Chapter 317: The End of the Martial Path Where to Go

Ji Yuan and Niu Batian happened to return at this moment. With his excellent hearing, the inn's current silence allowed him to clearly hear Yan Fei's somewhat unwilling murmur. Ji Yuan knew that this formidable flying swordsman had been feeling lost and repressed for some time.

In the inn's hallway, Ji Yuan and Niu Batian parted ways to their respective rooms. Watching Niu Batian repeatedly touch the money pouch on his chest, Ji Yuan couldn't help but playfully remark, "Don't go out tonight. We still need to visit the Wei Manor tomorrow morning, and we, your retainers, would be troubled if we couldn't find you, Master Niu."

Niu Batian, who had already walked over a dozen steps, stiffened at the words, then awkwardly turned back to smile at Ji Yuan before heading into his room. Niu Batian's room was closer to Yan Fei's, and the sound of his door closing was heard by Yan Fei inside. For Yan Fei, it was normal for Niu Batian to return at this time; he had actually thought Niu Batian wouldn't be back at all that night.

Yan Fei shook his head, sheathed his longsword, placed it back by the head of his bed, and then lay down, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Ji Yuan did not rush back to his room. Instead, he stood silently in the corridor for a long time. Though his ancient eyes showed no ripples, his heart stirred. After a long while, Ji Yuan took a scroll from his sleeve, slowly unrolled it, and read the characters on it. He then closed his eyes and touched each character with his hand, carefully perceiving it, body and mind aligned.

Combining Yan Fei's state of mind with his current perception, Ji Yuan felt as if he had transcended the barriers of time and space, watching an old man from the heavens. In a thatched hut, with a table in front of it, the old man held a sword in one hand and a brush in the other. As he wrote, he slowly spoke in a husky voice, "Eighty years of a long life's journey, where does the martial path end? Beyond the innate, is there an immortal? The sword falls on paper, but my heart is unwilling, unwilling, unwilling..."

This scroll was precisely the "Sword Intent Calligraphy," which had caused bloodshed in the Great Zhen martial arts world years ago, leading countless martial artists to fight desperately for it.

Yan Fei's personality differed from Lu Chengfeng and Du Heng; their attitudes towards martial arts also varied. Compared to the latter two, Yan Fei aspired less to be a knight-errant and more a pure martial artist.

Ji Yuan murmured a sigh of emotion. "How similar to Zuo Li..."

Unlike most cultivators, Ji Yuan never disdained martial artists. The "Sword Intent Calligraphy" had deeply influenced him, even to this day. Such a profound insight, where skill approached the Dao, was incredibly precious and could not be judged by the distinction between immortal and mortal.

"Is the martial path truly so powerless?" Ji Yuan repeated the question to himself, then shook his head. If Zuo Li were alive, with his martial cultivation, ordinary demons, monsters, and ghosts would likely be no different from a common martial artist opponent in front of him. When Zuo Kuangtu wrote the "Zuo Li Sword Canon," he might have been merely a temporary top innate master. However, when he penned the "Sword Intent Calligraphy," Ji Yuan believed that Zuo Li at that moment was already the invincible Sword Immortal Zuo of the world. Ji Yuan had never been so certain as he was at this moment! This sword intent! This Dao charm! It was almost at the threshold of stepping into another realm. If successful, what kind of magnificence would follow?

But in the end, Zuo Li died with regret... "What a pity... what a true pity..."

Ji Yuan himself was a martial arts grandmaster, holding a natural passion and fondness for the martial path. However, he wasn't a pure martial artist. He had too many concerns and too many things demanding his energy—deducing various divine powers and searching for pieces across the world—all destined him to be the enigmatic Mr. Ji.

With his thoughts flowing freely, Ji Yuan opened his eyes and spoke softly, "Has Sir Yan fallen asleep yet?"

The voice, like a gentle breeze, drifted into Yan Fei's room and entered his ears. Yan Fei almost immediately sat upright again. 'Is Mr. Ji calling me?'

"If you are not yet asleep, please come to my room for a chat." Ji Yuan's voice came again, and Yan Fei finally confirmed that he hadn't been dreaming or hallucinating. He immediately threw off his covers and put on his coat.

Soon after, Ji Yuan, sitting in his room, heard Yan Fei's approaching footsteps. Just as Yan Fei was about to reach out and knock, a voice came from inside, "Just push the door and come in."

Yan Fei didn't hesitate. He gently pushed the door open. Ji Yuan was sitting at a table, on which lay an oil lamp with a shade and an unrolled calligraphy scroll. Ji Yuan was looking down at the scroll and did not immediately look up.

Yan Fei dared not be slow. He clasped his hands around his sword and bowed. "Mr. Ji, Yan Fei apologizes for the intrusion!"

Ji Yuan looked up, smiled, and gestured to a stool beside him. "It is I who have disturbed your rest, Sir Yan. Please sit."

Yan Fei closed the door behind him, quickly approached the table, and sat beside Ji Yuan. His gaze was naturally drawn to the calligraphy scroll on the table. Before he could even ask, Ji Yuan began to explain. "This calligraphy possesses an inner strength, its strokes flowing like dragons and snakes. It is both fine writing and fine swordsmanship, a rare and exquisite piece in the world. I'm sure Sir Yan has heard of its fame: it is precisely the 'Sword Intent Calligraphy' left by Zuo Li years ago."

'Sword Intent Calligraphy?! Zuo Li? So Zuo Kuangtu was called Zuo Li!' Yan Fei's heart jolted with surprise. The "Sword Intent Calligraphy" was simply too famous, having been widely circulated in the Great Zhen martial arts world for decades. Although it had started to fade from memory, the incident with the Thirteen Thieves of Yan Land years ago had brought it back into common knowledge among martial artists. At least Yan Fei's generation was well aware of the legendary nature of this scroll. 'I never imagined the "Sword Intent Calligraphy" would be in Mr. Ji's possession. No wonder no one in the martial arts world has found any trace of the scroll for years...'

His thoughts raced, but Yan Fei had no extraneous ideas about any martial arts techniques that might be contained within the "Sword Intent Calligraphy." Firstly, it belonged to Ji Yuan, and secondly, his recent experiences had left him feeling somewhat dispirited about martial arts.

As if seeing through Yan Fei's thoughts, Ji Yuan looked at him and asked with a smile, "Sir Yan, do you believe that no matter how exquisite the martial arts indicated by this 'Sword Intent Calligraphy,' it is still merely the martial arts of mortals?"

Yan Fei was slightly taken aback, surprised that Mr. Ji had seen through his thoughts, but he offered no rebuttal.

"Among cultivators, there's a saying that martial arts are but trivial mortal skills, not worth mentioning. What is your opinion, Sir Yan?" Faced with Ji Yuan's question, Yan Fei's heart tightened. Though unwilling, he agreed. However, he wasn't foolish and understood that since Mr. Ji asked this way, there would surely be a twist in his words. Yet, it was truly difficult for him to deny against his conviction, and if pressed, he wouldn't be able to explain why.

"Yan Fei believes that from the perspective of an immortal, that statement is not incorrect."

"I knew you would say that," Ji Yuan said with a smile, then pointed to the Sword Intent Calligraphy. "But martial arts, or rather, the martial path, is not as simple as you think, nor as simple as some superficial cultivators imagine. In my view, Zuo Li's 'Sword Intent Calligraphy' has already brought skill close to the Dao; it can truly be called the martial Dao." Ji Yuan's smile faded, and his voice became solemn, tinged with emotion. "Zuo Li was obsessed with martial arts his entire life, and in his later years, he began seeking immortality. Little did he know that if his martial arts realm could take one more step forward with all his might, it would reveal a new landscape, unprecedented in history."

"Dong... dong... dong... dong..." Ji Yuan tapped rhythmically on the "Sword Intent Calligraphy" with his hand, looking at the scroll very seriously as he spoke. "Human power has its limits, but martial arts are no minor skill!" Traces of magical energy flowed from Ji Yuan's fingers into the "Sword Intent Calligraphy," and the profound essence within the scroll was stirred. "If there truly is someone who can profoundly study the martial path, reach the pinnacle of their era, and then break through the illusions to forge a new path, the way of martial arts will undoubtedly become even more magnificent. I have a premonition that although this path is arduous, its future achievements may not be inferior to the path of immortals and demons."

Ji Yuan looked back at Yan Fei and pushed the "Sword Intent Calligraphy" towards him. "Although I have seen the 'Zuo Li Sword Canon,' I have not memorized it, and it is also an artifact of the Zuo family, not to be easily disseminated. However, the true martial intent within this 'Sword Intent Calligraphy' is even more invaluable than that martial arts manual; it might even be unprecedented..." Ji Yuan paused, then continued, "Sir Yan, your temperament is not suited for cultivating immortality, or you might easily fall into demonhood. However, in terms of martial arts, you bear some resemblance to Zuo Li's intent back then. Today, I bestow upon you this 'Sword Intent Calligraphy.' Upon it, I have already applied a method of 'transmitting spirit through object,' which will allow you a glimpse of Zuo Li's demeanor."

As Ji Yuan spoke, he rolled up the "Sword Intent Calligraphy." "Take it back and unroll it in your room. Upon your first viewing, you will certainly fall asleep and dream. Please view it by your bed."

Yan Fei's expression was a mixture of astonishment and bewilderment. He looked at the "Sword Intent Calligraphy" with a complex gaze, still finding it difficult to imagine how a martial artist could contend with immortals and demons. However, an extraordinary immortal like Mr. Ji would surely not deceive him. Since Mr. Ji had emphasized the significance of this scroll so greatly, it must indeed contain profound truth.

Yan Fei grasped the scroll, which felt somewhat heavy, stood up, and bid farewell to Ji Yuan. "Thank you, Mr. Ji, for your words tonight. Yan Fei will cherish them. Please rest; I shall not disturb you further!"

Ji Yuan nodded, watching Yan Fei turn and open the door. The moment Yan Fei closed the door, Ji Yuan's voice once again drifted out. "Sir Yan, you both cherish this and feel lost. After viewing the scroll, rest well."

Yan Fei paused outside the door, clasped his hands in salute towards the room through the door once more, and then turned to leave.

Back in his room, Yan Fei merely took off his shoes, placed his longsword by the head of his bed, and then sat down to slowly unroll the "Sword Intent Calligraphy." As more of the writing was revealed, the characters on the scroll seemed to blur. Yan Fei shook his head, but the characters increasingly felt alive and spiritual, as if they were leaving the paper and dancing on their own. In a daze, Yan Fei swayed, then, still clutching the scroll, lay down on his bed.

In his dream, someone stood on a mountaintop, holding a sword... "Zheng..." The prolonged ringing of the sword resonated with the wind and rain, then shone with the setting sun.

In his own room, Ji Yuan, also lying on his bed, cast a side glance at the Green Vine Sword beside him, his thoughts seemingly drifting back decades. "Where does the martial path end... Yan Fei, don't disappoint me!"