In the ocean of water elements, the fluctuation of elements is quite apparent, making it an ideal Holy Land in the minds of cultivators!

At the center of the ocean of water elements, Ye Fan sat cross-legged like a statue, with an ancient water element rune flickering on his chest.

This was a manifestation formed on his body after he initially comprehended the essence and law of water elements!

"Swish!"

Ye Fan opened his eyes, shooting out two dragon-shaped divine lights. The water element rune on his chest vanished in an instant, as if it had never appeared.

However, Ye Fan knew clearly that he had indeed comprehended the law of water elements. He felt that he had now become one with the water elements in heaven and earth, indistinguishable from each other.

This feeling was very mysterious, something that can only be understood but not conveyed in words, yet he knew for sure that he had grasped it!

In this moment, a scene buried deep in his memory for a long time emerged in his mind...

Somewhere on the snow-covered Mount Tian, a seven or eight-year-old boy was practicing martial arts with each move in the bone-chilling wind and snow!

"Master, when will I reach the Gang Qi Realm?"

As the boy practiced martial arts, he asked the elder who was guiding him by his side.

"When the time comes, it will happen!"

The elder replied calmly.

"Ugh, it’s this line again..." The boy was speechless.

He didn’t know how many times he had asked this question, and the answer was always the same, making him once suspect that the old man didn’t know what the Gang Qi Realm was either.

Yet—

When he actually reached the Gang Qi Realm, he realized how accurate his master’s words were, when the time comes, it will naturally happen!

It was a feeling that could only be intuited but not expressed in words.

That boy was Ye Fan himself, and that elder was Chu Xuanji!

Now he understood that Chu Xuanji was an absolute sage, whose words were filled with philosophical meaning.

Just like now, after comprehending the law and essence of water elements, he couldn’t describe it, but he knew for sure he had grasped it.

This is exactly what the master meant by when the time comes, it will happen!

"Lord Realm, here I come!"

Upon realizing he had initially grasped the essence and law of water elements, Ye Fan was overjoyed and decided to once again attempt to break into the Lord Realm.

However, this time he was extremely cautious. After coming out of the ocean of water elements, he returned directly to his residence in Emperor City!

Breaking into the Lord Realm is a dangerous process, and he couldn’t afford to be careless. The lesson from his last failed attempt still left him jittery!

Returning to his small courtyard residence, Ye Fan personally inscribed a simple array pattern, gathering Dragon Energy from all directions, transforming this little courtyard into a Divine Realm within Emperor City.

The dense Primordial Qi of heaven and earth surged like water, Dragon Energy roiled, all things revived, and even the plants in the courtyard showed signs of transforming into Spirit Grass.

Ye Fan sat cross-legged in his room, connecting with the Heaven and Earth Tao Markings on the Holy Embryo and the Water Element Law, beginning his attempt to break into the Lord Realm.

A terrifying aura emanated from him, truly having the aura of a Domain, spreading throughout the entire Emperor City!

Hmm?

This astonishing aura immediately alarmed everyone in Emperor City. People emerged from their places of seclusion, all looking towards that inconspicuous small courtyard where Ye Fan resided.

"Three months, is he finally attempting to break into the Lord Realm now?"

"To comprehend the law of elements in just three months, he can be considered a demon among demons!"

"This aura seems a bit off, too terrifying. I feel that if he succeeds, he might undergo a drastic change of heart and become a madman who only knows slaughter!"

People discussed animatedly, even the old teachers guarding here frowned, closely monitoring the situation in the small courtyard, ready to intervene if anything went wrong to prevent irreparable tragedies.

Somewhere outside Emperor City, Gu Xiao watched the small courtyard where Ye Fan was in seclusion with a sullen face, silently praying in his heart.

He absolutely did not want to see Ye Fan successfully break through, for that would mean his young ancestor, the Ancient Immortal, must accept Ye Fan’s challenge.

Although he had great confidence in the Ancient Immortal and believed that even if Ye Fan broke through to the Lord Realm, he would absolutely not be a match for the Ancient Immortal, it was still an uncertainty.

The terrifying aura grew stronger and stronger, Ye Fan’s body seemed to swell as if it was being inflated, the Water Element Law surging on his body surface, yet he still couldn’t truly form his own unique Domain!

"Boom!"

Suddenly, a violent energy exploded, turning the entire room in the small courtyard into ruins, with Ye Fan standing amidst the debris, his clothes tattered and bloodstained.

"Uh... failed?"

"How could this happen?"

"Didn’t he already comprehend the law of elements? Why did he still fail?"

Many people were puzzled. Clearly, Ye Fan had been quietly contemplating within the Elemental Ocean for three months. Logically speaking, if he hadn’t gained preliminary insight into the essence and law of a certain element, how could he rashly charge into the Lord Realm?

But now, Ye Fan actually failed. Even after comprehending the essence and law of the elements, he still failed, leaving people incredulous!

"What does it matter if he understands the essence and law of elements? Even Heaven’s will doesn’t allow him to break through. With such fate, can he defy the heavens?"

Chu Xuanji’s frown instantly relaxed, revealing a long-lost smile.

However, Ancient Immortal paid no attention at all. In his eyes, whether Ye Fan could break through to the Lord Realm or not, he was no match for him.

Even if Ye Fan really broke through, he would only be at the Early Lord Realm, while he was a strong person at the Mid-Stage of Lord Realm before being sealed.

Amidst the ruins, Ye Fan wryly smiled and operated the Phoenix Nirvana Technique. His injuries healed in an instant, and though this time’s failure to charge into the Lord Realm was not as severe as the last time’s injury.

Elder Xuan’s warning became a reality. He truly needed to completely realize the laws and essence of all elements before he could naturally enter the Lord Realm. Without fully understanding the laws and essence of all elements, he couldn’t successfully charge into the Lord Realm.

The reason why the Lord Realm blocked many cultivators at its doorstep is that it tests a cultivator’s comprehension, and it is no longer something that just an increase in strength can achieve.

"It seems I truly need to comprehend all the essences and laws of elements..."

Ye Fan sighed.

It is a very long process. He didn’t know whether he could fully understand the essences and laws of all elements before leaving the Emperor’s Secret Realm, but regardless of success, he had to give it a try; he had no way back.

Changing into a new set of clothes, just as Ye Fan was about to go back to the Elemental Ocean to continue understanding other elements’ essence and laws, suddenly news came, Ancient Immortal had comprehended the essence and law of another element in the Elemental Ocean!

This news shocked everyone!

Though theoretically, cultivators have opportunities to perceive other non-conflicting elemental laws after reaching the Lord Realm, no one was able to accomplish it.

Ancient Immortal was the first to make it happen!

In an instant, the entire Emperor’s Secret Realm was astonished. Whether the old teachers of the Imperial Academy or the disciples cultivating here, or people like Li Yu’er, none of them expected Ancient Immortal to be so extraordinarily talented, actually comprehending the essence and law of two different elements—it is absolutely a pioneering achievement!

"Ancient Immortal truly deserves to be the son of the Emperor Gu, unparalleled in bloodline power, exceptionally high in comprehension."

"Throughout the ages, those who could comprehend two elemental laws during the Lord Realm did nothing but leave an endless legend in the Cultivation World."

"If nothing unexpected happens, Ancient Immortal is likely to become the first in the Emperor’s sons to prove the Dao and become Emperor, making the Gu Family a double-Emperor lineage!"

"In the younger generation, I’m afraid no one is his opponent, even fellow Emperor’s sons like Yue Haoyu and Yue Hui are no exceptions!"

"The number one person of the younger generation in the Five Domains!"

After learning that Ancient Immortal comprehended the essence and law of a second element, many people were discussing, believing Ancient Immortal’s talent to be unparalleled and comparable to an Ancient Emperor!

Even people like Kou Wenjie, who had a poor opinion of him, had to admit that Ancient Immortal’s comprehension was indeed terrifying. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

One must know that when cultivators comprehend the essence and law of the first element, they will naturally choose the element that aligns with their divine skills.

However—

In comprehending the essence and law of the second element, they will inevitably be repelled by the law of the first element.

Moreover, due to the previous comprehension process, it would form preconceived notions in comprehending the essence and law of the second element.

This is called the obstacle of insight, where original experiences would instead become obstacles to understanding new elemental laws. If this barrier cannot be overcome, it is simply impossible to comprehend the law of the second element.

In this world, many cultivators have inertial thinking and experience awareness, believing that after understanding the essence and law of one element, it wouldn’t be too difficult to comprehend the second one.

Yet, over hundreds of thousands of years, those who truly managed to perceive a second elemental law were as rare as phoenix feathers, extremely rare.

Of course, throughout the dynasty, Great Emperors at the Lord Realm must comprehend more than two elemental laws, which is also why people think Ancient Immortal has a hopeful future to prove the Dao.

"Really unexpected, that guy Ancient Immortal was the first to comprehend the law of the second element. It seems you and I might both not be his match!"

Upon learning that Ancient Immortal understood the second element’s law, Ancient Prince Yue Haoyu said to Emperor’s Son Yue Hui with a worried face.

"That young man with the surname Ye might find it hard to defeat Ancient Immortal!"

"In the same realm, there are differences in cultivation levels, Ancient Immortal comprehending two elemental laws, greatly increasing in strength, Ye Fan, even breaking through to the Lord Realm, is definitely not a match for Ancient Immortal!"

Meanwhile, there was much discussion in Emperor City.

Thinking back to when Ye Fan once said with firm conviction that the day he broke through the Lord Realm would be the day he challenged Ancient Immortal, many people felt that Ye Fan was too impulsive.

In their view, Ancient Immortal, who realized the essences and laws of two elements, had already significantly enhanced his strength, and his realm was originally the Mid-Stage of Lord Realm, even if Ye Fan broke through the Lord Realm, he was destined to be defeated!

And if even others thought so, how could Chu Xuanji think otherwise?

"Haha, the young ancestor comprehended two elemental laws, even if the one named Ye breaks through the Lord Realm, he’s just courting trouble!"

That day, Chu Xuanji’s boisterous voice filled the entire Emperor City.

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