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

The gate formed by sword blades was three zhang high and about two zhang wide, with countless swords of various shapes intertwined, creating an impenetrable barrier. Some swords were ancient and heavy, some were light and graceful, some were menacing, and some were compassionate and peaceful. Each sword exuded a unique sword intent, and these sword intents intertwined to form a chaotic and powerful pressure, making it difficult for Li Bai to breathe.

The Azure Lotus Sword trembled violently in his hand, its blade gleaming with a brilliant azure light, as if it had encountered a kindred spirit, or as if it were challenging this gate.

Li Bai could sense that something was waiting for him in the space behind the door.

That was a trial.

It's a test.

It's also... an opportunity.

He gripped the hilt tightly and channeled his spiritual energy into the Azure Lotus Sword. Layers of lotus patterns on the blade lit up, and a phantom of a blue lotus flower condensed at the tip. The lotus petals slowly rotated, emanating a pure yet sharp sword intent.

No hesitation.

Li Bai raised his sword and took a step forward.

The moment the sword tip touched the blade gate, the entire gate trembled violently. Countless blades simultaneously emitted a sharp, piercing sound, as if ten thousand swords were ringing out in unison. The swords on the gate began to move, rearranging and combining to form a vortex-shaped entrance.

Deep within the entrance, there is light.

there's noise.

There was... a familiar scent.

Li Bai took a deep breath and stepped inside.

At that very moment—

"Wait a minute!"

A voice came from behind.

Li Bai paused, his sword tip just three inches from the entrance to the vortex. He turned and saw the High Priestess at the end of the spiral staircase. She held a scepter, her white robes stained with dust, and her face showed obvious fatigue, but her eyes were still as bright as stars.

"How long can the passage last?" Li Bai asked.

"Less than a quarter of an hour." The high priest strode over, his scepter striking the ground with a crisp sound. "But that's not why I'm stopping you."

She stopped three zhang in front of the gate of sword blades, her gaze sweeping over the countless swords before settling on Li Bai's face.

"Are you sure you want to go in?"

Li Bai hardly hesitated.

He recalled the helplessness in the imperial prison—the cold iron bars, the contemptuous eyes of the jailers, and how he could only watch helplessly as Yang Yuhuan was sent to the deep palace. He thought of Yang Yuhuan's possible fate—at Mawei Slope, a three-foot-long white silk ribbon, her life extinguished. He remembered the sorrow in Yang Xiaohuan's eyes in his previous life—those eyes, blurred by tears, held so much unspeakable helplessness and despair.

Without power, all protection is just empty talk.

Poetic talent alone is nothing more than a plaything for the emperor's amusement.

Having historical memory is nothing more than being a bystander who knows the tragedy in advance.

He needs strength.

The power that can truly change destiny and protect loved ones.

"I am willing to go."

Li Bai's voice echoed in the underground space, calm and resolute.

The high priest gave him a deep look.

Her gaze was complex and difficult to decipher—it contained admiration, worry, and a hint of barely perceptible pity. She remained silent for a moment, then slowly raised her scepter, and the purple crystal began to emit a soft light.

"In that case, I will preside over the final ceremony for you."

She walked to the gate of swords and lightly tapped the ground with her scepter. Circles of purple runes spread from the tip of the scepter, forming a circular magic circle three zhang in diameter on the ground. The circle had twelve nodes at its edge, each displaying an ancient character—ancient runes inherited from the Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom.

"This gate leads to the core trial grounds of the Sanxingdui Mystic Realm." The High Priest's voice became solemn and dignified. "The trial is not merely a test of strength, but also a tempering of your 'sword heart.' You will confront the deepest fears, desires, obsessions, and regrets within your heart. Each sword represents a philosophy of swordsmanship, a choice in life. What you must do is not to sever them, but to understand them, and then... transcend them."

Li Bai gripped the Green Lotus Sword tightly.

The sword felt warm to the touch, as if responding to its master's determination.

"What is Kenshin?" he asked.

The high priest did not answer directly.

She raised her left hand, her fingertips tracing paths in the air. Those paths coalesced into light, forming flowing text. The text was ancient and beautiful, each character imbued with the essence of swordsmanship.

"This is the foundational mental cultivation method of the Azure Lotus Sword Manual, three times more complete than the fragments you obtained outside," the High Priest said. "I am now passing it on to you to help you solidify your foundation. If you encounter danger during the trials, circulating this mental cultivation method will keep your mind clear and prevent you from being misled by illusions."

As soon as he finished speaking, the words "light" transformed into streams of light and flew toward Li Bai's brow.

Li Bai offered no resistance.

The instant the light entered his body, a massive amount of information flooded his mind. It was a complete system of sword cultivation—from guiding qi into the body to condensing sword essence, from basic sword techniques to comprehending sword intent, every step was explained clearly and thoroughly. More importantly, the mental cultivation method contained the essence of a "purple lotus"—rising from the mud unsullied, cleansed by the clear ripples without being seductive, upright and straight, without tendrils or branches.

This artistic conception resonates with the Green Lotus Sword in Li Bai's hand.

The sword vibrated, emitting a cheerful hum.

Li Bai could feel that his understanding of the Azure Lotus Sword was improving rapidly. The sword moves that were originally obscure and difficult to understand were now clear and easy to comprehend; the sword techniques that required repeated practice to master now seemed to have been practiced hundreds of times.

"Thank you," he said sincerely.

The high priest shook his head and took out a jade bottle from his robes.

The jade bottle was pure white, with lotus patterns carved on its surface. She opened the stopper and poured out three pills. The pills were pale blue, with nine natural lines on their surface, and emitted a refreshing fragrance.

"This is the 'Nine-Turn Azure Lotus Pill,' made primarily from the azure lotus flower that blooms only once every three thousand years in the secret realm." The High Priest handed the pill to Li Bai. "Taking one pill will greatly increase the speed of spiritual energy recovery within twelve hours, while also protecting the heart meridian and resisting attacks on the soul. In the event of a life-or-death crisis, taking three pills together will unleash three times the combat power, but afterwards, the meridians will be damaged, requiring three months of quiet recuperation."

Li Bai accepted the elixir.

The pill felt warm and smooth to the touch, and its delicate fragrance filled his nostrils, invigorating him. He could sense the immense medicinal power contained within it—a precious elixir powerful enough to allow a Foundation Establishment cultivator to break through their bottleneck.

"Such a priceless treasure..."

"Compared to the risks you are about to face, these are nothing," the high priest interrupted him. "Remember, time flows differently in the Trial Grounds than outside. You may stay inside for days or even months, but at most half an hour will pass outside. This is the rule of the secret realm, and it is your only chance—you must return before the passage completely closes."

She paused, then lowered her voice: "If you exceed the time limit, you will be trapped in the Trial Grounds forever, becoming a part of those sword intents."

Li Bai felt a chill run down his spine.

He glanced at the jade pendant at his waist—fine cracks had appeared on its surface, and the edges were turning red and hot. It was a sign that the passage was about to collapse.

"I see."

The high priest stepped back three paces and raised his scepter high.

The purple crystal burst forth with dazzling light, and all twelve rune nodes lit up simultaneously. The magic circle began to rotate, and beams of purple light shot into the sky, connecting with the Blade Gate. The blades on the gate vibrated even more violently, and the vortex entrance gradually stabilized, forming a light gate with a diameter of five feet.

Inside the portal, the scenery constantly shifts.

At times, it reveals a magnificent palace; at other times, it transforms into a battlefield of corpses and blood; and still other times, it becomes the bustling streets of Chang'an. Every scene is terrifyingly real, as if you could reach out and touch it.

"This is a sign of trial," the high priest's voice came from within the light. "What you see is a projection of your own inner self. Once inside, remain true to yourself and remember why you came."

Li Bai took a deep breath.

He carefully put away the three Nine-Turn Azure Lotus Pills, gripped the Azure Lotus Sword tightly, and took one last look at the High Priest.

The high priest was also watching him.

In those eyes, there was expectation, blessing, and a complex emotion that Li Bai couldn't understand.

"Take care," she said.

Li Bai nodded and turned to face the portal.

The scene inside the portal froze on a familiar setting—a street in Chengdu in 2003, neon lights flashing, traffic flowing. On a street corner, Yang Xiaohuan was being supported by two tattooed men, tears welling in her eyes, yet she forced a cold demeanor.

"Li Bai, stop bothering me!"

That voice, having traversed a thousand years, reappears at this moment.

Li Bai's heart pounded.

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, only determination remained in them.

Step out.

The Azure Lotus Sword is in front, and the person follows behind.

The portal rippled violently, as if a boulder had been thrown into the water. Countless blades emitted sharp clangs, and the entire underground space began to tremble. Li Bai's figure was swallowed by the light and disappeared into the depths of the vortex.

The light gate fluctuated for a full ten breaths before slowly calming down.

The sword blades on the door were rearranged, restoring the barrier to its original shape. However, a human-shaped hole appeared in the center of the barrier—the trace of Li Bai passing through.

The high priest lowered his scepter, and the light of the magic circle gradually faded.

She stood there, gazing at the sword-bladed door, speechless for a long time.

The underground space returned to silence.

Only the faint sword aura left by the Azure Lotus Sword still slowly dissipates in the air.

After a long while, the high priest murmured to himself, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible:

"The tribulations of the mortal world, the chosen one. I hope you... can truly forge a different path."

She turned and walked toward the spiral staircase.

Hurried footsteps echoed from the top of the stairs. Four elders appeared at the entrance, each with an air of anxiety and exhaustion on their face.

"High Priest, the passage can't hold up any longer!" the red-robed elder's voice was hoarse. "It can only last for another quarter of an hour at most!"

The high priest nodded and ascended the steps.

When she returned to the temple square, the sight before her made her heart sink.

The portal connecting the Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom and the Sanxingdui Secret Realm was now riddled with spiderweb-like cracks. Its silver aura fluctuated violently, as if it might collapse at any moment. The four elders maintaining the barrier were pale, their foreheads covered in cold sweat; they had clearly reached their limit.

Duan Qiniang stood outside the barrier, her hands clenched tightly, her nails digging into her palms.

She saw the high priest return alone, and her face turned deathly pale instantly.

"He...he went in?" The voice trembled.

"He's inside." The high priest walked to the center of the altar, slamming his scepter on the ground. "Seal the temple plaza. No one may approach until he returns or... confirms his failure."

"What?" Elder Aoki frowned. "High Priest, the passage is about to collapse. We should close it immediately to prevent the power of the secret realm from leaking out..."

"I said, close off the plaza." The high priest's voice suddenly turned cold.

An invisible pressure emanated from her.

That was the majesty of the High Priest of the Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom—after three hundred years of cultivation, he held the power of the secret realm, and his word could decide life and death. The four elders simultaneously felt a weight on their hearts, as if a mountain was pressing down on them, making it difficult to even breathe.

Elder Aoki opened his mouth, but ultimately lowered his head: "Yes, sir."

The high priest looked at Duan Qiniang: "You should leave too."

"I'll wait here," Duan Qiniang said stubbornly.

"Waiting for what?" The high priest's voice remained icy. "Waiting for him to return? Or waiting for the passage to collapse, so the power of the secret realm can tear you to pieces?"

Duan Qiniang bit her lip, remaining silent but not moving.

The high priest looked at her for a moment, then suddenly sighed.

The sigh was soft, yet it seemed to drain all her strength. The dignity on her face vanished, replaced by a deep weariness.

"That's enough." She waved her hand. "Stand at the edge of the altar, and don't come within ten feet of the portal. If the passage collapses, I will use my last strength to protect you."

Duan Qiniang's eyes lit up: "Thank you, High Priest!"

She walked quickly to the edge of the altar, found a stone pillar to lean against and sat down, her gaze never leaving the gate of light.

The high priest raised his scepter again.

The purple crystal shone brightly again, but this time it was noticeably dimmer. She inserted the scepter into the groove in the center of the altar, formed a mudra with her hands, and chanted an ancient incantation.

As the incantation resounded, the twelve stone pillars surrounding the altar lit up simultaneously. A rune appeared at the top of each pillar, projecting a light screen that formed a transparent barrier at the edge of the plaza.

The barrier sealed off the entire temple square.

From the outside, the plaza appears shrouded in a layer of water, the scene blurred and indistinct. From the inside, everything outside seems distant and illusory, except for the luminous gate at the center of the altar, which remains clear.

"Now, all we can do is wait." The high priest sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes.

The four elders also sat down to regulate their breathing and recover.

Time passed by, second by second.

The sound of the pendant shattering was particularly clear in the silent square.

***

Inside the light gate.

Li Bai felt himself falling.

It was a strange feeling of weightlessness, as if he were falling from a great height, yet there was no wind, no sound, only endless light flowing before his eyes. He gripped the Azure Lotus Sword tightly, the warmth emanating from its blade keeping him conscious.

I don't know how much time has passed; it might be a moment, or it might be a year.

I could feel the solidity beneath my feet.

He landed.

The moment Li Bai opened his eyes, he was stunned.

What lay before him was not the training ground he had imagined, nor a sword formation, nor an illusion, but rather... a study.

A study he knew all too well.

The walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, filled with geology monographs, engineering manuals, and field investigation notes. A large desk stood by the window, piled with blueprints, a calculator, and a half-cup of cold coffee. The air was thick with the smell of paper and ink, mingled with the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms drifting in from outside.

This is his office in the Department of Geology at Tianfu University of Technology.

The office in 2003.

Li Bai looked down at himself.

He was wearing a faded blue overall, with a "Geological Engineer" badge pinned to his chest. He carried no sword, only a drawing pencil. On the table lay a geological map of the Sichuan Basin, with several suspicious faults marked in red.

The school bell rang outside the window, and the students' chatter grew louder as they approached.

Everything felt terrifyingly real.

Li Bai walked to the window and opened it.

The September sun streamed in, bringing warmth. On the playground, students hurried by, carrying their books, while the sound of dribbling basketballs echoed from the court. In the distance, the glass facade of the library reflected golden light.

He reached out and touched the windowsill.

It felt cold to the touch, and there was a thin layer of dust on his fingertips—dust that had accumulated during his two-week business trip.

"This...is it an illusion?"

Li Bai muttered to himself.

But if it were an illusion, it was far too real. He could smell the osmanthus blossoms, feel the warmth of the sunlight, and hear every single sound. Even the bitter smell of the coffee on the table was exactly the same as he remembered.

"Mr. Li, still working overtime?"

A familiar voice came from the doorway.

Li Bai suddenly turned around.

A middle-aged man stood at the door, wearing the same work clothes and holding a lunchbox. That was his colleague, Lao Zhang, a senior member of the geology department, who had died three years ago after falling off a cliff during a field expedition.

"Old Zhang?" Li Bai's voice was a little dry.

"What's wrong? Don't you recognize me?" Old Zhang walked in with a smile, put the lunchbox on the table, and said, "I brought you some steamed buns from the cafeteria, meat-filled, still warm."

The aroma of steamed buns wafted out as the lunchbox was opened.

That was Chef Wang's specialty in the cafeteria—thin-skinned, generously filled, and juicy. Old Zhang would bring him two back every time he came back from a business trip.

Li Bai looked at Old Zhang's face.

That face bore the wrinkles of time, the dark spots from years of working outdoors, and a hearty smile. Everything was exactly as I remembered, even the scar on the corner of his right eye—a cut from a rock ten years ago on the banks of the Jinsha River—was exactly the same.

"What's the date today?" Li Bai suddenly asked.

"September 18th?" Old Zhang looked at him strangely. "Have you gotten confused from working overtime? Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, the department is on holiday, aren't you going home to be with Xiao Huan?"

Xiao Huan.

Yang Xiaohuan.

Li Bai's heart clenched suddenly.

"Where...is she?"

"Where else could I be? I'll be waiting for you at home." Old Zhang patted him on the shoulder. "I'm telling you, Engineer Li, no matter how busy you are with work, you still have to take care of your family. Xiao Huan is such a good girl, marrying a poor geologist like you, she's never complained. And you, on the other hand, you're always in the office, is that appropriate?"

Li Bai remained silent.

He walked to the desk and looked at the geological map.

The red markings on the map were made three days before his death. At that time, he was investigating a hidden fault beneath the Chengdu Plain, suspecting that the fault was related to several small earthquakes in history. If the investigation had continued, perhaps an earlier warning could have been issued, avoiding some losses.

But he didn't get his chance.

Three days later, he died in the street, killed by thugs from Liu Han's gang.

"Old Zhang," Li Bai suddenly spoke, "if I told you I'd die tomorrow, would you believe me?"

Old Zhang was stunned.

He stared at Li Bai for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Engineer Li, you've gone a bit too far with that joke. How could you die out of nowhere? Is the work pressure too much? How about I approve your leave, and you can take Xiao Huan on a trip to relax?"

Li Bai shook his head.

He walked to the bookshelf and pulled out a book titled "Sichuan Earthquake Geology." He turned to a page with his notes: "The Qingcheng Mountain-Longmen Mountain fault zone has an activity cycle of about three hundred years; the next active period is expected around 2008."

2008 years.

The Wenchuan earthquake.

That happened five years after he died in his previous life.

If he had lived that long, if he had been able to continue his research, perhaps... perhaps he could have done more.

"Old Zhang," Li Bai closed the book, "If I die, you'll continue this project for me. Focus on investigating the Longmenshan Fault Zone, especially the Yingxiu-Beichuan section. It's...very dangerous there."

Old Zhang's smile gradually disappeared.

He walked up to Li Bai and looked him over carefully: "Engineer Li, what's wrong with you today? Did something happen? Did you and Xiao Huan have a fight?"

"No." Li Bai turned to look out the window. "It's just... I suddenly realized something."

Outside the window, the sun is setting.

The golden rays of the setting sun bathed the campus as students walked in twos and threes toward the cafeteria. Everything was so peaceful, so beautiful, as if disaster would never strike.

But Li Bai knew that this was just an appearance.

Beneath this calm surface, criminal gangs are growing, historical tragedies are brewing, and the fates of countless people are heading down a predetermined path.

And he was powerless to change it.

but now……

Li Bai lowered his head and looked at his hands.

His hands were empty; he had no sword.

But he could sense that the Azure Lotus Sword was there—deep in his soul, in his consciousness, in his obsession that spanned a thousand years.

"This isn't true," he said softly.

"What?" Old Zhang didn't hear clearly.

"I say, this isn't real." Li Bai raised his head, a glint of blue light flashing in his eyes. "Everything here is just an illusion. It's my memory, my regret, my... obsession."

The moment the words left his mouth, the office began to warp.

The bookshelf collapsed, pages fluttering. The view outside the window shattered into countless points of light, and Old Zhang's figure gradually blurred. The aroma of steamed buns dissipated, replaced by a chilling sword intent.

Li Bai closed his eyes.

When he opened his eyes again, he was still standing inside the portal of light.

Beneath his feet lay cold stone slabs, surrounded by shimmering light. In his hand, the Azure Lotus Sword emitted a clear, melodious sound, its lotus patterns shining like stars.

Ahead, from the depths of the light, came an ancient voice:

"The first trial, the tribulation of obsession, has been passed."

"Now, the second trial begins."

"Are you ready?"