The Growth of a Titan in the Cultivation World

"Hiccup!"

Mar-Dule was radiating a strong stench of alcohol. His face was extremely flushed, and it almost seemed as if could tip over with each step. However, when you think he would fall, he would somehow manage to regain his balance and continue walking forward.

"Ha-ha, let's walk around him. I think he's in a good mood."

Sol said with a chuckle. He recalled being told by someone that Mar-Dule heavily drinks when something good happens.

Heon-Tae followed Sol and stepped to the path's left side to allow a staggering Mar-Dule to pass.

However, they suddenly cross over to the right side. But once again they crossed back over to the left.

This occurred a few times and it was due to the fact that Mar-Dule was staggering into their path.

"Ha-ha, what's with him?"

Heon-Tae found this situation amusing.

"Let's stay on the right side."

Sol said stopping Heon-Tae.

On cue, Mar-Dule staggered to the right and went past them just outside of the Formation.

As he did Heon-Tae jokingly commented again.

"The Runes and Formation Pavilion is not even located in this direction; did he come all the way out here just to get drunk? Ha-ha…"

"It's not?"

Sol hearing that completely froze

"Hm? No, it isn't Brother So-"

Heon-Tae's words were suddenly cut off because Mar-Dule, who was staggering past him, abruptly grabbed his shoulder to steady himself.

"There you are, and I was wondering if I had chosen the right path you'll escape in after getting out of the Teleportation Array. Good thing I sprinkled some aura tracer in that hall."

Heon-Tae's blood ran cold. A terrifying aura bombarded his face as Mar-Dule sent a punch his way.

Sol reacted quickly by stepping in front of Heon-Tae and allowing Mar-Dule's fist to hit his palm.

BANG!

A loud explosion echoed out as the ground beneath these two physically gifted youths burst apart.

Heon-Tae was sent stumbling back from the shockwave. When he recovered, he stared at Sol holding Mar-Dule's fist with a trembling heart.

His head might have caved in if he had received that blow head-on. Heon-Tae nervously gulped down a large lump of saliva.

After having his fist blocked, a confused expression appeared on Mar-Dule's flushed face.

"Huh? Is that you Brother Sol?"

Sol retrieved his Heavenly Samsara Formation and looked at Mar-Dule with a smile.

"*Hiccup!* Brother Sol! So it was you!"

Seeing that he guessed right, Mar-Dule threw his hands in the air and hugged Sol.

"What are you doing here? Who is he?"

Sol's smile turned awkward. He wasn't going to involve Mar-Dule in this mission, but he really underestimated this friend of his.

"I'll explain everything while we walk."

"Okay… *Hiccup*… but where to?"

"The Alchemy Pavilion's camp."

Mar-Dule's hug turned into him leaning on Sol for support, and his eyes widened when he heard Sol's response.

"Oh, I see how it is, you and that bastard Yoon-Jae were up to something without me. I thought we were friends, Brother Sol!"

Seeing Mar-Dule's hurtful expression Sol wanted to laugh but stopped himself.

"You're drunk Brother Mar-Dule. Why don't you circulate your Aether Energy to get rid of the alcohol in your system?"

"Brother Sol, you're trying to change the topic!"

"Can you walk?"

"No, not really, I… Hey! Stop changing the topic."

Sol bent down and hefted a chubby Mar-Dule onto his back with relative ease.

"We need to leave; the commotion will draw people here."

Heon-Tae nodded before his and Sol's figures vanished from their positions with a step.

The three youths made it back to the Alchemy Pavilion's camp when the sun was almost on the verge of rising above the distant mountains.

Sol used his Heavenly Samsara Formation so they could enter undetected.

Inside the courtyard, Ji-Hoon and Yoon-Jae turned to see them enter.

Seeing Mar-Dule, Yoon-Jae asked as he got up.

"I thought we weren't going to tell him. Did you change your mind at the last minute?"

Mar-Dule was now sober, and he glared at Yoon-Jae before saying angrily.

"I can't believe you two were going to leave me out of something like this, I thought we were friends!"

Yoon-Jae glanced at Mar-Dule to say something but paused and asked with a weird expression on his weird.

"Why are there scratches on your face?"

Mar-Dule paused and then instinctively glanced at Little Abdu with a terrified expression on his face.

In his drunken stupor, he had tried to pet Little Abdu who was napping on Sol's head.

Needless to say, he quickly sobered up after that. He was just happy that these scratches were the only thing resulting from that ordeal.

Yoon-Jae shook his head when he saw Mar-Dule glance at Abdu, then said.

"It's because you're a friend that we didn't want to involve you. Aren't you the Prince of the Barbarian Race? What would happen if it was discovered you were working with the Demonic Cult to steal the Inheritance of this dimension?"

Mar-Dule showed a hesitant expression when he heard that, and his cautious personality appeared. He was only this cautious when it came to making decisions that might affect his Barbarian Race.

But Mar-Dule suddenly looked at Yoon-Jae and said.

"What about you? Your family might-"

"Stop. It doesn't matter what my family thinks, I've already cut ties with them."

Sol tilted his head and glanced at Yoon-Jae curiously when he heard that.

Yoon-Jae acted as if he didn't see Sol's curious expression and asked.

"Are you still willing to be a part of this?"

"Why not?"

Mar-Dule puffed out his chest.

"Brother Sol already explained that the Demonic Cult… I mean, the Forgotten Sect isn't like what we were led to believe."

Yoon-Jae glanced at Sol.

"Is it really okay telling him all this?"

Mar-Dule frowned.

"Why not!"

"I left out a few things, but I trust Brother Mar-Dule."

Mar-Dule blinked when he heard that. He then looked at Sol.

"Brother Sol, you can definitely trust me."

Sol smiled and patted Mar-Dule on the shoulder.

Mar-Dule seeing this didn't push any further.

It wasn't like Sol didn't trust Mar-Dule knowing his connection with the Forgotten Sect, but he felt that the fewer people that knew the better.

"So what now, are we going to leave for this Immortal Shen's Palace?"

Sol, Yoon-Jae, and Mar-Dule all glanced at Ji-Hoon and Heon-Tae.

"What are they doing?"

Yoon-Jae asked with a weird expression.

"It's their first time seeing each other in person."

Sol commented.

The three then watched as Ji-Hoon and Heon-Tae sized up each other.

"Well, you don't look that much older for me to call you Eldest Brother."

Heon-Tae suddenly said.

"Well, you don't look like what I had imagined. Just average."

"The same as you, right?"

Heon-Tae immediately quipped back.

"...You're even more annoying in person."

"So are you."

Ji-Hoon and Heon-Tae glared at each other for a brief moment before the two started smiling.

Their smiles turned into laughter as the two stepped forward to hug.

After four years of only communicating with each other via communication jade slips and secret messages left around the Academy, they finally meet in real life. Thankfully, it's as if nothing has changed.