Six months passed quietly after Li Xuan finished setting up the spirit array and returned to Sheng Yue Sect.
For half a year, besides guiding Yue Fuyao and a few others in their cultivation, Li Xuan was also very strict in his guidance of Jian Chi, Li Xi, and Li Yun. Naturally, everyone’s progress was immense.
Jian Chi had the highest comprehension among them and was also a sword cultivator, just like Li Xuan. His strength rapidly advanced to the peak of the Martial Saint realm, and his sword cultivator realm even broke through to the Sword Master realm.
To Li Xuan's surprise, the second person to break through to the peak of the Martial Saint realm was Yue Fuyao. Whether it was Li Xuan's illusion or not, he noticed Yue Fuyao’s improvement had been quite rapid since their marriage.
It was only after a 'day' that Li Xuan discovered the profound mystery behind it. It was at that moment that Li Xuan remembered Yi Qin had mentioned Yue Fuyao possessed the Nine Yin Cold Body, and had asked Li Xuan to take Yue Fuyao in. Looking back now, Yi Qin must have known this all along.
Furthermore, Li Xuan found that not only Yue Fuyao’s progress was swift, but his own foundation, soul, and spiritual sense had also improved significantly. Li Xuan finally understood the meaning of the Nine Yin Cold Body.
As for Zhou Wenjing and Liu Jiaqi, they were already exceptionally talented women. Moreover, their foundations far surpassed those of ordinary people. Half a month after Yue Fuyao’s breakthrough, both of them also broke through to the peak of the Martial Saint realm.
Yue Caixuan was somewhat weaker, taking a full three months to reach the peak of the Martial Saint realm. However, even so, Yue Caixuan was still very grateful, calling him "Junior Brother" constantly. This made Li Xuan laugh and cry. Afterward, he also bestowed a cultivation technique upon them.
All of this was observed by Li Xuan at the Body Sect. Of course, he brought out some cultivation techniques that he found to be quite good. Given Li Xuan's status, Ye Zhengwei and the others did not prevent him. They trusted Li Xuan implicitly.
Another month later, the realms of Yue Fuyao and the other four stabilized. They had also memorized the cultivation methods Li Xuan had given them in detail.
"Brother Xuan, are you planning to go out and train again?" Yue Fuyao asked, approaching Li Xuan, who was gazing into the distance on the peak of the back mountain.
Li Xuan turned around, looked at Yue Fuyao, and after a moment of silence, nodded slightly. "It's been a year since I returned to the Azure Continent. Although I wish I could stay and live with you all like this, I cannot afford to stop."
In fact, Li Xuan had forgotten something. If not for the reminder from the Heaven's Will Pen, Li Xuan would have almost forgotten that only one year remained for the Ten Years of Dungeon Suppression. And as the time drew nearer, Li Xuan, as the master of the dungeon, felt the suppression seal on the second level weakening.
Once the powerful beings on the second level broke through the seal, Li Xuan was acutely aware of the fate that would befall the Azure Continent.
"Brother Xuan, actually, we have all noticed a change in your demeanor these past few days. We all understand that you cannot stay here forever, Brother Xuan. And I also know about the situation within your dungeon. Therefore, we cannot selfishly keep you. For you, and for us, we all support your decision, Brother Xuan."
Yue Fuyao spoke after a moment of silence, looking up at Li Xuan.
Li Xuan's gaze shifted as he looked at Yue Fuyao and asked, "Do they all know?"
Yue Fuyao nodded slightly. While her expression was resolute, a hint of reluctance flashed in her eyes as she looked at Li Xuan.
"Tonight, let's have a meal together," Li Xuan said after some thought.
Yue Fuyao nodded her head slightly. "Okay."
As dusk gradually fell, a bonfire was lit, its flames reaching towards the sky. On the grill was the meat of the Dragon Carp Xuan Serpent that Li Xuan had once slain.
Even though it was dead, Yue Fuyao and the others could still feel the residual powerful aura. As Li Xuan sprinkled on the seasonings, their eyes lit up, and they revealed strong glimmers of appetite.
Li Xuan smiled at the sight and then took out a celestial sword to begin slicing the meat. Jian Chi could only offer a wry smile. Only someone like Li Xuan could treat a celestial sword as if it were nothing.
While eating the beast meat and drinking the spiritual wine brought from the Star Cloud Continent, their conversation gradually opened up. They all knew that Li Xuan would leave after tonight, but no one mentioned his departure.
Perhaps it was due to the spiritual wine; after several jars, the six of them drunkenly lay down on the spot. Among the six, only Li Xuan was still eating the beast meat and drinking the spiritual wine.
As the night deepened and silence fell.
Li Xuan put down the wine jar, swept his gaze gently over Yue Fuyao and the others, and then, with a thought, four strands of sword energy appeared in his hand.
*Hum.*
With a wave of Li Xuan's hand, three strands of sword energy shot towards Yue Fuyao, Zhou Wenjing, and Liu Jiaqi. In the next moment, the three strands of sword energy instantly entered their foreheads and disappeared. Li Xuan then looked at the last strand of sword energy in his hand, and after a moment of thought, infused it into Yue Caixuan’s body.
After completing this, Li Xuan closed his eyes again, and a ball of spiritual light emerged from his brow. With a wave of Li Xuan's hand, this ball of spiritual light shot towards Jian Chi's forehead.
"With my sword cultivation insights, Brother Jian Chi should improve even faster. In this way, it should be considered adequate," Li Xuan stood up, his gaze shifting towards the Sheng Yue Sect main hall below. There resided his two children.
"I hope when I return next time, you won't disappoint your father," Li Xuan murmured, and then his figure slowly merged into the void and disappeared.
On the starry sky of the Azure Continent, Li Xuan paused to look before turning his gaze into the distance.
"Little Master, where do you plan to go this time?" the Heaven's Will Pen appeared before Li Xuan and asked.
Li Xuan thought for a moment. "The Land of Anarchy."
"The Land of Anarchy? Little Master, are you looking for trouble?" the Heaven's Will Pen was stunned and then asked.
Li Xuan looked at the Heaven's Will Pen. "Little Pen, you seem to know about the Land of Anarchy?"
Li Xuan was somewhat surprised. He had only learned about the Land of Anarchy from the Demon Lord’s spatial ring. It was rumored to be a very chaotic place where the strong reigned supreme. It was a haven for all sorts of wicked individuals, making it a prime location for training.
Of course, this was only for those who possessed some strength. If a weak spirit master accidentally entered, they would likely be reduced to nothing but渣. Yet, the Heaven's Will Pen, upon hearing this, immediately declared Li Xuan was looking for trouble.
Moreover, that Demon Lord was from the Land of Anarchy.
The Heaven's Will Pen replied, "I do know some things about the Land of Anarchy. Little Master, while your strength is not bad, your life would be in constant peril there. I worry that you might die in the Land of Anarchy before being killed by those on the second level."
"More importantly, Little Master, you gave your four strands of life-saving sword energy to your mistresses."
Li Xuan was speechless and shot a glare at the Heaven's Will Pen. Its words were too blunt.
"Since that is the case, then I will go and improve my strength first," Li Xuan heeded the Heaven's Will Pen's advice and said after a period of contemplation.
"And after improving?" the Heaven's Will Pen asked.
Li Xuan smiled, his expression firming. "I will still go to the Land of Anarchy!"
The Heaven's Will Pen: "..."