After the path was cut off

Chapter 4 The Way Out in Silence

The Hall of Mastery remains the same Hall of Mastery.

But deep within that hall, countless threads extended outwards, reaching towards him, beyond the Changbai Mountains, and into the far reaches of the world.

One of them was particularly eye-catching.

It can hardly be called "silk" or "thread" anymore; it is more like a giant rope that rises straight up from the temple, disappearing into the depths of the sky, its whereabouts unknown.

In that instant, Li Wangxiang felt a slight tingling sensation on his scalp.

This is definitely not what a sect's palace should look like.

Shocked, he almost instinctively wanted to see more clearly.

But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, a chill suddenly ran through the depths of his consciousness.

It felt like something suddenly tightened.

Immediately afterwards, an indescribable sense of unease exploded from the depths of his soul, cold and sharp, carrying an almost instinctive resistance, directly suppressing all his probing intentions.

"Do not entertain any thoughts."

That was not a sound.

It is clearer than any words.

He was stunned for a moment, then he realized what was happening.

It is a precious mirror.

Since Beichen returned and the precious mirror disappeared, this was the first time it had so clearly given him a "response".

But Li Wangxiang showed no sign of joy.

That chilling feeling was so cold, almost terrifying. It was as if if he had looked any longer, or delved any deeper, he would have disturbed something he simply couldn't bear.

He slowly closed his eyes, suppressing the urge to investigate in his heart.

When I looked up again, the empty palace still stood quietly in the same place, as if nothing had changed.

But the feeling it gave Li Wangxiang had changed; it had become a deep, ancient well.

The well opening stood silently, chillingly cold, and its bottom was nowhere to be seen.

Li Wangxiang stood in front of the hall for a moment, but in the end, reason prevailed over fear, and he stepped inside.

There was no one around.

In the center of the main hall, a figure was slowly and mechanically sweeping away dust that was not actually there.

That's Qing Shu.

Legend has it that since the founding of the Tianxuan Sect, he has been like a pillar in this hall that has never been moved, silent and still, with no one knowing his origins or whereabouts.

Li Wangxiang stepped forward slowly, the hem of his clothes brushing against the cold jade bricks, making a very slight friction sound.

Qing Shu stopped sweeping, bowed as usual, and remained expressionless.

Li Wangxiang spoke in a deep voice:

Is Lord Huanyou present?

Qing Shu said:

"Lord Huanyou is omnipresent."

Li Wangxiang felt a slight tightness in his throat, but his face remained impassive. He simply raised his hand in a respectful bow, his voice steady and courteous:

"Disciple Li Wangxiang has something to ask of Lord Huanyou."

The echo gently reverberated through the empty hall.

Li Wangxiang stood still, waiting quietly.

But after that faint echo dissipated, there was still no response from inside the hall.

Only the sound of the wind whistling through the beams and pillars, slowly rolling in from the depths of the palace, chilling one to the bone.

Li Wangxiang's eyelashes drooped slightly.

Now that we've come this far, there are some things we must say.

"I returned from Beichen, severely injured, my path to immortality nearly severed. I have urgent business to discuss with Lord Huanyou."

...I don't know how much time passed.

Qing Shu had already resumed wielding the broom, stroke by stroke, unhurriedly, as if he hadn't heard anything.

The emptiness and suffocation of being completely left standing still finally surged up from my chest.

Li Wangxiang slowly clenched his fingers hidden in his sleeve, finally bringing his words to the forefront:

"My foundation in Dao has crumbled, and I know that my path to immortality is severed. I dare not occupy the position of true successor any longer."

"I have come today to request Lord Huanyou's permission for me to leave the sect and be sent away to protect my family."

After he finished speaking, the entire hall remained deathly silent.

In that instant, even Li Wangxiang himself had an absurd illusion—as if what he had just said was not a matter concerning the fate of a true disciple or his own life and future, but merely a fleeting breeze.

Qing Shu's broom continued to fall, so lightly it was almost inaudible.

Li Wangxiang closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the restlessness that had surfaced in his eyes had been suppressed once more.

He turned to look at Qing Shu and said in a deep voice:

"Lord Huanyou... are you aware of my current situation?"

Qing Shu kept moving.

"You know everything."

Li Wangxiang's gaze darkened slightly, and he asked again:

"In that case, regarding the collapse of my foundation and the fate of my true lineage, may Your Excellency issue a decree?"

This time, Qing Shu paused slightly in his broom.

But it was only one meal.

The next instant, he reverted to his previous wooden expression and spoke flatly:

"I don't know."

Again, I don't know.

Li Wangxiang clenched his fist slightly, but his face remained calm.

What I saw in front of the palace just now is still weighing on my mind.

Deep within the Hall of Mastery, the invisible connections extending outwards from the sect prompted him to make some connections.

Since things have changed in Beichen, any actions taken by the Hall of Mastery will most likely involve the true disciples.

A thought then arose from the depths of my heart.

He paused for a moment, then, as if casually changing the subject, continued to ask:

"After the Beichen Incident, did you make any other arrangements for the remaining disciples, sir?"

This time, Qing Shu suddenly stopped sweeping.

In the empty hall, the sound of the wind seemed to become clear all of a sudden.

"The Beichen Incident has shocked the world. The Lord has ordered all his disciples to go out and search for the survivors."

Li Wangxiang's pupils suddenly contracted.

Survivors.

He wasn't the only one.

Sure enough, there were others who survived Bei Chen's near-death experience.

Then he is not the only exception.

But what if there are other survivors—how did they survive?

Could it be that they also have a magic mirror?

As the thought surged to this point, Li Wangxiang abruptly stopped the urge to ask further questions.

You can't ask anymore.

If you ask again, it's over.

He slowly lowered his head and bowed.

"Disciple understands."

Despite this, the person did not immediately leave.

After a moment of silence, Li Wangxiang finally asked that last question.

"If this disciple insists on leaving the sect..."

He paused for a moment after saying this, then continued:

"Lord Huanyou, will you grant my request?"

This time, Qing Shu raised his head and glanced at Li Wangxiang.

That gaze remained calm, devoid of anger or joy, utterly undisturbed. Yet, the instant it fell upon him, Li Wangxiang felt an almost naked illusion, as if his unspoken thoughts and desire to escape through the Li Sect had been laid bare before him in that single glance.

"If you want to leave, then go ahead."

"Lord Huanyou never looks at where a person is standing."

As soon as she finished speaking, Qing Shu lowered her head again and continued to sweep away the dust that was not even there, as if that glance and those words were nothing more than some insignificant little thing that she had casually brushed away.

But Li Wangxiang stood still, motionless for a long time.

He understood.

It turns out that whether one leaves the clan or stays, it makes no difference to Lord Huanyou.

The adults don't care.

This sentence is lighter than an agreement, but heavier than a refusal.

Li Wangxiang felt a slight emptiness in his chest, and the spirit he had been holding on all the way suddenly dissipated.

After a long while, he lowered his eyes and bowed again.

"This disciple... takes his leave."

Having said that, he turned and left the main hall.

Li Wangxiang couldn't quite remember how he had emerged from that deathly silence.

The daylight was still there.

But when the light shone on me, it brought no warmth whatsoever.

He stood on the jade steps outside the hall, letting the mountain wind blow for a while before gradually suppressing the emptiness in his chest.

Lord Huanyou's silence was like a sword of Damocles hanging over his head.

Li Wangxiang still held a sliver of hope, thinking that by taking the initiative to make this trip, he could at least gauge the official's attitude.

But now it seems that their attitude was already quite clear.

The Hall of Mastery will not find a way out for him.

It will only watch him, see how he chooses, and see where he will send himself.

Therefore, he could no longer place his hopes on the Hall of Mastery.

But if we don't rely on the Hall of Mastery, who else can we rely on?

Li Wangxiang stood in the wind, his mind racing.

My sect is no good.

Master is in seclusion, and even if he does emerge, it will be difficult for him to openly defend the Hall of Martial Arts.

The Hall of Law Enforcement might not necessarily be unable to withstand the Hall of Merit.

However, law enforcement only determines guilt and punishment, never providing a way out for individuals.

What about the General Affairs Department?

As soon as this thought crossed his mind, Li Wangxiang's eyes narrowed slightly.

The General Affairs Hall is in charge of the issuance of supplies and miscellaneous tasks... But in addition to that, it is also the General Affairs Hall's authority to send thousands of disciples of the sect to other sects to establish affiliated immortal sects.

Logically, true disciples are of a transcendent status and are not subject to the control of the General Affairs Hall.

But what if he lowers himself and willingly puts his head into this shackle?

Once he submits his report on "leaving the clan and establishing his own sect," and once this "general affairs" project of expanding territory is approved, his whereabouts will be under the jurisdiction of the General Affairs Hall.

By then, even if the Hall of Merit and Merit wanted to control him, they would have to ask the Hall of General Affairs if it was willing to hand over the 'achievements' it had already gained!

As the thought crossed his mind, the feeling of being driven to the brink of despair in Li Wangxiang's chest began to ease a little.

It turns out there was a way.

But he has to fight for this path himself.

And the end of that road finally began to become clearer, little by little—

He left his clan and went to establish a sect of immortals to protect his family.