Chapter 161: Chapter 128: Three Years of Time

Time passes like a shuttle weaving through the loom.

During this period, many things happened in Celestial Profound City. Master Lu had been in seclusion for three years, with outside rumors suggesting that his life span was nearing its end, akin to a sunset’s afterglow.

Yet, this did not affect the prosperity of Celestial Profound City in the slightest. After all, among the Seven Kingdoms, scattered cultivators couldn’t find a place with spiritual energy as rich as this.

Thus, Celestial Profound City continued to attract countless loose cultivators; some built their foundations, while others disappeared into the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.

Only the mountains and rivers remained unchanged.

[Life Span: 69/218]

[Realm: Early Foundation Establishment (94/100)]

Inside the cave abode, looking at his progress in cultivation over the past three years, Lin Chang’an furrowed his brows slightly, then shook his head and sighed.

“The path of cultivation indeed becomes harder as one progresses.”

After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, every small realm advancement is a change in quality.

In the past three years, relying on elixirs and dual cultivating with Yun Yao, his progress had been quite rapid, gaining 11 points in the first year, which filled him with joy.

However, in the second year, he only gained 8 points, making him realize that it wasn’t his cultivation speed that had slowed, but rather that advancing through the small realms was increasingly difficult.

In the third year, he only gained 7 points. Recently, he felt a sensation similar to when he was preparing to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

“Back then, the last few points needed to break through felt like a tortoise’s pace—it was a process of qualitative change, and it’s the same now.”

Nonetheless, seeing his life span, Lin Chang’an felt somewhat comforted.

“At least I’m only 69 years old. Even if advancing through this small realm takes a bit longer, I can still break through in two or three years. At my cultivation speed, I’m not considered slow among loose cultivators.”

He was quite content. At less than 70 years of age, he had already touched the threshold of the mid-stage Foundation Establishment, having only been in Foundation Establishment for about fifteen years.

“A mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation at over seventy isn’t slow at all.”

Moreover, there were still twenty to thirty years before the most vulnerable time of the Secret Realm, giving him plenty of time.

Thinking of this, Lin Chang’an nodded to himself, realizing another reason.

That reason was the quality of the elixirs he refined couldn’t quite keep up with his progress anymore.

“As my cultivation improves, the effects of Tier Two lower-grade elixirs weaken.”

Tier Two middle-grade elixirs, which improve cultivation, require demon cores from Tier Two middle-stage demon beasts. Though it was just a small realm improvement,

Lin Chang’an didn’t want to take the risk of hunting Tier Two middle-stage demon beasts.

“After all, a delay of two or three years doesn’t matter. It’s not too late to advance further before tackling it.”

Lin Chang’an nodded to himself. He was already hunting demon beasts now and saw no need to increase risk just for a slight speed-up in cultivation.

After all, it’s just a matter of two or three years, not a halt in progress.

Once his cultivation broke through, he could hunt Tier Two middle-stage demon beasts without delay.

Of course, the fact he hadn’t broken through to become a Tier Two middle-grade Pill Master was also a reason.

…

Outside the cave abode, Yun Yao was feeding a Cyan-Horned Bull with a spirit fruit in the pavilion. When she saw Lin Chang’an come out,

she, dressed in white, couldn’t help but smile and, clasping her hands, said:

“I underestimated Brother Lin before, not expecting that in less than five years, Brother Lin would already touch the threshold of mid-stage Foundation Establishment. I’m certain a breakthrough in two or three more years won’t be a problem.”

Time seemed to leave no mark on their faces, for their ages belonged to the younger among Foundation Establishment cultivators.

“It’s all thanks to Mr. Yun’s secret technique; otherwise, such progress wouldn’t have been possible.”

Lin Chang’an truly felt it in his heart. In the Immortal Cultivation Realm, there were many things that could enhance one’s cultivation, and elixirs were but the most basic.

He had to admire the predecessors of the Immortal Cultivation Realm for thinking of so many methods.

In the pavilion,

the two sat at the stone table, drinking tea and discussing the Dao. Overseeing the entire Celestial Profound City from above was truly a pleasure.

However, a red invitation card on the stone table made Yun Yao feel a bit melancholic.

“Time flies by so quickly, indeed.”

As Yun Yao sighed, Lin Chang’an picked up the invitation card and nodded slightly, saying:

“Yes, who would have thought that Shen Fan and little Yingying are already getting married?”

Lin Chang’an was also filled with emotion. Who would have imagined that the little girl and boy they once knew were now in their twenties and already getting married?

And they had all gone from newcomers in the Immortal Cultivation Realm to Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Looking back at the past, it felt like just yesterday.

Seeing Yun Yao’s silence, Lin Chang’an understood that the little Commandery Princess cherished these feelings too.

Unfortunately, her identity was too sensitive. Her faked death back then and her unclear connections with the Demon Cult now complicated matters.

“Brother Lin, please deliver this gift for me.”

In the end, Yun Yao smiled freely; since she was ready to move forward bravely, she would not regret it.

When Lin Chang’an saw the jade scroll Yun Yao offered, he was momentarily surprised, then smiled. This little Commandery Princess was still soft-hearted under her tough exterior.

It seemed she had secretly visited some old friends over the years; otherwise, she wouldn’t send such a gift.

“Originally, they were only twenty-four, but considering the difficulty of Foundation Establishment, Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing didn’t stop them.

If fate allows, the couple’s union could become a beautiful tale. If not, walking hand in hand through the world would also be a worthy life experience.”

Lin Chang’an chuckled about the differing opinions on this matter between Shen Lie, Lu Qingqing, and Wei Buyi.

Before cultivation foundation establishment, most cultivators kept themselves pure to increase their chances even slightly.

However, the childhood love between Shen Fan and Wei Yingying was something both families witnessed.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep