[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-path-of-immortality":3,"chapter-the-path-of-immortality-the-path-of-immortality-chapter-523":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Path of Immortality",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2271673,4436,"Chapter 523: The Moon Earring","the-path-of-immortality-chapter-523",523,"\u003Cp>“This is truly finished!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the Emperor’s Ancestral Map, upon seeing the qiūyú’s corpse turn into a yellow talisman, Master Fu Can froze, his head throbbing with exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three Golden Core Daoists sent by the Grand Talisman Palace this time were Pei Zhi, Liang Che, and Liao Huidu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to their scarce disciples, these three were barely scraped together by the Grand Talisman Palace, and unlike other major sects, they had not fought among themselves first—merely received careful guidance from the Grand Talisman Sect Master on past competition details and key points before being granted entry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the brutal slaughter that had just occurred within the Divine Control Sect in the same Dong Hun Province, it was as if heaven and earth were reversed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet all three of the Grand Talisman Palace’s Daoists were long-renowned and far from weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in Master Fu Can’s eyes, only Pei Zhi had any hope of securing a top-ten position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, Liang Che was a cultivated moralist; though only at the Golden Core realm, he was a famed talisman master in Dong Hun Province.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many popular talismans among Dong Hun’s common folk—such as the Little Life-Preserving Talisman, the Heavenly Purifying Pestilence Talisman, and the Qi-Transforming-Nourishment Talisman—were all his creations, and thus he had over ten thousand shrines built in his honor, revered and sung of by the people of Dong Hun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Grand Talisman Palace’s own Master Fu Yu had declared that Liang Che’s future achievements in the Talisman Dao would surpass even his master’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But precisely because he had poured so much effort into this path, Liang Che had rarely engaged in actual combat and possessed almost no fighting experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the other, Liao Huidu, he was somewhat better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had once specifically visited Zhongyi Mountain and journeyed through Qiaoming Gorge to test his mind, and several sword cultivators of his own realm had fallen to his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet shortly after the competition began, Liao Huidu encountered Yu Huangshang; even with all his strength, he could not survive beyond a hundred exchanges against Yu Huangshang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had it not been for the fact that, years ago, when Yu Huangshang was gathering ingredients for Golden Core elixirs, he had accidentally received aid from the Grand Talisman Palace…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Out of gratitude, Yu Huangshang had refrained from killing Liao Huidu, deliberately leaving an opening to let the gravely wounded man escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, even if Liao Huidu had exhausted every trick, pushing his Three Scenery True Talismans to their utmost, he would have been unable to escape—and would have been eliminated for certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Liang Che and Liao Huidu were in such a state…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the only one among the three Grand Talisman Golden Core True Persons with any hope of entering the top ten was Pei Zhi—the one most skilled in combat and deadliest in offensive divine arts!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now, Pei Zhi had effortlessly suppressed the combined attack of Zuo Pengzong and Peng Qian—a sight Master Fu Can had witnessed clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And not just Master Fu Can; all the great transcendent beings watching from outside believed Pei Zhi’s top-ten placement was assured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this assumption held only if Pei Zhi did not face off prematurely against those few True Persons capable of contending for the Golden Core crown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undoubtedly, Chen Hang was one of those few crown contenders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Pei Zhi’s suppression of Zuo and Peng was remarkable, compared to Chen Hang’s actions in the Sandflow Mountains, where he fought numerous cultivators, she paled in comparison and was overshadowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Add to that Hu Zhaoxuan Yin, and so far Chen Hang had already expelled seven Golden Core True Persons from the Emperor’s Ancestral Map.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a record was far ahead of all others—no one could match it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Pei Zhi faced Chen Hang…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outcome would likely…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rarely do I see you look so troubled—do you see both hands as flesh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Qi Shang glanced at Master Fu Can and said coolly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I don’t understand—among your Xuanmen Eight Sects’ juniors, do they truly harbor grudges against each other?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Fu Can sighed helplessly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pei Zhi’s attack just now wasn’t aimed at Chen Hang—it was at Yin Ruohua of the Blood River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to her background, she has always resented the Twelve Clans of Xu Du, especially the Qi Wu Yin Clan and the Hong Guang Xiao Clan—otherwise, how do you think she acquired such refined killing arts?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under her hands, no shortage of clan members’ blood has been spilled…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Shang smiled: “The Twelve Clans—those blood descendants and disciples of Lord Xie Gongzai? Interesting. But Chen Hang won’t let Pei Zhi drive away Yin Ruohua.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s precisely what’s giving me a headache…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Fu Can scratched his head, and after a long frown, he suddenly extended his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s this?” Qi Shang asked, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m done thinking—it’s useless anyway. Give me a few more jars of your Dragon Bone Yang Wine for cultivation!” Master Fu Can grinned sheepishly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know it’s for cultivation?” Qi Shang said flatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, inside the Emperor’s Ancestral Map, shortly after the yellow talisman formed from the qiūyú vanished, thick smoke and fire mist exploded apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two figures staggered out, retreating several steps through the clouds, visibly unsteady on their feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Qian’s face held a trace of shock, his pupils contracting sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The radiance on his Star Banner had clearly dimmed, as if drained of much essence, appearing hollow and unstable; even the jade-faced deity statue atop the banner bore several cracks, its features now indistinct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Zuo Pengzong, he was even more battered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both his wide sleeves were torn, his robe stained with blood, revealing a crimson inner armor beneath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No wonder he’s the Grand Talisman Palace’s most lethal disciple of this generation. Had I known, I never should’ve waded into this mess…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Pengzong thought helplessly, secretly clutching a bronze talisman in his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that direct clash just now, even with Peng Qian’s help, he had gained no advantage—if they fought on, he would inevitably meet a miserable elimination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he didn’t know why, Pei Zhi had suddenly turned on Yin Ruohua and directed most of her attention toward Chen Hang…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zuo Pengzong knew this was an extremely rare opportunity—if missed, he’d never find another way out!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rolled his sleeves, decisively activating his divine art—suddenly, a massive golden lotus materialized in midair, radiating brilliant light, swirling like the rising sun, spanning the azure sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the golden lotus swayed, no fewer than a thousand shadowy figures shot forth from its heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each bore Zuo Pengzong’s face and identical aura, racing in all directions, dazzling the eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearly at the same moment, Peng Qian also withdrew, unwilling to linger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He merely shook his shoulders, and from his back emerged a pale human head, mouth gaping wide, swallowing him whole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After swallowing Peng Qian, the head dissolved into a wisp of gray smoke, vanishing completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Qian now seemed to have vanished into thin air—no one knew where he had gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You think this can fool me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Zhi withdrew her gaze, focusing on the spot where Peng Qian had disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shook her head, withdrew a golden-glowing talisman from her sleeve, channeled her magic power, and hurled it far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The golden talisman spun twice in midair, then transformed into a crystal-clear, immaculate Gang cloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the Gang cloud, sun and moon rose and set, constellations hung in formation, radiating immense light, spreading far and wide—truly divine and wondrous!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the Forty-Nine Supreme Pure Talismans of the Grand Talisman Palace—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Jing Lie Yao!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Merely touched by the blazing light of the Gang cloud, Peng Qian’s form was forcibly revealed in the western sky, a muffled groan escaping his throat as if he’d suffered a hidden blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Pengzong fared no better—his thousand illusory forms all exploded at once, useless for deception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before either could react, the Gang cloud rotated again, swelling to mountain size; within it, the sun, moon, and stars became vividly alive, whipping up furious winds and crashing downward!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Pengzong’s form was shattered first—but strangely, only a broken bronze talisman remained in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having used this object to absorb the blow, Zuo Pengzong’s true body activated a secret technique and vanished beyond the Chongchong green mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Zhi saw this clearly but had no interest in pursuing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She first dealt with Peng Qian thoroughly, then turned her body, locking eyes with Chen Hang from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commotion of Peng Qian’s expulsion from the Emperor’s Ancestral Map was not small.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Against the glittering jade light, Pei Zhi’s water sleeves fluttered like a dance, her features hazy and dreamy, her long hair cascading like a waterfall—truly an immortal’s grace and jade-like beauty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The clan members are the sores of Xu Du. You’re a disciple of Yu Yuchen—surely you understand this simple truth. Why are you still entangled with them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Zhi’s voice was cool:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And upon reflection, the female cultivators you’ve had dealings with—besides Gu Yi, that Hu Zhao demoness—are mostly from clan backgrounds?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know quite a bit, True Person Pei,” Chen Hang stepped forward and said: “But regarding the handling of clans, the ancestral masters of the Eight Sects and Six Schools have never merely advocated slaughter. Why must you act so excessively?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean to protect her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Naturally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have an old grudge with the Yin Clan that cannot be resolved,” Pei Zhi shook her head. “If you insist on this, don’t blame me for disregarding our Xuanmen kinship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Pei Zhi treat him as if he were nothing, Yin Ruohua—who herself had entered the Supreme Divine Art realm as a Golden Core Daoist—could not help but bristle, sneering slightly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pei Zhi, are you saying you can kill me anytime?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Killing you isn’t easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Zhi glanced at her and continued: “But driving you away is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Yin Ruohua could speak, Pei Zhi turned to Chen Hang:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your qi hasn’t recovered. Out of respect for Master Fu Can, I won’t take advantage of you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you can escape my divine art, I’ll turn and leave. If you can’t, don’t interfere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Hang smiled at this, studying her a moment longer, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“True Person Pei, you have keen eyes… And out of respect for your sect, I won’t harm you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Zhi’s gaze sharpened; she spoke no further, striking with the speed of a meteor chasing the moon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She activated Hu Jing Lie Yao once more, the Gang cloud transforming anew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the Gang cloud, colors wove like shuttles, wrapped in rolling thunder and wind, a deafening roar echoing across mountain peaks as it shot downward!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sheer force of it truly seemed as if sun, moon, and constellations had fused into one, ready to shake heaven and earth!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing this furious assault, Chen Hang did not dodge or evade; after a brief thought, he summoned the Five Elders Celestial Lord Palm Seal and struck directly into the Gang cloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After three direct collisions, the five-colored palm finally shattered the Gang cloud, cracking it with dozens of fine, dense fissures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But from within those cracks, threads of mysterious qi seeped out like silken ribbons, then surged with the wind, instantly covering dozens of li of mountains and rivers, enclosing Chen Hang’s form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The speed of activation was faster than a flying sword—truly impossible to guard against!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chen Hang, if you can’t find a way out later, just send me a message.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying this, Pei Zhi no longer looked, instead taking a Zhengyang Zhensha into her hand and beginning to regulate her breath and nurture her qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, within a radius of dozens of li, Chen Hang’s form had vanished, leaving only a vast talisman suspended in the sky, forming its own inner realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this the technique?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Ruohua frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What met the eye was only howling black wind, so thick that one could not see five fingers before one’s face, making it impossible to discern direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Chen Hang, suddenly pulled into this technique, remained unruffled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He merely flicked his fingers, releasing a dozen sword qi strikes—both to probe the path ahead and to guard himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Pei Zhi would not give him the chance to map out this talisman realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A roar echoed, and a blue-faced giant lion, stepping on wind and thunder, lunged at Chen Hang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Hang’s eyes flashed with cold light; a five-colored halo rose behind his head, pushing back the black wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A colossal hand reached out from within, snatching the ten-zhang-tall lion midair like a hawk seizing a fledgling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how the lion churned hurricanes or spat lightning, it could not break free—only thrashed uselessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the lion’s appearance was merely a prelude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, as talisman light scattered, a host of ferocious beasts emerged, fangs bared and claws extended, each as large as mountains, endowed with strange abilities; a cursory glance revealed no fewer than fifty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This technique, named “Zhong Ling He Yi,” was a highly refined application of the “Xing Yi Shen Wan Fu” and the “Zhong Dou Zong Ling Fu.” One could not wield it without attaining deep comprehension of both Supreme Pure talismans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the inner realm and the beasts were conjured by the “Zhong Dou Zong Ling Fu,” the beasts’ displayed abilities were utterly real; further, due to the “Xing Yi Shen Wan Fu,” it carried a hidden capacity for spiritual soul attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, “Zhong Ling He Yi” not only formed an isolated inner realm, making escape difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even if one slew the beasts, the “Xing Yi Shen Wan Fu” ensured spiritual soul damage—unavoidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was truly an unsolvable technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To escape this talisman’s inner realm, one must slay the beasts—but doing so inevitably wounded the soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet if one did not slay them, one remained trapped, gradually perishing under their relentless assaults.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone with even slightly weak spiritual cultivation who fell under this spell was doomed to surrender, with no hope of reversal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Chen Hang, having willingly entered this trap, had full confidence in himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shifted his intent, and the hand crushed the giant lion midair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that same moment, a faint buzzing hum sounded at his ear, and his vision wavered strangely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A fine ‘Zhong Ling He Yi’—this soul assault truly must be endured, impossible to evade…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Hang briefly sensed the effect, then murmured in approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relying on the protection of “You Ming Zhen Shui” to shield his soul from harm, Chen Hang moved with unrestrained ferocity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He first slashed off the head of a giant serpent, then spun and punched a three-faced stone giant, caving in its chest and abdomen until it exploded into dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a nearby Xuan Que attempting to aid the beasts was caught in the blast, half its wings severed, shrieking in fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In mere instants, blood rained down, limbs flew through the air!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Hang moved as if through an empty land, cutting through the beast horde with unstoppable force!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, after roughly a quarter-hour, Pei Zhi watched as her summoned beasts fell one by one, yet Chen Hang’s movements remained perfectly composed, as if untouched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Zhi’s expression grew solemn; she slowly ceased her breath regulation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyelashes fluttered, her mind racing through several thoughts—just as she prepared to act again, a piercing sword cry rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, a blazing crimson light shot skyward, radiating sharpness, brimming with lethal edge!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four directions seemed to freeze for an instant—then fell utterly silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, the massive talisman suspended in the sky let out a mournful wail, shattering into fragments like shattered glass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excellent sword art…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Zhi’s hand, already forming a spell seal, slowly unraveled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She raised her slender hand, expressionless, and brushed her cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the lotus-patterned moon earring on her left ear, along with a strand of hair, had been silently severed by the sword light.\u003C\u002Fp>",2644,"2026-06-19T22:30:06.574Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8ae78194591b6f08242e877cd58b9411c246ca6c200656f00d6c3cd5ca8435c2","the-path-of-immortality-chapter-524","the-path-of-immortality-chapter-522",545,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-path-of-immortality-cover.jpg"]