Chapter 833: The Grace Ahead

Seeing the master and his two disciples in the room rise to greet him, Ji Yuan returned their bow from the doorway, then naturally stepped inside.

When Ji Yuan looked at the messy tables, Lu Chengfeng remained unconcerned, but Yan Fei and Zuo Wuji felt a bit embarrassed by the disarray. They quickly tidied up to welcome Ji Yuan.

"Please, Mr. Ji, have a seat!"

"Sir, you're here to rescue us, aren't you? We don't know what godforsaken place these demons dragged us to. They appear openly in the city, and there are no temples or divine spirits here."

Ji Yuan nodded and sat down in an empty spot, motioning for the three to also be seated. Once all four were settled, he began to answer Zuo Wuji and his companions' questions.

"You are not in the outer world, but within a grotto-heaven in the Black Dream Spirit Continent. Here, mortals are regarded as food by demons..."

A grotto-heaven?

They had thought they were merely in some remote, hard-to-find place. It turned out they were no longer in the true world, and this realm had no immortals or benevolent spirits to begin with.

"So that's how it is. If not for an immortal crossing the sea to get here, we wouldn't be able to leave, even if we trained diligently and fought to the ends of the earth?"

Hearing Yan Fei's words, Ji Yuan pondered for a moment before nodding.

"Indeed, without knowing how to enter or exit a grotto-heaven, one cannot escape, even by reaching the ends of the earth. But you shouldn't belittle yourselves. The Horse Demon that fell to your martial arts was no ordinary low-level fiend; it was a notable figure among common demons. Through this experience, the path of martial arts has been fully opened, sharing in the marvels of all doctrines."

At this point, Ji Yuan smiled and continued.

"In cultivation, there's a phenomenon called 'shedding one's mortal coil and exchanging one's bones,' signifying a qualitative transformation in one's cultivation level. While the martial arts realm of the three, especially Wuji's, is different, the magnitude of its change could also be described as 'shedding one's mortal coil.' However, I don't particularly like that term. It's better to establish a different name for martial arts, such as 'condensing the martial soul'."

Lu Chengfeng thought for a moment before asking.

"Why? Wouldn't calling it 'shedding one's mortal coil and exchanging one's bones' be fine too?"

Ji Yuan looked at Lu Chengfeng, then at Yan Fei and Zuo Wuji, and thoughtfully replied.

"I hope that those who practice martial arts, after truly embarking on the path and achieving success, will still regard themselves as human. They should not consider themselves inherently superior and sever ties with ordinary common folk."

For Yan Fei and Lu Chengfeng, who had weathered many storms and seen much of the world, a careful consideration of Mr. Ji's words brought understanding. Zuo Wuji, however, was still pondering something. Ji Yuan knew he had unique insights into martial arts but was still young, so he elaborated further.

"Practicing martial arts doesn't necessarily mean stepping onto the path of martial arts, but one must practice martial arts to enter it. Martial arts originate from the pugilistic world, and wherever there are people, there is a pugilistic world!"

Ji Yuan looked at Zuo Wuji and asked.

"Martial Sage, what do you think martial artists train for?"

Hearing Mr. Ji address him this way, Zuo Wuji, who was just beginning to get used to others calling him that, immediately felt embarrassed.

"Mr. Ji, please don't call me that..."

Then, Zuo Wuji's expression turned serious as he answered Ji Yuan's question.

"Beyond strengthening the body, martial arts should be for upholding justice, aiding the weak, vigorously progressing, and challenging oneself!"

It was a very formal answer, yet it truly reflected Zuo Wuji's thoughts. While some martial artists might have more "individualistic" answers, these "traditional" ideas are precisely where the spirit of martial arts lies.

"Well said. Without these human connections, it wouldn't be complete."

Ji Yuan's words left Zuo Wuji pensive. It was unclear if he had fully grasped the meaning, but he ultimately nodded politely and thanked Ji Yuan.

"Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Ji!"

Ji Yuan sighed inwardly, knowing he couldn't force Zuo Wuji to change his views. Instead, he simply took out the White Jade Thousand-Measure Pot from his sleeve and placed it on the table.

"I know Senior Lu has been craving a drink for a while. Fortunately, I brought some wine today. Let us drink together to celebrate your progress in martial arts."

Lu Chengfeng's eyes lit up at the sight of the wine pot, and he burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha, Mr. Ji, this small pot of wine isn't enough for me alone! It's not enough to celebrate. You're an immortal, conjure up some more wine!"

Ji Yuan took out a few more cups, shaking his head with a smile.

"This one pot is enough."

The Thousand-Measure Pot contained a magical blend of Nine-Tailed Fox's stored wines from the Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven. Fused by the pot's miraculous properties, the wine was not only mellow, rich, and uniquely flavorful, but also imbued with spirituality, making it a truly extraordinary liquor. It was also the initial prototype for Ji Yuan's envisioned self-brewed wine.

As the wine was poured into the cups, the old drunkard Yan Fei immediately fell silent, greedily inhaling the aroma. Such wine was truly a rare delight in the mortal world.

Before Ji Yuan could say anything, Lu Chengfeng eagerly picked up a cup of wine and took a sip, praising, "Excellent wine!"

"Please, drink."

Ji Yuan politely offered and drank first as a gesture of respect. Although Yan Fei rarely drank, he didn't refuse this time. He and Zuo Wuji both raised their cups and drained them. Upon tasting the wine, their eyes immediately lit up. Not only was the flavor wonderfully lingering, but the wine also warmed their bellies like a blazing furnace.

Ji Yuan knew their bodies urgently needed nourishment, so he didn't stint on the wine, pouring cup after cup. Besides discussing their usual martial arts training, he also spoke of the conditions in other "human-livestock" nations within the grotto-heaven, and very earnestly described the vastness of the world to them.

The myriad states under heaven, the Four Seas and Eight Deserts, the worlds within grotto-heavens, demon nations and ghost realms, the two realms of Yin and Yang, and all corners of the human world...

After dozens of cups of wine, Ji Yuan's expression remained unchanged, while Zuo Wuji, Yan Fei, and Lu Chengfeng's faces were flushed. At this moment, Ji Yuan suddenly spoke again.

"Now that the martial path has manifested, and you three are blessed with good fortune, what would you say if a true immortal wished to teach you immortal arts, to lead you through the gate of immortality to cultivate the art of carefree longevity?"

Yan Fei looked at Ji Yuan with a smile.

"Mr. Ji, you're not talking about yourself, are you?"

Ji Yuan immediately shook his head.

"Neither in the past, nor now, nor in the future, will I ever do that."

Zuo Wuji had just poured himself a cup of wine. Hearing Ji Yuan's words, he immediately drained it. His initial shyness in front of Ji Yuan had long vanished; at this moment, he exuded a certain arrogance, reminiscent of when he slew the great demon.

"Hahahaha, Mr. Ji, since you say we have truly opened up the martial path, with a brilliant but unknown future ahead, then I, Zuo Wuji, must continue to break through along this path! One day, I shall stand at the peak, gazing upon the magnificent landscapes of martial arts, and let all paths in the world witness the splendor of my martial way!"

A glint appeared in Ji Yuan's eyes. He personally poured Zuo Wuji a cup of wine, refilled his own, and then raised his cup.

"When that day comes, the title of Martial Sage will surely be well-deserved. I shall await to witness your splendor!"

"It's a promise then, Mr. Ji! Just you watch!"

Zuo Wuji clinked his cup with Ji Yuan's, then quickly drained his wine. After drinking, he looked at Yan Fei and Lu Chengfeng.

"And I ask my masters to witness their disciple's splendor!"

"Good lad, but we won't lose to you!" "Brat, you've got ambition, but we're not old yet!"

"Hahahaha... Drink!" "Drink!"

Cup after cup, the small wine pot never ran dry. Eventually, everyone but Ji Yuan—Zuo Wuji and his two masters—were feeling quite hazy from the drink.

Lu Chengfeng, for who knows the umpteenth time, shook the Thousand-Measure Pot and poured himself another drink. A stream of wine filled his cup, overflowing its brim...

"Ugh... Why does this wine never run out?"

"Master, you've had too much, *hic*..."

Zuo Wuji took the wine pot from Lu Chengfeng's hand and poured himself a drink. In his daze, he tried to pour for Yan Fei as well, only to realize his elder master had already collapsed onto the table.

"Alright, finish this cup and then get some good rest."

Ji Yuan took the wine pot, poured himself a cup, and held the cup in one hand while idly toying with a black chess piece in the other. He then looked at the three master and disciples sprawled across the table. By now, even Zuo Wuji and Lu Chengfeng had succumbed and were lying on the table.

"Heh, youthful arrogance, it's truly wonderful..."

Ji Yuan drained his cup, then put away the wine pot and cups, and walked out, closing the door behind him for the three of them.

Two days later, the war between righteousness and evil had long concluded, its outcome self-evident. Nearly all the demons, ghosts, and fiends who attended the Myriad Demon Feast were captured, and the cultivators of Tianyu Continent felt their gains were already substantial, unwilling to further stir up Black Desolation and incur greater losses.

On that day, within the grotto-heaven that housed numerous so-called "human-livestock nations," countless people looked up at the sky in terror, while many others felt a mix of nervousness and anticipation. Soon after, all their expressions gradually turned to blank astonishment.

For the sky had collapsed!

The sky, though cloudless, was filled with rampant lightning and raging storms. The ground beneath their feet trembled slightly, causing old buildings to sway. Deafening roars filled the air, then gradually, the ground beneath them grew calm again.

The masters of various sects in Tianyu Continent joined forces to tear open this grotto-heaven. Subsequently, within the grotto-heaven, the sky collapsed and the earth caved in, like the end of the world. Entire landmasses were uplifted, directly floating out of the shattered sky.

The immortal masters had directly taken away a significant portion of the grotto-heaven's land, allowing them to extract its inhabitants most quickly without wasting time in a malevolent region like Black Desolation.