Lin Mu's POV:
My brief sojourns back to Willow Creek became a delicate dance. I maintained the guise of the unremarkable farmer's son, diligently performing my chores, while subtly observing Ling Yue and the undercurrents of village life. The faint connection I felt towards her continued to grow, a quiet pull that resonated deep within my soul.
Ling Yue, in turn, seemed more open in her interactions with me. She would occasionally seek me out, asking about my knowledge of local plants or sharing her latest discoveries in Master Qin's dusty tomes. There was a nascent trust blooming between us, a silent understanding that transcended our seemingly disparate talents.
Meanwhile, within the Verdant Heaven, the years continued to melt away. I had long since broken through the Peak Stage of Qi Gathering. The Qi vortex in my dantian had solidified and refined, becoming a swirling core of potent energy. My physical body had undergone a subtle but profound transformation, my senses reaching levels that would have been considered superhuman in the outside world.
[Congratulations! You have entered the Foundation Establishment Realm.]
The system notification was a quiet affirmation of my relentless efforts. Foundation Establishment. A crucial milestone, marking the true beginning of a cultivator's journey. I could feel the shift within me, a fundamental change in the very structure of my being. My lifespan had subtly increased, a sense of vitality thrumming beneath my skin. I could now manipulate my internal Qi with far greater precision, and even manifest faint wisps of energy outside my body.
The Verdant Heaven responded to my breakthrough, the spiritual energy around me becoming even more concentrated, as if acknowledging my progress. The strange flora seemed to glow brighter, and the calls of the unseen creatures held a new resonance.
However, amidst this personal triumph, a subtle unease began to creep into the tranquility of my hidden paradise. I had noticed changes in the Verdant Heaven over the decades. The spiritual energy, while still abundant, seemed to fluctuate in subtle ways. There were areas that felt… stagnant, and the behavior of some of the creatures seemed more agitated.
I had also begun to encounter areas with residual traces of what felt like… conflict. Faint scorch marks on the luminous trees, patches of withered, energy-drained flora. It was as if battles had taken place here long ago, leaving behind subtle scars on this vibrant realm.
My curiosity grew. What was the history of the Verdant Heaven? Was it always a peaceful sanctuary, or had it once been a battleground? The jade pendant, my gateway to this world, remained silent, offering no answers.
My returns to Willow Creek also began to carry a subtle undercurrent of worry. Whispers of strange occurrences in the surrounding regions reached the village – unusually aggressive beasts, unsettlingly still forests, and tales of traveling merchants disappearing without a trace. Old Man Li, his pronouncements now tinged with genuine concern rather than just village gossip, spoke of a growing imbalance in the spiritual energies of the land.
These whispers resonated with the subtle changes I had observed in the Verdant Heaven. Could the two be connected? Was the tranquility of my hidden sanctuary somehow linked to the stability of the outside world?
My patient cultivation continued, each year within the Verdant Heaven adding layers to my strength and understanding. I began to experiment with manifesting my Qi externally, practicing simple offensive and defensive techniques. The accelerated time allowed for rapid trial and error, honing my control and understanding of this newfound power.
I also dedicated time to studying the strange flora and fauna of the Verdant Heaven, meticulously documenting their properties and behaviors. I theorized about their connection to the unique flow of time and the potent spiritual energy. Perhaps understanding this realm better would provide answers to the growing unease I felt.
Decades turned into centuries within the Verdant Heaven. I consolidated my Foundation Establishment, my core of Qi becoming a stable and powerful source of energy. My mental fortitude grew, honed by years of solitary focus. I was no longer the clueless boy who had stumbled into this realm. I was a cultivator, albeit one hidden from the eyes of the world, steadily growing in power while the Xuanling Continent remained oblivious.
Yet, the whispers of unease persisted, both within the timeless paradise and the mortal realm I occasionally visited. A sense of impending change hung in the air, a feeling that the quiet tranquility I had enjoyed for so long might soon be disrupted. The Eternal Earthling, secretly cultivating in his verdant haven, was beginning to sense that his long seclusion might not last forever. The threads of his destiny, intertwined with Ling Yue and perhaps with the fate of the wider world, were beginning to stir.