Listening to the words of his brothers, tears welled in Cao Yan's eyes.
He rose, lifted a jar of strong liquor, and looked at everyone around him with burning eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Cao Yan spoke in a gentle, measured voice.
"Brothers, being able to be your brother in this life is my fortune, my true happiness.
"I was orphaned and helpless from a young age, exiled to the Great Xia Domain through the schemes of my maternal uncle.
"A restriction was placed inside me, trapping my growing divine sense within my sea of consciousness, making my head swell so very large."
At this point, Cao Yan's voice grew somber. A look of distant realization showed in his eyes, and a bitter smile touched his face.
"Heh, back then in that city, I was no different from a beggar. Never knowing where my next meal would come from, fighting wild dogs for food.
"Because my appearance was altered, my facial features twisted until I looked hideous. People cursed me wherever I went, calling me a harbinger of bad luck..."
Xiao Chen, Gu Li, and the others fell silent.
Even they had not known the full extent of those hardships.
Cao Yan turned to glance at Li Guanqi and Ye Feng.
"Back then... it was Eldest Brother who didn't look down on a 'freak' like me. Our bond was forged out of his kindness.
"Later... Eldest Brother and Second Brother helped me avenge my blood feud, and I followed at their side.
"Actually, I had quite a talent for alchemy.
"Yet in order to fight alongside Eldest Brother on the battlefield, I switched to practicing fist techniques.
"Though I've always had little presence, disliked clamor, and kept to myself somewhat...
"Still... I was truly trying my best."
By the end, Cao Yan's voice choked with emotion.
Now, at last, he could lay down the shackles around his heart and let it all out.
Exhaling a long breath, Cao Yan pressed his lips together, fighting back tears as he forced a smile.
"This jar of wine is to my brothers, and to Eldest Brother!
"May Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law live in bliss and happiness!
"Seven days from now, we brothers will carry Eldest Brother's betrothal gifts ourselves!"
With those words, Cao Yan's brows relaxed, the gloom in his chest vanished, and he tipped his head back to gulp down the strong wine!
Wine trickled from the corners of his mouth, soaking the front of his robe.
Yet Cao Yan drank with wild abandon, thoroughly and heartily!
Everyone drained their jars in unison, Xiao Chen and the rest with rimmed, reddened eyes.
None of them had known Cao Yan's past.
In truth, they all understood his daredevil spirit—fighting like a man with a death wish.
If it was said that besides Li Guanqi, Ye Feng was undeniably their Second Brother, bearing burdens with sheer strength—
Whenever Li Guanqi was absent, Ye Feng was their leader.
Cao Yan was a ruthless man of few words.
Though not one for eloquent speech, he always proved his valor in battle through actions.
Therefore, deep down, whether it was the exceptionally gifted Xiao Chen, or Gu Li and Tang Ru,
every one of them held deep respect for Cao Yan.
Xiao Chen might appear cynical and somewhat unrestrained, yet he was sincere and never played petty mind games.
He was outspoken and blunt, but steady and reliable when facing crises.
Years ago under Long Hou, he had suppressed Xu Junlin, which was proof enough.
From that moment on, Xiao Chen had shed his former childishness. Though occasionally hot-headed, he was a man of true passion who treasured loyalty and brotherhood.
Gu Li, who had joined the brothers later, was remarkably clever and possessed astonishing comprehension.
Now his skill in inscribed talismans was near divine; using inscribed talismans alone, he had integrated the three arts of pills, formations, and artifacts.
With inscribed talismans as the vessel, he combined the strengths of all three paths.
If Gu Li ascended to the Immortal Realm in the future, he would surely soar even higher.
Though he was squeamish at the sight of blood and a penny-pincher,
after meeting the brothers, Gu Li had become more willing to open his heart, fooling around and bantering with them.
When a brother was in trouble, he would throw himself into the fray without hesitation...
Normally, when mighty cultivators sought an inscribed talisman from him, they had to offer real treasures and hard cash.
Yet for his brothers, he would hand them over by the tens of thousands without batting an eye.
Tang Ru.
The son of Tang Wei, master of the Baibao Pavilion in the Great Xia Domain.
Back then, disgusted by Ziyang Palace's conduct, he had stripped off his Ziyang Palace disciple robes in fury and pointed Li Guanqi in the right direction in his hour of greatest need.
Only later did Li Guanqi learn that the precious spirit herb Tang Ru had offered to keep his master Li Nanting alive was originally saved for his own breakthrough.
Like Cao Yan, Tang Ru was a man of few words, yet he pushed himself silently in his own way.
Starting several realms below the others and catching up to where he stood today—the blood, sweat, and tears he had poured in were beyond imagination.
Li Guanqi's gentle gaze swept across the faces of each person, his eyes growing damp before he realized it.
Noticing his emotion, the others could not resist teasing him.
"Oho, Eldest Brother's been so sentimental lately. Where did the Yama Sword Venerable go—the one who made the Six Domains tremble in fear?" Xiao Chen joked playfully.
Li Guanqi chuckled and answered softly,
"Back then, if I didn't kill, we wouldn't survive; if they didn't fear me, it wouldn't do.
"And now... who could make me feel fear?
"I can slay even the immortals of the Immortal Realm!"
Raising his wine jar, Li Guanqi spoke with deep feeling.
"I am merely reflecting...
"What virtue or ability do I, Li Guanqi, possess to have a band of brothers like you follow me so wholeheartedly?
"Every step along this road has been fraught with hardships."
When Li Guanqi looked at Ye Feng, tears glistened in his eyes, his emotions churning violently.
Among these men, every single one had sacrificed far too much.
Ye Feng was the same, his eyes red as he looked at the group.
Though there were times he felt his brothers were exasperating,
when he had been trapped in the Heavenly Demon Hall, and every one of them had come to rescue him at the Mahayana Realm,
he knew then that this life... was well worth it.
He naturally knew the sheer effort and hardship required for his brothers to break through to the Mahayana Realm in such a short span of time.
Yet not a single one among them had ever said to him, 'Second Brother, you have no idea how hard it was for me back then.'
Not one had ever uttered a word of complaint.
Li Guanqi felt an even deeper debt to Ye Feng.
Years ago, when not a trace of Sha could be found, Ye Feng had thrown himself into the game as bait.
Years ago in the forest mountains, Ye Feng had tied Li Guanqi to his back with rope, facing the pursuit of over a hundred men alone.
When the He clan sought to execute Li Guanqi, Ye Feng had crawled out from the Abyss of Purgatory, storming the execution ground alone with his sword.
Time and time and time again...
Ye Feng had demonstrated in his own way what true brotherhood meant.
Li Guanqi drew a deep breath and called out in a resonant, ringing voice:
"Brothers!
"The light skiff has crossed ten thousand mountains!
"You and I stand at the peak of the mountain today; the shackles of yesterday have long been shattered.
"In days to come, we will ascend to the Immortal Realm hand in hand, and show those immortals above what true peerless heroes look like!
"Eldest Brother is clumsy with words and doesn't know how to give touching speeches.
"May the brotherhood between us endure as long as heaven and earth, and our fraternal bond never change!
"In the days ahead, if any of us does something wrong or falls short, do not lay too much blame. Even if you have to go over and have a brawl, never harbor resentment in your heart!
"Brothers! This jar of wine... is for our rugged, muddy past. Drink!"
With reddened eyes, everyone raised their jars and roared, "Drink!!"
Chapter 1504