The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 167

Chapter 3: Side Branches

As time went by, most of the rumors faded, but a few remained, increasingly close to the truth.

After a torrential downpour, the Southeast Forest, washed clean by the raging rain, finally received a piece of confirmed news.

The Loose Cultivator Alliance had marched southward, with 100,000 cultivators passing through. Their vanguard of nearly 10,000 was only two miles from the Southeast Forest.

At this distance, much of the information had become increasingly clear. The most rapidly circulating piece was the following: “The Profound Sea is ownerless. It should belong to all the people of the world.” The Loose Cultivator Alliance had established a treaty with all the cultivators of the world. The location of the alliance should be used by all cultivators and demons to seize their treasures and spiritual veins, making it a shared territory for all cultivators. All spiritual veins and minerals would be shared for the benefit of all.

“Gu Yin has finally made her move.” Li Xun, sitting cross-legged on the cloud, one hand resting on his chin, his elbow resting on his knee, a leisurely expression on his face, commented on this “arrogance.” “Her wording is quite mild. In fact, the word ‘Xuan Hai’ in the sentence could have been replaced with anything. For example, the Southeast Forest Sea, the Northern Qi Mountains, or simply the spiritual veins and immortal herbs of the world.

” “She said a lot, but it all comes down to the same thing: ‘The world belongs to everyone in the world.'” Such a statement is clearly a prelude to a world-shaking transformation. If she really makes such a clear move, it will undoubtedly lead to an irreconcilable feud with the Tongxuan sects… Hey, she’s right, it’s too early.” Shui Dielan, sitting beside him, heard this and asked in confusion, “What do you mean too early?” “Gu Yin said that if we can keep a low profile for a thousand years, the people of this world will be corrupted. If we raise our voices again, the impact will be much greater than it is now. In the current situation, Gu Yin is the only one holding it together. If she survives, the alliance will collapse. If she dies, the alliance will collapse. This fact cannot be concealed.” Shui Dielan wasn’t interested in the current situation; she was simply curious about Li Xun’s plans. “From the sound of it, are you siding with the Tongxuan sects?” Li Xun waved his hand. “This isn’t an either-or situation. The current situation makes it easy for people to assume a position, as if they’re either on the side of the Tongxuan sects or with Gu Yin and Chen Han. But this is a conclusion we reached after we’ve uncovered Gu Yin’s overall plan and taken a comprehensive look at the situation.

Perhaps some wise individuals in this world can guess Gu Yin’s intentions, but the vast majority remain trapped in the situation. For them, taking a stand isn’t necessary; they simply need to protect themselves or profit from it, that’s all.” Three million cultivators in the Tongxuan Realm. These talented individuals truly make up the bulk of the force. “The Loose Cultivator Alliance claims to represent all the loose cultivators and demons in the world, but it actually has only a few hundred thousand loyal followers. The various Tongxuan sects are not monolithic either. The Nine Orthodox Sects and the Western Alliance sects are incompatible. And the Four Sects Alliance, which Ji designed well, is a typical example of a force that wants to stay out of the matter.

” “The positions of all parties are completely different, and each has its own calculations. The current situation is tense and it’s hard to tell. Once things change, the clear boundaries on the surface will immediately become blurred.” Even greater chaos lay ahead. “Oh, you have a plan,” Shui Dielan said, her tone unclear as to whether it was sarcasm or praise. “Or perhaps you’ve already got a complete plan? Like, let Gu Yin die…” “How could it be that easy? Although I think Zhan Yin is ready to die, it would require her to do it herself. Killing her wouldn’t be so easy. Of course, if we want to profit from it, letting Gu Yin die would be in our best interest. It depends on whether any righteous men will help kill her.” Li Xun spoke in a nonchalant tone, then paused and sighed. “At this point, whether Gu Yin dies or not, whether the situation is reversed or not, is irrelevant. Don’t you think the outcome is already determined, no matter how things unfold?” Li Xun’s sigh surprised Shui Dielan. She had never heard him express fatalism before. He seemed oblivious to the negativity of his words and continued his speech calmly.

“I’ve only just realized that Gu Yin is the biggest culprit in the current chaos. Killing Gu Yin before things get out of hand is indeed a great way to quickly cut the Gordian knot. But even if we cut through the “knot” of Gu Yin, we’ll only have clarified the current situation.” “In reality, Gu Yin is a hand. She pushed the Loose Cultivator Alliance down the high hillside. This massive boulder rolled downhill, accelerating faster and faster. People didn’t stop her initially. By the time the boulder had already rolled halfway down the slope, it was too late. There was nothing they could do but watch helplessly as the boulder tumbled.

“The Loose Cultivator Alliance has become a force to be reckoned with. Through this object, Gu Yin’s ideals will spread throughout the land and become deeply ingrained. Even if Gu Yin dies and the Alliance shatters, protecting the Tongxuan sects for a while, who can guarantee that a thousand years from now, there won’t be another Gu Yin to continue that unfinished feat?” Li Xun spoke at length, then paused, looking up at the clear sky above. Fang Shao sighed, “The Tongxuan Realm is about to change… but it has nothing to do with me.” “Shui Dielan understood his feelings very well. This is the instinct of the strong who don’t want to be lonely.

It’s just that Li Xun’s experiences in the first half of his life have chosen a path of isolation from the world for him. He is destined to be strong and detached. He is a loner who doesn’t fit in. Even if he wants to change, he has missed the best opportunity. He can only repeat the words of his predecessors and has no value. From this level, no matter what realm Li Xun reaches in the future, Gu Yin’s influence on future generations will be something he can never surpass. And in the history of Tongxuan Realm, there are only a few people who can compete with him. Thinking of this, Shui Dielan really admires Gu Yin. However, she quickly got herself out of this empty association and said impatiently: “Since it has nothing to do with it, why bother thinking about it? It is better to think about how to solve the problem at hand.

Li Xun recovered quickly after being interrupted by Shui Dielan and laughed: “Yes, let’s solve the trouble at hand first…” As he spoke, his eyes also cast towards the woman in green lying quietly on the clouds.

The woman was Qingyang.

The demon, theoretically dead, was in a delicate state, difficult to comprehend. Shui Dielan insisted on taking her to the winding

path. However, Qingying, unlike the two puppets, could freely enter and exit the void. While flying by air was fast, it was difficult to carry heavy objects. Li Xun had no choice but to use the cloud-riding technique to slowly advance. At full speed, Li Xun and Shui Dielan would only need two hours to complete this journey. Now, using the cloud-riding technique, the time was stretched by more than ten times. Shuangli, accustomed to flight, was now in a state of crawling.

Bored, Li Xun stretched his limbs and finally lay down on the cloud. Half asleep, he suddenly remembered something and asked vaguely, “Is Qingying’s secret method for overcoming tribulations the same as Zhutian Yuhuafen? What about Mi’s method?” There was no response for a long time. Li Xun was almost asleep in a daze. Suddenly, he shuddered and all sleepiness disappeared.

Oh no, I must have irritated my aunt. In the Tongxuan Realm, no matter which cultivators were close or not, topics like overcoming tribulations and reincarnation were always taboo. It was almost like asking someone in the lower realm what kind of shroud they would wear or what kind of coffin they would lie in when they died, which was tantamount to cursing them to die early. He opened his eyes wide and wanted to sit up, but felt that was too serious. During his hesitation, Shui Dielan’s sneer reached his ears: “It’s rare that you care about me so much…” “I just asked casually.” Li Xun felt guilty and his words were a little weak. If he was abrupt, he would apologize to Mi. “Forget it, you don’t seem to be sincere. Besides, this is nothing. It’s okay to tell you. In fact, you have seen it before, which is the method of turning into a butterfly and returning to a dream. “Shui Dielan’s leisurely voice lingered in the ears under the strong wind in the clouds. It seemed more and more ethereal and unreal: “This method is not only used on others, but also on yourself. The so-called life and death are just a big dream. There is no difference between a dream and reality.

“A dream of ten thousand years is just a fleeting moment for me. Even if you kill me with the “heart knot” ten thousand years later, your flesh and blood will turn into mud, and this fairy will still break out of the cocoon and become a butterfly and live an extremely comfortable life. “Haha!” Li Xun obviously felt that Shui Dielan’s second half was to enhance the atmosphere, and hurriedly said: “With the help of our parents-in-law, who in the world dares to come and find trouble with us? Wait a minute. Butterflies are divided into male and female, right…” Li Xun was hit hard on the lower abdomen with a cough. He groaned and curled up like a shrimp, unable to breathe for a while. He had rarely seen Shui Dielan so furious, and the novelty of it made him unable to control his tongue. “I’m a little confused. The part about Mi using the Butterfly Return to Dream technique to enter the Delusion Return to Dream is understandable, but the previous part is a bit strange. I know Mi is the Hundred Illusions Butterfly Technique, but what did this butterfly reverse into? “A cocoon. What’s wrong with taking the chaotic and unclear state to nurture all things?” “Push the cocoon forward.” “In front…” Her voice suddenly cut off. Seeing her desperate look, Li Xun could no longer hold back his laughter. He was halfway through his laughter when the wind whistled in his ears, carrying a raging rage. Shui Dielan struck him with a relentless kick, silencing his laughter and sending him plummeting from the clouds.

After plummeting nearly a hundred feet, Li Xun coughed and finally managed to stop his fall, but an inexplicable emotion overwhelmed him, sending him into a fit of laughter, nearly rolling back and forth in mid-air to demonstrate his sincerity.

Even from a hundred feet away, Li Xun could clearly sense Shui Dielan’s fury, but it quickly faded amidst his unsteady laughter. Finally, the demon woman simply cursed him from a distance, “You bastard!” and discontinued his struggle.

The laughter suddenly ceased.

It wasn’t Li Xun’s conscience that had dawned, but rather something unsettled in the outside world.

The sound of approaching energy colliding over a hundred miles away, along with the unique emanating waves, made Li Xun and the others aware not only of the incoming forces but also of their respective sects.

“I knew after climbing for so long I’d get into trouble sooner or later. But… are both sides of the Yin-Yang Sect… insiders?” Li Xun’s curiosity piqued. Sensing the battlefield closing in on them, he gestured to Shui Dielan from afar, asking her to watch over Qingyang from the clouds while he flew forward to investigate.

The skies’ battle affected more than just Li Xun and his group.

Although this place was outside the Wuxian Pavilion’s area, it was still considered the edge of the Southeast Forest Sea. Most cultivators in this realm didn’t understand the difference. Many were still searching nearby. The shockwaves of the battle spread, and many were peering from the shadows to gather information.

Li Jbj disappeared, stopping several miles from the battlefield. His vision was more than enough to see the situation clearly.

He was slightly surprised to learn that one of the two engaged in the fierce battle was someone he knew. It was the female cultivator who had delivered the Soul-Breaking Shuttle to him at Wuyin Pavilion not long ago. She was one of the Yin-Yang Sect’s Five Sisters and seemed to be on her way to reunite with someone there.

Su Yu, however, was in no hurry, simply following behind. He spoke softly, “Sister Wu Ji, you will not be able to resist once the Sect Master arrives in person. Instead of doing these useless things, Mi might as well consider surrendering and explaining everything to the Sect Master. Perhaps she can avoid being killed, and even her lover can be saved. Li Xun sneered secretly at the side of the teacher. Su Yu clearly used the magic of soul-capturing and mind-bending when he spoke in order to discourage Wu Ji’s fighting spirit. Unfortunately, Wu Ji did not fall for it. Without looking back, she sneered and said, “Su Yu. The magic of mind-capturing was taught to Mi by me on behalf of my master, and now you want to show off your skills in front of an expert?” “Reciprocity is the due duty of fellow disciples. What do you think, senior sister? “It would be better to say that it is retribution. But today, Mi was ordered to hunt me down. How do I know that he will not end up like me one day? You know, Mi knows more secrets than I do. The two Yue girls still used the art of soul-capturing and mind-bending to chase each other! The disturbance opened Li Xun’s ears. However, his interest diminished a lot after hearing so much, and he had no intention of forcefully intervening. After following for more than a hundred miles, he was ready to go back and do his own thing.

At this moment, the impact in the distance suddenly disappeared, and the two violently shining life pulses also fell quickly. Even though they were dozens of miles apart, Li Xun could feel the curse that burst out at that moment.

“Tsk, what a tragic death. Li Xun noticed that the familiar figure in the distance had made significant progress in recent days. The sharp and vicious attack he had just struck had hints of his master’s style.

Accustomed to the other’s gentle and graceful demeanor, this sudden move was even more shocking.

The two women fighting certainly couldn’t follow the distant battle as closely as Li Xun, and it was only a moment later that they noticed this fatal change, and it was too late to react.

Li jbj suppressed the thought of retreating and folded his arms, waiting for his old friend to arrive. Within a few breaths, a figure appeared in the northwest sky. Wu Ji saw the person coming! The despair in the waves could no longer be concealed.

“Qin Wanru… good practice!” This was certainly not a greeting, but the most vicious curse. Wu Ji was so absorbed in the action that she was hit by Su Yu’s palm on the back. Her protective energy was instantly shattered, her internal organs severely damaged, and she fell straight from the air.

Along with her fell a head with a coughing eye and a gaping mouth.

The shock of Xiong Qi’s landing caused Wu Ji to collapse to the ground, and the choking sound in her throat was even more unbearable to listen to. Li Xun didn’t sense any tragic separation or death in her. Her sobs were more likely filled with despair for her future.

Speaking of which, how many levels of the Eight Secrets of the Lotus had Qin Wanru learned from Yin Sanren? With this thought in mind, Li Xun saw the fragrance of a skirt drifting through the air. The Yin-Yang Sect’s leader, Qin Wanru, arrived alone in the Southeast Forest Sea.

This renowned beauty of the Tongxuan Realm wore a plain, plain dress, devoid of makeup or pearls. Her dark hair was tied in a simple bun, and her eyes were calm and composed. She betrayed no emotion, like a tender white lotus, moving and moving gracefully.

But watching from afar, Li Xun felt a flame stirring within him, a desire to tear the beauty’s plain mourning clothes apart and devour them whole. The thought rose and fell, and when things returned to normal, Li Xun felt a deep admiration for her.

Qin Wanru’s power had clearly advanced significantly. Her alluring presence, invisible and unintentional, had an unexplained effect on those around her. However, the residual force radiating out from this place immediately inflamed Li Xun’s bloody demonic aura, like boiling oil poured over water. The reaction was unexpectedly intense.

Qin Wanru seemed to sense something, and glanced over with a hint of doubt. Li Xun immediately restrained his aura, concealing her. After their investigation proved unsuccessful, Qin Wanru abandoned her distraction and joined Su Yu in standing before Wu Ji.

The casual cultivators who had been watching the excitement dispersed to a safe distance.

Regardless, the presence of a sect leader like Qin Wanru was a formidable deterrent. Cases of unfortunate individuals being silenced for accidentally overhearing sect secrets were countless throughout history.

Li Xun, on the other hand, approached a few more people, fearing being silenced, but he didn’t care.

Qin Wanru, dressed in pure white, looked nothing like she had just decapitated a formidable cultivator.

Li Xun now had a vague impression of Xiong Qi, a rather famous independent cultivator known for his unruly behavior. To have survived this long in the Tongxuan Realm, a place teeming with experts, despite his unruly behavior, his cultivation was evidently formidable, and his luck commendable. It was a shame that this was the end of it all.

Wu Ji glared at Qin Wanru with resentment. Even Li Xun, from a distance, could sense her guilt and fear. It was clear that Qin Wanru held considerable influence within the Yin-Yang Sect. She wasn’t living off the influence of Yin Sanren. Qin Wanru didn’t dwell on her, gesturing at the head that had fallen to the ground. She spoke softly, “Hao Ji, it would have been fine if you had betrayed the sect and fled with your lover, but why did you collude with the Independent Cultivator Alliance to plot something nefarious?” “Escape and live a life of luxury?” Mi had finally said it. Wu Ji was so frightened that her spirit was on the verge of collapse. She tried to stand up, but her voice trembled.

“If I don’t find someone to rely on, I’ll be killed by Mi sooner or later. If it weren’t for Xiong Qi, how could I have escaped here…” Qin Wanru. “If you want to kill me, do it now.” The north has clearly stated that experts will be dispatched to assist them, and they’re not far away. Xi Lixun couldn’t help but laugh at this ridiculous threat, but the smile barely escaped his lips before he froze. He paused for a moment, leaning forward slightly, but ultimately, he didn’t move.

Qin Wanru offered a few more soft words, perhaps intending to punish without warning.

Just as she was about to unleash her power, there was a loud boom. The ground beside Wu Ji exploded, and a gray figure burst out, grinning strangely. With a single swoop, it seized Wu Ji and sped upward.

Sheltered by the flying debris, the gray figure soared ten feet into the air, spun around, and like a tornado, it plunged into the dense forest.

Qin Wanru realized her reaction only when the ground exploded. It was too late to react, and she could only watch helplessly as the other person carried Wu Ji away.

Faced with this sudden change, Qin Wanru didn’t immediately pursue. Instead, she tilted her head slightly. Su Yu, beside her, immediately understood her intention and began to pursue. However, even with this delay, the figure ahead had already slipped into the dense forest, leaving her a considerable distance behind, making it seem impossible to catch up.

However, Li Xun knew that Qin Wanru wasn’t in the least bit anxious to have Su Rui pursue. It was merely a pretense.

As expected, just seven or eight breaths after the gray shadow entered the dense forest, the sound of explosive friction erupted. Amidst the sharp whistling, trees fell, beasts and animals were in danger, and even the casual cultivators who had been watching the excitement were ejected, causing chaos.

The gray shadow had not anticipated an ambush within the dense forest. He was immediately blasted out of the forest, tumbling in mid-air and landing in a half-crouch on the branch of a human-shaped tree at the edge of the woods. Wu Ji, who was tucked under his arm, seemed stunned by the noise and, furthermore, severely injured, completely collapsed.

Qin Wanru raised her head slightly to examine the figure on the branch.

The person appeared ordinary in appearance and attire, making it difficult to discern their origins. However, despite knowing they were surrounded, they remained calm and composed, suggesting either a skilled and daring individual or a sense of security. Considering Wu Ji’s words, one could probably guess their background. If Qin Wanru had engaged directly with the forces behind them, she would undoubtedly have been at a disadvantage. Unfortunately, Without wasting any more time, she simply waved her hand. A gust of wind blew through the forest, sending thirty-six chains of crimson and blue light shooting out, weaving into a web in the air and slamming down on the man.

The man’s smile faltered, clearly unprepared for Qin Wanru’s sudden attack without so much as a word of warning. Fortunately, his evasion skills were exceptional, and despite carrying a person, he was able to escape the net in time.

However, before he could rejoice, a pure white figure suddenly appeared before him. In an instant, the energies and lightning that clashed between them were as dazzling as celestial fireworks.

In this close-quarters clash of attack and defense, Qin Wanru proved superior. Seizing her opportunity, she pressed her finger directly against the man’s shoulder, her force breaking through his protective Qi and severing at least two vital meridians.

With a painful groan, the man fell back into the web of light chains, struggling to get up.

Without even glancing at him, Qin Wanru coldly declared, “Kill Lie. Who dares?” Yue, unable to maintain his smile, shouted angrily, but unfortunately, he couldn’t frighten the Yin-Yang Sect cultivators.

The light chain web trembled slightly, a stream of crimson and green light flowing through it, a crisscross of scorching heat and icy cold. Sixty-six explosions followed in a flash.

This was the Yin-Yang Sect’s renowned Heavenly Thunder Demon technique. Yang thunder shattered the body, while Yin thunder destroyed the soul. The interplay of yin and yang was enough to vaporize the cultivators trapped within the net.

The man in the net screamed as he saw the lightning converge, threatening to pulverize him into a pulp. A sudden change occurred. The man curled up into a ball, and a pale green halo hummed and expanded around him, blocking the lightning bolts from all directions. Then, the muscles on his back swelled, as if a massive tumor had grown, forcibly stretching his clothes.

When the “tumor” was revealed, people realized that the contours of it were actually a lifelike human head. All the facial features were complete, except for the slightly closed eyes. A gaping hole ripped open where the mouth should be. Judging by the surrounding curves, the head was actually smiling.

In fact, people could hear the head laughing.