Some time passed like flowing water.

  The sky was red with the colors of dusk. The cranes soaring in the sky, their cries were singing to the sky of their return home.

  In the outskirts of Fukun Xueyuan, Han Lao Fang was constantly searching the surroundings. Han Zaoshi was also with him, observing the surroundings intently. Just then, Han Lao Fang approached Zaoshi and spoke in a deep voice.

  "Did you find any trace of Wuang Shi?"

  His voice was almost lost, like his thoughts.

  "No, Senior Brother, I've searched everywhere, even sent messages. But I haven't found any trace of him yet. Brother…!!"

  Han Zaoshi spoke. There was a hint of hesitation in his voice. Zaoshi turned to Lao Fang and spoke, his eyes filled with questions.

  "If Father finds out that the elder brother has violated the rules again, he will punish him again."

  Zoshi's eyes drifted silently through the forest. A heavy, heavy silence fell. The evening's beauty seemed completely different from their pale faces. A few birds chirped from the sky above them.

  "We should leave now. The last hour of the day is over,"

  Han Lao Fang spoke with a heavy heart. But perhaps his eyes were contradicting his words. Zaoshi began to leave, his footsteps treading on dry leaves,

  beckoning him to leave. But before leaving, Han Lao Fang looked back toward a valley where the world's tallest waterfall flowed.

  So high that legend had described it as a stairway to heaven; it was said to be higher than the seven seas. From a distance, it seemed like a paradise high mountains with tall trees and a mighty waterfall cascading between them. Perhaps it wasn't even right to call it a waterfall, because the waterfall itself was a falling ocean whose roots no one knew where. The scent of the falling water and its moisture were clearly visible on Han Lao Fang's face, standing so far away. There was a strange calm in the breeze blowing from that direction.

  Han Lao Fang's eyes gazed at the wondrous sight, and he said to himself,

  "Wuang Shi!!...What's happened to you?...How long will you keep doing this?"

  The words didn't reach his lips, they remained confined within his consciousness. Then he saw some cranes heading in that direction. Looking at them, Lao Fang said,

  "How beautiful it must be to return home!!"

  With that, he retreated and turned to leave.

  The atmosphere inside the library wasn't particularly pleasant either. Gu Zong lay on the cool wooden floor, as if he were an empty body. Next to him, Grandmaster Gongzhang sat on one knee. His calm face and sharp gaze were fixed on Gu Zong's forehead, where his consciousness resided, on the triangular mark on Gu Zong's forehead. Then, he placed two fingers on Gu Zong's forehead.

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  Master Kang Jue and Grandfather, sitting nearby, watched the entire moment closely.

  After completing his examination, Grandmaster Gongzhang stood up and approached Grandfather. Seeing Grandmaster Gongzhang's movement, Master Kang Jue and Grandfather also stood up.

  Then the Grandmaster spoke in a relaxed and soft voice.

  "There's a very strange change in Gu Zong's body. Usually, the soul is split in two by the soul-splitting spell, but Gu Zong also has a third energy within his body that is much purer than both of his soul's halves. Perhaps this is the energy Gu Zong was using when he touched the jiuhuang yin zither."

  The Grandmaster looked at Gu Zong and fell silent. But then Grandfather narrowed his eyes and asked a question.

  "You may be right. But if Gu Zong was using that pure energy, then why did the jiuhuang yin zither need to change its color?"

  Grandmaster asked, his voice almost hoarse.

  When Grandmaster's words reached Grandmaster's ears, Grandmaster Gongzhang took a deep breath and, turning fully to face Gu Zong, said.

  "That's what I'm trying to understand."

  He said, touching his chin.

  "If Gu Zong had used that pure energy from himself when he touched the jiuhuang yin zither, then the same energy should have flowed through his body afterward. But perhaps that wasn't the case. Gu Zong's energy changed or reverted to its original energy after some time. This forced the jiuhuang yin zither to change its very existence. Once the jiuhuang yin zither chooses a master, it won't let go until it is placed back in the lake."

  Grandmaster Gongzhang's words carried more weight than the heavy wind.

  Just then, Master Kang Jue spoke and came forward.

  "What do you mean, Master?"

  Everything remained quiet for a while, no one spoke. And Grandmaster Gongzhang's eyes were searching for something deep inside. Then, after a moment of silence, he finally spoke what he wanted to say.

  "Gu Zong possesses the energy of another human being, which is why he was able to acquire the zither. But..."

  The Grandmaster paused for a moment. His eyes were lost in deep thought. But as soon as the word "but" echoed in the air, Grandfather was stunned. He hurriedly came forward next to Grandmaster Gongzhang. And with tearful eyes, he said:

  "But what, Master...? Please tell me."

  At first, the Grandmaster lowered his eyes and thought for a while. Then he looked at Gu Zong, who was still lying there like a corpse. And then the Grandmaster spoke softly.

  "My intention isn't to scare you or worry you. But if Gu Zong's soul remains divided like this, the day isn't far when he will become a victim of his own soul."

  He spoke these words with a stern tone, causing Grandfather to falter. His breathing seemed to stop, and his eyes seemed to freeze. But Grandmaster knew what he was talking about, so he continued.

  "The matter has probably become even more serious than the one I came here for. And it could be even worse. But it's not that there's no solution. History shows that every problem has a hidden purpose."

  Hearing this, Grandfather suddenly looked at Grandmaster Gongzhang. But this time, there was a slight glint in his eyes. Before Grandfather could say anything, Grandmaster spoke.

  "I came here with an invitation for Gu Zong to complete his divided soul. But now that he possesses such power, if misused even slightly, the danger could be greater than the fight for survival. This warning may not be a reality."

  Grandmaster Gongzhang spoke with a stern expression, as if his dignity had turned to stone. Grandfather and Kang Jue simply stood there stunned by the impact of his words.

  But he continued.

  "So that's why Gu Zong must become a Zhi Zhu disciple. He must attain complete knowledge and do everything necessary to purify his spirit and thoughts. After completing the Fukun Xueyuan test, Gu Zong must return to our Zishi Temple and become my disciple."

  Grandmaster Gongzhang took a deep breath as he spoke, then fell silent and turned his head to look at Gu Zong.

  But these words were filled with such a powerful aura that even the curtains in the library were stunned. The atmosphere became like a deep ocean, and time seemed to stand still.

  After a few moments,

  Grandmaster Gongzhang took out a small white scroll from his robes and offered it to Grandfather. But Grandmaster Gongzhang's eyes were fixed on his hands. But despite this, he gathered courage and held the scroll with trembling hands.