Chapter 8, Wine Name: "Bitter Crossing"

Suddenly losing the goal that supported him, the process of gradually destroying all his persistence by himself was indeed too difficult for him

The wine named "Bitter Crossing" was given to him by a strange old man from the impoverished area of Qingyan City

After visiting the second and third floors of the Sutra Repository, Ji Chang Kong finally realized that the cultivation secrets above were merely an upgraded version of those on the first floor

The Old Mother of Wushan was originally a celestial being from the endless islands of the East Sea. She arrived in the Central Plains two years ago and has been secretly cultivating on Wushan Mountain in Lingyun City, with very few people aware of her presence. It was only half a year ago that she began to formally accept disciples. I am not a fortune teller, so how could I possibly know so much about these matters

As for the other members of the Ji family

However, when all the secrets had been tried one by one, the spark of hope in Ji Changkong's heart was gradually extinguished by himself, leading him to feel lost, bewildered, and helpless... even despairing

His originally clear eyes were now filled with confusion, staring blankly at the mist-shrouded Yunmeng Marsh in the distance. He watched as the colorful miasma drifted slowly like clouds above the marsh. Ji Changkong suddenly lifted a large jar of wine beside him and began to gulp it down once more with a loud "glug glug".

"Aunt, you are truly not deceiving me?" Ji Chang Kong exclaimed in shock, his face filled with disbelief. Overwhelmed with excitement, he stumbled and accidentally kicked a boulder the size of a human head down the mountain. After a moment, he heard a thunderous crash from the foot of the mountain, which left Ji Chang Kong himself drenched in cold sweat.

Since last night at dusk until now, Ji Chang Kong has been here for a whole night

Ji Wanyun was even more anxious than Ji Changkong. At that moment, her face had turned as pale as paper. She tightly grasped Ji Changkong's wrist, saying nothing, and hurriedly pulled him to a safe area. Only then did she angrily scold, "Changkong! How can you be so careless! Do you have to scare your aunt to death?"

Since he became aware of his surroundings, Ji Chang Kong only knew his father, Ji He, and the books of Hao Tian. Seventeen years ago, when he was still an infant, his father sent him back to the Ji family. To this day, Ji Hao Tian has never returned to the Ji family, and his life or death remains unknown. As for who his mother is, even the entire Ji family is completely unaware, so it is naturally impossible for Ji Chang Kong to know.

The old man, named Luo Tian, first encountered Ji Chang Kong and threw him a jar of bitter wine called "Ku Du," insisting that he drink half of it before he began to speak with him

Let's go, I will take you to Wushan right now! You little rascal, you scared me to death! Ji Wanyun pulled him and dragged him down the mountain, not wanting to stay in this dangerous place for even a second longer

Apart from the secret techniques, the most valuable aspects of the second and third levels are the insights gained from the cultivation experiences of predecessors

Suffering... Suffering... In this boundless sea of anguish... When will I truly be able to cross over?

However, a series of subsequent facts proved that what Luo Tian said was absolutely correct

However, the seven-year-old Ji Chang Kong would certainly not take Luo Tian's nonsense to heart

In the early morning, the rising sun slowly ascends from the endless sea in the east, gradually enveloping the sky with a brilliant golden light that illuminates the earth

It remains the same as usual, with cold glances, mockery, and ridicule, as if it will never cease! Alternatively, like Ji Changle, occasionally taking a swing at him to vent the pent-up frustration, allowing oneself to feel a bit more at ease.

Grandfather Ji Yusheng has been unable to achieve success in the Ji family, constantly mired in the unresolved past of Ji Haotian's unknown fate. Ji Yusheng is not someone who excels at expressing emotions; he can only watch Ji Changkong from a distance, silently offering his care.

Before entering the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion, Ji Chang Kong placed all his hopes on the cultivation secrets of the Heavenly Masters contained within. At that time, Ji Chang Kong held onto hope in his heart, so even though life was bitter and difficult, he was still able to endure it all due to that flicker of indomitable hope within him

It was not until ten years ago, when Ji and the book Wan Yun returned to the Ji family with four striking scars on their faces, that Ji Chang Kong truly received an unreserved care.

For example, the first volume of "Lingyun Yuanqi Jue" only records the cultivation methods from the First Origin Heaven to the Three Talents Heaven, while the second volume documents the cultivation secrets from the Four Symbols Heaven to the Five Elements Heaven. The third volume also contains a book titled "Lingyun Yuanqi Jue," which records the cultivation methods from the Six Harmonies Heaven to the Seven Stars Heaven

When he was about to give up on himself, hearing such news was indeed difficult to contain the excitement in his heart

The bitter wine went down too harshly, causing Ji Chang Kong to choke uncomfortably, tears nearly spilling from his eyes. A strong, bitter taste began to spread in his heart, and in that instant, the bitterness overflowed, mirroring his current mood.

No! Ji Wanyun felt a pang in her heart and hurriedly exclaimed: "There is truly still hope!"

Other cultivation secrets are similar; the first level serves as the foundation for the secrets of cultivation, while the second and third levels are more advanced

In those years, Ji Changxiao was able to break through from the First Heaven to the Second Heaven in the Sutra Repository all at once. According to Mo Yunyi, this was precisely because he came across a handwritten note that resonated with his own situation, which suddenly made him understand the reason for his prolonged inability to break through. This realization enabled him to reach the realm of the Second Heaven within three days

The situation was indeed perilous just now; had it not been for Ji Wanyun's constant support, Ji Changkong might have truly slipped and fallen off the cliff.

Ji Changkong looked bewildered, staring blankly at Ji Wanyun. After a long pause, he finally shook his head and said with a bitter smile: "Hope? Hope has already been destroyed by my own hands"

"You child, being too clever will only lead to wild thoughts!" Seeing that Ji Changkong truly seemed to have no thoughts of taking his own life, Ji Wanyun gradually relaxed the heart that had been hanging in the air. First, she smiled and scolded Ji Changkong, and then she dared to step forward and grasp his arm, carefully pulling him back from the edge of the cliff.

Cough cough cough ... ...

At that time, Ji Chang and Tu Shu Kong had just turned 7 years old

The first floor of the Scripture Pavilion contains a total of fifteen types of celestial warrior cultivation secrets. By last night, Ji Changkong had tried each one of them in turn. He had attempted every method, but aside from repeatedly fainting midway, Ji Changkong still gained nothing.

Ji Wanyun tapped Ji Changkong on the head, her smile radiant: "I have noticed that you have been increasingly unusual over the past three months, desperately inquiring about news everywhere. It was only through that girl Ruolan that I learned about the matter of the Witch Mountain Old Mother. I never expected that you, little one, would dare to suspect that I, your aunt, am deceiving you"

The location of the Ji family is not within Qingyan City, but at the foot of Qingyan Mountain outside the city. Crossing Qingyan Mountain to the south leads to the vast Yunmeng Marsh, where miasma is pervasive and poisonous fog prevails. Beyond Yunmeng Marsh lies the southern Yi tribe, known as the Nine Yi.

Sitting atop Qingyan Mountain, gazing at the ever-changing five-colored miasma of Yunmeng Daze in the distance, Ji Changkong wore an expression filled with an inexpressible sorrow and bitterness, along with an overwhelming sense of grief

"Thank you, Auntie." Ji Chang Kong whispered his gratitude, his heart rekindling with hope. Although he stumbled along due to Ji Wan Yun's firm grip, his expression was filled with determination.

For three consecutive months, Ji Changkong often appeared at midnight, quietly sneaking into the Sutra Repository during the stillness of the night.

However, those insights are rather limited, and each individual encounters different challenges on the arduous path of celestial cultivation. Under normal circumstances, celestial practitioners must rely on their own understanding to achieve breakthroughs. Ji Changxiao's breakthrough back in the day was merely a stroke of luck; he happened to stumble upon a journal that mirrored the difficulties he faced in his cultivation.

Without letting Ji Chang Kong think too much, Ji Wan Yun hurriedly explained: "I came here this time to take you to Wushan. It is rumored that the secret technique of the Heavenly Master practiced by the Old Mother of Wushan is extremely unique. Every disciple who goes to Wushan to pay respects, as long as they are recognized by her, she will bestow upon them a source of primordial energy, allowing the disciple to use that primordial energy as a catalyst to gather more primordial energy for further cultivation"

In addition, the second and third levels include some new cultivation techniques, as well as notes and journals from previous practitioners. These notes indicate the challenges faced at certain stages of cultivation and the insights gained during breakthroughs

... ...

However, it was at this moment that the harsh reality of Ji Changkong's inability to gather elemental energy was brutally exposed

Such situations are extremely rare, which is also why Ji Changxiao spent three days in the Sutra Repository this year without achieving any results

At a young age, Ji Chang Kong began to face deeper levels of exclusion within the Ji family. In the Ji family, where strength is paramount, a child who cannot gather elemental energy is practically regarded as useless. The recently aware Ji Chang Kong received nothing but scornful, indifferent, and mocking glances from others.

And now, Ji Changkong has once again suffered a painful blow

At the summit of Qingyan Mountain, Ji Changkong appeared despondent as he sat on the green rock where he had once vigorously waved his arms. Three months ago, during the Ji family's trial, Ji Changkong had exerted himself to the utmost, nearly collapsing from exhaustion, to reach this place with great difficulty at dusk

"Little one, your life before the age of twenty is like the name of this wine—'Bitter Crossing.' Whether your life after twenty will still be called 'Bitter Crossing' depends on you," Luo Tian said this with utmost seriousness, showing no hint of jest, unlike a charlatan. Later, in his interactions with Luo Tian, Ji Chang Kong also discovered that Luo Tian never joked.

Another ten years of suffering, plus the seven years before I understood anything, without the loving care of my parents, totaling seventeen years. A full seventeen years! This is how Ji Chang Kong has lived!

Seventeen years have passed like this, and as long as there is a glimmer of hope, I cannot give up! Ji Chang Kong gritted his teeth, making a promise to himself

After listening to Mo Yunyi's legend about the "Xuanyuan Bloodline," Ji Changkong did not feel a surge of excitement. He thought that the legend of "Xuanyuan" was indeed too distant from him, and he believed that the true path lay in diligently testing the secrets of the Scripture Pavilion one by one.

Over the past three months, Ji Changkong has not only become generally familiar with the various celestial techniques and secrets on the first, second, and third floors of the Scripture Pavilion, but has also developed a close relationship with the old woman Mo Yunyi who resides there.

However, whether it is the cultivation secrets of the higher levels of the second and third tiers, the magnificent and powerful attack techniques, or the insights from predecessors, they are all of no use to Ji Changkong

It was not until he entered the second and third floors of the Sutra Repository that Ji Changkong realized that Ji Changxiao, Ji Changle, Ji Changsheng, and others were so eager to access those upper two levels precisely for the handwritten notes left by their predecessors

While others enjoy the love of their parents, Ji Chang Kong can only endure solitude alone

At least, up until today, Luo Tian has not been wrong about Ji Chang Kong's life trajectory

For the past three months, Ji Changkong's body has not changed, and her living environment remains the same as usual: her grandfather, Ji Yusheng, still looks at her with a loving gaze, mixed with deep disappointment; her aunt, Ji Wanyun, continues to show unwavering concern, even treating her with utmost care, as if afraid that she might become despondent due to the repeated setbacks.

Unable to gather elemental energy, he has yet to surpass even the most basic level; for him, the items on the second and third tiers are no different from waste paper

"Aunt, you can rest assured, I won't do anything foolish like jumping off a cliff." Ji Chang Kong shook his head, his eyes clear yet tinged with a hint of sorrow, and softly sighed, "If there really were a Mother of Wushan, you should have taken me there long ago; why wait until now?"

Seeing that Ji Chang Kong's attention was drawn to her words, Ji Wan Yun seized the opportunity: "It is said that even an ordinary person, as long as they are accepted as a disciple by the Old Mother of Wushan, can cultivate into a Celestial being with the primordial energy she bestows!"

"Long sky." A soft exclamation was heard as Ji Wanyun quietly stood by, gently saying: "Don't lose heart, there is still hope."