123: The fallen maple leaves pause, and the sword's heart begins to shine.

Luofeng Town was named for the vast "Drunken Maple Forest" growing in the surrounding mountains, whose leaves turn fiery red every late autumn. Although it was not late autumn now and the maple leaves were only slightly yellow, the small town was still bustling. As an edge hub within the Qinglan Sect's sphere of influence, it gathered Loose Cultivators, Disciples from small Sects, and passing merchant caravans from all directions, creating a chaotic mix where information flowed quickly.

Lin Xuan and the other two disguised themselves slightly outside the town, restrained their aura, and blended into the bustling crowd as ordinary Loose Cultivator siblings. They found an inconspicuous inn called "Bamboo Whisper Cottage" that had a quiet, private courtyard and settled down.

Only after setting up a Restriction to block detection did the three truly relax. After the consecutive frights in the Nether Abyss and the escape through the Black Wind Mountain Range, their spirits had been highly strained, and now they could finally take a break.

I will adjust my breathing first and recover from my injuries as quickly as possible." Su Wanqing, her face still pale, whispered this to Lin Xuan before choosing an inner quiet room, closing her eyes, and circulating her energy. The ninth-tier Immortal Artifact—the frost silence sword, which was entirely like an ice crystal and emitted a hazy moonlight—did not manifest but instead merged with her mind and spirit, sinking into her body. Strands of pure Taiyin Power circulated on their own, gently nourishing her damaged Meridians and Divine Soul. An Immortal Artifact with spirit naturally protects its master.

Qu Feiyan had also expended a great deal of energy, especially maintaining the Illusory Body to confuse the Nascent Soul Cultivator at the end, which put an immense burden on her Divine Sense. She stretched languidly, revealing her graceful curves, and cast a flirtatious glance at Lin Xuan: "Junior Martial Brother, I need to recuperate properly too. You must act as our Protector, okay~" After speaking, she walked into another quiet room, where the faint phantom of a blood lotus appeared as she began repairing her losses.

Only Lin Xuan remained in the living room.

He did not immediately adjust his breathing. Instead, he walked to the window, pushed it open a crack, and gazed at the bustling crowds on the street outside, listening to the familiar clamor and hawking sounds of mortals and low-level Cultivators. His eyes were somewhat dazed.

Qinglan Sect, Cultivation, Magic Treasure, Medicinal Pill, Fairy, Demoness, Guixu Cult... these terms that once existed only in the fantasy of novels now constituted his real life.

"Transmigration..." Lin Xuan muttered softly, a complicated curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

He was originally just an ordinary wage slave on Earth, named Lin Fan, living a nine-to-five life, rushing to pay off mortgages and car loans. His only hobby was browsing various web novels late at night, imagining strange and colorful alternate worlds. He was particularly fond of reading well-researched posts that delved into ancient mythological secrets and was quite interested in fragmented legends recorded in the *Classic of Mountains and Seas*, the *Records of Gleanings*, and even some lost Daoist Canon manuscripts.

He remembered that his last memory before Transmigration was working overtime late into the night, organizing a private research note on "The Correlation between the Collapse of the Ancient Heavenly Court and the Records of 'Guixu'" on his computer, when, due to excessive fatigue, his heart seized up in pain, and he lost consciousness.

When he woke up again, he had become Lin Xuan, an Outer Sect Disciple of the Qinglan Sect with poor Aptitude, who was about to be expelled.

"Guixu..." Lin Xuan's gaze deepened.

In the fragmented records and folk legends of Earth, "Guixu" was the place where all waters gathered, the end and destination of the world, swallowing everything, unfathomably deep. However, in the more obscure Daoist Canon remnants, often dismissed as absurd, it was occasionally mentioned that "Guixu" was not merely a geographical concept but a terrifying power or entity that annihilated all Laws and ended eras.

When he organized his notes back then, he had boldly speculated that the so-called "Collapse of the Heavenly Court" might not have been a simple conflict between divine Systems, but rather related to this ultimate destructive power named "Guixu."

He never expected that after Transmigration, he would actually encounter the Guixu Cult and personally witness the terrifying creations infected and twisted by the power of "Guixu"!

"Is there truly some connection between the legends of Earth and the 'Guixu' of this world?" A huge wave surged in Lin Xuan's heart. Was this just a coincidence, or... was there a deeper reason hidden behind his Transmigration?

He recalled the cold, mechanical voice that mentioned "The Strongest Investor Across the Myriad Worlds" when the System was bound.

The Myriad Worlds... did that include Earth, the seemingly ordinary place where he once lived, yet where countless mysterious legends circulated?

There was also the string of question marks after Su Wanqing's SSS+ potential, and the "throbbing" and "craving" transmitted by her Bloodline whenever she sensed him or the items he gifted... All of this seemed to point towards a grand scheme far exceeding his current understanding.

"System," Lin Xuan silently asked in his heart, "Was my Transmigration and binding with you not accidental?"

[Insufficient authority. Cannot answer. Please strive to increase your strength, Host, to unlock higher authority.]

The System's reply remained cold and mechanical.

Lin Xuan frowned, not pressing the matter further. He knew he was still too weak; even knowing the truth, he would likely be powerless to change anything. The immediate priority was to improve his strength, deal with the current crisis, and unveil the mystery step by step.

His gaze became resolute once more.

Since Heaven (or rather, the System) had given him a chance to live a second life and embark on the path of Cultivation, especially with this Heaven-Defying Investment Return System in hand, how could he remain mediocre and inactive? He was determined to make up for all the regrets and mediocrity of his previous life manifold in this one!

The internal strife of the Qinglan Sect, the world-destroying conspiracy of the Guixu Cult, the deep affection and loyalty of his confidantes, and even the ancient secrets that might involve the Myriad Worlds... He had to face and control all of it!

"Strength... I need greater strength!" Lin Xuan felt the spiritual power of the Late Golden Core Stage within him (he had quietly achieved a Breakthrough after the Nether Abyss trip and resource accumulation), as well as the rusty but immortal Battle Intent-infused sin-severing sword in his Dantian. His desire for power was stronger than ever.

He sat down cross-legged. Instead of immediately Cultivating, he began organizing the gains from his trip to the Nether Abyss.

The nether ghost seal (Sealed state), increased affinity for Nether Laws, deepened bonds with Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan, accumulation of battle experience... these were all valuable assets.

System, pull up my current status panel and simulate the projected increase in combat power if I were to initially combine the newly acquired Primal Beginning Sword Scripture Incomplete Manual with the sin-severing sword.

[Host: Lin Xuan]

[Cultivation: Late Golden Core Stage (Hidden)]

[Cultivation Technique: Nine Revolutions Golden Body Art (Fifth Revolution), Primal Beginning Sword Scripture Incomplete Manual (Uncultivated)...]

[Divine Ability: Blood Lotus Illusory Body, Great Dream Eternal Art (Fragment)...]

[Magic Treasure: sin-severing sword (Containing War Intent of the Thunder Emperor), nether ghost seal (Sealed), thunder source crystal marrow (Partially refined)...]

[Simulation Complete: Preliminary combination of the Primal Beginning Sword Scripture and the sin-severing sword is projected to increase the Host's sword Dao power by 20%, significantly strengthen the restraining effect against evil spirits and demonic creatures, and carry a certain chance of triggering the War Intent of the Thunder Emperor contained within the broken sword. It is recommended to perform deep comprehension in a safe environment.]

A 20% increase, plus the potential to trigger the War Intent of the Thunder Emperor—this effect was quite good! Lin Xuan made up his mind. Once settled, he must comprehend the Primal Beginning Sword Scripture as soon as possible.

Just as he was deep in thought, the door to the inner quiet room was gently pushed open.

Su Wanqing walked out. After several hours of adjusting her breathing, her complexion was much better. Although she was still cold and aloof, the weakness between her brows had faded, and her ice-like eyes held an inner Divine Light. Her aura was more condensed and profound, subtly showing signs of a Breakthrough to the Middle Stage Golden Core. The perfect compatibility between the frost silence sword and her Supreme Yin Body brought immense benefits. She paused slightly when she saw Lin Xuan sitting in the living room, then moved with light steps toward him.

"How are your injuries?" Lin Xuan asked with concern.

"They are mostly fine now. Thank you... you." Su Wanqing sat down in the chair next to him, her voice soft. After his selfless rescue in the Nether Abyss and their shared escape just now, the barrier between them seemed to have thinned considerably. She could feel that the frost silence sword, which was intrinsically linked to her life force, would transmit a subtle, intimate chime when near Lin Xuan. This made her feelings towards Lin Xuan increasingly complicated.

"Between us, there is no need for thanks." Lin Xuan smiled, looked at her beautiful profile, and suddenly remembered something. He flipped his palm, and the miniature coffin transformed from the thunder source crystal marrow, which he had obtained from the Thunder Emperor Palace, appeared in his palm, emitting pure thunderous vitality. "This object contains vast vitality and thunderous good fortune; it might help you stabilize your injuries and purify your Taiyin Power." This was not an investment, but a heartfelt gift.

Su Wanqing looked at the small coffin enveloped in purple-gold thunderlight and could clearly feel the power within it, which was extremely attractive to her. Her ice-like eyes flickered as she looked at Lin Xuan, and without declining, she gently took it: "Alright."

The moment their fingertips touched, both of their hearts trembled. The frost silence sword inside her body once again transmitted clear, joyful fluctuations.

An indescribable sense of tacit understanding and warmth quietly flowed through the tranquil living room.

Meanwhile, deep within the Qinglan Sect, in a great hall shrouded in shadow, a conspiracy on how to "clean up" the traitor Su Wanqing and her "accomplices" was quietly underway. A storm was rapidly brewing above the Qinglan Sect.