The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 53

Chapter 1 Serving Sentence

Li Xun awoke from his slumber. Before he could even open his eyes, a delicate fragrance filled his mouth and nose. This aroma was the pure, natural scent of flowers and plants that could only be found on a mountaintop, far from the mundane world, in the pristine, dust-free air.

He took a deep breath, then opened his eyes and looked at the rooftop.

A sense of déjà vu washed over him. Sitting up, he immediately spotted a glass mirror on the bedside table. The clarity of light and shadow reflected in it was unmatched by even ordinary bronze mirrors.

Li Xun unconsciously stroked his face, taking in the familiar yet unfamiliar image in the mirror, and a surge of regret welled up in his heart.

Before coming to this mountain, no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t find any reason to retreat.

But once he was there, questions he had pondered before, questions he hadn’t wanted to dwell on, flooded back.

What would Qingming and the others think of a disciple suddenly reappearing after two years of absence, implicated in a crucial incident? What would

the still-living Qi Bi think, having witnessed his utter disgrace against Fenghuang’er? What

would the unfathomable Sword God Zhong Yin, the one who sees the heart of heaven, think?

It’s true that a boy of seventeen or eighteen experiences rapid changes in appearance. Over the past two years, his energy and body have shifted, and his features and demeanor have been so altered that even familiar faces might not recognize him at first glance.

However, no matter how his features change, his identity remains unchanged.

The relatives he’d already met in Songjing, the quirky Lin Wuyou, the mentally unstable Gu Pin’er, who knew most of his secrets…

and the thousands of cultivators in the Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect who knew him!

All the dangers, present and impending, surrounded him, chipping away at his confidence at the very moment his life was about to turn.

Li Xun felt the urge to summon You Yi and You Er and flee.

At that moment, footsteps echoed, and he turned his gaze to see a figure approaching the doorway.

The shift in light and darkness obscured the figure’s features, forcing him to squint. The next moment, his eyes nearly burst!

Grandmaster! “

There was only one person on the mountain who called him that, and that was the one and only peerless swordsman in the Tongxuan Realm, the Immortal Master Zhong Yin!

In order to play the first scene well, Li Xun had rehearsed countless possible situations in his mind, but he never thought, or didn’t dare to think, what should he do if the first person he saw when he opened his eyes was Zhong Yin!

He stared at Zhong Yin with his mouth opened wide as he walked over and stood beside the bed.

There was no change in expression on the other’s handsome face for him to refer to, only a smile, peaceful and quiet.

It was this smile that wiped out every bit of Li Xun’s schemes and made him forget all the prepared

lines .

Zhong Yin’s white fingers lightly touched Li Xun’s wrist, then retracted them, with a deeper smile on his face.

“Very good! You were hit head-on by the Biling Palm, but you were able to recover so quickly. In the past two years, not only has your appearance changed a lot, but your cultivation has also improved a lot! ”

Even if there is progress, the progress is not in the Lingxi Jue!

This thought flashed through Li Xun’s mind, and from this moment on, he felt much more relaxed, his emotions changed as his heart changed, and even he himself didn’t know whether he was really feeling it or just putting on an act. Anyway, he murmured, “Am I dreaming?”

“Who knows? Besides, why bother to make it clear?” Zhong Yin lightly lifted his clothes, sat on the edge of the bed, and smiled, “If you think it’s better to live in a dream, then live in a dream. The days of drunkenness and dreams are really wonderful! “

Li Xun’s heart moved, and he looked at Zhong Yin, but he saw that he was still smiling so gently, and his true thoughts were still unknown. It was at this time that he suddenly remembered that he should be polite.

This time, meeting Zhong Yin, he felt a little different.

The last time he faced him in the bamboo forest, although he was not aggressive, he had a different aura from the ordinary. The longer he was with him, the deeper he felt, and the more he looked up to him, and dared not look directly at him.

But when they met today, from the beginning to now, Li Xun could not feel anything except the quiet philosophy accumulated by him for thousands of years.

Zhong Yin in front of him was like a The scholar who has read thousands of books, and in his elegance there is also a sense of freedom and ease. This sense of freedom directly wiped out the almost insurmountable gap between the two of them, making Li Xun forget even the etiquette.

Thinking of this, Li Xun was a little absent-minded and forgot to reply. Zhong Yin didn’t care, just looked away, and the room became quiet again until new footsteps approached.

There were many people coming this time. When Li Xun was startled back to his senses by the footsteps, seven or eight people had already walked in. The small house, which was originally well-lit, immediately became crowded. As

soon as these people stepped into the door, they all exclaimed in surprise: “Sixth Junior Brother (Uncle Master, Uncle Master), why are you here?”

“I had the idea in my mind and came to see! “

Zhong Yin’s answer was light, but no one dared to ignore it.

From Qingming down, including the three elders including Qingxu, as well as Luo Nanchuan, Mingsong, Mingji, and Mingde, they had some plans in their hearts, but when they saw Zhong Yin’s expression, they all felt relieved.

Qingming nodded slightly to Zhong Yin and turned his gaze to Li Xun.

He was a master of a sect, his mind was unpredictable, and his majesty was naturally different. Back then, Li Xun was frightened by his eyes and his legs went weak.

However, two and a half years later, Over the years, Li Xun has been dealing with people like the two wanderers, the Netherfire Yama Luo, and Luo Qichang who are no less impressive. He has become very experienced in dealing with such people.

He took a breath to stabilize the broken bones in his chest, called out “Sect Master”, and was about to get off the bed to pay his respects.

Qingming’s robe sleeves swayed slightly, “You are injured, so please don’t be polite!”

Li Xun naturally knew when to stop. He had just risen halfway and fell back. His eyes

were red at this time. He pursed his lips and said nothing.

Qingming looked at him like this and sighed softly. It was a happy thing to be able to survive the disaster and return to the sect. Why shed tears? Even if your master saw you, he would definitely look down on you! “

Qingming is Lin Ge’s mentor, and he and Li Xun have an authentic master-grandson relationship, so he is the only one who can say this.

Li Xun was emotionally aroused by these words. He raised his eyes, his mouth twitched twice, and he looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar faces in the room. Suddenly, he burst into tears and said hoarsely: “Master… died so tragically!”

The two years of suffering that he had exhausted all his energy and worked hard to complete, after being blocked back in his stomach by Zhong Yin, finally came in handy at this time.

He even used “Hundred Ghosts” to make a guest appearance, and the mark of the Biling Palm that still remains on his chest is the best evidence.

After recounting the “experience” of the past two years, Xun’s emotions were obviously still a little unstable, and he stayed in the house to rest; Qingming drove everyone else away, leaving only Luo Nanchuan and Zhong Yin.

The three walked out of the house, Qingming glanced at Luo Nanchuan, and said slowly: “Taoist Hundred Ghosts… I remember that there was this person in the Ghost Devouring Shadow Sect two years ago!”

Luo Nanchuan nodded and said, “Disciple has also heard of it. It is said that this person made Sect Master Luo give in on the Chicheng Mountain that year. His scheming and temperament are both outstanding.”

“Xun’er is lucky to have escaped from him. But these Hundred Ghosts have been hurting people near Lianxia Mountain. They must have some ulterior motives. Disciples patrolling the mountain should be careful these days!”

Luo Nanchuan responded and opened his mouth to speak. At this moment, Zhong Yin sighed with his hands behind his back, “He must not have practiced seriously in the past two years. His skills have deepened, but they are not refined. Otherwise, he would not have been injured by a mere Taoist priest of Hundred Ghosts… I’m afraid he needs to rebuild his foundation!”

Qingming and Luo Nanchuan looked at each other in surprise. They shifted their gazes together. Zhong Yin smiled slightly and said, “I like this child very much. Why don’t you let me take him to practice for a while! It’s just the right time to train a new talent for the sect…”

After a pause, Zhong Yin pursed his lips slightly, and his kind face suddenly became a little cold: “Qixia Yuanjun will regret letting him live! “

Hearing Zhong Yin’s words that sounded like a prophecy, Qingming and Luo Nanchuan were both shocked.

Zhong Yin, who had already ascended to heaven, could be regarded as the most qualified person in Tongxuan Realm to “reach the heart of heaven”. In this regard, even Shuijing Sect might not be able to match him. He said this, could it be that…

The two looked at each other again and smiled. They suddenly found that they were being stupid. Zhong Yin was already preparing for his disciples’ subsequent practice. What did this mean?

No one would not be convinced by Zhong Yin’s vision. Even Qingming, the sect master, or Luo Nanchuan, who was determined, had most of the ideas that had just arisen in their minds dispelled after Zhong Yin’s words.

However…

Luo Nanchuan asked tentatively: “Sixth Uncle, do you mean to let this child practice with you?”

“Only a few months.” Zhong Yin did not deny: “His previous roots were basically first-class and solid, but after wasting these two years, it is a bit unstable. It will be better to let him practice with me in the mountains. “

Qingming clapped his hands and smiled, “Junior brother, you haven’t taught a disciple in person for hundreds of years. The last one was Mingji, right?

Today is rare, this child is the first disciple among three generations!”

As he spoke, he sighed again, “If Ge’er knew, he would be happy!”

Zhong Yin pretended not to hear, and Luo Nanchuan sighed with him.

However, he soon thought of another problem.

“Sixth uncle, after all, Li Xun has been wandering outside for two years without permission. Although he was frightened by the Sky Demon Phoenix, it is understandable. However, as soon as he returned to the mountain, he received the honor of being taught in person by you, uncle. It is difficult to tell the merits and demerits. I am afraid that the disciples below will have some complaints…”

Zhong Yin smiled lightly, “What’s so great about Zhong Yin? What’s wrong with teaching in person? Nanchuan, you have made great progress in your skills for more than a hundred years, but you have difficulty in reaching a high level. Don’t you understand it yet? “

Luo Nanchuan was ashamed, but his firm determination was reflected here – whether the idea is right or wrong is one thing, and whether the action is appropriate or not is another! He still insisted on his own opinion.

“My idea may be a little materialistic, but there are many younger generations on the mountain who think like me. Uncle-master may not care, but if Li Xun wants to gain a foothold in the sect in the future, there are some things he must do!”

He took a breath and continued, “What I mean is that Uncle-master can tailor the lessons for Li Xun, which is tantamount to personal guidance. And Li Xun, as a disciple of the sect, was frightened by the evil spirit, his heart of Taoism was wavering, and he did not return without permission. Even if he was young and ignorant, he must be punished!

“This will let Li Xun and all the disciples understand what attitude the disciples of my Mingxin Sword Sect should have when they encounter difficulties on the road of practicing the Heavenly Dao!”

His voice was deep and not passionate enough. He spoke slowly and slowly, with few ups and downs. The more he spoke, the more he showed the unshakable principles in his temperament.

Zhong Yin’s eyes swept over him, and he finally nodded and smiled. “You’re in charge of sect affairs, so naturally, the decision is yours! However, I’d like to propose a method of punishment for your consideration. How about that?”

Luo Nanchuan paused for a moment before saying, “Uncle Master, please speak!”

Facts had proven that this “prison sentence” was bound to be a difficult one.

Li Xun was currently at a place called “Three Absolute Pass” on Zuowang Peak, approximately seventy thousand miles from the base of the peak. Even with his full sword control, it would take him nearly ten hours to reach this point.

This place was nestled against a hundred-foot-high rock face, and within a mile or two of it, there was no vegetation, a stark contrast to the vibrant atmosphere of Zuowang Peak.

Zhong Yin’s proposed “prison sentence” was for him to mine the area on his own.

This wasn’t just any copper or iron ore, but the “Nine-Layered Stone,” a treasure unique to the Tongxuan Realm.

The Nine-Layered Stone looked like ordinary rock, but its texture was strange. A fist-sized piece of stone could weigh a thousand pounds. Even a cultivator of advanced cultivation would struggle to shatter it with all their might.

Moreover, the rock formations surrounding the deposit were incredibly dense, like gold and iron, making mining this ore a truly strenuous endeavor.

If this was physical punishment, then it was accompanied by mental torture.

For over a month of torture, except for the first day when Zhong Yin personally arrived to assign tasks, he felt as if forgotten by the sect, left alone here, absurdly confined within the very confines of the world.

Li Xun considered this a test, a tempering, perhaps even a probing tactic, but when had he ever been treated this way in over two years?

He considered walking away more than once, but every time he considered that, a pair of gentle, jade-like eyes gazed down from the distant peak of Zuowang Peak. Perhaps it was just an illusion, but the underlying intimidation was all too real.

Moreover, something truly bizarre had occurred recently…

Zhong Yin… what was this unfathomable “demigod” thinking?

The more Li Xun felt, the more he felt like a foolish bird that had walked into a trap. Under the hunter’s smiling eyes, he staggered into the trap that had been laid long ago.

Amidst his curses, there was another sound, and the iron sword groaned on the verge of collapse, and a large piece of rock broke away, revealing the core of the Nine-Layer Stone.

Li Xun shook his head, threw away the broken sword, and channeled his energy into his fingertips, ready to pull the “stone” out with his bare hands.

But just as his fingers were about to touch the Nine-Layer Stone, he suddenly felt something in his heart. He turned his head and met a pair of eyes as clear as water.

Mingji!

The female cultivator who had drawn his heart back was looking at him with a smile. There was no lack of feminine tenderness in her smile, but when combined with her knife-like features, it was a sharp and beautiful smile that was hard to look at.

Li Xun’s sudden sight of this female cultivator who had left such a deep impression on him inevitably brought a wave of joy. But then he realized that, in his current state, he couldn’t express this emotion too openly, and the smile faltered.

Though subtle, the change couldn’t be hidden from Mingji, who pretended to notice nothing. Glancing at him once more, she calmly asked, “How have you been?”

Li Xun was startled, realizing that this was his first encounter with anyone from the sect since his sentence. Mingji couldn’t possibly have come to see him on her own initiative. So, was something wrong?

As he pondered this, he carefully replied, “I’m doing fine.”

There was something half-truthful about his words. He quickly glanced at Mingji’s face and added, “The disciples have already mined seventy-five pieces of the Nine-Layered Stone, all stored over there.”

Mingji followed his finger, glanced to the side, nodded slightly, then turned and smiled, “You’ve changed a lot!”

Xun hadn’t expected Mingji to speak to him in such a casual tone. Unsure how to respond, he feigned bewilderment, waiting to see what she would say next.

Mingji met his eyes and said leisurely, “Your appearance is secondary. Don’t you think you’ve become much more reserved when you talk to me now?”

Li Xun was stunned, and he actually thought about it.

What were they like when they spoke in the past?

It wasn’t difficult for him; he had only met Mingji a few times, but the impression this female cultivator had left on him was undeniably vivid. Even today, he could recount every word of their conversation by the small pond.

So, when he saw Mingji’s ethereal form a few months ago, an impulse suddenly surged within him, unstoppable—he wanted to return to Lianxia Mountain and relive the feelings of those days.

However, Mingji’s single words presented him with an unsolvable dilemma.

“What was I like back then?”

Gazing upon the person before him, recalling that past self, it was a profoundly wondrous experience, leaving Li Xun momentarily

dazed .

Before, his thoughts had been simple. Even then, possessed by the Blood Nightmare, pressured from both within and without, he had found unforgettable joy in these subtle moments.

Now, with support and practically capable of facing anyone head-on, returning to the mountain would naturally bring him a joy a hundred times greater than before, washing away the weariness of the two years spent in the Ghostly Shadow Devouring Sect, consumed by the constant intrigue. Yet, at

that moment, he suddenly realized how much things had changed in the past two years. Could he truly achieve the same feeling he desired two years ago?

A wry smile crossed his face, and for a moment, his enthusiasm faltered, let alone responding to Mingji’s words.

But this gesture had another meaning in Mingji’s eyes.

She shook her head slightly and concluded that you have suffered a lot in the past two years, and now you are serving your sentence here, so you are bound to be frustrated. But, in my opinion, these are not the most important, the important thing is…”

She suddenly stopped talking, turned her wrist, and threw a sword over.

Li Xun caught it and saw that it was the “Qingyu” that Zhong Yin had taken away before serving his sentence, which was Mingji’s sword back then.

Li Xun was a little puzzled, but before he could figure it out, a cold star caught his eye.

There was no irresistible frenzy of sword energy, only the speed of lightning and lightning, and the chilling cold after the abnormal calmness.

He had no time to think at all, purely by instinct, the Qingyu sword came to his hand, stood up in front of his chest, and blocked his face.

“Ding! “

Mingji’s stabbing sword was blocked, but Li Xun screamed in his heart that something was wrong. He and Mingji did not conceal their breath like they would when they were really fighting an enemy, but instead circulated their own true breath and displayed it clearly.

The two of them had the same martial arts, and Li Xun certainly knew it best. However, even if he grasped every change of Mingji, it was as if a hundred pieces of nine-layer stone were pressing on his hands, and he could not move at all!

He could feel a wisp of gossamer-like energy coming through Mingji’s sword, instantly hooking up more than a dozen flowing energy machines, and then with a twist of force, the sword in his hand seemed to be caught in a vortex, and for a moment he could not hold on to it, and it flew out of his hand.

Even his body staggered, and at this time, Mingji’s sword blade was already across his throat.

“Soul-twisting thread! “

Li Xun blurted out. He knew this sword technique. It was just a variation of the sect’s basic sword technique. Who would have thought that when Mingji used it, it would be so powerful.

Mingji looked at him and had no intention of moving the sword away. He just smiled.

“Do you know what’s wrong? “

Li Xun glanced at the sword across his throat and couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

If he really let go and fought, even if the Youxuan puppet didn’t come out, he was confident that he could deal with Ming Ji. But at this time, he could only use his “Green Smoke Bamboo Shadow” and “Spiritual Resonance Technique” which he was far from proficient in to resist. It was reasonable that he was defeated in one move.

Feeling the biting cold air across his neck, Li Xun was surprised to find that he was not

worried that Ming Ji would take the opportunity to harm him.

Theoretically, if his identity was exposed, Ming Ji would be able to capture him effortlessly. However, before the sharp blade was put against his neck, he didn’t even think of this!

But at this moment, when he saw Ming Ji’s eyes, he immediately understood that this was clearly a consideration of his current cultivation level. He thought about it and shook his head.

“Don’t know? Don’t you know what is the most important thing for us cultivators?” Ming Ji smiled at first, then glared at him.

“I wonder what you’ve been doing these past two years? It’s fine that you’ve been restless and irritable from practicing Qigong, but why are your muscles and bones a bit out of shape?

“The human body is the foundation of the Heavenly Dao. If your muscles and bones are weak, your Qi channels will be blocked. If your muscles and bones are out of shape, the flow of Qi will always be obstructed. It’s not obvious now, but who knows what the consequences will be in the future when you have reached a deeper level of cultivation!”

Ming Ji glared at him, but it was clear she wasn’t genuinely angry. Li Xun ,

however, felt uneasy after hearing this. The so-called out of shape muscles and bones was probably the result of his body’s subtle adjustments as he cultivated the “Youming Qi” technique to adapt to this special technique. Now, returning to the “Spiritual Harmony Technique” was naturally a bit awkward

. Ming Ji’s words were actually a warning to Li Xun. Although he had woven his two years of experiences together very tightly, there were still flaws in some easily overlooked details.

Ming Ji didn’t think about it that way now, but if he changed his mind, these flaws might cost him his life.

He nodded in agreement, mentally contemplating how to cover up this flaw. Mingji, however, shook his head and smiled, “Just as Sixth-Master Uncle expected!”

Under Li Xun’s curious gaze, Mingji leisurely sheathed his sword and said calmly, “You’re in luck. Sixth-Master Uncle has suddenly become interested and plans to spend several months training you, this ‘promising talent.’ As for the problem with your muscles and bones, Sixth-Master Uncle has his own methods. After your sentence is over, you can go to the summit of Zuowang Peak and practice diligently!”

“Sixth-Master Uncle?” Li Xun’s eyes were fixed. “Train with him?”

Thinking of Zhong Yin’s unusual appearance when he first returned to the mountain, the doubts and fears he had accumulated over the past few days, and this sudden “good news,” Li Xun instinctively felt that there was something fishy going on.

Therefore, his mind was devoid of any excitement about being taught by the “Sword God.” Instead, he had only one thought:

Should he just run away?

He was lost in thought, but Mingji thought he was dazed with excitement. After a brief smile, she looked over at the pile of nine-layered stones. Something struck her. With a flick of her finger, she lifted a fist-sized piece of nine-layered stone, weighing nearly a thousand pounds. Grasping it in her hand, she examined the runes already carved into it.

“This rune is…”

Li Xun, lost in thought, replied casually, “Sixth-Master Great-Auntie wanted to carve it!”

“But, this isn’t Sixth-Master Great-Auntie’s method…” Mingji’s brows furrowed slightly, her eyes becoming increasingly cold and sharp, a glint of coldness gleaming in them.

She ran her fingers across the stone, a look of deep thought in her mind. Then, with a faint smile, she showed him the rune on the stone. “This rune, you couldn’t have carved it, could you?

Under Sixth-Master Great-Auntie’s guidance!” Recovering in time, Li Xun looked a little

embarrassed , yet also somewhat complacent. “Master said this is for my disciples to practice with.”

Mingji was amused and confused. “Practice?” “Sixth Uncle really can say that, this Nine-Layer Stone was mined to upgrade the sect’s mountain protection forbidden method. Such a big thing, is it just for you to practice?”

Li Xun was also stunned when he heard it, and a look of panic appeared on his face: “Uncle, please understand, I really don’t know…”

“I know you don’t know!” Mingji looked at the carvings on it carefully again. This time, she was horrified: “Did you really carve this?”

“Sixth Uncle made a mold for me and asked me to imitate it.” Li Xun scratched his head, looking embarrassed.

“But my uncle was not very satisfied. He said that this forbidden method changes, connects the inside and the outside, and the method is born from the heart. Everyone’s Qi flow is different, so the direction of the forbidden pattern cannot be the same. So, the old man simply let me wield it myself, saying that the effect is similar this way!” “

Hearing Li Xun call Zhong Yin “old man”, Ming Ji couldn’t help but smile. In this mood, she observed the changes in the forbidden patterns on the Nine-Layer Stone again, and finally nodded.

“I have heard from Second Uncle-Master that you are a rare genius in the field of forbidden techniques. You can apply what you have learned to other areas and you are very good. Today, I see that your reputation is well-deserved.”

This is not what the uncle-master said to praise his disciple. Even if Li Xun was proud in his heart, he dared not show it. What’s more, he had a guilty conscience and could only listen respectfully.

Ming Ji’s eyes did not leave the Nine-Layer Stone, and she sighed softly.

“In the past, when I saw Sixth Uncle-Master sketching with a light brush, I would always sigh. It turns out that this is how the forbidden method should be done. We were actually doing it wrong before!

“From now on, when I compare it with my uncle’s work, every time I feel a resemblance, I gain some understanding and progress. It’s a feeling that ‘it should be this way,’ and seeing your technique…”

She paused, then said solemnly, “You’re unorthodox, yet you manage to justify your own interpretation. It seems to have deviated from the rules of our sect, but in

fact, you’re always within them. I now understand that Second Uncle’s comment about your ability to ‘draw inferences from one instance to another’ actually has a source.” Li Xun was about to act modest, but then thought that was too pretentious, so he chuckled, accepting Mingji’s compliment.

Mingji didn’t think her words were excessive. He took another look at the stone before putting it down and said with a smile, “Now I understand why Sixth Uncle-Master values you so much!”

If only that were the case… Li Xun’s mind shifted, and he had to create a completely different expression on his face, which was quite tiring for a moment. Fortunately, Mingji’s interest in the conversation had faded, and he got back to the point.

“The Sect Master orders you to excavate eighty-one Nine-Layer Stones from here and transport them down the mountain in batches. Only then will your sentence be terminated.”

Li Xun hurriedly bowed and obeyed. He knew that this irritating sentence was finally over. While transporting eighty-one Nine-Layer Stones was a grueling task, it had an end, didn’t it?

Ming Ji solemnly issued the order, then smiled. “You will need to travel between peaks to transport the Nine-Layer Stones. The jade will be left to you. Remember, between trips down the mountain, you should spend more time with your fellow disciples. You haven’t seen them in such a long time since you returned!”

This was the advice of an elder, and while not particularly surprising, it was pertinent. If Li Xun truly wanted to gain a foothold in the Mingxin Sword Sect, he had to do these things.

Li Xun naturally sensed Ming Ji’s concern for him and thanked him sincerely.

Mingji smiled faintly and was about to fly away on her sword. Before she left, she observed Li Xun’s downcast expression and sighed, “Don’t overthink it. No one will blame you!”

With that, she swung her sword down from the peak, and in a flash, she vanished.

The moon rabbit rose in the east, and the heat of the day gradually dissipated. Li Xun sighed deeply, leaning against the battered rock face and sitting down.

This was supposed to be his time to rest, but his mind was in a turmoil.

He kept thinking about Mingji’s last words before leaving.

“No one will blame you!”

Li Xun knew exactly what they meant, and he was certain Mingji had no other intentions when she said them. However, Mingji didn’t know what had happened that year on Tiandu Peak.

It was at that moment that he suddenly realized he hadn’t thought of his ill-fated master in a long time.

The eyes pleading for death, the shrill, heartbreaking screams, and the heartbreaking howls had gradually faded from his mind.

The distant memory had become so blurred that he suddenly forgot what had flickered in Lin Ge’s eyes when their eyes had last met.

He hadn’t touched Lin Ge’s hand from beginning to end, yet it was he who had shattered the last shred of his dignity.

Li Xun had heard about Lin Ge’s final demise some time ago. He had been hung from a towering tree, a hundred feet tall, outside the Langya Water Mirror, staring n*ked before the eyes of thousands of righteous and evil sects.

No one knew that Lin Ge’s last shred of protection was torn away by his only disciple.

If they knew, would Mingji still say those words?

Li Xun smiled wryly. He hugged Qingyu, hoping to calm his mind with the coolness of the sword, listening to the rustling of pine trees in the night wind, wanting only to fall asleep.

But, as he half-slept, a sound seemed to echo in his ears, a low, subtle, almost imperceptible sound, yet completely different from the sounds of nature!

It happened again!

Li Xun’s eyes flickered briefly, then he lowered them again, pretending to close them and rest. In reality, he had fully recovered his focus and was deliberately widening his peripheral vision. From his position, the vast space before the rock face was entirely within his field of vision.

A faint shadow suddenly entered his field of vision, and in a flash, it crossed his entire field of vision.

Li Xun didn’t shift his gaze, simply maintaining this state of vision. The rocks, trees, and mountain breeze mingled, shadows swaying across the mountain in a unique rhythm, and the shadow that had just passed through disrupted this rhythm.

A single move can affect the entire body! Countless fine threads seemed to intertwine in the void, a small vibration that could travel from a distant, unreachable distance along these “threads” all the way to this side.

Although the shadow was beyond his sight, its subtle influence on the Qi flowed through

the various . It was an indescribable feeling, yet incredibly real.

Li Xun watched a nighthawk suddenly dart down from the distant treetops, and a thought struck him: he had found the falcon’s trace.

Sure enough, it was there again! Including today, this person had come to Zuowang Peak three times in the past two months. Could it be that he could come whenever he wanted?

Li Xun slowly stood up, took two steps under the rock face with his hands behind his back, and pondered.

There was nothing unusual in that forest, so it seemed that this person’s purpose for coming here was very subtle… I had been working here for more than a day or two, and he hadn’t changed his position. It was obvious that he didn’t recognize my “lowly” cultivation level, and it was clear that he was quite conceited!

As far as Li Xun knew, in the Tongxuan Realm, no one with such cultivation level and temperament was easy to mess with. Although he was now certain that something was fishy, he was absolutely unwilling to join in the fun.

Originally, with Immortal Master Zhong Yin guarding the peak, even if the Twelve Evil Sects and the Three Wanderers arrived, they wouldn’t necessarily be able to gain any advantage. However, if he were to get dragged into some vortex and get into trouble, it wouldn’t be worth it.

Furthermore, thinking of Zhong Yin, that rather absurd thought arose in his mind again.

Was there some deeper purpose behind Zhong Yin sending him to the Three Absolute Pass besides serving his sentence? And

now it seemed very likely!