Chapter 18: One Year

Ten days later. In the main hall of Mystic Extremes Peak. Peak Master Wang Siming, having just finished his cultivation session and dealt with some peak affairs, suddenly remembered something and called out, "Someone come in!" A steward hurriedly entered. "Peak Master?" "Where are this year's core disciple candidates? I don't see any records," Wang Siming asked. "Uh, it seems he's still in the trial secret realm!" The steward scratched his head. "Still in the trial?" Wang Siming looked surprised. "That's right. I've been checking daily with Valley Master Lan, who personally inspects the secret realm portal to confirm there's still a disciple inside." "What's going on here?" Wang Siming frowned in confusion. "I'm not sure..." The steward shook his head. "Fine. When he comes out, bring him to me!" Wang Siming ordered. "Understood, I'll follow up on this!" "Hmm." Several more days passed. "What about that kid?" "Still hasn't come out..." Another ten-plus days went by. After finishing his cultivation and handling affairs, Wang Siming stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm, did I forget something?" He summoned the steward again. "Any unfinished business?" "None," the steward replied. "Hmm." A month later. Wang Siming occasionally remembered Su Yuan, but would immediately forget amid his busy schedule. Eventually, he stopped recalling Su Yuan altogether. When the steward transferred to another position after six months, the handover accidentally omitted this matter. Thus, Su Yuan's name completely faded from the memories of Mystic Extremes Peak's leadership. Even his fellow disciples quickly forgot about Su Yuan's existence. And so, inexplicably, Su Yuan seemed to have vanished from the sect like a ghost. Only Zhang Wei frequently thought of Su Yuan, constantly going to Mystic Extremes Peak to inquire. He had originally wanted to join the peak, but later learned its admission standards were extremely high - inferior spirit roots weren't qualified. Unfortunately, Zhang Wei always returned empty-handed. Zhou Wuyou fared even worse. Having hoped to ride Su Yuan's coattails to success, he ended up spectacularly joining the ranks of menial disciples when Su Yuan disappeared. His family's investments rapidly declined, nearly defaulting on promised benefits to 24 disciples. Fortunately, Zhang Wei, remembering Su Yuan's kindness, helped Zhou Wuyou repay the debt. Their relationship gradually improved through these interactions, though Zhou Wuyou still couldn't stand Zhang Wei. Among their peers, Ye Bufan and Liu Muwan fully displayed their supreme-grade spirit roots' extraordinary talents. With abundant resources, their cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds! Within a year, they reached late-stage Qi Refining and began making names for themselves. Both went down the mountain for training, earning considerable reputations. Ye Bufan especially encountered continuous opportunities, even developing ambiguous relations with a demon sect's female disciple. Zheng He vanished from public view shortly after joining Artifact Extremes Peak, becoming another invisible figure like Su Yuan, rarely mentioned anymore. Each person developed differently, but the cultivation world moves on regardless of who's absent. "Yawn!" "Little Li, what's for dinner today?" Su Yuan yawned sleepily as he asked. "Big lazybones! All you do is eat, sleep, then space out by the waterfall! No cultivation, no spell practice - just how lazy can you be?" The silver fox angrily flew onto Su Yuan's head and "fiercely" scratched him several times with its tiny claws. "Mmm, harder please. My head itches," Su Yuan said. The silver fox was rendered speechless by Su Yuan's laziness. "Your time is running out!" it warned. Su Yuan rolled his eyes. "That's an unlucky thing to say!" "Almost a year has passed! What do you think?" The fox pouted. Hearing this, Su Yuan looked at the fox and smiled. "Will you miss me?" Turning away, the fox snorted. "Who'd miss you? I can't wait for you to leave!" "Alright then. I was planning to visit you yearly, but since Little Li objects..." "Dream on! Thinking you can return to the trial secret realm?" The fox turned back to glare at him. "You think I can't?" Su Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Obviously!" The fox huffed. "How about a bet then?" "What bet?" The fox grew wary. "If I succeed, you give me that treasure you've been hiding. Deal?" Su Yuan revealed his true intentions. "And if you lose?" the fox asked. "Don't worry, I won't lose!" Laughing, Su Yuan sprang up as Mystic Truth Qi automatically appeared beneath his feet, carrying him like a cloud as he swiftly glided toward Silver Spirit Falls. "Where are you going?" The fox followed. Arriving lakeside, Su Yuan sat cross-legged and told the fox, "I'm entering deep meditation now. Guard me." "You?" The fox wanted to retort. But suddenly, Su Yuan's aura underwent a dramatic transformation, as if instantly resonating with Silver Spirit Falls, his essence completely merging with the waterfall. "Wh-what is this?" The fox's eyes widened. It unconsciously held its breath. Su Yuan opened his system panel. [Name]: Su Yuan [Region]: Green Vine Continent [Reputation]: Minor Fame (133/1000) [Cultivation]: Qi Refining Stage Layer 3 (33/100) [Trait 1]: Work-Life Balance: You excel at balancing rest and cultivation. Longer rest periods enhance cultivation effects. Current rest duration: 330 days 5 hours [Trait 2]: Daoist Naturalism: You have exceptional natural comprehension. Easier enlightenment from mystical phenomena. During his time in the secret realm, his fame points occasionally increased, stopping after gaining 30 points. His cultivation remained at Qi Refining Layer 3, but his Mystic Truth Qi had accumulated enormously. Most astonishing was the 330-day rest duration - an incredible length of time! All this waiting was for comprehending Silver Spirit Falls! "Activate trait [Work-Life Balance]!" Instantly, the trait activated! His thoughts accelerated manifold. But before Su Yuan could begin natural observation... The trait brightened again for secondary activation! Su Yuan's state elevated further! "This is..." Su Yuan immediately understood - Trait 1 had hidden effects! 330 days of rest translated to 33 days of supercharged state. But exceeding 10 days triggered secondary activation, compressing duration tenfold to just 3.3 days! With shortened time came exponentially greater cultivation effects! After grasping this in a breath's time, Su Yuan devoted his entire being to comprehending Silver Spirit Falls. Suddenly, a year's worth of waterfall observations flooded his consciousness like tidal waves. In Su Yuan's current perception, every falling water strand seemed imbued with heavenly principles, entrancing him. His spiritual sense seemed to ride the Silver Radiance Water upstream, his entire being ascending into clouds like an exiled immortal. Marvels and memories "collided" inside and outside Su Yuan's consciousness, countless epiphanies erupting like volcanoes! Threads of enlightenment emerged. He seemed to see passionate flames, warm spring breezes, and sharp golden rain within the waterfall. The shocked fox witnessed three wondrous rhythms rising from Su Yuan's body, resonating profoundly with the miraculous Silver Spirit Falls! Man and waterfall seemed to converse silently, the falls like a wordless teacher personally "explaining" heaven and earth's mysteries to Su Yuan! The three rhythms transformed into soaring auras, forcing the fox back dozens of meters! "Momentum Realm! He skipped Technique Realm entirely!" The fox was dumbfounded! It only knew four realms of heavenly principles: "Technique, Momentum, Intent, and Divinity!" Reaching the fourth, Divine Intent Realm, allowed comprehending supernatural powers. Though "Technique" Realm was merely the first, it required exceptional talent - most cultivators only achieved it at Foundation Establishment! "Momentum" Realm was even more remarkable - representing substantial comprehension of heaven and earth, able to harness natural momentum for dramatic combat advantages. Pure "momentum" could give Foundation Establishment cultivators overwhelming superiority! The ninth trial merely required grasping a sliver of "Technique" Realm! Was Su Yuan defying heaven? At mere Qi Refining Layer 3, Su Yuan had comprehended "Momentum" Realm - three types simultaneously, and apparently not just beginner-level! Wait, his "momentum" was still increasing! The fox's mind reeled! After entering "Momentum" Realm, Su Yuan's communication with Silver Spirit Falls became effortless, like returning to a mother's embrace as nature nurtured him! Epiphanies surged and sublimated wildly as Su Yuan's understanding of nature deepened profoundly! The waterfall transformed before his eyes - sometimes flowing flames, sometimes vibrant springs, sometimes countless sharp golden swords. Different perspectives yielded different marvels. Su Yuan's aura rose to incredible heights, razor-sharp, then gradually calmed to serene tranquility - not weakening, but achieving perfect control! Now Su Yuan seemed to glimpse the "Intent" Realm beyond "Momentum"! But he deduced remaining time only sufficed for comprehending one type of heavenly "Intent." After consideration, he chose the sharp golden rain! Attack truly was the best defense! The waterfall stabilized into a river of golden threads, each like the world's sharpest blade piercing Su Yuan's body. Instantly covered in wounds, Su Yuan became a bloodied figure! The alarmed fox rushed to heal him. But Su Yuan's formidable "momentum" repelled it aggressively, a golden thread sending the fox flying with a visible wound. Sensing this, Su Yuan waved his hand, drawing Silver Radiance Water from the lake to heal his injuries. His skin gleamed silver as a small stream also enveloped the fox's wound. Stunned, the fox watched the silver-encased Su Yuan, utterly mesmerized!