The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 144

Chapter 3 Preparation

A rather slender female cultivator emerged. Her features were delicate but not flamboyant, yet her features held a sharp edge.

Li Xun immediately recognized her as Yan Hu, a disciple of Madam Yan.

Though not as dazzling as Yan Ru, she was devoted to her master, dedicated to her cultivation, and in recent years, had even reached the True Person realm, catching up with her master, making her Madam Yan’s foremost expert.

Their gazes met, both filled with astonishment. Li Xun was the first to react, suppressing his suspicions and chuckling, “How did these three fools manage to offend Senior Sister?”

“Master is inside for evening prayers,”

Yan Hu’s expression was indifferent, quite different from the demeanor of Yan Ru, Yan Cai’er, and the others.

“Madam is inside?”

Li Xun automatically ignored the mention of “evening prayers.” Gazing into the forest, he couldn’t see anything.

Yan Hu tilted her head slightly, as if listening to something, before saying, “Master, please come in.”

Knowing it was Madam Yan’s instruction, Li Xun smiled slightly and looked away.

Gui Ji, worthy of his nickname, had just arrived. Without blinking, he approached the three disciples still sprawled on the ground, kicked them twice, and shook his head, saying, “Junior Sister Yan Hu, you’re truly ruthless! I’ll take them to get treated…”

Li Xun nodded and followed Yan Hu into the forest.

The pine forest wasn’t actually very large. After winding their way for several feet, they passed through the barrier of trees and suddenly saw a clearing ahead.

Surrounded by the trees was a small pond, its banks overgrown with weeds. Yet, the air around them was surprisingly fresh, as if the perennial smog of Guimen Lake had been completely blocked by the surrounding trees, leaving one feeling refreshed.

Madam Yan knelt in the cleared space beside the pond, smiling back.

Li Xun greeted her and confidently stepped forward, sitting cross-legged. Yan Hu circled behind his master, his eyes cast downcast as he stood silently.

“I heard from Senior Sister Hu that Madam Yan was doing evening prayers here. This is a rare quiet spot in Guimen Lake. Don’t blame me if I’ve disturbed Madam Yan.”

“What evening prayers? That’s just Hu’er covering up for me. I’m just here racking my brains, solving a problem.”

Following Madam Yan’s gaze, Li Xun saw a pattern of ghostly lines drawn on the ground in front of her.

Although Li Xun could tell at a glance that they belonged to spells and talismans, his knowledge only extended that far.

Seeing his expression, Madam Yan pursed her lips and smiled. “Speaking of which, you’ve always been sloppy when I taught you the Jade Fire Flowing Ying spell. Even asking for your help is impossible now!”

Li Xun sighed in shame, but he didn’t take it to heart. He was still thinking about the ghostly figure he had just glimpsed.

Though it was only a fleeting afterimage, it felt incredibly familiar. Which master had he met before? And what was his connection to Madam Yan?

He was distracted, but Madam Yan wasn’t just talking. Her slender fingers traced the sand, whispering, “Here are the talismans and the forbidden techniques. I think I’ll have to trouble you.”

Li Xun regained his composure at this, and immediately remembered Madam Yan’s

words of “help” the day he returned. Curious, he asked, “What about the forbidden techniques?”

“No, I haven’t figured out the talismans yet, let alone the forbidden techniques.”

Madam Yan, unwilling to elaborate, shook her head and smiled, deliberately changing the subject. “Actually, just coming back has been a huge help. I was talking to the Sect Master earlier… This is the first time since he became Sect Master that I’ve seen him show such a clear preference. It’s undoubtedly because of you!”

Li Xun knew immediately that Madam Yan and Hellfire Yama had reached a consensus.

If this were merely an internal sect matter, Bishui Jun would have conceded defeat by now, but the reality was far more complicated.

After a few humble words, the atmosphere quickly stagnated, both of them preoccupied.

Just as things were getting unsettled, a commotion outside suddenly erupted. Madam Yan frowned slightly. Yan Hu, behind her, didn’t wait for her instructions and dodged, chasing the man away again.

Curious, Li Xun activated his sensing, using the external pulse of vital energy to discern the identity of the approaching figure.

As the information returned, the muscles in his back tensed. It took only his extraordinary concentration to suppress the urge to turn and look back.

It was that ghostly figure again!

This time, it evaded his gaze, but brushed past the edge of his sensing network, vanishing once more.

However, unlike the afterimage captured by the eye, the results of Qi sensing were more direct than any other method of observation.

The other person’s vital energy pulses were deep and powerful, naturally maintaining a ethereal, not-so-distant level.

Yet, until Li Xun activated his sensing, he had been completely unaware of them. The other person was also incredibly perceptive; once Li Xun noticed, he had already fled, barely a hair’s breadth away.

A master!

Li Xun’s mind settled, but even greater doubts arose. What was this person’s relationship to Madam Yan? Was he a companion or an enemy?

He glanced at Madam Yan, but couldn’t glean any more from her face. Just as he was racking his brain, Yan Hu returned with news from outside.

“Guests brought by Mingli?” Li Xun’s thoughts were interrupted earlier, as the vital pulses of the three people outside the forest had already returned. After

a moment’s hesitation, he said, “From the Yin-Yang Sect?”

Just by looking at Yan Hu’s expression, he knew he was right. With a smile, he turned and said, “Madam, I’ll go greet them.”

“Since they’re cultivators from another sect, please don’t be rude. I’ve finished my homework, so I can let them in.”

Madam Yan wiped the marks on the sand and smiled, “This is a good place for a meeting, so I’ll let you in… Remember my words.” She

smiled again, and before Li Xun could refuse, she stood up and walked Yan Hu across the pond, leaving through the other side.

Li Xun scratched his chin, lost in thought, so lost in thought that he forgot to react when Mingli brought the guests closer.

Mingli and Li Xun were quite close, and seeing this, she coughed to bring him back to his senses.

Just as he was about to introduce the two guests, the couple behind him stepped forward and bowed, saying, “Yin Yang Sect’s Jinshan Lord Xiao Song (Feiyun Concubine Su Yu) greets Senior Brother Baigui.”

The arrivals were unexpectedly among the Yin Yang Sect’s Five Concubines and Seven Lords, comparable to sect elders if compared to their positions within the Ghostly Shadow Devouring Sect.

While these two were recent appointees promoted since Qin Wanru’s ascension and relatively unknown to the outside world, they were nonetheless her most core members.

Their behavior was practically synonymous with the Yin Yang Sect’s attitude. Li Xun was fortunate, but Mingli, surprised and considering their respective positions, felt somewhat awkward.

At this distance, Li Xun couldn’t stand up, so he bowed slightly in return.

Of the two, he had met Xiao Song before, having fought alongside him during the previous fight for Madam Yu. He

couldn’t help but take a closer look at the alluring woman beside him,

a glance that made him scrutinize her. A slight twitch of his brows hinted at something.

Everyone present noticed his gaze lingering, but they dismissed it as a matter of fascination. Even Su Yu only lowered her eyes slightly, her charming posture as if shy and happy was extremely moving.

Li Xun smiled briefly, waving his sleeves without explanation, saying, “Sit.”

Xiao Song and Su Yu bowed again, kneeling down regardless of the cleanliness of the floor, their bodies held straight.

Ming Li, the guest, felt even more uncomfortable upon seeing this. With a twitch at the corner of his mouth, he also sat sideways, his sharp eyes scanning the three of them.

“I never thought Senior Sister would send you here just a few days after parting… I’ve always felt resentful for not being able to save Madam Yu during the Beiqi Mountain incident. I wonder what happened to Madam Yu after her death?”

Although it was a simple politeness, Xiao and Su dared not neglect the matter.

Xiao Song replied respectfully, “Master Chongyu’s body has been placed in a coffin and is temporarily placed within the sect’s ancestral altar. The sect leader intends to wait until the old sect leader returns and Master Chongyu’s vengeance is avenged before a proper burial is carried out to comfort his soul.”

Li Xun remained expressionless, yet a cold sneer clung to his heart.

Neither of these matters could be resolved by Qin Wanru. Wouldn’t Madam Yu then be forever resting in peace?

But then he thought, it was already difficult for a woman like her to single-handedly support such a large sect. And the pillars she relied on were merely illusions fabricated by others, vulnerable to dissolution at any moment. The thought struck him as cruel, and the mockery in his heart faded considerably.

Shaking his head, Li Xun’s gaze shifted to the gift box Su Yu held.

Seeing this, Su Yu knelt forward, bowed slightly, and presented the box, softly saying, “This is a gift specially prepared by the Sect Master for Senior Brother Bai Gui. Please review it. The Sect Master also said that the intention is evident in this, and you’ll know it once you see it.”

“Oh?”

Li Xun put aside his thoughts. Seeing no need for formalities, he simply opened the box.

Inside, a small, shuttle-like object was held, held in a slightly inward-curling yellow silk base.

The tip of the shuttle was sharp, a faint blue glow emanating from it, and the body of the shuttle was intricately engraved, making it look like a powerful magical weapon.

Beneath the shuttle lay a note in Qin Wanru’s elegant handwriting.

“Junior brother, you’re so caught up in worldly affairs that you might overlook minor details. I present you with a ‘Soul-Breaking Shuttle,’ crafted by Qianfan City’s master craftsman based on the ‘Soul-Fixing Blue Star.’ If you can use it to shatter the ‘Soul-Locking Circle of Light’ before the controller’s consciousness shifts, you

might be able to save Blood Kiss overnight.” The following hundred words contained the incantation for retrieving the Soul-Breaking Shuttle.

With Li Xun’s current knowledge, a moment’s reflection confirmed that it was not only powerful but also capable of damaging the soul, making it a valuable weapon. But

that was enough. What truly touched Li Xun was the fact that Qin Wanru, despite having just experienced the loss of her mother, was still so attentive and attentive in helping him identify and address any shortcomings. This was truly precious .

Regardless of whether this was a deliberate attempt to establish a friendly relationship, he was determined to accept the favor.

Li Xun closed the gift box and placed it beside him. He smiled, “Senior Sister, such a generous gift. As your junior brother, I cannot refuse it.”

Even as he spoke, he was considering whether to return the favor by occasionally releasing Yin Sanren to help Qin Wanru integrate the sect.

Seeing him accept the gift, Su Yu pursed her lips and smiled. Just as she was about to withdraw, her wrist suddenly tightened, and Li Xun grabbed it.

For a moment, everyone around the pond was stunned.

Could the hundred ghosts be so anxious?

Su Yu was a man who had been through a lot, after a moment of hesitation, he smiled again, with a hint of doubt in his voice: “Senior Brother Baigui?”

Li Xun didn’t care about other people’s eyes, his fingers trembled slightly on her pulse point, and after a while he said: “Junior Sister Su, did you encounter an enemy when you came here? Your injuries haven’t healed yet .”

Su Yu was slightly startled when he heard this, turned around and looked at Xiao Song, then smiled: “Senior Brother, you are right. We did have some conflicts with others on the way, but we were still restrained…”

“Restrained? Is being poisoned considered restrained?”

“Poison!”

Mingli asked in surprise before the two parties said anything: “Jile Sect?”

Su Yu’s face was slightly pale, but he was generally calm. He nodded lightly and said: “It was a figure from the Seven Beauties and Thirteen Heroes of the Jile Sect. We got really angry after a disagreement. But later, Tunyang Jieshu arrived and everyone quickly stopped. But we don’t know when the poison was planted.”

“When and where?”

“It was near Jiliu Mountain earlier today.”

Mingli’s face became extremely ugly when he heard the place name.

Jiliu Mountain was already under the absolute control of the Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect, and only a half-day’s journey from Ghost Gate Lake. How could a cultivator from the Bliss Sect be so arrogant?

He felt humiliated. Over there, Su Yu suddenly moaned softly, suppressing the pain, yet the ending was soft and alluring.

He couldn’t help but glance up, just in time to see the charming beauty, her face drained of color, pale and fragile, a sight that drew pity.

“Brother Baigui?”

Xiao Song, recognizing Li Xun’s tactics, asked cautiously.

“The poison is still a living being, after all. I used marrow extraction to eliminate it completely. My method may have been a bit harsh, but fortunately, there are no aftereffects. After a period of recuperation, it will be back to normal.”

Li Xun spoke calmly, as if doing something completely ordinary, and then released his grip.

Su Yu moaned again and tried to straighten himself, but a sudden dizziness hit him, and he steadied himself with his hands.

Even so, Su Yu was already covered in a thick layer of sweat, and the cold wind blowing over the pond made him shiver.

Li Xun shook his head and said, “Your body has been weakened and your Qi is weak, making you susceptible to illness. It would be best to use our sect’s dual cultivation techniques to channel your vital energy and prevent further illness.”

Ming Li, standing nearby, glanced at Xiao Song and thought to herself, “He’s quite lucky.” But she quickly added, “There’s

a retreat nearby specially prepared for distinguished guests. Since you’re so weak, Fellow Daoist Su, you might as well rest there. Our sect also has some Qi-nourishing and vital-energy-replenishing remedies that are quite effective.” Su Yu’s pale cheeks flushed at these words, and her charming eyes flickered towards Li Xun. Their eyes met, yet the emotion was indescribable and captivating.

This was probably considered blatant seduction.

But it was rare that she managed it just right without being offensive. Li Xun genuinely showed some interest, but ultimately, he only curled his lips slightly. “Recover until you’re 60-70% and leave as soon as possible. These are turbulent times, so be cautious and thank Senior Sister for me when you get back.”

It was almost impossible to tell whether this was a farewell or a dismissal. Xiao Song and Su Yu took it for granted, but Ming Li felt rather awkward. Wasn’t

it obvious he wasn’t concerned about the sect’s safety? Li Xun paid no attention to his thoughts. He picked up the Soul-Breaking Shuttle, slowly spinning it between his fingers, observing the unique patterns on its hull. Before he knew it, his mind wandered, oblivious to the three people around him.

Ming Li wanted to curse, but ultimately only muttered a few words, rising first to lead the way for the two guests.

Xiao and Su, unfazed by Li Xun’s distraction, politely bowed before following.

Only the Hundred Ghosts remained by the pond. Before entering the woods, Ming Li glanced back on impulse.

He happened to see the Hundred Ghosts raise the Soul-Breaking Shuttle to their brows, a crackling flame emanating from their fingertips and immersing itself in the shuttle’s hull.

The pale, dark fire then turned blood red. The surrounding space quickly dimmed, a thick, dark shadow expanding and contracting with a rhythmic rhythm. Perhaps it was the demon’s breath…

He shuddered, afraid to look, and walked even faster. From that moment on, his mental image of the Hundred Demons was completely distorted.

What seemed eerie and strange to Mingli seemed profoundly mysterious to Li Xun.

He had originally intended to further refine the Soul-Breaking Shuttle according to the instructions on the letter, but when he infused it with Yin Fire Qi, a sudden flash of inspiration struck him, and he grasped a key clue from nowhere.

“Soul-Breaking Shuttle, Soul-Locking Circle, Blood Kiss, Demonic Throat. Oh, and Madam Yan… Blood Kiss Demonic Throat?”

He felt as if he had grasped the key to the key clue: the relationship between the Blood Kiss and the Demonic Throat.

He remembered the last few times he had encountered two demons simultaneously, and the Demonic Throat had clearly shown a fear of the Blood Kiss. This seemed to involve a question of species interaction.

The Soul-Breaking Shuttle clanged, and the initial refining was complete. Li Xun tucked it into his sleeve and stood up, his decision made.

Because of the Nine Netherworld Patriarch’s oath, the Ghostly Shadow Devouring Sect is arguably the sect most familiar with the habits of the Demonic Rat. The texts on this demonic creature are not only vast but also voluminous.

Li Xun was about to examine them, perhaps he could uncover another fatal flaw in Ancient Sound.

Time passed by as forbidden spells were exchanged and pages were turned.

Regardless of how news spread internally and externally, and regardless of the final arrangements and efforts of the various factions within the sect, the day of the Ghostly Spirit’s resurrection arrived as scheduled.

In fact, as early as two days ago, a vast amount of Yin Qi had been stirring within the vast expanse of land within a 3,000-mile radius centered on Ghost Gate Lake, constantly churning and causing hundreds of small earthquakes.

Even earlier, to avoid being consumed by the surging Yin Qi, numerous creatures within this area had begun their annual migration, a spectacular sight.

The Yin Qi permeating Ghost Gate Lake had become so dense that the Ghostly Shadow Devouring Sect disciples within it took advantage of this opportunity to diligently cultivate, their efforts now equivalent to months of hard work.

Masters like Bishuijun and Madam Yan can gain unparalleled “i*imate access” to the Nine Netherworld, garnering inspiration rarely seen in ordinary times. Simultaneously,

the power of the restrictions erected near Guimen Lake has been multiplied by the influx of Yin energy, deterring most ill-intentioned individuals.

Consequently, the area surrounding Guimen Lake is at its most serene of the year. The mystical changes of heaven and earth, the majesty of the ancestors, in varying degrees, coursing through the hearts of thousands of disciples, slowly forming the reverent atmosphere of the ancestral worship ceremony.

It is now the eve of the ceremony, and three hours from now, the Yin energy of heaven and earth will reach its peak. At this time, the disciples of the sect masters and elders, led by their master, must don their formal ceremonial attire and proceed in batches to the island in the center of the lake, awaiting the ceremony’s commencement.

Only at this moment can the true strength of the sect’s various factions be revealed.

For example, among Madam Yan’s ten direct disciples, four are Yan Hu, Yan Ru, Yan Cai’er, and Bai Gui, representing four prominent disciples, representing one-seventh of the total twenty-seven disciples, a remarkable feat among the twelve elders.

However, Lord Bishui’s six disciples, some of whom were prominent, were superior to Madam Yan. Furthermore, if one factored in the elders’ factions with differing views, the situation became even more complex.

Throwing aside all the odds and ends, Li Xun simply put on a standard ritual robe over his own Taoist robe, and his attire was complete.

Now, he could only stand in the courtyard, bored, waiting for the women inside to finish their leisurely dressing.

“Junior brother, please come in. Master is calling you.”

Yan Ru stepped out of the room. Her long, gray mist-like robe, set against a black background with green stripes, gave her an eerie, cold look, yet her beautiful smile made her look strange.

Li Xun smiled and stepped forward.

As he entered, Yan Ru naturally adjusted his robe sleeves for him, chuckling, “Don’t laugh when you go in while the junior sisters are still dressing… These are different times than in the past, during grand ceremonies. We can’t afford to slack off.”

Li Xun keenly sensed the trembling of Yan Ru’s fingers.

Given her level of cultivation, she couldn’t restrain herself to this point. Clearly, she understood the crucial and perilous nature of this ghost’s resurrection!

Indeed, for Madam Yan’s lineage, victory today would mean they would assume control of the sect and rule the southwest;

defeat would suffocate them, leaving them stranded like a lost dog, a world vast but without a place to rest—

in any case, it was a crucial turning point in their lives.

The same principle applied to Lord Bishui.

With this thought, the dim night air was thick with the threat of war.

Li Xun walked all the way to Madam Yan’s room, where Yan Ru stood guard at the door. He entered and turned to the inner room, only to be met with Yan Cai’er hurried out.

Upon seeing him enter, the arrogant female cultivator glared at him fiercely,

then walked out with her head held high. It seemed their relationship hadn’t changed because of anything. Li Xun was fine, but Yan Cai’er’s pure character was truly remarkable.

“A natural cultivator…” Li Xun sighed inwardly, suddenly realizing his own presumptuous attitude.

Shaking his head to dispel his chaotic thoughts, he lifted the curtain and entered the inner room. Just as he was about to speak, the scene he saw stunned him.

Madam Yan was sitting on an embroidered cushion, combing her hair. Her long, jet-black hair was loose, then gathered by Yan Hu beside her, gently combing it with a jade comb. Her loose, ritual robe, seemingly draped temporarily, slipped slightly downward, revealing her slender neck and snow-white shoulders.

Through the glass mirror in front of him, Li Xun could even see the deep cleavage between the slightly exposed ample flesh of her chest, drawing his eyes downward involuntarily.

His brow twitched, but his eyes quickly regained their sharp clarity. Still meeting Madam Yan’s gaze through the mirror, he bowed slightly, “Madam, you’re being rude.”

“No problem,”

Madam Yan smiled in the mirror, unperturbed.

From behind, Yan Cai’er’s voice rang out, “A good dog doesn’t block the road!”

Li Xun turned to see the girl hurried in, carrying a bowl of thick, bluish-white liquid. Steam rose from the bowl, as if freshly brewed.

Li Xun’s nose twitched slightly as he asked curiously, “Is this ‘lychee oil’? What’s in it?” “

Guess!”

Yan Cai’er rolled her eyes at him again, her expression quickly becoming serious as she carefully placed the thick paste on the dressing table in front of Madam Yan.

Li Xun’s gaze naturally darted over, but he couldn’t discern the key.

Madam Yan silently gazed at the thick paste. After a moment, she extended her right thumb, poked a small hole with the tip of her index finger, and dripped blood into the bowl. Seven drops of blood spread out, blending with the pale blue to create a pink hue. But

that wasn’t the end. After the color was evenly distributed, Madam Yan chanted softly. From her still blood-stained fingers, a shimmering emerald light and fire shot out from her fingertips, pouring them one after another into the pink paste.

The color of the hot paste darkened noticeably, and after a few breaths, the entire bowl of hot paste began to simmer.

Finger-sized bubbles bulged and burst, eventually turning the entire bowl a dark green.

“A watermark on the heart talisman?”

Li Xun finally realized that he had not wasted decades of time and had recognized the name of the slurry, but his brows were twisted together.

“Madam, what do you want this for?”

“Of course, it’s for drawing talismans and casting spells. Remember, I once asked you for help…” Madam Yan smiled gently, her palm gently stroking the rim of the bowl to test the temperature. She turned to Yan Hu and said, “Show the finished talisman to your junior brother.”

Yan Hu responded, gathered Madam Yan’s hair into a bundle, and handed it to Yan Cai’er. Then,

he pulled a scroll of silk from a secret compartment on the side of the dressing table and handed it to her. Li Xun immediately remembered Madam Yan’s repeated “requests,” but he hadn’t expected them to come true until the eve of the grand ceremony.

“Talismans? The ones we did that day by the pond?” Li Xun casually asked, taking the silk and slowly unfolding it.

The pattern was incredibly complex, with thousands of crisscrossing lines. Li Xun could only discern a few that belonged to forbidden techniques. As for the more complex patterns related to talismans and spells, he was no better than a layman.

Madam Yan, reflecting in the mirror, regarded him with interest. “How is it?”

“From the look of the forbidden patterns, it seems they channel vital energy and true breath. Forgive my limited vision… May I ask where this rune is placed?”

“On the back.”

“Back… on?”

Li Xun’s grip tightened, and he stared at Madam Yan’s profile for a long moment before asking, “Whose back?”

Madam Yan smiled faintly and tilted her head to gesture towards Yan Hu.

The normally calm and decisive senior disciple hesitated for a moment, a rare moment, but ultimately stepped forward, gently tugging at the collar of his master’s ritual robe and slowly lowering it.

Li Xun’s eyes widened, reflecting the jade-like, bare back of Madam Yan. The graceful curves rising from the shoulders, tapering to a youthful sheen, reflected the bright candlelight in the room, leaving the onlooker dizzy.

During Li Xun’s momentary trance, Madam Yan calmly said, “So, what do you think?”

Li Xun hummed a sound, and the words resonated with him. “Ridiculous…”

A brief pause brought him back to full consciousness. He

had to admit that Madam Yan’s sudden shock was unlike anything he had experienced in decades.

Madam Yan still maintained a certain reserve, the front of her ritual robe draped over her arm, the collar and long sleeves covering her chest, leaving only her back bare.

But it was this half-concealed gesture that made him even more captivating.

With an unconscious grin, Li Xun shook his head and continued, “Ridiculous or not, I don’t understand why the forbidden patterns within are designed to channel vital energy. Where is the source of that energy? What is it used for?”

Madam Yan curled her lips slightly, gesturing to Yan Hu again.

The loyal female disciple opened another secret compartment on her dressing table and took out a purple jade box.

“This is…”

Under Li Xun’s gaze, Yan Hu opened the box, revealing the Golden Pill Divine Mud.

Yan Hu picked it up, using Madam Yan’s pointed chin as a guide. He traced it across her snow-white neck, down to her collarbone, and then downward…

Finally, the golden bead rested on the beautiful woman’s voluptuous chest, reflecting her snow-white skin and shimmering with a brilliant light.

Li Xun suddenly realized something. He unfolded the silk again, carefully examining the patterns on it. The pattern corresponded to the current situation, and he immediately understood the purpose of the first few lines.

From this deduction, he quickly grasped all the designs related to the forbidden technique, even guessing at the incantations and runes interwoven within them.

Madam Yan observed his expression through the mirror before her. When the technique was nearly perfect, she smiled and said, “How about I use the treasure sealed within the Golden Pill Divine Mud as a source and draw vital energy with the forbidden talisman?”

“This is a method of drawing the spirit into the body,”

Li Xun, with his extraordinary insight, immediately recognized that this method belonged to the subtle method of drawing external energy within the Jade Fire Flowing Crystal spell.

Li Xun wasn’t foolish enough to ask what was sealed inside. After a moment’s thought, he addressed the matter matter-of-factly, “This method, if you possess abundant vital energy and it’s similar in nature to our sect’s methods, can indeed significantly enhance Madam’s strength.

However, while the ‘Heart Talisman Watermark’ is precious, how long can it last if a large amount of vital energy is rapidly depleted by it?”

Madam Yan smiled brightly, clearly having already considered this.

“In the past, I was truly helpless and could only rely on Bo Lang’s one-shot attack. But now that you’re here, why worry about not being able to devise a long-term strategy?”

“Oh?” “

Only Baigui in the entire world possesses this ability.” Madam Yan’s face, reflected in the mirror, remained radiant.

“Besides you, who else in this world is so proficient in both our sect’s methods and the Blood Demon Secrets?” “

The Blood Demon Secrets?”

With this reminder and the complete set of rune designs in hand, Li Xun would be a fool not to understand.

He raised an eyebrow and asked, “Madam, do you mean to brand these runes…on your back, penetrating your very flesh and connecting your blood vessels?”

Madam Yan said nothing more, but her eyes shone like morning stars, burning like fire.

“How courageous!”

Li Xun inwardly praised, marveling at Madam Yan’s unmatched courage.

Branding the runes wasn’t a simple matter of slaving. The process required the runes to perfectly align with the channels of vital energy and integrate seamlessly with the body, preventing them from interfering with the body’s own vital energy flow.

The pain of the branding piercing through flesh and blood, combined with the danger of evaporating Qi and blood, created the possibility of an accident at any moment.

How could this be done without a decisive action?

Li Xun, however, remained puzzled. “Madam, the situation seems so favorable right now. Why would you risk this?

Even if these runes work, they rely on external forces. If this continued, your cultivation would stagnate, not to mention the constant infusion of external Qi. Who knows what might happen?”

This was Li Xun’s experience.

Some time ago, Yin Fire flooded his body, causing his physical condition to change, forcing him to cultivate the Blood God Son, causing numerous complications. Even if the treasure Madam Yan obtained from Gu Yin was perfectly compatible with her true energy,

could it rival the Yin Fire Pearl in terms of performance? Madam Yan smiled faintly and shook her head, saying, “Even if the situation is favorable, it may not be. The Western Alliance has been powerful, and the sect has been weak for a long time, so we might not be able to withstand it. Since I’m striving for the position of Sect Leader, I can’t rely on any chances.”

Li Xun’s brows twitched, and before he could continue, Madam Yan interrupted him, saying, “My mind is made up, no need to say more.”

It was rare for her to display the authority of a master, but Li Xun curled his lips and stopped nagging. He returned to the specific issue.

“I have no problem with the forbidden patterns, but I’m not proficient in the incantations and talismans…”

“I can channel them to achieve their effects.”

Li Xun nodded silently. Madam Yan had indeed deduced every aspect of the matter clearly.

But then again, it must have been a difficult decision for her. Otherwise, why would she have made things so tense the night before the ceremony?

He was not the type to be fussy. Having made his decision, he lowered his head and examined the runes on the silk for the third time.

This time, it took considerably longer than the previous two. Once Li Xun was certain he had memorized all the runes, he tossed them aside, took a deep breath, and turned to Yan Hu, saying gravely, “Give me the watermark!”

The moment the words left his mouth, a blood-red hue tinged across his pupils, and the temperature in the room instantly rose a notch.

Seeing this, Madam Yan smiled, took a deep breath, and her face dropped slightly, as if in a state of meditation.

Beside him, Yan Hu, holding the golden bead in one hand and taking the Heart Talisman Watermark from the bowl with the other, placed it before Li Xun.

Li Xun stopped behind Madam Yan, dabbing both index fingers with the Heart Talisman Watermark and pressing them lightly against the top of her spine.

The sensation of the beautiful woman’s soft skin flashed through Li Xun’s mind for

a moment before fading completely. After a pause, he murmured, “Begin!” The sound lingered in his ears. He spread his fingers around Madam Yan’s neck, tracing two identical curved lines along the edge of her collarbone, then piercing through, finally reaching both sides of the golden bead on her chest.

Two perfectly symmetrical paths, like two dark green venomous snakes, gripped the golden bead on his chest with a firm grip.

“Let go!”

Li Xun said as he reached into the jade bowl with both hands, then plucked out a layer of the Heart Talisman Watermark.

Yan Hu released his fingers from securing the golden bead. Strangely, the bead remained fixed to Madam Yan’s chest, unmoving.

A mere half a breath later, the bead suddenly shone brightly.

At that moment, Li Xun distinctly heard a sharp roar from within, assaulting his mind in a way he could hardly comprehend.

Had he not recently undergone nearly a hundred rounds of “Blood God Body Tempering” under Qing Luan, this single blow would have spit blood and inflicted injuries.

But now, with only a slight tremor in his spiritual core, any doubts he’d harbored were quickly cast aside. From his hands, a thin, radiant energy of burning blood penetrated his body, its energy and blood evaporating, scorching the surrounding skin with a fiery red. The moment it seeped through the skin, a second force thrust forward, striking against the Heart Talisman Watermark.

Under Li Xun’s exquisitely precise control, the watermark, Qi and blood, the body, and even the surrounding meridians and blood vessels were nearly perfectly integrated into a balanced structure, interconnected and interconnected, as if the watermark had naturally formed within the body.

His movements were as smooth as flowing water.

However, the color drained instantly from Madam Yan’s face beneath Li Xun’s finger.

He could feel her skin stiffen and twitch the tiniest bit, clearly suppressing pain.

Yet, as he prepared to draw the incantation, Madam Yan responded promptly, channeling her true Qi to guide the trajectory and depth of Li Xun’s finger strokes.

In a sense, it was almost like Madam Yan personally teaching him the secrets of the sect’s incantations. Unfortunately, Li Xun was currently concentrating solely on following the ebb and flow of his true Qi, understanding the form but not the underlying reason, thus wasting an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the incantations and talismans.

After the first talisman was drawn, he and Madam Yan understood each other’s priorities, and the rest flowed naturally.

Li Xun’s two fingers traced the lines symmetrically at first, but later, drawing a square with one hand and a circle with the other became a piece of cake. No matter how complex the talisman, he could perfectly replicate it. Madam Yan also tacitly channeled her true energy to activate the talisman’s power and connect it with the surrounding forbidden patterns.

However, despite his smooth and fluent movements, the complex patterns were still moving. Time flew by, and the room was so quiet you could hear a pin

drop. Yan Hu and Yan Cai’er, who stood by, were as stiff as statues. One could even hear Yan Ru breathing, who stood guard outside. Finally, when only a shallow bottom remained of the talisman’s watermark in the center of the jade bowl, Li Xun added the final stroke to Madam Yan’s watery skin.

He removed his fingers from the talisman’s forbidden patterns that covered her back. A dark green glow shone, like a hazy demonic mist, swirling through them. Dozens of twisted blood threads swirled within.

The golden bead on Madam Yan’s chest had, at some point, sunk inward, as if fused to her flesh and bones, leaving only a slightly convex surface.

After a brief pause, a few wisps of unevenly colored emerald mist flowed out, following the path of the runes on the chest, winding upwards and merging into the eerie mist of light.

After a few breaths, all strange phenomena vanished, even the eerie patterns on the bare back faded, seemingly disappearing deeper into the flesh.

Madam Yan’s back had returned to its snow-white, bare state.

Li Xun sighed, motioning for Yan Hu and the others to put her outer robe on.

Unconsciously, beads of sweat had already formed on his forehead. The nearly three-hour-long painting exercise had truly tested his meticulous skills, and it was no easy task.

He was already struggling, let alone Madam Yan, who had persevered from beginning to end.

Besides enduring the excruciating pain, he had to focus on directing his true energy, even forcing himself to close every pore, preventing even a drop of sweat from escaping. The strain on both his mind and physical strength was immense.

When Li Xun withdrew, Madam Yan could no longer contain herself, her pores opening up, and in an instant, a stream of sweat streamed down her face, as if she had been pulled from the water.

In her state, Yan Hu couldn’t put on her ritual robes, so he could only bow his head and ask if she wanted to bathe.

Before Madam Yan could speak, everyone in the room simultaneously sensed a powerful, unstoppable shockwave rising from the immeasurably distant depths of the earth. Even though the area surrounding Ghost Gate Lake was sealed by restrictions, the ground could still be felt shaking more and more violently.

“The time has come.”

No more words were needed. Yan Hu quickly took up a towel and dried Madam Yan. Yan Cai’er also skillfully gathered her loose hair into a bun, securing it behind her head with an ebony hairpin.

Madam Yan sat quietly, allowing them to manipulate her.

Li Xun could see her clearly through the mirror. Although her face was pale and haggard, her eyes seemed darker and deeper, occasionally flickering with the terrifying power of a golden snake.

A long, ringing bell sounded, and the lingering shockwaves reached the area, causing everyone in the room to breathe.

This was the “Spirit Summoning Bell” on the lake’s center island. The sect’s cultivators participating in the ancestral worship ceremony must arrive on the lake’s center island before the ninth ring.

Everyone in the room focused their attention on Madam Yan

. At that moment, she was the central figure, controlling, or at least influencing, the sect’s future to the greatest extent possible. Such a position, even Li Xun could not replace her. She closed her eyes slightly, then opened them again and slowly stood up.

Simultaneously, the disciples in the room bowed slightly to show their respect and support for their master.

However, Li Xun did not do so. His current position meant that he could only be Madam Yan’s collaborator, not her disciple.

Madam Yan turned and looked directly at him. Li Xun met her gaze calmly.

Then, their eyes shifted, Madam Yan’s lotus steps lightly passing him like a ghost. As their eyes met, she whispered, “Hundred Ghosts…”

“Hmm?”

“If what we do today succeeds, as long as I live, you and I will be the masters of the Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect!”

Li Xun looked at her in surprise, but Madam Yan had already stepped out of the room. Outside, Yan Ru bowed and then lifted her hood, blocking Li Xun’s thoughtful gaze.