The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 79

Chapter 3 Ambush and Killing

“Am I not dead?”

The cold air disappeared inexplicably, and the pain in Shui Dielan’s head remained, but her vitality did continue. She tried hard to adjust the focus, and when her blurred vision returned to normal, she saw the deep and endless night sky hidden by branches and leaves.

The palm that covered the sky and the earth… disappeared!

She rolled her eyes and saw the Taoist Master Bai Gui leaning against the rock wall with a stiff face. And where were the two puppets beside him?

Li Xun covered his lower abdomen, his face pale and blue, very ugly. He just realized that You Yi’s kick did not only hurt his body.

“Tian Ming Hua Yin Pearl? How could it hurt Tian Ming Hua Yin Pearl?”

This precious pearl, which had made great contributions to his conquest of the two scattered people, was taken into his body by him using a special refining method more than sixty years ago.

On the one hand, he intended to use the Mysterious Shadow Body technique to extract pure dead energy and repair and refine it. On the other hand, and more importantly, he intended it to serve as the central core for summoning the two puppets, thereby maximizing the puppets’ duration in this world.

Over the past sixty years, he had achieved remarkable results. Not only had the Tianming Yin Pearl been largely repaired, but its daily contact with his body had intensified the connection between its Qi and his own, even hinting at a fusion of man and instrument.

If he could truly achieve this level, his cultivation would undoubtedly ascend to a new realm. Thus, he would be able to break free from the limitations of his cultivation and enable the puppets to “remain in form forever, coexisting with the universe and heaven.”

But just at this moment, You Yi’s relentless powerful kick shattered this promising prospect!

As the central core for summoning the puppets, the backlash between the puppets and their controllers could not fail to affect the Tianming Yin Pearl. It was precisely because of the pearl’s central role that the majority of the energy injected into Li Xun’s body was absorbed by it.

This, in turn, played a significant role in Li Xun’s survival.

Yet, what would the full force of Xue Sanren’s attack hold? Ren Tianming’s Yin Pearl, though not instantly destroyed, was on the verge of shattering under this blow. Its condition was ten times worse than after he had subdued the two Sanren!

In this state, how could the two puppets maintain their form? Long before the pearl was about to collapse, it had sunk into the void, unable to return for a while!

By the time Li Xun had figured out the details, Shui Dielan had already recovered from the threat of death. Their gazes met, a mixture of surprise, hatred, and a touch of embarrassment all combined to create a strange feeling.

Both were stunned, but Li Xun was the first to react. Seeing Shui Dielan still limp on the ground, he ignored the consequences for the moment. With a low growl, he forced himself to his feet, gathering his strength, and rushed towards her.

Although Youyi had mostly healed his injuries, the dizziness from the excessive loss of vital energy still plagued him. He was exhausted and staggered even when he ran. After only a dozen steps, he stumbled twice and nearly fell to the ground.

Shui Dielan watched him stumble towards her, his face pale as snow.

A dozen sharp iron pieces remained in her stomach, and the blood nightmare that had invaded her body had not disappeared with Youyi’s departure. It continued to unleash its terrifying power, devouring her essence and blood, and causing chaos within her body. In this situation, how could she resist?

“Give me a little more time… Ten breaths, just ten breaths!”

As Shui Dielan prayed, Li Xun finally rushed to her. There was no need for words, and he didn’t have the energy to waste them. He used the momentum of the charge, roared with a breath of air, and struck down with his palm!

With a loud bang, Li Xun struck Shui Dielan’s forehead with his palm, but before he could, he had been kicked in the stomach. The combined force of the impact and the resistance immediately ripped open an old injury, causing him to choke and foam at the mouth, and his hand naturally lost its strength.

However, the kick, though powerful, was weak afterward. Li Xun doubled over, stumbled again, and fell forward, landing heavily on Shui Dielan.

The pressure only exacerbated Shui Dielan’s injuries. A dozen pieces of metal churned in her stomach, a truly heartbreaking experience! Shui Dielan had never experienced such pain before. She screamed in agony, her vision blacking out, and she wished she could faint.

Li Xun, ruthless, reached out to strangle her, while Shui Dielan struggled and punched Li Xun’s ribs. Unfortunately, the two were out of sync, and like ordinary scoundrels from the underworld, they grappled.

Their bodies were pressed together, making them more sensitive to each other’s sensations. Whenever one’s Qi meridians stirred, the other would inevitably disrupt them. This cycle repeated itself, resulting in a stalemate.

Their limbs tangled, they rolled over and over on the ground for countless rounds. They were breathless, their bodies on the verge of collapse.

Seeing this rogue-like fighting continue endlessly, another incident unfolded.

“Boom!”

A resounding roar echoed from dozens of miles away. In the gradually brightening sky, it was like thunder in broad daylight, sudden and shocking.

Both men shuddered and stopped simultaneously, looking in the direction of the sound waves.

It was slightly away from the Demon Thunder Ancient Temple, but not far away.

However, the source of the shockwaves was rapidly moving, each displacement spanning seven or eight miles. The vibrations of Qi from dozens of different sources intersected with each other, creating a terrifying sound.

Their Qi was weak, their perceptions not as sharp as before, but the vibrations were so real that they only took a moment to realize what was happening.

“Righteous righteousness, Seven Ghosts Conquering the Sea! It’s Ti Wujiu and Yuan Nan!”

“They’re fighting!”

The shockwaves struck with such swiftness, initially sensing them dozens of miles away, that after a few shifts, they were within ten miles. The aftermath was now tangible, scraping through the branches of the forest with the sharpness of a steel knife, causing pain on the skin.

They both thought simultaneously that, given their current circumstances and their current state, even a novice cultivator, let alone Yuan Nan and Ti Wujiu, could easily subdue them.

They hadn’t forgotten that after Yuan Nan and Ti Wujiu, there were cultivators from the Pluto Sect and the Heavenly Power Sect!

Almost simultaneously, they exerted their last ounce of strength, hoping to strike while the other was distracted. Naturally, their plan failed.

“Stop!”

“Call the battle!”

Each was a wise man, seeing no alternative but to do what was right, and spoke simultaneously. Such tacit understanding was remarkable. Even with deep hatred for each other, they couldn’t help but smile at each other.

Their eyes held a cold, piercing glint, devoid of any warmth.

No one attempted to provoke further conflict; they all cooperated, releasing their entangled limbs and separating a short distance.

Even during this brief moment of respite, Li Xun felt the energy within him begin to revive. While his two puppets could not be summoned for the time being, his Mysterious Shadow Body’s power remained undiminished. Within three to five breaths, Li Xun had the power to deliver a single strike.

He glanced at Shui Dielan. The difference in their cultivation was clear, but Shui Dielan’s internal injuries were severe, and with the Blood Nightmare’s restraints, her recovery rate wouldn’t be any faster than his.

But what a reputation the Hundred Illusions Butterfly Demon holds. These demons, who have roamed the world for tens of thousands of years, surely possess a few life-saving techniques? A falling out would create too many uncertainties, a move the wise would avoid.

At that moment, the vital energy overhead surged with increasing intensity, and the silhouettes of Yuan Nan and the other two could already be seen in the sky. Li Xun and Shui Dielan exchanged glances, each with their own calculations.

Finally, Li Xun spoke first: “Don’t let others take advantage! For twelve hours, no action is allowed, but neither are we to separate. Okay?”

Shui Dielan’s face paled, but her icy blue eyes still shone with a gleam. She supported herself with one hand and gave a low smile: “Okay…”

Before she could finish her words, a figure flashed by, and they both turned their heads to see a familiar face, one they most hated to see!

They both cried out in pain. From a distance of several dozen feet, Song Yuanchi’s handsome face, first surprised, then ecstatic, finally twisted with hatred.

“Let’s go!”

Without hesitation, the two men, unleashing the little strength they had just recovered, leapt to their feet and bolted deep into the jungle.

Song Yuanchi had been hesitant at first, but seeing this, how could he not understand? Overjoyed, he charged after them.

Li Xun and Shui Dielan’s figures merged and then separated, fleeing in two different directions. Song Yuanchi glanced at them and made his decision. Without hesitation, he spun and locked onto Li Xun, increasing his speed and closing the distance between them in an instant. Even when they

were still some thirty feet away, Song Yuanchi’s power was already unleashing. His true energy surged like a raging wave, cascading and overwhelming, pressing down with a powerful force.

Even before the overwhelming pressure reached Li Xun, he felt a sense of breathlessness. Hastily glancing back, he saw the torrent of true energy shattering trees wherever it passed, turning them to ash in the path of the frontal assault. Its ferocity was even more sinister.

Cursing inwardly, Li Xun still didn’t dare turn his back to meet the blow. His body hung in the air, spinning swiftly in the air, and as the surge approached, he rushed forward to meet it.

The gust of wind stung his face, causing it to pale slightly. The force of the wind had the effect of recurring his injuries.

But he managed the move nonetheless. His ethereal Yin Fire expanded and contracted, effectively pushing back the whistling demonic energy in the wind. In a series of delicate collisions of vital energy, his figure plunged diagonally into the dense forest to the side.

Song Yuanchi’s control over his true energy was commendable. Although Li Xun unexpectedly avoided the direct shockwave, he was still within his control.

With a deep shout, his Qi and blood shifted in an instant. The seemingly unstoppable surge, like a surging wave, suddenly reversed and rolled sideways, shifting direction without a moment’s pause, and lunged forward once more.

This series of transformations flowed like flowing water, so seamless that even Li Xun, completely unimpressed, couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

However, like Song Yuanchi’s exquisite control, his own calculations were more than adequate.

Before the howling wind swept over him, he shrank back, sinking into the earth.

“Earth escape?”

Seeing over a dozen giant trees reduced to ash by the demonic energy, Song Yuanchi couldn’t be complacent. His gaze was cold, and he suddenly moved forward, using his locked aura to pursue the enemy.

Thunder rumbled in the sky as the battle between Yuan Nan and Ti Wujiu was still raging. In comparison, the chase in the jungle was far less dramatic, but far more intense and thrilling.

“Hundred Ghosts, you can’t escape!”

Song Yuanchi remained calm, pursuing him while doing everything he could to disorient his opponent.

The Hundred Ghosts Taoist was undoubtedly a cunning opponent, but now that he was injured, his mind was undoubtedly in a state of relative disarray. If he could instill even greater fear or impatience in him, it would undoubtedly save him a great deal of effort.

One in the sky, the other underground, they traversed over ten miles of jungle in the blink of an eye.

As if in sync with their rhythm, the explosions in the sky grew increasingly intense, the continuous sound waves overlapping, deafening and rustling in the jungle below.

Song Yuanchi could clearly see that the Taoist Hundred Ghosts was still seriously injured, and his intense movements had become a heavy burden.

After running for ten miles using his escape technique, his energy suddenly stagnated. Song Yuanchi seized this golden opportunity, letting out a low roar and swooping down like an eagle.

With a powerful palm strike, he bounced up and down, repeating the previous movement seven times in an instant.

Demonic energy penetrated the earth, instantly destroying all life within a radius of dozens of feet.

Under such pressure, the Hundred Ghosts could no longer hide. With screams, they launched themselves forward, fearlessly facing death.

Song Yuanchi’s eyes darkened. “Go to hell!”

Thunder roared in the sky, shaking the very ground. The ghosts seemed to be shaken, their bodies faltering as they fled to the side, their courage completely gone.

However, driven by his Qi, Song Yuanchi’s momentum surged, unleashing the full might of the Seven Ghosts Sea-Snatching Break. Amidst the wailing cries of the ghosts, he shifted his palm and launched a void seal. There

was a muffled “puff” sound, which Song Yuanchi thought was the sound of the ghosts turning to ash. The next moment, an icy chill penetrated the back of his head, instantly severing all the neural connections within his brain.

Simultaneously, a powerless palm strike struck his chest. The surging Yin Fire instantly shifted and transformed, instantly ripping through his protective Qi and burning his internal organs to charcoal.

Thus, the afflicted Eighteen Underworld Generals were one man less!

“Waste is waste!”

Water Butterfly Orchid smiled, landing on a lateral branch and looking down from above. It was she who had silently returned to support, bewildering Song Yuanchi with her magic, before finally delivering the fatal blow.

Li Xun clasped his fists in a salute and praised, “Thank you for your help, Water Butterfly!”

His words were filled with sincerity. Li Xun was deeply impressed by the illusions of the illusory butterfly before him. Not only were they performed without warning, but they also adapted to the situation, shifting in a myriad of forms, making them impossible to defend against.

Astute as Song Yuanchi was, Water Butterfly Orchid had exploited the situation, forcing him to redirect his blow, leaving him vulnerable and ultimately losing his life.

He took a breath and added, “Although the fairy sees him as nothing more than a piece of good-for-nothing, if one or two more of them show up, our situation will be dire. Fairy, what’s your plan?”

“Like this time, just work together!”

Li Xun chuckled dryly. “Yes, yes!”

Even so, the cold glint of distrust still shone in their eyes.

At that moment, a volcanic explosion, far more violent than any before, erupted like a volcano, instantly spanning several miles and sweeping past the two.

The atmospheric fluctuations were as violent as a tsunami, uprooting countless thousand-year-old trees in the raging torrent and shattering them mid-air.

A moment of carelessness swept Li Xun to the ground, sending him tumbling. Water Butterfly Orchid was slightly better off. She jumped down at the moment the tree collapsed, but she stumbled as she landed.

Seeing each other in such disarray, both sides could only smile wryly.

Li Xun, bewildered, asked, “What’s wrong with them? It’s not time for a life-or-death struggle yet!”

Meanwhile, Shui Dielan, showcasing her vast experience, casually explained, “Ti Wujiu had a disciple who was transformed by Yuan Nan into a ghost statue. Ti Wujiu sought revenge on Yuan Nan, beating his once respectable face into its present state…”

“Oh, I see!”

Li Xun replied, raising his head to watch the fight unfold in the air.

He recalled his analysis from a few days prior, and taking in the situation on the field, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. The situation on the field was precisely as he had predicted. As expected, Ti Wujiu, with his righteous aura, was pressing Yuan Nan forward step by step, forcing him to react passively.

Within moments of fighting, Yuan Nan’s ugly face had swung from red to blue, from blue to white, through countless other hues.

But if one believed that this was simply anger and contempt, then danger lay ahead. Li Xun knew that he was actually switching between various Qi-regulating techniques, hoping to influence Ti Wujiu’s feelings through strange and varied means, and then, with ruthless tactics, achieve a decisive victory.

Li Xun wondered if he were to face Ti Wujiu, setting aside the difference in cultivation, the Enlightenment Heart Technique, and even without the two puppets, and simply using the techniques from the Netherworld Record, this would be the only possible outcome.

However, with Ti Wujiu’s knowledge and experience, would he give Yuan Nan such a chance? Li Xun was skeptical.

Yuan Nan had already been using various tactics to gradually distance himself from Ti Wujiu.

However, Ti Wujiu’s every move was filled with zhenli, and even at a distance of miles, he couldn’t even dim his edge. His zhenqi shifts were so seamless and smooth that, no matter how cunning Yuan Nan attempted, he could force him into a head-on confrontation with his overwhelming force.

In a split second, the two exchanged two more blows, and Yuan Nan’s pale face turned a blood-red.

Looking at Ti Wujiu again, his square face was calm, yet his eyes were bright and sharp. His long gray robe seemed to breathe on its own, expanding and contracting with the flow of his true energy, rising and falling in a rhythmic pattern, clearly showing he had plenty of energy left.

Li Xun narrowed his eyes. Although Ti Wujiu wasn’t targeting him, the righteous energy of Ti Wujiu was like the sun in the dog days of summer for a practitioner of evil arts like him, its scorching heat blinding him, making him restless and irritable, even hindering his recovery from injuries. He wondered how Yuan Nan had managed to hold on.

Just as he was thinking, Yuan Nan screamed, his blood-red face turning a pale white. An unnatural blue light flashed in his narrow eyes.

The shriek lingered, tangible, clashing with the righteous energy that permeated the atmosphere.

This time, there was no sound, but Li Xun felt a sharp pain in his eardrum, evidently the force of the impact was truly immense.

Amidst the howling, Yuan Nan’s towering figure suddenly shrank two inches, his torso thickening. Correspondingly, the space around him suddenly collapsed, as if a gaping hole had been opened in the void!

“Oh? Which demonic spirit is possessing this time?”

Li Xun’s eyes flashed with a cold glint. He recognized it as the Netherworld Sect’s most powerful spirit, the Netherworld Demon Body. This unique technique, using a special technique to penetrate the air and absorb demonic spirits from other worlds, instantly boosting cultivation. Compared to the Netherworld Qi technique of “drawing Qi across the air,” it had a similar effect.

The Fifth Netherworld General, Li Yuanxi, had also used this technique the day before, but was instantly killed by Shui Dielan, never having a chance to unleash his power before dying in grief.

In contrast, Yuan Nan unleashed the full might of this technique.

As the surrounding air distorted, the Netherworld Demon Body technique was complete.

With this technique, the gap between Yuan Nan and Ti Wujiu had been nearly bridged.

Despite being miles away, he ignored it. His fingers, nearly doubled in thickness from the demonic possession, flexed with strength, and as he crossed his hands, he formed a seal. In an instant, at least three thousand strands of Qi were mobilized, shifting and intertwining, creating a humming and vibrating sound.

Ti Wujiu frowned slightly and took a step through the air, but his body inexplicably crossed at least fifty steps and shifted to the side.

A sharp sound of ripping silk echoed in his ears. He tilted his head slightly, and his body suddenly trembled. The rhythmic undulations of his long robe paused, and a thin slit appeared at the shoulder.

“Phantom Blade Light?”

Li Xun had never seen this technique before; he was just guessing.

Ti Wujiu’s face grew more solemn. He looked at Yuan Nan, who was shifting direction, and after a moment’s thought, he raised his sleeves, revealing a pair of hands that were otherwise unremarkable except for their cleanliness.

Their eyes met, and in that instant, the sky, previously raging with turbulent winds, suddenly grew strangely quiet. Yuan Nan broke the seal and clenched his fists, his swollen flesh creaking as if some immense force was about to burst forth from within.

Li Xun took the opportunity to glance at Shui Dielan and saw that she, like him, was looking up, seemingly in no hurry to recover from her injuries.

But Li Xun could clearly see that seven or eight broken sword fragments had fallen to the ground beneath her feet, clearly forced from her body by her supreme profound skills.

Of course, this process was no easy task, as her face showed: it was pale, almost transparent, as if she were about to faint. Did

she still have the energy to watch?

Just as Li Xun was wondering, she suddenly saw her nostrils twitch twice, as if she had smelled something. Li Xun had witnessed her uncanny sense of smell before, and his heart was moved.

Shui Dielan felt his gaze and turned, her expression grave. She began, “Oh no!”

“Huh?”

Li Xun was about to ask when a sudden tightness in his mouth and nose made his breathing difficult.

His body reacted instantly, automatically shifting to internal breathing. But the external pressure seemed to increase hundreds of times in an instant. The air around him was squeezed and compressed until it felt like a substance, as if he were standing not in a jungle but a deep ocean hundreds of feet deep!

Trees, rocks, birds, and animals—both living and dead—inevitably buckled violently under the sudden surge of pressure.

Trees shattered, rocks crumbled, and many animals were simply crushed into a bloody mess!

Li Xun spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm, sensing that his injuries, which had just stabilized, were showing signs of recurring, even worsening.

The sound of metal clashing echoed as Shui Dielan forced the remaining sword fragments out of her body. The intense pain caused her to bite her lower lip, drawing blood.

Li Xun looked at her, and she looked back. “This time, if we don’t work together, we’re truly doomed!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Ti Wujiu and Yuan Nan had instantly closed in the air, less than ten feet apart. Ti Wujiu swung his sleeves, while Yuan Nan delivered a simple, brutal punch.

Their fists and sleeves clashed, and the air felt like a thunderbolt. A terrifyingly dense, primordial energy suddenly burst forth in the narrow space between the two men.

Initially, there was a deep, muffled explosion, but soon the sound grew like a ladder ascending to heaven, rising ever higher until it reached its peak of sharpness before fading with a sudden, shattering impact!

Li Xun felt a dull ache in his head, and nearly fell again. At that moment, the surging energy from the sky rolled back down, its force like a landmine, sending a humming vibration through the ground for hundreds of miles.

After the blow, Yuan Nan spun like a fat top, rapidly spinning in place, trying to dissipate the backlash of this astonishing force.

Ti Wujiu was no less relaxed. He flew back dozens of feet, his sleeves waving like waves, similarly dissipating the force like Yuan Nan. He appeared relaxed and effortless, far more pleasing to the eye than Yuan Nan’s.

However, even Li Xun, lying on the ground, could detect a strong, unearthly aura.

The subsequent changes were like a sudden pantomime, each event unfolding in a swift shift of the scene, etched deeply into the viewer’s mind.

First, a faint, twisted shadow streaked across the sky thousands of feet wide, flickering and vanishing like a demon appearing from thin air, silently clinging to Ti Wujiu’s back.

Only then did Ti Wujiu seem to react, but before he could turn around, his upright, dignified face contorted in intense pain.

His robes expanded like a balloon, repelling the ghostly figure, but blood spurted from all seven orifices of his face, creating a horrific image.

His limbs suddenly shrank!

Even as everyone was still stunned by this sudden change, a cloud of gray dust erupted from where Ti Wujiu stood, instantly enveloping him.

Though it lasted only a moment, as the surge of righteous energy blew away the dust, Ti Wujiu’s shiny black hair had turned entirely gray, and his exposed skin instantly lost its luster.

Four or five sword beams soared into the air—those were the disciples of the Tianxing Jian Sect who had been observing the battle nearby, seemingly intent on protecting Ti Wujiu’s life.

However, along with them, a blue-gray sword light, the color of rusted copper and iron, soared.

The entire sky was filled with the strange smell of rust. The blue-gray sword beams flickered, and then, like a miniature meteor shower, the sky filled with

sword light fell to the ground. At this moment, Yuan Nan, who had been spinning like a top, charged straight forward. Ti Wujiu’s already dazed eyes flickered, and he slowly raised his hands. However, just as his palms reached his lower abdomen, Yuan Nan’s powerful fist had already struck him in the chest, entering his chest and exiting his back!

Ti Wujiu’s shrill, long howl shattered this strange flow of events.

Amidst the howl, his slowly raised hand suddenly expanded, and just as Yuan Nan pulled his hand away, it slammed into his opponent’s chest.

After a muffled explosion, a large dent appeared on Yuan Nan’s chest. Blood gushed from all seven orifices, and he flew backward.

Only then did Li Xun, stunned on the ground, finally snap back to consciousness. Suddenly, all the sounds of heaven and earth reverberated. Screams, explosions, wild laughter, and the whistling of swords converged and intertwined, generating an explosive message that suddenly flooded his mind.

“Murder!”

was Li Xun’s first thought. Then, he quickly discerned the hidden message beneath the various strange sights: “The Phantom of the Heavenly Demon, the Five Decays of the Celestial Being, the Broken Soul-Snatching Sword…

Oh my god, how could the Succubus Sect, the Poison Hidden Sect, and the Heavenly Demon Sword Sect have merged with the Pluto Sect?”

The whistling sound in the sky suddenly ceased, and Li Xun regained consciousness just in time to see the ghostly figure that had been initially dispelled return and cling to Ti Wujiu’s already broken body.

In an instant, Ti Wujiu’s tall figure shrank even further!

“Searching for essence and devouring blood, it’s indeed the Succubus Sect!”

Li Xun knew that it was the Succubus Sect’s cultivators who were plundering Ti Wujiu’s essence and blood for their own enrichment. In this situation, Li Xun could only say, “Ti Wujiu is finished!”