The Passage of Time

Ryan returned to his room and was about to rest for a while when he noticed a leaf slowly drifting out from the pendant on his chest and landing in his hand.

"Place this leaf on your forehead," Silver Moon instructed.

Although Ryan was puzzled, he complied and placed the leaf on his forehead. As soon as the leaf touched his skin, it vanished.

As the leaf disappeared, a book titled The Compendium of Rare Herbs and Elixirs appeared in Ryan's mind.

He carefully read through it and discovered that the book not only recorded the properties of various plants but also how to combine them to brew different functional elixirs. It was an incredible guide, listing everything from common plants to rare and magical herbs, including many names Ryan had never heard of.

"This..." Ryan was confused as to why Silver Moon would give him such a book.

"This is something I've compiled over countless years. It is unique, and now I'm passing it on to you," Silver Moon explained.

Ryan was filled with gratitude, knowing that such a book was beyond the value of any amount of money.

What intrigued him the most, however, was the question of how long Silver Moon had lived. Before he could ask, a bucket of cold water seemed to pour over him.

"You don't need to get too excited. The drink I gave you earlier was 'Qi-Refining Spirit Wine,' and from now on, you will need to brew it yourself. I won't be supplying you with resources to sustain you," Silver Moon's voice came again.

Ryan sighed, realizing that he'd need to spend some time learning how to brew wine. Although the Compendium of Rare Herbs and Elixirs provided some basic instructions and ingredients, brewing the Qi-Refining Spirit Wine wasn't simple. Even though the ingredients weren't too rare, it still required some foundational brewing knowledge.

For Ryan, learning brewing in Sweet Spring Town wasn't too difficult. Once he made up his mind, he didn't hesitate. Using the excuse of wanting to have a backup skill, he approached Harry. He explained that he wanted to learn brewing, and Harry was very pleased. Not only did Harry agree to help, but he also promised to find the best brewing master to teach Ryan.

From then on, Ryan spent his days learning from a brewing master named Arien at a local distillery, while his nights were filled with the grueling training with Silver Moon. Training wasn't the right word—Ryan was essentially tortured.

As time passed, three years flew by in the blink of an eye.

Ryan was now closer than ever to reaching the wall. He kept motivating himself in his mind as he took a deep breath and exhaled heavily.

This was the closest he had ever been to success in the past three years. Silver Moon had told him that if he fell during the process, he would have to start over. He had lost count of how many times he had been forced to restart.

He focused intently, feeling the slight changes in the pressure on his body. The weight on him seemed to lessen slightly. "Now's the time," he thought.

He leaped forward and finally made the last step, his hand touching the opposite wall.

Before he could celebrate, Silver Moon's voice echoed in his mind.

"Ha, you're really useless. Such a short distance, and it took you three years."

Ryan gritted his teeth. "Stop with the mockery. You promised to teach me how to cultivate elements, and I actually believed you. Instead, I've been tortured for three years in this hellhole."

Ryan looked at his body. Aside from growing taller, the most obvious change was his strength. His body had become much more robust, with well-defined muscles that radiated raw power and beauty, exuding a sense of masculinity.

"If it weren't for the obvious changes to my body, I'd have stopped following you a long time ago," Ryan muttered, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Hahaha, kid, you haven't gained any real skills in these years, but your temper sure has grown. If I hadn't been going easy on you, even with another three years, you wouldn't have touched that wall," Silver Moon teased.

After spending three years with Silver Moon, Ryan had come to understand her temperament. She was direct and straightforward, saying whatever was on her mind. Over time, Ryan had become more casual with her.

Sighing, Ryan said, "Fine! I've done what you asked. What's next?"

Ryan had been eager to continue his training, believing that the physical changes he'd undergone weren't true cultivation but rather just a test from Silver Moon.

"Well, next… you'll continue to feel the wall," Silver Moon replied.

Ryan's expression soured as he was about to explode, but Silver Moon quickly added with a laugh, "Don't worry! This time is different from before."

With that, another green leaf flew toward Ryan, landing on his forehead.

Ryan focused, and as the leaf slowly faded from his forehead, a set of movement techniques titled Phantom Step flooded his mind.

"You will need to use this technique to touch the wall within the blink of an eye to succeed," Silver Moon explained.

"Are you kidding me? With this technique, you expect me to do it in the blink of an eye?" Ryan thought to himself but didn't voice his frustration. He just shifted his gaze and said, "Let's begin."

Surprised, Silver Moon asked, "You've already comprehended the technique so quickly?"

She had been monitoring Ryan's every movement, but after a while, she noticed that Ryan hadn't moved yet.

"Hey! Kid, didn't you say 'start'? Why aren't you moving?"

Ryan sneered in his mind at Silver Moon.

Silver Moon chuckled softly, "Heh… alright..."

As Silver Moon's voice faded, the scenery around Ryan changed, and he was back in his room. Silver Moon flashed out of the pendant.

"Go fetch a basin of water with ice cubes, the colder, the better. I'll teach you now," Silver Moon instructed.

Seeing that Silver Moon was about to teach him elemental cultivation, Ryan was elated. After three long years, the day had finally come. He quickly ran out of the room and, after about ten minutes, returned with the basin of cold water and ice cubes. He placed it on the floor excitedly.

"I've got it. Let's start!" Ryan said with excitement.

A slight smile curved Silver Moon's lips. She pointed her finger at the wooden basin, and instantly, the water and ice cubes poured all over Ryan's body, from head to toe, causing him to shiver violently.

Once this was done, Silver Moon retreated back into the pendant.

The sudden coldness made Ryan's anger rise. Soaked to the bone, he stood still, ready to yell. However, before he could speak, Silver Moon's voice leisurely echoed in his mind: "Kid, take your time to figure it out."

"What the hell? Are you messing with me?" Ryan thought angrily.

Despite his words, Silver Moon ignored him entirely, as though she didn't exist.

As time passed, Ryan slowly calmed down. After spending so long with Silver Moon, though her temper was strange, he knew she wasn't one to act without reason. There must have been some purpose behind her actions.

Thinking this, Ryan closed his eyes and carefully studied the technique "Phantom Step" from the book. When he reached the last part, which read, "All things in the world are governed by elemental laws," a flash of insight struck him. His eyes snapped open, filled with understanding. Before he could speak to Silver Moon, the environment around him changed once again. He was back in the room where he had spent the past three years training.

He didn't hesitate and closed his eyes again, feeling the minute changes in the room. Following the instructions of "Phantom Step," Ryan adjusted his body and, with a sudden movement, he flashed across the room like a phantom.

At that moment, Silver Moon emerged from the pendant and looked at Ryan's movements. She gave a slight nod, a hint of a smile creeping up her face.

"Not bad, kid. Your comprehension is quite good," she thought, quietly observing without interrupting Ryan's training.

After a long while, Ryan stopped and, seeing Silver Moon, bowed excitedly. "Thanks!"

Silver Moon flashed out of the pendant again, avoiding his gratitude. "I only pointed you in the right direction. You did the hard work. I didn't expect you to comprehend it so quickly." Her tone was calm.

"However, don't get too excited. This is just the beginning. After three years, you've only taken the first step. Do you regret it?"

"I don't regret it. At least now, I see hope," Ryan said firmly.

"Alright, I know you've gained something now, but I have to tell you something. If you were outside this space, you'd still be no different from an ordinary person. You've probably realized that the elemental concentration in this space is a hundred times stronger than outside."

Ryan's eyes widened. After all this time, he had sensed that the elemental aura here was denser than the outside world, but he didn't realize it was that much stronger.

"I know you have a lot of questions, but don't rush. Just listen to me first," Silver Moon continued. "Though you can't meditate to sense the elements, your body can feel their presence. It's like how the cold from the ice water makes you shiver—it's all about the concentration of the elements. Over the past three years, the 'Spirit-Infusing Elixir' I've had you drink didn't just strengthen your body; it also significantly increased your sensitivity to elements. Elements are everywhere. If you can still feel them once you leave this space, then you've truly entered the realm of body tempering."

"So, what should I do next?" Ryan asked.

"I'm going to gradually reduce the concentration of elements in this space until it matches the outside world. You'll need to continue training here. And as for the 'Spirit-Infusing Elixir,' you shouldn't drink any more of it. The effects of the medicine you've taken over the past three years are enough. Relying on external forces may show quick results in the short term, but in the long run, it's not a good idea."

Ryan nodded, understanding.

"By the way, how did you do with brewing the 'Mind-Loss Wine' I asked you about?" Silver Moon changed the subject.

"Well..." Ryan hesitated for a moment. "I've gathered all the materials except for the 'Mind-Loss Lotus.'"

The "Mind-Loss Lotus" was a toxic plant with a deep red color, growing in dark, damp areas. It didn't produce lotus seeds, hence the name. While it wasn't a rare or mystical treasure, it was still a valuable medicinal ingredient. One Mind-Loss Lotus could cost between three to five hundred gold coins, depending on its age and appearance. Regardless of its quality, it was a price Ryan could not afford at the moment.