I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

Xuanhuang Hall.

The disciple stopped outside the hall.

"Guest Qin, the cave master is waiting for you inside. Please."

Qin Yuan stepped into the Xuanhuang Hall.

Inside the hall, the Xuanhuang Holy Emperor sat on a high platform, his aura ethereal and indistinct.

He smiled slightly when he saw Qin Yuan enter.

"They're here."

Qin Yuan clasped his hands in a salute.

"Greetings, Cave Master."

Emperor Xuanhuang waved his hand.

"No need for formalities. You are my guest, not my disciple, so you don't need to bow to me in the future."

He raised his hand, and a jade slip flew towards Qin Yuan.

"This is the map and rules of my Xuanhuang Grotto-heaven. Since you're new here, take your time to familiarize yourself with them. Your lodgings have been arranged on Donglai Peak. It's a sacred peak specially prepared for guest elders, with a tranquil environment suitable for cultivation."

Qin Yuan accepted the jade slip.

"Thank you, Cave Master."

The Xuanhuang Holy Emperor nodded.

"There's one more thing. Three years from now, the Cave Heaven will hold a 'Guest Elder Grand Competition.' At that time, all guest elders will participate and compete for rankings. The higher the ranking, the more cultivation resources you can obtain. Although you've just arrived, you should still participate."

Qin Yuandao.

"clear."

The Xuanhuang Holy Emperor looked at him, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.

"I have high hopes for you. In the Great Pride Competition, you won first place as a Saint of the Third Level, which has already proven your strength. In the next three years, cultivate diligently. Strive to give me another surprise in the Guest Elder Competition."

Qin Yuan nodded.

"I will certainly live up to the cave master's expectations."

Donglai Peak, located three thousand miles east of the main peak, is one of the thirty-six sacred peaks, ranking in the middle.

The peak rises thousands of feet high, with clouds and mist swirling around its waist and above. At the summit stands an exquisite courtyard containing three pavilions, a sacred spring, and a medicinal garden.

Qin Yuan stood in the courtyard, looking down at the continuous mountain range below.

The concentration of spiritual energy here is more than a hundred times that of the outside world. With each breath, a large amount of spiritual energy surges into his body, even faster than when he cultivated in the Illusionary Realm.

A system notification sounded:

[Host detected entering the Xuanhuang Grotto-Heaven. Environment changed, daily cultivation gains recalculated...]

[Calculation complete. Basic spiritual energy bonus of Xuanhuang Grotto: 100x.]

[Current daily cultivation gain: 10 million years × 100 = 1000 billion years/day!]

[Guest Retainer status bonus detected; additional cultivation speed +50%.]

[Final Daily Cultivation Gain: 15 billion years/day!]

Qin Yuan's lips curled up slightly.

1.5 billion years.

One day is equivalent to 1.5 billion years of cultivation for an ordinary saint.

This is only the Xuanhuang Grotto-Heaven, ranked in the middle among the Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens. What kind of scenery would it be if one went to the number one ranked Grotto-Heaven, or the Nine Sacred Domains?

He took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement.

For the next three years, right here, I will strive to reach the ninth level of the Saint realm.

In the first year, Qin Yuan hardly ever left Donglai Peak.

He practiced his martial arts during the day and studied supernatural powers at night, occasionally tending to the eighth and ninth grade spiritual herbs in the herb garden.

The system's daily cultivation was accumulating rapidly, and his realm was steadily improving.

Three months later, he reached the peak of the third level of Sainthood.

Six months later, he reached the fourth level of sainthood.

Nine months later, he reached the peak of the fourth level of Sainthood.

In a full year, the sage attained five levels of enlightenment.

On the day of the breakthrough, an unusual phenomenon appeared in the sky above Donglai Peak—a golden pillar of light shot into the sky and lasted for a full hour.

The entire Xuanhuang Cave Heaven could be seen.

"Is that the direction of Donglai Peak?"

"Isn't Donglai Peak where the new guest elder lives?"

"From the third level of Sainthood to the fifth level, breaking through two levels in a year? That's incredibly fast!"

"They're the champion of the Heavenly Pride Competition, how could they not be fast?"

Amid the discussions, some expressed envy, some jealousy, and others disapproval.

"What's so special about breaking through two levels in a year? I even broke through three levels in a year back in the day."

The speaker was a young man in purple robes, an eighth-level Saint, standing on another spiritual peak, gazing towards the direction of Donglai Peak.

His name is Zixiao. He is one of the top three guest elders in Xuanhuang Cave Heaven and is hailed as the most promising genius to break through to the Saint King level within three hundred years.

"Senior Brother Zixiao, Qin Yuan is said to be only at the third level of Sainthood, and he broke through to the fifth level in a year. That's really not slow," someone said from the side.

Zi Xiao chuckled.

"Can a Saint's third to fifth level be the same as a Saint's seventh to ninth level? Breaking through at a lower level quickly doesn't mean anything. Once he reaches the late Saint stage, he'll know what a bottleneck is."

He turned and walked towards his residence.

"Ignore him. In the Grand Competition for Guest Retainers three years from now, I'll show him what a difference there is."

The following year, Qin Yuan's cultivation speed increased even more.

After reaching the fifth level of the Saint realm, his understanding of the Saint chapter of the "Nine Revolutions Profound Origin Technique" deepened, making his cultivation twice as effective with half the effort.

Three months later, he reached the peak of the fifth level of Sainthood.

Six months later, the saint is six times stronger.

Nine months later, he reached the peak of the sixth level of the Saint realm.

One year and three months later, he reached the seventh level of sainthood.

On the day of the breakthrough, another strange phenomenon appeared in the sky above Donglai Peak—this time, two golden pillars of light shone brightly, even more spectacular than the last.

The entire Xuanhuang Cave Heaven trembled once again.

"Another breakthrough?! From the fifth to the seventh level of Sainthood in just a year and a half?!"

"This speed is even faster than last year!"

"How can a late-stage Saint reach such a speed? How did he cultivate?"

"Could he be practicing some ancient cultivation technique?"

Zi Xiao stood on her own spiritual peak, looking at the two golden pillars of light, her expression somewhat grim.

The sage has seven levels.

That kid he once looked down on, in just a year and a half, caught up to him and was only one level away from him.

And judging by this speed, it won't be long before I catch up with him, or even surpass him.

"no."

A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"We can't let him continue like this."

He turned and flew towards the main peak.

Main peak, Xuanhuang Hall.

Zixiao stood outside the palace, requesting an audience with the Xuanhuang Holy Emperor.

A moment later, the palace doors opened, and a voice came out.

"Come in."

Zixiao stepped into the hall and bowed in greeting.

"Disciple Zixiao greets Cave Master."

The Xuanhuang Holy Emperor sat upright on the high platform, looking at him calmly.

"What is it?"

Zixiao said.

"Master, I have a request."

"explain."

Zi Xiao took a deep breath.

"This disciple wishes to have a sparring match with Qin Yuan."

Emperor Xuanhuang raised an eyebrow slightly.

"A friendly spar? Why?"

Zixiao said.

"Qin Yuan has been in the grotto-heaven for a year and a half, and has broken through four realms in succession. His speed is astonishing. This disciple would like to test his combat ability and also to understand the strength of his opponent before the guest elder competition."

The Xuanhuang Holy Emperor looked at him, a meaningful smile flashing in his eyes.

"Just understanding the opponent?"

Zixiao lowered her head.

"Yes."

The Holy Emperor Xuanhuang remained silent for a moment.

"If he agrees, I will not object. But if he disagrees, you are not allowed to force him."

Zixiao was overjoyed.

"Thank you, Cave Master!"

He left the Xuanhuang Hall, a cold smile playing on his lips.

Qin Yuan, let's see how you hide.

Donglai Peak.

Qin Yuan was cultivating in the courtyard when he suddenly sensed an aura rapidly approaching.

He opened his eyes.

A moment later, a beam of purple light fell outside the courtyard.

Zixiao.

"Is Junior Brother Qin Yuan here?"

His voice echoed throughout Donglai Peak.