The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 168

Chapter 4: Winding Path

The laughter was initially inaudible, blending seamlessly with the rustling of branches and leaves in the dense forest behind. But it quickly expanded, sending a powerful shockwave piercing the chests of the surrounding cultivators, causing their internal organs to vibrate.

Li Xun raised an eyebrow. He could sense the moment the laughter spread. At least five or six observing cultivators were knocked unconscious, and the Yin-Yang Sect cultivators were even more devastated. Of the eighteen men ambushed in the dense forest, a small half lost control of their true energy. The Heavenly Thunder Demon formation collapsed of its own accord.

Qin Wanru was also stunned by the bizarre scene before her. Her beautiful eyebrows furrowed, and after a moment’s hesitation, she said, “R Li… Who is this demon?” Midway through her words, she abruptly changed her tone, her tone becoming more assertive. However, the laughter of the human head quickly drowned her words. Amidst the growing sound waves, the curled-up figure on the ground slowly rose to its feet. His swaying face even retained the distorted muscles of a scream, but a glance at his eyes revealed that he was completely mad, a mere puppet controlled by someone. Amidst the soul-shaking laughter behind him, this puppet began to speak: “Sect Master Qin, you’re feigning ignorance, and were just about to invoke Old Sodium’s Dharma name. Why add the name of a demon?” Qin Wanru’s face was as gloomy as water, and she didn’t respond. She used the sect’s unique code to contact her subordinates, hoping to organize a second wave of strangulation. However, the demon didn’t give her the opportunity to calmly prepare. The laughter suddenly changed from deep to high, as if leaping from a thousand-foot ravine to the blue sky and clouds. The violent transformation seemed to be a force that penetrated the soul, shaking the spirit and making it uneasy. For a moment, there was an uproar around them.

“His soul is scattered. His spirit is wandering thousands of miles. He is the Soul-Separated Monk of the Loose Cultivator Alliance. Li Xun hummed softly in the dark. The Soul-Separated Monk is a high-ranking figure in the Loose Cultivator Alliance and one of the Ten Executive Councilors. Before joining the Loose Cultivator Alliance, he was already one of the most powerful masters of the evil ways in this world.

Among the Ten Executive Councilors, he and Baoyi Tianjun are the two most low-key ones. However, their cultivation level is far superior to that of Bing Yaoniang, Jia Daoren and others. They are second only to Qi Yao and Yu Sanren. However, due to their personality and connections, they usually don’t talk much and rarely intervene in the strategic decisions of the alliance.

The monster with a head on its back is certainly not the real body of the Soul-Separated Monk.

According to Li Xun’s understanding. Soul-Separated Monk The “Maitreya Reincarnation Method” practiced by monks can make the soul leave the body and travel thousands of miles. It can also occasionally use part of its magical powers to parasitize other people. It is usually not obvious. At critical moments, it can temporarily take over the body and control it. Legend has it that it even has the effect of “external incarnation”.

The person in front of him is probably the host chosen by the monk Lihun. In this case, Qin Wanru, as a member of the sect, can no longer pretend. However, changing her words immediately would not be in line with her status. Therefore, she just stared at Su Bian coldly without saying a word. The host’s stiff face lacked expression, but her tone was still lively: “Master Qin is so ruthless. Deacon Xiong Qixiong of our alliance has no grudge against your sect. Why was he killed here? Qin Wanru didn’t back down an inch. “He colluded with a traitor from our sect to steal our secrets. He deserves death.” “Does Sect Master Qin believe that with Xiong Qi’s head gone, there’s no evidence? Why did our alliance receive news a few days ago that he was recommending a wandering cultivator who had left your sect to serve in the Four Directions Reception Office?” “Deacon Xiong Qi is a person of standing within our alliance, and we won’t tolerate Sect Master Qin’s slander. If Sect Master thinks death is the end of everything, he’s mistaken.” Qin Wanru said with a cold, frosty face, “Why should we talk about a conclusion? Monk Lihun, since you know my identity, please let me go. Wu Ji, don’t interfere in our sect’s internal affairs. The Loose Cultivator Alliance should not overreach.” “Is Sect Master Qin unwilling to let this go? Xiong Qi is dead, and our alliance needs to learn the details. Wu Ji is indispensable. Today, Old Sodium will take her away for detailed questioning. If it’s really as Sect Master Qin describes, “This alliance will hand her over to your sect for disposal… Oh, Sect Master Qin, aren’t you going to reason with me?” The host suddenly changed the subject, scanning the surroundings and perceiving the shifting arrangements within the Yin-Yang Sect. He remained unperturbed, only smiling. “I admire Master Qin’s courage, but I cannot help but remind you that a quarrel of arrogance will do no good to your sect. As a sect leader, you must carefully consider your decisions.” With a stern, airy tone, the host chuckled, bent down, lifted Wu Ji, and staggered forward. In a flash, he brushed past Qin Wanru. A faint tremor echoed through the air, and the surrounding vital energy surged more intensely. A tremendous pressure remained locked onto the host.

Qin Wanru slowly turned, facing the eerie head behind the host. The head’s eyes, which had been closed, suddenly opened, two balls of faint blue light emanating from them. The light swept over the surrounding Yin-Yang Sect cultivators, already on the verge of attacking, involuntarily paused. As they tried to resume their combined attack, a strange sound echoed in the sky.

The sound of thousands of sword beams piercing the air blended together. The northern sky flashed with flowing light, and a swarm of sword lights descended in succession.

“The vanguard of the Loose Cultivator Alliance has arrived.” Li Xun was well aware of the newcomers’ identities and felt a little sorry for Qin Wanru.

From his vantage point, the conflict within the beautiful sect leader was clearly evident on her face. One could imagine the intensity of her inner struggle.

However, Li Xun’s earlier doubts resurfaced. Turning his own niece into an elixir was indeed shocking, but it wasn’t unacceptable for Yin Sanren to do so. It might be possible to ask others why Qin Wanru was so cautious about her reputation. Or perhaps there was something special about the elixir. Hmm, perhaps… Qin Wanru ultimately decided not to attack. The host of the Soul-Separating Monk chuckled and slowly soared towards the approaching force.

As they drew closer, the head behind the host began to stir again, but gradually subsided. This temporary possession technique also takes a significant toll. Judging from the gradually clearing connection of Qi, the monk’s true form was likely among the cultivators who had just arrived. With the outcome secured, he called it a day.

Su Bian, carrying the unconscious Wu Wan, had already left Qin Wanru’s control, his consciousness gradually regaining.

This person was a registered disciple of the Lihun monk, and this wasn’t the first time he’d been possessed by his master. He wasn’t particularly surprised. After a brief exchange with Lihun, he understood what was happening. His confidence was bolstered, and he didn’t even care about his serious injuries.

With this mindset, he increased his speed slightly. Just as he was about to connect with his opponent, he felt a pain in his left shoulder, as if he had collided with something. The force wasn’t great, but it still knocked him sideways. Turning his head, he stared at the empty void, stunned.

“What a blind thing! You didn’t even look at the road when you flew up!” Li Xun suddenly appeared in the courtyard with his arms folded, looking like a stone man with no intention of

looking straight ahead. The host was shocked that he was completely unaware of this person hiding right next to him. He instinctively shuddered, not wanting to cause any more trouble. Just as he was about to move away, his chest tightened. Li Xun suddenly grabbed his clothes.

It was like a very ordinary quarrel. Li Xun played the role of a fool very well. However, only the host who was caught could see the strange blood flowing in Li Xun’s eyes at close range.

When the host met his eyes, he was like a frog being stared at by a snake. His whole body was stiff. His ears received the warning from Li Xun: “Next time you enter someone’s house, remember to knock on the door first.” The sinister voice penetrated into the host’s heart and almost froze his internal organs. However, contrary to this feeling, his right ribs and armpits felt like being splashed with red-hot molten iron. The burning pain, accompanied by the smell of burning, instantly overwhelmed his senses. He began to scream heartbreakingly, then was struck by a falling leg in the lower back. His entire body was thrown higher up before the supporting team.

Flakes of flying ash swirled around his soaring body.

A moment later, he finally understood the origin of the ash: Wu Ji, trapped under his right ribs, had been completely destroyed. Aside from the gradually fading ash, there was no trace of it.

At the moment the host was hit by the leg, one of the wandering cultivators suspended in midair groaned softly, but the last syllable faded. Li Xun accurately caught the subtle sound and turned his head with a smile. In the end, he made no response. He remained in mid-air, arms folded, waiting for a response.

However, all he received was an awkward silence.

Aside from the slight commotion caused by the host being thrown in front of the formation, none of the hundreds of wandering cultivators responded.

This wasn’t to say they were truly immovable. Rather, the Soul-Separating Monk, hiding among them, had suffered a hidden loss. Li Xun, using his host to attack from afar, had his blood and qi surging, making it hard to breathe. Without a word from the leader, how could these underlings possibly take over? This was exactly the effect Li Xun was aiming for. Seeing the previously indomitable aura of the group of cultivators dwindle at a noticeable rate, he chuckled and turned to greet Qin Wanru. “Senior Sister Qin, long time no see. How have you been?” “Thank you, Junior Brother, for your concern. It’s understandable.” Qin Wanru also floated into the air. A smile of relief spread across her pretty face. It was as if a heavy burden had been lifted from him, and even the dignity of the Sect Master melted away in his smile. “Thank goodness Junior Brother is here today, otherwise, if that bitch had escaped, it would have been a huge problem.” “Not at all. A few days ago, Junior Girl helped my people with the Soul-Breaking Shuttle. Today, I’m just returning the favor.” Li Xun’s anger was quite different from his previous outburst towards the host. After the polite words, he turned and whispered, “Is it because of R Ji’er?” Qin Wanru’s expression darkened, and she nodded almost imperceptibly.

Li Xun made a surprised sound, then asked her bewilderedly, “Madam Yu has passed away. This matter must be dealt with decisively. If it truly can’t be resolved, then that’s it. Senior Uncle has always been indifferent to criticism, so Senior Sister shouldn’t be too concerned.” Junior Brother is right. I just didn’t expect this bitch to collude with outsiders and even involve the Loose Cultivator Alliance, which has caused things to get so out of hand. Thanks to my junior brother’s help… um, Monk Lihun has truly arrived. Li Xun turned around to see a burly bald man, wearing a loose gray robe, standing in front of the group of loose cultivators. After a pause, the bald man spoke in a deep, resonant voice, though not as loud as when he had previously possessed a body: “Master Hundred Ghosts. Come forward and speak.” How could Li Xun let him manipulate him in this situation? He simply ignored him and spoke directly to Qin Wanru: “Senior Sister, you’ve offended the Loose Cultivator Alliance this time. Do you have any plans for dealing with this later?” Qin Wanru knew he was deliberately leaving the monk alone, so she smiled and responded cooperatively: “From the moment I rescued my mother, I’ve completely offended them all. But there’s only one person, Ming Xinling Zhu.”

Qin Wanru’s smile was subtle, with a hint of something else. “Someone said the other day that Lingzhu was slain by the Blood Demon, the incarnation of the Hundred Ghosts, deep in the Beiqi Mountains, leaving no trace of his remains. The news spread so vividly that the Mingxin Sword Sect even sent a capable cultivator to investigate. “Really?” Li Xun didn’t know what expression to express, and this absurd feeling only lasted a moment. He began to wonder how such rumors had started. It couldn’t be someone’s conspiracy, could it? Yet, it seemed so meaningless.

Li Xun considered that perhaps he should return to the mountain as Lingzhu. Or… perhaps seize the opportunity to end things. This thought flashed through his mind, then was suppressed deep within his heart.

At this moment, the bottom line of the Lihun monk’s rationality was finally shattered by the poisonous fire within his heart. A piercing scream boomed from the other side: “The madman possesses the power of soul separation and spirit destruction.” The sound waves instantly mingled with the demonic energy within Li Xun’s body.

Without any surprise, the burning blood energy rebounded with a bang. The overflow around Li Xun suddenly climbed, and the temperature burned the air, creating a crackling noise that sounded like the clashing of thousands of resentful spirits. With Qin Wanru’s cultivation level, he couldn’t help but step back a distance to calm the restless energy within him. Li Xun turned slowly and stared at the demonic monk from a distance. Just as he was about to make a move, he felt something. He glanced to the side and sneered.

Almost in sync with the laughter, a deep and pleasant voice rang out from the side of the group of cultivators: “Master Lihun, the order passed by the council is not a bystander.” Li Xun had heard this voice before. By distinguishing the person by the sound and combining it with the other party’s vital pulse, he quickly confirmed that the visitor was none other than the palace attendant of the Five Attendants of Miaohua, a trusted confidant of Gu Yin.

Although she was a nuna, the palace attendant’s words to Monk Lihun were rude and reprimanding. The demon monk heaved a sigh of relief when he heard this, knowing that someone had finally paved the way for him.

So Monk Lihun responded very submissively and turned to explain to the palace attendant how the hundred ghosts had killed Wu Ji and how they had plotted against him, thus failing in his mission.

The palace attendant understood all of this and said nothing more, simply: “This matter was a sudden change and the master is not to blame. Since the matter is a foregone conclusion, let’s withdraw.” “This is exactly what the monk wanted. Of course, some gestures still need to be made. With a bit of reluctance, he cast a fierce look and then rolled up his torn sleeves and left first.

However, no matter how he acted, he could not get rid of the taste of shame.

“He has scheming but no patience. No wonder he has no say among the ten executives. Quan Gu Yin absorbed him because he valued his character more than his cultivation.” Li Xun was pondering the subtleties of this when he saw that the palace servant did not leave but floated towards him. Finally, he stopped several feet away. He bowed from a distance: “Mr. Baigui, I apologize to you on behalf of my clan leader.” The palace servant was dressed in gorgeous clothes and had a dignified manner, but his words were overly humble. Li Xun was a little nervous, but of course he did not show it on his face. He just smiled and said: “Clan leader Gu is too polite…” “The clan leader said that if you take over Wuyinxuan, the Southeast Forest Sea can be regarded as your property. It is indeed rude for our alliance to enter without permission. But the situation forces us to settle some things here. I hope you can forgive me.

“Besides, the members of our alliance are not all good and diligent. Even if we try our best to restrain them, there may be some omissions. If they offend you in the future, please be gracious and give them a light punishment.” Li Xun laughed when he heard it: “Master Gu praises me too much. So, Madam Gong, please tell Master Gu that I am not a big shot. I can’t compare with Master Gu’s generosity. I just want to protect the garden and the house. Other matters do not need to be filed with me

. When the emergency comes, we just need to make it clear between gratitude and resentment. After saying this, he waved his sleeves to show that he did not want to talk anymore. The palace servant looked calm. He did not entangle and bowed again and said goodbye very straightforwardly.

Li Xun followed her back, knowing that he had rejected Gu Yin’s sincerity, which might be the last time, if this could be considered sincerity.

Qin Wanru exclaimed: “Gu Yin thinks very highly of his junior brother.

“It’s better not to care about Gu Yin.” Li Xun sensed the subtle emotion in Qin Wanru’s words and added a few words to reassure her. “Standing with her won’t end well.” Qin Wanru smiled at this, no longer discussing the topic, but took her leave directly. “The Loose Cultivator Alliance is heading south. This is a turbulent time for the sect, and I can’t stay away for long. I’m grateful for your kindness today, Junior Brother. I’ll repay you later.” “You’re so kind,” Li Xun said, without false politeness. He bowed briefly as a farewell

. Qin Wanru returned the greeting and flew south with her men in the forest. The journey seemed hurried, and indeed, it was a very intense one.

Li Xun watched her disappear and sighed.

“Tsk. Can’t bear to leave your old lover?” Shui Dielan’s sudden voice didn’t startle Li Xun.

He knew Shui Dielan had followed, watching the excitement from above, so he simply curled his lips and said, “Where?” It was Shui Dielan who was surprised. He was just asking curiously. Li Xun’s whisper was heard again: “During the time I was not in Wuyinxuan, has Qin Wanru sent any messages to Yin Chonghua via flying sword? “What’s the problem?” Shui Dielan asked knowingly.

Li Xun hummed but did not respond directly.

Shui Dielan thought for a while and shook her head: “No, but I was in seclusion most of the time to heal my wounds. Even if there was any contact between them, I wouldn’t know. Besides, you should just ask Yin Chonghua directly about this kind of thing. Can she hide it from you?” “I’ll ask later…” Li JF said as he beckoned Shui Dielan to get on the clouds and fly east again. Feeling that he had flown hundreds of miles away, he stretched out his left arm and shook his clenched fist under Shui Dielan’s puzzled eyes: “Is there any way to torture the cultivator’s soul? “Why?” Li Xun smiled and spread out his palm. A ball of red light like a veil rolled slowly, and in the center there was a layer of very light mist that kept combining and changing shapes. It was hard to tell what it was for a while.

However, Shui Dielan was stunned for a moment and then understood: “This is that Wu Ji’s…” Li Xun said helplessly: “Before killing her, I locked her soul with the soul-stealing method, but this method was the first time I used it, and I didn’t control it well, so I used a little too much force.” “You also know that you hit too hard?” Shui Dielan responded helplessly.

“If you could imprison her Nascent Soul, or even rip off a more complete Primordial Spirit, I’d have a thousand ways to make her spill everything she knows. But now, half-dead and utterly shattered, she’d need some soothing magic to help, right?” Then she added, dissatisfiedly, “Humans are unpredictable, full of selfish desires. If everyone were as intolerant as you, how could anyone survive?” Li Xun knew she was just talking. He smiled and shook his head, “Be prepared.” He collected the Primordial Spirit fragment, mentally trying to figure out if the magic weapon Shui Dielan had mentioned existed in Wuyin Pavilion. He wasn’t particularly worried. Yin Sanren was already under his control. Even if Qin Wanru showed up, what would happen? He had already passed the opportunity to bully others. For a while, there were no more incidents. Li Xun and Shui Dielan hurried all the way, finally reaching their destination around noon the next day. They were not far from the shores of the East China Sea. The occasional strong breeze brought a faint scent of the sea to their noses. Li Xun roughly estimated the distance to the seashore and said curiously, “The winding path isn’t very far.” “How big can it be?” Shui Dielan, in a good mood, rolled her eyes at him. “A thousand miles is not small, after all. Elder Qing prefers quiet to activity, and if the place were larger, how could he possibly take care of everything?” The image of a compassionate old flower farmer immediately emerged in Li Xun’s mind.

He couldn’t blame him for his wild thoughts. After all, the events of the Qing Emperor’s legacy were so far away that he had no information to draw on. His

only relevant concept was that the demon he was about to meet was the most experienced and longest-cultivating elder in this world. The founder of the Tongxuan sect was nothing compared to him.

Shui Dielan didn’t care what he thought and instructed him to descend from the clouds and land in a low-lying valley.

As he approached the ground, Li Xun realized the trees were enormous. Trees as thick as ten feet in diameter were commonplace. The trees were so tall that they towered into the sky, their dark green canopies connected into a continuous mass, almost completely blocking out the sunlight. The power of the scorching heat instantly chopped down most of them.

Shui Dielan With a faint smile, she picked up Qingying and led Li Xun through the giant trees without saying a word.

After the initial doubts, Li Xun calmed down and felt that the water butterfly orchid’s energy was changing frequently, almost a hundred times in an instant. In just over a mile, the water butterfly orchid had changed at least ten thousand times. It dazzled Li Xun and made him more and more confused. Was this a basic illusion performance? Finally, the water butterfly orchid stopped and stood in front of a huge banyan tree, closing her eyes and regulating her breathing.

Li Xun didn’t know what she was going to do, but even if she Li Xun wouldn’t be surprised if someone walked right through the trunk of the tree and told him this was the entrance.

After a while of breathing exercises, Li Xun, with nothing better to do, began to survey the giant tree before him.

It was hard to say how many years this banyan tree had been growing. As the saying goes, a single tree makes a forest. Its massive canopy and branches, either horizontal or drooping, almost covered an area of nearly an acre, their branches and leaves tangled in a tangle. Its presence was truly spectacular.

Most remarkable was the way the massive banyan tree, surrounded by its dense branches and drooping roots, remained a single, integrated whole. It looked exceptionally thick and heavy. Unlike most of the other trees, the trunks were hollow or bifurcated.

Just as he was estimating the age of the tree, the changes in the water butterfly orchid still made Li Xun stare.

Right in front of him, a soft branch slowly drooped from the treetop, dotted with three or five new leaves. The green was very attractive. The water butterfly orchid freed one hand and gently picked up the treetop, looking back, a sly smile clearly on the corners of her eyes and lips.

The next moment, the world was spinning.

Li Xun had thought of a thousand ways to enter the winding path, but he didn’t expect it to be so rough. With his almost immortal demonic body, he also felt dizzy in the feeling of the world spinning.

Of course, the world was not really spinning, but the huge amount of vital energy that filled the world was broken in that instant. The relative balance of yin and yang was reversed. This created a strong vortex, which conflicted and resonated with the true energy in his body, and finally reflected in the physical body.

The dizziness was actually a matter of a blink of an eye, and Li Xun quickly returned to normal.

He raised his eyes to look, but was blinded by the sudden bright light of the sky. His eyes shone faintly. When he opened them again, the sight before him made him take a deep breath. A light mist mingled with the faint fragrance of grass permeated his heart and lungs.

Most of the surrounding giant trees that had once obscured the sun had vanished. The old banyan tree, its branches and leaves drooping in the same position as its roots, remained unchanged. However, Li Xun sensed a distinct change in the mountain.

In its place was a narrow expanse of water.

The emerald green waters surrounded the site of the old banyan tree, forming a small sandbar. The edge of the banyan tree’s massive crown had grown above the water, while lotus leaves stretched from the sandbar to the other side.

On the other side, the forest remained. In the distance, he could vaguely see a sprawling meadow, occasionally dotted with shimmering water. A few waterfowl took flight, circled in mid-air, and flew off into the distance.

This was a wetland, the kind of winding paths this world is said to lead to secluded places.

Perhaps its name didn’t live up to its name, but compared to the narrow, winding paths, Li Xun preferred the vibrant scene before him. “How is it?” “Shui Dielan continued to speak with a smile beneath the tree. “This is the space that Qing Lao created from his own universe. It’s not comparable to Wu Yin Xuan, so don’t think it’s small.” “Of course not,” Li Xun exclaimed with sincere admiration. Wu Yin Xuan, who also possessed the magical power of creating his own universe, relied on forbidden techniques, while Qing Die Lao relied entirely on his own cultivation.

This alone was probably no less powerful than Zhong Yin’s. Shui Dielan’s previous actions were likely a special way of communicating with Qing Die Lao. This independent space can only be opened from the inside. If the owner doesn’t want to, not even the emperor can enter. No wonder this world is only known as the Winding Path to a Secluded Place, but even its approximate location is unknown… Huh? According to Shui Dielan’s statement, wouldn’t the Winding Path to a Secluded Place be the private property of Qing Die Lao alone? This was completely different from the situation in the other forbidden areas.

With these thoughts in his mind, he asked curiously, “Why don’t I see Elder Qing?” Shui Dielan smiled and suddenly shouted, “Elder Qing is greeting you!” Before she finished shouting, the wind suddenly started to blow, rustling the branches of the banyan tree in front of her.

Li Xun was surprised at first, but soon came to his senses.

The subtle sound of the wind blowing through the branches was rhythmic. If you filter out the rustling noise, isn’t it just a common greeting? A distinguished guest has arrived. Is it okay?