Time quickly passed.
In fact, 100 years had passed.
By now, Ye Fan had already reached the peak of the 4th realm cultivation.
He had actually taken 5 years just to reach the 4th realm cultivation which was considered to be quite astonishing fast.
However, he had used the remaining 95 years just to reach the peak of the 4th cultivation realm which was considered to be quite speedy.
It was because the 4th realm cultivation is a huge bottleneck for most cultivators to reach and a real bottleneck to advance from its half-step, initial, middle, upper to peak cultivation.
Even if Ye Fan had consumed the Golden Lotus Natal Pill, it would still be a slow and tedious progress for him to reach the peak of the 4th cultivation realm.
He owed it largely to the Omnipotent Immortal Force that he had been practicing and the Six Aura Swords that aided him to consolidate his profound strength.
Ye Fan had also mastered the Five Swords out of the 6 swords of the Six Aura Swords without an incident and he did not lose his cultivation attainment; he was more diligent and careful when it was time for him to advance the Six Aura Swords.
For Sword Six of the Six Aura Swords, he had to wait until he was at the 5th realm True Origin level.
The reason why the 4th realm cultivation is such a stumbling block was because unlike the first 3 cultivation realm which is considered foundation to become a true cultivator, the 4th realm cultivation is where most hopeful cultivators can only dream of reaching and be a true cultivator.
Fully 90% of the proteges of a cultivation sect have no hope of ever reaching the 4th cultivation realm and those that did are often the 'potential seeds' of the cultivation sect and they are often the inner proteges or core protégés within the cultivation sect.
Even if they could reach the 4th cultivation realm, 90% of them would be struck at this cultivation realm due to bottlenecks to advance into the forbidden 5th cultivation realm where the cultivators would be able to form their golden body.
That was why cultivation profound treasures such as the Golden Lotus Natal Pill that Ye Fan had stolen was extremely precious and it can take 100 years to concoct it.
In newer cultivation stories, profound pills can be made as and when but in reality, it often takes years to concoct and to form its true essence. 10 years, 100 years, 500 years or even 1000 years, it is not unusual.
It is so tedious to concoct a profound pill that most cultivators won't go into alchemy.
The 4th cultivation realm is also when a cultivator is able to form their golden cores in preparation for forming their golden body when they breakthrough to the 5th realm cultivation.
For this reason, the 4th cultivation realm is also called the Golden Core realm.
When one reached the 4th realm cultivation, not only will their aging slow down considerably but the need for hunger and thirst will also be lessened, enabling the cultivator to meditate for long periods without a need for mundane needs.
Also, the lifespan of the cultivator will also increase tremendous and it is not uncommon for 4th realm cultivators to live a thousand years.
There was no change in Ye Fan's appearance and he was still as young as ever as he had reached the 4th cultivation realm quite early.
As for Fairy Xuan Xueqi, she was still in the 5th realm cultivation; she did not really cultivate at all as she had to use whatever profound strength that she could to combat her afflictions.
Everyday, she was weakened more and more.
But for the past 100 years, Ye Fan had been patiently using his profound strength to lend strength to his protégé mistress.
It was not exaggerating to say that Ye Fan may well be a golden celestial by now if he did not have to spend his time between nursing his protégé mistress and in his cultivation.
But Ye Fan did not mind at all.
He also had to take care of Little Xuan Xuefeng as well; she was still looking like a small kid.
Instead of looking like a 3 year old, she looked like a 4 year old now; it is because god beasts can live for hundreds of thousands of years and their growth rates are abnormally slow.
But Little Xuan Xuefeng was unlike any 4 year old human kid. She was more intelligent than most 4 year old and her profound strength is even stronger than most 3rd realm Soul Nascent Stage cultivators.
Ye Fan was now telling Fairy Xuan Xueqi, "Protégé mistress, it is time for me to attempt a breakthrough to the 5th realm True Origin level. Once I have successful breakthrough to this level, I will have the profound strength to carry you out of this place…"
"And me too, Papa!" Little Xuan Xuefeng interrupted excitingly at the prospect of leaving this dangerous place.
There were several times when Little Xuan Xuefeng was almost eaten up by the profound beasts in the Abyssal Chasm of Death and she was saved by her Papa Ye Fan.
Fairy Xuan Xueqi looked tenderly at Ye Fan, "Do you want to wait a little longer? I am afraid that…"
Ye Fan halted her by shaking his head, "I know that Protégé Mistress must be worried about the purple mist toxins that I've absorbed over the years from you. But I am alright."
Fairy Xuan Xueqi muttered softly, "It is all because of me. If not, you won't be afflicted by it too."
Ye Fan said solemnly and his looks were determined, "My pains are not even a hundredth of the torment of my protégé mistress over the years. If it is not for my protégé mistress, I would have long been dead."
He laughed softly, "Also, you are my protégé mistress. Without your guidance on how to condense spiritual energy when I was at the 2nd realm cultivation, Ye Fan will not be able to advance so quickly too."
Then he looked at the bronze divine tree that was in front of them, "This divine tree has been keeping us alive all these years. Whether I can breakthrough to the 5th realm cultivation now depends upon you…"
Fairy Xuan Xueqi looked away and she was trembling, "Ye Fan…"
Ye Fan asked, "Yes?"
Fairy Xuan Xueqi smiled weakly, "Nothing…"
But she was saying almost incoherently to herself: I try to ask that old freak to help you but he has refused me… sorry Ye Fan…