Li Hentian sat motionless, his eyes tightly shut. The fluctuation of his spirit within his mind was incredibly intense; it was uncertain whether he had managed to connect with the entity residing deep within the belly of Mount Tianshan.

From the expressions of Xue Biandao, Chen Qisen, and the others, Ji Changkong discerned they were deliberately withholding some vital information. Regrettably, these individuals, having lived past fifty, were all old foxes; if they were unwilling to speak, no amount of effort from Ji Changkong could pry the secret from them.

A sudden sensation washed over him—the distinct feeling of being watched. It was as if a colossal eye lay latent nearby, scrutinizing every inch of him. Under that gaze, he felt utterly transparent, with no secret safe; every experience, from childhood onward, seemed laid bare for inspection.

It was an intensely peculiar sensation.

His expression shifted, and Ji Changkong instinctively tried to marshal his spirit to resist this intrusive feeling of being spied upon. Yet, despite all his efforts, he could not dispel the sensation.

Innumerable thin threads of foreign power began to envelop his body. Every sinew, every bone deep within him felt as if it were being meticulously mapped out by these subtle, strange forces.

He had an overwhelming certainty that if the hidden entity wished him harm, he would possess absolutely no means to fight back. Even his Xuanyuan bloodline combined with the Tianyuan Pearl would prove insufficient against this adversary.

This feeling of helpless frustration was profoundly distressing, yet he was utterly powerless to do anything about it.

Suddenly, a pinpoint of light, no larger than a fingernail, plummeted from above, instantly injecting itself deep into the core of his mind.

The first volume of the Taixu Secret Record, which had lain dormant in the deepest recesses of his consciousness, manifested silently without being summoned, immediately intertwining with the tiny, fingernail-sized spark of light.

A sphere of light the size of a walnut began to slowly revolve within his mind. A distinct, rustling sound—like the turning of ancient scripture pages—suddenly echoed through his consciousness.

In a mere instant, the sound of turning pages vanished without a trace, and the walnut-sized orb of light seemed to withdraw into the most secluded corner of his mind.

The sensation of being watched abruptly ceased.

His eyes wide with alarm, Ji Changkong quickly attempted to summon the Taixu Secret Record hidden within his consciousness, desperate to see what had transpired.

With a mere thought, the Taixu Secret Record, sequestered in that remote corner, gradually expanded, rematerializing as a scripture within his mind.

The difference was evident: the Taixu Secret Record that materialized this time was noticeably thicker.

A wondrous feeling surged through him. He tentatively directed his mind to turn the pages of the Taixu Secret Record. Page after page flipped backward until he reached the section detailing the cultivation realms of the Seven Stars Heaven.

The Taixu Secret Record continued its rapid turning: Eight Trigrams Heaven, Nine Palaces Heaven, Ten Directions Heaven. The cultivation secrets for these last three realms were startlingly present—the missing scripture had miraculously become whole!

An extraordinary, bright light flashed from his eyes. The complete Taixu Secret Record then retreated back into the depths of his mind. He glanced sideways at Li Hentian, who had just opened his eyes, his own face clouded with confusion.

"This... what was that?"

"Let’s go." Unexpectedly, Li Hentian offered no explanation. He nodded toward Xue Biandao and Chen Qisen and turned to depart Mount Tianshan.

"Elder Li!" Xue Biandao called out anxiously.

Chen Qisen and Chen Qilin also looked flustered, unable to stop themselves from stepping forward simultaneously, pleading:

"Old Li—"

"No need to worry; the Sect Master is fine," Li Hentian said faintly without turning back, his back to Xue Biandao and Chen Qisen. He then grabbed Ji Changkong and vanished into the vast expanse of white mist.

The three men exchanged bewildered glances.

"If the Sect Master is fine, then we shouldn't worry too much," Chen Qisen said after a moment, frowning, as he bid farewell to Xue Biandao. "We will take our leave now. If any news breaks here, please notify us immediately. Do not hesitate to call upon us if you need any help."

Xue Biandao nodded. "We will certainly remember the kindness of you all traveling thousands of miles to aid Tianshan this time."

"You are too kind. The success or failure of Tianshan concerns the fate of the entire world. Our coming here was only right and proper," Chen Qisen replied humbly before he and Chen Qilin left Mount Tianshan together.

"The latter half of the Taixu Secret Record was with Gu Yan? Just now, Gu Yan gave it to me?" On the way back, Ji Changkong questioned Li Hentian.

After escorting Ji Changkong down onto a snow-covered peak and setting him down, Li Hentian looked at him and stated, "Do not address the Sect Master by his given name again. Others may, but you may not."

"Why?"

"Because he is your maternal grandfather."

"What?" Ji Changkong exclaimed, a strange mix of amusement and disbelief washing over him. He shook his head doubtfully. "The Sect Master of the Qiankun Sect is my grandfather? If he is my grandfather, why has he ignored me all these years, never once visiting?"

This piece of news was too staggering; he found it hard to accept. No