Time flows quietly, and Li Xuan's life within the Body Sect has unconsciously passed for over two years.
Li Xuan had visited all six peaks of the Body Sect. The six peak masters had shared their insights on the Undying Scripture with Li Xuan. In addition, each peak master had bestowed upon Li Xuan an immortal sword-grade spirit sword as a token of apprenticeship. This was undoubtedly the most thoughtful gesture for Li Xuan.
It's important to note that the suppression within Li Xuan's Zhenyu was most in need of spirit swords of a considerable grade. These six immortal swords undoubtedly brought Li Xuan much relief. At the very least, Li Xuan no longer worried about the four individuals in the second level of Zhenyu suddenly emerging from their stone coffins.
The existence of Li Xuan was already known throughout the Body Sect. However, as Li Xuan spent almost every day cultivating, this initial excitement gradually faded. Firstly, Li Xuan was a core disciple, and secondly, in a vast sect like the Body Sect, new events occurred daily. With Li Xuan rarely showing himself, people quickly forgot.
"Young Master, you have been away from the Cangmang Continent for almost three years now," this was what the Heavenly Dao Pen's voice said in Li Xuan's mind as he opened his eyes one day.
Li Xuan fell silent upon hearing this, then sighed with a hint of helplessness. He had promised Yue Fuyyao that he would marry her within three years, and now they were separated by a vast distance. As for any clues about his parents' whereabouts, Li Xuan had no leads.
"We'll take it one step at a time," Li Xuan said.
"Young Master, your Undying Scripture is nearing completion, and your physical body is about to break through to the Divine Valiant realm. Continuing to stay in the Body Sect might not offer much further improvement," the Heavenly Dao Pen said.
Li Xuan nodded slightly. Over the past two years, his senior brothers and sisters in the sect had become accustomed to endless sparring matches with him. Li Xuan's improvement was too rapid; many were no longer his match. Without a sense of threat, it was becoming difficult for Li Xuan to advance further. The Heavenly Dao Pen's words undoubtedly made Li Xuan understand this point more profoundly.
"Little Pen, what do you think I should do?" Li Xuan asked after some thought.
The Heavenly Dao Pen immediately replied, "Young Master, you can raise your physical body to the Divine Valiant realm and then go out to gain experience."
"Improvement," Li Xuan mused for a moment, then nodded. His physical strength had indeed improved considerably over the past two years. One could say that Li Xuan's current physique had reached its limit. Once broken, it would undoubtedly lead to the Divine Valiant realm.
"It seems I need to go to the Sky Abyss Pond for tempering," Li Xuan stood up and then moved, walking out.
"Junior Brother, with your current physical strength, you should be able to temper yourself at a depth of within 9,500 meters. However, please be careful, Junior Brother, and do not venture into depths of 10,000 meters. Only Master and the like can withstand that." Mu Ye said.
Li Xuan nodded. He had just learned from Mu Ye about the depth divisions of the Sky Abyss Pond. Even elite disciples, after mastering the Water Evading Technique, could only temper themselves at a depth of 8,000 meters. Core disciples, while able to enter depths of 9,000 meters, found 9,500 meters to be their limit.
The water pressure at depths beyond 9,000 meters was different from that above. For every hundred meters deeper, the water pressure would double. If Li Xuan's physical body were not on the verge of breaking through to the Divine Valiant realm, Mu Ye would not have mentioned 9,500 meters.
The next moment, Li Xuan moved and shot towards the depths of the Sky Abyss Pond. In just a few breaths, Li Xuan's figure completely disappeared.
The immense water pressure struck again, but Li Xuan's current physical strength allowed him to ignore it completely. Soon, Li Xuan reached a depth of 7,000 meters. It was only here that Li Xuan felt a slight resistance. However, even so, Li Xuan paid no heed and continued to descend.
At 8,000 meters, Li Xuan also noticed some figures. These were clearly disciples of the Body Sect. Seeing everyone meditating and tempering themselves, Li Xuan did not disturb them and continued to descend.
The pressure at this depth of 8,000 meters did not have much effect on Li Xuan.
8,500 meters.
8,600 meters.
8,800 meters.
...
9,100 meters.
At this depth, Li Xuan's figure paused. At this moment, a divine light automatically emanated from his body, a unique mark of the Divine Power realm. After a quarter of an hour of acclimatization, Li Xuan's eyes moved, and he continued to descend.
9,200 meters.
Sensing the tension in his body, Li Xuan nodded slightly and then activated the cultivation method of the Undying Scripture to temper his physical body.
Unbeknownst to Li Xuan, a figure at the 10,000-meter mark of the Sky Abyss Pond suddenly opened his eyes and looked up. His gaze seemed to see Li Xuan, and then he smiled slightly and nodded.
Time flowed quietly. Li Xuan had been cultivating at a depth of 9,200 meters for three days. The divine light emanating from Li Xuan's body grew even more intense.
In the blink of an eye, half a month passed.
One day, Li Xuan's eyes suddenly snapped open. A terrifying aura permeated the air, but it was quickly absorbed and dissipated by the waters of the Sky Abyss Pond.
Li Xuan clenched his fists slightly, even feeling that the waters of the Sky Abyss Pond had become somewhat gentler. Feeling this, a slight smile curved Li Xuan's lips.
The Divine Valiant realm physique had finally broken through.
Although he had broken through to the Divine Valiant realm, Li Xuan did not choose to leave immediately. When he had heard Mu Ye mention the 10,000-meter depth, Li Xuan had been curious. Now that his physical strength had broken through, Li Xuan also wanted to see how far his physique could endure.
With this thought, Li Xuan immediately continued to descend rapidly.
9,300 meters.
9,400 meters.
9,500 meters.
Boom!
As soon as Li Xuan reached a depth of 9,500 meters, a terrifying water pressure surged towards him. Li Xuan's current physique no longer required him to actively defend. Upon sensing this water pressure, his body had already prepared its defenses.
"The water pressure here is likely five times that at 9,200 meters. No wonder Senior Brother Mu Ye cautioned me. Ordinary people would truly be crushed into pieces by this water pressure instantly," Li Xuan nodded slightly, then with a thought, began to adapt.
After a quarter of an hour, Li Xuan clearly felt a pleasant sensation emanating from his pores and even his flesh and blood. Under this terrifying water pressure, Li Xuan's physical body improved further. Although it was still far from the Thousand Mountains realm, such rapid improvement was not easy.
Feeling this, Li Xuan's gaze became even more resolute.
Descending, continuing.
9,600 meters.
The already doubled water pressure instantly squeezed Li Xuan's physical body to the point of cracking. A flicker of shock flashed in Li Xuan's eyes. He knew his physique had reached the Divine Valiant realm, yet at this depth, it was still breached.
"Very good!" Excitement flashed in Li Xuan's eyes. He immediately sat down and began to activate the Undying Scripture to cultivate.
Unbeknownst to Li Xuan, the man who had been watching him from the 10,000-meter depth smiled and nodded.
"This little fellow is not bad."