As long as there remains a shred of self-confidence, and one hasn't been utterly crushed, the final state will not self-destruct or regress.

But at this moment.

Ran Xinyue recalled that monster Grandmaster who claimed to be Zhang Rongfang just now. His speed, strength, defense, recovery, all surpassed those of them who worshiped the gods as Grandmasters.

It was an all-out overwhelming force.

No wonder the last god-worshiping Grandmaster collapsed directly.

Ran Xinyue herself felt her Dao heart wavering, her final state on the brink of collapse.

She immediately discarded all distractions, refusing to think further.

As long as she didn't think about it, there would be no sense of collapse, and the final state wouldn't be unstable!

Hmm.

'That guy absolutely can't be Zhang Rongfang! Who knows how many years that Extreme Realm monster has been cultivating, suddenly running out to disguise as a junior. Shamelessly calling himself Master Uncle! Shameless!'

Thinking this way, Ran Xinyue found everything becoming smooth again.

Her somewhat unstable final state quickly stabilized.

'Yes... only those lunatics in the Extreme Realm would do such absurd things.

Also, haven't they done enough absurd things in history? One more doesn't matter. So, he's just an old monster who's been cultivating for who knows how many years before me! Maybe he's lived for over a hundred years!

With my talent, if I had started at the same time as him, cultivated together, I definitely wouldn't be weaker than him!'

Thinking this, Ran Xinyue felt her final state becoming even more stable.

Immediately, she regained confidence, stood up. Although she was weakened due to the Spiritual Line being devoured.

But maintaining a power of Three Emptiness to ensure safety was still possible.

Taking a deep breath, she turned around, preparing to pick up the spoils of war from the three Grandmasters.

Suddenly, her steps halted, her expression changed slightly, looking towards the depths of the forest to the right.

"Who's there!?"

"It's me, Xinyue."

Two sturdy men and women, dressed in tight-fitting green leather outfits with cloaks and carrying bows and arrows, walked out from the forest.

Both were masked, their bodies lean and powerful, their arms extremely strong, and the long bows they carried on their backs were mostly made of a special metallic material.

"Are you alright?!" the man among them asked in a deep voice.

"I'm fine... you came late." Ran Xinyue's expression changed slightly, looking around, she said again.

"This is not the place to talk. Let's move!"

"Alright!"

The three left swiftly together.

After sprinting through the mountains and forests for more than ten minutes, they stopped in a hollow between ravines, standing firm.

"Did you see the signal I sent?" Ran Xinyue asked softly.

"Don't worry, this place can avoid those eyes and ears. We were nearby by chance and were very worried about you. Many people in the association miss you." The masked man said in a deep voice.

At the same time, he took out a special black token full of holes from his chest to show Ran Xinyue.

"Since I chose this path back then, I can't turn back." Ran Xinyue shook her head, "This time, unless absolutely necessary, I didn't want to send out a distress signal either."

"What exactly happened!?" the masked woman interjected.

Ran Xinyue quickly recounted her recent experience in full.

As she narrated, the two's eyes grew wider and wider.

"Are you sure that person hasn't worshipped a god!?" the man asked in disbelief.

"I'm sure. Worshiping a god and not worshiping a god are fundamentally different. After worshiping a god, we can all sense the difference in others. Just like you two, you haven't worshipped a god. I can distinguish that." Ran Xinyue answered.

"There's only one kind of person who can, without worshiping a god, kill three god-worshiping Grandmasters." The masked man said in a serious and heavy tone.

The three exchanged glances.

"Extreme Realm Grandmaster!"

Ran Xinyue said in a low voice.

"Exactly."

"Then, where is the real Zhang Ying? And where is the real Zhang Rongfang? Why would that person disguise as this identity? Could there be something special about this identity?"

"Could it be to seize the Great Dao Teaching? But why suddenly expose himself at this time?"

"Could it be? That person knows your true identity, Xinyue!?"

Suddenly, a sentence from the masked woman caused the other two to fall into silence.

The three quieted down, their thoughts fiercely colliding.

For a long time.

"If this is the case, then everything makes sense." Ran Xinyue said in amazement.

"He must have known that I was someone from the Reverse Time Association long ago. That's why he deliberately exposed himself in front of me, in order to establish contact with us. Because he knows that even if I told Yue Dewen about him, I'm afraid no one would believe it."

"A twenty-two-year-old Extreme Realm Grandmaster? Are you kidding? It's probably two hundred and twenty years old, right?" the masked man said speechlessly.

"So who do you think this person is?" Ran Xinyue asked. "The Extreme Realm leaders in the association come and go as they please, hard to reach, but you guys often stay at headquarters and should be more familiar." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"I don't know. Entering different Extreme Realms results in different obsessions and side effects, many Extreme Realms even forget a lot of things. But we'll try sending a message back, see if anyone else knows. After all, there are only so many Extreme Realm Grandmasters."

"Should we send a message to Yue Dewen?" Ran Xinyue asked.

"No, if we can pull this person into our ranks, it would be a huge boost to our cause." The masked man replied. "We've also been in contact with the Confucian Teaching side. Their reaction isn't great, seemingly watching from the sidelines, neither opposing nor supporting."

"They adhere to not standing under a dangerous wall. We're currently at a disadvantage, so naturally, they don't see us in a favorable light. Even though they're also walking the path of Extreme Realm, eventually they'll be forced to face the gods and Buddhas." The masked woman said coldly.

"I can't stay here for long, so investigate quickly and get back to me," Ran Xinyue instructed.

"Don't worry, within three days."

*

*

*

Zhang Rongfang returned home, changed his clothes, and then leisurely went back to the Mu Chi mansion to watch the opera.

The stage was already featuring another performance, with a beautiful lady dressed in light gauze, sitting at the center, playing the pipa solo.

The pipa music was like pearls and jade falling on a plate, brisk and crisp.

People below were eating melon seeds, drinking beverages, and bragging.

His brother-in-law had already left, most likely heading back to the yamen at this time.

With chaotic armies rising nearby and the affairs busy, it was quite commendable he'd stayed this long.

Lu Meisha was whispering with her sister Zhang Rongyu.

Seeing Zhang Rongfang return, Lu Meisha, inexplicably blushing, huffed and ran off.

Leaving his sister quietly laughing to herself.

"What are you laughing at?" Zhang Rongfang sat down, picked up a pear, and stuffed it into his mouth.

Not even spitting out the core, he chewed it up in a few bites and swallowed.

"Nothing, just suggesting that Meisha consider you. Didn't you take Chen Yuxi away? And since she's of age and can't find anyone suitable for now, I think you two match quite well," Zhang Rongyu laughed.

She didn't mention that Zhang Rongfang had taken Chen Yuxi away out of jealousy and affection.

"Her temper's too bad; if she's willing to change, there might be a chance. Otherwise..." Zhang Rongfang spoke bluntly.

"Who are you saying has a bad temper!!" Lu Meisha's irritable voice came from behind.

"See?" Zhang Rongfang couldn't help but laugh. "Isn't that a bad temper?"

"I have a great temper! Really great!!" Lu Meisha rushed over and shouted angrily beside him. "If you dare say I have a bad temper again, do you believe I'll beat you up!!"

This made Zhang Rongyu chuckle as well.

"I'll let you use both hands," Zhang Rongfang remained unfazed.

"You!!!" Lu Meisha was so angry her face turned red, wanting to act but fearing the difference in strength and genuinely getting hit. She knew Zhang Rongfang could really fight.

Suddenly, she felt stifled and about to burst with anger.

"Sister!! Look at him!!" She quickly turned to Zhang Rongyu, whining and stomping her feet.

"Alright, alright, you're both like children." Zhang Rongyu helplessly patted her head. "With your temper, you just can't keep your cool. Didn't you see he was teasing you?"

Lu Meisha instantly grew even more defiant, muttering some unpleasant words, generally refusing to acknowledge her bad temper.

Zhang Rongfang, on the side, was somewhat surprised. Since when did Lu Meisha have such a good relationship with his sister?

Out of respect, he didn't use his dim vision to look at his sister, but he could sense that Zhang Rongyu had no martial arts skills, just a smooth aura with more vitality than most people.

The rest, she was just an ordinary person.

He didn't know what method she used.

After a while, Lu Meisha was coaxed into calming down and turned to leave.

Zhang Rongyu then pulled Zhang Rongfang aside to a tea pavilion to brew tea.

"You look like you've got a lot on your mind, so go ahead, what's the issue?"

The two sat cross-legged while a maid set up the tea equipment and lit the charcoal.

"It's just that I've been back long enough this time, it's about time I return to continue my duties." Zhang Rongfang replied.

The purpose of his return was to visit his sister and brother-in-law, but he didn't expect to encounter so much.

"Duties? Surely, you're not in the place you mentioned before. Honestly, where are you stationed?" Zhang Rongyu's smile gradually faded.

"In Qingchuan Prefecture, Ze Province," Zhang Rongfang answered truthfully.

"Your face is written all over with problems," Zhang Rongyu sighed. "Remember, Wushan Prefecture is always your home. Your brother-in-law and I will always be here. No matter what trouble you run into outside, if you really can't handle it, just come back."

She reached out, gently placing her hand on Zhang Rongfang's hand, their hands overlapping at the table edge, and for a moment everything was silent.

The maids lit the fire, placed the charcoal, put on the kettle, and poured in mountain water.

A slight red glow appeared.

The two remained silent.

Until the water in the kettle started to softly bubble, like fish eyes.

Zhang Rongyu withdrew her hand and carefully began preparing the tea leaves.

The tea was ground from roasted tea cakes, the aroma of fruitiness filling the air upon taking it out.

"Actually, you've grown up… have your own ideas. But in life, it often doesn't work to just be stubborn and bear everything on your own...."

She raised her eyes to her brother.

"Don't forget you still have an elder sister. If it were before, I wouldn't dare say this, but now....."

Once more, she spoke seriously.

"Without relying on your brother-in-law, I won't be the same as before anymore..."

"We are different now."

"Sis...." Zhang Rongfang faintly sensed something was amiss.

"So, don't be afraid. We will definitely, definitely become people of distinction!" Zhang Rongyu quietly said.

She looked at Zhang Rongfang, who more and more resembled their father, and inexplicably hoped for the future.