[Wan Qingluan informs you she has collected two more bounty keys]
[Now Wan Qingluan possesses four bounty keys in total, needing only the final one to make her wish]
[You grow excited - just one last step remains before the sword of Damocles represented by Yan Zhixue is lifted from your neck]
[Somewhat regrettably, the bounty key inherited from your third simulation is identical to the one you previously gave Wan Qingluan]
[Otherwise you could have set up a scheme to directly deliver the final key to her]
[Still, it's nearly done now - just one key remains]
[During this period, you occasionally checked in on Lin Mo]
[The twenty-year-old Lin Mo had reached late-stage Organ Fortifying cultivation, just one minor realm below you]
[Moreover, Lin Mo appeared on the verge of breaking through to peak Organ Fortifying]
[This good news weighs heavily on your heart as you offer your final insincere praise, telling Lin Mo he resembles your younger self]
[Lin Mo happily accepts your compliment as always]
[Lin Mo's Heavenly Dao Alliance has expanded further]
[They've even purchased land to establish a mountain gate and proper headquarters]
[The cultivation techniques and funds Lin Mo used to build his sect all came through peculiar means - some found, some gifted, some encountered by chance]
[Truly, the terror of a protagonist's luck defies understanding]
[You can't comprehend Lin Mo's miraculous feats, being merely an ordinary cheat user yourself]
[You return to Danxia Sect to focus on mastering Divine Micro-Vision]
[You aim to push Divine Micro-Vision to grandmaster proficiency]
[Deng Rusong has practically ceased leaving his quarters]
[During your frequent visits, he only speaks to you in weak tones]
[His speech has become increasingly incoherent - one moment urging you to become sect leader, the next insisting Xie Huide will lead Danxia Sect to glory]
[You patiently respond to each disjointed statement]
[One day while attending Deng Rusong, a panting disciple rushes in shouting: "Sect Leader! Senior Brother He! The Grand Elder has passed!"]
[You're surprised - you hadn't expected You Yun to depart before Deng Rusong, though this observation isn't meant as a curse]
[Hearing the news, Deng Rusong musters some energy]
["He Yu, accompany me," Deng Rusong slowly rises to his feet]
[You escort Deng Rusong to pay respects, where he offers Ruan Bai condolences]
[Deng Rusong barely manages to preside over You Yun's funeral before the burial]
[With You Yun gone, Ruan Bai loses his primary supporter]
[Combined with Deng Rusong's fading capacity to lead, most remaining supporters defect to Shen Dingyuan and Bi Wenyu's faction]
[Shen Dingyuan and Bi Wenyu no longer bother pretending, openly mocking and humiliating the future sect leader Ruan Bai without restraint]
[Outnumbered, Ruan Bai can only retreat step by step]
[Effectively, Ruan Bai has already been sidelined]
[One day during your courtyard cultivation]
[Shen Dingyuan approaches you]
[He comes to recruit you, having somehow learned the sect leadership was originally meant for you]
[He viciously disparages Ruan Bai while lavishing praise on you]
[Shen Dingyuan insists Ruan Bai stole your position, hoping to sway you into opposing the future sect leader]
[You slowly open your eyes mid-cultivation: "Final warning - I don't care about leadership. Don't interrupt my cultivation again."]
[Your cold gaze makes the mid-stage Dragon Transformation Shen Dingyuan's eyelids twitch]
[Though inwardly shocked, he maintains surface composure]
[Considering your close ties to Hu Zhongxuan, he keeps his tone measured]
[He persists: "Nephew He, I'm advocating for your interests! Though denied leadership, the Seventh Elder's lineage needs your continuation!"]
[BANG!]
[The courtyard gate slams shut automatically, leaving Shen Dingyuan outside]
[His expression darkens before he storms away]
[You resume cultivation]
[After eight days intensely training Divine Micro-Vision, you near mastery]
[On the ninth day, sudden inspiration strikes - your eyes snap open]
[Instantly, you enter Divine Micro-Vision state]
[The world appears clearer than ever]
[Every detail stands out vividly - bees gathering pollen, ants transporting insect carcasses]
[Your Divine Micro-Vision reaches grandmaster proficiency, matching Xie Huide's former level]
[At this stage, attempts succeed seven or eight times out of ten]
[Duration extends from two hours to twelve - a full day!]
[Cooldown shrinks from two days to just one]
[Not wasting this state, you immediately begin breakthrough attempts]
[You start pushing sixth-grade pill proficiency]
[Setting up the cauldron, lighting the fire, adding ingredients]
[In mere hours, your nearly-maxed proficiency reaches completion]
[A fragrant batch of sixth-grade pills emerges]
[Lifting the lid reveals eight perfect pills - official certification as a sixth-grade pill refiner!]
[Overjoyed, you rush to Deng Rusong's courtyard to share the news]
[But Deng Rusong struggles to even open his eyes, sleeping constantly]
[Attendants inform you he can no longer metabolize pills]
[You understand Deng Rusong's life has entered its final countdown]
[Year Thirty, age forty-five (Deng Rusong: 107)]
[These past months, you've cultivated daily in Deng Rusong's courtyard]
[Today, you arrive as usual]
[After checking on the bedridden Deng Rusong, you transfer true qi to aid his pill absorption]
[Turning to leave for courtyard cultivation, Deng Rusong's hand suddenly grabs yours!]
[Shocked, you turn to see him smiling and sitting up]
[Your heart sinks: "Sect Leader..."]
["He Yu, how fares Danxia Sect?" His tone remains ordinary]
[After consideration, you reply: "Danxia Sect thrives."]
["That's good. Has Wanshu awakened?"]
["She has, living in the capital with Martial Uncle."]
["That's good. Why hasn't your master come?"]
["He's breaking through to ninth-grade pill refiner, hence his absence."]
["That's good. Where's Zhixue? Does my father still disapprove?"]
["He's accepted her. She's discussing wedding arrangements with her parents."]
["That's good. I'm tired now. I'll sleep. Remember to wake me tomorrow."]
["Rest well, Sect Leader. I'll wake you tomorrow."]
[Soon, Deng Rusong's steady breathing begins]
[Gradually, the breaths grow faint]
[Finally, they cease entirely...]