The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 139

Chapter 5 Watching a Play

The southwestern jungles of late spring are definitely not a pleasant place to be.

Especially on those nights when clouds thicken but no rain falls. Under the pitch-black sky, mosquitoes and ants swarm, birds chirp and beasts roar, and countless unknown ferocious beasts and poisonous insects stalk and kill, painting the night with a thick layer of blood.

However, for accomplished cultivators, while this place can’t be called a paradise on earth, it’s a safe haven.

Amidst the jungle, on a rare, flat patch of hillside, a fire blazed brightly. Seven or eight people sat around it, quietly passing the long night.

“Pin’er? Pin’er?”

A gentle call startled Gu Pin’er awake. She shifted her gaze from the firelight, tilted her face slightly, and smiled faintly. “Master, are you alright?”

“I’m fine, I’m just worried you might be dazzled.”

The chubby Immortal Master Su Yao chuckled, completely devoid of the authority of an elder. “You haven’t moved your eyes in over an hour. Even if you’re cultivating the ‘Red Lotus Tribulation,’ you don’t need to comprehend this fire, do you?”

Gu Pin’er nodded gently in response, then lowered her gaze and remained motionless again.

Su Yao, beside her, gave a wry smile, a helpless glance shifted to Gu Pin’er’s other side, and gave her a subtle wink.

Seated next to Gu Pin’er was Mei Jie, the only female cultivator among the Tianxingjian Sect’s “Four Gentlemen.”

While her cultivation was profound, she maintained a low profile and rarely left the mountain since her cultivation.

However, He Mulan had died long ago, and Senior Brothers Song and Zhu had suffered severe injuries in the Southeast Forest, which hadn’t healed to this day.

Among the third generation of disciples, aside from the rising star Gu Pin’er, she was the only one still capable of shouldering the responsibility. That’s why she followed the elders down the mountain so she could keep Gu Pin’er company.

Mei Jie, a very understanding person, knew from Su Yao’s expression that this great-grandmaster wanted her to start a conversation, not wanting Gu Pin’er to become too withdrawn.

She thought for a moment and spoke through Gu Pin’er, “Great-grandmaster, there’s something I can’t understand. This year’s ‘Water Mirror Verses’ are the most sinister, blood-red in color. I imagine only the one before the forty-ninth calamity can be compared to this.

” “But so far, no one has given a clear answer, and even within the sect, nothing has changed. We younger generations are perplexed!”

“Well… there are certainly some questions, but if you want to know, it depends on the Sect Master’s opinion… What do you think, Senior Brother?”

The blue-robed scholar who had been sitting silently on the other side of the fire opened his eyes.

He had an ordinary appearance, slightly thick lips, and a dark complexion, looking more like a farmer than a scholar.

However, after opening his eyes, his clear pupils were embedded in Li Hei’s face, as calm as the abyss. His originally honest and sincere face was suddenly elusive and solemn.

This person was none other than Mr. Dayan, the current leader of the Tianxingjian Sect.

Hearing Su Yao’s words, he lifted the corners of his lips and smiled lightly: “A teacher is to impart knowledge and resolve doubts, and a disciple has doubts but does not understand them, so there is no reason for the teacher to shirk his responsibility.”

Su Yao nodded repeatedly and coughed twice before he finished speaking, and said: “Since the sect leader promised me, it’s okay for me to tell this secret…

“Pin’er, let me ask you first, what was the purpose of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix being surrounded by the Tongxuan sects in the Ten Thousand Mountains and almost unable to be born?”

Gu Pin’er did not expect that Su Yao was trying to make her speak. She was stunned and quickly sorted out the rumors in this world before saying: “The demon phoenix practiced the “Creation Demon Art” against the will of heaven and deceived Master Lin of the Mingxin Sword Sect to reveal the Water Mirror Verse, so…”

Su Yao shook his head and said: “Pin’er, you don’t have to save face for us. This kind of excuse could have been used to deceive you kids back then, but you use it now. Do you think we are going backwards as we grow older?”

After hearing this, although Gu Pin’er was embarrassed, the others around the fire couldn’t stop laughing.

In reality, aside from Mei Jie and Gu Pin’er, everyone present was a senior, first- and second-generation immortal master.

They were all well aware of Su Yao’s plans and simply watched with smiles on their faces.

Gu Pin’er, forced into a corner, had no choice but to continue, “That’s the ‘Forty-Nine Tribulations.’ The ‘Demon Infant of Creation’ born by the demon phoenix is interfering with the divine will, making the impending ‘Forty-Nine Tribulations’ even more powerful. Therefore, the various sects are converging to nip it in the bud.”

“It’s a good reason, but it’s just superficial! Your Senior Sister Mei must still be confused!”

Mei Jie pursed her lips in a smile, offering no explanation. Gu Pin’er could only bow her head and say, “Disciple, I don’t understand. Please clarify, Uncle-Master.”

Su Yao narrowed his eyes and smiled, but then his expression straightened and his voice became calmer.

“In fact, the various sects’ motive for surrounding and killing the demon phoenix is indeed beyond the ‘Forty-Nine Tribulations.’ That’s true.” But have you ever considered that even the Shuijing Sect’s cultivators wouldn’t dare to discuss

the secrets of Heaven, so who could be so certain that the “Forty-Nine Tribulations” were related to the “Demon Infant of Creation”? “Even if it’s a secret, how did everyone know about the birth of a child by Yao Feng and Lin Ge? Did Senior Brother mention this in his verse?”

Mr. Dayan said calmly, shaking his head slightly.

Su Yao spread his hands, helplessly saying, “Neither Yao Feng, Lin Ge, nor the “Demon Infant of Creation” are mentioned in the verse. Yet, within days of the verse’s publication, someone broke the news of Yao Feng’s pregnancy, and the rumor of the “Demon Infant of Creation” spread like wildfire.

“And then, if a few more unscrupulous individuals seek their own deaths, a fierce campaign of suppression by all the sects will begin…”

Both Gu Pin’er and Mei Jie were stunned by Su Yao’s barbs.

Seeing their reactions, Su Yao laughed and said, “Don’t think I’m saying it so easily now. This conclusion was not figured out until everyone calmed down afterwards.

“Back then, the forty-nine catastrophes could befall everyone in the world and everyone was red-eyed. What’s this called: rather kill the wrong person than let him go! At that time, at least more than half of the people had this idea!”

After hearing Su Yao’s nonsense, Mr. Dayan, who had remained silent, finally couldn’t help shaking his head: “Fifth Junior Brother, you may be sarcastic, but you may be too extreme. They don’t have a comprehensive view of the matter. If you use extreme words, they may not be able to distinguish them.”

Mei Jie and Gu Pin’er looked at each other and said in unison, “Please give me some advice, Sect Master.”

Mr. Dayan’s dark face showed no wrinkles. He only said lightly, “What your great-grandmaster said is indeed to the point, but those random descriptions are really ridiculous. The biggest reason why things got out of control back then was that the various sects were in a difficult situation.

“Every sect has lost friends and family members to the demon phoenix and the blue phoenix. How can they easily give up based on such blood feuds? Not to mention others. Our uncle Ziyou, the last surviving member of our previous generation, died at the hands of the blue phoenix. Who in our sect wouldn’t be furious?”

Though Dayan spoke calmly, the two younger generations could sense the tragic atmosphere and were speechless for a moment. Dayan declined to discuss the matter further, letting it slide.

“Of course, due to the overreaction back then, the sects are being more cautious in their decisions this time. This is a good thing… After all, there won’t be another forty-nine tribulations within a thousand years.”

Before he finished speaking, he cast his gaze toward the jungle at the end of the plain. Everyone present felt a sense of urgency and turned back.

Then, someone burst into laughter. “Mr. Dayan’s words are certainly valid. However, I believe that while the forty-nine tribulations are formidable, the tribulations of human hearts are far more formidable than the will of heaven!”

Two figures strolled out, accompanied by laughter.

The first figure was extremely tall, wearing a wide robe and a high crown, his eyes flashing with lightning,

his aura unparalleled. Behind him followed a charming female cultivator, clad in a pale yellow short jacket and a matching skirt with folded patterns and patterns. Her attire was remarkably elegant, though a slight pallor obscured her naturally savage features.

The first figure, with the gait of a dragon and a tiger, approached with a chuckle, saying, “The Forty-Nine Tribulations certainly cost many of our predecessors, but Brother Dayan, have you forgotten that ten or a hundred of them, let alone one, have ever brought catastrophic disaster to a sect?

“What the Forty-Nine Tribulations couldn’t accomplish, humans can accomplish. Is it the heavenly tribulations or the human heart that are more formidable?”

Mr. Dayan didn’t respond, but stood, smiled, and saluted. “So it’s the ‘Eastern Emperor’ who has arrived. No wonder the birds and beasts are in submission.”

The visitor was Luo Qichang, the patriarch of the Three Emperors Sword Sect.

He and Mr. Dayan were old acquaintances, so he didn’t bother with too much formality. He laughed heartily and led his daughter to the fire.

He didn’t refuse and sat next to Mr. Dayan. Luo Yuji was arranged to sit between Gu Pin’er and Mei Jie.

“Dong Huang rarely leaves the mountain. Why would you be so interested in traveling with your daughter, especially to this remote and desolate place?”

Hearing Mr. Dayan’s question, Luo Qichang smiled and said, “It’s nothing special. I just wanted to take my disappointing daughter out for a bit to relieve her stress. I happened to come here to see something interesting… But who are you camping out in the wilderness for, Brother Dayan?”

Mr. Dayan naturally heard the inaccuracy in his words and smiled before saying, “To be honest, Dong Huang is here for my Second Junior Brother.”

Luo Qichang’s expression straightened and he nodded. “Yes, I sympathize with Brother Leti’s misfortune. However, while his body was destroyed, his spirit survived, and his spirit seed remains indestructible. This is a blessing in disguise. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Thank you, Donghuang, for your kindness. Although the revenge for killing me is heavy, the most urgent task is to protect Second Junior Brother’s soul and reincarnate.”

Mr. Dayan sighed softly, “Although Second Junior Brother had a chance of survival in the Southeast Forest Battle thanks to Pin’er’s timely use of the method of dissolving the enemy’s body, he was seriously injured after all. If he wants to reincarnate safely, he needs some natural treasures and a place. To be honest with Donghuang, we came to this bad land in the southwest just to find the “Soul Shaping Pool.” “

Luo Qichang said “Oh” lightly and frowned, “This “Soul Shaping Pool” is indeed a rare place. The most famous in this world is the “Yin Transformation Pool” of the Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect. It combines disaster transformation, soul shaping, and reincarnation in one, and it has quite a few tricks… but the ghost aura is infiltrated, which may damage Brother Ti’s merits. “

Mr. Dayan said calmly, “Even if it does not damage our merits, our sect will not do anything to disturb the sacred land of other sects.”

Luo Qichang laughed, “That’s true, and old Minghuo is about to pass away, and the market for Huayin Pond is very tight.”

The difference in their personalities can be seen from this.

Mr. Dayan did not want to dwell on this topic any further, so he smiled and changed the subject, “What “interesting thing” did Donghuang just say…”

“It is indeed very interesting, and it also happens to be related to the Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect.”

Luo Qichang picked up a branch and gently poked the campfire. In the rising flames, he sneered, “Brother Dayan, do you know that old Minghuo was smart all his life, but at the moment of death, he raised an ungrateful person?”

As soon as these words came out, the cultivators beside the fire had different expressions. Gu Pin’er shrank and buried her face even lower, but all her attention was drawn to it.

Mr. Dayan thought for a moment and said, “Donghuang is talking about that “blood demon” Baigui Taoist? “

“It was this boy. The battle between Beiqishan and Qingluan was no less impressive than the ten-day fight between Master Tianzhi and Yaofeng.

“Back then, when this boy was not yet famous, he had a conflict with our sect. I have seen that he is cunning and courageous, and he is no ordinary person. But I never thought that he would gain such a great reputation in the past few decades and still practice the devilish art of “Blood God Son”. He is so audacious!”

In the light of the fire, Luo Qichang’s expression was deep and unfathomable: “Brother Dayan should also know that this boy joined forces with the rebel Shui Dielan of the two sects and seized the “Wuyinxuan”, a precious place for cultivation, as his foundation last year. He can attack or defend, and he is already showing signs of setting up his own sect. I wonder what expression the old man Minghuo will have. Mr.

Dayan nodded slightly, then added, “So Donghuang’s trip…”

“It was precisely for this man,”

Luo Qichang said with a smile. “I was originally invited by Sect Master Li to the Soul-Calming Sea, but along the way I witnessed a fierce battle. While not as earth-shattering as the one at Beiqi Mountain, it was still quite thrilling. Brother Dayan, if you had seen it, you would have thought it was fantastic!”

Mr. Dayan wasn’t particularly impressed, but the others were intrigued.

Only Su Yao, open-minded enough to ignore the title of “Donghuang,” enthusiastically chimed in, “What’s the trick?”

Luo Qichang glanced at him and nodded, “No need for further explanation, Brother Su. Wait a moment. I’m afraid the battlefield isn’t far away.”

Before he could finish his words, a low, sharp sound pierced the night air, echoing in everyone’s ears.

Su Yao frowned, “Very fast… but it wasn’t just one person, was it?”

In the distant jungle, another soft explosion echoed, followed by a strange, shrill sound like snakes crawling and ants scurrying, ringing in one’s heart.

Mei Jie glanced at Luo Yuji and whispered, “There were indeed some who fought, but their techniques were so unconventional they didn’t necessarily share the same path.”

Luo Yuji hummed, her gaze unconsciously shifting towards Gu Pin’er.

She and Gu Pin’er were old friends; they had been close neighbors, equally lively and active, and had a good relationship. However, since the Songjing Incident, Gu Pin’er had become disheartened and withered, remaining silent, and their interactions had gradually ceased. Seeing her

again now, Luo Yuji was astonished by Gu Pin’er’s beauty, like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, and her unfathomable mental state.

In her eyes, Gu Pin’er’s reaction to this sudden change was comparable to those “old men” around the fire, calm as water and unwavering as a mountain, unmoved.

Distant sounds rose and fell, shifting from east to west in a flurry of tones. If one looked closely, one could even make out wisps of smoke rising from the jungle.

It was astonishing that, even at such close proximity, the surrounding vital energy remained relatively stable, demonstrating the mastery of both sides’ control.

After a long moment of sensing, Su Yao finally couldn’t help but exclaim, “If one side is the Hundred Ghosts, could it be the Zhu Gou Sect or the Luo Yu Sect? Otherwise, who else but these two sects could pull off such a sophisticated assassination?”

Luo Qichang smiled, “Brother Su, you’re right. The Zhu Gou Sect and the others are already locked in a fight with the Hundred Ghosts.”

Gu Pin’er held her breath, her palms sweating as she gripped her sword. She tried her best to maintain a calm exterior, suppressing her worries deep within.

Beside him, Su Yao looked bewildered. “I wonder when the Zhu Gou Sect has ever done something so thankless and unprofitable? How can they be so confident, even a demon who can’t even stop Qing Luan?”

As he spoke, the jungle suddenly fell silent, a brief pause. A complete

silence vanished, silencing not only human voices but also the sounds of wind through branches and birds and beasts flying through the forest.

For a moment, the only sounds in the world seemed to be the breathing of the cultivators around the fire and the crackling of the flames.

Su Yao immediately shut his mouth. In the silence, his voice became particularly loud and seemed very strange.

This strange situation lasted for about three breaths, then a cacophony of sounds returned like a bursting dam.

Amidst this rich, multi-layered soundscape, countless unnatural murmurs blended in, harmonizing with the oscillations of vital energy. The resulting flood of information nearly overwhelmed the cultivators’ heads.

“What a chaotic battle!”

someone exclaimed. In the time it took to say a word, the noise in the forest intensified. Trees in the deep woods fell, and dust billowed in the air.

The battlefield seemed to recede again, and those with keen ears and eyes could clearly hear the rustling of branches somewhere away from the battlefield, drawing closer.

Everyone was startled at first, then their gaze shifted. They saw a figure emerge from the forest and stand facing the firelight.

“Who is this person…”

Gu Pin’er turned to look.

The figure in the firelight appeared middle-aged, with a mustache and a gray robe. The sleeves and hem of his robe were cracked or broken, and there was a glaring bloodstain running from his neck to his shoulder. He looked utterly disheveled.

But his expression was frozen, and especially his dark, eerie eyes, seemingly absorbing the very light from the fire. They were so chilling, it was impossible to even contemplate them. Just

as the cultivators’ attention was drawn to the newcomer, another figure flashed behind him: a tall, thin man, smiling broadly, stepped out.

Even in the firelight, the dark sullen aura on his slender face was still clearly discernible, his eyes shimmering yellow, as if he were terminally ill.

Yet, as he walked, his posture was slender and composed, his brocade robe smooth and flowing. Even meeting the gazes of the two sect leaders, he remained relaxed and at ease, not appearing to be ill at all.

“Ah, how could so many distinguished people come from this impoverished and desolate land? Mr. Dayan is always a gentleman, content with poverty, making do, so it’s fine. But Donghuang, with his wealth of gold, has the luxury of entertaining the world!”

The tall, thin man’s sarcasm was unpleasant, his words laced with sarcasm and sarcasm, making the listening unpleasant. But the more he spoke, the more one could sense the extraordinary qualities of these two men.

At this point, Gu Pin’er identified one of them. “Is that the mustache-wearing Xishi Divine Blade of Zhu Gou Jiu Sha?”

Hearing her take the initiative, Luo Yuji nodded in delight, “Indeed, he is. The other one with the sickly look is ‘Yi Gui Gou,’ one of the ‘Three Little Gou’. It’s said he’s the senior brother of the old monster Qian Ji, and his cultivation is unfathomable.” “People

with different ideologies cannot work together. “

While these two held high positions in the Tongxuan Realm, their status was built entirely on the countless lives they had amassed. The cultivators surrounding the fire didn’t bother to stand and greet them, and even the two sect leaders remained silent.

Only Su Yao, still smiling, responded, “I don’t know what unfortunate wind blew in that two of Zhu Gou Qi Sha have arrived. This must be quite a business.”

He vaguely changed the “Nine” to “Seven.” His words were quite sinister. It was a pity that the Gloomy Divine Blade and the cunning Yishi Gou didn’t react strongly.

The Yi Gui Gou laughed, “There’s no big or small distinction when it comes to human life. If someone bets on Brother Su, our sect will use a sledgehammer to kill a chicken, and we won’t judge a hero by the size of his bonus.”

He nodded, smiling like an old friend, and said nothing more.

The Eclipse God Knife beside him suddenly took a step, slashing across the plain toward the other side of the jungle. The Yi Gui Gou remained motionless.

This strange movement captured everyone’s attention. The Eclipse God Knife quickly disappeared into the depths of the jungle, revealing no trace of a ghost.

Whether it was an illusion, Luo Yuji felt as if the jungle where the Eclipse God Knife had entered had instantly transformed into a ferocious beast, its maw so black it made the hairs stand on end.

She glanced at Pin’er, then back at Mei Jie and whispered, “What are they doing?”

Mei Jie, though perplexed, remained composed. She shook her head, smiled, and turned her gaze to Su Yao and the other elders.

After a quick look, she noticed that only the two sect leaders weren’t looking at the Plague Ghost Gou, but rather at a slightly off-angle gaze, glaring coldly at the jungle around him.

Just then, a strange humming sound emanated from the depths of the dense forest. Even those with weaker cultivation, such as Luo Yuji and Mei Jie, felt their hearts race, their Huangting Yuanying vibrating as the sound shook. The branches and leaves in the forest rustled in unison, a terrifying aura.

Only then did Su Yao exclaim in surprise, “Wow, how much have you, the Zhu Gou Sect, invested? The Soul-Slaying Axe is here too!”

The Plague Ghost Gou smiled faintly, the dark aura on his thin face seeming to intensify. “It takes a butcher knife to kill a chicken, let alone a venomous snake. Today’s situation is special, everyone. Please forgive me if there’s anything our sect can’t assist you with.”

With that, he bowed slightly, his lanky figure retreating slowly into the shadows at the junction of the jungle and the plain, disappearing instantly.

Su Yao’s face darkened, and he turned to the two sect leaders, probing, “What does he mean…”

“Hold your breath, calm your nerves, and be cautious.” Mr. Dayan replied calmly, “The Zhu Gou Sect will resort to any means necessary if the battle continues for too long. We’ve likely been caught in the crossfire.”

Luo Qichang seemed much more relaxed. He turned to Mr. Dayan and smiled, “It’s rumored that the plague-infecting poisons of the Epidemic Ghost Gou have been traded with the Poison Hidden Sect. Their toxicity is remarkable, and their methods are insidious.

“But I think if they could merge with ‘Little Zhu Gou,’ they would truly be unrivaled in the world… It’s strange that Old Monster Qianji has remained silent on this matter for centuries.”

Mr. Dayan chuckled, “Donghuang is kindhearted. ‘Little Zhu Gou’ is already the most lethal weapon in this world. If they combine it with the plague-infecting poison, who in the world can stop it? Of course, if ‘Little Zhu Gou’ could truly be poisoned so easily, it wouldn’t necessarily be called the most lethal weapon in this world.”

Luo Qichang clapped his hands and laughed. Amidst this laughter, a distant sound erupted from the depths of the jungle. At first, it sounded like the demonic sound of the Soul-Slaying Axe, but it quickly became unnatural, hoarse, and unpleasant, its soul-stirring power naturally vanishing.

A moment later, a faint whiff of rust filled everyone’s noses. Su Yao, disregarding his appearance, twitched his nostrils vigorously, finally exclaiming in surprise, “It smells like blood, but something’s not right…”

“Blood Shadow Demon Body!” Luo Yuji cried out without a second thought.

The next moment, another explosion drew everyone’s attention. From the outer jungle, the sound of branches snapping incessantly filled the air. A massive black shadow crashed backward, slightly off-angle from the fire, tumbling and crashing to the ground.

A loud clang shook the eardrums.

The figure that had fallen was small and withered, yet in his hands he wielded a short-handled axe that was a full circle larger than his body, its blade measuring five feet in radius. The loud crash was caused by the axe’s fall.

Just by looking at the axe, everyone knew who this man was. “Is this the Soul-Slaying Axe?”

The figure leaped to his feet and roared in anger. Though small, his voice was resounding, like thunder.

He then casually swung the axe twice, the resounding sound of it piercing the air and sending shivers down his spine.

The weapon, seemingly weighing hundreds of pounds, seemed to wave like a feather in his hands.

Gu Pin’er’s sharp eyes saw a hole the size of a wine glass rip in the man’s chest, revealing his toned chest muscles, which, in the firelight, looked like cast iron, a stark contrast to his slight frame.

As if sensing Gu Pin’er’s gaze, he glared at her fiercely.

His face was ordinary, his eyes narrow and narrow, though he didn’t appear imposing. However, the cold light in his narrow slits shone with murderous intent, and with the axe, he looked like a tiger pouncing on its prey.

Gu Pin’er remained unmoved, her eyes as still and calm as the depths of a valley, silencing the Soul-Slaying Axe’s murderous intent. Luo Qichang, however, could not bear to see this and snorted coldly.

Soul-Slaying Axe glanced over Gu Pin’er’s shoulder and met Luo Qichang’s gaze.

Seeing the tension building, he suddenly grinned, revealing a mouthful of sharp white teeth. “Donghuang, you’ve seen it all the way, right? What a coincidence to run into the old master again. Peasants fight to the death for the rich master to watch. How come all the good things in the world are enjoyed by you gentlemen and nobles?”

With that, he roared and roared into the forest. He wielded the great axe, yet he moved freely through the trees like a ghost, truly mastering the art of making light of heavy objects.

This showed that Zhu Gou Qi Sha’s reputation was well-earned.

Perhaps angered by being driven out of the forest, Soul-Slaying Axe had intensified the fighting within. Shortly after he entered, the noise of the battle within the forest intensified.

The sound of trees snapping and falling was incessant, interspersed with thunderous roars and intermittent, soul-stirring demonic sounds. Even Luo Yuji, whose cultivation level was lower, felt her blood surging and extremely uncomfortable.

Luo Qichang, knowing his daughter’s feelings perfectly, understood the text clearly. He noticed Gu Pin’er, and after a brief glance, he tilted his head and whispered, “This is the one from Songjing back then…”

Mister Dayan nodded silently.

Luo Qichang murmured, his voice lowered. “In the Shuijing Sect’s footage, Qingluan insists that the Hundred Ghosts were also involved in the Songjing incident and played a significant role, but the details are vague. Sect Master, have you inquired about it?”

“The past is unbearable, and the child has become quite withdrawn. How can we, as elders, open her wounds?”

Luo Qichang nodded briefly, but remained silent, yet a trace of disapproval remained.

He glanced at Gu Pin’er again, sensing her impressive cultivation. She held a firm position among the three younger generations. It was a pity that the loss of her vital yin made the path of cultivation dangerous and potentially harmful.

With this woman as a comparison, Luo Yuji, aside from her somewhat erratic temperament, possessed a superior foundation and intelligence. Having endured numerous setbacks in recent years, she had gradually become more stable, and her future path would be much smoother.

He was quite pleased with the fact that he had such a woman.

As he pondered these thoughts, the sounds in the jungle began to drift here and there, each shift covering two or three miles, circling the area countless times. It sounded more like the Zhu Gou Sect’s assassins, shouting and killing as they pursued their target.

After listening for a while, the two sect leaders exchanged glances with Luo Qichang again, sneering, “People don’t intend to harm tigers, but tigers do harm people. After all these circling… Brother Dayan, we’re being used as shields!”

Mr. Dayan smiled faintly, not as angry as Luo Qichang, saying, “It’s understandable. That person is using us to restrain the Zhu Gou Sect, but how could the Zhu Gou Sect…”

A sharp hissing cut his words short, and then the loudest explosion of the battle yet echoed through the jungle.

Amidst the rumbling sound, Soul-Slaying Axe could faintly be heard laughing. Then, over ten miles away, a forest collapsed with a bang. Even in the darkness, everyone could see dust rising dozens of feet, coating the sky with a gray haze.

Sharp-eyed people spotted a figure from the dust, shooting up like an arrow from a bow. Soul-Slaying Axe, behind him, screamed and swung his great axe, pursuing him.

Though his speed wasn’t slow, he was vastly outmatched by the figure in front. In an instant, the gap was widened. The figure

was about to exit the dust, its speed undiminished.

A sudden gust of wind swept in from the edge of the swirling dust, splitting the dust into pieces and growing in the wind.

Just then, the figure broke through the fog barrier, and the dust, about to dissipate, suddenly extended. Instantly, a gray, slashing blade pierced the air.

“Erosion God Blade!”

Luo Yuji instinctively screamed, but Su Yao shook his head beside him. “It’s not the Hundred Blades!”

Four of the Seven Red Hooks had already arrived!

In this air-piercing strike, Bai Le Dao’s signature skill, penetrating blind spots and delivering a single fatal strike, was brought to its peak.

From Luo Yuji’s perspective, the figure that had first shot out from the flash of the blade was cut in half without even a chance to dodge or block. Following the strike, Bai Le Dao’s form suddenly dissipated into smoke and mist, swept away by the high-altitude winds.

Before the spectators below could even begin to wonder, the bisected figure vanished like a bubble, eerily and mysteriously.

Master Dayan said sternly, “What a remarkable clone technique! Clearly a supreme power, transforming the imaginary into the real.”

“I’m afraid it’s not just any ‘clone technique,’ but the ‘Blood Nightmare Clone.'”

Luo Qichang chuckled grimly, “Just looking at this technique, I know this boy’s cultivation has reached a high level. If he continues for another hundred years, even Wei Bufan would be defeated by him!”

As he spoke, the smoke and dust creaked again, and a powerful gust of wind swept away the gray haze, revealing the figure within.

Now everyone could clearly see the figure in the middle, dressed in Taoist attire, his clothes tattered and tattered.

Yet, his every gesture, though not overtly imposing, shimmered with a hidden murderous intent. Against the gray blaze of swords outside, he possessed a subtle advantage. However, the Soul-Slaying Axe had already caught up below. With a powerful swing, the

axe swung through the air, its soul-shattering sound like a wave, and he joined his companions in a pincer attack. “Bai Le Dao’s strike missed, and its momentum was lost.

However, the Soul-Slaying Axe’s impact was perfect, allowing Bai Le Dao to retreat into the shadows, where he could breathe, and then unleash another thunderous blow.” Su Yao casually explained to the younger generation, his explanation quite pertinent. Meanwhile, Mr. Dayan frowned, “Why is this situation a bit strange? Dong Huang…”

Luo Qichang nodded, “Brother Dayan sees it too. This is the essence of this battle. You see, Bai Gui previously mastered the ‘Blood Nightmare Clone,’ but now he’s clearly employing the most refined ‘Unseen Yin Fire.'”

“Thinking back to the battle between Beiqishan and Qingluan, where two mental techniques were also effortlessly switched, I believe the mystery behind this is even greater than that of the Blood Godson or the Netherworld Record!”

Master Dayan pondered silently, searching for relevant information in his mind. However, after a long while, he still found nothing.

At this moment, the figure of Baigui in the sky suddenly vanished, dodging Bailuodao’s vicious blow with incredible speed. Then, amid the roar of the Soul-Slaying Axe, he fled into the distance. He retreated with remarkable ease.

His flight passed directly over the crowd’s heads, yet even so, few could track his trajectory.

The cultivators gasped at the sight. Master Dayan’s

brows furrowed even deeper. “Baigui’s ‘Blood Shadow Demon Body’ has reached perfection. The most impressive thing is the speed of his escape technique. In my opinion, it’s probably on par with natural demons like Yaofeng and Qingluan. If he uses this to wreak evil, who in the world can stop him?”

Luo Qichang opened his mouth to speak when a sudden shift occurred in the sky.

A thin, dark blue-gray shadow suddenly shot up from a certain angle in the jungle below. In an instant, it showed an astonishing height that was even higher than that of the hundred ghosts, and it blocked the retreating route of the hundred ghosts.