Chapter 513

Chapter 513: Return

The setting sun was as red as blood, with crows flying around.

At that moment, the sun was about to set, resembling a huge block of blood clotted in the sky, its crimson light staining the heavens and spreading over Xue Changhe’s shoulders.

Xue Changhe and the dozens of clansmen behind him walked in silence, holding a long, narrow sword case.

Fifty years is still too short a lifespan for martial artists; there are not many martial artists left in the family, and only a few dozen remain now.

Apart from the family head Xue Changhe, these clan members are around thirty or forty years old, and their inner strength is not very deep.

"The Long Life Gate has arrived."

Xue Changhe stood on a small hill, looking around. In front of him, high mountains stood tall, shrouded in mist. He could vaguely see a corner of the Immortal Gate, surrounded by a magical aura, as if many pavilions were floating in the clouds.

"Xue Changhe."

The figure of the Long Life Gate sect leader appeared hazily from the mist. He looked down at Xue Changhe and the dozens of people behind him.

"Your Xue family has become the greatest martial arts family in Jiu Province, with a legacy that has lasted for a thousand years and is still strong."

"Though the limit of fifty years is short, without us, the Long Life Gate, the Xue family would be just a small wave in a thousand years, long forgotten in time."

"Do not forget where your Xue family’s extraordinary roots come from. Are you really going to betray the founder today?"

The Changsheng Taoist Lord had a calm expression; he simply snapped his fingers lightly.

In the blink of an eye.

The dozens of people behind Xue Changhe had already changed in a creepy way.

The aging martial artists of the Xue family quickly had dry skin, with deep wrinkles forming. Their muscles began to shrivel, and their energy seemed to be rapidly taken away, aging them several years in the blink of an eye.

The two sides had not yet fought.

Including Xue Changhe’s children, the martial artists of the Xue family instantly looked very old, entering the late stage of life and close to death.

Only Xue Changhe stood firm in place, his body slightly trembling as if he was battling an invisible force, like a porter carrying a heavy load, and in no time at all, he was soaked with sweat.

"The bloodline curse left by the Mahayana Stage ancestor is not just an empty name," said Changsheng Taoist Lord with a blank expression.

"If you truly provoke the master, then you will not be able to escape."

In today’s Jiu Province, only the Soul Predicting Path and the Long Life Gate remain as the two Immortal Gates.

Although Long Life Gate is under pressure from the Soul Predicting Path, the current leader of Long Life Gate has reached the peak of the Soul Changing Stage. Besides him, there are also two other Soul Changing Taoist Lords in the sect.

The weaker Tongtian Sword Sect and Liangyi Sect have already been merged; if Long Life Gate were weak, it would not have survived until today.

"A dog that bites its master?" Xue Changhe gritted his teeth; the children behind him had aged instantly, their spirits and energy diminished to the extreme.

He knew that although this statement was harsh, it was not without reason.

Long Life Gate created a powerful martial arts family like the Xue family, naturally holding the leash to keep them in check. The life and death of the Xue family members have always been in the hands of Long Life Gate.

Even if that Mahayana Stage ancestor is no longer around, the curse planted in their bloodline for a thousand years remains an inescapable fate for the Xue family members.

No matter how high Xue Changhe’s martial skills are, he can only struggle to protect himself.

"I understand," Xue Changhe lowered his gaze.

"Even if the Xue family members have trained hard until now, resisting Long Life Gate is like trying to use an egg to break a rock."

The Changsheng Taoist Lord nodded slightly.

It must be said that the ancestor of that sect is indeed a remarkable talent. The Long Life Fist he created is quite impressive. After being refined by the Qiao family members, it became one of the foundations of the "Human Path Sutra."

On the other side, the Xue family, after a thousand years, gave rise to a martial arts fruit that could be harvested.

Xue Changhe, who has grown to this level, seems to be on the verge of slipping out of control, becoming one of the towering pillars of martial arts in Jiu Province.

But that is not important.

Xue Changhe can at most protect himself; the lives of other clan members are in the hands of the Long Life Gate leader.

The Xue family is a special family, and because they entrust their lives to each other, their bonds are much closer than those of ordinary families.

Therefore, the more Xue Changhe values the lives of the clan members, the heavier the weight of the hostage held by the Long Life Gate becomes.

"This is an unparalleled sharp blade left to us by our ancestor for the Long Life Gate," whispered the Long Life Gate leader.

"Xue Changhe, you are no longer young. You are truly the leader of your clan."

"You should know in your heart what is important and what path to take; the choice is in your hands."

If Xue Changhe were younger, he might act recklessly and fight without thinking.

But the seventy-year-old leader of the Xue family cannot be easily controlled by the leader of the Long Life Gate.

"Yes, I am not young anymore," Xue Changhe said, with his hair messy and his gaze lowered under great pressure.

"Fifty years is the limit of life, and now that I have lived to seventy, my life no longer belongs to just me, but to my clan."

"This body that has lived to seventy is no longer solely mine."

"So…" he slowly lifted his head, his gaze sharp like a knife as it fell on the leader of the Long Life Gate.

"So I have come here and will never act bravely just for my own sake!"

The voice fell silent.

A Stone City suddenly appeared.

In the southern plains, a faint red, heavy blood cloud loomed above.

This is not a true cloud; it is a thin layer of blood mist, light yet heavy, with the power to cover the sky.

From the south came the sound of many voices and footsteps; beneath the blood cloud was an astonishing number of armored soldiers, a sea of people, spreading across the mountains and fields.

Their armor reflected the blood-red setting sun, shimmering together like waves in the light, while the heavy blood light above moved slowly with their steps.

At the front was a sturdy man named Zhang Kui, holding dual spears, as tall and strong as an iron tower. He struck his galloping horse, dashing forward like a flash of dark lightning, and in the blink of an eye, he reached the hill where Xue Changhe stood.

Zhang Kui laughed loudly and said:

"The Immortal Slaying Army’s ten thousand soldiers have arrived, and the Long Life Gate temple in Dong Province has been flattened!"

"Xue Changhe, I’ve been waiting for you."

Xue Changhe and his son exchanged a glance.

There are not many martial artists left in the Xue family, and they do not have the strength to clean up all the temples in the state; these tasks are actually being handled by others.

This expedition to the Long Life Immortal Gate is to fulfill the Xue family’s thousand-year destiny.

Pulling one thread affects the whole fabric; once we attack the Long Life Gate, the other Immortal Gate, the Soul Predicting Path, will also take action. A single Xue family is like striking a stone with an egg.

So, it’s better to stay still; once we move, it will be like a thunderstorm, shaking the world!

"Thank you for your help." Xue Changhe gazed deeply at Zhang Kui and clasped his fists.

He had known for a long time that the army of ten thousand was clearing the Long Life Gate temples in Dong Province.

However, seeing the vast crowds and banners at the foot of the Long Life Gate today still stirred his heart.

"What are you talking about?" Zhang Kui said with a big smile.

"Going to fight at the Immortal Gate has never been just about your Xue family, but is a matter for everyone. Otherwise, how could I have borrowed this Stone City from Peach Blossom Villa?"

"And do you think we are the only ones who have arrived?"

Xue Changhe nodded slightly, his hands hidden under the red robe, clenching into fists and trembling slightly.

When he stood on this mound and saw the location of the Long Life Gate.

In front of him, he could only see a few dozen clan members behind him, appearing weak.

But in reality, beyond what he could see, his comrades were spread all over the Jiu Province.

His spiritual sensing felt like a string being plucked, as waves of spiritual messages came from all directions.

Those were Spirit Refining martial artists sending messages using Spiritual Sound Conducting Technique, like invisible signal towers relaying news from distant places he could not see.

"The Immortal Slaying Army has destroyed the Daoist Temple in the Northwest Prefecture!"

"The Soul Predicting Path’s Lord Shaoyin has died, and the Soul Predicting Path’s wings have been clipped."

"The Earth Sword Immortal is traveling a thousand miles to the Western Province to contact ‘One Saint’ Wu Qizheng."

"Li Changshi is leading three thousand troops of the Immortal Slaying Army to the Southeast Province…"

"…………."

In Jiu Province, one small change can affect everything; no one is naive enough to think that Xue Changhe’s campaign against the Long Life Gate would be ignored by the Soul Predicting Path.

Therefore, once the flames of war are lit, both great Immortal Gates must be seen as enemies!

The Immortal Slaying Army is clearing out the Daoist Temples in the Northwest Prefecture, and the Taoist Lord’s order to hunt has spread to the Western Province… this is just the beginning of the war sweeping through Jiu Province.

With Xue Changhe’s deadline approaching, he has taken attacking the Long Life Gate as an opportunity.

The second Inhuman War, which has lasted for over fifty years, has reached its most intense and final stage, and smoke can be seen everywhere in other regions as well.

"Follow me and fight!" Xue Changhe shouted loudly as he rushed forward.

At this moment, Xue Changhe had only a few dozen tribesmen behind him, but it felt as if he was surrounded by thousands of soldiers, with like-minded martial artists fighting alongside him in distant lands.

Yet, the leader of the Long Life Gate still looked indifferent.

"Wonderful." He clapped his hands and said coolly:

"It seems the head of the Xue family has made a decision, willing for his people to die because of you…"

Before, he had held back, not delivering a lethal strike, mainly because Xue Changhe seemed to be slipping out of control, making him a highly valuable blade.

The leader of the Long Life Gate lightly snapped his fingers, and instantly, the faces of the Xue family members changed again.

But at this moment, Xue Changhe made another move.

He took out an oil lamp from his pocket and lit it; the flame was a faint blue.

As soon as the flame was lit, it burned fiercely, and the oil beneath it quickly vanished.

But this soft flame also spread out, surrounding Xue Changhe and the many family members beside him.

The unseen pressure lessened, allowing the Xue family members to breathe easier, and even Xue Changhe straightened his back again.

Only the leader of the Long Life Gate sect had a dramatic change in expression at that moment.

The instant the blue lamp appeared, he transformed into a beam of light and quickly fled backwards, only stopping when he returned to the protective area of his sect.

But then he stared at the lamp in Xue Changhe’s hand, his expression changing rapidly.

It was just a human-skin lamp left by a member of the Qiao family.

It turned out that it was not that a member of the Qiao family had died and come back to life again; he thought that the family, which had perished decades ago, was gone for good.

The leader of the Long Life Gate Sect also took part in the battle against Peach Blossom Villa, where the Five Great Immortal Gates joined forces. Later, Qiao Shuangtu became known as the invincible man on Earth, truly making a name for himself by stepping on the faces of a few Soul Changing Sect leaders.

Therefore, he reacted very strongly to the Qiao family member.

"The Blood Lotus Sect’s method of refining life… Ha, no wonder the Qiao family member’s aura is so strong; it’s almost like a living being," the leader of the Long Life Gate Sect said, his face turning pale.

"The Qiao family member has been dead for decades; why are they still causing trouble?"

This oil lamp is a magical treasure made by the Taoist Lord of the Blood Lotus Sect using their method of refining life.

When the oil lamp is lit, a strong blue light covers the surroundings. It is a powerful tool for breaking spells, but using it decreases its amount, and right now it is burning fiercely.

Now, after several decades, to have trouble again because of the Qiao family member truly makes him furious.

"Every choice has a cost, Xue Changhe. Since you have made such a choice, you must now pay the price in blood."

Beside the leader of the Long Life Gate Sect, two Soul Changing Taoist Lords appeared, and behind them, there were many Immortal Gate cultivators.

The time of the Nine Immortal Gates has long passed, and the Seven Immortal Gates, like the once-great Ten Earth Immortal Gate, have turned to dust.

The Long Life Gate and the Soul Predicting Path, the last two Immortal Gates, have regrouped over fifty long years, giving birth to many Soul Changing Taoist Lords within the Immortal Gate.

At this moment, the fairy mountain began to rumble and a golden light covered the entire sect.

The Mountain Protection Formation of Long Life Gate is different from that of the Great Dao Sect; it is a defensive formation that combines both offense and defense.

At this moment, many cultivators found themselves in the sect’s grounds, relying on the Mountain Protection Formation for defense, while also being able to harness the power of the formation to destroy their enemies.

"It’s just an oil lamp left by a member of the Qiao family; how long can it protect your people? There will come a time when the oil runs out and the flame goes out, just as your lives are like this flickering candle."

The leader of Long Life Gate activated the great formation, and immediately, bolts of lightning and fierce fire appeared, filling the fairy mountain in the blink of an eye.

Yet, amidst the thunder and lightning, a faint voice suddenly rang in the ears of the Long Life Gate leader.

"You are right."

"One lamp is not enough."

"So I came."

From the firelight, a figure that seemed familiar stepped out.

The leader of Long Life Gate glanced from afar, his heart shook as if struck by lightning.

This figure was like someone from his memories, with white hair like snow, but the face was that of a youthful person with red lips and white teeth, and eyes like a deep well that seemed bottomless.

Both in appearance and in aura, it seemed similar yet different, unlike the Qiao family members he had seen before, like Qiao Xin and Qiao Shuangtu, but it strangely made his hair stand on end.

"Could this really be a Qiao family member?"

During the peak of the Qiao family’s power, they made the Immortal Gates retreat, and even the ancestors in the small world were cautious, with almost no one daring to act.

Fifty years ago, a strange phenomenon appeared in the world, with iron chains crossing the skies and the Sky Piercing River flowing backward, while the ancestors of the major Immortal Gates emerged, stepping onto the reverse-flowing Sky Piercing River, never to return.

The disappearance of the Qiao family member happened around this time.

At first, the major Immortal Gates only had their guesses, but now, after several decades, it is clear that the Qiao family member went to the same place as the founders of the other Immortal Gates.

Then the question arises.

After disappearing for fifty years, if the Qiao family member returns to the world, then… where is their young master from Long Life Gate?

That master is a Mahayana cultivator, very close to ascending…

The leader of Long Life Gate realized the key point and was covered in cold sweat, speechless for a moment.