The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 188

Chapter 5: Thunder

It’s impossible to describe what unfolded across the East China Sea at that moment.

Li Xun, being pulled backward by the water butterfly orchid, saw a pale white before his eyes, then a deep crimson-purple hue, punctuated by countless tiny fragments of multicolored light dancing in all directions. Finally, as the entire East China Sea shook madly, everything darkened, as if dark clouds overhead were pressing down on the sea, sea and sky merging seamlessly, suffocating to the point of madness.

Under this uncanny pressure, Li Xun’s protective zhenqi lasted only half a breath before shattering. Thanks to his quick reflexes, he harnessed the force of the water butterfly orchid’s pull and, relying solely on his exceptional agility, tore through the airtight, high-pressure space surrounding him and blasted himself out into the real world outside.

A hurricane swept past, its winds razor-sharp. Li Xun retreated at least a hundred miles before finally stopping.

Only then did a deafening roar penetrate his ears, the sonic waves pounding his brain, sending a wave of dizziness through him, despite his preparedness.

After the explosion faded slightly, his ears felt like they were stuffed with cotton, isolating him from the outside world. A sharp, piercing ringing throbbed

in his ears. He casually touched his fingers, feeling a slight dryness. Bringing them to his eyes, it took a moment for his vision to clear.

Seeing his fingertips stained red, Li Xun realized he had injured his eardrum.

If pure sonic damage was such a devastating blow, what would the situation be like within that space?

Li Xun looked up, and as far as he could see, the still-shaking sea surface was devoid of a single figure. Where he had just stood, the sea and sky had practically become seamless

. A vast mass of dark clouds descended, forming a thick, black pillar, within which countless purple, golden snakes swirled, appearing and disappearing.

As the explosion lingered, the cloud pillar expanded, its immense force forming a whistling vortex between sea and sky.

The swirling winds seemed to fling everything around them skyward.

But Li Xun still couldn’t understand where all the hundreds of nearby cultivators had gone. Had they truly been thrown to the ground?

At this moment, Shui Dielan, who was beside him, finally spoke. Perhaps because her ear wound hadn’t healed yet, Li Xun’s voice sounded muffled. “A single blast of pure Yang divine thunder, even the most skilled and powerful, would become cowards… I’m right, right?”

The gloating tone in her voice was undisguised, and Li Xun found it amusing. But at this moment, he couldn’t help but laugh. It felt strange.

He turned back and saw Shui Dielan’s smiling face, but he was suddenly startled. The demon woman was undoubtedly in grave condition. Her face was transparently pale, and the fine veins on her forehead were throbbing rapidly, a sign that her inner Qi was on the verge of losing control, losing control of the blood and energy.

“What’s going on? Who hurt you?”

This was Li Xun’s first thought. He wanted to heal Shui Dielan, but he didn’t know how to begin, and he seemed at a loss.

Shui Dielan, however, didn’t care. She glanced at him sideways, then closed her eyes and took a few breaths. When she opened her eyes, her complexion had improved considerably. She smiled, “Who could possibly hurt me? It’s just that this cloudy, thundering, and raining weather is so annoying…”

Though she made a light comment, Li Xun immediately understood that she was reacting strongly to the pressure of the heavenly tribulation. Shui Dielan’s demonic body was inherently vulnerable to thunder, and her injuries hadn’t fully healed, a sign of internal evil. With this in mind, Li Xun lowered his voice, “Why don’t you return to Wuyinxuan and rest? We can’t turn this situation around just by adding more manpower.” “

Additional manpower won’t work, and without me, you can’t do it either!”

Shui Dielan smiled proudly, about to say more, but suddenly stopped.

A moment earlier, both of them had sensed the trembling sea surface directly in front of them, exploding with a scaly-grey cloud. Ramash’s slender figure flew out, followed closely by the Seventh Cultivator Venerable.

The two sect leaders’ expressions were solemn. They simply nodded to Li Xun and the others, then stared at the dark cloud pillar a hundred miles away in silence.

After a long pause, the Seventh Cultivator finally spoke, “Few would have emerged intact from a single blow.”

“The power of the heavenly thunder is concentrated and undispersed. Given your strength, it shouldn’t be fatal unless you’re struck head-on.” Ramash’s tone was indifferent, and it was impossible to tell whether

he was stating a fact or offering self-consolation. Regardless of his words, the situation was such that a single strike of the Heavenly Righteous Yang Divine Thunder had forcibly dispersed an alliance of over a hundred masters from various sects, leaving even a leading figure like Ramash unable to comprehend the situation of his subordinates.

Venerable Qixiu was quite optimistic and said, “Even if there is chaos for a while, no one will leave this hundred-mile radius. Just shout everywhere. The most important thing right now is to stay together. If we are separated, we will be weak…”

Ramash shook his head and was about to speak when the sound of killing started again from all directions.

At first, it was sporadic, but after a few breaths, the killing sound had gathered and surged, so powerful that it even drowned out the remnant of thunder in the sky. With this chorus of voices, thousands of figures suddenly rushed over from the junction of sea and sky.

These people seemed to be swarming forward without any order, but a closer look showed that they were in groups of a hundred or so, some in front and some behind, rushing up from all directions.

The dark sky was also dark because of the various swords. The light shone a vibrant riot of color, a dazzling beauty. But behind this dazzling hue lay something far from friendly.

At first, Li Xun thought it was another wave of fearless cultivators, but as they drew closer, he realized their vital energy pulses were erratic, pulling in forces beyond his control.

Within the shimmering sword light, wisps of whistling energy were the swirling Gangsha energy of heaven and earth.

Compared to the cultivators’ refined and nurtured true qi, this natural Gangsha energy seemed far more coarse and yet far more turbulent and changeable.

A single or two streams would be fine, but when hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands coalesced into a turbulent torrent, charging towards them, even a figure like Ramash would shudder.

“Three thousand Gangsha…”

Li Xun uttered through his teeth. This time, it was his turn to pull the water butterfly orchid back.

The two of them were once again the first to react, unhesitatingly leaping aside to avoid the headwinds of the Gangsha energy.

Ramash and his companion remained somewhat reserved, only remembering to follow after seeing the movements of the male and female duo.

Unexpectedly, the force of this wave of people and horses was far greater than normal, especially the interaction of the two forces of the Gangsha’s pull and ejection. Even before the crowd arrived, the already chaotic primordial energy of heaven and earth had already swirled, emitting a strange whistling sound.

Venerable Qixiu was merely attracted by the sound, and when he glanced back, the sudden surge of pulling force had already bound his body.

Even for a moment, the impact was enough to submerge him.

Water Dielan whistled, and Ramash glanced coldly. At that moment, a pale white light suddenly appeared on the sea surface, striking even against the shimmering tide of sword light.

The next moment, sword energy roared, and Venerable Qixiu’s figure shattered the Gangsha’s attack, soaring through the air. The sword energy outside his body resembled a thousand rings, humming and vibrating, and the aura of energy surged and splashed, overwhelming all who encountered it.

Even though the cultivators of the Loose Cultivators Alliance were trapped in the raging evil flow, they were powerless to resist the angry sword light of the Seven Cultivators Venerable.

Instantly, a bloody mist rose from the sea, claiming at least fifty or sixty lives.

A group of independent cultivators suffered the loss of most of their lives.

Strangely, despite such heavy casualties, this wave of cultivators showed no sign of avenging their comrades. The remaining dozens of sword beams, without pause, pierced the slaughter. Even the gaps left by the Seventh Cultivator’s blades were quickly filled by contracting their formation.

Meanwhile, from another direction, a second wave of attacks approached.

Both the Seventh Cultivator, engaged in a slaughter spree, and Li Xun and the others, who had temporarily avoided the onslaught, paled slightly. As

soon as the second wave arrived, a third followed, followed by a fourth, a fifth…

In the space of two or three breaths, the vast expanse encompassing the expanding black cloud pillar, stretching a hundred miles across, had become a battlefield for the independent cultivators of the alliance.

These wandering cultivators appeared aimless, simply dashing east and west, back and forth. But as they rushed, the lingering evil energy between heaven and earth was rapidly drawn away, squeezed, and ejected, ultimately forming a raging storm that swept across the sea and sky.

At this moment, the sky suddenly brightened slightly, and cultivators at a certain level of cultivation were horrified to realize that the second devastating thunderbolt had been fully charged!

The demonic patterns on Ramash’s face dimly illuminated, but his expression was gloomier than ever. He glanced at Li Xun again and shouted, “Don’t fight any longer! Move!”

The Seventh Cultivator, even before the shout, flew towards them. Unfortunately, the thunderbolts in the sky outpaced him. Halfway through, the sky and earth blazed with light, nearly piercing the dark clouds over the East China Sea. Then, long chains of lightning tore through the sky.

Li Xun was prepared this time, guarding his senses tightly, but the power of the lightning still exceeded his imagination.

The long chain of lightning didn’t seem to pierce, but rather to whip towards him. The immense energy twisted the branches, crushing the air. The overwhelming pressure made it impossible for him to even think of resisting.

Resisting it would be foolish!

Li Xun and Shui Dielan simultaneously exerted their own strength, plummeting downwards, following the example of Ramash and the others before them, crashing directly beneath the surface of the sea.

Before entering the water, Li Xun heard the sharp scream of the Seventh Cultivator, but it was instantly crushed by the explosive thunder, and the Seventh Cultivator’s vital pulses suddenly dimmed.

They had sunk over ten feet, still feeling the aftershocks of the impact through the water. Li Xun closed his eyes, calmly deciphering the message contained within.

He wasn’t so arrogant as to attempt to understand the nature of the tribulation lightning, but rather focused on the changes in the newly formed evil storm under the impact of the lightning.

Upon confirming that Gu Yin’s setup was indeed the “Three Thousand Gangsha Hunyi Formation,” Li Xun, a true master of forbidden techniques, immediately realized that this complex and unusual formation was closely linked to the formation and eruption of the heavenly tribulation. Heavenly

winds are Gang, while earthly ghosts are Sha. The Gangsha energy between heaven and earth coincides with the shifting yin and yang of heaven and earth. As the calamity thunder descended and the earthly energy surged upward, the “Three Thousand Gangsha Hunyi Formation” of the Loose Cultivators Alliance perfectly embodied the principle of “Tao follows nature.”

Heaven follows the Tao, and so does the earth; earth follows heaven, and so do humans.

Gu Yin’s method likely utilizes this massive Gangsha energy as the medium and carrier of the tribulation thunder. Using the art of the Huntian Ruler, the area encompassed by the formation becomes a relatively independent, small world.

Due to the limited scope of this heavenly tribulation, and because the convergence of Gangsha energy coincided with the causes of its formation, this “small world” was able to “enclose” the tribulation, becoming a part of itself.

Perhaps it was precisely through this method that Gu Yin could maximize, even manipulate, this calamity to achieve her grand goal.

This was only Li Xun’s initial thought. Regardless of its accuracy, even the interconnected theoretical details were still unclear. Simply put, it was just a guess, and the more so, the more curious he became about Shui Die Lan’s earlier astonishing statement.

As he pondered this, the seawater temperature suddenly climbed rapidly. A tremendous amount of energy was rapidly gathering, poised to explode in an instant.

“Perhaps an undersea volcano, shaken by the earth’s ley lines, is about to erupt.” Shui Die Lan’s knowledge of the surrounding terrain far surpassed Li Xun’s, and her words were reliable.

Li Xun nodded, but did not respond. Instead, he carefully used his body-protecting true energy to push away the sea water and further test the changes in the external vitality. Shui Dielan blinked and pointed at him from the side: “Hey, do you look down on me?”

“How dare I!” Li Xun laughed in his heart, but his tone was very cooperative: “Shui Xianzi has great magical powers and is unfathomable. I was just about to ask for advice.”

A faint light shone through the darkness, and both of them could see each other’s expressions. Shui Dielan listened with a smile, and was quite satisfied with Li Xun’s half-true and half-false attitude.

“You might be clever, but no matter how shrewd Gu Yin is, how can she compare to the years of business that Elder Qing and I have managed on the shores of the East China Sea? It was with Elder Qing’s guidance that Taoist Chongyuan of the Wuliangtian Sect discovered the ‘Tianling Spring,’ the finest of the East China Sea’s seventy-two spiritual veins, and founded his own sect. Gu Yin wants to flaunt her power here with a mere hundred thousand men. Who does she think she is?”

“Well, perhaps only Fairy Baihuan has the credentials to be so bold.”

A sudden cheering shattered the two-person world in the deep sea. Even though there was no malice in the voices, it made Li Xun and the others frown.

As the sound waves reached them, a light shone from miles away, illuminating a vast expanse of the sea.

Within the light, the three great masters, Li Douliang, Qingming, and Bancheng Jushi, appeared. The light came from a pearl held in Li Douliang’s hand. The earlier, somewhat abrupt words had also come from the mouth of the Zhenhun Sect’s leader.

Li Xun’s eyes met with Qingming’s, then parted again, a subtle feeling forming between them. He also noticed that, aside from Bancheng Jushi, the other two sect leaders were also alone, their disciples absent.

He couldn’t help but think of Mingji and the others, and a slight worry welled up in his heart.

Shui Dielan wasn’t as thoughtful, and didn’t quite appreciate Li Douliang’s compliments. She glanced at the three of them in turn, finally sneering, “So you’re not even considering advancing or retreating now?”

As he spoke, Li Douliang and the other two approached. Unfazed by Shui Dielan’s sarcasm, Li Douliang took a step forward and bowed deeply.

The deep sea environment presented no problem for him, but this abrupt gesture startled everyone, including his companions.

Shui Dielan had seen countless big scenes after all. After being startled, she quickly returned to normal, as if she was completely unaware of Li Douliang’s intentions. She just smiled and said, “If someone is too nice to you without any reason, he is either a traitor or a thief. Li Douliang , no matter how good your conduct is, you can’t use this matter

to scare people.” “I dare not. I just want to thank the fairy for her previous reminder.” Li Douliang straightened up, his words sincere, without any pretense. “In addition, this gift is also to beg the fairy to lend a helping hand and save the declining foundations of the sects.”

“Foundation?” Shui Dielan’s tone was a little exaggerated, and it was unclear whether she was really surprised or just pretending.

Li Douliang was no fool, and he didn’t give Shui Dielan a chance to speak further. He continued earnestly, “As the fairy said, Gu Yin is pressing hard. The Gangsha formation has already formed on the sea surface. The cultivators of various sects are trapped by the heavenly tribulation and unable to quickly unite. If this continues, they will be divided and surrounded by the loose cultivator alliance, and defeated one by one. This hiding place on the seabed isn’t safe either. The Three Thousand Gangsha Armillary Sphere formation can block out the sun and moon above and reach the underworld below. Gu Yin will never leave this vulnerable…”

He was halfway through his words when the temperature of the surrounding seawater rose to a near-boiling point.

From this vantage point, farther down in the ocean, a red light flickered, then erupted in a stream of grayish-white steam, like a thick fog rising from the seabed, or a thick cloud layer whipped by a hurricane.

The flames and steam intertwined, and occasionally a large eruption would occur, with three or five huge fireballs hurled out along with shattered lava, almost illuminating the entire seabed. Then, layers of turbid steam and water covered it again.

The more violent the sea’s tremors grew, the more intense the scorching flames it carried, making them untouchable to ordinary cultivators.

This wasn’t the end of it. Everyone here sensed the raging evil storm forming on the surface, influenced by the undersea volcanic eruption. It was growing increasingly difficult to contain, and it was seeping deeper and deeper beneath the surface. Looking up, figures could already be seen glimpsing in the distant darkness.

Li Douliang’s words were interrupted, and Li Xun frowned, glancing at the pearl in his hand.

Seeing this, Li Douliang had to smile wryly and explain, “My fellow sects have been scattered, and most of them are probably hiding from the thunderstorms beneath the sea. I’m offering this pearl, perhaps we can reunite here…”

“Gu Yin won’t give you that opportunity.” Shui Dielan had repeated the same or similar words countless times, each time becoming more certain. “Didn’t you make it clear just now? Gu Yin’s goal is to integrate the heavenly tribulation into the formation, using it to accelerate it, to separate and destroy you arrogant fools one by one.”

“There are a total of 125 True Immortals and True One cultivators, accounting for almost half of the masters of various sects and all the True One masters. As long as we destroy you, no, maybe only destroy half of you, it will be difficult for the major sects to recover for hundreds of years. During this period of time, the Tongxuan Realm will naturally become a paradise for independent cultivators to survive. Under such circumstances, how could she let you get together again?”

Remove the impatience between the lines, Shui Dielan’s tone was as if she was Gu Yin herself. Li Douliang and the other two looked at each other. Bancheng Jushi was better, but the eyes of Li Douliang and Qingming lit up.

Li Douliang then pressed, “Hearing this, does the Fairy truly know all about Gu Yin’s true intentions and schemes?”

Shui Dielan glanced at him and sneered, “So what if she knows?”

“If she did, we would naturally consult Fairy Baihuan.”

This wasn’t said by any of Li Douliang and the other two, but by Ramash, who appeared to have just dived into the sea. This time, Venerable Qixiu wasn’t with him, perhaps because he’d just been struck by the thunderbolt and was still recovering.

When enemies met, Shui Dielan’s pride was even greater. She didn’t even glance at them, simply keeping silent.

Ramash didn’t take it seriously. His old, gaunt face remained calm. He simply smiled at Li Douliang and the other two and said, “No matter how Gu Yin calculated, we’ve finally gathered a few of us here. While we can’t match the combined power of the elite from all the sects, we’re still capable of accomplishing something.”

“Brother Moshi is quite right.” Li Douliang nodded in agreement, but he was more considerate of Shui Dielan’s feelings and said with a smile, “But we’ll have to trouble you, Fairy, for your help. This is the key to success.”

Shui Dielan smiled at this, but unfortunately, there wasn’t a hint of pride in her smile. Instead, it was filled with the coldness of someone who saw through people’s hearts. “You’re arrogant at first, but flattering later. You’re sweet-mouthed, but treacherous. You’re pushing things too far, and you’re ruthless. I’m tired of seeing all these schemes and tricks. I’m just saying them out loud and pollute my ears.”

Li Douliang frowned at this, “Does Fairy not trust me?”

“Who said that? I trust you, Sect Master Li, and I trust Taoist Qingming, even the toothless tiger. As for Sect Master Luo, I can’t trust his character, but I can trust his arrogance… It’s a pity that you’re all not alone, and each of you has a vast sect behind you. Your personal promises mean nothing compared to the eternal foundation!”

This was the second time Shui Dielan had started swearing, but she wasn’t done yet. Perhaps it had been so long since she’d spoken at such length, she seemed to be getting addicted. Furthermore, her stance was questionable. “On this point, I quite agree with Gu Yin’s approach. Smashing all these old, rigid pieces of shit like you will definitely be a good thing for the world!”

As soon as she spoke, even the most sophisticated and calculating listeners blushed.

Even Li Xun was stunned.

He wasn’t surprised by Shui Die Lan’s piercing gaze, nor was he surprised by her rebelliousness. But when had this great demon, always obsessed with spells, treasures, and spices, ever felt such senseless indignation?

Suddenly, a message flashed through his mind: “Cooperate!”

Undoubtedly, this was Shui Die Lan’s message, transmitted through their special connection. It was so stealthy that none of the four nearby True One Grandmasters had noticed.

Li Xun was stunned, bewildered by Shui Die Lan’s intentions. Fortunately,

his mind was quick, so he curled his lips, turned away, and let Shui Die Lan do her thing.

However, by this point, the proud Water Fairy had grown tired of her talk. She decisively grabbed Li Xun’s hand, and the two of them ascended toward the surface. Finally, Water Die Lan chuckled back, “Seeing how miserable you all are, I’ll say a few more words. This heavenly tribulation is more than just thunder!”

Laughing, the two quickly vanished from the sight of the four Grand Masters below and fled into the distance.

Seeing this, the other sect leaders, unsure whether to remain or shamelessly follow, were momentarily stunned.

The two didn’t immediately rise from the sea, but instead moved within a layer of water about three to five feet below. From here, the overwhelming force overhead could be clearly felt, and the third wave of accumulated lightning and fire threatened to burst through the sea at any moment.

Li Xun felt a slight unease, but since Water Die Lan insisted, he said no more.

Shui Dielan seemed in a good mood, smiling the entire time. Her protective Qi parted the seawater, leaving her feeling refreshed. Her long, tied-up hair clung to her shoulders, occasionally fluttering, delicately tickling the very spot where people’s hearts tingled.

Li Xun’s heart fluttered slightly at the sight, and for some reason, he reached out and flicked her hair. Shui Dielan sensed it immediately, and she tilted her head away. Her half-smile betrayed no emotion, but only served to arouse his curiosity.

He had wanted to ask her about Gu Yin, but under the circumstances, he couldn’t open his mouth.

Fortunately, at this moment, Shui Die Lan was more understanding than ever. She asked Li Xun to stop, leaned forward slightly, and whispered in a very mysterious tone: “Do you want to know, at this time, the arrangements around Gu Yin?”

“Uh, I do.”

Li Xun said this without any disguise. After he guessed the relationship between Qing Yin and the situation in the East China Sea, his curiosity about Gu Yin became more and more serious. If he could get the details, why not? She

was quite appreciative of Li Xun’s attitude at this time, but Shui Die Lan was not satisfied. She lowered her voice even more, but her eyes went straight into Li Xun’s eyes: “So, where is your old lover?”

“Old…”

After a brief moment of confusion, Li Xun realized who Shui Dielan was referring to.

For a moment, Li Xun’s heart swelled, but this reaction only lasted for a moment. When he saw Shui Dielan’s smiling face, his mood returned to normal, and he even smiled leisurely: “Of course I want to know. However, I want to know more about the major projects that Shui Xianzi has been carrying out in the East China Sea over the years.”

“You’re good at coaxing people.”

Shui Dielan saw through his thoughts, but she was not annoyed at all. Instead, she glanced around with a smile. The two of them were probably in the shallow waters near an island. She soon found a group of unknown marine plants growing on the seabed.

“Look, this is ‘Sea Linglong’. It’s a bit like coral, but it grows much faster. It reaches half a foot tall in about three to five years, then dies and decomposes naturally. It can be used as fertilizer for other seaweeds or feed for marine fish. It can also be used medicinally. It’s cold and slightly toxic. If you want to refine a poison pill, this is the best bait.”

Li Xun knew that the water butterfly orchid would not speak without a purpose, but he was still confused and puzzled.

The water butterfly orchid ignored his feelings and found a fish living in the sea linglong area. The little creature had been tortured by the series of unnatural movements and was on the verge of extinction.

“This is a scalloped fish. It has an extremely long lifespan, around two hundred years, but it relies entirely on the environment surrounding Hai Linglong for survival. If it leaves here or the environment changes, it won’t live long. Once it reaches over a hundred years old, an oil will ooze from its brain. Extracted, it can be used medicinally. Using this in some life-extending elixirs greatly enhances its effectiveness.”

“And this, this… this!”

Shui Dielan seemed to be pointing out every creature in this sea area, leaving Li Xun dazzled and confused. But then, at the end, a sentence drifted into his ears.

“These are all created by me and Elder Qing during our free time, researching based on species already found in the East China Sea.” Li Xun was stunned for a moment, then gasped when he finally understood what Shui Dielan meant.

“Made it?”

Shui Dielan smiled proudly, “Since ancient times, there have been tens of thousands of species naturally grown around the East China Sea. Except for the existence of Wuyinxuan in the southeastern forest, which has its own system and is not easy to move without permission, Elder Qing and I have studied almost every category in depth. On this basis, we have comprehended the mysteries and seized the secrets of heaven. Otherwise, do you think that my unique witchcraft in the universe was stolen from that shabby place of Jile Sect?”

Li Xun was stunned for a long time, and finally understood the deeper meaning of Shui Dielan’s words. He had always thought that the “management” Shui Dielan mentioned referred to a place like Wuyinxuan, which was full of forbidden mechanisms, but now he realized that this was a huge misunderstanding.

The management of Shui Dielan and the remnant of the Qing Emperor has gone beyond the scope of ordinary Taoism, and is directly pointing to the mysterious laws of the origin of life of all things in heaven and earth.

Simply put, the two supreme demons’ mechanism was a complete circle formed by the countless creatures along the shores of the East China Sea, centered on a winding path. I’m afraid every bird, beast, insect, fish, tree, flower, and grass within it could serve as their eyes and ears.

The two of them were vaguely connected, and Shui Dielan could guess his obvious intentions. She shook her head vigorously, “Don’t overthink it. This method isn’t as effective as you think. The recent continuous Yuan Qi shock has had a significant impact here, especially the two eruptions of the Nine Nether Earth Qi, which have severely damaged the surrounding environment. Besides, I can’t truly see the entire vast area. I had to release the Gu worm to distract my mind, so I can only provide assistance in a few key locations.”

“That’s also very remarkable.” Li Xun was not stingy with his praise, and besides, it was the truth. “After fighting for a long time, they couldn’t even figure out Gu Yin’s true strength. If they had known you had this skill, they wouldn’t be in such a mess.”

Shui Dielan snorted, “With their cautious minds, do they deserve it?”

After delivering such a disdainful comment, Shui Dielan stopped talking about other things and just said, “I’ll tell you the situation as soon as possible now. The longer the heavenly calamity lasts, the larger the area that I can’t control. For example, Qujingtongyou can’t hold on any longer.”

“Huh?”

Li Xun’s heart skipped a beat, and when he looked at Shui Dielan again, he saw her eyes flashing with light, which was actually very meaningful, so he suppressed the doubts in his heart.

At this moment, Shui Die Lan gestured for Li Xun to follow. The two of them headed towards the shallower waters, chattering non-stop, “I’ve seen similar catastrophes like this before. It’s roughly three or five bursts of Yang Gang thunder and fire, followed by wind disasters and hellish infernos, and finally, a demonic tribulation. When the wind disaster strikes, the sea and the waters beneath it become a hell of suffering. If you’re not careful, you’ll be frozen in the sea, and even trying to escape will be a struggle.”

Hearing her words, Li Xun couldn’t help but sigh. With such an experienced and knowledgeable companion, he felt much more confident in facing the catastrophe. At this point, Shui Die Lan finally got to the point: “Do you want to know about Gu Yin’s situation first, or your old lover?”

“Gu Yin is the core of the East China Sea situation, so naturally I have to know her first.” Li Xun ignored the sarcasm in the demon woman’s words and answered flawlessly.

Shui Die Lan nodded and said, “Half a quarter of an hour before the first Dry Heavenly Yang Divine Thunder fell, Gu Yin arrived at the entrance to the winding path and never moved again.”

Another winding path!

Li Xun’s doubts deepened, not because of the traces of the ancient sound, but because Shui Die Lan had used the phrase “winding paths leading to secluded places” twice in a row.

No one understood the meaning of this phrase better than Shui Die Lan. With the departure of the Qing Emperor’s descendants, the true “winding paths leading to secluded places” no longer existed. Someone else, like Li Xun, might occasionally make a slip of the tongue, but Shui Die Lan always had a clear distinction, usually using terms like “crack” or “void fissure” to indicate the location.

Recalling the message she had sent him earlier through telepathy, Li Xun felt that this great demon might be up to something sinister.

But at this moment, was it really necessary?

Of course, Li Xun wouldn’t expose his companion’s tricks. Instead, he continued to ask, “How many masters are there around her?”

“That’s hard to say. Using my method, it’s difficult to determine the depth of the other party’s strength. However, I can be sure that Qixia is definitely not around, not even above the East China Sea.”

“Huh?” Li Xun was genuinely surprised, but seeing Shui Dielan’s serious expression, he couldn’t help but believe it. “Yao Feng is not here? Then where did she go?”

“Who knows? I haven’t seen her since I arrived in the East China Sea two days ago. I thought she was using some method to conceal her presence, but now, she’s still nowhere to be seen. So, other than leaving the East China Sea, what other possibilities are there?”

Li Xun frowned, pondering. Finally, he said, “Could it be that the demon phoenix was responsible for the annihilation of the three sects? With her incredible flying ability, if she exerted her full power, she could indeed reach Zhaoyang from the East China Sea within two days… No, at most, she could reach Youshan, which would be more than enough!”

Shui Dielan remained silent, smiling at him.

Li Xun, pondering Gu Yin’s intentions in sending his most powerful force away at this crucial moment, remained silent for a while.