Resolving the Knot

"You're lying!"
Wang Ci Zhi narrowed his eyes.
"According to you, how did you survive that strange magic art? Who was it that laid a malicious hand on you? Furthermore, your current cultivation base is at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment. From that, it can be inferred that you were also a cultivator before. So, where did you cultivate before you were afflicted by the magic art?"
Uh… Why did this naughty child suddenly become so sharp?
"I can't tell you!"
"Why?"
"Because…"
Since she was acting, she might as well go all the way. Half-truths and half-lies were the essence of deception. Zhu Yao glared, trying to put on a helpless and worried expression.
"I don't want you to get involved. If you know too much, I'm afraid you'll bring disaster upon yourself."
"……"
Wang Ci Zhi was indeed stunned, and his gaze softened considerably in an instant. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he reached out and stroked her head.
"You two are truly very similar!"
"Similar? Similar to whom? Are you talking about that Senior Sister you always told me about?"
Zhu Yao continued to feign ignorance.
Wang Ci Zhi sighed softly again. He seemed unwilling to talk about this.
"Alright, I'll believe that you've gotten rid of the magic art. But you can't just run around carelessly like this. Especially with that Xiao Yi, you shouldn't get involved with him casually, understand?"
"Why?"
"No why." Wang Ci Zhi didn't explain, but pulled her hand and led her outside.
"I'll take you back to Yu Lin Peak. Remember never to casually go down the mountain."
Zhu Yao couldn't help but glance at him. This old woman came here precisely because of you, you stinky brat. But since he was alright, she felt relieved. Although nothing was wrong now, it didn't mean he would be so lucky in the future.
Returning to Yu Lin Peak, she still couldn't resist pulling back Wang Ci Zhi, who was about to turn and leave, and asked.
"Were you just now sparring with Xiao Yi in the training grounds?"
Wang Ci Zhi was silent for a long time, then nodded.
Zhu Yao couldn't help but sigh softly.
"Do you think your cultivation base can surpass his?"
Wang Ci Zhi clenched his fists, gritting his teeth in hatred.
"No!"
"So, your seeking him out for a spar was simply seeking death?"
Did this brat want to die that seriously?
"What do you know?"
In an instant, his face turned green. His mood was like an arrow piercing his heart, very uncomfortable. Suddenly, he said agitatedly,
"Do you know what it feels like to witness someone important to you die right before your eyes? At that time, if Xiao Yi hadn't hesitated, if he hadn't hesitated!"
"Then what about you?"
Zhu Yao reminded herself not to be soft-hearted, but to be firm. From the first time she returned and saw Wang Ci Zhi, she knew that her death was the biggest knot in his heart. That's why he remained at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, unable to advance at all. If he continued to dwell on that incident, this knot would surely turn into a Heart Demon. Ultimately, it would destroy his future. And to untie this knot, the best method was to break the cause of it.
"You say Xiao Yi hesitated, leading to the death of the most important person to you. But that was the most important person to you, so why did you rely on someone else to save her? What were you doing at that time?"
"I… at that time, I was maintaining the sword formation!"
His breathing was a little chaotic, and his expression became confused.
"In other words, you didn't have the strength to save her?"
"I…"
"If even you couldn't save her, what right do you have to expect someone else to save her? And yet you claim you really wanted to save her?"
"No, I wanted to save her. But I…"
"But you didn't have the ability? You couldn't even save someone!"
"I…"
"Ci Zhi, do you ultimately hate Xiao Yi for hesitating and not saving her, or do you hate yourself for not being able to save her?"
"……"
Wang Ci Zhi froze in place. He suddenly seemed to understand something, and despair appeared on his face.
But she couldn't resolve it that quickly.
"Perhaps the person you've hated all this time is yourself!"
Wang Ci Zhi felt dejected. A look that was neither crying nor smiling appeared on his face as he softly said,
"What can I do, besides regret, what else can I do?"
"Are you going to regret like this for your entire life?"
"………"
"If you want to wallow in regret, I won't stop you! But she died for you; when she knows you're like this, how do you think she'll feel? Do you think she'd be willing for you to continue like this?"
Wang Ci Zhi suddenly looked up.
Zhu Yao patted his shoulder.
"Although you feel your cultivation base isn't enough, which is why you couldn't save her, then you can cultivate to a realm where you can save people! Damn it, why couldn't you think of that?!"
"…….."
Wang Ci Zhi didn't reply. There was still a hint of endless confusion in his eyes. But eventually, he slowly began to recover, then heavily walked back towards the sect gate.
Zhu Yao let out a deep sigh. She had said everything that needed to be said. Anyway, she had to give him some time to think things through. At least during this period of contemplation, she wouldn't have to worry about him running off to seek death.
More and more strange things were happening to Xiao Yi. She didn't know why he had become like this. There was also a strange "BUG" character on his face. And a very large exclamation mark floating above his head. But others couldn't see it. What was all this trying to tell her?
She increasingly felt that after her transmigration and revival, life wasn't so simple. It was as if she had a close connection to Xiao Yi.
——————-
At night, in Zhu Yao's dream. But it didn't quite feel like her own dream. Because in the dream, she saw someone else's life. And this person was the one who gave her the most headaches—Xiao Yi.
From a young age, Xiao Yi had been an orphan. He didn't have any earth-shattering, complicated background. He was simply abandoned by his family due to a famine. He was like a little beggar. To survive, he resorted to any means. From stealing to fighting for scraps with stray dogs, he had done it all. He also endured the cold treatment and scorn of others. Until he was 10 years old, when he was brought to the Qiugu Sect by a recruiting disciple.
He was accepted as a disciple by the Sect Leader. From the very beginning, he was highly regarded by the Sect Leader. But due to offending the inner disciple Zhao Xiao Pan, his cultivation base was crippled, and he was expelled from the inner sect. However, that didn't mean his achievements would vanish forever.
On the contrary, in the outer sect, he was punished to guard Suo Yuan Pavilion.
Suo Yuan Pavilion was where the Qiugu Sect's artifact refining waste had accumulated over the years. By some stroke of luck, he obtained a strange ancient piece of scrap. Feeling that this toy was fun to play with, he often carried it with him. But during an accidental injury, his blood flowed onto that piece of scrap. Who would have thought that piece of scrap was the Metal Spirit? It was one of the primordial spirits from the creation of heaven and earth, the purest Metal Spirit that had transformed from spiritual qi. The Metal Spirit had just gained sentience, but due to contact with his blood, it recognized him as its master.
And he happened to have a Metal Spiritual Root. The spiritual qi transformed Metal Spirit could control all forces belonging to the Metal element. Therefore, possessing the Metal Spirit was equivalent to holding all the Metal Spiritual Qi in the world. And the Metal Spiritual Root was one of the hardest spiritual roots among the Five Elements. It had extremely important effects on luck and sword usage.
Thus, with the help of the Metal Spirit, he instantly unlocked the protagonist's halo. His cultivation base advanced rapidly. He reached Foundation Establishment in just four years. He concealed his cultivation base, participated in the sect competition, and won first place. After that, he was accepted as a direct disciple by Venerable Feng Yi.