I Accumulate Spirit Roots for My Next Life

Chapter 144: Chapter 52: Hoping Grandpa Zhang Can Hold On

“Isle Master Jiang, you’re too kind. No matter how prosperous the Golden Sun Sect may be, it’s now deeply entangled in trouble, and it’s uncertain if the Blood Fiend still exists.

Moreover, I am merely a disciple of the Outer Peak and cannot represent the Golden Sun Sect.” Qi Yuan’s face no longer bore the leisure and laziness of the past, giving off a sense of determination.

“I believe the Golden Sun Sect will surely overcome this crisis.”

“Let’s hope so!”

“Fairy Qi, feel free to cultivate here in the future. If you have any needs, you can directly approach me.”

“Thank you, Isle Master Jiang!”

“Additionally, I’ve heard that a certain elder from your sect accompanied you to this island. Could you tell me about this elder?” Jiang Li laid the groundwork and finally got to the main topic.

Qi Yuan’s expression remained unchanged as she calmly replied, “That elder is merely an Outer Peak elder, over a hundred years old and still stuck in the Foundation Establishment Stage. He’s renowned in the Golden Sun Sect for his longevity, kind and gentle nature, avoiding disturbances, conflicts, and staying out of trouble.”

On that day aboard the Spirit Ship, Qi Yuan had suspected it was Zhang Ruoyu who secretly exerted his power to scare away Han Zhuo,

the realization also left Qi Yuan stunned.

No one ever expected Zhang Ruoyu to reside on Little Turtle Peak, keeping a low profile, yet possessing such strength.

It seems the entire Golden Sun Sect has been deceived by him.

Subsequent actions by Zhang Ruoyu and Qi Yuan’s understanding of him over the years naturally made her aware of his intention not to reveal his prowess.

Hence, at this moment, she helped to cover for him.

“Though I’ve never met him, just hearing you speak about him, I feel this elder truly possesses a celestial’s demeanor.” Jiang Li smiled softly, trying to discern hints from Qi Yuan’s mature and beautiful face.

Qi Yuan maintained an impassive demeanor outwardly, but inside, she felt a twinge of anxiety, fearing that saving her might bring trouble to Zhang Ruoyu and affect his plans.

“He doesn’t like to be disturbed!” Ultimately, she uttered a cautionary note with slight emotional fluctuation.

“Rest assured, Fairy Qi, I understand.” Jiang Li achieved her purpose for this visit, smiled gracefully, and took her leave.

“Ah, she’s such a little demon! I hope Grandpa Zhang can manage this.” Qi Yuan watched Jiang Li’s figure disappear into the courtyard, sighing inwardly.

Jiang Li left the small courtyard, feeling much more relaxed.

After half a month of covert investigation.

She finally pinpointed the likelihood that the formidable figure was Zhang Ruoyu.

Tonight was her last attempt at probing.

——

“Croak~” Guagua sat pitifully in front of Li Jizhou, looking aggrieved.

Li Jizhou put away the Heart-Burning Furnace and the newly refined Breaking Rank Pill of late Tier Two, glaring at Guagua.

Since its first dive into the sea half a month ago, this fellow had become increasingly uncontrollable.

During this half month, while Li Jizhou was engaged in alchemy, he spent at least ten days soaking in the sea.

However, for two consecutive days, it hadn’t set foot in the sea.

Because of a deep scar on its back that still oozed black blood.

Upon communicating with his Divine Sense, it revealed it was injured in a sneak attack by a Golden Strange Fish.

Claiming that the fish was a Tier Three Golden Strange Fish,

yet upon inspecting its wound, the lingering aura was, at best, akin to Guagua.

Li Jizhou even believed it’s likely not a sneak attack, but simply it couldn’t defeat the fish monster.

Two days ago, Li Jizhou only temporarily stabilized its condition without immediately treating it, merely to teach it a lesson.

Since advancing to a Tier Two Middle Level Demon Beast in the Rong family’s Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain marketplace, it first ensnared the weakened Master Qingmu in an illusion and then, while crossing the Spiritual Barren Land, caught many Qi Cultivation juniors and a few early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators in its illusion, leading it to swell with pride.

A lesson must be taught, lest it leads to trouble!

“Do you understand your mistake?”

“Croak~” Guagua cautiously nodded.

“What’s wrong?” Li Jizhou asked again.

“Croak croak croak~ Croak~” Guagua suddenly became excited.

Through Divine Sense, it conveyed its disgruntled emotions, claiming it was due to carelessness, and if not for the sneak attack, it would have surely dragged the fish into an illusion and toyed with it.

“Smack~” Li Jizhou slapped it irritably, making it eat dirt.

“Croak~” Guagua instantly deflated.

“Lead me into the illusion, and truthfully demonstrate what happened that day.” Li Jizhou commanded sternly.

Guagua raised its head, a flicker of embarrassment in its eyes.

“Dare to hide even a fraction, and you’ll pay the consequences!” Li Jizhou sternly warned once more.

“Croak~” Ultimately, Guagua bowed its head in shame and activated the illusion eye on its back.

Li Jizhou retracted his Divine Sense, allowing himself to be drawn in by a subtle aura, soon entering the illusion.

Before him was a stretch of pitch-black seawater, yet everything in sight was clear, including Guagua’s somewhat arrogant swimming posture.

Guagua swam leisurely until suddenly a golden sea monster appeared ahead,

The sea monster had a peculiar form, with a sharp, dark fish spine on its head exuding poison, its golden scales exceptionally striking.

The aura simulated in the illusion suggested it was Tier Two Middle Level, similar to Guagua.

Immediately, Guagua flamboyantly swam over, displaying its swimming skills around it.

The next second, the Golden Strange Fish launched an attack.

Guagua easily evaded, and the eye on its back opened smugly, facing the Golden Strange Fish.

However, instead of being trapped in the illusion, the Golden Strange Fish charged directly, almost impaling Guagua!

The illusion ended, and Li Jizhou’s Divine Sense shook, clearing all influences from the illusion.

He then glanced at the humiliated Guagua, who had already bowed its head, and sneered.

“Let’s go! Lure it to the shallow water zone!”

“Croak~” Guagua raised its head joyfully.

It never expected its usually steady master to assist in exacting revenge!

The sentiment was profound.

Moreover, it had already understood that it definitely wasn’t a match for the Golden Fish Monster.

Because the opponent ignored the illusion.

And it wasn’t strong in physical combat.

It quickly burrowed underground, rushing into the deep sea to find the Golden Fish Monster.

Li Jizhou, unhurried yet steady, specifically selected a few appropriate talismans,

Only after receiving Guagua’s message did he proceed to the seaside behind the courtyard.

“Guagua~”

Before long, the water ahead churned wildly.

Guagua’s anxious figure abruptly emerged from the water, new wounds evident on its body.

The next second, the Golden Fish Monster seen in the illusion soared into the air, its dark fish spine aimed straight at Guagua.

“Whoosh~” A talisman imbued with extreme cold and ice crystals shot forth.

“Crack, crack~” The Golden Fish Monster and the seawater beneath it instantly froze into ice.

Li Jizhou wasted no time, his magical power surged, capturing and throwing the frozen fish and ice into his courtyard.

In the courtyard, Guagua looked at the frozen enemy fish and grinned widely.

Moments later, as the ice began to melt, before the Golden Fish Monster could react, Li Jizhou fired another Imprisonment Talisman.

The same kind previously used on Guagua, a talisman carrying potent Spirit-Transforming Powder poison.

Within three breaths, the Golden Fish Monster lay completely limp.

“Croak croak croak~” Guagua was immensely excited, jumping around Li Jizhou with gratitude and admiration.

Yet Li Jizhou ignored it, instead drawing out a magical artifact flying sword and beginning to dismantle the demon.

He certainly wasn’t avenging Guagua,

only tempted by the sight of the golden scales and the long, poisonous fish spine.

A Tier Two demon beast’s hide is expensive in the Mainland cultivation world, the top choice for talisman crafting, artifact refining, and even some array materials.

Here in this Sea Domain, demon beast resources are abundant; he first needs to assess the capability of these golden scales and whether they can be used for talisman crafting or artifact refining.

This concerns Li Jizhou’s future plans within the Cultivation Sea Domain of the Five Elders Association.

“Junior Jiang Li respectfully seeks an audience with Elder Zhang, a visit is earnestly requested!” Just then, a respectful voice sounded outside the courtyard.