"Li Wanshou, possessing both earth and wood spirit roots, an upper-grade spiritual aptitude!"

"Hahaha, excellent! From today onwards, you shall be my eldest disciple!"

This took place in the Heavenly Sword Sect.

A boy of only seven years old was hoisted up by the back of his neck by a burly old man, who then flew towards the inner part of the sect while laughing heartily.

The burly old man was the current peak master of the Forest Sword Peak.

He had achieved the Golden Core cultivation base.

In the eyes of the seven - year - old boy, he was an "immortal".

...

"Wanshou."

"Disciple is here."

"How many years have passed since you came to the sect to practice?"

"Replying to Master, the spiritual fruits on the mountain have ripened five times, so it's been five years since I arrived."

"I see. Five years have passed..."

The burly old man was slightly in a daze.

Then he let out the familiar hearty laugh that the boy was accustomed to.

His thick, palm as large as a cattail leaf fan slapped the boy's back, making a thumping sound: "Wanshou, you've reached the Great Perfection of the Qi - Refining stage. Have you decided on the foundation - building magical tool?"

"If you've made up your mind, I'll go and find it for you as soon as possible."

The boy scratched his head: "Not yet, Master."

"Ouch!"

The boy suddenly covered his head.

The burly old man crossed his arms in front of his chest: "A real man should be decisive. Hurry up and decide. I'll prepare a top - grade magical tool for you!"

"Really? Thank you, Master!"

"Sigh, why say thank you? If you cause trouble in the future, just don't expose me."

...

"Urgent news! Urgent news!"

"The demonic tide is coming from the north. An order from the upper sect has been passed down. All sects and schools must support immediately. No mistakes are allowed!"

Since ancient times.

The struggle for resources in the cultivation world has been the root cause of the irreconcilable differences between the righteous and demonic paths.

The righteous path wants to become immortals and achieve eternal life.

The demonic path is no exception.

The struggle for rare treasures of heaven and earth, the living areas of the mortal followers under their command, and the blood feud between the righteous and demonic paths over millions of years.

The accumulation of various factors causes a great war between the righteous and demonic paths to break out every few hundred or even thousands of years in the cultivation world.

The Heavenly Sword Sect took action.

Countless silver swords flew across the sky like flowing light.

They seemed to split the daytime sun.

Dense and in great numbers, they were a magnificent sight.

"Wanshou, you're still young. Stay in the sect obediently. I'll be back soon. If I don't come back, just burn some paper money for me every year."

"Master, I'm already in my twenties. I'm not young anymore."

"Still talking back. I say you're young, so you're young!"

The familiar thick palm slapped the back of the young man in the Foundation - Building stage, making him stagger.

After that.

The burly old man left.

He left behind the token of the peak master of the Forest Sword Peak and the promise to return.

Before that, the young man needed to act as the acting peak master and manage everything on the Forest Sword Peak.

"I will, Master."

He was very serious.

Standing on the peak of the Forest Sword Peak.

He sent his blessings to the departing old man.

...

Years passed.

The once - young man became more mature. He managed the Forest Sword Peak extremely well and was respected by everyone in the sect.

His strength even broke through to the Golden Core stage.

He was no less powerful than his master in his memory.

"Uncle Wanshou, why do you always sit alone on the mountain top?"

"Waiting for someone."

"... Uncle, it's so desolate here. Why don't you find a Taoist companion or take in some true - inheritance disciples?"

"I'm still young. I'm not qualified yet."

"???"

As time passed, the once - young man now had more white hair.

Wrinkles of a life full of hardships appeared at the corners of his eyes.

He smiled faintly, ignoring the dissuasion of the young disciples in the sect. With a pair of deep eyes, he looked up at the sky, waiting for someone who was unlikely to return.

...

One hundred years.

Two hundred years.

Three hundred years.

Time left more and more traces on the young man.

His temples turned white.

His body lost its vitality.

He didn't care about his own death, but he regretted that he couldn't wait for the person he was waiting for.

Finally.

This year.

He heard the news of his master.

"Uncle Wanshou, the news is true. The remains of the old peak master are on the way back under escort."

"..."

The Forest Sword Peak was deathly silent.

After a long time, a voice came out of the main hall, as if the speaker was old and exhausted: "I, understand."

...

The once - young child had become an old man.

The once - old man had become a pile of bones.

When the remains were brought back, he personally erected a tombstone for his master. In a daze, Li Wanshou broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm.

His lifespan increased dramatically.

But his white - haired temples did not turn black again.

Instead, the whiteness spread to all of his hair.

He knelt quietly, kowtowed quietly, and silently expressed his emotions and longing.

"Disciple is unfilial."

With a heavy kowtow.

He used up all his strength. Tears and dirt were mixed on his face, making it hard to see his exact features.

On this day.

Li Wanshou grew up.

At the same time, he became the official peak master of the Forest Sword Peak.

...

Time is like sand in the palm. It quietly slips away, taking everything with it, whether it's sadness or joy, laughter or tears.

[Burn some paper money every year]

Li Wanshou followed the words of the deceased.

Every year, at a fixed time and place, in front of the main hall of the Forest Sword Peak, he burned paper money for the late burly old man.

As time went by.

The sadness in his heart began to fade.

More importantly, Li Wanshou knew his master's character. His master didn't care about worldly possessions when alive or dead and had long been prepared for death.

His own life was insignificant.

What was important was the yet - to - be - fully - grown future of his disciple.

"What would I do if I had a disciple in the future..."

Li Wanshou stood on the peak. The strong wind blew, making his robe flutter. A look of confusion flashed in his eyes.

...

Time flew by.

Hundreds of years passed again.

Li Wanshou got his first true - inheritance disciple. This disciple had a Heavenly Spirit Root, which was extremely rare in the world. More importantly, it was a Wood Spirit Root that was a perfect match for the Forest Sword Peak.

"A Heavenly Spirit Root..."

"How wonderful..."

After getting this disciple, Li Wanshou laughed loudly.

He laughed because the Forest Sword Peak had a successor.

He laughed because his teachings would have an heir.

He also laughed because he could finally be lazy.

"Come here, dear disciple. All these things are yours," Li Wanshou stuffed the storage ring and the peak - master seal into Xu Xi's hands all at once.

His face was kind and amiable.

After that.

In Xu Xi's stunned gaze, he rushed to other peaks and showed off that he had a disciple with a Heavenly Spirit Root.

Although he was beaten up in the end.

Li Wanshou was still extremely excited.

He had limited aptitude. He couldn't expand the Heavenly Sword Sect or the Forest Sword Peak, and there was no way for him to ascend to immortality.

But he could pin his hopes on his disciple!

"Having a disciple with a Heavenly Spirit Root is really a wonderful thing in life," watching Xu Xi's cultivation base improve rapidly, Li Wanshou was extremely gratified.

He was very satisfied.

Especially satisfied.

Whether it was Xu Xi's character or his cultivation aptitude, Li Wanshou was satisfied with his disciple.

However, the world was too cruel.

There were always unexpected events and separations.

A disciple with a Heavenly Spirit Root should have reached the peak of the cultivation world and become a great cultivator respected by all. But he dug out his own spiritual root to save his sick sister in bed.

The moment he heard the news.

Li Wanshou fell silent.

It was as if he had returned to the day when he buried his master's remains.

"Dug out his own spiritual root. He will surely die."

"But I'm not willing..."

The old man sat alone in the main hall, his body hunched. Thinking of the demonic tide from a long time ago, he already had an answer in his heart.

He had to save.

He must save.

He must save this unfilial disciple.

No matter how much time it took, no matter how much effort he put in, he must save the unfilial disciple.

After the spiritual root was restored.

He would severely punish the disciple and make the disciple serve him tea and water by his side.

"Unfilial disciple, wait a little longer for your master. I'll save you back... I definitely will..."

...

...

He roamed through the secret realms in the cultivation world.

He carefully explored the shattered fragments of the immortal realm.

He evaded the Heavenly Demons in the chaotic void.

Facing life-and-death trials time and time again, and having his hopes dashed repeatedly.

He didn't know how much time had passed.

Finally, the old man fulfilled his long - cherished wish and met his disciple who had come back from the dead.

It was sudden.

And he was utterly stunned.

He wanted to cry and also wanted to laugh. So many words got stuck in his throat, and finally turned into a scolding with a smile:

"Unfilial disciple, it's been a long time since we last met, and you won't even call me teacher."