[A Dragon Transformation martial artist was instantly killed by your single slash]

[Everything happened in an instant, and ended just as quickly]

["This... this! Uh!!"]

[The terrified Bi Wenyu nearby resembled a rooster with its neck squeezed, only managing to produce hoarse gurgling sounds after much effort]

[His fear-twisted face appeared extremely ferocious]

[The others were also frightened speechless by this scene, instinctively assuming defensive postures]

[But if they couldn't even defeat Shen Dingyuan at mid-stage Dragon Transformation, how could they possibly be your match?]

[You glanced at them but waved your hand: "You can leave."]

[Bi Wenyu and the others could hardly believe their ears]

[The group first exchanged terrified glances]

[Then immediately scattered like relieved burdens]

[Fleeing from your courtyard in a frantic, stumbling rush]

["Wait a moment," you said calmly]

[They immediately froze in place, not daring to move]

[You walked toward Bi Wenyu and asked: "Did I tell you to leave?"]

["Yes, yes yes!!"]

[Zing—]

[Bi Wenyu's head separated from his body, blood from his neck artery spurting three meters high]

[Your voice held no emotion: "I told you to leave, so why did you run?"]

[The others immediately broke out in cold sweat—they had all started running earlier]

[You looked at them: "You're people of other elders?"]

["Yes yes! Senior Brother He, we're not Shen Dingyuan's people! My master is the Second Elder!"]

["My master is the Fourth Elder!!"]

["Senior Brother, I'm the Third Elder's personal disciple!!"]

[They hurriedly declared their affiliations, invoking their respective masters]

[You nodded: "I see. Then I understand. I'll notify them to recruit new disciples."]

["Huh? Senior Brother, no..."]

["Senior Brother He, spare..."]

[Several concentrated blade flashes later, all of them were dead]

[You sheathed your Soul Awakening Blade and stood in the courtyard]

[Gazing at the not-yet-fully-risen morning sun beyond the mountains]

["My morning temper is still too strong. This isn't good."]

[The news of you killing Shen Dingyuan and the others spread throughout Danxia Sect that very day]

[This incident caused an uproar throughout the sect]

[Danxia Sect members only knew you as someone who focused entirely on cultivation and pill refining, never involving yourself in sect affairs. They assumed that after Xie Huide's death, you had lost your backer and were forced to keep a low profile]

[They never dared imagine that your usual unassuming demeanor concealed the ability to kill mid-stage Dragon Transformation Shen Dingyuan]

[Especially when Danxia Sect members saw the corpses, they were utterly shocked]

[The elders who lost disciples were as silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to utter a word]

[No matter how skilled they were at pill refining, they would still die if killed—this was ultimately a world where martial power reigned supreme]

[If Hu Zhongxuan were removed from Danxia Sect, you would be the sect's top combatant]

[These elders' cultivation levels were mostly inferior to Shen Dingyuan's, making them utterly incapable of challenging you]

[You even specially went to tell them: "Hurry up and recruit some new disciples to continue the line. Don't let Danxia Sect's legacy break."]

["We'll recruit! We'll recruit immediately!! We'll post notices right now!"]

[The terrified elders repeatedly agreed]

["I'm really worrying too much about the sect," you muttered while walking back]

[Upon hearing the news of Shen Dingyuan and Bi Wenyu's deaths, current sect leader Ruan Bai cried tears of joy]

[Previously, Ruan Bai hadn't paid much attention to you, only knowing you seemed close to Deng Rusong]

[When suffering Shen Dingyuan's oppression, he never considered seeking your help]

[In his view, you were just another personal disciple like himself—seeking your help would be useless]

[Only after today did he realize: your usefulness was fucking enormous!]

[Your thigh was too thick]

[Ruan Bai even wanted to cling to your leg forever without letting go]

[In his heart, you were his great benefactor]

[Ruan Bai rushed anxiously to your courtyard that same day]

[He immediately had people remove the corpses and thoroughly cleaned your area four or five times]

[Then Ruan Bai cautiously said to you: "Um, Benefactor... no, Senior Brother, please accept the position of sect leader!"]

[Hearing Ruan Bai's words, you looked at him calmly: "I'm not interested in being sect leader. Do your job well—I have high hopes for you."]

[Ruan Bai's expression stiffened. Unable to discern your sincerity, he said anxiously: "Then would Senior Brother be willing to become the sect's Grand Elder?"]

[Ruan Bai's face showed nothing but polite inquiry, fearing any displeasing word might get him chopped down]

["I don't want any position. Just don't disturb my cultivation in the future."]

[Ruan Bai felt uncertain: "Understood, understood. As you wish, Senior Brother. May I leave now?"]

["Wait!"]

["What further instructions does Senior Brother have?" This sect leader adopted the humblest posture, treating you with utmost respect]

[After some thought, you said: "Like my master, I'll be the Seventh Elder."]

[Ruan Bai immediately agreed joyfully. He wasn't afraid of you making demands—he feared you having none]

[As long as you actually made requests, Ruan Bai could feel slightly more at ease. What he feared most was your immense power combined with unpredictability]

[You naturally understood Ruan Bai's concerns. You only requested to be Seventh Elder to reassure him about managing Danxia Sect]

[After all, Ruan Bai was Deng Rusong's chosen successor, and you wanted him focused on leading Danxia Sect]

[However, you emphasized to Ruan Bai that this was merely an honorary title to commemorate Xie Huide—you wouldn't manage sect affairs or take disciples]

[Ruan Bai naturally noted everything]

[After the turmoil, Danxia Sect returned to peace]

[But disregarding your instructions, Ruan Bai would still occasionally bring major sect matters for your decision]

[Whether he was testing your attitude or genuinely showing utmost respect didn't matter to you]

[After being scolded by you several times, he finally understood you truly wouldn't interfere in sect affairs or contend for power]

[Thus, with Shen Dingyuan's major threat eliminated, Ruan Bai gradually gained real control of Danxia Sect, managing it according to Deng Rusong's expectations]

[You became Danxia Sect's uninvolved Seventh Elder—and its stabilizing pillar]

[With the entire sect stabilized again, you could continue cultivating peacefully]

[Year Thirty-One]

[In a secluded valley, two terrifying sword qi beams of immense power shot forth]

[Boom—]

[Two small mountain peaks several zhang high were cleanly severed, collapsing with thunderous noise and raising clouds of dust]

[Standing midair, you nodded in satisfaction]

[You had comprehended two more Earth Source Sword Qi, bringing your total to ten out of twenty-four]

[You were quite satisfied with this progress, especially since sword arts weren't your specialty—otherwise you'd have progressed faster]

[Although Earth Source Sword Qi could kill early-stage Grandmasters, with your current Organ Fortifying peak cultivation, you could unleash at most six sword qi before exhausting yourself]

[But most annoyingly, you happened to be a pill refiner]

[Feeling drained? A handful of internal spirit pills would restore your masculine vigor!]

[Theoretically, you had unlimited firing rights with Earth Source Sword Qi]

[In actual combat, you could shovel internal spirit pills into your mouth with one hand while continuously unleashing Earth Source Sword Qi with the other—your body becoming a gatling gun]

[As long as the barrel didn't overheat, you were unlimited firepower]

[Although this method placed tremendous strain on your body, causing irreversible damage to your foundational roots]

[But did you care?]

[Obviously not]

[What significance did a mere body hold?]

[You could discard this worthless life anytime—just restart if needed]

[You couldn't help marveling: "This cheat of mine wasn't wasted!"]

[After this reflection, you suddenly flew toward Danxia Sect, disappearing beyond the horizon]

[Soon, you returned to Danxia Sect]

[You received word from Wan Qingluan that she had collected all five bounty keys]

[And she would visit you at Danxia Sect next month]

["Little Wan's quite capable—finally got all five keys!" You felt somewhat excited]

[But then you frowned suspiciously: "Why's she coming to me instead of seeking Yan Zhixue to make her wish?"]