533: One year

The Xuanhuang Great World has undergone an earth-shaking yet subtle transformation.

The Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth is no longer a flowing mist, but has nearly transformed into a warm nectar; every breath brings progress in one's cultivation.

The Laws of the Great Dao are clearer than ever before; bottlenecks that were once obscure and difficult to understand now often yield to a stroke of inspiration, becoming suddenly clear.

For true geniuses, the path of cultivation has indeed become as smooth and natural as drinking water or eating food.

The cultivation civilization of the entire world has entered a true period of explosion.

The older generation of experts have one after another broken through the shackles of their Lifespan and Realm, while middle-aged Cultivators have become the pillars of their Sects.

The younger generation is even more filled with rising prodigies, their Realm Breakthroughs appearing like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

In the Eastern Region, a hidden heir has awakened the Desolate Ancient War Body; on the day he left the mountains, he stirred up ten thousand feet of green waves, finding it hard to meet an equal among his generation.

In the Western Region Buddhist Kingdom, a Reincarnated Soul Boy attained an Epiphany in a single day; as he chanted true mantras, golden lotuses bloomed everywhere beneath his feet, and his cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds.

In the Northern Plains Snowy Region, the son of an obscure Loose Cultivator obtained the recognition of a Frost Dragon in a ten-thousand-year-old ice cave, soaring to the heavens from then on.

The Central State is even more a place where dragons and tigers meet, with prodigies emerging in succession.

The heir of the Primeval Sword Tomb has emerged into the world carrying a nameless ancient sword; his Sword Qi pierces the firmament, and he has defeated all Sword Cultivators of the same Realm.

Meanwhile, top-tier power controllers like the Yaochi Holy Master and Lingxiao Holy Land Master have taken advantage of this momentum to step into the Quasi-Emperor Realm in one fell swoop.

Looking down upon all, they are regarded by the world as the most dazzling trendsetters of this Golden Age.

Everyone in the world says that the reappearance of a Great Emperor may no longer be far off.

However, what no one knows is that beneath this torrent sweeping the world, a power truly capable of overturning the eternal order has already quietly taken shape within the Azure Profound Sect.

Nourished by the Azure Cloud Secret Realm personally laid down by Gu Changge and baptized by the purest world origin,

the improvement of the Azure Profound Sect can be described as shocking, surpassing all imaginations of the outside world.

The five Old Ancestors, who had long since withdrawn from worldly affairs and possessed unfathomable depths, along with Sect Head Xuan Yangzi,

have silently crossed that heavenly chasm that has trapped eternal heroes, attaining the Great Emperor Realm!

Shi Wanshan, Ye Guying, and the other Peak Revered Masters have also lived up to expectations within the extreme cultivation environment and time acceleration of the Myriad Tribulations Battlefield.

They have all climbed to the Peak of the Quasi-Emperor Realm, their Foundations incredibly solid.

They only wait to polish their Realms to a state of perfect harmony before they can trigger the Emperor Tribulation and attempt to break through the barrier!

Xiao Ruobai, Fang Hanyu, Wang Xiaopang, and the others have also made rapid progress, collectively stepping into the Great Saint Realm.

Ling Xi took the lead, remarkably stepping into the Quasi-Emperor Realm.

As for the True Disciples of each Peak within the Sect, each one possesses profound cultivation, with most having reached the Saint King Realm.

The first batch of a hundred Disciples who originally entered the Azure Cloud Secret Realm have also all entered profound Realms.

This has brought the overall strength of the Azure Profound Sect to an unprecedented height.

Gu Changge sat atop the Zizhu Peak; with a slight movement of his Divine Sense, all the changes inside and outside the Sect became clear to his heart.

On this day, having just finished guiding Xiao Ruobai, Fang Hanyu, Ling Xi, Wang Xiaopang, and Mo Yu,

he could not help but let his gaze fall upon Ling Xi.

At this moment, Ling Xi was dressed in a plain white gown, the past youthfulness having faded from her cold countenance.

However, deep within those eyes that were like a cold pool, there always lingered a faint, persistent trace of anxiety and longing.

Beside her, Fang Hanyu's gaze also involuntarily and very quickly lingered for a moment on her cold profile.

Hidden deep within that gaze was a trace of complex emotion, appearing like concern and also like a shared sense of loneliness.

But in the next moment, this light quickly faded, replaced by a cold chill buried deep in his eyes.

His vision seemed to penetrate the endless Void Realm, landing in a certain direction in the Central State—where the long-dormant Great Yan Holy Land lay.

"Soon..."

Fang Hanyu chanted silently in his heart, his fingertips unconsciously tightening.

Chaos Sword Qi surged silently within his body, yet was forcibly suppressed by him, returning to tranquility.

"Once I have completely mastered the Chaos Sword Body Origin and stepped into the Quasi-Emperor Realm, the grudge with the Great Yan Holy Land shall be settled."

Fang Hanyu intended to take this revenge personally, striving for absolute certainty without troubling his Sect; he had enough patience to grow.

At Zizhu Peak, he had learned the most important things: steadiness and wisdom.

He would not act rashly because of hatred; what he wanted was to settle everything completely with a posture of absolute crushing power.

Gu Changge took in Fang Hanyu's fleeting killing intent and subsequent restraint, yet he did not point it out.

The fledgling eagle's wings have grown full, and its talons have been sharpened; the map in its heart has long been drawn, and he only needs to wait quietly for that thunderous strike to arrive.

His gaze fell back onto Ling Xi; Ling Xi's heart knot had already become the greatest obstacle on her Dao path.

If that longing for her homeland was not resolved, she might encounter a heart demon when charging towards the Emperor Realm.

External assistance is ultimately inferior; the harmony of one's state of mind is the Foundation of attaining the Dao.

Thinking of this, Gu Changge no longer hesitated and looked at Ling Xi.

"Ling Xi."

Hearing his voice, Ling Xi woke from her daze and hurriedly bowed: "Disciple is here."

Gu Changge's gaze seemed able to pierce through all her disguises, reaching straight to the depths of her Soul:

"Your mind is restless, and your longing is deep. Such a state of mind is a hindrance to cultivation and is not a Foundation for attaining the Dao."

Ling Xi's delicate body trembled slightly as she lowered her head: "Disciple was wrong."

"Not wrong."

Gu Changge waved his hand slightly and rose slowly, his robes fluttering without any wind, his entire aura faintly resonating with the whole Xuanhuang Great World.

"Prepare yourself."

"As your Revered Master, I shall take you into the Outer Chaos to seek out the traces of the Canglan Great World.

Whether it is in slumber, has perished, or has been reborn, you must witness it with your own eyes to resolve this heart knot of yours."

As these words were spoken, she jerked her head up, uncontrollable excitement and disbelief appearing on her face for the first time.

"Thank you, Revered Master!"

Just as her voice fell, Xiao Ruobai, who was beside her, took a step forward and spoke with a respectful yet firm tone:

"Revered Master, can I go along too?"

Wang Xiaopang also immediately leaned in:

"That's right, that's right! Revered Master, please take us with you! It's also a good chance to see the place where Senior Sister used to live!"

Gu Changge's gaze swept over these Disciples with their burning gazes, taking in the concern and curiosity in their eyes.

He pondered for a moment before slowly speaking, his voice calm:

"Very well, seeing the world outside will also benefit your Dao Hearts."

"Sooner or later, you will also have to adapt to the world outside."

His gaze swept over everyone again, his tone indifferent yet carrying a trace of imperceptible expectation:

"Then we shall go together."

"Thank you, Revered Master!"

Joy immediately appeared on the faces of Xiao Ruobai and the others as they bowed in unison.

Looking at the Senior and Junior Brothers beside her, a warm current surged in Ling Xi's heart.

Gu Changge nodded slightly and flicked his sleeve lightly, causing an invisible ripple to spread out.

"Assemble at the top of Zizhu Peak at this time tomorrow. Go down and prepare well; do not be negligent."

"Yes! Disciple obeys your command!"

Everyone responded in unison, their voices filled with expectation and fighting spirit.