I was a mineral prospector in Chengdu, who transmigrated into the body of a mortal sword immortal.

He bowed again to the High Priest and the three elders, saying, "Seniors, elders, I will forever remember your kindness and guidance. The outside world is in turmoil, and the situation in Chang'an is urgent. Therefore… I must take my leave." The High Priest nodded slightly, saying nothing more, but his deep gaze held a subtle expectation and solemnity. Li Bai turned, and the Azure Lotus Sword silently unsheathed, hovering before him. He took one last look at the tranquil and mysterious valley, one last look at the solemn temple, and then resolutely stepped onto his flying sword.

Just as he was about to unleash his sword light and depart, the high priest's voice rang out from behind him, calm yet carrying an undeniable solemnity: "Wait."

A thought struck Li Bai, and the light of the Azure Lotus Sword beneath his feet dimmed slightly. He turned around and looked at the High Priest with a questioning look in his eyes.

The high priest slowly raised her right hand, the one not holding the bone staff, palm facing upward. A warm, white light, as if formed from condensed moonlight, appeared in her palm. When the light faded, an ancient jade talisman lay there quietly. The jade talisman was smooth and warm to the touch, its color not pure white, but rather tinged with a very faint, misty blue. It was not carved with any runes or patterns, yet it gave people a profound sense of the weight of the universe, as if holding a mountain range sculpted by billions of years.

"This is the 'Mountains and Rivers Guide'." The high priest's voice was deep and clear, echoing in the empty square. "It is made from the jade that guards the mountains of my Xiling Divine Kingdom, nurtured by successive high priests using secret methods, and contains a trace of the original energy of mountains and rivers."

She handed the jade talisman forward, and it spontaneously floated up and slowly drifted toward Li Bai.

"Your journey into the mortal world is fraught with peril, far beyond your imagination. The court's search, the power struggles among the elites, and the karma you yourself bear... none of these can be easily resolved by your own strength alone." The High Priest's gaze was fixed on Li Bai. "Take this talisman. If you encounter extreme danger, a life-or-death situation, or a crisis concerning the survival of my Xiling Divine Kingdom, you may crush this talisman."

Li Bai stretched out his hand, and the "Mountains and Rivers Guide" jade talisman floated lightly into his palm. It was cool to the touch, yet seemed to possess a warm and steady power that slowly seeped into his limbs and bones, calming his slightly tense mind, which was about to face the unknown. This power was like the spine of a majestic mountain range, serene and reliable.

"Crushing it might summon distant aid from the secret realm." The high priest paused, his tone unusually serious. "But remember, it's 'might'. This talisman resonates with the primordial energy of the mountains and rivers; the outcome is unpredictable. It might shield you from a fatal blow, teleport you to safety, or perhaps... merely induce a fleeting celestial phenomenon, giving you a sliver of hope. The cost, too, is unknown. Never use it unless absolutely necessary."

Li Bai gripped the jade talisman tightly in his hand; its warm, heavy texture seemed to carry the weight of the Xiling Divine Kingdom's millennia-long history. He understood that this was not merely a life-saving trump card, but a weighty trust and entrustment. He solemnly bowed to the High Priest once more; this time, words seemed superfluous, only actions could express his gratitude and promise.

"I understand, junior."

The high priest nodded slightly, withdrew his gaze, and said nothing more.

Li Bai didn't linger. He turned, and with a thought, the Azure Lotus Sword before him shone even brighter. He stepped forward, the sword as steady as a whetstone, without the slightest tremor. He glanced one last time at the valley that had given him new life and strength—the temple's eaves outlined in gold in the setting sun, the stone pillars in the plaza exuded an ancient tranquility, and the figures of the high priest and elders appeared solemn and dignified in the twilight. All of this was deeply imprinted on his soul.

This is where he transformed from a modern geological engineer into a true monk, and it is one of the sources of his strength and faith.

"Take care of yourself!"

Li Bai's voice echoed clearly in the valley. The next moment, he had no more lingering attachments.

"rise!"

With a low shout, the Azure Lotus Sword hovering beneath his feet suddenly erupted with a dazzling azure light! The sword instantly lengthened and widened, transforming into an azure sword platform about ten feet long and three feet wide, steadily supporting his figure. On the surface of the sword platform, azure lotus patterns flowed, radiating a chilling and pure sword intent.

"break!"

Li Bai pointed his sword towards the sky, his golden core spinning rapidly within his body, and his immense magical power, like a river bursting its banks, continuously poured into the Azure Lotus Sword.

Om-!

A sword cry, seemingly from the primordial chaos, resounded throughout the valley! The azure sword platform transformed into a dazzling rainbow, its light more radiant than the midday sun, like a bolt of azure lightning tearing through the twilight sky. Wherever the sword rainbow passed, the air was violently compressed and displaced, producing bursts of explosions. Dust and fallen leaves on the plaza were whipped up by the raging sword wind, forming a small tornado that shot skyward.

There was no obstruction whatsoever, as if it penetrated through a thin sheet of paper.

That azure rainbow, with a speed beyond mortal imagination, instantly broke through the hidden array barrier shrouding the Xiling Divine Kingdom, which was woven from countless ancient runes!

My vision suddenly opened up.

No longer confined by the valley, no longer confined by the sky of the divine kingdom.

Before him stretched the endless, undulating peaks of the Shu Mountains! It was dusk, and the afterglow of the setting sun, like golden paint, splashed across the layered mountains, outlining their magnificent and imposing silhouettes. A sea of ​​clouds surged among the peaks, like boundless cotton wool, tinged with vibrant orange-red and pale purple. A mountain wind howled, carrying the chill of the high altitude and the fragrance of grass and trees, causing his clothes to flutter in the wind.

Li Bai floats high in the sky, with churning clouds below and magnificent rivers and mountains before him.

He took a deep breath, and the abundant spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged into his golden core, filling him with an unprecedented sense of power. This was the feeling of a Golden Core Sword Immortal, wielding a sword across the azure sky! Freedom, power, as if the entire world stretched out beneath his feet.

He closed his eyes, and his divine sense spread out like a tide, instantly covering an area of ​​hundreds of miles. The contours of mountains and rivers, the course of streams, the outlines of towns, the presence of living beings… everything was clearly presented in his perception. This feeling was billions of times more real and profound than looking down at the earth from an airplane. He was no longer an observer, but a part of this world.

Chang'an!

A thought arose in his mind, clear and unwavering.

He opened his eyes, a resolute light flashing within them. He checked his bearings, pointing his sword eastward—the direction of the imperial capital.

"Yu Huan, are you alright? Wait for me!"

With a silent vow, Li Bai no longer hesitated. He stood tall, like a sword piercing the sky. The azure lotus sword beneath his feet erupted with brilliant light once more, his speed suddenly increasing, transforming into a long rainbow spanning the heavens, hurtling towards the eastern horizon!

Where the sword flashed, a long gash was torn open in the sea of ​​clouds, refusing to heal for a long time. Mountains and rivers rushed past beneath his feet, from towering peaks to vast plains, and then to winding rivers. The vast territory of the Tang Dynasty was but a day's journey under his sword.

The Golden Core Sword Immortal has officially returned to the mortal realm!