Chapter 195 - 115: Cycles of Profundity, 18 Years Beyond Genesis

In Dongzhen Hall, twenty meditation cushions had been removed, leaving only one beneath the True Monarch Dharma Aspect.

A motionless figure in white robes, devoid of breath or spirit, sat silent and still. With his back to the hall's entrance, he faced the True Monarch Dharma Aspect, seemingly sharing its very same coldness.

"Niece, after becoming a true disciple, you do indeed have one opportunity to cultivate in Dongzhen Hall for ten years."

Behind a low table, a middle-aged Daoist stroked his short beard with one hand and picked up a Jade Slip from the table with the other. He asked, "However, the five great Grotto Heavens are not yet scheduled to reopen. You may need to wait for a while."

A seemingly familiar scene unfolded once again in Dongzhen Hall. Before the low table stood a young woman of immortal-like grace, her hair in a Flying Heaven Bun and dressed in a Flowing Immortal Skirt. But she didn't respond, her gaze fixed on the motionless figure beneath the True Monarch Dharma Aspect, seemingly lost in thought.

Hearing no response for a long moment, the middle-aged Daoist looked up. Seeing Fei Fan Yan staring into the hall, he prompted, "Niece?"

Fei Fan Yan came back to her senses and curtsied. "I can wait," she said softly. "Please register me, Venerable."

The middle-aged Daoist chuckled. "You're too courteous, Niece." He then touched the Jade Slip, engraving Fei Fan Yan's name upon it and placing it at the very top of the list for the Flowing Water Grotto Heaven. Turning back, he said, "Niece, do not leave the sect for the time being. Wait patiently for news... The day the Grotto Heavens reopen should be very soon."

Fei Fan Yan naturally understood the meaning behind the middle-aged Daoist's words. Hearing this, she gave another slight curtsy and said, "Thank you, Venerable."

The temporary closure of the five great Grotto Heavens was due to the opening of the True Monarch's Innate Tai Su Realm. This was no secret to the cultivators in the sect with higher cultivation levels and status. The fact that it had lasted for a rare eighteen years this time had astonished many sect members.

This was because the duration one could remain in the Innate Tai Su Realm was related to a Cultivator's own cultivation level and foundation, and thus was not fixed.

Generally speaking, however, an ordinary cultivator could practice within the Innate Tai Su Realm for about ten years.

Those with shallower cultivation levels and foundations would last one or two years less. For instance, a cultivator with a Top-grade Golden Core who had not yet formed a Nascent Soul might only be able to remain for two or three years before withdrawing from the Innate Tai Su Realm.

Conversely, those with a profound cultivation level and foundation could naturally practice for much longer without being forced out. However, as far as Fei Fan Yan knew, by the fourteenth year of this session of the Innate Tai Su Realm, only one person had yet to withdraw. And that person was none other than Xuzhuang, whose fame—not yet buried by the sands of time—had recently skyrocketed again due to his success in forming a Nascent Soul.

Once this news spread, the busybodies began to speculate how much longer Xuzhuang could last before he withdrew from the Innate Tai Su Realm. Coupled with the impending reopening of the Grotto Heavens, many were waiting with bated breath.

From that point on, with each passing year, more and more people asserted with confidence that the end was near. But unexpectedly, year after year passed, for a total of five more years, bringing the grand total to eighteen years.

Because of her status, Fei Fan Yan was quite knowledgeable about certain matters within the sect. 'Even Zhang Tingxian, who cultivated the Dao for eight hundred years and formed his Nascent Soul four hundred and eighty years ago, only managed to practice in the Heaven-Opening Realm for fourteen years. Just how profound is this Junior Martial Uncle Xu's foundation?'

She couldn't help but look toward the space beneath the True Monarch Dharma Aspect again. Suddenly, her beautiful eyes widened. It was as if she saw a speck of spiritual light fall from some unknown place into the crown of Xuzhuang's head. Instantly, the body that had seemed utterly empty came to life. An immeasurable age seemed to flow through him without leaving a single trace, leaving only an ancient aura, as if he had witnessed oceans turning into mulberry fields.

Fei Fan Yan held her breath. When she tried to take a closer look, she found that the white-robed figure's aura had completely retracted, becoming plain and returning to its essence. Everything just a moment ago seemed like an illusion.

The next moment, the figure in white rose to his feet. He lightly brushed the hem of his robes and gave a solemn bow toward the True Monarch Dharma Aspect before turning around unhurriedly.

'Truly the bearing of an immortal, with an extraordinary presence.' A flash of admiration went through Fei Fan Yan's mind. Seeing Xuzhuang walking slowly toward her, she quickly suppressed her thoughts, curtsied, and said, "Disciple Fei Fan Yan greets Junior Martial Uncle Dao Miao."

"So it's Niece Fei." Xuzhuang's gaze fell upon Fei Fan Yan as his unhurried voice drifted over. "Congratulations, Niece, on forming a Top-grade Golden Core and receiving the true transmission."

Fei Fan Yan was not surprised that Xuzhuang knew of her. She curtsied again and replied softly, "Thank you, Junior Martial Uncle."

Xuzhuang nodded. The middle-aged Daoist with the short beard then walked out from behind the low table, bowed with clasped hands, and said, "Congratulations on emerging from seclusion, Senior Martial Brother."

"Thank you, Junior Martial Brother." Xuzhuang returned the bow readily before asking, "Do you know how long I was in the Innate Tai Su Realm?"

The middle-aged Daoist replied respectfully, "Senior Martial Brother, eighteen years have passed."

Xuzhuang muttered to himself, "So it really has been eighteen years."

With his level of cultivation, he could naturally perceive the traces left by the passage of time. It was just that within the Innate Tai Su Realm, as he observed the creation of heaven and earth and the evolution of the Five Tais, his sense of time became distorted. At times, he felt hundreds of millions of years fly by, with Wuji giving birth to Taiji in an instant. At other times, immersed in the mysteries of the Great Dao, every second seemed to slow to a crawl...

This repeated, over and over. He went from only being able to comprehend the changes of Tai Su to gradually perceiving creation from nothingness and the One giving birth to form. He then witnessed from afar the separation of yin and yang, the manifestation of the five elements, and the evolution of the cosmos, only to then forget it all, his mind becoming a complete void. For Xuzhuang, time had become a blur.

"So it was eighteen years," Xuzhuang confirmed once more. In that instant, the incredibly vivid scene of the world's creation seemed to recede from his vision, growing hazy. Every minute detail of Dongzhen Hall became solid and tangible, and he finally felt a true sense of reality.

"Thank you for the clarification, Junior Martial Brother," Xuzhuang said with a slight smile, cupping his hands in a salute to the middle-aged Daoist.

The middle-aged Daoist hurriedly replied, "It is merely my duty."

Xuzhuang nodded slightly. His gaze swept over to Fei Fan Yan, who was looking at him with wide, beautiful eyes full of unconcealed curiosity. "Niece," he asked, "you seem to have a question for me."

"You misunderstand, Junior Martial Uncle. I have no questions," Fei Fan Yan replied humbly. "It's just that when I first joined the sect, an elder had intended for me to become your disciple. Ever since I began my cultivation, I have constantly heard tales about you, so I was simply very curious."

"Oh? It seems we were fated to meet, but not to be master and disciple," Xuzhuang said with a laugh. 'I never thought I'd become a legendary figure like Zhong Shenxiu, someone whose story accompanies an entire generation of cultivators.' He couldn't help but ask, "How many years have you been cultivating?"

Fei Fan Yan smiled slightly. "Junior Martial Uncle, I have been cultivating for forty-six years."

"Forty-six years... Truly a heaven-sent talent." Xuzhuang gave a soft laugh and asked, "Niece, are you the first of the thirteenth generation to forge a Top-grade Golden Core?"

Fei Fan Yan replied, "I am. My Daoist name is De Shu."

"De Shu... Good." Xuzhuang nodded. "A Top-grade Golden Core is only the first step on the path of seeking the Dao. Niece, you must not slacken in your cultivation."

Fei Fan Yan said, "Yes. Thank you for your guidance, Junior Martial Uncle."

Xuzhuang smiled slightly and said, "I have only just emerged from seclusion and have many new insights to process. I must take my leave."

The middle-aged Daoist quickly said, "Please, go ahead, Senior Martial Brother."

Fei Fan Yan also curtsied. "Allow me to see you off, Junior Martial Uncle."

Xuzhuang nodded. Without lingering, he strode out of the hall's entrance. No flash of escaping light appeared; he simply walked into the clouds, and his figure gradually vanished from sight.