[Sang Yi was no match for those experts and nearly got beaten to death on the spot]

[At the critical moment, you descended like a divine savior using your Shangguan Gousheng identity to rescue Sang Yi]

[And let Sang Yi personally kill that young master and his own wife]

[Sang Yi was so grateful to you he practically wanted to enshrine you as a deity]

[Aside from Sang Yi, the other two among the trio also had equally explosive stories, which we won't elaborate on one by one]

[You settled the three in the Palace of Ten Thousand Dreams and provided them cultivation resources]

[Their job was similar to a receptionist security guard - just receiving and safeguarding Earth Source information until your periodic collection]

[After arranging everything, you returned to Youtong County to continue cultivation]

[Fifth Year]

[You completed the fourth Source Power condensation of the Nine Condensations Profound Skill]

[Your combat ranking on Great Qian's Ultimate Grandmaster list rose by one or two positions]

[Moreover, during this cultivation session, you sensed the bottleneck to mid Dragon Transformation stage]

[Dragon Transformation was already a high-level realm for martial artists, yet you saw hope for further advancement within just a few years]

[Your martial talent was reaching terrifying levels]

[After completing the fourth condensation, you focused on advancing your ninth-grade pill refining arts]

[You got up from the cultivation chamber and walked to the adjacent pill refining room]

[Though the two rooms weren't that different - you could refine pills without changing rooms - you still preferred keeping activities separate]

[Taking out the Peace Token, you began refining ninth-grade pills]

[Ninth-grade pill refinement was several levels more difficult]

[After a month, you still hadn't made any progress]

[Though the Peace Token helped identify shortcomings, knowing mistakes and correcting them were two different matters]

[You realized "recognizing and correcting mistakes" wasn't just moral excellence but also reflected exceptional execution]

[After resting for a day, you went to Danxia Sect to find Xie Huide]

[You and Xie Huide leisurely drank tea in his courtyard]

[Presently Xie Huide was living joyfully every day, with even his long-stagnant peak Essence Refining cultivation showing signs of loosening]

[You sincerely rejoiced for him: "Old Xie, with your current state, ninth-grade is within reach!"]

["Hahaha, Brother He, I appreciate your auspicious words!"]

[Just then a disciple rushed in: "Seventh Elder, the Sect Leader summons you!"]

[Xie Huide asked: "Did the Sect Leader say what it's about?"]

[The disciple glanced subtly at you before whispering in Xie Huide's ear: "Elder Hu Zhongxuan has returned!"]

[Xie Huide sprang up instantly and sprinted toward Deng Rusong's courtyard]

[You quickly set down your teacup and followed earnestly behind Xie Huide, afraid of missing out on the drama]

[After a few steps Xie Huide felt something amiss, turning to ask: "Brother He, you're coming too?"]

[You laughed heartily: "Together together!"]

[Xie Huide pondered briefly before nodding vigorously: "Together!"]

[Soon you arrived near Deng Rusong's courtyard]

[Hu Zhongxuan was already seated inside. Though conversing with Deng Rusong, he was clearly distracted, responding absentmindedly]

[The usually composed and solemn Hu Zhongxuan now appeared restless and agitated]

[At the slightest sound outside the courtyard, Hu Zhongxuan would immediately look up expectantly]

[Deng Rusong smiled: "Zhongxuan, I've already sent someone to notify Wanshu. There's no need for such nervousness."]

[Hu Zhongxuan nodded perfunctorily]

[Then rapid footsteps sounded from outside, growing increasingly closer]

[Each step seemed to tread directly on Hu Zhongxuan's heart]

[Hu Zhongxuan stood abruptly to greet the arrival]

[His face alight with excitement, he eagerly looked outside the gate]

[The next instant, Hu Zhongxuan's joyful expression vanished completely]

[Instead of his long-yearned junior martial sister, Hu Zhongxuan saw only you and Xie Huide - two annoyingly grinning figures]

[Hu Zhongxuan turned heel and retreated into the courtyard]

[Xie Huide's face instantly twisted with triumphant mockery]

[His voice dripped with sarcasm: "Well well well, if it isn't the grand martial arts master returning?!"]

[The tone made you pause, eerily reminiscent of your own speaking style]

[Hu Zhongxuan turned his back, refusing to look at Xie Huide]

[But Xie Huide deliberately positioned himself before Hu Zhongxuan: "Grandmaster, what brings you back?"]

[Hu Zhongxuan clicked his tongue and turned away again]

[Xie Huide persisted relentlessly: "Grandmaster, you must have reached Ultimate Grandmaster by now?"]

[Hu Zhongxuan turned once more]

[Xie Huide pursued: "No wait, surely you've surpassed Ultimate Grandmaster! That's why you returned to awaken Wanshu, isn't it?"]

[Hu Zhongxuan kept turning helplessly while Xie Huide circled him mockingly, the two engaged in a comedic dance]

[Until Deng Rusong could bear no more]

[He interjected: "Enough, Huide. These years Zhongxuan has used his military connections and personal cultivation to greatly facilitate our pill refining material collection. Cease your taunts."]

[Xie Huide knew Deng Rusong spoke truth, reluctantly ending his assault]

[Hu Zhongxuan turned silently, noticing you by chance]

[His expression sobered as he asked: "And this is...?"]

[You nearly blurted out you were here for the drama, but Deng Rusong introduced first: "This is Young Master He Yu, who provided us the Reviving Yang Pills!"]

[Hu Zhongxuan's furrowed brows immediately smoothed, his scrutinizing gaze transforming into gratitude]

[He strode over, about to express thanks]

[Just then, an elated voice called: "Third Brother!"]

[Hu Zhongxuan froze as if thunderstruck]

[Though decades had passed since last hearing it, Hu Zhongxuan would always recognize that voice]

[Looking up slowly, he saw the lively junior martial sister of his memories standing gracefully nearby]

[The breeze played with her hair as Deng Wanshu appeared vividly real]

[In Hu Zhongxuan's eyes, Deng Wanshu became the sole dancer on stage, all spotlights focused on her]

["Wanshu..."]

[This single utterance released years of pent-up emotions]

[He teleported before Deng Wanshu, reaching out a trembling hand to touch her cheek]

[The soft, real contact made Hu Zhongxuan's heart tremble before surging with boundless joy]

[But this joy was interrupted by another hand reaching over]

[Xie Huide grabbed Hu Zhongxuan's wrist, prying it away: "That's quite enough!"]

[Hu Zhongxuan knew he'd lost composure, slightly restraining himself while keeping his gaze locked on Deng Wanshu]

[Deng Wanshu beamed, looking between Hu Zhongxuan and Xie Huide: "Third Brother, we'll hold a banquet tonight to welcome you back!"]

[Hu Zhongxuan's eyes brightened: "Wonderful!"]

[That evening, Danxia Sect's four powerhouses gathered, toasting merrily]

[Of course, you attended as special guest of honor]

[The four frequently toasted you in gratitude]

[Seeing their raised cups and thankful smiles, it resembled a heartwarming movie's happy ending]

[But you knew the trio's affections would eventually entangle, uncertain which path they'd take]

[You could only toast: "May your bonds remain beautifully complicated!"]

[Tilting your head back, you downed the cup]

[The revelry lasted late into the night until lamps dimmed and guests departed, leaving you to return alone]

[Next morning]

[You awoke early as usual and completed morning training]

[Your bottleneck from early to mid Dragon Transformation was on the verge of breaking]

[Overjoyed, you cultivated continuously for five days]

[The bottleneck remained on the verge]

[Persisting another seven days - practically a national holiday's length - the bottleneck stubbornly persisted]

[You realized this was a "so near yet so far" situation]

[Abandoning forced cultivation, you left He Manor]

[You headed to Palace of Ten Thousand Dreams to check for new Earth Source intelligence]

[Ideally news of Qian Metal Nature Earth Source]

[Obtaining another Qian Metal Nature Earth Source would effortlessly make you invincible]

[And according to previous simulations, no celestial enemies should appear during this period]

[You'd become Great Qian's one true deity]

["First I'll kill Li Anlong once to prevent any ancestral surprises, avoiding real-world mishaps!"]

[Amidst these thoughts, Palace of Ten Thousand Dreams came into distant view]