Inside the Founding Ancestor's hall.

Xuanqing felt heaven and earth take on a mind again, and that presence was drawing closer to him.

He suddenly grew uneasy. Flustered, he set about tidying the tangle of leaves and branches that covered him. Then he stood respectfully in place, and his voice shook a little as he spoke.

"Disciple Xuanqing respectfully welcomes the Sect Master."

"……" Shen Yi slowly touched down. Seeing Senior Xuanqing like this, he was a little taken aback.

Surely not. This was a man who could stay calm and composed in front of that many senior strong ones. All he had done was break through to Dao-merging, and it had moved the man to tears?

Something was off.

Shen Yi shook his head. Then it came to him. Only one thing could shake Senior Xuanqing this badly, and it was probably crossing the Five Kalpas.

This might become a knot in the man's heart for the rest of his life.

Never mind. Better to wait until he found a way to mend the man's Dao Palace before telling him the details of the kalpa of suffering.

Suppose Xuanqing found out that a single push on a gate was all that had once stood between him and completing the Five Kalpas. He would likely beat his skull in at the base of the Founding Ancestor's statue, or become another Yue Tianji then and there.

Wouldn't that just be rubbing it in?

At that thought, Shen Yi patted Xuanqing lightly on the shoulder and said soothingly, "Now isn't a good time. We'll talk later."

"……" Xuanqing stared blankly at the hand on his shoulder, then looked back at Shen Yi. He stood rooted to the spot as if struck by lightning, his face dazed, not moving a muscle.

Not a good time. Not a good time for what?

Probably not a good time to reveal who he was. Not a good time to tell the rest of them his plan.

So what was the plan?

It couldn't possibly be this… A master had watched over a hopeless pupil from the…