End of Book 1 – Chapter 163: Epilogue 1

"You... could sense me?" Senior Lan Yuehai's expression was a sight to behold.

Xu Mo simply nodded, continuing to eat without looking up. The Sect Master and Head Elder exchanged surprised glances. It wasn't easy to sense someone like Lan Yuehai—her origins were clearly not ordinary, and her cultivation was likely at the Soul Formation Realm, considering the high-ranking technique she used to conceal her presence.

"It seems you've grown stronger, Xu Mo," the Sect Master said with a note of appreciation in his eyes. But then, his gaze turned sharp and serious. "However, I would advise you to keep your trump cards to yourself. Never reveal them unless absolutely necessary—even to your own blood siblings. That's just how this world works."

Xu Mo paused, placing his bowl down out of respect, and listened attentively to the Sect Master's words. When the elder finished speaking, Xu Mo nodded slowly, and after a moment of thought, he replied calmly, "Sect Master, I don't like how this senior keeps watching me. I would appreciate a bit of privacy."

"But how did you know it was me? It could've been anyone," Lan Yuehai asked, her voice steadier now, though a flicker of tension remained.

"I didn't know for certain at first," Xu Mo said as he picked up his cup and took a sip of water. "But after tonight, I noticed the same fragrance you always use. Combined with your behavior while spying... it wasn't hard to guess. Your expression just now confirmed it."

Lan Yuehai fell silent.

Aah~

Xu Mo internally sighed in satisfaction. Nothing beat the feeling of a full stomach. After surviving on pills and medicinal brews for weeks, eating actual food felt like a luxury. Wine might numb pain, but it wasn't nourishment. Pills were efficient—but soul-less.

"Master, have you received any news about Long Chen?" Jin Meiyu's voice cut through the calm, drawing everyone's attention. Now that they were finished eating, the group was looking for something to discuss. After the chaos of the Secret Realm, today was like a rare day of rest.

"Hmm... Long Chen has been accepted as a disciple by the Sect Master of Verdant Sky Hall," the Sect Master replied casually, as though dropping a pebble in a still pond.

Xu Mo's eyes widened.

That meant Long Chen had now become a true heavyweight within the domain. With that kind of backing, there were few things he couldn't do.

Yet, oddly enough, Xu Mo felt reassured. If Long Chen had been sent away from their sect, it gave Xu Mo more freedom to act and plan without interference.

"Does that mean Long Chen is going to be the next Sect Master of Verdant Sky Hall?" Jin Meiyu asked curiously. Coming from the Golden Radiance Domain, where ancient clans, noble families, and supreme sects were as common as grains of sand, she knew how much influence that title carried.

Even befriending someone in such a position could elevate the Jin family back to its former glory.

"That's difficult to say," Bai Xu interjected, sipping from a steaming cup of tea. "The current Sect Master has held his position for over a thousand years. From what I heard, Qin Jian mentioned that the Sect Master may have broken through to the Legendary Realm, beyond the Void Shattering Realm."

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"Legendary Realm?!" Lan Yuehai, the most senior among them, stood up abruptly, her expression darkening.

"Has someone... really achieved that?" she asked, almost whispering.

"I can't say for certain," Bai Xu responded. "But if someone like Qin Jian said it, there may be truth to it. He's not one to exaggerate."

"B-But how?! That should be impossible!" Lan Yuehai looked like she was on the verge of a mental breakdown, mumbling those words over and over.

Everyone fell silent.

Bai Xu didn't elaborate, and no one pressed him. The topic was treated like a taboo. Even the usually brash Head Elder Long Bai chose to remain silent.

Xu Mo observed this closely. The Legendary Realm was far beyond his current capabilities—he hadn't even reached the Void Shattering Realm. For all his top-tier talent, his cultivation speed remained sluggish. Maybe he was spreading himself too thin, trying to master too many things at once. That ambition might have become the very weight chaining him to the ground.

A few days later

Xu Mo had borrowed the sect's flying ship. He needed it to reach the remote homes of the families he planned to visit. After some thought, he had decided this method was best—he didn't know whether the mortals would accept his help or come back with him to the sect.

He preferred the latter. But human hearts were unpredictable—something he'd learned all too well from his uncle.

He couldn't always visit the families of fallen disciples personally, but this case was different. And he couldn't trust that the other young cultivators would know how to behave respectfully around grieving mortals.

"Young Master, we've arrived."

"Alright," Xu Mo said, rising to his feet. "Land the ship a little ways outside the village. I don't want to startle the villagers."

He changed into simpler clothes, ones he was more used to. He had specifically instructed Wu Ming to prepare something modest—garments that would make them look like ordinary merchants.

This was a remote farming village. The disciple who had died was the only one in his village to ever awaken as a cultivator. Xu Mo had reviewed the file: the boy came from the Village Chief's family. Both parents were alive. His grandfather was the Chief, and he had a younger sister.

As they entered the village, Xu Mo stayed in the center of the group, flanked by disciples. It made it difficult for anyone watching to identify who was in charge.

The sun had begun to set, and many villagers were returning from the fields. They paused to observe the group of strangers marching straight toward the Chief's house without asking directions.

The house was a modest hut, made of baked brick and straw. Goats and cows were tied outside, and the boundary wall was low enough to see over.

Wu Ming stepped forward and knocked gently.

A little girl opened the door.

Wu Ming crouched and spoke softly, careful not to frighten her. "Little one, is there an elder at home? We're here to speak with them."

The girl stared blankly, then abruptly shut the door in Wu Ming's face—nearly hitting his nose. She scurried back inside on tiny legs.

Moments later, a tired-looking middle-aged man appeared, followed by a woman—presumably his wife.

Curious villagers had begun to surround them. This was a remote place, and the sudden arrival of strangers heading directly to the Chief's home without asking for directions was suspicious. Some of the villagers held farm tools, sticks, or even stones, ready to defend if needed.

"Yes?" the man asked, regaining some confidence upon noticing the crowd forming behind the visitors. Safety in numbers.

"We're from the Hidden Dragon Sect," Xu Mo said as he stepped forward from within the group.

"Hidden Dragon Sect... M-My son's sect?" the man asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"Yes," Xu Mo replied, his tone calm but serious. "We're here to deliver some unfortunate news. Your son lost his life during a recent mission."

He tried to say it as gently and plainly as possible. In truth, Xu Mo wasn't sure how to comfort someone properly. Words weren't his strength—especially not in matters like these.

The air grew heavy.

The middle-aged man's expression froze, and his wife let out a sharp breath. Behind them, the little girl peeked out from the doorway, her eyes wide and innocent.

The villagers fell silent, watching, waiting.

Xu Mo clenched his fists inside his sleeves.

He had delivered countless missions. Fought monsters. Survived secret realms.

But this—this was something else entirely.

And it hurt in a different way.

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