Chapter 825: Human Destiny

News like "The Martial Saint has awakened" spread like wildfire from Zuo Wuji's room in the mansion where he lay unconscious. In a short time, it had reached far and wide, with people constantly rushing to spread the word.

Zuo Wuji opened his eyes. Beside his bed, the bearded martial artist and two other old men watched him with excited expressions. Zuo Wuji was still a bit hazy and weak, but he quickly jolted upright in bed.

"Where are my First Master and Fourth Master? Where are they, and how are they doing?"

"Martial Saint, don't worry. Although Grandmaster Yan and Grandmaster Lu's injuries looked severe, their profound true qi protected their vital points, and they are both out of danger. They are also being attended to by special caretakers, so nothing will go wrong. On the contrary, Martial Saint, you were truly in critical condition earlier!"

"That's right! Thankfully, Heaven protected you, Martial Saint; you pulled through!"

The two old men habitually stroked their beards as they spoke, discussing the pathology endlessly. Clearly, they were experienced old doctors.

The bearded man beside them held back for a while and finally found a chance to interject.

"Martial Saint, the one you, Grandmaster Yan, and Grandmaster Lu fought earlier is said to be a great demon that had cultivated for hundreds or even thousands of years. It was practically the most terrifying demon in this world. You smashed its head with your staff, and all the smaller demons exploded into bloody mist afterward! It was truly..."

"...too exhilarating! I felt my blood boil. It's a pity that since the old demon was killed by the Martial Saint, the smaller demons couldn't survive either. Otherwise, I would have loved to fight them!"

The bearded man slammed his fist into his palm; recounting it still made his blood boil, and even his true qi seemed to undergo a change. As he spoke, a bustling chorus of voices outside constantly echoed him.

"Yes, I wish I could have fought the demons!" "Long live the Martial Saint!"

"We martial artists also fear no evil!"

"We, too, are willing to follow the Martial Saint to slay demons!"

"We wish to follow the Martial Saint!"

"Quiet, quiet!"

The shouts outside grew more and more excited, so an old doctor had to go out and sternly scold them, which helped calm down the excited crowd somewhat.

Zuo Wuji, still somewhat dazed, looked at the bearded man and the other doctor and asked.

"Are you, and they, calling me the Martial Saint?"

"Precisely! We are indeed calling you the Martial Saint! Not only are your martial arts unmatched in the world, but you also wielded your staff to slay demons, making even the most terrifying demon understand the sagely teachings of our human race. Even Grandmaster Yan said he was far inferior to you. If you're not the Martial Saint, then who is?"

"No, what I mean is..."

Although Zuo Wuji felt the title of Martial Saint was impressive, he also felt unworthy. Just as he was about to say something, the voices of Yan Fei and Lu Chengfeng came from outside, interrupting him.

"Wuji!" "Wuji, you're awake!"

Yan Fei and Lu Chengfeng had previously seemed to be on the verge of death, but after the doctors treated them, they discovered a powerful vital energy protecting their vital points, marveling at the strength of their true qi. Although both were pale and limping, they didn't need assistance and went directly to Zuo Wuji's doorway.

"First Master, Fourth Master!"

Zuo Wuji, excited, immediately got out of bed. The bearded man beside him tried to help him, but Zuo Wuji deftly avoided him. Although he was still a bit weak, he didn't need assistance. Moreover, a constant burning sensation inside him was continuously restoring his strength.

"It's good that both Masters are alright; I thought before that..."

"Hahaha, of course we're fine. Wuji, examine your true qi within yourself. Do you notice any changes?"

Hearing Yan Fei say this, Zuo Wuji then focused his attention inward. The burning sensation immediately grew stronger, and the feeling of his true qi was vastly different from before; it was like a surge of boiling water coursing through his body. As he focused more and more, various strange sensations began to emerge.

It was as if his five senses and intuition had become sharper. He seemed to perceive the slightest changes in the wind and various special auras. He could feel the "fire" in the bodies of the people around him. As he tried to control the transforming, fiery true qi within himself, there were even more indescribable changes...

Unlike Zuo Wuji's own surprise, the feelings of others were even more pronounced than his. As Zuo Wuji's true qi grew stronger, others involuntarily kept backing away, as if constantly pushed back by a wall of heat. Even people outside the room could feel waves of scorching wind spreading outward from within.

Yan Fei and Lu Chengfeng watched the changes in Zuo Wuji's body. Indeed, his true qi and Martial Fiend Primordial Aura were indistinguishable from each other, and the transformation was even more astonishing than what they had experienced themselves. It was as if it had become one with his physical body, so much so that Zuo Wuji's exposed arms seemed to be coated with an indescribable color. Just looking at them, one could sense immense strength.

A long while later, Zuo Wuji calmed his true qi and opened his eyes with surprise and delight.

"First Master, Fourth Master, I seem to have broken through to the Xiantian realm. The changes in my true qi are like a complete transformation!"

Yan Fei smiled but said nothing. Lu Chengfeng walked a few steps closer to Zuo Wuji and patted his shoulder.

"Wuji, regarding martial arts, you are now unmatched in the world."

"Huh? How could that be..."

Zuo Wuji instinctively looked at Yan Fei. In his long-held impression, First Master Yan Fei was truly unmatched in the world, but as their eyes met, Yan Fei also nodded.

"Brother Lu is right. Wuji, you are now unmatched in the world. Even if I were to recover to my peak condition, I would not be your match... If even you are unworthy of the title of Martial Saint, then no martial artist in the world would be qualified."

Ji Yuan, Old Ox, and the Old Beggar were actually standing on the roof of this mansion at this moment. Naturally, they also sensed the changes in Zuo Wuji's body. In fact, Ji Yuan understood it even better than Zuo Wuji himself.

Of course, at this moment, Ji Yuan and the Old Beggar were no longer in their female disguises. After all, with the Horse Demon dead, there was no need to pretend anymore.

"Martial Saint, what a grand title, what a heavy weight!"

The Old Beggar exclaimed with emotion, while Ji Yuan chuckled beside him.

"However, I believe Zuo Wuji is worthy of it. The human martial arts destiny has been self-generated, and from now on, it will become unstoppable."

The Old Beggar grinned and looked at Ji Yuan beside him.

"Is the human martial arts destiny truly 'self-generated'? Has it nothing to do with Mr. Ji?"

Ji Yuan cast a sidelong glance at the Old Beggar.

"Perhaps it has a little to do with me. However, comparatively speaking, Old Ox deserves most of the credit."

"No, no, no, Sir, why are you involving me? I, Old Ox, cannot bear such great karma..."

Old Ox waved his hands repeatedly. Although he had helped with the idea of providing Martial Fiend Primordial Aura, his contribution was far from as significant as Ji Yuan made it sound.

"By the way, speaking of which, we've been guarding here for three days, but we haven't seen any other demons in this Grotto-Heaven come to investigate the Horse Demon's death. Are their defenses really that lax?"

The Old Beggar snorted.

"I suppose this King Wenyan naturally doesn't have any sophisticated methods like soul lamps, nor is he a lord who cares much about his subordinate demons. He's probably busy inviting friends for pleasure. However, there's more than one nation in this Grotto-Heaven. Where will those people who have lived here for generations go...?"

Ji Yuan and Old Ox understood what the Old Beggar was saying. For the past three days, the handcarts delivering food hadn't stopped for a single day; those cart drivers were the original inhabitants.

"Does Old Mr. Lu have any insights?"

The Old Beggar had been waiting for Ji Yuan to say that.

"Mr. Ji, these people have been deeply tormented by demons and are extremely submissive to them. I fear they are not suitable to start anew in the current Tianyu Continent. How about..."

The Old Beggar was thinking of where his second disciple's family resided. After a pause, he continued.

"In this old beggar's opinion, these people are suitable for Yunzhou. If they start anew in Da Zhen, they will certainly be re-educated and become proper humans again!"

The Old Beggar clearly had selfish motives for his disciple and for the Qianyuan Sect. However, Ji Yuan also found the suggestion suitable.

"Da Zhen excels in both civil governance and martial arts. It is indeed capable of this task!"

Old Ox, who was beside them, suddenly shivered inexplicably and murmured.

"Speaking of which, Zuo Wuji, Yan Fei, and Lu Chengfeng are also people from Da Zhen. This is truly extraordinary..."

The Old Beggar quietly chimed in from the side.

"In the future, humanity's destiny will become increasingly remarkable. Figures like Yin Zhaoxian and Zuo Wuji might be unique, but the destinies of literary and martial arts have already emerged from the yin and yang. The world is vast, and exceptionally talented individuals will emerge in droves. More and more scholars and martial artists will gravitate towards them."

Old Ox couldn't help but exclaim.

"Goodness, that will be interesting."

"Alright, since Zuo Wuji, Yan Fei, and Lu Chengfeng have all woken up, we should split up and proceed with our tasks."

Old Ox immediately perked up.

"Good, I, Old Ox, will go find King Wenyan. The two sirs can go explore this Grotto-Heaven on your own."

"Be extra careful."

Ji Yuan reminded him, while Old Ox burst into laughter and transformed into a streak of demonic light, soaring into the sky.

"Sir, you worry too much. With so many beautiful ladies in the world waiting for me, Old Ox, to favor them, how could I not be cautious!"

The Old Beggar watched Old Ox's demonic light disappear into the horizon, clicking his tongue repeatedly.

"Mr. Ji, where did you find this ox demon? You didn't secretly train him hundreds of years ago, did you?"

"Heh, picked him up by the roadside."

Ji Yuan joked, and along with the Old Beggar, who wore a look of disbelief, transformed into streaks of light and departed. It was time for them to check on the conditions of the other human-animal kingdoms within this Grotto-Heaven.

According to their calculations, the righteous cultivators of Tianyu Continent should have already set off. Ji Yuan and the Old Beggar didn't know how many would arrive, but at least this particular Grotto-Heaven could not be allowed to remain.