Chapter 9: This is a Lie

"Rebellious Disciple! Rebellious Disciple! Rebellious Disciple!"

"Without a Spiritual Root, how will you cultivate in the future!"

Senjian Hall.

Cloud-patterned tiger paintings, ethereal blue smoke, and ancient trees covering the roof.

Li Wanshou's face was dark; for the first time, he shouted at Xu Xi. For the usually kind old man to scold like this, it was clear he was truly enraged.

"It's simple, I just won't cultivate anymore, Teacher."

Xu Xi replied with a faint smile. Perhaps because this simulation was nearing its end, he felt no fear facing the furious Li Wanshou.

He paused for a moment.

This time, his voice was somewhat calm: "After all, after this, I only have a few years left to live. It makes no difference whether I cultivate or not."

Hearing this, Li Wanshou's expression froze. The anger on his face gradually faded, replaced by a very complex look as he gazed at his beloved Disciple who had lost all his cultivation.

"Speak. Explain everything from beginning to end. What exactly did you do?"

"Yes, Teacher."

There was no concealment, and no need for it.

Xu Xi explained how he researched the External Spiritual Root and his actions of burning himself to create it, leaving nothing out so that Li Wanshou could understand everything clearly.

"Ah," Li Wanshou's eyes widened.

He even accidentally plucked out a strand of his white beard.

"How is this possible? I only mentioned it in passing back then, yet you actually created an External Spiritual Root."

"A genius of the heavens, a genius of the heavens!"

Li Wanshou was initially overjoyed, but then he shook his head with regret: "What a pity. You, child, have already severed your own Spiritual Root. Otherwise, even Ascension and Immortal Ascension would not have been impossible."

The old man suddenly fell silent, shaking his head and sighing.

He paced back and forth within the hall.

Finally, he stamped his foot in frustration at his Disciple's wasted potential.

He looked at Xu Xi angrily.

"Rebellious Disciple, why were you so impatient? Do you even know what you've done? Why didn't you tell your Master beforehand!?"

Facing the old man's scolding, Xu Xi shook his head slightly: "If I had told you beforehand, you would have definitely stopped me."

"I understand what you mean, Teacher. You wanted me to go slower and more steadily, to save Mo Li's life without harming myself."

"But, I couldn't do it."

"I couldn't stand by and watch my own family walk toward death."

The old man was speechless.

His lips twitched subconsciously, but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to scold him further.

His gaze gradually turned to one of realization and relief.

Like seeing a naive child grow into an adult, the elder couldn't help but feel a sense of profound emotion.

"Your Master understands."

"Since this is the decision you've made, then as your teacher, I have nothing more to say."

All his anger subsided, and Li Wanshou said, "As for the Sect, I will settle things for you. This old man still has some influence."

"But as for Mo Li…"

Li Wanshou hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself.

He knew the bond between the siblings was extremely strong. If the younger sister, Xu Moli, found out her brother had sacrificed himself to save her, she would likely be on the verge of collapse.

A gentle breeze blew, rustling the ancient trees outside the hall and creating undulating shadows in the sea of leaves.

In a daze, the hum of an ancient bell could be heard.

Xu Xi's eyes darkened: "I don't plan on telling her the truth. After some time, I will leave the Heavenly Sword Sect."

"When that time comes, I'll leave Mo Li's guidance to you, Teacher."

To survive by sacrificing her brother's life—this reality was too cruel.

Even someone weathered by life would feel guilt and remorse because of it.

Let alone…

…that girl who had relied on Xu Xi since childhood and had been with him every moment.

…

Once everything had been discussed with his Master, Xu Xi carried a Simple Wooden Sword on his back and slowly left Senjian Hall. The sword had been forced upon him by the old man.

It went like this:

"Get out of here, you Rebellious Disciple!"

"Take this sword, lest you be beaten to death by some Mortal and embarrass me out there!"

The old man cursed and jumped around as he kicked Xu Xi out of the ancient hall.

He slammed the door shut with a bang.

As if he never wanted to see Xu Xi again.

Xu Xi stood outside the hall. The bluestone path wound its way down. He reached back and gripped the hilt of the wooden sword; he could feel the surging waves of magical power pulsing from within it.

With the original owner's permission…

…even a Mortal could wield it at will.

"This Disciple obeys."

…

Returning to the Immortal Cave, Xu Xi stayed by the bedside for two days before the External Spiritual Root finally fused completely with the girl's body. The original calamity of heaven vanished without a trace.

Correspondingly, there was the girl's mysterious Breakthrough in her Sense of Qi.

Even though she hadn't truly begun her cultivation yet…

…she had already taken the first step toward transcending the mundane through her own talent.

"Brother…"

Xu Moli's voice was raspy, carrying the weakness of someone just recovering from a major illness, but she soon realized her body was no longer in pain. Instead, she felt an indescribable lightness.

"That's wonderful."

As if she had guessed something, she gave Xu Xi a sweet smile from her sickbed: "Brother has fulfilled his promise to Mo Li."

"Yes."

Xu Xi gently held the girl's fair hand, which had regained its warmth.

It was like holding a drifting flower.

Or catching a summer breeze.

His tired voice was full of gentleness: "Brother promised you that I would definitely save Mo Li. Definitely."

The girl smiled even more happily, but as she laughed, her eyes uncontrollably turned red. She could only keep wiping them with the back of her hand.

"I'm sorry, Brother. I don't know why, but I suddenly really want to cry."

"It's as if something very sad has happened."

"It's so strange. I should be happy right now."

For some reason.

Without knowing why.

Xu Moli gripped her collar, her fingers turning white from the force, as if something extremely important was drifting away—something that absolutely, positively could not be lost.

Something more important than her own life, more precious than all her Persistence.

Like the roots of a tree, the wings of a bird, or the teeth of a beast.

A sense of suffocation, as if, without that thing, survival would be absolutely impossible.

"It's alright."

Xu Xi's comforting voice came from beside her as he gently stroked her hair. Only at this moment was the emptiness from the loss of that important thing briefly filled.

"I think it's just because Little Mo Li has been asleep for too long, and your body isn't quite used to it yet."

"You'll be fine after a while. Don't worry about it."

Is that so…

The seventeen-year-old girl felt something was slightly off, but on second thought, Xu Xi had no reason to lie to her. Perhaps it really was because she had been sick for too long that she couldn't control her tears.

Thinking this, her emotions gradually calmed down.

There was…

…nothing left to fear.

No matter what hardships or obstacles they encountered, her brother would be by her side. As long as her brother was there, there was nothing to be afraid of.

Yes, as long as her brother was there.

Xu Moli took the initiative to grip Xu Xi's hand tightly, holding on with all her strength, refusing to let go.

"Will Brother ever leave Mo Li?"

"…No."

This was a lie.