Han Junxiong nodded. "You don't think Brother Wang is deceiving you, do you? He inherited the Art of Alchemy long ago. It's just that we're currently short of materials, so we need everyone's help. But this is also a good thing for all of you."

Everyone's eyes lit up, clearly very interested in this elixir.

Suddenly, with a loud noise, Wang Zhan slowly opened his eyes. An extra brown Medicine Pill lay in his furnace. All eyes lit up again, immediately focusing on Wang Zhan, everyone extremely excited.

Wang Zhan laughed. "The Great Restoration Pill is finally refined."

Everyone hurriedly gathered around Wang Zhan. Han Junxiong asked directly, "Great Restoration Pill?"

Wang Zhan nodded faintly. "I also just followed the formula Hu Lao gave me and refined it step-by-step according to the process. I didn't expect that, despite the Great Restoration Pill being extremely troublesome to refine, I would ultimately succeed."

"Okay, you all wait here for me. I'll go in and take a look at Hu Lao."

Everyone nodded in unison.

Wang Zhan walked into the room and soon saw Hu Lao lying on the bed. However, Wang Zhan's eyes quickly became moist.

At this moment, Hu Lao seemed even more despondent than he had in the morning, and his hair had gradually turned gray. How could such a sight not touch Wang Zhan's heart?

Wang Zhan quickly went to his side and asked urgently, "What's wrong? Your condition seems to be getting worse."

After Hu Lao coughed heavily, fresh blood splattered directly onto the ground. He gritted his teeth and spoke, word by word, "I never thought that after half a lifetime, I would still be unable to avoid this fate, this calamity of life and death."

Wang Zhan quickly took out the elixir in his hand and handed it to Hu Lao, saying hastily, "This is the Great Restoration Pill I just refined. Quickly take it and see if it can help you."

Hu Lao's eyes lit up, but he didn't take the medicine immediately. Instead, he stared at the pill for a while before bringing it to his nose. After carefully smelling its fragrance, he laughed, patted Wang Zhan's shoulder, and said, "You have done well. In just a few days, you've managed to refine the Great Restoration Pill. It seems you indeed possess some talent in Alchemy."

"Let's not talk about that for now," Wang Zhan said urgently. "Quickly take the Great Restoration Pill first. Then we can figure out other ways to gradually restore your strength. After all, this incident was caused by me. If I hadn't insisted on having my own way, you wouldn't have ended up in this state. I can't just stand by and do nothing. I need to do something, or I'll live with this guilt for the rest of my life."

"Young man." Hu Lao chuckled for a moment, then said, "Everyone has their own destiny, and everyone reaches this point eventually, so I'm not worried. I've lived alone here for many years and have long grown weary of this life. Having you here, and you even receiving my legacy, is the heavens' final blessing to me."

"So, don't worry too much, and you don't need to do anything for me. I understand the state of my body very well. My end is near. Even if I take the Great Restoration Pill, it won't have any effect. I think you should also understand the principle that an overly weakened body cannot benefit from potent nourishment."

Wang Zhan clenched his fists tightly, his teeth chattering, his eyes red. He was clearly devastated by grief.

Throughout his journey, though he had many companions, they had all left him one by one. He thought meeting Hu Lao here might change this situation. However, he never expected that Hu Lao's end was also near, and worse, it was all because of him. So, how could Wang Zhan's heart be at ease?

Hu Lao struggled to get up from the bed and walked to a nearby cupboard. He opened a drawer, took out a few ancient-looking books, and handed them to Wang Zhan. "These are all my life's learnings, which I've recorded. I know you have your own path to follow and your own tasks to complete. These things are no longer useful to me. If you need them, you can study them; they might benefit you. Of course, if you don't want to learn them, I won't force you."

"The Art of Alchemy, the essence of my life's learning, has now been passed on to you. I have no regrets."

Wang Zhan nodded heavily, took the ancient books, and then asked, "What else can I do for you?"

During this period, Wang Zhan had been benefiting from Hu Lao's generosity but had made no contributions in return. Naturally, he felt a bit guilty.

Hu Lao patted his shoulder, a gentle smile on his face. "You don't have to worry so much, young man. If you really want to do something for me, find a good geomantic treasure spot for me to enjoy my final days. I was born to love peace, and after I die, I naturally wouldn't want to be disturbed by anyone."

Wang Zhan nodded heavily. Now that it had come to this, the situation was irreversible. He didn't even know what to say.

Time ticked by, second by second. Wang Zhan stayed by Hu Lao's side, watching as Hu Lao gradually closed his eyes. At that moment, Wang Zhan's heart ached as if being cut.

He suddenly lifted his fist and struck the nearby wall. A huge roar followed, and dust rose everywhere.

An entire section of the wall collapsed.

Everyone standing in the courtyard looked at Wang Zhan, their faces filled with confusion.

Han Junxiong fell to his knees, his face horribly pale. After staring at Wang Zhan for a long moment, he asked in a hoarse voice, "What happened to Hu Lao?"

Wang Zhan said plainly, "He's dead."

The faces of everyone around also turned much paler.

Nearby, Han Junxiong clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, saying, word by word, "Hu Lao's cultivation was so profound. How could he just be gone like this?"

Wang Zhan didn't answer. He went back into the room, picked up Hu Lao's body, and slowly walked out.

The people outside made way for him, stepping to either side.

Wang Zhan's face was ashen, his hands trembling. Holding Hu Lao, he said solemnly, "I'm going to find a relatively quiet place for Hu Lao, somewhere he won't be disturbed by anyone."

"You've all been around here for a long time. Can you tell me if there's such a place?"

After exchanging glances, Han Junxiong stepped forward. "I do know of a place. It's completely quiet there. No humans would disturb it, and even demonic beasts wouldn't easily get there."

Wang Zhan stopped and turned to look at Han Junxiong, asking hurriedly, "Where?"

Han Junxiong gritted his teeth and said, word by word, "The Summit of Thousand Peaks."

Upon hearing this, everyone's pupils contracted, their gazes all converging on Han Junxiong.

One of them blurted out, "Are you joking? What kind of place is the Summit of Thousand Peaks? How could we simply bury someone there?"

"We should find another place. Otherwise, if it comes to it, we'll surely have to fight fiercely. Besides, relying on our own means, even with Mr. Wang by our side, we probably wouldn't gain any advantage."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

However, Wang Zhan hesitated for a moment, then looked at Han Junxiong beside him and slowly asked, "What kind of place is this Summit of Thousand Peaks?"

"The so-called Summit of Thousand Peaks is a dangerous place."

"It's said that beneath the summit, a thousand-year-old demonic creature is sealed. Bizarre strong winds also plague the vicinity of the Summit, so potent that even demonic beasts dare not approach. In the past, some humans tried to explore the area, but they were torn to fragments by these winds merely at the periphery, long before truly entering."

"It's said that they didn't even have a whole corpse left, only a pile of skeletons."

Wang Zhan's eyes flickered, and a cold smile touched his lips. "I promised Hu Lao I would find a quiet place for his burial. The Summit of Thousand Peaks sounds perfect."

"Since none of you want to go, Han Junxiong can accompany me."

Without any hesitation, Han Junxiong agreed. He considered himself indebted to Hu Lao; without Hu Lao's help, he might have already been a corpse, so he naturally wouldn't refuse.

The crowd standing behind the two exchanged glances, then all of them walked over to Wang Zhan's side.

Clearly, they had made their decision.

Wang Zhan, standing to the side, nodded in satisfaction. "Rest assured, you are my comrades-in-arms. No matter what happens, I won't stand by idly."

"And I won't treat you unfairly in the future."

Everyone looked at Wang Zhan gratefully, but no one spoke, as they could all sense the oppressive and heavy atmosphere.

Without further hesitation, Wang Zhan followed Han Junxiong, heading towards the Summit of Thousand Peaks.

He was prepared; even if it was a mountain of daggers and a sea of flames, he would brave it for Hu Lao!