Contending with the Heavens

[Sky-Stepping Gait] only requires the basics to stand in mid-air."

"If I cultivate it to perfection, can I actually fly?"

"Flying is something only an Apex Grandmaster can do."

""This is incredible?" you cackle."

"However, you suddenly remember that Wan Qingluan was still being carried by Yan Zhixue when she flew."

"Then Wan Qingluan definitely can't fly."

"Wan Qingluan has most likely already cultivated Sky-Stepping Gait to perfection."

"In other words, Sky-Stepping Gait can't really make you fly."

"You guess that the higher the proficiency, the longer you can stay in the air."

"Come to think of it, it makes sense. If cultivating martial skills could allow you to fly at will, how would it highlight the awesomeness of an Apex Grandmaster?"

"You continue to devote yourself to cultivation."

"You spent ten days cultivating the Heavenly Desire Formless Skill to the peak of Marrow Cleansing."

"Your next goal is the Divine Organ realm."

"You were just about to take an Inner Divinity Pill to perk yourself up."

"But a disciple came to tell you that Xie Huide wanted you to come see him."

"Only then did you realize that Xie Huide had returned."

"You arrive at Xie Huide's place."

"Deng Rusong, the Danxia Sect Leader, is also here."

"Xie Huide is very happy to see you: "Tiezhu, I heard you're already a fourth-grade alchemist?""

""Yes, Master, just lucky.""

""Good, good, worthy of being my disciple!""

"Deng Rusong deliberately says: "Worthy of being a disciple of my Danxia Sect.""

"Xie Huide says unhappily: "Senior brother, do you have to argue with me to feel comfortable?""

"Deng Rusong laughs: "Is there a problem with me praising a disciple of the sect?""

"Xie Huide snorts softly: "I'm not talking to you.""

"Xie Huide and Deng Rusong both seem to be in a good mood."

"You ask: "Master, you didn't call me here just to say this, right?""

"Xie Huide hesitates: "Hu Zhongxuan must have told you about my junior sister's matter, right?""

""He told me everything.""

"Xie Huide nods: "Come with me.""

"Xie Huide and Deng Rusong lead you to an underground secret room with multiple layers of door cards."

"The secret room is spacious and bright, without any of the dark feeling of an underground secret room."

"It is obvious that it has been carefully arranged and managed."

"In the center of the secret room is a cold jade bed, on which lies a stunning woman in a white dress with a gentle face."

"The woman's eyes are tightly closed, and she is motionless."

"Only the rhythmic rise and fall of her abdomen indicates that she is alive."

"You have already guessed who this is."

"Xie Huide tells you that this is his and Hu Zhongxuan's junior sister, Wanshu."

"Xie Huide also tells you that the Danxia Sect's full mobilization to support the front line this time was a deal."

"It was used to exchange an Earth Source from Emperor Xuanwu, Li Anlong."

"However, for this Earth Source, the Danxia Sect's greatest contribution was not in refining pills and treating people on the front line."

"But rather that all the high-level members of the Danxia Sect spent two months working together to help Li Anlong successfully refine a very important pill."

"The dozen or so high-level members of the Danxia Sect are all at least sixth-grade alchemists, and even Deng Rusong is a genuine eighth-grade alchemist."

"You are very curious about what kind of elixir was refined by such a large-scale alchemist lineup."

"However, Xie Huide didn't tell you, probably because Li Anlong requested confidentiality."

"You know that this Earth Source is to be used on Wanshu."

"They actually used the precious Earth Source, which they worked so hard to obtain with the strength of the entire sect, to save Wanshu."

"You should know that Earth Source is a necessary condition for becoming an Apex Grandmaster."

"Apex Grandmaster represents supreme combat power and two hundred years of long life."

"In the face of such a huge temptation, you really can't resist without a firm belief."

[It's clear how high a place Wan Shu holds in Xie Huide's heart.]

[It's safe to assume that Xie Huide paid a huge price this time to get the sect's high-level alchemists to take action.]

[Especially with the eighth-rank Sect Leader Deng Rusong here.]

[You don't think that Deng Rusong would act for free based solely on the personal friendship between the sect leader and the elder.]

[You can't help but wonder, just what kind of charm does this Wan Shu possess?]

[You can't help but turn your head to look at the woman on the cold jade bed who doesn't like to talk.]

[You notice that Wan Shu's face is very young, looking only seventeen or eighteen years old.]

[Even considering the slow rate of aging for martial artists, it's still strange.]

[Xie Huide tells you that this is because Wan Shu has been lying on the cold jade bed for decades, which can slow down the aging of the body.]

[Moreover, she herself cannot move, so her consumption is naturally very small.]

[These two reasons together have caused Wan Shu's face to remain almost at the moment she had her accident.]

[You look at Xie Huide and ask, "Um... Master, should I call her Martial Aunt or Martial Grand-Aunt?"]

[Xie Huide purses his lips with an unnatural expression, not knowing how to answer.]

[Because, in reality, neither he nor Hu Zhongxuan has confirmed a relationship with Wan Shu.]

[You see Xie Huide's embarrassed expression, making it clear that it's not easy for him to answer.]

[So, you thoughtfully ease his predicament: "Forget it, Master, it's not important. The most important thing is that the three of you live well together."]

[Xie Huide sighs softly with a complicated expression.]

[He slowly walks to the cold jade bed and reaches out to gently stroke Wan Shu's delicate cheek.]

[Xie Huide's movements are cautious and subtle, as if afraid of disturbing the sleeping Wan Shu.]

[You find this scene very beautiful.]

[If Deng Rusong hadn't also started touching so enthusiastically, this scene would have been even more damn beautiful.]

[You see Deng Rusong walking up with a shameless face, also gently stroking Wan Shu's forehead.]

[You are immediately stunned.]

["They say young people play around a lot, but you old folks aren't bad either!" Your heart is shaken.]

[So, this isn't a matter for three people, but for four.]

[You are very curious, is Wan Shu some kind of super succubus?]

[How can she conjure up three guardian spirits at once?]

[Is it because triangles have stability?]

[You can't figure it out.]

[In order to prevent the situation from further developing into an illegal gathering of three or more people,]

[You cough twice and say, "Um... Sect Leader, stop touching, sing a song!"]

[Deng Rusong turns his head in surprise.]

[He looks puzzled, thinks for a moment, and then suddenly smiles.]

[Deng Rusong understands that you have misunderstood him.]

[Deng Rusong asks with a smile, "Tiezhu, do you know Wan Shu's surname?"]

[You reply, "Disciple doesn't know."]

["Wan Shu's surname is also Deng, her full name is Deng Wanshu, I am her biological brother," Deng Rusong explains.]

[You suddenly understand.]

[At the same time, you secretly breathe a sigh of relief: "Fortunately, the plot isn't too explosive, otherwise, I don't know if it can pass censorship."]

[You suddenly understand.]

[No wonder the entire Danxia Sect could work so wholeheartedly to obtain the Earth Source.]

[And finally, use the Earth Source to save Deng Wanshu.]

[No wonder Xie Huide could invite such a great Buddha as Deng Rusong.]

[It turns out that Deng Rusong, the sect leader, was the one who started exerting his influence from the beginning.]

[You ask, "How can the Earth Source awaken Martial Aunt?"]

[You decide that in front of Xie Huide, you will call Deng Wanshu Martial Aunt, and in front of Hu Zhongxuan, you will call her Martial Grand-Aunt.]

[The main goal is to be fair to everyone and not offend anyone.]

[Xie Huide's lips secretly curl up when he hears your address to Deng Wanshu.]

[He is obviously very satisfied.]

[Xie Huide slowly walks over from the cold jade bed.]

He opened his mouth and said, "The Sect Leader and I plan to work together to refine the Returning Yang Paste, and the Earth Source is the key ingredient for the Returning Yang Paste."

Deng Rusong also nodded.

The Returning Yang Paste is a grade eight healing panacea.

No matter how severe the injury or how strange the illness, as long as the person has a breath left...

...one Returning Yang Paste, and that person will be instantly revived to full health on the spot.

Even someone with one foot in the gates of hell can be dragged back.

It truly defies fate.

"However, there's one thing you don't understand."

"Xie Huide is grade seven, Deng Rusong is grade eight, so the Returning Yang Paste can only be refined by Deng Rusong."

"Why do you say that two people are needed to refine it together?"

"Is Xie Huide's involvement just for show?"

Unable to understand, you asked directly, "Master, why do you need to work together to refine the Returning Yang Paste?"