The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 164

Chapter 8 Heavy Pressure

“This has nothing to do with ambition.” Fatty Ji frowned and looked serious for the first time, “Haven’t you heard that when the nest is overturned, how can the eggs remain intact? It is actually a helpless move to protect oneself due to the changing situation.”

The Eyelids of the Disease Ghost Hook twitched when he heard this, but he still didn’t let go, “Master Ji, you are exaggerating.”

“How can you say that? With the knowledge of Brother Diao and Brother Zou, how could they not know that turmoil is coming to this world?”

Fatty Ji widened his eyes. With an angry look on his face, he began to talk incessantly: “Right now, the Loose Cultivator Alliance has arisen in the North Pole. It has gathered millions of loose cultivators and demons in this world and is acting as an enemy of the world. Meanwhile, within the various sects, the Western Alliance and the Nine Sects of the Righteous Path are at odds with each other. The three forces are unwilling to give in. The mutual attacks can be said to be the biggest changes in the history of the Tongxuan Realm.

“For those of us who have never formed cliques and factions, it would be hard to live in the cracks between the three parties. It would be best if everything could return to normal in the end. But now that the Loose Cultivator Alliance is so powerful, Gu Yin has been operating for many years, and the conflicts and hatreds between the loose cultivators and demons in this world and the cultivators of various sects have accumulated over time and are finally difficult to reconcile.

“What if the situation in this world changes and these resentments erupt? The age-old coexistence of various sects might be completely overturned. Then, the Western Alliance and the Nine Righteous Sects would band together. Perhaps they could survive, but how would we, the individual investors, adapt to such earth-shattering shocks? How could we guarantee that our sects would remain stable and avoid catastrophic destruction?”

Li Xun, standing nearby, widened his eyes. If it weren’t for the wrong timing, he would have applauded.

Perhaps the fat man was being shocking, but his words clearly laid out Gu Yin’s greatest plan.

This man’s overall perspective was truly remarkable. Li Xun, who had already considered leaving, was eager to hear his next move.

After all this commotion, this was only the climax .

The Plague Ghost’s brows twitched, clearly touched, yet he maintained a smile. “Master Ji, you’re overthinking it. While the world may be changing, to say that the Loose Cultivator Alliance can change the face of this world is absurd.” “

If you really say it’s ridiculous. I don’t deny it. It’s just that it’s better to prepare for a rainy day than to sit and wait for death. People who don’t prepare straw raincoats when a storm is coming will always suffer.” Fatty Ji said, and suddenly glanced over: “Having said that, I really don’t believe if you say that you haven’t heard any rumors, brother Diao. As far as I know, your clan has also planted people around Gu Yin!”

“Nonsense, how could this be possible?”

Yigui Gou just finished speaking and suddenly realized what Fatty Ji meant, and his face turned a little gloomy.

“Are you talking about that one? Humph, she went from Han Yu Gou to Yu Sanren’s concubine over a thousand years ago, and became one of the five servants of Miaohua. Now she is even a cup of yellow earth. Why bother to involve her!”

Li Xun immediately knew that the two were talking about Shang Shi who was at the foot of Razor Peak a few days ago.

Fatty Ji’s face was filled with surprise. He asked curiously, “How come you’re different from us?”

“Different in what sense?”

“Brother Diao, have you forgotten? Shang Shi, the second of the Five Attendants of Miaohua, is your junior sister, and Zheng Shi, the fourth, is my junior aunt! She was also abducted by Gu Zhixuan back then, but she’s recently reconnected with the sect.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the three nearby were shocked. However, Li Xun soon realized there might be some inaccuracy in his statement.

He believed Zheng Shi’s identity, but because of the example of Yu Shi, he was well aware of the restrictions imposed on the Five Attendants of Miaohua. The

restrictions predicted by Yu Sanren couldn’t be automatically lifted, so the statement of “reconnecting” probably warranted further investigation.

Was it Zheng Shi who initiated the contact with the sect, or was it the other way around?

Just as he was preparing to listen to what was to come, his heart skipped a beat as the four people in both the light and dark sensed the movement.

Li Xun, being the most perceptive, instantly grasped the direction of the fluctuations and turned to look. Stars twinkled for a few breaths above the dusky sky, followed by a resounding sound of piercing the air. Though it came from a single direction, the sound waves seemed to surge down from all directions.

When the people on the ground looked again, the entire sky was ablaze

. Sword lights of various colors converged into a rolling tide, flowing from the north and southward. In an instant, the vanguard of the sword wave passed over the crowd’s heads, and the ensuing waves continued to surge. The cascading sound waves caused the river to surge and tremble, almost muffling the sound of the waves.

Hundreds? Thousands? Tens of thousands?

Li Xun couldn’t count. He had never seen such a spectacular sight

before. He had been so proud of his progress in cultivation that he had believed he could dominate the world and be unstoppable. However, he now understood that while the Tongxuan Realm might be like this under normal circumstances, before the mighty force of countless cultivators, not only him, but even Zhong Yin would have to flee as far as possible.

At this moment, the ancient saying of “returning the favor as he would have” was realized in the most direct and shocking way. It unfolded before him.

On the other side, the face of the Plague Ghost Gou was reflected in a riot of sword light, making it appear even more eerie and hideous. But all his senses had been numb, and he could only look up at the sky for a long, speechless moment.

Beside him, Fatty Ji shouted at the top of his lungs, the only way his voice wouldn’t seem so weak and trembling amid the rumbling sound. “

The Loose Cultivator Alliance has marched south in force… With such prestige, who else but the 100,000 gold armored warriors of Great Thousand Lights City can truly match it?” “

A hundred thousand gold armored warriors are nothing.”

The Plague Ghost Gou finally found the words to speak, his face still twitching. “Not to mention the few councilors of the Loose Cultivator Alliance and the 300 masters of Tongyan Hall, even with the Four Directions Guides, there are still 200,000 or 300,000 of them. If we want to fight, anyone who dares to face them head-on will die, except those who hide within the sect and rely on the mountain protection spells to hold on!”

Just as he finished speaking, the Plague Ghost Gou erupted in two more curses. The wave of sword light in the sky had finally passed by, and his curses were particularly loud.

It took a moment for the four people in both the light and dark to recover from the shock.

Looking at Ji Bu Chuang and Yi Gui Gou now, they felt the fat man’s farsightedness was truly remarkable. There was no need to worry about the so-called Zheng Shi Shang Qie. Just the sound of the thousands of sword flashes crashing past was enough to tell them that the fat man’s talk of changing the world was no mere rhetoric.

How many people would harbor such thoughts as this wave of sword light moved southward?

Yi Gui Gou’s expression softened and he suddenly bowed to Ji Bu Chuang. “Master Ji, you’ve hit the nail on the head. I was being too lenient before.”

“Not at all, Brother Diao.” Fatty Ji hurriedly returned the greeting with a wry smile. “To be honest, I was just thinking about it. How could I have imagined such a scene? My calves are still cramping!”

The two of them were arguing with each other. Meanwhile, the Eclipse God Knife beside them no longer stood alone and slowly approached. His unshaven face showed no sign of change.

Ji Buguo hurriedly called out, “Brother Zou, do you think this group of people is heading to Duli?”

Eclipse God Blade shook his head slightly, remaining silent.

However, Disease Ghost Hook, standing nearby, took over the conversation, “The most likely scenario is a direct trip to Xuanhai. However, the recent developments within the Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect could mean the Xuanhai meeting is over. If that’s the case, they could also head to the Southeast Forest Sea.”

Fatty Ji rubbed his thick chin and pondered, “If the legend is true, to enter Xuanhai Youming City, the winding path leads to a secluded place, and it’s quite possible that we can’t avoid the Southeast Forest Sea. But, brothers, do you think that woman Gu Yin would really be interested in a mere Xuanhai Youming City?”

Zhu Gou’s double kill was speechless. Seeing the heavy atmosphere, Fatty Ji laughed heartily and said, “In any case, the Northern Alliance troops have already passed through your sect’s Fantian. They won’t suddenly attack the East China Sea. We don’t have to worry about our home’s safety for now.

” “Let’s leave this headache to the bigwigs of the Western Alliance and the Nine Righteous Sects, hehe. And that Blood Demon Baigui. It’s going to be really difficult to protect Wuyinxuan!”

Yigui Gou also laughed and exchanged a glance with Eclipse God Knife. He nodded slowly, “That’s right. Regarding the alliance that Jige Bian just mentioned, we would like to hear more…”

The three of them exchanged a few more words and prepared to leave together. After all, this was not a suitable place for conversation.

Li Xun snorted inwardly. Though his curiosity remained undimmed, he gave up the idea of following. Fatty Ji was right; it was indeed time for him to have a headache.

Summer in the Southeast Forest Sea was the peak season for life. This was usually the time when cultivators from the Tongxuan Realm came to gather, hunt, and cultivate.

However, this year, the Southeast Forest Sea cultivators’ focus was no longer on exotic flowers and rare animals, but on the same passionate search they had for the past few months, searching the vast forest for that elusive goal.

Many had been diligently working for months, shuttling back and forth within the forest sea, almost cut off from the outside world. However, as new cultivators joined, word of mouth, mixed with rumors of uncertain authenticity, spread rapidly among the crowd.

“Hundred Ghosts has taken over Wuyin Pavilion, and next to it is Shui Dielan.”

“Hundred Ghosts is the Blood Demon

. The Blood Demon is the Hundred Ghosts.” “It seems we’ve found the entrance to Wuyin Pavilion to the west, but several experts were killed in a flash. Someone spotted Shui Dielan in the woods, the female devil hiding in the shadows, harming people.”

“The Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect is dead, and the Hundred Ghosts are on their way back.”

“You’re out of date. The Blood Demon clearly attacked the Mingxin Sword Sect and stole Zhong Yin’s sword!

” “Nonsense, it was someone else who stole the sword. The Blood Demon was stopped by cultivators from the Xingji Sword Sect. Tsk, Old Man Tianyuan personally led the charge to fight him to the death.”

“You fool. This Blood Demon is not that Blood Demon. The one Old Man Tianyuan stopped wasn’t Hundred Ghosts, but someone else. It’s said that person’s cultivation is truly astonishing. The Xingji Sword Sect had twelve True Person-level masters set up the Zhoutian Sanyuan Sword Formation, but they were shattered in just half an incense stick. Tian Tan was even half-broken, and his life or death is still unknown!”

“Yes, yes, I heard too. It seems the Xingji Sword Sect encountered the Blood Wanderer…”

“Hey, old man, if you’re ignorant, don’t make up stories. Has anyone here seen footage of the Water Mirror Sect’s battle at Razor Peak against the other sects? I did! And I heard it explained firsthand by a great figure. Blood Wanderer? Let me tell you, Blood Wanderer is right beside Bai Gui and has long been transformed into a Nether Mysterious Puppet . This is universally acknowledged by all the sects in the Western Alliance!”

“That’s right. The one the Xingji Sword Sect faced was definitely not Blood Wanderer. Rumor has it that she was a female cultivator, and quite beautiful at that.”

Such whispers circulated throughout the Southeast Forest Sea, a tangle of true and false reports, no one daring to discern any valuable information. Like a swarm of headless flies, they flitted about the forest floor.

However, amid the chaos of the recruitment drive, a small group of men, through effective organization and meticulous planning, leveraged the Southeast Forest Sea’s overabundant human resources to gradually guide the flow of people and carefully screen potential targets.

Taoist Sun led this group. He himself was a free cultivator, but four hundred years ago, he had been recruited by the Succubus Sect to become one of its guest elders. The cultivators he brought with him were of similar status.

Taoist Sun, recreating Feng Fu, blended into the vast group of free cultivators in the Southeast Forest Sea without revealing any flaws

. His mind was quite clear. Although he had been secretly manipulating the flow of people to search for Wuyinxuan, he didn’t actually expect this crude human wave tactic to be effective. Given

the vastness of the Southeast Forest Sea, even tens of thousands of cultivators, even hundreds of thousands or millions, wouldn’t cause much of a stir.

The Western Alliance deployed this wave of forces simply to drive a “nail” here to act as a diversion.

Whether it was the Northern Alliance, the Nine Sects of Righteousness, or the experts surrounding the Hundred Ghosts, as long as they could implicate a few key figures, the pressure on Xuanhai would be greatly reduced.

His plan was well-planned and executed to the letter. However, the news he had received in recent days had made it difficult for Taoist Sun to maintain a good mood.

The great hero of the Nether Fire Yama had done something like this before his death. Doesn’t this mean that all the sects’ previous arrangements in Xuanhai have been for nothing?

He thought to himself and took up a branch to write and draw on the ground to pass the time.

Just as his mind wandered, he heard hurried footsteps approaching from behind. Before he even reached him, the person whispered, “Master Sun, Brother Xu Si has been killed.”

With a snap, the branch in Taoist Sun’s hand broke into several pieces.

Xu Si’er was Taoist Sun’s disciple. Although his cultivation was mediocre, he was very clever and much admired by him. He felt the action wasn’t too dangerous, so he brought his disciple here to gain some experience. He hadn’t expected this outcome.

“Who did it?” Taoist Sun demanded, his teeth clenched.

The person rushed in front of him, his face still pale. “Exactly the same as the two men who died in the west the night before…”

Before he could finish his words, another scream rang out from the distance. Zhou Tian quickly quieted down.

Taoist Sun’s expression was grim, and he gave the person who had brought the news a look that understood. He quickly sealed his aura. The small area of jungle around him had been under their control for the past few days. While not flawless, it was still sufficient to locate one or two of the murderers.

Taoist Sun, informed by his subordinates, shifted like a ghost through the trees.

The other party’s movement wasn’t very fast, and he quickly caught up, but he was immediately surprised.

The figure ahead was petite, a young girl barely reaching marriage age. Dressed in an emerald green shirt and light silk pants, she soared through the treetops like a dainty kingfisher.

Although Taoist Sun wasn’t one to judge by appearances, he couldn’t help but hesitate. Could he have found the wrong person?

He soon realized his mistake. The cultivators

from his own group rushed over, shouting. A flank of fire and flying swords blazed away. The girl glanced sideways and suddenly plummeted from the treetops. Still not very fast, but her timing was perfect, just enough to avoid the sword’s impact.

The cultivator’s strike was ineffective, leaving him feeling humiliated. The sword flashed, unretracted, breaking through the barrier of tree trunks and branches as it pursued the cultivator. Green leaves fell

one after another, obscuring his view. Taoist Sun had just frowned when a flash of green light suddenly appeared from the corner of his eye. The girl had suddenly leaped out from the most unlikely position, caught between the flying sword and the cultivator.

With a wave of her hand, a buzzing sound erupted, and dozens of icy threads burst forth, enveloping the cultivator’s upper body.

By now, everyone had noticed. The girl’s cultivation was actually quite ordinary, even unremarkable, but the ice needles she produced were incredibly sharp, likely a powerful magical weapon.

The monk attacked by the ice needles was furious, yet he dared not face the sharpness head-on. He dodged sideways. However, as soon as he touched the side of his neck, the icy chill suddenly pierced his skin, then the cold energy penetrated through the meridians, instantly tearing through his body’s fragile defenses and piercing his heart.

With only a scream, the monk fell backward, seemingly dead.

The girl succeeded in her attack, and without stopping, she slipped back into the forest, her figure appearing and disappearing with a slithering grace.

“Bitch!” Taoist Sun

, enraged at the thought of such a young girl killing his beloved disciple and his subordinates, was about to strike.

The girl was truly perceptive. At the sound of her voice, she turned and smiled. From such a distance, Taoist Sun didn’t see her face for a moment, but he felt that her smile was gentle and graceful, without a trace of murderous intent.

After a moment’s pause, he immediately understood: “What a charm!”

It was during this moment of hesitation that the girl slipped behind a tree, completely obscuring her form.

Taoist Sun, unsure of her next move, roared in anger. He channeled his hidden energy, employing the “one force over ten” technique, and in a flash, uprooted dozens of trees in front of him. Among them were the “headwind” techniques he’d learned in the Succubus Sect, a hidden force

designed to inflict a vicious blow on the brain. The tree where the girl was hiding collapsed in an instant, but behind the tree, not a single figure was found. Furthermore, the girl’s presence vanished before the tree collapsed.

Without needing Taoist Sun to elaborate, the cultivators surrounding him from all sides turned the area upside down, finding nothing.

“How could it suddenly disappear…”

he muttered. Taoist Sun suddenly remembered some of the sect’s instructions. His face froze. After a pause, he suddenly raised his hand. He ordered, “Everyone, stop, take a headcount immediately, and retreat.”

The nearby divination staff were stunned, “Retreat? From where?”

“Retreat from the Southeast Forest.”

Seeing the girl suddenly vanish, and considering the sect’s instructions, Taoist Sun was certain she was a member of Wuyinxuan. He had come here to secretly trip them up, and now, having met them and killed two of his men, his identity must have been exposed. If he didn’t leave, he’d be dead.

“Retreat immediately!” Taoist Sun ordered decisively. “Contact Mr. Lu and have his men take over.” His men,

though puzzled, were well-trained after all, and they obeyed immediately. The dozen or so figures that had gathered dispersed, preparing to notify their companions still “working” deep in the forest.

Taoist Sun stood there, feeling slightly pleased with his quick reaction.

Ever since he learned of the Nine Nether Devouring Realm, he had suspected the Southeast Forest had become a dangerous place. Now, given the opportunity, he’d run as far as he could.

Life is paramount in the path of cultivation.

His face twitched, and just as he was about to turn, his heart suddenly began to beat like thunder. Simultaneously, a towering tree at the edge of his vision suddenly withered, collapsed, and crumbled in the forest breeze.

In an instant, the aura of his men around him diminished by half.

He instinctively turned his head and flew backward, but in his shifting vision, a flash of blood lashed out at him, its foul color nearly blinding him.

“Blood Demon? When did he come back?”

Before he could finish his thought, he had already fallen into eternal darkness.

Li Xun had actually just returned.

With his speed, he’d outpaced the Loose Cultivator Alliance’s forces by seven or eight days, reaching the Southeast Forest Sea before news of the incident spread. A short while earlier, he’d been lurking nearby, observing Yingning’s various tactics.

He was more surprised by the girl’s change in character than Zhuo’s battle awareness.

He’d been gone only a few days? And that timid little girl was already capable of harvesting lives without batting an eyelid?

With this question in mind, Li Xun broke through the void and returned to Wuyin Pavilion.

Inside the core pavilion, Shui Dielan was already waiting, smiling, but there was no sign of Yin Sanren or Yingning.

“You’re back,”

Shui Dielan’s greeting was casual, and Li Xun relished it. The carefree, lazy smile on her pale blue lips, in particular, slowly relaxed his tense heart, which had been tense in the outside world.

With a hum, Li Xun sat down on the pavilion’s stone pier and stretched out his body.

The spectroscope was not activated. The pavilion was now filled with a breathtaking garden scene. A gentle breeze blew across the lake, rippling the water. He suddenly felt a sense of nostalgia. This was his Wuyin Pavilion, his territory, his home.

He should have a good sleep in this world that belonged entirely to him .

After greeting her, Shui Dielan sat down on the other side of the stone table without saying a word, her hands folded, supporting her delicate neckline, and smiled at him.

The atmosphere slowly shifted, and Li Xun felt immense enjoyment, though a touch of awkwardness. After a moment, he tapped the tabletop, activated the spectroscope, and dispelled the previous tension.

Shui Dielan snorted and looked away.

Li Xun coughed and asked, “How’s your injury? To what extent have you recovered?”

“It’s still a long way off. Rama’s Tiansun Qigong is extremely depleting and damaging to my vital energy and lungs. I need at least a year to recuperate.” Shui Dielan held out her hand generously, allowing Li Xun to feel her pulse. Then, with a smile, she asked, “Why do you need my help?”

Shui Dielan seemed to believe that Li Xun was someone who wouldn’t come to her house unless necessary, which made Li Xun very dissatisfied.

He frowned and said, “Isn’t it okay to just ask and show my concern?”

As soon as he said that, Li Xun suddenly remembered something, and the momentum he had just gained was instantly lost.

Actually, he did have something he needed Shui Dielan’s help with. However, even if Li Xun was thick-skinned, he blushed and had to change the subject.

“Just now I saw Yingning… What’s Yin Chonghua up to? He’s throwing the little girl out now. She hasn’t even finished her Qi transformation work!” “

Shui Dielan glanced at him and withdrew her hand, still saving his face. She just smiled and said, “I don’t think there is anything else. Apart from that, I really admire the ability of Yin Zhonghua to teach his disciples. Your disciple is also very competitive. He seems to be born with the ability to fight. From five days ago until now, he has killed seven people. It’s quite amazing.”

Li Xun felt a little headache when he heard it. When he was at this age, he should still be fighting on Zuowang Peak. At that time, he was dealing with some wild beasts and birds. He really couldn’t compare with Yingning’s boldness in directly attacking many cultivators.

“What is Yin Chonghua thinking? Yingning’s cultivation isn’t even remotely good. If she didn’t have a good ice needle magic weapon, she’d probably be killed if she struck someone with that level of skill…”

“Oh. You mean the Ice Soul Flying Thread? It was found on the Qingxiao Terrace to the east. It seems to be the work of Master Gong Shucai of Qianfan City ten thousand years ago. It can be fired purely with a spring. The needle is made from refined ice soul. It’s extremely cold and poisonous.

” “Not to mention Yingning has some basic skills. Even a mortal from the Divination Realm could catch a cultivator below the Void Transformation Realm by surprise with it. A single drop of blood would be fatal. It’s perfect for Yingning.”

Shui Dielan didn’t care. She had nothing to do with Yingning. If it weren’t for Yin Sanren’s request, she wouldn’t have put down her healing to take care of her here.

Li Xun could guess her thoughts, but he didn’t care. He just asked, “Where’s she?”

Shui Dielan casually said, “She’s back to her room to do her homework. Yin Chonghua said she was too gentle, so she needed to go on a killing spree to cultivate a strong character. After each kill, she uses the energy in her chest to practice qigong several times to temper her character. That’s the most important thing.”

“So…what about Yin Chonghua?”

“She’s in seclusion. She seems to be compiling a secret technique. She wants Yingning to start with the Yin Fu Jing as a foundation, so she can control the Heavenly Demon Dance with greater efficiency.”

“She’s really attentive,” Li Xun pouted, vaguely remembering that this wasn’t the first time he’d said that.

But the mention of Yin Sanren made Li Xun even more curious about how she trained her disciples.

Li Xun still remembered the unfortunate individual’s “voluntary death.” He practically collided with the Ice Soul Needle himself. It seemed a coincidence, yet it was

all too clearly calculated. It was clear that Yingning’s calm and agile state of mind surpassed not only her peers but even most people he knew. Furthermore, her previous dodging, weaving, and interplay of reality and illusion were not merely clear-minded, but meticulously executed, each step resulting in an air of effortless ease. How could this be the work of a young woman just beginning her cultivation?

“Could it be that there are truly those born with knowledge?” Perhaps he would witness the rise of a remarkable genius.

Although Li Xun’s skill now rivaled that of any cultivator, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of bitterness at the sight of such a miracle. He didn’t even hear Shui Diexing calling out to him.

“Li!”

Shui Dielan spoke again, her tone emphasizing. Li Xun jolted awake. “What’s going on?”

“I’m asking you!” Shui Dielan rolled her eyes at him. “Don’t hide it. You definitely have something going on. Just say it!”

Li Xun didn’t have time to mourn his own reputation. He only smiled wryly and spread his hands. “Well, there’s something I need to borrow Mi’s wisdom for.”

Perhaps there was also Yin Sanren’s other words, which Li Xun kept to himself. Hearing him emphasize the word “wisdom,” Shui Dielan glanced at him suspiciously, her tone less careless, and asked, “About…”

“About Zhong Yin.”

At this moment, Li Xun acted remarkably calm.

At Shui Dielan’s slightly startled expression, he briefly recounted his recent experiences, briefly touching on the events of the Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect. He described

everything from his loss of consciousness before returning to Zuwang Peak and the bamboo building to Qingyin’s sword seizure, the telekinetic sword energy, and the four-day manhunt. He described it in exquisite detail.

Even though Li Xun spoke clearly, it took him nearly half an hour to explain everything. Finally, he expressed his concerns.

“I have too many things bearing Zhong Yin’s mark on me. The Bone Meridians and Heart-Opening Technique, in particular, is practically the foundation of my own cultivation. If Zhong Yin tinkers with it, I’m afraid I’ll end up dying without even knowing how…”

Shui Dielan frowned, but didn’t mock Li Xun’s caution. Instead, she reached out and probed his aura. After a moment, she said, “I’m not familiar with Zhong Yin. From rumors,

I don’t think he’d be the type to stab me in the back. Of course, it’s better to be cautious.” “Last time here, I felt your Bone Meridians and Heart-Opening Technique had some of the Great Demonic Aspects. It’s a difficult technique to claim was tailor-made for you… especially one created in such a short time.

“How about this. Call Yin Chonghua and release your Youyi as well. The three of us will work together to examine your aura from head to toe. This crude method is safer than anything else.”

This was Li Xun’s plan, and he naturally agreed. The two men immediately stood up and walked out of the pavilion, side by side, toward Yin Sanren’s retreat.

As they walked, Shui Dielan explained another matter to him: “As for your loss of mind or your will, if you look at it from the perspective of illusion, it’s likely that Zhong Yin had planted a ‘seed’ of some kind. Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem, but under certain circumstances, it can induce its effects. However, if your Dao heart is stable and there’s no loophole for him to exploit, even Zhong Yin, with all his might, can’t do anything to you.”

“Standing a Dao heart is far from easy,” Li Xun shook his head repeatedly

. Shui Dielan had witnessed Li Xun’s inner demons run wild, and she knew full well that the crack in Li Xun’s mind lay not elsewhere but within Zhong Yin. Upon hearing this, she simply smiled.

By then, the two had reached Yin Sanren’s retreat room. Shui Dielan was about to push the door open, but suddenly remembered something. She reached out and grabbed Li Xun’s shirt, forcing him forward. They faced each other, their noses almost touching.

Shui Dielan gnashed her teeth, her teeth like pearls, and said grimly, “Yin Chonghua has been teaching your apprentice all sorts of weird stuff these days. I know you’re no good, and I can’t control anything else, but if you dare do anything shameful under my nose, I’ll make you pay!”

With this exchange, the tense atmosphere that had built up during the journey vanished instantly.

Li Xun, no fool, naturally understood Shui Dielan’s intentions. He smiled wryly at first, then reached out and grasped the woman’s wrist, slowly removing it. His response was a firm

“Okay!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Xun casually opened the door to the room. Inside, Yin Sanren sat cross-legged on the couch, his beautiful eyes wide open, smiling.