The people of the Black Family felt as if they were facing a great enemy; after losing a few lives, they dared not approach Fang Chen and Zhao Jixiang. They looked at the old blind man in front of them with terror-filled eyes. Why can this half-dead old man be so dangerous when holding that deadly stick? Soon, the head of the Black Family arrived with a young nobleman and a large group of henchmen. “It’s really you!” the young nobleman roared with fury. “Shut up.” The head of the Black family glared at him, then looked at Fang Chen with great trepidation. “Elder, who are you?” Fang Chen smiled. “Is Third Master Black still alive?” Everyone suddenly recalled that the Black family’s ancestor had been called Third Master Black during his younger days. They were taken aback—could the old man be an acquaintance of Third Master Black? “The mountains and rivers are vast, the world is full of life, laughter and anger, hidden cities in the mountains… All of this is merely—this mortal world.” Suddenly, one of the henchmen screamed in terror, “What’s happening to me…?!” He dropped the crossbow in his hands and reached for his face, but his face quickly crumbled like yellow sand. This scene unfolded before everyone’s eyes, and in an instant, the place was filled with terrified screams. Third Master Black was momentarily taken aback, his eyes wide in disbelief. What kind of power is this?! “Father, save me! Ancestor! Save me!” the young noble screamed in panic. Unfortunately for him, no one could save him; even the head of the Black family was disintegrating to ash. In almost no time, aside from Fang Chen and Zhao Jixiang, only Third Master Black was left. “Are you… a demon or an immortal!?” Third Master Black stuttered, his lips trembling and his chest rising and falling rapidly. Fang Chen smiled gently. “Do you see me as a demon or an immortal?” His appearance and demeanor turned youthful again, and his stooped posture turned upright. In just a few breaths, he had regained the looks of his youth. Not only that, but his cultivation began to rise back rapidly, his aura steadily rising from the first stage of the Qi Refining Realm to the grand completion stage of the Golden Core Realm. The barrier between the late Golden Core Realm and the grand completion stage was as fragile as paper mache. When Third Master Black witnessed this scene, he took his last breath on the spot, his eyes not even closing as he died, still etched with fear. Zhao Jixiang stared at Fang Chen in disbelief. “Grandpa, you….” She had witnessed Fang Chen transform from a frail old man to a young man. Such miraculous feats were things she had read about only in stories. She couldn’t help but wonder whether immortals truly existed in the world! If so, could her grandfather, whom she had been with for years, be one of those immortals?! “Jixiang, remember, no matter how high you stand in the future, don’t forget the mortal world. Keep a shred of humanity in your heart. Only then will you be able to comprehend what I just spoke of—the mortal world. It can become your Keep reading on NovelHub - where stories come alive! Live well.” Fang Chen smiled at Zhao Jixiang, and his figure began to fade away, along with the tea house. “Grandpa really is an immortal…” Zhao Jixiang murmured to herself. Before long, she turned and left, departing from Stone River County, with only the wooden stick in her hand for company. In the tea house, figures opened their eyes in unison. Their eyes were filled with confusion. It took them a few breaths to snap out of their stupor. Zhu Kui touched his face, then looked at the nearby Gu Shuai and others. He suddenly broke into a bitter smile. “So I’ve aged. Living , so muddled… It seems that aging, illness, and death are not as frightening as I thought….” Bu Qingchen had a grim expression and remained silent. Gu Shuai glanced at him, then touched his neck, remaining silent. Bu Qingyu and Fang Yunmeng lowered their heads, lost in thought. “Daoist Ji Liang.” Zhu Kui looked at Fang Chen with sincere gratitude. “Thank you for seeing me off and taking care of me for so many years.” “Ji Liang… have you never forgotten your true identity?” Gu Shuai suddenly asked. “Just before my execution, I almost remembered. If I had remembered then, would I have passed the trial?”