From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 36 The eve of the decisive battle

After Senior Windrunner left, I lingered in the courtyard, trying to deduce the secret about Senior Brother Wen Chen from his previous expression and tone. However, the more I pondered, the more confused I became.

"Yaoyao, what's wrong? You've been restless ever since you came back this afternoon." Sun Yue held a steaming bowl of herbal soup and looked at me with concern.

I took the bowl of medicine and forced a smile. "It's nothing, I'm just a little worried about tomorrow's final."

Sun Yue sat down next to me and comforted me, "What are you worried about? You are a cultivation prodigy that our Tianxing Sect has only seen once in a hundred years. Even if your opponent is Senior Brother, you may not lose."

I sighed and told her about Windrunner's unusual behavior, the dark figure, the mysterious paper crane, and its contents.

"The truth about the final? Could there be some inside story behind the final?" Sun Yue frowned after hearing my explanation.

I handed her the paper crane. "Look," I said, "the handwriting is so delicate, it's clearly from a woman's hand. But who could it be? And why would she tell me all this?"

Sun Yue took the paper crane, examined it carefully for a moment, and shook her head. "I don't recognize the handwriting either. But she said she wanted to tell you the truth about the finals and asked you to meet her at the summit of Luoxia Peak. Could it be a trap?"

I pondered for a moment, "Probably not. If they wanted to harm me, why would they go to such lengths?"

"So, tell me, shall we go or not?"

"Yes, of course I'll go!" A determined glint flashed in my eyes. "I want to see what the truth behind this final is!"

In the dead of night, I changed into my night clothes and quietly left the room. Following the instructions on the paper crane, I stealthily made my way to the summit of Sunset Peak.

The moonlight was hazy, a mountain breeze was blowing, and on the empty mountaintop, there was only a solitary pavilion. I looked around, but I didn't see a soul.

"Am I too late?" I wondered to myself.

Just then, a clear, cold voice came from behind: "You've come."

I was startled and turned around abruptly, only to see a beautiful woman dressed in black standing behind me.

"You are……"

“Your friend.” The woman in black smiled slightly and repeated the signature on the paper crane.

"Why are you helping me?" I looked at her warily, my mind filled with doubt.

The woman in black did not answer my question directly. Instead, she took out an old book from her bosom and handed it to me, saying, "Take a look for yourself."

I took the book, and saw four large characters written on the cover: "Forbidden Techniques of the Heavenly Demon".

I stared blankly at those four words, a chill running from the soles of my feet to the top of my head. "Forbidden Techniques of the Heavenly Demon"? Wasn't that a long-lost, heretical art? How could it be here?

The woman in black seemed to read my mind and said calmly, "You guessed right. Senior Brother Wen Chen is indeed practicing this forbidden technique. And I am his junior sister, and the only one who knows this secret."

"Why would he practice forbidden techniques?" I asked incredulously, the image of Senior Brother Wen Chen's gentle and refined smile flashing through my mind. I simply couldn't connect him with evil forbidden techniques.

The woman in black smiled bitterly, "Because he wants to become stronger, strong enough to protect the one he loves."

She paused, then continued, "My senior brother is exceptionally talented, but he is unable to cultivate orthodox techniques due to a rare poison. In order to survive and protect me, he had no choice but to take a risk and cultivate this forbidden technique."

I was filled with mixed feelings and didn't know what to say.

"Why are you telling me all this?" I asked, a vague sense of unease creeping into my heart.

“Because…” the woman in black took a deep breath, “because I know that only you can stop him!”

I was even more confused. "Stop him? Why should we stop him?"

"Although the 'Heavenly Demon Forbidden Technique' is incredibly powerful, it devours the cultivator's mind, turning them into a monster who only knows how to kill!" The woman in black's voice was filled with sorrow and despair. "I beg you, stop my senior brother, don't let him go astray!"

I gripped the "Forbidden Techniques of the Heavenly Demon" tightly, my heart heavy. The black-clad woman's words exploded in my mind like a thunderclap. I finally understood why Senior Windwalker had told me that the truth of the finals and the result of the competition were more important.

Back in my room, I didn't sleep a wink all night. The woman in black's instructions weighed on my heart like a boulder, making it hard for me to breathe.

The next morning, I went to see Master Li and told him everything that had happened the night before.

After listening to my explanation, Master Li's expression became extremely grave. He remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "This matter is of utmost importance; I must report it to the sect leader immediately."

I nodded, feeling uneasy.

After Master Li left, I began to peruse the book, "Forbidden Techniques of the Heavenly Demon." The cultivation methods recorded in the book were bizarre and unpredictable, sending chills down my spine. I suppressed my fear and carefully studied every word, trying to find a way to counter the forbidden techniques.

Time flies, and before I knew it, it was evening. Master Li came to my room again, his face showing a hint of fatigue, but his eyes could not hide the determination in them.

“Yao’er, I have already discussed this with the sect leader,” Hall Master Li said in a deep voice. “Just in case, I have decided to personally guide you and help you deal with any possible situations.”

I nodded gratefully, my heart filled with hope.

Over the next few days, I underwent targeted training under Master Li's guidance. I learned how to identify the characteristics of forbidden techniques, how to dodge their attacks, and how to exploit their weaknesses to launch a counterattack.

……

"Yaoyao, take a break. You've been training all day." Sun Yue brought a cup of tea to my side. I took the teacup, took a sip, and a delicate fragrance filled my mouth, temporarily dispelling the fatigue from days of training.

"Sun Yue, do you think what I'm doing will really work?" I put down my teacup, gazing at the ancient tree in the courtyard that had weathered countless storms, my heart filled with confusion.

In the past few days, Master Li has imparted all his knowledge to me, but the "Heavenly Demon Forbidden Technique" is too bizarre, and I still cannot find an effective way to break it.

Sun Yue walked over to me, gently patted my shoulder, and comforted me, "Yaoyao, don't put too much pressure on yourself. I believe you can do it."

"But..." I hesitated, the unease in my heart growing stronger.

"No buts!" Sun Yue interrupted me. "Have you forgotten our agreement? We're going to stand together on the highest podium of the Tianxuan Tournament!"

Seeing the determination in her eyes, a glimmer of hope ignited within me. Yes, I still have Sun Yue, I still have Master Li, and I still have so many people who care about me. I cannot give up so easily!

I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down, then began to recall the contents of the "Forbidden Techniques of the Heavenly Demon" and the method of breaking it taught by Master Li.

"Yaoyao, look here!" Sun Yue pointed to a passage on the page and said excitedly, "It mentions that cultivating the 'Forbidden Heavenly Demon Technique' requires a special kind of spiritual power, and this spiritual power only appears on the night of a full moon!"

My eyes lit up! That's right! How could I have forgotten this? If we could sever Senior Brother Wen Chen's connection with that special spiritual power, perhaps we could stop him!

"Sun Yue, you're my lucky star!" I excitedly hugged her. "Let's think about this more carefully and see how we can sever this connection!"

For the next few days, Sun Yue and I hardly left the house, spending all our time buried in our room researching various ways to break the spell. We tried using formations to isolate the spiritual energy, and we also tried using special talismans to purify the spiritual energy, but neither of us succeeded.

"Is there really no way out?" I slumped to the ground, filled with despair.

"No, there must be another way!" Sun Yue said firmly. "Yaoyao, let's think again. There must be something we've overlooked!"

We reopened the "Forbidden Techniques of the Heavenly Demon," carefully studying every word and every symbol, trying to find new clues.

Time passed by, and as the day of the final drew closer, my anxiety grew.

"Wait!" I suddenly seemed to remember something and stood up abruptly. "I think I know what to do!"

I picked up my pen and began to write furiously on the paper, recording the inspirations that flashed through my mind.

Sun Yue waited anxiously, and seeing my increasingly excited expression, a hopeful smile appeared on her face as well…

"It's done!" I excitedly put down my pen, my eyes sparkling with confidence. "This is the one!" "Yaoyao, you really found it?" Sun Yue excitedly grabbed my shoulders, her surprise and joy undisguised.

I nodded emphatically and handed her the drawing in my hand: "Look, this is a drawing I made based on the spiritual energy circulation trajectory recorded in the 'Forbidden Heavenly Demon Techniques,' combined with the formation that Hall Master Li taught me. As long as this formation is inscribed on the arena, it can convert Senior Brother Wen Chen's special spiritual energy into ordinary spiritual energy when he absorbs it. In this way, he will not be able to unleash the true power of the 'Forbidden Heavenly Demon Techniques'!"

Sun Yue studied the blueprints carefully, a joyful smile gradually appearing on her face: "Yaoyao, you're so smart! How come I didn't think of that?"

I smiled, and the gloom in my heart vanished, replaced by excitement and anticipation for the upcoming decisive battle.

"It's getting late, let's go for a walk." I took Sun Yue's hand, pushed open the door, and the cool moonlight filled the entire courtyard.

We walked side by side on the cobblestone path, the moonlight casting our shadows long and slender.

"Sun Yue, do you remember the first time we met?" I turned my head and looked at the girl beside me, my eyes filled with nostalgia.

"Of course I remember. Back then, you were just a greenhorn, always following us around all day," Sun Yue teased with a smile, her eyes full of tenderness.

"Yes, time flies. In the blink of an eye, we've all grown up," I sighed. "Tomorrow is the final. No matter the result, we have to face it together, okay?"

“Of course!” Sun Yue gripped my hand tightly. In the moonlight, her eyes were firm and bright. “We made a promise to stand together on the highest podium of the Tianxuan Tournament!”

I nodded emphatically, and intertwined my fingers with Sun Yue's. The moonlight witnessed our vows and illuminated the path we were heading.

"Let's go, it's time to meet our opponents..." I pulled Sun Yue and walked towards the training ground, where a great battle was about to break out.