[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]