I was a mineral prospector in Chengdu, who transmigrated into the body of a mortal sword immortal.

Li Bai's bloodshot eyes were fixed on the pale figure by the window, drunkenness and shock clashing violently in his mind. He tried to circulate his spiritual energy to dispel the effects of the alcohol, but the golden core in his dantian was sluggish due to the previous agitation and the erosion of his inner demons, only bringing a sharp, stabbing pain. He forced himself to sit up, swaying unsteadily, his hand instinctively clenching as if he could summon the Azure Lotus Sword at any moment. His throat was dry and tight; he opened his mouth, but the voice that came out was hoarse and unlike his own: "Who...are you?"

A night breeze blew in through the open window, causing the woman's veil to flutter and her robes to sway slightly. She remained standing still, her eyes, like cold pools, piercing through the veil, falling on Li Bai's loosely clenched hand before slowly shifting back to his bloodshot eyes. Her cool voice didn't answer his question, but instead posed a sharper counter-question: "Is this how the 'Red Dust Sword Path' of the Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom teaches you to treat the sword in your hand and the thoughts in your heart?"

Li Bai was startled.

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over my head, instantly extinguishing some of the effects of the alcohol and also sobering me up from the brink of losing control.

Xiling Divine Kingdom.

High Priest.

Jade talisman.

Each of these three words touches upon his deepest secret—his extraordinary encounter in the Shu Mountain Secret Realm, the source of his power in this era. No one else in this world should know this except himself and the High Priest of the Xiling Divine Kingdom, who has long since vanished into the depths of the secret realm!

unless……

Li Bai suddenly activated his divine sense, ignoring the stinging pain in his golden core, and surged towards the woman like a tidal wave.

He wanted to find out the truth.

However, when his divine sense reached within three feet of the woman, it vanished without a trace, like a clay ox sinking into the sea. Further ahead, it was as if he had encountered an invisible barrier, not a hard one, but rather flexible and ethereal, like a vast sea of ​​clouds. His divine sense, immersed within it, couldn't even stir a ripple. What alarmed him even more was that he couldn't sense her presence at all—not a concealment, not a hiding, but a true "seemingly present yet absent" aura. It was as if what stood there wasn't a person, but a ray of moonlight, a cloud's shadow, integrated with heaven and earth, yet existing independently beyond them.

This level of understanding...

Li Bai's pupils suddenly contracted.

A Golden Core cultivator's divine sense can detect anything within a radius of several miles, revealing every minute detail. Even if a cultivator of the same level deliberately conceals their abilities, it's impossible to achieve such complete "absence." Unless... the other party's cultivation level is far superior!

Foundation Establishment? Impossible. Golden Core? Much more than that. Nascent Soul? Or... even higher?

Cold sweat instantly soaked his back, the effects of the alcohol completely vanishing, replaced by a bone-chilling cold and heightened alertness. He forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his voice: "Who exactly are you? And why do you know about the affairs of the Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom?"

The woman—or rather, this mysterious woman in Taoist robes—finally moved.

She didn't take a step, but her figure moved like a feather, gracefully shifting from the window into the room, landing in an open space three zhang away from Li Bai. This distance was neither too far to be aloof nor too close to be oppressive; it was just right. As she moved, a very faint, refreshing fragrance spread, like the scent of pine needles after a snowfall, with a subtle hint of herbal aroma, instantly dispelling the strong smell of alcohol and the sour stench of vomit in the room.

"I am Yu Zhenzi, a wanderer, who happened to pass through this place." Her voice was still cold, but it lacked the sharpness of her previous interrogation and was more indifferent. "Tonight, while meditating in the city, I suddenly sensed a strong sword intent fluctuation from the northwest. It was mixed with extremely deep pain and obsession, almost solidified, and disturbed the flow of spiritual energy within a ten-mile radius. Such a strange phenomenon aroused my curiosity, so I followed the trail to see for myself."

Tamaki.

Li Bai silently recited the name in his heart, his mind racing as he searched his memory. Taoism flourished in the Tang Dynasty, and there were indeed those with the Taoist name "Yuzhen," but someone with such cultivation and knowledge of the Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom…

"As for the Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom," Yu Zhenzi continued, his gaze falling on Li Bai's waist—where hung a storage artifact containing the Azure Lotus Sword and the jade talisman given to him by the High Priest of the Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom. "In my younger days, I traveled deep within the Shu Mountains and, by chance, met a senior residing in a secluded realm. That senior's aura is of the same origin as the item at your waist, presumably she is the guardian of the Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom. The fact that she gave you this token and taught you the way of the sword suggests she acknowledges your character and aptitude. But now…"

She paused, and her eyes, as cold as a deep pool, looked at Li Bai again. This time, her gaze held a hint of scrutiny, a touch of regret, and a barely perceptible...curiosity.

"But now, your golden core is restless and unstable, your sword intent is chaotic and disordered, your inner demons have cast a shadow, and your sword heart is tarnished. In this state, let alone improving your cultivation, even maintaining your current level is precarious. If that senior knew that the successor she chose had destroyed his own foundation for worldly affairs, I wonder what he would think."

Every word is like a precise scalpel, dissecting Li Bai's forced composure and pointing directly to the most chaotic and unbearable lesions in his heart.

The Golden Elixir is unstable.

The sword intent was in disarray.

Inner demons secretly arise.

The sword's heart is tarnished.

Li Bai's face paled, his lips moved as if he wanted to refute, but he found himself speechless. Every word the other man spoke was true. From the moment he learned of Yang Yuhuan's impending fate from He Zhizhang, a crack had already appeared in his heart. Alcoholism, indulging in pain, conversing with his inner demons… all of this exacerbated that crack. If it weren't for Yu Zhenzi's sudden appearance and his cold words that revealed the truth, he might have truly slid deeper and deeper into the abyss in his drunkenness and anguish.

"You..." Li Bai's voice was dry. "Since you know the reason for my pain, why do you speak so sarcastically? Worldly affairs? To you otherworldly masters, they may just be fleeting clouds. But to me, they are my..." He choked up. The obsession of being born twice, the overlapping faces of Yang Xiaohuan and Yang Yuhuan, those heart-wrenching memories and premonitions, all stuck in his throat, turning into a suppressed gasp.

Yu Zhenzi watched him struggle silently, her eyes showing neither mockery nor pity, only an almost indifferent calm. Only after Li Bai's breathing had calmed slightly did she slowly speak: "This humble Daoist is not mocking you. The Dao follows nature; all beings suffer, each with their own attachments and tribulations. While I do not know the specifics of your pain and your obsessions, I can sense their intensity. It is precisely because of this intensity that the flaws in your current state of mind are so apparent."

She took a small half-step forward, the hem of her plain white Taoist robe brushing the ground, untouched by dust. "Li Bai, Li Taibai. A poet of unparalleled talent, the 'banished immortal' renowned throughout Chang'an. I've read several of your poems. 'Heaven has endowed me with talents, which must be put to use; though a thousand pieces of gold are spent, they will return again,' how carefree! 'How can I bow and scrape before the powerful and wealthy, and lose my joy,' how proud! Your poems reflect your character; you should be a person of clear mind and unrestrained spirit. But now, where is your poetic heart? Where is your swordsman's heart?"

Li Bai suddenly looked up.

Yu Zhenzi's words were like a needle, piercing through his self-imposed isolation, which was shrouded in pain. Yes, where was his poetic spirit? Where was Li Bai, who wrote "There will be times when the wind and waves will be broken, and the sails will be hoisted to cross the vast sea"? Where was Li Bai, who, even in his previous life as a geological engineer, could find joy in the harsh environment and gaze at the stars?

Did being reborn and gaining power make him more fragile, stubborn, and vulnerable?

"I..." He opened his mouth, but found himself unable to answer the question. The pain was real, the feeling of powerlessness was real, but did being swallowed by pain mean giving up his original self?

Yu Zhenzi didn't seem to expect an answer from him. She changed the subject, her curiosity becoming more pronounced: "Your divine sense probed me just now. Though it was rash, it revealed a solid foundation and refined divine sense, confirming my lineage as a true descendant of the Xiling sect. That senior's judgment was not flawed. However…" She tilted her head slightly, her veil swaying gently, "You seem quite interested in court affairs and Daoist matters? Perhaps even… a little too much."

Li Bai's heart stirred.

This is an opportunity, and also a test.

He suppressed his turbulent emotions and tried to make his voice sound calm: "Master Daoist has traveled far and wide and has seen much. I... do have a question that I would like to ask you."

"speak."

"If a woman, of special status, is sent to the palace against her will to become a female Taoist priest, in reality... a hidden pawn. This situation seems unsolvable, with imperial power as imposing as a mountain and conspiracies as intricate as a net. May I ask, Master, according to Taoist principles, is there a way to break this situation? Or, how do Taoists view such matters... 'using the name of Taoism to carry out courtly affairs'?"

Li Bai asked very carefully, without mentioning the Prince of Shou or Yang Yuhuan's name, but the keywords "became a female Taoist priest," "sent into the palace," and "a secret chess piece" were enough to point to the great event that was being carried out in secret and that was enough to change the fate of many people.

He stared intently at Yu Zhenzi, not missing a single subtle reaction from her.

After listening, Yu Zhenzi fell silent.

The wind outside the window seemed to have subsided, and the distant clamor of the West Market drifted in, making the quiet of this top-floor private room all the more striking. The glow of the oil lamp flowed across her plain white Taoist robe, and she stood there like a jade sculpture, with only her veil rising and falling slightly with her breath.

After a long while, she gently shook her head.

It wasn't a denial, but rather an action tinged with a touch of melancholy.

"The world is full of chaos and people are cunning. Using the name of holiness to do despicable things has existed since ancient times, not just today." Her voice was still cold, but it seemed to have a hint of indescribable complexity. "The Tao follows nature, emphasizing conforming to the way of heaven, being pure and inactive. However, the way of heaven is impermanent, and the way of man is selfish. Forcing things that cannot be obtained, or forcibly going against them, often backfires, only increasing karmic burdens, and even harming the innocent."

Li Bai's heart sank.

But Yu Zhenzi did not finish speaking.

She raised her hand; it was fair and slender, with neatly trimmed nails that gleamed warmly under the light. She pointed vaguely ahead, as if indicating a path in the void.

"However, the Great Dao is fifty, the Heavenly Dao is forty-nine, and man escapes one. In all things, even in a dead end, there is always a glimmer of hope. This 'one' is the variable, the opportunity, the... 'the one that escapes.'" Her gaze, through the veil, seemed to fall on Li Bai's face. "If you are fixated on 'breaking the deadlock,' you may not see that 'glimmer of hope.' If you are fixated on 'confrontation,' you may miss the opportunity to 'go with the flow.' Your sword, your Dao, your heart, trapped in the 'dead end' before you, are naturally obscured. If you can break free and look at things from a higher perspective, perhaps... there is another path in what seems like a dead end."

The great road is fifty, the sky is four and nine, and people are one of them.

A glimmer of hope.

Li Bai pondered these words repeatedly, a glimmer of light seeming to pierce his chaotic mind. He kept thinking about how to "break the deadlock," how to "confront" it, how to use force to reverse the seemingly irreversible wheel of fate. But what if... what if this path itself was wrong? What if the real way out wasn't in a head-on collision, but in finding that "elevated one"?

"Please enlighten me, Master!" He couldn't help but step forward, his tone urgent.

Yu Zhenzi took half a step back, widening the distance once again.

"I am not involved in this matter and do not understand the specifics, so how can I offer guidance?" she said calmly. "Such opportunities must be sought and comprehended by you yourself. Forcing guidance will only lead to a lower level of understanding." She paused, her tone softening slightly. "Right now, your mind is shattered and your golden core is unstable. The most important thing is not to seek externally, but to introspect. Stabilize your foundation, expel your inner demons, and purify your sword heart. Otherwise, even if there is a chance of survival before you, you will be powerless to grasp it, and you may even... fall into the demonic path, never to recover."

These words were blunt and to the point, yet every word was both scathing and reasonable.

Li Bai was stunned, as if struck by a thunderbolt.

Yes, in his current state, he can't even control his own power or suppress his inner demons. Even if he knows where the "sliver of hope" is, what can he do? He'll probably only make things worse.

Seeing the complex emotions of struggle, realization, and lingering fear surging in Li Bai's eyes, Yu Zhenzi seemed to nod slightly—the movement was so subtle as to be almost imperceptible.

"That's all for tonight," she said, flicking her sleeve lightly.

A warm white light flew out from her sleeve and slowly drifted toward Li Bai.

Li Bai instinctively reached out and caught it.

It was cool to the touch, with a delicate texture. It was a jade pendant, about the size of an infant's palm, round in shape, with smooth, rounded edges. The pendant was pure white, except for the center, where layers of cloud patterns were intricately engraved with extremely fine carving. The cloud patterns seemed simple at first glance, but upon closer inspection, they appeared to be slowly flowing, containing a mysterious Taoist charm. A simple, unadorned white silk ribbon of the same material was tied to the pendant.

"This pendant is named 'Guardian of the Heart,' and it has the effect of calming the mind and stabilizing the spirit. Although it cannot eradicate inner demons, it can help you maintain a sliver of clarity in critical moments," Yu Zhenzi's voice came. "If in the future you find it difficult to control your inner demons, or encounter difficulties in the Daoist tradition that you cannot resolve no matter how hard you try, you can take this pendant to the northeast corner of Yongping Ward, inside Kaiyuan Gate in the west of Chang'an City, and find a Daoist temple called 'Qingxuan Temple.' At that time, you may be able to meet again."

Qingxuan Temple.

Li Bai gripped the jade pendant tightly in his hand, the cool touch spreading through his palm, strangely soothing his restless soul. He looked up, wanting to ask something else—

But there was no one by the window.

Only the night breeze remained, gently swaying the curtains where Yu Zhenzi had just stood.

The crisp, herbal scent of cedarwood in the air was rapidly fading away, as if it had never existed.

gone.

He came like that, said a few earth-shattering words, left behind a jade pendant, and then left just like that.

They came suddenly and left abruptly.

Li Bai stood still, motionless for a long time.

The jade pendant in his hand emitted a continuous, cool sensation, like a clear spring gently flowing through his burning, chaotic sea of ​​consciousness. He lowered his head, carefully examining this "Guardian of the Heart" pendant. Cloud patterns flowed, its Daoist charm naturally formed; this was no ordinary object that a Daoist could possess. The craftsmanship and the spiritual energy it contained exuded an ancient and profound aura.

Yuzhenzi...

Wandering here, I sensed the sword intent and the pain...

I have some knowledge of the Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom...

He seemed quite familiar with matters of the imperial court and the Taoist sects...

His cultivation level is unfathomable, at least at the Nascent Soul stage, and possibly even higher...

Leave a token indicating "Qingxuan Temple"...

A name, a name that also carries a legendary aura in Tang Dynasty history and is closely related to Taoism, suddenly struck Li Bai's mind—

Princess Yuzhen!

Princess Yuzhen was Emperor Xuanzong's younger sister, born of the same mother, and one of Li Longji's most trusted sisters. She entered Taoism at a young age, taking the Taoist name "Yuzhen," and was the most famous and thorough among the Tang Dynasty princesses who embraced Taoism. She built grand Taoist temples in Chang'an and Luoyang, cultivated wide connections with scholars and Taoists, and held a prominent position, even influencing some of Xuanzong's decisions. Did Princess Yuzhen ever interact with Li Bai? It seems… there are records indicating that Li Bai, through Princess Yuzhen's introduction, was able to meet Emperor Xuanzong?

Could that mysterious Taoist nun just now be Princess Yuzhen herself?

Or is he just a Taoist hermit with the same Taoist name and profound cultivation?

Li Bai's heart began to beat faster involuntarily.

If she truly is Princess Yuzhen, was her appearance tonight a coincidence or intentional? Was her pointing out her own mental state issues due to guidance from a senior Taoist master, or was there a deeper meaning? Was leaving behind the jade pendant and clues about Qingxuan Temple a casual act, or... a subtle invitation, or a test?

More importantly, were her final remarks about "a glimmer of hope" and "going with the flow" just general Taoist philosophy, or... were they hinting at something?

Li Bai walked to the window, gazing in the direction where Yu Zhenzi had disappeared. The night was deep, the myriad lights of Chang'an stretching out beneath his feet, while the direction of the imperial city remained shrouded in silent darkness—the center of power, and also the source of his torment. The jade pendant in his hand pressed tightly against his palm, its cool warmth a constant reminder that what had just transpired was not an illusion.

The golden core was still somewhat sluggish, but the violent, almost bursting agitation seemed to have subsided slightly because of Yu Zhenzi's words and the jade pendant. The inner demon's voice also weakened; although it didn't disappear, it was at least no longer so rampant.

He needs to calm down.

I need to think about this carefully.

Yu Zhenzi is right. What he needs most right now is not to blindly search for a way out, but to stabilize his foundation and purify his sword heart. Otherwise, it's all just empty talk.

He carefully tucked the "Guardian Heart" pendant into his bosom and placed it close to his body. The cool warmth emanating from it through his clothes continuously soothed him.

Then, he turned around and looked at the mess in the private room.

Broken wine jars, stains, vomit, and a strong smell of alcohol.

All of this recorded his loss of control and disheveled state just now.

Li Bai took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

He walked to the corner of the room, where a copper basin and some water sat. He scooped up the cold water and splashed it forcefully on his face. The icy touch completely sobered him up. He washed his face and hands again and again until his skin turned red, until he felt that most of the nauseating smell of alcohol and the feeling of dejection had been washed away.

After doing all that, he straightened up and looked around.

The redness and confusion in his eyes had faded, replaced by a deep, painful clarity.

He cannot stay here any longer.

It's time to go back.

He returned to that temporary, secluded residence. He needed time, quiet, and time to process everything that had happened that night—the cruel news brought by He Zhizhang, his own near-collapse and disgraceful state, and… the appearance and guidance of this mysterious “Yu Zhenzi.”

He straightened his disheveled robes, patting away as much wine and grime as possible. Then, he walked to the door and pushed it open.

The corridor was deserted; the waiter from before had long since disappeared. Li Bai descended the stairs, his steps light and steady.

Stepping out of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, a night breeze swept over me, carrying the chill of late autumn.

The hustle and bustle of the West Market was coming to an end, with only a few vendors packing up their goods and few pedestrians around.

Li Bai blended into the night and walked towards his residence.

His silhouette stretched long down the street, still upright, yet seemingly burdened by an invisible weight.

The "Guardian Heart" pendant in his arms, even through his clothes, had a constant and cool touch.