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

When Li Bai returned to his room at Qingwei Temple, the eastern sky was already tinged with the first light of dawn. He gently closed the door, and without lighting a lamp, sat down at the table by the dim light filtering through the window. The jade talisman of the Xiling Divine Kingdom in his arms was still warm, as if silently urging him on. He took it out and placed it in his palm. The bluish light on the surface of the jade talisman appeared much softer in the morning light, but its shape, perfectly matching the concavity of the altar, lingered in his mind. He closed his eyes; he needed rest during the day, but more importantly, he needed to repeatedly rehearse tonight's actions in his mind—every step, every possibility, and… how to deal with failure. Only three days remained until the investiture ceremony.

***

Night fell once again over Zhongnan Mountain.

Beside the dry well in the backyard of Xuandu Temple, Li Bai's figure appeared silently. He had changed into a dark blue close-fitting outfit, his belt tightly fastened at his waist, with the Azure Nether Broken Sword and the Azure Lotus Sword hanging on his left and right sides respectively. In addition to the jade talisman of the Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom, he carried several other items: a stack of newly drawn talismans, a box of specially made cinnabar pigment, several small wolf-hair brushes, and a scroll of silk cloth with detailed markings of altar patterns and energy nodes.

The stone slab over the wellhead was gently moved aside, and cold air rushed out from below, carrying the familiar earthy smell and the scent of bronze. Li Bai took a deep breath and leaped down.

His feet landed on the soft soil at the bottom of the well with a slight thud. He took out a tinderbox and lit it, the dim light illuminating the narrow passage. The watermarks left on the stone walls from the previous night had dried, but the air was still damp; he could feel the cool moisture in his nostrils with each breath. He listened intently for a moment, making sure there was no other sound from inside the cave, before stepping forward.

We passed through the passage and entered the enormous underground cavern.

As the firelight illuminated the outline of the bronze altar, Li Bai's heart involuntarily quickened. The altar remained silently standing in the center of the cave, its surface, though hastily repaired, faint traces of residual energy visible in the darkness, like the slow flow of blood beneath the skin of a sleeping beast. He inserted the tinder into a crevice in the stone wall and walked to the altar.

My palm rested on the cool bronze surface.

The traces of the true essence injected last night were still there, faint but undeniably present. The energy channels at the broken points bridged by the talismans remained clear. Li Bai closed his eyes and slowly poured his true essence into the altar. A pale golden halo lit up again, spreading upwards from the base, across the octagonal platform, and finally converging on the top circular surface.

This time, there were more illuminated lines than last night.

Approximately 80%.

A soft, bluish glow emanated from the recessed area, echoing the light emitted by the jade talisman.

Li Bai withdrew his hand, and the halo slowly dimmed. He took out the jade talisman of the Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom; the talisman was slightly warm in his palm, its blue light flowing and seemingly alive. He walked to the top of the altar and stood before the indentation.

The shape of the depression was clearly visible in the firelight—an irregular hexagon with fine serrated edges, and a central depression about half an inch deep. The shape of the jade talisman matched it perfectly, without the slightest difference.

it's time.

Li Bai took a deep breath, clearing his mind of all distractions. He made a hand seal with his left hand and held the jade talisman in his right, slowly approaching the recessed area.

When the jade talisman was still three inches from the indentation, an invisible suction force suddenly came. The blue light on the surface of the jade talisman suddenly brightened, as if awakened by some force. Li Bai did not resist, letting the suction force pull the jade talisman downwards.

"Click."

A soft, crisp clicking sound.

The jade talisman was perfectly embedded in the recess.

In that instant—

The entire altar shook violently!

It wasn't a physical shaking, but a tremor on an energy level. All the illuminated patterns on the bronze surface simultaneously erupted with blinding light! Golden, cyan, and silver-white light streamed wildly along the patterns, weaving a dazzlingly complex web of light across the altar's surface. The air within the grotto began to distort, and visible ripples spread outwards from the altar, like pebbles being thrown into water.

Li Bai was pushed back three steps by an invisible force, the earth beneath his feet churning. He steadied himself, his eyes fixed on the altar.

The light grew brighter and brighter.

On the circular platform at the top of the altar, the previously dim patterns began to light up one by one. The light radiated outward from the recessed area, spreading outward like ripples on water. When the light covered the entire platform, the space in the center of the platform—where the recess was located—began to distort.

It's not a hallucination.

Li Bai could clearly sense that the spatial structure there was changing. The air became viscous, the light refracted, and the stone wall behind the altar distorted and deformed in his vision, as if viewed through a shimmering layer of water. A faint but definite spatial fluctuation spread out, carrying an ancient, desolate, and incomparably vast aura.

That's... a sign that the teleportation array is about to activate!

Li Bai's heart pounded wildly.

however--

The light lasted for less than three breaths.

Just as the spatial distortion reached its peak, as if a portal was about to tear open at any moment, the light flow on the altar's surface suddenly began to erratically. Several key pattern nodes flickered erratically, their light alternating between bright and dim, like a faulty electrical connection. The energy channels at the broken points temporarily repaired by the talismans began to collapse.

"laugh--"

A soft sound.

The blue light on the surface of the jade talisman suddenly dimmed.

The surging light on the altar seemed to have its source severed, rapidly receding. The golden, cyan, and silvery-white light receded like a tide, contracting from the edge of the altar towards its center. The spatial fluctuations subsided, the distorted air returned to normal, and the stone walls became clear again.

Finally, only the faint blue light emanating from the jade talisman in the depression remained.

And the traces of rapidly cooling energy remaining in the patterns on the altar's surface.

Everything returned to calm.

It was as if the earth-shattering phenomenon had never happened.

Only the crackling of the tinderbox and Li Bai's heavy breathing remained in the grotto.

He stood there, his chest heaving, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead. It wasn't exhaustion, but the energy surge and spatial fluctuations of that brief moment that had shaken even his very soul. He stared at the altar, at the jade talisman that had returned to calm, his mind racing.

Failed.

But... it wasn't a complete failure.

The jade talisman could be embedded, the altar reacted, and spatial fluctuations were activated—this indicates that the formation itself is "alive" and its core functions are intact. The reason for the failure to activate it is obvious: insufficient energy and damage to several key parts of the formation.

Those broken lines, those missing runes, those damaged energy nodes...

This ancient altar is like a sophisticated machine. Although its core engine can still operate, its transmission, control, and energy systems are severely damaged. Forcing it to start will only cause it to "twitch" briefly and will not be able to truly complete its teleportation function.

Li Bai stepped forward and reached out to grasp the jade talisman.

The jade talisman was no longer hot; its temperature had returned to normal. He pulled hard, and the talisman slipped out of the dent with a soft "pop." He held the talisman up to his eyes and examined it closely.

The surface of the jade talisman remained unchanged.

But in that instant, he clearly felt a deep resonance between the jade talisman and the altar. It wasn't a simple key unlocking a lock; it was more like... two components of the same origin recombining, attempting to awaken a dormant system.

He carefully put away the jade talisman and then re-examined the altar.

Under the firelight, the patterns on the altar's surface were clearly visible. Those patterns that had been lit up retained a faint, glowing energy, like luminous powder. Li Bai took out a silk map and, comparing it to the actual patterns on the altar, marked them with a vermilion pen.

"Here... the energy node has broken."

"Here... three runes are missing."

"Here... the pattern is wrong; it's probably due to deformation caused by later damage."

"here……"

He marked the diagrams while mentally rehearsing them.

What if we could repair these defects?

A complete repair isn't necessary—that's impossible; he lacks the knowledge of ancient array masters and the appropriate materials. But what if it's a temporary, functional repair? For example, bridging the break with more advanced talismans, forcibly infusing the missing rune nodes with his own true essence, or simulating the missing energy flow with the sword energy of the Azure Lotus Sword…

Perhaps, at a crucial moment, it can activate a brief, small-scale teleportation effect.

It doesn't need to travel very far.

Stability is not even required.

As long as a "spatial anomaly" can be created on Leyou Plain, even if it only lasts for a moment, or only allows for teleportation a few feet away, that would be enough!

The earthquake, coupled with unusual spatial phenomena, and the "prophecies" and "celestial signs" he had prepared in advance...

Enough to throw the entire investiture ceremony into chaos!

This was enough to give him the opportunity to get close to Yang Yuhuan!

That's enough to create an opportunity to escape!

Li Bai's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

He put away the silk drawing and took out the stack of newly drawn talismans from his pocket. These talismans were not ordinary guiding talismans or solidifying talismans, but rather improvements he had made based on the "Spirit Gathering Array" and "Void-Solidifying Talisman" recorded in the "Azure Lotus Sword Manual." Although their power was far inferior to the original versions, they should be much stronger than the basic talismans from last night for temporary repairs.

He chose a key fracture point.

That was the break in a main energy channel, about three inches long, with slight deformation on both sides of the fracture. Li Bai first carefully scraped away the oxide layer and dirt at the break with a knife, revealing the fresh bronze surface. Then he took out a wolf-hair brush, dipped it in specially made cinnabar pigment—this pigment contained a drop of his essence blood and a small amount of spirit stone powder, giving it better energy conductivity.

The tip of the pen landed on the bronze.

The cinnabar pigment appeared dark red in the firelight, like congealed blood. Li Bai held his breath, his wrist steady, and the tip of his brush followed the original direction of the pattern, drawing a complex rune at the break. The rune lines were delicate and smooth, each stroke infused with true energy. The pigment seeped into the tiny pores of the bronze surface, creating a strange combination with the metal itself.

After finishing the last stroke, Li Bai affixed a modified "Solid Void Talisman" above the rune.

"Buzz—"

The talisman glowed with a pale golden light.

The cinnabar runes seemed to be activated, beginning to extend and grow on their own, with golden energy threads connecting the broken lines on either side. Although the connection looked somewhat "ethereal" and not as solid as the original runes, the energy channel had indeed been opened.

Li Bai could feel that the obstruction was significantly reduced when the true essence flowed through this area.

efficient!

He was greatly encouraged and, following the same procedure, began repairing the second and third parts...

Time flew by as we focused on the restoration work.

The fire tinder was replaced one after another.

The only sounds in the grotto were the faint scratching of a brush tip across bronze, the soft hum of talismans being activated, and the occasional breathing sounds of Li Bai adjusting his breath. The air was filled with the distinctive scent of cinnabar pigment, mixed with the metallic smell of bronze and the dampness of earth, creating a strange atmosphere imbued with an ancient sense of ritual.

By the time Li Bai finished repairing the seventh key node, it was almost dawn.

He put down his pen, straightened up, and stretched his stiff neck and wrists. Several hours of intense concentration had left him somewhat mentally exhausted, but his eyes remained bright. He walked to the altar and once again placed his palm on the bronze surface.

True essence is injected.

This time, the altar lit up much faster.

A pale golden halo rose from the base, spreading upwards along the patterns with almost no obstruction. All the patterns on the octagonal platform lit up, and over 90% of the patterns on the top circular tabletop lit up! Only a few damaged areas that were beyond repair remained dim.

A faint bluish light shone again from the depression.

Although no jade talisman was placed inside, the energy flow of the altar itself was several times smoother than last night!

Li Bai withdrew his hand, and the halo slowly dimmed.

A satisfied look appeared on his face.

The first phase of the repair work has been completed.

Next, we need to test how much spiritual power is required to activate the formation.

He walked to the top of the altar and stood beside the depression. Instead of placing the jade talisman inside, he directly mobilized his inner energy and pressed his palm against the patterns around the depression.

"Buzz—"

True essence surged in frantically.

The patterns on the altar's surface lit up again, the light more intense than ever before! Golden light surged, spatial fluctuations reappeared, and the air began to distort. But this time, Li Bai could clearly sense that when the energy flowed through certain damaged areas, there was a serious "leakage."

It's like a hole in a water pipe; the faster the water flows, the more it leaks.

He continued to inject his true energy.

Take a breath.

Two breaths.

Three breaths.

Space was warped to a critical point, as if it would tear apart at any moment—

"puff."

A soft sound.

The supply of true essence could not keep up with the rate of leakage, and the formation collapsed again.

The light faded, and the spatial fluctuations subsided.

Li Bai withdrew his hand and took a breath. In those three breaths, he had almost exhausted 30% of his true energy! And the formation had only maintained the most basic "awaiting activation" state, without even placing the jade talisman, it was still far from being truly activated.

What if we put in a jade talisman and pour all our energy into it?

Perhaps it can last for five breaths.

Perhaps this could actually activate a small-scale teleportation.

But the price is... all his true essence, and he might even need to use the original sword energy of the Azure Lotus Sword.

It can only be used as a last resort.

One-time use.

Li Bai wiped the sweat from his brow and carefully put away his tools and talismans. He took one last look at the altar before turning and leaving the cave.

***

For the next two days, Li Bai's life entered a highly structured and intense phase.

During the day, he would go to a secluded cave deep in the Zhongnan Mountains to rehearse and refine the entire plan for the investiture ceremony.

The cave was located halfway up a cliff, its entrance hidden by dense vines. The interior was small but dry and well-ventilated. Li Bai set up a simple spirit-gathering array here—using a few spirit stones as the array base. Although the effect was weak, it could at least speed up his recovery during cultivation.

He filled the stone wall with various diagrams drawn with charcoal.

The topographical map of Leyouyuan marks the location of the altar, the area for officials to observe the ceremony, the deployment points of the imperial guards, and the route of Yang Yuhuan's imperial carriage.

The altar pattern diagram of the underground grotto of Xuandu Temple marks all the restored nodes, energy flow paths, and expected spiritual energy consumption.

The action plan timeline starts from the night before the ceremony and ends at noon the next day, outlining what to do at each hour, what unexpected events might occur, and how to deal with them.

And... various emergency plans.

What if the earthquake effect is not strong enough?

What if the spatial anomaly does not occur?

What if you can't get close to Yang Yuhuan?

What if we are surrounded by the Imperial Guard?

What if... it fails?

Behind each "if" are at least three possible solutions. Charcoal pencils were used to scribble and draw on the stone wall, with some parts being repeatedly erased and modified, eventually forming a dense and intricate network of plans.

Li Bai sat in the cave, looking at these pictures, for several hours at a time.

When hungry, they ate the dry rations they carried with them—a few flatbreads and some dried meat. When thirsty, they drank mountain spring water. When sleepy, they would lean against the stone wall for a short rest, but their sleep was very light, and they would wake up immediately at the slightest sound.

His eyes were bloodshot, but his gaze remained sharp.

The brain was working at high speed, integrating the systems thinking and risk management concepts of modern engineering with the array knowledge in the "Azure Lotus Sword Manual", the power system of cultivators, and the understanding of Tang Dynasty court etiquette and political rules, weaving them all into a vast and inescapable net.

A comprehensive and inescapable net was cast to target the investiture ceremony.

A net... a trap that puts everything on the line.

At night, he would sneak into the underground grotto of Xuandu Temple to continue repairing the altar.

The repair work is progressing slowly.

The later the stage, the more complex the defects become. Some patterns are not simply broken, but rather completely missing. It is necessary to deduce the structure of the missing part based on the direction of the patterns and the energy logic in the context, and then simulate it using talismans and true energy. This is like an archaeologist restoring a damaged ancient book, which requires a deep knowledge base and strong reasoning ability.

Fortunately, Li Bai had the basics of formations from the "Azure Lotus Sword Manual," training in modern logic, and the "reference point" of the Jade Talisman of the Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom.

The patterns on the jade talisman's surface bear similarities to certain patterns on the altar. Although not entirely identical, the "grammar" of energy flow is the same. Through comparative research, Li Bai gradually figured out some of the construction logic of ancient formations.

It is a complex system based on the three powers of "Heaven, Earth, and Man," the generating and restraining relationships of the "Five Elements," and the directions of the "Eight Trigrams." Each pattern is not isolated, but rather a node in the entire energy network. Nodes are connected through a specific "syntax," forming a nested, interlocking array structure.

The deeper your understanding, the easier it will be to fix.

By the end of the second night, Li Bai had restored 95% of the patterns on the altar's surface.

Only the last three most complex defects remain.

The three areas at the very core of the altar were incredibly intricately patterned, resembling projections of some multi-dimensional space, appearing as twisted and overlapping forms on the two-dimensional bronze surface. Li Bai attempted three times, all ending in failure. Either the talisman couldn't bear such a complex energy structure, or his control over his true essence was too precise, causing errors in the pattern drawing.

He knew that with his current abilities, he could not repair these three places.

But... perhaps a complete repair is not necessary.

He changed his approach.

Since it can't be fixed, let's work around it.

Using the sword energy of the Azure Lotus Sword, the energy channels of these three nodes were forcibly opened the moment the formation was activated!

It's like temporarily opening up a bypass next to a blocked blood vessel.

Although it's crude and might damage the formation itself, as long as it can be maintained for a few breaths, that's enough.

Li Bai stood before the altar, looking at the three damaged areas with a determined gaze.

He took out the Azure Lotus Sword.

The sword gleamed with a faint blue light in the darkness, and the lotus patterns on the blade seemed to come alive, slowly flowing. He pointed the sword tip at one of the damaged spots, channeled his inner energy, and sword energy began to condense.

But in the end, he didn't stab her.

It's not the right time yet.

We have to wait until the day of the ceremony, until everything is ready, until... the very last moment.

He sheathed the Azure Lotus Sword and turned to leave.

***

The third day.

Only one day remains until the investiture ceremony.

Li Bai did not go back to the cave.

He returned to Qingwei Temple.

When the door to the side room was pushed open, Duan Qiniang was sitting at the table, holding a half-mended garment in her hand. Hearing the door open, she looked up, saw Li Bai's appearance, and dropped the needle and thread in her hand to the ground.

"Young Master Li...?"

Her voice trembled slightly.

Li Bai stood in the doorway, sunlight streaming in from behind, casting a long shadow in front of him. He looked...very tired. His eyes were sunken, his face pale, his lips chapped, and his dark blue outfit was stained with dust and cinnabar paint. But his eyes shone with a frightening light, like two inextinguishable flames burning within them.

"Seventh Sister," Li Bai said, his voice hoarse, "prepare hot water for me; I need to bathe and change."

Duan Qiniang hurriedly got up: "Okay, okay, I'll go right away."

She hurriedly left the room, and soon two young Taoist boys brought in a large wooden tub filled with steaming hot water. Duan Qiniang also brought clean cloths, soapberries, and a brand-new moon-white scholar's robe.

"Young master, do you need me..."

"No need, I can do it myself," Li Bai interrupted her. "Wait for me outside, I have something to tell you."

Duan Qiniang nodded, stepped outside the door, and gently closed it.

Li Bai was the only one left in the room.

He shed his filthy work clothes and stepped into the wooden tub. The moment the hot water enveloped his body, he couldn't help but let out a satisfied sigh. Three consecutive days of intense work had pushed his body and mind to their limits. Now, soaking in the hot water, the muscle aches, joint stiffness, and tightness in his skin were gradually easing.

He closed his eyes and rested his head on the rim of the bucket.

In my mind, plans, diagrams, timelines... all the information surged like a tide.

One last check.

Earthquake Plan: Completed. The leyline nodes beneath Leyou Plain have been marked. A localized earthquake can be triggered simply by impacting the ground with true essence at a specific time and frequency. The intensity and range are controllable.

Spatial Anomaly Project: Completed. The altar is 95% repaired; the last three damaged sections were forcibly opened using the sword energy of the Azure Lotus Sword. It is expected to activate a small-area teleportation effect lasting three to five breaths, located near the Leyouyuan Altar.

Approach Plan: Completed. By exploiting the chaos created by earthquakes and spatial anomalies, coupled with pre-prepared "prophecies" and "celestial predictions," he has the opportunity to approach Yang Guifei's imperial carriage. The specific route has been planned, and the weaknesses in the Imperial Guards' defenses along the way have been identified.

Escape Plan: Completed. Once he gets close to Yang Yuhuan, regardless of whether he can speak to her or not, regardless of whether she remembers her past life, he will immediately activate the altar's teleportation function—not to teleport himself, but to teleport Yang Yuhuan away! The target location is a safe house deep in the Zhongnan Mountains. Although the risk is extremely high, and although failure is possible, this is… his only chance.

If it fails...

Then activate the final emergency plan.

With the Azure Lotus Sword, I fought my way through a bloody path.

Even if it means becoming an enemy of the entire Tang Dynasty.

Li Bai opened his eyes, his gaze revealing no hesitation, only determination.

He rose from the wooden tub, dried himself, and changed into the moon-white scholar's robe. The robe was soft and well-tailored, and wearing it gave him a touch of the elegant demeanor of the "Poet Immortal." But he knew that beneath this robe lay a body stretched to its limit, a heart already determined to gamble everything.

Push open the door.

Duan Qiniang stood outside the door, holding a bowl of hot porridge in her hands.

"Young master, please have something to eat first."

Li Bai took the bowl of porridge. It was millet porridge, cooked until thick, with red dates and goji berries added, giving it a faint sweet aroma. He finished it in a few gulps and handed the bowl back to Duan Qiniang.

"Seventh Sister, please sit down."

The two sat down at the table.

Outside the window, the sun shone brightly, the shadows of the trees swayed gently, and the occasional chirping of birds drifted in. Qingwei Temple was quiet, save for the distant, serene chanting of sutras. But Li Bai knew that this tranquility would last only one day.

"Tomorrow is the investiture ceremony," Li Bai said calmly. "I will go to Leyouyuan."

Duan Qiniang's hand trembled slightly: "Young master, you..."

"I have a reason to go." Li Bai looked at her. "Seventh Sister, you've helped me a lot, and I'm extremely grateful. But this is a matter for me alone; you can't get involved."

"But--"

"No buts." Li Bai interrupted her, taking out a roll of silk and a small cloth bag from his robes and placing them on the table. "On this roll of silk are some maps and symbols. In this small cloth bag are some silver coins and a few spirit stones. If... if I don't return in three days, or if something major happens in Chang'an, you must immediately take these things and leave Chang'an for Shu. Find a place called 'Qingcheng Mountain,' and at the foot of the mountain find a woodcutter surnamed 'Zhao.' Show him the silk, and he will make arrangements for you."

Duan Qiniang's eyes reddened: "Young master, what exactly are you going to do? That's too dangerous. I heard there will be tens of thousands of imperial guards and so many civil and military officials at Leyou Plain tomorrow. You'll be all alone..."

"It's precisely because I'm alone that I have no attachments." Li Bai smiled, a smile tinged with weariness and a hint of relief. "Seventh Sister, you're a good girl; you shouldn't have gotten involved in these things. Listen to me, if anything happens, leave immediately and don't look back."

Duan Qiniang bit her lip, and tears finally fell.

She didn't know what Li Bai was going to do, but she could sense that it was something earth-shattering, and possibly utterly catastrophic. She wanted to persuade him, to stop him, but looking into Li Bai's eyes, all the words stuck in her throat.

There was a light in those eyes that she had never seen before.

Firm, resolute, and yet with a touch of tragic tenderness.

"Young master..." she choked out, "You must come back."

Li Bai did not answer.

He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the verdant Zhongnan Mountains outside. Sunlight shone on his moon-white robe, gilding it with a faint golden edge. A breeze blew, and the hem of his robe fluttered gently, as if it might be carried away at any moment.

Time passed in silence.

Only one day remains until the investiture ceremony.