After an unknown length of time, Xu Xuan slowly opened his eyes.
A strange gleam of interwoven crimson and watery blue flashed through his eyes, then vanished.
He rose to his feet, sensing the two nascent true intents within him growing ever more complete.
Although he had not found the demonic artifact this time.
This sacrificial site had allowed the nascent true intents he had comprehended to take root and sprout in earnest.
"Misfortune and fortune lean upon each other. This evil sect's sacrificial site ended up becoming fuel for my enlightenment instead."
With a snort, Xu Xuan raised his hand, and his vast five-element magical power turned into towering flames.
They burned the entire underground cavern, along with the evil altar, to nothing, leaving not a trace.
Glancing at the flames below, Xu Xuan turned and flew away, his gaze resolute.
Time slipped by; spring departed and autumn came.
In the blink of an eye, more than a decade had passed.
Ever since comprehending true intent at the sacrificial site, Xu Xuan had remained in seclusion deep within the Upper Azure Hall, digesting his gains.
Over those dozen or so years.
With the Kingdom of Wu at its center, Xu Xuan had extended the Azure Mystery Sect's rule into several small neighboring cultivation kingdoms.
He had made them all submit, offer regular tribute, and adopt the Azure Mystery Sect's rules as national policy. None dared disobey.
Although Xu Xuan seldom ventured out, his formidable reputation had only grown.
The surrounding cultivators privately honored him as the "High Lord."
Thanks to a steady supply of resources and a deeper understanding of five-element true intent, Xu Xuan's cultivation advanced steadily.
Although he had not broken through, his magical power and spiritual sense had almost reached the utmost limits of Foundation