The sea.
A lone log floated on the sea, rising and falling with the waves.
On the log.
Shen Ye stood with his blade in hand, swinging and slashing without pause.
After sending Alois away, he had entered an illusion himself, devoting himself fully to comprehending knowledge and techniques at the level of a Void Sage.
Five hundred years passed.
He drifted on that deserted ocean, honing his skills with Saint-level knowledge, day and night without rest.
On this day.
Xiatelai's voice suddenly came from the long blade:
"The momentum of your Revolving Lantern is about to run out, and time will return to normal."
"-Are you going to end your training now?"
"No, I haven't progressed enough in my swordsmanship. I may need to keep training for a while," Shen Ye said.
Then he suddenly sensed something else and said apologetically:
"I'm sorry I haven't spent proper time with you."
"No need to apologize-the Human Race came into existence too recently, and you haven't grown enough yet. You really do need to keep training."
"Besides, among the Ten Thousand Worlds, many powerful beings cultivate continuously for as long as a thousand years."
"-You must work hard at your training and ensure your survival first."
Xiatelai spoke gently.
"Then I'll continue," Shen Ye said.
"Yes, I'll be right beside you-actually, I'm quite content just staying with you all this time," Xiatelai said.
Their conversation ended.
Shen Ye swung his long blade again, delivering a Revolving Lantern.
After an interval of five hundred years.
He struck himself with this move again.
But the move had become somewhat different.
Indistinct light descended, replacing the sea and turning the ocean into farmland.
Shen Ye stood in a bamboo grove.
He took his stance and continued honing his Blade Art.
Another eight hundred years