Before they knew it, a year had quietly passed.
That year, Shiheng and Kelin Xiaoman traveled together across more than half the O’Brien Empire. They had stood atop the towering walls of the Empire Capital, looking down upon the magnificent sight of a million soldiers and civilians and delegations from countless nations paying tribute; they had ventured deep into the northern snowfields, frozen for a thousand miles, watching heaven and earth merge into a single expanse of white and contemplating the biting severity of the laws amid the bitter cold; they had also lingered in ordinary streets and alleys, feeling the everyday warmth of mortal life and tempering their minds through every simple meal, every frown and smile.
They traveled, and as they traveled, they gained insight.
Mountains, rivers, lakes, seas, the sun, moon, stars, and the myriad forms of living beings all became nourishment for the great paths. Shiheng's understanding of the four Supreme Laws-destruction, life, death, and fate-grew ever deeper and more harmonious. Through the passage of time and his continued contemplation, his once wild and unruly Berserk power also lost some of its volatility, becoming easier to unleash and rein in at will.
Under his careful guidance, Kelin Xiaoman's cultivation also advanced steadily. Her laws of water grew increasingly refined, and she had long since firmly entered the ranks of eighth-level water-element mages. The princess who had once been somewhat innocent and endearing now possessed a gentle, composed bearing, her eyes holding more of the poise and clarity gained from traveling through mountains and rivers.
Leaving behind the prosperity and fierce martial spirit of the O’Brien Empire, the two headed east. The world around them gradually opened up, and cities grew sparse.
At last, they entered the easternmost reaches of the Yulan Continent-the supposedly boundless Far East