Jiao Mingxu had earned considerable silver through operating a martial arts school and selling pills, no longer the poor young man he once was. Jiao Xiaoyao's husband only had a mother but no father, and having just passed the imperial examination at the county level, it was more like he had married into Jiao Mingxu's family.

For this wedding banquet, Jiao Mingxu hired the culinary team from Youtong County's most expensive restaurant. This was the same restaurant where you, Jiao Mingxu, and Bai Chen had your first meal together. Back then, Bai Chen had invited you to eat but was too stingy to spend money, forcing the three of you to stand up and leave after already being seated.

The courtyard was now filled with distinguished guests and bustling with excitement. Jiao Mingxu and He Youshan were busy welcoming guests, barely having time to catch their breath. You and Bai Chen sat at the main table.

Bai Chen glanced at the dishes on the table: "Senior brother, do you remember that restaurant?" You set down the wine cup you had just picked up: "Of course I remember. That meal you promised to treat me to back then - I still haven't gotten it." Bai Chen chuckled.

"What can I say, senior brother? If it were inviting you to a brothel, I wouldn't blink no matter how much it cost. But paying for that overpriced meal? I still refuse to waste my money!" You clinked cups with Bai Chen: "Well said! You truly haven't forgotten your roots, you old rascal!"

At this moment, Jiao Mingxu approached and said to you: "Senior brother, come with me to the main hall. The newlyweds are about to perform the bowing ceremony." You asked in surprise: "What does the bowing ceremony have to do with me?" "You're the officiant. According to etiquette, the newlyweds must bow to you."

Normally, the officiant would be the groom's father or grandfather - someone of prestige. Given Jiao Xiaoyao's special circumstances, they had asked you to sit in the officiant's position. You had no choice but to follow Jiao Mingxu to the main hall and accept the newlyweds' ceremonial bows.

After attending Jiao Xiaoyao's wedding banquet, night had already fallen. You returned to Danxia Sect. You planned to begin comprehending the Earth Source. To better maintain your Divine Micro-Vision state, you first completed the ninth condensation of your Nine Condensations Profound Skill. After achieving nine condensations, entering Divine Micro-Vision became much smoother.

Upon activating Divine Micro-Vision, your consciousness entered the spatial realm. This time you had two hours to work with, and your mindset was much calmer. Through exploration, you finally grasped the patterns of the Earth Source's sword energy. You discovered twenty-four primary sword energies surrounding the Earth Source, with all other seemingly chaotic sword energies deriving from these twenty-four.

Gradually you realized that comprehending these twenty-four primary sword energies would allow you to uncover the Earth Source's ultimate secret. You recalled having already comprehended one sword energy before - meaning you still needed to comprehend twenty-three more. Without delay, you immediately began comprehending the Earth Source's sword energies.

Hu Zhongxuan's notes on comprehending the Earth Source proved extremely helpful. You painstakingly groped your way forward, making gradual progress.

Year 26:

After a year of dedicated work, you comprehended three more Earth Source sword energies, totaling four including the previous one. These four sword energies were tremendously powerful - even you could barely withstand them. Considering your combat power was already equivalent to peak Dragon Transformation, you couldn't imagine what kind of power mastering twenty would bring.

After some thought, you had a startling realization: "Could mastering all twenty-four sword energies allow me to challenge an Ultimate Grandmaster?" You shook your head: "I hope I never get to test that theory. Whether I could or not, I'd probably have to start over."

When releasing these four sword energies, the heart-palpitating sensation grew increasingly intense. You speculated this might be due to traces of Source Power attached to the sword energy. Source Power was a higher-level energy only accessible to Ultimate Grandmasters who had fully fused with the Earth Source. The fact that you could faintly sense it excited you tremendously.

You also perfected the Mind Awakening Technique, allowing you to enter deep meditation and your most focused state at will. This state greatly aided your pill refining. You could now refine six sixth-grade pills at once. Though your sixth-grade pill proficiency was still at the minor achievement level, you were just one step away from major achievement.

During breaks from cultivation, you noticed the Danxia Sect's leadership struggle had reached an odd equilibrium. Both factions realized that no matter how fiercely they competed, Deng Rusong remained noncommittal, keeping both sides in suspense. Their eyes were practically green with frustration - if not for Deng Rusong's overwhelming strength, they would have grabbed him by the collar and demanded answers.

Just as both sides tacitly ceased hostilities, Deng Rusong finally made his decision. On this day, he convened a sect-wide assembly attended by all Danxia Sect members. Hundreds of people crowded the sect square. Deng Rusong pressed his hands downward in the air as if hitting a mute button, instantly silencing the entire gathering.

Without preamble, Deng Rusong announced: "I have decided that Danxia Sect's next leader will be Grand Elder You Yun's personal disciple, Ruan Bai!" With this final pronouncement, the entire sect erupted in uproar - this outcome had defied most expectations. Only You Yun's faction secretly rejoiced at their come-from-behind victory.

However, appointing Ruan Bai as successor didn't quell internal conflicts - if anything, undercurrents grew stronger. Fifth Elder Shen Dingyuan's faction was particularly resentful, obstructing Ruan Bai both openly and covertly. Ruan Bai simply wanted to maintain Danxia Sect's stability - precisely why Deng Rusong valued him most. But this only emboldened Shen Dingyuan's faction to escalate their actions.

Fortunately, Deng Rusong's forceful suppression kept Shen Dingyuan and Bi Wenyu temporarily at bay.

Year 27:

You received word from Wan Qingluan that she had acquired two more keys, bringing her total to three. You knew your plan was drawing closer to fruition. This feeling of controlling events through foreknowledge was somewhat intoxicating. "The satisfaction of defeating a general from a thousand miles away is truly wonderful!"

At Danxia Sect, under Deng Rusong's guidance, Ruan Bai appeared to be gradually taking control of sect affairs, with the succession proceeding smoothly. But in reality, Shen Dingyuan's faction remained unwilling to concede.

One day, Deng Rusong came to your courtyard. Without a word, he went straight to the rocking chair and lay down. After rocking creakily for a while unsatisfactorily, he stood up and paced restlessly. You could tell he wanted to discuss the leadership succession with you - you were the only person in the sect he could speak openly with about this matter.

After watching him quietly for a moment, you smiled: "Sect Leader, why trouble yourself over a decision already made?" Deng Rusong sighed lightly: "While I'm here, I can still suppress Fifth Elder's faction. After I'm gone, Danxia Sect will likely face turmoil." You calculated - Deng Rusong was already 104 years old with limited time left to oversee Ruan Bai.

"Sect Leader, if you'd chosen Bi Wenyu last year, you wouldn't have this worry now." "He's too focused on petty rivalries and displays of toughness - his vision is too narrow. If Danxia Sect fell into his hands, turmoil would be the least of our problems - we might face decline or even destruction."

At this point, Deng Rusong looked at you with an expression like a jilted lover. A chill ran down your spine: "Sect Leader, don't look at me like that! All I did was decline the leadership position - that doesn't warrant such a gaze!" Deng Rusong continued as if talking to himself: "You have ambition and courage, but since your aspirations lie elsewhere, I won't insist. I only hope that if Danxia Sect ever faces true calamity, you'll do what you can to help."

You smiled: "Sect Leader, setting aside whether I'm capable, if that day comes, it wouldn't be my place to intervene. Isn't there still Elder Hu Zhongxuan?" Deng Rusong nodded: "True, but Zhongxuan is only half a Danxia Sect member - he can't devote himself fully to our affairs."

Having said this, Deng Rusong stood and left your courtyard. As he walked away, he murmured: "Speaking of which, I did summon Zhongxuan from the capital today. I'd nearly forgotten." "Forgetting something like that - you must be getting senile, old man." You shook your head and returned to cultivation, clearly sensing the opportunity to breakthrough to peak Organ Fortifying.