You and Xie Huide entered Deng Wanshu's secret chamber.

Hu Zhongxuan and Deng Rusong were both present.

Xie Huide didn't even glance at them.

He only turned to you and said, "He Yu, you won't need to take care of your martial aunt anymore. But I'm grateful you agreed to my request back then."

Without waiting for your response, Xie Huide walked straight toward the cold jade bed.

Toward the love of his life.

Xie Huide sat on the cold jade bed, then turned slightly to lie down beside Deng Wanshu.

He gently caressed Deng Wanshu's cheek, murmuring endless words in a low voice.

Xie Huide didn't know if Deng Wanshu could truly hear him.

He poured out his heart completely, oblivious to anyone else's presence.

Suddenly, a single clear tear rolled down from Deng Wanshu's eye.

Xie Huide froze, his expression deeply moved.

He tenderly wiped away Deng Wanshu's tear with his finger. "Wanshu, can you hear me? That's wonderful."

Xie Huide's voice was incredibly gentle as he continued, "But Wanshu..."

His words trailed off into silence.

After a long pause,

Xie Huide abruptly sat up without warning, staring desperately at Deng Wanshu.

His face suddenly twisted into a terrifying grimace,

as if confronting the most horrifying existence in the world.

His voice turned shrill and piercing.

He screamed hoarsely, "BUT WANSHU! I DON'T WANT TO DIE—!!"

Thud—

After his final scream, Xie Huide collapsed limply onto the cold jade bed.

His gaze remained fixed on Deng Wanshu's serene face.

A single clear tear streamed from Xie Huide's eye,

flowing onto the cold jade bed where it mingled with Deng Wanshu's tear.

The mingled tears formed a small wet patch,

reflecting both their peaceful sleeping faces.

You looked at Xie Huide's motionless form on the bed.

Uncertain, you turned to Hu Zhongxuan and Deng Rusong. "Martial Uncle, Sect Leader, my master..."

Their somber nods confirmed it.

Xie Huide was indeed dead.

He had died beside the person he loved most.

You unconsciously rubbed the pill furnace in your hands.

You decided to keep this furnace carefully preserved.

Deng Rusong held a grand funeral for Xie Huide.

He was buried on Danxia Sect's back mountain.

You would occasionally visit to burn paper offerings for him.

Remembering Xie Huide's deeds would inevitably make your eyes sting, shedding a few tears.

You informed Deng Rusong of your decision not to become Danxia Sect's next leader.

Deng Rusong tried persuading you several times, but you politely declined.

Eventually he had to concede.

However, he urged you to remain with Danxia Sect.

You requested a position guarding the Transmission Pavilion, wishing only to live quietly like a floor-sweeping monk.

Deng Rusong agreed.

From then on, you ignored all Danxia Sect affairs, maintaining only two points in your daily routine—the Transmission Pavilion and your courtyard.

Between cultivation and alchemy research, you found happiness.

Hu Zhongxuan had stayed at Danxia Sect for half a month now.

He visited Deng Wanshu daily.

Even as an Ultimate Grandmaster, he couldn't find joy,

because he still couldn't awaken Deng Wanshu.

What devastated him more was realizing there were no paths beyond Ultimate Grandmaster—he had reached martial arts' absolute peak.

His sole comfort was gaining nearly two centuries of lifespan to accompany Deng Wanshu's remaining years.

One day, you approached Hu Zhongxuan to inquire about Earth Sources.

As someone who had succeeded, he shared his insights unreservedly.

As you suspected, each Earth Source's essence differed—

it could manifest as a sword, a blade,

a folding fan, or even a brush.

Some appeared as floating words in the air.

To perceive an Earth Source required having attributes resonating with it.

Hu Zhongxuan's Earth Source had taken form as a fierce white-browed tiger.

For this, he had ventured into Black Serpent Woods to observe tigers,

eventually living and even sleeping alongside them.

Your eyes widened in shock. "Martial Uncle, was the sleeping necessary? Couldn't you skip that?"

A vein pulsed on Hu Zhongxuan's forehead. "I coexisted with tigers, not married them!"

You sighed in relief. "Oh good, that's a relief."

Only after fully understanding tiger behavior and absorbing their aura could Hu Zhongxuan perceive his Earth Source.

Perception duration varied—some took years, others mere moments.

Hu Zhongxuan's perception lasted only three years before completion and fusion.

"Fusion too?"

You recalled Hu Zhongxuan previously mentioning perception alone.

He explained, "After perception, fusion occurs naturally—the Earth Source recognizes you and willingly merges with your body."

"Does fusion make one an Ultimate Grandmaster?"

"Yes. Once fused, you share a symbiotic existence—perish together if either dies."

Post-fusion, a grandmaster's body undergoes metamorphosis,

gaining flight capability and two-century lifespan.

Most crucially, their true qi transforms into 'Source Power'—

a power tier completely beyond conventional true qi.

This explained the vast chasm between grandmasters and Ultimate Grandmasters.

Yet Lin Mo (Miao Gift) had fought Ultimate Grandmasters evenly at peak grandmaster level—

like battling a guandao wielder with a wooden stick and holding ground, showcasing terrifying talent.

"Now that's what I call horrifying talent!" you mused privately.

Considering Ultimate Grandmaster abilities—transcendent power, flight, extended lifespan—

you frowned deeply. "Isn't this basically fucking immortal cultivation?"

But Hu Zhongxuan revealed no paths existed beyond Ultimate Grandmaster.

Ultimate Grandmasters couldn't enhance combat power or cultivation further.

Moreover, each grandmaster could only fuse with one Earth Source—

attempting a second would cause it to dissipate harmlessly.

You pondered further. "Martial Uncle, what if someone perceived an Earth Source before reaching grandmaster?"

"They'd die," Hu Zhongxuan stated flatly.

You blinked. "Die? Why?"

"Only a peak grandmaster's physique can withstand the metamorphosis. Weaker bodies would collapse."

You nodded thoughtfully.

Initially thinking your Divine Micro-Vision could bypass perception requirements,

you now faced the fusion barrier.

"Must I really wait until peak grandmaster to unlock Earth Sources?"

After consideration,

sudden realization flashed in your eyes.

"Perhaps not!"

"My Nine Condensations Profound Skill lets me combat foes two major realms stronger—doesn't that mean my physique already matches two realms ahead?"

"In other words, at peak Essence Refining with ninefold true qi condensation, my body might equal a peak grandmaster's!"

The theory seemed increasingly plausible.

Besides, with your cheat-like advantages, failure merely meant death.

Were you afraid of death?

Only of meaningless death.

For a worthy cause, you feared nothing!