A long time passed.

Cui Yan seemed to have all the strength drained from her. Her once straight back hunched slightly. The disciplinary chains behind her completely dissipated, turning into specks of black light that melted into the void.

"...Sect Leader, Senior Brother, you exaggerate."

Cui Yan's voice turned hoarse and strained, like a rusty iron door being pushed open. "Since it involves Shishu Hao Yuan's old ties and concerns the sect's promise... Cui Yan has nothing more to say."

She lowered her head, bowing to Yun Miao, and also toward the direction of the forbidden area in the back mountain.

"Everything is at the Sect Leader's discretion."

This bow represented Punishment Peak's compromise and the complete collapse of the deadly trap targeting Su Ming.

Yun Miao watched the subdued Cui Yan, and the tension in his nerves finally relaxed a little.

He knew that Su Ming had made it through this hurdle.

But he didn't show the slightest ease. Instead, his expression grew even more solemn. Because the lie he had woven—or rather, the half-truth, half-legend—needed a perfect finish.

"Since that's the case, the interrogation ends here."

Yun Miao flicked his sleeve. The azure light barrier of the Azure Void Absolute Domain enveloping the Heart-Questioning Platform gradually faded until it disappeared.

The sound of wind and snow from outside rushed back in, but it no longer grated on the ears.

Yun Miao looked at Su Ming, whose breath was faint and who still seemed to be unconscious. A glimmer of approval flashed in his eyes.

*This kid has good composure. He's been lying there for so long, and his heartbeat has stayed right on the edge of death the entire time. He's promising material.*

"Junior Sister Cui."

Yun Miao turned to Cui Yan. "This boy's background is now clear. Though he concealed it, that concealment was for self-preservation, which is excusable. Now that the ring's mystery has been resolved, but to prevent news from leaking and attracting the Dark Underworld Palace..."

"From today onward, this matter is classified as a top sect secret."

Cui Yan nodded, her face returning to its cold, businesslike mask. "I will personally issue a gag order to everyone involved. Including that Li Mo from the Shadow Hall who was in charge of the investigation."

"As for this kid..."

Cui Yan glanced at Su Ming, her gaze still somewhat unfriendly. "Since we can't destroy the ring and can't imprison him, then let him follow the normal True Disciple process. Since he's become a True Disciple, he must swear the Great Dao Oath—not a single word missing."

"Naturally."

Yun Miao smiled slightly and flicked his finger.

A thread of pure spiritual energy shot into Su Ming's brow.

"Mmph..."

Su Ming, like a drowning person finally breaking the surface, let out a pained groan and slowly opened his eyes.

His gaze was dazed, his pupils unfocused, as if he had just woken from a long nightmare.

"Awake?"

A voice, both authoritative and gentle, sounded above his head.

Su Ming struggled to lift his head and saw the two big shots standing before him.

He tried to scramble up to bow, but his body's sharp pain made him stumble, nearly falling again.

"Disciple... Su Ming... greets the Sect Leader and the Peak Master."

Su Ming's voice was weak, trembling slightly—a fear of the unknown, and a natural bodily reaction.

*Perfect acting.*

Yun Miao looked at him, his gaze deep. "Su Ming, I now know everything about your past. I've also verified the origin of that ring of yours."

Su Ming's body stiffened sharply, and he instinctively covered his left hand.

"No need to panic."

Yun Miao said calmly. "That is your personal fortune, and also the karma you must bear. The sect will not covet its disciples' opportunities, but it will not tolerate any hidden danger to the sect."

"Now, I give you two choices."

Yun Miao raised two fingers. "First, hand over the ring. The sect will give you generous resources and guarantee you a life of wealth and comfort, but from then on, you will have nothing to do with this ring. Second, keep the ring and become a True Disciple. But you must swear the Great Dao Oath never to betray Cloud Hidden Sect in this life. Moreover, if the ring brings disaster in the future, you must bear it alone, without dragging the sect into it."

"I choose the second!"

Without almost any hesitation, the words burst from Su Ming's mouth.

It was an almost instinctive answer, carrying the stubbornness and passion unique to youth.

"This ring... saved the disciple's life. The disciple... cannot abandon it."

Su Ming raised his head. Though his gaze was weak, it was exceptionally firm.

Yun Miao and Cui Yan exchanged a glance.

Cui Yan snorted coldly. "At least you have some conscience, kid."

Yun Miao nodded slightly, satisfaction showing in his eyes.

"Good. Then, swear the oath."

...

After an incense stick's time.

Under Cui Yan's gaze—one that seemed capable of seeing through souls—Su Ming dragged his exhausted body through the tedious Great Dao Oath ceremony.

When the last strand of oath law merged into the void, Su Ming felt as if an invisible, intangible connection had formed between him and this vast sect.

It was both a bond and a shelter.

"Alright, get lost."

Cui Yan waved her hand in annoyance. "Just looking at you irritates me. If you ever fall into my hands again, I won't go easy on you."

Su Ming felt as if he had received a pardon. After respectfully bowing, he leaned on the arm of an attending disciple and walked down the Heart-Questioning Platform step by step.

Only when he emerged from the mist of the Illusory Wave Sea and saw the brilliant sunlight outside did Su Ming feel like he had truly come back to life.

The wind that blew against him was warm.

"Master..."

Su Ming called out softly in his heart, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

"I'm here. Not dead yet."

Lin Yu's voice also sounded a bit floaty. Clearly, he had been exhausted as well.

Su Ming touched the ring on his chest, which had now calmed down. He shook his head. Right now, he only wanted to do one thing.

Go back to his cave dwelling. Sleep.

...

On the Heart-Questioning Platform.

After Su Ming's figure had completely disappeared, Cui Yan turned to look at Yun Miao.

"Sect Leader, Senior Brother, that kid's gone now."

There was a hint of suspicion in Cui Yan's voice. "Tell me honestly—those words about the Shen family and Shishu Hao Yuan... how much of it was true?"

Yun Miao Zhenren clasped his hands behind his back, looking at the rolling sea of clouds in the distance. A profound, unfathomable smile appeared on his face.

"When the false is taken for the true, the true becomes false."

He let out a soft sigh. "Shishu Hao Yuan indeed had a close friend surnamed Shen back in the day, and he did sit alone amidst the ruins of the Shen family. As for whether this ring is that one... does it matter?"

Yun Miao turned around, his gaze as deep as an abyss.

"What matters is that this kid has a tough, resilient nature and is a promising talent. And the remnant soul inside that ring, though a bit slippery, has no evil aura."

"Since that's the case, giving him an identity and giving the sect a reason to keep a genius—what's wrong with that?"

Cui Yan was stunned.

She stared at Yun Miao's gentle, jade-like face and suddenly felt that this Sect Leader, her senior brother, might be the deepest-hidden person in all of Cloud Hidden Sect.

"Aren't you afraid... that you won't be able to clean this up later?"

"Clean it up?"

Yun Miao smiled—a cunning smile. "If Shishu Hao Yuan comes out of seclusion and finds out this ring isn't the real one, I can just say... I was mistaken and misjudged it. It's happened before."

"Besides."

Yun Miao looked up at a faintly visible star in the sky above.

"What if... I guessed right?"