The noise in front of the ward didn't last long.

Uncle Gao had arrived.

His arrival immediately changed the tense atmosphere... The Eighth Elder, who had been so stubborn, fell silent.

Li Xuan, who had been hiding behind the crowd, also quietly concealed himself even deeper.

Gao Tian surveyed the scene, and the disturbance seemed as if it had never happened.

With his mental strength, how could he not know what had occurred outside?

"Come with me."

Gao Tian calmly glanced at the elders, not wanting to waste a single word, and led Gu Shen directly into the ward.

...

...

"You must be... Gu Shen?"

The man on the hospital bed looked up at Gu Shen, forcing a smile.

However, due to the torment of illness, his complexion was extremely pale, and the smile on his face appeared very haggard.

Gu Shen could tell at a glance...

This man's physical functions had weakened to the extreme. That he could even speak was a miracle.

He was a dying man.

Only a wisp of mental strength remained, supporting this shell.

It had to be said, the will of the Li family head was extremely strong, extremely resilient... But how long could this last wisp of mental strength endure?

Hearing someone enter, Li Qingsui subconsciously turned her head.

She saw Gu Shen and quickly took a deep breath, vigorously wiping her face, trying to erase the tears.

The silly girl was afraid of being laughed at by Gu Shen again, so she was desperately trying to put on a brave front, but her big eyes were already swollen with crying.

Gu Shen sighed silently in his heart.

He felt a pang of sympathy.

His gaze towards Li Qingsui softened somewhat.

"Mr. Li..."

After a few seconds of contemplation, he spoke, his voice no longer as cold as it had been outside, but very gentle. "I was entrusted by Miss Qingci to construct a 'mental link' in the Shen Ci Mountain... Perhaps you can use it."

"Mental link..."

The Li family head narrowed his eyes, somewhat surprised.

A year ago, he knew that "Gu Shen" had obtained the talisman of Shen Ci, allowing him to freely enter and exit this forbidden land of the Li family. In fact, this matter was carried out with his approval.

But as far as he knew... Shen Ci was related to a six-hundred-year-old secret guarded by the Protectors, filled with chaotic black spots, an absolutely closed mystic realm.

In such a place, it was impossible to construct a "link" under any circumstances.

There were very few secrets in this world that the heads of the five great families did not know... but they could not have imagined that there existed a being like "Chu Ling."

After completing the link with the Divine Embryo.

The extraordinary origin of the Shen Ci Mountain mystic realm no longer posed an obstacle to Chu Ling.

After exchanging a look with the Li family head,

Gu Shen conveyed the message to Chu Ling, activating the mental link.

"Let's begin."

Awaiting the signal, Chu Ling began to use the privileges of [Source Code], directly linking the mental strength of Li Qingci and the Li family head through the [Deep Sea] to build a platform. This was equivalent to initiating a mental call.

"Link in progress... 3... 2... 1..."

Li Qingci, who was in Shen Ci, and the family head, who was bedridden, both heard a voice in their minds.

They did not refuse.

Thus, the mental link... was successfully established.

Before entering the "link," the Li family head looked at Gu Shen with profound meaning.

Was this the person Qingci was willing to spend ten years praying to meet?

Constructing a mental link in Shen Ci Mountain, such an inconceivable thing... was actually accomplished by this young man?

Although he didn't know how it was done,

it was... a miracle.

...

...

This mental link did not last long.

But no one knew what Li Qingci and the family head had discussed in the link.

Upon waking up,

the Li family head's reaction was very calm. He looked at Gu Shen by the bedside and said softly, "Qingci has told me about the Shen Ci matter... They shouldn't have terminated the [Lantern Search] plan."

Li Qingsui looked bewildered.

She didn't know what had happened outside.

Only now did she realize... something had changed outside.

The [Lantern Search] plan had been terminated?

The Li family head smiled and said softly, "It seems these fellows have been waiting for a long time... The termination of the [Lantern Search] plan is just a small matter."

For an extraordinary power, anything that could be solved with mundane things was not a problem at all.

Using the [Lantern Search] plan as a starting point was actually to...

test and see the family head's "bottom line."

And his "time limit."

After the plan was terminated, a huge wave would soon follow.

Gu Shen looked at the emaciated man on the bed, his expression somewhat unbearable.

The former head of the five great families was now like a sick tiger.

The "elders" waiting outside the glass were more like vultures waiting for the sick tiger to die, waiting for the opportunity to arrive, to devour its flesh and gnaw on its bones.

The family head stretched out a hand, gently rubbing Li Qingsui's head. He looked out of the ward, his gaze sweeping over the standing figures.

He smiled silently.

The final farewell did not seem to be a friendly scene.

"Dad... they're all bad people..."

Li Qingsui's voice trembled. She was very clever and, at this point, understood what was happening outside.

The Li family head shook his head.

He said softly with a smile, "Qingsui... Dad told you, there are more good people in this world."

After speaking,

the man paused and said calmly, "It's just that I'm really disappointed in some of them."

Some of the "members" of the Elder Council had been personally selected by him.

Due to his illness, he had prepared "backups" long ago... but now it seemed that although he was the "Li Family Head" who wielded great power, he was also a patient who could not leave his bed, and his overly gentle approach did not possess true "deterrence."

In his final moments, he saw several subordinates he had once promoted standing in the wrong camp.

Li Qingsui followed her father's gaze.

Her vision was blurred with tears.

Everything she saw was a blur.

The little girl silently gritted her teeth and clenched her fists.

"If possible, be a kind person, but don't be too kind," the Li family head said with a smile. "If you want to become the family head... you can't be soft-hearted."

After saying this,

he turned to look at Gao Tian and softly instructed, "After I die... everything will be done according to the Li family rules. Deal with those who don't abide by the rules as you see fit. But if they follow the rules, spare them. Promise me, stay by Qingsui's side and protect her. Only with you will she be safe."

Gao Tian was stunned.

He saw the group of people gathered outside the ward, his expression already very gloomy.

If it weren't for today's occasion... he might have already taken action.

He remained in the Li family entirely because the family head had been kind to him!

With his strength, he would be highly revered in any of the five continents' extraordinary forces... Gao Tian had long thought about the worst-case scenario of this storm, which was nothing more than those fellows wanting to harm the young lady.

Then he would directly attack!

He was just a solitary person with nothing to hold him back—

He didn't care about the Li family or the Eastern Continent Federation!

But now... the family head had specifically instructed him before his death, so Gao Tian could only suppress his anger and agree.

"...Yes."

The Li family head smiled when he saw Gao Tian agree.

He knew what kind of person Gao Tian was.

Every word was like a nail.

He would never go back on his word.

In fact, it was precisely because he understood him so well... that he gave these instructions. He didn't want to see an old friend being hunted down by the Li family. No matter how strong Gao Tian was, he was still just one person and couldn't compete with the five great families, who had deep foundations.

What's more,

after his death, the Li family would usher in an unprecedented storm.

But he firmly believed that his daughter would win the final victory in this struggle.

Saying so much at once seemed to have exhausted all of the Li family head's strength. He supported himself on the bed, slowly sat up, and waved with difficulty, signaling Gu Shen to come closer.

His voice still carried a smile, but it had become very weak.

"Little Gu... come here, I have something to say to you..."

Gu Shen moved closer.

He looked at this giant who controlled Nagano, now gaunt and sallow, and couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

In this world, no matter how heroic, in the end, they could not avoid becoming a pile of dirt.

"From the day you entered Nagano... I started paying attention to you..."

This was the first time Gu Shen had met the Li family head.

He could see that there was an appreciative smile in the man's eyes.

Although they had never met,

it felt like they had known each other for a long time...

Thinking about it carefully, when he first came to Nagano, all five families had arranged meetings, but only the "Li Family's" meeting was successful.

If all of this was a design, then it could only be said that the person who made this meeting plan knew him very well.

"It's a pity that I couldn't see the 'Divine Embryo' hatch with my own eyes..." the Li family head sighed softly, his voice filled with regret, and said in a hoarse voice that only he and Gu Shen could hear, "Qingci is a very good girl, she deserves to see the light outside. After all, she spent ten years to exchange for a meeting with you."

He was worried that he didn't know how much Li Qingci had given.

Before his death, he revealed the price of the prayer technique for the sake of the Qingci girl.

"I know about this."

Gu Shen said softly, "I will solve the black flowers on Shen Ci Mountain."

Now that he had said this, the Li family head had already sensed something. He didn't continue to say more, but slowly stretched out a withered hand, leaned over, and placed it on Gu Shen's shoulder, gently and forcefully patting it.

The pat seemed to mean... you're very good.

And also... thank you.

Finally,

"You also know..."

"Those who are eager to jump out... are just..."

"Insignificant beings..."

The family head's voice was getting smaller and weaker.

"Consider... why they dare to jump out..."

Gu Shen's pupils contracted slightly.

The Li family head smiled and leaned back. He rested on the bed, sighed a long breath, and then closed his eyes, like a tired traveler who finally had a place to rest.

He fell asleep just like that.

And then he fell asleep forever.

...

...

The Li family head's funeral was held in Qingzhong.

This was his last wish, to have his body buried in the Qingzhong cemetery after his death.

To be buried with Li Qingci's father, the previous Shen Ci Protector.

Many people came to the outer mausoleum.

They came to send the family head off on his final journey. He was a "leader" worthy of respect, leading the Li family to move forward with difficulty under the suppression of the four great families. In recent years, the Li family was considered the most mysterious of the five families.

In reality, it was also the weakest of the five families.

The Li family could not be compared to the most powerful Gu family and Bai family.

It was also difficult to compete with the combined forces of the Gong and Mu families.

On this day, it did not snow or rain in Nagano. The weather was very dry, and dry, broken leaves swirled in the strong wind. The sky was low, and everyone's expression was very somber.

Wind swept fallen leaves.

Fallen leaves swept across robes.

The dim sky and the dim mausoleum merged together, like a faded oil painting.

Li Qingsui, wearing mourning clothes, walked at the front of the procession.

Her eyes had lost their usual brilliance. After her father died, her world seemed to have turned black and white... Everything had become dim. It was a silent sorrow.

When the person on the bed closed his eyes,

at that time, she did not realize... what goodbye truly tasted like.

In the days and nights that followed, she would never hear a familiar voice again, nor see a vibrant smile.

Everything about this person only existed in photo albums and memories.

Every time she thought about it, she had to accept the fact that "he had died."

This was not one cut.

But one cut after another.

Next, she would need a long time to digest this kind of sadness.

...

...

Qingzhong Inner Mausoleum.

Gu Shen stood on a small mountain at the edge of the mist, silently watching the scene of the crowd sending off the family head.

A thick mist surrounded him, but his vision was clear.

Seeing the dim light in the girl's eyes,

Gu Shen felt a little unbearable.

He shook his head, turned and left, returned to the Seasons Wilderness, and resumed practicing array patterns and talismans.

Array pattern drawings flew all over the sky.

In the past year, Gu Shen had learned thousands upon thousands of ancient text drawings. After reviewing each drawing three times, he would use his mental strength to "stick" them on the void above the grassland as proof of "conquest." Accumulating little by little, these drawings had densely paved a wall.

As long as his mental strength circulated,

these thousands of drawings would flow slowly, and finally flutter like snow, making for a spectacular scene.

Gu Shen had already broken through 80% of the Qingzhong mist.

This meant that he had comprehended nearly two thousand array patterns of the Qingzhong Grand Array.

In the beginning, he could only comprehend a maximum of five array patterns in one day.

Now, with his condition adjusted to its best, he could comprehend nearly ten array patterns a day, doubling his speed.

This speed was already very fast.

The tomb keeper's initial estimate was that, with immense effort and diligence, Gu Shen would need at least five hundred days, nearly two years, to complete the comprehension of all the array patterns.

But now it seemed that Gu Shen could complete them all in just over a year.

But today,

Gu Shen was stuck in front of a drawing for a long time, unable to decipher it.

It was not a complex drawing, and the operational trajectory of the ancient texts was not difficult... He was even stuck in the dream interpretation stage, which he was most skilled in.

After a long time,

Gu Shen opened his eyes.

He rubbed his temples, wanting to concentrate and refocus.

At this moment—

Thousand Wilds Master, who was sitting upside down on the tree, spoke.

"These past few days, your state of mind seems to be no longer calm."

The tomb keeper could see it clearly.

Gu Shen had something on his mind.

In the past year of getting along, she marveled at Gu Shen's talent, and also marveled at Gu Shen's "quality." It was rare to see a genius who could truly be indifferent to external affairs and immerse himself in the practice of ancient texts with such focus.

It should be noted that,

array pattern disassembly and ancient text learning was an extremely tedious task.

There was no joy to be found in it.

It was just memorizing, feeling, and memorizing again... an endless cycle.

And every time Gu Shen came to Qingzhong, he would definitely exceed his expected workload and understand the ancient texts on those drawings extremely thoroughly.

Although it was declared to the outside world that Gu Shen was her disciple...

the tomb keeper knew that she had never taught him "divination."

She had never accepted a disciple in her life.

And in the process of teaching ancient texts, she often had this thought... If she really accepted Gu Shen as a disciple and let him inherit her mantle, it seemed like a good thing.

"Teacher... I..."

Gu Shen gave a wry smile.

His state of mind, which had been stable for a year, finally became unsettled, causing waves.

He was a little troubled.

He wanted to continue concentrating, but it was difficult to return to the previous excellent state of "getting twice the result with half the effort."

In the sky, there was a faint golden light flashing.

That was the divination thread flowing.

"People aren't sages, how can they truly achieve... not rejoicing in things, not grieving over themselves?"

The tomb keeper comforted him gently and said slowly, "Many times, you can choose to be an observer, but there are always some things... you must experience firsthand. Separation from life and death, joys and sorrows, only by tasting them yourself can you truly understand the flavors within."

Gu Shen's mind had been restless these past few days.

One reason was the last lampstand...

Second, it was because of the Li family head's passing.

He had only met that family head once, but after his death, he truly felt a sense of sadness in his heart.

"The most difficult thing about divination is calculation."

Thousand Wilds Master suddenly said something that seemed unrelated.

She pointed to the golden clouds above the Seasons Wilderness, "The fate lines of the world's people are only one, but thousands of people are connected into threads, forming a whole cloud... This cloud is their fate."

Thousands of golden threads crisscrossed.

Moving one would alarm countless others.

"So divination... can only be watched, not touched." Thousand Wilds Master smiled and said, "Moving one hair affects the whole body. If you move one golden thread, perhaps the entire cloud pieced together by billions of golden threads will change. And even seeing it requires enormous mental effort. Compared to the mental energy consumed and the flesh cut away, those are nothing."

Gu Shen was thoughtful.

"Some people you can meet a thousand times, and their golden threads are not related to you, so no matter how much you move them, there will be no impact."

"But some people you only meet once, and their golden threads are connected to you... If they die, of course you'll be sad."

Thousand Wilds Master sighed softly, "That little girl hasn't left yet. If you really can't let go, go take a look."