Previously, Nian Zhaoxi’s heartache over Gu Xiu had consumed her thoughts so completely that, though she sensed something was amiss, she hadn’t dwelled on it. It wasn’t until now that the full weight of the anomaly struck her.

Why?

Why had Gu Xiu not encountered a single person from start to finish? Qin Moran’s Divine Invocation—even a mortal like Gu Xiu could sense it—so why had no one in the sect noticed? Why had no one come to investigate?

Logically, at such a critical moment, their master, their sisters, and even the sect disciples should have spontaneously gathered to protect Qin Moran during her ascension. So why was there no one guarding her? How could Gu Xiu have just walked into Qin Moran’s courtyard unimpeded and succeeded in stopping her?

“Has Senior Sister forgotten so quickly?” Qin Moran replied calmly. “That day was the old Sect Master of Yantian Holy Land’s grand birthday celebration. Master took all our sisters to Yantian Holy Land. Didn’t you go too, Senior Sister?”

The old Sect Master of Yantian Holy Land’s birthday? Nian Zhaoxi remembered now; that seemed correct.

But she was still puzzled. “What about the other disciples? Even if we weren’t at the sect, with so many disciples and elders in our Qingxuan Holy Land, how could not a single one have gone to protect you?”

“Senior Sister, what are you trying to say?” Qin Moran frowned. “Are you blaming others for my failed Divine Invocation to exonerate Gu Xiu?”

“Of course not!” Nian Zhaoxi shook her head hurriedly. “I just feel… this whole matter is very strange.”

“What’s strange about it?” Qin Moran’s delicate brows knitted tightly. “No matter what, my Divine Invocation failed, and it was destroyed by Gu Xiu himself. Didn’t you witness that just now, Senior Sister?”

This… Nian Zhaoxi was momentarily speechless.

“Moran, Senior Sister knows you don’t want to bring up the failed Divine Invocation again. But this matter is suspicious. I think there might be other reasons behind it.”

“Whatever the reasons, they don’t change the fact that Gu Xiu destroyed my Divine Invocation. Isn’t that right?”

“But…” Nian Zhaoxi wanted to continue, but Qin Moran cut her off.

“Eldest Senior Sister, I hope you will not speak of this matter further. My Dao path is ruined, and the one who ruined it is Gu Xiu. What more is there to say at this point?”

“But…” Nian Zhaoxi opened her mouth, but seeing Qin Moran’s impatient expression, she finally closed it again.

For some reason, she felt that Qin Moran seemed unwilling for her to dig deeper.

Could it be… there really was another hidden truth here?

But Qin Moran had already issued a dismissal. Nian Zhaoxi couldn’t press further and could only leave Qin Moran’s hall filled with doubts.

Exiting the hall, she saw that the talisman class outside had just ended.

“Elder Zeng, this disciple has a question.” A disciple approached the teaching elder. “I noticed that in this talisman compendium, the descriptions for Dao Rhythms above the sixth layer all add an extra line: ‘if under normal Divine Invocation.’ Does that mean there are other methods of Divine Invocation?”

“I told you to keep your feet on the ground! Thinking about such things now—is this something you should be pondering?” The teaching elder chided disapprovingly.

Hearing this, Nian Zhaoxi paused.

She opened the talisman compendium she had been holding all along—the one personally transcribed by Qin Moran.

This compendium had appeared multiple times in the Heavenly Secrets Reincarnation Mirror earlier; Gu Xiu had been studying it almost constantly. Just moments ago, Nian Zhaoxi had flipped through it and noticed this description but hadn’t paid it much mind.

But now…

“Elder Zeng.” Nian Zhaoxi immediately stopped the teaching elder.

Seeing Nian Zhaoxi, the elder was startled and quickly bowed. “Greetings, Grandmaster Aunt. May I ask what instructions Grandmaster Aunt has?”

“I wish to ask the same question as that disciple just now,” Nian Zhaoxi inquired.

Ah? Elder Zeng was surprised, not understanding why the master of Wentian Pavilion would be interested in this. But he promptly replied, “Reporting to Grandmaster Aunt: The essence of the Talisman Dao lies in affinity with the Dao Rhythms of Heaven and Earth, making them serve one’s purpose.”

“Conventionally, once recognized by Heaven and Earth’s Dao Rhythms, Divine Invocation will descend naturally… however, some who never receive such an opportunity become desperate and resort to special means to force a Divine Invocation.”

“However, we talisman masters have never advocated such methods because while they can indeed attract Divine Invocation, the price is extremely high.”

“A price? What kind of price?” Nian Zhaoxi asked curiously.

“That varies,” Elder Zeng shook his head.

Seeing Nian Zhaoxi about to ask more, Elder Zeng elaborated. “It truly varies because the attracted Divine-grade Dao Rhythms differ. But what is certain is that it will inevitably cause significant impact on the talisman master themselves.”

“In fact, any Divine Invocation that is not voluntarily bestowed will ultimately affect the master upon success.”

“Some have their lifespan drained away—’hearing the Dao in the morning and dying content by evening.’ Some suffer a drop in cultivation realm, losing all possibility of further advancement. But more commonly… their temperament changes drastically, becoming a completely different person.”

“In fact, many Divine Talisman Masters above the sixth grade have eccentric personalities due to the influence of forced Dao Rhythms.”

What? There was such a thing?

Nian Zhaoxi was astonished. She specialized in Heavenly Secrets; while she understood formations and talismans, her knowledge wasn’t exhaustive. What Elder Zeng described was something she had never heard before.

But thinking carefully… among the high-grade Divine Talisman Masters she had met, many indeed had exceptionally strange temperaments. Some were gluttonous; some were lustful demons; some even killed indiscriminately like mad fiends.

Could this… be because they used special means to force Divine Invocation?

Suddenly!

Nian Zhaoxi thought of something and immediately opened the talisman manual again. Pointing at the “Zha” character Dao Rhythm, she asked, “If one forces Divine Invocation for this specific Dao Rhythm… what would be the side effect?”

“This is… the ‘Zha’ Character Talisman?” Elder Zeng glanced at it and was instantly alarmed. “This Dao Seal absolutely must not be forced! Otherwise… it would be a calamity!”

“What?” Nian Zhaoxi was startled.

Elder Zeng explained, “Grandmaster Aunt may not know this: The ‘Zha’ Character Talisman is unique among seventh-tier Divine-grade Dao Rhythms. It suppresses souls, seals demons, and vanquishes evil—it is immensely powerful.”

“Under normal Divine Invocation, perhaps nothing happens… but if forced… for a talisman master… it would be a disaster.”

“Because although this talisman suppresses evil spirits… forcing its attraction incurs their hatred. Therefore… not only will a large amount of lifespan be drained from the talisman master…”

“They will also be plagued by misfortune from then on!”

“There are historical records: Several people forced the attraction of this ‘Zha’ character Dao Rhythm before… but without exception… all encountered misfortune within one to three years!”

“…”

Elder Zeng continued speaking… but Nian Zhaoxi had already heard enough.

Her figure flashed as she immediately returned to Qin Moran’s hall.

Qin Moran had been frowning in thought; seeing Nian Zhaoxi return so soon made her scowl deepen. “Does Eldest Senior Sister still have matters to discuss?”

“I wish for Junior Sister to look at something again!” Nian Zhaoxi declared, taking out the Heavenly Secrets Reincarnation Mirror and activating it swiftly without waiting for a refusal.

However…

“Cough! Cough!”

Just as she began activating the divination technique, Nian Zhaoxi started coughing violently! Her entire aura weakened instantly, reaching its absolute limit!

For an instant—she almost perished directly!

“Senior Sister?! You—what did you ask?! Stop quickly!” Qin Moran exclaimed, frightened, rushing to support Nian Zhaoxi.

Nian Zhaoxi herself looked utterly horrified!

What she intended earlier was to directly ask what Gu Xiu had sacrificed for the sect, their master, and his sisters…

Yet before even fully forming the question—she suffered a backlash!

This indicated the Heavenly Secrets were obscured—unobservable! Unfathomable!

“I’m fine!” Though inwardly terrified, Nian Zhaoxi dared not speak of it. She changed her question immediately!

This time, her query was simple:

Gu Xiu—Why did he destroy Qin Moran’s Divine Invocation?!

With this question, the image of Gu Xiu from five hundred years ago, when he was still a youth, appeared again upon the bronze mirror’s surface!

“Gu Xiu—Talisman Dao requires gradual progression starting from the beginning. Looking at the later parts is useless…” The mirror showed the same scene: Qin Moran advising Gu Xiu to read the talisman compendium from the start rather than focusing on the later sections.

The mirrored Gu Xiu didn’t answer aloud but murmured softly instead.

Now, these words were amplified slightly within the bronze mirror, allowing both women outside to hear clearly:

“Actually, Senior Sister… I don’t want to learn the Talisman Dao… What I want… is that when I grow up… I can help you, Senior Sister…”