For over half a year, Li Xuan's cultivation had settled along with the peace and tranquility of Prosperous City. Within this serenity, his once restless heart had naturally become more composed.
Though Li Xuan had sealed his spiritual energy, he no longer needed to actively absorb spiritual qi. Compared to other spirit masters, Li Xuan's rate of absorbing spiritual qi far surpassed theirs.
The most crucial element in this was Li Xuan obtaining the formation manual of the Carefree Master. This manual not only contained the Carefree Master's understanding and insights into the Way of Formations but also unique self-realizations regarding his own path.
These were invaluable to Li Xuan. Furthermore, the Way of Formations emphasized comprehension and evolution, which further aided Li Xuan in regulating himself.
Inside the house, after fully unsealing his spiritual energy, Li Xuan quickly formed seals again to seal it once more. This time, Li Xuan incorporated the Way of Formations into his sealing, using his own body as a framework to seal away ninety percent of his spiritual energy.
Among spirit masters, no one would do this. If attacked, they would have no means of self-defense. However, in Prosperous City, Li Xuan had no concerns whatsoever.
Having finished, Li Xuan slowly closed his eyes and began to contemplate the Way of Formations again.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, Li Xuan had resided in Prosperous City for a full three years.
During these three years, Ah Li had inherited all of Li Xuan's medical knowledge. Eventually, Li Xuan himself rarely ventured out, even entrusting his stall to Ah Li and her mother, Li Xiao Cui, to manage.
"It seems I can no longer suppress it," Li Xuan said with a wry smile, sitting cross-legged in his residence and observing the spiritual glow emanating from his body.
Even though Li Xuan had not cultivated once during these three years, his spiritual energy had continuously grown. As his understanding of the Way of Formations deepened, his cultivation realm became increasingly complete.
"Since I can no longer suppress it, I shall break through!" A sharp glint flashed in Li Xuan's eyes, and the seals on his body shattered like glass in an instant.
Intense golden light instantly filled the entire room.
Fortunately, Li Xuan had previously set up several illusion formations, so this golden light did not leak out, which would have otherwise attracted the attention of everyone in Prosperous City.
Bathed in the golden light, Li Xuan appeared like a sacred and inviolable deity. His peak cultivation at the Great Perfection of the Elysian Realm was evident.
Boom!
As Li Xuan's aura reached its zenith, an unstoppable pressure descended. Li Xuan then felt as if he were a raging inferno, suddenly doused by a river of water, his entire being instantly chilled to the extreme.
All his spiritual energy and power were suppressed in an instant.
At this moment, Li Xuan acutely noticed the dust particles dancing in the air settling upon him.
"This is the first tribulation of the Heavenly Five Declines, 'Falling Dust'?" Li Xuan murmured to himself, seeing this.
However, Li Xuan was also curious. His master, Luo Kang, had once said that the Heavenly Five Declines would cause a gradual decrease in strength, yet Li Xuan had lost all his strength in the very first stage.
Unable to seek out Luo Kang for an explanation, Li Xuan shook his head and closed his eyes once more.
Within Prosperous City.
As another two months passed, Li Xuan, inside his residence, was no longer sitting cross-legged contemplating the Way of Formations.
A thick layer of dust had accumulated on his body, which Li Xuan paid no mind to. Every day, Li Xuan would sit in a rocking chair outside, watching the sun rise and set, living a life of great ease.
However, on his face, which should have been full of youthful vigor, wrinkles had begun to appear. His hair also showed faint signs of turning white.
Initially, Li Xuan was somewhat surprised, but as time went on, he stopped bothering with it. After two months, Li Xuan clearly felt his hair beginning to fall out.
Li Xuan merely smiled at this, for he knew he had entered the second tribulation of the Heavenly Five Declines, "Crown Baldness."
As more and more hair fell out each day, Li Xuan initially made an effort to manage it, but later he simply let it fall, no longer paying it any heed.
He still spent his days watching the sun rise and set outside his house. Even on rainy days, Li Xuan would lean by the window, listening to the rain.
Meanwhile, Luo Ren, in the pharmacy, had naturally tried to find Li Xuan during this period. However, each time he approached Li Xuan's residence, he would inexplicably turn away.
After several such attempts, Luo Ren no longer dared to seek Li Xuan out. Li Xuan, from within his house, had observed Luo Ren's appearances. But at this time, Li Xuan was undergoing the Heavenly Five Declines and would not reveal himself casually.
Moreover, Li Xuan was currently unable to break the illusion formations he had set up.
As for the Hua family, upon realizing Li Xuan had not appeared in Prosperous City for a long time, they had also visited Li Xuan's residence with the intention of calling on him. However, like Luo Ren, they were unable to reach Li Xuan's house.
Although they could see the location of the house with their eyes, they could never reach its doorstep. After some probing, Madam Hua understood that Li Xuan preferred not to be disturbed. She bowed respectfully towards the direction of the house and then led Hua Yao Yu and others back to the City Lord's mansion.
However, upon returning to the City Lord's mansion, Madam Hua dispatched guards to station themselves a hundred meters away from Li Xuan's residence, to prevent any idlers from disturbing him.
Li Xuan had naturally observed the actions of Madam Hua and her family. But at present, Li Xuan had not the slightest energy to ponder these matters. He was like a dying elder, devoid of desire, ambition, or longing, savoring his final moments.
Within a month, Li Xuan's hair had completely fallen out. Even if some hair roots continued to grow, they eventually withered and died with the passage of time.
After Li Xuan's hair had entirely fallen out, he appeared significantly older. His once straight back was now slightly stooped. The wrinkles on his face had erased any trace of his original appearance.
Li Xuan even felt that if he entered Prosperous City now, perhaps no one would recognize him.
Looking at his reflection in the mirror, Li Xuan was momentarily stunned. He then shook his head slightly, murmuring with what seemed like infinite emotion, "I never imagined the Heavenly Five Declines to be so extraordinary."
"However, without the awareness of death, how can one be reborn to reach new heights? But if the second tribulation is already this formidable, what changes await in the remaining three tribulations..."