Hou Niao spent three months in Sui Mo City listening to stories and finally finished listening to the Sealing God Legend.

During this time, he visited the stele many times. Sometimes Zhao Xintong was there, sometimes not, always mysteriously; from a distance, he also encountered Luo Yewang and his wife several times, always avoiding them from afar.

Initially, their relationship was very close, and even with Gu Sou's transformation techniques, he wasn't sure if he could hide from someone so close to him. At the very least, he knew he couldn't fool White Lady.

In the past month, with his keen perception, he noticed some discordant auras in Sui Mo City, not many, just about a dozen, all solitary figures who wandered around the Heavenly Heart Pavilion, occasionally casting glances at the stele.

All of these people were highly skilled at concealing their auras, but as an expert himself, Hou Niao could sense their immense power, possibly even on par with him.

He even suspected that among these people were those he knew, though he had no evidence; he had Gu Sou's rag, but others might also possess items that could alter their appearance and aura, so it wasn't just him secreting himself.

He couldn't discern these people, and they couldn't clearly perceive him, which was the same situation.

He hesitated whether he should find a way to drive Zhao Xintong and Luo Yewang away. Before these figures, their very modest strength was not worth mentioning.

The three-month agreement with Daoist Qiu Shi had come, and he also intended to leave by agreement. Gu Sou refused to see him, and he had no way around that; he didn't want to provoke these people either—it wasn't the time.

Yet, before he could make a decision, on a night with a bright moon and sparse stars, as he was practicing breathing control, his courtyard door was pushed open without any warning. Even though his Divine Sense could cover several miles, not even a tiny insect could escape his perception, he still didn't know how this person approached his courtyard.

He rose, bowing with the disciple's courtesy, "Senior, I thought you weren't coming."

Gu Sou slowly paced to the stone table, sat down, feeling the courtyard unchanged since he left, nodded in satisfaction,

"I originally didn't intend to come, but recently some pesky bugs appeared at Sui Mo, and Sui Mo, being the continent's flower capital, doesn't welcome these fellows."

Hou Niao chuckled awkwardly, "This has nothing to do with the disciple. It's not the disciple who attracted them. In Sui Mo, I'm just a regular disciple of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion and should uphold its rules."

Gu Sou didn't reply, "You're not bad; over these years, you've accomplished some big things. The Sword Sect under your guidance is on the right track, you're in good fortune, so what do you seek from me?"

Hou Niao politely said, "There isn't anything particular; it's just that after nearly a hundred years without meeting you, I missed you and wanted to chat. There are too many things on Jinxiu Continent that I can't fathom, and I often feel like a blind man riding a blind horse, needing a guiding light."

Gu Sou hummed lightly, "I'm not a guiding light, cannot illuminate even myself, let alone others. Moreover, is having trouble understanding some things a problem? If you can't see through it, does it mean you can't walk? The higher the Realm, the more things you won't understand; it's not that you're regressing, but rather that your field of view is expanding. That's normal."

Hou Niao forced a smile, "In recent years, rumors across the continent have been unsettling, leaving me uneasy. You know I'm currently a Sect Leader and have received part of Qingkong's legacy, which is quite gnawing for this position. There are certain principles I'm unsure how to convey, not to mention my limited understanding."

Gu Sou dismissed it, "The most foolish behavior in this world is incessantly explaining logic to others. Even if you're right, there's no need to prove others wrong.

If ideologies don't align, it's a waste of breath; it takes three years to learn to speak, and a lifetime to learn to shut up."

Hou Niao bowed, "I've learned, disciple is enlightened. However, the Sword Sect now stands at a critical juncture. Behind the apparent glory, there are countless undercurrents of hostility and ridicule. Is the only solution through force?"

Gu Sou sneered, "I stand on the first floor, someone curses me, I hear it and get angry; I stand on the tenth floor, someone curses me, I think he's greeting me; I stand on the hundredth floor, I can't see him, my eyes are filled with landscapes.

So, your confusion, your anger, your dissatisfaction merely stem from not standing high enough."

With a slight smile, "My advice, if the future of Jinxiu is a grand feast, do not be the first to wield the chopsticks, nor take the last piece of meat."

Hou Niao started flattering, "Hearing your words, senior, is worth reading a hundred years of books…"

Gu Sou wasn't swayed, "Speak specifically, if I can answer you, I won't hide it; if I can't, don't pester incessantly. How about this, later I'll arrange for you to do something, in return, you can ask three questions."

Hou Niao quickly responded, "Serving you is my privilege, not about any exchange or return, anytime, anywhere, just say the word."

Gu Sou calmly said, "Don't speak big words so early; someday, you will refuse my request because you will have your judgment. Before that, we should transact fairly, saving future confusion.

Hmm, you can ask first; later, I'll tell you what to do."

Hou Niao didn't insist; he had three chances and needed to be cautious. He had to ask pointed questions without being too abrupt,

"In forty-four years, everyone says it'll mark the Heaven Creation day of Jinxiu. Through the previous two spatial channel connections, this can be roughly determined. What I want to know is, after the Heaven Creation, what kind of Universe will we face? Is it a normal Universe Cultivation Realm, or is it abnormal, beyond our imagination?"

Gu Sou closed his eyes, "I am not an Immortal, yet you always ask questions only an Immortal can answer. Do you think I'm the Heavenly Dao? I can only answer you halfway: After Jinxiu's Heaven Creation, it won't enter a traditional Universe, meaning, don't mention Qingkong, you can't even reach the nearby Anchor Chain, but I cannot tell you where you can go, as that exceeds my capability."

Hou Niao's face darkened, "You mean, we've moved from one cage to another? The only difference might be the cage is larger, with more breathing space?"

Gu Sou didn't deny it, "Have you ever thought that, in fact, everyone and every Boundary Domain is within a cage? Isn't the traditional Universe a cage? It's just that most people don't have the ability to reach the boundary, so they presume they're free, but what's the truth?

Freedom is relative, your troubles cannot replace others', maybe someone else is living happily, content throughout their life?

The troubles of the Cultivation World don't represent the worries of the entire human world. For most mortals, they don't need to know what's beyond the sky. They just need a city, a town, a piece of land, a home, and that's enough. Can you say they are not free?

Remember, pure spatial framework freedom doesn't exist; hence, what we talk about is actually spiritual freedom.

A small room, a hard bed, suffice."

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