In the Forget Sorrow Grocery Store, Huai Yin gazed into the rain from afar. A cold shimmer flickered through the night, disappearing almost instantly, reflected in his weathered eyes. His gaze carried an indiscernible glint.

"Realm of Freedom."

He finally set down his teacup and remarked, "Not bad."

Jing Ci sighed, "I really didn't expect that the first thing he would comprehend was the Realm of Freedom, purifying all supernatural powers within the domain. It's no wonder he survived Mrs. Yan's pursuit. The most remarkable part is that it took him less than a week since he learned the Breathing Technique. Isn't this pace a bit too shocking?"

Huai Yin took a sip of tea and replied, "It is indeed shocking."

Jing Ci brewed a new pot of tea for him and casually asked, "Did you already know he could do it—comprehend the Realm of Freedom—and thus orchestrated these events?"

Huai Yin calmly said, "Not at all. I'm neither a Divination Master nor a practitioner of divination arts."

Jing Ci's hand paused slightly as he brewed.

"I was merely making a random attempt to test his potential. Honestly, I didn't expect him to succeed. I even planned to step in personally and eliminate that monstrous thing just moments ago."

Huai Yin sighed, "Who would've thought that at the very last second, he figured it out."

Jing Ci's expression turned complicated, as though he had words he wanted to say but held back.

Huai Yin said, "Speak your mind freely."

After hesitating for a second, Jing Ci said, "Back when you taught me, did you…"

Huai Yin didn't deny it, candidly admitting:

"Back then, I also made many such attempts while teaching you. If you succeeded, it would bring immense growth benefits, while simultaneously showcasing the mysterious depth of me as your master. If you didn't succeed, what harm would there be for me to intervene? To outsiders, at least, it wouldn't tarnish our reputation. For you, you'd understand it wasn't me who was incapable—it was you."

He paused. "And, as a bonus, it serves to remind you to remain humble and diligent."

Three birds with one stone.

Recalling his own experiences of growth, Jing Ci suddenly grabbed the teapot away.

Huai Yin casually remarked, "Go stop Chen Bojun and Lu Zijin, those two little ones. Don't let them seek out that boy. Someone has already gone to him—if they tag along as extra baggage, it serves no purpose."

Jing Ci opened his umbrella and said gruffly, "Got it."

"Oh, Master."

He suddenly asked, "My junior mentioned he encountered the Candle Dragon Venerable. What's your take on this?"

Huai Yin fell silent, staring at the painting named Jiuyin hanging in the grocery store. He stared at it for a long while.

"From ancient times till now, those who've entangled themselves with that Venerable are few and far between."

He said darkly, "Honestly, you asking me? I'd say even I don't know how to deal with this. In such cases, one should typically consult a Divination Master or pursue the Spirit Medium Path to glimpse fate. But the fate that can be glimpsed—those are too ordinary. If you walk the predetermined path, there's no escaping it."

Jing Ci said seriously, "If the Ghost Car Ancestor is a destined calamity for him, and there's at least a struggle for survival, then considering Gu Ci'an, he could have almost succeeded. But with the Candle Dragon Venerable, I think there's no chance whatsoever."

Huai Yin continued staring at the painting and commented, "You truly believe there's no way to defeat Candle Dragon?"

Jing Ci didn't answer directly, though his silence revealed his belief.

"Actually, it's possible, as there currently exist two paths."

Huai Yin abruptly chuckled, "Both paths can lead to uncovering that possibility."

Jing Ci furrowed his brows and asked puzzledly, "Then why don't you pursue them?"

Huai Yin said irritably, "What's the point of me pursuing them? Even if I find the answers, who would spar with me? The whole world knows I've mere years left to live. Didn't you notice how every Ancient Ancestor treats me like the plague, fleeing at the sight of me? Even the Ancient Gods dread that, when I perish, I may drag one of them down with me."

"Though Candle Dragon is arrogant and conceited, she's definitely not foolish."

He sneered, "Too many have their eyes on me these years. If I so much as attempt anything, the world would be thrown into disorder. Three years ago, I took you to Fusang Divine Palace, intending to stew a Fire Brilliance Chicken. But the association's idiots outright assumed the Vermilion Bird Venerate was returning, messing up the world with endless storms."

Jing Ci remained silent for a moment. "True enough."

"Remember, the methods to deal with Ancient Supremes must remain secret. Once disclosed to the world, they lose their potency. Humanity's foundation in resisting Gods lies not within the environments repelling Ancient Gods, but within the fact that Gods… are not truly omnipresent and omnipotent."

Huai Yin elaborated, "As long as omnipresence and omnipotence don't apply, there's still a fight to be had."

Jing Ci nodded slightly, "I see."

"Initially, I still planned to wait another two years. But since your junior's talent measures up, it's worth competing a bit. The true era of prosperity is dawning—I can protect him a little longer."

Huai Yin stared at the painting, fixating on its breathtaking silhouette. He suddenly smiled, "It's been a while, Venerable."

·

·

The air reeked of blood. Shattered corpses and fragmented Gu Worm remains scattered place.

All of it exploded together amidst roaring flames.

Like fireworks, burning fiercely in wind and rain.

Gu Jianlin plummeted from high above, the roar of wind and tides rushing past his ears, threatening to engulf him in the infinite storm. His soul broke free from constraints, finally liberated.

In that moment, he felt an unprecedented exhilaration.

Even though his spirituality had been entirely depleted, his Ghost Transformation unraveled, leaving him physically frail.

A faint smile flashed in his eyes.

In the end, he had accomplished it.

Fifteen minutes and one second—time he had fought for.

Time for himself, for the future, and also for the innocent lives spared.

As he approached the ocean's surface, an inconspicuous wave of life appeared on the cliff. A slender figure uncovered a rain cloak and set up a sniper rifle on the rock face.

It was as if this person had been lying in wait, ready for the perfect opportunity—a thunderous strike.

Aiming for the kill shot!

In that instant, the sniper rifle trembled violently, as though releasing a furious roar.

Overlord Path, Fourth Rank!

—Arrow of Destruction!

Since ancient times, the Overlord Path has been in the top echelon. Especially in modern times, with the enhancement of firearms, their mastery of domineering power has grown stronger.

Its essence lies in merging one's life with nature's forces to create transcendent power.

It can imbue inanimate objects with life, fusing them into one!

The effect of the Arrow of Destruction was simple: once pierced, the internal organs would be completely annihilated.

Simultaneously, Gu Jianlin felt the threat of death. He watched as the black muzzle locked onto him like a bottomless abyss, suffused with killing intent so overwhelming it reached its zenith, revealing its intent like a dagger drawn in desperation!

Danger instinctively tingled like an electrical current, his entire body bristling, his heart hammering with alarm.

But at this moment, he had exhausted all his cards.

The shadow of death loomed large over him.

He descended toward the dark ocean, seemingly about to be embraced by death.

"Goodbye."

The assassin's lips moved slightly as he squeezed the trigger.

Bang!

In that split second, time seemed to slow to a halt, as though dragged into sticky silence. The fleeting streaks of lightning above remained frozen, and the thunder's roar elongated into a muffled growl. Even the echoing gunfire distorted into a bizarre off-tune note.

Time hadn't truly stopped—it had been stretched by an extraordinary force!

A bullet hung in mid-air, rotating slowly as it advanced.

The gunfire's flare silently burned in the night.

Amidst the torrential storm held captive by the darkness, every raindrop mirrored the silhouette of a petite figure.

She materialized suddenly, like a sprite of the night. The girl held a guzheng in her arms, unlocking a hidden mechanism within it as a Tang Blade fell out.

Gripping the blade tightly, she shot forward like black lightning, dashing along the highway and leaping off rough cliff faces. She vaulted through the air, the blade carving an icy, chilling arc.

Fast!

A speed so astonishing it defied reason!

The frozen spacetime tore apart as the arc of the blade sliced through. Even the lightning above seemed cut asunder, the torrential rain shattered into fragments by the ephemeral glimmer of the blade. The world's cacophony returned in full force!

In an instant, the sniper bullet was cleaved in two.

Then the sniper rifle itself split into halves.

Finally, the assassin was bisected, his blood scattering into the air.

Splat.

The girl spat out a mouthful of blood as if struck by an overwhelming impact.

Nonetheless, she didn't pause. She dove into the ocean, racing towards the boy sinking into the depths.

With a splash.

Gu Jianlin plunged into the water, catching a faint glimpse of a petite figure approaching him.

His awareness drifted away, and he sank into unconsciousness.

In his last moment of clarity, he felt as though he was holding something. The softness of it struck him as oddly familiar.

[PS: This book's first release on Qidian Reading App. Next update at 11:30 PM.]