At the foot of Heaven-Earth Peak, the Passing River surged forward. Just as fast was the passage of time that never stopped flowing in silence. Before anyone knew it, half a year had gone by.

At Cave Residence Jia Seventy-Eight, Fu Qinglan was gazing anxiously at the towering parasol tree. The vibrant, green hue remained undimmed under the blinding snow, but what was holding her attention was the white-clad man sitting atop it.

"Grandpa, is he really alright?"

Her question was for Fu Chaosheng, who was standing next to her and equally anxious. In the past, he had taken excellent care of himself, and so his complexion had been rosy with no visible wrinkles despite his age. Yet now, he seemed to have aged several decades in just half a year, and he was even exhibiting the typical frailty of elderly mortals.

"He's in a state of sudden enlightenment. It's a kind of fortune that we cultivators will do everything in our power to prolong, because we can only attain it when all...