"Having only slain two Primordial Pills, my vitality is severely drained, requiring rest to recuperate. I haven't recovered yet, and now I encounter that damn old flood dragon!"

Standing on the high cliff, rising to his feet, the One-armed Swordsman Tantai Yao looked indifferent, gazing at the teeming demons at the foot of the mountain, scoffing lightly with a heart calm as water, already prepared to die at Zither Sword Mountain and be buried there.

These demons, suddenly acted as if they were invigorated with adrenaline, ignoring the fear of his slaying of two Primordial Pills, simply because they received the news of the impending arrival of 'Xuanqing Demon Monarch'.

Heh.

Xuanqing Demon Monarch...

Why is he able to reach the fourth step, while I, Tantai Yao, despite being taught by the so-called 'Tongye State's number one' Ten Extremes Pass Master, still failed at the final hurdle?

A strong sense of resentment surged in his heart as he saw the ethereal 'Celestial Gate' flickering between the Forehead Ancestral Acupoint, Tantai Yao gripped his sword, thinking even if he couldn't succeed, he would risk his life for another attempt at the moment Gua Hua descends!

However, even as the thought surged in his heart, Tantai Yao still felt filled with doubt.

A barrier that could not be breached even at his peak...

Could mere betting of his life lead to success?

Throughout history, if success were merely achieved by betting one's life.

Then why would the fourth step be so rare!

Can I really do it?

At this moment, he suddenly heard a 'thud'.

Without any warning, Xu Qin knelt directly on the ground, interrupting Tantai Yao's contemplation:

"I'm sorry, Master!"

Tantai Yao frowned:

"Why are you kneeling down?"

Upon hearing of the imminent arrival of 'Xuanqing Demon Monarch', Xu Qin's unsettled mind collapsed instantly, realizing that today's impending doom was certain and the Zither Sword Pavilion was on the verge of destruction, tears filled the corner of her eyes:

"Master... actually... I lied to you!"

"My master already reached the end of her lifespan at the very moment you ascended the mountain!"

"She initially intended to use her last strength to wield her sword against the demons."

"But after hearing the news of your arrival, she chose to quietly pass away in the 'Quiet Chamber'. At that time... I watched her leave with my own eyes!"

"She didn't want me to inform you, saying 'I don't want to see you'."

"But now, I feel there is no longer any need to hide it."

Watching Xu Qin suddenly kneel, Tantai Yao, who originally extended his hand to help her up, suddenly felt his hand freeze.

Xu Nian... has died?

The wind of heaven and earth arose fiercely.

Blowing the sun-embracing flowers on the high cliff, swaying in the wind, it seemed as if a young girl in a pale yellow dress was smiling and waving amidst the blossoms, beckoning Tantai Yao, saying she would wait for him and his junior apprentice to return after completing their training. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Even if ten years, thirty years, fifty years; waiting is just waiting.

She did wait for over fifty years.

But she did not wait for him to return.

Xu Qin's shoulders trembled.

Crying, she handed over an item:

"This is a letter left behind by Master before her demise, entrusted to me to deliver to you!"

"She said, to give it to the Master after you leave the mountain gate and only then open it, but now, afraid that moment may never come."

"Master... would you like to take a look?"

Tantai Yao took the sealed envelope stained with yellow varnish and opened it.

Tantai Yao's body was as steady as a mountain, yet his fingertips slightly trembled, hardly perceptible.

[After sixty years apart, Monarch Yuan Pill, my Innate.]

[Innate one's lifespan is a hundred years, as the end approaches, already aged and color gone, turning into Red Skull, choosing not to meet, don't let it burden you.]

[I fulfilled my promise, established a new 'Zither Sword Pavilion', what do you think, isn't it quite accomplished?]

[But unfortunately...]

[Perhaps after today, it will repeat the same mistakes.]

[Yet it differs from before.]

[The Tantai Yao now is no longer the Tantai Yao of old.]

[Below the Celestial Human Domain, slaying Primordial Pills like cutting weeds, such a you, establishing sects and raising a heritage is easy as pie.]

[But unfortunately, I won't be able to see it, nor can I.]

[I've said before, I like you, so exhausting my brain only to become your disciple, but I've long since lost my youthful beauty, aged and dull, such a me, how could I face a you in your prime?]

[Before dying, to hear that you've reached the Peak of the Primordial Pill... for me, it's enough to see this life-long 'obsession' finally concluded with a punctuation mark.]

[Carry forward your life of 'ups and downs, vast and grand experiences', and move onward, future Baoping Giant, Tantai True Master.]

[From now each way is different, you head to Xiao Xiang and I to Qin.]

[Zither Sword Pavilion Master, Tantai's first disciple, Xu Nian.]

[Left.]

Tantai Yao, originally injured, upon reaching this point felt his heart wrench painfully, "Ahh!" With a sudden gasp, spat a mouthful of blood, staining half the envelope.

"Master, your hair..."

Xu Qin kneeling, horrified to see Tantai Yao's hair starting to gray, as if his entire lifespan was significantly reduced at this moment...

But his eyes instead became increasingly difficult to understand...

Holding the letter, Tantai Yao wasn't sure what to say.

Once the beautiful woman's every smile and frown became blurred long ago, just like Xie Wei, whom Tantai Yao admired in his youth, all buried deep in memory.

"Where is your master's remains?" Tantai Yao's voice hoarse.

"She... she went up in flames, returned to heaven." Xu Qin stammered, causing Tantai Yao to fall deeper into silence.

Cremated, returned to heaven.

Leaving the image in his mind forever that of the woman embracing sunflowers, rather than an aged, dull old woman.