Xu Ping took it out and held it in his hand.

Over the past year, the other party had used a distant Sound Transmission Talisman to contact him a few times, to which he responded to each one.

After all, the other party was nice, and through her, he could learn about the recent situation on the battlefield, so Xu Ping was happy to chat with her.

He injected a thread of mana into the distant sound transmission, thinking it was just something ordinary, but Duan Shuang revealed news like a heavy bomb:

"Recently, Luoyun Sect spread the news that Ancestor Yuncheng was just away for a while and will return to Yue Country soon."

Upon hearing this, Xu Ping's mind shook, and he asked repeatedly, "Is this news true?"

Previously, rumors were flying outside, saying that Ancestor Yuncheng, the Nascent Soul Ancestor of Luoyun Sect, had disappeared or passed away.

Could it be that these rumors are being refuted only now?

"I don't know either, maybe it's true, or perhaps it's just a smoke screen released by Luoyun Sect." Duan Shuang's pleasant voice came from the distant Sound Transmission Talisman.

Upon hearing this, Xu Ping quickly calmed down.

Indeed, she is just an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, and what she can know is still quite limited.

"I really wish this news were true!" Xu Ping sighed slightly.

"I hope it's true too. Once Ancestor Yuncheng returns, Hu Country cultivators can only retreat dejectedly," Duan Shuang expressed empathetically.

Although they were esteemed as Foundation Establishment cultivators, they were still too weak in the battle between the two countries.

After a few exchanges, the distant Sound Transmission Talisman's aura died down.

Looking at the distant Sound Transmission Talisman in his hand, Xu Ping began to contemplate whether this news would affect him.

If it's true, that would be cause for celebration.

Even if it's false, Hu Country's current offensive would surely pause, awaiting confirmation of the true nature of the news before resuming the battle.

After all, the wrath of a Nascent Soul Ancestor is not to be underestimated.

Moreover, being in Ten Thousand Mountains, far from the emperor, the truth of the news wouldn't affect him for the time being.

Once he understood this, Xu Ping's mood relaxed.

"Since the war between the two countries doesn't temporarily affect me, the urgent task at hand is to gather alchemy materials!"

After slightly consolidating his cultivation, Xu Ping quietly left the Zhang family.

...

...

Two months later, Xu Ping returned to the Zhang family, travel-worn.

"Ten Thousand Mountains have many good things, though resources are scarce. I ran to several markets before finally collecting enough materials to refine Qi Refining Pills." Xu Ping said helplessly.

"That's just to increase early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation. To improve to mid-stage Foundation Establishment, I fear crafting a Dragon Returning Pill would take even longer."

"No wonder, over the years, cultivation in Ten Thousand Mountains rarely exceeds mid-stage Foundation Establishment at best," Xu Ping noted mentally.

He concealed his presence all the way, quietly hurrying toward Cangyuan Mountain's summit.

When passing a secluded corner, his steps involuntarily halted as his ears caught the low conversation of a couple.

"Elder Zhang Yan's lifespan is probably nearing its end; he's been bedridden for two days, unable to rise!" the man said.

"Zhang Yan's lifespan nearing its end?" Xu Ping was greatly shocked in his heart.

While patrolling Cangyuan Mountain with rat demons, he would send the rat demons to Zhang Yan's cave on occasion.

Before leaving, he saw Zhang Yan was still full of vitality; how could he be nearing the end as soon as he got back?

Xu Ping hid his presence, listening closely to the conversation.

"Ah! Elder Zhang Yan is merely sixty-seven; how could his lifespan be nearing its end?" The woman's voice was full of surprise.

"I don't know. I've heard it might be related to the Bliss Pill he's been consuming frequently!"

"Bliss Pill? Just hearing it doesn't sound like a proper pill!"

...

"Bliss Pill?" Xu Ping's gaze slightly stiffened. He pondered for a moment and decided to visit Zhang Yang first.

He quickened his pace and swiftly arrived at Zhang Yan's residence.

Divine Sense enveloped the area.

Inside the bedroom, a white-haired, emaciated old man lay quietly on the bed, his face ashen, seemingly about to leave at any moment.

A first-layer Zhang family cultivator in Qi Cultivation Stage was attending to him.

Xu Ping easily knocked this Zhang family cultivator unconscious, quietly approached Zhang Yan's bedside.

"Ah, there's no saving him!"

Looking at Zhang Yan's frail body filled with death energy, Xu Ping shook his head in despair; at this point, Zhang Yan would likely not live through the night.

Additionally, from his physical condition, it didn't seem like anyone had harmed him. It was merely due to excessive pill consumption, with toxins deeply embedded in his body, beyond rescue.

"Forget it..."

There's no one to blame but himself, Xu Ping thought there was nothing more to say.

After pondering for a moment, he retrieved a spirit medicine from his storage ring, using the Foundation Establishment True Flame to condense it into several drops of emerald Spiritual Liquid.

Then, with a flick of his finger, he sent the spiritual liquid into Zhang Yan's mouth, using mana to assist its refinement.

As Zhang Yan absorbed the spiritual liquid, a hint of rosiness returned to his pale face.

"Cough!"

A weak coughing sound broke the silence, as Zhang Yan opened his murky eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Your lifespan is nearing its end; do you have any last wishes? If within my power, I will help fulfill them..."

Zhang Yan slowly turned his head, noticing Xu Ping beside him, calmly gazing at him.

"Didn't expect, at my final moments, I'd get to see Elder Xu once more!" Zhang Yan smiled, showing his yellowed teeth.

He didn't ask why Xu Ping suddenly appeared here, as it held no meaning anymore.

"I've lived a life with no spouse or offspring, nothing to worry over, except..... my one.....only.....wish..."

As the efficacy of the medicine diminished, Zhang Yan's sensation slowly ebbed from his body, even losing the strength to speak; yet he persisted in sharing his last words, "The only...wish...is for the Zhang family to..... to continue..."

"I promise this!" Xu Ping nodded solemnly.

"Good, good... hahaha. How lucky I am to have a Foundation Establishment Elder see me off at the end!"

Upon hearing Xu Ping's pledge, Zhang Yan laughed heartily with dying breaths before losing all strength, his eyelids slowly closing, peacefully lying still without any movement.

The residual smile on his lips indicated he should have no regrets left in his life.

Xu Ping silently watched, feeling a complicated emotion.

Moments later, his gaze shifted to the Zhang family first-layer Qi cultivator.

After some thought, Xu Ping took another spirit medicine resembling He Shouwu from his storage ring, refining it into several drops of spiritual liquid with the Foundation Establishment True Flame, flicking it into the cultivator's mouth.

This spiritual liquid, hidden in the cultivator's dantian using special means, wouldn't directly enhance cultivation, but with each practice, the spiritual liquid would transform into Spiritual Qi, increasing the speed of cultivation until exhausted.

Consider it payment for his many days of care for Zhang Yan.

Once everything was done, Xu Ping quietly departed, leaving behind a serene and somber room.

...

Half an hour later.

The first-layer Qi cultivator awoke from unconsciousness.

"Why did I doze off?" He rubbed his face, preparing to rise and stretch, only to find Zhang Yan motionless on the bed.

"Elder Zhang Yan?"

Fear welled up inside him; despite knowing Elder Zhang Yan's days were numbered, facing the reality still left him flustered.

"Elder Zhang Yan has passed away!"

He hurriedly rushed out to inform the other elders.

...

Zhang Yan's passing was a significant event for the entire Zhang family, leading to several days of discussions by those unaware of the details.

But as time passed, the incident slowly faded from people's minds.

After all, Zhang Yan, having left home for years, barely interacted with the Zhang family cultivators upon his return, leaving little impression on most. All they knew was he was a Qi Cultivation stage elder.

Perhaps the only one occasionally remembering Zhang Yan was the first-layer Qi cultivator who cared for him.

Recently, that cultivator had been in a sweet yet perplexing trouble.

Since Elder Zhang Yan's passing, his cultivation speed had surged, increasing by two-thirds.

This almost matched mid-grade Spirit Root.

"What's happening?" He introspected for a long time without noticing anything unusual, contemplating asking others, but after consideration, chose to abandon the idea.

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