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

Li Bai stood with his sword in hand, feeling the surging new power within him, like a mighty river, and the warm, serene yet infinitely potential-filled dark golden elixir. The sword immortal's aura slowly receded, returning to his body, but his entire demeanor was completely different, like a peerless sword sheathed, its brilliance restrained, its sharpness concealed. He looked up, his gaze sweeping across the now tranquil yet vibrant dome of the secret realm, then settling on the ancient and mysterious bronze divine tree beneath his feet, made even more ancient by the tribulation of lightning. The tree's branches and leaves rustled with the flow of spiritual energy within the realm, a faint yet rhythmic sound, as if telling a story, or perhaps waiting for something.

The tribulation clouds completely dissipated, and the dome of the secret realm once again revealed its deep and stable azure luster. Gone was the rage of thunder; instead, it flowed with a richer, purer spiritual energy. This spiritual energy, as if tempered by the tribulation, carried a fresh vitality with a faint fragrance of grass and trees, slowly descending and permeating every inch of the platform and every bronze branch and leaf. The lingering smell of burnt metal and blood in the air was quickly dispelled and purified, replaced by a calming and refreshing atmosphere, like a mountain forest after rain.

Li Bai took a deep breath, the pure spiritual energy flowing into his lungs, bringing a cool and refreshing sensation, as if every cell in his body was cheering. He clearly felt that his connection with this secret realm had become even stronger. The faint sense of oppression he had felt before had completely disappeared, replaced by a feeling of ease and comfort, like a fish in water.

Just then, something unexpected happened.

Suddenly, a soft golden halo illuminated the massive, canopy-like crown of the bronze tree. The halo wasn't dazzling; it was like the first rays of dawn, warm and sacred. Every bronze leaf, regardless of size, began to tremble slightly, emitting a clear, tinkling sound, like countless wind chimes swaying in a breeze, or some ancient and melodious tune. The already intricate and mysterious patterns on the leaf surfaces seemed to come alive, flowing with a faint golden light.

As the divine tree stirred, the entire secret realm began to respond.

From all directions—in the void, on the rock walls, and even deep within the cracks of the platform beneath their feet—countless points of light appeared out of thin air. These points of light varied in color: some were pure milky white, some vibrant emerald green, some deep and calm earthy yellow, and some sharp and bright pale gold… Like fireflies summoned by nature, they rose from every corner of the secret realm, converging into dazzling ribbons of light that slowly drifted toward Li Bai in the center of the platform.

As the points of light drew near, Li Bai could sense the pure and gentle energy contained within them, as well as faint, ancient, and indistinct fragments of information. He did not resist; instead, he opened his mind, allowing these points of light to enter his body like weary birds returning to their nests.

The light entered his body, bringing a strange warmth. It did not directly transform into internal energy, but rather, like the finest spring rain, silently nourished his newly stabilized golden core, gently nurturing his meridians and body, which, although transformed after the tribulation, were still somewhat "new and tender." Some of it even directly merged into his sea of ​​consciousness, merging with his perfected "Red Dust Sword Heart."

In an instant, countless fragmented images, indistinct sounds, and ineffable insights flooded into Li Bai's consciousness like a tide.

He "saw" a vaster, more magnificent bronze civilization, with countless towering bronze trees standing on the expansive land, their branches reaching the heavens and their roots penetrating the netherworld, communicating with heaven, earth, and the gods. He "heard" ancient, obscure sacrificial chants, and saw priests wearing golden masks singing and dancing beneath the trees, worshipping the sun, moon, stars, mountains, and rivers. He "felt" a powerful and ancient will, as weighty as the earth and as profound as the starry sky, guarding this land and recording the rise and fall of civilizations.

The image shattered and then reassembled.

He "saw" the unique architectural style and rune system of the Xiling Divine Kingdom, which subtly echoed the patterns on the bronze divine tree before him. He "sensed" that this secret realm was not naturally formed, but rather a "mezzanine" space created by an ancient civilization combining some incredible power—a "seed bank" and "testing ground" of civilization. The bronze divine tree was the core of this space, the eye of the array, and the carrier of inheritance.

He also "saw" some more blurred and distant scenes—huge, strangely shaped bronze vessels, jade scepters engraved with mysterious symbols, and... fragments of remains that seemed not to belong to this world, with a cold metallic luster and strange flowing light, mixed with relics of the Bronze Age, buried deep in the earth's veins. On those fragments of remains, there were faint "three-star" markings.

Information flooded his mind like a torrent. But Li Bai's mind had already been tempered and stabilized during the tribulation of lightning; he simply accepted and sorted through these fragments calmly. He understood that this was the secret realm, or rather, the bronze divine tree, providing "feedback" for his successful passage through the Golden Core tribulation and gaining its approval. This information was not a systematic inheritance, but rather a kind of imprint, a mark of recognition, unveiling for him a corner of the mysterious veil of this secret realm, and even the Xiling Divine Kingdom and the ancient Sanxingdui civilization connected to it.

Meanwhile, the pure energy within those points of light continued to solidify his realm. In his dantian, the dark golden Azure Lotus Sword Core became increasingly solid and warm, its surface patterns clearer and more profound. As it slowly rotated, its efficiency in absorbing and releasing spiritual energy increased several times over. His meridians were widened and strengthened, like broad and resilient river channels, capable of accommodating even more turbulent torrents of internal energy. His sea of ​​consciousness became clearer and more expansive, and the tentacles of his divine sense became sharper and more stable.

After an unknown amount of time—perhaps a brief moment of perception within the secret realm, or perhaps several hours—all the points of light finally merged into Li Bai's body. The golden halo emanating from the bronze divine tree slowly receded, and the soft rustling of its branches and leaves gradually subsided, restoring its ancient and serene demeanor. However, the entire tree appeared even more vibrant, and the bronze leaves seemed to possess an additional layer of warm luster.

Li Bai slowly exhaled a breath of stale air. This breath was long and deep, lingering in the air and carrying a faint golden luster before slowly dissipating. He opened his eyes, his gaze filled with inner light, and his perception of his own condition and the surrounding environment had reached a completely new level.

With a thought, the Azure Lotus Sword in his hand immediately emitted a cheerful hum.

"Small," he said softly.

The Azure Lotus Sword flashed with light, instantly shrinking into a streak of azure light about an inch long. It darted into his palm with a "whoosh," traveling along his meridians before finally hovering quietly in his dantian, resonating with the Azure Lotus Sword Core. The sword tip lightly touched the core, and their energies merged, becoming one. Li Bai could clearly feel that with a single thought, it could instantly appear in his hand, or… even faster, appear at any location locked by his divine sense.

"Big," he murmured again.

Within his dantian, the Azure Lotus Sword trembled slightly. The next moment, a beam of azure light shot from Li Bai's palm, growing longer in the wind, and in the blink of an eye, it returned to its original three-foot-long azure blade, firmly held in his hand. The sword's luster flowed, clearer and more translucent than before, as if carved from the finest azure jade, yet containing an indestructible sharpness. The patterns on the hilt perfectly matched the patterns on his palm, feeling warm and comfortable to hold, as if tailor-made.

Li Bai flicked his wrist slightly, twirling his sword in a flourish.

Without channeling any internal energy, merely using the strength of his wrist to move the sword, a crisp sound of tearing silk rang out in the air. A faint, almost invisible cyan sword mark flashed and disappeared in the void, slowly dissipating only after a long while. Where the sword's edge passed, the air seemed to be sliced ​​open, leaving a brief vacuum trail.

"What a fine sword!" Li Bai couldn't help but exclaim. The Azure Lotus Sword was now perfectly connected to his mind and spirit, as responsive as an extension of his own arm, its size and shape changing in the blink of an eye, controlled at his will. More importantly, he could feel the nascent, nascent spirituality within the sword growing strong, resonating wondrously with his perfected "Sword Heart of the Mortal World." This was no longer just a weapon, but an extension of his path, a companion in his life.

He stood still, sword in hand, and the many chapters of the "Red Dust Sword Manual" naturally came to mind. Those sword techniques and supernatural abilities that were once difficult to understand and could only be memorized by force but whose essence was hard to grasp, now shone with their due brilliance, like pearls wiped clean of dust.

"Azure Lotus in Bloom," a protective sword technique that can be used even in the Foundation Establishment stage, now takes on a new form in his eyes. It is not merely a simple sword aura protecting the body, but can also draw upon the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth to form a slowly blooming azure lotus of sword aura, integrating offense and defense, and endlessly regenerating.

"A Line in the Mortal World," originally a thrusting sword move that pursued ultimate speed and sharpness, now subtly connects with space and causality. The sword strike seems capable of severing afflictions and directly targeting the flaws in one's own heart.

"All things return to dust," a vast storm of sword energy. In his perception, each sword energy now contains different "worldly meanings"—joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, greed, hatred, and delusion... The sword energy crisscrosses, evolving into all things in the mortal world. In the end, all swords return to their origin and return to dust. The power and artistic conception are incomparable.

There are even more profound techniques, such as "Sword Heart Clarity," "Severing Fate," and "Seeking the Way"... These sword techniques involve spirit, cause and effect, and even the Great Way. Although they are still profound, they are no longer out of reach. Instead, they have clear directions for understanding and possibilities for entry.

Li Bai closed his eyes, using his fingers as a sword to slowly trace lines in the air. Without using his inner energy, the mere movement of his fingers subtly stirred the surrounding spiritual energy, creating gentle breezes. His movements were sometimes as swift as lightning, sometimes as gentle as clouds, sometimes as heavy as a mountain, and sometimes as light as a feather. His demonstration of a basic sword technique flowed smoothly and naturally, each move seemingly imbued with a unique charm, resonating subtly with this secret realm and this world.

He felt stronger than ever before.

This power is not merely a surge in strength, but a precise and meticulous control over that strength, a clear understanding of one's own "Dao," and a deeper comprehension of the rules of heaven and earth. Every gesture can summon wind and thunder; wherever the mind goes, the sword's edge arrives. The Golden Core Realm is indeed a leap to the heavens, a qualitative leap in the level of life.

However, along with this immense power comes not only joy and pride, but also a heavy, clearer sense of responsibility and the weight of making choices.

He recalled the illusions from his inner demons. He remembered his modern life, when he possessed knowledge but lacked power, forced to watch helplessly as his wife sank into the mire and ultimately met a tragic end. He recalled the profound sense of powerlessness he felt upon first entering the Tang Dynasty, facing the torrent of history and the oppression of imperial power. Now, he possessed the power, enough to overcome many of the obstacles that once stood in his way.

But then what?

If he were in the Tang Dynasty, having already achieved the Golden Core Sword Immortal realm, would he truly dare to storm the palace, stain the imperial city with blood, and forcibly reclaim Yang Guifei? With his current strength, perhaps he could indeed do so. But what would the consequences be? Emperor Xuanzong would die, the court would be thrown into turmoil, ambitious regional warlords would seize the opportunity to rise up, and the An Lushan Rebellion might erupt prematurely, or even be more devastating. What had the common people done to deserve such suffering? How could Li Bai, for the sake of personal love, plunge the people into misery? What essential difference would there be between that and the "self" who, during his inner demonic tribulation, stirred up a bloody storm to seize power?

If he returned in modern times with his Golden Core cultivation and memories of two lifetimes, would he seek revenge and ruthlessly slaughter the Liu Han Group from top to bottom? With the power of a sword immortal, doing so might not be difficult. But what then? Where are the boundaries of the law? Where is the bottom line of order? If everyone reveres strength and uses violence to combat violence, how is this world any different from a chaotic world? What he seeks is to rescue Yang Xiaohuan, to allow her, her family, and many more people like them to live in a safe, just, and orderly environment, not to create new fear and chaos.

Power is a knife; it can protect, it can wound, and it is more likely to bring disaster. How to use this power to find a balance between emotion and reason, between the individual and the common people, between personal vendettas and the rules of order, and to make choices, is far more difficult than acquiring the power itself.

Li Bai opened his eyes, his gaze clear and resolute. Having endured the tribulations of lightning and the tempering of his inner demons, his Dao heart was no longer that of the timid, impulsive, or confused youth he once was. He understood that his "Sword Dao of the Mortal World" was neither simply about brute force nor about escaping the world, but about refining his heart in the mortal realm, using his sword to protect everything worth protecting, severing the karmic obstacles that must be severed, and at the same time, bearing the price and weight of his choices.

He gently stroked the cool blade of the Azure Lotus Sword and whispered, "Old friend, we'll walk this path together from now on. When it's time to draw your sword, don't hesitate; when it's time to sheathe it, know how to restrain yourself."

The Azure Lotus Sword trembled slightly, emanating a sense of closeness and acceptance.

It's time to leave.

Li Bai turned to face the bronze divine tree that stood silently, seemingly unchanging since time immemorial. He straightened his robe, which was somewhat damaged by the lightning tribulation but appeared even more weathered, and with a solemn expression, he clasped his hands and bowed deeply to the divine tree.

This bow was an expression of gratitude for the platform provided to help him overcome his tribulation; gratitude for the feedback that helped him consolidate his cultivation; and even more so, gratitude for this secret realm and the legacy left by this ancient civilization, which enabled him to take this crucial step.

The bronze tree was silent, its branches and leaves swaying gently in the spiritual breeze, rustling softly, as if responding, or perhaps simply a natural rhythm.

After the ceremony, Li Bai straightened up. With a slight thought, the power of the dantian circulated, and the Azure Lotus Sword hummed softly, automatically flying to his feet. The sword flashed and instantly expanded to three feet wide and ten feet long, steadily supporting his body.

The oppressive feeling from the secret realm had vanished. Li Bai felt as light as a swallow, his mind and sword intent in perfect harmony, and the Azure Lotus Sword beneath his feet transformed into a streak of azure light, carrying him slowly into the air.

Leaving the platform, they ascended into the void of the secret realm. Looking down, the bronze divine tree remained majestic and mysterious, while the cracks on the platform bore witness to the breathtaking tribulation they had just undergone. Around them, the secret realm was vast and deep, the rock walls shimmering with various spiritual lights, and it seemed that even more secrets awaited discovery in the distance.

But Li Bai did not stop. He adjusted his direction based on a faint sense he had gleaned from the feedback from the secret realm while consolidating his cultivation, as well as the unseen pull of the agreement between himself and the High Priest of the Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom.

The Azure Lotus Sword shone brilliantly!

"Walk!"

With a soft shout, the azure sword light suddenly accelerated, transforming into a streak of light tearing through the dark void, hurtling towards the location where the space seemed relatively weak, as if connected by a passage. As the sword light passed, it left a long, gradually fading trail behind it, like a shooting star streaking across the sky.

The wind of the secret realm whistled past his ears, yet was repelled by the aura emanating from the sword light. Li Bai stood on the sword, his robes fluttering and his long hair flying. His gaze was like lightning, fixed straight ahead, his divine sense extending forward like invisible tentacles, probing the path and possible spatial fluctuations.

In his heart, one thought was crystal clear: first, return to the Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom and meet the High Priest. Then... he would return to the mortal world to settle the karmic entanglements that spanned two lifetimes and three lifetimes.

The sword flashed like lightning, charging forward without hesitation.