[Wan Qingluan informs you she has collected two more bounty keys]

[Now Wan Qingluan possesses four bounty keys in total, needing only the final one to make her wish]

[You grow excited - just one last step remains before the sword of Damocles represented by Yan Zhixue is lifted from your neck]

[Somewhat regrettably, the bounty key inherited from your third simulation is identical to the one you previously gave Wan Qingluan]

[Otherwise you could have set up a scheme to directly deliver the final key to her]

[Still, it's nearly done now - just one key remains]

[During this period, you occasionally checked in on Lin Mo]

[The twenty-year-old Lin Mo had reached late-stage Organ Fortifying cultivation, just one minor realm below you]

[Moreover, Lin Mo appeared on the verge of breaking through to peak Organ Fortifying]

[This good news weighs heavily on your heart as you offer your final insincere praise, telling Lin Mo he resembles your younger self]

[Lin Mo happily accepts your compliment as always]

[Lin Mo's Heavenly Dao Alliance has expanded further]

[They've even purchased land to establish a mountain gate and proper headquarters]

[The cultivation techniques and funds Lin Mo used to build his sect all came through peculiar means - some found, some gifted, some encountered by chance]

[Truly, the terror of a protagonist's luck defies understanding]

[You can't comprehend Lin Mo's miraculous feats, being merely an ordinary cheat user yourself]

[You return to Danxia Sect to focus on mastering Divine Micro-Vision]

[You aim to push Divine Micro-Vision to grandmaster proficiency]

[Deng Rusong has practically ceased leaving his quarters]

[During your frequent visits, he only speaks to you in weak tones]

[His speech has become increasingly incoherent - one moment urging you to become sect leader, the next insisting Xie Huide will lead Danxia Sect to glory]

[You patiently respond to each disjointed statement]

[One day while attending Deng Rusong, a panting disciple rushes in shouting: "Sect Leader! Senior Brother He! The Grand Elder has passed!"]

[You're surprised - you hadn't expected You Yun to depart before Deng Rusong, though this observation isn't meant as a curse]

[Hearing the news, Deng Rusong musters some energy]

["He Yu, accompany me," Deng Rusong slowly rises to his feet]

[You escort Deng Rusong to pay respects, where he offers Ruan Bai condolences]

[Deng Rusong barely manages to preside over You Yun's funeral before the burial]

[With You Yun gone, Ruan Bai loses his primary supporter]

[Combined with Deng Rusong's fading capacity to lead, most remaining supporters defect to Shen Dingyuan and Bi Wenyu's faction]

[Shen Dingyuan and Bi Wenyu no longer bother pretending, openly mocking and humiliating the future sect leader Ruan Bai without restraint]

[Outnumbered, Ruan Bai can only retreat step by step]

[Effectively, Ruan Bai has already been sidelined]

[One day during your courtyard cultivation]

[Shen Dingyuan approaches you]

[He comes to recruit you, having somehow learned the sect leadership was originally meant for you]

[He viciously disparages Ruan Bai while lavishing praise on you]

[Shen Dingyuan insists Ruan Bai stole your position, hoping to sway you into opposing the future sect leader]

[You slowly open your eyes mid-cultivation: "Final warning - I don't care about leadership. Don't interrupt my cultivation again."]

[Your cold gaze makes the mid-stage Dragon Transformation Shen Dingyuan's eyelids twitch]

[Though inwardly shocked, he maintains surface composure]

[Considering your close ties to Hu Zhongxuan, he keeps his tone measured]

[He persists: "Nephew He, I'm advocating for your interests! Though denied leadership, the Seventh Elder's lineage needs your continuation!"]

[BANG!]

[The courtyard gate slams shut automatically, leaving Shen Dingyuan outside]

[His expression darkens before he storms away]

[You resume cultivation]

[After eight days intensely training Divine Micro-Vision, you near mastery]

[On the ninth day, sudden inspiration strikes - your eyes snap open]

[Instantly, you enter Divine Micro-Vision state]

[The world appears clearer than ever]

[Every detail stands out vividly - bees gathering pollen, ants transporting insect carcasses]

[Your Divine Micro-Vision reaches grandmaster proficiency, matching Xie Huide's former level]

[At this stage, attempts succeed seven or eight times out of ten]

[Duration extends from two hours to twelve - a full day!]

[Cooldown shrinks from two days to just one]

[Not wasting this state, you immediately begin breakthrough attempts]

[You start pushing sixth-grade pill proficiency]

[Setting up the cauldron, lighting the fire, adding ingredients]

[In mere hours, your nearly-maxed proficiency reaches completion]

[A fragrant batch of sixth-grade pills emerges]

[Lifting the lid reveals eight perfect pills - official certification as a sixth-grade pill refiner!]

[Overjoyed, you rush to Deng Rusong's courtyard to share the news]

[But Deng Rusong struggles to even open his eyes, sleeping constantly]

[Attendants inform you he can no longer metabolize pills]

[You understand Deng Rusong's life has entered its final countdown]

[Year Thirty, age forty-five (Deng Rusong: 107)]

[These past months, you've cultivated daily in Deng Rusong's courtyard]

[Today, you arrive as usual]

[After checking on the bedridden Deng Rusong, you transfer true qi to aid his pill absorption]

[Turning to leave for courtyard cultivation, Deng Rusong's hand suddenly grabs yours!]

[Shocked, you turn to see him smiling and sitting up]

[Your heart sinks: "Sect Leader..."]

["He Yu, how fares Danxia Sect?" His tone remains ordinary]

[After consideration, you reply: "Danxia Sect thrives."]

["That's good. Has Wanshu awakened?"]

["She has, living in the capital with Martial Uncle."]

["That's good. Why hasn't your master come?"]

["He's breaking through to ninth-grade pill refiner, hence his absence."]

["That's good. Where's Zhixue? Does my father still disapprove?"]

["He's accepted her. She's discussing wedding arrangements with her parents."]

["That's good. I'm tired now. I'll sleep. Remember to wake me tomorrow."]

["Rest well, Sect Leader. I'll wake you tomorrow."]

[Soon, Deng Rusong's steady breathing begins]

[Gradually, the breaths grow faint]

[Finally, they cease entirely...]