Three years.
For ordinary people, three years could change very little.
For a cultivator—
three years could completely transform a person's life.
And for Ye Xuan...
it was the beginning of his true rise.
First Year
The sun had barely risen over the Heavenly Frost Sect.
A young man stood beneath a waterfall.
Water crashed against his body with tremendous force.
His long white hair was tied behind his head.
His golden eyes were closed.
His body remained completely still.
BOOM!
The waterfall struck his shoulders.
His muscles didn't move.
His breathing remained steady.
A faint golden-blue glow flowed beneath his skin.
Then—
CRACK!
A stone beneath his feet shattered.
Ye Xuan slowly opened his eyes.
"Again."
He stepped forward.
The waterfall intensified.
BOOM!
The pressure increased.
His body trembled slightly.
But he didn't retreat.
[Daily Check-In successful.]
[Reward: 1,000 Spirit Stones.]
Ye Xuan smiled faintly.
Better than yesterday.
[The system recommends not becoming excited over such a small amount.]
You gave me one hundred yesterday.
[The system was teaching humility.]
And today?
[The system is teaching patience.]
Ye Xuan laughed.
You're getting worse.
[Thank you.]
Ye Xuan shook his head.
He returned his attention to cultivation.
The Heavenly Frost Imperial Scripture
His master had personally taught him the technique.
It was incredibly profound.
Unlike ordinary cultivation techniques—
it didn't simply absorb spiritual energy.
It purified it.
Compressed it.
Then circulated it through every part of his body.
His foundation became increasingly stable.
His spiritual energy became denser.
His control improved.
Most importantly—
his comprehension increased.
During the first year, Ye Xuan rarely left his mountain.
He cultivated during the morning.
Refined his body during the afternoon.
Studied formations in the evening.
And cultivated again at night.
Occasionally—
he practiced alchemy with his master.
The results were...
questionable.
Alchemy Disaster
BOOM!
Smoke filled the alchemy room.
Ye Xuan coughed.
"Master?"
Silence.
He looked around.
His master stood near the window.
Her expression was terrifyingly calm.
Ye Xuan smiled awkwardly.
"Small accident."
She pointed toward the destroyed furnace.
"That furnace was worth fifty thousand spirit stones."
Ye Xuan's smile disappeared.
"...I'll pay."
"You don't have fifty thousand."
"Then I'll work."
"You?"
"Yes."
"Doing what?"
Ye Xuan thought.
"Become a servant?"
His master looked at him.
"You would probably flirt with the female disciples."
"I would never."
She raised an eyebrow.
Ye Xuan coughed.
"...Probably."
She sighed.
"Start cleaning."
"Yes, Master."
The Second Year
By the beginning of the second year—
Ye Xuan's transformation had become obvious.
His physique had grown considerably stronger.
His spiritual energy had become extremely pure.
His white hair reached his waist.
His golden eyes had become brighter.
His appearance—
had become almost unreal.
Several female disciples who occasionally visited the mountain would secretly look at him.
One day—
a young female disciple accidentally walked into him.
She immediately froze.
"Senior Brother Ye..."
Ye Xuan looked at her.
"Yes?"
She became red.
"I..."
She looked away.
"Nothing."
She ran away.
Ye Xuan watched her disappear.
He scratched his head.
"Did I scare her?"
The System responded immediately.
[The system believes the host's face is the problem.]
Ye Xuan frowned.
"My face?"
[The host's appearance has become increasingly unreasonable.]
He smiled.
"Can't blame me for being handsome."
[The system agrees.]
Ye Xuan paused.
"You agreed?"
[The system temporarily malfunctioned.]
"..."
Bloodline Training
The second year was also when Ye Xuan began studying his bloodlines seriously.
The
Golden Azure Dragon Emperor Bloodline
had reached a higher level of awakening.
The faint dragon phantom behind him had become much more substantial.
His physical strength had increased dramatically.
The
Nine-Tailed Moon Fox Bloodline Fragment
had also stabilized.
Ye Xuan could now manifest three silver tails during battle.
His spiritual perception had become terrifying.
His illusions had become almost indistinguishable from reality.
And the
Thunder Spirit Bone
had completely integrated with his skeleton.
Purple lightning naturally circulated through his body.
But—
there was a problem.
His three powers occasionally conflicted.
One night—
Ye Xuan sat in meditation.
Golden-blue energy.
Silver moonlight.
Purple lightning.
Three different forces collided inside his body.
BOOM!
His chest shook.
Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Ye Xuan frowned.
"Again?"
The System appeared.
[Bloodline conflict detected.]
I know.
[Supreme Bloodline Fusion may solve the problem.]
Ye Xuan's eyes narrowed.
Can I fuse them now?
[Insufficient compatibility.]
How much?
[Approximately seventy percent.]
Ye Xuan frowned.
Then what do I need?
[Bloodline comprehension.]
"That's vague."
[The system enjoys being vague.]
Ye Xuan sighed.
"You really are annoying."
[The system is proud.]
He closed his eyes again.
Then began studying his bloodlines.
Not forcing them.
Not suppressing them.
Understanding them.
The Third Year
The final year passed faster.
Ye Xuan's cultivation advanced rapidly.
His master personally guided him through every bottleneck.
He spent countless hours cultivating.
Fighting.
Meditating.
Studying.
Practicing techniques.
And occasionally—
getting beaten by his master.
One Morning
BOOM!
Ye Xuan crashed into the courtyard wall.
The wall cracked.
He slowly stood.
"Master..."
His master stood calmly in front of him.
"You lasted twelve breaths."
Ye Xuan wiped blood from his mouth.
"Last time it was eight."
"Improvement."
He smiled.
"Can I have some praise?"
"No."
"..."
She raised her hand.
"Again."
Ye Xuan immediately became serious.
"Wait."
"What?"
"I need to recover."
"You're young."
"So?"
"You recover quickly."
"That's not how it works."
His master smiled.
"Enough excuses."
She attacked.
Ye Xuan's eyes sharpened.
Spatial Step!
He disappeared.
Her palm missed.
He appeared behind her.
Thunder Dragon Fist!
She turned.
BANG!
Ye Xuan flew backward.
He landed.
His eyes widened.
"That was fast."
"Again."
Ye Xuan grinned.
"Alright."
This time—
he attacked first.
Three Years Later
The sun rose above the Heavenly Frost Sect.
The mountain was quiet.
A young man stood at the edge of the cliff.
White hair flowed down his back.
His face was exceptionally handsome.
His golden eyes were calm.
His body carried an elegant, almost effortless presence.
He no longer looked like the inexperienced young disciple who had entered the sect three years ago.
His cultivation—
Spirit Gathering Ninth Layer.
Only one step away from the
Spirit Sea Realm
.
But cultivation wasn't his greatest improvement.
His physical strength was terrifying.
His bloodlines had awakened further.
His combat techniques had reached a completely different level.
His Spatial Step had become extremely refined.
His Moon Fox Illusion could now create nine independent illusions.
His Thunder Dragon Combat Art had been mastered.
And his Heavenly Frost Imperial Scripture had reached the second stage.
Ye Xuan opened his eyes.
The mountain wind blew through his white hair.
He smiled.
"Three years."
Behind him—
the courtyard door opened.
His master walked out.
She looked at him.
"You are leaving today."
Ye Xuan nodded.
"Yes."
"You've completed your training."
"Finally."
She looked at him for several seconds.
Then smiled.
"You've grown."
Ye Xuan grinned.
"Handsome too."
Her expression became helpless.
"That wasn't what I meant."
"But it's true."
She shook her head.
"Still shameless."
Ye Xuan laughed.
Then—
she threw something toward him.
He caught it.
A white jade token.
"This is?"
"Your identity token."
"Your status has changed."
Ye Xuan looked at it.
Direct Disciple of Elder Han Yue.
His eyes widened.
"Master..."
"You've been my direct disciple from the beginning."
She looked at him.
"But now the sect will officially recognize it."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Thank you."
She nodded.
Then her expression became serious.
"Remember."
"Yes?"
"Never reveal everything you possess."
Ye Xuan's expression became calm.
"I know."
"Your bloodlines."
"I know."
"Your physique."
"I know."
"Your unusual cultivation speed."
Ye Xuan nodded.
"I understand."
His master looked at him for a moment.
"Good."
She turned away.
"Now go."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"You're not going to say you'll miss me?"
"No."
"Master..."
"No."
"Not even a little?"
She paused.
Then quietly said:
"...Perhaps."
Ye Xuan smiled.
That one word was enough.
The Final Check-In
Before leaving—
Ye Xuan stood beneath the ancient tree in his courtyard.
He looked at the place where he had spent three years.
Then—
[Daily Check-In available.]
Ye Xuan smiled.
Let's make this one memorable.
[Checking in...]
The System remained silent for several seconds.
Then—
[Congratulations, Host.]
[Three-Year Cultivation Check-In Milestone completed.]
Ye Xuan's expression changed.
Milestone?
[Special Reward unlocked.]
[Reward: 100 Years of Pure Cultivation.]
Ye Xuan's eyes widened.
One hundred years?!
[Yes.]
Anything else?
[Special Reward: Ancient Bloodline Crystal.]
[Special Reward: Supreme-grade cultivation technique.]
[Special Reward: Unknown.]
Ye Xuan blinked.
Unknown?
[The system itself doesn't know.]
"..."
For once—
even the System sounded confused.
Ye Xuan laughed.
"Now that's interesting."
He looked toward the distant sky.
His journey was about to begin again.
Three years of cultivation had transformed him.
But he was still only in the Lower Realm.
There were countless powerful cultivators above him.
Countless sects.
Countless clans.
Countless secret organizations.
And eventually—
the Upper Realm.
But that was far away.
For now—
Ye Xuan stepped onto the flying sword.
His white hair danced in the wind.
Golden eyes looked toward the horizon.
"Let's see what the Lower Realm has waiting for me."
The flying sword shot into the sky.
SHUUU!
Behind him—
his master stood silently on the mountain.
Watching her direct disciple disappear into the distance.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Go."
"Spread your wings."
"Your journey has only just begun."
And somewhere far beyond the Lower Realm—
an ancient existence opened its eyes.
Then closed them again.
No one noticed.
No prophecy was spoken.
No destiny was revealed.
Not yet.
For Ye Xuan's story—
was still his own.