“What? Ruin you?”

Nian Zhaoxi was taken aback, finding the claim unbelievable. Suddenly, a thought struck her. “Are you talking about that incident three years ago?”

“So Senior Sister knows about it?” Qin Moran gave a cold, mocking smile.

Faced with this smile, Nian Zhaoxi fell silent.

Although she rarely ventured out, as the Head Senior Sister, she was generally aware of sect affairs. She had indeed heard about the major conflict between Gu Xiu and Qin Moran. It was a significant event; back then, Qin Moran had nearly killed Gu Xiu.

Three years ago, Gu Xiu had returned from the forbidden land. Having lost all his cultivation, it was determined that he could no longer tread the path of immortality. However, as Guan Xuelan’s personal disciple, even though a junior brother had taken over his role, he couldn’t simply be left to rot.

Thus, Guan Xuelan decided to have Gu Xiu study the Six Paths.

The ‘Six Paths’ referred to six specialized disciplines in the cultivation world outside of martial cultivation itself. They were considered secondary professions: Alchemy, Artifact Refining, Talismans, Beast Taming, Puppetry, and the unique Source Observation.

Among these, apart from Source Observation, mastering the other five to the Grandmaster level required a foundation in cultivation. However, this didn’t mean they were inaccessible without it. Even mortals could gain entry into these paths if they possessed sufficient determination and comprehension.

Guan Xuelan’s intention was clear: since Gu Xiu could not cultivate, he shouldn’t become useless to the sect. Coincidentally, several senior sisters each excelled in one of these disciplines. So, Guan Xuelan arranged for Gu Xiu to study under each sister for a period.

During this time, Gu Xiu studied the Dao of Talismans under Qin Moran.

The Dao of Talismans was unique. It was a discipline based on the Dao Rhyme of Heaven and Earth. Although cultivation was sometimes needed for assistance, unlike other paths that relied heavily on spiritual energy, the Talisman Path primarily emphasized gaining recognition from the Dao Rhyme itself.

The Dao Rhyme of Heaven and Earth was divided into nine tiers. Each higher tier was rarer, more powerful, and harder to commune with.

A talisman master’s rank corresponded to the highest tier of Dao Rhyme they had gained recognition from. Advancement fundamentally involved gaining the approval of higher-tier Dao Rhymes; only upon receiving this recognition and successfully drawing a talisman of that tier could a master advance.

Qin Moran was a powerful sixth-tier talisman master. Even within the broader community, she was considered a pillar capable of establishing her own school. One more step would mean transcending the ordinary and entering the top echelon of masters!

But this step represented a gap as vast as heaven and earth. To take it, she needed to gain recognition from a seventh-tier Dao Rhyme and successfully inscribe a seventh-tier divine-grade talisman.

This was excruciatingly difficult. Seventh-tier Dao Rhymes were exceedingly rare, mysterious, and powerful. Most importantly, they were notoriously fickle.

There were many talisman masters, but few reached the sixth tier. And those beyond the sixth? Less than one in a hundred! Before the sixth tier, with enough effort, perseverance, and guidance, advancement was possible.

But beyond the sixth tier, everything changed.

The Dao Rhyme of Heaven and Earth beyond the sixth tier required fate. At this level, tricks and methods were useless; one needed genuine recognition from the Dao itself.

Some might advance to the sixth tier in ten years but struggle for a thousand years thereafter, dying without further progress. Others might cultivate arduously for a millennium to barely reach the sixth tier, only to attract a seventh-tier Dao Rhyme on the very night of their advancement, ascending overnight.

It all depended on fate—on whether the Dao Rhyme of the final three tiers was willing to become intimate with the talisman master.

This phenomenon of divine-grade Dao Rhyme showing affinity was called ‘Divine Invocation’.

Ordinary people might never encounter Divine Invocation in their entire lives. A small number of fortunate individuals might get only one chance.

Qin Moran was fortunate because she encountered Divine Invocation once, three years ago.

But she was also unfortunate, because that Divine Invocation ended in failure.

Divine Invocation could fail, and the probability was quite high. The start of the process merely meant a divine-grade Dao Rhyme showed affinity and was willing to approach. But ultimately, whether it would bind to the master required continuous affinity building and spiritual communication. Finally, the master had to write a divine rune corresponding to that specific Dao Rhyme on a prepared blank talisman paper.

This act formed a contract. Only then was Divine Invocation considered successful.

“I did hear Sect Master mention this matter,” Nian Zhaoxi admitted with a slight nod.

Three years ago, Qin Moran had experienced a moment of profound spiritual insight and unexpectedly gained an opportunity for Divine Invocation.

Fortunately, ever since advancing to the fifth tier, Qin Moran had prepared the necessary materials for both the sixth and seventh tiers. Although the opportunity came suddenly, she was ready and began invoking immediately.

The process was reportedly smooth at first. She even gained affinity from the Dao Rhyme.

But just as she was preparing to write down the divine rune that would bind her permanently with it, an accident occurred.

Nian Zhaoxi sighed softly. “It’s said that Gu Xiu suddenly barged into your Divine Invocation site and accidentally disturbed the Dao Rhyme, causing your invocation to fail.”

“Senior Sister knows quite clearly about this,” Qin Moran sneered, her tone thick with resentment.

She had reason to be bitter. Opportunities for Divine Invocation were rare; missing one meant a second chance was almost impossible.

Effectively, Qin Moran’s path to the seventh tier had been severed.

“I can understand your hatred towards Gu Xiu,” Nian Zhaoxi said, hesitating. “Anyone encountering such an event would inevitably harbor resentment.”

“But regarding that incident… I heard it wasn’t intentional.”

“He just…”

“You want to say he did so because his Dao Injury flared up? That his spirit became disordered, he fell into madness, and thus unintentionally disrupted my opportunity?” Qin Moran interrupted coldly.

Nian Zhaoxi paused before nodding. “Yes… Master mentioned this. You know about Gu Xiu’s Dao Injury… sometimes it is unpredictable.”

“I understand your anger and resentment… but if you place all the blame entirely upon Gu Xiu… that shouldn’t be.”

“When his Dao Injury flares up, he isn’t in control… I heard he struggled desperately to regain clarity, even leaving several deep scratch marks on his own body… This indicates he tried very hard not to cause any impact…”

Nian Zhaoxi felt her words sounded hollow, like speaking without understanding another’s pain. But compared to Qin Moran hating Gu Xiu forever, she hoped her junior sister could let go.

“Divine Invocation indeed happens rarely… but Mo Ran, you possess innate affinity with Heaven and Earth Dao Rhymes. There will inevitably be another chance. This period is merely the darkness before the dawn…”

“Senior Sister.” Qin Moran interrupted again.

She looked intently at Nian Zhaoxi, then suddenly revealed a smile. It was complex—carrying traces of self-mockery, pity, and deep-seated hatred.

Nian Zhaoxi sensed something was wrong.

Qin Moran spoke. “Gu Xiu’s Dao Injury is known by everyone. But tell me, why didn’t his injury flare up at other times? Why specifically during such a critical moment?”

“Old injuries like Dao Injuries flare up irregularly without a pattern…” Nian Zhaoxi replied instinctively.

“You’re wrong!” Qin Moran shook her head.

“Huh?”

“I said, Senior Sister, you are wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

“Gu Xiu initially experiencing a flare-up is true,” Qin Moran stated. “Although the timing was coincidental enough to arouse suspicion, I confirmed back then that he indeed fell into a state of madness due to the injury.”

Nian Zhaoxi’s eyes lit up slightly. “Then doesn’t that prove…”

“No. I said you are wrong because if it were truly due to the injury flare-up, although I would hold resentment, I wouldn’t harbor hatred. At most, I would sigh that heaven intentionally blocked my path.”

“You mean…”

“I mean Gu Xiu acted intentionally!”

“He intentionally ruined my path to the Dao!”

“What… what?” Nian Zhaoxi was stunned. “But didn’t you just say he lost consciousness due to the injury?”

“I said he experienced a severe flare-up,” Qin Moran said quietly. “But factually… before Gu Xiu ruined my opportunity, he had already regained consciousness!”

“He not only regained consciousness but also clearly understood how important that moment was for me!”

What???

Nian Zhaoxi felt a chill. “How is that possible? Master said…”

“Master?” Qin Moran gave a bitter laugh. “Master merely thought that since Gu Xiu was her personal disciple… and since he was already facing dislike from the others… she was afraid that if the truth were revealed, he would have no place left within the sect.”

“But the fact remains…”

“When Gu Xiu ruined my Divine Invocation, he was conscious!”

“He was unprecedentedly clear-minded!”

“He…”

“From the very beginning…”

“He wanted to ruin me!!!”