From waterfowl, it began to transform into the Great Sun Golden Crow.

Time is like an arrow, the sun and the moon are like a shuttle.

Time flies, and a century has passed in the blink of an eye. Generations of tea farmers at Yunlin Taoist Temple have grown from youth to old age.

However, Wang Fugui in the Taoist temple did not change his appearance.

One day, for the first time ever, Master Yunlin watched the sunrise and sunset.

He also followed Wang Fugui's example and stared blankly for a whole day.

"Master, what's wrong? Why are you staring blankly at the sunset?" Wang Fugui asked, feeling a bit puzzled. He sensed that his master seemed melancholic today.

"Wealth and honor, oh wealth and honor. I am about to die, my body will dissolve in the heavens."

"Disintegration... How is this possible?"

Wasn't his master an immortal? How could he have perished in the heavens? Wang Fugui stood there dumbfounded, unwilling to believe this fact.

Master Yunlin simply patted his head and said, "Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural order of things, even for immortals."

Wang Fugui kept shaking his head, unwilling to believe it.

Master Yunlin simply took out his ring and pulled out a candied hawthorn. He looked at his good disciple and smiled kindly, "Do you remember this? That was the first time we met, and you kept asking me to buy it for you."

That night.

Master Yunlin died in the heavens.

He turned into dust in the world. At this moment, all the divine destiny rests on Wang Fugui.

Wang Fugui built a cenotaph.

They buried their master here. The Swallowing River Fish has also become intelligent, and both of them have reached the Qi Refining Realm.

Wang Fugui fed the fish and stroked the head of the swallowing river fish: "Jingli, would you like to leave with me? Let's leave this place and go see the outside world."

The newly awakened whale, Li, was bewildered and confused.

Although its personality was like a child's, it nodded: "Master, we've spent half our lives here. Where are we going now?"

"Go anywhere. Go to the far north, go to the far east, go to the far west, go to the far south."

"Let's go north to see the layers of waves. Let's see the beach, the sunshine, and the legendary fish."

"Let's go east and see the city built by cultivators. Pavilions and towers, the spring scenery of Jiangnan."

"Let's go west and see the desert. Let's see if there are many ancient ruins and hidden gems there under the blazing sun."

"Let's go to the southernmost point and explore the labyrinth of those heretical cultivators."

"Okay," Jing Li nodded.

After burying the Taoist priest Yunlin, the two left the Yunlin Taoist Temple.

They witnessed the singing fish of the East Sea and visited the city built by cultivators.

The journey was fraught with danger, with several near-death experiences.

However, in the yellow sands of the Western Regions,

Wang Fugui stopped in his tracks.

That day he met a girl. To be precise, she was an earth-elemental cultivator. Her sect was located in the yellow sand.

The sect's buildings stand tall on the oasis.

That looks like the ancient town of Loulan.

The girl wasn't stunningly beautiful, but she was very cheerful and had freckles on her face.

As a monk from the desert, the girl was very enthusiastic.

He took this cultivator from the south with him. They saw the oases in the desert and the ancient secret realms left behind. Time flew by, and the two fell in love, eventually becoming Daoist partners.

The girl's sect is called the Yellow Sand Sect.

Soon, he also joined the Yellow Sand Sect. He went from being a rogue cultivator to an elder of the Yellow Sand Sect.

Four hundred years later, their child was born.

Another 400 years passed, and Wang Fugui was nearing the end of his life. At this time, he was infinitely close to his master.

His hair was white and his temples were gray.

His Daoist partner of 800 years died. Her lifespan had ended, and she had failed to break through to the next level. So she silently closed her eyes in his arms.

Another 200 years have passed, and Wang Fugui is now 1000 years old.

Over the years, he has kept Jingli in the oasis of Huangshazong.

With his white hair, he walked up to Jing Li.

"Whale Li, let's go out one last time. Let's go outside and take a look."

Jing Li agreed.

But this time, Wang Fugui led him to this blessed land, also known as the Watery Grotto Heaven.

"Master, what are you doing?"

Wang Fugui did not possess the Youth-Preserving Pill. His appearance had aged beyond recognition, with age spots even appearing on his face.

He squinted and placed his hand in the water of Dongting Paradise.

"Look at this water, how beautiful the scenery is here. And the spiritual energy is abundant. Why don't you cultivate here from now on? You've wasted so much of your time following me. Look at you, you haven't broken through to the Core Formation stage yet. In the end, it's all my fault."

"Old man, what are you talking about? I don't think so. You are my master, I will follow you wherever you go." Jing Li was very angry, he was angry that his master would say such things to him.

He has shared life and death with his master for so many years.

Jing Li has never regretted it.

Master Yunlin smiled slightly. He watched the sunrise over this blessed land. After a short while, he recalled the days when he watched the sunrise at Yunlin Temple.

"Oh, Jingli, I am dying, my body will dissolve in the heavens."

After saying this, Wang Fugui sighed for no apparent reason. He was now the fifth generation of the Yunlin Taoist, but he never expected to die like his master.

He said what he had said back then.

People always yearn for the past. Now he looks more and more like his master. Even the kind look in his eyes seems like a replica.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Use the Longevity Pill!"

"It's pointless now. Even if I use the Longevity Pill, it will only extend my life by 10 years. After that, the effect will get worse and worse. I have no regrets in this life. Cultivators are meant to defy fate. I am already very fortunate to have reached this point." At this moment, Wang Fugui still had a kind expression on his face.

The river-swallowing fish opened its mouth, as if to say something.

But after a long while, they remained silent.

"You know what? My life has been so lucky, just like my name, I've been very wealthy and prosperous."

The river-swallowing fish remained silent.

Wang Fugui, however, was talking to himself.

"Do you know? I've had a life of luxury and ease since I was a child. I've never experienced any hardship. When I was seven, I was found to have spiritual roots, which led me to embark on the path of cultivation. I have a good teacher to guide me, and I also have a loving partner."

"My eldest child is now an elder of the Huangsha Sect."

"My second son is in charge of the law enforcement hall in the yellow sand."

"My third son inherited my mantle and became the sixth generation of Yunlin Taoist."

"I no longer want to cultivate immortality, nor do I aspire to eternal life. I want to return to my master's tombstone at the last moment of my life and offer him three sticks of incense."

Jing Li closed his eyes, knowing it was time to say goodbye to his master. He was a beast, while his master was human; even if they were at the same level, their lifespans were not equal.

Before parting, Jing Li asked a question.

"And what about you? What will you do in the future?"

"Of course, I'll go back to my wife's tombstone, take one last look at her, and wait for my death in heaven." This time, Wang Fugui didn't use the word "Daoist companion," but rather the word "wife."

He walked forward with his hunched back until he left the blessed land of Dongting.

As he departed, he shouted loudly, "Jingli, live on until you become a Core Formation Demon!"

Time has returned to the present.

Everything flashed through Jing Li's mind like a revolving lantern.

Qin Wuxie's blow tore a large hole in his stomach. Blood instantly stained the entire river surface red.

"Should we survive?" Jing Li hummed these three words.

His eyes suddenly turned fierce, as if in a final burst of energy before death. The spiritual power that had already dissipated surged wildly.

This powerful demon who ruled the watery lands for 1000 years,

He is using all his life force to activate his natal magical artifact.

"Water is stored in all directions—open."

"Send this little baby away."

The raging river surged forth, creating enormous waves. A gigantic water dragon soared into the air. The water dragon opened its massive mouth and swallowed Gu Heting whole.

"Old fish, old fish, no!"

"Live on, little one."