While you were deep in thought, a sect member suddenly rushed over.

He informed you that Xie Huide and Deng Rusong had emerged from seclusion.

Both of them were at Xie Huide's courtyard, summoning you to come.

You immediately went to Xie Huide's residence.

Upon arrival, only Xie Huide and Deng Rusong were present.

Both men looked extremely grim.

Xie Huide in particular appeared devastated—slumped in his reclining chair with lifeless eyes and an ashen face.

He glanced at you indifferently when you approached.

After a long silence, he finally spoke slowly: "I... failed..."

You had actually anticipated this outcome.

Their pill refinement had taken over a month longer than expected—

an almost unheard-of occurrence in alchemy.

After two breaths of silence, you asked: "What went wrong?"

Xie Huide just kept shaking his head, tilted to one side without speaking.

Deng Rusong sighed quietly before explaining:

Everything had gone smoothly during Deng Rusong's stages.

But when Xie Huide needed to fuse the Earth Source, disaster struck.

First, Xie Huide couldn't enter the Divine Micro-Vision state no matter how hard he tried.

He barely managed it at the last possible moment.

Before they could relax—

Xie Huide's state immediately became unstable again.

Having mastered Divine Micro-Vision long ago,

he'd never experienced such fluctuations before.

His mentality was completely off this time.

Deng Rusong's repeated encouragements proved useless.

Ultimately, Xie Huide violently exited the Divine Micro-Vision state at the critical moment—

causing the half-fused Earth Source to instantly dissipate.

Xie Huide went mad with despair.

Muttering "impossible" like a delirious man,

he clawed frantically at the air as if trying to recapture the lost Earth Source.

But dissipated Earth Source could never be recovered.

Refusing to accept this, Xie Huide forced Deng Rusong to stay for another attempt.

Both knew it was hopeless without the Earth Source.

They sat silently in the stone chamber for a month—

Xie Huide drowning in self-loathing.

You frowned after hearing this: "Master, can't we just collect more Earth Source?"

Xie Huide didn't lift his head: "No... impossible now..."

"Why impossible?"

Deng Rusong answered mournfully: "The shock was too great—your master can no longer enter Divine Micro-Vision!"

Only then did you understand this hidden consequence.

The Divine Micro-Vision state truly seemed mystical.

You grew curious about its fundamental nature.

Moreover, you noticed Xie Huide's strange condition during this refinement.

While nervousness before refining the Reviving Yang Pill was understandable,

such uncharacteristic incompetence from a seventh-grade pill refiner who'd mastered Divine Micro-Vision made no sense.

Like a master chef suddenly forgetting how to stir-fry—

ruining a prepared dish at the last moment.

Something was clearly wrong.

Not fearing to reopen wounds, you asked directly:

"Master, your failure wasn't just about poor condition, furnace heat or fire control, was it?"

After long deliberation, Xie Huide finally spoke—

still hunched over with disheveled hair:

"Hu Zhongxuan, no need to hide. Come out."

Both you and Deng Rusong startled violently.

Neither had detected Hu Zhongxuan's presence—

especially shocking for Deng Rusong as a Grandmaster.

Could it be...?

Your suspicion was confirmed when—

after two breaths—Hu Zhongxuan descended gracefully from above.

"Ultimate Grandmaster! Junior Brother Hu, you succeeded!" Deng Rusong exclaimed.

Hu Zhongxuan remained impassive: "Long time no see, senior brothers."

Then he turned to you: "And you, junior."

You nodded slightly in greeting.

Hu Zhongxuan had truly comprehended Earth Source to become an Ultimate Grandmaster.

His martial talent was indeed remarkable.

You made a mental note to ask him later about Earth Source comprehension.

Suddenly you realized—

When You Yun first visited you during your Divine Micro-Vision state,

you'd sensed someone spying.

You Yun claimed he'd just arrived, making you doubt his excuse.

Now you understood—you'd actually detected Hu Zhongxuan's surveillance.

Hu Zhongxuan asked Xie Huide: "How did you know I was here?"

"You shouldn't have visited Wanshu," Xie Huide shook his head.

"You noticed me?"

After a heavy sigh, Xie Huide explained:

He visited Deng Wanshu daily,

so two months ago he'd accidentally discovered Hu Zhongxuan's secret visit.

Most crucially, Xie Huide realized Hu Zhongxuan had become an Ultimate Grandmaster—

shattering his mentality completely.

Now he knew—whether Wanshu woke or not—

Hu Zhongxuan would ultimately be the one by her side.

This broken dao heart caused the refinement failure.

Xie Huide stood up—disheveled and swaying:

"I arranged everything for Wanshu myself! I notice every tiny change!"

He glared furiously at Hu Zhongxuan:

"Hu Zhongxuan! You shouldn't have gone! YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE!"

"What right did you have?!"

Trembling with rage, he pointed accusingly:

"What have YOU ever done for her?!"

"What good is your martial pursuit? Your Ultimate Grandmaster status?!"

"CAN YOU WAKE HER?!"

"YOU CAN'T!!"

"WE'RE BOTH USELESS! USELESS!!"

Hu Zhongxuan remained stone-faced as Xie Huide's rant escalated.

"Enough, Huide!" Deng Rusong growled.

Xie Huide laughed bitterly before shuffling out of the courtyard—

"HAHAHA... useless... all useless..."

His voice faded into the distance.

The three of you stood in heavy silence.

"Zhongxuan, come with me," Deng Rusong finally said, leading Hu Zhongxuan away.

You sighed and returned to your own courtyard.

The next morning—

before you'd even finished washing up—

Xie Huide summoned you again.

Puzzled by his sudden initiative after yesterday's despair,

you went to his courtyard.

Gone was yesterday's dishevelment.

Today Xie Huide was immaculately groomed—

hair perfectly tied back,

snow-white robes without a single wrinkle,

his handsome early-thirties features giving an ethereal aura.

The broken man from yesterday had vanished.

Sitting primly on a stone stool,

he smiled and beckoned: "He Yu, come here."

Seeing this drastic transformation,

a terrible premonition gripped you.

"Master, what is it?" you approached.

Xie Huide produced an alchemy furnace:

"You've always wanted this. It's yours now."

Your heart sank—"This really feels like last arrangements!"

You hastily declined:

"I'd just use it as an ashtray! Keep it yourself!"

He pushed the exquisite furnace into your hands:

"Whatever you do with it, accept it."

When you tried refusing again,

he waved dismissively with a faint smile:

"Now come see your martial aunt with me."