The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 138

Chapter 4: Human Relationships

Under a deep blue sky, dawn

was about to break in the east. Li Xun and Shui Die Lan flew side by side, their speed slow, seemingly carried by the wind. Behind them, Qin Wanru, clutching Yu Shi, lonesome like a bird separated from its flock, looming before vanishing into the vast mountains.

Shui Die Lan couldn’t help but look back, wanting to speak to Li Xun, but he kept his head down, lost in thought.

After repeated attempts, Shui Die Lan’s patience finally wore thin, and she slapped Li Xun on the shoulder. “What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing. I’m just wondering if some people keep pulling these little tricks. Is it perseverance or just shamelessness?”

Knowing he was trying to change the subject, Shui Die Lan nonetheless cooperated, glancing to the side and saying with a smile, “We’ve been doing this since our founding. You’re making a fuss.”

Li Xun smiled back, then suddenly turned and flew northwest.

Shui Dielan turned and followed, wondering, “What are you doing?”

“It’s rare that they’ve worried about me, so I’ll go say hello to them, to avoid being rude.”

The words rang out like the sound of ice beads colliding, clear and cold, and even across thousands of miles, the chill reached the heart of the listener.

Shui Dielan let out a laugh, and when she turned back, the condensed water vapor had completely dissipated. Though the action had been done quickly, it still felt a bit rushed and awkward.

After turning, their speed soared by more than tenfold, and the thousands-mile journey was covered in a matter of breaths.

Even before the sun broke above the ground, they had already spotted the towering tree before Shuijing Cave Heaven.

Beneath the tree stood a man and a woman.

The man was naturally Mr. Shuijing, the woman Yan Shuiyue.

Their reactions were quick! Li Xun and Shui Dielan exchanged a smile, then slowed down and floated down. As soon

as his feet touched the ground, he burst into laughter, “Mr. Shuijing, you saw a good show last night, but you didn’t show any sympathy for our hard work.” In

a single sentence, he had already taken over the show, assuming a supremely high position.

On any other day, Mr. Shuijing might have scoffed at his arrogance, but after last night’s earth-shattering battle, Li Xun’s every word now radiated a majestic air, his voice resonating and commanding, invisibly dominating the entire audience, captivating them.

Yan Shuiyue, having clearly witnessed the fierce battle, had her body language stiffer than ever upon seeing him. Her face paled, yet she couldn’t help but glance back, curious.

In contrast, Mr. Shuijing remained his quiet and composed demeanor. He greeted the two calmly, then smiled, “That was indeed a good show. Daoist Hundred Ghosts, if you don’t make a splash, you’ll be a sensation… but since then, you’ve had a lot of idleness!”

At this moment, Li Xun had to admit that Yaofeng’s assessment of Mr. Shuijing as “smooth and evasive” had truly hit the mark.

This man, the two culprits who nearly destroyed a tenth of Beiqi Mountain’s spiritual veins and the future ultimate villains, was actually able to treat them with courtesy, chatting and laughing, even hinting at “concern.”

This alone made him stand out from all the other sect leaders he had met.

He smiled faintly and echoed Mr. Shuijing’s words, “As you said, impulsiveness can cause endless trouble. In that case, I have a request. The information your sect gathered with Shuijing last night…”

“We weren’t the only ones who saw it last night.” Yan Shuiyue stole a glance at Mr. Shuijing, finding the courage to whisper, “This can’t be hidden!”

Li Xun glanced back at the girl’s pale, transparent face. Her voice was trembling, and it didn’t seem like she was expressing her own will.

He glanced at Mr. Shuijing again and saw that he was still calm, so he grinned and said, “Who said I wanted to hide it? Since I have done it, I am prepared to bear the consequences.

“I just want to say that since your sect has collected the images of last night, they will be leaked sooner or later, why not give me a copy now… Especially the scene between Yaofeng and Tianzhi on the other side, I am very interested. What do you think, Mr. Shuijing?”

Mr. Shuijing responded without hesitation, “Our sect’s secret method of Shuijing does have the ability to intercept and reproduce images. Since fellow Daoist Baigui wants it, there is no problem. It’s just that the Yuan Qi was shaken and interfered a lot, so the images are quite interrupted and incomplete. Please forgive me.

“Shuiyue, go and get last night’s “Flowing Water Plate.”

Yan Shuiyue replied in a low voice and turned to leave.

After she walked away, Li Xun nodded and said as if chatting, “Sir, you are indeed straightforward. Thank you in advance. Hey, from today on, the hundred ghosts have become the target of public criticism and are the characters that everyone wants to kill. It is not an exaggeration to say that they are the public enemies of this world. Having a convenient place to breathe at this time is equivalent to saving an extra life. What do you think, sir?”

Mr. Shui Jing smiled and said, “Daoyou’s “Wuyinxuan” can be called a fairyland. It is a unique world. Practicing in it will get twice the result with half the effort. People in the world can’t ask for it, so why worry about not having a place to stay?”

“Sir, do you think I have the material to become an immortal?”

Li Xun laughed dumbly, “If it were someone who was determined to achieve enlightenment, he would have plunged into Wuyinxuan and couldn’t get out. Unlike me, who is obsessed with worldly affairs and has to suffer outside?”

“Besides, even a cunning rabbit has three burrows. A big devil like me who does all kinds of evil must have more ways to escape.”

As he said this, he changed the subject and his eyes gradually became cold: “I often hear people say that the body is often gone but the world is always there, which is the law of nature. In fact, I think that as long as the body is always there, the world must always be there. You don’t have to pay attention to the rest of those foolish nonsense . What do you think, sir?”

Mr. Shui Jing replied calmly without changing his expression: “To use the body to prove the existence of heaven and earth is the great way from oneself to others, from near to far. Our sect has always emphasized that the heart reflects all things. If the heart does not exist, what is the point of whether all things exist or not? What you said is indeed the truth.”

Li Xun’s smile deepened when he heard this. He bowed and said politely: “I know that your sect has always had confidence in the way of dealing with the world, sir. It’s just that when it comes to life and death, there are some things that I have to say again and again. Please forgive me for being noisy.”

Shui Jing also bowed and responded: “People know what they do but don’t know why. For example, people do good but don’t know why they are good. Their goodness will not last long.

“Fellow Daoist, what you’ve said reflects my own concerns. Today, I’d like to thank you for revitalizing those old conventions. After all, not every disciple sees the connection between law-abidingness and self-interest!”

Yan Shuiyue, with all her eloquence, finally rushed over, holding a palm-sized disc. After a glance at the elders for permission, she cautiously offered it with both hands.

Li Xun took it with a smile, slipping it into his sleeve without examining it. Without another word, he bowed to Master Shuijing and turned to leave.

Before he could even move, Master Shuijing chuckled, “The spiritual veins of the Beiqi Mountains were severely damaged after last night, especially in the southwest. I’m afraid they can’t withstand a second blow. If you two fellow Daoists encounter any trouble in the next two days, it’s best to avoid them. Thank you.”

Li Xun paused, smiled, and without a word, he and Shui Dielan flew away, disappearing in a flash.

Only then did Yan Shuiyue regain her breath, unconsciously sticking out her tongue as she whispered, “This guy is getting more and more overbearing… But it’s fine that Master-Uncle gave him the flowing water tray, but why did he have to remind us of that? We’re wasting our time.”

Mr. Shuijing stared at the direction the two men were heading, even the rising sun couldn’t block his view. Hearing this, he smiled and said, “How come your friendship isn’t as strong as the two times we’ve met? It’s only natural that you should share this news.”

“What kind of friendship do we have?” Yan Shuiyue said, looking away.

Master Shuijing looked back at her, then shook his head and sighed, “There’s no distinction between closeness and distance, not good and evil. The Shuijing technique reflects all things. If there’s a difference between closeness and distance, it’s simply a matter of what can be measured and what can’t be measured. But if it uses its own ruler to distinguish right from wrong, then it becomes a matter of right and wrong. You are the hope of our sect’s future, how can you lose yourself in this?”

Yan Shuiyue was startled by this and quickly admitted her fault. But she curled her lips and said, “Uncle, could you please not put such a heavy finger on me? What hope are you placing on me? I have dozens of senior brothers and sisters above me.”

“Never has the Shuijing Master of all generations distinguished between seniority and inferiority; it’s only fate and ability that matter. You were able to reach the heart of heaven and recite this year’s ‘Shuijing Gita’—it requires great affinity, Dharma, and ability. Now that it’s done, there’s no need to say more.”

Master Shuijing’s tone remained calm and gentle, but Yan Shuiyue, completely shrugging off her previous playfulness, responded with a stern expression.

Master Shuijing hummed, hands behind his back, and walked towards the Shuijing Cave Heaven. Yan Shuiyue followed obediently for a few steps before finally, braving the blinding golden light, she gazed towards the desolate southeastern sky.

Extending her gaze ten thousand times, she saw the Southeast Forest Sea, the largest forest in the Tongxuan Realm.

This vast forest, perpetually shrouded in mist, had long been renowned for its abundant medicinal herbs, spiritual veins, and rare animals.

However, what now attracted tens of thousands of cultivators to explore its depths was a vast treasure far more valuable than these herbs and animals:

Xuanhai Youming City!

At the Shuijing Conference, Taoist Yulan of the Shuijing Sect recounted her various deductions about Xuanhai Youming City, drawn under duress by the Western Alliance, from the Southeast Forest Sea and the far southern Soul-Falling Sea. She had come to the preliminary conclusion that “the door is on the sea, the key is in the forest.”

This meant that the entrance to Xuanhai Youming City lay near the Soul-Falling Sea, while the key to entry lay within the Southeast Forest Sea.

Consequently, tens of thousands of cultivators plunged frantically into this vast, boundless forest sea, like a pebble thrown into the ocean, creating only a few splashes.

Yet, their enthusiasm remained undiminished, searching almost every inch of the place, intent on uncovering any trace of Xuanhai Youming City, Wuyin Pavilion, or even the winding paths

leading to the secluded paths. By comparison, the chaotic conflict between the sects sparked by Wuyin Pavilion last year, due to its relative seclusion, was perhaps even more intense, and the sheer excitement and chaos of the situation far surpassed that.

This was the scene Li Xun and Shui Dielan encountered upon their arrival.

“If that ugly nun Yulan were to see me, I’d skin her alive!”

Shui Dielan gritted her teeth, her face, pale from injury, a pale bluish hue etched across it, making it clear she was not just talking.

“Well, isn’t that what Yu Lan said, Shui Jing? For the sake of his favor, let’s just spare them this time.”

Li Xun casually offered a peacemaker’s words, then laughed, “The Southeast Forest Sea is already in such a state, and who knows what the situation will be like on the sea. Compared to Li Douliang, we, the landlords, should be thankful.”

“Landlord? Landlord? Landlord! Hey, is there anything grand in the pavilion? Kick them all out. I’m here to recuperate. I’m sick of hearing their nagging every day!”

“You’re a world of your own in the pavilion, with dozens of manors to choose from. Who can bother you?”

“Wait until you’re done with those tailing you,” Shui Dielan grumbled, then couldn’t help but cough.

Shui Dielan’s injuries had worsened after the battle with Qingluan.

She should be grateful to Mr. Shui Jing. If Shui Jing hadn’t hinted that someone was plotting against them, catching them off guard, her injuries would have been much worse.

Li Xun naturally understood her current condition.

He whispered, “As you wish,” then reached out and took Shui Dielan’s arm. They walked a dozen steps along the winding river below them, then suddenly turned and ran.

Just then, three or five cultivators hurriedly leaped from the forest. The close proximity of the two monks caused a slight commotion.

Amidst the chaotic energy, Li Xun and the other monk abruptly executed an earth escape, evading a hundred miles.

Just as they left their hiding place, a figure flashed by, but they were still a step too late.

With a cold chuckle, he stomped his foot onto the ground, a muffled thud that sent leaves rustling through the surrounding trees.

“Hey, Zhu Gou Zong! I wonder if they’re coming for you or me.”

By this time, Li Xun and the other monk had seized the opportunity to break the barrier and slip into the core of Wuyin Xuan.

With the aid of the spectroscope, the vast forest lay before them, and those boot-hanging ghosts naturally couldn’t escape.

Seeing the other party’s bewildered expression, Shui Dielan, seemingly oblivious to her own injuries, burst into laughter, then urged Li Xun, “Think of a way to teach them a lesson.”

Li Xun responded, and with a whistle, five or six figures simultaneously soared into the air and vanished in a flash.

The other party, evidently aware of their disadvantageous situation, had immediately retreated. Even Li Xun, a master of forbidden techniques, would have found it difficult to execute a move in this situation.

Shui Dielan, surprisingly, didn’t complain, but instead sneered, “This must have been Diao Zifeng’s idea. He’s ingested too much plague poison, and the bad blood has flown into him!”

“Diao Zifeng? Plague Ghost?” Li Xun seemed quite intrigued by this man.

Shui Die Lan snorted, unwilling to speak further. She glanced around and asked curiously, “Why aren’t your maidservants and apprentices here?”

Li Xun didn’t care, saying, “There are dozens of manors and gardens where you can live. You don’t have to live here.”

“Really?”

Shui Die Lan shrugged, her keen sense of smell flaring up, quickly confirming her location. Then, with a hint of irritation,

she said, “It’s clearly right here in the garden, and you didn’t even come to greet the master upon his return.” As she determined the direction, she walked forward, seemingly looking for trouble.

Li Xun shrugged and followed easily. Since entering Wu Yin Xuan, he had completely relaxed, feeling like he could lie down anywhere and sleep soundly. Every part of his body felt comfortable and at ease.

In this strange feeling, he followed Shui Die Lan through the halls and across the bridges, strolling through the garden.

After crossing a nine-curve bridge, Shui Dielan arrived at a delicate cottage. She opened the door and peered inside. She was visibly startled, then sighed in admiration. “Is this how the Yin-Yang Sect teaches its disciples?”

As she spoke, Li Xun also reached the door and peered over Shui Dielan’s shoulder, taking in the

entire interior. At first glance, all sense of ease and freedom seemed to take flight. It felt as if a heavy hammer had struck him head-on, leaving him speechless for a moment.

It was approaching dusk, and the room was dim, only the reflection of the snow-white skin on the bed shone, the entire room seeming brighter.

Yin Sanren’s robe was disheveled, his lapels open, revealing a vast expanse of snow-white, voluptuous chest. Hearing the voice, she leaned on her elbows on the bed, half-turned sideways, her beautiful eyes fixed on him.

Seeing that it was Li Xun and the other two, Yin Sanren smiled brightly and said, “Oh, you came so quickly!”

But his laughter was mixed with a low, subtle moan. Just then, under Yin Sanren, a delicate and slender body curled up slightly and buried its head and face in Yin Sanren’s arms.

But judging by the posture, who else could it be but Yingning?

The girl wore a pair of green gauze pants, as transparent as a cicada’s wing, soaked with sweat and clinging to her legs, revealing the slight curve of her hips. She wore only a matching apron, half torn off, revealing her shoulders and back.

Clearly still conscious, she felt shy upon seeing the two men intrude, instinctively trying to cover up, only to find that this only served to draw attention.

Li Xun glanced at them instinctively, then felt a pain in his chest, as if he had been elbowed by Shui Dielan. Embarrassed, his expression darkened.

“Yin Chonghua, what are you doing?”

“It’s just a prank, how can that be?” Yin Sanren showed no sign of retreating, instead leaning over and placing a gentle kiss on Yingning’s smooth forehead.

Amidst the girl’s sobbing cries, she smiled and said, “Don’t worry, I’m still saving this little girl’s essence for you. When she reaches a certain level of cultivation, I’ll naturally bring it to you. Isn’t that right… little girl?”

She then turned and teased Yingning. How could the little girl resist? Especially now, she had already seen Li Xun’s face clearly. She was stunned for a moment, then her face was filled with shame, anger, and tears, and she felt quite miserable.

Li Xun understood her change of heart, but he didn’t have time to comfort the child at this moment. He only winked at Shui Dielan.

Shui Dielan pouted and used a technique to knock Yingning unconscious.

Yin Sanren smiled and shook his head, seeming to be reluctant to let go. His fingers slowly traced the girl’s bare shoulders and arms.

It was unknown what technique she used, but wherever she touched, the snow-white skin was coated with a pink sheen. The girl’s delicate body trembled slightly, obviously feeling the intense stimulation even in her coma.

Li Xun glared at her, but couldn’t help but linger on her. He had to admit that Yin Sanren’s training methods were truly impressive. This youthful, yet already alluring figure was so different from the innocent girl on Lianxia Mountain.

Shui Dielan hummed again. Li Xun smiled and said to Yin Sanren, “Get up! This is disrespectful… Wait!”

Seeing Yin Sanren’s attitude, which was the same as usual, yet with a hint of something different, Li Xun suddenly remembered something. He paused, then frowned. “Did Qin Wanru contact you?”

Yin Sanren finally looked him in the eye, his hands still twitching. A faint smile played across his lips. “Just a day ago, about Chongyu, right?”

Li Xun stared at her for a long moment, his mind racing as he thought of the beautiful nun kneeling and pleading in humiliation on the Arctic ice sheet.

At that moment, the scene left him with only a faint sense of unease. Ultimately, he could only nod and say, “My condolences.”

Yin Sanren remained calm. Perhaps she had used the day to adjust;

of course, it was also possible that she had let go of everything, even her own sister.

Li Xun paused, then suddenly reached out and touched Yin Sanren’s forehead.

Yin Sanren was clearly reluctant, but he leaned back slightly before completely freezing. Li Xun’s fingers delicately pressed against her.

A grayish-white aura flashed from both bodies. A subtle “chi” sounded as their energy exchanged. Yin Sanren groaned, unable to support himself, and collapsed onto Yingning.

Shui Dielan looked at him in surprise. Li Xun simply nodded, then closed his eyes and, like the Arctic ice, began to search Yin Sanren’s memory, reading through it all.

A soft moan gradually rose. For Yin Sanren, this involuntary flashback of memory was undoubtedly the most horrific punishment in the world. Within a few breaths, a thin layer of sweat broke out on his body, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

However, Li Xun didn’t experience the same overwhelming pleasure as he had that day. Now, his mind was as cold as ice as snow as he quietly retraced and sorted through Yin Sanren’s chaotic memories.

From his childhood training, his first murder, his rising fame, his initial setbacks, his rise to the leadership of his sect, and his conquests across the world… Li Xun had never observed the life of a supreme master with such clarity.

Unlike his previous cursory review, this time, Li Xun “read through” and “experienced” every detail with a calm, even cold, attitude. After this profound change in his mindset, he reflected on this “life journey” again, finding many relatable points in his own life, and occasionally even immersing himself in it, which was a unique experience.

Yin Sanren groaned, writhing, unable to avoid the gentle pressure of the finger on his forehead. Half an incense stick’s time later, sweat drenched his heavy clothes, his body cold, and his face pale.

Shui Dielan, standing to one side, watched with interest after her initial surprise, her eyes flickering between Li Xun and Yin Sanren’s, but she could discern nothing.

Yin Sanren’s “torture” lasted for over half an hour before it finally ended. By then, she was completely exhausted, unable to even open her eyes.

Li Xun sighed softly, removing his finger. Seeing Yin Sanren’s expression, he curled his lips and gently patted his face twice.

It didn’t take long for Yin Sanren to understand that Li Xun’s actions were not only to uncover the secret, but also to punish her for her reckless behavior.

She sighed softly and lowered her eyes. The sounds of the outside world were as inaudible as a thick cloth stuffed in her ears, ultimately muffling them.

“Tsk, so you’re still suspicious.” Shui Dielan, perceiving his intentions, couldn’t help but chuckle at her own unnecessary worry.

Li Xun hummed in response, “Listen to both sides and you will be enlightened, but believe only one side and you will be blinded. There’s nothing wrong with applying this here.”

Shui Dielan rolled her eyes at him and asked with great interest, “What was the result?”

“The part about Ji’er… nothing.”

“No!” Shui Dielan’s eyes flashed coldly, “Is Qin Wanru lying?”

Li Xun shook his head gently, not knowing whether to deny or be confused, “I read the message from Qin Wanru yesterday. She described the situation in detail. There was no disguise or intention to collude. It was just that the wording on Ji’er’s matter was vague…

“Correspondingly, Yin Zhonghua’s memory of this matter, especially the large part after she became possessed, is extremely chaotic, and there are even large blanks. It was not until she betrayed the sect that things began to improve. As for the thread of Ji’er’s matter, there has been no clue since then.”

“Is that so.” Shui Dielan was naturally aware of the dangers of becoming possessed, but she did not dare to jump to conclusions. She just wondered, “How could it be such a coincidence? Why is only this part missing? Is there some conspiracy?”

“A conspiracy? If it’s a conspiracy, it’s just Qin Wanru’s one-man show. Yin Zhonghua is under my control, so why should I be afraid of her apprentice causing trouble?”

Li Xun spoke with a heroic tone, but in his heart, he had secretly decided to find an opportunity for a “confrontation” between Yin Sanren and his apprentice. At that moment, all the secrets would be revealed. For now

, he could only put the matter aside. He smiled and said, “I’ll handle this matter. You stay here and recuperate. I’ll deal with those independent cultivators who can’t make a difference.”

Shui Dielan hummed lazily, accepting Li Xun’s rare concern.

But her eyes soon rested on the unconscious Yingning. “Oh, by the way, you’d better figure out first: are you training an apprentice or just keeping a foot warmer? Make your decision now, lest you end up with a ridiculous situation!”

Glancing at Li Xun, she sneered and walked out of the room. In a flash, she disappeared, leaving Li Xun staring at the two beautiful women lying on the couch with a wry smile.

In the blink of an eye, Li Xun had already been at Wuyinxuan for seven or eight days. The Zhugou Sect’s assassins hadn’t made any further moves, but within the southeastern forest, the tens of thousands of cultivators had already fallen into an irretrievable quagmire.

Although the tens of thousands of soldiers and horses in the forest were just a drop in the ocean, they couldn’t withstand their frenzied excavation of mountains and rivers.

Not only did the rare birds and beasts of the Southeast Forest suffer, but even the immortal herbs and elixirs were not spared. Within days, countless lives were lost and injured, comparable to the casualties in the Northern Qi Mountains.

Li Xun was also busy, constantly monitoring the cultivators’ progress through the spectroscope. He ignored the others, but if any cultivator, intentionally or unintentionally, discovered any clues to the Wuyin Xuan’s sealed restrictions, such as the “Thirteen Innate Earthly Fire Acupoints,” he would kill them.

In just a few days, he had already eliminated seven or eight cultivators skilled in forbidden techniques.

However, compared to the base force of over ten thousand, these people disappeared silently, causing only a slight ripple, which soon faded into obscurity.

“If I have time, maybe I should devise some false news to disrupt the situation,”

Li Xun pondered as he walked.

He had rested the night before, after killing a master of considerable cultivation, and had just risen early in the morning to check the spectroscope at the Wuyin Xuan headquarters.

Yet, still dozens of feet from the small pavilion, he spotted a slender figure swaying inside…

“Yingning?” Li Xun was about to greet her, but a sudden thought fluttered in his mind, and he silently stepped forward. Yingning

was apparently unaware of the approach from behind. She sat on a stone pier in the pavilion, her arm resting on the table, her cheek resting on her chest, quietly watching the images streaming across the spectroscope.

With her back to him, Li Xun couldn’t see her expression, but he sensed a faint chill and loneliness.

The girl was fading at a noticeable rate. Li Xun could barely remember the lovely, vibrant, and energetic young woman he had seen on Lianxia Mountain.

With a soft sigh, he entered the pavilion.

The girl at the stone table jumped and turned, startled.

Seeing him enter, her pretty face flushed, then turned pale, her body trembling slightly, evidently terrified.

Li Xun watched her silently. The pavilion was silent for a moment before the girl remembered to greet him. She stammered for a long moment before whispering, “Master, Master…”

“Is it that hard to call someone a master?”

Li Xun said lightly, then looked away, no longer adding to the girl’s pressure.

He looked at the image on the spectroscope and suddenly remembered something: “I don’t think I taught you how to open the spectroscope, did I?”

Yingning shuddered again and hurriedly explained, “Senior Yin taught me, I just…”

“Yes, you’ve always been interested in forbidden techniques. You became my disciple to learn this, right?”

Li Xun’s voice was gentle, like a casual conversation. After a pause, seeing Yingning didn’t respond, he asked, “How long did it take you to learn this method of opening the door?”

Yingning couldn’t remain silent any longer. After a moment’s thought, she timidly said, “More than half an hour.”

“Too long!”

Li Xun sighed again, meeting the girl’s puzzled gaze and said calmly, “I had a lot to worry about back in the mountains, but now there’s no need to hide it.

” “To be honest, your talent in forbidden techniques is quite ordinary. Even if I taught you with all my heart, you wouldn’t be able to excel in this field.”

The girl’s eyes dimmed slightly, but she didn’t show any shock. After all, she had fallen into a harsher reality. What were her past dreams in comparison?

Li Xun frowned slightly, his voice becoming softer. “Although you don’t have a natural talent for forbidden techniques, you truly possess the ‘Original Embryo Dao Body’. Your cultivation is naturally superior to others. In fact, I’m very happy to have you as my disciple.”

Yingning pursed her lips and said nothing. But the expression on her face betrayed all her feelings; it was definitely not a sign of happiness.

Li Xun felt a slight headache. Even though his mindset was far more composed than ever, he still lacked experience and ability in the realm of “master.”

He could vaguely grasp the girl’s mindset, but formulating effective countermeasures was beyond his ability.

Thinking back, Yin Sanren was indeed more suitable to train this girl—except for that awful teaching method!

He waved his hand and let the girl go. Yingning walked away silently, head lowered.

Just as she had one foot out of the pavilion, Li Xun suddenly spoke again, “What do you want to see when you open the spectroscope?”

After a brief silence, Yingning replied, “Curious! Senior Yin said that from here you can see every corner of the Southeast Forest… and I want to see if I can find my parents’ murderer from here.”

The last sentence finally showed a clear emotional fluctuation.

Li Xun paused for a moment before smiling again, “If you practice diligently, you’ll be able to slay your enemies within twenty years. The Mingxin Sword Sect’s training speed cannot compare to the Yin-Yang Sect’s in this regard…

” “As for the spectroscope, it wouldn’t hurt to come and see it often if you have time. After all, you’re my disciple. Isn’t it you who will inherit Wuyinxuan and even the Southeast Forest Sea in the future?”

Something in the sentence struck a chord with the girl, her breathing becoming slightly irregular. She uttered a soft “hmm,” lowered her head, and ran off.

Li Xun watched her disappear at the end of the path, shook his head, and returned his gaze to the spectroscope before another wry smile.

“Aren’t you recuperating from your injuries? Why are you still out here?”

Just as he had done before, Shui Dielan quietly approached him like a ghost, hearing his words and smiling. “You’ve been incredibly busy these past few days. How do you have time to flirt with a young girl?”

Li Xun sighed, turned around, and shrewdly avoided the subject.

“You’re just in time. I’m going to look for you later. I have to go west tonight, so I’m sorry to trouble you here.”

Although Shui Dielan was dissatisfied with Li Xun’s changing the subject, her attention was still diverted: “West? Is your cheap master here to urge you?”

Li Xun smiled and took out a wooden decree and tossed it in his hand: “She just arrived yesterday. It’s rare that she can still rest for these seven or eight days, so I can’t delay any longer. So I’ll leave Yin Chonghua here to preside over the forbidden method of Wuyinxuan, and you just need to rest and recover.”

Shui Dielan’s bright eyes turned and asked: “How long will it take?”

“You can’t say for sure. The matter of the Ghost Shadow Devouring Sect is not only an internal conflict, but also involves Gu Yin’s arrangements. Anything can happen, and I have to act accordingly.”

“Well, two more months should be plenty of time.”

“Probably… Hey, what’s the matter with you?”

Shui Dielan gave him a blank look, turned her back, and walked away with a smile.

Only after she walked out of the pavilion did she say loudly, “Remember, come back in two months. I have something important to do!”

“Important?”

Li Xun thought about it and finally smiled as she moved her gaze to the spectroscope to continue capturing the fools who were seeking death in the flowing scene.