At the very least, Han Xuanji felt that protecting her own life and the lives of those around her was not a problem.
"Oh, right, there's also news about Tongtian Dao Venerable. We can try to find him sooner."
Han Xuanji pondered the beast tide for a long time, almost forgetting about the matter of Tongtian Dao Venerable.
After all, he had received the other party's inheritance before, and they had done him a favor.
Before coming to the Eternal Continent, the Taishang and the Primordial Beginning Dao Venerable also earnestly requested him to search for their traces if possible.
He originally planned to use the methods of the Dao of Fate to search for someone after he had cultivated to a certain level, but he didn't expect to find someone so quickly.
That was somewhat unexpected.
" Xuanji?"
Seeing that Han Xuanji remained silent for a long time, Hun Qianling waved her hand in front of him.
What are you thinking about?
Han Xuanji snapped out of his daze, glanced at her, and spoke with a calm expression:
"It's nothing. But you, have you encountered a bottleneck in your cultivation lately?"
Hun Qianling was taken aback, then nodded somewhat embarrassedly:
"How did you know? I'm also trying to master the Five Elements Dao Principle, but I always feel like something's missing, though I can't quite put my finger on it."
"You've figured out the order of the five elements' mutual generation, but you haven't thought about the order of their mutual restraint in reverse."
Han Xuanji put down his teacup, and with a light stroke of his fingertip across the table, five subtle Power of Principle lit up in succession: metal generates water, water generates wood, wood generates fire, fire generates earth, and earth generates metal, forming a continuously flowing halo.
"You usually only follow the order of generation, but the reason why the five elements can form a cycle is because there is generation within restraint, and restraint within generation. If you go through it in reverse, you will discover something different."
The halo spun inverted at his fingertips, forming a closed loop: metal overcomes wood, wood overcomes earth, earth overcomes water, water overcomes fire, and fire overcomes metal, only in the opposite direction.
The two halos overlapped, subtly forming a complete picture.
Hun Qianling stared intently, and after a long while, she murmured:
"So that's how it is... I was indeed too fixated on the other side before."
One month later.
Under Han Xuanji's guidance, Hun Qianling's understanding of the Five Elements Dao Principle also progressed by leaps and bounds.
This day.
Han Xuanji put down his teacup, his expression becoming more serious:
"I'm looking for someone named Li Tiantong. Could you keep an eye out for him? He's been in Thousand Souls City for a while now, I'm not sure exactly when, but it shouldn't be too long."
Hun Qianling blinked, then suddenly a thought flashed through her mind:
" Li Tiantong... Tongtian Dao Venerable? Could it be that the person you are looking for is Tongtian Dao Venerable?"
He had some understanding of Han Xuanji's interpersonal relationships during the Chaos period.
Many years ago, it seems that Dao Ancestor transcended the world along with Tongtian Dao Venerable, leaving Taishang and Yuanshi to stabilize the Chaos situation. However, there has been no news of them since their transcendence.
In Hun Qianling's view, the probability of these two reaching the Eternal Continent after their reckless transcendence is extremely low. Even if they quickly reach the Eternal Dao Master Realm after transcending, it will still be extremely difficult for them to survive in the Primordial Sea.
"Exactly."
Han Xuanji nodded, without denying it.
Hun Qianling opened her mouth, wanting to ask Han Xuanji how he knew this news, even calculating so clearly when the other party would arrive in Thousand Souls City.
But the words stuck in his throat.
She knew Han Xuanji too well; this guy had as many secrets as the stars in the sky, so asking him was pointless. He would always brush her off with something like "good luck."
"Fine, I won't ask how you knew."
Hun Qianling waved her hand, with an expression that said, "I'm used to it."
Seeing her hesitant expression, as if she wanted to ask but dared not, Han Xuanji couldn't help but laugh:
"Actually, you were the one who told me."
"I?"
Hun Qianling was stunned. "When did I tell you that? I've never even heard of that name before."
Han Xuanji chuckled, offering no explanation.
Hun Qianling glared at him, increasingly convinced that he was just teasing her.
However, she wasn't one to dwell on things, so since Han Xuanji wasn't willing to talk about it, she didn't ask.
In any case, nothing he does is ever without a reason or cause.
"Fine, fine, if you don't want to talk, then forget it."
Hun Qianling stood up. "I'll make arrangements right away. Have someone find this Li Tiantong. Is there anything else you want to say?"
"There is none left."
Han Xuanji shook his head.
Hun Qianling responded and turned to walk towards the door.
As he reached the door, he turned back and glanced at Han Xuanji.
"By the way, the Life and Death Ravine is about to open, but the specific procedures will take several years. Just focus on your cultivation, and I'll let you know when there's any news."
"Good."
Hun Qianling's footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
Han Xuanji picked up his teacup again, silently calculating in his mind.
"There's still a long time before the beast tide arrives. In the simulation, I should be quite a distance from becoming Eternal True God, but in reality, reaching the Eternal Sage Realm shouldn't be a problem..."
Han Xuanji put down his teacup, got up, and walked back to his cultivation room.
He sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and his mental will was greatly enhanced. There was no need to rush to comprehend the Dao Principle of Life and Death. He had just stepped into the seventh level of the Eternal Dao Master, and this period of time was perfect for improving his cultivation. He could also wait for news from Li Tiantong and the opening of the Life and Death Ravine.
On the other side.
Thousand Souls City, at the outer gate of the Five Elements Pavilion.
Li Tiantong stood in front of a small building, looking at the mission Jade Slip he had just received in his hand, his brows furrowed.
He has been in Thousand Souls City for decades.
From an unknown Rogue Cultivator to barely managing to enter the outer sect of the Five Elements Pavilion Tower, the hardships he endured are beyond the comprehension of outsiders.
My salary was withheld, I was forced to run errands, I was looked down upon... These kinds of things happened far too often.
The rules of this world are simple: if you have connections and powerful backers, you'll have resources and status.
No, you'll only be trampled underfoot.
He, Li Tiantong, had nothing.
So he had no choice but to endure it.
In the Chaos, he was the powerful and influential Tongtian Dao Venerable. However, upon arriving on the Eternal Continent, he encountered setbacks at every turn, having to earn even the most basic Cultivation Resources bit by bit on his own.
The kind of fall from the clouds to the dust would have caused someone with a weaker will to have their resolve crumbled long ago.
Fortunately, he's not that kind of person.
Moreover, once you break through to the Eternal True Lord, you can become inner disciple, and your treatment will be completely different then.
However, the task he received today left him somewhat helpless.
"Heading to the Nine Mountains Mining Area, to oversee its centennial construction."
Li Tiantong looked at the words on the Jade Slip, a bitter smile curving his lips.
The Nine Mountains Mining Area is a remote and barren mineral vein located far from Thousand Souls City.
The Spiritual Qi there is scarce, the environment is harsh, and most importantly, those sent there are all, without exception, outcasts ostracized by the forces within the building.
When the supervisor returned after a century, all the connections and resources he had painstakingly built up in the outer sect had already been divided up by others.
"This is driving me to the brink of despair."
Li Tiantong gripped the Jade Slip slip tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white.
He knew who was sabotaging him behind the scenes: Zhang Dayuan, the outer sect steward, the very same "Senior Brother Zhang" who allowed his subordinates to withhold his share of Spirit Stone.
This person's cultivation level is not high, but he has been operating in the outer sect of the Five Elements Pavilion for many years, keeping a group of lackeys under his command who specialize in bullying new disciples without any background.
Li Tiantong previously gone to argue with him, offending him; this was retaliation.
He was unwilling to go to the Nine Mountains Mining Area.
Not going would be disobeying the sect's orders, which could result in expulsion from the outer sect at best, and the loss of one's cultivation at worst.
"Fine, let them go."
Li Tiantong loosened his grip and put the Jade Slip into his pocket.
It's only a century; he can wait that long.
Once he returns from the mining area, we'll figure out a way to climb up the ladder.
As long as Undying, there will always be a day when you can get ahead.
He turned around, pushed open the door of the stone house, and began packing his luggage.
Just then, an outer disciple rushed over, panting, and shouted:
"Li... Li Tiantong! Someone is looking for you!"