Three days later.

The heavy wooden doors of the guest room creaked open. Zhuo Hongyi and Han Lie finally emerged into the daylight.

Zhuo Hongyi wore a radiant smile, her face glowing with a vitality that seemed to illuminate the corridor. Her skin was flushed with health, and even her aura felt denser, more imposing than it had been three days prior. It seemed she had received ample nourishment of Yang energy during their seclusion.

“Young Mistress!”

At that moment, a maid who had been waiting outside for some time stepped forward, bowing respectfully.

“The Master is waiting for you in the main hall. He instructed that you and Daoist Han should attend together.”

Han Lie and Zhuo Hongyi exchanged a glance—a silent communication born of intimacy—then proceeded toward the main hall side by side.

Inside the main hall of the Zhuo residence, the atmosphere was heavy.

Zhuo Cheng sat at the head of the room, his expression grave. Deep within his eyes, a trace of profound sorrow lingered like a shadow.

“Father, you were looking for us?”

Seeing Han Lie and Zhuo Hongyi arrive, Zhuo Cheng snapped out of his reverie. He forced a faint smile onto his face.

“Hongyi, your father did not wish to disturb your time alone with Daoist Han, but there is a very important matter that cannot wait.”

“What is it?” Zhuo Hongyi tilted her head slightly, sensing the tension.

Han Lie also raised an eyebrow. Judging by Zhuo Cheng’s tone and the solemnity in the air, this matter seemed significant.

“Ah.” Zhuo Cheng sighed softly, the sound heavy with exhaustion. “Do you know why I insisted you return home recently? It wasn’t just for the marriage alliance; there is another, even more critical reason.”

He looked his daughter in the eye.

“Ancestor Zhuo… his end is near!”

“What did you say?!”

Zhuo Hongyi felt her vision darken instantly. Her legs went weak, and it felt as if the sky above the Zhuo family was collapsing.

The Zhuo Family ancestors had once been prosperous titans. Ancestor Zhuo was a true Nascent Soul Stage old monster—the pillar that held up their sky. Without him, the Zhuo Family could never have risen to the ranks of nobility in the cutthroat environment of Qin Yang City.

However, time was a merciless blade.

Ancestor Zhuo had long been stuck at the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm, unable to break through. As his lifespan dwindled, he lost his drive, and the family’s influence waned with him. This was the root cause of the Zhuo Family’s decline.

“You heard correctly, Hongyi,” Zhuo Cheng sighed again. “You are the most outstanding talent our Zhuo Family has produced in centuries. Before his end, the Ancestor wishes to see you.”

He turned to Han Lie.

“Daoist Han, the Ancestor knows of you now. Will you accompany Hongyi to see him?”

Han Lie nodded solemnly. “Of course, Uncle Zhuo.”

When a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator’s end was near, there was no room for miracles. The path of cultivation was cruel; one either ascended to the heavens or turned to dust with lifelong regrets.

Shortly after.

Under Zhuo Cheng’s guidance, Han Lie and Zhuo Hongyi arrived at the forbidden ground of the Zhuo residence: the Hall of Nurturing Life.

This was the sanctuary where Ancestor Zhuo cultivated in seclusion, hidden away from the world.

Creak~

The heavy stone doors were pushed open. A primal, dusty aura, as if sealed away for ages, washed over them.

The hall was dim, lit only by a few flickering spirit lamps. On a high platform at the center sat an elderly man, weathered by time like an ancient tree. He sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his eyes closed. If not for the incredibly faint breath from his nostrils, Han Lie might have thought he had already passed on.

“Your junior Chengjun brings his daughter Hongyi to pay respects to the Ancestor!”

“Your junior Han Lie pays respects to Ancestor Zhuo.” Han Lie also cupped his hands and bowed deeply, showing sufficient respect to this dying titan.

Silence. Deathly silence filled the hall.

After a long while, the statue-like figure stirred. Ancestor Zhuo slowly opened his turbid eyes, which still held a flicker of terrifying power.

“Hongyi… Chengjun has told you everything,” Ancestor Zhuo’s voice was hoarse, like dry leaves scraping together. “This Ancestor’s time is short; there is no turning back now. Rather than simply sitting here until my end…”

His eyes sharpened.

“It would be better to contribute one last effort for our Zhuo Family.”

As soon as these words fell, everyone present understood his intention.

The Legacy Transfer.

Ancestor Zhuo planned to impart all his lifelong cultivation to Zhuo Hongyi!

In this way, Zhuo Hongyi’s cultivation would skyrocket, potentially saving her decades of bitter effort. But the cost was absolute—Ancestor Zhuo, who might have lingered for a few more months, would die immediately upon exhaustion of his essence.

“Ancestor, this absolutely must not happen!” Zhuo Cheng cried out in panic, falling to his knees. “You are the spiritual pillar of our Zhuo Family…”

“Enough,” Ancestor Zhuo interrupted him decisively.

“How much weight does this old ancestor’s name still carry in today’s Qin Yang City? I am a toothless tiger.”

He looked at Zhuo Hongyi with a mixture of hope and stern expectation.

“Hongyi, you are the most outstanding junior of our Zhuo Family. This old ancestor will impart all my lifelong cultivation to you, hoping you can shoulder the banner of the Zhuo Family and carry it forward.”

“Taking a step back—with your aptitude, who knows how long it would take for you to cultivate to the Nascent Soul Stage on your own?”

The old man’s gaze shifted to Han Lie, piercing and knowing.

“Without Nascent Soul Stage cultivation… how could you be worthy of young friend Han Lie beside you?”

The bluntness of the statement hung in the air.

Han Lie quickly cupped his hands, bowing lower. “Ancestor must not jest with this junior. It is this junior who is reaching beyond his station with Fairy Hongyi.”

“Moreover, Fairy Hongyi and I share mutual affection. Regardless of our respective cultivation levels, it will not affect the feelings between us.”

Ancestor Zhuo gave an ambiguous, raspy chuckle.

“Hehe… possessing such astonishing cultivation speed yet remaining so humble. Truly rare.”

“Hongyi, you have indeed found a good Dao companion.”

“Ancestor…”

By now, tears were streaming down Zhuo Hongyi’s face like rain on pear blossoms. Even if she had rarely met him, this old man was the guardian deity of her bloodline. To see him sacrifice himself for her was heartbreaking.

“Alright now. Chengjun, young friend Han Lie… the two of you may leave first.”

Ancestor Zhuo waved a withered hand.

“This old ancestor’s time is short; every second counts.”

Imparting cultivation was not a brief process; it required focus and time.

“Might I ask, Ancestor, how much time will be needed?” This was Zhuo Cheng’s final question, his voice trembling.

“Hehe, who knows? It depends on how much this little girl Hongyi can endure and comprehend.”

With that, Ancestor Zhuo waved his sleeve. A gentle but irresistible force swept Han Lie and Zhuo Cheng out of the hall.

Boom.

By the time they regained their footing, the heavy doors of the Hall of Nurturing Life had sealed shut once more.

“It likely won’t be a short period. I wonder if Daoist Han plans to wait here or return to your sect first?” Zhuo Cheng asked, wiping the moisture from his eyes.

“Hehe, this poor Daoist is in no hurry to return,” Han Lie smiled reassuringly. “I’ll wait for a year or so. If Fairy Hongyi still shows no sign by then, I’ll return first.”

Incidentally, Han Lie also intended to use this quiet time to attempt a breakthrough to the late-stage Golden Core.

“That works well too. Daoist Han may stay at our residence for now. If you need anything, just find me.”

“Good, then I’ll trouble Uncle Chengjun.”

That night.

Following his agreement with Qin Lianyi from three days prior, Han Lie arrived at Qin Yang City’s south gate.

The area around the south gate bordered the city’s slums; thus, even at night, the streets here were dim and quiet, far removed from the neon brilliance of the inner rings.

Tap!

Suddenly, someone silently tapped Han Lie on the shoulder from behind.

Han Lie whirled around, his senses alert, only to see an elegant figure flitting onto a nearby rooftop under the faint moonlight.

“Daoist Han, come up!”

Han Lie smiled lightly. He tapped his toes against the stone pavement and leaped, soaring silently onto the rooftop to join her.

Qin Lianyi stood there, the night wind fluttering her dark robes. She wore a bright, mischievous smile on her lovely face.

“Daoist Han, I’ve already mentioned you to my father. Guess what he said?”