"If envy still lingers in your heart, it means that deep down, Senior Li still harbors grand aspirations. Why not reorganize and rise from the ashes? What I said earlier, about taking back Biluo Cave, was by no means an empty boast, so you need not have any concerns," Yuan Ming said with a smile before his expression turned serious.

"Heh, how could I doubt Fellow Daoist Yuan's words? It's just that Biluo Cave is, after all, a thing of the past. Now that I have my family to consider, my heart is filled with concerns, and with this frail body... even if you help me take back Biluo Cave, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep this foundation. It would be all in vain," Li Zhui replied with a bitter smile.

"May I take a look?" Yuan Ming asked, furrowing his brows.

"Why not?" Li Zhui said with a smile, extending an arm.

Without hesitation, Yuan Ming stepped forward, grabbed Li Zhui's wrist, and began to carefully examine his physical condition.

After a short while, he relaxed his brows and said, "The problem isn't serious. Your physical body has aged, causing old injuries to emerge and suppress your cultivation, leading to a regression in cultivation level."

Upon hearing Yuan Ming say "The problem isn't serious," Ling Songhua's face lit up with joy, but as he continued speaking, a worried expression couldn't help but reappear on her face.

"His cultivation is regressing instead of advancing, and his lifespan is diminishing without increase. With this decline, he will only become weaker—how can you say the problem isn't serious?" Ling Songhua said, unable to contain herself.

"One simply needs to replenish the origin of life, revitalizing the physical body, and coupled with healing pills to remove the lingering illness, I believe with Senior Li's foundation, regaining strength is merely a matter of time," Yuan Ming said, waving his hand dismissively.

Although his tone was calm, it caused a torrential wave to rise in the hearts of Li Zhui and his wife.

"Is... is that really possible?" Li Zhui asked incredulously.

Yuan Ming smiled without speaking, tightened his grip on Li Zhui's wrist, and a surge of the Undying Tree's Origin Power flowed from within him, entering Li Zhui's body through his arm.

Almost instantly, the furrow in Li Zhui's brows smoothed out, and his eyes widened involuntarily.

He could clearly feel an indescribable and tumultuous life force entering his body from Yuan Ming's palm and spreading throughout his limbs and bones via his meridians.

A sensation like that of withered wood meeting spring arose in his heart, and he felt himself becoming lighter. Even the beating heart in his chest seemed stronger.

Simultaneously, strands of black hair began to appear at his temples, turning his previously pure white hair to salt-and-pepper.

Ling Songhua, who stood by and witnessed the visible changes in her husband, felt her eyes redden and stood up, too moved to speak.

Seeing this, Yuan Ming slowly retracted his hand, merely smiling at them.

"Thank... thank you..." Li Zhui, who had not held much hope, stuttered.

In that moment, no matter how he expressed his gratitude, it seemed insufficient. He simply had no way to repay such a kindness.

"There's no need for such formalities between us. Now, how do you feel? Do you have the spirit to reclaim Biluo Cave?" Yuan Ming asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Li Zhui found himself somewhat moved.

However, when his gaze passed over his wife and daughter, a softness stirred in his heart and he slowly began to speak, "No need. I've grown accustomed to a life unburdened like the clouds and the wild cranes. To me, these things are no longer sweet dew, but shackles instead. Having once proclaimed a heart uninterested in the path to immortality, how can I return to being a mortal after traversing the Immortal Path? Now that I have them, my remaining years I only wish to protect and care for them, to accompany them through sunrise and sunset, to appreciate the autumn moon and spring breeze, and I will already be very content."

"Since that's the case, then I shall not interfere further," Yuan Ming said, knowing this was what Li truly desired. He did not insist any further.

"You have already helped us more than enough. If it weren't for you, we might not exist in this world," Ling Songhua said with tear-filled eyes and heartfelt gratitude.

"Speaking of which, how are the other regions of the Southern Border doing now?" Yuan Ming waved his hand, changing the subject.

"All the same. The entire Southern Border, whether it's the North Territory or the eastern and western domains, are stirring; a chaotic scene indicating imminent turmoil," Li Zhui replied.

"Fellow Daoist Yuan, are you possibly planning to go somewhere in the Southern Border?" Ling Songhua asked, noticing the shift in conversation.

"Indeed, I do have to make a trip to Red Lotus Island in the Southern Domain," Yuan Ming nodded, without concealment.

"The Southern Domain might not be as chaotic as the North Territory, but it's still far from peaceful," Ling Songhua said with a slight frown.

"Oh, what has happened there?" Yuan Ming inquired with raised eyebrows.

"I'm not sure if you're aware, but the Southern Border Southern Domain is home to two top-tier sects, Pan Si Island and Senluo Sect. Each of them governs one area, one in the southern seas, the other mainly on land. Neither acknowledges the other's superiority, leading to constant strife. Recently, they've been locked in conflict over a newly emerged Spirit Vein, fighting back and forth for quite some time, with heavy losses on both sides," Ling Songhua explained.

Yuan Ming nodded, staying quiet.

"The Red Lotus Island you're heading to is one of Pan Si Island's territories," Li Zhui added.

"Fellow Daoist Yuan, unless you have urgent matters, I would advise against going there. At least wait until the conflict between the two sides has subsided somewhat," Ling Songhua advised further.

"This is something I really cannot put off," Yuan Ming said, shaking his head.

"If that's the case, even if you go there, do not get involved in their conflict. Attend to your own matters and leave immediately," Ling Songhua sighed and said upon hearing this.

"Of course," Yuan Ming said with a smile.

After a short stay, Yuan Ming got up to say his farewells, and both Li Zhui and Ling Songhua were extremely reluctant to see him go, but they knew he had things to do and did not insist on his staying.

When the two saw Yuan Ming off and returned to the courtyard, somehow, a storage bracelet had appeared on the wrist of the young girl, Li Yu.

"This Fellow Daoist Yuan…" Li Zhui noticed this and, with a warm look on his face, shook his head with a smile.

The next moment, when he opened the storage bracelet, his expression changed again and again.

Inside it, there were not only many spirit stones, but also several bottles of extremely high-quality elixirs, some spiritual materials for artifact refining, and even three magic treasures with both offensive and defensive capabilities and two volumes of cultivation techniques.

"These elixirs are for you, the cultivation techniques are for Little Carp, and the spiritual materials are for me. He even left magic treasures and spirit stones to help us through tough times. I'm afraid we may never fully repay this kindness in our lifetime…" Ling Songhua said, with tears in her eyes.

Before Li Zhui could respond, Huo Chan'er was jumping up and down anxiously nearby.

"Hehe, I haven't forgotten you. Fellow Daoist Yuan left many fire attribute spirit stones for you too, some of which I don't even recognize. It seems your bloodline power has a chance to awaken once more," Ling Songhua said as she pressed down on Huo Chan'er's head with a laugh.

Li Zhui remembered how Yuan Ming, when departing, had also instructed them that if they encountered an insurmountable hurdle, they could seek refuge with Hundred Pills Square in East Sea, and a surge of indescribable emotions welled up in his heart.

"How high do you think Fellow Daoist Yuan's cultivation must be now?" Ling Songhua asked, unable to hold back.

"Hehe, definitely higher than just at the peak of Foundation Establishment, that's for sure," Li Zhui said, looking in the direction Yuan Ming had gone and laughing freely.

Meanwhile, outside Wangyou Valley.

Yuan Ming was sitting cross-legged on Lei Yu's back, thanking Xi Ying, "Thank you for the 'Fire Element Technique' and 'Xuanlei Scripture.'"

When Yuan Ming had earlier visited Li Zhui, Xi Ying was actually by his side all the time, merely using an illusion technique to conceal herself and not revealing her presence.

"It just so happens that the little girl has both a Fire Spiritual Root and a Thunder Spirit Root, which are perfect for her to use. But I didn't expect you to have such deep feelings for these two," Xi Ying said, somewhat surprised.

"During the early days in Biluo Cave, they were among the few who treated me kindly. Moreover, without the aid of the Three Cave Masters, I probably would have died silently at the hands of Hu Huo and Kun Tu..." Yuan Ming said, looking down at the undulating mountains of the Southern Border with a look of reminiscence.

Upon hearing this, Xi Ying seemed to be reminded of something and didn't continue the conversation via divine transmission.

"Before going to Red Lotus Island, I want to go to a certain place first," Yuan Ming suddenly said.

"Where is that?" Xi Ying asked, curious. This version was sourced from *.

"You'll know when we get there," Yuan Ming didn't give a direct answer but said with a smile.

...

Shortly thereafter, Lei Yu folded its wings and dove toward the ground below.

Soon after, it brought Yuan Ming to a landing by the banks of a tortuous river with treacherous terrain.

The river roared with its rapid current speckled with submerged rocks, and the muddy, yellow water formed enormous whirlpools in the channel. The thunderous sound of the water, like the roar of a ferocious dragon, echoed throughout the valley.

"Is this the place you wished to come to?" Xi Ying inquired with a hint of curiosity.

Yuan Ming looked at the rushing turgid water with a contemplative expression.

"It was at the upstream of this river where I was shot with an arrow and drifted here after falling into the water. Had it not been for a stroke of luck when I found the Stealing Heaven Tripod, I might have long since become fish food in this river, buried under the silt on the riverbed," Yuan Ming spoke slowly, after a long pause.

Upon hearing this, Xi Ying recalled the first time they saw Yuan Ming in Biluo Cave, picturing a frail young man struggling to survive in the fierce river currents.

"You didn't bring me here just to reminisce about the past, did you?" Xi Ying asked curiously.

Because Xi Ying knew that Yuan Ming was definitely not the type to do so for that reason alone.

"Of course not. I just feel that the Stealing Heaven Tripod, a treasure of such caliber, would not have ended up here without reason. Therefore, this time I returned to see if there were any clues here," Yuan Ming explained, shaking his head with a smile.

After speaking, he immediately spread his divine power around, extending it in all directions, and began to meticulously search every corner of the valley and riverbed.

The chaotic scene at the riverbed was soon thoroughly scouted by him.

At that moment, his eyes suddenly opened wide, flashing with a hint of delight.