People are inevitably influenced by their surroundings. And the cultures that develop will naturally differ based on those environments. Take places like the "Huashan Immortal Sect" or "Wudang Immortal Sect"; situated high in the mountains, the people there easily absorb a certain ethereal quality.

Being too passionate in such places feels quite strange. Immortals consume elixirs, seek longevity, and absorb the essence of heaven and earth, "transforming the entire universe within themselves" and seizing the secrets of fate to integrate into the cosmos. High mountains, naturally, possess a touch of immortality.

Conversely, lower mountain ranges fail to cultivate such an ethereal aura. The low stature of these mountains is most conducive to breeding brigands, whose narrow vision and small ambitions mirror the humble elevation of their domain. In the mortal world, the cities breed a worldly culture—popular and joyful—which naturally contrasts with the abundant spiritual energy and transcendent aura found on the high peaks.

The cultures arising from high mountains, low hills, and flatlands are all distinct. And the subterranean world possesses its own unique culture. The underground realm lacks the peace of the surface or the ethereal charm of the mountaintops.

The demons and fiends of the deep, dwelling perpetually in the damp, dark environment beneath the earth, have long forged their own distinct path of Demonic Culture—utterly cruel, chillingly cold, inherently distrustful, and prone to constant internal strife—this is the unique culture of the Demonic Path. Within the subterranean world, the culture of the Five Immortals Alliance differs significantly from that of the fiends. The members of the Alliance were, after all, cultivators trained in immortal arts; the tenets of the Righteous Path are deeply ingrained in their hearts, meaning they cannot be like the Demonic Path.

Of course, neither can they be like the culture found in the immortal sects of the high mountains. The Five Immortals Alliance in the depths constantly clashes with the underground fiends, where the probability of death is exceptionally high; this is a place fueled by raw passion. Here, although they are all cultivators, in this atmosphere where tomorrow’s life or death is uncertain, they have cultivated habits utterly unlike those of the mountain cultivators.

Knowing neither life nor death tomorrow, and frequently engaged in brutal combat, the culture of the Five Immortals Alliance boils down to: feast on meat, drain the wine, and seize absolute exhilaration when the moment calls for it. Perhaps the high echelon of the Five Immortals Alliance still operates like cunning old foxes, plotting countless schemes. But for the middle and lower ranks of the Alliance, this is generally the way.

For instance, following the major battle involving the Seven Great Sub-Sects, a celebratory gathering commenced. The banquets and feasts held at the Huashan Immortal Sect generally take place in the Cloud Cuisine Hall, where attendees might whisper amongst themselves at most, refraining from loud pronouncements; the overall atmosphere leans toward solemn restraint, not abandon. But the gathering of the Five Immortals Alliance at this moment is not held in any palace, hall, or structure.

Instead, it is in an open space situated precisely between the locations of the Fourth, Seventh, and Tenth Sub-Sects. Bonfires have been lit everywhere, illuminating everyone's faces. Here there is roasted pig, mutton, and beef—all common meats.

There are no high-end offerings like Huashan Immortal Sect banquets featuring bear paws, dragon meat, newborn fish, hundred-year crab, or golden swallow nests. After all, the demand here is far greater, and resource availability simply cannot match the abundance enjoyed by the Huashan Sect. There is wine, and the defining characteristic of the wine here is a single word: Fierce.

For nothing is more exhilarating than potent liquor. There is meat, there is wine, and there are cultivators from various Sub-Sects. This is the post-battle period.

After tending to the bodies of the fallen, what is next? Should they wallow in grief? If so, the Five Immortals Alliance would not last.

Constantly submerged in gloom, fighting the fiends in such an atmosphere would lead only to catastrophic defeat. The dead are gone; let us, the living, drink heartily and celebrate this moment of exhilaration before plunging back into the fight against the fiends. In truth, venturing into the subterranean world to fight demons is not the wish of the majority, but it is unavoidable.

If they do not guard the depths, they must wait for the fiends to breach the surface, triggering far greater massacres and resulting in widespread bloodshed. Moreover, the demons possess one crucial trait: the more flesh and blood available, the stronger they become. If the subterranean fiends were truly allowed to reach the surface, they would likely become even harder to control.

Throughout history, every time the fiends managed to reach the surface, it resulted in massacres beyond description. Thus, after every major battle, the Five Immortals Alliance holds a grand gathering. It serves to vent the feeling of uncertain mortality, allowing everyone to find joy in that single moment.

The gathering has nearly begun. The cultivators have all found their places. Eating here does not require waiting for the Sector Masters or Branch Leaders; everyone is remarkably relaxed, eating, drinking, and sharing tales of excitement, raising cups for a toast.

Of course, if a Sector Master must speak, everyone will show respect and quiet down, but as for the Branch Leaders, they are already fully immersed in the enthusiastic feasting and drinking alongside everyone else. Most of the leaders from the three active Sectors—those who haven't perished or been gravely injured to the point of immobility—are present. Lu Yuan is here too.

He picks up his wine and takes a deep, satisfying drink. Drinking also depends on the setting. Like at Huashan Immortal Sect, solitary drinking carries the flavor of quiet contemplation, watching the white clouds drift lazily by.

In the mortal world, ordering fine dishes and finding a scenic spot to drink has its own worldly charm. But now, amidst this fiery atmosphere shared with so many people, drinking is its own form of pure ecstasy. The potent liquor rushes down the throat—satisfying!

Around him, shouts of "Cheers!" and exclamations of glee abound. What sheer delight! It turns out that drinking with so many people after a major battle is an incredibly exhilarating experience, something entirely new to him.

Amidst the surrounding laughter and noise, the female cultivators, who were utterly demure on the mountain, have spent so long underground that they are no longer overly delicate; they are all remarkably forthright. Sharing this unrestrained joy together is exceptionally amusing. And woven within this merriment, naturally, is discussion about the recent great battle.

Everyone intentionally avoids mentioning the deceased members of the Five Immortals Alliance. When speaking of the recent battle of the Seven Sub-Sects, it is impossible not to mention Lu Yuan. It can be said that Lu Yuan single-handedly slew many demons, even reportedly killing two Sector Masters, which secured the victory for the Five Immortals Alliance.

Without Lu Yuan, this battle would have been won by the demons. "He single-handedly turned the tide of the massive melee, bringing us victory." "Indeed, incredible." "I heard he even killed two Sector Master-level foes." "What? Sector Master level?

That seems unlikely." The cultivator speaking here, from the Fourth Sub-Sect, found the news hard to believe. It’s because, in the subterranean world, Sector Master level is synonymous with immense power. Sector Masters are generally the top experts in their respective territories.

For a young man to have reached that level and slain others of that rank—this performance is too unbelievable. If such news were to reach the Huashan Immortal Sect, even the elders and Sword Immortals of the North Peak might hesitate to believe it. Their general impression of the younger generation is that reaching the first layer of the Body Tempering stage is the absolute peak.

Even if Lu Yuan is a monster, he is only twenty years old, while a Sector Master is nearly the local supreme expert. For Lu Yuan to reach that stage seems almost impossibly difficult. Precisely because the difficulty is so high, many cultivators’ first reaction upon hearing it is disbelief.

"You think it's impossible, but it is exactly what happened," stated a cultivator from the Tenth Sub-Sect. This cultivator was named Honest Shi Er; his strength was not high, and his swordsmanship mediocre, but he was known only for speaking the truth. It was said he had never uttered a single falsehood in his life.

The most classic example involved his father being gravely ill and his brother having died in battle. The news of his brother's death should have been kept from his father to prevent him from becoming too agitated. Instead, the honest Shi Er told his father the news directly, causing his father to spit up three mouthfuls of blood before passing away shortly thereafter.

Since the words of Honest Shi Er were always trusted, everyone listened intently when he spoke. "I personally witnessed him strike down the demon Sector Master Han Nanluo. It was a one-on-one kill," Shi Er declared.

"And afterward, he joined forces with Sector Master Song Jianjiu to kill another demon Sector Master, Jinnaluo..." Upon hearing this, the surrounding chatter ceased, replaced by expressions of shock. It truly was... The cultivators’ gathering continued while Lu Yuan sipped the wine in his hand.

Since he was still quite unfamiliar with the setting, he didn't know many people to toast with. However, feeling the intense fervor of the atmosphere around him, he didn't mind. He selected a piece of dog meat for himself; the preparation wasn't refined, even inferior to his own cooking skills.

But sometimes, one savors the atmosphere more than the food. Right now, the atmosphere was perfect. Even if the wine was slightly lacking and the dog meat mediocre, his body and mind were incredibly relaxed.

At this moment, Gu Chenzi and Gu Yunzi, two sworn brothers, approached Lu Yuan. Gu Chenzi said, "Brother Lu, when you first arrived at our Tenth Fragrance, we spoke sarcastically. We were wrong.

After the great battle, with the immense effort you put forth, we two are truly convinced of your merit." Gu Yunzi nodded, raising his wine cup similarly, "Let the minor grudges of the past be dissolved in this single cup of wine. Henceforth, let us remain comrades of the Five Immortals Alliance, slaying enemies side by side." "Good." Lu Yuan was never petty; he hadn't taken the previous slight to heart anyway. He downed the cup.

Gu Chenzi laughed heartily, "But truthfully, Brother Lu, I am utterly impressed. To possess such strength at your age—our two masters were far inferior to you back then..." "It’s a world of difference, isn’t it?" Gu Yunzi also laughed heartily while raising his cup. Enmities dissolved in a single drink.

The atmosphere was fervent. People constantly toasted Lu Yuan, having heard of his heroic deeds. One after another, they came to offer toasts.

Lu Yuan's nature was inherently somewhat bold, and when drinking, he became even more unrestrained, accepting every offer. Lu Yuan’s hearty spirit in drinking endeared him even more to the crowd.