[On limit-breaking, accumulating cultivation]

[Unable to suppress your shock and doubt, you asked tentatively, "You... you're an [Otherworldly Demon] too?!"]

[You truly struggled to understand. Although your own [Simulator] was miraculous, after each simulation ended, you could choose only one thing to bring back to reality: cultivation, memories, or items.]

[Yet the [Rewind] ability of Chen Qingyan's [Supreme Limitless Dharma Seal] could bring him back to the anchor point with his entire state—cultivation, rank, and items—intact!]

[Apart from being unable to directly affect Nascent Soul True Lords, this effect was even more overbearing than your Simulator in certain respects.]

[—Of course, the [Simulator] could draw all sorts of talents. That was its unique advantage.]

["[Demon from Beyond Heaven]?" At your words, Chen Qingyan furrowed his brows slightly, seemingly trying to recall something. After a moment, he shook his head.]

["I have some recollection of that term, but I don't believe I am one..."]

[He waved the Dharma Seal in his hand, which emanated an ancient, profound aura, and explained:]

["This True Treasure of mine was personally refined for me by my venerable master.]

[In essence, it was formed by fusing three different True Treasures. In other words, it theoretically possesses three distinct powers."]

[He paused, a trace of helplessness in his voice:]

["It's just that my realm is still low, and my soul's strength is nowhere near restored. So far, I've only unlocked this one ability, [Rewind]..."]

[Moreover, in my current state, I can use it at most three times. I already used two of those chances to escape just now."]

[After hearing his explanation, you more or less understood. This heaven-defying [Rewind] ability was not something Chen Qingyan had been born with. It came from his master.]

[—Lin Feng, who was likewise an [Otherworldly Demon]!]

[Even if this ability was not a replica of Lin Feng's own Golden Finger, it was undoubtedly connected to him.]

[You asked Chen Qingyan about his next plans.]

[He suggested that you remain in this Secret Realm for the time being and cultivate with peace of mind.]

[He, meanwhile, needed to wait for the next opening of the [Myriad Beasts Mountain Range] Secret Realm.]

[Of the four directions, he had now explored three. Only the east remained untouched, and he was determined to meet that "old acquaintance" and get to the bottom of things.]

[Given that the [Supreme Limitless Dharma Seal] had only one use remaining,]

[And that the [Rewind] ability could not escape the perception of [Nascent Soul True Lords]—who would very likely notice and take new action—this undertaking was extremely dangerous.]

[Thus, Chen Qingyan decided to go alone, while you only needed to stay here and devote yourself to cultivation.]

[And so, because of Rewind, your timeline seemed to return to the point when you were [24 years old], and you began your Limit-Breaking cultivation for the [Qi Refining Realm].]

[Through Chen Qingyan's explanations, you finally understood what [Limit-Breaking] meant.]

[He likened cultivation to growing a tree: [Qi Refining] was a sapling, while [Foundation Establishment] was a towering tree. Their heights—potential and strength—were inherently different.]

[[Human-grade Qi Refining]: Even reaching [Qi Refining Perfection] was an extravagant hope, let alone Foundation Establishment. The path ahead was essentially severed.]

[[Earth-grade Qi Refining]: There was no possibility of limit-breaking. Foundation Establishment was fraught with difficulties, and most remained stuck at the [Foundation Establishment Middle Stage] for their entire lives.]

[The [Chen Family Ancestor] was one such example. Years ago, he had luckily broken through to Foundation Establishment through earth-grade Qi Refining and gained a lifespan of ten thousand years.]

[Later, as the end of his lifespan approached, he had been forced to merge himself with the lineage fortune to force his way into the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, gaining another twenty thousand years of life. The price, however, was that he could never leave the Chen Family's territory for the rest of his life.]

[[Heaven-grade Qi Refining]: This granted eligibility for [Limit-Breaking Foundation Establishment]! "Nine is the utmost number of Limit-Breakings."]

[That meant that, upon reaching Qi Refining Perfection, one could undergo at most Nine Limit-Breakings.]

[After those nine times, the quality of each Limit-Breaking and the Dao Attainment you had accumulated]

[Would determine the starting point of your "Dao Foundation" after Foundation Establishment, thereby elevating your Rank within the Foundation Establishment Realm and granting you deeper reserves and greater potential.]

[Chen Qingyan also mentioned a legend that had circulated for a very long time:]

[Before an unimaginably ancient epoch, there had once been a prodigy of breathtaking talent.]

[By some unknown method, that prodigy had actually broken the iron law of "Nine Limit-Breakings," achieving ten thousand Limit-Breakings before choosing to establish a foundation.]

[It was said that the Great Dao foundation this prodigy established was incomparably profound. Immediately upon Foundation Establishment, their own rank had already rivaled that of an ordinary [Golden Core Powerhouse]!]

[Hearing this set your heart soaring, but Chen Qingyan promptly doused your enthusiasm with cold water. He said that it was, after all, only a legend from ages past whose authenticity could no longer be verified, and there was no need to become too fixated on it.]

[You began the monotonous, lengthy process of Limit-Breaking cultivation.]

[Limit-breaking meant continuing to accumulate profound cultivation and pure energy after reaching perfection in one's current realm, until quantitative change sparked qualitative change and shattered an invisible shackle.]

[However, since you had just used this Secret Realm's source energy to break through to [Qi Refining Perfection],]

[It was currently in a "dormant" recovery period. Its spiritual energy was thin and could not provide sufficient energy to support you.]

[Thus, for now, you could only start by accumulating Dao Attainment.]

[[Heaven-grade Qi Refining Perfection] granted a lifespan of eight thousand years.]

[According to the standard Chen Qingyan had given you, however, completing your first Limit-Breaking required accumulating a full Five Hundred Years of Dao Attainment!]

[This meant that you had no choice but to settle your mind and begin an immensely long cultivation process measured in centuries, grinding away like a water-driven mill.]

[Age 25]: [Time seemed to freeze at this point once more.]

[Before leaving the Secret Realm, Chen Qingyan repeatedly urged you to remain here, never venture outside, and simply cultivate with peace of mind.]

[You knew full well that the situation outside was treacherous and your own strength insufficient, so you readily accepted his advice. After properly storing the ample Fasting Pills and Purified Water he had prepared for you before departing, you began your lengthy seclusion.]

[Age 26]: [Chen Qingyan still had not returned, and there was no movement at the Secret Realm's entrance.]

[Though a hidden worry lingered in your heart, you also understood that the path of cultivation was long. To high-level cultivators, a year or two passed in the snap of a finger.]

[You settled your mind and focused on accumulating Dao Attainment.]

[Amid this monotonous cultivation, day after day, you were delighted to discover that the effect of your [blue talent: Twice the Results with Half the Effort] also applied to accumulating Dao Attainment!]

[It seemed to optimize the process by which you comprehended heaven and earth and condensed magical power, making one year of your cultivation comparable to two years of an ordinary cultivator's arduous practice!]

[This discovery greatly invigorated you!]

[Originally, you would have needed Five Hundred Years to accumulate enough Dao Attainment for your first Limit-Breaking. Now, in theory, you needed only around two hundred and fifty!]

[This was undoubtedly an enormous encouragement.]

[You knew very well that in a place like the [Supreme True Realm], where the laws were complete,]

[Cultivation had to be accumulated through the tempering of real, genuine time. You could not achieve it quickly merely by finding a Secret Realm with a different flow of time, as in the novels of your previous life—]

[Unless an existence such as a [Nascent Soul True Lord] used their own mighty power to distort the local laws of space and time for you.]

[Age 28]: [There was still no word whatsoever from Chen Qingyan. Within the Secret Realm, you sat alone.]

[Occasionally, when you awakened from deep meditation and gazed at your empty surroundings,]

[You felt a trace of concern for that "martial nephew" who was both teacher and friend, wondering whether all had gone smoothly as he ventured alone into the dragon's lair.]

[But you soon suppressed that stray thought and threw yourself back into endless cultivation.]

[Age 30]: [Temporal Light slipped silently by, and the fifth year of your seclusion came to an end.]

[You could clearly feel that your aura had become more sustained, your control over spiritual energy increasingly subtle, and the strand of [Primordial Qi] within your dantian ever more condensed and substantial.]

[Though the Five Hundred Years of Dao Attainment required for your first Limit-Breaking remained far off, with the blessing of [Twice the Results with Half the Effort], you were steadily advancing toward your goal at Double the speed.]

[Within the Secret Realm, All Is Silent. Only your breathing and heartbeat echoed through the stillness, in harmony with some mysterious rhythm.]