The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 180

Chapter 5 Broken Sword

The sudden movement focused the attention of all the cultivators in the room on Li Xun. The combined force of surprise, astonishment, and pensive thoughts was almost too much for Li Xun to bear.

So he waved his hand, shutting out everything.

Mingji seemed to say something, and Luo Yuji echoed it, but the words only lingered in his ears, a buzzing noise that took no notice.

Li Xun laughed heartily, not caring how strange his laughter sounded. He opened the door and staggered out.

He seemed drunk, stumbling slightly, holding onto the wall as he slowly walked out. The noises behind him grew louder. Luo Yuji caught up from behind, and a little later, Gu Pin’er also left the room. In contrast to her silence, Luo Yuji kept shouting something, so shrill that perhaps even she herself didn’t realize it, it held a foreboding, fearful tone.

At that moment, a resounding sword clang echoed from the side room. The high, rapid vibration pierced through the heart and spread to every corner of the body. In an instant, everyone except Li Xun was reduced to clay sculptures and wooden figures, bound and unable to move by the message emanating from the sword’s ringing.

The malice emanating from the Pojun Immortal Sword was so direct that it penetrated Li Xun’s self-imposed barriers and reflected in his heart.

Li Xun laughed again, letting his laughter echo throughout the building, unconcerned with how many people it startled or frightened.

Laughing, he descended the stairs. Zhang Shun, who was at the center of the stairs, was following the sound and was about to approach him when Li Xun pushed him aside and sent him tumbling to the ground. Mei Xue and the others at the stairwell watched in amazement. Some tried to speak, but a glance from Li Xun froze them, their words choking back.

Li Xun chuckled again, like a madman, and the people below him automatically made way for him, watching him slip through the middle and slowly depart. After

exiting the Baigong Hall, Li Xun picked a random direction and slowly walked forward. The building blocked out most of the sound, but it couldn’t muffle the resounding sound of the Pojun Immortal Sword.

The immortal sword’s spirit was likely quite excited, too. Its jingling, piercing every obstacle, lingered in Li Xun’s ears, like a rabid dog ready to tear its prey apart. However, the rope around its neck remained firmly locked in its master’s grasp, unrelenting.

Compared to the Pojun Immortal Sword, the sword master’s reaction was incredibly slow.

Li Xun refused to speculate on the other’s current mood, simply walking slowly along the path beneath the starlit sky.

The night breeze gradually pierced his closed perception, clearing the surrounding sounds. Bright flashes of sword light occasionally flashed across the sky. Overall, the atmosphere was chaotic, but the target was on the other side of the island.

Auras, both familiar and unfamiliar, emerged unscrupulously from the southern tip of Langhuan Island. They emanated from different factions, their sole commonality being their immense power, so immense that they stood at the pinnacle of the Tongxuan Realm.

But what did this have to do with him?

The faint sound of waves rose up from the horizon, and Li Xun finally had a clear direction. Holding onto the jagged rocks, he continued forward until he saw the vast, boundless sea.

Waves crashed up from the rocky terrain, swirling tiny white foam through the ravines before being covered by the next wave. Li Xun walked to the very edge of the beach, found a random rock, sat down, and let the cool water wash over his ankles.

Even now, Li Xun refused to think, letting the chaos in his mind continue. He used this state to wait for the nightmare to end.

Li Xun had no precise sense of time at this moment, but it felt like only a moment had passed before the commotion on the island intensified, the prospect of a violent fight looming, further accentuating the quiet and desolate atmosphere here.

Yes, it was this sour, melancholic taste that grew from deep within his heart, unconsciously spreading across his chest, pressing up his throat, and rising in his mouth, a bitter taste that slowly and cruelly dissolved his deliberately distorted emotional barriers.

Familiar faces flashed by one after another: Mingji, Qingming, Qibi, Lingji… These countless faces shifted in the void, from friendly to distant, from tenderness to hatred, from familiar to unfamiliar. Each change in their appearance intensified the bitterness.

The changes were so clear, and the successive changes in their faces intensified the bitterness.

The changes were so clear, and the faces, one after another, flowed through his mind, vivid and lifelike, as if real people were standing before him, their joys, sorrows, anger, and happiness all vividly present.

Gradually, amid the sound of the waves, a faint voice lingered in his ears. It was certainly not the usual friendly whispers, but a roar like a huge wave crashing against the rocks, swallowing him up in an instant.

Perhaps this was the taste of betrayal.

Li Xun suddenly wondered what Qing Yin, Zhong Yin, and the others felt when they did something similar. Were they as devastated and worthless as he was now?

Perhaps he should eliminate the guy behind him. In most people’s minds, his image was almost perfect, and now he didn’t need to worry about such trivial matters.

The thought made Li Xun laugh. He found nothing amusing in this, yet could only respond to this absurdity with laughter.

Amidst the laughter, the sword’s cries echoed again, the source only a few feet away. The sound was deeper than ever before, yet insistent and relentless, like the low growl of a vicious dog, ferocious and terrifying.

Li Xun simply blocked out the sound, but then stopped talking, letting the aftermath of the laughter dissipate in the waves. Now he simply waited for the person behind him to speak. To his surprise, the other person remained silent at such close range, behaving very differently from usual.

The silence seemed set to continue, but the Pojun Immortal Sword, as if identifying its mortal enemy, instigated another low hum, shattering the strange atmosphere.

Mingji remained silent, but Li Xun didn’t wait for her, and without turning back, he simply said, “Practicing two schools of thought simultaneously is not a conscious act, especially with the Lingxi Jue, which requires the utmost purity. To manipulate a so-called immortal sword, one’s true energy has been contaminated, affecting one’s immortality. Fourth Master, do you want me to be the sinner?

” “You also know you’re a sinner?” “

Mingji finally spoke, but her tone made it impossible

to tell what her mood was. It wasn’t a particularly cold or hateful tone, and certainly not the caring and friendly one of the past. Li Xun could probably grasp Mingji’s psychological state, but he didn’t want to do anything about it. He didn’t need to think too much and just said what he wanted to say.

“Fourth Uncle, I’m sorry for you and the sect. But if Uncle asks me to surrender, I really can’t do it. I’m thinking that if it’s possible, just possible… why don’t we make an agreement not to invade each other, or never have any contact with each other, and not to conflict with each other? The world is in chaos right now, and the sect cannot be distracted. And I don’t want to learn Qingyin’s methods!”

Mingji didn’t respond to this. Since she knew Li Xun’s identity, she was not surprised why Li Xun knew about Qingyin, but she still had many puzzles.

“Aren’t you surprised to know about Uncle Qingyin’s affairs?” She seemed to sigh, her voice not strong. “I remember that Uncle treated you very well. “

The topic suddenly changed, as if this was truly in line with the atmosphere of the night seaside environment. The relationship between the two seemed to ease a little, but it was built on an extremely fragile foundation, and it might collapse completely with just a light breath.

Li Xun cherished this very much, so his voice became softer: “Fourth Uncle and the others are different from you.”

Just a few words revealed too much information.

Mingji remained silent for a long time, but Li Xun heard a faint sound behind him. The female cultivator had already slowly approached, their distance only a few feet, within arm’s reach.

Li Xun still didn’t turn around, so he had no idea what Mingji was feeling. The two of them, one in front of the other, faced the sea like a pair of friends or lovers watching the tide. Li Xun thoroughly enjoyed this atmosphere, allowing him to temporarily forget the bitterness that filled his heart.

However, this atmosphere was fragile. With a clear sound, Li Xun’s left shoulder sank slightly. The cold blade of the sword pressed against it, the sharp edge gently touching the side of his neck. A single stroke

of the sword’s light would sever his neck. Li Xun didn’t react, and Mingji, holding the sword, didn’t radiate even the slightest murderous intent. Both of them were trying to adjust their moods.

Although the strange atmosphere had subsided, its speed was like carving a silk thread with a knife. At any moment, it could be cut in two, but the speed before that happened was maddeningly slow.

It’s hard for anyone to understand how much the two cherished this strange atmosphere. They knew it was destined to be broken by outsiders.

In the dark night, a powerful purple-red light blazed from behind, instantly transforming the entire beach into an eerie ghostland. Mingji turned coldly just in time to see Gu Pin’er, enveloped in blazing sword light, charging towards her like a sun in the sky.

Such a direct Qi-transmitting and targeted attack was certainly not a mistake, but a flicker of surprise inevitably crossed her mind. This emotion, transmitted through the sword and into Li Xun’s body, combined with the external Red Lotus Sword Qi to shatter the last tenuous connection between the two.

Li Xun sighed deeply and stood up. The sharp edge of the Broken Army Immortal Sword had already sliced into his neck muscles, yet not even a drop of blood was touched. Mingji, without hesitation, withdrew the sword and half-spun, the sword vibrating. With a reluctance to retreat from the enemy, the broad sword spine blocked the sharp edge of the Purple Sun Divine Sword from bottom to top. With a burst of force, he sent the reckless female cultivator flying away.

Even though Gu Pin’er was the most outstanding rising star among the three generations of disciples of the Nine Sects of the Righteous Path, she still faced an insurmountable gap against Mingji.

The two swords clashed, and despite Mingji’s improvisation, he still held the absolute upper hand. Gu Pin’er’s Red Lotus Tribulation sword energy was shattered, and her body tumbled backward uncontrollably. But in a flash, she regained control and charged forward.

However, this time, a blazing blood shadow appeared before her.

The burning blood energy penetrated her body, instantly blocking three of her most important meridians. The final latent force shook her brain, and she fainted without a sound.

Mingji spun around, and the sword energy finally burst out with a buzzing sound, locking onto Li Xun. Li Xun released his hand, letting Gu Pin’er fall onto the rocky beach. He then smiled and said,

“Fourth-Master is indeed still aiming for this little girl of mine. You attacked with your sword, but you took it for me. Aren’t you afraid that others

will accuse you of collaborating with the enemy? I thank you for this favor.” Mingji witnessed his smooth-talking side again, and the feeling in her heart was indescribable. She glanced at the unconscious Gu Pin’er and whispered, “She…are you going to protect her?”

After she said the beginning, she roughly guessed that the relationship between Li Xun and Gu Pin’er had naturally changed. Li Xun laughed. When his last bit of concern was thrown away, he felt much better suddenly: “Master, don’t you think she looks a bit like someone?”

“Someone?”

Mingji pondered the word, but she already knew who Li Xun was referring to. She shifted her gaze again, her tone growing colder as she spoke again. “She will be dealt with by the elders of our sect, thanks to you. If she’s another Qingyin, Tianxingjian Sect always has a precedent.”

Li Xun knew this was a rejection, but he wasn’t disappointed. He simply shook his head. “Fourth-Master Uncle, Qingyin is a traitor to you and the sect, but to Yu Sanren, that woman is at least of some use. I consider myself even better than Gu Zhixuan. So, I will protect her.” Mingji

stared at him coldly, silent. Li Xun, no longer dwelling on such details, smiled and untied his outer robe. “From now on, there will be no more Lingzhu in the world. This person is only the Blood Demon that you, Fourth-Master Uncle, wish to eliminate…”

The robe fell to the ground, and Li Xun untied his bun again, letting his hair down. Finally, he untied the Kuzhu sword with his backhand and stretched his arm forward, holding it flat against his chest.

Their eyes fell on the sword, and time froze again.

This sword, handpicked by Mingji, had been in Li Xun’s hands for only a few months, and he had used it in battle only a few times.

The Bitter Bamboo Sword couldn’t compare to the Green Jade Sword, passed down by Mingji, in terms of affection. Yet, both men knew full well that it was perhaps the last remaining bond between Li Xun and the Mingxin Sword Sect. The moment the sword fell, Li Xun and the Mingxin Sword Sect were instantly severed.

A sudden explosion erupted from the rocky plateau behind the beach, sending up a cloud of dust. The source, perhaps dozens of miles away, was the final spark of the confrontation between the righteous and evil sects. While most remained restrained, if a fight broke out between those with deep-seated grudges, it would be difficult to stop them.

The tiny Langhuan Island certainly couldn’t serve as a battlefield. Once the battle began, the two sides fought from the south to the north, destroying countless buildings along the way, before finally settling on a plateau not far from Li Xun and the others.

Neither of them moved, not even slightly affected. As the dust from above gradually cleared, Li Xun curled his lips into a wry smile. Just as he was about to release his fingers, a soft laugh echoed from the sea. “Wow, what a beautiful sight today! The ruthless Shan Ling’er, sword-wielding, confronts Ming Xinlingzhu, stripping off her clothes. What’s going on?”

The laughter was crisp and mellow, like a cool summer night breeze, carrying a sweet, refreshing fragrance that would have sent a tingling sensation through the heart and lungs of any ordinary person, regardless of s*x. However, the two people on the shore were both extraordinary. Upon hearing the voice, they filtered out the alluring and captivating power within, discerning the astonishment beneath their words.

The identity of the newcomer was readily apparent: the Ecstasy Concubine of the Bliss Sect.

A prominent figure in the Western Alliance, the Ecstasy Concubine was not part of the fighting, merely a glimpse into the battlefield. She had no desire to witness this scene. She immediately sensed its incredible value, and before he could ask further questions, the two combatants above had already noticed the unusual situation and paused their fights to gather their gaze.

The moment the startled voices rang out, Li Xun’s fingers completely loosened, and the Bitter Bamboo Sword moved. At that moment, Li Xun suddenly struck.

Without hesitation, the Blood Shadow Demon Body unleashed its full force. As the four or five people above and below stared in astonishment, he transformed into a bloody light and lunged straight at Ming Ji.

The Blood Shadow Demon Body’s speed was so swift that even Ming Ji, who had already locked onto Li Xun with her sword energy, was caught off guard.

The broad spine of the Broken Army Immortal Sword barely blocked her path. With a humming sound, she was struck by Li Xun’s Blood Tribulation Spirit Light. The overwhelming force destabilized her, forcing her to move backward to absorb the impact. Li Xun, however, was relentless, pressing forward with a whirring bloody light, forcing Ming Ji to fly backwards and, in a flash, crash into the sea.

The Soul-Stirring Concubine, standing to the side, was at least a hundred feet away from the two men, but the spray of water from the fierce battle had already hit her. She felt a fierce, bloody aura, feeling uneasy, and frowned as she retreated a distance.

Just as she retreated, a shout echoed from mid-air. It was Mingji, with a glaring eye. A radiant aura seemed to explode from within the Pojun Celestial Sword, a sudden surge that partially obscured the dazzling blood light.

This counterattack was distinctly different from Mingji’s usual style, and Li Xun seemed somewhat surprised. His momentum receded slightly until the onlookers drew their first breath. In an instant, the blood-filled sky blazed again. A gloomy blood cloud seemed to spread across the night sky, swallowing Mingji whole.

The blood-filled light spread, scorching the seawater and causing it to churn. Its rays chilled her to the bone. Mingji knew her protective Qi was failing to withstand the burning blood energy, but she remained composed. She channeled her Qi a second time, driven purely by her Dao heart, extinguishing all fears and doubts. With a swish, the Pojun Celestial Sword blasted forward, churning the turbid current ahead. The blood cloud was shattered by this deft yet elegant strike.

Mingji’s sword power shifted from powerful to agile. A slight flick of her wrist ignited strands of sword energy, forming a fine, wisp of sword light that dispersed the remaining haze from the blood cloud’s rift. She charged forward, body and sword united as one.

Just as she was about to burst forth, Mingji’s heart tightened again. The sword in her hand, a fraction faster than her spiritual altar could sense it, shrank slightly before thrusting forward with a long, piercing sound.

In that instant, Mingji’s body and the immortal sword merged into a nearly straight line. The remaining sword energy within her emanated unreservedly, aiming directly at the chest of Li Xun, who had just materialized.

Li Xun didn’t dodge, merely extending his right hand to meet it.

The sword energy was sharp, the blood thick, and the two clashed without a sound. The dazzling sword light impacted a few feet before being completely dissipated. However, the Pojun Immortal Sword itself remained undeterred, piercing Li Xun’s outstretched right palm with unstoppable force.

The sound of flesh tearing echoed as the Pojun Sword surged forward, ripping through muscle and bone for a full half-foot, nearly cleaving Li Xun’s entire forearm. Only then did it encounter true resistance.

The moment the obstacle appeared, it was like a solid wall of steel.

The Pojun Sword vibrated again, and the initial buzzing sound shifted. The sword’s straight trajectory shifted uncontrollably. The violent vibrations transmitted from the blade’s body were equally powerful, spreading through Mingji’s body and changing in an instant! Mingji’s

aura was instantly disrupted. Li Xun remained relentless, but a second wave of vibrations followed. Two waves of force collided with Mingji’s palm, jarring the muscles in his hand. The cascading back and forth movements finally lost his grip on the hilt. With a low grunt, he was flung several feet away, and the Pojun Sword remained within Li Xun’s limbs, still trembling.

Li Xun lifted his forearm slightly to examine the sword that had exposed his identity. Boiling blood flowed back and forth across the blade, coating it with a tainted coating.

The Pojun Immortal Sword’s edge dimmed again, and it let out a low, unwilling hum, as if struggling to escape the bloody

mess. Unfortunately, it could no longer escape the fate Li Xun had decreed for it. The sword’s hum quickly faded. Li Xun grasped the hilt with his left hand, smiling as he pulled the sword from his right forearm. The injured bones and muscles healed rapidly under the blood mist. By the time the sword was completely free, his right arm had completely healed, not even a scar visible.

Li Xun raised his head and gazed directly at Mingji, who stood empty-handed in the distance. His smile deepened, as if completely forgetting the fierce battle before. He spoke softly, “No one knows the harm of practicing a side art better than I do. Uncle, you knowingly commit such a crime. I understand who you’re targeting. Since I was the instigator, today I will take the initiative to put an end to your ambitions!”

As he finished speaking, he swung his right hand and struck the tip of the Pojun Immortal Sword hard. The broad blade vibrated violently, with a force so great that it resembled the twisting and writhing of a dying snake.

“Stop!”

Mingji shouted from a distance, his tone more vehement than Li Xun had ever heard. Unfortunately, it was of no use. He swung his hand, then swung it back with a clang. The Pojun Sword shattered, its spinning tip whirling hundreds of feet before shattering into a thousand streaks of light and scattering into the sea.

The half of the sword in Li Xun’s hand was like a mold of dried clay, crumbling into fine dust and sand with a gentle rub.

No master could possibly restore a Pojun Sword like this!