyone, being well-informed, naturally heard them clearly.

Especially Wu Lingquan, who was specifically mentioned. He usually cared for his fellow juniors, acting like an elder brother. But because of Shan Zhi’s incident, he hadn’t spoken a word to Lingji in the past few days, and Li Xun felt left out as well. Hearing this, his expression changed slightly, but he still said nothing.

Li Xun also sighed. He could tell that Ling＠ didn’t say “I don’t want to”, but “I don’t know”, which was actually giving Wu Lingquan a way out. Seeing that the other party was touched, he breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at Lingji who was following closely beside him.

Ling＠ didn’t deliberately lower his voice, but there was also an intention to comfort Lingji. Sure enough, Lingji’s face, which had been drooping, slightly raised, and his eyes were clearly filled with gratitude that made him want to cry.

After looking at Ling＠, Li Xun shook his head slightly, indicating that Ling＠ should keep a good balance. Ling＠ understood and immediately changed the subject, turning his attention to the powerful people of Wuliangtian Sect.

“Tsk, whisks in hand, pine-patterned swords on backs, jade-colored Taoist robes, a radiant and clear sky—what the Wuliangtian Sect…

they’re all cut from the same mold!”

He spoke a little louder, and everyone caught his ear. Looking at the nearly identical attire and the neatly arranged lines in the distance, Lingji couldn’t help but chuckle.

The Mingxin Sword Sect embraced both secular and Taoist elements, with few strict rules and regulations, resulting in disciples with distinct personalities. The Wuliangtian Sect, on the other hand, was known for its strict adherence to precepts, its disciples being rather rigid, yet also overly narrow-minded and harsh in their dealings, which is why it wasn’t considered one of the Ten Orthodox Sects. Given

Ling＠’s temperament, it was only natural for him to dislike him.

However, seeing that he was going a bit too far, Mingji, who had been watching with a smile, flicked a gust of wind from his finger, hitting him on the shoulder, and said with a mixture of anger and laughter, “The wind’s strong up there, keep your voice down!”

Ling＠ remained silent, but Immortal Master Minghuo coughed and turned away. The two immortal masters’ gestures were far more amusing than Ling’s long speeches. Li Xun was the first to burst out laughing, and Ling patted him on the back, laughing so hard that his eyebrows and eyes disappeared. Even Wu Lingquan had a slight smile on his face.

The laughter was so jubilant, and following the wind, some in the distance naturally noticed it. Seeing the glare directed at them, the laughter grew even more unbridled.

Li Xun smiled, but his heart suddenly felt a thousand miles away. He understood more and more the basis for Gu Yin’s calm response: regardless of good or evil, the various sects of the Tongxuan Realm simply lacked the will or understanding to unite as one

. Millions of years of rifts and hatred, no matter how they tried to mend them, would only reveal loopholes that could be exploited. This wasn’t because Ming Ji and the others were short-sighted, but rather because this world had always been the most stable ecosystem, one that didn’t need to change.

The alliance… Hey, if they could stick to skin, could they also accurately identify the structure?

“Huh, the Wuliangtian Sect also has such a figure?”

Ling@ suddenly exclaimed in an exaggerated tone. Following his gaze, Li Xun saw a Taoist priest in a crown and robe approaching from behind, pressing himself to the end of the Wuliangtian Sect’s line. The other party clearly didn’t notice anything unusual, clearly a fellow disciple. “It’s just…

he seems a bit overweight!”

Li Xun’s heart skipped a beat as he saw the man’s physique, nearly bursting his robe. Suddenly, someone approached him, revealing Mingji. The smile on her chiseled face faded, and her aura grew more reserved, a sign of her wariness. “There’s something strange about that fat guy.”

As he listened, a flash of inspiration struck Li Xun, and he suddenly realized, “That guy…

what’s he up to?”

Before the thought fully formed, the fat man in the distance suddenly turned his head and grinned. Despite being over ten miles away, everyone was aware of the vivid expression on the fat man’s face, his cheeks jiggling with laughter, a look both eerie and comical.

Ling@, still unaware of the change, clapped her hands and laughed, “It’s rare that the Wuliangtian Sect still has such a wonderful person!”

Before he could finish his words, a muffled explosion echoed through the air. As the Mingxin Sword Sect’s members watched in astonishment, two Wuliangtian Sect cultivators danced and fell, seemingly losing the ability to fly. Just moments before, the fat man’s thick palm had just left their backs.

The suddenness of the incident prevented the dozens of nearby people from reacting. They watched as the fat man reached out again, striking down another unfortunate individual, glaring and shouting, “You demon from the Yidoumi Sect! Return my junior brother’s life!”

Li Xun endured this, but ultimately lost it. He imitated Minghuo, turned away, and coughed profusely. Ling@, who was nearby, hadn’t yet reacted, and cried out, “Yidoumi Sect?”

With his cry, the Wuliangtian Sect’s leading immortal master finally reacted. He spun around, charging forward with a whistling gust of wind. With a wave of his robe sleeves, the roar of a thousand galloping horses echoed through the heavens and earth, spreading endlessly.

The fat man’s face was filled with unmistakable astonishment. He stared in amazement at the surging surge of energy. When it nearly reached him, he cried out, “The Great Infinite Mysterious Origin Jade Emperor’s Miraculous Scripture? Wrong, wrong!”

With this miserable cry, the fat man’s body, like a round ball of flesh, suddenly bounced up and rolled through the air.

In that instant, countless radiant lights shone from him, colliding with the roaring surge of vital energy, negating the overwhelming impact by a tenth of a point, rendering it harmless.

If the attacker continued his attack, even the fat man’s cunning and powerful skills would have put him at a disadvantage, unable to recover.

However, the fat man’s first cry of “One Peck of Rice Sect” and then his repeated exclamations of wrongdoing were bizarre, a situation that would have given anyone pause for thought.

Furthermore, after escaping, the fat man added, “I’m the alternate Pavilion Master of the Sikong Thousand Treasures Pavilion—yes, it’s a misunderstanding!”

The Sikong Thousand Treasures Pavilion is one of the “Four Strange” sects in the Tongxuan Realm. Even with the word “alternate” before the title, it’s enough to shock most people. Including the Mingxin Sword Sect, many cultivators in the sky were in an uproar. Besides Li Xun… there was also Mingji.

Both of them noticed something unusual about the other. Their eyes met, and Li Xun took the initiative to speak, “I’ve seen him from afar. He’s quite cunning. His identity seems real.”

Mingji nodded slightly and said, “This man once stole a fixed star from the Xingji Sword Sect’s Star Gathering Platform. His methods should not be underestimated. This farce is strange, so we must be careful.”

Li Xun responded and looked over, just in time to see two cultivators from the opposite side fly down and rescue their fellow disciples who were about to be smashed into pieces. However, the two were unconscious, and it was unknown whether they were dead or alive. Both sides had stopped fighting and were negotiating.

Fatty Ji had finally toned down his exaggerated demeanor, his fat face stern, giving him the air of a sect leader.

But even that wasn’t enough to intimidate the Wuliangtian Sect’s victims. Though they couldn’t hear what was being said, it was clear that Fatty Ji was losing ground. The Wuliangtian Sect’s leading cultivator’s gaze was fierce, as if he wanted to poke holes into him.

Later, Fatty Ji offered something, which eased the mood. Even more curious, after the two men’s conversation concluded, they both glanced over, their expressions subtle.

“What are they trying to do?”

Ling Ji, the most immature of the group, was inevitably nervous about the situation. His aura was surging, and he was ready to strike at any moment with his sword.

Li Xun glanced at him, about to offer reassurance, when someone behind him spoke in a deep voice, “Don’t worry. We have no legitimate reason to be here.

The Wuliangtian Sect won’t harm us.” This wasn’t said by Mingji or Minghuo, but by Wu Lingquan, the undisputed elder of the three generations of disciples on this trip. If Li Xun remembered correctly, this was the first time Wu Lingquan had spoken to Lingji since Shan Zhi’s murder. It wasn’t particularly remarkable, but, well, it felt good.

Lingji was clearly touched, his eyes welling with tears as he hummed softly. Wu Lingquan remained silent, but Li Xun could see the same relief in Mingji and Ling@’s eyes, and he felt the same way.

Of course, he quickly brushed these feelings aside and watched coldly as Fatty Ji, dragging the Wuliangtian Sect cultivators towards him, pondering their plans. He inched back slightly, revealing the two elders, Mingji and Minghuo.

Still half a mile away, Fatty Ji, with a fist-clasp, said from afar, “Is that Fairy Mingji of the Mingxin Sword Sect… Um, is Fellow Daoist Minghuo in person?”

Li Xun’s brows twitched. This fat man was quite thoughtful. Mingji was fine, but Immortal Master Minghuo remained aloft in the mountains year-round, and even when he ventured out, he practiced Dao in the mortal realm, cultivating his external skills. Few in the Tongxuan Realm knew of him.

This fellow had recognized her instantly; his attentiveness alone was truly impressive.

Mingji and Minghuo exchanged glances, clearly surprised, but they politely returned the greeting, greeting not only the fat man but also the cultivators of the Wuliangtian Sect. Li Xun paused, then remembered that the leading cultivator was Immortal Master Miaochang, the Wuliangtian Sect’s Chief Immortal Master, in charge of the sect’s punishments and disciplines.

Miaochang lived up to his title, with a dark, cold face, thick eyebrows, and thin lips, a fierce demeanor.

Everyone here could see that beneath his stern expression, he was clearly embarrassment, as if he didn’t know how to start.

The fat man, however, was the most shameless. He leaned forward and said with a chuckle, “Sorry, sorry, it was all a misunderstanding. Two days ago, one of my fellow apprentices was killed by a demon from the Yidoumi Sect. I was chasing him, but he escaped. I caught up with him again, but I accidentally mistook him for the wrong person. Luckily, nothing serious happened.”

Miao Chang listened in on the situation and snorted angrily, “Two of my sect’s disciples had their meridians locked by your sinister magic weapon

, and their cultivation was completely destroyed. Isn’t that a disaster?” The fat man touched his head and laughed, “This is not an incurable disease, so it’s naturally not a disaster. When we get to Shuijing Sect, I’ll return you two intact disciples. At most, how about I offer you tea and apologize then?”

He spoke in a humble manner, but Miao Chang was stunned. The fat man’s words were nice, and as the leader of his sect, he offered tea to two third-generation disciples and apologized.

How about those two unlucky guys still want to live? Miao Chang fell silent, and the fat man turned around and smiled as if nothing had happened, “Those two were restrained by my newly acquired ‘Soul-Entangled Silk’. Unfortunately, it was poisoned, and I don’t have an antidote, so I can only suppress it temporarily. So, I’d like to ask your sect for some ‘Qingxu Pills’ to use. Is that okay? “

Li Xun was really confused this time. Qingxu Pill was just an ordinary pill for expelling evil spirits and poisons in the sect. It was far from being a well-known elixir in this world. Not to mention Qianbao Pavilion, even Wuliangtian Sect should have similar pills. Why go far away?

Mingji should have the same idea, but there was really no reason to refuse such a “simple favor”. She nodded, and said lightly, “The medicinal power is shallow, I am afraid it will not work.” Then she turned around and said to Li Xun, “Do you have…”

She was slightly startled halfway through her words, her eyes seemed to be thinking about something, and after a pause, she turned to Ling＠ and said, “You have Qingxu Pill on you, right? Take out a bottle.”

Li Xun was slightly startled, and a light bulb flashed in his mind. At this time, Ling＠ took out a bottle of Qingxu Pill as he said and handed it to Mingji. Mingji glanced at Fatty Ji, but did not hand it to him. Instead, he took two steps forward and handed it to Miaochang.

Whatever rifts existed between the two sects, they were put aside for now. Miao Chang bowed and took the pill with both hands, his eyes glancing at the fat man.

The fat man laughed heartily and said, “With this pill, we can ask Hui Xuanzong for another ‘Detoxification Pill’ to complete the elixir. Thank you, thank you.”

With that, he flew back, pulling Miao Chang along. It looked as if the matter was over, but after only a dozen feet, the fat man suddenly clapped his hands and let out a sudden, “Oh!” “Look at my brain, isn’t that…”

Midway through his sentence, he abruptly turned, his gaze fixed on Li Xun, standing behind Ming Ji.

Meeting the fat man’s cunning gaze, Li Xun finally came to a conclusion. He sneered inwardly, but his face remained silent. He secretly controlled his energy, observing the fat man’s performance with a cold eye.

Greatly surprised, the fat man practically danced with joy. “Look at my brains, Fellow Daoist Miaochang, why bother looking for something far away? We have the simplest detoxification remedy right here. That, that, isn’t that Ming Lingxin Zhu, the rising star who trapped and killed the Sky Eagle Demon King for three years?”

With that, everyone’s attention was fixed on Li Xun. Li Xun felt Mingji nod slightly at him, a look of understanding evident in her eyes. He felt more reassured, smiled, and bowed slightly to the fat man.

Taoist Miaochang still didn’t understand what was going on. Although he was also impressed by Lingzhu’s reputation, he remained bewildered. The fat man stamped his foot and said, “Fellow Daoist, you’re confused. This young fellow Lingzhu not only possesses superb swordsmanship and supreme forbidden techniques, but also possesses that…”

Miaochang finally realized what was going on after his earnest reminder, but without giving it much thought, he simply said with joy, “But the Jade Evil-Repelling Jade?”

As he spoke, his gaze blazed in his direction, intense and intense. Li Xun sneered inwardly, but outwardly, he glanced at Mingji and Minghuo for instructions.

Minghuo didn’t understand the underlying situation, but he vaguely sensed something was amiss and hesitated. Mingji, on the other hand, was incredibly forthright, saying, “Yes, this child possesses a treasure. It’s said to be quite effective in warding off evil and removing poison. If Fellow Daoist Miaochang doesn’t mind, you can try it.” Miaochang,

receiving the fat man’s affirmative response, naturally cheered. He turned back to ask for the two injured disciples to be carried over. Mingji smiled faintly, gave Minghuo a few instructions, and then beckoned Li Xun to fly out of the group. As Li Xun moved, someone pinned him down. Turning back, he saw Wu Lingquan’s honest, upright face.

“Junior Brother Xun, there’s something fishy going on here. Be careful.”

Li Xun smiled and nodded, slowly taking flight. As he soared, his true energy flowed like beads throughout his body, his Bone Meridian Heart-Connecting Technique fully activated. With the time he had to prepare, the move was remarkably effortless.

Fatty Ji rubbed his fat hands together, grinning happily. Seeing Li Xun approach, he showered him with thanks. Of course, Mingji, who followed closely beside Li Xun, also received many expressions of gratitude. Judging from his expression, he seemed even more enthusiastic than the Wuliangtian Sect’s members.

Two injured monks were quickly carried over. Li Xun glanced at them. Their faces were pale, their lips black and purple, and the tiny blood vessels in their necks were also black, a sign of extreme poisoning.

Seeing the injured approach, the fat man’s face was slightly embarrassed. “Well, the solution to the soul-binding silk is indeed complicated. Having the jade to ward off evil and cleanse the poison is the best, but you also need a special treasure to dissolve the soul-binding silk that has penetrated the bloodstream. Fellow Daoist Miaochang, that just now…” Miaochang

snorted coldly, pulled out a small stone box that seemed to be the item the fat man had just handed him, and threw it back in a sullen tone. “As long as I can save people, what use do I have for this black silk clam treasure?”

Black silk clam treasure?

Li Xun’s heart skipped a beat, and his eyes sparkled. How could something he had almost forgotten suddenly appear? Could this be the legendary “after searching high and low for something, you finally find it without any effort”?

He stared at the stone box, watching the fat man’s thick fingers lift the lid, revealing the true appearance of the treasure inside. He had already learned from Yin Sanren that this was a living creature, but he was still a little surprised when he actually saw the real thing.

This treasure looked like a clam, but the two shells were snow-white, but surrounded by eight blood-red lines, which made it look a bit extraordinary.

The fat man used some unknown technique, but with a touch on the shell, the clam automatically opened its shell, revealing the inky black meat strips inside. Countless tiny black threads swam on the grayish-white inner wall, making people dizzy and nauseous.

“The treasure of this Black Silk Clam treasure lies in the ‘silica worms’ that inhabit its shells. Controlled by true energy, they penetrate the human body and devour any foreign matter in the bloodstream, dispersing it throughout the body’s limbs and bones. Not only does this leave no trace, but it also has the effect of purifying true energy.

“However, these little creatures are not immune to poisons, so the toxins must be removed first.”

The fat man’s mouth frothed, but he explained the Black Silk Clam treasure’s properties clearly. He then cast a glance at Li Xun, the implication of which was self-evident.

Li Xun smiled faintly, reached into his bosom, and withdrew the Jade Evil-Repelling Statue. The moment the treasure left his body, his Qi and meridians trembled slightly, then quickly calmed down. The bloody aura deep within his flesh remained unchanged.

As if sensing the poison, the Jade Evil-Repelling Statue emitted a low humming sound, and a green mist of light leaked from between Li Xun’s fingers, dripping like a handful of fine sand. Miao Chang ignored the Black Silk Clam Treasure, but upon seeing the Jade Evil-Repelling Blade, she heartily exclaimed, “It truly is a remarkable treasure.”

Li Xun politely bowed to Fatty Ji and said gently, “I’m at a loss as to what to do next. Master Ji, please advise.”

Fatty Ji glanced at the Jade Evil-Repelling Blade, but for a moment, he couldn’t discern anything unusual. He chuckled and said, “With this treasure, things will be much easier. Young friend Lingzhu surely knows how to use it to remove poison. Please, cleanse both of our bodies of the toxins.”

This response was truly surprising.

Li Xun was stunned for a moment before reacting. He glanced at Mingji again before stepping forward. His true energy permeated the jade warding, radiating a pure light that seeped into the pores of the two disciples’ skin. The pure light spread everywhere, quickly dispelling all the toxins from their bodies. Their complexions and skin returned to normal, drawing praise from

Miao Chang, who was standing nearby. The fat man was also confident. Seeing the toxins disappear, he employed some unknown technique to eject approximately 10% of the hundreds of “silica worms” within the shell of the black silk clam. These filaments transformed into two jets of black light that passed through the mouth and nose of the injured disciple. Miao Chang shuddered, far more nervous than when Li Xun had removed the poison.

However, the fat man’s effect was also immediate. Within three or five breaths, the injured cultivator opened his mouth and eyes, regaining consciousness, still dazed and unaware of what had happened.

With that, the sudden farce ended. Li Xun glanced at the fat man again and took the jade warding into his arms, still embedding it against his chest.

Normally, after the matter was concluded, everyone would have gone their separate ways. However, Fatty Ji became interested. Upon discovering that everyone was heading to the Shuijing Sect, he immediately and loudly suggested that the three of them travel together, making the journey more lively.

This was a difficult proposition, but the Wuliangtian Sect had just received a favor and felt awkward, so they couldn’t openly refuse. Li Xun couldn’t refuse outright either. With Fatty Ji’s forceful coaxing, the group unknowingly joined forces, and dozens of them marched forward in a mighty procession.

Li Xun knew Fatty Ji had ill intentions, but he couldn’t find any evidence, and he felt a surge of anger. The more angry he became, the more gentle and affable his expression became. He and the ever-laughing Fatty Ji were a perfect match. Fatty Ji, as he was known to be, felt that Li Xun was the most talkative of the cultivators, so he approached and engaged him in a conversation.

The two were indeed quite different in generation, but one kept silent, the other pretending to be oblivious. After a few exchanges, they felt a strong affinity, almost becoming sworn brothers, despite their age difference.

The others were bewildered, except for Mingji, who smiled, her gaze lingering on the two men. However, in Li Xun’s opinion, the ruthless fairy was simply trying to figure out where to cut into Fatty Ji’s flesh.

Li Xun and Ji’s conversation circulated around the Tongxuan Realm for seven or eight times. Another full day had passed, and the cultivators were only a half-day’s journey from the Langya Water Mirror Heaven. The cultivators from the Mingxin and Wuliang sects remained indifferent, maintaining a polite distance, while Li Xun and Fatty Ji had become almost one person.

As they gazed at the undulating, endless, blue-gray mountains below, Fatty Ji suddenly became interested and shifted the conversation from the vast western sea, pointing to the mountains below.

“This is the Wuling Mountains. This vein runs from west to east, almost traversing the entire Tongxuan Realm. Forty-five percent of this realm’s spiritual veins converge here.

“Especially Beiqi Mountain, directly below us, where nearly a thousand spiritual veins converge, nurturing countless spiritual flowers and rare herbs. No matter which sect, refining elixirs, cannot avoid this place… Tsk, it’s truly a gift from heaven and earth, so fascinating.”

What the heck! Li Xun watched him sigh with emotion, only agreeing with a few words, his attention mostly drawn to the name of “Beiqi Mountain.”

Speaking of which, the meeting at Razor Peak was only a little over a month away, so he still needed to prepare early.

Just as he was thinking, Fatty Ji suddenly changed the subject, saying, “But these natural treasures are rarely usable immediately. Only through human hands, kneading them into pills, can they dispel evil, remove toxins, and save lives.

Only then can those spiritual flowers and rare herbs truly be called treasures!” “

What Fatty Ji said was quite interesting. Li Xun came back to his senses and said with a smile, “As the master of Qianbao Pavilion, Master Ji naturally has a unique understanding of “treasures”. However, for ordinary people, the herbs below are already treasures.”

“No, no.”

Fatty Ji shook his head and said, “A thing that is born and raised by nature, no matter how precious it is, can only be called a “wonderful thing”. For example, my black silk clam treasure is just an empty name. In my opinion, it should be called “Black Silk Clam Wonder” or “Black Silk Clam Wonder”. “

And only after it has been made by human hands, integrated with human wisdom and means, and with great effort, can the natural thing be transformed into a “man-made thing” and its maximum effect be brought into play, and it can be called a treasure. Otherwise, how can there be the word “exquisite craftsmanship”?

“Just like the jade talisman on your body, needless to say, it is made of jade, a natural rare jade. But if the craftsmen had not poured their immense wisdom into it, engraved patterns on it, consecrated it, and integrated wonderful techniques, how could its value be worth even one tenth of what it is today?”

It’s amazing that you have such patience. You finally got here! Li Xun smiled and was about to try a few more times when Mingji suddenly said, “According to Pavilion Master Ji, your sect collects treasures from all over the world not because they value the treasures themselves, but are more committed to digging out the supreme wisdom within the treasures. Is that true?”

Mingji’s words had already transcended the limitations of casual chatting and pointed to a higher level. Their sharp and penetrating words actually made Fatty Ji’s face straighten up.

“You are quite right, Fairy. This is the very foundation of our existence. Since the creation of this world, many great and sages have bequeathed countless treasures to this world.

” “Our humble collection of treasures has endeavored to understand the threads of their creation and development. Tracing back to their origins, we can see the evolution of our cultivators’ abilities over the past millennia. This immense trove far surpasses even these millions of treasures themselves.”

Ming Ji sighed, his gaze shifting to the fat man, and the fat man’s was no different. It’s

no exaggeration to say that their current state of mind was one of mutual admiration. Even if it was bland, it was far more genuine than the superficial friendship between Li Xun and the fat man.

Li Xun stood there stunned. With his intelligence, he could understand the threads of the mind the fat man described. However, if it weren’t for Ming Ji’s enlightenment, he wouldn’t have considered Ji Hao’s words and actions from the perspective of cultivation even if he waited another thousand years.

Thinking back on it now, during his few interactions with Ji, he seemed to have only considered the internal strife and intrigue within his mind. Perhaps this was a glimpse into the depths of the situation, and perhaps a glimpse into its far-reaching implications, but it was still too narrow. Could this be the case of “every man has his own opinion”?

He felt as if he had gained something, and was contemplating it further when he suddenly heard Fatty Ji resume his exaggerated demeanor and utter a breathtaking remark.

“Huh, the sun is rising from the north?”

Before Li Xun could even smile, a blinding red light pierced his eyes, and his profile was already stained blood red. He turned back in surprise, only to see a crimson cloud spreading from the northern sky, instantly extending beyond his field of vision.