Xu Ran, armed with a basic cultivation technique and the secret of his Longevity Dao Fruit, faces the paradoxical barrier Yue Qingyu identified: his advanced comprehension prevents him from truly comprehending. He cannot sense the Heaven and Earth Spirit Qi. Instead of giving up, Xu Ran embraces his infinite lifespan. He leaves Xu Family Village, builds wealth using past-life knowledge, and then dedicates decades to consuming all the books of this new world. He aims to "wash away" his ingrained past-life notions, hoping to make space for the "spark of insight" he lacks. This isn't a quick fix; it's a slow, deliberate act of mental deconstruction and reconstruction. After a full decade, a flicker of enlightenment while reading a Tao Scripture finally allows him to sense Spirit Qi and step into the Qi Cultivation First Layer. He quickly learns that cultivation demands not just power accumulation, but deep comprehension of the Dao itself, a process that normally takes a lifetime. He understands Yue Qingyu's words now, but with endless time, he simply isn't fazed, settling into a calm, unhurried pace of cultivation and continued study. This arduous, solitary journey highlights the unique nature of his cheat: it grants endless attempts, not instant success.

Fifty years after leaving Xu Family Village, Xu Ran reaches Qi Cultivation Third Layer. He realizes the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer requires "Dao Hearing," a profound comprehension beyond mere rote practice. After another fifty years of fruitless observation, he finally uncovers the hidden Dao Rhyme of "Withered Wood Revives in Spring" within the wooden token Yue Qingyu had given him, breaking through. He journeys to the Profound Pure Sect, where Yue Qingyu, now a Golden Core prodigy, honors her century-old promise, sponsoring his entry. Ning Caique, the former Xiaoque'Er, now a middle-aged woman, initially expresses resentment, seeing him as a burden on Yue Qingyu's reputation, but later discreetly provides him with Qi Gathering Pills. Inside the sect, Xu Ran's poor combat talent is exposed when he's easily defeated by the arrogant young genius Zhang Zhentian in a public match. This humiliation, however, leads Qing Xuan Master, an upright Elder, to take an interest. Qing Xuan Master orchestrates a series of brutal, simulated life-or-death sparring sessions, forcing Xu Ran to awaken his combat instincts and shed his past-life's peaceful nature. The physical and mental torment is immense, but Xu Ran's stubborn refusal to stay down, fueled by his unique experience with death, allows him to rapidly improve his combat skills. He also learns that Yue Qingyu has been secretly paying for all his sect benefits and even fabricated a story about him finding a longevity fruit with her to protect him from scrutiny. This revelation deepens his already immense gratitude, pushing him to find a way to repay her.

Driven by a desire to vindicate Yue Qingyu and prove his worth, Xu Ran dedicates himself to Spirit Stream Peak's Spirit Fields. Combining his past-life knowledge of agriculture with this world's spiritual insights, he develops the "Heaven, Earth, and Human Talents Pest Control System." While he works quietly, the sect's celebrated prodigy, Ye Shan, attempts a Golden Core breakthrough in a dangerous Secret Realm. He is ambushed by rival sects, his Dao Foundation shattered, and he falls into a coma. Ning Caique, also in the Secret Realm, suffers a similar fate, her Dao Foundation destroyed. Xu Ran uses the Fourth Grade Healing Elixir Ye Shan had once casually gifted him to save Ning Caique, then accepts her adopted daughter, Little Xiyue, as his disciple. Amidst these tragedies, rumors circulate blaming Ye Shan for the sect's losses and questioning Yue Qingyu's actions. Yue Qingyu reveals these rumors about herself are a deliberate strategy, orchestrated by her and the sect, to distract from the greater danger Ye Shan now faces as a target. Xu Ran submits his pest control system, which proves incredibly effective, significantly boosting the sect's annual income and helping it weather the losses from the Secret Realm. This quiet contribution earns him the title of Honorary Elder, and the sect begins to acknowledge his unique potential, fulfilling his desire to bring honor to Yue Qingyu's judgment.

The sect faces a looming war with the Evil and Demon Domains. Zhang Zhentian, now a Foundation Establishment prodigy, volunteers for the front lines, seeking Xu Ran's "Will of Death" swordsmanship to prepare. He endures the same brutal, mental sparring Xu Ran once did, proving his fierce resolve to become the sect's new hope. Meanwhile, Ye Shan, seemingly recovered but now a bragging, disheveled old man, secretly warns Xu Ran that his overt talent as a Spirit Plant Master could make him a target, implying his own "fall" is a strategic act of self-preservation. Chen Chang'an confirms this, revealing Ye Shan's arrogant Golden Core breakthrough attempt was a desperate gamble to unleash an ultimate swordsmanship, and his current persona is a deliberate shield. Qing Xuan Master, inspired by the birth of his child, breaks through to Nascent Soul, but questions how his new attachments will affect his unwavering sense of justice. Xu Ran, now Foundation Establishment, continues to raise Little Xiyue, who grows into a genius Array Master, learning from Ye Shan and demonstrating fierce loyalty to her master. The Wangyue Sect's destruction reveals a deeper conspiracy of non-Immortal Ancient World cultivators infiltrating the realm. Xu Ran, now a silent mentor and observer, understands his unique path: to outlast and quietly influence, watching the fleeting brilliance and tragic falls of others while his own, eternal journey unfolds.