The two of them arrived only to find an empty room.

Xiao He's voice answered them. "Xiao He greets Manager Su. You've come at an unfortunate time; Immortal Feng just left a moment ago."

"Left?" Su Rumei found it strange. "Did Immortal Feng say where he was going?"

"He didn't mention that."

This...

Su Rumei frowned. Shadow, standing beside her, stepped forward. "Does that Immortal Feng go out often?"

"This..." Xiao He hesitated for a moment, then shook her head without speaking.

Shadow grew impatient. "I'm asking you a question!"

Xiao He knelt on the ground. "I beg the Immortal to forgive my offense. Xiao He is Immortal Feng's maidservant. Without Immortal Feng's permission, I cannot recklessly discuss my master's affairs."

Hey!

Shadow was both angry and amused. Just as she was about to teach this mortal maid a lesson, Su Rumei stopped her and instead praised Xiao He. "You did the right thing. This is exactly how one should treat Immortal Feng."

After speaking, Su Rumei left with Shadow, chuckling softly.

Shadow still felt indignant. "That little girl probably forgot she used to be one of our Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion people. It's only been a few days, and she can already defy us for that Feng Bugui? I think this girl is an ungrateful wretch who can't be tamed!"

"I actually think this is quite good," Su Rumei said, her words only deepening Shadow's dissatisfaction.

"What's good about it?"

"Xiao He has only been serving Feng Bugui for a few days and can already go to such lengths for him. Don't you think this indicates something?"

"What?"

"It shows that Feng Bugui, at the very least, treats those around him well. He should be a person who values loyalty and righteousness." Su Rumei continued, "Isn't such a person precisely the most worthy of being won over?"

This...

Shadow pondered for a moment, then curled her lip. "This is exactly why I don't want to be any kind of manager and just want to be an enforcer who uses her hands, not her brains. Playing mind games with you people who are full of twists and turns just feels exhausting."

"Alright, alright, don't be angry," Su Rumei smiled.

"I'm not really angry," Shadow said. "I'm just thinking, since Feng Bugui isn't here now, where do you plan to look for him?"

"Don't rush. Let me use the Providence Peering Technique to take a look. Feng Bugui's Providence is so profound; I should be able to glean something."

As Su Rumei spoke, she silently recited an incantation, then brought two fingers together and lightly wiped them across her eyes.

Instantly, a flash of green light passed through her pupils.

The Providence Peering Technique itself was secondary; the crucial factor was that Su Rumei possessed pupils different from ordinary people. They were extremely rare in the world.

She looked up at the sky, then swept her gaze around the surroundings.

But...

A moment later, Su Rumei suddenly widened her eyes in disbelief. She hastily dispersed the technique, her face full of shock.

"What's wrong? Did you find Feng Bugui?" Shadow asked, puzzled.

"I... I didn't get a chance to look," Su Rumei said with a grave expression. "I saw something even more shocking."

"What was it?"

"I... I just saw that in the eastern part of the city... someone... someone is... is performing the Blessing Bestowal and Self-Severance technique!"

"Blessing Bestowal and Self-Severance? What's that?" Shadow was astonished and confused.

Su Rumei explained, "The theory of Providence—although many are unwilling to believe it—states that everyone in this world possesses their own Providence. For many, it can be discerned from the moment of birth."

"However, each person's depth of Providence varies. Those without Providence often die young. Even if they survive, their remaining life will be filled with disasters and misfortunes."

This... Shadow pursed her lips. She was only half-convinced about this stuff but remained curious. "Then what is this Blessing Bestowal and Self-Severance technique? Is it giving one's own Providence to someone else?"

"Yes!" Su Rumei nodded. "Providence is determined by Heaven. For most people, it is set from birth, but that doesn't mean it won't change. In the theory of Providence, there is a special technique called Blessing Bestowal and Self-Severance!"

"The person who performs this technique, if they possess great perseverance and determination, can bestow all of their Providence upon someone they acknowledge."

"It can be done like that? But if it's given away, it's given away. Why call it 'Self-Severance'?" Shadow found it strange.

Su Rumei remained silent for a moment before answering gravely. "As I said before, for most people, Providence is set from birth. Performing this technique means giving all of one's Providence to another."

"And the person who bestows their blessing naturally no longer has any Providence watching over them."

"An infant without Providence's watch will die young."

"And if a cultivator loses the watch of their Providence, even if they don't die on the spot, barring any accidents, their life will likely be filled with disasters and hardships. They might even encounter danger at any time, perishing physically and spiritually!"

"Tell me."

"If that isn't self-severance, what is?"

Shadow instantly widened her eyes and looked toward the eastern part of the city, feeling a chill run down her spine.

If what Su Rumei said was true...

What immense determination must the person performing this Blessing Bestowal and Self-Severance technique possess?

After all, what they were giving away was their own Providence!

Ordinary people who didn't believe in Providence might be fine without it, but someone capable of performing such a technique must have a deep understanding of it.

Such a person must know the role of Providence and what losing it meant.

This was...

Knowing full well that taking one step forward would surely lead to misfortune, yet still being willing to take that step!

A short while later, inside an inn in Cloud Firmament City's eastern district.

"Senior... you... what happened to you?"

When the door opened and Ye Hongling saw Nian Zhaoxi walk out, she asked immediately, her eyes full of concern.

Starting this morning, Nian Zhaoxi had suddenly said she needed to go into seclusion. Afterward, she locked herself in her room, seemingly performing some kind of spell all along.

What she was performing, Ye Hongling did not know.

But in her heart, she always had a faint feeling of unease because she recognized the look in Nian Zhaoxi's eyes at that time.

It was exactly the same look her fellow disciples had when they calmly went to their deaths for her sake!

She was worried something would happen to this senior.

Nian Zhaoxi, however, showed a rare smile. "Don't worry, I'm fine. On the contrary, I am very happy now."

Happy?

Ye Hongling didn't understand. This senior had previously been weeping bitterly, then seemed like a walking corpse, and yesterday had broken down in confession and remorse... how could she suddenly be happy now?

"I have obtained the answer I wanted."

"What answer?"

"My junior brother is still alive!" Nian Zhaoxi said, her energy radiant.

This...

Ye Hongling was bewildered. She naturally didn't understand that Nian Zhaoxi had just successfully performed the Blessing Bestowal and Self-Severance technique. It was through this technique's success that Nian Zhaoxi confirmed the news that delighted her heart.

Gu Xiu.

Was still alive!

Although she didn't know why her earlier divinations had failed, since her Providence could be bestowed, it meant Gu Xiu must still be alive!

Ye Hongling felt happy for her. "Senior, will you continue searching for your junior brother?"

"No." Nian Zhaoxi shook her head. "Seeing him would only harm him."

"What?" Ye Hongling was astonished.

Nian Zhaoxi did not answer.

"But Senior, you miss your junior brother so much. Don't you want to see him one more time?"

"I do."

"Then you..."

"Meeting strives not to meet, passion resembles no passion."

This...

Ye Hongling seemed to understand somewhat, but not fully. Then she saw Nian Zhaoxi glance at the clouds drifting outside the window.

"My junior brother told me five hundred years ago..."

"If you miss me, then look up at the sky. I will be the clouds in the sky, the stars at night, and also the wind that blows past."

"Moreover, I have a feeling deep down..."

"I perhaps..."

"Have already seen him."

Ye Hongling grew even more confused, but Nian Zhaoxi had already turned around, walked out of the inn, and headed toward the city gate.

Ye Hongling hurriedly caught up. "Senior, where are you going?"

"Back to the sect."

"Back to the sect?"

"Yes." Nian Zhaoxi nodded. "I am about to die. Before I die, I want to do things I previously wanted but didn't dare do, things I should have done but couldn't."

For some reason, Ye Hongling's heart suddenly felt heavy. "Senior, but if your journey there ultimately proves futile, like fishing for the moon in water, all effort in vain?"

This time, Nian Zhaoxi did not stop walking.

Only a soft murmur reached Ye Hongling's ears:

"At least..."

"I did it."

Inside that tavern within Cloud Firmament City.

Gu Xiu, wearing his Three-Body Mask, seemed to sense something and suddenly glanced toward the city gate area.

At precisely that moment, Nian Zhaoxi, with her head full of white hair, walked out beyond the city walls and looked back toward the city once more.

He only saw bustling crowds.

She only saw a formidable city within its restrictions.

The next moment.

Both simultaneously withdrew their gazes.