Chapter 992: Great Responsibility on Both Shoulders

"Still a bit lacking," Ji Yuan suddenly remarked. Zhong Pingxiu, standing nearby, nodded slightly in agreement.

As if to confirm Ji Yuan and Zhong Pingxiu's words, the rumbling from Wuliang Mountain gradually subsided after a brief period. Zuo Wuji's bronzed skin glowed red and steamed.

"Hiss... ho... hiss... ho..." Zuo Wuji took several gasping breaths, then released his grip. He looked down at the ground; though he had felt some give, the solid rock around the ancient tree's base showed no cracks. The entire tree looked exactly as it had before.

Zuo Wuji wasn't discouraged. He could sense the ancient tree; his inability to pull it out simply meant his skill wasn't yet sufficient, not that the tree didn't acknowledge him.

"Mr. Ji, Immortal Zhong, it seems I still need to hone my abilities," Zuo Wuji said with a smile after bowing to Ji Yuan and Zhong Pingxiu. Zhong Pingxiu returned the gesture with a cupped-hand salute.

"For Marshal Wu Sheng to achieve this much has already greatly surprised Mr. Ji and myself," Zhong Pingxiu said. "We truly thought the tree wouldn't budge at all this time!"

Ji Yuan and the others had returned to the mountain peak where the ancient tree stood. Li Feng stared at Zuo Wuji, who still exuded an astonishing aura, his mouth agape with a bewildered expression.

"Hero Zuo, you were as red as molten iron just now with Uncle Jin!" Li Feng exclaimed."As red as molten iron? Is it really that exaggerated?" Zuo Wuji chuckled.

Zuo Wuji joked, then looked at Jin Jia. "Brother Jin, this tree is truly heavy. Once I pull it out, I'll have a handy weapon. Then you can use your Mixed-Gold Hammer, and I'll use my 'Flat Staff,' and we'll have a good spar!"

Ji Yuan, listening on the side, felt a bead of sweat. He mused inwardly, wondering if this withered ancient tree, being sentient, would understand why a "Flat Staff" was considered a peerless divine weapon.

However, Zuo Wuji's words prompted the usually taciturn Jin Jia to speak up. "No need to wait. I will help you!"

Zuo Wuji was slightly taken aback and said nothing as Jin Jia walked step by step towards the withered tree. As he did, a golden, powder-like glow enveloped him, his already burly frame visibly expanding, and his appearance reverted to that of a golden-armored divine general with a red face and skin.

"Uncle Jin..." Li Feng stared, wide-mouthed and dumbfounded, at Jin Jia's transformed appearance. This was the first time he had truly seen Jin Jia's original form; for years, he had known him only as a simply dressed, burly man.

Neither Ji Yuan nor Zhong Pingxiu spoke. Zuo Wuji also remained silent for a moment, watching Jin Jia walk to the ancient tree. Without a word, Jin Jia wrapped his arms around the trunk, then exerted a terrifying force, attempting to pull the ancient tree from the ground.

"Boom..." The entire mountain peak trembled violently.

"Creaak, creaak, creaak..." A grating, teeth-grinding sound echoed as the golden light around Jin Jia intensified, and immense power gathered beneath his feet.

"Ho..." Zuo Wuji's eyes widened as he watched Jin Jia's efforts. However, after little more than ten breaths, Jin Jia ceased his exertion. The ancient tree remained completely still, prompting an inexplicable sigh of relief from Zuo Wuji.

Jin Jia turned to Zuo Wuji and spoke. "I cannot pull it out..."

Ji Yuan smiled and offered reassurance. "As Daoist Zhong said earlier, this tree cannot be uprooted by sheer strength alone. It is waiting for Hero Zuo, and it will wait until Hero Zuo is capable of pulling it out. There's no need to worry about him."

Jin Jia faced Ji Yuan and bowed respectfully. "Your will shall be done!"

Zhong Pingxiu, standing aside, chuckled and shook his head. Indeed, as Mr. Ji's divine protector, he was full of surprises.

"Since you are new to Wuliang Mountain, please follow me to rest," Zhong Pingxiu offered. "Whether you prefer simple fare or a lavish feast, we have it all here."

Li Feng instinctively glanced around the almost barren Wuliang Mountain. *This desolate place can't even grow grass, let alone offer a lavish feast?* he wondered. However, he figured an immortal who could converse so casually with Mr. Ji wouldn't lie, so he simply followed along with Fa Yun.

True enough, Zhong Pingxiu wasn't one to offer empty pleasantries. Upon returning to the section of the mountain where he habitually resided, he promptly set up tables and chairs in a hall within the mountain's core. Plates of delicious dishes flew out from his sleeve, arranged abundantly on the table. With another wave of his sleeve, some dishes instantly became steaming hot and fragrant, as if freshly cooked.

Well, in Ji Yuan's opinion, Zhong Pingxiu's "zombie dishes"—prepared via magic after being stored for who knows how long—lacked soul. Yet, he picked up his chopsticks without the slightest hesitation.

As for Li Feng, his main purpose was to train martial arts with Zuo Wuji on Wuliang Mountain. After dinner, he was already outside, chasing a small paper crane. Zuo Wuji, meanwhile, sat with Ji Yuan and Zhong Pingxiu in the cavernous hall within the mountain, while Jin Jia stood guard behind Ji Yuan.

Besides presenting the complete *Yellow Springs* scrolls and explaining the possible advent of the Yellow Springs, their discussion naturally revolved around Liangjie Mountain and the current cosmic tribulation. It was Zuo Wuji's first true exposure to the perilous state of the world.

During this time, Ji Yuan and Zhong Pingxiu did most of the talking, each detailing their observations and changes over the years, and contemplating potential consequences and countermeasures. Although Zuo Wuji merely listened, and knew that some matters were not easily spoken of even by masters like Ji Yuan and Zhong Pingxiu, he was profoundly shaken.

Zuo Wuji had never imagined that the seemingly orderly world had truly reached the brink of destruction. While some celebrated nightly with songs and dances, others indulged in revelry, still others diligently strove for improvement, and some wasted their lives while others lived them to the fullest, the heavens above the heads of countless unremarkable people could collapse at any moment.

"So, you believe the Dragon Clan's reclamation efforts might become a breakthrough point for those abominations from the desolate valleys?" Zhong Pingxiu asked, having understood what Ji Yuan implied without him explicitly stating it.

"Precisely. However, the reclamation is already set in stone; it's a grand event for all aquatic creatures. Even if the Horned Dragon lineage trusts my words about such speculative matters, it cannot alter the overall trend."

Zhong Pingxiu stroked his beard in thought. "Indeed. In fact, you shouldn't even inform the Ying family, or Lady Ying might become apprehensive, abandon the reclamation, and violate her vows, possibly even leading to her demise. Yet, the reclamation itself would not be significantly affected. Rather than that, it is better to let Lady Ying continue leading the effort, as she can at least maintain some control over its direction."

"I concur," Ji Yuan said. "The tribulation is irreversible. If the variable isn't in the reclamation, it will appear elsewhere. Given this, it's better to quietly await the reclamation's progress."

Zhong Pingxiu also sighed helplessly. "It is truly a measure of last resort."

Despite their words, Ji Yuan and Zhong Pingxiu weren't pessimistic. Zuo Wuji, however, grew a little restless. "Mr. Ji, Immortal Zhong, I know my strength is limited, but if there's any way I can be of use, I will certainly assist with all my might. I will never allow the righteous path of this world to vanish!"

Ji Yuan and Zhong Pingxiu hadn't fully explained the severity, so Zuo Wuji still believed it was a great tribulation for the righteous path of heaven and earth, potentially plunging the world into the hands of chaotic demons. However, even this understanding was grave enough for an ordinary person.

"Hero Zuo is by no means a small force. I hope you cultivate diligently here on Wuliang Mountain. Perhaps within a few decades, there will be a world-shaking war. By then, as Marshal Wu Sheng, your martial arts and physique will be at their peak, surely astounding those petty fiends from the desolate valleys!"Based solely on the commotion Zuo Wuji caused when attempting to pull the tree, Ji Yuan was convinced that, with the aid of Wuliang Mountain, in twenty to fifty years, Zuo Wuji's power would be sufficient to shake anyone in heaven and earth, yielding the most glorious fruit of the martial way.

"Rest assured, Mr. Ji, I will never slack in my pursuit of martial arts' peak," Zuo Wuji declared. "When my cultivation bears fruit, I will certainly astound my masters and my parents!""Marshal Wu Sheng is too modest," Ji Yuan replied. "Your current status as Marshal Wu Sheng has already filled them with both surprise and joy!"

"I am ashamed, truly ashamed; I'm not worthy of this title yet..." Zuo Wuji rarely scratched his head. The title of Marshal Wu Sheng was too weighty. He knew he might be unmatched in the martial arts community, but how could the name of Marshal Wu Sheng be limited to merely the *jianghu*? It certainly wasn't about numbers. As he was now, if a few true devils or celestial demons appeared, he would have to flee for his life. What right did he have to be called a Marshal Wu Sheng?

Ji Yuan also offered comfort to Zuo Wuji, but his tone became very serious. "Then make yourself worthy. I hope that when Zuo Wuji is needed to step forward, you will be that Marshal Wu Sheng at the pinnacle of the martial way. Can you do that?"

Although Zuo Wuji held himself to extremely high standards, he also possessed a rare pride that he seldom displayed. In this situation, after only a brief silence, Zuo Wuji sat up straight, his hands on his knees. "Rest assured, Mr. Ji, I, Zuo Wuji, am no coward. When I am needed to step forward, I will surely wield my Flat Staff, shoulder the great righteousness of heaven and earth, and since the name Marshal Wu Sheng rests upon me, I will never disgrace this title!"

Ji Yuan's always half-open mystical eyes widened slightly. He faintly sensed the aura around Zuo Wuji at that moment, and his hand beneath the table subtly flexed his knuckles. Then he slowly closed his eyes, reopened them, stood up, and bowed respectfully to Zuo Wuji. "Marshal Wu Sheng's righteousness is profound!"

This startled Zuo Wuji, who quickly stood up and returned the bow. "Oh, Mr. Ji, you humble me too much! I can't accept this, truly!"

"Haha, given the difficulty of this tribulation, Hero Zuo is indeed worthy of this salute," Ji Yuan said. "Well, what needed to be said has been said, and what needed to be delivered has arrived. Hero Zuo, feel at ease cultivating here..."He then glanced back at Jin Jia. "Jin Jia, you should also stay here to cultivate. You can spar often with Marshal Wu Sheng. How can one diligently cultivate martial arts and physique without a sparring partner?"

"Thank you, Mr. Ji! Brother Jin, it seems we'll be spending quite some time together, ha ha ha ha... Oh, Mr. Ji, Feng'er is still young. If he doesn't want to stay here..." Zuo Wuji began."Mm, I will stay here for two days and find an opportune moment to speak with him," Ji Yuan replied.

"That would be excellent!"

Two days later, when Ji Yuan departed, the small paper crane, after fluttering back from above Jin Jia's head, reluctantly returned to Ji Yuan's embroidered pouch. Of the three who had arrived together, not one left; Li Feng, surprisingly, firmly decided to stay and train martial arts with Zuo Wuji.Furthermore, Zuo Wuji and Jin Jia now carried the Reverse Taiji Suspended Magnet Array Talisman, meaning that while on Wuliang Mountain, they would directly endure its true gravitational force.

The moment Ji Yuan left Wuliang Mountain, the Qilin, who had been silent, spoke from his sleeve. "That place, Wuliang Mountain, truly makes me uncomfortable. Ji Yuan, since the Yellow Springs has already descended, there's no need for you to personally deliver those three volumes. Old Monk Foyin can take care of the Western Regions and Lanzhou for you, and for Hengzhou, you can have Zhao Yu of Jiufeng Mountain help you out. He's no longer the sect leader, so he's quite free."

"Good idea!" Ji Yuan and Zhao Yu had a decent friendship. Although Ji Yuan's reputation was considerable, the influence of Jiufeng Mountain in Hengzhou was beyond his own. If Zhao Yu could help, the effect would certainly be better than Ji Yuan going himself.

"You agree so readily? Then shall we go see the Yellow Springs? Heh heh, I've been restless to go for a while.""No. Whether I go to the Yellow Springs or not makes little difference. We're going to Longsword Mountain."