Longevity Strange Immortal

Elder Wu Xin lay prostrate before the doors of the main hall, the ground beneath him sunken by a full ten meters. Hundreds of Sword Ghosts surrounded the area, resembling lifeless puppets.

The Sword Ghosts parted, opening a path that allowed the Sword Cultivators to approach within a hundred meters of Elder Wu Xin.

Unknowingly.

The number of Sword Cultivators participating in Juxin Temple's teachings had already surpassed thirty.

They stood before Elder Wu Xin with faces full of apprehension, not daring to move an inch. The oppressive terror brought by the Night Wander Deity made their hair stand on end.

Compared to some Night Patrol Deities, Elder Wu Xin's taboos were even more challenging to deal with.

Being unable to use Spiritual Power meant the Sword Cultivators were no different from mortals. The slightest mistake would result in death and the disappearance of their Dao.

Elder Wu Xin continued muttering fragments of the Supreme Sensing Chapter, his words disjointed and incoherent.

The night was unfathomably dark.

The Sword Cultivators occasionally cast their gazes toward the three individuals at the forefront, all at the Five Qi Period.

Although the use of Spiritual Power was restricted within Juxin Temple, the difference between those at the Residual Body Stage and the Five Qi Period was not particularly evident.

Yet everyone understood that the Five Qi Period cultivators' true purpose was far from the Taiyi True Immortal Sword Body Technique.

Once an unfamiliar magical inheritance came into play and Elder Wu Xin displayed his particular taboo, the possibility of being affected by it loomed over them all.

Staying uninvolved was no longer an option.

Outside Juxin Temple, the footsteps of the Night Wander Deities resounded continuously. Any Divine Separation Stage cultivators who dared leave the temple would encounter immediate danger.

Elder Wu Xin squeezed out a sentence through his clenched teeth: "The Method is not passed to Six Ears!!"

"Who seeks what Dao?"

Elder Wu Xin writhed in agony, violently smashing his head against the ground. Putrid, blackened blood gushed from his mouth and nose, sizzling as it spilled.

The Sword Cultivators collectively let out a relieved breath.

They could tell that Elder Wu Xin was deliberately avoiding harming others.

Elder Wu Xin's Spiritual Wisdom was higher than that of ordinary Night Wander Deities, but his consciousness was maddened. He murmured strange and ancient scriptures, though thankfully, he didn't attack of his own accord.

Confirming that Elder Wu Xin's taboo had not changed, some of the Sword Cultivators began to stir restlessly.

"Who seeks what Dao?!!"

Elder Wu Xin spoke again, his voice now tinged with irrepressible resentment. Numerous arms spread wide around his body, as if summoning long-forgotten horrors.

Just like the Heavenly Sword Sect of ten thousand years ago, the Sword Ghosts began chanting from the Taoist Scriptures.

The momentum was overwhelming.

"He who recites it, bestowed by divine spirits, decrees the fall of all demons, clarity of thought, and sensitivity of perception."

"He who possesses the scripture must treasure and guard it. Do not transmit it recklessly…"

Xu Guang's peripheral vision scanned the surroundings, noting the evident hunger for magical inheritance among the Sword Cultivators. He couldn't help the trace of mockery that curled his lips.

"Who would've thought that the Taiyi True Immortal Sword Body Technique, eight thousand years ago, was merely a basic technique an Inner Sect disciple was required to master."

"Only the subsequent 'Direct Lineage Techniques' serve as the true pathways to promoting to the Void Refining Stage."

The so-called Direct Lineage Techniques were derived from the Taiyi Sword Body, magical techniques capable of unleashing unimaginable power.

These Direct Lineage Techniques weren't secrets; they were recorded within the Taiyi True Immortal Sword Body Technique.

The only issue was the incredible, inherent danger within them.

The Twenty-Eight Sword Tombs were scattered with many Daoist Temples for teachings, each representing a Direct Lineage Taoist inheritance of the ancient Heavenly Sword Sect.

Within the Purple Sun Palace, the Daoist Temples were divided into Juxin Temple, Qingxin Temple, Burning Heart Temple, and Zhuoxin Temple.

Without exception, every basic magical technique cultivated was some form of Acquired Dao Body. Once a Sword Cultivator successfully knocked on the Immortal Gate five times under the Teaching Elders' guidance, they could sequentially obtain the complete inheritance of the corresponding Direct Lineage Taoist inheritance.

This was known as the "Immortal Gate Five Passes."

Xu Guang's eyes glittered with greed. "The Five Gates Techniques from the Direct Lineage Taoist inheritances are said to help an Acquired Dao Body return to the Innate—whether true or false remains to be seen."

The Heavenly Sword Sect's Dao Bodies were unique, collectively referred to as the Sword Dao Bodies.

Among them, the Great Sun Sword Tomb alone contained thirty-two Direct Lineage Taoist inheritances. Across the entirety of the Twenty-Eight Sword Tombs, the total number of inheritances defied quantification.

The uniqueness of the Sword Dao Body lay in the fact that a Lifebound Flying Sword couldn't absorb nourishment from the Sword Dao Body. This allowed Sword Cultivators to establish an independent foundation externally, increasing their chances of promoting to the Void Refining Stage by at least thirty percent.

"I wonder how far they've progressed in obtaining Direct Lineage inheritances?"

Xu Guang glanced at the two others of comparable cultivation level.

One was from the Fire Room, whose cultivation had remained stable at the Five Qi Period for a thousand years, clearly preparing to knock on the Immortal Gate's Third Level.

If this individual obtained the inheritance, they were likely to promote to the Heavenly Palace Stage within three to four hundred years. However, their Lifebound Flying Sword had limited potential, making the Fourth Gate difficult.

As for Daoist Bai Shuo, despite having promoted to the Five Qi Period only twenty years ago...

...already eyeing the Immortal Gate's Second Level was outright reckless.

"Daoist Bai Shuo's Lifebound Flying Sword is impressive, already mastering Mid-level Sword Intent. If the opportunity arises, I'll destroy his foundation."

Xu Guang squinted, a flash of killing intent crossing his gaze.

The Heavenly Sword Sect frowned upon competition among sect members, but Xu Guang was purely malicious, fearing others surpassing him and clouding his spiritual clarity.

In simpler terms, he was narrow-minded, unable to tolerate anyone more talented than himself.

Staring at Daoist Bai Shuo for a long moment, Xu Guang couldn't shake the feeling that the latter seemed on edge, constantly glancing toward the Sword Ghost group.

"Daoist Bai Shuo is not a threat, but... Taiyi must be dealt with quickly."

Xu Guang couldn't help recalling Li Mo. A deep sense of threat surged within him, especially considering the feud they already had.

There was a nagging premonition: if Li Mo were given time to grow, two to three centuries might suffice for him to reach the Five Qi Period. Such talent was terrifying.

Xu Guang had initially planned to strike while Li Mo was out searching for resources, but after silently observing Zhi Mountain Temple for an extended period, the latter had shown no movement.

Either he was overly cautious...

...or his resources were sufficient.

"Luo Yang will undoubtedly provide resources. After all, as one of the Thirteen Immortals, even without the talent to draw starlight, many would still scramble to curry favor with Yu Xiao."

What Xu Guang didn't realize was that Li Mo's terrifying talent was precisely why Luo Yang dared not overstep and rush his cultivation.

Without sufficient foundational depth, even reaching the Void Refining Stage would be an empty accomplishment.

The uneasy silence among the Sword Cultivators didn't last long, as a flame-haired woman stepped forward from the crowd.

"I, Jin Ruo of the younger generation, seek the inheritance of the Taiyi True Immortal Sword Body Technique."

Elder Wu Xin lowered his body slightly, staring at Jin Ruo for a few breaths before responding, "Granted."

Jin Ruo sighed in relief.

Swish.

Before Jin Ruo could react, one of Elder Wu Xin's arms struck down using his palm as a sword, sparks scattering like soft flowing petals.

Jin Ruo's eyes widened as she twisted her body to dodge, but agony erupted from her shoulder.

Her left arm hung by a thread, while her right-arm Lifebound Flying Sword jerked forward several meters, narrowly preserving her life.

"That was close—so close to being decapitated."

Jin Ruo inhaled sharply, severing her poorly attached left arm without hesitation.

The thought of resistance never even crossed her mind. Using her Lifebound Flying Sword, she stumbled and pivoted, leaving a battlefield cratered with impact marks.

Elder Wu Xin's face showed satisfaction as his sword strikes intensified in speed.

His other arms locked onto nearby Sword Cultivators.

The realization dawned upon all present: having entered Juxin Temple, retreat was no longer an option.

Even if they chose to remain passive, Elder Wu Xin's eventual sword strike might catch them off-guard and unprepared.

"I, Yan Xuan of the younger generation, seek the inheritance of the Taiyi True Immortal Sword Body Technique."

"I, Huo Shanzu of the younger generation, seek the inheritance of the Taiyi True Immortal Sword Body Technique."

...…

More than twenty Sword Cultivators stepped forward to knock on the Immortal Gate. Elder Wu Xin unleashed waves of Sword Light, scalding whirlwinds distorting the air itself.

Most Sword Cultivators could only scramble to evade the Sword Light.

Even when they moved before Elder Wu Xin's sword was swung, the Sword Light inexplicably followed them, as though guided by fate.

Elder Wu Xin didn't use Spiritual Power; the Sword Qi emanated solely from the residual force of his swings.

In truth, the gathered Sword Cultivators couldn't even push Elder Wu Xin to reveal his Sword Intent. The gulf of mastery in the Sword Dao was evident—a chasm as vast as between heavens and mud.

Nonetheless, Elder Wu Xin's mental state seemed to stabilize amidst the dueling chaos.

The three Five Qi Period Sword Cultivators, however, refrained from acting rashly, instead focusing on adjusting their states to perfection, waiting with patience.

"Hmm?"

Xu Guang's expression tightened as his gaze snapped back to Daoist Bai Shuo, whose Lifebound Flying Sword—shaped like an eye—trembled uncontrollably.

"Could it be fear of knocking on the Immortal Gate?"

From what he recalled, Bai Shuo's Fire Burning Sword Intent seemed particularly attuned to perception. His Lifebound Flying Sword's disturbance felt less like fear and more akin to dread.

Following Bai Shuo's gaze, Xu Guang only saw the mass of Sword Ghosts.

His eyes lingered briefly on two yellow cattle among the line, but they soon moved on, suspicion flashing as he side-eyed Bai Shuo.

Beast-type Sword Ghosts were rare in Juxin Temple, but not nonexistent.

In the instant he looked away, his heart skipped a beat. Turning back quickly, he found the two yellow cattle gone.

The Yellow Cattle Brothers wove through the Sword Ghost group as though immune to fear.

During the commencement of knocking on the Immortal Gate, the Sword Ghosts became oblivious to external disturbances, emboldening the two to act recklessly in the chaos.

"Senior Brother Taiyi, could you at least restrain yourself a little?"

Daoist Ye Zhuo couldn't help his biting comment. The faint flickers of Sword Intent from the corner of Li Mo's right eye suffocated him.

Li Mo simply placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, silencing Daoist Ye Zhuo on the spot.

"Ye Zhuo, you've grown fond of pretending to be a cattle? Linger any longer and you'll become a target."

With nearly thirty Sword Cultivators now knocking on the Immortal Gate, the limited venue space resulted in Elder Wu Xin's strikes becoming indiscriminate and chaotic.

If Daoist Ye Zhuo rushed in rashly, others might take the chance to redirect dangers his way.

"Heh-heh, just a little longer."

"You don't get it, Senior Brother. When one Sword Cultivator falls during knocking on the Immortal Gate, Elder Wu Xin's strikes become constrained."

"Joining then would be perfect timing. Why else would Xu Guang and the others be waiting?"

Daoist Ye Zhuo rubbed his hands together with an odd grin. Yet, there was one thought he dared not voice.

With the Thirteen Immortals present, who would bother targeting a nobody like him? Especially when Li Mo appeared poised to unleash havoc at any moment.

Li Mo lightly shook his head, lost in thought.

"Elder Wu Xin must retain some memories from his life. I wonder what it means to him to repeat the knocking on the Immortal Gate over and over again?"

"Is it an endless nightmare?"

Clang.

Li Mo connected with the Illusion Fish Sword, his Sword Intent on the verge of eruption.

Gently stroking the blade, countless memories of knocking on the Immortal Gate surfaced in his mind. A fleeting sense of existing across two timelines overwhelmed him.

The Sunlight Dharma Body in his Mud Pill Palace boiled as his Sword Intent underwent a transformative rebirth.

"When the Green Blade remains sheathed, its cold aura dwells silently between the scabbard."

Li Mo's voice lingered faintly as his body and soul withdrew into complete invisibility.