Chapter 273 : Ji Yuan’s Journey East

Yun ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Qianzai remained unconscious. Forget Ji Yuan being taken away—even if he himself had been taken away, there was nothing he could do about it.

The ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍only one who could respond to Feng Zhi Tao was Ran Kui.

Earlier, ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he had been holding on through sheer force of will, which was why he had managed to keep fighting for so long. Now that he thought the battle was over,

that ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍breath of determination left him, and all the injuries throughout his body erupted at once, leaving him completely unable to move.

Even ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍so, he still forced himself to stand. Yet the moment he got to his feet, he spat out another mouthful of blood and collapsed back down.

“Third ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Junior Sister, you… you go. You must bring Little Junior Brother back. Leave this place to me.”

Ran Kui’s weak voice rang out, but he still forced himself to finish speaking.

“That old demon must already be at the end of his rope. Be careful. You’ll be fine. Remember to protect yourself first.”

“Okay…”

Feng Zhi Tao was so anxious that her eyes had turned red. Never could she have imagined that coming to Black Dragon Island to carry out a mission would end up like this.

They had even used the means their master had given them, but that could still be accepted.

Yet at the very last moment, Little Junior Brother had actually been taken away.

She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, then stood and flicked more than ten Talisman Papers from her sleeve, sticking them around the area… At this moment, she somewhat regretted why she was not a Formation Master.

Otherwise, she could have set up a formation around them.

“Then I’ll go after Little Junior Brother. First Senior Brother, recover as quickly as possible.”

As Feng Zhi Tao finished speaking and turned around, her fiery-red Flying Boat was already hovering behind her, waiting.

She leaped aboard, and the Flying Boat carried her straight into the clouds, heading directly toward the direction in which Ji Yuan had disappeared.

……

“Get lost!”

Ji Yuan tightly gripped the severed hand clutching his neck, exerting all his strength as he wrestled against it.

At this moment, he was extremely glad that he happened to be a body cultivator. Otherwise, this severed hand would have strangled him to death long ago.

He had no idea where this severed hand got such tremendous strength. Even with the full power of his Late Foundation Establishment Stage body cultivation, he could only barely match its strength.

The result was that the severed hand could not strangle him to death, but he could not shake it off either.

He could only let it hold onto him as it sped eastward at an astonishing speed.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. If I hadn’t caught you, I truly wouldn’t have imagined that our little Cangluo Continent still had someone who had reached Foundation Establishment through body cultivation.”

“Foundation Establishment Physique and Foundation Establishment Magic Power as well. You don’t look very old either. What an excellent vessel this is.”

The Sea-Crossing Old Demon’s voice sounded inside Ji Yuan’s mind. Although weak, the excitement in his words was still obvious.

“Hahaha, Foundation Establishment Physique. With this body, handling a hundred women in one night probably wouldn’t even be a problem, would it?”

Ji Yuan sneered, “A hundred women are nothing. This old man once went ten days and ten nights without stopping. Jie jie jie.”

“This old man?”

The Sea-Crossing Old Demon sounded astonished, and even the severed hand’s speed faltered.

Ji Yuan seized the opportunity and tried to break free in one go, but… he failed.

He could only sneer. “Heh, if this old man weren’t who I am, do you think some junior could possess such ability?”

“Which Fellow Daoist might this be, to actually deal such a deadly blow to this old demon?”

The Sea-Crossing Old Demon did not relax in the slightest. Instead, the resentment in his voice grew even stronger.

Thoughts flashed through Ji Yuan’s mind before he gave a strange laugh:

“This Venerable One never changes his name whether standing or sitting. I am True Lord Red Thunder under the Plum Manor Lord!”

Naturally, Situ Feng had told him the title True Lord Red Thunder. Ji Yuan had no idea who this True Lord was, but as long as he knew the man served under Plum Manor, that was enough.

“Red Thunder? Weren’t you killed by that crazy woman long ago?!”

The Sea-Crossing Old Demon sounded even more astonished upon hearing that title.

The smile on Ji Yuan’s face remained unchanged, but inwardly, he panicked somewhat… Damn it. How did he end up impersonating a dead man?

“Heh, ridiculous. You know nothing about the Plum Manor Lord’s strength.”

“If you really are Red Thunder, then it’s no wonder you tried to kill me. Tsk, tsk.”

From the sound of that, the one who wanted the Sea-Crossing Old Demon dead was not Red Thunder, but Plum Manor?

But why? Combined with Situ Feng’s sudden appearance here, Ji Yuan’s intuition told him there was probably a story behind all this. In that case, he had to test the waters and see whether he could coax some information out of him.

“Why else do you think I appeared here?”

Ji Yuan mocked.

“Hunting hawks all year, only to have one peck your eyes blind in the end.”

Ji Yuan felt that if the Sea-Crossing Old Demon still had a body, he would definitely be shaking his head right now. “It’s one thing for you people of the Shang Court to fight among yourselves all day long, but I never expected that one day your internal strife would actually reach me.”

Internal strife.

Internal strife again?

Ji Yuan carefully chose his words. “They aren’t our match.”

Say less, and try not to say anything wrong.

Since it was internal strife, there naturally had to be an opposing side. Boosting one’s own morale while belittling the enemy was a standard tactic in internal conflict.

Sure enough, after hearing this, the Sea-Crossing Old Demon sneered again. “It would’ve been fine to boast like that before, but this time… you people really can’t do it.”

“Even if you stopped me, you could only delay things for a little while. The people from the Extreme Abyss Continent will cross the Fallen Immortal Trench sooner or later.”

“Besides… you didn’t even manage to stop me.”

Extreme Abyss Continent… Fallen Immortal Trench… cross over!

People from the Extreme Abyss Continent were coming over?!

Ji Yuan’s mind shook violently. Just how earth-shattering of a secret was this?

In an instant, everything connected together inside Ji Yuan’s mind. He understood why Situ Feng had appeared here, and he also understood why the Sea-Crossing Old Demon was heading east!

Those Demonic Cultivators in Western Shang had actually made contact with people from the Extreme Abyss Continent…

If they encircled Eastern Shang from both sides, what was there left to fight?

It would be over immediately!

From the looks of things, Situ Feng was actually someone from Western Shang. His body was in Eastern Shang, but his heart belonged to Western Shang. He had come looking for the Sea-Crossing Old Demon precisely because he wanted him to receive the people from the Extreme Abyss Continent.

The information had come too quickly and was too enormous, leaving Ji Yuan unable to process it for a moment.

The Sea-Crossing Old Demon naturally assumed he was afraid, so his laughter grew increasingly crazed. “Red Thunder, what do you think? A wise man submits to circumstances. Why not just defect to that crazy woman? You can acknowledge the enemy as your mother, and then you’ll count as quite the oddity within the Shang Court.”

“Maybe that crazy woman will get interested on a whim and give you the chance to become her bedchamber guest. Then you’ll have walked the same path as that Holy Lord of yours.”

Ji Yuan sneered. “If I acknowledge her as my mother, wouldn’t you have to call her Grandmother?”

“You unfilial son! Your father should’ve shot you onto the wall back then!”

When it came to verbal sparring, Ji Yuan had never feared anyone.

The Sea-Crossing Old Demon flew into a towering rage upon hearing this and wanted to kill the “Red Thunder” before him. Yet neither could do anything to the other, and after remaining deadlocked for quite some time, both relaxed slightly.

Ji Yuan seized the opportunity to ask, “What, are you planning to take me to the Extreme Abyss Continent?”

“Tsk. At first, I wanted to seize this body, but I never expected you, old demon, to beat me to it. Since there’s nothing I can do now, why don’t the two of us go explore the Extreme Abyss Continent together?”

The Sea-Crossing Old Demon proposed, “I once visited the Extreme Abyss Continent before. Its vastness is beyond anything our Cangluo Continent can compare to. There are numerous Immortal Sects there, and unlike our Cangluo Continent, the Righteous and Demonic paths aren’t so clearly divided.”

“There’s even a sect like the Divine Luo Palace, founded by a Transformation-Divine Cultivator.”

“Of course, the Shang Court is the same, but the Shang Court’s Holy Lord disappeared long ago. The Divine Luo Palace, however, still has a genuine Transformation-Divine Cultivator overseeing it.”

“Once we reach the Extreme Abyss Continent, the sky will be high enough for birds to fly freely, and the sea broad enough for fish to leap at will. We’ll never have to remain on the Cangluo Continent and take orders from others again. Surely you don’t really think being Plum Manor’s dog is something good?”

“Unless you’ve already gotten used to being a dog. If that’s the case, this old man has nothing to say.”

The Sea-Crossing Old Demon’s intention to entice him was obvious.

Ji Yuan acted as though he were facing a major decision and did not rush to answer… Of course, he was genuinely worried about being taken straight to the Extreme Abyss Continent. If that happened, unless Hua Yaoyue came to rescue him, he truly might never return.

But the main problem was that he still could not shake off this severed hand.

After flying east for an unknown amount of time, Ji Yuan felt that if they continued much farther, they would probably truly reach the boundary between the two continents.

“The Fallen Immortal Trench is incomparably dangerous. Even with my Foundation Establishment Physique, I wouldn’t be able to withstand it.”

Ji Yuan remained noncommittal.

“Heh, you don’t need to worry about that. Since I call myself the Sea-Crossing Old Demon, do you think the nautical chart the world says I possess is fake?”

“Just follow me.”

The Sea-Crossing Old Demon laughed cheerfully.

…A nautical chart. So this person really could reach the Extreme Abyss Continent!

As thoughts flashed through Ji Yuan’s mind, he made his decision.

He definitely could not go to the Extreme Abyss Continent. Here on the Cangluo Continent, he already had everything he needed. Why would he run off to the Extreme Abyss Continent and start from scratch?

But he could not shake off this old demon right now either. His only choice was to pretend to agree and wait until they reached the Fallen Immortal Trench… Surely the old demon would have to release him then, right?

That would be his chance to escape.

Having reached this decision, Ji Yuan finally said slowly, “If we truly can reach the Extreme Abyss Continent, it wouldn’t be a bad choice.”

“Heh, I knew Fellow Daoist Red Thunder was a smart man.”

The Sea-Crossing Old Demon chuckled. “But let’s make one thing clear beforehand, Fellow Daoist. Once we reach the Extreme Abyss Continent, we’ll be grasshoppers tied to the same rope. When that time comes, Fellow Daoist Red Thunder must first help me find a suitable physical body.”

“Naturally.”

Ji Yuan nodded slightly. “However, Brother Sea-Crossing, this nautical chart of yours… are you certain there’s no problem with it?”

“Rest assured. Would I joke around with my own life?”

The Sea-Crossing Old Demon gave a strange laugh.

“Fine. Since that’s the case, why doesn’t Fellow Daoist put me down?”

After Ji Yuan finished speaking, the Sea-Crossing Old Demon shook his head. “You people from the Shang Court are the most cunning and treacherous of all. I don’t trust you. We’ll talk after entering the Fallen Immortal Trench.”

…No, damn it! If you wait until we enter the Fallen Immortal Trench, how the hell am I supposed to run?!

Ji Yuan was considering whether to summon the Heavenly Poison Needle and give the hand a stab to see if it would let go, or perhaps release the Spirit-Devouring Bees and give them a try.

But just then, the Sea-Crossing Old Demon’s voice suddenly sounded inside Ji Yuan’s mind.

“Relax. The Fallen Immortal Trench… is right here.”

Ji Yuan had only learned about the Fallen Immortal Trench’s horrors through scattered fragments of information. After all, one could already tell from its name… Fallen Immortal, Fallen Immortal—even immortals who entered would fall within.

How could it not be terrifying?

He did not dare release his Divine Sense, so he could only hold onto the severed hand and turn his head to look east.

And then… he saw nothing.

Everything before his eyes remained a deep blue. The sea was so calm that it was frightening, completely unlike the Storm Zone around Ice-Fire Island, which immediately gave people a tremendous sense of danger.

“Heh, disappointed?”

The severed hand gradually slowed, and the Sea-Crossing Old Demon chuckled. “Something that looks peaceful is precisely what’s most dangerous. A thousand zhang ahead is the true Fallen Immortal Trench. Above the sea are astral winds reaching straight into the heavens, while beneath the water is a bottomless chasm. Countless whirlpools and water blades fill it, along with an endless stream of sea beasts.”

“It can be called a natural barrier separating the two continents.”

“Then how are we supposed to cross?”

Ji Yuan spoke as though somewhat frightened.

“Don’t panic. I have the nautical chart and know a safe route.”

The Sea-Crossing Old Demon spoke with a strange laugh.

Immediately afterward, the severed hand carried Ji Yuan around the nearby area, seemingly searching for a reference point.

Ji Yuan said nothing. Instead, he silently released a trace of Divine Sense and similarly searched for a marker… He believed that if something truly happened to him, Hua Yaoyue would come looking for him, so he needed to leave her some kind of marker.

Even purely for his own sake, he had to leave some traces behind.

“Brother Red Thunder, once we enter the Fallen Immortal Trench, you must follow my instructions. Otherwise, if something goes wrong inside, I won’t be able to save you.”

The Sea-Crossing Old Demon still did not entirely believe or trust the man before him.

“Relax. As long as you old brat don’t play any tricks on this Lord, that’ll be enough.”

“Without you, even if I reached the Extreme Abyss Continent, I wouldn’t survive. Naturally, you don’t need to worry about that.”

For a time, the two old demons each harbored their own schemes, secretly matching wits against one another.

Afterward, one man and one severed hand moved up and down around the area. After waiting for a long time, Ji Yuan finally could not resist asking, “You old demon have slept for several thousand years. Are you sure you didn’t find the wrong place?”

“How could that be possible! I deliberately chose Black Dragon Island. From there, you head directly east without deviating from the direction, and eventually you’ll reach the location recorded on the nautical chart… Damn it! That reef must have been destroyed by sea beasts fighting!”

Ji Yuan silently memorized this information and said nothing.

He wished they could remain delayed here for as long as possible, preferably until Hua Yaoyue arrived to rescue him.

Unfortunately, things did not go as he wished. Before much longer, the Sea-Crossing Old Demon’s excited voice came from the severed hand. “Damn it, finally found it!”

“I told you I hadn’t taken the wrong route.”

Hearing this, Ji Yuan extended his Divine Sense more than ten li into the sea and finally discovered a raised black shadow resembling a hill beneath the seawater… This should be that reef.

“……”

Meanwhile.

Back on Black Dragon Island, Feng Zhi Tao had only just returned when a tall, snow-white figure tore through the air from the west. It plunged directly toward the island and landed before Ran Kui and the others.

Hua Yaoyue’s calm gaze swept across the scene.

After Ran Kui consumed and refined a Qi-Blood Pill, most of his injuries had already healed. The remaining injuries could slowly recover through additional rest and recuperation.

Without such an excellent healing pill, the injuries he had suffered today alone would probably have required more than a decade of recuperation before he could even think about fully recovering.

As for Yun Qianzai, his injuries were even more severe.

After all, not only had he trapped the Sea-Crossing Old Demon, but at the final critical moment, he had also endured part of the damage from the 【Spiritual Energy Cannon】. The fact that he survived at all already showed how formidable his methods were.

Fortunately, after taking the Qi-Blood Pill, he had also awakened, though he lay motionless on the ground.

Seeing Hua Yaoyue arrive, he merely blinked, which counted as a greeting.

As for Feng Zhi Tao, aside from looking travel-worn and exhausted, she was otherwise fine.

But…

Ji Yuan was nowhere to be seen.

Hua Yaoyue could sense Ji Yuan’s lingering aura. Her final disciple had been here before and had even fought alongside the others, but now… he was gone.

Hua Yaoyue did not consider the most worrying possibility. She merely asked calmly:

“Where is Ji Yuan?”

“Little Junior Brother was taken away by the Sea-Crossing Old Demon. He took him east. I went after them, but I couldn’t catch up. I searched for a long time but couldn’t find him.”

Feng Zhi Tao hurriedly explained.

“Sea-Crossing Old Demon?”

Hua Yaoyue’s delicate brows furrowed slightly upon hearing the title. Naturally, she had heard of him… nothing more than a thief who had smuggled himself across the sea.

“Stay here and wait for me. I’ll go find him.”

After speaking, Hua Yaoyue casually drew a circle around the area. As she withdrew her hand, the ring of light lit up and enveloped the three of them. Immediately afterward, an aura unique to the Nascent Soul Stage spread from within the circle.

Cultivators capable of recognizing this as a Nascent Soul aura naturally would not dare attack the three of them. After all, the aura was so obvious that it practically announced outright that a Nascent Soul Cultivator was nearby. Anyone unafraid of death was free to try.

As for those incapable of recognizing a Nascent Soul aura, Ran Kui and Feng Zhi Tao were more than enough to deal with such people.

After drawing the circle, Hua Yaoyue rose into the sky once more and headed directly east.

This time, she was specifically going to retrieve her final disciple.

“……”

“After you, Brother Red Thunder.”

Using his sole remaining severed hand to grip Ji Yuan by the neck, the Sea-Crossing Old Demon drifted toward the Fallen Immortal Trench ahead.

The closer they got, the more Ji Yuan could feel the blade-like astral winds blowing from ahead. They struck his body, causing sharp pain.

This pain was different from the pain of tempering his body with Divine Thunder.

Divine Thunder Body Tempering brought pain and numbness. This, however, felt like flesh being sliced by a dull knife.

“It’s dangerous ahead. Fellow Daoist, if you keep holding me like this and something really happens, we’ll both die together,” Ji Yuan said solemnly.

“You people from the Shang Court are cunning. I don’t trust you.”

“But I, Red Thunder, am famously benevolent within the Shang Court. Otherwise, how could I have been killed by that crazy woman?” Ji Yuan continued, “Besides, Fellow Daoist Sea-Crossing, think about it. How long has it been since you last traveled this route? Who knows? Perhaps something along this route has changed…”

“Brother Red Thunder, there’s no need to play these little tricks anymore. Once we enter the Fallen Immortal Trench, I’ll naturally release you.”

With one sentence, the Sea-Crossing Old Demon ended their secret contest.

Ji Yuan was helpless.

At precisely that moment, the Sea-Crossing Old Demon suddenly spoke. “We’re in.”

“What?”

Ji Yuan had not sensed anything at all, but judging by their position, they had indeed entered the Fallen Immortal Trench.

“Brother Red Thunder…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll listen to you.”

Ji Yuan hurriedly declared his cooperation.

“Mm.”

After entering the Fallen Immortal Trench, the Sea-Crossing Old Demon had far fewer means to restrain Ji Yuan. Moreover, to a certain extent, he truly needed Ji Yuan’s help now.

“Summon your Flying Boat. I’ll put you down first. Remember this carefully: you must not touch the sea here. You can only move between three and five zhang above the sea surface.”

The Sea-Crossing Old Demon explained everything in great detail. He was also afraid that the “Brother Red Thunder” before him would perish here.

“Okay.”

Ji Yuan agreed. Immediately afterward, the Wind Locust Flying Boat flew out from his Storage Pouch, expanding in the wind before settling beneath his feet. His feet gradually steadied themselves atop the Flying Boat.

Only then did the Sea-Crossing Old Demon gradually loosen his grip.

Ji Yuan hurriedly reached up and rubbed his neck. Damn it, after being strangled the entire way, even if he had not been choked to death, he had nearly been hanged to death.

The Sea-Crossing Old Demon laughed awkwardly. “Circumstances forced my hand. I hope Brother Red Thunder can understand.”

“It’s fine. I killed you once too, didn’t I?”

Ji Yuan shook his head as he spoke.

Sea-Crossing Old Demon: “……”

“A word of advice. One major taboo here is that you may only move forward and must never retreat. Brother Red Thunder, there’s no need to think too much.”

…Is that so?

I don’t really believe you.

After dealing with so many of these old fossils, Ji Yuan had discovered one problem.

That was, when words came out of their mouths… eight out of ten sentences were lies.

“Don’t worry.”

After stabilizing himself, Ji Yuan took several Spirit Stones from his Storage Pouch and held them in his hands, restoring his Spiritual Energy. “Where do we go next?”

At this moment, the severed hand rested on Ji Yuan’s shoulder, using its index and middle fingers as legs to stand.

“Move ten zhang southeast… Fellow Daoist, you should still use something to probe the route. So many years have passed, and truthfully, even I don’t know whether this sea route remains unobstructed.”

The Sea-Crossing Old Demon suggested.

“Okay.”

Ji Yuan immediately took a wooden dummy from his Storage Pouch and let it float ahead to scout the route.

Southeast… The dummy drifted in that direction without encountering any problems. There truly seemed to be no danger, all the way until it reached the position indicated by the Sea-Crossing Old Demon.

Just as the Sea-Crossing Old Demon was about to speak, Ji Yuan made the dummy continue drifting a little farther. The moment it moved two chi beyond that point, the dummy instantly shattered.

“Tsk. Brother Red Thunder still doesn’t trust me after all.”

“No, I just wanted to test the power of these astral winds.”

As Ji Yuan spoke, he took another dummy from his Storage Pouch and placed it ahead to scout the route while he slowly followed from behind.

“Enough, Brother. There’s no need to keep testing me. I’ll guide the way, and the two of us will definitely reach the Extreme Abyss Continent safely. Since the route ahead hasn’t changed, the route afterward shouldn’t have changed either.”

“Okay.”

Ji Yuan flew extremely slowly, his mind racing furiously.

He could not go any farther. If he continued deeper, even if Hua Yaoyue arrived, rescuing him would become difficult… If he was going to stop, it had to be here. At least this place was definitely safe.

“Brother Red Thunder, hurry up. Don’t waste time.”

“No, I’m scared. My legs are a little weak…” Before Ji Yuan could finish speaking, a Magic Treasure resembling a fishing net suddenly appeared over his shoulder and shot straight toward the severed hand.

“You bastard!”

The Sea-Crossing Old Demon cursed and fled frantically.

Taking advantage of the situation, Ji Yuan wrapped himself in the Heavenly Net. If that bastard dared to grab his neck again, the Heavenly Net would counterattack and capture him!

At the same time, Ji Yuan activated the Heavenly Poison Needle within his Storage Pouch.

The Poison Needle transformed into a streak of green light and arrived in an instant.

The severed hand retreated along the path they had come from. Seeing this, Ji Yuan immediately knew the old demon had been bluffing just now. What kind of path allowed someone to enter but not retreat?!

This time, the distance between them was extremely short, and Ji Yuan had also used a Magic Treasure.

Moreover, after suffering the attack from the 【Spiritual Energy Cannon】, the Sea-Crossing Old Demon was already at the end of his rope.

The Heavenly Poison Needle shot forth, piercing through the severed hand’s palm and instantly knocking it into the astral winds.

“Ugh—aaah!!!”

A burst of agonized screams rang out. The severed hand visibly transformed into a skeletal hand, and even the Divine Soul that escaped from within was completely dispersed by the astral winds.

All that remained at the spot was a finger bone and the damaged Heavenly Poison Needle.

Even the astral winds couldn’t destroy it. Good stuff!

Ji Yuan hurriedly used the damaged Heavenly Poison Needle to bring the finger bone back and grabbed it!

——

(The monthly tickets for the end of the month are out. Considering I’ve once again maintained ten thousand characters a day for an entire month, have mercy and give me some, please, sob sob.)