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

Rock and Gravel didn't urge him; they stood quietly a step behind Li Bai, as if giving this outsider time to adjust. A breeze blew from the distant mountains, carrying the fragrance of exotic flowers and the ancient, rusty scent of bronze ruins, gently brushing Li Bai's cheek. He took a deep breath, the purest spiritual energy flooding his lungs, dispelling the weariness and stagnation left by the last trace of the passage. The broken Azure Nether sword in his hand trembled slightly, the patterns on its blade flowing with a warm luster, as peaceful as returning home.

"Let's go," Yan's voice sounded from behind, calm and even. "The priest is waiting."

Li Bai took one last look at this incredible world, then turned and followed Yan's footsteps.

The winding stone path leads to the misty mountainside, where the outline of a magnificent bronze palace, half-embedded in the mountain, is faintly visible in the dim light of the sky.

The stone path beneath my feet was polished smooth as a mirror, its edges covered with fine, silvery moss. On either side, strange plants swayed gently in the breeze, some leaves rustling softly like wind chimes as they brushed against each other. The air was filled with a scent that blended sandalwood, herbs, and a certain metallic coolness—a scent that wasn't pungent, but rather calming.

Along the way, Li Bai saw more residents of Xiling.

Most of them wore plain or dark-colored robes, simple in style but well-fitting, their flowing garments giving them an ethereal air. Some sat alone on the ruins of the bronze site, eyes closed in deep thought, a faint halo surrounding them; others gathered in small groups, conversing quietly among the exotic flowers and plants, holding either luminous crystals or jade slips inscribed with runes. As Li Bai and his entourage passed by, many cast their gazes—gazes filled with curiosity, scrutiny, and calm observation, but none with obvious hostility or surprise, as if the presence of outsiders, though uncommon, was not unacceptable.

Li Bai noticed that most of these residents possessed a restrained and steady aura, and even the weakest among them was significantly stronger than him, a cultivator in the early stages of Qi Condensation. Occasionally, a gaze would fall upon the broken Azure Nether Sword in his hand, lingering for a moment, a complex and indescribable emotion flashing in their eyes—reverence? Nostalgia? Doubt?

He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.

The stone path gradually ascended, its slope becoming steeper. Mist swirled around them, almost within reach, carrying a damp coolness. Ahead, the outline of the great bronze palace grew increasingly clear.

It was a building that defied description.

It is not entirely cast in bronze, but rather cleverly integrated with the mountain. Huge bronze components, covered with intricate reliefs, are like the skeleton of a giant beast, deeply embedded in the gray-white rock. The bronze surface is covered with a thick layer of patina, which is not evenly distributed but forms a natural, cloud-like pattern, appearing and disappearing in the flowing mist, as if the entire palace is breathing.

The main gate of the hall was three zhang high, its doors tightly shut. Made of neither gold nor wood, it possessed a deep, dark red color, its surface smooth as a mirror, reflecting the flowing clouds and the luminous crystals suspended in the distance. Above the lintel was carved a massive, dazzling pattern: countless stars surrounded a colossal, gnarled bronze divine tree, its branches adorned with the sun, moon, birds, beasts, and strange symbols that Li Bai could not comprehend at all.

Simply standing before the door, Li Bai felt an aura of vastness, antiquity, and immensity wash over him. It wasn't oppressive, but rather a majestic presence accumulated over countless years, causing one to involuntarily hold their breath and concentrate.

Yan stepped forward, extending his right hand and placing his palm on the dark red door. His palm emitted a faint, earthy yellow light, and the moment it touched the door, ripples spread across its surface like water. Without a sound, the two massive doors slowly opened inward, revealing a deep space beyond.

"Go in." Yan stepped aside, gesturing for Li Bai to go first.

Li Bai took a deep breath and stepped across the threshold.

The scene inside the hall was completely different from the magnificent bronze exterior.

open.

This was Li Bai's first impression.

The interior of the hall was even more spacious than it appeared from the outside, with an unfathomable height and depth. The floor was made of smooth black stone slabs, which fit together so perfectly that the seams were almost invisible. There were no pillars in the hall, and the dome was hidden in the deep darkness, with only a few eternal lamps suspended in mid-air, emitting a soft and steady white light that illuminated a central area.

Beyond the light lies boundless darkness, a darkness that is not lifeless, but rather seems to be slowly flowing with some kind of life, carrying a slight, breathing rhythm.

In the center of the main hall, there was only a solitary prayer cushion.

A person sits quietly on a futon.

The man wore an elaborately detailed black robe, its material neither silk nor linen, which shimmered with a dim, almost ethereal sheen under the ever-burning lamplight. The robe was embroidered with countless silver patterns, fine as hair, winding and flowing to form images of celestial movements, mountain ranges, and even more abstract and incomprehensible symbols. The robe's wide sleeves reached the ground, almost completely covering the prayer mat.

Her face was shrouded in a soft, moonlit halo, obscuring her features and revealing only a vague outline—a soft yet dignified outline, possessing a beauty that transcended gender and bordered on divine. Her eyes were closed, her hands resting naturally on her knees, fingertips touching, forming a simple yet profound hand seal.

She sat there quietly, as if she had been there for thousands of years, becoming one with the hall, the darkness, and the world.

The moment Yan and Li stepped into the main hall, they stopped in their tracks, bowed deeply, and became extremely respectful. They didn't even look up at the figure in the center; they simply remained motionless in their bowing posture.

Li Bai stood a few steps in front of them, gripping his broken sword, his heart pounding steadily and powerfully in his chest. He did not bow, but simply watched the figures on the prayer mat, waiting.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

After an unknown amount of time—perhaps a moment, perhaps a long time—the figure on the futon slowly opened its eyes.

What kind of eyes were those?

The pupils were not the usual black or brown, but a deep, silvery-gray that seemed to contain the entire starry sky. When that gaze fell upon him, Li Bai did not feel as if he were being watched, but rather as if he were being... enveloped.

A gentle yet unimaginably vast spiritual force, like the softest moonlight or the deepest sea, silently swept over his entire body. That spiritual force was not aggressive, nor did it intend to probe; it simply "flowed" over him, like water flowing over a riverbed or wind brushing across a hillside.

But in that instant of "flowing," Li Bai felt that everything about him—his body, meridians, spiritual power, and even the most hidden thoughts, memories, and emotions deep within his soul—was illuminated by this moonlit spiritual power, becoming crystal clear. He "saw" the Qi Condensation stage spiritual power slowly flowing through his meridians, the chaotic vortex of energy in his dantian, the faint resonance between the Azure Nether Broken Sword in his hand and his spiritual power, the burning flame of obsession deep within his soul, named "Protecting Yang Xiaohuan/Yang Yuhuan," and even... saw at the very core of that obsession a faint, otherworldly light that did not belong to this era or this world.

The light from that otherworldly realm was so faint and so hidden that even Li Bai himself might not have been able to perceive it clearly without the reflection of this vast spiritual power.

The high priest's gaze lingered on Li Bai for a moment.

Then, her gaze shifted to the broken Qingming sword in Li Bai's hand.

This time, her gaze underwent a substantial change.

In her silver-gray pupils, it seemed as if the speed of the stars shifting had increased for a moment. She looked at the broken sword, at the ancient patterns on its blade, at the strange, torn texture of the break, her gaze focused and...complex.

In that complexity, there was recollection, examination, confirmation, and a very faint, almost imperceptible...sigh.

Her gaze lingered on the broken sword for a longer time than it lingered on Li Bai.

Finally, she spoke slowly.

The voice did not originate from her mouth, but rather resonated directly within Li Bai's mind. The voice was ethereal and clear, carrying an ancient rhythm, as if it came from a distant time and space.

"Rock, gravel."

"Yes," Rock and Gravel responded simultaneously, their heads bowing even lower.

"Where did this person come from?"

Yan maintained his bowed posture and reported clearly and respectfully, "Reporting to the High Priest. This person was discovered near the outer protected area, 'The Abyss Pool,' wielding this sword. Upon examination, the sword's shape and aura suggest it is a remnant of the 'Sky Patrol' weapon,' wielded by the ancient 'Sky Patrol Angel.' This person claims to have entered unintentionally, seeking ancient ruins and power. My two subordinates have brought him in according to the law, to await the High Priest's judgment."

The high priest's gaze fell back on Li Bai.

"The remnants of the Sky Patrol Army..." she repeated softly, her voice resonating directly in Li Bai's mind. "Indeed. Though broken, their 'laws' have not been extinguished."

She waved her wide robe sleeves, the movement gentle yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.

"You may all leave."

"Yes." Yan and Li bowed without hesitation, then slowly retreated from the hall, still in a backward posture. The dark red doors closed silently, isolating the inside from the outside.

Now, in the eerily empty hall, only Li Bai and the high priest shrouded in a halo of light remained.

The eternal flame burned silently in the darkness, casting long shadows of the two people onto the smooth black stone slab.

"Outsider." The high priest's voice rang out again, this time directly addressing Li Bai, "State your name."

Li Bai composed himself, met those silver-gray eyes that seemed to see through everything, and said in a deep voice, "I am Li Bai, courtesy name Taibai, from Shu."

"Li Bai..." the high priest repeated the name, a glimmer of light seeming to flash in his silver-gray pupils. "Your soul is quite interesting."

Li Bai felt a chill run down his spine.

"Half of me is in this world, not yet firmly rooted; the other half is there, still bound by ties." The high priest's voice was calm and even, yet every word struck Li Bai's heart. "A burning obsession, scorching the soul, all for...one person?"

Li Bai tightened his grip on his sword. He knew that in the face of this being, any concealment would be futile. He took a deep breath and decided to partially confess.

"Yes." His voice echoed in the empty hall, "To protect my loved ones, I need power, the power to change fate."

"My beloved..." The high priest's gaze seemed to pierce through Li Bai's eyes, seeing into the burning flame deep within his soul. "Is she in this world? Or perhaps somewhere else?"

This question left Li Bai speechless. Yang Xiaohuan lived in modern times, while Yang Yuhuan lived in the Tang Dynasty… Were they the same person? Were they reincarnations? He himself couldn't say for sure.

"Perhaps...it's all of those things." He finally gave a vague answer. "I crossed some kind of boundary to come into this world, but what I hold in my heart has never changed. I need the power to protect her, no matter where she is, no matter what she faces."

"Crossing boundaries..." The high priest nodded slightly. "No wonder. In your soul light, there is the dust of the 'other world,' the imprint of the 'this world,' and... something even more ancient."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the broken Azure Sword again: "It's no coincidence that you can resonate with this 'Sky Patrol Remnant.' This sword once belonged to the wielder of 'Law,' who values ​​cause and effect, vows, and the will to protect the cause. Your obsession resonates with its 'Law.'"

Li Bai looked down at the broken sword in his hand. The blade was slightly warm, and the ancient patterns seemed to come alive, flowing with a warm light.

"High Priest," Li Bai raised his head, his gaze resolute, "I entered Mount Shu, sought out its secret realm, and obtained this sword, all for this wish. Tell me, does Xiling... possess the power to grant me this wish? Or at least tell me how to do it?"

The high priest did not answer immediately.

She gazed silently at Li Bai, her silver-gray pupils reflecting the stars, as if she were deducing or weighing something. The hall was utterly silent, save for the extremely faint crackling of the ever-burning lamps and the almost imperceptible, breathing rhythm in the darkness.

After a long silence, she slowly spoke: "The power you seek, my Xiling... may possess."

Li Bai's heart skipped a beat.

"But," the high priest's voice remained calm, "it is not easy."

"Please enlighten me, priest." Li Bai bowed deeply, his posture respectful and earnest.

"Xiling has existed for a long time, guarding the secrets of antiquity and passing on the ways of our ancestors." The high priest's voice echoed in the hall, carrying a solemnity as if recounting an ancient history. "'The Azure Lotus Sword Manual' is one of the highest sword traditions of Xiling, originating from ancient sword immortals. It contains the opportunity to sever cause and effect and reverse fate. If you can grasp its true meaning, perhaps you can... touch the 'change' you seek."

Azure Lotus Sword Manual!

Li Bai felt his breathing quicken. Qinglian…Qinglian Sword Immortal! This name subtly echoed his pen name, "Qinglian Hermit," Li Bai. Could it truly be predestined?

"However," the High Priest changed the subject, "'The Azure Lotus Sword Manual' is no ordinary technique. It chooses its master not only based on aptitude and physical attributes, but also on character, wisdom, and perseverance. To access the sword manual, one must first pass three trials."

Her gaze fell on Li Bai, a gaze that seemed to weigh a ton.

"The first step is to examine your heart. Confront your inner obsessions, fears, and confusions, see through illusions, and clearly see your true self."

"The second level is the refinement of wisdom. It involves deciphering ancient mysteries, mechanisms, and formations to understand their profound secrets through wisdom."

"The third level is physical tempering. It involves forging one's physique and will in dire circumstances and comprehending the true meaning of swordsmanship amidst life and death."

"Three trials, each more difficult than the last. There may be life-threatening dangers or damage to your Dao heart." The High Priest's voice was as cold as ice. "If you fail, at best you will be banished from Xiling and never be allowed to enter again; at worst... you will die, your Dao will be destroyed, and your soul will be scattered."

She paused, her silver-gray pupils staring directly at Li Bai: "Even if you pass the three trials, you will only gain the qualification to access the 'Azure Lotus Sword Manual.' Whether you can comprehend it, and how much you can comprehend, depends entirely on your own destiny."

"A soul from another world, deeply entrenched in obsession, can actually resonate with the remnants of the 'Sky Patrol'..." She sighed softly, a complex emotion lingering in her voice. "This is both an opportunity and a calamity. Are you willing to give it a try?"

In the spacious hall, the light of the ever-burning lamps quietly shone down.

Li Bai stood on the smooth black stone slab, his hand tightly gripping the warm, broken Qingming sword. He could hear the steady, powerful beating of his heart, feel the slow but firm flow of spiritual energy in his meridians, and "see" the flame of "protection" burning fiercely deep within his soul.

Triple test.

Inquire into your heart, refine your wisdom, and strengthen your body.

Failure could mean utter annihilation.

But if successful... one can come into contact with the "Azure Lotus Sword Manual," which may change one's destiny and sever ties of cause and effect.

In his previous life, he was just a powerless geological engineer who watched helplessly as his wife sank into the mud and eventually died tragically on the street.

In this life, he is reborn as the poet Li Bai, but he is still powerless to change Yang Guifei's fate of entering the palace, and can only struggle in vain in the face of the torrent of history.

Now, he stands in the bronze palace of the Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom, facing an opportunity that could break all shackles.

Does he have any other choice?

Li Bai raised his head to meet the high priest's silver-gray eyes, which seemed to hold the starry sky within them. His gaze was clear and firm, without the slightest hesitation.

"I'm willing to try."

The voice wasn't loud, but it resonated deeply in the empty and silent hall.

The high priestess watched him silently, her face, shrouded in a halo of light, revealing no expression. After a long while, she nodded slightly.

"good."

She slowly raised her right hand, and the wide, dark sleeve of her robe slid down, revealing a section of her fair, jade-like wrist, seemingly untouched by dust. Her fingertips touched the air, and a point of silver light bloomed from her fingertips, rapidly expanding into a gate of light flowing with complex runes.

Beyond the portal, mist swirled, and a winding stone path, appearing and disappearing in the fog, led into the unknown depths.

"This is the 'Path of Inquiry,'" the high priest's voice rang out. "Step onto it, confront your heart. When you reach the end, you will have passed the first test."

Li Bai looked at the misty stone steps and gripped the broken sword in his hand tightly.

He didn't turn around, but stepped into the portal of light.