The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 149

Chapter 1 Playing Tricks

“Youli…Lord?”

Li Xun raised his eyebrows, his eyes slowly shifting in response to the laughter.

The person had arrived from afar, yet in a flash, they were overwhelming the surroundings, their momentum as powerful as a tiger’s roar and the wind, fierce and fearless.

However, just as everyone was assessing the newcomer’s direction, the laughter suddenly ceased, and a mere breeze met their gaze.

No one?

The flames from the altar soared into the sky, and the palaces and trees on the island and beyond cast countless twisting and intertwining shadows, testing everyone’s keen eyesight, yet also like countless cunning ghosts and demons laughing and mocking.

The contrast was so stark, it was suffocating and suffocating. Li Xun’s mouth twitched, not knowing whether to express anger or laughter. Yao Feng and Qing Luan’s expressions were now grim.

After an awkward silence, everyone’s attention returned to Netherfire Yama.

Faced with this situation, Netherfire Yama only chuckled softly, his eyes twitching. Even the sharp eyes of the crowd could not fathom his thoughts.

This… if you can’t see through it, then you can’t see through it, right?

Li Xun suddenly smiled and twisted his neck. The wound that Qingluan had previously severed had now completely healed. He even had time to brush off the dirt on his body, as if it were none of his business.

The current situation proved that leaving himself a chance was indeed a good idea.

Yao Feng was still a little puzzled by Li Xun’s behavior, but the sickly ghost on the stage understood it all too well. His gaze, glimpsed through his narrow slits, swept across his face. Then, there was no reaction.

Li Xun didn’t care what Netherfire Yama thought.

When Netherfire Yama called out “Youli Divine Lord,” he had effectively wiped out all the sect’s cultivators.

Yao Feng had also adjusted her pace. She stared at Netherfire Yama and shook her head, saying, “What’s the point of hiding your head and showing your tail? It’s better to worry about yourself. Draw external energy into your body to strengthen your vitality. After one stick of incense, your body will surely collapse and become irreparable. What do you want to do in the meantime? What can you do?”

The atmosphere suddenly stagnated. The few remaining elders beneath the altar couldn’t hide their despair. They weren’t unaware of Hellfire Yama’s state, but their hearts were so lucky to have Demon Phoenix’s revelation that their spirits couldn’t bear it.

And then there was Youli…

Hellfire Yama smiled, his withered muscles and white teeth twitching in a strange and strange way: “Thank you, Yuanjun, for your reminder. This moment stolen from the thief heaven must not be wasted. So let’s get straight to the point.

” “Yuanjun has single-handedly created this situation. Whether it was out of scheming or pure vengeance, it’s irreparable for our sect. The only choice is to start over or be annihilated.” Is this the outcome Yuanjun had in mind?”

Demon Phoenix laughed, her eyes growing colder. “Not much, really. Just change the sect leader and don’t let Madam Yan ascend to the throne. If you have no objections, we will withdraw.” “

Hearing her words, several elders almost fainted, but the many harsh words were stuck in their throats, unable to move forward or backward. For a moment, their eyes were about to burst, and they wished they could cut the demon phoenix into pieces with their eyes. The

Nether Fire Yama shook his head twice, which was a smile: “With the power of Yuanjun, you can do whatever you want. There is no room for others to say. Besides, with my appearance, I am afraid I will never have the chance to see my ancestors again. It is not a big deal to swallow this loss with my teeth. It’s just that…”

He dragged out a long tone and changed the tone: “It’s just that there is one thing I can’t figure out, just like a stick in my throat. According to what Yuanjun said, my sect wants to replace the ancestor just to bring bad luck to Gu Yin.

“It’s true that Yan Yang has been colluding with Gu Yin for a long time, perhaps gaining considerable support. If she inherits the position of Sect Leader, Gu Yin could also benefit from this. However, with Gu Yin holding nearly half the power, what’s impossible? Even with a sect as dire as this, why would she go to such lengths? Yuanjun, please enlighten me.”

“Madam Yan, if she’s colluding with her, go ask her, why ask me?” Yao Feng flatly rebuffed.

Hellfire Yama shook his head and said, “Gu Yin’s schemes have always been meticulous and cunning. If Yan Yang knew what she was up to, how could she have ended up like this?”

Every word pierced her heart. Madam Yan heard it with such eloquence that her body trembled uncontrollably, her fists clenched tightly, her nails clenching as blood splattered from her flesh.

Yao Feng glanced at him, still lost in thought. Hellfire Yama added, “Since Yuanjun is determined to oppose Gu Yin, why bother covering up for her?” One person’s weaknesses are two people’s strengths. If Yuanjun were to reveal it to the world, no matter how deep Gu Yin’s schemes were, they would be no match for the people of the world, and she would only fail. “

After hearing what Minghuo Yanluo said, Li Xun was also very interested.

Yaofeng is probably Gu Yin’s closest collaborator for hundreds of years. Most of Gu Yin’s plans can’t be hidden from her. If she can really tell her the secrets, Gu Yin’s hundred years of hard work may be lost in one day.

However, Li Xun also heard some strange illnesses and poor health. He never spoke too much. Why is there so much nonsense today?

Yaofeng didn’t think too much and just sneered: “So generous, according to you, as long as I tell you the twists and turns, the matter between you and me will be written off?”

“So what if it’s not? Yuanjun is rampant in the world, does he really care about us, a poor family?”

Minghuo Yanluo’s humble attitude is really beyond words.

“It’s a good idea, but it’s a pity…”

“Yuanjun! “

Hellfire Yama suddenly raised his voice, interrupting Yaofeng before she could make her point. The blazing flames behind her seemed to tremble twice.

A cold glint flashed in Yaofeng’s eyes, and she stared coldly.

The sick hemorrhoid ghost’s sunken pupils burned with a dark fire, not letting up an inch. “If my suspicions are correct, Yuanjun’s current attitude… could it be that you seek revenge but don’t know where to start?”

With a few coughs, Hellfire Yama’s voice faded, but remained audible. “Of course, I believe that if Yuanjun desired to take Gu Yin’s life, even with Yu Sanren’s protection, it would be easy.” “It would be easy. But in the current situation, perhaps she thinks killing is too lenient, or… if one doesn’t fear death, how can one die together?”

His voice was light, yet it had a hint of thunder in it. For a moment, he held his head high, a stinging sight that stung those watching.

Li Xun snorted, but heard Yaofeng chuckle. “You’re full of tricks.”

Yaofeng didn’t deny it, so Gu Yin was indeed determined to die!

With this realization in mind, Li Xun felt a chill seep through his teeth, stagnating within his internal organs. The image of Gu Yin in his mind became clearer than ever. After all,

Hellfire Yama didn’t know the secret. The “Jade Wanderer” he’d spoken of was now a walking corpse, no longer the courage he once had. And precisely because of this, Gu Yin’s state was far more deranged than he’d imagined.

The powerful man who could overturn the world with a casual chatter and the gloomy woman who yearned for death, now merged into one. The difference between life and death. It seemed simple, but it was the difference between the wise and the mad.

Li Xun would rather face ten wise men who cherished their lives than face a single madman who disregarded his own life, especially one with a formidable plan.

Minghuo Yanluo just nodded and sighed: “If Gu Yin is willing to risk his life for you, the things he plans must be earth-shattering and he must not act rashly. That’s right. But precisely because of this, Yuanjun should make it public to the world and use the power of the whole world to offset his conspiracy.”

The cold look on Yaofeng’s lips did not diminish, and he couldn’t speak at all.

Seeing this, Hellfire Yama’s brow twitched, a dark fire flickering in his eyes. He wondered, “Yuanjun isn’t doing this or that. Could it be that she’s simply seeking revenge on Gu Yin, yet doesn’t want to interfere with her actions? May I speculate that Gu Yin’s plans are also Yuanjun’s wishes?”

As he finished speaking, the altar behind him erupted with a resounding roar. The soaring Yin Fire, which had been intense for half the night, finally weakened. The flames slowly faded, and the crackling of the air gradually subsided. But the demon phoenix’s eyes ignited with a dazzling blaze, as if to reduce the diseased ghost on the altar to ash.

Hellfire Yama sighed, seemingly unsure, before continuing. “So that seems to be the case. Yuanjun was besieged by the sects of this world, her husband and wife fell out, and she gave herself to Yu Sanren. Naturally, she must find a way to vent her resentment. It seems Gu Yin’s plans are significant and will cause great harm to this world, and Yuanjun is optimistic about their success… Is that right or not?”

His analysis was so clear and convincing that it almost seemed to be the truth. Though the demon phoenix maintained its fierce gaze, it made no further move.

Just when everyone thought the demon phoenix was about to acquiesce, she suddenly laughed: “Underworld Fire… Do you think I’m a fool?”

The echo of her voice lingered as the already dry and scorching air climbed even higher, nearly setting the hairs on a human body ablaze. The demon phoenix’s powerful divine consciousness permeated the air, sweeping past Li Xun’s side like a powerful punch, sending the hairs on his back standing on end.

Li Xun let out a low cry, his true energy surging through his body. He barely withstood the surge of external pressure.

However, the demon phoenix wasn’t targeting the people present. Li Xun vaguely sensed that the vast space outside the island, due to the drastic temperature fluctuations, had caused the vegetation and living things to emit their own unique aura.

Hidden figures were now exposed.

The demon phoenix’s eyes were menacing, but she remained motionless. Beside her, Qingluan, however, trembled her wide sleeves, sending out a series of blasts of cold energy comparable to divine blades. The sparse trees along the shore were instantly cut down in half.

Qingluan’s move was absolutely well-aimed.

Wherever the air blades passed, there was a clanging sound. Seven or eight figures appeared vaguely, then quickly disappeared into deeper shadows.

However, in the instant of change, hundreds of fires in the lakeside bushes ignited simultaneously, radiating brilliant light to every corner. The dark forest was instantly as bright as day. In this situation, any attempt at invisibility was a joke. The next moment, Qingluan soared into the air, her slender figure dispersing the dark clouds that had covered the entire landscape.

On the island, the demon phoenix smiled faintly. “Are you chattering so they can set up the trap… Where is Lord Youli?”

Her leisurely voice echoed through the air, resounding with a clanging sound. The cultivators in the jungle scattered, leaving behind a few puffs of blood mist, each a truly tragic sight.

However, the cultivators in the forest were determined to retreat, and they scattered rapidly. Qingluan was unable to achieve any success. She shifted her gaze, already selecting her next target.

As Qingluan moved, someone suddenly laughed out loud. “Qixia Yuanjun is here. How dare you claim Lord Youli is here?”

Qingluan paused, glanced at her brows, and turned to look.

At that moment, all eyes turned to Li Xun’s back.

Laughter from behind stung his ears, his expression impassive. He turned and looked around. A few feet away, he saw a man in brocade robes standing with his hands behind his back. Moonlight shone over his shoulders, and he and the demon phoenix collided

. He was of average build and unassuming appearance. His rather long face was dotted with small scars, and a long scar cut halfway across his face, reaching the back of his neck.

His appearance wasn’t particularly striking, but his bold and unrestrained demeanor and his presence exuded a majestic air.

This man was the most sinister and wicked of the Tongxuan sect leaders, yet he managed to conceal his scheming beneath a heroic air. Compared to the unfathomable Netherfire Yama, he possessed a different aura.

However, Li Xun was more concerned with something else:

how had Youli Divine Lord managed to sneak onto the lake island without anyone noticing?

“Your Shadow Devouring Technique has truly improved after all these years apart,” Netherfire Yama offered an explanation for Li Xun.

Spreading his hands, Youli smiled and said, “If there weren’t a secret passage beneath the lake, even if I perfected Shadow Devouring 8888 to its fullest, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to hide it from them… By the way, I’ve already accepted the sect

‘s secret manual from you, Senior Brother. You can go with peace of mind.” Youli’s last words were chilling, like a cold wind piercing the back of your neck, piercing your bones. Not to mention the others, even Li Xun’s pupils dilated and he couldn’t help but turn to look at Netherfire Yama’s expression.

A red shadow flashed, and a scorching wind blew past his ears. Li Xun instinctively took a defensive stance, but the demon phoenix wasn’t targeting him. His outward energy barrier only blocked the aftermath of the attack.

Lord Youli laughed heartily and flew back.

As the most advanced cultivator of the Shadow Devouring technique of the Ghost Soul and Ghost Devouring Sects, his explosive power was not much less than that of the demon phoenix. His figure cast a long shadow, then vanished in an instant, disappearing into the intertwined space of light and shadow.

Barely a hair’s breadth away, the demon phoenix’s palm landed where the shadow had last dissipated. A sudden surge of heat vaporized the air within a radius of several feet, followed by a burst of blazing white flames.

Li Xun’s eyes flickered in the glaring light, catching sight of a patch of clothing, reduced to ash.

The demon phoenix’s slender white palm missed its target, but it swung its five fingers, the sound of a wheel piercing the air. Dozens of intertwined lines of fire shattered the void to the left.

Two muffled thuds echoed in the air.

Amidst the chaotic cacophony of light and shadow, the Divine Lord Youli reappeared, his forearm resting on his chest. A torn sleeve revealed a dark armguard, presumably to block the demon phoenix’s force.

The demon phoenix glanced over, her expression slightly fluctuating. “Sichen Motie! It’s rare for a deity to be so diligent despite his mundane duties.”

Youli shifted his stance while she spoke, closing the distance again. His smile remained, “I’m not like some sickly grandson. If I don’t have to work hard every day, how can I not practice some skills?”

The demon phoenix’s lips shone coldly, but she remained silent. Only then did Li Xun remember what the so-called “Sichen Motie” was.

“Sichen” refers to the rooster crowing, symbolizing diligence; “Motie” is a reference to the saying “grinding iron into a needle,” meaning it’s a magical tool used by Bian Dong to boost his own strength and cultivate arduously.

However, after Ding Yishichu revealed “Sichen Motie,” the demon phoenix’s attitude towards Youli changed noticeably. She held back the subsequent attack, and Youli lowered his arm. The two faced each other from a distance, seemingly preparing for their next attack.

Li Xun could clearly see a layer of dark flame ignited on Youli’s drooping arm. The flame seemed to radiate from his protective true energy, or to emanate from Sichen’s iron, gradually spreading to his arm, until half of his body swelled and swelled beneath his clothing.

From that moment on, Youli Divine Lord’s aura soared, like the puppet clad in a spiky fire robe, seemingly possessing immense combat power to rival the Demon Phoenix.

Watching his growing might, the Demon Phoenix’s expression remained stern, yet it made no advance. Instead, it said quietly, “The reunion of the Ghost and Ghost-eating Sects is truly a remarkable event in this world…”

“Reunion?” Youli Divine Lord gave a sinister smile, revealing his white teeth. “What a joke!”

Before the words had finished, a blue phoenix whistled from outside the island.

The Demon Phoenix’s expression faltered slightly, and it turned away. Looking through the jagged jungle, he saw several pillars of blazing white light rising into the sky over ten miles away, accompanied by a surging yin energy. Within a few breaths, a dense network of restrictions appeared, seemingly strict and unpredictable.

Qingluan also felt a little confused and communicated with Yaofeng.

With their cultivation, they could tell at a glance that these restrictions were merely protective, possessing no lethal power. Yet, from high above, the entire Ghost Gate Lake was dotted with pillars of light, their interconnected restrictions mingling with yin energy, creating a truly terrifying spectacle.

Hellfire Yama smiled and coughed, “Yuanjun Wuyou is merely a protective device for those disciples. Otherwise, if Yuanjun were to accidentally unleash all of them, those three thousand disciples

wouldn’t have a good time surviving the forty-nine tribulations.”

Yaofeng frowned, remaining silent, seemingly uneasy.

Not far away, Li Xun felt even more distressed.

While there was a disparity in strength between the two, his mastery of forbidden techniques was far greater than Yaofeng and Qingluan combined, not to mention the fact that he had been responsible for modifying and casting the entire Ghost Gate Lake forbidden technique. Because of this, his feelings were far more acute than those of the two demons.

“The earth’s energy, linked together, can withstand a calamity from the heavens; the energy of the Ghost Gate Lake’s earth veins is gathered to protect all the sect’s key locations and the disciples’ residences. This is the means to resist a calamity from the heavens. Why is it used here, even though it’s the most damaging to the earth veins?”

Remembering Netherfire Yama’s words about the “forty-nine calamities,” he felt a shudder of fear, and his gaze towards the altar shifted.

Netherfire Yama, sensing something, nodded and smiled at him. He turned to Yao Feng and smiled, “Yuan Jun is still an outsider after all. He cannot understand firsthand that the gap created by hundreds of thousands of lives cannot be filled in one or two generations. What’s more, even if Yuan Jun and Fairy Qing Yang work together, they can’t do anything about the reunion of the two sects. Why waste your time on useless things!”

Yao Feng’s brows were full of smiles, “That may not be the case. I see that Lord Youli has a world of his own in his body. He has clearly glimpsed the supreme path and is not without the ability to fight. If the Youhun and Ghost-eating sects reunite, I should retreat as a gift.”

Hearing this, Minghuo Yanluo laughed, and the flames behind him had been suppressed below his calves while he laughed. Without the light, his gray face could not be concealed no matter what.

Before his laughter faded, Hellfire Yama sighed again: “After so long together as uncle and nephew, Yuanjun and Yu Sanren have finally learned to speak

one way and mean another, losing their dignified demeanor… Now that things have come to this, even if the sect is ruined, Yuanjun cannot afford to leave on his own terms.” Hellfire Yama’s last few syllables resonated, and the Yin Fire on the altar extinguished with a roar. Li Xun’s heart tightened, and in the instant of light and darkness, his body vanished

and moved away. As he moved, the scorching energy from the Demon Phoenix brushed past his ear.

The Demon Phoenix’s move wasn’t aimed at Li Xun. Rather, it was a way to control the situation in the face of unexpected events.

While attacking Li Xun, she also attacked Youli Shenjun and Hellfire Yama, using her aura to locate their positions. Even if the other party used any tactics, she would be able to react in time.

With a cold sneer, the Phantom Fires outside his body clenched and fused, blocking the demon phoenix’s attack. On the altar, Hellfire Yama sighed softly. The void around him trembled, and a spark of fire struck him half a foot in front of him, only to be engulfed.

He seemed to handle the weight with even less effort than Youli. The demon phoenix’s eyes flickered as he pondered secretly. A gust of wind rustled in the sky. Qingluan didn’t pursue the fleeing Xiu Shi again, returning to the island to continue protecting Wuyou. The demon phoenix glanced away, its inexplicably shaken mind returning to normal.

But the next moment, the entire world began to

tremble. Li Xun looked up at the sky, his heart knotted.

Nearly three hours had passed since the ancestral worship ceremony began at midnight. It should be early morning now, and the fog surrounding Guimen Lake had dissipated, leaving no clouds. Yet, the sky remained gloomy and dark, as if shrouded by a pitch-black veil, eerie and uncanny.

The vibrations beneath his feet were also unusual.

Li Xun could sense the extreme instability of the earth veins beneath Ghost Gate Lake. Vast quantities of vital energy were being drawn out to feed the forbidden technique of “Earth Qi Connecting Pillars,” while an incalculable surge of energy was also replenishing it. Within

a matter of breaths, the

very nature of the earth veins had undergone a drastic transformation. Such a dramatic shift couldn’t be hidden from him, nor could it be hidden from the two supreme demons.

Yao Feng and Qing Luan exchanged a glance, then silently closed the distance between them, protecting Lin Wuyou in the center. Hardly had they finished this when an even more violent tremor struck.

With a crackling sound, several piercing cracks appeared on the lake’s central island, sending rocks flying with a terrifying roar. The ground began to shake. It felt as if the people were standing on waves. The underground palace, half destroyed by the fierce battle, collapsed in an instant.

“What’s going on? What’s going on?”

It was You Xi who was the first to collapse. Seeing the sect’s most important site in such a state, after an initial moment of confusion, he quickly recovered and turned to stare at the Netherfire Yama on the altar. He roared, “Underworld Fire, what the hell are you doing?”

He looked down at Youxi coldly. The surging blood and energy in his chest seemed frozen by icy water, his throat also clogged.

After a long struggle, Youxi managed to speak: “Sect Master… please give me your instructions.”

A rumbling earthquake rolled in. The altar drowned out all the noise. Only a thin layer of Nine Netherworld energy remained, flowing around his feet. The rift leading to the Nine Netherworld region was shrinking.

Without the blazing Yin Fire as a backdrop, Hellfire Yama stood silently, his withered form remaining steady.

At this moment, all eyes were fixed on him, and the light radiating from the dying man burned their eyes. Hellfire Yama smiled faintly. A slight crack in his chin revealed a black hole behind his lips and teeth. Slurred syllables flowed out like a wave of cold wind. Even those present, with their six senses attuned to the divine, found it difficult to follow.

Li Xun frowned, his mind trembling as he heard phrases like “Raise with your own body… Break the taboo of shattering jade and descend into the abyss of the Nine Netherworlds…” The rest of the words slipped out completely.

While Li Xun couldn’t hear them, the elders below the altar heard them clearly.

Their faces, in the faint echoing sound, were clearly sullen. You Xi’s eyes bulged as he reached out to grab the figure on the altar, but as soon as he stood up, he collapsed to the ground as if his bones had been pulled out.

Then came the deep voice of Hellfire Yama: “The sect is in chaos, and the eyes of the underworld are open!”

The surroundings continued to shake, and most people were bewildered. Hellfire Yama remained unaffected, his tone steady and soothing: “Without successors, the dark barriers are open!”

Li Xun finally heard clearly. He opened his mouth slightly, but the exploding earth and rocks at his feet filled his mouth with dust and smoke.

At this moment, Netherfire Yama’s voice rang out again: “Up and down, the Yama locks are open!”

Finally, a note of solemnity and effort lingered in Netherfire’s voice. As the words resonated, a significant omen appeared in the void.

Those present heard a series of “crackling” sounds in the surrounding air, as if tens of thousands of chains were snapping. The already trembling ground shattered with a near-collapse.

Li Xun’s mouth and nose suddenly constricted, and just as he closed his eyes, sharp stone shards flew past him. The area for miles had become a violent, raging Jedi. Even standing would be ripped to shreds by the turbulent flow of vital energy, not to mention breathing.

The surging vital energy surged fiercely, producing a mighty roar that vaguely resembled the roars of the three thousand disciples during the ritual.

The desolate, unbridled sound echoed through the air, echoing with the distant heavens and earth. For a moment, Li Xun even thought he had returned to the ancient times when the Four Poles were destroyed and the Nine Continents were torn apart.

A sizzling sound echoed from the side, and Li Xun turned his head to see the demon phoenix and blue phoenix radiating a protective aura, blocking all debris. However, the unique auras of these two demons were completely incompatible with this world. Li Xun felt that when their true energy flashed, it was like a spark being thrown into boiling oil, and it exploded with a loud bang.