"As, Elder Xu was so virtuous and kind-hearted, how could he have failed the Lightning Tribution? It's so unfair!"

  "I heard Elder Xu only has one year left to live, and his cultivation has fallen to the First Level of Foundation Establishment after failing the tribution. It's too pitiful... Elder Xu... you died so tragically!"

  A few outer sect disciples almost burst into tears.

  Over the past thousand years, Xu Xiao had been well-liked in the Misty Sect, deeply admired by many disciples.

  It's no exaggeration to say that Xu Xiao's reputation for virtue far surpassed that of his junior sister, Dugu Ling.

  After all, his immortal-like appearance gave him an air of authority.

  "What are you guys talking about! Our Elder Xu isn't dead yet!"

  "Even one year of life is still life. At this st moment, I've decided! I'm going to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage to show Elder Xu my determination!"

  "Tch... Elder Xu is an Inner Sect Elder, why would he care about you, an outer sect disciple at the Qi Refining stage? You're dreaming..."

  The outer sect disciples walking up the mountain path looked towards Xu Xiao's beautiful courtyard in the distance, each showing expressions of admiration.

  Elder Xu truly was a model for the Misty Sect!

  ***

  Xu Xiao returned to his room in the courtyard and sat cross-legged on the bed.

  This courtyard was originally chosen and built for him by Dugu Ling's people.

  Located in a rich-spiritual-energy area of the Outer Mountain, surrounded by lush trees and pleasant scenery.

  For his convenience, it was also not far from the mountain path, just a short walk to reach the Outer Sect Main Hall.

  "Southern Radiance Fme-Severing Sword..."

  Xu Xiao sat on the bed and took out the Divine Treasure Sword, which emitted a faint fiery glow, from his spatial storage.

  The sword in his hand was three and a half feet long, with a hilt made of an unknown red jade, crystal clear and translucent.

  The bde was made of dark red divine iron, naturally imbued with spiritual energy, its brilliance restrained.

  "This is clearly much stronger than those previous magical artifacts."

  Xu Xiao was delighted, feeling a special connection with the Southern Radiance Fme-Severing Sword.

  Needless to say, when the system returned this sword to him, it had already been perfectly refined.

  Now, this treasured sword was like an extension of his own arm, easily controlled.

  With a slight thought, the Southern Radiance Fme-Severing Sword suddenly floated in mid-air.

  Then, under Xu Xiao's control, it shot out the window like a fiery meteor, soaring into the sky.

  Afterwards, it descended at an incredible speed, effortlessly slicing through several ancient trees before slowly returning through the window, floating back in front of him.

  "So powerful..."

  Xu Xiao was extremely excited.

  Previously, his strongest magical artifact was a high-grade one, and his realm was the Ninth Level of the Nascent Soul Stage.

  Although controlling the Southern Radiance Fme-Severing Sword wasn't stronger than his peak state, it at least had the attack power of the Nascent Soul Realm.

  A cultivator at the First Level of Foundation Establishment, wielding a Heaven and Earth Treasure, could actually reach the attack power of the Nascent Soul Realm.

  Unbelievable!

  "But not just any Foundation Establishment cultivator can perfectly refine a magical treasure."

  Xu Xiao smiled slightly and put away the Southern Radiance Fme-Severing Sword.

  Being able to perfectly control the sword was thanks to the system's help in refining it.

  As for giving the Southern Radiance Fme-Severing Sword to someone else and getting it back?

  That wouldn't work; he had no reason to give away a magical treasure.

  In fact, he didn't even want anyone to know he possessed such a super artifact.

  For now, it was best to keep it for protection.

  Afterwards, he took out the Longevity Pill given by Ji Xue and, after a brief thought, swallowed it.

  Since he now had a hundred high-grade spirit stones, he might as well consume it to increase his lifespan by fifty years.

  [Congratutions, host, your lifespan has increased by fifty years, activating the character panel.]

  [Name: Xu Xiao]

  [Age: 1008 years]

  [Realm: First Level of Foundation Establishment]

  [Special Constitution: None]

  [Remaining Lifespan: 51 years]

  "Oh, there's even a character panel."

  After taking the Longevity Pill, Xu Xiao gnced at the panel in his vision. There wasn't much useful information, but his lifespan had indeed increased to fifty-one years.

  At this moment, his body began to change.

  His organs, previously weakened by the loss of vitality and old age, regained vitality.

  His senses became clear, and his body lost its previous stiffness, becoming agile.

  Getting out of bed, Xu Xiao walked back and forth.

  Even though his appearance hadn't changed much, his demeanor was noticeably different from before.

  He stood tall, walking with a breeze.

  Now, all his previous ailments had disappeared, turning him into a healthy old man.

  He stroked his goatee, nodding in satisfaction at the effectiveness of the Longevity Pill.

  Although he still had a face full of wrinkles and white hair, at least his inner vitality was no less than that of a young person.

  After all, he was now a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

  "Next, I need to pn the use of these hundred high-grade spirit stones."

  With his physical condition resolved, the most important thing now wasn't to go around looking for the Daughter of Destiny to give things to.

  Instead, he should first buy a batch of cultivation resources.

  Otherwise, he couldn't just give spirit stones to someone for no reason, right?

  That would be too unreasonable.

  He might even scare some young girl into thinking he wanted to keep her...

  Having made up his mind, Xu Xiao took out a yellow message talisman, formed a hand seal, and spoke into the talisman, "Um... Lu Danian, it's me, your Uncle Xu. When you have time, come over to my pce. I want to go down the mountain to buy some things, and I'd like you to accompany me."

  Soon, a respectful and eager response came from the other side of the message talisman, "Yes! Yes! Uncle Xu, wait for me, I'll be there right away! Right away!"

  Not long after putting away the message talisman, a burly middle-aged man with a sturdy build arrived at the courtyard on his sword.

  He bowed towards the house in front and said, "Disciple Lu Danian, pays respects to Uncle Xu!"

  Xu Xiao walked out the door, looking at the honest-looking, burly middle-aged man, and nodded with a smile.

  The man was a disciple of his junior sister, Dugu Ling, currently serving as the Outer Sect Law Enforcement Elder.

  Although he was Dugu Ling's disciple, Xu Xiao had been guiding him since he entered the sect.

  The fact that he had reached the Sixth Level of the Nascent Soul Stage was entirely thanks to Xu Xiao.

  As for Xu Xiao, he had no disciples of his own and had been helping his junior sister train hers.

  "Danian, your Uncle Xu is now only at the Foundation Establishment stage and can't fly on a sword, so I'll rely on you to take me flying," Xu Xiao said with a smile.

  Upon hearing this, Lu Danian's eyes turned red, and tears suddenly burst out.

  "Uncle Xu! Don't worry, as long as I'm here, you can go wherever you want! I'll take you flying for the rest of my life!"

  Saying this, he couldn't help but kneel in front of Xu Xiao, crying like a child, holding onto Xu Xiao's leg tightly.

  Uncle Xu had been so good to him all his life... now... it's too tragic.

  With only one year left to live, he... he didn't want Uncle Xu to pass away...

  "What are you doing? I'm not dead yet, why are you crying so sadly?"