[You devoted yourself to cultivation for half a month]

[Without any surprises, you directly broke through to the peak of the Organ Fortifying realm]

[The waterfall-like true qi surging through your body ensured your formidable combat power]

[After achieving perfection in Organ Fortifying, your five organs became unified, strengthening the last weak points of a martial artist]

[From this moment on, your physical body was comprehensively enhanced from external muscles to internal organs]

[With your peak Organ Fortifying realm and the nine condensations of true qi completed through the Nine Condensations Profound Skill, your actual combat power could now easily defeat martial artists at the peak of Dragon Transformation!]

[However, you still couldn't directly confront an early-stage Grandmaster]

[But if an early-stage Grandmaster really provoked you, killing them wasn't entirely impossible]

[You could shamelessly use Wandering Heaven Steps combined with four Earth Source sword qi for indiscriminate aerial bombardment]

[An early-stage Grandmaster? They'd still be forced to eat dirt!]

[Though this method was rather violent - as a kind-hearted person, you wouldn't use it lightly... Okay, the truth was releasing four Earth Source sword qi would drain nearly all your true qi, meaning if your opponent didn't die, you would]

[Regardless, even without relying on such unorthodox methods, your current stable ability to surpass two major realms was already astonishing enough to be specimen-worthy]

[That afternoon, after Hu Zhongxuan finished talking with Deng Rusong, he came to see you]

[The two of you sat around a stone table, drinking light tea]

["The sect leader told me about Danxia Sect's situation. What do you think?"]

[You smiled: "With an Ultimate Grandmaster like you watching over things, I can just relax and enjoy the show."]

[Hu Zhongxuan smiled wryly: "Just as the sect leader said, you really have no interest in these power struggles."]

["Did the sect leader tell you anything else?"]

[Hu Zhongxuan fell silent before saying after a long pause: "The sect leader's condition has deteriorated significantly."]

[You frowned, realizing why Deng Rusong had summoned Hu Zhongxuan back to Danxia Sect today]

[He undoubtedly wanted Hu Zhongxuan to help Ruan Bai smoothly succeed as sect leader after Deng Rusong's passing]

[In the twilight of his life, Deng Rusong's control over Danxia Sect had gradually weakened, forcing him to recall Hu Zhongxuan as a stabilizing force]

[After verifying these thoughts with Hu Zhongxuan, they were confirmed correct]

[Hu Zhongxuan then mentioned Deng Wanshu, saying Deng Rusong's condition made him unable to refine the Reviving Yang Pill, leaving the task solely to you]

[Hu Zhongxuan sighed lightly: "I hope you can become an eighth-grade pill refiner. I'll do everything in my power to meet any of your requests!"]

[You smiled: "No need for such courtesy, Uncle-Master. This is also my master's dying wish. But... there is something I'd like your help with."]

[Hu Zhongxuan looked at you seriously: "Go ahead."]

["I'd like you to investigate Danzhou Prefect Duan Qian for me - as thoroughly as possible, including his associates and the experts around him."]

["Duan Qian?" Hu Zhongxuan looked puzzled. "What conflict do you have with him?"]

[You casually replied: "Just minor friction."]

[Hu Zhongxuan pondered: "This is simple. I'll investigate for you. Feel free to make other requests later."]

[Pleased with Hu Zhongxuan's cooperation, you considered this investigation as advance interest payment for reviving your martial aunt]

[As for advancing to eighth-grade pill refiner, you were highly confident with your Divine Micro-Vision and Mind Awakening Technique]

[But you didn't give Hu Zhongxuan absolute assurance, avoiding potential embarrassment if things went wrong - while thick-skinned, you still cared about saving face]

[After more casual conversation, Hu Zhongxuan left Danxia Sect for the capital]

[You continued cultivating]

[You had already brought the Star River Blade Art to peak Organ Fortifying]

[Over three months, you elevated the Heavenly Desire Formless Technique to peak Organ Fortifying]

[Simultaneously, you easily pushed the Wild Heaven Saber Technique to peak Organ Fortifying]

[Thus, as an Organ Fortifying cultivation method, Wild Heaven Saber Technique had been mastered completely]

[The Lightning Shadow Sword Technique, also an Organ Fortifying method, was similarly raised to peak level]

[You didn't bother with other sword techniques as they wouldn't directly aid your Earth Source comprehension and would only waste energy]

[You began focusing on Earth Source comprehension]

[Year 29]

[With initial mastery of Divine Micro-Vision, your Earth Source comprehension progressed smoothly]

[Within a year, you comprehended four more Earth Source sword qi]

[Of the twenty-four Earth Source sword qi, you had now mastered eight]

[When releasing these eight sword qi, their overwhelming Source Power made even you unable to withstand them - an early-stage Grandmaster would flee covering their rear]

[Tensions in Danxia Sect escalated, with storms brewing on the horizon]

[Deng Rusong, now 106 years old, was approaching his limit, his condition visibly declining]

[He had essentially relinquished sect management to Ruan Bai]

[This gave Shen Dingyuan's faction opportunities to obstruct Ruan Bai's leadership and vie for control]

[Though Grand Elder You Yun tried supporting Ruan Bai, being only slightly younger than Deng Rusong, his efforts were limited]

[When Deng Rusong visited you now, he often slept whole days in a rocking chair]

[You generally didn't disturb him, quietly cultivating nearby]

[One day, Hu Zhongxuan returned from the capital]

[As Deng Rusong could no longer care for Deng Wanshu, he had Hu Zhongxuan take her away]

[Hu Zhongxuan transported Deng Wanshu, bed and all]

[He also brought information about Duan Qian]

[Handing you a thick envelope, Hu Zhongxuan then departed]

[The envelope contained all available intelligence on Duan Qian - extremely detailed, even recording his underwear color preferences]

[After multiple careful readings, you extracted useful information]

[You found Duan Qian largely unremarkable - like typical corrupt officials, his hobbies included exploiting commoners, heavy taxation, embezzlement, factionalism, bribery, profiteering, selling offices, and other traditional activities]

[However, two aspects stood out]

[First, Duan Qian had a peak Grandmaster bodyguard constantly at his side - likely due to his many misdeeds]

[You recalled your fourth simulation where this shadow guard probably beheaded you]

[Second, Duan Qian was closely connected to Prince Yongning Li Yu, a martial arts prodigy who had reached Grandmaster realm at a young age]

[After analyzing this, you formed a plan]

[This simulation, you intended to confront Duan Qian - but only after achieving overwhelming superiority against peak Grandmasters]

[Prince Yongning also warranted attention]

[After reading, you burned the letter without trace]

[Days later, you received another letter from Wan Qingluan with updates on her Extermination Sect bounty key collection]