This scene made Nian Zhaoxi’s eyes well up with tears. Even Qin Moran’s expression shifted slightly upon witnessing it.

If not for the Heavenly Secrets Reincarnation Mirror, no one would have imagined that Gu Xiu would go to such lengths of self-restraint just to avoid disrupting Qin Moran’s Divine Invocation!

It was a pity, though. Everything Gu Xiu did was in vain.

Just as he was about to completely lock himself down, the clarity in his eyes vanished entirely. He had descended into a state of madness!

Immediately after, Gu Xiu, still covered in chains, burst out of the door. As if guided by some unseen force, he headed straight for Moshu Peak!

He stumbled and staggered along the way. It seemed he was constantly struggling against the Soul Dao Injury, occasionally regaining clarity and trying to halt his own advance.

But… how could a mere mortal contend with a Soul Dao Injury? In the end, step by step, he arrived at Moshu Peak.

A wave of sorrow washed over Nian Zhaoxi. She suddenly felt as if all of this was an inescapable fate. Despite Gu Xiu’s desperate efforts, he could not resist it in the slightest!

Qin Moran’s expression was equally complex, but soon that complexity was replaced by a trace of coldness. Because in the mirror, Gu Xiu had already arrived before the gate of a courtyard.

And at that time, Qin Moran was inside that courtyard performing her Divine Invocation!

However, just as Gu Xiu was about to step completely inside, one of his hands suddenly and fiercely clawed at his own chest. This clawing was exceptionally vicious; with just one motion, flesh and blood flew everywhere.

“He wants to use self-harm, through pain, to make himself regain clarity!” Nian Zhaoxi immediately guessed Gu Xiu’s intention.

Indeed. The Gu Xiu in the mirror clearly had this exact plan. His fingers hooked like claws as he frantically tore at his own body. Each time, he ripped away a piece of flesh! Later, he even forcibly controlled his body, using his head to madly crash against a stone wall!

The scene was extraordinarily bloody. In just a short while, Gu Xiu’s body had been ravaged beyond recognition, like a tattered rag doll.

By this point, Nian Zhaoxi was a tearful mess. She wanted to stop Gu Xiu from harming himself. But… this was the past. She could do nothing to stop it; she could only watch helplessly as Gu Xiu nearly tortured himself to death.

Even Qin Moran’s cold eyes revealed a flicker of pity. This scene was too shocking; she didn’t know how to continue hating him. Anyone could see the immense determination Gu Xiu held.

And in the mirror, under such frenzied self-torment, Gu Xiu’s consciousness seemed to finally wrest back control of his body.

But he had no time to catch his breath. No time to cry out in pain.

He only took a hurried glance at Qin Moran, who from beginning to end had her eyes closed, one hand sensing and writing down the Divine-grade Dao Rhyme.

“So close… so close. It seems Fifth Senior Sister has already gained recognition from this Dao Rhyme. I almost ruined Fifth Senior Sister’s chance for Divine Invocation!” Gu Xiu murmured to himself.

Then he gently retreated from the courtyard, pulling the gate shut with both hands, intending to leave.

“From beginning to end…”

“He never once glanced at the injuries on his own body!”

“All he thought about was not disrupting your Divine Invocation…” Nian Zhaoxi sighed mournfully.

Qin Moran’s expression grew somewhat unnatural, but soon she shook her head again. “Senior Sister, have you ever considered this: since Gu Xiu had already regained clarity, why did my Divine Invocation still fail?”

Huh?

Nian Zhaoxi was taken aback for a moment before realizing.

Yes! Since Gu Xiu had already controlled the Soul Dao Injury, why did Qin Moran still fail?

Just as she was thinking this, they saw that just as the courtyard gate was about to close completely, Gu Xiu suddenly froze in place. His gaze fixed intently on the talisman in Qin Moran’s hand.

In the next instant, he actually pushed open the courtyard gate again and strode purposefully toward Qin Moran.

What… what is he going to do?

Nian Zhaoxi’s heart sank with a bad premonition.

Because she could see the Gu Xiu in the mirror at this moment had tightly furrowed brows but eyes that were utterly clear and bright—clearly not controlled by the Soul Dao Injury.

He was lucid!

But… why would a lucid Gu Xiu suddenly act like this?

While Nian Zhaoxi was puzzled, they saw that Gu Xiu had already arrived beside Qin Moran.

At this moment, Qin Moran was communing with that Divine-grade Dao Rhyme. She was in a state of sealed senses; although one hand continuously wrote down the Divine-grade Dao Rhyme, she remained completely unaware of everything happening outside.

Utterly unaware that Gu Xiu had come to her side and was staring with extreme complexity at the talisman she was writing.

The next second… Gu Xiu suddenly made a move—he actually tried to snatch away the writing brush from Qin Moran’s hand!

What… what is going on?

Why is this happening?

Nian Zhaoxi widened her eyes, filled with disbelief. Clearly, just moments ago Gu Xiu was desperately trying to regain clarity and not disturb Qin Moran. Why would he suddenly do such a thing?

“Senior Sister,” Qin Moran asked coldly. “Do you still wish to continue watching now?”

Nian Zhaoxi’s lips trembled. She understood Qin Moran’s meaning: from the moment Gu Xiu decided to act, Qin Moran’s Divine Invocation had already failed.

Divine Invocation is essentially about gaining recognition from a Divine-grade Dao Rhyme within heaven and earth and then completely transcribing it. If this process is interrupted, the Divine Invocation will utterly fail.

Indeed.

As Gu Xiu in the mirror made his move, a look of struggle suddenly appeared on Qin Moran’s face, followed immediately by dark clouds gathering densely across the sky.

The next moment, Qin Moran suddenly spat out blood and collapsed to the ground.

The instant she fell, a crimson rainbow light soared up from her body and quickly dissipated.

Qin Moran’s Divine Invocation… had FAILED!!!

This… how could this be?

Why did this happen???

“Senior Sister,” Qin Moran said expressionlessly in a cold voice, “I don’t know why you hold such favorable views toward Gu Xiu, but now that you’ve seen it with your own eyes, you should understand.”

“My feelings toward Gu Xiu… are nothing but hatred!”

“But Moran…” Nian Zhaoxi still wanted to say more, only to see Qin Moran sigh.

“Senior Sister, I am tired. Could you please leave now?”

“I…” Nian Zhaoxi opened her mouth but ultimately found herself powerless to argue further.

She could only bite her lip lightly, put away the Heavenly Secrets Reincarnation Mirror, and turn away dejectedly.

From behind came Qin Moran’s indifferent voice.

“Senior Sister, let me advise you.”

“Gu Xiu is not a good person; he is merely someone skilled at disguise—a scheming and sinister individual. Do not be deceived by his outward appearance.”

“Him leaving is truly for the best outcome for our sect.”

Nian Zhaoxi shuddered all over. But then she suddenly thought of something and turned back to ask.

“Junior Sister, for such an important matter as your Divine Invocation, why from start to finish were there no other members of our sect present?”

Huh?

Qin Moran was taken aback.

Then she saw Nian Zhaoxi frowning deeply as she asked again.

“Gu Xiu is merely an ordinary person without cultivation, yet even he could tell you were performing Divine Invocation. Could it be that no one else in our sect noticed?”

“Why was Gu Xiu able to travel smoothly all the way from Zhuo Peak to your Moshu Peak? For such a long duration along the way, why did no one stop him?”

“Junior Sister, don’t you think…”

“This entire matter from beginning to end…”

“Is very strange?”