Chapter 703 - 692: Returning to West Desert

The courtyard wasn’t large, but it was elegantly laid out. A few drought-resistant trees grew inside, sheltering a stone table and several stone stools beneath their branches.

Prince Tamur was already waiting there. Seeing Xu Wuyi enter, he stood up and came forward to greet him.

"Fellow Xu, welcome, welcome," Prince Tamur said with a smile, his attitude even more polite than before. "Wait, no, I should call you Grandmaster Xu now."

Xu Wuyi bowed slightly. "You’re too polite, Your Highness the Prince. Please, just call me by my name."

Prince Tamur shook his head. "That won’t do. A Grandmaster is a Grandmaster; the proper etiquette cannot be neglected. Come, please take a seat."

In his heart, he knew very well that since Xu Wuyi and his daughter were old classmates, they didn’t need much formality. However, his own relationship with the young man was somewhat distant and required careful cultivation.

The three of them sat down around the stone table, which was already laden with food and wine. The dishes featured West Desert-style roasted meats and stews, accompanied by a fruit wine unique to the West Desert. The amber liquid gently swirled in their glasses.

Prince Tamur personally poured the wine, then raised his glass. "Come, this first toast is to Grandmaster Xu. Congratulations on advancing to Grandmaster—this is a momentous occasion for our Federation."

Xu Wuyi raised his glass. "Thank you, Your Highness."

The two drained their glasses in one gulp.

Tana, sitting beside them, also raised her glass with a smile. "I’ll offer the second toast. Congratulations, old classmate."

Xu Wuyi smiled in return, clinked his glass against hers, and drank it dry.

Prince Tamur poured more wine. This time, he didn’t rush to raise his glass. Instead, he looked at Xu Wuyi, his gaze filled with a touch of emotion.

"A twenty-three-year-old Grandmaster. No, even if you were forty... Grandmaster Xu, do you know that an achievement like yours is unprecedented in the entire history of the West Desert?

"Your arrival here is an honor for the West Desert. If you ever need help with anything in the future, just say the word."

"You flatter me, Your Highness," Xu Wuyi said. "I came this time primarily to visit Senior Flame Venerable. He helped me tremendously on my path of cultivation. Now that I have advanced, it’s only right that I come to express my gratitude."

Prince Tamur nodded. "As you should. I’ve already spoken with Senior Flame Venerable. He said he has time tomorrow morning, so you can head straight over."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

The three ate and chatted, the atmosphere relaxed and harmonious. Prince Tamur asked about Xu Wuyi’s experiences over the past few years, and Xu Wuyi shared what he could. In return, the prince recounted some of the changes in the West Desert over the years, as well as the current situation of the Royal Family’s younger generation.

When Ufei was mentioned, a gratified smile appeared on Prince Tamur’s face. "That girl has made rapid progress ever since you gave her some pointers. She’s been constantly talking about wanting to thank you in person. Would you like to see her tomorrow?"

Xu Wuyi nodded. "Sure, tomorrow afternoon works. I’ll visit Senior Flame Venerable in the morning, and if I have free time in the afternoon, I’ll see her."

"Alright," Prince Tamur said with a smile. "I’ll have her come over tomorrow afternoon."

The meal lasted for over an hour. By the time they finished, the sky outside was completely dark. Prince Tamur personally walked Xu Wuyi to the courtyard gates, expressing his gratitude once more before having Tana escort him back.

The hovercar drove out of the Royal Palace grounds, heading in the direction of the small villa.

During the ride, Tana suddenly asked, "What are your plans after seeing Senior Flame Venerable tomorrow?"

"It depends," Xu Wuyi replied. "I haven’t decided yet."

Tana nodded, not pressing the matter further.

The hovercar pulled up in front of the small villa. Xu Wuyi stepped out, bid farewell to Tana, and went inside. It was late in the night, and the villa was quiet. He walked into the Cultivation Room, sat cross-legged on the training mat, closed his eyes, and began his meditation.

Early the next morning.

Xu Wuyi woke up as usual, practiced a martial arts routine in the courtyard, washed up, and ate breakfast. At nine o’clock in the morning, he headed out right on time, walking in the direction of the East Garden.

The East Garden looked the same as always—secluded and elegant, with towering ancient trees and jagged, exotic rocks. The clear stream still wound its way through the grounds, its waters sparkling in the sunlight. After walking along the narrow path for about ten minutes, the simple bamboo hut appeared ahead.

In front of the hut, a familiar figure sat on a stone stool, playing a game of chess against himself. It was the Flame Venerable.

Xu Wuyi quickly stepped forward, stopped in front of him, and bowed respectfully. "Senior."

The Flame Venerable looked up, his gaze falling on the young man. A complex glint flashed in those old but bright eyes. There was gratification, sentimentality, and an indescribable emotion. He just looked at Xu Wuyi like that for a long while.

Then he smiled—a faint but utterly sincere smile.

"Good kid," the Flame Venerable said, his voice as aged yet forceful as ever. "You really made it to this step."

Xu Wuyi straightened up and looked at him, not saying a word.

The Flame Venerable raised a hand and pointed to the stone stool opposite him. "Sit."

Xu Wuyi sat across from him. The Flame Venerable observed him for another moment before slowly speaking.

"A twenty-three-year-old Grandmaster. Kid, do you have any idea what that means? In the entire history of the Federation, you are the first."

"You overpraise me, Senior," Xu Wuyi replied. "I couldn’t have reached this point without your guidance."

The Flame Venerable waved his hand. "Don’t give me credit I don’t deserve. I gave you some pointers, yes, but you walked this path yourself. All I could offer was some directional advice. The one who actually carved out the path was you."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and set it down. "I heard you caused quite a stir during your advancement? Every Grandmaster in Xingjing was alerted?"

Xu Wuyi nodded. "Yes."

The Flame Venerable chuckled. "Good, very imposing. When I advanced back in the day, I couldn’t even form my Dharma Form yet. I was far worse than you."

As he spoke, he stood up, walked over to the front of the bamboo hut, and stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the dense bamboo forest in the distance. Xu Wuyi also stood and walked over to his side.

After a long while, the Flame Venerable spoke again. "How does it feel after advancing to Grandmaster?"

Xu Wuyi thought for a moment before answering. "It feels... quite different. In the past, I was using my own power. No matter how much I trained, it had a limit. Now, I’m drawing on the Power of Heaven and Earth. It feels like a completely different approach."

The Flame Venerable nodded. "Exactly. That’s the feeling. This is the biggest difference between a Grandmaster and a regular Martial Artist. No matter how strong an ordinary Martial Artist is, they cannot overpower the heavens and the earth. A Grandmaster can mobilize the Power of Heaven and Earth, which is why their might far exceeds that of a normal Martial Artist."

He paused, turned around, and looked at Xu Wuyi. "But did you know? This is only the beginning."

Xu Wuyi looked back at him, waiting for him to continue.

"There are three steps to being a Grandmaster," the Flame Venerable said. "Dharma Form, Domain, and Divine Intent. Which step are you at now?"