A year has passed swiftly!

The night is as dark as ink, thick enough to swallow everything.

In the hall of the Lu Family residence, a flickering candlelight casts two solitary shadows on the walls.

Sitting upright at the head seat, Lu Jiahe’s fingers grip the armrest tightly, causing his knuckles to turn slightly white.

Time has unmercifully carved deep lines across his brow, each groove telling tales of past hardships.

Yet at this moment, these deep furrows cannot conceal the intense tremor in Lu Jiahe’s eyes.

Standing before him is Lu Xuan, dressed in dark robes, with eyes resembling unfathomable deep pools, calm yet secretly turbulent.

After a few breaths, Lu Xuan slowly speaks.

"Father, tomorrow, I will commence my spiritual retreat."

Lu Xuan’s voice is neither loud nor low, steady and powerful, like a heavy hammer carrying immense force, smashing onto Lu Jiahe’s heart.

Every word that follows is weighty.

"The retreat may last a few decades, or it could be...a century, even a millennium!"

As soon as these words are spoken, Lu Jiahe reacts violently and swiftly, rising to his feet and urgently stepping to Lu Xuan.

Lu Jiahe’s aged hands tremble slightly, filled with reluctance and worry.

As if wanting to grasp his son tightly, only to halt in midair, ultimately hanging powerless at his sides.

He gazes intently at his son’s face, his eyes sharp as blades.

It’s as if he’s trying to engrave his son’s image in the deepest corners of his soul with a final gaze.

"A century...a millennium?"

Lu Jiahe’s old body sways slightly, as though these brief words have drained all his strength.

To mortals, a hundred years is a lifetime.

Let alone the unattainable millennium!

— Will he, himself, still be here when his son emerges from retreat?

This thought coils around his heart like a serpent, making Lu Jiahe’s breath catch for a moment.

He stares at Lu Xuan with a nearly greedy gaze, as if to etch every inch of his son’s features deep into his soul.

— Will this be...the last glance?

His son, who has been his pride all his life, the sole pillar keeping the Lu Family standing strong, this boy...whom he watched grow up.

The throat moves, Lu Jiahe wants to say something, but ultimately he merely closes his eyes briefly and, upon reopening them, suppresses all emotion.

He extends his hand, pressing heavily on Lu Xuan’s shoulder, his voice hoarse yet firm.

"Yes, go."

"The Lu Family, and Yun Qing, Yun’an, you need not worry so much."

Indeed, Lu Jiahe had already vaguely anticipated this day in his heart.

Throughout this year, Lu Xuan personally guided the Lu Family’s younger generation without tiring.

Whether ordinary disciples or martial artists like Lu Qingqing and Shen Yuan with adequate talent, all trained diligently under him without slacking.

Since then, Lu Jiahe already knew that his son was preparing a path for his departure.

This time, he was truly leaving.

"Father, do not worry."

Lu Xuan faintly lifts the corners of his lips, displaying a comforting smile, his voice gentle yet undeniably firm, "I will return."

Lu Xuan’s words echoed quietly in the hall.

The next moment, his eyes burst forth with black-gold light.

That light is dazzling, like stars suddenly rising from the abyss, capturing all attention.

Then, Lu Xuan slowly raises his hand, and in his palm, a faint and sacred phantom world emerges.

Upon closer look, mountains and rivers crisscross, majestic mountains rise and fall, and rivers flow endlessly.

The sun and moon hang high in the sky, the sun radiates scorching light, the moon casts a cool silver glow, and stars twinkle mysteriously.

All things circulate orderly in this small world phantom, like a miniature universe, mysterious and magical.

"What is this...?"

Lu Jiahe’s pupils constrict intensely, filled with shock and disbelief, as his lips tremble slightly.

He can hardly believe what he’s seeing.

Yet despite witnessing many unbelievable occurrences from his son, faced with this seemingly miraculous sight, he cannot help but marvel.

A golden light, dazzlingly bright, strips away from that extraordinary world phantom like a spirit.

This purest golden light is surrounded by the aura of creation force.

Seemingly gentle, yet brimming with endless vitality and boundless power.

This is — the force of creation!

The primordial source of all things, the fundamental power of the universe!

Only those who successfully condense a small world and reach the realm of an Earth Venerable can wield such supreme power!

And now, this world’s creation force.

Is blending with the rule power of life produced by Lu Xuan’s years of cultivating the Undying and Undying Martial Arts Skill.

The two merge into one, becoming a strand of supreme vitality capable of reversing life and death, altering heaven and earth!

"This creation force can extend Father’s life by a thousand years."

Lu Xuan’s expression remains calm, yet his eyes reveal concern as he lightly points with his finger.

The strand of golden light containing endless mysteries merrily enters Lu Jiahe’s brow like a lively dragon.