The Birth of Sword God-Chapter 109 - 104: Devouring the Years
Confucius said: "At fifteen, I set my heart on learning. At thirty, I stood firm. At forty, I had no doubts. At fifty, I knew the decree of Heaven. At sixty, my ear was attuned. At seventy, I could follow my heart’s desires without overstepping the line."
Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang found themselves inside the Annulus Secret Realm, suddenly aged by over a decade, reaching their thirties and looking as if they were in that age range.
Moreover, their bodies seemed to have become more mundane.
In the Profound Yellow Realm, cultivators possess spiritual power, and with Spirit Pills like the Anti-Aging Pill, they generally have ways to maintain their youth, aging slower.
However, the ordinary people at the foot of the mountain were different.
Chu Huaixu looked much more mature, even his eyes had undergone some subtle changes.
As people get older, the light in their eyes becomes dimmer.
When aged and frail, their eyes might even seem somewhat murky.
There were already faint crow’s feet around his eyes.
The youthful aura about him had completely faded away, replaced by a sense of steadiness.
In addition to this, there was a shallow layer of fatigue between his brows and eyes.
"Clearly there is still spiritual power within me, and I am still a Body Refining Cultivator, my physical strength is also intact."
"But why does my body feel like a working-class person in their thirties?" Chu Huaixu was perplexed.
He felt that his body was somewhat uncomfortable in various places, suspecting there were many minor ailments.
His energy wasn’t as abundant as before, and his mind felt a bit foggy.
"They say once a man passes twenty-five, he starts going downhill."
Chu Huaixu even felt that with his current physical condition in his thirties, he would need to start consuming foods that boost vitality, even if he didn’t like them...
For sustainable development, he needed to start taking care of his health!
"Could this be a part of the secret realm’s trial?" he speculated in his heart.
As for Han Shuangjiang beside him, she exuded a different kind of beauty.
The youthful aura on her had completely faded, making her seem mature and full of charm.
It even appeared her figure had undergone slight changes, looking a bit more voluptuous.
Her already full hips seemed as if they could squeeze out water.
—Just so supple.
Han Shuangjiang was still wearing that white outfit, yet it now had a different effect than before.
With her innocence gone, her aura changed.
She had always been icy, but now with her "age" appearing, she had gained a hint of seriousness.
Looking at this stunning face, there was even a touch of an ascetic feel.
The Big Ice Cube now frowned, her stern coldness seemed even more profound.
She was young, yet carried a sister vibe, with a hint of a dominant woman aura.
At the moment, this dominant aura mixed with a mature woman’s charm left Chu Huaixu momentarily distracted.
He actually felt like his current state wasn’t just reaching thirty, but already heading towards forty, approaching the age of no confusion.
But, what difference does it make reaching forty and beyond?
For most people, the so-called age of forty with no confusion still means they can’t resist temptation.
"Is this how she’ll look in the future?" he wondered.
Han Shuangjiang also had similar thoughts in her mind.
Looking at him, she couldn’t help but speak: "What’s happening to us?"
"Not sure, but it’s definitely due to the influence of the secret realm," Chu Huaixu replied.
He felt like it was an Illusion Realm, but it seemed not just an Illusion Realm.
He could try to activate the Little Sword in his Sea of Consciousness to see if he could break it!
But after thinking it over, Chu Huaixu decided to observe a bit longer.
"Let’s see what tricks the Annulus Secret Realm is playing."
"Besides, the Big Ice Cube’s current appearance is quite interesting."
"Let’s watch a bit more," he thought.
...
...
In the scorching summer, the incessant cicada’s cries were dispersed by Chu Huaixu.
The two walked along the forest path, feeling only the stifling heat.
The surrounding heat waves seemed impervious to their cultivation.
Chu Huaixu’s Black Gold Robe, which usually kept warm in winter and cool in summer, seemed to have lost its effect at the moment.
They started sweating, their temples were getting moist.
Fearing more training content in this trial, they didn’t dare to rush blindly forward, so they continued walking slowly.
Sweating profusely, their breathing became more rapid.
Chu Huaixu glanced at Han Shuangjiang beside him, her sweat-covered appearance gave rise to another kind of beauty.
All the way, they encountered no danger.
They stopped at the Stone Gate.
Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang both turned back.
Only to see the summer breeze coming gently, the rows of big trees on either side of the path, with their lush leaves rustling.
All the leaves swayed gently in the wind.
As if waving goodbye to them.
"In this Annulus Secret Realm, it seems every level ends with its unique scene," said Chu Huaixu.
In the previous level, they walked a flower path together.
Han Shuangjiang nodded, feeling this secret realm was indeed unique.
She suddenly said, "Chu Huaixu, you were born during the Huaixu season, right? That’s why you got this name."
"Mm." He nodded.
Chu Huaixu smiled, looking back at the trees behind, "I know, these are all huaishu trees."
The summer wind continued to blow, also shedding some locust flowers, adding a bit of beauty.
When people take this name, and then look at the scene in front of them, they can’t help but feel a few waves in their hearts.
Chu Huaixu couldn’t help taking a few more glances.
But when he turned to look at Han Shuangjiang, he couldn’t help thinking of something.
"If this level is Huaixu, then the next level might be Shuangjiang." He joked.
Shuangjiang is the eighteenth solar term in the twenty-four solar terms, marking the end of autumn.
It is the time of the year with the greatest temperature difference between day and night.
Big Ice Cube listened to her words, and a slight tremor surged in her heart again.
The two people’s names seemed to have become somewhat special in this Annulus Secret Realm.
Summer and autumn are naturally adjacent to each other.
Chu Huaixu forcefully pushed open the Stone Gate.
A refreshing breeze rushed out, bringing bursts of coolness.
The two walked forward, and the scene in front of them immediately changed.
They walked through early summer, only to arrive at deep autumn.
...
...
Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang stood in front of the Stone Gate, gazing upon an entire Parasol Tree Forest.
——Golden well with yellow leaves falling from the parasol trees, pearl curtains unrolled, frost appears at night.
Looking from afar, the entire forest was a magnificent vista of deep autumn gold.
Having been scorched by the heat just moments ago, now the autumn breeze brought comfort, suddenly making them feel relaxed.
The Parasol Tree Forest in front of them was clearly made up of old parasol trees.
Because the parasol trees grew very tall.
The two exchanged a glance, and sure enough, they found their appearances had changed again.
As if in an instant, they had aged over ten years.
Chu Huaixu’s face already had some quite noticeable wrinkles, marks left by the passage of time.
His originally jet-black long hair was now streaked with gray.
His body had begun to show signs of aging.
His overall vitality was much diminished, and he occasionally felt the urge to cough.
He moved his mind and lifted his hands.
Once a person ages, their hands also become unsightly.
But that wasn’t what Chu Huaixu was concerned about at this moment.
One moment he pushed his hands far away, the next he pulled them closer, seemingly assessing something.
After a few seconds, he had an answer in his heart.
"Damn it! Really got presbyopia!"
Chu Huaixu never thought that at such a young age, after entering a Secret Realm, he would experience presbyopia.
He could feel his current physical state, surprisingly contradictory.
The power from Body Refining was indeed still there.
But this body ridiculously resembled an ordinary mortal nearing fifty, nothing compared to his younger self, nothing seemed right or good.
His mind was becoming increasingly sluggish, no longer as agile as before.
As for Han Shuangjiang standing next to him, she could only be described with four words—still full of charm.
If, earlier, she was just beginning to show her mature allure, now she was fully ripe.
Han Shuangjiang’s figure and posture had slightly changed as well.
She appeared more graceful and poised. The rich sense of abundance she exuded increased even more.
Looking at her, Chu Huaixu began to understand why many people say that mature women are like aged wine.
"You look much older again." Han Shuangjiang spoke up, "Do I look the same?"
She was a bit curious, yet a bit afraid to look.
"You’re alright, can’t tell at all, you actually seem quite age-resistant with this look." Chu Huaixu chuckled.
Big Ice Cube gave him a sidelong glance, yet there was a certain charm to it.
"Don’t you feel that it’s not just our appearances that have changed, but the whole person genuinely feels aged?" she said.
There was actually a trace of fear in her heart when she said this.
Clearly still a young maiden, suddenly turned like this.
If this couldn’t be reversed, it would be hard to accept.
It seemed like her years were being consumed by this Secret Realm!
"It feels like this is not just an Illusion Realm. I’m not sure if I can break it; should I give it a try?" Chu Huaixu said.
The two had suddenly aged so many years, even their voices had slightly changed.
He closed his eyes and began to activate the Heart Sword.
The Little Sword in his Sea of Consciousness suddenly trembled, yet no change occurred around them!
"Wait a moment, let me try again." Chu Huaixu truly didn’t believe in this stubborn fate.
He sat cross-legged, exerting his entire Power of Divine Sense, merging it into the black Little Sword.
"Break it for me!"
The power that seemed capable of slicing through all illusions began to spread around.
In the end, the two still experienced no change, the Heart Sword had no effect whatsoever.
"Could it be it’s not an Illusion Realm?"
Chu Huaixu turned to look at Han Shuangjiang, only to see her frowning, with a look of astonishment in her eyes, as though she discovered something amiss.
"What’s wrong?" Chu Huaixu asked.
She pointed with her finger towards a lock of hair on his forehead, saying, "Just moments ago those strands were black, now they’re all white!"
"Which means, we not only age as we pass each level but if we remain stuck within, with the passage of time, we’ll continue to age?" Chu Huaixu’s eyes darkened.
...
