While Gu Xiu was engrossed in his arduous training, back in the Qingxuan Holy Land, within the Zongmen Hall...

Zongzhu Guan Xuelan sat upon the main seat, her expression grim and her heart fraught with irritation. "Is there still no news of Gu Xiu?"

"Reporting to the Zongzhu, there is no news for now."

"What did they say over at Qingxuan City?"

"Qingxuan City has already conducted a thorough investigation. Gu Xiu did not enter the city within the last five days."

"What about the cities further away?"

"We have confirmed that there are no traces of Gu Xiu in either Cuishi City or Datan City."

"He's a mortal whose cultivation was crippled! Where could he possibly go after leaving the sect?" Guan Xuelan snapped.

Her words plunged the several deacons and elders in the hall into silence.

Guan Xuelan's frustration grew. "What about Chaoxi? How is she?"

"Xu Fengzhu just sent word. Although Nian Gezhu suffered a backlash from prying into heavenly secrets, she was fortunate to receive timely treatment. She has yet to awaken, but her life is no longer in danger."

The reporting elder hesitated for a moment. "It's just..."

"Just what?"

"It's just that Xu Fengzhu said that even in her coma, Nian Gezhu has been calling out for Junior Brother Gu Xiu..."

"Hmph!" Guan Xuelan's face instantly clouded over with anger.

Five days had now passed since Gu Xiu signed the Abandon Sect Covenant.

For the first two days, Guan Xuelan had paid it no mind. Not only did she ignore it herself, but she also forbade any disciples from helping Gu Xiu. In her eyes, the covenant was merely a tactic to force her hand. He would never truly want to leave the sect. Once he suffered some hardships out in the world, he would naturally come back obediently.

But...

Two days after Gu Xiu left, Nian Chaoxi suddenly had an accident, nearly losing her life.

Only upon inquiry did Guan Xuelan learn that her eldest disciple, Nian Chaoxi, had pried into heavenly secrets too deeply in her search for Gu Xiu, ultimately triggering a backlash from Heaven's Retribution. If not for her third disciple, Xu Wanqing, being by her side to provide immediate medical treatment, she would have already perished.

This finally forced Guan Xuelan to remember the disciple who had abandoned the sect.

By her calculations, he'd been taught enough of a lesson. It was about time to let him return. She would bring him back to the sect, annul the Abandon Sect Covenant, and then confine him to the Reflecting Cliff for three years of penance. That would serve as his punishment.

However...

Guan Xuelan had never expected it.

The sect had spent three full days searching for someone she thought would be easy to find, yet there was no news of him at all!

For the first time in five hundred years, Guan Xuelan once again had the feeling that things were slipping beyond her control.

It was not a pleasant feeling.

After mulling it over, Guan Xuelan said, "What about Moran? I remember she's in the sect. Summon her!"

Qin Moran was Guan Xuelan's fifth disciple. Though her cultivation was not high, she was the chief elder of the sect's Path of Talismans and was exceptionally skilled at creating them.

Before long, dressed in a simple, greyish-white skirt, Qin Moran approached with the grace of a figure from a painting. Arriving before Guan Xuelan's seat, she bowed with impeccable etiquette and spoke in a gentle voice.

"Master, you were looking for me?"

"Do you have any news of Gu Xiu?"

"Gu Xiu?" Qin Moran looked puzzled. "I have no news of him."

"Truly?"

"It is the absolute truth. Besides, I have had no contact with Gu Xiu, as you should know, Master."

Guan Xuelan remained skeptical, staring intently at Qin Moran. "I recall that you once greatly admired Gu Xiu's literary talent and calligraphy, and even spent a great deal of time by his side."

"That was merely my naivety five hundred years ago." Qin Moran was forthright, shaking her head as she spoke candidly. "After Gu Xiu returned from the Forbidden Land, he was reeking of a baleful aura, devoid of his former talent. I couldn't avoid him fast enough, so why would I still be in contact with him?"

"Then when he left the sect, did you give him any talismans? Such as a Breath-Concealing Talisman or a Face-Altering Talisman?" Guan Xuelan asked with a frown.

She suspected someone had helped Gu Xiu evade the search of so many disciples.

Qin Moran shook her head. "In the three years since Gu Xiu's return to the sect, he once ruined my talisman-crafting. I despise him to the core; why would I ever grant him any talismans?"

At this, Guan Xuelan's frown deepened.

Qin Moran hadn't helped him.

Then who could it be?

Qin Moran asked, "Is Master worried about Gu Xiu's safety?"

"Why would I worry about a crippled sect-abandoner?" Guan Xuelan shook her head. "It's just that he was once a prodigy of our sect, and five hundred years ago, he entered the Forbidden Land for our sake. If we simply ignore him now, what will the world say of our Qingxuan Holy Land?"

Qin Moran said nothing, only shaking her head slightly.

"You have a different view?" Guan Xuelan asked, curious.

"My thoughts are indeed different from Master's."

"Oh? Let's hear them."

"It's true that Gu Xiu was once a prodigy, but he is now a cripple. The sect has already shown the utmost benevolence by spending its resources to support him for three years. As for him entering the Forbidden Land five hundred years ago..."

Qin Moran shook her head. "Forgive my bluntness, but while that Forbidden Land is said to be a place where one can seize a great boon for the sect, what this boon truly is, no one can say for certain. In truth, the sect's great prosperity over the last five hundred years has been entirely due to Master's leadership and the hard work of my senior and junior sisters. As for this so-called boon, I have certainly never seen it. To call Gu Xiu a hero of the sect on this basis is far too hasty."

This...

Guan Xuelan hesitated.

It was true. This topic had been raised more than once since Gu Xiu's return.

"Then what is your meaning...?"

"I have only one thought."

"And what is that?" Guan Xuelan asked, her curiosity piqued.

Qin Moran paused for a moment before speaking slowly.

"Draw a line, a prison to keep us apart; sever all ties, never to meet again!"

"Isn't that too heartless?" Guan Xuelan wavered.

Qin Moran shook her head. "Gu Xiu's talent is gone. He has no possibility of cultivating ever again in this life. This means that he and we are ultimately people of two different worlds. Leaving the sect to fend for himself and meet his own fate is the proper end for a mortal."

"Furthermore..."

"As you said, Master, Gu Xiu used the Abandon Sect Covenant to threaten the sect. This is a major taboo. Since that is the case, let him be. The sect owes him nothing, so there is no need to trouble ourselves over him. In fact, I believe it won't be long before Gu Xiu begs to be allowed back."

"Oh?" Guan Xuelan raised an eyebrow.

"Gu Xiu grew up in the Qingxuan Holy Land. He has no family or friends in the outside world. Now, he is a cripple with not much of his lifespan left. It was already a great kindness for the sect to support him. His departure this time was a gross overestimation of his own abilities. He is bound to taste the full bitterness of the mortal world. When he can no longer bear it, he will naturally find a way to beg for the sect's forgiveness."

Qin Moran laid out her analysis. She was a woman well-read in the classics and had always been a strategist for the sect. Her words now struck Guan Xuelan as very reasonable.

"That Gu Xiu is truly asking for trouble. If he really can't survive out there and begs to return, just see how I'll deal with him then!" Guan Xuelan said resentfully.

"Pass down the order! Effective immediately, recall all search parties. We will waste no more of the sect's resources on this person!"

Her cold words made the elder hesitate slightly.

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Guan Xuelan frowned. "Is there something else, Chen Elder?"

"Well..." Chen Elder wavered, but in the end, he just shook his head.

"This subordinate obeys!"

Although he was a deacon elder, he was only a minor figure in charge of managing resources for Inner Disciples. His position was low and his words carried no weight. Even though he had a different opinion, he was not qualified to voice it.

But as he walked out of the Zongmen Hall and glanced towards Zhuo Peak, where Gu Xiu had departed from, Chen Elder sighed softly.

"Martial Uncle Gu this time..."

"I'm afraid he won't be coming back."

...

"Gu Xiu!"

On Dan Peak of the Qingxuan Holy Land, with a startled cry, Nian Chaoxi, who had been in a coma for days, sat up in bed, her forehead drenched in cold sweat.

"Senior Sister, you're finally awake!"

Third Senior Sister Xu Wanqing hurried over, immediately taking Nian Chaoxi's wrist to check her pulse. A moment later, her brow relaxed slightly.

"Thank goodness. You're still very weak, but your injuries have healed and there are no lasting ailments. Senior Sister, you must rest well for the next few days. And remember, you must not perform any more divination."

Nian Chaoxi ignored her advice and pressed, "Where is Gu Xiu? Is he back?"

"Ah?" Xu Wanqing gave a helpless, bitter smile. "Senior Sister, why are you still so concerned about Gu Xiu? He's been gone for half a month already. The Zongzhu has even ordered a stop to the search. Why are you still thinking about him?"

"What? How long was I in a coma?" Nian Chaoxi's face paled in shock.

"It's been thirteen days, all told."

"That long?" Nian Chaoxi was startled, then her expression turned cold. "Then why did they stop looking for Gu Xiu? Didn't I say before that we must find him and bring him back to the sect?"

"Well..."

"Forget it, I'll go see Master!"

Seeing Xu Wanqing's hesitation, Nian Chaoxi threw the words over her shoulder, hastily got up, and headed for the main peak.

Guan Xuelan was handling sect affairs that day. When she saw her eldest disciple awake, a warm smile appeared on her face. "Chaoxi, you're awake. How are you feeling?"

"Thank you for your concern, Master. I am fine now," Nian Chaoxi replied, then asked impatiently, "Master, I want to know why the sect has stopped searching for Gu Xiu."

Hearing Gu Xiu's name, Guan Xuelan frowned slightly. "The time has come. Once he's suffered enough, he'll come back on his own. What's the point of searching?"

"But what if he doesn't come back?" Nian Chaoxi asked.

"If he doesn't return, wouldn't that be for the best?" Guan Xuelan answered coolly. "His presence in the sect is just a burden, a needless drain on our resources."

The cold reply left Nian Chaoxi stunned, staring at her Master in disbelief.

She was skilled in the art of divining heavenly secrets. To walk the path of divination was to be destined for a life of solitude, as meddling with karma could harm both oneself and others. For this reason, she had rarely ventured out in recent centuries, and had little contact even with her Master and junior sisters.

She had heard that her Master and sisters were not particularly fond of Gu Xiu, but she had thought it was merely a lack of fondness. She never imagined her Master would utter such cold words.

It felt inconceivable, utterly unbelievable.

"Master... he's Gu Xiu!" Nian Chaoxi couldn't help but say. "Five hundred years ago, we..."

But before she could finish, Guan Xuelan cut her off coldly. "Do not speak of the past. The path of cultivation is about the present and the future. Dwelling on the past will only lead to one's own undoing. It is of no benefit to one's cultivation."

Nian Chaoxi felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She looked at her Master, who had hardly changed in five hundred years, and for a moment, she felt a sense of dazed confusion.

*Of no benefit to one's cultivation...*

What a thing to say. *Of no benefit to one's cultivation...*

"Chaoxi, five hundred years ago, you and Gu Xiu were not particularly close. There was little karma between you. Though I do not know why you are suddenly so concerned about him, a person must ultimately move forward. If someone remains stationary, they will one day be left behind. It is not that I am being cruel, but this world... is simply the way it is."

Guan Xuelan spoke calmly, her tone still detached. Seeing that Nian Chaoxi still couldn't understand, she could only sigh.

"I am the Zongzhu of the Qingxuan Holy Land. I must consider not just my personal feelings, but the entire sect. Gu Xiu's cultivation is crippled, and he requires a large amount of the sect's resources each month for treatment to sustain his life. Many disciples have already expressed their dissatisfaction with this matter. From the sect's perspective, his departure is actually a good thing."

This was the truth.

After Gu Xiu returned from the Forbidden Land, he was gravely injured and plagued by Dao wounds. He was often in excruciating pain and needed to consume a great deal of the sect's resources to stay alive and treat his injuries. Nian Chaoxi had heard that many of her junior sisters had opinions on the matter, but she had never given it much thought.

She never expected... that Guan Xuelan would bring this up now.

Anger flared in Nian Chaoxi, and she mustered the courage to question her.

"But he is a disciple of our sect, your personal disciple! He entered the Forbidden Land for the sect's boon, to fight for the sect's fortune! The Qingxuan Holy Land is such a large sect, yet it's unwilling to give even a few resources to someone who nearly lost his life for it? Won't this chill the hearts of the sect's disciples?"

"A few resources?" Guan Xuelan scoffed. "Do you have any idea what Gu Xiu's monthly stipend is?"

"That..."

"Chen Elder, tell her!" Guan Xuelan said coldly, her gaze shifting to the deacon elder.

Chen Elder looked hesitant. "Zongzhu... this matter..."

"Just state the facts!" Guan Xuelan urged coolly.

"Well..."

Chen Elder looked at the Zongzhu, then at Nian Chaoxi. After a moment's hesitation, he lowered his head.

"Martial Uncle Gu's... Martial Uncle Gu's monthly stipend..."

"Is..."

"Ten low-grade Spirit Stones..."

"Did you hear that? Every month, Gu Xiu costs the sect ten..." Guan Xuelan was in the middle of her tirade when she abruptly froze and stared at Chen Elder.

"What did you say his monthly stipend was?"

"Ten... ten low-grade Spirit Stones..." Chen Elder shrank back. "Of course, sometimes it was a little less. At the lowest, Senior Brother Gu only took three low-grade Spirit Stones..."

As soon as he said this, Guan Xuelan stood rooted to the spot.

Nian Chaoxi gasped, her face a mask of disbelief.

"Even the lowest-ranking Inner Disciples receive a monthly stipend of two hundred! A regular deacon elder gets several thousand, and a personal disciple receives at least ten thousand Spirit Stones a month!"

"Gu Xiu..."

"How could it be so little?"

---

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