Ten Years, Five Realms

A woman's voice rang out within the Divine Sea. "The Five Physical Realms: Tendon Refinement, Bone Tempering, Blood Transformation, Aperture Opening, Spirit Gathering."

"They will not only strengthen your body, but also temper your Divine Soul."

"Ten years. I hope you can break through one realm every two years. Only then will you have a chance to one day face the crises of this world..."

Wang Xian drew a deep breath and replied, "Rest assured, Senior. I want to give Master a surprise!"

During the first year, Wang Xian had no time at all to comprehend the Three Thousand Great Daos.

The icy wind on the stone steps sliced across his body like blades. Combined with tenfold gravity, it carved him from head to toe until he was drenched in blood.

Just as his body was about to collapse, the Dao Scripture branded into his flesh transformed into golden light and swiftly repaired his torn body.

By the time he reached the two-hundredth stone step, when his body no longer feared the blade-like icy wind, two years of bitter cultivation had already passed.

In the third year, the gravity increased to thirteenfold.

It was like when he had first stepped onto the stone stairs, and he once again felt that terrifying pressure.

The crushing pressure was like a divine hammer, mercilessly pounding Wang Xian's body... He fell again and again, every bone in his body shattered.

Under the crushing pressure, Wang Xian's bones healed time and time again. The Dao Scripture spread from his blood, branding itself into the marrow throughout his body.

Another two years passed before Wang Xian rose from the stone steps and reached the five-hundredth step.

In the fifth year, the howling icy wind transformed into a divine dragon. Its claws tore Wang Xian's body apart again and again, ignoring his copper tendons and iron bones.

Clang!

A sword cry rang out from the depths of his Divine Sea, slashing toward the divine dragon in the wind...

For a moment, golden blood filled the sky. Wang Xian, having bled out his very last drop, smiled.

He spread his arms and embraced the blade-like icy wind, together with the dying divine dragon before him.

In the sixth year, Wang Xian reached the eight-hundredth stone step. Under the needle-pricking icy wind and gravity, it took him an entire year of bitter cultivation.

Amid torment worse than death, he opened the seven apertures of his body.

In the seventh year, the three thousand stone steps became a gigantic formation in Wang Xian's eyes.

Here, he had to use his body rather than his dantian to transform the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into the power of his flesh.

He also had to try to merge with the grand formation between heaven and earth...

That year, beneath his bitter training, Wang Xian looked as though he had gone mad!

Until he refined a wisp of spiritual energy between heaven and earth into the power of his flesh, until Wang Xian's figure could no longer be seen in the icy wind.

He had already reached the one-thousand-five-hundredth stone step.

For the remaining three years, he tempered his body while comprehending the Three Thousand Great Daos.

For three whole years, Wang Xian tried to use the insights of the past seven years, together with the stone steps beneath his feet, to comprehend the elusive Power of Time.

A trace of the Power of Space!

Even though it was only a fleeting realization, it filled him with boundless delight!

After three whole years, at last, as he stepped onto the final stone step, he seemed to see himself standing upon the two-hundredth stone step.

Or rather, directly from the two-thousand-eight-hundredth stone step.

He merely took one step, as though crossing through a folded expanse of space, arriving at the peak of the snowy mountain and before the woman in azure robes.

Ten years, five realms. It should be said that it was more than merely five realms.

The current Wang Xian had spent ten years in bitter cultivation, tempering his state of mind until it was steadier than before.

Lying prone in the snow, Wang Xian kowtowed three times to the woman before him.

He muttered, "I have never seen what Mother looked like. Senior, the feeling you give me is like that of a mother."

Upon hearing this, the woman felt a sharp pain in her heart.

She stroked his head and said softly, "Ten years, five realms. You truly did not disappoint me. The Divine Sword is hidden in your Divine Sea. Unless you reach above Spirit Transformation, you cannot wield it..."

Wang Xian asked, "Senior, are you leaving? Where can I find you in the future?"

With a wave of her hand, the icy wind in the sky gradually subsided, revealing the distant river of stars.

She gazed toward the horizon.

Yet she said gently, "One day, you will set foot among the heavens. We will naturally have a moment of reunion!"

Wang Xian nodded.

The woman sighed softly. "Ten years here amount to only ten days in the outside world. Remember well—do not tell anyone what happened here."

"Not even my master?"

"No!"

"Alright."

"You may leave now. I must leave as well!"

In that instant, the woman whispered into Wang Xian's ear, "The three sword techniques are: Questioning Heaven, Plucking the Stars, and Godslaying... I will wait for you among the heavens."

"Ah..."

Inside the main hall, before the Three Pure Ones.

The Old Daoist was trying on the new Daoist robes and shoes he had bought at the foot of the mountain. He had also bought several jars of fine spiritual wine.

Dongfang Nishang beside him could not help laughing. "What kind of master are you, with no proper bearing at all? Your disciple is still asleep, yet you are already preparing for the New Year."

Dantai Xiaoxue asked, "Master, when will Junior Brother wake up?"

Dongfang Nishang shook her head. "I do not know either. Back then, your master slept for a full three months before waking!"

Dantai Xiaoxue giggled. "When Junior Brother wakes up later, I wonder if he will scare Martial Uncle to death?"

The Old Daoist shook his head. "He has only been asleep for ten days. Could he possibly fly up to the heavens?"

"If he still does not wake up, I will take him back to the Sword Sect."

Dongfang Nishang sighed and said, "I am taking Xiaoxue back for the New Year."

"Ah..."

A startled cry shattered the silence in the main hall.

Wang Xian suddenly opened his eyes. Just as he was about to call out to the senior, he instantly covered his mouth.

All at once, he remembered the mysterious woman's warning.

The Old Daoist was startled, then smiled faintly. "If you had not woken up soon, your martial aunt would have taken you back to the Sword Sect."

Dantai Xiaoxue shook her head. "Master, it seems Junior Brother cannot bear to leave Martial Uncle and does not want to go home with us."

Dongfang Nishang stepped forward and reached out to grasp one of Wang Xian's little hands.

As she spoke, she said, "Let me see what kind of surprise you have given me."

"No, that is impossible. You clearly saw a snowy mountain. Why has your cultivation not increased in the slightest? Could it be that you saw the Divine Sword?"

Dongfang Nishang was utterly puzzled for a moment.

"It is fine. So long as you are back!"

The Old Daoist picked up Wang Xian's other hand and smiled. "Good disciple, tell your master what you saw on the snowy mountain..."

Fuck! Fuck!

The Old Daoist instantly bristled and cried out, "How is this possible? Junior Sister, this is ghostly!"

Only after the Old Daoist began shouting did Dongfang Nishang examine Wang Xian once more.

With just one look, even she sat dumbly to one side.

Stunned.

She looked at the Old Daoist and sighed softly. "Senior Brother, how is this possible? How could a child in the Foundation Establishment Realm possibly..."

In her view, the Divine Sea that could only be formed in the Spirit Transformation Realm had actually appeared within Wang Xian.

The Old Daoist touched Wang Xian's forehead and asked, "Good disciple, what did you see on the snowy mountain?"

Wang Xian did not answer. Instead, he clutched his stomach and shouted, "Master, I have been hungry for ten years! I am starving to death!"

"Ten years?"

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Nishang could not help glancing at the Old Daoist. She nearly fainted to the floor...

Holding Wang Xian's hand, she cried out inwardly.

How could this be possible? After all, the first time she entered, she had only stayed in the world of the Heavenly Book for three months.

The Old Daoist laughed heartily. "Do not worry. There is still half a pot of the porridge your martial aunt cooked this morning."

Dantai Xiaoxue walked over, touched Wang Xian's forehead, and asked, "Junior Brother, have you gone stupid?"