Ten years had passed since Tian Ling entered seclusion. Sitting cross-legged in the center of the hall, he slowly opened his eyes, feeling the flow of Qi around him as a natural extension of himself.
"Amazing... ten years is so much better than five." His voice was calm, almost satisfied as he assessed his cultivation. "I've reached the seventh level of the True Soul Realm and am close to breaking through to the eighth."
With a slight smile, Tian Ling felt the dense energy swirling in his core, ready to be molded as he willed. He took a deep breath, savoring the moment, but his attention quickly shifted to a figure watching him impatiently.
In front of him, Lin Feng, his young disciple, stared intently, as if every second felt like an eternity. As Tian Ling opened his eyes, the boy let out an exaggerated sigh.
"Master! Finally, you're awake! I couldn't take it any longer!" Lin Feng exclaimed, almost desperate.