A ten-thousand-fold return, and I, in my old age, will become a lapdog.

"Alas, Elder Xu is a highly respected and kind-hearted man. How could he have failed his tribulation? Heaven is unjust!"

"I heard that Elder Xu only had one year left to live. He failed his tribulation and his cultivation level dropped to the first level of Foundation Establishment. It's so pitiful... Elder Xu... you died such a tragic death!"

Several outer disciples almost burst into tears.

Xu Xiao has been well-liked in the Misty Sect for the past thousand years and is deeply respected by all the disciples.

It's no exaggeration to say that Xu Xiao is far more respected than his junior sister, Dugu Ling.

After all, his otherworldly and dignified appearance speaks volumes.

"What nonsense are you talking about! Our Elder Xu is not dead yet!"

"A year's lifespan is still a lifespan. In Elder Xu's final moments, I've made my decision! I'm going to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage and show Elder Xu my determination!"

"Tch... Why would Elder Xu, an inner sect elder, give a damn about a mere outer sect disciple like you? You're dreaming..."

The outer disciples walking up the mountain path looked towards Xu Xiao's beautiful houses and courtyards in the distance.

Each of them expressed their admiration.

Elder Xu is truly a role model for his Misty Sect!

......

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

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

Built in a place rich in spiritual energy on the outer mountain, surrounded by fallen leaves and green trees, the scenery is delightful.

Even for his convenience, the mountain road was not far away; he could easily climb the mountain and reach the outer main hall by taking only a small path.

"Nanming Li Huo Sword..."

Xu Xiao sat on the edge of the bed and took out a magical sword from his spatial storage that shone with a faint, fiery red light.

The sword in his hand was three and a half feet long, and the hilt was made of some unknown red jade, which was crystal clear.

The sword is made of dark red divine iron, which is imbued with spiritual energy and has a restrained luster.

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

Xu Xiao was overjoyed, for he could now feel a special connection between himself and the Nanming Li Huo Sword.

Needless to say, when the system returned the Nanming Lihuo Sword, it had already allowed him to perfectly refine it.

Now, this sword is like his left and right arms, which he can control flexibly.

With a slight thought, the Nanming Li Huo Sword suddenly floated in mid-air.

Immediately afterwards, under Xu Xiao's control, it shot straight out of the window, soaring into the sky like a fiery red meteor.

Then, it descended vertically at incredible speed, easily severing several huge ancient trees before slowly returning through the window and floating back to him.

"too strong......"

Xu Xiao was extremely excited.

His strongest magic weapon was a high-grade magic weapon, and his cultivation level was the ninth level of the Nascent Soul stage.

Just now, he manipulated the Nanming Lihuo Sword. Even if it wasn't stronger than his strongest state, it still had the attack power of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

A cultivator at the first level of Foundation Establishment, relying on a magical treasure of heaven and earth, was able to achieve the attack power of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Unbelievable!

"However, not just any Foundation Establishment cultivator can perfectly refine a magic weapon."

Xu Xiao smiled slightly and sheathed the Nanming Li Huo Sword.

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

As for giving away the Nanming Li Huo Sword and then returning it?

That probably won't work; he has no reason to give away a magical artifact right now.

He didn't even want anyone to know that he possessed such a powerful artifact.

It's best to keep it for self-defense for now.

Afterwards, he took out the Longevity Pill that Ji Xue had given him, pondered for a moment, and then swallowed it in one gulp.

Now that we have a hundred high-grade spirit stones, let's just eat them and increase our lifespan by fifty years first.

[Congratulations, host, your lifespan has increased by fifty years. Character panel activated.]

Name: Xu Xiao

[Age: 1008 years old]

[Realm Level: Foundation Establishment Stage 1]

[Special physical condition: None]

Remaining lifespan: 51 years

"Oh, and there's a character panel too."

After taking the Longevity Pill, Xu Xiao glanced at the panel in his field of vision. There was no useful information, but his lifespan had indeed increased to fifty-one years.

At this moment, his body began to change.

The organs, which were already weakened by the loss of vital energy and blood, regained their vitality at this moment.

His five senses became clear, and his body, which had been stiff with age, began to become more agile.

Xu Xiao got out of bed and paced back and forth.

Even though her appearance hasn't changed much, her temperament is clearly different from before.

He became upright and walked with a confident stride.

Now, all his previous age-related ailments have disappeared, and he has become a healthy old man.

Xu Xiao stroked his goatee and nodded in satisfaction; the Longevity Pill was working very well.

Although he is still wrinkled and has white hair and beard, he has at least regained his vitality and is no less than the average young person.

At least he's now a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"The next step is to plan how to use these one hundred high-grade spirit stones."

With the physical issue resolved, the most important thing now is not to go around looking for a woman of good fortune to give things to.

Instead, they first bought a batch of cultivation resources.

Otherwise, you can't just give spirit stones to other people for no reason, can you?

This is completely illogical.

The young girl might even think she's going to be his sugar daddy...

Having made his decision, Xu Xiao took out a yellow communication talisman, made a hand seal, and said to the talisman, "That... Lu Danian, it's me, your Uncle-Master Xu."

"Come to my house sometime. I want to go down the mountain to buy some things. Will you come with me?"

Soon, a respectful yet urgent reply came from the other end of the communication talisman: "Yes! Yes! Senior Uncle Xu, wait for me, I'll be right there! Right away!"

Not long after the communication talisman was retrieved, a robust, tall, and burly middle-aged man arrived in the courtyard on a flying sword.

He bowed to the house in front of him and said, "Disciple Lu Danian greets Senior Uncle Xu!"

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

The other party is the disciple of his junior sister, Dugu Ling, and currently serves as an outer sect law enforcement elder.

Although he was Dugu Ling's apprentice, Xu Xiao had been training him himself from the moment Dugu Ling entered the sect.

The fact that the other party has reached the sixth level of the Nascent Soul stage can be said to be entirely due to his efforts.

As for him, he doesn't have any apprentices; he's been helping his junior sister train hers.

"Da Nian, your senior uncle is only at the Foundation Establishment stage now and can't fly on a sword, so I'll have to rely on you to carry me," Xu Xiao said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Niu Da's eyes reddened, and tears welled up in his eyes.

"Uncle-Master! Don't worry, with me here, you can go wherever you want!"

"Disciple will carry Master Uncle Fei for life!"

As he spoke, he couldn't help but kneel down in front of Xu Xiao, crying like a child, and hugging Xu Xiao's leg tightly.

His senior brother had been so good to him his whole life... Now... it's so tragic.

He only had one year left to live, and he... he didn't want his senior uncle to pass away...

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