When one continues to do things that they feel quite positive about, when one does things that they love, things that they feel are important, things that they commit themselves to, one will always find the passing of time an extremely fast thing when dedicated to said thing, and that applies true no matter how much time it is that one can spend.
This applies true to Argus as well, whose face appears quite surprised as he stares at the mystical heavy water beneath him, the once glowing pool of peculiarity now losing its light, as if returning to normal water again.
"Already? Even if the Three Purities Origin Meridian consumes energy at a much faster rate, shouldn't this pond last for about a couple of days or so? I feel like it's only a couple of hours at best since I started…"
Seeing the changes in the other, Argus couldn't help but complain to himself as he waddles around, now not only feeling the lack of ambient mana within his surroundings, but also within the confines of the liquid he is swimming in as well.
It won't be for quite some time that this young man will realize that his estimation about how long the effects of this odd pool of liquid will last is right, and it is only because he entered a completely entranced state of cultivation that he felt like everything passed like time flows far faster, a state a cultivator might not even experience in their life, no matter how high their realm of cultivation is, if they aren't qualified.
The glow and the lack of mana within the pond, those weren't the only things that changed, though, as gone was the difficulty of his moving across the liquid, as if it got less and less dense the longer he cultivated himself inside of it, although this he can also attribute to his getting stronger as he progresses on his cultivation.
"Finally… the peak of Meridian Cleansing…"
Finding the strength amidst the disappointment of a short, slightly unsatisfying cultivation session, the young man mutters to himself as he leaves the waters that were once filled with an odd power that allows him to temper himself.
Clenching his fist, he can now tell with absolute certainty that this Meridian Cleansing Realm that he entered is completely different from the Meridian Cleansing Realm that his first teacher had created, the progress and improvement of both his strength and senses making him feel like he had far surpassed what he had back when he first stepped into the peak of the Body Refining Realm.
'Hmm? You want to measure your foundation compared to other people? Well, scratch the thought, kid, comparing with others is the killer of joy…'
Recalling Qing Tian's words as he got curious about his strength compared to others during his early days of cultivation, Argus couldn't help but smile, remembering the next part of those words.
'…You only need to compare yourself with your previous self, boy, all that matters is you know that you're making progress, that you're growing greater than you were in the past.'
Those were the words told by the old man before he proceeded to go on with his usual rambling about how foolish everyone else is for not taking his path, his ramblings more about the pity of not giving juniors just a little bit greater foundation and potential rather than anything else one might expect.
Funnily enough, despite telling Argus that he only needs to compare his growth to his previous self, it is also this very same old man that made the young man aware of the standards of prowess for a Body Refining Realm cultivator, in fact, it is also the old teacher who told the young man about the standards of strength for each succeeding realm after that.
'Well, Old Qing is not wrong at all…'
He thought to himself as he proceeded to test his strength out, finding something in the wild that he could lift up, he found a gigantic rock near the cavern, one that seemed to fall out of place, a huge rock that he eyeballed to reach about some ten metric tons in weight.
'If the material is right, that is…'
The young man's words echo in his mind as he proceeds to lift the entirety of the boulder, his hips lowered, and his legs bent in a proper attempt to carry the weight, his teeth gritted as he prepared to feel a little bit of suffering but still expecting to move the mass at the very least.
That is why it became such a surprise, to the point that he nearly fell onto his back when he felt the boulder not only budging, but eventually being lifted off the ground as well, moment after moment passing as he lifts the weight inch by inch, until he finally find himself standing upright, his arms carrying the massive boulder as if it is nothing at all, not even a little sign of trembling as he continues to hold such mass up.
'At least a ton for the First Stage of the Body Refinement Realm, two for the second, three for the third and so on… eventually, one should reach the peak, the Ninth Stage of Body Refinement with strength capable of lifting at least nine tons of weight effortlessly, while some especially talented juniors will be able to lift ten, hell, even twenties of tons if they are body cultivation talents… as for you boy, well, only time will tell'
Smiling as he recalls those words that the old teacher had told him, Argus then released the boulder from his grasp, allowing it to fall down the ground where it produced a pronounced, low, and rumbling thud, making not only him, but also the wild animals and beasts around him to feel the vibration produced by such heavy object falling down the ground.
"Ten tons… hahaha… I'm even stronger than an average Ninth Stage Body Refining Realm right now…"
Argus reminds himself as he clenches his fist in excitement, his thoughts no longer on the pity of his not being able to break through the Body Refinement Realm, but rather on the time well spent by him completing his meridian cleansing, making him feel like he is reborn anew.
'Just how much will my body improve once I step into the Body Refining Realm…'
He wonders to himself as he starts looking around, the vibrant, lively surroundings brought to him by his senses that are now sharpened and improved by spirit energy, feel a little bit more pleasing to the eyes, as if everything in life is just so beautiful to him right now.
"Haha, what am I thinking… the Body Refining Realm can wait, I should probably clean up for now, it's time to return after all…"
Purging himself of the thoughts of excitement for the future that has yet to happen, the young man then released his clenched fist, dressed himself up and picked up everything of his possession before he wore the black cloak now a little bit tattered compared to the pristine condition it was on when it was handed to him, a proof to just how much encounters and adventures he has during these past few weeks away from home.