White steeds dart across the gap, the great sun slanting westward.

In the blink of an eye, days have passed.

The Xie Mansion, which was previously deserted, suddenly rose in status upon the arrival of a special 'guest', becoming a hot topic across all of Wutong Prefecture.

Meanwhile, outside the Prefecture Demon Hunting Department.

Peddlers and laborers, merchants and Martial Artists, regardless of their status, as long as they lived on the streets near the entrance to the Demon Hunting Department.

If only they lived a bit closer.

A few days ago, they could hear the muffled groans and snarling voices emanating from within.

Some say that Lin Shao, who reigned over the Military Department for decades, had two of his legs broken by the Demon-Slaying Rod, and it was his own trusted aide, with approval from Shangguan, who personally carried him home.

Others say he couldn't bear the disgrace, covered his behind, concealed his face, boarded a carriage through the side gate, and sped home swiftly, shutting his door to all visitors.

As the days flowed by.

Regardless of which speculation or rumor, perhaps true or false, or perhaps a mix of both.

One thing circulated among the people of Wutong Prefecture is undoubtedly true.

That is...

Several years ago,

The boy who was famous throughout Wutong Prefecture hadn't seen his legend fade away. Instead, as a Half-Demon, he established a remarkable achievement and returned to Yunluan to assume the position of 'Wutong Prefecture Venerable'!

Moreover, he even accomplished the feat of forming a Top-grade Primordial Pill!

That's a Top-grade Primordial Pill!

How many Martial Artists marvel in creation, thousands upon thousands taking that second step to cross this threshold, yet only one in ten thousand can form a pill, let alone... perfecting this step?

In terms of the human world.

To lay such a foundation in the 'Mortal Three Steps.'

Even during the Grotto Heaven Era, it wouldn't be surpassed!

...

Yunluan Mountain.

When the letter from Wutong Prefecture arrived at the mountain.

The entire mountain fell silent.

With Song Yuan announcing a closed retreat to comprehend the 'Fourth Step' years ago, gradually handing over all major and minor affairs to Ruan Xiuxiu, formally recognized as Mountain Master, and Elder Cui Chan of the Demon-locking Forest.

He gradually faded from the disciples' and followers' view.

Time erases all.

The calamity from several years ago was hardly mentioned due to lack of follow-up, although occasionally, disciples still lamented the past brilliance.

It was thought that the matter would simply end there.

Even Ruan Xiuxiu believed so.

Cui Chan, Song Yuan, and others were even less likely to think that Song Chai Xin, who traveled far with Song Brahman Mirror, life unknown, could accomplish anything.

But when the sect-affiliated Martial Arts Hall in Wutong Prefecture sent a letter to Yunluan Mountain offering funds and young talents.

In the 'Yunluan Courtyard.'

The little hand holding the envelope trembled slightly.

Ruan Xiuxiu had unspoken woes in her heart.

Years ago, with open eyes, she sat outside Wutong Xie Mansion watching Song Chai Xin stride away with Song Brahman Mirror, clearly meeting them, clearly catching up, yet missing the chance to say a single word.

Moreover,

Because the collapse of Yunluan Heaven made her fully aware of Song Chai Xin's northward battle against demons, she lost the carefree heart to descend and travel as she did a few years earlier.

"Song Brahman Mirror has cleared his grievances, Song Chai Xin has taken up the position of Prefecture Venerable, upon arriving, immediately making breakthroughs in Top-grade Primordial Pill, pressing Lin Shao, the former Commander of the Military Department, to keep his head down."

"I vaguely remember five or six years ago, the government records in Wutong Prefecture noted the Prefecture Examination master as Bai Qiuyi, Xiang Zhulu, Lin Shao."

"These three were Prefecture Venerable, Imperial Demon Hunter, Commander of the Military Department—power that reached the heavens. Back then, Song Chai Xin was merely a registered student beneath their throne, barely worthy of a glance, and now..."

Cui Chan, next to Ruan Xiuxiu, upon hearing the news, concealed a subtle feeling of relief.

Yet simultaneously, there was a trace of worry:

"But Senior Sister Song and Song Chai Xin return, then what of Yunluan Mountain?"

Cui Chan involuntarily glanced at the Underground Palace on the 'Yunluan Platform', his gaze indifferent:

"The issues from then were just the words of Sword Master Song Yuan, and now that the 'situation has reversed,' if Song Chai Xin advocates for Senior Sister Song, leveraging his status as Prefecture Venerable to apply pressure..."

"After years of effort, managed to improve somewhat, it must, again, decline."

Ruan Xiuxiu suddenly stood: "I'm going down the mountain."

Cui Chan felt some helplessness: "Ruan Xiuxiu, what's the point of going down the mountain, you've been teaching for years now, hadn't you seen clearly?"

"It's the begrudging matter of those three—for Song Brahman Mirror and Song Chai Xin, they're bound to fight till the end."

"And the Sword Master is entirely focused on pursuing that Fourth Step. If the Fourth Step were truly so attainable, Baoping State would already be littered with lineage sects, True Masters, then how come enumerating them still yields only a few?"

"The prior wounds couldn't fully heal over mere years, even if it's not too bad, he isn't a Top-grade Primordial Pill—could he speak of achieving the 'Fourth Step' then succeed?"

"How could it be so..."

The word 'easy' had barely been uttered.

When suddenly a virtual 'gateway' opened on the entire Yunluan Mountain.

Vaguely, even the Martial Arts Celestial Form took shape, condensed from this ethereal doorway, drawing True Qi to the Yunluan Platform, the momentum grand, spreading throughout the mountain.

Leaving Cui Chan's half-spoken words frozen, alongside Ruan Xiuxiu, in stupefaction.

"Sword Master Song Yuan has achieved the Fourth Step?!"

The Martial Artists' 'Mortal Three Steps,' aside from reaching the Third Step and forming a Top-grade Primordial Pill to harness small-scaled celestial forces, any other realm breakthroughs affect only one's flesh, muscle, and bones, incapable of affecting reality.