Han Xuanji withdrew his power, closed his eyes, and felt the operation of the various Dao laws within his Dao Fruit.
Space-time, fate, Reincarnation, stars, Five Elements, Yin and Yang, Life and Death, Sword Dao...
Eight Dao laws, each occupying its own space, operating independently, yet echoing each other in the mysterious void.
The vastness of the stars, the mutual promotion and Restriction of the Five Elements, the balance of Yin and Yang, the cycle of Life and Death—there were intricate connections between them.
All things have the Five Elements, all things have Yin and Yang, and all things have Life and Death.
Han Xuanji vaguely felt that the final Breakthrough might be harder than he had imagined. However, he did not dwell on it.
The road must be walked one step at a time, and one must eat one bite at a time.
The most important thing right now was to consolidate his cultivation base and stabilize his Realm completely.
Thinking of this, Han Xuanji closed his eyes and sank back into cultivation.
Be fast when it should be fast, be slow when it should be slow, and stop when it should be stopped.
On the path of cultivation, haste makes waste; he understood this principle better than anyone.
Several more months passed.
On this day, Han Xuanji finally walked out of the cultivation chamber. He stood at the entrance of his Immortal Cave, hands behind his back, looking at the distant horizon, and let out a long breath.
After several years of closed-door cultivation, he had condensed the Law of Life and Death and broken through to the eighth layer of the Eternal Dao Lord. This speed was shocking across the entire Eternal Continent.
Yet, he felt little joy, only a sense of calm as things naturally fell into place.
"One step closer to the Eternal True Lord."
Han Xuanji silently calculated his next plan.
The Dao laws he needed to condense were naturally not limited to these eight.
What should be the next one?
Han Xuanji pondered for a moment, and two words appeared in his mind—Creation.
The Way of Creation is the path of creation and evolution, the foundation of all things growing and developing.
"I will have to trouble Hun Qianxue for the matter of the Creation Platform."
Han Xuanji thought to himself that this place was not controlled by the Hun Family, and it would not be easy for an outsider like him to go; he would need the Hun Family to bridge the gap.
He hoped things would go smoothly; otherwise, he would have to think of another way.
...
On the other side.
What Han Xuanji did not know was that because some Cultivators had left the Life and Death Ravine one after another, unable to withstand the internal environment, someone had leaked the news, and Han Xuanji's "cowardly act" was spreading like wildfire throughout the city.
Rumors are like weeds; once they take root, they can never be pulled out completely.
At first, it was just in the teahouses and wine shops in the streets, where two or three Cultivators would huddle together and whisper in low voices.
"Have you heard? That S-Rank Prodigy of the Hun Family, Han Xuanji, came out just a few days after entering the Life and Death Ravine."
"Impossible, right? It's not easy for the Life and Death Ravine to open once; he just went in for a turn and came out?"
"It's absolutely true. It is said that he didn't even enter the Restriction of the Core Land, and when he encountered danger, he just crushed his exit token and left."
"Tsk tsk, that's too... I thought he was so amazing. When he reached the top of the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder, they were blowing him up like he was something else."
"The Way of the Five Elements is the Way of the Five Elements, and the Way of Life and Death is the Way of Life and Death; they are two different things. Perhaps he knew he couldn't do it and retreated in the face of difficulty."
These discussions were initially restrained, as Han Xuanji was a favorite of the Hun Family, and no one wanted to offend them.
But as time passed, more and more Cultivators came out of the Life and Death Ravine, and the news was repeatedly verified, so the rumors became like a bursting dam, impossible to stop.
Some said he was putting on a show, putting on airs before entering, only to reveal his cowardice once inside.
Others said his previous ascent to the top of the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder was just good luck, and when it came to a real test of ability, he showed his true colors.
Later, at banquets for the prodigies of noble families in the city, the name "Han Xuanji" became a joke after a few drinks.
After all, there were not many opportunities to criticize such a peerless Prodigy.
East of Qianhun City, Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
This building is one of the best restaurants in the city, specializing in business for the children of noble families.
Today, the top floor was booked, and those present were all of the younger generation from the major forces in Qianhun City. After three rounds of drinks, the topic naturally turned to the most lively event recently.
"Everyone, have you heard? That peerless Prodigy of the Hun Family has really lost face."
A young Cultivator in brocade robes held a wine glass and smiled meaningfully.
"Not just heard; my friend was in the Life and Death Ravine and saw it with his own eyes. Who knows why?"
"What else could it be? He chickened out."
A youth with a gloomy face sneered:
"The Legacy of the Way of Life and Death requires one to risk their life to comprehend it. As a heaven-favored son held in the palm of the Hun Family, how could he be willing to risk his life?"
"You can't say that,"
The brocade-robed Cultivator hypocritically smoothed things over:
"His reaching the top of the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder is also real ability. We can only say that everyone has their own specialty. The Way of Life and Death is not his strong suit, so it's not shameful to retreat in the face of difficulty."
"Not shameful?"
The gloomy youth sneered: "The Hun Family opened the Secret Realm early for him and spent so many resources.
He, on the other hand, just went in for a turn and came out. If this isn't wasting things, what is?
If you ask me, this kind of person is just too highly praised and doesn't know his own weight."
The crowd burst into laughter and raised their glasses one after another.
There were also people at the table who did not laugh.
A Cultivator in green robes sitting in the corner put down his wine glass, his brows slightly furrowed, seemingly unable to bear it, but he did not speak in the end.
He had seen Han Xuanji's demeanor when he reached the top at the Five Elements Tower, and he had also heard rumors of him suppressing Baili Qianchi at the Qianmeng Pavilion.
He did not believe that such a person would be like this.
But he did not speak.
In this kind of situation, speaking up for Han Xuanji meant making an enemy of everyone present.
He couldn't afford to offend them.
After everyone laughed for a while, the topic turned to another person.
"Speaking of which, Senior Brother Zhou of the Tiger Ben Legion has been very popular recently. I heard that he killed a Vicious Beast at the True Lord level alone in the wilderness a few days ago?"
"Exactly, that Vicious Beast had thick skin and flesh; ordinary True Lords couldn't do anything about it, but Senior Brother Zhou killed it with one shot, clean and neat."
"This is the true Prodigy, unlike some people whose name is loud, but they reveal their cowardice as soon as they make a move."
"Shh, keep your voice down. He has the Hun Family behind him; don't talk nonsense."
"What are you afraid of? Can the Hun Family shut everyone's mouth?"
The crowd laughed again.
...
On the top floor of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, at a table by the window, sat a man eight feet tall with a sturdy build.
He was wearing a black tight-fitting outfit, with the silver emblem of the Tiger Ben Legion embroidered on his cuffs, and a short spear hung from his waist, with cold light faintly flowing on the spearhead.
His face was firm, his brow bone was high, his pair of tiger eyes were slightly narrowed, and a faint smile hung on the corner of his mouth.
As the youngest centurion of the Tiger Ben Legion, Zhou Lie was also the recognized "number one of the younger generation" in the original Qianhun City.
He picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and his gaze passed through the window lattice, falling on the bustling street downstairs.
"Han Xuanji..."
He silently recited this name in his heart, a complex light flashing in his eyes.
He had remembered this name for a long time. Before Han Xuanji reached the top of the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder, he, Zhou Lie, was the recognized number one among the younger generation in Qianhun City.