Hearing this, Wei Liao's expression changed. He took a big step forward and waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Old man, what are you saying! How can we use your life to conduct an experiment? This won't do! This goes against the bottom line of us Great Xia soldiers!"

Wei Liao turned to look at Chen Huaishu and urgently suggested, "Old Chen, there are plenty of heinous death row prisoners covered in blood in the Military Department's prison. We can easily fetch a few to test, or even directly use them as energy for the sacrifice. Using an innocent old man's life, how could our conscience be at peace?"

Who would have thought that Uncle Fu would stubbornly shake his head upon hearing this. His face, covered in weather-beaten furrows, was full of determination.

"Chief Wei, even if they are death row prisoners in prison, their lives are still lives. Though they broke the law and should be punished by the law of the land, they shouldn't become sacrifices for this kind of ritual."

Uncle Fu sighed softly, his murky eyes filled with a serene calmness that had seen through life and death: "Besides, I'm already old, with half my body buried in the dirt. I don't have long to live, and my death is not to be regretted. If Young Master really is just an E-rank Professional, then sacrificing this old bone of mine alone will be enough energy. There is really no need to sacrifice other people's lives in vain."

"You?" Wei Liao was stunned, hearing the hidden message in Uncle Fu's words. He sized up the frail old man in front of him and asked tentatively, "Old man, could it be... you are also a Professional?"

Uncle Fu didn't speak, only nodding silently.

He reached out that withered, calloused hand like old wood, palm facing up, and spread it open.

"Whoosh—"

Accompanied by a faint wave of magic power, a wisp of scalding red flame danced into existence on the old man's fingertips. The firelight reflected on his weathered face, alternating between light and shadow.

Both Wei Liao and Chen Huaishu were stunned; they hadn't expected this old housekeeper to not be an ordinary person.

Looking at the flickering flame on his fingertips, a trace of nostalgia appeared in Uncle Fu's eyes: "Over twenty years ago, this old servant was actually a B-rank fire element Professional as well."

"It's just that, back then when I entered a high-difficulty Secret Realm dungeon, I encountered an extremely dangerous high-tier mutated beast. To cover the retreat of the young people in my team, I forcibly overexerted my strength, damaging my professional Origin. From then on, less than ten percent of my power remained, and I became a useless person who struggled even to cast the most basic Fireball spell."

Uncle Fu smiled bitterly, lightly clenching his fist as the fire on his fingertips went out: "In this cruel era, Classer who have lost their value are no different from trash. I was soon kicked out mercilessly by my original guild. At that time, I was crestfallen, penniless, and my old injuries flared up. I was about to freeze to death on the streets of Donghai City."

"It was at that time that Madam, who was Young Master's birth mother, kindly took me in. She not only spent a fortune hiring a priest to stabilize my injuries, but also gave me food to eat and allowed me to stay in the Zhou Family as a housekeeper."

Uncle Fu's eyes softened, as if returning to those warm years.

"It can be said that I watched Young Master grow up since he was a child. From his first babblings and tottering steps, to gradually becoming an adult. This child was sensible and kind-hearted from a young age."

"I still remember the winter when Young Master was six years old; the weather was particularly cold. My old illness flared up due to the cold poison left behind from that dungeon run back then, making me roll around in bed in pain. The servants of the Zhou Family were snobbish and refused to give me even an extra piece of charcoal."

"Young Master was still so small back then, but seeing my painful state, he actually snuck out of the Zhou Family compound and used the allowance he had painstakingly saved for a whole year to buy me an expensive Fire Spirit Stone heater. Not only that, he even brought over the thickest velvet blanket from his own bed and wrapped it tightly around me."

Speaking up to here, Uncle Fu's voice began to tremble, and his eyes filled with murky tears: "He was lying by my bedside back then, holding my hand with his own small hands that were red from the cold, crying as he said: 'Uncle Fu, don't be scared, Huaier will keep you warm, Huaier won't let you die...'"

Two streams of clear tears slid down Uncle Fu's aged cheeks, yet he was completely oblivious, a happy and satisfied smile on his face.

"To say something rebellious, in my heart, Young Master has long been my own biological grandson."

"He suffered so many hardships, endured so much cold shoulder and humiliation, and now that he finally had a turning point and became a hero who saved Great Xia, before he even got to enjoy a single day of peaceful life, how could he leave just like this?"

"Therefore," Uncle Fu raised his head, looking brightly at the two military chiefs, his tone pleading: "I implore the two chiefs to satisfy this small wish of this old servant! Let me use this remnant life of mine to exchange for Young Master to see the light of day again. Can you?"

After speaking, Uncle Fu bent his knees, making a gesture as if about to kneel before them.

Chen Huaishu was quick and nimble; he darted forward in an instant, supporting Uncle Fu's arms with both hands.

This Old General who had been through countless storms now felt a complex and heavy mood.

Looking at Uncle Fu's sincere, longing eyes, his throat tightened, and for a long while he couldn't speak a word.

After a long time, Chen Huaishu finally nodded heavily, his voice raspy: "Alright... I promise you."

One day later.

Outside Donghai City, in an extremely remote and desolate wilderness.

The autumn wind blew bleakly, and the withered yellow wild grass bowed low in the wind.

To prevent any uncontrollable accidents during the sacrifice ritual, Chen Huaishu had specifically chosen this location far away from the urban area and sparsely populated.

At this time, within a radius of ten kilometers around the perimeter, fully armed elite military soldiers were already deployed. Guarding every three to five steps, they set up the highest level of blockade. Several high-tier energy defense Formations had also been fully activated, forming layers of semi-transparent light curtains to protect the core area, lest the Pendulum of Life burst out energy that would harm innocents if it lost control.

Having completed all these strict deployments, Chen Huaishu then solemnly brought out that mysterious Pendulum of Life from a specially made armored vehicle.

He reached out and gently supported the base of the pendulum.

"Hum—"

Accompanied by a deep and ancient humming sound, that huge golden Pendulum of Life actually detached automatically from his hand, slowly floating up into midair. The complex and obscure runes on the pendulum's surface began to light up in sequence, and a vast, desolate atmosphere enveloped this wasteland.

Chen Huaishu didn't need to deliberately try. The moment his Mental Strength made contact with the Pendulum of Life, using the personal clothing belonging to Zhou Huai brought by Uncle Fu as a medium, Zhou Huai's appearance automatically floated into his mind.

Immediately after, the Pendulum of Life transmitted back an energy feedback.

In his mind, the energy orb representing Zhou Huai's main body emitted a light that was extremely dim and weak. Just as Uncle Fu had said, this "Ever-changing Star Lord", who had shocked the entire Great Xia Military Department and could control several SS-rank Avatars, was actually merely an E-rank Professional in his main body.

Sensing this weak energy fluctuation, Chen Huaishu breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

If Zhou Huai's main body was also SSS-rank, the lifespan required to resurrect him would be an astronomical figure. It was likely that not only Uncle Fu, but countless people's lives would have to be filled in.

But now that it was confirmed to be E-rank, that meant the required sacrifice energy was extremely small. Uncle Fu's former B-rank Professional life Origin was indeed more than enough.

This way, no more people would have to be sacrificed because of this.

"Old man, it has been confirmed. We can begin." Chen Huaishu turned around and nodded to Uncle Fu, who had been waiting quietly on the side.

Looking at the Pendulum of Life floating in midair and emanating a sacred golden light, a smile of relief appeared on Uncle Fu's wrinkled face.

He tidied up his faded grey long robe and walked with steady steps directly beneath the Pendulum of Life.

Then, he brushed his robe and sat down cross-legged calmly.

He raised his head, looking peacefully at Chen Huaishu and Wei Liao standing not far away. There was no panic or fear of facing death in his eyes; instead, he wore a smile, like an elder about to embark on a long journey.