Chapter 277 : Body Cultivation—Peak Foundation Establishment

‘In ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the end, the only considerate person by my side is still Tu Yue.’

Ji ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Yuan looked at the obedient Tu Yue before him as she handed over her Storage Pouch, and he could not help feeling somewhat emotional.

Inside ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Storage Pouch were not only Mysterious Yang Blood Amber, but also Runjade Fat, Ice Soul Cold Dew, and various other Immortal Materials.

After ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Ji Yuan poured all of them into his own Storage Pouch, he returned the now empty Storage Pouch to Tu Yue.

Afterward, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he did not leave. Instead, he took out a 【Spiritual Energy Cannon】 right there.

With ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a thought, he deactivated the building effect on the original 【Spiritual Energy Cannon】 and activated it on the brand-new 【Spiritual Energy Cannon】 before him instead.

Immediately afterward, the base of the 【Spiritual Energy Cannon】 extended outward in every direction.

Simply put, it became somewhat larger. Even the silver ring floating above the base grew larger. Not only that, the Formation Patterns on the silver ring continuously spread outward in every direction.

It was just like when he had upgraded the first 【Spiritual Energy Cannon】 before.

However, an ordinary 【Spiritual Energy Cannon】 like this could only have the level 2 effect added to it.

The level 3 【Falling Star Cannon】 probably had to be created by upgrading one himself.

Afterward, Ji Yuan repeated the same process and “enchanted” the second 【Spiritual Energy Cannon】 once as well. Only after dealing with this matter

did the heavy stone in his heart finally settle somewhat.

At the very least, if he encountered some danger again, he would have at least one trump card in hand.

Ji Yuan put away the two 【Spiritual Energy Cannons】 in the courtyard and then went outside the house. He first practiced the stance-walking method of the 《Nine Revolutions Profound Yang Art》 at the entrance.

Only after his entire body had opened up and his Vital Energy gradually began to boil did he take out the piece of Mysterious Yang Blood Amber and swallow it.

The moment it entered his body, the Blood Amber transformed into pure Vital Energy and dispersed. Ji Yuan’s originally fair skin instantly flushed crimson, and hot steam rose from it.

His body sank, and he stepped forward again.

The surface of the ground remained calm and ordinary, but a muffled boom came from deep beneath the earth.

Since the Blood Amber had already been consumed, now was precisely the right time to practice the stance-walking technique.

Moreover, now that there was no longer a Lightning Tribulation to temper his body, relying solely on stance-walking to refine this pure Vital Energy had become extremely difficult.

More importantly, Ji Yuan had long since sensed clearly that his physique was only one step away from Peak Foundation Establishment. To break through, it was really just a matter of an instant.

‘In the end, there still isn’t enough pressure. If there were enough pressure to drive my Vital Energy, I probably would’ve broken through long ago.’

After practicing stance-walking around the island for three consecutive days without any effect, Ji Yuan began thinking of other methods. If this continued, he would never break through no matter how long he walked.

Make another trip to Thunder Marsh?

That would not be worth the loss. It was too far away. It would be better to fight Master Hua Yaoyue and have her put some pressure on him to see whether he could break through.

But he had only just returned, so Ji Yuan did not feel right going to bother her again.

While practicing stance-walking by the shore, his gaze naturally fell upon the boundless marsh.

The water surface was calm. Only when the breeze passed did faint ripples shimmer across it. Several water birds flew in the distance, occasionally landing on the ground. Even farther away, one water bird seemed to have been preyed upon by a Spiritual Fish, causing a huge splash to erupt from the surface.

Suddenly, an idea appeared in Ji Yuan’s mind.

He thought of a way to put pressure on himself.

That was… entering the water!

If he wanted pressure, what could possibly be more suitable than this boundless marsh?

Once he descended deep enough, he could have as much pressure as he wanted.

He immediately acted on the idea.

Ji Yuan bent his knees slightly, then leaped up. After bounding three zhang forward, his figure entered the lake like a Swimming Fish, diving straight down without creating even the slightest splash.

Ji Yuan had originally cultivated water techniques from the very beginning.

So now, he was even more at home in the water. To descend to a sufficient depth as quickly as possible, he even summoned his Flying Boat underwater.

Immediately afterward, his figure shot away like an arrow released from a bowstring and vanished straight into the deepest reaches of the boundless marsh.

As he descended, he continued sensing the depth… one hundred meters… one hundred and fifty meters… two hundred meters. Alright, he had reached the bottom. Ji Yuan stopped in the dark depths and sensed the pressure the surrounding lake water placed upon him.

There was pressure, but it still had not reached the level needed for him to break through.

Then he could only continue. He needed to find somewhere like an “underwater trench”. Only a place like that would be deep enough to bring him sufficient pressure.

He once again activated the Flying Boat beneath his feet, released his Divine Sense, and searched along the lakebed.

Mm… He did discover some aquatic beasts, but the overwhelming majority were only First-Tier aquatic beasts, leaving Ji Yuan without even the slightest desire to attack them.

After about half a stick of incense passed, he finally found an extremely deep underwater trench about forty to fifty li south of Forgotten Worry Island.

Exactly how deep was it?

It could only be described this way: even Ji Yuan’s Divine Sense, comparable to that of an Early Golden Core Stage cultivator, could not detect the bottom of this trench.

This could no longer be called a trench. It should be called… an abyss.

Upon reaching this place, he put away the Flying Boat and jumped directly into it without hesitation. As his body descended into the abyss, the surrounding pressure gradually increased.

Perhaps the narrow space added even more pressure, because after descending only sixty to seventy meters, Ji Yuan already began to feel it.

Breaking through… perhaps this would be enough.

But if he wanted to break through faster, he still had to go deeper. Thus, Ji Yuan descended another long distance until he reached a protruding flat area within the abyss.

He estimated that he had descended more than one hundred and thirty meters.

His Divine Sense still could not find the bottom, but in the deepest waters, it could detect traces resembling footprints. They were enormous, with each footprint about the size of a human head, and they looked rather fresh.

There was a Demon Beast hidden deep within these waters?

Something capable of surviving in a place this deep… could it be a Third-Tier Demon Beast?

Normally speaking, the waters around the Water Dragon Sect had all been thoroughly searched. Any Demon Beast above Late Second Tier had been killed with a single sword strike by the Water Dragon Sect’s Golden Core Real Persons.

There should not have been any Third-Tier Demon Beasts left.

But this place was extremely deep, so perhaps there really was a hidden Demon Beast.

After stabilizing himself, Ji Yuan felt as though he were carrying an entire divine mountain on his back. Countless layers of pressure converged upon his body, causing the Vital Energy throughout his body to flow rapidly even though he had not moved at all.

This place was no longer suitable for practicing stance-walking. The force released from stance-walking was too great. He was worried that he might collapse the platform, and also worried that he might alarm the Demon Beast hidden deep beneath the water.

Standing stance training was much more suitable.

But to practice a standing stance here, the pressure he had to withstand was also tremendous. Even raising both hands smoothly had become extremely difficult for Ji Yuan.

Much less assuming the proper stance.

Moreover, he could not breathe here. For a time, Ji Yuan’s entire face became flushed red from holding his breath.

Pressure. Damn it, wasn’t this exactly the pressure he needed!

Ji Yuan clenched his teeth tightly, not daring to open his mouth at all, nor did he use any spell… Otherwise, a single Water-Repelling Talisman would solve everything.

The entire purpose of entering the water this time was to temper his physique.

Thus, the stance that he could normally assume with a casual movement took him nearly half the time needed to drink a cup of tea before Ji Yuan finally managed to form the standing stance described in the 《Nine Revolutions Profound Yang Art》.

But the moment he succeeded, the Vital Energy inside his body seemed to come alive.

Or perhaps it was more like boiling water.

It surged and flowed rapidly. Ji Yuan could even hear the rushing sound of his blood flowing, like a stream running through a mountain valley.

Perhaps because the Vital Energy within his body had become too scorching hot, even the lake water around him began to heat up. The water closest to him was already bubbling.

His physique was already enduring tremendous pressure, and now it was stimulated by the stance technique as well.

Ji Yuan felt as though his internal organs were about to be crushed apart. His entire body was pressed down until he could not move in the slightest. At this moment, he truly wanted nothing more than to use a spell, cast a Water-Repelling Technique on himself, or take a Water-Repelling Talisman from his Storage Pouch and stick it to his body.

Anything to alleviate the pain he was suffering.

But in the end, he endured through sheer willpower.

And it was precisely because he endured for one additional breath that Ji Yuan vaguely felt the rapidly circulating Vital Energy inside his body break through some kind of shackle, smashing through some hidden barrier.

The Vital Energy that had already been circulating extremely quickly now flowed even faster.

The Blood Aura it generated acted upon the surface of his body and began strengthening his skin.

At the same time, the pressure Ji Yuan endured suddenly eased. He had originally needed to hunch over just to bear this “mountain”, but in that instant, he straightened his back.

His physique… had finally broken through!

For a moment, Ji Yuan sensed his continuously strengthening body, and a faint smile finally appeared on his face.

Nothing brought greater joy than an increase in strength.

But at this moment, he suddenly discovered waves spreading through the waters before him, as though something were swimming toward him.

…Not good. It couldn’t be that Third-Tier Demon Beast coming up, could it?!

Ji Yuan hurriedly released the Divine Sense he had been forced to retract earlier. In an instant, before his Divine Sense had even traveled one hundred meters from his body, he discovered a Mid-Second-Tier turtle-type Demon Beast fleeing out from the depths of the abyss. It seemed to be desperately swimming upward and had even activated a demonic technique, causing the surrounding water to continuously propel it outward.

In just an instant, it swam past Ji Yuan.

Unfortunately, as it passed by, it seemed to mistake him for something delicious. Even while fleeing for its life, it still did not forget to bite at Ji Yuan.

And so… Ji Yuan moved.

He first took a step backward, avoiding the turtle demon’s enormous biting maw.

They were extremely close. He could even see pieces of flesh stuck between the turtle demon’s teeth. Who knew what it had just eaten?

As he shifted sideways to evade it, his left hand pressed down on the turtle demon’s head (I wanted to write those two characters, but I was afraid the chapter would disappear), and he suddenly exerted force.

Under the pressure, the turtle demon was instantly slammed onto the stone platform.

Perhaps because the movement was too fast, its entire body tilted upward, standing straight as though it had been planted into the ground.

Ji Yuan looked at the turtle shell smashing toward him, took a step back, lowered his body, then gathered all his strength and unleashed his peak punch.

“Boom——”

Along with a muffled explosion, the surrounding waters shook violently.

As for the turtle demon that endured the full force of the attack, its entire body trembled.

Its turtle shell remained completely intact, but its internal organs shattered instantly.

One punch… killed it!

Even Ji Yuan had not expected a casual punch from him to possess such power.

A dignified Mid-Second-Tier Demon Beast, and a turtle-type Demon Beast renowned for defense at that, could not even withstand one punch. Just how terrifying was this divine might?

Just as Ji Yuan was about to put the corpse into his Storage Pouch, he suddenly stopped.

Without another word, he cast a Water-Repelling Technique.

Then the seven Canglan Sword Embryos hovered around him while the Dragon Whisker Shield guarded his front. Only then did he dare float upward and look toward the depths below.

And then… he saw a pair of dark green eyes.

Large.

Extremely large.

He felt that each one was the size of a millstone.

Just being stared at by those eyes made him feel a heavy pressure, to the point that the hairs on his back stood on end.

Damn it, what cultivation level did this Demon Beast have?

Even the Thunderstorm Flood Dragon Ji Yuan had previously encountered in the Storm Zone had not been this outrageous… a Peak Third-Tier Demon Beast?

Wouldn’t only someone like Hua Yaoyue be able to handle this?!

Just as Ji Yuan was wondering whether he should call for help, a hoarse and ancient voice suddenly sounded within his Sea of Consciousness.

It sounded like an old man who had smoked far too much.

It said, “Young man, well water does not interfere with river water.”

The Demon Beast… had gained intelligence!

A Demon Beast could speak?!

A term immediately surfaced in Ji Yuan’s mind… Fourth-Tier Demon Beast.

This was definitely a Fourth-Tier Demon Beast!

A Fourth-Tier Demon Beast would undergo its Transformation Lightning Tribulation at the middle stage. After surviving the tribulation, it could walk among humans in ordinary human form just like Plum Manor. As for Fourth-Tier Demon Beasts that had not yet undergone the Lightning Tribulation,

their intelligence was already no different from that of ordinary humans. They simply could not transform yet.

Thus, Third-Tier Demon Beasts were still relatively easy to kill, but once a Demon Beast truly advanced to the Fourth Tier, it would no longer be so easy to kill. Its strength would rise by several levels.

For a moment,

Ji Yuan finally understood why this Fourth-Tier Demon Beast had been able to hide beneath the water.

The Golden Core Real Persons who had previously searched the mountains and inspected the waters around the Water Dragon Sect—how could they possibly detect the traces of a Fourth-Tier Demon Beast?

Moreover, no one would ever imagine that a Fourth-Tier Demon Beast was actually hiding near the Water Dragon Sect, one of the Six Immortal Sects of Eastern Shang.

If Ji Yuan had not seen it with his own eyes, he would not have believed it even if someone else told him.

Many thoughts flashed through Ji Yuan’s mind, but fortunately, the Fourth-Tier Demon Beast before him did not seem to have any intention of attacking him. Just as it had said,

well water did not interfere with river water.

Otherwise, if it truly attacked, Ji Yuan estimated that by now he would either already be dead,

or hiding behind Hua Yaoyue.

Thus, as these thoughts flashed through his mind, Ji Yuan cupped his hands slightly toward the Fourth-Tier Demon Beast in the depths of the abyss and said solemnly:

“This junior had no intention of disturbing Senior’s secluded cultivation. Please forgive me.”

“Senior, rest assured. This junior has always kept his mouth tightly shut and absolutely will not reveal…”

Before Ji Yuan could finish speaking, the Fourth-Tier Demon Beast’s hoarse voice once again sounded within his mind.

“You carry the aura of that female cultivator. I don’t dare kill you. Otherwise, do you think you would still be standing there talking to me? Leave quickly.”

The female cultivator’s aura… it did not dare kill him…

Ji Yuan was slightly stunned, but immediately understood whom the Fourth-Tier Demon Beast meant.

Hua Yaoyue!

She actually knew that a Fourth-Tier Demon Beast was hidden beneath the Water Dragon Sect, and had even encountered it before!

As expected, Master knew quite a lot… With Hua Yaoyue backing him, Ji Yuan was no longer so restrained. He casually cupped his hands, then looked at the Mid-Second-Tier turtle demon he had just killed.

Ji Yuan did not even remove the turtle demon’s Demon Core and simply tossed the corpse back down.

“Since that’s the case, I won’t disturb Senior from enjoying this fine feast.”

The turtle demon’s corpse slowly sank into the depths, but the Fourth-Tier Demon Beast did not eat it. Instead, it spoke in a… rather strange tone:

“It is my descendant.”

…Ah.

Ji Yuan cupped his hands toward the abyss again, then did not dare say even half another sentence. He immediately turned and fled.

He first activated the Wind Locust Flying Boat with all his strength, then spread both hands and slapped outward forcefully. Spell power and physical strength erupted together, and in an instant, his entire body shot from the several-hundred-meter-deep water straight to the surface in a single move.

After briefly determining the direction, he flew directly north. Within only one or two breaths, he plunged back onto Forgotten Worry Island.

Only after returning to his own island did Ji Yuan finally relax, panting heavily several times in succession.

The Sect-Guarding Formation still defended the area outside the island, so even if that Fourth-Tier Demon Beast emerged, it could at least barely hold it back for a while.

He slowly returned to the living room, poured himself a cup of tea to moisten his throat, then lightly shook his body and immediately expelled all impurities.

‘Damn it. I was even thinking of casually flattering him, but instead I kicked the horse’s leg.’

‘I killed his descendant and even delivered the descendant to him to eat… doesn’t that make this like Bo Yikao?’

‘Still, it’s not too bad. From what he said, I can tell that this Fourth-Tier Demon Beast is also a turtle demon. I just don’t know what kind of turtle it is… But turtle-type Demon Beasts have always possessed extremely long lifespans. Could this Fourth-Tier Demon Beast be a living fossil that survived from the Shang Court era until now?’

The more Ji Yuan thought about it, the more possible it seemed. He even considered going back to ask.

‘Master knows so many things. Could it be that she secretly comes here to ask this old turtle about them?’

The more Ji Yuan thought, the bolder his speculation became… Was it possible that this old turtle was actually the sect’s Guardian Divine Beast?

But judging from its habit of hiding away, that did not seem very likely.

If it were truly the sect’s Guardian Divine Beast, there would be absolutely no need for it to hide like this.

After thinking for a while without reaching any conclusion, Ji Yuan decided to ask Hua Yaoyue the next time he went to Forgotten Worry Island. For now, the most urgent matter was still cultivation.

He needed to rely on the spiritual effect of the 【Scripture Repository】 to raise his proficiency in the 《Sword Manual》 and seize the time to condense his next Flying Sword Embryo.

But before that… Ji Yuan slightly clenched both fists and mobilized the Vital Energy throughout his entire body.

In an instant, the skin across his entire body turned bronze, as though cast from copper. He lightly knocked his fist against his chest, immediately producing “bang bang bang” sounds.

…Now this looked like Body Tempering.

He wondered what it would feel like to enter this form while Dual Cultivating with Dong Qian.

At the thought of Dong Qian, Ji Yuan became somewhat curious. Just where had she gone? Why had she still not returned?

Ji Yuan had nowhere to search for her and could only wait for her to return on her own.

Afterward, he did not waste any more time. Even though his body had only just broken through, he plunged straight into the 【Scripture Repository】 and once again activated the spiritual effect of the 【Enlightenment Room】.

With both effects reinforcing him, he began slowly comprehending and cultivating the 《Sword Manual》.

His original proficiency had already reached 76, and comprehending it within the 【Scripture Repository】 basically allowed him to increase it by one point every twenty or so days.

Thus, three months later.

Ji Yuan’s proficiency in the 《Sword Manual》 rose to 80. He did not suppress his realm either.

The moment his proficiency became sufficient, he quietly slipped away and made a trip to the estuary of the Falling Star River.

That was, the area near Linhai City.

There, relying on the vast Water Fortune, he silently condensed his eighth Flying Sword Embryo.

The Sword Embryo was enormous, clearly longer and larger than the other Sword Embryos by an entire section.

It had no special effect. What it possessed was simply astonishing offensive power and equally astonishing defensive power.

After all, once activated, it resembled Rou Yi’s enormous door-panel-like sword.

Thus, Ji Yuan gave it a name.

Its name was: “Great Gate”.