The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 145

Chapter 4: Fighting for the Throne

Walking through the perennial fog, Li Xun felt more like walking through flames.

The drifting mist felt like licking tongues of fire against his skin, scorching his hair. This indicated that the surrounding Yin Qi had reached an incredible concentration, naturally condensing into Yin Fire, repelling all beings of a different origin.

At this moment, Guimen Lake was completely welcoming to outsiders.

Madam Yan walked in front, her entire body shrouded in her ritual robes, the pitch-black background blending with the gray mist.

The emerald green patterns embellished on her robes seemed to come alive as she moved, extending into the mist with an inexplicable rhythm, naturally harnessing the surrounding dense Yin Fire and generating a unique energy vibration.

With the third ring of the bell, the Yin Fire concentration in Guimen Lake instantly reached a new level. The disciples with less advanced cultivation at the back had to significantly increase their energy to withstand the external pressure.

The emerald green patterns on Madam Yan’s robes grew brighter, their light illuminating the void, imprinting its unique pattern across a radius of several feet, forming a unique domain that belonged only to her.

This phenomenon manifested itself in every direction of Ghost Gate Lake, each symbolizing an elder.

Sect disciples familiar with this could easily discern the elder’s identity from afar through their aura.

Li Xun easily sensed the cold, icy aura of the Jade Water Lord, roughly twenty miles away, radiating recklessly. Yet, in a mysterious way, it devoured the surrounding Yin Fire, forming a vast hollow. This unique quality made him a leader among the elders.

Madam Yan’s demeanor, by comparison, was far more subdued.

It seemed as if both sides were intentionally distancing themselves from one another, distinguishing factions.

The elders in each direction were clearly divided, some approaching the Jade Water Lord, while others moved in their direction.

As the gap between them widened, the fog thickened with undercurrents, suffocating the air. By the time

the fourth bell rang, the crowds around the lake’s central island had thickened considerably. Thousands of sect disciples, save those who were truly unable to leave, had gathered there. They were not yet eligible to set foot on the island, so they remained at the edge of the lake, prostrating themselves in the dust.

Li Xun and his companions made their way through these prostrate disciples.

A vast, shadowy mass of figures stalked the endless mist, offering the pleasure of overlooking all beings, yet unable to escape the oppressive pressure that weighed upon them.

The fifth,

sixth…

seventh!

Three resounding bells chimed in, one after the other. The vast sound waves converged in a single explosion, resembling thunder from the heavens, a raging torrent of wind, mingling and swirling with the immense yin energy surging from the distant underground space, then bursting forth.

The fog and smog centered on the lake’s central island for dozens of miles was shattered, and the world suddenly cleared. Faint, cold starlight from the night sky struggled to penetrate the branches and foliage.

Suddenly, thousands of disciples surrounding the lake’s central island erupted in unison, mingling with the resonant bells, spreading like a landslide or tsunami. The

whistling sound was not a straight line, but rather a series of simple transitions, retaining its grandeur and imbued with a profound, unadorned charm.

Legend has it that this ancient tune, pre-dating the founding of the Nine Netherworld Patriarch, was a fitting tribute.

The whistling sound of the bells merged seamlessly into his ears, pounding his soul and making his blood boil, making him want to let out a long howl.

Though no actual howls were uttered, Li Xun could clearly hear the cultivators around him, including Yan Hu and the other women, stepping heavier, their spirits surging uncontrollably.

As the sound faded, Madam Yan and her group finally reached the island in the middle of the lake. Almost simultaneously, Lord Bishui ascended from the other side. Under the rare clear skies of Ghost Gate Lake, their gazes met, igniting a blinding flash of lightning.

But that wasn’t the key.

From this moment on, everyone could clearly see the positions of the remaining nine elders, with the exception of Yin Chen, the elder destined to abdicate today.

Seven of the nine elders, Yan Sanbi, followed the paths of their respective supporters to the island.

Two others deliberately took a detour and entered from a third path, demonstrating their neutral stance.

“Three and four? How curious!”

Li Xun was quite sensitive to numbers. On paper, Madam Yan was slightly behind in terms of support among the sect elders.

But if things had unfolded in the most conventional way…

Just as he was thinking this, the eighth bell boomed from the specially constructed bell tower in the center of the lake’s island, intercepting the roaring roar of the thousands of surrounding disciples.

Suddenly, Ghost Gate Lake was silent save for the resounding bells, until the portal to the lake’s underground palace opened.

The heavy stone door’s creaking sound was particularly piercing amidst the measured chimes. Behind the stone gate, Gui Ji and Ming Li, one in front and one behind, slowly emerged, carrying a sedan chair.

Netherfire Yama, his eyes narrowed, quietly reclining on it, also draped in a brand new ritual robe. Yin Chi, leaning on a cane, floated as if untouched by the ground.

When the sect’s most respected and most senior figure appeared simultaneously, everyone bowed their heads in respect.

Netherfire Yama, unconcerned, gazed greedily through the vast void above the lake, gazing at the clear, deep night sky.

The chimes of the bell faded away, and beneath the lake’s central island, the rumbling sound of earthquakes grew closer and closer, filling the ears. Bubbles of varying sizes gradually rose from the surface of the lake, a gurgling sound as if the water were boiling. The cold water crows that were fed on the lake had long since fled.

Countless eyes focused on Netherfire Yama, a myriad of thoughts casting their gazes.

Many wanted to know something, and even more wanted something. Facing such a chaotic and chaotic array of glances, those with weaker resolve would have felt weak and unable to control themselves. Netherfire Yama simply smiled, withdrawing his gaze from the night sky.

That was his last look at the sky.

He looked at no one. With his withered fingers lightly tapping the handrail, Guiji and Mingli understood, passing between Madam Yan and Lord Bishui’s groups and continuing on their way.

No one said a word. Twelve elders led the way, followed slowly by twenty-seven disciples of prominent surnames, following the sedan chair in front.

The incessant sound of bubbles bursting on the lake’s surface gradually drowned out the lingering echo of the summoning bell. Disciples with higher cultivation could even sense the hissing columns of Yin Fire emanating from underground. The lake surface gradually lowered, its shadow cast a light gray veil.

At the northeast corner of the lake’s central island, near the shore, Gui Ji and his companions stopped, but didn’t lower the sedan chair, allowing Hellfire Yama to maintain a clear view.

Yin Chen, pausing on his cane, stepped forward, surveying the bubbling lake surface and chuckled, “Well, the view today is quite different from before.”

A faint smile crossed Hellfire Yama’s sallow face. At that moment, the ninth bell boomed.

This sound was no longer the product of human impact, but rather the resonance of the summoning bell as the surging tide of Yin Fire pulsed through it.

The mighty sound waves instantly spread to every corner of Ghost Gate Lake.

The lake in front of them was rolling with surging waves, and the bubbles on the lake surface turned into a wave of steaming mist. However, this mist was nothing compared to the thick fog that lingered all year round. Everyone could see the changes clearly through the mist.

The first thing that caught his eye was a series of pure black “walls.” These walls, over ten feet tall and approximately two inches thick, were

none other than the “Five Escape Barriers” buried deep underground. Each time the Yin-Transforming Pool surfaced, these objects cleared the way, creating the

illusion that the “Five Escape Barriers” were right next to the pool.

The Five Escape Barriers didn’t rise above the water, hovering only a few feet below. However, the intertwined energy within them had rendered all escape techniques useless across the entire lake surface, eliminating the possibility of covert interference with the ritual.

The lake’s water level continued to drop, but the surrounding Yin Qi had almost condensed into a solid mass, almost like the lake water itself.

At that moment, all disciples above the “Melting Void” realm sensed a strange aura rising faintly from the depths of the earth.

Nine Netherworld Earth Qi!

Even if only a tiny amount escaped, this aura, a thousand times purer than ordinary Yin Qi, stirred the atmosphere and simultaneously tugged at the Qi channels. Even ordinary disciples could sense this change.

At this moment, the roars of thousands of disciples by the lake blended with the lingering sound of bells, echoing across the sky.

Amidst the roaring sound, the sect’s altar finally revealed its true form.

The first thing to emerge was the stone statues towering over the small island.

Legend has it that these were carved based on the likenesses of the disciples of the Nine Nether Patriarch, twelve in total, representing the predecessors of the Twelve Elders.

Next came the altar, slightly elevated above the island. Beyond the altar lay the Huayin Pond.

Everything was similar to what Li Xun had seen underground, except that the entrance to the Nine Nether Realm hadn’t yet appeared, and the monstrous figure of the Patriarch’s Curse Spirit was nowhere to be seen.

The island finally emerged completely from the water, still several feet from the shore.

According to traditional custom, it was now the Sect Master and the elders’ turn to ascend the island, but Gui Ji and the other two, carrying the sedan chair, were unable to advance or retreat. Hellfire

Yama knocked on the handrails again, and the two men, as if granted amnesty, carefully lowered the sedan chair, attempting to help their master down, only to see him gently shake his head and dismiss the two. Then, he slowly straightened his body, exerting himself with both hands and feet, and rose to his feet.

As he stood firm on the lake, a gust of wind seemed to stir his body, almost blowing him over.

Several elders nearby instinctively reached out, but they heard him snort, “Bai Gui, come here.”

Li Xun’s brows twitched slightly, then calmed down, and he stepped forward steadily. Under the gaze of everyone, he walked to the sickly ghost, paused briefly, and raised his arm. The glances from the elders and prominent disciples present at his action seemed to melt his arm.

Hellfire Yama seemed completely oblivious. He reached out and grasped Li Xun’s forearm, then said in a hoarse voice, “Let’s go to the altar.”

A low, muffled shout echoed from behind: “No.”

He coughed twice, not turning back, and whispered, “What’s wrong with Bishui?”

Bishui Jun replied coldly, “That’s against the rules.”

He was known for being frugal with his words, and someone nearby would come forward to explain further.

The one who spoke up was Elder Youxi, whose rank was second only to Bishuijun. He ranked third among the twelve elders, only slightly below Yinmo in seniority. His devoted support was Bishuijun’s greatest strength within the elders’ council.

Compared to Yinmo’s frail age, Youxi’s beard was black and shiny, his complexion rosy, and he looked like he was middle-aged. He stepped out of the group and spoke in a resounding voice: “Only the sect master and the elders can come to the island to pay respects to the ancestors.

Baigui is just a disciple of a prominent family. What right does he have to accompany them? Besides…”

“Isn’t it happening right now?”

Yinmo suddenly stopped his cane, interrupting Youxi, his face a brilliant smile. “Brother Xi, old woman, proposed at the elders’ council that Baigui take over the eldership. You won’t even give me my face?”

Youxi sneered. In this situation, even if he didn’t show any respect, he might be kicked out.

He respected Yinmo, but Yinmo couldn’t treat him as a fool! He

was about to snort in response when he was stunned to see the two men ahead of him already treading the water onto the island.

He hadn’t expected Netherfire Yama, who looked so ready to die, to be so agile. To shout at this point would be a complete blow to his relationship. He paused, looking at Bishui Jun.

Bishui Jun’s cold gaze darted around the lake, then returned to Youxi, shaking his head. Then, he took the lead, treading the water. Since

Bishui Jun didn’t say anything, Madam Yan naturally had no objections either. Without further ado, everyone else boarded the island.

How many people could fit on a ten-zhang-square island, with the altar, stone figurines, and the Yin-Transforming Pond separating them? The twelve elders were forced to squeeze into a relatively small area, making many feel uncomfortable.

Netherfire Yama, standing in front, pretended not to notice, slowly walking past the stone figurines on either side until he reached the base of the altar.

The final echo of the bell faded, and Netherfire Yama stood still, gazing at the altar, barely seven feet high. Suddenly, he pushed aside the support of the Hundred Ghosts and took a shaky step forward.

With a clang, a blazing roar erupted from the altar, a grayish-white flame several feet high erupting with a blazing heat that permeated the entire island. The vast space distorted in the heatwave.

The flames on the altar were a sign of the Nine Netherworld’s earthly energy.

The leader of the Ghostly Shadow Devouring Sect was to bathe in this fire and lead the twelve elders in worshipping the ancestor.

Following the ritual, any cultivator nearing the end of their lifespan and wishing to be reborn as a spirit would descend through the altar into the Yin Transformation Pool. Using secret techniques, their bodies would be reduced to ash, while a wisp of their spirit would remain, reborn through the Nine Netherworld.

This was essentially the procedure for the ancestral worship ceremony. Generally speaking, the moment Hellfire Yama stepped onto the first step of the altar, the ceremony officially began.

Seeing Hellfire Yama about to ascend, Bishuijun once again glanced around and exchanged glances with Youxi, Cangmingzi, and the others.

After a moment’s pause, he took a deep breath, pursed his lips, and was about to take that step. Hellfire Yama suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Bishuijun paused, his gaze icy as he stared at the figure from behind.

Netherfire Yama, seemingly straining under the weight, swayed twice, as if on the verge of collapse, but eventually he slowly turned. The heat from the altar whipped through his large robes, trembling against his frame with a deep trembling sound.

People looked up to see a pair of eyes blazing with a fiery light…

“I’ve had enough of the position of Sect Leader.” Scanning the faces of everyone, Netherfire Yama smiled faintly. “I won’t be leaving for today’s ceremony. Let’s talk things over.”

Even though they had been prepared, the elders’ hearts trembled at these words. Dozens of blazing eyes flashed, piercing the consumptive ghost’s face.

Years of illness had tormented Netherfire Yama, leaving him neither human nor ghostly. Yet, as he spoke, he remained the undisputed Sect Leader of the Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect, and no one could underestimate his importance.

Bishuijun and Madam Yan seemed to have a tacit understanding. Feeling they couldn’t penetrate Netherfire Yama’s heart, they simultaneously turned their gazes to stare intently at their sole competitor.

Several elders unconsciously leaned forward, further narrowing the already cramped space.

Hellfire Yama’s gaze shifted to Yin Chen, and he spoke softly, “Elder Yin, whose reincarnation is also taking place today, has proposed… that the disciple of the great family, Baigui Dao Ren, fill the vacant seat. Any objections?”

“Yes!”

Bishuijun spat out a single word coldly, then pursed his lips. His frosty gaze struck Li Xun’s face, but Li Xun smiled in response.

Unable to overpower his opponent, Bishuijun’s brow darkened with gloom, and his voice chilled to the bone: “How can you give the position of elder to a demonic outsider?”

“A demonic outsider?” Netherfire Yama’s skull-like face revealed a terrifying smile, but he remained noncommittal.

How could Madam Yan allow Bishuijun’s party to continue to disrupt the situation without moving? Her laughter could be heard from under the hood: “Bai Gui is my direct disciple and he was also given a great surname by the sect master. He has made countless contributions to the sect over the past few decades and it is obvious to all. How come he becomes a heretic monster in the mouth of Senior Brother Bishui?”

A cold light flashed in Bishuijun’s eyes. Before he could say anything, Cang Mingzi next to him stepped out and scolded: “Bai Gui is the Blood Demon. Everyone in the world knows it. How can he not be considered a heretic monster?”

“He is just a casual cultivator who brought his skills to a disciple. It’s nothing special…”

Madam Yan said halfway when Minghuo Yanluo suddenly coughed and turned to Li Xun and said, “I remember you didn’t have such skills a few months ago.”

Seeing his casual chatting posture, Li Xun also smiled and replied, “Sect master, you are wise. In fact, if you hadn’t said it carefully, how could your disciple end up like this now?”

The two of them sang in unison and attracted everyone’s attention in an instant.

Hellfire Yama feigned ignorance, his skeletal face twitching slightly as he asked in surprise, “What do you mean by not explaining everything?”

“The Yin-Transforming Pond, besides dissolving Mr. Ghost’s Yin Fire Pearl, is likely to dissolve even his bones and flesh. If it weren’t for the disciples’ swift action, the ghost would have been reincarnated and reborn before the day of his rebirth!”

Their tones were understated, but the details they conveyed were terrifying to the elders.

In fact, for the past few days, news of “Mr. Ghost’s inheritance” had spread within a relatively small circle. At least all twelve elders had heard rumors, in some detail or in some summary. But how could such rumors compare to what they witnessed before them?

“Senior Brother Ghost?”

“Yin Fire Pearl?”

“Yin-Transforming Pond!”

The scene was far from unanimous, but a common sentiment coalesced within the chaotic chorus.

Li Xun scanned the faces of several key figures, his expression unchanged as he continued, half-seriously, “As for the Blood Godson, I obtained it from Xiao Chongzi in the Southeast Forest. It’s been less than a year now. If I hadn’t seen my life threatened in the Yin-Transforming Pond, why would I have refined myself into an inhuman form?”

The island froze for a moment. As the disciples by the lake waited longer, a buzzing sound began to rise.

Another boom erupted from the altar. The Nine Netherworld Qi surged more violently, distorting the surrounding atmosphere. A passage connecting the two realms gradually opened above the Yin-Transforming Pond.

A violent cough erupted, shattered by the rumbling vibrations of vital energy. Hellfire Yama covered his mouth, trying to suppress it. Li Xun, standing beside him, could clearly see what he had collected into his sleeve: a pool of dark gray blood.

After catching his breath, Netherfire Yama said nonchalantly, “Let’s forget about the Blood Godson and the like.

Tell the elders how you inherited Junior Brother Ghost’s legacy… I’ve never heard of it.”

Li Xun replied, “Yes,” and casually relocated Mr. Ghost’s death, saying it was somewhere in a cave near the Lianxia Mountains. He then told the story largely as it happened.

Other details were fine, but when he mentioned the Yin Fire Pearl and the Netherworld Record, the entire island fell into a dead silence.

“Netherworld Record!”

The Ghost Shadow Devouring Sect only had two copies of the Netherworld Record. One was the ancient, original copy, passed down by the Nine Nether Patriarch, and now enshrined in the underground palace at the center of the lake.

The other was a copy. To prevent the sect’s text from being lost, the twelve elders had personally copied it onto a black stone jade slip and entrusted it to Mr. Ghost, the sect’s foremost expert, for safekeeping during the sect’s split.

Ironically, after the sect’s internal turmoil, the original volume of the Netherworld Record remained intact, while the copies were lost to history following the earth-shattering battle between Zhong Yin and Mr. Ghost four hundred years ago.

For centuries, the sect’s leaders had occasionally worried in their midnight dreams about the leakage of the sect’s supreme Dharma. And now, with just a few words, this Taoist Hundred Ghosts had resolved the issue?

Sensing the atmosphere around him, Li Xun even wondered if he could simply wave the Netherworld Record into the air, instantly ascending to the Elder throne and, in turn, ending the current power struggle and bringing harmony to everyone…

Glancing to the side, Li Xun felt that now that his intentions had been exposed, Netherfire Yamaluo’s true plan was clear.

Mr. Ghost held an unshakable reputation and status within the sect, and had played a crucial role in the previous power transition, the Taoist Hundred Ghosts, having inherited Mr. Ghost’s legacy, naturally possessed similar authority—even if it was merely an illusion.

If this were an opportunity to leverage the remaining power of the Hundred Ghosts’ recent surge in popularity and fully support Madam Yan, along with the Sect Master’s support, Madam Yan would at least hold legal legitimacy within the Elders’ Council, overwhelmingly eliminating the influence of Lord Bishui.

Even if the sect ultimately split, the damage would be minimized.

It’s a shame that Mr. Ghost’s reputation remains hidden somewhere in the Lianxia Mountains. Worse still, Mr. Ghost’s reputation might not even rival the notoriety of the “Blood Demon”…

As expected, after the initial shock wore off, Lord Bishui was the first to regain consciousness.

Like Li Xun, he cast his gaze upon Netherfire Yama, a chill rising within him, clearly sensing the consumptive ghost’s intentions.

No one here is foolish. As the situation unfolded, the elders more or less grasped their own understanding.

Before they could fully recover, Hellfire Yama said calmly, “There should be no doubt about the nomination of elders by Baigui. According to sect rules, the promotion of disciples of prominent families to eldership is a joint decision by the elders, requiring the approval of six or more elders, in addition to the nominator… Let’s all decide on this auspicious day.”

Upon these words, everyone paused for a moment, then their gazes shifted to the target, not Li Xun, but the two elders who had remained neutral in the queue.

The situation was clear. Madam Yan’s lineage had only three elder slots, while Bishui Jun’s had four. These were all bargaining chips on the table, but neither side had the final say.

The decision of the two neutral elders now held immense weight. It

was undeniable that both elders bore the surname “Ming,” and based on their lineage, they were fellow apprentices of Hellfire Yama, arguably the most legitimate of the sect master’s direct descendants. Their stance undoubtedly mirrored Hellfire Yama’s.

Considering the Baigui’s stance… deciding on the elder position was essentially the final battle for the sect master’s throne!

“Enough!”

A resounding cry, like the clang of a sharp blade, severed the turbulent undercurrents of emotion on the island.

Everyone turned in shock, only to see Bishuijun raise his head, his gaze piercing with a cold, piercing gaze. “Netherfire, since you’ve made your decision, why are you pretending?”

The sharp sound pierced the night air, heard far and wide. At least 20% to 30% of the thousands of disciples at the lakeside heard it clearly. A new commotion erupted, and the chaos threatened to spread.

Meeting Bishuijun’s gaze, Netherfire Yamaluo’s sunken eyes flickered with a faint spark. “Bishui, what are you talking about?”

Bishuijun didn’t answer, but pursed his lips and stepped forward.

Several elders tried to reach out and grab him, but his hidden power swayed them back. After only six or seven steps, he arrived below the altar, within five feet of Netherfire Yama.

Netherfire Yama’s brow furrowed slightly as he whispered, “Bishui?”

A shimmering aura of green shone between Bishui Jun’s features, his handsome face gloomy, cold, and eerie. After a long silence, he spoke, “Who would object to my becoming the sect leader after the ceremony?” His

voice, without a single inflection, resonated like thunder in the crowd’s ears. Everyone below the altar froze for a moment, then snapped back to consciousness.

“Fuck you!”

roared Elder Yan Biao, the most volatile of Madam Yan’s lineage.

His outburst failed to shake Bishui Jun’s expression, but it ignited the already volatile atmosphere on the island.

At that moment, no one truly understood what they were doing. Some

fiercely criticized Bishui Jun’s actions, while others, arguing with him, fiercely defended him.

Of course, there were also people who wanted to act as peacemakers and try to hold back the words he had already said…

No one expected that Bishuijun would announce his ambition in such a rude way, thus tearing the last fig leaf that protected everyone’s face into pieces.