"Lend a Hand?"

It was not until he saw Qu Thunderbolt-Free "enter without announcing" that Yu Ci ever felt such helplessness.

"Do you not think, Senior Wu Jie, that there's quite a distance between us?" Yu Ci inquired.

"Young man, you are aware of it too," Qu Thunderbolt-Free chuckled wryly, "You didn't seem to remember that when you were ruining my big plan just now."

Yu Ci crossed his arms over his chest, uncertain of what posture to adopt. No matter what, he was unwilling to accept Qu Thunderbolt-Free's request. The painful experiences in the Sword Immortal's Secret domain, as well as the recent harrowing events at the source of the Boundary River, were more than enough. What was even more fatal was that he felt not a shred of regret. Such a mindset was far too dangerous!

Qu Thunderbolt-Free and Yu Ci looked at each other, locked in a standoff that lasted an age before Qu Thunderbolt-Free nodded and said, "You are smart, and having self-awareness is a good thing. However, it's a pity that while you think this way in your mind, you should also act upon it!"

Yu Ci felt stifled by the remark. Even now, with Qu Thunderbolt-Free devoid of power, he could still penetrate the heart with his insights. Thus, Yu Ci remained silent, for speech was pointless.

"We need to be more candid and speak in terms everyone can understand. Now, you set your sights so high..." Qu Thunderbolt-Free gestured toward the night sky of the Inner Void of the Heart, where stars twinkled, and then he lightly stepped on the chaotic pebble beach beside him, "Yet here is where you stand. This situation is both good and bad. The good is that the sky is high and the clouds are pale, with no limits in sight. The bad is that progress is slow and laborious, with a stark contrast and endless pressure in cultivation."

Yu Ci remained silent, and seeing his demeanor, Qu Thunderbolt-Free laughed, "Stubborn youth never know what pressure is. That's good, but having stayed at the source of the Boundary River for so long, everything you've seen and heard is top-notch competition in this realm. No matter what you think now, these impressions will be imprinted onto your Divine Soul. When the time comes to refine them, how will you sort them out clearly so that they do not obstruct your Dao heart? If one thing is unclear, everything is unclear, and from this, the Heart Demon arises. This is the most accurate interpretation."

He again self-mockingly referred to his current state, but Yu Ci could not laugh. What Qu Thunderbolt-Free said pointed to the most fundamental aspect of cultivation and was convincing.

Qu Thunderbolt-Free continued, "Snakes have their paths, and rats have their ways. The saying is unpleasant but very true. However, if you try to forcibly adopt the mindset of birds, that would be a joke. Your problem lies here. You've seen too many things that belong only to birds. The experiences you've just had are one example, and the 'Upper True Nine Heavens Flying Immortal Sword Scripture' you obtained in Return Village is another."

Yu Ci was taken aback and then realized that Qu Thunderbolt-Free was the true master of the sword scripture. It was unreasonable to think his insight would be lesser than that of Xing Tian, especially now that they were within the Inner Void of the Heart.

"The 'Flying Immortal Sword Scripture' is a typical bird's way of thinking. Being able to replicate a copy is a stroke of fortune, but that's all it is. In the future, it's likely you'll just be a Dharma Transmission Elder, helping the Sword Competing Pavilion maintain an Incense Flame outside."

Qu Thunderbolt-Free made a small joke, which left Yu Ci in a state of mixed emotions, as he was nearly forgetting the true plight of the person in front of him. Yet, Qu Thunderbolt-Free changed the subject again, "This place you've opened up, straddling the line between reality and illusion, is quite marvelous. Did you come up with it on your own?"

"No, it is the 'Primordial Root Qi Method' created by Elder Jie Liang himself," Yu Ci replied with a slight bow, acknowledging the praise from the Thunderbolt-Free Sword Immortal.

"A stroke of genius, meticulous in its rules, vast and magnificent in its scope; this man surely possesses the makings of a grandmaster."

To be lauded as a "grandmaster" by the Thunderbolt-Free Sword Immortal himself was something Elder Jie Liang would not even dare to dream of. Yu Ci bowed slightly, expressing gratitude on behalf of his master.

"So, the 'Iceberg' seal in the outer deep sea was also the work of your Uncle Master Jie Liang?"

"That, no. It was actually left behind by two venerable predecessors after a great battle..."

After some explanation, Qu Thunderbolt-Free understood. There was no need to mention the Rakshasa Ghost King; even the Great Mysterious Demon Mother was an acquaintance from the past: "It must be the work of Tai Xuan, unparalleled in the art of sealing. No wonder she could contain the Flying Immortal Sword Scripture. Such a treasure, and it's fortunate to have these, otherwise I wouldn't have the face to speak with you now."

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Yu Ci frowned upon hearing this: "I had no intentions of making a deal."

"It's just to put each other's minds at ease."

Qu Thunderbolt-Free sat on a rock, speaking with a gentle smile, "I think it's better to ensure your safety before I ask for your help. Now is not the time to be reckless."

Yu Ci still maintained his arms crossed over his chest, feeling a complex mix of emotions. Was this the once invincible Thunderbolt-Free Sword Immortal who dominated the world? Perhaps he seemed amiable, but was this his true nature? Yu Ci didn't believe it, and he couldn't help but wonder, what would old friends like Xing Tian and Xuan Huang think if they saw this?

He didn't know, but a sentiment that could perhaps be described as "pity" began to spread in his heart: how could Qu Thunderbolt-Free, who was now compromising and seeking peace, still be called the Thunderbolt-Free Sword Immortal?

This time, Qu Thunderbolt-Free seemed oblivious to his emotions. His figure grew fainter, yet his face still bore a slight smile, "You have two choices. One is to leave everything as it is, maintain the status quo, spend three to five years to sort things out properly. You might not need it now, but perhaps after you're reborn in another life, it could still be of use..."

Yu Ci rolled his eyes.

Qu Thunderbolt-Free continued with a smile, "Don't mind the length of time; your injuries are not light. Without some miraculous elixir, it will take five years of careful recuperation to prevent endless troubles. Healing and sorting things out simultaneously wouldn't be a delay!"

Yu Ci shook his head; he hadn't realized his injuries were so severe. Five years, even for cultivators who lived much longer than ordinary people, how many five-year periods did one have in a lifetime? But then again, having forced the activation of the Xuan Huang Killing Sword's Bloodthirsty Qi and intervening in such a high-level conflict, he should be thankful for this outcome.

After some thought, he inquired about the second option. Qu Thunderbolt-Free explained it carefully, "The second method is more troublesome. I see that your Inner Void of the Heart is quite unique, and with the Great Mysterious Prohibition, you could have a complete set of rules by yourself. However, there's a mix of miscellaneous things sealed within, which not only are difficult to use but also add to your burden. It might be better to deliberately enhance the power of Tai Xuan, breaking this balance and completely sealing off other forces, simplifying the situation. This is an internal seal that won't easily cause problems. Afterwards, once your level is sufficient, you can naturally observe, comprehend, and control it, gradually and methodically."

Qu Thunderbolt-Free made it sound simple, but the intricate details involved were enough to blow Yu Ci's mind, which is why he wisely chose not to delve further, merely shaking his head: "Is this really a choice?"

"‘How can there not be a choice? You can either choose to help me or not to help me.’"

Yu Ci no longer dwelled on this point and directly asked, "Senior, what exactly do you want me to do?"

"Look after Return Village."

"Ah?"

This answer was completely unexpected. Yu Ci was momentarily unable to react, only to hear Qu Thunderbolt-Free say, "You've been to Return Village before, so you should know that in the village, I have placed the relics of seventeen old friends. I've collected these from various places and set them atop the Cloud Tower Tree to maintain their Spirituality."

"Spirituality?" The implication was that it served a purpose.

"A beacon."

Qu Thunderbolt-Free responded simply, "It's a beacon for their return."

If they were still alive, that is. Of course, Yu Ci wouldn't voice this thought; he understood that if Qu Thunderbolt-Free didn't even have this sliver of hope, how could he sustain an unwavering drive during the long, despair-filled times? Now, Yu Ci's only doubt was about how to look after Return Village. Surely he wasn't expected to stand guard within Guixu, a bottomless abyss in the sea? That would be no different from courting death.

Qu Thunderbolt-Free laughed, his laughter stemming from his confirmation of Yu Ci's attitude: "No rush on this, let's first settle our hearts and then speak of it."

With that, he stood up and beckoned Yu Ci to come closer: "There's only a bit of strength left, we must succeed in one try. Come, cooperate!"

*************

Yu Ci struggled to open his eyes, the world outside still chaotic, with vague figures moving around him. Even grasping such a simple piece of information made him feel utterly exhausted. It wasn't just the original injuries that were troubling him but also the reorganization of the Inner Void of the Heart. Since Qu Thunderbolt-Free couldn't provide enough power, the latter part was almost entirely completed under his guidance, with Yu Ci mustering the last bit of his strength.

For the first time in his life, he felt that weakness could indeed kill a person.

But soon, a stream of pure energy flowed into his body. While his consciousness was still blurry, he couldn't perceive the finer details, but in the blink of an eye, an incredible vitality seeped into every corner of his body. The sudden surge of power made him cry out, "Heh!" Immediately following, Yu Zhou spoke with an unprecedented stern tone, "Shut up!"

Yu Ci quickly clamped his mouth shut, and the surging vitality penetrated deeper into his body tissue, healing his wounds. It was to prevent the medicinal power from leaking out, Yu Ci realized. But he still had unfinished business that couldn't be delayed.

As he was wrestling with this thought, Xing Tian's voice rang in his ear: "I owe you a favor, which I shall repay in the future. For now, while those greedy ones haven't arrived, you can pick anything you want from the Sword Garden. What do you desire?"

"Truly identical!"

Yu Ci was thoroughly impressed by Qu Thunderbolt-Free, understanding why Xing Tian was always at a disadvantage against such an adversary. He calmed his emotions and responded with a nonchalant tone, as previously instructed: "Whatever Xuan Huang has promised me, as long as it's complete, that will suffice. Oh, and how about choosing one more from Return Village?"

"Of course, which one would you like?"

Yu Ci internally sighed in relief and quickly asked, "Is there anyone useful for Talisman?"

"Uh, how about the seeds of the Cloud Tower Tree?"

***************

With the handwritten manuscript in hand, I typed at a high speed of one thousand characters every three hours onto the iPad. If there are any missing or incorrect characters, formatting errors, brothers and sisters, please be forgiving.

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