Chapter 274 : A Huge Harvest

Ji ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Yuan had no time to inspect the finger bone.

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍looked at the several additional scars on the Heavenly Poison Needle. One of them had been cut extremely deep by the Astral Wind, nearly slicing the Heavenly Poison Needle in two. Ji Yuan felt extremely distressed.

This ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍thing was a precious treasure that could let him turn the tables in a desperate situation, killing people without a trace.

What ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was even more precious was that this thing was actually a Magic Treasure!

Yet ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍now it had been damaged so severely… Ji Yuan hurriedly took two liang of Runjade Fat from his Storage Pouch. Since he was going to use it, he might as well use more. This stuff appeared every month anyway, so there was no need to conserve it.

With ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a casual pinch, the Runjade Fat spread out.

Ji Yuan buried the Heavenly Poison Needle in his hand within it, then clasped both ends together. The Runjade Fat wrapped back around it, enclosing the Heavenly Poison Needle from top to bottom.

The rest could only be left for it to slowly repair itself.

There probably would not be much of a problem. Firstly, there was enough Runjade Fat, and secondly, the Heavenly Poison Needle had merely been cut open rather than broken in two or damaged by some other kind of corrosion.

Besides, for such an excellent Magic Treasure, forget just a little Runjade Fat—even if he had to consume other Immortal Materials, he still had to restore it completely.

After putting away the Heavenly Poison Needle, Ji Yuan finally examined the finger bone in his hand.

In fact, he had already noticed it the moment the finger bone first appeared, because this finger bone stood out greatly. It was clearly half a segment longer than the other finger bones on the severed hand.

Its color was also completely different.

The other finger bones were a normal pale pinkish-white, but this finger bone was completely black.

Everything about this situation indicated that this finger bone did not come from Real Person Profound Tortoise’s severed hand, but from somewhere else, such as… the Sea-Crossing Old Demon’s true body!

The moment Ji Yuan held the finger bone, he sensed it clearly. This finger bone was a storage space similar to a Storage Pouch.

For the Sea-Crossing Old Demon to have kept it on his person at all times and not forgotten it even while fleeing through Body Seizure meant that it had to contain his most important possessions!

Filled with anticipation, Ji Yuan refined it in one go,

then sent his Divine Sense inside, immediately taking in everything within the storage space.

All he could say was that he was disappointed. Very disappointed.

Ji Yuan had originally thought Spirit Stones would be piled up like mountains inside. Ideally, even Upper-Grade Spirit Stones would be packed away box after box. But what was the result?

Forget Upper-Grade Spirit Stones, there was not even a single Lower-Grade Spirit Stone!

There were extremely few things inside.

A completely black cheekbone, a somewhat familiar skull token, and a sheet of paper that looked like human skin.

There were only these three things in total, pitifully few.

But that also showed that these three things the Sea-Crossing Old Demon carried with him were extremely valuable.

Ji Yuan first took out the familiar-looking skull token.

The token seemed to have been made from bone and felt icy cold in his hand. The body of the token had been carved into the shape of a skull, making it look somewhat sinister.

Moreover, the moment Ji Yuan picked up the skull token, he understood why it felt familiar, because he had something on him with exactly the same aura.

Ji Yuan flipped his hand and took a ring from his Storage Pouch.

The Yin Ghost Sect Ring!

The skull carved on the skull token was exactly identical to the skull on the Yin Ghost Sect Ring, without the slightest difference. Even their auras were exactly the same.

‘Another item from the Yin Ghost Sect. It seems I really do have quite some fate with the Yin Ghost Sect.’

However, after infusing a trace of Spiritual Energy into the Yin Ghost Sect Ring, it could manifest the character “Yin”. Moreover, after obtaining two rings in succession and fusing them together, it had gained the ability to conceal and alter his own aura.

Then what use did this skull token have?

Ji Yuan also tried infusing a trace of Spiritual Energy into it.

Since the Sea-Crossing Old Demon had always carried this thing with him, there should definitely be no problem with it.

Besides… Ji Yuan had already dealt with the Yin Ghost Sect several times and knew roughly what their things were like. As long as outsiders were not using them against him, there should be no problem.

As he infused a trace of Spiritual Energy, the skull token finally showed a slight reaction.

A mass of Yin Energy similarly rose from the token.

Just as Ji Yuan thought some “Yin” character would also manifest, he saw the mass of Yin Energy transform, finally forming a… door above it.

A door?

A double-leaf bronze door.

Just as Ji Yuan thought some change would occur, the Yin Energy suddenly broke off, and the door dispersed as well.

“Hmm?”

Ji Yuan refused to believe it and infused another trace of Spiritual Energy into the token. The doorway appeared again, but in the end, the Yin Energy still broke off and the doorway dispersed.

It was definitely a good item.

But Ji Yuan had no time to examine it further here. The most urgent matter now was still to hurry out of the Fallen Immortal Trench.

As for the other cheekbone, he had also sensed it clearly. It was an inheritance item!

That meant there was at least a Nascent Soul Technique inside.

The first thing Ji Yuan thought of was the 【Scripture Repository】. Earlier, he had still been worrying about where to obtain a Nascent Soul Technique. Unexpectedly, one had already fallen into his hands… He would take a look after returning and see exactly what technique it was.

That also made sense. Ji Yuan recalled the Sea-Crossing Old Demon’s actions on Black Dragon Island.

Those black threads that drained people’s Spiritual Energy were so powerful that they were most likely part of a Nascent Soul Technique.

After putting the finger bone into his Storage Pouch, Ji Yuan took out another dummy and let it hover in front of him before slowly drifting along the path he had come from.

The route was roughly shaped like a “Z”.

The dummy floated through smoothly, and Ji Yuan also passed through without trouble.

After finally emerging safely from the Fallen Immortal Trench, Ji Yuan openly let out a long sigh of relief. He was almost tempted to sit down right there and catch his breath.

But before he could recover, he saw a streak of white light flying rapidly toward him across the distant sea. Wherever it passed, the Endless Sea itself seemed about to be split in two…

Another enemy?!

Ji Yuan had encountered too many dangers over the past few days, so this was his instinctive thought upon seeing someone approach.

Only when the figure drew closer and he sensed that incomparably familiar aura did he finally relax completely. He even sat down on the spot.

“Mas… Master.”

Sitting on the Flying Boat, Ji Yuan looked at the tall woman who finally stopped in front of him and squeezed out a faint smile.

There was no other reason. Throughout this journey, Ji Yuan had kept the string in his mind drawn taut the entire time. Especially while matching wits and courage with the Sea-Crossing Old Demon, the mental energy he had expended far surpassed what he had used while fighting the Three-Eyed Dark Beast earlier.

Not to mention that Ji Yuan had also controlled the 【Spiritual Energy Cannon】 and set off one enormous firecracker.

Now that Hua Yaoyue had arrived, the tightly stretched string in Ji Yuan’s mind naturally snapped. After all, even if the sky collapsed, his Master would help hold it up.

“You entered the Fallen Immortal Trench?”

Hua Yaoyue stepped forward and landed steadily on Ji Yuan’s Wind Locust Flying Boat. Standing in front of him, she took control of his Flying Boat and slowly headed west.

Since she had already found him and there was no problem, there was no need to rush.

“Yes. The Sea-Crossing Old Demon forcibly abducted me inside.”

“Then where is he?”

Hua Yaoyue stopped, and the Wind Locust Flying Boat stopped as well.

“He lost his footing and fell into the Fallen Immortal Trench, then got blown to death by the Astral Wind.”

After Ji Yuan finished speaking, Hua Yaoyue turned back and looked at him with a faint smile.

Ji Yuan blinked at her.

“Alright.”

Hua Yaoyue smiled and nodded.

Ji Yuan then seemed to remember something and hurriedly said, “Right, Master. This disciple learned of something major on this trip!”

“Oh? What major matter?”

Hua Yaoyue did not seem particularly concerned. In her view, Ji Yuan being abducted had been a major matter. Everything else was minor.

“The people of Western Shang, or rather those Shang Court people in Western Shang, have made contact with the Extreme Abyss Continent.”

“They intend to join forces with the people of the Extreme Abyss Continent and attack our Eastern Shang from both front and rear!”

Ji Yuan said everything in one breath without the slightest hesitation.

“Extreme Abyss Continent?”

Only now did a trace of surprise enter Hua Yaoyue’s voice.

“Yes!”

Ji Yuan nodded heavily. “That Situ Feng from the sect whom we discussed before—he defected to Western Shang. This time, he was the one who came to Black Dragon Island and found the Sea-Crossing Old Demon.”

“Then he had the Sea-Crossing Old Demon go to the Extreme Abyss Continent, contact the people over there, and bring them over so they could act sooner.”

After listening, Hua Yaoyue laughed. “No wonder. I was wondering why the people in Western Shang possessed such powerful methods yet had kept launching feint attacks all this time. So they were waiting for this.”

“If it was that woman’s method, then it makes sense. She indeed has the ability to make those people from the Extreme Abyss Continent trust her.”

“And since the Shang Court has contacted the Extreme Abyss Continent, Plum Manor most likely knows about it as well… Yet the Six Immortal Sects of Eastern Shang have shown no reaction whatsoever. Interesting.”

Hua Yaoyue seemed to become interested.

“Let’s go. We’ll hurry back.”

The moment Hua Yaoyue finished speaking, she abruptly increased their speed. Ji Yuan’s Mid-Grade Spiritual Artifact-level Flying Boat immediately burst forth with the speed of a Supreme-Grade Spiritual Artifact, surging toward Black Dragon Island like it was riding the wind and breaking the waves.

“From the looks of it, you really do have quite some fate with the Shang Court. You were the one who discovered what happened with the Spirit Vein previously, and now you were also the one who discovered this matter involving the Extreme Abyss Continent… Moreover, with the Sea-Crossing Old Demon dead, you may genuinely have bought Eastern Shang several more years.”

Hua Yaoyue’s interested voice sounded.

“This… disciple can only say it was luck.” Ji Yuan smiled rather helplessly.

“This heaven-shaking contribution is too much for you to bear. Let your Master take it instead.”

“That is only proper.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan hurriedly stood and saluted Hua Yaoyue.

He could already imagine what would happen if the Demonic Cultivators of Western Shang and those people from the Shang Court learned that he had killed the Sea-Crossing Old Demon and disrupted their plans…

He would not even need to think about living peacefully in the future.

Being able to enjoy even one peaceful day would count as a great blessing.

Now that Hua Yaoyue was willing to shoulder all of it, there was no problem.

“Don’t worry. I’ll help you secure some extra benefits.”

Ji Yuan nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. “Mm. This disciple always feels like something is missing from his person, something like that Fixed-Point Teleportation Token.”

Hua Yaoyue laughed:

“Alright, alright. I know.”

Ji Yuan: “Hehe.”

“Once we return and this matter is exposed, Western Shang will most likely tear off all pretenses. That will be when the Demonic Path truly launches a large-scale attack. Make sure you are prepared.”

Hua Yaoyue warned him.

Ji Yuan put away the smile on his face. “Mm. Master, rest assured. This disciple will.”

“Mm. This is danger, but it is also an opportunity…” Hua Yaoyue stood at the front of the Flying Boat with her hands behind her back, slightly raising her head toward the heavens. “Ji Yuan.”

“This disciple is here.”

Ji Yuan could sense that Hua Yaoyue seemed to have something she wanted to say to him, but even after waiting for a while, she did not speak.

So Ji Yuan thought for a moment before adding another sentence.

“This disciple will always remain by Master’s side.”

“Heh.”

Hua Yaoyue laughed upon hearing this.

“You aren’t strong enough.”

A single sentence poured an enormous basin of cold water over Ji Yuan.

But immediately afterward, Hua Yaoyue continued. Whether it was something from her heart or merely verbal consolation, he did not know. He only heard her say, “I’ll wait for the day when you can help me.”

Ji Yuan replied solemnly, “Alright.”

The speed at which Hua Yaoyue controlled the Flying Boat was even faster than the Sea-Crossing Old Demon’s speed.

Before long, the enormous Black Dragon Island appeared within Ji Yuan’s field of vision. After he blinked again, they had already landed on the island.

“Little Junior Brother!”

Feng Zhi Tao was the first to call out.

Ran Kui also hurriedly stood.

Yun Qianzai, who was already leaning against a rock, forced out a smile and nodded toward Ji Yuan.

Having survived such a great disaster, with all four fellow disciples still alive, was the best outcome.

“Your Sect Master Martial Uncle will send people to clean up the mess here. If there’s nothing else, then we’ll head back first.”

After Hua Yaoyue finished speaking, Ran Kui had already taken the tower-ship Flying Boat from his Storage Pouch. Hua Yaoyue remained at the helm, Feng Zhi Tao followed closely behind, while Ji Yuan and Ran Kui supported Yun Qianzai together and helped him aboard.

Then, beneath the upturned gazes of the many Qi Refining Stage disciples on Black Dragon Island, the tower-ship Flying Boat rose into the sky, entered the clouds, and finally headed directly west.

After reaching the deck, Ji Yuan and Ran Kui placed Yun Qianzai beside the railing, then lay down as well.

First Senior Brother and Little Junior Brother, both having survived a great disaster, looked at one another and smiled.

“We really had to rely on Little Junior Brother. If it weren’t for Little Junior Brother, the four of us probably would’ve died there today.” Ran Kui sincerely felt the relief of surviving a catastrophe.

After all, he had fought the Sea-Crossing Old Demon the most times and for the longest period.

Therefore, among the people present, nobody understood the Sea-Crossing Old Demon’s terrifying strength better than he did… Ran Kui felt his own strength was fairly decent, and he did not lack methods either.

Among Early Core Formation Stage cultivators, even if he could not dominate everyone, he could at least guarantee that he would not be defeated.

Even against a Mid-Stage Core Formation cultivator who did not use a Magic Treasure, he could exchange several moves.

But what about the Sea-Crossing Old Demon?

He was also at Mid-Stage Core Formation, yet he had beaten Ran Kui until he had no power to resist whatsoever.

Throughout the entire battle, Ran Kui had only been passively taking blows. If not for the pills Ji Yuan had given him, combined with the fact that his own body was fairly tough… he probably would have been beaten to death before Ji Yuan ever fired the cannon.

“We still had to rely on Senior Brothers and Senior Sister to hold back the Sea-Crossing Old Demon. Otherwise, even if I had this 【Spiritual Energy Cannon】, I wouldn’t have been able to use it.”

After Ji Yuan finished speaking, he smiled toward Yun Qianzai at the side.

“Besides, the 【Spiritual Energy Cannon】 was supplied by Second Senior Brother, and he was also the one who helped repair it.”

Yun Qianzai, who had originally been smiling as well, immediately returned to his cold expression. Then he slightly raised his chin, looking as though he had rendered immense merit.

But as for the actual situation…

He himself knew that the secondhand Spiritual Energy Cannon he had provided had no ability to kill a Mid-Stage Core Formation cultivator.

Firstly, it could not be used so casually, and secondly, its power was nowhere near this great.

He truly had no idea where Little Junior Brother Ji Yuan had obtained that one.

“Alright, alright. Stop being modest with each other. It was the result of all of us working together, and none of us could have been missing.” Feng Zhi Tao, who sat beside Hua Yaoyue, waved her hand.

“Little Junior Brother, you still haven’t told us where that severed hand took you or what happened afterward. I chased after you and searched for a long time but couldn’t find you.”

“That.”

Ji Yuan turned around. On the way back, he had already asked Hua Yaoyue what she thought, and her answer had been not to mention that he had been taken into the Fallen Immortal Trench, lest it cause unnecessary trouble.

“That old demon was extremely cunning. After carrying me east for some distance, he turned and took me south instead. In the end, he hid beneath the sea. Fortunately, I left some markers for Master along the way, which was how she managed to find me.”

As Ji Yuan spoke, he took the corpse of the Three-Eyed Dark Beast from his Storage Pouch. “Right. This is a rare spoil of battle. The four of us should divide it.”

Ran Kui took out a Storage Pouch as well.

“Li Yuan’s Storage Pouch is also with me. I checked it. Most of Black Dragon Island’s treasures are inside his Storage Pouch. I’d guess that while the Sea-Crossing Old Demon was on him, he had already begun plotting this.”

“Let’s divide all of it together.”

No matter the situation, dividing spoils was always something that made people happy.

The four of them had no disputes and divided everything equally.

For something like the Three-Eyed Dark Beast’s corpse, Ji Yuan received one thigh and many pieces of spine bone… Previously, upgrading his buildings had required this spine bone. His intuition told him this was good stuff.

Ran Kui took all the remaining scales. He said he could use them to forge a protective Treasure Armor at the Supreme-Grade Spiritual Artifact level.

As for Li Yuan’s Storage Pouch, Ji Yuan checked the only Supreme-Grade Spiritual Artifact inside.

It was a large saber, which was not something he specialized in.

In the end, he converted his share of the gains into Spirit Stones, and aside from taking one Heavenly Thunder Seed, he took nothing else.

Thinking of the Heavenly Thunder Seed, Ji Yuan planned to seriously raise his Weapon Refining experience once he returned. At that time, he would see whether he could strive to refine the Heavenly Thunder Seed as soon as possible.

But even so, the four of them had actually still suffered a loss.

Ji Yuan had ruined one 【Spiritual Energy Cannon】 and would need to obtain a new one after returning. There was no need to mention Ran Kui and the other two. They had suffered such severe injuries, and they had even used the Jade Cups Hua Yaoyue had given them.

Fortunately, Hua Yaoyue said that after returning, she would refine a new Jade Cup for each of them.

They could treat them as protective items.

Oh, no. Ji Yuan did not need one, and he had not actually suffered a loss either.

Putting aside the Yin Ghost Sect token whose use he did not yet know, the inherited Nascent Soul Technique alone was an enormous treasure.

Ji Yuan was already planning to inherit it as soon as he returned. After seeing its effects, he would tell Hua Yaoyue.

As for the final sheet of human-skin paper… Earlier, while inside the Fallen Immortal Trench, Ji Yuan had not had time to examine it carefully. Now that he finally had the leisure, he sent his Divine Sense into the Storage Pouch and inspected it closely.

The human-skin paper was not particularly large. When spread out, it was only about the size of an adult man’s back.

Many lines were marked across it in a chaotic crisscrossing pattern, along with numerous landmarks. Among them were depictions of sea regions, reefs, and even sea beasts.

Ji Yuan stared at it for a while before suddenly realizing what it was.

A nautical chart!

This was the nautical chart the Sea-Crossing Old Demon had used to cross between the two continents!

After discovering its purpose, Ji Yuan quickly found the entrance he had used earlier on the left side of the nautical chart. The distance he had traveled did not even amount to one ten-thousandth of the entire nautical chart.

The route afterward was even more complicated.

It gave the feeling that the slightest carelessness would cause one to fall into the abyss.

For example, in the latter half of the nautical chart, there was a region marked in red characters.

【Fourth-Tier Sea Beast Heaven-Swallowing Whale Activity Range】.

Was this a treasure?

Without question, this was an enormous treasure!

So after a brief consideration, Ji Yuan sent a Voice Transmission to Hua Yaoyue and said, “Master, I obtained the Sea-Crossing Old Demon’s nautical chart.”