The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 47

Chapter 3: Becoming Famous

When Li Xun awoke from his unfathomable nothingness, the first thing he saw were the looks of shock and admiration on Ying Cai’er and Ye Ru’s faces.

Seeing Li Xun open his eyes, Ye Ru was about to speak when Ying Cai’er interrupted her. Her first question wasn’t a greeting, but a blunt, “How did you do that?”

Li Xun responded with a bewildered look, “What?”

Ying Cai’er laughed out loud, then, fiercely grabbing Li Xun by the collar, gritted her teeth and said, “Don’t play dumb! How did you set up that trap? There’s no such thing as a coincidence!”

Li Xun remained completely naive. “Senior Sister Ying, what are you talking about? How long have I been unconscious?”

Ying Cai’er released her hand, and in an instant, her expression transformed from a fierce look to a smile. “Excellent, Baigui. No matter what, I surrender!”

With a cold snort, she ignored Ye Ru’s struggles and turned away, pulling her away.

Li Xun’s lips twitched twice before calming down. He touched his chest, feeling the broken bones now in place and covered with a layer of medicated gel, indicating a satisfactory recovery. He set his injuries aside and began to reflect on any omissions in his previous arrangements.

Ying Caier had guessed correctly; when facing Gui Wuzang, he had controlled every move. He had provoked Gui Wuzang into attacking, shown weakness, counterattacked despite being seriously injured, and finally, the unexpected event—every step was planned and executed in advance.

His plan, it seemed, was to avoid the spotlight and maintain a low profile.

In reality, if he truly wanted to keep a low profile, he wouldn’t have agreed to Ying Caier’s request, or, if he had confronted Gui Wuzang, he would never have taken action!

Who could be more adept at playing the grandson than he?

His approach was a subtle tactic of concealing one’s true intentions.

Imagine if he couldn’t even deceive Ying Caier, how could he possibly deceive Madam Yan, who was a hundred times more experienced?

Li Xun had never considered living in hiding within the Ghostly Shadow Devouring Sect! The reason was simple: in such an evil sect, there was no place for worthless people!

This was clearly evident from Ye Ru!

Therefore, Li Xun was demonstrating his strength in an unconventional way.

In terms of true cultivation, even after eighty-one days of refinement in Yin Fire and the daily nourishment of his “Mysterious Shadow Body,” he was still a few points behind Gui Wuzang in terms of maturity. While Li Xun was confident he could defeat him in a head-on fight, it wouldn’t be as easy as it was now.

This was truly his true value! If Madam Yan wasn’t a fool, she would surely recognize this.

Sure enough, half an hour after Li Xun regained consciousness, Madam Yan slowly walked into his room.

Li Xun bowed slightly from the bed, and Madam Yan, smiling in response, sat down on the edge of his bed without hesitation.

“You’ve done something bold. But… it’s quite good!”

Madam Yan didn’t give him the chance to beat around the bush, and Li Xun couldn’t play dirty like he had with Ying Cai’er. He could only acquiesce and listen carefully.

Madam Yan was pleased with his attitude and smiled, “Your approach this time was clean and efficient, saving you a lot of trouble. However, I must remind you that Bishuijun’s temper is unpredictable. While Gui Wuzang may not be particularly pleasing to him, you should still be careful; he could cause trouble within the sect!”

Li Xun agreed with a wry smile.

Madam Yan seemed deeply concerned for him, adding, “The sect leader has sent two elders to investigate the Gui Wuzang matter. They’ll arrive tomorrow and may need to question you. Just answer truthfully!”

She emphasized the word “truthfully,” and Li Xun naturally understood, knowing that Madam Yan was determined to protect him this time.

This was inevitable. Li Xun was being “instructed” by Ying Cai’er, a senior disciple of Madam Yan. Would she be proud if she were to be implicated?

Li Xun had thought about this before he took action, so he wasn’t surprised. Furthermore, he knew Madam Yan couldn’t hide his thoughts, so he didn’t even bother pretending.

Seeing his expression, Madam Yan suddenly smiled again. “It’s just that you don’t have the personality to stand up for us women… Cai’er didn’t do this right. I’ll have her apologize to you later!”

“I dare not!”

Li Xun’s face showed a rather curious expression. “Senior Sister Ying isn’t the type to bow down to a disciple either. I dare not trouble you, Madam!”

Madam Yan observed his expression, as if understanding something. Then she smiled and said, “Cai’er has been spoiled by me, so it’s indeed difficult to get her to bow down. However, I’m afraid you don’t need me to stand up for you… because Cai’er is absolutely no match for you!”

Li Xun simply smiled, but his meaning was clear in his smile.

In the Mingxin Sword Sect, his actions would undoubtedly be courting death. However, in the Ghostly Shadow Devouring Sect, and from Madam Yan, he found support and praise.

“Look at your appearance, I’m sure you’ve put a lot of effort into it!” Madam Yan’s eyes flickered across Li Xun’s face. “There are some disciples like you in this sect, but few are as wise as you. At least you’ve done well so far!”

Li Xun understood what she meant. She was simply telling him not to be like Gui Wuzang.

Could he and that fool have anything in common? Of course, if Madam Yan truly believed that, he would be delighted.

The two chatted for a while longer, and then Madam Yan took her leave.

Li Xun saw clearly that Madam Yan no longer treated him as a disciple, but unconsciously treated him as an equal.

On the one hand, this was a good thing, as it showed Madam Yan’s respect for him.

On the other hand, he had to be careful. Madam Yan’s respect for him was one thing, but his self-esteem was another.

Getting carried away was a recipe for death!

After less than ten hours of confinement in his hospital bed, his injuries, aided by elixirs, had healed by about 70% to 80%. Meanwhile, the sect’s personnel handling Gui Wuzang’s death had arrived in Tenghua Valley. According to Ying Cai’er’s message, the sect was putting a lot of effort into this matter.

Gui Wuzang’s master, Bishuijun, was naturally present, along with two elders, who were fully responsible for the matter.

Furthermore, to everyone’s surprise, the Ghost Shadow Devouring Sect’s leader, Netherfire Yamaluo, who hadn’t been a formal member for over a hundred years, had also arrived, though no one knew what he was up to!

“This old man is very powerful. You’d better be careful!”

Ying Cai’er’s attitude towards Netherfire Yamaluo wasn’t exactly respectful, but rather awe-inspiring. “It’s best not to try to be clever with him; he has a sharp eye!”

This was Ying Cai’er’s third visit in ten hours, and she was visibly nervous.

Li Xun regarded her with suspicion. Was Netherfire Yamaluo worthy of such treatment?

Given Ying Cai’er’s personality, she certainly wouldn’t tolerate such suspicion. In an instant, she returned to her original appearance, glanced at Li Xun with arrogance and disdain, put on an expression of “I don’t want to bother with you”, turned around and left.

Watching her leave, Li Xun smiled faintly, straightened his clothes, and followed her out. Meanwhile, in the valley’s meeting hall, Minghuo Yanluo and the others were still waiting!

Outside, two disciples, accompanied by the Sect Master and the elders, arrived. One was named Mingli, the other Youwusheng.

Just by hearing their names, one could tell they were the most legitimate of the sect’s disciples; otherwise, the curses from the five great clans wouldn’t have befallen them. People

like Gui Wuzang and Ying Cai’er were probably a level below them!

Disciples like Mingli and Youwusheng were roughly on par with ordinary second-generation disciples of the Mingxin Sword Sect, but significantly below the level of the “Seven Swords of Lianxia.” Li Xun believed that with his current strength, he could probably withstand a fight with them.

As Li Xun emerged, both men simultaneously cast their gazes upon him, examining him briefly before glancing at each other. This series of actions, though performed with great secrecy, still caught Li Xun’s eye.

A thought struck him, and he looked at the two men’s expressions. Both were cautious, yet tinged with satisfaction. This… didn’t really look like a trial!

“Junior Brother Baigui, please come this way!”

This was Mingli’s polite greeting.

The man’s features were respectable, but beneath his overly fair skin, a faint green hue seemed to flicker, appearing and disappearing. At first glance, it seemed fine, but if one stared at him for a while, his expression became gloomy and sinister, like a green-haired zombie, a chilling sight.

Li Xun knew this was a sign of someone who had reached a certain level in the cultivation of the Jade Fire Flowing Ying spell.

On the other side, You Wusheng was much more normal than he was. Like Li Xun, he came from a background of Netherworld Qi cultivation, having long since reached the stage of melting the void, and his power was far greater than Li Xun’s.

His features were ordinary, and his complexion remained human, but his pupils were deep and unfathomable, and within their depths, flecks of grayish-white aura flickered and flickered.

You Wusheng was quiet, nodding his head, but it was clear he was quite friendly towards Li Xun. Seeing their expressions, Li Xun felt more reassured.

As he entered the meeting room, the first thing he felt was a glare that threatened to rip his heart out. Though it quickly faded, it still sent a cold sweat through Li Xun’s back.

He instinctively looked over, but only saw a half-profile figure, their face turned away. Li Xun only noticed that they were quite tall, dressed in a light green hue of fine material, that was all.

“Jun Bishui?”

The name floated in Li Xun’s mind, but he quickly shifted his attention. There was someone more noteworthy in this room right now!

His eyes swept across the room. Madam Yan gave him a smile, and there were two cultivators who looked stern but were actually mediocre. They must have been the elders who had come to “judgment” the case, but they were clearly just there to make up the numbers.

Ultimately, his attention lingered on the main seat in the hall. There, a figure was observing him with intense interest, giving him a particularly peculiar feeling.

Was he Hellfire Yama?

Even though he had heard of him before, seeing him in person still left Li Xun startled.

This Hellfire Yama looked a far cry from a powerful and influential sect leader! How could such a consumptive, emaciated figure, with a dark complexion and sunken eyes, become the leader of the Tongxuan Nine True Sect?

Perhaps before his illness, Hellfire Yama had been quite robust, as his massive frame suggested. But now, apart from this skeleton, all he had was rough, dry skin, loosely draped over his tanned frame, devoid of any life.

The only thing that hinted at his extraordinary nature were his pupils, sunken so deeply into their sockets that their true color could no longer be seen. The fiery light within them, the cold clarity that penetrated the human heart, gave one a sense of his undeniable power and edge.

Rumor has it that during the 49th Heavenly Tribulation, he was accidentally struck by a thunderbolt. Though he narrowly escaped death, he remained bedridden, suffering from an incurable illness.

Conventional wisdom suggests that within a sect as unholy as the Ghostly Shadow Devouring Sect, a leader without inherent intimidation would be unlikely to maintain their position for long, with countless covetous individuals vying for the throne.

Yet, over a hundred years after the tribulation, despite his “bedridden” state, Netherfire Yamaluo maintained a firm grip on the sect’s power, unchallenged. This in itself is a miracle. This also demonstrates the unfathomable depths of Netherfire Yamaluo’s scheming and strength.

Li Xun faced this individual with no more ease than he had faced two vagrants.

After assessing the situation within the hall, Li Xun politely saluted the various teachers and leaders, maintaining a humble demeanor.

At this moment, Hellfire Yama spoke. His voice was hoarse, punctuated by occasional gurgling creaks, but the emphatic rhythm of his words, like the flickering flames of fire, ebb and flow, a truly distinctive quality. “Bai Gui, tell me the details of your private fight with Gui Wuzang!”

Without any prelude or warning, he launched into a single, sharp statement.

Li Xun, however, was prepared, delighting in such directness. He simply replied, “Yes,” and proceeded to recount the events of that evening in a coherent and orderly manner.

As for the truth or falsehood, it was a matter of taste, as only the drinking water itself could reveal.

It was clear that the people in the hall were merely listening to his story, unconcerned. He placed his hand to his lips, coughed softly, and said, “According to you, this was an accident…”

The man Li Xun suspected of being Lord Bishui snorted, but remained silent.

Li Xun glanced in his direction and then responded: “Master, please understand!”

You are so honest!”

There was no hint of sarcasm in Minghuo Yanluo’s words, but what he said next was a bit sharp: “Bai Gui, let me ask you, if this was not an accident, but someone was manipulating it, what do you think we should do?

“You are right. If it can stand up to scrutiny, it proves that you are still an interesting person. How about I not care about this matter?”

Li Xun was stunned for a moment, then smiled slightly and said: “Master, please understand, I also think this matter is too coincidental recently. I tried to deduce it while lying in bed. It’s just that my ability is limited, and I can only reversely deduce to the section of forbidden changes. As for the rest, I know nothing!”

Li Xun noticed that when he said the words “forbidden changes”, the atmosphere in the hall changed slightly, which made his inference more firm.

He glanced around again, taking in everyone’s expressions, then continued, “It was the Nine Nether Sword Qi that killed Senior Brother Gui Wuzang. This must have been triggered by the seventeenth transformation of the Nether Transformation. The energy flow should be as follows…”

In his area of expertise, he feared no one. He began by explaining it verbally, but soon realized he couldn’t fully convey the meaning, so he simply carved marks in the ground with his toes, explaining as he went.

From the single Nine Nether Sword Qi, he deduced, step by step, over seventy transformations and nearly a thousand variations. He then expanded from Gui Wuzang’s location to a radius of one mile, meticulously detailing every possible energy movement within that area.

Regardless of his accuracy, his memorization and formidable deductions alone were enough to astound everyone.

Not a single person present was a novice, and precisely because of this, their shock was particularly profound.

Li Xun was still narrating with great interest, but few people could listen any further. Hellfire Yama exchanged glances with Madam Yan, Lord Bishui, and the others, then smiled and applauded.

“Excellent! Baigui, you are very good!” A light flashed in Minghuo Yanluo’s sunken eyes, “There are few talents like you in the sect! It would be a pity if a person like you who is well-versed in learning did not work for the sect!”

Li Xun smiled and bowed: “Since Baigui has entered the sect, he must have made some achievements. If there is really something, please let the sect master know!”

“Smart man!”

Minghuo Yanluo made a footnote for him, and then coughed lightly. The consumptive sect master said: “It’s a coincidence that there is something recently that requires a disciple who is proficient in prohibitions… and who must be smart and know the situation. I think Baigui is a good person!”

Minghuo Yanluo said this to Madam Yan. Madam Yan smiled gently: “Since the sect master thinks it’s a good idea, why not let him go out for some training?

“It’s just that he has been in the sect for less than a month, and he has received little guidance on weekdays. Apart from his talent in prohibitions, his cultivation is just mediocre. The sect master still needs to find someone to take care of him. “

“Of course! “Nether Fire Yama was very fragile. At this moment, he seemed to have completely forgotten Li Xun’s cultivation of “Melting the Void”.

He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, and Mingli and You Wusheng walked in at the same time and saluted.

Nether Fire Yama said to Li Xun: “Mingli and You Wusheng are your companions on this trip. Usually, you have to put them first in your actions. However, when it comes to matters such as prohibitions and formations, you can make the decision! “

Li Xun looked at him first, then at his two companions. At this point, he didn’t even know what to do!

However, he didn’t have the right to choose.

So he could only bow again, and then, at Mingli’s signal, retreat.

He could feel the eyes of the people in the hall following his figure, and using various secret methods, they tried to probe the fluctuations in his heart.

Li Xun didn’t say anything about this. He just carefully maintained his heartbeat and slowly retreated.

Perhaps someone could calculate how many cultivators in the Tongxuan Realm had broken through the realm and ascended from ancient times to the present, but no one could figure out how many cultivators had appeared in the Tongxuan Realm in the same period of time.

Similarly, no one could know how many magic weapons these countless cultivators had cultivated over this long period of time, how many of them were destroyed, and how many were passed down from generation to generation.

Because of this, the Tongxuan Realm is a place where treasures are never lacking. In addition to the many world-famous secret places and secluded realms, there are also more than celestial stars . The cave dwellings opened by the predecessors of the monks are called “Old Mansions”.

Although there are good and bad “Old Mansions”, you can find something satisfactory by searching dozens of them.

This time, it was a decent “Old Mansion” that involved Li Xun.

According to rumors, the original owner of the “Old Mansion” was a traitor from the Huixuan Sect of Zhuyin Mountain, one of the “Ten Mountains” of the righteous sect.

Four hundred years ago, after stealing the sect’s treasures, he fled to a secret place and hid in a mansion, but he eventually returned. He died at the hands of the pursuers.

However, the treasures he stole disappeared without a trace.

Until recently, the cave where he buried the treasures was discovered.

The discoverer was a low-level disciple of the Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect. This disciple had little power, but was very smart. As soon as he found any clues, he immediately reported back to the sect, which led to this action.

However, anyone would know that Huixuan Sect is one of the best sects in the Tongxuan Realm that is good at forbidden formations. The traitor who escaped from the sect would not be too bad. Back then, Huixuan Sect The pursuers of the sect have not been able to crack this thing, so it should not be underestimated.

Originally, if it was a figure of the level of Madam Yan and Lord Bishui, there would be no problem, but it would be too conspicuous.

So in the end, it was still necessary for the second generation disciples to take action, just as an outing for training, and then quietly get the job done.

As a forbidden genius who fell from the sky, Li Xun was tied to this “training journey”.

The destination of this trip is nearly 700,000 miles away from Tenghua Valley, which is a place that is constantly guarding day and night. It would take ten days and nights to fly a sword, and the distance was very far. Li Xun and the other three only packed up a little in the valley and set off that afternoon.

Before leaving, Li Xun openly asked Madam Yan for a flying sword, temporarily refined it, and then flew away on the sword. The people who stayed in the valley were confused and amused when they saw it. Could it be that there are really cultivators in the Tongxuan Realm who don’t refine flying weapons?

Nine out of ten people in the Tongxuan Realm have refined flying swords or similar magic weapons for flying.

Of course, Li Xun also Yes, but what he has is the “Green Jade”!

It was the sharp weapon that made Mingji famous back then. The reputation of that sword was so great that before entering the valley, Li Xun had hidden it in a secret place along with other equally eye-catching treasures such as the Jade Evil-Repelling Sword and the Phoenix Feather Needle. How could he dare to take it out now?

Of course he knew it would arouse suspicion, but fortunately, he still had a way to solve it!

Just ten miles out of the valley, he pursed his lips and let out a sharp scream. In response, a red shadow flew up from the vast fog and in the blink of an eye, he was with the flying… The sword flew parallel to the sky, and then the body shrank and disappeared into the leather bag on Li Xun’s waist.

Mingli and You Wusheng looked over at the same time, and their eyes were not right. But these eyes were not directed at Li Xun, but at the Blood Kiss that was peeking out of the leather bag on Li Xun’s waist –

the monster that Li Xun called “Cat”. That look was seven parts curiosity and three parts vigilance, very subtle.

Mingli was more talkative. He coughed, looked at the “Cat” cautiously, and asked tentatively: “Junior Brother Baigui, is it a Blood Kiss?”

Li Xun smiled, and a helpless expression appeared on his face again: “Senior Brother, you have good eyes, this is the Blood Kiss! I am ashamed that it has just been tamed and its wildness has not been eliminated. I am sorry to have embarrassed you two senior brothers! “

Mingli and the other man looked at each other, and then they suddenly realized. When they looked at Li Xun again, their eyes were full of admiration, and of course, a little sympathy.

How could one tame this cunning monster without losing some money? In this way, it is normal for the hundred ghosts to not have flying swords.

The three of them all smiled. Of course, there are special channels for the big guys in the valley to know about what happened here.

Li Xun almost immediately felt a sense of relief. The invisible pressure that had been attached to his body since his meeting with Minghuo Yanluo was finally lifted at this moment.

The “cat” poked its head out of the leather bag, looked at Mingli and the other man, and grinned. The two of them shuddered when they thought of the rumors about the blood kiss, and moved away for a distance. The flying swords under their feet also trembled, as if mourning this dangerous journey.