"Five thousand years have passed before I even realized it."
Inside the cave dwelling, Lei Xiao slowly opened his eyes, a trace of vicissitude flashing through them.
In later generations, five thousand years would have been enough for mortal civilizations to rise and fall dozens of times, for dynasties to come and go, and for the seas to turn into mulberry fields. Here, though, it was no more than a brief seclusion.
What was even more infuriating was that his cultivation had barely improved at all.
Five thousand years ago, he had forcefully activated the Purple Firmament Origin Divine Thunder within his body to save the Three Xiao, suffered a backlash, and fallen into a deep sleep.
Afterward, Yun Xiao had used some unknown method to restore him completely in just a thousand years. His cultivation had even advanced by an entire major realm, taking him from the early stage of the Mystic Immortal realm straight to the early stage of the Golden Immortal realm.
Because of that, Lei Xiao had gotten the mistaken impression that cultivation was easy.
But this time in seclusion had made him realize that cultivation was not easy at all.
"It seems that if I want to break through quickly, I still need to seek out opportunities. If I rely on secluded cultivation alone, then forget five thousand years—even after fifty thousand or five hundred thousand years, I might not advance by even a minor realm," Lei Xiao thought.
The Primordial World was full of opportunities. Setting everything else aside, if he could find an Innate Spiritual Treasure, his strength would improve by leaps and bounds.
Lei Xiao stepped out of his cave dwelling. Sunlight poured down, making him squint slightly.
The scenery on the Three Immortal Isles was no different from five thousand years ago. Exotic flowers and rare plants carpeted the mountains, and spiritual energy hung like mist, flowing slowly between the valleys.
"Fourth Brother, this is wonderful! You've finally finished your seclusion."
Suddenly, a figure appeared before him, her voice full of delight.
"Third Sister."
Lei Xiao gave the newcomer a slight nod. "Third Sister, why didn't you go into seclusion with Eldest Sister and Second Sister?"
"Seclusion is so boring."
As she spoke, Bi Xiao's eyes darted about. She edged closer to Lei Xiao and whispered in his ear:
"Fourth Brother, what exactly did Eldest Sister do to heal you back then? Not only did your cultivation leap straight from the early stage of the Mystic Immortal realm to the early stage of the Golden Immortal realm, but Eldest Sister's cultivation also advanced by a minor realm."
"I don't know either."
Lei Xiao spread his hands. This was not the first time Bi Xiao had asked him, but he truly had no idea. After all, he had been unconscious at the time.
By the time he woke up, his injuries had completely healed, and his cultivation had advanced straight from the early stage of the Mystic Immortal realm to the early stage of the Golden Immortal realm. As for Yun Xiao, she had already gone into seclusion before he woke up, and he had not seen her since.
"You really don't know?" Bi Xiao eyed him suspiciously.
"I really don't know." Lei Xiao repeated himself helplessly.
Bi Xiao stared at him for a long while, her gaze like that of someone scrutinizing a child who had told a lie. Lei Xiao met her eyes calmly, without the slightest hint of guilt—he truly did not know.
"All right."
Bi Xiao finally looked away and sighed. "Looks like I'll have to wait until Eldest Sister comes out of seclusion and ask her. You'll have to help me then, Fourth Brother."
"Help you?"
"Exactly. Help me cultivate. You helped Eldest Sister, so you can't refuse to help your Third Sister! Besides, it'll do you good, too." Bi Xiao fixed her gaze on Lei Xiao.
At her words, Lei Xiao thought back to how his cultivation had advanced by an entire major realm before, and he was immediately tempted.
"All right."
He nodded, then continued, "Third Sister, why don't we leave the Three Immortal Isles and go explore?"
Since transmigrating into the Primordial World, he had never left the Three Immortal Isles. Now, he wanted to leave for two reasons: first, to seek out opportunities; second, to gather some information and find out exactly what era it was, so he could make plans for the future.
As for why he was bringing Bi Xiao along, naturally, it was so she could serve as his bodyguard. After all, Bi Xiao was a Primordial Unity Golden Immortal.
From lowest to highest, the cultivation realms were Human Immortal, Earth Immortal, Heavenly Immortal, True Immortal, Mystic Immortal, Golden Immortal, Primordial Unity Golden Immortal, Daluo Golden Immortal, Primordial Origin Golden Immortal (Quasi-Saint), and Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal (Saint).
In the East Sea, a Primordial Unity Golden Immortal was already a powerful figure.
Besides, he still had the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder as his trump card.
After what had happened last time, his fusion with the Purple Firmament Origin Divine Thunder had reached one percent. He could now summon a weakened version of the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder at will. Anyone below the Daluo Golden Immortal realm who encountered his weakened Purple Heaven Divine Thunder would suffer severe injuries at best—or be reduced to ashes at worst.
However, summoning the weakened Purple Heaven Divine Thunder came at a price. Each time he summoned it, he would exhaust his essence, energy, and spirit, then fall into a brief slumber, during which he needed someone to protect him.
And Bi Xiao was undoubtedly a good choice.
"Leave the Three Immortal Isles?" Bi Xiao blinked. "Where to?"
"Just wander around. The East Sea is so vast; there must be somewhere worth going."
Lei Xiao smiled. "I've heard there are countless opportunities across the East Sea. If we find one, our cultivation could improve by leaps and bounds. The gains could surpass a million years of secluded cultivation. If you find seclusion boring, why not come with me?"
At Lei Xiao's words, a glimmer flashed through Bi Xiao's eyes.
She had always hated secluded cultivation. Even if Lei Xiao had not asked her, she had been planning to sneak out of the Three Immortal Isles and take a look around.
"I'm going. Of course I'm going."
"Don't worry, Fourth Brother. Once we're off the Three Immortal Isles, your Third Sister will protect you. Let's set off right now!"
Bi Xiao had the most impatient and playful nature. Before her words had even faded, she was already raring to go. She waved her hand, and a rosy glow swirled around her. A wisp of pure Primordial Unity Immortal Light carried Lei Xiao skyward.
Before Lei Xiao could react, Yun Xiao had already carried him away from the Three Immortal Isles.
Lei Xiao felt the wind howl past his ears as the scenery before him rushed backward. The Three Immortal Isles rapidly shrank in his field of vision, until in the blink of an eye, they were no more than a blurred outline.
The speed of a Primordial Unity Golden Immortal truly was no match for that of a Golden Immortal.
"Third Sister, slow down! Slow down!" The astral winds blew so hard that Lei Xiao could barely open his eyes. He hurriedly raised a mana barrier.
Only then did Bi Xiao slow down. She glanced back at him and grinned. "Fourth Brother, you're still too frail. You'll have to train properly when we get back."
Lei Xiao shook his head helplessly and said nothing.
In the Primordial World, innate beings were classified by their innate potential: lower-grade innate beings, middle-grade innate beings, upper-grade innate beings, and innate divine beings.
The Three Xiao were upper-grade innate beings, and top-tier ones at that.
Lei Xiao, however, was only a lower-grade innate being.
At the same cultivation realm, upper-grade innate beings outclassed lower-grade innate beings in every way, not to mention that there was an entire major realm between them.
Of course, as his fusion with the Purple Firmament Origin Divine Thunder progressed, Lei Xiao's innate potential would also improve. In the end, he might even surpass the Three Xiao and become an innate divine being.
As Bi Xiao slowed their flight, Lei Xiao spread out his spiritual sense.
Ten li... a hundred li... a thousand li...
Soon, his spiritual sense covered a radius of a hundred thousand li. This was not his limit, of course, but he chose not to extend it any farther.
Then countless voices in conversation turned into information and poured into his mind. He keenly picked out one piece of news.
"Hongjun has attained sainthood... The Purple Firmament Palace is holding a lecture..."
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