Wait a minute, where is my master?

"Originally, my plan was to first slow down the cultivation speed of this young friend, and then artificially create a new 'White Emperor's Cold River' using treasures left by our predecessors to gather Taiyin Essence,"

"However, looking at the speed at which the cultivation technique within his body operates on its own,"

"Even if this young friend were to continuously use the two sets of Soul Melting Skill day and night, I fear that within a hundred years he'd step into the Void Refinement Realm."

"In such a short time, let alone gather Taiyin Essence, it's feared that even creating a new 'White Emperor's Cold River' can't be accomplished."

Senior Chi spoke these words, stroked his beard shaking his head, his gaze towards Zhao Dabao filled with a hint of pity.

A fine young man, who had also secured the strong support of Jin Taoist, originally had a boundless future.

It's just a pity that he has a "self-destructing Spirit Root" within him.

"Senior Chi, besides that White Emperor's Cold River, are there no other places in the Nine Provinces that can produce Taiyin Essence?"

"Do you know about this thing in the Upper Realm?"

Jin Xu transmitted his voice to ask.

"Such items are very rare. Many small worlds similar to Nine Provinces might not even find such Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. The Upper Realm does have similar Yin Attribute Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, but those items are precious not to mention, even if we can find them, this Zhao friend's body cannot withstand such fierce and violent power."

"Jin Taoist, you should consider whether to be completely honest with him or give him some hope and then let him live happily for a while first."

While the two transmitted their voices, Fatty Zhao had already approached them, looking slightly perplexed as he tentatively inquired of the two.

"Senior Chi, Little Taoist, my Spirit Root?"

"Brother Zhao..."

The little Taoist pondered for a moment and decided to tell Zhao Dabao the whole situation.

Including, the fact that because he was affected by the Body Purification Skill, he was unable to delay his cultivation speed.

"Brother Zhao..."

Jin Xu furrowed his brow, intending to say something more, but was interrupted by Fatty Zhao who wore a distressed expression.

"Little Taoist, if you're thinking of apologizing, there's really no need. Back in Gusu City, if it weren't for your Body Purification Skill, I, Elder Zhao, might have already been reincarnated by now.

"Besides, you just said we are friends.

"Friends don't need to waste words on apologies."

Jin Xu saw that although Zhao Dabao had a heavy look of sorrow, his tone and mindset seemed alright.

He slightly relaxed his furrowed brow, stepped to the side table, picked up the still warm tea, and took a sip pretending to be relaxed and said,

"Brother Zhao, you are thinking too much, I just wanted to express my feelings.

"Little Taoist had never expected that the Body Purification Skill he casted that day would become an obstacle to Brother Zhao's life-saving method today.

"Ah, indeed, the ways of the world are unpredictable."

Having said this, Jin Xu finished the tea in his hand and walked toward Senior Chi. He planned to ask the other about the specific operation of artificially recreating the 'White Emperor's Cold River.'

Not trying just because it's tough is not the style of a little Taoist.

Meanwhile, Fatty Zhao, after hearing Jin Xu's words, lowered his head muttering 'the ways of the world are unpredictable' a couple of times.

When he looked up again, the sorrow had faded from his face, showing that he had adjusted his mindset.

"Indeed, the ways of the world are unpredictable, haha, Little Taoist you... fuck!"

Just at that moment, he felt a familiar surge of Spiritual Power rising within him.

"Smack!"

"Smack!"

"Smack!"

Three crisp sounds of flesh striking resounded.

Zhao Dabao, to prevent himself from breaking through again due to his clear heart realm, viciously slapped his own face three times.

After all, for others who break through too quickly, the only worry is an unstable realm.

But if he broke through too quickly, it would mean prematurely experiencing the "Ice and Fire Nine Heavens"!

...

...

Yixiang Building, the backyard.

Granny Meng, who had been recuperating for several days, pushed open the door and walked out, trembling.

In her hand, she now held an ebony cane, which the landlady had personally bought for her from the Wood Workshop the day before yesterday.

"Granny, you should be resting in your room. Why have you come outside!"

Little Cui, ordered by the landlady to specifically watch the doorstep, hurried over with quick, small steps to support Granny Meng's significantly thinner sleeve as soon as she saw her come out.

"Heh, we old folks should get more sun. Always staying inside, these old bones are going to rust."

"Granny, if you wanted to enjoy the sun, you could have asked me to open the window. What if you fall again? How would I explain to..."

Although Little Cui said this, her body honestly helped Granny Meng to the wicker chair under the big tree in the courtyard—where the sunlight was best, yet not too scorching.

"Heh, I am an Immortal who can travel through the skies and the earth. How could I possibly fall? Don't just stand there; go and ask the landlady to come here, I have something to instruct her on."

Sitting in the chair, Granny Meng weakly requested, placing the ebony cane across her lap.

"All right, all right, you are an Immortal, and you won't fall. Just sit tight and don't move around. I'll go right now to call the landlady."

After instructing this, the little maid ran toward the back door of Yixiang Building. Midway, worried, she even stopped, shouting back to Granny Meng seated under the tree.

"Granny, if there's an emergency, just call for Little Stool. He's near the woodshed. I'll be back soon."

Granny Meng, with effort, picked up the cane from her lap and gently waved it, indicating her understanding.

As soon as the figure of the little maid disappeared from sight,

Granny Meng leaned on the lounge chair, raising her head and gazing at the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves. Her cloudy eyes squinted slightly, lost in some distant memory.

Her weakness wasn't feigned; to compress and refine that enormous power, she had nearly exhausted all the essence blood and life energy in her body to the brink of depletion.

Granny Meng had estimated by herself that she could live, at most, one more month.

This period was indeed very short compared to the long years she had lived.

But it was enough.

"Heh, tomorrow, send the soup to that little Taoist. Once he drinks it, I shall appear and personally watch him explode and perish. Then, I, the old woman, shall die without any regrets.

"It's just... a pity for Yixiang Building and the little ones within."

Perhaps it was true what they said: "A dying man's words are kind."

Granny Meng, who had committed countless evils in her lifetime and used countless life souls to concoct spiritual soups, found herself feeling a moment of pity for these ordinary people she hadn't been with for long, just before she set her plan in motion.

Of course, this flicker of compassion would not shake her resolve to "kill" the little Taoist.

So, when the landlady arrived beside her, hands still damp and appearing slightly rushed,

Granny Meng, with a tone full of kindness, touched her hand and said,

"Zidi, didn't you regret last time that your benefactor didn't get the perfect taste of 'Yixiang Double Excellence' and missed tasting the soup I brewed? I've recuperated for a few days, and I feel much better.

"Tomorrow, tidy up the stuff in the kitchen properly. Join me in cooking, and let's prepare a 'Yixiang Double Excellence' for the benefactor of Yixiang Building to send to his residence.

"After all, without your benefactor, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy such delicious buns.

"Nor find such a good place to live out my days."