"Brother, the next strike will be my strongest attack so far, so be careful."
High in the sky, Xiao Yan stood suspended in mid-air, a half-foot-long sword light flickering in her hand.
The sharp intent emanating from it startled Xiao Li and Wu Xing, who were watching the battle from a distance.
"It's alright, go ahead and do it."
Lu Qing stood with his hands behind his back, seemingly unconcerned.
The surrounding magnetic field surged with undercurrents, layer upon layer.
The next moment, Xiaoyan swung the longsword in her hand.
A dazzling sword light, with the force to cleave through everything, slashed towards Lu Qing.
Wherever it passed, even space itself rippled.
The powerful sword light slashed into Lu Qing's force field, breaking through multiple force field defenses with overwhelming force.
The sword stopped only when it was three feet in front of Lu Qing.
"Impressive!"
Lu Qing reached out and pinched the sword light, his eyes filled with surprise.
"Xiaoyan, if your sword strike were from an ordinary Golden Core cultivator, even a third-stage expert might not be able to withstand it."
Lu Qing was genuinely surprised.
Although the force field he set up was only in its most basic form, there were still many variations he had not yet unleashed.
But Xiaoyan's ability to slash three feet in front of him with a single sword strike was indeed beyond his expectations.
It can be said that with the power of this sword alone, there is no one in the world except him, his master, Xiao Li, and the Five Elements.
It's unlikely that any other Golden Core Realm expert could take on this task.
Even the three holy lords atop the sacred mountain would have to avoid the sharp edge of this sword.
A slight misstep could even lead to one's demise!
Xiao Yan, who unleashed this sword strike, is currently only at the initial stage of the Golden Core realm, having just consolidated her cultivation and not yet officially entered the first stage of the Golden Core realm.
"Is this the effect of the supernatural power you gained after transcending the tribulation?" Lu Qing asked.
Not long ago, after Xiaoyan successfully overcame her tribulation, she also received a minor supernatural power from the tribulation cloud vortex.
Just now, Lu Qing sensed that supernatural power was surging within the girl.
"Yes, brother, the supernatural power I obtained is called 【Sharpness】, which is a minor supernatural power of swordsmanship."
"After using it, it can greatly enhance the sharpness of my sword energy, making it unparalleled in its sharpness," Xiaoyan replied.
"It's a very good divine ability, and it suits you very well." Lu Qing nodded upon hearing this. "You should study this divine ability carefully in the future. If you can master it, your swordsmanship will be unmatched. Apart from your master, there will be few others who can match you."
"I will, brother!" Xiaoyan replied earnestly.
"Alright, we've finished our sparring. Let's go back. You just finished consolidating your cultivation today, so your brother specially prepared something delicious," Lu Qing said with a smile.
"It's delicious! Brother, what delicious food did you make?"
Xiao Yan's eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this.
"You'll find out when you get back."
Lu Qing found it somewhat amusing to see the girl's bright eyes.
This girl is already a Golden Core Realm expert, but she's still so greedy.
The brother and sister, along with their two spirit beasts, began flying towards the village.
However, as soon as they returned to the village, they saw a person pacing back and forth in front of his yard, looking anxious.
"Uncle Zhang, what happened?"
Seeing this, Lu Qing landed in front of the courtyard and asked.
It turned out that the person standing in front of the courtyard was Grandpa Zhang's eldest son from next door.
"Aqing, you're back! My father suddenly fainted just now. The old doctor came to check on him and said he might not make it!"
"How could that be? Grandpa Zhang has always been in very good health."
Upon hearing this, Lu Qing's expression changed drastically, and he moved swiftly, heading towards the Zhang family.
"What's wrong with Grandpa Zhang?"
Xiaoyan was also in a state of confusion and quickly followed behind her brother.
When Lu Qing arrived at the Zhang family's house, he saw his master standing by the bed.
Grandpa Zhang, with his full head of white hair, lay on the bed with his eyes closed, his face normal, his breathing peaceful, and he seemed to be fine.
But Lu Qing immediately noticed something was wrong.
He could sense that the life force within Grandpa Zhang's body was now almost imperceptible, like a candle flickering in the wind, which could be extinguished at any moment.
"You're back?" the old doctor asked.
"Master, why did Grandpa Zhang suddenly act like this?" Lu Qing asked immediately.
"Old Master Zhang's lifespan is nearing its end; he's running out of time," the old doctor sighed.
"How could this be!"
Lu Qing immediately activated his supernatural ability and looked at Grandpa Zhang on the bed.
A few breaths later, his body trembled.
The message on the note, which was detected by his supernatural abilities, also indicated that Grandpa Zhang was nearing the end of his life and was on his deathbed.
Moreover, this condition is difficult to treat with ordinary medicines.
This is a manifestation of the laws of heaven and earth, indicating that one's lifespan is nearing its end, and cannot be resolved by ordinary medicines.
Generally speaking, in this world, even those at the Acquired Realm have a lifespan of no more than one hundred and twenty years.
Even martial arts masters who have honed their physical bodies to the point of perfect enlightenment cannot break through this lifespan limit.
Only those who enter the Innate Realm and undergo a transformation in their life level can have a lifespan of two hundred years.
Mr. Zhang is over ninety years old this year, and in principle, he has not yet reached the limit of his lifespan.
However, in his youth, he worked day and night to support his family, which depleted his vitality.
It's already a testament to his strong physique that he hasn't developed health problems from overwork.
Over the years, Lu Qing has been taking care of his health from time to time, and with the nourishment of the spiritual energy in Jiuli Village, his health has always been very good.
However, the lifespan he lost due to overwork in his youth can never be fully recovered.
Furthermore, without cultivation, the amount of qi and blood the body can hold is ultimately limited.
So although he still looks healthy, he is nearing the end of his life.
"Aqing, is my father really dying? Can't even you save him?"
Hearing the conversation between the master and apprentice, Grandpa Zhang's eldest son said anxiously.
“Yes, Grandpa Zhang’s lifespan has come to an end, and even I can’t save him.” Lu Qing nodded.
Upon hearing this, Mr. Zhang's sons and daughters-in-law all showed expressions of despair.
In their hearts, Lu Qing was a celestial being. If even he said he couldn't save their father, then it meant that their father had truly reached the final stage.
Looking at the expressions of Grandpa Zhang's relatives, Lu Qing fell silent.
Actually, there is a way to help Grandpa Zhang.
That is, if we can find a miraculous medicine that can prolong life and give it to him, there might still be hope.
How precious are those longevity elixirs that can possibly break the restrictions of the laws of heaven and earth?
That is a supreme spiritual medicine that even Golden Core cultivators or Nascent Soul experts would fight to seize.
Since the world's revival, such a miraculous elixir has never appeared before.
Therefore, this method simply won't work.
At this moment, the old doctor said, "Old Zhang is currently in a deep sleep, but if he continues to sleep like this, he will pass away in at most a day."
If you have anything else to say to him, I can use the golden needle technique to awaken him.
However, after being awakened, he only had half an hour of lucidity.
Whether or not to use this method is up to you to decide.
Upon hearing this, Zhang's sons and daughters-in-law all looked at each other.
But no one could make a decision in a short time.
Finally, Grandpa Zhang's eldest son looked at Lu Qing and asked, "Qing, what do you think we should do?"
“Uncle Zhang, you are the eldest son, so you should decide this matter. However, no matter what you choose, I believe Grandpa Zhang will not blame you,” Lu Qing said slowly.
Seeing that Lu Qing had said this, Zhang's eldest son struggled for a while before finally making up his mind.
"Father suddenly fainted, and there are still many things he hasn't finished telling us. So please, old doctor, wake him up and see if he has any last words of advice to leave behind before he passes away."
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"good."
Without hesitation, the old doctor immediately used his acupuncture technique, inserting needles into Grandpa Zhang's body several times.
Soon, under the stimulation of the acupuncture needles, Grandpa Zhang's complexion gradually became rosy, and then he slowly opened his eyes.
"Father, you're awake?"
Grandpa Zhang's sons and daughters-in-law rushed forward.
"What happened to me? Why are you all here? Ah Qing, you're here too?"
Grandpa Zhang was somewhat bewildered when he saw so many people in the room.
"Father, it's like this, you suddenly fainted just now..."
The eldest son stepped forward and quickly recounted everything, especially relaying what the old doctor and Lu Qing had said.
"So that's how it is. I'm going to see your mother soon."
After listening, Grandpa Zhang understood.
However, he was not alarmed; instead, he looked relieved and accepted the situation calmly.
“Your unfilial son said that you could pass away peacefully in your sleep, but I was afraid that you might not have time to give any instructions, so I asked the doctor to wake you up,” the eldest son said with tears in his eyes.
"It's alright, you did a great job. I do have some things to tell you." But Grandpa Zhang shook his head. "Take out the wooden box under the bed."
The eldest son quickly pulled a wooden box out from under the bed.
Lu Qing and the others left the house, leaving the Zhang family to their own devices.
Grandpa Zhang gestured to his son to open the wooden box, which contained land deeds, silver, copper coins, and other items.
Grandpa Zhang reached out and took out the land deeds.
"Over the years, I have been urging you two brothers to divide the family property, but you have always refused. Now that I am about to go to see your mother, you should divide the property after I leave."
“These land deeds are our family’s land deeds. You two brothers should each divide them in half.”
"As for this money, it's what I've slowly saved up over the years. You can take it and divide it among yourselves..."
After gradually explaining everything at home...
Grandpa Zhang continued, "These are the things I want to tell you. You must remember them well. After I'm gone, you two brothers must be united and harmonious, support each other, and never quarrel."
"Father, I understand."
The two sons said, forcing back their grief.
"If there's anything you can't solve, you can ask Aqing for help, but don't bother him on ordinary days. Aqing is an immortal, and he does immortal things. Don't trouble him with those trivial matters," Grandpa Zhang instructed again.
"I know."
"Alright, now go and invite Aqing and Xiaoyan in. I have something to say to them."
Lu Qing stood in the courtyard, gazing absently at the floating clouds in the sky.
Grandpa Zhang's eldest son came out of the house at this moment: "Aqing, Dad said he has something to tell you and Xiaoyan."
Lu Qing snapped out of her reverie and nodded slightly: "Mm."
Inside the house, when Grandpa Zhang saw Lu Qing and Xiao Yan enter, a smile appeared on his face, and his complexion became even rosier.
"You guys go out first, let me talk to Aqing and Xiaoyan alone."
After everyone had left, Xiaoyan couldn't hold back her emotions any longer and began to sob, "Grandpa Zhang..."
Lu Qing also looked sadly at the old man in front of her.
Grandpa Zhang had a rosy complexion and looked very healthy; he didn't look like someone who was about to die at all.
But he knew that this was just a final burst of energy before death.
The life force that could have extended for another day was concentrated into an illusion created by burning for half an hour.
"Don't cry, little girl." Grandpa Zhang reached out and patted Xiaoyan's head. "You're practically an immortal who can fly and disappear into the earth now, why are you still crying?"
"But Grandpa Zhang..."
Xiaoyan wanted to say something, but couldn't say anything.
She is now a Golden Core cultivator herself, so she can naturally sense the condition inside Grandpa Zhang's body.
"Don't be sad. I've lived to be over ninety years old and I'll die without illness or disaster. That's much better than most people. It's a good thing. You should be happy for me."
My old friends who grew up with me haven't lived as long as me; it's time for me to go see them.
Grandpa Zhang smiled and comforted Xiaoyan.
Once Xiaoyan calmed down a bit, Grandpa Zhang looked at Lu Qing again.
"Speaking of which, we have to thank you, Aqing. If you hadn't set up the formation in the village, we old folks wouldn't have been able to enjoy our later years so easily."
“This is what Aqing should do,” Lu Qing said softly.
Over the years, elderly people in the village have been passing away from time to time, and most of the people of Zhang's generation are no longer alive.
Fortunately, these elderly people, nourished by the spiritual energy of the village, all passed away peacefully in their old age without illness or pain.
This can be considered Lu Qing's contribution to the village.
“You and Xiaoyan are both good children. It’s a pity that we couldn’t protect your parents back then, and they had to go through what happened to them. Even now, I still feel guilty when I think about it,” Grandpa Zhang sighed.
"Grandpa Zhang, why say such things? It was the Black Wolf Gang's fault back then, and I have already avenged my parents."
"But in the end, it was us elders who failed to dissuade your parents in time."
But it's alright, I'll be seeing them soon.
When I see them, I can tell them just how amazing you and Xiaoyan are; you've already become immortals..."
Grandpa Zhang held Lu Qing's hand and talked on and on.
He continued speaking until his breath gradually weakened, and finally, with a smile on his face, he quietly closed his eyes.
"Grandpa Zhang!" Xiao Yan cried out in anguish, unable to hold back her tears any longer.
Upon hearing this, the people outside rushed in, followed by a chorus of weeping.
Lu Qing slowly walked out of the house and into the courtyard, gazing at the distant mountains with a lost in thought.
What came to mind was the care the old man had given him and his sister when they first came into this world.
Those scenes, though more than twenty years have passed.
Even now, the memories remain vivid, as if they happened yesterday.
