Buzhou Mountain's outline gradually blurred behind him, eventually becoming a hazy giant shadow where heaven and earth met. Lin Xuan (Xuanyuanzi) walked across the Primordial World and officially began his journey east.
He did not hurry to travel at full speed. The Primordial World was vast and perilous; rushing headlong was no different from suicide. Following the directions of the "Primordial Great Map" in his mind, he chose a relatively safe route, traveling by day and lying low at night as he proceeded cautiously.
His first priority was to master the new divine ability he had acquired—[Shrink Ground into Inches].
The sensation of space twisting and scenery stretching when he first used it still left him shaken. He took one step, and his figure blurred and vanished from where he stood, appearing a hundred zhang away the next moment. Only faint ripples in the air remained behind. This ability, almost like teleportation, far surpassed the speed of any transportation in his previous life, bringing him unprecedented freedom and exhilaration.
However, after a few attempts, its limitations became clear. The ability consumed a great deal of magic power. With his current cultivation at the perfect completion of the First Revolution of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique, after using it about ten times in succession, his dantian and qi sea would feel depleted, forcing him to meditate and recover. Space-jumping also placed considerable strain on his body, as if some invisible force were tearing at his bones and sinews with every leap. Had his Profound Technique foundation not been solid, he would likely have been injured already.
"It seems this divine ability can only serve as a means of speeding up or avoiding danger at critical moments for now. I can't use it as my everyday way to travel." Lin Xuan quickly reached a decision. He adjusted his approach, relying mostly on his own speed and supplementing it with lightness techniques in his daily travels. He used "Shrink Ground into Inches" only when faced with an impassable natural barrier or when he needed to cross a dangerous area quickly.
Even so, his pace far surpassed that of ordinary cultivators. As he continued east, the landscape gradually changed. The savage, oppressive atmosphere around Buzhou Mountain slowly faded, giving way to a more varied landscape: rolling, spirit-rich hills; primeval forests where ancient trees towered above and demon beasts lurked; and barren, jagged badlands filled with the smell of sulfur.
Using his [Insight Technique] and the map's warnings, he avoided powerful demon beast lairs and natural hazards several times. He also fought a few battles along the way, mostly against ferocious beasts that had yet to develop intelligence and acted on instinct. Lin Xuan took the opportunity to hone his newly mastered power and the combat techniques he had learned from the Wu Clan. Combining the formidable body of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique with skillful control of his strength, he often ended the fights quickly. He gathered some low-grade demon beast materials and inner cores as well, which made for a modest supply.
One day, he reached the shore of an immense, boundless lake. Its waters were clear, and misty waves stretched beyond sight. The lakeshore was lush with aquatic plants, and the spiritual energy was even richer than in the outskirts of Buzhou Mountain.
"The map marks this lake as Cloud Dream Marsh, a famous great marsh in the eastern Primordial World," Lin Xuan thought to himself, deciding to rest for a while. He found a secluded patch of reeds and was just about to meditate when, suddenly—
An indescribable feeling welled up inside him.
It wasn't killing intent, nor was it pressure. It was more like the entire world had grown "heavier." The spiritual energy in the air seemed to congeal. The wind stopped, and even the ripples on the lake stilled. A grand, lofty, indifferent will, seemingly born from the very source of the Heavenly Dao, spread from the distant west like an invisible tide, enveloping the land.
Before this will, Pangu's pressure at Buzhou Mountain had been vast and intimate, bearing the imprint of life. This will, by contrast, was pure "order," pure "law"—the "Dao," high above, looking down upon all living things.
Lin Xuan felt his breath catch, and a trace of instinctive fear stirred deep in his soul. The Nine Revolutions Profound Technique within him began circulating faster on its own, while the Chaos Bead trembled faintly and gave off a glow, helping him withstand the omnipresent pressure of the "Dao Charm."
[Warning! Detected the spread of extremely high-level Heavenly Dao pressure! Analyzing source... Origin: direction of Kunlun Mountain in the west! Suspected natural manifestation of the Dao Charm of the Three Pure Ones!] The system's alert sounded more serious than ever.
"The Three Pure Ones' pressure?!" Lin Xuan was deeply shaken. He abruptly raised his head and looked west. Though he was countless tens of thousands of miles away and couldn't see the shadow of Kunlun Mountain, he could clearly feel that the source of the Dao Charm that made heaven and earth pale lay in that direction.
Was it the tranquil inaction of Heavenly Lord of Morality, Laozi? The imposing order of Primal Heavenly Lord? Or Heavenly Lord of the Spiritual Treasure, Tongtian, who seized that single thread of life? Perhaps it was all of them. This pressure was directed at no one in particular. It was merely the ripple naturally produced when the Dao of three supreme beings—who were about to become Saints, or had already touched the threshold of Sainthood—joined with heaven and earth.
Yet to the beings of the Primordial World who had not even become immortals, this ripple was already like the might of heaven!
The low-grade aquatic creatures along the lakeshore were already trembling with fear, hiding underwater and not daring to show themselves. A few terrified roars rang out from the distant forest before quickly falling silent.
Enduring his discomfort, Lin Xuan sat cross-legged and circulated his cultivation technique with all his strength to resist. He realized this was both a trial and an opportunity! To feel the Dao Charm of future Heavenly Dao Saints at such close range—relatively speaking—even if only a negligible trace of it, would bring immeasurable benefits to his understanding of heaven and earth and of his own path.
He cast aside distracting thoughts and sank his mind into his body, carefully sensing the nature of this pressure. It was absolute control over the laws, a profound understanding of how all things worked. Before this Dao Charm, he felt his own insignificance more keenly than ever, but at the same time, his resolve to pursue the Great Dao grew even stronger.
After an unknown length of time, the boundless pressure slowly receded like a tide. The world returned to normal. The wind stirred the lake again, and spiritual energy began to flow.
Lin Xuan let out a long breath of stale air and slowly opened his eyes. Weariness flashed through them, but more than that, there was the clarity of someone who had weathered a trial. His cultivation had not improved, but his Dao heart seemed a little clearer.
"Kunlun Mountain. The Three Pure Ones..." He looked west, his gaze profound. That was where the Primordial World's pinnacle lay, where countless great powers gathered, and where he was certain to set foot one day.
This unexpected "first encounter" was like a silent invitation, and also like a warning bell. It let him truly feel the terror of the Primordial World's highest beings. And now, besides Longevity Mountain, his journey east had another distant and grand destination.
After resting, Lin Xuan rose and continued on his journey. The shimmering waters of Cloud Dream Marsh reflected his resolute figure as he gradually disappeared into the distance.
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