The mirror above the firmament shimmered, broadcasting everything that occurred in the Sacred Land in minute detail.

In every corner of the Twenty-One Provinces, common people looked up at the sky, gazing at a world that was, for them, within sight yet beyond reach.

As they watched the dispute, they couldn't help but sigh silently. They discussed amongst themselves how even Immortals weren't as free and untroubled as they had imagined. Bullying still existed in the Cultivation World, perhaps even more so than in the Mortal World.

In particular, one sentence from a Wuhua Palace disciple deeply stung almost everyone.

Worthless?

Ninety-nine percent of the world's population were ordinary people; how many could be considered the "talented" ones qualified to cultivate, as they called them?

Yet, they were powerless to retort. The commoners pursed their lips, saying nothing as a somber atmosphere spread.

Suddenly, a figure appeared in the mirror.

He stood upon the firmament, a vast wilderness stretching behind him. Sunlight blurred his face, and the hilt of the Qingping Sword at his waist gleamed.

The handsome figure seemed to be arguing vigorously with the people from Wuhua Palace. Then, a voice echoed throughout the Twenty-One Provinces:

"Su Mou has once been drenched in rain; now I merely wish to offer someone an umbrella..."

...

The people of Mo City looked up at the sky. Suddenly, someone exclaimed,

"It's Elder Su!!"

"I remember when he was in Mo City, Elder Su once said that the Sword Sect would embrace everything..."

"Although I know what Wuhua Palace said isn't without reason, there's still a fire burning inside me!"

"I may be the 'trash' they speak of, but I also want to strive for something! Why should they just negate everything about me?"

"Elder Su is truly gentle."

However, the mood of most people remained low. Looking at the Peach Blossom Sect in the mirror, they felt as if they were looking at themselves.

Elder Su stepped in to help this time, but what about next time? There won't always be an Elder Su, and how many people like him are there in the world? Are ordinary folk, the so-called 'trash', destined only for ridicule?

Su Bei walked with his hands behind his back, along the Jade Bridge and across the plaza, step by step, toward the high platform where the Sword Sect was situated.

At this moment, he truly appreciated the grandeur and magnificence of the Sacred Sanctuary. Not a single detail was spared in its splendor. Layers of palatial buildings stood tall like celestial palaces, and a hundred thousand cultivators were seated without the slightest feeling of being cramped. In comparison, the Sword Sect's Sword Pavilion seemed like a child's crude toy.

The recent incident had not been minor. All eyes were fixated in that direction, and discussions filled the pathway.

Yet Su Bei sat down as if he had done nothing at all, maintaining an air of calm detachment.

"What's wrong with you? Don't you have enough to do? Managing the Sword Sect's affairs should be plenty, yet now you're meddling with that Peach Blossom Sect too?"

As soon as he sat down, he saw Wenren Pingxin approaching, her finely arched eyebrows lightly furrowed, looking slightly annoyed at him.

Wenren Pingxin seemed to have applied light makeup and wore a formal gown for the occasion. Her sheer garment fluttered in the wind, its fabric bathed in sunlight, making her incredibly beautiful face glow.

Su Bei looked a bit awkward. He coughed lightly and said,

"I was just appointed as an Elder of the Sacred Land. It's... well, it's only proper that I manage things a bit."

Wenren Pingxin sat down next to Su Bei and sighed softly. Her eyelashes trembled as she gazed unblinkingly at him.

She knew his temperament well; though gentle, he was extremely stubborn about certain matters.

Yet, seeing his commanding presence on the firmament earlier, a peculiar feeling stirred within her.

This young boy who had always trailed after her was now truly capable of shouldering half the Sword Sect.

That wasn't bad at all.

As Wenren Pingxin was pondering, Su Bei suddenly grasped her hand. She looked up at him in surprise as a breeze ruffled their clothes and hair.

Su Bei reached out and, under her astonished gaze, gently brushed the corner of her eye. In reality, there wasn't a single crow's foot there, contrary to what he'd imagined.

"I've made you worry."

Wenren Pingxin paused for a moment, letting his hand rest at the corner of her eye. Then, she smiled and said,

"You cheeky kid, getting all sentimental here?"

She lightly smoothed her hair, sunlight dyeing her formal gown crimson. Facing his Elder Sister's gaze, Su Bei swallowed lightly and said softly,

"Elder Sister, you should rest once we return to the Sword Sect."

He knew about the ever-burning candle on Red Dust Peak, lit late into the night.

She always had endless work.

Rest?

Wenren Pingxin gave a wry smile.

Under her governance for so many years, the Sword Sect, far from growing stronger, had gradually declined... Even though it was partly due to that irresponsible old man's departure, the Sword Sect had undeniably weakened. When the old man was still around, no one in the world dared to trifle with the Sword Sect's servant disciples.

"The Sword Sect will get better!"

"Believe in me!"

"Leave everything to me..."

This time, he spoke from the heart. Su Bei's eyes flickered faintly.

But he was startled by his own words. He claimed he wanted to be a slacker and live at ease, but when had he truly relaxed at all recently?

Wenren Pingxin chuckled, lazily shifting her position.

But seeing the earnest look in Su Bei's eyes, which were clearly not joking, she suddenly fell silent.