You returned to your courtyard from Deng Rusong's place.

In your hand were five eighth-grade pill recipes.

You burned the midnight oil, carefully studying these five recipes. The refining techniques and material combinations gave you great inspiration.

Your current fifth-grade pill proficiency was at minor mastery. You planned to focus on pill refining next, striving to reach major mastery and become a genuine fifth-grade pill refiner.

You began concentrating on refining fifth-grade pills.

The nineteenth year.

During the fifth-grade pill refining process, your control over true qi became increasingly precise.

You incidentally completed your fifth true qi condensation.

After finishing the condensation, you attempted Divine Micro-Vision based on your hypothesis.

The success came so easily it was almost unbelievable—your Divine Micro-Vision had finally reached beginner level!

You became completely certain: the more times you condensed true qi, the easier it became to advance Divine Micro-Vision's proficiency.

This discovery delighted you, while also leading to a realization—your Divine Micro-Vision talent wasn't innate after all.

Rather, it resulted from repeated true qi condensation, allowing you to contain high-quality qi one or two realms early, granting near-perfect qi control at each realm.

This was what enabled your post-birth awakening of Divine Micro-Vision.

You murmured to yourself: "So I'm not actually a genius?"

Your tone carried surprise, as if learning this for the first time.

Feeling disappointed, you gritted your teeth and—in extreme frustration—advanced your fifth-grade pill refining from minor to major mastery.

At thirty-four, you became the youngest fifth-grade pill refiner in Danxia Sect's history!

If counting the seventy-plus years spent refining Blood Qi Pills during your third simulation, you'd simultaneously be the oldest fifth-grade pill refiner in sect history.

Either way, you'd set records, filling yourself with pride.

That day, Deng Rusong came to your courtyard.

Over the past year, he'd frequently visited for idle chatter.

Today was no different—he intended to chat casually again.

But then he suddenly noticed the eight freshly refined fifth-grade pills.

Deng Rusong pointed in astonishment at the pill furnace you'd obtained from Xie Huide: "You refined these?"

"If not me, then maybe the furnace grew them after I made a wish."

"Cut the nonsense, boy!" Deng Rusong's face darkened.

"Sect Leader, there's nobody else in this courtyard!"

Deng Rusong studied you deeply before carefully examining all eight pills.

Confirming they were indeed your work, he sighed: "You're truly not interested in becoming sect leader?"

"Honored Leader, you've asked eight hundred times this year already."

Deng Rusong reclined on a lounge chair that creaked as he rocked.

"You've hidden your abilities well—sneaking off to the Transmission Pavilion to train in secret."

"Leader, I wasn't hiding. You simply never noticed before."

Deng Rusong glanced sideways: "True enough. Previously only recognized your martial talent—thought your pill talent was merely decent. Never expected you'd surpass even your late master."

You lounged beside him: "Leader seems troubled lately?"

After hesitation, Deng Rusong admitted: "Somewhat."

"Did Sect Leader Yan hit menopause?"

Deng Rusong glared: "If Zhixue had menopause, she'd have killed you last time."

You stiffened: "How so?"

"Zhixue said you know too many of Wan Qingluan's secrets—that you even stole the Extermination Sect's Heavenly Desire Formless Technique. By all rights, she should've killed you. In truth, that was her intention last visit!"

This shocked you—you'd sensed no killing intent from Yan Zhixue, only perceiving a gentle neighborly aura. So this was an Ultimate Grandmaster's demeanor!

Internally cursing: "That old witch seemed so kind yet schemes murder! Truly befitting their wicked sect!"

You asked Deng Rusong: "You protected me?"

He shook his head honestly, eyes guilty: "I can't protect anyone Zhixue wants dead."

Stunned, you remarked: "Leader, damn your honesty—I almost want to award you a gold star!"

Gazing skyward, Deng Rusong said: "You should resent me. If Zhixue had killed you, Huide would blame me too."

A long silence followed.

You harbored no real hatred—understanding the Extermination Sect's temperament made this beyond Deng Rusong's control.

"Why didn't the old witch finish me off then?"

Ignoring your disrespectful term, Deng Rusong explained:

"Wan Qingluan. Zhixue detected her developing feelings for you. Killing you would leave Wan Qingluan's mental state incomplete—catastrophic for their sect's techniques."

Nodding silently, you recognized Yan Zhixue's volatility—without Wan Qingluan's restraint, she might eliminate you anytime.

Having an Ultimate Grandmaster constantly eyeing your life left you insecure.

You simply wanted peaceful cultivation, not living under death's shadow.

Your gaze turned ruthless as a plan formed.

Coldly thinking: "Old witch, let's revisit that death scenario."

Noticing your prolonged silence, Deng Rusong comforted: "He Yu, if Zhixue ever comes for you, I'll die ensuring you're buried beside your master."

You smiled bitterly: "How... comforting."

"However..." you paused, "hope you won't mind, Leader."

"Mind what?"

Shaking your head: "Nothing."

Deng Rusong eyed you curiously but pressed no further, instead discussing recent sect affairs.

Factions had emerged competing for next leadership—primarily between Grand Elder You Yun's faction and Fifth Elder Shen Dingyuan's.

Both factions' disciples were fourth-grade refiners nearing fifth-grade, with roughly equal support.

Ultimately Deng Rusong would decide, favoring You Yun's disciple for slightly better talent and broader perspective.

You recalled You Yun claiming disinterest in leadership—yet now he spearheaded the struggle. What a deceitful old man!

Watching these power struggles affirmed your decision to avoid leadership—sparing yourself such headaches.

Now you could leisurely observe their battles—even if they overturned the entire sect, you'd merely need to lift a foot.

You knew true power lay in strength, not titles. With your current cultivation, few in Danxia Sect could oppose you. Any foolish enough to involve you would learn what "basic martial skills" truly meant.

After Deng Rusong left, you departed the sect.

Mounting a swift horse, you sought Lin Mo—presuming Treading Heaven Steps had been modified and ready for inspection.

"The harvest season arrives!" you mused cheerfully.

En route, another matter surfaced requiring Lin Mo's early preparation.