One Hundred and Fourteen.

It sounded hollow.

I took a slow breath.

"…There is always a way."

I meant it in a broad, philosophical sense—everyone has their own path to find, their own way forward.

But the moment the words left my mouth, I noticed the way they all looked at me.

Not just hope.

Certainty.

Like I had just declared, without a shred of doubt, that I knew how to restore Ru Xian's cultivation.

What?

But idiot me didn't realize this mistake at all.

I scratched my head, utterly lost.

Why were they looking at me with such deep gratitude?

I had just said some vague, comforting words—nothing more.

Before I could question it, Li Na stepped closer, pointing at the floating Ninth Heaven Yin Shard.

"Master, you've truly found a powerful artifact." Her grip tightened around her halberd, eyes practically gleaming. "Thank you for the gift."

"Return it."

It wasn't me who said that.