Chapter 18: The Gate of Reincarnation
Though it was merely the illusory shadow of the Golden Feathered Eagle King, the aura of sovereignty radiated fiercely, an overwhelming pressure surged like a tempest, especially when it beheld the very enemy who had slain it—an even more turbulent and deadly murderous intent erupted.
The shadow of the Golden Feathered Eagle King turned toward Li Xuan, angrily beating its massive wings. A gust formed into a razor-sharp wind blade that sliced toward him like a steel knife.
Li Xuan clenched his jaw tightly, drawing the Crimson Shadow Emperor sword and desperately blocking the attack. The clang of steel rang incessantly.
In barely a breath, Li Xuan was drenched in blood. Were it not for the healing powers of the “Qing Nang Scroll,” he would have surely perished.
“Hurry! I can’t hold it much longer!” Li Xuan shouted toward the woman, blood soaking into the ground and flowing along the ancient source patterns.
At that moment, the woman softly uttered “Eh,” her eyes glowing with golden radiance as she whispered, “Little bird, come to me!”
Her voice held an almost magical power. The Golden Feathered Eagle King halted its assault, turning its head toward her before calming completely.
Then, speaking in obscure and ancient tongues, she communicated with the Golden Feathered Eagle King. The source light suddenly blazed fiercely, completely enveloping the shadow of the Golden Feathered Eagle King. The source crystal spun rapidly, swallowing the mountain-like phantom whole.
The woman raised her delicate hand high, chanting ancient incantations. Mysterious, archaic source patterns rippled like water, sweeping toward the Golden Feathered Eagle King’s source crystal.
The source crystal shimmered like a star in silvery-gray hues. Wrapped by the source patterns, it flew toward the woman.
Suddenly, with a thunderous sound, the woman danced gracefully, spinning serenely. Her black robes were as dark as ink, and she appeared before Li Xuan.
At the same time, the Golden Feathered Eagle King’s source crystal replaced the woman’s position, sealed at the center of the golden altar. As the source patterns extinguished, it began to slumber, much like the woman.
Li Xuan’s eyes widened in shock, stepping back as he demanded, “It’s you—Sheng Nian!”
The woman’s star-like eyes flickered with brilliance as she said, “Nonsense, are you talking rubbish?”
This woman’s beauty was unparalleled, rare in the world. She was none other than Sheng Nian—the woman who had possessed Li Xuan’s body in a past life.
Li Xuan scrutinized her carefully, then awkwardly said, “Is your name really Xu Luobing?”
Her skin was fairer than snow, crystal-clear and delicate like jade, flawless enough to crack with a breath. Her lotus-like face was a rare beauty of the mortal realm, more enchanting and seductive than Jiang Qingyue, with perfect waist-to-hip proportions that stirred the heart and ignited fantasies.
Yet, this face of mortal perfection filled Li Xuan with dread.
Why had Xu Luobing appeared in the ancient sacred temple, sealed for tens of thousands of years? How had she appeared in his past life, pushing him into the abyss at the Mount Tai Fengchan Platform during the rare Nine Stars Conjunction? The timing was too coincidental.
Seeing Xu Luobing again was like seeing a ghost.
“What’s wrong? Don’t I look beautiful? You’re acting like you’ve seen a ghost!” Xu Luobing rolled her eyes, her natural charm making it seem like playful teasing.
Li Xuan steadied himself, repeatedly reassuring, “It’s not her, it’s not her,” then forced a smile. “Xu Luobing, since I saved you, you should keep your promise and send me out of the ancient sacred temple!”
He dared not entangle himself with this venomous beauty. Who knew if he would be devoured by her as before?
“No way you’re leaving!” Xu Luobing refused outright, her tone firm and righteous, allowing no room for Li Xuan’s objection.
Li Xuan was left speechless, cursing her ancestors silently.
“If you behave, I might just be willing to compromise...” Xu Luobing twirled a strand of hair coquettishly, her face full of girlish charm. “Let me give you a kiss!”
Boom!
A thunderclap echoed in Li Xuan’s mind, buzzing in his head. Before he could react, Xu Luobing’s rosy lips pressed against his.
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Suddenly, yin and yang intertwined. The man’s masculine aura mingled with the woman’s gentle fragrance like spring rain nourishing the earth, carrying the scent of awakening life.
Xu Luobing was completely absorbed, her eyes closed, basking in the warmth.
Li Xuan remained calm, constantly warning himself, “This is a gentle trap, a venomous beauty.” Yet he couldn’t stop swallowing, almost wanting to devour her whole.
“All these millennia of loneliness, there’s still a long road ahead. Sister-in-law is so lucky; I want that too!” Xu Luobing murmured, lowering her head and admiring Li Xuan, praising silently, “So handsome, especially those eyes, blue as West Lake!”
She snapped her fingers, leaving a mark on Li Xuan’s forehead, giggling, “You belong to me now. Don’t even dream of anyone else!”
Before Li Xuan could recover, Xu Luobing’s jade palm moved gently. Obscure source patterns rippled like water, soon swelling into a surging wave that flowed toward the stone coffin above reincarnation.
The blood mist beneath the stone coffin began to churn violently, bubbling like boiling water.
Boom!
With a thunderous roar, the coffin lid slowly opened. A primeval aura poured forth, instantly filling the brass hall.
Grabbing Li Xuan’s hand, Xu Luobing said, “Hold tight, or I’ll throw you into the beast realm to be my lapdog!”
Li Xuan cursed inwardly, “Once I’m out, I’m gone for good! To hell with you, Xu Luobing!”
Together, they slipped into the reincarnation stone coffin. A massive bronze door towered to the clouds, etched with the characters “Reincarnation” in blood.
With a wave of her hand, the door thundered open, and the primeval power flooded in like a tide.
Li Xuan was aghast, but Xu Luobing remained calm. “What’s there to fear?”
The primeval power halted at her feet, then recoiled like a retreating tide.
She stepped down, and the power withdrew as if a queen had arrived, parting respectfully.
Li Xuan dared not breathe loudly, following Xu Luobing through the reincarnation gate. Bright light filled his vision.
“Is this the edge of Mist Shadow Mountain?” Li Xuan could hardly believe his eyes. In an instant, they had arrived at the mountain’s edge, far from the perilous forbidden zone.
“By the way, what’s your name? Let’s just call you Big Yellow! Remember, I’m Xu Luobing!” she said casually.
Li Xuan cursed inside, “You’re the real bastard! What a joke.”
He knew this venomous beauty was at the peak of the Profound Realm. If he fought her head-on, he’d be no match. Now, he had to use cunning. Lao Hei was waiting at the designated spot.
“Ouch!” Li Xuan clutched his stomach, face pale. “I need to relieve myself…”
Feigning that excuse, he quickly slipped away, pretending to loosen his belt.
Xu Luobing glanced casually toward his disappearing figure, a graceful smile playing on her lips before she vanished.
Li Xuan was cunning. He stayed hidden in the grass for half a day, then doubled back. Along the way, he devoured the source crystals of wild beasts, releasing their scent to mask his own.
He also left signs of wild beasts rampaging and being injured, tricking hunters into following those tracks and covering his trail.
Thus, neither Xu Luobing nor any peak Profound Realm experts could track him. If not for his integrity, he would have escaped long ago.
He chose rough mountain paths, crossing with source techniques easily. Along the way, he took the chance to finish off injured wild beasts and seize their source crystals.
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Soon, Li Xuan arrived at the agreed meeting place with Lao Hei, signaling with a few cuckoo calls.
Rustling in the grass followed, and the burly Lao Hei emerged, his face pitch black, eyes darting wildly. Seeing Li Xuan, he threw himself into his arms, choking up, “Brother Li, I thought you were—”
“Shh! Keep your voice down. I ran into trouble and ate the wild beast’s source crystal!” Li Xuan whispered, glancing around slyly. He handed the source crystal to Lao Hei, deliberately exposing the wild beast aura. “My mission’s done. Let’s leave Mist Shadow Mountain quickly before anyone notices!”
Lao Hei was no fool. Hidden in the grass, he knew a new patrol came every hour, their timing precise, each group fierce and cursing. If not for his caution, they would have been discovered.
“Brother, I’ll lead you. I’ve got their patrol times down!” Lao Hei risked his life hiding in the shadows to guide Li Xuan. He carefully led him past one defense line after another, swiftly heading toward the mountain’s outskirts.
Suddenly, a group of black-clad men dropped from the ancient pines, shouting, “We planted these trees, we opened this path. Want to pass? Pay the toll!”
Li Xuan’s heart sank. Cursing silently, “Damn it! Some blind fools daring to rob me.” Outwardly, he smiled, “Brothers, we’re all just trying to make a living. Here, take this!”
He waved a high-quality source crystal before the masked men, then threw it behind him and bolted with Lao Hei.
The masked men, greedy, lunged for the crystal. A roar erupted as a giant black claw struck down, catching one of them.
“Ah, you little trickster!” The man’s chest exploded, blood pouring out. Before dying, he signaled his comrades ahead.
“Dog’s dead!” Li Xuan cursed, turning to flee.
“Hmph, greedy fools, this is your fate!” The leader of the black-clad men looked grim, watching the mangled corpse. He stomped down, crushing the bones to powder.
“Remember, if you see that kid, don’t fight head-on. Notify me immediately!”
The leader’s cold expression explained the lavish price offered earlier. This kid was no pushover; he had just taken down a peak Martial Realm master.
The black-clad men scattered, blocking all main mountain exits, waiting to trap Li Xuan.
“Lao Hei, things look grim. Judging by their style, these are my enemies chasing me. You should return to the tribe, then come to the Li family to find me!” Li Xuan assessed the danger. Though he could fight alongside Lao Hei, stronger Profound Realm foes drawn by the Golden Feathered Eagle King’s source crystal would spell disaster.
“Brother Li, do you think I’m a coward afraid to die?” Lao Hei trembled with tears in his tiger-like eyes, staring intently at Li Xuan.
In truth, Li Xuan had long regarded Lao Hei as a big brother but didn’t want him caught up in the chase.
Seeing Lao Hei’s distress, Li Xuan felt a strange sadness. “Alright then.”
Lao Hei chuckled warmly, “Brother Li, good plan!”
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