The halls stretched deep, silent and soundless.
These letters lay before the desk. Though the ink black had faded with age, they still carried the sharp edge of an obsession that had never dispersed.
The patterns across the four walls had once been converging Dao inscriptions. Now, they had dimmed into lifelessness.
The wind swept in from beyond the hall, as though bearing the voices and faces of bygone days. Yet it echoed layer upon layer through the empty palace before leaving behind only a low, hollow reverberation.
Chen Xun turned towards the letters and opened them.
"Ancestor, Ox Ancestor, I have come this far in this world, and my lifespan is nearly exhausted."
"The Great Dao will not permit me to advance further, and I cannot fulfill both filial duty and righteousness."
"If you return, remember that I, Qi Hao, once guarded the borderlands for Five Elements Sect. I planted my sword behind me and never retreated half a step."
The palace fell silent. Chen Xun lowered his eyelids, his fingertips pausing slightly.
A thin crack actually split open along the edge of the desk on its own, as though it too bore the lingering scars of that Sword Intent.
He took up the second letter.
The handwriting was peaceful, like ordinary words.
"Hehe, Ancestor, Ox Ancestor, it seems Ji Zhao can only stop here."
"The household is desolate, and the old friends are gone. Yet having followed the two ancestors for a lifetime was already my greatest fortune."
"If later generations speak of me, let them only say: this person once walked beside the Dao Ancestor and Ox Ancestor."
The Ancient Lamp in the palace flickered, as if it wished to ignite, yet ultimately went out again.
Chen Xun's gaze darkened slightly. He said nothing, merely