A Parting in Death

Xing Mo put away the Message Jade Slip, walked out of the house, and went into the courtyard.

In the courtyard, Shan Yue and Xing Shan were chatting idly, both women in high spirits.

I've lost much of my interest in cultivation this Shan Yue.

Xing Shan is already at the Foundation Establishment Peak Stage. Before advancing to the Golden Core Realm, her cultivation will not make any further progress.

Therefore, for the past year, the two women have mostly been immersed in a leisurely and comfortable life.

"Father."

Upon seeing Xing Mo appear, Xing Shan stood up and called out.

Seeing her father's aged appearance, Xing Shan couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.

If it weren't for searching for various spirit medicine to enhance his cultivation and accumulating Spirit Stone for her future cultivation, her father wouldn't have had to venture into dangerous places so many times, and wouldn't have suffered serious injuries so many times in just over ten years.

The successive serious injuries severely depleted the father's Qi and Blood, which was already in its twilight years, accelerating the deterioration of his health.

Father, a dignified Late Golden Core Stage cultivator, was no different from a listless mortal.

Xing Shan's eyes reddened, and a sharp pain shot through her chest.

"Father, come and sit down. The sun is shining brightly today; it feels so nice to be in it."

Xing Shan suppressed her grief and forced a bright smile onto her face.

"Senior Xing Mo, come and sit down. You haven't left your room for half a month; you should get out and about more," Shan Yue invited.

Xing Mo said, "Please sit down. I have some things to take care of and need to go out for a bit."

"Father, where are you going?" Xing Shan asked with some concern.

"I'm going to Four Symbols City to buy some spirit medicine," Xing Mo said.

"Father, what kind of spirit medicine do you need to buy? Why don't I do it for you and you can rest at home?" Xing Shan said.

Xing Mo smiled faintly, a heroic air appearing on his face.

"Shan'er, your father is Late Golden Core Stage cultivator, not so old that he can't walk. I'll go myself and be back soon."

After saying that, Xing Mo took to the air and disappeared into the Small Courtyard under the watchful eyes of Xing Shan and Shan Yue.

Xing Mo arrived at high altitude.

High above, the wind howled, making his clothes flutter wildly.

Xing Mo looked around. Beneath his feet was the circular Two Forms Island, and in the distance stretched an endless ocean.

He suddenly realized that he seemed to have nowhere to go.

He had already collected the spirit medicine needed for the Barrier-Breaking Pill long ago, and now he had nothing to do but quietly wait for the day to Alchemy.

He had originally planned to spend his last three days with his daughter.

But when he stepped out of the room and saw his daughter looking at him with worried eyes, he inexplicably felt a desire to avoid her.

He wanted to stay far away, afraid that he might accidentally give himself away and his daughter would notice something was amiss.

Xing Mo stood frozen high in the sky, a bitter smile suddenly appearing on his lips.

"Perhaps I shouldn't have agreed to Extreme Yin's request to start Alchemy in three days. I should have started Alchemy today," Xing Mo muttered to himself.

He stood there in the sky for three days and three nights, letting the wind and frost blow, turning his hair and beard white.

Day and night alternate.

A soft golden hue appeared on the distant horizon.

The sun rises.

Golden light shone down on Xing Mo.

At this moment, Xing Mo's old and thin figure resembled a majestic mountain standing between heaven and earth.

He landed and returned to the Small Courtyard.

In the courtyard, only Xing Shan was waiting for her father to return.

When Xing Shan Xing Mo saw Xing Mo appear, she was overjoyed and hurriedly came to greet him.

"Father, where have you been these past three days?" Xing Shan's tone carried a hint of reproach and worry.

Xing Mo gazed at his daughter, as if trying to etch Xing Shan's image into the depths of his soul.

A smile spread across his face, a smile as warm and bright as the rising sun high in the sky.

"I had some minor matters to attend to, which took up some of my time."

"Don't do that again next time," Xing Shan glared at her father, her tone slightly reproachful.

"Okay," Xing Mo agreed.

"Go back to your room and rest. Your body isn't what it used to be, so get plenty of rest to help you recover your energy," Xing Shan advised.

Xing Mo said, "Not now, I need to go out again."

Xing Shan immediately became angry. "Father, you just got back. Why are you going out again? What's the rush?"

Xing Mo said, "Extreme Yin is back and needs to start refining the pills you need to form your core. I need to go to him."

"Has Extreme Yin finally returned!" Xing Shan exclaimed with joy. "Then Father, you should go quickly and return as soon as possible."

Xing Shan's only two hopes now.

First, my father is enjoying his later years in peace;

Secondly, I wish to advance to the Golden Core stage. This has always been my father's wish. If I can advance to the Golden Core stage, my father can pass away peacefully someday.

Xing Mo gave Xing Shan a deep look.

"Take care of yourself."

After saying that, Xing Mo's figure rose into the air and resolutely disappeared into the distance.

Xing Shan stared blankly at her father's receding figure high in the sky.

Xing Mo's last words filled her with an inexplicable sadness.

Before she could figure out where this sadness came from, she was interrupted by Shan Yue's voice.

"Did Senior Xing Mo just say that Extreme Yin has returned?"

Shan Yue appeared beside Xing Shan, eagerly asking.

Xing Shan nodded.

The two women stared blankly at the sky, speechless for a moment.

Xing Mo entered cave abode No. 17 of Illusion Gorge Mountain and saw Song Wen sitting calmly in the center of the secret room.

"Extreme Yin, it's been a long time," Xing Mo said.

Song Wen nodded slightly. "Brother Xing, take out the spirit medicine you've prepared. We'll begin Alchemy immediately. Alchemy process is somewhat painful, so please bear with it."

Xing Mo was slightly taken aback, seemingly surprised that Song Wen had gotten straight to the point.

He had intended to leave a few last words and have Song Wen convey them to Xing Shan.

But then he felt relieved. Since he was about to leave this world, why not leave gracefully?

Xing Mo took off the storage ring from his hand and handed it to Song Wen.

"The pills are all in this storage ring; please take them as you see fit. As for the other items in the storage ring, I hope you can help me pass them on to my daughter. Also..."

Xing Mo suddenly became somewhat hesitant.

Song Wen looked up at Xing Mo, "Fellow Daoist, is there anything else you wish to say? Please speak frankly. As long as it's not too troublesome, I will help you complete it."

Xing Mo shook his head. "It's nothing. I just hope you can keep this a secret and not tell Xing Shan about the origin of the Barrier-Breaking Pill."

Song Wen nodded and said, "Okay."