After the path was cut off

Stepping out of the oppressive main hall and into the cool morning light, Li Qingxiang and his two grandchildren felt a sense of relief.

Li Wangchuan finally gave in to the persuasion and was helped to rest.

A night of terror, agitation, and the humiliation and anger inflicted by Blood Butcher's hurtful words had taken a heavy toll on this elderly mortal.

Li Wangxiang did not stay in the courtyard for long.

He still needed to find Li Jingshan.

Wang Laoshi has been taken away and has not returned for a long time. It's also unclear how things are going with Li Jingshan. The evil cultivators' next move is anyone's guess; time is of the essence.

Soon, only Li Qingfeng and Li Qinghan remained in the courtyard.

The morning light is dim.

The bruise on Li Qinghan's forehead had been mostly dissolved by the elixir, leaving only a faint blush that lingered between her cool and aloof brows, resembling a lingering plum blossom in the cold winter.

Li Qingfeng turned his head to look at her.

"how?"

His eyes held a mixture of inquiry and barely suppressed anticipation.

"Is there any mystery to the radiance bestowed by the Mirror Master?"

Li Qinghan closed his eyes slightly, as if sensing the warm reflection in his mind's eye.

A moment later, she opened her eyes, her clear, cool gaze reflecting the morning light, and spoke clearly:

"Firstly, divine consciousness, aided by the power of the mirror's reflection, can radiate outwards for hundreds of miles around the body."

"Secondly, the mirror reflects the spirit, so it is not afraid of illusions, soul searching, or enslavement."

Thirdly…

She paused when she got to the third point.

"A wisp of my true spirit has entered the mirror. If I die, the mirror master may be able to protect my true spirit from dissipation and find another chance for reincarnation."

A glint of light flashed in Li Qingfeng's eyes.

But he didn't show much joy, only whispering:

"With the [Mirror Master] watching over you from the shadows, you can know the movements of evil cultivators in advance, and with the guarantee of reincarnation, you are already in an invincible position on this journey."

Li Qinghan gave a faint "hmm".

She didn't feel much joy at having obtained such a precious treasure.

After she obtained the Mirror Image and explained its abilities, her mission was set: to go outside the town, kill the evil cultivators' henchmen, gather information, and disrupt their plans.

The great-uncle stayed in the town to set up the battle formation.

Qingfeng then informed the entire town about the relocation to Yunyin Lake, using this opportunity to observe people's hearts and force out those things that had long been rotten in the shadows.

Before she left, Li Wangxiang gave her a few more things.

Four spiritual talismans.

A Hundred-Mile Escape Talisman.

A talisman for attacking spirits.

A protective talisman.

There is also the most precious talisman—the [Please Obsession Talisman].

It is said to have been bestowed by a Golden Elixir Immortal, whose essence and blood can be activated, allowing one to borrow a wisp of the Immortal's divine power and realm.

In addition, there were some powdered pills suitable for Qi cultivation, as well as two spiritual pills.

Li Wangxiang wanted to give her another magical artifact, but she refused.

She was only familiar with the sword in her hand.

Other things are actually in the way.

The heavy talismans and pills in her sleeves made her feel even more guilty towards her great-uncle.

"My great-uncle truly values ​​me; I, on the other hand, have doubts about her."

But that's just her personality.

She believed in the sword and in what she saw before her eyes, but as for anything else, even close elders, she would always have some doubts first.

Li Qinghan composed himself and said:

"There's no time to lose. I'll leave town now."

"Take care on your journey," Li Qingfeng said solemnly.

"The main purpose of this trip is to eliminate the henchmen of the evil cultivators. If we encounter any mortals in need of help along the way, it is fine to lend a hand, but if it requires time and effort, we must not be swayed by pity and delay our mission!"

"Yes, I've got it." Li Qinghan replied.

"If the [Mirror Master] warns that the traces of the Foundation Establishment evil cultivators are approaching, do not linger in battle, return immediately!" Li Qingfeng emphasized again.

"it is good."

"One more thing," Li Qingfeng's gaze sharpened slightly, "After leaving the town, do not rush straight to the hiding place of the evil cultivators, lest you alert them and expose your ability to monitor a hundred miles away. You... head towards the Tianxuan Sect."

"This will mislead them," Li Qingfeng explained. "They might think you're asking for help or seeking refuge. They'll definitely show themselves to ambush you! This is a way to lure them out and further confuse them."

Li Qinghan nodded.

"After you kill one of them," Li Qingfeng's lips curled into a cold smile, "you can then find other targets. The remaining evil cultivators will suspect that they were betrayed by their own comrades, and their suspicions will cause them to fall into disarray."

"Um."

Li Qingfeng looked at her and suddenly frowned:

"Were you listening to what I was saying?"

Why do you seem so distracted?

Li Qinghan frowned slightly, a strange expression flashing across her usually cold face, and hesitated before saying:

"I...I feel like the [Mirror Master]...is...watching me..."

Upon hearing this, Li Qingfeng, who was standing beside her, and Xuan Li, who was deep in Li Qinghan's sea of ​​consciousness, enthusiastically "flipping through" her past cultivation memories as if he were looking through his own bookshelf, both froze!

Li Qingfeng immediately straightened his face and reprimanded him sternly:

"Nonsense! At a time like this, how can you use 'peeping' to blaspheme the venerable Lord of the Mirror!"

"Qinghan, I know you've always believed only in the sword in your hand and disliked external things."

"But the [Mirror Master] bestowed upon you the treasured artifact, the Divided Light, to help you protect your people! Without this support, would your great-uncle have trusted you to venture into danger alone?"

"You must learn to accept it and trust it! Don't let the [Mirror Master] down!"

"But..." Li Qinghan wanted to argue, but looking at Li Qingfeng's unquestionable gaze and recalling the mirror image in his sea of ​​consciousness that did indeed bring power, he couldn't help but waver.

Perhaps... I'm just too wary and haven't gotten used to this strange presence yet?

"...Alright. I'm off then." She looked up at the rising smoke from the chimneys in the town. Without another word, she vanished into the alleyway in a few leaps.

------------

Li Qinghan was deep within the sea of ​​consciousness.

[Xuan Li] The mirror light became disordered.

If it could take human form right now, its expression probably wouldn't be very pleasant.

"peep?"

"Spying?!"

Xuan Li's thoughts almost exploded in his sea of ​​consciousness.

"As a dignified immortal artifact with a lofty status, why would I do such a thing?"

"This is care! This is affection! This is the necessary understanding before training a top mirror-holding maid!"

"If you weren't number one, I wouldn't even bother to pay you any attention!"

Even so, Xuan Li silently withdrew a portion of the mirror light that had probed into the depths of Li Qinghan's memory.

"Never mind, never mind."

Even a maid needs some privacy.

"I am magnanimous and will not hold it against her."

"Anyway, I know pretty much everything I need to know."

Although it said this, the resentment of being "slandered" in its heart had not completely dissipated.

This girl is too perceptive.

They are so perceptive that they seem unreasonable.

But precisely because of this, Xuan Li became increasingly attentive to her.

Besides Li Wangxiang, Li Qinghan was the second person it encountered after falling into Ziwei Star who could resonate with its original form.

Even during that prayer, it defied the heavens and rewrote the original form of the ancient mirror.

The manifestation of that character "寒" was by no means ordinary.

Whether it's the "Mirror Evolution Technique" that it unintentionally devised that has such miraculous effects, or whether Li Qinghan himself is special, it's still hard to say at the moment.

But one thing is beyond doubt—

The change in its physical form signifies that it has finally taken the first step in its return to its divine status.

Its consciousness was finally able to leave the mirror through its reflection.

Within a hundred miles, everything is within sight.

It can also jump back and forth between Li Wangxiang's and Li Qinghan's seas of consciousness, unaffected by ordinary distance. In this way, even if Li Wangxiang encounters misfortune in the future, it will not immediately return to silence.

Although this thought is really unlucky.

Furthermore, its reincarnation authority has been further awakened.

At least in Li Qinghan's case, it was confident that it could protect her true spirit and guide her to reincarnate once.

Of course, this so-called reincarnation is not resurrection.

Instead, it means truly dying once, with all memories of the past erasing away, before entering the next life.

This is something it naturally didn't reveal.

Otherwise, how could Li Wangxiang feel at ease letting Li Qinghan leave the town alone?

However, what truly concerned Xuan Li was something else entirely.

It was finally able to sense spiritual energy.

Although it must be transferred through Li Qinghan's body, and although what can be touched is still only a thin line, it is still spiritual energy.

It is truly the spiritual energy belonging to this realm of Ziwei Star.

This is its true reliance in returning to its divine status.

Through this glimmer of perception, Xuan Li finally gained a clearer understanding of the methods of cultivation in the modern world.

In the past, the first step in cultivation should have been refining essence into qi.

However, people in the world have physical deficiencies and are unable to refine their internal essence into vital energy on their own.

If we cannot seek it internally, we can only seek it externally.

Thus, the so-called method of gathering qi came into being.

The spiritual energy of the present world is the essence of the five elements further descended and transformed into all things.

Because of the myriad forms of spiritual energy, countless paths of cultivation have also emerged.

The technique that Li Qinghan primarily cultivates is called "Sword Rain Listening to the Pines Technique".

First rank. (Nine is the highest, one is the next highest)

In Xuan Li's eyes, it was crude and unbearable.

The energy it absorbs is called Cold Metal.

This Qi-refining method involves suspending an ancient sword at the mouth of a cold spring, drawing upon the wisp of Qi generated before sunrise each day, accumulating it over time.

It sounds plausible enough.

Upon closer examination, this aura of cold gold actually contains four layers of meaning: the sharpness of gold, the killing intent of a sword, the icy essence of cold, and the vitality of the sun.

Geng metal, sword intent, cold air, sun.

The four are mixed together.

This is mixed air.

According to the principles of cultivation in this world, the less intention one has towards Qi, the purer one's path, and the easier it is to progress.

This "Sword Rain Listening to the Pine Trees" goes against the grain.

If Li Qinghan hadn't possessed exceptional swordsmanship talent, managing to suppress this chaotic energy with his sword heart, he probably would have gone astray long ago.

"This technique is now useless."

Xuanli silently made a conclusion in his heart.

"Once the matter in Baixi Town is settled, we will let her dissipate her cultivation and start a new cultivation method that is truly suitable for her."

Thinking of this, it couldn't help but think of Youfang.

The reason that the young man's cultivation was scattered by the Siamese was probably because his original cultivation method was too crude and unusable.

This girl is clearly drawn to [coldness].

Moreover, the image of one's destiny reflected in the mirror vaguely resembles a sword case.

The sword is sheathed, its coldness contained within.

That's quite interesting.

This change in his physical form also brought back some vague memories for Xuan Li.

The book "The True and Wonderful Secrets of the Perfect Union of Exoteric and Esoteric Buddhism" seems to have originated from a place called Fangcun Mountain.

That place also seems to have some connection with the Emei Taoist tradition.

The Emei Taoist tradition emphasizes "instrument" (or "vessel").

Its wonder lies in its ability to reflect a person's destiny through the vessel, and then, based on that destiny, to deduce the path of spiritual cultivation.

This is also its most unique feature.

However, this method is too conspicuous.

Just as Li Qingfeng had said before, if it falls into the hands of only the Li family, it will surely attract the attention of the world in the future.

We must find a way to spread this information in a more subtle and reasonable manner.

At least, it should look less out of place.

With that thought in mind, Xuan Li pulled his attention back to the present.

Now is not the time to think about these things.

It re-examines Li Qinghan's current situation.

Cultivation level: Qi Refining Level 7, late stage.

Age: 18.

Spiritual energy: The energy of cold metal.

It is primarily associated with the element of metal, while also incorporating the essence of swordsmanship, coldness, and the sun.

Cultivation Technique: "Sword Rain Listening to the Pines Technique". First Grade. Trash. I'll just have to make do with it for now.

Magical artifact: The accompanying longsword is a first-tier magical artifact with only one effect: [Lightness and Agility], which saves spiritual energy.

This makes one have to admit that Li Qinghan is stubborn.

She treasured this newly acquired magic sword as if it were some kind of celestial artifact. When Li Wangxiang offered to exchange it for her, she refused.

I don't know exactly what makes it so precious.

However, this obsession may not be entirely without reason, so I'll make a note of it for now.

Spells: Soundproof Barrier, Rain Spell, Cleansing Spell, Hidden Universe in a Small Sleeve...

All of them are small, everyday life-assistance techniques.

None of them could be used for combat.

Swordsmanship: The only highlight.

The sword energy is abundant, the sword qi is condensed, and the nascent sword intent has already shown its sharpness.

He was focused solely on the way of the sword, without any distractions.

It's no wonder that other aspects are so rudimentary.

"Tsk."

Xuan Li sighed inwardly.

"To be so unbalanced in one subject, yet still manage to cultivate all the way to the seventh level of Qi Refining, and still in this Central Continent where spiritual energy is locked."

"This talent for cultivation is truly monstrous."

Unfortunately, it still cannot see the past lives of living beings.

Otherwise, I'd really like to see what kind of background this girl had in her past life.

Having observed Li Qinghan's basic situation, Xuanli had already formed a general judgment in his mind.

The fastest way to improve her skills right now is not to change her cultivation method.

It wasn't like I forced her to learn any complicated techniques.

Instead, they followed her foundation in swordsmanship and created a sword move for her.

The move was simple enough, sharp enough, and perfectly suited to her swordplay.

This move is called—

【Returning Home Under the Clear Moon】.