Time flowed, and a year passed.
"Congratulations, Host, for successfully signing in at the Azure Dragon Immortal Abode's Weak Water Lake! You have received a Weak Water Origin Crystal."
"The Dao Origin here has been depleted. Please find the next Dao Origin location, Host."
The long-unheard System prompt, audible only to Han Xuanji himself, clearly resounded in his mind.
"Finally, I've signed in for another one!"
Han Xuanji's expression remained placid, but inwardly, he was delighted.
"After absorbing this Origin Crystal, my comprehension of the Weak Water Law should steadily reach twelve percent."
Over the past year, the rewards from signing in were mostly special Spirit Stones formed from the Weak Water Law. While absorbing them did improve his Law comprehension, it was far less direct and rapid than an Origin Crystal.
Han Xuanji's thoughts stirred slightly, and the newly acquired Origin Crystal was quietly absorbed within his body. The Law comprehension flowed into his heart like a warm spring.
The layer of ethereal blue Qi surrounding him seemed to solidify slightly, becoming more restrained and profound.
…
On this day.
By the Weak Water Lake, the scenery seemed largely unchanged from the first day in the Immortal Abode.
The Cultivators who came here to comprehend the Dao had not shifted much from their positions, like stubborn rocks on the shore.
A year's time, for a Cultivator, was but a fleeting moment, yet for those who toiled in bitter comprehension by the Weak Water, it felt exceptionally arduous.
Most of them had only grasped a superficial understanding and were still affected by the Weak Water's spiritual power. Compared to their initial high spirits and excitement upon arriving at this treasure trove, a hint of undeniable fatigue now lingered deep in their eyes.
Han Xuanji still sat on the smooth black rock closest to the lake.
A year had passed, and his figure seemed to have completely merged with this dark, heavy lake shore. His aura was as calm as an abyss, unfathomable, with a faint Qi swirling around him—an outward manifestation of the Weak Water Law perfectly integrating with his own spiritual power.
After the first absorption of that precious Water Dao Origin Crystal triggered the "Epiphany" phenomenon, Han Xuanji became exceptionally low-key in his subsequent cultivation.
Thereafter, Han Xuanji did not cause any noticeable fluctuations.
This low-key demeanor caused a subtle shift in the mindset of those who had been intensely stimulated at the time, after their initial shock, envy, and jealousy.
"It seems that earth-shattering comprehension only allowed him to get started faster. His subsequent progress appears to have hit a Bottleneck."
The young Cultivator from the Divine Water Sect mused inwardly, watching Han Xuanji's figure, which had barely moved an inch for a year. His confidence, which had been shattered, began to grow again.
"How long and arduous is the path of cultivation? What does a temporary lead prove?
Although my progress this year has been slow, I have still gained an initial understanding, and my spiritual power has been repeatedly refined, becoming much more solid and pure than before.
As long as I persevere, I might not be unable to surpass him later!"
And the Blue-Clothed Cultivator's mindset was even more pragmatic and peaceful, even carrying a hint of respect: "To be able to endure the greatest corrosive pressure in the area closest to the Weak Water Lake, sitting motionless for an entire year…
This level of strength, this composure, this willpower, are all extraordinary!
What he can do, I might not be unable to do!"
Thinking this, he cast aside distracting thoughts and focused even more on comprehension.
However, just as everyone was lost in their own thoughts, assuming these peaceful, silent days would continue.
"Twelve percent… that's enough."
Han Xuanji silently felt the progress of the Weak Water Law and the sense of ease, almost immunity, to the heavy pressure of the Weak Water Lake.
He slowly, calmly opened his eyes.
Han Xuanji's gaze swept past the dark, ink-like, bottomless lake before him, fixing on the faintly visible pavilion in the center of the lake.
There was no earth-shattering display, just a simple act of standing up.
However, this action, in the eyes of the other Cultivators by the lake, was nothing short of a thunderclap from a clear sky.
All the Cultivators, immersed in their respective comprehensions or thoughts, were at this moment simultaneously shaken to their cores, abruptly awakening from their meditation or contemplation, their gazes uniformly converging on the figure who had finally left the black rock!
"He… what is he going to do?"
"He's made progress again… Wait, his target… is the center of the lake?"
The Blue-Clothed Cultivator suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with brilliance.
The Divine Water Sect Cultivator stiffened even more, incredulous: "Could it be that he… is already able to…?"
Under the gazes of everyone, whether shocked or envious, Han Xuanji's expression was as calm as water.
Then, under their bated breath.
He took a step forward.
"Splash…"
There was no earth-shattering sound, only an extremely faint splash of water.
His foot landed steadily on the surface of the Weak Water Lake, which was rumored to dissolve all things and be as heavy as an abyss.
The dark lake water rippled faintly beneath his feet. The terrifying corrosive power, capable of extinguishing the light of Magic Treasures and solidifying the spiritual power of powerful Cultivators, now had no effect whatsoever on Han Xuanji.
He had truly stepped onto the Weak Water Lake surface!
And, he walked as if on flat ground!
At this moment, the lakeside was deathly silent.
Everyone's breathing seemed to halt, their eyes wide, staring intently at the figure standing on the dark lake surface.
The shock brought by Han Xuanji's Epiphany a year ago was insignificant compared to the sheer terror of him actually treading on the Weak Water.
After all, according to past records, there were also peerless Prodigies who had gained initial comprehension of the Weak Water Law in a few years, could step ten paces into the lake in ten years, and a hundred paces in twenty years.
The highest record, however, remained at two hundred and thirty-one steps.
It was rumored that three hundred steps would allow one to reach the lake pavilion and claim the Opportunity there.
Unfortunately, no one had achieved it to this day!
Han Xuanji ignored the gazes behind him that seemed to pierce through him.
A faint curve appeared at the corner of his lips. He was also somewhat curious about the Opportunity in the lake pavilion.
Anyway, it was better to take it than not.
"The lake pavilion… the Opportunity left by the Azure Dragon Emperor."
Han Xuanji's gaze was firm. Towards the direction of the lake pavilion, he took his second step, his third step… steadily moving forward.
Every step seemed to be treading on everyone's hearts.
"Ten steps…"
"Thirty… Wait, what exactly is he trying to do?"
Someone immediately exclaimed.
Han Xuanji's steady pace was frightening.
The Weak Water seemed to have no effect on him. Normally, the difficulty would greatly increase with every ten steps forward.
Yet, in a short time, Han Xuanji had already crossed a hundred steps.
In the blink of an eye, he had covered one-third of the distance.