The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 43

Chapter 8: Breaking the Dust

Li Xun lay on the ground, his mind a jumble. For a moment, he didn’t know whether to be proud of his miraculous victory or frustrated by his final failure. The two contrasting feelings alternated, until, in the end, they made him laugh.

“Never mind, how can I be so unsatisfied?”

He struggled to his feet, stretched his arms and legs slightly, and then looked at the two dark figures floating above the transformation pool.

They were clad in “Mysterious Robes,” materialized from the Nine Netherworld’s energy. Their bodies revealed no trace of skin, a mysterious and eerie presence. If it weren’t for the curled hems, they would have seemed to blend into the darkness.

The sight of these two figures filled Li Xun with an overwhelming sense of pleasure.

He slowly approached, his internal Qi flowing, and with a slight contact with the two Mysterious puppets, the two motionless figures reacted instantly. Their crimson, piercing eyes lit up, like four sharp swords, simultaneously striking Li Xun.

Even though he knew the two puppets posed no threat, Li Xun couldn’t help but take a step back.

He quickly realized his own misstep, and as his face flushed, he moved his mind, causing the two puppets to pull down their hoods.

Then, the faces of Xue Sanren and Yin Sanren reappeared, unchanged from before, save for their pale, bloodless complexion.

Li Xun’s heart sank. For a moment, he even thought the two were playing a terrible joke—that just when he thought he had it all, they’d suddenly awaken and irresponsibly mock his ignorance and incompetence…

If that were true, it would be his worst nightmare. The mere thought of it chilled Li Xun, but he also felt that perhaps only then would the feeling feel more real. Right now, at this moment, it felt like a dream.

No one would believe it if he told anyone else that Yin Sanren and Xue Sanren, two of the highest masters in the Tongxuan Realm, feared and unparalleled demons, had fallen like that, at the hands of a teenager not even twenty years old! This was simply unreal!

He knocked on Xue Sanren’s chest and patted Yin Sanren’s face, only to feel a cold, stiff touch.

His eyes, though cold and intimidating, held no spirit. His mind was truly annihilated.

He twitched his lips, then suddenly punched Xue Sanren in the face. With a thud, not a single mark remained on Xue Sanren’s face, while Li Xun’s fist left a bruise.

Far from being annoyed, Li Xun burst into laughter. He chuckled, his punches raining down left and right, each one piercing Xue Sanren’s head. Though his bones were shattered, he felt immensely happy, a pleasure greater than drinking a jar of fine wine! They

fought for who knows how long, but Xue Sanren’s face remained clean, while Li Xun’s hands were swollen beyond recognition. Tired of fighting, he glanced at Yin Sanren again.

He reached out and grabbed Yin Sanren by the collar, pulling her towards him, carefully examining her breathtakingly beautiful face.

But was Yin Sanren, without her mind and thoughts, still Yin Sanren? Her pride, depth, wisdom, and the charm that seeped into her bones in every gesture were definitely not something that this lifeless puppet could possess.

The puppet was only a shell, and the real Yin Sanren had already turned into a wisp of dust between heaven and earth, and was gone with the wind.

Li Xun lost all interest for a moment. He let go of his hand, stood up straight, and looked up at the sky.

His pleasure had been squandered, and all that was left was fatigue, and a hint of confusion about where to go.

For most of his life, he had put all his energy into plans to maintain his own life. Sometimes, he even thought that this was the whole value of his life.

But now, when the factors that threatened his life were eliminated by him, when he could completely control his own life, he was stunned to think, how could it be so simple?

It was so simple that it made him feel cold.

He shook his head and, with a flick of his hand, the suspended Tianming Huayin Pearl fell into his palm. The orb was now dim, and when Li Xun probed it with his Qi, it no longer drew the same astonishing energy it once did.

Li Xun wasn’t surprised. Twice in a short period of time, drawing upon the Nine Netherworld Earth Qi through the air—this wasteful act was probably the first time since the pearl’s creation! The fact

that the orb didn’t shatter instantly was a sign of respect. Even so, without centuries of cultivation, it couldn’t possibly regain its full power.

Li Xun tossed the orb up and down, a sudden realization struck him. He turned to see the now-feasted Blood Kiss, his eyes wide open, gazing at the orb in his hand. His pupils, stretched to their limit, were filled with desire for the orb, yet also with a wariness that rivaled it. “

I can’t give it to you!” “Li Xun found that he had a good impression of this little monster. As soon as he saw it, his mood became much better, and the little guy’s well-timed attack just now really made him look at it with new eyes.

He spoke like he was talking to an old friend, “If you swallow it, a hundred years later, you will let it swallow you! “

Under the extremely disappointed look of Blood Kiss, he smiled and put the beads away, his gaze turning to the distance again. He thought of Qin Fei. Was that woman still alive?

When he reached Qin Fei’s side, this long, hellish night had just entered its darkest hour. Under the shroud of darkness, he saw the beauty who had only moments before been touching his skin, now staring at the sky with eyes wide open, eyes that had lost the light of life.

Li Xun didn’t know what he felt in his heart right now, but it wasn’t happiness.

He reached out woodenly and took out treasures such as the Jade Evil-Repelling Bane and the Phoenix Feather Needle from her body, and then found the Green Jade Sword nearby. In the process, he repeatedly touched the other person’s cold and stiff limbs. Just like the two wanderers, the warm, fragrant and soft feeling could only be recalled in dreams.

Li Xun stood up, paused for a moment, squatted down again, opened his palm, stroked Qin Fei’s face, and helped her close her eyes. Then, after thinking for a while, he finally reached out another hand, picked up Qin Fei horizontally, and turned back to walk towards the transformation pool.

“Here, your beauty may be preserved forever!” Li Xun stood in front of the newly built tomb for a long time, but his mind was blank.

The mysterious puppets were like two stone statues, standing silently behind him, without any warmth of life.

In the howling wind in the wilderness, are there any souls weeping? Li Xun suddenly wanted to see them. After seeing them, he would use the most proud tone to show them who the final winner is.

However, now that he is soul-destroying, who can he talk to?

“Did I really win? No! Li Xun coldly made a note of himself.

True, he hadn’t won, because none of the fear and humiliation he’d experienced had been passed down to the two scattered figures. They’d simply vanished, gone as they had been!

He took out the Tianming Huayin Pearl and placed it in his palm, just staring at it. The dim pearl’s light seemed to frighten him with a slight shudder, as if afraid of the gaze.

But in Li Xun’s eyes, it was a bright, penetrating light! Following it, a sudden, thrilling excitement washed over him.

He spun abruptly, staring intently at the two soulless puppets. Finally, with a single cry, he released all the pent-up anger within him. He gently clapped his fists together, muttering to himself, “There should still be a chance!”

The various incantations for driving the heart, refining the soul, and opening the mind flowed through his mind. The more convinced he became of his own judgment, he pointed at Xue Sanren and nodded, “You are You Yi!”

Then, pointing at Yin Sanren, “You are You Er. So, first of all, all you have to do is wait, wait a few years!”

His face twitched twice, and finally, he cast aside his slight reserve and laughed wildly at the top of his lungs.

There is a chance! In forty-nine years, the divine consciousness will grow, and spiritual wisdom will be restored! By then, you will return, and you will see your master, master! Everything you have done to me, tenfold, a hundredfold, I will repay you tenfold, a hundredfold! Forty-nine years! You wait, wait! “

The waves of laughter crossed the wilderness and gradually dissipated in the hoarse sound of the wind.

Li Xun gave up the victory in front of him. What he wanted was the dream drama of “reunion after a long separation” forty-nine years later!

Regardless of this idea, he now has a goal, doesn’t he?

Under the rising sun, Li Xun strode forward. The two mysterious puppets fluttered a few steps in the morning breeze. Their figures gradually faded. Finally, they seemed like two illusory bubbles. When the sunlight shone on them, they disappeared into the void in the ripples like water.

A bright red shadow flew over Li Xun’s head and disappeared into the colorful clouds in the sky.

When the first ray of sunlight shone on the ruins in the early morning, Gu Pin’er was cleaning her appearance with the newly drawn well water. During this period of time, she was obviously relaxed. She took poor care of her appearance, so her face was very pale. Fortunately, her eyes still had spirit and were sparkling.

She gathered her hair into a simple and elegant bun. Her long black hair twisted several times and draped over her shoulders, finally fixed with a jade hairpin.

She had been wearing this bun in recent years, but she had never felt as clear as today. The silk flowed gently between her fingers, cooler and smoother than the most gorgeous silk. Why had she never noticed such details in her previous decades of life?

The squeaking sound rang out again, disrupting her peaceful and gentle mood. She frowned slightly, washed her hands in the basin, and then turned around, just in time to see the officer with a distorted face, waving his saber and shouting, “Shoot, shoot! Shoot this witch to death!” “

The arrows flying towards her were like locusts flying across the field, ferocious and fierce. However, these hundreds of arrows let out a mournful cry a few feet away from her body, and flew in a twisted and distorted direction, and no one knew where they were going.

The officer’s face was twisted with fear, and he couldn’t straighten it out. He kicked away the soldiers around him, chopped down the archers on one side, and then gave the order again. The second wave of arrows came, but the result was no different from the previous time.

“This man is not a good guy! But…”

Gu Pin’er remembered it clearly. It was this man’s comrades who awakened her from her dream and made her wake up from her long confusion. If she killed him, she would feel really guilty.

Last night, in the midst of swords and fire, it was this man who led his soldiers to kill like wolves and tigers. Lan Musk Courtyard had no power to resist and was washed in blood in the blink of an eye.

Well, what did she do at that time?

People’s dreams are always a little vague. Gu Pin’er didn’t remember it clearly. She only remembered that this man’s men threw herself to the ground and tried to untie her skirt.

In the dream, she didn’t know how

However, when a soldier licked her face with his tongue and said something that seemed familiar and strange to her, but not interesting at all, a figure suddenly jumped out. At that moment, Gu Pin’er suddenly realized and woke up from her dream. It

turned out that they were different! They were the same kind and the master. Her life and emotions were completely dependent on him. All her joys, sorrows, anger and happiness were always the aftermath of love. Her soul was also completely attached. Ordinary.

And now what are these reptiles that stripped her clothes, drooled, and had distorted faces?

This clear and understandable cognition completely liberated her. When she woke up, the scenes in the dream faded away, and the power in reality burst out.

Evil spirits were scattering!

More than a dozen soldiers flew backwards in the burst of罡气 and fell to the ground. The Taichu Divine Sword that had not been in her hand for many days reappeared in her palm. The purple sword light expanded and contracted three or two times. All the reptiles in her sight had their throats cut, and they could not get up again!

Because of this, the officers who escaped by chance gathered hundreds of people and took turns They charged into the ruined courtyard, but after just two encounters, over a hundred people were killed or wounded. Finally, growing fearful, they sent out a squadron of archers, attempting a long-range attack, leading to the scene just now. After

several unsuccessful barrages, the officer, nearing collapse, brandished his saber and swore, “Shoot, shoot her, shoot this monster!”

Before he could utter the last word, a shiver of ice pierced through his neck. With a thud, a stream of blood spurted from his neck, propelling his head three feet high. Then, the headless corpse was knocked to the ground by a kick, spraying the surrounding soldiers with blood.

To Gu Pin’er, this scene wasn’t particularly thrilling, but the appearance of the impassive young man behind the corpse ignited her whole being, and a flush spread across her pale face. “

Here they come!”

The young man ignored the horrified soldiers around him and glanced over, his emotions a complex mix.

But Gu Pin’er only saw a glimmer of pity hidden in the boy’s eyes…

“Whatever he’s pitying about, he cares about me!”

Just as she was feeling joy, a cold breeze blew over her, and a finger, softer than the wind, touched the back of her head. She shuddered, and in the surge of joy, she fell into the sweetest dream.

In the same first rays of sunlight, everything that greeted Li Xin’s eyes made him suddenly age ten years!

The pride of the empire for centuries, the heart of the Celestial Empire, was reduced to a pile of rubble, buried with it were hundreds of thousands of civilians, merchants, soldiers, officials… and the emperor!

Longqing was dead, a pathetic death! He hadn’t perished in the earthquake, but rather, buried beneath the rubble, frightened to death by the interplay of darkness and fear.

Li Xin didn’t care. In his plan, Longqing was already dead. All he needed to do now was display Longqing’s body and pin the blame on the ministers who had opposed him.

If it weren’t for the nightmare last night, such a victory would have been great! However, a night of panic and despair drained all his strength, and the ruins before him completely wiped out the sense of achievement of victory!

He did not enter the makeshift tent, but just stood in the center of the original imperial city, on the ruins of the emperor’s palace, and stayed there until a burst of chaos woke him up.

He turned around and saw the soldiers who were deployed in the back retreating step by step to this side, with swords unsheathed, spears and halberds stretched out, as if facing a great enemy.

Outside them, a young Taoist priest, holding a sleeping girl, walked slowly. The hundreds of soldiers around him did not dare to move forward, but just retreated step by step.

Li Xin’s eyes lit up. Isn’t this his son? On the side, Li Cong, who came over after hearing the news, was even more shocked when he saw this situation. He almost cried out, “Brother has ordered all soldiers to get out of the way.

At the command, the soldiers, as if granted amnesty, wavered to make way. Li Xun’s figure flashed several times, and before they could see, he was standing before the two men.

Li Cong was about to greet them, but Li Xun called out, “Your Highness, Crown Prince!”

Li Xin was startled, Li Cong delighted, and then both showed surprise.

But this was clearly not the place to discuss this matter. Li Xin returned the greeting with the courtesy he would bestow upon the Imperial Master, then asked how the conflict with the soldiers had occurred, and offered to lead Li Xun to a nearby tent for a more detailed discussion. Li Xun shook his head and refused.

Amidst the two men’s genuine surprise, Li Xun politely replied, “Your Highness, there’s no need to greet you. I would like to apologize. A group of soldiers just broke into the Lanxu Courtyard and disturbed my friends. I was a little harsh in the punishment. Please forgive me!”

He said “please forgive me,” but his expression remained impassive, clearly indicating that whether Li Xin blamed him or not was of no concern to him.

Seeing Li Xun’s demeanor, Li Xin and the others naturally had some thoughts in their minds, but for some reason, they felt that Li Xun’s behavior at this moment was the most natural thing!

Li Xin was so experienced that he could tell at a glance that his son had become more and more unclear after just one night. He didn’t ponder the reason for this change, but quickly adjusted his mindset, no longer talking to Li Xun as a father, but as an ally.

Of course, on the surface, he was still a graceful and noble prince, occasionally revealing some of the kindness and majesty of a father. He asked briefly about what happened, and then asserted: “These idiots deserve to be killed! When the arrangements were made, the Lan Musk Courtyard was clearly ordered not to be disturbed. These people went to die on their own, and no one is to blame!”

He then asked: “Why are the Imperial Master and your Master not here?”

Li Xun’s lips curled slightly, revealing a meaningful smile. He replied: “The two masters have gone to pursue the enemy and will not be back for a while. But judging by the situation today, the prince’s important task has been completed, so perhaps it’s time to change his title!”

Li Xin smiled silently at first, and then, seeing that there was no one around, he whispered: “You should share wealth and honor with my son!”

Li Xun felt it clearly. When Li Xin said this, Li Cong’s heartbeat clearly accelerated! He also smiled, but said nothing, just sweeping his indifferent eyes over the surrounding ruins.

Li Xin understood what he meant and felt a little embarrassed, but then he smiled. The empire is vast, and there are many cities like Songjing. Looking at the situation before him, how can one experience the joy and pride of being the supreme ruler of the universe?

With this thought, the depression he had felt before was immediately swept away. He raised his head and laughed heartily, and his mentality naturally changed.

Li Cong was confused as he watched from the side, but the sense of crisis in his heart was growing stronger. It seemed that there was an invisible channel between his father and brother, which could accurately convey each other’s feelings to each other, without any misunderstanding or conflict.

In this kind of communication, he was indeed far behind. He couldn’t help but wonder, if Li Xun suddenly changed his mind and didn’t want to go into the mountains to practice Taoism anymore, how would he deal with it?

Just as he was daydreaming, Li Xun’s gaze turned to the end of the sky again. In this empty and aimless gaze, he said lightly: “This time I came to say goodbye to the prince!”

Li Xin and Li Cong were both shocked. The meaning of Li Xun’s words was so obvious, how could they not hear it? Li Xin was stunned for a moment, then changed his polite and distant attitude, and

said in a very i*imate tone: “Where are you going, son? Are you going back to the mountain to practice Taoism?” After getting Li Xun’s affirmative answer, he said disapprovingly: “It’s okay to practice Taoism in the world. Your uncle is the national teacher and his status is extremely respected. It doesn’t seem to hinder Taoism in any way. I want to leave this time, but have you been summoned by the sect?”

His tone was a little strange. Li Xun heard it clearly, but smiled without answering. He waved his sleeves, and his true breath passed out. The ground was immediately flat like a mirror. Then he put Gu Pin’er on the ground. Her true appearance was completely revealed, and not only Li Cong was stared at, but Li Xin was also stunned.

Li Xun glanced at his brother’s uneasy face, smiled coldly, and feigned ignorance. Turning to Li Xin, he also reverted to his son’s role. He said, “This friend’s status is quite special. She must stay here. Father, please take good care of her.”

Li Cong’s eyes immediately lit up, unaware that every detail of his expression was being observed by Li Xin and Li Xun.

Li Xun smiled and stopped talking, but his hands did not pause as he drew one pattern after another around Gu Pin’er.

The sharp gravel was no match for Li Xun’s fingers. He was like smearing on sparse sand, and when he finished, not even a speck of mud remained on his fingers.

Li Xin and his son watched him “draw talismans” with a look of confusion on their faces.

Only then did Li Xun speak again, “She should stay here. Perhaps in a day or two, someone from her master will arrive… We can’t hide what’s going on here from them!”

What was going on? Li Xin wanted to ask more, but something struck him. He turned his gaze to the ground not far away. There, countless long, blood-red scratches formed like the maws of a demon from hell, hideous and hideous. Li Xin would never forget how these scratches had swept away hundreds of thousands of lives in Kyoto overnight!

Li Xin’s breath suddenly caught.

Only then did Li Xun stand up and clapped his hands, brushing away the nonexistent dust. He seemed completely oblivious to Li Xin’s expression, his face as calm as water. This, in turn, only strengthened Li Xin’s conviction.

This served Li Xun’s purpose.

It was certain that Li Xin would approach this matter with the utmost caution for the next few days.

As expected, Li Xin summoned his personal guards and ordered them to quickly build a tent around Gu Pin’er to provide shelter from the wind and rain. Throughout, he never reaffirmed his judgment, which was precisely his cleverness.

Li Xun looked down at the sleeping Gu Pin’er. Technically, he should have made this woman, who knew so many secrets, disappear forever the moment they met.

Perhaps because of her mental state, or perhaps because of a lingering lingering pity, he ultimately refrained from taking action. But the necessary preparations were necessary…

When everything was over and the sun was already high in the sky, Li Xin glanced at the sky and was about to speak when Li Xun bowed again, his words calm and composed, yet with unprecedented seriousness. This silenced all his words.

Li Xun raised his head and said, still calmly, “Father, I will be leaving now!”

Seeing the complex expression on Li Xin’s face, Li Xun paused, then added, “A day in the mountains is a thousand years in the world. Without an opportunity, I won’t have many more chances to leave the mountain. So, please take care of yourself…”

Before Li Xin could finish, Li Cong’s eyes were already red. If his body hadn’t been so stiff with excitement, his performance would have been even more perfect.

Li Xun’s cold gaze shifted over, the corners of his lips curling slightly, his expression remarkably gentle. “Brother Cong, from now on, you must shoulder your responsibilities for our family, our country, and the world. You…”

His voice suddenly faded, and Li Cong unconsciously tilted his ears to listen. Instead, he heard a wave of sound that shook his soul.

Li Cong rolled his eyes and passed out.

“Brother Cong’s temperament is uncertain, and he knows too much, so I must prepare!” Li Xun explained. “I’ll simply erase some of his memories of me. It won’t harm him physically!”

Li Xin looked at his unconscious son, then at his increasingly quiet and unpredictable son. After a long silence, he finally sighed.

Li Xun looked at his father, the man who had given him life, soul, and a more practical approach to life. Li Xin should be the first person he should thank for his survival.

Whether according to conventional etiquette or the most basic principles, kneeling and bowing was the most appropriate thing to do at this moment.

However, in the end, he simply nodded, took a step forward, and passed his father. One step, two steps, three steps! On the third step, sword light soared into the sky, and in an instant, the former Songjing City was left behind.

A thread in the dark, with the sword light, suddenly severed.