December 14, Qin Era 64.
Qin Kingdom. Chang'an. Immortal Stele of Enlightenment.
Zhang Han had sat before the Immortal Stele of Enlightenment for three days and three nights. The surrounding area had been cleared, and no one came to disturb him.
Ten years had passed since spiritual energy first appeared.
Zhang Han had first spent five years reaching the seventh grade of the Qi Refining Realm, then another two advancing to the ninth grade.
August 27, Qin Era 61.
Zhang Han became the first human to break through to the ninth grade of the Qi Refining Realm. People placed great hopes in him, eagerly awaiting his breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
After all, no one knew what the Foundation Establishment Realm was actually like. Could they really cultivate their way to that realm?
How did it differ from the Qi Refining Realm?
At the ninth grade of the Qi Refining Realm, his strength had already reached 9,999 jin, but no matter how he cultivated, he could not break past ten thousand jin of strength. (Kilogram = kg.)
Each grade gained in the Qi Refining Realm increased one's strength by 500 jin.
When his strength reached its peak and he could no longer advance, he chose to cultivate other acupuncture points.
This also proved that Mr. Ying Si's theory was indeed correct: opening the acupuncture points in the legs increased speed, while opening those in the palms increased strength.
But once his strength reached 9,999 jin, no amount of cultivating other acupuncture points could push him past that limit.
After advancing to the ninth grade, he encountered his first bottleneck on the immortal Dao. He remained stuck for an entire year.
September 3, Qin Era 62.
Zhang Han was now exactly thirty years old. He had neither married nor been in a romantic relationship; his heart was devoted solely to the immortal Dao.
He cultivated every waking moment because he knew the younger generation was catching up fast. The most advanced among them had already reached the eighth grade of Qi Refining and would soon catch him.
When that happened, he would no longer be the strongest person on Blue Star.
He had now been stuck at the same grade for a year, unable to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
And so, the more anxious he became, the more unsettled his heart grew.
Wang Jian saw it all and invited him to dinner that evening. He had not wanted to go, but in the end, he did.
Partway through their drinks, Wang Jian suddenly said, "Zhang Han, everyone can see how hard you work. You care too much about fame, rank, and wealth. That hinders your immortal cultivation. Your heart has fallen into turmoil."
Seeing the confusion in Zhang Han's eyes, Wang Jian continued, "Take Bai Qi and me. We're friends as well as rivals. Everyone compares our achievements, insisting on ranking one of us first and the other second. We just smile when we hear it, eat our meals, and drink our wine. What difference does it make who's first?"
"Live as yourself. Don't worry about what others think. You are you. You are Zhang Han, the future of the Human Race. Set cultivation aside and go out for a walk!"
Zhang Han suddenly understood. It was his own heart that had fallen into turmoil.
He looked gratefully at the idol he had once admired most. As his cultivation realm rose, he had stopped regarding anyone else as worthy of his attention.
He had lost his reverence for all things in the world. Everyone around him could see that his heart was in turmoil, yet no one had thought to remind him.
Looking gratefully at Wang Jian, he suddenly dropped to his knees and kowtowed in thanks.
Neither man spoke again. Zhang Han drained his cup of wine and left the room.
That night, he resigned from his position as Qin Kingdom Attendant before the Qin Emperor, then set off toward Chang'an alone with his sword.
Walking through the streets and alleys, gazing at the lights of countless homes, he suddenly smiled.
He seemed to know where his path lay now.
And so, he wandered the continent, traveling throughout the Primordial Continent. He visited the tombs of the Three Sovereigns, the former sites of the Xia Dynasty, and the old battlefield where the Yellow Emperor had fought Chiyou, stopping and starting along the way.
Six months passed like this. He already had a feeling that he could break through the Qi Refining Realm and reach the Foundation Establishment Realm at any moment.
But he merely smiled, lifted the wine gourd at his waist for a sip, and continued wandering the continent.
He went to the Firmament Continent, stayed among the Dwarf Race for three months, then headed north.
After reaching the Heavenly Mystery Continent, Zhang Han saw the three races of the Elf Race, the Tree of Life, and countless humans cultivating magic.
Watching them cultivate magic and cast magic skills struck him as curious and fascinating, so he stayed there for half a year.
This was a paradise for animals. Riding a dinosaur through the primeval forests, he took in his homeland's magnificent mountains and rivers.
Just then, a ferocious Quetzalcoatlus flew toward him, clearly taking him for prey.
Just as the Quetzalcoatlus was about to reach him, Zhang Han struck.
One sword stroke sealed its throat. Without so much as a glance, he continued forward.
He was too fast. The Quetzalcoatlus fell straight to the ground without landing on him.
Not only did he strike quickly, but he also walked quickly.
Zhang Han rubbed his bearded face. Over the past year, he had neither changed his clothes nor groomed himself.
His clothes were long since covered in grime, his body caked in mud, and his beard covered his entire face. He had done nothing to tidy himself up.
When he first began wandering the continents, humans often recognized him and greeted him. As time passed, no one could recognize him anymore.
It seemed everyone had forgotten him.
Zhang Han continued into the distance, caught a Quetzalcoatlus, and sat on its back, flying toward the most distant continent.
That was the Sea-Listening Continent.
The Sea-Listening Continent lay far from any trace of civilization. Almost no people lived there, only birds that bred and flourished, along with a few adventurers who came to explore.
Zhang Han cultivated there for eight months, hunting birds when hungry and drinking dew when thirsty.
Over those eight months, he had compressed his spiritual energy to its limit once more. Suddenly, he opened his eyes. The time had come.
He whistled, and a Quetzalcoatlus flew over-the same one as before.
He flew toward the Primordial Continent.
Perhaps the Foundation Establishment Realm truly was a bottleneck in cultivation, one that required time and the right state of mind.
During his two years wandering the continents, not a single human had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Six people had reached the ninth grade of the Qi Refining Realm, only to stop progressing and enter a bottleneck.
December 3, Qin Era 64.
Zhang Han returned to the Qin Kingdom. Seeing his bedraggled appearance, the soldiers guarding the Great Wall failed to recognize him at all.
Zhang Han tossed a certificate from his pocket. The soldiers guarding the wall panicked and hurried to consult their superiors.
He was actually a high-ranking military officer of the Qin Kingdom, one of the very highest. His name sounded somewhat familiar, too.
The soldier suddenly started. Wasn't this General Zhang Han, Great Qin's foremost Qi Refining cultivator?
People said that, unable to break through his cultivation realm, he had failed to endure the blow and lost his mind, wandering everywhere in rags. Countless people lamented his fate.
Once his identity was verified, Zhang Han was soon escorted into the city. Looking at the bustling streets and everyone pointing and whispering about him, he merely smiled.
He enjoyed a comfortable bath and shaved the hair from his face, but kept the beard on his chin.
His long hair now fell to his shoulders. After a simple trim, he coiled it into a shape, looked in the mirror, and smilingly named it the "Primordial Unity Topknot."
Zhang Han wore plain blue-green robes with a sword tucked at his waist. Together with his hairstyle, they gave him an extraordinarily ethereal air, untouched by the mundane world.
December 10, Qin Era 64.
He returned to Chang'an in the Qin Kingdom.
He visited Ying Zheng, Wang Jian, Bai Qi, and the brothers who had cultivated alongside him in the beginning.
Everyone felt as though he had become an entirely different person. Looking at him, a single word rose unbidden in their minds: "Immortal."
The bearing of an immortal, the bones of a sage!
Zhang Han met every comment and teasing remark with a smile.
Early the next morning, he walked toward the Immortal Stele of Enlightenment, sat before it, and slowly closed his eyes.
Knowing that he might be about to break through, Ying Zheng dispersed everyone who had come to watch.
December 14, Qin Era 64.
Zhang Han had sat motionless before the Immortal Stele of Enlightenment for three days and three nights without eating or drinking.
He was reflecting, contemplating the road ahead and why he sought immortality.
Finally, at two in the afternoon on the fourteenth, Zhang Han slowly opened his closed eyes.
He drew the sword at his waist, stroked it fondly, and tossed it in front of him. Then he leaped up and rode the Precious Sword into the air.
The people of Chang'an stared at the figure in the sky with disbelief in their eyes.
Soon, Ying Zheng, Bai Qi, Wang Jian, and the others hurried out after receiving the news. They gaped at Zhang Han in the sky.
Standing on the Precious Sword, Zhang Han gazed ahead with his hands behind his back. His sleeves fluttered, making him look like an immortal descended to the mortal world.
Standing on the Precious Sword, Zhang Han extended a hand. The Precious Sword beneath his feet suddenly flew into his grasp.
Countless onlookers below cried out in astonishment.
Gripping the Precious Sword, Zhang Han suddenly slashed hard at a mountain peak before him.
Countless people widened their eyes, staring ahead in disbelief.
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