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

After the Taoist priest finished speaking, the alley fell into dead silence.

Only the clanging sound of armor plates clashing in the distance grew closer, surging in from both ends like a tide. The expert wielding the knife struggled to raise his head and hissed, "Shushan... are you interfering with the imperial court's arrest of a wanted criminal?" The eunuch expert stared intently at the ancient sword on the Taoist's back, blood still dripping from his severed wrist. His lips moved, but he ultimately remained silent.

In the air, the fiery figure let out a soft, enigmatic laugh. The scholar of the cold mist frowned even more deeply, while the ethereal aura fell completely silent, as if waiting.

The Taoist priest did not turn around, but slowly tightened his grip on the sword hilt.

A deep, dragon-like hum came from the sword sheath.

The buzzing sound wasn't loud, yet it seemed to carry a peculiar rhythm, causing everyone in the alley to pause in their heartbeats. Li Bai leaned against the wall, his left hand tightly gripping the Xiling jade talisman that emitted a faint golden light. The warmth emanating from the talisman was like a gentle stream, barely sustaining his collapsing consciousness. He could feel that the blue lotus in his dantian had completely withered, leaving only a few wisps of remaining sword intent, flickering like a candle in the wind.

The Taoist priest wanted to protect him?

Why?

Countless thoughts flashed through Li Bai's mind. Mount Shu… this legendary, secluded holy land of cultivation, why would it suddenly appear in Chang'an, in this dead-end alley, at the moment of his death? Was it because of the "Azure Lotus Annihilation" he had just used? Or because of the Xiling Jade Talisman in his hand? Or… because of that ethereal aura in the air?

He raised his head and looked up at the sky.

The ethereal, smoke-like aura remained suspended there, motionless. But Li Bai could sense that the owner of that aura was currently watching him—no, watching the Shu Mountain Taoist in front of him.

"Fellow Daoist of Mount Shu."

An old, gentle, yet undeniably authoritative voice suddenly came from the alley entrance.

The sound came without warning.

It was as if the speaker had always been there, only speaking now.

Everyone was taken aback.

Li Bai struggled to turn his eyes toward the alley entrance.

There, standing there, was an old Taoist priest.

The old Taoist priest wore a faded gray robe, made of ordinary fabric, even patched in some places. His hair and beard were all white, his face was thin and wrinkled, and he looked at least seventy or eighty years old. He stood there, his hands tucked into his sleeves, his back slightly hunched, just like an ordinary old Taoist sweeping the floor in a temple.

But it was precisely this kind of person who, the moment he appeared—

The imperial guards approaching from both ends of the alley stopped in their tracks.

The three powerful auras in the air simultaneously withdrew their oppressive force.

Even the Taoist priest from Mount Shu who was blocking Li Bai loosened his grip on the sword hilt slightly.

"The Imperial Advisor!"

The swordsman and the eunuch, both skilled in martial arts, spoke almost simultaneously, their voices filled with disbelief, shock, and a hint of instinctive awe. Ignoring their injuries, they struggled to rise and pay their respects, but their severe wounds allowed them only a barely perceptible bow.

The old Taoist priest—the Imperial Preceptor—waved his hand.

His movements were casual, like brushing dust off his sleeves.

But this simple action instantly dissipated most of the tense, murderous atmosphere in the alley. The stench of blood, burnt food, and dust that filled the air seemed to be soothed and purified by an invisible force, replaced by a faint, almost imperceptible sandalwood scent.

The Imperial Preceptor's gaze passed over the Taoist priest from Mount Shu and landed on Li Bai.

His gaze was calm and profound.

Li Bai felt as if he had been stripped naked and thrown into the sunlight. No, it was more thorough—he felt that his soul, his memories, the withered blue lotus in his dantian, the strangely moving jade talisman in his hand, and even the knowledge from the future in his mind, were all laid bare before him in that single glance.

There was no murderous intent, no hostility, and no curiosity in the Grand Preceptor's eyes.

There is only one kind of... all-knowing calm.

"Ugh."

The Imperial Advisor sighed softly.

Why bother?

He spoke those four words very softly, as if talking to himself, or perhaps to Li Bai. His voice carried a sense of pity, a world-weary wisdom, and a complex emotion that Li Bai could not comprehend.

The Taoist priest from Mount Shu turned around and faced the Imperial Preceptor.

He did not bow, but simply nodded slightly.

"Imperial Preceptor," the Taoist's voice remained cold, "this child, my Shu Mountain sect, shall take away."

"Take them away?" The Imperial Advisor smiled faintly, his wrinkles smoothing out. "Where to take them? To Mount Shu? Or... Xiling?"

He spoke the last two words very softly.

But Li Bai's heart skipped a beat.

Xiling!

He knew about the Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom!

For the first time, a flicker of emotion appeared in the eyes of the Taoist priest from Mount Shu. His grip on the sword hilt tightened again, and the humming sound from the scabbard became more rapid, as if it might be drawn at any moment.

"The Imperial Preceptor knows quite a lot," the Taoist said slowly.

"The longer you live, the more you naturally know." The Grand Preceptor still smiled, his gaze falling on Li Bai again. "This child, that sword strike just now... was very interesting. The Azure Lotus Sword Intent, the Path of Annihilation, and the aura of Xiling. These three things, which should be completely unrelated, were fused together in him. What's even more remarkable is his soul..."

The Imperial Advisor paused, then remained silent.

But Li Bai felt that the Imperial Preceptor's gaze seemed to penetrate his body and directly see into the depths of his soul the memories of his two lifetimes intertwined.

"What happened to his soul?" the Taoist priest from Mount Shu asked.

The Imperial Advisor shook his head: "It cannot be spoken, it cannot be spoken. Heavenly secrets must not be revealed."

He took a step forward.

This step is slow and steady.

But this one step seemed to freeze the entire alleyway. The air became thick, the light dimmed, and even sound seemed to be shut out. Li Bai felt like an insect soaked in amber, finding it difficult to even breathe.

The Imperial Preceptor stopped three feet in front of the Taoist priest from Mount Shu.

The two looked at each other.

One was white-haired and hunched over, old and frail; the other wore a green robe, carried a sword, and had a sharp, youthful face.

One represents the most unfathomable power of the Tang Dynasty, and the other represents the will of Mount Shu, a secluded holy land for cultivating immortality.

The air, at this moment, completely froze.

"Fellow Daoist," the Imperial Preceptor said slowly, "you cannot take this child away."

"Why?" asked the Taoist priest from Mount Shu.

"Because His Majesty wishes to see him." The Grand Preceptor's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority. "Today, a strange phenomenon occurred in Chang'an—a sword light shot into the sky, alarming the entire city. His Majesty witnessed it firsthand in the palace. This boy is deeply connected to the phenomenon, and His Majesty wishes to interrogate him personally."

The Taoist priest from Mount Shu remained silent.

His knuckles were slightly white as he gripped the sword hilt.

The buzzing sound from the scabbard grew more urgent and louder, like an angry dragon trapped in a cage, ready to break free at any moment.

"What if I insist on taking it away?" the Taoist priest asked slowly.

The Imperial Advisor smiled.

This time, there was a deeper meaning in his smile.

"Fellow Daoist, you may give it a try," the Imperial Preceptor said. "But I must remind you, this is Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty. No one can take away the person His Majesty wishes to see. Unless... Shu Mountain wishes to make an enemy of the entire Tang Dynasty."

He said it very softly.

But its significance is immense.

The Taoist priest from Mount Shu fell silent once more.

His gaze passed over the Imperial Preceptor and landed at both ends of the alley. There, a dense mass of imperial guards had completely surrounded the alley, at least three hundred men, armed with spears and crossbows, blocking it completely. Further away, more footsteps were approaching, mixed with the sounds of horses' hooves, clashing armor, and… a kind of immense pressure that made Li Bai's very soul tremble.

That's the direction of the palace.

That was the will of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji.

The Taoist priest from Mount Shu withdrew his gaze and looked at the Imperial Preceptor.

The two stared at each other for a full ten breaths.

Ten breaths later, the Taoist released his grip on the sword hilt.

The humming sound from the scabbard abruptly stopped.

"Very well," the Taoist said slowly. "Since His Majesty wishes to see him, then let him see him. But I must remind the Grand Preceptor that this young man carries the secrets of Xiling. If anything untoward happens to him, Shushan will not stand idly by."

"The secret of Xiling..." The Imperial Advisor repeated these four words, a barely perceptible glint flashing deep in his eyes. "Rest assured, His Majesty only wants to ask questions; he will not harm his life."

He turned around and looked at the knife-wielding expert who was lying on the ground and the eunuch expert with a severed wrist.

"Take him to the imperial prison." The Grand Preceptor's voice returned to its previous gentleness, but carried an undeniable command. "Keep a close watch on him and do not use torture. If anything goes wrong, you will be held responsible."

"yes!"

The two responded in unison, their voices filled with the relief of surviving a disaster.

The skilled eunuch struggled to his feet, using his only remaining right hand to pull a black token from his robes, which he waved at the guards at both ends of the alley. The guards immediately parted to make way, and several expressionless jailers dressed in black stepped forward, carrying specially made shackles.

The expert wielding the knife also managed to get up, clutching the sword wound in his chest, his face ashen. He looked at Li Bai with a complex expression—resentment, apprehension, and a hint of… fear that even he himself was unwilling to admit.

That sword strike, which annihilated the Azure Lotus, had left an indelible shadow in his heart.

Two jailers walked up to Li Bai.

Li Bai wanted to resist, but his body was completely out of his control. He could only watch helplessly as the heavy shackles, gleaming with a dark metallic sheen, were fastened around his wrists and ankles.

The moment the shackles closed, a cold, soul-freezing power surged from them, flowing through his meridians and rushing straight to his dantian.

Within his dantian, the withered green lotus, struck by this force, had its last remaining wisps of sword intent completely dissipate.

Li Bai groaned, and blood foam spilled from the corner of his mouth again.

He could sense that these shackles were not ordinary instruments of torture. They were inscribed with some kind of array that could suppress spiritual power, seal meridians, and render the wearer a cripple.

"Walk."

The jailer's voice was cold and devoid of any emotion.

The two men, one on each side, grabbed Li Bai's arms and dragged him out of the alley.

Li Bai did not struggle.

He didn't have the strength to struggle.

He simply turned his head and took one last look at the Taoist priest from Mount Shu who was blocking his way.

The Taoist priest remained standing there, his back to him, his green robe fluttering slightly in the morning breeze. He didn't turn around, but Li Bai could sense that the Taoist priest's divine sense was still locked onto him.

Then, Li Bai looked at the Imperial Preceptor.

The Imperial Advisor was also looking at him.

Their eyes met in mid-air.

The Imperial Advisor's eyes remained calm and profound. But this time, Li Bai saw something in those eyes that was... indescribable.

It's like curiosity, like exploration, like... anticipation?

Li Bai didn't know.

All he knew was that this suddenly appearing old Taoist priest, this mysterious figure revered as the "National Preceptor," was definitely not as simple as he appeared.

Imperial Advisor?

The Imperial Advisor of the Dynasty...

Li Bai's mind raced, searching for historical memories from the future.

Was there a national preceptor during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang?

Have.

And there's more than one.

The most famous, of course, is Zhang Guolao, who was deified by later generations, is said to have lived for hundreds of years, traveled the world on a donkey, and was well-versed in metaphysics. However, most of the historical records about Zhang Guolao are concentrated during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian. By the Kaiyuan and Tianbao eras, he had rarely appeared in the court.

Besides Zhang Guolao, who else could it be?

Ye Fashan? Luo Gongyuan? Or... those other mysterious figures who left only a few words in Taoist scriptures?

Li Bai didn't know.

But he was certain that the old Taoist priest in front of him was definitely not an ordinary person.

He could command the awe of two Foundation Establishment stage experts, make the Shu Mountain Taoists yield, mobilize hundreds of imperial guards with a single word, and represent the will of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang…

Why would someone like that be here?

Why... should we "protect" him?

Or rather, it's not about protecting, but about controlling?

Li Bai was dragged along, staggering out of the alley.

Outside the alley was a wide street. At this moment, both sides of the street were lined with guards, their spears like a forest, their crossbows like shooting stars, completely blocking the street. The doors and windows of the houses on both sides of the street were tightly shut, with only a few glimpses of fearful yet curious eyes peeking through the cracks.

The sky was now completely bright.

The morning light spilled onto the rooftops of Chang'an, casting a golden-red glow. In the distance, the imperial city appeared majestic and solemn in the morning light; its towering palace walls and soaring eaves resembled a sleeping giant slowly opening its eyes.

Li Bai was dragged onto a black carriage.

The carriage had no windows, only a heavy iron door. The interior was cramped and filled with a strange stench of mustiness and blood. Two jailers threw him onto the carriage floor and then slammed the iron door shut.

In the darkness, only the creaking of wheels rolling over the bluestone slabs and the clattering of horses' hooves striking the ground could be heard.

Li Bai lay on the cold floor, panting heavily.

Every breath he took was filled with the stench of blood and excruciating pain. His chest, abdomen, and limbs were all in agony. His meridians were severed, his vital energy was depleted, his dantian was shattered, and even his soul was weakened by the burning of his very essence.

If it weren't for the Xiling Jade Talisman in his hand, still emitting a faint, warm golden glow, he would probably have already fallen into a coma, or even... died.

He raised his left hand and held the jade talisman up to his eyes.

In the darkness, the light from the jade talisman was faint, but enough to illuminate his pale fingers and blood-stained palms.

The cracks on the jade talisman still emitted a faint golden light, like blood flowing in veins. That warm, gentle, and vast aura continued to slowly seep into his body, sustaining his last vestige of life.

"The Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom..."

Li Bai muttered to himself.

He obtained this jade talisman from the ruins of the Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom in the Shu Mountain Secret Realm. At the time, he thought it was just a token or a magical artifact containing some kind of energy.

But now it seems that it is much more than that.

It could stir something within him when he was dying, resonate with him, and sustain his life...

Moreover, both the Imperial Preceptor and the Taoist priest of Mount Shu mentioned "Xiling".

The Imperial Preceptor said, "The secret of Xiling."

The Taoist priest from Mount Shu said, "This boy carries the secrets of Xiling."

What secrets does the Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom hold?

What exactly is this jade talisman?

Li Bai didn't know.

All he knew was that his current situation was extremely dangerous.

He was imprisoned in the imperial prison, awaiting interrogation by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang... Li Longji.

This emperor, who ushered in the prosperous Kaiyuan era but also caused the An Lushan Rebellion due to his indulgence in pleasure, and who took Yang Guifei into his harem and ultimately led to the tragedy of Mawei Slope, is now to be personally interrogated.

What are they interrogating?

Today's strange phenomenon? The soaring sword light? Or... him?

Li Bai closed his eyes, forcing himself to calm down.

think.

We must think about this.

Although he is now critically injured and on the verge of death, chained up and imprisoned in the dungeon, he may still have a chance of survival.

First, the Imperial Advisor's attitude was very strange.

He could have easily killed himself on the spot, or allowed the imperial guards to shoot him to death with a hail of arrows. But he didn't. He ordered, "Keep him under close guard, and do not torture him," and said that he would let His Majesty interrogate him personally.

This doesn't seem like the attitude one would use to treat a "wanted criminal".

It's more like treating a... valuable prisoner.

Second, the appearance of the Taoist priests of Mount Shu.

Why would Mount Shu protect him? Was it because of the Xiling Jade Talisman? Or because of the "Azure Lotus Annihilation" he unleashed? Or perhaps, because of the ethereal aura in the air?

Who is the owner of that ethereal aura?

Why did that aura fall silent after the Shu Mountain Taoist appeared?

Third, two other auras in the air.

A figure amidst flames, a scholar shrouded in cold mist.

Who are they? Which faction do they belong to? Why were they drawn by the sword light? And why did they quietly retreat after the Grand Preceptor appeared?

One question after another swirled in Li Bai's mind.

But there was no answer.

The carriage was still moving forward.

The sounds of wheels, horses' hooves, occasional shouts from the streets, and the orderly footsteps of guards blended together, creating a monotonous and oppressive rhythm.

Li Bai didn't know how long the carriage had been traveling.

It might take an incense stick's time, or it might take half an hour.

Finally, the carriage came to a stop.

The iron gate was opened, and blinding sunlight streamed in.

Li Bai squinted and saw two jailers standing outside the carriage, looking at him expressionlessly.

"Get down."

The voice was icy.

Li Bai struggled to get up, but his hands and feet were shackled, and his body was too weak from his injuries. He tried several times but failed.

The jailer did not help.

They just watched coldly, as if they were looking at a dying dog.

Finally, Li Bai used all his strength to flip over and roll off the carriage.

"Bang!"

His body crashed heavily onto the bluestone ground, the intense pain causing his vision to go black and almost making him faint.

He gritted his teeth and remained silent.

I looked up and around.

This is a wide square, paved with huge bluestone slabs, with moss growing in the cracks between them. At the end of the square stands a towering, dark city wall, built of huge stones, their surfaces marked by the passage of time, with some places still bearing dark red stains, like dried blood.

In the very center of the city wall stands a heavy iron gate.

The iron gate was tightly shut, nailed with large, bowl-sized copper nails that were rusted and had turned a dark green. Above the gate hung a black plaque with two large characters written on it:

Heaven Prison.

The characters are in the clerical script, with thick strokes, exuding an aura of solemnity, oppression, and death.

This is the Chang'an Imperial Prison.

A place where serious criminals, death row inmates, and political prisoners are detained.

Of those who enter this place, less than one in a hundred will leave alive.

Li Bai was dragged up by the jailer, who held him by the arm, and led him toward the iron gate.

The iron gate slowly opened, making a creaking sound that made your teeth ache. Behind the gate was a staircase leading downwards, steep and deep, with no end in sight. Torches were stuck in the walls on both sides of the staircase, burning and crackling softly. The flickering flames stretched the mottled shadows on the walls, making them appear longer and shorter, like ghostly figures.

A cold, damp air, carrying the smells of mildew and blood, surged from the depths of the steps and hit me.

Li Bai was dragged down the steps.

One step, two steps, three steps...

The further down you go, the dimmer the light, the lower the temperature, and the more polluted the air becomes.

The torchlight could only illuminate an area of ​​about three feet around them; beyond that, there was only bottomless darkness. From the darkness, one could faintly hear the clatter of chains dragging on the ground, painful groans, and... a kind of suppressed, almost animalistic panting.

This is the entrance to hell.

Li Bai's heart sank little by little.

But he did not despair.

Because the Xiling Jade Talisman in his hand was still emitting a warm, pale golden glow.

The light was so faint that it was almost invisible in the darkness.

But it exists.

This is enough.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, the steps finally came to an end.

Before me lay a long, narrow passageway. On either side of the passageway were rows of prison cells, their doors made of heavy iron bars. Occasionally, a withered hand would peek out from the gaps in the bars, or a pair of numb, desperate, and crazed eyes would be revealed.

The jailer carried Li Bai to the cell at the far end of the corridor.

This cell was more sturdy than the others. The iron bars were not ordinary iron bars, but thick iron bars, and intricate runes were engraved on them, which gleamed with a dark blue light in the torchlight.

The jailer took out a key and opened the iron gate.

"Go in."

Li Bai was pushed inside.

The iron gate slammed shut behind them with a clang, the chains rattling as they were firmly locked in place.

The cell was completely dark.

Only outside the iron fence, the torchlight shone through the gaps, casting a few faint rays of light.

Li Bai lay on the ground, panting heavily.

The cell floor was made of hard, cold stone slabs. The air was thick with the stench of mildew, urine, and... the smell of death.

He struggled, rolled over, and sat against the wall.

The walls were equally cold, their surfaces covered in slippery moss.

He raised his left hand and held the Xiling Jade Talisman up to his eyes.

In the darkness, the light from the jade talisman became the only source of light.

The pale golden light illuminated his pale fingers, his blood-stained palms, and even... the dark runes on the shackles.

The runes shimmered slightly under the light of the jade talisman, as if they had come to life.

Li Bai stared at the runes for a long time.

Then, he closed his eyes and began to try to circulate the mental techniques of the Azure Lotus Sword Manual.

The moment the mental technique was activated, the runes on the shackles suddenly lit up, and a cold power, seemingly capable of freezing the soul, surged out from the shackles, rushing into his meridians and instantly dissipating the faint trace of true essence that had just been gathered.

"puff--"

Li Bai coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face turning even paler.

No.

These shackles were indeed able to suppress spiritual power and seal the meridians.

In his current state, it's impossible for him to break through.

He abandoned the practice of internal energy cultivation and instead focused all his attention on the Xiling Jade Talisman in his hand.

The jade talisman continued to emit a warm, pale golden glow.

The light was faint, yet persistent.

Li Bai could feel the energy contained in the faint light slowly seeping into his body, repairing his damaged meridians, nourishing his withered dantian, and maintaining his last glimmer of life.

Although it's slow, it's definitely effective.

"The Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom..."

Li Bai muttered to himself.

"What exactly are you?"

In the darkness, no one answered.

Only the crackling of torches burning outside the iron bars and the suppressed groans coming from the distant cells could be heard.

Li Bai leaned against the wall and closed his eyes.

He began to recall.

Recalling everything that happened today.

From waking up with Duan Qiniang, to meeting Yang Yuhuan, to being chased, to using "Azure Lotus Annihilation" in a desperate situation, to the appearance of the Taoist priest from Mount Shu, to the arrival of the Imperial Preceptor...

Every detail, every word, every glance.

He needs to find clues and a way to break the deadlock.

Because he cannot die here.

He still has so much to do.

He wanted to find Yang Yuhuan, change her fate, and protect her.

He wanted to uncover the secrets of the Western Mausoleum Kingdom, the purpose of Mount Shu, and the intentions of the Imperial Preceptor.

He wants to... get out of here alive.

In the darkness, time passed slowly.

I don't know how much time passed.

Footsteps suddenly came from outside the iron fence.

The footsteps were light and steady, unlike the heavy, dragging footsteps of a jailer.

Li Bai opened his eyes and looked outside the iron fence.

A figure stood outside the fence.

The torchlight illuminated the man's face.

He was a middle-aged eunuch.

The eunuch wore a dark purple official robe, had a fair complexion, no beard, and calm, expressionless eyes.

He was holding a tray in his hands.

On the tray were a bowl of water and two steamed buns.

The eunuch placed the tray on the ground and pushed it in through the gaps in the iron bars.

Then, he glanced at Li Bai.

That glance was fleeting.

But in those calm eyes, Li Bai saw a hint of... an imperceptible depth.

The eunuch spoke, his voice so low that only Li Bai could hear it:

"The Imperial Advisor asked me to tell you—"

"Wait patiently and do not act rashly."

"Your Majesty already knows the secret of the Azure Lotus."

After saying that, he turned around and disappeared into the darkness.

The footsteps faded into the distance and eventually disappeared.

The cell fell silent once again.

Li Bai stared at the tray on the ground, at the bowl of water and the two steamed buns, without touching them for a long time.

The Imperial Advisor... is he delivering a message?

Wait patiently and do not act rashly.

Does Your Majesty already know the secret of the Azure Lotus?

Li Bai's heart skipped a beat.

The Secret of the Blue Lotus...

What does that refer to?

Is it the Azure Lotus Sword? Is it the Azure Lotus Sword Intent? Or... is it the Azure Lotus Sword Manual he cultivates?

His Majesty already knows...

What did Emperor Xuanzong of Tang find out?

Li Bai raised his head and looked out at the endless darkness beyond the iron fence.

In the darkness, it was as if a pair of eyes were watching him.

Those eyes belonged to the Imperial Advisor.

It also belongs to... that emperor who sat deep within the Daming Palace, overlooking the entire Tang Dynasty.