Even after You Wuxie had been gone for a long time, the two did not dare to emerge from hiding, fearful of some trick or ambush. Only when night fully fell did they finally step cautiously from their refuge.
"Brother Zhao," Feng Yunwuji asked, "are you confident in dealing with the beasts roaming this place?"
Zhao Wuji nodded. "It should not be a problem. I ascended two hundred thousand years ago and have trained under my master, Tianyun, the Evil Sword, for many years. These beasts are manageable for me. But beyond the settled domains of humanity, the monsters lurking in the true wilds are far beyond my ability to contend with."
At the mountain's peak, Zhao Wuji cleared a small patch of ground with a sweep of his sword. Gathering dry branches, he flicked his fingers, and a spark of flame danced at his fingertip.Seeing this, Feng Yunwuji immediately recognized that Zhao Wuji cultivated a form of extreme yang inner force — and that he had reached considerable proficiency.
With this brief moment of rest, Zhao Wuji managed to restore more than half of his strength. In the quiet emptiness of the wilds, the two finally exchanged names and, seated around the small fire, began to talk.
"Brother Zhao," Feng Yunwuji said, "I am newly ascended to this realm. There are many things I do not yet understand. Would you be willing to enlighten me?"
"Ask whatever you wish," Zhao Wuji replied warmly. "I will answer as best I can."
"I noticed that You Wuxie seemed particularly fixated on the Xuanming Scroll you carry. From what little I know, the Sacred Temple holds martial arts treasures numbering in the hundreds of millions — surely many techniques there are superior to the Xuanming Scroll. Why, then, do you fight so bitterly over this one?"
A strange light flickered in Zhao Wuji's eyes. "Are you truly ignorant of the truth, or merely pretending?"
Seeing Feng Yunwuji's sincere nod, Zhao Wuji continued, "It seems you have indeed ascended very recently. Otherwise, you would know: the Sacred Temple atop Holy Mountain is not so easily accessed. Even setting aside the strict conditions for entering — no more than five times in a lifetime — the sheer number of martial arts scriptures is overwhelming. Choosing from among them would consume an unimaginable amount of time and energy.
"And beyond that... most of the temple's techniques are quite ordinary. True, there are supreme techniques hidden among them, but they are exceedingly rare, and often so difficult to master that only those of extraordinary talent could hope to succeed. Many of the so-called supreme techniques were penned by current masters — but ask yourself, would any true master honestly leave behind their finest secrets for others to take?
"In fact, most of the truly powerful arts found in the Temple are incomplete fragments — their might barely a thousandth of the original versions. Worse yet, some techniques are little more than dangerous fantasies dreamt up by their creators, never practiced, never proven. Those who attempt to cultivate such arts often fall into madness."
"I see..." Feng Yunwuji murmured, a thread of worry curling in his heart.His own Ninefold Life-Death Mystical Art and Mind-Sword Body Technique had come from the Temple. Could they, too, be flawed?
"The martial arts of Holy Mountain have such hidden dangers?" he asked.
"There are flaws, yes," Zhao Wuji admitted. "But most of the techniques are complete enough. If one can fully master them, one may stand shoulder to shoulder with the upper-tier demon lords. It's just that finding a truly complete and supreme technique is rare — a matter of fortune as much as skill."
"Brother Zhao," Feng Yunwuji asked thoughtfully, "did you obtain your current techniques from the Sacred Temple?"
Zhao Wuji nodded.
"Another thing puzzles me," Feng Yunwuji continued. "Before I ascended, it was common wisdom that once one obtained a superior technique, the goal was simply to practice it to perfection. Seeking out masters was just a means to find better arts. Why, then, do you still seek out teachers even after ascension?"
Zhao Wuji sighed heavily, a trace of sorrow in his voice.
"You are not wrong," he said, "but you underestimate the complexities of the Primordial Era. The plight of humanity is far worse than you can imagine. Even those who wish to change our fate are often blinded by hatred and ambition.As my master often said, 'Wherever there are people, there will be conflict.'Swearing allegiance to a powerful master offers not only protection but also precious stability."
He paused, then added, "Moreover, cultivation is riddled with obstacles. No one advances without encountering bottlenecks — moments where progress seems impossible. Alone, many cultivators stagnate and fade. But with a master's guidance, those bottlenecks can sometimes be broken through. Unlike beasts, human beings do not grow stronger by mere passage of time alone."
Feng Yunwuji frowned slightly. "But what about the major powers — the Demon Domain, the Blade Domain, and others? Wouldn't joining them provide even greater security?"
A shadow crossed Zhao Wuji's face.
He fell silent for a moment before replying bitterly, "Those factions wage endless war for dominance over humanity. Our numbers are already few. Between the slaughter wrought by monsters and the bloodshed caused by internal strife, we are dwindling faster than anyone dares admit.I despise such petty struggles. That is why I chose the path of the Free Cultivators. I would rather wander alone than be entangled in their endless schemes."
Feng Yunwuji's brow furrowed. "Surely... surely there are mighty human champions who could step in? Why don't they intervene?"
Zhao Wuji shook his head, his voice low. "No one knows the full truth. Many have wondered the same.If those supreme beings acted, not even the Demon Domain or the Blade Domain would dare disobey.And yet... they remain silent. For the longest time, I was baffled. Only recently have I begun to understand."
"You mean... the chaos is permitted?"
Feng Yunwuji's quiet words seemed to strike a chord. Zhao Wuji turned to him, surprised, and nodded.
"Yes. That is what many now believe," he said grimly. "The chaos is allowed — even encouraged.I suspect 'they' — whoever they are — hope to forge new heroes through this crucible.Humanity cannot hope to match the demons or the angels in sheer numbers.We must surpass them in strength. One true Divine Realm master can wipe out hundreds of thousands — even millions — of demonic beasts."
Feng Yunwuji's voice was steady. "Who are 'they'?"
"I don't know," Zhao Wuji said softly. "No one does.The only one who might have known was the Great Emperor Xuanyuan."
As he spoke the name, a deep reverence shone in his eyes.
"Alas," Zhao Wuji said, "Xuanyuan perished during the War of Gods and Demons, falling in the Northern Sea.It was humanity's greatest loss.Even now, countless people make pilgrimages to Xuanyuan Hill by the Northern Sea to pay their respects.There, within a thousand-mile radius, all combat is forbidden — even the fiercest monsters dare not trespass.The name 'Xuanyuan' commands awe not only among humans but even among the demons themselves."
When Zhao Wuji finished, he fell into a deep, sorrowful silence.Feng Yunwuji bowed his head, lost in thought.
For a long time, they sat around the fire, each wrapped in his own heavy reflections.At last, Feng Yunwuji, as if steeling himself for a fateful decision, whispered to himself:
"I will reach the Divine Realm — no matter the cost.If gods block my path, I shall slay gods;if Buddhas oppose me, I shall strike down Buddhas."
Zhao Wuji glanced at him sharply, startled by the fierce resolve in Feng Yunwuji's voice.Then he quickly lowered his gaze, pretending not to have heard — yet in his heart, he too felt his spirit stir.