The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 143

Chapter 2: Clear

Above the thick fog of Ghost Gate Lake, the starry sky shone brightly.

The light of the large fireball, used for illumination, subdued the shadows of the forest, expanding its territory to encompass most of the lake.

At this time, most of the sect’s disciples were tempering their true energy according to the weather,

and the forest was completely silent. Suddenly, a dark red flame pierced the sky from the south, stopping above Ghost Gate Lake and circling endlessly.

The forest’s forbidden areas were all agitated, but after a few breaths, they fell silent again.

The flames swept in, fading as they landed on the small island in the center of the lake, becoming indistinguishable to the n*ked eye.

Ye Ru, who was sweeping the courtyard, was startled by the flames in the sky, then lowered her head to continue her work.

Despite being separated by two houses, the moans and gasps from the back door still reached her ears, evoking a sense of unease. Compared to that, the flames pale into insignificance.

A moment later, she had swept most of the courtyard when a knock sounded at the door.

Unaware of who might be visiting so late at night, Ye Ru hesitated for a moment before finally opening the door.

Her body trembled slightly as the door opened, and she hurriedly lowered her head. “Yan Ru… Miss, are you here to see the master?”

Yan Ru was slightly surprised by Ye Ru’s address, but she quickly understood that her namesake’s status had undergone a significant change.

Consequently, her life was temporarily saved.

“She was quite sensible, but her lack of resolve has ruined her future.” A thought

flashed through her mind, but Yan Ru remained calm as she addressed Ye Ru, “Is your master here?”

Even without asking, she could hear the unbridled chatter within the room; such a statement was merely a matter of courtesy.

Ye Ru’s face flushed slightly, but her voice was much calmer. “The master is resting. If Miss Yan Ru needs

anything, I’ll go and summon him.” Yan Ru nodded slightly, saying, “The Sect Master has woken up and summoned her for instructions.”

Ye Ru said no more, lighting a candle and leading Yan Ru into the main hall, then back. A moment later, the noise of the latter’s arrival ceased, presumably because Ye Ru had passed on the message.

When no one was around, Yan Ru finally frowned.

She had always disliked Yan Cai’er’s pampered ways, always favoring Ye Ru. But after all, Cai’er was the master’s most beloved disciple. What was Bai Gui’s impudence signaling?

“Senior Sister Yan, is the Sect Master awake?”

a sudden voice rang out in her ears.

Caught off guard, Yan Ru tensed, her body tensing. She only breathed a sigh of relief when she recognized Bai Gui’s voice, but a smile spread across her face as she turned back.

Under her gaze, Li Xun continued to button his clothes unhurriedly.

Yan Ru chuckled inwardly, but couldn’t help but think of Yan Cai’er, whose condition was still unclear.

However, the distracting thoughts quickly vanished, and she spoke softly, “Junior Brother Bai Gui, the Sect Master sent for you right after she woke up. Are you ready to go now?”

“Of course.”

Li Xun, dressed, smiled, extending his hand in a gesture, his mind pondering. Seven or eight of the sickly ghost’s personal disciples could easily pass on the message. Why go through Yan Ru?

The two of them, instead of following the usual route, ascended directly into the air, flying towards the small island in the center of the lake. Through the mist, Yan Ru’s voice was heard softly, “Junior brother, be careful this time…”

“Hmm?”

Yan Ru remained expressionless, his gaze fixed straight ahead as he whispered, “As I was coming from the island, a message arrived from the south. It was the Succubus Sect’s leader, Ramash, who had arrived in person and was conversing with the Sect Master across the air. The conversation seemed to involve you, Junior brother…”

“Ramas?”

Li Xun was slightly surprised and wanted to know more, but Yan Ru only knew a few fragments and could not extract any further information.

However, Li Xun also understood the meaning of Hellfire Yama’s extra detour.

As they spoke, they reached the entrance to the underground palace in the center of the lake. Yan Ru stopped, and Li Xun descended alone.

After nightfall, the aura within the underground palace had become much quieter. Li Xun adjusted his energy, his steps soundlessly moving, and in a flash, he arrived at Yin Chen’s residence. Without knocking, he drifted in like a ghost.

Just as he was about to lift the curtain, he heard a faint laugh from the inner room. “What a plan! What a plan! I’ll cut off one of my arms, and then the two families will stop fighting for a while. Before my arm grows back, they’ll come back and attack me again. That little Wujiren’s wishful thinking has truly improved.”

Li Xun frowned and lifted the curtain to enter.

The room was brightly lit. The water mirror on the wall where the Netherfire Yama had watched the show that day opened, revealing a figure.

He had only once seen this method of communicating face-to-face

across vast distances, at the hands of Luo Qichang. As he entered, the figure seemed to sense something, turning his head to reveal an aged face beneath his grey-green hair, shrouded in strange demonic patterns.

It was indeed Ramash!

Li Xun remembered watching him through the spectroscope in the Southeast Forest Sea, conversing with Yin Sanren with the demeanor of a master.

Seeing him again now, knowing the distance between them was thousands, he still wore a slight awe, but simply nodded and walked straight to the Netherfire Yama.

“Sect Master…”

Minghuo Yanluo’s complexion was better than a few hours ago. He was still silent, but his abdomen was shaking: “Bai Gui, you came at the right time, and listen to what Master Moshi said, it is also related to you.”

Li Xun was too lazy to pretend, and he looked back after hearing this, but he did not see any emotion from Ramash. He just said lightly: “If you don’t agree to the conditions proposed by Wujin, we can discuss it. I just don’t want the southwestern lineage to start a war again under this situation and make others laugh at us.”

“Conditions?”

Li Xun naturally looked back at Minghuo Yanluo.

The sickly ghost’s face twitched slightly, as if to smile, before gathering his energy and responding, “Just now, Master Mosh proposed that our sect join the Western Alliance in a joint conspiracy to seize the treasure of Xuanhai Youming City…”

“Accept? That’s truly bizarre. Other things are fine, but what do the Pluto Sect say?”

Yin Mo grinned beside him, his toothless mouth wide open. “It’s easy. Endless Child and Concubine Xihun proposed that if our sect surrenders the Blood Demon, or even just cuts off all past grudges, all will be resolved.

” “Oh, and we’ll also return the several mines and spiritual veins we seized from the south. Okay, okay.”

Li Xun laughed at this, and felt Ramash’s gaze on him again, lingering for an incomprehensible moment. He simply smiled, then found a nearby chair and sat down to watch how the other side would react.

Ramash remained composed. After sizing up Li Xun, he shifted his gaze to Netherfire Yama and said calmly, “This is the Blood Demon, Baigui. He’s truly a rare talent.”

Netherfire Yama’s body trembled, his throat rasping, though it was unclear whether it was a laugh or a gasp. “You, the great Master Mosh, should stop using these child-soothing words. Remote communication costs a fortune, and the Succubus Sect is incredibly wealthy. I’m deeply distressed!”

Ramash didn’t take offense. His aged face, smiling, was surprisingly kind and serene, a stark contrast to the deep, unfathomable image in Li Xun’s memory.

“Netherfire, you’re still like that even at the brink of death… Well, I won’t say any more. The conditions I just mentioned are valid for a month, whether you’re here or not. Of course, there’s room for negotiation.”

Hellfire Yama rolled his eyes, no longer looking at him. Ramash shook his head and said, “Take care.” The light on the water mirror suddenly vanished.

A long sigh echoed from the room, and Hellfire Yama twitched his lips. “Old Luo is indeed vicious… He’s so confident I won’t survive a month!”

Yin Chen laughed heartily. “Why would he have said that if he hadn’t seen the situation clearly?

I’ve never liked that old man since I was a child, but I’ve always admired his forbearance. Hehe, had he not challenged the brat for the title of “Number One of the Evil Sect,” had he watched the brat go and challenge Zhong Yin, never to return?”

The two dying old men discussed the past, vaguely nostalgic for their past heroic spirit, but more often than not, they feigned indifference, unable to conceal their sorrow.

Li Xun sighed and interjected, “Why did Ramash think of forming an alliance with our sect?”

Yin Chen glanced at him and said, “It’s not just about winning over our sect. According to that old fellow, the War Demon Sect, the Falling Feather Sect, and even the Great Thousand Lights City in the Far Western Ocean have all joined in the past two days and are eager to dig for the treasure!”

Even Li Xun’s audacity at the moment made him gasp. “Great Thousand Lights City is fine, but why are the War Demon Sect in the northeast and the Falling Feather Sect in the southeast joining in the fun? Wouldn’t that encompass most of the evil sects in this world?”

“Not only that! Even further afield, the Wuxin Sect has sent people to make inquiries, and even the Yidoumi Sect seems interested.”

“How impressive!”

Li Xun exclaimed, calming down.

Regardless of the centripetal force of the newly expanded Western Alliance, compared to the previous fragmented situation, the barriers between good and evil were clearly defined.

The inter-sect alliance advocated at the Water Mirror Conference was effectively a failure. The remaining sects simply needed to take sides and declare their stances.

However, the Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect was in a rather awkward position, facing a high risk of isolation from the other sects.

This was undoubtedly a profound humiliation for a powerful sect that once held the helm of the evil sects. Ramash’s words shifted the sect’s embarrassment onto Li Xun alone. Even worse, his identity as the “Blood Demon” made the shifting of blame perfectly logical, and no one could point to any fault.

After a few thoughts, Li Xun maintained a composed demeanor: “Master, if you reject this proposal, the ghosts will naturally be grateful…”

“What’s there to be grateful for? Sect continuity has never been about short-term gains. If you can’t even grasp this, what’s the point of being a sect leader?” He closed his eyes, and even though he spoke ventriloquistically, his weariness was unmistakable.

Li Xun wisely remained silent. Hearing Netherfire Yama’s whisper, “Even if we don’t seek to establish a foundation for eternity, as long as our chosen descendants are pleasing and trustworthy, it’s a truly remarkable achievement. However, even that’s not easy…”

“Even if it’s not easy, the Sect Master should have made a decision by now.”

Netherfire Yama, without opening his eyes, twitched his lips slightly. “Decision?

How can you make a decision when you’re completely in the dark?” Li Xun was slightly stunned before laughing. “The situation is now clear…”

“Clear?”

Netherfire Yama raised his eyelids and glanced at him. “What kind of clear are you talking about?”

Li Xun knew the sickly man was just trying to trick him, but he didn’t care.

After understanding what Ramash and his group were planning, if he didn’t make a clear stand, he would only end up being attacked from all sides and helpless.

After a brief pause, Li Xun responded, “The Sect Master, with his perceptive eyesight, naturally understands. Lord Bishui is plotting the position of Sect Master to attract external aid. If it wasn’t clear before, now it’s clear that there’s no other possibility except the Western Alliance.

” “While Ramash’s conditions certainly involve vengeance, they also align with Lord Bishui’s stance. Furthermore, they could serve as a pretext for the

Western Alliance to intervene.” Netherfire Yama nodded calmly, “Indeed, Bishui had been flirting with Old Man Chu as early as ten years ago. Through his introduction, they became associated with Ramash, and naturally, they became entwined with the Western Alliance. Now, they hold a powerful hand.”

The so-called Old Man Chu was the current Sect Master of the Poison Hidden Sect, Chu Chen, a rather low-key veteran.

Hearing this, Li Xun was slightly surprised; his assessment of the consumptive “perceptive eyesight” was surprisingly accurate.

Although his health had been declining in recent years, his well-informed and accurate intelligence put many to shame.

Just as he was thinking about this, Minghuo Yanluo suddenly asked, “If Bishui is like this… what about Yan Yuan?”

Yan Yuan was Madam Yan’s name, and Minghuo Yanluo’s address to her was quite revealing.

However, having made up his mind to stand firm, Li Xun no longer hesitated, replying calmly, “Madam is different from Lord Bishui. Bishui is someone who relies on others to achieve success, but he is also stubborn and self-righteous. With the help of the Western Alliance, he might be able to rise to higher rank, but he will definitely not be able to match the strength of Ramash, Qixiu, Chu Chen, and others. The future of the sect is in doubt. Madam, on the other hand, is thoughtful and comprehensive, though slightly less capable…”

He paused briefly before speaking firmly, “If Madam truly takes over, Baigui is willing to do her utmost to protect and safeguard the sect’s foundation. And if Bishui succeeds, I will not compromise. How can someone like Bishui escape my control?”

Everything before was empty talk and not without its share of nonsense. Only this statement, which was entirely in his own best interests, was truly resounding and decisive.

His bluntness surprised the two people in the room.

A dark, wisp-like gaze lingered on him for a long moment before fading. Hellfire Yama also managed to tilt his head and stare back. When

the room quieted for a moment, the sickly ghost ventriloquist muttered, “It’s best if you think so…”

He finished his words, leaving only the dull “thump thump” of his dry fingers tapping on the armrest.

Hellfire Yama was clearly feeling restless. Li Xun pursed his lips, letting the monotonous voice continue.

After a long pause, the sickly ghost spoke again, “Yan Yuan will be the master, with you assisting, just as Junior Brother Ghost and I did back then. This was the most reliable solution I could think of… but I didn’t expect you to adopt the guise of the ‘Blood Demon’ just a few months later. Hey, Bishui, I’m just about to sleep, give me a pillow!”

What did he mean?

Did he change his mind?

Just as he was wondering, he suddenly saw Hellfire Yama’s eyes wide open. Two balls of flame seemed to ignite in his deep, sunken eye sockets, a startling sight.

The flames quickly died down.

Netherfire Yama returned to a half-dead state, but a semicircular iron plate suddenly appeared above his chest. The dark, inscribed patterns on it shone with a faint, dark green glow.

“Is this… the Ghost Gate Seal?”

Li Xun was still a little unsure, but Netherfire Yama let out a long, turbid breath, his voice growing deeper and softer.

“The sect’s grand ceremony is imminent, and all the forbidden arrangements need to be inspected and revised. Since you’re an expert in this, take this on. This seal will serve as a token for the allocation of resources…”

How was such an arrangement any different from a favor?

Surprised, Li Xun accepted the seal without hesitation.

Netherfire Yama didn’t look at him, but stared at the gray rooftops. Suddenly, he smiled and said, “Yan Yuan truly doesn’t care about Bishuiliu with your help. Of course, after death, one must find someone who lives a long life. You’ve done a great job of this.

” “Actually, revealing the Blood Demon’s identity is a good thing. At least it can help you make a decision. Otherwise, I still have a knot in my heart that I can’t untie.”

He took another breath and rested for a while.

Li Xun listened quietly

without any change in expression. “Having three identities is bound to involve scheming and weighing. You are born with this talent and you must be able to thrive in it. However, scheming is like a thread thrown out lightly. If you throw it too much, you will only entangle yourself. The so-called “cutting the Gordian knot” corresponds to this, but how many people can really swing the knife?

“My ghost junior brother once advised me: whether it is an individual or a sect, excessive scheming is like confusing the ears and eyes with five sounds and five colors, and being unable to stop is no different from being possessed by the devil. Only by getting out of it

can you achieve great things. “I only regret that I was in the game at that time. If I hadn’t been struck by thunder, I would not have realized it! You can use the matter of the blood demon to get out of it and become more decisive. This is very good…”

He had said the word “good” many times, but his voice gradually became inaudible. His eyes were still wide open and dazed. Confused, Li Xun turned to look at Yin Mian, only to see the old woman sneer.

“Back then, for your own selfish reasons, you didn’t appoint a successor, leaving the sect’s disciples at a loss. What’s the point of regretting it now… Power politics, power politics for power politics. Since you’re determined to hold power, this is the inevitable outcome. If you want to repent, tell your ancestors about it in the underworld!”

These words were quite harsh. Hearing this, Netherfire Yama’s face, devoid of any life, twitched a few times, and it was hard to tell whether it was laughter or tears.

Yin Mian sighed, shook his head, and slowly walked out of the inner room.

Li Xun waited a moment longer, and seeing that Netherfire Yama had no intention of speaking, he stood up and left without saying anything.

In the outer room, Yin Mian sat on the couch with a dull look as he saw him emerge. Li Xun’s heart moved slightly, but he didn’t say anything more. After bowing, he was about to leave.

Suddenly, the old woman grinned. “Little Ghost, stop for a moment. I want to tell you something.”

Li Xun paused and replied respectfully, “Elder Yin, please speak.”

“You should know what the old woman said,”

Yin Chen said with a smile. “Last time, Minghuo said that when it comes to vision, Xiao Que’er is far superior to Bi Shui. Being a sect leader requires vision and strategy. As for one’s own cultivation, it doesn’t matter if it’s just so-so. You have your protection, after all.

” “But Xiao Que’s a gambler. He’s incorrigible. He’s willing to risk everything he has, so you have to bear with him.”

“That… naturally.”

Li Xun could hear the old woman’s hidden meaning.

Thinking of Madam Yan and Gu Yin’s “ambiguity,” he suddenly realized that making such a promise was not an easy task.

However, Yao Feng and Qing Luan’s attitudes were undergoing a crucial shift. Gu Yin was currently preoccupied with himself, so he would have a chance to breathe for the time being.

As for the future, we’ll talk about it later.

However, Yin Chen noticed the change in his expression. The old woman rolled her eyes and said sullenly, “The debts left behind are the mess left by the older generation. Of course, they must be cleaned up before leaving

. I’m not worried about you, a youngster, worrying about it!” With that, she closed her eyes and meditated, not caring about Li Xun’s expression.

“Clean up? What a boast.”

Thinking of Ramash, the Seventh Cultivator, and Chu Chen, and then looking at the two elderly, frail, and disabled people in the room, Li Xun deeply felt the source of his “laughing or crying” feeling.

However, the thought only flashed through his mind before he extinguished it. Since he aspired to be a figure like the Three Wanderers, he would never forget the cause of death of Yin and Xue Wanderers—thoughts of contempt were absolutely unacceptable.

“Perhaps these two can still come up with some surprises?”

With this thought in mind, Li Xun slowly walked out of the room. After a few steps, he remembered what he was holding.

He tossed the sign twice, and a deep green light flickered in the dim light. With this, Ghost Gate Lake could practically be considered his domain.

Letting a master of forbidden techniques control all the forbidden techniques at the sect’s main hall…

was this trust?

“Thirty steps to the left, six steps sideways, three horizontal meridians. Extinguish the chakra over there, shift sideways and upwards, inhale and exhale for ten breaths, and wait for me to arrive.”

Li Xun spoke without slowing down, his fingers flicking the Yin-Yang Fire, igniting it with a crackle, opening a gap in the haze. The surrounding forbidden techniques responded in this way. A

rustling sound echoed. The three disciples standing more than ten steps away paled, feeling as if dozens of long snakes were twisting and writhing behind their necks, ready to devour at any moment.

“Junior Brother Baigui, are you modifying the ‘Yin Viper Net’?”

Gui Ji, who had remained a teenager for centuries, watched for a long time before finally joining in. “In the past two days, we’ve revised seventeen of the sect’s forbidden techniques. Junior Brother is certainly striving for perfection, but you always focus on the details, but the overall effect hasn’t improved.”

Li Xun glanced at him, a smile on his face.

Although Gui Ji was a disciple of Minghuo Yanluo, he was actually Minghuo Yanluo’s disciple after Mr. Gui’s death. His surname, also bearing the character “Gui,” gave him a rather unusual status.

Because of Mr. Gui’s involvement, his relationship with Li Xun was extremely delicate, even becoming inexplicably close and friendly when rumors began to spread.

Li Xun, perhaps because his name also contained the character “Ji,” also gave him some respect. At least, it seemed like they had a good conversation and could discuss several topics worth discussing in depth.

“To draw conclusions from this and that, to see the bigger picture from the smaller, that’s the true skill…” Li Xun responded half-heartedly, suddenly glancing to the side.

“The sect’s forbidden spells protect against external forces, not internal ones, so there’s no room for modification. If I were to go to the trouble of arbitrarily altering them, it would be fine. Those who don’t will think I’m so bored I’m ready to kill a few of my fellow disciples!”

The atmosphere suddenly froze. One of the three disciples in the distance finally gave in and begged for mercy, “Senior Brother…”

Before he could finish his words, Li Xun’s fingertips blasted out Yin Fire, which circled around the three of them. The nearby “poisonous snake” aura, which had been preying on prey, silently dissipated. But in the opposite direction, from the dark jungle, a miserable groan echoed, followed by the sound of someone hurriedly fleeing.

That person was a spy sent by Lord Bishui, who had been following Li Xun around for days, investigating any changes to the forbidden spells.

Now, they’d found a perfect excuse to drive Qingjing away!

Li Xun smiled at Guiji, who blinked, a childish smile on his fair, handsome face. “Is this finished?”

“Thanks to their dedication.”

Li Xun summoned a few disciples to help, and leisurely headed towards the next forbidden spell. Gui Ji naturally followed.

With the grand ceremony approaching, at least two thousand disciples had been stationed in Guimen Lake. Even the usually remote corners were now showing signs of human activity.

Corresponding to the flow of people, countless pieces of information, both true and false, spread rapidly through the jungle.

Li Xun and Gui Ji didn’t need to pay close attention; they could already glean a general outline from the bits of information they picked up along the way.

Most people’s attention was focused on the “Western Alliance.”

With the addition of the Great Thousand Light City, the Falling Feathers Sect, and the War Demon Sect to the five major sects—the Succubus Sect, the Heavenly Demon Sword Sect, the Poison Hidden Sect, the Bliss Sect, and the Pluto Sect—the “Western Alliance” could truly be called the “Evil Sect Alliance.”

And in a few days, the Yidoumi Sect and the Wuxin Sect might also join in the fun, further legitimizing the aforementioned title.

The ever-expanding Western Union had become a behemoth comparable to the Loose Cultivator Alliance, and combined with the Nine Righteous Sects, it seemed they had become a three-way balance of power. The disciples’ whispers about this were filled with a lingering sense of melancholy and unease.

“Qianfan City, Yanxing Sect, Buyan Sect, Yinyang Sect… there are so many that haven’t expressed their stance yet, what are they afraid of?”

“Can we compare with them? They have been watching coldly for tens of thousands of years, so this time is no big deal. We just let the Western Union include them. If we want to stay out of it, we have to look at other people’s moods.”

“What a joke! To the east is the Three Emperors Sword Sect.”

“Is there any difference? Further east is the Ghost-Eating Sect! By the way, there seems to be news that the Ghost-Eating Sect also wants to join.”

The voice paused for a moment and then a more intense voice rang out: “What a joke!”

“If both the Pluto Sect and the Ghost-Eating Sect join in, won’t that force us to make enemies with the Western Union? Once the matter of Xuanhai Youming City is resolved, we will be attacked from all sides and die!”

“Why wait so long? If we can just squeeze out some time and the ten sects surround us, what good will it be? I think the ancestor worship ceremony is a good time to catch them all in one fell swoop!”

“Fuck off… Ah, Senior Brother Baigui, Senior Brother Guiji.”

The glances from the two men made the younger disciples, who had been chatting privately, feel a little overwhelmed. However, Li Xun and the other two didn’t seem to care and walked away without stopping.

The younger disciples exchanged glances, watching Li Xun’s back, their voices dropping considerably as he walked away.

“You’ve heard the news, right? The Endless Underworld Lord did something so shameful as to make Senior Brother Baigui hate him to the core.”

“But isn’t Senior Brother Baigui himself…”

“You’re asking for trouble! How can you say such things? Haven’t you seen that he’s single-handedly overseeing the defenses of Ghost Gate Lake? Can’t you taste the flavor of that?”

“Of course the Sect Master’s attitude is obvious, but the situation isn’t right. Why did I say that just now? It’s because things weren’t peaceful here when I came back…”

The man stopped mid-sentence, feeling a little apprehensive. A few words fell silent, and as they looked around, they all felt a sense of trepidation.

Finally, someone cursed, “Damn it… Ugh!”

Seeing his strange expression, his companions turned around and froze in their tracks.

Behind them, Mingli, one of the few powerful disciples from Guimen Lake, had suddenly stopped beside them. A shimmering green light flickered on his pale face, and he stared at them with a sinister glare.

Unlike Baigui and Guiji, he was a true figure of power, holding the power of execution within the sect. He was also a ruthless and merciless individual. Normally, the lesser disciples avoided him. For a moment, everyone was silent, their heads bowed, bracing themselves for severe reprimands.

Unexpectedly, Mingli merely stared at them briefly before speaking in a surprisingly gentle tone, “Did your Senior Brother Baigui just pass by here?”

A more alert disciple nodded in response, “That’s right, Senior Brothers Baigui and Guiji. They went over there a while ago, and it seems they’re heading towards the pine forest.”

Mingli hummed and smiled, “Then let’s chase them.”

Only then did the disciples notice two people following Mingli, a man and a woman, both of whom were elegant. The woman was holding a gift box, and she didn’t look like a sect member.

Perhaps Mingli spared them courtesy of the outsiders. The three of them didn’t stop, and quickly walked away. Several disciples, as if pardoned, decided not to say anything more and scattered like birds and beasts.

Li Xun and the others, walking in the front, were unaware of what was happening behind them. Amidst their casual chatter, they had reached the next forbidden area requiring repair.

Li Xun had three assistant disciples make some preliminary preparations while he and Guiji continued their unfinished conversation.

But just a few words passed when a series of groans echoed from a distance. Three disciples who had just reached the depths of the forest rolled out one after another, groaning profusely.

As the first disciple flew backwards, Li Xun had already dove into the forest in a flash.

Halfway through his flight, a figure flashed by in the corner of his left eye, as swift as a ghost. Li Xun’s heart trembled, and he turned to look, only to find the empty forest silent and unremarkable. Instead, there was a rustling sound up ahead, as if someone were approaching.

His eyes froze, but he paused, stunned. “Senior Sister Hu?”