Qing Yu tried to concentrate, but he felt his mental consciousness was on the verge of shattering.
"Huu… huu…" Qing Yu gasped for air, and large beads of cold sweat instantly soaked his clothes, his body trembling uncontrollably. He forced his eyes open, his vision somewhat blurry, only feeling the world spinning and a buzzing sound all around him.
"What's going on… This… feeling of my spirit being completely drained…" Qing Yu clutched his throbbing head, his face pale, his voice trembling.
"How long… have I been in seclusion this time?"
"Master, you have been in deep seclusion for a total of 3 years and 7 days," the intelligent assistant's voice responded.
"Three years…" Qing Yu murmured, feeling the extreme exhaustion coming from his Sea of Consciousness.
"Is it because I'm only Universe Rank? This consciousness entering the Universe Origin to comprehend is truly terrifying for mental consumption; I can't sustain it for too long."
"However, the gains are also immense!" Qing Yu suppressed the severe pain and exhaustion in his mind, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"The first 18 secret techniques of the second level of Myriad Tribulations have all been comprehended and mastered within three years!"
"With my current understanding of laws and mastery of secret techniques… passing the Tongtian Bridge's fourth level should be no problem!" Qing Yu was confident.
"But I still have plenty of opportunities to comprehend the chaos tablet, so there's no need to challenge the Tongtian Bridge now."
Qing Yu rested for half a month before the fatigue in his mental consciousness gradually disappeared.
"It's time to go comprehend the chaos tablet again; there's no need to save opportunities now." Qing Yu immediately set off for the City Lord's Mansion.
Deep within the magnificent City Lord's Mansion, outside the chaos tablet secret chamber.
"Ah, Qing Yu, here to comprehend the chaos tablet again?" Kan Deli, the bald giant, asked in his gentle, deep voice.
"Lord of Eclipse Palace Master gave you an additional ten comprehension opportunities, plus the two you originally had, you now have a total of twelve. Are you planning to use one this time?"
"Yes, Senior Kan Deli," Qing Yu respectfully bowed.
"Good, the universe chaos tablet is currently not in use, go ahead," Kan Deli nodded and opened the secret chamber door.
Seven days later, Qing Yu emerged from the secret chamber with a deeper understanding of laws and a clearer direction for his cultivation. He returned to his residence's rooftop, his gaze as calm as still water, and once again guided his consciousness into the Universe Origin.
Day after day, year after year. Under the unchanging sky of Primordial Chaos City, time quietly slipped away.
Qing Yu entered a fixed cycle:
Comprehending secret techniques and laws in the Universe Origin with complete absorption—then, after about three years, his mental consciousness would reach its limit and be forced to stop—he would rest for half a month to recover—then go to the City Lord's Mansion to comprehend the chaos tablet—and then re-enter the Origin…
Twenty years passed in the blink of an eye.
During this period, the other geniuses in Primordial Chaos City also did not stop their progress.
Moka and Huang Li successively passed the Tongtian Bridge's second level, occasionally meeting at gatherings in the Virtual Universe.
"That Qing Yu fellow, it's been twenty years, why hasn't there been any movement from him?" Moka stroked his chin.
"With his momentum back then, he shouldn't be this silent. Could he really be stuck at the universe chaos tablet?"
"The difficulty of the universe chaos tablet is well-known, but… I actually think he's accumulating strength. Don't forget, he suddenly passed the second and third levels consecutively before! Maybe he's preparing to give us a big surprise!" Huang Li mused.
You Meng also successfully passed the second level; however, her heart remained uneasy.
She knew that Qing Yu had been in seclusion for these twenty years, never leaving his rooftop. Twenty years of sitting in solitude! This long silence formed a stark contrast to Qing Yu's dazzling breakthroughs in his first few years.
"Qing Yu… How are you really doing?" There was a hint of worry in her heart, but her trust remained firm.
Finally, when Qing Yu once again emerged from seclusion to comprehend the chaos tablet, You Meng could no longer hold back. She quickly walked to the closed door of residence 0197165293 and waited quietly.
Qing Yu was walking back after comprehending the chaos tablet at the City Lord's Mansion, the fatigue and pallor from prolonged mental stress still clearly visible on his brow. From afar, he saw that familiar figure standing at his door.
"You Meng?" Qing Yu was a little surprised, but seeing the unconcealed concern in her eyes, his heart warmed slightly, and he quickened his pace to walk over.
"Why are you here? How long have you been waiting?"
"Not long," You Meng shook her head.
"I just… I was just a little worried about you," her voice was very soft.
"It's been twenty years, Qing Yu. You've been in seclusion and haven't challenged the Tongtian Bridge… I…"
Qing Yu looked at the deep worry in You Meng's eyes, understanding, and a gentle smile appeared on his face, gesturing for her to walk into the living room of the small building with him:
"I made you worry. The universe chaos tablet… is indeed a bit more difficult than I expected, but it won't stop me. I actually had the confidence to pass the fourth level long ago; I just haven't challenged it because I plan to accumulate more, and then pass several levels at once."
You Meng followed Qing Yu inside, letting out a soft sigh of relief.
"It's good that you're alright."
She paused, looking into Qing Yu's eyes: "I believe in you! No matter how long it takes, I believe you can do it!"
This unspoken trust and support, like a warm current, seemed to lighten the heavy pressure on Qing Yu's heart a little.
Meanwhile, inside Snow Prison King's luxurious palace.
"Zi Yuan, how is it?" Snow Prison King's voice was calm and unruffled, a hint of triumph revealing itself in the slightly upturned corners of his mouth and the depths of his eyes.
"For a full twenty years, Qing Yu hasn't challenged the fourth level. Was my judgment back then even half wrong?"
King Ziyuan, seated opposite him, enveloped in a faint purple stardust mist, merely gazed at the light screen without immediately responding.
Snow Prison King picked up the amber liquid condensed from energy beside him, gently swirled it, and spoke with a hint of "pity" in his tone:
"He has some comprehension ability, but unfortunately, he's ultimately a hot-blooded youth, too ambitious!"
He put down the cup, his voice echoing clearly in the palace:
"Twenty years, not a single step forward! This is enough to prove that his choice of the universe chaos tablet was a mistake! He not only missed the opportunity granted to him by Lord of Eclipse Palace Master, but I'm afraid even his original sharpness will be completely worn away."
"What a pity, what a lament… However, all of this is within reason." He subtly closed his eyes, as if mourning a genius who had gone astray, but his expression was more like he was enjoying his accurate prediction.
King Ziyuan remained silent for a moment, his face, shrouded in stardust mist, showing no clear expression: "Twenty years of silence is not necessarily the end. An existence like Lord of Eclipse Palace Master would not easily misjudge someone."
"Heh," Snow Prison King chuckled noncommittally.
"Then let us wait and see how long this genius, 'favored' by Lord of Eclipse Palace Master, will remain silent?"
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