Ling Tian walks decisively as the Nei Wei lead him to the center of the courtyard, his fingers playing with the ring Zhāohuán Wen has given him. Finally, he stops playing with it and puts it away, intending to examine it later.

  Finally, they reach the center, and one of the Nei Wei, with the same calmness with which they had led him there, breaks the silence as she asks him “Have you opened the Yin door yet?"

  Ling Tian remains calm and meets the woman's gaze as he replies “No, not yet."

  The Nei Wei exchange glances and, without saying another word, one of them takes out a simple cloth blindfold and approaches Ling Tian.

  "We'll have to cover your eyes”, says the same Nei Wei as they adjust the blindfold tightly, completely blocking out any glimmer of light. Ling Tian takes a deep breath as he loses all visibility and feels a twinge of pain when the Nei Wei tightens the blindfold to prevent it from opening.

  Immediately afterwards, Ling Tian feels hands holding him firmly and turning him around, slowly at first, but then faster and faster until he completely loses his sense of direction and no longer knows which part of the courtyard he is facing.

  Soon, one of the Nei Wei grabs Ling Tian from the front, guiding his disoriented body while another pushes him from behind. Soon, the sound of a door opening tells him that they are entering a building, but without any visual reference, it is impossible for him to deduce which of the many buildings that make up the palace they are in. They walk down a hallway that sounds spacious, where the walls absorb the echo of their footsteps until the Nei Wei stop him again.

  The Nei Wei spin Ling Tian around again until he is once more disoriented. Once again, he feels the familiar grip guiding him until the voice of the only Nei Wei who has spoken interrupts the silence and says “Be careful. There are steps now."

  Ling Tian descends cautiously, feeling each step with the tip of his foot to avoid tripping and falling. When they reach the bottom, they continue walking slowly.

  After a few moments, the Nei Wei who seems to be in charge of talking to Ling Tian breaks the silence and asks him “Do you know the city well?"

  The question takes Ling Tian by surprise, but after a brief hesitation, he replies “Yes, I've lived here all my life."

  The silence that follows his answer is brief, but the same woman breaks it again and now asks “Do you know of any place where maids can be hired safely?"

  Ling Tian is puzzled by the disconcerting question until he realizes something peculiar, apart from Zhāohuán Wen and his mother's personal maids, he has not seen any servants anywhere else in the palace. Where are the rest of the servants? Something strange is going on, but he decides to be honest.

  "No”, he replies. "Any place where they can hire people will probably be controlled by the four families or the governor, who would use it to fill the palace with their spies."

  He hears the Nei Wei sigh. They say nothing but continue walking in silence when an idea crosses Ling Tian's mind "Maybe there is a way."

  The Nei Wei immediately stop Ling Tian and ask “What idea do you have?"

  Ling Tian takes a deep breath before explaining his idea "In the lower part of the city where wandering cultivators gather, they have several places where they meet. People who need items or ingredients from the Stalking Shadow Forest leave their requests there, along with the payment they are willing to give."

  "My idea is that you could do the same thing with a job offer”, Ling Tian continues. "The cultivators may not be interested, but many of them have sisters, cousins, wives, or even daughters who may be looking for work. It won't be completely safe, but this way, not everyone you find will be a spy."

  The Nei Wei remain silent for a moment as they consider Ling Tian's idea, and finally the Nei Wei who always speaks says “It's not a bad idea. We thank you for it."

  A few moments later, they stop again and tell Ling Tian “You'll have to climb a ladder."

  Ling Tian feels himself being guided toward the structure until his fingers find the wood of the ladder and he begins to climb. Each step creaks slightly under his weight, but it doesn't take him long to reach the top.

  Before he can get his bearings, Ling Tian feels himself being lifted up by his arms and placed on what feels like a firm stone floor. They wait a moment before spinning him around again, confusing him once more. As they start walking again, they spin him around two more times to make sure he has no idea where they are taking him.

  Finally, Nei Wei herself says “Count to ten, then you can take off the blindfold."

  Ling Tian does as he is asked, and when he reaches ten, he unties the blindfold from his eyes to look around. He is on a street he does not recognize, but it seems to be in the middle of the city, right in the center of a four-way intersection. And there is no sign of the Nei Wei.

  Knowing that he is now alone and in danger, Ling Tian begins to walk quickly, his mind already focused on what he must do, and a feeling of remorse assails him when he realizes that everything will be much easier without having to carry his little sister.

  Ling Tian moves quickly through the deserted streets of the lower part of the city. Despite the tension, his experience allows him to move skillfully, dodging the few guards on patrol and avoiding the few passersby who, at this time of day, are still wandering around. Most are too focused on their own business to pay attention to him, but he doesn't risk letting his guard down.

  Finally, after what seems like an eternity, he reaches his destination, a small, dilapidated house with splintered wood and partially broken windows, located in a discreet corner of the city, which was his original destination before Shi Tong captured him.

  Ling Tian enters without hesitation, making sure no one is following him. He closes the door with a slight creak and stands still for a moment, sharpening his senses to try to detect any movement in the house. After a few seconds of uncertainty, he quickly checks the house and sighs with relief when he sees that it is empty. There are no signs of life, and only the dust covering the furniture seems to inhabit the dilapidated house.

  He walks toward one of the rooms and moves aside an old wardrobe, worn down by time. After moving the wardrobe aside, he makes a determined gesture and lifts one of the floorboards, revealing a small hidden hole. Inside, he finds a small chest, which he carefully removes. When he opens it, his eyes fix on the contents and he sees a leather bag that he knows is full of coins, as well as a dozen small crystals.

  Ling Tian takes one of the crystals and heads to the central hallway of the house, where he crouches down to remove another floorboard. This time, what appears is a set of runes carefully engraved on the floor and arranged around a small circular hole. With a dexterity born of practice, Ling Tian inserts the crystal into the hole and presses on one of the runes. The inscriptions glow for a brief moment, radiating a faint light that spreads across the floor. A moment later, everything returns to darkness, but Ling Tian lets out another sigh of relief. The protective formation is active, and now, at least for the moment, he can consider himself safe.

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  With the assurance of being protected, the tension that had accompanied Ling Tian all day begins to fade, and exhaustion suddenly hits him. Without further ado, he heads to a room where there is a rickety bed, and without caring about its condition, he lies down on the bed where sleep quickly claims him.

  Not knowing how much time has passed, Ling Tian wakes up with a start. Opening his eyes, he finds himself standing in the middle of a vast green plain that seems to stretch as far as the eye can see. The sun shines high in the sky, and a gentle breeze rustles the grass, creating a soothing sound. For a moment, he is stunned by the serenity of the landscape, until an authoritative voice suddenly startles him.

  "There's no need to be so surprised by a simple mental landscape”, says a voice in his mind, with a tone of disdain that cuts through the stillness of the scene.

  Ling Tian turns abruptly and is surprised to see a man dressed in a strange, luxurious-looking suit with a strange-looking sword at his waist, but what really catches his attention is his golden hair and strange sapphire-blue eyes.

  As Ling Tian stares at the strange man, the air around him seems to freeze as an indescribable pressure descends upon him, as if the sky itself had fallen to crush him under its weight. Every fiber of his being trembles, his bones creak with tension, and despite all his attempts to resist, he finally feels his body give in to the pressure and kneel before the man.

  "Not bad, you managed to resist my divine sense for a second”, he hears the man say as he somehow puts the words in his head. "And even though you're not as talented as that little girl, at least you're not cursed by the heavens like she is."

  Ling Tian feels the pressure lessen but not disappear completely, so he decides to remain kneeling before this strange man who seems capable of killing him with his thoughts alone. He hesitates for a moment but finally decides to take a chance and asks the strange man a question, praying to the heavens that his question will not offend him.

  "Cursed by the heavens?" Ling Tian asks the man. "Are you referring to Zhāohuán Wen?"

  "Obviously, who else would I be referring to?" the man replies to Ling Tian with his strange method of putting words in his head. "The heavens are sometimes really cruel. Giving someone that talent for cultivation and then cursing her so that she can never move her legs."

  "I thought at first that I had found a diamond, but in the end, it turned out to be a simple crystal”, the man continues to say to Ling Tian as he shakes his head. "A real waste of talent."

  Ling Tian remains silent at the strange man's revelation and, convinced that he has brought him here for some reason that has nothing to do with Zhāohuán Wen, now decides to remain silent and wait for the man to decide to tell him the real reason.

  Ling Tian doesn't have to wait long when, after a brief moment of silence, he hears the man's words in his mind again. "Fortunately, I was able to influence her and make her give you the ring that contains this fragment of my consciousness."

  “But let's leave trivialities aside for now and get to the real reason for your presence here,” the strange man continues to Ling Tian. “Although only this fragment of my consciousness remains, my name is Maximilian K?nig, and in my time I was known and feared by countless powers under the name of the Sword Emperor.”

  "Although I had countless disciples, I was never satisfied with any of them”, the Sword Emperor continues to Ling Tian. "That is why I decided to put a fragment of my consciousness into this ring and send it across the realms, trusting that fate would lead me to a worthy successor."

  The Sword Emperor continues to tell his story to Ling Tian, who has wisely decided to remain silent, thinking that if he is anything like the old elders of his clan, interrupting his talk with questions would only anger him.

  "But things do not last forever, and after thousands of years, this fragment of my consciousness is beginning to dissipate”, says the Sword Emperor with a sigh. "That is why I have decided to take a risk, and although I would have preferred the child, her situation made her unsuitable to be my disciple and follow my path."

  The Sword Emperor stares at Ling Tian and says “That leaves you as the only option, although that doesn't mean you lack talent. Despite my comparisons with that girl, she is a true monster like few I have ever known. You, on the other hand, have enough talent that I would have taken you as my disciple even without this situation."

  "Now, let me ask you a question”, concludes the Sword Emperor, addressing Ling Tian. "I will teach you the Way of the Unbreakable Sword, a path that thousands of people begged to learn, though I always denied them that honor. Are you willing to become my last disciple?”

  Ling Tian hesitates for a moment, but soon realizes that someone with the power that the Sword Emperor has demonstrated is undoubtedly the best teacher he could find. Someone who offered him the strength necessary to avenge his family's murderers and, perhaps, one day find his mother. With this certainty, his doubt vanishes, and, still kneeling, he bows deeply until his forehead touches the ground, after which he declares in a firm voice, “This disciple greets his Master.”

  In Xi'An's most luxurious restaurant, The Celestial Dragon, the patriarchs of the city's four most powerful families are gathered in one of the private rooms as they patiently await the arrival of Guifei Xiang.

  "Why do you think Guifei Xiang has summoned us at such short notice?" asks Patriarch Feng as he looks at his companions and plays with the wine glass in his hands.

  "It's obvious, isn't it? It clearly has something to do with Ling Tian”, replies Patriarch Zhao without taking his eyes off the door. "Remember that the emperor's daughter took him to the Celestial Lotus Palace. I'm sure whatever she wants to tell us is related to that."

  "But why?" Patriarch Han interjects, frowning. "I imagine Ling Tian has already told her the whole story by now, but without knowing it, I don't know what attitude he will take on the matter."

  Patriarch Shi, the oldest of the four, strokes his beard thoughtfully "Even so, it's strange that she would call all of us at once. If it were just to clarify the matter, she could have spoken to us individually. There is a deeper intention behind this invitation."

  Before they can continue debating, the door to the room opens with a soft squeak. Fei Yi Lingxi, Guifei Xiang's personal maid, enters with a firm and elegant bearing as she announces in a clear voice “Guifei Xiang, consort of the emperor, has arrived."

  The four patriarchs immediately stand up and bow their heads slightly in respect. Guifei Xiang enters with a firm step, radiating the dignity that comes with her position. Her face is serene, but her eyes shine with a sharp intelligence that none of those present can ignore. Behind her, Fei Yi Lingxi takes her place just behind her mistress.

  "I thank you for accepting my invitation despite the short notice”, says Guifei Xiang in a soft but authoritative voice as she sits in the place of honor.

  Patriarch Han, always the most courteous, is the first to respond, bowing his head and saying “It is always an honor for us to attend to the call of the imperial family, Your Majesty."

  Guifei Xiang nods with a slight smile of gratitude and says “I have asked that food be brought to us shortly, but I am in the habit of dealing with important matters before eating. That way we can enjoy our meal in peace. Would it be acceptable if we discuss the reason for this meeting before beginning the banquet?"

  The four patriarchs look at each other and exchange nods of agreement. Finally, Patriarch Shi speaks up “Her Majesty's preferences are always welcome."

  "I appreciate your understanding”, Guifei Xiang replies. "The reason I have gathered you here is simple. Ling Tian is no longer in the Celestial Lotus Palace. In fact, I asked him to leave the very night my daughter brought him to the palace."

  The faces of the four patriarchs clearly reflect their surprise. Patriarch Zhao is the first to break the silence as he asks in a tone of disbelief that reflects what everyone is thinking “Is that true, Your Majesty? Ling Tian is no longer in the palace?"

  Guifei Xiang nods slowly “It is true. I made it clear to him that my stay in this city is temporary and that I have no interest in getting involved in local politics. My only wish is to spend my time here peacefully with my daughter and cause as little commotion as possible."

  The patriarchs look at each other again, their expressions becoming more thoughtful. Patriarch Han, once again taking the lead in the conversation, interjects “However, Your Majesty, no one has seen Ling Tian leave the palace. In fact, there seems to be no sign that he has left."

  Guifei Xiang remains calm, although she perceives the subtext in Patriarch Han's words that the palace is being watched, but without getting upset, she responds calmly “The Nei Wei informed me that Ling Tian decided not to leave through the main gate. Instead, he preferred to jump over the wall, which was no problem for them as it did not require any additional effort."

  The four men exchange glances again, this time more cautiously. It is clear that they want to say something else, but the waitresses enter the room laden with trays full of delicate delicacies.

  Guifei Xiang claps her hands softly and speaks again before they can ask any further questions "That is all I have to say on the matter of Ling Tian. Now, let us enjoy the meal. In addition, I have a personal request. I would like you to recommend places to visit in the city and activities I might enjoy during my stay here."

  The light conversation that follows flows more easily as the dishes are served and formalities are set aside, but in the minds of the patriarchs, the words about Ling Tian and his disappearance continue to echo, like a mystery they have not yet fully unraveled.