The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 45

Chapter 1: Hundred Ghosts

Obscured by the hazy gray fog, the “Hundred Ghosts Taoist” couldn’t see the visitor’s face for a moment.

He only noticed that the woman’s voice was deep and melodious, and her calm, unwavering tone evoked the demeanor of someone of superior power. He had, of course, never met this person before, but he couldn’t confirm whether the deceased Hundred Ghosts ghost was the same person as him.

Thinking of this, he felt a flicker of regret over his decision.

The “Hundred Ghosts Taoist” wasn’t the real Hundred Ghosts Taoist; it was Li Xun, who had just emerged from seclusion. The real one had been killed by him months earlier in the palace’s secret passage. He

had impersonated this person because he felt the “real Hundred Ghosts”‘s half-baked practice of the Ghostly Fire would be a good cover. He also found a bamboo token on the person’s body, identifying him as a token.

While Gu Pin’er and the others were stationed at the palace, he had indirectly inquired about the Hundred Ghosts and learned that they kept a low profile, kept to themselves, and had no ties to the Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect.

By chance, he had obtained some cultivation techniques from a dying disciple of the Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect. As his skills improved, he gained some fame.

Li Xun had initially considered this identity a valuable asset, but after just one use, he faced the risk of being exposed, a feeling of embarrassment.

However, he was no longer the same person he had been before, and faced this situation without fear. A sudden thought flashed through his mind, and he said with a smile, “Who is this old friend?”

As soon as he said this, he was met with shouts and curses, as if he had offended some prominent figure.

Li Xun’s mind suddenly clicked. Thanks to the Netherworld Record, he had always kept a close eye on information about important figures within the Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect. Comparing this information, a name flashed through his mind.

His mind was so swift that even as he formed his mind, he was already deducing all the possible consequences. On the surface, he showed only a hint of hesitation before tentatively asking, “Is Madam Yan here?”

This statement was brilliantly crafted. It could be interpreted as a reminder of the speaker’s identity, or as a result of his deduction. The double meaning of the phrase perfectly concealed his identity. Furthermore, his attitude softened noticeably as he spoke, leaving no room for fault.

A soft laugh echoed from behind the mist. This laughter was unlike the graceful and graceful voice of a young woman, but rather graceful and reserved, with a depth of meaning yet so subtle that it was difficult to discern.

Following the laughter, the woman’s tone cooled slightly. “Hundred Ghosts, you were so clever back then, knowing to send the True Enlightenment Solution, that the sect tacitly allowed you to practice the sect’s secret techniques. However, you were never allowed to spy on the sect’s secret realm! What do you have to say?”

Li Xun’s eyelids jumped. The Hundred Ghosts were indeed connected to the Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect.

However, judging by the woman’s tone, they must have been in direct contact before. Otherwise, why would a dignified elder of a sect bother to remember a minor figure like Bai Gui?

However, his appearance was different from Bai Gui’s, which could not be concealed, and there was no need for the other party to get entangled with him… Could it be that they had never met before?

Thinking of this, a flash of inspiration came to Li Xun’s mind!

Could it be the Soul Binding Edict?

As far as he knew, the Ghost Shadow Sect only used the Soul Binding Edict to convey the accusations and punishments of disciples. It was the only way to seal the voice of a party. After finding the target through the method of flying sword transmission, the sealed voice would be released. This was consistent with the identities of the two parties!

His mind raced, and he smiled bitterly, “So it is really my lady here! Bai Gui only remembers the Soul Binding Edict back then…”

As soon as he uttered the four words “Soul Binding Edict”, the tense atmosphere around them suddenly relaxed. Li Xun’s perception was so sensitive that he immediately knew that his bold guess was successful.

His heart throbbed with joy, his words sweetening as he continued without pause: “… Madam’s clear voice. It’s been so long, I didn’t recognize you for a moment. Don’t blame me, don’t blame me!”

The voices behind the mist fell silent. The woman paused, her voice suddenly adding something more: “I don’t remember you being so smooth-talking back then!”

Li Xun hurriedly smiled and said, “It’s Baigui who’s being frivolous, but it’s truly unfair. I really didn’t know this was the sect’s secret realm…”

A meaningful chuckle emanated from the mist, its peculiar rhythm making Li Xun’s heart tremble. He didn’t know what had angered the woman, and he didn’t dare to dwell on it. With a flicker of his body, he slid away, close to the ground.

As he moved, a gray-white spark ignited from behind the mist. A dim light swept through the mist, revealing a shadowy figure within. The interplay of light and shadow, the shifting of reality and illusion, would have dazzled ordinary people.

Yet, Li Xun’s eyes were fixed on a single target—

a figure who paid little heed to his “special attention.” Even through a layer of mist, Li Xun could sense she hadn’t even glanced his way. With a simple flip of her hand, dangling from her sleeve, an undercurrent pushed the mist aside, rolling in.

This undercurrent was like the ebb and flow of the tide in the dark night, its gentleness yet an irresistible force. What greeted him wasn’t the faintly fishy sea breeze, but a yin fire that penetrated the very core, turning flesh and bones to ash!

For a moment, the entire space burned, yet once inhaled, the chill that penetrated the lungs was enough to freeze consciousness!

This single strike was enough to prove that this woman was at least a “True Person”-level expert—the equivalent of a sect leader.

He resisted the urge to summon You Yi and You Er, and with a loud cry, he launched himself skyward. The undercurrent, like waves crashing against rocks, shook violently and surged upward, its momentum growing even stronger.

Li Xun felt as if his feet were on fire. He didn’t dare hold back, spinning again and striking down with the same palm.

There was a creaking sound in the air. Li Xun’s palm strike wasn’t necessarily powerful, but its subtlety and depth surpassed even his opponent’s.

The Yin Fire within him expanded and contracted, flowing at will. His fierce and impulsive aura had been completely subdued. His palm strike was as light as child’s play, yet its force felt ethereal and unsupported, as if it had opened a cavern of inestimable depths in the atmosphere, its deepest point a furnace capable of melting gold and dissolving bones!

The torrent of Yin Fire poured in, but Li Xun, with his power greatly compromised, could only withstand less than 30% of it. With a painful groan, he was sent flying backwards.

The woman behind the mist defeated her foe with a single blow, yet she showed no sign of joy. Instead, she let out a soft exclamation, a subtle wave

of surprise etched within her. All around, discerning observers gasped incessantly. Though Li Xun’s defeat was crushing, the power he displayed clearly demonstrated his mastery of Netherworld Qi.

Further expansion would allow him to draw Qi across the air, then transform form and substance, reverse life and death, and ultimately attain supreme Netherworld divine power…

Reaching the realm of melting the void would elevate one from an ordinary disciple to a celestial being, a key target of the sect’s training.

How many of the nearly a thousand disciples in the entire Ghostly Shadow Devouring Sect have achieved this level? At least, not a single one among them!

Now, a casual cultivator, having mastered the rudiments of the sect’s techniques, has achieved such a level of cultivation. Could it be that these directly-trained disciples, after centuries of practice, have all been in vain?

Just as the disciples were beginning to feel awkward, Li Xun stumbled to the ground, spitting out another mouthful of blood, and nearly collapsed. His injuries were actually not that serious. At least, he still had the ability to summon You Yi and You Er and escape for his life.

“You have the capital to talk too much!” The woman in the fog praised him generously after a brief pause.

“It is truly commendable that you can reach this level as a casual cultivator without any guidance! However, without further skills, your achievements in this life will end here!”

She paused again and softened her tone greatly: “Bai Gui, you are extremely talented and a talent that can be cultivated! It’s a pity to be a lonely ghost in the Tongxuan Realm! Are you willing to take it to the next level and comprehend the supreme netherworld magical powers?” “

Li Xun was startled when he heard this, and then he woke up. This was recruiting talents!

If he hadn’t used the “Melting the Void” technique in time, he would probably have been treated as garbage and thrown into the wilderness! The basis for the other party’s change of attitude was very utilitarian, but it also fits Li Xun’s idea of the evil sect.

He also had expectations for the systematic practice of the Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect’s magic formula.

Moreover, he now has full confidence that he can get away safely under the most unfavorable circumstances, which gives him the most stable guarantee.

So, after a long period of daze, he stroked his chest and smiled bitterly: “Madam Yan, you mean…”

The woman in the fog did not answer immediately, but walked out of the fog area calmly and walked towards this side.

Without the cover of the fog, Li Xun saw the woman’s appearance clearly, and he was surprised in his heart: Could this be the Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect? Is she the most famous female cultivator in the Shadow Sect?

Although she is also a beauty, her beauty is definitely not on the level of Qing Yin or Yin Sanren. Her face is a little pale and her looks are not dazzling, but it is enough to attract the attention of the opposite s*x.

And looking at her a little longer, looking at her curved eyebrows, quiet smile, and her manners that are in accordance with the etiquette, you can feel that she has a kind of quiet and gentle, yet graceful demeanor that comes from her bones.

Watching her gradually approach, Li Xun thought he saw a virtuous woman who took care of her husband and children and took care of the household. He could not associate her with the female cultivator who had just released the surging Yin Fire.

He was stunned for a moment. The woman walked in front of Li Xun and smiled, “I haven’t accepted any disciples for more than a hundred years, and since I started practicing Taoism, I have never accepted any male disciples. I want to make an exception today. Are you willing? “

Li Xun smiled bitterly in his heart. Is he very lucky to be a disciple?

In the past ten years, he has been paying homage to masters and elders everywhere. This strange situation does not seem to be relieved until today. If the person standing here is the real Bai Gui, he would probably be overjoyed by now, turn over and kneel down, and shout “Master”.

After all, for a helpless casual cultivator to ascend to the sky in one step and become a disciple of a big sect like the Ghost Shadow Sect, and to climb up to a big tree like Madam Yan for support, it is really an irresistible temptation.

Li Xun knew that if he refused, it would be tantamount to saying, “I am not Bai Gui! “He would not do such a stupid thing!

However, the situation of being suppressed and ordered around by the two vagrants some time ago was still vivid in his mind. At this time, he was not really powerless to fight back. The combination of the two made him have some “bones”.

He twitched his mouth and bent his waist, but he felt awkward. When the words came to his lips, the word “Madam” popped out.

His expression naturally could not be hidden from Madam Yan. She smiled gently, and her beautiful face became more lively because of this smile.

She had a kind face, and the look in her eyes when she looked at Li Xun at this time was somewhat i*imate. “I can see that you are quite proud. I don’t want to embarrass you, but It’s a pity for your talent…”

She frowned slightly, as if she wanted to let Li Xun go, but was extremely reluctant.

Li Xun looked at the vague regret between her eyebrows, and a chill came over his heart!

Who is he, Li Xun? He is an expert in this field!

With the induction of “colleagues”, he understood that if he really believed this woman and turned around and left, he would probably not take three steps before a palm would shatter his heart and turn him into ashes!

This woman is terrible!

With this realization in his heart, the few pounds of bones that Li Xun had just grown were all crushed. He gritted his teeth secretly, bowed to the ground, raised his face, and smiled: “My lady appreciates me, how can the ghosts not obey!”

“Your name is quite unique! “Mrs. Yan was referring to the title of “Mrs.” that Li Xun used.

This title was actually very rude, but Li Xun pretended to be ignorant, so Mrs. Yan didn’t care. These independent cultivators were often wild, and Mrs. Yan had seen it many times, so she was not surprised, so she took it as a means to win people’s hearts: “Well, this is more pleasant to the ear!”

Li Xun secretly sighed. So far, the status of the master and disciple was also determined. Naturally, he felt mixed emotions in his heart, which were difficult to describe. However, he suddenly thought again, it seemed that none of those who served as his master had a good ending, so what about this woman? In

a blink of an eye, Li Xun had been in this valley for more than ten days, and he had some understanding of the situation here.

This was originally one of the secret realms of the Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect, the “Hua Valley”. Although its importance was not as good as the sect’s main hall, it was also one of the most secretive places.

Not only were restrictions rife within and beyond the valley, but various secret methods had also been employed to shroud the mountainous area for thousands of miles in a mist permeable to the senses. These measures couldn’t have been more effective, yet Li Xun’s ability to find this place was a matter of luck or misfortune.

What particularly intrigued Li Xun was that this place, located only a hundred miles from the Hundred Yin Convergence Point where he cultivated, was only a hundred miles away. Yet, despite the Ghostly Shadow Devouring Sect’s sensitivity to such dense Yin energy, they had remained completely unaware for thousands of years. Could this also be luck?

In recent years, Tenghua Valley had practically become Madam Yan’s personal retreat, where she spent most of the year cultivating.

Madam Yan was one of the sect’s twelve elders, second only to the sect master, Hellfire Yama. Her status was highly respected, and her kind nature, rare among the evil sects, earned her considerable prestige within the sect.

At this moment, she had suddenly made an exception and accepted a male disciple, a move that had both significant and significant implications. Twelve members of the Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect, from the Sect Master down, arrived to offer their congratulations, each bearing gifts for the new disciple.

For the past ten days, Li Xun had been living a carefree life, simply wandering the valley, occasionally visiting a few senior brothers and sisters, or seeking guidance from Madam Yan on cultivation. He came and went without supervision, feeling more like a guest than a disciple.

Before he knew it, “Teaching Day” had arrived.

Simply put, Teaching Day is a time for sect masters like Madam Yan to teach and impart knowledge. But in reality, it’s more complicated.

In the Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect, aside from a few trusted disciples, private instruction from their masters is rare. Restricted to practicing by routine, this often widens the gap in cultivation level.

To address this issue, the sect established a rule that on the first day of each month, starting with the Sect Master and ending with the twelve elders, they must publicly impart their cultivation tips to younger disciples. This event became known as “Teaching Day.”

This was clearly designed to narrow the gap in cultivation between disciples.

While it was normal for disciples to have varying strengths, if the differences were too great, creating a gap, it would be of no benefit to the sect’s development.

The Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect’s ancestors were quite wise to have thought of this.

However, this meant nothing to Li Xun. Now that he had a master, he wouldn’t waste his resources in vain.

Madam Yan’s cultivation was very powerful. Among the six methods of the sect, she specialized in the Devouring Shadow Technique and the Corpse Driving Puppet Technique.

Li Xun was more proficient in the Soul Driving, Soul Refining, and Heart Communication Technique, which was the foundation of the Corpse Driving Puppet Technique. It was rare to have a master to guide him. After dozens of days, he had asked all the bottlenecks he had encountered in his recent practice. At this point, the teaching day was of little significance to him.

Free from work, the day before the teaching day, while the other disciples were still hard at work preparing for tomorrow’s activities, Li Xun had automatically become an outsider and began to wander around the valley.

To call him wandering was not quite right. This Tenghua Valley was shrouded in clouds and mist. What was there to explore? What really interested him were the restrictions that covered the valley inside and outside.

These restrictions arguably embodied the highest level of the Ghostly Shadow Devouring Sect’s forbidden formation techniques. For Li Xun, who had never had a practical example to refer to, they were extremely valuable for research.

Starting in the morning, he spent approximately two hours following the connections and shifts in the energy flow until he located a central core. Then, absorbed in his study, he lost track of the passage of time. A soft cough finally pulled him from his trance.

Li Xun frowned, wiping away the messy marks he had made. Turning back, he saw Ying Cai’er, one of Madam Yan’s direct disciples, with whom he had previously clashed.

Her cultivation wasn’t high enough to impress Li Xun, but her beauty was undeniable, captivating any man.

Her features were exquisitely flawless, captivating her beauty, especially when she smiled, her eyes radiating a brilliant brilliance, yet also hinted at a hint of pride and reserve. A single glance revealed her demanding standards for men and her confidence in her own appearance.

Any man caught in such a gaze would inevitably feel a strong desire to conquer her. Her graceful figure, with its curves, was especially captivating, enough to make any man hold his breath, further stimulating their desires. She was truly a true stunner.

At that moment, she was looking over with a smile, showing no apology for disturbing others, revealing her rather spoiled nature, while her beauty was breathtaking.

The gray mist, as if realizing it couldn’t conceal the woman’s beauty, gradually faded and dissipated.

Li Xun examined her without hesitation, then glanced behind her.

Behind her, a beautiful female cultivator, noticing his gaze, smiled brightly, a greeting.

This person, perhaps, was Ye Ru! Li Xun had seen her before when he first arrived.

Although she wasn’t Madam Yan’s direct disciple, she was quite famous among the other disciples in the valley, mostly due to her beauty.

Her appearance wasn’t as dazzling as Ying Cai’er’s, but it was still pleasing to the eye. Moreover, she lacked Ying Caier’s arrogance and was more approachable and gentle. Her manners were graceful and elegant, reminiscent of a lady from a noble family. At first glance, she bore a resemblance to Madam Yan.

It seemed this wasn’t a chance encounter.

Li Xun put on a smile and greeted the two beauties. “It’s so rare to see you, Senior Sisters. What a coincidence today?”

“Who said coincidence?” Ying Caier raised an eyebrow and smiled. “I’m sorry, Junior Brother Baigui, we’ve come to trouble you this time.”

“Trouble me?”

Li Xun’s eyelids twitched. “Senior Sister, what’s going on?”

Ying Caier, hands behind her back, took a few steps toward him, and said with a smile, “Nothing much. We just need you, a master who has reached the level of melting the void, to do us a favor you’re definitely capable of!”

“Help?” Li Xun’s mind raced, his mind quickly integrating the recent situation. He had a plan in mind.

Playing dumb was useless at this moment. He needed to show some sincerity and deter Ying Caier from asking for an exorbitant price.

He smiled and said, “Now that Senior Sister Ying mentioned that, I understand a little. It’s about tomorrow’s ‘teaching session,’ right? Senior Sister Ying isn’t needed, so Senior Sister Ye will be the one to take charge!”

Ying Cai’er’s beautiful eyes widened slightly as she looked at Li Xun, then added, “You’re quite clever! And quite conceited!”

Her words, while expressing dissatisfaction with Li Xun’s attitude, also hinted at a hint of interest in him. Clearly, Li Xun’s unyielding demeanor had a certain allure to her.

Ying Cai’er’s interest in handsome male cultivators was well known to all disciples of the Ghostly Shadow Devouring Sect. Though Li Xun had only recently arrived, he had heard of it. While there was a hint of complacency in his gaze as he looked at Ying Cai’er, there was also a greater sense of caution.

He smiled calmly, maintaining his conceited demeanor as he looked at Ye Ru, carefully examining the beauty. While there was certainly an element of admiration for her beauty, more so, he was assessing Ye Ru’s level of cultivation.

Li Xun knew full well that it wasn’t without reason that non-trusted disciples like Ye Ru took the “Teaching Day” so seriously, even going so far as to seek help. Besides personally listening to the master’s teachings, there was another crucial rule.

It was a somewhat “stingy” rule, but also quite unique:

no matter the disciple, regardless of closeness or level of cultivation, they were only allowed to ask one question per day, and it couldn’t be a general question.

For example, questions like “How can I cultivate the Netherworld Qi to the point of melting the void?” were forbidden. If asked, they could only ask questions like “How do I control the power of the Netherworld Yin Fire when activating a certain Mysterious Gate Acupoint to break through the barrier?”

Li Xun found this fascinating. It wasn’t just a disciple seeking advice from the master, but also a master testing the disciple.

The level of a disciple’s cultivation could be gauged from the level of their questions.

When a disciple asks a question, he or she isn’t simply picking up any random question. From the numerous questions he or she has accumulated, he or she must identify the most crucial point, aiming to master all the principles.

Raising questions with this goal in mind tests a disciple’s overall thinking and control over their own cultivation.

This also impacts the progress of each individual’s practice. Those with clear minds and a penchant for contemplation while cultivating will naturally stand out.

This, it seems, is an invisible selection process!

Those who cultivate the Dao are no fools; they naturally understand the implications.

Therefore, disciples like Ye Ru, who consider themselves lacking in ability, often seek guidance from “experts” before the day of their instruction, hoping to attract the master’s attention.

Li Xun’s thoughts raced within him, but his expression remained silent. He calmly shifted his gaze, carefully examining Ye Ru from head to toe. He then gestured for her to reach out and feel her wrist pulse.

The more relaxed he was, the more pressure he placed on her. Ye Ru was no naiveté; on the contrary, she had practiced Taoism for over a hundred years and possessed a wealth of life experience.

Yet, somehow, under this male cultivator’s gaze, she felt a sense of unease. It felt as if his gaze had an extremely sharp, penetrating power, piercing right into her very being. It seemed as if every change in her body was under his control.

She had only experienced this kind of situation before, facing a few teachers. This mixture of fear and confusion caused her body to tremble slightly, her limbs limp.

Her feeling was indeed correct. Every reaction within her, even the fluctuations of her mind, was under Li Xun’s control.

Li Xun’s spiritual cultivation had advanced dramatically since he began practicing the Soul-Exorcising, Soul-Refining, and Heart-Connecting Techniques. His mind-shaking and soul-stirring techniques were particularly sophisticated, blending seamlessly with the “Heart-Blood Wheel Eye,” cultivated through the cultivation of the Blood God Son. Even now, when he unintentionally used them, the effect was quite remarkable.

It was precisely because of this that Li Xun realized the primary reason why Ye Ru hadn’t been appreciated by Madam Yan:

this female cultivator possessed a superior physique, a remarkably agile flow of Qi, and a remarkably pure true Qi cultivation. Li Xun believed that if it hadn’t been for the previous eighty-one days of dedicated practice in the “Mysterious Shadow Body,” nourished by the two Mysterious puppets, which had greatly advanced his cultivation, he would have been no more than this.

If she could continue to cultivate according to the plan, she would reach the realm of melting the void within thirty years.

However, in Li Xun’s judgment, the achievements of this female cultivator could only stop here.

The reason was simple, the female cultivator’s will was too weak.

Li Xun only glanced at her casually, and she was a little overwhelmed. If she was so weak, how could she resist the many inner demons on the road of cultivation in the future?

Moreover, if she really became a trusted disciple and had access to confidential information, who could guarantee that she could grit her teeth and keep the secret when her life was at stake?

Thinking of this, Li Xun frowned, but he immediately smiled and said, “Senior Sister Ye’s cultivation is very pure and her foundation is good. It’s just that she needs to work harder in a few key places where she needs to gather energy to break through.

“Especially in the Seventeenth Ghost Meridian, the Yin Fire flows, and it can be released but not taken back, which is often blocked. This affects the smooth flow of more than ten surrounding Qi channels. Why not ask Madam about this issue!” “

Ye Ru was also an expert, and she naturally knew how complicated this question was. She was surprised and impressed for a moment, and after a moment of hesitation, she stood up and saluted to express her gratitude.

Li Xun saw that she was still able to maintain an elegant posture and appropriate manners in such a hurry, and his heart moved again – this look did not seem like a person with poor psychological quality!

He looked at Ying Caier and winked secretly.

Although Ying Caier did not know what he meant, she gave him a favor and smiled as she pulled Ye Ru and said, “Ye’er, don’t thank him! Men can be blown away by giving them face! Just look at the face, feel the pulse, and say some half-intelligible words. There is nothing to thank for!”

She didn’t care what Li Xun thought after hearing it, and pulled Ye Ru away.

Ye Ru could only give an apologetic smile in a hurry, and followed her helplessly.

Li Xun squinted his eyes and watched the figures of the two women disappear after the mist. After thinking for a while, he turned around and continued to study the ban.