Chapter 700 - 692: Return to West Desert

Han Mo also picked up his teacup, took a sip, then set it down and leaned back in his chair, his gaze landing on Xu Wuyi’s face.

"Tell me about it," he said. "How did you do it?"

Xu Wuyi thought for a moment before briefly recounting his experiences over the past few months. From leaving the Inspection Department to returning to that small courtyard, and from observing ordinary people every day to the final transformation of his Heart Image. He didn’t hide anything; he had no need to hide anything from Han Mo.

Han Mo listened quietly, occasionally nodding or taking a sip of tea, not interrupting once from beginning to end. Only when Xu Wuyi finished did he let out a long breath. He looked at Xu Wuyi, his gaze somewhat complex.

"A twenty-three-year-old Grandmaster is a first in the history of the Federation," Han Mo said. "But for you, Grandmaster is only the beginning. You cannot afford to slack off."

Xu Wuyi nodded earnestly. "I understand."

Xu Wuyi did not tell Han Mo the truth regarding the Star Realm Battlefield; those were the rules of the Federation.

Han Mo looked at him and suddenly smiled. "Do you know what I was just thinking about?"

Xu Wuyi shook his head.

Han Mo’s tone was filled with emotion as he continued, "I was thinking about the first time I met you here at Star Martial. What Realm were you at back then? You weren’t even an Official Martial Artist yet.

"Even then, I felt you had potential. I thought that with proper cultivation, you would achieve great things in the future. But I never imagined you would reach the heights you have today."

Xu Wuyi listened in silence.

Han Mo continued, "If Master Yue were still around to see how you are now, who knows how happy he would be? His Cultivation Technique produced the youngest Grandmaster in the Federation. If he knew, he would definitely drag you out to drink for three days and three nights."

Xu Wuyi fell silent for a moment before saying softly, "I will continue to carry on Grandmaster Yue’s legacy."

Han Mo nodded and said no more. The two drank their tea in silence. Outside the window, the bamboo leaves went SWISH SWISH in the gentle breeze. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows on the ground.

After a good while, Han Mo spoke again. "What are your plans next?"

"I plan to make another trip to the West Desert to visit Senior Flame Venerable," Xu Wuyi replied. "I contacted him before, but the visit was put on hold because of my breakthrough to Grandmaster. Now that my Realm has stabilized, it’s time to go."

Han Mo nodded. "Flame Venerable is an absolute expert in Fire Attribute Energy. Go ahead; it wouldn’t hurt to listen more to a senior’s insights."

He paused, then asked, "And after you visit Flame Venerable? Any plans?"

Xu Wuyi shook his head. "Not at the moment. I might continue traveling and visit the other Grandmasters on the list. Or, I might find a place to settle down and focus on secluded cultivation for a while. It depends on the situation."

"That’s fine," Han Mo said. "What you need most right now is time and accumulation. There’s no need to rush your decision; take your time."

The two chatted for a while longer, their topic shifting from Martial Arts to daily life, and then to trivial matters around the school.

Han Mo told him that Star Martial University had undergone quite a few changes over the past few years. They had built several new Training Grounds, brought in a batch of new teaching equipment, and the overall level of the students was higher than before. This was partly thanks to Xu Wuyi. Originally, among the "Three Greats," Star Martial had always lacked powerhouses in the younger generation, who needed time to grow. But Xu Wuyi’s emergence had completely shattered this narrative.

Today, let alone the younger generation of the Federation, there wasn’t a single Martial Artist under the age of forty in the entire Federation who could fight Xu Wuyi. Aside from him, the youngest Grandmaster was already over forty-five.

Xu Wuyi listened, occasionally asking a few questions. The atmosphere was relaxed and warm.

Before they knew it, the sky outside had gradually darkened.

Han Mo glanced out the window and stood up. "Let’s go grab a bite at the cafeteria. It’s my treat—to celebrate your advancement to Grandmaster."

Xu Wuyi also stood up and followed him out of the bamboo house. The two walked along the familiar winding path, passing through the bamboo forest toward the cafeteria.

Xu Wuyi hadn’t actually eaten at Star Martial University’s cafeteria that often. When he was a student, he was too busy with his cultivation, almost always holed up at home all day.

Streetlamps had already lit up on campus, casting a soft glow on the path and stretching their shadows long. The students they encountered along the way still recognized Xu Wuyi; they still stopped to stare and whisper among themselves. But this time, Xu Wuyi didn’t just nod. Instead, he smiled and exchanged a few simple words with a couple of students who mustered the courage to come up and greet him.

Those students flushed bright red with excitement, their steps practically floating as they walked away.

Watching the students’ retreating backs, Han Mo smiled and said, "You are their role model now. Looking at you is like looking at a future they can actually touch."

Xu Wuyi said nothing.

Han Mo continued, "Do you know how important this is? For kids from ordinary families, being able to see someone who came from the bottom just like them—someone who walked step by step to the very peak of the Federation—is a far more effective motivation than any lecture."

Xu Wuyi nodded. "I understand," he said softly.

The two walked into the cafeteria. Han Mo found a window seat for Xu Wuyi to sit at while he went to the counter to get their food.

The cafeteria was quite crowded, with many students having dinner. Seeing Xu Wuyi sitting there, many of them froze in shock before breaking into hushed discussions. However, no one stepped forward to disturb him. They only watched from afar, their eyes filled with curiosity and reverence.

Xu Wuyi and Han Mo chatted as they ate, keeping the conversation light and casual. Occasionally, a student walking by with a tray would offer a cautious greeting, to which Xu Wuyi would respond with a polite nod.

The meal lasted for nearly half an hour. By the time they finished, the sky outside was completely dark.