Chapter 74 - 67: Immortal Path Spirit Travel

An invisible force bound Su Ling’er’s limbs tightly.

She tried to move her fingers but found she couldn’t muster even the slightest bit of strength.

But strangely, she could still speak?

’What kind of evil sorcery is this?!’

Su Ling’er’s mind was in turmoil.

’This... could this be the same method they used to control Mr. Qian?’

’Turning them into puppets of flesh and blood, forced to serve this demonic sect for all eternity!’

’Is this the initial stage of their control method?’

’They let you keep your consciousness, even let you speak, but slowly, you lose your sense of self until you’re completely assimilated by this evil sect and become a puppet at their beck and call!’

’Then why is Eldest Senior Brother here too?’

’Is he going to become a puppet too?’

’A man like him... could he really be controlled by someone else?’

Su Ling’er thought of those "consumables" who sacrificed their bodies for sword forging or alchemy.

’Could Eldest Senior Brother be a part of this grand conspiracy, too?’

The thought that she too would soon become a puppet, forced to do things against her will, made fear grow inside her like wildfire.

"Eldest Senior Brother! What’s going on?! Why can’t I move?!"

’I still have to ascend to immortality!’

’I still have to pursue the Great Dao!’

’I don’t want to die here!’

Lin Qingfeng, however, was perfectly calm. Though he was in the same immobilized state, he spoke to her telepathically:

"Junior Sister, do not panic. This is the method for the Immortal Path Spirit Travel.

Its purpose is to help us cast aside the concept of our mortal forms and sense the Great Dao.

It’s not just you. All who participate in the procession are like this."

Su Ling’er knew that all the disciples participating in this event had changed into red robes just like her and were standing rigidly, unable to move.

’But doesn’t that just make it even weirder?!’

’You’re telling me this is for real?’

’Somehow, I’m not buying it!’

Furthermore, Eldest Senior Brother’s red robe was embroidered with even more intricate patterns in gold thread, making it look particularly ornate.

It was just that his rigid appearance sent a chill down Su Ling’er’s spine.

’What are you monsters planning?!’

’If you’re going to get yourselves killed, can you please not drag me down with you?!’

’Eldest Senior Brother, if you want to be a sacrifice for a sword or for an alchemical pill, go right ahead!’

’I still want to pursue the Great Dao!’

’If you want to be a ’consumable,’ don’t drag me into it!’

...

「On the high platform.」

Mr. Qian’s voice rang out again as he recited an opening speech about the "Immortal Path Spirit Travel".

Meanwhile, Lin Qingfeng looked at the event rules in front of him and quickly issued instructions in their exclusive channel.

[Event: Immortal Path Spirit Travel]

[Rules: All participants will automatically enter a "Strolling" state, following Mr. Qian on a tour of the sect. During the procession, they must shout the exclusive slogan.

Reward: The first person to shout the slogan before the time limit ends will receive 40 Sect Contribution Points.

If someone responds to your slogan, you will receive an additional 10 Sect Contribution Points.

The more people who respond, the more additional contribution points you will receive.]

[Lin Qingfeng: Listen up, everyone!]

[In a moment, wait for my signal. Let Little Junior Sister shout first!]

[When the time comes, you all better remember to respond to her!]

[Anyone who dares to shout first or fails to respond will be sent to Siguoya for confinement!]

[Yan Buliu: I was locked up at Siguoya by the Law Enforcement Elder for quite a while. You all can go experience it for yourselves.]

Then, Lin Qingfeng’s voice echoed in Su Ling’er’s mind.

"Little Junior Sister, listen for my command in a moment and get ready to shout the slogan."

Su Ling’er let out a baffled, "Huh?" She still had no idea what was going on. ’Why are we shouting slogans now?’

’We’re about to be turned into puppets, and you’re in the mood for shouting slogans?’

"I’ve already thought of a slogan for you," Lin Qingfeng’s voice continued,

"Just shout: ’Guixi Immortal Sect, Magical Power unbound! For a thousand ages, rule the martial world!’"

Su Ling’er’s eyelid twitched.

’"Magical Power unbound, rule the martial world"?!’

’You monsters really dare to dream big, don’t you!’

’And what a corny slogan!?’

’You’re supposed to be an ancient demonic sect with a profound heritage; couldn’t you come up with a slogan that has a little more class?!’

However, before she could finish her internal complaints, an invisible force pushed her body, and she began to move forward.

Everyone began to follow Mr. Qian, who had descended from the high platform, entering the "Strolling" state.

She was also forced to take a step, her body stiffly following the crowd as they began to move through the sect.

She felt as if her body didn’t belong to her at all, and wondered if it had been the same for that senior, Mr. Qian—eventually controlled by others, forced to do one thing after another against his will.

Only, his fate was even more tragic. He had lost his mind completely and was now reduced to being the "culprit" who turned others into puppets.

’And me... will I be able to come back from this?’

’Where is this bizarre procession ultimately headed?’

’And what awaits me?’

She looked ahead at her fellow disciples, all clad in red and marching stiffly, and a sense of powerlessness washed over her.

’Are they just like me? Just unwilling sacrifices in this grand, evil ritual?’

The procession continued in this bizarre, yet frenzied, atmosphere.

The procession followed a specific route, and every time they reached a certain point, Su Ling’er was forced by Lin Qingfeng to shout the slogan that made her toes curl in embarrassment:

"Guixi Immortal Sect!"

"Guixi Immortal Sect—Sect—Sect!"

"Magical Power unbound!"

"Magical Power unbound—bound—bound—!"

"For a thousand ages!"

"For a thousand ages—ges—ges—!"

"Rule the martial world!"

"Rule the martial world—world—world—!"

Thunderous responses echoed from all directions, a tidal wave of sound that once again showed her just how imposing this demonic sect was.

...

Finally, the procession ended, and the force binding her body quietly dissipated.

Su Ling’er immediately stretched her arms and legs, letting out a long, internal sigh of relief.

’This is...’

’This is... over?’

’Nothing happened at all?’

’Could it be... that this was just the first attempt at turning me into a puppet?’

’Are there more terrifying methods waiting for me?’

With lingering fear, she looked around. Thankfully, her body could still move.

She warily surveyed her surroundings, afraid that she had been unwittingly sold off to some unknown place.

’Such a bizarre method... suddenly putting us in uniform, paralyzing us, then making us walk around... What was the point of it all?’

’Was it some kind of screening ritual?’

She looked down at her own red robes, which had returned to their original form, and her heart jumped in alarm.

’How did they change me into those other red robes? How could I have not sensed a thing?!’

’Doesn’t that mean that, without me even knowing it, the monsters of this demonic sect have already seen me completely naked?!’

Her cheeks instantly turned bright red.

AAAHHH—!

’Shameless! Monsters!’

’Despicable! Filthy!’

In her mind, she cursed the entire Guixi Sect thousands of times over.

However, in an unknown corner, in the wilderness, beneath the dark soil...

Those Contracted Spirit Insects, for which she had preset a time, were all awakened at the same moment.

This was her final plan, her last, desperate hope.

Over one hundred messengers, each carrying vital information, began their desperate rush toward freedom.

The night wind seemed to turn even more bitter at that moment...