Chapter 264 : The Days of Learning Fox Tongue from Senior Sister Dong【Please Vote with Your Monthly Tickets】

“Oh?”

After ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍listening, Plum Manor could not help but laugh. “He really said that?”

“He ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍really did.”

Island ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Lord Yun Miao nodded.

However, ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍looking at Plum Manor's reaction... she was somewhat baffled. “So, Holy Lord, did you truly accept Ji Yuan?”

“Yes, ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I accepted him. From now on, he is one of us in the Shang Court.”

Plum Manor nodded very seriously before continuing, “So the next time you run into him, remember to bring him before me.”

“Yes...”

Island Lord Yun Miao cupped her hands slightly. “This subordinate takes her leave.”

“Go.”

Plum Manor waved his hand. Only after watching her figure disappear among the mountains did he withdraw his gaze, deep in thought.

...He refused to bow before me in person, yet afterward he wanted to use my name to go around committing misdeeds and deceiving the world?

As if there were such a good deal.

Plum Manor decided that the next time he met Ji Yuan, no matter what, he would capture him. Even if he had to imprison him by force at his side, he would keep him there.

Didn't he like pretending to be one of the Shang Court? Then he could stay by his side instead.

Compared to the affairs of the world, however, Ji Yuan was merely a trivial matter and no longer worthy of Plum Manor's attention.

The thought merely flashed through his mind before he cast it aside.

What truly occupied his thoughts was the matter of the Shang Court.

Originally, he had no intention of revealing himself. He had planned to remain in the shadows, watching the tides of the world ebb and flow, divide and reunite, waiting until the final critical moment before making his move...

At that time, he alone would settle the entire situation.

Yet unexpectedly, not long ago, Plum Manor met someone, and from that person he learned a piece of news—that the Demonic Cultivators of Western Shang had joined forces with the madmen from the Extreme Abyss Continent and were preparing to launch a pincer attack against the Six Immortal Sects of Shangdong.

As soon as he learned this, Plum Manor could no longer remain seated.

Because if things truly developed in that direction, everything would slip beyond his control.

If those lunatics from the Extreme Abyss Continent arrived, then even someone as powerful as him would be unable to determine the outcome.

Nor could the Six Immortal Sects of Shangdong possibly withstand the combined assault from the Demonic Cultivators of Western Shang and the Extreme Abyss Continent.

Left with no choice, he issued a summons, which was why today's meeting had taken place.

But unexpectedly... a dog never changes its habit of eating filth.

Even at a time like this, everyone was still thinking about infighting.

Not to mention the people of Western Shang—even those on the Shangdong side could not unite as one.

Some had defected to Western Shang, some pursued only their own interests, while others simply sat back and watched the show.

“So be it. If they themselves aren't afraid of dying, why should I worry so much? At worst, I'll leave the Cangluo Continent. The world is vast—where could I not make a home?”

Plum Manor was ultimately somewhat disheartened. Taking a single step, his figure instantly vanished.

...

“The pill is complete!”

As Ji Yuan formed several Pill Condensation hand seals, brilliant radiance erupted from the Inverted Golden-Ear Cauldron. Immediately afterward, a rich medicinal fragrance filled the entire Pill Refining Room.

With a casual wave, Ji Yuan dispersed the fragrance. A thought crossed his mind, and he drew the Foundation Establishment Pills from within.

‘The second batch... still only produced four pills.’

Looking at the four perfectly round pills resting in his palm, Ji Yuan felt somewhat disappointed, though not by much.

He was disappointed because he still had not managed to refine a Three-Pattern Foundation Establishment Pill.

Not by much because, among these four pills, three were Two-Pattern Foundation Establishment Pills, while the remaining one was a One-Pattern Foundation Establishment Pill.

Combined with the previous batch, he now possessed five Two-Pattern Foundation Establishment Pills and three One-Pattern Foundation Establishment Pills.

‘Not bad. Barely acceptable. Just another several thousand Middle-Grade Spirit Stones earned, that's all.’

Ji Yuan stored the pills away and stood up, casually waving his sleeve.

The Inverted Golden-Ear Cauldron—which served both as an Offensive Spiritual Artifact and as a pill cauldron—was placed into his Storage Pouch.

Then another thought crossed his mind. During this month-plus of secluded pill refinement, the 【Spirit Vein】 had already produced over four thousand Middle-Grade Spirit Stones...

Life had become rather dull and monotonous.

He had clearly been doing his best to spend Spirit Stones, so why was it impossible to use them all up?

Ji Yuan shook his head and stepped out of the 【Heavenly Craft Workshop】.

Tu Yue was standing guard outside, as though she had something to report... With only a slight sweep of his perception, Ji Yuan already knew what it was.

Someone had come looking for him outside the island.

His Divine Sense entered his Storage Pouch, and he immediately learned the details.

Dong Qian had returned and had sent him many messages, all asking what he was doing. The final one told him to go see her after he came out of seclusion.

There were also messages from the sect.

Both Ran Kui and Feng Zhi Tao had contacted him.

Ran Kui had written:

“Little Junior Brother, what's gotten into you? Third Junior Sister said that the moment you returned, you threw yourself into a woman's embrace. Romantic love brings only temporary joy; everlasting longevity is the true Great Dao. How about this—if your willpower has weakened, come cultivate with your Senior Brother.”

Half a month later, Ran Kui sent another message.

“Little Junior Brother, why haven't you replied? Have you gone into seclusion? It seems Third Junior Sister was stirring up trouble again. I knew Little Junior Brother could never be the kind of person she described.”

“Very well. I'll go drag Third Junior Sister off to cultivate right now.”

Feng Zhi Tao had sent quite a few messages as well. At first she was making sarcastic remarks, but later her tone suddenly changed, complaining that Ji Yuan had fought unfairly by tattling on her.

Apparently, Ran Kui had really dragged her away to cultivate.

Du Wanyi's messages were much simpler. She first asked whether Ji Yuan had any free time, saying she had made some pastries and wanted him to come taste them.

When Ji Yuan did not reply, she asked if he had gone into seclusion, and after that there were no more messages.

Li Changhe had also contacted him.

Before entering seclusion, Ji Yuan had asked how preparations for the Pill Refining Workshop were progressing.

Li Changhe's reply now read:

“The preparations are basically complete. Right now we're transferring alchemists from the Six Sects over. I also have to accompany the sect to Shang Mountain. Damn it, we'll talk after I get back.”

“I've already had my father submit the list of people heading to the Pill Refining Workshop. Your name's on it, so don't worry.”

Big Brother Li's messages were as reassuring as ever.

Ji Yuan replied to each Messaging Talisman one by one.

Just as everything was ready and he was about to head to Fox Moon Island to learn some Fox Tongue from Senior Sister Dong, two more Messaging Talismans suddenly lit up inside his Storage Pouch.

Ran Kui and Feng Zhi Tao.

Did something happen?

Ji Yuan sent his Divine Sense inside and learned the news.

It turned out they were both talking about the same thing.

Rou Yi had formed her Golden Core.

A scene immediately surfaced in Ji Yuan's mind—a beautiful female cultivator with long, slender legs exposed, wielding a giant sword as broad as a door panel, looking exceptionally valiant.

She was the eldest disciple of Real Person Yun Yuan, the Grand Elder of the Water Dragon Sect, and could be considered the foremost member of the younger generation in the sect.

Forming her Golden Core only now was actually somewhat late.

Among the cultivators of the same generation that Ji Yuan knew, Ran Kui naturally needed no mention. Even Madam Meiru of the Joy Palace had already formed her Golden Core.

As the eldest disciple of the Water Dragon Sect's Grand Elder, Rou Yi only forming her Golden Core now...

Still, it wasn't too bad.

After all, wasn't Xiao Chengyi, the eldest disciple of the Third Elder, still without a Golden Core?

Ji Yuan had not forgotten how that fellow had nearly gotten him killed back then.

Ji Yuan wasn't one to hold grudges.

He merely had the habit of remembering small matters.

“Isn't this wonderful news?”

After some thought, Ji Yuan chose to send a message to Feng Zhi Tao.

It wasn't because they were especially close.

It was because her personality was straightforward, so she often let slip quite a bit of information.

As for First Senior Brother Ran Kui...

He always spoke in an overly proper manner.

“Exactly! You should've seen Martial Uncle Yun Yuan showing off. Everywhere he went, he'd say, ‘Did you know I now have two Golden Core disciples under my lineage?’”

Feng Zhi Tao laughed so hard she nearly doubled over.

“When he came to see Master, he acted exactly the same way. We were all holding back our laughter. It was so hard not to laugh.”

Ran Kui's Golden Core formation had still been kept secret.

Coupled with the fact that he cultivated the 《Breath Concealment Art》, his outward cultivation still appeared to be nothing more than the Pseudo-Core Realm.

“Oh, and Martial Uncle Xuan Xiao has been behaving himself lately. He's been avoiding Martial Uncle Yun Yuan. Oh right, Martial Uncle Yun Yuan also said he's planning to hold a Golden Core celebration after some time to celebrate properly.”

Forming a Golden Core was naturally a major event, so holding a celebration was perfectly reasonable.

Just as Ji Yuan was about to reply, Feng Zhi Tao continued through voice transmission.

“But Senior Sister Rou Yi turned it down. She said, ‘The Demonic Path has yet to be eradicated. What's there to celebrate?’”

That really did sound like something Senior Sister Rou Yi would say...

Ji Yuan sighed inwardly.

Just as Ji Yuan was about to speak, Ran Kui's Messaging Talisman suddenly lit up.

“Well now, Little Junior Brother. You're busy chatting only with your Third Senior Sister and ignoring me. Now I suspect what she said last time was true. You really are someone who values women over brothers!”

...Wait, aren't the two of you together right now?!

Ji Yuan put away the Messaging Talismans and decided to ignore both of them.

He might as well go have a heart-to-heart with Senior Sister Dong and talk about love instead.

Afterward, Ji Yuan summoned his Flying Boat, left Wuyou Island, and streaked across the waters before plunging straight into Fox Moon Island.

His speed was so fast that unless a Golden Core cultivator had been watching the place the entire time, no one would have noticed.

‘Why does this feel a little like sneaking around with a lover?’

When Ji Yuan arrived at Dong Qian's residence atop the cliff, he discovered that this time Senior Sister Dong was not waiting for him in bed.

Instead, she was wearing a loose black dress and sitting beside a stone table making tea.

“Junior Brother!”

The moment she saw Ji Yuan arrive, Dong Qian could no longer suppress the joy in her heart and hurriedly stood up.

“Senior Sister.”

Ji Yuan stepped forward. Seeing Dong Qian spread her arms, the two shared a gentle embrace.

“It's been a long time.”

“That's right. Two years, three months, and eight days.”

Dong Qian spoke softly.

...Senior Sister, you actually remembered it that precisely?!

Ji Yuan followed her over and sat down.

“I had to focus on cultivation, and I also accepted a sect mission, so I had no choice but to go out.”

“I was only joking. Why would I blame you?”

Dong Qian sat beside Ji Yuan and gracefully poured him tea.

However, the corner of Ji Yuan's eye could not help drifting toward her...

Beneath that loose black dress, it seemed Senior Sister wasn't wearing anything else.

“Senior Sister, why did you leave for a while some time ago?”

To divert his attention, Ji Yuan could only bring up another topic.

Unexpectedly, after hearing the question, Dong Qian paused slightly.

Even the expression on her face became somewhat troubled.

Finally, she took a deep breath.

“Can I wait until I've sorted out my thoughts before telling you, Junior Brother?”

“Of course. Why wouldn't that be alright?”

Ji Yuan smiled, naturally respecting Dong Qian's wishes.

Everyone had their own secrets.

Just as Dong Qian never pressed him too deeply about his own.

Hearing his answer, Dong Qian visibly relaxed.

But what Ji Yuan had not expected was that after pouring the tea, Dong Qian simply sat directly on his lap.

With such a beauty in his arms, how could Ji Yuan still have any interest in drinking tea?

Thus, the following conversation unfolded.

“Senior Sister, can you teach me Fox Tongue?”

“Fox... Fox Tongue? H-How... how am I supposed to teach it?”

“Teach me right now.”

“B-But... I don't know it either. Six-Tail and I... communicate with Divine Sense...”

“Then... ying ying.”

“Senior Sister still says she doesn't know Fox Tongue. You really know how to fool me.”

“...”

Ten days later.

Ji Yuan was driven out of Fox Moon Island by Dong Qian.

No matter what he said, she refused to let him back in.

Of course, it wasn't because Ji Yuan had angered her.

It was because Ji Yuan's physique now...

Was simply more than she could endure.

Several times she had begged him to stop, yet each time Ji Yuan eventually overwhelmed her.

In the end, having no other choice, she resorted to driving him away.

Standing aboard the Wind Locust Flying Boat, Ji Yuan looked toward Fox Moon Island.

If he truly wanted to, he could naturally enter again.

A mere formation could not stop him.

But after thinking it over, he ultimately abandoned the idea.

He had to respect Senior Sister's wishes.

After returning to Wuyou Island, the smile that had remained on Ji Yuan's face disappeared.

Because this time, he had sensed that Dong Qian seemed to have changed somewhat.

She was the one saying she couldn't continue now.

Yet at the beginning, she had also been the one acting the wildest.

Moreover, Ji Yuan felt that he could faintly sense... reluctance from her.

Was she leaving?

That was Ji Yuan's first instinct.

But with the current state of the world, where could she possibly go?

Everywhere was dangerous.

And she was just like him—someone who disliked taking risks.

If that was the case, where could she go?

Three questions.

Ji Yuan had no answers to any of them.

Judging from her earlier hesitation, this was probably exactly what Dong Qian had been struggling over.

‘Forget it. Once she's sorted things out, she'll definitely tell me.’

After thinking it over, Ji Yuan decided not to ask and temporarily set the matter aside.

Instead, he entered his room on Wuyou Island.

Standing beside the flower vase on the windowsill, he infused it with a thread of Spiritual Energy.

Immediately, the floor split apart, revealing a pitch-black tunnel.

An incomparably rich Spiritual Energy instantly poured out from within.

Ji Yuan stepped inside and disappeared.

The opening closed once more, everything returning to normal.

The iron door sealing the entrance had been forged by Ji Yuan from specially selected materials.

Not only could it evade Divine Sense detection, but it could also withstand attacks from Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Naturally, all this was to protect the 【Spirit Vein】 hidden below.

Unlike his other buildings, the 【Spirit Vein】 was extremely difficult to move and troublesome to construct.

More importantly, even if Ji Yuan remotely disabled the building's effects, the Spirit Stones embedded within the 【Spirit Vein】 were absolutely real.

Since that was the case, no amount of caution could be excessive.

Following the underground passage all the way down, Ji Yuan soon saw the soft white glow emitted by the underground 【Spirit Vein】.

By the time he reached this point, the Spiritual Energy had already become extraordinarily dense.

With the combined enhancement of the 【Spirit Vein】 and the 【Cave Dwelling】, the Spiritual Energy here was even richer than the Spirit Vein at Liancheng Mountain.

This was the perfect place for his cultivation.

While absorbing the free Spiritual Energy permeating heaven and earth, he also held two Middle-Grade Spirit Stones, one in each hand.

He was doing everything possible to increase his strength.

After cultivating for an entire day, he would take out a Three-Colored Spiritual Egg from his Storage Pouch and consume it, using it to compress the Spiritual Energy within his Dantian.

Once he had cultivated enough, he would head to the 【Enlightenment Room】.

Using the 《Sword Canon》 gifted by the Li Family, he sought enlightenment, attempting to comprehend his next profound Flying Sword.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

While taking a walk beside the 【Fish Pond】 during a break from cultivation, inspiration suddenly struck Ji Yuan.

Immediately, he flashed back to his residence and entered a relatively spacious room.

He first stored away all the miscellaneous items into his Storage Pouch.

Then, from another Storage Pouch, he took out one empty bookshelf after another.

Three rows vertically and three rows horizontally.

Once everything had been neatly arranged, he began taking out book after book from his Storage Pouch.

Recorded within them were naturally beginner spells suitable for the Qi Refining Stage, along with cultivation techniques that could only reach the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Over the course of his cultivation journey, although Ji Yuan could not be said to have slaughtered countless people, he had still killed enough to be considered thoroughly bloodstained.

His spoils had been considerable.

Most of the items had been sold, but all the cultivation techniques and spells had been kept.

After arranging the books containing low-level spells, he walked to the second bookshelf.

Unlike the first, this shelf contained not books...

But jade slips.

Compared to books, jade slips occupied far less space and were much fewer in number.

Ji Yuan arranged them one by one.

Thoughtfully, beneath each jade slip, he placed a strip of white paper indicating the cultivation technique or spell recorded within.

《Earth Axe Mountain-Cleaving Technique》

《Forest Vitality Art》

《River-Severing Technique》

《...》

Compared to the first bookshelf, the cultivation techniques and spells here were much fewer—roughly only half as many.

Moreover, among these relatively few righteous-path techniques were mixed many demonic cultivation methods.

There was nothing that could be done about that.

After all, Ji Yuan had killed far more Demonic Cultivators than righteous cultivators.

When he arrived before the third bookshelf, Ji Yuan hesitated slightly.

Because what belonged here were high-level spells or cultivation techniques capable of leading directly to the Golden Core Realm.

But such things...

Were scarce.

Throughout his cultivation journey, the only one he had truly obtained through his own strength and been able to keep was the metal-element cultivation technique gifted by Crippled Taoist Mourner.

《Jade Severing Gold Art》.

As for the rest—even Real Person Heaven Silkworm had not left one behind.

Judging from the strength he displayed after death, however, the cultivation technique he had practiced in life should have been an excellent one.

Unfortunately, no such technique had remained in his Storage Pouch.

Ji Yuan first placed the jade slip containing the cultivation technique on the highest shelf.

Then he took out a sheet of white paper, carefully wrote down the name of the cultivation technique stroke by stroke, and placed it beneath the jade slip.

At that very moment, his panel refreshed.

Immediately afterward, a line of small text appeared above the room.

【Scripture Repository: Lv0】

It finally appeared!

Ji Yuan hurriedly opened the panel.

【Scripture Repository: Lv1 (Not Upgradeable)】

【Effect: Through tireless day-and-night study and comprehension, increases proficiency in cultivation techniques. When used together with the “Enlightenment Room,” the effect is even greater.】

【Upgrade Requirements: Golden Core Technique ×2; Foundation Establishment Technique ×10; Second-Tier Demon Core ×3; Middle-Grade Spirit Stone ×100. (Not Fulfilled)】