The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 89

Chapter 6: Misleading Beliefs

The person who came was not Qi Bi, but Ming Ji!

Sixty years had passed, and her posture and demeanor were still the same as before.

Ming Ji was only wearing a half-worn plain green robe, and her hands were empty, not even bringing her sword that she always carried with her. She seemed to have lost some of her sharpness, but her eyes occasionally flashed, and her sharpness was several times stronger than before, as if she could see through everything in the world at a glance.

In comparison, her stunning white skin and beautiful face were not so eye-catching.

She smiled dumbly and said: What, Bi’er is here too? How do you have the leisure to come here?

In fact, although monks do not value the ethics of husband and wife, Qi Bi is a married woman. Being alone with Li Xun for several days, and living under the same roof, would still cause misunderstandings.

However, Ming Ji’s temperament and way of doing things are different from ordinary people. She was not shy about these things, and spoke frankly and openly.

Fortunately, Li Xun was open and honest about the matter, and a man of great insight. Upon hearing this, he briefly mentioned the matter of Qi Bi and Wen Hai.

Ming Ji, surprisingly, also knew this, and Li Xun refrained from further discussion, simply sighing, “Senior Sister Qi, no one else can help with this matter. I’ll just have her discuss it with Senior Brother Wen Hai.” By the way, Fourth Uncle, when did you return? Li Xun

still remembered Lingji’s recent mention a few days ago of Ming Ji’s recent journey to the northwest, where she defeated the Rakshasa King Kong of the War Demon Sect. Unexpectedly, only three or four days later, she appeared at Zuowang Peak, millions of miles away.

“Yesterday, I think. As soon as I returned, someone said you had returned to the mountain four days ago. I couldn’t see you at the foot of the peak, but I didn’t expect you to come here.”

Li Xun was stunned and asked, “Uncle, you wanted to see me?

” “No, it was just a chance meeting. But since we’ve met, I have something to tell you.”

Seeing the darkness inside, Mingji simply called him out, and the two of them strolled by the lake outside the bamboo hut.

Their relationship had always been casual, having been neither master nor disciple since sixty years ago. In a major righteous sect like the Mingxin Sword Sect, this was exceptionally rare and precious.

Now, walking side by side by the lake, chatting and laughing, they could be believed to be friends, senior and junior sisters, or even Taoist companions!

Of course, this was merely an objective phenomenon. In their hearts, they simply felt that this kind of relationship best reflected their true nature; what it resembled was beyond their consideration.

Mingji didn’t get straight to the point at first. After a few steps by the lake, she smiled faintly and said, “It’s been over five years since we last met.”

Li Xun smiled back. Upon leaving the bamboo hut, his emotions had calmed down, and he could now speak to Mingji calmly: “Well, back then, when the demon king Tianshu launched a desperate counterattack, my disciple was left vomiting blood. It was only Fourth-Master who arrived first to save him. Otherwise, how could I have escaped unscathed?”

“Who will listen to your flattery!” Mingji’s eyes turned, and she stabbed Li Xun lightly, the sharp light that flashed in that instant, and she immediately saw through Li Xun’s small calculations.

Li Xun saw through her thoughts without saying a word, and was not embarrassed, but secretly estimated that it seemed that Mingji’s sharp intuition that went straight to the heart had been strengthened.

It was obvious that compared with five years ago, Mingji’s cultivation had taken another step forward. If she improved, there would probably be no rival on the mountain except Li Xun.

But this was normal, she was born with a sharp and transparent temperament, and when she practiced this Lingxi Jue, it seemed as if the senior master who created this method had tailored it for her.

Because of this, being with Mingji was both an enjoyable and sad thing.

He enjoyed the atmosphere and tacit understanding with Mingji, a kind of teacher-student, friend-like, yet at the same time, he had to carefully conceal his thoughts, fearing that a single mistake would reveal itself.

He scratched his head, not denying it, but simply smiled and said: “After not seeing each other for a few years, I have to rekindle some of the old atmosphere. When Fourth Uncle said that, the feeling of a disciple returned.”

The two smiled at each other again, and Mingji got back to the point, the timing being just right.

“I’ve heard a lot about you in the past two years. It seems that you and that Taoist Master Baigui are competing with each other?

” “Yes, that’s right! That guy coveted my jade evil-repelling talisman back then and even slapped me. How can I not avenge him!”

Li Xun said viciously, but when he saw Mingji’s half-smile, he scratched his head and said: “I can’t hide it from Fourth Uncle. That kid’s forbidden techniques are really superb, and his cultivation level is comparable to mine. He’s a perfect opponent!”

“Although good and evil cannot coexist, how can I let go of such an opponent who can motivate me to make progress?”

This answer was a coincidence. Li Xun knew that Mingji was extremely warlike. He fought all his life and made countless enemies, but he never got tired of it.

His answer should be the most consistent with Mingji’s thoughts, and this calm sentence was something that even a telepathic connection could not reveal.

Mingji smiled and said: The fact that you can have such a thought shows that your cultivation has really improved. However, Baigui has been in the limelight recently. He has even killed several Hades generals of the Pluto Sect in succession. Obviously, he has made progress. You must not be too careless!

It is hard to describe the strange feeling of hearing someone talk about another self in front of you.

However, Li Xun was more concerned about the deep meaning of Mingji’s words. Maybe he was worrying too much, but it is always better to be careful.

So, he followed Mingji’s tone and said: This disciple witnessed it!

Seeing Mingji’s surprised expression, Li Xun breathed a sigh of relief, knowing she truly cared for him, and felt a slight touch of emotion.

He continued, “This year, my disciples have fought many battles against the Hundred Ghosts, from Mangshan in the north all the way to the Southeast Forest Sea and back to Mocang Ridge. I have a relatively clear picture of what happened.”

He recounted some of his experiences, especially in the Southeast Forest Sea, and then added, “I saw him join forces with Shui Dielan and, knowing the situation was hopeless, withdrew. I’m less clear on what happened after that. It seems the Tianxing Jian Sect intervened, and Mr. Qianyuan also intervened.

” He intentionally blurred the chronological order, otherwise, others might get the impression that this guy, seeing a fellow practitioner, refused to lend a helping hand.

This move was clearly the right one. Mingji, as expected, didn’t dwell on it. His expression dimmed slightly as he nodded, confirming the news.

“However, rising talents in our righteous path are constantly emerging.” This time, there was a disciple named Gu Pin’er from the Tianxingjian Sect. She made a decisive decision, which not only saved Mr. Qianyuan from the disaster of being destroyed, but also helped him escape from the hands of the concubine and others. Her cultivation should not be underestimated.

Hearing her words, Li Xun felt quite complacent. No matter what, Gu Pin’er was considered his, and being praised like this would be of great benefit to him. Mingji

deviated from the topic in just a few words, and soon she said: It is naturally best if you can know yourself and your enemy. But since the Taoist Baigui can be compared with you, his scheming and methods are not inferior to yours.

“Even though his sect has serious internal friction, the six sect-suppressing methods he inherited are still the best in the evil way, with some magical powers that are difficult for outsiders to predict. It just so happens that I got something a few days ago .”

She took off the pendant from her waist and shook it gently in front of Li Xun.

The pendant resembled a sculpted iron object, shaped like a strange beast. Warped by years of rust, it hung with a half-worn silk string, a stark contrast to Mingji’s elegant and refined image.

Mingji didn’t seem to mind. She waved the ornament before Li Xun’s eyes as if to show off, saying with a smile, “Well, this is the prize I won in a bet with Sect Leader Li. It seems to be called Swallowing Sea Spiritual Resonance. I thought it sounded interesting, so I asked for it.

” “I heard from Sect Leader Li that this item has the effect of suppressing evil spirits and has other uses. It’s perfect for dealing with those gloomy sects like ghosts, Hades, and ghost-eating spirits. How about I give it to you?”

The Sect Leader she was referring to was, of course, Li Douliang, the head of the Zhenhun Sect, a region on the far south of the Fallen Soul Sea.

As the most senior True One Grandmaster of the righteous path, and after Zhong Yin’s flight, Li Douliang was recognized as the foremost figure in the righteous path. What I could get from him, how could it be worse?

Upon hearing the name of the Swallowing Sea Spirit, Li Xun’s eyes lit up. As the one being restrained, knowing both himself and his opponent, he knew Mingji was absolutely right, and even understated the treasure’s merits.

This unassuming creature was the product of a demonic beast that Li Douliang had sealed away in his early years. Its name was the Swallowing Sea Spirit. It possessed immense power, wreaking havoc on the Soul-Calming Sea for years, bringing great harm to both the Soul-Calming Sect and the Seven Ghost Horns Pluto Sect, separated only by a sea.

This demonic beast’s formidable power lay in its ability to devour all evil energy to strengthen itself.

It also transformed this evil energy into a toxin through its body, unleashing it in attacks that rivaled the methods of the Poison Hidden Sect.

After reaching the True One Realm, Li Douliang employed his magical powers to defeat and refine the beast. Using the sect’s unique Soul-Calming technique, he trapped the demonic beast’s spirit within the pendant, negating its ability to neutralize poison while correspondingly enhancing its ability to absorb evil energy.

Furthermore, through special incantations, he could extract the accumulated evil energy and use it to enhance his cultivation. This might seem like a magical weapon from the Evil Sect, but considering the iron-blooded style of Li Douliang and the Soul-Calming Sect, such a refining method is not surprising. But what use would Mingji have for such a thing?

Over sixty years, she had advanced her cultivation, firmly establishing herself at the True One Realm. Her cultivation placed her among the top five on Lianxia Mountain, surpassed only by Qingming, Qingxu, and Mingji.

She feared no one except perhaps a few masters like Netherfire Yamaluo. So why would she risk accusations of disrespect by betting with Li Douliang over such a thing?

In a split second, Li Xun understood her feelings.

Seeing Mingji’s gentle smile, Li Xun felt a surge of pain in his chest, a tightness that for a moment rendered him speechless.

At that moment, he knew more clearly than ever: Qingyin might have betrayed him, Zhongyin might have, and perhaps even more of his current disciples would in the future.

But Qingming, Mingji, and so many other elders, friends, and even the entire Mingxin Sword Sect would never betray him!

And the one who truly failed others was Li Xun himself.

This sudden realization filled him with a bitter taste, yet he couldn’t betray a single whit in front of Mingji. The mixture of emotion, guilt, and fear was no less painful than the pain Qingyin had inflicted on him.

He forced a smile, but without hesitation, he accepted the pendant and said, “Thank you, Fourth Master, disciple. I accept it.”

Holding the pendant in his hand, his eyes met Mingji’s, and he couldn’t help but lower his eyelids.

He cursed inwardly, but couldn’t muster the courage to meet her gaze again. He had no choice but to lower his head, letting out a soft sigh as his complex emotions washed over him. Fourth Master’s

shift in mood involuntarily matched his own, a natural progression. No matter how astute Mingji was, she hadn’t anticipated such complex shifts in the mind of her closest disciple.

She simply assumed Li Xun was moved and a little embarrassed, acting strangely.

She wasn’t used to such a sentimental atmosphere, so she smiled again and changed the subject.

“This time, I heard about Niu Lishi in the northwest and rushed back, hoping to challenge him to a duel, but to no avail. I’ve wasted my time there, and I’ll probably be leaving again in a few days. By the way, how long will you, Little Shanling, stay in the mountains?

” “Little Shanling” was the nickname given to Li Xun by the sect elders, a nod to his similar personalities.

Mingji said this casually in order to ease the atmosphere, but after she opened her mouth, she realized that the name was not appropriate and her face became slightly hot.

Fortunately, it was dark at this time and Li Xun did not dare to look up at her, so she managed to bluff him.

She changed the subject, and Li Xun was relieved. He immediately repeated his response to Qingming.

Mingji couldn’t help feeling depressed when he heard it: “It won’t work this time. You can burn some incense for my senior brother on my behalf. Hehe, the demon phoenixes are top-notch and they are fighting each other. The opportunity is coming soon. Then, you and I will avenge your master together!” At

this time, Mingji regained his usual straightforwardness, and Li Xun nodded repeatedly.

However, after this sentence, the two wanted to change the subject again, but they were unable to do so and fell into silence for a while.

Fortunately, a flying sword message was delivered in time, solving the awkward situation for the two.

“Matters to discuss? Why so urgent?”

The letter Mingji received was actually an order from the sect leader at the foot of the peak, which basically meant that everyone above the second generation immortal master should go to Weiming Temple to discuss something.

Li Xun laughed and said: “Perhaps the sect leader saw that it was rare for everyone to come in such a good group today, so he did this.

” This remark was naturally directed at someone who had been wandering outside all year round, so how could Mingji not hear it? She glanced at Li Xun, but didn’t really care about such a disrespectful tone.

At her pace, it would take her a whole night to reach the foot of the peak. Time was running out, and she couldn’t afford to delay any longer.

Before leaving, Mingji seemed to have thought of something and instructed: “I haven’t seen Bi’er for a few years, please say hello to her for me.” She was told not to worry about whether to practice or not. If her mood was not good, even if she had the ability to move mountains and seas, it would be of no use

. Is this a consolation? Or is it instigation? Li Xun was laughing when he suddenly heard her say: “Bi’er has the best character, but she thinks too simply.” As a junior brother, you should also protect me more and not cause trouble.

Huh? This is not like Mingji’s style. The reason that can make her change like this is probably quite difficult to say.

Li Xun thought about it, and then nodded slowly. This proved that he had gained something.

Mingji admired his cleverness, but immediately smiled: If you use your cleverness to observe yourself, then no one will worry about you. Let me say one more thing. Now is the time for you to improve your cultivation. It is better not to worry too much about some things. Do you understand?

Seeing her eyes sweeping across the bamboo hut intentionally or unintentionally, Li Xun was shocked. He didn’t know what she knew.

Moreover, he couldn’t stop feeling guilty when he mentioned this in front of her. He could only nod at the moment, but this time, the perfunctory elements were much more.

Mingji looked at him deeply, but said no more. With a wave

of her hand, she vanished, and flew down the mountain. Watching Mingji’s retreat, Li Xun vaguely recalled how strange Mingji’s attitude had been when he and Qingyin had first begun dating.

Li Xun later realized that Mingji had sensed Qingyin’s relationship with him, perhaps drawn more to his striking resemblance to Yu Sanren.

The outcome, as she had predicted, was indeed what she had anticipated!

Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as regret. Even if he had known the consequences, it’s doubtful he would have been able to recover.

With a grim smile, he carefully attached the pendant to his belt and turned to head back toward the bamboo hut.

Qibi should be returning by now; he wondered how the fruit she’d picked tasted.

Suddenly, a feeling struck him, and he turned to look. A few feet away, Yin Sanren appeared, striding through the air, still dressed in the same nun’s attire from a few days ago, ethereal and graceful.

By then, not a single trace of Li Xun’s evil deeds remained. She held a piece of scented paper in her hand and handed it to him expressionlessly.

Seeing her expression, Li Xun almost thought her consciousness had been extinguished again.

However, just one look at her eyes put his mind at ease. How could a puppet without the light of spiritual consciousness have such a cold and gloomy look as Yin Sanren?

Glancing at Yin Sanren with a feigned casualness, Li Xun raised his posture, straightened his body, and opened his mouth slightly.

A strange creaking sound seemed to be heard in the air, and Yin Sanren’s Taoist robes swayed without wind. But finally, she lowered her gaze and handed the scented paper to Li Xun.

The air was eerily still, and Li Xun let out a nearly inaudible breath, his heart finally at ease.

He finally confirmed once again that the powerful chains of rules forged by the Soul-Exorcising, Soul-Refining, and Heart-Connecting techniques had finally bound this unruly puppet.

Was she unwilling to accept this? That’s great, what he wanted was not to be resigned!

With the corners of his lips curled up, Li Xun’s mood became very good. He didn’t care much about the scented paper that had just been sent by secret method. He was just wondering why there was another letter after only four days of separation? However, he glanced at the content and his face darkened.

In fact, there was nothing uncomfortable in the words of the letter. On the contrary, the excitement jumped on the paper. The gist of the letter was that Qin Wanru found out that her mother was out on business with several of her men and would be returning to the north soon. There were not many masters around, so it was a good opportunity to attack and rob people.

If it were someone else, they would definitely be confused, but Li Xun knew everything and understood it immediately.

“Mrs. Yu?”

Li Xun had seen her last month. At that time, she had assigned Li Xun the task of taking care of Xiao Chongzi. Unexpectedly, a month later, she was still lingering outside.

Normally, that would be fine, but now that Yin Sanren has returned, if he’s accomplished his mission, wouldn’t it be easy to capture him?

With such a golden opportunity, it’s no wonder Qin Wanru is so concerned.

As far as Li Xun is concerned, the plan itself is fine, but the timing is terrible.

Just a few days ago, and just now, he’d clearly promised Qingming and Mingji that he’d stay with the sect for three months, until after the Lin Pavilion Festival.

And now, Qin Wanru had sent a letter asking for help. Even though it was Yin Sanren she was asking for, could he not go? Meanwhile, Yin Sanren glanced over. Recalling the contents of the letter, Li Xun raised a brow and greeted him coldly.

However, contrary to his expectations, when Yin Sanren’s bright eyes gleamed, there wasn’t much hostility or resentment.

Their eyes met, and she moved away, scanning her surroundings. Her gaze flickered between light and darkness, and she sighed softly, “Zuowang Peak?”

Such a tone was completely different from that of four days ago.

Li Xun was confused by her attitude, but judging from his intuition about the puppet, Yin Sanren did not have any ill intentions at the moment. So, Li Xun returned the favor and smiled: Yes, it is Zuowang Peak. Have you been here before?

“Yes, if you say so, I came here secretly.”

Yin Sanren seemed to be chatting casually, with a calm and serene tone. She set her eyes on the bamboo hut and smiled slightly: When I saw Qingyin at that time, I knew that she had good ideas. If I had succeeded at that time, maybe you would not have so many troubles, but unfortunately, Zhongyin chopped me down the mountain with a sword. Hey, what a good Zhongyin!

Li Xun laughed dumbly.

It was obvious that Yin Sanren wanted to hold Qingyin hostage to deal with Zhongyin, but failed and returned in defeat.

These things that happened in the past sounded different, but he didn’t understand what happened to Yin Sanren?

Just as he was wondering, Yin Sanren turned around and smiled bitterly: “Back then, with the power of Zhong Yin, I was chased to the ends of the earth. Although I was in a mess, I was able to escape death after all. I didn’t expect that in the end, I would fall into your hands. You are so smart, what can you do?”

Li Xun loved to hear such words!

Seeing the slight loss and sorrow on Yin Sanren’s face, the joy in his heart expanded.

He was not absolutely sure that such a master-level figure who had fully recovered his spiritual consciousness and wisdom would obey his orders.

However, through the effect of the Soul-Exorcising, Soul-Refining and Heart-Connecting Technique, he could block all things that were not in his favor.

In other words, even if Yin Sanren recovered his memory and wisdom, and thus developed hatred and resentment towards him, she would have no way to put this hatred and resentment into practice.

Want revenge? As soon as this thought occurred, the energy between the puppet and its master automatically resonated. The horrific backlash was so intense that even Yin Sanren, the most formidable torturer in the Tongxuan Realm, would likely be unable to withstand the debilitating pain that reached deep into the soul, driving one insane.

This once-dignified, proud, wise, and ruthless master had suddenly been reduced to an absolute slave, helpless to resist.

This heaven-and-hell contrast was a million times more inflicted than any physical torture!

Furthermore, while it’s said that death is the ultimate hardship, for a being like Yin Sanren, even the thought of escaping this nightmare through death was a pipe dream.

Unless Li Xun died, her soul would remain under his control, eternally alive, no matter what happened!

In Li Xun’s view, facing this situation, Yin Sanren’s submission was inevitable.

However, her rapid adaptation still surprised him.

Li Xun felt like he’d punched cotton with his fist. The feeling of misjudging his strength even overshadowed the thrill of victory, leaving him feeling so depressed he almost wanted to vomit blood.

Could this be Yin Sanren’s wisdom?

However, Li Xun’s state of mind had changed, and he quickly adjusted.

From a practical point of view, the sooner he could harness Yin Sanren’s astonishing strength and wisdom, the better for his future.

Judging from the current situation, perhaps with some time, even obedience could be achieved.

Li Xun found himself easily satisfied.

So, he walked over to Yin Sanren, standing shoulder to shoulder with her, and chuckled softly, “Master-Uncle is a wise man, so he should know the right way to ensure neither of us suffer.

” “Don’t look at me like that. I know it’s unfair, but back in Songjing, Master-Uncle, how could you ever treat me fairly?”

As he spoke, he reached out and gently grasped her slender waist.

The gesture was gentle. Yin Sanren didn’t resist, nor did she look at him, but a hint of bitterness escaped her lips.

“What do you want me to do?”

Li Xun was delighted and raised the letter. Just as he was about to speak, Yin Sanren’s expression shifted, and she disappeared.

Li Xun was startled, then he saw a flash of light in the distance—the unique glow of the Zuwang Stone.

He shuddered, exerting force with his hands, shattering the letter into pieces, scattering it into the lake, where it disappeared. By then, Qi Bi’s figure was clearly visible in the light.

“Junior Brother Xun, why did you come out?” Qi Bi held the Zuwang Stone in one hand and used his true energy to gather a bunch of wild fruits with the other hand, and pulled them over in mid-air.

His attitude of making light of a heavy task showed that he often did this.

Li Xun smiled, but before he could say anything, Qi Bi’s next sentence startled him: “Junior Brother Xun, you were here just now, has anyone been here before?”

In an instant, Li Xun’s eyes became as cold as frost and snow, but when he saw the completely unintentional doubt on Qi Bi’s face, his eyes quickly softened, and in the end he just said “ah”.

Sure enough, with such a buffer time, Qi Bi smiled and said: “I was over there, and I seemed to hear the sound of controlling the Qi .

” Li Xun secretly breathed a sigh of relief and felt relieved. However, Qi Bi did not notice Li Xun’s expression, but just shook his head and smiled: “Forget it, it’s nothing.” Let’s go into the house to eat the fruit. We should have left the Zuwang Stone behind just now. It’s very black, isn’t it!

“Uh, no, Fourth Uncle-General was here just now.

Li Xun, of course, wanted to change the subject as quickly as possible, so he hurriedly brought Ming Ji out and showed off the Swallowing Sea Spiritual Reflection he had just acquired.

Qi Bi was indeed attracted by this legendary treasure, and ignored the fact that Li Xun’s reaction was half a beat slower than usual, and took the treasure in her hand and played with it carefully.

Unfortunately, the appearance of this treasure was not really suitable for women. After her curiosity passed, Qi Bi lost interest and handed the treasure back.

“Fourth Uncle-General really loves you. Not only did he give you the Green Jade Sword, but he also gave you such a treasure. Think about it, you have both been away from the mountain for many years, and you have been gone for several years. From this point of view, you are not master and disciple, but better than master and disciple.

Li Xun also smiled: I can only say that my mind is too distracted and I can’t stay in one place.

“It is Fourth Uncle-General who is really busy. She just went up to the peak and was summoned by the Sect Master again before she could rest. Thanks to her, if we had received the letter, wouldn’t it have taken another three or four days?

Before he finished speaking, another sword light flew over, captured Li Xun’s breath, and fell into his hands.

“

Li Xun now finally understood what it meant to be in a state of being neither laughing nor crying.

Could it be that he was destined to receive a letter today? But he was lucky this time, as it was the most authentic sect letter, and he accepted it openly.

And on it was Qingming’s handwritten order: Come down the mountain immediately, there is something to discuss!

When he handed the flying sword to Qi Bi, Qi Bi laughed out loud. Without a doubt, this was her happiest moment tonight.

Looking at her smile that came from the heart, Li Xun was stunned for a moment.