Pigsty: lv4 (Upgrade Available)

"You came out so soon, Senior?"

Ji Yuan stepped forward without betraying anything, a helpless smile on his face.

"Just surviving by luck was a blessing. How could I call it an opportunity?"

"Pure luck, pure luck."

Ji Yuan shook his head with a rueful smile.

Seeing this, the Icefire Old Man, dressed in a fiery red dragon robe, could not help recalling the past. Some of the delight faded from his face as he sighed.

"Indeed. Anyone who hasn't passed through life and death can't understand what it feels like."

"Just as no one understood me back then. At least now there's finally someone who's been through life and death like I have."

"Wouldn't that make me a kindred spirit of yours, Senior?"

Ji Yuan sounded him out.

The Icefire Old Man laughed. "More than kindred spirits—we're fellow cultivators bound by the same suffering. Come, come, dear nephew. Follow me. We ought to have a proper drink."

With that, the Icefire Old Man took Ji Yuan along once more, and the two flew toward the palace.

By the time they returned to the palace, daylight had filled the sky.

At a command from the Icefire Old Man, the emperor, the entire palace sprang to life. Female cultivators bustled about everywhere.

Ji Yuan chatted with the Golden Core True Person for a while. Soon, fine food and wine began arriving in an endless stream, every dish brimming with spiritual energy.

"Come, dear nephew. Drink up!"

The Icefire Old Man raised a bronze wine cup and laughed.

Ji Yuan clinked his cup against the other man's across the air, then drained it in one go... Hmm, the wine really was excellent, better than most he had tasted.

If I brought some back for Master, she'd probably like it.

With the thought