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.