The spiritual energy was restored, and he became a mortal immortal in two days.

The Lingxiao group finished reading the latest chapter of the autobiography.

Seeing the magnificent description of "all the ancestral temples coming to pay homage, first to the holy teacher", and the "daily" ending of Chen Xiang watering orchids on the top of Tianmen Mountain, my feelings were extremely complicated.

"Three hundred years... from a secular dynasty on the verge of collapse to a celestial dynasty where all sects paid tribute..."

Li Rui murmured, "Just because of one person, one line."

"Pei Hanchuan... so that's how he lost."

Researcher Zhou Wenyuan smiled wryly, "Three swords... no, strictly speaking, it's three commentaries plus one counter-attack."

"No wonder he reacted that way when he saw the illustrations for his autobiography."

"My Dao heart was almost shattered, and even my natal sword cracked. Anyone would have become depressed in that situation."

"The Holy Master's golden body, a symbol of his virtues, is worshipped by all..."

Ye Qing's eyes flickered. "This is not just a show of force; it's about completely imprinting the symbol of 'Saint Master' into the civilization and destiny of that era."

"No wonder there are so many legends about the 'Holy Teacher' in later generations, and he is so revered."

Qin Zhenshan remained silent, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the table.

He was pondering a deeper question: Did Chen Xuan, in this era, intentionally or unintentionally draw some kind of "line"?

Is his attitude toward Xianyun Temple, Lu Yao, and Taiqing Temple also a kind of implicit "protection" and "boundary"?

Dr. Wang Mingyuan, meanwhile, stared intently at the description of Chen Xiang watering flowers at the end of his autobiography, his eyes behind his glasses gleaming with excitement.

"It's definitely him!"

"This stark contrast, this detached attitude of being completely indifferent to grand narratives and focusing only on the small things at hand... is exactly the same as the Chen Xuan we are observing now!"

He lowered his voice and said to Qin Zhenshan, "Commander Qin, I'm 90% certain that Chen Xuan is Chen Xiang! At least in some essential sense, he's the same being!"

In Shu, outside the forbidden area of ​​Broken Sword Cliff in the back mountain of Yuqing Sword Ruins, a temporary observation and analysis station was set up.

The night was deep, the moon was bright and the stars were few.

The cold, solitary silhouette of Broken Sword Cliff, under the moonlight, resembles a giant sword piercing the sky, exuding a chilling aura.

The makeshift analysis station was brightly lit, with various monitoring instruments humming softly, and the screens displaying stable, yet somewhat oppressive, energy readings in the direction of Broken Sword Cliff.

The analysts from Lingxiao who were stationed here, as well as the elders from Jianxu who were responsible for assisting, all gathered in front of the central screen.

The screen is currently frozen on the description in the autobiography of the scene where Chen Xiang draws a line with his finger, dissecting Pei Hanchuan's "Hanchuan Sword Soul" and causing the sword to crack.

Ye Li stood alone in front of the observation window a little further away, the cool moonlight shining on her, her moon-white Lingxiao uniform spotless.

She didn't look at the screen, but quietly gazed at the silent cave in the distance, holding a thin, paper-like e-reader in her hands, which displayed chapters related to her autobiography.

She read very slowly, as if savoring each word in her mind.

"I see......."

Ye Li murmured to herself, her clear, cold voice sounding particularly distinct in the quiet observation station, "No wonder that in the later stages of the Sword Dao Era, Master suddenly announced that he would go into seclusion and never concern himself with worldly affairs again."

"The records of the Jade Purity Sword Ruins are vague, only saying that the master has broken through to a higher realm of swordsmanship and needs to calmly comprehend it..."

She slowly turned around, her profile in the moonlight exquisite yet possessing an icy coldness.

"Where is the path to a higher realm...?"

Her voice was even lower, carrying a barely audible complexity, "Clearly, his sword heart was damaged, his foundation was shaken, and he had no choice but to go into seclusion to heal, or rather, to escape."

Her words drew the attention of everyone in the observation station.

A young elder from the Sword Ruins couldn't help but argue, "Junior Sister Ye Li, you can't say that!"

"Grandmaster Pei's swordsmanship was divine. Back then, after defeating... well, after his duel with that holy master, he must have gained some insights, which is why he chose to go into seclusion to hone his skills!"

"Look at our grandmaster, now reincarnated, his sword intent surpasses even his former self; when he emerged from seclusion, his sword energy soared to the heavens..."

"Even better than before?"

Ye Li interrupted him, her tone still calm, yet carrying an undeniable penetrating power, "If you truly are better than before, and have broken through the mental barriers of yesteryear, why did you suddenly lose your composure when you saw the illustrations in your autobiography?"

"He turned around and went back into seclusion, not even willing to say a word?"

The elder was speechless.

Another middle-aged analyst from Lingxiao adjusted his glasses and chimed in, "Captain Ye Li's observations are very sharp."

"Pei Jianzun's reaction at the time was indeed not in line with the behavior expected of a strong person who has overcome inner demons and achieved perfect Dao heart."

"That's more like a stress-induced avoidance."

"Based on the content of the autobiography, the answer is obvious—the psychological shadow left by the crushing defeat back then is far deeper than we imagined."

Even if one is reincarnated, even if one's cultivation is restored or even improved, that memory, that feeling of utter powerlessness from being absolutely crushed, is still etched deep in one's soul.

"So, we can now be almost certain,"

Analyst Li Rui excitedly concluded, "The Saintly Master Chen Xiang in the autobiography is none other than Chen Xuan of Qingcheng Mountain! Pei Jianzun's reaction is one of the most powerful pieces of evidence!"

"He recognized Chen Xuan as the man who defeated him back then!"

Researcher Ye Qing raised a question: "This is just our speculation; Pei Jianzun himself has not confirmed it."

"Furthermore, Her Majesty the Empress previously used secret methods to investigate and concluded that it was 'not the same person'."

"Is there some hidden story we don't know about?"

A brief silence fell over everyone.

Indeed, the Empress's findings contradicted their current speculations.

"I'm afraid only my master can confirm this matter."

Ye Li's cold voice rang out again. She looked in the direction of Broken Sword Cliff, "He personally experienced those three swords, and he personally saw the Holy Master Chen Xiang."

"If he speaks, the whole truth will come out."

Upon hearing this, everyone wore a wry smile.

Master Yuheng helplessly spread his hands: "Nephew Ye Li, that is true, but Grandmaster Pei... just announced that he is going into seclusion again, with no return date set, and has strictly ordered 'Do not disturb'."

"How dare we disturb them at this time?"

"Moreover, it involves our grandmaster's... well, not-so-glorious past. Asking about it rashly might be..."

"yes,"

The middle-aged analyst from Lingxiao nodded, "Sword Master Pei just came out and went back in. It's obvious that he doesn't want to face it, or rather, he's not ready to face it yet."

"If we go and ask now, aren't we just walking into the line of fire?"

Ye Li shook her head, her gaze remaining cold and resolute.

"It's alright."

She said calmly, her tone revealing an understanding of her master's personality, "I understand my master."

"His so-called 'seclusion' was sometimes not because he had truly reached a critical juncture in his cultivation, or because he had gained some enlightenment."

She paused, then uttered a judgment that surprised everyone present:

"He's just hiding inside and not coming out."

Lin Xiaoman stared at Ye Li with her big, round eyes, and exclaimed in an exaggerated tone, as if she had discovered a new continent:

"Oh my god! Sister Li! You've completely humiliated Sword Master Pei!"

Her words instantly broke the somewhat tense atmosphere.

The expressions on the faces of Master Yuheng and the other elders of the Sword Ruins were quite interesting; they wanted to laugh but dared not.

I wanted to refute it, but I also felt that what Ye Li said seemed to make some sense...?

After all, the Grandmaster's (Master's) reaction was indeed a bit like a child throwing a tantrum and running back to their room...

Several analysts from Lingxiao couldn't help but chuckle, their lips twitching.

Ye Li's words were too straightforward, and too... vivid.

Imagine the aloof and powerful Sword Master Pei, whose sword aura soars to the heavens, being exposed by his own disciple as "just hiding inside and not coming out." This scene is undeniably endearing in its contrast.

Ye Li herself remained calm, as if she were simply stating a fact.

She looked at Lin Xiaoman and frowned slightly: "Xiaoman, mind your manners."

"Oh, I'm so sorry!"

Lin Xiaoman quickly stood up straight, sticking out her tongue, but her eyes were still full of curiosity and gossip. "Sister Li, are you really going to go see Pei Jianzun tonight?"

"Will he be angry? Will he beat you up?"

This girl, she just loves to stir up trouble!

Night was falling.

At the foot of Broken Sword Cliff, Ye Li stood alone, about a hundred feet away from the tightly closed stone gate of the cave. This was the edge of the restriction; any further and the defense would be triggered.

She straightened her robes, faced the stone gate, slowly knelt down, and respectfully kowtowed with the most standard disciple's salute.

Then, a clear, cold voice, piercing through the night and the faint aura of the protective barrier, traveled steadily and clearly towards the stone gate:

"This unworthy disciple, Ye Li, disturbs you so late at night. I humbly beg my master..."

"........Show yourself."