The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 3

Chapter 3 Blood Nightmare

The gurgling sound of rushing water echoed in his ears. Li Xun held his breath and gradually sank into the cool pool. With his head and face completely submerged, the humming voices by the pool seemed to fade into a distant ten miles, fragmented by the current.

The quiet waters were a perfect place to contemplate. Li Xun gradually descended, sinking more than ten feet below the surface. He found two iron buckets and sat down cross-legged beside them.

The light here was almost nonexistent, as if he were the only one left in the world. Only the rhythmic rush of the water reminded him that this space was not his alone.

From the moment he sat in meditation, he replayed the conversation he had had with Shan Zhi in his mind, carefully considering whether there was anything unsettling.

The memory lasted only a moment, and soon he broke into a silent grin, his mouth a flat, round black hole, exhaling a gloomy, cold aura. It was a truly heartfelt smile, one he could only reveal in this deserted place.

He thought, “This Shan Zhi is relatively simple-minded. I doubt his personality will change in a few years, so he can still be used. The cloud robe and the elixir are fine, but if he can introduce me to the sect, that’s the most important thing. I’m running out of time. These ten years will pass in a flash. If I don’t make it by then…”

At this thought, he shuddered and clutched his chest with his hands.

Perhaps it was a sudden change of pace, as he felt his heart suddenly throb, then began to beat wildly, far exceeding normal human standards.

As if propelled by the pressure, his blood rushed through his veins. The sudden surge of heat made him feel like a roasted prawn.

The temperature rose higher and higher, as if a fire had ignited, a fire burning from the deepest part of his body. Wherever the heat passed, muscles, bone marrow, blood vessels, and meridians were twisted and deformed by this uncanny force.

An intense, burning pain, like red-hot iron needles, pierced his nerves and coursed through his body.

He curled up in agony, yet uttered no sound, the pain draining the last ounce of strength from his body, leaving him unable to speak.

The excruciating pain lasted for about ten breaths, then faded like a nightmare. Only the subtle tingling of his skin, made hypersensitive by the pain, under the agitation of the water, reminded him that what had just occurred was no hallucination.

During those ten breaths, his internal energy was in turmoil, and he couldn’t tell how much water he had ingested. Fortunately, he had a solid foundation in cultivation, and he quickly suppressed his mind, exhausted by the pain, and with a determined effort, he managed to regulate his internal energy, finally regaining his breath.

“Another breath longer today!”

After returning to normal, Li Xun’s hands and feet were shaking. He cursed bitterly, “The Blood Nightmare of the Blood Sanren is truly sinister and treacherous! You old bastard, I, Li Xun, will never let you go. One day, I will make you take back what you’ve done, tenfold, a hundredfold!” He

cursed with gritted teeth, but he knew that this was just a thought. If he were to actually encounter the Blood Sanren, one of the three great wanderers in the Tongxuan Realm, what else could he do but kowtow and beg for mercy?

Tormented by the excruciating pain, his thoughts seemed somewhat scattered. He simply closed his eyes, letting his internal energy flow freely to sustain his life, and fell into a drowsy nap.

If any accomplished cultivator were present, witnessing this scene, they would undoubtedly marvel at the child’s cultivation. He had clearly reached

the minor success realm of “relying on Qi to harmonize with one’s will, and flowing endlessly”!

Because of this, he was able to continuously breathe inward even during his coma, maintaining his internal breathing as natural as his external breathing, and his progress in cultivation was naturally much faster than that of ordinary people.

Li Xun vaguely understood the value of his current state, but despite his young age, he already possessed considerable scheming, and would not reveal his true nature until absolutely necessary.

His mind was now scattered, and in his coma, countless fragments of consciousness came flooding back. In his hazy state, he felt a blood cloud pressing down on him, with ghostly chirping sounds within it, sharp and shrill. When it reached his eyes, it suddenly transformed into a large face.

The face was covered with thick beard, sharp as needles, and his eyes were bloodshot, making him look like a demon. Suddenly, he smiled and spoke in a voice like a bell: “How does the Blood Nightmare taste?

And, where is the Lingxi Jue? Give it to me now! If you don’t hand it over within ten years, the Blood Nightmare will wipe out your mind and replace it, destroying your soul and making you unable to live forever!

“During these ten years, there will be a Blood Nightmare devouring your body every day, so that you always remember that your life is in my hands. If I want you to live, you will live; if I want you to die, you will die!

“Don’t even think about the way to survive by telling secrets. The Blood Nightmare technique is planted in the heart and connected to the soul. It is closely related to your life. Except for my Huaxin Jue, no one can solve it!

Even if all the masters in the world gather together, they can’t save you! Wahahahaha…”

The sky and the earth shook with his wild laughter.

Li Xun screamed and woke up. His internal breathing state was suddenly broken. He choked on a large mouthful of water and almost drowned on the spot.

He hurriedly regulated his internal breathing, only to find his body had recovered, even in better shape. He breathed a sigh of relief, but no joy filled his heart.

Li Xun didn’t know how long he’d slept, and not daring to linger underwater, he grabbed two buckets and swiftly ascended, breaking the surface in just a few breaths.

The shore was eerily quiet. Li Xun glanced around, only to find Lingji winking at him. The other children had already departed.

Beside Lingji stood a middle-aged Taoist priest in robes, his face as pale as jade, his figure handsome, and his demeanor radiant, a presence of detached pride. He stroked his beard and gazed at Li Xun, his face expressionless.

Li Xun shuddered, his gaze shifting and shifting in the Taoist priest’s eyes, a mysterious and unpredictable expression. Catching such a glimpse was like being doused in icy water. The chill ran from his head down to his dantian, disrupting his internal energy and nearly causing him to lose his breath. Even choking underwater wouldn’t have been as painful as being met with such a gaze.

The Taoist uttered a soft sigh, the light in his eyes dimming as he nodded and offered a compliment, “Your internal energy is stable, and your foundation is well established. It seems you’ve put a lot of effort into it.”

Only then did Li Xun find the energy to examine the man carefully. At first glance, he felt familiar, but upon a second glance, his eyes widened and he exclaimed, “Master Qingxu!”

This middle-aged Taoist was none other than the master of the same generation as the sect leader, Taoist Qingming—Master Qingxu. He was one of the most respected figures in the Tongxuan Realm, and within the sect, his status was second only to Taoist Qingming.

This Taoist master was stern and reserved, and Li Xun was already delighted to receive his praise. How could he dare disrespect him now? He swam ashore in a hurry, put down the iron bucket, and bowed, saying, “Master, how are you? Disciple Li Xun is here to greet you.”

Immortal Qingxu responded and asked him to get up. He looked at him a few more times, but frowned and murmured, “He looks like an old friend…”

Li Xun and Lingji couldn’t hear clearly, but they didn’t dare to look up rashly, so they could only listen.

Qingxu pondered for a while and ordered Li Xun to look up. Li Xun was nervous and took two deep breaths in secret before slowly looking up. When their eyes met, his heart suddenly turned cold again.

Although Qingxu’s face was calm, his eyes were as cold as frost and snow. The air around them was actually flowing with a hint of coolness, sticking to Li Xun’s skin and penetrating into his lungs.

Li Xun felt guilty. Even if he appeared to be doing his best, he still felt uncomfortable. He couldn’t help but avoid Qingxu’s gaze, but out of the corner of his eye, he caught a fleeting glint of sneer on Qingxu’s lips.

His heart sank, and he quickly turned his gaze back. Qingxu no longer looked at him, but instead turned to Lingji and said, “You have a pure heart, which is good. In a few months

, you will begin the ‘opening of the mountain’ project. Remember to sharpen your mind and don’t rely on luck. Just proceed step by step.”

Lingji mumbled, unsure what to say. Li Xun, listening from the side, felt his heart tremble. He felt that most of Qingxu’s words were directed at him, the sharpening of the mind, the wishful thinking, every word was meaningful. Could he have seen something?

The thought made his heart pound, unable to suppress it. Qingxu saw it all. He glanced in Li Xun’s direction, and that one glance made him numb.

At this time, even a fool would know that Qingxu had a prejudice against him. Being “thought of” by such a senior from the sect made him want to die. What made him even more depressed was that until now, he still didn’t know where he had revealed his flaws. After all,

he was still young and felt that his future was bleak and his life and death were uncertain. He wanted to cry out loud, but he relied on the stubbornness in his heart to hold on. His eyes were already a little blurred, but he noticed that Qingxu’s face moved slightly, and it seemed that he no longer had the coldness and hardness as before.

“Is there another reason?” “

In just a flash of thought, Li Xun adjusted his facial muscles almost instinctively – the corners of his lips drooped slightly, and his cheeks twitched lightly, giving him a stubborn and aggrieved look like a child.

The best thing is that this look was just a little bit subtle, neither salty nor bland, just right, without a trace of artificiality.

This adjustment was really subtle, but Lingji, who was standing by, was completely unable to understand such a subtle change. He just felt that the atmosphere here had changed a little. Although he had an honest personality, he felt very uncomfortable when he was affected by this atmosphere. Looking up, he saw Qingxu frowning slightly.

Seeing Li Xun’s expression, Qingxu suddenly felt that he had just… There was something wrong with his attitude. There are so many similar people in the world, and he couldn’t extend his disgust for that person to this child. He felt a little sorry for what he thought.

However, he thought again and felt that the child in front of him was indeed too smart. He had only shown a little alienation, but he was noticed by him. He had observed his words and expressions very accurately just now. He was worthy of being born in an imperial family…

Several thoughts mixed together, and the figure he had not seen for a long time flashed in his mind again. He felt a kind of boredom that he had not felt for hundreds of years. He looked at Li Xun again and finally decided to say a few words to the child: “Li Xun.”

“Disciple is here!”

Li Xun’s response was a little low. Qingxu naturally understood it, but he didn’t care. Instead, he continued: “Let me ask you. In the way of cultivating immortals, opportunity, mind, and bones are all

indispensable. Do you know?”

Li Xun said cautiously: “Disciple knows. “

“Then which of these three do you think comes first?”

“Opportunity! Opportunity is the beginning of the path to immortality.”

Qingxu nodded, and said, “That’s right, but since we are here, we have opportunity. So which of the latter two do you think should come first?”

Li Xun was about to speak, but he was suddenly stunned. He wanted to say “mind”. He had already felt that the Immortal Master Qingxu in front of him seemed to dislike his complicated mind. If he really said it out loud, he might annoy him again. However, if he said “roots and bones”, it would be inconsistent with his heart, and it was hard to guarantee that the other party would not see it.

For a moment, he was in a dilemma. He was stunned for a while, but suddenly woke up – oh no!

The answer to the question raised by Qingxu was actually the simplest, opportunity first, mind second, and root and bones third. Among them, mind is not scheming, but a collection of a series of factors including understanding, perseverance, etc. Any low-level disciple can recite it by heart.

If he really had a pure mind and no distractions, he would have blurted it out without embellishment. But he was hesitant and missed a great opportunity. He was afraid that Taoist Qingxu would see through him. Now it would be too late to say anything!

Li Xun secretly hated himself for not knowing what to do and failing to perform well. He was annoyed and shocked. He was speechless and could not speak.

Seeing his appearance, Qingxu knew everything in his heart. He shook his head helplessly and sighed: “Good fortune and misfortune have no doors, but people bring them upon themselves.”

Li Xun wanted to speak, but under the gaze of Taoist Qingxu, he felt that nothing he said could hide his thoughts. All the strength in his body was swept away in an instant. His legs softened and he fell to his knees. He could only stammer: “Disciple, disciple…”

Qingxu asked coldly: “Do you still want to hope for luck? You really can’t come up with an excuse just now?”

“Disciple knows he was wrong and shouldn’t have been so scheming…”

The expression on Qingxu’s face relaxed a little, but when he saw the familiar look on Li Xun’s face, his heart skipped a beat: “You can tell a person by his appearance. These two people are so similar, and their personalities may be similar too. Don’t raise a wolf cub!”

He had made up his mind, and his face sank again: “At such a young age, you are scheming against your teacher! Such a heart has long deviated from the right path. Even if you practice Taoism, you will only fall into the devil’s

way! What are you still doing here?” As soon as these words came out, Li Xun’s mind was really hit by a thunderbolt. In an instant, everything went blank. His body softened and he fell to the ground, crying: “Master, please have mercy! Master, please have mercy!”

Lingji, who was standing by, was puzzled. After hearing the two of them exchange a few irrelevant words, Junior Brother Xun was crying as if he was seeking death. What kind of mystery was this?

Qingxu slowed down his tone again: “You came rich and you will leave rich. Aren’t you much better than those people? Why act like this!”

Li Xun didn’t answer, but kowtowed like crazy. At this time, he didn’t dare to move his mind at all, and each kowtow was sincere. After only three or five kowtows, he was hit on the forehead by the pebble by the pond, and blood immediately flowed.

Lingji was shocked by this. He knelt down tremblingly. Although he was full of righteousness, his face was still full of confusion.

Seeing Li Xun like this, Qingxu’s face became even more impassive. Although he felt a little pity for such a beautiful person, he had practiced Taoism for thousands of years and would never change his decision at will. Li Xun’s reaction further strengthened his resolve.

He sighed and said, “If scheming isn’t eradicated, demonic obstacles will arise. Even with the power of moral education, it may not be possible to control it. You, child, may be a rare talent, but what can you do…”

His words were gentle and helpless, but there was a resoluteness that brooked no disobedience.

At this moment, Li Xun’s mind was blank. He could only kowtow repeatedly, his strength showing no sign of easing, not stopping until his skin was ripped and exposed to the bone.

Qingxu watched, shook his head slightly, and flicked his sleeve to release a hidden force, blocking his self-harming behavior. Li Xun’s body went limp and he fell to the ground.

Seeing him sitting down, Taoist Qingxu turned around and walked away. After two steps, he suddenly said, “Seeing that you still have a heart for Taoism, I don’t want to force you. I will keep you for another year to let you build up your body and calm your mind. Even if you return to the mortal world, you can still seek the welfare of all people in the court. You must seize the opportunity.”

As Li Xun looked at him in despair, Taoist Qingxu disappeared without a trace, like an illusory bubble, which turned into nothingness with a sound.

How he wished that what had just happened was just a dream!

Li Xun had only been in the mountains for three months when he lost the opportunity to continue his cultivation in the immortal way due to an unexpected encounter.

And his life would be devoured by the devil after this…

Lingji opened his eyes wide and watched Li Xun kneel down on the ground with his whole body weak, his body still shaking, big beads of sweat dripping from his forehead, even soaking the mud beside the pool.

Lingji was startled by him and hurried over to help him up. He saw that Li Xun’s face was as pale as a dead person, and his eyes were also ashen, and he was actually in extreme despair.

“Junior Brother Xun, what’s wrong with you? Don’t scare me! What happened to you just now? Why did Master Qingxu chase you away? This is so inexplicable, what on earth is going on?”

Li Xun no longer had the energy to deal with him. He raised his arm and pushed Lingji aside. He stood up shakily and took two steps. He felt dizzy and his vision went black before he fell to the ground.

Faintly, he heard Lingji’s panicked cry.

A bitter taste welled up in Li Xun’s heart, turning around in his lungs and rushing to his throat. He sighed and fainted.

It was late at night. Lingji was exhausted from tossing and turning for most of the day and was already asleep. Li Xun was slowly waking up at this time.

After a period of slumber, his mind was still a little unclear. He kept his eyes open and thought for a while before he remembered what happened before he fainted.

Perhaps due to the heavy blow he had already suffered, Li Xun no longer felt the overwhelming surge of emotion he had felt during the day. But a thick layer of negativity slowly accumulated, and the despair within him grew heavier and heavier, a swirling, gloomy haze that suffocated him.

He lay on his back, his mind hazy. As time passed, the impurities gradually cleared away, leaving behind the clearest, yet most terrifying, scene.

Four months ago, he was the most favored young prince in Prince Fu’s palace. Aside from the daily intrigues of studying with his father in the palace and his father’s strict discipline upon returning home, he hadn’t suffered a single unpleasant fate.

Then, a killer descended from the sky, subdued him, and inexplicably made him his apprentice.

“Why should I take you as my master?” The eight-year-old Li Xun showed an expression that was very different from his peers. Despite his young age, he already had the demeanor of a great man. Looking at the ferocious man in red in front of him, although he was afraid in his heart, he remained calm on the surface.

The big man in red was none other than Xue Sanren, one of the three great wanderers. He laughed out loud after hearing this: “You want to be my disciple, so what’s the reason?”

Li Xun said in a cold voice: “Although the Prince Fu’s Mansion is not big, there are thousands of soldiers guarding it. No one is allowed to come in and out at will, let alone come here to recruit disciples. You evil man, if you really have the ability, you can go to the housekeeper to apply for the position of guard. You have the opportunity to teach me martial arts on weekdays. Why bother climbing over the wall and doing such a thief-like act!”

Xue Sanren laughed wildly: “Who said I would teach you martial arts? If I didn’t see that you are useful, based on your stupid words just now, I would slaughter this entire palace and let you wail in the sea of blood for three days before you die!”

“How dare you! Don’t talk nonsense! Are you going to commit a crime?” Li Xun was shocked and angry when he heard this.

“Idiot!”

Xue Sanren slapped the clueless Li Xun, knocking him to the ground. Then, with a sudden tug, a bloody light swirled from his palm, connecting into strands as if a living thing were writhing in mid-air. A pungent, fishy smell filled the air.

Li Xun’s face paled, and just as he was about to cry out for help, Xue Sanren slammed his palm against his chest, forcing the bloody light

deep into his body. The sudden, excruciating pain drained Li Xun’s last remaining strength. Though the pain lasted only two breaths, it left the eight-year-old incontinent and tears streaming.

Finally, Xue Sanren chuckled, “How does this blood nightmare feel?”

Even after the excruciating pain subsided, Li Xun still felt powerless, sobbing softly. This infuriated Xue Sanren, who kicked him in the stomach and angrily declared, “Shut up and listen to me…”

Thus, the young prince of a prominent royal family became a disciple of Xue Sanren from the Tongxuan Realm. However, Xue Sanren didn’t teach him a single skill, merely giving him daily tastes of the blood nightmare.

A few days later, Xue Sanren disguised himself as a wandering Taoist priest, tricking Prince Fu into a loop and luring disciples of the Mingxin Sword Sect to his side. Everything was orchestrated flawlessly, leaving Li Xun, filled with reluctance and fear, to journey to Lianxia Mountain. Only

after becoming acquainted with the mountain’s inhabitants and occasionally hearing his teachers discuss the secrets of the Tongxuan Realm did he finally understand the true nature of the demon he had encountered, this “Xue Sanren.”

Some cultivators in the Tongxuan Realm are not affiliated with a sect, but instead cultivate independently to attain immortality, or rebel against their sects and defy their control, forming the group known as “loose cultivators. “

Among these lone cultivators, there are also some notable figures to be reckoned with, exemplified by the world-renowned Three Loose Cultivators.

Xue Sanren is one of these Three Loose Cultivators, and the most murderous demon king in the Tongxuan Realm. His “Blood Demon Transformation Heart Technique” had reached pinnacle, making him one of the most elite cultivators in the Tongxuan Realm. However, his ferocious reputation was resounding throughout the realm, drawing fear from all.

Ever since Li Xun learned of the power of Blood Sanren, he had given up hope and began plotting how to obtain the “Spiritual Resonance Technique.

” Initially unaware of the difficulty involved, and fearful of inquiries, Li Xun devoted himself to cultivating his Qi, hoping to one day catch the eye of an immortal master.

Unexpectedly, on his first day in the mountains, his servant soared to the top, becoming a direct descendant of the sect, while he, along with a group of junior disciples, spent three months meditating and carrying water.

To this day, he has received no news of the “Spiritual Resonance Technique.” And because of this incident, Qingxu had denied his opportunity to cultivate. Even with all his fortitude, he felt overwhelmed by the shock.

“Is there really no way out?” Li Xun felt a pang of sadness, his nose aching, and tears welled up.

This was the most heartbreaking cry he had ever made since birth, even the daytime wails were no match.

As the eldest grandson of Prince Fu, he was destined to inherit the throne. Therefore, under his father’s strict, almost brutal, upbringing, Li Xun developed a deep mind at a young age, never showing his emotions, yet masterfully concealing them.

He usually appeared innocent during his studies at the palace, but upon returning home, he was required to write a diary of his experiences, describing and analyzing his observations and feelings, and commenting on countermeasures, which would then be reviewed by his father.

In this environment, even at the age of eight, he had already grasped the world’s most pernicious philosophies, his mental age far exceeding his outward appearance. If this continued, Li Xun would surely surpass his father and enjoy the fullness of his wealth.

However, all of this was shattered by the arrival of the Blood Sanren…

Arriving on this celestial mountain, Li Xun finally understood that he was only eight years old after all, and that scheming and cunning were not the only decisive forces in the world.

Just like the Blood Spreader, who was beyond his comprehension, and the Immortal Master Qingxu, whose eyes seemed to see through every corner of a person’s heart

, he could only be controlled by these people, following the rules like a puppet until his death.

“Can I just wait for death?” Li Xun sobbed softly, asking himself, “But… I don’t want to die!”