Although the discovery of Celestial Qi had shaken the cultivation world and dominated every conversation for a time, the excitement gradually waned. People began to realize that it might still take thousands of years before anyone outside the Three Pillars of Heaven could reach whatever lay beyond the Immortal Realm.
Time marched on, and more than a thousand years had passed since the discovery of Celestial Qi was first announced. With no further developments or reports, the world gradually lost interest to the point where many had forgotten it entirely.
Moreover, there were still very few cultivators who had even stepped into the Immortal Realm at this point, so for the vast majority of cultivators, the realm beyond it was something far beyond their dreams.
As for those in the Immortal Realm, they spent most of their time attempting to sense Celestial Qi. But without even knowing what they were searching for, the effort was no different from chasing a ghost.
During these thousand years, Tian Yang and Ren Xia remained on Giant's Continent. Tian Yang, although still stuck in the True Immortal realm, has qualified to become a level 6 Array Master, finally reaching Lu An's level. Kulas continued honing his combat experience through constant sparring with Tian Yang, and once he reached a level he deemed satisfactory, he shifted his focus entirely to developing the Giant's Continent and expanding the Giant Race's influence beyond its borders.
After a thousand years, Kulas' influence has surpassed even the Immortal Clans during their peak and has begun attracting the attention of other powerhouses, such as the Three Pillars of Heaven.
Meanwhile, Ren Xia caught up with their cultivation by reaching the True Immortal realm. Afterward, she took a break from alchemy to devote herself entirely to cultivation, harboring the faint hope of becoming the first to sense Celestial Qi and ascend beyond the Immortal Realm.
Of course, she knew the ambition was foolish—especially given how late she'd reached True Immortal—but she still wanted to try.
However, a few more thousand years passed with no progress related to Celestial Qi. By now, even Immortal cultivators had given up entirely, convinced that Celestial Qi had been nothing more than a hoax. And while the main cultivation world was bottlenecked, the rest of the world continued to advance swiftly, with new formations and pill recipes appearing almost every week.
"It's been five thousand years since the discovery of Celestial Qi, and the Three Pillars of Heaven haven't said a single word about it since. Are we sure they're not just playing us?" Ren Xia asked. She had long since lost most of her hope and couldn't help feeling skeptical.
"It's been five thousand years since the discovery of Celestial Qi, and the Three Pillars of Heaven haven't said a single word about it since. Are we sure they're not just playing us?" Ren Xia asked. She had long since lost most of her hope and couldn't help feeling skeptical.
"I cannot imagine why they would fabricate such a lie," Kulas replied, still placing faith in them. "Doing so would destroy their reputation, and their credibility would plummet to rock bottom."
He went on, "Be patient. Five thousand years is insignificant to cultivators like us. Each realm takes longer to advance than the last. Frankly, it wouldn't surprise me if no one breaks through to the next realm for another fifty thousand years, much less just five."
A few more years later, Tian Yang started to create his own world.
"Before you even create your world, you must decide where you want to put it," Lu An said to him.
"Where I want to put it, huh?" Tian Yang pondered for some time but couldn't think of anything.
"You got any suggestions?" He turned to ask Ren Xia.
"Can't we just put it somewhere around here?" she casually replied.
However, Lu An shook his head. "Since there's already a personal world within the palace, it would be wiser to establish yours elsewhere. Creating two worlds in close proximity carries unnecessary risks."
"Oh? What kind of danger are we talking about?" Tian Yang asked.
"To be frank, we aren't certain," Lu An replied. "It's purely conjecture for now, but caution is preferable to regret, especially considering how expensive creating worlds is. Nobody wants to waste their resources, after all."
"Makes sense, but what if we accidentally choose a location that's already near another world without realizing it?"
In response to Tian Yang's hypothetical question, Lu An could only offer a silent shrug.
"So, what do you intend to do? Will you leave to create your world?" Kulas asked.
Tian Yang nodded. "I haven't stepped outside this continent in over five millennia. It's about time I got some exercise. Still, I plan to return once my world is established."
"Is that so…" Kulas muttered before looking at Ren Xia. "What about you?"
"Isn't it obvious that I am going to follow him?" she immediately replied.
"I suppose so," Kulas said with a smile. "Alright then—good luck. I'll keep your room ready for you, even if it takes a hundred years."
"A hundred years? I highly doubt it'll take that long," said Tian Yang. "That said, we might travel the world a little before returning."
"Take as long as you need. There's no need to rush."
A few days later, Tian Yang and Ren Xia left the Giant's Continent for the first time in over five thousand years. Together, they wandered the Divine Heavens in search of a suitable place to create their own world.
They assumed the search wouldn't take long, but it proved far more difficult than expected. Even after a decade, they still couldn't find a suitable location. However, they didn't give up. They continued wandering the world, and creating their own world gradually became a secondary priority.
Fifty years into their journey, a new rumor began to spread around the world, and it was related to Celestial Qi.
"Did you hear? The Three Pillars of Heaven claims that someone in their family has successfully sensed Celestial Qi for the first time after its initial discovery five thousand years ago!" "Does this mean we might soon learn what lies beyond the True Immortal realm?"
"Hard to say. A mortal may sense spiritual energy, but that doesn't mean they can instantly draw it in and cultivate. They still require the appropriate technique. And even if the Three Pillars of Heaven already have the technique, it will still take time."
And just like that, Celestial Qi became a hot topic in the cultivation world again.