However, after she held the knife handed to her by Li Yuan, her data changed from "1260~1350" to "1260~9548," and this data would grow as Jing Shuixiang grew.

The dainty Elder in a black dress stood in the sunset, holding a blood-red fine blade in her hand.

She quietly took Li Yuan outside the city, and this action was tacitly approved by all the higher-ups of the Divine Wood Hall.

It’s not that they didn’t want to say farewell, but... Master Li didn’t need such a send-off.

In fact, Master Li didn’t even need any maids or attendants arranged to take care of him.

He wanted to travel alone...

As for where he would go, probably south, but nobody knew exactly where, nor did anyone need to know.

Because after Li Yuan forged the last Spiritual Artifact for Jing Shuixiang, he was already depleted in spirit and energy, like an ordinary old man.

It wouldn’t take long before he would die...

But this was a great Weapon Forger’s own choice.

They had to respect it.

After all, everyone knew that Master Li was homesick...

At that moment, Li Yuan gently embraced the dainty woman in front of him and said, "This knife, I could only forge it to this level, couldn’t surpass the one for Gu Xuejian, I’m sorry."

Jing Shuixiang’s eyes were a bit moist, and she softly said, "Fool, big fool..."

Li Yuan laughed, "Remember to get along well with Huayin, Yaojue, and Ping’an."

"I will. I’ve sent all three of them away; they’re cultivating by the Meat Field now and probably won’t know you’ve left for a few more days." Jing Shuixiang replied, then asked, "Will you come back?"

Li Yuan smiled, "I will."

Jing Shuixiang wanted to say "liar," but the words turned into: "I’ll wait for you."

After a simple farewell, it was the most plain retreat.

No fake death, no more applying Yin Makeup, and no complicated arrangements, Li Yuan just simply left Divine Wood Hall. As for taking those Blood Gold with him, there wasn’t much to say.

The carriage wheels leisurely turned, heading south and stopping at a relatively peaceful little town.

After Li Yuan checked into an inn, he wandered around quietly in the middle of the night, returning only after confirming no one was following him.

Yet a day’s confirmation couldn’t ease his mind.

He kept repeatedly confirming over the next few days.

His own perception had a range of several miles, but after grabbing the Ghost Bow, his perception extended to more than ten miles.

More than ten miles is the perception range of the Fifth Grade.

If someone from Divine Wood Hall followed him, he’d surely find out.

Over several days, he finally confirmed that no experts were tailing him.

Divine Wood Hall had truly let him go.

But to his surprise, while Divine Wood Hall did not track him, a rumor suddenly spread across the Social World: Master Li left Divine Wood Hall to travel the world, carrying wealth enough to rival a nation.

This kind of news was like bait.

Many people in the Social World began eagerly searching for an elderly man with gray hair and extraordinary demeanor.

Meanwhile, the young man yawned in the tavern hall and called out, "Waiter, serve the wine."

"Coming, sir~~" the waiter responded.

A few whispering people from the Social World walked past the young man, but no one paid him any mind, for... there were too many such youths in the Social World.

Strolling idly through the bustling streets,

No one knows who I am.

Li Yuan took the wine handed by the waiter and poured the large bowl full.

The wine was calm, highlighting the youth’s unremarkable appearance.

Li Yuan suddenly felt a sense of inexplicable relief.

His old mindset seemed to have instantly become young again.

The experiences of "Master Li" seemed like past dreams, and he could hold his head high and start a new life.

Suddenly, he remembered his son’s words "Life is short," and fell silent again.

Could immortality not mean having to bid farewell to old friends one by one?

Lady Xue had also grown old, though he remembered the alluring youthful look of the former proprietress, now, even though she had taken the Youthful Appearance Pill, it couldn’t hide the fatigue between her brows and was no longer what she was in her youth.

Sixth Grade increases life by a hundred years, Fifth Grade by three hundred, Fourth Grade only five hundred... How difficult is it to obtain immortality that even reaching the First Grade cannot achieve it?

But he was, after all, a guest of immortality in this Human World, destined to witness the rise and fall, the elation and sorrow...

Suddenly, he felt a longing for Lady Yan.

...

...

"Bright moon rising from the sea, sharing its light over the horizon.

Lovers lament the long night, longing so deep till the morning dawn.

Extinguishing the wick, cherishing the bright light, dressing up, sensing the dew.

Can’t bear to give the fullness in hand, returning to dreams of beautiful times."

The extraordinarily noble woman elegantly held the letter, reading each timeless phrase word by word, becoming entranced, muttering the poetry as if lost in some mental realm.

This realm, though not of life and death, was extremely rare.

...

Li Ping’an received a Brocade Pouch.

Inside the Brocade Pouch was a piece of paper.

The paper only had two sentences: Father promised to settle down and retire peacefully at home, but he left without saying goodbye. So, this is the last lesson father gives you: Never completely trust anyone, including me.

The young man panted heavily, clenching his five fingers tightly, but this time he did not well up with tears.

He had learned to be strong, no longer a "crybaby," but all those who once called him a "crybaby," indeed all relatives, were gone...

But it doesn’t matter, he, Li Ping’an, will continue well so that his relatives can all hear his name in heaven!!

...

In the depths of Divine Wood Hall.

The core area of the White Bamboo Bell Tower.

The gigantic door woven from vines was slowly pushed open.

The Cyan Robe man with a face full of fatigue stepped out from the darkness, his expression gloomy, destructive, and terrifying, but all this quickly faded...

The man took a long breath and spoke suddenly without context: "I see...

So let the world judge who truly am I.

If so, I should be able to ascend to the Third Grade.

Unknowingly, it’s already been one hundred and seventy-eight years..."

...

"Amitabha."

"Kill, kill, kill!! Hahaha!"

"Mercy!"

"If not killing, hatred is endless!

If not stealing, how are weak and strong different from me?

If not lustful, all sentient beings are sinful!

If not lying, all is illusion!"

"You are fake!"

"You are the fake one!"

"Stop arguing, stop arguing!!"

The man with a rather blessed appearance, wrapped in a Black Lotus Robe, painfully cried out in the unmanned secret room.

There was clearly no one here, yet he seemed trapped in a certain dilemma, extremely irritated and miserable...

Outside the secret room...

A tall, robust man with a sullen expression, wearing a Red Lotus Robe and holding a letter, waited quietly.

His name was Fang Jianlong. Eight years ago, during his wedding, he and his wife were taken by the Red Lotus Thieves.

Later, he feigned allegiance to the Red Lotus Thieves, hoping for space for him and his wife to survive.

But five years ago, a surprise attack arranged by the Holy Fire Palace saved his wife but didn’t save him...

In other words, he was abandoned, and afterwards there was no news...

Until last year, he got news from a friend inside the Red Lotus Thieves, saying his wife remarried. Her spouse was a clan member of the Holy Fire Palace.

He suddenly understood.

From that moment on, he became a true Red Lotus Thief.

He had no other purpose, just wanted the Holy Fire Palace killed without leaving any behind.

At this moment...

He was ordered to deliver a letter, but the secret room had long been closed.

He came for seven days and nights, waited outside for seven days and nights, never resting for a moment.